Twenty years.

It's been twenty years since my dad had to let the dragons go after defeating Grimmel. And it's been ten since the Snoggletog Pageant… and the trip to the Hidden World.

It's now been a year since the Shieldbreaker crisis, and my brother and I have changed for the better. Nuffink's now fifteen years old and a recruit for the Berk Guard. He's not really a full-fledged member yet, but he's confident that's gonna change soon.

As for me, I'm eighteen and have been preparing for chiefdom with Dad. I'll say this, he wasn't kidding when he said it wasn't gonna be easy. But I keep telling him I can handle it… especially when I know I'm not alone. My friends… and my brother… will back me up. I won't do all of this myself like Dad tried to do.

And speaking of friends, Eguala and Feliciana have agreed that, when the day comes, they shall be my bodyguards. At first, I thought that was going a little overboard, but Eguala told me she'd seen plenty of assassinations back when she served the Republic, so I eventually agreed. At least I know I'll feel safe during meetings with other chieftains.

But getting ready to lead my people isn't the only thing I've been doing. I've also been developing some new battle gear and, believe it or not, Nuffink decided to help me when he wasn't training. He's also brought up some pretty good ideas, too.

One of his first suggestions was a folded sword that could change into a double-bladed sword. Of course, due to it being the same weapon my imaginary other self wielded, I was hesitant to comply. Instead, I told him that it could be a possibility.

Aside from that, he also had this self-called "neat idea" that could make me "disappear", as he said so dramatically for effect. The idea was a green cloak with string covering it that could envelop the entire body. When the wearer lied down in a grassy area, they could blend right in. He had a pretty good point there, I must say.

I also crafted a wrist-mounted dart launcher that was inspired by the Defenders of the Wing's blowguns. It could immobilize or tranquilize its target: perfect for any stealth mission. Unfortunately, I accidentally triggered the spring mechanism early on its initial testing, and Nuffink got a dart to the neck while telling me of how things have been with the Berk Guard. To put it short, let's just say I'm just glad the dart's effects were only temporary.

And last but not least… are the Night Lights. Even after one single year, I still haven't forgotten them. That's because I know that they're safe down there in the Hidden World, living their own lives. Some days, I find myself staring out to sea as if I'm expecting them to just appear out of the blue…

Well, I guess that happens when you can't stop thinking about things like that. But I'm glad knowing that my new sister and brothers are still with me. And like the old saying goes… together from afar.

…

Nuffink's POV

Aside from the numerous training exercises, being part of the Berk Guard is…. can I be honest with you here? Absolutely boring.

Ever since the Shieldbreaker crisis, things have been rather peaceful. Now I know that might seem like a good thing, but since there's no bad guy to fight anymore, I'm stuck doing patrols. I already know the village like the back of my hand, so why should I even bother?

I keep asking myself why we don't get to help out allied tribes when they're in danger, but the answer is always there: the Guard is the only line of defense between Berk and raiders. I've heard that raids were common back on Old Berk, but here? I'm dying to see some action so much, I wish New Berk was less elevated.

"You sure this is gonna work? What if we're caught?"

I freeze in my tracks and rush behind a boulder. Could… could my secret prayers have been answered?

Peeking out from behind my cover, I see a bunch of guys near the shipyard. And if they're doing what I think they're doing…

"Relax! We're completely fine here! All we need to do is take this boat and mess it up. Sabotage it so won't sail ever again! We'll weaken New Berk's fleet from the inside!"

A smile creeps among my face and my eyes gleam in excitement. "Oh, finally, something good." I whisper, thanking Thor and Odin alike for hearing me.

The guys make their way on board, and I quietly follow them. Making sure to not draw any sort of attention to myself, I climb on board and take note of what they're doing.

Looks like there's several of them. Maybe ten or twelve, not really sure. Some of them are going for the sails, so I quickly check myself to see if I'm ready. Weapons, armor, and any of my sister's creations I decided to take with me. After that, I lean against the mainmast.

"Sup, guys?"

They all stop what they're doing and turn to face me. Weapons are drawn and somebody with a crossbow aims at me.

"Just a quick heads-up," I tell them smugly. "My dad's not gonna be happy that you're trashing one of his boats, but you know what? I'll spare him the trouble and take good care of you myself."

Before the guy with the crossbow can react, I fire my new wrist-mounted rope launcher at his weapon and twist my arm. The weapon is flung out of his hands and smacks both him and the guy next to him in the face.

Someone else moves in to punch me, but I grab his hand and redirect the punch into another guy. When the leader, with some kind of facemask, sees this, I can tell he's had enough.

(A/N: Astrid Goes For A Spin – HTTYD soundtrack)

"RUSH HIM!" he yells, pointing at me. Everyone else complies.

"Alright but make it quick! I've got a lot to do today!" I answer, punching one guy in the face and kicking another in the gut. With a grunt, he stumbles backward.

More crossbowmen open fire, and I acrobatically flip onto a barrel to avoid the arrows. Grabbing a guy's wrist with the launcher, I twirl off and take him with me. He yells as he's spun to the ground.

Someone rushes me with a sword, and I deflect the blow with my axe and throw him over my shoulder. "Element of surprise, huh?" I quip. "Points for creativity." Grabbing a barrel with another rope, I hurl it into two more guys.

I slice through the ropes holding up some fishing nets, and they snatch up three people when they believe they have me off-guard. "Whew!" I say, looking at my progress. "Is this it? This can't really be it, right? Come on, what else you got?"

To answer my question, somebody picks up a crossbow and shoots at me. I weave to the side to dodge two of them… but the third hits me square in the chest. It only clinks off my chest plate, but I fake a pained shout.

"Ooh, you got me!" I groan, slumping to the floor as the guy approaches to check on his buddies…

…but I kick him in the upper leg and leap back to my feet. "Ha! Just kidding!" I chuckle, tripping him up with a leg sweep. "Haddocks don't go down that easy!"

Someone I've already knocked down is crawling over to a weapons rack, so I fire another rope at his ankle and throw him at somebody with a mace. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not so fast!" I shout as I do so. When the two of them collide, the hit the deck with a moan.

"Guys, honestly, I really don't want to kill anybody today, so could you please make my job easier and just give up already?"

The leader charges at me with a sword and I raise my axe to block it. "No? Okay, your loss."

The leader swings at me in repeated strikes and I block them all in succession. When he locks me in a clash, I sneak a glance at his torso.

"Hey, could you hold this for a sec?" I ask, snatching a little circular wooden object from my back and attaching it to his chest. "Thanks! See ya!" Parrying the clash, I smack my palm against the object, and a rope shoots out of it. Sidestepping out of the way just as it sails past, I watch the rope hit the mast… and reels the leader in like a fish on a line.

He smacks against the mast with a groan and I sheathe my weapon. Placing my hands on my hips, I look around at the defeated would-be saboteurs.

(song ends)

"You guys okay? Everyone okay?" I ask, glancing around the area. The barrel I had thrown has its top open… with various weapons scattered onto the deck. "Uh, for the record, I could have sworn that barrel was empty." And that's when I realize something.

"I'm honestly…" I say, guessing that these guys weren't giving their all. "I'm-I'm shocked. I've seen people put up a better fight than that."

I hear some laughter from the leader. "That's because they were going easy on you, Nuff."

With a surprised face, I slowly walk over to him. "H-how do you know my name?" Was this all a part of something bigger? Something like the Shieldbreaker… or something worse?

"Congrats, Nuffink," the figure says, reaching up and pulling off his facemask. "You passed." The familiar voice makes me gasp.

