It was beginning to getting dark. The ocean was quiet and calm, just like the sky above it. The only thing which disturbed the peace around was black dragon flying low and very slowly over the waves. Or more precisely his rider, who was trying to persuade him to speed up.

"Oh come on, Toothless! You trudge like a gronkle who ate a millstone for dinner!" the boy said to the dragon, which just cooed in response and continued at his current speed and with content smile on his lips.

"I knew that this last batch of dragon nip I gave you will come back and bite me in my... you know what!" sighed Hiccup. There was no point to try to convince Toothless to do anything when he was in this happy mist caused by the dragon drug.

Toothless purred and Hiccup gave up. He lay down on dragon's back and decided to enjoy the view on the rising stars above him. At the end, it was a while he had a chance to just... relax.

It was a year since he left his home on the back of his faithful friend. One long lonely year, during which he really missed his sturdy village with its stubborn people, tasteless food and insufferable weather. It was still his home and he loved it, even through he never was truly one of them, how would someone emphasize every now and then. But after all, being different brought him not one, but two best friends he could ask for. Unfortunately, only one of them was able to come with him on this big journey and frankly, listening to goofy purring of the dragon, Hiccup was beginning to reconsidering the choice.

He spent the first few months after his departure travelling south. It was more from necessarily then caprice. Winter was quickly approaching and he wasn't properly prepared for it. In the blizzards and snowstorms which plagued the whole Archipelago during the winter months was almost impossible to travel – the cold was too harsh to stand and getting any fresh supplies was virtually equal to miracle.

He hoped that he would at least get some information about what was looking for there, but he was mistaken. South islands and lands very often didn't even know dragons and if they did, they have nothing new to tell him about them. The whole "extremely dangerous, kill on sight" was obviously pretty popular opinion.

He was better now, but these first months, filled with failure of obtaining what he wanted, made him nearly desperate. In his mind he imagined it will take him few weeks to find out how to take down the Dragon Queen and then he could go home, save the day and be a hero. After a while, he let go of that "hero" bit. After another few unsuccessful weeks he even shortly considered to turn and just go back to Berk.

He was homesick. He missed his dad (as much as improbable that sounded). Although he was still angry at him for not listening and more than little hurt by his harsh last words to him, he wanted to see him again. He wanted to prove him he is worthy of being his son. (And killing the big dragon seemed to be a good way to do it).

He also missed Gobber and working in the forge. He even missed the smith's advices for life he always got though he never really wanted them.

And above that all, he truly missed his friend Ruffnut. He even went that far and drew her picture in his notebook – just to make sure he wouldn't forget her face during their separation, of course. That would be pretty embarrassing, when he would finally come home and didn't recognize her, wouldn't it?

Well, anyway, the initial despair eventually passed and when also winter left and let the spring take its place, Hiccup's mood improved and with that came new determination and verve for his quest. Full of hope he went back north and this time, his searching brought its fruits. He was already gone from home for six months, when he heard about the Dragon Conqueror for the first time.

It was on the islands located so far from Berk he would never even dream about visiting them before. He landed with Toothless in the woods during the night, stole empty boat from the port and sailed a little further to the sea. He came back to the island at the morning, claiming to be traveller, buying what he needed and sailing away at the evening again. He would come back under the veil of darkness, return the boat, pick up Toothless and fly away.

It was the scenario he usually used when visiting human colonies. Because he visited so many places, he always had something interesting he could trade for enough food and other supplies. For some aromatic spice from south he once even got some fabric – that was when one of the women of the place where he just were correctly pointed that his pants were barely reaching the middle of his calves. It however took him another two months and seven new islands until he found someone who made him new ones.

Anyway, this time he beside the food also needed to visit the forge. One of the metal components making Toothless' tailfin itself bended after being hit during the encounter with not so friendly citizens of near island and needed to be repaired. Thankfully, the local blacksmith was welcoming enough to let him use his smithy. He was also very talkative.

After careful beginning (Hiccup learned very quickly that saying you are technically runaway brought only suspicions, not overwhelming desire to help) he said his half made story about dragon problem on his home (true) and him being send to find a help (not so true). To his utter surprise, blacksmith told him a tale about man who was able to tame dragons with mere look and then made them to do anything he wanted. He wasn't able to tell Hiccup the name of this person, but he pointed him to someone who would.

