And now… the episode you've all been waiting for (okay maybe just some)… Dragon Flower. What did I do with it? Read to find out.


Dragon Flower

Berk is a small island in the middle of nowhere. So, when we get a taste of something new we tend to go a little… over board. Just a few days ago Trader Johann arrived, and as per usual everyone had to get something from the trader screaming and yelling with excitement like it was the biggest day of the year. Unfortunately, new isn't always good…

000

Trader Johann's ship sailed into the docks and everyone was crowded around ready for the man to let them on board. He got out his gangplank and crossed onto the dock allowing people to board, but first he said his usual greeting.

"Ah, Berk, my favorite of all the islands I travel to."

"Where have you been this time Trader Johann?" Bucket asked with anticipation.

"Oh, Bucket, the things I've seen, the people I've met. I'd need a week to regale you! But alas we have limited time to conduct our business together. Whatever it is you're looking for, I can assure you you'll find it here!"

At that people ran into the boat looking at all the wondrous new things the trader had brought.

"Trader Johann, is this your only book on botany?" Fishlegs asked.

"Yes, Mr. Fishlegs. Why it was given to me by the author himself."

"Would you take this necklace? It's made from baby dragons' teeth."

"Fair enough Mr. Fishlegs", Johann said slightly grimacing when he held it.

"Ooh, I'm even better looking than I thought", Snotlout commented as he looked into a mirror. He then looked to Astrid who was beside him testing out a mace, and she simply rolled her eyes at the arrogant boy.

She then heard Gobber moan in delight. "You okay there, Gobber?"

"I'm better than okay. I'm in heaven!" he responded holding a piece of silk.

Hiccup, seeing a bottle of ink went to go grab it. She'd just run out while drawing a picture of Toothless and needed some more if she ever wanted to finish it.

"Oh, that's pure squid ink, Hiccup. Wrestled from the colossal squid of the Northern waters", Johann informed chuckling and rubbing his shoulder.

"Well, how about this spyglass? You know, I made it myself", she offered taking the spyglass out from her satchel.

"I know. You've given me five just like it", he laughed. "Unfortunately I've only got the two eyes. What else have you got?"

"What do you think about this winch? Eh, it'll help you pull up your gangplank."

"A welcome tool for a working man's ailing shoulder. Consider it done."

Hiccup smiled as she handed the winch to him, the trader acting as if nothing's changed. She remembered his last visit and how he had simply laughed joyfully, surprised by the dragons now freely roaming the island, as well as her appearance, but not disturbed in the least. He was actually one of the few who hadn't widened his eyes in utter shock—a welcome expression she expected. He simply conducted his business as per usual, talked in his usual joyful manner sharing stories and tales, and then left when all was said and done.

As Johann turned and walked away, Hiccup could see her father testing out a sword. He swung it fiercely back and forth and Hiccup rolled her eyes. "Wow. Another sword. Just what we need", she said sarcastically.

"If you must know, it's not for me. I'm heading off to my yearly meeting with the chief of the Shivering Shores. The last man who showed up without a gift, left without a head", Stoick replied as he absentmindedly sliced the head of a wooden figure behind him. "Johann! What will you take in trade?"

"Stoick!" Trader Johann exclaimed with joy. "It is but your good graces that I desire when my amble ship passes through Berk!"

"You'll always be welcome on our shores! I'll be back in five days", Stoick said as he went to his Thunderdrum. "Oh, what am I saying? I'll be back in two! Thanks to Thornado."

"Oh, you finally named him. Thornado, huh?" Hiccup asked.

"That's right!" he replied as he sat on Thornado who thrashed around raring to go. "Because he has the power of Thor and the ferocity of a tornado! And besides, it's the only thing he'll answer to! Turns out he can be quite stubborn!"

"Can't imagine where he gets that from", she joked.

"Up, Thornado."

Stoick flew off and Johann looked on commenting, "Ah, men riding dragons. What a magnificent sight."

"Johann!" Mildew shouted, interrupting the trader's gaze.

"Mildew!" Johann replied cheerfully.

"Did you bring what I want?" he said grimly.

"Always straight to the point! I like that."

He showed Mildew inside a basket showing that he had indeed brought what Mildew asked for.

"I assume you brought my cabbage?" Johann asked.

Mildew pointed with his staff to the basket of cabbage, and Johann picked it up delightfully smelling the wonderful vegetable.

"Take these to my house", Mildew instructed.

When the old man turned away a Terrible Terror hopped his way up to the baskets meant for Mildew, and Johann turned to see the little one.

"Now, now, now, little fella, that's not for you."

The dragon just ignored him, continuing to snack on what was inside.

"Now, come on, away—Ow!" he exclaimed as the Terror snapped at him. "Feisty little one isn't he", he laughed taking the Terror by his tail and harshly throwing him to the deck.

Toothless didn't appreciate the gesture, and even less did he like the man sensing an offness to him. He lunged towards the trader, growling and ready to defend.

"Safe distance! Please!" Johann freaked.

"Toothless, no!" Hiccup intervened getting in between him and Johann. She pushed his snout away telling him to stop and after a few moments he did, complying with Hiccup's judgment. "S-sorry, Johann. He's just being protective."

Johann immediately calmed down and Hiccup went to pick up a piece of the ink bottle Toothless knocked from her hand when he had lunged at Johann, her ears went down and a frown appeared on her face in disappointment. "Ah, it's gone."

"Oh, sorry lass, that was my last one. But rest assured, I'll find that colossal squid and wrestle you another bottle."

"Oh, Toothless", Hiccup said with pure disappointment.

"Sorry", he said apologetically.

