"Just think about it, Chief." Hoark said as he headed home. Stoick grunted; it was looking like he'd have little choice if everyone was talking the way Hoark was. What was with them and that stupid dragon? It was a monster and should be sent to Hel.

Stoick shifted Hiccup's weight to open the door. Hiccup was dead to the world; Stoick often thought dropping the boy wouldn't wake him up when he was like this. Not that he wanted to test that theory. He put his son to bed and made himself a mug of tea. He didn't want to give in and show the dragon any more mercy than it had already received. It seemed, however, that people in Berk didn't feel the same way. Stoick hated to admit it, but if it weren't a dragon Stoick would agree with them. He went to bed.

"Dad!"

Stoick groaned inwardly. It felt like he had only just closed his eyes.

"Dad!" Hiccup shook his arm vigorously before Stoick gave in. He opened his eyes; Hiccup was hovering next to the bed.

"What's it?"

"I-I had a bad dream." Hiccup whispered, his voice shaking. "Pleathe, Dad, don't kill her. I know she wath bad, but I think it'th cauthe she wath thad. I don't want you to kill her, pleathe." The boy was worked up with tears and all. Sitting up Stoick pulled Hiccup onto the bed,

"Okay," He said soothingly, rocking Hiccup to stop his shaking. "It's okay."

"No, it'th not. You're going to kill her. She'th going to be ready, though, she could get you. She could thet everything on fire. Dad, I don't want you to fight her. Pleathe don't fight her." Hiccup said desperately as he clutched Stoick's tunic, hiccupping as he tried to hold back his tears.

"Shh, Hiccup. I won't. Calm down," Stoick kept rocking him. It must have been some dream to have the boy this scared.

"Don't kill her." Hiccup whimpered into Stoick's shoulder.

"I won't. It's okay, Hiccup, I won't. The dragon's safe. No one will hurt her." Stoick didn't notice that he had referred to the dragon as a 'her.' All his focus was on calming his child down. He meant it though; the dragon was safe, for now. It wouldn't be harmed. As soon as it was well Stoick would even set it free.

Hiccup calmed a little, "You promithe?" He asked as he wiped tears from his face. Stoick leaned over to the night table and grabbed a handkerchief; he always kept some stashed nearby, and wiped Hiccup's nose.

"I promise. Everything's okay." Stoick waited for Hiccup to stop sniffling, "Is that what your dream was about?"

Hiccup was quiet, fiddling with Stoick's beard. Finally he nodded. "You were going to kill her and went to the arena. She- she wath ready. She set the arena on fire and you- you fought with her. The fire wath everywhere and she kept thnapping at you. Then y-you bashed your hammer o-over her head and there was a crack and-" Hiccup sniffed and took some shaky breaths, "You w-were on fire. Everyone was thcreaming. You two killed each other and no one could help becauthe the fire, and, and" He started crying again, sobbing into Stoick's shoulder.

"Shh, no one's going to die. It was just a dream." Stoick kept rocking Hiccup and the boy clung to him, soaking the shoulder of his tunic. Stoick rubbed circles on Hiccup's back and rocked the boy to sleep. After that he continued to sit there in the dark. The blasted beast was too injured to be able to fly away so needed to be contained until then. But if he wasn't going to kill the Nightmare what was he going to do with it? How could Stoick be sure that it wouldn't go after his son when it was free?

The muzzle was on her again; not too tight but enough to prevent her from biting and shooting fire. The chains the Vikings had her locked down with were strong enough to withstand her flame, even when she was fully lit. The shackles, however, would get hot enough to make her scales burn which effectively stopped her from using her flame within the cave. They gave her fish but she didn't want to eat; not what they gave her. Other than to throw in their unwanted food no Viking came to see her. She was left alone in her prison.

Her cave opened and the sunlight streamed in, hurting her eyes. Growling the Nightmare hunched herself. A Viking limped in; the same one that came to her nest.

