Title: Stronger

Requested by: cyberkryo5

Summary: What-if on "No Dragon Left Behind". What if there wasn't enough antidote for both Astrid and Stormfly, and there has to be a choice? Hiccstrid

Genre: Hurt/Comfort, Friendship, Romance

Rating: K+

Time-line: RTTE season 5

"This is bad." Fishlegs whispered, holding the wooden bowl close as he peered in at the meager contents it contained. He glanced up at the twins, lip between his teeth. "Guys, I just-"

"What? What is it, Fishy, SPEAK UP." Ruffnut demanded shrilly, eyes wide and hands rung together. "Astrid is dying, and you can't even talk!"

Tuffnut was sniffling loudly, a few stray tears gathering in his wide eyes. "Fishlegs, if there's a problem, don't tell me! Don't you know Hiccup's gonna kill us if she dies?"

Ruffnut punched her brother hard in the shoulder, sending him splaying to the ground. "YOU IDIOT!" she screamed, pouncing.

Fishlegs squealed and rushed back to Astrid's side, still stirring the concoction worriedly. "Guys, please. There's not enough antidote- I don't know…"

"We need Hiccup." Ruffnut stated firmly, jumping to her feet and rushing to her part of their dragon. "Come on, Tuff, we have a mission."

Tuffnut grumbled as he shuffled to Belch's head and climbed aboard. "Does that mean we can leave Snot?"

Fishlegs didn't hear their answer, thank Thor there was at least one sane twin- or at least, sane when the time called for it. With Ruffnut hollering at her brother to become a bit more sensitive, the two took off into the sky.

Stormfly croaked sadly, curling even more into herself as she snuffled a sigh. Her eyes were trained on her unconscious rider who lay only a few feet away, resting on a stone covered in a blanket.

Astrid whimpered in her sleep, brows scrunching together and head lolling. She pursed her lips as she whined again, the sound putting Fishlegs on edge.

"Thor, oh Thor… I hope those two hurry." He whispered, bending over the girl. He rested a hand on her forehead, sighing heavily at the feeling of her sweltering skin.

"Fever… nngh…" He leaned back against his heals, eyes trained on the sky. "Come on, hurry guys…"

The twins arrived just in time.

With the Slitherwing's coming in at rapid speeds, mouths open and poised to strike, Hiccup was certain he was a dead man. Snotlout was screaming, Toothless shooting a plasma blast a second, things were looking bad…

But for once, the twins proved effective without directions or orders. Why they were there, or where they'd come from Hiccup didn't know, and he didn't care. He was just happy to have survived that one with minimal injuries.

He swung aboard Toothless, as Snotlout did the same to Hookfang. They took off, the twins spinning about to follow.

Hiccup slowed once they exited the cave, grinning back at the twins gratefully. "Thanks guys! We really owe you-"

"No, Hiccup, you have to hurry!" Ruffnut shouted, the two flying up alongside. "Astrid's been poisoned, Fishlegs needs your help-"

First three words, and Hiccup was gone. His heart was pounding fiercely and his head was spinning. He couldn't breathe.

Not Astrid, please Thor, not Astrid…

He hardly knew what he was doing. Toothless was crooning in concern, not understanding what the rush was for. But Hiccup kept whispering over and over again for him to hurry, to go as fast as he can.

"Please, please, please…" He gasped under his breath.

He spotted them in the clearing, Stormfly still lying in the same place and two small figures huddled in one corner, clearly Fishlegs and Astrid. Hiccup twisted Toothless in a dive, both shooting down towards the ground below.

"Hiccup!" Fishlegs called, scrambling to his feet once Toothless bounced into a landing, but already Hiccup was out of the saddle and dashing to Astrid's side, where he instantly dropped to pull her close.

"Fishlegs what happened?" He whispered, cradling her in his arms, hushing soothingly when she let out a pained gasp.

"She went to get the poison for Stormfly… and just ran up to it and punched the thing…" Fishlegs said rapidly, hands waving frantically in the air.

Hiccup jerked his head up, turning to stare almost angrily at him. "You let her-!?"

"We didn't! She's Astrid!" Fishlegs cried, hands pressing to his face. "She just ran off!"

Hiccup turned back to the girl in his arms, lifting a hand to brush the bangs out of her face. He pressed a quick kiss to her forehead, whispering words of comfort.

"Tell everyone to go out and get the antidote." Hiccup's voice rasped. "I'm not just going to sit here and watch her die."

"Hiccup- I have… some." Fishlegs held up the bowl, showing the shocked Hiccup the little bit of liquid inside. "I just- there's not enough for Stormfly and Astrid-"

"You had some this whole time!?" Hiccup shouted, removing his hand from Astrid's to wave it about angrily. "Fishlegs!"

