A/N: Finally! I promised this update a few days ago as you'll know if you read "Where No One Goes" - but I'm very stressed as of late and only found time in the evenings, by which I was exhausted. I was also figuring out what to do with a few scenes I had written here and there - now I've decided to attach a little Toothless P.O.V. at the beginning of this chapter before heading towards some action. Be ready for intrigue and trickery! It's also a very long chapter - reason for that at the end.

A Toothless dictionary is posted at the bottom of this chapter.

Enjoy!

An Astrid's Bait

Toothless warbled lackadaisically.

The cove that he was at, with its serene Wet and tranquil air was losing the appeal it once had. Toothless knew every nuke and crevice; had tried various Soggy Scales which all tasted bland, but filled his belly nonetheless. Every day it would be the same; waiting for Wispy Wingless to appear when the Large Hot descended into its nightly cot, enjoying a blissful ride along the Endless Shifter before the Large Cold and its accompanying Sparks would appear, dipping the world into obsidian and scarab blue. The air would become crisper, moisture clinging to his wings as he soared along, eyes as acclimatised to the dark as they were during the day.

They would circle the strange habitat that Wispy Wingless currently resided in; with all the pungent smells that clung him. He did not like this new home much; he used to attack it, he recalled. Shortly before he met his rider, even – terrorizing the Wingless of this island had been a joyous occupation. They were fast and skilful and by far the most dangerous Wingless' Toothless had ever to face; they proved to be the worthiest of challengers.

But that was long in his past; a past he had buried and tried with as much determination as possible to forget. He was sure he had already half succeeded. In general, Toothless avoided reminiscing about anything from before his time with Wispy Wingless. It all seemed a blurry haze of tedious, dull living with a purpose that was not true in its essence; that was as wishy-washy as he currently felt.

Where was Wispy Wingless? Why did he take increasingly longer each and every day to come to him? What did he want here on this bizarre island? And when would they both return to scouting new habitations and discovering new adventures and maybe even Black Scales?

Toothless snorted before he let a lengthy wail erupt from his jaw. Maybe Wispy Wingless would hear his cry and come running faster – he knew his rider had trouble doing so with that funny left paw of his, but it was no excuse for his exaggerated tardiness.

Rolling onto his back, rubbing the patchy mud and tiny pebbles into his muscles soothingly, the black dragon grunted. He knew that strange female Wingless had something to do with it. He smelt her vaguely whenever Wispy Wingless arrived – maybe his lanky little rider decided it was time to mate? And he had chosen her has his suitable partner? Well, Toothless could understand that all too well, if it was the case. Even so, nothing explained why he needed so much time in accomplishing this ordeal – mate, then leave. Was it so hard?

Toothless knew his Wingless was a bit of a flustered heap of shyness when occasion called for it; mating was a serious business, anyway. Or maybe the female had rejected him on several occasions but his stubbornness and pride did not allow for him to give up, yet?

He growled displeasedly. Now he had to suffer under the failure of his rider just because he had too much dignity for choosing a more willing mating-partner. What a joke.

But he was sure there was some other reason Wispy Wingless had decided to go to this place in the archipelago. There were many more dragons here; Toothless could smell them. And feel them in the air that smoked with their hot breaths.

No, he seemed rather agitated due to something else; but what?

Ever since their bonding many years ago, Wispy Wingless had spent less time with the Wingless and more with him. After all - so his rider was adamant about every day they went exploring around their habitat - Toothless was not to reveal himself to another Wingless unless his rider deemed it safe enough. Unless he gave the okay signal.

The onyx reptile knew that the other Wingless did not understand dragons truthfully still; not the way Wispy Wingless and Mother Wingless did. They were not yet ready to coexist with them in harmony the way his rider so desired. Toothless knew it was one of his set goals; to bring the dragons into the lives of the Wingless so that the violence would end. Of course he was more than elated to play an important, helpful part in all of it.

He remembered his first encounter with Mother Wingless – he and his lanky rider were diving across the Endless Shifter, spiralling across at incredible speed when suddenly, Wispy Wingless steered him up.

"Toothless, it's time you met my mother!" He called across the rush of wind, patting his neck comfortingly, "And see the sanctuary. It's incredible. We don't have other Night Furies there, but many dragons that mom and I have saved over all the years."

He only understood little of the mumbled, deep utterance his rider gave off, but complied with his directions until they came to a large, ice-covered rocky construction. Wispy Wingless called for him to fly through the obscure slits in between the slabs, where darkness lured, and Toothless was reluctant at first.

"It's okay bud, I know the way off by heart." His rider seemed tranquil, so he trusted in his judgement and shot through the cave.

The dragon knew by instinct that he could see in the darkness, sending out a sonic wave to vibrate off the walls and direct him through labyrinth of rock and dirt.

"Wow! Could you always do that!?"

Toothless grunted merrily. With immaculate speed they glided along, twisting and turning at the right angles before finally, they reached what Toothless immediately came to recognize as paradise.

It was vast and beautiful. It was green and blue and red and yellow and every colour Toothless had ever seen or smelt. Scratch the latter; you cannot smell hues, now, can you?

