The Lost King’s Legacy

The group lingered in the grand hall, the faint glow of the tapestries casting a strange light over their thoughts. The haunting imagery of the woven scenes lingered in their minds, leaving an unspoken tension hanging heavy in the cold air.

Ruffnut broke the silence, her voice laced with curiosity and mischief. "Okay, so... are we just gonna stand around here and stare at scary blankets, or are we going to see the rest of this giant ice castle?"

Tuffnut nodded enthusiastically, gesturing grandly toward the nearby corridor. "Yeah! I mean, look at this place! Frozen walls, creepy glowy stuff, ancient mystery vibes. It's like… our dream home!"

Astrid sighed, giving them a side-eye. "Dream home? You wouldn't last five minutes before declaring yourselves ice king and queen."

"And it would be a glorious five minutes," Ruffnut said, smirking, twirling dramatically as if imagining a crown on her head.

Tuffnut leaned closer to her and whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear, "You'd be the queen of freezing your butt off, that's for sure."

Ruffnut shoved him lightly, but her grin remained wide. "I'd still look amazing while doing it."

Hiccup exchanged a glance with Lyra, who gave a small shrug. "They're not wrong," she admitted with a faint smile. "There's much more to the palace than just this hall. If we're careful, there are places worth seeing."

"Careful is my middle name," Tuffnut declared confidently, throwing his arm around Ruffnut's shoulders. "And if there's something cool—and by cool, I mean literally frozen—we're definitely finding it."

"It's not," Astrid muttered under her breath as she led the way down the frost-laden corridor.

The group moved cautiously through the palace corridors, their footsteps echoing faintly. Frost-covered windows framed glimpses of the frozen kingdom beyond, where spires and towers loomed like silent sentinels over the icy landscape. Each turn seemed to reveal another piece of Aether's majesty—ornate pillars, intricate carvings of dragons, and mosaics of shimmering ice embedded with faintly glowing runes.

Eventually, they stepped into an open courtyard surrounded by high, crystalline walls. A stillness lingered here, undisturbed by the winds that occasionally howled through the halls. The remnants of a once-lush garden lay encased in frost—gnarled trees stood like ghostly sculptures, their branches heavy with icicles. Beds of flowers were frozen mid-bloom, their vibrant colors muted beneath a sheen of ice. In the center of the courtyard stood a fountain, its cascading water locked in an eternal, frozen flow.

"This was the palace garden," Lyra said softly, stepping into the space with a reverence that made the others follow more quietly. Her voice held a warmth tinged with sorrow. "A place of peace and respite. It's where… Nyx and I first met."

Her gaze lingered on the frozen fountain, and for a moment, her expression softened into something wistful. The group exchanged glances, sensing the weight of her memory but not daring to ask for more.

"Looks nice," Ruffnut said after a beat, brushing frost off a frozen bench and plopping down dramatically. "I mean, you know, if you like the whole icy aesthetic."

"Well, it is frozen," Fishlegs pointed out, crouching to examine one of the flowerbeds. "But the layout is remarkable. You can see how the paths and beds were designed to guide visitors through the space. Even now, there's a natural flow to it."

"Yeah, yeah," Snotlout said, waving a hand dismissively. "Let's move on to the cooler stuff now. Like, maybe the treasure vault or something?"

Astrid gave him a sharp look but didn't respond. She trailed her fingers across a frozen branch, noting the delicate ice formations clinging to the bark. Despite her usual practicality, even she couldn't deny the haunting beauty of the garden.

Lyra lingered for a moment longer, her hand brushing the edge of the frozen fountain. The ice was cold beneath her fingers, but it felt familiar, almost comforting. With a quiet sigh, she turned back to the group. "There's more to see. Come on."

The group ventured deeper into the palace, the corridors narrowing as the architecture grew more intricate. Each step brought them closer to the heart of Aether's history, and the walls around them reflected that story. Massive tapestries, framed portraits, and carved reliefs adorned the passageway, each one depicting a figure of significance from the royal lineage of Aether.