"Osvif?!" I shout, my mouth agape in shock. "Wh-what are you… why are you…" Instead of bombarding him with questions, I reach over and disable the gadget holding him to the mast.

"What the heck are you doing here?!" I say as he steps away from the mast. "And… what do you mean I passed? Passed what?"

"I know you can't resist some good action," Osvif says, whistling to the downed guys. They all get up one by one, some cutting the nets to let the ensnared guys out. "So me and some of the other Guard trainees set up a little something."

"Those guys are with the Guard?" I gasp. "I… I didn't rough them up too bad, did I?"

"We're Vikings, kid. There's no such thing as roughing us up too bad."

"Alright, yeah, whatever. Just… what was all of this? You weren't really going to sabotage this ship?"

"Nope," Osvif smirks, placing a hand on my shoulder. "This was all a test, Nuffink. And you passed."

"I… passed?"

He smiles at me. "Welcome to the Berk Guard, kiddo. And by the way… maybe save your old man's dramatic flair for those who deserve it."

The words sink in, leaving me completely stunned. I hardly hear Osvif telling the others to get themselves on their feet and follow him. Soon, I'm the only one left on the boat, the words finally hitting hard. Telling me what this all means.

"I'm… I'm a part of the Berk Guard."

…

The Hidden World, that night

Twilight's POV

"Dart… Dart… Dart, wake up!"

I grumble in my half-asleep state, cracking open one eye to see Sharpshot standing at the mouth of my sleeping cave. The little dragon looks ready to tell me something.

"This better be important," I yawn, stretching myself out to ease out the grogginess I feel. "Because if it isn't, I won't think twice about throwing you out of here."

"You remember what you sent me to scout out?"

I stare quizzically at him. "Uh… no?"

"The chiefing ceremony on New Berk! It's scheduled to happen soon!"

My eyes perk up, my body now fully awake at his words. "When?"

"Tomorrow at most, according to the villagers' chatter."

"Do my brothers know of this?"

"Does this answer your question?" Looking up to see who had spoken, I see Pouncer and Ruffrunner waiting for me. I smile at the sight of them.

"Are Mother and Father-"

"Asleep? Check." Pouncer responds while Ruffrunner gives him an uneasy look. "Oh, don't give me that! This won't be like when we were hatchlings! We can fend for ourselves and we'll be back unharmed!"

"Uh, if you say so," Ruffrunner coos. "But if we do get caught again, I'm blaming both you and Dart."

"Heard that!" I snap at them, making them clear the way so I can walk out of my cave. "And besides… it's been too long since we've last been there."

"But it's only been a year!" Pouncer tells me.

"I know that. I just… miss her. And what's coming is a really big day for her."

"And for you. Remember what else is coming?"

I only nod. "The Challenge for Alpha. I'm… a little nervous about that."

"So is Zephyr about becoming Chieftess," Ruffrunner adds. "It's a natural feeling."

"Thanks," I answer. "Now, everyone ready?"

My brothers answer with a bark, their eyes narrowed for what's about to happen. I crouch low, spread my wings as they follow my lead…

…and take off.

We fly in single file throughout the caves and tunnels, zoom through the Caves of Beginning with the eggs lighting up in our wake, and speed into the open cavern with the ruins of old human warships… the remnants of the Shieldbreaker fleet among them.

And soon, the three of us shoot out from the Portal's circular entrance and into the night sky. Twirling upward in midair as Pouncer and Ruffrunner break off in practiced motions, I spread open my sleek black wings when my body comes in line with the moon. For a moment, I let myself hang in the air with the moonlight shining upon my scales…

…and I let myself fall. Flipping upright, I speed across the ocean water with my brothers behind me.

…

Later, the three of us are all perched on top of a large, rocky sea stack. Everything around us is calm. The full moon casting a bright glow in the sky, the wind a gentle breeze, and the waves churning in patterns.

"Alright, guys," Pouncer speaks up. "It's go time."

I brace my claws against the rock. "Double-wing formation in three! Two! One!"

I leap off the rock in a spinning leap as my brothers slide down any slopes they can find. As quickly as we can, we make our way to the bottom of the sea stack…

…before Ruffrunner lands on a piece of rock that juts right out.

Pouncer lands right on top of him with an unprepared grunt, and I bounce off of him with a startled yelp. Grabbing onto the rock with both front feet, I hang on as tight as I can. "Ruffrunner, what happened to double-wing formation?" I growl.

His green eyes go wide. "Wait, double-wing formation?" he gasps. "I thought you said turtle-wing formation!" Hearing this, Pouncer growls and lightly scratches Ruffrunner on the back of his neck, not hard enough to draw blood.

"Why would she say turtle-wing formation?" he roars. "What's turtle-wing formation?!"

"Guys, enough! Let's move!" I bark, letting go of the rock, and catching the wind on my wings. Pouncer leaps off Ruffrunner, who dives off the rock and takes flight.

I let an air current glide me upwards until I land on a flat sea stack, sliding down a steep slope before jumping off again. My wings flash open and I beat them twice to regain some altitude. I check back to see if my brothers are right behind me.

"Hey, Pouncer!" Ruffrunner shouts. "Do that thing!"

"Uh, what thing?" he replies, confused.

"You know, THAT thing! With the water!"

"Uh, I don't wanna do it! The water's cold at night! And it hurts!"

"If you don't do it, you'll share your sleeping cave with me!" Ruffrunner replies. "If you don't do it, you'll have to watch over the hatchlings! If you don't do it-"

"Okay, fine!" Pouncer growls, having enough with our younger brother's annoyingness. Taking a deep breath, he dives headfirst below the ocean surface. Once submerged, he twirls around in a barrel roll for five whole seconds.

He pops out with a gasp and a shiver, while Ruffrunner whoops from behind him. "That was awesome!"

"Says you! Brrr!"

As we come up on some more sea stacks, I circle around the base of one of them. Soaring upward, I run across the surface of another before diving off, speeding along the surface of the water. I slam against the base of another claws-first, climbing upward as fast as I can.

When I reach the top, I break into a sprint for a rock wall. "Ruffrunner! Boost me!"

"Here we go!" my brother shouts, landing near the wall and bracing himself. I leap on top of him and he lifts hard, propelling me upward. "Woohoo!" I shout, shooting past the top of the wall and looping around in the air.

I speed back down to the water's surface, dipping my wing in to spray some of it behind me. My brothers whoop in excitement as they leap off another sea stack to follow me.

"I LOVE this life!" Ruffrunner shouts as he and Pouncer try to see which one of them can stay ahead of the other.

On that, I couldn't agree more…

…

All of New Berk is quiet when we arrive. There's barely any human in sight. I take it they're all asleep. Perfect for a complete stealth exercise.

The three of us, shrouded in darkness atop a clifftop overlooking the village, remain still as statues. The wind blows against us, rustling the leaves of trees.

Pouncer, standing atop a rock, opens his jade eyes without moving any other part of his body while Ruffrunner, perched on a tree branch, follows suit. Their green eyes seem to glow in the dark…

…until I open my own, blue orbs slicing through the blackness.

We're on the move in seconds. As we swiftly and silently descend upon the village as black silhouettes, our shadows are cast onto houses from torchlight. Ruffrunner hits the ground, vanishing in and out of any dark corners he sees. Pouncer leaps from rooftop to rooftop, staying wary of anything that could give him away. As for me, I glide silently without beating my wings, jumping off any figureheads on human houses to give me extra distance.

I move to the rooftops while Pouncer slides down the roof of a large building (an armory, if I had to guess). Ruffrunner leaps onto some rocks and takes flight while I search for a good place for us to rest.

