I got Shadow out of the house just before sunrise so no one would see him. He was a little reluctant but he left anyway, I'll admit that having him in the house gave a feeling of safety.
Also, Hiccup had asked me this morning to come and see his final exam. He said that if he needed help then he needed me and Astrid to be there for him.
The crowd cheered as Stoic gave a speech about how proud he was of Hiccup. "Scared?" I asked as I leant against a wall. "Petrified." He responded and Astrid came in, "Be careful with that dragon." She said. "It's not the dragon I'm worried about." He said. "What are you going to do?" Astrid asked. "I'm going to put an end to this." He replied. "I have to try."
"You guys, if something... goes wrong just make sure that they don't find Toothless." He said, "I will. Just promise me it won't go wrong." Astrid said. I looked away, "I'll do my best."
"Hiccup, it's time. Knock 'em dead." Gobber came in and said. The crowd went wild as Hiccup came out with his Viking helmet on. He went over to the weapons and picked up a shield and small knife.
"I'm ready." He said.
The door to the Nightmare's cage burst open and its entire cage was ablaze along with its body. It roared and scaled the chains at the top of the arena and along the walls. It breathed fire out at the audience and they moved so they didn't get burnt.
The Nightmare slowly stepped towards Hiccup who was taking small steps back, dropping the knife then the shield. The audience was letting out confused grunts and mutterings.
"It's okay." Hiccup said to the Nightmare softly. "I'm not one of them." He finally said. He removed his helmet and threw it aside; the dragon looked at him with interest. The audience gasped. "Stop the fight." Stoic demanded, "No." Hiccup said, "I need you all to see this." He put his hand out to the Nightmare. "They're not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them."
Stoic got up angrily, "I said 'STOP THE FIGHT!'" He shouted and banged his hammer against the railing of the arena. The sound reverberated and startled the Nightmare who was now ready to kill Hiccup. It snapped its jaws at his hand and Hiccup pulled away and began to run.
"Hiccup." I silently gasped and looked around for something to use to open the gate. An axe. "Astrid, step aside." I said, she understood and moved, letting me prop it open. We both squeezed in and Hiccup ran to get another shield but the Nightmare had stomped on the weapon stand, Hiccup ran away again.
Astrid picked up a hammer and tossed it at the Nightmare's head, hitting it square in the jaw and knocking it over a little. I ran to Hiccup and kept him in front of me, making sure that if the dragon attacked from behind then it'd only attack me.
The gate opened and Stoic called "This way!" I ran over there with Hiccup but fire had shot right at the gate that we were about to enter and I ran around it and tossed Hiccup out, I was about to get out as well but the Nightmare grabbed the back of my vest and dragged me back. I slipped it off and began running back again but the Nightmare had pinned me from behind with one of its hind legs.
Was this it? I began reflecting on so much. I reflected on how I defended Hiccup when we were young that one time. The look on my dad's face every time I did anything. The day I met Shadow, the day I patched him up. That time when I tossed Hiccup over to Toothless as they were falling, seeing the dragon's nest. So much had happened and it's going to end like this?
I shut my eyes and waited to be burnt to a crisp but instead I heard a couple of screeches that caused my eyes to shoot open.
A bang hit the side of the arena and filled it with smoke, I felt the weight on my back lift and the sounds of two dragons fighting... wait, there was more than two. I saw the figures through the smoke and began to speed-walk backwards.
The smoke began to clear and there was Toothless and Shadow. Shadow had a grip on the Nightmare's back, digging his claws and fangs into it while Toothless was taking more of a direct approach; biting at the muzzle and swiping at it of sorts. At one point the Nightmare had rolled over and Shadow let go, joining Toothless' side. They spread their wings and screeched at the Nightmare, also making sure that it didn't get around to attack me.
The Nightmare decided that it probably wasn't the best idea to fight the Night Furies and recoiled, drawing back and scurrying away.
Hiccup jumped away from his father and Astrid, running to Toothless. "Toothless, you've gotta get out of here, bud." He said as he pushed on him. "Shadow, you can't stay here." I said, he turned and looked at me. He picked me up on his back and began to fly off but the Vikings that weren't jumping into the arena to get Toothless had tackled Shadow and me to the ground.
Two Vikings were holding me and about five had a hold on Shadow. "Shades, I'm so sorry about this." I said to him. His eyes were apologetic as well. Suddenly the grips on one of the Vikings became too strong and caused me a little pain, making me hiss. Shadow's eyes had changed from apologetic to dangerous. He threw his wings out and tossed one Viking off of his head. There was one that had an axe held to his tail and I saw it come down.
I was being held by two large Vikings on either side of me so there was nothing I could do but watch. But Astrid was able to do something. She tackled the axe away from the Viking and threw it away into the arena. The Vikings were shocked by her actions and loosened their grip a little. Shadow had noticed this and broke from the other two Vikings, snatched me up and tossed me onto his back, grabbed Astrid by her upper arms and flew off.
We flew away from the arena and I reached over, grabbing her hand and hefting her up onto Shadow's back. "I just wanted to thank you." I said. "For what?" She asked. "You pretty much saved Shadow back there when you tackled the axe away from that one Viking."
"What about Toothless and Hiccup?" She asked. "I don't know what to do about them but hopefully something can be figured out." I said honestly. "There's got to be something we can do about this."
