Chapter 3: The Pride of Furies
Stoick stood on a cliff edge overlooking Berk and held young Hiccup in his arm while a young Hicca sat on his head, holding onto the horns of his helmet, both at only 6 or 7.
"Hiccup, Hicca. This is Berk, kids." Stoick said. "It's our home."
The young Haddock looks out at the village below.
"It was the home of your grandparents, and their grandparents before them. "Stoick said. "As my job as chief to protect us, kids." And he turns to Hiccup. "And one day, when you're all grown up. That job will be passed on to you, son."
"Okay." Young Hiccup nodded and understood.
Stoick then looks up at his daughter, "And Hicca, as his sister, it's your job to always be there for him when he needs you."
"Okay daddy." Young Hicca also nodded.
"Now it's very important that you both work together, kids." Stoick said and pointed out to the setting Sun. "Because out there, beyond the sunset. Lies the home of the Dragons."
"Wow." The Young Twins gasped.
"Aye, legends tell of ships that sail too close to it," Stoick said. "Only to drop off the edge of the world." Young Hiccup and Hicca got nervous from the thought. "Never to be seen again."
"Whoa." Young Hiccup gasped.
"But those sailors who turned back, told tales of a great waterfall," Stoick added. "And Dragons guarding the entrance to a hidden world."
"Wow." Young Hicca breathlessly said.
"Not just a nest, Hiccup... But a land from which all Dragons come." Stoick said.
"Like, big scary dragons?" Young Hicca asked nervously.
Stoick let out a chuckle, "Oh yes, Dragons as big as mountains and fearsome enough to scare the leaves off of trees."
"Even Night Furies live there?" Young Hiccup asked nervously.
"Yes, especially Night Furies," Stoick answered with a chuckle.
"Those ones are scary." Young Hicca said with a hint of fear, she remembered how his father told that the Night Fury was the unholy offspring of Lightning and Death.
"Don't you worry, Hicca." Stoick assured as he grabbed her and held her in her other arm. "One day I'll find the Hidden World, seal it up. So that people and Dragons will fight no more. And then you two shall be able to lead our people in peace."
The three Haddock then look out upon their village below, seeing nothing but peace. Unaware of what will happen in the future.
(Linebreak)
15 years later, Hiccup stood at the very same exact spot where his father spoke to him and his sister. He looks upon the much larger village in deep thought. He then remembers what his father told him and sister about the Hidden world.
And then Toothless appeared, and nudged him.
And Hiccup turns to him. "What?"
Toothless cooed and glanced at his leg.
"All, alright." Hiccup gets the idea and removes it. "You do know it's not a chew toy, right?"
For quite some time, Toothless has been often playing with Hiccup's leg.
And Hiccup holds it out.
"Is this what you want?" He said playfully as Toothless got excited. "Oh, do you want this leg? Do you want my leg?" And then he throws it off the cliff. "Go get it!"
The leg fell down, and soon Toothless caught it in his mouth.
And Hiccup brought out his book, and opened his map and glanced at the sunset and its direction. And then his leg suddenly drops next to him, and then hears Toothless above and looks and sees him using the updrafts to stay airborne.
"Getting pretty good at gliding on your own, bud." Hiccup said.
'Thanks.' Toothless warbled as he landed next to his rider.
He then nudged Hiccup's leg towards him, indicating that he wanted him to toss it again. Hiccup however was more focused on his map. Ever since they're on Dragon's Edge Hiccup, Hicca and Raeda have been mapping a very wide area.
However, there was one big gap and it was far to the west of the archipelago began to wonder if there was anything out there and he tapped that empty spot.
"Found him!" Hicca's voice called out as Hiccup looked up and saw his sister, Heather and Astrid on their dragons as they landed behind him as they mounted off their dragons.
"Oh, so this is where you come to get away from Gobber," Astrid jokes.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Hiccup, smiling casually.
"Dagur told us after you came back you just ran off." Heather said with a small chuckle.
"And I had a feeling that you would come here, bro." Hicca finished with a smile, knowing where her brother went when he's having a thought in his head.
Hiccup looked at them, "So what have you girls been up to?" He asked.
Raeda, Heather and Hicca gave each other smirks as they turned to Astrid, who groaned in annoyance, "Just some girl talk." Raeda started.
"And friendly sparing." Heather continued.
"And a bet." Hicca finished.
"A bet? Like what?" Hiccup asked in interest.
Astrid looked at the other girls, "Girls please, just let this one go, please?" She pleaded.
However it was for naught as Hicca, Heather and Raeda gave almost evil smiles and Hicca looked to her brother, "Consider your Wedding Plans, in motion dear brother." She said sweetly.
"What?!" Hiccup asked in surprise as Astrid blushed and groaned.
"Ugh! The only reason you three won was because you knew I'd win and decided to gang up on me!" Astrid complained as she crossed her arms.
