The end of Part 1, folks. After this, we're going into hiatus.

Enjoy!


Total Nightmare:

Shooting through a waterfall, Hiccup and Toothless flew through the forest at top speed. They were coming back to the Eye, the dome as it were, circling towards their target.

"There they are!" Aric said, watching with a spyglass.

"Close the dome!" Fishlegs said.

"And so, the drama begins", Ruffnut said, her and Tuffnut manning the lever to close the dome.

"One woman, one dragon, one leg", Tuffnut said as they pulled the lever down, "Versus one rapidly closing dome."

Hiccup saw the dome begin to close, but her smile didn't waver. "It's gonna be close!" she roared over the wind as their wide turn came to a close. Toothless weaved through the sea stacks in their path, then made a straight line for the cave underneath the dome. Making it inside, Hiccup pulled on the reigns and spread her wings out with Toothless, allowing them to stop faster, lest they crash into the wall ahead of them, then shot up through the crack at the bottom of their arena.

"Nah, no way she's making that", Snotlout called, the dome nearly closed.

The duo stopped their assent, making it inside the dome, and with only seconds to spare, shot out like an arrow.

"Augh, what?!" Snotlout exclaimed, Aric laughing in a cheer.

"Good job, Toothless", Hiccup praised.

"Whoo!" Astrid cheered as they circled back.

They landed at the top of the dome with a flourish, still the reigning champs.

"Oooooh", Fishlegs squealed and clapped.

"Alright, we're up", Snotlout said confidently, Hookfang standing proud behind him as well.

"Come on, Snotlout, nobody's been able to beat the dome except Toothless", Fishlegs said.

"Nobody 'til now."

"Guys, this was supposed to be a drill", Hiccup butt in. "Do you have to turn it into a game?"

"Don't we always?" Astrid pointed out.

"Fair point", Hiccup admitted.

"T'was once a drill", Tuffnut began extravagantly. The twins had recently gotten into theatre a few days ago. "Then, it became a game", he continued. "Now, it is theatre!" Hiccup was steadily wishing they hadn't.

"Let the drama unfold", Ruffnut followed.

They'd been injecting the genre into everything.

"Whatever it is, it's my turn", Snotlout said, and he and Hookfang set off to the start.

"I wager he loses an eye", Tuffnut continued on.

"Haha! On the contrary", Ruffnut countered, "I predict that act one scene one will conclude with the loss of a gallbladder."

"Or perhaps a leg? What say you, fair Hiccup?"

"Oh, gods", Hiccup's eyes rolled.

000

Emerging from the waterfall, it was showtime. Snotlout knew as long as he and Hookfang stayed focused, they'd beat the dome in record time, even better than Hiccup and Toothless.

They were on the road to victory, when some kind of screech or roar suddenly sounded and Hookfang started acting weird. Snotlout was tipped upside down in the saddle when Hookfang turned to the noise, the tops of trees hitting Snotlout in the face.

"Stay focused, Hookfang!" Snotlout shouted, before flipping himself back upright and taking back control.

000

Some sort of screech or roar echoed passed the mountains, and Aric turned to the noise.

"What was that?"

"What was what?" Hiccup's hands were pressed to her ears. "I've still got Nut 1 and Nut 2 in both my ears."

"Ooh, I know, it will be an arm. No! Both arms!" Tuffnut exclaimed.

"Agh", Hiccup groaned in despair.

000

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, WHOA―" Snotlout's scream was cut when slammed head first into a tree branch. "Keep your head in the game!" he yelled at Hookfang, the dragon so oddly distracted. Either that, or he was purposefully messing up just because he found it more amusing to annoy him than beat Hiccup and Toothless. Either way, Hookfang needed to get his act together fast. They were leaving the forest, coming to the point where the dome would be ticking.

000

"He has emerged from the forest!" Ruffnut exclaimed, charged with looking for them through the spyglass, if only to leave Hiccup alone.

"And what of his gallbladder?" Tuffnut asked as theatrically as he and his sister had been all day, balancing on the lever to the dome.

"Impossible to say", Ruffnut replied in kind.

Tuffnut pushed the lever. "The tension continues to build. Wah!" he tumbled.

Meanwhile, Snotlout and Hookfang were weaving through the sea stacks, heading for the cave as time ticked down.

"And time runs out for our plucky little anti-hero", Tuffnut began again.

"I love a ticking sundial, don't you?" Ruffnut said.

"Indeed!"

"Guys, please", Hiccup butt in.

000

Nearly slamming into the back wall of the cave, Hookfang thankfully pulled to a stop, taking a few seconds too long to shoot up into the dome above. There was still time, though. Hookfang hovered above the crack, the dome not yet fully closed.

"Hookfang, beat the dome! Hurry up!" Snotlout yelled, Hookfang snapping out of it, back in the game, until the dome closed, and they slammed into the canvas.

