Hiccup's POV

Freya took a deep breath, looking me in the eye.

"Fanghook is dying."

My jaw dropped to my feet. What?

"Please tell me I misheard you."

Freya shook her head, her eyes lowered.

Another thought hit me like a bus. Should I trust her?

"Sadly not. Let me explain how I know Gustav and that Fanghook is dying." Squinting slightly in suspision, I nodded. Toothless relaxed slightly beside me, his tail wrapped around my legs.

Stretching, Freya stood up.

"Answers."

*

I scratched my head, uncertain. I could understand them meeting in a class, but being best friends? That was a little far. Afterall, this was Gustav we were talking about. Second rate Snotlout.

None of it seemed... real.

And an unknown instinct? That was unlikely - we would've seen it before. If Fanghook was dying, why wouldn't Gustav tell me? I'm sure we could've worked it out. Now I had another problem.

Who do we try to save - Fanghook or Swiftstrike?

Running a hand through my hair, I left the arena. Before I made any decisions, I wanted confirmation on anything Freya had just said. While we had an alliance, I had to take everything she said with a pinch of salt.

Walking towards Gustav's hut, I tried to reason with myself. If Freya had been telling the truth, then it needed to be acted on immediately. While Fanghook recovered, the A-team would need a new leader temporarily, in case there was an attack. Then Gustav could step back in-

If Fanghook recovered.

Knocking on the wooden door, I tried to keep out the negativity. There was some thundering, snapping my attention, before the door opened slightly.

Mrs Larson was not a popular woman. Easily six foot, she towered over me, a tight scowl plastered on her face. When her eyes landed on mine, she switched to a whole new demeanor.

"Hiccup, darling, why don't you come inside?" she suggested, her voice so oversweetened I felt vile rise in the bck of my mouth. Mrs Larson was one of those people who only cared about status.

"Sorry, 'mam, but I wanted to ask if Gustav was in?"

Her eyes narrowed slightly. "No."

"Do you know where h-"

"Why would I?" she snapped, forgetting to put on the fake politeness.

Taken aback, I said nothing. She turned, showing me her back and broad shoulders. Almost mechanically, she walked into the house and grabbed the edge of the door. Suddenly, she spun around, as if remembering that I was here.

"Is that all?" she sung.

"Yes 'mam. Thank you for your-"

With a 'slam' the door shut in my face.

"Time," I finished, rolling my eyes at the irony.

Sighing, I turned away. Toothless glared at me slightly, glancing at the door then back at me. He snorted.

I scratched the side of his face, earning a slight purr.

"Yeah, I know. Not exactly my favourite person, either," I murmured, kissing his head. "I guess the search continues. Let's go, bud."

Crooning, Toothless flared his wings and we took off sharply, too impatient to wait to be surrounded by the sky. Luckily, it was a relitavely clear day, with a slight fog creeping around the far coast. I could just make out a flying shape in the distance, slightly below us.

Hope sparked in my chest. Could it be Gustav and Fanghook, alive and well?

Adjusting the stirrup, we sped up, the wind wipping at my hair. Slicing through the air like a knife, we shot through, too fast for me to be able to see clearly. The blur that was the dragon and rider got larger and larger, in a slightly round shape.

So that meant-

"Slow down Hiccup!" yelled Fishlegs, green eyes wide. Screeching, Toothless slapped his wings forwards, causing us to go to a standstill in the span of a few seconds.

My breakfast made itself known, threatening to leave my body.

"Oh, hey Fishlegs," I greeted, feeling the hope disappear in my chest.

"Are you good?" he asked, slightly surprised at my casualness after my- eager- entrance.

"Yeah, great. Listen, do you know where Gustav is?" I asked.

Fishlegs scratched his chin, "I think I saw him flying towards the forest earlier. Why?"

I tensed. I hadn't planned for this question. "Erm, because I wanted to check up on the A-team?" I tried, not very sure myself.

"Isn't that Astrid's job?"

"Y-yeah, but I just wanted to y'know, check up on their flying skills. Yeah, their skills."

"Uhuh," Fishlegs squinted slightly, uncertain.

"W-well, I'm just gonna go now-" I turned as Toothless angled for a dive.

"HOLD UP!" Fishlegs yelled, Meatlug darting infront of us.

Caught off-guard, Toothless fell back slightly. He sent Meatlug an irritated glare. She grinned slightly sheepishly back, but my attention was on Fishlegs.

"Swifstrike is a new specie of changewing," he stated. I sighed.

"I know that, Fishlegs."

"Have you seen her wings? I know we were fighting but the indigo tips and jaguar print is completely unique," his voice was like that of a child on Snoggletog.

"I know that Fishlegs."

"Freya tamed a changewing alone, Hiccup."

"I know that, Fishlegs."

"What if she tames another changewing and the acid leads to something new in the dragon eye?"

"I know th- wait what?"

Suddenly I understood. His eagerness made fantastic sense - if Freya taught us how to tame changewings, then the possibilities would be endless. We were never able to try the Dragon Eye or Dragon Eye Two on the green glow that a changewing made before firing its acid, as the changewings are very hostile.

But Fanghook...

But Swiftstrike...

