A week had passed since the Harvest Festival and things at Berk were finally getting back to normal or as normal as things get around there. However, no expected Alvin to be kicked out of the Guild and when the news got out people began to react in their own way.
"We show you how to kick out, Dad?" Hiccup asked. "I mean he may be a jerk, still part of the Guild."
Stoick just remain silent at the bar and Astrid place a hand on his shoulder.
"Babe, I agree, but do you think your father expelled because he wanted to?" she said.
"I still find it hard to believe that he was a Dragon Slayer," said Toothless.
"No… Alvin was never a real Dragon Slayer," said Stoick breaking his silence.
Everyone stared at him and Stoick began to explain that growing up Alvin had always been a frail and sickly little boy. So, his mother, Excellinor, had implanted a Dragon Lacrima into his body and gave them the ability to use Dragon Slayers Magic.
"Who would do that to a, kid," said Ruby stunned.
"Wow, I didn't even know that existed," said Toothless.
"You're forgetting, that was during the time the dragons when dragons were all around the place," said Stoick. "So, it would have been quite easy to obtain a Dragon Lacrima, but the fusion nearly killed Alvin."
"It explains his outburst, though," said Hiccup and everyone stared at him. "It's an ill meant called Dragons Rage. It's when a Dragon Slayer loses control and goes on a rampage. That's why we have dragons to teach us to harness that power so that we don't lose control."
"I never knew Dragon Slayers had rigorous training," said Astrid.
"Not everyone survives it," said Hiccup.
As things progressed the Thunder Legion began to warm up to everyone. In their own special way, Rubbella kept on posing in front of Bucket to make him paint a portrait of her and Dogsbreath constantly teased Ruby about Leo. Fenris, however, remain secluded no doubt ashamed about his actions during the Battle of Dragon Tail, but he eventually began to talk with everyone else.
Astrid, however remained silent still pondering how Jellal and Mystogan could be the same person. Hiccup, made several attempts to cheer her up, still deeply troubled. She even asked Stoick how it was possible.
"Stoick, tell me about Mystogan," she said to Stoick one day. "Who is he?"
"To think, he would bear such a resemblance to someone from your past, but am afraid I don't know more about and then you do," said Stoick. "He's always been the silent type."
Then came the announcement of the winner of the Miss Dragon Tail Contest. Astrid came in first place, Ruby second and Heather third. Unfortunately, this meant that Ruby wouldn't get the grand prize and now was unable to pay rent.
"I see she's taking well," said Astrid looking at Hiccup as they watched Ruby cried her eyes out.
"She must be really behind on rent," he said.
Hiccup then turned to look at Astrid. "Astrid, I know you still troubled about Mystogan, you can't never control your life," he said.
"I'm fine, Hiccup," said Astrid firmly.
"You and I both know that's not true," he said. He thought for a moment and then said, "Why don't we have a night out."
"Did you seriously ask me that with a straight face?" said Astrid stunned.
"Very funny," said Hiccup making Astrid giggle. "But joking aside and quite serious. You need to stop thinking about Jellal. I mean the guy is dead."
Astrid stood therefore moment not sure what to say or do. Hiccup was right that she was still troubled about Mystogan, but at the same time she couldn't think of anything else. Though, going on a date with Hiccup didn't seem like a bad idea.
"You're on," she said.
So, later that night, they all got dressed up and went to Berk's fanciest restaurant, the Valhalla Fantasia. Hiccup was wearing a green suit that matches eyes perfectly and waiting outside the restaurant for Astrid.
He was extremely nervous, even though this was his idea he never actually took Astrid to a fancy restaurant before. They occasionally had the odd lunch together in a café, but nothing like this.
"Oh, I hope they don't mess this up," he said.
Then, he saw her. Astrid was walking down the street wearing a beautiful blue sleeveless dress. She wore a pearl necklace around her neck and she done up her hair. She no longer had the bags over her eyes and a ponytail was cascading over her left shoulder. In fact, if he didn't know any better he wagered that Heather had done her hair herself.
"Nothing to say," she said smiling.
Hiccup was too awestruck to answer, but he finally found his voice. "You look beautiful," he said.
"I bet you say that all the girls you save," she giggled.
"If I said yes would you break my arms?" said Hiccup.
