Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Hiccup firmly shut the cage door with his foot, the clatter echoing around him. He kneels to gently run his hand along Toothless's smooth scales and murmurs, "Thanks, bud. Now, go find the others." With a warm pat on the dragon's side, he signals Toothless to take the lead and return with any remaining captured dragons.

Hiccup rushes to Astrid's aid, quickly reloading his flame-inferno sword as he stands guard on her left side. Simultaneously, Astrid confidently takes down a dragon hunter on the other side.

With a hint of sarcasm, Astrid quips, "I thought this was supposed to be a stealth mission."

Hiccup responds playfully to Astrid's gesture, "Yeah, they always start that way." Astrid, quick in recognition, suddenly yells, "Look out!"

Just in the nick of time, Stormfly swoops in, effortlessly scooping up the dragon hunter and carrying him away, saving Hiccup from a potential ambush."

"Thanks, Stormfly!" She shouted, her voice cutting through the mist as her dragon disappeared into the dense fog, dragging the enemy out of sight.

Valka, perched on a wooden ledge high above the battlefield, casting a glance at her dragon, Cloudjumper. With a soft chuckle, she said, "Oh, stop worrying, they'll get it...."

Not long after, Snotlout leaped off a dragon cage, bellowing a thunderous Viking battle cry, "RwaAarRrr!" With exaggerated flair, he hurls his weapon toward the boat's floor, aiming for... whatever. He didn't know why he did it; he just did.

Valka sighed at the sight of his foolish stunt. "Eventually," she murmured, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment in how the battle was unfolding with these muttonheads. Still, she consoled herself, "At least the job is getting done."

Hiccup raised his voice with confidence, "Move out! We got 'em all." He signaled his team to advance, ensuring every dragon was freed and safe.

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Later in the day, Hiccup and Astrid sat together on a secluded cliff on Berk. They talked about how their day had gone and discussed other random topics.

Toothless trotted over to Hiccup, holding his prosthetic leg in his mouth. He was panting, slobbering, and chewing on it like it was a dog toy. "You know this isn't a chew toy, right, bud?" Hiccup chuckled before adding, "Astrid, it's your turn to play fetch with the Night Fury."

Astrid looks at Hiccup with her mouth slightly open. "Ugh, really, Hiccup?"

Romping toward Astrid with a gleeful energy, Toothless comes to a stop next to her and Hiccup. With a mischievous flick of his tail, he drops the peg leg directly onto Astrid's lap, its saliva-coated surface leaving damp patches on her clothes.

Astrid's face twisted in disgust as she looked down at the leg. "Yuck!" she exclaimed, picking it up and flinging it behind her. Then she continued her conversation with Hiccup. "So, Hiccup, I was thinking—"

The leg promptly landed beside Stormfly, who was watching intently. Toothless played with the leg for a while, tossing it into the air and kicking it against the many small rocks scattered around. But suddenly, he stopped, raising his head and ears. He heard the sound of dragon roars coming from below in the fog.

As Hiccup and Astrid continue to talk and stare into the sunset, Hiccup turns around to check on Toothless, mainly to ask for his leg back.

"Hey, bud, can I have my leg back now?" Hiccup's facial expression changes from a warm smile to a concerned look as he sees Toothless staring down from the cliffside. "Bud?"

Astrid is the first to stand up and walk toward Toothless, with Hiccup following right behind her. She runs her hand along his spine plates until she reaches his head. "What's wrong, T?"

Toothless let out a low grumble before dropping Hiccup's leg near Astrid's. He then jumps off the cliff and glides down into the thick, dense, dark fog.

Hiccup sighed, not understanding what had just happened. He picked up his leg and reattached it, shooting Astrid a worried glance as he shouted, "Yea-yeah... don't bother to wait for us."

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Toothless moved through the dense fog, his stealthy nature allowing him to maneuver unseen. With a focused gaze, he navigates through the tall grass, pushing through with determination as he seeks the source of the dragon call.

He eventually finds himself in an open area of leaves and large boulders. The light of the moon shines down through the tall trees and fog, creating a magical scenery.

The determined Night Fury paused and scanned his surroundings. His gaze landed on a white, glittery figure moving gracefully through a patch of grass.

She had a sleek, smooth body covered in pure white scales, complemented by a pale blue underbelly. Her striking blue eyes were captivating, and she had four small nubs on her head along with a delicate nose. Her large, powerful wings were well-suited for flight, and her four strong legs provided stability. Her tail culminated in a smooth, heart-shaped flap, with fins running along the sides.

Toothless's jaw dropped, fully amazed by what he saw as he slowly crept up on the female Night Fury, trying not to startle it. As he approached the newly discovered dragon, he let out a quiet roar to signal that he was behind it. "Um... hello?"

The white dragon, who was wandering slowly, jumped in fear when startled. "Ahhhh," she went into defense mode and hissed.

Toothless flinched back. Trying to calm her down, he assured her that he was no threat. "Hey, hey, it's okay. I'm not here to hurt you. I heard a roar and..." Toothless paused as he took another minute to fully analyze her frame before continuing. "Wait- why do you look like me?"

The Night Fury scoffed as she looked back at him and answered Toothless's question, clearly irritated with his confusion. "We're the same species. Jee, have you never seen another Night Fury before?"

Toothless was immediately taken aback by the light fury's response, surprised by her irritation. "No, I've never seen another Night Fury before. Hell, I didn't even know there were more alive!" I always thought I was the last one."

Toothless stared at her, still trying to comprehend the situation. He had never seen another Night Fury before, especially not one that was white. He didn't even know they could be that color.

"But... but you're white." He said, stating the obvious.

The female rolled her eyes at Toothless's confusion. "Yes, we come in different colors. Some of us are white, some are black, some gray, and so on."

Toothless chuckled as he looked at the light fury. "Wow, I can't believe I've been flying around thinking I'm a one-of-a-kind, unique black night fury, when in reality, you're just a cheap knockoff in white." He grinned, trying to soften his words with a playful tone. "No offense, of course."

The female ignored the playful banter he had just presented. Her tone was more serious as she squinted her eyes at him, slowly walking closer.

She started to sniff around him, analyzing him carefully. "Mmm... all black with a pattern, big ears, green eyes." Her eyes travel down to his tail, seeing the red tailwing. "It's you. Toothless is it?"

Toothless tilted his head in confusion. "How do you know my name?" He quipped.

The female Night Fury looked at him, her diamond teal eyes filled with urgency. "Look, it's a long story. Just follow me."

Just as she was about to take flight, she paused, her nose catching another scent that wasn't Toothless.

Shortly after, Hiccup and Astrid emerge from behind a tree. Hiccup slowly walks out, mouth open, almost tripping on his footing. His eyes lit up and widened as he witnessed another Night Fury.

The aggressive Night Fury lowered her head to the ground, scanning left and right as she entered attack mode, ready to strike. She growled, her teeth grinding together.

She focused on both of them and powered up a plasma blast.

Toothless, being in the crossfire, tried to warn her to hold her fire. "Wait, no! Stop!"

Hiccup, still stuck in a state of wow, stood there and stared at the glowing aura of a plasma blast being readied to fire at him.

The plasma blast churned with raw, untamed energy, its core a mesmerizing storm of electric magenta and molten orange. It pulsed with a rhythm almost alive, each beat sending ripples of light cascading outward. Streaks of vibrant color lashed through the air like untethered lightning, illuminating Hiccup's face in hues both ethereal and fierce.

Astrid, who was six feet from him, made a smart move and rammed at him as she shouted, "Hiccup, MOVE!" causing both of them to fall to the ground.

Making sure not to strike Toothless, the female Night Fury leaped in the air and fired her amped-up plasma blast at the area where both Hiccup & Astrid stood. The blast struck a large tree, causing it to fall, along with some other small trees in the area.

Hiccup and Astrid braced for impact as they crawled and scrambled to the side to avoid the falling debris. The large tree crashed down to their left, while smaller trees, along with pebbles and rock fragments, landed closer to them.

The Night Fury, trying to confirm her kill, stands on her hind legs, scouting into the distance where she fired.

Hiccup and Astrid began to stir, raising their heads off the ground. "Astrid? Are you okay?" he said while moving a few small branches off her.

She responded, her voice a little shaky, "Yeah, I'm fine... but I think I twisted my wrist while landing."

The Night Fury, still standing on her hind legs, looks over at Toothless. She tilts her head in confusion, as if to say, "Why didn't you shoot or get scared?"

After hearing rustling sounds from where she had previously shot, she shifted her focus away from Toothless and back onto her target, realizing that she hadn't achieved the kill. Her eyes lock onto her target once more, and seeing that the shot was not executed, she prepares to fire another plasma blast.

Hiccup gasps in fear. "Not again! Astrid, get down!"

As the female was about to strike again, Toothless intervened by slamming his head into hers, causing her plasma blast to fire into a nearby cliff.

Swiftly turning her head to look at Toothless, her expression was a mix of confusion and anger. She shot him a glare and exclaimed, "HEY! What was that for?!" She growled.

Toothless looked at her with worry and care in his eyes. "Stop! That's my family you're trying to kill."

She jerked her head back in deep confusion. "Family?" she snarled before continuing, "You... you're with THEM? THE HUMANS!?"

Toothless tried to reassure her that humans aren't all bad. However, before he could say anything, she took flight. Just before unleashing her blast to become invisible, she roared to Toothless, "Meet me at the beach on the far side by dawn. I need your help!"

Toothless, upon hearing that information, roars back in agreement.

Chapter Text

As the previous day ends, a new one begins. Dawn gently unfurls its promise. The sky blushes with soft hues of peach and gold as a radiant orb ascends, casting its tender glow upon a world just beginning to stir awake.

Toothless, who barely got any sleep, was already up wandering around Hiccup's room. Excitedly still thinking about what the light fury said last night, Toothless glanced over at Hiccup and Astrid, who were still fast asleep in their bed. "Sleepy heads," he murmured.

He moves stealthily toward the bedside, each step intentional and quiet. Letting out a soft growl, he lightly nudges Hiccup to ensure he's still sound asleep, careful not to disturb their slumber.

Toothless, confident the coast is clear, carefully descends the stairs and nudges the front door open. He cautiously pokes his head out, scanning both directions to ensure the area is empty. Satisfied that no one is around, he dashes outside and races toward the far side of the island, eager to reunite with his lady friend.

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After what felt like endless hours of galloping, climbing over jagged rocks, and pushing through exhaustion, Toothless finally reached the far beach. The place was serene, untouched, and blissfully distant from the noisy village. Here, it was just the soothing rush of waves and the untouched beauty of nature—a perfect escape from human presence.

Walking down to the beach, he emitted a gentle, warm roar, signaling to his friend that he had arrived.

Nothing... He got absolutely nothing. Did she leave him? Did she really tell him to meet her here just to fly away? No, she wouldn't do that. She needed his help.

Toothless looked around in search of her. He checked near the water and behind large rocks. That was until he looked up and saw her hanging upside down on a tree branch, asleep.

Toothless whispered, trying not to startle her in her sleep. "Psst... White sparkly dragon, I've arrived." However, he received no response.

After getting no answer, he decides that he will have to use the same technique he employs to wake up Hiccup, and that is to annoy the heck out of him. He glances up at her once more before turning to the spot he needs to climb to reach her.

After carefully climbing the tree, he walked slowly along the branch with precision. Toothless reached the spot where she was and immediately sensed a sudden shift in weight.

He firmly placed his paws on the branch, beginning to bounce up and down vigorously.

She started to stir. The sudden movement shattered the Night Fury's peaceful sleep. She unfurled her wings in a flurry, her legs flailing in every direction as she tried to find something to grip for stability. Disoriented, she peered upward—and there was Toothless, grinning mischievously as he bounced happily on a branch.

In response, she exclaimed, "Hey! Stop it. Cut it out!"

Toothless watched as she slowly stirred awake, but couldn't resist playfully bouncing on the branch. A mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes as he kept at it, his movements rhythmic and deliberate. Before long, the inevitable happened—the branch cracked under their combined weight. With a sharp snap, it gave way, and both dragons tumbled ungracefully, landing face-first in the soft, grainy embrace of the sand.

Toothless was the first to raise his head, sand cascading off his dark scales. He turned to his friend with a playful grin. "Well," he teased, his voice brimming with humor, "you were the one snoozing when you said to meet by dawn. Thought you should know—it's just a little past that now."

She rolled her eyes and let out a quiet, sheepish sigh. "Oh shut it. I— I was up." Her tone laced with embarrassment and a hint of defiance, as if she was trying to convince herself more than him.

"So... Do you have a name? Or do I keep calling you white sparkly dragon?" he teased.

Feeling a flush of embarrassment for having never introduced herself properly, she offers a quiet reply, "Luna. You can call me Luna."

Toothless can't help but tease the light fury about her name. With a glint in his eye, he remarks, "Hehe, it sounds like the word tuna." He pauses. "Now that I think of it... I could go for some tuna, I haven't eaten breakfast yet," He frowned.

In a surprising burst of dragon authenticity, she looks at Toothless and acknowledges his hunger. Without further ado, she regurgitates some fish she'd eaten not long ago.

Toothless happily pats his feet on the ground and quickly slurps it up, thanking her. "Thank you," he paused. "So... what exactly am I here for? What do you need help with?"

In a quiet yet charged moment, the playful banter shifts as Luna's eyes reveal a deeper pain. With a hint of urgency in her voice, she confides to Toothless, "My family and other dragons are in danger."

"Elaborate," Toothless said.

In my homeland, the hidden world, we have a ruler named the Bewilder Beast. He governs the hidden world and all the dragons within it.

Toothless paused. "The Bewilder Beast? Does he have-"

"Yes. He has one tusk. You two seem to have some chemistry. Which brings me to explain the real reason why I'm here. Listen very carefully."

Luna: "He's been angry since the last time you two met. He keeps talking about how he lost the battle, even though he believes he shouldn't have. Point is, YOU PISSED HIM OFF. As a result, he has built an army of dragons and has enslaved those who refuse to do his bidding."

Luna's voice was urgent, her gaze unwavering as she continued, "He's been enslaving dragons to construct his empire deep within the Hidden World. And he's done even worse things. That's why I was searching for you—because everyone else is terrified. But you... You've defeated him once before. You can do it again, can't you?" She said, her voice mixed with hope.

Toothless spoke hesitantly, unsure of how to respond. He didn't want to discourage her hopes of helping to defeat the Bewilder Beast, but he felt nervous and doubtful. He remembered that the only reason he had managed to defeat the beast last year was because he had the support of the dragons from Berk. Now, he couldn't help but wonder how he would face the creature again on his own. It seemed suicidal to attempt this alone.

He complied. "Yes, I'll help you." However, his eyes flickered with uncertainty as he tilted his head slightly. "But... how am I supposed to do this alone? He's built an army. I'm just one dragon."

Luna stepped closer, her gaze firm and unwavering. "You won't be alone," she insisted. "You have to trust me. I'll explain everything on the way—but right now, we need to move. Time is running out." She spread her wings, ready to take off, casting him one last determined look. "Please, Toothless."

Toothless hesitated, his wings shifting as he looked in the direction of the village. "Wait... I need to go get Hiccup."

Luna tensed, her wings flaring slightly. "The human!? Why?"

Toothless gestured toward his tail. "I can't fly without him. It's complicated, but I need Hiccup."

