"Those of you at the top will suffer the most," said Midnight. "Of course that is something you will hear over and over again at Berk. Now show us what you future heroes are all about. Since Hiccup Haddock came in first in the Obstacle Course race he will be worth 10 million points."

Hiccup took a deep breath. 'I wonder if this is how dad feels when everyone is watching him? Does he always feel this kind of pressure?'

Stoick just folded his arms and look this is son. 'Now you know what it means to be the best.'

'It is hard been at the top, right dad?' said Hiccup as he clenched his fists.

"First years, these are the rules you will abide by!" Midnight announced. "The game itself will last 15 minutes, individual point values will be added together to reach your team total. Everyone will know how much you're worth thanks to your headbands, swipe as many headbands as you can to raise your teams score. Stolen headbands must be worn from the neck up so the more you steal the harder it will be to manage them. And another thing, even if your headband gets stolen and your team falls down, you can keep playing until time is up."

"Then it can be anyone's game then," said Astrid.

"And since there's 42 contestants there will be 10 or 12 teams fighting on the field the entire time," Calder added.

"So if you lose your headband at the beginning you have more time to make up a plan," said Heather.

"It would be wiser to actually see who was on what team before you strategise," Ragnar suggested.

"This is going to be a test of leadership, teamwork and communication," said Hiccup as he rubbed his chin. "Makes sense, heroes have to constantly work with one another and they have to leave their sidekicks."

"You may use your powers as much as you like, but there are still rules," Midnight continued. "Make a team fall on purpose and I will give you a red card and be disqualified. Now you have 15 minutes to build your teams, I recommend that you get started."

Immediately a holographic time of 15 minutes appeared behind her began to count down.

Hiccup folded his arms. 'It doesn't matter how many points my teammates have since I have so many. I just need to make sure that I can pick the right people, ideally those I can work with and have excellent manoeuvrability. Fortunately I know just the people.'

In the staff room, Mt Lady, Armstrong and Stormcutter were having a break and they were watching the games from a TV.

"The Thawfest Festival isn't really about seen how prepared they are at being heroes, it's more about simulating the competition they will face when they go pro," said Armstrong as he smoked a cigarette.

"What are you talking about?" Mt Lady asked.

"We both know that this country is overrun with agencies right now, if you want put food on the table you've got to be willing to step on top of other heroes that was the entire point of the first round," Armstrong explained.

"True, but on the other hand you need to work with other heroes at the same time you're battling for popularity," Stormcutter reminded.

"When you put it like that it's just like this Cavalry Battle," Mt Lady nodded. "Every point you score is not just for you but for your teammates, plus you have to think how your powers work together and who you're compatible with."

"It's kind of like coordinating with your sidekick or doing training with other agencies," said Stormcutter as he drank down from a bottle of water.

"I'm betting that at least some of the kids are thinking about all this," said Armstrong. "If they do become pros it will be their way of life."

"That they still have a long road ahead of them," said Mt Lady.

Hiccup was observing the remaining contestants as they began selecting their teams. He saw few people forming two-man teams, but a good majority of people were in at least three or four. He noticed that a few people were making their way over to Snotlout and all of them were from his class.

"You should team with me," said Calder.

"No, you definitely want me by your side!" said Ruffnut.

"I don't want to beg, but please," Olaf winced.

"Just tell me what your powers are," said Snotlout looking at them.

"Are you kidding we're your classmates!" Helga yelled.

"He maybe your heart head, but he came in third and he has 200 points," said Eret. "Considering how versatile his power is, I'm not surprised that people are trying to join up with him."

Dogsbreath then joined the group. "Snotlout, I tried with Ranger but he's already picked the group. I think that we should team up."

"And why is that?" Snotlout asked.

"You clearly want to be the rider, right?" Dogsbreath concluded. "So you're going to need a strong front, who will be hurt by your flames and that would be me."

"I need someone with guts," said Snotlout.

"Then you've talked to the right guy, I practically made with this," Dogsbreath laughed. "Let's go charging into battle together and were going get that 10 million headband!"

Snotlout smiled. "You're in."

Agnar then approached Magnus. "Magnus, since none of the girls want to team up with me, I was hoping that you would be my partner. I'm smaller than the average person which means I can't be a horse which means I have to ride on someone. With your huge arms and those tentacles you can cover me completely so no one will take my headband."

