Greetings all

As promised, here is the next chapter for ROTNF

Thank-you so much for bearing with me while I got it done. I loved the reactions and reviews I got to the last chapter. I really didn't know it was going literally explode like that and be so long. But you all seemed to enjoy it so I'll call it a win. It's great once you get into a flow of the story the words just fall onto the page. Many thanks to my buddy 'thearizona' for the beta read.

Things are moving forward better since last time I posted so I'm happy to present you all with this chapter.

As always any questions, P.M's, reviews or comments are really welcome.

Enjoy!

The Return of the Nightfuries

Chapter 34 – Bad moon rising PT3

(The School of Dragons – Part XVII)

Last time Toothless discovered to his horror that,

not only was his connection to the Red Death still active

But also he had a mate named Moonchaser.

When he didn't recognize her, a fight broke out

Which then engulfed the entire nest.

Hiccup returned in the middle of the battle, approached Deathwing

And asked if he could leave the Isle of Night.

How will Deathwing respond?

Read on and find out.

The Isle of Night, the area outside Toothless' and Hiccup's cave

"Lord Deathwing, King of the Nightfuries, father of Shadow and lord of this realm, I humbly beg that you give me your permission ….. to leave the Isle of Night!"

Hiccup shuddered in the silence that descended after he had spoken those fateful words and kept his eyes clamped firmly shut as he felt the gaze of dozens of Nightfuries boring into him. He still held on tightly to Deathwing's leg in supplication even as the dragon king brought his huge head towards him, strong gusts of hot breath snorting out of his nostrils. Hiccup cracked his eyes open just a little to look at the mighty Nightfury but as he did so, Deathwing flicked his leg and sent him sliding to the floor then brought his huge claw down, pinning Hiccup, the boy's head and shoulders the only thing visible between his massive talons.

"Hiccup no!" Toothless called as he moved to intervene but he was stopped by a glare from Deathwing.

"Stay back bud!" Hiccup whispered, his voice strained under the steady pressure of Deathwing's claw was exerting on his chest.

"You bring this torment on my son; you bring this chaos to my nest and seem to be the reason why I couldn't stop it ….. Now you wish to leave? What kind of twisted game are you playing boy?!" Deathwing accused quietly, his voice dripping with suspicion as he pressed down further.

"I don't know what your ….. I didn't ….I didn't ….. mean to" Hiccup tearfully whispered back, wriggling to snatch even the tiniest bit of extra oxygen in to his lungs, "….. but I need ….. to get away from here!"

"You think I will just let you flee? You would steal my son away from me?! After this outrage?!" Deathwing retorted, his eyes now blazing with anger.

"I only meant for a week!" Hiccup rasped out as he felt the pressure on his lungs increase even more, "I need to clear my mind and I need more supplies! I would ...gasp ... I would return!"

"Ha! You need to clear your mind? You wish to get supplies!?" Deathwing snorted incredulously before growling in a deep threatening tone, "What happened here this night is no small matter boy! Tell me child, what is to stop me from simply crushing you right now and ending your corruption of my home and kin?"

"Nothing ….." Hiccup whispered back in defeat, his pale blue aura almost asking Deathwing to do so.

"MY LORD PLEASE! May I speak on the boy's behalf?" Dathomir interrupted loudly, drawing gazes of ire and suspicion from both Deathwing and Toothless who was still fuming with the hybrid. As neither made any indication to refuse him, Dathomir spoke as evenly as he could, drawing himself to his full height to ensure he had their attention.

"I would ask that you withhold your judgement and not blame the boy!" the hybrid began, gesturing with his paw to the pinned child between Deathwing's talons, "This whole conflict happened because I foolishly took Hiccup without asking the first-born or his guardians. It was my doing and mine alone that caused this outrage!"

Many Nightfuries in the crowd quietly hissed insults such as 'traitor', 'half-cast' and 'unclean' at Dathomir's declaration, but the hybrid begrudgingly paid it no mind and kept talking.

"I believe we all need time to calm down from this 'incident'" Dathomir crooned diplomatically, "in such rage, it is unbecoming of us as dragons to unfairly lay all the blame on Hiccup …. Let me take the boy the Island of Munn! … It is mostly peaceful and not a long flight away. Hiccup will find what he needs to bring back and you can be free of his 'influence' for a time as you consider your verdict."

