Hey guys! (And gals, and ...other.) Sorry about not updating, but I got grounded. Luckily I was able to talk my mom into giving me some time to finish this over Thanksgiving break.

Anyway, on with the show!

Disclaimer: I don't own HTTYD.

Chapter 5: I Can't Do This

Hiccup's POV

"You look along the coast. I'll go inland."

That was all the direction I gave Aiden when we set out. I mean, it was a Night Fury. No one has ever seen one before, so we don't exactly know what we're looking for.

I had gone inland quite a ways, but had not found any trace of the dragon I shot down. As I round the next turn, I close my eyes, willing the dragon to be in front of me when I open them. Opening my eyes, I see nothing. Another X, I think to myself bitterly. ARG! What's the point! I start to take my frustration out on the map I've drawn. Slamming it shut, I say to myself, "Oh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife, or their mug. No not me, I happen to lose an entire DRAGON! OW!"

The branch I just hit snaps back and whacks me in the eye. But as I look at the tree, I notice that the "branch" is actually a strip of bark. And the tree has been knocked over. My eyes follow the trunk down to the ground, where a large trench has been made. As I walk down the trench, I notice roots that have been upturned and scratches on everything. I climb over the last rise… and gasp. My mind must be playing tricks. I could have sworn I saw a dragon. I look once more. Definitely a dragon. And it was tangled in ropes. Ropes from… my bola cannon! Quickly, I take out my dagger. I make my way towards it. Ducking behind a rock, I gather enough courage to face the creature. Coming out from behind the rock, I walk up to the black dragon.

"Oh, wow. I did it. Oh, I did it! This-this fixes everything! YES! I have brought down this mighty beast-" but my self-promoting speech is cut short when the Night Fury throws my foot of its shoulder, and in the process, flinging me against a boulder. I try to regain my breath and point my very intimidating dagger at him. I chide myself for not bringing a larger weapon. It's alive. The thought of going up against a Night Fury makes my knees wobble. Now, I allow my eyes to take in the appearance of the beast. It is pitch black with large wings and four short, yet sturdy legs. It has no horns; instead it has what look like ears on its compact head. And its eyes. They were like green tidal pools. I can't pull myself away from them. They stare at me, looking frightened. But dragons are mindless, killing machines. They aren't supposed to feel.

Tearing myself away, I focus on the task at hand. "I'm going to kill you, dragon. And I'm… I'm going to cut out your heart and take it to my father. I'm a Viking. I'M A VIKING!" Taking a deep breath, I raise my knife above my head and prepare to finish him off. But, I make the mistake of looking back into its eyes. In them, I see an animal that is scared to death. An animal that knows it has no hope of living. An animal that realizes that it is at my mercy. And then, with a moan, the dragon lets its head fall onto the ground, giving up. And I realize something too.

I can't do this. I lower my knife and look at the damage I've caused the dragon. The ropes have rubbed the skin raw and in some places, have made deep cuts. "I did this," I mummer to myself as I turn to leave. But then glancing back, I realize that leaving it might as well be killing it.

I can't believe I'm about to do this. I kneel next to the Night Fury and start to cut the ropes. Just as I finish and the rope goes slack, the dragon leaps up and pins me against the ground. I prepare myself for a grizzly death, but find myself captivated by his eyes. Then he spreads his wings and opens his mouth. I squeeze my eyes shut and wait, hoping it will be over quickly.

A sound louder than anything I've ever heard fills my ears. Then, the pressure pinning me down is gone. I crack open my eyes and glimpse the dragon dart into the trees. I let out a breath that I didn't know I was holding. As I stand up, I can see the silhouette of the Night Fury flying off. I turn around and the world goes black.

Aiden's POV

"Hiccup? Hiccup, wake up." Finally, he stirs. I found him lying on his stomach, surrounded by rope, black scales, and his knife.

"What is it?"

"Dude, what happened?" I ask as he sits up, rubbing the back of his head.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, I found you in the middle of the forest, unconscious."

"Oh."

"Well, did you find the dragon?"

He pauses and looks at me sheepishly. He answers, "No."

"Well, it looks like you did hit it. But obviously, it got away." I decide to leave off the fact that he was unconscious.

"Yeah."

"Hmm… well, we should get back to the house. I help you."

"No, I think I've got it."

We walk the rest of the way in silence. I'm thinking about why Hiccup wouldn't tell me he found a dragon. He's probably thinking how he is going to tell his dad that he can't kill dragons.

When we walk inside, I notice Stoick sitting by the fire. Hiccup tries to sneak upstairs, but Stoick has other ideas.

"Hiccup."

"Dad! …I need to talk to you, dad."

"I need to speak with you too, son."

Then both blurt out, "I've decided I don't want to fight dragons. What?"

"I've decided it's time you learn to fight dragons. What?"

Both clearly flustered, Stoick says, "You go first."

"No, no, you go first."

"Alright. You get your wish. Dragon Training. You start in the morning."

"Oh man, I should have gone first. Because, you know, we have a surplus of dragon fighting Vikings, but do we have enough… bread making Vikings, or small home repair Vikings."

"You'll need this," replies Stoick, handing Hiccup a large axe.

"I don't want to fight dragons, dad."

"Ah, come on, yes, you do."

"Rephrase: Dad, I can't kill dragons!"

"But you will kill dragons."

"No, I'm very, extra sure that I won't."

"It's time, Hiccup."

"Can you not hear me?!"

"This is serious, son! When you carry this axe, you carry all of us with you. That means you walk like us, you talk like us, you think like us. No more of… this!"

"You just gestured all of me."

"Deal?"

"This conversation is felling very one-sided."

"DEAL?"

"Deal."

"Good. The same goes for you, Aiden. Now up to bed, the both of you. You've got a busy day tomorrow."

I followed Hiccup up to the bedroom, my mind on what Stoick had said. I was going to dragon training. Did that mean that they expected me to stay? Did that mean that they accepted me? All these thoughts filled my brain, accompanied by strange feelings that I didn't know how to describe. Maybe tomorrow I could sort them out. Right now, I just wanted to sleep.

So, we finally meet Toothless. And I need some advice. Should Hiccup tell Aiden about Toothless or should he keep him a secret? Thanks you all so much for tolerating me and my haphazard scheduled. I'm trying to update once a week. Until next time, keep writing!