Second chapter featuring our favorite well-intentioned, but grouchy protagonist. Enjoy HTTYD fans!

After we were out of ear shot of the rest of the village, Gobber gave me a shove and asked me "All right lad what's eating you."

"You wanna know what it is? It's Little-Miss-Perfect back there putting blame on me!"

He sighed, he knew just as well as anyone else that I had a lot of issues with that showoff Hicca. "She just cares about this village that's all. Remember, she's got a big weight on her shoulders."

"I know, but does that mean that she has to take her aggressions out on me." I huffed angrily as I stood on the doorstep of my house. My lonely, empty house. "Is it because I look like a damn fishbone or something?

"It's not what you look like that's making her angry, it's what's inside she can't deal with."

I slicked my hair out my eyes "Wow. Thanks for that vote of confidence. Real f**king helpful there."

"Lad, I know you're tryin' but you just can't be someone you're not."

I entered my lonely abode and closed the door behind me. "WHAT AM I THEN! HUH?!" I screamed to the ceiling, hoping for some, any kind of answer, but none came.

Shit, a guy just wants to feel special, that's all!

I calmed down and went to my room, where I looked at a picture of my parents. The one with the blonde ponytail, that's my dad, Fearless Finn. From what I heard about him, he was about as agile as a cheetah, and took down a shitload of dragons. He had all the respect, something I wish I had. Then the woman on the right with the braids, that's my mom, Phlegma the Fierce. The stories I heard about her; she was about as fierce as a Nightmare, or a Zippleback. No one messed with her, not even Chief Stoic.

"Mom, Dad. How I wish you were here," I whispered to the picture. I went to my cabinet and pulled out my friend right now: mead. Yeah, I drink the hard stuff; besides I'm mature enough to handle it. Not to mention it's delicious. I took a lengthy swig out of the bottle and sat on my bed, thinking about how much of an eternal millstone I am and how much I hate it!

Oh come on, really? Really? Someone knocking at this specific time?!

"What?!" I said irritably.

"Um...uh...A-asher?" Oh I knew that voice all right, it's gotta be one of the most non-threatening voices in the village. I walked up, opened the door and I was right.

Fishlegs Ingerman. My sort-of best friend, emphasis on sort of. Good Thor this guy; if it wasn't for the fact that he was so damned sensitive I'd tell him to f**k off. But who has the heart to do that to the guy? I guess I'll just have to suffice for now.

"Oh, it's you," I said apathetically.

"And it's you," the fat guy said awkwardly. "So...just hangin' out?"

I took another swig from my bottle of mead. "So how do you plan to spice up my evening?" I asked sarcastically like I always do.

"Well, aren't friends supposed to help each other when they feel like crap?" Friends? Haven't really been that much of a friend, have you?

Damn, do I really show my inner musings that much around people? Maybe I do...eh, whatever. I guess I could let him in.

"Get in here."

So he followed me in and yeah, this is kind of awkward for me too, so he's not the only one suffering here. I pulled out a chair for the big guy to sit in; just because I'm not the nicest person doesn't mean I'm a bad host.

"Is this a genuine visit Legs or can I expecting a prank soon?"

"What, n-no! This isn't a joke I swear," he said anxiously.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!"

I set down my mead and I got straight to the chase. "I really did hit it Legs."

"A NightFury? The NightFury of legend?"

"Yes I did! No one else noticed 'cause they were running around like f**king morons, but I hit it! You have to believe me!"

"But come on Asher, you and I both know that a dragon that dangerous and fearsome wouldn't let itself be hit like that."

I was growing more frustrated by the second. "Legs, please work with me here."

But Fishlegs was still ever the more skeptical. "The fact that it's coming from you doesn't help all that much either."

"What are you saying? That I'm making this up just to get respect?! While I wouldn't be above that, even if it means getting women-no! No, Fishlegs, I am dead serious here!" Even if he was my sort-of friend, I am not taking lightly to that backhanded insult, unintentional or not.

The big guy sighed and shook his head. "I don't know Asher-"

"No, no Fishlegs, I-I see how it how it is. You've, ugh, you've let the others pervert you into thinking that I'm the one not to be trusted. What happened to you these past few years, huh?!"

He just sat there, looking kind of sad and unsure. "I-I just wanted to, you know, be more-"

"Be more what?" I said curtly.

"I didn't want to be an outcast anymore Asher. Maybe you did, and that's fine, but I didn't okay?"

I huffed intensely and took another swig of mead. "Look I gotta go Asher, so I'll see you some other time." And with that, he stood up and walked out the front door.

I finished off my bottle of mead and went to my bed dresser and took out a knife: my father's knife.

