"MEATLUG!" Fishlegs screams with glee as his beloved Gronckle appears in front of him. "I missed you so much, girl. I missed you," he sobs. She snuffles his face with her giant nose.

Astrid clings to Stormfly, tears appearing at the rims of her eyes as she presses her cheek against her dragon's scaly nose. The Nadder makes happy purring noises as she wraps her wings around Astrid, looking just as content to be back to her normal self.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut talk rapidly to Barf and Belch, explaining everything that's happened plus some wild stories, whilst Snotlout whispers to Hookfang, Skybreeze, and Windstorm with a small smile on his face. The three Nightmares listen avidly.

I sit down, resting my pounding head in my hands. The weight of these past three days crashes onto me, weighing me down and making my brain feel like it's going to explode. Using this much magic in such a short span of time after not having used it for ten years has really taken it out of me.

"Thora, you okay?" Nightstar asks, sitting down behind me and nuzzling my shoulder.

I hug my knees to my chest, my exhaustion leading to darker thoughts. "The deadline has passed," I say. "Alrek is gone and this world is saved, but I didn't complete my task in time." My throat tightens and I cough, noting the sad look on my dragon's face. "I'm going to go home just in time to die."

"Thora—"

"It's okay, Nightstar," I say, cutting her off. "This was a good way to finish up my life; one last adventure with my best friend."

Nightstar's blue eyes flood with sorrow and she makes a gurgling sound in the back of her throat. "But...I love you. I don't want you to go."

I shake my head, wrapping my arms around her neck and shutting my eyes. "I love you too," I whisper.

She lifts one of her paws and wraps it around me, pulling me closer to her scaly chest. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter, trying to keep my tears at bay.

"How are you getting home?"

I look up to see Astrid standing before me, Stormfly at her side. I pout in confusion, using Nightstar's help to get back to my feet.

"Home? I don't know what you're talking about," I say, feigning ignorance. "I told you, my home was destroyed."

A laugh shakes her shoulders. "Thora, you don't have to lie anymore. I know that there's something you never told us about you, where you're really from, who you really are." She tilts her head to the side and smiles a little. "How are you getting home?"

I can't stop the stupefied look from eradicating my expression. "How...how did you find out I was lying?" I ask, guilt tightening my chest.

"Well...at first, your story seemed crystal clear. Then, I realized that there's no way Hiccup could've told you about Alrek coming to Berk," Astrid explains. "The first time they met was the day Hiccup died. Plus...you mentioned Ilia," she says, a look of sadness flickering across her dirty face for a moment as she casts a glance towards Eret's body, still laying near my execution post. "I never said anything about Ilia. Hiccup never met her, so somehow...you knew who she was. I think that's what made me decide to trust you."

I momentarily decide whether it would be okay or not to physically slap myself across the face. How could I not have realized those mistakes? Sure, Fishlegs caught on to one of my little slip ups, but Astrid never showed any sign of knowing about it.

"I'm sorry, Astrid. If I told you what really happened, you wouldn't have believed me. I needed your help," I apologize. "In truth...I'm not from this world," I say, gauging her reaction as I speak. "I'm from a place where I really am from the same village as Alrek, where I defeated him ten years ago and saved Hiccup's life. I...I was sent here by the gods to reverse a mistake."

Astrid ponders those words, and instead of looking angry, she laughs again. "Yeah, I wouldn't have believed that story if you said it right when we met," she admits. Her expression switches to curiosity. "So...this place is one where you don't exist? That's pretty nuts."

"It's been a weird adjustment, that's for sure," I agree before cracking a yawn.

She takes a few steps closer to me, her ice blue eyes regaining their old sparkle. "What's it like over there? In your world?"

For a moment, I allow myself to think of Eret and how he asked me almost the same question. I shut my eyes, finding myself smiling. "Everything is very bright and hopeful. You, me, Ruffnut, everyone, we have families of our own. We have children of our own. It's a wonderful place," I murmur, opening my eyes and looking to the sky.

Astrid follows my gaze upwards, looking more peaceful by the second. "What are your children's names?"

I exhale slowly. "Destin and Runa." She smiles a little and nods.

I lower my head and look out at the forest, where the sun is starting to set above the spiky treetops. Within the trees, a hooded figure emerges and stands at the edge of the shadows. The person raises their hand and beckons to me, making my eyes widen.

"I have to go," I say. "And, forgive me, but I want to avoid a big goodbye. I'll just slip away."

Astrid brings her eyes down to me, looking half sad and half surprised. "I'll miss you," she admits.

"Don't worry. We'll be seeing each other again really soon," I promise. "Have fun with being the chieftess of this Berkian realm," I add, trying to sound teasing.

"I will," she says. "Good luck, Thora."

I give her a two-fingered salute and turn away, gesturing Nightstar after me. The two of us break into a jog towards the woods, although mine is slower than it usually is. Even so, the nearer we get to the figure, the more I find my strength returning.

The figure turns and moves further into the trees, prompting me to follow her. Nightstar makes no noise as she trails behind me, although I notice my dragon casting one more glance out towards the new Berk. My focus is on the person ahead of us.

"Vár!" I cry out, trying to get the goddess to stop.

She halts at my voice. I slow down, looking around for the first time and noticing that we've reached a small clearing. There's various rocks and trees in a smattering around a small brook. It looks peaceful enough.

Vár turns, her wise, glowing eyes falling on me. A ghostly smile graces her fair lips. Nightstar steps back, leaving me standing before the goddess and all her glory.

"Greetings, Thora," she murmurs, the wind rustling her cloak. "I see you've completed your task."

I bow my head in shame. "I completed the task, but I failed at my quest." I lower myself onto one knee, remaining as reverent as I can. "You told me I had until sundown on Thor's day. I did not make it in time."

Vár gazes at me for a moment before a breezy laugh leaves her. "You have not failed."

I lift my head, lips parting and eyes widening. "I...I didn't? But the deadline—"

"Meant nothing," she interrupts, stepping closer to me. "I was told to give you a deadline just to test you. If you were not worthy of more life, you would have given up within that jail cell and refused to even attempt to save your broken home. You became discouraged, yes, but you didn't give up. You succeeded even when you thought the results would be fruitless."

Hope bubbles in my chest. "Does that mean..."

"Thora of Hermaōr, daughter of Thord and Sigrid, last of the Slayers," Vár addresses me, reaching her hand out. "By the power of the gods, I extend your contract twenty-two more years." She smiles, almost letting out a laugh, the glowing pits of her eyes growing brighter and brighter as she steps closer. "Are you ready to go home, child?"

I nod, lifting myself back to my feet. Vár beckons Nightstar to my side, a command my dragon obeys without hesitation. She reaches both her hands out, resting her fingertips on both mine and Nightstar's foreheads. Within a few seconds, I'm sent plummeting back into darkness.