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astrxd · 6 years

Note

Hey! I am not sure if you are taking requests but if you have time I would love to see a Hiccstrid Holiday cute romance thingy. :)

A/N: Happy holidays! This one isn’t as festive and holiday-y as a real Christmas fic should be... But it’s two days after Christmas, and I guess I can get away with it. If you haven’t read my holiday story from last year, I suggest you go ahead and get through that for some context! :-) Sorry, though -- this may be a little rough! It’s the first thing I’ve written since my hiatus, so I’m doubtful that I’m on top of my old game. That, and this is pretty much set up for the next “chapter.” But, please -- enjoy! xxx

Part One | Part Two | Part Three (the up-and-coming New Years’ special!)

Astrid adored Christmas. The lights, the decorations, getting people gifts… She loved peppermint and gingerbread and the smell of a fresh pine tree, not to mention snow and the music and heavy, knitted sweaters. Then there was spending time with family and friends and--

And Hiccup. Especially Hiccup, because their Friendsmas was a long-standing tradition that she had no intention of calling off in the near future. For years now, the two have made it a point to share the holiday in each other’s company -- that year was no exception, but it practically broke her heart to hear that Hiccup wasn’t exactly in tune with the mood of their usual celebration. It was a sour note in a classic Christmas carol.

But, of course Astrid was all too familiar with the strange feeling of “being older” that he was referencing. It was a subtle phenomenon at first: each year they got older, the quicker the holiday season rolled around, and the less excited they’d feel. Thanksgiving happens, then in the blink of an eye, it would be Christmas. Just an inevitable side effect of growing up, she assumed. The things that they loved would just… Stop feeling the same.

It was like how back to school shopping as an elementary schooler was the best thing ever, but after each following year, it was less and less about 64 packs of crayons and cool backpacks (with wheels!) and more about an unholy amount of college-ruled composition notebooks. Yeah. Getting older sucked -- but on the bright side, they’ve been together.

At the very least, they were together.

Throughout the last couple years of high school, Astrid managed to deny her disenchantment. She clung to the Christmas magic she so desperately wanted to believe in for both herself and for Hiccup because -- because, well, she was Astrid, and Astrid adored Christmas! But when Hiccup admitted that he’d been experiencing the same flicker and fade in his sense of Christmas spirit… It was like a wake up call. It draws her back to reality and out of her protective bubble, urging her to acknowledge the truth: they were getting older, so obviously, it was time to grow up.

Unsurprisingly, Astrid wanted to do no such thing. Not yet -- not when it was their last chance to share Christmas before everything…

Changed.

Or, in other words, before they were ripped apart by the tides and toil of life -- as dramatic and violent as that sounded. (She was Hiccup’s best friend, of course she’d pick up on hyperbole.)

Rather than throw in the towel, she coaxed Hiccup into doing all of the activities that they did when they were younger. Instead of just driving around to see Christmas lights and napping (as nice as both of those things were), they made cookies and a pillowfort. Instead of just watching movies, they did their own voice overs. Instead of letting each moment slip through their fingers… They recorded everything. And, to top off the tree, Hiccup was spending Christmas day with the Hoffersons while his dad was caught up at work. As much as she wished Stoick Haddock could be with his son, Astrid was more than elated to have Hiccup around. Her parents loved him, Stormfly loved him, her cousins loved him -- even her ever-overprotective uncles and doting aunts seemed to be delighted with his company. Penny also found an immediate friend in both Hiccup and Toothless, to the point where Astrid almost wondered if she should be worried about losing him to her little cousin.

...Of course, given the way he reciprocated her mistletoe kiss with starstruck gaping and a warm hug, she figured that she wouldn’t have to worry about him going anywhere anytime soon. And, on top of that, Astrid knew what she wanted (him), and she had a pretty good suspicion that she knew how Hiccup felt, too. The sole reason as to why she only acted now was because of the little seed of doubt in her head, and the insurmountable fear of losing him. She could deal with being wrong about his feelings, but losing him entirely? Astrid wouldn’t survive the carnage.

But, before the mistletoe... Before they even arrived, she had to remind Hiccup that she loved him (platonically), and that wouldn’t change if, in the off chance, something went awry with her family. Before the mistletoe, Astrid had watched Hiccup easily introduce himself to her aunts and uncles and a grandparent or two. The difference between the gregarious young man sheepishly talking about his plans for college with an undeniable gleam in his eye and the boy who panicked about whether or not her family would like him during the car ride to her house was stark, but the young man and the boy were, of course, the same person. Hiccup -- her Hiccup. He’d gone from her goofy, sarcastic dork to her diplomatic, goofy, sarcastic dork as soon as he’d stepped into the kitchen. He was nervous at first, yes, and he stumbled over his words and stammered and over-gesticulated, but it was unbearably charming and sweet and so very Hiccup of him. Astrid was proud to stand beside him as they caught up with her family, and more than once did they exchange nudges and laughs at their own inside jokes mid-conversation.

He was welcomed into the Hofferson family with open arms. When they asked about how long they’ve been “together”, however, she figured that the conversation was venturing into territory that even they themselves haven’t explored. That was a little awkward, but where Hiccup was at a loss for words, Astrid was there with her hand on his shoulder and a proud “forever.” He laughed a little, removed her hand from his shoulder to hold it instead, and parroted her “forever” with a “forever” of his own. She swears that it was the way he looked at her in that very moment that evoked the inexcusable urge to kiss him, so…

So, she did. She kissed him, and she loved every second of it -- it was the aftermath that made her nervous. After her cousins decided to ambush them with foam darts, Astrid had strategically removed herself from the situation to avoid talking about what their kiss -- kisses -- meant for their friendship. Maybe it was because she was scared of being turned down, maybe it was because she wanted him to initiate the conversation. Either way, Christmas Eve was peppered with pecks here and there, and in the heat of the moment, Astrid took a leap of faith in her feelings and kissed Hiccup properly. On the lips. With her fingers curled into his collar, because if she’d placed them anywhere else, Hiccup would surely feel them tremble, and it was bad enough that her heart felt like a hummingbird’s wings.

(As confident in herself as she was, she was still allowed to be nervous about how he’d respond, right?)

Thinking back to the way that he looked at her when she pulled away from their kiss kicks her nerves into high gear, because it was that look again. She’d spot him looking at her like “that” when he didn’t think she was paying attention, but his soft gaze and slight smile were somehow more enamoring than ever. It was the look he gave her when they went out for milkshakes at the local diner with the rest of the gang, and it was the look that he gave her when she successfully beat Snotlout at arm wrestling at said diner. He’d look at her like that when she celebrated after she won a round of MarioKart or mini golf, and he’s been looking at her like that since she pulled him off of his couch just the day before.

By all means, she should have been focusing on the plastic Nerf gun in her hands, but instead, she was touching her lips with two fingers and anxiously wondering how that kiss would change their friendship as she walked to the kitchen. Stormfly sat perched on her shoulder, balancing perfectly as she ruffled her feathers. “At least I’ll never have to worry about losing you because of a kiss, girl,” she sighs, feeling her bird bump her cheek into her temple.

