Everyone rushed to the training cavern they left the twins in. Hiccup paled at the amount of smoke pouring out of the wide opening and covering the roof of the tunnel right outside it. Moments later the Light Fury they had met before stumbled out, shaking her head and coughing. The twins and Barf and Belch followed along with two more Light Furies, one Night Fury, one Flame Whipper, and two Ice Terrors. All were coughing and shaking their heads. Only the twins looked a little singed. Hiccup's eyes narrowed. They had been asked not to destroy the nest and they had ended up harming members of it, along with themselves. Tuff, having looked up, saw him and held out both hands.
"Nope," Tuff said quickly. "I know what you're going say, boss man, but don't. Not yet, please. Hear us out first. That's all I ask."
Hiccup crossed his arms over his chest and glared at the twins. "Talk," he said, barely keeping his alpha magic from rising and coating his words.
From the glance he got from Toothless' father, a tiny amount seemed to have leaked through.
"It was an experiment," Tuff said. "Head Lady Night Fury here wondered how big an explosion we could get since Barf and Belch split the ability to use their breath attacks. So, we decided to show her."
"Yeah, what he said," Ruff added, hands on her knees as she bent slightly over and coughed towards the floor. "None of us were expecting Red Orange there," she added, pointing to a bright red and orange colored Flame Whipper, "to sneeze just as Belch sparked or that he sneezes flames like Hookfang does whenever he gets sick. And he totally gets sick. Wingblaze says he just likes to be a tough dragon and not let anyone know."
"Barf," Tuff began, taking over as Ruff began coughing again, "had released a lot of gas so both the spark and the flame combined and then boom!"
Both twins cackled before slapping each other's upraised hands again and then clanking their helmets together. Hiccup's gaze shifted to the Light Fury as she shook herself and stepped closer. The dragoness then bowed, wings spread to Toothless' father and to Hiccup, since he was standing right beside the alpha of the nest when they all stopped running.
[They are correct, my alpha, my prince. I have not dealt with Double-minds before and I was curious about their capabilities. The Poison-tail had been complaining of his nostrils tickling for a while and we were closing training so he could go see the Poison-tail elder. He had asked to stay but apparently being just at the opening was not far enough even though the Double-mind and the two humans were at the back of the cavern.]
[The roar?] Toothless' father asked.
[The explosion caused the back of the cavern to crack,] the Light Fury said, standing. [It revealed a tunnel I did not know about. I was sending a sounding roar down it to see how far it went and if somehow connected to another part of the nest.]
[And?] Toothless' father asked.
The Light Fury tilted her head. [It confuses me, my alpha. It goes down and out toward where the old human dens are. As far as I am aware, we never had a tunnel that went in that direction. Did we?]
[Show me,] Toothless' father said instead.
He and the dragoness entered the cavern. Hiccup turned his gaze back to the twins and Barf and Belch. All four heads stared at him with concerned and wary looks. Hiccup sighed, his arms dropping. They could not be held at fault for doing as the Light Fury asked and could not be responsible for an accident involving a sick dragon.
"At least you all are okay," he said, glancing at the other dragons from the training cavern so they knew they were included in that. "Just, next time, leave the big explosions away from the nest," he added, staring at his friends.
The twins and Barf and Belch visibly relaxed. Ruff and Tuff even rushed forward and grabbed Hiccup in a hug.
"Gah," Hiccup cried as he was jostled.
Both Thorstons leaned back.
"Now for the Thorston family kiss!" Tuff cried as both he and Ruff leaned forward again.
"No!" Hiccup yelled, fully letting his alpha magic rise this time.
He wanted no kiss from either of them. Only person he ever wanted kissing him was Astrid. He looked between the twins' heads at Barf and Belch and jerked his chin towards their riders. Both head immediately gripped the back of their bonded rider's tunics. Astrid yanked Ruffnut's arms off of Hiccup while Fishlegs got Tuff to let him go. The twins protested as Barf and Belch stepped back, carrying the twins with him.
"No, it's a tradition," Tuff cried.
"Yes, every Thorston has to do the Thorston family kiss when death defying explosions happen. Uncle Lucknut told us so."
Hiccup shook himself. "I'm not a Thorston," he said, relaxing and easing the alpha magic back down to a soft purr so that his normal voice could be heard without the draconic growl and power backing it.
"You're adopted," Tuff cried. "We didn't want to tell you yet cause it was supposed to be a surprise for your name day."
"Yeah, way to ruin the surprise, boss man."
[Shadewing spoke of your voice,] Toothless' mother said before Hiccup could reply, or even think up a reply.
Hiccup turned to her. She and the other dragons of the nest that had been at the opening to the outside now stared at him with the same wonder he had come to expect whenever someone heard his alpha magic coating his words for the first time.
[He did not say it was that powerful.]
Hiccup paled again, fearing that his voice and the power in his soul had breached Civility Laws and forced the obedience of dragons not of his nest. Toothless' mother tilted her head, staring at him in concern.
[My son, what is the matter? Why are you shaking like a hatchling left out in the cold too long?]
Hiccup felt Astrid take his left hand and squeeze it a heartbeat before she spoke.
"The first time he used that power, the dragons around him froze. When he and I visited some of our nest who had became parents, his power called other hatchlings whose parents were not nest-mates. Hiccup gave them shelter as they were in danger of drowning on the lower portion of the hatching nest and told the parents they did not have to join the nest unless they wanted to. Their hatchlings, though, reacted like he was already their alpha. He fears that since you said it was more powerful than you were expecting that it has affected you and the other dragons of this nest."
Hiccup was half annoyed she had divulged all of that, but he knew it ultimately had to be said in order to explain. He was not expecting Toothless' mother to sit down, lift her head, and cackle.
[Oh, my son, my precious son,] she said before standing and nuzzling against Hiccup. [Ease your worry. It is a grand day when an alpha finds his roar. The dragons of your nest will freeze as its power seeps into their souls and they recognize it and respond to it. That's the forming of the alpha bond all nest leaders will have with their nest. In time that freezing will ease up unless you are annoyed or there is an incoming threat to the nest and you need your nest-mates to pay attention to you right then.] She chuckled. [Your father's roar once caused an entire patrol flock to land and not move until he was ready for them to. Said patrol flock was also playing instead of listening to their teacher and guide and my mate had enough of their antics.]
[I don't remember that,] Toothless said.
Toothless' mother sighed. [It was when we you were gone and we thought you were dead, son.]
[Oh,] Toothless replied, looking down.
Hiccup moved away, not surprised that Astrid followed him while still holding his hand. Hiccup placed the other hand upon the top of Toothless' head. Toothless nuzzled against him. Moondust moved around to Toothless' far side and nuzzled his neck.
[Oh, to have Bucket here,] Shadowfire quipped. [The Great Hall could use another portrait. I'm thinking on the wall right behind the Council table so that every visitor can see the alpha pair and the Head Nest Protectors. What do you think, Mom?]
Hiccup snorted. Gyda did not have time to answer her son and Hiccup's mirth fled. Toothless' father and the Light Fury emerged from the cavern just as Shadowfire finished speaking. The look upon the alpha of the nest's muzzle said the male was not happy. Hiccup swallowed when green eyes bore into his.
Kirika: Alright, I'll tell you, they did not get out of the cavern or away from the Light Fury in charge of it.
Literally Nobody: Um, hmm, hehe. Aye, Gyda and her family have lost a lot but as you said they have gained a lot too. Thank you. It has been fun to create this culture for them.