Imagination. It's supposed to be the ability to visualize: the ability to form images and ideas in the mind. The creative part of mind: the part of the mind where ideas, thoughts, and images are formed.

Imagination can be a good thing, but a bad thing as well. Creating images that could drive one mad. Illusions, mirages. Fantasies, dreams. They both come from the same thing, yet they have complete different meanings and purposes.

Like Hadrian, and Hiccup.

Two halves of the same Hiccup.

Hadrian: strong, powerful, brooding, quick thinker. Fearless, but stubborn.

Hiccup: smart, kind, compassionate, leader. Intelligent, but soft.

But leaders aren't supposed to be soft, are they? They need to be fearless. Like Hadrian. He could be a better leader if he wasn't so solitudinous. Yet, he has the looks of a leader. Appearing strong, powerful, determined. How Hiccup wishes to be him, but he is him. Hadrian came from him.

He's the parts Hiccup isn't. Somehow Hiccup feels jealous and wants to return Hadrian to himself so that he can gain what Hadrian stole.

He didn't steal it, you gave it to him. A voice speaks.

I gave him all that I wanted? Hiccup thinks.

You gave him what he needed. Freedom.

Will he give me something in return? Hiccup asks.

Whispers echo all around him, and the world turns dark. Hiccup stands in and on blackness. Solid, but placid. No way to tell which is left, right, straight. Hiccup feels like he's trapped in a box, and he can't go a step without bumping into a wall. Yet, there's an unknown sense of peace.

There's a tap, and Hiccup turns to see what it is. Its vibration remnants around him, yet it only happened for a second.

It happens again, and this time Hiccup feels it in his chest. Despite the blackness, Hiccup can see the ground beneath him ripple like water. The tap happens for a third time, only it's deeper, thicker. Like a thump.

Hiccup closes his eyes and listens intently. There's a smaller, quieter thump before the bigger one. Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

It's rhythmic.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

It's familiar.

Ba-bump. Ba-bump.Ba-bump. Ba-bump.

A heartbeat. Hiccup's heartbeat.

Hiccup's chest vibrates with the beat, and Hiccup focuses on it intensely. He imagines the beat getting stronger, louder, harder.

Hiccup focuses on the mechanics of his breathing. The heart in the most powerful muscle in the body.

The thumping becomes deafening and between beats, Hiccup can feel his feet leave the ground. He doesn't mind, he feels this is a good thing.

He's floating up, not down.

Focus better. Harder.

Hiccup begins to float higher and higher. He feels so weightless he expects to see stars when he open his eyes. He doesn't open them, afraid if he does, it'll ruin everything, and he'll plummet back into nothing.

The feeling is similar to when he was being carried by his mom. When was that? A few months ago? A year? She said it was the last time he'd see her. And despite his wishing, he doesn't feel her presence.

As his body lifts, the thumping is replaced with a muffled, moaning? Hiccup narrows his eyebrows, and tries to listen to the moaning. He imagines floating faster towards it.

It grows in volume, and it begins to become weary. Weeping?

"Please. Please." It mumbles.

Who -?

"Please, stay with me."

Hadrian!

Something washes over Hiccup like he's just broken the surface of water.

He gasps, but he actually inhales. Through his nose the force of air nearly causing his mouth to open. Hiccup blinks his eyes open, slowly.

He opens to the high vaulted ceiling of his room. He hears the sound of a fire crackling, but it's still muffled as his sense awaken one by one. Seconds go by before he can see definite edges in his surrounding, the lines of wood, and the soft halo of buttery light. Hiccup flicks his eyes around before he tries to move his head, not wanting to bring on a sudden tilt; bringing with it a wave of nausea.

Hiccup adjusts his head, and looks to his right. He finds a haunched over Hadrian, Hiccup's hand enveloped in both of his. Hiccup didn't even feel Hadrian's grip. Hadrian's head was down, his brown hair overlapping his face, so Hiccup couldn't see his expression.

Is he sleeping?

Hiccup bends all his fingers in unison, and they grasp around Hadrian's. Hadrian's head instantly jerks up and his eyes find Hiccup's instantly. Hiccup smiles as Hadrian's lips quiver into a smile.

