Chapter 6: The Exam
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At Red Fountain, Brandon was pacing back and forth lost in thought.
"Hey if you keep pacing, you'll make a rut in the room." Timmy jokes.
"Sorry but these new dragons we keep finding have me thinking. Not to mention mine and Ragnar's exam is in a few days." Brandon said.
"You nervous?" Timmy asks.
"Not for me, for Ragnar." Brandon said when Riven walks in.
"You mean because he he'll blow it for you and make you fail?" Riven smirks.
"Hey Ragnar, is a great fighter, he just doesn't know it yet." Brandon said.
"In what world? The only thing I see in that loser's future is that dragon he keeps hanging out with." Riven said pointing outside.
Looking outside they saw Ragnar feeding all the dragons they got and smiling.
"You didn't seem to mind his talent when he introduced you to Hookfang." Timmy said.
"And you to Meatlug and Sky to Stormfly." Brandon adds.
"Face it Raggy's better with dragons than with people." Riven laughs.
"Wonder why?" Brandon said sarcastically as Sky walks in.
"Maybe we should take Ragnar out and meet someone." Sky suggests causing Riven to burst into laughter.
"You know that's not a bad idea." Brandon said as Riven wipes a tear from his eye.
"You can't be serious?" Riven said.
"Why not? A new friend can do wonders. I mean look at what hanging out with Toothless had done for Ragnar. Imagine what a girl could do for him." Brandon said.
Down at the stables, Ragnar was scratching Stormfly's scales and the dragon was enjoying it, but when he scratched under her chin Stormfly collapsed.
"Whoa." Ragnar said looking at his hands when his team walked in.
"Hey Ragnar, we wanted to know if you— what happened to Stormfly?" Brandon asks.
"I'm uh trying to figure that out…so what's up?" Ragnar asks.
"The girls of Alfea are having a concert tonight and we're going, want to come?" Sky asks.
"Why so I can have more girls laugh at me? No thanks." Ragnar said not even looking at them.
"Told you guys it was a waste of time." Riven chuckles before walking off.
Brandon and Sky narrow their eyes before walking over to Ragnar.
"Ignore Riven, he's just being a jerk." Sky said.
"Why don't you want to come?" Brandon asks.
"Guys no offense but I'm already picked on by the witches and as for those fairy girls they wouldn't come near me if one was on fire and I had the only bucket of water in the entire world." Ragnar said.
Toothless looks to Ragnar talking about girls and remembers Hiccup saying those exact same words about Astrid.
"Look guys I appreciate the help, but I don't think I'm ready to meet a girl." Ragnar said when Toothless walks over and nudges towards Ragnar towards Brandon. "Oh come on, not you too Toothless."
Toothless growls urging him to go.
"Looks like you're outvoted Raggy." Timmy said as Sky, Brandon and Toothless laugh.
"Oh great." Ragnar sighs in defeat.
Changing into their casual clothes the 4 of them rode their wind riders to Alfea the School of Fairies an all-girls boarding school. Like with Red Fountain it was near the end of the year for them and the girls were celebrating.
Arriving at the school, Ragnar looks around to see a large stage set up with a band on stage.
"One of these days we got to teach you how to ride a wind rider Ragnar." Sky said to Ragnar who was holding onto him.
"Well if you guys would've let me take Toothless, we wouldn't have this problem." Ragnar said.
"We explained this, if the staff here saw us bring a dragon, they'd kick us out." Brandon said.
"Looks like a fun time don't you think Ragnar?" Timmy asks.
"I guess, might as well have a little fun before my exam." Ragnar said.
"Don't worry these girls aren't like the witches, you'll be fine." Brandon said.
"Come on let's go have some fun." Timmy said as he, Brandon and Sky made their way inside.
Sighing Ragnar follows in after them.
Inside many girls were dancing to the band that was playing on stage and the guys were enjoying it…well most of them.
Sitting by the snack tables Ragnar gets a glass of punch when he notices a destroyed room nearby.
"Yikes what happened over there?" Ragnar asks when he sees a figure open the door to the room.
