The Nest and the Arena

Toothless' POV

The next time I saw Jaiden, he looked discouraged.

"Hey buddy, I can tell you anything right?" Jaiden asked.

I nodded my approval, desperately hoping he wouldn't go on about Mina.

"I hope you don't kill me for this," Jaiden said. He smiled wryly. "Or maybe it would be better to end my misery."

I wouldn't kill him. Right now, he was my only way of surviving.

"Its dragon training." He paused. "I never told you. I was forced to train to fight dragons."

I gave him a wary look, but he somehow… Looked defeated.

"They're making me kill a dragon tomorrow and I don't want to," He said.

He squeezed his eyes shut. "I try to remember all the pain after losing Mina and remembering so badly to want revenge, but its gone. I can't do it."

He looked at me sadly. "I discovered stuff about you that I never knew and I don't feel so angry."

I growled slightly. He was mentioning that Mina again. That name repulsed me so.

"Yeah, I don't blame you for thinking that buddy," Jaiden said, "But I can't help thinking that if Mina were here and watching me, she wouldn't want me to kill a dragon for her."

I looked at him warily.

"I think I'll have to run away," Jaiden said, "And you're coming with. I can't live with something that puts me in this situation."

I growled suddenly, but it wasn't because of what Jaiden was saying any longer. It was because I noticed the presence of another human.

"Run away? Who are you talking to?"

Jaiden jumped and turned to the intruder.

"Leaf!" He exclaimed, "What are you doing here? How did you find me?"

"I want to know what's going on," She said.

Something glinted and I saw an axe in her hands.

I growled fiercely and jumped at her.

There was no way I was going to give her a chance to use that.

I pinned her down, ignoring Jaiden's protests. I roared in her face and she started screaming.

"Toothless!" Jaiden said sharply.

I looked at him and glared.

"Don't startle him," Jaiden said to Leaf.

I almost felt like laughing.

"I'm startling him!" Leaf yelled, "What is your problem Jaiden? What are you doing with a Night Fury. Wait until I tell everyone."

"Don't," Jaiden said quickly, "He won't harm you if you're gentle."

Leaf hissed.

"Toothless, get off her," Jaiden commanded.

I shot him a glare for thinking he was in charge of me and Leaf sprinted away.

"We're dead if she tells," Jaiden said.

He climbed on my back and urged me forwards to fly.

I grudgingly chased after Leaf and picked her up, causing her to scream like she was being murdered.

I dropped her in a tall tree and landed on top, causing her to shriek as she fell slightly, clinging with her hands.

"Please Leaf," Jaiden said, "Just let me show you what I mean."

"I'm not listening," Leaf said loudly.

What Jaiden wanted to do with this rude girl, I had no idea.

Was this his love interest?

After arguing and yelling and more screaming that I paid no attention to, Leaf finally climbed onto my back.

Jaiden was one thing, Leaf was another. I didn't want her to ride me.

And I would teach them both a lesson.

"Toothless, come on buddy, get us down, gently," Jaiden said, patting the side of my head and leaning to whisper, "be nice and I'll give you double fish."

The offer was tempting, however bribery wouldn't get him what he wanted this time. I would show Leaf that I wasn't something to mess around with and I would show Jaiden that he couldn't boss me around.

I expanded my wings, letting them believe for a moment that I was going to do as he said before I shot into the air.

Leaf's screams filled my ears, but I didn't mind listening to her horror.

She was going to learn that you had to be nice to a dragon to get them to be nice back.

After spinning, dipping and making Leaf scream until I was sure she had no voice left she finally closed her eyes tightly.

"I'm sorry," She said desperately, "I'm sorry. Jaiden, get me off."

"Toothless, I'm begging you," jaiden said, "Please stop."

Now that was more like it.

Satisfied they had learnt their lessons, I smoothened my flight out and glided over the water.

I heard Leaf gasp.

"I know," Jaiden said, "It's amazing. Really."

"We're flying on a dragon," Leaf said, sounding shocked.

"I think Mina would've loved this," Jaiden said softly, causing me to slap him again.

"I think she would've," Leaf said, "But she's gone for good."

Finally, someone who could tell him straight.

"Don't say that," Jaiden said, holding up a hand, "I have to believe she escaped or I will drive myself insane."

I slapped him again, but not as hard. The slap was for mentioning her. The softness… Was because I felt sorry for him.

Leaf laughed. "I don't think your dragon likes Mina."

I could almost visualise Jaiden rolling his eyes. "Every time I mention her name, he slaps me. I think he's jealous I have a different best friend."

I slapped him once more for good measures, but suddenly, I felt myself being pulled.

I could feel myself being drawn to the nest and I couldn't resist. The queen. Was… Calling.

I roared slightly in protest, but my body was not going to obey as I ended up in the swarm of dragons as the hauled their kill back to the queen.

Internally I panicked. I didn't want to go back. This was wrong. This was where bad memories were. I had gotten out and I didn't want to go back.

"Toothless," Jaiden said fearfully.

But I couldn't do anything. The queen had complete control now and I couldn't even warn him.

I landed in the nest and moved to hide. With all the self restraint I could manage, I held my position.

"Its the nest," Leaf said.

"Mina told me never to come here," Jaiden said quietly.

Mina had a good point, Jaiden.

"They're just dumping the food down a hole," Leaf said in disbelief.

That wasn't just a hole.

I watched a Gronckle fly in and hover over the hole. It opened its mouth and spit out a tiny fish.

