CH.3: Unholy offspring of lightning and death

Toothless soared through the sky, his wings spread out catching the air currents as he stayed afloat. The feeling was insatiable, his nostrils open catching the fresh smells all over. Atop him seated in his saddle his best friend remained pensive, caught up in his thoughts. He let out a sound letting him know he was worried.

"You don't have anything to worry about bud…the Lightning Traverse is probably just overhyped story drama to keep people away. There is probably only like one lightning repeated." He said patting his head.

Toothless of course wasn't concerned about the lightning so much as Hiccup's romantic life. He had liked Astrid since he had first met him, and for a bit he was jealous; however he grew to realize that Hiccup and Astrid were meant for each other. Flying off on yet another adventure he didn't want Hiccup to lose what he valued most of all.

"Ok, looking at this map the Lightning Traverse should be dead ahead. Huh…doesn't look like much now…" Hiccup lowered the map and frowned.

That is when the sky darkened and the wind howled. The water began to surge about below them and the feeling of dread crawled down his back. Hiccup adjusted his leg in the stirrup and led Toothless to the right.

"I got a bad feeling about this bud…maybe we should turn back…" Hiccup was about to; in fact he had every intention to…until the first lightning came down. Barely dodging it he adjusted the flight trajectory…only to see lightning flash before his very eyes.

Toothless let out a panicked cry before diving low to the water. Lightning continued to play around them causing fish to float up on the water and electric eels to swim about in glee. Pulling up he went to the left, then to the right…the lightning crashing all around them with the booming thunder.

"This is bad…this is really bad. Oh what was wrong with me…I should've asked Astrid out. Wait…she was asking me out…is that even right?' Hiccup spun Toothless as a rock nearby exploded into tiny bits, one knocking him on the head. "Toothless…we need to find shelter bud, don't think we can last if we fall to the ocean below."

Toothless concurred, but there wasn't a lot of land for which to seek shelter. Even now he was being worked hard; each method executed only brought them a second of breath before the next attack. Climbing high he twisted his body angling for a break through the clouds. It seemed to work, for a bit, but the thunder was so loud that Hiccup lost balance and fell.

"Toothless!" Hiccup began to fall and lightning slashed along his arm. He let out a loud cry and held his arm as he spun out of control. Below him the water beckoned and darkness began to close in around him.

Toothless dove faster than he ever had before. His wings were folded in making him light as a feather but enough weight to fall without floating. At the last second he was under his rider and friend catching him on his back.

"Way to go…bud…knew you could…do it…' Hiccup wore a weak smile and soon blacked out.

Toothless let out a whine but got no response. Lifting up he felt his tail engulfed in flame from the lightning. His dive had been steep and he was just over the water. The eels were causing him to panic; not knowing how he'd handle it if he fell in. The lightning drew about him readying to finish him off. At the last second he veered hard right and with a spin he drew his wings up in hope of protecting Hiccup.

Crashing down he tumbled for a bit, pain shooting through his body and all around him the lightning seethed in anger. Looking over he saw Hiccup was lying across from him…his body unmoving and his shirt was torn. Reaching out he felt darkness close in around him and then he was out.


Hiccup stood in the darkness, lost and confused. "Hello…is anyone there?' His voice came off as an echo and no matter where he walked darkness was sure to follow.

"Hiccup!" A voice rang out. It was strong and commanding, no fear in it at all.

"Mom…is that you?' Hiccup raced frantically in search of a body that belonged to the voice. However he could not find one, his urgency grew until he was clawing at the darkness around him.

"Do not fear the darkness…embrace it…reach for your dragon." The voice said again. "Your dragon can see you in the darkness…you two are one…he needs you now more than ever. Believe in each other…"

"Mom…why can't I see you?' Hiccup looked around and suddenly he saw Toothless. "Toothless…you're ok, how you doing bud?"

Toothless was overjoyed to see Hiccup and raced over pushing him over. Licking his face he sat down on his haunches and smiled.

"It is good to see you too. You wouldn't believe it…but I heard my mom. I could've sworn it was her voice…but…I kinda don't want it to be, you know. Dad and I lost her so long ago…wouldn't it be funny if she was still…"

Toothless tilted his head to the side and growled lightly. It wasn't mean or anything, but, staying in this darkness wasn't good.

"Your right…time to focus. Ok…lead us out of here Toothless." Hiccup climbed onto his back and as Toothless let out a roar they began racing out of there. The darkness followed behind but the light prevailed showing them a way out. "I see it…we're almost there."

As the light parted around them they both woke up staring at each other. Toothless recovered first and managed his footing and looking around. They were on a small island, not much keeping them from getting wet. His tail was in bad shape so flight was out of the question. The lightning continued crashing around them but they were safe…for the time being.

"Where are we?' Hiccup walked along seeing a few trees and some rocks piled on top of each other. It was only then he recognized it. "Toothless…do you know what these are?"

Toothless drew closer and sniffed at the rocks. In fact, this island bore smells similar to ones he held on himself.

"These are graves bud, judging by how the island has aged…I'd say these are old. This could be just as the map said. Which would mean…these graves belong to Nightfury. But they are man-made…so…who was here to actually see them? Is their grave around here as well?"

Toothless sat there trying to process this. He had been led to believe there were other Nightfury like him…only to have his hopes dashed. Then he came to accept the fact that he was the sole survivor of his species, which he came to understand as not being an entirely bad thing. Now though it appeared these rocks signified that he at one point did have parents…but that didn't change the fact he was still alone, the last of his kind. While the other dragons had offspring to carry their bloodline…when he went…that was it.

"I know this is bumming you out bud, and I wish I could make the pain go away. I mean, if I found out my mom was alive…not sure I'd believe it. And I bet you are thinking that you wished you were never taken here…and I am really sorry about this. So…how about we pay our respects then get out of here."

Toothless nodded his head. And for the next half hour or so they just sat there in silence, the lightning even holding off, weird coincidence. It was on this island that lightning and death met and it was here that Toothless was born. The identity of whoever buried the dragons was long gone, likely lost to never tell how it came to be, that a sole Viking saw two Nightfury under one sky in flight or together.

"Ok…time to flyyyyy…" Hiccup just realized then their predicament. "This is not good…I don't have the materials to make you a new tail…" Hiccup began to panic as he raced around the small island; his foot that Gobber had made him neared the water and lightning cracked before him setting him down on his butt.

Toothless roared at the lightning and dragged his friend back. Looking back at his tail he wished he could fly like normal dragons…at least then they wouldn't be stuck.

"This isn't your fault bud…I didn't come prepared. Lightning…it doesn't like anyone does it? I failed her Toothless, Astrid, I-I should've said something…stopped her from going to Snotlout's house. I was so focused, so caught up in training dragons and defending Berk…I never once stopped to think about her at all."

Toothless licked him and sat there watching as the lightning danced in the sky before crashing down into the water. He found it a bit odd the lightning didn't come onto the island itself, though he didn't think too much on it as he was there for his friend.

"I've failed at so many things in life Toothless…why couldn't I get this one thing right?" Hiccup bowed his head onto his knees as he curled up and cried. He hadn't remembered crying that much in his life, not since the day that his father told him about his mom. Still his body was wracked with guilt and as the rain poured down over him and Toothless he just wished he was back in Berk…with the girl he loved.

Authors note: Seems things are looking bleak for Toothless and Hiccup. While they did find out where Toothless had been born and the identity of the graves, they still have no way of leaving. In the next chapter we return to Berk and see what Astrid and Snotlout are up to.