Once in a Nightlight

Chapter 16

Toothless returned back to the cave where his friends were awake and sitting up with slimmed eyes, once they had spotted the King they immediately gasped and ran towards him. 

"Oh my god you're okay!! We had no clue where you went!!!" Wildfang exclaimed and breathed a sigh of relief knowing Toothless was alive and okay, before peeking at the sling with the pulsating crystal. "You got it!! Wow, it's so bright and big!"

"I know right? I made sure to get the best one we could possibly have for the pillar seen as it will have to be powered for a long time." Toothless smiled proudly to his friend. "How are you both feeling now? Okay? Achy?"

"We're okay. Achy, exhausted, but we're okay." Thunderhorn chuckled softly before offering a small smile. "Thank you, by the way, both of you. For saving me. I'm sorry I passed out and made everything more difficult for you both.." He murmured shamefully to them before Toothless gave his shoulder a playful nudge.

"Hey! Don't worry about it okay? What matters now is that we're all alive and okay, we just have to get back home and then you two can rest all you like mkay?" Toothless smiled while he tried to reassure the two exhausted males, looking at them both giving  meek nods. "Alrighty then, lets head back huh?"

The three amigos trailed their way through an arch on the other side of the cave, guessing that it must be the exit out of the massive cavern they had struggled in for a full day, clambering up rocky cliffs and peaks that stuck out of the walls. Toothless helped Wildfang and Thunderhorn climb up in front of him and gave them encouraging nudges whenever they slipped or almost fell back down as they neared close to the top of the rock face. Toothless nudged his friends up to the top and clambered after them.

"Crystal safe and sound?" Wildfang asked him with an eyebrow raise and smiled when the King nodded in reply, beginning to pad up a slope and walk along a narrow rocky bridge across a bottomless pit of blackness. "Watch your step, don't want any of us fallin' down there."

The three males crossed the bridge safely to the other side and continued their journey through endless tunnels and narrow paths until they finally made their way out of the entrance of the cave. Toothless snarled when the light his his eyes after being trapped in the darkness for so long, both Wildfang and Thunderhorn struggling to adjust to the light as well but they all breathed a sigh of relief.

"It's so good to breathe fresh air again." Toothless purred happily and took a moment to relax when they were finally out of the cave. Wildfang padded forward and sniffed the moist air. Outside was cloudy with a gentle wind, not too cold yet not too warm either just how they liked it, so they decided that it was time to get moving before the weather drastically changed and they wouldn't be able to make it back. Toothless flew ahead of them towards the Hidden World and dipped his wing in the water with a soft smile down at his reflection, holding the crystal safely against him as they flew back home. Toothless dipped down into the giant entrance of the Hidden World and flew through a tunnel that was dull and dim for the lights were out but the only light source they got was from the crystal Toothless was carrying.

"They've returned!! They're back!!" Countless chants came from their home as dragons roared in relief underneath them and warbled happily to see they made it back safe with a crystal. Luna was below whining for her mate with her ears pinned happily, immediately running over to him when they landed and nuzzling their faces together.

"Oh my love you're safe! I thought something happened to you!" Luna whined and pinned her ears more against her head, nuzzling and arching her back against his chin with a happy purr. Toothless was relieved to be back with his beloved after so long in the dark cave, giving her a rough nuzzle back and licking her cheek.

"It's good to see you too.." Toothless purred to her with a smile before turning his attention to Wildfang and Thunderhorn. "Thank you both, for accompanying me and helping me to the Cave of Wonders, you two make fine friends and guards." Toothless dipped his head to them both with respect as they did the same to him, the two dragons smiling proudly before walking over.

"Would you like us to fix the pillar now, your highness?" Wildfang asked him and walked closer when the King nodded, giving Wildfang the crystal as he took it very gently in his jaws and gestured for his friend to follow. Thunderhorn and himself flew upwards and soared around before diving into a tunnel to the crystal pillars as everyone sat in silence in the dark to see the Hidden World light up once more.

After a few minutes of waiting around patiently the river next to them began to glow slowly and started to run freshly again, the glimmering creeping up the walls and powering all the crystals around them once more to finally bring their home to life another day. Endless cheers echoed around them when their home was powered after living in darkness for the day, Toothless roaring happily and putting a wing around Luna.

"Good to have you home.." Luna purred to him and licked his cheek, nuzzling closer to him and shutting her eyes in content. Toothless smiled softly down to her, purring loudly back.

"It's good to be home.."