000

" "Ooh" " the riders chorused, hearing the two slam into the dome's wall just as it shut. Tuffnut pulled the lever back up, reopening the dome, and there laid Snotlout, alone and on his back.

"Snotlout, are you okay?" Hiccup asked.

Snotlout groaned as he sat himself up, holding his head. "Define okay."

"Where's Hookfang?"

"That's what I'd like to know", Snotlout stood. "I've got some words for that dragon", he said upset, until a screech roared, Hookfang's screech.

000

When Snotlout found Hookfang, he was in front of a cliff-face, just standing there ahead of the forest treeline, but seemed fine. Well, so he thought. Truth be told, Hookfang was acting strange, and it only got stranger when they got back to the stables for dinner.

As usual, they dropped a load of fish into a big pile, and the dragons dug in, each favoring their favorites, all except Hookfang. He stood by himself near the doors, just staring up at the ceiling. He was probably just disappointed about their loss today, and didn't feel like eating with the others.

Taking a small bucket of mackerel, Snotlout decided to try feeding him himself. That would make him feel better, right? After all, Snotlout wasn't really that mad at him; they'd have other chances.

"Here, Hookfang", Snotlout offered the fish, but Hookfang didn't even glance down. He tried throwing it, the fish landing on Hookfang's snout, but Hookfang only rolled his eyes and threw the fish back in Snotlout's face, literally.

"Ow!" Snotlout yelped, before peeling the fish from his face and holding it in his hand once more. "But you love mackerel", he said incredulously.

000

"I'm not hungry", Hiccup was overhearing, Hookfang grunting back at Snotlout. He then screeched, irritation and annoyance coating the sound, and it caused her and the other riders to turn at the commotion. Snotlout was thrown from Hookfang's maw at their feet, landing on his back.

"Hookfang", Snotlout muttered irritably, as was normal when Hookfang acted up. The fish thrown at his face was fairly normal too. Snotlout didn't see it that way, though.

"Everybody saw that, right?" he started.

"Yes, we did, my friend, and it was delightful", Tuffnut said theatrically.

"Good sir, can you re-enact it for us?" Ruffnut followed. Hiccup shook her head at it, wondering just how long this act of theirs was going to last.

"No, I'm talking about Hookfang", Snotlout merely went on. "He's acting weird."

"How's that?" Fishlegs asked.

"Well, he didn't listen to me during the race, he ran away, he just spit fish in my face", Snotlout listed.

"And this is weird how?" Aric asked.

"You have to admit, Snotlout, that does kind of sum up your relationship with Hookfang", Hiccup had to agree.

As if to prove his point, though, Snotlout threw the fish back at Hookfang. The fish landed at his tail, and Hookfang's head swung back to look at the fish with an irritated growl, before smacking the fish back with his tail and flying up to the beams at the ceiling, hitting his head against them over and over.

"Okay…that is weird", Astrid admitted.

"He's just acting up", Aric dismissed.

Meanwhile, Snotlout stood under Hookfang, looking up at his dragon as dust and debris from Hookfang's tantrum rained down. Hiccup walked up to him, not missing the look of worry on his face.

"If you're coming over here to tell me I'm crazy, save it", he said as soon as he noticed her.

"You know what, Snotlout", Hiccup looked up to Hookfang, "You're right."

Snotlout turned so fast she wondered if he got whiplash. "I am?" he asked, shocked.

"No one knows your dragon like you do. If you really think something's wrong with him, then let's lock him in a pen for the night just so he doesn't hurt himself, then we can see how he's doing in the morning. If he still doesn't seem right, we'll figure out what to do from there, okay?"

"Yeah. Yeah, okay, maybe I'll do that."

The next morning, Hookfang was gone, a hole smashed through the back of the pen.

000

The riders, spare Snotlout, were gathered outside the dome with their dragons. Snotlout had went to go check on Hookfang; hopefully he was feeling better, and Hiccup had a feeling he might. Some dragons just had off days sometimes.

"Hookfang's gone!" Snotlout's voice then carried―spoke too soon―and he sounded frantic. "He broke out of his pen last night", he stopped before her.

"Then this might be more serious then we thought", Hiccup tried to keep a level head, though she understood Snotlout's worry.

"Great! I accept your offer to help in the search", Snotlout automatically said, then went and climbed onto Toothless. "Come on, Toothless. Up, bud. Fly, bud. Do something, bud!"

"Ah-ah-ah, okay, calm down, Snotlout", Hiccup stopped him before Toothless decided to just buck him off his back. "We'll help you look for Hookfang."

"Oh yeah, you will. It was your idea to leave him alone in his pen in the first place!"

"He has a point", Toothless rumbled.

Hiccup gave him the 'not helping' look.

In any case, Hiccup climbed on in front of Snotlout, and with Aric and Shadowstar, took off. They checked the forests first; he wouldn't have left the island, right?

"Hookfang! Hookfang!" Snotlout called before nearly losing balance with the way he was precariously leaning and pushing her flush against Toothless to regain it.

