"I will not die today."

—Violet Sorrengail's personal addendum to the Book of Brennan

of algae-lit hot springs. Dragons cavorted in the luminescent air, their joyous cries echoing like a symphony of ancient whispers.

"Toothless... this is..." I breathed, awe-stricken. My voice was but a murmur in the grandeur of the moment.

He nudged me gently, his emerald gaze gleaming. "It's beautiful," he completed my thought, his rumble filled with wonder. "It's definitely beautiful here."

Luna, the resplendent Icewing, descended upon us, her pearlescent scales kissed by the soft hue of the cerulean sea. "Good thing you've found your courage!" she exclaimed. "The king's stone awaits! There, you'll behold our entire kingdom!"

We traversed a vast, subaquatic chamber, the seabed's secrets revealed by the warm embrace of steam. Pools of seawater cascaded in terraced splendor, their depths pierced by veins of fiery magma.

My heart swelled as I whispered, "It's more magnificent than I ever dared to dream."

Toothless' melodic purr resonated with my sentiment.

Guiding us through shadowy abysses, we emerged beneath a low-slung archway, into a realm suffused with the spectral dance of a phosphorescent river. A bioluminescent Sea Shocker serenely navigated the flow, casting an eerie glow upon the walls.

I marveled aloud, "Could this be the heart of all dragonkind?"

Toothless' gaze was wide with curiosity. "Is this the sanctuary of every dragon?"

Luna streaked towards us, her voice a mix of pride and solemnity. "Indeed, this is the Hidden World, the cradle of our kind from Nevarr and beyond. Even the dreaded Wyrens trace their origins to this hallowed ground."

A chill snaked through me. "But the Wyrens... I thought they were born of Venin's foul sorcery."

Her gaze grew steely. "A foul deception it is. They pilfer eggs from here, hatching them to claim as their own. The bond is forged at first sight, so they ensnare them young. When mature, they bend the poor creatures to their will with enchantments of shadow and flame, enslaving them to serve none but themselves."

With a grace that could only be envied by the swiftest of winds, she streaks towards a chamber, the likes of which the mortal eye rarely beholds—a cavernous expanse, suffused with the fiery embrace of deep magma's glow, channeled through monolithic crystal pillars. Here, coral behemoths levitate in an aquatic ballet, sculpted by the very essence of the earth's heartbeat. A congregation of dragonkind, a vibrant tapestry of scales and wings, awaits within this saline sanctum.

Amidst the frolicsome maelstrom of our kin, Luna ascends, her every movement a poetic verse etched in the air. Toothless and I, in tow, mimic the frenzied yet harmonious dance of the skies. Our descent upon the zenith of the crystalline peak is met with the thunderous applause of a thousand wings. Even the mighty former steed of Drago, the Bewilderbeast, bows its mighty visage in a silent tribute to the alpha's reign.

Toothless, ever the showman, unfurls his wings with a flourish, unleashing a roar that shakes the very foundations of the chamber. The cacophony of dragon greetings abates, leaving a hush so profound it seems the very air holds its breath. With a grin that could outshine the gleaming fangs of a dragon's smile, I dismount, my feet alighting upon the crystalline zenith. The great beasts part, revealing a sea of gazes, curious and perhaps a touch wary.

"Human?" The cry echoes through the chamber, a rumble of disbelief. "In the sacred confines of the Hidden World?"

Luna, ever the steadfast advocate, flares her wings and commands the attention of the assembly. "Noble Council, behold not a trespasser, but a bonded spirit. This is the rider of the lost Dusk, a union forged during the ancient rite of the Threshing. Their bond is one to be revered, not reviled!"

The dragons, a tableau of mythic splendor, behold the truth in her words, and the chamber echoes with the respectful silence reserved for the most esteemed of tales.

With a confident stride, I ascend the gleaming crystal dais, the fiery gazes of the assembly piercing my very soul. Yet, I smile. "Fear not, esteemed kin," I proclaim, "for my intentions are not to claim dominion over your bejeweled realm. I am but a guardian seeking the sanctity of Luna." The colossal Bewilderbeast emits a plume of fury-laden smoke. "You jest!" it thunders. "Luna is safeguarded within the embrace of the Furies, those who champion the virtue of our lineage. Why should she be spared the destiny that is our birthright?"

Toothless, my fierce and loyal companion, surges forth, casting a formidable shadow that dwarfs my own. His eyes blaze with the intensity of a thousand suns. "You dare to address Y/N, the master of the skies, with such contempt?" he snarls. "I selected her, not by mere happenstance, but for the profound connection that unites our spirits. She is the beacon that guides us all to a brighter tomorrow, not to be sacrificed to the whims of your antiquated traditions."

The colossal Bewilderbeast reared back, flaunting its majestic aquatic wings—designed for gliding through the depths of the sea, not soaring through the skies. "You had me questioning your loyalty when Drogo handpicked you over me, and now, Toothless, you've got me questioning it even more," it roared with a thunderous echo that reverberated through the cavern of dragons. It then spun on its heel, its mighty tail leaving a wake of dust as it stormed away from the assembly of its draconic brethren.

Luna, the ethereal dragon whisperer, let out a sigh that carried the weight of a thousand moons. "Do pardon Cumulus," she spoke softly, her eyes filled with a blend of pity and understanding. "He's been acting out of sorts ever since the tragic day his sibling met its end by his own tusks." With a gentle nudge from her spectral snout, she steered us back from the precipice, the edge that separated us from the vast world below. "Rest up, you two," she instructed, her voice a gentle coo. "And tomorrow, I suggest you steer clear of my realm. It's not a place for the uninitiated."

With a silent, knowing nod exchanged between the mighty beast and his devoted rider, we became one in the embrace of the skies. Toothless, the majestic dragon, allowed me to grace his scaly back, and together we ascended into the velvet expanse above, our eyes peeled for a cozy nook to slumber in peace.