"Sorry, Astrid. But even you weren't a match to take on all three of us." Heather teased with a smirk.
"Plus, you and Hiccup should be the first since you two were the first couple." Raeda added with a mischievous smile.
"Okay, seriously? Still going there?" Astrid questioned in annoyance.
Toothless then grabbed Hiccup and gave the slobbering prosthetic to the girls.
"Ugh!" Astrid said in disgust and tossed it away.
Midnight, Windshear, Sparkfire and Stormfly chase after the leg with Toothless as they dive down to catch it.
The girls approached Hiccup as Astrid wiped off Toothless' drool on Hiccup's shoulder.
"Well, Gobber's right, you know." Astrid said to Hiccup.
Hiccup turns to her in surprise, "R-Really? You think you and I should…" He starts as Astrid realizes what he was thinking as Hicca, Raeda and Heather looked at her eagerly and nodded their heads while gesturing for her to proceed.
Astrid quickly shook her head. "Oh, gods, no. We're nowhere near ready for that!" She quickly corrected her boyfriend.
Hiccup looked a bit disappointed, "No, that's… that's crazy," He said quietly.
Astrid heard his tone and turned to Heather, Raeda and Hicca as they shook their heads looking disappointed as well and mouthed a 'sorry' at them.
"I mean he's right about all this." Astrid said as she gestured to Berk that it was now absolutely crowded.
"As much as I think you are ready," Hicca said, pointedly at Astrid who shrugs, "She's gotta a point, Hiccup. Berk is way too crowded and way too many dragons, and we are starting to run out of island."
"Not to mention that we're using up more of the wood from the forest just to rebuild the huts." Raeda pointed out, as this morning wasn't the first time the houses were destroyed.
"And you ever wonder about what you'll do when you run out of fish and have to deal with 500 fiery breathing hungry mouths?" Heather added.
Hiccup sighs as the three sit down next to him.
"It does seem like the whole world knows about us now." Hiccup said in agreement, seeing their point.
Astrid then spoke. "Yep. And the more dragons we bring back here, the bigger of a target we become." She added.
"Plus if we ever do get attacked, there is no way our dragons can fly or blast any trappers without knocking over a tower or two." Hicca pointed out, remembering how the Goregutter managed to knock over houses like dominoes in a matter of seconds.
"Hey if this is about this morning, that was an accident." Hiccup reminded her.
"It was, Hiccup. But still, we are getting too crowded and even the bigger dragons are taking too much room. We're running out of space for the vikings." Hicca pointed out.
"Not to mention that we stick out from the whole world. Berk already has as many dragons as the eye can see, like a barrel in the middle of a lake." Heather added as Hiccup's leg landed on her lap. "Ugh! Windshear, seriously?!" She then threw the leg away as the four dragons chased after it.
"Anyway, not to mention that those Trappers aren't gonna stop anytime soon when they are carrying on Drago's legacy to build a dragon army." Raeda added with a concerned look. "Sure, those trappers are not as tough as the Dragon Hunters a few years back, but still, we're not sure how many trappers there are out there or who their leaders are after Drago bit the dust." She finished, since they have found out about the Trappers' being the remnants of Drago's army and are still carrying on with his plan even after his defeated, while they are handling them well since they aren't like the Dragon Hunters, they don't know where their base is, how many there are or who their leaders are.
"I just wish there was some way to make them leave us alone." Astrid sighed.
"If only it was that easy. Not while the dragons are seen as weapons of war." Heather added.
"There might be." Hiccup said as the four girls looked at him. "Sis, remember when Dad used to talk about an old mariners' myth. Of a secret land at the edge of the world, where dragons lived totally out of reach?" He asked his sister.
Hicca thought for a moment before she gasped, "The Hidden World."
Hiccup nodded in confirmation to his sister as Heather, Raeda and Astrid looked confused, "The Hidden What?" They asked.
"The ancestral birthplace of all Dragons." Hicca explained, "Dad told us that when we were kids on this very ground we're sitting on now, about a great waterfall where sailors fall down into the entrance of an entire world of dragons."
"Well, sailors are known for tall tales." Astrid said skeptically.
"Ahem, Johann." Raeda coughed..
"Yeah, that traitorous scum weasel for example." Astrid said in agreement with Raeda.
"Every Vikings heard myths and rumors about the original birthplace of all dragons but have no proof of its existence." Heather added.
"True." Hiccup agreed and then placed his hand on Astrid's. "But what if it's real? It could be the answer to all of our problems."
"You mean, we could move any more rescued or extra dragons we have to this Hidden World." Hicca wondered.
Hiccup shook his head at them. "Uh-uh. All of us." He answered, which shocked the girls.
"What?!" Raeda asked in shock. "All of us moving to the Hidden World!?"
