Last chapter before act 2 begins.

Here we go.

Two years later...

There were several differences key differences to flying with her dragon Stormfly, as opposed to flying on Cloudjumper, the eleven year old Astrid thought.

First and foremost, she flew all by herself

Oh, sure Valka was flying with Cloudjumper almost wingtip-to-wingtip with her, but still, riding by yourself on a dragon was quite different from riding with some ones arm constantly wrapped around your waist.

It was exciting, though also a little bit unnerving. Stormfly was less to having a human on her back that Cloudjumper was, even after their two years together, and Astrid still felt herself wobbling a bit unsteadily in her seat from time to time. The fact that she rode without any sort of saddle made things all the more difficult.

"Steady, Astrid" the girl heard Valka say, though she hardly needed the advice. She was doing everything she could to balance as it was. And in a few more seconds, it was going to get even harder.

"Just like I told you Astrid…. That's it…. Slower…. Slower."

Moving very, very slowly, Astrid put her feet under her, planted them on to of Stomfly's back, and rose up.

Her feet lined up along the dragon's spine, her arms stretched out wide for balance, Astrid slowly moved herself into a standing position. Though she had seen Valka do it many times, (and when she made it look so easy too) Astrid still found it appallingly difficult.

Still, so far so good. Though she was struggling to stay on her feet every inch of the way, she had managed to stay balanced thus far. While 'thus far' only equated to a few moments, those few moments were longer than any previous attempt she had managed to do.

And then, after what seemed like an eternity, she was standing. Her knees slightly bent, her right foot out in front of her, her left behind and perpendicular to it, her arms spread wide for balance, she would have thought that she looked rather comical, were she not focusing so hard.

But after many attempts, she had succeeded. She had lost count of just how many times she had tumbled off of Stormfly's back while trying to achieve such a maneuver. Still, her Viking stubbornness pushed her onward, even after dozens of failures.

And now here she was, standing balanced upon her dragon as they soared low above the vast blue ocean. Astrid risked a glance over at Valka, who was watching her with a wide smile, watching her from atop Cloudjumper's back. The older dragon riders eyes were full of pride at her adopted daughters accomplishment.

Astrid couldn't help herself. She let out a huge whoop of delight and exhilaration.

Then she was flying free, or rather falling. Tumbling head over heels through the open air to crash into the dark ocean.

"You know, it could have been worse." Valka said cheerfully.

She, Astrid, Stormfly, and Cloudjumper were all gathered around the fire they had hastily built, huddled close to soak up as much heat as possible. Valka was roasting a pair of fish over the fire, where as Astrid was stroking Stormfly under the chin with one hand, and trying to wring the water out of her sodden blond hair with the other.

"I don't see how. I failed again." Astrid replied, staring drearily into the fire.

"But you got further than ever before, right?"

"Ya, but so what? It seems like every time I try, it always the same way. What if I never get it right?"

Stormfly, sensing her friends distress, nuzzled her shoulder gently.

"You thought the same way about riding on a dragon by yourself, if I remember correctly. You never thought you could get that right either."

"That was different."

"How so?"

"That is much easier. It-"

"Astrid" Valka interrupted "It doesn't matter how easy or hard it may be. The only thing that matters is that if you work hard enough at it, you can accomplish it. All it takes is time and hard work. And you have plenty of both."

"Besides" Valka continued, smirking "I think Stormfly might have made you fall. Maybe she thought you were in need of a little bath."

Astrid looked over at her dragon, who was suddenly looking very sheepish. Cloudjumper snorted in an amused way, smoke puffing out of his nostrils.

"And on that note" Valka said, standing up. "I have something for you."

The dragon rider reached over, near where here staff was laid out across the ground, but instead of picking up her weapon, she grabbed onto a large, cloth-covered bundle. Astrid had seen it earlier in the day, though only when Valka had brought it out at the beginning of the lesson. The girl hadn't questioned it then, but now she was a little curious at what might be inside.

Valka moved back to her seat and placed the bundle almost reverently on her lap, then slowly began pulling away the layers of cloth.

"Astrid, you have been here two summers now, and I have taught you a great deal. You and I know more about dragons than nearly anyone has ever dreamed of."

Valka's hands stopped moving as she reached the last layer of cloth covering whatever was within the bundle.

"Throughout your time here, you have shown me that you are responsible enough to earn this."

The final wrapping's fell away, and Astrid stared in awe.

It was a spear, corved with such perfection that it seemed to have simply grown out of a tree in the shape it was now. It was almost as long as Astrid was tall, made of some light brown wood she didn't recognize. Carved into the sides were flowing designs of dragon scales running along its entire length, as well as several holes, as if the weapon were a gigantic flute.

And the weapon didn't simply taper to a point at the end of its length. No, affixed to the end of its length was a nadder tail spine, blue and yellow, like the spines from Stormfly's own tail.

