"That's about it. You know what happened after that."

"Sure, I can fill in the gaps, I think I've got it all. Listen Hiccup, are you sure you want me to write all this down? What if people read it, and copy it and send it to all the other tribes? This is pretty incredible stuff, but it's also kind of dark. Before you know it the whole world would see Berk as the island of black magic and evil spirits and…"

"Just do it Fishlegs, and don't worry about it."

Hiccup leaned back on a pillar of unfinished wood, freshly cut from Berk's vast forests. The roofs of the new buildings were covered with a thin layer of crisp snowfall, slowly dripping in the sun. It would not be long before the high wooden structures were straining under the weight of the snow. The stone walls of Gobber's old blacksmith had yet to be rebuilt, and the two boys could look out on the entire village. Hiccup's mouth was dry after hours of non-stop talking. The floor was littered with broken charcoal pencils. He tried to reassure Fishlegs once again.

"It's better this way, after all, do you think the island will ever forget what happened here?"

"No."

"That's precisely why you should write it, on paper. The people of Berk will be telling this story for generations, I think, with each bard and poet adding their own personal spin. Who knows what the story of 'The girl who became a Night Fury' will sound like in a hundred years. Put it in a book, record the real events, and the truth will live forever."

"Alright, if you insist. It will take some time though."

"What else would you be doing, fighting dragons? They won't be coming back again."

"I suppose your right, but what about Astrid? Don't you think she'll be unhappy about her father being portrayed as… well, a villain?"

"You worry about the story, I'll worry about the Night Fury. I don't think she cares what you write, Astrid's about done with humanity."

The dragon in question lay sleeping nearby in the remains of Hiccup's old workshop, sheltered from the eyes of Berk's vengeful inhabitants by piles of rubble and bent tools. Nobody was stupid enough to outright attack a Night Fury, and they were even afraid to insult it openly. But he could hardly ignore the barely hidden glares, the whispers, or the extra armour that everyone seemed to be wearing as of late. Mothers herded their children inside, doors and windows were bolted, and hands drifted towards weapons whenever the dragon stalked past. He was certain that Astrid heard and saw more than he ever could, she could probably even smell the Vikings' fear.

And yet she still stalked around the village with her eyes glazed over and ears shut tight. She had completely healed physically in the weeks after the battle, but the stress of living among her people had left her sullen and empty. She hadn't spoken with any of her old family yet, and none of them offered to talk to her. These days, she normally only came out at night.

Vikings don't forget, nor do they forgive, and this had become abundantly clear ever since Stoick presented the people with Angarr's body and reclaimed his rightful position at the head of the Hooligan tribe. It was only a matter of hours after the mass funeral for all Berk's fallen warriors before the first fights broke out. Supporters of Angarr and Stoick divided the town into factions, with only the common goal of rebuilding the village keeping them from outright conflict.

"Once you've written it, keep it somewhere safe. There are people who would happily kill each other – and you – over the contents."

Fishlegs stifled a short squeal as he quickly gathered up all of his notes, looking around nervously. The thin pages were dwarfed by his enormous hands and even larger frame. He looked ridiculous as his eyes twitched from side to side.

"Why do you have to leave Hiccup?" He spoke with a low voice. "I know it's a bit strange that Astrid got turned into a dragon, but still! I would feel a lot safer if I knew I had a Night Fury on my side. It feels like the whole island has gone crazy."

"I know what you mean, but just relax. My father will have it all sorted out by spring. Look on the bright side, with me gone, you could be the next chief!"

"Oh, I don't think that will ever happen. If they had to elect a chief on merit alone it would definitely be Astr-" Fishlegs stopped himself mid-sentence, turning red and looking away.

"I would agree with you, and you're allowed to say her name, it's not like she's dead or anything." They turned to look at the sleeping girl, curled up on the floor with her tailfin covering her eyes. Her deep, rhythmic breaths blew dust and wood chippings across the floor. For a moment they just stared.