"What'd I miss?" Hiccup's voice is raspy and dry as he speaks.

Hiccup swallows and his throat is dry as sandpaper. How long has he been asleep?

Hadrian lets out a breathy laugh and extends a hand to touch Hiccup's cheek. Hiccup nuzzles into it and lets a soft, fuzzy feeling tickle his chest. Hadrian's skin feels callus, but it only solidifies Hiccup's instincts that this is real, not a dream anymore.

Hiccup tries to lifts himself up, his a sharp pain in his lower back makes him hiss through grit teeth. Hadrian helps without a word.

He grips hiccup's shoulder with one hand and holds Hiccup's head steady with the other as Hiccup pushes himself up. Pain rushes through his body in sharp bursts, but he tries not to notice it, stifling a groan.

Instantly when he's in a full seated position, Hiccup doesn't hesitate as he wraps his arms around Hadrian's neck. His body is muscular, but soft; relaxed. Hiccup's heart beats faster when he feels Hadrian's hand slide to the middle of his back, resting in between Hiccup's shoulder blades. Hadrian's other hand wraps around Hiccup's lower back, but keeping a gentle touch. This disappoints Hiccup, but he can't believe Hadrian hasn't pushed off, so he doesn't mind.

Hiccup nuzzles into the crook of Hadrian's neck, taking in the scent of pond lilies and fresh rain. Hiccup feels his body shudder and tears spill down his cheeks. Hadrian's chest vibrates as he chuckles. Despite embarrassment, Hiccup hugs him tighter and stifles a sob. He pulls himself to Hadrian's chest and cries into his tunic. A throbbing in Hiccup's head comes back, and the ache in his lower back, and he feels like his body weight doubles. Hiccup leans against him, and Hadrian supports him.

"It's okay. It's okay." Hadrian coos.

He strokes Hiccup's head and Hiccup could swear he feels Hadrian's lips press to the spot just above his ear. Hadrian's eyes are bright with tears. Hiccup never thought he'd see Hadrian cry. It makes him hurt.

Hiccup hitches a breath and closes his eyes as Hadrian pulls away. Hiccup loser his head, and feels Hadrian's hands cup his face. This thumbs wipe away the spilt tears and Hiccup blinks through the rest to see his soft smile.

Hiccup sniffles and wipes his nose with the sleeve of his tunic. The blue sleeve shows him it's not his and he hides his hand under the blanket. Hiccup glances around the room and finds the skylight across his bed. The sky is a vibrant blue with patches of marshmallow clouds.

"Where -" Hiccup coughs and clears his throat.

Hadrian turns towards Hiccup's nightstand and hands him a cup of steaming tea. "Added a dash of honey to it. Goathi said it's supposed to help with sore throats."

Hiccup drinks the liquid gratefully, the honey adding a dash of sweetness. It warms his mouth and his throat and trickles into Hiccup's stomach. He didn't realize how deeply cold he was until he wasn't anymore. His throat warms, and when he clears his throat, his voice is clearer.

"What happened?" he asks.

Hadrian's eyes look down to Hiccup's abdomen, and Hiccup feels his cheeks warm. Hiccup looks down and naturally lifts his shirt. About his stomach is fresh, clean gauze. Hiccup's eyes widen.

"Wait, what happened?" he repeats.

Hadrian leans on his elbows on the bed. "Dagur shot you. No part of your spine was ruptured, but you had a lot of blood loss. We needed to get you back to Berk so Goathi could heal you."

"How long was I out?"

"A couple weeks."

Hiccup's mouth drops in shock. "H-how?! I . . . it only felt like hours, maybe days, but weeks-!"

Hadrian places a hand on Hiccup's shoulder and calms him. "We needed to sterilize you because the arrowhead was close to penetrating your kidney. We need to cut a hole in your back to help you breathe."

"What?! How? Why? You said it hit my kidney." He stutters.

"Your airways noises were better on the right, they were faint on the left. You most likely had a collapsed lung due to the possible angle of the arrow. The air was getting trapped between your ribs and lungs. We needed to find the air pocket that was keeping you from breathing." Hadrian explains.

"Well, what now?"

