Falling. Free falling. Into the open air. The wind searing through my hair, the smell of the sea infecting my nose. I can almost clap the wind into my hand, but it disappears like mist. I open my eyes and call to him. He swoops under me in a second, and I clasp my prostatic leg into place.

"Good catch bud." I say. He responds with a deep guttural reply.

Then with one flap of his wings, we're immediately higher and flying into the clouds. I look all around as Toothless rides the wind. Soon the island of Berk comes into view. My village. My home. I can just make out a few dragons flying around the animal farm. Toothless and I fly back home. I would fly with him all day. If it weren't for my new job at the Dragon Academy, and the fact that we have a new neighbor arriving.

Personally, I don't really see why anyone would want to move here. Berk is obviously no safe haven. But with the recent change in how we live, people have learned to cooperate, better. With dragons living amongst us, things have been changing. For the better to everyone.

Toothless swoops down and we smoothly land on the stone steps of my house. I run my fingers through my hair in an attempt to make it look less messy, but since Toothless woke me up at the crack of dawn to go flying, I really couldn't care less. But when I see Stoick er, uh Dad, leave the house, my laziness is crushed like an eggshell.

"Hiccup, what are you doing? You need to look presentable for our new guests." He tells me in his chief voice.

Guests? They're going to be staying here. Forever. Not like they're going to leave. If they were only that lucky.

"Sorry dad." I say. "Toothless woke me up, and I didn't have time to brush my hair."

"Well go fix yourself up then meet me at the docks for the village greeting." Then with a rough pat on my shoulder, he leaves to go and ready the other Vikings at the docks.

I rub my shoulder in an attempt to ease the pain. My dad never knew how strong he was around me. Compare his giant boulder muscles to my toothpick arms, I'm surprised he hasn't broken me in half yet. Nonetheless, I head inside and wash up. A tub of warm water waits for me. I strip, and step into the glasslike water.

I scrub the dirt and sweat from flying from my hair, my body and my mouth. Bright pink and tingly, I head upstairs to find something clean to wear. To my surprise, my Dad has laid out one of his old shirts on my bed. A pale white thing with long sleeves. It must've been from when he was no older than a toddler since, back then when he was my age, his clothes would look enormous on me.

I feel rather stupid wearing the clothes of a toddler, but I am appreciative. This is something special. His clothes from his past are very precious to him. It takes half an hour to comb out my hair, and once I pull on my boot, I catch a glimpse of myself in the reflection of the shield hanging on the wall. I will admit, I look better then I normally do, but nothing like myself. I walk out and find Toothless resting in the grass. Then his head perks up and I mount on his back and we're off to the docks.

We arrive at the docks in a matter of minutes. Toothless makes a quick, spiral descent onto the pier. I hop off and search for my dad. I run into Fishlegs in the midst. He seems overflowing with giddiness.

"Isn't this awesome?! We're going to have a new member of the Dragon Academy!" he says excited.

"A new member?" I ask with a puzzled look. Recently, we've made it an official rule of the Dragon Academy, that you have to be at least thirteen before you can enroll and begin to learn how to ride.

"Yeah, the new member has a daughter! And she's our age!" Fishlegs explains.

Suddenly Snotlout shoves him out of the way. "And don't even think about saying 'hi' to her. She's mine." He says with a wide cockiness.

I roll my eyes. "I really have no choice Snotlout. I am the son of the chief. Saying 'Hi' to new villagers is an obligation."

"Oh whatever. Not like you'll stand a chance." He says then walks away.

Will she even be attractive? I think. I hear footsteps behind me and see Astrid walk up to me. She brushes her bangs out of her eye.

"It'll be nice to finally have another girl in the group to talk to." She says.

"Well what about Ruffnut?" I ask. Then I look over to her with Tuffnut, and the two are punching each other for no apparent reason.

"Yeah never mind. But what will you guys even talk about? Plus, who knows, she could even be a spoiled brat." I say. It's no secret that Astrid's a strong and confident girl. But could you blame me for being curious? She's not the gossipy kind, and talking about clothes bore her to tears. She seems more like the kind of person who finds chucking axes at trees for hours on end, fun. But you have to admire her for her independent spirit.

"Don't jump to conclusions Hiccup. You never know what people are like. We never knew what you were like." She retorts. For some stupid reason, I slightly blush at her compliment. Or as close to a compliment as I'll ever get from Astrid. And yet she's right. I haven't even met the girl and already I'm making assumptions about her. And as for Astrid, she seems more open to this than I am. She's usually so guarded around people, and yet she's willing to welcome this new girl with open arms. If she's willing to have a better attitude, I should too.

