DISCLAIMER: I do not own How To Train Your Dragon 1, 2 or any of it's characters. Yes, this fic does include spoilers of HTTYD2. You have been warned.

Prologue

"Be sure to catch me, Buddy!"

It was only getting worse.

Hiccup had known this. He had known for a while that his time was dwindling. His coughs were worse than before, hacking and spewing unmentionables and blood, all of which he hid in a napkin he stubbornly had on his person at all time, vigorously cleaning it after every incident.

He was beginning to lose control of his mouth, random and incoherent words just tumbled out without his consent, at times he didn´t even know he had said anything at all.

His bones creaked and popped at the joints when he moved, aching in various places and easily trembled with too much exertion. His fingers were painfully stiff to the point where he couldn´t even grasp onto his beloved charcoal pens to write or draw. His sleeping patterns had grown irregular, it didn´t take much until he was out like a light and sleeping like a babe.

But the worse part wasn´t the growing number of moles and wrinkles nor the gray freying hairs on top of his head, no, it was the fact that he was losing his memory. His most beloved and treasured memories were wiped clean out of his mind as the days and nights blurred into one. Faces were blurring out of existence and names were being swept away. Places and sights that he knew he had seen had long since faded away.

The chilling touch of a cloud was forgotten on his wrinkled skin and the heat of a summer´s day was merely a dream. The laughter of a child he knew he must have cherished echoed in his mind, but no matter how long he sat and pondered, no face nor a name popped forward, just the sweet echo of a cheerful laugh. There were many other small details that he knew of, but couldn´t place where he knew them from.

Until finally they all became a story of another in his mind.

His name was Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and he was dying with barely a sliver of a remembrance of his previous life.

He was bounded to his bed now. His muscles too weak to function properly and his bones to frail to lift on their own. He could hear voices outside his darkened, musky room that was in great need for some fresh air, a slight line of light underneath the door blocked threshold was shadowed by moving bodies.

He couldn´t remember the voices either. He knew he should have, but the soft tone of the female was odd to his ears as well as the rough timber of the male´s.

"We need to do something, he can´t even move anymore without being in pain." He heard her whisper, the feminine voice cracking as her light sniffles were heard.

"There´s nothing we can do other than to let him leave in peace." Replied the rough one, perhaps they were married? How nice for them, love is always so youthful.

"But Agdar-" the female nearly shrieked as the sound of a chair scrapping across a wooden floor echoed through their home.

"No, Astrid." The male, supposedly Agdar, shouted as a thump sounded from the sliver of light. "Leave him alone. There´s nothing we can do for him. Dad is dying and that is something we have to come to terms with." Alright, not newly-weds.

A heart wrenching sob broke out and shuffling could be heard followed shortly by murmured words of comfort.

´Their father was dying, that´s a shame, poor kids.´ Hiccup thought as he settled deeper into his bed.

Yes, his memories had been wiped clean, but there was one thing he knew of his previous life. One thing he would always know and love. The animal he had cared for as a child, not even a teenager. The very animal that had laid by his side day in and day out, refusing to leave and attacking any who tried to separate them. The memories of diving into the open air, feeling the chill of the clouds and the rush of the winds before landing solidly on the cushioned harness that was straped onto the creature´s back.

A smile overcame the elder man´s face as he turned his head to the side, his hollowed cheek pressing into the fluffy pillow as he traced the slender form of the great beast next to him.

"Toothless." He called as he reached a frail hand forward. The dragon jumped up, his tail wanging furiously behind him as his tongue rolled out of the side of his mouth. He leaned forward and nuzzled his great nose into the palm of the aged man.

But this time Toothless shrugged back from the odd smell of his master´s hand. He drew in another breath and growled. His master's forest-life and musty scent was clouded by another. An ominous scent that forced its way into his nostrils and rung bells of alarm in his mind, it´s been a scent that had bothered the great dragon greatly for a long time.

The scent of blood, rot and... death.