"Hiccup will not be going anywhere with you Blight-spawn!" Toothless growled angrily, "First you steal him away, then you presume to speak on Hiccup's behalf and now you offer to be his flight-mate? You forget your place as those roles rightfully belong to me!" Dathomir flinched and his glittering yellow eyes narrowed at one of the worst insults that had been conjured for him over the decades and it hurt more-so that Toothless of all dragons would be the one to use it. The sniggering of some of the other dragons in the crowd did not help his temper either.

"I simply offer to repair the damage I have done!" Dathomir ground out, his urge to strike Toothless nearly overpowering as both Nightfuries began angling themselves to face-off with each other.

"I should cast both you and Hiccup out for bringing this down upon us Dathomir!" Deathwing snarled to prevent the two Nightfuries from coming to blows before bringing his gaze back to Hiccup, "Is it true human? Did Dathomir take you unwillingly?!"

All Hiccup could do was nod as Deathwing brought his head back up to consider what he was now hearing. He glanced at the night sky and then brought his eyes back to the boy under his claw. "What guarantees do I have you won't simply runaway once you have passed through The Veil? That this isn't some trick?" the Nightfury king asked imperiously.

Hiccup looked up at Deathwing's face that was almost hidden by the dark sky behind him. The moon offered some light but all he could really see from his prone position was Deathwing's hard green eyes standing out against the black firmament. For a good few moments the Berkian was devoid of all hope. For what could Hiccup possibly offer or say now to persuade the king who seemed to have more or less made up his mind? It was then the words came to him, almost unbidden as he remembered what Dathomir had spoken to him less than an hour earlier.

"I swear ….. I will return ….." the boy rasped heavily, trying to meet Deathwing's gaze as best he could, "…. I swear ….. by the Stars of Draco!"

A ripple of gasps passed around the assembled Nightfuries at Hiccup's words. Some of the dragons uttered words of fear, others respect while others hissed in agitation.

"Blasphemy!" Zodiac barked as she stomped forward, "the boy takes our sacred words in vain! No human has ever done so! Kill him my king!"

"Look me in the eye my lord Deathwing!" Hiccup quickly called out to prevent the king being swayed prematurely "see for yourself that I know what I am saying!"

In an instant Hiccup felt his head pushed to the floor by an invisible force, his eyelids wrenched wide and his green irises locked open as Deathwing glared at him. Hiccup saw Deathwing's eyes were blazing all shades of green and felt a massive oppressive force push into his mind. Having felt this kind of feeling before, Hiccup realized Deathwing was using his own version of Toothless' 'true-sight' to interrogate the issue out of him. Where Toothless had been gentle, Deathwing made Hiccup feel like he was being hit in the head with a shovel. A very big shovel. He began to sweat as the force rolled over his mind and into his memory of Dathomir explaining just how serious invoking the Stars of Draco was to dragons.

With a rough jolt Deathwing recoiled and at the same time lifted his paw off of Hiccup letting the boy finally take a deep lungful of air. As he gasped for breath, Toothless darted forward and grabbing a hold of the scruff of his vest, dragged Hiccup back a distance and planting him squarely between his forelegs like an injured youngling. Finally having contact with his human again, brought back the soothing feeling Toothless always felt around him. Despite the circumstances Toothless felt at peace once more, a state of peace that Deathwing did not fail to notice.

Deathwing looked down at them, his mind working meticulously not just on what he had seen, but also what he had not seen in Hiccup's mind. For while he searched for the truth of Hiccup's oath, there was no sign of the six-eyed daemonic presence within him Deathwing had sensed earlier that blocked his attempts to calm his rampaging flock. The Nightfury King eyed them all pointedly before muttering, "The boy speaks the truth of Draco. His oath is pure!" gaining a gasp of relief from Hiccup, Toothless and Dathomir whilst several dragons began fevered mutterings at this strange turn of events. Deathwing stepped forward and loomed over the 3 creatures before him as he spoke with a voice laden with authority.

"Shadow! You will take this child to the Isle of Munn! He will not have a week but just two days to conduct his affairs and 'clear his mind'. I cannot bear to look at him right now. But if you do not return by the fading the second moon I will summon the entire flock and reduce Munn to ashes until you are all found and dealt with! Is that understood?!"

"Yes my Lord Deathwing!" Hiccup quickly chirped out, unwilling to dispute the king's decree and avoid a tense conversation between Toothless and his father.

"Dathomir!" Deathwing barked, slightly startling the hybrid who was smirking at Hiccup for already using what little he had taught him to narrowly avoid his death at Deathwing's claws.