Enormous pillars of rock, endless fields and Wets and the light glittered off in such mesmerizing ways that it all seemed to glow. Dragons accumulated all around the area; flapping along, settling in niches or playing harmlessly. Large spears of ice shot out at a diversity of angles, the centre housing the grandest behemoth Toothless had ever seen.

The immediate resonance of power and authority nearly overwhelmed him, causing the agile reptile to lose balance and nearly plummet towards the ground.

"Careful bud!" Wispy Wingless adjusted his tail-fin and he managed to even out again, "Land over there!" He nudged him along, Toothless complying soundlessly as he swerved towards a plateau where another cave-opening loomed in the background.

With a thud, they were on the ground once more, Wispy Wingless hopping off with a grin plastered to his face, "Mom!" Nervously, sniffing the multitude of fragrances wafting through the air and hearing all the hundreds of caws and warbles of countless dragons, Toothless waited.

He felt jittery.

Suddenly, something moved in the cave, and from the darkness came a figure much like Wispy Wingless, just a lot taller and sturdier, followed by a four-winged reptile Toothless had never encountered before.

What followed then was anything but a pleasantry. The Mother Wingless halted abruptly, staring with wide, emerald eyes at Toothless; the same kind of oculars his rider owned. She stood frozen for several heartbeats before she turned her head towards Wispy Wingless, who was as excited as an infant Little Soft that walked for the first time.

"Yuh found tha Night Fury..." her voice whispered harshly, "Despite me strictest orders not ta...yuh..."

"Mom, I tamed him! Look." Wispy Wingless re-approached Toothless, outstretching his paw and scratching his chin. Toothless grunted with pleasure; this was the feeling, "He's my friend."

"Hiccup!" She was roaring as angrily as a Monstrous Nightmare when you attempted to steal its food, "I told yuh not ta! It blasted off yer leg, an' still..." Her claws were pulled tightly into her palms, her facial expression so stern as she glowered at her son.

"But mom, it's okay! Toothless won't hurt me anymore, now, he is my friend!"

"That's not tha point, son! Yuh disobeyed me..."

"But mo-"

"No! I cannot accept tha fact that me own son simply runs off without me conceding ta tame somethin' that could 'ave killed yer!"

Toothless shuddered, lowering himself to the ground. Mother Wingless was definitely not joyous about his presence. On the contrary; he could sense her contempt, her inner, swathing fury that prodded to the surface.

Wispy Wingless was in trouble. Because of him. Toothless was to blame; despite his best efforts to aid his lanky friend, to be a good dragon that protected instead of destroyed. He wanted to be a part of Wispy Wingless' world. But his mother did not.

Silently, for he was a Night Fury after all, he receded.

"Understand, mother, I had to! I needed to find my soulmate dragon, and it wasn't with any of the dragons here." His hand was now directed towards the sanctuary behind him, gesturing to all of the other dragons that inhabited the place, "I knew from the moment I saw him that we were meant to be bonded."

Valka was silent upon her son's words, her shoulders slacking and expression softening considerably.

She understood. How else could it be? Had she not felt the same way, all those years ago, when Cloudjumper had come into their home? Yes, yes indeed. Was it not her incapability of harming the reptile which had caused for the fire in their house, and the danger she, Stoick and Hiccup ultimately had to face? She knew she could have died, but her heart told her it was the right decision.

"I'm sorry, son. I should have realised it." Everything made such bitter sense that she felt ridiculous for having yelled at him mere seconds ago. Her son did something crazy and outrageous; because that was who he was. Different. Special. Like her; she was just the same, so why angry when, in reality, she should have expected it much sooner? Valka sighed deeply.

"I am glad yuh found 'im, Hiccup." Her smile was genuine and warming. Just as she turned to inspect the infamous offspring of Lightning and Death more closely, however, she was surprised to find him missing, "But...where is he?"

The boy gazed over his shoulder, realising his obsidian friend was missing, "Toothless?"

It had taken Wispy Wingless and Mother Wingless a good long time before they had found Toothless near a clearing at the outer forests. There were not many around to consider, but one was enough to grant a little solitude for some time.

"It's okay, bud. Mom's not angry at you, nor am I. You're part of our family now." Patting his nose affectionately, Toothless bumped into him with eager love.

When Mother Wingless came with soothing words and kind gestures, he allowed her to touch him and ultimately accepted her as the leader of their pack. She was the alpha; besides, of course, the dragon alpha and true ruler of the sanctuary. Toothless always bowed down to him and paid his respects; he responded to his calls and adhered his commands.

Wispy Wingless, however, bowed down to the commands of his mother. They would often sit at strange constructions and talk endlessly about something even stranger that his rider was drawing; he liked to draw a lot. He had funny sheets of thin substance that smelled of Tall Green but looked completely different. With black, soft stone he would rub against its surface, creating pictures of things Toothless easily recognized.

The Night Fury's own artworks, etched into sand and mud with a large branch or ice-spear, were just as astounding, of course. Breathtaking imagery of world and faces.