000

Later that afternoon Hiccup and Toothless joined the other riders at the academy seeing Tuffnut put up a statue. As Hiccup went towards the boy twin, Toothless went to the other side of the arena where the other dragons were and he felt a strange tickle in his nose. He bat at his snout with his paw making the odd sensation go away. Once dealt with he turned his attention to his sister and her friends.

"You got them just for the academy?" Hiccup asked surprised, most likely from the new statue.

"Yeah, we got them from Trader Johann. We had to give him our great grandfather's scull; we got to keep his clavicle", Tuffnut responded as she inspected the statue.

"Wow! You know, it's about time you guys started taking some pride in this place."

"Duck!"

"What?" she said alarmed.

She turned to see Barf and Belch fire at the statue, and Hiccup and Tuffnut just missed the blast, jumping and ducking away, by a fraction of a second.

"That. Was. AWESOME! I want to take a shot!" Snotlout exclaimed, mounting onto Hookfang. "Fire!" he yelled, and Hookfang did so.

The new sensation came to Toothless again and, as the other dragons were taking a turn firing at the statue, he licked his paw now wiping at his snout with a wet paw hoping that would sooth his tickling nose. Everyone had taken their shots and Toothless was going to fire next, wanting to join the fun, when he was strangely interrupted by a sneeze. He mistakenly fired a plasma blast and missed the statue completely. Something he never did.

"Ugh, stupid nose", he complained as he rubbed his snout with his paw once again. His stupid nose was going to ruin his reputation; a reputation of which he prided himself weird sneeze escaped him not even a second later almost hitting Snotlout when he fired on accident again.

"Hey! Could you tell your dragon to cover his mouth when he sneezes?!" Snotlout complained to Hiccup.

"I-I'm sorry, but that's… never happened before", she said with concern as she walked towards the Night Fury.

He sneezed a third time, this time at the ground, only making her even more worried. Toothless, however, didn't want her to worry; she'd done enough of that as of late. "I'm fine. See?" he said perking his ears up with a gummy smile. Unfortunately, it didn't do much.

That night, Toothless only seemed to get worse. He was now feeling slightly drained, and he didn't understand it just wanting to sleep it off. No doubt he would be better in the morning. All he needed was some sleep. As Toothless laid on his rock slab Hiccup placed a hand on his head.

"You're really warm. Well, more than usual anyway. Toothless, I think you're getting sick."

"Nonsense. Dragons don't getsick."

"Well then what's your explanation?"

"A strange case of the sniffles. Simple."

Hiccup dropped the subject allowing him to sleep but he knew she wouldn't stop worrying. It seemed to be in her nature to worry. Toothless really didn't understand it and wished Hiccup would sometimes just let her mind rest.

000

The next morning Toothless insisted to go flying, and although Hiccup didn't think it was the best idea, she conceded. They met up with Aric and Shadowstar and the four flew over the island as usual. Everything seemed normal, and she was beginning to think that maybe yesterday was just a fluke until Toothless said, "Hiccup, I don't feel right."

Aric was talking about some flowers he spotted, but Hiccup wasn't really paying attention. She was about to have Toothless take them home so he could rest, but then Toothless' flight became out of control. He began sneezing again, wavering their path, and his flight was becoming unstable. They crashed onto the ground only seconds later and Hiccup flew off the saddle as Toothless slumped onto the ground. Uninjured, she immediately ran back to him looking the Night Fury over. She knew something wasn't right; that something was off. Her first hint should have been the fact that dragons didn't typically sneeze.

"Toothless?" she asked trying to get the slumped dragon's attention. "Come on, bud, you alright?"

"Maybe he's got a cold or something", Aric suggested as he and Shadowstar landed. "Do dragons get colds?"

"Dragons do not get colds", Shadowstar informed almost insulted by the notion.

"Toothless, what's wrong? Talk to me", Hiccup said holding his tired face.

He wouldn't answer.

"Whoa, look at that" Aric said seeing the green Terror from before on Johann's ship incoherently gliding down to the ground and flopping on the grass. Dismounted from Shadowstar, Aric picked the little guy up. "Well whatever it is, it looks like he's got it too."

Wasting no more time, Hiccup got Toothless up and dragged him home wanting to get to the bottom of this. As she was doing so, she ran across Gobber and asked for his help. He helped her get Toothless home, and once inside she sat beside her best friend as Gobber cooked something for him.

"This will fix him right up", he said bringing it over when it was done.

"What is that?" she asked looking at the bubbling green liquid he'd brought over.

"It's best not to ask. Whatever you do, don't touch it."

At that moment Toothless sneezed again hitting Gobber, except this time instead of plasma, he shot out snot.

"Ugh! Well that's ruined. I'll never get that yak to vomit again", he said complaining over his now stained tunic.

"Hiccup!" Astrid shouted storming into the house. "You gotta see this."

At Astrid's urgency, Hiccup rushed outside. What she saw was all the other riders' dragons flying just as out of control as Toothless had. They were flying all over the place and seemed completely unfocused.

"Help her, Hiccup! She's sick!" Fishlegs shouted as Meatlug spun around like a top in the air to then land flatly on the ground and Fishlegs to topple over from dizziness.

"It's spreading to all the dragons. Uh, how do we stop this?!" Hiccup exclaimed turning to Gobber hoping he'd have an answer.

"Gothi!" Gobber responded. "She'll know what to do!"

With that, Astrid quickly ran to get Gothi while Shadowstar and Stormfly were cared for and taken home by Aric. Hiccup went back inside to look after Toothless and she checked him again. His skin was still abnormally hot, and he still wouldn't say anything. He only made sounds conveying his emotions to her; none of which were happy. The more Hiccup listened, the more she wished she didn't know exactly what each sound he made meant. She just sat petting him soothingly in an attempt to make him at least feel a little better with her presence.

