Thanks to everyone who reviewed Defender, the story would not have been what it was without your input. Special thanks to Silvolde for commenting on every chapter, and everyone else for your deep reviews. Some made me laugh, and some made me rewrite parts of my story, hence why there's a sequel in the first place. (Looking at you, Wildfire's Flame and CHSHiccstrid)

Enjoy!

If he had time to think, he would have thought of her. The one that, even after everything, had stood by him, believed in him. The one that was a solid anchor on his bad days, the one person he could count on more than anyone or anything. The only person he could trust without a doubt when his memory wasn't up to par.

Astrid Hofferson.

If he had time to think, he would have thought to thank her for being that anchor, that rock. To apologise for events outside either of their control that had simultaneously pushed them into each others arms and away. To pass the torch to her, to instruct her in everything she needed to know to defeat their enemies in his absence.

If he had time, he would have loved her. Done whatever it took to return to that blissfully happy time before Viggo. Before the Submarriper. Before the lies had torn them apart, almost beyond repair. But it wasn't beyond repair, the past two years proved that. The relationship, broken and disjointed as it was, wasn't destroyed. Damaged, maybe, but not destroyed.

He barely had time to think of Thuggory, or Valka, or any of the other Riders who would grieve in the coming days. Because they knew who he was, the lengths he would go to in order to fix the wrongs that had been dealt to Berk, the Riders, and him personally. He had prepared them for this eventuality.

But Astrid wouldn't understand. Even after analysing the problem over and over, struggling to find any solution, even after finally accepting the end of his story, she'd still question why. No matter what, her other half would still be missing.

There was no time to give any more information, to pass any further advice. No time to have one final moment with his closest friends.

He did have time-the briefest of seconds-to think of what would come after. He might see his Dad again, if the gods allowed it.

Hiccup Haddock's final thought before the pain overtook him, as the warmth of Astrid's hand in his faded to be as cold as the rest of his body, as her crying reassurances faded in his ears, was that he once had the time. Back then, he could have said every unspoken word left on his tongue. He forced his lips into one final, farewell smile as the darkness approached.

He was out of time.

Something sequelly comes your way!

Short, but it's a epilogue, not a chapter (although those are pretty short too).

For those of you who liked Dark Hiccup, this upcoming story is going places I think you'll enjoy...

I'll post another piece closer to the release of Avenger.

Thanks for reading!

Judge