"I still can't believe it. A real, living Night Fury in our Village. It's so powerful, and yet it looks so peaceful."

"Yeah, and its 'she', not 'it' by the way."

"There's nothing as powerful as a Night Fury. I mean, some other dragons have thicker armour, or they are bigger, or they have more teeth, but the Night Fury has got to be the fastest and stealthiest and the most intelligent and-"

"Whoa, hang on a minute Fishlegs."

"I've been reading up on the book of Dragons again. I never noticed the page on Night Furies before, I always thought it was blank, but there's a picture and everything!"

"Yeah, well I guess the pages must have been stuck together or something…" Hiccup grinned.

They stood together in silence for the best part of a minute, listening to Astrid breathing. Fishlegs gawped in awe at the rippling scales that seemed to both absorb and reflect light simultaneously. The huge boy stood leaning forward, tense and unmoving.

"Would you like to touch her?"

"Oh please Hiccup, more than anything in the world I would like that. The scales look so sleek and smooth but I'm not sure if it will let me, I mean it could kill without even thinking and then-"

"Seriously Fishlegs, you need to calm down. Its Astrid, not some wild animal, remember?"

"Ok then, I guess I'll just…"

Fishlegs stood motionless for a few seconds more, unsure of how to procede. Eventually, curiosity vanquished fear and he edged towards the sleeping dragon with the smallest and quietest of steps. He stretched out his hand to pat Astrid's side, but turned his head away at the last moment, eyes screwed up.

Hiccup sighed and took Fishlegs' surprisingly soft hand in his own, guiding it round to the front of the dragon and onto its snout. A strangled gasp escaped the terrified Viking as his palm finally made contact. Beads of sweat ran down his hairy forearms as he felt the creature stir.

Astrid's eyes slid lazily open and blinked as she adjusted to the daylight. They settled on the hand resting between them, before flicking upwards to focus on the concerned owner of said limb. Her pupils narrowed slightly in confusion.

"Astrid, Fishlegs wanted to say hello before we left, isn't that right Fishlegs?"

"Oh yes Astrid, Ms Hofferson, ah… Ms Astrid Night Fury Ma'am. I just thought that it's been too long since we last spoke, and after everyone thought you we dead, but you weren't…"

Fishlegs tailed off as Astrid looked up at him, bemused. He slowly pulled back his hand.

"Try rubbing behind her ears, she normally likes that. Go on"

"Ok… Like this?"

The Night Fury rolled her neck in content bliss, happy to let Fishlegs have his fun. As it became clear that she would not eat him, Fishlegs became much more confident, massaging the scales with awe. His voice was a whisper still, but more from amazement than fear.

"This is amazing Hiccup, her scales are so smooth. They look cold, but they're actually warm, and dry too! I can't believe I'm actually touching a Night Fury. Wow, look at this…"

He ran his hands down her dragon chin as her mouth stretched open. He held Astrid's whole head in his hands as he gazed upon her empty gums. In his curiosity, he darted into her mouth with his little finger, gently feeling the row of pinkish mounds.

"Hey, you never told me she was toothless, how are they- OW!"

Painfully, her teeth were revealed, shooting out of her gums and slicing Fishleg's finger in the process. Astrid rose slowly, fully awake once again.

"Astrid, look what you've done." Hiccup scolded.

"No, it's okay Hiccup."

He clutched his bleeding digit, looking both shocked and sheepish.

"I shouldn't have put my hand in her mouth, and I definitely shouldn't have called her Toothless."

The dragon responded physically to the name, tensing up with a low growl of warning. Even Hiccup felt a little uncomfortable.

"Sorry about your hand Fishlegs, but we've got to go, haven't we Astrid?" She continued growling.

"What, already? But you need to say goodbye to everyone, and what about your provisions? Can't you at least wait until tomorrow?"

"No Fishlegs, we're not leaving right now, I just have to see my father about something. We'll talk again before we go."

"Right, sorry. I'll see you later."

