As expected, Emerald's announcement met with many grumblings and soft growls in private. Only one dragon publicly objected: Barf and Belch. They cared more about their status than anything and had together only half of a defective brain. Ironically, they sometimes were the most ingenious scientists, brilliant strategists, and helpful individuals in the isles. In the form of a terrible terror, I watched from high in the clouds as Emerald tried to jump, swim, or glide from sea stack to sea stack in search of the place I had mentioned. I secretly hovered above his mind so I could see his thoughts. I wonder if it's Medusa's Reach. No... the sunrise doesn't quite strike that fully, so it can't be that... And what about the hard hour? What the heck is that supposed to mean? He went on and on, trying to reason through my instructions. A few others watched on in curiosity, Cloudjumper in particular. He gave me a quizzical glance. Rolling my eyes, I told him what was happening.

Well, that much is obvious, he interrupted. But the real question is... why him? Why not take it for yourself? You clearly have the experience needed, and you are, after all, a bewilderbeast.

HALF bewilderbeast, I reminded him. Thanks for your vote of support, but most people see my human half as they do Emerald's human shadow. They may not attack me after this morning, but they definitely will not accept me as any kind of leader. Cloudjumper was a little troubled, then seemed to figure out the riddle. He chuckled, and I slapped him with a harmless fireball. He whopped me back with his tail, so I nipped the tip of a fin. It was a juvenile game we used to play, but we still found a measure of pleasure in it. Shaking my head, I settled back into my original hovering place. Toothless had stopped on the base of a sea stack and was just staring at the waves lapping against the shore. He burst out laughing, rather unbecoming of an alpha, but he emwas /emonly 20. He slapped his tail against the water, making it burst into a glorious light show akin to sunrise. Only true alphas could do this, and this proved to everyone and, more importantly, to me that Emerald was ready. I transformed into my formal combination: bewilderbeast with sea dragonus maximus ((red death)) wings. I was simply my natural size and called Emerald up to me. He hesitated, then used a paw to lock his tail fin so he could try to make the ascent.

He struggled at first, nearly falling several times, but he eventually got the hang of it and met me in the skies. Hiccup was looking on in awe from the cliffs as Emerald still struggled to hold steady, but I smiled and took him to the air currents above. I gave a medium growl of dismissal so the dragons would disperse.

It's been a long time since I've been able to do this, Emerald marveled. He seemed a bit guilty, though. I could sense he still wanted Hiccup with us, but it had to be done.

A day is coming soon when all the dragons will return to our home... our real home where we came from. This surprised him, but I continued. You have only been alpha for a short time, but I know you have sensed it as well. It is why you pull away from Hiccup, from your friends.

Yes, he admitted with a note of sadness. I have seen it, and I know why, but I still don't want it to happen. I have also seen a strange dragon of mixed species lead many there before we must leave...

I know you want that to be true, but you know how they feel about duones.

But we can change all of that, toge-

NO! I forced. He flinched back, losing balance for a moment before continuing on the currents. I turned away for a moment, but took a deep breath and opened up a bit. When I was a hatchling, I destroyed my entire village. The memories of those songs and stories... They are what drive me.

And you can have them there as you lead our people, Emerald said gently.

You're not listening. Every night... I realized that I had said too much, shared too much of me. Enough of that; you know what must be done and what we are preparing for. We have already begun. With that, I whipped around and blocked him from the air current, forcing him to stay afloat on his own.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING! ARE YOU CRAZY? I just smirked and roared a challenge at him. I charged forward, catapulting him backwards and away from the Gulf Stream. He caught, no... made, a current beneath his wings again and fired at me. I raised an eye ridge and fired back a short ice burst. He banked unsteadily away, the ice catching on his tail fin. That drove him down, towards the deep blue and green ocean. I dove after him; not in help, but in continuing the challenge. He blasted at my wings. Good! Using precedents. Use your surroundings more! I shouted over his screaming. Oh, and shut up for Thor's sake already! We crashed into the ocean. I easily stayed where I wanted, but Emerald was trying to struggle against it. The ice on his tail dissipated, and I saw a slight glow start to emit from his back. I whopped him with my wing, making the glow disappear. He was about to pass out when... His eyes popped open, and all the seawater in his lungs came out.

Aaand what did you learn from this? I asked. He was stupified, staring at his scales and wings. They had a thick coating of water sealant, as there was over his mouth. Only oxygen could come in, and his scales adopted a much rougher texture for greater speed underwater. Ahem! What ... did ... you ... learn?

Right, sorry. I smacked him with a wing again. Ouch! What did you do that for?

An alpha NEVER apologizes without due cause. He looked at me like I was crazy, then resumed.

Well... I can sustain myself in flight. I glared at him, then motioned to his head. He cocked it, then realized, When I stopped panicking and picture in my mind a good sustaining air current, it appeared. The same when I pictured the ice melting, and being able to exist underwater.

Aaand... He seemed puzzled that there was something else. I sighed, Well, I suppose not everything can be instinctual with you... The water is always your friend. Whenever you're in or near water, it will help you in whatever way it can. As a night fury, you are of the Strike Class; as an alpha, you are of the Tidal Class. Do you understand?

Uh... I ... think so. I shook my head. It would probably be many years before Emerald would be able to understand the basics of being an alpha.

You have a long way to go, I sighed. His lobes drooped, But today was a good start.

What do you mean, today? That's it? I chuckled, then motioned to darkness above. We had been working for nearly 18 hours straight. I... I...

Don't worry, I chuckled. It had the same effect on my first day, too.