"Yes my king?"

'THWACK!'

Despite the fact that Dathomir was a large dragon, bigger than Toothless, bigger than a Monstrous Nightmare even, it did nothing to negate the powerful strike from Deathwing that flung him against a rock wall like he weighted little more than a Terrible Terror. The hybrid hit the stone with a sickening crunch and this was only made worse as Deathwing slammed his fisted claws at his face and chest several times before finishing off his assault with a mighty tail-whip forcing Dathomir to slump heavily against the cold unforgiving rock. It stunned and shocked all present save Dathomir and Deathwing himself as they panted heavily, one from being attacked and the other from being the attacker.

Hiccup threw his hands across his mouth to stop himself from throwing up at the sight of thick blobs of dragon blood splattering onto the stone floor. He was glad to be protected in the shelter that was Toothless' body, somehow wishing he could hide even further underneath his best friend and not attract the Nightfury King's ire, knowing that he would not stand a chance against such an irresistible force.

Sluggishly and groaning in pain, Dathomir pushed himself away from the wall to stand shakily on his feet, his left eye forced shut as he found Deathwing intruding aggressively in his personal space.

"You will also go!" The Nightfury King growled as he leaned in close to the wounded hybrid, anger still evident in his tone as Dathomir cringed and bowed his head in supplication, "Moreover, as punishment for your foolishness and causing this debacle, your fate has just been entwined with the child's! If I decide Hiccup Haddock will not stay here … then neither will you!"

Dathomir's remaining blazing yellow eye widened in shock as Toothless and Hiccup exchanged panicked worried glances with each other at Deathwing's words, each lost in their own sea of guilty thoughts. Any chances of protest were brutally cut off as Deathwing simply turned and spread out his wings to lift off. Before he did so, he looked back at the three worried, wounded creatures.

"By the way, Nightbreaker, Twilight and Zodiac will also being going with you. While your human is gallivanting with his own kind, you may as well spend your time constructively Shadow, starting by apologizing to your nest-siblings. You leave in one hour! I shall await you at the fringes of The Veil!"

At that Deathwing vaulted up and with one beat of his wings was gone into the night sky, stars blinking out at his passing. Scrambling to his feet Hiccup noticed, most of the other Nightfuries had now left the scene, some flying, some limping whiles others carried away the unconscious forms of their kin, most noticeably Raven among them. As he surveyed the aftermath of the scene, the ground marred with scorch marks, blast craters, torn scales and stains of blood, Hiccup felt the weight of the day grow on his shoulders and looked like he was going to pass out. But as he slumped over he found himself supported by Toothless' head as his draconic friend slipped under him just in time.

"Are you alright?!" Toothless cooed worriedly as Hiccup steadied himself with his arms on his friend's neck.

"I'm okay bud!" Hiccup replied shakily, "it's just …. I never seem to see your father unless there is some kind of major catastrophe that I've caused going on! …. This place feels more like Berk every day!"

"Don't say that Hiccup!" Toothless retorted, his tone mixed with worry and disgust "We are nothing like them!"

"Really?" Dathomir chortled sarcastically in response, spitting out a tooth along with a fairly sizable glob of blood, "The boy may have a point!"

"You stay out of this! I hold you responsible Dathomir! Do not touch my human again or you will feel the of wrath of my claws!" Toothless growled at the hybrid for interrupting their moment before turning his attention back to the lanky Viking by his side, "Hiccup why do you want to leave? I know things have been …. difficult …. and I haven't been there for you recently … but you don't have to do this!"

"Yes I do bud!" Hiccup replied rubbing Toothless' scales in reassurance, fatigue and desperation clear in his tone "my clothes are getting ruined, I can't constantly eat fish, I'm running out of Myrtle Root and there's lots of basic things I need to survive that I can only get from my own kind…"

Toothless hummed as he considered Hiccup's words and begrudgingly admitted, his boy was speaking the truth. Hiccup was a human after-all and needed more 'things' to survive. For dragons it was easy. They had all they needed conveniently housed within their scaled bodies and their affinity with nature. They did not need clothes or armour or weapons, they could sleep exposed, out in the open, in all but the most extreme of weathers. They could feed on anything, their heightened senses giving them the ability to hunt and survive beyond the limits of any other creature, especially humans. And if things got too difficult they could just spread their wings a fly away to somewhere better.