Toothless rolled some more, his back attaining a good makeshift scratch. Usually, Wispy Wingless would do that for him; yet he spent more time amongst his own breed than with Toothless, as of late. He guessed it was only plausible; being amongst your own had a calming, warm effect to it that allowed for a nostalgic feeling to arise whenever it was amiss. Yet the sound of crunching and thumping weight alerted the charcoal being as it rose onto its four legs.

There was Wispy Wingless! Bounding with eagerness towards his rider, he warbled and licked his face; an obvious sign of euphoria.

"Hey bud!" His Wingless chuckled, rubbing the saliva off of himself, "I'm sorry I'm late. Astrid was onto me and I had to shake her off first."

Toothless got to comprehend that Astrid was the funny term Wispy Wingless used for the female he was after. He guessed it was just like Hiccup; A Wingless way of naming. He rubbed his head some more into his rider's side.

"I know, I'm stupid...She has so much hatred towards the dragons...it'll be impossible convincing her of the opposite. But somehow, I have to. I know she is the key. I just can't help but...feel so smitten around her. She's incredible, bud. You'd know if you'd met her. Which you will soon."

Toothless did not understand much of the words his rider uttered as he caressed his itchy scales. His voice had quietened, after all, and he seemed lost in thought. From the tone of it, nonetheless, he could hear the frustration as well as affection that he had. He was frustrated about Astrid, but also flustered...? Did he like her now or not? Or maybe he was frustrated because she was not flustered with him.

Whatever it was, Toothless was prepared to help. If all it took was convincing one hostile female Wingless that Wispy Wingless was a good catch, then so be it. The Night Fury was ready to play the match-maker.

He had to admit, with much reluctance, that her derived plan was one of pure ingenuity, considering Hiccup and all. She barely knew him as a person, yet could predict his reactions so perfectly that, ultimately, her strategy had gotten him into a predicament he had prayed, since his arrival on Berk, to never land in. A situation from which he could not really escape. One where he would be laid bare in front of the whole of the village for them to scrutinize. But especially, he would be forced to do the one thing he would never, in all of his life, allow himself to do.

Hiccup would have to kill a dragon.

It was a clever and simple tactic, really, using her knowledge of the behaviour and characteristics of specific fellow Berkians as well as some of their authoritative power to pull Hiccup into this ruse.

Because what was he to expect, when Snotlout approached with too much ardour and self-esteem, throwing about words that stung without necessity? How could the auburn-haired dragon-rider have assumed Astrid to be behind the doing; to have talked to Snotlout and tantalized him to such a degree that he actually began to view Hiccup as a serious threat to his reputation?

It was overly smart, cunning, and successful, which was the worst of all factors.

"Well, well, well!" Snotlout had started the interaction with his call, a sneer on his lips, eyes critical and mocking as if Hiccup had failed already before he even tried, "What do I have to hear? Apparently you know your way with dragons, despite everything else speaking against you." A nudge towards the lanky man told Hiccup he was hinting at his appalling physique.

"What do you want, Snotlout?" Came the biting remark in form of an inquiry.

They were in the Great Hall, enjoying (well, supposedly) a meal cooked by the local housewives. But Snotlout, after his head had turned red with anger and jealously from Astrid's jibes decided that, after a refreshing mug of mead, it was time to confront this Hiccup and see if he really was as talented with dragons as some Hooligans begun to claim.

"What, why so defensive?" Snotlout took an over-dramatic step back, holding his hands up in a manner of innocence, "Just wanting to see if the rumours are true." There was a near to sadistic grin now spreading across his face; one Hiccup would love to punch off, despite him knowing that that was very unlikely to ever happen.

"If you want to see if they are true, you'd have to be there during training. But you never are; what a great teacher you make, by the way." Hiccup responded as he raised his mug with well-water to his lips and took a sip, pretending that he was unperturbed by the Jorgenson's presence.

Behind him, the twins snickered as seemed to be their trademark response to anything. Mostly silent, mocking observers. Snotlout frowned, righting himself in a futile attempt to appear fearful, "Well that's why I'm here, Toothpick! You and me! We'll have a little battle."

"How is sword-fighting gonna determine who the better dragon-fighter is?" The young rider raised a bushy eyebrow questioningly.

Snotlout, however, just laughed clamorously, hands on his hips as the tiny wisps of a wannabe-beard skittered along, "Not sword-fighting, of course! Actual dragon-battling. We both face a dragon and whoever knocks him out first is obviously the better warrior. What do you say, Toothpick, are you in? Or too scared your pants might get wet?"

The sneer was not leaving, the twins were not stopping their chuckling, and Hiccup had a hard time not shattering his teeth with the way they were ferociously grinding against each other.

He had had enough. Snotlout was way too up high on a horse he did not even own. Hiccup knew with certainty that Snotlout was most likely the worst of all warriors on Berk when it came to fighting dragons; and no way in Helheim did this guy best him in dragon-taming. The look on his face as he would realise that Hiccup had beaten him with ease, whilst he stood there flabbergasted and humiliated; once his tribe found out, they would laugh their socks off.

The single thought caused for a devious smirk to crawl across his lips. Indeed, once the whole of Berk heard about the Jorgenson's failure, Hiccup would not only have metaphorically punched a hole into Snotlout's gut, but also proven to everyone that, despite him looking anything but, he was a true Viking and had no trouble surviving in this world. Even less so than anyone else, in all honesty.

