Chapter 1: Beginnings

Drip, drip, drip…

Hiccup woke slowly, opening his eyes lazily to clear away the night's sleep. Sighing, he rolled onto his back and made to look at the sky above him.

He frowned when he saw the dark cut stone ceiling above him instead. He shut his eyes again when he remembered.

He'd been dreaming of the past. Flying in open air on Toothless' back, running through forests, swimming and fishing in rivers and streams. The last year had been the best he could remember.

He had run away from Berk a little more than six months ago. A couple months before that, he had downed a Night Fury and discovered that humans could live in peace with dragons. The pair of them had run away after he had been banished, but it hadn't been as bad as it sounded.

Hiccup had very much enjoyed being free from his old life. The life of the abused, useless, runt of Berk.

But in the last few months or so, things had gone downhill. It started when they had finally stumbled upon a mainland and the people that lived there. It seemed that they didn't take too kindly to dragons, and would attack Toothless.

They had accidentally flown further inland rather than toward the ocean, which resulted in them getting deeper and deeper into trouble.

Finally, about a month and a half ago, they got caught.

It had given Hiccup enough time to have a decent command of the common language that was spoken here, but the people that captured him didn't seem to speak it. He couldn't even weasel his way out of this situation, try as he might.

He was grateful that they hadn't gotten Toothless. Yet. He had managed to get his best friend to hide away somewhere nearby. But based off of the noises he heard outside his cell at night, he knew that his dragon was fighting tooth and nail to break him out on a near nightly basis.

Much as he appreciated the effort, after a little more than a month of imprisonment, he was beginning to believe it might be better if Toothless gave up. The fortifications were too strong for even a Night Fury with the cover of darkness to penetrate without dying at some point.

And that was the last thing he wanted. Toothless was the reason he had run away in the first place. If he died, then all their adventures would have been in vain.

Sighing, he sat up, his spine aching from sleeping on the stone floor repeatedly. Stretching, he heard the joints pop back into place.

Getting to his feet, he crossed the damp cell to the wooden door that barred him from the outside world. Stepping onto his toes, he leant against the surface and peered out the small window near the top.

He could see the other prisoners milling around outside in the yard, guards patrolling left and right, on the ground and atop the battlements surrounding the prison.

He frowned at that. He knew for a fact that Toothless had not attacked last night. Not for the last several nights, actually. Though he had heard the familiar shrieks and scream of the wind against his wings, which affirmed for him that his friend was not dead.

Nothing else would merit the heavy patrol regiment that the guards were enacting. Something important most likely. He lowered himself to the floor again after a moment and drew his knees up to his chest, resting his wrists on them.

Would they be letting him out today? If all the other prisoners were out, then he doubted it.

Suddenly, shouting outside drew his attention from his thoughts. Getting back up, he pulled himself up to the window's level and looked out again.

The yard was alive with guards herding prisoners over to walls as the prison gates began to open. The more they parted, the more he could begin to see a large dark object between them. It was too square to be Toothless, something he was immensely relieved by. It was pulled by a horse, something surprising in this area, from what he had learned. A cart or carriage, then. He wondered what would have been such a fuss

Once the doors were fully parted, he watched as the carriage was pulled into the yard and then stopped. He waited for a moment until the door in the side swung open, revealing nothing but shadows for a moment. Then, a figure appeared and stepped out of the carriage.

It was a woman. She was tall, and almost imperious looking. Her dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail from what he could see. The dark streak continued with her clothing, which was comprised of blacks, greys, and dark blues. Her hands were folded deep into her wide sleeves and she seemed to carry herself with an air of serenity.

One of the guards ran over to her and bowed. Hiccup squinted again as she seemed to speak to him for a moment before he looked up and yelled to his comrades. Another guard ran up and addressed the first.

Then, much to Hiccup's surprise, the second guard pointed at his cell, saying something indiscernible. Both turned to the woman, who said something short to them and gave a single nod. Bowing again, the second guard scampered off while the first gestured for her to follow him. Seeing that they were indeed headed for his cell, Hiccup dropped to his feet and moved back to the far wall.

This day was becoming very interesting very fast. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not. Most likely it would be the latter.

Moments after he had sat down, he heard the key in the lock on the door and the hinges squealed as it opened. The guard made to enter, but a hand barred his way. His face paled as the tall woman herded him back and said something to him in the native language. He nodded, almost beseechingly and did as she told, shutting the door behind her.

That left Hiccup alone with her.

He swallowed hard and watched her carefully from his place on the floor.

