A/N: Hey guys, NFS LOVER here. Did you guys get a look at the pictures of how the characters? I mean WOW, Astrid and Hiccup changed so much, and they both look so much better. Hiccup looks more masculine and handsome and Astrid looks as beautiful as ever...although I still believe she's has her fiery personality. Anyway, enjoy!

Normal POV

"Your cousin is a real jerk!" Treeroot said. The two had been the in their Hall of a few hours now and Hiccup had told them the entire story of him and Toothless and me, and the events that have taken place that led us here. "Well it is hard to fathom that dragons are trainable creatures...that I guess it's hard for them to understand" Treeroot said, having some understanding for what the people of Berk went through. "How is that so?" Ripper asked putting his mug down.

"Now I know we don't experience dragon attacks as much as Berk, maybe on a few occasions, such as once a week, but we'll get to that later. The Vikings have been fighting dragons for over 300 years, and it is hard to let that past go" he said. "We know that sir, but they couldn't be stubborn about it as Hel. But it's not only that...their treatment of Hiccup over the years...now that was unforgivable" Ripper said, getting angry again his friend's treatment.

"I'll agree with you there, your treatment Hiccup was not acceptable in any tribe and I believe you made the right choice in leaving, but I know it's hard for you to understand but this whole dragon training thing...it's new to Vikings, and I believe it will be a while until people accept it" Treeroot said. The two boys still couldn't believe it. Yes they were mad at their tribe's refusal to believe to change for the better, but now, that was a mix for Hiccup's treatment, and no one was more mad than him. He was shunned, teased and degraded for every mistake he made instead of the people helping him learn from it. Even his so called 'friends' didn't like him at all. Sure Astrid didn't talk to him or make fun of him, but she didn't stop any of the times when Snotlout did. She sometimes joined in, just to go with the crowd but nevet cared if it did happen right in front of her. She just minded her own business.

Hiccup's POV

"Anyway, what's this about a dragon problem?" I asked, intrigued to this new information. "Ah yes, our attacks are an isolated incident, it is the same dragon every week and it takes our livestock and keeps breaking into our food storage. It is a huge dragon and extremely dangerous. It has already injured a few of my men and it's attacks are getting more deadly" Treeroot explained. This was good news...well not for the village about the attacks but it was a chance for me and Ripper to possibly train this new dragon.

"We'll gladly take a look at this dragon to help you" I said. I couldn't wait to get started. The chief's facial expression lightened. "Oh thank you so much boys" he said. We then heard laughter and looked to see the kids ride Toothless and he was having fun with them as well. They even brought him fish to eat to which he was grateful. "Your dragon is quite something" the chief said. I smiled at Toothless. This village was so quick to change their views of dragons, well not completely, but I believe after them seeing Toothless, should actually cause them to think...are dragons really friendly creatures?

"Oh yes, we should warn you about that dragon" Heather said as she took a seat across from us. "What should we know?" Ripper asked. I looked over at him and saw him staring intently at Heather...as if he was lost in her eyes. I laughed on the inside...I know that feeling too well. "I've seen this dragon attack from the ground. It burst out of the ground and I don't think any other dragon does that" she said.

"Bursts out of the ground, noted" Ripper said. "So when do you want to get started Hiccup?" he asked. By the tone of his voice I could tell that he was excited to go. I looked at the chief. "We could started on it if you're ok with it" I said. The chief looked outside and saw there was still some light in the day. The sun was just a few feet above the ocean. "You could get started but you have to be careful. This is a dangerous, rogue, dragon" he said. Me and Rip got up and said our thanks for the meal. I called Toothless over and he bounded to us and we walked outside of the Hall. I knew we wouldn't have much time before dark so we had to find it soon.

"So where do we start?" Ripper asked. "How about the obvious hole in the ground which looks like it leads into the forest" I said, pointing to a huge hole in the ground and it leading to the forest. "Yeah, I knew that" he said as he started following the trail. I simply shook my head smiling, this is going to be a long night.