It was the perfect opportunity to write himself in the Good Book of Berk, to set an example and make an everlasting impression – that he was better than one of their own, and thus worthy enough. Best of all: he need not actually kill a dragon in front of everyone for that to be the case. Astrid would probably be there too, to observe, which would make it all the more fun as well. Who knew? Maybe she would start to respect him more afterwards.

"Challenge accepted." Hiccup uttered, containing his glee.

Snotlout chortled some more, nodding, "Alright then, tomorrow, midday, you and me." His finger swerved between them two, before he turned his back and left together with the blonde followers.

Just before all three vanished, Ruffnut turned to glance over her shoulder, grinning wickedly as she gave Hiccup a thumbs-up. He defined it as a 'good one, show him tomorrow!'

That, of course, only caused for Hiccup's confidence to rise. He would definitely have an easy game the following day.

If only he were not so assured of himself, lost in daydreams of victory, then maybe he would have noticed the triumphant smirk on Astrid's lips as she sat a few tables across. Pushing her mug of mead away, the girl left with haste steps to exit the hall – one specific person left she had to pursue before her plan would be fully rolling.

So of course his intentions backfired, without him knowing that that was the goal all along of one conniving, blonde Viking warrior.

Hiccup was on his way to the training academy, trekking a small hill and feeling vigour seep through his muscles when Snotlout intercepted him curtly before he arrived at the bridge.

"Hold there, mate. We're not heading to the academy." Hiccup halted, frowning in confusion, which only caused Snotlout to grin some more, "We're off to the beach."

"The beach?"

"Yup, that's where the surprise awaits you."

Hiccup twisted his head suspiciously, eyebrows creasing some more, "Surprise?"

"Well, we're not fighting any dragon; that would be too easy!"

"So you picked a tidal dragon?" Hiccup now turned around to follow the fellow Viking to said location.

"Tidal...?"

The auburn-haired man sighed, not wanting to tease him just yet, "A water dragon; one that lives in the ocean, seeing as we are going to the beach."

"Oh! Nope, the beach is just more spacious than the academy, that's why. It's a forest dragon, actually."

'Maybe a tracker, or stoker then...' Hiccup concluded with a shrug.

His prediction proved to be accurate; there was indeed a stoker class dragon at the beach, roaring and pulling against the hefty chains that were holding it in place. Even though it was not just any stoker class dragon.

It was a huge, blue-and-purple Typhoomerang.

And not just any Typhoomerang.

"Windwaker!" Hiccup called out, verdant eyes large and full of shock.

This was his dragon; one from the sanctuary which he had tamed many years ago, even before Toothless. He loved to ride on Windwaker from occasion to occasion; training a Typhoomerang had been no easy feat for a twelve-year-old, but it had been worth it. Windwaker was a loyal, loveable companion who had a hot temper he often used against Hiccup's enemies.

But this just confused the boy; he had not taken Windwaker with him, nor shown him the way to Berk. The dragon usually stayed at the sanctuary and only sometimes went off to an island full of eels further north.

All of a sudden Hiccup had to ask himself what the exact distance was between their sanctuary and Berk – he only ever knew the way to the island of Looting Liars, further east, and then from there the journey to Berk. Maybe that was, in all reality, a big detour. Maybe the direct pathway was much shorter, and Berk had never been as far away as Hiccup had presumed...

"Say what?" Snotlout questioned, irritated by Hiccup's outburst.

"A-Ah nothing" He shrugged innocently, "j-just me babbling."

Snotlout dismissed it as just that; insane babbling, and marched with broadened shoulders towards the towering beast which hissed with venomous resonance across the firmament.

"Typhoomerangs are pretty beastly beings. Killing one of those is nearly as honourable as killing a Monstrous Nightmare." The way in which the Jorgenson Viking talked reminded Hiccup of a vain father teaching his son useless, inaccurate facts, "A Nightmare is a bit more intelligent, of course, but a Typhoomerang is big and strong."

"All things you are not!" A voice yelled from behind a stack of boulders neatly lined, and Hiccup had to amusedly realise it was Ruffnut, who grinned next to a laughing Tuffnut.

"Shut up, Ruff!" The smaller man bit back, growling, "Anyway" he turned around again to face his adversary, "I think beating this guy will ultimately prove just who the true Viking is" and as he spoke those words, a self-appreciative smirk crawled onto his lips, "and who is not." a derisive stare into Hiccup's eyes.

Normally, the tall man would have smirked in return, knowing that victory was all his. But the mere fact that the very dragon Snotlout had caught and chosen was Windwaker made things a lot more difficult. He could not hurt this big guy (not like he ever hurt any dragon; but Windwaker trusted him as they were familiar and would not understand any displayed antagonism, even if fake) and knew once he approached that the reptile would recognize his former master and come pouncing along. It was deemed to raise suspicion amongst the spectators; at least with Astrid. Not to forget that he was now in captivity; Hiccup needed to come up with some solution to free him, later.

A small, stress-induced sigh escaped his slightly chapped lips as their feet took them closer and closer to the battlefield.

