A/N : (This scene starts after their crazy flight where they almost die and where Hiccup befriends a terror.) (This very much follows this scene in the movie, only with slight additions and some minor changes. I didn't really want to re-write the movie but it had to be done)

DISCLAIMER: I do not own 'How To Train Your Dragon' or any of its characters.

If anything is written in italics outside of speech it is what the character is thinking at that moment.

(This chapter was edited when chapter 9 was released)

Chapter 1: Where it all ends and begins

The cove was a beautiful place. It was surrounded by steep walls with the only entrance being a gap just big enough just to fit me. The trees surrounding the cove could almost look like a second wall of their own. The clear lake in the middle of the cove faithfully reflected the walls of the prison. A prison... yet the only place where I was happy. Not so much a prison for me, just for Toothless as he couldn't fly out by himself. It was the only place where I could keep him safe. Nobody knew about this place thankfully. The lake took up most of the cove, only the outer edges saved from the smooth water. The ground was mushy and covered with moss due to its close proximity to the body of water.

I heard Toothless groan beside me. That flight had taken its toll on the both of us. I look over at my companion and scratched his neck. He gave out a satisfied purr. I brought myself up off of his side and looked at myself through the water. I had brown hair that reached down to my neck, forest green eyes and so many freckles you could argue that I had white freckles on tan skin. I really need to wash myself. I looked like a burnt fish bone, skinny and with patches of black as a result of Toothless' well thought out act. I cupped some water and began washing out what I could. Toothless looked at me the entire time with a confused look. I don't know why he was confused, I was just cleaning myself.

When I was finished, I went over and sat beside him on the ground. He looked at me with an intent gaze and a sparkle of intelligence in those eyes, clearly seeing I wanted to talk to him.

"What are we going to do Toothless?", I sighed while looking at him.

Toothless tilted his head to the side. Sometimes It seemed like Toothless seemed to understand every single thing I was saying. I'm pretty sure he just understands the tone or the general topic of the conversation, nothing special.

"I mean like, if I win the 'honour' of killing a dragon, we both know I can't do it."

Toothless gave a soft rumble as he crawled up to me and pushed his nose up to my hands. He was an expert at comforting me and getting the attention he wanted.

"We have to leave Toothless."

His frills stood up as he widened his green eyes and looked at me. He clearly didn't expect me to say that.

"If they find you, th- they'll kill you Toothless. They're stubborn, they won't believe me."

Toothless scoffed and gave a roll of his eyes. I perfectly knew what he meant.

"Oh, as if you're not stubborn."

He grumbled at that as well, too stubborn to admit it.

"As I was saying... We have to leave at some point, If I-I don't win, it'll buy us more time... I just don't know bud."

I was shaking with worry and could barely hold my words together. Toothless crooned softly with what I could guess was encouragement. I patted the top of his head and got up.

"I have to go bud, I need to go home."

Toothless went and curled on the ground near a rock, he looked like one giant volcanic rock. I left him and crouching under the shield found myself in the forest. I took in the pleasant smell, it was a relief compared to the stench of Berk. I traveled through the forest as quickly as I could trying my best not to trip on the roots or bushes as I already have countless times in these woods. I exited the forest to greet the open air and our little village. The sun was just starting to sink under the ocean as I slowly dragged myself towards Gobber's smithy. I went into my little room and started searching for ideas on what was the best course of action. I got nothing. I absent-mindedly began rolling a charcoal stick up my desk as I laid my self down on the desk, waiting for it to fall back down before flicking it up again.

Then dad barged in out of nowhere. The noise he created startled me and I instantly stood up. I almost lost my balance but managed to grab the desk before falling over.

"Dad you're back, uh, Gobber's not here so." I said while quickly piling up my drawings of Toothless and his tail designs trying to hide them from my dad.

"I know, I came looking for you." My father replied.

This came as a surprise to me as I responded, "You did?"

"You've been keeping secrets." Dad continued. Does he know? This is not good.

"Uh, I have?" I replied weakly.

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me." He said sternly. So he does know, oh no.

"I don't know what you-" I begin trying to cover myself before my father interrupts me.

"Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it." He said as if it were the truth. I gulped as I looked at him. "So lets talk about that dragon."

There was no denying that he knew. "Oh gods, dad I'm so sorry I was going to tell you I just didn't know how... " I began stuttering at every third word.

What came next surprised me and left me utterly confused. My father began laughing. I started laughing as well I didn't know why, probably from nervousness.

"You're not upset?" I asked.

"What? I was hoping for this!" Stoick replied.

"Uh, you were?" I questioned still completely confused.