"Hey", Toothless complained after the solid hit he probably just felt, with her face suddenly pushed against the back of his head.

"I know, bud. The sooner we find Hookfang, the sooner we'll get Snotlout off your back. And mine", she finished with a grumble. At last, Snotlout lifted his hands, and Hiccup could sit back up. That's when Snotlout slapped the side of her shoulder.

"Give me your eye-thingy", he said.

"You mean my spyglass?" Hiccup brought out and handed him, her eyes rolling up when she turned back forward.

A roar sounded then, nothing too out of the ordinary about it, but Snotlout suddenly stilled.

"That sound", he said. "We heard that before Hookfang weirded out. Go that way!" he pointed and shoved her in the process.

"Agh, would you ju― Okay. Okay, let me fly the dragon?"

Another roar sounded, this one deeper.

"That sounded like a Monstrous Nightmare", Aric said, and they headed for the sounded as Snotlout had said, leading them to a dirt field before a mountain. Hookfang stood there, and he looked defensive.

"This place again?" Snotlout wondered. "This is where I found him last time." Snotlout slid off and started marching up to Hookfang, when something pink came out from the cave behind him.

"Look, there's another Monstrous Nightmare", Aric pointed out.

"That's not just another Monstrous Nightmare; that's a female Monstrous Nightmare", Hiccup emphasized, before the two started doing some kind of dance. A mating dance?

"A female Monstrous Nightmare? Now it all makes sense", Snotlout declared as Hiccup and Aric dismounted. "My dragon's got a way with the ladies. Must have picked up a few pointers from his master", he boasted.

"I doubt it. She's not dry heaving", Aric mocked.

"And don't call him that. He's not your pet", Hiccup admonished.

"Okay, shush", Snotlout raised his hand. "Hookfang, time's up! Let's go."

"Snotlout", Hiccup said warily as her cousin started making his way towards the two dragons, "You might want to tread lightly. He's, uh, he's looking a wee bit territorial."

"T-territorial, thanks for the advice, Hiccup", Snotlout mocked with a baby voice. "But, like you said. Nobody knows my dragon like I do. So, when it comes to Hookfang, I handle my own business. Hookfang, girl Hookfang", he continued.

Toothless stepped forward and sat up next to Hiccup. "Your funeral", he screeched lightly, not that Snotlout could understand it.

Snotlout didn't make it three more steps without getting roasted alive. He came back covered in soot. "Yeah, he's a bit busy right now", he coughed, before flopping onto the ground.

Aric looked to her.

Hiccup sighed. "Alright. Guess that's me. Not that it ever helps", she grumbled to herself as she stepped up, a little more cautiously than Snotlout. "Hi", she crooned first.

Hookfang and his female friend both turned their heads at her, still looking rather defensive.

"Uh, nice to meet you, miss. We're, uh, just here to see Hookfang."

Hookfang growled.

"Hookfang, could we have a word?" Hiccup turned serious, a growl edging her tone. After a moment, Hookfang turned to the other Monstrous Nightmare.

"Go inside", he told her, and with an affirming gesture, she did. Once back inside the cave, Hookfang turned back to Hiccup. "Go."

"What?" Hiccup said surprised.

"Leave", he reiterated, serious. "You can't be here."

"Could you at least tell us what's going on?" Hiccup implored. "For Snotlout's sake?"

That made Hookfang look over her towards Snotlout, the man now sitting up, though still charred.

000

Snotlout didn't know what they were talking about, but it seemed Hiccup was doing most of it as he watched and waited. Finally, after what seemed like forever, Hiccup came back.

"Well? What did he say?" Snotlout stood expectantly.

She looked to him, Snotlout not liking the frown she had on. Hiccup sighed. "He's not coming."

"What? What do you mean 'not coming'? He can't just…" Snotlout trailed; he didn't have the words. What was Hookfang doing?

"From what I could gather, he's helping the other Monstrous Nightmare protect her eggs from predators. Apparently, that sound you heard was a distress call. He was trying to answer it."

"Oh. Is that it?" Snotlout said, suddenly relieved. From the look on Hiccup's face, he thought it was going to be something way worse. "Well that's not―" he started walking back to his dragon, intent on helping him with his little side mission, but Hiccup picked that up and stopped him in his tracks with her hand to his shoulder.

"There's one more thing, Snotlout", she said, and he turned back towards her, not really liking her tone. "He said to make sure we―well, you― didn't get involved. He…can't have any distractions."

Those last words felt like Hookfang blasting him all over again. The way Hiccup said it, barely able to form the words, it must have been what Hookfang really said. It wasn't just some joke, or smart remark, it was actually Hookfang's words. Was that really what Hookfang thought of him? A distraction?

Snotlout was suddenly feeling this weight in his chest. It felt like the same weight he'd felt when Hookfang had gotten sick, yet different at the same time. He was pretty sure Hiccup noticed.