Shadow flew into the cove and landed, letting me and Astrid off. "We'll stay here until things die down." I said, scanning the area suspiciously. "How long would that take?" Astrid asked after a moment of silence. "It could be a while." I said and sat down. I patted the space on the rock next to me for Astrid to sit down but she didn't. "I don't think I can. There's a lot going on out there and we're just sitting here." I gave a slow nod, "I understand but we're only waiting for things to subside for now then we'll be able to take action."
We kept in each other's company and waited through the silence. Not even a bird chirped. Shadow waited patiently for the moment we could finally move out. Astrid occasionally cleared her throat and wiped her hair out of her face, she eventually tried to make conversation.
"How've you been lately?" She asked. "I think I'm okay." I said. "What do you think about Hiccup?" She asked. "He's a good friend." I said. "You know what I mean." She said. "I don't have romantic feelings for him any longer." I said. "Any longer?" She asked.
"I got over them a long time ago."
"Yesterday?"
"Maybe." I confessed. "You and Hiccup look really cute together." I said honestly. "Huh?!" She asked with alarm. "You... and Hiccup... look cute... together." I said with emphasis. She gulped a little. "As long as you're both happy then you guys will be fine." I smiled sincerely.
"So... do you have a plan?" I nodded. "Could you tell me at least a little bit of it?" She asked. I scratched the back of my neck, "Truth is, the plan is to ask Hiccup what to do. Hiccup's always been the man with the plan so we wait here then go talk to him. He does his best work when under pressure." I said then Astrid facepalmed.
A short, awkward silence came between us again and I got up, "Should be clear by now." I said as I got on Shadow's back, Astrid got on as well. "Let's go." I said and Shadow raced out of the cove and towards the dock.
It was ridden of any and every ship there and on a nearby cliff stood Hiccup. Shadow flew up to him and landed. Hiccup seemed to be off in his own world again but I can't say that I blame him. Astrid got off of Shadow and was the first to speak.
"Wow, you must feel terrible. You lost your father, your tribe, your best friend." Hiccup wasn't amused. "Thank you for summing that up." He said sarcastically. "Why couldn't I have just killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? It would've been easier for everyone."
"The rest of us would've done it. Why couldn't you?" She asked him, Shadow and I both huffed. "Okay, why couldn't Hiccup do it?" She asked, looking at us and I gave her a thumbs up, Shadow let out a soft huff.
"Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?" He asked. I got off of Shadow and whispered into his ear, "Listen, if Hiccup tells you to do something then do it." I said, Shadow seemed confused but nodded regardless.
"What are you going to do now?" She asked. "Eh, probably something stupid." He responded. "I'm pretty sure that that's been done already." I said, he obviously figured out a plan. "Use Shadow if anyone is in need of convincing." I said and pet Shadow's side. "You guys go wait at the arena." Hiccup said and got on Shadow's back, "Thanks for the lift." He said, "Let's go." He said and Shadow flew off.
"Let's go." Astrid said and I nodded to her.
We were back at the arena and waited for Hiccup. He was there before long on Shadow's back and the other teens followed not too far behind him. Hiccup had gone a reasonable pace to where they could follow and not lose sight.
"Okay, people." I said, "Listen to Hiccup or else Shadow is going to burn you like wood in a fireplace." Shadow bared his teeth in a dark smirk. Hiccup clasped his hands together, "Okay, everyone, here's the plan..." He explained it with detail and the plan seemed perfect. It was which dragon was going to who and they were matched up so well and how they'd use that dragon. Sure, there was a few 'what-if's and 'how-do-you-expect-us-to-do-that's but it was still an amazing plan and a few of the teens nodded to each other.
"Hiccup, release the kraken!" I said and the teens looked at me. Shadow smacked a paw to his face. "The Nightmare, you mean?" He asked. "Yeah." I said.
Hiccup opened the door to the cage and put a hand near the Nightmare's snout. He followed him out, never moving past his hand or showing Hiccup a negative reaction. I had a hand on my hip and smirked at the other teens who were only staring in awe at the scene unfolding in front of them.
I began walking around, releasing the other dragons. The Gronckle was half-asleep, the Zippleback was fighting with itself, the Nadder didn't see me until I moved into her line of sight and she stepped out slowly, and also the Terror who was asleep. "Hey, girl." I said to her and she stretched out then looked at me. "Come on." I said and gestured to the open door.
She walked out and purred. I smiled at her and began to think; she stayed inside of the cage even though she could move in and outside of it freely. She must have felt safer in here since larger dragons couldn't get in to hurt her. She flew away and I watched the poor, lone girl fly off and right before I let go of the doggie-door about twenty other Terrors flew out and I fell to my side while covering my head.
Everyone turned to watch the many Terrors fly away and I sat up, shaking off what just happened. Shadow walked over to me and sniffed me over, making sure I was okay and once he saw that I was, he tossed me onto his back then turned towards Hiccup.
"You're going to need something to help you hold on." Hiccup said once all of the dragons were out. He held out some rope and everyone looked at the dragons.
Everyone was waiting on their dragon and Hiccup was situated with Astrid on the Nadder. They stood at the gate; Hiccup threw a fist in the air. "Let's ride!"