"It's the same as during dragon-training, and of course your Looting Liar friends have joined us to see how it's done." Snotlout continued with his pointless elaboration, grinning with triumph that made Hiccup nearly gag. How much ego could one simple man have?

Just as Hiccup had predicted, Windwaker, once he noticed the lanky boy's presence, came jolting along, chains rattling defiantly as he tried to decrease the space between them as much as possible. He most likely expected Hiccup to be the glorious saviour in his somewhat unpredictable situation. The sheer fear and insecurity within the stance of the Typhoomerang spoke volumes for itself; Windwaker had never been in captivity, was found with young years near the edge of the sanctuary, where, after he had been tamed, he was only ever treated with kindness and love.

Hiccup had been the one to discover this new race of dragons first; after he and Sharpclaw had taken a short tour towards the north where they landed on Eel Island. Sharpclaw hissed and growled, what with all the unappetizing aquatic creatures swimming in the streams and ponds. That was when, for the first time, one of those massive, fiery beasts burst into the sky like a typhoon made out of scalding amber flames, circling and returning to its starting-point. Thus, the breed-name Typhoomerang was born, of which his mother approved and which somehow made its rounds amongst the civilians of the upper hemisphere. Hiccup did not mind.

"Where did you catch him?" He questioned straight after the inquiry popped up inside his brain. It was a valid question; the closer the Berkians got to the sanctuary, the more his and his mother's secret was in danger, and thus the safety of all dragons. It would undoubtedly influence his goal in a negative way; he was assured of being capable of swaying Berk to his favour of appreciating and accepting dragons as companions, given enough time. Having the sanctuary exposed so early into the game would be a blast to the face, and might just cause war.

The auburn-haired man gulped audibly at the last thought.

"In the forests, as I said." Snotlout acted as if he were talking to a retarded person, but Hiccup was unperturbed.

"Yes, but where exactly?" His viridian eyes were averted towards the smaller bulk of a Viking, who just shrugged with nonchalance.

"Who cares? I caught it, that's what counts-"

"But you didn't." It was Fishlegs who interrupted their meager discussion, having seemingly appeared out of nowhere in front of the two men as they halted in the middle of the makeshift arena.

Windwaker was still attempting to approach Hiccup feverishly; no matter how many concealed hand-signs he made for the reptile to stay back, the sheer relief in the beast's orbs told Hiccup he just wanted to go home. The young rider felt a pang of guilt; he would definitely free Windwaker. He would find a way.

Before Snotlout could retort to Fishleg's statement, Hiccup interrupted, "Then who did?"

With a chubby thumb, the larger Viking pointed towards none other than Astrid, who stood silently at the back near the twins, intriguing eyes focused like deadly quills on Hiccup's profile. She was watching him, and by Thor she wanted him to know that she was.

"She caught it a while back, in our forests up here. He was searching for something; maybe his hatchling, but there weren't any around. Astrid caught him then and we've kept him for training ever since. I remember when the first Typhoomerang was found on Berk. Did you know that it was a Berkian himself who discovered and named-"

Hiccup tuned out. He knew Fishlegs was challenging his knowledge about dragons, wanting to prove that he was the greater connoisseur out of the two of them. He understood that the Ingerson's reputation was somewhat at stake, too; and his pride was somewhat hurt as well. Not everyday that you, as the most knowledgeable of all Viking men, get suddenly bested by a stranger who makes you start to doubt everything you ever thought to be true. Yet right now, Hiccup had no mind to consider his dignity or indulge into the conversation any further, just nodding and pretending he was stunned with the news-feed.

'So Astrid caught him on Berk...I really do have to check what the distance is between here and the sanctuary with Toothless.'

Something sharp and painful rose up his throat. The fear of what he might discover was intensifying. But he told himself to concentrate on the matter at hand; beat Snotlout, free Windwaker, maybe worry about Astrid and the devious looks she was sending towards him all the time. Then came everything else.

Right then, he considered his advantages and weighed out tactics and possible successful strategies. If he wanted to 'defeat' the Typhoomerang without truthfully inflicting pain nor killing him, he had to trick the others. He had done it so many times in the arena, but with much smaller, easier-to-control reptiles. Typhoomerangs were a difficult case; especially one that was fixated on you. When Windwaker tore towards Hiccup, people would expect the winged creature to tear him to shreds, not press his snout lovingly into his hands and expect a good scratch under the chin, as he would undoubtedly do, chains or no chains.

Hiccup had to rely on all the hand-signs he had taught him over the years, primarily learnt from his talented mother; they would command Windwaker to stay low, or hold his fire; even pretend to be dead or asleep. That could possibly give Hiccup the advantage of seeming like a victorious dragon-slayer without anyone seeing through the farce, just like during academy-training.

Yet as Hiccup further contemplated about a plan that would make his trick work; of actually pretending this to be a life-threatening battle, the clanking of chains interrupted him anew as an echoing roar ricocheted across the firmament.

