Chapter Six

A/N: So, there's a part in middle-ish section of the chapter that goes 'I've got my axe and I've got my mace...' That is Gobber's song from the episode "Viking For Hire"... XD Not just a random string of word. I promise. LOL!

Also, this chapter is pretty dark... Personally, I love that stuff. I apologize if you don't.

PS, short chapter. Sorry...but I think it's pretty worth it XD

An evil sneer is plastered over Dagur's face while he watches Hiccup fight for his very life. Stoick's little embarrassment struggles against Dagur's superior strength, throwing wild kicks and punches. All of which, he is able to dodge with little effort. Soon, Hiccup's body begins to go still under Dagur's hands. Desperate gasps escape him but it's no use. The little viking's knees give out, his eyes rolling back in his head. Within seconds, his body is completely limp.

Only then does Dagur release him. He chuckles as Hiccup crumples to the floor, his face deathly pale. The boy doesn't move, doesn't wake up, doesn't breathe. Dagur nods, satisfied that Stoick will get the message. But, just in case... He tugs the Book of Dragons out of his waist band. Flipping open to a blank page, he finds a charcoal pencil laying on the counter top. In big, scrawling letters, he leaves his message for Stoick the Vast and tears out the page. Dagur places the note on Hiccup's motionless body and returns the Book to his waistband before turning to Toothless.

With a small, sadistic laugh, he says, "I was planning on killing you..." He eyes the downed dragon with a look of pride. "But I think I'll let you live. By that look in your eye, you're wishing you were dead." He kneels down, just far enough that the injured dragon can't reach him. "You failed, Night Fury. Hiccup is dead." The cruelty in his voice is replaced by menacing laughter. He stands up. "But maybe you'll get lucky. Maybe Stoick will kill you and put you out of your misery." He shrugs. "Or maybe not."

With that, he strolls out the Forge, satisfied that Hiccup has stopped breathing and the Toothless is officially broken. Mentally and physically. He's won this battle. Now to head home and prepare for tomorrow's...

"Oh, I've got my axe and I've got my mace and I love my wife with the ugly face! I'm a viking through and through~!" Gobber's merry voice echos into the Forge as he sings his 'happy song'. His hands are occupied, carrying two large barrels where fish had been kept only a few minutes ago. He'll never get over how much those Needlemouths will eat in one sitting... Bumping open the door with his peg-leg, he stumbles inside, immediately noticing the fires that are still roaring in the furnace. Oh, that's right. Hiccup is probably here, fixing Toothless's tail again. With a little chuckle, he sets down the barrels and calls, "Hey, Hiccup!" He waits a moment but gets no reply. "Are you here?"

Silence.

"Hiccu-AH!" Gobber cries out in shock when he rounds the corner to the back of the shop. Toothless is laying on the floor, a blank expression on his face. A bit of smoke is spilling out of his nose, as if his insides her on fire. "Toothless!" Gobber gasps, kneeling down beside his protegé's dragon. "Are you alright, boy?"

But Toothless doesn't respond. His empty, green eyes are staring off into the distance. He's awake...but seems dead to the world. Gobber doesn't know what to think of it. He's never seen Toothless...like...this... His thoughts trail off as he follows the Night Fury's gaze.

Laying on the floor, motionless and pale...is Hiccup. The blacksmith scrambles over to the boy, lowering his ear to Hiccup's mouth. Nothing. He's not breathing. Throwing off his helmet, Gobber presses his ear to the boy's chest, desperate to hear a heart beat.

Toothless watches him...but not really. He doesn't really care, doesn't care about anything. Dagur was right. He failed Hiccup...allowed him to be killed...right in front of him. And there was nothing he could do to stop it. All Toothless can think about is the look in his Rider's eyes as he slid to the ground, as his life ebbed out of him... Hiccup looked...almost relieved. He knew his dragon would live. And he was happy about that. Happy that Toothless would live, even though he was going to die. A low, mournful whimper escapes Toothless's throat. He doesn't care how much it burns. He whimpers again, pitifully. All he knows is Hiccup is dead. Gone. He should have burned Dagur to a crisp until there was nothing left! Then Hiccup would still be alive! But no. He'd allowed that monster to live and now Hiccup, his Hiccup...is dead.

Toothless sees red. He's furious. He can still smell Dagur. He could track him down, correct his mistake...Hiccup would still be dead but at least his murderer would be too. The boiling Night Fury is about to drag himself to his feet and race after that sicko Dagur...when he finally hears Gobber's voice.

"Come on, boy...!" He urges, quietly.

Toothless hesitates, his eyes still on the door that Dagur disappeared through. He could do it. He could go after him...

"Wake up, Hiccup...!"

He could burn Dagur alive for what he did...

"Hiccup, come on! Breathe!"

He could...he could-

"Snap out of it, boy!"

WHY IS HE DOING THAT?! HICCUP IS DEAD! HE CAN'T BE- But Toothless freezes. What's that sound...? His ears twitch as he listens. His eyes widen in disbelief, his heart giving a jump. He knows that sound...that's...

Gobber backs off, his eyes frantic as Hiccup's body suddenly jolts. The boy sucks in a gasp, his lungs filling with sweet relief. Coughing violently, Hiccup turns over onto his elbows. He gasps for air, then coughs, then gasps again. His heart hammering against his ribs.

So that's what the noise is... Hiccup's heart. His beating heart. Gobber did it. He saved him. Suddenly, Toothless feels like bouncing. Why? He's not entirely sure. But he doesn't really care! He jumps to his feet, his body flooding with blissful energy as he races over to Hiccup. He bounces, gleefully. Hiccup is alive! He's alive! He's ALIVE! Toothless roars, excitedly and continues to gallop around the small room. All the while, Gobber pulls Hiccup's-once more-unconscious form into his arms and stands up.

"Come on, Toothless. Let's get him home!"

Toothless roars in agreeance. Home. That sounds nice. He prances after Gobber, not even feeling the pain in his throat anymore. And he looks at nothing but Hiccup. Cradled in Gobber's arms, looking small and fragile and broken. But alive. Breathing and ALIVE! And that's all that Toothless cares about right now. His Hiccup is alive. And he couldn't be happier.

A/N: I'll have you know, when I planned this out in my outline, it was SOOO different! XD None of this happened! But boy am I glad I decided to just roll with it! (I like this chapter LOL!)