A/N: So next chapter's loads of fun and to work on the next one! xD It's lots of fun to write, but I won't spoil the surprise...no, I WON'T spoil the surprise...just read...


When Hiccup got back from his night flight, he felt a little calmer about everything, but still slightly worried. Luckily, Gobber was gone and Stoick was fast asleep downstairs, and since the man could sleep through a hurricane, Hiccup and Toothless didn't have to be quiet as they landed in the boy's bedroom through the glassless window.

Hiccup crawled into bed and pulled the covers over his head.

Soon, he was also asleep.

When Hiccup awoke the next morning, he was struggling to remember everything. Then he thought of Stoick last night and the secretive way in which he'd acted and he felt his stomach drop.

"It's probably going to be nothing, right?" Hiccup asked Toothless. "I'm getting all worked up for no reason."

But all the same, he flew to the training arena that day and waited for the teens nervously.

As Astrid came in, he stood. "Hey, Astrid, would you help me?"

She was the first one there.

She sat down at one of the tables. "Sure! With what?"

"Can you think of any ways I could toughen up?"

Astrid just looked at him. "Hiccup, what is it with you and that lately?" she asked.

"Shh," he implored. "C'mon, can you think of any ways?"

She regarded him with a pensive look for a second.

"Well, for the first part – if you're really serious about doing this, and clearly you are – then you could always learn to fight."

"Astrid, I can hardly pick up anything!"

The other teens began coming into the arena. "What's the deal?" Snotlout asked.

"Astrid wants to teach me how to fight," Hiccup snapped.

"Only because you want to become tough!"

"It's not about being tough, it's about learning how to be a proper Viking!"

"You don't need to be a proper Viking," Astrid said to him, but Hiccup just sighed.

"Clearly, my father doesn't think so."

"Oh, well, did he say that to you?"

"No, but he may as well have."

"Really? What did he say?"

"No, it was how he was talking to Gobber last night…"

Hiccup cut himself off and said, "Look, Astrid, I just think it'd be a good idea if I learned how to do something Viking-like. Like…"

"Riding a dragon?" Her lips threatened a smirk.

"I mean something properly Viking that I didn't do," he pointed out.

"Riding a dragon is properly Viking!" Fishlegs pointed out. "It's all anyone can talk about!"

Hiccup rolled his eyes. "Fine. So it's normal now for Vikings to ride dragons. But I still want to do something ordinary, something I didn't start."

"Like I said, learning to fight," Astrid countered.

"I can't learn how to fight!"

"Suit yourself," Astrid said and leaned back.

"Don't you guys have any other suggestions?" Hiccup asked.

Fishlegs shook his head. "I'm just as bad at being a violent Viking as you, Hiccup."

"Well, I'm not!" Snotlout announced. "And Astrid's telling the truth. Learn to fight. And put on some muscle."

"I'm looking for something I can actually do," Hiccup said.

Snotlout sighed. "Then keep looking."

"Isn't there anything I can do my way?" Hiccup asked.

"I don't suppose teaching you how to fight with an axe counts?" Astrid asked slyly.


A/N: So next time in Operation: Toughen Up, Hiccup! the first act of business is Astrid trying to teach him how to fight with an axe. I'm hoping I'm making it creative enough, but I don't know. Also, these chapters are not that long. Please excuse that :P