We're in the endgame now. *turns to dust*

Well, for this story, at least. I still can't believe we're here. This is it. The last chapter.

I'm not sure what the title will be for the sequel but I'll make updates somehow. And I hope by the end of the month.

And I've been making revisions for the sequel; Grimmel will be a villain in it, but I don't want it to follow The Hidden World very much. If anything, Grimmel will be the only one I'll be writing into the sequel, mostly because I haven't seen the movie yet and I don't want to add spoilers for others.

I haven't seen the movie yet, it doesn't come out for another three weeks where I live, so whatever I write in the sequel will just be things I've seen in trailers.

Oh, and the soundtrack came out yesterday! Did I ball? Of course I did! It's sooooo good!

Alrightie, here we go!

Souls of Dragons

Chapter 31: A Welcomed Meeting

This was a strange land for her.

The island of Berk was slowly changing, slowly returning to its former glory. The houses were being rebuilt and dragons from both originally Berk and from Icespitter's Nest were moving in. Even the babies followed in. Astrid remembered how Stormfly introduced her children to Berk and Jungle had asked her why no one was feeding them from a giant Bewilderbeast.

The new safe haven for dragons.

She was the Valkyrie Among Dragons, after all, as Hiccup had called her. She knew how dragons felt. She was now not only the protector of Icespitter's Flock, but now Berk's Protector. She protected Toothless' dragons. It was a home for all dragons and Vikings alike. She was now the new face of Berk, the daughter of Heavenwings. The human daughter of Arvid and Ingrid Hofferson.

Hofferson.

Now that was going to take some time to get used to.

She sighed as she took a deep breath, taking in all of the air. She looked down at Berk, from the mountain that which the island itself was attached to. She liked coming up here, after she had moved in and was introduced to everyone. The mountainside had beautiful trees surrounding it, and the wind blew in her face, as though she were flying on Stormfly's back. The pine filled her nostrils and the sweet salty sea was candy to her smells.

It reminded her of home.

Her dragon home.

She looked around, as Stormfly nuzzled her children. The five of them escaped up here, mostly for Astrid, to clear her head. Astrid knew she was trying her best to adjust to living away from the carefree life of living with dragons. And that meant she had to do more... human things. Sadly, hygiene was one thing that wasn't taught well on her island, and she spent the first week with her... mother... on what Ingrid had referred to as 'moon week', and it turned out that her pains were not her own, that it was universal for women. Even Brenna, her newly found sister, helped explain how to use sanitation napkins to help soak the bleeding.

There had been other things that her family had been doing to. Some things that bothered her. Ingrid... her mother, kept asking her if she remembered her life before living with dragons. It started out simple, like odd toys here and there, but then it grew to the other day, when Ingrid had asked Astrid if she remembered the old lady who lived with them for some time. Turns out that it was Astrid's grandmother, who lived with them when she was a baby but died eight years ago. Astrid has panicked and said that yes, she remembered, for not wanting to hurt her parents.

It had only been two months since the battle with Drago, and Icespitter's death. The attack on Berk was finally being rebuilt and everything seemed to be fine again. At least, for the time being. What was fine, exactly? How could the island go back to living as though a madman didn't just attack their home two months ago and kill a percentage of their own, kidnap some of the Hooligans and steal their dragons? Astrid wasn't sure, but she hoped she could have that determination.

And she was quickly introduced to her family after that. A reunion that resulted in tears and hugs from both parties.

Stormfly got up to chase her children around the moutaintop. Spring had jumped on Troubletail's back and started to nibble on her brother's wing. Jungle joined Spring on the crusade as she pulled on Troubletail's tail, causing the little male Naddar to squawk for their mother's intervention. Stormfly rolled her eyes and helped her son out, shooing her pesty daughters off her son.

Astrid smiled as she watched her dragon sister play with the hatchlings. It reminded her of a time where her dragon world was very separate from her human world. Where she didn't care about who or what was happening. All she cared about was helping dragons. Her dragons, her family, that was her top priority.

But now... she had a new one, and would be gaining another.

After the Hooligans returned to Berk, there was a victory celebration. And not a typical celebration that Astrid has seen when she had raised ships and towns for supplies. It was mostly an initiation of sorts that made Astrid a full Hairy Hooligan, a Berkian. She had to follow some trial thing, but they allowed her to just sign a paper and swear that she would uphold the traditions of Berk, protect the people, and so on and so forth.

