A/N: Fair warning, yes, I skipped a couple of scenes. I was lazy and those scenes were too boring to write out good reactions. So I'm skipping right to the good parts!

Hiccup: "You know, I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book? Or a sequel? Maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?"

Astrid was already cracking up. Hiccup turned to her, amused.

"Oh this makes so much more sense!" She laughed hysterically. "I admit it, Hiccup, I was hardcore judging you at the time. I thought you were so weird! Like, why in the world would you be standing around asking about Night Furies when you couldn't even defend yourself against a Nadder?! And now I totally get it!"

She continued to laugh, her face red from the hysterics. Hiccup chuckled along with her, mostly amused by how much she was laughing.

(KABLAM! A blast takes the axe head off of Hiccup's hilt, leaving a smoking hole behind him. Hiccup YELPS and RUNS.)

Gobber: "FOCUS Hiccup! You're not even trying."

(CUT BACK to reveal a Deadly Nadder, loose in a maze-like arrangement of moveable walls. Gobber calls orders from above.)

"Look Stormfly!" Astrid exclaimed excitedly to her dragon. "This is your day!" The Nadder squawked in excitement as well.

Gobber: "Today... is all about attack. (The Nadder hops from wall to wall, sending the recruits scurrying.) Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

(The teens move in, stumbling over Hiccup and his unwieldy shield. The Nadder spots Fishlegs' running around a corner and it whips its tail of spikes. Fishlegs SCREAMS and stumbles into the walls)

Fishlegs: "I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods!"

Gobber: "Look for its blind spot. Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike."

(Ruff and Tuff rush in, diving and rolling up to the Nadder's nose. The Nadder sniffs the air - it can't see them. Tuff and Ruff are smashed together - too close for comfort.)

Ruffnut: "Do you ever bathe?"

Tuffnut: "If you don't like it, then just get your own blind spot."

Ruffnut: "How 'bout I give you one!"

(Ruff and Tuff shove each other, till their movement and noise gives them away. The Nadder attacks, blasting hot flames at them.)

"Atta girl, Stormfly!" Astrid cheered.

Gobber: "Blind spot? Yes. Deaf spot? Not so much. He he he…"

(Hiccup wanders up to Gobber, while the others dart past.)

Hiccup: "Hey, so how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?"

Gobber: "No one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Now get in there!"

Hiccup: "I know, I know, but hypothetically..."

Astrid was laughing loudly again, along with the others.

"No one's ever met one?" Fishlegs grinned. "Oh how wrong you are, Gobber."

"Hypothetically!" Astrid gasped, struggling to catch her breath. "Oh Thor, this is so funny! I can't breathe!"

"Were you planning to sneak up on Toothless?" Tuffnut asked blandly. "Why would you need to know how to sneak up on a Night Fury?"

If possible, Astrid laughed even harder. She was practically falling on the floor. Even Toothless laughed at that.

Astrid: (quietly) "Hiccup!" (mouthing) 'Get down.'

(Astrid somersaults into the Nadder's blind spot, followed by Snotlout, and then Hiccup, who clumsily falls out of his somersault, catching the dragon's attention. The Nadder squawks and then chases him across the maze walls. The Nadder spots Astrid and lands in front of her. Astrid rears back to strike - just as Snotlout leaps in, protectively sweeping Astrid behind him.)

Snotlout: "Watch out babe. I'll take care of this."

Astrid: "Hey!"

(Snotlout misses. Astrid glares at him. The Nadder makes several short squawking sounds)

"Look, Snotlout," Astrid said. "Even Stormfly was laughing at your lame attempt to throw a mace." Stormfly squawked behind her rider and Astrid hugged the dragon's horn. "I love you, girl," she smiled happily. "You were always on my side, weren't you?"

Snotlout: "The sun was in my eyes, Astrid. What do you want me to do, block out the sun? I could do that, but I don't have time right now!"

(The Nadder tears off after her, knocking down walls in pursuit. She leaps and dives like a highly trained gymnast. Hiccup wanders up to Gobber again.)

Hiccup: "They probably take the daytime off. You know, like a cat. Has anyone ever seen one napping?"

"Napping," Astrid chuckled with an amused grin.

Gobber: (as walls are collapsing) "Hiccup!"

(Hiccup spins around to see the maze walls collapsing like dominos toward him. Astrid comes flying through the dust – )

Astrid: "Hicccahhh!"

( – and she crash-lands on top of him, laying him out in a limb-tangled mess.)

"Oh this was really awkward," Astrid cringed.

"Yeah," Hiccup agreed in a low voice.

