Green-eyed shadow
Disclaimer: I do not own anything except the plot.
KEY
'Thoughts/memories'
Emphasis/yelling
*Symbiote speaking*
*Symbiote think-speaking*
(A/N: Here we go, the final chapter but not the last update. I'm planning at least one epilogue… maybe two, who knows? I highly recommend listening to "Valhalla calling" by Miracle of sound if you fancy Viking/Nordic music.)
Review responses
Umbra Lycan: Thanks, and I will. I thought so too.
Arraia: Here you go!
VulpineKitsune: First off, nice name! I try to hone my skill as a writer with each story. Yes, the Stoicks in my other FF were cold, emotionless brutes(Unless you count anger and disappointment as emotions), but I like to switch things up between my stories. Luna's purpose was originally meant to be a missed chance at kindred spirit but I felt I wanted to balance out Hiccup's character traits, so she counters Avarice's cold and bitter logic with awed wonderment and tender sibling-like care. If Luna instead went with Astrid , then Hiccup would gradually lean towards Avarice's influence. Astrid was already complete in her development, although I did decide she could steal some of his abilities to make them her own. Luna will have a part in dealing with Dragons, maybe more than just acting as a translator. PS, I'll definitely put that change in at some point!
Keithbear666: Personally, the thought of killing off toothless in this universe made my stomach turn. I grew up on the movies and series, Toothless has a special place in my heart.
Back to the action
Chapter 21: The white beast
Nar POV
Morning, Berk village square
With the Berserkers gone, the tribe returned to its usual routine. Every morning, Gobber would meet Hiccup and Astrid, then lead the pair of teenage symbiote hosts into the village. most of the time, Astrid would follow Hiccup as he worked with Gobber in the forge or Iric at his workshop. The rare occasion she wasn't close by her boyfriend was when her father needed help hunting in the forest.
Gunther learned quickly how efficient his daughter had become with controlling her gift. Most days, he hardly ever needed to use his hunting crossbow, instead letting Astrid use her spike-shot ability. His fellow lodge members were pleasantly amazed how accurate Gunther's daughter was, incapacitating prey with a single spike to the vital areas. More material was able to be processed from her kills, leading to more food being available to the tribe.
Days later
Shamus and Gunther were sitting at Mrs. Larson's shop, waiting for their orders, "I heard from Sven, you brought in a lot of boar yesterday".
"Yep, four three-hundred pounders", Gunther took a drink from his mug. "Heavy buggers, had to carry them on my shoulders", he rolled his arm, "But my daughter had no problem, carried one under each arm like nothing".
"Wow, that's some strength!", Shamus sipped from his drink.
"Here you are, boys", the owner Larson placed down their plates and huffed, "Sorry about the wait".
"You having trouble with the business picking up?", Shamus asked the heavy breathing woman. Gunther raised an eyebrow, The hunting lodge members regularly picked up breakfast, stopped by for lunch, and even dined with their families at Mrs. Larson's shop. Having business booming, the owner was able to commission the Forge to build her a new larger oven, she paid extra to have it made from black steel.
"It's a bit exhausting, even with the remodels and new cookers", she wiped a bead of sweat off her brow. "My maid went and quit on me, the girl constantly refused to serve Hiccup", Mrs. Larson shook her head, "The new staff is busy in the kitchen, leaving me to do both". Another customer hollered out for his order, "Ugh, sorry boys, gotta go".
"Shame, even with her sass, the girl was quick on her feet", Shamus shrugged before digging into his meal. Gunther looked around, many of the patrons seated were ones who had moved into new or remodeled huts in the upper district of Berk. A trio of the Black guard were on break over by the fireplace, sharing a pitcher of mead and pie with their meals. The bell above the door rang, Magnus gave the two a nod after he stepped in.
Hofferson house
Gunther and Shamus had gone their own ways, the hunter was strolling through the upper district towards his home. "Oi, ya' smell that?", one of a pair of villagers asked his friend, pausing clearing the snow from his front yard. Sniff-sniff, Gunther caught whiff of a stench coming from the direction where he was heading. "Ogh, smells like someone set a yak on fire!".
"Could it be the twins are up to no good?", the other man emptied his full shovel over his fence.
"I doubt it, Knut's got 'em on a tight leash ever since they caused Silent Sven's sheep to stampede through the village last week", he shook his head as he swept his front step clean.
