The wind was bitter cold that night, the stars shining brightly under the new moon. A shadow moved through the constellations, first through Ursa Minor then Dracos. The shadow was moving north, towards the mountains that covered the land, their caps constantly covered in snow.
Toothless moved his wings in a steady rhythm, his long wingspan giving him excellent speed and maneuverability. Because of his species, he was the rarest breed of dragons: the most intellectual, the fastest, and the one most capable of feelings.
It was because of these abilities that he found himself on this journey.
He maneuvered through the mountain range, avoiding jutting cliffs with a graceful ease. His senses were telling him where to go, the fringe on his neck vibrating for the right direction. She knew he was coming; she was guiding him.
Finally, his eyes landed on a cliff covered in snow. With adjustment to his wings, he landed in the cold fluff. Before him stood a cave that spilled the warmth of a promised fire. There was a hesitation in his step; a sense of foreboding falling over him as he looked into the cave. Still, he needed to do this. He needed to talk to her.
With a mind set of determination he pushed forward, folding his wings to his body so he could fit into the entrance of the cave. Instantly, a wave of warmth fell over his scales and his golden green eyes flickered around his environment, adjusting to the light slowly. He was at the top of a stone staircase, surrounded by stone walls filled with roots growing from wedges in the rock.
A light smoke came from the depths of the cave, as if asking him to step closer. Remembering his determination, he followed the waves of smoke. With each step farther into the cave, the cold night air faded into inexistence and an easy warmth spread over him. At the base of the stairs, he found two trays on stone ledges that held incense as an offering and before him a large wooden door. Its width easily spread the length of his wing span and its height would put some houses to shame.
The door of the goddess.
He let out a soft growl, telling those within of his presence. For a moment, nothing happened. The sound of the wind howling across the cave entrance echoed down the stairway, sending a shiver down the reptile's spine. His attention turned away from the door for a moment as he glanced but up the stairs longingly, not wanting to meddle with the great gods.
But it was too late to go back now. A creaking sound filled the entrance room Toothless found himself in, an old woman appearing in the creak of the door. She was hutched over, leaning on a cane made from a twisted branch. Her face was drawn, as if more years than a life had to offer had passed by her eyes. She spoke and her voice cracked with old age. "Dragon, please come in."
The door opened wider and toothless entered, finding himself in a room of luxury and comfort. A warm fire crackled in the fire place, surrounded by plush pillows and blankets made of the finest cotton. An intricately woven rug lay before the hearth, detailing the events of how a goddess of love had obtained the blue cats that rode across the sky in the golden chariot with her. He found himself staring at the detailed pictures, unable to pull away from the enticing story. The old woman nodded knowingly at his fascination, closing the heavy oak door with a heavy thud. She then limped over to stand beside the elegant blue scaled beast, a hand resting on top of the other while leaning over with the support of the cane.
"The Lady has a way of getting things she desires," she said, eyeing the dragon precariously. Toothless smiled, just how Hiccup had taught him. It was that very attribute about the goddess that sent chills of worry down his spine.
A door off to the side of the foyer creaked open. Toothless and the old woman turned, gazing at the bare beauty of the goddess of love and destiny, Freya.
She walked in, her bare footsteps falling softly on the warm floor. Thick, strawberry blonde curls tussled around her oval face, accentuating the starkness of the intense blue eyes. As she neared them, the old woman walked over to the back of a chair, setting her cane down against the wooden piece of furniture and picking up a fine robe made of linen, detailed impactions of the night sky sewn into the fabric. The goddess walked towards her, extending an arm to be cloaked in the soft fabric.
Toothless watched, unable to look away from the sight of the goddess to be certain. She was the definition of mate, no matter the species. Freya watching the dragons eyes knowingly, pulling the robe around her. "And what have you come for, Night Fury of the sky?" she asked, her voice the sound of snow falling on a windless day.
The bluntness of the question caught him off guard but he made soft sounds, telling the glorious lady in his own words why he had come. Once he was finished, the goddess smiled, sitting herself on the floor in front of the hearth and running her hands through the flames. "You wish to show the one you love your affection and gratitude? Such is a noble cause, a plea of the heart." She picked up some of the flames in her hand, watching them dance. "But asking such a thing comes at a price."
He growled, already disliking the turn of events. Would this price be something he could not afford to give? His muscles tensed, ready to flee the room if need be.
"Easy, little Night Fury. Hear me before you make your decision." She stood slowly, the constellations on her robe falling easily around her slender frame. "I can turn you into a human; make you capable of connecting with him in new ways. But it will not last. Within a week you shall transform into your natural form, a dragon for all eternity. I will be powerless to change you back again."
Toothless relaxed a little at this news. So far, nothing mentioned would be something horrible to live with.
"The price paid will be heartbreak." The goddess moved towards the dragon, extending the warm fire towards his lips. "If you can accept this, eat the fire." Her stormy blue eyes never left his, eagerness apparent.
Without much hesitation, he leaned forward and took the flames gingerly from the goddess's hand. They tickled the inside of his mouth before flowing down the back of his throat, a warm sensation spreading through his heart.
The last thing he saw that night was the knowing smile of a goddess.