The Soul of a Dragon

Chapter 72

Malcom

Fireblaster wraps his giant wings around me, pulling me into one of his bone-crushing hugs. I let out a grunt, pretending to protest, but honestly, I love it. There's something comforting about his warmth, about the way he holds on like I'm the most important thing in the world to him.

"All right, all right!" I laugh, patting his scales. "You're going to squeeze the life out of me, dude."

He rumbles, the sound vibrating through my chest, and then releases me, giving me a gentle nudge with his snout. I stumble back, grinning like an idiot. There's nothing quite like a hug from Fireblaster – he's big, he's strong, and he loves with everything he's got.

"Good boy," I murmur, reaching up to scratch behind his horns. He purrs contentedly, his eyes half-closing as he leans into my touch. Moments like this remind me of why I'm still here – why I'm still fighting, still pushing forward. It's for him, for my friends, for everything we've built together. For her. Em.

Gosh, I can't stop smiling like crazy whenever I think about her.

Fireblaster nudges me again, and I laugh, rubbing my sore ribs. "Okay, okay, enough with the hugs. You've made your point."

He snorts, his breath warm against my face, and I can't help but smile. "I love you too, you big brute."

As I walk back toward the village, I spot my sunshine in the distance, her sandy brown hair catching the sunlight – hence my nickname for her. She's talking to some of the villagers, helping them with the rebuilding effort. I stop for a moment, just watching her, and a strange warmth fills my chest. I've never felt this way before, not even with Vara – this sense of calm, of peace. It's like she's anchored me, without even trying.

She glances up, catching my eye, and a smile spreads across her face. I raise a hand in greeting, and she waves back, her eyes crinkling at the corners. Fuck, she's beautiful. I still can't believe my luck. Yesterday, I asked her to be my woman. She said yes before I could finish the word "girlfriend" and jumped into my arms. Then, she slammed her lips onto mine. That was our first kiss. But, believe me, it won't be our last. I plan on kissing her for a lifetime.

As I approach, she finishes her conversation and turns to me, her smile softening. "Hey," she says quietly.

"Hey," I reply, my heart skipping a beat.

There's a comfortable silence between us, the kind that doesn't need to be filled with words. I can feel her warmth beside me, and it's enough. More than enough.

Valka

New Berk is quieter now. The dragons are still here, of course, their presence a constant reminder of the bond between our two worlds. But the chaos has died down, the fires of war have smouldered to ash, and what remains is peace. It's something we've fought so hard for, something that feels fragile even in its strength. But I believe in it, in all of us.

I sit atop Cloudjumper, watching the sun dip low in the sky, casting everything in a soft, golden light. The wind stirs around me, gentle, like a whisper. In moments like this, I can feel him. Stoick. He's everywhere – the way the sun warms my face, the way the wind carries the scent of the sea. I hear his laughter after singing our song in the distant roar of the waves, see his shadow in every strong tree that lines these cliffs.

I miss him. Every day. But he's not gone. Not really.

My son, Hiccup, is so much like him. And yet, he's different, too. There's a softness in him, a gentleness that Stoick didn't always show. But that same fire burns in his heart, that same determination to protect what he loves. And now, it's my turn to guide him, to help him as Stoick helped me.