I stood there, frozen in shock, as Hiccup ran to his father, amid strangled cries. Valka stumbled down, and after checking for Stoick's normally strong heartbeat, looked towards Hiccup with despair in her eyes. Tears began to pour down my face, my body rigid. Slowly, I forced myself to move to Stoick's side. The other dragon riders gathered around us, but I barely noticed their presence. My hands trembled as I sank to my knees before Stoick.

So suddenly reunited. And so suddenly torn apart. The anger, horror, and sorrow overcame my mind and I let out a long, silent sob. I felt a movement beside me, and saw the black nose and green eyes of Toothless. His expression was one of sad confusion, and he came closer, nudging Stoick's motionless hand.

"NO! GET AWAY FROM HIM! GO ON! GET OUTTA HERE! GET AWAY!" Hiccup shouted, voice enraged with anger and loss. Toothless jumped back, puzzlement in his big green eyes, no longer slitted. He turned and fled the scene, the uncertainty and pain still evident on his face.

"It's not his fault...you know that..." Valka said quietly to Hiccup. His head was still hung, tears streaming down his face and dripping onto the eerily still chest of his father. I looked up from the ground to see Drago turn away, rallying his men for their attack on Berk. I was torn between chasing him down, or admitting defeat. If I tried to fight now, I would fight alone.

I was going to try.

Right as my mind solidified and I rose with sudden sureness, the Bewilderbeast let out a deafening roar. I cringed as an overwhelming desire to follow Drago overcame me, and quickly I began to lose focus on my mind as the haziness fogged my vision. My feet acted of their own accord; no, I was moving my feet towards the fleet of ships moored in the bay. I was going to Berk. I was going to help Drago overtake Berk. That's right. I had to listen to the alpha. I had to listen to Drago.

I felt restraints on my arms, and I struggled against them. They clung tighter, and I began to fight, unable to see the faces through the orange haze clouding my eyes.

"Let me go!" I shouted, wrenching against the ever-tightening grips keeping me from following my master, from following the alpha. From joining Drago. No matter how hard I pulled, they refused to release me.

I cannot remember for how long I fought to get away. I could only see the disappearing figures of Drago and the ships and the great black mass of the Bewilderbeast. I was being left behind. There was nothing more I could do.

Suddenly the desire began to slowly subside, and I could see clearly again. A deep hollow was left in my chest, as if an arrow had gone straight through my heart. The fleet of ships was in the far distance. A girl with blonde hair and a strange man with tattoos on his chin were holding my arms and shoulders, giving me strange looks. They released their hold on me, faces still harboring wariness.

"Lucaria." Valka said, her eyes harsh and tone low. "Where are you going?"

"I was going to follow Drago to Berk and..." I paused. What was I saying?! "Wait...no! No, I wasn't, I was..." I shook my head vigorously. No, Drago was my enemy. So was the black Bewilderbeast. They were the enemy. Why was I following them?

"Lucaria?" Valka's eyes held curiosity now, and they were softer, not as hardened as they had been before.

"I was going to attack Drago...and then...my mind hazed...it was cloudy and foggy and..." I struggled to remember. "I had a desire to follow them. No, not a desire. A need. I had to go with them. To help them..." I struggled to sort through the confusing emotions swirling in my head. Whose side was I on?

"Why would you help them?"

"I...I don't know. I don't! They're the bad guys...right?"

I was given incredulous looks by the group, and I saw Hiccup rise out of the corner of my eye.

"What kind of game do you think this is?!" He shouted, tears dripping from his cheeks and his face flushed. "My father is gone, and you were going to help Drago? Whose side are you on?!"

I took a step back, confused and lost. "Y-yours! Right? We're helping the dragons, right? Keeping them safe from Drago?"

"You even have to ask?!" He cried, turning away from me.

"I'm sorry! I just...I heard the cry of the alpha and I couldn't help myself...I just..." I broke into tears, upset that he was so angry with me. Valka inhaled sharply and turned me towards her quickly, looking expectantly into my eyes.

"It was the alpha?"

"It was his cry, I think? After that I forgot what I was doing..." I sniffed, crossing my arms protectively.

"No...it can't be..." Valka turned from me, pacing away before turning back with enlightenment of her face. "The alpha's cry! The souls are bound! You're reacting to the alpha the same way as the dragons."

Hiccup whirled around to face us, his brow furrowed. "Comet?"

"Yes, Comet!" Valka exclaimed. "The souls are bound, so their soul is one. When Comet was affected by the control of the alpha, it affected Lucaria in the same manner. She did not willing choose to follow Drago. It was the alpha's command affecting her through her bond with Comet."

"Wait. Since the alpha was able to take control of Comet's mind...the alpha's command travelled through our combined soul and managed to overtake my mind as well?" I asked, attempting to clarify the outrageous idea.

"Essentially, yes. Whatever Comet felt at the time was transferred to your mind through your conjoined soul."

The group around us looked to each other in bewilderment, but Hiccup's face fell. He approached me sullenly, averting his eyes and avoiding my gaze.

"Lucaria, I'm sorry..."

I leaped into his arms and held him close, hugging him tightly. I did not care about his previous words. I was simply relieved I had done no harm under my spell and that Hiccup, even after my unconscious betrayal, had forgiven me.

He returned my hug, leaning his head against mine with a heavy sigh. Over his shoulder I could see Stoick's body still lying among the ice, and I was unable to force back the tears that slipped down my cheeks.

"If only I could have resisted the alpha..." I said quietly, upset that there was nothing more I could have done. I should have saved them. I should have protected them. Stoick might still be with us.

"You can't blame yourself," Hiccup whispered into my ear. "Please."

I closed my eyes and leaned against him, taking a deep breath. Perhaps he was right, it wasn't entirely my fault. But I would never forgive Drago for his actions. Fury boiled up in my blood, and I grew angrier than ever. First my tribe and my family, along with all of the Night Furies. Then the Bewilderbeast. And now Stoick.

I pulled back from Hiccup, looking around the group. "This isn't over. Not yet. Not while I'm still alive. I will avenge our family, our lost friends and companions. He will suffer. He will pay." After such heated words my anger lessened, and a wave of calm washed over me. I glanced back towards Stoick. I sank to my knees beside him, and placed a hand over his dormant heart.

"I'm sorry..." I whispered, lowing my face to his chest. "I'm sorry I couldn't save you. I wish I could have spent more time with you, and Valka, and Hiccup, seen you together as a family. But in your place, I shall protect them with my very life. This I promise."