Gunther reached his front door, the smell from before even more pungent. As soon as he stepped in, the Hofferson had a face full of burning stench. "Welcome home, dad!", Astrid strolled out from the kitchen, holding a pot as his wife stood at the doorway. "I've been learning how to cook!", she held out the pot filled with a foul dark bubbling goop, "Want to try some?".
Gunther look past Astrid to Brenna, who motioned not to, "Sorry, sweety". The father patted his belly, "I just had quick bite with Shamus over at Larson's", his daughter became gloomy but quickly recovered.
"Okay, I guess I'll clean up then", Astrid walked back to the kitchen.
Brenna waited for her to go in before greeting her husband, "Dear, I'm trying but… I'm just not good at teaching our little girl".
"Honey, don't sell yourself short, you're a terrific cook", Gunther patted her hand.
"I know but still, I don't know how to tell her", the mother didn't want to hurt Astrid's feelings.
"You just have to keep trying", he sat down in his chair with Brenna following suite.
"I'll give it my best shot, even though everyone in the village knows Larson's the best chef on the island", she set down one of Gunther's worn pants across her lap before reaching over to her sewing basket.
"She is, isn't she?", Gunther rubbed his chin in deep thought. "Hmm… That's it!", his wife looked at him intrigued, "I just came up with an idea that just might work".
A few days later, Larson's shop
"Two orders of lamb chops and vegetable stew", Mrs. Larson scribbled in her notepad, "Is that all?".
"Oh, do you have salted cod today?".
"Yeah, Mulch and bucket just delivered a crate this morning, want to add it?", the customer nodded fervently.
"Order fur' table three up!", one of the cooks hollered after setting the plates at the window.
"Hofferson!", the owner called out.
"I'm on it!", Astrid jogged towards the kitchen, symbiotic tentacles snatched up empty plates as she passed tables. The tendrils scooped the dishware together, handing the stack off as the host picked up the prepared meals, "Anything else?".
"The mead and pie fur' Bob and Agnar's ready", the cook held out a tray with mugs and pie slices.
Astrid's slime limbs twisted together to form an arm, taking the tray from the surprised cook, "Got it, Thanks".
As she made her way towards the expecting tables, other customers conversed amongst themselves, "Astrid's even faster that the old maid". While she set down the meals in her hands, her slime arm slithered over to the guard's table. Bob leaned back to give the limb room to place down their lunch, "Now that's quite handy". Agnar and the other blackguards chuckled before getting into their food.
"Looks like hiring Astrid was a good gamble, huh Larson?", Magnus handed off some coin to the owner.
"Indeed, Gunther's girl is a quick learner and light on her feet", Mrs. Larson gave him his change, "She works for cooking lessons, so I don't have to pay her that much".
"Astrid… cooking?".
"Yeah, but she tells me it's to get better for Hiccup", she shrugs, "Odin knows she's obsessed about Stoick's boy".
"True, I'm scared for any girl that eyes the lad", Magnus shudders, "I doubt she'll leave anything left of them".
A few days later, Trading Day, Berk docks
Thud, "There we are", the trader set down another small crate. "The spices you ordered, delivered on time".
"Thanks", Mrs. Larson handed off the pouch filled with coin.
"Yur' business must be doin' good, even with the rise in my costs", the trader pocketed his pay.
"Is it problems with your supplier?", Astrid began setting the crates in her boss's cart.
"Not with them, me and the other traders have had to avoid Berserker waters, too many haven't come back", the news brought gloom to those that heard it.
"I see", Mrs. Larson sighed, "Be careful out there". He smiled and nodded, waving goodbye to his favorite customer.
"Should we tell the chief?", Astrid walked after her employer as she pulled the cart.
"I'll inform Stoick when I have the chance, just in case he hasn't learned himself", the two continued to buy supplies until running into someone familiar. "Gobber, what are you doing here?", the blacksmith turned away from the stall owner when he heard her voice.
"Hello, Larson, Astrid", Gobber grinned, "Just stockin' up on gold, silver an' coppa' fur' tha' forge". He handed over a small coin chest to the owner, "I've been getting' a lot mo' orders for gifts an' whatnot, snoggletog just around tha' corner". The trader set down a heavy iron box on the counter, "I best be getting' back".
"Gobber, wait!", Astrid stopped him, "Can I ask for something too?".