At last Gothi arrived and Hiccup moved aside so the woman could take a look at her dragon. Gothi was quite thorough in her examination; first she felt around his body, then she looked closely at his eyes, his ears, and followed by looking into his mouth. Toothless allowed the woman to do everything with little to no resistance. Once done, she picked up a pile of bones and threw them to the stones by the fire place. Meanwhile, Hiccup went back to Toothless' side as Astrid stood with Gobber behind her.

"I've heard Gothi can tell you when you're gonna die, just by looking at your fingernails", Astrid commented nervously and disturbed.

"Ah, that's just an old wives tale. She looks at your tongue", Gobber said walking to stand behind Gothi so he could read what she was writing in the stone with the ash from the fireplace. "She says they're reacting to something. Like they're allergic."

From where Hiccup sat next to Toothless, her hands on his head in a calming loving manner, she asked, "Allergic? To what?"

"To a moose wearing boots", he answered slowly with confusion.

Gothi, annoyed, whacked him on the head with her staff.

"I didn't think that was right", Gobber said in response.

Gothi wrote her answer again and now Gobber understood. "Ah! Their allergic to something new that's just come to the island." And unable to resist he added, "But that still looks like a moose." It resulted in another whack in the face.

"Well, there are a lot of new things on the island. Trader Johann was just here", Astrid pointed out.

"She says to get rid of everything. Immediately", Gobber translated. "Otherwise it's just going to get worse. The dragons are going to get sicker."

At the horrible news Hiccup laid her head onto Toothless, and she nuzzled him for a moment in comfort for not only him, but also for herself. Then, knowing he would only get better by acting now Hiccup did so. She, and Astrid went to inform everyone to get rid of the things they had recently purchased. A giant pit was dug on a beach on the far side of the island as far away from the village as possible, and one by one Vikings came with their items to throw in. None of them were happy about it of course, but Hiccup, Astrid, and Aric worked to encourage them.

"I know this is hard guys, but I promise you you're doing a good thing. You're helping the dragons", Hiccup said.

"It's the least we can do for them", Aric followed.

Snotlout sighed as he approached the pit with his mirror looking into it one last time. "Good bye beautiful."

"What are you doing?! Throw it in!" Ruffnut demanded to Fishlegs who was frantically flipping through his botany book.

"I'm sorry! But this botany book is a real page turner! I gotta know how it ends!"

Losing patience she ripped the book from his grasp and threw it in as Fishlegs whined, "No Ruffnut! Noh!"

Meanwhile Hiccup was dealing with a similar situation concerning Gobber. "I don't see you throwing anything in the pile, and I thought I saw you buy something from Trader Johann."

"He did. He bought silk", Astrid informed.

"Hand it over, Gobber."

"Can't do that, Hiccup. It's, uh, currently in use. It's my skivvies; they're glorious", he finished in a whisper.

Hiccup only gave the man a hard look similar to one her father would have given.

"Fine", Gobber conceded.

He went behind a rock, and then after about a moment or two purple silk underwear was thrown out and into the pit.

"I could have gone my whole life without seeing that", Hiccup said rather disturbed, but at least now Toothless and the dragons would get better. As she went to bed that night she found herself sniffling, but despite the annoyance, still couldn't have been happier knowing that in the morning her brother would be back to his old self.

000

The following morning Astrid awoke expecting Stormfly to be feeling all better, but what she found was a still very sick Nadder. Hopes dashed, she frowned and went to pet her soothingly.

"Poor girl, can't get comfortable, huh? Oh, I know what'll help! I'll—" She ducked hearing Stormfly sneeze and the sound of her spikes. The wall behind Astrid was struck with them, and seeing that, she turned back to reassure the dragon. "It's okay, Stormfly. I'm a solider; I've been shot at before."

She stayed with Stormfly for the rest of the day until late that afternoon when she saw her brother leave. Knowing he was going to meet up with the others she decided to come along. It wasn't like there was any more that she could do for her dragon. When the two siblings arrived they found Hookfang and Barch sitting outside beside their riders still clearly sick.

"We got rid of everything from Trader Johann, but our dragons aren't getting any better, they're getting worse!" Fishlegs exclaimed as Hiccup approached. As she did, however, Astrid couldn't help but notice the girl didn't look right. She seemed tired and she kept on sniffling almost constantly, her voice slightly congested.

"Let-let's make a list", she said. "Maybe there's somebody who bought something from Trader Johann, but hasn't thrown it into the pit."

"Yeah… there must have been somebody who didn't want to give up what they bought", Aric added in, somehow not noticing Hiccup's change in behavior. If anyone was to notice something wasn't right with Hiccup, she could have sworn it would be him. Maybe he just wanted to wait for the right time to mention it. Their dragons' lives were on the line at the moment. But then again Hiccup was half dragon; whatever was affecting them could have an effect on her, right?

"If I find out who was holding back, I am gonna be so mad", Snotlout threatened bringing Astrid from her train of thought. "Hookfang was so sick, I was up all night scraping dragon barf off our walls!"

"Yeah? Well ours is dead!" Tuffnut dramatically said, concerning and freighting all of them. Astrid couldn't hold the gasp from escaping. "Just kidding. But, he's really not that fun anymore."

"He just sits there. He won't blow anything up!" his sister added.

The scare was completely uncalled for, and Astrid just wanted to smack the two upside the head. But, her best friend came first. Hiccup really wasn't looking good. It looked as if she hadn't slept all night.

