Hey Guys. Here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy. Astrid's lame naming is more of me not being able to come up with a name. Sorry. I'm not good at coming up with names. As Astrid says in the chapter, "God have mercy on my future kids."

Nonetheless, ENJOY!

Astrid was finally granted to go and walk outside by Gobber, however, she couldn't exert herself.

"Gothi said that the bump on your head will still affect your movements. So, no sudden movements," Gobber had told her.

No sudden movements. Astrid thought. I wouldn't dream of it. Hint the sarcasm. She made her way to the market to purchase some food so she could eat that night. While there, she was bombarded with remarks and questions of 'are you ok?'. After a while she was ready to punch someone in the face. She was just hoping to run into Snotlout or Tuffnut. However, the gods didn't answer her.

As she rounded the corner, she saw Dagur heading straight towards her, though he didn't know it. He hadn't spotted her yet, so she had time to hide. The only problem was that she shouldn't move suddenly.

Screw it! She thought as she ducked between two houses. She quickly realized that that was a big mistake. The world began to spin and the pounding started up in her head. She was so off balance that she fell backwards and landed in some crates. She was spinning so fast that she almost didn't see Dagur pass. Luckily for her, Dagur didn't see her or she would have been cornered again.

She just laid there until the world stopped spinning and the pounding stopped. She then slowly got up and retrieved her purchases, which didn't end up spilling everywhere. She slowly walked home scolding herself.

I'm a Viking! One the most feared in the village! I should be hiding from my fears, I should face them head on! Next time I run into Dagur, I'm not going to hide. I'm going to show him why I'm the most feared. Beware Dagur! Astrid Hofferson is livid!

She marched into her house with an angry expression on her face. She still held the face even as she ate and when Gobber came to check on her.

"Whoa! Who made you so angry?"

"Me."

"What did you do to yourself?" Gobber questioned.

Astrid cocked an eyebrow then relaxed her face a bit. "I did something that wasn't me or very Viking."

"And what would that be?"

"I hid. Hid from my fears."

Gobber looked at her gob smacked. "Astrid Hofferson hid? I think the world is coming to an end," Gobber exclaimed over dramatically.

Astrid shook her head. "It's not funny Gobber. I hid. I never do that. I hate myself right now for indulging in such a weakness."

"To your credit lass, you do have a major head injury. Maybe your mind was just protecting ya so you could heal some more."

"It wasn't that Gobber. I know exactly why I hid."

"Do you want to tell me?"

"No," Astrid said quickly. She looked at Gobber and finished, "I have to solve this on my own."

"If ya say so lass. Well, if your all good, I've got to head back to the smithy. Everyone is getting their weapons fixed all of a sudden."

"Is someone attacking?"

"No. Stoick would have told us. Especially me so I could be prepared for the increase of business but he hasn't told me anything."

"Oh, ok. See you tomorrow Gobber."

Astrid cleaned up after her meal and went to her room. She wondered why everyone would be repairing their weapons all of a sudden. It's been months since an Outcast attack or a dragon raid. What could they be preparing for? Maybe it's to defend themselves from the 'person' who was able to sneak in and steal a bowl, mug, and large sheet. Yeah, that's it. Man, if only they knew who that really was.

She went prepared for bed and was almost asleep when she thought, Maybe I should get my axe sharpened, it could use a….Wait! My axe! She snapped her eyes opened. Where is it? I lost it! Damn you Dagur. I've never lost my axe. She thought of getting up and looking right then and there but logically figured it was a bad idea because it was dark and it would be a waste of her time. I'll go look for it tomorrow morning.

The next morning she realized, her head felt considerably better than the day before. Gothi had checked her again. Gothi said that she was completely healed but that she might have some major headaches every once in a while.

She proceeded with her normal routine then headed towards the woods. As she entered the town square, she saw Dagur walking towards her with his group of friends. They were chatting about something but she didn't care.

"So what happened to your leg again?" one boy asked.

"Oh, it was something stupid. I wasn't paying attention and cut myself on a large branch."

"Where was your mind?" another asked.

"I was thinking about Astrid. What else?"

"What else indeed. You'll get her one day Dagur. She can't resist a guy like you."

"You know it," Dagur grinned.

Astrid stood where she was waiting for them to notice her, ready to give Dagur a piece of her mind. He'll get me one day. Ha! She stood in an intimidating stance but as they approached, her fear started to break through her tough barrier. Before they had a chance to see her, she ducked behind a house and made herself as small as possible, hoping they would pass without them seeing her.

They passed without noticing her, but someone else did.

She let out her breath, which she didn't realize she was holding and the next second she was mentally kicking herself for being so scared. She continued her rant in her head as she looked for her axe. She started at her training area and worked her from there. The longer she looked and kicked herself for her weakness, the more angry and frustrated she got. She tracked her movements, which was hard to do until she came to the place where she was cut in the arm. From there it was easy to track her movements by the trail of blood but she still could not find her axe. She made it all the way back to the cove but it was nowhere to be found.

Damn! Someone must have picked it up or I completely missed it. Damn you Dagur! Damn you son of a half troll!

