Hiccup felt his tribe staring at them as they moved towards the bench and paused. He felt Toothless nudge him and looked over. Toothless smiled at him. Hiccup returned the smile. They walked on. Gyda snapped her fingers and the bench extended. Gyda then turned to Hiccup and gestured to the bench. Hiccup frowned. Gyda snorted.

[Brother, she's letting you pick where you wish to sit.]

"Oh."

Hiccup moved, sitting on the left side of the bench, away from the barrier. He wanted Toothless to sit beside him and knew it would unnerve his dragon brother to sit close to the barrier. Toothless moved back to his spot by the bench. Gyda looked to Astrid and gestured to the bench. Hiccup heard Toothless snort softly. He did not have a chance to ask as Astrid sat down beside him. He stared, speechless, barely noticing when Fishlegs sat on Astrid's other side. Gyda walked in front of them and faced his tribe.

"I hope the food was sufficient," she said before looking at Snotlout. "And I hope your hand heals well. We shall return to the message now. It will restart with Hiccup in the ring with the Nightmare. Do remember the sound you heard and the reactions you had. They are important."

Gyda turned, sitting back down, on Fishlegs' right side. The dragons all moved to their spots, though the female Nadder now sat in front of Hiccup and Astrid. The female Gronkle claimed the spot in front of Fishlegs. The male Gronkle lay in front of Gyda. The Terror returned to Hiccup's lap. Frostfire climbed into Gyda's lap. Palewing looked up at Fishlegs, head tilted.

[May I sit in your lap, youngling?] she asked.

"Yes," Fishlegs squeaked.

Palewing carefully climbed up and curled up in Fishlegs lap. Hiccup watched, smiling as Fishlegs began to gently pet her, earning a delighted coo from Palewing. Fishlegs looked up at Hiccup, his jaw dropped. Hiccup nodded his head, knowing what Fishlegs was feeling. The rest of the dragons arrayed themselves behind the bench with Shadowfire once more sitting behind his mother. Gyda looked around and then snapped her fingers.

The images restarted. Stoick stood, slamming the hammer onto the arena's chain dome. It bent under the force of his fury.

/I said stop the fight!/

The Nightmare's eyes slitted. He snapped at Hiccup. Hiccup screamed. He ran. The Nightmare flamed the area Hiccup had been standing. He chased after Hiccup.

The images shifted. Toothless' ear plates stood on end. He jerked awake from his nap. The images moved back to the arena. Hiccup scrambled to avoid the irate Nightmare. Stoick pushed Vikings aside, heading for the ring entrance. Astrid gripped the bars of the gate.

/Hiccup!/

She ripped an axe off the wall and levered the gate up. She squeezed through. The images shifted to show Toothless trying to climb out of the cove. He failed twice then his claw dug into the lip. The images returned to the arena. Hiccup continued to run from the Nightmare. He tried to grab a shield. The Nightmare tipped the weapon rack over. Hiccup bolted. The images showed Toothless tearing through the woods. The images returned to the arena. Stoick yanked the first gate up. He descended the ramp. Astrid, now in the ring, yelled for Hiccup. She kicked up a hammer. She hurled it. It cracked the Nightmare's skull. The Nightmare faced her. Stoick reached the second gate.

/This way!/

Hiccup and Astrid raced for the exit. Stoick pulled Astrid out. The Nightmare spat fire above Hiccup's head. He ducked, moving away. The Nightmare caught him, trapping him in his talons. A piercing roar echoed.

/Night Fury! Get down!/

Toothless bounced over Vikings. He blasted the chain dome. He dove into the hole. Through the smoke everyone watched Toothless battle the Nightmare. They rolled. The Nightmare snapped at Toothless. Toothless, on his back, clawed and then kicked the Nightmare off. The Nightmare circled, snapping at Toothless. Toothless, now on his feet, snarled. He swiped at the Nightmare. The Nightmare relented and ran away. Hiccup jumped up, grabbing Toothless.

/Alright. Toothless, go. Get out of here./

Vikings poured into the ring. Toothless snarled. Stoick grabbed an axe and advanced.

/Stoick no!/

He did not listen to Astrid.

/Dad! No! He won't hurt you!/

He did not listen to Hiccup. Vikings surrounded Toothless. He fought them off with his wings and tail.