"Hiccup? Are you all right?" she asked.

"Yeah, of course I am. Why?" Hiccup responded. 'Of course she'd respond that way.'

"Let me rephrase. How was your night?" Astrid amended approaching her.

She didn't answer right away seeming to try and find the right answer, but finally, she did.

"Well… to tell the truth, not well", she surprisingly answered honestly, but lowly. It was almost as if she was telling some secret and Astrid was the only person she trusted enough to tell.

"Was it Toothless?" Astrid said, now matching Hiccup's low volume.

"No… well partly, but no. I've just been sniffling and sneezing a lot. I'm sure it's nothing."

Astrid's response was a look of worry and freight.

"It's nothing. I'm fine, Astrid", Hiccup repeated, now speaking a little louder. "There's no need to worry… That goes for you too, Aric", she said over Astrid's shoulder, noticing Aric's now worried look as well.

'Well at least he's finally noticed', Astrid thought.

Her brother was about to say something to counter Hiccup's claim, no doubt, when Stoick had arrived.

"Hiccup, put this in the book of dragons!" he called as he dismounted Thornado beginning to walk down the hill towards them. "Never fly on a stomach full of undercooked mutton! The Shivering Shores will never be the same."

The chief's smile and chipper attitude soon died, however, as he saw the teen's sad expressions and the dragons lying on the ground. "What is it, Hiccup? What's wrong?"

"It's the dragons, dad! They're, uh…"

"They're sick", Aric said for her. "And getting worse."

"Every dragon?" Stoick questioned, his gaze then traveling to Hiccup's tired form who then let out a tiny sneeze. Seeming to know what her dad was thinking, she answered. "I'm fine. If this sickness was affecting me, it already would have two days ago just like Toothless."

Astrid doubted it, and was pretty sure everyone else did too, but Hiccup was incredibly stubborn. She liked to be the one to figure things out; to solve the problems. Astrid figured it gave Hiccup a sense of pride or purpose. She could understand that, but at times she felt like the Halfling took it too far. Astrid knew what would happen; Hiccup was never going to admit she was sick. Not until it was too late.

000

Hiccup had to admit she wasn't feeling the greatest. Her head was aching, she was exhausted from her restless night, and she couldn't stop sniffling and sneezing. She wasn't dumb. She knew she was getting the same illness; it was too much of a coincidence. But if she told anyone that, especially any of her friends or her father, they'd force her to go straight to bed and rest. Hiccup didn't want to rest; not until she found a way to cure Toothless. He was far more important. And besides, if they found what was making the dragons sick, then they found what was making her sick as well. It was a win win.

Despite her claims, however, her dad still wanted her inside. So, they left the riders and headed home to "check on Toothless". When they got there they found the Night Fury had made his way back down stairs and was now lying next to the fire place wanting to keep warm. The illness, while making him feel hot to the touch, had made his inner temperature go down. Along with the other usual sounds, he had recently being crying 'Cold' as well.

Hiccup went to Toothless' side one again, and noticing Toothless' shivers her dad threw some more wood to keep the fire going strong.

"Poor guy", he said getting a closer look at her beloved dragon. "What do you think happened?"

"Ugh, I don't know! Gothi says their allergic to something new to the island, but we think we've gotten rid of everything."

"But if the dragons aren't getting better…"

"Then something must still be here that's making them sick."

They then heard Thornado roar outside, and they immediately went to go check on him, seeing that night had apparently creeped up on them as well. He made the sound again, her father pushing her back from harm's way of his blast, but it wasn't an attack, or a roar. He was sneezing.

"Sneezing. That's the first symptom!" Hiccup warned.

"He was fine until we got back?"

"Uhhh… 'Gods it's getting hard to think' we should… retrace your steps."

Retracing his steps, as Hiccup requested, Stoick led her and the teens, who had joined them hearing Thornado's sneezing, to a hill. "Well, this is where I landed", he said.

"Uh… okay look around for anything unusual", Hiccup instructed.

"Does that count?" Fishlegs asked eyeing the twins.

They were laughing and playing some game involving the two running on all fours into each other, their heads colliding.

"Hmm… nothing unusual here", Aric said.

Hiccup then noticed something next to the twins; the flowers Aric had been trying to point out the day before. They were beautiful, a soft blue color that seemed to just shine in the moonlight, but for as long as she lived and explored the island she'd never seen such flowers before. She walked up to them and everyone else followed.

"Um, has anyone seen these flowers before?" Hiccup questioned as she picked one and held it up.

"They were here when I got back", her father claimed.

As Hiccup held the flower, she began to feel slightly dizzy, her head hurting worse than before, and a wave of nausea creeping up. She strained to keep her composure, though, not wanting the others to see her condition getting worse, and she was ever so thankful when Fishlegs took the suspicious flower away. Whether touching it was connected or not, Hiccup didn't care; she leaned as far away from it as she could.

"It looks an awful lot like the Blue Oleander", Fishlegs informed. "I recognize it from my botany book! Chapter eight!"

"Is there anything specific you can remember?" Hiccup asked

"They're very beautiful, very soft, and… poisonous to reptiles!"

"Which means poisonous to dragons!"

Fishlegs threw the flower away and Hiccup wiped her hand on her dress not caring the action wouldn't change the fact that she'd touched it.

"This is serious…" Hiccup continued. "Uh, duh, did your book say anything about a cure?"

"I don't know! Because somebody made me throw it in a pit!"

"Well then go back and dig it up!" she shouted.

"I don't understand? Where did these flower even come from?!" Aric asked.

"Mildew", Tuffnut said causing everyone to turn to him. "I saw him plant them the other night."

