Hey everyone! How happy I am to say that this story has all your support, following and favouring it! I'd like to thank everyone who has favourite and is following this story as it means so much to me! I never thought I would have this many people already on this story! You probably won't want me blabbering; no you want to get onto reading this chapter so here it is!

Astrid's PoV

Hiccup hesitantly climbed on my back and soon me, Cloudjumper, Val and Hiccup were out the nest and flying to where an air current flowed upwards so the dragons could glide without any flapping just stretched out wings.

I could tell Hiccup was very wary of where we were going and me in general. Sharpshot was trying to calm him down though which was helping. I saw the cliff just up ahead and put on a little more speed wanting to show Hiccup who I really am. I felt him tighten his grip on my fur as I add more speed. Then the current was starting to take my flight for me so I just spread my wings and let the current do the rest. His grip eased and he then turned to Val. Cloudjumper lined up his wings with mine and Val did her walk across them. When she was behind Hiccup I knew what she was doing.

"Hiccup, to show you what we wanted I need you to get off her to show you what we want to. So follow my lead." She then took his hand and started to pull him up.

"Wait what?!" He apparently didn't like that.

"Your flight suit works right?" She seemed concerned.

"Yeah… why?"

"You are going to jump off from a higher point. Then Astrid will dive with you, then when I saw go you and Astrid will pull up and glide together. Got it?" He seemed a bit hesitant at first but when I nodded when he looked my way he answered.

"Ok. Let's do this. Sharpshot you stay with my mum." With that the terror went and rested on Val's shoulder as she walked back onto Cloudjumper's back. Once she was safe I started to make my way higher into the sky until we had gone through about 20 different layers of cloud. I then levelled off. I look up at Hiccup waiting for his signal. With a deep breath he climbed up onto my back and balanced himself. Then he closed his eyes and leaned to the right doing a head first dive down. I then transformed into my human self and went into a dive following after him. As soon as we were next to each other I looked at him.

"Remember me?"

"A-A-Astrid? Is that you?" He had a look of pure shock on his face.

"I'll answer that after we have landed. We are about to reach the point where we pull up!" He then turned his attention to where Val was.

"Go!" Was all he needed before he pulled the cord and was sent flying up. I kept going however waiting till the last second. As soon as the ocean was only about 100 meters away I transformed into my fury self and spread my wings out gliding across the ocean a mere 2 meters above it. I then turned towards the sky and levelled out next to Hiccup and Val. I gave them a gummy smile which both returned.

"Ok! Hiccup! Astrid is going to fly a little tiny bit in front underneath you! I need you to close your suit up and land on her back for me! You got that Astrid?" Val had to shout over the wind. I nodded and flew into position. I looked back to see Hiccup angling himself. Then he closed the suit and dived right onto my back. I was a little wobbly from the weight but getting control was easy enough. Then we did a U-turn and headed back towards the nest.

Once landed Hiccup was straight of my back and asking me to turn into my Human form. I complied.

"Astrid?" He seemed concerned. I looked down trying hard not to look at his face. "Please look at me" he was advancing towards me. I wouldn't look though. I didn't want to. I knew I would break down if I did and a warrior never shows lots of emotion when standing ground. If you want to stay in control you keep your mind free of sadness or happiness at certain moments. This was one of those moments.

"I'm sorry I never came and said hi" I finally said thinking that one of the little tufts of grass were very interesting. "But I am part dragon, and one of the most feared dragons alive due to what I did a few years back. I also thought you would hate me for what I became as well."

"Don't worry. I did miss you a lot and was very upset when you were carried off. But I think you didn't come back for the right reason. I'm just glad I have found you again." He said this while lifting my chin to make me look into his eyes. I think I blushed. He smiled and I knew I was blushing now. I then heard my dad call for me.

"I've got to go. My dad is calling for me. Val I'll be sleeping at yours today. I'm not sure if Toothless will be joining us or not. I'll see you later!" And with that I took off toward the cliff jumped off with a backflip and did a dive transformed and flew up and towards my dad. I knew what this was about. It was just our everyday thing. I would go over and just chill on his tusk while he gave me more lessons on being an Alpha. He said some of the usual. But he did say something that that got me thinking about what he meant.

"An Alpha protects his own, though in your case it would be An Alpha protects her own."

"What does that even mean Father? What is my own? I'm confused"

"Hmm, let me think how to explain it to you. Oh! Ok so you think of me as family yes?"

"Yeah"

"And you think of your squad as family yes?"

"Yeah"

"And what about the rest of the nest?"

