Next chapter guys! Sorry for the lack of updating for a couple of days. School has been rather rough on me as well as volleyball and debate but I'm updating today and to make up for it, two new chapters will be added tonight! I hope you enjoy this one! As always thanks for all the reviews and please review some more! I really enjoy hearing back.

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How to Be a Slave

Ch.6: Challenges

Kacey hesitantly took a step forward towards the dragon's blue scale back.

"Relax, you've already gotten his trust." Hiccup assured. "Just climb onto his back."

Kacey gulped, her body trembled as her hand brushed against the scales of the Nadder. The Nadder crooned, lifting his head in pleasure. She stuck her other hand out and waited for a moment. The dragon soon lowered his back, allowing Kacey access to mount on his back.

Toothless wobbled up to her as she tried to get onto the dragon's back. He lowered his snout and lifted her from her rear end, hoisting her up to land on the dragon's back. She yelped in surprise, looking down at the dragon who she soon realized was helping her. With another shove in the air, she got onto the back of the dragon, making herself comfortable.

"See?" Hiccup asked as he mounted on Toothless. "It's not that bad."

Seconds later, Toothless rocketed into the air, Kacey still remained grounded. She grasped the reins loosely and tried kicking the dragon to take off. She groaned as she tried to get the dragon into the air.

"Come on," she grumbled. The dragon soon screeched, wings extended in the air in fear before taking off. She screamed loudly which echoed into the skies. Her hands tightened around the leather reins in fear. Behind her, she could hear cackling laughter. She looked over her shoulder and found Hagan waving to her before picking up his crate and heading off. She growled under her breath before looking forward. She continued to panic. "Hey slow down!"

Hiccup looked over his shoulder before shifting the pedal with his prosthetic. Toothless slowed down a bit and allowed the energetic Deadly Nadder catch up to the duo.

"Just relax, as long as you can hold onto the reins, you'll be fine." Hiccup instructed. "Loosen your grip."

Kacey followed the orders, her hands slackened a bit.

"Pull on the reins to steer him." Hiccup replied. "That's your only way of commanding him."

Kacey abided the instructions a bit, starting to calm down as the wave of sudden action started to subside. She had managed to slow the dragon down a bit, starting to enjoy the beautiful view. Hiccup heard her mutter something.

"Álainn*." She murmured. She relished in the feeling much like that night with Hagan about a week ago.

It was not long before Astrid joined the pair. She talked only to Hiccup, which didn't matter much to Kacey as she focused on her fondness of the view.

"Race you, Haddock!" Astrid challenged, kicking her own Nadder, speeding up. Hiccup soon followed with a loud hoot of laughter which broke Kacey's trance. She looked over and found the two dragons turning into specks. She remembered hearing the word 'race.' Maybe she'd join it. With a little hesitation, she tugged on the reins to check security before tightening her grasp and kicking her dragon's sides.

"Chugainn*!" she shouted over the roaring winds, soon joining the fun.

She had to admit, Nadders were really fast, but as she caught up to Astrid, she had realized that Deadly Nadders were no match for the Night Fury. Kacey and Astrid glanced at each other, prodding their dragons to pull ahead. Kacey was starting to fall behind as Astrid started to ascend. She cursed under her breath before directing her dragon to follow.

Kacey had no idea where she found this boldness, she was racing just shortly after learning how to ride a dragon! Once the race started, she was regretting her rash decision but after a while, she was starting to get high off of the thrill. She wanted more. She wanted to soar to daring heights, perform those crazy stunts…she enjoyed everything about it. She felt like she was free, able to do what she wanted, when she wanted. Something that she had lost long ago was finally found at that moment. For so long Kacey has thought that her stolen freedom could no longer be taken back. For so long, Kacey thought she would be alone, unable to talk to someone again and then with a sudden rush of adrenaline and joy, she shot one arm in the air, clenching her fist against the misty clouds above her and gave a joyous whoop that brought both of the dragon riders' attentions.

Hiccup couldn't help but laugh, enjoying the sight of the overjoyed Kacey. Astrid was a bit amused as the newest rider started to dip down and nosedive towards the sea, Kacey laughing all the while in complete elation.

"At least she still knows how to be happy." Astrid pointed out as the two Vikings slowed down to ride side by side. "I've never seen her smile like that."

Suddenly, Kacey commanded her dragon to ascend upwards, passing by Hiccup and Astrid, they pulled their dragons' reins, trying to avoid a near collision but Kacey didn't stop. She was having a blast.

The three dragons soon touched down much to Kacey's annoyance. Her Nadder was the last to land and Kacey soon leapt off of her dragon's back, keeping one hand on his neck.

