"Wow. You all have been through a lot", Moonfyre commented after the Draconians and Hiccup told Raeya and her family everything that had happened to them up to this point. Everything from Hiccup losing his father, to discovering Chris and Windwalker, and up to the 2 humans being selected as a god's champions.
By the time they finished the telling of their saga, the sun was setting, streaking the water and sky with streaks of warm orange and mellow purple.
"And what if he doesn't gain his memory by that time?", Sylerion asked.
"Then it will be a dark day for everyone", Re said solemnly.
Re looked at his son and noticed the sullen look on his face as he absently stared at the ground. Hiccup was in a similar position too, leaning against Toothless as he did so.
"But we have about a year to prepare. I believe we will be fine", Re assured.
Before anything else could be said, Rhyax and Windwalker returned from their flight.
"Man that was fun. We should do it again sometime", Rhyax smiled.
"Yeah. I haven't done aerial maneuvers like that in years!", Windwalker beamed as they walked towards the group.
It was like they were in their own little world, and Tenor didn't like that. He frowned a bit as they joined the group.
"Hey, what took you two so long?", Moonfyre asked Rhyax.
"Well, we went on a smooth flight across the ocean catching up with each other. Then we stopped to get something to eat", Rhyax started.
"...and then this guy thought he was faster than me since I apparently lost my touch starting a family and whatnot. So we played a game of tag, which I obviously won", Windwalker finished.
"Yeah whatever. I let you win", Rhyax sneered.
"Keep telling yourself that if it makes your ego feel better", Windwalker shot back, smirking.
"Anyways, you shouldn't have been out that long!", Moonfyre scolded.
"Mother, with all due respect, I'm an fully-grown drake who can take care of himself. And besides, it's not like we're leaving soon", Rhyax sighed. However, he immediately snapped his mouth shut when everybody looked at him.
His family's eyes widened in shock at potentially revealing their plan, while the rest looked at him with confusion.
"What do you mean not leaving anytime soon?", Tenor questioned.
"Yeah, I thought you said that when you all found Raeya you...would leave", Toothless said a bit sadly, though he didn't show it.
Sylerion looked back and forth between his mate and his son, staring daggers at the latter.
"Oh well...initially yes, we planned to do that. However...after hearing your life stories and everything up until now, we were wondering if possibly...we could stay at Draconia?", Sylerion said a bit weirdly.
"Oh really? How come?", Re asked.
"Well, we always were on the run because of other dragons treating us differently because of Raeya's...predicament. But seeing as how friendly, or in the Viking's case, tolerable, we were hoping that we might find a home here", Moonfyre replied quickly.
"We could stay here for a bit, until the royal dragons leave to Draconia and we could go with them to the home country and live there", Raeya mentioned, looking at her family knowingly while passing quick glances to Toothless.
Sylerion caught on to what she implied, however he did notice the quick looks his daughter was giving Toothless. Naturally, he was curious as to what happened while they were separated. He decided they would talk about it later.
"Well, this hill is big enough for all of us", Re said.
"Oh no it is fine. We wish to not disturb you. In fact, we kinda wish to stay a bit separate. We don't really...trust the humans yet", Sylerion declared.
"Alright. We're heading to bed now. See you all in the morning", Re said.
Rhyax, Sylerion, and Moonfyre all nodded and turn around, heading to the forest. Meanwhile, Raeya was currently having her own chat with Toothless.
"Well, I'll see you in the morning", Toothless said.
"Yeah"
"So, you are leaving tomorrow?", Toothless asked, a bit sadly.
"No. I don't think I'm leaving until a couple of more days", Raeya responded.
"Really? That's good", Toothless beamed a bit.
"Yeah it is", Raeya smiled. Her mind was shocked that she said that. Why did she say that? Why did Toothless think it was a good thing for her to stay? Did he want her to stay here?
She turned her head around and saw her parents waiting for her.
"Well I gotta go Toothless. See you tomorrow", Raeya smiled before she turned around.
Toothless had his head down a bit as she left. Because of that, he was taken by sunrise when Raeya head butted him softly–which is the dragon equivalent of a hug.
"Thank you Toothless", she uttered quickly before she took off with her parents.
Toothless' mouth parted a bit, partly in embarrassment.
He continued to stare in her direction well after she left. He turned around and was met with the stares/smirks of the Draconians and his rider.
"Having fun there?" Windwalker snickered.
"Shut up!", he growled back.
She and Tenor giggled while Re, Aurora, and the 3 humans had smiles on their faces.
"Goodnight", Toothless simply said as he trotted up and snagged his rider's foot, dragging him down the hill and to his house.
It was well into nighttime that the 4 Night Furies landed in a secluded clearing far on the north side of the Isle of Berk.
"Well I didn't expect them to be so friendly", Moonfyre commented as she looked from her children to her mate.
"Well they have to look pretty for the crowd dear", Sylerion scowled.