When they got back, they stood outside the clubhouse with everyone else, Hiccup relaying what happened with the others. They all looked to Snotlout with what looked like pity. It made him feel worse.

"Snotlout", Aric then addressed, the others not used to him...being like this―was it sulky? "It-it's not that bad", he tried making him feel better. "It could have been a lot worse."

"I fear not, good sir ", Tuffnut said. "Hookfang clearly made a decisive choice, in that moment, and thus, acted upon it."

"Mm. Showing, not telling, the number one rule in theater", Ruffnut nodded. "And what better way to achieve that than by setting one aflame?!"

"Kid all you want", Snotlout suddenly felt angry. "I know that dragon. I know what's in his heart, and I know what's in his head. Hookfang will come back to me; he always does. This is just some…solo mission. That's all. As soon as those eggs hatch, everything will go back to normal."

"Eh", Fishlegs squirmed.

"Ah, what?! What, you're gonna tell me he's never coming back?!"

"Eh…"

"Fishlegs?" Hiccup asked.

"Well, if what Hiccup said is true and Hookfang is helping protect a clutch of eggs, that means he's taken the role of a guardian dragon."

"Oh no!" Tuffnut shouted. "Not a guardian dragon! Wait. What's a guardian dragon?"

"It's when a dragon, particularly Monstrous Nightmares, swear to help protect another's hatchlings until they are old enough to protect themselves."

"So?" Snotlout asked, not willing to accept what he was being told.

"So, it means Hookfang left the pack. For good."

Everyone turned to Snotlout, an array of expressions that mostly stemmed from shock in each and every one of them. It only made him angrier.

"Oh, shut up, Fishface! What do you know?!" Snotlout shouted in dismissal. "Hookfang needs me; he'd never just…leave. Just watch. I'm gonna march back down there, tell girl Hookfang to get another guardian-whatever, and that'll be the end of it. Then Hookfang will be back here, with me, just like it's supposed to be."

With that, Snotlout turned, storming off, and Fishlegs yelled after him. "That's not how it works, Snotlout!" he warned.

"It's how we work", Snotlout bit back.

000

Hiccup watched Snotlout walk off, worry in the pit of her stomach. When a dragon had their mind made up about something, especially concerning the order of things in the dragon world, they were hard pressed to change their minds. What made it even more difficult was Hookfang was probably one of the most stubborn dragons of the entire group, a dragon who liked doing things his own way, yet respected the dragon code, so to speak, the perfect partner to push her cousin in ways no other could. As Snotlout's form disappeared from sight, off to his stubborn dragon, Hiccup sighed. She doubted this could end well.

"Bravo! Bravissimo! Encore!" Tuffnut then suddenly exclaimed in applause. "Ah, what theater."

"Yes! And what a cliffhanger!" Ruffnut continued.

Fishlegs, Hiccup, Astrid, and Aric just headed for the stables. It was time to give their dragons a little cleaning. As they washed and scrubbed their dragons' scales though, Hiccup reminding Aric of the spot behind Shadowstar's ears, it was solemnly quiet.

"It's scary, right, to think that one of our dragons might one day go back to the wild?" Hiccup broke the silence, addressing the Rumblehorn in the room. "You'd never do that to me, would you, bud?"

"Never", Toothless crooned, nuzzling into her chest.

"Hehe, I didn't think so."

"Come on. If it was going to happen to anyone, it was gonna be Snotlout", Astrid said. "I mean, none of us have to worry, right?" she looked to Stormfly.

"Define 'none' ", Stormfly trilled, Hiccup's nose suddenly picking up a strange scent.

"Fishlegs did say this guardian dragon stuff was mostly a Monstrous Nightmare thing", Aric said as she began sniffing.

"I mean, anything could happen, right?"

Astrid and Aric started to notice Hiccup's curious sniffing, beginning to notice the smell too. It smelled sweet.

"What's that smell?" Aric voiced.

Following the scent, they found Fishlegs and Meatlug, Meatlug on her side in bliss as Fishlegs rubbed her scales and underbelly. The three looked at him with a mix of emotions.

"...You giving Meatlug a rubdown?" Hiccup eventually flat-out asked.

"Yeah", Fishlegs said as if it wasn't one of the strangest things they'd ever seen someone do with a dragon. Then again, this was Fishlegs. "With her favorite lingonberry oil", he then said, showing them the bottle as if he'd done this before. "Just letting her know she's appreciated."

Hiccup, Astrid, and Aric still looked to each other perturbed, Meatlug grumbling in seeming bliss. At least she was happy.

000

Snotlout watched from the bushes as Hookfang came back to girl-Hookfang with a fish, the female dragon looking oh so grateful for his dragon's hard work. Snotlout scoffed.

"Guardian dragon. Guardian dragon my butt. I'm getting my dragon back whether that she-beast likes it or not."

Hookfang flew off again, and taking the opportunity, Snotlout took the basket he'd prepared, and stepped out.

