Chapter 19: All Things Must Come To An End

A/N: Sorry this is late. My birthday was Wednesday, and I was social for . . . the last tw0 days. I'm an introvert. This. Sucks.

But seriously, this is the last chapter so let me thank you for reading. Thank you for reviewing, following, liking, etc. It means so much to me, even if this fic didn't turn out amazingly (I'm still working on my writing skills and I consider my fanfiction practise) so thank you. It means the world to me.

Please enjoy this last chapter!

It was done quietly. Gunnar and Saga joined them. It was at night Hiccup enacted the spell he used a thousand years ago.

He and Toothless began to glow that same blue light; Hiccup's eyes glowing blue and his skin seemed to be emitting the same soft light while Toothless's spine and nostrils glowed. They looked unearthly, dragon and Viking, like the gods of old.

Hiccup began to chant in a foreign tongue. From the looks of the other Vikings, it was not one they were familiar with. Scott thought, perhaps, it was from someplace in China, or something like that.

Stiles and Lydia were the only other witnesses (besides the Riders) as a portal began forming, rending a hole in their world.

"Whoa," Scott heard Stiles mutter under his breath.

It swirled. It twisted. It danced in front of them like the most elegant silk, sliding in front of the darkening trees in thick ropey streams.

When Hiccup's voice grew louder and louder, the light strands gathered together and paled, a white light shining through like sunlight—and in the midst of that light, an image appeared of a place the likes of which Scott had never seen before.

Beyond they saw a world bathed in pinks and blues, the clouds painted by the setting sun and the shifting ocean below. Spires of rocks jutted out of the waters, and islands could be seen in the far distant horizon.

"This is where Berk went," Hiccup's voice slithered like a snake through their minds. His mouth did not move. Scott made a valiant effort not to jump, but failed. "Hidden between worlds. When Toothless left Berk, it joined fully with this world. It's out there right now."

"Home," Fishlegs said distantly, his blue eyes locked on the portal.

The portal kept stretching and widening until each dragon could comfortably fit through there. Gunnar and Saga looked at Stiles, who smiled encouragingly. Saga nuzzled his hand before going to stand next to Gunnar. They both faced the portal, looked at Stiles and Scott one last time, and left. They hopped though the portal and dropped into the air and spreading their wings, flying off. They were lost in the clouds.

"Bye," Scott heard Stiles mutter softly behind him.

"You don't have to go," Lydia said, her voice wavering slightly. "Earth is your home, too."

Astrid laughed, not unkindly. "We're from a time long passed," she said. "We don't belong here anymore."

"Astrid and I could stay," Fishlegs said. "After all, we do have actual lives here. But . . . well, it's not the same without dragons. It's never been the same. I don't want to live here without Meatlug," he threw an adoring look at his Gronckle.

Scott watched as one of the spires of rock erupted in dragons taking flight, circling the rock and gliding down to the sea.

"We'll be happy here," Fishlegs said blissfully. "All the dragons in one place. We'll live out our days here. We'll be very happy."

"I do not know how long those days will be," Hiccup warned. "Time passes differently here," Toothless warbled lowly, looking at the portal with longing.

"Let's do it," Astrid said, stepping forwards. "We're Vikings; exploring is an occupational hazard."

"I'm in!" Snotlout said.

"Me too," Ruffnut cackled.

"Me three—no, four—no, wait, what?" Tuffnut was punched by his sister, their dragons—dragon? The two heads—looking down with amusement.

"Sign me up," Fishlegs said. He climbed onto Meatlug, caressing her head softly before taking off and flying through the portal.

"Woo hoo!" They heard him shout as he and Meatlug spiraled less-than majestically through the air. Snotlout and the twins climbed onto their dragons immediately and took off, joining Fishlegs.

Astrid gave them all a small, sincere smile. "Coming, Hiccup?" she asked as she climbed her own dragon. Stormfly spread her wings in anticipation.

"In a moment," Hiccup said. Astrid nodded and took off, looping around and spinning through the sky.

Scott, Stiles and Lydia were left alone with Hiccup and Toothless—truly the last dragon and his Rider on this earth.

"Do not fret," Hiccup's voice said. He was looking directly at Scott, and from the curious looks Stiles and Lydia were giving him, he was speaking only to Scott.

"Why not?" Scott said. "You're . . . you're leaving forever. We're never going to see you again."

Hiccup smiled and he began to whisper.

Scott's eyes grew wider and wider as he listened to what Hiccup had to say before smiling and nodding his farewell. "Fly safely," he said.

Hiccup and Toothless bowed their heads before Hiccup swung on Toothless's back. His peg leg clicked against the stirrup and the prosthetic tail flapped open.

Hiccup turned to look back once last time at the world where he had lived for a thousand years.

"Thank you, Scott, Stiles and Lydia. We are ever in your debt."

And with that, Hiccup flew away.

One year later

"This is the place!" Stiles said. There was a hiss of breath exhaled from the person at his side. "Don't hush me, Lydia. This is the place!"

"It is," Scott said, smiling. "Look!" The other two looked up and saw a world bathed in pink and blue with rolling clouds and crashing waves. The image hung in the air, floating at waist height at its lowest and near the tree tops at its highest.

The portal was once again just a few feet away from them, a rent in the fabric of the world.

"Well, hello there!" Hiccup's voice called. On a rock spire not too far away waited all six Dragon Riders on their dragons, grinning up at them. "What're you waiting for?"

"How are we expected to get down there? Sprout wings and fly?" Stiles asked sarcastically.

"Well, there's two dragons who really want to see you . . ." Astrid yelled, grinning widely as a familiar Nightmare and Changewing drifted into view.

"Gunnar!" Stiles called excitedly, "Saga!"

"Hop on!" Hiccup said. "Let's see what you guys think of flying . . ."

It was only for a day, Scott thought. One day, once a year. But ohh . . . that wait was worth it when he climbed on the back of a dragon and entered a world he'd never seen before.

Once there were dragons on this earth.

You'll have to take my word for it, for the dragons have long since gone, as have their Riders. Their time will never come again. Humans live their lives, and dragons live theirs separately. The dragons fly beneath the sun and moon, glide beneath the frothing waves, slink beneath the groaning trees.

There is a special island, still twelve days north of Hopeless and a few degrees south of Freezing to Death and located solidly on the Meridian of Misery. It's inhabited by a large number of dragons, but also six human Riders, living where they once did. They are the only humans to live there, and they are happy.

And, once a year, for one day, the Portal opens itself to those with goodness and kindness in their hearts who wish to see what that mystical world has to offer.

So if you look hard enough, and mean no harm, perhaps you can enter a world where dragons nest beneath the stars, living peacefully under the rule of the Dragon Master and their Riders.

Perhaps you can find the World of Dragons.

Let the wind carry us
To the clouds, hurry up, alright
We can travel so far
As our eyes can see

I'm awake when up in the skies
There's no break up so high, alright
Let's make it our own,
Let's savor it

We go where no one goes
We slow for no one
Get out of our way

We go where no one goes