I winced. That wouldn't be enough. And I was right. Red Death shot up and snapped its jaws around the Gronckle.

All the dragons cowered and then started to flee as Red death lost its control on the dragons.

"What is that?" Leaf asked quietly.

That, was the reason dragons had to get food. Or they would be eaten.

"Toothless, we need to get out," Jaiden said urgently.

I mustered all my own control and shot out, barely avoiding Red Death's teeth.

I landed and took a long drink as Leaf and Jaiden talked.

Hopefully now they would understand at least why they should never go to the nest.

That was the very reason that Jaiden no longer had Mina.

Jaiden's POV

I stood in the ring. Reggie had given me so many boosts of confidence. Paul had simply told me not to die. And then I was shoved in.

The whole village was watching me in this moment.

If everything worked out, I could show them that the dragons weren't dangerous.

However, I was concerned about my dad, who had been so hyped up about me killing this dragon.

I went to the stand and grabbed a dagger and a shield. That was all I needed.

"I would've gone with the hammer," I heard my dad mutter to Reggie.

"He seems to do well with little weapons," Reggie replied.

I was wondering why I had to do this. Hadn't anyone noticed that I never attacked the dragons. I only made them go back to their cages without using violence at all. Why did anyone think I could kill this dragon in the first place?

I looked up to see Harley was cheering for me and I grimaced at him.

… He was wearing a ridiculous cheerleader's outfit and was waving pompoms around. Beside him, May and Ash shot me helpless looks and Ash gave me a large grin and a thumbs up.

Leaf cheered at me, giving me a concerned look.

Gary glared slightly and I rolled my eyes.

What was he getting jealous over? I had no romantic intentions towards 'his girl'.

"I'm ready," I said.

The cage was opened and the Monstrous Nightmare burst out, instantly setting itself on fire and dashing around.

I closed my eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, the dragon was prowling towards me.

I dropped my dagger and then my shield and held my hands up in a way that told the dragon I wasn't a threat.

"Its ok," I said, "I'm not one of them."

Gasps arose around me, but I focused on the dragon who had since put out its flames. It looked at me with the same curious look I'd seen on Toothless' face that time, and the other dragons I'd encountered.

"Stop the fight," My dad murmured.

"No!" I said quickly, "You all need to see this."

The dragons didn't know us, just like we didn't know them. They were just as curious.

I laid my hand on the dragon's rough scaly nose. It was not nearly as smooth as Toothless.

"We don't have to kill them," I said quickly, "They're not what we think they are."

"Stop the fight!" My dad yelled, slamming his hammer on the bars that stopped the dragon escaping.

The dragon's eyes narrowed dangerously and I moved in time to avoid its teeth as it snapped.

My dad had startled it and now it was attacking me.

And there was no way I defend myself at all. So I ran, yelling as I scrambled away from fire and flashing teeth.

I ran to get a shield, hoping I could distract it as I watched Paul and Reggie run down to the gate. They were coming. They were skilled. They would put it back in its cage if I could last that long.

I fell over as the dragon crashed into the weapons stand and the shield I had was burnt. I dropped it and scrambled to run.

"Jaiden!"

Many people seemed to yell all at once, but I recognised that voice. Leaf.

I glanced over to see her wedge her axe under the door and scramble in. Ash was about to follow when the door crashed down, leaving the rest of my class yelling.

I scrambled as fast as I could, the dragons teeth snapping at me.

I paused and panted as I watched the dragon get hit by a very well aimed hammer and it started to chase Leaf.

This was no good. Now Leaf was in here too.

Paul pulled the gate up with his brute strength and Reggie beckoned us out.

Thank goodness.

"This way," Reggie yelled.

Leaf scrambled out into Reggie's waiting arms.

I followed in that direction, seeing Gary pulled Leaf away from Reggie before I jumped back as fire blocked my exit.

I turned to run back when I fell over and the claws of the dragon trapped me. It's eyes narrowed, it pulled back, ready to shoot.

I curled up, before I heard a familiar whistling sound.

No. Way.

There was a blast and I coughed in smoke, rolling away as I heard a familiar roar that brought the Nightmare away from me.

As the smoke cleared away, I watched Toothless wrestle with the Nightmare and then kick it away.

Toothless had gotten out. Somehow. He must've gotten out, but now he was here, standing in front of me protectively.

But I watched all the other warriors get ready to attack him and I pushed on his head.

"Go Toothless," I said, urging him to move.

However, the stubborn dragon didn't listen to me and kept batting warriors away with his wings like they were flies.

Toothless pounced on my dad, pinning him down and getting ready to attack him.

"No!" I yelled.

Toothless swallowed his flamed and then looked at me, ashamed.

I went to reach for him as the warriors finally hit Toothless and several pinned him down.

Ash and May ran to pull me back though. And I looked at the others. Leaf looked dazed and Gary looked embarrassed. Paul and Reggie had strange looks on their face that I couldn't quite read. And Harley…

…Just collapsed and passed out in front of me.

"Put it with the others," my dad spat out, sounding spiteful.

I was in trouble now, but as I was dragged away, I could only be concerned with Toothless' pained screeching.

Me: I know Toothless' POV wasn't as good this time. I was honestly trying to brush over some of the bits you guys might already know.

Jaiden: There are some people who haven't watched the movie, you know?

Me: Yeah, but I didn't want to to drag on forever. Don't worry, this won't drag on for too much longer.