"-Just the long one to make sure he doesn't fly away." He only picked up some of the remnants of what Fishlegs was explaining to both Vikings, confusion gaining in on him until he observed as frightened, yet brave warriors approached Windwaker to take off the shorter cuffs, only leaving one very long one attached to one hind, "That way he can fly and glide, just not escape us. Can't have him destroy Berk or set the forests on fire." Fishlegs chuckled a little, Snotlout grinning along. Hiccup had no amusement left to share, "The rules are the same as during dragon-training, so just do as you always do. You have your weapons of choice?"

Proudly, Snotlout presented his war-hammer at the back of his sturdy body, whilst Hiccup possessed nothing visible for trade.

"I take it you will do it without any armour, as always." The criticism in his tone was strongly audible, "Will be interesting to see how you'll handle it this time round." With a shrug, Fishlegs left, making room for the competitors.

"Ready to be awed?" Snotlout questioned, even though he never had the chance to receive a response; before Hiccup could retort something that would throw the Jorgenson off, the very man charged.

With a battle-cry unlike any the lanky man had ever heard before, Snotlout raced full-on towards the blue-and-purple reptile with his weapon raised high.

Hiccup's heart leapt miserably; no-one else could tell, but he detected the insecurity gaining altitude within Windwaker's glimmering orbs. He did not know how to respond, how to evade, what with so many hostile Vikings surrounding him and his chances of escape having been zeroed. And Hiccup just stood there, stunned, creating eye-contact with his loyal friend who literally begged him for guidance.

Eyes flickering around maddeningly between the audience, the crashing waves and a determined Snotlout as well as the dragon, Hiccup finally decided to subtly raise his left hand, forming a sign that told Windwaker to avoid Snotlout as much as possible. The grand reptile responded immediately; wings dashing full force against the fine ground, causing veils of sand to rise and spray all over the field as he growled and maximized the distance between himself and the nasty young man.

The sudden distraction was used as an advantage by Hiccup, who raced as fast as his left prosthetic allowed him to be to join Windwaker and aid him. He needed to win this battle without endangering the dragon's life. Just how?

Another signal was formed, Windwaker charged towards Hiccup, chuntering in what seemed to be rage to others, but to the auburn-haired man, who knew dragons better than most, it was a sign of happiness and eagerness. The being halted curtly before he and Hiccup collided, wings flapping and creating little sandstorms which raged around the arena.

"-pid idea fighting on the beach!" One Viking from afar bellowed, arms raised to shield his eyes from the prickling shards of dust.

Hiccup was now close enough to Windwaker for both parties to clearly see each other, thus he lifted his right hand, making a swaying movement which called for him to curl out his left wing, ultimately smacking Snotlout who got catapulted a good few feet back into the soft sand. His war-hammer skittered in an opposite direction, leaving the Jorgenson stunned. A few onlookers gasped; mainly those who stood far away enough to still somewhat see what was occurring.

The Night Fury rider hurled himself onto Windwaker, clambering towards his back. Mistakenly, said dragon understood this as a sign to fly away, thus bashing his wings full force and gaining height. A good sixteen feet separated them from the ground now, storms of unrelenting sand coursing along the beach and creating enough obscurity to hide Hiccup's further doing from keen eyes. Not even Astrid could discover what he was up to; no one could see through sand.

A touch to the side of his neck and he howled threateningly, making everyone believe Hiccup was actually in an intense combat. Another subtle poke at the back of his skull and he swirled like a tornado on the spot, roaring all the while. Windwaker somewhat enjoyed the game he and his former master were apparently playing, even though it caused the latter to lose his hold onto his back (with no saddle for extra steadiness, and a prosthetic for trade, that was only to be expected) and slip away, tumbling down the left wing and into the crunching bed of sand.

Hiccup yelped, carefully moving his bones to test their intactness. The pain was short-lived as he heaved himself up, Windwaker landing and folding his wings to the sides. Immediately, the bothersome storms stopped and all sand fluttered back towards the ground.

"He threw him off!" Another Viking called out, pointing a meaty finger in the direction of the lanky competitor who was brushing off mounts of yellow specks from his attire.

'Good', Hiccup through with a hidden smirk, 'That way they think I'm actually fighting him.'

He was glad his gimmick was working out the way he hoped it would, but as he rose his eyes to glance with determination into the small crowd, he came across a particularly blue pair of oculars which were anything but fooled.

Astrid glowered with something akin to perception. She seemed to not believe his false little game. He had obviously not convinced her. Yet.

Eyebrows furrowing marginally, he took decisive strides back towards the Typhoomerang, who was roaring and stomping around as if to warn anyone who dared approach that he would attack.

Snotlout, who long since had risen back onto his feet as well, now charged with a bellow once more towards the reptile, war-hammer held up threateningly. As he arrived near the feet of the beast, he swung and attempted to shatter some sturdy dragon-bones, said being hopping and growling as he faltered backwards.

Even though Windwaker had experienced the rages of battle before, it was always under coordination of either Hiccup or Valka; he was told what to do, when and where, and used his hot temper to perform his attacks accordingly. Except for a few pathetic little dragon-disputes and quarrels over who gets what amount of fish from the hunted stock, he never really had to face off with any enemy on his own; let alone on the ground, chained, with an individual Viking slashing and thrusting a hammer at his flesh. That he did not know how to react was understandable; he knew not which human was evil and which was not. Unless told, he would be reluctant to retaliate in any way possible.

