There is something important I want you to read at the very end of this chapter. Just some thoughts I'd like to share, so please, don't skip it!

I was once asked about whether or not I believed in the gods, and I found that question to be a difficult one to answer.

You see, when I was younger, I was taught about the gods of my people, of Thor, of Loki, and of Odin. These, I was told, were the true gods, the gods to whom I should pray, to whom I must pray, for the health of my eternal soul. The only gods.

But my unique upbringing has given me a different perspective.

Among my time at the Sanctuary, and my travels after words, I came across many strange and amazing views of religion. Some differed from others only slightly, while some differed in ways so vast they seemed almost to be opposites. Some of them demanded sacrifices of life, land, or wealth to appease their gods, while others demanded that their followers hoard their wealth, becoming rich and powerful so that they might influence the world and make it a better place.

All of them have one thing in common, however. Each and every religion believes in some higher power, and in that single, all powerful edict, I find myself in complete agreement.

I believe there is a correct religion. I just have no idea which one it is.

For surely we had to be created by something, or someone, that existed before us. Everything we know has a beginning, so what could have existed before the beginning of our world? Only a god, or gods, who have no beginning and no end, who exist outside of time all together.

That begin said, it still doesn't answer the question. Who's religion is the correct one?

I am not a preacher come to convert people to a new faith, but I believe that many religions are, at least partially, incorrect in the teachings. It is the height of human arrogance to assume that we know the designs and desires of beings who exist outside of existence itself, unless they spoke to or were inspired by such beings. Humans are fallible, and humans created religion, so therefore, religion must be fallible. The gods, or god, who created us made humans who were imperfect, perhaps in the assumption that we would have a thousand different interpretations of what they were.

There comes to true beauty of differing faiths.

For the religions I have seen around the world, most often, push people towards kindness, towards generosity, towards love. Rarely is there a religion based on hatred and violence that lasts more than a few years, if it even picks up a following. Others, those that speak of generous, loving gods, have withstood the test time, are as old faith itself. They were here long before I was born, and they will be here long after I am gone.

These long lasting religions, I believe, each hold a piece, or incarnation of the truth, for surely we humans were made to live in community and love with one another. It is in working together that we find our greatest accomplishments. Fighting one another and harboring hatred brings only misery and destruction where there are no winners.

So to you, dear reader, whatever your faith, I offer only one piece of advice. Follow your heart, more than any doctrine. Let the teachings of your faith guide you conscience, but never let it blind you from doing what you believe is right. You may-no you will- make wrong choices throughout the course life, but you must learn to forgive yourself and grow from those experiences. The higher powers in our world, whatever they may be, have given humans a conscience for a reason, and that is to learn the difference between right and wrong. When we have learned, we will grow, and become stronger, spiritually speaking, than ever before.

When we accept that, we will find true happiness.

May your god, or gods, be with you…

-Astrid Hofferson, Dragon Rider.

Several weeks after the battle of the Dragon Sanctuary.

All was quiet on the island that had once been the dragon sanctuary. With the nest itself decimated, nothing lived there anymore. What had once been a lush, fertile place was now nothing more than a large graveyard.

Nothing lived there anymore… save one person.

He was a beaten man, broken, weak, without hope. Only weeks ago he had been at the head of the greatest army the world had ever seen. Now he was fighting to find enough food and fresh water to survive.

This man was Erik, and he was more furious than ever.

The potions given to him by dragon that had enhanced his strength should have killed him weeks, ago. Indeed, a weaker man might have died, but Erik refused to let his body expire. The poison had left him weak in body, so terribly weak, but he had stubbornly refused to die. For his task was not yet finished.

Astrid was still free and alive. And Erik no longer had the strength to fight her directly. He might never recover his full strength again.

But one day, he would have his revenge. Even if it took him years, he would have it. Even if it took a dozen failures, he would hurt her the way she had hurt him.

No matter the cost…

Thrax, son of Korgan the Bonecrusher, new chief of the Fire Stone Tribe, shifted in his seat, alert and suddenly attentive.

It was dark in the great hall of his tribe that night, for barely a sliver of the moon shone, and the torches had been put out earlier that evening. One by one, the rest of the tribe had filtered out, back to their homes, but Thrax had stayed. He liked to alone with his thoughts.

When he saw some flicker of movement in the shadows of the corner, he figured that might not have been such a bright idea.

Thrax reached for his mace at his side, but didn't grasp it quit yet. He had dealt with more than one assassin who had gotten past his guards before, and he could tell there was something different about this one.

His suspicions were confirmed when the intruder brought out a small, lit touch.

Form that light, Thrax could tell little of his unexpected visitor. They wore a long, scarlet cape and dark hood that concealed their identity, to the point where he couldn't tell if they were male or female. The hand that held the touch was held high, while the other hand was concealed form view.

"You are either a very poor assassin, or not an assassin at all."

"The latter. I have no desire for violence" the stranger replied. The voice was quiet, gentle, and undeniably feminine.