Curiosity getting the better of him he walks over to see a girl with long blonde hair sweeping up some of the rubble from inside and mumbling to herself, this was Stella.
"This is cruel and unusual punishment. I can't believe Griselda is making we do all this." Stella mumbled when the door opened.
"Hey is everything alright?" Ragnar asks walking in.
"Huh? Oh hey there. What are you doing in the Potions Lab when a party is going on?" Stella asks.
"I could say the same for you." Ragnar smirks.
"Well when it's your fault the room looks this way." Stella said gesturing to the destroyed room.
"Wait you did this? How?" Ragnar asks surprised and intrqued.
"I may have tried using my magic to increase the effect of my potion." Stella cringes expecting him to laugh.
"Wait, you did this with your magic? Wow your magic must be pretty amazing." Ragnar said impressed surprising her.
"Well it's pretty amazing." Stella said brushing it off.
"Can you show me?" Ragnar asks.
"Help me sweep up and maybe I will." Stella said tossing him a broom to which Ragnar stumbles to catch.
"Whoa." Ragnar said holding it in his arms.
"Are you from Red Fountain?" Stella asks as he helped her sweep.
"What gave it away?" Ragnar smirks.
"Sorry it's just I've seen students from that school and you're well…different from what the others look like." Stella said.
"Well I thought the fairies of Alfea were angels but if you did all this you must be pretty different yourself." Ragnar said causing her to giggle.
"Sorry I didn't mean to offend you if I did." Stella said.
"It's alright, I'm used to it. The guys at my school call me much worse." Ragnar said muttering that last part to himself.
"By the way I'm Stella, what's yours?" She asks.
"Specialist Ragnar at your service." Ragnar said taking a bow making Stella smile.
"Ragnar, that's an interesting name." Stella said.
"It means Warrior, my parents always hoped that I would be a great hero." Ragnar said.
"Well you're on the right path so far." Stella said walking to him. "You saw I was in need of help and you came to my rescue, not bad hero." She teased causing Ragnar to chuckle.
"Wow I never thought of it like that before." Ragnar said.
"Well maybe during the new school year we can meet up and hang out." Stella suggests.
"If I make it to the next school year. First I have to pass my exam." Ragnar sighs.
"Well first off if you want to pass you need to stop thinking that you can't do it and start thinking that you can do it." Stella said sitting down next to him.
"Easier said than done. You might not believe it but I'm not exactly your ideal Specialist." Ragnar said.
"My ideal specialist is someone who's brave and ready to help people in need. Are you any of those things?" Stella asks.
"Well…"
"Stop hesitating, just try saying to yourself "I can do it" instead of I can't do it." Stella said.
"You think that could work?" Ragnar asks.
"Never hurts to try." Stella said putting her hand on his shoulder.
The next day at Red Fountain, Ragnar and Brandon were ready to enter the simulator with all the students and the dragons watching eagerly as Codatorta approaches them.
"Are you two ready?" He asks.
"Yes sir." Ragnar and Brandon said.
"For this simulation your opponent will be…a Griffin." Codatorta said surprising everyone.
"An aerial foe? That's gonna be a challenge." Sky said.
"Not quite, I think this might work in their favor." Timmy said deep in thought.
"Oh yeah, how so?" Riven asks.
"You are allowed to use any tools you have acquired throughout your time here." Cordatorta said as Headmaster Saladin and a teenage boy with long black hair, this was his grandson Helia.
Brandon and Ragnar look at each other and nod as Ragnar whistles for Toothless and Skullcrusher approach them.
"Oh, interesting beasts." Helia said.
"Let's see how those dragons do against a fierce opponent." Saladin said as Ragnar and Brandon climbed on their dragon's backs.
"I can do this. I can do this." Ragnar whispers as Brandon pats him on the back.
"We got this buddy." Brandon smiles as Ragnar nods.
Entering the simulator the two of them found themselves in a rocky mountain area.
Toothless growls looking around for the griffin but couldn't see it.
