Inspired from "The Boy Behind the Mask" written by IAmTheBrovahkiin on this very site. Go read that story. It's very good. Anyways, please leave a review! Oh! Before I forget! This story will have elements of both the book and the movies( ex. Dragoneses). It will have gore. So it is rated T. It's my first T rated story.

Chapter One: The Start

The day couldn't of gone any worse. Hiccup vs. Astrid vs. a mad Gronckle. He hadn't wanted to win, dragon training wasn't a competition to him, and Hiccup had every intention of letting Astrid beat him. "I won't be able to kill the Monstrous Nightmare," Hiccup said to himself as he laid alone in his room," Thor knows I can't." But what was he supposed to do when a Gronckle comes flying at you!? Hiccup dealt with it the only way he knew how to and that was to scratch it under it's chin when it was a few inches away. He tried to make sure that nobody could see him; at least he didn't think anyone had. Hiccup stared up at the ceiling. What was he going to do? Maybe I could show them the truth about dragons, Hiccup thought, Ah...no, it's not as if they would listen. He sat up in his bed. Inside it was quiet but outside in the dark a few people were still chatting about his "success" in the ring. When Fishlegs picked him up and sat him on his shoulders Hiccup saw his dad and he saw the proud and happy look on his face. "That's my boy!" Stoick cheered. That's all Hiccup had ever wanted to hear from his dad but now...it didn't feel right. Stoick doesn't know. And he should never know. I need to get away from the village for the night, Hiccup decided. He got up from his bed, snuck out of his house, and traveled by shadow until he was of the village. Hiccup slipped into the forest hoping that he hadn't been seen.

O

"Toothless!" Hiccup called out as he entered the Cove," Where are you bud?" He scanned the area for his dragon. It was just after dusk so he still had enough light to see the Night Fury.

'Where have you been?' Toothless exclaimed in his own dragony tongue.

Hiccup glanced to his left just as a huge shadow tackled him to the ground. 'You usually come a lot earlier.'

"Yea sorry bud," Hiccup chuckled as his dragon licked him," My dad came back yesterday so it was harder to slip away."

Toothless backed off his friend,' Your dad is the big one with the red beard, right?'

"Yea, why?' Hiccup patted Toothless.

'No reason,' Toothless sniffed his rider for any signs of fish,' I just remember seeing him during the night you shot me down. So why are you here? You're not wearing your flight suit so I'm guessing that we're not gonna go flying.'

"I just need be away from the village," Hiccup admitted. Toothless eyed Hiccup with his puppy eyes, hoping it would make him explain why. "I just need to bud," Hiccup sighed, " And I really don't want to go back."

'Why?' Toothless cocked his head to the right in question.

"Oooohh, uh...no reason," Hiccup stuttered.

'Hiccup,' Toothless grunted.

Hiccup sighed as he sat up," Before my dad left he put me into dragon training. I ended up using the things I learned from you in the ring, things like Dragon Nip and Eels, and because of that I'm the one that gets the "glorious honor" of killing a Monstrous Nightmare in the final exam."

Toothless's eyes widened in shock and he keeled down in horror, 'That's horrible! You can't kill that dragon! It's not right!'

"It doesn't feel right," Hiccup reached up and patted Toothless on the head. He sighed dejectedly and seemed to be deep in thought.

Unbeknownst to Hiccup and Toothless, Astrid was only a few feet away. Having spotted him darting out of the village, she followed him quietly and was now crouched behind a large boulder. Hiccup was so wrapped up in his thoughts it was easy to get closer and overhear him. Who in the world is he talking to? Astrid wondered. She slowly peeked around the corner; then immediately ducked behind the boulder again. A dragon! I-I can't believe this! Astrid's thoughts ran rampant in her head. She breathed in and out, trying to calm down. What dragon is that? Wait...is that...that's a Night Fury! That's what he said he shot down! What in the world is Hiccup doing with a Night Fury? Astrid calmed her thoughts so she could listen to what Hiccup was saying.