"Oh, I'm gonna show 'em the NightFury!" I said determinedly.

So I made it to the other side of this dumb island, in the forest, and guess what: no freakin' NightFury! Yeah, I can't believe it either. I had my journal in my right hand, pen in another, and I angrily scratched out another location on my piece-of-shit map.

"Why do the gods hate me?" I asked stepping over a fallen tree. "Some people lose their mug or their boot. Oh, but not me. I manage to lose a whole damn dragon!"

I sighed in pure annoyance before hitting a branch to the side only to have it snap back and hit me in the face. Ow! I rubbed my stinging face and said, "Even nature hates me… Bitch." Suddenly, I saw that the branch that had just effing slapped me in my beautiful face was part of a huge tree that was nearly split clean in two.

I looked down and noticed a large ditch followed by even more destroyed trees and ruined ferns. I proceeded to follow the debris before seeing a small clearing. I hid herself behind a rock and bravely peeked over.

Beyond the rock lay an unconscious black dragon.

I shriek a manly shriek before I ducked back behind the rock. Hey, men can shriek too! It is not girly! Shut up!

My heart was pounding in my chest so much, I thought that it was gonna burst out of my chest. "Calm down Ash, calm down," I reminded myself. With about as much courage as I could muster, which is a lot by the way, I got from behind the rock and stepped toward the dragon.

There was no doubt about it. This was the legendary NightFury. A NightFury that I, Asher, the so-called village screw-up, had captured. You cannot believe how happy I am at this moment. "I got it. I f**king got it," I whispered in excitement. Finally, my chance at getting respect, rubbing it in their faces, and hel, I might even get laid! EEEEEE!Ignore that people. You didn't hear that!

Suddenly, the beast shifted and, like a real man, I jumped from fear. The dragon's emerald eyes opened up and stared right at me I then took out my knife, ready to strike at it. "Oh, you're going down. I'ma kill the shit out of you," I told the beast. I looked at it's eyes and it held a look of...sadness? No, this is a trick! Dragons have no souls, let alone feelings.

I shook my head and held my knife tighter. "No, I'm gonna take out your heart, and bring it to the chief, 'cause I'm a viking. I'm a Viking. I AM A DAMN VIKING!"

With that, the beast looked down and just...sat there. I looked at it one more time and it looked so helpless and lost. I couldn't take it. It reminded me of...her. Oh Thor, why? Why?

I walked over and cut it's ropes. My goodness, what the hel are you doing Asher? What the hel are you doing? As soon as it's limbs were loose enough, the thing pounced on me and growled. I did not scream; it's like I suddenly lost that ability. It opened it's jaw, preparing to eat me, but instead it roared and jumped off of me.

I did what any other true man would do at that moment...

I fainted.

After I woke up, I realized that the sun had already set. "Shit!" I swore to myself. I ran back to the village as fast as I could. To get to my house, I had to pass that witch with a capital 'b' Hicca's house. OK Ash, just a few more feet, just a little more...

"Hey Asher!" Damn, damm, DAMN! So close. I was so tired, and I did not want to hear any insults right now. I looked back and saw arrogance in human form running toward me...with that silky brown hair, perfect body, those eyes...

Wait, what am I saying? I don't like her! She's a showoff-y little priss. Screw you male hormones!

"You get your wish. My dad told me that you start training tomorrow morning like the rest of us." For some reason, I didn't feel all that happy about it. Should I go?

"Um...actually Hicca, I changed my mind," I said nervously. She raised an eyebrow at me in shock. "But ever since you were little, or little-er," Hicca began, remarking on my frame, "you've always talked about killing dragons. And besides, it's a chance for you to improve on all of...this."

"You just gestured to all of me." The second time this happened. Come on people, what is wrong with me?!

"Besides, you don't have a choice. My dad's making you," she continued on. Oh, me and the chief are gonna talk about this shit! We are gonna talk!

"And if you're thinking about talking to him, good luck. He's like super busy with the expedition to the dragon's nest right now." What is this girl, a mind-reader or something.

I sighed and gritted my teeth. 'This is bullshit,' I thought to myself. "Fine, I'll go," I hissed to Hicca.

"I thought so," she replied, smirking all the way. What I would give to wipe that shit-eating grin off of her face. " So we start tomorrow in the arena. Try not to get killed," she shouted over her shoulder as she walked away. My eyes stared at her back and scrolled down. Wow, it looks so round and firm-no!

Bad Asher! Bad boy! You are not supposed to like her! That crush is dead! She is the enemy!

But she's so attractive! Damn hormones!

Second chapter of the new and improved version. Hope y'all enjoy this series, cause I do!