"Oh and Fishlegs…" Hiccup called over his shoulder as his friend gathered up his notes. "Try not to make it too boring."

Hiccup walked straight to the meeting hall as quickly as he could without appearing to rush. Astrid slunk along beside him, trying to stay low and hidden in the shadows of the new buildings. Despite all her efforts, her midnight camouflage stood out horribly among patches of fresh snowfall, and her tracks were unmistakable. More than a few hateful glares followed them down the street. Curious children peered out from dark windows, whilst others followed quietly behind, daring each other to get closer.

Lurking in an alleyway, a man practically jumped in front of Hiccup, allowing the boy to bounce harmlessly off him and fall backwards. In a flash, Astrid was there, catching her rider's tiny body on her snout and lifting him back in his feet. She bared her teeth and hissed at the attacker. He laughed.

"Better watch where you're going boy, you could run into a traitor if you aren't careful." He spoke with a voice that was deep and thick with the common accent of his people.

Hiccup squinted at the man, searching for any clues as to his identity. He was tall and thick, stronger even than the average Viking. A tight tunic left much of his chest exposed to the bitter cold, and broad shield was slung over his back. Hiccup recognised the large steel helmet from when he was younger. Something about a fight with his cousin, he could remember being beaten up horribly.

A small crowd was starting to gather around them, growing every second. The man stepped aside, his eyes never leaving the Night Fury. In his place stepped Snotlout, Hiccup's childhood tormentor.

"You've got a lot of nerve parading your dragon around like this. Dragons are dangerous, someone could get hurt, and it won't be me."

"This isn't just any dragon Snotlout, this is-"

"Yes I've heard it all before. 'Astrid the Dragon', 'Black Magic', not a 'real' Night Fury. Well it looks pretty real, and in case you hadn't noticed, nobody in this village believes you. That dumb beast follows you around because you feed it, and when you run out of fish it will eat you."

Astrid snapped at Snotlout with a short roar, the crowd gasped and recoiled. He took a pace backwards, but was still close enough to shower Hiccup with spit as he spoke. The shadowy man stood un-phased in Snotlout's shadow. His sword was drawn the moment Astrid moved, and he held her back with the tip of his blade. Snotlout grinned smugly.

"You remember Jorg, don't you? He used to take us hunting back before everyone knew you were a failure. He's the new weapon smith, and he's been teaching me how to fight. We were just discussing the best way to dismember a Night Fury, weren't we Jorg?" The man did not answer.

"Look Snotlout, we don't want a fight. Just let me through and I promise we'll be gone."

"You can't just leave Hiccup, not after what you've done. The entire village, nearly wiped out because of you. There are scores to be settled, debts to be paid."

The warlike boy was turning red in the face and tendons bulged in his neck. He jabbed Hiccup in the shoulder as he spoke, straining over every word. Hiccup winced in pain as dark spots of fresh blood began to grow on his clothing, covering the older brown patches. Snotlout was deliberately targeting his wound.

"It was you and that dragon that got my father killed, don't ever forget that. You were lucky that Angarr died in the battle, so he couldn't tell everyone the truth. He was in on it too. Angarr, Stoick, Gobber, Hiccup and a dragon - all working together to ruin my family and destroy our home."

What? That is utterly ridiculous. Why… How could-"

"Well guess what. You're plan failed Hiccup. With you gone, I'll be next in line to be chief. I'll be in charge, and then I can avenge my father properly. I will hunt you down wherever you go, and then I'll oversee the execution personally."

"Listen Snotlout, I'm really sorry about you father, but you're getting hysterical. Just let us through and we won't bother anyone ever again."

Hiccup tried to slide past, lacking the strength to shoulder through the larger boy. Snotlout grabbed him by the arm as he went, digging his fingernails into Hiccup's skin.

"This is my island Hiccup, and you're running out of friends."

