Hello friends, and welcome to final chapter of How To Be a Leader! I'm really excited but also really sad it's over. I had a ton of fun writing this story, just like I did the first one, and I can't wait to write the third! I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who favorited, reviewed, and read this tale, and I sincerely hope you all enjoyed what I've written. Writing is a labor of love for me, and it makes me so genuinely happy to see others enjoy my work :D

The How To Be a Leader project, written Dec 5- July 28 (wow this one took a lot longer than the other)

Ch 26: Always

Today was supposed to be just another dragon racing competition. But instead, it turned into something so much better.

It's been a few days since everything changed. A few days since Stoick was sent to Valhalla, a few days since Hiccup became the chief, a few days since I became the Alpha.

A few days since we learned who we're meant to be.

Berk is still very much broken. We've carted off countless loads of ice into the ocean, but somehow, the island is still covered. We'll get there, eventually, and then we can finally begin rebuilding our village.

Speaking of building… those stone masons got right to work on Stoick's memorial. I guess it was a task the Vikings didn't mind taking, because the carving is coming along greatly. They've just about finished the head and are starting work on the shoulders. Never in my life have I seen these people so eager to complete a project…

The war is over. Without a leader, those Trappers just kind of disappeared off the edge of the world… I wonder if they've given up. I sure hope so.

And as for me… well, I think that being Alpha is going to take some work, but I know I'll get there. Just like I know Hiccup will get there too.

"Hiccup! Toothless! Quit dawdling, the race is about to start!" Astrid yells, hovering on Stormfly.

"Just a second, Astrid! Just gotta get the dragon ready." Hiccup taps a thin metal stick against his palm, a piece I recognize to be my connecting rod.

"I swear, if this is another modification that'll make you fly a whole quarter second faster-"

"Why, of course not, Milady," Hiccup says, moving around to my tail. "We'll be able to fly a whole half a second faster."

Astrid just rolls her eyes, nudging Stormfly and flying off. Hiccup snickers, then pulls out my old connecting rod and switches it for the new one. "Whatcha think?" I lift my tail, noting the slight difference in weight. "Ready to put that baby to the test?"

"Ready!" I narrow my eyes, unfurling my wings as Hiccup hops into my saddle. We meet up with the others, and Gobber waves his flag for the race to start.

I take off, speeding past the competition, the crowd of Vikings in the stands cheering. It feels good to be back…

"Toothless, down there!" I look to where my human is pointing, and spot our first sheep. Before I can make my move toward it, though, another voice cuts through the air.

"Hiccup! Help us out over here, will ya?" My human and I both turn to see a few Vikings waving us over.

"Well… duty calls, I guess," Hiccup says, steering me toward the people. "We'll still get them, Bud, don't you worry." I fly over to the Berkians.

"Can you get that wood for us?" One of the burly men points toward a palette with some logs stacked on it.

"I'm on it," Hiccup says, even though in reality I'm the one doing the work (humans, am I right?). Still, I latch the wooden handle in my grasp, carrying it over to the building the men are working on and carefully lowering it down. Hiccup pats my neck, and I almost forgive him for his earlier line- almost. I drop the lumber on the worksite, only to feel a rush of air sweep by me.

I hear the retreating sound of Astrid laughing, and look up to see her give us a taunting gesture.

Oh, she's in for it now.

"C'mon Bud!"

"Way ahead of you!"

I set Stormfly in my sights, just in time to see her raise her claws in preparation for a catch. The Black Sheep!

Hiccup lowers himself against me, and I push my wings harder, swooping down below the competition. Then, I flip upwards, propelling us straight up- and the sheep straight into my clutches.

"Toothless!" Stormfly yells.

I lower my head under me, watching their confused forms get smaller and smaller. "Ha, too slow!" I tease, grinning. Hiccup pats me, and I return my focus ahead of us, soaring up and around to get back in the direction of the nets.

"Head for Astrid's," Hiccup tells me, and I do, feeling his weight leap off when I get close. I swoop underneath the bridge, as Hiccup spikes the sheep into Astrid's net, then jumps back onto me. "Well, I guess she won again… Too bad for us." I chuckle, looping back around as the rest of the racers land. I drop down onto the victory platform, looking around at all the people and dragons. And, in overwhelming joy, I roar, spreading my wings, as the Berkians cheer our names- and everything is as it should be.

Just a week ago, I thought I knew who I was. An explorer, destined to map the world with just my best friend at my side. The same goes for Hiccup: he too had believed we were doing all we needed to do. How wrong we were…

Looking out at these people- our people- I know that this is right. This is what we're meant to do. We've always been meant for bringing people and dragons together, but I think we just forgot that for a little bit. And, unfortunately, it took the ultimate sacrifice to finally get a clearer perspective.

I've made so many mistakes in my life, but I think that maybe… being the creature to make that final, eye opening one is okay. I don't know how to forgive myself, at least not yet, but maybe we'll all come out better because of my mistake than we were before it. For it was that fateful blast that put us in a situation where we could no longer ignore our destinies. And because of that, the dragons have a new Alpha, and the people have a new chief.

Hiccup had once asked me, years ago, if he'd ever be good enough to lead Berk. I knew even back then that he already was, but he was too stuck in his insecurities to see that for himself. I tried for hours to explain this, but no matter what I did, he never understood. Today… I think he finally does.

To try and remember the dragon I was before I met Hiccup has become near impossible. I can't even recall what it felt like to fly without his familiar presence. And, frankly… I don't want to. Because to think about a time before Hiccup would be to think about a time of survival, of suffering. I love my human more than I can even put into words; and I know he feels the same way. We're family, after all.

And until the next day comes that changes everything, I will do whatever I can to keep us safe. I'm a protector, and I will do anything for the people I love. That's a promise I intend to keep, no matter what.

Hiccup was there for me even when I didn't deserve it. So you know I'm going to be there for him.

Always.

Once again, thank you all so much for reading my story! I really hope you enjoyed, and that I'll see you next time!

Also, just like HtBaF, this fic is an audiobook! It's all my voice and pretty... cringy... but if you're interested, just paste this after the YT URL: /playlist?list=PLjJ14wOmujKn3RfuZW4obCcn-HEYrs18R

Coming up: a few oneshots and a chapter tale