Freya's POV

"Gustav?

"Freya?"

I couldn't believe it. Gustav was here. Now. After all these years, I meet him again in this scenario?

"Oh my Gods..." He nervously ran a hand through his hair.

"It's been a while?"

"Well, things have changed a lot, kinda," Gustav smiled. I raised an eyebrow.

"Going from hating dragons to training them is just your everyday thing," I said sarcastically. He smiled. "What else is new?"

"Fanghook is," Gustav replied quickly, turning to the nightmare that was shaking itself off, "I met him a few years ago, and we've been buddies since." His voice held pure joy, and I pushed down the unwanted feelings of jealousy. I missed Swiftstrike, and I could only imagine what torture she was in.

I promised myself that I would make sure we rescued her sooner - instead of just 'thinking'.

"You know, I have a dragon too," I said slowly, watching his reaction. His face lit up, before frowning.

"Aren't your family Dragon Hunters?"

"It doesn't matter." I looked away. It was a lie and we both knew it, but I didn't want to go into it. "She's a gorgeous changewing, named Swiftstrike, but Ryker has her."

"We will free her," he stated proudly. "Even if the others don't help."

"Thank you, Gustav," I said a small smile pulling at the edges of my mouth.

"What are friends for?"

"Still besties?" I asked hopeful. It had been a long while, afterall.

"Of course!" My face lit up.

I glanced at Fanghook, concern growing.

"He's really cool. But he seems... agitated though. Is it because of my presence?" I asked, my voice low in slight shame. It probably knew I was a Dragon Hunter.

"What? No, not at all," he said quickly. I looked up. His shoudlers were sagged, hair flopping over his face as he glanced at his feet.

"Besties remember? You can tell me," I offered, watching his eyes light up a little. He shook his head.

"I need to tell the riders," he grumbled. I tilted my head to the side. He took a deep breath, his grey eyes meeting mine.

"He's gone mad."

I gasped, glancing at Fanghook. He was extremely energised, running in short circles. Flaming, he roared, shooting a large blast at the wall.

"From an illness?" I pressed gently. Gustav sighed.

"I don't know. He's wearing himself out, and it's draining him. He doesn't eat, he doesn't sleep, I can't even get him to drink!" He threw his hands up in the air. "The only reason I can ride him is because he has so much energy!"

I walked over. "There has to be something we can do. My family did have a lot of knowledge on dragons, maybe I can help?"

Gustav shrugged, his eyes dull. "I'm not going to get my hopes up," he mumbled, "but please, go ahead." Nodding, I gave him a pat on the shoulder as I walked past.

Fanghook was alight, his flames flickering slightly. His eyes were vibrant with a slight sheen, pupils a single line.

"Gustav, can I have a hand?" I asked. He murmured something, walking forwards. He held out a hand.

"Easy boy. We just need to get you looked at, okay Fangster?" His eyes dialated and my mouth fell open slightly. "It's okay."

Gulping, I walked forwards. Fanghook glared at me, but didn't attack. Slowly, I approached. The term 'mad' whizzed around my head like an angered wasp. He's not going to bite my head off right?

The heat hit me as I approached.

I'm going to get fried to a crisp oh Gods.

Panting, Fanghook stopped the flames. I closed my eyes as I reached towards his wing.

I felt the scales and was glad that my hand hadn't been bitten or my fingers fried. Somehow.

His scales were dry, more than a healthy nightmare. Most dragons before being killed or sold were rubbed with fish oil for the sheen, but Fanghook needed it for moisture. Constantly being alight must've used up all the gel, leaving him in this crooked state.

Next, I walked to his face. Most nightmares have many shades of yellows and oranges in their eyes. Yet Fanghook had a simple lemon yellow, lacking depth or the usual spark in dragons. Frowning, I stepped back.

"How long has he been acting different?" I asked, turning back to Gustav. He scrunched up his nose slightly.

"Just under a week." Squinting, I looked back at Fanghook. Each scale was lined slightly with grey, but barely noticeable.

"I think I know what it is," I said slowly, trying not to give him too much hope in case it was false. "It's an instinct in nightmares, forcing them to constantly push their limits. Even," I glanced at him, my throat instantly clenching up, "if it kills them."

Gustav tensed, his eyes glassing over.

"I don't know what causes it - or if it can be stopped. I-I think my brothers knew more but... I'm so sorry Gustav."

His hands were shaking, nose going red. I walked over, wrapping my arms around him. Relaxing slightly, he leant on me, his legs weak.

"Shh, it's okay," I soothed. His arms snaked around my back.

"F-fa-fanghook-"

"Easy, we'll figure this out yeah? It's gonna be all right." While the words slipped out, I did my best to sound believable.