He released him, leaving red marks on his thin forearm. Still cradling his shoulder, Hiccup made his way through the streets towards the great hall. At the sight of the Night Fury, the crowd parted. They didn't even try to hide their whispers. Astrid stared back at Jorg over her shoulder. He matched her gaze every step of the way.

Hiccup sighed in relief as they left the threat of violence behind them. Nobody else dared to stop the Night Fury as they approached the edge of the village, and the edge of the cliffs. The voices died away, leaving only the distant crash of waves, the crunch of snow underfoot and their own gentle breathing. The sun was high, but heavy clouds and a stiff wind threatened another blizzard. Large flakes were already beginning to fall, and thin ice sheets in the bay reminded everyone that sailing season was almost over. Hiccup shivered at the thought of the winter to come. For once, he envied Astrid.

The great hall was freshly rebuilt, and back in Stoick's hands once again. As Hiccup climbed the shallow hill towards the massive wooden doors, they instilled in him the same sense of awe that it they did to all of Berk's children. The thick walls of stone gave the impression that it had been hewn from the very rock on which it stood, and the elaborate carvings created a sense of unimaginable age and wisdom, despite the fact that Hiccup had seen it under construction no less than a month ago. Vikings had an uncanny ability to enchant their buildings with a unique spirit, and it seemed like the old spirit had found its way home.

With no small amount of effort, Hiccup shoved against the doors, which reluctantly creaked open. A rush of warm air engulfed him, pulling him inside without a word. Stoick stood alone at the far end, hands behind his back, staring into the grand fireplace as it crackled with life. He didn't turn around.

"Shut the door Hiccup, warmth is precious."

The doors slammed together, echoing in the empty room. New tables and benches had been installed, freshly that morning. They stood bare, and lacked the old stains and smell of ale that had seeped through the wood for generations. Some things had changed.

Astrid's claws clicked as they walked down the wide aisle. The dragon seemed unusually tense. Hiccup lay his hand on her neck for comfort, but for whose he did not know. Moments before they reached the chief, Astrid stopped abruptly. Looking up into the gloom, her mouth dropped open with an equal amount of astonishment and horror. She cried out in despair.

Mounted above the fireplace, and directly above the chief's huge seat was the head of a Night Fury. Only the scales and skull of the great creature remained, and two blood red rubies in place of it eyes gave it a ferocious appearance. It looked exactly how all Vikings imagined A Night Fury would look; hellish and merciless, and it was pinned to the wall of the great hall.

"Dad… how could you?"

Stoick turned around to see Astrid, low to the ground with murder in her eyes. She was growling with genuine anger. The man sighed, and sat on one of the tables with a weary grunt. His eyes were bloodshot.

"Let me explain…"

Astrid barked loudly, baring her teeth. She bit deep into a bench and tore it in half, splintering the wood and sending shards everywhere. She threw it to the floor and started gouging runes for Stoick to see.

You knew! I told you about him and his curse. His name was 'toothless'. You are a monster.

"I know Astrid, I'm sorry for killing the dragon, I've said so before."

Toothless

"Okay, I'm sorry for killing Toothless, but you understand why. We've been through this before."

"Yeah dad, we understand he was a 'threat' and all, we know you're side of the story."

"Did you see your injuries son? He almost killed you!"

"Yes, we know. But I think Astrid would like to know why you've mounted his head on the damned wall! Like a trophy!" The Night Fury roared in agreement.

"I had no choice son, I'm sorry."

"What do you mean? Of course you had a choice! How could you possibly-"

"Think about it son! You're supposed to be the clever one around here."

Astrid's roars filled the room again, forcing Stoick to soften his tone.

"Look, son. As a leader, I have to make difficult choices, and this was one of the hardest. Gobber and Spitelout are gone…" He paused for a second, coughing. "I don't have anyone left Hiccup, no supporters. This will go a long way to satisfy my people's bloodlust, and finally bring some order back to this wretched island."

"But dad, the dragons aren't coming back. With Toothless gone the raids have basically stopped. All they do is go fishing on the horizon. There's no need to do this, the Dragon War is over, we won!"

