A New Perspective

''What do you mean?''

"What do you mean?" Astrid asked in complete and utter confusion.

"My real name is Nightstryker." The once-Fury responded honestly, "Or well, it was. Hiccup did shoot down a Night Fury last night, and I am that Night Fury. Hiccup came this morning while I was still unconscious, he had a dagger ready to end my life. So, I did something that I never wanted to do."

"What do you mean?" Astrid asked again.

"Night Furies developed an ability. One that no human knows about. You're about to be the first." Nightstryker said, "Because I am-er-was the last Night Fury, I had to use that ability. I used the ability, not only to save my life, but the entire species. The ability allows the Night Fury who uses it to switch bodies with whomever they choose. Us Furies consider it a gift."

"'Us Furies?'" Astrid repeated, "I thought you said that you were the last Night Fury."

"I was." The now-human responded simply. "But I said Night Fury, not Fury in general. As far as I know of, there are two Fury species: the Night Fury, and the Light Fury. But back to the topic at hand, if you really want to apologize to Hiccup, follow me."

And Astrid did just that. They ended up walking for about an hour until they reached an absolutely beautiful cove. It was a sinkhole in the forest. It had trees growing in it with a lush lake filled with fish of all kinds with a waterfall pouring in water and keeping it from drying up.

Nightstryker looked around the cove.

"Where is he?" He mumbled.

Just then, a dark dragon bolted up the wall, trying to get out of the cove.

"Hiccup!" Nightstryker called out to the Night Fury.

"'Bout time you showed up." Hiccup mumbled, then he noticed Astrid and started to growl. "What is she doing here?"

"Relax, you overgrown lizard, she has something to say to you." Nightstryker responded, "and before you ask, she knows about what happened."

"Hiccup?" Astrid asked the Night Fury, he turned to her and growled.

"He said to go ahead." Nightstryker said, amused.

"I-I'm sorry." Astrid said, nervous. "I should have helped you. But I just... couldn't. If I did, my parents said that they would do the same as your dad, and Snotlout promised that he would turn his sights on me and make my life a living nightmare."

"But you could stand up for yourself, I couldn't. I used to have a crush on you, Astrid. But you just watched as I went through absolute torture. That hurt me the most." Hiccup said.

Astrid soon shook off her shock that she could understand him.

"And I regretted it every day it happens." She responded, much to Hiccup's shock. "It broke my heart having to watch you go through all that. I have scars of guilt in my heart from not doing anything."

Hiccup shook his head and walked up to Astrid. He then used his wings to bring Astrid into a scaly embrace. When he pulled back, Astrid gasped.

"What?" Hiccup asked

"Hiccup, your tail." Astrid responded.

"All dragons have tails, Astrid" Hiccup said, amusement in his voice.

"She means that you only have one tailfin." Nightstryker responded, his face contorted into one of horror.

Hiccup quickly spun his tail around to look at it,and dropped to the ground once he saw it.

"I did that."

"No, you didn't, Hiccup." Astrid responded.

"Yes, I did, Astrid." Hiccup said, "I pulled the trigger of the Mangler, my bola wrapped around this body, cutting the delicate fin off. It's my fault that I don't have flight. And I didn't get to even experience it."

"I can fix that." Nightstryker said, "I could use your memories to craft you a new tailfin. After all, by the looks of it, you were an absolutely amazing smith."

"He was. He crafted every single one of his inventions. It was just the designs that caused them to fail." Astrid said simply.

"Hey!"

"But did you know that he crafted almost all of the weapons on Berk?" Nightstryker asked.

"I was trying to keep that a secret!" Hiccup shouted.

"Wait, so... what weapons did you make?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup sighed in resignment. "All the weapons that were made while I was Gobber's apprentice."

"THAT MANY?!" Astrid shouted in surprise.

"Yes. But please keep your voice down."

"Why?" Astrid asked.

"Well for one, I don't feel like dying." Hiccup deadpanned, "And two, as a dragon, I have some extremely sensitive hearing" Hiccup paused. "Speaking of which, their looking for you two, well Astrid in particular, but Gobber is looking for you, Night."

"Thanks, Hic, I'll try to visit you daily, but with training, it's going to be difficult." Astrid answered, then took off towards the Village.

"I'll come to see you every day, Hic." Nightstryker said, then chuckled. "We're going to need to change that name."

"Why don't I like that tone?" Hiccup asked while backing away from Nightstryker.

"Don't you trust me?" Night asked, a sly tone in his voice.

"Not with that tone." Hiccup answered, genuinely scared for his dignity.

"Hmm... well, you have retractable teeth, meaning you could be toothless at times... so, Toothless." Night said, a smirk on his face.

"I hate you; you know that?" Hiccup said in a defeated and hurt tone in his voice.

"I am very much aware of this." Night said before walking away, leaving Hiccup, or well, Toothless to his thoughts.