A Failed Test:

Feels great to start the story. Just wanted to say that although I'm going to follow the basic plotline like Raya and the Last Dragon, I would like to alter it slightly with my own additions. I hope you guys like it still. And please send over some ideas as well.

Now…I suppose you're all wondering; how does this story begin. Well… it begins 500 years ago when Vikings lived in perfect harmony with Dragons. But the most powerful of these dragons were night furies. They ruled the land bring peace and justice and honour. But unlike other dragons, they had no riders. As the alpha species, they chose not to be ridden by humans.

Everything changed when dark forces called the Darkgons came into this world. Dragons from deep in the shadows and the dark depths of the world, they spread fear and fire, turning everything, they breathed their dark breath on into stone. When the other dragons failed to stop them, the Night Furies tried. They were turned to stone too. All hope seemed lost…until Toothless, the last night fury conjured his magic into a special jewel called the dragon gem. The Darkgons were blasted from existed. All humans and dragons were restored but the Night Furies never came back.

Rather than celebrate Toothless's selfless sacrifice, people being people fought for the last remnant of the Night Furies magic. Borders were drawn, and the Barbaric Archipelago was divided into five distinctive clans. Everyone became enemies. The gem was hidden…but that's not how the story begins. It begins 500 years later…when a certain boy is about to discover a destiny that links him to the Last Night Fury.

A fifteen-year-old boy dressed himself in brown leather armour and placed on his head a giant helmet with horns. opened a cupboard revealing weapons of all sorts. He took a slim, thin sword and strapped a shield to his back.

Time to pass the test.

Hiccup dashed to the door of his hut and walked out. He had a strong feeling about today. He walked quietly through the village of Berk, watching Vikings riding on dragons of all shapes and sizes. They seemed to be having a lovely time. How he dreamed he could be on a dragon himself.

After a long walk, he found himself at a massive cave carved into one of Berk's great mountains that towered over the village. He noticed five other teens lined up with five dragons behind them. They were a Deadly Nadder, Monstrous Nightmare, Gronkle and a Zippleback. He took a deep soothing breath and walked up.

The moment they noticed him, three of them either scowled or groaned hanging their heads back. The other did nothing, though they held no smiles.

"What are you doing here runt?" Snotlout, the pig-headed Viking with a helmet with buffalo horns questioned mockingly.

"I'm here for the test. I was signed up,"

"But you're the chief's son. So shouldn't that mean you're disqualified," Tuffnut mocked. His twin burst out laughing.

"That's enough you three!" shouted a man marching up to the group.

They turned to see a large Viking with a shaggy beard and a helmet with tall horns. He did not have an amused look on his face for the trio picking on Hiccup.

"You do not pick on the chief's son," he ordered with a fat finger. "You're lucky he's not here right. Or his wife. Do you three want to have another smack on the head by her staff?"

They smiled nervously and shook their heads.

"Now it's time to begin the test," he said. "A test to see if you guys are ready to become guardians of the dragon gem. Follow me. Say goodbye to your dragons,"

The teens stroked their dragons. Hiccup watched them with a pitiful look. He had no dragon to have a close bond with nor one to fly on. He felt so left out and alone. Once they were finished, Snotlout and the twins gave him mocking looks, making fun of him for not having a dragon.

He entered a good distance behind the others, casting a dark glance at Astrid. They had once been friends until she ditched him to hang out with more Viking like teenagers. And then there was Fishlegs. They could be friends since they both loved learning about dragons, but he was a coward. He refused to stick up for him.

They entered a massive chamber. Set out across the chamber were obstacles of all sorts including bars and arrow launchers and nets. Gobber stood at the far end with three other Vikings. They were Spitelout, Snotlout's father and a big fat Viking named Mulch. He stood in front of six podiums with six gems. "The rules are simple. If you can make it past all these obstacles and then get past me to reclaim your gems, it means that you are ready to become guardians of the Dragon Gem, with or without your dragon. You cannot always rely on them to help you. If not, you fail,"

Hiccup gulped.

Loud steps were heard above their heads. They looked up to see a strong Viking with a furry cape, a bushy beard, and a helmet with giant horns above their heads. Beside him was a green and scarlet dragon with a horned head, a Rumblehorn named Skullcrusher.

"Ahh Stoick…. I see you've come to watch them,"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world Gobber," he said.

He shot a strong hopeful glance down on Hiccup. Hiccup looked a little scared when he looked up at hi, his father. He couldn't let him down.

"Well then, let's begin!" Gobber called from across the room. "Line up!"