"Man, I bet they have everything prepped and preened for them. Having everything handed to them on a silver platter", Rhyax added
"They don't seem that bad. Listening to them and all that they've been through, they might've had it worse. Like they said: they are dragons first, then royalty", Raeya chimed in.
The rest of her family looked at her, bewildered.
"I'm sorry, what?", Rhyax asked.
"I've been with them for about a week. They seem like nice people, and considering that they were helping the humans, which dragons rarely do", Raeya explained.
"Looks can be deceiving Raeya", Sylerion cautioned. Raeya seemed to be the only one who found that ironic.
"And so what if you've been here a week. It seems like all you've been doing is hanging out with your new mate", Rhyax sneered.
Blood rushed to her scaly cheeks. "He's not my mate!", Raeya nearly shouted.
"Mate?! The crippled alpha of the dragons of Berk?!", Moonfyre asked, shocked.
"No mom, he is not my mate!", Raeya groaned.
"Good! How is he suppose to provide for you and your future hatchlings if he can't even fly?!", Moonfyre berated.
"He seems to be doing just fine with or without Hiccup!", Raeya shot back.
"Not when it comes to flying", Rhyax sneered.
Raeya growled and turned to her brother. "And how's it going with Windwalker? It seems like she will always be better than you. No matter how hard you try, it seems you will never catch her. You couldn't do it back then and you certainly can't do it now. Tenor got to her before you did!"
Rhyax's pupils turned into slits and snarled at his sister.
"Say that to me one more time!"
Two sudden plasma blasts cut them off before they could do anymore damage.
"We do not have time for petty love affairs!", Sylerion growled, "Let's do what we actually came here to do!"
"Well, after talking to them, I can't seem to find anything of value to them", Moonfyre thought out loud.
"Yes. They don't value anything monetary", Sylerion observed.
"But they have to value something!", Rhyax groaned in frustration.
"They value family", Raeya answered.
Again, her family turned to her.
"What?"
"That's all the ever care about. They said that they would give up all the riches, luxury, etc., because that only lasts temporarily. Family, at least to them, lasts forever", Raeya continued.
"Hit them where it means the most", Moonfyre muttered.
"Exactly! We take away their family, they are nothing!", Sylerion exclaimed.
"And how do you suppose we take out their whole family at once?", Rhyax inquired.
"We don't. We take it out little-by-little", Sylerion explained.
"How?"
"Simple. Your mother and I will distract the King and Queen. You, Rhyax, will cause as much tension between the Prime Minister and his mate as you can, since you can't really claim her as a mate. I hate to say it son, but you lost your chance years ago", Sylerion explained.
"We'll see about that", Rhyax muttered.
"Raeya, you will distract the Berk alpha."
Raeya's eyes widened a bit. "Distract Toothless?"
"Yes. It should be a piece of fish for you. He's already infatuated with you", Rhyax said.
Raeya pulled her head back a bit in shock. 'Toothless is in love with me? He can't be in love with me. Oh no. That will just make it worse. If I can just somehow get my parents caught red-handed... But I can't pull this off by myself. Too many things have happened already. I need help...maybe he can help me', Raeya thought to herself, trying to improvise her plan.
"This is for all the years you didn't believe that my family and I had to endure all the pain of being shunned, for not helping us", Sylerion seethed to no one in particular.
Raeya went quiet as she heard her father speak his monologue. She knew he was taking about her and her eyes. How they got rejected from countless others and hoped that the King and Queen would do something about the bullying of her eyes, but no. The King and Queen couldn't do anything without proof, so they had to live their life with injustice.
She still couldn't understand why his father made a big deal out of it. They weren't the ones who had to live with the torment of everybody taking one look at her eyes before turning the other way. She had that everywhere she went. Everywhere except Berk.
Raeya was conflicted. She had to come up with a plan fast. Not only that, but she was confused about her heart. The fact that Toothless could like her, scared her. But she couldn't understand her feelings towards him. Yes, he was an amazing friend, but as a lover? It was the fact that she was indecisive about it that concerned her the most. Regardless what path she took: reciprocating his possible love or going no further than a strong friendship; she didn't want to fathom the effects of each choice. Was she willing to jeopardize a friendship or watch a blooming love willow away?
And what of Kassandra? There was no doubt that she didn't mind the human. In fact, she kinda liked her. They were both lonesome females who are both trying to get away from their families. What luck! Perhaps it would be best if they just ran away together.
'Like that would ever happen'. Raeya rolled her eyes at the slim possibility of it occurring.
Her mind wandered back to Toothless. How strong he was. How he made her fit in and made her felt welcomed, like a dragon. His piercing green ey-
'Stop it Raeya! Focus on the family first, then him!', she scolded herself.
Regardless of it all, things are about to get much more complicated than she originally thought.
'Oh, why did I pick this island to fish on?', Raeya groaned.