[STORY CONTENT WARNINGS- Look, this is gonna be a fucked up read at times. Don't bitch at me for it. You chose to read this. I don't care if it triggers you. Violence, Death, Drugs, Sex, Suicide, and many more nefarious topics within.]

'thoughts'
"speech"
"mind speech"

This takes place approximately 3 years after HTTYD 2.

For all intents and purposes, this shall be considered an AU after the cannon events.

Quick backstory on this piece so nothing is confusing: About 3 months prior to this story Astrid has died. Hiccup in his state of grief has asked the village to forgive him but he has to rescind his position as chief. After installing a temporary council headed by his mother. Hiccup leaves Berk to find himself and recover.

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Chapter One: Teacher

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Hiccup laughed into the wind as Toothless folded his wings and dived, Astrid and Stormfly followed suit. The cold air stretched her hair behind her. Hiccup was lost in the moment, watching her laugh. They neared the cliff and the two dragons slowed their descent and alighted gently on the cliff. The snow was thick and(as always) blindingly reflective. Hiccup hopped off Toothless, giving the dragon a quick pat he turned to Astrid. "So-" He never got to finish the sentence. As soon as Astrid's feet touched the snow it shifted, the fresh layer of snow slid and swept Astrid with it. She held to the edge for only a moment before she slid off. Before Hiccup could react, both she and Stormfly went off the cliff.

"ASTRID!" Hiccup jumped onto Toothless and went to the bottom of the cliff. There Stormfly was chittering and screeching madly, hopping around a depression in the snow. Hiccup ran forward only to fall to his knees at the sight before him. Astrid lay, limp and broken atop a boulder that had barely been covered by the snow.

Hiccup jolted awake, a sickening pain in his chest. He curled into a ball and his choked sobs echoed through the cave. That moment was so short, mere seconds, but seemed so much longer than that, hours even.

Hiccup felt a chill run down his spine and ignored it. Shortly after Toothless, who had probably been off hunting, came into the cave and nuzzled up to Hiccup attempting to comfort his rider.

"Thanks bud." Hiccup managed to say. Toothless always calmed him down. The dragon licked Hiccup's cheek prompting a short bark of bitter laughter. Hiccup stood slowly, the ache in his chest had dulled ever so slightly. He pulled on his tunic and wrapped up his furs into tight bundles.

"I think it's high time we continue on our way, what do you think?" Hiccup hugged Toothless around his neck, giving him loving and slow scratches. The night fury wriggled and crooned, purring his approval.

Moving slowly Hiccup packed his gear and saddled Toothless. Moving arthritic old man Hiccup climbed up onto the saddle. A soft nudge was all that it took to urge Toothless into flight. It had been two months since he left Berk. Since then he had mapped out hundreds of miles of land, described 6 new species of dragon, and met several new tribes. Each island he came across was full of new wonders and dangers.

This time he moved Toothless to head westward and see what could be found, after several hours of flying the duo grew anxious. They were too far from the last island to fly back. If Hiccup knew anything about his friend, his dragon, the scaled beast had another two hours at best. He patted the lagging dragon reassuringly. "You can do it bud. Take us high and lets see what there is."

As they rose above the clouds into the biting cold Hiccup saw landmass was far greater than any he'd encountered prior. Toothless was seemingly revitalized by this and with a burst of speed the reached shore in mere minutes. Finding a thick mass of trees in the forests Hiccup and Toothless descended. The floor of the forest was coated in a soft spongy moss. With almost no thought or hesitation the exhausted duo fell into sleep, Hiccup curled against the warm body of his dragon.

Hiccup could tell he was being poked. "Toothless, let me sleep." He groaned, opening his eyes slightly. A dark skinned man stood over him, his mostly black hair in a single long braid. Hiccup was poked again.

"BY ODIN'S BEARD." Hiccup exclaimed he backed up and bumped into Toothless, the dragon awoke with a snarl and quickly assessed the situation. Toothless readied himself to pounce when suddenly another dragon strode gracefully from between the trees. It was long and a dark mottled green letting it blend seamlessly with the woods. Its wings folded tight on its back. To describe its mannerisms as regal would do it no justice, it moved as though every stone in the land ought tremble by its feet. With a simple look from the other dragon Toothless relaxed slightly, still wary on the chance things may run afoul.

Hiccup looked suspiciously at the man before him. He was in his 40s, gray hair gracing his temples and streaking his braid. Shirtless with only a simple pair of breeches with thin leather shoes.

"Who... Who are you?" Hiccup asked.

"I... Ayun of Willows. My talk in you language is... Much bad. I prefer talk dragon."

Hiccup looked at the old man with a curious expression. "But dragons can't talk."

Suddenly a voice slammed into his head like a warhammer. He doubled over in pain, he couldn't make heads or tails of what he heard for the first few seconds, then it clicked and he instantly understood its meaning. "Yes we can, stupid boy."