"Whoa, whoa whoa. Hold on there Hiccup." Hicca said, holding up her hands, "Are you suggesting we abandon Berk?" She asked in disbelief from her brother's idea.
"Yeah, abandon our home of seven generations? The home your father left you to protect." Astrid added, asking her betrothed if he was serious.
"Hiccup, that's a little extreme. And that's a lot coming from a Berserker like me." Heather added, finding that a Dagur or even the Thorston's level of a crazy idea.
"Uuh…" Hiccup said hesitantly.
"Hiccup, we can't just leave our home like that." Hicca told him.
"We've done it before." Hiccup reminded her.
"Dragons Edge doesn't count. It was just an outpost for us to discover new islands and dragons while also fighting the Dragon Hunters and Fliers while rescuing dragons as well." Hicca clarified, "This is asking everyone on Berk to abandon the island they were all born on to find a place we don't even know is real."
"Yeah, I think we need a better plan Hiccup." Astrid said.
"And not to mention we put so much effort to make our home become what it is now." Raeda finished while gesturing to the Dragon Utopia they made from Berk top to bottom as they watched the view.
"Why not just move some of the dragons to another island, where all their needs are met." Heather suggested.
"Like what? Dragon Island? In case you four have forgotten, it was already over crowded with dragons when their islands were sunk by the giant angry dragon looking for his mom a few years back." Hiccup reminded them. "And not to mention there are no other islands near Berk for this many dragons for us to keep watch and protect. And the islands outside of Berk like where Dragons Edge is are too far out to keep an eye on." He added the distance from Berk to Dragons Edge and the other islands.
"Well, I hope you have another idea, before we end up having to bring the Screaming Death back to Berk." Hicca told him, knowing that even though Vikings had no problem with medium or small dragons, giant dragons like the Screaming Death were another story.
"Yeah, I'd rather not have that dragon here again, even though it was hatched here when it first attacked when the Outcast planted those Whispering Death eggs." Astrid said in agreement, not wanting to see that dragon again.
While they were talking, their dragons had returned to the cliff. They watched as Toothless was chewing at Hiccup's prosthetic leg like a toy and Windshear, Sparkfire, Stormfly and Midnight looked at it with interest. Toothless turns to them with a growl not wanting to give it up.
"Oh, Toothless." Hicca giggled.
'I said no, Midnight! It's mine!' Toothless growled like he was a hatchling.
Midnight looked determined however, 'Well, if that's how you wanna play.' She then snatched the leg with her mouth as she and Toothless fought over it, with Windshear, Sparkfire and Stormfly joining in.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Hicca warns but she is ignored by them. She turns to her brother, "Excuse me for a second." She said as she, Raeda and Heather ran over to the dragons to try and break them up.
"Well we could just take Gobber's advice and tie the knot." Hiccup turned back to Astrid. "That should fix everything. But, hey! If you're having doubts about yours truly, I'm pretty sure Gustav's available."
"I'd rather see Gustav having eyes for your mom." Astrid chuckled.
Hiccup dramatically fakes a gasp. "Oh! Playing dirty now, huh?" He teasingly nudged her shoulder.
"You asked for it!" Astrid taunted. "Looks like there might be a wedding after all." She pretended to gaze at her right hand and admire an imaginary ring on her.
And then Hiccup teasingly pulled her towards him as she laughed. "Oh, how dare you! This is a low blow-" And Astrid tries to free herself. "No, no! You are not getting away!"
And then Astrid slipped from his grasp, and then twisted Hiccup's left wrist.
"Okay, okay, you win, you win!" Hiccup quickly gave out in pain and she let go. "You always win!"
"You knew what you were getting into." Astrid smiled and leaned on him.
"Uh-huh. Right." Hiccup said.
"Nonono! Not the face! Not the face!"
They turned around and saw Hicca at Midnight's mercy, getting licked on the face repeatedly while Heather struggled not to laugh but Raeda not so much as she rolled on the ground and kicked the air while laughing in an uproar.
"Oh, gods." Hiccup sighed while Astrid giggled.
"Midnight, stop it! I get it! I get it!" Hicca begged as she finally managed to get out her dragon's grasp. She then shook herself. "You know this stuff doesn't wash out."
"Looks like you forgot the number one rule about having a pet dragon sis." Hiccup teased.
"Never take a toy away from a dragon." Astrid, Raeda and Heather stated as they all laughed.
Toothless then brought the leg near Astrid's feet, and then he and Midnight turned as if something got their attention. And then ran off, and ran near to the cliff edge.
Then Toothless and Midnight then jump over and glide down to the forest below as Hiccup fixes his leg back on.
"Uh, bud?" Hiccup called.
"Where are you both going, Midnight?" Hicca asked in concern after she wiped the saliva off.
Toothless and Midnight then soon glides down to the forest below, and soon disappears.
"Wa- Yeah, sure! Don't bother to wait for us!" Hiccup sarcastically said.