She suddenly stopped her rant when she felt a gust of hot air on her back. She slowly turned around and was once again greeted with two large green eyes on a scaly black face.

"Uuuh, hi," she said.

The dragon looked at her wondering what she was doing back or how she found her way back. The dragon, nonetheless, was pleased to see her again.

Astrid tried to think of something to do. Should I leave? Or should I stay? No. The dragon actually looks happy to see me but also confused.

"Did you take me back to the village?" Astrid suddenly asked.

The dragon looked at her in surprise. It was expecting anything but that. Slowly it nodded its head in uncertainty.

"I'm not upset or anything," Astrid said seeing the dragon's uncertainty. "I was just curious. But thank you. Looks like I really needed proper care." The dragon bowed its head to express 'you're welcome'. "You know," Astrid said. "If I'm going to keep running into you, I need to name you so I don't keep calling you 'it'." Astrid thought and said, "How about Toothless?"

The dragon shook its head no.

Astrid thought and thought but couldn't come up with a name. She gave up and sighed. "I can't come up with one. I was never good at naming things or people. Thor, have mercy on my kids. How about just Dragon?"

The dragon thought about it and nodded. It was better than 'thing', 'it', or 'monster'.

Astrid looked at the sun and her face fell into one of disappointment. She came to find her axe and after all day of looking, she still didn't find it. "Well, I should be getting back. I've been out here all day and didn't find what I was looking for. But I did find you. I guess that's something."

She turned to leave when Dragon cooed at her to get her attention. When she turned, Dragon turned around and retrieved something. He came up to her with a stick hanging out of his mouth and looked at her expectantly.

"You don't want to play fetch do you?" Astrid asked nervously. She sighed in relief when Dragon shook its head. Dragon then lowered his head and dropped what was in his mouth. When he backed away, Astrid gasped. Lying on the ground before her was her axe. Dragon had found it and was waiting to return it to her. She picked it up to examine it and saw there was little damage done to it. She looked back at Dragon and bowed her head in appreciation and said, "Thanks. This is important to me."

Dragon nodded in understanding and turned around and walked to the water where it laid down. Astrid turned and headed back to the village. Surprisingly, she found her way easily and went to the blacksmith shop.

Gobber was hammering away at a crooked sword and didn't hear her until she cleared her throat. Gobber turned around and smiled when he saw who it was.

"Astrid! What can I do for ya?"

"I just wanted to see how you were. You said you were busy and everything last night. I was wondering if it had slowed down any."

"Nope. Still just as busy. What's wrong? You've never come by before, unless it was to sharpen your axe."

"Well, in honesty, I came because of my axe. I apparently lost it when I got injured. I found it today but I realized I never told you thanks for making it. It's been real handy and trusty. So, thanks Gobber."

Astrid looked at Gobber and saw that he had a somber look on his face. "What's wrong Gobber?"

He looked at her with sad and guilty eyes. "I didn't make your axe lass."

"Then who did?"

"You axe was Hiccup's first independent project."

Astrid's mouth dropped. She couldn't believe it. Hiccup created her most reliable and trusted weapon. All this time I thought it was Gobber who made it and it was actually his apprentice. "Why didn't you tell me before? Why didn't he tell me?"

"He was afraid you wouldn't pick it up if you found out. Plus, he really didn't want the credit. That's how he was."

"I wish I knew sooner. I would have liked to have thanked him."

"I'm sure he would have liked to hear that." Gobber smiled sadly.

"You really miss him don't you?" Astrid asked.

Gobber nodded. "I didn't even have the heart to clear out his back room."

"He had a back room?"

"Yeah. It's where he would cook up his little inventions that made the village go crazy. He was brilliant you know. He had a great imagination. He even helped me with some problems I was having with Big Bertha's mechanics."

"Wow. I thought that only you could do that."

"Nope. Hiccup took to medal like a fly to yak dung. He was a natural even though he was small. I had to create a whole separate set of tools for him just so he could lift them to help me?"

Astrid shook her head. "There was that much of a size difference between him and the tools?"

"Yes." Gobber remembered something and began to laugh. "The first time he tried to swing my hammer, he fell backwards when he lifted it over his head. He got up and tried to lift it again but the weight of the hammer brought him back down to the ground. That's when I decided to make the tools. I still teased him about it as he got older and he never failed to laugh."

"He thought it was funny too?" Astrid asked intrigued to learn more about Hiccup.

"Yeah he did. He may have been self conscience of his size but it never stopped him from laughing at himself."

Astrid wanted to know more but her stomach grumbled loudly and Gobber heard it. "You should be getting home and answering that call young lady. I think you might have just called a Gronkle."

"Alright, see you tomorrow." With a wave of her hand she headed home. As she looked ahead on the path that pointed to home, she saw Dagur just standing there doing nothing. She was too tired and hungry to try and confront him again and decided to take the long way around and entered her house from the back door. She ate greedily then went upstairs to go to bed.

It was nice to hear a positive story about Hiccup. Gobber really cared for him. Funny how he seemed hurt when the village made fun of his size but he was able to laugh about it when by himself or with Gobber. It seems like they had such a great relationship.