"And you didn't think that was strange."

"No! Well, maybe… I don't know?! Quit pressuring me!"

Despite Hiccup's attempts to keep her condition quiet her body had other plans, because just then she unfortunately gathered everyone's attention releasing a big sneeze which propelled her back into her father who thankfully held her up from just crumpling onto the ground.

"Oh…" she said shaking her head now really dizzy.

"Let's go pay the old man a visit", her dad then said angrily still keeping her up.

000

He could see Hiccup's skin becoming paler as time went by and there were dark circles forming under her eyes, seen clearly in the moonlight. As Stoick helped Hiccup back to her feet he also took the opportunity to check her forehead. It was warm as he'd suspected, the sign of a fever forming.

'She should have never touched that flower.'

Despite what he said or ordered, however, Stoick couldn't get Hiccup to go home, nor stay there. She wanted to go confront Mildew, and wouldn't let the notion go. Deciding there was no way he was going to get her to stay put anyway, and their time was limited, he relented and allowed her to come.

"Mildew! What do you know about these flowers?" Stoick infuriatingly said, he, Hiccup, and Aric entering the old man's home and Stoick holding one up.

"Oh, those? I bought them from Trader Johann. Why? Is there something wrong?" the old man asked in his usual innocent yet deceitful tone.

"These flowers are poisonous to dragons!"

"Or did you already know that?" Hiccup added.

"Well, so what if I planted a few flowers? The town square has never looked better. I was merely trying to spread some beauty and happiness", Mildew defended.

"Since when have you cared about beauty or happiness?" Aric challenged.

"You did this", Hiccup accused.

"What? Me?! Ha! Well I had no inkling Stoick that these flowers had special properties. Which true I'm no friend of the dragon, but in this case, on my life, I was not trying harm them. Nor you, Hiccup", Mildew added, saying her name with disgust. "How are you feeling?"

Hiccup didn't answer. She just simply glared at him.

"Poor dear, so sick can't even talk? Might want to get her home now, Stoick", he said with faked concern.

"Let's go", Stoick frustratingly sighed, leading the kids out.

There was no point in staying; Mildew wasn't going to admit to it, and there was nothing he could do about it. When it came to these things there were rules. Stoick may have been chief but he still had a council to convince, and unless Mildew admitted to it, there was no proof of whether Mildew planted them with the intention to kill Hiccup and the dragons or not. There wasn't even proof if he knew the flowers were poisonous to them, which he claimed he didn't. Stoick had very little to no doubt Mildew had purposefully planted those flowers to kill the dragons; possibly Hiccup as well. He wasn't blind; Stoick knew Mildew had the motive to do such an act, but alas, he couldn't act on his suspicions. And he knew they were nothing more than suspicions.

000

Confronting Mildew was a bust, and apparently a complete waste of time. She should have known that old man would have been able to weasel his way out. It was what Mildew seemed to do best.

Hiccup was now lying curled up on the grass outside the forge along with her father and friends waiting for Fishlegs. They wouldn't stop insisting she go inside and rest. Sure her head still felt a little dizzy and wouldn't stop pounding, and sure she still kept sneezing, and sure she was starting to feel nauseated, but it wasn't like she was going to let those little things stop her. She was only lying down to humor them; not because at the moment she felt like if she stood she would puke right then and there.

"You need to go home. Let us take care of this. You don't always have to be the hero", Aric said, trying to convince her again, laying a hand on her shoulder.

"Aric's right, hun, we need to get you inside", her father followed. Hiccup was about to protest, as he was about to just carry her home and probably tie her to her bed, but then she saw Fishlegs running up to them.

"Fishlegs!" She said as she sat up. "You found your botany book!"

"Well, what does it say?" Astrid asked.

Fishlegs didn't answer. He was freaking out, sniffling and crying. Hiccup shakily stood up and went to her friend.

"Calm down, talk to me", she told him.

"My botany book says that Blue Oleander is poisonous to reptiles. And dragons are reptiles!" he answered.

"We know that. Was there anything else?"

"Not in here. But I remembered the Book of Dragons talked about a dragon that feeds on the Blue Oleander. It's called the Scauldren. I-in a perfect world if it eats the flowers maybe its venom can be used as an antidote like with snakes and spiders. But alas, we do not live in a perfect world. Look! The Scauldren has no venom!" he exclaimed turning the book towards them.

"No, but it looks cool", Tuffnut said as he looked at the picture.

"Don't you understand?! The book says no venom!"

"Okay, got it! No venom. Golly, write it on your forehead."

"The book is wrong!" Gobber intervened ominously exiting the darkened forge as if for effect. "I've dealt with a Scauldren before. They're sixty feet long with razor sharp teeth! It'll shoot boiling water that melts the flesh from your bones! The Scauldren has no fear. No conscience. But what the Scauldren does have is venom! And lots of it!"

"I'm out", Tuffnut said.

"I'm with him", Ruffnut followed, neither wanting to deal with a dragon like that.

"Alright, you guys stay here and take care of the dragons", Hiccup instructed.

"What are you going to do?" Fishlegs warily asked.

"Dad, Gobber, let's go find ourselves a Scauldren."

"I thought you'd never ask!" Gobber exclaimed.

"No! No! Hiccup, I have allowed you to help thus far, but there is no way I will allow you to go on such a dangerous mission. Especially in your condition!" Stoick exclaimed.

"For the last time, I'm fine! The poison hasn't taken full effect on me yet."

"And I'd like to keep it that way."

"Dad, I need to do this. For Toothless; for all the dragons. Our pack. Maybe I could convince the Scauldren to give us some of his venom peacefully. You have to let me try."