"Hey, Bud." Hiccup said cheerfully as he drew back his hand, placing it on his chest as he smiled crookedly at his dragon, not noticing the distrustful gaze his loyal companion had in his eyes. "There´s a lot of strange people around here, do you know any of them, bud?"

Toothless continued to stare his master down with cautious eyes, his top lip twitched in distaste while his throat released threatening growls. Hiccup was quick to catch on to his dragon´s emotions. Already able to guess what had his precious dragon on edge without any words being said. His eyes softened as he held out his hand again; nodding his head to tell his dragon it was alright.

"I know, Toothless, I know." He whispered, his voice hitching crackling with years of use and shouting. "Come on, buddy, I don´t have much left."

Toothless growled at his words before shoving into the calloused hand, his snout pushing his hand over his head until settling beneath the fragile arm of his master´s, nuzzling into the warmth of the blankets tucked in around him, ignoring the heavy smell it radiated.

Hiccup patted his dragon´s great head, his hand slipping over the familiar scales as a small smile overcame his features. "It´s alright, Toothless, It´s alright. I´ve lived a good life. I´m only sorry for not being stronger."

The dragon huffed at his words, angry that he would think of himself as weak. Only the strongest of the strong could handle a night fury, and Hiccup has done so since he was just a boy. Hiccup knew, he could see it in the great beast´s eyes that he was displeased with his words and thoughts. Hiccup could read the tense shoulders and the slightly narrowed eyelids that Toothless wasn´t happy at all.

Slowly those large green watery eyes widened as his draconian brows parted from each other. His collection of ears folded back on his head as his throat released a pitiful whine. Tears filled the elder's eyes as he slowly sat up, holding Toothless´ head on his weakened lap as he bent over him. He buried his face into the beast´s rough shoulder as his tears escaped his withering brown eyes.

"I´m sorry, I´m sorry, I´m sorry..." He chanted as he nuzzled into Toothless´ shoulder, hugging the dragon close to him. "You´ll live for many, many more years. They will take care of you, my children, those people outside, they´ll take care of you." He sobbed.

The 2 sat like that for a while. The old man´s dying sobs and the dragon´s gentle growls and purrs were the only sounds heard from that stuffy molding room.

Slowly Hiccup pulled back, his back straightened as he wiped his eyes in a poor attempt to dry his eyes. He used his sleeve as best he could but there was a familiar tickle at the back of his throat. A dreaded tickle that he was, unfortunately, well acquainted with. He quickly grabbed his hidden napkin from his bed side table and pressed it against his mouth before the coughing fit overcame his body.

He´s entire body shook as he coughed into the napkin. His throat raw as flem and other slimy substances evacuated from his body in the most painful way. He grasped at his chest, feeling the pain intensify with every cough. His heart thumped fast and heavy, seizing as more coughs escaped him, the bones made up of his ribcage suddenly felt uncomfortable in his body and was now clawing their way out of his skin.

Once the fit had calmed he sat still on his bed, panting heavily as he rubbed at his chest. The sharp sting still there and his heart still pounding, which was good. His heart was still working, still thumping... still fighting.

Toothless stood to the side, his head sunken between his front paws as his tail was tucked beneath his body. Hiccup crumpled the handkerchief and hid it in his draw. He didn´t want to see what he knew was there, the blood, flem and other bodily acids and bits that escaped him. He glanced at his dog-like dragon with apologetic eyes. "I can´t help it." He whispered his throat too raw to speak any louder.

The world around him was spinning. Hiccup lay back down, his body was malfunctioning and he realized that his heart was working too fast. The organ was pumping out more blood than needed and bringing on an onslaught of it to his brain. His sight was blurring and his chest ached with panic. He clawed at the skin above his heart, gasping from the pain.

"Too-thless!" He shouted. His aged voice broke horribly as he reached forward in desperation. He needed to feel the rough scales against his skin, hear the heated breathe of his companion and see, even with his continually fading sight, the large green eyes of the only friend he would remember and cherish long after his passing. "To-Toothless!"

