What is this story anymore? I have no notes! It's writing itself!

—

It was amazing how stubborn vikings were. Astounding, really.

It had been several weeks since Astrid's accident in the ring, and yet the whole village seemed to forget that she was a great dragon warrior just prior to her incident.

Hiccup arrived at the forge one evening, after a full day of work, only to pick up his sketchbook. "Evening Gobber," he greeted.

"Evening lad!" Gobber smiled with a keen look in his eye. Hiccup didn't dwell on it and made his way to the back room.

But what awaited him there surprised him, to say the least. "Astrid?"

Indeed, the young woman was sitting at his desk, reading a book. Nothing of his, thankfully. Her arm was still in the sling and her hair was tied up sloppily, since she only had one arm to use.

She looked at him, bags under her eyes and skin pale. "Oh, Hiccup. I didn't think you worked today. I'll get out of your way."

"No no," he waved her off. "You're fine, I'm uh, I'm just grabbing this." He took his sketchbook and put it under his arm. "Uh…why are you here?"

"I'm hiding." She said softly. "My mom has me up everyday doing household chores. She keeps saying that I'll recover just fine, and I'll kill the next dragon…but like, she's also trying to train me to be a housewife."

Hiccup hugged the sketchbook to his chest. He still wasn't used to this version of Astrid, the side of her that had taken to speaking openly with him, despite his reputation.

"Sorry for dumping all that on you." She added with a shrug.

"Hey, it's cool. I'm used to people throwing garbage at me." He grinned.

She returned it before it fell away. "But you've been off the hook since the eel thing."

"Eh…kind of. Instead of outright 'get off my lawn, pipsqueak!'" he yelled, "It's more like, 'careful, Hiccup. Don't push your luck.'"

"I don't follow."

"People are just being passive aggressive with me now, instead of outright nasty."

"Which would you rather have?"

He shrugged. "Neither, that's why I…" hang out with Toothless, was what he was going to say. "That's why I hide."

She hummed. "Since they've gotten passive aggressive with you, they've gotten nasty with me."

"Oh Astrid…"

"I try to buy cloth and thread for my sewing lessons and Haggard goes, 'this cloth is only for good girls that kill dragons, you get the scraps'. And when I try to buy food for my cooking lessons, same thing, 'You get yesterdays bread. I don't sell my apples to failures. Only real vikings deserve my potatoes.' If my arm wasn't in a sling, I'd…I'd…" And just like that, she lost all her fire power. "My dad won't even talk to me anymore."

Hiccup frowned. "That sucks balls, Astrid."

She managed to smirk. "Well, I'm glad we agree. What did you do? When you were...at the bottom?"

"Well, as the chief's son, shop keepers were never really rude to me...because they never knew if I was buying for me or for dad. But they weren't always friendly. I tried humor, tried turning my reputation from 'Hiccup the complete screw up' to 'oh there's Hiccup being silly again...'" he sighed. "It didn't work. Honestly...I just took it. I know that's the worst advice ever but...it's all I got."

She groaned. "Well, thanks anyway."

"And you're not at the bottom." He added. "Before this eel thing, before my dad gave me a job...I had no one. Sure, dad tried to be there for me, but unless it had to do with killing dragons, he couldn't care less. Gobber was pretty okay, but I think he tuned me out most of the time...and even when he tried to make me feel better, he only ended up making me feel worse. And he always tried to discourage me from my inventions."

"I can see why..." Astrid muttered.

"But...then you came along. You were someone I could bounce ideas off of, someone who I could just...talk to, you know?"

She nodded, meeting his eyes.

"So, I'm just trying to say...even if you feel like you're at the bottom, you still have me. I think you're amazing." He blushed at his confession, but smiled regardless.

She returned it. "Thanks Hiccup. You're not so bad yourself."

Hiccup held his breath as a dangerous thought came to his mind. He had already shared Toothless with his father, and therefore, the most powerful, ferocious, dragon-hating person on Berk. But now, because of Astrid's incapacity, did she hate them as well? Well, he might as well find out now. "Hey, so what are you doing for the rest of the day?"

She shrugged. "Nothing. I was planning on hiding back here."

"Want to hide with me instead?" He smiled uneasily.

—

Astrid followed Hiccup through the woods, off by Raven Point, she noted. Passed her old training grounds where the trees bore the wrath of her axe. Passed the flat rock where she and her father used to go camping. Finally, they came to a cove, nestled in the quiet sanctity of the forest.

"This is my sanctuary." He began, halting in movement. "My dad comes here sometimes, but I really only share it with one other, and now I will share it with you."

This puzzled her, because as far as she knew, he didn't have any friends. "Who?"

