Hiccup had already been the chief for about a year when he faced one of his first major struggles. Johann was lost in a severe storm, with goods that would be drastic in surviving what the Vikings often referred to as 'Devastating Winter'. Leaving Astrid in charge until he returned with the trader's ship, or alternatively sent out a messages terror, he set out.

"C'mon Toothless, let's try and get above these clouds a bit...I don't trust this one bit." Hiccup absentmindedly pat his Night Fury on the head. "At the first sound of thunder, though, we're going to get backup. Thor knows we aren't exactly the most compatible with lightning..." His nasally voice trailed off in the high winds but the message was received nonetheless. The pair shuddered as one at the memories of their past electrical encounters.

"There, Toothless! Let's head down bud, I think that's Johann's ship!"

With a zoom, the dragon and its rider were hovering a few feet above the deck. They were greeted by an exasperated man, waving his arms for help; the chief instantly recognized the long-time trading partner.

"Ah, Master Hiccup! So good to see you," he dropped his cheery introduction to a mumble as he continued, "though I can't say I'm over enthused about needing another rescue...Anyway, I'm sure you'll be wanting to know what's keeping me?"

"I can honestly say I'm a bit curious, yeah." Suddenly he heard a distant rumble, and his playful smile dropped. "Eh, on second thought, I better just take you and go. We can send some others back to retrieve your ship once this had cleared." The young man gestured behind him worriedly, glancing at his and his dragon's prosthetics worriedly. Luckily, the older Viking sensed his hurried tone.

"Right. I'll just grab the package I promised you, and then we can be off." He didn't wait for Hiccup to reply, rapidly scurrying around his boat until he came across a parcel loosely tied with yarn. Johann returned to the hovering duo, where his savior was holding out one hand for him to take.

"Alright, just like you wanted: one-"

"Please, Johann! I really need to get Toothless out of this storm before the Lightning gets too clo-" Hiccup's hand began twitching wildly as his words became distorted. The trader watched in horror as his friend was hit in the foot with a particularly large bolt coming straight from the sky. The Night Fury, receiving only a minor shock, fell with the two men on his back onto the hard wooden deck below.

When the Toothless and Johann stood, they both laid large eyes on the auburn-haired Viking as he twitched unconsciously.

The dark reptile howled up into the clouded sky, piercing green eyes shut. Meanwhile, the trembling trader sat waiting for the storm to clear. Within an hour, they solemn pair and their slumbering friend were speeding back to Berk.

In less than a day's time, they arrived back at the docks. The whirling winds had provided enough power to quickly finish the voyage. Astrid immediately knew something was wrong, and ran down to greet the whimpering dragon of her boyfriend.

"Where's Hiccup...?" She asked, as though expecting an answer from the creature; instead, Johann took it upon himself to explain. With a gasp, the blonde shieldmaiden flew over with Stormfly to fetch Gothi.

Upon returning with the healer, she found the rest of her friends congregated around the still body of the chief. Hiccup had since been moved to his bed, where Valka had attended to him before fetching the dragon riders.

"Not a movement so far, 'less you count breathing...I guess that's better than nothing, though..." The boy's mother informed her soon-to-be daughter-in-law. She offered a weak smile, but it offered little support. The grey hairs spread throughout her head seemed to grow more prominent in the still, quiet environment.

Astrid placed a peck on her lover's cheek, not caring in the slightest who might be watching.

"Why is it always you...?" Once again she asked in a fashion suggesting she expected the man to just stand up and start offering replies. Though she evidently didn't, for when he stirred a bit she panicked and jumped up. She was only brought out of her awkward fright when Gothi cleared her throat to the side. She motioned all but Hiccup's mother and girlfriend from the room before writing on a piece of borrowed paper.

"It appears he's been struck a bit more fiercely than his previous encounters-" Valka read, before straightening up, wide-eyed. "Previous encounters? Odin, I'm lucky to have met this boy again before he managed to kill himself!" Her flustered tint contained a mixture of annoyance, humor, and of course sadness. She continued after receiving a glare from the healer. "Right, sorry...he'll be up and about soon, but- oh dear! He's not going to remember everything. He's got amnesia."

Astrid cursed, as the healer quietly dismissed herself. How was he supposed to be chief if he was suffering memory loss? She smacked herself internally for sounding so selfish, realizing that wasn't the biggest of her problems. He might not even remember Stoick's death! Oh, this was terrible...

