Chapter 2
The racers gathered in the plaza to cool off after the race. Black Widow was prancing around, proud of herself. Re stretched his limbs and wings. Hiccup dismounted.
"Where were you hiding?" he asked Black Widow.
"Right underneath you," said Black Widow. "It was kind of hard to see me because I'm the same color." Hiccup stroked her ears. Gobber stepped forward at that moment and announced that Draconia had won that race, but only by one sheep. With the race over, the Draconians went up to the Golden Apple Tree where Serenity and Edelweiss sat. Black Widow ran right to her rider and laid beside her. Edelweiss hugged Black Widow's head.
"Did you see me out there?" Black Widow said excitedly. "I definitely made my little black spider proud." Suddenly she saw that Edelweiss wasn't smiling. Black Widow licked her face.
"What are we doing tomorrow Dad?" asked Chris.
"Training again," Re said.
"You were training all day yesterday," said Serenity. "And the day before that." Re and Aurora exchanged glance. Pretty much the whole family was training in the arena now, including Edelweiss. Serenity spent most days on the balcony outside her room. She watched the wild dragons fly about and the additional wildlife that swam in the ocean. However it was only during the summer months that Edelweiss trained in the arena. During the winter months she went to the Bluegreen Hospital learning about healing dragons.
Serenity leaned back in her chair with a sigh. Chris sat next to her on his chair. The dragons laid down on the Dragonnip in the golden shade of the apple tree.
"Do I have to go to the arena?" Chris asked.
"Well, someone has to teach Edel how to fight with a sword," Re pointed out. He considered for a minuet.
"Tell you what," said Aurora, who had seen into Re's mind. "You train with us and the children tomorrow, and the day after we'll take you two out flying ourselves."
"Alright, that sounds fair," Chris said.
"Yeah," Serenity agreed. "I'll walk along the beach tomorrow, I haven't done that in a while."
"Don't worry my dear, we haven't forgotten about you," Re said. Serenity smiled at him.
"Well, we should head back to Dragon Island," said Aurora. "While we still have the energy."
They all got their feet and the three humans mounted their respective dragons. They took off and headed for Dragon Island. When they got there, they landed on the ledge throne in the throne room. They sat down around the huge fire pit. Re spat fire at the logs in the middle of the fire pit. Outside a thunderstorm was rapidly approaching. The ocean grew choppy and grey.
When the sun set and it started to rain, the Draconians disbursed and went to their respective rooms. Re, Aurora, and their dragonets settled down on the ledge throne. Apollo and Avalon went right to sleep. Re settled himself next to Aurora.
"Is it fair of me to have everyone in the arena, and leave Serenity all by herself?" Re asked.
"There are plenty of dragons on this island to keep her company," Aurora said. "And I can't foresee anything bad happening to her." Re considered for a minuet.
"Perhaps I should sit out this training session," he said. "And join her in her walk on the beach." Aurora smiled at him.
"Very well," she said. "I will take care of Apollo and Avalon." She nuzzled his neck.
"Sometimes you can be a real softy," she giggled. She yawned and laid her head down. Re stretched his wings and yawned. He laid his head down beside Aurora's and they both fell asleep.
Early the next morning Chris woke up and got out of bed. He dressed and strapped on his swords. He looked at his sleeping wife and sat on the side of the bed next to her. He leaned over and kissed her cheek.
"I'll see you later," he whispered. He got up and went to wake up Edelweiss.
Serenity woke up a short while later. She got out of bed and dressed. She then sat on the bed coming up with things to do today. She still planned to walk along the beach, and maybe hang out with the wild dragons. She pulled on her boots and stood up. She grabbed her hat and left.
She made her way down to the beach. The storm had passed and the sun was out for once. The smell of brine filled the air. Serenity walked quietly along the coast with her hands in her pockets. Several dragons flew overhead, occasionally diving for fish. Serenity sat on a boulder for a while to watch, wishing she could fly again. Then, all of a sudden she heard the beating of wings and the thud of a landing dragon behind her. She turned to see Re standing there, wearing just his crown.
"Hello Re," Serenity said, surprised.
"You look like you could use some company," Re said. Serenity smiled at him.
"What about the arena?" she asked as he laid beside her.
"There are plenty of teachers for the kids," Re said. "But you don't have anyone to keep you company." Serenity hugged his head.
"Thank you sir," she said. Re licked her face. She giggled and stroked his neck. They got to their feet. Re knelt down and Serenity mounted him bareback. He stood up and walked down the beach.