"But-"

"Fishlegs, Astrid. is. dying." Hiccup said lowly, eyebrows dipped and mouth pressed into a thin line.

With a nod, Fishlegs stepped forward and put the bowl to Astrid's lips, pinching her nose and tipping her head back so she was forced to swallow. Astrid choked and gagged, the sounds and sight jerking Hiccup's heart strings. He couldn't stand to see his strong Astrid hurting. Why couldn't it have been him?

"Shhh, Ast, sh, come on-" He whispered repeatedly, running his hands through her loosened braid. "Come on, babe…" This was a low whisper to her ear, and somehow the word just… slipped out without him realizing. If Fishlegs eyebrows raised, Hiccup's face was turned around and he didn't notice. It wouldn't be till hours later that he'd realize what he'd said.

"Okay, I hope that was enough." Fishlegs murmured, pulling away and instead walking to a sleepy looking Stormfly. "Hush, girl, we'll try and get some for you…"

The dragon squawked sadly.

Hiccup moved against Toothjless when the dragon curled up around him, sensing his rider's distraught panic. Once more comfortable he pulled Astrid close to his chest, eyes closing as he listened to her breathing slowly grow steadier.

The others flew in then, and Hiccup blinked his eyes open to direct them. Stormfly still needed the antidote, and he wasn't about to just give up and let the poor dragon go.

"Snotlout, Tuff, Ruff-" He paused, noticing Garff's happy screech at the sight of his dragon friend. Stormfly's head lifted, eyes dilated and her mouth opened to reply in turn.

"Well, she's looking better!" Fishlegs called with a grin. "I'm starting to think-"

Stormfly leaped to her feet, running over to Garff and rubbing her head against his, the two crooning happily.

"Fishlegs..?" Hiccup asked, glancing at him in question.

"I think she just missed her friend." Hiccup nodded and smiled, relief filling him as things began to take a turn for the better. He allowed himself to breathe easily, as though he felt now he deserved that privilege.

Astrid hummed against him, her face now smooth with comfort and her lips slightly parted in relaxation.

He smiled at the sight of her peaceful face, sighing as he let his lips ghost a kiss against her jaw. She hummed again, lips hinting a slight smile as she leaned closer.

"Hey, Ast." Hiccup whispered, giving her a small shake. "Astrid?"

Her eyelids fluttered, then opened as she gazed up at him dazedly. She blinked, then smiled. "Hey."

He shuddered a laugh, hugging her fiercely, relishing in the fact that she hugged him in return. "Milady, don't scare me like that…"

"I'm sorry…" She mumbled. "Stormfly just-" She jerked away, eyes wide and frantic. "Hiccup! Stormfly she-"

"Hush, it's alright…" Hiccup soothed quickly, eyes flicking up at the dragon now running about joyfully with the other dragons, all looking perky and healthy. "She's alright, turned out she wasn't poisoned at all. She just missed Garff."

Astrid fell back against him in relief, laughing as she called for her dragon. Stormfly spun about and rushed towards her, chirping gleefully.

"Hey, girl…" Astrid said, running her hands down the dragon's neck, giving her a quick hug. "I'm so glad you're okay…"

Stormfly squawked again, giving herself a small shake in reassurance.

"Happy ending for all!" Tuffnut cheered, wiping his eyes. "It always makes me tear-" With that word he burst into wails, Ruffnut patting his back in quiet reassurance.

Hiccup kissed Astrid's neck, before getting to his feet, pulling her up with him. "Okay, we're out of here. I'm not having you get hurt again, and I want to get you back to the Edge to make sure you get some rest…"

"I'm fine, Hiccup." Astrid pushed away from him, now standing on her own. She placed her hands on her hips, wavering slightly as she blinked owlishly. "See? No sweat…" With that she began to tip, Hiccup easily catching her in his arms.

"You just punched a Slitherwing." Hiccup scolded, trying to look stern. But with a smiling sigh, he kissed her forehead, "Mm, I love you, but you tend to be crazier then me at times."

"Only when craziness is demanded." She mumbled back in reply, hand reaching out to rub Stormfly's nose. She tried to stand again, but swayed against Hiccup's chest.

"Yep, let's go." He picked her up into his arms, swinging her up onto Stormfly's back. "But I will let you fly on your own, if…" He tugged a rope out of his saddlebags, practically tying her to the saddle. "There!"

She looked unamused, but didn't protest. "Hiccup I-"

"Hush, and let's get you home." He smiled and leaned up, giving a quick kiss to her hand. All he wanted to do was press kisses all over her, to hold her close and never let her go. Never let his lady get hurt again. But he pulled away, turning back to Garff sadly.

"But first… we have a goodbye to make…"