A/N: The beginning of the dragon training! I hope you like it. Thank you for reading and reviewing.

The rains were just clearing when Hiccup unlocked the gate to the arena, Alvis right beside him holding on to his pants leg.

"Hold onto this, pal?"

Hiccup handed the key down to Alvis. He held the large piece of metal with difficulty as his father opened the gate. Hiccup took the key back, put it in his pocket and lead his son in by the hand.

The arena had been converted form a dragon fighting area to a dragon living space. Instead of weapon racks, there were lines of barrels that were stocked every morning with fish and water. The cage in the back had the strong bolted door removed to let in sunlight and had become more a humane stable than a prison for enemies. The obstacle courses remained but now they were used to practice flying, not slaying dragons.

Alvis was under no circumstances allowed in here without supervision so he looked around excitedly, happy his father was letting him play in the arena even if it was early.

"Now, Toothless is a little dragon…well as far as dragons go anyway. So he can sleep in the stable I made for him at home." Hiccup said, filling a barrel with fish and slapping Alvis' hand away when he reached for one.

"But most dragons we have are way too big for that, like Stormfly. Snoutloud's is one of the biggest dragons we know of."

Alvis was hardly listening to the lesson. He was far more interested in the deep puddles the rain had made on the arena floor.

"Alvis, pay attention." Hiccup pleaded. "You want to ride a dragon, right?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Well then you're gonna have to listen to everything Dad says, alright?"

"Alright…" Alvis agreed gloomily.

"It's important you understand how to handle them, Al." Hiccup told him, as he unlatched the gate to the pen. "Because…"

All at once all the dragons flew out. Stormfly began to eat some fish while Hookfang drank water. Meatlug perched on the obstacle course and itched his left ear while the twin's zippleback confusedly tried to coordinate a flame at her.

"…they're hard to control."

Hiccup whistled and held up a fish to get the Gronkle's attention.

"Here, boy!"

It flew enthusiastically toward him but before he could get the food a dark streak zoomed in front of it and snatched the fish away.

Suddenly, Toothless was sitting there, gulping the fish down.

"Tooth'ess!" Alvis cheered and ran to give the dragon a hug. Toothless licked his head creating a small cowlick.

"There you are, Bud." Hiccup called, coming over to scratch his dragon's head.

Toothless didn't sleep in the arena but he always went to it during feeding time to get his share of fish.

"Perfect timing, Toothless. I trust you the most." Hiccup said. "Want to try flying with Dad, Al?"

He was already scrambling up Toothless's back. Toothless turned his head and grabbed his vest in his teeth, giving him a boost.

"Let's go, Daddy, let's go!"

"Okay, okay…hold your horses…"

Hiccup showed Alvis how to harness Toothless, letting him try while guiding his hands.

Soon they were up in the air, Toothless going higher and higher slowly until Alvis could reach up and hang on to the chain link fence that covered the top of the arena.

"So that's where you were, Toothless."

Astrid was level with them on the arena's observation platform right outside the fence. She was carrying another large sack full of fish.

"Morning, boys."

Alvis waved to her and again to his baby brother or sister who was beginning to show more.

"Uh, Astrid, I'm not a healer or anything but shouldn't you be wearing a jacket or something?"

"Oh c'mon Hiccup, it isn't even cold. It didn't even hail last night and it's been hail season for ages."

"True."

"I just thought I'd feed Toothless at home since I was up, but it looks like he found you first. Thought I'd bring the fish over here instead."

Toothless perked up, his ears wiggling. He gave a little noise like a purr and looked back at Hiccup questioningly.

"Okay, you've earned a snack break."

Toothless made a small puff of fire and nosedived for the arena exit.

"Woah, Bud, slow down, hey!" Hiccup shouted while Alvis laughed.

Toothless landed on the platform by Astrid and began gobbling out of the sack. When he was done he licked her happily, giving her a cowlick too.

"So how's the training going?" She asked, smoothing it.

"Great! But I am worried he's not paying enough attention. "

"At least he has it better than I did. I mean, he's not hanging from a tree, so…"

"You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Yeah, no."

"I guess maybe if I keep teaching him…"

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll get…where is he."

"Oh don't tell me."

"Hiccup where is Al. He was just here."

"Oh man, and we were on such a roll…and where the heck is…Toothless!"

The dragon was flying at the top of the arena again with Alvis clutching securely on his neck, pulling the rope that kept Toothless' wing balanced.

"…On second thought, I think he's going to be fine."