I flap my wings wide, catching an updraft, my scales glistening in the sun as I rise. The wind tugs at me, filling my wings as I soar higher, feeling the freedom of the sky all around. Beside me, Stormfly is gliding with ease, her bright eyes scanning the horizon with her usual fierce joy. Not far behind, Hookfang is trailing along, his face twisted into his usual grumpy expression, though I know he's keeping pace.

"So, what made you think it'd be a good idea to stick around with a daughter on the way?" Stormfly asks, glancing over with a curious tilt to her head.

I let out a laugh, flicking my tail behind me, its blue and purple scales catching the light as I spiral upward. "Well, you weren't exactly on great terms with the humans of Berk at first, were you?" I reply, raising an eyebrow playfully.

Stormfly snorts in response, her wings flaring as she rolls her eyes. "Yeah, but they came around, didn't they?" She gives me a sharp grin, the kind that promises adventure, and a glint of pride flashes in her eyes. Hookfang grumbles from behind, but he doesn't protest. It seems he knows as well as any of us that Berk's residents have their quirks – but they've accepted us as much as we've accepted them.

Together, we soar, the three of us bound by our own strengths and flaws, flying together as one.

I dip my wings, banking steeply to catch the warm currents spiraling down toward the dormant volcano below. The air shifts, carrying a hint of sulfur and ancient ash, and I glide lower, eyes scanning the landscape of craggy black rock and glittering obsidian that surrounds the volcano's base. With a final swoop, I angle myself toward the black sand beach stretching along its edge and land, sending a small cloud of dark sand skittering across the ground as my talons grip the gritty surface.

Once settled, I lift my head, taking a deep breath and letting the heavy, mineral-rich scent of the place fill my senses. There's something almost alive in the air, a faint hint of warmth lingering beneath the surface, even though this volcano hasn't stirred in ages. I sniff around, the dark rocks beneath my claws radiating a low, steady heat, and feel a prickling thrill along my spine as I explore. This beach has its secrets—echoes of past eruptions, faint but palpable energy running just beneath my feet.

The others land beside me, the thud of claws and scraping of scales blending with the quiet hiss of the wind over the volcanic rock. Hookfang touches down with a huff, his eyes narrowed as he takes in the dark beach and jagged cliffs rising around us. He snorts, giving a quick shrug of his massive shoulders, his fiery tail flicking with irritation.

"Why are we back here again?" he grumbles, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. "I never thought I'd see the Queen's Isle again as long as I lived." He swishes his tail sharply, sending a spray of black sand skittering across the ground.

I let out a sigh, dipping my head as I sniff the air, catching the faint scent of old ash and the lingering echoes of the Queen's rule. "I know," I say, my voice soft with understanding. "I'm sorry." I flick my tail, blue and purple scales glinting faintly under the pale light.

Stormfly sidles up beside me, her eyes watchful and curious as always, but even she looks uneasy. The memories of what happened here aren't easy to shake, and I can feel the weight of the past pressing down on us. But there's something I can't ignore—an instinct, a pull, drawing me back to this place, though I can't yet tell if it's warning or invitation.

"You two stay here. I'm going into the nest," I say, flaring my wings as I leap forward, already heading for the gaping hole in the volcano's wall.

"Wait, Azure, don't!" Stormfly calls, her voice tinged with worry, but it's too late. I'm already inside, gliding through the shadowy entrance and into the heart of the ancient lair.

The air grows thick and heavy as I descend, the walls curving around me in a cauldron-like shape. Jagged rocks jut out from every angle, and the deeper I go, the stronger the acrid stench of sulfur fills my nostrils, mixed with something far worse—the unmistakable, sour tang of decay.

I gag at the smell, nearly pulling back, but something in me drives me forward. Shadows twist and flicker along the walls, and the silence is unnerving, a deep, echoing emptiness that seems to swallow every sound. The memories of past battles and the Queen's reign feel alive here, lingering in the stale air as though this place has never forgotten. Every instinct tells me to turn back, but I press on, determined to uncover whatever secrets lie buried in the heart of the volcano.

I stop hovering above the lava pit, feeling the intense heat rising in waves beneath me. Below, the thick, molten river flows sluggishly, its surface bubbling and churning as ancient bones—yellowed and cracked—drift slowly to the top before sinking back down. I know the Red Death met her end outside these walls, defeated in a battle that shook Berk and freed us all, but her twisted legacy lingers. Bones of her prey—dragons she forced to serve her, to carry food to her insatiable maw—still litter the banks of the lava pond, half-buried in ash and rock. Their broken shapes are a haunting reminder of her reign.

I let out a low growl, curling my claws as a bitter thought crosses my mind. Stupid old hag, I think, the words filled with contempt. Good riddance. I glance around the dark cavern, the sharp smell of sulfur filling my nostrils, but instead of fear, I feel a surge of satisfaction. She's gone, and her grip on our kind is broken forever. I tighten my wings around me, feeling the cool thrill of freedom that comes from knowing I'll never again bow to her rule.

Hovering there, I take one last look at the pit—the last remnants of her twisted reign—then turn away, ready to leave the darkness and return to the open skies.

I felt a sudden, sharp tug at the tip of my tail. Whipping around, I came face to face with a massive black dragon. His eyes gleamed with a predatory gleam, and a grin spread across his face, sharp teeth flashing in the dim light.

"Azure, at last we meet," he rumbled, his voice deep and resonant.

I froze, my heart pounding in my chest. There was something unnerving in the way he spoke, as though he knew something I didn't.

"I am Darkstalker," the dragon continued, his voice smooth as silk. "Your true king."