"Now, obviously you're fine. And you just need to rest." Hadrian smiles.

"W-where's Toothless?" Hiccup asks.

"He's in the Academy with the other riders and Lightning." Hadrian rises from his seat and goes to shut the skylight. "Stoick wouldn't let anyone see you until he knew you were, okay."

"And by okay, you mean alive." Hiccup rephrases.

Hadrian smiles and messes with Hiccup's hair. Hiccup smiles and fixes it back.

"Okay, you should probably eat something. Goathi's coming this afternoon to check on you."

"Okay." Hiccup says as he snuggles down into his bed. An extra blanket has been draped over him.

As Hadrian leaves the room, he pauses with one hand on the doorframe. "Hey Hiccup,"

"Yeah?"

"How did you do it?" Hadrian asks.

"Do what?"

Hadrian bites his lip to choose his words carefully. "How did you, come back? You, you nearly died. We thought, that was it."

Hiccup's heart jars when Hadrian says he nearly died. But he's come close to death before, so he really shouldn't be so surprised.

"I don't know." Hiccup says. "I just, heard your voice."

Once Stoick had seen and hugged Hiccup, visitors were granted. Toothless plowed through everyone first, and hasn't left Hiccup's bedside since. Stoick had overtaken Hadrian's role as, nurse and cares for Hiccup by bringing him meals and making sure he walks every few hours.

While Hiccup doesn't mind the parental care, he misses having Hadrian around. He expected the two of them to talk for hours and hours to pass time. He would help Hiccup with saddle designs and armor plating for him. But at the same time, Hadrian probably can't stand to be away from Lightning for very long. Hiccup smiles at the thought of Lightning and Hadrian flying and playing together around the village. Astrid visits as often as she's allowed and she and Hiccup spend some time talking and laughing along with a few exchange of kisses.

Then on the third day of week two of recovery, Hiccup was allowed to leave the bed and house. He stayed out in the front yard, laying on the grass with Toothless. Hadrian comes out with a glass of lemonade. Lightning following behind.

"How you holding up?" he asks with a smile.

"Great." Hiccup sits up and crosses his legs.

Hadrian hands the cup to Hiccup and the two clink their glasses together in cheers. Hadrian sits next to Hiccup. Toothless gnawing on the leg bone of a deer, while Lightning rolls through a patch of grass. The spring air is cold but it smoothes through their hair and carries the scent of wildflowers.

As Hiccup is finishing his glass, Hadrian looks to Hiccup.

"Hiccup, what were you thinking taking an arrow for me?" Hadrian asks, his face serious, and confused.

Hiccup swallows and looks Hadrian in the eye. He blinks and wipes his mouth.

"Because it's what Dagur wanted."

Hadrian gives Hiccup a confused look. One eye squinting shut and one nostril wrinkling upward with an eyebrow.

"You're too important. He wanted to kill both of us. And, I figured if one of us had to go, it should be me. I'd do anything for you."

Hadrian shakes his head with a rather, surprised smile on his face; but it wasn't the happy surprised.

"In what world, do you think that this village would be better with me?" Hadrian asks.

Hiccup gives Hadrian a look that suggest he must be joking. "Hadrian, you're everything I'm not. You're, strong, determined, fearless -"

"Stubborn, compulsive and more likely to charge into a battle or war rather than listen to both sides of the story." Hadrian interjects. He coldly chuckles. "Hiccup, you're more important to this village than me."

"How? I'm, different from everybody else; I don't fit in anywhere. But you, you can get along with everyone, and they respect you and your, the same." Hiccup stutters to say.

"Exactly, I'm just like everyone else. And with that, things won't change around here." Hadrian leans on one hand that sits on the other side of Hiccup's legs. "Hiccup, this village needs change. And only you can give that to them. Not me. You're the one Viking who rode a dragon and defied three hundred years of tradition. And now look what's happened. Men are riding dragons, you have an Academy."

Hiccup casually smiles and shrugs his shoulders.

"They need change, Hiccup. They need you." Hadrian smiles.

Hiccup smiles in returns, and as he scratches Toothless, he suddenly remembers a question he's been meaning to ask Hadrian, but never had the time.

