Monstrous Nightmare

The **Monstrous Nightmare** is a medium Stoker Class dragon that lives in forests, caves, and volcanoes.

## Official Description

Monstrous Nightmares are known as some of the most ferocious and aggressive dragons. As a member of the Stoker Class, these dragons are hot-headed and have a particularly strong ability to breathe fire. Monstrous Nightmares are known for setting their entire body on fire. These dragons are incredibly fearsome and can also fly at a high speed.

These creatures are usually either purple or scarlet in color with snake-like features. Sly and sneaky, Monstrous Nightmares also use their claw-tipped wings to crawl along the ground. Their intimidating glowing eyes strike fear to those who come near.

While these dragons might appear intimidating at first, it is important to remember that they can be trained. All that these belligerent dragons need is a firm hand and a confident trainer!

## Physical Appearance

### Egg

The Monstrous Nightmare eggs have a surface that looks like they were made of cloth or leather folded together, with a spotted pattern on the base. Its colors vary and they match the colors of the dragon to be born.

### Hatchling to Adult

Monstrous Nightmares come in many different colors such as purple, blue, scarlet, or green and possesses a long, snakelike neck and tail. Unlike some other breeds of dragon, it has no forelegs, and its ground-based locomotion is similar to that of Pterosaurs, except that it has a lower profile due to its sprawled wings; it can use its claw-tipped wings to "crawl" along the floor. Their horns might be used as a visual display and in defense, but the swept back position of the horns means it is unlikely to use them in combat. Its stripe skin patterns seem to mimic that of a tiger's. The Monstrous Nightmare is 60 feet long, has a wingspan of 68 feet and weighs about 5,000 lbs.

### Titan Wing

While aging, they can lose their stripes to have black spots, similar to the leopard. When they are fully grown and gain barbels, some of them change color when they achieve Titan Wing age. The sails they possessed as adults become rows of separate spikes. Once they have reached this stage they grow much longer and may gain spots in more striking colors. With age, Monstrous Nightmares seem to also grow beard-like appendages under their chin as a sign of age.

## Abilities

### Firepower

Monstrous Nightmares breathe an organic Kerosene Gel, which can be hotter than a usual flame and more powerful as well. Their fire is hot enough to burn down a tree in a few seconds. Its signature attack is known as the "Fire Jacket" or "Fire Burst". This ability makes it engulf itself in flames by igniting the spit it coats itself in prematurely, resulting in an intimidating, offensive and defensive maneuver similar in appearance to napalm or other gel-based incendiaries.

They are able to set any part of their body on fire, and they are also able to fire off a larger and more powerful fire blast whilst doing this. Monstrous Nightmares have the ability to Fire Burst to make their body temperature stay heated as they can dry off from being wet.

The natural form of the Monstrous Nightmare's kerosene gel is green in color. It coats the dragon's hide, allowing a Nightmare to 'flame up'. The gel is also slimy, being easy to rub against a platform. It occurs in large enough quantity for a trainer to collect and store for other uses.

### Strength and Combat

Monstrous Nightmares are among the most physically powerful dragons as they can send heavy humans far distances by using their tail and can send a Gronckle flying full speed by hitting with their wings. They have even been seen crushing small catapults with one stomp of their feet.

Monstrous Nightmares are among the most well-armed dragons, for they are able to use their jaws, claws, tail and horns as formidable weapons in battle. Their neck muscles are very strong, as they are able to carry heavy riders on their necks, sometimes with an extra weight of a weapon and a saddle without showing any sign of struggle.

It said that Monstrous Nightmares will never run from a fight, but it is possible that if this dragon knows it can't win against a really powerful opponent, it will flee.

### Speed and Agility

Nightmares are known to be quite fast, on land, in water and in the air. Nightmares on land have been observed as fast runners while in a straight line, although they have trouble making turns. They are agile and fast fliers as they are able to go around trees and able to dodge many arrows.

### Climbing

Monstrous Nightmares are excellent climbers on both chains and many different types of terrain. They are able to climb mountains and catapult towers with ease. They can also climb against stone/metal walls while running quickly.

### Intelligence

Monstrous Nightmares are very intelligent and choose to show it if they want, such as if they get the good respect that they deserve from their owners, they can learn great skills over a day. But if they don't get sufficient respect from their owners they will sometimes to prank them and unexpectedly outsmart them.

### Wing Blast

In this hidden move, the Monstrous Nightmare uses their large, powerful wings to create a blast of wind that is so strong, it can even blow a fully-grown Hideous Zippleback to the ground.

### Endurance and Stamina

    Monstrous Nightmares have high stamina and endurance. They are able to take multiple attacks from humans or other dragons, and can even take an attack from a Night Fury and survive. Their durable skin is able to bounce an arrow off. They are able to endure a Deadly Nadder's magnesium blast that is normally powerful enough to melt solid rocks. Often, a Monstrous Nightmare will use their wings as a shield.

Monstrous Nightmares have great stamina as they are able to travel long distances. However, if they are pushed too hard from traveling full speed, they can become exhausted and may get sick, causing them to lose the ability to produce fire. If this happens, they will get weaker and weaker until they die.

### Jaw Expanding and Jaw Strength

Like snakes, a Monstrous Nightmare is able to open their jaws wide enough to swallow a full grown human whole. They are able to chew through anything, even the cages they are trapped in.