"Good boy," she spoke in her native tongue. She rubbed her hand against his scaly neck. "You're a fast flyer."

The dragon crooned, Kacey started to scratch the dragon's neck.

"You know," Hiccup said as he detached himself off of Toothless. He faced her. "You can have that dragon."

Kacey looked at him as if he was crazy.

"He's yours." Hiccup replied. "You just have to take care of him."

Kacey registered his words. She was actually given a dragon.

"My dad will have to deal with it but he'll manage. I trust you enough that you won't run away." Hiccup told her.

"Plus, if you try to run away, we'll catch you anyway." Astrid warned, insensitively. Kacey could only nod.

"Kacey!" came a familiar voice. Kacey turned. ""Tá sibhta tu iontach!*"

Kacey blushed at the comment as Hagan joined her. Though, she hadn't forgotten his little incident from earlier. She gave him a clean whack on the back of his head. He yelped, rubbing his sore head as Kacey scolded him. Hiccup and Astrid looked at each other.

"Okay, then." Hiccup said as the two Irish teens ran off, Kacey chasing Hagan around the village. The dragon found it a nice time to take a nap so he just sauntered off into the forest to find a nice warm spot. Astrid shook her head.

"Nice race today Hiccup." She commented. Before taking off, she gave him a good punch to the shoulder.

"Ow!" Hiccup yelped.

"That's for beating me." She told him. It was not long before she grabbed a handful of his tunic and planted a kiss on his cheek. "That's for everything else."

And she turned and ran.

Kacey finished up with her late afternoon tasks. She made sure there was enough wood to keep the fire going tonight, she made sure Toothless couldn't get into the storage of hidden fish and she made sure there was a barrel full of water. Yep, she found it time to join Hagan and his friends outside for some fun.

She found the group of six boys. Four had created a ring while two others were pacing around, holding wooden sticks, most likely serving as weapons. It was a sparring session. Kacey joined the group, wedging herself in between Hagan and Manus, a heavy giant who loved to punch trees and destroy boulders, hypothetically. The two fighters were the boastful Aidan and the uncoordinated Thady.

Kacey couldn't help but laugh as Thady fumbled around as Aidan tried to knock the stick out of his hands with multiple strikes, lunging and smacking constantly. Kacey wondered why Thady even tried, he's got his heart in the right place but sometimes his balance is not. It didn't take long for Thady to end up on the ground, wooden stick pointed at his chest. Aidan laughed while he helped his friend up but couldn't let the victory go without a few chants of boastfulness, his specialty.

"I still got it." Aidan pointed out. "Those Vikings won't stand a chance when they face me again."

"Don't get a big head, Aid." Kacey blurted out. Heads turned to her. Aidan laughed as Kacey took a step forward.

"I'm not a big head," Aidan fought with a crack in his voice.

"I said you were getting a big head." Kacey responded, flatly. "You know you've still have the room for improvement."

"What do you know about sword fighting?" Aidan asked. "You're just a girl."

"Aidan," Hagan said, stepping forward, as if insulted by that brutish comment.

"No, Hagan," Kacey said, putting up a hand. She turned her gaze to Thady. "Toss me that stick."

Thady looked a bit surprised.

"Are you challenging me?" Aidan questioned. Thady threw the long stick in the air to Kacey. She swiped it out of the air, grasping it tightly as she turned to Aidan.

"Come on Big Head, let's go." Kacey ordered, lifting her armed hand. Aidan grinned and went for it. Kacey leapt to the side and swung her stick, colliding it with Aidan's before spinning around and dodging his next advances.

Not very far, Stoick the Vast was walking passed the group, coming from his recent meeting after finding an entire Viking fleet returning ahead of schedule. He heard the chanting and stopped.

"Gluais* Kacey!" came one shout. Stoick could see from a little gap between two of the slaves, that Kacey was engaged in a playful fight with a fellow slave. She was quick, decisive and very observant.

It was not long before Kacey had Aidan on the ground, begging for mercy, scared that she would unleash a heavy blow. Kacey thought about it, wanting to punch him in the face for being so arrogant but she only shrugged it off. She threw the stick aside and offered a hand to the boy, she pulled him up and patted him on the arm, saying something in their language.

Stoick was impressed with what he saw, though he tried to contain it.

"We'll need everyone we can get." He muttered, registering Spitelout's information and the event that played out.

To be continued.

Gaelic Vocabulary-

Álainn (Pro. Aw-lawn)-Translation: Beautiful

Chugainn-Translation: Let's go

Tá sibhta tu iontach-Translation: You were great up there!

Gluais-Translation: Go

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