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The Dragon Riders

The ride towards the heart

Astrid glared as they drive their bikes to a long stretch of road. She couldn't believe Hiccup didn't show any emotions at all when he saw a fellow initiate die. She was going to show this punk a lesson or two.

"Ready to lose princess," she said adjusting her helmet.

"Bring it on M'lady," Hiccup said smirking slightly

Astrid growled and held the handles of her bike and stared at the end of the road up ahead.

"Ready?" Fishlegs nervously asked as he held a small flag.

"Let's do this already!" Astrid shouted

"You can do it Toothless" Hiccup whispered and tap his bike. Yes, he had named his bike after his cat, and he didn't care one bit what people thought about it.

"Go!" Fishlegs shouted waving the paper flag.

The two immediately took off and drive their bikes to the other end of the road. Hiccup glanced at Astrid before he increases the speed and took a slight lead.

"There's no way he's winning!" Astrid said and increased the speed of her bike as well.

She was able to catch up to Hiccup and focus to maintain or increase her speed. If she wasn't going to win then she would at least make it a tie.

"Damn... she's good... well I shouldn't be too surprising," Hiccup said seeing the spray painted finishing line getting closer to them. Hiccup and Astrid both struggle to take the lead from each other, but in the end, they crossed the line at the same time. They quickly slow down their bikes and made a squelching sound with their bikes. They title their bikes to the side and eventually stop.

"A tie? Dammit" Astrid said taking her helmet off.

"We both won," Hiccup said rowing his helmet off as well "what's wrong with that?"

Astrid glared at notice no one was around, no gang members, and the only Initiate wouldn't be able to hear them. She took a deep breath and couldn't believe she was about to admit this.

"You didn't show any emotions when those kids died," she said looking down slightly, "during the bravery test... Are you seriously that cold hearted?"

"What? I thought you had to be..." Hiccup said getting off from his bike.

"You do!" She yelled forcing hiccup to back up slightly, "but that doesn't mean... you can't fake it..."

"Wait... do you feel... and please don't kill me! Guilty?" He asked and rub the back of his neck "for sending them to their deaths?"

"I have to... send them... it's Drago laws and we must obey them" she said sighing even more and held her hand into a fist, "But there are other ways... to show bravery... then sending people to their deaths"

"But you're second in command within the gang! How did... I mean... don't you have to kill a lot of people to get that high?" He asked

"Have you seen any other girls besides me? I beat a few people up but it was mostly because I was tough! I never killed anyone..." she said and got off her bike "they never asked me too... and whenever I did... I just made up some story not too"

"I'm not cold hearted, Astrid" Hiccup said and walked closer.

"You didn't even blink when those ten kids got shot! Everyone else reacted" she said

"I was acting tough! I don't want to get beaten or killed! Those deaths were pointless and unnecessary!" He said back and crossed his arms, "I knew them! They were my friends"

"I hate Drago... his methods for recruiting are barbaric," she said sighing some more. She passed her hand through her hair and look at him, "Don't you dare tell anyone about this! I could get killed!"

"I won't! Promise" he said and back away slightly, "I won't say a thing!"

"Thank you," she said sighing in relief

"But….. why don't you just leave the gang?" Hiccup asked

"Are you joking?! Drago will hunt me down and kill me!" Astrid said and shook her head, "Whatever I do…. Break the rules, questions our methods, or leave the gang….. I'll end up dead!"

"Oh….." Hiccup whispered looking down, "I'm sorry,"

"You can't be soft," Astrid said and tap his chest with her hand, "Don't ever forget that,"

Astrid sighed and went back on her bike "Come on... we should head back" she said.

"Alright," he said and got back on his. The two drove back to the starting line, and meet up with Fishlegs before heading back to the gang hideout.

"Where were you?" Snotlout asked walking towards them, as they entered the hideout.

"We want to race," Astrid said crossing her arms

"And she won," Hiccup lied and pretended to be annoyed by the 'defeat', "No surprise of course,"

"A race? Why didn't you tell me?! I love races!" Snotlout said crossing his arms like a child, "What the heck, Astrid!"

"I was eager to kick his ass, my bad," Astrid said and simply went with it, "Next time I race his sorry ass I will,"

"You better," Snotlout said and walked away from her. Astrid smiled and waited for Snotlout or any other high ranking members were earshot away.

"Why did you lie? About the race?" she asked

"I wouldn't want the second in command within, the Dragon Riders to look weak," Hiccup said smiling at her, "I have a feeling that even a tie is weak,"

"Well, you're not wrong," she said laughing softly

"See," Hiccup said winking at her, "I'll go join the other rats, later,"

"Bye…." Astrid said softly waving her hands, "Hiccup….."

Astrid sighed softly and walked around the hideout to do her daily walk through, she had to check on the recruits, prepare for the next test, and speak with Drago about their next step against the Hunters.

"Axe," Drago said walking up from behind, "Where have you been?"

"Teaching one of the recruits a lesson," Astrid said. She wasn't technically lying, she was teaching a Hiccup a lesson, a lesson on how not to get killed.

"Drago," she said looking at him, "I was about to come to see you,"

"How are things with the Hunters?" he asked glaring down at her

"Tension is getting stronger….. I'm worried a gang war is about to start," she said sighing softly, "Maybe we shouldn't…. focus on the best of the best, we need more numbers….. The Hunters out number us,"

Drago narrowed his eyes and slap Astrid across the face, sending her to the ground and stepping over her. He grabs her hair and forced her onto her feet, as she held part of his hand and hair.

"Listen here!" Drago said and brought Astrid closer, "Numbers doesn't matter! It's skills! The best of the best! I don't give a shit about numbers, you hear me! In this gang war! Skills will win!"

"Y…yes….sir…," Astrid whispered and held back the tears from the pain, "Pleas…..please….. forgive me….. I…. promise…. I wont…. Fail….. I'll….. get…. The best recruits….."

"Good," Drago said dropping Astrid to the ground. He smiled and walked away and left his second in command on the ground. "Get back to work, Axe," Drago said as he left.

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