Secret of a Dragon (An HTTYD Story)

Chapter Four: Training and the Cove

"Welcome to Dragon Training!"

Each of the teens take a deep breath as they step inside the arena: Hiccup, Crystal, Astrid (the fighter), Snotlout (the ladiesman), Ruffnut and Tuffnut (the twins), Fishlegs (the dragon nerd), and Autumn (the other outcast). "No turning back," Astrid murmurs, and she is right. There is no way anyone can back out now.

This particularly affects Hiccup and Crystal. After the fiasco with the Night Fury in the forest, Hiccup knows he can't kill a dragon. He doesn't want to be trained to, because it would likely be a waste of time. As for Crystal, she and Stoick shouted at each other for several minutes before Crystal finally stormed off, looking mutinous. But she hadn't had a choice, either. The other teens, however, are no less than thrilled.

"I hope I get some serious burns," says Tuffnut enthusiastically.

"I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder or lower back," Ruffnut counters.

"Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it," says Astrid nonchalantly.

"Yeah, no kidding, right?" Hiccup mutters sarcastically. "Pain. Love it!"

Crystal rolls her eyes and glares around.

"Aw, great, who let him in?" Tuffnut groans.

"Let's get started!" Gobber interrupts. He is in charge of training the teens, as Stoick and most of the other Vikings left on a dragon hunt. "The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village."

"Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so does that disqualify him, or..." Snotlout jokes. Everyone laughs.

"Don't worry," Gobber says quietly to Hiccup. "You're small and you're weak. That'll make you less of a target. They'll see you as sick or insane and go after the more Viking-like teens instead." He moves off, chuckling, and shoves Hiccup into Fishlegs, who knocks into Tuffnut. Tuffnut glares at both of them; Fishlegs gives Hiccup a mildly annoyed glance. Crystal stands moodily next to them.

"Behind these doors are just a few of the many species you will learn to fight," Gobber continues. "The Deadly Nadder --"

"Speed eight, armor sixteen --" Fishlegs mutters rapidly.

"-- the Hideous Zippleback --"

"-- plus eleven stealth, times two --"

"-- the Monstrous Nightmare --"

"-- firepower fifteen --"

"-- the Terrible Terror --"

"-- attack eight, venom twelve --"

"CAN YOU STOP THAT?!" roars Gobber, startling everyone. He rolls his eyes, frustrated, then grabs the handle next to a cage. "And," he smirks, "the Gronckle."

"Jaw strength eight," Fishlegs whispers to Hiccup.

Gobber prepares to pull the handle.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, wait!" Snotlout yelps. "Aren't you going to teach us first!"

"I believe in learning on the job," says Gobber in a self-satisfied tone.

He pulls the handle.

Everyone scatters as the dragons bursts through the doors, snarling. "Female," whispers Crystal to herself, though Hiccup hears. He is about to ask how she knows when the dragon slams into the wall, knocking rocks loose and Hiccup's question out of his mind. The Gronckle scoops the rocks into her mouth just as Gobber yells, "Today is about survival. If you get blasted, you're dead. Quick! What's the first thing you're going to need?"