How To Train Your Dragon

10: Struck

Hello! So you all will be happy to know that I have completely finished the ending!! I just have to write the next chapter and the book is done!!! I have so many ideas for HTTYD 2 that I think thy might make me insane. But now, the chapter!!!

Hiccup and I enter the arena, the full weight of what we are about to do resting on our shoulders. Before we entered Hiccup got Astrid to promise that if something goes wrong during this, that she will take care of Toothless and keep him safe from the villagers and our father.

We walk over to the weapon board, Hiccup takes a dagger and shield, and as I take a bow and quiver of arrows I hear dad comment on Hiccups' weapon choice, "I would have taken the hammer."

I stand beside my brother, bow in hand. "We're ready." Hiccup says.

Slowly the stone locks on the monstrous nightmare doors are opened then they suddenly burst open as the flaming dragon bursts out. Rage blazes across me with such fury that I flinch, but underneath I think I can feel fear.

The nightmare climbs upside down along the top of the dome. It spits fire and the Vikings watching outside the arena part to make a path for the fire. It starts to climb again then stops as it realizes that it isn't alone in the arena.

The nightmare lowers itself down to the ground and faces us. As it walks forward Hiccup and I move back.

Hiccup drops his dagger and shield and I copy him by dropping my bow and unclipping the quiver from my belt, spilling arrows as it hits the ground. Hiccup takes his helmet off and throws it to the ground. "I'm not one of them.

The red dragon looks at us surprised. I stretch out comforting feelings toward the nightmare and slip to it's side.

"They aren't what we think they are. We don't have to fight them." Hiccup says and reaching out his hand, hovering it just above the dragon's nose.

Dad rises from his stone throne. "Stop the fight."

"No!" Hiccup persists. I lay my hands on the nightmare's neck. "You all need to see this." Keeping one hand still, I slowly slide my other hand down its neck.

He rests his hand on the nightmare's nose, a calming feeling settling on me like a cloud.

"I said STOP THE FIGHT!" Dad gets to his feet and slams his stone hammer against the bars of the arena denting them.

The monstrous nightmare's eyes narrow and it leaps at me. Fury setting a fire ablaze in its eyes. I dodge and Hiccup and I scramble to get out of the way. Out of the corner of my eye I see Astrid take an axe from the weapons hanging in the tunnel entrance to the arena and wedge it under the metal gate just enough so she can slip in. Astrid dashes to the broken weapon board, I hadn't seen it get crushed. She steps on the handle of a stone hammer and it flips into the air. Astrid catches it then instantly throws it at the dragon's head. I flinch from pain. She might as well as thrown the hammer at me.

The monstrous nightmare rolls over then twists around and focuses its gaze on her, ragging mad. It charges and I am aware of my dad entering the tunnel to the arena.

"Over here!" He calls.

Astrid makes a run for him and Hiccup and I go as well. We are almost there when the dragon spews fire on the ground in front of Hiccup and I. We turn and run again.

Hiccup stumbles and then I run into him and we both fall.

The monstrous nightmare's claws come around Hiccup and I like a cage. It opens its mouth ready to blast us with its liquid fire. Suddenly the bars of the cage are blasted apart and gray clouds bellow into the arena. Determination and anger wash over me. A black blur knocks the red dragon away.