Tides Turning

Hiccup stood in the shop, poking holes into a triangle of leather she had cut. She then stitched everything together and laid her creation on the floor. She looked down proudly at her saddle before lifting it into the air. Toothless, however wasn't as pleased. At the sight of the thing he took off as she chased after him, holding the saddle above her head. "Hey! Get back here!"

The two are flying as she holds string that is attached to the fin. The two fly steadily for a moment before she gave it a tug and sent him down and into the ground as she flies off him, cutting up her knees.

That night, Hiccup hooks the belt she's made for around her waist onto a special metal piece she has placed on the saddle. She then gives a nod of satisfaction.

Hiccup flies on Toothless the next day, but the string gets caught in her leg. She gives it a swift pull with her foot causing Toothless to let out a roar of panic as they plummet into a field of tall reeds. She rises to see Toothless rolling in them, hypnotized by their scent. She examines a sample in her hand.

Later in the arena the Gronkle head butts Snotlout sending her flying back screaming. He flies up to Hiccup but she holds that reed out. He instantly falls, hypnotized and eyes growing wide. She moves the plant and tips him on his side and a crowd gathers and the elder examines her.

The teens leave the arena later. "How did you do that?" Fishlegs asked amazed.

"Yeah, I have never seen a Gronkle do that," Tuffnut added.

"Oh, I left my axe back in the ring. You all go ahead. I'll catch up," she said, slipping free of the group and turning back. She almost crashed into Anstred but continued back towards the arena as he watched her suspiciously.

Hiccup stood with Toothless performing one of his favorite activities, scratching time. She scraped her nails up and down his side as he wiggles and purred in pleasure. She gave a quick scratch at his neck and he immediately fell to the floor. She looked at her hands amazed.

Anstred is facing off with a Nadder in the arena and hurls his axe at him. The dragon smashes it away and he rolled out of the way sending the dragon directly on path for Hiccup. She quickly and nervously backs away, dropping her axe. Anstred grabbed another axe off the wall and charged after the Nadder with a battle cry.

The Nadder turned its head, exposing its neck to Hiccup. She quickly starts scratching before hitting the right spot and the dragon collapses. Anstred stopped his charge and shot her a death glare. She gave a small wave but he just turned throwing the axe to the ground as he exited.

That night Hiccup grabbed her food and took her seat as a whole group gathered around her, asking questions and offering praise. She was too busy smiling and dodging questions to notice Anstred knock his cup down in frustration and stalk off.

Toothless was streaking across the canyon trying to capture a beam of light reflected into the grass. He jumped on it only for it to continue across the canyon. He streaked past Hiccup, who is creating the light with a hammer, amused smile on her face.

"Meet the Terrible Terror," Gobber lectured, as a small dog door flipped open and a miniature green and red dragon emerged, sticking his tongue to his eye.

Tuffnut pointed and laughed. "That thing's like the size of my- Ahh!" The dragon jumped on top of him, sending him to the ground. Everyone just stared as he started chewing Tuffnut's nose. It stopped at the sight of a beam of light on the ground and followed it back into the dog door. Hiccup held it closed with her foot, looking proudly at her shield. "Oh, I am hurt. I am very much hurt!"

"Wow, Anstred, she's better than you ever were," Tuffnut comments, rubbing his nose. Anstred shot him a dark glare and looked back and forth between the door and Hiccup.

Hiccup snuck through the forest only to find Anstred practicing with his axe on the trees. "That's not very environmentally friendly."

He shot her a look. "Where are you off to?" he asked, trying to get a look at the bundle Hiccup carried.

"Nowhere."

"Then you won't mind if I come with you." She flashed a smile.

"Umm… if you can keep up," she cried, taking off at a run. He followed after her, but she knew the forest a lot better than him. He pounded a rock in frustration upon realizing he had lost her. He would find up what she was up to, and especially discover how she was beating him.

Hiccup hooked up the wire system she had put together as Toothless enjoyed his basket of fish. She secured the wires to the foot pedals and stood up proudly. "That should do it."

She tried clicking the pedals to different positions as Toothless flew tethered in place upon a breezy hilltop. The tail fin emerged and they gently cruised. She patted Toothless and he landed, looking up at her happily.

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind came at them pushing the two back into a pile of bushes. Toothless rolled over taking a dazed Hiccup with him. She tried to unclip the belt only to see the metal piece had folded over, causing it to become stuck. "Oh perfect."

Hiccup emerged from a dark corner as the watchman passed, giving him a nod and a small wave. She tugged the cord after he passed, pulling a confused and curious Toothless towards the shop. Toothless flips a bucket in curiosity, causing a loud sound, alerting a nearby Anstred.

Hiccup is prying the piece back up when she heard the voice. "Hiccup?" She quickly slipped out the two windows, landing on her face right in front of Anstred. He stared at her as she jumped up to her feet.

"Anstred! Hi! Hi. Hi Anstred. Hi."

Behind the window, Toothless shook his head and peered around the corner at a shocked sheep. Anstred folded his arms.

"Look Hiccup, I'm not the kind of person who cares what people think or what they do. But I've been noticing you."

Hiccup can't help but blush. "You've been noticing… me?"

"It's kind of hard not to, especially when it seems like you're cheating." Hiccup's smile dropped. "The point is, lately you've been acting strange."

Toothless lunged for the sheep, yanking Toothless back and lifting her up the window so she is floating in the air. "Well… stranger."

She let out a nervous laugh when she is tugged through the windows. Anstred threw them open and looked in to see only the empty workshop. He didn't notice the dragon streak away from the island with his rider behind him.

The broken and disheveled boats drifted back into the port. Stoic landed his boat next to the dock and hopped off to be greeted by Gobber, who examined the damage.

"Well, I trust ya' found the nest at least."

"Not even close," he answered, heading back toward his home. Goober followed. "I trust you had better luck than I did."

"If by luck you mean you mean your parenting troubles are over with." Vikings streak past rushing to greet their returning families, but paused to offer some words to Stoic.

"Congratulations Stoic, the village is so relieved."

"Out with the old, in with the new 'ay."

"We won't be missing that old nuisance."

Stoic took a moment before turning to Gobber is absolute fear. "She's-she's gone."

"Yeah, most afternoons." He looked at his friend with confusion as he grabbed his pack and kept walking. "But who can blame him. The life of a celebrity is very harrowing. She can barely walk through the streets of the village without being mobbed by her adoring fans." Stoic stopped and grabbed his shoulders.

"Hiccup?"

"Who would've thought it? She has this… way with the beasts. She takes 'em down like they're nothing at all, doesn't even hesitate." Stoic stood for a moment before a huge smile appeared on his face. He had been wrong. His daughter was truly a Viking.