"Yeah, we'll be just fine up here!" Hicca added.
Both just sighs at the sight of their dragons leaving them without them noticing.
(Linebreak)
As Night fell, Toothless and Midnight were trekking through the forest. But they came to a stop when they found five familiar young dragons, 'Kids?!' They said in surprise.
The cubs jumped and turned to their parents, 'Mom, Dad?!' They growled in surprise.
'What are you doing here?! You should be at home resting and safe!' Toothless said firmly while giving a firm look.
The Cubs realized their situation and quickly did what they thought was right, 'It was his/her idea!' They all warbled, pointing they're claws at each other.
'Don't try and play the blame game!' Toothless roared scolded at their cubs while Midnight gave a stern look as the five Night Fury cubs covered themselves with their wings while feeling nervous of their parent's wrath.
Before either parent could scold them, Toothless and Midnight both sniffed the air, they appear to be looking for something. Then Toothless heads off to the right as his mate and cubs follow after him.
But then Midnight gave them a firm glare, 'This conversation is not over!' She warned with a hiss as the cubs feebly nodded and they continued to follow.
Toothless came to a stop, Midnight stopped next to him but the five cubs stopped too fast and tumbled into each other. They went a little further into the forest as they continued to follow the scent.
They were soon approaching a clearing in the forest. And then they saw a white object up ahead.
They glanced around, and then they slowly approached the white object. And soon it made a purring sound as it was revealed to be some kind of Dragon. And it's back had a small back ridge. And then the Dragon begins to turn as Toothless and Midnight come to a stop while the latter stops the five cubs.
The Dragon's head came into full view as it was revealed to be a white female Night Fury.
She was much different from Toothless and Midnight, she was slightly smaller, skinner, and her ear flaps were stubbier and had two less than the male, more around Midnight's size. Her tail fins were more rounded. If Toothless and Midnight were the Black Panthers of the Dragon World, then she would be the Arctic Wolf. It's also possible she was albino.
She shifted her wing up, revealing a smaller and younger white female Night Fury. She looked like her mom and was around the size of five younglings' size.
Toothless and Midnight were amazed.
'She's…like us.' Midnight crooned.
'Yes, but she's more white.' Toothless added as he slowly tried to approach her.
But once the white Night Fury and her cub were fully awake, she suddenly growled at them as her daughter hid under her. 'Stop right there!'
Toothless, Midnight and their cubs were startled by her outburst as Toothless leaped back, but it wasn't a growl to ward them off. It was more like a warning.
She then growls near the section near where they are. 'Go around this area. Do not step there.' She growled as she gestured to grass and plants around her.
Toothless and Midnight sniff the forest floor, though a little wary they then approach the white Night Fury around the area. And she shook her head a bit as if she was regaining her senses as her cub slowly moved out from under her.
'Mommy, these dragons are like us.' The white Night Fury cub cooed at the sight of dragons similar to their species in front of them.
'I've seen them before.' The mother recalled, remembering them from the ship.
Toothless then carefully walks around the patch of grass towards the White mother dragon doing the same while her cub stays close.
'This-this is incredible. We haven't seen dragons like our species before. In fact, we haven't seen more of our species in so long.' Toothless cooed in awed, finding it amazing to find more Furies like dragons since he and his family never met other furies like them before in so long.
'Yeah. Shocking, isn't it." The white Night Fury female cooed to Toothless as Midnight spoke.
'You said you remember us, but we haven't seen each other before. How come you know us?' Midnight warble in question, wanting to know how this white Night Fury knew them when they hadn't met before.
'Back on the ship. When you came to rescue the other dragons, you passed by our cage.' The White Night Fury explains.
'Oh, so it was you two in that cage.' Toothless realized it was these two that were in the supposedly empty cage on the Trappers Ship.
'I'm so sorry we left you behind like that.' Midnight apologizes.
'No, it was my fault. Apparently my camouflage worked a bit too well.' The White Night Fury assured, blaming her white skin rather than the two Night Furies.
The white cub then came out from under her mother and nervously approached the two black dragons.
Midnight smiled at the little one and leaned down closer, 'Hello there.' She cooed softly to the white cub.
'H-hi.' The cub nervously squeaked.
'Your hatchling is adorable.' Midnight warble to the White Night Fury with a smile as she licked the cub as it gave a happy sound.
'She is. And she can be shy when being around other dragons.' The White Night Fury cooed with a small smile as she nuzzled her cub to comfort her. 'Don't be shy, sweetie. They are nice dragons.' She reassured her cub.
Toothless looked around, trying to find another dragon among them as he roared. 'Hey, where's your mate? If you have a hatchling, shouldn't your mate be with you like how me and mine are with our hatchlings?" He asked the white Night Fury, noticing the absence of her mate, since Night Furies who have a mate stay together.
