Hiccup hugged his legs as he sat on the stool and stared at the pile of embers in Gobber's forge. Gobber was hammering a sword out on the anvil that was still an orange and yellow blaze, fresh from the fire. Hiccup had been with Gobber for three hours yet made no attempt to even lift a hammer.

He watched as Gobber laid the sword on the fire and pumped down on the fan. Hiccup watched as the embers glow at the brush of air, then slowly deflating back to a soft buttery glow. Gobber would flash Hiccup an occasional glance, but Hiccup didn't seem to notice. His mind was too preoccupied.

Why is he still here? He asks himself, slowly resting his chin on his knees.

His muscles were sore since he'd been sitting in this position for hours. Astrid had been sent with Fishlegs on a Dragon Rescue. Something about a downed dragon in the mountains.

Hiccup had been having these strange, reoccurring dreams. Hadrian involving every one of them. He keeps coming back. He keeps threatening Hiccup.

He's still here.

It had been months since Hiccup had broken free of Alvin's Changewing. Nearly eleven months, and yet he still Won't. Go. Away. But why? At first, he was simply something that Alvin had created in order to obtain control. But if that were the cause, then why was he still around. Shouldn't he have been gone once the Changewing was dead?

The first few months were fine. Then later in the summer, Hiccup had been having strange dreams. He still couldn't see him, but he slightly felt him. Hiccup had assumed it was due to the traumatizing effect Alvin had on him.

But lately, he's been wondering, if Hadrian was really a piece of him. The thought shudders him to the core. And now the dreams have been getting worse. At first, he was just feeling him, and then there was a faded apparition.

And now, he can see him. Feel him.

He was afraid to sleep at night in fear of dreaming of him.

Hiccup wanted to tell somebody. But his Dad had become slightly overprotective ever since the incident with Alvin, and he didn't want to worry his father more. Toothless was an option, but even with their tight friendship, it'd be weird talking to a dragon; even if he did share in the experience.

He thought he could turn to Astrid. They've become more serious over the months after Hiccup's experience. But if she's not willing to be open minded, then whom else was he to turn to?

"Hiccup!" Gobber yells, and Hiccup flinches in his seat.

He looks to find Gobber standing in front of him. The sword now propped on the hooks on the wall, sharp and lethal. Hiccup looks to Gobber, small beads of sweat from the heat materializing on his forehead.

"Are you okay? You've been staring at the fire for awhile." Gobber confirms.

"I've got a lot on my mind." Hiccup says.

He releases his legs from his iron grip, and pins and needles invade his legs. The flow of blood returning to his long numb finger nails. He pushes himself up from the stool, but sways in dizziness as the world flashes suddenly, and Hiccup grips the stool. All his joints complain and Hiccup has to stomp his left foot as it's been asleep for so long.

"Everything okay?" Gobber asks as he wipes clean his axe hand.

"Yeah, I just," Hiccup hesitates. "I just haven't been able to sleep in a while."

Before Gobber could ask any further questions, Hiccup made a quick 'I'll see you later' and strolled out. He walked through the Plaza, feet brisking across the dirt and stone. He didn't know where he was going, but until Astrid came back, there was no one.

Hiccup hated feeling this alone. All he wanted was his life back. To be back to normal and just go to the Academy. As Hiccup's feet carry him to through the village, Hiccup wanders into space. Running on pure nerve, he makes it to the edge of the woods and pushes through.

He vaguely remembers what he did while he was imprisoned by Hadrian. There was dragon's blood everywhere. People feared him. He was a monster. Hiccup clenches his fists and fights back the tears of regret that threaten to trickle down his cheeks despite his solitude.

Suddenly a flash of black moves out of the corner of his eye. Hiccup whirls and finds nothing. His heat pounds in his ears.

Please, not again, he begs.

"Why are you all alone? Your time's running out. You should be with your friends." The voice said.

"Who says you'll even win?" Hiccup protests as he rotates in a circle, trying to identify the shadow being.

"I do, and you do as well. Your smarts say you don't stand a chance." He taunts.

"But my heart says I do." Hiccup retorts.

"Your heart is weak. Deceptive. It'll only grant disappointment." He says. "And once your body belongs to me, I'll have Alvin destroy your home and loved ones."

"I'm not afraid of Alvin." Hiccup says.

"Stupid boy."

Hiccup froze. His voice was real, and it was right next to his ear. Brushing the hairs against his skin. Tickling his ear. His body went rigid as he felt the coldness of a body standing behind him.

The forest is dead quiet. Something Hiccup hadn't noticed until Hadrian was standing right behind him.