"You do not need to fear me," she said, in perfect English. Hiccup's eyes widened. He had spent the last five months or so learning it, as it was the common language, but no one in this prison spoke it besides himself. It was one reason why he hadn't been able to weasel his way out of getting imprisoned, like he had in the past in other countries.

"Y-You speak English?" he asked, just to be sure. It was then that she turned on him and gave him a look suggesting that, yes, yes she did. He swallowed again. Then her face seemed to soften a bit.

"It seems that you speak it as well," she replied, watching him carefully from the corner of her half-lidded eyes. "Not many people speak the common language here in Kyrgyzstan."

"Is that what this place is called?" Hiccup asked, quirking a brow upwards. The lady smiled and chuckled a bit.

"No. This place is Kapa Darbaza Türmö. A prison. The country is Kyrgyzstan," she answered. Hiccup nodded but remained silent. Why was she here? What business did she have with him?

As if reading his mind she turned to face him fully, her hands still deep inside the sleeves of her robes. "This is not the only reason you are unique," she began, piquing his curiosity. "You are a dragon rider, as well, are you not? The locals seem to think you are."

Hiccup wasn't sure how to respond to that. Should he say yes? If he did, what would she do? She didn't look like someone who could kill a dragon. Then again, looks could be deceiving. He knew that well enough.

"If I were to say yes, would you believe me?" he inquired, testing her. She merely gave a small smile, just a miniscule upturning of her lips.

"I would. You are clever, and a good liar it would seem, but not good enough to fool me," She stated, her tone slightly amused. Hiccup narrowed his eyes at her suspiciously.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"I have many names," she answered, "but in the West, I am she who is called Zaira."

"Zaira…" he repeated carefully, testing the name. It didn't sound western, but he put the thought out of his mind figuring she could tell a lie just as well as she could detect one. He decided to change the subject. "Why are you here?"

"Ah, the only question that truly matters," she replied. "You are not the only dragon rider, young man. There are, in fact, many of us."

Hiccup's eyebrows shot up. There were other dragon riders?! A thousand other questions swarmed through his head, but none of them were coherent enough to come out. The lady - Zaira - shifted her weight and looked toward the door, taking a few steps in its direction and glancing out the small barred window.

"Tomorrow you will be released," she commented. "Judging by the fact that there are no dragons skulls hanging around this place, I would say they have yet to find your companion. He must be very clever."

Hiccup's voice came back to him at last. "He is," was all he could manage as his brain received one shock after another. He was going to be freed?

"When you are turned loose, find your dragon, and then, if you wish to learn more about those like you, find your way to the Eastern sea and cross to the land of the white mountain," she explained.

Withdrawing one hand from her sleeve, she opened her fist to reveal something small and brown in her palm. She tossed the object to the ground and it landed with a small thump. "That is what you might call an...invitation. Keep it safe and return it to me if you are strong enough to make the journey. I will be awaiting your arrival."

Then, with a small inclination of her head, she turned and stepped to the door, opening it and shutting it behind her, leaving Hiccup alone again.

After a momentary pause, he scrambled forward, searching for the object she had left behind. Running his hands over the hard packed dirt, his left connected with something smooth and cool for a second and he grabbed at it. Lifting it to his face so he could see it clearly, he saw it was a metal pendant. Bronze, to be exact. It was a shape unlike any he had ever seen, but it seemed tribal. The edges were sharp, though not enough to cause any serious harm.

He scooted back and cupped the pendant in his hands. For a long time, he simply sat on the floor in silence, reeling from the shock of it all and staring at the object in his hands. Pulling his knees up, he rested his wrists on them, a position that had become habit over the last few months, and fisted the pendant in his right hand. If what the lady - Zaira - had told him was true, he would need rest. It didn't sound like a short trip, though he figured he could make it fairly quickly with Toothless at his side. He looked forward to seeing his best friend.

Wondering what the coming day would bring, he laid down on his side and, using his thin arm as a pillow, he drifted off into a fitful sleep.

~oOo~

As it turned out, Zaira had told the truth.

He was woken suddenly the next morning, being shaken awake and summoned to the land of the living by someone shouting in the unknown language and dousing him with freezing cold water. Coughing and sputtering, he had come to rather quickly.

Much to his surprise, he wasn't sent on his way with just the clothes on his back, which were now nothing more than torn muddy brown-green rags.

Instead, the guards in charge of the prison had him cleaned, which consisted of him being dunked in a barrel of more cold water and having his hair, which had grown several inches, washed. Still cold, but feeling much cleaner than before, someone provided him with new clothes. They were loose and baggy on his diminutive frame, but they were comfortable and kept him warmer than his original wardrobe.