"Believe me, it only gets better, just wait until you spill a nadder's guts for the first time, and mount your first gronckle head on a spear. What a feeling! You really had me going there son. All those years of the worst viking Berk has ever seen. Odin, it was rough, I almost gave up on you and all the while you were holding out on me, Thor almighty! With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about." Stoick said.

Although it was evident that, in reality, we still had nothing to talk about. He broke the silence by giving me a helmet. He explained to me what it was and where it came from, but at that point I was lost in my own head. I faked a yawn and we parted ways.

"All those years of the worst viking Berk has ever seen". That hurt, it hurt because it was the truth and hurt even more that if it wasn't for Toothless that would be what my dad thought of me. I laid down in my bed, glad to be in its embrace after that draining talk. Sleep overcame me quickly, despite the stress.

The next day, I found myself walking towards the kill ring. Crossing the bridge I entered into the ring. The gates opened and we all entered like we did every time. I straggled behind as always, trying to avoid the other teens. The walls of the ring were three times higher than me and the roof (if you could call it that) was just a bunch of chains holding the dragons in. There was a huge crowd gathered around it, waiting to see who would win the 'honour' of killing a dragon. I honestly really wanted Astrid to win. It would calm her extreme attitude and I would not have to do something I'm not too fond of doing.

The gronckle was released. The crowd roared in excitement, excitement I could not understand. Quickly their voices faded as I tried my best to keep away from the dragon as I always did. First Ruffnut and Tuffnut were caught out after fighting each other. Then Fishlegs after he started trying to study the dragon. Snotlout like always tried to get up to Astrid and it wasn't long until it was just me and Astrid left. She better win. I continued to hide behind one of the small wooden walls that were scattered around the arena. Astrid went up to me and grabbed me firmly by the hand.

"Stay out of my way, I'm winning this one." She said with her usual evil voice.

"Please, by all means." I said back trying not to stutter.

It would be better if you did. I looked up to see my dad. I hope this won't disappoint you. I adjusted my helmet and turned around to see the gronckle heading towards me. Aww not now. It came right up to my face, I quickly discarded my weapons and did what I did best. Before Astrid's war cry could have any meaning and anyone could comprehend what I did, the gronckle was on the the ground shaking one if its hind legs. This will not be good.

"NO! NO SON OF A HALF TROLL BRAIN EATING MUNCH BUCKET." Astrid cursed.

I cringed, I could physically feel the anger radiating from her. I have to go right now, I can't deal with this. I started to leave but Gobber grabbed me before I could make any significant progress.

"I'm kind of late for-", I tried to say to Gobber.

Astrid cut me off before I could finish my sentence and placed the end of her axe up to my neck. Even though this position couldn't cause much harm, I was still worried. I had never seen her so furious before. Seeing her like this made me feel absolutely terrified.

"Late for what!? Late for what exactly?" she said with the toxic voice of a snake. I do not want to deal with this right now.

"Okay, quiet down". After my father had said that the entire fell into quiet murmurs. I was so busy trying to not win that I didn't even hear them shouting in the first place.

"The elder has decided".

Oh no.

Gobber came between both me and Astrid. He pointed at Astrid with his hook first, obviously, no one would even think that I would even have the possibility of winning. But then, to everyone's surprise, the elder shook her head. The gasps of the crowd echoed my own internal thoughts. Da-da-da, we're dead. Gobber pointed his functioning hand at me and when the elder nodded, I cringed as my entire world began to fall apart. This is it...

"You've done it. You've done it Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!" Gobber cheered, obviously happy that his apprentice succeeded.

That sentence can go up on my list of the worst things I've ever been told. After that I didn't comprehend what was happening. The cheers of the crowd went to the back of my mind as I began to think of how I had to leave before this 'great' event.

I came up with another lame excuse to detach myself from the crowd that has formed around me. They assumed I would come back so most of them went to celebrate in the Mead Hall. This left the village itself pretty deserted. It was odd to see it this quiet. I almost felt guilty that I would be leaving them after they seemed so happy and proud of me. Almost. I knew that deep down I was still 'Hiccup the Useless' to all of them.

I ran into the forge and quickly began gathering up all that could be necessary once I leave. I wouldn't be coming back, so there was no room for error, what I leave with was what I would live with. I quickly got a basket from the side and began throwing everything I decided was important into it carelessly for the sake of speed. It wouldn't be long until some people realize I was not up there celebrating, and it would be difficult to explain why I had a basket full of supplies. I threw in everything that I needed if I were to set up a smithy. Hammer, leather for Toothless, a lot of paper, basically everything. I decided to forgo my prints. The ideas are in my head after all. I left a huge mess in the smithy. Gobber wouldn't be happy, but I was leaving and I had no time to think about that. With the basket on my back I left the smithy.