"Family"

"Well there you go! They are your family so they are your own. The dragons you have to protect over anything else."

"Oh I get it!"

"Good, you will be a great alpha on day Astrid. Everyone will respect you and they will stay with you as long as you stay with them."

"But I want to explore! I want to go out into the world and just be myself! Why am I going to be the alpha anyway?"

"You have my blood in you and that makes you the heir to the alpha. I know you want to explore but the nest is your home and you are already a born leader being the leader of your squad. I'm sorry Astrid but you are 20 now and of age to take over if I decide to step down."

"Will you now or will you wait another couple of years?" I really don't want to become the alpha.

"I will remain Alpha for now but if I decide that you would be a better alpha then I will pass it to you."

"Ok, I guess that's better than being it now…" I still do not care to become the Alpha.

"Good, now go on, I'm sure Val will be waiting for you to get back to her."

"Ok, see you later Father" and with that I spread my wings and launched myself into the air. I did a complete trip around the nest before I angled myself towards the platform Val has made into her home. She has her bed and I sleep in a little padded area not too far away from her which I sleep in. It is big enough for me to curl up in but also small enough for me to sleep in comfortably as a human.

When I landed I saw Hiccup and Val both helping each other to make what I presume will be there dinner. I will probably leave in a little while to go and get some fish with the squad but for now I might as well help with their dinner. I walked over to them and Hiccup still looked shocked to see me, but Val just smiled at me. I returned the smile.

"Need any help? I will be here until the squad are ready to go and get our dinner. So I can help cook." I offered wanting to help my friend and what I consider motherly like to me, though I still remember my actual mother,

"If you want to help Astrid I would appreciate it if you could go and get me some more herbs. I need to get some more for the seasoning. Today is a day that is special and should have a nice dinner." I smiled at her.

"Sure I'll be back in a couple of minutes."

"Thanks" As she finished the word I was already a Tiger Fury and had ran out of the mouth of the cave. Once I was at the edge I pushed off and started to fly out of the nest. I roared to my squad, so we could get dinner on the way. They were all quick to comply and soon a group of 7 were in the air flying over the vast ocean. When I recognised the area as our fishing ground I stopped and was just hovering. The rest of the group followed and had also started to hover.

"Ok everyone! On my mark we are going to go into a dive and we will go for a couple of go's if it is unsuccessful then we will go to our alternative spot, though looking there are a lot of fish."

They all agreed. Soon I had given them the instruction and we were diving towards the ocean. I targeted a school and opened my mouth getting ready for my food. Then I tilted upwards slightly so my mouth was in the ocean and I was collecting fish. I came back up with about 5 fish in my mouth. I gobbled them down and then climbed the sky again. I then did a U-turn and went for a second helping. Once we were all fed I went and got the herbs that Val wanted and made my way back to the nest. I landed down and gave the herbs to Val and she said her thanks and told me and Hiccup to go and catch up after 14 years of not seeing each other.

We walked over to the edge of the cliff and sat down, I was human by now. We sat there in silence for a little while before he broke it.

"So, how's the last 14 years been?" He seemed nervous.

"They've been amazing! I have become a Tiger Fury. Unfortunately I am not known for my kindness after that one little incident. I am told I will probably become the alpha of the nest but that's once my dad decides that he isn't good enough to be the alpha."

"Well for a start that 'little incident' actually caused a huge amount of havoc and mayhem that cause Berk to take in about 20 new people, which were the survivors of that 'little incident'. I guess we are very similar as well. Even though I am still the village screw up and Gobber is really the only one who likes me, though your mum has also taken a liking to me, knowing about the Nadder and Sharpshot. I am still next in line to be chief as my dad really doesn't want to put Snotlout, my cousin as the heir as he is very selfish and will probably destroy the village. I hate it though."

"I guess we are similar. Wait you know my mum? Is she doing ok?" My mum has been on my mind every now and then since I've been away. She was really the only person who cared about me next to Hiccup.

"She believes your dead and thinks it's her fault as she didn't save you in time. And she also likes me as she found out we were friends. She acts like motherly figure but now that I have found my mum. Maybe you should meet with her again?"

"I'm not sure… My mum might be happy to see me but my dad is a different story. He has always wanted a boy and when I had dragon scales on my arms they haven't been very loving parents even though my mum did try to make me feel at home, I knew I wasn't." He was giving me a sympathetic look. "Maybe I could one day but that won't be for a while."

We then heard Val calling us back in as dinner was ready we got up and walked in. While they were eating I was setting up a little area where Hiccup could sleep for his stay, or where he will be if he decides to stay. Toothless flew in about an hour later which I presume is to be staying with me for the night.

