They then flew from the island while Astrid tried to find the right words to describe what she just saw.
"Alright, I admit it. This is pretty cool. It's... amazing. He's amazing." Astrid said as she put a hand on Toothless as if thanking him for showing her that dragons aren't monsters.
"About time you stop and see the perspective of a dragon." Emily spoke up as Astrid looked over to see her standing on the other dragon.
Astrid's eyes softened as she knew that she had to apologize about what happened.
"Listen, about what happened at the arena, the cove and the Nadder the other day, I just want to say-" Astrid said but Hiccup cut her off with a soft tone.
"A-Astrid, it's okay. We forgive you but it's gonna take some time for me to heal completely." Hiccup told her as Optimus warbled softly as Astrid's eyes softened at this.
Then she remembered that they had another problem to deal with as they flew through some fog.
"So what now?" Astrid asked but only got a sigh in response.
"Hiccup, your final exam is tomorrow. You know you're going to have to kill a... kill a dragon." Astrid said as she whispered the last part so Toothless and the other dragon wouldn't hear.
"Don't remind me." Hiccup said in dismay.
"We'll try and figure out a way to show them." Emily said before she tensed.
Toothless suddenly took a sharp dive with Optimus following suit as Emily held on with Astrid and Hiccup crying out in surprise.
"Toothless, what's happening? Whoa, what is it?" Hiccup asked but didn't get an answer.
"Optimus, what's going on with you?" Emily asked worriedly as Optimus warbled but it sounded strain which made her worried.
They almost bump into a Monstrous Nightmare and Emily knows they have to try and stay hidden.
"Get down!" Hiccup whispered as they leaned against the backs of their dragons.
They soon found themselves surrounded by hundreds of dragons who are all carrying animals or food. Emily looked around and her eyes widened when she saw three dragons by the coloration.
"Smokescreen. Ultra Magnus. Tailgate" Emily called out in a whisper and the other Night Fury, Beezelord and Dramilion looked towards her with strain expressions and she knew that something was wrong.
"What's going on?" Astrid asked nervously as she glanced around at the dragons.
"I don't know. Toothless. You've got to get us out of here, bud." Hiccup said as he tried to get Toothless to snap out of it but Toothless snapped at him to be quiet.
Emily was able to direct Optimus to fly a little closer as she noticed that the dragons have food in their clutches.
"It looks like they're hauling in their kills." Emily noted with her whole body tense.
"Uh, what does that make the three of us?" Astrid asked nervously.
The dragons all suddenly dive down as the three riders all let out startled screams while the dragons flew around a maze of sea stacks before they saw something that shocked them. It was the nest. The island that Stoick has been trying to find. They felt chills go through their body as they flew through an entrance as the riders let out startled screams. They soon exited to a glowing crimson chamber with lots of dragons inside.
"What my dad wouldn't give to find this." Hiccup muttered nervously while Astrid held onto him nervously while both Hiccup and Emily glanced around warily.
Their dragons found a spot to land and hid in the shadows to not get spotted while watching the dragons drop their food into the chamber below.
"It's satisfying to know that all of our food has been dumped down a hole." Hiccup said sarcastically as he continued to observe but Emily sensed something wrong.
"They're not eating any of it." Astrid said in confusion.
"Something's wrong." Emily said as she glanced around.
They look up just in time to see a Gronckle coming in as it stops above the red chamber and delivers only a single tiny fish before it starts to scratch behind its ear. A deep growl like roar was heard below and the Gronckle stopped scratching its ear and tried to flee but something big came out and snapped its jaws around the poor helpless dragon. Emily, Hiccup, Astrid and Optimus look on in horror as they witness why the dragons were raiding the village.
Emily looked around and saw every dragon was all hiding in fear of the giant dragon.
"They're... all afraid." Emily whispered in shock and concern for all of the dragons.
"What... is that?" Astrid breathed in shock.
