Chapter 2:

The low mumbles and movements of people outside Hiccup's room aggravated me. Everything had quieted down and yet they still felt the need to make noise. Hiccup was close to death, I could smell it: decay. Much of his family had returned from far off lands to give there goodbye tidings before his passing. The funny thing was, however, the word "family" carried with it a very loose requirement. Hiccup and I had visited many places, knew a lot of people, and were well known throughout this part of the world. So "family" basically entailed every man, women and child, human and dragon alike.

The original purpose of this ritual was to show whoever was passing that he was loved and will be missed, that his life had purpose to it. Family members would visit, talk of old times, shed tears and move on. With Hiccup, there was a line outside the door at one point; almost everyone, no wait scratch that, literally everyone in some way could draw their lives back to the two of us.

Human rituals are tiresome, I thought. Some had brought flowers, weapons, food and water, rare medicines, survival gear, tents, clothes, and blankets just to name a few. It looked as though Hiccup was throwing a goodbye sale in his bedroom.

Half off everything! This is your last chance to take the personal belongings of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock II before you're technically stealing from a dead man!

I let out a snort. From what I could understand, the thought process of Vikings was this: following Hiccup's death his body would be placed on a boat with all this junk, and the boat would sail out into the sea before being lit on fire by a flaming arrow. Anything Hiccup had with him while on the boat was what he could take with him into the after life. The more stuff you had the better chance you would be comfortable for eternity.

And interesting concept in theory, but the only problem I had with it – a rather obvious one at that – was if you lit the ship and all its cargo on fire, wouldn't all the items arrive in the after life burnt?

I let out a slight chuckle at the thought of Vikings arriving into the after life with a bunch of chard junk.

Hiccup shifted his head slightly against my shoulder. I moved my neck and looked down at him. Hiccups eyes were closed and a small crack of a smile parted his lips, not an uncommon sight; Hiccup was always comfortable resting against me. To my knowledge, he was the only one who did this. Others had tried it themselves; they all claimed the scales of a dragon hurt and bruised their neck. And this was true. But Hiccup, Hiccup had trouble resting unless he was lying against him. Either way I enjoyed having him close.

He looks peaceful, I thought

The door suddenly opened and a heavy ray of light blasted through from the fireplace outside. Astrid slowly walked in, sitting on a chair next to the bed, holding Hiccups hand in hers. This stirred Hiccup to reawaken, looking over at Astrid next to him.

"Still in the land of the living I see", Astrid said with a smirk.

"Don't get your hopes up yet, I've still got a lot of fight left in me", Hiccup responded with a smile.

The room fell silent as the only sound that could be heard was the lightly tapping of rain on the outside window, and the crackling fireplace in the other room. Both Astrid and Hiccup were holding back tears; if one let their emotions ago, the other would follow in suite.

"Hiccup?"

"Yes Astrid?"

Astrid paused a second before continuing.

"What if this is your last night?"

Hiccup looked at her slightly hurt, "Well you don't have to say it Astrid I mea-"

"Wait, just listen." Astrid paused, "You haven't flown in months and I know you could if you wanted, but you're not. You're not because you're afraid you'll hurt my feelings if I'm not there when you pass."

Do you remember that comment about no two people loving each other more than Astrid and Hiccup?

Hiccup and I looked stunned at what she was suggesting.

"I love you, and I want your last moments to be were you felt most alive. I want you to go on a flight with Toothless tonight, before it's too late", Astrid finally finished.

Hiccup was silent for a while, not sure exactly what to say.

"Astrid I-"

"Don't lie to me now Hiccup." Astrid said fighting back tears with a smile, "If you don't go tonight you may never again; I won't forgive you".

Hiccup shifted his view up to me, looking deep into my eyes, asking for my opinion.

It's up to you bud, I'm ready if you are.

Hiccup looked back to Astrid, "You could always read me like a book".

Astrid reached forward and softly kissed Hiccup.

"I'll tell our sons to gather your things. I'll have one of them come get you when were ready" Astrid said before slowly stepping out of the room, closing the door behind her, letting the darkness surround them both.

Hiccup laid his head back on Toothless shoulder, looking up at the ceiling above. He was deep in thought. I moved my head into his line of sight. I knew he couldn't see anything yet; his eyes were still adjusting to the dark. The only thing I knew he could see were two giant, emerald eyes staring back at him intently.

Hiccup blew wind into my face; it tickled immensely. He chuckled to himself as I desperately tried to scratch my face with mixed efforts from my tongue and paw. I stared back down at him, licking across his face with revenge. He spat in protest.