And so began Hiccup's hopping from island to island, from one story teller to another. It took him six weeks after he firstly heard about him just to get to someone who actually wasn't only repeating stories, but was able to direct him to concrete people.

But now, now he was finally there. On the way to Ice Islands, which were the last stop before reaching the Drago Bludvist's camp – the man he was looking for.

He had to admit, that name gave him shivers down to his spine. To his uneasy feeling also didn't help the fact, that nearly everyone with whom he talked about this man wore the same unclear expressions on their faces. But no one ever told him to turn back and don't try to approach this man. Everyone always confirmed that Drago Bludvist is indeed the one who can defeat any dragon. So Hiccup shoved his doubts deep into back of his mind and full of youngish naivety went asking for help to him. When he was later sitting in the prison, he thought he should listen to his inner voice more.

The first sign that something will be probably wrong came the minute he crossed the border of Drago's camp. Thankfully, Toothless slept off his overdose of dragon nip and today was again in his full strength, so they managed to avoid all flying nests, bolas and other traps which were sent on them by soldiers on the ground. However, it wasn't the welcome Hiccup imagined.

They weren't any safer after landing. Hiccup rather decided to land outside the camp, but it didn't help him much, at the end. The minute his feet touched the soil under, he was surrounded by dozens of men, all of them wearing thick armour and long hollow sticks, which they used for shooting the small arrows on them. Poisoned ones. Right before he slipped into unconsciousness, Hiccup realised that he may have just do one of the biggest mistakes of his life. And this hypothesis was confirmed a few hours later, when he woke up chained to wall in damp, dark cell with no windows, but plenty of rats.

His head felt dizzy, but he still tried to get out from his manacles. It just made him more lightheaded, so he rather stopped again. However, the rumbling woke up the other occupant of the dungeon. With tired whirr, the black dragon opened his eyes and when he found out he's also firmly chained to the place, he began fight his restrains angrily.

"Toothless! Calm down, bud! It won't help!" Hiccup cried out on his dragon, relieved he was with him and okay. Well, as okay as someone locked in prison could be.

"I've got us into some mess, didn't I, bud?" the boy asked his friend and Toothless answered with another moan. He could be wrong, but Hiccup was pretty sure the dragon is agreeing with him. Yes, they were in serious trouble. Of course, only if this wasn't one big misunderstanding.

Hiccup thought for a moment. Maybe this was all just some mix-up? Maybe Drago has interpreted their arrival as attack and was just defending himself and his men? Maybe he will come here soon and after Hiccup will explain, he will release him and they will laugh on it together? Voice in his head which sounded suspiciously like his father told him not being an idiot and stop trying to find some non-existent positives in this. Hiccup shook his head and had to agree with his sub consciousness.

Just when he tried the second time to liberate himself, he heard the steps outside the door of the cell. It didn't take long and the door opened, firstly two random soldiers coming in, then some young chap in light fur vest and distinctively shaven facial hairs and finally large man wearing cloak made from something which uncomfortably reminded the dragon skin.

Toothless started to growl immediately and Hiccup gulped, his throat feeling suddenly very dry. Nope, no positives in this, indeed.

The man didn't say a word, just watched Hiccup intently. Hiccup tried to stare him back, but he didn't manage it for very long time and soon he lowered his eyes to ground. Silence continued and after a while, Hiccup was already half mad by that and ready to start conversation about weather or recipes for cooked mutton, jut to break it. Then the man finally spoke up.

"Who are you?" he asked and Hiccup's insides tightened on his tone. Still, he managed to answer.

"My name is Hiccup... sir," he said and hoped his respectful salutation will gain him some plus points. He didn't dare to ask who he was. In fact, he was pretty sure he knew that already. This was Drago Bludvist's camp. It was only understandable that the most frightening man around would be the big boss himself. Suddenly, the hunted looks of everyone who he encountered in the connection of this man, made sense.

"And what do you want here, Hic-cup," Drago asked, drawling his name mockingly and then making a few steps to Toothless, examining him carefully. The dragon continued to growl menacingly, not averting his eyes from man's cold stare. Drago looked really intrigued for a brief second and Hiccup took it as a sign of his good mood (if he was able to have some) and quickly spewed out:

"We have come in peace, sir. I'm sorry if you interpreted out arrival as an attack. I admit it may not have been very fortunate to just fly here, but, well, you don't have any office where I could ask for arranging the meeting, so I just thought..." he was babbling, like he often did when he was dealing with something unexpected. By the corner of his eye he noticed the guy with goatee smirk for a second, and then his attention was snatched back to Drago by man's angry shout.