The teens did behind a line. They crouched down, pressing their hands to the ground, fixing their lines of vision with the target ahead.

"Three!"

Hiccup cast an upward glance up at this father. He saw pride…but expectations too.

"Two!"

He turned his attention back at the target across the chamber.

"One!"

The teens sped off. Snotlout knocked Hiccup aside. Growling Hiccup got back up and charging after the others, but he was still behind. Astrid was the first to reach the obstacles. She flipped, she jumped, she rolled over the obstacles. Hiccup couldn't help but admire those movements. Fishlegs tried to get to through the obstacles, but he was so huge that he got stuck in the ropes, much to the twins' enjoyment.

Snotlout managed to get ahead of the twins. He didn't get through as quickly as Astrid, but he showed exceptional skills. When Tuffnut and Ruffnut tried to get through, they unintentionally got in one another's way, leading to a squabble.

Another failure.

Hiccup was quite slow getting through the obstacles. But he managed. With is lack of brawn, he was thinner and so less held back. He manged to make it through. Taking out his shield, he blocked the arrows that were launched from the side arrow launchers. But he wasn't quick getting across, he was slow. He lacked resilience and bravery.

He noticed Astrid had made it to the other side. She battled Gobber with her battle axe before she finally managed to get through to claim her gem. Snotlout joined her. Mulch went against him and already he was gaining the upper hand thanks to his smaller but strong brawn.

Hiccup had no luck at all. Although excellent with his sword and shield, his Viking opponent was undefeatable. To his chagrin, it was none other than his uncle Spitelout.

Why couldn't he go against his son?

Hiccup tried unsuccessfully to defeat his opponent but after five failed swipes he was knocked down to the floor, away from the podiums. Snotlout had taken down his opponent but when he boasted over his ego, he was knocked down.

"And done! Astrid wins!" Gobber declared. Astrid smiled with pride holding up her jewel. "The rest of you fail!"

"Oh come on! I defeated my opponent!" Snotlout moaned.

"Right before you were defeated because of your ego!" Gobber poked him. "And you three!" he pointed at the three teens still stuck in the obstacles. "You've got a lot of work to do,"

He noticed Hiccup lying defeated on the ground, growling at himself. "You did your best Hiccup," he helped him up. "You came so much closer than you did before," he sighed seeing the hurt look on Hiccup's face. "You'll get there someday," he patted his shoulder before turning around and walking away.

Hiccup didn't move. He looked up and saw Stoick giving a hurtful unimpressed glance. All he did was sigh and turn his back. Hiccup's heart broke. Skullcrusher cast a sorrowful glance down at Hiccup before following the disappointed chief.

Hiccup almost came to tears. When he picked up his shield, Astrid gave him a hard glare, for no reason. Spitelout gave him a disdainful scowl. Walking past, he leaned forward making Hiccup bend backwards a little awkwardly. "You're lucky you're the chief's son, or I'd pummel you like the runt you are,"

His words stung Hiccup. He waddled away, not giving him a second glance.

When Hiccup attempted to pick up his sword, he was suddenly kicked in the back by his cousin. He laughed at him along with the twins who had unravelled themselves from the net traps.

"Ooo better luck next time…runt!" Snotlout mocked.

"More like better next time loser!" Ruffnut joined in with the fun.

Everyone except the champion Astrid and the unmoveable Fishlegs laughed and waddled away kicking dirt in Hiccup's face. Astrid took a slight pitiful but unemotional glance at him before disappearing with her group of friends.

Hiccup sighed and picked himself up. He kicked his shield in anger. He had failed. He felt like a failure. In angry tears, he stalked to the other side of the arena and slumped on his butt, burying his face into his hands. He didn't care whether anyone saw him. All he cared about was that he had failed the test and had become a failure in his father's eyes. And suffered another humiliating defeat at the ends of older Vikings who loved to pummel him for being weak. He remained slumped in that position for hours.

"Looks someone's in the dragon house," a kind voice spoke up.

Hiccup lifted his head. He saw his mother Valka and her dragon, a four-winged stormcutter named Cloudjumper walking towards him. Quickly he wiped away his tears.

"Don't beat yourself up," Valka sat beside him. "I failed the first time myself too,"

"You should have seen the way dad looked at me," Hiccup sobbed. "He frowned, like I was a disappointment,"

"Don't say that" the last thing Valka wanted was more conflict or disheartenment between her husband and their son. This wasn't the first time.