Hiccup and Astrid both leaned away from each other uncomfortably in their seats, pointedly not looking at one another.

Tuffnut: "Oooh! Love on the battlefield!"

Ruffnut: "She could do better."

(The Nadder closes in, emerging through the cloud of dust.)

Hiccup: (struggling to untangle) "Just... let me... why don't you... "

(The Nadder spins around and races back toward them like a Raptor. Astrid untangles herself and tries to pull her axe from Hiccup's shield... which is attached to his limp, gangly arm.)

Hiccup: "Ow – ow – ow!"

(She PLANTS her foot on his face and YANKS the axe free, still burrowed into the shield. She SPINS and SWINGS the axe and shield, scoring a DIRECT HIT on the oncoming Nadder's NOSE. It yelps and scurries off.)

"I'm sorry, girl," Astrid rubbed her dragon's nose lovingly. "I would never do that to you now." The dragon hummed her forgiveness.

Gobber: "Well done, Astrid."

(Gobber hobbles off to wrestle the Nadder back into his cave. Hiccup is on the ground curled in a ball. Astrid glares at him, winded.)

Astrid: "Is this some kind of a joke to you? Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on."

Hiccup gave Astrid a sideways glance and smirked. "Thanks for the advice, Astrid. As always."

Astrid looked at him, the surprised realization showing on her face. "Oh my gods," she smiled. "I was not saying that to you as advice!" She laughed.

"But it was good advice!" He laughed as well. She gave him a teasing punch in the arm.

(Cuts to THE COVE. A fish... being thrown into the cove. It hits the ground and slides. A moment later, Hiccup peeks through a gap in the rock, holding a shield and looking around cautiously. Nothing. He takes a step forward, and his shield gets wedged in between the rocks, unable to fit through the gap. He ducks underneath the shield and tries to tug the shield free, unsuccessfully.)

"Really smooth, Hiccup," Snotlout jabbed. "I'm sure Toothless thought you were so sneaky," he joked sarcastically.

Toothless snorted.

(Hiccup picks up the fish from the ground and walks cautiously into the cove. The Night Fury can be seen crouched on a rock like a stealthy panther)

Hiccup grinned, excited about watching this part. He eyed Toothless, and the boy and dragon shared a look. Everyone else had gone quiet, staring attentively at the screen in anticipation.

(Hiccup turns to see the Night Fury as it descends, approaching him... ready to pounce. Hiccup backs away. He swallows his fear and offers the fish. Doing so reveals the dagger at his waist. The dragon sees it and hisses. Hiccup reaches for it, eliciting a growl. He pauses, carefully lifts it by the handle, and tosses it away. The dragon shakes his head to the side, gesturing for him to move the weapon farther away. Hiccup picks up the dagger with his foot and tosses it into the pond. The dragon sits up and gives him a quizzical look)

(Hiccup offers the fish again. As the dragon approaches the fish, Hiccup notices that it's missing teeth.)

Hiccup: "Huh. Toothless. I could've sworn you had..." (A set of razor sharp teeth emerge from its gums to grab the fish. Toothless snatches and gnashes it up, swallowing it.) "... teeth."

There was a half a beat of silence and then –

Everyone in the audience exploded at once, making Hiccup jump in his seat.

"OH MY THOR!"

"That's why – ?!"

"You're kidding me –! "

"Whaaaat!"

"HICCUP HADDOCK!"

Hiccup and Toothless both burst out laughing.

(The teeth retract again and the dragon licks his lips. Toothless presses closer with an expectant look. Hiccup retreats nervously.)

Hiccup: "Uh, no, no. No, I don't have any more."

(The Night Fury backs Hiccup against a rock, placing himself the same position as before. The dragon closes in over him, staring blankly. A tense moment passes... then Toothless regurgitates a chunk of fish onto Hiccup's lap.)

Hiccup: "Ugh."

"Some things don't change," Hiccup murmured with a smile.

(Toothless sits back on his haunches and they exchange stares. The dragon glances down at the fish in Hiccup's lap, and Hiccup realizes what he wants him to do.)

"You didn't," Snotlout said.

"Doesn't look like he has much of a choice!" Ruffnut laughed, enjoying this far too much.

(Hiccup squeamishly picks it up. The dragon waits expectantly. Hiccup gags and gnaws off a bite of the slimy fish.)

The audience members all gagged along with the on-screen Hiccup.

Hiccup: (holding out the fish, the bite still sitting in his mouth) "Mm-mm!"

(Toothless swallows)

Hiccup: "Mm!" (he manages to gag down the raw fish)

"Oh that is so gross!" Fishlegs gagged.