The dragon raised its head back again and sniffed the air. The groups tried to hide but the dragon soon spotted them and they knew they had to leave. Right now!
"Alright, guys, we gotta get out of here. Now!" Hiccup exclaimed as the two dragons quickly flew away when the dragon lunged at them.
This caused the dragons in the nest to panic and tried to fly away. Hiccup went on ahead as Emily and Optimus paused when they spotted Smokescreen, Tailgate and Ultra Magnus trapped and were in the control of the big dragon. They both know that they need to get the three but they will need a plan to do so.
"Don't worry, guys! We'll get you out of here soon. I promise!" Emily told them before Optimus reluctantly flew away as Tailgate, Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus let out sorrowful roars.
They were able to escape as they flew back to Berk as Astrid was still talking about what they just witnessed and saw. How on earth can a Viking army defeat that behemoth of a mountain size dragon?!
"No, it totally makes sense. It's like a giant beehive. They're the workers, and that's their queen. It controls them." Astrid said as Toothless landed.
The two dragons landed on the cove as Emily hopped off Optimus while Astrid got off Toothless and started to run to the village to tell what they saw but Hiccup quickly ran after her and stopped her from leaving the cove as the dragons went to the lake for a drink.
"Let's find your Dad." Astrid said.
"No, no! Not yet." Hiccup stopped her as he blocked her path.
"They'll... kill Toothless and Optimus. Astrid, we have to think this through carefully." Hiccup told her as he started to walk to Emily who was leaning against a rock while watching them.
"Hiccup, we just discovered the Dragons' Nest. The thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here. And you and Emily want to keep it a secret?! To protect your pet dragons?! Are you serious?!" Astrid questioned in disbelief.
This made Hiccup pause in his tracks while clenching his hands into fists. Emily came by his side and put a calming hand on his shoulder and he calmed down instantly before turning to Astrid as she saw a side of Hiccup that she never saw before.
"Yes." He told her with his eyes full of determination as her eyes softened at this but Emily decided to give Astrid a piece of her mind.
"And Toothless and Optimus aren't pets, Astrid. They're mine and Hiccup's friends. Optimus is more than just a friend to me and Toothless is more than a dragon. They're both our best friends." Emily told her as Optimus came beside her and nudged her gently as she put her arm around his neck and made purr.
Astrid resigned to tell what they saw and decided to ask.
"Okay. Then what do we do?" Astrid asked in concern as Hiccup sighed.
"Just give us until tomorrow. Me and Emily will figure something out." Hiccup said as she nodded.
"Okay." Astrid said before punching him on the shoulder as he gasped in pain.
"That's for kidnapping me." She told him. He rubbed his rather sore arm before looking at Toothless for help who just snorted.
Hiccup just rolled his eyes at him before looking back at Astrid who seemed to move her bangs and hesitating before grabbing him by the front of his shirt and giving his cheek a quick kiss as he froze in surprise by this.
"That's for... everything else." Astrid said as she turned around to leave.
She spared Emily and Hiccup one last glance before running off back to the village and leaving the two stunned riders with their dragons. Hiccup just stood there in a slight daze while wiping his cheek and just smiled slightly before Emily nudged him.
"Don't tell me you still have feelings for her after that kiss, kid?" Emily questioned him as he shook his dead frantically.
"Nope. I don't have any romantic feelings for her. I see her more as a friend now." Hiccup said before Toothless came to his side before giving his rider a sly look and Hiccup looked at him.
"What are you looking at?" He snapped as Toothless looked to where Astrid ran.
"As much as I hate to say this, but you need to attend that final exam, Hiccup, and try to show them that we were all wrong about the dragons." Emily said as Hiccup looked at her worriedly.
"And what if it doesn't work?" Hiccup asked her nervously.
"We'll figure it out." Emily said as she looked to the sky and prayed to Primus to protect Tailgate, Smokescreen and Ultra Magnus from the dragon at the nest.