Valka captured the attention of the girl, with a guilty sort of frown on her face. "D'you think he'll have forgotten me...?" Astrid hugged the woman, offering her pity.

"He'd better not...and if he does, we'll make sure you're the first thing we remind him of!"

"Poor Hiccup..." The woman sighed, closing her eyes. They instantly darted open, however, along with Astrid's as they heard a rustle. As if on cue, Toothless burst through the door, tongue wagging at the thought of his reawakening friend. Though they were longing to stay and see his smile again, and explain the situation, they left to go downstairs; the dragon would most definitely offer the most support, especially as he was the face that usually greeted Hiccup's return from the world of the unconscious.

Tiptoeing down to the table, they say and waited; for a call, a noise, anything to signal their awaited return.

His eyes shot open; Hiccup had been positive he'd heard his name. What had he done this time? Stoick was definitely pissed, as it was no picnic to look after someone unresponsive. Plus, it was usually only the town that got damaged. If he had been hurt in the process, it must have been a pretty bad scene. Sitting up groggily, he searched for the source of the voice. Desk, chair, clump of papers, mysterious dragon, another chair-

Hiccup backtracked, face paling in realization.

"Okay...okay...no need to panic, you can deal with this and- oh gods, it's coming closer." He began to hyperventilate, while trying to place the species slowly approaching his bedside. He definitely hadn't seen this breed before...

Realizing that he had no clue what he was up against, Hiccup yelled for help.

"HELP! Up here! Anyone, please?! There is a DRAGON IN HERE!" His panicked shouts seemed to deter the beast, who ran down the stairs as two forms could be heard shuffling up to aid the desperate pleas.

The young Viking instantly forgot his troubles when a woman with goddess-like qualities entered through the large door.

"Oh. Wow, you look...um. Sorry, there was just- do I know you?" She and another older woman, who entered shortly after, snorted at his stuttering, but stopped shortly.

"Wait, he doesn't remember you, dear?"

The blonde beauty looked crestfallen. "I guess not...Hiccup, what's the last thing that you can recall?" There was an obvious hurt in her voice.

The auburn haired boy sat and glared incredulously. "Did you not hear me? Just a second ago? There was this huge black dragon inside my room! I'm gonna say that's the last thing I remember, yeah..."

"Toothless?" The older woman, who looked vaguely familiar like the blonde, furrowed her brows.

"Ah, no. Definitely had teeth, and I don't know how you could have missed it, it left right as you were coming up- seriously, you two look kinda familiar, mostly you though," he gestured to a frazzled Astrid and his mom stifled a laugh. "Geez your pretty; what, are you like Astrid's cousin or something? Oh gods, did I just say that out loud?! Please don't tell her, I like my head on my shoulders, thanks..." Astrid put her hands on his shoulders while kneeling down on the side of the bed, effectively shutting up his rambling.

Astrid opened her mouth to respond before she was cut off by Valka. She handed him a parcel, the one Johann had been intending on delivering, and pulled off his covers slowly.

"Let's go for a walk, shall we? Maybe it'll help jog your memory a bit." She continued removing the sheets until she heard him release a strangled cry. The two women were confused, until they followed his stare to his leg- his left leg. Astrid instinctively covered his mouth, to muffle his terrified cry and keep Toothless from returning. His face was as pale as a ghost. He pushed down her arm gingerly and stood up, taking slow steps over to the door.

"O-okay, yeah. A walk would be good...as long as you tell me everything..." They sauntered down the stairs, arm in arm to provide support, when the three jerked back at the sudden appearance of a fourteen-year-old.

"Hey guys, Deiya here...I'm not sure if I've met you guys yet, I'm not sure how your timeline works; anyway, I'll be right back with a solution to your, ah, problem." With that, she ran out the door, leaving the group blinking stupidly as they continued out the door into the light.

"Please tell me I'm not the only one lost here?" Hiccup pleaded.

"Nope, definitely not."

A/N: Gah! I'm soooo sorry for not updating more recently. I've dug myself into a bit of a hole on my WTS fic, so that's in the works but is going a bit slowly. Also, I kind of gave up obsessing over Dragons for lent, so there's that (although I take Sundays off, so yay!). I'll try and do as much as I can, but I need suggestions for what you want to see to bide your time while the WTS is being written.

One more thing before I write chapter two: do any of you have ideas for truths or dare the gang can ask each other? That's one of my upcoming stories, but I need suggestions! Leave them in the reviews, please, along with comments/constructive criticism. Thanks!