Awful Memories

(Six years ago)

"Out of my way Hiccup!" Stoick ordered.

"Never!" Hiccup spat back.

"Why do you defend this beast?"

"Because he's my best friend! And he's more a family to me…than you have. I will never be good for you dad. No matter how hard I try. All my life, I have tried to show all of you that I can be a great chief of Berk. Maybe the fact that I'm the first Viking in 300 years who wouldn't kill a dragon means it's the beginning of a better future,"

"What's more important is keeping our kind safe!"

"By killing an innocent dragon who's never harmed anyone, who just saved my life?!"

"Out of the way Hiccup! I won't ask again!" Stoick was only an inch from Hiccup, towering over him.

"No!" Hiccup stretched out his hands. "If you wanna kill Toothless, you'll have to kill me first,"

"You're not my son anymore," Stoick spat in disgust.

The moment he said those words, Hiccup was struck with grief. Even Gobber was too.

Toothless couldn't take it anymore. Stoick raised his sword. He shot a plasma blast and knocked it out, saving Hiccup.

He saw more people rally in with nets, but he shot at them, roasting them in mid-air. Hiccup saw someone about to fire an arrow. He pulled up a shield with a lucky effort and stop it. He saw Stoick picking up his sword again.

Toothless tried to get to Hiccup but Hiccup was being pulled away. Hiccup! He roared. He was nearing his shot limit. With all the Vikings ganging up on the dragon who couldn't fly away without Hiccup's help, Stoick prepared to attack the dragon.

Hiccup saw him. "No!" Quickly he bit his fingers into the hand of the Viking who had pulled him away. He let go and grabbed a shield, using lucky effort to throw it at his head to stall him. He managed to put himself between Toothless and his father. Stoick just about paused when he noticed who had jumped in front of him but he didn't react quick enough. The tip of the blade pierced Hiccup's collar. He screamed in pain and fell back.

Hiccup woke up, hyperventilating. The full moonlight stretched into his room from the balcony. He wiped his eyes, bringing himself again to the world of reality. On their hanging beds, Smokey and Sharpshot purred worriedly seeing the frantic state he was in. They flew down to sit beside him. He stroked their backs but he didn't feel any better.

Are you okay? Sharpshot cooed.

Hiccup shook his head, avoiding eye contact with them.

"Hiccup," Toothless walked over and leaned his head toward his best friend. "What's wrong?"

Hiccup managed to speak. "I dreamed about that terrible day. The day I got my scar,"

His dragons were stunned.

Smokey nuzzled his hand under his head and Hiccup hugged him a little bit. 'Don't be distressed. We're here for you'.

None of his dragons could take away the trauma that had been haunting him for six years. Hiccup had always tried to bury it but on many nights it came flashing back to him. He felt he was being cursed by the gods for defying Viking tradition.

"Have you told Raya?" Toothless asked.

Hiccup shook his head.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want her to worry,"

"If you guys love each other it means you have to be honest with each other. Tell her what's wrong with you. Then once you propose and you two get married, you'll never ever think about that terrible man ever again,"

"I don't think it's that simple," Hiccup lamented.

The dragon's ears and appendages lowered in sadness, watching his fragile face. 'I know,' Smokey beamed. 'Ask the water dragons if any of them have the power to make memories and emotions of the way'.

'Of course' approved Sharpshot. 'They'll help you'.

Hiccup raised his head slightly. "Brilliant," he smiled a bit, stroking Smokey. "Why didn't I think of it before? What would I do without any of you,"

Feeling a little sparkle, he hugged all his dragons and he briefly felt the weight of pain and suffering dissolve away, replaced by love and comfort.

Hiccup was a little quiet at breakfast the next morning. He ate his sugar-stuffed buns, his favourite, too slowly. Benja noticed and so did Raya. Tuk-Tuk was too busy dining on his breakfast.

"Are you all right?" Benja asked. "You look troubled,"

"I didn't sleep very well last night," Hiccup answered. "But it's nothing really,"

"Please tell us wrong," Raya implored.

Hiccup remained quiet, hiding his eyes away.