Magnus contemplated with his request and immediately one of his tentacles turn into a mouth. "Good idea, let's go."

Hiccup looked at the teams. 'As I suspected everyone is speaking to the people from their homeroom class. It is too much of a gamble to team up with someone if you don't know what their powers are capable of.'

He then looked at the people he select his team which will Ragnar, Fishlegs and Heather.

"So any reason why you wanted us?" Ragnar asked.

"For starters it's because the four of us have excellent communication with one another," Hiccup explained.

Heather nodded. "He's right, Hiccup has work together with each and every single one of us and what each of us are capable of."

Fishlegs looked at Hiccup. "How are we going to be positioned? I imagine that you will be the rider."

Hiccup nodded. "Not to blow my own trumpet, but I am good analysis from my position I'll be able to use my powers to assist. Fishlegs you'll be our left wing I want you to decrease our weight which will make it much easier for us to move. Heather you'll be our right wing with your rotating body you will be able to make some quick manoeuvres at any given time. Ragnar you'll be in the front protecting us."

Ragnar nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

Hiccup then immediately pulled out a suitcase. "And I'll provide us with some necessary equipment to make our job much easier."

A short blonde haired boy from Class 1-B was looking at his team, his name was Cael.

"Almost everyone in the audience is foaming at the mouth for Class 1-A. Why is that?" he asked them. "They are so full of themselves just like Tab said earlier. Why are they stars? The only difference between us and them is that they fought a couple of villains. Just because we're Class 1-B doesn't mean that were second rate and can't win this whole thing. So let's step it up and show those jerks what we can do. Are you with me?"

Ranger had selected his team already which consisted of Astrid, Speedfsit and Clueless.

"I chose the three of view, because I believe that will make for this most stable formation possible," he said." Clueless is our left wing, he can use his powers to keep enemies at bay. Astrid you will take the right wing, focus on installation and defence. Speedfist you'll take the front, we'll rely on you for mobility and physical defence."

"And you'll be attacking with ice," Astrid concluded.

Ranger nodded. "I will, but we have to keep our guard up with Hiccup." His eyes then turned to his team. "He's picked quite a stable formation himself."

Astrid nodded. "Not only that but he knows how each of their powers work and he's the best leader in our class."

"No doubt who you some sort of surprised technique to keep us off guard," said Speedfist.

"Which is why we need to stay vigilant," said Ranger.

Eventually time was up.

"Time is up!" Midnight announced.

"15 minutes have passed to pick teams and discuss strategy and 12 cavalry teams are ready to go into battle," said Mulch.

"I do see some unexpected team ups," Gobber noted.

Soon everyone was taking their positions in the arena. There were two two-man teams, two three-man teams, and the others were four-man teams. Hiccup was a bit more focused on the other teams take on a good note of their point values. Snotlout's team consisted of Dogsbreath and the twins meaning that their total point value was 665 and Ranger had 615, while hiccup's point value was 10000460.

Cael looked at Tab. "Hey, Tab, no hard feelings okay."

Tab nodded. "Right."

"It's time to get this game started! One final countdown before the game starts!" Mulch cried out.

"Let's get them," said Snotlout as he cracked his knuckles.

"He's ours," said Ranger looking directly at Hiccup.

Hiccup just remain silent, he was wearing some specialised equipment he designed so that he could give his team a bit of an edge.

"Begin!" Midnight announced.

Immediately the teams rushed into the arena and not surprisingly most of them made their way straight towards Hiccup's team.

"It's basically one big battle for 10 million points!" Tab yelled.

Snotlout and Ranger weren't the only ones from Class 1-A gunning for the 10 million points. Helga's team which consisted of Wartihog, Calder and Ingrid were charging straight towards them. Helga had removed her jacket to make it impossible to tell what her arms were doing.

"I'll be taking headband, Hiccup!" Helga yelled.

"Looks like the not given us a chance," Ragnar noted.

"What's the plan, Hiccup?" Heather asked.

"For now we run away," said Hiccup.

"I don't think so!" Tab yelled.

Their forward rider, whose name was Jac, who had pale skin and whose face resembled a skull immediately placed his foot in front of them. Immediately the ground beneath Hiccup and the others began to melt and they found themselves sinking into it.

"What's happening?" Fishlegs panicked.

