A/N: And here comes my longest chapter so far :)

Thanks to Victoria62015 for your reviews, I appreciate them a lot.

DISCLAIMER: You know it's hard to try to write this each time differently, so this time you get random marks: ##%!=(/#%#=%¤"%?/. Okay, not funny. Oh well... it's not mine anyways.


Chapter 6: Decision

They entered the cave without hesitation, and Toothless moved with speed that he had achieved on ground only once before… that was when he saved Hiccup from Fireworm at the kill ring years ago. A familiar darkness swallowed them soon, and Hiccup couldn't see anything. But he trusted that Toothless wouldn't hit anything in the rather narrow tunnel.

"What is this place?" Acorn asked behind him, and Hiccup could hear that he was little frightened.

"This – or rather the cave where this tunnel leads – is the place where Gloomweed grows. But it is also, or was, the nest of Ruthless Frostbites. Ice Dragons." The place where Toothless lost his other eye. The place where Snotlout died…

Sooner than Hiccup had expected, they arrived at the large, glacial cave. Expect that this time it was drastically different. Last time it had been mostly white and blue in colors, ice being the dominating feature. Now it was green and brown, and floor was covered in small plants – Gloomweeds.

"This means nothing, bud, they can still live here", Hiccup whispered to Toothless, but didn't belief in his own words. There clearly hadn't been any Frostbites in the cave for years… two years.

Toothless looked around for a while, sniffed from here and there, and then shook his head. Shadow wasn't here, and never had been.


The light of the midday sun shined from ahead. Hiccup had no idea what they would do next. Toothless walked slowly, dangling his head. The ground changed from rocky cave floor into long grass. They were out of the cave, and thick, downhill forest opened in front of them. Toothless twitched his ears and sniffed in deep.

They couldn't search the whole island. It was just too big, and too dangerous. But he couldn't give up. Because giving up would have meant that – his thought was interrupted when something long, heavy and scaly hit his chest hard, and sent him flying off the saddle, breaking the safety strap in the process. He flied several meters until the hard, rocky cliff roughly stopped him. He collapsed on the ground.

His head hurt, seriously. He tried the back of his head only to find out that his hair was wet and tacky. Afterwards his hand was colored red. Oh, gods… Hiccup raised his head only to see colors blurring and dancing in his vision. Only things he could make out were Toothless growling and beating his wings, some weird, serpent shapes, and Acorn crawling towards him.

"No, Acorn, RUN!" Hiccup shouted before he blacked out.


A shocking blue fire flashed and erased one attacker from the world. Toothless snarled and engaged another Whispering Death. It tried to bite him, but he easily dodged the attack and slashed its throat open. The dragon collapsed without noise, and deep red stains covered the grass under it.

Toothless didn't have time to congratulate himself; a large Death was wrapping its long tail around unconscious Hiccup, and was apparently going to carry him off. Behind them he saw a glimpse of Acorn disappearing in the woods. Toothless roared and tried to reach Hiccup with one mighty leap, but two Whispering Deaths blocked his way and lashed him in the grass with one hit from their serpent tails.

Toothless bared his teeth and growled menacingly at them, gesturing them to move out of his way, but they stood still. He didn't have time for this; the large Death had now completely tangled Hiccup and was stretching its wings. He let the gas build up in his throat and released the blast on the ground between the two Deaths. The resulting explosion sent them to nearby trees, with nasty burns.

He leaped onwards desperately but it was already too late. The Whispering Death launched itself in the air with Hiccup, and without him Toothless had no chance to follow. No, I can't lose him too!

Before Toothless had managed to decide what to do next, he was swarmed by three more Whispering Deaths. But there was no one for Toothless to protect anymore. All that he had cared for had been taken away. He let his aggression to take control.

For a short amount of time, he was a black devil that brought death on his enemies. He slashed with his claws, hit with his tail and bit with his teeth. Soon he had acquired a crimson coloring on them. No dragon could face him and stay alive. Bones broke, wings got ripped off and blood bursted out in front of his fury.

The fight got more intense when more Deaths joined, and jumped on his back. A mess of several dragons tangled together rolled and struggled on the ground. Then it was over. Toothless breathed in deep, although it was hard due to the scaly ropes around him. Only with superior numbers the Whispering Deaths had been able to suppress him. So there he was, lying under a tangled mass that were dragons, limbs in odd positions and too exhausted to try to free himself. At least there were over ten dead or severely wounded Deaths lying around.

Weird thing was that none of the serpent dragons had attempted to harm him, only capture. Why would they want me alive? Answer came sooner than he expected.

A long, leaf-green Whispering Death crept in front of him. Its eyes were orange, like they were on fire. Toothless could see despise in its eyes, but wasn't sure if it was aimed towards him. They stared each other, two flaming diamonds looking at an emerald orb. Finally the Death spoke: .::Lisssten my wordsss carefully, Night Fury. We have your human and your ssson. -::.

Hope and fear filled Toothless, but outside he showed just anger. .::What? You have Shadow? Why are you doing this, what you want from me!::., he growled. The Whispering Death looked around slowly like it was bored. .::Answer to me!::., Toothless shouted.

It nailed Toothless again with its fiery eyes. .::You'll get your anssswersss sssoon enough. Now if you'd calm down, I could let my warriorsss to releassse you::., it hissed.

Toothless looked at the leaf-green dragon with disbelief, but then forced his body to relax, although it was hard. When he was totally relaxed, the Deaths let their grip loosen, and he was free again. .::Say one good reason::., Toothless threatened and took a menacing pose, .::why I wouldn't kill you right away.::.

