Hi! This is a long one, so thanks for being patient with me!

An explosion in the forest sent a flock of birds cartwheeling through the sky and numerous small animals fled, scurrying through the underbrush to find protection.

Toothless was running, blasting random trees and rocks as he passed. His legs were a blur as he traversed the forest on Berk. He didn't want to speak to anyone, or be diplomatic, or take charge, or solve other dragons' problems. I have enough problems of my own.

He ended up at the cove, barely panting from the exertion of sprinting all that way. Flexing his shoulders, he took a moment to revel in the thrill of being a powerful Night Fury. Not the Alpha, just a strong, tough dragon. Then again, wasn't that how he had ended up as the Alpha? He was quite persistent, he'd give himself that. There's that Night Fury pride.

He laid down next to the water's edge, and peered at his reflection in the water. Trailing a single claw across the surface, he distorted the image, until he could no longer tell what he was looking at. That's how he felt, as if he had lost sight of himself. Didn't he love to have fun, didn't he like to spend time with his friends? Hadn't he bridged the gap, along with Hiccup, between dragons and humans? Speaking of accomplishments, hadn't he also defeated the Red Death and the evil Bewilderbeast?

He could handle one little Night Fury. Right?

She sat alone in the shelter, pondering the events of the day. It had been a few days since she had woken up alone, and she hadn't seen Toothless since. I refuse to worry. She had seen another dragon, a friend of Toothless who didn't seem to be as scared of him as the other dragons.

Meatlug, a female Gronkle, had come by, peeking in and whispering a quick "Hello?" The female Fury would soon learn that this boldness was unusual for the normally quiet, sweet rock-eater. They had quickly struck up a conversation, the Night Fury starving for attention and the curious Gronkle, who soon learned that the nameless black dragon could remember nothing of her life before she had washed up on Berk. Meatlug, on the other paw, was a veritable fount of information. She told the Fury all kinds of stories about the village and its inhabitants, the Dragon Academy, and the talking a bit about her human, Fishlegs. Fish don't have legs… do they? she wondered.

But the stories that interested her the most were those about Toothless. Meatlug seemed to have an endless supply of flattering things to say about the Alpha, ranging from his bravery and prowess in battle to his hidden fun side.

This kind of information gave the Fury food for thought, enough to last for hours after Meatlug had left. So… he had challenged and actually defeated a Bewilderbeast? To become Alpha? Weren't they the largest and most dominant of all the dragons? How had Toothless done it?

When the Gronkle wasn't visiting the black dragon practiced walking, circling the room faster and faster until she was running. She practiced leaping over the fish barrels, stopping every once and a while to grab a few to eat.

Finally came the day when Hiccup and the human Gobber walked in to check her wing beneath its splint. She sat completely still, trying hard not to quiver with excitement. She felt as they removed the boards and bandages and slowly, slooooowly stretched out her wing to its full span. She flexed it experimentally, and felt no pain. A huge smile on her face, she jumped around the two men excitedly, purring loudly and licking their faces.

Hiccup laughed at her antics. "I don't know where Toothless has gotten off to, but I think it's time for you to meet the rest of the gang."

Stormfly, Barf and Belch, Meatlug, and Hookfang were gathered in the old arena. For once it was deserted, not full of hatchlings and small humans attempting to bond and learn to function together. They lounged around in the sun, lazily commenting on the recent events involving a certain black dragon.

"I never got a good look at her," said Stormfly.

"Neither did I, but judging from Toothless's behavior I think I would find the experience quite… enjoyable." Hookfang lazily responded. "I bet she's something else."

Stormfly was not pleased with this assessment. This new Night Fury had definitely put a kink in her plan to win Toothless over. Well, she would just have to redouble her efforts to make herself the best choice, the obvious choice.

Meatlug kept quiet. She didn't want the others knowing that she had been visiting the nameless Fury.

"What's her-" began Belch.

"name again?" finished Barf.

"I don't think I have one," said a new voice from the entrance of the arena.

All four dragons perked up at the Fury's arrival. "Well, speak of the devil," Hookfang drawled.

To Stormfly, devil was certainly an apt description. The black female looked like Toothless but smaller and slimmer, not to mention her luminous blue (or were they silver?) eyes. Grudgingly, the blue dragon had to acknowledge that the newcomer was very attractive, just as Hookfang came to the same conclusion.

"Well, we will just have to come up with one for you, then, won't we?" Hookfang smiled charmingly at her, moving in to stand next to her. "I'm Hookfang, by the way."

"Um-" she started as she moved further into the arena, but was interrupted by Meatlug.

"What a great idea! You have to have a name."

"How else are we supposed to talk about you behind your back?" finished Hookfang with a wink.

"How about… Star?"

