''Stop worrying about Peregrine!'' ordered Astrid bossily as she noticed Hiccup's thinking face. The two of them soared side by side in the bright blue morning sky.
''I'm not worried.'' objected Hiccup, turning to face her, only to receive a pointed look from her with a raised eyebrow. ''I'm not!''
''Okay.'' laughed Astrid in defence. ''I get it.''
Hiccup looked at her, confused. ''Get what?'' he wondered.
''Well, you and your... baby.'' she said, finding no better word.
''My baby?'' questioned Hiccup, understanding very little. ''What-?''
''Peregrine!'' said Astrid, trying to make him realize his different approach to the baby Hobblegrunt. ''The way you treat him the way you do.''
''Oh, come on...'' whined Hiccup, complaining at her thoughts. He couldn't prove her how wrong she was.
''No, I'm serious!'' laughed Astrid, directing Stormfly closer to Toothless. ''You want to give him nothing but love and... You know, Hiccup, you can love something – someone – and still give them boundaries! You know, my parents raised me with 'do this – don't it'. I didn't only have love from them.''
''Yeah, and look how you turned out..!'' said Hiccup and Astrid could only reply with incomplete words, her mouth opening and clapping shut a couple times. After a moment of trying to defend herself, she gave up and found herself laughing with Hiccup as their dragons flew low above the ocean of trees covering Dragon's Edge.
A bright-red dragon crawled in the shadows below the two passing dragons above, a Deadly Nadder and Night Fury. It growled and followed them quietly, without making a sound, without giving away the element of surprise.
The sun was rising higher in the sky signaling they had to head back and check on Peregrine.
''We should be heading back.'' proposed Hiccup, and Astrid agreed. They redirected their dragons towards the base, but they didn't get very far from the location of course-change when a Monstrous Nightmare – the Monstrous Nightmare – shot out of nowhere and attacked the sky-blue Nadder, its jaws wide open, ready to take a bite.
''Astrid!'' Hiccup called, reaching out a hand just as she kicked Stormfly's side for her to get out of the way.
The Nightmare roared back at them and flew straight at them once more, shooting a fireball, which only happened to pass between them as Toothless and Stormfly dodged it by splitting apart.
''Toothless.'' said Hiccup in his dragon's ears, and the Night Fury fired his own fire at the Nightmare, and the bright-red dragon roared once last time before flying away in retreat once more.
''You okay?'' Hiccup asked Astrid as she flew Stormfly on the spot. She nodded, and with one last look behind them at the strange acting Monstrous Nightmare, headed back to the base.
...
On patrol, Snotlout soared above Dragon's Edge, looping around the island a couple times. There was this place on the far side of the island – all rocky and cliffy. It was the place he liked less patrolling because of the chances of rockslides every now and then. This was the part he always rushed, taking one look, turning tales and run.
As he flew before the dusty cliffs, a shriek reached them and Hookfang's head suddenly raised, eyes wide open, searching for the source.
''What was that?'' questioned Snotlout, tightening his grip at his dragon's horns as he started panicking like usually. ''Hookfang, let's get out of here...''
But all Hookfang did was shake his head and descend all suddenly from the sky, down towards a crevice between the rocks he seemed to sniff something from. The orange-red Nightmare landed heavily beside it, shaking his rider off stubbornly. Snotlout dropped to the ground and a tiny roar met his ears. The roar was coming from the crevice...
He crunched low to get a better look and whispered three words. ''Oh, my Thor...''
...
Tuffnut came in the Clubhouse where he finally found Hiccup and Astrid he'd been searching for the past hour.
''There you are!'' said Tuffnut, gesturing the two of them with open arms. ''Where have you been? Peregrine is such a brat! He bit me..!''
''Twice.'' added Ruffnut by his side.
''Yeah, twice!'' he agreed, putting up four fingers.
''Tuff, would you quiet down?'' demanded Hiccup. ''Astrid's just got attacked by a wild Nightmare. So please?''
''Really? Was there fire?'' he asked, interested, only to receive harsh glares from Hiccup and Astrid who sat at the table. ''Oh, so now we can't ask questions?''
''Hey, where's Snotlout?'' wondered Fishlegs who noticed a missing rider. He would usually appear sooner than supposed.
''Right here.'' said Snotlout, entering the Clubhouse backwards. ''With a little somebody...''
As Snotlout turned around, no rider was able to hold back an 'Aww' at the sight. Lying in his arms was a baby Monstrous Nightmare, pinky-red with flashing yellow eyes.
''No way...'' said Hiccup, awed.
''The Monstrous Nightmare was a mom? Oh, no wonder she attacked us!'' said Astrid, getting to her feet and scooping the new baby dragon in her arms. It cooed cutely, nuzzling her hand. ''Yes, hello! Hello!''
''Oh my Thor.'' just realized Ruffnut, standing next to her brother. ''First Peregrine, now this? It's like you guys got twins.''
Astrid didn't hold back the giggles as she cuddled the baby dragon in her arms. ''Hi! How are you?'' she talked to the baby Nightmare with a baby-tone, soon enough finding herself the same as Hiccup when Peregrine first arrived.
...
''We've spotted the mother not far from here, but she's injured and being very aggressive, so for now, he's our responsibility.'' announced Hiccup after he dismounted Toothless from their loop around the island.
