Dawn had peeked in through the curtains creeping through the room Grumbling, I arched my back. I blinked away the tiredness and looked ahead. Hiccup sat across the room. He hunched over his desk. Yawning, I crawled off my bed and walked over. With each breath his shoulders rose and fell. I peered over him. My jaw dropped and my eyes grew wide. Beneath Hiccup's hand was a drawing. Of her.

"GET UP!" I roared.

Hiccup jumped a foot in the air. The drawing stuck to his face. He whipped his head at me. Eyes wide like mine, Hiccup began to stutter. I shoved him off the chair. Before he had a chance, I hopped on top of him. I licked his face all over.

Flailing, Hiccup yelled, "TOOTHLESS, GET OFF!"

I hopped off. Skittering in place, I thrashed my tail around. Hiccup sat up and dusted himself off before resting his arms on his knees. Eyebrow raised, Hiccup smiled and said, "heh, take it you want to see your girlfriend?"

I froze.

Hiccup's grin grew wider.

Chest puffed up, I shot him a glare. He waved me off before rising to his feet. The paper hung limp against his brow. He peeled it off setting it down. Hands on his hips Hiccup marveled at his sketch. Casually he said, "think I captured her pretty well, huh bud? You should bring her over so I can do better."

PLONK!

Hiccup rubbed the back of his head after I kicked a pencil at him. I grumbled and shifted in my spot. He stuck his tongue out. Despite myself, I smiled warmly before running to the door. I cast him an expectant look. Hiccup waved me off while picking up his pencil. He said, "alright bud. Let me just wake up. Then we'll go."

My eyes followed Hiccup as he started to his morning stretch. My tail thrashed. Loud thumps vibrated through the floor. Hiccup gave me a side eye. "Wait," he said as he tightened his leg. A low whine fills the room as I flapped my wings. Hiccup whipped his head to me. I saw a frown. Standing up, Hiccup walked over arms crossed. I mimicked him. He craned his neck up. Our eyes locked the air thickening with tension. Hiccup shakes his head. I nod mine.

"It seems ah interrupted a lovers' quarrel!"

We both turned in unison to the source. Standing in the doorway was Gobber, grinning ear to ear. I heard Hiccup sigh. Gobber laughed. The blacksmith walked over before slapping the back of Hiccup's head. Hiccup looked shocked. Before he had a chance, Gobber wagged his finger at him. And started in on him, the phrase 'late again!' and 'stayed up late did ya?!' I stifled a snort. Hiccup pushed Gobber's hand aside.

"Alright Gobber, I get it! What do you really want?" Hiccup asked.

The smile disappeared. Gobber began inspecting his prosthetic, avoiding Hiccup's eyes. Hiccup straightened his back out. He asked again. Gobber muttered something under his breath. I tilted my head. I caught Hiccup clenching his fists. Again Hiccup asked. Gobber muttered a bit louder but still muffled. I leaned over Hiccup to listen in. Gobber sucked in a deep breath. After letting it out, he said finally, "She's gone."

"WHAT!?" I bellowed. Without hesitation, I bolted past them jumping down to the second level. I ran steadfast at the door. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing myself to bust through. A familiar voice rang out. My eyes snapped open seeing Astrid walking through the door. She jumped out of the way with a yell. I threw a look back. Astrid gaping at me while Hiccup and Gobber came running. I whined apologetically. I dug my claws into the dirt. Turning tightly, I rushed to the side of the house. I came to a dead stop. My eyes scanned the area beneath the awning.

Nothing.

I slipped out from under the awning. I sat back on my haunches. Head twisting this way and that, an empty roof was all I saw. Hiccup's voice called out to me. My ears twitched. Springs squeaked toward me. Hands and arms wrapped around my neck as Hiccup hoisted himself up. He leaned over me. He shot me a disapproving look; then looked beneath the awning. His breath hitched in his throat. He gently patted my head.

"Sorry bud...I guess she left..." he said. My heart sunk. My gaze trailed to the sky then back to my tail fin. I hung my head. Hiccup gently scratched my ears. We walked back towards the front of his house. The moment we got there, Stormfly bum rushed me. Hiccup was flung off landing a few feet away. My back hit the dirt hard. I winced. Opening my eyes, I came face to face with a very very pissed off Deadly Nadder.

"STORMFLY STOP!" Astrid yelled as she ran past. Stormfly paused. She hopped off. She glared at me. Astrid dropped to her knees where Hiccup lay. She helped him sit upright. He looked around dazed. He then shook head while rubbing the back of his neck.

"Sorry bout that babe. I didn't think she'd do that," Astrid said, brushing his hair back. She then shot Stormfly and me a dirty look. In her commanding tone, she then said, "both of you! Come here. Now."