"Alright, beastie, easy now let's get ya out of here." He unhooked her chain from the wall and led her out into the sunshine. She didn't like this place; it smelt of dragons and fear and anger. There was also the unmistakable smell of blood worked deep into the ground. The Nightmare knew there were other dragons in the arena; she had smelled and heard them when they brought her into this place. Numerous dragons. Some angry, some in anguish, and all locked up in little caves like hers. This was a place of despair, like Her nest.

"Be ready with that gate, Hoark," the funny limbed Viking yelled. He unlocked her chain and quickly left. There was a clank out of her sight. When she looked out of her now open cave the Nightmare could see no way out; even the sky was blocked with more chains. She shook her head, what were they up to? With that shake the Nightmare noticed the chains covering her shifted in a loose sort of way. She shook herself to loosen the chains enough to free her wings then opened her left wing to free both of them. Her right wing was stiff and wrapped up with some sort of Viking wrapping. Using her claws she slid the muzzle from her snout before chewing the wrappings off her wing. She gazed around the arena again; there was nowhere to go so she crawled back into her cave to curl up.

"How's it doing?" Stoick asked when he met Gobber in the blacksmith's stall that afternoon. Hiccup had bounced off to the back with a blueprint Gobber had given him.

"Not eating still. Mopin' bout in there."

"Well, if it wants to starve itself there's nothing I can do 'bout that. What did you give Hiccup?"

Gobber shrugged, "Project outline."

"For what? I don't want him handling anything heavy or sharp." Stoick was regretting allowing this apprenticeship every time he came into the forge and saw the fire, the burning metal, the sharp weapons, the heavy tools, and the grinding stone amongst other things. Pretty much everything in there scared him now that he knew Hiccup was using them.

"Relax, you're more uptight than a frazzled terror when it comes to that kid. He's only learning how to read it." Gobber put an axe blade to the grinding stone, sending up sparks. How had Stoick never noticed how hazardous this place was?

"You let that dragon starve and it'll upset the boy."

"What?" Stoick was still preoccupied with the sparking grindstone. "You don't let him use that, right?"

Gobber laughed, "of course not; yet," Gobber dismissed Stoick's concerned comment with a slight wave of his hand. "I'm talking about the dragon now, Stoick. The dra-gon. You know, big red beast in the arena." He laughed off Stoick's glare before continuing. "I said if you let that beast starve it'll upset your boy. Might get more nightmares." Gobber chuckled at his pun.

Stoick raised an eyebrow. "You want me to nurse the monster now?"

Gobber shrugged. "As I understand it you promised yer kid the beastie was safe."

"That does not mean it's my responsibility to ensure it eats!" Stoick said in exasperation.

"If it sees Hiccup it might eat." Gobber continued as if he hadn't heard Stoick's outburst.

"Sees? You're madder than I thought if yer suggestin' that." Stoick turned to leave. He was done with this conversation.

"Fine. I'll just tell the boy it's starving itself when he asks. Or he'll hear it round the village. He'll sneak up there by himself. Isn't it better that you take him up there supervised?" Gobber put the axe blade aside and got up to lean on his counter, drumming his fingers. "You know he will, Stoick. Even if it's purely out of curiosity. Isn't it best you don't let him go there alone?"

Stoick stood in the doorway. It was true. He hated having to admit he had so little control over his own son. "Fine. I'll take him up there after supper. Meanwhile YOU behave yourself. I don't want him wound up anymore today."

"When am I ever not behaving myself?" Gobber called out as Stoick left.

This was a bad plan. A very bad plan Stoick thought as he crossed the bridge to the arena with Hiccup. What was he thinking by doing this?

"You are not to go in there with it, understood?" Stoick said as they climbed up to the viewing area. Hiccup nodded, tightening his grip on Stoick's fingers. He had been both excited and nervous about visiting when Stoick told him. It had been a quiet supper which made Stoick uneasy. He had learned that nothing good followed Hiccup's bouts of quietness.

He needn't have worried. Hiccup stayed close by his side as they approached the arena.

"Where ith she?" Hiccup whispered. Stoick took his hand from Hiccup and put it round the boy's shoulder and squeezed.

"In there," Stoick pointed to her cell. "It's open; the dragon doesn't want to come out."