Luna shook her head firmly. "No! He can't come. If he does, he'll get himself killed—either by me or the other dragons in the Hidden World. Look, I can carry you. I'll take breaks if needed."

He narrowed his eyes in thought, then suddenly perked up. "Wait. I have an idea. Just stay here, l'll be back."

Without waiting for a response, he turned and sprinted into the forest, racing back toward the village.

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Toothless finally arrived back home, nudging the door open slightly before walking in. He made his way upstairs, where Hiccup and Astrid continued to be sound asleep.

He approaches the side where Hiccup is sleeping and gently taps him. "Hiccup, wake up! I need your help."

Hiccup stirs and manages to mumble something incoherent. "No Toothless... five more minutes."

In the current situation Toothless is in, he needs Hiccup to stop playing around and wake up. Being a genius dragon, Toothless knows what can wake him up.

He starts to regurgitate a large amount of saliva, producing a gurgling sound. Once it has all collected, he spits it out onto the bed. The saliva splatters across Hiccup's face, causing him to jolt awake from the sudden sensation. "TOOTHLESS! Come on... What was that for?" Hiccup yelled, his demeanor becoming irritated.

As Toothless watched Hiccup wipe the saliva from his face, he backed away from the bed and looked at Hiccup, then at his tail, trying to give Hiccup a sign.

Hiccup sighed, "What is it, bud? You know I don't have to be up for another three hours. My duties as chief are pretty light today." He mumbled something under his breath. "Jeez, can't a Viking get a day off from work?"

Toothless was upset by his comment, but he understood that Hiccup had no idea what was going on. Toothless looked back at his tail. "My tail! I need you to fix my tail, please!"

Hiccup stared at Toothless with utter confusion, unsure of what the dragon wanted. He really didn't care much at that moment because all he wanted was to go back to sleep. "Ack— you know what?" he said with a yawn before finishing his sentence. "I-I'm going back to bed, bud. Wake me up when the twins cause some chaos or when Snotlout finally gets a girlfriend."

Toothless is fed up and pouting. After being assigned a very important job by his new friend, he glances at his tail one more time and then begins to swing it violently around the room, crashing into various objects and furniture.

A loud crash echoes through the house, followed by the unmistakable sound of furniture scraping against the floor. Toothless is causing a commotion, knocking over objects in a frenzied attempt to wake Hiccup. Startled, Astrid bolts upright, pushing aside the tangled covers.

Hiccup exclaimed, "What the heck?"

With a groggy but sharp edge to her voice, she calls out. "What's all the noise!?

Toothless continued to bash his tail against the floor and wall. Eventually, after doing this for quite some time, he shattered the gears and pieces of his tail. "Get your tails up, this is urgent."

Astrid, disturbed from her slumber, rubbed her hands through her messy hair and said, "Babe, what's his deal? I just want to sleep."

Hiccup looked at Toothless, who was rummaging through his tail bin. "I don't know, Astrid," he said. He paused to kiss her on the back of her head. "But you can go back to sleep. I'll try to figure out what he wants." He reassured her.

Astrid groaned, free-falling her body back onto the pillow with an exaggerated sigh. The noise of shattered gears, frantic dragon stomping, and Hiccup scrambling to assess the wreckage had thoroughly shattered her chances of sleep.

"Please get your dragon under control. He wakes me up again like that, and I swear to Thor his name will be Tailless."

Her voice dripped with playful frustration, but there was a glint of mischief behind her words. Toothless huffed, flicking his tail defiantly—what was left of it, anyway.

Hiccup ran a hand through his messy hair, sighing as he took in the wreckage. "Yeah, yeah. I'll handle it, just—give me a second."

With a groggy, unimpressed tone, she mumbled from her pillow, "He's probably just hungry. Give him my leftover salmon from last night."

"No, no, this isn't how he acts when he's hungry. Something's wrong." He said, watching as Toothless brought him a tail he thought he would never see again.

Toothless trotted over to Hiccup and dropped the tail on his lap.

Hiccup looked at him, confused, wondering why he had brought him the tail he had built for him years ago on Snoggletog. "This old thing? Toothless, you don't need this anymore. In fact, why did I even keep it?"

Astrid asked, "What is it?"

"It's the tail that I designed for him so he can fly on his own."

Astrid tossed the pillow off her face, blinking up at Hiccup in groggy confusion. "The one you built for him when we were just kids?"

"Yeah."

Toothless huffed impatiently, flaring his wings. "Less reminiscing, more fixing!" He shouted, positioning his tail on the bed.

Hiccup carefully brushed away the shattered pieces of Toothless's old tail, his hands moving with practiced precision. The weight of the moment settled over him as he examined the worn mechanics of the replacement.

He tightened the last strap, making sure the balance was right. With a firm pat, he nodded."Okay, bud. All set!"

Toothless flexed the tail, testing its movement. His wings twitched with anticipation, eyes gleaming with excitement. He could fly alone, like he used to. But this time, it wasn't for independence. It was for something far greater.

Wasting no time, he bolted out of the house. His paws barely touched the ground as he raced through the village.

He was finally free—tail secured, mission underway, and his heart pounding with adrenaline.

The wind rushed against his scales as he launched himself into the air. With powerful beats of his wings, he soared toward the beach, the place where his secret meeting awaited.

"Finally!" Astrid sighed in relief, knowing she could finally get some much-needed sleep now that Toothless had bolted out the door. She glanced at Hiccup, mumbling drowsily.

"Oh, quit whining. You can go back to sleep now," He quipped, shaking his head as he leaned in, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.

Astrid let the words fade as she melted into the kiss—until an unwelcome taste registered on her tongue. Her face twisted in disgust, pulling away abruptly. "Ugh, I can taste the dragon. Don't kiss me again until you clean your face."

Hiccup smirked mischievously, tilting his head slightly. "What if I don't?"

Before she could answer, he leaned back in for another kiss, pushing his luck.

Astrid recoiled, her tone shifting from playful frustration to firm warning. "I'm serious, Hiccup."

With that, she rolled onto her side to face the opposite direction.

Hiccup sighed dramatically, surrendering with exaggerated defeat as he lay back, staring at the ceiling. A teasing mumble escaped his lips. "Big baby."

Astrid, already irritated from Toothless shattering her sleep, did not take that comment lightly. Without missing a beat, she yanked the covers right off him, holding them hostage against her chest.

Hiccup blinked at the sudden rush of cold air. "Oh, come on—really?"

The blonde smirked, keeping her back turned, but the victory was hers. Satisfied now that Toothless had bolted off to handle whatever urgent business had him so worked up, she closed her eyes, finally prepared to get some sleep, until Hiccup broke the silence.

"You know, as much as I'd love to spend the whole morning lying here, we've got chief work to do. Might as well get up now since we're both already awake."

Astrid groaned, rolling over to face him. "Seriously? We just got rid of one problem, and now you're giving me another?"

Hiccup chuckled as he shifted onto his elbow, feeling the warmth of the bed slip away. His body was still cold, shirtless against the soft furs, with pajama pants loose around his hips. "Come on, it's not that bad. We just have a few things to discuss before the council meeting. The traders from the southern islands sent word this morning—they want to renegotiate their supply deal."

Astrid sighed dramatically, throwing an arm over her eyes. "Ugh, I knew this was coming. They always try to weasel their way into a better deal right before shipment season."

Hiccup nodded, rubbing his chin. "Exactly. And then there's the matter of reinforcing the docks before the next storm rolls in. Eret mentioned that some of the support beams are starting to wear down."

Astrid peeked at him, unimpressed. "So... rebuilding the docks and dealing with stubborn traders? Sounds like you're handling that on your own, Chief."

Hiccup grinned.

"Oh, but you have the best way of talking sense into people. Think about it—would you rather spend the day fixing docks or shutting down greedy merchants?"

Astrid sighed, finally sitting up. "Fine. But if one of them tries to sweet-talk their way into an unfair deal, I will start throwing punches."

"That's exactly why I want you there," Hiccup smirked, standing up and stretching. His muscles ached—something he was used to by now—but the promise of another demanding day made the stiffness feel like nothing more than a distant hum in his body.

"Toss me my shirt and pants," Astrid lazily requests, voice still edged with sleep.

He tossed Astrid's clothes to her and watched as she sat up, the morning chill causing goosebumps to form on her skin. She lingered for just a moment longer in the warmth of their bed, pulling the soft fabric of her shirt over her top while letting out a quiet sigh.

Hiccup moved quickly as he fastened his leather armor, pulled on his tunic, and adjusted the straps with practiced ease. It had become second nature—every buckle and every layer fitted just right. With each piece he put on, the weight of his responsibilities settled over him, a familiar heaviness pressing against his ribs like a quiet reminder.

Then, without hesitation, he rushes out, already thinking ahead to the tasks waiting for him.

Astrid's voice cuts through the air, laced with affection. "Don't forget to wash your face!"

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Toothless landed on the beach, hoping Luna wouldn't be upset about the delay. "Hey, Luna! I'm back!"

Luna, who was rubbing her ear on a nearby rock, heard his comment and looked at him. "About time. Yeah, I see you ditched the Fishbone. Come on, let's get a move on."

Toothless was offended by her comment. He snorted and muttered under his breath, "He's not a fishbone; a twig is more like it."

Both Luna and Toothless took flight into the sky. Their wings soaring through the air.

"Alright, we have a lot of flying to do," Luna Said.

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Chapter Text

It was nearly noon, and back on Berk, the gang and some of the villagers were gathered in the great hall, engaged in various activities. Astrid was seated, enjoying a warm bowl of soup, while the twins chatted excitedly about random topics. Snotlout was entertaining everyone with a story from the old days, and Fishlegs was busy working on his dragon cards. Lastly, Hiccup stood just outside the great hall, gazing at the orange horizon and the blue sea.

He stood there, pondering his companion's absence. Concern etched on his face, he remarked, "That's strange... Toothless usually returns before the sun even hits the ocean. Especially on trout night, he would never be late for his favorite meal."

After giving it some thought, he finally decides to walk back inside the great hall. As he carefully navigates around small dragons running and playing, he spots his mom, who is arm wrestling with Snotlout's dad, Spikelout. He makes his way over to her, wanting to talk.

Snotlout finishes recounting his wildly exaggerated tale to the crowd gathered in Berk. With a smug grin, he declares, "And there you have it, folks! That's how I single-handedly saved Astrid from an army of hunters!" The audience reacts with a mix of amusement and skepticism, but Snotlout is too busy basking in his self-proclaimed glory to notice.

Snotlout spots Astrid sitting alone and munching on her meal. Seeing an opportunity to charm her, he swaggers over, seating himself beside her with his usual confidence. "Hey, Astrid, enjoying your meal all alone?" he grins, his tone playful.

Astrid looks up, her expression teetering between mild interest and exasperation. "Yeah, I like eating alone," she responds flatly, barely sparing him a glance.

Snotlout responds with a sly grin, "You sure you're not just embarrassed that Hiccup isn't eating with you? What a man he is." He pauses for effect before continuing, "See, Astrid, me personally... I would always be delighted to eat with you."

Astrid, however, is unimpressed. She barely looks up, shooting him a mildly annoyed look, complete with a "ugh" facial expression. Without missing a beat, she mutters, "If my hand wasn't messed up, I would launch you to Thor himself." A dramatic sigh follows as she rolls her eyes.

She stabs at the remaining food on her plate, grumbling, "God, I wish Heather were here right now. All the times she had my back, right now I could use her the most!"

Astrid, her tone filled with sarcasm, remarks to Snotlout, "Have you ever thought about why you're still single, Snotlout? It's because you scare every girl that comes near you away. You're downright creepy and unsettling."

"Not to mention hitting on the chief's mom! Oh, what would Stoic think?" Astrid shakes her head in disbelief at his behavior.

Snotlout confidently replied, "Pfft, she knows she wants me; she's just playing hard to get." He scoffed, continuing to pester Astrid while she just wanted to eat her food in peace.

Astrid finally reaches her breaking point and snaps, yelling, "Seriously, can you move? I'm trying to eat."

Snotlout, finally realizing that Astrid is not in the mood for his antics, decides to cut his losses and move on. He gives her a sly grin before standing up from the table. "Oh, I'll leave you alone, Astrid. For now." He saunters away, still convinced that he'll win her over eventually.

It's never happening.

Astrid now sits there thinking she has finally caught a break. Soon enough, the twins come pushing in, fighting over something. And while doing so, they bump into Astrid, knocking her food onto the floor.

Frustrated and hungry, she scowls at the Twins. "Oh, come on!" she huffs, her annoyance evident in her voice.

The Twins, still caught up in their argument, don't immediately realize they've just knocked Astrid's food onto the floor. Tuffnut, the first to notice, glances at Astrid with a sheepish grin.

"Oops, my bad, Astrid," he shrugs, before quickly returning to his squabble with his twin sister.

Ruffnut, oblivious to what just happened, gives Astrid a dismissive wave.

Still irritated, the blonde turned her attention to Chicken, who had just appeared. Chicken, having followed the Twins, stopped and looked at Astrid curiously. She squawked at her as if offering an apology on behalf of the Twins.

Unable to stay mad at the sight of the innocent chicken, sighs and softens her expression. "At least someone has manners," she murmurs, shaking her head in disbelief.

We cut back to Hiccup and his Mom.

"Hold on son, this is the last round of me kicking his butt in arm wrestling. You've got a strong mom because hah... is he weak."

Soon enough, Valka takes down Spikelout with ease. She watched as Spikelout sucked his teeth and lingered away, his cockiness blown apart and arm now sore.

Val took a sip of her drink, then set it down, all of her attention now fixated on her son. "Yes, Hiccup?"

"Mom, I'm worried about Toothless."

"Why is that, son?"

"Well... after he met his new friend last night, you know... the one that almost killed me, he hasn't been back at all today. You'd at least think He'd check in."

"I see."

"I don't want to sound like a Yak or anything, but it's getting late. His fish is cooked, and his tail could have broken. That crazy dragon might have done something to him. There's a lot to worry about!"

"Listen, son, he's probably out having the time of his life. I mean, he just made a groundbreaking discovery that he's not the only Night Fury alive."

"Yeah, maybe you're right, Mom. I remember the days when Astrid and I first got together."

All I say is, just let him breathe for a minute. I know you two are inseparable. But trust me, he'll be back before you know it.

"Thanks Mom."

─────────────────────────────

Luna and Toothless fly through the sky as the sun sets over the ocean. The moon and stars rise, casting a glow over the water and land.

Feeling restless mid-flight, Toothless let out a sigh before breaking the silence. "How much longer do we have to keep this up?"

Luna glanced at him, her expression calm and unwavering. "Another two hours, roughly," she replied, her tone as steady as the wind beneath their wings.

Toothless let out a weary sigh, his wings aching from the long flight. "Can we stop for a bit? I'm starting to feel drained."

Luna glanced at him, considering his fatigue. "Well, you'll need your strength if you're going to face the Bewilderbeast, huh? Sure, let's call it a night."

Toothless let out a heavy sigh, stretching his wings as fatigue set in."Phew! My wings feel like they're about to fall off."

Luna glanced at him with a hint of excitement in her eyes. "Before we settle in, there's something I want to show you first."

Toothless tilted his head, curiosity piqued. "Mmm? What's that?"

She let out a frustrated sigh, stumbling over her words. "Remember yesterday when I flew away into my plasma blast and went invisible?"

"OH YEAH! I meant to ask you about that." As he spoke, he executed a smooth barrel roll over Luna, shifting into an upside-down position above her. "How'd you pull that off?"