"Okay, okay you win; I'd rather not be covered in slobber when we go flying".

I huffed, accepting his defeat.

We sat in silence, happy in each others company until one of Hiccup's kin came to get him.

The night air was cool with the storm clouds above. A gentle rain fell and the Earth smelt damp and cool. I had the majority of straps securely tightened around my waist as Hiccup began to tighten the last one. Crawling out from underneath me, He began going around and hugging each of his children, talking to them individually for several minutes before arriving to Astrid.

There is a strange force in this world: something beyond magic, something more powerful then the Gods themselves. Something beyond what Vikings and dragons could begin to comprehend. I was never sure what this force was exactly, but I knew of its existence. I could feel it. Not in the same way one could feel the cool grass below your feet or the gentle touch of a summer breeze. This feeling was beyond interpretation of the senses. After all my years alive, I was still nowhere closer to understanding it; this both angered and mystified me.

Looking at Hiccup and Astrid, they stared at each, never speaking a word or making a mouth gesture, winking an eye or brushing away a piece of hair. And yet they understood each other, communicating on a level beyond emotions. Communicating to each other in a way only the three of them could. Hiccup and Astrid hugged. No tears were shed. No cries of loss or pain. No grasping hands or buckling knees. Astrid and Hiccup just hugged before pulling away and looking deep into each others eyes. Although neither of them said it, they both knew this was the last time they would see each other for a long time, possible forever.

Hiccup turned towards me, "You ready?"

I snorted in response, what kind of question is that?

"Okay good because if you could think of a way to get me into the saddle that would be great".

I walked towards Hiccup, sliding my wings down so he could sit on them. I scooped him up and slid him gently into the saddle. He petted me on the back of the neck. Without looking back, as farewells had already been said, I gently took to the skies, gliding over the illuminated Berk below.

"Come on Toothless, what the heck is this! You're flying like I'm a decrepit old man! Don't make my last flight a boring one!"

He still hadn't changed. Alright, you asked for it!

I pumped my wings, launching us forward at lightning speed, breaking through the white puffy clouds in seconds; the moon shined brilliantly, illuminating my scales with a milky glow.

I tucked my wings in dropping like a rock towards the ocean below, opening them at the last second, spraying both of us slightly with water. I noticed a wall of rock faces ahead of us. Without even having to say a word Hiccup approved. Ascending quickly I climbed high in the sky, trying to get the highest speed possible in our drop. Breaking through the white clouds once more, I tucked in my wings, and the world became weightless.

It was in these short few moments I felt free.

Hiccup unbuckled his safety strap and did a flip in front of me. We both fell at the same speed, looking downward at the fast approaching ocean, looking up into each others eyes; we both let out a smile of pure joy. Hiccup turned, sliding back into place, buckling back and cocking his foot into the gear.

Dropping at breakneck speed, I began to aim for the stone jungle in front of us. We were ready. I took an abrupt turn to the right, dodging a slew of rock formations, soon to be followed by an obstacle directly in our path. We shifted weight, allowing for a flip upward around the edge, inches away from taking Hiccups head clean off. We fell into a rhythmic dance: left, left, flip, right, right left, flip. No Viking and dragon were more in sync with each other then us. Each turn, shift in weight, change in direction, and aerial maneuver was perfectly timed; one soul sharing two bodies.

Escaping from the rock graveyard, we began to ascend above the clouds again, breaking through to the heavens above. Although I could never fully grasp the concept of heaven, it must feel like this: traveling through the air above the clouds on a still night, the light from the moon bathing the world in a dime white; alone with your rider, your companion, your best friend in the entire world.

Hiccup let out a shrill of freedom, raising his hands above is head in joy. I responded by shooting a fireball.

Hiccup laid on his back, looking up towards the stars.

"What an adventure", Hiccup sighed.

I purred in agreement.

"Do you remember that time we got lost after traveling across the ocean, thinking we were headed west but in actuality north?" Hiccup laughed, "And you kept trying to get me to turn but I thought you were trying to get us to go the wrong direction!"

I grumbled, It was funny to you because you weren't flying

"Oh, and the time the Whispering Death mistook you for one of its young."

I shuddered

"And that huge snowstorm that hit Berk that one year, the snow was packed so high that you could pick me up and drop me into it!

Hiccup let out a laugh.

"Even after all we've done, we still weren't able to do everything. I mean remember the vast cave system we found in the mountains to the Far East! There must have been a million undiscovered dragons in there", hiccup threw is hands up into the air, letting them fall back down towards his chest.

