AHHH, DON'T MURDER ME FOR THE LONG DELAY!

Anyway, yeah, sorry for kind of dropping off the HTTYD world, also sorry for posting that schedule and then falling back on it, I am so upset I did that, but there is something really wrong with me, and I really am too distracted or something, seriously I am so sorry, I didn't mean to take this long.

To be honest, some of my problem may have been having no idea where to go from where I left any of my stories. And that hopefully ends today, I think I have a good idea where this fic is going, and possibly where some others could be going too. That's right, Spartan322 is getting back in the writing groove. Even more, he's working hard on mastering guitar. (When I first started this, I was a beginner with a guitar, though I was a trumpeteer and chorus singer for years beforehand, I had no skill on a guitar, now it's months later and I can play a good few songs...just don't expect me the be playing a lead or solo anytime soon) That means a lot, and that this fic might actually get into the details of many guitar things I avoided before (because I didn't exactly know them well), so pre-show and maintenance should get more focus, which means more realism, HOORAY. It also means that my songwriting for this fic (albeit I've only bothered with a tiny part of that, mostly bothering with the lyrics) should be better.

All in all, I've also been much improving my writing skills (hopefully) over my absence so yeah.

Let's finish this with something a bit more important, this is a must read (MUST READ HERE): Hiccup no longer has a prosthetic, he has both feet, this is very important for anyone who has read the prologue, chapter 3, or chapter 5 (before the prosthetic removal, skip if you already know) as it is to no longer be provided for, and will be a permanent change, I have plans to pull more from the movie with it, but now he has both his legs, the only major change happens in the prologue which goes over a different way, kind of like this:

Instead of thinking about the car crash that gives him his prosthetic near the beginning

Hiccup thinks about what ruined his school career, which was an accident in chemistry two years before where he knocked over some weak acid that ate through a small embarrassing part of his clothes and knocked him out, winding up in the hospital. Officially, the car crash still happened, and everything relating to his mother still happened, however it didn't take his leg.

This background will actually be pulled later on. So that is the quick recap of what replaced for those older readers.

Please, if you see any place where I left the prosthetic reference in, its a mistake, could you tell me, it will cause confusion later on and it shouldn't be there.

One other thing, I'm moving reviews down to the AN below the story from now on, just above the chapter songs, for those who don't care about them.

Now that's done, let's jump in shall we, let's a go.


Chapter 10: Unexpectations

The alarm was buzzing when Hiccup woke. Feeling fresh as ever, he leapt out of bed. He was nearly through his usual early morning motions with Toothless when he realized it was Saturday and didn't need to go to school. That made him even more giddy as he could take out a whole day to just play with his friends. With nothing else planned for the day, he packed up his guitar in its case and walked leisurely down the road until he reached Fish's house.

At Fish's, he committed to his usual and picked Astrid up. By the time they were caught in a heavy conversation about the first time Hiccup traveled out of the state, they saw an unfamiliar car parked haphazardly in front of Fishlegs' house. Walking down to the basement, they found Tuffnut and Fish all ready to perform.

"What took you guys so long? We've been here for thirty minutes messing around... are you ditching me, c'mon guys, really, gotta play a prank on the new guy? Real mature guys." Tuffnut pouted, apparently entirely serious. Hiccup just stared at Tuffnut utterly confused with a response as blunt as ever.

"Aren't you the immature prankster though?" Hiccup's confusion lasted until Astrid piped up.

"Hic was picking me up Tuff, no pranks, I live kinda far. Remember?"

Tuffnut, who appeared confused by Hiccup's statement, thought about what Astrid said and then recalled knowing that before, "Oh yeah."

Hiccup stared back at Astrid, just as confused as Tuffnut seemed moments ago. "Try not to question him, he does things right more often than not and so far, nobody has died."

Astrid's comment only stirred Hiccup's confusion further, but he decided to let it go.

"Hic?" Hiccup chuckled. Astrid's face flushed at hearing her slip up. "Yeah, some of the popular kids like to use it." Hiccup hummed in agreement, not acknowledging the flush. Astrid was unsure if he noticed, but Hiccup found it secretly hilarious.

The newly arrived members then plugged into their amp, though they needed another amp for Tuff. Felix was eventually able to fish out an old one in the attic. After an hour of looking, he found it and Tuff plugged in.

"You guys have a distortion box or something? I like having a hard distortion," Tuff asked.

