"You have told the Council what they needed to know, Pheda," Pheda heard Toothless say to her. "You can go back to Honest's cave now."
Honest cocked her head to look at Pheda, and grinned a toothless grin. 'I don't have to stay either, it seems. Wanna fly?'
Pheda nodded eagerly. Of course!
The Night Light presented her back for Pheda to mount, and the girl gladly obliged. If the last forty-eight hours had taught her anything, it was that she loved flight. Honest jumped into the air, soaring high over the gathered Council members, then tucked her wings and dove, nearly touching the ground as she slipped through a narrow, dragon-sized doorway that served as an entrance into the room of the Hanging Crystal. Using her gained momentum to rocket higher into the air, Honest rose high once again. Both dragon and rider smiled into the wind that rushed into their faces from the speed at which they flew.
They soared over groups of dragons of all kinds; some fishing, some talking, and, in the case of hatchlings, some playing. Night Lights were sprinkled throughout every group, for the fledgeling species was fast becoming numerous. Many dragons were in the air, too.
Then Honest swerved suddenly, soared high for a moment longer, then tucked her wings and dove, making her way confidently through glowing-mushroom-covered sea stack after. . . well, you get the picture. When the dragon's momentum ran out, she landed on a small outcropping on one of them, amid a clutch of glowing eggs. There were many other clutches, all glowing brighter than that Honest had landed beside.
Pheda slid off her friend's back, and approached the eggs slowly. No parent was nearby. What kind are they?
'They are Night Fury eggs,' came Honest's answer. 'Their parents taken by Grimmel the Grisly, they should have died long ago. And yet they have not stopped glowing, as all the other Night Fury eggs in the Hidden World. They may still be alive, but no one knows for sure.'
What do you think? Pheda asked.
'I think they are alive,' Honest thought back, her voice so soft Pheda had to strain to sense it. 'Not that I know how to help them hatch. And if they do hatch, no one knows how Night Furies should be cared for. Toothless is the only one left, and he has no memory of his parents. He thought he was the only one like himself, a mutant of an unknown species, all his life. Until he met Pearl, that is.'
You know, Pheda though after a moment, I never really fit in on New Berk. I was different from everyone, and didn't really have any friends that I "clicked with", if you know what I mean.
'I know exactly what you mean.' Honest responded.
I was always jealous of the other kids. I was raised by my grandmother, Iyaly, and I don't really remember my real parents. I used to ask Grandmother to tell me about them, but those questions made her sad and silent, so I stopped.
'You know,' Honest said after a moment, 'you and I aren't that different. I never knew my mother, and my father disappeared not long after I hatched. Compared to humans, dragons grow up pretty fast, so the same age for humans would have been about five years old. My father's sister, Wisespeed, took care of me until recently, when I became a Broadwing.'
What was your father's name? Pheda thought back carefully.
'Flamefang,' Honest answered softly. 'The son of Toothless' only white son.'
You're right, Pheda said to Honest after a pause. We really aren't that different. She rested her hand on the Night Light's back. It feels good to have a true friend for once.
Honest smiled a dragon smile. 'It does.'
Having nothing else to do, the two friends headed back to the Hanging Crystal.
"It is decided," Toothless said to Pheda when she and Honest returned. "We shall come to the aid of New Berk."
0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0.o.0
Pheda slipped on Grandmother's armor, and strapped the helmet on. The emerald dagger was in its sheath, buckled to her side. She checked the gronckle-iron clasps, then looked at Honest. The Night Light gave a little nod, confirming that it was time to go.
The dragons had nothing to put on as they readied for battle, but Toothless still had many duties which he needed to make note of to Pearl and Wisespeed. Plus, he had to gather the strongest dragons of every species, along with those who remained of the Dragon Riders' dragons, for the rescue.
Even so, they were ready in a fairly short time. They gathered at the Falls, waiting in the dim caverns for orders to leave.
Toothless hovered at the front of the draconian army, and when he was sure that every last dragon needed was there, he spoke, using the tongue of the dragons, but Pheda heard his voice in her mind as well. "Dragons of the Hidden World, prepare yourselves! As we prepare to advance from our home of generations, and hiding place of five decades, remember these words, whether we win or lose, succeed or fail: we come to the aid of our allies, our human friends, the New-Berkians, so there is no shame in defeat, no, nothing but honor in our course of action, no matter the outcome. The names of all who fly to the aid of New Berk will go down in history as the brave, honorable dragons who risked their lives to save their Outside allies, who wouldn't stop clawing, biting, scratching, flaming until victory was theirs, no matter the cost. My brave dragons, onwards, to battle!"
The dragons threw back their heads and roared, and, like a great draconian flood, they took to the air, and poured out through the Falls, flying as fast as they could to the island of New Berk, and battle.