''So, what do you think?'' I asked Ashley turning around to show her my fancy suit. She bit her lower lip and placed both hands to cover her mouth and nose, trying to keep herself from laughing. She sat on the end of my bed while I was up, putting on my fancy suit for tonight. ''What's so funny..?'' I asked, rising an eyebrow.
She uncovered her face, her turquoise eyes filled with tears of joy. ''My daddy is so fancy..!'' she said weakly before bursting out laughing.
I didn't get what was so funny, but she seemed to find the fancy suit very amusing. Of course it's not every day we see me wear a black fancy suit. Actually, we never did. That's why I needed Ashley's opinion since it's a surprise for Astrid. I planned a big Snoggletog party for tonight, since we didn't really had the chance to since the last war… With the help of the gang, my mom, Gobber and the dragons, we've been able to decorate the Great Hall, build the Snoggletog tree and prepare the food and drinks in less than five hours. Usually, it would take more time, like maybe the whole day, but for some reason, things went faster than we expected.
The noise of a opening and closing door was suddenly heard coming from down stairs.
''Hiccup? Are you in there?'' Astrid's voice rose from the entrance. I gasped in surprise and went deeper in the room where the bed was, not wanting her to see me in the suit yet. Ashley stared at me confused.
''Tell her I'm not here!'' I whispered as low as I could. Without questioning she nodded and walked closer to the stairs, sighting her mother in front of the door.
''Hi mom!'' she said, sitting down on the highest stair, placing her hands of her knees. ''Dad's not here, so...''
''He isn't?'' Astrid asked confused.
''Nope..!'' Ashley said, popping the'P'.
Astrid raised a suspicious eyebrow, a slight smile appearing on her lips. ''Alright, guess I'll keep looking..!'' she said, clapping her hands, turning slowly on her heels before opening the door and leaving.
I released a breath I didn't realized I was holding and relaxed against the hard wooden wall behind me. ''That was a close one...'' I almost whispered.
I edged closer were Ashley was standing; wanting to make sure Astrid had left. I sighed heavily, patting her shoulder kindly.
''Thanks'' I said.
She smiled proudly and advised me to change in case she was coming back. I changed the fancy black suit for my usual wears, being my green shirt. I put the clothes back in my chest beside my desk under the window. I looked outside, wondering what time it was before the party started.
''Hey, do you know what time it is?'' I asked my daughter who went sitting back on the end of my bed.
''Mmhhhm..?'' she said, mindlessly.
''Never mind...'' I sighed. ''We should probably go check on the others, see if they need help with anything.''
I walked down the stairs and to the door, Ashley following behind. I opened the door, and hanged it open for her to walk out first. A freezing cold wind met my face at that moment, sending a violent shiver down my spine. A warm mist escaped my mouth every time I breathed out. We both walked toward the Great Hall, ice cracking under our feet as we walked up the frozen stone stairs leading to the gates. Ashley and I quickly walked in, closing the doors behind us.
Balloons floated all around, the bright colors illuminating the space. Food and drinks lay on the long wooden tables, ready for people to serve themselves. The space was so filled, that it didn't look like the Great Hall anymore. It looked smaller, but more alive with more colours. A bit like out first Snoggletog with dragons.
Four or six people were still decorating the place, hanging lanterns high above the dancing floor. There was a set of musical instruments placed beside it, ready for the artists to use them. I just can't wait for tonight... It's been so long since we've had a party that I've forgotten what this feeling was like. Of course we did celebrate for other reasons, but this... this was going to be big.
I walked closer to Bucket, who was helping another Berkian hanging lights above the tables.
''Hey there Bucket! Need help with something?'' I asked.
''No, no, we're fine Chief.'' Bucket simply said.
''Alright, well... Tell me if you need help with anything!'' I let him know, before turning around on my heels.
Ashley and I walked back slowly toward the entrance, admiring the colours and lighting.
''Wow... this is amazing...'' Ashley said breathlessly, staring at the lights above her, her jaw hanging open.
I laughed slightly, watching her from the corner of my eye. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder, bringing her closer to me as we walked out of the Great Hall and down town.
Many villagers were still working on their houses, personalising them with colourful lights and ribbons. Many children were building snowmen and 'snowdragons' in the plaza, putting branches for the wings and rocks for the teeth.
Suddenly, someone wearing a red shirt and spiky skirt came out of nowhere, punching me right in the face with incredible force, sending me in a snow bank.
''HAPPY HOLIDAYS, HICCUP!'' shouted Astrid, waving her arms in the air like a madman.
''W-what did you do that for..?'' I asked confused, trying to help myself up, while rubbing my lower jaw, where Astrid had punched me.
''You stepped under the Missing Toe!'' she said, staring down at me excitedly.
''The what..?'' I asked again.
''Missing toe!'' she said, pointing up at the toe hanging from a tiny rope above a pole.
I stared at her shocked, when Snotlout, Ruffnut and Tuffnut appeared, each of them having a black eye.
''Missing Toe, it's a new Genius Holiday tradition Astrid just made up...'' Snotlout informed.
''The rules are simple!'' Astrid said excitedly.
''Step under the Missing Toe-'' said Ruffnut.
''-and you get punched in the face...'' finished Tuffnut.
''It's tradition!'' cheered Astrid.
''Hhmmm... Not a, not a classic... tradition.'' I said, pulling myself out of the snow bank.
''It's better than Yaknog...'' Snotlout whispered to Ruffnut.
Having heard this, Astrid was about to hit Snotlout, again, but was interrupted by a loud roar coming from above their heads. Everybody suddenly looked upwards, watching every dragon taking off, joining with the others who were on their way to Dragon Breeding Island as I called it. An island where dragons celebrated their own sort of Holiday. Unlike ten years ago, everybody watched the dragons go without asking questions, since it happened many times before. It was still a bit heart-wrenching for everybody to watch them leave, but we knew they would come back in a couple days.