Chapter XXII:

Ashild:" Be careful with that dragon."

the crowd goes crazy

Hiccup:" It's not the dragon I'm worried about."

Ashild:" Hey, you never told me anything about DragonSlayer back there. When a find out about toothless."

Hiccup:" I'll tell you later."

Hiccup looked up to where his father was sitting

Ashild:" What are you going to do?"

Hiccup:" Put an end to this."

She eyes him, dubious.

Hiccup:" I have to try. Ashild. If something goes wrong… just make sure they don't find Toothless."

Ashild:" I will. Just promise me it won't go wrong."

Hiccup can't say anything because Gobber approaches.

Gobber:" It's time, Hiccup.

Hiccup looks at Ashild

Gobber:" Knock him dead."

Hiccup puts his helmet on and enters the ring. Gobber closes the gate.

Tuffnut:" Show 'em how it's done, my man!"

Vikings:" Hiccup… Hiccup."

Hiccup locks up and sees John standing right next to Stoick with his DragonSlayer armor

He hoists a shield onto his forearm and selects his weapon

from a rack of many -- a small dagger.

Stoick: (Muttered) " Hrmph. I would've gone for the hammer."

Hiccup turns to face a bolted, heavy door. Takes a deep breath.

Hiccup:" I'm ready."

The door bolt is raised. The crowd grows quiet... Beat.

BOOM!

The doors blast open with a stream of sticky fire. Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, coated in flames. It tears out of its cave-like an irate bull -- as the crowd roars and jeers. It climbs the walls and chain enclosure like a bat, hissing at the provoking crowd and blasting fire.

It spots Hiccup and descends, leering and licking the flaming drool from its lips.

The crowd grows silent, bracing for the big fight. With the Monstrous Nightmare's eyes locked upon him, Hiccup deliberately drops his shield and dagger stepping away from them. The dragon pauses, confused.

ON STOICK, also confused.

Stoick:" What is he doing?

The dragon presses closer, snorting. Hiccup extends his open hand.

Hiccup: (Whispered) " It's okay. It's okay."

The dragon continues to pace, focused on... HICCUP'S HELMET. Hiccup realizes, then reaches up and removes it. Taking a breath to acknowledge the point of no return, he tosses the helmet aside. It hits the ground.

Hiccup:" I'm not one of them."

GASPS and MURMURS race through the crowd. With Stoick, as all eyes turn to him. He's welling with upset.

Hiccup avoids Stoick's glare and remains focused on the Nightmare, holding his hand out. It paces around him, calming down.

Stoick:" Stop the fight."

Hiccup:" No. I need you all to see this."

The crowd gets restless.

Hiccup:" They're not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them."

Stoick:" I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!"

Stoick whacks his hammer against the iron enclosure, rattling the arena with a terrible reverberating clatter. Spooked, the Nightmare snaps at Hiccup's outstretched hand. Hiccup YELPS and springs backward. The spell is broken. The Nightmare reacts to Hiccup's sudden movements and blasts another stream of fire. Hiccup SCREAMS and barely dives out of reach.

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(With Toothless)

His ear plates shoot up. Panic flares in his eyes.

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Hiccup scrambles around the killing ring, his heart pounding with terror. The Monstrous Nightmare snarls and snaps at his heels, its scaly body coiling and slithering as it pursues him relentlessly. Flames lick from the dragon's gaping maw as it springs from ground to wall, salivating at the prospect of an easy meal.

In the crowded arena, Stoick the Vast pushes through the throngs of spectators, his face hardened with determination. "Out of my way!" he bellows, barreling towards the grated doorway.

"Hiccup!" cries Ashild, her voice shrill with panic. Wedging her battleaxe under the gate, she squeezes through the narrow gap, desperate to save her friend.

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Meanwhile, Toothless the Night Fury bounds through the shadowy confines of the cove, clawing in desperation at the steep stone walls that entrap him. With an incredible burst of effort, he hooks a claw over the upper lip of the wall, scrabbling for purchase on the slippery rocks.

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In the arena, Hiccup dodges streams of blistering fire, racing for the weapon rack in a last-ditch attempt to arm himself. But the Nightmare is too quick--with a swipe of its barbed tail it demolishes the rack, leaving Hiccup defenseless once more. The dragon's serpentine body coils around the boy, ready for the kill.

Just then, a daring figure leaps into the ring, brandishing a shield and sword. It is John, with a courageous war cry, who rushes between Hiccup and the Nightmare.

"Over here, beast!" John bellows, bashing the dragon with his shield. The Nightmare recoils, distracted from Hiccup by this new threat. Seizing his chance, Hiccup scrambles to his feet and runs for the open gate where Stoick and Ashild wave him urgently onward.

The dragon recoils with a scream. He places himself between the Nightmare and Hiccup, shield raised.

"You want him, you go through me!" John yells.

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Toothless tears through the woods, bounding like panthers and taking to the air in short bursts.

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The dragon spread its wings and unleashed a great torrent of flame. But John did not flee. He held his ground, the fire engulfing his armored form but leaving him unharmed.

Seeing its fire had no effect, the Nightmare changed tactics. It lunged at John, seeking to crush him in its terrible jaws. In the last moment…..