Disclamer: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon, DreamWorks and Cressida Cowell.

AN: Well this is my first fan fiction, I hope you guys like it. It takes off just after Hiccup wins dragon training and from there, it's how I picture things happening.

Being chosen is like a dream. One that seems impossible. People scream my name when the Elder nods her head at me. They jump for joy, throw their weapons in the air, throw me in the air. Everything I have ever wanted came true. That is, everything I used to want came true. When I say it was like a dream, I mean more like a nightmare. Not at all different from the one that I had just been chosen to slaughter in celebration of my victory over my peers.

Sitting atop the shoulders of Tuffnut and Snotlout, I see the faces of my father and of Gobber, the two Vikings I had always aspired to be like, beaming with pride. What I had always wanted to see from them when they looked at me. But now, knowing that all that I had accomplished in front of them would seem a lie to them if they knew what I had actually done, their pride in me brought shame. And fear.

I know what the people around me are thinking. That the weakling child of the great Chief of Berk had finally stepped into his birthright as a powerful Viking and soon-to-be-leader. If they only knew the truth.

Another face stands out amongst the crowd for me: Astrid's. Her expression is one of anger, disappointment and uncertainty.

My heart goes out to her. I should have let her win; to see her succeed would have made me happy, right?

I shake my head. I could not have let the girl I love kill a dragon in cold blood for mistaken reasons. My compassion is not only for the dragon, but for her. If she would have won... she would have lost something. A part of her she would never be able to get back. I saved her from losing her humanity.

Somehow, I knew she wouldn't see it that way, even if I explained everything to her. I'd probably get a swift punch in the teeth for my heroism.

Some twenty minutes later, I'm sitting in my room staring blankly at the ceiling. I had successfully managed to convince my new fans that I was exhausted from the day's victory and they had reluctantly let me come home. My father had encouraged this; I needed to rest up for my big day tomorrow.

What am I going to do? I think desperately. It's the only thought revolving in my head, no quick solution has made itself known to me as of yet. With my inventive mind, you would think that a problem such as this would be a cinch. You thought wrong. Apparently, so did I.

Now, that's not to say that I see no possible solution; I see many in fact. I cannot, however settle on the correct course of action.

Choice Number 1: Kill the Monstrous Nightmare and become a true Viking; what I have (previously) always wanted.

Choice Number 2: Tame the Nightmare, astonish the crowd and prove to them that dragons are, in fact, not our enemy.

Choice Number 3: Leave Berk, save Toothless, and never return.

I cannot go with the first choice. Since meeting Toothless, my perspective has changed. I've changed. I can't take another beings life. I tried and failed. And to put that murder on stage for all to see just to gain myself fame and status would be disgusting. I wouldn't be able to live with myself.

The decision for me is really between the last two choices. Taming and leaving. The 'taming the Nightmare' choice might seem like the best option, but when I think about it, I only see the result of my actions turning from good to bad in under 10 seconds. My dad would explode in rage as soon as I dropped my weapon to show the dragon I meant it no harm and demand the fight to end, terrifying the dragon and turning it immediately against me. If I survived, the Vikings would find out about Toothless one way or the other, and they'd kill him. I would be seen as a dragon-lover and traitor, either cast out of my tribe or killed.

In order to protect Toothless, I need to leave. Every possible scenario I can come up with against that choice ends in either my death or his. Without me, he can't fly, so my death would eventually become his as well.

My heart twists at the thought that of Toothless dyeing because of me. I had already almost killed him myself by taking away his ability to fly on his own. He is completely at my mercy; my every action will affect him in every way.

Can I really leave my home? Discard my heritage and throw my lot in with my people's most hated enemy? When I think of what is best for my friend, I know that I have to do exactly that. In truth he is the only being that has ever really understood me; my home is wherever he is, I suppose.

Is this cowardly? Am I to afraid to face the consequences of any other choice?

Ignoring this thought, I jump out of bed and hurriedly, but quietly begin to pack everything that I will need and then some. I pause at my desk, seeing the gift my father gave me, not an hour before. A black, slim, long, pointed dagger with the name 'Black Death' engraved in runes on the handle. The name is rather ironic, considering who my best friend is. I hesitate before grabbing it and tying the sheath around my waist. I would need a weapon, no doubt. A prick of guilt runs through me, but I push it aside in the name of practicality. My own dagger is currently at the bottom of a lake because of a certain untrusting dragon.

I creep soundlessly to the top of the stairs and listen intently. No sound from my father; hopefully he is still out celebrating my victory so as not to disturb me in my 'resting up' for tomorrow.

I run down the stairs and slip out the front door and skirt the village, hoping not to be seen. At the crest of the hill above Berk, just before entering the line of trees, I stop and give a last look from the ground at what I am about to leave behind. No fond memories assault me, attempting to change my mind. Nothing but cold relentless bullying, torment, and dislike had occurred here for me over the past twelve years since my mother passed. At sixteen, I am leaving the place that is supposed to be called my home. Standing there, I realize that Berk has never been my home, just somewhere that I never belonged. No amount of fame could ever change that.

AN: What do you think is going to happen now? Let me know what you thought of my fanfic, I'd love to hear your opinions, comments and criticism! Review please! I'll update soon!