"That's exactly why I needed to do it. I know you're angry Astrid but please hear me out. There is no better symbol than the head of a Night Fury to show the people that we really have won. Every day the will look up and see it, and think back to the times when dragon raids smashed the village, week after week. It will bring them peace, even if it doesn't bring me any. If anyone ever accuses us of being traitors, we can at least point to the Night Fury and say: 'There, that is the true source of evil. That is the architect of all our misery, but we have defeated him.' We can only hope that one day they believe our story."

Astrid flipped the wood over and wrote once again. She had calmed down from outright hostility, and the scratches were slightly less furious."

I guess you are right. He was behind all – She gestured to herself – this. But I still do not like this. And his name was Toothless. She underlined the last word for emphasis before turning to face the door in disgust. The chief spoke yet again.

"Look on the bright side, this is now the only dragon skull on the island, and if this peace holds, it will also be the last."

"What do you mean, Berk is full of dragon skulls. Skulls, bones, teeth. Hel, Rolf even covered his shield with dragon hide. The scales made it practically fireproof if I remember correctly." Astrid snorted in distain. A year before, she would have done anything to get her hands on a dragon-hide shield.

"Not any more. We had to give them all to Raynir, it was the only payment he would accept after I betrayed him."

"Raynir, really? Well I guess that makes sense, he always was a bit… enthusiastic about dragons."

"Indeed, he's going to present them to his people as trophies from the 'Great Dragon Hunt'." Stoick scoffed. "If only he knew, if only it were that easy. I still think he would have killed us all if one of his men hadn't captured a Terrible Terror alive. He wants us to send him captured dragons every year as an 'offering of goodwill and friendship between fellow clans'. I think that's how he put it."

"Wow, he really has no idea. But I guess that's a problem for another time."

"Aye, it certainly is son, and you won't be here to see it, so I've heard."

Hiccup tried to smile, but just ended up grinning awkwardly through clenched teeth. He looked away from his father, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Yeah, about that. Are you sure you're okay with that. I mean, you've never really trusted me to do anything, and who knows what kind of damage we could do, out in the world."

Astrid turned her head around, wanting to see Stoick's reaction. They had not yet confronted him about it, but just dropped hints around town and let rumour do the rest. Stoick knelt down and looked his son square in the eyes. At that moment, they may as well have been the only two in the world. His eyes were wet.

"Hiccup, you're the only one I've got left. Your mother all those years ago, and now Spitelout, and Gobber… I know he was just like a father to you, the father I never was. Oh Gods, I'm so sorry Hiccup."

Stoick looked towards the floor as tears began to flow. He didn't want his son to see him like this, but there was nothing he could do. He had lost his brother and his best friend. In all his efforts to keep the village from chaos and collapse, he had yet to fully register the depth of his pain.

Hiccup was just like his father, bottling up his emotions so tightly it hurt. But he had been close to Gobber too. He had never seen Stoick like this before, and a part of him was shocked that a man so steadfast beak down before his very eyes. He had always wanted his father to open up to him, but not like this.

Hiccup leant into his father's embrace, tears streaming. Between sobs, he managed to cry out.

"But why Gobber dad, why him? What did he ever do to anyone? He was with us all the way, through everything. He would have done anything for us, and now he's gone!"

"He would have never told you son, but he loved you. He loved you like I should have, Oh Gods forgive me!"

They held each other in mutual misery, expressing the pain that they had been denying. For Stoick, it was a lifetime of mistreating his son that affected him most, gnawing at his soul and mocking his sadness. For Hiccup, the bittersweet happiness of his father finally connecting with him was twisted by the pain of losing lifelong mentor. He could hardly stand. Astrid was there to catch him.

She was still enraged with Stoick, but the father-son embrace seemed to melt her heart, and she would do anything for Hiccup. She nudged up against the boy, and with a single leathery wing she wrapped around them both. Only the crackling fire and muffled wind could be heard. There they stayed for a long time, huddled against the harsh, cold world that lay beyond the doors, the only mourners of an old, crippled smith whose body was never found.