There was a long silence, stretching on through the air, until Astrid finally managed to stutter out.

"You… you made this for me?"

Valka nodded.

"I can't say I hope you will never use it, because if you never needed to, you wouldn't be able to pursue this way of life. But you have shown me that you are ready for the responsibility that comes with it."

Valka stood up, walked around the fire, and presented the weapon out for Astrid to take.

Astrid hesitated. She was sincerely touched by Valka's gift, but didn't know if she agreed with Valka's statement that she was ready for the responsibility it came with the gift. In Viking culture, the giving of a weapon was particularly significant, as it demonstrated not only your trust in the person you were giving the weapon to, but also your trust in their skills, and their ability to use that weapon competently.

And now, in handing over a weapon to Astrid, Valka was showing her confidence and trust to a girl no more that eleven years old.

Valka was giving her the power to fight. The power to defend herself and those she loved.

But Valka was also giving her the power to kill.

Astrid tentatively reached out and took the spear from Valka's outstretched hands.

It felt as smooth as it looked, almost liquid-like beneath her finger. It was also surprisingly light, a fact that Astrid didn't understand until she realized it was hallow. Then she was even more confused.

"Why is it hollow?" She asked curiously.

"Spin it." Was the only reply she got.

"What?"

"Spin it. Then you will understand."

Astrid held the spear up above her head, then began twirling it in her hands, slowly at first, the picking up speed as the wind passed through the holes in the weapon, producing a peculiar whistling sound.

"It is used to communicate with dragons. Like the rattles in your staff, right?"

"That's right. And now, Astrid, you have everything you need to be a true dragon rider…... well, almost everything."

Astrid eyed Valka curiously.

"What more do I need?"

"Something you can never get enough of."

"Practice?"

"That's it."

Astrid groaned.

Two men stood across from each other on the docks of Berk. One carried a worn and beaten satchel over his shoulder and had a cold, determined look in his ice blue eyes. The other stood barley an arms length from his newly acquired ship.

"…And you're sure that you have what it takes, boy. Dragon trapping is only for the best of the best."

Erik Hofferson looked the big trapper right in the eye and nodded confidently, an almost mocking smirk upon his lips

"And how do I know that you are up to the challenge, eh? You understand that I can't just accept any kid that comes to me looking for a job." Now Eret was matching Erik's smirk with one of his own.

In response, Erik pulled, from out of his battered satchel, a pair of black horns, each of them longer than one of his arms.

Monstrous Nightmare horns.

"I brought down the dragon these belonged to single-handedly" Erik explained "First dragon that I ever killed."

Still, Eret looked less than impressed.

"I've taken down plenty of Monstrous Nightmares in my day, boy. It'll take more than that to become a trapper."

"Still" Eret continued. "I am short a few crew members at the moment. How 'bout this? I'll give you a season on my ship. If you can prove to me you have what it takes to be a trapper, I might- might- consider you for a full time crew member."

"But if you aren't up to the challenge, we drop you off at that nearest port, and you can get your own way back home."

Erik didn't even have to consider the offer.

"Done" Erik said simply. "When do we leave?"

"When I say we do" Replied Eret, not missing a beat. "What's your name, boy"

"Hofferson. Erik Hofferson. And don't call me boy."

"A bit feisty, eh? Well Erik, how do your parents feel about this?'

"I'm eighteen summers old. I can make my own decisions."

"Fair enough" Eret's eyes glittered with something unreadable, then he said "And why do you want to be a trapper?"

"I have my own reasons." Erik said, a bit more defensively than he wanted to.

"You're coming on my ship. I'd like to know those reasons." Eret almost snarled

There was a pause.

"I…I hate dragons." Eric said, carefully keeping his voice steady.

"Nothing new there"

"This is different."

"And why, may I ask is that?" Eret was looking straight into Eric's eyes, searching for something to read in them.

"I lost someone to them."

Eret gave a short laugh.

"Gee, I've never heard that one before. Never met anyone who's lost family to a dra-"

"THIS IS DIFFERENT!" Erik shouted, interrupting the trapper.

"This is different" Erik repeated, softer, though his voice was wickedly cold. "I will pay if I have to die trying. And if you won't teach me how to trap dragons…. Then I will find someone who will."

Eret seemed to mull over the words in the long silence, rubbing his chin as he put on a thoughtful expression.

"Very well, Erik. You'll get your chance. We leave tomorrow morning at dawn. Don't be late."

And so Eret began training as a dragon trapper, ignorant to the fact that his little sister, Astrid, was two years into her training as a dragon rider.

The very thing he hoped to destroy.

And there we you have it folks. Act 1 is done.

Now for a quick interlude chapter, then huge time skip, and then we are onto Act 2

Then we'll get onto the REAL story

See you guys then, and as always, have a good one!