"I have come to return something" she continued "Though, I expected a different chief to be sitting there when I came last. Tell me, how fares your father?"

Thrax was taken aback for a moment. If this stranger had met with his father before, he had made no mention of it to his own son. The sincerity in this strangers voice, though, was strong. Why would Thrax's father keep a secret from him?

"My father gave control of the tribe to me" Thrax replied. "And I don't appreciate some stranger whom I have never met coming in here to chat about him like he's an old friend. Mind telling me who you are?"

"Who I am is not important. My purpose, though was to give you this."

Thrax was about to retort again, but his breath was stolen away as the stranger drew out a sword from under her cloak. It was a sword he knew, one he knew well.

And what a sword it was! Fully five feet in length from pommel t tip, and every inch of it was made of a pure black metal, which had hardly bore and scratch or sign of wear after years of use. The crosspiece was as long as the strangers forearm, and the blade was nearly as wide as her entire hand.

"This sword belonged to a warrior I knew. He died honorably, and so I believed that his family would wish to have it."

She handed the sword reverently to Thrax, who took it with trembling finger. He checked it over one more time, just to confirm what he already believed.

Yes, this was indeed his brother's sword.

"Thank you, stranger. But ho-"

Thrax looked up, but the torchlight, and the girl, were both gone.

"Guards!" he yelled, even as he burst out the doors of the great hall. The two men posted there looked at him in confusion.

"Guards, where is that girl? Did you not see her come out?"

"Sir?" One of the men said, confused "There was no one, and this is the only entrance. No one was in there except for you."

Thrax sighed in frustration.

"Sir" The guard asked again, concern in his voice "are you alright?"

Thrax took a deep breath. The sword in his hand was real enough, and that meant someone had indeed been there. But there were also no other exits out of the great hall that he knew of. No matter how stealthy someone was, there was no way-

"What? Did you see that!?" Thrax suddenly exclaimed, pointing up to the sky.

Both the guards looked a little worried at this.

"Sir, there is nothing there. Are you sure you're alright?"

Thrax rubbed his head. Maybe he was seeing things after all. For just an instant, across the face of the tiny sliver of moon, Thrax could have sworn he saw a flying shape.

The shape of a dragon.

He looked down at the sword in his hands. And wondered.

Song of the Mortal Valkyrie:

When times of war were times of the now

When sword and axe replaces the plow

A girl was born to parents kindly

The Child, the mortal Valkyrie

Stolen from home, this child was taken

A chance for her true self to awaken

For in her new home, she was so blessed

With a chance to start her lifelong quest

Long she trained, and fought, learned

Her friends she helped, and foes she burned

But in her heart she craved something more

A hunger unquenched within her core.

When once again, she saw her past

A mirror, a mystery, a secret vast

When she found the truth of heart

It pierced her like a wicked dart

For she knew then that she was wrong

For she lived where she did not belong

Old friends she found, old friends she fought

New lessons she learned, old ones she taught

When dust had settled and all was still

The girl then stopped, unable to kill

And thus the Valkyrie went to her rest

For she had passed her final test

But when mortals find their gods hath forsaken

Then once again shall this dark side awaken

Such is the story of the girl so divinely

The tale of the mortal Valkyrie

Here is the true end to this story, and there is a few things I would like to say before I am ready to let it go. I don't know how to say it any way other than plainly, so plainly is how I am going to say it.

When I began this story, way back in the month of January, I didn't know it would receive this much response. To some people, the amount of response I have gotten might not be considered much, but it means the whole world to me. Every time I saw that I had gotten a review, a follow, or a favorite on my story, it made my day brighter.

Of course, I only did a small fraction of the work needed for this story. There was you guys, always supporting me to write more, to do better, to push myself to new heights. There was my brother, who helped me come up with ideas, even though he didn't even know about this. And of course, there was Dreamworks, who created the amazing story of How To Train Your Dragon.

Yes, the original inspiration came from Dreamworks. Someone once told me that the best story is the one you want to experience again as soon as you finished it, and since I first saw How To Train Your Dragon in the theatre, that has what it has been for me. A story that I could never grow tired of. A story I never wished would end.

I can never replace How To Train Your Dragon. But I hope that, one day, through my writing, I can share some of that same feeling with others. I hope that I can write something that truly touches peoples hearts around the world, and lets them feel what I felt that day I first saw the movie that touched my heart so profoundly.

Thank you Dreamworks. And thank you to every person out there who ever read, followed, favorited, or reviewed my story. It really meant everything to me to know I have such awesome people who want to read what I have written...

(Take a deep breath, wipe the tears from your eyes, and get on with the last announcement)

Now, I know have all been waiting patiently for the sequel to this story, and it is finally that time! The first chapter will hopefully be up before this coming weekend, and I can't wait to get started! SO EXCITED!

Oh, and I almost forgot.

THE END!

Have a good one folks, and I'll be back soon!