Taking to the skies they scanned the area until they heard a loud screech from above. Looking up they saw flying through the clouds was a large griffin which rammed into Toothless knocking him and Ragnar onto the top of the cliffs and Ragnar was sent flying off Toothless.
"And down goes Raggy." Riven chuckles along with most of the class.
Groaning in pain Ragnar looks up to see the Griffin fly in towards him with claws ready to cut him in half.
"Oh no you don't!" Flying in Skullcrusher rams into the griffin knocking it away from Ragnar.
Drawing his sword Brandon swats the Griffin away getting its attention.
Screeching at Brandon the griffin flies after Skullcrusher who launches a fireball at it before he takes off through the mountain range.
Running towards Ragnar Toothless nudges him back onto his feet.
"Sorry bud, it surprised me. Let's go help Brandon." Ragnar said climbing back on as Toothless took off after them.
Flying through the mountains Brandon was trying to steer Skullcrusher out of the griffin's attack range but the griffin was gaining on them.
Looking ahead Brandon saw a small stone arch ahead, grinning Brandon came up with a plan. Flying in Skullcrusher neared the top of the arch with the griffin right behind him, but at the last second Brandon jumps off Skullcrusher lands on top of the arch before jumping off and back onto Skullcrusher while the griffin crashed into it.
As the class cheered Sky pumped his fist.
"Nice one Skullcrusher." Brandon said as Skullcrusher growls agreeing with him.
As the griffin recovers from it, he flies after Skullcrusher at full speed.
Readying its claws, it was about to slash Brandon when he activated his shield blocking the attack. He tries to push it back when Toothless lets out a roar and blasts the griffin knocking it away from Brandon as they flew up next to them.
"Thanks a lot." Brandon said when he noticed Ragnar looking ahead towards a cliffside. "I know that look, what are we gonna do?"
"Something stupid." Ragnar said tossing Brandon a dagger. "Follow my lead."
Flying towards the cliffside the griffin is right on their tail when both dragons dive down the cliffs with the griffin diving after them.
Grabbing his cape Ragnar readies one of his daggers. "Ready? Now!" Ragnar cuts his cape with his dagger and uses it like a parachute to shoot up into the air behind the griffin with Brandon right behind him surprising everyone.
The griffin turns his head to see both Specialists slam their swords down on its neck killing it and ending the simulation.
"They did it!" Timmy said as the whole class cheered.
Exiting the simulation Brandon grabbed Ragnar and gave him a noogie.
"You crazy genius that was awesome!" Brandon said as Toothless agrees with him when Timmy, Sky and Riven walk up.
"Way to go Ragnar." Sky said.
"We knew you had it in you." Timmy said.
"Thanks guys." Ragnar said liking this change in treatment when he turns to Riven.
"I guess even you can get lucky once in awhile." Riven said before walking away.
Sighing Ragnar turns back to his other friends who were more supportive.
"That boy and that dragon are going to make quite a team." Saladin said as Helia agreed silently as his eyes moved towards the dragons.
"Yeah…quite a team." Helia said as he walked out of the room.
That night in the stables Ragnar was giving the dragons their dinner. "Alright Toothless eat up, you got me to my second year so you've earned this."
Toothless smiles as he dug in.
"You can't give your dragon all the credit." Ragnar turns to see Helia walking in.
"Oh uh Helia right?" Ragnar said as he nods.
"I saw your exam simulation, you and that dragon put on quite a show." Helia said.
"Thanks." Ragnar said when Barf and Belch stick their heads out and nuzzle Helia causing Ragnar to chuckle.
"Guess they like you." Ragnar chuckles.
"Who are these?" Helia asks.
"That's Barf and the other is Belch, let's just say finding out the names was not fun." Ragnar said.
"Well my grandfather is quite interested in these unique dragons you keep finding." Helia said.
"Yeah, I wish I knew more about these things." Ragnar said as they talked.
Little did they know on the hill overlooking the school Drago Bludvist was watching Ragnar closely.
"So the Night Fury has found a new rider, but unlike the first one this one is could be of use to me." Drago grins evilly.