It didn't take long to reach my house. I climbed up the steps and entered my room. I gathered even more paper and empty books. Paper would be hard to come by, and I needed it for another great idea of mine. I grabbed some spare clothes and a warmer tunic as well as some spare cloth which I would need for repairs. I went about the house throwing important items into the basket. I then sat on a chair. I had everything I needed. The basket still had some space left and I decided I would fill it with food. I realized that this would be the last time I would sit in this home, the place I spent my entire life in. Yet my home contained so little happy memories. It wasn't unheard of for vikings to go on grand journeys. The only difference this time, was my age and the fact that I wasn't planning on coming back. Toothless was a better friend than anyone I have ever had and was worth more to me than the whole damn village. I pushed myself up and prepared to leave. I thought of leaving a note, but I was afraid I might have written something I would come to regret. I left the house not bothering to close the door.

I rushed down to the docks. The ocean was surprisingly calm today and made me feel as if everything was going to be alright. I was surprised to see the docks empty. Usually even during the meetings in the hall there were still at least some vikings hanging about making a lot of noise. Yet, the silence was deafening. Pushing that thought aside, I ran down to where some fresh fish was stored. I tossed as much fish as I could until the basket was filled to the brim. I began to walk away from the docks and I thought about what everyone else would think. I went up to a small fishing boat and untied it from the port. It began to drift out to sea gently riding on the waves. They would think that I took the boat, it's for the best. That boat was small enough to fit two people and losing it shouldn't cause much harm to Berk.

As I approached the forest adrenaline started to flow through me as I began to realize what I was doing. The 'Heir of Berk' leaving his home for a dragon. Seems reasonable to me. They'll be better off without me anyways. It felt like someone was following me, but when I looked around I couldn't see anyone. I rushed through the forest to the best of my ability, I did not let the basket slow me down even as it uncomfortably bounced of my back. The adrenaline made my heart beat strongly in my chest and I avoided the undergrowth. Eventually I came upon the cove. I would miss this place, it held so many happy memories. Better than the ones on berk. I entered the cove searching for Toothless.

"We're leaving. Lets pack up, looks like you and me are taking a little vacation, forever." I called out.

I opened the basket and began a final check before our departure. Everything seemed in place so I called out for Toothless. The dragon was on the other end of the cove but quickly made his way towards me. As he came to me he began to sniff the basket, obviously thinking that it was for him.

"No bud that's not for you. That's our supplies, we're leaving."

Toothless tilted his head and let out a concerned growl. I put my hand up to the side of his muzzle and scratched him a bit.

"Yeah... I- I don't know how to say this. I tried not to win and yet I won. The gods must really hate me."

Toothless went closer to me and began to rub his cheek against my chest. He was more compassionate and kind than any human on Berk, even my dad. His comfort made me almost forget all of the worries of the world, but I quickly dragged myself out of that comfort, we could not afford to waste time.

"We have to leave soon bud, you know I can't kill that dragon. If I was to return that dragon would kill me and then you..."

Now is not the time to be thinking of this! I let out a sad sigh, which Toothless echoed with one of his own. I grabbed my knife that my father had given to me as a gift. Toothless recoiled slightly and moved away slightly at the sight of it. It would be the one thing that would remind me of him. I began to look thoroughly at the knife. It looked rough around the edges after years of use and it didn't look like it was crafted by the best smith. It fitted nicely in my palms and the blade was about the length of my hand. My attention was quickly torn away by the sound of something in the bushes. I yelped as I accidentally cut myself and dropped the knife, allowing it to clatter on the ground. Toothless quickly rushed to me and began to nuzzle my hand. The cut was deep and blood was pouring out like a steady stream. Toothless began to lick my hand. I was never more confused and frightened in my life, a dragon, trying to drink my blood. As he did so the pain quickly lessened and the bleeding quickly stopped. It still hurt, but it was a lot better.

"Huh..."

Realising there was probably someone watching us and it would be to late to explain I hurriedly sat atop Toothless with the basket and slipped my feet into the stirrups.

"Come on lets go bud, now."

Toothless spread out his wings and within no time at all we were up in the air. I looked down at the place that once granted me a place to escape, a place of comfort. I didn't mind as long as I always had Toothless with me. Once we were off of the island I realized that I had forgot the knife.

A/N : Okay, this was my first ever attempt on a fan fiction. I have written short stories before, but this is my first attempt at something this big.

I personally would love some constructive criticism, so go ahead and bash me brutally, it's the best way to improve. (Just don't force any ideas down my throat :) )
I hoped that I stayed in character as well as I could, I find it slightly difficult.
I haven't watched any of the TV series. I have tried to watch them, but couldn't get the same joy from the movies. So as a result, most things from the TV show won't pop up unless I specifically search for something, sorry.

Anyways seriousness aside, I really look forward to getting this finished and I honestly hope you can come to enjoy this story.