++++
Hiccup's POV.
It's the next morning and Astrid and I are battling it out for the title in the killing Arena. I have already seen and fed Toothless this morning.
Although really, right now I do wish I was back with him, or really, anywhere but here.

I look up and sigh to myself, seeing the growing crowd gathering to watch this. Including my Dad.

Toothless and I actually went for a flight, just for a while. It was really...... uh..yeah.

let me explain. It wasn't just an ordinary flight.

* Flashback *

"Hey bud! We have two and a bit hours so....." I say, coming up to Toothless.
He practically throws me on his back and we take off, with me chuckling.

We zoom up into the clouds and glide calmly. Then out of nowhere we decide to fly as high as we can.
"Okay, Bud! Now!" I say and he folds his wings. We plummet and I cheer.
"YEEEEEEAAAAAH!" I cheer.
We probably shouldn't be doing this on our second proper flight. Who cares? We're reckless!

The ocean comes into view and Toothless pulls his wings open at the last second, the cool water sprays up at us. I reach forward a hand and dip a hand in.
Wow, that's cold!

"Wooooooo-hoooooooo!" I cheer as we speed up and perform some basic moves, flying high.

We continue to fly about, with me getting better and better with the tail until it feels automatic..... we have been flying for quite a while.

But, as we glide calmly in some low hanging fog, Toothless suddenly dodges something I didn't see. The mood immediately darkens.
Something feels wrong.

"Toothless, what's happening? Whoa, what is it?" I ask him. He stays silent, doesn't even glance back at me.
....REALLY wrong.
Some low lying mist rolls away and it reveals many dragons. They are all carrying food, such as sheep or fish, in a pack.
There must be at least 40 of them. Or more.
A Zipppleback looks our way and I duck, keeping as low to Toothless as I can to stay out of sight. I have a feeling something bad will happen if I'm seen.

An island emerges. It has pebbly beaches and a big mountain, looking like a volcano. I sit up in shock, eyes widening.
Is that......no?! It can't be? Can it?
I bend down again quickly when I look at the dragons again, keeping as low as I possibly can to Toothless.
What's going on?

"Toothless. You've got to get us out of here, bud!" I say but Toothless ignores me.
Something is wrong. Really, really wrong!

"I mean, I-It looks like they're hauling in their kill! But, what does that make us?" I wonder quietly out loud.
I wish Toothless would at least acknowledge me!

We fly through a hole and my eyes widen.
Oh my Thor! It is the dragons nest! The thing many viking tribes have been looking for! They've been seeking the nest since 300 years ago!
"Oh, What my dad wouldn't give to find this!" I mumble.

The dragons all drop their food down into a big hole, red mist covering it so I can't make anything out. It could be a lava glow, I guess.

Toothless lands on a ledge and backs off into the shadows, so we are out of sight. He looks really on edge and weary, paranoid even. But at least he looks alert.

"Well it's satisfying to know that all of our food has been dumped down a hole!" I sarcastically remark.
They're not eating ANY of it! Why?! All that trouble to raid us, starve us, and yet they dump it down a hole?

We both watch as a Gronkle hovers over the hole. It has nothing. So, what's it doing?
It opens its mouth and the smallest of fish fall out.
Oh.
Suddenly a roar comes up from bellow, making me freeze up in fear and sending tingling up my back.
Following the roar is something.... huge. This something launches up and seizes the Gronkle..... Whole.

I don't have any words.
Oh.my.Thor. Its a dragon!
A massive dragon just ate that Gronkle. All the other dragons cower or back away in terror at the sight of the dragon.
IT'S A DRAGON!
"Alright, buddy, we gotta get out of here." I tell Toothless, he's even more agitated now. I freeze as the colossal dragon suddenly sniffs. "Now!" I exclaim. Toothless leaps up and we fly off just in time. We narrowly miss being swallowed alive, and instead a Zipppleback is sacrificed. I gulp as we fly out of the nest, to safety.

++++
An hour later we land back in the Cove on the (sort of) beach. I dismount.

"No, it totally makes sense. It's like a... giant beehive. They're the workers, and that's their queen. It controls them! Y-You guys don't have a choice!" I exclaim, running my hands through my hair at this.
All this time. The dragons can't help it! Three hundred years and this is why they raid us.

--_---
*Flashback ends*
Present time:
I give my dad a fake smile but I sigh as I look back down to the ground.
Oh, Please win, Astrid!
All around the arena some barricades are set up as cover... I plan to use them.

I go over and cross h behind a barricade.
Astrid turns to me. "Stay out of my way! I'm winning this thing!"
"Good. Please, by all means!" I answer. I mean it. I don't wanna win.
I REALLY don't want to win. I NEED to NOT win! I can't loose, or my dad will wonder why I failed s tit. He will know something is up. I need to not win, or loose, really badly!