"Hiccup, you're part of our family. Whatever troubles you have, let us help you," Benja, so fatherly and caring had the biggest heart of gold Hiccup had ever seen other than Raya's and his dragon's. He had become the father that he never had, the father he wished Stoick was but though love from everyone around him healed his heart, his trauma remained so powerful over the peaceful state that he didn't wish to burden them. "With respect Benja, I don't think you guys can help me on this. This is something I've been dealing with for years. I am so touched by how you all have been so kind and caring to me but I need to see if I can get rid of it with magic,"

"Hiccup, the answers to fixing whatever it is that is wrong with you can't be found in magic,"

"I want to at least try,"

"Should I come with you?" offered Raya.

"I'd like to do this with just Toothless if that's okay,"

"Okay," she accepted, but Hiccup could see how a little hurt she was at his rejection. He hated to hurt her. Especially because he had prepared a special ring for her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Hiccup packed a few Heart buns and mounted Toothless. Smokey and Sharpshot asked to come but Hiccup asked if they could stay with Raya; they said yes.

She touched his hand as he sat on the saddle. "I hope the dragons can help you,"

"I promise I'll tell you what I'm feeling," Hiccup said. "I'll see you later,"

Raya leaned up and kissed him. Then with a flap of his wings, Toothless took off into the sky. Raya watched them disappear, feeling sad.

"He loves you very much Dewdrop," Benja said.

"I know. I just wish he would tell me what troubled him last night,"

"I think you know the answer," Benja said.

"I wish he would open,"

"He wants to be open but he doesn't know how to without worrying. Love can be very complicated sometimes. I had many worries that I couldn't express to your mother. I managed with time. Hiccup will tell you and I know you will help get over whatever memory scars him,"

Raya smiled. "Dad…we have something special to prepare,"

Hiccup and Toothless flew across to the sky and Sisu came bounding towards them.

"Hey guys!" she greeted.

"Hey Sisu!" they waved.

"See you guys are enjoying a morning flight but where's Raya?"

"Sisu, I'd like to talk to your siblings," Hiccup requested.

"Is something wrong?"

"It's something I'm hoping they could help me with,"

"Follow me," she led the way bounding alongside Toothless who looked at her with glee. She smiled but she noticed Hiccup look at them with a wide smile. But something was off about him. "What exactly do you need help with Hiccup?"

"I dreamed about something awful that's scarred my life mentally. And I was hoping your siblings might know something. Or may you,"

Sisu knew and she looked at him with sympathy. "I may not much about dragons' magic compared to my siblings…but I have a feeling you can find the answer you want to heal it. Still, I'm sure Pengu might know something. Have you told Raya?"

"I have but I haven't told her what I dreamed. I don't want to burden her with it,"

"She loves you Hiccup. Tell her,"

"I told her I would once I visited your home," Hiccup remained silent after that lost in a void of trauma. Sisu decided to be silent for a while sharing a worried glance with Toothless. The remainder of the gallop in the shallow rainfall was quiet. They saw the small temple ahead and Sisu's siblings awaited them. The dragons landed gracefully on the smooth stone and the rain stopped. Hiccup dismounted and bowed before them.

"You have no need to bow to us," Pranee assured.

Hiccup rose his head and Pengu leaned forward, glancing at him carefully. "You're troubled," he estimated correctly.

Hiccup nodded. "Last night I dreamed about the day I got this," he pulled down his collar revealing the scar Stoick had marked him with. Pengu and his siblings held deep sympathy for him. Sisu with Hiccup's consent had told them the story of how he came to Kumandra and where he came from. Hiccup had once asked if they could make his scar disappear but they regrettably said they couldn't. At first, he accepted it would stay there and in a way, he grew to like it because it reminded me of how he came to be in Kumandra, how he came to be with the woman he loved. "I came here because I hoped if perhaps you guys might know someone who can get rid of that memory,"

"This is something you need to handle by yourself," Pengu regretfully said. "We can't take away that memory nor can any other dragon. But we can give you guidance on how to stop fearing it,"

"What must I do?" Hiccup asked desperately.

