I stared at the limp form on the ground, some blankets under and around him, Toothless close to him. His middle was wrapped in bandages, and his breathing was weak, his face pale. The others were either looking down at him, making food, or were out keeping watch. The cave we were in wasn't exactly large.

I walked up to Hiccup, who didn't move or stir at my approach. I sat down next to him. "Oh Hiccup, you gotta stop doing this to me. One of these days you might actually get yourself killed..." Guilt washed over me. If I hadn't left him, this might not have happened. Astrid sat down next to me.

"He'd better survive. I- we need him." Astrid said.

I caught the stutter. Wait, did she like him... more than just friendship kind of like? I knew almost every boy who had seen her had a crush on her, including me, but she had never shown interest in anyone, just being the greatest fighter alive. So now she had a thing for Hiccup. I guessed that ruled me out for being her boyfriend. I couldn't help but frown a little. But maybe if Hiccup knew, he'd try harder to live. Could he even hear us? I was kind of jumping to conclusions.

Astrid had grabbed Hiccup's hand and was gently rubbing it. Toothless was silent. There was a sad look in his eyes, a sort of desperation you'd expect from someone who could lose their closest friend at any moment. There was also a tired look. Hiccup's near death count was rising, after all. The boy seemed to have a thing for pushing his limits.

And so we waited for Hiccup to wake up.

Maybe I could push my way back to consciousness if I tried hard enough, but my body wasn't listening to me. It was as if it was saying 'Enough.' I couldn't move, trapped in this shell... every struggle against the coma seemed like it just made me weaker.

Memories moved through me faster than lightning. Is this what it was like to actually die?

The first thing I remember.

I was sitting in the main room of our underground house, four years old and clutching tight to my father, panic-stricken as AI dive-bombed the entire village. I was crying, and he was holding a sword, ready to protect me from an AI that looked like a bear wih spider legs.

A year later.

I'm sitting in my room, drawing a plan for something I would build years later. A shining blue and gold dragon to protect me from all harm. Me and my father. Stormfly.

Showing the picture to my dad.

His disappointed scowl and the long rant about how machines were horrible, most of which I tuned out.

My downward spiral into being the village loser. Getting beaten up so much I couldn't move. Laughs. Scowls. Scorning remarks. My father turning away from me and letting it all happen.

The visits from Dagur 'Dangerous' Deran from the Berserker colony in another bunch of tunnels, and his crazy games of 'let's see how we can make Hiccup fear for his life today'.

Building my first AI, Turtie.

Trying to learn to fight. Failing.

Richard becoming super popular and openly mocking me and beating me up in front of my father.

Crying alone in my room, friendless. Considering or attempting suicide.

I remembered celebrating the ancient tradition of Chrich-mus with my father, but now I celebrated alone, if at all.

Making Toothless.

And everything else seemed like a blur as it rushed by. Was this it?

My entire life came down to this? I'd just got my mother back. It wasn't fair. I'd never become a great inventor. I'd never see Richard again. Toothless would fall into despair and disrepair without my knowledge of how he works. He'd break down and never be fixed. My father. Oh, what would he think now? I haven't even gotten to know my dad that well. I felt like I had so much more to learn from him.

Astrid.

I didn't even know if she had feelings for me, but I had a thing for her. Working together to build new and improved surface Berk had been amazing. Me and Fish were good friends, I had learned that 'Fish' was just his nickname, ever since he had fallen into a barrel of fish a long time ago. His real name was Matthew. Ruff and Tuff? They really knew how to relax and take it easy, and also how to play pranks without getting caught. I had enjoyed a few of those with them. Astrid? Well... we had worked a lot together, but it was always awkward because I didn't know how to act around her. I had barely kept from stuttering and looking like an idiot on many occasions, and my heart always went faster around her. She probably thought I was an idiot.

And I'd never get to tell her how I really felt.

Never.

It was useless. Just. Like. Me.

I walked up slowly to Hiccup. He was still unconscious. Beside Hiccup, kneeling, and it was embarrassing that I had really nearly missed him, was the Chief.

He was holding a wooden stick with carvings in it. I had never seen it before. Maybe?

"Sir," I said, sitting down next to him.

He turned to look at me for a moment, his expression unreadable. He then put the stick in his mouth and began to make music. A tune I didn't remember hearing before, but sounded kind of familiar. I realized what it was he was holding, It was a flute. I recognized the stick after a moment. It was Hiccup's. His flute. Maybe all that torture in Drago's dungeon rattled me more than I had thought.

I moaned softly. The music stopped.

"Richard?" The Chief looked at me, a worried expression plastered across his face. "Are you okay, lad?"

"Not really." I replied wearily. My back was stinging like crazy.

The large man put a hand on my shoulder, and immediately I winced in pain. His hand moved away, then began to gently pull of my shirt.

"Sir, please. I'm fine and you don't have to-"

"Richard. It's okay." He said softly. As he got it off, I waited for his reaction. I heard a soft gasp. "Great-"

I winced, curling up a little defensively. "It's fine. Just a few scrapes."

"A few scrapes? These are whip marks! Good gosh, Richard! What did Drago do to you?!"

The chief sounded scared for me. What should have said? 'Well, sir, I was whipped, tortured, beaten...' Eh... no. "It's nothing. I'm fine. Hiccup's the one you should be worried about."

The firm look of worry and fear the chief gave me next cracked my resolve to hide my pain a little.

I winced visibly. And the chief noticed. "If it hurts you to talk about it, then I understand."

I was about to speak, but was interrupted by a moan. Hiccup began to move a little, his breathing picking up, but it was laboured.

The chief looked at his son. "C'mon, Hiccup. Pull out." I heard him say softly. He had Hiccup's hand in his own and was squeezing it.

Hiccup's eyes fluttered open, but he didn't try to sit up. His eyes looked tired and unfocused. "Hiccup, can you hear me?" I said, a little louder than I intended.

"Metal... machine... rusty... flute..." He muttered. He wasn't making any sense! "Toothless... death. Help... help..."

"Hiccup, what are you trying to say?"

"I don't think he's trying to say anything." Stoick said. "He's still out of it."

"Leg. Book. Flute. Chip. Flight. Plans. Machines. Family. Alo- lone." He stuttered the last one, starting to cry. "Android. Android. Freak. Freeeeaaaak."

What on earth was he talking about? "You're not alone, Hiccup, do you hear me? I'm here. So is your dad."

"Metal. All metal. So much... lonely..." He began to fall unconscious again.

"No. C'mon, Hiccup!"

He snapped out of it in a split second, sitting up so fast we couldn't stop him. "Woah. How long have I been out?" He asked, looking dazed, but more focused.

My jaw kind of didn't know what to do for a moment, but the chief stepped in for me, very gently wrapping his arms around Hiccup to support him.

Hiccup realized I was here and stared at me for a good moment. "Richard. I-I... I'm sorry. We left each other on a bad note... and it could have been the last time we saw each other. Our friendship means a lot to me, I just want you to know that in case something like this happens again."

I nodded, tears forming in my eyes. Then I punched him in the arm.

"Ow! What... why did you do that?" He yelled, looking sort of confused.

I then wrapped my arms around him in a hug, relieved that we were together again. He hugged back, albeit kind of weakly.

"I forgive you if you forgive me." I said.

"Deal." He said.

I ship platonic Riccup :3

Anyone feel me?

I kind of realized how dark this chapter is and how the story is going... And there is some SERIOUS foreshadowing in this chapter.

And I ended on a happy note instead of a cliffy.

Please review!