"Like she doethn't want to eat?"

Stoick nodded. Hiccup looked at the caged arena with a frown and Stoick wondered what was going through his head.

"She'th more thad. She doethn't want to be alone. She'th married."

"Dragons don't marry, Hiccup. They have mates because they need two dragons to have babies." Stoick felt Hiccup leaning on him, "Do you want to go home?"

Hiccup shook his head, watching the cell where the Nightmare was. He straightened up, "Dad, she'th coming out."

There was a red snout sticking out of the cell, sniffing. Slowly the dragon came out into the open, looking around. Hiccup pressed into Stoick's side keeping his eyes on the dragon. When it saw them the Nightmare growled. Perhaps this hadn't been a good idea. Stoick was quite certain it was a very bad idea when the monster leapt onto the ceiling chains where they were; hanging on the chains with her left wing. Normally Stoick would stand his ground. Normally Hiccup would be nowhere near Stoick in such a situation. Instead Stoick quickly backed up, Hiccup in tow. That seemed to calm the Nightmare; at least some of the anger left its eyes. How had Stoick never noticed that a dragon's head fit through the chains?

"Hiccup!" Stoick grabbed the boy's collar when he moved closer to the dragon's head and all those teeth. This was a dumb idea, a very dumb idea.

"It'th okay, Dad." Hiccup said as he reached out to pet the dragon's snout. It sniffed Hiccup's hand and began to croon. "I'm thorry you're thad. Where'th your huthband?"

"Dragon's don't have husbands, Hiccup." Stoick said. He was refraining from pulling Hiccup away. The dragon wasn't fully threatening right now with its eyes half shut and making purring noises as Hiccup pet it.

"Why aren't you eating?" Hiccup asked. Stoick half smiled at Hiccup's childishness, asking questions of things that could not answer. The smile left and he pulled his son behind him when the dragon rubbed its head against the boy. One snap was all it would take; Hiccup could fit inside the dragon's mouth. The Nightmare growled at Stoick.

"Dad, she wathn't going to hurt me."

"We're going home." Stoick said. He had had enough, more than he could take really. Having Hiccup this close to a dragon, even a contained one, scared him far more than Stoick would ever admit.

"We jutht got here. She hathn't eaten yet."

"It's not a discussion, Hiccup. We're going home." Stoick tugged the boy along pretending he couldn't hear the dragon's growls.

"Dad," Hiccup said at the top of the stairs, pulling back by dragging his feet.

Stoick pulled Hiccup in front of him and grabbed the boy's shoulders, "I said we are going home." He emphasised his words with a shake. He immediately regretted it when he saw Hiccup's wide frightened eyes and quivering bottom lip. Stoick was Chief though, and he would stand firm. The Nightmare was throwing a fit in the arena. Stoick didn't look back; he went home with his sniffling son. Maybe the shake was too much; he shouldn't have taken his frustration out on the boy.

Hiccup made to go to the bedroom when they got home; most likely to sit on his bed. That's where Stoick sent him when he was in trouble.

"Hiccup."

The boy stiffened, but stopped and waited with his back to his father and his head hanging. Stoick sighed and walked in front of his son to crouch down, "You aren't in trouble, son."

More sniffing, "I'm not?"

"No. I was mad at the dragon, not you." I'm sorry. It shouldn't be so hard to say, but Stoick was Chief; he wasn't supposed to apologize for his actions. He could, however, wrap his arms around his son when Hiccup threw himself against Stoick to bury his face against his neck.

The Nightmare howled her rage and beat on the chains keeping her locked away from her hatchling and that monster. She shot flame after flame into the sky until her fire died and she was exhausted. Curling up the Nightmare lay in the open of the arena letting out a mournful croon. Her wing ached, hunger was gnawing at her, but the worst pain was seeing her hatchling being forced from her.

Stoick was busy with meetings and raid preparations that evening so had arranged for Gobber to babysit while he was out, ensuring that Hiccup would not head up to the dragon alone. The day was finally over though and Stoick made his way up the stairs to his home by moonlight. Even before he opened the door Stoick could hear Gobber's voice. Yet another talk was in order; it was well past Hiccup's bedtime.

