Goodbye?
It was time. Hiccup knew. A pang in his gut told him it was time to go home. Berk was waiting, his mother was waiting.
Paradise, as Ragna had called it.
"It has been an adventure, Hiccup." She said to him as he mounted up on Toothless. That much was obvious.
"... You're sure you don't want to come?" He asked her for the hundredth time. More like Seventy-fourth, actually.
Ragna shook her head sadly.
"You know I would love to." She sighed. "But my place is here, now. Besides, what would happen to Mörgum? I couldn't leave her here alone."
The old Dragon nuzzled her mistress, looking both thankful and apologetic that Ragna had decided to stay with her. Ragna smiled a little, stroking her ear.
"Like I said, we could send people to come pick her up-"
"No, Hiccup." Ragna cut him off. "You and I both know that I must stay, and you must go."
Hiccup nodded sadly, knowing that there was no way to talk her out of it. Ragna was dying, and she wished to do so in peace. He only felt sorry that he wouldn't be able to grieve for her. Even after all the new things he had learned from her in this short time, she was still like a stranger to him. She had shared so much with him, helped him understand more than he could have ever learned in twenty years. Yet he still barely knew her. His own grandmother.
The only question now was what to tell his mother, Valka. If he told her anything.
But how could he keep all this to himself? He had discovered something far more important than Dragons. Ragna had a secret. A wonderful secret.
One that was meant to be shared with the World.
"Alright, then…" He murmured. He couldn't help wondering why all of his adventures ended with a bittersweet flavor on his tongue.
"Oh, Hiccup." Ragna sighed, taking his hand. "Please don't be sad. After all," She smiled a little, "...This may not be the last time you see me."
Hiccup laughed.
"Of course." He said. "I wouldn't be surprised, to be honest."
"There you go." She said. "Now go on! Go home, and tell everyone. For Einn!"
Toothless leapt up, beating his wings and stirring the snow as he rose into the clear blue sky.
"For Einn." Hiccup repeated to himself as he looked over his shoulder, "The One, The All."
