Author's Note: We're at the fifth part of the movie now. We're itching closer to the halfway mark of the arc. This is probably a bit longer than the other parts so far.

Tq3942: New update. Enjoy!

Chapter 8: The Training Continues

By nightfall, Bright and Hiccup were walking into town as they talked between themselves. "I'd gotta give you credit for being brave and courageous back in the arena," Hiccup commented to Bright as he shrugged. "The way you just tackled that Gronckle to save me…I never thought I'd be saved by someone who didn't think of me as weak."

"You're not weak," Bright smiled. "You're brave yourself. With how you are going to be, I'm sure you will be great someday."

"Let's just hope it will not end up killing dragons," Hiccup mumbled, with Bright placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry," his friend assured. "It won't end up like that."

Hiccup nodded in agreement. After seeing Toothless and Luna earlier today, he was soon beginning to have his opinion changed on dragons. They weren't as mindless as the Vikings of Berk thought of them, but they're intelligent, loving, and curious creatures.

The duo walked up a hill to the Great Hall, where Hiccup heard voices inside.

"Alright, where did Astrid go wrong in the ring?" Gobber's voice asked.

"I mistimed my summersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw off my reverse tumble," Astrid's voice replied to Gobber.

"Yeah, we noticed," Ruffnut's voice said sarcastically.

"No, no. You were great, Astrid, That was so 'Astrid'." This time it was Snotlout's voice.

"She's right, you have to be tough on yourselves," Gobber agreed with Astrid, as the door to the Great Hall opened and Bright and Hiccup stepped in. Gobber glared at Hiccup. "Where did Hiccup go wrong?"

Hiccup and Bright tried to take a seat at the table, but…

"He showed up," Ruffnut replied. "As did the new kid."

"He didn't get eaten," Tuffnut added.

…the group kept closing the gaps. Rolling their eyes, the two friends walked over to a vacant table next to them and talked amongst themselves.

"This was just great," Hiccup mumbled to Bright. "They're treating us badly."

Bright reassured him with a smile.

"And where did Bright go wrong?" Gobber continued.

"He never finished off the Gronckle," Snotlout replied.

"He didn't take a shot from the dragon," Tuffnut added.

"He didn't get eaten as well," Ruffnut finished.

"He's never where he should be," Astrid said, eyeing Hiccup with an unfriendly glare.

"Thank you, Astrid," Gobber thanked her. He stood up. "You need to live and breathe this stuff." He placed a giant book in the center of the table. "The dragon manual. Everything we know about every dragon we know of."

A rumble of thunder boomed outside and rain poured down from outside, leaving the teens around Gobber stare at the book.

Hiccup and Bright looked at each other.

"No attacks tonight," Gobber finished. "Study up." He exited the Great Hall and into the storm outside.

"You've got to be kidding me," Tuffnut started. "You mean read?" he asked too late.

"While we're still alive?" Ruffnut added.

"Why read words when you can just kill the stuff the words tell you stuff about?" Snotlout scowled.

"Oh!" Fishlegs said excitedly. "I've read it like, seven times. There's this water dragon that sprays boiling water at your face. And there's this other one that buries itself for like a week…"

The teens stared at Fishlegs as he went on for too long.

"Yeah, that sounds great," Tuffnut grunted. "There was a chance I was going to read that…"

"But now…" Ruffnut added, standing.

"You guys read," Snotlout said. "I'll go kill stuff." He exited, with the others following him, with Fishlegs in tow.

"Oh and there's this other one that has three spines that look like trees…" Fishlegs continued rambling on as he exited the Hall.

"So, I guess we'll share—" Hiccup started, before Astrid pushed the book toward him.

"Read it." And then she left the two friends behind in the Hall alone.

"All mine then. Wow, so okay. I'll see you—" Hiccup didn't finish, as the door slammed shut. "—tomorrow." He sighed.

Bright shrugged. "Reading is better than nothing."

"Wait, you can read Norse?" Hiccup asked.

"My teacher Arne has taught me a lot," Bright explained.

"I see." Hiccup nodded afterward, needing no further explanations. During late night, he was inside the Hall with Bright, who was holding a small torch with a flame, to help Hiccup read, he sat it down on the table. Hiccup opened the massive book, while thunder boomed outside, as the Hall was vacant and dark, but there were small light of torches they've pulled together.

"Dragon classifications," Bright read.

"Strike class," Hiccup continued. "Fear class. Mystery class." He turned the page. "Thunderdrum. This elusive dragon inhabits sea caves and dark tide pools."

"When startled," Bright read, "the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight."

Hiccup's eyes drift to a lurid illustration of decapitated Vikings. Another page, another dragon. "Timberjack. This gigantic creature has razor sharp wings that can slice through full grown trees…extremely dangerous."

"Kill on sight," Bright finished reading the page.