"Hey, girl-Hookfang", he announced himself. The dragon quickly turned at him with a sharp growl. "I see you already got my boy bringing dinner for you. Big step."

The Nightmare growled and spread her wings out.

"Alright, relax, I just wanted to come over and say hello. Maybe bring a little dessert for you? I've got something very special", he said, then threw the basket at her, the top opening up to reveal an electric eel inside, the slimy thing tumbling out.

The Nightmare reared back with a screech.

"What? You don't like eel? Oops. If I were you, I'd fly away and never look back."

000

Hookfang was just returning from his hunt for more fish, when he spot Snotlout and his charges' mother in peril from an eel. He instantly dropped down, roared at the disgusting pest, and slapped the eel with his tail right at Snotlout. Judging from the basket on the ground, it was deserved, the shocks his rider got included.

He just watched a moment as Snotlout writhed on the ground from the eel, before it leaped off. Snotlout got up enraged.

"Err, I have had enough of you, Hookfang! It's time to choose! Her, or me!" he yelled at him, but there was no choice.

Hookfang looked back to his charges' mother, then back to Snotlout, conveying the sadness he felt to him with a whine, hoping he could see it in his eyes, but his choice was already made. Snotlout couldn't help him in this, and he couldn't abandon the eggs and their mother, especially not now. Stepping back towards the mother, Snotlout got the message, a feeling settling in Hookfang like he'd never felt before as he saw his former rider's face fall.

Snotlout just stood there, silent and still.

000

When Snotlout returned to the Edge, everyone gathered within the stables, he looked completely shattered. He walked in, seeming to have a giant weight weighing his every step. He stopped at Hookfang's pen, the back wall fixed.

Tentatively, Hiccup stepped close.

"Any luck?" she asked. She could already guess what happened, but Snotlout looked like he needed to talk, or…something.

"You give a dragon the best years of your life, and then―pfft―it's over", Snotlout said, his voice clogged up like he was going to cry.

Looking back to the others, Astrid started petting Stormfly more, and Fishlegs almost looked to be panicking, asking Meatlug if she wanted more rocks, which she wholeheartedly agreed to. The paranoia wasn't helpful.

Neither was Tuffnut and Ruffnut's drama. "Classic romantic comedy paradigm", Tuffnut said. "Boy gets dragon, boy loses dragon. Dragon falls asleep, boy eats. Boy falls asleep, dragon eats."

"Oh, gets me every time", Ruffnut wiped a tear from her eye, dramatically sobbing.

"I give up", Snotlout continued. "If being a guardian dragon makes Hookfang happy, I guess I should be happy for him too", he groaned, form deflated as Snotlout's upper body just hung towards the floor in defeat. "Now if you excuse me, I think I'm gonna go lay down for a few…weeks."

"Wow. It's really not like Snotlout to give up this easily", Hiccup worried as Snotlout stumbled out, probably to his hut.

"What can he do?" Tuffnut said. "Hookfang hath forsaken him. I, too, would be depress-ed if Barf and Belch forsook-ed me."

"And if I forsak-ed thee?" Ruffnut asked.

"Eh… Nope, wouldn't bother me."

"We've gotta get him back in the saddle right away", Hiccup ignored them. "That means we've got some work to do."

It wouldn't fix everything―Hiccup couldn't imagine a life without Toothless―but maybe getting Snotlout a new partner would help him to move on. Hookfang and Snotlout were no more, a gaping hole left in their pack and her cousin's heart. It wouldn't be perfect, but maybe a new dragon could fill it, at least enough to get him back in the air.

The following morning, they had three Monstrous Nightmares of different colors and personalities, hoping Snotlout would like at least one of them. Hiccup practically dragged Snotlout to the field.

"What's this?" he asked.

"We stayed up all night wrangling some new dragons", Hiccup answered. "We figured with Hookfang going through, ah… well, you know, this might help."

"Guys, I don't know what to say", Snotlout said, sounding lighthearted, their plan actually working. "Except that you've wasted your time", his arms crossed, that thought shattered.

"Oh, come on, Snotlout, at least give them a chance", Hiccup insisted.

"As awesome as Hookfire, Fangmaster, and Hook Blazefang are, and yes I already named them, I can't look at them without thinking of Hookfang."

"Another cruel twist", Tuffnut interjected. "Snotlout rejects the new suitors. Begone, pretenders, and never return", he let the ropes go, and shooed the Nightmares away. "I hast forsookenst thou!"

"Snotlout, I know you're hurting", Hiccup sympathized, "But we need you up there with us."

"Dagur's out there looking for us", Aric added. "We can't be down a rider."

"What if you tried a different kind of dragon?" Fishlegs offered.

"I don't know", Snotlout muttered. "Maybe?"

"Yeah, there you go", Hiccup encouraged. "H-how 'bout…a Nadder. Astrid?"

Astrid's eyes popped open, suddenly called out. "Oh, uh, he doesn't want to ride Stormfly. I mean―"

"Too small", Snotlout started down the line with Stormfly.