"Do you have any weapons on you?"

"What?"

"Any weapons? Because you'll have to leave them out here."

"Uh, yeah, I have my knife?" She took it from her belt and handed it to him. He placed it on a boulder for safe keeping.

"Okay, just…don't freak out, okay?"

"No promises…"

Together they descended into the cool air of the cove. Hiccup noticed that the fire pit in the little shack was empty, and by extension, his father was absent.

"This is…nice." Said Astrid with a peaceful sigh.

"Oh…just wait." A nervous tremor shook his voice, as he scanned the area. "Tooooothless…" He sang.

A pair of rabbit like ears popped up from behind a boulder by the water. Then suddenly, a large black dragon was bounding towards them.

Astrid shrieked.

Toothless skidded to a halt, tilting his head.

"No no no, it's okay!" Hiccup assured, reaching out for both of his friends.

"Hiccup! What!?" She pointed a finger at the dragon.

Toothless slunk closer, his nostrils pulsing.

"This is Toothless…he's my friend."

"You…you have—ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND!?" Her voice echoed in the cave. "I can't believe this. You really are a dragon sympathizer! And all this time…those tricks! Those were all from him, weren't they!?"

Toothless recoiled slightly, his pupils wide.

"Astrid, would you listen to me?" He said patiently.

Seeing that the dragon was not currently a threat, she simply huffed and rested her good hand on her hip. "Fine."

Toothless lowered himself to be scratched, and purred contently.

"So…do you remember that night that I said I shot down the Nightfury?"

"Yeah?"

He gestured to Toothless.

Realization dawned on her as she gasped. "You mean that's a…you really did?"

"Why does no one believe me?" He said, mostly to himself. "Yeah, and…he was injured. I saw him in pain and just…I couldn't kill him. So I let him go. He couldn't fly, so I just took up taking care of him…and now he's my best friend."

Toothless wiggled in excitement over the declaration.

"Everything we know about dragons is wrong. They're kind, loyal, and intelligent creatures. Toothless showed me. And, I tried to tell you…in a way."

"You…did…" She agreed, hesitantly. "You said they were capable of other feelings, but I…I didn't imagine this." She gestured to the dragon who had rolled over on his back.

"Neither did I. Not until him."

"Wait," she began, "you said your dad comes down here sometimes?"

"Yeah…"

"So…he's okay with this?"

"Yeah…he wasn't in the beginning. But I told him I couldn't kill Toothless, and that's what got me out of dragon training. And once I came up with the eel thing, he was…willing to let me keep Toothless in my life. He said I was safer with him around even. You know, from other tribes and stuff."

"I can see that." Astrid amended. Slowly, she reached out her good hand and laid it on Toothless' snout. The dragon vibrated in excitement.

"So, you want to go for a ride?"

"What?"

"You, me, Toothless, a sunset cruise through the clouds?"

"I…" Was she seriously considering this? Hiccup, who had been the weird, near outcast of the village, and a Nightfury, the most horrible dragon she'd ever heard of. And yet, he gazed at her with warm, friendly eyes, and waited patiently. "Yeah. That sounds…awesome."

He climb up on the saddle and offered a hand down to her. Carefully, she climbed on behind him, wrapping her good arm around his waist.

"Hang on tight."

She tightened her hold and nodded against him.

"Alright Toothless, let's take this leisurely, shall we?"

Astrid held her breath as the dragon crouched, his wings unfurling at his sides, and then leapt, the land falling away rapidly, and her stomach left behind.

She was shouting, "Oh gods! Oh!" And her fingers dug into his chest.

"It's okay!" He assured, his hand resting on top of hers. "Are you looking?"

"Is it safe!?" She screamed back.

"Yes!" He laughed. "Even if you fall, Toothless will catch you. Don't worry!"

Carefully, Astrid peeled her eyes open and looked around, taking in the world around her. Clouds surrounded them, like sailing on a ocean of fluff. She raked her hands through the billowing whiteness, only for it to dissolve around her fingertips.

"Clouds are made of water…" she said aloud. "I had no idea."

"It threw me for a loop the first time too." He agreed, reaching his own hand out.

"I would have spent my whole life thinking they felt like cotton." She laughed. "We're the only ones who know this."

"Kind of fun, huh?" He glanced back over his shoulder. "I took my dad up here too, during the afternoon."

"Really? Stoick the Vast on the back of a dragon?"

"Crazy, I know. It took him a couple of weeks to consider it, but once he was ready, we took a lap around the island. Maybe an hour's flight at most. He liked seeing the village from above, said it made him feel like a true guardian of Berk."

"You flew over the village during the day? Isn't that dangerous?"