The illustrations seemed to take on a life of their own, shifting and squirming in the candlelight.

"Scauldron," Bright read. "Sprays scalding water at its victim. Extremely dangerous."

The storm outside rages against the shuttered windows. Hiccup and Bright are startled, but continue on reading.

"Changewing," Hiccup read. "Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight." He began flipping through the pages:

"Gronckle. Zippleback. The Skrill.

Bone Knapper. Whispering Death.

Burns its victims. Buries it victims. Chokes its victims. Turns its victims inside-out.

Extremely dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight…"

They finally landed on the page they've been looking for.

"Night Fury," Bright read.

The page was blank. No image, save for a few, sparse details.

"Speed unknown," Hiccup continued. "Size unknown."

"The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself," Bright read.

"Never engage this dragon," Hiccup continued. "Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you." He pulled out his sketchbook out of his vest and opened it to his drawing of Toothless, which Bright noticed he had drawn earlier. Hiccup lay the sketchbook down over the book's blank pages and considered it.

…

The next day, Hiccup and Bright were in the arena together, with Hiccup looking at the outline of the dragon on his shield. He looked up to Gobber. "You know, I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book? Or a sequel? Maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?"

Bright widened his eyes and pushed Hiccup down as a blast nearly took the ax out of Hiccup's hand, while Hiccup yelped and scrambled to his feet and ran off with Bright.

"Focus Hiccup," Gobber said from atop the arena. "You're not even trying."

In the ring with the teens was a Deadly Nadder, loose in the maze-like arrangements of moveable walls. Bright and Hiccup were trying their best to avoid the dragon, while the rest were trying to attack.

"Today…is all about attack," Gobber called down, as the Nadder hopped from wall to wall, which sent the group scurrying. "Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter."

The teens move in, stumbling over Hiccup and Bright, and their unwieldy shields. The Nadder spotted Fishlegs' ample rear hiding behind a wall. It whipped its tail of spikes. Fishlegs screamed and lifted an entire wall to shield himself from the spray.

"I'm really beginning to question your training methods," Fishlegs whimpered to Gobber.

"Look for its blind spot," Gobber said in response. "Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike."

Ruff and Tuff rushed in, diving and rolling up to the Nadder's nose, while the Nadder sniff the air—it couldn't see them. Tuff and Ruff are smashed together - too close for comfort.

"Do you ever bathe?" Ruffnut complained to her twin.

"If you don't like it," Tuffnut rebuked, "then just get your own blind spot."

"How about I give you one!" Ruffnut declared, with them beginning to shove each other, 'til their movement and noise gives them away. The Nadder attacked, snapping at both of them.

"Blind spot? Yes," Gobber noted. "Deaf spot? Not so much."

Hiccup wandered up to Gobber, while the others, including Bright, dart past. "Hey, so how would you sneak up on a Night Fury?"

"No one's ever met one," Gobber shook his head, "and lived to tell the tale. Now get in there."

"I know, I know, but hypothetically…" Hiccup started again.

"Hiccup!" Astrid whispered, putting her finger on her lips and gesturing to him to hide. A moment later, the Nadder leapt over the walls, surprising them by landing in front of her. Astrid somersaults into its blind spot, confusing it. She rear back to strike - just as Snotlout leapt in protectively sweeping Astrid behind her.

"Watch out, babe," he said smugly. "I'll take care of this."

"Hey!" Astrid shouted.

Bright noticed what was transpiring, shaking his head.

Snotlout missed, as Astrid glared at him.

"The sun was in my eyes, Astrid," Snotlout said defensively. "What do you want me to do, block out the sun? I could do that, but I don't have time right now!"

The Nadder teared off after her, knocking down the walls in pursuit. She leapt and dived like a highly trained gymnast.

Bright widened his eyes in shock as a wall was beginning to fall down on an unaware Hiccup, who kept talking to Gobber. "Hiccup!"

"Hiccup!" Astrid added in her shout.

Hiccup spun around to see the maze walls collapsing like dominos toward him. Astrid came flying through the dust and crash-landed on top of him, laying him out in a limb-tangled mess.

Bright sighed in relief, but he noticed the Nadder looking at him with one side glance of its one eye. He raised his shield as the Nadder attacked, whipping its tail of spikes, but couldn't hit Bright because of his shield blocking the spikes. His eyes turned slit as he faced the Nadder head-on by running toward it.

"He's crazy!" Fishlegs gasped.

The Nadder tried whipping its tail of spikes again, but Bright blocked them with his shield, and jumped to the side when the Nadder tried slamming its tail at him. The Nadder saw his draconic eye from its side-glance at him.

Bright growled, so it did in return. He saw it whipping one last tail of spikes, but he blocked them once more. Soon what the teens and Gobber saw next, was something that happened in a flash. Bright was already on top of the Nadder, the end of his sword pointing to its neck.