The air grew heavier with an unspoken reverence as Lyra paused, her gaze catching on a particularly large tapestry. The colors, though faded with time, still retained an ethereal glow, the fabric glinting faintly in the cold light.

"That's King Aldrin," Lyra said softly, her voice carrying a weight of memory. She gestured to the stately figure woven into the tapestry. The man stood tall, his silver hair framing a face marked with both kindness and resolve. He wore a flowing cloak of deep blue, the edges embroidered with golden runes, and his hand rested lightly on the neck of a small dragon with shimmering green scales.

"Nyx's grandfather," she explained, a faint smile touching her lips. "He wasn't bonded to a dragon of immense power, but he didn't need to be. His dragon, Lirael, wasn't built for battle, but she was clever and deeply intuitive. Together, they negotiated peace with several neighboring kingdoms and expanded Aether's influence not through war, but through alliances. Aldrin was a diplomat at heart."

Hiccup stepped closer to study the tapestry, his eyes drawn to the quiet strength in Aldrin's expression. "He seems… calm," Hiccup said thoughtfully. "Like he didn't need to prove anything."

"That's because he didn't," Lyra said. "Aldrin believed that a ruler's strength came not from their ability to dominate, but from their ability to unite. He didn't wield power for its own sake—he used it to bring people together."

Astrid, standing beside Hiccup, tilted her head. "So, not every Aetherion was like Nyx? With a dragon as powerful as Chaos?"

Lyra shook her head gently. "No. Some bonds were more humble, but just as meaningful. The Aetherions didn't just ride their dragons—they empowered them. Even the simplest of dragons became extraordinary through their bonds."

Lyra smiled at their enthusiasm, though her gaze drifted down the corridor. "Come," she said softly, moving further along the path. "There's more to see."

They stopped before another tapestry, this one larger and more elaborate than the last. It depicted a figure with long, raven-black hair and piercing golden eyes, seated astride a magnificent Flame Fury. The dragon's molten-red scales seemed to shimmer with the illusion of heat, and its fiery aura illuminated the battlefield below.

"Queen Elenara," Lyra said, her voice tinged with admiration. "Nyx's great-great-great-grandmother. She was a warrior queen, bonded to Solvane, one of the most powerful Flame Furies in Aether's history. Together, they led the kingdom's armies during the War"

Astrid studied the queen's fierce gaze, her admiration evident. "She looks like someone you wouldn't want to cross."

"You wouldn't," Lyra said with a faint smile. "Elenara was as formidable as they come. She personally led her soldiers into battle, wielding a blade forged from Solvane's molten breath. They were inseparable, and their bond became legendary. It's said that her presence on the battlefield alone was enough to rally her troops and demoralize her enemies."

"Warrior queen," Ruffnut said, grinning. "I like her already. Think she'd adopt me?"

Tuffnut elbowed her. "Only if you can ride a flaming dragon without setting yourself on fire."

"That's easy," Ruffnut said confidently, though her smirk betrayed her uncertainty.

Further along the corridor, they came to another tapestry, this one depicting a man with weathered features and an air of quiet wisdom. His dragon, a towering Earth Fury, stood behind him like a mountain, its rocky hide blending seamlessly with the landscape.

"King Caelus," Lyra said, her tone shifting to one of deep respect. "He was a builder and a protector. His dragon, Oryxis, was an Earth Fury—a literal force of nature. Together, they reshaped the land, creating fortifications, canals, and entire cities that could withstand both war and the elements."

Hiccup traced a hand over the intricate details of the tapestry. "So, he wasn't a warrior or a diplomat—he was a creator."

Lyra nodded. "Exactly. Caelus believed that the true strength of a kingdom lay in its foundations. He once said, 'A kingdom is not measured by its rulers, but by the legacy it leaves behind.' Much of what you see in Aether today—the grand structures, the fortifications—they're his work."