Hiccup responded before anyone else has a chance. "I've only got mine, Felix, you got any hidden here?"

Fishlegs looked nervously to Tuff then back to Hiccup. "I might have one, but I'm not supposed to touch it, and my dad would probably kill me if it turns up busted. It's kinda expensive."

Hiccup tried to assured Felix that nothing would happen, much to Tuffnut's dismay.

After Felix was convinced and retrieved the distortion box, Tuffnut set up the distortion how he liked it. Astrid and Hiccup had to quickly clean and retune their instruments. After the final bits of maintenance, Hiccup proceeded to ask, "Everyone just feel like practicing laxed today?" Tuffnut was the only one who objected, but didn't fight them. "Anyone have any ideas? And before you guys get ideas, I really don't feel like singing." Both Astrid and Felix were disheartened by his refusal to sing, but they both let it be.

They chose Metallica's One, Enter Sandman, and Black Sabbath's Paranoid to mess with. They assigned Tuffnut to rhythm guitar and had Hiccup play lead, and they all decided upon having Hiccup play solos in Paranoid since they opted to have no singing. By the end or practice, they felt the music wasn't as great without the singing and while Hiccup played supreme solos, they couldn't match the song as well as the singing did, and thus left it at that. The practice itself ended around two hours after starting.

After three hours of Tuffnut and Felix playing the Xbox 360 in the living room, and Astrid and Hiccup discussing music, they decided it was best to go home. So Hiccup, Astrid, and Tuffnut packed up their instruments and huddled by the door.

Astrid however stopped Tuffnut's goofy walk out the front door, she felt the need to ask.

"So Tuff, how was it?" Tuffnut was slow to respond but was lazily smiling through his answer.

"It was fun, you guys are fun, I needed more fun, too fun to not have." And then he stumbled all the way back to his car.

"How did he get drunk?" Hiccup said, scratching his head.

As everyone watched Tuffnut get in his car, Felix interjected. "There isn't even anything in here for him to get drunk off of."

Leaving everyone aside from Astrid perplexed at his parting behavior, Tuffnut drove off.

"I've learned in high school there are a few things you don't question, and as I've said before, Tuff is a big one." Astrid said before moving to Felix's car with Hiccup outside the driver's side.

"You really want to drive this time?" Hiccup asked raising a brow at Astrid sitting in the driver's seat.

"Yup," she said, popping the 'p'.

Hiccup just sighed and moved over to the passenger side and stuffed his guitar in the back and handed Astrid the keys.

"Thank you." As she slid them in the key slot beside the wheel and started the car.

They drove off, Astrid practically racing off with the vehicle. She figured they had time before her dad would get mad at her so she went off towards the city for an hour, surely Fish wouldn't mind. Hiccup kept his peace, he understood avoiding home.

"Ice cream?" The driver turned to ask her passenger. Hiccup responded with a smile "Sure, but I'm paying this time."

Astrid reluctantly agreed with an undignified groan, she prefered independence even in the smallest of manners. She parked up by a nearby parlor just outside the town. It contained a few tables outside, though had that local, not super popular appeal to it. After ten minutes of waiting in line, Hiccup had chosen a vanilla soft serve while Astrid had a chocolate cone, both without toppings.

"Chocolate shall forever and always be king." Astrid proclaimed as they walked out of the parlor.

"Nah, vanilla is much better."

"Then why do they only make chocolate bars?" Astrid was attempting to feign offense, but the mock argument she knew was starting was too funny to not at least smile at.

"They need vanilla to make chocolate bars you know." Hiccup continued, smiling in a failed attempt to oppose the chocolate loving girl.

"But the main ingredient is cocoa, aka chocolate."

Hiccup just shook his head at that while they found a seat to eat the frozen treats. "It just purely taste better."

The girl continued.

"No way, vanilla tastes so much better."

The facade argument continued for around twenty minutes before they were interrupted. This was instantly noticeable when Astrid's smile quickly turned to a scowl and when Hiccup felt a slap to his back.

"How's my favorite cousin doing?" The auburn teen heard, quickly turning his leftover joy to dread.

Then he heard a retort by a second voice but Astrid cut them off, "You mess with him Snot, and I'm going to beat your ass twice as hard as the last time."

Snotlout hesitated, but eventually responded to the girl's threats.

