The next morning the couple let species leaders know that they were going to be gone for the few days. And in the time they were away that Dusty and Care would be acting in their place.
"Those of you who are new to your position, know that this is a test for you. We will know if you tried to do anything that would harm us. Whether that be starting fights, or actively trying to turn others against your alphas. We will know. And if you think that you can't be forcefully removed from your position think again. We will not have those who want to destroy in places of power. Know that you do not only represent yourself but the rest of your people as well." Toothless looked the new additions over, judging to see if they were actually listening. Then over to the old leaders who had already moved on and were conversing about sleeping space and potentially moving, or trading areas with one of the others.
Toothless wondered why it was so easy to get dragons to change the way they lived. He wondered just how much Hiccup influenced a change like that. He also asked himself how many of his people simply following what their alpha said without question. He took a real inventory of what was happening around him. Watching a group talk and make a deal instead of fight or simply take what they wanted.
As he looked around he saw Hiccup who had also started a conversation with one of the leaders. The dragon laughed through his nose. 'A dragon asking a human for advice.' He mused. 'Never thought I'd ever see something like that.' He continued to watch Hiccup and the realization that he was mates with him hit Toothless all at once. He was so consumed by his thoughts that he hadn't noticed that Hiccup was walking up to him.
Hiccup scratched under his chin.
"What you thinking about?" Hiccup smiled.
"I was uhm, it was, you." Toothless flustered.
"You're always thinking about me." Hiccup smiled.
"I know. I guess I was more thinking about how crazy this all is. I'm just hoping that I don't wake up and this is all fake." He looked Hiccup in the eye.
"I have that same nightmare all the time." Hiccup huffed. "Tell you what. If this is fake. When you wake up, find me. And I'll be waiting for you." He kissed the bridge of the dragon's nose.
"Would you really wait for me?"
"I couldn't imagine my life without you now." Hiccup scratched under Toothless' chin again. "You ready to go, anything that you need to take care of?"
Toothless shook his head.
"Then let's go." Hiccup moved over to Toothless' side and he dropped his shoulder giving Hiccup an easier time. Once Hiccup was settled into his spot the Night Fury took off. Hiccup waved goodbye to everyone and they set off towards Berk. Their flight was long but easy. They didn't talk much and simply enjoyed flying together again. As they approached berk the sun had began to settle behind the horizon.
Toothless set them down in the cove that he'd been trapped in.
"You remember this place?" Toothless asked. He looked around.
"How could I forget?" Hiccup laughed. This is where it all started. Everything up to this point, right here. It's amazing really."
"So what's the plan now?"
"Let's relax until it's dark out. Don't want to get spotted when we go in."
"Relax huh?" Toothless nipped at Hiccup's shoulder. Hiccup batted his snout.
"Stop that." He commanded. "I want to be able to walk when I see my dad." Hiccup laughed. Toothless licked at him a few seconds more.
"I suppose so." He hummed. "But you owe me."
"When don't I owe you?" He looked up under Toothless' chin. Toothless continued to look around.
"You don't owe me anything and you know it."
"I know. But it gives you a reason to come back if I do."
Toothless rolled his eyes and huffed.
"I already had a reason to come back. Or do you not remember that you promised me personal time?" He rumbled.
"You think I forgot about that? I'm looking forward to it just as much as you are."
"Then rest, and I'll wake you when it's time to go." Toothless moved onto his side allowing Hiccup to lay down next to him.
"You're going to stay up?"
"I plan to snooze a little. But we can't be too cautious around here. We don't know if your dad is watching this place. Astrid followed you here remember?"
"Oh yeah." Hiccup sighed. "Do you think that you'd still be here if she didn't find us?"
"I don't think about that much. But we probably would have moved on either way. To be completely honest with you I don't think you want to be here just as much as me." Toothless admitted.
"Why do you say that?"
"I want to think that you've moved passed wanting to come back here. I don't mean that you don't want to change them. I've stopped trying to convince you that it would be impossible. Like I've told you before, you do the impossible. It's just what you do. But I also think that you like where you're at right now. You like the way that we live. You like that there's a little chaos in your life that isn't because of the weather, or someone trying to attack you. I guess that last one isn't entirely true but you get it. On top of that you like the power. Which isn't unique to you. Anyone in your spot likes the power. I share the same position as you, and I can tell you I do. And you can tell me it's not about the power. I'd believe you, it's the same for me.
What I'm trying to say is, if you didn't have a vendetta to change these people. You'd never think about this place. You might think about your dad, he's family after all, but you'd never give this place a passing glance otherwise. The only reason we're even here is because you want advice from someone who's been doing what we're doing for longer than either of us have been alive. Otherwise we'd be at home overseeing the sleeping arrangements of the Nightmares and Nadders. Which I'm not saying would be super fun or anything, but that is what we'd be doing right now.
Though this is a nice way to get out of there. To actually have some alone time that won't be interrupted. As far as we know. So this is nice, and I think that we should try to do this every once and while. Just so that we can get away from have to solve everyone else's problems.
No wonder your dad started teaching you so early." The dragon laughed deep in his throat. Hiccup chuckled too. "Get some rest now and I'll wake you when it's time to go." Hiccup laid his head down on Toothless' leg and was out cold.
