"Is this nest watched over by a Bewilderbeast?" Hiccup asked. "Is that why my mother was taken?"

Gyda's eyes widen at his question. She glanced over the group, finding her son shaking his head as if to rid his ears of water. With all the changes from the tales they both knew to the truth that was unfolding around them, neither had thought Valka's abduction had anything to do with Hiccup's magical abilities. None that spoke of Valka ever mentioned her being able to wield any form of magic before she was snatched off of Berk.

[Your mother was taken?] Onyxwing asked. [And a Tusked-king was involved?]

Gyda turned back, finding all three dragons staring at the group with tilted heads.

"Back during the war," Hiccup said, his alpha side still holding his words in its power but less intense than before. "We found out she had been taken to a Tusked-king's nest."

Gyda heard Snotlout choke. She looked over finding Fishlegs and Tuff placing a hand on either of Snot's shoulders. Hiccup kept his gaze upon Onyxwing, but Gyda saw the softening of the glare in his green eyes. Hiccup did lift his right hand from Astrid's waist and held it up and back over his shoulder. Snotlout, who had moved to stand in between Moondust's tail and Stormfly's body, gripped his cousin's hand. Gyda saw Hiccup's hand squeeze once but not let go. She also saw Snotlout take a deep breath but returned his gaze to Onyxwing and the others.

[I will skin every scale off his hide!] Onyxwing growled, his tone dark.

[Onyx,] Sunburn began.

Onyx snarled a sound Gyda had never heard a dragon make and she grew up around dragons. He stood. His back spikes split and turned blue. He stalked a line in front of the alpha pair's sleeping den.

[Of all the stupid, moronic, idiotic… He was told no! I will drown him in that stupid sea he loves! Moron! He could have shattered everything!]

Onyxwing froze. His neck curled. It took all of Gyda's stubbornness to not show weakness before a dragon she did not know, to keep from backing up a step at the look in his eyes.

[Can Astrid move now?] he asked.

Gyda lifted an eyebrow.

"Why do you want to know?" Hiccup questioned and his alpha side kept his tone at a dangerous level.

Gyda saw as Onyxwing realized he flew on an uneasy wind here. He was Toothless' ancestor and thus flock, but he had not provided any answers to satisfy why he had put Astrid's life in so much danger. At least, Hiccup's tone said that he was not satisfied. Right then, that was all that mattered. Every Berkian dragon would not hesitate to shred Onyx's wings should Hiccup give the order. Gyda also suspected Toothless' parents would not hinder the action, nor bar any of their nest from joining in if they wanted to.

[You want answers?] Onyx said. [Then we need to get through those tests. I will not let you get out of taking them. Too much rest upon you passing them. Once you do, once I can give you the knowledge I'm supposed to when you do overcome what Kaja has in place, I am going to find that stupid idiot and lay into him for going against my rider's order and taking your mother away from you.]

"She wasn't supposed to be taken?"

[No. It is true that we desperately needed you to be the right one and it is true that we did things that probably puts doubts in your mind about our honor and trustworthiness, but we would never do that. I vow that to you, Hiccup. We never took a flock apart. Even those found to be mages had their flock taken with them.]

"So that's why the records show so many families disappearing," Fishlegs said. "But the last one was before the war with the dragons started, while the chief, Hiccup the Second, was off the island and came back needing the healer. He was kept in the healer's hut for month and the people almost revolted against him because that family disappeared. The healer told them that removing him as chief would be against the gods and it was the gods' will that family left the island."

Onyxwing sighed. His rear end slumped. The blue faded. His back spikes closed. His head lowered and his wings drooped.

[Can Astrid move now?] he asked, and Gyda heard the tears that clogged his voice. [I can't.. Hiccup has to pass the tests before I can answer. We have to know he can handle what is to come. We have to know his power will not overtake him.]

"Gyda?" Hiccup asked, his voice back to normal.

Gyda moved back around to kneel in front of Astrid. Her gaze bore into Astrid's but her sight saw more than just the teen in front of her. Astrid's core, blazing with every color of magic, pulsed in the calm manner she had been looking for. Astrid had fully accepted her power.

"Yes."

Hiccup released Snotlout's hand, encircling Astrid's waist once more. He held her against him, his face tucked into her neck as he was able from the angle he had. Gyda stood, gesturing for everyone to back away and let them have their room. The flock was not needed to support Astrid and reinforce how much she was loved by them anymore.

Gyda watched Astrid pull away from Hiccup's grasp, only to spun and bury into his chest, her head tucked under his chin. Hiccup's arms wound around her again. They sat there for several minutes, whispering words no one paid any attention to, and rubbing each other's arms and back as they were able.

Gyda knew Hiccup would not let Astrid go just yet even if he wanted to get to those tests Onyx spoke of. His awakening had almost cost him his life. Astrid's awakening, with those memories still fresh in his mind, it was no wonder his calling for Gyda's aid had been an almost roar of fear.

Gyda shared a look with Stormfly, who though she had backed away still watched the couple. Stormfly tipped her head. Gyda returned the nod. She moved away. The dragons would ensure Hiccup and Astrid kept their parents' faith in them. The teens would also aid in that, though Gyda was thankful none seemed ready to bother Hiccup and Astrid right then.

Gyda stopped in front of Onyxwing, who still had his head lowered. She knelt, deliberately coming into his line of sight. He drew his head back a bit. Gyda straightened but did not stand. She also did not comment on the tears that filled the dragon's eyes or the tracks that glistened upon black scales.

"The answers you hold are not all pleasant, are they?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Onyxwing closed his eyes. [No,] he answered, his tone also low. [My son died to ensure we had them. He chose to die so that we had them.]

Kirika: Hehe, yes, it does. Might want to get some popcorn for the next parts.

Literally Nobody: Yes, Astrid is a mage. She kinda already does train with Hiccup and Gyda, she just now will be joining instead of watching. Gothi is a mage. She showed that when she helped Gyda restore her energy after using barriers to get Astrid, Hiccup, Toothless, and Moondust out of the loft of his home. I love writing the twins now that I can actually write them. Them listening to Hiccup comes from my belief that fighting in that battle with the Red Death would have changed everyone involved. Well, think about this: They are around Frost and Pale's hatchlings often due to being Gyda's apprentice for something that's not magic related. Hehe, expect more questions, my friend.