"I don't know exactly how it works... but when I fire my plasma blast and fly through it, my entire body just disappears."

"Wow! ...Can I do that too?"

Before Luna could even get another word out, Toothless shot a plasma blast in front of him. He was quickly disappointed when he looked at his body, seeing that he hadn't gone invisible.

"I... was going to say, only the females can turn invisible from their plasma blast. The Males have a uh—very, distinct way of doing it."

Luna gathers energy for a plasma blast, launching herself through it in a dazzling display. As she emerges, her form vanishes into complete invisibility. Moments later, she reappears, her wings steady against the wind. She turns to Toothless with a confident smirk.

"Alright, your turn."

Toothless eagerly follows Luna's lead, lifting his head and gathering energy. With a sharp inhale, he fires a plasma blast ahead, watching as it pulses through the sky. He dives toward it with determination, hoping to unlock the same ability Luna had just demonstrated.

The moment he emerges, he quickly glances down at his body, only to find himself still visible. A flicker of disappointment crosses his face.

She watches with a knowing smile. "Almost," she reassures him. "Open the flaps on your back, and breathe."

"Try again, but this time, channel something deeper. Think of something that makes you angry or sad."

Toothless hears Luna's words echo in his mind, and suddenly, memories rush forth like a tidal wave. The battle against the Red Death, the deafening roar, the fire consuming the sky, and the pain of sacrifice as he tore away Hiccup's leg to save his life. Drago's Bewilderbeast, the terror in Valka's eyes, the frozen battlefield, the helplessness as the great creature fell. And Stoic, his unwavering strength, his unbreakable love, and the moment it all ended in a flash of fire and confusion. The weight of that loss, the guilt that clung to him, never truly fading. He knows, deep down, it wasn't his fault. But the blame is always there, gnawing at his heart.

The sky darkens as his emotions spiral. Thunder crackles overhead, answering the storm brewing within him. The static hums in the air, drawn to the fury rising in his veins. Luna glides back slightly, watching with anticipation.

"That's right..." she whispers. "Feel it. Let it surge through you. Remember who you are. The unholy offspring of lightning of death itself!"

Noticing the sky getting darker, almost looking pitch black, she can tell he's doing it right. Thunder begins to creep in the dark, black clouds. She carefully glides away from him, ensuring she doesn't get hurt when he explodes.

EXPLODE?

─────────────────────────────

The scene shifts to Hiccup and Astrid.

Hiccup rests his head in Astrid's lap, his eyes half-lidded as she carefully re-twists his braids. The steady rhythm of her fingers is comforting, but his mind drifts elsewhere.

"Do you think Toothless is okay?" he murmurs, a hint of worry edging his tone.

Astrid pauses mid-twist, glancing down at him. "I'm sure he's fine, Hiccup," she reassures him. "How about this... if he's not back by nightfall tomorrow, we'll go look for him. Deal?"

Hiccup exhales, nodding lightly. "Yeah... yeah, that sounds good."

Hiccup chuckles softly, tilting his head slightly as Astrid continues twisting his braids. "What do you think they're doing right now?" he muses, staring up at her.

Astrid pauses for a moment, considering the possibilities. "Oh, let's see..." she begins, the corner of her mouth quirking up. "They could be napping somewhere, bellies stuffed with fish. Or maybe they're out challenging each other to see who can fly the fastest." She twists another strand, giving him a playful glance.

"Or," she adds with a smirk, "knowing Toothless, he's probably learning some ridiculously dangerous new trick that'll give you a heart attack when he shows you." She chuckles, enjoying the mental image of Hiccup reacting in pure horror.

"Or," she leans in, lowering her voice conspiratorially, "maybe they're plotting world domination."

Hiccup snorts. "Oh, great. First, dragons take our home, now they take the planet?"

Astrid grins. "Exactly. And you, Chief Hiccup, will have to negotiate a peace treaty before they overthrow everything." She taps his forehead lightly. "So, what's your guess?"

Hiccup sighs, shaking his head. "Knowing Toothless? He's either doing something absurdly reckless, or he's just enjoying the night sky... probably completely unaware of how worried I am."

Astrid smirks as she secures the last braid. "And... just tossing this out there, they could also be, you know... occupied. Doing their part to ensure the survival of their species."

Hiccup stares at her, eyes narrowing. "Excuse me—what?"

Astrid shrugs, her expression entirely too innocent. "I mean, it's not impossible, right? If we were the last two Vikings alive, you wouldn't consider it?"

Hiccup groans and buries his face in his hands. "Oh gods, Astrid. Why would you put that image in my head?"

Astrid chuckles, patting his head as if in consolation. "Hey, you asked."

"Immediate regret," Hiccup mutters, voice muffled.

Astrid laughs and nudges his shoulder. "Relax. Whatever they're up to, I'm sure Toothless is fine."

Hiccup exhales heavily, his gaze drifting toward the ceiling. "I really hope so."

─────────────────────────────

Lightning crackles along Toothless's spine, starting as a faint shimmer at his tail before surging upward, coiling around him like a living force. He feels it, each pulse of energy flooding his limbs, setting his nerves alight. His breathing deepens as the storm builds inside him. Then the sky reacts

A chilling screech tears from his throat as bolts of lightning descend from every direction. His form glows, shifting into a swirling blend of deep blues and electrified light. The air vibrates with power, a hum so sharp it makes the world hold its breath. And then—release. The energy explodes outward in a stunning display, static and shimmering particles bursting in a perfect sphere around him. The sheer force ripples through the air, distorting the space he once stood in.

Luna, mid-flight, uncloaks, her eyes locked on the spot where Toothless was, only to find emptiness. Her breath catches. "He did it! Woooo!"Her cheer is short-lived. She glances around, scanning the empty sky. The excitement fades just slightly, replaced by intrigue. "...Alright, you can come out now," she calls. Silence. Her chest tightens. "Toothless?" she tries again, louder. Her wings angle, preparing for a search. Still nothing. Then, finally, a shift in the air, a flicker of movement. Toothless reappears, his chest rising and falling as he processes what just happened.

A wild grin spreads across his face, exhilaration shining in his eyes. "WOW! That... that was amazi—" His sentence cuts off as his body, worn from the surge of energy, gives in. His wings falter, his limbs suddenly heavy.

Luna smirks knowingly. "Heh, knew that would happen."

She wastes no time, diving toward him. Just as his form starts to descend, she swoops under him, catching him with a grunt. "Woooow, you're heavy," she mutters, struggling for a moment before setting her sights on a nearby island.

With effort, she carries him over and gently drops him onto the sandy beach. She exhales, glancing down at him. "Stay here. I'm gonna get us dinner. You need energy for tomorrow."

Toothless, barely able to lift his head, lets out a weak groan, a tired but satisfied sound. He understands. Luna chuckles, shaking her head as she takes off. "You did it, alright. Now let's make sure you don't pass out again."

The night settles, the ocean waves humming quietly, as Toothless rests after wielding a power he never knew he had.

                                             ─────────────────────────────

Luna crept through the dense forest, her movements silent, calculated. Hunger gnawed at her after a long day, and her eyes scanned the terrain for prey. She pushed through the undergrowth, weaving between towering trees and tangled bushes. Her craving was set—boar or wolf would suffice. But as she stumbled deeper into the foliage, she caught sight of a small flock of sheep. Seven, by her count.

"This will do," she muttered, sinking low to the ground, muscles coiling in preparation. The flock grazed peacefully, oblivious to the predator lurking nearby. But one lifted its head, ears twitching at the faint rustle in the brush. Its gaze met Luna's glowing blue eyes.

"Hey, guys? I think something is out there," the sheep spoke softly. But the others paid no mind, continuing to chew lazily on the lush grass. A deep growl rumbled through the silence.

"RUN!!" the sheep shrieked.

Panic erupted. The sheep scattered in every direction, hooves kicking up dirt and leaves. Luna fired a plasma blast at a nearby tree, the explosion sending splinters flying and blocking a path. Some managed to flee, but three remained within reach, momentarily frozen by fear.

Then, instinct kicked in. One sheep bolted into the trees, weaving between trunks and leaping over roots with surprising agility. The second made a wild dash for the dark forest.

Luna's pupils narrowed. She sprang forward with a burst of speed, claws digging into the earth. The first sheep was fast—faster than she had expected. It darted through the foliage, squeezing into narrow gaps, forcing Luna to adjust her approach. Snarling, she snapped at its heels, missing by inches.

The sheep dove through a thicket, thorns ripping at its wool. Luna blasted straight through, not bothering to slow. She cut it off at the next clearing, lunging forward, jaws closing around its neck. A sharp cry tore through the night before falling silent.

Luna barely had time to catch her breath before she had to chase down the last sheep before it slipped away for good. She sprang forward, firing a plasma blast into the trees and vanishing into its shimmering light, her body cloaking in perfect invisibility.

The sheep's perspective shifts.

Panting heavily, it stumbled to a stop, chest heaving as it sucked in ragged breaths. "Hah! I made it out alive!" it wheezed, barely able to catch its breath. "Guess I was too fast for her." It thought, relief washing over it.

It backed up into a tree, unknowingly trapping itself.

Then, a sound.

Snap.

A sharp crack split the air, a snapping branch from the shadows beyond. The sheep stiffened, ears twitching in terror. It wasn't alone.

Luna emerged from the darkness, her form slowly materializing as her invisibility faded. Her movements were deliberate, calculated. Cold. Death lingered behind him.

She let out a low, rumbling growl, just enough to toy with it, to let it feel the horror creeping up its spine.

The sheep swallowed hard. Trembling, it turned its head slightly, barely able to face what loomed behind it.

It never got the chance.

Luna lunged, her mouth wide, teeth bared, striking with merciless precision.

It was over before the creature even knew what hit it.

With her hunt complete, she seized her bodies, dragging them through the terrain as she made her way back to the beach.

                                     ─────────────────────────────

Luna strode onto the beach, her white scales smeared with crimson goop, the scent of fresh blood thick in the air. She dragged her kill across the sand, muscles aching from the hunt, before dropping it beside Toothless with an exhausted sigh. "Dinner's ready," she muttered, nudging his head with her foot.

Toothless stirred sluggishly, his eyes blinking open. As his gaze landed on the two lifeless bodies before him, he jolted awake, his wings flaring slightly in alarm. "Okay... dead sheep. Just... right here. In my face."

She gave him a puzzled look.

Still groggy, Toothless recoiled slightly. "When you said dinner, I thought you meant fish."

Luna narrowed her eyes. "What's wrong with sheep?"

He hesitated, shifting uncomfortably. "I haven't eaten sheep or any wild animal in a long time. Especially raw. I guess you could say I'm on a fish diet."

"It's not about preference. The dragons and Berkians came to an agreement a long time ago, Vikings get the boar, the sheep, the yak. We stick to fish. And sometimes... chickens." He let out a breath. "It keeps the peace. If dragons hunted their livestock, Berk would struggle to feed itself. So we let them have it."

Luna frowned, glancing down at the fresh kill. "That's ridiculous. You're telling me you won't eat real food because of humans? "

"Fish is real food," he said, tightening his jaw. "Also, it's more complicated than that. We share Berk. That means making sure everyone, Vikings and dragons, have enough to eat."

Luna's expression darkened, frustration flickering in her eyes. "Eat it," she commanded, her voice sharp with impatience. Her piercing gaze locked onto Toothless, unyielding. "Look at yourself. Look at what those humans have done to you. They've dulled your instincts, made you forget what it means to be a dragon—to hunt, to feast, to survive."

She studied him for a long moment before narrowing her eyes. "When's the last time you've even hunted for your own food?"

Toothless hesitated. His wings twitched slightly, his jaw tightening. "I... don't know. All my food is brought to me."

Luna scoffed, curling her lip in disgust. "Pathetic." She turned away briefly, dragging a claw through the sand. "You, the supposed Alpha. The Unholy Offspring of Lightning and Death itself—waiting for scraps like some domesticated pet."

Toothless exhaled sharply, his tail flicking. He knew she was trying to get under his skin. And annoyingly enough, it was working.

She pushed the carcass closer. "You want your strength back? You want to remember what you are? Then eat."

Toothless huffed, flicking his tail in mild frustration. "Okay, okay, fine," he muttered, giving in. "I'll eat it." He lowered his head, taking a bite of the fresh kill, the crunch of bone and flesh filling the quiet night.

Luna watched him with sharp eyes, satisfied.

After a few moments, Toothless swallowed and glanced up at her. "You really don't like humans, do you?" he asked, licking the blood from his teeth.

Luna's expression darkened. She stared out at the ocean, her gaze distant, unreadable. "They killed my father," she said simply.

Silence... Toothless stiffened.

Her voice was cold, detached. "Humans can't be trusted. They take, they destroy, they lie. And when they fear something, they kill it." She flicked her tail, her claws digging into the sand. "I learned that the hard way."

Toothless's wings shifted slightly. "Not all humans are like that," he said carefully. "Hiccup, he's different."

Luna scoffed. "Maybe. But one good human doesn't erase the damage the rest have done."

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken thoughts. Toothless let out a sigh, lowering his head. "I'm sorry," he murmured.

Luna didn't respond. She simply stared at the waves, lost in memories too painful to voice. Her gaze remained fixed on the waves, her voice steady but distant. "It happened right in front of me," she murmured. "We were out—just flying, just existing. And then they came."

Toothless listened in silence, watching the way her claws dug into the sand.

"They were hunting Night Furies," she continued, her tone growing colder. "Tracking us, waiting for the right moment. And when they found us, they didn't hesitate." Her breath hitched slightly, but she pressed on. "My father fought back. He didn't run. He stood his ground." She swallowed hard. "And they killed him for it. Killed him with their fancy ropes and wizardry, you call weapons. They shot him with a dart, and he fell to the floor, unconscious. Then... that's when-"

"My mother and I... we were too scared to fight. We ran. We ran as far as we could, as fast as we could. We didn't stop. We didn't look back." Her tail flicked sharply. "And that's how I learned the truth about humans. They don't hesitate. They don't care. If they fear something, they destroy it."

Toothless exhaled slowly, his wings shifting. "I'm sorry," he said softly. Luna scoffed, shaking her head. "Sorry doesn't change what happened."

Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken grief. She pushed the lingering sorrow deep down, refusing to dwell on it. She shifted in place, wiping her mouth lazily with her forearm as she eyed Toothless.

"Enough of that," she muttered, forcing a smirk. "Tell me more about them. Your so-called friendly humans."

"Where should I start?" He glanced up.

"I don't care." She said, sinking her teeth into her meal again.

Toothless sighed, shaking his head. "I'll start with my best friend, Hiccup. Where do I begin? He's the best thing that ever happened to me. It all started the night he shot me down."

Luna scoffed, almost choking on her food. "He shot you down? Pfft, hahahaha!" She threw her head back with laughter. "Him? Stop the bullshit, you're the fastest creature alive. There's no way that scrawny human caught you."

Toothless grinned, amused at her disbelief. "No lie. That's how my tail ended up like this."

"Interesting."

He continued, his voice softening. "Ever since that day, we bonded. He showed me that humans aren't all bad. That they can be... cooperative. We fly together. We work together. Without him, I wouldn't be sitting here right now." His gaze darkened slightly. "We've fought so many battles together, and won every time. I protect him with my life. And he does the same."

Luna stayed silent for a moment, then casually shifted the topic. "And what about that other twig he's always glued to?"

