So Much More
By: Selim
Summary: As future king, Toothless was entitled to the wealth, power, and women that came with the job. A chance meeting with a creature from another world teaches him that there's so much more outside his world and only he can protect it. Antro-Toothless x Hiccup
Warnings: AU-AR, Antro-Character, sug. human sacrifice, sug. dragon slavery
Pairing: Toothless x Hiccup
Disclaimer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon. This is a piece of fiction and the author is not making any money off its creation.

When he was given his orders to investigate the finding of the god's gifts, there were four of the creatures known. Each one had been taken in by royal decree, placed under the care of a prestigious healer. Toothless' focus on the case had been divided between the creatures found and the response to the gifts. There had been a palace leak and everyone wanted to know of the dangers of these new creatures. A look into the slave market rates had also suggested that the unnamed creatures had a marketed value beyond that of a Night Fury.

It was appalling to think that the creature in his room, the very one that attempted to make his bed and dress him in the morning was worth more than him for the mediocre chores he did.

The number of guards posted at the healer's clinic had grown in numbers, none of which had ever been posted at the Mountain Tour. Arms crossed behind him, Toothless made his way through the corridors of the clinic, nodding to the loyal guards at their post. "Where's Healer Longtail?"

"In the last room, sir."

Nodding, Toothless made his way down the corridor. The Healer glanced up from his work with the unconscious creature, making a low noise. "No change, my Prince."

Crossing his arms across his chest, the Night Fury shook his head. "How do four healthy creatures turn up sick when they're at our best healer's?" He reached over, touching the clammy hand of the creature. Whenever he touched the skin of the creature in his room, the boy jumped into the present, scared and eager to please. This one remained in his state of unconsciousness, looking small on the straw bed.

"They aren't metabolizing our food." The healer flicked one of his horns, annoyance written across his aging face. "Refusal to eat was responded to with a force feeding. My hypothesis is that these creatures don't need to eat. True gifts."

"What did you feed them?"

Annoyance flickering Longtail's face, the aging Gronckle growled. "A sustained diet of fish and moonseed, puréed into an easy to swallow mush and feed to them through a tube." Toothless considered that information. For a traditional dinner, fish and moonseed was an acceptable meal filled with appropriate nutrients to sustain life for years.

The little gift in his room pierced through his memory, pushing away plates of raw fish and moonseed fruit. The creature had yet to try the fruit while all meats had to be cooked before he even nibbled on them, eating around the bone with flat teeth. "Did it ever occur to you, healer that the food might be the reason they're sick? Perhaps they do not digest our food?"

"Based on their physiological composition, I find that hard to believe."

"Do we not heat up our food intentionally? We have one dead gift, see if there is a igniting pouch in their upper gut. I would bet if the raw food didn't make them sick, that our fruity moonseed might be poisonous to them." He crossed his ankles, heavy was clicking together. "What condition is the gift that speaks near fluent Dragonese?"

"You're looking at him." The healer spread his arm out over the prone figure. "By our estimation, the creature is forty summers. He's Scorned Commander Rippers' gift, apparently stolen before his retirement twenty-years ago." The healer tugged down the blankets covering the creature's neck, tracing a sharp claw over a familiar red marking that encompassed the creature's wide shoulder. "Apparently the Scorned Commander fancied himself the unknown. Of all four gifts, this one is perhaps the most well taken care of. Before this sickness came about, there was no indication of starvation, no lacerations along the thighs, arms, or back, or signs of trauma. In fact, the only thing that was of some concern to my staff was some minimal damage along the posterior opening but upon further examination it was learned that Scorned Commander Ripper had explored his mate prior to the forced removal."

"And the others?"

"Again, this was a very well taken care of pet in comparison. The others…I've seen slaves that walked away better. The oldest is in his sixties, incapable of speech. No external damage done to the throat but internally…he was burned by fire. The same way you'd punish an insolent terror."

Toothless groaned. When Terrors were too rowdy, it wasn't uncommon for the annoyed dragon to do a puff of fire into their mouth, causing the internal gas to ignite. It didn't have any long term consequences to Terrors but for these creatures, the effects were devastating.

For Gifts from Gods, these creatures were so fragile. Toothless admitted he was still uncertain if that's what they really were but he had no evidence to prove otherwise. His argument about the events of the past century was met with debate about the gods being angry that someone other than the rightful recipient received these beings. There wasn't much to say what they were and the only one that could tell them was currently dying in front of him.

Uncrossing his ankles, Toothless pushed himself off the wall. "I'm going to speak with Commander Ripper. If there are any changes, I request to be told immediately." He nodded.