Toothless knew that Hiccup and the rest of his kind had none of these amazing attributes and so had to compensate for them in other ways. Ways that annoyingly involved more humans.

" ….. plus I kinda miss it … you know …. being around other people." Hiccup finished awkwardly making Toothless stiffen with nerves, fearing Hiccup mind like living amongst humans more than living with him. He was going to reassure his boy but ….

"Hachhem! Don't I count as another person Hiccup!" the currently one-eyed Dathomir interrupted with a mock-hurt and sarcasm that was disturbingly similar to Hiccup's

"You're different Dathomir and you know it." Hiccup chortled back, a smile breaking the tense expression he had been wearing.

"Of course Hiccup, we both know all about being different ha ha ha!" Dathomir humorously snarked back despite his wounds, causing Hiccup to laugh a little more, much to Toothless' aggravation.

"Why do you joke with him Hiccup?" Toothless questioned in exasperation "Because of him I nearly lost you! Because of him, I nearly lost control!"

"I did apologize Shadow!..." Dathomir crooned back sarcastically, limping around to stand behind Hiccup " … and now it seems I am bound to Hiccup as much as you are! Though it may pain me to be banished also, you can find comfort, firstborn, in the fact that if Hiccup is forced to leave, he will have me for company!"

"You are bound to no-one! And you will not be Hiccup's company eel-eater!" Toothless barked back, his anger at Dathomir's casual attitude and the implications of his suggestion riling the Nightfury Prince up even further.

"Bud! You need to come down!" Hiccup urged, surprised and even a little shaken at how aggressive Toothless was becoming.

"No Hiccup!" Toothless growled as he spoke urgently to Hiccup "He doesn't understand! He never will! I meant what I said before. Whatever happens I will always need you!"

0

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0

"So that is how it is Shadow? Even now you still care more for the human than me?"

All three males turned their heads to see Moonchaser just standing there, about ten feet away. No-one had any idea how long she had been standing there for, but all could agree, judging by her forlorn yet angry expression she had heard every word spoken between them.

"I should have known your words were hollow! It seems the only thing you know now is betrayal!"

At that the white eyed Nightfury turned on the spot and awkwardly half ran, half limped away, her injured wing preventing her from flying off, the sound of pained, angry sobs flowing from her throat.

"Moonchaser! Come back!" Toothless roared as he jerked a few steps toward the direction she had left in but halted, casting a conflicted gaze back at Hiccup who seemed equally torn between his friend's needs and his own "I must speak with her! Get ready to leave Hiccup! I won't be long!" the Nightfury Prince crooned hurriedly before darting away himself in the direction his mate had gone.

"Bud wait!... and he's …. He's gone?" Hiccup wanted his words to come out in his usual sarcastic tone. However he couldn't help but be surprised at how hurt he sounded, seeing Toothless had just abandoned him. It was bewildering and contradictory, seeing Hiccup believed this whole fight had started because the two had been separated. Taking a gulp to ease his constricting throat the confused Hiccup swore he wouldn't openly cry at feeling yet another wedge finding its way inexorably between himself and his best friend.

"Don't be upset Hiccup." Dathomir crooned quietly by his side "It is no secret how much Shadow loved Moonchaser. When he departed the Isle of Night all those years ago, she was devastated and though Moonchaser is strong, she fears above all things that Shadow will abandon her once more!"

"It's …. Okay" Hiccup mumbled his gaze still fixed on the promontory of rocks Toothless had disappeared behind in pursuit of Moonchaser, his memories of Midnight's many taunts returning to plague his over-active mind, "Will you stay with me at my cave Dathomir?"

"Unfortunately no!" the Hybrid chirped back causing Hiccup to spin around in surprise.

"Wait! … what? ….. Why not?!" Hiccup asked ,worried about being left alone while there were still several Nightfuries milling around and he did not know how they felt about him.

"There is something I must do before we depart, not including tending to my wounds!" the yellow-eyed Nightfury groaned as he pawed at a particularly nasty gash Deathwing had craved across his face, "Besides I would rather not be around her right now, especially after what I have done this day" the large dragon muttered sheepishly.

"Who?" Hiccup retorted, quirking an eyebrow.

"You will see, besides I can't hold this illusion any longer, see you soon!"

And at that, the large dragon faded away, leaving nothing but empty air, a small pool of blood and Hiccup wondering just how long he had been talking to an illusion for. "And now he's gone too … great, just great!" he drawled defeatedly. However his low spirits instantly lifted as out of the shadows appeared a dragoness he knew well and was happy to see.

