Once in a Nightlight

Chapter 18

Toothless awoke the next morning with a loud grunt while he stretched his legs, yawning at the crack of dawn then slid up to his paws.

Everything was still nice and quiet, ever since coming to the Hidden World it was fairly peaceful. Everyone was settled nicely in their new home and soon to be with their new families while spring was arriving.

Next to him Luna was fast asleep still, cozy at his side until he decided to get up and pad to the mouth of their cave to glance around.

Ahead of him he saw a few dragons emerge from their caves for their early breakfast, a few cubs dawdling behind or underneath them. Spring meant more dragonets, which meant the population was soon to grow.

"Hey there." A soft purr came from behind him, Luna was wandering her way to his side and gave him a gentle nudge with her face. "Nice sleep?"

"Pretty good actually. I woke up a few times during the night but apart from that, it was good. What about you?"

"Fairly...I felt quite sick for a few hours, and I didn't want to disturb you, but I fell asleep quite quickly after that." Luna replied back with a swish of her tail and smiled. "...How about we spend the day together, hm? I miss having quality time with you."

"Sure. I have nothing to do today." Toothless nuzzled the top of her head gently and coaxed her forward with his tail while he made his way down the sandy incline to the river, lapping up a few drops of water and patiently waited for her. 

Luna trotted up to him when she finished her drink and brushed her back under his chin gently, and with a giggle she rushed ahead and ran along the sand slopes near the trench. Despite them both being so high and mighty in title, they would forever be like young cubs in love when it was just them.

"Come on, I have a place I wanna show you!" Luna called over her shoulder while she emerged through an entrance that was overhung with thick vines from the wall. Pushing his way through, Toothless kept close behind his mate while she led the way to the secret place.

The deeper they went through the more he could see despite it being dark. The walls were brightly lit with crystals shimmering from every direction, the soft hum of the jewels was very soothing. Colors of blue, purple and pink lit up their scales as they wandered further into the darkness, and surprisingly there was nature growing in this beautiful place.

Below his paws there were flowers blooming all around them, a long stretch of water running in a circle around the edges of the dark cave Luna led them. It was magnificent, especially when a streak of light beamed through and reflected off the crystals along the walls.

"This place is gorgeous." Toothless continued to stare in utter awe at how beautiful it was. Luna from in front of him sat herself down on a patch of grass, the cave now illuminated a little more brightly than it was before when the sunlight began to break through the crystalized roof.

"I love this place a lot. I found it a few days ago with Mills, she sometimes brings them here to study the crystals and learn about all the history of this place." Luna purred her response to him and swished her tail. She looked very eager to say something by the way her tail was rapidly swaying back and forth, and how she was postured up so straight.

"It's beautiful, Luna. I'm sure they all love coming here." Toothless cooed back and watched her closely, noticing that she looked a little more hyperactive than usual though he decided to keep quiet. "You're very fond of the nursery dragonets aren't you?"

"Of course I am. I knew their mothers long before I met you, we use to spend everyday together in the hidden world when we were cubs, and seeing them with their own children now warms my heart." Luna smiled brightly knowing that she was able to become fond with her childhood friends' children, then dropped her gaze to the floor slightly.

"Is everything okay?"

Hesitantly, Luna wandered over a little closer and gently dropped her head on his shoulder, shutting her eyes with her tail curled around him. "I don't know how to tell you.." she whispered softly, almost inaudible but he was able to make out what she was saying.

"Tell me what?" he asked, a little bit surprised, but at the same time he was worried. Was there something wrong? Was she okay? Did anything happen while he was gone?

"Toothless.." Luna murmured gently against his shoulder, taking a deep breath in. Her voice was softer than ever, almost sounding in complete fear.

"You're going to be a father."