Stoick stood up slowly, holding his son closely by the shoulders. Astrid's retracted her wing and moved to the sitting position. Both she and Hiccup looked up to the man as he spoke, his words assured and calming.

"We cannot ask why, Hiccup. Death takes as she pleases, it is a fact of the world we live in. We have to believe that there is a reason for everything, a purpose for our lives. My grandfather told me Hiccup, hours before he passed, 'embrace life, embrace living, or you will live in constant fear of death, which is as good as being dead already'."

"I guess that makes sense. What happened to him after he said that, I never asked."

"Well Hiccup…" said Stoick with an unfaltering tone. "After he had told me that, your great-grandfather drowned in the bath."

Hiccup couldn't help but stifle a laugh, so astonishing was the claim. Slowly, in between the tears, a smile spread across Stoick's face, and the three of them burst out laughing.

"What! He drowned, in the bath?"

"I know, and they called him the greatest dragon killer of his generation!"

They laughed together at the sheer ridiculousness of it all. The deaths of Gobber, Spitelout and Angarr, the bizzare three-way fight with dragons and Vikings, the political upheaval within the tribe and the fact that a real life Night Fury was sat chuckling deeply in the middle of the great hall. For a moment, none of it seemed real, and there was nothing that any of them could do but laugh.

It took a few minutes for them all to calm down. Hiccup was still snorting whilst Astrid convulsed on the floor. Their eyes were still red, but they were not all tears of pain. Stoick knelt next to his son once again.

"Of course I'm happy to for you to go. Well not quite 'happy', but you know what I mean. Before this all, I would never have let you off the Island, and never by yourself. But I suppose you're not alone anymore. I think Astrid can protect you better than I ever could, judging from what I've seen, and I know she won't let anything happen to either of you." Astrid snorted in agreement and nudged Hiccup. Stoick continued, "I don't know what you'll do out there, but there's nothing left for you here, I can see that. You should go whilst you still have your youth, both of you. Whatever happens Hiccup, I've never been so proud to call you my son." Hiccup was struck by his father's words. He had never expected his father would ever be proud of him.

"Thanks dad… It means a lot. It really does."

Hiccup turned to follow Astrid out of the hall, Stoick looking after them. Just as they reached the door, the chief cried out.

"One more thing. Jarl Raynir also wanted to me to take on two of his warriors as my personal guard, it was part of the peace deal. I don't suppose you've seen, Helgi or… Shelly? I think that was his name."

"Clamm, Helgi and Clamm."

"So you do know them?"

Boy and dragon smiled knowingly at each other. Stoick would be too busy to miss them when they left.

"Sorry dad, I have no idea."

It was only a matter of days before they left the village. Preparations had been made, and they were equipped for a long journey. Hiccup had rebuilt the saddle and the tail-fin, strengthening it to the point where it was almost as strong as the scales it replaced. Hiccup himself had a new outfit, thick fur and leather armour to withstand the deep winter, or flying at high altitude. He had made it all himself in the new forge, and for the first time he didn't have to hide his work from Gobber. He would never get to show it to him either.

Hiccup had filled his pouches and pockets with as much dried meat as the village could spare, along with tools and materials to adjust the fin. He had also packed a stack of empty paper sheets, so that they might map the world as they explored it. It was early morning, and their exited breathing rose in clouds above them.

Only two came to see them off, Stoick and Fishlegs. The rest of the village was either sleeping, didn't know or didn't care. It was mostly the latter.

"Don't be gone too long Hiccup, I could really use your help with the book if you ever come back."

"I'm sure we'll be back one day Fishlegs, but I'm not making any promises. Just relax, things will be better once we leave."

"But won't it be dangerous? Just you two against the whole world!"

"Dangerous? Sure, but Astrid is a Night Fury, remember?" Astrid laughed deeply, reassuring Fishlegs more than Hiccup ever could.

