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Chapter 8: Chapter 8 Where are you, Toothless?

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Stone walls surrounded him, spider webs filled the corners and blood colored the ground, while the scent of it poisoned the air. This was the place Hiccup woke up to, where he'd been locked up, alone. He opened his eyes barely for the first time since the storm had hit them, and the sight was as unwelcomed as it could get.

"Gods my head...feels like it's been hit by Thor's hammer.."

Hiccup looked around with half shut eyes. They scanned a room that wasn't the most coziest one he had seen, and with a drowsy mind he tried to figure out what was going on. He took a particularly interest in the bars that surrounded him. It wasn't until then it struck him. A prison? He was imprisoned? The last thing he remembered was that he was out there in the desolated field with Toothless, in that storm.

Hiccup spun around. "Toothless? Toothless' not here!"

He didn't want to believe this. Hiccup closed his eyes hard. It was a nightmare. Where was he...and where was Toothless? He could feel it right away. The connection between them--the link, was now gone. Wherever Toothless was, it must be far away from where Hiccup is being kept now. Or was he even dead? No no, he can't think such things.

And his head; it felt empty. A bit of himself had been torn apart from him, and he felt small and weak without having the comforting feeling of Toothless' consciousness in his mind. He could already feel the loneliness suffusing him.

But all these feelings of confusion and loneliness, was building up in him in form of...anger. Hiccup suddenly felt furious. He growled and smoke puffed out from his nostrils. He wanted revenge. He wanted to tear apart whoever had done this to him and Toothless! What had they done to deserve this? He looked at the bars that kept him trapped. They looked like normal steel, and they were quite rusty. He could probably break them if he created a powerful enough burst. Hiccup stepped back as far as the tiny space would allow him, and started to build up the fire. He inhaled deeply.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you..."

Hiccup stopped. He looked up at a man who was calm and determined, not showing a single fear towards him. He wore clothes that looked quite expensive. Maybe this was a man with power... The man leaned against the wall and studied Hiccup. Hiccup growled at him.

"Break out of this cage and I'll make sure that you'll never see your companion again."

"He has Toothless?" Hiccup stopped his growling. It was a great relief to him that he now knew Toothless at least was alive. The man smiled.

"It's good that we understand each other. I was actually wondering if you could understand me at all. It's nice to see one of my questions answered..."

The man crossed his arms and seemed more relaxed, although a more serious look formed his face.

"Now, I want you to listen and listen carefully. Here it's I who's in charge. Your race may rule the sky, but here on the ground you don't stand a chance. You do as I command and I expect you to obey them. If you do not, you're dragon friend will be dead long before you've reached him, and you will be hunted down and killed yourself. Understood?"

There was no point in resisting for Hiccup. Even if he did free himself, where would he go? He didn't have any clues of where Toothless was being held captured.

Hiccup nodded.

The lanista's face lightened up and he smiled.

"Good, good!" He said, and his angry look dissipated faster than it had came. "Now then, I suppose an introduction is in order. I am Verius Batin Toranicus, owner of a ludus and a lanista. This is the school of only the greatest gladiators ever seen in Parragrin! I suppose you don't know what a gladiator is? No, of course you don't. Why would a dragon take interest in human activities?" He chuckled to himself.

Hiccup had heard of these 'gladiators'. He had read of them in books. They were usually warriors fighting for glory in big arenas, or slaves fighting for their freedom. Hiccup nodded to Verius.

The lanista raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

"You do? What do you know, a smart dragon then! You keep surprising me Darkscale."

"Darkscale?" Hiccup cocked his head in confusion.

"You haven't heard? That's the name your species is called here in these parts. You're famous for your rarity, which makes my plan all the better. And finding two as well! I mean what are the odds for that?"

"But where is Toothless then?" Hiccup thought, and tried to mentally send it to Verius. He released a low whine.

"Oh, you want to know where your friend is?"

Hiccup nodded eagerly.

"Well, I sold him."

"What?" Hiccup growled. He had sold Toothless, as if he was merely an object? Hiccup roared at the lanista in anger. The force made the whole ground shiver, and Verius almost fell. Guards suddenly showed up and helped him straight himself up again.

"Shut it, beast!" cried Verius through the roar. "You don't want both of you dead, right?"

The room stilled.

"I didn't sell him to just anyone" Verius said irritated. "If you really want to know, my brother has him; he's a lanista as well. If you ever want to be free and see him again, you will hear me out."

Hiccup needed to focus extremely hard to let his anger under control. It was like another living being inside him, an unchained beast that took control of him whenever his body boiled with fury. Maybe this was a part of his transformation. A part of a Night Fury?

Verius waited until Hiccup had quiet down fully before he continued on.