The baby Monstrous Nightmare lied in Astrid's arms, still cooing lovingly at the gentle scratches at his neck.
''Hey, you're holding him too tight there. Careful.'' said Hiccup as he noticed Astrid's hold on the baby dragon.
''Just give me the fish, Hiccup.'' said Astrid, unbelieving him. Was he gonna go bossing everyone around whenever they got baby dragons? Hiccup gave her half of a fish for the size of the young Nightmare. ''Now, I know I'm not your mama, but,'' she said, waving the fish before the dragon's snout as he tried to grab it between its adorable little jaws. ''I'll have to do tonight.''
...
Later that night, Snotlout found himself holding the baby Monstrous Nightmare he'd found back in the cliffy side of the island, feeding him bit by bit, careful to not making him sick. He rocked him gently as he laid in his arms, cooing and purring cutely, his big eyes closed as it was getting some sleep.
Apparently, it wasn't just the baby Nightmare who was getting some sleep... Hiccup and Astrid sat on a bench against a wall, lying against each other, Hiccup's chin resting on top of Astrid's head while Astrid leaned against Hiccup entirely, her cheek against his shoulder.
Their hate towards each other was a strong as their love.
...
''You guys, you didn't wake us up last night for out shifts.'' said Hiccup as he and Astrid met the other riders that next morning.
''And you're complaining because...?'' questioned Snotlout, still rocking the little Nightmare in his arms.
''Are you kidding?'' said Astrid, switching her gaze from Hiccup to Snotlout. ''I never knew eight hours of straight sleep could feel so good. Thank you.''
''Yeah,'' agreed Hiccup at last. ''Thanks guys.''
Fishlegs came entering the Clubhouse on Meatlug with reports. ''Meatlug and I spotted the baby Nightmare's mother closing in on us. If she finds out we have her youngster, she might as well burn down the entire Edge to find him. So I'd say we should go and drop him there where she'll find him. Oh, and I found some notes I took from the Dragon Eye about an island inhabited by Hobblegrunts. We should take Peregrine to his family soon. I've noticed you guys had some troubles training him...''
''Well,'' said Snotlout. ''That's a relief. Right, guys?'' He shot a look at Hiccup and Astrid, but he didn't expect to see these two reacting this way. Even Hiccup and Astrid were surprised they weren't ready to let go of Peregrine just yet. Even after all the trouble that little Hobblegrunt sent them through.
...
Peregrine stood in the middle of Training Arena, greeted by two riding dragons - Toothless and Stormfly. Hiccup stood outside the arena, his arms tightly crossed over his chest as he watched them go. The little Hobblegrunt was suddenly acting different from the time he had passed with him. He was bonding with the two dragons.
Astrid walked up to him from behind, wondering what he was doing right about now. Hiccup saw her arriving and immediately answered her question.
''I thought I should get him used to the company of other dragons.'' informed Hiccup, gesturing to Peregrine with a movement of his head. ''Now look at him. A few hours later it's like I don't even exist...''
''God, typical teenager.'' said Astrid, soon enough both of them breaking into quiet laughs. ''Hey, look on the bright side. Eight hours of straight sleep every night..!''
Hiccup smiled as they stood, watching Peregrine playing around with the two adult dragons for the first and last time.
...
Astrid found Snotlout still in the Clubhouse, taking care of the baby Monstrous Nightmare. It was midday – it was time to say goodbye to the baby and bring him back to his mother – where it belonged.
''Thanks for looking after him, Snotlout.'' thanked Astrid as she entered the building.
''I'm just glad to see it go. We'll finally get some sleep.'' said Snotlout, trying to sound tough, though Astrid knew him too well to know that under the surface, he hated saying goodbye to the baby Nightmare. She went to take it, and Snotlout hesitated, saying one last goodbye to his new friend. ''Goodbye Tuffy.'' said Snotlout to the baby dragon who cooed in reply.
''Tuffy?'' echoed Astrid, her eyes fixed on Snotlout as she scooped the baby dragon.
''Shut up, Astrid...'' he replied shyly, turning around to avoid eye contact.
Astrid smirked and lifted the baby Nightmare in the air as she walked out of the Clubhouse, Snotlout following behind. ''You get to ride on Stormfly... Tuffy.'' she said, shooting a look at Snotlout who glared back at her.
They dropped down to the Training Arena, where they found Hiccup standing with Peregrine and...
''Trader Johann?'' questioned Astrid as Stormfly landed on the arena floor. ''W-what a pleasant surprise..!'' Snotlout nodded behind her, forcing a smile.
''Johann was passing by, and he offered help with returning the orphans.'' informed Hiccup. ''Hobblegrunt Island is not close from here, and since Peregrine still can't fly at his age, it'll be better if he makes the trip on a ship.''
''And, I hope you don't mind, but,'' said Johann, picking up a chirping wooden box that lay at his foot beside him. ''I brought you a few more orphans.''
''Absolutely not!'' protested Snotlout almost instantly.
''Absolutely not...'' said Hiccup and Astrid in unison, their eyebrows and eyelids dropping.
Chicken passed between the standing people's legs, closely followed by Tuffnut who looked inside the wooden box and couldn't say no. ''Oh my Thor, a box of baby Chickens!''