It was… Still a scary thought, no matter how many times Stormfly tried to comfort her with a headbutt. Did she screw up by kissing him? The more she thinks about it, the more she can’t seem to remember if he actually kissed her back! She was almost sure that there was something there, and that they’ve just always had a “something there, because that’s all that Ruffnut and Heather (and Snotlout!) would moan at her whenever she expresses girlish concern over her stupid infatuation with her stupid best friend. Astrid knew that she liked him, and she thought that she knew that he liked her, too. And yet, after all of these years -- all of the hints, the gentle, subtle prodding… This. Now up was down and left was right and Astrid was missing Hiccup.

Literally. There was really only one way to find out what would become of the two, but before she could get back to Hiccup to finally get some answers, she first needed to rescue him from a bunch of little kids holding him hostage in the den upstairs. It was so like her cousins to use him against her -- they’d jumped him while she was wrestling for some ammunition, and before she knew it, he was a human jungle gym being tugged toward the stairs.

(“You’re the worst human shield ever,” he’d announced dryly as he was carted away, giving her a look that was a cross between ‘help me’ and ‘I’m an only child and this is kind of hilarious.’

“You’re not even trying to get away,” she scoffed and grinned at him, having chosen to not help his case by instead shooting him in the shoulder with her gun. Hiccup had given her an exasperated look, but she only shrugged, whipped out her phone, and collected footage of her very favorite Haddock being incarcerated by children with Nerf guns.)

Astrid holstered her orange and blue gun over the shoulder that Stormfly wasn’t sitting on as she walked purposefully into the kitchen. Her mother raised an eyebrow at her from her place at the counter, questioning the whereabouts of both her cousins and Hiccup. “You two have been inseparable since you’ve arrived,” she observed, “should I be concerned?” Astrid sighs at her perceptive mother, and starts transferring cookies from a tray to a plate with her free hand.

“Oh, it’s nothing, really,” she muses nonchalantly. “The kids just have my boyfriend tied up with tinsel upstairs and refuse to let me speak to him until I fulfill their ransom of one sheet of sugar cookies.”

Wait.

Shit.

Her mom blinks at her, and one of her aunts -- and her dad, who should have been fully invested in the pots on the stove instead of her conversation -- laughs. “Your what?”

“My best friend. You know, Hiccup?” She repeats, giving her dear mother a confused look. The older Hofferson looks at her for a moment, then exchanges glances with her husband.

“...Right, of course -- who else? You’d best get on rescuing him, then,” she laughs lightly and nods, handing Astrid the cookie platter. “I can only imagine how itchy that tinsel is.”

The best way to recover from a Freudian slip: pretend everyone else made the mistake, not her… Although something about the wry smiles in the kitchen tells her that she hadn’t managed to fool anyone. Astrid inwardly damns her pale skin for making it so stupidly obvious when she blushes.

(Honestly, she wishes he was her boyfriend already, but the day Astrid would set herself up for heartbreak was the day she hung up her favorite pair of yellow Converse.)

His brain was mush -- from the moment Astrid kissed him, to the moment he let her cousins sit him on a couch in a room upstairs, right up until they tied his wrists together with scratchy, silver tinsel from the stairway railing.

When Astrid said her family was intense, he should have known that she was talking about her cousins, too.

He just… Didn’t know how to react to having his best (human) friend and crush of so-long-that-it’s-actually-just-embarrassing-at-this-point kiss him. On the lips, on Christmas. He stood there like a fool, partially stooped over because of the way Astrid tugged him down, with his hands limp at his sides until he got enough of himself together to hold her close, all as his mind went blank of all thoughts except Astrid, with her soft lips against his and soft hair brushing against his cheek. After all of the strictly platonic teasing and kissing and encouragement from yesterday, Hiccup couldn’t imagine interpreting her latest mistletoe kiss as anything but exceedingly friendly.

That, and it was just easy to tell himself that there was no way Astrid would be remotely romantically interested in him in a million years. She was way too out of his league, as she always has been.

Except…

There was something there. Something in her eyes -- a, a spark, something gentle and warm and sweet when she pulled back to look up at him. And all he had done was hug her. Hug her! Because he was too big of a coward to do anything else, much less finally tell her how much he cared about her… As more than friends. Ugh, when Fish hears about his latest struggle to talk about his feelings, he was going to combust with second hand embarrassment and first hand frustration -- Hiccup was sure of it. And he couldn’t even vent to Toothless about how much of a moron he was because her cousins were reloading their guns and petting his aforementioned cat as they waited for Astrid to show up with cookies.

Hiccup couldn’t believe he was being held ransom for some cookies. He thought he’d at least be worth some cookies and milk. Maybe even some candy canes? At the very least, he was able to find comfort in knowing that Astrid was reliable, dependable, trustworthy, intelligent, pretty, resourceful, everything he could ever want in a person, a friend, a girl--

Hiccup stops himself there. Christmas miracles existed, but it’d take ten of them to get Astrid Hofferson to ever see him as anything more than a friend.

At least, that’s what he thought.

Astrid rapped her knuckles on the door three times, only to be greeted by Penny holding it open just a crack of the way. The silence coming from the rest of the room would have been eerie, if not for the fact that it was prefaced by loud laughter, chattering, and ‘quiet, Astrid’s here!’

“Password?” She says, obviously trying to sound ominous, but the effect is ruined by her impish grin. Astrid rolls her eyes and sighs, but how could she deliberately put a damper on her cousins’ fun? Their energy and antics were a testament to how Christmas was supposed to be enjoyable. Even if their idea of “fun” included kidnapping her friend and his cat and demanding that Astrid abuses her power to get them cookies.

“Hm…” She pretends to mull it over. “Give me back Hiccup or else I’ll just give these all to Stormfly?”

“Birds can’t have cookies,” the little girl says, wrinkling her nose.

There’s a twinkle in her eye and a challenge in her smile. Stormfly chirps, too. “Is that a bet?”

The exchange went smoothly. She handed over the cookies, and Hiccup was welcome to walk free.

...Well, mostly free, because she was right about the tinsel and it had been tied just a little too tightly.

“I can’t believe you let a group of elementary schoolers take you hostage,” Astrid snorted. Hiccup was seated on the edge of her bed while she rifled through her desk drawers for a pair of scissors. Toothless pawed at the silver plastic, only to become more interested in Stormfly’s trilling once Astrid sat down, too. “And I also can’t believe you let them cuff you in tinsel.”

“In my defense, what else could I have done?” Hiccup laughs. “They loved it. It was like a cop movie, but with little kids and Nerf guns. You were the big hero, I was the damsel in distress, they were this -- this weird... cookie-obsessed mafia, I guess.” When she glances up at him, he almost looks -- well, wistful. She can see why, just by observing the gleam in his eyes; he’s remembering being as young as they were, and she can tell. It’s… Touching. And a little shocking, because his eyes are impossibly green in the dim yellow glow that her fairy lights cast unto them.

