Hiccup was a mystery to Toothless. Well, more specifically, one aspect of his hatchling was a mystery. Toothless knew quite a bit about his hatchling. He knew that Hiccup didn't like the feel of dirt and grime against his skin. He knew that Hiccup was a very bad liar under certain pressures but with something that wasn't life threatening (like a birthday present) he could do so extraordinarily convincingly. He knew that Hiccup's favorite season was autumn for a few reasons; it being the season he met Toothless is one of them. He knows his hatchling is a daredevil, doing things that are pretty much downright stupid, but he has Toothless to catch him, so it's okay. He knows his rider better than he knows himself, most the time.

But how was Hiccup able to forgive so easily?

Before he was revealed to Berk, Hiccup had often talked after their flights. Stoick said that his child was not in the habit of telling, but Toothless knew that his hatchling wasn't much in the habit because no one listened. Except him. So whenever Hiccup needed to vent (whether his hatchling knew it or not), Toothless would land in the cove and not move until his rider blew his top. (That never actually happened; his hatchling's frustration poured like smooth lava rather than erupting like a volcano.) So he knew of his hatchling's past as well.

He also got the story of what happened after they were separated after the rather disastrous fight between Hiccup and Hookfang. Toothless can understand forgiving the Monstrous Nightmare, really. He got that. He understood how and why Hiccup had forgiven the rest of the trainee's dragons, too. (It was kill of be killed.) But Toothless couldn't understand how Hiccup had forgiven 14 years of emotional abuse. Gobber was understandable; he had, at least, given the lad the time of day. Fishlegs and Astrid were also okay in Toothless's book, the former having very little confidence to stand up and no reason to, and, well, if Hiccup was able to love Astrid, Toothless supposed he would have to as well. The blonde seemed to be a permanent fixture in his hatchling's life, so Toothless decided that as long as she made his hatchling happy, she was okay.

But how was his hatchling able to forgive his father and the rest of the village?

Toothless knew about the disowning. He couldn't claim to understand, though. It had rattled Hiccup to the core, from what he understood.

So how was his hatchling living under the same roof as the man? How was he able to have what were considered civil discussions with the same man? How could he forgive?

The same questions emerged with the village. These people had not lifted a finger to help him. They had not raised him. They had left him for dead and felt no remorse when they went after the dragon's nest. How could he forgive them for that?

Somehow, Hiccup found out about his ponderings and answered them.

"I understand where they come from. They were mad, upset, scared. They found out that they had been lied to for the greater part of a month. Their 'hero'," his hatchling scoffed on the word, "had picked his side, and it wasn't theirs. They didn't understand. And what Vikings don't understand is usually a bad thing, bud, you know that first hand."

Toothless still growled at Mildew when the elder had the gall to show his face.

"I forgave them for being who they are. I was a bit useless at the time. Then I met you and you showed me I wasn't. So long as I have you, I don't need their opinions. You're my best friend, bud, and I wouldn't trade that for anything."

One question still remained.

How did my hatchling become so wise?

It wasn't until a few years later, a drowsy conversation happening near a bonfire outside the Haddock's home, was the question answered by Cloudjumper, Valka's main dragon.

Because he hurt as well. He suffered and will pass on his teachings so no one will suffer the same way he did.

Toothless had a hope that, one day, he might become as wise as his hatchling.

A/N: Not the normal length I've come to expect with these one shots, but it's something I needed to get out for awhile. Denying generic tropes of the dragon being the wisest of the two, because I would think that with Toothless's over protectiveness, it would be awhile before he was able to forgive people for the grief they've caused Hiccup, even if he can get along with them. But assuming that both movies are canon, along with Gift of the Night Fury and Riders/Defenders of Berk, Hiccup would be acting in a friendly manner towards the Vikings of the village for maybe a month or two after the fight with the Red Death. And not only that, Stock apologizes in maybe 18 words for completely destroying Hiccup's world. Yeah. Way to go, dad. So it was something that's been buggin me and it's nice to share.