As the people of Berk gathered around to watch the dragon race, Astrid was the one to notice that a specific pair of eyes wasn't in the crowd of onlookers. She didn't like the owner of the eyes but she would rather keep her in sight. Her sisters were present and watching their every move so this gave Astrid the comfort of knowing that she wouldn't be far. It also gave her a small amount of comfort to know that Gothi was missing as well and, for whatever reason, the rose-eyed foreigner had taken a liking to the elder.
Astrid looked over at Hiccup, who had a very calm expression on his face but didn't seem to be as attentive to the race as normal. She cleared her throat and the blonde pulled him back to reality. When he turned to look at her, she couldn't help but ask "Is everything okay?"
"Everything is fine." He told her with a reassuring smile before looking out to the three sisters and losing his smile. He put a hand on Toothless like he was about to jump on the back of the dragon but the rest of him stayed perfectly still.
Barf and Belch growled as Tuffnut and Ruffnut jumped onto the necks of the beast. Tuffnut looked at the chief and asked: "So where's your lady friend?"
Astrid leaned against Stormfly's side as she shot Tuffnut a glare. She wasn't stupid and could see that there was chemistry between Hiccup and Vesta but she knew him well enough that she was certain that Hiccup would never approach the girl with more than friendship until he and Astrid met their end. If Astrid could help it, that wouldn't happen and he'd never get the chance. Though it wasn't something she wanted, Astrid could handle a breakup. As she looked at Hiccup, she knew that she just wanted him to be happy and she hoped that it would still be with her.
Hiccup glared at Tuffnut before growling "She's not my lady friend, she's just a friend. I think."
"I thought she was the one who was all about seeing the dragons in action. So where is she?" Ruffnut asked with an exasperated sigh as she propped her arms on Barf's head.
Fishleg's didn't take his eyes off of Meatlug as he said: "Isla said that she'd be here shortly. She said that she was helping Gothi with something."
"Does anyone else find her weird? Who comes to an island full of fierce Vikings and chooses to spend most of their time with an old lady?" Snotlout asked and Tuffnut snickered at the man's joke.
Ruffnut let out a chuckle before saying "You shouldn't be surprised that she's strange. She bonded with Hiccup after she spent time with the old lady."
"What does that mean exactly?" Hiccup asked and didn't hide his annoyed expression.
Tuffnut snorted before telling the young chief: "She has terrible taste in people. The sisters are living with us but Vesta spends all of her time with Gothi, you, and Toothless... for whatever reason."
"For some reason, I thought you three would lighten up on the teasing after I became chief." Hiccup said with a roll of his eyes.
"Oh please." Snotlout snorted. "That's like thinking Astrid would quit punching you after you guys got betrothed."
Astrid punched him in the arm as if on cue before laughing and saying: "I've been doing that for years and will continue to do so until the day I die. How else do you expect me to keep him in line?"
Hiccup laughed before looking at his mother standing where his father once stood during the races. She smiled proudly at her son as she stood next to Cloudjumper and Hiccup felt a small tug at his heart at not seeing his father next to her. He was thankful that he'd found his mother but there was a hole in his heart that would never heal now that his father was gone.
"He'd be proud of you, Hiccup." Fishlegs told his best friend, knowing where his mind was as he looked to Valka.
Hiccup let out a small laugh before jumping on Toothless's back, the dragon looking up at his rider with a grin. He pat Toothless on the head before looking to his friend. "I'm glad you think so."
Astrid gave him a reassuring look before jumping onto Stormfly's back. "Are you ready?"
Hiccup looked out at the crowd one last time and when he didn't see the elder or the girl, he gave his mother the cue to start the race. She nodded before holding out a hand and asked the riders "Are you ready?"
"Prepare to eat my dust!" Tuffnut yelled at his sister.
She snorted before saying "Not if you eat mine first!"
"It's the same dragon!" Fishlegs told them while Meatlug rolled her eyes. The twins exchanged a look before laughing at each other while Barf and Belch looked less than amused.
Astrid leaned forward and Stormfly watched Valka hold up the bright purple flag, waiting for her to drop it so that the dragons could take off. Hiccup threw his head into the race and shared a smile with Toothless as the Night Fury let out a growl of anticipation.
Hookfang growled and Snotlout looked to where Valka was standing with a smirk. "Well, it's about damn time."
The riders all turned to look where Valka stood and saw Gothi standing with her staff and Vesta sat in the grass close by. Her eyes were gleaming with excitement even though her smile was relatively calm and her red-blonde hair was touching the grass. She knew that her sisters were watching and that this race was the perfect opportunity for them to decide whether the dragons and humans were as well of a match as they seemed to be.
