Sorry guys for the late update! I've been preparing for school, but here goes the next chapter! Thank you my faithful readers for waiting :D! Remember to review :3!

"Just a little hatchling, abandoned because of a horrible mistake," she went on, her eyes growing duller. "Too be left alone… Without the dragons you love with you."

Toothless just stared at her. "I… I never knew… I'm sorry." The moon made no such comfort as he stared at her.

Her eyes returned to meet his gaze. "You deserve my story," she sighed.

"My parents loved me like any dragon would love their cubs… But the twist was, they were thieves."

She stared at the black Night Fury as if challenging him to say something. He stayed silent, hoping she'd continue. Though as much as he tried to deny it, the words echoed in his head. His mother had killed her parents.

"They raised me with care. Taught me how to steal…" She trailed off, cowering under her own words. An intake of breath seemed to relax her muscles as she continued.

"They were worried for my well-being when I grew sick. See, thieves usually steal coins, food, etcetera, but medicine?" The memory pained her as Toothless watched her wince.

"They couldn't afford to reveal they had a hatchling for most would want to kill me for a punishment to their stealing."

The whispering winds tugged playfully at the weeds under Toothless's paws. He sucked a breath the humid air sticking at his throat. He could already tell where this was going.

"One night, a stranger came into our den and told us he knew why I was sick. Until then I was loosing my strength. My parents were desperate. The newcomer promised them one thing in return for the Imperial Jewel."

This time Toothless interrupted, his eyes widening with shock. "The Imperial Jewel? You are not saying… Were they that desperate?" The puzzles clicked to pieces. He was relieved his mother hadn't killed them out of cold-blood, but yet out of lethal punishment. Nonetheless, a creeping dread crawled into his heart. They had only been trying to protect her, one half of him stated. But they were thieves… Night Lyric shouldn't be trusted, the other told him.

Her eyes moistened. "I am getting there and it turns out, only he had the cure." And they believed him? He thought, narrowing his eyes. With a shake of her wing and a slight cringe she went on.

"My parents agreed," she murmured as if the scene was playing right in front of her.

"They went out and told me to stay. That they would promise they'd be back."

"And they never returned did they?" He tried to keep a small edge from creeping into his voice.

"No," she said softly. "A day later another Night Fury brought in for inspecting. Queen Sora was there. She stared me directly in the eyes as I asked for my dam and sire. She had replied that they were dead. The funny part is, she actually had pity in her eyes." She growled not pausing for Toothless to let the Night Fury cut her off.

"She told them to spare me for I was just a young cub. Your mother" –She said the words with complete venom- "Told me I had the blood of a thief and I'd endanger her subjects. So she commanded one of her knights to take me away and never to be seen again."

She held her breath, tilting her head toward the black, star-dotted sky. Black clouds rolled lazily overhead.

"That one did so and left me purposely near a human-village he had known well. He knew they were good with dragons."

She exhaled long and soft.

"Wait. That's it?" Toothless interjected, though his eyes were soft. "You only have gotten to a small piece of your life!" Though she hadn't told him the whole truth, wariness of the dragon crept over him

"This is all your need to know," she growled, turning away. The chain on her paw caught the light and she added bitterly, "You'd think me a monster then I already am."

"You are not a monster as far as I am concerned," he grumbled.

"Yeah? How does being forced to kill dragons for a human's entertainment sound like?" She bared her teeth in complete frustration and regret.

"Killed?" he echoed, staring at her. She wasn't the type he'd think would murder. "What do you mean?"

"Forget it," she muttered, turning away.

Toothless looked at her before saying, "I know how it's like to loose someone you love."

She glanced back at him skeptically. "Not in such horrible manner."

"What you say is true," he replied. "I lost my family when crash-landing here. Do you know how much I missed them afterwards?"

She held his gaze. "Why did you do it?"

The male Night Fury paused, staring at her. "What do you mean?"

"Why didn't you go back? You could have with your rider."

Thoughts raced through Toothless's mind.

Silence.

Night Lyric's ear twitched. "Something happened." Her eyes glowed as a fairly large cloud floated above the moon. It made the disbelief that shone in them glitter brighter. "You forgot. That's why you asked me when we first met.. I do not understand."

"I myself do not know what happened," the Alpha sighed. "I had been sent off to keep the humans in check. When my rider shot me down... I forgot."

Night Lyric stared at him curiously, her grief gone, but her pain obviously not. "You forgot, just like that?"

Uncomfortably he shifted from paw to paw. "Yes. But I have not regretted that after I met Hiccup. I am sure my sister or brother would have made a better leader then myself."

"But your the Alpha now, are you not?"

"Well if you put it like that..." The Night Fury said with a smile.

A sudden call from forest made his hearing senses tingle.

"Bud! Where are you?"

Night Lyric's ear flattened at the human's voice and her eyes grew to slits.

"We'll talk later," Toothless muttered and was relieved to see a look of friendliness cross her eyes even though of what had occurred. "I'd like that," she replied, suddenly glancing up in alarm.

Thud.

Toothless whirled around, spotting Cloudjumper a few lengths away.

"Who is that?" Night Lyric growled, backing toward the grotto Toothless had accommodated for her. "I've never seen a Stormcutter up close before.." she added and hesitated from retreating.

Before the Alpha could introduce his friend, the Stormcutter intervened, "I am Cloudjumper. And you must be Night Lyric. Toothless has been speaking of you."

Night Lyric narrowed her eyes, but Toothless could have sworn she flushed. "Has he now."

"I assure you, ma'am, it is all good." He turned to Toothless. "Everyone is worried. Skullcrusher tried to track you, but it seems like your scent has been clouded."

Both Night Fury's stared at each other, the same thought flashing through their minds.

The mud.

"Toothless?" Hiccup's voice resonated again, this time closer.

His optics flashed toward Cloudjumper. "I'll be with you in a few minutes. Could you-"

"On it," he replied, winking as he took off.

Night Lyric turned back to him with amusement. "Talking about me, eh?"

His cheeks heated. "Your another Night Fury. Berk has never seen another one..."

"Uh huh," she snorted. It was as she never recounted the small part of her history. Toothless knew with no doubt she'd flinch again if he tried to near without an important reason.

She searched him with keen scrutiny before turning to the cavern, a wince spreading across her face.

"Let me help," he stated, stepping forward.

The female lifted her head. "Thank you, but I do not need your guidance." She staggered forward, seeming to be managing fine.

Disappointment seeped into his expression and he turned away, bounding to where he had heard his rider.

"Toothless!" Hiccup shouted when he spotted him. With his arms extended, he squeezed Toothless's neck into a hug. "I'm sorry for snapping at you, bud, but you should know not to attack other dragons without reason." His tight slackened, the Night Fury's eyes were wide with surprise.

So he wasn't angered at him after all!

His tongue licked his cheek, assuring him not be worried. Hiccup took a step back, a wide grin spread across his face. His eyes switched to his paw. "How is that feeling?"

"Fine," he said, sharing the smile.

"She looks really pretty." A voice echoed behind him, catching both the black dragon's and human's attention. "Cloudjumper!" he scoffed, glaring at the dragon as he stared at him with a cheerful attitude. A wry grin spread across the Stormcutter's maw as he watched Toothless's look. "I do not like her!"

Hiccup waved his hands. "Is Valka nearby?"

"Yes." One of his four wings pointed to the west. Hiccup nodded, though instead of mounting Toothless he mentioned him forward.
Toothless followed, his ears flattened against his head. He almost had forgotten that his paw hadn't healed yet. Shaking his head, he followed him as the moon rose higher into the air.

Days followed slowly. Toothless visited Night Lyric at dawn and at sunset. Already her wounds were healing. The Night Fury had continued to spy on Mace, looking for any signs of aggression on the human's part. So far, he was acting like a normal Viking, meeting others of the village.

Vanquisher on the other paw was no where to be seen. It was as if he had vanished ever since Toothless attacked him. It sent a guilty thrill of satisfaction threw him. After all, he did send those Monstrous Nightmares after Night Lyric... But under who he guessed was Mace's orders.

Maybe Mace was like an Alpha and had put his dragons under a spell just like the Bewilderbeast had...

He shook himself. He mustn't let weak thoughts fill him if he were to confront Vanquisher again. His slow pace brought him upon the Training Academy. He hoped Hiccup would be there since he had disappeared early in the morning with a word. Instead, he was greeted by the dragon hatchlings and their young human companions.

"Toothless!" One of the little Monstrous Nightmares exclaimed, his eyes bulging. "I mean Alpha! Are you going to mentor us for today?" One of the human cubs raced forward, an excited grin spread across her face.

"Sadly, no," he stated, wondering why they were even here if none of the teachers were around. Something brown caught his eye. Meatlug scrambled forward.

"Hey, Alpha!" she said with her usual positive tone. "How are you today?" He peered down, looking for the girl who had been standing a couple feet away from him to see she had ran up to join with her Monstrous Nightmare. The young dragon flushed fiercely as he noticed Meatlug had noted that he had asked Toothless to be their mentor when obviously she had been teaching them.

"Good and you?"

"Great, but Fishlegs is late again," she grumbled with affection. "Everyone else is late instead of these two." She mentioned with one of her massive paws. "I can expect why everyone would be late.. But Fishlegs must be flirting with Ruffnut again."

Her eyes rolled. "That human of mine." Toothless went back to staring at the two companions and had to admit, those two little youngsters staring as they talked were pretty adorable.

"Ah yes." Meatlug glanced back over her shoulder. "Cute aren't they? They just started training."

"I see," he purred. Toothless waved a wing. "I'll be seeing you. I'm trying to find Hiccup."

"Wait!" Meatlug suddenly called after him, her eyes widening as if she had remembered something. "Have you been sick lately? You keep vanishing.."

Thank the gods Cloudjumper was a good secret keeper.

"Yes." He hated lying to Meatlug. She was one of gently soul. But what else could he do to prevent them from finding Night Lyric? It had been five days since she'd met Cloudjumper and the Stormcutter had continued visiting on Toothless's orders. Already Night Lyric trusted the Stormcutter and something had sliced through his chest.

Jealousy.

He chased the disturbing thoughts away and dipped his head.

"Oh, alright. You haven't been active in the Academy... Oh and by the way, Hiccup was talking to Eret."

"It's time for me to go. Thanks for the tip." He pushed past Meatlug.

"One more thing."

Again he was stalled at the urgency in her voice.

"I heard what you did to Vanquisher-"

Before he could retort she went on, "Just be careful with Mace. I scent bad things on him."

"Of course," he snapped curtly. He hadn't meant to be rude, but the subject about him 'attacking an 'innocent' dragon' was starting to get on his nerves.

Not bothering to look at the hurt that flashed in the Gronkle's eyes, he padded on angling his trot toward the marina.

Usually they had talks there. Eret was a traveler with Skullcrusher-Stoic's former dragon.

Toothless winced at the name. The dragon had still not forgiven him for killing off his rider.

He slowed down, his paws coming to an easy trot. The sea looked a bit stormy from his vantage point as he scanned the area for his rider.

Nothing.

The Night Fury was close to turning around to find another clearing where his rider might be, but his voice touched his ears like a soft chant.

A low excited grumble escaped his maw as he leaped forward, obliterating the space between him and his rider.

The bulky outline of Skullcrusher came into sight as he barreled past, tackling Hiccup into a bear-like hug.

"Whoa there, bud!" he managed as Toothless licked his face. "What's gotten into you?"

He responded, shaking his tail and looking blankly at the sky, though before he could say anything, the drawling voice of Skullcrusher drew his attention.