Forests of Sharkslane

We have been following the dragon's path for about an hour now and it just seemed to go in circles. "Ok we are getting nowhere with this" I said. Ripper was also getting frustrated that we didn't get anywhere with finding that dragon. "Well the only other way is going into those tunnels" he said. "Oh no, that's out of the question. There is no way we are going down there. We don't even know what kind of dragon this is" I said. I didn't want to risk dying in our first day here. "Then what do you propose we...shhh" he said all of a sudden.

"What is it?" I asked but he shushed me again. "What do you hear?" I asked, honestly I was getting really scared. "I hear...footsteps?" he said, wondering about the last part. Then I knew someone must have been following us. "Toothless search for our guest" I said and he bounded off into a direction. "You think he knows where the person is?" Ripper asked coming up to me.

"Put me down!" we heard a voice say. "I'm guessing yes" I said with a smile and soon we saw Toothless bound to us holding Heather with his arms. "What were you doing following us?" I asked. "I wanted to help you find that dragon...and can you tell your friend to put me down?" she asked and hand gestured to Toothless to do so and he did.

"Does your dad know you're here?" Ripper asked. The last thing we needed was telling the chief that his daughter was killed by a dragon...especially to a chief who just welcomed us. "Uhhh...yes?" she said but it was a horrible attempt. We both gave her that Really? face. "No" she finally answered as she got up and brushed off the dirt. But then I began thinking, we couldn't split up because there were three of us and one of us had to be with Toothless, but now since there were four...

"Perhaps you could help us" I said. "What?" Ripper and Heather both said at the same time, Ripper's voice being that of Am I mad? and Heather's voice of pure joy. "Absolutely not" Ripper said causing Heather to look at him with a dissatisfied face. "And why not?" she asked crossing her arms. "Huh, something I loved to see Astrid do...what? No! NO Hiccup! Focus!" said to myself. "Well first of all we do not want to tell your dad, 'Sorry sir, your daughter wound up in a dragon's stomach'" he said. "Do you even know what this dragon looks like?" she asked.

"I think I do" I said as I was staring at something that I never wanted to see. "What?" they both asked looking at me and I simply pointed past them and when they looked I could tell they had the same facial expression as I did. In front of us...looking at us...was a...Whispering Death. "That's...That's a...Whispering Death" Ripper stuttered. "Is it dangerous?" Heather asked backing away from it, as was Ripper and closer to me and Toothless...who was already ready for a charge by the dragon.

"Well it's boulder class, extremely big and very...very territorial" I said. "Guys, I think those tunnels were also a boundary line" I said, marking its territory. They didn't have any time to reply as the dragon lunged at us. Toothless managed to get all of us out of the way before the dragon engulfed us in its mouth. It's head was huge, bigger than Toothless I believe, and I knew it was going to be tough controlling this dragon.

"Hiccup get on Toothless and control him, I'll handle things on the ground" Ripper said. After seeing what we've been through, I trusted Ripper like a brother and listened to him. I hooked up to Toothless and we took off to engage that dragon.

Normal POV

Heather and Ripper ran to clear ground away from the battle that was taking place behind them, but they couldn't escape everything when the Whispering Death was thrown right into a tree in front of them. They looked back to see Toothless land with Hiccup getting off and running up to them. It appears that the hit against the giant tree caused large branches to fall and trap its tail under tremendous weight. The three teens and their dragon slowly approached the mad dragon. It wasn't thrashing about but looking to release its tail from the pile of branches.

"Let me take this Hiccup" Ripper said as he moved forwards slowly. "What?" Hiccup said and ran to stop his friend. "Rip, I know you like her...I've seen you looking at her in the hall, but trust me...this is not a way to impress a girl" Hiccup said, worried that his friend might be hurt or worse in his attempt to calm the dragon down. "Hiccup...it has nothing to do with her...I think I can calm this dragon down" he said. Hiccup saw the belief in Ripper's eyes...the belief that he could do it. "Alright, but any signs that it might go wrong...you jump back immediately" he said and walked back to Toothless.

Ripper approached the dragon slowly. It was still trying to free its tail from the heavy branches that fell onto it. It was too busy in its task to escape that it didn't notice Ripper approach him. He stopped at the distance where the dragon could not get when he tried to come at him. That's when the dragon stopped and looked at him. Ripper saw its eyes...it's plain white eyes...no pupils at all and something that can install terror in the dreams of children and adults.