"We're thinking, it must be that guy is power," Hiccup deduced.

"I can't spin my limbs like this," said Heather.

Hiccup immediately looked at Fishlegs and Heather. "Fishlegs! Heather! Watch your faces!"

Fishlegs and Heather immediately close their eyes and Hiccup press down on a button. Immediately the device he was wearing on his back revealed itself to be a jet pack and thanks the extra momentum they managed to break free of the quicksand.

"He flow?" Tab stared. He then quickly looked down his team. "After them!"

"Ingrid, now!" Helga ordered.

"I know," said Ingrid as she extended her earphone jacks.

Hiccup then immediately activated one of his cables and swung it deflecting her ear jacks.

Hiccup immediately looked at Heather. "However I need you to slow descent!"

"On it," said Heather and immediately rotated the lower part of her body began to slow down.

'Fishlegs is floating everything but himself and thanks to Heather we're able to quicken harm momentum, plus Ragnar was able to act like a shield,' said Hiccup.

"I take the game plan is to fend off any attackers?" Heather concluded.

"We really don't need any headbands, besides not everyone is after us," Hiccup noted.

Fishlegs nodded. "Now that you mention it nominally the teams are after us."

"It could be that there waiting to see how things play out," said Ragnar.

Helga immediately looked at her team. "Their not that far ahead, we need to catch them up!"

Calder then noticed her headband was gone. "Wait, Helga, your headband is gone!"

Helga the noticed for the first time that her headband had completely vanished. "How did happen?"

Directly behind her team was Cael and he was holding her headband in his hand as his team were moving away from them.

"Well that was easy," he said casually.

"Barely 2 minutes have passed since the match started and it already a total freefall," said Mulch.

"This game is all about strategy," said Gobber. "A good majority of people will go after the 10 million headband, but that's not the only way to get ahead. With other players with the own respected headbands you can easily knock them out of the game and amass points yourself."

"It's making my brain hurt," said Bucket.

Hiccup heard laughter and immediately saw Magnus rushing towards them, he was using his tentacle arms to cover his back. Hiccup recognised the voice immediately as Agnar and with Magnus shielding him it was impossible to reach it headband.

"This is too easy! It's not a fire it's more like a massacre!" he yelled.

"Looks like were being cornered," Hiccup noted.

"We're going to need breathing room if we want to fight, we can't get trapped by multiple opponents," said Ragnar as he noticed Tab's team heading towards them.

Fishlegs attempted to move than his foot struck on something sticky. He immediately looked down and saw that his foot was trapped on one of Agnar's balls.

"Uh-oh," he said.

"Something wrong?" Hiccup asked looking down at him.

"I'm stuck!" Fishlegs panicked.

Hiccup then noticed the ball under his shoe. "That's Agnar's ball."

"I have you now," said Agnar as his head appeared from the crack in Magnus' arms.

A split second later being headed straight towards them and Hiccup quickly leaned back to avoid it. Tab ducked just in time to avoid getting struck by the beam himself and hiccup immediately recognised it belonging to Olaf.

"I'm impressed you were able to avoid might beam," said Olaf as his face appeared from the crack in Magnus' arms.

"Olaf's with them too?" said Hiccup.

Olaf and Agnar then immediately began firing beams and tossing balls directly at him and Hiccup did everything he could to avoid getting struck.

"It would seem as if Hiccup's team is trapped in a rock and a hard place," said Mulch.

"When you get out of here!" Ragnar yelled.

"Brace yourselves," said Hiccup as he immediately press down on the button for the jet pack.

They immediately took off and left Fishlegs' shoe behind.

Hiccup looked at him. "Think you can still move around with only one shoe?"

"We're about to find out," said Fishlegs.

Then suddenly from out of nowhere Snotlout launched into the air, using his flames and afterburner. He soon was flying directly towards them and he had a crazy angry look in his eye.

"Don't think for a second you're safe!" Snotlout yelled. He then immediately raised his fist which burst into flames. "I have you now!"

"I don't think so!" Hiccup yelled as he raised his arm.

Suddenly a shield appeared rather nowhere and blocks Snotlout's attack. Only took them seconds to realise that the shield looked as if it was some sort of solid hologram and it was being projected with a device that Hiccup had around his wrist.

"What the heck was?" Snotlout stared.

