Author's Note: Hi guys! This is my first foray into HTTYD fan fiction. The idea for this story came to me after watching Fright of Passage, and it's been building in my head ever since. No schedule for updating yet, but the story will be complete by the time HTTYD 2 comes out. Thanks for reading, and please follow/favorite/review! ~Bkw3rm
Every Viking makes a choice that characterizes them for the rest of their life. For Hiccup, saving Toothless defined the man he would become. When faced with ending a life or saving it, he chose to be merciful. But what if history were rewritten? What if Hiccup had the same choice over again- and he ended a life?
"Be careful, Hiccup!" Astrid called. "It's getting upset!"
"Yeah, you know, I can see that!" Hiccup hissed over his shoulder.
The pale dragon did look increasingly agitated and worried, both heads snapping as Hiccup came closer. The dragon, which the twins had dubbed The Fearsome Frederick and Farley, was a little-known Fear Class dragon called the Fuguelgrasp. Victims of the gasses spewed from the twin heads would slip into a deep sleep for days, only to reawaken as shadows of their former selves. The only victim on Berk in recent history was Right Hook Rudy, now known as Restless Rudy for his inability to sit still or look anyone in the eye. Restless Rudy had been the first to spot the Fuguelgrasp circling the forests of Berk, and had implored Stoick to get rid of it. Stoick had then tasked the Dragon Riders with safely relocating the dragon far away from Berk. Which brought the matter back to Hiccup, as he faced The Fearsome Frederick and Farley.
"Okay, Freddy, easy buddy. You too, Farley. I'm not gonna hurt ya," Hiccup said softly, rolling his eyes slightly at the twins name for the dragon. Frederick's eyes narrowed as Hiccup approached, but Farley's eyes were getting bigger and friendlier. Hiccup switched his focus to the second head, waving at the other teens behind him to back off a few feet. If the dragon felt less cornered, it might relax more fully. It had proven to be an agile and evasive flier, eluding the Dragon Riders for the better part of the day. They had finally tricked it into a tight quarry, where there hadn't been enough room for the Fuguelgrasp to wheel around and squeeze past them. The yellow dragon had been forced to land, and the other dragons hovered over it while Hiccup and Toothless had landed to try and train it.
Farley drew back his head slightly when Hiccup came closer. When Hiccup halted, the dragon paused, taking him in. Behind him, Toothless growled. Hiccup waved frantically at him, trying to make him stop. Toothless quieted, but a low grumble that reached Hiccup's ears let him know the dragon was unhappy. Farley had started at Toothless' protestations, but he was now looking curiously at the boy standing in front of him. Hiccup was worried that Frederick was still looking upset, it would be easier to train the dragon if both heads were cooperating. On that note, if Farley was willing to trust him, Frederick would follow. Making his decision, Hiccup reached out his hand, and turned his head away.
"Um, Hiccup?" Fishlegs whisper-yelled. "What do you think you're doing?"
"I'm trying to make him trust me. Now, keep it down!"
"Cool! Hey, if he loses his hand too, do you think he can find a replacement one somewhere?" Ruffnut remarked to Tuffnut.
"Yea, Hiccup always finds the good stuff. Stupid good luck!" her twin replied.
"I didn't just 'find' a replacement foot. Shush!"
"Hey when you die, I get Toothless!" Toothless snarled in response to Snotlout's comment.
"Will you all please be quiet! I'm trying to train a dragon here," Hiccup cried, frustrated.
It was too late. All of a sudden, Frederick's head drew back sharply, forcing Farley to follow. The heads seemed to argue briefly, and then agree. They looked down at Hiccup with malice as the pouches behind their jaws swelled with gas. Hiccup bolted for Toothless, but the Fuguelgrasp forced itself into the air, wheeling to cut Hiccup off. Toothless sprang, the Fuguelgrasp fired, Hiccup cried out, and the world went black.
Hiccup sat up with a start in his bedroom, mind spinning. Yawning, he tried to figure out what woke him. An explosion outside put both feet on the floor in a hurry. …Both feet? Hiccup stared down at his boots, confusion miring his thoughts. Why did it feel like he should only have one? Attributing the weird feeling to even weirder dreams, he shook his head and ran down the stairs. Dragons were attacking, and he had to get to Gobber.