The mother then looked away sadly while her cub whimpered and rubbed herself against her leg.
'My mate is… He's… When those humans that captured us found our nest, my mate tried to rescue us, but then there was this ballista and…' The mother whimpered while fighting the tears as the sound of her mate's dying roar echoed in her mind. She huddled her cub close to her as the cub whimpered in her mother's embrace.
Toothless, Midnight and their cubs all widened their eyes in shock as they realized what she was trying to say, feeling sorry for the mother and her cub.
'Oh gods. I'm so sorry.' Midnight warbled, knowing the pain of losing your mate was almost too much to endure. Having almost lost her own mate from near death in the past, understanding how she would feel if she lost Toothless.
'Yes, that must've been horrible to watch.' Toothless said.
'It was.' The White Night Fury nodded, appreciating their understanding and sympathy for them, 'but now that we are free, we hope to find a new sanctuary.'
'Well if it's a sanctuary you want, we have the perfect place for y-' Toothless said before he heard a rustling sound.
Midnight and the Mother heard it as well while the cubs looked at them in confusion.
'Mom, dad? What's wrong?' Darkie asked.
'What is it mommy?' The White cub asked.
'We're not alone.' Toothless said as he and the two mothers took a defensive stance and looked around.
Toothless then looked up into the trees and saw nine pairs of eyes looking down at them from the shadows.
'Up there!' Toothless roared as the other furies looked up to the eyes as well.
The branches on the trees rustled as Toothless squinted his eyes a bit to get a clear view before a figure on the branches jumped down and landed in front of them as a dust cloud appeared around them. After the dust cleared Toothless, Midnight and the White Fury gazed in shock as the dragon revealed to be a Night Fury.
It appeared to be a male, like Toothless, and it was a big one.
His hide was covered in scars, likely from previous fights, one of them was a scar across his left eyelid, and he had a notch on his big right ear flap. He looked a fair bit bigger and muscular than Toothless, his ear flaps longer and spikier, his wings tips were more pointed, and he also had three flaps on his chin resembling a goatee and his eyes were electric purple.
It was clear that this Night Fury is a Titan-Wing.
And then appearing by his side, was another Titan-Wing Night Fury. A female like Midnight, likely to be the male's mate. She resembled the younger female, only she was bigger and older than Midnight, with smoother, stumpier dorsal spines and ear-flaps than her mate, and her wings were rounder pointed and her eyes were blue.
And then, a younger pair appeared as well. The male was likely the Titan-Wings' son and he also matched Toothless to a T only his eyes were more yellowish-green, while the female looked more like Midnight's twin with her eyes were more indigo.
And then, 3 half-grown juveniles appeared, two female and one male, the younger male's siblings. They were only a little bit smaller than Toothless and Midnight, with shorter ear-flaps and less-pointed wings; the two females had goldish eyes and the male had cyan eyes.
They were also accompanied by two more adult females, likely the alpha female's sisters, they were the same body shape as the female Titan-Wing, but were slightly smaller and one had light-green eyes while the other's eyes were more pinkish-purple.
And then, appearing from the young adult female's wing, were 3 Night Fury cubs, which look to be about 2 years, much younger than Toothless and Midnight's kids. One had dark blue eyes, another had lavender purple eyes and the third had bright green eyes.
They all appear to be a family group. Toothless and Midnight and their cubs were stunned into silence. They remembered how Valka said that they and their kids were the one of the last of their kind but here, standing right in front of him was a whole family of Night Fury.
'I…I don't believe it.' Toothless crooned in shock.
'More… More Night Furies.' Midnight cooed as well with wide eyes.
The Titan-Wing male of the group approached them and his family stayed where they were. The white Night Fury mother then curiously turns to the adult dragon while her cub quickly hides behind her mother, the big male's scars didn't make her feel like he was friendly.
'Um, hello?' The White Night Fury mother said cautiously.
He curiously sniffs her, it's likely he had never seen a member of his kind in white before, let alone two.
'You are like us, and yet not at the same time.' The Titan-Wing said in a wise tone, clearly showing he was a veteran leader. 'It's an honor to meet you, White one.'
'Thank you,' She moaned in a friendly tone before she rubs her head against the male Titan-Wing's and then the Titan-Wing female approaches her next and they do some head-rubbing as well.
'And you are clearly tense as well. Like you were captured by humans. Don't worry, you and your hatchling are safe.' The Titan-Wing female purred in a calm and assuring tone.
'Thank you,' The White Night Fury warbled.
While the females conversed, the male Titan-Wing turned to Toothless and Midnight and their cubs. This family was likely the first of their kind he had seen in a long time outside his own family.
'But you two, you two and your hatchlings are the first Night Furies we've seen in a long time. And yet, your scents seem familiar.' The Titan-Wing said as he walked up to them but then stopped as he caught another scent on them. One he knew all too well.