"No, but I make sure you will be able to use all your faculties for week," she said slyly.
Hiccup was unsure if she was serious or not, but decided to change the subject. "So, do you wish to accompany milady?" he asked holding his arm out.
"Why, Hiccup, I thought you'd never ask," she said taking the arm.
They walked into the restaurant and found that other couples were sitting at the tables eating, drinking and talking. All the tables were around a floor that was no doubting used for dancing.
The waiter then approach them with a menu in his hand.
"Table for two, please," said Hiccup.
"Right this way sir and madam," said the waiter leading them to an empty table.
The two sat down and the waiter gave them a couple of menus.
"What would sir and madam like for drink?" the waiter asked holding out a notebook and pencil.
Hiccup looked at Astrid and said, "Your choice."
Astrid looked up at him. "Hiccup, you're spoiling me," she said.
"Anything for you, milady," said Hiccup.
"All right," said Astrid looking at the wine menu. "We'll have a bottle of Freya White."
"An excellent choice," said the waiter.
An hour later, both Hiccup and Astrid were eating and drinking talking to each other in between mouthfuls.
"You never actually told me what happened during your five years of training," said Astrid.
"What's there to know, I became a Dragon Slayer, found a flying talking cat, became the infamous Night Fury and lost my leg," said Hiccup.
"My imagination can only go so far," said Astrid.
"Well for three years I trained under Igneel, and let me tell you it was a tough dragon to please," said Hiccup. "Then two years ago he just vanished, without a trace. And it wasn't just him but other dragons vanished for no unexplained reason. So, I began travelling trying to figure that out and on the way I became out of the odd group of bandits and help the odd stranger with their troubles. In no time at all I became the infamous Night Fury."
"I always thought it was you," said Astrid. "I don't know why, but something told me that it was you doing all those things."
"I just helped whenever I could, but sometimes it wasn't enough," said Hiccup.
"You mean, like what happened with Runa," said Astrid.
"Yes, I only accompany her because I knew she did had the strength to summer another Celestial Spirit," said Hiccup. "It looks an easy enough job. A bunch of bandits attacking an Elven clan, but too late we discovered that it was actually a Dark Guild and they were like nothing I'd ever seen. I lost my leg, but Runa and so lucky."
"At least you tried," said Astrid.
"For all the good it did," said Hiccup.
"I take it then you met up with Toothless," said Astrid, hoping to change the subject.
"Yes, there was quite a shock to tell the truth," said Hiccup. "I was walking, minding my own business, and then suddenly an egg fell out of the tree and hit me on the head. And next thing I knew it hatched and there was Toothless."
"I guess finding a flying and talking cat must have been weird."
"That's putting it mildly," said Hiccup. "What was I supposed to do I connect the little guy fend for himself so I took him in. And for then on we became best friends."
"What need to decide to come back to Berk?" Astrid asked.
"Olaf," said Hiccup closing his eyes. "Jellal sent into the mainland to find out these rumours about the Night Fury. He found me, we did battle, and then he noticed the Dragon Tail emblem on my shoulder and stopped. He then asked me if I knew you and then we started talking. When I heard your tale from him I was shocked to say the least. I can even imagine what you went through."
"I'm so sorry about your mother," said Astrid as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"It's not your fault," said Hiccup grasping her hand with his. "She died trying to protect you if it wasn't for her we would never have met."
Hiccup then heard music and saw several couples dancing on the dance floor. He got out of his chair and approached Astrid.
"Care to dance, milady?" he asked offering up a hand.
Astrid stared at him, but a smile appeared on her face she took his hand and said, "I would love to."
Hiccup then guided her to the dance floor and they began dancing to the beautiful music that filled the room. Hiccup recognise the music it was Dancing and the Dreaming, his father had told him that this was what he and his mother danced and now was doing the same with Astrid.
As they danced Astrid looked up at Hiccup and couldn't help but think how handsome he looked. She had known him for eight years and remembered the boy that found on the beach and brought her to Dragon Tail. He had given her a new family and all of them and help to heal her damaged heart.
When the music finally came to an end they both leaning towards each other and kissed. Astrid was still worried about Mystogan, but she knew Hiccup was right. There is no point in worrying about something she did not yet understand or she will miss the most important things of life and that right now was the man in front of her was no way she was going to lose him.