Author's Note:

Hello everyone and here it is, the slightly altered arena scene. Thank you for your continued support of this story and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

I own nothing.

Monstrous Nightmares and Broken Hearts

Snotlout stood in the Cove after Hiccup had left wondering what to do now when suddenly a nose bumped him in the back.

He jumped a mile in the air and spun round to be greeted with Toothless' face glaring at him. He backed up slightly before standing confidently like he hadn't been scared out of his wits, "What do you want?"

The dragon used his head gesture at him and then at the Cove entrance and Snotlout looked at him blankly causing Toothless to repeat the motions. When Snotlout still didn't get it the dragon rolled his eyes and then firmly butted him with his head causing him to stagger back slightly.

"What was that for?"

Toothless gave what could only be described as a sigh before marching round Snotlout causing him to turn, the dragon then tapped him on the chest with his nose and stomped over to the Cove entrance and pointed hard at it. Snotlout still didn't get it and then he clicked.

"Oh! You want me to go?"

Toothless gave a short bark-like roar which he guessed meant yes and Snotlout quickly moved to the entrance talking as he went, "Well I knew that, I was just seeing how well you could communicate it."

The dragon gave him a look that quite clearly said he didn't believe him and wandered back to the burnt ground he'd created and heated it up again. Snotlout looked back as he left and saw Toothless curl up ready to sleep and he called back as he left, "Well…goodnight Toothless."

He got a sleepy growling sound in reply and he made his way back into the forest. It wasn't until he was halfway back home that he realised that he'd said 'Goodnight' to a dragon and actually addressed it by name.

Snotlout was awoken by his uncle shaking him and he turned his bleary eyes up to him, "Uncle?"

"It's nearly time Snotlout."

"Time? Time for what?"

His uncle looked at him in disbelief, "It's nearly time for Hiccup's final exam."

Snotlout's sleep muddled brain took a moment to process what Stoick had said. Hiccup's final…

He sat up rapidly and dived out of bed grabbing his day clothes, Stoick smiled and shook his head at his nephew's mad rush before heading down the stairs, there was a bang indicating he'd left the house and Snotlout nearly toppled down the stairs in his haste to catch up while pulling his clothes on.

He managed to quickly catch up with his uncle and he fell into step beside him, Stoick was whistling cheerfully but Snotlout could feel worry gnawing at his gut as they headed for the arena. He never got a chance to find out what Hiccup was planning but he had a good idea and he was sure it wasn't going to end well. His worry must have shown clearly on his face because his uncle suddenly spoke to him, "I wouldn't worry Snotlout, today is a grand day. I'm certain Hiccup is going to show everyone exactly what he can do."

He managed a smile at his uncle's words but his worry only increased, he was certain Hiccup was indeed going to show him exactly what he could do but there was no way his uncle was going to like it.

They reached the arena and as Stoick made his way to his great chair Snotlout slipped off to the arena entrance where Hiccup was waiting. The older cousin was standing staring into the arena with a nervous but determined expression and Snotlout stood beside him, "You sure you can do this?"

"Yes, I think I can." Hiccup sighed before turning to his younger cousin, "Snotlout, if something goes wrong, please look after Toothless."

Snotlout nodded, "I will, but try not to let anything go wrong okay."

Hiccup gave a small smile, "I'll try."

"Good. Because if you don't I'll get you back somehow."

The older cousin grinned, "I know you will."

Snotlout smiled back then quickly hugged his cousin and stepped away, "Good luck."

"Thanks Snotlout."

With a final nod Snotlout left the arena entrance and made his way through the crowd passing Astrid on the way. He got to where the chieftain's chair was and stood beside it just as his uncle was about to make his speech, the man gave his nephew a smile before standing up to address the crowd and silenced them with just a few gestures.

"Well I can show my face in public again."

There was laughter from the Vikings and Stoick chuckled along with them before continuing, "If someone had told me that in a few short weeks, Hiccup would go from being, well…Hiccup," a few more laughs from the crowd, "to placing first in Dragon Training…I would have tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he'd gone mad. "There was more laughter and some sounds of agreement, "And you know it!" Stoick paused briefly, "But here we are. And no one's more surprised or more proud than I am." Snotlout just hid a grimace at his uncle's words, certain that chief would soon be changing his mind as Stoick finished his speech, "Today my boy becomes a Viking! Today, HE BECOMES ONE OF US!"

There were cheers and roars from the crowd as Stoick shouted these words and all eyes turned to the arena entrance. There was a brief expectant hush broken only by a clanking as the entrance opened and then cheers and hollers as Hiccup appeared with his helmet on and carrying a shield. Snotlout's gut clenched as his cousin walked over to the rack of weapons and selected a dagger, there were murmurs from the crowd at his choice and Snotlout heard his uncle mutter to Gobber, "I would've gone with the hammer."

A hush fell again as he squared his shoulders, faced the doors holding back the Monstrous Nightmare and spoke in a voice that somehow carried throughout the arena.

"I'm ready."