It took a month, but the people of Berk put on another large party which gave Stoick enough time to make arrangements. The Hooligans had a feast made for all Vikings and dragons alike on Berk, and Stoick made some announcements. Some sounded a bit obscure to Astrid, but it was really one thing that made her skin crawl - Stoick announced that Hiccup had a new betrothal:

Astrid.

When they had returned to Berk, Stoick told Hiccup that he was no longer being betrothed to Heather for her island security, but Stoick (after having talked to the Ingermans) also explained that Heather would now be betrothed to Fishlegs, as he was a distant relation to the Haddocks (Astrid thought he said something about a removed cousin, whatever that meant), and it somehow was accepted.

It took Astrid a while to figure out what exactly a betrothal was.

"I should go back," Astrid said.

She and Stormfly had been walking through the village, minding their business, when she overheard some of the teens talking about how Hiccup was planning something for her. She didn't hear the whole conversation, but what they had been discussing, it sounded quite important. She had gotten nervous, feeling like a complete fool, and jumped on Stormfly's back to hide up on the mountain. The hatchlings had followed in pursuit as she tried not to show her embarrassment to the world.

She was minding her own business... sitting in the Great Hall and eating her supper. Stormfly wanted to come in so she allowed her to sit beside the table as she ate. As always, she sat alone if she wasn't with the Hoffersons or Hiccup.

Everyone was busy.

"Did you hear what happened?" one voice asked.

"About what?" a second voiced said.

"About what Hiccup's doing, you know, about Astrid."

Astrid stopped. The voices were coming from a few tables behind her. She wasn't trying to listen to their conversation... but these teens (she assumed they were, as they didn't sound too old to be adults) were talking about here and Hiccup. She frowned. What could be so important?

A sigh. "What's he doing?"

"He's making her a betrothal necklace."

There was a laugh from a new voice. "Wait, he's actually going to marry her? Is the island desperate for girls?"

"Come off it, Gustav! That's my sister!" Astrid recognized the new voice as Brenna, her human sister. "She and Hiccup are really close, okay? I really think they like each other."

"Look, Brenna. Gustav has a point... he chose a dragon lady. A feral girl."

"Leave her alone, Adelaide. She's not like that."

"Really? She isn't quiet or sneaky like a dragon, or go all crazy?"

"...No..."

"Admit it, Brenna. Your so-called sister is a weirdo. And she's going to be running the village in a few years? Yea, that's the end of Berk as we know it."

"Lars! I thought you of all people would see how see's feeling, you know with your parents. She just lost her home to a madman... she's all alone..."

"Hey... leave them out of it... it's not the same..."

"It is so!"

"No, Brenna. Lars is right. Astrid isn't a good pick for a future Chief. She won't know what's good for Vikings."

"She grew up with dragons, she couldn't help it," Brenna said.

Astrid didn't listen to the rest of the conversation.

Astrid sighed again. She wished she hadn't heard them speaking like that. At least Brenna stood up for me. Sort of. But were those other two right? Did the rest of the Hooligans question Stoick's decision to betroth Astrid to Hiccup? She looked down at the village, that now looked so much smaller than what she realized. She would one day rule this with Hiccup. She would be a co-ruler of Vikings.

Was this part of the prophecy?

Was this what Icespitter wanted?

She leaned back, back so far that she rested on the ground. The sky above was a pretty purple colour, with a bit of blues and whites and pinks. It was so pretty this late afternoon, or nearly evening now. She wanted to just fly up there, right now. Fly up in the sky and see the world, the village, down below all small and insignificant. She wished she could just be lost to the world, find another like in the adventures she had with Stormfly.

Astrid was so lost in her world that she didn't hear him coming:

"Hello, Milady."

She bolted up. "Hiccup? How - how did you know I was here?"

Hiccup shrugged as he came to sit beside her. "Well, I've noticed in the past month that you tend to hide up here to think." She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, maybe not the whole month; I may have only noticed today." She chuckled. He looked over the village. "I used to come up here all the time with Toothless when I was younger."

"Just to fly without all the work," Astrid guessed.

Hiccup nodded in agreement.

Astrid was desperate to change the subject, so she went to the first thing that had crossed her mind. "How did your sister take the news?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup raised an eyebrow. "What news?"

"You know, the news about your parents?"