As a hatchling, he'd grown up on stories of Commander Ripper. A Gronckle from the Shell-Lock, the dragon had rose to fame through his battles with the angry Red Queen and the followers of the Old Ways. The dragon had proved his kind formidable to all, including the King. Gronckles cherished him while the nobility respected him.

He retired with Toothless was still little, barely able to lift his heavy wings just after taking a last tour of duty in the quiet mountain path. He'd become scorned when it was learned he'd come into possession of one of the creatures. Someone as respectable as Ripper, withholding information… Prince Toothless didn't even want to think of it. He loved and respected the man.

Kept in the prisons of the palace, Ripper was settled on the ground, on a layer of straw that had bedded many prisoners before him. He glanced up for only a second before lowering his head in defeat upon seeing the crowned prince.

"You are to be my executioner?" He asked.

"Your jury, your lawyer, your savior – if you tell me everything you know about these creatures." Toothless shut the wooden framed door behind him. Twenty years ago, he would have been nervous about being in this room alone with such a man but now, the Gronckle was so aged the threat was gone.

The once powerful dragon's voice was rasped as he spoke. "Is he all right? Is my Eirick all right?"

"He's very sick." Toothless admitted, lowering his gaze. "When feed a tradition meal to regain to his strength, his body began to shut down."

Ripper's eyes hazed. "They can't eat raw meat. Makes them very sick. He caught a rabbit once, testing our moonseed fruit on one. The poor thing died within hours of convulsions. Never touched them. He did that a lot in the beginning, testing food with rabbits before eating them himself. Later told me that he was raised to not eat anything he'd never seen before unless another creature like a deer or rabbit was capable of eating it. I tried to tell those idiots that when they ripped him from me. They're so fragile."

Toothless swallowed. "What are they?"

"Humans." Ripper rasped the foreign word. His hands tightened. "I do not understand their culture very well. Eirick tried to tell me everything but…he often had trouble finding one of our words that matched one of theirs."

"Where do they come from?" Toothless tried again.

"There's another world on the other side of those mountains. It was this huge secret in those mountain ranges, guarded. Terrors make it through all the time, have experienced and lived alongside these humans for years but when they come back to our side, they're killed. Stopped by the guards that are supposed to protect them."

Toothless growled. "Why did you not report this?"

"I was being forced to retire that year. Old age, not part of the new crop being hatched every second. I was being left with nothing to show what I'd done. Then I stopped those guards from smuggling Eirick into the slave market. He was so young then, staring at me with such horror. I was afraid, we'd been positioned there to kill these creatures but… how could something so dangerous have eyes filled with terror?"

Hiccup had the same eyes when Toothless found him. "What does 'please don't kill me'mean?" Hiccup had chanted that even that morning after spilling the water over Toothless' uniform while trying to clean. In fact, the boy said it so often when he fumbled clumsily around, knocking things over or breaking something of no value.

"'Please don't kill me.' Tell me: have you met one of these creatures, my Prince?" Ripper's eyes widened. "Eirick used to say that a lot, in the beginning before he understood I meant no harm."

"Why would he think we were going to kill him?"

The Gronckle sighed, folding his hand. "Because they aren't gifts like those guards thought. They're sacrifices, to us – the real monsters. Instead of coming to fight us, they pacify us every ten years with another sacrifice. Eirick said he was selected as a young boy, taught that he was going to die by the time he was of sixteen summers. These humans have no idea what's on the other side of the mountain just that when one of their own goes in, they never come back out."

"How many are there?"

There was a pause in the room. "I don't know. Maybe as many as us if not more?"

Toothless exhaled. "So… you mated with one?"

Smiling, Ripper nodded. "Ten summers ago. I was worried that he only took my hand and met me under the moon because I was a dragon, the person supposed to own him but I wanted him so bad. Ever summer that he smiles and tells me he loves living with dragons, I know he stayed because he was really happy. I wish I could have collected the other sacrifices, to give them a chance to run free with my mate but I couldn't. It'd draw too much attention, cause something like this." The aged dragon sighed. "Didn't want to share the happiness I found with Eirick with others."

Gross, Toothless groaned internally. He was talking about this human as one would talk about a True Mate. "Did Eirick support you're interest in others of his kind?"

"What?" The Commander's jaw dropped. "I did not mean it like that! Never! I loved Eirick with my very internal flame. Only the dirtiest of dragons would sow his seed in one he does not truly cherish." He clenched his face in disgust.

Toothless growled, feeling the sharp words directed towards him.

"As my jury and executioner, will I be allowed to see Eirick before my sentencing?"

"I will have to check with the Royal House for approval." Toothless grumbled, arms crossed firmly over his chest. "But I do not see why not. It is within your right to be with your mate, in accordance with the law. Your wings will, of course, be clipped prior to the meeting should one occur." It was a safety measure for those awaiting sentencing as well as a show for the people to see what happens to those that break the law. The greatest dishonor one could be punished with.

