So far, I have received a positive look on this new project. :) For that, I am excited.

I forgot to point out about the changes in plot in the last chapter. Yes, I know what exactly happened, but, for the sake of my creativity, I...rearranged it a bit. If anyone really minds, I'll edit it with what really happened. :)

Now, this chapter is basically a follow-up to the last chapter, where Hiccup awakes with his leg gone. It's not very long. :( The next chapter will probably focus around how Hiccup finally gained Toothless' trust, but I'm not entirely sure. :)

Hope you enjoy!

How to Train Your Dragon

The Extents of Loyalty

chapter 2

Handicaps

When the rising sun roused Hiccup from his dreams, the human didn't remember nearly being consumed by flames. He didn't remember his dragon's noble effort to save him, even if it had costed his own life. He remembered nothing of being chased by the enormous king dragon, or how his leather saddle had been ripped apart like a tissue.

No, when Hiccup awoke, the only thing he remembered was being locked in the arena with the dragons.

He awoke with a start, out of breath, feeling sore and disoriented. With a groan, he sat up, holding his spinning head in his hands. What had happened? How had he gotten here, back in his house? His heart thudded frantically; had something happened inside the arena?

From above him, in the rafters of his home, there was a soft roar. Startled, Hiccup looked into the darkness, only to see a large, dark blue dragon leap to the floor, chattering excitedly. The large reptile approached Hiccup, nuzzling his head softly.

"Tooth....less," Hiccup stuttered, confused. What was going on? Toothless seemed overexcited to see him awake. But wait. Wait! What was Toothless doing in his house?!

"Ahh! T-Toothless, what are...w-what are you doing in here?" he screeched, but the dragon simply roared happily, nuzzling against him further, pressing him back into the bed. "Wait! W-wait! We have you...we have to get you out of here!" He shoved his Night Fury away, pulling the covers off of him, and throwing his legs over the bed. But, when he felt the sudden weight on his left leg, he looked down, confused.

And everything came rushing back to him.

He remembered going to the island of the dragons, to stop his dad from making a horrible mistake, and to save his beloved Toothless. He remembered nearly drowning saving his dragon, then how his father took over, rescuing Toothless. He remembered the fight on the ground, and how he and Toothless tricked the enormous dragon into the air. He remembered the chase, and the sudden, horrible panic as he dropped through the air.

He couldn't speak. A terrible sense of dread and sorrow washed over him as he stared at the appendage connected to his knee, flesh and blood replaced with leather and metal.

Toothless approached once more, cooing sadly. He pressed his nose to his friend shoulder, and Hiccup wondered momentarily if the dragon was sharing his sadness.

The sudden horror and sorrow of losing his leg overwhelmed him, and he dropped his head in his hands, Toothless' nose pressed into his shoulder as the tears fell from the humans eyes. He had lost his leg, a part of him that could never be returned. The very thought of never running again filled him with such sadness, he nearly sobbed.

But then, he remembered his mentor...and Toothless himself.

The human looked over at his dragon, who opened his eyes. The sympathy there was evident, but a fire burned in the dragon's eyes. The look of determination Hiccup had seen only once before; the moment he broke into the arena, risking everything to save Hiccup. Seeing the fire burn in his dragon's eyes touched and comforted him, and at the same time, his strength returned. Maybe, weeks earlier, when he was simple, clumsy Hiccup, before he met Toothless, losing his leg would've been the end of the world. Now, as he looked his dragon in the eye, Hiccup knew he could do it. And he was sure his dragon would be there, every shaky step of the way.

Feeling the strength flood his veins, Hiccup took a deep breath. He slipped down from his bed, his metal foot clinking against the ground. The feeling was strange, and slightly painful, but Hiccup took another deep breath, daring to lift the fake leg and step forward. Finding it hard to keep his balance with his new leg, Hiccup stumbled, crying out slightly as he collapsed. But Toothless was there. He caught Hiccup before he could hit the ground, his head lifting him back to his feet. Hiccup glanced once more into his dragons eyes, and Toothless purred, chattering gently.

Do not worry, young one, he seemed to say. I am here. I will always be here. Do not worry.

Hiccup smiled gently at his dragon, leaning against him as they walked toward the front door. He stumbled and nearly fell with each step, but his strength was returning. Toothless flicked his tail, the one tail-fin remaining brushing against the ground.

Together, dragon and human, both having lost a vital part of them, approached the door and opened it, wearing their handicaps proudly. For, now they truly were the same.

end of chapter