"Point taken."

The sun was slowly lifting off the water and the sea began to shimmer as brightly as the snow. Hiccup was about to mount the saddle, but Stoick grabbed him by the shoulder one last time.

"Be safe Hiccup, and know that I always love you."

"I love you too dad."

"I know all these years, I haven't been… I've tried-"

"Dad, it's okay, I understand."

They embraced one last time, but they didn't waste any more words. Stoick patted the Night Fury on the head as Hiccup climbed the saddle. Astrid looked thoroughly unimpressed.

With a roar, they lifted off into the sky, quickly gaining height. They circled round the village that had been their home for their entire lives. Diving down, they swept over the roofs and windows, scaring people awake with a violent rush of air. They blew past Stoick, knocking his helmet off as they passed. His deep laughter was the last thing they heard as they left the building behind and soared.

Below them, the island glimmered, covered with a thick layer of snow and ice. Following the coast, they saw nothing to disturb the perfect tranquillity. The calm sea was empty for miles around.

"So I guess we go south like we planned, try to outrun the cold?" Astrid chirped cheerily, agreeing with her rider. Hiccup looked back at Berk and sighed.

"Do you really think they'll be alright? I just don't know if the dragons are really gone."

"They'll be fine. The dragons are nothing without the Night Fury, Berk will be safe."

"I suppose the dragons won't be back, you're right I think. Still, I just get the feeling that something still isn't right. The male Night Fury's trance just seemed… unnatural, and there was that dream you had back when it all began." Astrid considered what he said, but responded with the same reassuring tone.

"I wouldn't worry about it. A lot of crazy things have happened to us over the past few months."

"I guess I'm just paranoid."

They flew further over the wild side of the Island, enjoying the sun. Wordlessly, and to Hiccup's great surprise, Astrid rolled over to dive.

"Whoa, what are you doing?"

In moments, they had reached the ground. Astrid skimmed across the trees before she came across the cove. The trees above had kept some of the snow from reaching the pit, but the lake was completely frozen over. The body of the Night Fury had been moved, but something else stirred down the far end of clearing. Hiccup saw why they had landed.

A Terrible Terror was sat under a tree, crying out and nursing a broken wing. It was dark green, would have been completely invisible if it wasn't making such a racket. Astrid padded towards it, but it saw her coming, and quickly disappeared behind the trunk.

"Wait a minute Astrid, what if I try?"

Hiccup slid off the saddle and walked towards the tree. He didn't try to crouch or sneak, he wanted the dragon to know he was coming. It was huddled in a thin notch between two roots, pressing itself against the bark. He knelt down.

"Hey little guy, you've done some damage to your wing there." He slowly extended a hand, but the creature began to panic, scratching the tree in an effort to flee.

"Okay then, what about this…"

Hiccup tried again, but this time closed his eyes firmly and looked away. He inched his palm closer and closer. It was no more than a minute, but it felt like an age. Finally, the dragon leaned out to sniff the hand, and before long Hiccup's palm was pressed against its tiny forehead.

Astrid was stood impatiently, trying to see what was going on without disturbing Hiccup's plan. After a while, he emerged from the trees, cradling the Terror in his arms and gently stroking its head. It was still crying out, but Astrid could see it was from pain, not fear. It was only in Hiccup's arms because it clearly wanted to be there. She raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"What are you going to do with it?"

Hiccup didn't answer straight away, but simply stared down at scaled creature that was warming his hands. A stupid smile grew across his face as a plan formed in his head.

"Uh, Hiccup? What are you doing?" His eyes shot up and he grinned at Astrid ecstatically.

"Astrid, I have an idea and it may seem crazy. Astrid, we are going to train a dragon…"

The End .

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"Well that was a terrible ending!" I hear you cry. Its ok though, the rest of the story was worse.

I don't think there are any major 'loose' ends that aren't at least addressed, although feel free to pm me lol.

I'll probably write a sequel