"I-It's just not fair," she heard Hiccup complain," I mean I know that I'm the chief's son and all but I shouldn't have to kill dragons. You guys are nothing like we first thought." Astrid heard the Night Fury purr and nuzzle Hicup's shoulder. "Thank you Toothless," Hiccup sighed," At least someone understands.

What in the-does he think that the dragon can talk? I've got to do something. I've gotta tell Stoick! Astrid began to slowly move from her spot. SNAP! A twig broke under Astrid's boot and she froze.

Hiccup and Toothless spun around. "Who's there?" Hiccup asked.

Astrid held her breath. What could she do? She couldn't reveal herself. She had to tell Stoick. So, she stood there, doing her best to not make the slightest sound.

When he didn't receive an answer, Hiccup turned around and climbed onto Toothless," We need to get out of here."

'What about your flight suit?' Toothless grunted,'What if you fall off?'

"It doesn't matter Toothless," Hiccup said," We need to go, we're not alone here." One click of the stirrup and the two shot up into the clouds.

Astrid watched them fly away. She still couldn't believe what just happened in front of her. She felt a sting of betrayal. But why? It was Hiccup! The runt heir of Berk. A screw-up. She knew that he didn't have the strength to kill a dragon but never thought that he'd "befriend" one. And of any dragon, it had to be a Night Fury! With a sprint Astrid climbed out of the Cove and ran through the forest. She exploded into the village, careful not to run smack into anyone.

"Aye there ye are Astrid," Gobber the Belch walking out of the Forge" I've been wonderin' where ye were."

"Gobber," Astrid huffed," Where's the Chief?"

"He's up at the Great Hall," Gobber pointed towards the massive stairs," What has ye in such a rush?"

"It's...It's hard to explain," Astrid started running towards the Great Hall," But it's about Hiccup and...a Night Fury." She turned and bolted up the stone stairs.

O

Stoick the Vast sat among his fellow Viking men, chatting about the dragon raids and what should be done about them. They were interrupted when the massive doors flung open; bringing in the cold weather. "Astrid?" Stoick exclaimed and quickly stood up," What is it lass?"

"You probably won't believe me, sir," Astrid began," but it's about Hiccup and a dragon."

Stoick's eyes widened in fear," Is he hurt?"

"No, he's...friends with it!" Astrid spat, trying to catch her breath.

"Friends?" Spitelout walked up and stood next to his Chief," Little lass I think you've been practicing a wee bit to much."

"No I'm serious!" Astrid yelled," But it's not just any dragon! It's a Night Fury!"

"Night Fury..." Stoick's blood ran cold.

"A Night Fury!?"

"Where?"

"Get down!"

Stoick turned towards his men,"Everybody calm down!" He thundered then turned back to Astrid and grabbed her shoulders," Are ya sure it was a-a Night Fury?"

"I wouldn't be this freaked," Astrid admitted," I don't know how he can be so calm around it."

Stoick took in this information. If Hiccup really had befriended a dragon, then he was basically betraying his whole village. It tore Stoick's heart but he didn't dare show it. "Gather the men!"Stoick barked," Tonight, we hunt them down! But don't hurt my son in anyway!"

O

Hiccup and Toothless circled around in the clouds. 'Who do you think that was?'

"I dunno," Hiccup glanced around the forest below him," Do you think...that they...might of..."

'I wouldn't put it past them.' Toothless grunted silently.

"Oh man..."Hiccup felt a stinging pain inside him. He knew that whoever saw him with Toothless would go right to his dad. "They've probably started a search party for us."

'Then let's leave.' Toothless suggested.

"What?" the thought of leaving never came to Hiccup. Berk was the only place he knew as home, even if he wasn't accepted. He gave it a thought, and the more and more he pondered on the idea the better the it seemed," That might be a good idea Toothless. Take me where ever the wind steers you."