Chapter 6

Re blinked a few times, then lifted his head. He groaned in pain. Suddenly he felt soft, gentle hands on his neck and snout.

"Is that you Serenity?" he whispered.

"Yes, sire," Serenity said. "How are you feeling?"

"Heavy," Re answered. "That's in my mouth?"

"It's a tube so I can give you water," Serenity said. She carefully removed the tube, now that he was awake. Re smacked his lips when the tube was out.

"You were out for a long time," Serenity said. "We were all worried about you."

"I know, I heard everything," Re said. "My brain and ears were still working." He shifted slightly.

"You hungry or thirsty?" Serenity asked.

"No, not yet," he said. "Where's Aurora?"

"She's right next to you," Serenity assured him. Re turned his head and saw Aurora sleeping next to him, and their two dragonets sleeping next to her. He nudged her head gently.

"Aurora," he said hoarsely. "Wake up." Aurora stirred and opened her eyes. When she saw Re's eyes open she nuzzled him back.

"You're okay," she said, all teary-eyed.

"Did you get out of that fine?" Re asked.

"Yes, thank you," Aurora said. "I don't think I could survive without you." Re purred.

"Serenity, could you give us a minuet?" Re asked.

"Yes sir," Serenity said. She got up and went into the house. Re turned back to Aurora.

"Did anyone else get hurt?" he asked.

"Few bruises," said Aurora. "But you got the worst of it." She looked at his metal horn. Re felt around with his paw, to figure out what she was looking at. He felt the metal horn, and he sighed.

"I broke a horn huh?" he said, sadly.

"Hiccup made you that one," said Aurora. "Is it too heavy?"

"A bit," Re admitted. "But I'm adaptable." He shook his head a few times.

"I can lighten if for you," Aurora offered.

"Please," Re said. Aurora blew a small blue flame at the metal horn, using her magic to make it no heavier than his organic horn.

"Thanks," Re said. He nuzzled her neck, and she nuzzled his.

"You should get up," Aurora said. Re shifted around so his legs were underneath him. He hesitated, then heaved himself to his feet. Aurora got up as well, carefully so she didn't wake up Apollo and Avalon. Re stood where he was, swaying slightly. He felt dizzy from laying down for so long. He stretched his wings, which were very stiff. The membrane was scared from the avalanche. He stretched his legs and neck. He still felt weak. He couldn't hold his head at its full height, it would make him dizzy. He sighed deeply.

"You okay?" Aurora asked.

"Yeah, just dizzy," Re said.

"lay down you'll feel better," said Aurora. Re did so rather heavily. Aurora lay next to him. At that moment Apollo and Avalon woke up. Avalon was to first notice that Re was awake.

"Daddy! You're up!" she exclaimed. She jumped to her feet and ran up to him, Apollo not far behind. They rammed into him a bit too roughly. Re grunted.

"Good to see you too," he said.

"Careful you guys," said Aurora. Re nuzzled the two dragonets. It lifted his spirits, seeing them.

"Thanks for not dying," said Avalon.

"You're welcome," Re chuckled. The rest of the Draconians woke up at that point. Chris, Serenity, and Edelweiss came out of the house. Edelweiss ran up her grandfather and hugged his neck. Re nuzzled her.

"Good to have you back," said Tenor. "I hate playing the waiting game."

"Me too," said Re. "But I didn't want to wake up until the back brace came off."

"Logical," said Windwalker. Re shifted and ruffled his wings.

"I'm gonna try and stand up again," he said. They all backed up, giving him space. Re gave a deep breath. Then he heaved himself onto he feet. He didn't feel as weak.

"You want to try flying?" asked Aurora. "The Berkians have also been anxiously waiting your recovery." Re considered.

"I'll walk first, then fly back afterwords," he said. Edelweiss ran up to him, and hugged his leg.

"Can I ride on your back?" she asked nicely. Re looked down at her. He knelt down, carefully wrapped his tail around her waist, and heaved her onto his back. He stood up again.

They went down the hill towards the plaza. The village was bustling with vikings and dragons. Toothless was dozing off outside the blacksmith. He looked up when the Draconians entered the plaza.

"The king's alive," he roared happily. Everyone in hearing range looked to see that it was true. The riders and dragons gathered around them. Re held his head as high as he could without getting dizzy.

"You're all better," said Toothless.

"Yes," Re said. Hiccup joined them.

"That horn looks good on you Re," he said.