"What happened?" Snotlout asked, confused. "He moved so fast I couldn't see what he did!"

"Me neither," Fishlegs added in agreement.

Astrid couldn't believe her eyes.

Hiccup smiled happily at his friend, who was standing on the Nadder, while the Nadder fearfully backed off as Bright got off it.

"How is he…" Tuffnut couldn't find his words.

"How did…" Neither did Ruffnut.

"Well," Gobber started, confusion all over his face. "That was unexpected. Again. Bright, you sure are different from the rest of the group, being so fearless of the dragons." However, he noticed Bright's one slit eye. "Hmm…"

Bright relaxed, his eyes becoming square. He looked at the teens, who were speechless. "What?" he asked innocently.

"How are you able to stand up to dragons like that?" Astrid wanted to know.

"I was just…trained to do it," Bright lied, hoping she would take the hint.

"Whatever." Astrid looked away, arms crossed over her chest.

Hiccup laughed nervously. "Bright here was just testing his confidence against the Nadder. Nothing too serious was done, after all. The Nadder lived for you guys to train against again…"

"Is this some kind of a joke to you?" Astrid demanded him. "Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on." She grabbed her ax and stomped off.

Hiccup watched her leave, stung.

Bright huffed. "She could be nicer to you, Hicc," he whispered to his ear.

"Yeah, but that's how Astrid is," Hiccup sighed.

…

After their training with the other teens was done and over, Hiccup and Bright returned to the cove where Luna and Toothless were resting and raised their heads upon hearing their footsteps close. Of course, Luna went up to her brother and licked his face, covering him in drool.

Bright laughed at her usual welcome gesture. "We've only been gone for a day, Luna."

"Even so," Luna nudged his shoulder. "I'm still happy to see you, baby brother."

Bright groaned.

"What did she say?" Hiccup asked, slowly getting used to Bright's communication with the dragons.

"I am her baby brother," Bright grunted to him.

Hiccup blinked before feeling a presence beside him. "Oh, hey, Toothless…"

"Do you have any fish for me?" Toothless asked, his warble was the only thing Hiccup heard.

"He asked if you had any food for him," Bright translated.

"Oh," Hiccup realized. He looked and soon took out a fish for Toothless, who lowered his head to sniff it, before he bit into it and took the fish from Hiccup's hands. "I'm still not used to feeding dragons," he mumbled to Bright.

"You'll get used to it."

"So, shall we fly, brother?" Luna asked.

"And leave Toothless all here alone without your presence?" Bright teased. "Would you make him feel lonely, sister?"

Luna glared at him. She growled, and he did so in return. Soon, she tackled him and they began play-fighting.

Hiccup and Toothless watched from the sidelines.

After a while, the two friends left the cove to return back to town. During the night, the two friends were sitting atop of an abandoned catapult tower with Gobber and the others, toasting campfire food around a roaring bonfire.

"...and with one twist he took my hand and swallowed it whole," Gobber explained his story of his missing hand, "and I saw the look on his face. I was delicious. He must have passed the word, because it wasn't a month later another one of them took my leg."

"Isn't it weird to think that your hand was inside a dragon," Fishlegs started, "Like if your mind was still in control of it you could have killed the dragon from the inside by crushing his heart or something."

Snotlout groaned. "I swear I am so angry right now. I'll avenge your beautiful hand and your beautiful foot. I'll chop off the legs of every dragon I fight, with my face." He postured to Astrid, and she rolled her eyes.

Gobber, with his mouth full, muffled in agreement. "Uh-unh. It's the wings and tails you really want. If it can't fly, it can't get away. A downed dragon is a dead dragon."

Hiccup hid his horrified face from them, only Bright saw it.

Gobber yawned, stretching his arms. "Alright. I'm off to bed. You should be too. Tomorrow we get into the big boys. Slowly but surely making our way to the Monstrous Nightmare." He playfully, but tauntingly added, "But who'll win the honor of killing it?" He hobbled off, as the teens reflected.

"It's gonna be me!" Snotlout said as a matter of factly. "It's my destiny, see?"

Tuffnut rolled up his sleeve to reveal a red dragon on his arm.

Fishlegs gasped. "Your mom let you get a tattoo?"

"It's not a tattoo," Tuffnut corrected. "It's a birthmark."

"Okay," Ruffnut sighed, "I've been stuck with you since birth, and that was never there before."

"Yes it was," Tuffnut pressed. "You've just never seen me from the left side until now."

"It wasn't there yesterday," Snotlout pointed out. "Is it a birthmark or a today-mark?"

Hiccup and Bright got up and walked away from the group, not knowing Astrid watched them leave the bonfire.

Once they were out of sight from the others, Bright asked, "What are you going to do about it?" He's clearly heard everything Gobber had told them about.

"I'm gonna make something as a gift," Hiccup replied, voice low.

Bright smiled. "Lead the way."