Finally, after several minutes of moving in the dark like the shadows we are, my eyes rest on a dark alley. My brothers turn to me, and I silently motion with my wings to follow.

I dive into the alley and Pouncer scrapes his claws against the wall of one house to slow his descent. Ruffrunner lands on the roof of that house and prepares to jump down.

Pouncer lets go of the wall and touches down on the ground. Swooping around in the air, I land on all fours before raising myself to my full height, my blue eyes shining in the darkness. I am a true shadow and an embodiment of the night. Just like the Night Furies before me, I cannot be seen. I cannot be heard. And I never miss my target. I can infiltrate an area and leave without anyone knowing I was ever there. And with my brothers, there's nothing the three of us can't…

CRASH!

The sound echoes through the silence, shattering it like glass. My eyes widen and my ears perk up. Pouncer and I whirl our heads around…

…to see Ruffrunner atop some broken crates and barrels with apples and fruit inside them. He must not have seen them when he jumped… something that needs to be worked on. I shoot my youngest brother a look, and his response is an apologetic stare as Pouncer sniffs for any injuries.

"Who's there?!"

We all snap our heads towards the front of the alley, where the orange glow of torchlight is approaching. I should have known. Father told us that back on Old Berk, Vikings would go on nightly patrols, possibly to look for anyone sneaking out of their homes… or someone sneaking into the island.

…

The bearded man shone his torch into the alley… and saw nothing but smashed fruit crates.

"Hmm…" With a suspicious frown, he advanced into the alley to inspect the damage. There didn't seem to be any trace of someone's presence. No stumble to get away, at least.

"Must have been some loose sheep," he muttered, turning back and heading out into the village.

He didn't even notice the three shadows emerging from dark corners and vanishing into the night…

…

Twilight's POV

After our little close call, my brothers and I decide to leave the village for the time being. We'll be waiting in the forests until the ceremony comes, then we'll watch it from a safe distance away.

We dash towards the trees so we can find somewhere to rest… but Pouncer and Ruffrunner race off ahead of me when I skid to a stop. A lone building, away from the rest of the village, has caught my eye.

I know what it is the second my eyes rest on it. And I know exactly who's in there.

I'm completely hesitant on what to do. I glance at my brothers, rushing into the brush of the forest, then at the house before looking at where my brothers once were. Finally, I turn back to the house… and sigh.

It's just for a little bit…

Creeping up to the house on the hilltop, the memories from a year back return to me: when I had triggered that trap, trashed the place and finally got my answers from Zephyr and Nuffink. But this time… I wasn't going inside. Not that I would know if Zephyr kept the log trap up or not.

I walk along the side of the house, up to where a small window rests. I can't help but feel slightly worried at the sight of it. But… why should I? She's safe. Maybe… maybe it's because we've been away for a long time.

After searching the wall closely, I carefully dig my claws into small separations between the wood. As quietly as I can, I climb up the wall until my head reaches the window. And memories flow when I see what's inside.

I can't see their faces, but the auburn and blonde hair of the sleeping humans tell me that it's them. Seeing them again is like seeing my hatchling self in my watery reflection.

Me and my playful little brothers scampering around them and licking their faces. Their shocked faces when they saw us as grown dragons for the first time. Zephyr's palm on my forehead when I realized who she was. Her sadness when I lost control. The five of us fighting side by side, defeating Shieldbreaker soldiers and destroying the devastating Reckoning. Me, burned and injured, saving Zephyr from the burning, sinking flagship before flying to the sea stack and passing out. Flying together in the skies all happy. Our time together on New Berk, having fun and discovering secrets of the past… and secrets of ourselves.

And finally, Zephyr's teary-eyed face as she clings to me tightly… and planting a kiss on my snout. Just as I did when I saw her parents showing their love. The proud, yet saddened look on her face when I looked back one last time… and I took off.

And now, here I am. I don't care that she knows I'm here. All that matters is that I know she's with me. Here… and in my heart.

Plink!

The small pebble hits me on the side of my face, snapping my concentration and flow of memories like a twig. I whirl my head to the ground below…

…and see an annoyed Pouncer scowling at me. He silently gestures for me to come down and follow, while Ruffrunner waits by a tree. All it takes from me is a head gesture for them to go, that I'd be right behind them, makes them move on. Pouncer takes one last look at me to make sure I follow.

Taking one last look at Zephyr's sleeping form, I slowly coo warmly… and I leap off.

A second after I hit the ground, I rush off to join my anxious brothers. And together, we fade away into the night.

…

Zephyr's POV

(A/N: the first minute of This Is Berk - HTTYD score)

As the morning light shines through my bedroom window, I sit in bed with a small picture in my lap. Nuffink's bed lies empty, as he is already awake. He told everybody the good news last night, and we were all so proud of him. Only fitting… for they're all gonna be proud of me after today.

My lips pulled back into a small smile, I gently trace my finger across the picture. I still remember the day it was drawn, now over a year ago.

"I wish you were here to see this day," I whisper. "But you have your important agendas to attend to. Just remember… I miss you all. And I wish you good luck with whatever comes across your path."

I take a good look at the picture, which has a drawing of Dusk, me, Twilight, Nuffink and Dawn from left to right. It was taken when we were taking a break in our high-in-the-sky fun and relaxing around the village. Ingrid was responsible for both requesting and drawing it, and I just couldn't say no.

It took us a while to get the Night Lights settled. Twilight had trouble understanding what the point of the drawing was, and Dusk and Dawn kept getting distracted by the scent of food and the sight of butterflies. But in the end, it was all worth it. And I've held onto it ever since. When I look at it every day, it reminds me of them… and how they're holding up with everything that's happened.

My attention moves away from the picture when I move my hand away from the drawing… and lightly brush the scar on my chin. I sigh, my touch not causing pain anymore, yet I'm still reminded of how I got it.

Like many other things, the scar is now something I have in common with my dad. Among his technical genius and leadership skills… I also share his failures and humiliations. But the good thing about them? I always, always, find a way to come back from them and any near-death experiences I encounter.

The sound of my door opening interrupts my thoughts, and I look up to see Grandma out in the hall. She doesn't even need to say why she's here… I already know.

"It is time." She says calmly. With a nod, I set the picture down after one last glance and rise to my feet. Walking past the dresser where the three Night Light toys now rest, I step into the hall and follow Grandma to where my preparations are to occur.

(song ends)

…

(A/N: second half of Two new Alphas – HTTYD 2 score)

This is it.

This is what my whole life has led to.

From certain to uncertain, from definite to impossible, it's changed like sunrise and sunset. But now, it's not going away. I've proven myself to my people. This is how it was meant to be.

It's just like Twilight said… you can't deny destiny.

Just like at my parents' wedding, the entire village is assembled by my grandfather's statue to witness this historic day… the day where Berk's first female heiress becomes their Chieftess.

There's a clear path between me and the statue, and villagers give me proud, loyal glances in my direction as I walk past them. I smile and nod to a few of them. But personally… Grandpa's statue gives me the biggest feeling of pride. He'll be proud knowing how far I've come… and what I've had to endure to make it. How I've proven to everyone that I deserve to be their rightful leader.

My friends are in the part of the crowd closest to the statue, and they all silently congratulate me. My eyes are locked at the base of the statue… where my family awaits.

Eguala and Feliciana are off to the side, dressed in armor and acting as security for the event. My little brother is also in armor, with the Haddock family crest painted on his shield. When Nuffink lays eyes on me, he honorably raises his axe against his shield.