Her father stared at her for what felt like an eternity, but finally he relented sighing. "Fine. But take it easy! I don't want to lose you too."

Hiccup replied with a small smile, and then they all went to prepare for the trip. They had to go tonight. She didn't know how much longer the dragons could hold on, nor how long she, herself, had before the poison took its hold leaving her as sick and helpless as all the other dragons.

As the ship was being prepared Stoick and Hiccup went to check on their dragons one more time. Hiccup sat in her room with Toothless reading the chapter on Scauldrens to get a better understanding of what they were about to deal with. There wasn't exactly much, but the dragon certainly looked like something you shouldn't mess with; not that you should mess around with any dragon.

"Look at that thing", she said with amazement. Hiccup hoped she could talk him or her into giving them his or her venom. She'd hate it if they had to take it forcefully.

Looking up from her book, Hiccup watched as Toothless just lay on his bed. He seemed to almost be in a peaceful sleep, but as evidence by her own pounding head, he clearly wasn't. He woke up from is restless sleep and she put the book down as she stood to console him.

"You just hold on bud. I'll be back before you know it."

"Just… be careful…" Toothless, with as much strength as he could muster, told her.

"I will. You just need to be strong", Hiccup replied hugging his head.

She left Toothless to try and rest and went downstairs to get her father. Walking outside and peering around the house to where she knew she'd find him, Hiccup saw a sight she thought she never would; Stoick standing in front of a dragon talking to him and caring for him like he would a sick child. She decided she wouldn't interrupt just yet wanting to see the sight for just a little longer.

"How's my dragon warrior?" he asked.

Thornado only huffed tiredly and her father seemed to understand his discomfort. He brought over a small rock and placed it under the Thunderdrum's head as a pillow.

"I've spent my whole life trying to kill them", he sighed. "Now look at me."

Hiccup decided that she'd seen enough; they needed to get going anyway. She walked from where she was spying, and her father seemed to sense her presence cause as soon as she came up behind him he turned around looking down at her.

"Dad, it's time. The boat's ready."

000

"Why this is an outrage! I dug up all the flowers! I did my part!" Mildew complained as they rowed out to sea.

"We're all out here because of you, Mildew! If we have to put our lives at risk then so do you!" Stoick said losing his patience with the man, though he still kept his composure.

"You have no proof, Stoick!" Mildew exclaimed angrily as he stepped forward, challengingly, towards him. "You can't blame me every time something goes amiss with your precious dragons", he sneered getting into Hiccup's face as he said 'precious dragons'. Once again he was insinuating Hiccup was nothing more than a dragon, and in his mind they were nothing more than mindless beasts. It infuriated him to no end how Mildew could still be so distrustful and bitter towards her and her dragons after everything she and the dragons had done for the village. His daughter had proven their thoughts on dragons wrong countless times; he himself even had a dragon of whom he loved as a great and wonderful companion. And yet, though Stoick couldn't prove it, he still loathed them enough to purposefully try to murder them.

Gobber came up with a bucket, taking Stoick from his thoughts. "Alright Stoick, what's the plan", he said handing Stoick the bucket.

"Hiccup, when Gobber and I secure the dragon's head Sven will wedge its jaw open. We'll need you to—"

"Drain the poison into this bucket. Got it", Hiccup interrupted tiredly grabbing hold of the bucket. Her eyes seemed unfocused and every so often she would sway like her body was threatening to give out. It worried him to no end if bringing her was a good idea. "That is if we need to even take it forcefully" she added reminding him why he agreed. Hiccup could talk to dragons, and if she could convince the Scauldren into giving them its venom, they wouldn't have to fight it and would be back to Berk much sooner. That was what was really important.

Initiating step one of their plan, Stoick moved to the Blue Oleander that sat in a bag on the side of the boat as far away from Hiccup as possible—he didn't need her getting worse—and began pushing the flowers out and onto the water like a trail to lure the dragon to them.

000

It had been maybe an hour or two of waiting for a Scauldren to come by, but Hiccup neither saw, nor heard anything and the smell of the Blue Oleander was driving her crazy. Hiccup wasn't sure how many times she'd puked. Fortunately, she could hide it as sea sickness though. She was never really one for boats.

"Bah! This is not working! It was a stupid idea to begin with!" Mildew, for the hundredth time, complained.

A growl escaped her as Hiccup snarled wanting to lunge at him, her clouded mind not catching up with her emotions. Luckily, her father stopped her bringing her back to reality. "Easy, dear, that's not why we're here", he said before Gobber intervened.

"But that is", Gobber said from the other side of the boat.

Hiccup, Stoick, and Midew all went to join him to see, and what greeted their eyes was a large green dragon just under the surface of the water.

"Scauldren", Stoick said in awe and maybe even fear.

The dragon briefly surfaced, slightly jumping out from the water, and they got a look at its face. He peered at them for the brief moment that he could.

"I may need to change my skivvies", Gobber said with freight.

"Hiccup, now! Speak to it", her father encouraged.

Leaning slightly over the boat she began to do as her father said. "Sir, please, if you can hear me we need your help", she said with kindness, caution, and urgency to let him know she meant him no harm or disrespect, but that she was in a hurry. She didn't know the average natural tendencies of Scauldrens so she had to tread lightly showing him the utmost respect.

"And why is that? Why should I help some humans that have trespassed into my waters?" he replied sharply clearly just wanting them gone.

"I'm sorry we've trespassed into your territory but I and the dragons in my pack are sick. And the only cure is your venom. Just allow us to take what we need and you'll never see us again. I promise."

