The next day, Hiccup walked down to the arena, fully dressed for flight, with the addition of the helmet his father had given him just two nights ago. The others tried to comment on what they thought was a strange type of armor, or tried to wish him luck, but he ignored them. Today was the day. Either they lived with him and Toothless, or without them. There would be no in-between after today.

The entire village cheered around the arena as Stoic gave his rousing speech about Hiccup's supposed transformation. Transformation is right, he thought with a little sadness. I've never been one of them and just at the moment they are all so convinced I've finally measured up to their standards, I'm going to throw that conviction on the ground. Gobber opened the two hatches into the arena and Hiccup walked through to stand in the center. He heard the gate slam shut behind him, a precaution to ensure the Nightmare stayed in with him, so he could kill it and so no one else would end up hurt if he failed. But that gate wouldn't be a problem for him and Toothless.

Slowly, the large tree trunk holding the doors to the Nightmare cage closed was cranked up, and Toothless burst out of the confined space. Cries of "Night Fury!" and "Get Down!" echoed around the arena as many of the Vikings surrounding the ring hit the deck or started to run, when a few of the braver ones leapt down into the ring to try and fight the beast off. Hiccup might be the best dragon fighter of his generation, but even he couldn't tackle a Night Fury, or so the Vikings thought. Seeing the incoming crowd headed for Toothless with axes and other weapons, Hiccup leapt on top of his friend and clicked the pedals into place, snapping the tail open. The sight of Hiccup on top of the mightiest of dragons stopped almost everyone dead in their tracks.

Everyone, except Stoic.

"Son, what are you doing?" He flinched inside at the horror in his father's voice. This man would be the hardest to convince. But he had to try.

Summoning strength from the love of his friend and the knowledge that he had to do this, Hiccup locked eyes with Stoic and unleashed the truth. "I am protecting my best friend."

"Hiccup, that beast is a dragon! Vikings kill dragons!"

"Then I'm not a Viking!" Stoic took a step back at this. What?

But Hiccup wasn't through with him yet. He took off the helmet and threw in on the ground. "I'm a dragon rider! And if you're not willing to let me show you the truth about dragons, then I'll…" But he didn't get to finish, because Spitelout charged forward and tried to hit Toothless in the hope of damaging his wings.

Seeing the danger, Toothless unleashed a plasma blast at the chain roofing above them and the two shot out of the arena. Dodging the various projectile weapons that were thrown his way, pair circled the arena as Hiccup tried to make himself heard over the yelling. "Please! Just let us land and I'll show you the truth! Dragons aren't dangerous!"

Then Stoic's voice cut through the sound. "Those dragons stole your mother! You are a disgrace to her and to me!"

"Dad, please…"

"Do not call me that! You are no son of mine!"

And that was it. The last bond he had to this island snapped. Berk could no longer be his home.

He had no home.

Still dodging the weapons thrown their way, Toothless and Hiccup flew far and fast, around the circumference of Berk and back to the cove where Hiccup had left his supplies. He quickly slung the basket over his shoulder, fastened the straps in place, and hopped back onto the back of his best and now only friend. With a whispered, "Go, bud," the two took off into the clear sky.

Toothless flew his friend to a small island, about halfway between the nest and Berk. Once he touched down, the dragon looked over his shoulder at the boy on his back. Warbling his concern, he drew the boy out of his momentary despair long enough to dismount and remove the pack from his shoulders. He opened up the basket and began taking things out, but stopped and just gripped the lip, shoulders shaking.

Toothless walked around beside him and nudged the boy with his nose. Hiccup turned and hugged his best friend around the neck, finally falling to his knees. Toothless extended his neck and bent his head so the entire underside of his jaw was rested on the boy's back. And in this way the dragon comforted him as he released the shock and grief of losing the only home he had ever known.

Once Hiccup had tired himself out until only dry sobs were left, Toothless nudged him to get his attention and nodded towards the edge of their little camping spot. The teen laughed. "Don't worry, bud. I didn't forget." He hopped on and the two spent the next few hours fishing, an activity that served the dual purpose of feeding both of them and distracting Hiccup from his grief. Toothless threw in as many air acrobatics as he dared, loving the sound of his friend whooping in delight.

The fish gave the pair renewed energy, but once they landed and the joys of flight no longer nudged the painful memories out of his mind, Hiccup again began to cry. But it was with less abandon than earlier in the day, when the pain had been fresher. So he wiped his eyes as he started the fire and cooked his share of the fish, occasionally sniffing as he set up the tent.

But Toothless had been apart from his friend all of last night, and didn't plan to do so again tonight. So when Hiccup headed for the tent, he jumped in front of the youth and spread his wings wide, making curling motions. So when the darkness came that night, Toothless wrapped him in the black massive wings that gave both of them freedom and let the boy rest in his warmth.

Hiccup slept soundly, cradled by his best friend. The puffy eyes faded from red back to pale pink during the night and when he woke, the sobs that had wracked his body mere hours ago were shoved aside in favor of his new goal.

He would find other dragons to train.

He would kill the Red Death.

And then, when peace was a true possibility, he would find a way to get through to the Vikings of Berk.

He would find a way to get through to his father.

But that would come later. Dragons first, Vikings second. He packed up the few items he'd removed yesterday in his attempts to be normal, strapped the pack back on, and leapt onto his best friend. They had dragons to find.

Dragons to train.

Twenty-five reviews equals another chapter!

Since everyone loved watching the Vikings' reactions so much, I'm thinking of doing a companion story to these few chapters where it's only new material for the movie. I don't want to include it in this fic, since that would break up the flow of the story, But I mugh tput it somewhere else. What do you guys think?

This story has over 30,000 views! Yes!