Hiccup felt the Sand Wraith shift until the dragon was sitting. Hiccup continued hugging him. The youngling cooed and seemed to curl into Hiccup, though his head had to twist so that his right cheek could lay on top of Hiccup's shoulder. Hiccup heard pawsteps. He glanced, as he was able to, over the Sand Wraith's furled wing. Toothless' other two younglings stood just beyond their brother's slightly shifting tail. Hiccup smiled when both spread their wings and bowed to him. He stepped back and moved around the Sand Wraith's wing.

[We both wish you to be our alpha,] the Nadder said, its voice male.

"Please stand," Hiccup said.

They did so and he held out both hands, palms out. They did not give him a chance to turn his gaze. Hiccup smiled and scratched both. They cooed. Hiccup chuckled when he felt and saw the Sand Wraith nuzzle under his right arm and into his chest. His chuckles only grew as the other two bypassed his hands and nuzzled against him as well. He saw over the Nightmare's back spikes that Toothless was watching with a proud and happy look upon his face. The big dragon, still hovering just off the cliff, thrummed a noise Hiccup had not heard a dragon make before.

[I see,] she said. [Welcome to the hatchling nest, honored alpha, and thank you for removing the fallen queen that blocked so many from coming here. Before I return to my duties as guard of this island, I have a request, if I may.]

"Yes?" Hiccup asked, still surrounded by Toothless' younglings.

[Your brother says you both now fly since you created the device to let him have the skies again. May I see this?]

Hiccup caught Toothless' eyes and grinned. Toothless returned it with his gummy smirk. He gave a chuff and his younglings moved away. Hiccup gave each on last scratch to their nose before walking over to his brother. He climbed into the saddle, left on just like his metal leg since they were not on Berk.

Toothless bounced back a bit. His wings flared. He shot into the sky, immediately spinning. Hiccup tucked against the back of his neck. They rose until the astonished roars from all who had never seen this faded. Hiccup sat back and looked over his shoulder and felt the thing within him that almost let him and Toothless become one rise.

"Let's give this entire island a show, bud."

Toothless made a sound in the Old Tongue that Hiccup needed no translation for. He grinned, tucking against Toothless once more. Toothless flipped end on end. His wings folded against his sides. Hiccup clicked the tailfin to a close position. They dropped. Toothless spun. His belly shimmed just off the cliff's edge. His wings flared before they hit the rocks at the bottom. Hiccup clicked the tailfin. Toothless flew parallel to the water. He played as if he was hopping over the waves, rising and falling in time with their journey to crash into the rocky cliff. Hiccup clicked the tailfin each time, knowing when and where and in what position it should be in.

"Go," Hiccup whispered when the waves were no longer high enough to hop over.

Toothless coiled. His wings beat. He shot off across the water. Hiccup heard the wind shriek in Toothless' wake. Toothless went vertical. Hiccup shifted the tailfin accordingly. Toothless rolled in a long arc, putting Hiccup upside down for a bit. Hiccup kept clicking the tailfin. Toothless banked right as he came out of the arc. He then rose vertical again, spinning in a tight circle. Hiccup tucked against the back of his brother's neck, clicking the tailfin as needed without thought. Toothless leveled just under the clouds. Banked left. Faced the island several wing flaps back. Toothless shifted to a hover.

"Fly level," Hiccup said. "And go to the deep part but close to the island."

[You're going to jump again?]

"Yes."

[Astrid's going to smack the both of us.]

"Nope. Just me. You have to obey me since I'm the alpha."

Toothless snorted. [And it went to your head,] Toothless said drawing out the word 'and' for a couple heartbeats. [You sure you'll be able to get back into the cave to sleep tonight?]

"You've been around Shadowfire too much. Now, go."

Toothless huffed but flew level. Hiccup waited until they were closer. He unhooked the tethers. Stood. Somersaulted off. Dove. He heard the wind screech past his ears. He saw Toothless falling with him. He smiled. Toothless returned it. Hiccup laughed as Toothless tongue flapped in the wind. Toothless spun. Presented his back. Hiccup gripped the handles. Tugged. Secured his metal leg. Clicked the tailfin. Toothless' wings flared. They jerked but leveled out. Toothless headed for the island. He landed. Hiccup was not surprised Astrid met them first. He was surprised that Shadowfire and Gyda were cackling to the point both had tears streaming from their eyes.

"You jumped off Toothless?! What possessed you to do that?!"

Hiccup heard Shadowfire and Gyda cackle louder at Astrid's questions. He frowned at them but could see neither could see him. Both were sitting or laying down and had their eyes closed.

"What is so funny?" Astrid demanded, spinning to face them, her hands upon her hips. "He could have died!"

Shadowfire actually flopped onto his back, his legs curling against his belly as he cackled. Gyda wiped her eyes but recovered faster than her son. She stood from where she had been sitting in front of the cave. She turned to Windwalker.

"Remember asking if they always did heart-stopping stunts?" she asked.

Windwalker jerked. The dragon then shook his head and chittered a long, low sound that sounded resigned and scared all in one. [I just felt a chill run across my scales.]

The other nest dragons echoed his statement. Hiccup sighed, dismounting Toothless. He looked at Astrid as she turned to him. He knew she was still upset. He placed his hands upon her shoulders.

"I have to know what to do if I ever do fall off Toothless. I can't have what happened during our first flight occur again. I jump off him to teach myself not to panic. To teach myself to remain calm."

Astrid grunted. "You also like the thrill, don't lie."

Hiccup cupped her cheek. "Then I won't."

Astrid gritted her teeth. Hiccup's thumb began caressing her cheek.

"I only do that when I know there is deep water under me. And only after we are very high in the sky."

Astrid's eyes narrowed. "I can't lose you," she whispered.

Hiccup pulled her against him. She fought for a couple heartbeats but encircled her arms around his waist. Hiccup placed his right hand upon her back. His left hand curled around the back of her neck where his thumb continued its caressing of her skin. He placed his forehead against hers.

"Our saga's only really just beginning, my queen."

Prince: Yep, a Sand Wraith

Kirika: I'm glad you liked the chapters and yes, it is a beautiful moment for Hiccup to become an uncle.