They were quiet for while, just watching the dragons dive for fish. Re went down the beach at various speeds. Serenity had ridden dragons bareback before, she was quite used to it.
"So, where are you taking us tomorrow?" Serenity asked.
"Just around the Archipelago," said Re. "Visit the other dragon leaders."
"That'll be fun," Serenity said. "And we can bring Edelweiss too."
"If she wants to come," Re said. "That free spirit's starting to show."
"Yes, I'm aware of that," Serenity said. "And she really loves her friends." Re murmured in agreement. He broke into a slow trot, right in the shallow water.
"What else were you planning to do today?" he asked.
"I don't know," Serenity said. "Probably watch the ocean from my balcony."
"Hmm, well Aurora predicts more rain," Re said. "So, you should stay indoors." Serenity looked up at the sky, clouds were indeed rolling in.
"Very well," she said. "We should head in now, I'll find something to do." Re spread his wings and took off. Serenity held onto his neck with both her arms and legs. Re flew around the volcano and into the throne room. He landed on the ledge throne. Serenity slid off his back. Re lit the fire pit and laid down on his cushion. Serenity laid next to him and he draped a wing around her.
"You can go back to the arena if you want to," Serenity said.
"Nah," Re said. "That lot's going to be soaking wet when they come in here. The least I can do is keep this fire as big as I can, they'll need it." No sooner had he said that, then a loud clap of thunder boomed outside. Then their came the pitter patter of rain.
"Will they turn in early?" Serenity asked.
"Nope," said Re. "Good fighters can take down any enemy in any kind of weather."
"Oh," said Serenity.
"What about you?" Re said. "Would you turn down a patient because it was pouring rain, or a howling blizzard?"
"I see your point," Serenity said. She wormed closer to him. Re laid his head in her lap. Serenity stroked his scaly face. He purred at her touch.
"Say, I know you don't have any interest in gold," he said after a few minuets. "But if you could have anything from the vaults, what would it be?" Serenity considered.
"I don't know, I would want something small," she said. "Something I can carry with me in my pocket. Or something I can really use." She reached into her pocket and pulled out her dragon scale locket.
Recently the younger Draconians had been locked up on Berk, for disturbing the peace. Edelweiss had been put in the dungeons, away from her friends. She had been wearing the locket at the time. But was broken off her neck by the sheep farmer, Sven. The chain had been damaged beyond repair. The locket itself, and the photos inside, were unharmed.
"This could use a new chain," said Serenity. "I don't suppose your vaults has a new chain." Re lifted his head and held out his paw. Serenity handed him the locket. Re examined it quietly.
"I'm sure there's the perfect chain just waiting for this locket," he said. "In fact its original chain came from the vaults." He gave it back. "I'll look into it." Serenity put the locket away. Suddenly thunder boomed outside, followed by lightning flashes. Re spat more fire into the fire pit. Then he put his head back into Serenity's lap. They fell silent as they watched the storm outside, and waited for the rest of the family to come in from training.
A few hours later they came in. Re and Serenity were fast asleep. The rest of the family were soaking wet as Re had predicted. They all sat around the fire pit. The fire was low. Aurora lit up again. Then she nudged Re's head. He opened his eyes and sat up.
"Hello," he groaned. He yawned and stretched his wings. "How was training?"
"Pretty stormy," said Aurora. "But nothing a roaring fire won't fix." She laid next him. "How was your day?"
"Quiet," said Re.
"Dad, how early do you want to set out tomorrow?" Chris asked. Re considered.
"Just after dawn," he said. "So you should get to bed early." He then lowered his head to Serenity, and gently nudged her face. Her eyes fluttered open and she sat up. She smiled when she saw that her family was back. She stretched. Chris held a hand out to her. She took it and he helped her to her feet. They mounted their dragons and flew out of the throne room with Black Widow and Edelweiss. Apollo and Avalon laid down beside Aurora and fell asleep.
"So what did you guys talk about?" asked Aurora.
"Serenity wants a new chain for her locket," Re said. "That farmer on Berk, Sven, broke the old one."
"That can certainly be arranged," said Aurora. "Where do you want to go tomorrow?"
"Just around to all our good neighbors," said Re. "We haven't done so in a while."
"They'll like that," said Aurora. She yawned and stretched her wings. She laid her head down. Re followed suit and they both fell asleep.