"What?" she squawked.

"Too slow", he jabbed his finger at Meatlug next.

"Hey", she grumbled.

"Two heads", he pointed to Barf and Belch last.

"Too heads?" Barf asked.

"What's that mean?" Belch wondered too.

"Okay, you don't like any of these dragons", Hiccup said. "So, maybe we try some new ones. A Thunderdrum, or a Timberjack? Oh, or how about a―"

"Listen guys", Snotlout interrupted, "I don't want to come off as thankful, or anything, but you've taught me a valuable lesson today by offering me your inferior dragons."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying, that if I can't fly Hookfang, I don't want to fly any dragon."

"How can you be a dragon rider and not ride a dragon?" Astrid questioned.

"You were always the smart one, Astrid", Snotlout said, melancholic.

"W-wait a minute, you're―"

"Quitting", Snotlout cut Hiccup off again. "That's right. I shall be a dragon rider no more."

"What?" Aric slipped out in shock.

"Time to call in the understudy", Tuffnut muttered.

"Hey, Fishlegs, how's your Snotlout?" Ruffnut asked.

Hiccup stepped up, not really sure what to do, but knowing she had to do something. He couldn't just quit. "C-come on, Snotlout, you're just…hurting now, that's all. Give it some time."

"No, Hiccup. My mind is made up. I'm gonna say goodbye to Hookfang, and then sail back to Berk. For good. It's over."

Snotlout turned away, and Hiccup's hand reached out to stop him, but stalled. What was there left to say?

By losing Hookfang, had they lost Snotlout?

000

"Hello, Hookfang? Girl-Hookfang?" Snotlout pushed through the bushes to the place where everything turned wrong. "I've come to say goodbye", he said.

When Snotlout looked up, though, expecting to find one of the two Monstrous Nightmares, he found Hookfang laying on the ground, hurt.

"Hookfang?!" Snotlout exclaimed, and rushed to his dragon. The female Monstrous Nightmare came out from the cave then, approaching his hurt dragon, and Snotlout's anger spilled over. "What did you do to him?! I knew you were bad news!" he yelled, unsheathing and pointing a sword at her.

The Monstrous Nightmare roared, her wings spread out as she stood in front of Hookfang.

"Make your move, she-devil", Snotlout readied himself.

She charged first, and Snotlout rushed to meet her, a blazing battle cry in his wake, until Hookfang roared, and everything stopped. Snotlout slowed, sword brought to his side, then girl-Hookfang scurried off. Throwing the sword away, Snotlout rushed to Hookfang.

"Hookfang, what's wrong? Who did this?" he asked, almost frantic. Hookfang raised his head, gesturing to the eggs inside the cave, the things Hookfang was protecting. Snotlout didn't understand, though. What was he trying to say? Had someone come for the eggs?

Snotlout got his answer when a thundering roar boomed, the silhouette of a humungous dragon in the sun. Despite his obvious injuries and exhaustion, Hookfang still rose, prepared to defend the eggs like a true warrior. The form landed, colored red and black, and so much bigger than any Nightmare Snotlout had ever seen before.

"A Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare?" he exclaimed in disbelief. "Come on! Could this get any worse?!"

The Titan Wing roared again, so loud it could shake mountains.

"Whoa, I would stay away from that guy!" Snotlout reared back, but it was then that Hookfang charged. "Hookfang, what are you doing?!"

Hookfang slammed into the Titian Wing Monstrous Nightmare head first, the Titan meeting the attack with his own as defense, pushing back against Hookfang, before lifting and throwing him over his head and to the the ground behind him. Leaving Hookfang there, the Titan turned his sights back on the female Monstrous Nightmare and her eggs and charged.

"I don't know why I'm doing this, but here goes nothing." Picking his sword back up, Snotlout pointed it towards the Titan charging at them. "You want these eggs, you got to go through―"

A plasma blast cut him off, intercepting the Titan Wing dragon, before Barf and Belch coated him in Barf's gas and lit it aflame. With a roar and wings spread high, the Titan Wing shot into the sky, retreating.

All the riders landed then. Had they followed him?

"What are you guys doing here?" he asked. "Not that I'm complaining."

000

"We came to convince you not to quit", Hiccup said as she stepped out from Toothless' saddle.

"You want to tell us what's going on here?" Aric asked.

"Oh, you know, just helping Hookfang and his lady friend protect her eggs from giant jerk dragon over there", Snotlout answered casually, shouldering his sword.

"Hookfang, you okay?" Hiccup asked as Hookfang got back up and made his way back to the group.

"I'll be fine", Hookfang said.

"How about telling us what's really going on", Hiccup implored.

Hookfang's gaze scanned everyone around him, knowing only she and Fishlegs would understand his words and then be tasked with relaying it to the others, until his eyes rested on Snotlout, then moved back to her.