The once honored Commander lowered his own gaze. "I understand, my Prince."

Leaving the prisons, Toothless made his next stop the palace, putting in the Mate's Right Request. His mother met him in the main hall, her evening gown sparkling in the setting sun as he left his father's audience chamber. He accepted her hug with half-lidded eyes, letting the tension of his day release.

"They are sacrifices, mother." He whispered into her horns. "Not gifts. We allowed ourselves to be monsters these creatures on the other side of the mountains fear."

"We need to find this year's sacrifice then. Send him back with gifts of our own. Tell his or her people we mean them no harm." His mother tilted his head down, leaning forward to kiss his temple. "You'll find him, my son. You were the best scout in the service next to your father. Now then," she leaned back, her dainty fingers running over his crisp uniform, "We must discuss your potential suitors for your Courting Ceremony. Considering you're so behind on your studies, we simply must ensure you step on no one's toes."

He ate dinner under the pavilion in the gardens, discussing politics with the neighboring countries. His mother, a long standing member of the social circle, was well versed in the light and dark side of each royal house, from the sons and daughters to the Castle Keepers. Privy to numerous jokes on other houses' behalf, Toothless almost found himself forgetting the events of the day even when his father joined them for evening wine under the stars.

"I will be first to admit," His father sipped along the rim of his goblet, "Massclaws barely scratched the surface to this case. You've exploded a good portion. Sacrifices? How… savage."

"And to think, there's another out there trained to just do what we say. No person should ever be treated like that." His mother rubbed her claw against her high cheek bones, making a low sniffling noise to extinguish flame. "Definitely not gods. Oh, I wish that poor human was here. I want to show him how loving of species we really are."

"Now dear, the right thing is to send the little one back and then just block off the mountain ranges. A few explosions and we can seal the gate permanently; put an end to all of this." His father turned to Toothless. "The market value for one went up this morning again. Now, even dead, they're more valuable than one of our hatchlings. There was a riot in the city when word spread that one had died in the care of royal officials. With only three known located, there's a demand. We're sending in your old division to guard the gates. Would you wish to join them?"

Shaking his head, Toothless fought the urge to glance up towards his tall balcony. He was scared to see if the human came out for air that day, being spotted by one of the aerial guards. "I sent out word to change the diet of the humans in our care. Currently they're too sick to eat anything but they are ingesting fluids such as water. I also sent out a request for Commander Ripper to, uh, see his mate."

His mother stiffened. "That man forced one of them to accept such terms of slavery."

"From what I could see, there was real love in that relationship." Toothless shrugged his shoulders when his father glanced at him. "The way Ripper spoke about human Eirick reminded me of how dad speaks of you, mother. True mates."

Smiling, his mother brought her hand to the king's face, rubbing his sturdy chin. "Aw, you think of me as you're True Mate?" She leaned in, brushing her flat nasal cavity with the king's in a kiss.

"Of course, dearest."

"Clawless…"

"Raincloud…"

"I'm going to be sick." Toothless turned his heavy body away from his parent's display of affection. "I'm heading up to my chambers. If something new arises in the case, send for me immediately." He offered his parent's a small smile before entering the castle.

He was rummaging through the kitchens, collecting a platter of things the human would eat when he heard the clatter of pots before his sister-in-law stepped into the chambers, running her hand over her belly with some excitement. Groaning loudly, the prince dropped his head back on his shoulders. I do not want to deal with this right now.

"Toothless."

"Maybar." Toothless scanned the array of fruit, looking for something he'd seen the rats outside the castle nibble on. He grabbed the grapes absently, plucking a handful to place on the clay plate.

Attention on the plate, the female dragon smiled. "I had thought the servant girls lying when they said you were rummaging through the kitchens after hours. Do you have another secret you wish to inform the family?"

Placing his hand on his belly, Toothless grinned. "It's Massclaws'. At least he'll finally have a Night Fury hatchling fit for the crown." He leaned forward, a coy smile on his face. "But don't be jealous, dearest sister; my brother only seeks what you can't give him."

"Shut up!" Maybar hissed low.

Toothless had to admit, that was a low blow but it felt so good to get under her scales like she did to him. Dragons mated with varying species all the time with no actual effect on their children. Some healers were describing the process of baby selection as a chance encounter, one his Nadder of a sister-in-law was losing on. Two female Nadder daughters latter, she was still waiting for the male heir. To really gain favor in her youth, she was aiming high for a Night Fury male heir.

"This time I will make Massclaws happy. Our little Night Fury boy will knock your pompous ass off the throne." She raised her nose in the air. "You'll screw up again, like always, and my husband will be Crowned Prince. Maybe we should see what poor unsuspecting girl – or boy for that matter, you've never been too choosy with coupling – you're feeding tonight."

