Paradise Lost

The atmosphere around both Draconia and Berk was gloomy. It had been a year since Serenity had been taken by the sea. Everyone was missing her. Chris woke up every morning and saw her wedding dress in the corner with her medical bag, her hat, and her favorite book Cinderella. The dragons looked out at the sea every morning. They wanted the sea to give her back. Re was hunted by the image of her being pushed into the water, never to be seen again. They all saw her in their dreams; her friendly smile, her sparkling green eyes, her honey sweet voice, her skills as a dragon healer.

The dragons of Berk were missing her too. They sat under her Golden Apple Tree and let their minds wonder back to all the times they had spent with her, talking about random things. They missed her songs and her sweet smell of Dragonnip.

"What's your favorite memory?" Toothless asked one early spring day.

"That's a hard one," said Hookfang. "I think my favorite memory is when she came with us to Dragon Island to meet the Boneknapper."

"Yeah that was fun," said Meatlug. "I liked it when she stayed with us on Dragon Island when we got banished that one time. She made that whole thing bearable."

"I remember the time we got sick from the Blue Oleander," said Barf. "Even though she didn't have the cure, she still worked very hard to make us feel better."

"I remember when she Draco gave Ruby back to her," said Belch. "I'll never forget the smile on her face that day."

"I won't forget how beautiful she looked in that wedding dress," said Stormfly. They all awed in agreement.

"I liked it when we all got to go and save her when she got kidnapped by Hael," Toothless said. "I know it wasn't fun seeing her frozen and helpless, but at least she was safe and alive." He sat on is haunches and looked down at his paws. They were all quiet for a few minuets. Cloudjumber and Skullchrusher hadn't known Serenity for very long, but they still thought of her as a close friend and missed her just as badly.

"It's a shame she had to get sick that one time," Cloudjumper said. "She would have liked my old nest. Our Bewilderbeast would have gotten on very well with her."

"And I bet she would have been quite impressed when I burst out of the ice, with my titan wing unlocked," Toothless said.

"She didn't get to see Re or Tenor unlock their titan wing," said Skullcrusher.

"I miss her," Hookfang said, speaking everyone's mind. "I wish she was sitting in that chair right now, making something beautiful." They looked at Serenity's vacant seat by the fire pit, in the shade of the apple tree. Next to it was her sewing basket; filled with yarn, needles of all sizes, ribbon and thread. They remembered when she had bought the basket from Trader Johan. It had been back when the dragons had gotten sick from the Blue Oleander. Serenity had given all her time and effort into making them feel better. She wasn't just a pretty face, but a hard-working dragon healer. What the dragons hadn't known back then was that she was dreaming of her own happy ending, with a husband and child.

Toothless laid his head on the chair. He could smell her sent of Dragonnip and imagined that she was there, stroking his forehead. But they all had to face the truth, she was gone and not coming back. Just then the dragons heard their riders calling them.

They went down to the plaza where they met up with their riders. Though Serenity was gone, they still had their riders and that made them feel slightly better. The Vikings weren't as badly effected by Serenity's disappearance, but they all had her at the back of their minds. Even Gothi felt sorry for her. She still didn't like her seeing dragons as family, but that didn't means she wanted the girl dead. Serenity was a very bright person with lots of love in her heart.

The next day the Vikings and dragons were doing their daily activities when the Draconinans landed in the plaza. This was a surprise as the Berkians didn't think they would return after what happened.

"Hey Re," Hiccup said. "Didn't think we'd see you guys this year."

"Well, Serenity would have wanted us to keep moving forward," Aurora said. "She always tried to when bad things happened to her. I'm sure we'll see her again, someday." At that moment Edelweiss jumped off Apollo and ran over to Toothless and hugged his paw. Toothless purred and nuzzled the child. He noticed that she smelled like Dragonnip. When she pulled back he saw her green eyes. Toothless gave her his gummy smile and his cutest eyes. She laughed and petted his nose.

"How are you Edel?" he asked.

"Okay," Edelweiss answered. "I miss Mommy though."

"I bet you do," Toothless said. "You're starting to look like her you know." All the dragons looked at Edelweiss and saw that it was true. She had Serenity's green eyes, her beautiful round face, and her friendly smile. Edelweiss hugged each dragon before running back to Chris.

"How are you guys coping?" Astrid asked.

"Slowly," Tenor said. "I'm sure she misses us as much as we miss her."

"I'd give anything to have her back," Chris said. They all murmured in agreement.

The Draconinans flew to Dragon Island and landed on the ledge throne. They sat in a circle. Re lit the large fire pit.

"What does Grandfather's castle look like?" asked Avalon.

"Father lives in a castle made entirely of glass and silver," Aurora said. "It sits in the middle of a large ocean. The ocean shows him everything that's happening down here. The castle is 100 times the size of the Draconian Castle and the Dragon Island Castle combined. All the royal families will live there. Serenity will be there, of that I am sure. She'll be the first human to see this castle. " The Queen laid her head on her front paws.

No one spoke for a while. Then when the sun started to set everyone turned in for the night. Everyone, except Chris. He sat on a boulder on the beach. The stars came out and filled the sky, along with a crescent moon. Then the sky burst into color with the aurora borealis. The lights were red and yellow. It was all reflected in the ocean water, which was unusually smooth and still. Suddenly Chris heard the sound of a spout. He looked out and saw a huge black fin cutting through the water. He recognized the fin at once.

"Shark?" he said. The large, black sea dragon lifted her head out of the water when she heard her name. She swam as close as she dared.

Shark was the oldest dragon on Earth. She was the closest thing Aurora had to a sister. She was a solid black Whale Dragon. She looked like cross between a whale and a plesiosaur, and like Aurora she had the gift of magic. She usually had no problem eating humans, as they caused a lot of damage to the ocean. But she had no interest in eating a human that belonged to the Dragon King.

"Hello," she said. "Don't you humans go to sleep around this time?"

"I haven't been sleeping very well lately," Chris said. "I've had a rough year." Shark narrowed her eyes. She already heard what happened to the Dragon Healer. She knew everything that went on in the ocean.

"The ocean has taken something from you," she said, it wasn't a question. "Something precious."

"My wife," Chris said. "And we all miss her."

"Humans mean nothing to me on a regular basis," Shark said. "And I never thought I'd actually feel sorry for one."

"I really want her back," Chris said. "I'd give anything to see her again, even if it was only to tell her good bye." Shark considered.

"I own the ocean you know," she said. "I might be able to let you see her again."

"You can?" Chris said, hope returning to him. Shark nodded.

"However, there is a price to pay," she said. "My ocean claims many souls every year. In order for one to be released, one must be given. Who's soul would you give for hers?" She already knew his answer.

"Mine," Chris said. Shark hissed and pretended to look surprised.

"You sure you know what your doing boy?" she said carefully. "Giving your soul is no kelp walk. I know you love her, but it may not turn out the way you want."

"If it's what I have to do," Chris said. Shark growled and blew her spout again. Then she gave in.

"Very well, if you think it's worth it," she said. "Wait right there."

She turned and swam back out to the water and dived. The ocean started to boil and fizz. The lights above descended so they were right above the water. Then a huge wave of both water and color rolled towards shore. It splashed over Chris and washed him off the rocks. The water swirled in a massive whirlpool, which washed away his human skin. He took on a new form. Then the ocean washed him onto the beach, before going back to its smooth self. Shark lifted her head back out.

"I'll stick around incase you come to your senses," she said, knowing Chris could hear her. "Expect your purchase within a few hours." Then she turned around and dived back into the water with a wave of her big, black whale's tail.