"I guess so, wha' ya' have in mind?", she pulled out a small book from her hangerok's pocket.
Gobber looked at the opened page, "Hmm, shouldn't be too difficult, I assume it's fur' 'iccup?". She smiled and nodded, "Normally it'll be somewha' costly, but I'll do it fur' half… since it's fur' ma' boy".
"That won't be too difficult", Astrid patted her full money pouch.
"Indeed, the girl's a hella' worker, Gobber", Mrs. Larson smiled while placing her hand on her employee's shoulder.
"An' don't worry", Gobber gave her a thumbs up, "I'll keep yur' order a secret from 'iccup".
One week later, Sundown
"How does someone like me ever deserve a great girlfriend like Astrid?", Hiccup sigh as he and Luna soared above the isle of berk.
'Don't sell yourself short, little flame', Luna banked gently so her rider stayed seated, attached by both his feet and lower back. By now she was able to maintain her full-sized light fury form with little help from either Hiccup or Avarice, 'Your mate chose well'.
He reached into his tunic and pulled out her gift, "I know", half of an interlocking pendant in the shape of Luna. Astrid couldn't wait until snoggletog to give him his part, her half was a nadder going the opposite direction. He looked at his lap, his newly gifted journal's metal accents glistened in the soft moonlight.
*What's that over there!*, Avarice's warning broke him from his thoughts. Hiccup looked where he pointed out, a small group of black shapes stood out from the shining water.
"I don't know", he tucked his gifts away, "We should take a closer look". Hiccup reach into Luna's neck, powering up before they changed into a darker color. With their camouflage ready, he directed Luna to go down for a closer view. 'They definitely aren't Outcast raiders', the boats were no bigger than an average fishing ship. Canvas covered the decks, concealing who or what the ships were carrying. 'Why would they want to hide in the dark?', silent as a ghost, they circled the small fleet, examining them for possible weaponry. 'I may need to warn father, let's go', Luna spun and headed back towards Berk.
The village docks
"There, I see 'em!", hollered shamus from his perch up on a mast. Stoick peered off into the dark waters, the torch's light held by his guard flickered on his face. Sure enough, the boats slowly drifted into the harbor, hooded figures scurred to prepare the ships to dock.
A few of them jumped onto the dock way, they waited for Stoick or his warriors to react. They stood unmoving util the chieftain gave a grunt, making the black guard at ease. The figures moored their ships, after which a larger hooded one emerged from below decks. The rest made way for them, standing unmoving as the large one hobbled up to Stoick. They stopped a respectful distance from the chief and spoke in a masculine voice, "Thank you for granting us safe harbor, my old friend".
"Pardon, I don't think we've met?", Stoick eyed the concealed man for clues.
"Right, I… forgot I had this on", he took down his hood, reviling a tired emaciated chieftain.
"Oswald, my gods!", his sorry condition shock Stoick, "What happen?!".
"Dagur… my son, overthrew me…", murmurs came from the guards around the berk chieftain.
"Your boy… led a coup against you, how…why?!", Oswald shoulder's slumped as he started to sway, but a smaller figure rush to support him. Their struggling removed their hood reveling a young raven-haired woman, Heather held her father up before more came to help.
"Sorry, I… we've been on the run since many of my loyal warriors sacrificed themselves to help me, Heather and a few elders and their families escape imprisonment", Oswald composed himself.
Stoick looked around, seeing only a few small vessels, "Is this… are these all that remain?". The strangers removed their disguises, only a few small families and elders that he recognized were present.
"…Yes, please help us", Oswald sees his fellow chieftain narrow his eyes, "I'm telling you the truth, you've got to believe me!".
Stoick let out a deep sigh, "Oswald, your previous actions make me doubt your words".
"Father", the crowd behind the chieftain parted to let Hiccup and Astrid through, "We know a way to prove whether he lies or speaks the truth". Stoick examines his son and seeing his confidence, nods and lets him step forward. Hiccup looks to his girlfriend, "Milady, would you mind restraining these two?".
Seeing his smile, Astrid blushes and smiles as well, "Not at all, Darling". She throws her arms forward, shifting them into tentacles. The limbs latch on and quickly ooze around Oswald and Heather's forms, trapping their arms and forcing them to their knees.
"What's… what is the meaning of this?!", the former chieftain rasped out.
