I struggled for a while with how to write mind controlled Toothless, as well as the Alpha. What I finally decided on felt just creepy, against-your-will enough to be believable, and I'm really pleased with how it reads as I look back on it. I hope you all like what I did :)

Enjoy!

Ch 21: Lost

I swoop down toward the very Drago himself, eyes narrowed. He appears to be preparing another order at his dragon, but before he can raise his spear, Hiccup's voice cuts through the air.

"Stop! Stop!" I land us, and my rider quickly switches his foot before jumping off me, throwing his helmet to the side.

Upon seeing him, Drago chuckles, a cold, spine chilling sound. "This is the great Dragon Master?" He says, his voice just as unsettling as his laugh. Hiccup walks forward cautiously, and I follow, teeth bared and wings raised, only for him to hold out a hand to stop me. "The son of Stoick the Vast?" Drago continues. "What shame he must feel." I growl, wanting so badly just to shoot him dead right here. But Hiccup is standing in the way, and he wants to talk. So, I'll let him… for now. If Drago makes one aggressive move… I won't hesitate.

"All this loss…" Hiccup begins. "And for what? To become unstoppable? To rule the world?" Drago nods, looking away. Clearly, he doesn't see my human as a threat. "Dragons, they are kind, amazing creatures that can bring people together!"

Drago growls, stabbing his spear into the ice. "Or tear them apart," he says, reaching for his left arm. With a click, he pulls it off, revealing it's entirely missing from the shoulder. My eyes widen, and Hiccup steps back a little.

Hiccup and I both know what it's like to lose a part of yourself, but our losses have only brought us closer. For Drago, it seems like it's made him… vengeful.

Slowly, the man clips his fake arm back on. "See, I know what it is to live in fear. To see my village burned, my family… taken." He creeps closer to Hiccup, circling him as he talks. "But even as a boy, left with nothing, I vowed to rise above the fear of dragons… And liberate the people of this world."

So that's his motivation. A pang of sympathy hits me, but not for Drago as he is; for the Drago whose family was killed, and who lost his arm. I have no sympathy for Drago as a maniacal power seeker. And based on Hiccup's expression, he feels the same way.

"Then why a dragon army?" Hiccup asks.

"Why, you need dragons to conquer other dragons."

"Or maybe you need dragons to conquer people," Hiccup counters. "To control those who follow you… And to get rid of those who won't."

Drago chuckles again. "Clever boy."

"The world wants peace," Hiccup says, backing up as Drago continues toward him. "And we have the answer, back on Berk."

"Hiccup… come on… It's not safe." I step toward him, unease filling my entire body. I don't know what Drago is planning, but something is wrong. I need to get my human out.

"Just let me show you," Hiccup finishes in vain.

"No! Let me show you." Drago grabs his spear again, swinging it above his head, an animalistic roar leaving his lips. From the other side of the field, I see the Alpha step down from its perch on the mountain, starting toward us.

No, no, no no no. It's under Drago's control. We have to get out of here, now. Hiccup stumbles back, a frightened gasp escaping him as the monstrous dragon approaches.

"No dragon can resist the Alpha's command. So he who controls the Alpha…" Drago points his spear at the Bewilderbeast, then to me. "...controls them all."

I cower down, fearful. What is he doing? What…

"NIGHT FURY…" a voice says, so sharp and loud it's as if it's in my own thoughts.

No… it's- it's trying to take control of me! I rear back, shaking my head and pawing at my ears.

"Stop… please… no!" I cry, my body trembling.

"LISTEN…"

No… no…

"YOU… ARE… MINE."

I… am… yours.

And Night Fury raises his head.

"TURN RIGHT."

Night Fury turns right.

"APPROACH."

Night Fury obeys. There is a shape in front of Night Fury, one he cannot make out. It is making noise, but Night Fury cannot hear what it says. All Night Fury can hear is Voice.

"TARGET."

The Shape is Night Fury's target. He continues to pursue it, getting it to back up against ice. Closer, closer… Night Fury presses forward, hardly even feeling the ice beneath his feet.

"FIRE."

Fire? No… no that can't be right… why… why is Night Fury firing? The Shape feels familiar, somehow… Should Night Fury back down?

"FIRE."

Fire… fire… why does that feel wrong? Night Fury does not understand… But Voice had ordered it. Maybe… maybe Night Fury should fire…

"FIRE."

Night Fury fires. Just as he does, another Shape jumps into Shape's way. Night Fury breathes deeply, the power of his blast draining his body.

"COMPLETE."

Night Fury shakes his head. Wait, "Night Fury"… what- what am I saying? I groan, my head pounding like it's been beaten with Gobber's hammer.

What… what happened?

Several thuds of landing dragons sound beside me, and I turn to see all of the Riders jumping from their saddles. Astrid gasps, rushing by me. I follow her and see… my family?

Something feels off. Stoick is lying on the ground, and Hiccup and Valka are hunched over him. Astrid drops to her knees, throwing an arm around Hiccup, who has his head on his dad's chest. Gobber walks over as well, pulling off his helmet. What are they doing? Did something happen to Stoick?

I walk over, sniffing at Stoick's hand. "Are you okay?" I brush my head against his hand, only to feel two smaller ones push me away.

"No! Get away from him!" Hiccup yells.

"Hiccup?"

"Go on, get out of here!" His voice is furious, but… broken. I cower down, completely clueless as to why he's taking this out on me.

"B-but what did I-"

"Get away!" Hiccup's eyes are cold, in a way I've never seen them before. I sniff one more time, and the scent hits me.

No… it can't be…

The scent on Stoick… It's my fire.

And in that moment, something in me breaks. I turn away, running from the people I love.

No, no, I couldn't have… I couldn't have killed him…

What kind of monster am I?

"DRAGONS."

What was that? I turn, only to see that wretched Alpha again. And before he knows it, Night Fury is attuned.

"FLY."

Night Fury leaps into the air, but falls. What is wrong? Night Fury jumps again, flapping his wings as hard as he can, only to crash once more. Why can Night Fury not fly? Voice will not be pleased…

Pressure strikes Night Fury's neck, and more settles on his back. What is that? No matter; Night Fury has to fly. He takes off again, and this time, stays in the air. There; Voice is appeased. What next?

"SOUTHWEST."

Yes, yes. Night Fury adjusts course. He will listen to Voice.

After all, Voice is all Night Fury knows.

That part when Hiccup pushes Toothless away gets me every time... you can just see the confusion and hurt in both their eyes, and while it's hard to watch, you understand both dragon and rider... So powerful.

Next time: my favorite scene in the movie!