"I took the role as the eggs' guardian dragon to help their mother defend against the Titan Wing. He's a rival of their sire, and won't rest until they're destroyed."

000

Hiccup relayed everything Hookfang said back to them, Snotlout taken back by everything she was saying. Hookfang never took the role as a guardian to abandon him. He only did it, and pushed Snotlout away because of it, to keep him away from the reason he had taken it. Unfortunately, it'd only caused the opposite, and nearly Hookfang's life.

"He also says he's sorry", Hiccup continued, looking to him. "But, he needed to handle the Titan Wing on his own in order to establish dominance, so he'd leave the eggs alone."

"Pfft. Whatever", Snotlout brushed off. "You're a warrior, like me, Hookfang", he pet under Hookfang's chin. "It's what we do."

"A true underdog story", Tuffnut started up again.

"Yes! The apex of dramatugy!" Ruffnut followed.

"Oh, brother", Aric groaned.

"Uh…Hiccup?" Fishlegs then breathed.

"Yeah?" Hiccup drawled.

"Remember what you said about the Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare not resting?"

"Yeah", Hiccup drawled again.

"Eh…" Fishlegs squealed in terror, pointing up.

Circling over their heads in the clouds was the Titan Wing, and he looked more than ready for a fight.

"Hookfang, you can't take on that thing alone", Hiccup said decisively, and Snotlout agreed.

"He won't be alone", he said, hopping on Hookfang's back, thankful Hookfang let him. He wasn't a guardian whatever dragon, but he was Hookfang's partner, and if Hookfang was going to be going toe to toe with a big nasty dragon, then Snotlout was going to be right there with him.

"Neither will you", Aric then decided, and Snotlout looked at him with narrowed eyes.

"We gotta do this ourselves", he argued.

"No way! That thing will tear you apart. Saddle up, everybody!"

"You heard Hiccup. That Titan Wing will only stop if it's dominated by Hookfang."

"He's right", Fishlegs affirmed.

"But, look at that thing", Aric still argued. "Hiccup, anytime you'd like to jump in?"

"I know, Aric. It's gigantic, scary, angry―" Hiccup started.

"Blood thirsty", Tuffnut butt in.

"Thanks, Tuff."

"Sorry, writer's embellishment."

"But they're right. All I said was what Hookfang said, and that thing will only stop once Hookfang establishes dominance." Hiccup looked back at Snotlout and Hookfang. "Go get him, you guys. You can do this", she encouraged, and that was the end of it.

"Hey, be careful", Astrid then cautioned. "He's pretty nasty."

"Whatever happens, promise me you'll protect those eggs", Snotlout told them.

"We will", Hiccup said, and it was more than enough. Snotlout and Hookfang took off, headed straight for the Titan Wing.

000

"He's crazy", Aric muttered as they watched Snotlout and Hookfang fly up to the Titan Wing.

"He's Snotlout", Hiccup responded.

"True."

Everyone stood with rapped attention as the two neared ever closer to the dragon, when Hookfang suddenly pulled to a stop and the Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare fired. Snotlout and Hookfang maneuvered out of the way, then shot at the Titan's underbelly. It was a direct hit, and cheers erupted.

"Yeah!"

"Nice move!"

As the Titan Wing went for another fire attack, Hookfang was able to dodge it again, fly up and around to the other side of the dragon before firing himself, the attack landing once more.

"Hookfang is smaller, but he's more maneuverable", Fishlegs exclaimed.

"The climax approaches", Tuffnut said dramatically.

Similar to when Hiccup and Toothless fought the Red Death, Snotlout and Hookfang lapped circles around the Titan Wing, keeping themselves attacking and moving like a fire spitting wasp, when the Titan Monstrous Nightmare maneuvered his tail to suddenly intercept Hookfang's path and the two were caught in a downward spiral.

Steadying themselves, the Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare suddenly dove straight for them, the fight far from over, and Snotlout and Hookfang on the losing end.

A blast intercepted, then, but it wasn't from Hookfang. No, instead it was the female Monstrous Nightmare coming to their aid. She began firing with them, maneuvering around the Titan Wing.

"Okay, Hookfang", Snotlout then shouted. "Time to play Beat the Dome!"

"Beat the Dome?" Hiccup's ears shot up.

"Beat the Dome", Aric repeated disbelievingly. "That's his great idea?"

"Whoawhoawhoawhoa, Snotlout's never beaten the dome!" Fishlegs exclaimed.

Hiccup looked back up to her cousin's retreating form, the female Nightmare landing back with her eggs. "You're right; he hasn't. Alright", she turned back to the others, "Astrid, Ruff and Tuff, you're with me. Aric, you and Fishlegs stay here and defend the eggs in case he double backs."

The two gave an affirming nod, and Hiccup, Astrid, and the twins raced to mount their dragons and get up in the air.