My parents stand side-by-side, warm smiles on their faces and a brown cloak in Mom's hands. A small pile of coal rests nearby. No one needs to tell me what it's for.

My father's proud eyes never leave me, his smile saying all that needs to be said. He motions with his arm for me to continue, and I nod in reply. Positioning myself in front of him as Mom and Nuffink watch on, I get down on one knee, slightly lower my head and close my eyes.

I wait patiently, not moving from my stance. And before too long…

…I feel Dad's thumb tracing a pattern- the Chief's mark- onto my forehead and the cloak being draped over my shoulders.

And there's one more thing I feel… that's not physical. A wave of self-accomplishment, hope and pride all well up inside my heart and spread throughout my very being.

The feeling flowing through me, I open my sky-blue eyes that are now sparkling like sunlight peeking through the clouds. I rise to my feet, turning around to face the crowd… my people.

"Your Chieftess has arrived!"

No sooner than those words leave my father's mouth does the whole crowd erupt into a monstrous cheer. Arms are shot up into the air and shouts of approval ring out.

"Long live the Chieftess! Long live the Chieftess!"

As if I had just triumphed over a long and hard battle, I raise my own fist high into the sky. The crowd cheers again, loud enough to reach Valhalla itself. Maybe everyone there is congratulating me too… my grandfather among them.

(A/N: song ends)

My eyes wash over the crowd savoring their joyful faces as they celebrate…

…until three specks appear out of the corner of my eye. One black and two white.

I turn to get a better look… and my mouth hangs open. They came.

Resting near the top of the mountain where the Great Hall resides, the Night Lights watch down on the crowd below. No… they watch me.

I can feel their eyes, beaming with warm happiness, focus on me. Even after a year since we reunited, they haven't changed a bit. She hasn't changed a bit. I think I can see Twilight smiling at me, silently telling me this is the greatest day of my life. She's not lying.

I don't even care about how they knew about this to begin with, or when to come here. All that matters is that they're here… and to prove to me that we truly are together.

"Chieftess," my brother's voice announces in a formal tone. Turning back to him, I see that he has his weapons lowered to the side before taking the stance of a guard. "It will be an honor to heed your words and fight alongside you."

I can't help but chuckle at his loyal tone. "Finky, I'm not gonna make you my general for another few years now."

"I know, Zeph," he replies in his normal voice with a smile, strapping his axe and shield behind his back. "But when that day comes, I'll be ready to stand beside you. We'll be ruling together, just like they did before they got married… and even after."

"That's the whole point of this, isn't it?" I tell him calmly, resting a hand on his armored shoulder. "What good is ruling over a village without loved ones by your side every step of the way? Going alone will only wear yourself out."

"So that's not gonna happen."

I stroke my palm over my little brother's blonde hair. "No… no, it's not."

We pull each other in close, wrapping ourselves in a hug as our parents walk up to us. The final congratulations of the crowd fade away, the warm feeling of family replacing it. Now that we're together at last, we could move on. Dream of a brighter future: for both New Berk and the dragons. Dream of one day when struggles between humans and dragons would cease and Dad's long-awaited peace would finally arrive.

Never pulling away from my hug, I open my eyes and glance back to the top of the Great Hall…

…but there's nobody there. And I smile.

Twilight knows what's next for her. And just like me, she won't go through it alone. She has her brothers… and she has us. We'll each think about the other, telling stories about us and occasionally seeing each other again when many years have passed.

But for now… me, Nuffink, Twilight, Dawn, and Dusk need to carve our own paths in life. Settle down and remember the good times we had.

And you know what? I'm okay with that.

…

Several months later

I still need to get used to being Chieftess, even with everyone helping me out in making my decisions. And outside my new life, change has come.

Eguala and Feliciana have served as my protectors whenever I attended a meeting of chiefs. They don't hesitate to say what I had been through if someone questions my role. I thank them for it to this day. And when there is no use for them as guards, they train new warriors to ensure our fighting spirit never fades.

Nuffink has advanced in his training and now sees himself as a true soldier. Rumors say he wishes to lead a squad of warriors sometime in the future. We were even told about the origin of his name by our parents and, just like I told him we would, we faked our reactions as if hearing it for the first time.

Grandma passed away peacefully around three weeks ago. My family gathered around to say our farewells… and I even said for her to tell Grandpa all about us. Personally, I'm glad they'll get together again after being apart for so long.

I've ordered the construction of a house that I'll be moving into once it's finished. There's no need for them to hurry. I love my parents and wouldn't mind sticking around with them for just a little longer.

And as for my mother and father… they're settling down. Mom's resorted to telling stories to the kids, some about the time of the dragons and some about the family. I'll say this, the legends need to live.

Traders come to New Berk regularly, and Dad listened to stories they had to offer. And one time… I saw him smile thoughtfully with a hand to his chin. I know that look. Mom said he has it only when he has a bright idea.

Ever since, he's spent weeks alone in his study, coming out every once in a while. He should know by now that I'm getting suspicious of him. I am his daughter, after all. Just what is he doing in there?

Tonight, I'm going to find out.

Closing the door behind me and hanging my brown fur cloak against a hook, I glance to the upstairs part of the house. Making my way up there without a second thought, I walk up to the door of Dad's study and gently tap my knuckles against the wooden surface.

"Come in."

My father greets me with a calm smile as I open the door and make my way inside. "I figured you'd know sooner or later… even before it was finished. But for my daughter, I'll make an exception."

Instead of answering him, I look towards his desk, expecting to see some maps or weapon designs like he's always done. But instead… I see paper. And lots of it.

"Dad…" I whisper with curiosity in my tone. "What is all this?"

"See for yourself," he replies, gesturing towards the desk. "Ever since you took my place, I needed something to fill out the remainder of my days. And thanks to those traders and their tall tales, I finally found it."

My eyes scan the room, passing over the now non-functional Dragon Blade resting atop a shelf. I quietly move over to the desk and sit down in the chair, reaching for one sheet of paper. Turning it over in my hands, I rest my eyes on the first line of words… and gasp.

There were dragons when I was a boy.

I blink twice to make sure this is real. That phrase… that same phrase he said to me as a little girl, and later to Nuffink when he was old enough, whispers in my mind. Flashbacks of the first time he told us about dragons begin to work their way in… and they keep flowing as I continue reading.

There were great, grim sky dragons that nested on the cliff-tops like gigantic, scary birds. Little, brown scuttly dragons that hunted down the mice and rats in well-organized packs. Preposterously huge sea dragons that were twenty times as big as the big blue whale, and who killed for the fun of it.

You'll have to take my word for it: for the dragons are disappearing so fast, they may soon become extinct. Nobody knows what is happening. They are crawling back into the sea from whence they came, leaving not a bone, not a fang in the earth for men of the future to remember them by.

So, in order that these amazing creatures should not be forgotten, I will tell this true story from my childhood. I was not the sort of boy who could train a dragon with the mere lifting of an eyebrow. I was not a natural at the heroism business. I had to work at it. This is the story of becoming a hero the hard way.

But the thing about dragons (and I'm a person who knows about dragons) is that it could very well be that they are really sleeping down there in the black, black depths.

There may yet come a time when the dragons will come back.

I'm absolutely speechless when I finish the last word. "You… you're writing about your adventures," I breathe out. "And you want the whole world to know of it?"

"It's the least I could do, Zephyr," he replies. "One way or another, my story needs to be told. The world needs to know about the dragons, whether they believe they're real or not. And I believe there is somebody, just one person out there who thinks of dragons the same way I do. And perhaps this story will find its way into their hands."