"Alvin's not the one you should be afraid of."

Hiccup turns and there he is. Scars adorning his body. Inky locks covering curtaining one eye, an armored dark green tunic on his torso. His multiple weapons hanging on different parts of his body. And the smell of dry blood coating his body.

"And you know that." He smiles

Then there's a sudden flash of blue lightening and Hiccup finds himself standing on a Cliffside. A fierce wind slicing through the frigid air and chilling Hiccup to the bone. Blue lightning flash in the purple skies, like neon fissures slowly moving across the sky until the whole thing comes crashing down and suffocating him in cotton clouds. He shivers as if he'd been caught in the storm with nothing but his tunic.

Again?

"Take a look at this tiny place." Hadrian suddenly says.

Hiccup looks and finds him standing at the very edge of the cliff. Hiccup stares at him. It was strange. He seemed, majestic standing there. The wind caressing his face so, gently.

"What is this place?" Hiccup softly asks.

Even with the sudden and booming cracks of lightning, Hiccup was still afraid that any loud noise will suddenly break him from his tranquil state. Then Hiccup would find himself with a sword in his stomach.

"This world has been connected." Hadrian says.

"What?"

"Tied to the darkness of your mind. And soon, it'll be completely eclipsed." He slowly peers over his shoulder as Hiccup. "Once I take over."

"Is this where you, live?" Hiccup asks, an icy lump in his throat causing his voice to cut off.

"This place is a prison. Surrounded by water." He says, tightening his grip on his sword, as if it'll evaporate if he let's go. "I want to escape from this prison. But I can't. As long as you still live."

"This isn't my fault Hadrian. I didn't create you. Alvin did." Hiccup cautiously says.

Hadrian mockingly snickers. "That buffoon was a liar and a useless excuse for a savage."

Hiccup suddenly finds his feet slowly sliding across the dirt toward Hadrian. His toes drag as he places his foot, bone by bone on the dirt. Stalking toward him. He could push him off, but somehow Hiccup knew that wouldn't do anything.

"So, wait. This is my dream? We're in my world?" Hiccup asks, stopping to look around.

"Yes." Hadrian answers.

"Impossible."

"Everyone has a dark side Hiccup. And as long as there's darkness in the heart, it exists." Hadrian explains. "And there is so much to learn in the realm of dreams. And you know so little."

"Well that's because I don't spend free time studying my dreams." Hiccup mocks.

Hadrian snickers again and slowly turns to face Hiccup. Hiccup takes a half step back.

"You don't understand. What you have concealed, you shall become."

"That's a lie. I won't let it happen." Hiccup said as the gales picked up. "I'll find a way."

Hadrian mocks him with a laugh. "Your optimism is quite adorable." He slyly smiles. "But you're forgetting one thing,"

He suddenly steps closer to Hiccup as lighting flashes. The salty sea smell of the ocean infecting his nose.

"This is my world. The one place that you seldom spend your time. And now it belongs to me." he says.

"And just how do you plan on getting through?" Hiccup challenges. "You can only haunt me in my dreams. And not even that will allow me to set you free."

"Maybe not. You're very strong-willed, that I know." Hadrian says, then he suddenly disappears. "But I'm much more impulsive." His voice says by Hiccup's ear. Hiccup jumps back startled.

"Look around you, Hiccup. Look at what I can do in this world. I know this entire place inside and out."

"You've only been here for a few months after you were abandoned by Alvin." Hiccup argues.

"I've been here longer than that." Hadrian retorts.

Hiccup suddenly halts. "How long?" he asks.

"A while." Hadrian draws closer, yet Hiccup stays. "And I will break you. In due time." He suddenly holds Hiccup's chin in his thumb and forefinger. "I'll drive you to insanity." He nearly promises.

Hiccup shudders and pushes him away. His skin tingling from where he touched. "Even if you do, you're still inside my head. Just how do you plan to get out?"

Hadrian smiles. His eyebrows narrow and the evil gleam in his eyes gives Hiccup goosebumps. "Through you."

Suddenly Hadrian charges Hiccup in a blur of speed. Hiccup feels him grip his wrist, and it's soon met by a severe burning/stinging sensation. Like a coal from Gobber's fire had been placed n his skin, accompanied by the gnarling pinching of frost bite.

Hiccup screams and yanks his wrist back. He looks and finds a letter charred into his skin. He can't read what is says as its crimson red glow made it hard to read. Hiccup looks to Hadrian who only smiles.

Then with another flash he's gone and Hiccup blinks, and he finds himself back in the forest.