"I'd do it," Tuffnut said. "Anytime."

(Toothless licks his lips – is it good? – Hiccup forces a smile. Toothless mimics him.)

"Aw, Toothless!" Astrid grinned at the dragon in the audience. Toothless responded with a look that said, 'it was incredibly awkward at the time, but I don't mind it now.' Astrid laughed at his funny expression.

(Amazed, Hiccup sits up and tries to touch him. Toothless hisses and flaps off to a crash on the other side of the cove. He blasts the mossy ground to a red-hot temperature and curls up on it like a giant dog. The dragon spots a bird flying from a tree and watches it longingly. He turns to find Hiccup seated beside him. Toothless groans and wraps his tail in front of his face, tolerating his presence. Hiccup is persistent and scoots closer, trying to touch his damaged tail. Toothless sees him and Hiccup quickly takes the hint and leaves.)

"Oh my gosh this is so sweet," Astrid commented with a smile. "It took Toothless some time to warm up to you, huh?"

"Yeah," Hiccup grinned. "I stuck around all day waiting for him to come around."

(The image shifts to show the cove later in the day. Toothless wakes, hanging upside down from a tree. He spots Hiccup sitting on the other side of the cove. Sketching in the sand. CLOSE ON a sketch of Toothless. Hiccup draws with a stick, minding his own business. Toothless appears behind him, watching carefully. Aware of his presence, Hiccup continues, trying not to scare him off.)

Toothless gargled excitedly and stood up, remembering what was going to happen next. He started leaping around in front of the screen on the wall, doing a happy dance. Hiccup laughed out loud. "Toothless!" He exclaimed happily. "I know, I loved this too, bud! But you gotta sit down, so the others can watch."

Toothless grinned sheepishly and walked back over to where Hiccup sat. The boy embraced his dragon with a bright smile.

(Toothless walks off. A moment later, he reappears with an entire sapling, drawing lines in the sand. He rushes here and there, making haphazard lines in every direction. Finally, Toothless drops the tree and inspects his work. He seems pleased.)

"Toothless the artista!" Tuffnut pronounced dramatically. "Who would have thought?"

(Hiccup stands and takes in the sprawling scribble, amazed by it. He accidentally steps onto one of the lines, eliciting an instant growl from Toothless. He steps on it again. Toothless growls again.)

Tuffnut gasped theatrically. "Hiccup!" He mock scolded. "How could you! You horribly insensitive – can't you see that this is a beautiful work of art?!"

Toothless grunted in agreement, and everyone laughed.

(Hiccup steps carefully between each line, turning round and round until he unwittingly bumps into Toothless. Toothless snorts. Once again, they're face to face. Hiccup slowly extends his hand, wanting very much to touch the dragon. Toothless gives a warning growl, and Hiccup pulls his hand back)

"Ooooh!" Fishlegs squealed, bouncing excitedly in his chair. "He's gonna do the hand thing!"

(Hiccup turns his head away and closes his eyes. There is a moment of complete stillness, Then, to his amazement, Toothless bridges the gap and presses his muzzle against Hiccup's hand. In a flash, the dragon is gone, leaving Hiccup astounded.)

"I cannot believe," Astrid said, "that all of this happened without us having a clue!"

"You're telling me, sister," Tuffnut replied. "I was busy thinking up ways to make Zippleback gas explode inside the dragon's stomach while this was going on."

"And I was thinking up ways to make Zippleback gas explode inside of Tuffnut's stomach while this was going on," Ruff said.

"Whoa," Tuffnut looked at his sister, astonished. "Is that even possible?"

"I don't know, maybe we should try it."

"Hiccup, why didn't you just tell someone?" Snotlout asked. "Your dad wasn't even around at this point. Did you really think that if you told… Fishlegs, about your dragon, he would have tried to kill him?"

"What is that supposed to mean?" Fishlegs retaliated.

"I'm just saying, I think if we had all gotten a chance to meet Toothless, and seen how unthreatening he really is, none of us would have minded."

Hiccup looked at Snotlout thoughtfully, considering him. "It's possible you're right," Hiccup said. "But it was all really new for me too, you know? And Toothless was…" he ran his hand over the dragon's nose, "well, he was mine. And I think a part of me really didn't want to share him with anyone at that point."

"That's totally understandable," Astrid agreed. "But out of everyone, I got to meet him first," she bragged to the others.

"You didn't give me much of a choice," Hiccup reminded her.

"Guys, don't give it all away!" Fishlegs said. "I want to wait until we see it to know what happened!"

And so the story continues…