Silently, and with the faintest of smiles on her face, Astrid carefully moves his sleeves back; she can feel him go still as she holds his hands with one of her own and uses the other to push said sleeves up. In the midst of the sudden quiet between them, the boisterous laughter of adults and children alike resonate through the peppermint-scented air. His hands were always warmer than hers were, and her cheeks seem to flush at just that thought. She slides one blade of the scissor between his wrists and snips him free, and with a happy sigh of relief, he starts to rub at his skin. “Why, thank you, my knight in knitted wool. Calvin is surprisingly good with knots.”

“Thanks to Boy Scouts, probably,” she submits, leaning over to set the scissors on her night stand and discard the clipped tinsel into a wastebasket. Everything was going fine and dandy and she was happy to just be sitting beside Hiccup, and then--

“--Boy,” Stormfly starts, cocking her head at the two teenagers. “Boyfriend?”

Astrid almost chokes on air. Gods above, have mercy on her soul, because it just left her body.

Stormfly goes and does--does that. She goes and drops the b-word, just because Astrid had accidentally used it earlier, and she’s almost certain that every inch of her skin has erupted with goosebumps. Birds were much smarter than people gave them credit for, and the way that Stormfly started to try playing matchmaker? That was more than enough evidence for Astrid. Needless to say, the blonde feels enough embarrassment to last her lifetimes, and Hiccup’s bemused (and amused) expression doesn’t do anything to ease her nerves. She opens her mouth to say something, anything to diffuse the situation and extinguish the confidence-crushing curiosity in his eyes, but her voice is missing.

“Astrid,” Hiccup starts. His brows start to furrow, but his lips also start to curl into a small smile. It’s a little sheepish, but… Definitely a little smug. At least, that’s what she’s assuming, because she ended up with her eyes shut and her fingers on her temples the moment he said her name. “Why did Stormfly just say--”

“Boyfriend. Best friend,” Stormfly chirps, “Hiccup!”

The first time Stormfly said boyfriend, she was startled and her heart started pounding. But the second time? The second time, her chest starts to hurt and her stomach twists. A familiar weight settles on one of her shoulders, and though she shouldn’t have been startled, she jumps a little. Warmth seeps through her sweater to her skin. “Astrid--”

She swallows the lump in her throat. She knew how she felt -- she could tell him. And she wanted to, but… Stupid teenage girl things? An inconsolable fear of being wrong and somehow screwing over one of her favorite friendships ever? Both? “My extended family -- Stormfly included, apparently -- suspects that we’re an item. And I…” she manages, reaching up to touch the hand resting on her shoulder. ‘And I wish they were right,’ she mentally adds on. When she looks up, their eyes meet, and Astrid...

Astrid doesn’t have enough will to look away. Not when he looks a touch concerned with his lips pursed and his brow knitted, and definitely not when he turns his wrist just enough so that he’s holding her hand instead of her shoulder. His fingers are long and calloused and seem to fit perfectly between her own, and the way he issues a gentle squeeze to her hand somehow makes her heart squeeze, too. Idly, Hiccup skates his thumb over the back of her hand and Astrid shifts on the bed so that she’s facing him a little better.

She could tell him, right here -- right now. End the seesaw of emotions, finally get an answer: did he like her, too, or not? The wondering would end, and they’d stop wasting all this time. It was tempting, yet mortifying.

“And you...?” Hiccup prompts, but it’s a distant rumble in her ears. Astrid had shut her eyes for a second to gather her thoughts. When she opens them again, she looks at him -- really, really looks at him. It’s the first time after their kiss that her head actually feels clear and her shoulders sag with renewed calm.

Unassuming, thoughtful, sarcastic, witty, clueless, oblivious Hiccup. Somehow, even after all this time of coming to terms with her heart, he’s managed to get her to short circuit with just a kiss, but when she thinks about it… It was more than the kiss. It was his smile and his laugh and his automatic agreement to partake in all of her holiday hoo-hah; it was the way he clicked unbelievably well with her cousins and earned the favor of her other relatives without a hitch. Surely, Astrid had faith in her best friend to be able to handle Christmas with the Hoffersons, but as always, Hiccup exceeded every one of her expectations.

It made her heart flutter. She cared so much about him, she was so happy to have him with her, she just--

“I love you,” she blurts. Too quickly to be casual. Too frantic to be platonic. She tries to gather her composure. “And I’m really, really tired of waiting for you to give me some sort of sign that you do, too, Hicc.”

...So much for a clear head. At the end of the day, no matter what she thought to be true, reality would find a way to prove her wrong -- she’d just somehow forgotten.

They sit there for a few moments. Long, heavy, quiet moments.

The words bubble past her lips, and then they’re gone. Hanging, suspended in the air, just… Floating, then sagging, then sinking. Then her mother’s voice rings out, glorious timing and all, beckoning them and the kids downstairs for dinner. Astrid still looks like a deer caught in a set of headlights and she knows it, because not only did she definitely not platonically admit her feelings for her best friend and long-time crush, but now she was being given yet another opportunity to temporarily escape the mess that she made.

She could stay… Or she could go. She could wait for the answer she’s wanted for so long, or she could avoid it.

Again.

Except running away was not Astrid’s thing. She was not one to back down from confrontation -- challenges were accepted at any cost, bets were completed to any degree, competitions were had at every turn. But this? This? A slurry of feelings and uncertainties and the future -- their future? It’s… Terrifying. Genuinely terrifying, and Astrid prided herself as practically fearless.

Yet, speaking of fears, her fears of what he would say had been enough to incapacitate her, but the silence that follows her declaration is what does her in, for Hiccup’s silence was much louder than any words he could have possibly managed. He stares at her, lips parted slightly, eyes wide and shoulders stiff--

...Astrid smiles weakly when she realizes how unfair it was to have basically demanded an answer from him -- an answer she’s now almost certain is negative. She lowers her gaze and squeezes his hand one more time, before lifting it to her face and sweeping some hair behind her ears. This was wrong -- this wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. “We should go,” she says, starting to get up. “They’ll definitely start dinner without us if we don’t--”

Then, Hiccup grabs her hand.

“Astrid, I...” He stands up after her, and she, yet again, notices just how tall he’s gotten. How green his eyes are. How his lips and his eyebrows look when they’re pursed and furrowed into a crinkled line, respectively. There’s her favorite freckle on his cheekbone, the silver cat scratch scar on his chin, a pronounced line defining his jaw… In a matter of seconds, Astrid has examined every single one of his features and further committed them to memory in hyper detail, but it’s not enough -- she wished that she could capture and save a moment the way that she saved his appearance.

He holds her hand, tight and unrelenting, and opens his mouth to speak. She hangs on by a thread, anticipating his words with a budding sense of hope--

“Astrid! Hiccup!” Penny hollers, and she can hear the little girl skipping down the hall. Astrid and Hiccup pull away from each other as if he were fire and she was ice, and just in time, too -- her cousin pops her head through the door, looking onto them with a curious smile. “Can we sit together? Please?”

Astrid almost lets go of his hand, but Hiccup is the one to let go first. There’s something symbolic in the interaction, but she doesn’t have the time to properly consider it because his phone was ringing and throwing her all off. Astrid watches him expectantly, curiously, and Penny shuffles in to latch onto Astrid’s side, obviously perplexed by the way Hiccup looks vaguely alarmed when he glances up from his phone.