"Shh-shh, best not to move-", Hiccup raised his hand, "-It might become painful". Two thin strands of symbiotic goo shot out from his palm, striking the father and daughter on the forehead. The tendrils seeped into their heads, making the pair cry out in agony.
"Hiccup!", Stoick wasn't expecting his son's interrogation to be this harsh.
"No worries, father", Hiccup reassured him, "It's only painful, not damaging". Their wails made the surrounding hooligans squirm, "Milady?".
Astrid immediately knew what he wanted, "Got it", their slime entrapment sprouted another limb and wrapped around their mouths.
After a few moments, "…and… done!", Hiccup retracted his links. Astrid released her hold on them, letting them fall forward and gasp for breath, "Dagur made a deal with Alvin… again, they're most likely on their way here".
"How can you be sure, son?", Stoick sent a few men to check on Oswald and Heather.
"Oswald overheard them mentioning their first target, Berk", the news brought gasps from the crowd.
"I see, can we win?", the men carry the unconscious family towards the village.
"Maybe, but we'll still suffer heavy losses".
"What do you mean?!", someone from the crowd yelled, a few more demanded explanation.
"There's a possibility that both the entire berserker and outcast tribes may show up", Hiccup sighed, "We'll be outnumbered".
"Son, is there anything we can do to swing victory in our favor?", Stoick gently grabbed Hiccup by his shoulders.
The chief and everyone present waited for him to answer, "…Yes". They breathed out relieved, "There is something, but do you trust me, father?".
"Of course, why must you ask that?".
"We have to talk in private", Hiccup held his eyes locked to his father.
"I understand, son", Stoick led his son and Astrid back to the Haddock house.
The next day, Berk's dragon arena
Clunk, Hiccup closed the door to the nadder cage, "Odin, please let this work". The sound of a horn rung out from the village, 'That sounds like a guard horn… why?!'. He rushes to the inner gate, throwing it open.
"Hiccup!", Astrid opened the outer gate.
"C'mon on!", she breaks off into a sprint after him.
"Are we under attack already?!", the two teens run across the bridge to the village, hearing the faint sounds of battle.
"It can't be, a fleet that size would take a few days to reach here, unless…", they see smoke coming from the lower district and docks. When they reach a spot with a clear view, Hiccup observes the harbor, 'It doesn't make any sense!'. The trader ships docked were untouched by damage, not a single warship in sight. Several roofs were already burning, but there were few signs of battle could be found. The two followed the sounds of fighting coming from the great hall.
Berk's great hall
Hiccup watch on as armed traders and hooligans fought before the steps of the great hall. Most of the village was hiding behind the wall of black guards, the rest of Berk's warriors were engaging the false traders and outcasts.
"Sails a' swaying on the crimson rivers", Hiccup sang as he pulled out a sword hilt. "Blood and glory in the fighting fields", a raider sees the teen and rushes towards him, Click, the hollow blade extends from the hilt. "Shields a' shattered into splintered timbers", Hiccup ignites the blade and charges into his opponent. "Iron and steel!", He cleaves through the shield and slashes open their chest.
Thunk, a black steel two-headed axe hits another raider, chopping into their shoulder, "Fires are rising and the bells are ringing". Astrid lands on the writhing outcast, tearing free her new axe, "Glory take us into Odin's halls". Hiccup smiles as his girlfriend sings the hymn as well, "Golden glimmer and the sound of singing".
They both held up their stained weapons, "Asgard's call!", calling out to the heavens.
Stoick recognizes the hymn, "Ohh-oh-ooh… The echoes of eternity!", sending a trio of disguised raiders tumbling by his black steel hammer. The chief roars a battle cry, "VALHALLA CALLIN' ME!", reigniting the hooligans' morale. The hiding villagers roar out and pick up anything that can be used as a weapon, before shoving through the guards and charging the stunned invaders.
"Retreat!", the raiders were overwhelmed by the onslaught of the whole tribe and the two powered up symbiote users. Most berserkers remained to hold back the frenzied hooligans; the rest fled back towards the docks.
*Stop them!*, Avarice roared, making Luna's visage emerge. *Cut off their escape!*, she roared to the sky.
A fire wall swept across the routed outcasts path, "What the hel?!". The raiders looked up in horror, a small flock of dragons hovering above the street. A Nadder dove and ignited another flame trail to seal off an alleyway, the gronckle and zippleback swooped down and snatched up lone outcasts to carry away. "Stay together!", the bulk of the fleeing raiders huddled close, raising their shield to create a turtle formation.