"You should have been here. You should have seen how he just turned away, before all those teens pushed me down and kicked some dirt into my face,"

"You'll prove them wrong next time," she attempted to encourage. "And it's not like you're the only one who didn't succeed. The twins and Fishlegs lost as well but you did much better than them,"

"No I won't!" he snapped. "I'm never goanna be a guardian. I'm never even goanna get my own dragon because none of the dragons on this island. They'd rather stick with muscular Vikings over skinny runts,"

Cloudjumper, with a sorrowful face, stepped over and nuzzled his face.

Hiccup stroked his face. At least he does.

"One day you'll get your dragon Hiccup," Valka said. "And one day, you'll make a great guardian,"

"I can't do anything right mum!" Hiccup cried. "I feel like a failure!"

"Your time will come,"

"But when?!" he moaned.

"Sooner than you realise,"

Her words would not lift Hiccup's spirit. He was still shrouded in a veil of bitter sadness. Valka consoled him with a hug. "Let me take you somewhere,"

Valka took his hand and guided her son to a cave on the far side of the island. Two guards with spears and shields stood guard. The moment they saw Hiccup, they frowned. Valka's frown back put them in their place. The one on the left pulled a lever. The cave door opened. They entered.

Valka led her disheartened son down a long narrow corridor of dripping stone to a magnificent chamber the size of Berk's Hall. It glowed with braziers. It was decorated with dragon statues. But what really sparked Hiccup's attention was the glowing orb of purplish-blue in the far centre.

"The spirit of Toothless," he said with wonder.

"Yes. It has been guarded by Berk for generations,"

"I never thought I'd get to see it,"

"Well you're lucky," she smiled proudly. She led him to the gem's inner circle in a pool of water and they kneeled in front of it.

"Why did you take me here? I'm not even a guardian,"

"Only the royals get access into this chamber other than guardians. Now listen Hiccup,"

Her son gazed at her.

"Being a guardian isn't just about how skilled or strong you are. It's from what kind of person you are. A real guardian of this sacred gem is loyal, devoted to his duty. He or she doesn't do it for the benefit of themselves. They do it for the benefit of others. We protect this gem to retain the balance of this world, to keep every single dragon safe,"

"Why are you telling me this?"

"Because of the kind of person, you are. You may not have brawn but you have brain. You have a capacity to do what's right for others, even if you can't achieve it in a way others expect of you,"

Hiccup gazed at the gem, mesmerized by its glow. "How can I even be a guardian when I can't even pass the tests? I'm useless,"

"You're useless,"

"Yes I am! Everyone hates me! They make fun of me for being a runt! Even dad hates me!"

"He doesn't hate you,"

"His scowls prove otherwise,"

"I know he seems cold and unfriendly sometimes…but deep down…"

Hiccup just frowned and repeated her words. She sighed again.

"He's just worried for you. He and I are not always going to be here to protect you. One day you will be chief. And when that time comes, we won't always be around to guide you. He just wants you to be ready,"

"Well then I don't want to be chief," her son crossed his arms. "If everyone hates me enough, you can guess how much they will when I take up his mantle. I'm just a screw-up in their eyes. Spitelout even said he'd pummel me if I wasn't his son,"

"You just leave Spitelout to me. He's always been so cranky with Stoick ever since I chose him as my husband," Valka cupped his face. "You are not a screw up my son. You are the pride of Berk. And so much more,"

Hiccup twisted his head back to her at her last two words.

"Since I was a little girl, my mother used to tell me stories about Night Furies. She said that there has been no one ever in ancient Viking history who has ever ridden one of them before. As the most powerful dragons, they didn't to be ridden by one out of fear they would use that advantage to oppress their power. But legend says that one day, a Viking born not with brawn but with a heart of devotion would become that rider and together they would bring order and harmony to everything,"

Hiccup shook his head. "No," he repeated that word multiple times. "That can't be true. Why would it be me?"

His mother motioned him to look at the glowing gem. Hiccup took a clearer glance. His ears drums began to ring when he heard the faintest sound of voices. It was like Toothless…was talking to him, speaking to him.

"You hear it don't you?"

"Yeah," he sounded like he was hypnotised.

"That's his voice speaking to you. In over five hundred years, no one has ever been able to hear his voice from within that gem. Until today. That's you,"

Pale shock overcame Hiccup.

"The last night fury's spirit wouldn't be speaking to you if you weren't destined for great things. You may not believe in yourself, but I do. One day you're going to make every one of us proud,"

Hiccup didn't want any of it to be true. He said nothing more. He just wanted to sit back next to his mother and dream in her arms.

Hi everyone! What did you think of this first chapter? If you want me to rewrite it and make some alterations, i'm happy to do so. Please, please send out some reviews and ideas so thatI can make this story amusing for all of you.