A Fading Star Will Rise Again (A How To Train Your Dragon Fanfic)

4- Eddy & Night

Esteria

Esteria walked through the corridors with Birdie talking nonstop at her side. Esteria wasn't listening, though, as she was still confused from the previous night's events.

"-and so that's why! What do you think Este?" Birdie said in her high-pitched voice, turning her green eyes towards Esteria and waiting for an answer.

"Wh- huh? Oh! Uh, yeah, that's really cool Bird!" Esteria stuttered.

Birdie smiled happily and flapped her wings to hover in the air. "I wanna go see Nightie, bye Este!"

"Bye Bird." Este watched Birdie flutter away to the Shadows. She sighed in relief, glad for a moment to think. She sat down against a rocky wall.

What was Eddy doing yesterday? Her thought was almost immediately interrupted as Eddy the Tide Glider walked over to Esteria. Speak of the devil...

"There she is," He said, a smile spreading across his snout.

"Hey Eddy," Esteria said, a little nervous.

"I just wanted to drop by and see how things were going," The teal dragon said, walking close enough that Esteria could feel his breath. "It looks like you're up and running, though, that's great!"

Esteria smiled. "Yeah, I feel a lot better."

"Well, I brought you more flowers to add to your collection," Eddy pushed a couple of purple irises towards Esteria, flashing a pearly grin.

Esteria felt a little confused, but took the beautiful bouquet and sniffed it. "Thank you, Eddy."

Eddy bowed his head. "I have to leave now, but I'll be back, Princess," The Tide Glider stepped away gracefully, disappearing into the shadows.

Esteria took another sniff of the flowers, unable to shake the wary feeling in her chest as she walked the other way.

Nightfall

Nightfall stood and stretched his large wings when he heard Birdie fluttering towards him. "Morning Bird! You feeling OK?" He asked.

Birdie seemed giddy with excitement, and she ignored his question. "Nightie, you've got competition!" She chirped. "Your girl has someone else that's got his sights on her. And guess how I found out?" She continued before Nightfall could say anything. "I pretended to sleep while Esteria had a romantic conversation with Eddy the Tide Glider."

Nightfall's heart was thudding loud in his chest as his sister spoke. Esteria had been his best friend since they were little hatchlings, he'd always thought they'd end up together. Never had he imagined it would be so difficult.

But he should have guessed. Esteria was a Queen and a stunningly gorgeous one at that. He was just a nobody, that by mere luck had met the Princess as a hatchling.

Before he could reasonably tell himself that it was fine for Esteria to see other guys, he bounded off to find her.

When he finally caught a glimpse of Esteria, he found her sitting next to a Tide Glider, his wing wrapped around her. He had given her a small bouquet of yellow flowers, and Esteria looked happy.

Nightfall panicked he wanted to run at Eddy, to smash him to pieces and sweep Esteria off her feet. But she was so happy. For now, Eddy. But I'll be back. He hissed to himself as he silently slipped away to give Esteria and Eddy their privacy.

"Nightfall," a gruff voice said, appearing from the shadows. Eddy's deep blue eyes gleamed with a warning, all kindness from them gone.

Nightfall turned to him. "What?" He hissed harshly, lips drawn over his teeth.

Eddy scowled. "I'll be succinct with you, you seem like a nice dragon, Nightfall. And I'd hate to see anything bad happen to you, that's why I'm warning you that Esteria's mine. If I see you so much as look at her... well, I hope you're smart enough to understand what I mean," he growled dangerously.

Nightfall stiffened. "I'll have you know that Esteria belongs to no one. Let alone some dirtbag Tide Glider who only seeks attention." He spat.

"Keep thinking that. She'll never pay attention to you," Eddy curled his lip, looking over Nightfall. "I'm surprised she's even your friend. I'd imagine an Alpha to have a better choice of friends, but she is only fifteen so I suppose all her hasty life choices aren't finished yet."

Nightfall narrowed his eyes. He felt the urge to kill Eddy right then and there, but Esteria would never forgive him.

"Like that one where she decided to talk to you?" Nightfall taunted, burning Eddy with words rather than fire.

Eddy snorted, turning away. "Just thought I'd warn you." he then stalked off leaving Nightfall alone.

Nightfall glared daggers at Eddy. I'd better warn Este... He thought.

As if reading his mind, Eddy called out one last thing before he slipped away. "She won't believe you."

That son of a sandworm, what does he know about Este? She will believe me, she trusts me. Nightfall thought bitterly before he faded into the shadows and left.