"Hey Hadrian,"

Hadrian looks up from gazing at a blank spot on the Hiccup's headboard, just over his shoulder.

"What ever happened to . . . to Dagur?" Hiccup asks.

A moment of silence passes and Hadrian folds his lips in. He looks away from Hiccup for a second. When he looks back, he looks at Hiccup dead in the eye.

"I've taken care of it." is all he says.

Hiccup feels his breath hitch, and his heart skips a beat. He doesn't need to assume the answer is what he thinks it is.

It's true.

Dagur's dead.

Hadrian tells him the story.

After Dagur had fired the crossbow, Stoick and Alvin fought and tackled him. Dagur somehow fought them off, then Hadrian shot an arrow into Dagur's abdomen. He left Dagur for a moment to make sure Hiccup was still breathing. Hiccup was, though it wasn't enough to satisfy, but still breathing.

Still alive.

Hadrian then left him, and picked up Hiccup's shield, flicking it into crossbow mode. Hadrian loaded an arrow. By the time he got to Dagur again, a pool of his own blood had seeped underneath him. He gasped and coughed holding his hand to his stomach.

As Hadrian approached, he held up his hand. He held the crossbow out from his left shoulder.

Aimed at Dagur's forehead.

"Wait!" Dagur pleaded. "Let me go. Please."

Hadrian's face was stone cold. Blank. Remorseless.

Hadrian snarled.

"You'll just come after us." He said.

He then squeezed the trigger.

Hiccup sits frozen in shock as he fists his hands and licks his lips. Hadrian seated next to him.

"Are you okay?" he asks.

Hiccup blinks and swallows, coming out of the trance. "Uh, yeah I guess. But I mean what about the Berserkers? Is there going to be some kind of revolt?"

Hadrian shakes his head. "Once Alvin reclaimed Outcast Island, together the three tribes unified and declared Dagur's sister the new Berserkian Chief. Can't say most of the soldiers were heartbroken to see him go. I don't think he'll be missed."

Hiccup nods, but his face still shows, disbelief.

"What about you?" Hadrian asks. "How do you feel?"

Hiccup tries to say something, but he can't find the right words. "I, I'm feeling a sense of, peace. I mean, no more worrying about him plotting to take Toothless, or Lightning. Or conspiring against my father. It's, a relief. Yet at the same time, I feel like I have, nothing to do." Hiccup chuckles. "Does that make sense?"

"To anyone else, probably not. But I get it." Hadrian smiles.

"All that time of running and dodging attacks and armada threats. Now it's gone."

"You're not feeling sorry for him."

"No, no way. It's just, riveting. Rejuvenating." Hiccup laughs. "How's it feel to have Lightning back?"

Hadrian laughs. "Amazing. I just, I still can't believe it. I just love it."

"I can't wait to ride with you. Can you just imagine the clouds, the sky, and that breeze that hits your face." Hiccup clamors on.

"You sound like an adrenaline addict." Hadrian teases with a shove to Hiccup's shoulder.

Hiccup winces but smiles.

As Lightning coos and nuzzles into Hadrian's arms, Hiccup stares at the two of them and grins.

They say to keep your friends close, and enemies closer.

Hiccup always thought it was to find weaknesses and exploit painful memories and in the end to destroy them. But Hadrian has taught him otherwise. Years back from now, no one would ever believe that they would have come this far. From Hadrian being the most feared villain rebel in the Acapelago, to now being on of Hiccup's closest and most trusted friend.

It's astounding.

How did it happen? Not even Hiccup has a definite answer. After the defeat of the demon Lilith, Hadrian could have fled, and left Berk.

Yet he stayed. And together their friendship flourished into something that's virtually unbreakable. Other bonds would have broken, but this one hasn't.

Hiccup now believes he knows the deeper meaning of keeping enemies close.

Hadrian said that Berk needed change, but Hiccup realizes, Hadrian needed change to.

He stayed, because he knew Hiccup could change him.

Hiccup wraps his arms around Hadrian, and Hadrian returns the gesture. Hiccup smiles and nestles into Hadrian's chest at the idea. It's a beautiful thought.

You can keep your friends close. But you should keep your enemies closer. Who knows, they may be the ones who bring the most change in your life.