Fishlegs beamed, scribbling furiously. "This just keeps getting better. Architects bonded with dragons—it's incredible! I wonder if Oryxis's seismic abilities helped with construction…"

"Probably," Lyra said, smiling at his enthusiasm. "Oryxis could shift the very earth beneath his feet. Together, they moved mountains—literally."

As they continued, they came upon a smaller, simpler tapestry. The figure depicted was a young woman with soft, light-brown hair, her expression kind and serene. Her dragon was a Water Fury, its translucent scales glimmering like liquid crystal.

"Queen Serelise," Lyra said, her voice softer than before. "She wasn't a warrior or a builder. She was a healer, bonded to Thalena, a Water Fury with the ability to purify and heal. During the Great Plague of Aether, she traveled the kingdom with Thalena, healing the sick and restoring hope to her people."

Astrid's expression softened as she regarded the tapestry. "A healer queen. She must have saved countless lives."

"She did," Lyra said. "And she inspired countless more even myself. Her kindness was legendary. Even now, there are stories about her in the villages—how she could heal not just wounds, but hearts as well."

"Wow," Ruffnut said, her tone uncharacteristically subdued. "She sounds… nice. Too nice. Like, suspiciously nice."

"Not everyone's scheming, Ruffnut," Tuffnut said, though he looked equally suspicious.

As the group reached the end of the corridor, the light grew dimmer, the frost-covered walls reflecting faintly from the glowing runes of the tapestries they had passed. Just as they thought they'd seen the last of Aether's royal lineage, Lyra stopped abruptly in front of a massive portrait.

The group froze, their gazes fixed on the final tapestry. Larger and more elaborate than any they had seen, it depicted a young man standing tall at its center. His midnight-black hair, faintly streaked with gold, framed a calm but intense expression, and his golden eyes seemed to burn with an otherworldly light.

Surrounding him were vibrant symbols—soft green, blazing red, earthy brown, and crystalline blue—interwoven in a harmonious mosaic that radiated power and purpose. At his side, Chaos loomed protectively, its sleek, glowing form blending seamlessly with the elemental energy around it.

Above his head floated a shimmering crown, not solid but made of shifting elemental forces—fire, water, earth, air, light, and lightning—capturing the essence of his bond with Chaos and his command of the elements. Even his armor seemed to carry the weight of his legacy, edged with faintly glowing runes that hinted at his connection to the rulers who came before.

The group stood in stunned silence, their breath visible in the cold air as they took in the sheer magnitude of the image.

"Whoa," Snotlout muttered, breaking the silence. He pointed to the crown above Nyx's head. "Is that… is that supposed to mean what I think it means?"

"It's like he's…" Fishlegs trailed off, his voice hushed. "He's everything. Every legacy. Every ruler. All of it, combined into one person."

Astrid's gaze lingered on the tapestry, her sharp blue eyes narrowing as she tried to decipher its meaning. "It's not just a tapestry," she said quietly. "It's a declaration. He's not just a ruler—he's all of them. Their strength, their wisdom, their power… it's all in him."

Hiccup stepped closer, his eyes fixed on Nyx's golden gaze. The sheer intensity of the image made it feel as though Nyx were looking directly at him, silently challenging anyone who questioned his place. "He's… their culmination," Hiccup murmured. "Everything Aether was, everything it stood for—it all comes together in him."

Ruffnut whistled low, her eyes wide. "So, basically, this guy isn't just royalty. He's, like, ultimate royalty."

"Yeah," Tuffnut added, nodding sagely. "The king of kings. The dragon of dragons. The big cheese of… well, everything."

Lyra stepped forward, her expression unreadable as she regarded the tapestry. Her fingers lightly brushed the edge of the fabric, her gaze flickering across the intricate details. "This was made after his coronation," she said softly. "To remind everyone what he represents. The legacy of Aether, the strength of its people, and the bond between dragon and rider."

Astrid turned to Lyra, her voice careful. "Did Nyx… know about this? About what it says about him?"