But the secrets of the changwing...

I yelled, throwing my arms into the air and lying down on Toothless.

Why Odin? Why throw these three things at me at once?

"Uh Hiccup? Are you okay?" Fishlegs asked.

"Just peachy," I groaned, composing myself. "I'll explain later. Right now I need to find Gustav." Without another word, I flew off, all too aware I wasn't being just to Fishlegs.

Diving to the forests where Gustav was said to be, I felt the familiar surge of adrelanine. But it didn't lift my spirits. Noticing, Toothless crooned.

For once in my life can a decision be easy?

Sighing, I tried to put all thoughts aside as we looked for Gustav. The forest was simple, like most of the islands in the archipelago. There were bushes, trees and fallen leaves but not a sixteen year old boy and his monstrous nightmare.

I don't know how long we searched, using the task as a distraction from my thoughts. Had it not been for the trees the sun would've been stabbing into our backs as we walked.

Crack!

I snapped my head round. There was a burst of colour on my right, a sudden jet of flame. Without hesitation, we rushed towards it.

"Easy, boy, calm down- woah!" there was a male screech and a blast of flame as we bursted into a clearing. Fanghook was pinning down Gustav, his giant claws around his neck. Eyes slits, he roared, spraying Gustav with spit.

I could barely process what was happening. Toothless roared from deep within, causing both heads to turn upwards. Forgetting Gustav, Fanghook reared, lunging at Toothless.

"Hiccup! We need to get out of here! Fanghook's gone mad!" Gustav yelled, scrambling up. An idea struck me like lightning. I tried to get to Toothless' saddle bag.

Fanghook was ablaze, snapping at Toothless. The nimble dragon rolled to the side, blasting at Fanghook's side. The force pushed him back, but he fired at Toothless. Toothless jumped forwards, snarling, protectively flaring his wings infront of me and Gustav.

Seeing an opportunity, I darted forwards, throwing open the bag flap. Fanghook growled, but Toothless fired, preventing him from approaching.

"Come on, come on," I murmured as I fished through the vials. My phalanges locked around a small box and I dragged it out of the bag. "YES!"

Fed up, Fanghook charged. I yelped as I lunged out the way, dragging Gustav with me. Toothless howled as Fanghook dived on top of him.

"Gustav! Distract Fanghook!" I ordered, desperately flinging open the box. Instantly Gustav was off, calling and whistling, but the dragon was ignoring him. The box opened with a slight 'pop' and I darted to the scene. Toothless fired from beneath Fanghook, catching him in the side of the head.

Grabbing the contains of the box, I jumped imbetween Toothless and Fanghook, placing my hand almost on Fanghook's fiery snout. His pupils dialated slightly, just enough to stop attacking, but not enough to recognise me.

Dragon nip is great, but it only does so much.

"Gustav! Get over here!"

Leaping into action, Gustav jumped beside me.

"It's okay boy," he cooed, eyes set on Fanghook's, "I'm right here. It's gonna be okay boy, we'll get through this." Fanghook's eyes didn't change. "Pl-lease! I don't have anything without you," his voice broke and I couldn't help but feel like an intruder, "N-nothing. Stay with me."

Fanghook tilted his head slightly and his vision cleared. His pupils dilated, flaring the hope in Gustav's chest.

"Yes boy! That's it! Fight that stupid instinct," Gustav cheered.

So Freya had been telling the truth?

Fanghook shook himself, stepping back from us. His flames weakened before extinguishing, revealing his dull-coloured scales.

"Come on Fangster," Gustav encouraged, placing a hand on his snout. Fanghook's eyes dialated fully, landing on Gustav. "YES! Yes, there's the gorgeous dragon I know," Gustav had tears gathering at the edges of his eyes.

Silently, as not to intrude, Toothless stood back up. We stood there awkwardly, looking away as Fanghook and Gustav hugged. After a moment, there was a silence, and Gustav and I accidently made eye contact.

"So... um... do I need to explain?" Gustav murmured to the floor.

"No, no you don't," I spoke gently. "Freya told me." His eyes snapped back to mine, clouded by... hurt?

"She did huh?" he asked in a slightly accusatory tone.

"Only 'cause I saw you guys... erm... hugging yesterday," I mumbled, scratching the back of my neck.

"Oh! Oh. Ohhhhh," he groaned.

"So... it's true then? The instinct?"

As if ashamed, Gustav stared at the floor. "Yes."

Fanghook's eyes held their usual playful demeanour, but Gustav's was long gone.

"I don't mean to intrude," I murmured awkwardly.

Gustav's head shot up. "No, no. I should be thanking you it's just - ugh!" He took a breath. "Dragon nip doesn't work, only temporarily. Trust me, I tried."

I frowned. This was bad. Very bad.

"Freya said that she thinks her brothers knew more on this, as it was bad for the nightmares' hide."

"That's great news!"

"But she's not sure..."

"We have to try though," I said confidently.

Something else hit me.

Is she leading us into a trap?

***

Another problem for Hiccup to solve. What would you prioritise?

I'd like to thank Alto_the_Crashwing for commenting - ultimately the factor that destroyed by writer's block. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I mean it!