NightStalker quickly spun around and shot into the cloud, seconds later the outline of the skrill has shown in the cloud and another blast of lightning was fired towards them.

"She is about to learn some respect!" NightStalker yelled.

With three powerful wing beats they hurtled up into the clouds. They shot up and let out a torrent of fire forcing the skrill and it's rider out of the clouds. Once they were out in the open NightStalker dived down into the skrill and latched onto it with teeth and claws. As the dragons fought Astrid unclipped from the saddle and tackled the Rus girl off her dragon.

"ARE YOU MAD? WE WILL BOTH FALL TO OUR DEATHS!" Natasha, the Rus girl, screamed.

"No we won't both won't fall and die, you won't live that long, and my dragon will slaughter yours and save me!" Astrid responded as she planted her wrist blade into her heart. "If it was just me you wouldn't die today, but you also threatened my dragon."

As Astrid got closer to the ground NightStalker dived down alongside her so she could climb into the saddle, blood still hot on his scales with small lacerations and puncture wounds. Astrid quickly clipped into the saddle as she saw the skrills body fall to the ground to join it's rider.

"Are you ok, Astrid?" NightStalker asked with a hit of fear.

"Yes I'm ok, but you're hurt. I don't think we should complete with your injury."

"We can not forfeit, one, because we will win, and two, because we do not quit."

"Your right Night, but will you be ok to fly in a race?"

"Some bandages tonight and I will be ok in the morning."

"Ok, let's land so I can get some stuff for your injuries."

"Ok but be quick I don't want anything to happen again."

"Ok I'll be five minutes top."

As soon as they landed in the town square the entire tribe and the visiting tribes swarmed around them.

"What happened?" Hiccup yelled as he entered the small clear spot that NightStalker's snarling kept open.

"That Rus girl just came out of nowhere and attacked us. So me and Night fought back and killed them both…" Astrid responded.

"You what?" Hiccup asked in shock.

"I've had enough of this we are going to get to your home so we can both rest. Now" NightStalker said in a low voice. Astrid climbed back on her dragon and with one mighty leap they were in the air and NightStalker was flapping his wings propelling them across the village.

They quickly got to Astrid's house and closed the doors behind them running to her room. As Astrid started to wrap NightStalkers wounds her parents got there and were pressing her for details.

"Mom, Dad, please let it go. I already said everything I have to say about it."

"Astrid, we aren't mad, we just want to know what happened so you can tell us," her mother pressed.

"OUT I WILL NOT HAVE YOU QUESTIONING MY RIDER!" NightStalker roared.

Astrid's father drew a sword at the dragons sudden roar, "That dragon will be staying outside from now on," her father spat out of anger at the dragon who roared at his wife in his house.

"Fine I won't be here either , I might just leave Berk all together once this competition is over!" Astrid screamed at her parents before hopping on NightStalker and bounding off into the night sky.

With tears streaming down her face and the cold wind cutting at her skin Astrid flew on into the night not caring if she slept or not or even if she made it home.

"We must return to win the competition Astrid, it is expected of us."

"I know Night let's go back but I'm not going home again I would rather sleep under your wings outside all year round than have my father raise a sword at you."

"I will gladly keep you safe and warm under my wings whenever you want, you are my rider and closest friend and I am here for you and only you," NightStalker said while thinking "now that she wants to leave Berk I have to try and establish a soul bond now so we can travel all nine realms."

"Come on it's time to go back and win that competition NightStalker then we can travel the world!" Astrid roared with sudden glee.

Astrid and NightStalker did a lazy roll in the sky before suddenly rocketing back to the island for the final competition.

"ALL RIDERS FOR THE FINAL COMPETITION IN THE RING WITH DRAGONS ON THE LEDGE!" Gobber yelled and the excitement was building up.

As everyone got to their positions Astrid thought "Ok, I got this. It's only Hiccup and Samal, and NightStalker has my back in the second half." She closed her eyes took a deep breath and then heard "BEGIN" giving an immediate signal to start running. They were all running forward as fast as they could. Astrid's mind was racing. The first obstacle swinging logs. Astrid slid under the first one kicked off the ground and over the next log to land and roll under the last one to stand and run to the cliff. The sea stack that the dragons are on is about three ship lengths away from shore. Astrid and Samal dove off the cliff around the same time while Hiccup jumped off and glided half way there a few seconds after them. Astrid was a strong swimmer but arrived at the sea stack a little bit after Hiccup who was a third up the sea stack already. As Astrid was climbing just reaching halfway Hiccup was getting close to the top and Samal just got to the stack. Samal having grown up in an area with only rocks and sand was an expert climber on stone and quickly reached the top along with both Astrid and Hiccup who arrived at the top at the same time. Astrid sprinted to NightStalker and did a quick lock in and take off. Astrid was right behind Hiccup on the way off the sea stack. As they raced through the maze of stacks marked with paint NightStalker and Astrid closed the gap.

"Astrid, I have a move that could gain us the lead but you need to jump off at a massive speed and it will be underhanded to win. I can't ride lightning here because all the rocks." NightStalker said while thinking "When I save her from the dive it should spark a soul connection."

"Ok Night, but how will it help and how will you have time to loop around and catch me?" Astrid asked.

"Just trust me and it will work out."

"I haven't trusted anyone without a good reason to trust them and I'm not getting a good reason right now, but I will this time."

NightStalker went into a steep dive and Astrid unclipped and jumped. As NightStalker dove below the waves less than a second later Astrid continued to fall. Hiccup and Toothless did a spin and a dive to catch her as she fell but seconds before they got to her NightStalker burst out of the ocean with and electric blue glow down his spine and the leading edge of his wings catching Astrid and taking the lead as Toothless and Hiccup pulled out of their dive.

"YOU DID IT NIGHT!" Astrid screamed as they flew to the finish.

"WE DID IT!" he roared out "We can do anything!"

As they landed the crowd burst into cheers. They walked to the winner's circle to receive the prize and recognition for winning and began to feel an itch in the back of their minds. As Astrid accepted the reward and the praise as the best rider in the land she continued to scratch the mental itch.

"Congratulations lass," Gobber said, "you and er' dragon did it!" Astrid looked and NightStalker and they both blinked before collapsing on the floor.