A few days passed, with each the urgency to get their crash-course version of training complete only increased.

But day after day, they made significant progress in their flying and co-ordination. In between Snotlout's gloating and the twin's bickering that is.

In riding the Zippleback, the twins had decided it was more 'comfortable' to sit right at the end of the neck by it's heads, although the Dragon Master suspected it was because they felt more daring as it was easier to fall / push each other off.

Fishlegs joined in on the training with Meatlug, and Astrid was there with Stormfly to help teach.

"Today will be our last lesson." The Dragon Master tells the assembled Viking teens.

"Today you'll either prove your ability to aid in repelling the Jormung, or whether you'll be it's next meal."

At his words, Fishlegs gulped nervously, but the twins pumped their fists with excitement.

Even though Fishleg's knew it was Hiccup under the mask, he was almost a different person. The soft green caring eyes Hiccup has always had give way to the harsh emerald ones that shine through the eye sockets in the Dragon Master's armour. He also seemed to stand taller and prouder, able to use the masquerade to quell his fear and shyness.

"You can all control your dragons consistently enough, so it is time for a test." The Dragon Master continues, "A Manoeuvrability test. Being agile is incredibly important whether you are dodging projectiles or even in a dogfight with another dragon. So, your tasks will be to weave in and out of the sea stacks that circle around this bay, slalom style and return here within 2 minutes."

"Pfft, *easy*" Snotlout sneered.

"And Snotlout has volunteered to go first, how kind. Ready, Set.. Go!"

Snotlout's first attempt had him landing back at barely under 3 minutes, failing to hit the target time.

Astrid's first attempt was comfortably under the 2 minute mark by about 15 seconds, setting the precedent that it was in fact possible, and got the twins raring to join in on beating Snotlout.

If it weren't for a last minute argument over who got to cross the finish line first between the twins, they may well have made it under 2 minutes themselves. As it happened however, they got into a mini brawl while still mid air and both managed to get tangled upside down in their quickly cobbled together harnesses the Dragon Master had made.

"It's a good job I threw these together with some scraps the other day isn't it?" The Dragon Master laughs as Barf and Belch land in front of him, the twins dangling from their necks.

Tuffnut grinned, "Yeah, as much as I love ocean diving, waiting for my clothes to dry off after is so boring. And cold."

"And no one would let you to take them off to dry faster either" Ruffnut chirped.

"I know! If people got one look at my masterful physique, they would never leave me alone!" Tuff exclaims, jumping to his feet and gesturing widely at himself.

The rest of the teens all double over, clutching at their stomachs as they heartily laugh, and Tuffnut himself joins in.

"Oh Thor, I think I pulled a muscle from all that." Fishlegs chuckles after a minute has passed, "You can go next Dragon Master, I'll go after."

"Sure." Settling onto Toothless' back, the Dragon Master checks the harness with a well practiced movement, and soon enough is off.

It's not often he's been racing against the clock riding Toothless, and so notices the lower acceleration they can gather than he had presumed.

"The old tail fin rig I made you was more agile and was generally better for speed wasn't it bud?" He reminisces.

Toothless warbles back at him and glides upside down for a short stretch.

The Dragon Master chuckles, "I know, I know you prefer being able to glide on your own. Just handy for racing y'know?"

"1 minute 50 seconds! Or so." Fishlegs announces on The Dragon Master's final return.

"Not as fast as me eh?" Astrid grins, nudging The Dragon Master playfully.

"Hmm, we took our time on some of the obstacles, flew upside down for a bit." He argues, his voice mirthful despite his masked face.

The whole group then has a few more attempts over that day and the start if the next, each bettering their previous times until only Fishlegs and Meatlug didn't break 2 minutes, though their attempts were deemed close enough.

The Dragon Master had just one more exercise for them to get to grips with, their Dragon's attacks.

"Hopefully it won't be needed much, but just in case it would be better for you to be able to let your dragons know exactly when you want them to shoot."

"Ooh ooh, remember our dragons only have a few shots! Meatlug is a Gronckle so has a shot limit of 6, Stormfly has both her Magnesium Blast an..."

"Yeah yeah we get it Fishface" Snotlout interjects. "What are we going to be using as target practise? I vote Tuffnut".

"Each dragon has their own specialties and attacks, think back to any training you received on fighting the dragons. You already know what they are capable of and even their weaknesses, use that knowledge to aid you and your Dragon in a fight."

"Just to point out the obvious, fighting another dragon with our dragons is a bit different to fighting them on foot." Ruffnut points out.

"Not to mention when the dragon we are fighting could probably eat our Dragons without hardly even noticing." Fishlegs says.

"All the more reason to learn and leverage everything we have if we are to take on the Jormung." Astrid's steely glare silencing any further chatter.

Hiccups aerial combat training consisted mainly of demonstrating to them all how to most effectively tell their dragons what they want. This led to them all finding out many new quirks and details of their dragons, for example that pulling too sharply on Meatlug's reigns causes her to spiral towards the ground with little regard for whatever happens to be below her at the time.

By the time the first tendrils of dusk made their way above the horizon, they had between them blasted some sizable divots in some softer rocks, and left plenty of scorch marks all around.

"Good Job no one comes round to this bay often anymore" The Dragon Master comments as they all gathered on the shore.

"The old dragon fighting cage is up on the cliff behind us, but beyond that not much. Well, If there was anything else then the twins have already blown it up." Fishlegs laughs, to which the twins themselves nod solemnly.

"This could be a good place to train dragons and riders in the future" Astrid says gesturing around. "The cage itself could even be used similarly back to our old dragon training."

"Nah Astrid, the cage should have a maze inside with target's that pop out and you and your Dragon have to shoot!" Tuffnut exclaims, "And the targets can be in the shape of other Vikings, or just circles around the place. And you could have different tiers of targets worth more points..."

The rest of the group just sit staring at Tuffnut as he goes into great depth on his idea.

"But what should it be called..." He finally muses.

"Fireball Frenzy" Ruff suggests, absent-mindedly twirling a braid around a random twig of driftwood.

"My own sister! Who knew you were so astute in the arts of wordplay! Fireball Frenzy it shall be."

The Dragon Master starts as if to tell him how unrealistic it is to get the rest of Berk to agree to something like that, but Astrid cuts him off saying, "You know, that actually wouldn't be a bad idea. Something we could look into after we deal with the Jormung, after all even the dragons need games and enrichment exercises."

"You're right, good idea to keep in mind for the future Tuff."

Tuffnut grins at the Dragon Master's compliment before punching Ruffnut below the ribs for very little reason.

"Time to head back to the Village, Stoick said he's going to give an announcement about us going to find the Jormung." Astrid reminds everyone, re-saddling in a single elegant swing.

Once they are airborne, the Dragon Master flies above the rest of the group, ensuring he is out of earshot. "Yippee" he mutters to himself, "Time to reveal Hiccup to the rest of the village."