"I highly doubt that. I still don't see why I should help you. You've done nothing for me but invade, and the only reason you've come is to take what is mine."

With his response Hiccup made a mental note. She'd been keeping record of the natural and most common behaviors amongst all the different species. Night Furies were curious and very intelligent—if herself and Toothless were anything to go by—, Nadders were vain, but too, were curious, Nightmares were hotheaded—no pun intended—and always demanded respect, Grockles were open, kind, and often caring, Zipplebacks were very often dimwitted, and liked to fight with their other head, Thunderdrums were stubborn but loyal, and Scauldrens were wary, very untrusting, and maybe even a little selfish—although the last one could just be him.

"I will not help you. Goodbye little youngling" the Scauldren finished.

He began to swim away, disappearing under the waves, and Hiccup began to panic. "No! Wait!"

"We need to lure the Scauldren up on deck!" she exclaimed as she raced to the bag, containing the Blue Oleander, which was on the other side of the boat. Before her father could protest Hiccup grabbed the bag and half-hazardly spilled the flowers onto the deck. As she did so her legs for some reason gave out, suddenly feeling extremely weak, and she fell forward just as she finished spilling the contents of the bag.

"Hiccup!" her father said coming to her with worry.

"I'm fine! I'm fine!" she waved dismissively. "But he won't help! We're going to plan 'B'!"

"Oh… that's great… Now let's get it on the ship where it can HAVE AT US ALL!" Mildew said with a mix of sarcasm and anger.

"Gobber! Secure his neck with this! I'll lasso his horn" Stoick said throwing Gobber a rope as he held a rod with a lasso attached.

They ran to the front of the ship but when they looked over they didn't see the dragon. Hiccup began to fear she'd been too late and the Scauldren had already left, unable to smell the scent of the flowers scattered amongst the boat. A scent of which was making Hiccup more dizzy and nauseous by the second—if that were even possible.

They all waited. They waited, and waited, and waited, the boat rocking eerily now in the quiet of the waters. Suddenly, one of the men's oars was taken from their grasp pulling it out and then under the sea. They looked out to where the oar had disappeared beneath the waves to find a fast coming wake barreling towards their boat. Within seconds they were hit and the boat was sent high into the air knocking everyone down with the force. They landed back onto the waves and when the boat nearly settled were then greeted by the Scauldren.

Behind Mildew the Scauldren roared and the old man screamed scrambling to get away. The dragon put its claw onto the ship hauling himself up and tipping the boat towards him in an angle that made everything and everyone fall towards him. People grabbed onto whatever they could to anchor themselves, but Hiccup was too slow. She slid down to the end of the ship where the Scauldren laid in wait and she screamed as her father called in fear for her. Suddenly she was stopped, however, by Gobber. He grabbed her outstretched arm and easily hauled her up to hold onto the side of the ship.

The flowers had also slid towards the dragon; his main target. And as each batch came down he chomped on each eating as much as he could find and get. While he was distracted with the flowers Stoick called to Gobber who was making sure Hiccup had a good enough hold.

"Gobber, here's our chance!" he called.

Letting go of their own holds they slid down towards the Scauldren and hooked their ropes around the dragon trying to pull him down. He pulled back trying to escape under the sea, but Stoick and Gobber held strong.

"We can't let that thing get back into the water!" Stoick said.

With all their might they pulled getting the dragon to resurface and his head back over the boat. "Sven! We need that barrel now!"

"I've got the bucket!" Hiccup called out as Sven ran up with the barrel.

As she began to step up ready to drain the venom, Sven threw the barrel into the Scauldren's mouth successfully wedging his jaw. He cheered at his success only for the Scauldren to snap down at the barrel and break it apart. The dragon's tail came swinging, and Stoick tried to warn him, but it came too late. Sven was hit and flown off the boat into the sea.

As Hiccup watched the Scauldren she held the bucket tight trying to remain focused but it was becoming difficult as her vision began to swim. At times she wasn't sure where the Scauldren was seeing two or three at a time. She wasn't even sure if there was only one anymore. As she tried to regain focus she didn't notice the tail coming up from the water ready to swing at her next.

"Hiccup behind you!" her dad warned, but she barely heard him.

He ran to push her out of the way, and in the process he was hit instead.

"Dad!" she called lying on the deck from his push.

He wasn't flung into the sea, rather, holding onto the tail as it thrashed around to pry him loose. Soon it swung to the mast and sails where her father held on trapping the tail there.

"I've got his tail!" he called.

"Hiccup, grab your dad's line!" Gobber told her.

Swaying a bit, she got up from all fours and tried to grab the swinging rope. With her vision still swimming, her focus going in and out, only sometimes returning, she'd missed her first two attempts. On the third Hiccup did it, catching the rope and somehow hooking it to something. With everything going on, she didn't see and frankly didn't care as she summoned all the strength she could to not lose hold of the Scauldren.

"Got it!" she called.

"Pull him in! Use the mast to wedge his jaw open!" Stoick instructed.

At his order they did so, Hiccup and Gobber both working to pull the dragon to the mast. Once they'd gotten the dragon's head on his side they pulled back a little further to force his mouth open around the mast where Mildew coward behind.

"Mildew! Grab the bucket!"

"Hold on!" Mildew yelled back to the chief. "It's one thing for me to—"

"GRAB THE BUCKET OR I'LL THROW YOU OVER BOARD MYSELF!"

With that Mildew grabbed the bucket, but he hesitated too long and the Scauldren began to bring up his boiling water.

"EVERYONE TAKE COVER!"

Mist began to come from the dragon's mouth, the water boiling up and up, and Mildew ran from the mast for cover.