I slowly move out from behind cover, I'm thinking the dragon won't notice me and will go for Astrid........ I thought wrong.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAUGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" was Astrid's battle cry as she leapt over barriers with her axe raised high ready to kill. I groan quietly as the Gronkle flies towards me.
Great. Just perfect.

It is now that Astrid sees the Gronckle on the ground in bliss, me standing beside it.

So I might smell of dragon nip. Oops. Guess I shouldn't of seen Toothless first.

"NO! NO! SON OF HALF-TROLL, RAT-EATING MUNGE BUCKET!........" Astrid cusses, swinging her axe.
I don't want to be her victim. And I'm afraid of the result of what just happened.

"So, later!" I say and try to run. But Gobber catches me on his hook and yanks me back.
Damn it.

"Not so fast!" He tells me.
"I-I'm kinda late for--" I try but Astrid points her axe at me.
"What?! Late for what, exactly?!" She exclaims, mad.
Never mind then!

"Okay, quiet down. The Elder has decided!" Dad says.
...that Astrid wins training? Please let it be so.
Astrid pulls away and we step apart. Gobber stands between us.

That's probably a good idea. I feel like Astrid would attack me if Gobber wasn't there.

I fix my collar randomly, not wanting to be here. I just want to go home and hide.
I wonder if I would fit under the forge desk? No, Now is NOT the time to think of things like this!

Gobber holds his hook over Astrid. Gothi, the kite village elder and healer, shakes her head and there are collective disappointed "Aw's!" From the audience. But when the same is done to me, I wince slightly, she nods and points.
No! No, no, no, no, NO! NO

The crowd cheers and I wince.
THORS BOOTS THIS IS (*INSEET SCANDINAVIAN CUSS HERE*).... THIS IS TRULY REALLY VERY BAD!

"You've done it! You've done it, Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!" Gobber cheers, Astrid glares at me. Everyone rushes forward.
No no no! I can't kill dragons! I DON'T WANT THIS!

"Ha, ha! That's my boy!" Dad exclaims. I fake cheer on top of Fishlegs shoulder as the gang carry me off.
Oh, just please. Leave me be.
"Heh. Oh, yeah! Yes! I can't wait. I am so..." I trail off, getting an idea that sends me quite. It's okay, though because everyone's cheers drown out any winds.
Well, it's not like this is the first time I've considered this....

+++++

They all carry me up to the village and leave, to celebrate.

I run up to my house. I pause at the door, looking behind me but no one is there. I rush in and grab a basket from by the door.

I hurriedly fill it with two other outfits, a dagger, a thin blanket, A thick blanket, an extra journal, charcoal, a loaf of bread, and two water flasks. I put them in the basket safely. then I quietly lift the slab of wood covering my secret compartment, where I grab my sack of coins-due to me being a heir and all, I have maybe four hundred coins.

After I add them coins to the basket I make a mad dash for the forge, still holding the basket in my hands. Luckily I run into no one so I don't have to explain what I'm doing. I grab my apron, some leather, scrap metal and tongs as well as my other tools. I wrap my tools in my apron and put that in.

After I do that I gather up all my papers from my inventions or drawings of Toothless, etc. I chuck that in with everything else. At the last minuet I fish out an old fishing net and toss that in too.

Then, I run for the cove.
I'm out of here.

Astrid's POV.
HOW DID HE BEAT ME?! ME?! OUT OF EVERYONE HE BET ME! THAT LOW LIFE RAT EATING SON OF A HALF TROLL! URG!

I'm cut out of my thoughts by coming to a cove. I bet this is where the runt hangs out. Maybe this is where he gets help from someone, training possibly. I sit on a rock and just wait.
Oh, here he comes now!

"...LEAVING! We're leaving. Let's pack up. Looks like you and me are taking a little vacation, forever. " he exclaims to no one, walking in. He sits against the rock that I have perched myself on. I pick up my axe from my side, wondering if I should bash him on the head for revenge.

Well I didn't know he talks to himself....maybe a knock to the head with my axe would knock some sense into his scrawny body........OR maybe he's expecting someone!
"Ah, man... "

I harshly sharpen my axe. "Aggh! What the-- uh..uh..What are you doing here?" he jumps, trying to act casual towards the end.
I leap off the rock as he walks backwards.

"I want to know what's going on. No one just gets as good as you do. Especially you. So start talking! Are you training with someone?" I snap at him.

"Uh, Uh...uh training? I didn't..." he says.
"It better not involve this!" I grab ahold of some odd leather outfit he's wearing.
Its only now that I hear a rustle.