The eldest sibling gently clasped his shoulder. "You must make peace with your past. Accept what happened and don't allow it to cloud your mind,"

"But how I am supposed to do that?" For six years Hiccup had been plagued with that awful memory and no matter how many times he tried to forget it always came back to him. Even though talking about it with his girlfriend and new friends had relieved him of the stress, the horror he had felt facing his father like that as he harmed him was a far greater wound than he could ever imagine.

"Only you can work that out for yourself," Pranee said. She placed a comforting paw on his other shoulder. "Stop hiding from it Hiccup. It only prolongs the pain,"

"And remember Hiccup…" Jagan spoke up. "You are not alone. You have your loved ones, your friends…many people who care so much about you,"

"Try confessing to Raya what makes you traumatized," Amba suggested. "The love you two share will heal it,"

Hiccup peeked into their kind faces. Though he hadn't received what he had hoped, their compassion was better than nothing. It touched his heart in a way he had never felt by anyone back on Berk before. "Thank you guys," he uttered with a grateful smile.

They bowed their heads and Pengu and Pranee released their paws from his shoulders. Pengu spoke his final words. "Remember that this will take patience and self-confidence. You must hold dear to yourself as others hold dear to you,"

"Thank you. I'm sorry I expected you guys to help you,"

"Nonsense Hiccup. It is our call to help anyone who is our friend," Amba assured. Gentle roars rung above their heads. They looked up to see flocks of Deadly Nadders, Monstrous Nightmares and colourful dragons with wide butterfly wings called Death Songs flying over them. They stared out into the sunny distance and they saw dragons of all sorts flying across the sky, soaring over the river and lands feeling true freedom.

"We love how you three and Raya changed Kumandra," Jagan said proudly. "It felt like a dream when we learnt there were many different types of dragons out there in the world,"

"I can't believe we never knew our ancestors knew Night Furies," Sisu remembered.

"It feels strange being connected to magic like you guys," said Toothless.

"How would you guys like to be documented in my book of dragons?" Hiccup pulled out a large book from the saddle bag. It was large and green with golden insignias of many dragons including Toothless on the front cover. Since they delivered all the dragons away from the Archipelago to Kumandra, Hiccup began to study them to uncover secrets no Viking had ever done before. As he, his love and their dragons were saviours, they become widely admired by these creatures and whenever they flew by, they would roar to them and welcome them to their nests.

"How long have you been working on this?" Jagan asked.

"Three years,"

"Well, it would be delightful to be included in it if you'll allow us," Pengu requested.

"Of course. What do you guys think of the name: 'Gifted Rain-runner'?"

The siblings shared glances then they looked eagerly at Hiccup. "Perfect," Pranee approved.

"I cannot wait to paint you all in the spare pages," Hiccup said.

"Make sure they're just like that fabulous artwork you did of us last year," Sisu implored, cocking her head over to a giant canvas nailed to the walls. Hiccup looked and saw five beautiful water dragons huddling together like a family. He remembered the day he presented it to them as a gift of gratitude for everything they had given to him, Toothless and all the dragons they had rescued.

"Absolutely," he said. "Now…I'd better get back to Raya. Thank you again, guys,"

"We're proud to have you as our friend," Pengu bowed. "And you too Toothless,"

"Kumandra wouldn't be whole again without any of you," Jagan said admirably. "Be proud of how your life turned out when you came here, brave soul,"

Hiccup bowed again and so did Toothless. "Do you want to come with us Sisu?"

"Yes please," she thanked.

They took off with their siblings watching out for them.

"You think it was fate that brought them here Pengu?" asked Pranee.

"I believe it was always meant to be," he wisely answered. "But something in my heart tells me this pure-hearted man will have to face his fears to truly move on what made his life so unhappy," Though afraid, Pengu felt strong in spirit knowing Hiccup would not be alone.

Raya rolled out on Tuk-Tuk towards the beaches just along the river from Heart. Supplies were stowed on his saddle. Tuk-Tuk felt the ground turn soft and sandy, Raya dismounted him and he unravelled himself so he could lick from the stream.

