Instead of flying up into the sky and becoming one of the stars like all dragons did when they died, Toothless found himself in a small cove that somehow felt very familiar. Alarmed by how un-celestial everything looked, he checked his chest for the arrow and found that it was not there. It was like he'd never been shot in the first place.

What the—where am I? What's going on? Why am I not in the sky? Did I do something wrong? Toothless' mind spun wildly with questions and he stared hard at his reflection in the pond, as if it would provide the answers he craved.

Son.

Toothless whirled around blindly toward the voice, that wonderful, loving, wise, deep, rumbly voice. Father! he yelped joyfully. The older Night Fury landed in front of him, his huge wings sending ripples shooting across the pond. Toothless bounded up to him, ducking his head in respect, then snuggled under Septimus' wing like he used to as a hatchling. Septimus did not appear to mind one bit. After all, it had been a decade since they'd seen each other last. I missed you so much! Toothless purred. He felt warm dragon breath on his face, making his eyes water a little. And I missed you. I see that these past years have been kind to you, Septimus observed approvingly, reclining by the pond.

How's Mother? Toothless asked, laying down next to him. Is she well?

She is quite well. She recently laid our third clutch. And still just as beautiful as the day I met her. His father's eyes took on a clouded, dreamy quality.

Toothless churred in laughter. Father, you would say that even if she was a sparkless Elder!

Septimus roared with laughter. Aye, that I would! And I'd mean it, too, of course!

Toothless chuckled a little, but his thoughts darkened as his original dilemma returned to the forefront of his mind. Father, am I dead?

The older Night Fury frowned at his son. Why in the name of all the stars would you ask such a thing?

I took an arrow to the heart, father! Toothless explained. By all accounts, I should be in the sky by now!

Septimus' face smoothed in understanding. Ah, I see. Well, in answer to your question, no, you are not dead. Rather, you have succumbed to the Long Sleep, like the Skrills do when they are frozen. It was the only way you'd have survived such a wound.

But now I'm . . . not asleep? Toothless guessed, and Septimus nodded. In a way, yes. You are still asleep in the sense that you are resting, but you are no longer under the thrall of the Long Sleep.

How long was I under for? Toothless asked. Do you know?

A little under two years, is all, Septimus replied nonchalantly.

Toothless' eyes nearly popped out of his head. TWO YEARS?! he roared in disbelief, springing to his feet. I'VE BEEN DEAD FOR TWO YEARS?! HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?!

Turn it down a notch and I'll tell you, Septimus said, covering his ears with his wings. Shocked, Toothless sat down in front of his father as he explained. Septimus sighed. After you succumbed to the Long Sleep, and the humans had left, a old sage came and rescued you. She took you into her home and began nursing you back to health. Now that you are strong again, you can finally become what you were always meant to be. The Alpha.

Toothless sucked in a sharp breath. To become the Alpha was the highest of honors known to dragonkind. He would be king of the herd, his word indisputable. If he accepted this destiny, he might very well become the most powerful dragon in the Archipelago. The Alpha? he echoed. I don't understand. What of?

In answer, Septimus turned to the pond and waved his wing over the water. The ripples now gave way to an image of a human village—Berk, Toothless realized—but something wasn't right. The village was absolutely swarming with warriors who apparently took great pleasure in bullying the defenseless Berkians, whose numbers had plummeted to less than ten. High above, hundreds of dragons swarmed over a gigantic sea beast that looked to be the resident Alpha. The captive dragons flew round the Alpha's head, unable to land or feed. Toothless felt his wingtips grow cold with dread. The island had been invaded.

But that wasn't the worst part. As his view of the island moved through the doors in the mountain, Toothless saw that there were way more villagers, which, he supposed, was a good thing, but also someone else. Toothless gasped in horror. What have they done to you?

It was Hiccup, on his knees, his hands tied behind his back. He was covered in bruises and scars, and his clothes were ragged and stained dark with blood. He was thinner than Toothless had ever seen him, and his eyes . . . Oh, skies, Hiccup . . . his eyes were a milky white, almost no color in them, that deep green that Toothless had grown to love was gone. The boy was blind.

If dragons were capable of crying, Toothless would have made the pond flood the cove. Septimus extended a comforting wing, and Toothless leaned into his father's shoulder, desperately needing an anchor.

A large man strode over to Hiccup, and Toothless noticed that the other Berkians kept well out of his way. He held a whip in one hand, and as he came closer, Hiccup cringed away, as if he could tell who it was just by listening to the man's footsteps. The man kicked Hiccup in the stomach, bringing him to the floor, and raised his arm.

Don't you dare! Toothless growled, but of course, the man didn't hear him. He brought the whip down on Hiccup with a sickening crack. Hiccup flinched, but he didn't try to get away. Another lash came. The Berkians just stood there, many of them with their eyes closed, forced to witness the beating. Toothless could feel his claws coming out and he dug them into the ground to keep from lunging at the man and ripping his throat out.

It's only an image, he told himself. It's not really there. There's nothing you can do.

But it's still happening! the other part of his brain argued, consumed by alternating waves of fury and grief.

As yet another lash fell, the image changed, and the man with the whip vanished.

It was the same room, the same amount of people, and for a second Toothless feared it was the same vision all over again. But this time it was a girl who approached Hiccup, and while she was holding an axe in her hand, it was down by her side and she didn't look like she planned on using it on Hiccup. Good for her.