"Thanks," Re said. "I understand this is your doing." He gestured to his metal horn with his wing.

"Yes," said Hiccup.

"I appreciate it," Re said. He shuffled his wings. "I should try flying with it."

"You feel well enough to fly?" asked Aurora.

"One way to find out," Re said. He looked over his wing at Edelweiss. Chris stepped forward and got her off Re's back. The king then spread his wings and took off.

At first flying was difficult, due to the fact that he had beed grounded for so long. He teetered sharply for several minuets. It caused him to fall towards the ocean. Then his colors changed, and he unlocked his titan wing which gave him an extra boost. He stabilized in the air. He shot upward with a thrust of his wings. His titan wing had upgraded slightly. His scales hardened into natural armor, stronger and lighter than his metal armor. He mate a mental note to himself to reward his good dragon healer for taking care of him.

The other Draconians and Berkians watched as he soared over the ocean and sea stacks. Then Re turned and headed back towards the plaza. He swooped down and landed beside Aurora.

"That felt wonderful," Re said. He stretched his wings, then folded them.

"Nothing stops you does it?" said Astrid.

"Nope," Re said. The flight seemed to have cheered him up. His scales when back to normal. He turned to Aurora and whispered something in her ear. She glanced over at Serenity, and nodded.

"So, when are you guys heading back to Dragon Island?" asked Hiccup.

"Tomorrow," said Re. "I could use a night's rest before heading back." He yawned.

"You should start now," said Aurora, slightly sternly.

"Very well," Re said. "Thanks again for the horn."

"You're welcome," Hiccup said. The Draconians turned and headed back up to the apple tree.

When they got back Re laid back down on the grass. Aurora laid next to him. The dragonets climbed up into the apple tree. Chris and Serenity sat in her chairs, and Edelweiss sat on Chris's lap.

"Thanks for saving me," Aurora said, humbly. "I'm sorry you got hurt though." Re nuzzled her neck.

"I wasn't so lucky last time," he said. They all looked at him.

"Last time?" asked Tenor. Re sighed, his cheerful mood vanished. He looked at Aurora again.

"You can tell them Re," she said. "It's about time you did." Re sighed again.

"Very well," he said. "This happened when we were about Black Widow's age, before Tenor's egg came. Aurora and I were out practicing our flying, since we were new to the art. We were flying along the western cliffs. We had been warned to not get so close to the cliffs, due to falling rocks. I spotted a stone archway attached to the cliff face. I wanted to fly threw it, Aurora was cautious. I talked her into it however, saying it would be a fun adrenaline rush if an avalanche occurred. We went through it. I made it through fine, but there was an avalanche and three huge boulders hit the archway as Aurora was passing through. She was knocked out of the air, and buried under falling boulders. I panicked, I thought I'd killed her. I flew back to the castle as fast as I could and got my parents.

They came and dug her out. Aurora was unconscious and several of her bones were broken. My mother fetched the Healer Dragons. They came and carefully transferred her to the Bluegreen Hospital. My parents scolded me for being so reckless and ignoring the warning we were given. I was so ashamed and so guilty that I didn't want to fly again. Even long after Aurora recovered, I still didn't want to fly. Everyone was trying to get me off the ground but I refused. My parents got so fed up that they threw me outside, telling me if I wanted to come back in I would have to fly. Aurora kept me company, despite everyone to tell her to leave me be. She was a lot nicer about the whole thing. She eventually got me to fly again. Tenor's egg came the same day I flew again. When he came I had other things to worry about." Aurora nuzzled him. Re sighed a third time.

"She survived that?" asked Windwalker.

"Obviously," said Aurora. "I reckon I owe a lot of that to my magic."

"You didn't get mad at him?" asked Windwalker. Aurora gave her a hard look.

"I did, for a bit," she said. "But I could tell he was sorry, so I couldn't stay mad at him for long." Re laid his head down on his front paws.

"How come you didn't tell us this before?" asked Chris.

"It's not a memory I like remember," Re said. "Now I have officially redeemed myself."

"Well, good," said Aurora. Chris turned to Serenity.

"You want to go flying? Now that Dad's on his wings again?" he asked. Serenity smiled at him.

"Sure," she said. "That'd probably be a good idea, since I get the feeling Re's going to have you back in the arena tomorrow." They got up, Edelweiss ran to join her friends. Chris and Serenity mounted their dragons, and they took off. Re stretched his legs and wings. With the hospital quiet, the king and queen fell asleep.