Part 1 out of ?

Summary: Hiccup is a prince that was forced to look for candidates to be his bride. He seeks help from his old friend on how to choose the right one for the throne but ends up learning which one was the right one for him.

********* WARNING: REALLY LONG 'CHAPTER' ***********

I'm not even sure if this will really be just a drabble or a long fic. God help me. I have just watched Cinderella yesterday and this was inspired by the ball scene there.

I don't own HTTYD or Brave

As the prince of the land, he was required to find a suitable queen for him. For years, his father has nagged him about it. The old man told him that it was his duty as a prince. He also added a scare that he wouldn't live forever for his son. Hiccup just rolled his eyes at it. He always said that.

Just a week ago, his father urged him once again, but this time more forceful. Stoick said that he was going to be 21, an age already old enough to marry. Hiccup wasn't able to persuade him to give him a few more years. The King demanded that he would choose a fitting lady in the court or he would choose for his son himself.

Fearing that the King would choose someone incompatible with him, Hiccup disagreed. He voiced his thoughts about it and the two men exchanged arguments. They came to an agreement that Hiccup would have a ball, choose at least three suitable candidates for himself and test them to see if they really deemed fit to be his bride.

Right now, at the ball, he kind of regretted such decision.. but then again, it wasn't like his father's proposal of getting him his bride himself was better anyway. At least this way, he was the one going to choose. He only needed at least three and since he wasn't even interested in troubling himself, he really would just choose three.

That night, he danced with all the maidens that attended the ball. Some were charming, some were polite, some were sweet, and some were obviously just after his possessions and some really just wanted to bed him. It was too obvious really. Until in the middle of a waltz, a maiden entered from the high double doors.

Everyone tilted their heads up and looked at this maiden with a white mask, light blue dress and neatly tied red curly hair. She went down the stairs gracefully and all eyes didn't leave her even until she was face to face with the prince.

Hiccup, bedazzled and somewhat impressed, took one of her gloved hands and asked for a dance. The orchestra continued, playing a different, and much more livelier piece.

The prince was definitely impressed. She was graceful and charming even with a mask on. He wondered if there was more to her.

He started a conversation with her, beginning it with asking her how she thought his kingdom was and if she liked it. Her response was definitely unexpected.

"Quite good." She had an accent. Slightly English. "Lands are tilled excellently, the trade is excellent but somehow, some o' your guards are sleeping on the job. Is this how you plan to proceed after your father's reign?"

Slightly offensive. He fought himself to frown. Hiccup merely smiled but curtly "No, ma'am. And I have no idea what you are talking about."

"Much worse then. You have no clue whatsoever of whot yer men do. No reports, no progress. What prince does not know of his men?"

Who did this lady think she was? She better be a princess. This time, he couldn't help but scowl.

"As you can see, miss, that our land is great, reaching far and wide. I cannot possibly know of what every men does. I have more important business to do than check up on soldiers."

She seemed to tilt her head innocently. "Something is more important than securing yer own country's safety? Sipping tea with maidens, perhaps hunting for game and stags are more important than the very people you rule. If that's not it, do enlighten me."

This girl was very feisty indeed. Offensive but intelligent. Definitely different from the ladies he has met that night. The dance was over and they pulled away and bowed. With the scowl remaining on his face still, he asked "if it doesn't offend you, what is your name?"

Silence.. then a soft giggle. "Ah, Hiccup, ye haven't changed at all." This made him scowl even further. Who was this woman? The lady took off her mask, revealing her face. That face, he knew that face well. How could he have missed it? The hair, the accent, everything! "Merida?"

The one an' only." A smirk curved her lips. This replaced the unsatisfied pout on his lips with a joyful smile. "You're here!" He gave the lass an embrace. "Of course I am." She wrapped her arms around him. "Don't wan'tae miss yer 21st humiliating birthday, now do I?"

He rolled his eyes and pulled away "I see you're still a bully." His lips formed a pout once more. "An' yoo're still a wee lamb." She scrunched up her nose playfully to tease him.

Most of the time, Hiccup would stick with Merida, but the ladies he still had to meet made it difficult to do so. The redhead would just walk around, ignore the men eyeing her and eat to her heart's content. When Hiccup finally was able to have some time away from meeting potential brides, he went to look for his friend and saw her by the buffet table. They talked, catching up on their lives and what was new.