Toothless let out a chuckle. "Astrid? Oh, Astrid. I love Astrid. She's fiery, unpredictable, hilarious." His voice dropped into a mock whisper. "Her cooking, though? Yikes."

Luna snorted, licking the blood from her teeth. "Ha! And here I am, serving up a perfect meal, properly prepared... and it's already gone." Toothless rolled his eyes with a tired laugh. "Yeah, yeah, very funny. The sheep was surprisingly good. Thanks."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Now, tell me more."

Toothless leaned back. "Hiccup and Astrid love each other. A lot. They have something special... and I'm glad I get to be part of it." He exhaled deeply, his voice turning more playful. "Oh, and don't even get me started on his ridiculous friends, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Chicken, and the twins. Where do I even begin? Tuffnut—"

His sentence faded as he glanced over. Luna had already dozed off. A soft chuckle escaped Toothless. He stood slowly, tiptoeing toward her, attempting to scoot closer. As he did, a low warning growl rumbled from her throat—a clear sign to back up.

He froze in his tracks.

Then, after a pause, Luna lifted her wing slightly, signaling permission. A small smile tugged at his lips. He settled in beside her, allowing the quiet rhythm of the waves to lull them both into deep slumber.

The moon hung high above the ocean, casting its soft silver glow across the quiet beach. Gentle waves lapped at the shore, their rhythm steady. The light traced along Toothless's sleek scales, highlighting the faint patterns hidden beneath the darkness of night. Beside him, Luna lay still, her breath slow and even, her form bathed in the moon's ethereal glow.

                                   ─────────────────────────────

As the morning sun shines golden light across the beach, Luna stirs from her slumber. The warmth nudges her awake, coaxing a lazy yawn from her before she stretches, her wings briefly extending. 

She then notices something—something heavy, tangled around her.

Frowning, she shifts slightly, only to realize that Toothless is practically wrapped around her, his limbs sprawled in the most awkward sleeping position imaginable. One wing draped over her back, his tail curled around her own, and his head resting against her side at an odd angle.

Luna huffs, exasperated. "Seriously?"

Toothless lets out a sleepy grunt, shifting slightly but remaining blissfully unaware of his predicament. His mouth hangs open just enough for a soft snore to escape.

Rolling her eyes, Luna nudges him with her tail. "Wake up, you oversized lizard."

Toothless groggily blinks awake, his pupils adjusting to the morning light. He shifts again, only to realize his limbs are a mess of misplaced weight. 

"You look ridiculous." She scoffed.

Letting out a low grown, Toothless attempted to untangle himself, but his movements only make it worse. "Okay, okay, give me a second."

Luna chuckled, watching him struggle before finally managing to roll away with a graceless flop onto the sand. He shakes his head, blinking the sleep from his eyes.

"Well," he mutters, stretching his wings, "that was not my best sleeping arrangement."

"No kidding. You hungry?"

Without another word, she took off toward the water, leaving Toothless to stretch out his wings before following after her. The ocean shimmered beneath the rising sun, promising a fresh catch for their first meal of the day.

Toothless blinked a few times, rolling onto his stomach with a tired groan. "Yeah," he admitted, his stomach letting out a low rumble in agreement. Gathering his footing, he trotted after her, making his way to the salty shore.

"Alright, before we dive in, let's make this interesting." She said while giving a playful smile.

"What do you mean?"

"A bet. Whoever catches the most fish wins."

A huff escaped Toothless's lips, shaking out his wings as a competitive glint sparked in his eyes. "You sure you wanna embarrass yourself?"

"Talk all you want. Let's see if you can actually back it up." She snorted.

The cool waves lap at Luna's claws as she steps in, the sudden chill sending a brief shudder through her body. She exhales, adjusting to the temperature, then takes a deep breath before slipping beneath the surface. The ocean swallows her whole, the world above fading into rippling light and shifting currents.

Toothless follows swiftly, his dark form cutting through the water, bubbles trailing behind him. The sea is quiet, vast, a space untouched by the chaos of the surface. Schools of fish dart past them, shimmering like scattered stars in the deep, unaware of the two powerful predators now sharing their domain.

The hunt begins.

As she descends, she spots a shimmering school of fish darting through the currents. Instinct kicks in, her eyes sharpen, and with a sudden burst of movement, she launches forward. A roar erupts from her throat, muffled beneath the water. Slicing through the water with powerful strokes. Bubbles trail behind them, swirling. The school of fish scatters, sensing the imminent danger. Without hesitation, Luna angles her body and torpedoes toward her first target.

Toothless, not one to fall behind, matches her pace, his tail swaying to adjust his trajectory. He narrows his eyes, this is his territory. Fishing is practically second nature to him. He lunges, his jaws snapping shut around a silver-scaled fish, securing his first catch.

However, Luna isn't far behind. She spins mid-dive, trapping her prey against a rocky crevice, and with a sharp snap, another fish is hers.

Momentum builds as another fish disappears into his grasp before Luna can even react. A sly smirk plays across his face beneath the water, his silent challenge unmistakable.

Determined, Luna narrows her eyes and scans the murky depths. A thick swarm of fish moves in chaotic bursts, their shimmering bodies weaving through the water. Timing her attack perfectly, she surges forward, snapping up two in quick succession.

"Three each," Toothless thinks, adrenaline building. He kicks his legs harder, propelling himself through the current.

A particularly large fish darts out from the school, zigzagging wildly as it attempts to evade capture. Luna locks onto it and speeds forward, tail flicking in perfect rhythm. Toothless notices her pursuit and challenges himself to steal her prey. He angles his wings to cut across her path, nearly brushing past her as he attempts to intercept the fish. Luna snarls, bubbles escaping her mouth. "So not happening."

With one final, forceful kick, she surges ahead, jaws snapping shut around the fleeing fish. She turns, flashing him a victorious look.

Toothless huffs. "Alright, fine. You got that one."

They continue hunting, both catching fish at an impressive rate. By the end, their jaws are full, and the ocean floor is littered with faint trails of disturbed sand. Toothless glances at Luna, eyes filled with a spark of triumph. "Alright. Count?"

Luna exhales, shaking off excess water as she surfaces. "Nine."

A triumphant gleam sparks in his eyes as he flashes his catch. "Ten!" he announces, his smirk lingering just long enough to make the silent challenge clear.

Luna's unreadable expression lingers for just a moment—then, she sends a playful splash right into Toothless's face.

"Oh, really? That's how we're playing it now?"

"You barely won. Don't get too full of yourself."

"Wanna go for round two?" He chuckled.

She rolls her eyes but smiles, carrying her haul back toward shore. "Maybe next time."

The salty breeze rolled over the shore as both of the Night Fury's settled onto the sand, their fresh catch laid out before them. The rhythmic crash of waves provided a steady backdrop to their meal.

Luna tore into her fish with satisfaction, flicking her nub as she shot Toothless a smug glance. "I still say I should've won," she muttered between bites.

"Oh, please. I had you beat by one fish. One."

She couldn't help but roll her eyes. "You got lucky."

Toothless chuckled, shaking his head. "You hate losing, don't you?"

Luna puffed, but the amusement in her eyes betrayed her. "I don't lose. I just... let others think they won."

"-Right."

"Oh, shut up."

Toothless laughed, the sound light and genuine. He glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. "You know... I'm really glad we're doing this."

"What, fishing?"

"No," Toothless said, flicking his ear, his voice carrying a quiet certainty. "Just... this. Flying, racing, existing. It's been a long time since I've had this much fun."

Considered his words for a moment before nodding. "Yeah," she admitted softly.

A wistful sigh escaped him. "I just miss Hiccup. I hope he's alright."

She glanced at him, offering reassurance. "Don't worry, you'll be back with him soon... and I'll be back home, in the Hidden World." Her voice was steady, but there was something unspoken lingering beneath it.

The two continued eating, the teasing banter carried on as the sun climbed higher, casting golden light over the two dragons who, for the first time in a long while, felt truly free.

Mischief sparkled in her eyes just before a flurry of sand flew straight at Toothless. The grains scattered across his face, clinging stubbornly to his scales as he sputtered, shaking his head in protest.

"Oh, really?" Toothless grumbled, shaking his head to rid himself of the mess.

She only giggled, her laughter light and teasing. Without another word, she spun on her heels and bolted into the woods, her tail flicking behind her like a challenge.

Toothless blinked, then caught on. "Oh, you're asking for it," he muttered before launching himself forward.

The chase was on.

The dense foliage blurred past as Luna darted between the trees, her movements swift and effortless. She was fast—exceptionally fast—but Toothless refused to let her claim victory so easily. With a powerful thrust, he surged ahead, wings tucked close, expertly weaving through the terrain in pursuit. Luna glanced back, grinning. "You're gonna have to do better than that."

"Oh, don't worry, I will."

She suddenly veered left, disappearing into a thick patch of undergrowth. Toothless skidded slightly, adjusting his course, but by the time he pushed through the foliage, she was gone.

He slowed, scanning the area. The forest was quiet—too quiet.

Then, from above, Luna dropped from a low-hanging branch, tackling him with a burst of momentum. Toothless let out a startled grunt as they tumbled together, rolling through the dirt before coming to a stop.

Luna pinned him down, grinning triumphantly. "Gotcha."

"Okay, not fair. You cheated." He quipped, shaking his head. quipped.

Luna chuckled, stepping off him and flicking her tailfin. "I call it strategy."

"Alright, fine. You win this round."

"This round? Oh, you really think you're getting a rematch?"

Toothless grinned. "Absolutely."

And just like that, the chase was back on.

Luna bolted forward, kicking up dirt and leaves as she tore through the forest, her laughter ringing through the trees. Toothless was right behind her, his wings tucked close to his body as he pushed himself harder.

She was fast... too fast.

He began to narrow his focus, locking onto her swaying form, watching her disappear further into the wild. The gap between them widened. His chest burned, but determination flared brighter than the ache in his limbs. He thought back to her mocking words the night before about his hunting skills, teasing him, calling him soft.

Everything around him melted away—no trees, no wind, no sound, only the rush of pursuit. Luna's figure blurred in his vision, shifting, morphing into something weaker, something meant to be caught.

Prey. 

This was no longer a friendly game of tag. This was a hunt.

A feral rush ignited in him. He lunged forward, his speed doubling as the predator awoke inside him.

The forest thinned ahead, revealing a small rocky cliffside overlooking a soft patch of grass below.  Luna's keen eyes caught it instantly, her mind racing with a plan. She skidded to a stop at the edge, turning just in time to see Toothless barreling toward her.

Before she could react, he lunged. His weight slammed into her, knocking them both off balance. The world spun as they tumbled down the cliffside, rolling through the grass in a tangled mess of limbs and wings.

When they finally stopped, Toothless found himself hovering over her, panting from the chase. His wings flared slightly, his breath uneven as he stared down at her. A low growl rumbled in his throat. Then a threatening roar escaped.

Luna blinked up at him, her chest rising and falling, her face momentarily frozen in shock. His teeth were out—sharp, glistening in the sunlight.

For a moment, neither of them moved.

She twisted beneath him, instinctively trying to escape, but his weight pressed down harder, holding her firm. Her pulse thundered in her ears.

"Let me go!"

He didn't blink. Didn't move. The wildness in his eyes remained burning, consuming, relentless.

"Toothless?"

Fear gripped her. With trembling desperation, she raised a paw and smacked his head once, twice, then again, a flurry of frantic pats. Each strike was light, but urgent, her last effort to pull him from the haze.

Toothless blinked, snapping out of his trance. His breath was still uneven, his heart pounding in his chest. He let her go.

Shaking off the lingering tension from the chase, she remained acutely aware of Toothless's gaze, the weight of his hunt still pressing between them. She exhaled sharply, rolling onto her side, stretching her wings in a feigned attempt at casual ease. "Alright... that was a little too real," she muttered, shooting him a wary glance.

Toothless blinked, still catching his breath. His pupils slowly rounded back to normal, the primal edge fading from his expression. "Yeah... sorry about that," he admitted, rubbing his snout with his paw. "Guess I got a little carried away."

"A little? You looked ready to rip my throat out."

"I wasn't."

Toothless stretched his wings, releasing a slow sigh as if he hadn't just lost himself moments ago. "That was fun, though."

"...Yeah," she murmured, though something in her voice lingered—uncertainty, unease.

She had never seen him like that before. Had it really just been instinct? Or had something inside him truly wanted to sink his teeth into her?

Her tail flicked once, then twice, brushing against the grass absentmindedly. The thought remained unspoken, nestled in the quiet between them. Slowly, she pushed herself to stand, shaking the loose dust from her fur. But as she shifted her weight, a sharp sting made her wince. She glanced down, catching sight of a fresh, shallow cut on her arm. Her breath hitched. It was small, barely deep enough to bleed, but unmistakable.

A wound left by Toothless.

She froze, staring at it, her mind catching up to the realization. Had he meant to do that? Or had his instincts betrayed him?

Her chest tightened. Before she could mask her reaction, Toothless saw it. His pupils shrank, his breath faltering as he stared at the tiny wound. His expression shifted from confusion to horror. "I... I did that?" His voice was low, almost a whisper.

Luna swallowed hard, flexing her arm. "It's nothing," she lied, brushing it off like a mere scrape. But he didn't look convinced. His gaze lingered on the mark, a heavy silence settling between them. The feral rush that had once consumed him was gone now, replaced by something colder. Regret.

His tail twitched, wings folding tightly against his back. His throat bobbed like he wanted to say something, but the words never came. 

Luna offered a small, forced smile. "We should get going." 

Toothless hesitated. Then, finally, he nodded. Neither of them spoke as they started moving.

The two launch into the air, the force of their takeoff kicking up dirt and grass follicles beneath them. Their wings spread wide, catching the rising winds as they glide toward their final destination. The sky is clear, stretching endlessly before them, a vast canvas of blue. The last leg of their journey begins.

─────────────────────────────

The sky stretched endlessly before them, painted in hues of deep blue. Toothless flew ahead, his wings steady, cutting through the crisp evening air with ease. His movements were fluid, effortless, his mind focused on nothing but the rhythm of flight.

Luna trailed behind, her pace slightly slower, her thoughts heavier. The silence between them was thick, unspoken words lingering in the space they shared. She kept her distance—not because she couldn't keep up, but because she needed the space.

Her gaze flickered toward Toothless, watching the way his wings flexed, the way his tail swayed with each shift in the wind. He seemed fine, calm, and collected. But she knew better.

She glanced down at the faint cut on her arm, the sting barely noticeable now. It wasn't deep, wasn't serious. But it was there. A reminder.

Luna flew closer, her voice steady. "Hey, I wanted to give you more info about the Hidden World."

She glanced at Toothless, ensuring he was listening before continuing. "Back in the Hidden World, our home, is where every dragon imaginable lives. It's the birthplace of our species, the heart of all dragonkind." 

She let the words settle before adding, "The entrance is hidden behind a massive waterfall that plunges into a deep whirlpool. Only dragons know the way inside. And it's guarded by some of the most formidable sea-dwellers: Submarippers, Scauldrons, Shellfires, and more. Their sole purpose? Keep humans out."

Toothless listened intently.

"You wouldn't believe how vast it is down there," Luna continued, her tone laced with awe. "We haven't even explored all of it. The caves stretch deep into the earth's core, filled with glowing crystals, mysterious plants, and creatures beyond imagination."

A spark flickered in her eyes. "And now, the part you've been waiting for: the Night Furies."

