I will never forget what happened that day. Not as long as I live.

Richard followed me into Toothless's cave. He saw all the machines and parts lining the walls and floor. He saw Toothless, shut off in the center of the floor. I looked back at Richard. He gaped at everything in the room all at once.

"Oh.. my..."

I couldn't help but smirk.

"You MADE this?" He said, his voice squeaky.

"Yeah." I shrugged. I moved up to Toothless, running a hand down his spine.

Richard moved slowly up to the motionless FAI.

Feeling Artificial Intelligent.

Because he feels.

Richard seemed terrified but curious. He moved a hand to Toothless's snout, and quickly pulled it away as if he expected it to bite him. He moved a hand forward again and touched it.

"Don't worry, he won't bite you unless you hurt me." I smiled at him.

Richard turned his amazed expression toward me. "Really..?"

He stopped. He pulled back. His face changed from wonder to anger.

"You made another one. A monster. Look at this thing! It could kill a man!" His voice shook. "You.. you..." His face turned dark. "You monster creator." He backed away, then turned and ran.

"Richard, wait!" I facepalmed. "Duh duh duh, I'm dead." I turned to Toothless. "We're dead."

I was about to follow him. I realized I couldn't stop him from blowing everything alone. I powered up Toothless. I got on his back and motioned for him to fly. He nodded and ran out of the cave. As we flew, I explained the situation.

Then, I spotted Richard.

"Grab him."

"Okay." Toothless swooped down and grabbed Richard.

The boy let out screams that could wake the dead.

We flew up the wall of the main cave, placed him ungraciously on a thin ledge, then landed on it ourselves.

"Hiccup, you get me down RIGHT NOW!" Richard screamed. He was pale as a ghost, shaking and clinging to the rock wall as if it was the only thing keeping him on the planet.

I got off of Toothless and reached out a hand to him. "Richard, please. You can't tell anyone about Toothless. He's.."

Richard interrupted me. "Hiccup, get me down, now. NOW!"

I snorted. If he wasn't going to listen, I wasn't going to talk. "If you enjoy being up here, by all means. Keep screaming at me."

Richard scowled angrily. He peeked over the dizziness inducing drop next to us. I was perfectly fine here because I knew Toothless could catch me if I fell. Richard pinned himself next to the wall again.

"Hiccup.." He looked genuinely terrified.

"Please trust me." I held out a hand. "I won't let you fall to your death, I promise."

He stared at me, terror in his eyes beginning to fade. He put his hand in mine.

I smiled. "Give me a chance."

He nodded once. "Okay." He croaked.

The ledge crumbled rather suddenly. We both began to fall. Richard stared at me, his dark green eyes filled with absolute terror.

"Spread your legs!" I yelled.

"What!?"

But he did so anyway.

We landed on Toothless's back. He eased us out of the drop and began to fly in lazy circles.

Richard was clinging to me as if his life depended on it. I could hardly breathe.

"Would you let go of me!" I croaked. "At least let me breathe!"

His grip eased. He was panting, and still gripping my middle. The only noises he was making were whimpers.

"It's okay. It's okay. You're fine. You're not going to fall." I soothed.

He opened one eye and stared me in the face. "I don't belong in the air."

"Look around." I pointed down toward the village, still lit up.

His eyes widened. A small gasp escaped his lips, and fear was forgotten. "Wow."

Toothless spoke for the first time. "What are we going to do now, Hicc?"

Richard gasped. "He talks!"

"Yes, he does. Richard, Toothless. Toothless, Richard."

"Nice to meet you, yeller." Toothless said, sarcasm dripping off his voice.

"Yeller? What does he mean by that?" Richard asked.

"Hey, the first time he comes up with a name for you, it means he like you. He called me 'creator'." I joked lightly, knowing full well that Toothless wasn't all that thrilled to have Richard on his back with me.

Richard nodded. "Okay."

I turned to Toothless. "Let's give him the full tour."

Toothless nodded.

We began flying through the large cave system. Some caves were filled with crystals that glowed. Some were filled with lava way, way below. Some had water lakes. One was filled with plants and undergrowth that thrived in the dim light. A small hole in the roof gave sunlight. I was particularly fond of that one. It was the first time I had seen sunlight.

Without Toothless, I never could have seen it.

I glanced back, and Richard's eyes are full of wonder and amazement. Doubt, too.

We finished, coming back and landing near Toothless's cave. I hopped off Toothless with a small grunt and helped Richard off. We sat down together. Toothless flopped over and relaxed his hydraulics.

There was a long silence between us.

Richard looked up at me suddenly. "Alright. I admit it. That was awesome."

I smiled. "Thank you."

He looked thoughtful for a long moment.

"I won't tell them, for now anyway. Until I decide all the way."

"Thank you!" I throw my arms around him in a spur-of-the-moment thing. After a moment, I feel his arms wrap around me.

A hug.

I backed up after a moment. "Oh.. sorry."

He frowned. "How does Toothless seem so... alive?"

I told him about the CAE.

His eyebrows shot into his hair. "He can FEEL?"

I nodded.

"He's more human than anyone else I know."

And it was true.

Richard put a hand on my shoulder. To my surprise, he looked sympathetic.

"He's your friend?"

"Yes."

He looked thoughtful again.

"Then I'll be your... friend too."

Then he punched me in the arm.

"That's for kidnapping me."

And then he fist bumped me.

"That's for everything else."

And we've remained friends to this day. He's the most loyal friend I'll ever know. I'll never forget what he did for me. I'll never forget what happened that day as long as I live.

I promise, Richard.