"Hiccup," she said quietly, "why don't you ever fight them?" She looked very worried.

Hiccup let out a sigh. "Because I'm hoping that one of these days—"

What? Toothless wanted to say. What is it? What do you need?

"—they'll kill me."

A punch to the gut would have been less painful. Toothless, along with the rest of the Berkians, gasped in shock. What could they possibly have done to make Hiccup, of all people, wish for death? Hiccup kept going. "Didn't any of you wonder where Toothless is?"

Here! Toothless wanted to shout at him. I'm right here!

"He's dead. All because I didn't sense that there was someone there on that island."

That wasn't your fault, Hiccup. None of that was! Don't blame yourself for that, please!

"I was there for two years, Astrid! Two years! Do you know what a guy does in a cell that reeks of his own blood for two years? He thinks about the last time he was free!"

Two years. Toothless' senses went numb as that came into perspective. For two years, while he lay peacefully and undisturbed in the Long Sleep, that creature had tortured Hiccup into not even valuing his own life anymore.

Well, there was one good way to fix that.

Septimus waved his wing over the water again and the image faded. Fearful of what horrid thing it might show next, Toothless backed away from the edge, and Septimus gazed at him solemnly. Now you know, he said softly. This is why you must become the Alpha, if not for the dragons, then for your human friend.

How long do I have? Toothless asked, staring at the place in the pond where, just moments ago, he'd seen Hiccup's face. How much longer could he survive in those conditions?

Almost a day's time, Septimus replied. The villagers are restless. They plan to revolt soon. You must get there before the battle ends. It is essential.

What if I can't do it, father? Toothless worried aloud. What if I fail? I couldn't keep Hiccup safe once; what if that happens again? What if I die for real?

Oh, my son, Septimus said, curling their tails together lovingly, never fear. You will not fail. You are stronger now than you have ever been in your entire life. When the time comes to protect those you love, you will find a way. Trust yourself.

With that, Septimus took a few steps back, spread his wings, and launched himself into the sky. Toothless followed him. Where are you going? he called out.

Home to your soon-to-be-born brothers and sisters, his father said, pausing to look back. You don't need me to help you take down Drago.

Drago? The human who attacked Hiccup? Toothless asked, and Septimus nodded. He is the leader of the invaders. Defeat him, and you'll save Berk.

Toothless jerked awake. He was no longer in the cove, but in a small cottage near the sea. Rain drummed soothingly on the roof. He lay on a large stone slab next to the fireplace, comfortably warm, the arrow wound treated and his chest and neck wrapped in strips of white cloth. He looked around at the house's simple decorations and saw, to his relief, that he was not restrained in any way to anything. His father had been right. Someone had taken him in.

An old woman shuffled in, muttering to herself. She looked up and smiled at him. "Ah, good to see that you're awake, young one. I was starting to get worried," she said in a creaky voice. "My cats have taken to sleeping on your tail. Hope you don't mind."

Toothless checked his tail and saw two fat orange cats curled up in his tail fins, both of them purring contentedly. Toothless scowled, laid his ears back, and grumbled at them. One didn't respond, and the other only stretched a little. He hissed and neither of them responded. The old woman laughed merrily. "Oh, trust me young one, it's going to take a good bit more than just hissing to get them away from that hearth."

Toothless gave her a look. What do you suggest?

The old woman went over to the table and picked up two very tiny fish. "Boys, it's dinnertime!" she said in a singsong voice. The effect was immediate. The cats couldn't get across the room fast enough, yowling and skidding hilariously on the wooden floors, each trying to get both fish before the other did. The woman spread out her arms, leading the cats in different directions, and put the fish down. The cats dug right in.

Speaking of fish, Toothless realized what an appetite one could work up after sleeping for two years. Sleeping while their best friend is being tortured, he thought with a stab of guilt. He needed to get back to Hiccup, fast.

"Oh, don't you worry, dear, I haven't forgotten you," the old woman said, hauling a large bowl over to the rock slab. Toothless instantly felt his mouth flood with saliva. The bowl was filled to the brim with delicious fish. He licked his lips and devoured the food. He would have tried to eat the bowl, too, but the woman snatched it away in time.

"I don't think you'd like the taste of wood, young one. Now, then, let me take a look at your front here. . . . " The woman carefully peeled away the bandaging and Toothless waited for the pain that might come, but there was none. The wound was healed. He stood up and shot a few blasts at the stone slab, but that didn't hurt, either. He hummed, delighted, and hopped off, heading for the door.

"Time to go, eh, young one?" The old woman guessed, shuffling over to open the door for him. Toothless stared out at the rainstorm for a moment, thinking about what his father had told him. You will not fail. You are stronger now than you have ever been in your entire life. When the time comes to protect those you love, you will find a way. Trust yourself.

No matter what Toothless thought about his abilities, Hiccup needed him now more than ever. And if challenging Drago for the Alphaship was the only way to help him, then that was what he had to do. He turned to the woman and nuzzled her face in thanks for all she'd done, then regurgitated half a fish for her. The woman laughed. "You're welcome! Feel free to come back any time, young one. My door is always open."

Toothless nodded and trotted out into the rain, flaring his wings wide and bringing them down again with a snap, shooting up into the sky towards the enemies, the danger, Hiccup, and his destiny.

Alpha.