What if this happened to Swiftstrike? The thought hurt. And I only knew her for a few days - Gustav knew Fanghook for much longer.

We stood there, listening to Fanghook. Darkness had begun to sweep over Berk, bringing with it the cold. There were gentle wing beats and I glanced at back at Fanghook. He was scratching the floor. So what-

I turned to the entrance of the arena. The night fury - Toothless, I believe - landed, with Hiccup on its back. My eyes widened and I shook my head.

Now is not a good time.

Nodding, Hiccup backed out. I resisted a sigh and I turned back to Gustav.

"Gustav?"

"Ye-ah?" he sniffed.

"Why don't we tell the other riders. They know a lot about dragons, they can help."

His grip loosened and he stepped back.

"I d-don't know how, how to, I mean what to to say, especially if he could, if he might die," Gustav whispered.

"I can help, yeah? Maybe break the ice or the news?"

He nodded, his clouded eyes meeting mine.

"We'll work it out in the morning," I spoke softly.

"Yeah. You're right, sorry. I'll tell Hiccup tomorrow, I promise." He left without looking back, Fanghook following, thrashing his tail side to side.

What just happened?

As I settled for the night, I tried to assemble my jambling brain. Despite the shock, it was fantastic to see Gustav once again. He's the only person I know that didn't take one look at my escorts and judge me from that.

But Fanghook...

I felt awful. After meeting Gustav again after ages, I had to tell him that his nightmare was most likely to die. I wasn't even certain, but now he would sleep heartbroken.

But what about Swiftstrike?

My stomache turned in on itself, betraying me and I had her. I should've done more, come up with a better idea. Instead of getting kocked out-

No. I would not let my mind fall to those self-deprecating thoughts. They just got in the way, reducing efficiency . Like a stone skipping over water, I tried to keep my mind clear as I lay.

But my dreams had other ideas.

I was creeping down the large corridor. Swiftstrike was beside me, both of us invisible except for our eyes. Each path was lined with cobwebs, eerie in the dim torch light. I walked through the darkness. Each step brought a loud echoey clang.

I frowned as the path widened into a bright large room glowing red. It was tall but also deep, with some sort of chandelier at the top which burned white. Many paths connected here, each with stairs curving round the room to the floor, causing shadows to tower.

Carefully, I crept down. There were hunters standing in the centre of the room with some sort of lava pit in the middle.

White digits clung to the edge, pulling up two arms. There was a rancid smell and green smoke engulfing me. The bones creaked, somehow moving. I took a step back, mouth wide open. I stared as a skeleton emerged, with four arrows sticking out of the spine and ribcage.

My eyes widened and my heart rate shot up. Hollow eyes with purple smoke peirced mine. Bile rose in my throat at Viggo's possessed skeleton. It came directly towards me and I froze.

"Ryker was right. You are a disgrace, you and that changewing filth," he spat. The hunters turned, each aiming a bow and arrow at me despite being invisible. "You could've helped. If you had joined the Dragon Hunters when we asked, Dad wouldn't have cast you out. You would've been one of us, working by my side. I wouldn't be in this state today."

I slowly backed up, but green wisps of smoke snatched at me, staggering like lightning. Swiftstrike growled, spitting acid at the skeleton. He laughed, grabbed an arrow from his back with a loud 'crack' and threw it. Instantly it hit, causing Swiftstrike to blast and thrash uncontrollably. Boiling acid stripped my scalp.

I screamed as I ducked, feeling something grasp my shoulder.

"You should've joined us," Viggo whispered as his body fell limp, abandoned by the aura. Swiftstrike whacked me with her tail, roaring in my face. She spread her wings, before shooting acid straight at me from point blank.

Pain.

All I could feel, all I could think of.

It stung my face, burning my flesh. My skin burned as if they were hot coals. I screamed, wiping at the acid but it just dissolved my hands. My face was a skeleton, my hands fingerless.

"You were always weak, despite your training," a new voice sneered. Ryker stood tall, spitting down on me. "Befriending a dragon? Refusing to join the Hunters? Pathetic." He turned away and I collapsed. Big wet tears fell one by one on the floor, despite having had my eyes dissolve.

The guards walked past casually, only muttering and pointing.

There was a slight liquid sound as Swiftstrike spat acid on the ceiling above me. The stalactites wobbled, and I tried to move. One of the hunters was holding me down as a stalactite broke loose.

Screaming, I felt it pierce my chest.

***

Poor Freya! Mabye a vote will help? 😉 (Just joking, but they are useful.)

What do you think of Freya and Gustav's past?

What about Fanghook? Will/how he get better? Any theories?

Love y'all!