"You two should consider yourself lucky to just be alive. If I wasn't desperate, you'd been long dead and sold as food. You see, people don't care about dragons. In their eyes, you're only disgusting beasts. Worthless creatures that'd be better off dead."

Hiccup growled at that mark, but Verius didn't seem to take notice. He bent down so that he could see right in Hiccup's eyes.

"But I can make that otherwise! I can make them love you, scream at you for the entertainment you bring them. I can make you; the first two dragon gladiators."

Verius eye's shone like if he was picturing it all in his mind. Hiccup couldn't believe what he had heard. This guy wants to make him a gladiator! He would have to kill other humans for the amusement of others, or get killed himself. How could he do something like that?

"I've just gotten a message from my brother telling that your friend has already agreed on it."

Toothless has? Hiccup shouldn't be surprised. That much he should expect from him, but if HE didn't accept as well, they'd be both dead. He needed to do this, there's no other way if he ever want to see Toothless again. It was either the arena or death. Hiccup gave Verius a slow nod.

"Then it's settled!" Verius said, clapping his hands together. "Fight for me in the arena, and together we will restore honor and fame to this house. Win the crowd, and you will be rewarded. Show that you are worthy, and when the time finally comes; you'll regain your freedom again."

"Honor and fame in my dragon butt"_Hiccup thought."I don't care for this house or whatever, but if fighting for this Verius is what it takes to get Toothless back, I'll do it!"_

Verius turned and was about to leave, but he quickly raised a pointed finger in the air and stopped.

"Ah, I almost forgot..."

He turned back again and looked at Hiccup.

"There's someone here that I'd like to take a look at you. You remember this little thing?"

Verius picked up Saga's amulet from one of his pockets. He held it forth so Hiccup could see it clearly.

"_My amulet!"_Hiccup shouted in his mind, suddenly feeling that it wasn't around his neck anymore. His eyes widened, revealing how big they actually were.

"You take interest in this I see. Well, I thought so."

Verius looked down on the ground in thoughts, as a hint of a slight hesitation whether he should do what he thought of or not. Still in the same position, his eyes changed back to Hiccup.

"I'm going to let you out now, but REMEMBER! Try anything suspicious, and my guards here will make sure to place three spears inside you before you even knew what hit you; and you friend will be as good as dead as well." The guards peered at Hiccup with angry looks.

Verius locked up the cage with one of the keys he had with him, and opened. He took a few steps backs so Hiccup could get enough room to get out.

"Now don't be too hasty and take slow steps" Verius ordered. Hiccup did as he said and followed Verius. The guards walked behind Hiccup with their spears constantly pointed at him. It didn't take long before Verius signaled Hiccup to stop.

"Wait here." He said low.

Verius walked until he came to the next cell. Inside was a young man sitting by one of the corners, not more than in the middle of his twenties. His hair was short and black, and a hint of an upcoming beard covered the lower part of his face. On him, he wore a dark blue robe.

"Hello there Burrows!" Verius said with a light tone. "How are you doing this fine evening?"

The young man lifted his head with a nonchalant expression on his face.

"My robe is getting dirty... I don't like it dirty."

"Agree with my terms and you can have as many clean robes as you like!"

Burrows sighed.

"I've said it a hundred times before. I won't fight for you! Using magic in the arena is a cheap way to win. Besides I'm no gladiator, and was never meant to be one."

"Who cares if it's cheap!" Verius laughed. "The crowd will love it nevertheless! They rarely see magic. They rarely see ones like you."

"I won't do it" snorted Burrows.

"Not even now?" Verius asked, and brought up an amulet which he let dangle in front of him. Burrows looked at it with a slight annoyance.

"You can't tempt me, Verius. And that's mine, and I want it back. It doesn't mean anything to you anyway."

"Oh, but this isn't your amulet, Burrows" Verius smiled. His hand slid down his pocket and came up again with a second completely identical amulet as the one he held on the other hand.

"This one is yours."

It looked like Burrows' eyes were about to pop out; that's how big they were.

"W-w-where did you get that?" he staggered.

"I was hoping you had a little story of your own" Verius answered. "Ever been around a dragon before?"

"What?" Burrows asked confused. "What does this have to do with dragons?"

Verius flicked his fingers, and the guards brought Hiccup before the cage where Burrows sat. One would've thought his eyes couldn't get bigger, but they just did. With a shaky hand he pointed at Hiccup.

"D-d....dragon!" he exclaimed.

"Yepp, a rare sight these creatures, aren't they?" Verius smiled. "He's the one who was wearing this amulet."

"He did?" Burrows said with an unsure tone. His eyes were locked on Hiccup. He looked intently at him. His mind was propped with questions.

"He's training starts tomorrow" Verius added.