Valka waved the purple flag once more and the riders' eyes all turned back to her. The dragons all growled to let her know that they were ready to take off and the riders leaned forward in anticipation.
"Let the race begin!" Valka said and dropped the flag as her husband had done several times in the past.
The girls didn't have time to blink before the dragons took off and dove for a sheep in sight at full speed. Vesta watched in horror as Stormfly's talons extended as she dove for the animal. She waited for the dragon's talons to pierce the animal's body but felt relief when something dark quickly dove in the direction and the next thing she saw was that the sheep was in Hiccup's arms.
A few gasps came from the crowds but all Vesta was able to hear clearly was Gobber as he said: "Oh she's going to get him for that one."
"He seems to be showing off a bit." Valka didn't hide her amused tone or her smile.
Gothi looked to the redhaired girl next to her and poked her with a stick to get her attention. The girl looked up at the elder with curious eyes and watched as Gothi gestured to the sheep and then a row of nets with symbols above them.
Vesta was confused until what Gothi was saying clicked in her mind. "The goal of the race is to get as many sheep into the net as possible?"
Gobber let out an amused laugh as he realized why the girl had looked horrified only a moment ago. "They didn't explain the rules of the race to you, lass?"
"Not exactly.." She said and looked at her sisters' amused expressions. "Apparently I'm the only one who didn't get the memo."
Valka gave the girl an apologetic look before saying "What did you think the rules were?"
"The twins said that the sheep were mauled on contact and the goal was to see who could maul the most sheep in the shortest amount of time." She confessed and turned to Gothi before saying "I'm glad to see that they were joking. I can't stand the sight."
Gobber laughed outright before stopping to say "The twins are known for their pranks, girlie. I wouldn't listen to a word they said. Oh, and watch out for them on Loki Day."
"Gobber." Valka scolded lightly but was unable to hold back her smile. "Sven wouldn't allow his prize sheep to be slaughtered for the fun of it. I am curious though. If you object to the slaughter and didn't know the truth, why did you come to the race?"
Vesta shrugged as she leaned in closer to watch Hiccup thrown the sheep into the net. She then laughed lightly before saying "Hiccup said that it would be a good way for my sisters to see that the dragons could be trusted."
Valka smiled and didn't say another word to the girl. Gobber walked up to his longtime friend and said soft enough that only Valka could hear "They are getting awfully close."
"That's a discussion for later. Right now, I'm curious to see who wins the race." She told her friend and then looked in time to see Fishlegs throw one of the sheep into the net. "It seems everyone is giving it their all."
"For good reason." Gobber gestured to the blue haired girl that was cheering loudly in the crowd with a smile.
Astrid rode closely to Hiccup before saying "That's the only sheep your getting this race."
"I beg to differ." The chief told her with a smirk and Toothless growled his laughter before they dove for another sheep that Astrid hadn't seen in the midst of her teasing.
The Night Fury soared back to the net and tossed the sheep into the net with the other and Hiccup heard the cheers coming from the crowd but there was only one face who's reaction he wanted to see. His emerald eyes met the forest green eyes of the eldest sister and when he looked at her expression, he could see her smiling brightly.
"I'll get you one, Astrid." Snotlout called and gave her a flirty smile. "After all, that's the kind of thing a real man does for his woman."
Astrid nudged Stormfly and the Deadly Nadder shot a few spikes in his direction. None hit the duo but it was enough to get the point across. "I'm not your woman."
"I'm not giving up until your married." Snotlout told her and once he spotted a sheep, he dove after it. He was smiling victoriously until the twins swooped in and stuck their tongues out at him as they stole the sheep right out from under Snotlout and Hookfang. He yelled back and said "Really? Stealing another man's sheep?"
The twins then unashamedly threw the sheep in their net while Tuffnut yelled: "Stop trying to flirt with Astrid and pay attention then."
"Especially when she's already taken." Ruffnut's voice followed with disapproval.
Snotlout rolled his eyes as he said "Taken isn't married. There is still time for her to see that I'm the man for her. Especially now that the chief is so preoccupied."
Two sheep came into Snotlout's view and he was confident in his ability to get both of them. That is until Meatlug grabbed up the closest one and the other disappeared. Upon further investigation, Snotlout saw that Toothless and Hiccup were the captors of the other sheep.
Hiccup shot him a glare but decided the race was not the right time to pick a fight with his cousin. He threw his head in the game but smiled as he watched Astrid throw two sheep into her net. She gave him a mischievous smile before looking at Valka, who had all of her attention on the girl beside Gothi.
Gothi drew something on the ground and Vesta laughed causing Valka to smile at the two. Astrid could see that for whatever reason, Hiccup's mother had taken a liking to the foreigner right off and this spurred a touch of jealousy in Astrid. She then noticed that Gobber was missing, which could only mean one thing.
