A Fistful of Dragons

Part 25: Condemned

A/N: Well done to everyone who said "Silverado'. (The line was by Cobb-a bad guy and corrupt lawman, of course!)

Twenty-Five: Condemned.

Hiccup had no time to react as Toothless knocked him down, heavy paws slamming his shoulders into the rock-hard dirt of the Plaza. He stared up, green eyes widening as the demon glared down on him. This wasn't his friend, his bonded dragon...this was a ferocious wild animal that saw nothing but an enemy, nothing but another animal. Toothless opened his maw and his throat glowed red, though Hiccup could smell the sharp scent of plasma building up.

Why was it red?

But it didn't matter-even though Toothless, a Night Fury which was famed for never missing but had missed hopelessly when he had just fired -because this really truly was point blank range. He felt the heat coming off the dragon in waves, felt the vibrating growl through the paws and the claws which had dug painfully into his shoulders.

"Toothless...bud..." he said gently. "Please...if you do this, when whatever they've done to you wears off, you will feel so awful...and I don't wanna do that to you..." The glow intensified. "Please...you're my best friend...my best friend..." he begged.

Toothless's maw widened and the glow was blinding. Hiccup reached his hands up to shield his face and his closed his eyes, not wanting to see the flash as his dragon killed him...

...and then the pressure suddenly vanished as a squawk sounded along with a thud and a roar. Hiccup felt a whoosh of something swishing over his head and he glanced up to see the blue spiny tail of Stormfly, which she had used to slam the Night Fury off the helpless man. Spines raised, neck frill raised, she was darting from side to side, keeping her body between the enraged Toothless and the man. She was almost as quick and agile as the Night Fury and she was determined to protect Hiccup...as her Rider had asked her to do...even though she had to fight her friend to do so...

Hiccup half-sat up and watched, breathing hard. Toothless was shaking his head, staggering and roaring, blasting scarlet plasma blasts randomly. Stormfly cawed, dodging the poorly-aimed blasts and mirroring the Night Fury's moves. But Toothless tripped over then spun around, giving a mournful wail. And though his head was screaming that the dragon was dangerous, out of control and completely hostile, the man could tell that Toothless was confused, frightened and ill. He scrambled to his knees and stretched his hands out once more.

"Toothless?" he murmured...and the Night Fury focussed on him once more, eyes locking on the blurred, distorted shape. Toothless reared up, dodging past Stormfly and pouncing at Hiccup once more...and then he roared. A dart appeared in the black hide of the dragon and Hiccup's head snapped round in shock as Fishlegs raised the blowpipe to his lips and exhaled forcefully, sending another dart into the dragon. Toothless gave a drunken roar, staggered and finally collapsed. His face stricken, the Dragon Master lowered the blowpipe as Hiccup crawled to the Night Fury, finally resting his trembling hands on the unconscious beast.

"Oh bud," he murmured. "What has happened to you? What did they do...?"

"Nothing!" the Major sneered. "The dragon showed its true colours...and you are not bonded. No bonded rider would be attacked by his dragon. That creature did not recognise you, did not respond to you, did not obey you. You failed!"

A cold shiver ran down Hiccup's spine as he raised his head in shock. "Wh-what?"

"The dragon didn't come to you, didn't recognise you at all," Arvidson said cheerfully, grabbing Hiccup's shoulder and hauling him to his feet.

"And by the agreement you had...we're going to hang you for dragon rustling!"

"No!" Hiccup protested. "No-that wasn't Toothless. That wasn't my bud..."