After his head stopped ringing he looked over to the other dragon. It glared at him, disdain obvious in its gaze."How did you do that?"

The dragon spoke his head again, this time easier than the last. "Dragons and humans share a similarity in our minds that allows this. It normally takes some time for humans to be able to use it, but your ignorance was infuriating to me. So I taught you a lesson and broke in by force. Also, you will feel the side effects soon." Hiccup opened his mouth to reply only to be hit by a wave of dizziness. After fighting it momentarily he collapsed and the world went black.

Hiccup awoke to someone saying his name over and over again. "Ugh, okay I'm awake, how long was I out?"

"2 hours 27 minutes and thirteen seconds"

Out of his periphery Hiccup saw Toothless wriggle and preen pridefully.

"Wait a second. Toothless?!"

"Yes!" Toothless pounced on Hiccup and licked him repeatedly. And then, for whatever reason, Hiccup laughed, it was his first true laugh in months. "Okay okay! Get off me Toothless."

Hiccup stood and his mind was met by a new voice, unmistakably Ayun, now that the initial shock had passed, he noticed it was like sweet honey and a warm fire. The language was foreign to Hiccup but somehow it translated. "Follow Kei-" The voice paused for a moment. "...Toothless to me. And we shall speak, the moon and fire predicted your coming long ago. I have many things to tell you."

Hiccup obliged cautiously, his bags did not appear tampered with so if necessary he had his sword. The sound of running water filled the air more and more the further Hiccup ventured. Eventually Toothless lead him to a clearing with a small waterfall within.

Toothless curled up and Hiccup went to speak to Ayun. "So Ayun-"

"Use dragon speech, your language is hard for me." Ayun said in Hiccup's mind. He handed Hiccup a small wooden bowl filled with a greenish cream. "Sit, sit, it is rude to stand in polite conversation."

Hiccup sat down on a bare patch of earth and thought for a while. Before finally asking: "How?"

"You must envision that you are reaching out to me, eventually you will feel as though you have been thrown into ice cold water. Then, I should be able to hear you when you let me." Ayun paused and looked at the dragon curled up behind him. "But before that, my friend has made a good point, drink. I shall wait."

Hiccup looked at the bowl in hand cautiously, after a few seconds he brought it up to his mouth and took a sip. A sudden warmth spread through him and his hunger came full force, without thinking Hiccup gulped the rest down. The flavor was sweet and minty followed by a strong salty finish that stuck to his tongue like cheese. Hiccup looked down at the empty bowl with remorse.

"I shall tell you what that is, if you can successfully talk to me mind to mind." Ayun said.

Hiccup sat and focused, as he did the world seemed to go still. What seemed like hours passed and sweat poured down his face. Until suddenly he felt as though he had fallen into the waters in Berk. Goosebumps ran up his whole body and he shivered, the sensation completely alien to him. "H-hello?"

"Good, good, it took you longer than I thought it would, but still less time than average."

Hiccup felt Ayuns voice with a new depth, the background language was dissolved and it was as though there had never been language, ideas could flow freely between them. "Is this how dragons speak?" Hiccup asked in disbelief.

Ayun smiled, looking at Hiccup's face, he was in awe like a young child that had just gotten a new toy. "It is how all things once spoke. Until a man got greedy and stole the language from many. Only we humans and dragons can still use it. And even so, humans have become cut off from it. We must force it at first, while to dragons it is as natural as breathing."

Hiccup reached out to where he knew Toothless was, this time it was easier and he found Toothless in only a few short seconds. "So this is what you're used to?" Toothless startled awake before hopping over to and nuzzling his head under Hiccup's arm. One big green eye met Hiccups.

"This is what all dragons are used to." He answered.

"So the fool actually can learn."

Hiccup recognized the dry apathetic voice as the dragon who had spoke to him earlier. This time there was no icy waters, only a chill. Deciding to ignore the previous comment he asked, "What is your name?"

"I am Frian'trana you may call me 'Free'. But more importantly, ask your friend his name."

A moment of realization passed over Hiccup. He reached out to what he knew as Toothless' mind. "What is your actual name?"

Toothless Swelled up with pride. "It's Keist but I like Toothless, I have grown used to it, and I'd like you to continue using it."

"O-okay…"

"Though Moon and Fire predicted your coming, Rock and Water have more interest in you."

Ayun began.

Hiccup furrowed his brow. "What do you mean by 'Moon and Fire' and 'Rock and Water'?"

Ayun smiled soft wrinkles creasing his face but giving no hint to his age. "There are voices older than the gods if you know how to listen. And believe me, child, I know how to listen."

"Can you teach me how?"

Ayun's laughter rang out like bells in the clearing. "We most definitely do not have time for such a tedious process."

"Alright then... What was in the bowl?"

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Authors note- Some more edits and such