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It was the second raid of the year when Hiccup was 13 and he was determined to prove himself to the village. No more would he be Hiccup the Useless. Hiccup had invented a machine to shoot down dragons, and he wasn't going to miss his chance to use it. Hiccup slipped out of Gobber's grasp determined to prove he could do it, that he's a dragon killer and viking warrior like his dad wants. When he saw the night fury attacking Hiccup knew it was the one to take down. It's the worst dragon and no viking has survived it. Miraculously he actually managed to hit it. He immediately tried to tell people, but he's brushed off as a liar and a deadly distraction with the raid going on. Worse, a nightmare destroyed his invention immediately decided to follow up with the inventor as an appetizer. Hiccup had to be rescued from danger yet again, and was promptly shoved back inside, completely unbelieved.

Hiccup knew they rarely believed him, but he saw the dragon go down. It hurt to be brushed off by everyone, even his father. So he decided to take care of it on his own. He could find it and kill it, bring back proof he wasn't lying.

Hiccup escaped into the forest once his dad fell asleep to find the night fury. He couldn't help cursing his sudden burst of clumsiness as he entered the woods, missing when he was able to move silently. It didn't take as long as he'd thought to find where the dragon had crashed, and quickly tracks the large drag marks. He was right! An unknown dragon, probably the night fury, was in his trap! He crowed his pride.

Suddenly the dragon moved, opening it's eyes. Shock flooded him seeing the dragon was alive. What if it attacked him? He panicked. He'd been an idiot to come out here alone. Except the dragon wasn't attacking. It was trapped. So Hiccup could still kill it. Hiccup grinned and stepped forward to do it-only to meet too intelligent eyes. The dragon knew he was here to kill it. And he was resigned. He's waiting for death, even though he was scared.

He had to do it. He's a viking! A dragon killer! He downed the night fury, something no other viking managed. His dad will be proud! He'll be accepted! His first step in finally becoming like the rest, instead of staying an outcast.

But it's like the wolf he snared once. No, worse than the wolf. The same fear and knowledge of death, in eyes far more intelligent than he'd expected. He didn't even realize what he was doing until he's already started cutting the ropes. He couldn't kill it. The horrible night fury, the viking killer, will live because it's scared and helpless and he couldn't stand seeing something so noble look like the rabbits he hunted.

The dragon pinned him as soon as it was free. Hiccup looked up at death. It'd kill him now. It's too powerful. Hiccup knew he wasn't strong enough to fight it. Yet he freed it. Couldn't harm a dragon. And he'd die now because of his stupidity and lack of vikingness.

Except he didn't. The dragon just roared at him, menacing and full of danger, and flew off. Hiccup just stared at the sky shocked. He's alive. Why? The dragon could have killed him. He was so close to death. He was shaking a little from it. He'd never been so close to a dragon. Always kept out of the way, pushed back. Few times he came near one he was either running from it or someone saved him. He got up and started heading home. It's good he's training as a blacksmith. Good his dad never agreed to let him train as a dragon killer. It's obvious he couldn't be one now. He's too weak, and couldn't bring himself to hurt a downed dragon. Idiot Hiccup, thinking it looked noble. Now he'd pay for his mistake.