*He-he*, Avarice broke off into a four-legged gallop towards the shield wall, leaping up and switching to his armored Fenrir form. He curdled up and rumbled down the street, crushing any unfortunate berserker or outcast that got in his way like a boulder. *If you set yourselves up…*, Boom, Avarice collided into the wedge formation, *I'll knock you down!*. Wooded shield clattered out as they flew from their owners' hands.
*Strrrike!*, Astrid cheered, fist pumping in her powered up form.
"Strike?", Stoick questioned his future daughter-in-law.
Astrid powered down her face, "Oh, it's from a game Darling and I came up with". Gobber hobbled up to them to listen, "You stand up a triangle of small logs on a lane and roll a rounded stone to see if you can knock them down in the least number of throws".
"Ohh.. that sounds like fun, lassie", The battle quieted down around the great hall steps.
"Agreed, you and Hiccup should show us after we deal with Dagur and Alvin's fleet", Stoick smiled.
"Chief, we got a live one!", Bob called out to Stoick. Avarice stood beside the guard when the chief arrived with Gobber and Astrid, "Where are the others?".
"Most of them took off down the docks, running along the foot of the cliffs", the dragons landed on the nearby roofs, "The rest ran into the eastern forest entrance".
"Oi, Stoick!", Spitelout approached them, "Wha' are we doin' fightin' alongside those blasted dragons?!".
"I don't like it either but we need their help for now", the chieftain sighed.
"Bah, workin' wit' those demons, Blasphemous!", Mildew shuffled up to the group.
"Jorgenson, if you have a problem with our temporary arrangement, take some men and go after those outcast that took off!", Spitelout scoffed and jogged away with several of his friends.
"Milady, can you get those that ran into the forest?", Hiccup turned to his girlfriend while keeping his face exposed.
"As you wish, Darling", she powered up and held out her arms, the limbs stretching to resemble nadder wings.
Astrid flew up, *Horn-spikes, you and two-snout go with his mate*, the nadder and zippleback take off after Astrid into the trees. Luna turns to the gronckle, *Stone-scales, help the scaleless with stopping the fires*, the gronckle nods and hovers behind Shamus's group carrying the fire brigade equipment.
Cough-cough, the wheezing of the wounded berserker drew back their attention, "Talk".
"Cough, you f-fools think you've won?", he hocked out bloody phlegm, "Our great chief will be here soon". The berserker took a rasping breath while looking at Hiccup, "You… you'll all be dead and Dagur will get that power he rightfully deserves".
"We see", shing, he silenced the wounded man by piercing a sharp claw through his heart, "Father".
"Hiccup?", Stoick sees his son retract his extended claw back into his finger.
"We have an idea how we can beat their fleets", his declaration peaked everyone's attention.
"Just tell us what you need, son", everyone around Stoick nodded in support.
"Are the old mead vats still around?", Iric steps out from the group.
"Yes, they're still at my shop after we replaced them with the new ones".
"Oh good, Gobber", the blacksmith hobbled over to him, "Can you move them to the cliff overlooking the docks?".
"No problem, 'iccup", Gobber called over his friends, "Alright boys, let's go get 'em".
"What else do you need, son?", Stoick's men stood behind their chief.
"Find Mulch and Bucket", he sent a few of his men off, "Gather any spare fish, fresh or rotten, doesn't matter". "Bring whatever you can scrouge up to the cliff while Gobber moves the vats there", Hiccup breaths in, "With any luck, we might have a shot at crippling Dagur and Alvin's ships".
"You heard my boy!", the chieftain bellowed out, "Get to work, people!".
Several hours later
The trio of three-meter-tall wooden vats took teams of five strong vikings a while to move to the location, "Odin Help us!". A black guard watchmen rushed to the preparing tribesman, "The fleets are on the horizon, their numbers are impossible!".
"Damn, we're short on time!", Stoick squeezed his fists, "Get the Berk fleet ready, we might need to buy time". Behind the chief, workers passed buckets of fish slop along their line, dumping them into the vats.
The foul-smelling goop filled them halfway, *There's no time left!*. Avarice stomped over in front of the vats, facing the vast fleet sailing towards them. Thud-thud, he planted his claws into the ground, bracing himself before swelling in size.