But the moment Snotlout's hammer actually struck its target, smacking with a lout clung against his right leg, which caused Windwaker to roar in melancholic agony, he responded like a cornered dragon usually did.

Scorching, orange and maroon flames left his maw, encasing the battlefield with hostility as the oversized reptile hopped back, limping slightly. He was about to spread his wings and enwrap himself in flames to use his trademark attack and defend himself, when Hiccup intervened.

He knew the consequences of such an assault could incinerate the entire audience area and cause severe damage. Seeing as that was anything but in his intentions, Hiccup jumped forward, his hand automatically flying to his side-pocket from where he fetched a small, near to rectangular item. With a flick and a click, a long hollow blade emerged, oozing liquid coating it before the other button allowed for a spark to be ignited which immediately created a blistering fire.

The long, burning sword was swung with measured movements in front of Windwaker, who was instantaneously entranced by the majestic flickering of docile flames. His head followed the swing of Hiccup's arm.

Around him, the entire round of watchers gasped even louder than when Snotlout had fallen down earlier. They were just as mesmerized by Hiccup's invention as the winged beast. Hiccup had to smile; Inferno was what he called his little ingenious contraption. Fire had a soothing effect on dragons; that was one thing he had learnt early on during his life with those magnificent beings. Once his training with Skeggi at the workshop had progressed, he pulled out a sketch he had made many years ago, scrawled and tattered. One of a flaming sword which could be used to frighten away resilient marauders, yet would pacify wild dragons. It truly was a prodigy's brainchild.

Without a second to lose, as Windwaker calmly observed the bright weapon, Hiccup once more pounced on him, clambering to the top. He did not budge or bat a wing as the young man pressed his thumb into a spot his mother had once shown him.

"Time to end this debacle." Hiccup announced as a bone clacked within Windwaker's body, said dragon jerking curtly before he slowly descended towards the ground.

The pressed bone caused a nerve-centre to be hit, which called for a numbness to take over the Typhoomerang and induce him into a sleep-like state. Hiccup did not know much about nerve-centres and the likes, seeing as his era had other means of approaching the medical side of human life, but he did know it was an effective method for 'deactivating' a dragon for some humble hours.

The one-legged man jostled off his blue-and-purple companion, sheathing his sword which he replaced at his side.

Silence ensued. Everyone simply gawked at Hiccup and the stunt he had just pulled off; in all honesty, no one really knew how he had done it, but he had done it. The dragon lay there, unmoving, Hiccup all intact and Snotlout a few feet away, hammer slackening in his hand, just as breathless as everyone else.

Then, as if on signal, everyone began to cheer, calling Hiccup's name with a glorious sound as they raced towards him, Looting Liars patting his back and shoulder, Hooligans shaking his hand in a bone-breaking manner and everyone congratulating him to his astounding victory. No one heeded Snotlout, who was still as gob-smacked as before. His hammer had now fully thudded into a bed of sand, missing his foot by an inch or two. The boy obviously did not care.

"How did you do it!?" Fishleg's voice interrupted, eyes wide as saucers as he wrangled to get beside the lanky Viking, "It was so amazing but happened so quick! Is he dead?"

"Just...subdued." Hiccup had too many hands and faces all around him, all of a sudden a dozen questions were fired his way and his head began to throb from all the undesired attention.

He tried to slither out of the centre of the crowd, but each time he did, he bumped into another fan of his. Fearfully, he peeked above the heads of Vikings, trying to see how his former dragon was fairing, only to notice a few Berkians reattaching his chains and dragging him away.

"Where are you taking him?" He hoped his frightened tone was not as evident to the rest as it was to him.

"Back into his cage." Astrid's voice boomed above the others as silence followed. She evidently held a measure of authority over the civilians, as all the onlookers backed away to make space for her, "Nice failing, Snotlout." She shot amusedly at the Jorgenson, who growled and stomped away from the battle-scene, hammer in hand again.

"What're you gonna do with him?" Did the eagerness to know sound as desperate as Hiccup thought it did?

The girl shrugged indifferently, "Put him back into his cage until we need him for training again. But that's not the point." Her smug, devious smirk returned to those plump lips; she knew something Hiccup did not, and it perturbed him to an amassing extent, "You put on quite the show there, to be honest. We were all surprised. How did you do it?"

Was she openly asking, or just teasing him? What remark did she expect? Something sarcastic? Something serious? Nothing at all?

Just as he opened his mouth to form a coherent amount of words as a response, another voice interrupted.

"What a show!" It was Gobber, the blacksmith, who came hobbling along with a smaller figure beside him at a similarly leisured pace, "Although tha dragon was not tha most dangerous we hav' ta offer." His stone-tooth popped out in a meaningful way, eyes crinkling knowingly.

Hiccup just nodded, redirected his gaze to see the other presence to be an elderly, tiny woman with a large staff.

"Hiccup, may I introduce you to Berk's eldest?" Astrid twisted her body around, only reluctantly breaking eye-contact with his form, "This is Gothi, the wisest of all us Berkians and she is the one with the authority to decide who is to enter the final examination and who isn't. To ultimately prove themselves as a true Viking; as one of us."

