I'm just going to say it now. It's been a long time since I've written a story based on a requested idea. However, this idea was too good to pass this. This idea was submitted by a guest reviewer who enjoys reading my stories. For that, this story is dedicated to you, my friend! I hope that you (and everyone else too!) enjoy(s)!

Chapter 1: Never Be The Same Again

"That is what I saw Chief! Hiccup was there and he was talking to a dragon! It was clearly obvious that this has been going on for quite some time," Astrid continued to explain to the Chief of Berk, Hiccup's father. As she spoke, a crowd of Berk villagers had also gathered around to listen. Murmurs rose from the crowd, but Astrid continued, "When he noticed me there, Hiccup tried to convince me not to hurt the dragon. He said it wouldn't hurt me. Chief, this is absurd! I knew that something was going on with Hiccup during training, but this…"

All eyes, including the Chief's, turned to look at the boy who had arrived as quickly as he could. Stoick broke from the crowd and walked slowly over to his son. Hiccup flinched a little at the close contact; he was not used to being so near to his father. "Thank you, Astrid. You may go. Everyone, in fact, may go. I wish to speak to Hiccup. Alone."

Hiccup shivered, knowing what would be coming next—the questions and the lectures. He did not miss Astrid's knowing smirk as she walked away. She had been so desperate to win and now she had for this would surely be the end of Hiccup's time as a member of the Hooligan tribe of Berk. Hiccup knew that his father would slowly extricate the truth from him. There was no way that Hiccup could resist his father; the man was way too intimidating.

When all were gone, Stoick rounded again on Hiccup. "Is this true, Hiccup? All this of which Astrid has just spoken? About you and a dragon?"

Hiccup's nervousness flowed through his body and he was fortunate that the shaking was not noticeable to his father. "Well…uh, Dad…I…" he started, certain that his stuttering would be a dead giveaway as to his answer.

"You know what? I don't want to know the answer now. Show me your answer tomorrow in The Kill Ring."

Before Hiccup could even comprehend how easily he had been left off the hook, Stoick was gone, returning to the village. Knowing that his father would be out and about in the village for a while, Hiccup ran home and straight up the stairs to his bedroom.

Pacing his room, Hiccup contemplated the words his father had just spoken to him. "'Show me your answer tomorrow in The Kill Ring.' How am I supposed to do that? Okay…stupid question…I know how to do that, but…I don't want to kill that dragon. But, if I don't kill it, they'll all know that Astrid was telling the truth about me and Toothless."

Knowing that there was no way that he could possibly kill the dragon, Hiccup's thoughts set him off in another direction. "What if I could…train it? In front of the entire village? If I could successfully train that Monstrous Nightmare, would that be enough proof to change the stubborn minds of everyone here on Berk?"

Hiccup realized that he had just spent the last couple minutes talking out-loud to himself, but he was frustrated. Regardless, it did little to ease his troubled mind.

"What if it doesn't work, though?" he asked himself again, thinking about his potential new plan to train the Monstrous Nightmare instead of killing it. "I mean…what's the worst my dad could do? Banish me? Would that be such a bad thing?" Hiccup wondered. "Isn't like the village cares about me at all anyway." Breathing in deeply, Hiccup made his final decision. "That's what I'll do. I'll train that Nightmare. I'll show them all."

Confident in his plan, Hiccup decided next that he would face the chilly early-night air to grab some dinner over at the Great Hall. Hiccup hated eating dinner at the Great Hall. He had always sat alone and it used to tug at his heart to see the happy families and friends eating together. Though Hiccup knew that he shouldn't have let it get to him, it still did.

Things had changed since Hiccup's improvements in dragon training. Now, everyone seemed eager to invite him to their table. Hiccup was always hesitant to accept and would usually just end up sitting alone as he was so accustomed to doing already. It just didn't feel right for them to change their opinions of him simply because of his dragon training methods (which they still didn't fully understand anyway).

Unfortunately, because his father would not be home until late, Hiccup knew that he would have to eat dinner at the Great Hall. He tried to walk slow, hoping that the time and cold biting air would change his mind, but it did not work. The Great Hall was situated right next to his house, so Hiccup had little time to think before he arrived at the building. Inside, the atmosphere was warm and inviting, but the happy chattering of Vikings and the shouts from the mead drinking contests did little to please Hiccup.

Hiccup had tried to enter the building quietly so as not to stir up the gathered Vikings; he just wanted to eat alone so that he could continue forming his plan to train the Monstrous Nightmare tomorrow in the Kill Ring. Unfortunately, the Gods again decided to prove their hatred for Hiccup as one of the Vikings noticed his approach and loudly ran over to strike up a conversation with him. Hearing the commotion created the usual chain reaction and soon Hiccup was crowded by large, inquisitive Vikings.

Being smaller than average had its advantages; Hiccup had learned that lesson years ago. Ducking down, he found an opening and slipped through, leaving the Vikings to wonder where he had gone. Before they could find him, Hiccup grabbed a plate of food and choked it down quickly. The other Vikings were unsuccessful in locating Hiccup before he slipped out of the Hall and ran back to his house.

"Well, that was a disaster," Hiccup muttered to himself as he shut the door of his house. Looking around, Hiccup noticed that his father was still not home. Not that it matters, Hiccup thought, I'm just going to go sleep anyway. Hiccup had decided that he would sleep early tonight because he needed to be completed alert and concentrated tomorrow in The Kill Ring.

When Hiccup crawled under his wool blanket that night, he knew not what the next day would bring. All her knew was that his life, life on Berk, would never be the same again.

This story will be a little different than what I usually write, but that's the fun thing about honoring requests. I've got a few other story requests in the works for some time later.

Hope you all enjoyed this first chapter! See you all next time!

Thanks for reading and supporting Flame!

Posted: November 15, 2014