It hadn't been hard for him to keep the pendant safe. He'd torn off a strip of fabric from his old clothes and made a fabric chain of sorts to hang it on during his bath. The sight of it had given the guard paused when he had been forced to strip to wash up.

Strangely, it seemed as though the prison guards feared him now. As though they expected some sort of retribution for detaining him. When he had first arrived, they had seemed to hate him with a passion, as though he were the root of all their troubles. It had been that way ever since, until now. It made him wonder what exactly Zaira had done, or what she could do that made them fear so.

If his suspicions were correct, then he could assume she was another dragon rider. The people of this country, or at least this particular area, were fearful of dragons. Perhaps Zaira had attacked them at some point. It didn't seem likely; it sounded like she lived nowhere near here. He wasn't sure what exactly it could be besides that.

Still, despite the fact that they had imprisoned him for the better part of two months, he felt a little bad that they were going to such lengths as they were.

Currently, he was seated in the back of a wagon, being carted out of the neighboring village. He had a pack slung over his shoulder and back, filled with provisions for his journey. It seemed the guards knew more than they let on.

They stopped at the outskirts, where the road led out to open country. Hopping off the back of the wagon, Hiccup walked around to the front of the cart, where the driver sat. The man looked down at him, and then gestured at the road in front of them, saying something in the language. Still not understanding, Hiccup nodded his thanks to the driver, who wheeled the horse guiding the cart around and headed back into the village. He watched them leave until they were a ways off before continuing down the path.

About half a mile down, he turned back once to make sure that there was no one around. Seeing no one, he put his fingers to his mouth and gave one long, clear whistle. He listened for a moment, the silence of the countryside growing loud in his ears.

Then, a rasping roar could be heard echoing in the distance. He turned in the direction it had come from to see a shadow rise above a nearby stand of trees and dive toward him. He grinned, realizing it was Toothless, but his face fell when he saw the dragon tilt sideways and drop to the ground. His feet reacted before he registered what happened, carrying him as fast as they could across the valley to his friend's crash site.

When he reached him, Toothless was groaning and rolling back onto his feet, shaking his head from the discombobulation. However, as soon as the Night Fury caught sight of his rider, he was on his feet again, eyes wide with puppy-like happiness, and bounding toward him. One minute, Hiccup was running as fast as he could, the next he was on his back, his companion's weight nearly crushing him as he found himself being slobbered on.

He couldn't help the laugh that forced itself out of his constricted lungs. He grabbed his best friend's face, hugging him and doing everything he could to show just how elated he was to see him again. Toothless purred excitedly, refusing to stop licking him.

"I'm okay bud, I'm okay," Hiccup reassured the dragon. "I'm okay." It was hard for him not to feel as happy as he did when his dearest friend had been so worried and was as glad to see him as he was. He stopped laughing, however, when Toothless swung his tail around and he caught a glimpse of the tailfin.

The half made of leathery skin and scales was still intact, but the brown leather prosthetic was in tatters, and the mechanisms attached to the saddle were ruined, likely beyond repair. Hiccup grimaced. "I'm okay, but it doesn't look like you are." The dragon growled and brought his tail around, giving Hiccup an apologetic look. Hiccup gave him a small smile. "It's alright, bud. We'll fix it as soon as we can. Right now, though we'd better get moving. I doubt the people around here are going to let me use materials to fix the flight gear," he said.

Toothless sat back on his haunches and looked at him as if to ask what they needed to get moving for. Hiccup gave him a shrug. "We can't stay on the run forever bud. I think I may know a place where we can settle down," he explained. "C'mon, let's go. I have no idea how far it is, but I was told to follow this road."

Toothless growled in consent before leaping forward and loping a few steps in the direction of the path. When he realized Hiccup was not following him, he stopped and turned, jerking his head at the road and snorting, as if to say "Well, let's go!" Hiccup grinned and took off after his friend.

They were on the road again, to where exactly, Hiccup wasn't sure. But he was glad that he was at least with his friend.

~oOo~

Three Months Later…

"Watashitachiha tōchaku shimashita. Azuma shamen wa chōdo sono foresuto o koete imasu," a voice said from above Hiccup's head as he rubbed his eyes. It couldn't be too late in the morning as sunlight wasn't spearing his eyeballs out, and the sky was a pale blue-grey. Tiredly he sat up and put a hand to his head, turning to look at the man at the bow of the fishing skiff. He nodded his thanks before trying to climb out of the small boat without falling or spilling any of the fish that filled the bottom of the vessel with him.