"You spent your whole life thinking you were the last one, didn't you?" Luna tilted her head. "Well, I've got news for you, bud. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Night Furies in the Hidden World. So much, we even have our sanctuary in the hidden world."

"Night Furies come in all sorts of colors. Black, white, gray, dark green, beige. Some have patterns, some don't. And on rare occasions, there have even been crimson-red Night Furies."

"That's not even the craziest part. There are these magic crystals down there that have a unique effect on us Night Furies. As far as we know, no other dragon species can harness their power. Well... except the Skrills."

Toothless narrowed his eyes. "Harness?"

Luna sighed, knowing how unbelievable it sounded. "Okay, this is going to sound insane, but we can absorb energy from the crystals. And when we do, it acts like an enhancement. Think of it as an upgrade. Increased stamina, heightened agility, sharper eyesight... and most importantly, stronger plasma blasts. Overall, just an increase in all of your abilities."

"But it's dangerous," Luna warned. "It has to be used wisely. The damage it can cause is catastrophic."

"Hold on, what's the actual plan for taking down the Bewilderbeast?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

"I'll go over everything once we arrive. It's best if everyone hears it together. You, me, and the team I've assembled."

Chapter Text

After two relentless hours of flight, the Night Furies finally arrived at their destination. Luna casts a glance his way. "You ready?"

Toothless inhaled deeply, eyes locked on the sight below. "Let's do this."

Beneath them, the Hidden World stretched wide, a massive opening encircled by cascading waters, a seamless curtain falling in every direction. Without hesitation, Luna angled downward, diving headfirst into the abyss. The rush of wind slammed against her snout as she plunged. Toothless followed, close on her tail.

The descent grew steadier as the rushing wind tapered off, replaced by the echoing hum of the Hidden World below. Upon reaching the bottom, they continued forward, soaring toward the main lobby. Luna abruptly swerved. "This way," she muttered, cutting sharply to the right before Toothless could slow.

He blinked, glancing toward the central chamber. "Aren't we—"

"No," she interrupted, her tone firm. "We're not going through there."

Without further explanation, she plunged into a dimly lit tunnel. The air turned cold as the stone walls narrowed around them, distant echoes whispering from unseen depths.

Then it came—a bone-deep, reverberating scream. Toothless stiffened at the unmistakable sound. "A Screaming Death den? You serious?"

Luna didn't break stride. "We're taking the tunnels. The team is waiting ahead."

Toothless hesitated only briefly, casting a final glance toward the main lobby before following her into the darkness. The tunnel stretched before them, its winding passage dimly lit by the soft glow of bioluminescent lichen attached to the walls. The air was cooler here, rich with the scent of damp stone and distant traces of dragon fire.

Luna kept a steady pace, navigating the terrain with practiced ease. Toothless followed, his senses sharp, listening for any sign of movement beyond their own. The deeper they went, the more the distant roars and murmurs of the Hidden World faded, swallowed by the cavern's quiet hum. Then, the tunnel widened, revealing a sprawling chamber lined with jagged rock formations.

Waiting at the center were the silhouettes of dragons, her team. Luna slowed, her gaze sweeping across them. "We're here."

The small pack of dragons perked up at the sight of Luna and Toothless arriving, their eyes gleaming with recognition. Toothless scanned the gathering, noting the variety among them—two Thunderdrums, a Deathsong, a lone Hobgobbler, a Deadly Nadder, a Zippleback, and more. Their presence meant preparation, strength, and a shared mission.

Before he could fully steady himself, a blur of scales and wings barreled into him. A Deathsong slammed into Toothless, knocking him flat onto his back. "TOOTHLESS, TOOTHLESS, TOOTHLESS!!!!" The dragon practically sang, smothering him in ecstatic licks.

Spluttering, Toothless flailed under the weight. "Yes, YES—it's me! Get off!"

Luna sighed. "Garff, off. Now."

The name hit him like a bolt. His eyes widened. "Garff? Is that you?!"

Garff paused mid-lick, beaming. "YES! Luna told me you were coming."

Toothless shot a questioning look at Luna. "Wait—you knew Garff? You knew we knew each other? Why didn't you tell me?!"

A sly grin curled across her face. "Wanted to surprise you, heh."

Toothless huffed, shaking his head. "Yeah, well, we go way back." Toothless chuckled, finally managing to push himself upright.

"It's so good to see you again, you have no idea. How's Stormfly? Astrid?"

"They're good. They still reminisce about you," Toothless assured him.

Garff practically vibrated with excitement. "That's great, I miss them! I want to see them so bad."

"You will," Toothless promised. "First, we have to take care of this."

Garff's grin softened slightly. "You know, Windshear stopped by here a couple of days ago. She misses you."

Toothless blinked. "You talked to Windshear? Wow, It's good knowing you guys are still in touch."

"You guys ready?" Luna called out.

Garff and the other dragons nodded in agreement. Luna took a steady breath, her gaze sweeping over the gathered dragons. "Alright, listen carefully."

The group settled in, eyes locked onto her as she explained the plan.

"The Bewilderbeast holds position in the main lobby, submerged in a massive body of water. Around him, his loyal dragon guards, enforcers, whatever you want to call them, maintain order, keeping the enslaved dragons in check.

"But once the battle begins, those dragons will see their chance. They'll rise and fight back the moment they spot an opening. They already know what to do because you all made sure the message was clear."

She glanced at the Hobgobbler standing beside her. "Now, if for any reason the Bewilderbeast tries to reassert control, we need to be ready.

"The Bewilderbeast controls through dominance—sound, visuals, sheer presence," Luna explained. "If we disrupt its ability to command, dragons might snap out of it, or at least hesitate long enough to give us an opening."

Her gaze flicked toward the small, scrappy Hobgobbler. "That's why I brought him. Young dragons, especially hatchlings, are naturally resistant to commands—they don't listen to anyone. And this little guy? He's calling in his army. They'll cause enough chaos to buy us more time."

She stepped forward, voice firm. "We hit it hard. Loud, chaotic disturbances—sonic blasts, plasma bursts, anything that disrupts its focus. If we can blind or deafen it, even for a moment, we weaken its grip."

A pause, then she continued, "It's powerful, but predictable. It thrives in water, but if we can force it onto land, we strip away one of its biggest advantages."

Toothless narrowed his eyes. "Cornering something that big won't be easy."

Luna flicked her tail in agreement. "That's why we divide and conquer. One group keeps it distracted, the other targets its weaknesses."

"The tusks. The face. The body. Any point where it lacks armor," she listed. "They're its primary weapons—if we damage them, we strip away its ability to fight effectively."

A slow, measured breath followed. "So we break its influence, force it onto land, damage it's weak spots, and keep overwhelming it until it submits."

Luna held his gaze. "Exactly."

Toothless's jaw tightened. "And if it doesn't submit?"

Her expression darkened, but there was no hesitation in her response. "Then we make sure it never rises again."

She let the weight of her words settle before adding one final directive. "But none of this happens until I free my mother. Once she's safe, I'll give the signal. That's when we move."

A tense silence hung in the air before Toothless finally nodded, and the others followed suit.

Luna, Toothless, and the others soared through the tunnels, their movements swift and precise. The winding passage led them toward one of the exit points, where the air grew thinner, a sign they were nearing the outside.

As they approached a narrow ledge, the view beyond revealed the heart of the Hidden World—the place where the Bewilderbeast resided. Below them, his vast form lay submerged in the water, surrounded by his loyal dragons, their movements sharp and controlled.

Luna slowed, hovering near the ledge before turning back to the group. "Stay put," she ordered.

Toothless, Garff, and the others crouched behind the rocky outcrop, watching as Luna descended.

She landed softly on the damp ground, claws flexing against the stone. A tense silence filled the air as she eyed the motionless form in the water. Was he asleep? There was only one way to find out.

Luna inhaled deeply, then let out a powerful roar.

The water trembled. Ripples shattered across its surface, distorting into crashing waves. The cavern filled with a deep, unsettling hum as the massive beast stirred.

Then, slowly, he rose. Towering, colossal, his sheer presence dwarfed her. Compared to him, she was nothing more than a speck—an ant staring up at a human.

The Bewilderbeast loomed over her, his deep voice vibrating through the air. "There you are..."

He let the words linger, his glowing eyes locked onto hers.

"Sooooo..."

Luna narrowed her gaze. "So?"

His tone sharpened. "Don't play dumb with me. Where is he?"

She blinked, feigning confusion. "Ohhh, right. Toothless. Yeah, um... about that."

The Bewilderbeast's expression darkened. The water around him stirred violently as he leaned closer, his breath heavy and cold. "WHERE IS HE?"

Luna exhaled, schooling her features. "I... killed him."

The response made the cavern feel even heavier.

"I said bring him to me alive!" he thundered.

Luna kept her stance firm, lifting her arm slightly. "Look, I tried, alright? He wasn't exactly cooperative. As you can see, he got a hit in." She gestured to a faint wound on her foreleg.

"It was him or me," she continued, voice level. "A kill-or-be-killed moment. I didn't have a choice."

The Bewilderbeast didn't move immediately, but his piercing gaze told her he knew. He could smell the truth—the lingering scent of Toothless on her scales.

Still, he played along.

"So..." Luna tested.

"So?" he echoed.

"My mom," she pressed.

A pause.

Then, in a drawling tone, he responded, "Fine."

He shifted slightly, flicking his head toward the east wing of the cavern. "She's being held there, along with the other captives. I'll send a Monstrous Nightmare with you."

Luna bowed slightly, though her posture lacked sincerity. "Thank you."

The Bewilderbeast huffed, unimpressed. "Now, get out of my sight."

Just as Luna turned to go, the Bewilderbeast cast a smug glance at the Monstrous Nightmare, giving a subtle, unmistakable signal.

Kill them. Both of them.

Without another word, Luna turned, following the Monstrous Nightmare toward the east wing. As she flew, she stole a glance upward, toward the ledge where her team waited, watching closely. She met Toothless's gaze.

Almost time.

Eventually, they make it to the east wing where her mom is being kept hostage. They walk their way down the long path, guards standing, watching them.

As they reached the containment cell, Luna wasted no time. "Mom!" she whispered urgently.

Her mother stirred, eyes widening before she rushed forward, greeting her with a warm lick across her snout. "I was so worried about you," her mother murmured, her voice filled with relief. "I'm so glad you're safe."

Luna swiftly silenced her, lowering her voice to a tense whisper. "We don't have much time. All Hell is about to break loose. I need to get you out of here and somewhere safe."

Her mother straightened, sensing the weight of her words. Luna flicked her gaze toward the guards. "Okay, here's what well do. You take the one on the left—I've got the Monstrous Nightmare. Kill anyone who gets in your way. Once they're down, you head for the exit."

Her mother's expression was firm now, the hesitation gone. "Understood."

"Once you're out, go north. There's an island with a village and good people. They'll help you. Don't stop. Not for anything. Not even for me."

Her mother frowned. "People?!"

Luna exhaled sharply, cutting off the doubt before it could take root. "Mom, trust me. They know Toothless. They trust him, I trust him—you can, too."

Her mother hesitated only a moment before nodding. "Alright."

But before Luna could utter another word, danger struck. A heavy presence shifted behind them. Her mother's eyes darted toward the movement, pupils constricting as she spotted the unmistakable glow building in the Monstrous Nightmare's throat. A fire blast—targeting them.

"WATCH OUT!" her mother roared.

Luna barely had time to react before she was shoved aside, her mother diving to knock them both clear of the incoming blast. The second they steadied, their instincts kicked in. Without hesitation, both dragons lunged.

The Monstrous Nightmare snarled, snapping its fangs as Luna struck first, her claws raking across its thick hide. It roared in frustration, its wings flaring wide as it twisted, aiming another attack. Luna dodged narrowly, but the heat from its breath singed her scales.

Her mother wasted no time. A flash of blinding plasma ripped through the air, colliding against the Nightmare's side with enough force to send it staggering.

Luna caught herself mid-pant, nodding toward her mother. "Thanks."

Before the Nightmare could recover, her mother fired again—a well-placed plasma blast striking hard, sending the beast crashing into the cavern wall. Dead.

The echo of the attack reverberated through the halls. And that was all it took. The guards were alerted. Both barely had time to brace before the swarm came, dragons barreling toward them in a chaotic rush. It was a fight for survival now.

Luna twisted her body, narrowly dodging a Thunderdrum's strike before retaliating, her claws slicing across its throat. Her mother engaged a Deadly Nadder, fangs snapping, their bodies colliding violently against the stone. Tails cracked against scales. Wings collided. Roars of fury filled the chamber.

Luna snarled as she found herself pinned, a Zippleback wrapping its tail around her torso, squeezing tight. She struggled against its grip before slamming her wings forward, disorienting it long enough to fire a plasma blast point-blank, sending it crashing backward.

Her mother ducked beneath a lunging Singetail, twisting just in time to sink her claws deep into its side, dragging it down with her weight. With a sharp snap, she finished it off before launching herself skyward, ready for the next threat.

Dragons fell. Some escaped. Some didn't. But Luna wasn't stopping. She fought like hell, striking down every enemy that stood between her mother and freedom. At last, after what felt like an eternity, the cavern cleared—bodies littered the ground, and the remaining guards had fled.

Luna turned to her mother, panting. "Go!"

Without hesitation, her mother fired another plasma blast, then vanished.

Luna watched as her mother soared through the chaos, maneuvering unseen past the last line of defenses, slipping beyond the battle, and soaring toward the exit.

Then, she was gone—flying beyond the walls of the Hidden World, pressing north toward Berk.

And Luna?

She still had a war to win.

She pushed forward, breathing hard, claws aching from the constant engagements. Then, with a sharp pivot, she launched herself toward the east wing's exit, her wings cutting through the air. As she broke free, she roared at the top of her lungs. "NOW!"

The call echoed through the air, bouncing off the walls like a war drum. High above, Toothless, Garff, and the others remained crouched at the cliff's edge. The second Luna's battle cry hit, Toothless tensed, his pupils constricting. He was the first to react.

"C'MON!" His voice ripped through the air.

A split second later, he rushed forward, slicing through the sky with a deafening boom, breaking the sound barrier.

Below, the Bewilderbeast stirred. His enormous head tilted upward, eyes narrowing at the swarthy figure blazing toward him. He knew that sound. That speed. That presence.

As Toothless descended, his plasma blast charged. "REMEMBER ME?!"

The blast crashed hard against the Bewilder beast's shank, causing him to stagger back. The Bewilder beast roared, his voice shaking the ground beneath him. "YOU!"

Luna hovered above the enslaved dragons, her voice slicing through the battlefield. "ATTACK!"

Dragons who had once cowered under the Bewilderbeast's control suddenly rose, their wings unfurling in defiance. They jetted forward, colliding against the loyalist forces.

The Bewilderbeast's enraged gaze landed on Luna, his voice dripping with venom. "TRAITOR."

He let out an earth-shattering roar, signaling his loyal dragons to counter. At his command, they lunged, tearing through the battlefield, throwing themselves against the rebels.

Above, Toothless rained plasma blasts onto the enemy forces, his movements sharp and precise. Luna darted through the chaos, joining him, releasing her own blasts into the fray.

Garff blasted sticky amber, trapping enemies mid-flight, sending them spiraling helplessly to the ground. Dragons fell. Others rose. The war was on.

