"I don't want them to get to you or any of the others, Alpine," I say, petting his snout gently. He closes his eyes, as if deep in thought. "I'm scared for everyone," I admit. "What if I've made the wrong choices? What if I make the wrong choices out there? What if someone gets hurt, or captured, or..."

I trail off, looking to the ice beneath my feet. Alpine nudges me gently, silently reassuring me. I smile slightly to him, then frown again. "There are humans coming. One is already here."

He seems surprised as he knows I keep my island and my identity very secret. "Five of them, including the one already here, are old friends from the School of Dragons," I explain. "One of them was also from the school, but I don't exactly consider Snotlout a friend as much as a boar-headed swine. Then the last one is one of their friends. They all have dragons for partners. One is a Night Fury."

Again Alpine seems surprised. "I'd talk longer, but the hunters are outside and I have to get out there and stop them." He nods in understanding and snorts, coating my hair in frost. I chuckle as I bow my head to him as a way of saying goodbye. Then I leave.

Next I seal off all the entrances to the sanctuary as well as entrances to certain places, such as Alpine's cavern, the lagoon and the hatchery, adding extra protection to the Night Fury eggs. I'll free everyone after the dragon hunters have left the island.

Finally I make my way back to the stables, where Hiccup is with the other dragons. They all seem very curious about having another human in their midst sine it's never really happened before aside from Valka. Thankfully he seems happy enough to make friends with my partners, though he's a little reluctant to touch China, my tame Slitherwing, for obvious reasons.

"They like you," I tell him. He looks over and has to perform a double-take of me. "What happened to you?" "What do you mean?" I ask, confused. "Your hair is white!" He replies, staring at me as though I grew an extra head.

"Oh, that's just Bewilderbeast frost," I explain, realising now what he meant. I run my hands through my hair and it returns to its usual Night Fury black. "Right, I've sorted out pretty much everything. Now it's just picking out some help."

I look to the dragons, who all already know what is happening outside as - like I guessed - the Sentinels had come indoors. "I want Camo and Mercury to stay in here as ground control and the Sentinels will guard the inside along with the Night Terrors. Volcana, China, Stylive and Harmony, how do you girls feel about getting in on the action outside along with the Speed Stingers and Nightshade?"

All the respective dragons roar out, ready to fight. I smile to them. "Great. Now as for everyone else, keep high enough in the air to avoid getting hurt and shoot below when you can. I want this to be a good day for us, not the day we lose a partner or the day we lose a fight. Is everyone clear?"

The room erupts into screeches, squawks, warbles and battle cries as my partners all back me up. Even Toothless joins in despite not being one of the Pack. Hiccup simply watches in interest, then realised something.

"Wait, Stylive? I remember her!"

As if on cue, Stylive runs over to Hiccup, tail wagging and tongue lolling. She sniffs at him, reminding herself who he is. "Easy, girl!" I chuckle.

Hiccup reaches out to her and she immediately presses her snout against his palm. "She's gotten so big!" He remarks. "That she has," I reply, nodding. "She's had plenty of time to grow over the past few years."

Stylive nuzzled the human boy happily, then moved over to his partner. The Sharp class and Strike class dragons played together, making up for time lost to the years.

"Hey, did you hear about the Deadly Nadder's reclassification?" Hiccup asks. I blink and look to him. "What?" "Stylive is part of a new class of dragons," he explains. "They're called the Tracker class. Rumblehorns are Tracker class, too."

I look to Stylive, who doesn't seem to have heard. She's still playing with her old friend, along with Nightshade, who obviously joined in. The three dragons roll, roar and pounce, enjoying their little game.

"Hear that, Stylive? Looks like you're not a Sharp class dragon anymore," I tell my first partner. She pins the two boys down with her tail spines and looks to me, confused. Toothless and Nightshade don't bother trying to get to her and instead exclude her from their game.

"Hm... I think she suits the Sharp class more," I remark. "A generous dose of vanity, high intelligence, razor-like abilities that allow her to slice at anything in sight? Sounds more Sharp than Tracker."

Hiccup nods and pets Stylive again, earning a happy purring sound from my girl. "She's missed you," I chuckle. He laughs along.

Ding.

Ding.

Ding.

Hiccup is confused, but I pale, knowing what that sound means. "Stylive! We need to go!" The Nadder immediately runs over to me and tosses me onto her back. "Everyone with me?" I question to the other dragons, who all roar out, ready for what's coming. Maybe this is what Alpine meant earlier by 'the time has come' when the fight hadn't even started yet.

"What's going on?" The only other human in the room questions worriedly, especially since even Nightshade, one of my most playful dragons ever that can never take anything seriously, is alert and ready to go.

"The warning bell was sounded," I reply, making sure my mask is up. "They're either finding their way inside or they're taking dragons already. We need to go."

His eyes widen and he mounts Toothless. "Keep close," I tell them. "Only one exit hasn't been sealed yet, so we're all going that way. Follow me."