"The black sheep!" Hiccup and Astrid said in unison before stopping and waiting for the sheep to come into view.
The twins flew next to them and smiled happily. Ruffnut tossed one of her braids over her back before saying "That sheep is as good as ours."
"I don't think so." Fishlegs said and the competitiveness in his voice was a shock to his friends but none of them thought much about this.
Snotlout gestured with his hands to his net as he said "I haven't even gotten a sheep. How am I supposed to be impressive if I don't score?"
"By growing a personality?" Astrid suggested.
"By getting some skills?" Tuffnut added.
"By not being you," Ruffnut stated.
Hiccup laughed lightly before suggesting "By getting your head out of your ass long enough to accomplish something."
Fishlegs then looked to Snotlout and asked: "Who are you trying to impress?"
"Well if I can't get Astrid's attention, then we have four really hot babes that are definitely single and need a taste of the Snot." He told them gesturing to his body. He turned and saw that the sisters had all gathered close to Gothi and blew them a kiss.
Terra's face was of pure disgust, Isla looked past Snotlout to wave to Fishlegs, and Skya smiled at Tuffnut. Vesta was the only one to give a verbal response and couldn't stop herself from saying "Not a chance."
She then gave a gesture and Hookfang reared back and connected his head with Snotlout's. The Viking rubbed his head before asking "What was that for and since when do you listen to anyone?"
The dragon growled his response and then Gobber yelled "Final points! The black sheep is worth ten and this decides who wins!"
"Consider yourselves losers!" Ruffnut called to the group.
Gobber then released the handle and the black sheep went soaring into the air. There was a protesting baaing as the sheep went into the air and the dragons dove after him. The only sound that was distinguishable from the sounds of the dragons growling and the crowd cheering was Sven frantically yelling, "Don't hurt my sheep!"
Isla jumped a mile when Snotlout and Hookfang nearly collided with Meatlug and Fishlegs but the larger Viking quickly maneuvered so that Hookfang soared past them. Fishlegs looked back to the cyan-haired girl and gave her an apologetic look when he saw the fear in her eyes.
"Who needs to get their head in the game now?" Snotlout yelled and was abruptly hit on the head from above.
He rubbed his head when he saw Ruffnut hanging upside down and the twins yelled: "Still you!"
The twins dove and swooped up the black sheep but when they turned to go back to the net, they began to argue.
Ruffnut yelled at her brother "It's my turn to throw it in the net!"
"But your aim is terrible!" Tuffnut yelled back and Ruffnut punched him in the face.
Astrid jumped down and ran up the dragons back before grabbing the sheep between them and jumping down as she said "Sorry guys!"
She landed on Stormfly and heard the twins argument start to fade behind her as their speed increased. She could see the net in view and tossed the sheep once they were close enough. It had just barely left her hands when Toothless soared past her and Hiccup grabbed the sheep. The moment they flew over their net, he dropped the sheep in and cheers broke out amongst the crowd.
Toothless let out a blast of fire towards the sky in celebration before they came back to where his mother was standing. The moment Hiccup dismounted the dragon, Gobber came over and smacked the young man on the back saying "Congrats, Chief."
Valka had her arms crossed over her chest as she said "I haven't seen you so competitive in the races since I've come here. Any reason for the sudden change?"
Hiccup didn't get the chance to answer before Isla squealed with excitement. He turned and saw her run up to Fishlegs with a bright smile. "That was incredible. I mean I knew you guys were good but that was amazing."
Hiccup watched Fishlegs turn red and then Isla looked at Meatlug and scratched her chin as she said: "You were incredible, girl."
Skya walked over to the twins with a bit of a nervous glint in her eyes as she looked at Tuffnut. "You were pretty impressive out there."
"Thanks, we do our best," Ruffnut said with a smile that made Skya bite her lip.
Tuffnut smiled at the girl before draping an arm over his sister's shoulder and saying "All in a day's work."
"You might have had a chance to win... if you didn't argue." Skya's words made Tuffnut smirk a bit and he cleared his throat before shoving his sister to the side.
"We're working on that." He told her before gesturing to Belch and Barf. "Would you like to come with me and my sister on a ride so you can see us work together?"
Ruffnut looked at him confused before a sneaky smile crossed her features. "Yeah, we don't mind a bit."
"Well... I don't know." Skya hesitated but only when she turned to her sister with a cautious look did the twins understand why.
Terra glared back at Isla before taking a breath and saying "Go for it. Just come back in one piece."
Skya smiled victoriously and the moment Tuffnut reached his hand out to her, she took it and was pulled onto the back of his saddle. The twins didn't give her time to change her mind and flew off with the girl.
Valka smiled and didn't take her eyes off of the trio as she told her son: "They seem to be coming around sure enough. Most of them at least."