Things with Astrid have been, I guess you could say complicated. We're not really a couple, and yet we still have small feelings for each other. My feelings for her have changed since the dragons came along. Even when she kissed me, we were never officially a couple. Then with the new Dragon Academy open, I pretty much forgot about my feelings for her. Or more rather put them aside. I'm still not sure how I feel about her, really.

I find my dad at the edge of the pier where the boat will dock. I head over and am joined by Gobber, who in retrospect is like a second guardian to me. I've been his apprentice since I was a young child. He taught me everything I know now and the even taught me the knowledge on how to make Toothless' tale. He's one of the few people I can go to for help, let alone trust. While he may seem cruel and heartless, but really, he just tells things like it is. No beating around the bush for him, although he could use a filter.

I meet up with my dad and he takes a minute to look at me. Like he's just seeing me for the first time. Seeing his shirt on me must bring back old memories I assume. I can tell from the look on his face. He has a gentle smile on his face which almost no one ever sees.

"You look great son. Like a real man." He says.

"Thanks dad." I answer.

Since our war with the dragons has ebbed, I've been trying hard to mend my relationship with my dad. Same goes for him to me. He's been asking me to do more things with him around the village instead of brushing me aside. Letting me handle the Dragon Academy alone. Returning each other's hugs instead of awkwardly tolerating them. And my brush with death about a year ago - after defeating the Green Death– made us both realize how we needed to stop pushing each other away for some things we couldn't help, specifically the crushing of our relationship that happened after my mother's death. Because sometimes things happen to people and they're not equipped to deal with them.

Like me, for instance. Right now.

I can see the boat sailing in the horizon, and I begin to get nervous. Which I don't know why since with one look at me people use to think that I was nothing, or just ignore me. Which I liked, because then I had time to myself. But now that the word has spread that I am now a village hero, my solitude time, or flying time with Toothless has been deprived. Berk is a small island in the middle of nowhere. So whenever something new comes around, we tend to go a little overboard.

As the boat pulls in, the first person I see, or more rather the only person I see is the new girl's dad since he's the same size as my dad. Big and bulk with a thick brown beard and a thick accent to go with it. He basically had the same outfit as my dad, so I'm guessing he is, or was chief of his own tribe. The gods only know what could've possibly happened for the Chief to leave his own village.

I'm so lost in my own observation of him that when my father' booming voice vocalizes, I jump a little.

"Great thunder of Thor, Boggs! It's great to see 'ye!" my father shouts with excitement.

"Oh it's great to see you too Stoick after so many years!" Chief Boggs retorts.

"You remember Hiccup don't you?" my father says. And he gestures a hand to me.

"Of course I do. But he looks older since the last time I saw him." he says. Notice he didn't say stronger or taller like most people would say when they see the child of an old friend. He gives my hand a strong and rather hurtful shake with his sausage fingers. "And your kid reminds me, I need you to see my daughter!" he booms.

"Little Skullette?! Why I haven't seen her since she was a wee lass!" my father says.

Skullette, huh? Well it's not the worst name I've heard. Fact I think it's the best name I've heard for a young Viking girl. The down side? She sounds pretty tough. Great another Astrid. Of course not that Astrid is too tough, well yeah she is, but in a good way. I mean tough like, mean, rude and a bully.

"Skullette! Come one lass! Let's meet the new neighbors!" Chief Boggs calls.

I'm preparing for the worst, but when I see her step out from behind her bulky father, my thoughts were completely wrong.

The creature standing before me has come from another world. Where every fiber of their body is designed off of something enticing. Because everything I point out, I automatically compare to the most beautiful things I can think of. Her exquisite emerald green eyes. Her skin fair and white. Her lips as red as a rose. And her long, wavy hair that's as black as a Night Fury's wings. Her outfit seems as if the blue had been picked personally from the night sky. She wears an off-shoulder shirt with a tight waist and sleeves that fall from the crook in her elbow down to her mid-thigh. Bounded by two straps on each forearm. The shirt ends with a belt that locks in the middle. Her skirt's the same as Astrid's, but blue. She wears bandage wraps on her arms and legs, and that's when I notice the bow slung over her shoulder. She completes the outfit with leg warmers and simple sandals. Her forehead has a root crown that swirls around and around her head.

She's the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.

"Skullette, I'd like you to meet Stoick the Vast, and his son Hiccup." Chief Boggs says.