Plate in one hand, Toothless approached his sister-in-law, leaning close enough that he could smell the faint scent of his brother's seed. Disgusting."You shouldn't be angry just because I'm not interested in making you leak honey."

She gasped. "You're disgusting."

"You like it." Toothless grinned. "Go see my brother. He might be more interested in your company than I am."

"I hope your cheap whore ends up with an egg." Maybar stormed out of the room, absently grabbing biscuits from the counter on her escape.

Shaking his head, Toothless made his way through the palace corridors, only stopping for a second to tell his nieces how beautiful they were looking that day (because he'd never admit how much he doted on the little ones) before climbing the long, towering stairs to his chambers. The guards posted at his door greeted him with a heavy nod before aiding him with holding the door open.

"Unless it's my father with news on the case, I wish not to be disturbed." He shut the doors firmly behind him before turning to find the bundle of human he'd taken in.

Said boy, Hiccup, was scrubbing at the floors, probably for the third time that day in effort to keep busy. Toothless' bed had been remade with the blankets changed. His linen had been reorganized and folded, and his disorganized desk had been put into neat piles of paper that he'd have to go through and re-sort to make sure important documents hadn't been mixed with the unimportant ones. It was no surprise that these creatures could easily be mistaken for slaves.

Hiccup was so good at cleaning when he wasn't knocking things over.

"Toothless!" The human stood up, dusting his knees off.

"I brought you dinner." Toothless held up the plate of cooked elk and grapes.

Still smiling, the human cleared off his dirty rags from the table, setting up two of Toothless' private stock plates and cups. The dragon settled into his chair, watching as Hiccup poured him another goblet of the fine wines from the east lands. "Please, sit down. We're both free men here." The Night Fury waved his hand out, offering the other seat.

Nervously, the human sat down across from him. "Eat?" He asked, eyes scanning over the plate of food.

"It's all yours. I've already had supper." Toothless pushed the plate over. "I hope you can eat everything."

Hiccup stripped off pieces of the tender elk, setting it on his plate with care.

"Do you want to go back home?" Toothless tried asking. His question was met with the familiar blank look of not understanding before a grateful smile about the word eat. Conversations between the two were often one-sided but it didn't make the world of difference to the dragon that became lost in his talk about his father and mother, his brother and Maybar, even the recent antics of his adorable nieces. Sometimes Hiccup would repeat minor words from all of Toothless comments, asking for some kind of translation that would leave the dragon fumbling around his room to hold up some object to better explain what he was talking about.

Fifteen words were already added to the human's vocabulary. Fragile, he may be, stupid he wasn't. The boy was eagerly taking in everything within the room, following Toothless around like a lost Terror looking for instruction.

"I have to bring you before the courts eventually." Toothless admitted as he watched Hiccup clean up the dinner dishes. He helped the human drain the water over the terrace, only smiling when a guard began to shout far below. "But I'm afraid to lose you when it's all said and done." There, he admitted it. He didn't want to share his secret. Sacrificed to the dragons or not, this was a gift that he found. There was no reason to share it with the others.

They wouldn't understand how special Hiccup really was.

At his changing corner, Hiccup proudly held up Toothless bed linen, a heavy sleeping gown. "Toothless, dress." The human waved the gown in a 'come here' motion. Smiling, Toothless stepped over, bending his knees to let the little creature pluck off the elaborate uniform he'd worn for the day.

He tried to ignore the curious fingers that stayed on his chest or brushed over his wings longer than necessary. He ignored the pink that encompassed the cheeks and nose of the tiny creature as the boy stepped back, rushing out words that were indecipherable in any language. There was always this growing need to touch fleshy skin, smooth as a newborn's wings.

It encouraged the thought that he never wanted to bring this person out before his father. He wanted to seal off the caves in the mountain and prove that he was more special than anyone else because he had one of the so-called-gifts. He was prince, it was in his right.

"You must get bored in here." Toothless laid his head back on a pillow, not looking towards the creature building a bed in the furthest corner of the room, where he'd been instructed to stay at night so others could not see him. "I am positively mad being in here a short span of time without company."

Green eyes faced him even in the dark, Hiccup's smile still lighting up the room.

"I want to show you our world, to make it your new home," he continued into the night, long nails playing with loose strings on his blanket.

The human turned on his sides, tucking his arm under his head with a low whine to mask a giggle. "Toothless – sleep!"

And Toothless did, losing himself into a fantasy that he would be able to take Hiccup everywhere in his kingdom without any soul making eye contact with the one he loved and cherished.

His eyes snapped open in the middle of the night, past the lure of low breathing from the human on the floor.

Is this what it feels to have a True Mate?