Humans.
Instinct took over as he leapt back, spreading his wings in front of his family and the White Night Furies with a fierce expression, 'Keep away!' He roared.
Toothless, Midnight and their cubs jumped in surprise when the Titan-Wing went from friendly to dangerous in a split second.
'Wh-what's wrong?!' Toothless asked in confusion while the cubs hid behind Midnight.
'You! You carry the human stench!' The Titan-Wing growled as he noticed the saddles on their backs and Toothless and Darkie's prosthetic tails, 'Are you one of the Hunter's slaves?!' He growled with narrow eyes.
'What… No! No! We're not slaves and these humans are not hunters! They're kind and good humans who treat dragons as equals!' Toothless assured.
'There is no such thing as good humans!' The Titan-Wing retorted as stalked closer to Toothless who had just realized the difference in their size, 'Where is their camp?! How many other dragons have they enslaved?!'
'Uh, um?' Toothless stammered as he backed away, no longer feeling like a King in the presence of a Titan-Wing Night Fury.
''Uh' and 'um' are not an answer!' The Titan-Wing yelled as Toothless backed away so much he fell on his back as the bigger male asked again, 'Now answer the question, where did you come from?!'
Midnight, having seen enough as she stepped in front of the Titan-Wing with a glare, 'HEY! Back off!' She demanded.
The Titan-Wing was surprised for a moment before recompiling himself, 'Excuse me, young lady, this is between-' He then stopped himself as he got a good look at Midnight.
Midnight's continues to glare at the male Titan-Wing before she dropped it as she gasped. 'I, I don't believe it.' She breathes out.
Midnight and the male Titan-Wing looked at each other in disbelief, not believing what was happening right now as they have some memories resurfacing in their minds. 'H-how is this possible?' The Titan-Wing asked.
'W-when the Hunters came,' Midnight recalled, remembering the fire and falling trees around her, 'There was so much smoke a-and-' She stuttered.
'You were under my wing one moment and, and the next you were-' The Titan-Wing said as he looked at Midnight. As the rest of the Pride seem to realize what their leader was seeing.
'Gone.' Midnight finished, looking ready to cry.
The Titan-Wing and Midnight looked at each other with wide eyes, once they realized about each other and that it was real as the Titan-Wing and Midnight looked at each other's eyes deeply, finding a connection between each other as they have the same answer in their minds.
A smile began to appear on the Titan-Wing's face, 'I never stopped looking for you.'
Midnight then realizes that this is real, 'I'm here.' overjoyed moan and rushed onto the Titan-Wing and nuzzled him as the Titan-Wing did the same. 'Daddy!' She warbled, nuzzling her long-lost father's chest.
Toothless finally managed to sit up and his eyes widened by what Midnight said, 'Daddy?' He repeated.
The white Night Fury and her cub, along with Toothless and Midnight's hatchlings, looked at each other in surprise from this outcome.
Midnight nuzzled her father, as she crooned, 'I missed you so much.'
'It's okay dear, I'm here. I have you.' Midnight's father comforted.
Once the two broke apart, Midnight's mother approached as she turned to her, 'Mom.' Midnight warbled as she and her mother nuzzled.
'I thought we'd never see you again.' The elder female crooned as she then pulled away to look at how her hatchling had grown. 'Look at you, my little flier is all grown up and more beautiful than I remember.'
Midnight's father then looked ashamed. 'I am sorry for losing you and leaving you alone for all these years. I swear, we've been searching everywhere for you.' He moaned.
'No, no dad, it's okay I wasn't alone. Toothless found me.' Midnight assured him as she gestured to her mate who found and rescued her.
Toothless, realizing he was meeting his mate's father, straightened up with his head high, looking as strong and confident as possible. He approached the Titan-Wing,
'Honor to meet you sir.' He said with a friendly tone while Midnight shared a happy reunion and nuzzled with her aunts, brothers, and sisters.
Midnight's father gave the younger dragon a judging look as any father would to his daughter's mate. Toothless grew a little nervous at first but then Midnight's father spoke. 'You seem like a good dragon for my daughter if you kept her safe all these years. And for that, I thank you.' He warbled to Toothless grateful for taking care of his daughter but remain skeptical of him.
Then one of the cubs, the one with bright green eyes, with curiosity overcoming him, stepped away from the reunion with his aunt and went up to Toothless. The two tilted their heads at each other, and then the little Night Fury saw the redfin on Toothless's tail and tapped his paw on it curiously, 'What happened to your tail?' The cub asked before he started gnawing on the fin.
Toothless then lifts up his tail gently, and the little Night fury slips off, the older Furies make laughing noises. Midnight's mother, after conversing with her daughter, walks over to the cub and helps him up to his feet and back to the others before she turns to look at Toothless.