"Arigatōgozaimashita, Oji-san," he said, turning to face the man and bowing once he was on dry ground. The older Japanese man smiled kindly and inclined his head at Hiccup.

"Sayōnara, gaijin-san," he said before pushing the boat off the shore and using the keel to turn the boat back out to the open sea. Hiccup couldn't help but smile as he watched the old fisherman depart. The man had been very kind to him. He had considered it a stroke of good fortune that he had met such a kind person on his first day in the country.

Traveling on foot the last few months had been difficult. Because of their superstitions about dragons and those who befriended them, people were often fearful of him and Toothless, and not very quick to offer their help. Even in the Empire of China, the largest region he had had to pass through, where they revered dragons.

It hadn't been easy. Multiple times, he had almost been apprehended by the authorities, something that had largely impeded him from making faster progress on his journey, and he had had to guard jealously the pendant which either hung around his neck or rested in his satchel.

He was glad that he had been able to at least book passage on a ship sailing from China's coast to the islands of Japan. Toothless had followed from a distance in the water, using his wings to swim and keep up with the ship. Once they had reached the island, Toothless had made himself scarce, but always kept around.

It had been that afternoon that he had met the fisherman. It seemed the man spoke some vague English, which helped. He taught Hiccup some Japanese in return for some help with work. Having grown up in a village where fish was a main source of livelihood, Hiccup knew the trade well.

He learned the language quickly, and once he knew the words, he asked the man if he knew anything about a "white mountain," recalling Zaira's words from his last day in prison. Instantly, the man had looked surprised. Then, a look had come over his face as though all the pieces of a puzzle had finally fallen into place.

It was then that he revealed that he had always been suspicious of where Hiccup disappeared to at night after supper. Having been found out, Hiccup told him the truth that he had befriended a dragon and that they were friends.

After that, he saw the old man as his friend, and he came to call him "Oji-san," or Uncle.

He had asked a second time, a few days after, and the fisherman told him that White Rock Mountain, was about a two day journey from the island they were on, and home to a mysterious traveler who lived at the very peak of the mountain. Hiccup had then asked if it would be possible to plan a fishing trip around his departing.

So there he was, on the shore of the island of the "White Rock Mountain." He sighed as the man disappeared into the early morning mist. Aside from Toothless, he had never really had friends. But his Oji-san would always have a place in his heart.

The water nearby sloshed and rippled as Toothless climbed out and shook the water from his body. He snorted and looked to his rider. Hiccup smiled at him and jerked his head in the direction of the forest.

Just at the edge of the forest, huh? Hiccup thought as he started off, one hand on the strap of the linen satchel that had served to carry his only belongings and provisions since leaving Kyrgyzstan.

~oOo~

The day passed slowly for Hiccup. The slopes started somewhat before the fisherman had told him, the non-existent path in the forest leaning upward and making it more difficult for him to keep a steady pace.

Toothless seemed to be having no trouble. He was tremendously pleased to be out of the small town, and the tiny shed that Hiccup had been forced to hole him up in. The dragon bounded around, tongue hanging out of his mouth as he looked around with fervor, something obviously making him excited. He sniffed around, his ears and sonar flaps perked to their fullest extent. Hiccup had to admit he looked hilarious.

They had reached the open mountain a little before noonday and paused to take a brief rest. Then, they had begun the ascent.

It wasn't difficult at first, but the slope gradually got steeper and steeper until it got to the point where Hiccup was having to carefully climb up the mountain, moving from ledge to ledge. His hair whipped around his head in the high winds, and he had to be extra careful so as not to make a fatal mistake.

At sundown, he stopped, not planning on reaching the peak in the dark. Toothless curled around him and the pair went to sleep, albeit shivering from the cold air.

The next morning, they had risen as soon as the sun had illuminated their path enough to see.

"I really wish you could fly right about now, bud," Hiccup said, addressing his only companion. Toothless barked in a way that suggested he agreed wholeheartedly.

Grabbing on to the cliff face, Hiccup found a foothold and tentatively pushed himself up. Making sure he had good purchase, he looked up again and reached for the next handhold.

The next several meters were arduous and difficult, but he eventually glanced up to see that another ledge lay before him. Hauling himself up, he pushed himself over the edge and onto his back, needing to pause to catch his breath. He hadn't been this high up in a while, seeing as it had been nearly five months since his last flight on Toothless.

It wasn't until he felt Toothless nudge him gently in his side that he reopened his eyes and looked up. He breathed a sigh of relief once he saw that the slopes were no longer the steep rocky terrain he had been traversing for the last day. Instead, he saw what looked to be a house, at the very peak of the mountain. Pulling himself to his feet, he dragged his body forward, though it was hard to breathe and his legs felt as though he had lead anchors strapped to them.