"Twilight!" Hiccup chirped happily. At first the dragoness said nothing but just approached and nuzzled her head heavily into Hiccup's chest pushing the boy back a few steps. Hiccup would have fallen over had not another dragon head, gently pushing into his back stopped him. Hiccup glanced over his shoulder to see it was none other than Nightbreaker. Though Hiccup was surprised to see the two Nightfuries showing him so much affection, he was even more surprised to see Nightbreaker acting this way and dared to hope he could count the usually neutral armoured dragon as one of his allies. But his attentions were quickly called back to Twilight who was cooing dejectedly.

"I am so sorry for losing you Hiccup!" Twilight whimpered out, causing Hiccup to place his hands on her head and begin stroking her scales to try and soothe her worried state.

"What? No Twilight this wasn't your fault, I shouldn't have run off!" Hiccup retorted trying to smile as he drawled, "besides, I guess there are worse dragons than Dathomir I could have been taken by! Right?!"

"Dathomir!" the dragoness growled in irritation, "When I get my claws on that trickster Light-weaver, he will pay dearly!"

"Hey hey hey it's fine" Hiccup nervously tried to reassure his silver eyed guardian. "I'm fine. Toothless is fine, everyone is fine!"

"Denial does not suit you Hiccup!" Nightbreaker rumbled firmly, his blood-red eyes declaring how outraged he was not just by Toothless' words but by his actions which he figured Hiccup had a hand in and therefore had a right to know about, "My brother hurt Twilight deeply this night with words sharper than any talon …. and all because you were taken!"

"Oh ….. I see …." Hiccup muttered as he dipped his head in shame to gaze sorrowfully at Twilight's head while his hands idly stroked and played with the flaps that crowned the back of her head, "I'm so sorry Twilight …. Toothless was just worried … he ….. probably didn't mean whatever he said!"

"I hope so!" Twilight replied in equal sadness, "Because I fear the brother we once knew is forever lost to us!"

"And that's my fault" Hiccup murmured defeatedly, causing Twilight to finally raise her head and look Hiccup in the eye.

"No human it's not!" Twilight urged, "but you are the key to this and I fear things will not end well!"

"I hope you are wrong sister!" Nightbreaker rumbled in response

"Me too!" Twilight replied

"Me three!" Hiccup jumped in desperate that the large red-eyed dragon was right as both Nightfuries let out quiet humorous rumbles at the boy's play on words.

"Hmmmmmm even now you still make me smile" Twilight crooned as she and Nightbreaker came either side of Hiccup and began nudging him playfully away into his cave "come Hiccup, gather what you need. A new adventure seems to await!"

Hiccup nodded in excitement and trepidation. He did not want to fully accept it but despite all the promises of a new and perfect life, Hiccup was actually happy to be leaving the Isle of Night, even for a short time. And in the dark recesses of his mind he reignited his contemplation of maybe ….. what if ….. at some point … he left … forever?

Meanwhile, The Isle of Night, elsewhere

The waves lapped busily against the beach and the rocks as the tidal forces pushed and pulled them in their never ending ebb and flow.

It should have been a peaceful calming sound, but to an injured dragoness, all the rhythmic splashing of the water did was highlight the throbbing discomfort that was pulsing through her still dislocated wing joint. Moonchaser grunted and hissed in pain as the near useless appendage scraped along the rocky ground in-between the trees which did nothing but get in her way, causing her to haphazardly knock against them and increase her already befuddled, betrayed and bedraggled state.

Finally she came to the wide open beach, a rough conglomeration of light stones and white sand that tickled between her talons and awkwardly, the dragoness made her way to sit atop the hexagonal pillars of the rock causeway that jutted out toward to the waiting ocean.

Many a time Moonchaser had come to this spot seeking company, comfort or in her darkest moments, solace. The white-eyed Nightfury tried to forget her emotional and physical pain as she took in a deep breath through her nose, hoping the familiar, pleasing scent of brine and seaweed would cleanse her senses, and soothe her tumultuous heart.

However such peace would be denied to her as, over and above the smell of the sea, Moonchaser immediately took in the aroma of the one she had placed all of her hopes in, only to have them dashed. One who she had to painfully admit she no longer knew while he ignorantly professed to know her. The rustling of sand and the scraping of rocks under sharp talons, followed by the nervous heavy breathing and scent of male hormones in the air confirmed what Moonchaser was sensing. She knew now for certain that Toothless was standing right behind her and it took all she had to control her own rampaging desires.