"Silence!"

"I've came to ask for help," blurted Hiccup finally the reason he came here in the first place. Dragon conqueror gave him unreadable look.

"With the dragon," added Hiccup for explanation and waited for answer.

No one said anything for a while. When Drago finally broke the silence, it was with suspicious tone.

"You seem to have this one quite under control," he said and nodded in the direction of the Night Fury. It was rewarded by another threatening roar from the dragon. Hiccup in the fear of Drago taking Toothless' growling as sign of danger and reacting accordingly for such threat, quickly spluttered:

"Oh, not with this one! Toothless is about as dangerous as newly born puppy. He's absolutely fine! No... uh... it's about the Queen of the nest near my home." He held his breath in anticipation of what will come next. Drago seem to think for a minute and then to Hiccup's utter relief said:

"Tell me more." Young dragon rider happily complied.

"Uh... it's been controlling all dragons in the area. They have to serve it, bring it food. Which mean they have to raid us. My home, that's it."

"Queen, you say..."

"Yes..." confirmed Hiccup and then carefully added: "I heard that you have a power to control dragons. Maybe... maybe you could try to take control over this one too." He shut up and eyed the man expectantly. Drago's young companion came into Hiccup's sight and the boy was very surprised to find out he's looking at him with badly suppressed rage in his eyes. How he managed to anger this one?

"Oh, I will, don't worry," whispered Drago, not paying Hiccup or his men any more attention.

"Really?" squeaked Hiccup, relieved and for a second, his chest was flooded by feeling of absolute happiness.

"I mean, that's great! I... I don't know what to say! Thank you! You will save us!" He would hug him, if not being still chained to the wall. But, at the end, it was maybe well he was, because what came next made Hiccup want to smash the man's head against the wall. And his own too.

Drago actually laughed out loud on Hiccup's happy exclamation. In his interpretation it sounded really scary.

"I don't care a one bit about your people. As far as my concern goes, they could be eaten by that queen." He made a little pause, during which an awful realisation began to sink into Hiccup's mind. Drago got lost in his talk and continued:

"Your people are meaningless to me. Useless. But dragon queen, that would be magnificent addition for my army." His eyes got terrifying crazy shine in them. It was precisely that look which made Hiccup finally to recognize that he is dealing with a madman. No noble saviour, no hope for oppressed people. But power hungry maniac who wouldn't stop before anything.

Hiccup didn't dare to say a word more. He frantically tried to come with some way out of this. How could be so stupid? How could he not to see the signs?

"Tell me, boy, where is that dragon of yours hidden?" Drago suddenly stopped his musings over Odin knew what and turned to the boy. Hiccup was however determined to not say a thing. He had suddenly very clear feeling that Berk would be better even with the dragon raids than with this lunatic by its shores.

"Tell me!" shouted Drago. Hiccup braced all scraps of his left courage and stayed silent. Drago huffed angrily. He stepped to one of the soldiers and grabbed his sword.

"Tell me or I will kill him!" he ordered again, pressing the blade against Toothless' neck. Dragon started writhing in his chains again, roaring angrily. Hiccup's heart froze in fear.

"No!" he cried out, desperately trying to get free and help his friend.

"Then tell me!" yelled Drago again. Hiccup was torn between desire to save his friend and duty to his tribe. He knew very well that he can't tell Drago where the Nest with this Queen is – it was too close to home. He couldn't endanger Berk. But he couldn't let Toothless die, either. Wish he had more time for properly thinking about it.

Drago meanwhile lost his patience and prepared to cut the dragon's head off.

"No! Wait!" cried Hiccup. Desperate and crazy idea came to his mind.

"I will... I will navigate you!"

"Tell me now!"

"No!" refused Hiccup and looked firmly at the man before him. "You will kill me and my dragon if I will tell you now. You won't need us any more." This better should work; otherwise they will both end as dinner for fish tonight.

Drago watched the boy intently for a while. Then he smirked and lowered the sword. Hiccup's knees wobbled and he would fell down is he wasn't hold upright by the chains.

"Maybe you're not as stupid as I thought," commented Drago. Then he suddenly turned and left the dungeon, his minions hot on his heels. Hiccup heard him giving the orders for preparing for the journey, but he didn't care. His mind was able to hold only one thought – he was alive. Bothe he and Toothless were.