I do my best to listen to him, but I'm preoccupied with taking a look at how far he's gone. After a few pages of words and sentences, something else sticks out from the rest… a picture.

I pull it close to me, identifying the drawn person as my father as a boy. He even has an arrow with his name pointing to the boy. And a little green dragon is by his side, arrow in tow. But when I read the name on the other end of it…

What?

I turn to my father with a confused expression. Was this some kind of joke?

"So you've found it," comes his only response at my face.

"Dad…" I whisper in distraught. "Toothless is not that small! He's a Night Fury, for Thor's sake! Not a Terrible Terror!"

He holds up a hand to silence me. "I'll have you know that I did that for a very good reason. An important reason."

"Oh yeah? What would that be?" I ask, my tone telling him that I'm not buying this… something that Mom probably gave me. Dad sighs when he notices this like I'm reminding him of her all over again and how he had to deal with it.

"Do you know how I said that people would be looking for the dragons? So that they could use them as weapons or something worse?"

"What does that have anything to do with this?"

"Well…" he mutters. "While I do want the world to know of me and my story… I don't want to say too much. I don't want to show anything that could lead to the dragons' downfall… or even mine. That's why I decided to… change things."

My feelings of displeasure and annoyance fade away as the realization sinks in. Immediately turning back to the papers, I look through some of them, and sure enough…

…they're not like the stories and tales I grew up with as a child. There are some names I recognize, like Snotlout, Fishlegs, Alvin, and even Grandpa… but I also catch sight of unfamiliar ones. Camicazi. Valhallarama in Grandma's place. Clueless. But Mom's name is nowhere to be seen.

And it's not just the people. Dad's also created fictional dragon species, too. Among the Deadly Nadder and the Monstrous Nightmare are the oddest, strangest-looking dragons I've ever seen. The Darkbreather, the Sandrazor, the Eight-Legged Battlegore, the Seadragonus Giganticus Maximus, the Flamehuffer, the Venomous Vorpent… the list goes on.

And if the dragons weren't enough, he's done the same thing to locations. There's the familiar Isle of Berk and the Barbaric Archipelago, but there's also the infamous Roman Empire. Odd… I've heard from books that the Empire fell into ruin long before Vikings ever appeared.

There are also strange places, too. My sight rests on drawings of islands called Murderous Island, Cannibal Isle, the Island of Tomorrow, the Frozen Isle of Nowhere, Hero's End, and… and…

This one is weird. Instead of an island, it's just an arrow pointing out at the ocean. In fact, the words say that the land might not even exist.

"Uh, Dad?" I ask curiously. "What's up with this one? Is… is this one actually real or something?"

My father peers over my shoulder and hums when he notices what I'm asking about. "A funny story, that one," he responds. "I've heard a legend that a man named Erikson set foot on that land. If what I heard is true, it rests all the way across the ocean from a distance farther than any island I've traveled to on dragonback. In fact, I doubt it can even be reached by our people."

He offers a hand, and I place the paper onto it. "When I was just about your age…" he continues, holding it in both hands. "I wanted to map the known world, see what else rested beyond the Archipelago's borders… but now I know there's far more than I ever thought there would be. So perhaps one day, this place, this… America, will be revealed to human eyes."

He sets the paper back down on the desk, and my curious eyes never leave it for a little while. "But as to what I was saying earlier, I can't risk telling them everything. I can't tell them I sent the dragons away and I can't tell them where they are. Which leaves me to do only one thing…"

"Botch the truth." I finish for him. "You want them to see it from a different perspective than the rest of us."

"Exactly," he agrees. "All in all, it's best if they know of me and the dragons, as well as what I've done to ensure their future. And my adventures are too long to just put in a single volume."

"So you're going to make more of these?" I ask him.

"Correct. I've decided that no more than twelve should suffice."

"Twelve?!" I gawk, turning my body around to face him. "Oh my gods, you're gonna have your hands full, Dad!"

"I know, I know!" he says with a chuckle. "You know, sometimes you're more like your mother in some cases than you are of me."

"Right. Sorry," I say, right before something pops into my mind. "Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

I pause, taking a deep breath and looking down at the floor for a moment. "What are you going to call it?"

My father's face lights up at that question, a warm smile growing. "I already have," he replies softly. "Take a look."

I silently nod, turning back to the desk. I search through the drawings and word-filled pages… until something catches my eyes. A red cover that still looks in development. Taking it in one hand, I examine it carefully.

There's a picture of a dragon on it, a Viking helmet on its claw while a snake-like tongue slithers out from its mouth. But what intrigues me the most… are the words above and below the dragon.

How to Train Your Dragon

By Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

"That's… that's a wonderful name."

"Thanks. It means a lot," Dad answers with a smile. "I'm also thinking of having the 'instructions' as the chapter names."

I stand up from the chair and walk over to him. "Dad… this is going to mean a lot to everyone. Not just all the Vikings, but… everyone. I'm glad you decided to do this."

"Well, what other way was there to honor my legacy?" he chuckles. "But still… I'm pleased you like it, Zeph."

I smile at him. "When you're done, it won't be just me that'll like it."

…

Later, I sit alone on my bed with Nuffink sound asleep. Looking out the window at the starry night sky, I think back as to how this all began. The promise I swore I would fulfill. The Pageant and the trip to the Hidden World. Hearing every story and tale about my parents and their dragons. The unexpected arrival of the Shieldbreaker and the quest that followed. My blindness, failure, and recovery. Reuniting with my greatest friends after so long. The decisive final battle and the vanquishing of my enemies, both physical and mental. And taking the final step into leadership.

I've come so far, just like Mom and Dad. I'm so proud to be their daughter, even to this very day. And I won't hesitate to carry the family name into future generations.

Speaking of family, the night sky reminds me of something.

Walking over to my drawer and opening it, I pull out the small plush of Twilight. Sitting back down on my bed, I rest the plush in my lap and sigh.

"Hey, girl," I whisper, careful not to wake my brother. "It's me. I've just been wondering about you and your brothers. I… I appreciate that you came back the day I was made Chieftess. I really do. And I know that life down there can be a little dull, but… it's your home. And you need to protect it, just like I need to protect mine.

Listen, Twilight… I'm gonna be moving on soon. Be in charge of my own life, as well as leading my people. And one day, I might meet some guy, settle down and have a kid of my own. But one thing I'll always keep in mind… is you.

I wish I could know how well your brothers are doing, but I know you're looking after them. They're looking up to you… and I bet that all of the dragons are gonna be doing that, too. And one day, you'll lead them into a brighter future. You'll make them stay hidden and safe. Teach them to be careful if they ever go up here. But know that one day, it'll all be over.

One day, we'll understand each other. One day, we'll live together. My dad's dream will finally be realized. But for now, I need you to keep your promise. That you'll never forget me. And I know you'll keep it close… you might even come and visit me just like I said.

But until a day like that ever comes… I miss you, Twilight. I'll always think about you. And tell your brothers the same thing if you can."

Setting the plush on top of the dresser, I ready myself for sleep…

"She'll never forget you," Nuffink mumbles from his bed. "You know that."

Unexpecting a response from him, I hesitate. "You, uh… you think we might see them again someday?"

"If it happened to Dad and Toothless," he yawns, turning over to face me. "It'll definitely happen to us, Zephyr. Might not be tomorrow, might not be next week… heck, it might not even be next month or next year, but someday. Maybe next time, all of us might have kids of our own…"

"…and it'll be like the trip all over again," I finish with a warm smile. "I like that idea. Maybe it could be some kind of family tradition?"

"Maybe," he agrees. "Hey, and while we're on the subject of the future… when do you think we'll finally get along with them?"