"We were far enough away that no one would be able to see us on Toothless' back. Who knows, they might have thought he was a bird instead."

Toothless warbled, not appreciating the insinuation.

Hiccup laughed lightly and urged Toothless higher passed the clouds. Up where the air was clear, and the stars twinkled against the inky sky. Where streaks of color rippled in the wind, dazzling greens and vibrant blues.

"Wow…" Astrid whispered in his ear. She hugged him a little tighter, and rested her chin on his shoulder. "This is amazing…"

"Yeah…" He whispered back, more at her touch than at the sky.

She shivered a little.

"Are you cold?"

"A little…"

"Do you want to go back?"

"No way!" She protested. "I'll just scoot closer." And she nuzzled against him.

Hiccup couldn't keep the ecstatic grin off his face.

For a while, they flew in silence, the wind speaking volumes for them. After a while, Hiccup turned back towards home, and they saw the flickering lights that decorated their home.

"Gorgeous…" She said again. "If you ever want to bring me up here again…" She began, letting the suggestion hang in the air.

"Whenever you want, just say the word." He insisted.

"Thank you, Hiccup. You…you're the best." She rested her forehead on his shoulder to hide her blush. What was this? She couldn't be developing a crush on him, could she?

Would that be so bad? Sure, he wasn't exactly manly by most definitions, but he was always kind to her and did his best to make her feel better. And despite her failure in the ring, he still treated her as an equal. Maybe it was because he understood, or maybe he was happy she hadn't killed the Nightmare.

They looped around the island again, darkness encroaching on all sides as the sunset faded and the torches from the village hid behind trees.

"Hiccup?" She asked, honestly. "Would you still have been my friend if I had killed the Nightmare?"

What a loaded question. He thought for a moment and questioned her right back, "would you still have been my friend if you were a raging success? Would you have still continued talking to me afterwards?"

"I…I hope so. It wasn't my failure that brought us together in the first place."

"True," he agreed. "It's just…food for thought."

"I like you Hiccup, eels or no eels. Failure or not…you just get me, you know?"

Hiccup was lucky that it was so dark out, or else she'd easily see how red his face had become. "I think you get me, too."

"You're my best friend, Hiccup." She declared. "Hope you can live with that."

"I'm your…? Really?" He turned to glance at her.

"What? Don't believe me?"

"No, not really. I didn't think I could be anyone's best friend."

"Yeah, well, tough beans."

He laughed, his shoulders jostling. "Okay okay…thanks Astrid. Unfortunately, Toothless has already fulfilled the role as my best friend…but you're a close second."

"Beaten by a dragon," she scoffed, shaking her head.

"Wouldn't be the first time." He muttered back.

The punch that nearly knocked him off of Toothless was well deserved, to say the least.

Finally, they landed back in the cove. The moon was just a sliver and reflected in the bay.

The duo were surprised by the fire going in the little shack as Stoick reclined in his chair. Toothless bounded over to him, begging for scratches.

"There you are, you over grown lizard!" Stoick greeted happily, complying with his pleas.

"Oh, hey dad."

"When you didn't come home after work, I figured you were with Toothless…I didn't expect Astrid to be here too."

Astrid hunched her shoulders, folding her good arm over the injured one. "Hello chief."

"Astrid," he greeted with a nod. "What's wrong lass? You look guilty."

"I…" She glanced to Hiccup, seeing him gesture her on. "I just assumed…everyone else in the village hasn't really been…fond of me lately."

"Ah." Stoick nodded. "I see. Still sore about the match, ah?"

"Yeah."

He stood, "well, as Chief, I try to keep a totally unbiased opinion about everyone in the tribe, no matter their faults or failures." He stood in front of her, resting his hands on her shoulders. "And in my totally unbiased opinion, you are a viking. You fought bravely, even without a weapon."

"That's what I said!" Hiccup chirped.

"And he's right," Stoick continued. "It'll sting for a while, but we vikings are a proud, stubborn people. Soon enough, someone else will make a mistake and everyone will be mad at that instead."

"I don't like that idea…"

"Look, the chief and his son are on your side. Just worry about healing, and everything will be fine."

Astrid wiped her cheeks quickly, hiding that she had become emotionally undone by their kindness.

"Hiccup, why don't you walk her home?"

"Ah, yeah, I can—sure!" He laughed nervously. "After you, m'lady."

Once they had departed from the cove and headed into the woods, Hiccup leaned a little closer and spoke softly. "Are you up for a little teenage rebellion?"

Her cheeks lit up at the insinuation. "What do you have in mind?"

—

They hurried through the dark, hand in hand as nerves frayed and heartbeats pulsed. They shouldn't be doing this. If they were caught, there would be steep consequences.