The Deaths around him turned to look at their leader, which the leaf-green dragon apparently was. It didn't look like the words had any effect on the long dragon. .::Sssure, go ahead and kill me, I won't ssstop you. But if you do ssso, you'll unfortunately never sssee your ssson or human again.::. It said the words without any mockery in its voice; it just dropped them like a cold fact.

Toothless stared the Whispering Death for a moment through a narrowed eye. Then he let his gaze go down. This was what he had feared. They had total control over him now, and he had no other option than play by their rules. For now, he assured to himself.

.::Good, now I ssshall asssk you to follow me. Our Leader wantsss to sssee you.::. The Death gestured Toothless to follow it, then it turned around and began to creep away.

Toothless walked after the dragon, and other Whispering Deaths formed an escort around him. No matter what their so-called leader wants from me, if it has hurt Hiccup or Shadow I'll make it regret it ever decided to leave its egg.

The Deaths could move surprisingly fast, but it still took a good while until they reached their destination, which was a grassy area next to curvy cliff.

On the grass were several creatures waiting for them. Two of them were Ruthless Frostbites. They were not yet fully grown, but still larger than Zipplebacks, and judging by their coloring they both were females. They stood on the opposite sides of the clearing, and both held something
in their claws. The left one was pinning down Shadow so he couldn't open his mouth, and the right one was guarding still unconscious Hiccup. But what really made Toothless' heart to stop was the dragon that stood between the Frostbites. A fire-red Monstrous Nightmare with black stripes all over its body. .::Fireworm::., Toothless gasped.

Fireworm formed a devious smile on her face. .::Long time no see, Toothless.::.

Toothless couldn't answer, in fact he couldn't do anything; he was too shocked for that. Of course he had known that he would have to face Fireworm once, but now when it really happened he didn't know what to do.

.::Surprised, are you? You couldn't really think that I'd forget… or forgive.::. The Whispering Deaths surrounding Toothless whispered with each other. Fireworm turned her attention to them, irritated of the disruption. .::Get out of my sight, all of you!::., she roared and all of the giant serpents hurried to flee, all but one. .::Doomgrip, the command applies to you too!::.

The leaf-green Death hesitated for a moment before it spoke: .::Your mercifulnesss. We have been loyal to you; we have filled all of your commandsss without delay. You ssshould let usss sssee where thisss all leadsss.::.

Fireworm looked like she was going to explode, but then she suddenly calmed down. .::Of course. You can stay::., she said softly.

Doomgrip took a position few meters left of Toothless and observed the situation from there.

Fireworm turned her yellow eyes back to Toothless. .::Now where were we… oh yes. It is time, Toothless. Time for you to get what you deserve from your little betrayal.::.

.::I didn't - ::., Toothless started, but then he realized that it was useless. Besides it was no use to try to delay the inevitable.

.::I'm not cruel. You didn't harm me physically, so I won't do that either::., she purred with a dangerous gleam in her eyes. .::Besides, I could have all your limbs ripped off, and you still wouldn't have an idea of the pain that I feel. No, I want you to know what you made me to go through, how I have suffered for two years!::. Fireworm shrieked the last few words like mad.

Toothless gulped. He had an idea of what Fireworm meant with her words. He could never allow that to happen, although he didn't know how to prevent it, either. .::This is between you and me, Fireworm. Shadow and Hiccup has no part in this, let them go!::., he begged.

The Nightmare laughed at him. .::I was just coming to that. Yes, I will let you go with other of them. However, the other has to go – in a bit different manner. You can decide.::. She smiled maliciously.

.::No, you can't mean it… you can't do this…::. Toothless took a step forward, lowered his head and growled. .::You're a monster!::. He let the explosive gas to rise up his throat.

.::Do it, and they both die::., Fireworm said in a freezing tone. Toothless stared her, hoping his gaze would kill, and hated himself for his own helplessness. He let the gas to dissipate without lighting it.

.::Now listen, and listen carefully. This is the deal: Other dies, and other lives happily with you. It's your call which is which. Don't waste time in your decision, though, my children are hungry::., she gestured towards the Frostbites; .::and they are running out of patience. From this moment onwards, do one wrong move, say one wrong word, and they both will get eaten::., she purred and seemed to thoroughly enjoy the situation.

Toothless felt all dizzy, the reality hit him hard and his brains refused to work. How could he ever choose, how could he ever pick one over other!

Hiccup was a human that he loved more than anything. He was his soulmate and best friend. It was Hiccup who had given him back his ability to fly, who brought him delicious fish, who scratched him behind his ears and from the special spot under his chin that made him feel so good. It was Hiccup who soared with him to the skies, who fought with him and who healed his wounds after a battle. No, he could never let him die; it would have been easier to rip off his soul than let the Viking die.

On other note, Shadow was a dragon that he loved more than anything. He was his son and Toothless was very proud of him. It was Shadow who made his day with just one smile, who asked sometimes silly questions from him, and who thought that he was the mightiest dragon in the world. If he'd let Shadow die he could as well cut his heart out.

How he could ever choose? How? How…?

.::My children are starving; I can't deny a good meal from them any longer. If you don't want either of them, it's not my fault. Say goodbye to your son and human::., Fireworm announced.

.::NO! Take me instead, just let them go!::., Toothless shouted desperately.

Fireworm's jaws curved in a devilish, victorious smile. .::Wrong answer::., she said with a blood-chilling voice.

Something heavy landed next to Toothless and struck him down in the dirt.


It's really hard for me to not end chapters like this, hope you don't mind it too much :P

I'm not sure if I'll be home next weekend, but if I'm not, then the next chapter will come after two weeks.

Oh, and don't worry, I'm nowhere near finishing this story yet.

And before I forget, I'd appreciate a bit more reviews, so keep clicking the blue link at the bottom of this page. -TF