As merciless winds slapped tears off his face, and the dragon beneath him darted onwards and onwards, Hiccup struggled to determine how exactly they ended up flying to the end of the world.

Everything was going on just fine. He had managed to get Astrid to see that dragons aren't monsters. He had almost tamed a Monstrous Nightmare in front of the whole community. He had almost proved to them that everything they knew about dragons was wrong.

The 'almost' made a grave difference.

His father just had to go insane and scare the dragon Hiccup was about to befriend. Just had to smash his hammer against the safety barrier right before they formed a connection.

Seconds later all Hel broke lose. The dragon blasted fire all over the place, the boy had to run for his life, people screamed and shouted. Hiccup caught the glimpse of Astrid, who risked her life to save his. And then, when he was about to get eaten, Toothless blasted the arena barrier open, defeated the Monstrous Nightmare, and rushed to his side. Hiccup couldn't tell which one of them took charge of the situation after this. Probably both. Yes, they both feared for each other's safety. Seeing that the Vikings were already rushing at them, the boy hopped on top of his dragon and they made their escape. Flying onwards and onwards, separating themselves from the island of Berk and everything it represented.

Thus, here they were – on a random island not pictured in any map Hiccup has seen till now. Without food or fresh water. With no resources whatsoever. Just the two of them. Hope's refugees.

Anger burned the boy's interior as he clenched his fists and smashed them against the unknown land. He was so close. So close to ending the war between Vikings and dragons. He tried so hard and got so far. Only to have his father ruin it all.

Father. The sodding chief of the sodding village of violence-loving hooligans. How could Hiccup have been so stupid to assume he could convince Stoick the Vast that dragons could be trained? When has his father ever listened to him? When has he paid attention? Ne'er. Of course. Ones like him never change. Not because of their hopeless, runty sons.

Hiccup's tears sunk into the foreign soil. Never before has he felt so hopeless. If only he had been a bulky boy with beefy arms, would his father have listened to what he had to say? Would it have made a difference? If he had taken his father to meet Toothless the night before the final test, would Stoick have let him explain? If Astrid could change her views, why couldn't he?

Hiccup wiped his face and rolled onto his back, directing his gaze towards the darkening sky. He had tried. There was nothing more he could do. He had to try and think about the future. About himself and Toothless.

They had to find civilization. People. They were going to need tools to fix Toothless' tail in case something happened to it. Hiccup was going to need clothes. Not immediately, but clothes do wear out.

But no. They could never settle down. Not among people. People hated dragons.

But maybe there are people who don't? Maybe there are places where people and dragons live in harmony?

Sure. That would be right over the rainbow.

Hiccup sighed. He should have just cut out Toothless' heart back when he found him. It would have been better for the both of them.

A sudden noise caught the boy's attention. He lifted himself into a sitting position and noticed Toothless looking at him curiously.

"What is it, bud?" asked Hiccup.

The dragon responded by throwing up a fish in front of his human. Clearly satisfied with the result, the Night Fury looked up, meeting Hiccup's concerned eyes with his own, encouraging.

Eat up

Hiccup managed a weak smile. He may be the first Viking since the founding of Berk who wouldn't kill a dragon. He could live with the shame. But he could never live with the guilt of having killed a creature whose eyes reflected his own soul. Toothless was intelligent, capable of compassion, had a sense of humor and genuinely cared for him. He was the best friend Hiccup has ever had. If he was to start everything from scratch, he could not think of anybody he would rather have for his companion.

"Thanks, bud," said the boy, reaching out for the gift of the Night Fury. It was raw. Covered in saliva. But it came from the heart. That was all it mattered.

But Toothless would not let him eat just yet. The dragon turned to a nearby bush and promptly set it on fire. Hiccup jumped back, startled. The bush was a sole standing one, but there was grass all around. It could catch fire.

The boy grabbed a stick and hurried to circle the area around the bush. Remove the grass. Get some stones. Yes, stones, he needed to secure the fireplace. Quickly!

Toothless stared in puzzlement at his human as he ran around, panicking. Pull out grass. Turn the ground. Get more stones. Repeat.

Finally the young Viking dropped to the ground. He managed to secure the bush before the fire spread. They're saved.

Toothless chose this moment to approach his human. In his muzzle he brought the fish he had previously vomited. Along with a stick.

Hiccup considered his dragon, bewildered. Then realization grew in his head. Fish. Fire. Stick.

Toothless remembered that Hiccup had to roast his meals. He wanted to make him feel like home.

Tears once again made their way into the young Viking's eyes. But this time, they were caused by sheer joy. Toothless gave him a piece of home in this foreign land. Restored hope in his heart. Assured him that there was life for them after all this. There was future.

Touched to the very core of his soul, the boy hugged the dragon tightly. Toothless was puzzled by the sudden display of affection, but didn't push Hiccup away. After a brief moment of hesitation, he put his paw around the boy. This small gesture spoke more than a thousand words could.

That night the boy and the dragon fell asleep on the foreign island, finding solace in each other's warmth. They didn't know what their journey would bring them to, but it didn't matter. They had each other. They would be fine.