eight

ALORA FOUND HERSELF WITH A BOW AND A SINGLE ARROW, IN LINE WITH THE REST OF HER FRIENDS AS THEY WATCHED A SINGLE BOAT FLOAT AWAY IN THE SEA.

"May the Valkyries welcome you and lead you through Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the depths of Valhalla, and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings."

Gobber gave the last arrow and bow to Hiccup.

"For a great man has fallen," Gobber continued. "A warrior. A chieftain. A father. A friend."

Hiccup felt his tears stain on his cheeks as he lit his arrow on fire and shot it onto the boat. Afterward, everyone else lit theirs and they all shot their arrows on the boat. Alora perked up as she heard Hiccup speak.

"I'm sorry Dad," he said.

Alora let out a shaky sigh and Astrid held her hand. She watched as Hiccup stared at the flaming boat.

"I'm not the chief that. . .you wanted me to be," he continued. "And I'm not the peacekeeper I thought I was. I- I don't know—"

Valka approached her son and placed her hand gently on his head.

"You came early into this world," she told him. "You were such a wee thing. So frail, so fragile. I feared you wouldn't make it. But your father. . .he never doubted. He always said you'd become the strongest of them all. And he was right."

Valka cupped her son's face and stared into his eyes.

"You have the heart of a chief, and the soul of a dragon. Only you can bring our worlds together. That is who you are, son."

He stepped closer, his body was illuminated by the flames that had gotten bigger over time. Alora looked at his back, anticipating his next words.

"I, uh. . ." he paused. "I was so afraid of becoming my dad. Mostly because I thought I never could. I mean, how-how do you become someone that great. . .that brave, that. . .selfless?"

He sighed.

"I guess you can only try."

When he turned, Alora saw someone completely different.

"A chief protects his own. We're going back," Hiccup told them.

Alora smiled.

"Uh. . .with what?" Tuffnut asked.

"He took all the dragons," Ruffnut said.

"Not all of them."

Alora gave him a deadpan look.

He wasn't thinking of. . .

ᚹ

He did exactly what she was thinking of. Alora tried her best to contain her laughter as she watched her friends ride baby dragons. She flew alongside them, almost like she was herding the flock.

"Won't the Bewilderbeast just take control of these guys too?!" Astrid asked.

"They're babies! They don't listen to anyone!" Hiccup yelled. "They're just like Aly!"

Alora looked at him and yelled back, "Hiccup, don't make me call off the wedding!"

"Wait, what?!" Fishlegs said.

"Why are we always the last ones to know these things?!" Snotlout exclaimed.

"So what's your plan?!" Gobber asked.

"Take back the dragon's and kick Drago's ass!" Hiccup yelled.

Astrid and the group looked back at Alora who sheepishly smiled.

"You are such a bad influence," she told her.

"Eh, not too bad," Alora said.

"Yes you are," Hiccup smirked.

Her face fell.

"Well, judging by that smirk. . .maybe I was."

⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⧌⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩⬩

It took them all night to fly to Berk, and the group arrived by early morning at Berk. Alora audibly gasped as she watched all of the dragons circling above the Alpha. But that wasn't all.

The entire island was covered in icicles.

"Distract the Alpha," Hiccup ordered. "Try to keep his focus off of Toothless."

"Uh, how?" Tuffnut asked.

Then, they heard a loud sonic boom.

"How else?" Astrid snarked, staring at her best friend who had flown ahead of them.

She flew up to the dragon and made sure it had seen her. She glanced at Drago, who occupied Toothless's back.

"What?! Never seen a flying woman before?!" she said, sarcastically.

She flew towards its tusk and started pulling on it. Her friends below distracted it, and the Alpha was being pulled at both sides.

Alora watched as Hiccup approached Drago on his small dragon. The Alpha decided to go at her and she was willing to go with it, but then the Alpha noticed them and started making his way to them. She watched as Hiccup placed his hand out to Toothless. She laughed as she watched the Night Fury snap out of the Alpha's trance.