"What are-"

"Shh, you'll wake him." Gobber said from his chair by the fire. Hiccup was passed out in Gobber's arms.

"Why isn't he in bed?" Stoick asked, taking his son from his friend.

"Couldn't sleep. He's awful worried 'bout that dragon." Gobber said stretching, "Ugh, thanks. Didn't dare move once he did drift off." He eyed the sleeping child. "Though it seems like I didn't need to worry 'bout that."

"I've told you, once he's out, he's out. I want him in bed on time." Stoick went into the bedroom to tuck Hiccup in for the night.

"He couldn't sleep." Gobber repeated when Stoick came back out, "I was tellin' him stories, good ones, stories you've approved, to calm him down. That dragon-"

"Is not getting any more of my time."

"Stoick-"

"He's not going near it again!" Stoick shouted. Bad move. Stoick stepped into the bedroom to check on Hiccup. The boy had shifted and stirred a bit, but looked like he would settle back to sleep. Stoick went back to face Gobber.

"I've had it. The thing is a monster. One wrong move and it could kill him. Did you see what it did to Hiccup's arm? Hiccup is not going near it again." Stoick said pacing. If he hadn't made that promise to Hiccup he would be in the arena right now killing the devil. He had half a mind to do so anyway.

"Stoick calm down, I don't think it's dangerous. I'm not saying we name it Cuddles and adopt it as a pet, I am just saying that it won't hurt yer boy."

"It already hurt him!" Stoick needed to stop yelling; he was going to wake Hiccup up.

"And he's worried that it's going to die." Gobber said calmly.

"Dad?"

Damn it. Stoick turned to his son who was rubbing his eyes and holding onto his baby blanket. Stoick had forgotten to put it away.

"Go back to bed, Hiccup."

Instead Hiccup crossed the room to Stoick. "I heard yelling."

Stoick ran his hand over Hiccup's head and held the boy against him, rubbing his back. "Gobber's just being a nuisance. Everything's fine."

"Don't you listen to him, Hiccup. Yer dad's being boar-headed again." Gobber said from his seat. Stoick shot him a look.

"Now, go back to bed, it's late," Stoick said while giving Hiccup a little push toward the bedroom. Hiccup hesitated, playing with the edge of his blanket,

"She's going to die, ithn't she?"

Gobber gave Stoick a pointed look that somehow said both 'I told you so' and 'deal with this.' Stoick glared back at him before crouching down in front of Hiccup.

"It's only a dragon, son. If it won't eat there's nothing we can do."

"But she'th thad. Maybe if I athked her to eat she will."

Stoick brushed Hiccup's hair back and cupped his cheek so the boy would look at him, "I don't want you in there. And it's 'would' not 'will.' Now, back to bed."

Hiccup reluctantly went and Stoick sat down with a sigh.

"Yer makin' a mistake." Gobber said.

Stoick refused to even look at him. With any luck the beast would die on its own.

A/N: So part one of being mean to Stoick. I'm not that mean here, it was my first attempt to force Stoick to do what I wanted by going through Hiccup. I feel kind of bad giving the kid nightmares (hehe I like the pun) but it got Stoick off his "it's going to die" course of action; he budged a little but not enough.

Have I mentioned that the ham's glasses look nothing like mine? Seriously what did you use as a reference Nori?

KaliAnn: It is weird isn't it? I thought so too when he had issues with trolls in the movie. The belief in such creatures lasted into the Victorian age in rural areas so it's odd that Stoick doesn't believe in them, given how traditional he is. Makes me wonder who told Hiccup his name would ward off trolls.

Thearizona: It will be next chapter, I promise. Though it probably isn't as bad as you're expecting though… mostly emotional pain. The easiest way to get to Stoick is through Hiccup, that's all I'm saying. The Nightmare does have a name; I use it when talking to my sister, who knows it. I call her Mama Nightmare too though. But you're right, it could be revealed in 2 chapters or 20… :)