Confusion spread all over Hiccup's countenance as his oculars flickered between Astrid and said old crone.

"Actually, she was supposed to evaluate the Looting Liars that are in-training until one of them proved themselves worthy enough to enter the exam; but no one has been anywhere near as capable as you. When she heard you would be fighting a Typhoomerang, of all dragons, today, she obviously came to get a better picture of you."

Flickering his eyes between Astrid and the elder lady, Hiccup saw pride in the one woman's orbs and insidiousness in the other's. He liked neither of it.

"Gothi has decided fer yuh ta fight tha Monstrous Nightmare tamorrow in tha afternoon. It'll be a battle of life an' death. If ya succeed, yuh'll be accepted as a true Viking within our round." Gobber explained with a positive bob of his head, "An' trust me when I tell ya this Monstrous Nightmare is not tha same as tha Typhoomerang. We hav' had him fer a while yet; quite hostile. We don't usually use him fer a final examination, as it's hard ta get one as sturdy as 'im fer training. But Gothi believes yer worth tha sacrifice of such a beast." He patted him on the shoulder approvingly, "Good luck lad, yer'll need it!"

Both Gothi and Gobber turned around, gradually leaving the battlefield to return to Berk's centre.

"You tricked me." Hiccup declared, his jaw tightened as he realised what kind of trap he had just stepped in.

"I beg your pardon?" The fake innocence was all too palpable. Astrid had her arms smugly crossed in front of her chest, eyes challenging him to continue.

"You knew Snotlout would challenge me; knew I'd accept it. All you had to do was inform this...Gothi person so that she would see me excel and ultimately call for me to battle that Monstrous Nightmare of yours." His voice held no sympathy, no love, no positive emotion at all. Just pain and betrayal.

He was scowling at her; something so opposite to usual circumstance that Astrid had to bite back an ironic chuckle.

"Sounds like the plan of a really clever person; we don't have many of those on Berk." She spoke with pride, he could aggravatingly tell, "But I don't see the problem. You are good at subduing dragons; time to show us how good you are at slaying them."

Just as the woman was about to twist her body away from him and also leave the beach to return to whatever task in mind, Hiccup grasped her right arm quite harshly, despite all intentions, "Why?" The word was flung out with resonance.

Astrid raised an eyebrow, surprised at his anger, "Why not?" once more, she challenged him with her eyes, "You are the one who is trying to make a point, what with your interferences into dragon-training and corrections of our dragon-knowledge. You are the one who has a secret no one shall know. Here's the chance to reveal it to us. By the end of tomorrow, you'll either be one of us, or you'll be buried." He ground his teeth with menacing fury, "You decide, Hiccup. Someone's gonna die; who will it be?"

He had no words. The ever quick-witted man with even quicker retorts that he was during all hours of the day, but he had no adequate response to fling into Astrid's face and leave her flabbergasted like the rest. He only had silence.

With a glowing grin, Astrid turned, pulling her arm out of Hiccup's fading grasp. She gave him one last, lingering pat onto the shoulder, "Better prepare for tomorrow. As said; it's not your everyday Nightmare that you'll have to face. Oh, and, it'd be better to get yourself a useful weapon; not like you'd be capable of killing him with bear hands. And that fire-sword" there was a curt glow of admiration as she glanced towards his hip, an obvious, curious question lingering at the tip of her tongue which she fought to swallow back, "won't do with dragons, really. So you better get yourself something else. Not like that'll be hard, seeing as you are a blacksmith." A grin, and she left.

Hiccup had the urgent need to scream.

A/N: First of, a huge big thank you for the amazing response I got last chapter! I had so many emails with favourites, alerts and reviews, I was so happy! Especially because so many of you decided to leave some feedback, it means the world to me! I really do hope you keep it up, because it makes me smile a lot!

Now, all "The Legend Of Zelda" fans will know where I got Windwaker's name from. I thought it fit perfectly, and I liked the twist. Now now, Hiccup is facing a lot of internal conflict - Astrid had him fooled completely. So, guys, how will Hiccup get himself out of this one? Will he kill the Monstrous Nightmare? Or not? What will he do? What will Astrid do? What will TOOTHLESS do? Ha lol. TELL ME! In a review, for example. I have a lot of fun reading what you suspect, and must say, some of you are always very close to what will actually happen.

The next update will MAYBE take a little longer than normal - I am moving and will have to sort out a lot of things. I don't know how hectic life will be then and when I'll find time to update, but I promise it won't take too long.

So anyway, see you soon! *spreads dragon love*

Toothless Dictionary:

Tall Green – Trees

Vast Sparkle – Ocean

Wispy Wingless – Hiccup

She Wingless – Astrid

Mother Wingless – Valka

Black Scales – Night Fury

Big Soft – Yak

Little Soft – Sheep

Wingless – Human

Sharp Shiny – Dagger

Twisted Tails – Bolas

Wet – Pond

Endless Shifter – Sky

Large Hot – Sun

Soggy Scale – Fish

Large Cold – Moon

Sparks - Stars

Wet Soft – Cloud

Bright Fire – Lightning