"Are you sure about this?" Astrid asked with a giggle. Even in her anxiety, she was thrilled.

"Yeah, come on, it'll be fun." He urged. "But we have to be quiet."

The Kill Ring was unguarded, as the watchmen circled the village every hour. The cage on top was open as well, allowing villagers to spare down there as they wanted between training.

"Alright, they're heading up towards the Great Hall, we probably only have a half an hour before they come back around." He met her eyes. "Ready?"

"You're insane, but yes."

Quietly, the duo made their way over to the entrance and slipped inside.

"Would you like to do the honors first?"

"Okay…which one should I pick?"

"Totally up to you."

Astrid nodded once and made her way over to the lever on the far side of the ring. With a tug, the ballasts raised and the doors opened. The Nadder, who had up until that moment been sleeping, chirped curiously and peeked out.

"That's it…that's a good girl." Astrid said soothingly.

The Nadder recognized her from training and squawked.

Astrid hushed her softly. "It's okay…it's okay…" She spread her arms so the dragon could see she was unarmed.

The Nadder curiously sniffed her, apprehensively waiting to be struck, but it never happened.

"Okay," said Hiccup. "Now reach your hand out, and turn your head away."

She complied, and just stood there rigidly.

Ever so gently, the Nadder touched her nose to her hand and exhaled a warm, smokey breath.

Astrid relaxed, and looked up to the dragon with fondness. "Hi there," she whispered. Then with slow moments, she scratched the dragon under her chin and watched as she fell into a puddle of rumbling goo.

"That's a good girl," Astrid cooed.

Next, Hiccup opened the cage for the Gronkle, and likewise, it blearily stumbled out of it's cage. Hiccup approached it carefully, hands outstretched. "It's okay…" From behind, he gave it a little push. "Go on, you're free."

The fat dragon wriggled in happiness as her pupils dilated. She gave Hiccup a little nudge and then took off, buzzing off into the woods.

The Nadder watched as she left and chirped happily.

"You can go too," Astrid urged. "Get somewhere safe."

But the Nadder stayed by her side, just watching with anticipation.

Hiccup opened the cage to the Zippleback and the Terror, and both hesitated before taking off into the woods as well.

"Alright, one left," Hiccup nodded. "Would you like to do the honors?"

Astrid frowned, her hand hovering over the door. "Do you think he'll remember me?"

"He might…but I'll be here, and so will the Nadder. She won't let him hurt you."

Nodding once, she agreed and pulled the lever.

After all the ruckus from the other dragons, the Monstrous Nightmare was very much awake. But he did not burst forth in flames and smoke. Instead, he stomped out, and scanned the ring in the faint light of the stars, his gaze falling on Astrid.

He hissed, coming closer dangerously, but Astrid stood ramrod straight, not to be frightened. He sniffed her, sensing her fear, but did not attack. Finally, he nudged against her bum arm and took off into the night.

"Wow…"

"Yeah…crazy…"

Astrid patted the Nadder fondly. "You should go too girl, it's not safe for you here."

The Nadder squawked in protest.

"I know we just met, but I don't want you to get hurt anymore. There's a nice Nightfury in the woods you could be friends with, if you want." She knew the dragon probably couldn't understand her, but she said it anyway.

Finally, the dragon took the hint and flapped off, leaving a heavy feeling on Astrid's heart. "Would have been nice, having a dragon like you."

Hiccup smiled at her, "well, Toothless will just have to take you in."

They began to depart from the ring, but a light by the entrance stopped them.

"The guard!" Hiccup whispered, before grabbing her arm. Quickly and quietly, he hurried over to one of the cages and hid, pressing her between himself and the wall.

"Hiccup…" she tried to wiggle free.

"Shhh…" He hushed quietly, peering between the crack in the door.

"Oh gods…they're all gone?"

"Looks like it. I bet it was a prank by those Thornston Twins."

"Yeah…sounds like something they'd do."

Hiccup held his breath as they came closer, their light reaching into the cages. He pressed himself closer, and looked to Astrid in apology. Their noses were almost touching.

"We'd better tell the chief."

"Alright…he's not going to happy about this…"

Hiccup kept her pressed against the wall until the light of the fire faded. Then he relaxed. "Okay, we need to scram."

Astrid fisted his tunic in her hand and spun him to slam against the wall.

"Ow! Why would you do that!?"

"That's for man-handling me!"

"Sorry I just—"

She cut him off by swooping in and pressing a rough kiss to his lips. "And that…is for everything else."

"Uh…"

"I'll see you tomorrow, Hiccup." She winked before running out of the arena.

Oh gods, what had he gotten himself into now?