I only roll my eyes humorously. "Not for a long, long, long time, that's for sure. And no matter when that day comes, it wouldn't be a surprise if one of our descendants is gonna be responsible for it."

"Huh. Wouldn't that be something…"

"But it will come, Nuff. Believe me when I say this."

"Hey, since when I have ever doubted my older sister?"

His words bring a chuckle out of my throat. In a calming gesture, I reach out with one hand and stroke his hair. "You never have and you never will. Now, think about getting some rest." Leaning down, I place a gentle kiss on his head. "I love you, Finky."

"Love you too, Zeph." He says with a tired smile. When I move away, he turns back over and snuggles up.

Smirking at my little brother's peaceful form, I lie down in my own bed and tuck myself in. Just before I close my eyes, twinkling from the starlight, I take one last look at the black night sky. I think about them… and my heart warms.

Stay safe, you three.

Then, darkness fills my world as I close my eyes.

…

At that moment, in another world

Twilight's POV

There are only two dragons present in the circular stone arena. My father and myself. Above us, on the clifftops, are various dragons, my family and Father's allies among them. We are assembled here for a special occasion, our most ancient of traditions.

"There are those who wish themselves to be worthy enough to succeed my mate as Alpha," Mother speaks clearly from the audience. "Most of you have watched as the challengers attempted to take his place… and fall. Some of you will say that this one is no different. I will not object to this… because she is unique.

What will unfold shortly is a test, some will say. Dart has spent most of her life training alongside her brothers for the risks of the world above. She has been taught to strike fast and hard, to conceal herself from human eyes. But the young one still has much to discover, for she is still not fully experienced.

She has rarely fought other dragons, with the exception of her brothers. But when our home was threatened, I watched as she valiantly defended herself against crazed dragons. And for that, I could not be prouder of my offspring.

Dart has faced off against her father before as part of her training. But today she realizes that this is no mere practice. She should expect her opponent to not go easy on her. She should expect to recall everything she has learned. And most importantly… she should expect to die."

I can sense my brothers growing nervous at that last part. The Challenge for Alpha has, since its creation thousands of years ago, has always ended in death.

But it doesn't have to be.

After all, Father spared his abused predecessor and allowed him to live. This should not be any different.

"Dart will be tested in everything she knows," Mother continues. "And my mate will confront a dragon like none other: one of his own blood. And so, I wish you both the best of luck. May your fire burn as bright as the sun."

The spectating dragons grow silent. Mother steps back from her addressing stance as Pouncer and Ruffrunner never take their eyes off me. But I pay no attention to them. Instead, my focus is on the black dragon before me.

Our eyes stare into each other. Smoke billows from my nostrils as I exhale and place my feet apart in a readying stance. I focus, remembering all I've learned.

Remember, young one. Cloudjumper's voice says in my mind. A dragon's strength comes from their rage. Incorporate your fury into each of your strikes, and you will hit with a ferocious force. But you must also be cautious. Release all of your anger at once, and you will become exhausted and weak. You will be vulnerable and ripe for defeat… or worse.

The old dragon's flame had ascended some time ago, so his teachings are all that remain. My brothers and I have decided that to honor him, we must not let them go to waste.

Father and I simultaneously slowly start to circle each other like predators waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike. He growls, baring his teeth as my own slide out from my gums. His emeralds stare into my sapphires, pupils narrowed into wild, feral slits.

A true hunter must wait for the right moment to attack. Striking too soon shows impatience and exposure… and too late means little time for reaction. As soon as you see an opening… take it.

A loud bellow erupts from Father's throat, accepting the challenge and symbolizing his dominance. My response is a roar of defiance, that I won't back down from him. Snarling, Father rises on his hind legs and spreads his wings to further establish his authority…

…and my blue eyes widen at the sight of his exposed torso.

I dash forward before anyone can blink, slamming right into him and making us both collide with a rock wall. Pebbles rain down on us as Father roars angrily, grabbing me by the neck and tossing me aside before I can make my next move.

My claws scratch against the rocky surface of the arena as I skid to a stop. My nostrils flare when Father leaps into the air to dive-slam me. Rolling out of the way, I watch as he smacks against the ground. His head whirls in my direction, but by the time he does so I leap onto his back, scratching and biting in a frenzy.

Father throws himself onto the ground back-first, and a jolt of pain ripples through me when I feel the rock smash against my spine. Through my screech of pain, I still manage to hold on tight.

But my grip is eventually broken when he slams against another wall. I collapse to the ground and he presses a claw to my throat, wings spread wide and jaw opened, a purple light glowing within…

Inhaling deeply and feeling the heat building up inside me, I fire a plasma blast right at his mouth. Father yelps in alarm, releasing his hold on me and allowing me to get back on my feet while he coughs wildly.

After hacking out smoke from his mouth, his eyes lock on me, angrily saying that that move wasn't fair. My own eyes tell him that nothing is fair here.

We rush at each other and collide, grappling with claws and thrashing our teeth. Getting an advantage, I slam his head to the ground and prepare to hold him in a submissive position…

…but he whacks his tail against my face, making me stumble backward.

Father strikes a claw against my head and advances, grappling with me again. I throw him aside, swatting at him while he's down before he gets back up. He lunges at me again, but I rake my other claw against the side of his head, knocking loose a few scales.

Charging himself up, he fires another plasma blast at me. But I'm ready this time, raising my wings just in time for the purple projectile to smack into them. Father fires again, but I spread my wings and take flight, speeding into him with a low swoop. Quickly landing behind him while he's trying to recover, I spin around and strike him with my tail.

He charges at me, and I sidestep to avoid him. Just as he gets past me, I grab him by the tail and throw him several meters away. He recovers in seconds, not willing to be defeated so soon. I ready another plasma blast, but instead of dodging this shot, Father retaliates with a plasma blast of his own.

We shoot at the same time, the two projectiles exploding when they collide. The blowback stuns us both, and we slide back. My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, my eyes cast down to the rocky ground… before a purple flash of light flashes from my peripheral vision.

I instinctively drop to the ground just as the plasma bolt flies over me. It smacks against the rock wall behind me, and I rise back to a stand position. My eyes watch Father closely as to what his next move will be…

…but he relaxes. He doesn't do anything. He's letting down his guard. I see this as an opportunity, so I brace myself to lunge forward…

…and a small pebble suddenly bounces off my head.

Snorting in confusion, I turn my head around and look up. But by the time I recognize the danger… it's too late.

Father's plasma blast had missed me. But it also had hit its mark.

Before I can run out of the way, several large rocks and boulders collapse right on top of me, pinning me down. The painful and heavy sensations overwhelm me in an instant.

I can hardly move. I can only peek out of the opening in the rocks. Father slowly moves toward me with the intent of finishing this. He should know I'm not dead… but I also know he wants me to yield. I know he has no intention of killing his own offspring, he's too kind for that.

But I can't yield. I won't yield. I refuse to be defeated here.

I think back to the entire crisis, from my discovery about it to the battle for our home. My brothers and I fighting alongside allies, both human and dragon. Fighting as one with…

Zephyr.

She wouldn't want this from me.

She became a part of me. She loved me. We looked out for each other and I even saved her life. She wouldn't back down easily from a fight. She'd keep going…

…and she'd want me to do the same.

Thoughts of Zephyr and everything she's ever done for me flows through me… and I feel something strange. Something new. Something… powerful. All of a sudden, I feel like… like I'm supercharged with a force I can't comprehend.