Astrid took her axe and placed it by her bed ready for use if need be.

What I can't believe is that Hiccup made my axe. It has out lived and survived longer than any other weapon on Berk. And it was his first project! To make such a wonderful weapon on the first attempt is definitely amazing. I wonder how many others he has done? But why would he not want me to know who made my axe? Was he really so negative about himself that he thought I wouldn't use it if I found out that he made it? If only I could ask him. If people only knew of what he could really do. If they only saw the talent that he had and not what he couldn't do, maybe he wouldn't have been so distant from everyone. Now I want to know what other hidden talents he might have had. I could ask Gobber some more or even Stoick. No, not Stoick. That wouldn't be right and Gobber would get suspicious. There must be another way.

She thought for a minute and remembered. "His journal!"

Astrid jumped off her bed and bee lined for her drawers excited to know more about Hiccup. She dug through her clothes and reached the bottom. She gasped. "Where is it? I know I put it here." She pulled out all of her clothes and still didn't find it. Now she was freaking out. She did the same with her other drawers and still came up empty. She looked under her bed, in her closet, and even in the plant trough.

She sighed and turned to see the disaster in her room. It looked as if Odin had flown through her room in a rage. She reluctantly began to put her room back in order.

I can't believe myself. I lost it. The only way I could have learned more about him without raising suspicion and I lose it. But on top of that, I kept it to keep it safe. I'm a great protector. Yeah right. I can't even protect a book from being lost. Oh Thor, I feel terrible.

She finished picking up her room and got ready for bed. She laid down in a somber mood. She tried to fall asleep but losing the journal kept eating at her mind. She turned to plant her face in her pillow to scream and reached under with intent to hold the pillow in place when she felt leather. She stopped, lifted up the pillow and saw what she had turned her room inside out for.

She gingerly reached for the book and sat up. She placed the journal on her lap and had another internal battle of whether or not to read Hiccup's inner thoughts. It was short, though, and she slowly opened to the front page. She read the inscription on the bottom again.

To: Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III

From: Mom

Astrid then turned the page and began to read the first entry. She deducted that he received the journal when he was really young for his handwriting was uneven and messy. Not to mention the structure wasn't well written.

This is so exciting! I've never had a journal before. My mom gave to me for my four birthday. She say that I can write me feelings in it freely. She too told me that she has one and she write in it every day. I can't wait to tell of my adventures. They're going to be great.

Astrid was jumping on the inside with joy. Not that she herself was happy. No, she was still uneasy about reading his journal. She was jumping for joy because she felt the excitement from his words. They were few and incorrect but still exciting. She then began to read the next entry.

I have a great idea today! I came up with idea to easily shoot an arrow. Why an arrow? Because it the only weapon I can pick up. All others too heavy. But I still can't pull the bow thingy back. So I came up with idea! Way to help me. Put two pieces of wood criss cross and attack string to lever. Put in arrow and release. Poof! It goes flying! Can't wait to tell mom and dad!

That's a crossbow. It's already been created. Astrid thought. She then read the next entry.

Never mind about me idea. Dad said that they exist already and he showed me. So much for that idea. I guess I not creative as I think I am.

Astrid became a bit sad at his last entry. Even at that young age he was being put down. He was so excited and his creative invention crushed. Granted, it was already created but the fact he thought of it when he was four was still amazing!

Today was fun. I got to play Capture the Sheep with the other kids. We split up into two groups with me, a girl named Astrid, and a boy named Tuffnut. The other team was cousin Snotlout, a big boy named Fishlegs, and a girl named Ruffnut. I think Tuffnut and Ruffnut are related. They looked a lot alike. Maybe twins! That would be cool!

I remember this. Didn't my team win?

We then had to decide a leader and guess who was chosen? Me! At first I was scared. I didn't want to fail them but then made up my mind to do me best. Snotlout was the leader on the other team, I found out later. I don't know what I did but it worked, we won! I had Tuffnut be in front which was a good thing for he and Ruffnut began to fight each other. I think that they forgot about the game. I was the decoy while Astrid went to other player's area to get the sheep. I had Snotlout and Fishlegs trying to stop me get past. I felt bad when Fishlegs slipped and fell but Snotlout decided to pounce and tackle me to the ground. My body is still feeling it. Astrid got the sheep and we won. It was fun. My mom and dad beamed at me, after looking over me to see if I okay of course. But Snotlout did something that confuses me.

Oh no. What did you do Snotlout? He was having a great day.

I went over to him to tell him I had fun and that maybe next time but when he looked at me he was mad at me. I asked him what I did wrong but he just shook his head. He said the only reason my team won was because I had Astrid. If I had been on my own, I would no have had a chance. Because I was so small and weak. He turned and left me.

Am I really that small? I only four. I grow. But I thought about what he said and saw I was smaller than the others my age. Maybe I am small. Is he right? Did we win because I had Astrid? I no sure now.

But today was fun besides that.

Oh great Odin's ghost Snotlout! That was really wrong! So unsporting. But then again, when has he been sporting?

It was late and she decided to close the journal and save it for another day. But just from those three entries, she knew she was going to be in for a great journey.