Suddenly, a new squad entered the fight. A deafening, unified roar hit the sky. Luna turned toward the source, a smirk curling at the edges of her mouth. "About time you guys showed up."

A tremendous force of Night Furies cut through the air, their multicolored forms streaking across the battlefield. They were furious, their eyes burning with a collective rage. The battle became more balanced. The Night Furies fought mercilessly, releasing rapid plasma blasts into the chaos.

The Bewilderbeast shifted, rising from the water. His gaze locked onto Luna—his most infuriating enemy. His mind reached out.

Luna stalled. Her body spasmed. Random twitching overtook her, a strange growl escaping her throat.

Toothless, still fighting, suddenly noticed. His expression tightened. "Luna?"

Luna's eyes snapped open. Her pupils had changed—vertical, sharp, unnatural. A voice whispered in her head. Kill him.

Toothless paled. "No... no, no, no, block it out!"

But she was too far gone. In a savage burst of speed, Luna lunged. Her teeth latched onto Toothless's throat, dragging him down. The strength of her attack sent them plummeting.

The battle blurred around them. As they fell, all Toothless could do was squirm helplessly. He was doing his best to free himself. Then came the plasma blasts. Three searing shots struck him, blasting him backward. The impact sent him crashing into the ground. The pain was instant, sharp, cutting through his body like fire.

Dazed, he groaned, attempting to lift himself. But he wasn't given the chance. Luna pinned him. Her body loomed over his, claws pressing hard against his ribs. Her breath was uneven, her head twitching.

"LUNA, STOP!" Toothless gasped. "SNAP OUT OF IT!"

She didn't.

Her plasma blast charged. Toothless stared at the glowing energy forming in her throat, watching as the bright molten pink light intensified. She was seconds away from killing him.

He had no choice. Summoning the last of his strength, Toothless fired point-blank. The plasma blast hit her chest with just enough force to push her back, but not enough to cause serious injury. Luna was sent flying through the air, her body crashing against the floor. She struggled up, her head shaking violently. The voice in her mind repeated over and over. Kill him.

Toothless got to his feet. Luna met his stare.

A standoff.

The battlefield seethed around them, dragons fighting in midair, fire, acid, and plasma bursts painting the hidden world in chaotic energy. But for a moment—just a moment—everything between Toothless and Luna narrowed to a single, motionless stare. The voice in her mind hissed again. Kill him.

Her claws dug into the stone, tense and ready. Her breath came in uneven bursts—sharp, controlled, yet laced with instability. The two began their slow, agonistic circling, muscles coiled, eyes locked, neither daring to look away.

Toothless's muscles tensed, waiting.

Then, she struck. A burst of speed sent Luna barreling toward him, launching herself into the air. Toothless barely turned in time, ducking under her first lunge. She adjusted instantly, talons slicing toward his throat. He shot backward, narrowly escaping the strike. She wasn't holding back. Neither could he.

Toothless immediately retaliated, firing a plasma blast straight at her. She dodged, but the force still sent her skidding backward, her claws scraping against the floor.

Her snarl echoed through the air. She shot forward again, ramming into him with full force. The impact sent them both tumbling. Toothless twisted, managing to flip himself on top, attempting to pin her. She wasn't having it.

Luna bucked hard, wings flaring wide. Toothless lost his grip, forced to backpedal just as Luna fired a close-range plasma blast.

The explosion sent Toothless hurtling backward. He hit the ground hard, coughing as smoke curled around him. Her chest heaved as her pupils twitched and constricted. The voice continued its command while she clenched her teeth, shaking her head violently. 

"You have to fight it!" he roared, pushing himself up. 

Her breathing was erratic. For a fraction of a second, something flickered in her look—hesitation. Then, anger. She pounced.

Toothless was ready this time. He caught her incoming strike, locking claws with her. They wrestled, forcing against each other, sliding across the battlefield in their struggle. Luna twisted sharply, throwing her full weight to the right. Toothless lost balance for a split second—just long enough for her to slam him against the rock wall.

A brutal hit.

Pain jolted through Toothless's side, but he didn't let go. Instead, he bit down. His teeth latched onto her shoulder, holding her in place. Luna snarled in frustration, trying to shake free

The scene transitions to different battles. Each fight carries its own intensity, dragons locked in combat, their roars echoing through the chaos.

Garff faced off against a Singetail. The beast snapped at him, its teeth narrowly missing his leg. He reacted instantly, his claws slamming into its snout before coating it in amber.

Elsewhere, two Night Furies fought desperately against a Deadly Nadder and a Triple Stryke. The Nadder attacked first, releasing razor-sharp tail spines. One Night Fury was too slow—three spikes embedded into his side. His agonized roar cut through the battlefield.

The other Night Fury struggled against the Triple Stryke. The venomous dragon let out a guttural growl, striking its pincers down. The Night Fury retaliated with a plasma blast, sending it tumbling. But the Triple Stryke was inflamed. It recovered, spreading its three tail ends wide, each one dripping with venom.

In a single motion, it struck. The three stingers impaled the Night Fury, venom seeping in. The Night Fury screeched, its body writhing. The Triple Stryke didn't stop. It coiled its tails around the weakened dragon, tightening its grip. Then, with a brutal, calculated motion, it snapped its neck. A fallen warrior.

Meanwhile, the Bewilderbeast watched the battle unfold, his expression growing darker. His forces were losing. His grip was slipping. "Enough!"

He inhaled deeply—then unleashed hell. A frigid blast of ice erupted from his jaws, sweeping across the battlefield like a death storm. Dragons—enemy and ally, froze. Cries of pain filled the atmosphere.

It was destruction. It was power. And in doing so, he released his control over Luna. She collapsed, eyes snapping back to normal, breath shallow, exhausted. She looked at Toothless. And he looked at her. 

The battle fumed on. The clash between forces was relentless—dragons tangled mid-air, wings colliding, tails snapping, roars shaking the very foundation of the Hidden World.

Some dragons, battered and weary, began to retreat. Injured warriors limped toward the edges of the battlefield, recognizing the fight was beyond them. Others, driven by fury and loyalty, pressed forward, refusing to yield.

A Thunderdrum released a devastating sonic blast, sending enemy dragons hurtling backward with the force of its attack. A Zippleback coiled through the chaos, each head working in tandem—one spewing gas, the other igniting it, creating bursts of explosive fire that disoriented their foes.

Garff twisted in mid-air, avoiding a deadly swipe from a Razorwhip. His amber blasts trapped enemies mid-flight, encasing them in thick resin before they could strike back. He fought with accuracy, using both speed and wit to run through the madness.

The battlefield trembled.

The Bewilderbeast rose fully from the water, its massive form towering like a mountain and sending waves that partially flooded the floor of the utopia. The icy mist surrounding him thickened as his presence alone shifted the battlefield's energy. His deep-set eyes scanned the chaos, calculating the battle's trajectory.

Then, with a single, guttural roar, he commanded all dragons.

A pulse of dominance rippled through the air, invisible yet suffocating. The enslaved dragons who had begun to fight hesitated mid-air, their movements slowing, muscles twitching as the influence took hold. Some fought against it, resisting the call, but others fell under his spell once more.

Loyalists surged forward with renewed aggression.

A Stormcutter spun like a deadly whirlwind, its four wings slicing through the air, colliding with a rebelling Deadly Nadder. A Razorwhip twisted through the fray, its bladed tail cracking against the side of a Dramillion, sending it reeling.

The battlefield trembled under the weight of his command. Toothless gritted his teeth, watching dragons falter as the Bewilderbeast reasserted control. His own forces were struggling, some shaking their heads violently, trying to block out the intrusion into their minds.

He knew this was coming. The plan had accounted for this. From the shadows of the battlefield, the small Hobgobbler let out an ear-splitting shriek. Then, from above, a swarm of tiny dragons burst into view. A frenzied swarm of Hobgobblers descended upon the Bewilderbeast, their shrill squawks filling the air as they bit, clawed, and dove at him from all angles. Some latched onto his thick hide, gnawing relentlessly, while others rammed into his massive face, obscuring his vision. They clung to his tusks, wings, and snout, their erratic movements creating utter chaos. Their unpredictable movements threw off the controlled order of his army, causing temporary disruptions among the affected dragons.

The distraction worked. Toothless wasted no time. "Now!" he roared, signaling to Luna.

She darted through the battlefield, weaving between clashes, her mind clearer now that the Bewilderbeast's grip on her had broken. She locked onto him, seeing his sheer size—and knowing exactly how to counter it.

They had to get him out of the water. She angled up, positioning herself alongside Toothless. "We force him onto land," she reminded him.

Toothless gave a sharp nod. "Hit him with everything we've got."

With precision, both Night Furies fired in tandem, bright plasma blasts ripping through the air toward the Bewilderbeast.

The shots landed. The Bewilderbeast recoiled slightly, releasing a deep, guttural growl. He turned his attention to them, eyes narrowing, calculating his counterattack.

But Luna wasn't done. She dove lower, spiraling around his massive form before letting out a piercing roar, challenging him. The Bewilderbeast responded instantly, rearing back, preparing to strike. He was taking the bait. Toothless charged another shot.

Garff coated incoming enemy forces in thick amber, ensuring their path to the Bewilderbeast remained open.

Luna locked eyes with Toothless for a fraction of a second. "This is it."

In perfect sync, they struck, they unleashed their attack—plasma blasts slamming directly with his forehead in a searing explosion. Without hesitation, they veered away, disappearing into the chaos.

The strategy had paid off. The final strike landed with devastating precision, sending a shockwave through the battlefield. The Bewilderbeast reared back, his massive form trembling with fury. His tusks scraped against the ground as he let out an earth-shaking bellow.

And then, he moved.

With deliberate rage, he surged forward, abandoning the water, dragging his colossal frame onto solid ground. The impact alone sent debris flying, the earth beneath him cracking under his sheer weight.

The moment the Bewilderbeast lumbered further onto solid ground, distancing itself from the safety of the water, Luna seized the opportunity. She threw her head back and let out a thunderous roar, her voice cutting through the chaos. "Everyone—NOW!"

The response was immediate. Dragons from every corner of the battlefield pivoted, shifting their attention to the towering titan. Fire ignited in throats, plasma charged in mouths, and the skies became a flurry of power. Toothless, leading the aerial assault, fired first, a rapid plasma blast that struck the Bewilderbeast's exposed flank. 

Then came the full force. A torrent of fire erupted from the battlefront. Thunderdrums released sonic blasts so intense that the air itself trembled. Nadder spikes shot forward, lodging into weak points in the beast's armored hide. Zipplebacks spread gas into the air, turning the battlefield into a furnace as flame ignited the vapors. Dragons hit from every angle.

Flames licked up the Bewilderbeast's body, plasma striking at intervals, explosions shaking the Hollow Underworld. His massive figure trembled beneath the relentless assault.

He roared, the sound deafening, shaking the battlefield. Ice burst from his jaws in revenge, freezing sections of the Sanctuary, knocking back some attacking dragons. But the assault didn't stop.

Luna dove in, twisting through the chaos, her body sleek as she shot low and fast toward him. Her plasma blasts struck hard, lighting up the battlefield with magenta energy. The sheer force of the combined attacks sent the Bewilderbeast reeling, his footing uneasy. He was overwhelmed.

For the first time—he was vulnerable. Luna locked eyes with Toothless through the madness. "Keep hitting him!"

She barely had time to react. One of the Bewilderbeast's loyal fighters slammed into her mid-flight, sending both of them hurtling toward the ground. The impact was brutal—dirt cracked beneath them as they tumbled, their claws raking against the yielding soil, sending debris scattering, wings folding awkwardly under the force.

Above them, the battlefield raged on.

The Bewilderbeast, still enduring the relentless bombardment of fire and plasma blasts, let out a furious roar. Smoke and flames clouded his vision, obscuring the battlefield in a thick haze. Frustration boiled within him.

Then, he rose.

Towering on his hind legs, he inhaled deeply before unleashing a devastating wave of ice. The blast spread outward in all directions, freezing sections of the battlefield, throwing off the dragons' coordinated assault. Some were forced to retreat, others barely dodged in time, their wings and bodies stiffening from the cold.

The chaos settled for a brief moment. And that's when he saw her. Luna, pinned beneath the enemy dragon, struggling to regain control. A wicked thought flickered through his mind. His tusk gleamed as he turned his attention toward her, his massive form shifting. He inhaled again, preparing another blast—but this time, his target wasn't the battlefield.

It was her.

The ice charged in his throat, glowing with an eerie blue light.

Toothless saw it. Time slowed. His pupils constricted, his breath caught in his throat. He didn't think—he moved.

With a burst of speed, he shot forward, cutting through the battlefield like a black streak of lightning. The world blurred around him, the sounds of battle fading into the background.

Luna barely had time to register what was happening. Then—impact. Toothless slammed into her so hard that she flew meters back, knocking her clear of the blast's trajectory.

The ice struck. But not her. Him.

The freezing blast engulfed Toothless instantly, locking his body in place. His wings stiffened, his limbs froze, his breath hitched as the cold overtook him. Yet, deep within the encasement, a pocket remained. A small, untouched space where the ice hadn't fully settled. His body heat, fueled by the lingering energy of his plasma blasts, fought against the frost, keeping a sliver of warmth intact.

Luna tumbled across the ground, gasping as she turned back, just in time to see him encased.

Her heart stopped. "TOOTHLESS!"

The battlefield blurred. Everything else ceased to matter. She had to get him out.

The Bewilderbeast let out a low, rumbling chuckle, the sound dripping with malice. His icy gaze flicked over to where Toothless was left, frozen. "Huh, Deja vu," he mused, voice taunting. He had seen this play out before. A Night Fury trapped, helpless, encased in ice. The memory of their last battle still burned somewhere deep within his mind, but this time, he intended to finish it.

With Toothless eliminated—his greatest obstacle removed—victory was within his grasp. He turned his focus back to the battlefield. He inhaled deeply, then exhaled, sending out another pulse of control. A suffocating wave rippled through the air, pushing against the minds of every dragon present. Some resisted, their wills strong. Others faltered, their eyes flickering as they fell back into submission.

Meanwhile, Luna was frantic. She wasn't focused on the battle anymore. She clawed desperately at the ice encasing Toothless, her talons scraping against the thick frost, her blasts of plasma barely melting its surface. Her breathing was erratic, her heart hammering in her chest as she worked, her frustration growing.

"Come on!" she growled, firing another blast, watching it fizzle against the ice.

Nothing.

Toothless was buried deep inside.

Her pupils constricted, panic clawing at the edges of her mind. She couldn't lose him. "HELP!" she cried out, her voice raw, carrying across the battlefield.

And then—A rush of wind. A sudden gust of wind swept down as two figures cut through the air, one crimson red with black patterns, the other a sleek gray. Night Furies.

They landed sharply beside her, eyes locking onto the frozen form of Toothless before flicking toward her. Without hesitation, they fired, their plasma blasts striking the ice with precision.

But the ice was too thick. The cold was too deep. The realization hit them all at once. Toothless wasn't breaking free.

A moment of silence. A collective sigh. Had they lost him?

But then—A pulse. Faint. Subtle. A deep blue hue radiated from within the ice, flickering like energy trapped beneath the surface.

Luna's pupils constricted. "Wait."

The glow intensified.

"Get back!" The crimson Fury took a sharp step backward. "Move!"

A deafening, screeching charge filled the air. And then—BOOM.