"I'm still not sure what to do about Terra. She dislikes everyone too much to even try to give us a chance, let alone the dragons." Hiccup told his mother and she put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
He turned to stare into her soft blue eyes and she had a smile of comfort. "She'll come around."
He saw Terra's look of disapproval deepen when Isla jumped on the back of Meatlug and flew off with Fishlegs. Vesta walked over to her sister and they shared an intense look before she shrugged and began to walk over to them.
Hiccup couldn't hide his shock when Vesta walked past both him and Toothless to go straight to Gobber. She pulled him down and whispered in his ear. Hiccup knew from the sound of his laughter that it was nothing good.
"Are you sure, lass?" He asked her and she nodded.
She then walked past them again as Astrid and Snotlout landed with their dragons on either side of Toothless. The dragons looked at the girl confused and Stormfly tensed as Astrid watched Vesta approach her sister. "Well, what do you say you go flying with Gobber?"
"You truly have lost your mind, haven't you?" Terra asked and Vesta only shrugged as she looked at Gobber and Grump. Terra sighed in defeat before saying "Fine."
"Actually, I have a better idea," Gobber said and Vesta looked at him curiously. He then went to a very nice looking Viking and dragged him up there. "This is Eret. He'd love to take you for a flight. It'll be a learning experience for you both."
Eret gave the woman a gentle smile as he held out his hand to her. "I'd love to but only if the lady wishes."
Terra was wide-eyed as she took in the Viking and Vesta knew that no matter how much Terra hated the idea of flying, her curiosity was now going to get the better of her. She looked back to Vesta with a curious look in her eyes. "Fly? As in close to the clouds?"
Vesta, being Vesta, didn't take her sister's skepticism seriously and told her "He's cute so I don't see how you can pass up the opportunity."
Terra glared at her sister before saying "I will be getting payback."
She then turned back to Eret, who had a charming grin spreading across his features as he helped her onto Skullcrusher. He then jumped up in front of her and took her hands to put them on his chest. "You'll want to hold on."
Terra almost let herself smile but shook it off as the dragon took to the skies to join the others. Vesta then gave Gobber a questioning look before saying "I didn't just send my sister off with someone that could possibly get her killed, right?"
"No, lass. I figured that since Terra is kind of skittish around the dragons, she and the newest member of the tribe would get along great and maybe learn together." Gobber told her with a proud smile at his plan.
Vesta was still slightly confused and asked: "How so?"
Valka watched them take off but then turned to Vesta to answer her. "He used to be a dragon trapper. He just needed some convincing."
"Makes sense," Vesta said with a shrug, accepting the woman's answer with ease.
Valka then turned to the girl with a teasing smile. "I do hope you didn't just send your sister off and not plan on joining her."
"Not a chance, ma'am." She told Valka respectively. She then walked over to Hiccup and held out her hand. "Care to help a girl to the clouds?"
Hiccup could feel Astrid's glare on his back as well as Toothless's curious eyes to see what his human was going to do next. While Gobber shook his head in disagreement, his mother gave him an encouraging smile and that was all it took. Hiccup managed to surprise even himself when he jumped on Toothless's back and grabbed Vesta's hand to pull her up with him. He was about to tell her to hold on when she wrapped her arms around him and laid her head on his back. Toothless heard the click when Hiccup's fake leg got into place to spread the fin of the tail and took off without a second thought.
Snotlout and Hookfang came up beside the Viking female and looked at her surprised before asking: "Are you going to let them show you up?"
With those words, Stormfly was on Toothless's tail with Hookfang following her quickly. The dragons didn't hesitate to launch off of the cliff and felt a euphoria wash over them as the breeze filled them with a sense of freedom. The riders had very similar feelings as they soared upward and the clouds grew closer, the salty smell of the sea filling their noses.
When they met the other riders, Vesta could see that none of her sisters were terrified anymore and it filled her with a relief that didn't think she would know. The lack of trust in their eyes made Hiccup uneasy and he placed a hand over Vesta's before saying "They are going to hate every minute of this if they don't trust the dragons, or at least us."
"Anything I can help with?" Vesta's answer nearly put him into shock but he managed to compose himself long enough to try to think of a plan. Then the perfect thought occurred.
"Do you trust Toothless?" He whispered as he put his hands over Vesta's. She only nodded and he swallowed the lump in his throat before asking "Do you trust me?"
Vesta thought about this for a moment but knew the answer without a second of hesitation.
"Yes."
***So... I have to say that it has been a rough week so it took me longer than I would have liked to write this chapter. I hope it was worth the wait though and I look forward to hopefully hearing what you all have to say about it. Either way, thank you for reading and I hope you all enjoyed it!