000

"AH!" Snotlout screamed as the Titan Monstrous Nightmare fired a stream of fire as he chased them, he and Hookfang only escaping through the waterfall. Truth be told, Snotlout wasn't totally sure about his plan―there was a chance it could all go wrong―but that was the risk with almost every battle plan. They just needed to get to the dome.

The Titan Wing followed them, then came a sharp turn around the mountainside. Hookfang made it flawlessly. The Titan Wing ended up having to stop, and then turn, nearly missing it.

"Aw, you couldn't make that turn? Haha! Man, then you're gonna hate this", Snotlout taunted, before Hookfang dove into the forest and weaved passed the trees, the Titan Wing struggling with his large size.

000

Making it back to the dome, Hiccup watched for the two. If they were playing Beat the Dome, they had to start it at just the right time. Snotlout and Hookfang emerged passed the mountain from the forest, and Hiccup turned.

"Start the dome!" she directed, and the twins pushed down the lever. Now it was up to Snotlout. 'Come on, Snotlout. It's now or never', she thought.

000

Seeing the dome starting to close, Snotlout cheered. "Yes, they got it", he said to himself, the first hurdle of his plan going wrong averted. Now it was up to him and Hookfang. They dove for the cave entrance, the Titan Wing following at full speed. Without crashing into the back wall, they made it underneath the crack, and shot up into the dome, hearing the Titan Wing violently crash into the back wall behind them, unable to slow his momentum. Hookfang held at the exit, then watched as the Titan Wing shot up into the dome as well.

000

The dome closed, Astrid's hand on it when it did.

"They didn't make it", she said, fear and confusion in her voice. They could have all sworn they saw Snotlout and Hookfang enter the dome with seconds to spare to get out. Why hadn't they?

It was then they heard a ferocious roar for dominance, and small streams of fire escaped through the cracks of the dome. Then they heard Snotlout's laugh, the man taunting the dragon. That's when it hit.

"Hookfang's using the Titan Wing's size against him", Hiccup exclaimed.

"He's trying to wear him down!" Astrid followed.

Seconds more passed of fire, roars, and noise, until suddenly it all stopped. Silence followed.

"Quick, open the dome!" Hiccup instructed and the lever was pulled back, the two edges of the dome sliding back apart.

As soon as the inside of the dome became visible, the Titan Wing roared, startling both Hiccup and Astrid, until his head collapsed to the ground, the dome opening up more to reveal Hookfang standing on top of the Titan Wing.

"Now that's what I call domination. Boom!" Snotlout exclaimed, Hookfang the victor.

"Boom", Hookfang happily screeched along.

"You tell him, Fangster!" Snotlout pat the side of his head.

Slowly rising, the Titan turned and bowed his head to Hookfang in submission, then flew off without a word.

Returning to the cave with the female Monstrous Nightmare's eggs, Fishlegs came running out towards them a bundle of excitement.

"Guys, look, they hatched!" he exclaimed as hushed as he could. Hiccup, Astrid, and the twins, rushed inside to see them, Aric already there watching them. Hiccup and Astrid cooed and awed at the adorable little newborns, their mother watching with a close eye.

"And to think I saved them", Snotlout then boasted, his arms crossed in confidence.

"You saved them?!" Hookfang growled fiercely.

"Okay, okay! We saved them. We saved them."

Hiccup chuckled lightly. Seemed liked everything was back to normal. 'Girl-Hookfang', as Snotlout took to calling her, then turned to Hookfang.

"Thank you for everything", she said.

"Think nothing of it. Your hatchlings are safe now, as promised", Hookfang told her.

"Yes, they are, thanks to you and your bonded", she looked down to Snotlout. "That is why I'm relieving you of your duty as their guardian."

"What?" Hookfang barked in surprise.

"You'll always be their guardian, in a way. You've done so much for both them and for me I couldn't take that away, but I also couldn't take you from your bond-mate either. You need each other."

Hookfang rose his head in understanding. "Thank you", he told her, his tone light, signifying his gratefulness. "If you ever need anything, call. We'll come."

"I know", 'Girl-Hookfang' trilled. "Thank you", she bowed her head in a manner of thanks, then in a surge of pure happiness, Hookfang shot into the air, body lit on fire and doing aerial flips.

"Snotlout and Hookfang! Oi! Oi! Oi!" Snotlout chanted along with Hookfang's roars of joy.

That's when the twins started sobbing.

Hiccup looked over at them with confusion. "Uh, what's wrong with you two?" she asked.

"Nothing", Ruffnut cried.

"You just don't see enough happy endings these days", Tuffnut followed, before raising his fist into the air. "Snotlout, oi oi oi. Oi oi oi oi."

'Girl Hookfang' laughed, before gently nudging her head onto Tuffnut.


And that's it. See y'all in Part 2. But first, I'm gonna go work on This is Berk?. Hope to see some of you guys there. It won't be a genderbend-hybrid story like usual, but it'll be good. I hope. Maybe I'll also post a chapter or two to my Avatar AU afterwards, and some song-fics. Still have a long list waiting there. Bye!