Toothless leapt over his master, his massive body hovering over Hiccup, weary not to put any pressure on his weakened bones, and nuzzled into his neck. The great Night Fury shoved his large snot beneath his chin as he cuddled into his owner.

Hiccup´s breathing slowed and his panic vanished. His eye sight was only worsening and so he shut his eyes as he hugged his dragon close to him, ignoring the ache in his limbs.

Listening closely to Toothless´ soothing breathing, feeling the heat his body brought as he ran his hands down the comforting scales he escaped reality. He was no longer the frail old man who lay on his deathbed; he was the young brave "Dragon conqueror".

His chest was puffed out in confidence that was developed from years of training various dragons and trainers, his eyes were bright with curiosity and his mind was reeling with knowledge. He was the first Viking to have ever tamed a dragon and was the first to have ever flown; now because of him Vikings were riding and living peacefully side by side the dragons.

He had made the world a bright and happier place, just by befriending a dragon.

That young boy was now standing on the edge of a cliff, his toes wagging into the empty air as he breathed in the fresh air and dragon-nip. The waves below slammed against the rocks, but they made a comforting, holy sound. His muscles relaxed and his mind found peace.

"This is it boy. I love you." He whispered his voice young and vibrant as he placed his strong hand onto the dragon´s lean head. "Be sure to catch me, Buddy!"

The great dragon trainer jumped from that cliff and dove into the icy waters below, a smile spread across his face as he reveled in the rushing air. The air of freedom.

That night the anguished cries of a Night Fury alerted the village of a great loss. His cries were followed by others of various tones and melodies. The draconian song was sung throughout the night and well into morning.

They grieved the loss of their master, teacher and of their friend.

The early rays of the morning sun peaked from the heavily clouded sky. The calm waters glimmered in delights as it soaked in the precious shinning of light. Stones on boulders twinkled beneath the light as the rare patches of grass were illuminated be the orange shine of dawn. Amongst natures beauty was a single wooden boat, innocently sailing into the sea and stacked high with lumber.

It was a sight too beautiful, too innocent for the mourning crowd that lined the shore.

Women attempted to dampen their sobs as their men embraced them. Ashen-faced children clung to their mother´s worn skirts or the rough leather of their father´s pant leg whilst coddling their sullen baby dragons. The older dragons were perched on various forms of hut and jotted rocks - not one in flight. Their great wings were all tucked securely on their backs with their shoulders slumped and heads lowered.

The skies were empty of life, the forests were eerily silent and the sea was uncomfortably calm.

And at the very edge of the harbor that held ships of various sizes was the great Night Fury flanked by 2 humans; one man and one woman. The burly brown-haired man held onto a metal handle, one that was dotted with a variety of buttons and was formed to fit a slimmer hand, thus making the contraption seem feeble and useless in the hands of the much larger Viking. Beside him stood a petite blonde woman who clung onto an odd metal helmet that was worn and rusted from use and age. The object was held close to her chest as she cried, her body trembling with every sob.

The mountain of a man wrapped one arm around her as he nodded in acknowledgement towards the great black dragon beside him. The Night Fury gave no such gesture in return. His back rigid and tense as his intense green eyes were narrowed onto the sailing boat on the waters horizon. The man sighed as he turned around and gazed over the grief ridden people of Berk.

"I am Agard Hiccup Haddock, Son of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock The Third and Astrid Haddock, Chief of the Hooligan Tribe." He announced with a loud booming voice that could only belong to a Viking. His chest puffed out in dominance and strength, an act of leadership. He paused as he looked over the faces of his people. "We have suffered a great loss. Last night Chief Hiccup Haddock passed in his sleep. He was a man of the people," The crowd shouted their agreements, but settled down quickly enough for Agars to continue. "and of the dragons." The dragons did not cheer, they all nodded sullenly in respect.

"He, alone, was the bridge between our raced. Where we once fought and killed dragons we, today, nourish and protect them. Dragons will always have a home in Berk and that is through Hiccup Haddock´s legacy. Today, his body will burn and through his ashes we will find peace and the will to protect our home, our family!" He shouted as the crowd gave out out a teary cheer for the memory of their late leader. Agard raised the silver sword-handle into the air, pushing a button and bringing forth a blade of fire.

