Chapter One.

Hiccup traipsed out of his house and headed into the forest toward Raven Point. For how long, he didn't know as he was so consumed in thought and feelings, replaying what had just happened in his head.

It's what's inside that he can't stand.

You are many things, Hiccup, but a dragon killer is not one of them.

His eyes were misty and he couldn't find it in himself to wipe them, instead his eyes were filled with memories and sights he'd wished to forget; replaying his life up until this point as his footsteps crunched and swept through the undergrowth of the quiet forest, as if the entire verdant setting was listening to his thoughts.

The words from his father stung the most. All he'd ever wanted was his pride, his recognition that he wasn't this failure, that he was his son, even. Every messed attempt he made only deepened the sinking feeling in his gut that he had no place here, that nobody would miss him if he left, or if a dragon snapped him up in it's jaws much like his mother.
Sighing, Hiccup continued through the forest, crossing the thin, rickety bridge that connected Berk to Raven Point with a deep sigh, walking across it and half way hoping that he'd slip a footstep and fall through, but it would seem the Gods were never in his favour as he hit solid ground again, moments later.

Hiccup didn't know where he was going. His mood had careened off a ledge since he'd left his house, something pulling him down into the pit he usually was able to climb out of himself, but this time he let himself sit in it, too weak to fight it that day. It wasn't one of his worst, but it was pretty close. Usually his father restrained from berating him in front of the entire village, cementing the fact that nobody disagreed or thought differently and it never didn't hurt him.

He wandered and wandered, mindlessly heading forward. Everything seemed quieter, so he assumed the dragon had, much to his own annoyance, most likely slipped its binds and flown off, but at this point, Hiccup just wanted to walk until he fell asleep. His father would eventually give up and send out a search party and bring him back, it was nothing he couldn't deal with later.

So, Hiccup walked and walked, deeper into that trail of thought, dragging him down and down as he went, listening to the sound of the woods and his feet crushing leaves underneath his fur boots, hands limp at his sides, continuing like this for Odin knows how long until he tripped forward, rolling down, rolling, and he finally collapsed at the bottom of the small hill, twigs and grass in his hair and mud staining his cheek.

He heaved a deep sigh and shook his head as he got up, dizzied from the tumble and he slowly sat up straight, grimacing, and huffing out the breath he'd held.

Looking up, Hiccup froze, holding his gaze, transfixed on the felled dragon before him, caught in his modified bola net. Hel and Thor's offspring laid out before him, still breathing, trapped, and the rise of hope was slowly caught off by him catching the beast's gaze, verdure emerald orbs capturing his own and he slumped, staring into them.

It was like looking into a mirror. He didn't know how long he looked, or what he'd done to earn such a soul-bearing stare from the Night Fury, but he did know that the dragon caught before him was a reflection of himself. Alone, afraid, and trapped.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally glanced away, looking down out of some feeling of shame; like he'd been found watching an intimate moment between two lovers, something not for his eyes.

Hiccup stood slowly, scraping the dirt and tree debris from his body. He couldn't do this, he didn't even need to meet the beast's eyes to know, and he turned around to leave, only making it a few steps before the big onyx creature chuffed out a breath of air and laid his head back down with a thud, and Hiccup realised something, overheard from many of the villagers outside his shop; a dragon downed was doomed. They'd never outright said it, but their tales of killing a downed Gronckle or Zippleback struggling under a net to break free caught on.

He turned, guilt in his chest and he wordlessly withdrew his small knife from its sheath at his side and approached the dragon, crouching down and snipping and sawing at the ropes that bound him down, feeling the beast below his fingers jolt in surprise, but Hiccup couldn't meet those eyes again, for fear he'd change his mind, he thought, but in truth, it would only drive him to break him free faster.
The last rope binding the dragons forelegs and neck together came free with a loud snap and the beast was a blur, snarling on top of him in an instant, and he was forced to look into them; but he did not scream or struggle.

What's wrong with you?! It's going to kill you!

Hiccup didn't fight back. He smiled some, staring at those eyes and wishing to himself, to the Gods, any that would hear him, that he could have another lifetime outside of this one to explore the meanings behind them, to find out more about this noble dragon and it's kind; so similar to he it was.

The dragon reared its head, and bellowed a roar that had Hiccup fearing he'd go unconscious or deaf at the volume of it, making his ears ring. But all he could do was stare and wait; for something that would not come, it seemed, judging how the massive scaled monster flew off from him and screeched to the open air, disappearing as it soared up into the clouds, and Hiccup sighed, feeling so tired, and deciding that a nap was just in order…

Whatever came when he woke up, he knew he did the right thing, and that was all that mattered…