Kneeling beside him, Raya stared down into the river, silent and unmoving. When she peered down, she envisaged her mother looking back at her. "I wish you were here mum. I wish you were here to see everything that's happened to Kumandra," Hearing chirps from above, she saw a pack of seven Terrible Terrors, all an individual colour from a rainbow looking down at her. She waved and they flew down to sit on the riverbank.

"Hey, little guys," she said. She pulled out some buns from her belt purse. "You hungry?"

The Terrors fought a little but she made sure she came them one each.

"Delicious aren't they," she said.

The Terrors nuzzled her hands affectionately and she gave them soft strokes before they flew off.

"You always know how to attract Terrible Terrors," said a certain voice.

Raya's heartbeat accelerated when Hiccup approached her. Toothless and Sisu bounded over to Tuk-Tuk to play with him. He rolled into a ball and they played a little ball game. He didn't mind being a ball; it was quite fun for him. Raya and Hiccup laughed seeing them having a fun time together. "So…were Sisu's siblings able to help you?"

Hiccup pursed his lips and shook his head.

"Please tell me what you dreamed last night," Raya had a feeling she knew but she wanted Hiccup to be honest and true.

"I dreamed about the night I got this," he pulled down his vest to reveal his scar again. "I thought that if I tried hard enough I could pretend like it never happened and it would just disappear. But it always comes back to haunt me,"

"Please tell me what I can do to help you," Raya implored.

"Pengu said I had to make peace with my past and accept what happened. And Amba believed you'd be the one who would help me heal. And I believe it will," Hiccup gazed at her affectionately, and their faces drew closer.

"I love you Hiccup. You know that I would do anything for you. And I know you would for me. And don't ever think about that awful man ever again. He's gone from your life. And you'll never have to see him ever again," Hiccup saw she was right. They were far away from the Archipelago, over a million miles away. That extremely long distance from the place of bad memories. Here in Kumandra, powerful memories of love and care were what filled his heart.

"I'm glad you came into my life, Raya. You've made me the happiest man on Earth,"

"And you're the most amazing man I've ever seen," She kissed and he kissed back.

Sisu and Toothless were awed watching them. Tuk-Tuk (realising he was being rolled apart) uncurled himself and saw the romantic sight. Then like an energetic puppy, he bounded over and he licked them, knocking them onto their backs.

"Tuk-Tuk! Stop!" Raya laughed.

"Yuck!" Hiccup groaned. "You're wetting us both!"

But Tuk-Tuk wouldn't stop.

"Come on guys! Get him off us!" he shouted to the dragons but Sisu and Toothless just burst out laughing. "Oh come on!"

"Let's go for a flight," Toothless eagerly suggested to Sisu.

"Um…okay," she answered nervously. She summoned a gentle rainfall and they went for a flight together over the river. They passed mountains and giant dragon nests. They roared to dragon mothers and fathers and their little eggs.

Sisu gazed at a litter of baby Gronkles. She watched their parents regurgitate fish for them to eat. Though disgusted, she found herself tearful looking at the loving family below. She wondered what it would be like to have a baby dragon of her own. With Toothless. But what would it turn out to be like? Would it be a blue Night Fury? Would it be a black river dragon? Or would it be a combination of both? What if it was ostracised by other dragons because of its appearance? What if it wasn't possible for them?

Toothless sensed her fear from her anxiety. "Sisu, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," she wiped her eyes quickly.

"Why are you crying?"

"It's just the rain. Gets on my face sometimes," she lied quickly.

"Sisu, you know you can tell me anything,"

"It's okay Toothless. I'm not sure I'd be able to tell you anyway," she regretted that last bit. "Wanna go for a swim?"

"Sure," Folding his broad wings, Toothless divebombed towards the water with the speed of a sky predator about to attack his prey.

"Hey! No fair!" Sisu stopped the rain and dived down after him. She caught up but both finished first crossing the line between surface and water with a splash. They swam around each other water and then swam up to the surface. Sisu shook her head and splashed him. She laughed but he shook back at her. She huffed. Then he laughed. Then they both laughed. Sisu dived up and out of the water like a dolphin. Toothless just floated on his back watching her beautiful watery performance. They did a few water races and then swam around in circles on the surface. They faced one another, feeling a strong connection. But a pod of Thunderdrums and Scauldrons broke the moment.