For despite their close proximity, neither could dispute a 20 year gap stood between them which made Moonchaser all the more bitter and worried about where her former mate's heart truly laid.

As the waves continued their monotonous sloshing and splashing, Moonchaser fixed her eyes on them as she steeled her nerves and let the words tumble out of her mouth, her tone shaky and uncertain.

"Where you like that about me, Shadow?"

Toothless didn't respond but let out a confused growl at the strange question so Moonchaser steadied her-self and spoke more.

"When you learned of the human being gone ….. I saw such fear in you for his safety, such anger, such concern … such passion!"

Again Toothless kept his peace, allowing his mate to speak her mind as her tone became laced with hurt.

"Did you ever feel that way about me while you were selfishly adventuring off to Draco knows where? Did you even spare me a second thought the moment you passed through The Veil? Was I nothing more than a conquest to be cast aside for not wanting to go with you? Obviously I was not important enough to be even remembered!"

Moonchaser finally looked at Toothless over her pain ridden shoulder and her gaze bore into the male Nightfury with a cool intensity.

"You nearly tore this entire nest apart when that boy was taken! Would you have done the same for me?

Toothless still said nothing for he knew he was trapped by Moonchaser's argument as he reluctantly considered the answer to her question. With his memories of her now free in his mind he realised he had fought hard to win her affections, aggressively seen off the advances and challenges of other suitors and earnestly professed his love for her. A love that she had reciprocated in equal earnest. But yet, in all the decades they had been together, Toothless could not recall a single event that sparked in him such a furious reaction that he had shown this night. It made him feel ashamed that he had not demonstrated such 'passion' in the past, but he also countered himself by thinking he had no cause to do so in the rigidly structured life he had lived before his departure. And he didn't have the constant shame of the Red Death hanging over him as he did now. Toothless was going to respond but at his apologetic expression, Moonchaser broke her stare and snapped her head back to look at the ocean, trying to cover a wince of pain as she aggravated her still injured wing joint. An injury inflicted by the very Nightfury behind her.

"I didn't think so!" Moonchaser growled bitterly, "Even that human's scent is all over you, I can almost taste it. There was a time when that was my scent you carried like a badge of honour!"

Though he had remained silent Toothless, decided that enough was enough and made his move to counter the irate dragoness.

But he knew starting with an argument over his troublesome human would only lead to more harsh words and so he decided to go with a different approach. Moving forward and with purpose he came alongside Moonchaser, slowly and deliberately rubbing his body against hers. It was an electrifying, intimate sensation for both dragons and though Moonchaser tried to fight it she could not help but lean in to the gesture. If the First-born did indeed want her scent on him, she would not stop him for now.

Toothless continued his advance and circled around until he stood closely in front of Moonchaser making the dragoness tremble in anticipation at what he was going to do. In this moment she could pick out individual scales on his thick chest as well as see the damage her razor sharp talons had done to them when they fought earlier. Though they were beginning to heal already, there was still blood oozing and congealing amongst the broken and torn surface of the male dragon's skin. Moonchaser's mind raced of possibilities as fearing perhaps a retaliatory strike or a mating ritual or even more pitiful excuses for his outrageous behaviour.

Toothless sensing this stepped even closer but to the side and with a speed and gentleness that complemented his build, the Nightfury prince lunged forward and clamped his gums around the bone of Moonchaser's injured wing.

What followed was a series of grimace inducing sounds as bone ground excruciatingly against bone. Moonchaser gasped as Toothless gave an almighty yank as with a loud audible 'pop', her wing joint finally slotted back into place. Toothless stepped back, licking his lips and subtly patting his tail on the ground. Even the taste of Moonchaser was driving him crazy as some less-than-innocent memories of them together filtered through his mind. The dragoness however was oblivious to this, for as the wave of blinding pain receded she felt her legs becoming shaky. But now that the hardest part was over, she allowed her magic to do the rest.

Chanting quietly Moonchaser's eyes glowed brightly, as a wave of pulsing energy filtered over her body. Being a healer dragon, she could focus her magic onto specific areas that needed the most attention and in the space of a few minutes she had removed all of the scratches, cuts and bruises she had received as well as dulled any residual discomfort in her secondary shoulder joints. Flexing her mighty wings and rotating them to ensure they were working properly, Moonchaser pulled them in close, satisfied that she was physically fine now. However she felt that she was now the one on trial for she saw that Toothless was the one staring intently at her and he was still very, very close.