I looked at her aghast. Stormfly trudged past me, belly close to the ground. I followed suit. We sat before Astrid and a now standing Hiccup. Hands on her hips, Astrid started to give us a lecture. Hiccup rested a hand on her shoulder. She paused. Looking at him, she raised a brow. He leaned in whispering something. Astrid's features softened. She cast me a pity look. Hiccup then took a step forward. He spoke, voice still rough from the landing, to me, "Bud, I get it...but you could've gotten hurt. Astrid almost got hurt. You can't just go running off like that."

Astrid pointed at him, "he DID get hurt as did you!"

Hiccup waved it off and said, "I'm fine, don't worry bout it. Not the first time I landed hard on my back. Right Astrid~?" He grinned. A deep flush raced across Astrid's cheeks. She punched him. While the duo playfully quarreled, I looked up at Stormfly. Her eyes were still narrowed. I lifted a paw to her. She jerked back.

Sighing, I said, "Stormfly, I-" she cut me off.

"Whatever excuse you're gonna say. Save it. I don't give a damn. You nearly killed Astrid. Thank the gods she didn't get hurt, or you wouldn't be breathing right now," she snarled. My ears laid flat against my head. Hurt must've flashed across my face then. Stormfly's eyes widened a little. She curled her tail around me.

"I didn't mean it..." she said gently.

Nodding, I replied, "I know...can't say I blame you though. Considering..." Her gaze drifted to Hiccup as I spoke. She gave a short nod. We watched our riders chatting and laughing from afar. Happy. A pair. Then Gobber joined them jabbering on about something. A family. My heart sunk. My tail thrashed to and fro for a moment. Stormfly draped a wing around me kindly. I wondered what it would be like to live with your own kind.

Stormfly pulled away from her harshly. She screeched. Loudly. I jumped in my spot. Wings flared out Stormfly hopped away before she spun around. Her tail spikes ready to discharge. I whipped my head behind me.

A basket.

Blinking, I stared at it. My ears twitched. Flapping. I looked up and there she was! Hovering, she looked down at me sheepishly. She dropped down to the ground. Pawing at the dirt, she kept her gaze low. Wiggling, I bounced over to her. She jumped back. I stopped mid wiggle. I padded over to her.

"You're still here!" I yelled happily. Confusion washed over her face as she tilted her head. I tilted mine back. I pointed with my wingtip to below the awning. I added, "cause you weren't in your sleeping spot. We thought you left."

The fury shakes her head. She then pushed the wicker basket to me. Curious, I sniffed at it. A wonderful aroma hit me, making my mouth water. I knocked it over. Spilling from it was a variety of fish, my jaw dropped. I beamed down at her and said, "oh my Thor this is amazing! Where did you get the fish? Wait. Better question: where did you get the basket?"

She opened her mouth, but clammed up. Her eyes stared at me. No. Next to me. I glanced and saw Stormfly, eyeing the fish. I nudged her. She widened an eye at me until she got the hint. Puffing her chest out, Stormfly leaned over and said, "so you're the one who flew into me."

"Stormfly!" I snapped.

The fury curled into herself. Her wings had begun to fold around her. She murmured out, "I'm sorry. I-I didn't see you...the basket was heavy..."

Stormfly and I exchanged looks. Heavy? Grinning, Stormfly said teasingly, "heavy, huh? Hope that means there's enough to go around."

Horror etched onto the fury's features. She dropped to the ground. Scrambling to count the fish out, her breathing erratic. She jumped to her feet. She bleated out, "I'll g-get some more! Sorry!" She tried to take off, but Stormfly stepped on her tail. She dropped with a thump.

"Easy kid! I was messing with ya. Ya don't have to get more." Stormfly said.

Looking over her shoulder, the fury said, "o-oh...right. Sorry." She then looked away from Stormfly.

Nostrils flared, Stormfly leaned down to me and whispered, "I don't like her."

I wing bumped Stormfly. Moving closer to the fury, I caught her gaze. She looked up. Again it was as if I was drowning. I literally had to shake off the feeling. Collecting myself, I said, "don't worry bout Stormfly. She's harmless!" Stormfly booed at that. "Are you afraid she'll attack if you...like look at her?" I then asked.

Quickly the fury shakes her head. Furrowing my brow, I asked, "oh then what's the problem?"

"There's no problem!" She said, before again looking away. She sighed and continued "It's just...she's so beautiful and imposing."

I performed a double take. Blinking rapidly, I just nodded. I shifted gears and turned my attention to the basket. Then I glanced back at the humans. They were watching. Curious yet being respectful. Humming to myself, I turned back to the fury. "Hey could you bring the fish to the house?" I then pointed a paw at said house. She followed my paw. She flexed her claws yet nodded. She pushed the fish back into the basket the best she could. She grabbed the handles. She flew over to the house. Stormfly and I watched from afar. Slack jawed, Hiccup looked to me. I nodded. He ran over to let her in while Astrid and Gobber came over to clean up the fish.