"He's to join the gladiators?" Surprise was everywhere in Burrows voice.

Verius shrugged. "Desperate times calls for desperate decisions. Now, do you happen to know this dragon?"

"Never seen it before."

"Then why is it so that this dragon was carrying an identical amulet to yours?" demanded Verius suspiciously.

Burrows looked intensively at the amulet. "It belonged to a great friend of mine. Maybe the dragon stole it, for reasons unknown."

"Oh, but then I'm afraid to say that your great friend isn't around us anymore." Verius said, pretending to be sad. "An encounter with a dragon usually...well, let's just say they don't end well. Of course that means that I'm in possession of something dearly to you." He looked at Hiccup's amulet. "Such pity you can't have it, unless..." Verius grinned at Burrows.

Burrows stared at Verius with both hate and anger. But he exhaled a heavily, at last giving in.

"Ok. I'll fight for you if I get the amulets and on another condition."

"And what might that be?" Verius asked.

"...Let me share cage with the dragon."

"Ah suicidal thought" Verius laughed. "And why would you do that?"

"I could use the company down here. It's not like you're going to place me with the others anyway. At least I can talk to someone, instead of myself."

"As you wish then" Verius said. "I will take you to his cage and leave you two for yourselves. Wouldn't surprise me if there's only one of you by tomorrow though."

Burrows and Hiccup were taken back to Hiccup's cage. After several warnings from Verius, he leaved for something he explained as "significantly higher importance", and the two were left alone. Burrows had placed himself in the far left corner of the cage, and regarded Hiccup form where he sat, just as Hiccup watched intently at him. Hiccup had realized it ever since Verius showed the second amulet. This was Saga's apprentice! The man he had been looking for all along! They looked at each other in silence, until Burrows finally decided to say something. He proceeded slowly; every word left his mouth with slight pauses.

"Could you, uhm...say something to me, oh great Darkscale?"

"Like what?" Hiccup asked.

Burrows couldn't stay serious any longer, and over excitement raced through his body. A big fat smirk formed his face. The big question that had kept his mind buzzing for all these years. He finally knew it!

"It's true! Saga was right! The family history of my line is actually real! I can understand dragons!"

Hiccup regarded Burrows with more interest. Ever since Saga had told him about her apprentice, he had pictured a wise man with a good number of winters behind him. Before him was a young man who was...well, less serious than he had expected. Right now he was literally agitating uncontrollably from excitement.

"Okay calm down, calm down" he said to himself between gasps.

"Finished?" Hiccup asked with a slight smile.

"Yeah...I think so."

"Then I would like to ask you something" Hiccup began. "Are you Saga's once was apprentice?"

"I-I am" Burrows confirmed. "Do you know her? Is that why you carried her amulet? Are you here to save me? AM I GOING TO RIDE YOU?"

"Wow slow down with the questions!" Hiccup exclaimed.

"Ooh right. Sorry about that"

Hiccup eyed him with amusement. "You don't strike me as the smartest of persons; even for a magician" he hummed.

"Hey, don't judge me by first look!" Burrows protested. "I happen to be a very good magician. I'm good with magic!"

"I believe you I believe you. Now.." Hiccup said, the voice now changing into a more serious tone. "To answer you original question; yes, I know Saga, and she gave me her amulet."

"She gave it to you? Why? How does she fare?"

Hiccup grimaced. It hurt him to talk about her, but he knew Burrows deserved to know what happened. "It's with great sorrow I have to bring you this news, but..." Hiccup stopped.

"But what?" Burrows asked, all happy expressions fading. You could see in his eyes that he probably knew what was coming.

"...but she gave her own life to save mine."

"Oh." Burrows said low. "She meant a great deal to me. At least she had a long life."

No tears came, but it was obvious that the news had struck him deeply.

"And what exactly did she save you from?" Burrows asked. Hiccup didn't quite know how to begin.

"It's a long story, and probably one hard to believe."

"What do you mean?"

"Eh, what I mean is...well, to begin with; I'm not exactly a dragon."

Burrows lifted one eyebrow. "Oh really?" he said while looking at Hiccup, who definitely looked quite dragon to him.

"Yeah, I should probably start from the beginning" Hiccup said. He then started to tell about the transformation, about Toothless and how they got to meet Saga. He leaved the romance out though. No way would he ever tell him about that! He continued explaining Astrid's attempt to kill Toothless, the encounter with Saga in the cove, the escape from Berk and how he had ended up with Verius.

"So" Burrows began. "Let's get things straight. You're really a human in a dragon body, which caused complications with your tribe and father. Saga sacrificed herself so you could escape and find me; so that I could help you settle this problem... And there's another dragon involved?"