Toothless was annoyed but Sisu was ecstatic. She encouraged Toothless to join in with the swimming. They swam alongside them up and down the river.

Hiccup and Raya watched them. Raya leaned her head against Hiccup. "They sure look like they're having fun,"

Hiccup smiled. "I just wish Toothless would tell her how he feels. They may be different species. But that shouldn't stop them,"

"You come from a faraway land and we're a couple. They deserve to be together," Raya said. "If only there was a way we could give them a nudge,"

"It's easier to get humans together than dragons," Hiccup said. "I have to tell you. From studying all these dragons for the past three years, mating is a rather complicated topic. I thought perhaps we could write down about the water dragons together in the book. I gave them a name: Gifted Rainrunner,"

"Hiccup. That's perfect!" Raya approved. "I thought perhaps we could camp tonight. Just have some us time near the river,"

"I'd love that,"

They set up a large green tent matching Heart's symbolic colours with golden dragons. Then they sat on some puffy pillows and did some drawings on the pages of the dragon book. They gorged on buns and sugar cakes along with Tuk-Tuk. The day passed by quickly and the sun set behind the shore across the river and the moon rose.

Hiccup and Raya in their nightwear sat on their pillows gazing up at the sky.

"Does your dad know we're camping?" Hiccup asked.

Raya held up a cheeky grin.

"You cheeky woman," he flirted.

Tuk-Tuk got a little giddy hearing them behave in this manner. He gently stepped back watching their heads draw in close again. Then with his teeth pulled a rope and the curtains closed enclosing them inside privately.

Sisu and Toothless marched onto the shore shaking their scales and fur. Sisu splashed a bit of water on Toothless's face. "Come on!" he groaned.

Sisu laughed. "Today was just so fun,"

"I think I'll be taking a break from the water for a while,"

"I don't know. You and the water seem to mix well together,"

"Yeah well, I'm a Strike Class dragon. Not a Tidal one," Toothless wiped his head with his back paw like a puppy.

"Aww you're so cute you do that," Sisu cooed.

Toothless frowned. "That's not funny," he didn't like to be described like a cute animal which he didn't know about.

"Come on," she teased back. "Oh hey, Tuk-Tuk," she greeted the approaching armadillo-pill bug.

"How are Hiccup and Raya?" Toothless asked. Tuk-Tuk cocked his head to the closed tent. The two shared awkward glances. "Let's just stay out here,"

"Probably might not see them until tomorrow," Sisu said.

"You wanna sleep with me and Tuk-Tuk for the night?" Toothless asked.

"Umm…" Sisu felt very unsteady every second.

"If you don't want to…"

"No. I'd love to," she said.

Toothless blasted some wood and he curled around like a cat. Tuk-Tuk rolled into a ball and fell onto his side, falling asleep instantly. Sisu coiled her body into a curly lump and she warmed up by the fire. "Thank you so much for today Toothless,"

"I'm really glad that you had so much fun. It was great to spend time together,"

"With those Scauldrons and Thunderdrums. You gotta admit they're so fun to dive with,"

"Yeah I…bet they are," he replied in a low voice. I was talking about us.

"And also, me and you," she said. "It's really amazing just spending quality time, just the two of us," Toothless tried to speak again but Sisu unintentionally interrupted. "Well…we'd better get some shut-eye. Don't wanna wake up Raya and Hiccup or interrupt whatever they're doing in there. Good night," she laid her head and instantly fell asleep.

Toothless sighed. He felt a little rejected but he couldn't give up. He was gonna keep trying. He fell asleep and the night was silent.

That's another chapter done. Sorry for taking a while. I hope you all enjoyed this. It seems Hiccup is suffering trauma from what Stoick did to him. Luckily he has Raya and the love she holds for me. If only they knew what will be coming. How will Hiccup react? We'll have to wait and see what happens. See you all soon. Also, the credit for the name Gifted Runner for the water dragons must be given to writer: Skumi. Thank you very much.