This isn't exactly a long chapter either...

Anyway, read it, review it, and read it again, just for good measure. :D

The whole town had turned out for the final exam. Hiccup stood in the little tunnel leading to the ring, Astrid right behind him. Neither of them said a word.

Stoik was giving a speech on how proud he was of his son. With every word of praise Hiccup's face darkened. Towards the end of his speech, Astrid put a hand on his shoulder.

"Be careful with that dragon," She said absentmindedly.

Astrid noticed the involuntary look he gave his father. "It's not the dragon I'm worried about."

"What are you gonna do?" It seemed like the simplest question in the world, but appropriate.

"Put an end to this," Hiccup said darkly. Astrid gave him a shocked look. "Look, I have to try! Astrid," He grabbed her by the shoulders. "If something goes wrong, just make sure they don't find Toothless!"

Astrid's eyes widened as she realized she may never see him again...alive. "I...I will. Just...promise me it won't go wrong!"

He bit his lip and looked straight into her eyes. He looked as though he was about to say something -

"It's time, Hiccup!" Gobber poked his head inside the tunnel. Hiccup gave her one last worried look and walked into the ring. "Knock 'em dead."

Astrid backed off as the door descended in front of her, barring the entrance, with Gobber beside her. Hiccup stood, ready for his opponent to emerge.

Three agonizing seconds later and the Nightmare burst from it's pen, already alight. Astrid gasped and gripped the bars of the door, her pulse racing and her head spinning. Gobber put his good hand on her shoulder, squeezed it, then went off to rejoin Stoik.

The Nightmare did not seem to be in a good mood. Astrid's knuckles went white as it circled Hiccup, snarling and threatening. The crowd cheered and his father looked expectant.

How can they cheer? Don't they know what's at stake?

The dragon leaped up onto the chains enclosing the arena and the fire it had conjured up was out. Hiccup had done it again, and this time with very little effort on his part. The dragon slowly and calmly made it's way down the side of the arena and padded up to Hiccup, who had dropped his axe and shield to the side.

"That's it, that's it..." She heard him mutter. He put up his hands and stood his ground, which subdued it further. The crowd hushed and whispered, and Astrid herself was confused. His fingertips were tantalizingly close to the tamed dragon's muzzle, which he held there. The air was tense and the crowd was silent.

"I'm not one of them," She heard Hiccup pronounce darkly. He removed the horned helmet he wore and threw it to the side, where it landed with a clatter.

"What?" Astrid gasped. Stoik said something to Gobber beside him, who gave him a frightened look.

"Stop the fight," Stoik called loudly.

"No! I need you to see this!" Hiccup yelled. "They're not what we think they are! We don't have to kill them."

The crowd let out a collective breath and Astrid panicked. This won't go over well, oh no, oh no oh no!

"I said stop the fight!" Stoik slammed the railing with his hammer, sending shock waves through the villagers...and the dragon.

It went through an instant transformation. Suddenly, it was angrier than ever and went bolting after -

"Hiccup!"

Astrid looked around and noticed an axe hanging on the wall nearby. She grabbed it, jammed it under the door and wrenched it upward, blade-side down. The door opened a small amount, enough for her to slide through.

The dragon was relentless; she finally picked up a hammer lying nearby. Astrid swung the hammer around and threw it at the Nightmare, where it hit and made a loud thud. "Uh oh..."

The Nightmare changed direction and took off after her. She skidded around a pile of rubble and slid far to the right.

"This way!" Stoik had thrown open another door and was waving the teens in frantically. Astrid was the first to make it, but Hiccup's way was blocked by a furiously shot fireball from the deranged Nightmare.

"No, Hiccup!" She screamed, much to Stoik's surprise.

Hiccup took off running, but tripped just before he could get away. The Nightmare's claws trapped him like a horrific cage.

"No!" Astrid strained against the arm Stoik threw across her path. She struggled and managed to push him off just in time for one of the audience member's to scream something she never thought would bring her so much relief:

"Night Fury!"

I love ending chapters on a high note!

Wait...no I don't...

NOTE: Sorry guys, but vacation time is here. I won't have a chance to update for a week, but if I can get some internet action out there I'll be sure to post more!