Lyra's lips quirked into a faint smile, tinged with something between pride and sadness. "He hated it," she admitted. "He didn't see himself as the sum of his ancestors. He always said he was just… Nyx. Not a symbol, not a legacy. Just a rider doing his best."

Snotlout snorted, crossing his arms. "Yeah, right. Like you can be 'just a rider' when you've got that dragon following you around."

Chaos, depicted in its full majesty beside Nyx in the tapestry, seemed to amplify the grandeur of the image. The golden patterns on its body pulsed faintly in the depiction, as if alive, radiating power that couldn't be contained even in a still image.

Fishlegs, scribbling furiously in his notebook, finally looked up. "This is… this is something else," he breathed. "It's like the entire history of Aether is written right here, in one person."

The group fell silent again, their gazes returning to the tapestry. The air seemed heavier, the weight of Aether's legacy pressing down on them as they absorbed the sheer magnitude of what Nyx represented.

Finally, Astrid broke the silence. "No pressure or anything," she said dryly, though her tone betrayed a hint of awe.

"Yeah," Ruffnut added, nudging Tuffnut. "I mean, it's not like we just stumbled into the story of the most epic dragon rider in history or anything."

"Epic doesn't even cover it," Tuffnut said, his voice hushed.

Lyra turned away from the tapestry, her expression carefully neutral. "We should keep moving," she said quietly.

Hiccup hesitated, his eyes lingering on the image of Nyx. There was something about the way he stood, the way Chaos curled protectively around him, that felt… unshakable. Like no matter what challenges lay ahead, Nyx would face them, not because he wanted to, but because he had to.

"Yeah," Hiccup said finally, stepping back. "Let's go."

The group moved on, their footsteps echoing faintly in the frost-laden halls, but the image of Nyx and Chaos stayed with them.

As the corridor opened into a wider hall, the air grew heavier with cold, and frost thickened on every surface, spreading intricate, crystalline patterns that seemed to pulse faintly in the dim light. The hanging crystalline lamps cast soft, shifting rainbows on the walls, their delicate hues breaking the stillness with an almost surreal beauty. The faint sound of the group's footsteps on the frost-laden floor echoed in the silence, sharp and deliberate.

At the end of the hall stood a grand door, towering and imposing. Its surface was adorned with intricate runic carvings that spiraled and intersected like a language lost to time. The runes pulsed faintly, their light barely visible beneath the thick layer of frost, yet they emanated an energy that seemed to hum beneath the surface, alive and watching.

Lyra's steps faltered, and she slowed as her gaze fixed on the door. The faint rise and fall of her breath clouded the air before her as she stopped entirely. "That's Nyx's room," she said softly, her voice carrying a weight that settled over the group like the chill in the air. Even her words seemed to reverberate, hanging in the stillness longer than they should have.

The Riders exchanged uneasy glances, their dragons shifting in the background as the stillness of the hall pressed in. Toothless let out a low, curious rumble, his gaze flicking toward the door. Hiccup took a hesitant step forward, his curiosity tempered by the gravity in Lyra's tone. The faint crunch of his boots against the frost seemed unnaturally loud.

Before anyone could speak, the statues flanking the door—frozen mechanical soldiers carved from what seemed to be a blend of crystal and steel—shuddered to life.

A deep, resonant sound filled the hall, like ice fracturing under pressure. The crystalline constructs moved with unnerving precision, their joints emitting faint clicks as they turned their heads sharply toward the group. Their glowing eyes ignited, a cold, steady light that pierced the shadows.

The sudden motion broke the stillness like a crack of thunder, sending a jolt through the Riders. Lexy let out a soft growl, her crystalline wings flaring slightly in response. Toothless crouched low, his pupils narrowing as he prepared to react, while Stormfly shifted uneasily, her spines rattling faintly.

The mechanical soldiers stood tall, their forms imposing even in stillness. Frost clung to their limbs, falling away in small shards as they adjusted their stance.