"Yepp. That's about it" Hiccup said, shrugging.

"I find that really hard to believe."

"I told you it was complicated"

"But one cannot simply transform a human into a dragon! We're talking about extraordinary magic! I've never seen anything like it being recorded before."

"Then again we're talking about magic from dragons," Hiccup pointed out. "which again are rare in these parts. I've been around them for a long time, and believe me when I say this: They never seem to surprise you enough. Now that I am one too, I surprise myself sometimes as well!"

"I've been reading countless books about dragons, and they really are mystical and amazing creatures judging from them! I've never been up close to one before, but I suppose you got a point" Burrows agreed.

"So you believe me?"

"You came with Saga's amulet. It was the dearest thing to her, and she wouldn't have departed with it unless absolutely necessary! So I've chosen to rely on what you've told me."

"It relieves me to her that. So will you help me?"

"Help two dragons in need? You bet I will!"

Hiccup chuckled.

"You seem to really love dragons. From what I've heard, people usually don't."

"Saga told me about them. She really opened my eyes for what they are."

A moment of silence followed, but Burrows made quick work of it.

"Well, let's not dwell of her leave. I knew her well, and she wouldn't have wanted us to either. Since we're obviously partners know, maybe we should exchange names. I am Burrows Farendir, pleased to meet you, dragon..Darkscale...ehr, human?"

Hiccup laughed. "You may refer to me as a dragon, since that's what I really am now. But I'm Hiccup.

"Pffahahah!" Burrows couldn't hold himself. Hiccup frowned at his choice of reaction. Burrows stopped when he suddenly got aware of it.

"Oh, you're serious? Oh please excuse my rudeness! I didn't think..."

"It's alright" Hiccup stopped him. "The name-giving up in the north are a bit different from other places. Full name is Hiccup Horrendus Haddock III though, but you may just call me Hiccup."

"And your friend. Does he have a name?"

"Yeah. He's Toothless and..."

"BWAHAHAhaha...haha..ha...uhm...I did it again didn't I?"

Hiccup sighed. "You know I could eat you for your insolence?"

Burrows face turned skeptical. "You wouldn't..."

"It's not only the outside of me that has changed you know."

The color of Burrows face was turning slight white.

"A-are you really going to?"

"Nah, of course not" Hiccup laughed. "I highly doubt I'd enjoyed it anyway. Besides, he's called Toothless for a reason. Look."

Hiccup opened his mouth and retracted his teeth.

"Ah, I see now!" Burrows said. "I suppose it makes sense then, but not the whole retractable part. What that's good for?"

"Ah, I asked the very same question to Toothless once" Hiccup said enthusiastically. He loved that Burrows showed interest in dragon anthology. "Have you ever read of Ni..eh, Darkscales before?"

"Ooh yes, definitely!"

"Does it say anything about their attacks?"

"Of course" Burrows said, as if it was obvious. "They favor the dive bombing where they release a burst of blue fire which explodes upon impact. It has also been recorded that they sometimes use a continuous flame that can reach impressive length."

"Right" Hiccup continued. "The burst of fire is by being more specific; a semi solid mass, and Toothless told me it's mainly made of two things. You got the core, and the flames surrounding it. A part of the core is made up by certain materials that are highly explosive if they get unstabilized, as they do when the burst of fire hit something solid. Now, when Darkscales release this burst of fire, their teeth are always retracted. The reason for this is because if they aren't; they will cause the shape the core to change, which causes these materials to get unstable already upon release. That means the core will explode shortly after it's been shot."

"Very interesting" Burrows said, scratching himself on the chin. "And you've experienced this by your own eyes?"

"You bet I have!" Hiccup exclaimed. "The damn dragon flied me into one once!"

Burrows laughed, but quickly thought of what Hiccup said. "Wait, so you've actually ridden Toothless?"

"Oh yes, many times back when I was still a human, but that's another story."

"You're having a very unusual life, Hiccup." Burrows said yawning. "You have to tell me more about it sometime. But right now we have more important things to concern us about, like focusing on how we can escape this bastard without it causing trouble for your friend, because I'm sure Verius has planned all this carefully. But the best thing now is to get some rest. Our training starts tomorrow and we'll need the sleep."

Hiccup agreed on that, and they both found their most comfortable position while their conversation carried on no more. Hiccup thought about the days to come, what he needed to do to get out of this mess, or if he ever would.

Killing. Something he thought he'd never do again. It just didn't feel right to take another one's life, unless it meant food to keep one self alive. He couldn't kill for honor and fame, as Verius had mentioned. He couldn't either kill to make his father proud. But for Toothless? The dragon who he had befriended. The dragon that cared for him. The dragon who he loved. Could he do this for him?

...Yes. That, he could do.