Alora saw as Drago hit Toothless with his spear and she let out a familiar battle cry as she charged at him with full force. She grabbed his gear and threw him at the alpha. He landed on the tusk and Hiccup went after Toothless as they both flew down towards the sea. She went after them, only she watched as he got a hold of the saddle and the two took off. She flew beside him.

"What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Protect the others," he told her. "This is between me and him."

She nodded her head.

"Go get 'em tiger," Alora said.

Without another word she flew towards Astrid and watched as the duo flew above them towards the Bewilderbeast.

Alora watched as he took Drago off of the dragon. She saw as he landed on the ground. Hiccup followed suit and approached him. He took out a brand-new fire sword that Alora hadn't seen before and threw it in front of Drago's spear. But her face fell as she watched the Beast spew icicles at the duo. Toothless charged and covered his body.

Alora ran towards them and just as she was going to approach she saw a glowing blue light in the middle.

"What the hell is that?" she asked. She heard as the icicles cracked and a massive explosion thundered, causing everyone to look away.

Alora's mouth opened as she saw the blue light radiate from Toothless's body. He growled and he flew up to the front icicle that faced the Beast.

"He's challenging the Alpha!" Hiccup said.

Alora ran beside him and watched as the two roared at each other.

"To protect you," Valka said.

Toothless shot at the Beast with the most precision she'd ever seen. And as the Beast tried to attack it, its large body wouldn't allow it to touch the Night Fury. Suddenly, all of the dragons snapped out of their trance.

Toothless flew back to the couple and roared.

Alora watched as all the dragons started hovering above Berk. Hiccup went towards Toothless and mounted him as Alora stood back with the village.

The two stood on one of the last standing icicles and she watched as Toothless took the first shot. Suddenly, all the dragons were taking shots at the Bewilderbeast. Hiccup watched in awe while Toothless maintained his guard.

The Beast was covered in smoke and it didn't have the chance to fight back. Just as the fire ceased, it opened its mouth. But then Toothless shot again, only this time it had taken off one of its tusks.

"YEAH!" Alora yelled. "THAT'S MY BABY RIGHT THERE!"

Hiccup stared back at her and Astrid smacked her head upright, causing the Kryptonian to wince even though it didn't hurt. . .as much.

Toothless roared and the Bewilderbeast didn't have the pride to look the Night Fury in the eye. Instead, it went away into the sea. . .dragging Drago down with it.

The duo went back to the ground and Hiccup watched as all the dragons surrounded them. Then, one-by-one, each dragon bowed down to Toothless. The Night Fury stood proud and roared. Each dragon echoed after him.

Alora smiled.

Toothless had become the King of Dragons.

The Night Fury retreated back to his best friend.

"You never cease to amaze me, bud," Hiccup told him, placing his forehead on his. "Thank you."

Then, Toothless licked him and everyone laughed.

"Toothless! You know that doesn't wash out!" Hiccup complained.

Alora watched as everyone reunited with their dragons. She was suddenly thrown back as Stormfly tackled her in affection.

"Stormfly!" Astrid yelled.

Alora petted the dragon before retreating towards her betrothed.

"My dearest," she said, spreading her arms out.

Hiccup went to hug her but frowned as he saw her approach Toothless.

"I love you so much," she said, speaking in a baby voice. The dragon cooed as she gave him the belly rub he so deeply missed.

"Hilarious," Hiccup said.

Alora laughed but was caught off-guard as he grabbed her waist and pulled her closer to his body before giving her a deep kiss. Gobber's eyes widened as he covered the eyes of the child standing next to him with a wooden hand.

Hiccup felt something touch his shoulder and the couple saw Gothi gesturing a hand in front of her.

Alora stood back and watched as Hiccup kneeled. She used the ash from the wood beside her to place a symbol upon his forehead, and that was when Alora knew. . .

"The Chief has come home!" Gobber announced.

Hiccup had become the King of Berk.

"Long live the Chief!" the Berkians cried out.

"Long live the Chief!" Alora yelled behind him, causing him to laugh.

Astrid approached her best friend and held out a hand.

"Welcome back."

Alora's face fell as she watched her friends gather in front of her.

Hiccup turned around and smiled.

"Welcome home, your majesty."