"A proton shield," Hiccup smiled.

Snotlout then found himself falling, but Tuffnut's slime then appeared and snagged him pulling him back to his team.

"Snotlout has been separated from his team, is that even allowed?" Mulch asked.

"Nice catch," said Dogsbreath as he landed in their arms.

"He never touched the ground so technically it's okay," said Midnight.

Heather then immediately used her rotating body to slow the descent the land on the ground safely.

"That was close," said Hiccup.

Ragnar looked up at Hiccup. "Clearly they are adapting with a quick escape into the air. It wasn't for your shield Snotlout would have had us."

Hiccup nodded. "We got use new tactics we want to keep this headband of ours."

In the staff room, many of the heroes on security detail were watching the games on the TV with great interest.

"As expected almost everyone is going out of the 10 million headband giving Hiccup's team no time to catch their breath," said Mulch.

"The kid is doing pretty well for himself," said Armstrong.

"Shouldn't be surprising considering we know who his parents are," said Stormcutter.

The people in the stadium will also getting excited as they watched everyone demonstrating their powers.

"With all this action going on I don't know who to cheer on."

"Looks like that experience from fighting those villains have made Class 1-A level at superfast."

"Now let's take look at the present scoreboard," said Mulch. "It's been seven minutes so let's get those rankings on the screen."

Everyone then immediately looked at the screen as the scores appeared and everyone was in for a bit of an upset.

"Wait a minute, this is an unexpected turn," said Mulch.

According to the school board at least six teams had zero points, three were actually full consisted of Class 1-A students including Snotlout's team. In fact according to the scoreboard Ranger's team at the knockdown to 5th place and the teams below Hiccup all consisted of members from Class 1-B.

"Other from Hiccup's team Class 1-A's is not doing so well, even Snotlout is losing," said Mulch.

Cael's team had just taken Snotlout's headband. "Your classes far too small-minded, think bigger."

"He got us!" Ruffnut cried.

Snotlout glared at him. "What did you say? Come back here!"

"Midnight said that the Obstacle Course was just the first game and we figured they would cut that many of us down right off the bat," said Cael. He then immediately turned and looked at Snotlout. "Would they?"

Snotlout looked at him confused.

"Assuming that they would at least keep 40 contestants for the next game all we had to do was to make sure that we stayed with in that group as we ran. From our spots in the middle ranks we could fully observe the powers that our rivals had and judge their capabilities. Only a fool would have assessed about winning the preliminary rounds, wouldn't you agree?"

Snotlout noticed that other teams from Class 1-B were advancing towards them. "You all planned this as a class?"

"It wasn't totally unanimous," Cael admitted as he wrapped Snotlout's headband around his neck. "But I say that it's plain out well."

"Hey, they're coming," said the guy acting as his left wing.

"It's better than chasing after temporary front runner like yourself like a horse with a carrot waving in his face," said Cael looking at Snotlout mockingly. "In fact the only passing your class who seems to realise this is Hiccup. Though I shouldn't be surprised, he seems to be the kind of guy who put strategy over brute force and if memory serves did he save you from that symbiont villain?"

Snotlout looked at him furiously. "Dogsbreath, we have a change of plans." Dogsbreath and the twins then saw flames surrounding Snotlout as he looked at Cael menacingly. "Before we take down Hiccup, were gonna take down every single one of these spineless idiots!"

Heather looked up at Hiccup as they are just witnesses confrontation. "You predicted this didn't you?"

"I found it a bit unusual that many of the members of Class 1-B were in the lower ranks," Hiccup admitted. "Despite the name of our classes the numbers and letters do not signify rank."

Ragnar smiled. "You knew they were scouting the competition."

"They know they don't need the 10 million points to win and with a grudge with our class they want to take as many of us out of the competition as possible," said Hiccup. "Which means we don't have much to worry about."

Then suddenly appearing straight in front of them was Ranger and his team.

"And now we have reached the halfway point of the game," said Mulch.

Hiccup took a deep breath. "There again I could be wrong."

"As the Cavalry Battle has reached its second half it anyone's game," said Mulch. "Class 1-B has made an unexpected showing, but who will win the 10 million points in the end? That's the real question sports fans!"

Both Hiccup and Ranger were looking directly at one another neither one of them moving an inch.

"I'll be taking that headband right now," said Ranger.