Even now Father stops in his tracks, his face a mix of curiosity and surprise. The other spectating dragons watch in awe. Strength flows through my body, invigorating me with a power that feels so good…

BAWOOOOM!

I spread that power outward, blasting all of the rocks and boulders away. I feel strong. I feel amazing. I feel great! I feel like I could do anything I want!

With a screeching roar that echoes across my home, I rush toward Father with incredible speed. I give him no time to react as I plow right into him, launching myself skyward as soon as he crashes into the ground.

I feel like I'm flying faster than I've ever gone before as I speed across the rocky walls. My inner flame now bursting with raw strength and energy, I unleash a single plasma bolt that almost looks electric from my mouth. It explodes against Father's side, and he howls in pain.

Flying around the arena quicker than he can track me, I fire shot after shot at him. Each one blasts against his scales, causing him to growl and roar in agony. He fires at me two more times, with one of them missing me… and the other one hitting me right under my right side…

…but to my surprise, it doesn't even hurt!

Ignoring any reason as to how that might be possible, I let my rage take over. I roar louder than I ever have as lightning flashes and crackles around my body… until I'm completely invisible.

I stealthily land behind Father as he searches for any sign of me. With a snarl to let him know where I am, I savor the look on his face when he whirls around just in time to see me slam into him. Grabbing him by the tail, I throw him behind me and make him smash against the rocky surface of the arena.

And when he tries to stand back up, I draw myself back for one last plasma blast that will leave him completely exhausted. But while I'm charging up, I start to feel something powerful building up in my throat. My body surges with the strength and newfound power as smoke rises from my open jaws…

…and I unleash it.

Instead of a single supercharged bolt, a single beam of pure plasma energy blasts forth from my mouth! Father raises his wings to block it, and he struggles to hold it back once it hits. I concentrate harder, adding more strength to my final attack.

It's enough to overwhelm him. An explosion and a puff of smoke tell me I've broken through his defense. Snarling, I dash inside the smoke cloud and throw Father out onto the center of the arena. Just when he hits the ground, I leap up into the air…

…and slam back down onto him, stomping down onto his neck with one front foot. I have him right where I want him.

My breathing heavy and my anger pulsing through me, I keep him pinned down so he can't fight back. Now that he's down, there's only one thing left for me to do.

"Say it!" I growl, hardly recognizing my own voice in my anger. Father doesn't reply due to his exhaustion… but that only fires me up even more.

"SAY IT!" I screech, pressing down hard on his throat. With a pained moan, Father opens his eyes and looks at me… with a proud smile.

"I… I yield…"

He says it clear enough for the crowd to hear him. Stepping off him, I slowly start to calm myself as he tries to recover. I hear the roar and cheer of the dragons above us. They're cheering for the victor. Their new Alpha.

I let it all sink in. I did it. I won.

I'm the new Alpha.

My rage slowly fades away… yet my newfound surge of power doesn't. I need to know what it is, and soon. But first…

"Father?" I ask him as he stands. "Are… are you alright? I didn't hurt you too badly, did I?"

"I've had worse, Dart," He replies. "When I became Alpha, I was frozen in ice." His jade eyes suddenly light up when he thinks back to that moment. "Which reminds me… how do you feel?"

I'm taken aback by his question. How could he know that? Was it my attitude? How hard I was hitting him? How fast I was?

Shoving all questions aside, I search for my best response. "I… I feel…" I mutter before settling on an answer. "I feel powerful. I feel strong."

"How strong?"

"Um… like I could take on a dragon a hundred times my size and win."

Father only smiles. "I felt the same way."

"The same?" I ask, bewildered. "How could you have possibly-"

"This was a surprising turn of events," Mother's voice interrupts me. Turning around, I see her, Stormfly and my brothers landing in the arena. "Not only has your training paid off… but you have also unlocked your full potential, Dart. Not just that of your father's species… but also of mine."

She and Stormfly look proud of me… and I only smile at them until Pouncer and Ruffrunner get my attention. Instead of pride on their faces, I see… shock. Awe and wonder. Their eyes are wide and Ruffrunner's jaw is open in a silent gasp.

"Whoa…" he breathes as Pouncer steps forward.

"Uh… why are you two looking at me like that?" I ask nervously. "Am… Am I hurt or something? Is there a wound?"

"Dart…" Pouncer whispers to me. "Did you know about this? Did you know you could do that?"

"Do what? What are you two talking ab-" Before I can finish my question, something in the nearby crystals catches my eye. From here… it looks like a blue glow.

I rush towards it and peer inside the crystal… and my eyes widen in amazement when I see my reflection.

My spine… is glowing a bright blue color. Just like Father when he became Alpha.

But that's not all. The glow is also on the ridge between my eyes, the inside of my mouth, and my nose. Small arcs of blue lightning flicker across my body, ranging from the back of my neck to the tip of my tail. I also notice a few arcs near my head and my feet. And oddly, I don't feel them at all. Not even a tingle.

"Wow…" I whisper, gawking at my reflection. No wonder I felt so amazingly powerful. Glancing over my shoulder, the blue glow on my spine meets my sky-blue eyes. For a second, I wonder if my eyes were glowing when I blasted free of those rocks.

"Dart…" Ruffrunner speaks up. "You… look… AWESOME!"

"Yeah!" Pouncer agrees in excitement. "That looks good on you!"

"It… it does?" I question him, still unsure about this. This was not what I was expecting… well, I knew about the whole blue spine thing, but this? This is something else completely!

"There's a reason the humans call a Night Fury the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself, Dart," Father tells me. "When black-scaled Furies like you and me cloak and go invisible, we harness electricity to do so. And whenever I went into my Alpha state, my plasma blasts were supercharged. Put the two of them together…"

"…and this is the result," Mother finishes for him. "Truly outstanding. Perhaps this is yet another example of you being a child of both the Light and the Night Fury."

"And it looks so cool!" Ruffrunner shouts. "I wonder if I can do that?!"

"Well, you'd probably have to beat me first," I answer. "And as to what you just saw here…"

My brother realizes my statement. "Point made." He says. "And Pouncer's right, it does look better on you."

I smile happily. "Thanks."

"You could be nearly unstoppable in this state," Stormfly adds. "That could be a huge advantage for you trying to protect us from humans who wish to harm us… my Alpha."

She bows her head, and Mother follows. Pouncer and Ruffrunner hesitantly follow, for they now need to get used to their older sister being their queen. Above us, the dragons all hang their heads low in respect… and I turn to Father. I flash my spine a bright blue with a proud smile.

Father returns it… before he spreads his wings and bows.

I stand proudly in the arena, my eyes passing over every dragon present. They all watch me… and I know what I must do. I call for every dragon to follow me…

…and I take off into the air. Small traces of lightning flow behind me as I speed away, my brothers doing their best to keep up. To make things easier for them, I slow down so they can use the glow of my spine as a beacon.

All of the dragons fly behind me as I lead them through caverns, fungi formations, and towering stalagmites. I veer around crystals, and they follow my every movement. Not a single one breaks formation.

Finally, my destination reveals itself. The Alpha's Crystal. It was originally my father's… and now it's mine.

No, not mine. Ours. I glance back to my brothers, knowing that I'll always have them by my side. I roar to the flock of dragons, and they all fly off to land near the Crystal.

My parents touch down near the very front while my brothers circle around to land on the top of the Crystal. As they do so, I conjure up my power… and blast forth. Lightning and a blue light trail behind me as I fly around the base of the Crystal, working my way to the top in a spiral.

When I reach the top, I spin and unfurl my wings, letting the speed die down before I dive… and land.