The workers stopped to watch in awe as Avarice continued to enlarge, outgrowing his Jotun form, "Oi, keep movin'!". Gobber brought the workers back to reality, making them resume their task of filling the vats.
Another form emerged from Avarie's back, a huge misshapen maw like his opened to extend an oversized forked tongue for each of the three vats. They dove into the fish goop and began to pulsate, pumping the slop back into the maw, *I'll handle processing the biomass to fuel*.
"Son", the titanic symbiote user looked down at his father, "I'm goin' with our fleet, we'll buy time if you need it".
*We won't*, Luna's head emerged from Avarice's chest. 'Fear not, little flame', she trilled, 'While he deals with our food, I'll handle controlling our fire', her throat swelled, building up gas from the biomass. 'This is it, thank you both for sticking by me', Avarice smiles, eyeing the nearing fleets, *I'm with you brother*, his symbiote thought-sighed. 'That's right, Emerald spark, we're right behind you!', Avarice's chest began to glow green, sparks jumped between his back spines.
"Everyone, get to a safe distance!", bellowed Shamus as he jogged towards the barricades.
Offshore
"Bah, that pathetic fleet is all they can muster?!", The berserker and Outcasts armadas closed in on berk waters, sailing right towards the hooligan's fleet. Alvin eyed the boats, ignoring the light at the cliffs like a pitiful distraction. 'I'll snatch that dragon devouring power the moment that berserker brat gets it loose!', the outcast chieftain smirked.
"Boy, that light's sure getting' bright", his outcast behind him brought his attention back, "It's almost blinding!". Before Alvin could move, his ship and its crew were burned away in a flash.
Berk's cliff top
The workers covered their ears to protect them from the deafening hum coming from the shining user, *Thirty seconds!*. Avarice tightens his hold in the ground, struggling to veer his mega plasma stream back towards the fleets. The huge bright green beam sweeps slowly across the ships, immolating warships whole and reducing them to ash. *Twenty seconds*, boats vanished in the steam clouds; floating ice shelves melted in a flash. 'Almost there, you can do this!', Luna cheered as she fueled her brother's fire.
"Talk about Asgard's judgment, eh, Stoick?", the chieftain watched as Berk's enemies were vanquished in an instant, meeting their end at his son's hands.
*Ten seconds, almost empty!*, Avarice's plasma breath slowly waned in strength. With a final burst, the last few ships on the flank were destroyed.
"Was that it?", Hoark piped up behind Stoick.
"We done it!", the crews of the Berk fleet cheered, both of their enemies were vanquished. Stoick silently stood, smiling at his son's heroic accomplishment.
Days later
"These supplies would more than last your trip back", The Berk chieftain shook his counterpart's hand.
"Thank you, Stoick", Oswald tried his best to put on a smile, but his heart ached from the loss of his only son. "I only wished it hadn't come to that", he boarded his repaired ship, heather was already ordering the crews to be ready to depart.
"You can only hope he wasn't with the boats, old friend", Stoick could relate to his pain, remembering when Hiccup was missing.
"Goodbye, Stoick", the berserker fleet began to sail out of the docks.
Above, on the cliff overlooking the harbor, Hiccup and Astrid watched the training dragons fly off into the sunset while Oswald's boats sail away. With Berk's biggest threats gone, they knew things would calm down. "So, Darling", Hiccup looked behind to his girlfriend with her arms draped over his shoulders. "When is our wedding date?", her question brought a smile to his face, but an uneasy one.
"Milady, there's no need to rush", he leans his head against hers, "Let's enjoy our youth".
Astrid frowned, but then smiled at his loving gaze, "Alright". "Besides…", she let go and spun around to embraced him, "I still need to think up more names for our babies".
Hiccup was stunned, 'Yes, I always wondered how the scaleless have hatchlings!'. Avarice didn't share his partner's excitement, *It's just as unsanitary as any other native species*. Hiccup ignored their argument, instead concentrating on enjoying his time with his loving, and sometimes terrifying, clingy girlfriend.
(A/N: And there we are, the final chapter but not the end of updates. I've decided to write not one, but two epilogues! Thanks everyone, for your reviews, it really makes writing FFs wonderful. A special thanks to one of my long-time readers/reviewers, Umbra Lycan. Anyways, I'll see you all in the epilogue, until next time!)