“It’s…” he starts, evidently hesitant to answer it, and “it’s” is all he has to say to inform Astrid of the caller’s identity. She almost -- almost -- can’t believe that she has to urge him to accept the call. She gives him silence and an exasperated look, and he seems to get the message.

“Hey, dad. Wait, wait -- where are you?”

Stoick’s car had given out on the side of a highway a short distance from town. The winds were picking up and flurries of white were beginning to fall from the sky, and with a busted engine, there was little he could do to make any ground in the snow. Apologetically, he asked Hiccup to pick him up, and a new sense of urgency settles in his chest.

He quickly filled Astrid in. She extended her welcome to his dad, suggesting that he came over as well, seeing as they’d have more than enough food to go around and it was a little late to try and put together a full dinner. Hiccup reminded her that there were only two of them, said he’d hate to impose, that he didn’t want to keep everybody downstairs waiting any longer than necessary.

Part of him felt like he was just trying to evade Astrid’s statement, which was, quite frankly, stupid and ridiculous because hearing her say that was literally a dream come true. Astrid Hofferson? In love with him? The more the thinks about it, the more surreal it feels. It’s like he was dreaming. Or Ashton Kutcher was hardcore messing with him. Plus, she was just trying to be a friend.

Emphasis on friend.

Time. Time! He just -- he needed time, to think, to get to his dad. To -- to figure out his thoughts, what he would say to her and how he would apologize for freaking out and completely forgetting the English language as soon as she said that she loved him.Fuck, she loved him, and he had to leave. Knowing his luck, he should have anticipated something like this. Still, in spite of his revelation, Hiccup ends up leaving just before dinner to rescue his father from an oncoming snowstorm and holiday traffic. The Hoffersons only agree to discharge him with more than enough food for just he and his father packed away in stacks of plastic tupperware. Penny makes him promise to play with her again, and Astrid… Astrid walks him to the door, Stormfly on her shoulder.

...What with the urgency of his predicament, he rushes outside without giving her a proper response, let alone goodbye.

At least, he almost does.

His arms are full of tupperware and Toothless stands at the edge of the porch, but Hiccup hurries back to her doorstep when he realizes that he hadn’t acknowledged what she told him -- at all. With all of the packed up food in his hands, it’s difficult to get close to her, but he manages to press a grateful peck to her lips. It’s swift and chaste and done with a furious blush, but… It’s enough. For now.

“Merry Christmas,” he mumbles, bumping his forehead to hers as soon as he pulls away, because if he didn’t go soon, he’d be even less inclined to leave and Astrid would surely sling him a punch in the shoulder for his hesitation, and the latter of which could definitely wait until he had the time to respond with a proper sarcastic remark. “ I’ll make this up to you, I promise. I--”

The blonde is left standing at the door, her arms wrapped around herself and a faint smile on her face. When she looks up, there’s not a leaf or berry of mistletoe to be found.

“I love you,” Stormfly sings, nudging her cheek into her owner’s.

And this time, it wasn’t Astrid that she was parroting. She was just omitting the “too.”

#im POSTING something??? WHAT???#it sucks but w/e #i need the practice anyway #my writing #hiccstrid #fanfiction #holiday special #Anonymous

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raflovestuffs · 7 years

Text

Nascent love, part four

First l Previous

Oh my dear gods…

This is the longest chapter I ever write! That’s why the translation took so much time! Nevermind, I hope you’ll like it and give me your opinions on it because it’s very important to me! Indeed, this final chapter will be my thoughts on RTTE’s end so I need your advice!

I was very happy to share this fic with you!

See you soon!

« Heather,

If you read my previous letter, I can’t imagine the way you are now after found this one. Indeed, I am not dead Heather. During the battle, Viggo’s men took me prisoner. I’m writing you because being close to them has allowed me to access some information. Then, I know that the Grimborn brothers are planning a great blow soon.

Don’t be fooled.

Besides, I’m sincerely sorry for letting you wonder so long. Please, forgive me.

Take care of yourself,

Dagur. »

That’s what Dagur’s letter stated. After reading it carefully, Hiccup and Astrid looked at each other. The blond came next to the brown girl and put her arms around her.

– Oh Heather…

When they put an end at their embrace, Astrid kept a hand around Heather’s shoulder. Hiccup looked at the girls, looking a bit peaky.

– I admit that I don’t know what to say… He said.

Heather smiled faintly, tears in her eyes.

– Then, don’t say anything.

In answer, he took her in his arms too.

…

– Dagur is alive?! Fishlegs screamed.

Heather was sitting at the table with the group that was displaying a perplexed expression.

– But that’s awesome! Tuffnut exclaimed.

Everybody turned its head to him.

– What? That’s good news, doesn’t it?

Heather breathed.

– Of course Tuff but… she began.

– But what? he answered.

The brown girl gave a look to Hiccup.

– And what if it was a trap Tuffnut, you thought about it? asked Hiccup.

The twin lowered his head.

– We must bear in mind that Viggo likes to play. He might as well have made someone do this letter… Unfortunately, we can’t be sure of anything. I’m sorry Heather but we can’t take the risk of rescuing him, he ended to say by looking at her.

Astrid came put a compassionate hand on her friend’s shoulder. But she got up from the table.

– I think that I should rest a little…

– I’m coming with you, Astrid announced.

Heather turned back to her friend.

– That’s nice of you Astrid but I think that I need to be alone…

So she let the girl go and the gang looked at her pulling away, helpless.

– We have to do something! Fishlegs outraged.

– I’m with Fishlegs for once. We can’t just let her go away like that in knowing that his brother is maybe alive, out there, in the hands of Viggo! Snotlout blew up.

– But that’s exactly the point Snotlout…There’s this “maybe” and I won’t let you take this risk, the future Berk’s chief concluded.

So everybody hushed and the meal pursued.

The days passed and the dragons resurfaced soon with a whole flock of newborns that the village didn’t wait to care of. The year-end celebrations being passed, it was time to the dragon’s trainers to join the Edge and resume their activities to the great displeasure of Stoïk who was very sad to see them leave again.

– Be careful and do not take part in a losing battle, you understand me Hiccup?

– Yes Dad, don’t worry about us.

– Take care of yourself, Son.

– You too, Dad. Come on, we take off! He declared, directing the whole group.

So they drew up to the Dragon’s Edge, more hurried than ever to go back but with a silent Heather.

The journey seemed extremely long and tiring to them so much that the tension was palpable on the band but Hiccup not paid attention. It was finally Astrid who did something about it by going talk to Heather.

– Ok that’s enough now Heather, out with it!

– There’s nothing to say.

The blond girl looked at her with obstinacy by frowning but the other lowered her eyes.

– Pleased Heather, the young girl insisted.

– No Astrid, it’s not necessary. Hiccup took its decision and he will not change his mind so the debate is closed.

The young man girlfriend sighed.

– Oh pleased Heather, don’t be mad at me like that, it’s not my fault! Astrid exclaimed.

– Of course, I know that but the point is that if I ask you to come with me in order to search my brother, would you come with me?