After another hour or 2 we all declared it was time to hit the hay. Hiccup and Val went to their respective beds, while I changed into human form and curled up next to Toothless. He allowed me to use his paw as a pillow and his wing as a blanket. Sharpshot then flew in and curled up on Hiccup's chest and fell asleep.

Astrid's Dream

All I felt was pain. They were creating art. I was completely immobilised. The art would have been amazing. If I wasn't the canvas. The knife tearing my fur and skin. The colour red was everywhere. And yet I still didn't roar in pain. I didn't want them to have that satisfaction. I kept blacking out. I could hear their laughter. I could feel the tearing every time the knife made contact with me. Why won't they stop? Why me? I need to fight the pain. Just fight Astrid! The pain was too overwhelming. I can't keep this up. Another stab and I might collapse. And then all I can see is black and all I can feel is pain in the middle of my back.

Back to reality. (Still Astrid's PoV)

I shot up Pain shooting up and down my back the pain is too much and I start to scream. I feel a pair of hands helping me up and hear Val's words of assurance while she helps me onto Toothless. I still feel the pain as if it had happened just yesterday. Val accidentally touched my back and I screamed again.

"Sorry!" She sounded really apologetic and concerned. Soon Toothless was gliding down towards the little hot spring located down towards where my father rests. We touched down and Val helped me onto the ground right next to the spring. I panting as the pain was just too much. I felt like my back was on fire. Val grabbed the cloth that was on a rock nearby as this was a normal thing. She then went and wet it in the spring. Toothless had his head under my arm trying to comfort me. She then started to dab the cloth all over my back. I winced and I gripped the ground as if my life depending on it. The pain was unreal.

"I'm sorry Astrid" She said concerned.

My Fathers head then popped up for the edge of the cliff worry and sympathy written all over his face.

"It's Alright Val. It's not your fault" I bite out.

After about 10 minutes of the soothing water on my back and scars, the pain subsided and it became a relaxing experience like always. Toothless' breathing was a soothing sound and my father had rested his head so that me, Toothless and Val were in between his tusks so his face was closer to us. I loved knowing that my family will always be here for me, and that I didn't go through that suffering for nothing. My squad, my family, helped me out of that situation. I have them to thank for my life.

"You ready to head back?" Valka's voice cut through my thoughts.

"Yeah… Thanks for helping." She smiled.

"It's fine Astrid. You need help so I'm giving help."

With that she helped me up and soon my father was saying goodnight as I mounted Toothless behind Valka as she didn't want to hurt my back by accident. We landed back on the Platform that leads into Valka's cave and we dismounted. Hiccup was still sound asleep, which surprised me. We said our goodnights and head back to our beds. I curl up next to Toothless and for the rest of the night I'm all right.

Meanwhile in Berk

There was a secret meeting going on between Gobber and Phlegma in the forest to make sure no one heard.

"We need to find the bigger Dragons that Hiccup tamed and go and find him. We won't get anywhere with a boat." Gobber explained his plan to Phlegma.

"Yeah, but will they trust us?" Phlegma was very cautious of this plan as the dragons might not trust them.

"We go without weapons, and show them that we aren't a threat, and maybe they will assist us with finding him." Gobber sounded very confident in his plan.

"What makes you say he's still alive?" Phlegma was still unsure.

"Because that little dragon of his wasn't concerned. He was happily flying next to him. And that terror is very protective over the boy."

"Well, if you're sure…" And with that Gobber started to lead the way deeper into the forest both man and woman had dropped their weapons and left them on the ground.

Meanwhile in another part of the archipelago

"We are ready to strike the nest, sir" One guard dressed in what looks like dragon skin armour said.

"Good! We head there immediately! Now go and sort out that dragon trapper! I don't want him to interfere!" A bigger man with a deep voice, who was wearing a dragon skin cloak and a metal arm sleeve, ordered the other man.

The guard saluted and walked off while the bigger man watched over the ocean that was bubbling. With staff in hand he did a weird shout that made the bubbles grow in size. He smiled an evil grin.

And that's the end of that chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it! Please review, it makes my day when I see more and more people's opinions. I also love to hear what you think about the story! I appreciate all the support and will try and keep updating. And also I am thinking about creating a one-shot to explain why the Tiger Fury is known as one of the most dangerous dragons in existence, please tell me what you think. I might not do it if everyone doesn't want it. I will try and update as much as possible but school is a bum, so not sure how often that will be.

httydlover626 out!