The Night Fury shook her head. "Too feminine. But wait, I have yet to hear your names," she said, with a sly wink at Meatlug, who had already told her all about the other dragons. Meatlug smiled slightly. That wink definitely reminded her of another Night Fury she knew…

"I'm Hookfang, as I have mentioned," the Monstrous Nightmare declared. "The Zippleback arguing with itself is Barf and Belch, Meatlug is the Gronkle, and the lovely Nadder over there is our Stormfly."

The female Night Fury feigned shock at this information. "So you're the dragons I've heard so much about. How you trained those human teens to ride you, and then defeated the Red Death… that's amazing!" She figured flattery might just get her somewhere. "And Stormfly! Your rider is Hiccup's mate? Astrid is so strong and beautiful, I can see a definite resemblance between the two of you!" Stormfly couldn't help but preen. This impressionable young Night Fury was no match for her quick wit and external beauty. But that didn't stop her from giving the newcomer a an dismissive once-over, eyes drifting over the fresh scars on her hide, as though judging the Fury's worth, and finding her lacking.

The small Night Fury resisted the urge to stick her tongue out at the blue dragon, and instead gazed back with equal intensity, standing proudly. She knew, even without her memory, even with her flawed and scarred appearance, that she was more than a match for the Nadder, although she couldn't help but wonder why Stormfly was treating her like she didn't like her. They had never even met before!

Toothless watched the scene unfold from the shadows of the entrance. No one had noticed his presence. He was exhausted from his rampage through the forest. Not sleeping or eating for several days, he had only just returned to the village to reassure Hiccup that he hadn't vanished permanently.

"Hey bud!" his rider had exclaimed when he saw the weary Night Fury. "I was starting to worry." Toothless gave him a tired but genuine smile and began to walk up the hill towards the shelter. He needed to talk to the female. Set some boundaries. She was a danger to his self-control.

Hiccup interrupted his troubled thoughts. "Hey, Toothless? She's not in there." What? Had she left already? The dragon's heart sank, and he didn't even try to suppress the feeling.

"She's in the arena with the other dragons." Toothless perked up immediately, feeling energized. He bounded over to Hiccup, giving the human a big lick across the side of his face, before spreading his wings and leaping skyward, flying off in the direction of the arena. Behind him, he could hear Hiccup's cries of mock disgust. "You know that doesn't wash out!"

So here he was, crouched in the shadows like he wasn't supposed to be there. Toothless was mildly surprised at the female Fury's behavior. Flattery? Then he noticed the stare-down between her and Stormfly. Interesting. He didn't like the look on the blue dragon's face. But he was pleased with the smaller dragon's response, although he would never admit it. That's Night Fury pride. He smiled slightly.

"I have it!" shouted Barf.

"Night!" he and Belch announced at the same time.

"Too original," the newcomer commented, deadpan.

"Fury?"

"What about Midnight?"

The ideas kept flying in until Meatlug interrupted. "How about… Lightning?" she suggested shyly.

Immediately all eyes swiveled towards the black dragon in their midst.

"Lightning…" she mused, thinking of the unique scar on her back from the storm's fury. "I like it."

The others cheered, but were cut off by another voice, just arriving on the scene.

"Lightning."

She froze and turned to see Toothless enter the arena. "It's fitting," he called out for all the dragons to hear. He then came up close beside her and said, just to her, "I like it." Neither of them noticed Stormfly's glare.

Lightning tried to ignore the shiver that passed through her at the sound of his voice. Since when is that an acceptable reaction to a dragon's voice? The larger black dragon passed her without looking back, and she steeled herself. If he could do it, so could she.

"Hookfang," she smiled sweetly at the Nightmare, who immediately hurried over. "What was your name before you bonded with your human?"

"Actually, I don't know," he answered, looking a little put out.

"Really?" Lightning turned to Meatlug. "What about you?"

Meatlug looked like she was about to answer when Toothless interrupted. "Serving the Red Death eliminated our individual identities. None of us can remember who we were before then. Not I, as no more than a weapon of mass destruction. Not these dragons, captured from their service to the Queen and forced to live in this very ring, unwillingly teaching Viking youths how to slay other dragons.

"Speaking of Viking youths, your riders are on their way over here." Toothless finished. The other dragons groaned, but in reality couldn't be more pleased. Each of them was certain that their human was the best human, although they all harbored a soft spot for Hiccup, who had been the first to throw down his weapon and extend his hand in peace.

Lightning was left pondering what Toothless had said. I'm not the only one who has lost their identity. The Alpha now only knew of his life with Hiccup, and to her, it was starting to seem like it wasn't such a bad life, after all.