"Oh right... " Hiccup chuckled. "Yea, she thought it was a prank at first, but when they had Gothi confirm it, she started screaming 'I'm finally gonna be a big sister!' and 'Wait, is that what you meant by a fourth kid when Drago was attacking us!?' at the top of her lungs."

Astrid laughed. "Oh, so that's what Valka meant. Finna had said she let something like that slip on the battlefield but she thought she may have just misheard." She smiled. "But you must be excited, you gonna have a new sibling."

"Yea, I'm getting a baby sister or brother right around the time I'm expected to make babies," Hiccup said, although it wasn't with as much joy as she thought. However, she figured it was still sarcasm. I really need to work on that.

"Oh gods." She blinked. "We will be changing diapers together with my parents."

Both chuckled.

"I was actually thinking about that," Astrid said, "why I came up here."

"Really?" Hiccup asked. "You were thinking about babies?"

"Definitely," she said with a roll of her eyes. However, the thought did cross her mind at one point. Hiccup chuckled. "Well, I was thinking about... well... everything." And that was the truth; she was trying to figure out how to be a human, along with how to be a.. well... wife. And the Hoffersons. And being a mother, eventually. And the rest of the Vikings and what they actually thought about her. "You know, being a Viking and all."

"It's only been two months, Astrid. No one's making you fully integrate anytime soon," Hiccup insisted.

Astrid sighed for the fifth time that evening. "Well, maybe it isn't all that." She balled up her fist. "I just... sometimes think your father made a mistake with the betrothal." She nearly regretted it when she said it. She didn't want Hiccup to think that she didn't want to marry him. Well, she did want to, but she wanted to take it slow, not marry until the both were ready.

"Well, I wasn't exactly planning on any betrothal until I was ready," Hiccup admitted, causing Astrid to relax, even for a moment. So he doesn't hate me for saying that... "I felt the same way when Dad told me I was going to be betrothed to Heather." He chuckled. "Actually, that was the reason I left and accidentally found you."

Astrid stopped. "Wait... you found me.. because you were upset about your betrothal with Heather?" she asked.

"Yea..." Hiccup crossed his prosthetic leg over his real one, a habit Astrid noticed he did a lot, "I was so angry at my dad for arranging it, not listening to me and all, and I jumped on Toothless' back and just flew. I didn't care where I was going... I just wanted to get away."

Astrid honestly felt the same way. In fact, wasn't she technically doing the same thing now? Hiding from her responsibilities and hoping that hiding will give her a more clear head? "Did it help?" she asked.

"Well, if you don't account getting attacked by a feral dragon lady and nearly killed twice as helpful, then yea it was very helpful," Hiccup deadpanned.

Astrid blushed. "Oh, yea..." She remembered how furious she was when she saw him cross the boarder to the sanctuary. How he managed to get through... she could only assume that Toothless somehow found his way in and followed the call of Icespitter. It was how other dragons in the past had gotten in and it would make sense that Toothless could as well.

How much everything has changed since then...

"So, did you come up here just to think about the betrothal?" Hiccup asked. Astrid noticed that Hiccup had scooted closer to her. "Something else is on your mind."

It was funny how he always knew what she was thinking, even without the whole mind communication thing. Astrid didn't voice it, but it just dawned to her that her and Hiccup's telepathic connection somehow disappeared. Well, they both had spoken about it, and they came to the conclusion that it was stress related. However, she admitted that didn't fully understand it completely... she only wished that Icespitter was alive, so she could ask how it worked.

"Not really... I may have overheard some of the kids talking..." she looked down. Without really thinking, she rubbed her arm. "They were saying that I wouldn't be a good co-leader... that I wouldn't know what to do for the sake of Vikings."

Astrid felt Hiccup grab her hand. She looked over to him and he smiled. "Astrid. You're gonna think I'm crazy for saying this, but I felt a connection the moment I saw you. Well, at least when I saw you for the first time at the nest. It wasn't just the whole dragon connection that drew me to you... I saw you, and I was attracted to your loyalty, determination and fighting spirit."

He scooted closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "If anything, this makes you more than qualified to be a leader."

Astrid smiled. She rested her head against his shoulder, enjoying the warmth. "For what it's worth, you'll be a great leader, too."

"I'm not even sure if I can be Chief," Hiccup said.

"You mean, after all that happened with Drago? You were at your best when you were with Toothless... when you were with me."

