I am writing this story, telling you about a time I wish would return. A time when I smiled more often, and had a lot more fun. But since it won't, I have tasked myself with telling you the legend of the dragons.

I was called the dragon master. I was the first to befriend one. A Night Fury. A small dragon compared to the giant ones that existed. Black scales that would shine at night, and eyes I was told look exactly like mine. He was my best friend and I loved him. I still love him but he's gone.

This will be the only record of their existence. One man's tale of a time no one will believe. Our stories will be told to the generations to come. Though as time goes on I suspect that even our kin will stop believing us. I assure you, and them, that the stories are true.

My name is Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III and I'm the dragon master.

When I was around fifteen or sixteen summers old I found my best friend. More shot him out of the air but that isn't what's relevant to what I'm saying. I also have to say shot him down because he wasn't another villager. Like I said, I'm the dragon master so you can assume.

When I found him in the forest near Raven's Point, I was surprised. Not only because he was there but also because I had only guessed that's where he would have landed. I'm still proud of that guess. Though I don't tell people that I guessed. Rather a calculated assumption, due to his speed and the rate he was falling is the reason I knew where he was.

Now I'm not going to lie, my first thought when I saw him on the ground helpless, was to kill him. Gain the glory that was already expected of me. I was picked on and bullied for a long time because of my stature. No one gave me a chance to get any. When I look back on it, it makes sense. Even to this day I'm smaller than everyone else. Though maybe it's what gave me an advantage with the dragons. Too small to be a real threat to something that can breath fire.

When I couldn't bring myself to plunge my knife into his neck, I knew I different. I was told that a lot but being unable to kill a downed, unable to defend itself, unable to escape, dragon, put it into perspective for me. What made it worse was that I let him go. And I bet all my relatives and people who died to dragon attacks disowned me the second he roared in my face and ran away. Another problem was that he was the Night Fury and because I'm stupid, I needed to study it. So the next day after dragon killing class (ironic I know) and against better judgment I went searching for him. I looked for hours before I found the spot where he was.

He was stuck in this cove that I had never seen before. I had explored all over Berk, and had never seen it before. So finding him and it, was a nice surprise. Before I found him, I saw some of his scales stripped from his sides on the rock. And he startled me to death. He was trapped in the cove but I didn't know why. When I saw him float away to the other side I peeked over the edge to see why he didn't just fly out. What I saw made me sad and angry. I couldn't believe he was missing one of his tail fins. I knew I had caused it. I was so mad at myself. I cringed when he spotted me.

I had to leave. I got what I wanted with my sketches but when I saw his eyes. I couldn't stand looking at him anymore. When I got home I couldn't get him out of my head. I spent the whole night thinking about and drawing him. The whole next day during dragon class I tried to get answers from Gobber about the Night Fury. He told me that no one had seen a Night Fury and lived. Well that was wrong since I had but I guess he was right.

After class I needed to see him again. On my way out I grabbed one of the fresh fish as a peace offering for him. I was going to risk myself to try to help him. When I got to the cove I didn't see him. I wanted to just throw the fish over the side so that I could watch him again. I didn't want to go in and be on his level because I thought I wouldn't get a second chance at my life. But I wanted him to know that I wasn't going to hurt him. If the not killing him wasn't enough.

When he snuck up on me I knew I was in trouble. His eyes were thin, back arched, low stance. He was ready to kill me on the spot. Back then and even now, I believe that if he had ended me, it would be justified. I had ruined his life and taking me down would have made us even. Although his death would have been much slower.

When he spotted my knife he stopped in his tracks. Made me throw it in the pond. Then when he opened his mouth to snatch the fish I was holding, he showed me something I hadn't even thought possible. He had no teeth. Which I thought odd since I could swear he had them a few days before. And that's how he got his name. Toothless. But that didn't last long since just before he bit down, both rows of pointed, blade like teeth sprang from his gums. To say I was surprised is an understatement. I thought I lost both my hands for a second. After chomping through his small snack he advanced on me. Sniffing at me. I backed away afraid that he found me tasty as well. Then when my back hit a boulder I thought I was done for. Luckily he must have saw how I was acting and backed off. Well sitting on his haunches looking down at me. I had finally gotten a chance to look at him fully. Dark black scales, green eyes, real emotions. They weren't just dumb animals like we thought. And this was only reinforced as he regurgitated half the fish I gave him, so that I could eat too. I couldn't believe it, until the slimy fish slid down my throat. It's hard not to believe after that. Unfortunately I pushed my luck when I tried to touch him. He wasn't having any of that.

I was determined though. He floated away from me to nap but I wasn't going to leave. I was going to show him that even though he didn't want me to be there, I was there to stay. I walked over after him, and sat right next to him. I think it made him more annoyed but it was what I had to do. I don't know why I had to do it, but if I had to guess, it would be because I didn't want him to feel alone. As a kid I don't think I could fully grasp the concept of being lonely. I was isolated yes, but lonely no. Now that I've lived my life and have had more experiences than anyone I know, I only now know what being lonely is really like. And although I may have many years ahead of me I must go through them alone. With no one at my side. No one who I can trust completely. I am only truly lonely now. So, as I sat there trying to touch his wing, or tail, or whatever. I knew I didn't want him to feel like he was by himself. No one to trust, or to look to when he felt off or weak. Or even to tell his deepest insecurities to, although I wouldn't learn his language for quite some time.

I kept pushing my luck until I couldn't any longer. Eventually he snapped at me, and I didn't want to lose a hand or leg or something. So I walked away. I didn't leave though. Like I said I was there to stay. I decided that staying a 'safe distance' would be fine. So I crossed the cove to watch him from there. As much as I do love dragons, watching one sleep does get boring. But drawing them never does so that's what I did. I started a few different ones but decided on a portrait of him. It was pretty simple, just a drawing in the dirt but it was nice.

I was stopped when something breathed on me. I surely thought I was a goner. The only thing in the cove was Toothless and he'd (from what I'd seen) only had the fish I gave him. When he moved away I relaxed. I would live for now. When he returned with an uprooted tree I didn't know what to think. Then when he started to drag it through the dirt I had no words. A dragon attempting to draw, what a sight. It wasn't anything more than some criss crossing swirls and lines and I wish I knew what he thought he made. It was something I never asked him and now regret not doing so. When he was finished I found myself in the middle with him looking at me proudly. I tried to move over towards him but I stepped on one of the lines, which made him growl at me. I thought it was curious so I stepped on it again which probably wasn't a good idea. He growled at me again so I stopped. I carefully tiptoed over all the lines but found myself bumping into him.

In that moment I let my curiosity get the better of me again. I slowly outstretched my hand towards his snout. He backed away a little but I was adamant to get him to trust me. I closed my eyes and pushed forward. Then it happen. I felt his snout on my skin. A leathery texture I will never forget. It was short lived. He pulled away first and ran to the other side of the cove. I promptly left, but not to my home.