Gothi, Spitelout, Sven, Gustav, Mulch, and Bucket were standing in a line, waiting for their teachers. Valka was sitting on the edge of the ring with Cloudjumper. Valka had been the one to suggest a workshop for the A-Team.

Everyone's attention in the area was seized by twin whoops of joy. Valka looked up in time to watch Hiccup and Astrid jump off their dragons. The four dragons and humans fell downwards, the two small specks that were humans began revolving around each other, beginning a beautiful kind of dance in midair.

Just as they were about to hit the ground, the Nadder and Night Fury grabbed their riders and managed an expert pinpoint landing on two circles Hiccup had drawn earlier for this very purpose. The A-Team oohed and aahed as the couple slipped off their dragons.

Astrid and Hiccup stood in front of the team and Hiccup crossed his arms. Astrid put her hands on her hips. The giddy smiles melted from their faces.

"What was that?" Hiccup stared intently at the A-Team. The team looked at each other, confused. "What did Astrid and I just do?"

Understanding dawned on the more inexperienced rider's faces. Gustav stepped forward arrogantly. "You did a dance while falling. I guess it's a cool stunt, if that's what you're teaching us."

Hiccup shook his head. "That, Gustav, was pure trust. If we didn't completely trust each other, we would be dead by now. I can tell you right now that all of the original riders do that for fun. That is what you're learning. Ultimate trust. Boundless loyalty. Gustav, listen especially well. You're their leader, teacher, and friend. You must earn their trust, and they must earn yours."

Gustav rolled his eyes. "But Chief, we do trust each other! We've been working together for nearly three years now-"

Hiccup shook his head and interrupted. "No. You did a few battles with dragon hunters and Dagur, but have you faced down a dragon the size of a mountain? Have you given yourself up to your greatest enemy to save the love of your life? Have you watched as a madman held a sword to your father's throat and threatened to murder him? Have you LOST? That's the real question. Have you ever lost a battle? Picked up the pieces and kept trying? We have. I lost my leg to the Red Death. We lost the Book of Dragons to Alvin, then recovered it. I was kidnapped by Alvin the Treacherous, then rescued. Dad was captured by Dagur the Deranged, and we barely got away with our lives. Viggo won and took the Dragon Eye while I had to watch, frozen with Flightmare mist. I watched my Dad be murdered by Drago Bludvist. And my team has stuck together through good times and hard. What have you done?"

The team was silent. Gustav looked down, ashamed that he had questioned his chief. "I thought so. Astrid, why don't you explain the exercise?" Astrid nodded. "Okay, A-Team. Jump off that cliff."

The A-Team stared at her. "Well, what are you waiting for?" Spitelout spluttered. "Lass, there is no way I'm jumping to my death on your say-so!" Astrid smirked triumphantly. "See? You don't trust that we know what we're doing."

Hiccup tapped Astrid on the shoulder. "Well, actually, someone does." Astrid looked over in surprise. Eret had jumped off the cliff, and Skullcrusher had caught him. "Well done, Eret!" Complimented Hiccup, "we had your dragons out of sight, ready to catch you. You need to trust that we know what you're doing. Thank you, Eret."

Eret grinned. "Chief, you saved my life and freed me from Drago. I'll follow you and Astrid to the ends of Midgard if necessary."

Hiccup and Astrid drilled the other A-Team members until they were nearly as trusting as Eret. Astrid stepped forward. "Good work, recruits. Gustav, keep working on this. We're proud of you all."

A/N: And that's a wrap! Another completed story! I love this feeling. It's almost as great as getting good reviews. Speaking of reviews… on to the shoutouts! I didn't get three, but I'm doing shoutouts anyway, seeing as this is the last chapter, unless I suddenly get a random bolt of undeniable inspiration.

Zoha Ven: Here's your update! And it's the last one! What a bittersweet feeling…

Voltron1234: Yeah. Astrid does not make mistakes! She does not stress! She just goes and is boss, effortlessly! Jk, she does train… and train… and train. Anyway, I tried to think like Astrid. Harder than it sounds. Hopefully it turned out ok.