"When I saw you back there ….. " Toothless crooned, "even though I did not remember at first … I thought you were the most beautiful creature to grace my sight … and when I look back over all of the years that I was gone … I know that nothing I saw … could ever match your beauty!"

Had Moonchaser been human you would have seen her blush at the declaration Toothless had just uttered. Yet though she so wanted to simply accept him and move on, there were still many things on her mind that needed to be addressed as she nervously took a step back.

"Pretty words Shadow!" Moonchaser replied wearily, "Easily spoken and yet, easily cast aside when the occasion suits! Have you any notion of the pain I have gone through these past 20 years, simply waiting, all alone and not having any sign of your return?

Again Toothless moved to respond but Moonchaser, compelled by her broken heart pushed on, tears now pricking her eyes.

"And then when you finally come back, it is as the crippled and tamed pet of a fragile, weak human who has no business even touching you, yet you cling to him as dearly as if he were your own hatchling and declare him your most important priority! You, a prince of dragons bowing to him so he can fly you, debasing yourself by pandering to his flaws and casting aside your kindred bonds! Please! Tell me why?!"

There was no anger in Moonchaser's tone anymore. She was genuinely begging for an answer, looking for some sort of handle on the situation she had been distantly watching from afar and now was up her neck in. She felt as if she was drowning now, the uncertainty and confusion threatening to overwhelm her. Toothless, rocked by her sense of sorrowful betrayal that was literally emanating off of Moonchaser's aura in eerily beautiful ice-blue waves, closed the gap between them and lowered his jaws to her ear.

"Moonchaser …" the warm intensity of Toothless' bass whispering voice made her shiver, "the boy saved my life, he is the reason I stand before you now ….. he is the reason I have the chance to tell you how much I love you ….. and I do …. I love you more now than I ever did …. But I will not forsake Hiccup and I will never forsake you again … you speak of pain my love? …... of weakness? … of loneliness? …. in my travels I have borne witness to enough of that to last me the lifetimes of ten Alpha's!"

"What happened to you Shadow?" Moonchaser whispered back, her head coming close enough to rest on Toothless' neck in a partial dragon hug, her voice trembling with anticipation and fear, "please, if you wish us to become fully bonded mates once more you must tell me!"

Moonchaser did not mean her words to be a threat, though many would interpret them as such. But both Nightfuries realised it was simply Moonchaser pleading for Toothless to trust her as he had many years ago and that she could begin to trust him again.

'I guess in the end …. It came to down to you proving what I thought about dragons was wrong …. So I figured ….. I should prove that I wasn't what you thought all Vikings were like and …. trust you not to bite my arm off bud!'

Hiccup had spoken those words to Toothless a long time ago as he elaborated on when they first met and the boy had been naturally terrified of being around the Unholy Offspring of Lightening and Death itself, much to Toothless' amusement and pride. However the one thing Hiccup always came back to when reminiscing about their crucial encounter was, in that moment before his hand touched the black dragon's snout, Hiccup had decided to take a leap of faith and trust what he feared to be his mortal enemy with everything he had.

And Toothless knew now the only thing that could possibly let him fully reclaim Moonchaser's trust and love, would be if he trusted her with the truth. The whole abysmal …. Shameful ….. Hopeful truth.

"I carry a great many scars that cannot be seen Moonchaser, scars and shame that run deep!" Toothless began, his voice laden with foreboding, causing his dragoness to huddle even closer to him as the waves crashed and growled around them with increasing ferocity.

Wary of his father's and his enemies' ever present observers and eager to deepen the intimacy and privacy of their time together, Toothless tapped into his magic and gently knocked on the gates of Moonchaser's consciousness. Feeling his presence on the edge of her mindscape, the dragoness tentatively allowed the green-eyed Nightfury access and Toothless brought himself into a place where he could not only speak his words directly into her mind but he also could show Moonchaser his memories and to a certain degree, make her feel his emotions.

It was a dangerous thing to do, fraught with danger, but time was of the essence as Toothless knew he had to get back to help Hiccup as well as convince his mate, he was still worthy of her love.

For now that Toothless had experienced the importance of both, he would not tolerate the absence of either…..

