Nightmare
"NO! TOOTHLESS! Please, no!"
The dragon doesn't hear him. Eyes locked in slits, the Night Fury slowly stalks his former master.
"SON!" The huge man runs much too fast for someone his size, his son's shocked face reflecting across his wide eyes…but his thoughts are so clear that the boy can hear them…
'I'm sorry Val…'
Toothless opens his mouth, with no remorse in his eyes.
The huge flash happens in slow motion…the chief of Berk stares death in his eye, but jumps anyway…he doesn't even see his son thrown clear of the blast…
The boy slowly pushes himself up, then sees his chief, his father, on the ground, unmoving.
"NOOO!" He screams, trying to reach his father. But his voice sounds strangely silent, his feet are slipping on the ice. He struggles, but the dragon is cloaking him in darkness…horrible, chilling, mind-numbing darkness, as one voice rings out. "YOU ARE NOTHING…"
The scene collapses; the boy still races, but only gets farther away…
Then it changes.
The ground is the pleasant green of spring. The sky is blue, no trace of any clouds. He can hear birds chirping, the croaking of frogs. The boy is much younger, and he is enjoying himself. His father is hale and hearty, and looks happily at his little son, running next to his mother...
The sky suddenly darkens. His family's grins turn into horrible scowls. And suddenly, like a giant blanket, the darkness finds him again…
"All your fault, son."
The boy turns this way and that, flailing wildly in the horrible cloak.
"MOM! DAD!"
"You're not a viking…you're not my son…"
The darkness collapses, leaving only an empty hole, shaped like the silhouette of his father, lying on the ground, already unmoving; no people to rule, no wife to comfort him, no son at all…
A horrible keening can be heard, the cry of the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself…
He, it, nestled next to the unwilling boy, smiling, teeth gleaming…
"I thank you, my master. I very much enjoyed that…"
"NO. NO! NO!" The boy flails, trying to get away from the horrible vision. Toothless had never spoken like that! It wasn't him! He tried to reason with him, even shouting, but the dragon stalked him slowly, crooning all the while. His eyes turn to slits, his mouth smokes, the purple glow in his throat is already visible…
"SON!"
"NO! DAD, NO!"
"TOOTHLESS, NO!"
The dragon paused, relishing his victory.
The shot fires, and crashes into the lifeless body.
The horrific demon roars its triumph…
"AAAAAAHHHHH!"
Hiccup sat up, throwing off his covers, whole body shaking, tears already in his eyes. He looked around wildly, fully expecting a giant black shadow to detach from the walls and end his life.
His heart slowed, as he realized it was just another dream, a horrible, bone-chilling nightmare. One that was much worse than the series he had been having for the past few weeks.
Berk's new chief sneezed once, then twice. He rolled out of his bed, groaning at the sharp pains shooting up his stump, and slowly hopped his way to the window. He picked up his discarded prosthesis and strapped it on, almost falling over. He still didn't completely have the hang of it, even after 5 years…
A strange purr interrupted his still groggy brain.
Hiccup turned around, still half-asleep, and to his horror, he locked eyes on the same horrible vision he had seen in his nightmare…red tail fin, black scales, huge shadowy wings, slit eyes…
He backed away, heart pounding again. The monster opened its mouth, and Hiccup cringed away, silently praying to Odin…but something seemed off. He dared open his eyes, and look closer at the beast before him…closer at the open mouth. Wait...no gleaming teeth! He was…toothless. Wait. Toothless!
His heart skipped a beat, and he released his breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. This was his beloved Toothless, his amazing, trusted, and perfect friend, not any hideous demon.
For his part, Toothless was pretty confused. However, he took it in stride; he was used to his rider's weird ideas. He waited patiently for his morning scratch. He crooned once when he felt his friend's soft hand on his snout.
'I'm going crazy.' Hiccup thought to himself, heart slowing for the second time. He was scratching his dragon behind the ears. He loved that. 'This dragon, my dragon, wouldn't hurt him…'
Hiccup sighed, and stood up. He needed to get out of this place… Berk had too many memories he wasn't willing to face. But, he was chief now. He couldn't! He sent a silent apology to his dead father, then turned back to the wide-eyed dragon before him.
"I'm sorry you had to go through this bud. Don't worry—it will never, never happen again. I promise."
Toothless purred in agreement. Hiccup nodded once, and gave a small grimace as a stab of pain shot up his injured leg. "Mind giving me a hand, bud?"
The dragon raised his head so Hiccup's arm could rest on it, and gave him a little shove. "Okay, okay, I'm going!" Hiccup laughed.
And just like that, the two friends walked out into the cold night air.
Neither one was wishing nor able to dwell on the past—because it was much too painful.
A/N: Rewrite added more details and thoughts. Hope you enjoyed!