The people of Berk roared with pride. Screaming Chief Hiccup´s name and blessing him a safe passage to Valhalla.

Agard allowed his people to rejoice a moment longer before calling back the flame and slicing his free hand through the air, silencing the deafening cheers. Without further word he turned towards the Night Fury and kneeled. The Night Fury glanced down at him and lowered his head in respect. His green locked eyes with the quietly sobbing woman still hugging the helmet close to her.

Slowly she walked forward, sniffling as she walked, until finally she kneeled in front of the great dragon and tied the helmet onto his saddle. With a final sob she fell forward and wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. The Night Fury bowed his head above her shoulder as a hug in return.

She pulled away slowly and stepped back to kneel beside her brother.

Like a building waves the crowd followed suit. Row by row kneeled before the dragon as the dragons all bowed their heads. Large metallic armor clanked as they tossed themselves to the ground in a show of loyalty.

Toothless slowly stood, his tail swayed and arched as he rightfully claimed his title of Alpha by raising his head above all others. His back burned blue as he acknowledges all those who kneeled. His eyes were cold as he scanned the crowd all of young faces that have been thoroughly protected from the wars that once plagued these lands.

His eyes caught sight of an old hunching man leaning heavily on a cane as he stood at the very edge of the cliff nearest the harbor, a grieving gronckle by his side. He ran his hand across the gronckle's back as he sent a sad smile to the Night Fury. He was the last of the Original dragon riders. Toothless inhaled sharply and caught the faint scent of death in the air. Fishlegs too will be gone from their world.

His body hardened as he in one, quick and aggressive swirl shot a ball of plasma with deadly accuracy. The bolt hit the sailing ship and ignited a hefty flame. The body of his life-long partner was burned and the scent of his burning flesh wafted through his nose despite the smell of soot and tears.

All at once flaming arrows were flung towards the burning boat. Some hitting rocks while others were extinguished by the water. Dragon fire was soon also thrown into the mix. The scent of flames was strong in the air, but Toothless could still only smell the body of his rider.

Soon the shooting ceased.

The people bowed their heads for one last silent prayer before dispersing, returning to their homes and work. Soon the shoreline was deserted and only Toothless and Hiccup´s children stood left at the harbor.

Astrid the second stepped forward and ran her hand down his still activated back scales. "You´re so strong, Toothless. Thank you for everything. I'm so happy that Dad´s final moments were with you, the one who understood him in ways we couldn´t. In ways mom couldn´t."

Toothless gazed at her. Now, with the dragons and Vikings gone from sight, his hardened eyes were tearing and lost. Those vibrant green eyes shone dull as he gazed into the very eyes of his late rider. It was still the wrong face, the wrong hair and the wrong body... the wrong eyes.

Suddenly he opened his wings to their full length and leaped. The siblings let out a shock gasped as the watched the dragon furiously flap his wings and leap from rock to rock. Digging his talons into the boulders and tearing away stones and letting the rubble fall from the cliffs and into the waters.

Finally he had made it to the final cliff away from the shore, the closest to the dying flame. The scent of burnt flesh and soot was the strongest there, but he didn't care. With a swift chomp he bit off the straps of his saddle and grabbed the contraption between his sharp teeth. There was a tug on his tail where the artificial tail was strapped on.

The red tail with the symbol of Berk was clear against his black scales. It was his rid- no, his partner's invention. The invention that had brought them together and strengthen a bond stronger than any partnership or brotherhood. They were the epitome of Dragon and Rider.

And now his other half was gone, leaving the prosthetic useless.

With a vicious growl he tore the tail off, grabbed saddled and prosthetic in between his teeth and threw it onto the embers, igniting the flames with a plasma bolt and staying until the boat sunk to the bottom of the sea.

Without Hiccup as his rider he will never fly again.