### Hunting and Fishing

Just like modern carnivores, Monstrous Nightmares can chase their prey down with their great stamina, tiring their prey out before attacking. They normally hunt alone, but if there is a pack, they can hunt in bigger numbers if needed.

Monstrous Nightmares are also excellent swimmers and can hold their breath for a long amount of time. When fishing, they'll hook fish on their spines and use them to keep their fish warm to eat another time. They use their spines to hold more fish to feed their hatchlings at their nest as they can store an amount of fish in their mouth and more on their spines.

### Titan Wing Abilities

A Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare has enhanced physical attributes and abilities that make them stronger in strength and bulk.

Their range of fire is increased so targets can be hit at a further distance. Their fire is also quite brighter than an average size Nightmare. The range of a Titan Wing Nightmare's fire burst is expanded greatly, and can easily burn off flesh from a human.

Titan Wing Nightmares are extremely strong, being able to toss away heavy dragons that weigh over 5000 lbs without a struggle. They are also able to knock a dragon out of the air by using their tail. They have a very durable body, more so than an average Nightmare, as they are able to take blasts from different dragons and even smash into trees and other terrains by traveling at a great speed and still be fine.

The Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmare has higher stamina and speed than a normal Monstrous Nightmare. They are determined dragons, and will continue a fight even if there is a high chance of losing.

Due to their large size, maneuvering is difficult, as they are heavier and have longer tails, meaning it can't stop itself as quickly and can't make tight turns. However, they are still able to swing their tail to whip like the average Monstrous Nightmare.

## Weaknesses

### Flame Loss

The true weakness of this dragon is losing their flame as well as their fire burst protects them from hypothermia that could make this dragon become very weak and they can easily die from this. They can lose their Fire Burst from old age, exhaustion or injuries. Symptoms include flaky skin, pale coloration and inability to light up.

Their other weakness is tying up their snout that they won't be able to use their Fire Burst but they are able to still fight back.

### Turning in Flight

Due to a Monstrous Nightmare's long tail, they can't pull up in time when charging in a full speed dive. They are very fast when running in straight line but bad at making turns.

Also, Titan Wing Monstrous Nightmares are unable to maneuver as quickly as younger ones and have difficulty making sharp turns while flying. Their size hinders their mobility of flying and they can be taken down by younger Nightmares.

### Stealth

Monstrous Nightmares have hard times sneaking up on prey or adversaries due to their heavy bodies, and tend to make loud stomps. They are, however, much quieter when crawling, and can be silent enough to sneak up on prey if enough effort is put forth.

## Personality and Behavior

By nature, the Monstrous Nightmare is fearless and proud. They are some of the strongest dragons around and they know it. Monstrous Nightmares are very aggressive. In battle, they are said to be the first to arrive and last to leave. Incendiary in temperament and short on patience, Monstrous Nightmares would incinerate first and think second.

The best way to engage a Nightmare is to clamp its mouth shut, leaving it unable to open its enormous jaws, much like a crocodile (however, the rest of the dragon is free to do whatever it wants). They are also fast in a straight line, but not so good with turns.

Despite their name, Monstrous Nightmares are known to have a softer side. They can easily doze off or be distracted by falling leaves, and can often be found chasing seagulls or anything else - to the point where they don't even notice that an object as big as a rider is falling off them. Being a hot-headed, feisty dragon, they will attack anyone in its way if spooked.

While other babies, which drool regularly, baby Nightmares are much different as they slobber packs of punch that their kerosene gel composition makes it akin to lighter fluid. When born, baby Monstrous Nightmares hatch fast and fiery. They are quick to be separated from the rest of the litter and assert their independence within minutes of their birth.

Their mating habits are similar to a lion's; rival Monstrous Nightmares who are fighting for a mate will want to destroy the predecessor's eggs, much like a new alpha male wanting to destroy the previous alpha's cubs. These dragons are also extremely territorial, protecting their young and helping other individuals of the same kind.

Monstrous Nightmares shed their scales periodically. This is a bit of a hazard for the environment and creatures around them, as the scales flame up and can start fires on the ground.

Monstrous Nightmares appear to have a hierarchical structure based on size and ability, with smaller Nightmares often showing deferential treatment to larger Nightmares, especially Titan Wing Dragons. Oftentimes they will leave fish to pay tribute to the higher Nightmares, and will show the utmost respect in their presence.

## Training

The best way to earn the trust of a Monstrous Nightmare is simply to show it the respect it deserves. Placing a gentle hand on its snout and showing you are not a threat to it is the best way to go. Pinning a Nightmare's horns to the ground can help calm them down. Violence like grabbing any of their body parts prove to be ineffective.

A Nightmare has incredible stubbornness, making them hard to control and very disobedient, as well as the fact that they are very easily distracted by butterflies and flowers.

## Trivia

* The Monstrous Nightmare is originally from the How to Train Your Dragon universe.
* Some Monstrous Nightmares are shown to have tines on their horns like deer. The number of tines could indicate the age of the dragon.
* Monstrous Nightmares have a tendency to spit fire at times, unintentionally, like coughing, sneezing or laughing although most species shoot fire, or their ranged weaponry when coughing, or sneezing.
* A Monstrous Nightmare's fire burst is due to its bones also being on fire.

## Gallery

A Monstrous Nightmare on fireA female Monstrous NightmareA Titan Wing Monstrous NightmareA grey, black, and white Monstrous Nightmare