The locking bar lifted and the dragon burst forth already on fire and obviously furious and Snotlout was blown away by its ferocity. It began climbing the chains making up the arena's domed roof and blasted a fire stream at the crowd; it then turned its attention to Hiccup and descended to the middle of the arena like a giant, scaled spider. The onlookers hushed awaiting the battle they were expecting but Hiccup dropped his dagger and shield and stepped back away from them. Snotlout saw the dragon pause and look at Hiccup in confusion but growled when the teen extended his hand and continued its slow approach. Hiccup then reached up and took of his helmet and threw it away from him.

"I'm not one of them."

Everyone gasped in shock but Snotlout watched amazed as the dragon looked at the helmet before looking back at Hiccup. His cousin held out his hand again and he could see it calming down.

"Stop the fight." Stoick's commanding voice rang out but Hiccup spoke again his voice just as commanding.

"No! I need you all to see this."

The onlookers were now shuffling and murmuring restlessly with many looking towards Stoick but Snotlout was completely focused on the dragon and Hiccup who was still speaking.

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

Snotlout heard his uncle move and he cried out before he could stop himself, "Uncle, wait!"

The chief ignored him and brought his war hammer crashing down onto the bars in front of him just as Hiccup was about to place his hand on the Nightmare's snout, "I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!"

Panicked by the sudden, booming clang the Nightmare snapped at Hiccup forcing him to jump back, he then had to run as it blasted out a stream of fire. Stoick shoved past Snotlout and through the crowd to reach the arena entrance as Vikings exclaimed in shock and surprise around him. The dragon was still chasing Hiccup and had destroyed the weapon rack leaving him defenceless.

"HICCUP!"

Suddenly Astrid was in the arena and she grabbed a hammer which had been sent flying across the arena by the Nightmare, she then hurled it accurately smacking the creature in the jaw causing it to chase her instead. By now Stoick had reached the entrance door and wrenched it open to wave Astrid and Hiccup towards him.

"This way!"

Both the teens charged for the door but a fire blast from the Nightmare cut Hiccup off forcing him back into the arena, it pounced and trapped him with its huge fore claws and prepared to kill.

Suddenly a familiar screeching noise was heard.

"NIGHT FURY! GET DOWN!

Toothless leapt over the crowd and blasted a hole in the roof chains creating a massive smoke and dust cloud inside which he dived into. The smoke was thrown this way and that and all anyone could see was a flailing of wings and tails until Toothless and the Nightmare tumbled out of the dissipating cloud clawing and biting each other. Without thinking Snotlout jumped through the hole in the arena chains and ran over to where Hiccup was and helped him up. The two dragons viciously tussled until the Night Fury threw his opponent off and placed himself between Hiccup and Snotlout and the Nightmare. The other dragon lunged back but Toothless roared and it backed off rapidly. Hiccup ran to his dragon with Snotlout close behind and both cousins pushed the protective dragon's side, "Alright, Toothless, go. Get out of here!"

Vikings began pouring into the arena and Stoick grabbed an axe and charged towards Toothless as Hiccup tried to stop him.

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

Seeing only a threat to his rider, Toothless charged sending any Viking that tried to stop him flying as he closed in on the chief with both ignoring Hiccup's pleas, "No, don't! You're only making it worse!"

They met and Toothless sent them rolling and soon had Stoick pinned.

"Toothless! STOP!"

The Night Fury prepared to blast the chief and anyone still only watching braced for the shot.

"NO!"

At Hiccup's shout Toothless swallowed his shot and turned to his rider in confusion. Suddenly he was mobbed by several Vikings and Snotlout held Hiccup back from trying to stop them as he pleaded with them not to hurt Toothless. Someone helped Stoick to his feet and another presented him with the axe he'd dropped, he glared at Toothless for a second then spoke.

"Put him with the others."

Snotlout stood at the base of the steps to the Great Hall.

His uncle had been absolutely furious and he'd dragged Hiccup from the arena and to the Great Hall; Snotlout had seen him fling his cousin in but hadn't followed them inside. Though he wanted to stand with Hiccup through this he knew barging in would only make things worse so he waited fearfully outside.

"Ready the ships!"

Snotlout looked up to see his uncle begin his descent towards him, his eyes stormy with anger, he walked past Snotlout as if he hadn't seen him so he called out, "Uncle!"

His uncle turned sharply to look at him and Snotlout quailed slightly under his hard gaze but still spoke, "Please listen, Hiccup's right about Toothless…"

"Toothless?" Stoick's gaze darkened even further, "You knew."

It was a straight out statement and Snotlout remained silent knowing that his uncle had already worked out the truth. His uncle took several steps towards him and loomed over him.

"You knew and you never told me."

His uncle's look of betrayal cut him to the core but Snotlout was not going to back down from defending his and Hiccup's actions and choices.

"Uncle I…"

"No!" His uncle sharply cut across him, "You've sided with him and betrayed your tribe." He turned away from Snotlout, "You've dishonoured the memory of your parents, the name of your father and you've made yourself unworthy to call yourself their son." He turned away, "You're no family of mine."

Stoick continued his march to the docks, leaving behind the two most important people in his life whose hearts he'd just broken.

PS-So a heavy end to this chapter but you all know what's coming next so don't worry. Please let me know what you thought and I'll hopefully update soon.