By the time he had reached the top, the muscles in his calves were burning and he was shivering from the cold so much he was nearly aching. Sweat slowly dribbled down his back and chest beneath his shirt.

Pausing briefly to catch his breath and push his hair out of his eyes again, he took in the sight before him. A building which looked like a cross between the temples and dojos he had seen in the Japanese village stood near the edge of the cliff, or rather, on the edge of the cliff. He couldn't help that his jaw dropped at the sight. It was truly magnificent, and huge.

The building was square, and aside from the architecture, it looked rather plain. The walls were an ivory color, suggesting that the stone had been hewn from the mountain it rested on. It was at least four stories in height, with large rectangular windows just below the roof on the top floor. A single set of doors stood at the top of a series of wide steps that led from where Hiccup stood to the building.

Looking to his left, he saw an area which seemed to be purposely sectioned out, the corners marked by four tall dark poles. It was a ring of sorts, probably for fighting.

Taking a deep breath, he gripped the strap of his pack tighter and pushed himself up the steps, Toothless' claws clicking on the stone as he followed behind him.

Reaching the top, he stopped at the door. A large iron handle hung down in front of him and he grabbed it, pulling on it. After a long moment, he determined that the door was not pull-able, if that was even a thing.

From what he had learned from the old fisherman, he knew that it was impolite to just barge in on someone's home. Instead, he used the handle as a knocker, banging it against the metal frame of the door.

Glancing back at Toothless, he jerked his head at the door. "Think you could lend me a hand here, bud?" he asked, pushing against the door. His companion growled and butted his head against the door, helping to open it. At least we announce ourselves first, Hiccup thought.

Once inside, Hiccup held the door as Toothless darted in and then let it fall back into place.

Looking around, he could see hardly nothing. His eyes hadn't yet adapted to the darkness after being out in the sun all day. Once they did though, he couldn't help the gasp that escaped him.

Before him stood the woman who had started this whole journey stood before him, a stoic look on her features. They seemed to soften a bit as she tilted her head forward in acknowledgment.

"You made it," she stated and Hiccup smiled.

"It was a lead. I intended to follow it," he replied.

"Then you want to learn more?" she inquired. He nodded.

"But this isn't just about riding dragons, is it?" he asked, looking around. Weapons were everywhere. Swords, daggers, axes, spears, staffs, anything he could have imagined was there. Either on the walls, or on a rack. She inclined her head in affirmation.

"No, it is not. I am a member of the Amakage order. We fight with dragons and against dragons. It is a bit difficult to explain, especially to a weary young traveller, but I digress. Have you brought you invitation?" she inquired. He nodded, reaching to his neck and untying the frayed strip of cloth. Pulling it over his head, he took the pendant off and held it out to her.

She accepted it and turned it over in her hands. Returning her gaze to him, she smiled. "You have proved yourself worthy of joining the Amakage order." She turned away and stepped over to a table near the door. Her back to him, she seemed to mess with something for a minute before she moved back in front of him. "You have proved yourself worthy of this invitation."

Holding her hands up she put something over his head and it came to rest at his neck, the weight familiar to him. Looking down, he saw it was the same bronze pendant, but this time it was attached to a soft leather chain which was tied astronomically better.

Zaira laid a hand on his shoulder.
"I admit I was beginning to believe you weren't coming," she said. Hiccup grinned tiredly, his dark red hair falling blocking his gaze.

"Well, it was a three month journey cross-country on foot," he said. She looked a bit disturbed at that notion, but she had seen Toothless when they walked in. It wasn't as if his dragon wasn't large enough to ride, but they had never had the chance to fix the tail fin.

"In that case, it is likely best that you rest today. I will show you to your room and bring the both of you a hot meal later once you've had a chance to sleep. We will begin tomorrow," she said gently, walking off down the hall, expecting him to follow.

With one last glance back at Toothless and a shrug, he followed after her.

A/N: Well, here we are again at the start of a new story. Those of you who read The Shadow Rider, I apologize again. I am sorry I never got to finish it and that its been a long time since I've posted anything here, but it wasn't going the way I wanted it. So I scrapped it and started over and here we are. I hope you guys like this just as much, though I did warn you it will be darker than TSR, and it will be. But not yet. We're still in exposition and Hiccup hasn't been twisted and bent out of shape yet. Yet.

And on that note, I bid you all a very nice evening.

IMSP, Out (finger-guns and disappears in cloud of smoke)