"I'd like to see you fight me sober." When Astrid rose from her seat, she could see the fear in Snotlout. His words were obviously meant as self-reassurance, she knew all that was needed to do was threaten him, she didn't feel like disturbing the parlor. So she went around the table her and Hiccup were seated at, stood up to Scott but just before she she said anything Hiccup came in.

"Let's think about this for a second Snot, say the stars align and you somehow manage to win a fight with Astrid, how would that be seen? Now on the more likely side, she beats your ass, how does that look?"

For a moment Scott considered his options, either beat a girl or get beat by a girl, never mind that it be Astrid, it wouldn't look good for anyone if he won or lost. After a minute of debate, even with his posse gathered around who kept distance out of fear, he looked at Hiccup.

"She's not always going to be around to protect you, runt." And he stormed off.

"I'm surprised I didn't have to beat him up," Astrid said as she watched him go.

"I'm surprised he listened to me," Hiccup responded. "Then again, fear of you would probably be the only thing that break through his thick skull." Astrid was unhappy how Hiccup said that, but otherwise kept up the conversation.

"I would have done it literally if it didn't click what he was getting into. Though I'll be honest I don't really want to be starting fights at a ice cream parlor."

"Yeah blood in the cream gives it the kick is so desperately needs," Hiccup rebutted, laughing as he looked at his phone for the time. "And it's almost eleven."

Astrid looked over at Hiccup sadly. "Could I just stay at your house for the night?"

Hiccup stroked his chin in thought. "I doubt my dad would mind, but what about your dad?"

"He might already probably likely be somewhat mad at me for being out this late." Astrid looked sheepishly to her feet.

Hiccup looked back grimly, "Hmm. I suppose, but what about your stuff? Jeans are not usually great to sleep in, and I'd think you'd prefer getting out of that t-shirt. Can you not sneak into your house?"

"You have any sweatpants?" Astrid shot back up.

Shooting a questioning glare towards her, "You propose using my sweats? Not that I'd mind, but what about a shirt? I doubt I have any shirts you could wear."

But she had a better idea. "Could always pull one from your dad's drawer. Please?"

They both went to sit in the car. As they closed the door, Hiccup starting the car, Astrid looking hopefully at him, Hiccup grabbed his chin as if in deep thought. "I suppose it's better to accept." He looks back at her with a teasing smirk, "Did you really expect me to say no?"

She smirks, deciding to tease him back. "Nah, your too much of a pushover, I knew you'd say yes."

He mocks offense, "This really, pushover," As he gestures to himself, "As if." Hiccup however finds it difficult not to see the humor in his overly dramatic performance and starts to burst with a few chuckles. Astrid joins in almost immediately and they joke and laugh their way to Hiccup's house.

He calls his dad on his phone while parking Felix's car in front of the building, telling about Astrid coming over. Stoick shrugs it off as unimportant and responds with a quick "Fine," before hanging up. He then looks over to Astrid while he puts his phone away. "As expected, he's fine with you, but seeing as I still need to drop this off," Hiccup tapping the car's dashboard on 'this'. "I'm dropping you off first, I think the door is unlocked, the second plant to the left should have a key under it if it isn't."

Astrid responded with a shake of her head and a quick "Nah" She poked his arm "I'd prefer walking back, there's nothing to do in your house." She then raised her arm, holding a finger up. "Actually, hold on a minute." She quickly reached back for her bass, ran out to the front door, dropped her bass inside, and came back. "Now I get to walk unburdened back with you." She smiled cheekily.

Hiccup shook his head to conceal his smile, grateful he wouldn't be walking alone at the least. "Ok then."

They drove back to Felix's house, who bugged Hiccup over "What the hell took him so long?" and "Isn't Astrid suppose to be home?" Hiccup quickly recapped their decision to get ice cream and then have Astrid sleepover, without going into any details. After making sure Felix would stay silent, the two walked back the way they had road up.

Astrid was messing with Hiccup about having to carry his guitar back, Hiccup kept bringing up the shortening of his nickname, picking at each other in a laughable manner until they reach the house. Astrid opened the door, holding the screen door open for Hiccup. Once inside, she went over to her bass. Picking it up, she asked Hiccup, "You got any stands I can borrow for the night?"

"I might, hold on a sec." He responded as he entered the door to the side of the stairs. Astrid just waited for him to return, until she heard Hiccup struggling. Hearing him hurt himself with a shushed 'ouch', she called down to ask if needed any help.