'Now, young cub, we shouldn't ask dragons that sort of question. It might be too sensitive for them to talk about.' Midnight's mother warbled, not wanting to make this sensitive as she then walked around Toothless as she was taking in his form before standing in front of him and sniffing him carefully.
Toothless felt a little nervous under the female Titan-Wing's gaze, almost reminding him of Valka.
Then after a while, she gives a friendly look and rubs her head against Toothless' which he gladly returns. 'You are one strong and brave looking dragon. And if Midnight said you protected her all this time, then I am proud to call you my son-in-law.' She warbled with a smile on her face.
'Oh, uh, thank you, ma'am.' Toothless stattermly said with a smile smile at Midnight's mother words.
The rest of the family soon gather around him too, giving him friendly and curious looks, moans, licks, and head rubs. It seemed they too had accepted him into their family. Pleased that Midnight had returned and with a mate and cubs as well. The cubs also began playing with Toothless and Midnight's cubs.
But then a twig was heard snapping nearby, and it was enough to put the white Night Fury and as well the male Titan-Wing on high alert.
They then growled aggressively and glanced in the direction of the sound. 'There is someone watching us!' Midnight's father growled.
'Get down!' The white Night Fury roared as she and Midnight's father then both leaped over Toothless and Midnight. They both fire a blast into the treeline as it hits a tree, and soon cause it to fall over.
Soon Toothless, Midnight and their cubs, along with the rest of Midnight's family, looked to where they fired, while the white Night Fury mother remained on the offense and the scarred Titan growls with his wings spread in front of his daughter and family as the cubs nervously go under their mothers for safety with the rest of the group standing at the front and behind their leader protectively.
And then, appearing behind the trees were Hiccup, Hicca, Astrid, Raeda and Heather as they were completely stunned by what they were seeing.
"Oh, my gods." Hiccup gasped.
"No way!" Raeda said in shock with wide eyes.
"Are those… Night Furies?" Heather asked in awe.
"I think so, but why are those two white?" Astrid answered, pointing to the White Night Fury mother and cub.
They're beautiful." Hicca gaped, looking at the family group but she was mostly in awe of the white ones.
But the white Night Fury and male Titan-Wing didn't look pleased with them as the latter had his dorsal plates split open as they glowed purple. And then Astrid, Raeda and Heather realized the Haddock twins were standing completely exposed. And even noticed the cubs hiding behind their mother.
Uh, Hiccup/Hicca!" They quickly rushed to them.
And then both the white Night Fury and the male Titan-Wing fired their blasts directly at the two. But then Astrid and Heather quickly shove them at the last second as the blast hits a tree, and they are knocked off their feet from the blast. Astrid, Raeda and Heather would've been killed if it wasn't there.
And then suddenly, Henry, Ragnar and Dagur appeared and rushed over to the group as well.
"Astrid! Hicca!" Henry yelled.
"Heather! Raeda!" Ragnar yelled next.
"Sister! Brother!" Dagur added as they rushed to them.
"You guys okay?" Raeda asked.
"I-I think so." Heather said as they got up.
'Not for long!' Midnight's father roared as he and the white Night Fury rears back ready to fire again.
But Toothless and Midnight quickly got in front of them. 'No, wait!' Toothless cried to the white Night Fury.
'Daddy, stop! They're with us!' Midnight roars loudly to her father.
Midnight's father and the white Night Fury stopped in surprise. 'What?' He roared in shock and surprise.
'They're with you?' The white Night Fury asked in surprise as well.
'Two of them are our riders.' Toothless explained.
'They've helped us more times than we can count. No need to be afraid of them.' Midnight warbled as she looked at her father.
Midnight's family and the white Night Fury looked at the riders suspiciously.
"Yeah, yeah, we're friends." Hiccup said as Astrid helped him up. "No need to kill us."
"No, Hiccup!" Reada shouted, pulling him back. "You'll set them off again!"
"It's okay, we won't hurt you." Hicca gently said.
The white Night Fury was about to fire, again but Toothless stopped her. 'No. Don't fire on them. They mean no harm.' He warbled to her.
'Father please, these are our friends. They have helped us before many times since we met. Helped us free many other dragons. The one legged one boy even help make the fins that allow Toothless and Darkie fly again.' Midnight warbled as she explained to her father to try and reason with him.
Midnight's father looked unconvinced as the last human he met was anything but friendly. 'I'm not gonna take any chances with these humans.' He muttered as he gave a look to his daughter. 'If you trusted them, that's fine, but I don't. If you and your family are alone without these humans, we'll talk. But until then, we must hide and stay out of sight." He roared to her daughter.
'But dad…' Midnight warbled, trying to reason with her father.
'I'm sorry, sweetie, but I can't take my chances with these humans. Not yet from my last experience with them." Midnight's father roared as he put his paws on his scarred face as he took to the sky and roared to the rest of his pride. 'Move out everyone! We're leaving!' He roared to his pride, who were looking unsure about leaving Midnight when they just reunited with her and got to meet her mate and hatchlings, but they couldn't argue with the Titan-Wing Night Fury as they took to the skies.