Astrid couldn’t look straight.

– That’s what I thought. Whatever happens, you’ll be in his direction because you love him and that’s normal. I’m not the one who would reproach you that but the reality is that. I’m alone and so is Dagur.

– Heather, don’t believe that. You do think that if someday he get it wrong, I’ll be sure to tell him. And even if I love him, that won’t stop me. No. In contrast, we’ve already hide things to him and I will never do it again. It almost destroyed our relationship.

The brown sketched a smile.

– See? You care about him more than anyone else! So put yourself in my place a little! My brother is maybe alive, kept by Viggo and his men, left to his own devices… If it was Hiccup out there what would you do, in Thor’s name?!

– I… Astrid began.

– Hey! Look! It looks like a message! Fishlegs noticed.

Without realizing, they were already on the Edge and Fishlegs had just noted a letter was hanging around a terrible terror’s neck. He came next to him and took the note.

– What does it say Fishlegs? Hiccup asked.

After reading meticulously the letter, the intellectual made a brief summary of it to the interested:

– It’s Mala, the Defenders of the wing needs help…

– What does she say exactly?

– She says that : « […] Viggo Grimborn’s men are there, they surround us. We won’t be able to hold out. We need backup. Come quickly. […] » That’s what she says.

The young chief gets a look at the letter and declared:

– Ok guys, we’re going to help them, get ready to…

And that was all Heather had to hear to be offended.

– I can’t believe it, you’re going to help her like that, without condition! And what makes you think that it is not a trap?!

– Heather… he began.

– Give it up Hiccup, go ahead, go join her because she needs you so badly! She blew up.

The pretty brown moved away, furious.

– I’ll stay with her, that way if it’s a trap, there will be two of us to defend the Edge, Astrid offered before following her.

– Are you sure it’s all right? Hiccup asked.

– Don’t worry Hiccup, go on.

Astrid felt like Hiccup wanted to add something but he came around.

The dragons’ riders left the two girls on the Dragon’s Edge, drawing up at full speed towards the Defenders of the wing’s isle.

– What’s going on here? Snotlout wondered.

They landed in the middle of Mala’s folk. The crowd seemed surprised. The Defenders of the wing’s chief appeared in the middle of the assembly.

– Hiccup Haddock, what do I owe this pleasure?

– What does that supposed to mean? Snotlout requested.

– Excuse me but what message are you talking about?

– She’s kidding us! Snotlout started to annoy himself.

– Except if she is not the one who sent it… Hiccup pronounced.

– What? You’ve lost me guys… the twin whinged.

– This is not complicated Tuff, it means that we’ve fallen into a Viggo’s trap, Ruffnut informed.

– Again?! Tuffnut exclaimed.

– Does anyone can explain me what’s going on? Mala intervened.

Fishlegs pulled the letter received earlier off and handed it to the isle’s queen:

– Here’s the message we received from you.

The short haired woman browsed it with interest before saying:

– Obviously, this message is a fake. I would never have named “men” these sort of rats that work for Viggo, they’re hunters, nothing more and nothing less.

In his own, Hiccup was trying to give sense to the situation that was playing behind him without feeling concerned. Then, after a time to reflect, it was like everything became clear of a sudden. While all the others were being nervous about the subject, he articulated his girlfriend’s name.

– We need to go back! They’re in danger! the young man called out.

– What are you talking about, Hiccup? Fishlegs questioned.

– The girls! Astrid. Heather. They’re in danger! It’s a trap! Viggo will be all over them! On the Edge! We need to go, now.

– But why would Viggo want to attack them? Snotlout asked.

– I don’t know yet but we’ll soon find out. Ok everybody, we take off!

So they flew away quickly in the opposite direction, abandoning Mala in the way.

– How could I fall into the trap again? Hiccup blew up.

– It’s true that it’s getting to be a bit much, Tuffnut admit.

The Stoïk’ son addressed a sad look to his friend, undone. The others gave him a dark look, full of blames.

– It’s gonna be okay Hiccup, we’re talking about Heather and Astrid, Fishlegs added quickly.

However, the young man didn’t seem reassured about it. On the contrary, his stomach hurt him because of how much he was scared for them. He will blame himself his whole life if ever something happened to them.

But when they sighted the Edge away, they already knew it was too late. Viggo’ ships were encircling the isle and there was no sign of the girls over the skyline. They approached their headquarter, that’s when he saw them, that he saw her, firmly chained to a mast’s vessel of them. She was struggling, trying to overcome her cords, giving kick to anybody who tried to bar her from doing it but when she saw him, she stopped any dissenting activity.

– Hiccup! she screamed.

– Astrid! Are you okay? he called out.

– It’s a trap Hiccup! Don’t…

The dragon hunters’ chief had put his hand on the girl’s delicate mouth.

– I forbid you to touch her! Hiccup shouted.

Toothless uttered a growl that was more than threatening.

– My dear Hiccup, we’ve been waiting for you… and your night fury, Viggo giggled.

The young boy frowned.

– Toothless? What do you want Viggo?

– What I want? Him of course! And the lens of this dear Heather…

So the brown appeared alongside of Viggo, held by the guards. He grabbed her by the chin, smiling and released her.

– It’s that simple.

– But what lens is he talking about Heather? Hiccup wondered. And why would you even need Toothless?

– Hiccup, you know as well as I do how the Dragon Eye works so I don’t doubt that you’ll find the answer by yourself.

Hiccup didn’t take more than two seconds to understand.

– You’re looking for night furies?! But why? For what purpose?

– This is none of your business my boy. Now, be both reasonable and give me what I ask for.

– Or what?

– How dare you ask this question dear Hiccup? Ryker!

So Viggo’s brother positioned himself behind Astrid and put his cutting weapon under the young girl’s neck.

– No! Hiccup shouted.

– And as for you, Heather, didn’t you keep the hope deep inside yourself of finding your brother one day?

Heather and Hiccup looked at each other, petrified. Viggo gave a head sign to one of his henchmen. Two men went out with a prisoner whose face was hidden by a burlap sack. This one was floundering but the men were maintaining him firmly. The chief of the dragon hunters gave them a new head sign. They bared the prisoner’s face.

– Dagur…? Heather murmured in a quivering voice.

Hiccup was wide eyed.

– Here is the deal. The lens and the night fury for this dear Astrid and Dagur.

Heather turned her head towards Hiccup.

– I’m sorry Hiccup.

– Heather…

The brown left the lens into Viggo Grimborn’s hands.

– Wise decision, young lady. Let him go.

Dagur was released and arrived into his sister’s arms in an affectionate embrace.

– Well, what are you waiting for, Hiccup Haddock? You really want to make me kill your friend in front of you, right now? Ryker!

His brother reduced the margin that existed between the girl’s neck and his sword. It was too much, the Grimborn were going too far.

– All right Viggo, you win…

But he didn’t have the time to finish his sentence. Against all odds, the night fury came roaring in the form of a shockwave which led the whole ship crew and the Grimborn’s brothers to find themselves on the ground. He came next to Astrid with his loyal rider on his back and the latter using his flaming sword to burn the blonde’s cords. She climed on Toothless’ back and he took off, trying to esacape the men who were already trying to get him back.