After Skullette shakes hands with my dad, she moves over to me, and I must have some stupid look on my face. Because when her beautiful eyes lay on my face, she lets out the cutest giggle I've ever heard. I want to turn my head away, because I felt like something this beautiful doesn't belong in such a glum and gray place. But not wanting to impose as rude, I look her straight in those eyes and say, "Nice to meet you."

"Hi, nice to meet you too." She says. Her voice was soft, a contrast from the loud and booming voice of her father. And I must've let out a stupid giggle since the next thing I know, I have everyone staring at me.

We release hands and while my father talks with Chief Boggs, Skullette and I stay behind them until we've cleared the docks. We don't talk much, but I don't think she minds. From the look on her face, it looks like she's taking in the scenery of her new home. Not very welcoming in my opinion.

She brushes some strands of her hair out of her face as her head peers from side to side. I also take notice that's she's about my height. Unlike most girls who're usually a little taller than me. When she finds me staring at her, I immediately blush and turn away, staring at my feet which have suddenly become very interesting.

I hear her giggle then I hear her ask, "So, in your opinion, what the best about Berk?"

I look up and see her face, "Uh, well, it snows nine months of the year, and hails the other three. Any food that grows here is tough and tasteless." I say.

"Well, that's not very pleasant." She says.

"Well, there is an upside, and that's the pets." I say, my mood suddenly improving.

"Really?" she asks, quite intrigued.

"Yeah, while other places have ponies, or parrots, we have . . ."

"Dragons!" she says, cutting me off. I was about to go on, but something in her tone sounded terrified.

I look up and I see her pupils have shrunk and she's turned whiter than her normal skin. I look over and I see she's staring at Toothless. She looks a little shaky, so I act fast.

"Oh no, no, no. It's okay. They're nice here." I say. I run over to Toothless and his head perks up as I approach. He purrs and snuggles his head against my hands as I scratch his scaly head. "This is Toothless."

Skullette just continues to stare, very hesitant about taking another step.

"A Night Fury?" she asks quietly.

"Uh, yeah. Toothless, this is Skullette. Skullette, Toothless."

At first they seem willing to greet, but as expected, as Toothless inches forward, he suddenly steps back, but doesn't grimace like he did with me and Astrid for our first meeting. He's hesitant, and I know it's because of Skullette's bow. I didn't see her lug a sheath of arrows off the boat, and the bow's pretty much useless without them. But I don't tell him to back off. Skullette stays in place, not really scared, but as if sizing Toothless up. Same goes for him to her. She stares at him, knowing he's unpredictable.

Instead of pulling off her weapon and leaving it to show she's not going to hurt him, she pulls the bow off her shoulder, and holds it in both her hands out in front of her. Toothless creeps up, cautiously, and just sniffs the bow. Once he knows it's not a threat, he quick to melt his remaining defenses against her and I see his pupils morph from slits to normal. Skullette slings the bow back over her shoulder and openly pets Toothless, scratching his head. I'm baffled as I hear Toothless purr.

"Wow, that went better than I expected. He's usually pretty guarded with strangers." I say.

"Stranger danger." She says with a giggle. "He's nice." She adds.

"You want to take a ride?" I ask.

"Uh, I-I rather not." She says suddenly backing off.

"You sure? It's a lot of fun." I persuade.

"I'm sure it is, but I just have a bit of a fear of heights." She admits.

"Oh, well we could just walk." I say.

"You sure?" she asks. The guilt I see in her face moves my decision.

"Yeah, sure! No problem, and I can give you a tour of the island. Including a tour of the Dragon Academy." I say.

"You have a Dragon Academy?" she asks shocked and interested.

"Yep, and . . . oh! I almost forgot, you should meet the other stu-" Suddenly I'm shoved out of the way completely by Snotlout.

"Well hello there my lady. I'm Snotlout. Try to relax." He says. I see her roll her eyes and when Snotlout tries to kiss her hand, she coldly yanks it away.

I shove him away and lead her down the line. "And now that that's done, this is Fishlegs," she exchanges a friendly handshake. "The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut," they're too busy still punching each other to give a proper hello. "And this is Astrid."

They give each a handshake and a hello. "Welcome to the group." Astrid says.

"Nice to know there's at least one normal person I can talk to. Well aside from you Hiccup." Skullette replies. My face feels warm.

"So, why don't we help you get settled into your new home?" I suggest.

Everyone agrees and each, along with the dragons, help carry Skullette and her father's things to their new house that I just now realized is right next to ours. And actually, I'm happy about it. More than happy, ecstatic even. Knowing Skullette's right next door gives me shivers. But not the kind from cold weather, the kind that you get when you overly excited.

I don't know what it is, but with Skullette here, Berk just felt a little more like home.