I walk up to where all of the dragons can see us. The three of us all look over the crowd. Pouncer on my right, Ruffrunner on my left… and me with my spine shining its bright blue glow.

My brothers and I share a happy glance, and we all nuzzle each other like the family we are. We've been together our whole lives… and we'll always be together. Even through this.

I spread out my wings slowly, and the dragons all bow before me. Savoring it for a moment, I draw myself back, close my eyes…

RREEEEEAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWRRRGGH!

My roar travels across the caverns, and it's followed by the roar of my brothers, my parents, and all of the dragons before me. And through the tremendous bellowing… I look up. Up into another world. My thoughts travel to only a few people.

I still remember when I watched Zephyr become Chieftess. If only she was here to see this… but who knows? Maybe she is. Maybe she knows that I'm Alpha deep in her heart. And together, we'll both lead our people into a brighter future… and pave the way for when our two species will finally coexist.

But as for now… our focus is on the near future. And Zephyr and I will do the best we can to make sure the dragons are safe. And we'll do it together.

Together… from afar.

…

My name is Zephyr Valka Haddock. Firstborn daughter of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third and Astrid Hofferson. Chieftess of New Berk.

Two years before I was born, my father sent the dragons away for their own safety. It pained him to realize the world wasn't ready for his dream of a human-dragon utopia... at least, not yet. So he trusted me to guard the home of the dragons until the day comes for me to pass it on. All of my life, I looked up to him. I wanted to become like him... and I did.

The road to heroism is long and hard, but I became strong enough to continue my father's legacy. And I, too, share his belief that one day, humans and dragons will coexist. And I will fight, I will do whatever it takes to keep the dragons safe until then.

I don't know when that day will come, or what mankind will think when it does. All I can do here is hope. Hope that my father's... no, my family's dream is brought to life. Someway... somehow... and one way or another, coexistence will come. For the fate of humans and dragons have always intertwined with each other. They always have and they always will.

Until then, my family will protect them and keep the secret safe. We'll do it for centuries, perhaps even a thousand years. Because our world would never be the way it was if it didn't have one thing. Not trees, not water, not even towering mountains and vast valleys. But instead, it would be different if there were no...

...dragons.

...

Many years later

?

In a forest lit by moonlight, a sparrow rested on top of a tree branch. It chittered and tweeted before flying down to the grassy ground below. It hopped along the ground, its beak pecking at anything that looked like a worm's hiding spot. After several moments of searching, it noticed something odd. It flies away in a hurry…

THOOM!

…just as a large claw smacked the earth, just where the little bird once stood. The owner of the claw, a red Monstrous Nightmare, sniffed the air and rumbled lowly. Turning its head towards the edge of the forest, the dragon slowly moved toward it, its scaly hide brushing past bushes and small foliage.

Bushes separated to allow its large head passage. Opening its amber eyes, the dragon took in the sight before it… a human settlement.

But this was no normal settlement. No… it was something else.

Instead of small, wooden huts, there were tall, metallic structures as tall as small mountains. Lights illuminated every inch of them, and red and white lights covered the ground below, indicating moving objects.

Small noises alerted the Nightmare, and it turned to the right to see the newcomers. A lone dark-blue Deadly Nadder emerged from the forest, emitting a surprised squawk upon seeing the landscape before it.

A light green Hideous Zippleback appeared from the left side, a purple Terrible Terror resting on the body. Both dragons looked curiously at the scene… before a high-pitched whistling broke the silence of the night.

At first, the dragons saw nothing when they looked skyward. Nothing… until an unseen figure flew across the dark sky, blocking the light of stars. The Nightmare did not have to clearly see it to know what it was.

The shadowy figure circled over the large human settlement, eventually resting atop one of the tall, metallic structures. It peered down to the ground below with bright purple eyes.

The dragons remaining near the forest understood. This was a new world now. One they were not familiar with… yet.

A lone human craft appeared in the sky. Twin rotors rested on the top, although they appeared to be a circle due to its rapid-fast movement. And near the front… rested a light that passed over the dragons.

Not backing down from the flying craft, the four dragons stood their ground, drew back their mouths…

…and roared out at the human settlement, the sound loud enough to announce their presence.

…

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: WRATH OF THE SHIELDBREAKER

How to Train Your Dragon series property of DreamWorks Animation

All OCs are owned by myself

VOICE CAST (shout-out to CalvinFujii for the idea)

All HTTYD characters retain their respective voice actors.

Zephyr: Hailee Steinfeld

Nuffink: Tom Holland

Adrian: Alden Ehrenreich

Eguala: Angelina Jolie

Feliciana: Zoe Saldana

Avicia: Kristen Bell

Nott: Ashley Eckstein

Voice of Dart/Twilight: Tiya Sircar

Voice of Pouncer/Dawn: Dylan O'Brien

Voice of Ruffrunner/Dusk: Jason Ritter

Keiser the Omnipotent: Kevin Michael Richardson

Vollert: Dave B. Mitchell

Gerry: Seth Green

Voice of Light Fury: Rachel Weisz

Voice of Toothless: Justin Long

Voice of Stormfly: Jennifer Hale

Voice of Cloudjumper: Gary Oldman

Voice of Sharpshot: John Oliver

Spikelout: Skyler Stone

Snuffnut: Nick Wolfhard

Bluffnut: Kat Graham

Ingrid: Mandy Moore

Young Zephyr: Madalyn Gonzalez

Young Nuffink: Liam Ferguson

Voice of Young Dart: Eva Bella

Voice of Young Pouncer: Max Charles

Voice of Young Ruffrunner: JD McCrary

Osvif: Callum O'Neill

Jerek: Johnny Yong Bosch

Toki: Parry Shen

Arni: Omar Benson Miller

Voice of Blazestone: Cressida Cowell

West Wind / Dragon Slayer Zephyr: Hailee Steinfeld

Prologue Viking: Dennis Singletary

Viking Ship Captain: Alfred Molina

Shieldbreaker Soldiers and Personnel: David Sobolov, Justin Theroux, Daniel Craig, Dee Bradley Baker

Mainland Soldiers: M.C. Gainey, Alan Tudyk, Jeremy Sisto

Thief #1: Ron Perlman

Thief #2: Brad Garrett

Berkians: Billy Connolly, Julie Walters, David Tennant, Sally Kinghorn

Erik: Tyree Brown

Berserker: David Tennant

Viking Boy: Steele Gagnon

Viking Girl: Hadley Gannaway

Storyteller: Art Parkinson

Flagship Prisoners: Patrick Doyle, Kelly Macdonald, Jackson Stein

Tavern Woman: Emma Thompson

Tavern Man: Robbie Coltrane

Bartender: John Ratzenberger

Soldier in Flashback: Jonathan Groff

Vincent: Sterling K. Brown

Man in Flashback: Stephen J. Anderson

Woman in Flashback: Evan Rachel Wood

Patrolling Viking: Kevin McKidd

Berk Guard Member: Charlie Rowe

(A/N: Wow, I can't believe it's finally over. For so long, I've daydreamed about how this story was going to play out, even before the third movie was released! However, I'm happy that one of my best fantasies of the series is finally complete. I hope all of you enjoyed this as much as I did.

It might be some time before I make another HTTYD story like this one again, but for now, I might stick to one-shots. And I'll definitely be getting back to my Super Smash Bros story since I haven't done anything with that in months!

Everyone, I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I did. Even though some parts were tiring and caused me to suffer writer's block, I pulled through it all. All in all, I'm very proud of myself for reaching the end.

One final thing before I go: Even though HTTYD has ended, it'll always be with us. We just need to hold it close to our hearts.

Take care, guys.)