Gone (HTTYD Fanfic) REWRITE [Book 5]

~16~

Astrid walks into the arena, leading the other teens behind her. They all look confused as to why they have been lead here. Astrid looks around, trying to spot Hiccup. 

He hadn't told her what his plan was, all he had told her was to get the other teens and bring them to the arena. Though she has a pretty good idea to what he is planning, and she isn't to happy about it. The results could be fatal.

She spots him standing in front of one of the cages. Not doing anything but standing there. She looks at him confused.

When he hears them walking into the arena, he turns around and looks at them. A look a relief goes past his face when he sees them all, but Astrid can still see that he is still nervous. She can't blame him. 

Astrid looks over when she sees Tuffnut walk up to Hiccup with a scowl. She reaches out to stop him but she misses his arm. 

She watches as Hiccup tenses when Tuffnut stops in front of him. "You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadliest weapon." Tuffnut says. Hiccup raises an eyebrow. "It's me." Tuffnut says. 

"Uh..." Hiccup says, uncomfortably. Snotlout runs up to Hiccup, pushing Tuffnut out of the way and putting his hands on Hiccup's shoulders. "I love this plan." He exclaims. Astrid was going to point out that Hiccup hadn't even told them what the plan was yet but decided to let Snotlout figure it out himself.

"I didn't..." Hiccup starts. Astrid watches as Ruffnut runs up to them, pushing Snotlout away and standing a little too close to Hiccup for Astrid's liking. "You're crazy..." She says. She leans closer to Hiccup. "I like that." She says with a smirk on her face. Astrid sees how this is making Hiccup uncomfortable and is quick to pull Ruffnut away by the horn on her helmet. She grunts as she walks back to the others. She hears Tuffnut snickering and a thud. She is quick to assume that Tuffnut is now on the ground as she hears Ruffnut cackling. 

"So, what is the plan?" Astrid ask. Hiccup looks down at her relieved and smiles. Astrid feels her face heat up when he looks at her like that. 

While Hiccup explains the plan, Astrid can see how all the teens faces-including hers- slowly goes to shock. When Hiccup finishes, he waits for any of them to say something. He steadily grows nervous at their silence. 

Astrid sees this, looks at the others, then looks back at Hiccup. She smiles and walks up to him, and she puts and hand on his arm.

"So... how about we get started then." She says. Hiccup smiles and he walks over to the Monstrous Nightmare cage.

Astrid watches nervously as the door opens and Hiccup walks in. She hears the teens whisper, whether or not Hiccup will be eaten by the dragon. She glares at them and they cower at her glare. 

Her attention snaps back to the cage when she hears claws on the stone ground of the arena. She watches bewildered as she sees Hiccup slowly leads the Nightmare out of its cage. It snorts as it's eyes focus on Hiccup only. 

He keeps backing up with the dragon following until he can reach back and grab Snotlout's wrist.

"Wait! What are you..." Snotlout says afraid. Astrid snorts.

"Relax... it's okay... it's okay..." Hiccup says softly, trying to keep the dragon sedated. When Snotlout's hand rests on the dragon snout, Hiccup removes his hand and walks to the supply bin by the wall. 

"Where are you going?" Snotlout yells when Hiccup walks away. Astrid watches as Hiccup pulls out a bundle of rope and walks back over to the others. He smiles as he gestures to the other dragons who have been let of of their cages and are waiting patiently.. 

"You're going to... need something... to hold on to..."