Chapter 8: Dragon Training: Day 2
Meanwhile, the Berk fleet was almost to Helheim's Gate. "I can almost smell them. They're close." Stoick said as they approached the foggy walls of Helheim's Gate, the entrance to the Dragons' Nest. "Take us in. Hard to port. For Helheim's Gate." Stoick ordered. The ships entered Helheim's Gate, disappearing into the fog. Suddenly, the fog lit up as a silhouette of a Monstrous Nightmare appeared.
Meanwhile, back on Berk, it was Day 2 for training. Gobber had set up a maze inside the arena. "Hey, you know, Hicca and I just happen to notice the book had nothing on Furies. Is there like another book or a sequel, maybe a little Fury pamphlet?" Hiccup asked. Suddenly, a fire blast hit his axe, melting the blade. "Focus, Hiccup!" Gobber exclaimed. "Hiccup, look!" Hicca cried. A Deadly Nadder had spotted them and started chasing them. "You're not even trying. Today is all about attack! Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter." Gobber explained as the Nadder spotted Fishlegs and fired spines from its tail. Luckily, Fishlegs blocked the spines with his shield. "I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods." He said. "Look for its blind spot. Every Dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike." Gobber explained. Ruffnut and Tuffnut ran up, but found themselves in front of the Nadder. Luckily, they found themselves in its blind spot. But then, Ruffnut caught whiff of her brother's odor. "Do you ever bathe?" She asked in disgust. "If you don't like it, then just get your own blind spot." Tuffnut argued as they started fighting again. "How about I give you one?!" Ruffnut exclaimed. But as they bashed heads, the Nadder found them and fired its Magnesium Blast, forcing them to run. "Blind spot, yes. Deaf spot, not so much." Gobber said, chuckling.
"Hey, so how would one sneak up on a Fury?" Hiccup asked. "No one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Now GET IN THERE!" Gobber ordered. "We know, we know. But hypothetically…" Hicca tried to say. "Hiccup! Hicca! Down." Astrid whispered as she, Snotlout and the Styrkarssons hid behind the wall. Astrid spotted the Nadder sniffing around for them. As she took a breath, she rolled towards the other side, followed by Snotlout and the Styrkarssons. But as Hiccup tried to go next, the shield was too heavy for him to roll with. "Hiccup." Hicca said with worry. As the Nadder spotted them, they picked up their shields with a surge of adrenaline and ran as the Nadder chased them. The Nadder hopped onto the walls and spotted Astrid and Snotlout. Astrid prepared to attack, but Snotlout shoved her aside. "Watch out, babe. I'll take care of this." He said, obviously trying to impress Astrid. He tossed his mace, but obviously missed, making the Nadder laugh. "The sun was in my eyes, Astrid!" He exclaimed. Just then, the Nadder fired its Magnesium Blast again, forcing them to run. "What do you want me to do, block out the sun?! I can do that, I just don't have time right now!" As Astrid kept running with the Nadder in hot pursuit, it started knocking over the walls.
"Has anyone ever seen one napping?" Hiccup asked as the others ran past him and Hicca. "Hiccup! Hicca!" Gobber exclaimed, pointing to the falling walls. Astrid leapt onto one of the walls as the Nadder tried to chomp her. "HICCUP!" She shouted as she leapt off the wall and landed on Hiccup. Hicca rolled out of the way as the Nadder ran past them. "Ooh! Love on the battlefield!" Tuffnut teased as Astrid and Hiccup struggled against each other. "I say this with all due respect, but maybe she could do better. Maybe." Ruffnut said. "Uh, let me…why don't you…" Hiccup tried to say as Astrid tried to pull her axe free from his shield. "Sorry…just let me…" Astrid tried to say as she stood up, accidentally hurting Hiccup. Just then, the Nadder broke free out of the broken walls. Astrid gasped at this. "Quick, take my shield!" Hiccup exclaimed. Astrid grabbed her axe and Hiccup's shield, along with Hiccup's brace by accident, and hit the Nadder in the face, shattering the shield. The Nadder limped away, whimpering in pain, clearly hurt from the attack. "Well done, Astrid." Gobber said. Astrid looked at Hiccup and offered her hand. He took it as she helped him stand up. "Are you okay?" She asked. "Yeah, I'm fine." Hiccup said, brushing himself off. "Listen, Hiccup, I like you, and I respect you and your sister. But do you both have to treat this like a big joke?" Astrid asked. "Excuse me?" Hiccup asked, feeling insulted as Hicca and the Styrkarssons walked up. "Our parents' war is about to become ours. Maybe you should figure out who's side you need to be on." Astrid said. As Hiccup glared at her for saying that, Snotlout noticed the scar on Hiccup's arm. "Whoa, what's with the scar? You burn yourself in the shop or something?" He asked mockingly as he walked up tried to touch it. But Hiccup smacked his hand before smacking his face, leaving him and the others shocked. He then walked over to his bracer and picked it up. "It's none of your business! Just leave me alone!" He exclaimed before running out of the arena with Hicca and the Styrkarssons following.
Everyone just stared in shock as Hiccup, Hicca and the Styrkarssons ran out, shoving past Gobber as he walked into the arena. "Did you guys see the size of that scar? Looked like a Dragon slash to me." Tuffnut said. "Yeah, but I thought the chief would never let Hiccup or Hicca out to fight Dragons after what happened to their mother." Ruffnut said. "You're right. So, how did he get that?" Fishlegs asked as Gobber put the Nadder back in its cage. "I guess his secret's out now." Gobber said, picking up the debris. The teens looked at him in confusion. "What secret?" Snotlout asked, rubbing his reddened cheek. "Hiccup received that scar when he and Hicca were just 3-years-old. They were playing near the forest when a bloodied Dragon came out and attacked them. Hiccup protected his sister, leaving him with that scar. Which is why he was always wearing that bracer. Because he considers it a burden. It's also part of the reason Stoick had shielded Hiccup and Hicca their entire lives." Gobber explained as he continued cleaning. The teens were left stunned with this new information.
Well, how was that? As Stoick's forces journey into the foggy entrance of Helheim's Gate, Hiccup started asking questions about the Furies during Day 2 of Dragon Training. As the teens did their best against the Deadly Nadder, Hiccup barely paid any attention due to asking questions about the Furies, causing Astrid to accidentally rip off his brace and reveal his scar. After Hiccup left with Hicca and the Styrkarssons, Gobber told the others about what happened to Hiccup when he and Hicca were 3-years-old. But what was the true purpose of that scar? Will Hiccup and Hicca find out more about the Furies? Leave a review if you want.