Meanwhile, Dragon Island

Deep within the caldera of a volcano the great queen of the nest stirred.

As the vast beast shifted, it sent shards of encrusted lava, clouds of sulphuric ash and small flocks of dragons scattering in every direction imaginable, fearful of what her motivations were this time.

Yet instead of waves of fear and intimidation radiating off the bloated leviathan, the dragons of the nest were confused that they sensed, for some reason, feelings of happiness and amusement.

For indeed, the Red Death had a lot to be happy about.

After months of prodding and searching and flexing her ancient magicks, she had finally latched on to the mind of her favourite slave.

And oh what secrets had she managed to pry from his conflicted mind!

It was astonishing that a dragon would feel so strongly for a human that he would be compromised to such a degree. And now that his mate was part of the equation, the Red Death was certain another useful pawn and bargaining chip had just entered her sadistic game of controlling everything she set her endless appetites on.

True the wayward Night-child once known as 'Shadow' had broken some of the bonds she had placed on him, such as regaining the use of his spinner-fins and freeing the supressed memories of his mate.

But the trade-off had been more than fair as she had, in exchange, finally located the hidden nest of the most elusive Deathwing and the rest of his clan of Nightfuries.

'Oh what future feasts she would revel in with such a nest of mighty dragons under her dominion!'

"PRODIGY!" the mountain sized dragon growled loudly, causing many dragons to fall flat on their bellies in supplication.

"Yes my queen!" a black and red Titan-wing Monstrous Nightmare crooned as he swooped down and bowed before the Red Death.

"FLY TO THE SOUTHWEST FOR THE SPAN OF 6 MOONS!"The six-eyed monstrosity commanded imperiously,"LISTEN CLOSELY FOR THE CALL OF AN ALPHA AND THEN PASS THROUGH THE BARRIER HE HAS BUILT. TELL THEM I WANT MY SERVANT BACK OR I WILL DESTROY THEM ALL. KILL ANY HUMANS YOU FIND! THEN RETURN TO ME WITH THEIR ANSWER.

"And if they … refuse?" the Nightmare tentatively asked, rightly fearing her reaction, knowing first-hand how she dealt with failure and rejection.

"HA HA HA! I KNOW THEY WILL REFUSE!" the Red Death laughed loudly, shaking the entire volcano as she did so, "I SIMPLY WISH TO LET THEM TEAR THEMSELVES APART IN FEAR BEFORE I SEND A HORDE SO VAST IT WILL REDUCE THE ISLE OF NIGHT TO A BLASTED BARREN ROCK AND WHAT REMAINS OF DEATHWING'S CLAN WILL COME CRAWLING HERE AND WILLINGLY SURRENDER THEMSELVES TO ME!"

"At once my lady, FOR THE QUEEN!" Prodigy barked back before stretching out his huge wings, darting up and out of the mouth of the volcano, turning southward and disappearing into the night.

"YES MY LITTLE FIRE-STARTER! FOR ME!" The Red Death chuckled loudly before narrowing her six baleful eyes and allowing her dark sadistic humour ignite her endless ravenous hunger. An audible humming echoed throughout the entire hollow mountain. It was an eerie, haunting sound and every dragon present felt their natural wills and minds forcibly suppressed. Countless slitted dragon eyes focused on the ancient titanic beast as they became nothing more than instinct driven puppets and slaves to her will.

"AS FOR THE REST OF YOU?! I HUNGER! GO FORTH AND BRING ME MY FEAST, LEST I FEAST ON THEE! GO MY MINIONS! FEED ME!"

And at that the mountain erupted, not with fire from the earth but with winged enslaved beasts that had no choice but to drop fire from the sky!

There we are everyone!

Sorry I had to cut things short but it seemed like the natural point to stop in order to post on time. Plus it will give me a better chance to flesh things out as more elements expand and become intertwined.

So Hiccup is heading off on a little adventure and we will get introduced to a new Island that will have a role to play in the future. There's going to be some interesting interactions coming up for both Toothless and Hiccup so I hope you enjoy it.

That being said, I won't be updating for a long while as I'm heading off on vacation soon for two weeks. Whilst I love writing and updating, my focus will solely be on doing touristy things in a far off land. Hopefully it will re-energize and inspire me with new material to make my stories better. Next update won't be until the end of the month at least.

I love your support so any comments, reviews, P.M.'s or queries you have are greatly appreciated.

Til next time ….

Take care of yourselves and each other.

Razor95