– Catch him! Viggo shouted.

They were flying above water when the dragon was finally kept in their nets. So Hiccup and Astrid fell into the sea without having time to take their breath. They went out on the surface soon to see the sad sight of the capture of the boy’s best friend. Toothless gave him a sad look.

– Toothless!

– Goodbye Hiccup, I was pleased to know you, Viggo declared.

So the boats pulled away from the Edge, leaving bewildered riders. Hiccup slimmed his fist on the water. Astrid put a comforting hand on his left shoulder. So his gaze felled on her. He sketched a smile with mixed feelings but he was relieved.

– Oh Astrid, thanks Thor, you’re all right! he exclaimed by taking her in his arms. I was so worried about you…

…

Viggo gone, the gang was just recovering. He had taken Toohtless with him. The questions about his intentions piled up in the riders’ head but they couldn’t think about that yet. Dagur had returned. It was as if he had cheated death from their point of view. Heather was in shock, like everyone, but she rejoiced in his brother’s comeback into the land of the living. So this is what the riders were doing, they celebrated. Everybody except Astrid. The latter went isolating in her room without anybody knowing why.

– But tell us, we all thought you were dead! Fishlegs exclaimed.

– We saw you disappeared in the smoke! Tuffnut affirmed.

– How did you manage to stay alive? Snotlout asked.

– Actually, when I threw myself into the burning ships with Shattermaster, the men of Viggo didn’t kill us, they captured us and since I’m their prisoner. I don’t know what happened to my dragon.

– So the letter I received, it was from you?

– You received my letter? Dagur wondered.

– Yes and the one you left before you go…

– Heather…

– I know that you didn’t kill our father.

The redhead smiled and took his sister in his arms again. Hiccup was watching the scene with interest, he had been right to give his trust to his old enemy. That’s when he noticed Astrid’s absence.

– Dinner’s almost ready! Heather exclaimed.

– Start without me, I’ll check on Astrid, Hiccup stated.

– I think she got into her hut, take a look, the brown informed.

On the advice of Heather, the boy moved towards the Astrid’s hut. He knocked. No one was answering so he decided to step in. The girl was lying on her bed, turning her back to the young boy.

– Astrid?

– Is that you Hiccup?

– Are you okay?

– I’m not really hungry, that’s all. But go ahead, go join us, don’t worry about me.

– I’m not that hungry either actually…

He approached the young woman’s bed and sat down on it. He stroked her shoulder.

– Tell me what’s wrong Astrid.

She looked at him, then looked down, reluctant. She finally brounced back by redirecting her attention to him.

– This is all my fault.

Her boyfriend displayed a confused face.

– What?

– It’s my fault if Toohless get captured… I feel so bad Hiccup if you knew!

– What are you saying? Nothing that happened is your fault, don’t believe that Astrid!

– But if you didn’t have to choose between him and me, he’s still be there, she said close to tears.

Hiccup sighed and embraced her, he caressed her back to reassure her. Then, he took her face in his hands. He declared sweetly:

– If it happened again, I’d do the same Astrid. I love you, don’t ever doubt.

So she closed her eyes, some tears overflowed, and the handsome brown came put his lips on hers.

– We’ll bring back Toothless. And we’ll do that together, as a team.

Astrid smiled to this last comment. They lied down on her bed, interwoven.

– Now sleep Milady, we have a big day tomorrow.

The young girl’s breathing start to breath like his bestfriend while he wondered when was the last time they found theirselves in a situation like the one they were living now. He remembered suddenly; it was when they had lost the Dragon Eye.

The Dragon Eye was now in the hands of Viggo Grimborn. Hiccup had failed miserably: he failed to bring back Heather and Windshear who were Thor knows where and above all, he had lost the Dragon Eye. Hiccup felt really bad, he thought he was responsible of this situation. Actually, the events were over his head. He and all the gang were in a difficult position, they must get back the artefact at any cost but they were alone with the dragon hunters’ chief. However, Hiccup understood that it was no longer a question of playing anymore: no errors should be permitted again. A stony silence surrounded the band of riders for quite some time. Snotlout decided to break it.

– Ok, I’m not bored but what’s next?

Hiccup still had the look lost in the ocean, holding firmly the Viking Chief’s piece in his right hand.

– We’re going back to the Edge, he declared coldly by still staring at the horizon.

Astrid opened big astonished eyes, she didn’t seem okay with the young man’s decision.

– What? You want to go back to the Edge? After everything that’s happened? The situation is too serious Hiccup, we need to talk to your father.

Hiccup turned over to face her.

– No Astrid, there’s no way to involve my father into this.

– But why? she spoke out.

– Astrid, if we wander from Berk I think it was for a precise reason… he began.

– Obviously not the one I imagined… she stopped him.

– Let me remind you that you said it yourself: we’re not kids anymore! Hiccup exclaimed. We can deal with our problems ourselves, we don’t need Berk’s support for that.

The discussion was becoming under control and the fuss was making itself felt, it didn’t leave the group indifferent. They were somewhat in retrograde, analysing the situation.

– Well, what should we do? We let them argue until they agree or we intervened? Ruffnut asked?

– Great question sis’, we’re face to a big dilemma: should we let them do and attend their disagreements, well, rather pleasant or break this magic moment where those two delicate souls are fighting against each other? Hum… difficult choice… Tuffnut answered, stroking his chin by squittting.

– Argh… You’re really muttonheads, the both of you… Snotlout sighted.

– Okay, we need figure out something else, Fishlegs interfered, I’ll talk to them.

So he came next to Hiccup and Astrid who were facing each other by giving dark looks to each other. Astrid was pointing at Hiccup.

– And you know I’m right! she ended by crossing her arms.

– Astrid, it’s a no. We go back to the Edge, that’s non-negotiable, Hiccup retorted.

– So what do we do? Fishlegs simply asked.

– You heard the chief? We’re going back to the Edge! Astrid exclaimed, annoyed.

She climbed on Stormfly and flew away quickly in the direction of the Dragon’s Edge. Hiccup sighed in exasperation and started to follow her. Fishlegs turned back to the rest of the group.

– Let’s follow them.

– Hum… it seems that there’s a little trouble in paradise… Ruffnut smiled with a vicious tune.

– There’s a little trouble in what? Tuffnut questioned.

– Argh… You never understand anything Tuff… she whispered.

They went to the Dragon’s Edge like this. Upon arrival, Astrid rushed into her hut and never looked back. Hiccup was going after her, he didn’t want to be angry with her, she was his bestfriend. Astrid closed strongly her door’s hut. When Hiccup arrived at the door, he hesitated to knock but finally decided himself, racked with guilt.

– Astrid, can we talk, please?

– Go away, Hiccup.

– C’mon Astrid, this is ridiculous!

Hiccup was angry, he didn’t want to go to bed knowing that he hadn’t made up with the pretty blond. Since no answer reached to him, he got the courage and stepped in.

– Hiccup… she began.