Ice shards exploded outward, shards flying in all directions. The frozen prison shattered, sending waves of cold mist rolling across the battlefield. Toothless emerged. Alive. Fury boiled in his eyes. And angrier than ever.

The battlefield trembled under the force of Toothless's explosion, the ice shards scattering like shattered glass across the open space. Mist curled in thick tendrils around him as he shook off the remnants of his frozen prison. Then, he let out a roar. It wasn't just a battle cry—it was rage. It was fury. It was the sound of a dragon who had been chained before and would never let it happen again.

The Bewilderbeast faltered. Just for a fraction of a second. But that hesitation was enough.

"BLAST HIM!" Luna's voice rang across the battlefield, igniting the final stage of their plan.

The dragons responded instantly. Thunderdrums launched devastating sonic blasts, the sound waves cracking against the Bewilderbeast's armored hide. Deadly Nadders shot their tail spikes in rapid succession, embedding them deep into the beast's vulnerable flesh. Zipplebacks flooded the battlefield with their gas, turning the air into a minefield of flames.

The Bewilderbeast reared back, his massive form struggling under the sheer number of attacks. But he refused to fall. With a bellowing roar, he retaliated, his icy breath sweeping across the battlefield once more. Luna barely dodged, twisting her body mid-air to avoid the deadly blast.

Toothless, now free, darted upward, his speed unmatched. He surged toward the Bewilderbeast's head, weaving through the chaos. Then, with a calculated precision, he fired straight at the beast's eye. The plasma blast connected. The Bewilderbeast screamed, his massive body jerking backward as his vision blurred.

Garff and the others pressed the assault, attacking his tusks, his unarmored body, every weak point they could exploit.

Toothless stood amidst the chaos, his breath steady despite the battle raging around him. His sharp gaze flicked toward the cavern's towering ceiling—toward the jagged, gleaming crystal embedded within the rock. His mind raced. This was it. A plan formed instantly.

He pivoted, wings slicing through the air as he soared toward Luna's position. He wasted no time. "Get everyone out of here," he commanded, his voice firm, unwavering.

Luna's eyes darted toward him, her body tense from battle, but she didn't hesitate. With a sharp nod, she spun mid-air, rallying the others. "Retreat! Get clear of the area!"

Dragons peeled away, disengaging from their fights, cutting through the sky toward safer ground.

As the battlefield emptied, Toothless turned his attention to the rock formation ahead. A cluster of deep crimson crystals jutted out from a jagged slope. His pulse quickened. He remembered what Luna had told him—about the mythical stones, about their energy, their power. Harness them, and they could change everything.

Without wasting a second, he landed near the cluster, his claws scraping against the stone. With a powerful strike, he shattered it. The essence released immediately—vibrant, shimmering dust swirling into the air like a living force.

It wrapped around him, sinking into his scales, tracing along his wings. He inhaled deeply, the energy rushing through his veins, igniting something dormant within him.

The camera panned, zooming in on his eyes. A streak of molten red cut through his irises, burning with intensity. A new power had awakened.

Toothless surged through the air like a comet, his entire form glowing a deep, molten red. The energy from the shattered crystal had fused with him, weaving through his veins, igniting something ancient and unstoppable.

Above him, the cavern trembled. Dark storm clouds gathered as if drawn to his overwhelming power, flickering with electricity. Lightning cracked, illuminating his silhouette as he shot higher, faster.

He tore through the battlefield, a blur of red light, his body vibrating with sheer force. His vision locked onto the massive crystal above, towering, gleaming, almost equal in size to the Bewilderbeast. It was the key. The impact had to be perfect. Precise. Devastating.

Toothless pushed his limits, accelerating until the very air around him screamed in protest.

A piercing, high-pitched sound radiated from his body, his plasma charging, superheated with the raw essence of the mythical stone.

Below, Luna guided the retreating dragons, keeping them clear of the blast radius. But as she turned, catching sight of Toothless's trajectory, panic surged through her. "ARE YOU CRAZY?!" she bellowed, her voice cutting through the chaos.

But Toothless didn't stop. Didn't hesitate. His body pulsed, now fully engulfed in red energy.

Then, he hit. The explosion was instantaneous.

A massive, fiery shockwave tore through the cavern, the crystal shattering upon impact. Shards flew in every direction, raining down like molten stars, illuminating the battlefield with a brilliant red glow.

The force of the blast sent ripples through the Hidden World. The air shook. And at the heart of it all, Toothless emerged. Transformed.

The massive crystal shattered upon impact, its jagged remains crashing straight into the Bewilderbeast's towering form. The titan let out a guttural, unfinished roar before his body slumped sideways, the weight of the impact too much to withstand. He hit the ground, motionless, unconscious.

For the first time in the battle, silence briefly settled. Then, the world broke. Toothless's explosion had unleashed devastation. The ground beneath them split in violent fractures, molten lava spurting through the newly formed cracks, painting the cavern in a fiery glow. The once-stable roof groaned under the pressure, entire slabs of rock breaking loose, cascading downward in deadly chunks.

Crystals snapped apart, their radiant energy dispersing into the air like dying embers.

It was chaos.

The tremors in the Hidden World finally slowed, the molten cracks beginning to cool, and the chaos of the battlefield settling into heavy silence.

Toothless and Luna circled above the battlefield, their wings cutting through the thickening air as the Hidden World crumbled beneath them. The molten cracks glowed like veins of fire, the cavern walls groaning under the weight of destruction.

But Toothless wasn't done. His sharp gaze flicked downward, locking onto the massive, unconscious form of the Bewilderbeast. The titan lay sprawled across the battlefield, his colossal body still, his breath shallow.

Toothless hesitated for only a moment before angling downward. Luna followed.

They landed softly near the fallen giant, the heat from the lava casting eerie shadows across his form. The battlefield had gone quiet—dragons had fled, the chaos had settled, but the tremors beneath them warned that time was running out.

Bewilderbeast stirred. A deep, guttural breath escaped him, his tusk twitching slightly as his glowing eyes flickered open. He shifted, his massive form struggling to regain awareness.

Toothless stepped forward. "Stop." His voice was firm, unwavering.

The Bewilderbeast's gaze locked onto him, his expression unreadable.

"Just surrender." Toothless's tone softened slightly, but the weight of his words remained. "No more war. No more control. Just stop."

A tense silence stretched between them. Luna watched, her muscles coiled, ready for another fight.

The Bewilderbeast exhaled deeply. Slowly, deliberately, he lowered his head. It wasn't a bow. Not completely. But it was submission.

Toothless held his gaze, searching for any sign of deception. But there was none. The Bewilderbeast had given up.

"Then we leave." Toothless turned, flicking his tail toward the collapsing cavern. "Now."

The titan shifted, gathering his footing, his massive limbs trembling slightly as he rose. The ground beneath them cracked further, lava spilling upward, as the roof began to cave.

Luna snapped her wings open. "Move!"

Dragons surged toward the escape tunnels, their wings beating furiously against the thickening air. The Bewilderbeast followed, his movements slow but steady, his massive form weaving through the destruction.

The Hidden World was falling. But they were escaping.

The air was thick with ash and mist as the surviving dragons hovered above the ruins of the Hidden World. The once-majestic cavern, filled with glowing crystals and sprawling waters, was now collapsing in on itself.

The waterfall, once a seamless veil protecting their sanctuary, caved inward—its force stretching miles beyond where it had once stood. What remained was a deep, fractured ravine, a scar upon the earth. No more tunnels. No more glowing wonders. Just destruction.

Garff's voice broke the silence, shaky and raw. "Our home..."

The words settled heavily among them.

Luna's breath hitched as she looked at the devastation below. Dragons murmured amongst themselves, some lowering their heads, others simply staring. Many had made it out, but so many hadn't.

Their sanctuary was gone.

Toothless hovered beside Luna, his glowing red streaks fading, returning to normal. He had the power to save them, had won the battle, but even victory had a cost.

For a long moment, no one spoke. Then Luna straightened, her wings spreading slightly, trying to shake off the weight of loss. "We keep moving," she said, voice firm despite the grief. "We rebuild. Somewhere."

And so, battered and weary, the surviving dragons hovered above.

The weary dragons glided through the open sky, their wings cutting through the fresh air, escaping the destruction they had left behind. The Hidden World was gone—buried beneath fire and stone—but they had survived.

Toothless flew at the front, leading the group back home. The weight of everything pressed on his shoulders.

Beneath the water's surface, the Bewilderbeast followed, his colossal form gliding silently beneath the waves. He was no longer a ruler, no longer a tyrant. He was something else now—something uncertain.

Luna glanced down at the shadow in the water before shifting toward Toothless, flying beside him. "You really think this is gonna go over well?"

Toothless exhaled sharply, his wings shifting slightly as he kept pace beside Luna. He glanced down at the massive shadow gliding beneath the water—the Bewilderbeast, silent, watching, following.

His gaze flicked back to Luna. "No," he admitted.

Luna huffed a small laugh, shaking her head. "You think Hiccup's gonna pass out when he sees this?"

Toothless smirked. "Oh, definitely."

They flew onward, the weight of the past behind them, the uncertainty of the future ahead. Whatever came next, they'd face it together.

─────────────────────────────

The scene shifts to Berk, where the dragon academy is in full clean-up mode. Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, and the twins are hard at work—or at least, some of them are.

Snotlout leans against a pile of supplies, arms crossed, watching the others struggle. "You know, leadership is all about delegating tasks. And I, for one, am excellent at that."

Astrid shoots him a glare. "You haven't lifted a single thing."

"I lifted morale," he counters, flashing a smug grin.

Meanwhile, Ruffnut and Tuffnut are supposed to be organizing saddles, but instead, they're conducting a very serious experiment—how many helmets they can stack on Meatlug before she notices. Fishlegs, horrified, rushes over.

"Guys, that's not how you treat a Gronckle!"

"She likes it," Ruffnut insists, placing another helmet on top.

Meatlug lets out a slow, confused blink.

Just as Hiccup is about to call everyone back to order, the doors to the academy slam open.

Eret bursts in, panting, looking like he just ran across the entire island. "Hiccup! You need to come, now!"

Hiccup straightens, immediately alert. "What? What happened?"

Eret gestures wildly. "Just trust me. Drop whatever you're doing and follow me!"

The gang exchanges glances before scrambling after him, abandoning their half-finished tasks. Tuffnut, mid-helmet stack, sighs. "And we were so close to a world record."

Eret leads them through the village, weaving past confused Vikings until they reach the clear terrain cliff that overlooks the water.

And there, standing near the edge, is Luna's mother. She shifts uneasily, wings tucked close, her gaze darting between the unfamiliar faces. She's nervous, hesitant—but she remembers Luna's words. They won't harm you.

Hiccup slows his approach, eyes widening slightly. "Whoa..."

Astrid steps beside him, equally stunned.

Fishlegs, overwhelmed, lets out a strangled gasp. "I need to document this—immediately!"

Snotlout, ever the opportunist, nudges Hiccup. "So, uh... what's the plan, Chief? You gonna tame her, or do we just hope she doesn't eat us?"

Luna's mother exhales sharply, shifting her stance. Hiccup takes a careful step forward, voice calm. "It's okay. You're safe here."

She watches him for a long moment. Then slowly, she relaxes. The gang collectively exhales.

"Well," Tuffnut mutters, "this is way cooler than cleaning saddles."

Astrid narrows her eyes slightly. "Hey... Hiccup. Is this the same Night Fury we saw that night with Toothless?"

Hiccup studies her carefully. "No-no. This one's bigger. It's an adult."

Silence.

Then, realization dawns. "There's more..." Hiccup breathes.

Astrid's expression tightens. "But wait—if this isn't the same Night Fury, then where are Toothless and the other one?"

Hiccup's stomach twists. Something is wrong. But for now, he focuses on the dragon before him. He lifts his hand, palm outward—the same gesture he used with Toothless all those years ago.

A silent offer. A chance at trust. And he waits.

Hiccup stood motionless, palm still extended, as Luna's mother hesitated. Her nostrils flared, taking in his scent, her golden eyes scanning his face for any hint of deception. The gang watched in tense silence.

Then, after a long pause, she leaned in. Her snout brushed lightly against his palm.

Hiccup let out a slow, relieved exhale. "There we go."

Astrid crossed her arms, watching with mild amusement. "You really do have a way with dragons."

Snotlout scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, we get it, Hiccup the dragon whisperer. Personally, I prefer to let them come to me."

"Pretty sure they'd rather step on you," Fishlegs muttered under his breath.

Tuffnut was staring intensely. "What if she's secretly royalty? Like, what if she's a Night Fury queen?"

Ruffnut gasped. "Ooooh. That would make Toothless a prince."

Snotlout smirked. "Then that means Hiccup married into royalty."

Hiccup sighed. "Guys, focus."

While Hiccup was busy taming the night fury, Astrid's breath hitched as she locked onto the horizon, her eyes widening at the sight of something massive. A dark, shifting cloud of movement—dragons. Not just a few. Not just a flock. A swarm. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Guys... what is that?"

The gang turned, their gazes following hers. Even Luna's mother stiffened, her wings twitching as she watched the approaching party.

The dragons grew closer, their sheer numbers blotting out the sun, casting Berk into shadow. The village below fell into stunned silence, Vikings pausing mid-task, their expressions shifting from awe to unease.

Some murmured in fear. Others gripped their weapons. They didn't know if this was an attack or something else.

Hiccup swallowed hard, keeping his voice steady. "No sudden movements."

The ground trembled just a little.

The twins yelped as they lost their balance, tumbling into a pile of leaves that was beside them. The water below churned violently, waves crashing against the cliff as something stirred beneath the surface. 

Massive, curling tusk breached the water first, followed by the monstrous face of the Bewilderbeast. His colossal form rose, towering over the cliffs, his glowing eyes scanning the humans below. Astrid let out a sharp gasp, almost stumbling over her footing.

All of Berk stood frozen, watching as the titan loomed at ground level with the cliff. Hiccup forced himself to breathe. "Okay... okay, everyone, remain calm."

But the Bewilderbeast didn't attack. Didn't roar. Didn't move. He simply watched. Hiccup's brows furrowed. Why isn't he attacking?

Suddenly, the swarm divided into two groups. Some dragons perched on the Bewilderbeast's massive form, settling against his armored hide. Others landed on the cliff near the gang, their wings folding as they observed the humans.

And then came Luna. She descended gracefully, landing atop the Bewilderbeast's back, her sleek form blending into his scales. Beside her, other female Night Furies followed.

Luna's mother stiffened, then, without hesitation, she took flight, soaring toward her daughter. The gang barely had time to process before the realization hit them all at once.

"NIGHT FURIES," they breathed in unison.

Berk had never seen this before. And neither had Hiccup.

As the tension in Berk lingered, a few of the female Night Furies descended from the Bewilderbeast's towering frame, their sleek forms gliding effortlessly through the crisp air. Some landed near the Vikings, curiously sniffing them, their bright eyes scanning unfamiliar faces. The villagers tensed at first, hesitant, but slowly, the awe of the moment settled in.

But Luna wasn't focused on them. She moved deliberately, her graceful stride carrying her forward with certainty.

Straight to Hiccup.

Completely unfazed by the human standing before her, she approached without hesitation. The silence stretched as the gang watched with wide eyes, unsure of what she would do.

She then pressed her head against his chest. A soft, trusting nuzzle. Hiccup froze, his breath catching. The realization hit him in waves—she trusted him. Entirely.

The gang stood in stunned silence, exchanging glances. Even Astrid, usually sharp with words, had nothing to say.