"Or what about the strange stories of an abandoned ghost town across the green ocean. Adventurers said they could hear the cries of a dead dragon that had terrorized the town after the loss of her kin. And then there was the wing attachment I never finished that would allow dragon to fly faster and for father distances. And we never-"

Hiccup let out a sudden gasp, violently jerking forward and putting his hand directly on my head, looking down towards my face.

"WE NEVER WENT ON A CAMPING TRIP TOOTHLESS!" Hiccup screamed at the top of his lungs.

Hiccup scream was so loud that it nearly sent me into a panic

"Toothless quick turn around we need to head back right now and grab a tent. If we hurry we could try and just barely slip it in. I could grab the water and fo-no wait we don't need those we only really need a ten-"

I shook my shoulders to try and snap him out of it; it was painful to see him like this.

Logic slowly came back to Hiccup and he relaxed.

"Right, right, sorry about that", Hiccup said rather embarrassed, rubbing the back of his head.

We were both silent for a while, taking in the surrounding before Hiccup crossed his hands on top of my head resting forward.

"Promise me something Toothless".

What is it?

"I need you to promise you'll get over me after I die".

I understood what he meant. What Hiccup feared most of all, more then my safety, was that I would live the rest of my life incapable of moving on, separating myself from other dragons and humans, diving into a deep state of sadness.

To a dragon there is no greater pain then loosing your rider: stories have been told of dragons taking there own lives after their death. Hiccup knew of these stories. Bringing it up out of the blue one time he said, "Toothless, if you ever kill yourself to be with me again, I'll never forgive you." It was as short and quick and direct to the point as that. We never mentioned it again, until now.

What he was asking from me was a lot, and he understood this. Hiccup was so much more then a space occupied on my back; that made is demand all the more challenging.

He locked me with his icy stare, refusing to break until I promised. I looked back up toward him.

I promise you.

Hiccup let out a sigh of relief. He knew my promise may have been empty, I myself had no idea if I could keep it, but there was nothing more he could do; just hearing me say it made him relax slightly. He began petting under my neck in just the right spot. I began to purr.

We traveled late into the night. Neither of us knew how long we had been flying, or what time it was exactly. Both of us didn't want this to end, but I could feel it coming. Hiccup was laying down on top of me, the side of his head against the top of mine, with his arms wrapped around my neck.

His body began to feel cool from the inside.

I felt no emotions: not sadness or loss or anger. A blank slat covered me.

My friend's last memories will not be of me crying.

A sudden drop of liquid hit the top of my head, tumbling down the side of my neck until being swiftly wiped away by the wind.

"Toothless", Hiccup said in a short voice. He was trying his absolute best to hold back his emotions, a battle he was quickly loosing.

"Toothless, I promise I'll wait for you"

I looked upward into his small green eyes. They were not sad: they stared with strength and determination, pride, pain and beauty. These were the eyes of someone who had seen the world, had taken life by the horns – or in this case, the saddle – never missing an opportunity to live a little more. At this moment I wondered if Hiccup possessed wisdom many hundred of years beyond my own.

"Where ever I go I'll wait for you"

No more tears rolled down Hiccup cheeks. He was past emotions. He only had a short, short while left. What he said now mattered. What he said now would imprint on my mind for the rest of my life.

"I'll find you if I have to"

Hiccups voice rose in volume; I was fixated on him. This was not the same hatchling I had met many years ago. This man was strong and fearless. Even in death's wake he refused to give up. Times like these made me believe Hiccup was part dragon: a fire boiled deep in his heart, breathing and growing as he spoke.

"I PROMISE YOU TOOTHLESS! I PROMISE!"

I closed my eyes, letting out a soft hum for what he had said. I was unsure Hiccup and I would ever meet again after tonight. Now, not even Thor's army could prevent him from reaching me. He will fight through fire and brimstone to meet again, and when the time comes, so will I.

The sun began to rise on the horizon, as the sky was painted with a crash of red, blue pink and yellow. I looked up towards him, wondering if he had noticed the vibrant explosion of color.

Hiccups eyes were closed, and his heart was slowing. His arms clutched around my neck, holding me tight, refusing to let go. His body became cold, chilling my back. His heart was slowing now, and the spaces between the beats were almost infinite.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Hiccups arms slowly dropped to his side.

Silence.

I turned and began heading to Berk. A piece of myself was lost, taken; a piece that could never be filled. I managed to fly in silence, but the silence was what broke me: I began to wheeze and purr.

On this day, Hiccup Horrendous Haddock II, friend to both human and dragon, peace bringer, tamer of beasts, calmer of seas, discoverer, adventurer, rider and friend.

died.