"Nah, I've got it." He responded before he dropped another box sideways, cursing his inability to carry his dad's stuff. "I just..." He struggled for another moment trying to pick up another box before Astrid was picking up the box he knocked over.

"What the hell is in here? Bricks?" She remarked, noting difficulty, though not impossibility, in lifting the box.

"I don't know, it's been awhile since they've been opened, for all I know my dad could be a brick hoarder." Hiccup responds, trying to life another box to the side.

Astrid sets her box down and picks another one and tries to move it. "What does he even have in these boxes? You have to be like the Hulk to move this crap."

"If my dad was any Avenger, he'd be Thor..." Hiccup continues to struggle. "Maybe he secretly is and he just has a bunch of Mjolnirs lying around." Hiccup sets his box down and looks over to see a black guitar standing behind where the boxes were.

"So what you're saying is I'm as worthy as Thor?" Astrid teased with a smirk.

"Eh, more like Black Widow." He said raising a tilting right hand as to say 'so-so' while he reached for the stand with his left.

"What?" Astrid wondered.

"Yeah, Black Widow is supposedly as worthy as Thor, officially, she never touched it but like in a 'what if' comic, she picked it up and could wield it." Hiccup rambled as he walked backwards up the stairs, Astrid following.

"So in an alternate universe she picked it up? How does that matter?" She questioned.

"The idea is she never touched Mjolnir in the real comics, cause if she did she'd be just as worthy as Thor and thus could wield it." Hiccup continued his rambling as he placed the stand in the corner of the room by the television.

"Does this include the movies?" She recalled watching the second Avengers when the whole gang was joking about lifting the hammer.

"I think that idea was the biggest reason she didn't join their game in the second one."

"Huh." She replied thoughtfully evaluating that entire scene in her head.

"And it kind of makes sense, tough yet sensible, loyal to fault, skilled in many aspects, and very attractive, it's not a weak comparison." Hiccup smiled cheekily as Astrid took her bass out of the bag and placed it on the stand. That sentence choked her in surprise for a moment and stuttered a short coughing fit.

"What?" Unprepared for that kind of compliment, she wasn't so sure she heard him right.

"Nothing," He said sheepishly. "I'll just go get something I think will fit you." Hiccup climbed up the stairs, leaving a very awkwardly confused Astrid below, with a very silent Eagle watching, as if he found it all too funny.


Yeah, sorry this took so long, I was suffering through school during the beginning of the year, and finally getting out, now I have a bunch of other things to deal with and fix, including getting a job and improving on guitar and plenty of other excuse, I mean reasons. Also I was being stupidly lazy, trying to fix that too. Also I was sort of suffering from writer's block, I think finishing this chapter might have fixed it, but I'll know for sure when I finish it. In any case I don't feel 100% certain with this chapter but I tried working through a writer's block, sorry if it's not amazing. In any case, expect me to be a bit more devoted to getting this done, and sorry for screwing that schedule, I'm gonna avoid doing that because they seem to never help me, maybe I can fix that at some point.

And just to point out, I have fixed up the story and removed Hiccup's prosthetic and replaced the whole thing, as I said before, please help me in case I missed any references.

Well not that's done, Spartan322 out.

Reviews:

NatBlake: Ha, yeah, I loved it too, Anthrax I'm The Man fit Tuff so well, I just had to do it, getting Astrid to actually act more like a guy for that section without sacrificing her in anyway was a bit hard, but I think it worked, and made that chapter all the much better. And thanks so much for the review.

Commander Chandell 919: Yes, I feel this was my favorite chapter, and loved writing it, I never honestly thought I could write a song as well as I did, but I think it ended well (I have so much I want to fix with the song and how I expressed it though), with how I've grown over the time after writing that, I feel my songwriting is only gonna get better from here though, so be ready for that. Also, you're welcome, metal and rock are my genres of expertise and I love them, I was hoping you like them, if you pay attention to the lyrics of great music, you'll even see they will often tell great and amazing stories, or awesome statements, the best ones often fight and question society (funny how that works), so yeah. Anyhow thanks and thank you so much for the review

Chapter Songs:

Raining Blood, Angel of Death, South of Heaven, Black Magic, Hell Awaits - Slayer

One, Blackened - Metallica

Master of Reality Album - Black Sabbath

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying Album - Megadeth

Unholy Confessions - Avenged Sevenfold