"It always does," Hiccup whispered back, voice filled with absolute surety. "Always."

Dragons the size of mountains could fall. Vicious madmen with dragon armies could die. It was the one thing he was always sure of, that things could get better.

Even centuries' long wars could give way to peace.

"You just have to hold on."

Because people like him were going to fight for that. If he survived this he was going to learn all he could and fight with everything he had. Even if it killed him.

Especially since there was a chance it could keeps these absolutely insane people from killing innocent little girls like her.