Hiccup scanned the skies, his heart pounding. "Where's Toothless?"

As if the dragon would answer with words. For a moment, unease settled in his chest. Had something happened? But then, he glanced at Luna. She was calm. Unbothered. She knew he was fine.

Suddenly, the sky changed. Darkness rolled in like a tidal wave, swallowing the blue in seconds. Thunder rumbled in the distance, deep and foreboding. The wind picked up, whipping through Berk with an eerie power.

Tuffnut squinted at the swirling vortex forming slightly ahead of them. "Guys... It's happening. THE END OF THE WORLD!"

Astrid didn't even have the energy to tell him to shut up. Because, for a split second, she wondered the same thing. Was the world ending? WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS?!

Snotlout stumbled as the wind nearly knocked him off balance. "WHAT DO WE DO?!"

No one answered. They just watched.

Lightning crackled, illuminating the sky in jagged streaks. The storm swirled, growing stronger, more unnatural.

Hiccup narrowed his eyes, looking farther into the sky. His eyes landed on what looked like more dragons. "What... is that?"

Luna smirked, turning toward the sky. "That would be the guys."

The camera pans skyward, revealing Toothless at the forefront, leading the charge. Behind him, a fleet of male Night Furies and Skrills surged forward, their bodies cutting through the storm like living shadows. Lightning followed them, crackling in their wake, drawn to their presence. Toothless unleashed a thunderous roar.

The villagers stood frozen, watching as the sky darkened completely. The sun vanished behind the storm, rain pouring down in heavy sheets. And then the sky lit up. A rainbow of energy burst through the darkness: Red, yellow, magenta, blue, white, orange, cyan. Lightning danced between the dragons, connecting them in a brilliant chain of power. 

One by one, they charged up, their bodies crackling with raw energy. Plasma pulsed in their throats, fire ignited in their bellies, and lightning surged between them, linking their power in a dazzling display. 

The silence stretched, heavy and intact. The air itself seemed to hold its breath, the tension thick enough to feel.

.......BOOM. 

The explosion wobbled the air, sending a shockwave through Berk. The villagers flinched, their hair rustling from the force.

And just like that, the storm was gone. The sky returned to its peaceful blue, as if nothing had happened. Soon came a high-pitched sound. A familiar sound. But this time, intensified.

Toothless and the others dived, nose-first, toward Berk's ground. Some showed off by twisting mid-air, performing barrel rolls, their bodies vanishing into invisibility. 

The soft thud of their landing barely disturbed the grass, a gentle ripple spreading beneath their feet. Dust swirled lazily in the air, settling as the figures emerged, their movements fluid and deliberate, shadows peeling away to reveal their sleek forms.

One by one, they revealed themselves, the sleek glint of their scales catching the golden glow of the afternoon sun. A herd of Night Furies. 

Hiccup didn't move. His gaze darted across the crowd, scanning frantically, searching, needing. Then, the Night Furies shifted. One by one, they stepped aside, forming a path. A silent procession. A reverent display. Like a red carpet, unfurling for their leader. Toothless.

He walked forward, uncloaking as he did, his piercing green eyes locking onto Hiccup. And in that moment, everything else faded.  Home at last.

Hiccup nearly passed out. His breath hitched, his mind scrambling to process what he was seeing. A herd of Night Furies. And then Toothless. He ran straight to him, arms wide, pulling his best friend into a hug, gripping him tightly as if afraid he might vanish again.

"Bad dragon. Very bad dragon." He chuckled, shaking his head, overwhelmed with relief. "You scared me to death." 

Then, as he pulled back, his eyes darted over Toothless's sleek form, realization hitting him like a bolt of lightning. 

"AND YOU CAN GO INVISIBLE?!"

His voice cracked with sheer disbelief, his hands gesturing wildly as he stared at Toothless, who simply smirked in response.

Hiccup's gaze lingered on Toothless, his brows knitting together in concern. His best friend was home, but his body bore the marks of war—scars along his wings, faint scorch marks, and a gash along his ear.

"And what have you been doing?" Hiccup muttered, concern flickering in his voice. "You have cuts all over your body."

Toothless exhaled sharply, shifting slightly under his touch.

Hiccup sighed, shaking his head. "You've been busy." Then he glanced around. Dragons—so many dragons filled the skies, the cliffs, the waters. Berk had never seen anything like it. "And you've brought back dragons... so many dragons." His voice carried an edge of disbelief.

Before Toothless could react, another chorus of distant roars echoed across the horizon. The gang turned, watching as packs of Speed Stingers sprinted along the shoreline, their elegant teal bodies weaving through the terrain. Beyond them, water dwellers emerged from the depths, massive fins cutting through the waves as they approached.

Hiccup exhaled. "You really brought all of them." A beat of silence. Then, he glanced toward the village. "We're going to need more dragon houses. Immediately."

The scene shifts to Gobber, who lets out a strangled yell as a flock of Hobgobblers land in front of him. "Oh, no. TOOTHLESS! Take these ones back wherever you found them! They're a bad omen!"

Valka strides past him, picking up a Hobgobbler with amused curiosity. "Oh, stop it, Gobber. This one's adorable."

Gobber scowls. "Mark my words, Val. They will be the end of us all."

Valka ignores him, cradling the little dragon. But as she turns toward the massive sea dweller—the Bewilderbeast—her expression shifts. With each step forward, her emotions rise. She remembers her own Bewilderbeast, the one that had protected her, led her. The one Drago took from her. She takes one final step, staring into the titan's glowing eyes. The Bewilderbeast watches her carefully, unmoving.

She reaches out. Her hand rests gently against his only tusk. "I know what you did was out of your control," she whispers. "I forgive you."

Elsewhere, Astrid is greeted by Toothless. "Hey, bud."

Toothless nuzzles into her side, then gently grips the edge of her skirt, tugging at it.

Astrid chuckles, rubbing his head. "I missed you too." Stormfly rumbles softly beside her.

Hiccup watches the interaction, arms crossed. "Where exactly are you going?"

Astrid shrugs. "I have no idea."

Toothless leads her through the crowd of dragons, weaving past familiar faces. Astrid follows, anticipation rising as she wonders what he's about to show her. Then, they come to a stop. Astrid's breath catches.

Standing before her, alive, is Garff. Her eyes light up. A cry bursts from her throat. "GARFF!"

Emotion floods her, breaking through her composure as she stumbles forward, overcome. The sight of her long-lost friend shatters something inside her. Stormfly lets out a sound that's half a chirp, half a cry.

Hiccup nearly startled, rushed forward. "Astrid, what's—"

But then Garff sprints toward them. Before Astrid can react, he tackles her, sending both her and Stormfly tumbling into the open space. Laughter. Tears. Cheering. Astrid buries her face into Garff's neck. "You're alive."

Toothless steps forward, watching the reunion. Astrid lifts her gaze—grateful, overwhelmed. She cups his chin, pressing her forehead against his. "Thank you."

The village is alive now—dragons and Vikings reunited. The gang spots familiar faces: the Triple Stryke, the Speed Stinger chief, even a Screaming Death.

Fishlegs is about three seconds away from passing out from sheer excitement.

Hiccup turns toward Valka and Eret, standing just outside the crowd. He exhales. "So. What exactly do we do with all these dragons?"

Valka hums thoughtfully. "I have an idea." She steps forward, gesturing for Toothless. He listens.

"I need you to lead them," she says. "Somewhere safe."

Toothless nods.

"Take them to my mountain."

Toothless pauses for a moment, then turns toward the gathering of dragons. He lets out a commanding roar. 

He looks at the Bewilderbeast. "Board him. We're leaving."

Dragons obey, moving toward the towering sea dweller. Toothless remains still, watching them go. His gaze shifts toward Luna as she steps beside him.

"I'm sorry about your home," he says gently.

"It's okay," she said, before giving him a lick.

Her mother steps forward, her eyes filled with quiet gratitude. She meets Toothless's gaze, her voice gentle yet firm. "Thank you," she says softly. "For protecting my daughter and keeping her safe."

Toothless dips his head. "You're welcome."

The weight of her words lingers, carrying more than just appreciation. So much more. 

Her mother's breath hitched as her eye landed on the deep, jagged bite marked her shoulder etched into Luna's shoulder. Her eyes widened, panic flaring to life in her expression.

"Luna, what happened?! Who did this to you?"

She hurriedly inspected the wound, her ear flicking in distress.

Toothless shuffled his wings, suddenly very focused on the ground beneath him. His ears flattened slightly, and his tail curled closer to his body.

"Uh..." His voice came out hesitant, barely above a mumble.

Luna turned to him, a knowing glint in her eyes.

Toothless exhaled sharply, squeezing his eyes shut for a beat before sheepishly admitting, "That one... might've been me."

Her mother stiffened, blinking at him in stunned silence.

"You—YOU bit her?!"

Toothless winced. "It's a long story."

Then, before she could react further, he lifted his wing slightly, gesturing toward the fresh gash on his ear.

"She got me back though," he added, his tone carrying a mix of amusement and mild exasperation. 

Her mother stared at the wound for a moment, then let out a sharp exhale, shaking her head. A slow, proud smile tugged at her lips. "That's my girl."

The Night Furies gather near the Bewilderbeast, preparing to depart. But before boarding, the same crimson Night Fury from earlier approaches Toothless.

"That was some impressive flying," he says. "You saved us. Sure, our home may be gone, but you did good, kid."

Toothless tilts his head, eyes narrowing in playful skepticism. "Kid? Jeez, how old are you?"

The crimson Night Fury lets out a chuckle. "Oldest in the group..."

A sly smirk crept up on the corners of his mouth. "And not only are you our new leader..." His eyes gleamed with amusement as he leaned in slightly. "Seems you've got quite the fan club."

Toothless blinked. "Huh?"

The crimson Night Fury smirked, tilting his head toward the group of female Night Furies behind him. They moved gracefully, making their way toward the Bewilderbeast, but their eyes lingered on Toothless, filled with unmistakable interest. 

"Look behind you."

Toothless hesitates, then turns.

Two female Night Furies brush against him, offering compliments and sultry smirks. But he wasn't interested.

"You should fly by sometime," one murmured, her voice low and inviting.

"Strong, commanding... Cute," another added, twirling her tail.

A third let out a soft hum, her gaze tracing his form. "Those emerald eyes, that strength—" A low, rumbling grr vibrated through her, deep and deliberate."

Toothless adjusted his stance under their attention, lowering his head slightly in flattery. He flashed a sheepish grin, his tone light. "Ladies, ladies, please," he says. "I'm flattered, really, but—"

Before he can finish, a low growl rumbles beside him. Luna.

The females immediately back off, exchanging amused glances before retreating.

Toothless chuckles, nudging Luna playfully. "Jealous much?"

"Just making sure they know their place." She said, flicking her ear.

Toothless nudges her playfully. "So... I'll see you around?"

Luna cocks her head. "What do you mean?"

"Aren't you going with them?"

"Are you going?" she counters.

"No. I have to stay here with Hiccup- and-"

"-Then no, I'm not."

And just like that, all the dragons finished boarding the Bewilderbeast.

Toothless approaches the titan. "You know where to take them. Keep them safe."

The Bewilderbeast nods. "You got it." With that, they take off.

Valka watches from afar, her eyes soft. A new beginning. Meanwhile, Toothless and Luna lounge in the grass, playfully nudging each other.

Fishlegs watches, grinning. "Awww, look at that. Toothless has a girlfriend."

Hiccup rolls his eyes. "Speaking of girlfriends—where's mine?" He scans the area. "Astrid?!"

"HELP!" Astrid's voice rings out.

The gang rushes toward the source—only to find her in the most ridiculous predicament. She's trapped. In Garff's amber.

Hiccup pauses. "Babe... how did you—"

Astrid cuts him off immediately. "Don't ask. Snotlout, get the Nightmare gel. Now."

Snotlout smirks. "Yeah... in a minute."

Astrid glares. "SNOTLOUT!"

Hiccup raises an eyebrow at him. "Snotlout...."

Snotlout grumbles. "Fine. But seriously—she gets to assault me, and when I wanna keep her trapped in amber, suddenly it's an issue? MAKE IT MAKE SENSE, PEOPLE."

Hiccup sighs, turning back to Astrid. "But, seriously... how did this happen?"

Astrid deadpans. "Garff sneezed."

Hiccup bursts into laughter.

─────────────────────────────

Fifteen Years Later...

Fifteen long, grueling years of parenting.

The Haddock household bustled with movement as Zephyr and Nuffink dashed downstairs. Zephyr slung her gear over her shoulder, adjusting the straps of her bag as she called out, "Dad! Nuffink and I are heading out with the gang!"

Before they could reach the front door, Hiccup leaned against the wall, arms crossed, tone chill. "Where exactly are you headed?"

Zephyr smirked. "Wherever the wind takes us, Dad! You know how exploring works."

Astrid, walking in from another room, shot her a look. "Believe what you want, Zeph, but you're a lot like your father." She adjusted her tunic before continuing, "And let's get one thing straight—just because you're fifteen doesn't mean you can run around the world with Pouncer, Dart, Ruffrunner, and your little group of friends all day, every day."

"Be back before noon," She added. "And make sure you watch after Nuffink."

"Yeah, yeah—will do, Mom." Zephyr rolled her eyes, grabbing her survival knife and adjusting her pouch, filled with road snacks and gear.

Astrid's tone sharpened. "I'm serious."

Hiccup turned toward Nuffink. "And you—make sure your sister doesn't do anything she's not supposed to. That goes for all of you. I better not hear from anyone's parents about how their kid got hurt on some wild expedition."

Nuffink raised his hands in mock surrender. "Will do, Dad."

The door swung open, sunlight streaming into the home. The wind tousled their hair as their dragons stirred from their perch on the roof.

Zephyr adjusted the straps of her gear, her maroon tunic complemented by the wide red sash at her waist. Her auburn hair, bound in twin ponytails, framed her crystal-blue eyes, a striking resemblance to Astrid. She wore blue leggings tucked into olive bracers with fur cuffs and a leather skirt reinforced with blunt metal studs. She was every bit her mother.

Nuffink inherited Astrid's blonde hair but bore Hiccup's sharp green eyes. His lanky frame was wrapped in a red tunic, trimmed in gold, reminiscent of his father's younger days. Braids ran through the back of his shaggy hair, and a single sharp tooth hung from a leather necklace at his collar.

Before Zephyr could mount her dragon, Astrid added one last warning. "And remember—stay away from Blue Oleander and—"

"—Keep Nuffink away from bees. I know, Mom, I know," Zephyr groaned, cutting her off.

A gust of wind signaled the arrival of their friends. Four riders descended onto the open clearing, their dragons landing with accuracy.

Zephyr and Nuffink jogged toward their Night Furies, Pouncer, Dart, and Ruffrunner, who had been lounging near the entrance. Nuffink called out. "C'mon, guys—let's go!"

The three dragons perked up instantly, stretching their wings before lowering themselves enough for their riders to mount.

With one last glance back at their parents, the siblings grinned—then kicked off from the ground, their dragons taking steady, powerful strides before finally lifting into the sky.

And just like that, the next generation set off, adventure waiting beyond the horizon.

Hiccup crossed his arms, watching the figures disappear into the distance.

Astrid leaned against him, sighing. "You do realize those kids are mini versions of us, right?"

Hiccup chuckled. "Oh, I know. And that's exactly what terrifies me."