"Gobber!" Hiccup called trying to lift a shield for her own protection. He ran over to her and helped her pull it up, and just as they'd found cover, the dragon fired spraying its boiling water strait at them all.

The water was so hot it chewed through the mast the dragon was held against and Hiccup watched as her father fell with it into the sea.

"Dad!" Hiccup attempted to chase after, her ill feeling gone, but didn't get very far as Gobber held her from even taking one more step.

Mildew coward behind a box at the back of the ship and once the Scauldren roared once more he freaked. He screamed and ran across the boat in utter panic, but the dragon caught him by his butt seeing the flower that was attached. Gaining his last flower, he bid his farewell.

"Thanks for the meal. Now never come back."

The Scauldren retreated back to the water and he swam off. "He's gone", Hiccup sighed.

"And you can bet the last place he's coming back to is this ship", Gobber added.

"We didn't get the venom", Stoick dreadfully said having swam and climbed back onto the ship.

"AHH!" Mildew screamed.

They turned to it and saw the old man withering in pain, his butt straight up in the air.

"Yes we did", Hiccup said tiredly, but happily. 'Mildew's finally gotten what he deserved.'

"Get this poison out of me!" he shouted desperately.

"Oh, we will." And with that Hiccup couldn't take it anymore. Her body and mind felt weak, and the adrenaline which had kept her going was gone. She felt her legs give out and the last thing she knew was the feeling of someone catching her before everything went black.

000

Once Hiccup had passed out Stoick wasted no time in getting back to Berk. They needed to get that venom out of Mildew's butt and fast. They arrived home as fast as they could and once on the island he immediately carried Hiccup home charging Gobber with getting the venom.

Entering his home, Stoick saw Toothless sitting by the darkened fireplace. He was going to place Hiccup in her bed, but figured the two might be more comfortable together. He often caught Hiccup or Toothless in the other's bed snuggled together like two newly born dragon hatchlings. He placed her beside the dragon and the two immediately snuggled closer to one another in their sleep. Stoick then started the fire up again and went for a blanket seeing them both shivering; Hiccup curling up for warmth.

Now all he had to do was wait. He decided to go outside to check on Thornado, and after taking care of him he went back inside. As he did, he saw Hiccup in the light of the fire and was able to see how much her condition had truly worsened. Surprisingly, even out of the pale moonlight, she looked even paler than before, and the circles under her eyes seemed to have darkened. To top it all off, she was also just as hot to the touch as Toothless.

As he waited for Gobber, Stoick pondered on how Hiccup could have gotten so much worse so quickly; it couldn't have just been the strain from everything that just happened. There was only one answer he could think of. The flowers. Even just being near them had made her worse and worse. It didn't help at all that she hadn't rest at all since she began to fall ill. She just kept going until eventually she couldn't fight it anymore and collapsed. Stoick knew this could happen, Hiccup burning herself out, and yet he was foolish enough to allow her to come not only because of the chance that they could've gotten the venom much quicker, but also because he knew she'd refuse to listen. She would have either stowed away or taken her own ship. The girl was too stubborn for her own good, something she seemed to have received from both him and Valka.

Valka. Seeing Hiccup like this, so pale and fragile… It made him think of when she had fallen ill herself. This was so much like that adventure it almost scared him. At least he knew Hiccup would soon be alright. That is if Gobber would finally just get there; the wait was starting to kill him.

That's when he heard a scream that sounded an awful lot like Gobber. He couldn't ponder on it for long as not even a moment later Aric had walked in with a jar.

"How's she doing?" the boy asked breathlessly like he'd just ran to the house.

"She's resting", Stoick simply answered. There was no reason to worry the boy. He grabbed two cups and they poured some of the venom into each. As Stoick moved to get Hiccup to drink her cup, Aric went to Toothless to do the same. "Now, we wait", he then said laying Hiccup back onto Toothless.

000

Hiccup wasn't sure how long she'd been out, but when she awoke she found that she was home and somewhat draped on Toothless. Her father wasn't there, however, most likely checking on Thornado or something.

"Hey, how're you feeling?" Toothless asked, seeming better.

"Good", she answered surprised.

That's when it hit her. They'd gotten the venom. If she and Toothless were feeling better did that mean…? Her nose didn't feel stuffed, and when Hiccup stood she did she didn't feel a wave of nausea or dizziness. She decided to head outside and when she turned she saw Toothless following her lead. It was a great sight to see him back on his feet.

When she made her way out the door she found her dad pacing outside near Thornado. He was so lost in thought he hadn't even seen her and Toothless approaching.

"Dad!" she called, gaining his attention immediately. "I think it's working."

He stared at her for a moment before joyfully laughing and scooping her up. Once he put her down Thornado had made a happy crooning sound, and he then went to his dragon to greet him back to the realm of health.

"Thornado!" he gleefully called and went on all fours to place his head to his dragon's.

"How're you feeling, bud?" Hiccup asked remembering she never asked him.

In answer he shot a plasma blast up into the air where it beautifully exploded with purple light in the night sky.

"It's good to have you back, bud."

"You too."

000

The next morning Hiccup decided to redraw the same portrait of Toothless she'd started before nearly dying; this time in charcoal since she had no ink to finish her last attempt. Toothless laid in the same position he had before on his bed for her and they each smiled at the return to normalcy hearing the laughter of their friends flying outside.

000

A deadly flower, and a very moody and venomous sea dragon. Two things I never really thought I'd have to deal with in the same day. But I'll do anything for my dragon.


Sorry this one was a little late. Nevertheless, I hope it was worth the wait, and I hope ya'll liked what I did.