Apparently, they were both wanted to be married off and Merida had an agreement with her parents that she would enjoy her last few weeks being a maiden before getting married. She lied to her parents about going out to have a bridal shower for a few weeks with her maidens in waiting but she actually really ran away with most of her stuff. It would only take a while before her parents figured.

"Still rebellious, I see." He smirked at her. She smirked also. "An' I heard ye'r getting married late because yoo a'so didn't want to." He smilee sheepishly, raising his hand to the back of his head.

"Well…" the two walked towards the lantern-lit garden. "…I'm honestly not ready."

"Run away like me." Merida laughed heartily.

He frowned "I'm a prince, Merida. Son of a king, not a duke or a count. I have bigger responsibilities and besides." He glanced at the fountain. "I'm the only son, let alone, child. I must carry on the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me."

"You're a'ways too serious." Was her response. "I was kidding. Ye need to learn to loosen up. See whot being a prince does to you?" She gestured to him.

"I'm 21, Merida. I'm lucky to have lived this long without getting forced into marriage just yet." Merida, thinking that this topic was only going to make him feel bad she changed it.

"Let's not talk about this.." there was a pause between them. Only the rushing of the water and the tune of the crickets could be heard before she spoke again. "Hey, I didn't come 'ere without a present." She smirked and lifted her skirts to reveal her leg, to which Hiccup blushed and turned. "W-what are you going!? Are you crazy!?"

Merida scoffed. "Relax. A'm juist gettin' it. Hauld on." She said as she reached for her ankle to grab her unwrapped gift. It was a fancy-looking, customized dagger. She held it out to him "Sorry ah didn't wrap it up. I fergot to do so." She sheepishly scratched the back of her head.

Hiccup loved it. He snatched it from her hand and examined it. "Woow.." he said in awe.

"Figured yoo'd like to have one from me after ye gave me yer fav'rite one before I left." She smiled sweetly at him.

"Oh Mer, you didn't have to!" He said laughingly and threw his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground. "You're awesome!"

"As always." She made a cocky smirk. He placed her down.

"Where are you going to stay? We should go hunting like we used to!"

"Some inn in town. An' of course! We should totally go hunting!" The redhead gave his arm a good pat.

Hiccup was mentally planning for their adventure when it hit him.

Potential bride.

He forgot about that business for a bit. "Nngh.. ah, I forgot.. I can't." he sighed hopelessly. This earned him an arched brow from Merida. "I have to have candidates for my bride.." he said gloomily, "I gotta test them and see who is the fitting queen for the country."

"Have ya even chosen candidates?" She asked with her arms crossed.

The prince began to pace back and forth before her. His head was slightly bowed as he thought deeply. A few more paces before he stopped to look at him with pleading eyes. He looked so desperate and she has never seen him like that before.

"Help me with this.. contest. I don't know how to choose!" He was in a crisis. The ends of his fingers scratched his scalp in irritation. "And how do I even know if the girl is fitting? I don't even know what… 'test' I should even give them!"

Merida snorted then clicked her tongue, shaking her head in pity, "Oh yoo poor lamb… Fine. But promise after this whole.. kerfuffle, ya get to hang out with me, a'richt?"

"Agreed!" He threw his hands up in the air. There was no other way anyway. Hiccup shook her hand. "You get your stuff in the castle and stay here." he told her.

"Aye, aye, your majesty. It shall be done." She said jokingly. "Ya gotta pick the lassies first." She chuckled and held his shoulder to turn him back to the hall.

Hiccup just rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah." he grumbled and walked back to the ballroom to pick his chosen ladies.

That night was definitely a hassle but, because of Merida, it was less stressful. He was thankful she was there. It definitely made his night less dragging and a bit more exciting and joyful. The prince couldn't wait to see his old friend again the next day. Knowing Merida, as cunning and smart, as she was, she was sure to come up with good ideas for 'tests' for his candidates for the crown.

I'm still torn if I'm gonna make this a long fic or just a drabble (like, leave this as is and just post another random chapter here to complete it). HE LP ME CHOOOOSE D: