Chapter 7: Astrid's Secret

Just so you all know, my birthday is this Thursday, in case any of you want to submit a special story. Also, I'm hoping that many of you are enjoying my stories. According to KAOSMaster, I'm a new FanFiction legend!

Heather eventually decided that if Hiccup wasn't going to go and talk to Astrid, then she would have to do it. Firecracker decided to come with her, despite the fact that Astrid didn't really seem to understand him.

It was very late at night when Heather and Firecracker approached the cave that Astrid was in. Heather knocked on the makeshift door. "Astrid, are you in there?" "Go away," said a voice. "Astrid, is that you?" Heather asked, a confused look now on her face. "I said go away," Astrid said, "I need to rest."

Heather sighed. "Astrid, I'm coming in there." "NO! Don't come in here! Don't look at me!" But Heather didn't listen. She swung the door open. For a minute, there was nothing but silence, but then a figure moved swiftly past Heather and Firecracker, shutting the door. Heather squinted in the darkness of the cave. "Astrid, is that you?" The figure slowly turned to face the Halfling. It was Astrid, but she was different. Her skin was scaly, and a light blue, like her eyes. Her fingernails had grown into claws, and two wings sprouted out of her back.

Astrid had turned into a Halfling.

Without a word, Astrid fired a small fireball on a small pile of wood so that the cave was lit. As soon as Heather and Firecracker's eyes adjusted to the light, they saw what had happened to their friend.

"Astrid? What happened to you? You're, um...uh..." Heather tried to search for the right word. "Different," Firecracker finished. Astrid sighed. She had understood what the little dragon had said. "I'm a Halfling, I know." "Well, yeah, I mean, well, was it something that you ate? Or is this some kinda illusion or something?" Firecracker was really confused.

Astrid shook her head sadly. "I've been this way for as long as I can remember," she said, turning away. "What do you mean?" Heather asked. "Yeah, we haven't ever seen you like this before," Firecracker said. "It's a curse," Astrid said, "Every night, whenever the sun sets, I turn into this." She held up her clawed hands and examined them in the light of the fire. "I become a Halfling."

Heather and Firecracker both listened as Astrid explained everything about what the curse had done to her life. "For years, I've been trying to hide it, but it was hard not to go out after sunset. My parents decided that it was best to set up some sort of test to see who my true love was. That's why I have to go home, and marry my true love, before the sun sets and everyone sees me like this." "Why does it have to be true love?" Heather asked. "Becasue, love is the greatest force on the entire Earth," Astrid said, "It's the only thing strong enough to break the curse."

Firecracker felt sorry for his friend. "C'mon Astrid, it's not that bad, you're not a monster. Okay, I'm not gonna lie, you are kinda creepy-looking. But you only look this way at night. Hiccup and Heather are Halflings 24/7." "But Firecracker," Astrid said, holding back tears, "I'm the chief's daughter. And this is not how I'm meant to look." She sobbed quietly, as to not draw the attention of anyone who could be outside, near the cave.

Heather walked over and put a hand on Astrid's shoulder. "Astrid, maybe it's best if you don't marry any of the Vikings back home." "But I have to," Astrid said, "Only a kiss from my true love can break the curse and make me normal." Heather turned Astrid around so that they were facing each other. "But you know, you are kind of a Halfling, and with Hiccup...well, you two have actually got a lot in common." Astrid's eyes widened at the Halfling's name.

"Hiccup?"

Meanwhile, the male Halfling was making his way back to camp, rehearsing to himself.

"Hey, Astrid, how are you? Good? Well, I'm good too. Okay, I was thinking about how I gave you those flowers earlier, and I remembered when you said that you thought they were beautiful. And I sort of got them for you, because, well, I think that you're also beautiful. But that's not the only reason I like you, I mean..." He sighed. "Oh, gods, I'm in trouble." He then noticed the cave that Astrid was in. He sighed again. "I have to do this." He took a deep breath. "Okay, here I go."

He walked over to the cave, and was about to knock on the door when he heard Astrid talking to Heather and Firecracker.

"Look at me, guys. I mean, really. Who in their right mind could ever love a Halfling? A human and a Halfling don't go together, that's why I can't just stay here with Hiccup. My only chance of ever being truly happy is if I marry my true love. Don't you understand? That's how it has to be."

Hiccup listened to this, and from what he heard, it sounded like Astrid was talking about him. He backed away from the door, his eyes welling up with tears.

She's right, he thought to himself, Who could ever love a Halfling? I was a fool to fall in love with her. I knew it would never work out. He turned to the island of Berk in the distance. Sighing, he spread his wings, and headed off in the direction of the island. He tried not to notice the tears falling down his face as he flew.

However, back in the cave, Astrid was still talking to Heather and Firecracker. She hadn't been talking about Hiccup, but about herself being a Halfling. "It's the only way to break the curse." Heather and Firecracker both looked at her with confused looks. "Well, you have to at least tell Hiccup the truth," Firecracker said, heading for the door.

"No!" Astrid cried, "You can't tell him. Nobody can know about this." She pointed to her dragon features. Firecracker sighed in frustration. "What's the point of talking if you gotta keep secrets?" "Just promise that you won't tell him," Astrid pleaded.

Heather sighed. "Alright, we won't tell him." She started to make her way for the door before she stopped and turned to Astrid.

"But you should."

Astrid nodded, not really taking in what Heather had told her. Satisfied, both Heather and Firecracker left the cave. After making sure they had left, Astrid shut the door. She turned and spotted the bouquet of flowers that Hiccup had given to her. She moved the flowers away from the fire, and grabbed one of them. She then started to pull off the petals, one by one.

"Tell him...Tell him not...Tell him...Tell him not..."

The questioning went on until she came down to the last few petals.

"Tell him...Tell him not..."

The last petal. Astrid pulled it off, a smile on her face.

"I tell him."

She turned and rushed out of the cave, the bouquet clutched tightly in her arms. "Hiccup? Hiccup, there's something that I have to..."

But Hiccup wasn't there. And even worse, the sun was beginning to rise. Astrid covered her eyes as the sun's light enveloped her. Her dragon features disappeared, her wings tucking into her back, her claws shortening into fingernails, and the blue scales disappearing and being replaced with human flesh. Astrid looked at her hands to see the last few scales disappearing. She was human again.

She turned her attention to the sound of flapping wings, and saw Hiccup landing on the cliff of the island. She grabbed the flowers and ran up to him. "Hiccup. Are you okay?"

The Halfling barely noticed her, but he gave a slight nod. "Yeah, sure, never been better." He started to walk away. Astrid frowned. There was a somewhat upset tone in his voice. "Listen, Hiccup, there's something that I have to tell you." Hiccup stopped and turned to face her. "You don't have to say anything," he said sadly, "I heard what you said last night."

Astrid was surprised to say in the least. "You heard what I said?" Hiccup nodded. "Every word." He sat down on the log-bench. Astrid was confused now. "I thought that you would understand." Hiccup nodded. "I do understand," he said, "You were right. Who could ever love a Halfling?" There was a moment of silence before he continued. "Let's face it, a human like you and a Halfling like me, it'd never work out."

Astrid was still confused for a minute, but as she thought about what Hiccup had said, she realized that it was all a misunderstanding. "Oh, Hiccup, I...that's not what I meant, I was just..."

Just then, a Viking horn sounded. Astrid turned to see a ship heading for the island. Hiccup stood up and gestured to the ship. "By the way, I brought you something."

As the ship came closer, Astrid recognized it as one of Berk's. She saw he father on the ship, along with a few people she didn't know.

It didn't take long for the ship to dock on the island. Arter was the first to get off. He rushed up to meet his daughter. "Astrid!" The confused girl hesitated for a minute, but then she took off running to meet her father. They hugged tightly. Arter looked up at Hiccup. "You brought her back." Hiccup nodded. "As promised."

Both Arter and Astrid pulled out of the hug. "You have earned our respect and our alliance," Arter said to Hiccup, "If you ever need anything from now on, all you have to do is ask us. Would you like to return to your cave?" Hiccup shook his head. "I think I'd rather stay on this island, thank you."

Arter was quite surprised by Hiccup's decision, but he didn't question it. He grabbed Astrid by he shoulders and led her to the ship. "There's someone you need to meet," he said.

At that moment, Snotlout lept out of the boat and walked up to the two of them. "You must be Astrid," he said to her, holding out his hand, "I am Snotlout Jorgenson, your future husband."

Astrid hadn't been more disgusted or shocked in her whole life. This was the guy she was marrying? She shot her father a startled and confused look. "It's for the best," he said. Then he leaned in and whispered, "You'll be rid of the curse in no time." Astrid then looked up at Hiccup, who turned away sadly.

Astrid sighed. "I accept your proposal," she said to Snotlout. Of course, the rude Viking couldn't have been more pleased. "Good, I'll start the plans, for tomorrow, we'll be wed." "NO!" Both Arter and Astrid screamed. Everyone looked at them in confusion, especially Hiccup.

Astrid hesitated before she said, "I mean, why wait? Why don't we get married today, before the sun sets?" As much as she hated marrying Snotlout, she felt as though she had no choice but to follow her father's request.

Snotlout accepted Astrid's idea. "Of course, the sooner the better. Now let's get going." They all boarded the ship, Astrid glancing back at Hiccup, who was walking away. Astrid tried not to notice the tear sliding down her cheek as she watched him walk away.

Obviously, there's a huge misunderstanding between the two lovers, but you don't have to worry. It'll all work out in the end. But, of course, I can't say exactly what happens, I don't want to spoil anything. Review, follow, or favorite.