My dreams were interrupted and troubled.

I kept dreaming that my heart was stopping, I was falling to my death into unspeakable darkness, I was dying in other ways I'd rather not say.

One thing was for sure, these were not my usual dreams. Something was off.

Then, I found myself floating in an endless dark void. I looked around and saw nothing. Then I realized I could see something. Toothless. Floating there, looking dead and lifeless in every way. I moved over to him and put a hand on his snout.

"Toothless? Bud?"

He didn't move. It was just like in the cave. He hadn't woken up until I had placed my hand on his snout, but I was doing that now. What was different?

The chip.

They removed his chip. The essence of who he was. All his emotions, his pain, his happiness. Everything that was my friend, what made him different from every other feelingless AI. The chip I had put hours into. The chip I had placed so gently into his head. The chip that had almost malfunctioned a year ago. I had almost lost him. That chip was what held him together.

I put my head against his.

"Too...too...thle...ss."

I stroked the sides of his head.

"I...it's okay, bud. It...it's going t..to be fine. I'll bring y..you back."

I felt tears beginning to form. This wasn't a dream. This was almost real, in a sense. I could feel him there in front of me. I felt emptiness in front of me. And without him, who was I?

"T... my friend. My creation.. but so much more... you are a part of me."

I closed my eyes.

"I can't live without you. Toothless. Please... come back."

Nothing.

"Toothless... I love you."

I felt something. He moved, and my heart beat faster.

"H...hic...crea...tor.." He stuttered.

I felt a smile beginning to make it's way onto my face. "That's right."

"Don't... leave..."

He opened his eyes at the same time I opened mine. We stared into each other's eyes.

"Fr...ie...nd." He said.

"Friend." I repeated.

"Together." We said.

I jerked awake and sat up. Richard was there. My friend was looking very relieved.

"Oh, thank goodness. I'm getting tired of almost losing you." He punched me lightly on the arm. "Can you stop this habit you're developing? Of almost dying over and over?"

I nodded. "Sure. How long have I been out?"

"A few days."

My breath caught in my throat. Richard nodded.

"Your mom is trying to fix Toothless. She doesn't know how successful she'll be. She's... really sorry for hurting him." His voice went low.

I shook my head. "He's... being fixed? Shouldn't I be there... where are they?" I began to stand up.

Richard didn't stop me. We began to head through the large sanctuary. I felt hope stir in me. Toothless was there, I could feel it. Somehow, I could feel it. As if we were...

Connected.