"I know this looks really bad, but you see...this is, uh... You're right! You're right! You're right. I'm through with the lies. I-I've been making... outfits. So, you got me. It's time everyone knew. Drag me back. Go on. Go ahead. Here we go!" I grab his hand and force him to the ground with a crack.

"OW! Why would you DO that?!" he exclaims, clutching his hand.
I will do more than just that!
"That's for the lies!" I mutter.
Then I drop my axe handle on his gut harshly.

"And THAT'S for everything else!" I say with gritted teeth.
HICCUP'S POV

In pain I moan "Oh, man!"
Toothless will come out, I know he's watching. I have to get Astrid out of here! He'll kill her.

"Uhhh. Astrid! I'm...not really feeling like making any more costumes so......." I try to urge her to leave.

She glares at me.
"And im gonna be late for.......um...so..... I'm just going to..go and do... um.., yeah there's something now I gotta........Uh ....yeah...bye!" I run out of the cove, trying to make it suspicious so she'll follow.

It works! I hear her following me as I duck under branches and weave through trees.

"HICCUP! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!" she shouts as I duck under a branch. "GET BACK HERE!"
Well I'm done with you! Or, at least, your violence.
I scoff and shake my head. I look back to see her swing off the branch I ducked under. I have to get her further away from Toothless. That's my priority. Then I can double back and get to him, so we can leave this dump.

"OH, REALLY HOFFERSON? WHAT'S THE MATTER? CAN'T CATCH ME?!" I taunt, running into a small clearing before I stop dead in my tracks.

*Flashback*
"Haddock! Get back here!" she giggles, chasing after me.
"Oh, really Hofferson? What's the matter? Can't you catch me?!" I tease, laughing.

We're both six, and chasing each other through the forest.

"Oh, we'll see about that!" I hear her challenge and before I know it she's pounced on me. We tumble down a hill and come to a stop, giggling.
"Pinned ya!" she cheekily says, she's right.
We both get up laughing.

"We'll always be friends, won't we Ast?" I say, as we lay down and stare at the clouds.

"Yeah, Hicc! I promise!" she replies.
"What if we're not, though?" I ask sadly.
She sits up and so do I.

"Then you can say that I broke my promise."

*Flashback ends *
I look at Astrid. She's stopped too. It appears she's had the same flashback, or at least a flashback similar to it? Why else would she stop when I say those words?
Heh, What are the odds?!

"You....you broke your promise..." I whisper before running off. I feel like crying because once we were really close and nothing could tear us apart. But now......now we're nothing.
Astrid's POV.

I run after Hiccup as he leaves the Cove. I am a pretty fast runner but I guess he's alright, too. Probably because how he runs from all the disasters he causes.
He knows the forest like the back of his hand, though. Because he spends so much time in it.

"HICCUP! I'M NOT DONE WITH YOU!" I shout, enraged. I swing off the branch that he just passed. I grip my axe tightly.

"OH, REALLY HOFFERSON? WHATS THE MATTER? CAN'T CATCH ME?!" He shouts before stopping dead after passing through an opening in two bushes.
Why has he stopped?
I just stare at him for a moment as I approach, confused. But I stop soon after, getting a flashback.

*Flashback*
I'm chasing a small, auburn-brown haired boy through the forest.

"Haddock! Get back here!" I shout, giggling happily as I follow my friend through the brown and green.

"Oh, really Hofferson? What's the matter? Can't you catch me?!" he playfully calls over his shoulder.v

"Oh, we'll see about that! " I competitively call before speeding up. I launch myself onto his back and we tumble down a hill.
I land ontop of him and pin his hands above his head, sitting on his legs.

"Pinned ya!" I cheekily say. We both laugh and get up. We're fairly young, six maybe.

"We'll always be friends, wont we Ast?" Hiccup asks innocently as we lay down and watch the white fluffy clouds dance across the sky.

"Yeah, Hicc! I promise!" I reply.

"What if we're not, though?" He asks. I sit up and he does to. I smile at him.
"Then you can say that I broke my promise." I reply softly.

*Flashback ends.*

Hiccup shakes his head and he looks back at me. "You....you broke your promise...." he whispers softly before speeding off and disappearing through the shrub before I can say a word or move a muscle.

I remember. I remember now. We would spend so much time together. Whenever Snotlout would tease Hiccup, it started when we were five, I would protect and stand up for Hiccup. But I broke that promise. I turned on Hiccup for popularity. I watched him get beat up and I watched as nasty words were thrown his way. I........I failed him. I failed him!

-----------___----------___-------

Thanks for reading! Yeah so I may of added in a sort of Lion King reference. Heh. It came into my head so I added it!
So........ how many people reading has seen The Hidden World? How many people ship Hiccstrid? How many people wish I would stop going on and on 😂?

(2550 words roughly)
Bye.