– Okay Astrid, I know that you don’t approve my decision and I understand you, I assure you but believe me, it was the right thing to do. You know my dad, he always exaggerated. If we had involved him in it, he’d have taken matters into his own hands and we’d have outlived our usefulness. But that’s our problem, I’m the one who left and took you down with me into this. I’m the only one responsible here and I must face the consequences now. We have to learn how we can do things on our own Astrid…

So the young lady approached him, she lifted her head by passing her hand through her hair. Then, she put her hands around her waist and smiled.

– Okay, you’re right Hiccup but you don’t have to do this alone, we all are responsible in this so we’re gonna act as a team, understand?

Hiccup smiled.

– No problem.

– And one more thing, promise me that if it really gets rough, we will inform your father? she said seriously.

– I promise you.

They smiled at each other and Astrid came naturally snuggle into Hiccup’s arm.

– Thanks, she murmured.

Then, they split and Hiccup went to the door.

– Good night, Astrid.

– Good night, Hiccup.

It was truly at this time that the word’ signification of “team” had begun to change and seemed to all make sense for them. Now, when they said “team”, it was as a couple. Hiccup watched Astrid sleep. She was so beautiful when she was sleeping. Soon, he fell asleep too.

The next day, when the Edge woke up, it was time for Heather to tell what she knew about the lens that she had given to Viggo earlier.

– Okay Heather, tell us what you know.

– Well, this lens, I found it on this famous island that they want to find.

– The night fury’s island, isn’t it? Dagur asked.

The brown nodded. Hiccup was wide eyed at this disclosure.

– Are you saying that… You found it?! he practically choked.

– How did you manage? Astrid said, surprised.

– You know, I discovered it completely by accident! It was at the time when I and Windshear were travelling by ourselves. We rested on this island before leaving on the next day. That’s when I found this lens, it was hidden in the trunk of a tree, as if it didn’t want to be found. So I began to wonder about it and I recognized the symbol on the lens, even if it was extremely small, I recognized the shape that was ectched on the glass. It was a night fury. That’s when I understand, I was on their island, Heather narrated.

– And then, could you get near them? the young rider get excited.

– Hiccup, she said by pausing.

She put her hands on his shoulders.

– They were gone.

– What? How’s that?

– There were no night furies on this island. There were just bones, skeletons that you could easily recognize the shape…

– Are you saying that…

– I think that they were exterminated Hiccup…

The future’s chief stayed in awe. All hope of gather Toothless and his kind one day had just gone.

– How can you be so sure Heather? Ruffnut asked.

– As I said, all there was on this isle were dead dragons’ carcasses but that’s not all. Actually, contrary to expectations, we were not alone on this island. There was a Death Song.

– You think that he’s responsible of the night furies’ death?

– I’m even certain but I’m even more sure that he didn’t come on this isle by accident, he was inserted. Here’s what I think: dragon hunters maybe wanted to take night furies away in order to catch them easier and thought that the Death Song will do it. But they maybe didn’t know that he ate his victims! As a result, they had been exceeded by the situation and didn’t dare to go back on the island. So they left the lens on it so that nobody can return!

Heather’s theory seemed to be good but the dragon riders were perplexed. A question remained unresolved: why would Viggo want to find night furies that much?

– Why didn’t you speak up before? Hiccup suddenly questioned.

– Well, simply because this island is dangerous Hiccup! And I didn’t want to hurt you with that story.

– That’s nice Heather but now, thanks to you, we know that we’ve to act very quickly if we want to save Toothless. Is that island far from us?

– I’d say two days’ travel from here.

– Master Hiccup! a voice called out.

So the latter turned his head, it was Trader Johann.

– Johann? What are you doing here?

– Oh sir Hiccup! I came to inform you with rather unpleasant news concerning Viggo and his flying reptiles’ smuggling! Johann called out, all out of breath.

– Come Johann, come sit down and explain to us what you have to tell us calmly, Hiccup invited him.

– And shortened please! Snotlout added ironically.

Hiccup gave him a dark look. Johann sat down at the dragon riders’ table and they approached to listen carefully what he had to say.

– You see my dear friends, I kind of overhear a conversation unintentionally in a tavern that was, well, rather charming. The food was delicious and…

– Johann, please, Hiccup intervened by signing to get back to basics to the trader.

– The conversation Johann? Astrid insisted.

– Oh yes! the old man exclaimed. Two hunters was talking to each other and saying that their master was preparing a trap against your person, sir Hiccup. They said that it was in the final purpose of extracting a valuable asset from you, your dragon, the night fury. As I understand it, he was essential to find a lost island.

– Yes, we know all that Johann, Viggo already came… Fishlegs admitted.

– Did those men evoked something else? Did they say why they had to go there? Hiccup questioned him.

– Let me see… Yes! I think I remember that it has something to do with one of their major buyers… Yes, one of them has commissioned a big shipment of night furies! He’s ready to pay a good price, apparently.

So the young man took a look at the dragon riders.

– There’s his reason… Thanks Johann.

– At your disposal, master Hiccup.

– That means that Viggo will kill us if we try to wreck this mission! Fishlegs exclaimed.

– It’s more serious than we had imagined Hiccup, what’s next? Heather requested.

– I think that we must join forces if we want to defeat Viggo this time, the young man announced. We’re going to the Defenders of the wing.

So they took off in the direction of Mala’s island.

…

After explaining the whole story to the queen of the island, she gladly accepted to help them. For her, it would be the final battle, their last chance to defeat Viggo. She wouldn’t have missed this for the world. His folk had been particularly cooperative, now all that is left for them to do was develop a plan in order to damage the dragon hunters once and for all. Especially since the first time, they were one step ahead of him.

– It is not about killing them, right? Hiccup asked one last time.

– Exactly, they will have the right to a trial first, Mala replied.

– We all know that it’s all the same? Tuffnut prompted to his sister by laughing.

– Shut up, you idiot! she reprimanded him.

Mala and Hiccup shook hands like two true war’s chiefs. The battle will finally begin.

It didn’t take long for us to trace Viggo and his men, they had already arrived on the night fury’s island. Mala’s soldiers already charged off to do battle with the Viggo’s army on the boats. The close combats had rapidly followed these organised assaults. Mala’s army seemed to take the advantage but nothing was certain. On their side, the dragon riders tried to delay the dragon hunters’ progression on the island by burning their ships. Mala was fighting together with her men meanwhile Hiccup was chasing Viggo who was heading for the island with Ryker who was firmly holding Toothless. Dagur was accompanied him.

– You won’t find anything here Viggo.

The concerned looked up to the one who had questioned him.

– On the contrary Hiccup, these night furies are going to make me rich beyond imagining! the master of dragon hunters exclaimed.

– Except if there are none of them.

– What is he saying? Ryker groaned.

So Hiccup drew near the Grimborn duo.

– You’re trapped Viggo, turn yourself in, now.

– Never! He screamed.

Against all odds, Viggo climbed on the back of the reptile with dark scales and moved away from the little group visibly.

– Go ahead Hiccup, I got him! Dagur said to the young man.