It stopped it's roars and was now staring at Ripper, not sure if he was a threat or food. Hiccup, Heather and Toothless watched on as the dragon neared its gigantic head to Ripper. Hiccup...with all his experience with Toothless...was not sure how this dragon would behave.

"It's ok...I'm a friend" Ripper said as he raised his hand out. The dragon stopped as he raised his hand out...almost as if nor sure what to do. He saw the dragon look back at Toothless and his friends, almost as if asking if they were a threat. "Don't worry...they're not going to hurt you...none of us are" Ripper said in a calm voice. Hiccup was impressed by his friend's progress. He was handling the situation quite well. He clearly watched and listened during the times he spent training with Toothless.

Ripper's hand was now in the air, waiting for the Whispering Death to rest his snout upon. Ripper never broke eye contact with the dragon. He kept a clam aura about him to show the dragon that he can be trusted. Slowly but surely, the dragon inched its head closer to his hand...until he felt the familiar press of scales against his hand. Ripper smiled seeing the dragon had showed that he trusted him. But this was different than what he did with the Nightmare. He felt a...a connection with this dragon.

"Dude, that was awesome!" Hiccup said coming up to him and patting him on the back, Toothless close behind him. Heather was the last to arrive, and her jaw was wide open at what she just saw. "That...was...amazing" she stated, completely impressed at what unfolded in front of her. "Is that how you gain a dragon's trust?" she asked looking at the Whispering Death who was also looking at her...but not in a threatening way.

"Yeah, you have be calm and not be tense around a dragon, and just with the right mindset, you can tame one" Ripper explained. Heather continued to gaze in awe at the Whispering Death that was right now nuzzling in Ripper's hand. "Can I try?" she asked. Ripper and Hiccup both looked at each other. Hiccup nodded his head and Ripper gestured Heather over.

"Give me your hand" he said, not removing his from the dragon's snout. Heather slowly gave her hand to Ripper. By now the dragon noticed this new human who to him seemed scared. The dragon cocked its head to a side as if asking what's wrong with you? "Stay calm ok, I'll be behind you if anything goes wrong" Ripper said as he placed Heather's hand on the dragon's snout and slowly let go. "Yeah?" she asked, hoping he would be because she was completely new to this. "Yes" he replied back and as surely walked behind her and held her hands from the back, a way of telling her he would not leave.

But soon Heather grew more accustomed to this new feeling...of being connected to a dragon. She had never been this close to a dragon, and a dragon that was basically wanted attention. The feel of its scales was new, she also felt as though she could connect with this dragon, think what it was thinking. "Wow" was all she was able to say at this new feeling.

"See you're a natural" Ripper said as he slowly let go of her arms for her to take this by herself. Heather didn't seem to notice as she was too entranced by her situation now. "Well I think that takes care of the dragon problem now" Hiccup said as he came by Ripper's side along with Toothless. Might as well get him back to the village to show their problems are over" Hiccup said as he mounted Toothless.

"Tell me Hiccup, is this what you hoped would have happened on Berk?" Ripper asked, looking at Heather make friends with this huge dragon. Hiccup also looked at her, this huge dragon being gentle towards a human much smaller than itself and allowing a person so close to it. "Yeah" Hiccup said, but more in a care free tone, a sign that he had moved past his memories in Berk...most of them anyway.

"You can bring back Heather and the dragon. I'll tell them about the success we had" Hiccup said and took off. "You know we should get back to the village" Ripper said coming back to the dragon. "Can we ride him?" Heather asked looking away from the dragon for once. "Sure...that is if you want to have spikes in every part of your body" Ripper said gesturing the spiked body of the dragon. "So walking then?" she asked. "You bet" he said and raised his hand out. She smiled and she gladly took it and they began their walk home. Ripper then felt a nudge at his shoulder and saw the dragon wanted to come as well.

"Hey buddy, three's a crowd" Ripper said jokingly, to which he got a hard nudge from Heather. "Oh alright you can come...given that you behave yourself" he said as they continued back to the village with a new friend in tow.