"You know who you are, though."

Not anymore.

"Well, if anything, you're a big knucklehead." Hiccup chuckled. "What?"

"Finna always called me that as a kid."

Astrid smiled. "You're lucky to have a good relationship with her. Obviously you two make a good team." She signed. "I kinda wish I had that with Brenna. But... I guess I wouldn't be as close with Stormfly." As on cue, Jungle came running over and jumped on her lap and pitted against Hiccup. She straightened up to pet the hatchling. "I even see them as my nieces and nephew."

Hiccup scratched Jungle's chin. "I'd feel the same with Toothless' children." He looked down. "Astrid... do you think there are more Night Furies are out there?"

Astrid shrugged. "I thought there weren't any, but after that vision of Icespitter in that strange world... I think that older Night Fury confirmed that there are more out there."

"Maybe..." but he still didn't seemed convinced. "Just... why aren't there any other Night Furies? We've been looking for years."

Astrid shook her head. "I don't know." She felt terrible not knowing much about them. Yes, she had been told about them by Icespitter (and showing Toothless how to use his dorsal fins), but seeing more Night Furies was still rare as it was. She hoped that there were more out there, more than the one that was in their vision.

She frowned. "You don't think your father would make us marry anytime soon, do you?" She knew that a date would have to be set sooner rather than later... but the prospect of it... while she hardly knew her family? I guess I'll never truly know them, though...

Hiccup took a while to answer. "You know, he never told me when I was betrothed... or well, planning to be betrothed to Heather that we had to get married antime soon, so I think it would apply the same to us." He rested his head against hers. "My mom told me that I would fall in love with Heather as the years go... but now that I'm marrying you, I don't have to wait years."

Astrid smiled. "I know I still have a lot to learn about humans, but you make it easier. Thank you."

She leaned in to kiss Hiccup-

-but the two were interrupted by a large black dragon landing on their laps.

"Yes, Toothless. You're my first girlfriend."

Astrid laughed as the Night Fury licked Hiccup's face. She heard the dragon purr "You still love me, brother, I know you do!" , and she also scratched the dragon's chin. Although the dragon interrupted their romantic moment, Astrid was happy. Stormfly came to snuggle with her and Hiccup as well as the little hatchlings jumped on Toothless. Astrid laughed at the sight along with Hiccup. She was happy with the love she was surrounded by.

Her future was more certain than it had been a month ago. Being raised by dragons, every day was a blessing if you could survive. She lived day by day, not she what the next day would offer, and the danger only increased when she decided to help save dragons.

Icespitter has said that, one day, she would have to say goodbye to the dragons, but for now... life was good. Berk was no longer a threat to the dragons, and to anyone else who could come to break Berk down. As long as they had their dragons, she knew that she and Hiccup could survive anything.

She was certain that their dragons had nothing against any armada out there. Hiccup, one day, would be chief and she would lead beside him. She will lead these people for the foreseeable future.

Although life wasn't as black and white as she once thought... Astrid Flametorch Hofferson knew of at least one thing:

She belonged here.

And she truly believed she should stay here, too.

Wow.

I have no words.

This is literally the longest thing I've ever written. I don't know how to explain how I feel. Well.. I guess more relieved that I got this done. I'm actually surprised that I got five chapters in January when I averaged from 1-4 per month when I was writing this regularly in 2015-2016.

Well, I'm happy it's done. Simple as that.

I want to thank everyone who favourited, follows and reviewed this story, and for in the future. You guys have helped me so much with this, especially when I didn't know where this was going at around chapter 4-6 I think, and when I was pretty much gone without a word for almost three years.

Thank you again for showing your love and support. I love this community, even after joining it in 2014, it's probably one of the least toxic fandoms. I love the movies, I love the characters and the universe that both Cressenda Cowell and Dean Delblois have created.

Even though the last movie is coming out in less than a month, it won't stop me from writing How to Train Your Dragon. As DreamWorks said, it's more than the movies. It's the community. The fans. It's all of us. So I hope to keep writing this universe. There's so much that can be expanded and explored and I hope people still decide to write HTTYD FanFiction after THW comes out.

Goodbye for now. I'm going to work on some short stories before I release the sequel.

Oh, and I put a pole up for the sequel's title. Go check it out :)

See you all soon! I love you all! :)

~DrabbitDragonLord