Before taking off however, Midnight's mother looked at the white Night Fury and her cub. 'Come with us too. You and your cub will be safe with us.' she crooned to the white Night Fury.
The white Night Fury gives it a thought for a sec before she roared at Midnight's father. 'Thank you. Come along sweetie.' She warbled to her cub as they took to the skies as they followed the Night Fury pride, feeling safe with them around.
'No, wait come back!' Midnight called out as she and her hatchlings took to the air to follow, but stopped as they turned and saw Toothless trying to follow as he climbed on the tree, but with him unable to fly and was unable to catch up with them. 'Oh, right. You can't fly on your own, Toothless.' She said as she and her hatchlings flew back to Toothless, not wanting to leave him behind as the Night Furies Pride then disappeared into the night sky and the white Night Furies then fired a plasma blast and flew into them just as they exploded and seconds later they vanished.
Toothless, Midnight and their cubs look at the starry sky with sad looks on their faces.
"Wow!" Hiccup stared in shock and awed.
"Incredible!" Hicca added, sharing the same reaction as her brother.
"The white ones just vanished into thin air." Raeda gaped at what the white Night Furies just did, already knowing the fact that Night Furies blend into the dark at night for cover.
"Holy Razorwhip!" Ragnar called out.
"Didn't see that coming. Literally." Henry commented.
"Whoa! Now that's what I call a disappearing act!" Dagur explained in shock.
"A whole pack of Night Furies." Astrid said, stunned.
"I knew there were more out there!" Raeda beamed.
"Yeah, but the white ones, not quite." Hicca pointed out that two of them are white. "More like a distant cousin."
"Yeah, those two are not Night Furies if they are white." Heather said, stunned by this discovery.
"Yeah, those two white ones are more like… Bright… Furies." Hiccup said as he tapped his chin while trying to think of a name for the two white Night Furies.
"Snow Furies?" Heather suggested.
"Uh, White Furies?" Dagur asked next.
"Sky Furies?" Raeda proposed.
"Blank Furies?" Ragnar added.
"Haven Furies?" Henry asked as well.
"Light Furies!" Astrid said, finally finding the right name for them.
The group thought of the name Astrid just picked as they turned and nodded at her. "Yeah, yours is better, Astrid, probably." Hiccup said, liking the name.
"Fits well for them. And it's catchy." Hicca said in agreement.
"Rolls off the tongue." Raeda added with a shrug.
"Similar but comparison." Henry commented.
"I can easily remember that name." Ragnar simply said.
"It suits them alright." Heather said with a smile.
"Meh. It's okay." Dagur shrugged, liking the name.
"But as for the rest, those were definitely Night Furies, and that big male with the scars is definitely the leader." Hicca said in amazement at what they just saw.
"You're right, sis. If I had to guess, Titan-Wing class Night Fury." Hiccup theorized.
"And looks like we found out something else," Raeda chimed in, "Night Furies live in family groups."
"Right, but it looks like the pack was made up of mostly females, their young and only two adult males." Hiccup added.
"And apparently, they'll take in other members of their kind or of their genus." Hicca added before thinking. "You know, I don't think it's right to call a group of Night Furies just a pack."
"Uh, you're right. It needs to be something a lot more unique like a troop or maybe a Band of Furies?" Hiccup tried to think of a more unique name for a group of Night Furies.
"How about, 'Pride?" Dagur suggested, as they looked at him, "I think it sounds cool."
Heather then shrugs, "Actually, it fits." She admitted.
"Alright, a group of Furies, is called a Pride." Hicca decided before looking up at Midnight, remembering how she was communicating with the Alpha male, "Did any of you notice Midnight's behavior back there?"
"Yeah, it almost seemed like she knew them." Astrid pointed out.
"Even though they just met, they acted like they've known each other for years." Heather added.
"Did you see those Night Furies before?" Ragnar asked the Haddock twins in curiosity.
"No. We haven't seen any other Night Furies since Vanahiem." Hicca answered. "But Midnight never had this reaction with them before." She added.
"Even I could tell from that female Night Fury." Henry commented in concern.
"That is pretty strange." Dagur commented, scratching his head.
"Midnight really seemed upset after they left." Raeda added in concern.
"So many questions that need answers." Hiccup said as he placed his fingers on his chin.
"Right now, I'm just worried about Midnight." Hicca noted as she saw Midnight looking sadly up to the sky as she called out to the Night Fury Pride had flown off as Toothless nuzzled her in comfort.
'Mom?' Blaze asked as he and his siblings looked at their mother in concern.
'I finally found my family, and now I lost them all over again.' Midnight moaned sadly.
Toothless nuzzled Midnight in comfort.