Chapter one

The wind was unusually still, betraying the usual chilly climate of Berk. It was pitch black in the arena, just as dark as the souls that crept around it. The moon was a silver of sliver in the darkness, and the light was reflecting off the bars of the cage-like arena. The vikings usually gathered in the great hall to speak of important things, but when blood may be spilled, they tended to gather in the dragon killing academy.

Which made one in particular dreadfully nervous.

The center of attention was not quite clear. Was it the small boy standing in the arena, dressed in tatters and longish brown hair? Or was it the semi-barbaric chief who sat proudly on his throne as he down at his son.

"Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III."

The boy shifted nervously and raised his head.

Stoick spoke in a low voice. "Hiccup. You have done something most despicable, and something that no viking has ever done before. You have shown and it can be proven that you have an alliance with our greatest enemy! I have spoken of your deeds with the council" Now the chief's speech rose in volume, and he was even tempted to stand and shout. But he continued on, in the same tone: "The elder, Gobbler, Spitelout and I have decided your punishment for befriending .." the chief blanched suddenly and shuddered involuntarily in disgust.

"...a night fury."

Many of the audience booed and shouted insults at Hiccup, who only ignored them. But on the inside, he felt pain build up inside of in, so if he was ever going to to asked to speak, he would have a hard time doing so. He look ed at the ground as the vikings jeered at him.

"Hiccup! You screw up!"

"How dare you?!"

"I knew that you'd never made it!"

"Spitelout and I have thought that you should be sent to blood eagle." roared Stoick over the noise. "But the elder one and Gobbler told me it would be better to give you a second chance."

Now, many of the vikings had truly thought that the blood eagle was such a heavy punishment for the boy, but all of them believed that he should not get a last chance. "A lighter punishment would suffice," They ultimately said. "But a second chance? Surely not!" Hiccup however, had lost whatever color that was in his face. His father wanted to kill him... Hiccup felt horrible. Did his father really feel that betrayed?

Hiccup looked toward the ground, his heart beating uncontrollably. It really wan't his fault if his dragon loved him more than his own people, was it? He then longed for his dragon. He wished badly that his precious dragon was alright.

"Toothless…" Hiccup moaned in his mind. "I'd do whatever it takes to get to you…I need you so bad…" Hiccup's eyes turned moist, and he brushed his tears away with the back of his hand.

Meanwhile, there was order in the arena, and all heads turned to the chief.

"What we ask of you," Stoick reassured Hiccup, "isn't much." It doesn't have to do with strength, a skill that you lack, (there were snickers heard throughout the crowd), but, we you to just prove your loyalty to us."

Hiccup's heart skipped a beat, and he pressed his sweating hands together. He could probably do this. He listened expectantly.

Meanwhile, in the deserted village, Astrid was in her room. Early that morning she had been contemplating on if she should go to Hiccup's trial or not. The fact that it would take place in the arena made her too scared to go. In her fear of blood there was none. In her carelessness there was none. It was a difficult decision for her to make. She was only horrified as images flashed through her mind of Hiccup strewn across the floor, covered in blood and barely breathing.

That Hiccup was more than a friend to her, she was sure. That she believed that the dragon loved Hiccup more, she was also positive.

It was strange. She thought. That a dragon could love a human. Nethertheless, Astrid did not question this. She figured that if she never knew that dragons weren't bloodthirsty creatures, like she did days ago, then it couldn't be right for her to decide who a dragon would want for a mate. But she did swear that it was strange. Yes, this she could not put out of her head.

Very strange indeed...

Astrid was so deep in her thoughts that she did not notice Ruffnut, who was usually loud, walking up behind her.

"Astrid."

"AH!" She spun around quickly, and then, seeing who it was, she sighed. "Ruffnut. What are you doing here?" It was odd that Tuffnut wasn't with her. She told her so.

"I don't know where he is." Ruffnut breathed in a serious tone. (Which was very unlike her personality.) "He wasn't at our house, or at our wet and muddy place-"

"Seriously? Wet and muddy place? That's dumb." Astrid tried to speak like herself to ignore the uneasy fluttering in her chest. But all was in vain.

"Hey. It's out place. We played hide and go kill there when we were little kids! Anyway, I searched everywhere. Couldn't find him."

"You must be really worried. He's your other half to you."

Ruffnut frowned, then shrugged. Like Astrid, she was trying to hide her fear with her normal self. " Nah. Once I was on fire and he didn't do anything. I could care less to what he was up to."

"Really."

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

Ruffnut frowned and shrugged. "Ya. Anyways, do you want to hear about Hiccup or not?"

Astrid leaned forward intently. "Hiccup? Is something wrong? Did they hurt him? Di d they kill- nonononono... the father would never allow that but-"

"Hey Astrid. Calm down. He's gonna be alright. He's gonna get another chance."

Astrid looked up. "Another chance? Are you serious?" That was rather unexpected. The Vikings didn't do well with change. "Why? What did they say?"

"Just... you know... that dragon that he likes?"

"Yes? What's going to happen to him?'

"Ya. The dragon that he likes... Hiccup's gonna have to kill him."