/No. Don't. You're only making it worse!/

Stoick lifted the axe. Toothless met his charge. They rolled. The axe flung from Stoick's grip. Toothless stared down. Gas built in his throat.

/No!/

Toothless swallowed the gas, looking at Hiccup. A Viking punched him. They ripped him off Stoick and pinned him. Astrid grabbed Hiccup, pulling him back.

/No! Please… just don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him./

Stoick stood. A Viking handed him the axe. He stared at Toothless before shoving the axe back.

/Put it with the others!/

Gyda held up a hand. "Hold a moment, Mrs. Hofferson. You all need to see what comes next. Stoick, pay attention, please."

Hiccup blinked. Though she said please her tone held a growl. Hiccup leaned forward. Gyda just pointed to the walls. He turned back. The images showed Stoick tossing Hiccup to the Great Hall floor before slamming the door partially closed.

/I should have known. I should have seen the signs.

Dad.

We had a deal!

I know we did.. but that was before.. ugh, it's all so messed up.

So everything in the ring. A trick? I lie?

I screwed up. I should have told you before now. Take this out on me. Be mad at me, but please, just don't hurt Toothless!

The dragon? That's what you're worried about? Not the people you almost killed?!

He was just protecting me. He's not dangerous!

They've killed hundreds of us!

And we've killed thousands of them! They defend themselves, that's all! They raid us because they have to! If they don't bring back enough food, they'll be eaten themselves! There's something on their island, dad. It's a dragon like-

Their island? So you've been to the nest?

Did I say nest?

How did you find it?

No.. I didn't. Toothless did. Only a dragon can find the nest./

Stoick straighten. His eyes narrowed. Hiccup jerked as Stoick stomped towards the door.

/Oh, no! No, Dad, no!/

Hiccup chased after him.

/Dad, it's not what you think. You don't know what you're up against. It's like nothing you've ever seen./

He grabbed Stoick's arm.

/Dad, please. I promise you can't win this one. Dad, for once in your life will you please just listen to me?!/

Stoick threw Hiccup to the floor. He spun, glowing down at him.

/You've thrown your lot in with them. You're not a Viking. You're not my son./

Stoick turned and headed for the door, bellowing.

/Ready the ships!/

Stoick stopped on the steps just outside the Great Hall. He shook himself and walked on. Hiccup, watching, dropped his head. He heard several stomping feet and felt the Terror leave his lap. He looked up, finding all the dragons, except Shadowfire, Frostfire, and Palewing standing in a line down the barrier wall. Toothless stood in the middle across from Stoick.

[Were this barrier not here,] Toothless growled, [we would kill you.]

Hiccup went to stand but Astrid placed a hand on his arm. He stared at her. She shook her head. Hiccup glared at her. He had to stop the dragons. Astrid shook her head again. She stood and moved around to stand near to Toothless.

"Can you all please go back to Hiccup?" she asked softly. "He needs you."

Toothless curled his neck and stared at her for several moments before he nodded his head. He gave a strange sounding warble-hiss and walked back to Hiccup. The other dragons followed him. Astrid turned and stared across the barrier at Stoick.

"Why would you hit that bar, chief? Why would you put Hiccup in that much danger? He had that dragon calm. How did you not see that? No one was in danger until you spooked the Nightmare. How could you endanger us? How could you endanger your son?"

"Not his son no more!" Mildew crowed.

"Shut up, old man!" Byrnjar growled.

Astrid did not blink or turn her gaze from Stoick. "Why, chief?"

Stoick did not answer her. Astrid shook her head and moved away from the barrier. She walked back, sitting beside Hiccup once more. She placed a gentle hand upon Hiccup's arm.

"Even if this comes to pass," she said, "I am following you."

Hiccup sat, stunned and unable to speak. Her comment meant she would exile herself before letting him leave Berk alone. He could not believe it. Gyda speaking made Hiccup grateful. He had no idea what to say to Astrid. A simple form of spoken gratitude was not enough to convey all he felt.

rpglady76: Since you were partially right, how about we split that bet and call it a wash? ;) :p

S.H: Um, hehe, you're making it difficult not to give too much away. I will say this, as the countries are now in our world, is not how they are in Gyda's world. Uh, for reasons I can't divulge right now, me posting something else will probably not work. You'll understand at the end of this. Trust me. ;)