Chapter 1
Astrid quickly busted through the Haddocks door before turning her attention to the large man carving a duck. "Sir, have you seen Hiccup?"
Stoick stops his carving "When I woke this morning he was already gone. Should I tell him you're lookin for him?"
Astrid quickly shakes her head "How about I leave him a note, in his room?"
Stoick nods in acknowledgement before turning back to his work.
Astrid jogged up the stairs and reached Hiccup's room. "Ok, notebook, notebook." The blonde searches every place she can think, but finds nothing. "Where are you hiding it Hiccup?" A certain memory comes to mind and guides the way to the boy's bed.
Astrid lowers and looks under to find not only a small notebook, but an old looking journal as well "How predictable Hiccup."
The teen grabs the book before staring at the journal, what could Hiccup have written inside? Maybe she should take them both, just in case?
After a few moments of deliberation, Astrid is out the door with both in hand.
"Well?" Questions a waiting Fishlegs once Astrid exits the home.
"Hiccup must have copied the map from his notebook, fortunately." The blonde teen shows the notebook proudly
"Yes!" Squeals an ecstatic Fishlegs
"Good, can we go already?" Exclaims a very annoyed Snotlout
"Not quite yet, I also found this." Astrid now reveals the old journal to the group.
"Is that?" Questions Tuffnut
"I think it is!" Decalres Ruffnut
Fishlegs sighs "You really have no idea what that is do you?"
The twins both stare before speaking in unison "Not a clue."
Astrid face palms, while Snotlout grabs the journal from her hands "It's Hiccup's journal. The one we used to make fun of him for writing in."
The twins eyes light up with understanding "Oh! Right, I remember now."
"So, what should we do with it?" Asks Fishlegs
"We should read it! Duh." Speaks Snotlout as the boy opens the journal.
"Guys, I'm not sure about this." States Astrid "I mean; what if there's really personal stuff?"
Snotlout scoffs and begins reading "Like what? Hiccup doesn't have any secrets!"
With that knowledge the twins and Fishlegs all join in for the reading, a reluctant Astrid not far behind.
Oh the gods hate me, today I not only got in trouble for setting the forge on fire, but it wasn't even my fault! Snotlout was the one who didn't stroke the fire pit, but of course, Hiccup The Useless (Yeah that's my nickname now) gets blamed.
The teens all turn to stare at Snotlout angrily
"That was you!" Speaks Tuffnut "We made fun of Hiccup for months after that!"
Snotlout lowers his head in shame; he hadn't forgotten all the terrible things he'd done to his young cousin.
"I can't believe you did that to Hiccup!" Yells Astrid, tossing her axe at the now running target
The twins and Fishlegs continue reading as Astrid beats the life out of Snotlout
"Look, I'm sorry ok? I was just having some fun."
Fishlegs thrusts the book forward before glaring "You call this fun?" All eyes stare at the now fuming boy
So today dad had the great idea of a camping trip with me and Snotlout … Of course it's probably just another way to try and mold me into a better son. Snotlout took me deep into the woods … Before leaving me stuck in a ditch, in my defense, I should have known never to trust him.
"You left him in a ditch!" Yells Astrid before throwing her axe once again "I'll kill you!"
Snotlout ducks and grabs for the journal, turning to a certain date "Hey, I'm not the only one that hurt him!"
Today wasn't so bad, at least that's what I keep telling myself. Dad took me to Gobber's as usual and as usual the teens showed up for their annual "Let's make fun of Hiccup session."
Astrid stares, unsure of why this pertains to her. She went with the others, but never spoke, she only watched from the sidelines.
But, then something changed … Astrid spoke to me for the first time! I was so happy I couldn't stand it. I wish she would talk to me all of the time .. Even if she is yelling at me for, oh I don't know? Being a useless fishbone? Being born?
Astrid and the teens gasp, had she really said that to Hiccup?
Snotlout smiles "See! You hurt his feelings too!"
"Yeah, but at least she didn't leave him to die in a ditch." Declares Fishlegs
"Yeah, that's cold bro." Says Tuffnut
"Even we'd never do that!" States Ruffnut
"So you didn't destroy the animal house and blame Hiccup?" Sneers Snotlout
"Wow, did Hiccup actually do any of the things he got in trouble for?" Asks Astrid
All the teens lower their heads in thought
"I may have been the one to … Destroy the village once" confesses Fishlegs, followed quickly by the twins
"Yeah." Declares Tuffnut using his fingers as air quotes "Accidentally and once."
Astrid nods before revealing her own confession "I was responsible for all those missing axe's from the armory."
All eyes now turn to a very guilty looking Snotlout
"Ok Snotlout, confess." Speaks Fishlegs
"What? I'm insulted that you would even say such a thing!"
Everyone glares at said teen
"Fine! I was the one who made Hiccup's stupid inventions not work."
Everything grows silent as the teens finally confess what they'd done.
"Wow, are we like, terrible people or something?" Asks Tuffnut
The teens all lower their heads as they came to their own conclusions
"Everything was our fault." States Astrid "We just used Hiccup as a scape goat so we didn't get in trouble."
"Do you think he knew?" Asks Ruffnut "I mean isn't Hiccup a genius?"
"A genius! Please, Hiccup is a … "
Snotlout is stopped dead in his tracks by the four death glares he receives
"Don't even go there." Demands Astrid
"Well, if he knew .. he didn't write anything about it." Speaks Fishlegs as he turns page after page in search of any confirmation.
"Whether Hiccup knew or not doesn't change that were friends now right?" Questions Ruffnut
Snotlout's eyes suddenly rise in panic "Gods help us if Stoick ever found out!"
Astrid shivers at that thought "First things first." Declares the blond as her hands move to her hips "We find this Night Fury Island and get Hiccup."
The teens all nod before gathering some supplies and petting their dragons
"Then we confess and apologize."
All eyes drop and heads turn, but each teen gives some indication of a nod.