Hiccup walked into the arena, followed by his friends (and future wife. The thought still gave him butterflies in his stomach.) Now that they were adults, one might think that they had grown up a bit, but they were still just as stubborn and reckless as they had been when they were fifteen.

The Chief looked over the assembled dragons as they communicated with each other. A few years ago he had begun to believe that the reptiles had their own language, and he had evidence to support it. Now was a good time to test it.

Without being summoned Toothless left the dragons and bounded over to his rider, nudging him with his nose. "Hey, Toothless." The other dragons split up and went to their respective humans, begging for attention and the possibility of treats.

Lightning hung back, but when Hiccup moved away from Toothless and beckoned her over with his hands and a grin, she couldn't stay away. As she approached she compared him to the other humans. As it turned out, Hiccup was taller than the rest of them, although none of them could compare to the hulking Vikings wandering around the village.

As Hiccup rubbed her under her chin, the other youths seemed to notice her for the first time, and gathered around her, talking animatedly. One in particular, the largest of the humans in the arena, pointed excitedly at her face and said something about the color of her eyes to Hiccup. That must be Fishlegs. She peered at the stubby legs peeking out from underneath his fur tunic, but as far as she could tell they were not actually fish. Disappointing.

"What's her name?" asked Astrid, standing at Hiccup's shoulder.

"I haven't figured one out yet," Hiccup admitted.

"Oh! We could name her!" shouted Tuffnut.

"I like Star!"

Lightning snorted. This was going to go exactly how the dragons' conversation had.

"No, no…" said Hiccup.

Ruffnut stepped closer. "How about… Bloody Death!"

"Um, no?" Hiccup didn't seem surprised by the suggestion.

Tuffnut pondered for a moment. "I've got it! Furious Bloody Night Death!"

"Again, not feeling it," Hiccup said, as Astrid snorted in amusement next to him.

Snotlout grinned. "Hookfury! Nightfang!"

Lightning couldn't believe the absolute idiocy of the suggestions. Apparently, neither could Hiccup. The Chief turned towards her and asked, "Do you already have a name, girl?"

Before she could nod her head, Tuffnut laughed. "Dragons don't talk, Hiccup. Why would she have a name?" At this Hiccup frowned, and Toothless finally stepped in, pushing the twins out of the way. With his wing he lightly brushed the strange scar on her back, basically spelling it out for his rider. Hiccup frowned, then his face broke out into a smile.

"I've got it." He announced. "Lightning."

"I love it," said Astrid.

"Yeah, whatever," said Tuffnut. Turning towards his twin, he said, "I personally would have chosen Butt-Elf, but to each their own."

Ruffnut snickered before punching him in the face. Tuff stumbled and tripped into Snotlout, knocking him over. Jumping to his feet, he swung at the male Thorston but ended up hitting Fishlegs in the stomach. A few years ago this might have sent the sensitive young man running away in tears, but now that he was significantly larger than Snotlout, he only shouted and raised his fists threateningly. Snotlout paled and backed up quickly, running into Ruffnut, who put him in a chokehold…

Hiccup, Astrid, Toothless, and Lightning watched in total astonishment as the riders and then their dragons began to fight like, well, children and hatchlings, respectively. The Chief supposed that they had been behaving well for long enough that they deserved a little fistfight, and turned to whisper in Astrid's ear, who nodded, then turned bright red.

"Really?" she asked Hiccup.

"Really, babe."

Excitedly, she leaned in and kissed her future husband, planning on holding him to his promise. Still blushing, she raised her axe and started shouting at the brawling humans and dragons. "Alright, you half-trolls, clear out!" chasing them out of the arena and leaving Hiccup with the two Night Furies. Toothless looked endlessly entertained, while Lightning couldn't decide if it was funny or horrifying how quickly the situation had deteriorated.

"Well, now that we are alone…" Hiccup addressed Lightning. "Do you think you're ready to fly yet?"

The female Night Fury looked nervously at her wing.

"Don't worry, we'll take it slow." Off in the distance, shouts could be heard. "The Chief! Where is the Chief!"

Hiccup looked dismayed. "Well, I guess I won't be able to help you out today, Lightning." She tried to hide her disappointment, but the human noticed it immediately.

"Hmm…" he wondered aloud, before his face lit up. "I've got it! Toothless will help you! He's got his independent tailfin on. You don't need me, right bud?" She turned, hopeful, only to see an expression akin to nausea on the other Night Fury's face. So that's how it was going to be. Lightning turned away, suppressing the hurt in her chest. She hadn't been sure Toothless was avoiding her, but now she was sure. What did I do wrong?

So things are certainly getting more complicated. A jealous Stormfly, an indifferent Toothless… Poor Lightning is definitely confused. (I would be, too!)

Please let me know if you like it, or have any ideas on how to make it better! You're awesome!