"Do you have any source of formality?" he snorted. "Just look at you."

The sense of aggression must have roused Eret as he pulled him back. "Skullcrusher, behave," he ordered.

The Rumblerhorn shoved him off as he glared at Toothless.
"First you kill my rider, and then you try to kill another of my species? What a great Alpha you turned out to be. More like Draco's Bewilderbeast!"

A fire lit up in the black dragon's heart as his lips were drawn back to expose his teeth.

"What… Did… You… Just… Say?"

Before he could snap, Hiccup pushed his way between them. "That's enough," he said at both, receiving scoffing looks.

Toothless's urge to go flying was ceased as he gave another venomous look to the Rumblehorn.

"Your dragon seems to have gotten aggressive since he became Alpha," Eret observed.

Hiccup paused and sighed. "Maybe that's it… He just wants to show his dominance."

Toothless's heart sank. "I wish you could understand dragon," he muttered.

He ignored Skullcrusher's snicker and pointed to the sky with a wing before going into a playful bow.

"You want to fly?" Hiccup asked and his eyes fell across his injured paw.

"No… Valka said you couldn't fly until she says so. Has she checked on it?"

The black beast shifted impatiently and nodded.

"Did she say you could?"

He bit his lower lip. "No," he grumbled, shaking his cranium.

Hiccup stared at him as if in pity. "Well sorry, bud. I can't ride you then."

Moaning in protest, he glared at the staring Eret and Skullcrusher as if daring them to say anything. With that, he trotted off, looking much more irritated then usual.

"Toothless!"

Night Lyric's ears perked as she spotted him. At least she wasn't unhappy to see him, which boosting up his morale.

The elegant female struggled to her paws and limped toward him, her optics glinting with excitement. "The Stormcutter told me this amazing story!"
He ceased the urge to let out a growl. "Did he now.."

Night Lyric went on, "Cloudjumper is just so awesome! He reminds me of someone I use to know."

The black Night Fury coughed and cleared his throat. "Could I check on your wounds?"

She nodded, but the glint of awe was still sparkling in her eyes. His day had gotten a whole lot worse.

His paws worked there way along the cotton and froze. He had never put cotton...

"Oh! Cloudjumper put a salve on my gashes to prevent infection and a softer substance."
Anger and disbelief rose around Toothless, making his cheeks flush.

"Toothless, you alright?"

"Just fine... You did know cotton was made from humans, right?"

"Of course." Her tone was more of a chuckle as he examined him. "No seriously Toothless, did something happen?"

He jerked his paw violently, cuffing it around his ear to ease a itch that had started there. "O-Of course," he muttered. It was difficult to hold in his anger. At least he got to lower his head as he scratched.

Night Lyric perked up at this and spun around. "You think Cloudjumper likes me?"

At this his head jerked up in alarm and he whirled to face her. What did she mean by that?

"I... I don't know," he stated, holding the temptation to fly to the Stormcutter and personally shouting at him. But then again, that won't be fair... After all...
His eyes shut as he heard her sigh of contempt.

"You really think..." she started. The black dragon whirled to confront her, his green eyes glinting.

"No. I really don't think he likes you. After all, you are a thief." As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them.

The shock and hurt in her eyes made him cringe as she stumbled backward as if receiving a physical blow.

"I thought you were different," she hissed. "I thought-I thought... I could trust you!" Then in a murmur she added, "You out of all dragons..." She shoved her face close to his, her honeysuckle breath right on his nostrils. Her eyes narrowed to slits, but he saw something that made his heart stop.

Tears.

Dragons never shed tears unless it was something extremely sorrowful or extraordinarily joyous.

Night Lyric staggered toward her den, the female dragon's optics glittering as she clenched her teeth.

"Night Lyric!" he called. He hadn't meant to say any of it. He was just so angered she had favored Cloudjumper over him...

"Don't even," she growled-though her voice cracked as she said this-and vanished inside the cavern, leaving Toothless to stare in guilt and pain.