Hiccup gasps as if he's just submerged from spending hours from underwater. Lying under a young oak, the leaves rustle in the breeze and block and open several small holes, letting in little golden darts of sunlight. Hiccup's breathing heavy, sweat on his forehead.

He flinches when he hears his name called. He looks and finds Astrid.

Her head peeks around form behind some foliage. "Hiccup, there you are. I've been calling you." she says smiling.

Her expression changes in a snap when she sees the look on Hiccup's face. Her lips press into a straight line.

"Hiccup, are you okay? You look like you've seen a ghost." She says.

She walks over and kneels down placing a comfortable hand on his shoulder. But Hiccup only flinches as flashes of what happened blind his thoughts.

He blinks multiple times to make sure that what he's seeing is real.

"Hiccup?" Hiccup's head ships to her. "Did you see anything?" she repeats.

"Not a ghost." He manages to say. He swallows heavy. "I saw Hadrian."

Her expression hardens as he says his name. She comes close and wraps her arm around him in comfort.

"What happened?" she asks in a concerning tone.

"I," Hiccup struggles to find words. "I can't explain it. Nor do I want to."

He suddenly gets up and starts quick walking back to the village.

"Hiccup!" Astrid calls.

"I'll see you later!" he calls back. Then he starts running.

Back at the house, Hiccup just couldn't eat their dinner of fish stew. Toothless had been munching on a basket filled with several fish. Gobber had been invited over and was more than happy to take Hiccup's untouched bowl.

"Are you alright Hiccup?" his Dad asks. "You look a little pale."

Stoick even placed the back of his hand on Hiccup's forehead to check for a fever.

"Um, I'm just, tired." Hiccup said.

He couldn't bring himself to tell his father what had happened. How could he? His father was still guarded after what Alvin had done months before. And this would only set him off. Stoick gets up and takes their bowls and places them in the tub of water by the window.

"Rough day?" Gobber interjects as he gets up and settles by the fire.

"A little."

"Well, why don't you go flying? That always makes you feel better." Stoick suggests.

"Um, not today. It, looks like it's going to rain." Hiccup lies. "I think I'll just head to bed."

"Very well." Stoick says. "Oh and by the way son, you might want to check your arm. It looks like you've got a burn."

Hiccup suddenly freezes when he's mid-way up the steps. He doesn't turn around and ask what, instead, he swallows hard and runs up the rest of the stairs. Toothless looks and follows him without a sound.

Hiccup sits on his bed and breathes, trying to calm his racing heart. He looks down at his wrist. He turns his hand over and he can see himself shaking.

"No please." He begs whatever unseen forces were forcing this upon him.

Toothless suddenly bumps his arm and Hiccup crashes to the floor in a scare.

"Hiccup?" his father calls from downstairs.

"I'm fine dad, Toothless just scared me." Hiccup calls.

Then he hears Gobber mumble something about how a Night Fury can scare anyone.

Hiccup pulls his knees to his chest and chokes back a sob, but lets the tears of fear flow freely.

"Please no." he begs.

Toothless walks around to Hiccup's left and sniffs his wrist.

Toothless snarls. He looks to Hiccup and he wines. Hiccup breathes heavily. He slowly lifts his wrist and he could see it was glowing. Like a soft candle was embedded into his wrist.

As he slowly curls his fingers around the hem of his sleeve, the glow became brighter. Soon pulsating slowly like a beacon. Hiccup squeezed his eyes shut and took a breath. He yanked the sleeve down.

The glow could be seen in little swirls of red white and orange light as Hiccup closed his eyes tighter. But he had to see it. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking so they could focus. When they settled, his body went numb.

The letter was glowing red as he stared, pulsating. He lost all feeling.

Outlining the letter, there was charred skin in the final stage of healing. Bits of blood drizzled in some parts. At first, Hiccup had imagined seeing his veins and bones from how deep the cut had gone, but he only saw the light. And what looked like white and red lava swirling and swaying inside his wrist.

As he touched it, fingers trailing over the skin, it felt real.

The healing skin, the engraving itself, but he couldn't feel the lava. It only felt like his skin.

Toothless' eyes stayed their passionate green as he looked from Hiccup's wrist to Hiccup. Hiccup didn't look him in the eyes. He couldn't think. He didn't know what to think.

It was real?

"No." he said out loud as he clenched his eyes shut and rested his forehead on his knees.

He brought his arms in and hugged himself. He began to sob. Toothless only cooed as Hiccup cried.

Somewhere, whether in his head or just outside his home, laughter was heard.

Cruel and unforgiving laughter.