I then looked up at Stormfly, curious bout her reaction. Stormfly wore a toothy grin. Chest puffed out, Stormfly trilled happily, "I like her."

Cheekily I said, "of course you do~"

She stuck her tongue at me. She bumped her wings at me before walking over to the house. More so to the side than anything. Again dancing in my spot, I ran towards the front door.

I poked my head in to see Hiccup cooking skewered fish. He noticed me then. He motioned his head subtly behind him. I looked. Pressed against the wall and curled into herself was the fury. Big round eyes staring. Her pupils constricted. Thoughts ran through my head as I walked over. I then stupidly stepped on an old floorboard. She nearly jumped out of her skin. She tore her attention from Hiccup and unto me. She then looked away. Again.

"I'm sorry..." she murmured.

"What?" I replied.

Her face crumpled as she wrapped her wings around her.

"I...I wasn't able to protect your fish. He had a weapon..." she said.

"Wait what? Hiccup would never hurt you! Also? My fish? I thought they were yours?" I asked. When the fury shakes her head, I then asked, "why did ya get me fish?"

"To thank you!"

"For what?"

"For your kindness and to repay you for the fish you brought before."

"Oh! Thank you, but you didn't have to do that!"

She finally looked me in the eye. Gobsmacked. Her brow furrowed and then she looked back to Hiccup. She then asked, "so you share your food? Willingly?"

"Course we do!" I said happily.

"I see..." she said quietly.

The wonderful smell of cooking fish wafted through the house. Hiccup turned the fish over. The fury watched, curious. Sitting next to her, I leaned over and said, "he's gonna be at that for awhile."

She let out a squeak. When it registered what I meant, she made an 'oh' noise. We sat there for a moment. I then wing nudged her. The fury looked up. I gave her a sly look. "I can show ya around? To the past the time," I said.

Her jaw dropped. Her wings drooped to the floor. Eyes wide. She began to press her back against the wall. She stammered out, "you...you mean...meet your pack?"

I nodded to her and said, "they won't hurt. Humans here love dragons. Also Hiccup," I pointed to my rider, "won't let that happen. I won't let that happen. You'll be ok, I promise you that."

The fury mulled it over. Tail swishing back and fro as her wings twitched. She looked back at Hiccup. Stars in her eyes. She then jumped towards me, nearly nose to nose. Hindquarters wiggling. Beaming up at me, she said, "let's go!"

"Heh, not what I expected," I said grinning.

Hiccup must've been watching us cause he was smiling. He waved us off as I lead her out. As we trotted away, something crossed my mind. I slowed down. I asked, "hey, what's your name?"

She froze.

"My...my name?"

"Yeeaaah...I never got a chance to ask. Sorry bout that," I said, laughing awkwardly. She dragged her claw in the dirt idly.

Her ears flattened against her head. She muttered something. Too soft.

"Come again?"

She sucked in a deep breath before letting it out slowly. She said, "my name's Sparkling Sapphire."

"Oh! That's a very pretty name!" I said. I gave her a big gummy grin. Her shoulders slumped as she stared absently at the ground. My smile grew smaller. Tilting my head, I asked, "not a fan huh?" She squeeze her eyes shut.

"Wanna be called something else?" I asked.

Her head jerked up. Blinking rapidly at me, she asked in a surprised tone, "something else? You can do that?"

"Well yeah? I don't wanna upset ya. If you're fine with it, I can call ya something else!"

"I suppose that is fine... I do not know have another name in mind."

"Oh? Ya never had a nickname?"

Briefly her eyes became glossy. She pawed at her eyes before shrugging. I only nodded. Narrowing my eyes, I gave her a good long look. A few names came to mind.

"Can shorten it to Sapphire?"

"No thank you."

"Fair enough!"

Humming to myself, I threw out a few more names. I said, "how abooout moonbeam? Rán? Freya? Aqua? Cordelia? Bluestorm?" She giggled at the names, yet shook her head.

I rubbed my paws over my face. She gave me a sheepish look. I sighed and said, "Hiccup makes it look easy. He can give a dragon a name faster than lightning!"

"Oh? Did he give your name?"

"Yeah, hah, he did."

"You have teeth though...?"

"Heh, well never said he was the best~ Sometimes he picks names off what he sees or events." The cogs in my brain continued to turn. A name came to mind. "Speaking of events, I think I got nickname for ya!"

"Oh? And what would that be, Toothless?"

"Midnight, since we met you in the middle of the night. Eh eh eh!" I said, wiggling my nubs at her.

She became very quiet. She gingerly touched her neck, rubbing at a scar. My muscles tensed. Her eyes began to sparkle.

"I like it."

I smiled so wide my face began to hurt. I stepped forward and said, "well then, Midnight let me give you a personal tour of Berk!"

~~~

Been a minute since last update. Was doing other projects, holidays, and the like. Gonna do Legacy in batches, so there are may be some time between updates but at when they do come it'll be more than one!