Let me just say right off the bat: I know I'm not the first person to do this. But this came as a request from a friend of mine, Disneyanimationfan, and it sounded like a really fun idea.

Hopefully what I've written is different and heartfelt, with a good touch of humor and tragedy. I've nearly completed it as of the posting of this first chapter, and I've really loved every minute. This really is a labor of love for me. Hope you all enjoy it, too.

Now, without further ado, the first chapter of How To Become a Friend!

Ch 1: The Raid

The raid begins like any other. I join my dragon brethren in the skies, offering my skilled shot wherever it's needed.

Of course, I'm not here to steal like they are; I have never stolen anything from this village. That's the thing about being a "Night Fury", as the humans call me; I don't nest with the other dragons. And since I don't nest with them, I don't need to bring food to their Queen. But that doesn't stop me from helping in their raids.

Because that's the other thing about being a Night Fury. The humans are terrified of me. In all the years we've been flying this settlement, "Berk", I've seen very few things that strike fear in these "Vikings". Gronckles, Deadly Nadders, Hideous Zipplebacks, even Monstrous Nightmares (all named by the humans, of course)... none of these scare them quite like "Night Fury" does. It's gratifying, knowing my name is the one that brings terror to the beasts.

Thus, I continue to follow the other dragons, taking revelry in the horror of the Vikings when my telltale screech and plasma fire makes itself known.

It's been almost twenty years since the dragons began raiding this village, and almost five since I joined them. I've seen tens of humans killed, but hundreds of dragons. And they think we're the monsters.

This raid, again, began just like any other. I charge my sixth and final blast, shooting the humans' catapult. Several people leap from the burning structure, and I zip by, as unseen as ever, taking pride in my work. I need to refill the fire within me if I want to continue, so with a swift turn, I begin flying back toward the sea. It shouldn't take long.

I'm passing over a dark field, when an odd whizzing noise sounds to my right. I start to turn my head to see what it is, but before I can, I feel tendrils wrap around my body, binding my legs and right wing together.

With only one wing and my tail free, I feel my balance go wayward, and I struggle to stay airborne. It's to no avail. A screech escapes me as I fall toward the earth, a canopy of trees getting closer and closer.

Trees.

Maybe I could grapple one of them, make the landing impact less brutal. I hit the first tree, snapping it right in two with the force of my body. Quickly I extend my tail, trying to get a hold of one of the branches of the next tree. That was a mistake. I let out a shriek as pain explodes through my whole body, and my fall isn't slowing down.

Now, dragons can handle a lot. I'd been bitten, scratched, flamed, and experienced my fair share of crashes. Never before had it left me in debilitating pain. This is something bad.

Unable to stop, I hit the ground with more force than ever before. And then all goes black.

Hope you'll all join me for the next chapter! It should be updated fairly regularly, since most if it is complete already.

Also, at the recommendation of some reviewers, almost all of the chapters are much much longer than my other multi chapter fics.