So Hiccup ran in the search of a winged partner by signing “help” to his teammate. So he felt talons grabbed him. It was Astrid and Stormfly. The blond helped the young boy to climb on her dragon’s back. So they pursued Viggo who was on Toothless’ back. Lucky for them, free again, the dragon was trying every way possible to take his rider down. When they finally found him, the improbable duo was flying very low. Hiccup jumped out of Stormfly in order to land on his best friend’s back. He pushed Viggo but since he was struggling in the same time, he took him down with him. Once ashore, a sword fight operated between the two men. Hiccup struck the first blow but the strategist that was Viggo had no trouble catching up. He struck in his turn but much stronger than Hiccup could ever do. But the son of Stoïk the Vast had a little more up his sleeve and this was the precise moment that he turned on his flaming sword to surprise his opponent who got burned. While Hiccup thought he had taken over his sworn enemy, that one avoided feeling overwhelmed by his innovator tactics and retook the advantage on the young boy who was down, at the mercy of Viggo Grimborn. Astrid who was looking at the scene, almost intervened but she was surpassed by an unhoped savior. The Death Song. Viggo had no time to understand what was going on that he was sprayed with amber in what he was prisoner now. So the dragon left with his victim meanwhile Astrid scurried to get back her boyfriend with Toothless’ help. All they could hear was the freezing scream of the redoubtable hunter.

So they fled in a hurry in the direction of the island’s coasts to escape the imposing dragon who will not delay to come back. Hiccup affectionately stroked his best friend’s head and this one answered warmly with a cooing of pleasure. But they must not forget that the time was running out.

– Faster! Hiccup shouted.

– We’re doing our best! Astrid answered.

Dagur and Ryker were still clashing in a violent combat. Neither of them seemed to take the advantage on the other. The Death Song’ scream didn’t defer to ring once more.

– He’s coming! Dagur, run! the brown shouted to the intention of his new friend.

So the Berserker’s chief turned back and that’s when he saw it. He started to run and Toothless didn’t delay to catch him while Ryker was still trying to understand what was going on. He finally turned his head to the thing that will lead him to his death before being covered by an orange substance that reimbursed him. It was all over for the Grimborn brothers.

Now, they didn’t have much time before the Death Song’s come back.

– Astrid, go tell everyone to stop the fight. There’s something I need to take care of.

– And where are you going?

Her question remained outstanding, they had already left.

Toothless and his rider crossed the flames in order to reach Viggo’s boat. They finally landed not without piquing Dagur’s curiosity.

– What are you looking for, brother?

– The Dragon Eye. We have to get it back.

– I follow you.

During this short time, Astrid had informed Mala about the situation and together the two, they had informed their army of what was going on. While everybody started to evacuate the island, the dragon hunters didn’t understand what was going on. Soon, the Death Song resurfaced but he was not alone, others accompanied him and Hiccup as well as Dagur hadn’t come back. Astrid and Heather started to worry about us while they reappeared in the sky full of smoke alongside the two ladies that they loved the most.

– We’re here!

Astrid squinted by nodding her head. They moved away from the island as far as possible while helping Mala’s ships to go faster by hauling them. Although they were out of danger, they could nevertheless observe the carnage that was occurring hundred miles further, not far from them.

– The mission was accomplished succesfully, go home now, Mala declared.

Shortly thereafter, they arrived at her island and she congratulated them about the functioning of the mission.

– But I thought that you wished a fair trial for the Grimborn brothers.

– That’s what I said, indeed. But you know although, my dear Hiccup, that the only judgement in what I have trust is the dragons’ one. And they decided to eliminate them.

This woman impressed him, really. She had an answer for everything and always kept a clear head. Hiccup settled for approving what she said with a half-smile that he accompanied with a shrug.

– I was pleased to fight by your side, Hiccup Haddock. My pleasure.

– Me too Mala. Thanks again for your help. See you soon, hopefully.

– Goodbye Hiccup.

Their adieu presented to the queen of the Defenders of the Wing, it was time for us to leave. They were on the boards of the island, point which they decided to go in order to save their dragons’ strength.

It was the precise moment the fearless Hofferson chose to punch her beloved on the shoulder.

– Ouch! Hiccup called out, surprised.

– That’s for scaring me.

Hiccup understood immediately where she was going. He grabbed her waist and kissed her on the lips behind the gang. While they were at formalizing the thing, might as well do it thoroughly. He finally got loose from her and declared by looking her straight in the eye:

– That’s for everything else.

She smiled and they embraced. Then, they turned back to their band to enjoy their reactions. Heather already knew so it was not a surprise for her, Fishlegs didn’t seem surprised either. Dagur was happy for us while the twins seemed to not understand. As for Snotlout, he appeared relieved.

– You were dating all this time and you didn’t tell us?! Ruffnut blew up.

– But what just happened also, though? Tuffnut asked.

His sister sighed of annoyance. But it was Snotlout’s reaction that amazed them the most. He approached them and Hiccup more particularly.

– At last! It’s about time by now!

– Snotlout?

– What? With all the signals I gave you, I really thought that all my efforts have been wasted but when I look at you two together, I realize that it was worth it! He exclaimed.

– But what are you talking about Snotlout? Hiccup asked, a little astounded by the viking’s words.

– Wait, did you really think I had designs on Astrid?

He started to laugh.

– I did it to make you jealous, man!

– You can really learn something every day… the young man gasped.

– Well, talking of revelations, Dagur and I have an announcement to make too, Heather intervened.

– Don’t tell me that you’re dating too?! Tuffnut questioned. Because then, it would be really awkward…

– No Tuffnut, don’t worry, it’s not about that. Dagur…

– Well, actually, Heather is going to join me to lead the Berserker by my side and reassume her rightful place, Dagur announced by smiling with sincerity.

– Wow Heather, that’s amazing, Hiccup affirmed.

Astrid stepped forward her.

– Why didn’t you tell me?

– Astrid, we are not leaving each other you know, she said by taking her in her arms.

– Will we keep meeting?

– I promise you.

That was a lot of goodbyes in a day but the dragon riders had already overcome much worse than that.

– And by the way Hiccup, what are you going to do with… well, you know what I’m talking about, didn’t you? Dagur asked.

So Hiccup took something out of Toothless’ stuff. He weighed the object in his hands.

– The Dragon Eye?

He paused and looked at the artefact attentively.

– I think that it had caused too much damage.

He had said this sentence seriously and that made the dragon riders shiver. Suddenly, he drew up towards the edge of the cliff he was and dropped the old object in the ocean.

– Hiccup! Fishlegs screamed. Are you crazy? All this knowledge… lost forever on the ocean floor… What are we going to do to look for new dragon’ species now?

Hiccup had a smirk.

– We’ll do things the old fashioned way by discovering the world on our own, Fishlegs.

The intellect seemed to experience mixed feelings but he knew that the young boy was right. They got back on their dragons, preparing themselves to take off. Hiccup readjusted himself on his saddle before adding:

– It’s time to come home.

THE END.

#rtte #rtte spoilers #hiccup #astrid #dagur #heather #the gang #httyd fanfiction #nascent love #my fanfiction!#finally!#viggo grimborn #ryker #mala #nascentlove

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