Ok,, this chapter is about Siri finally getting her first rideable dragon! Many of you most likely would have guessed her dragon by now, but I hope you're all satisfied by what she gets anyway. I also apologise for the fact that this chapter isn't as good as usual (in my opinion anyway), but I tried my best considering how many changes occurred within the chapter, but it's at least entertaining enough :) I also promised in the previous chapter that Siri would take place in some dragon racing, but there was no place for it once I started writing this chapter and that will be now be next chapter instead.

Chapter 37 – Welcome to Dragon Training

Siri had never been so excited in her entire life as she was today. Sure, the twelve year old had been excited lots of times before, but today she was really excited. Having woken up at sunrise, with the warmth of the sun's rays hitting her face, Siri's excitement was built and her heart began to pound in her ears as she realised today was the day she'd been waiting for her whole life. It was the day she was to get her very first rideable dragon and join the dragon training academy with her parents, and there was no way she was going to wait any longer!

Throwing on the clothes she'd laid out the night before, the twelve year old hurriedly tied back her hair in its signature plait, before racing out the door to her parent's room, where she pounded excitedly on the door.

"Mum, dad, wake up! Its morning you know!"

Hiccup groaned as his daughter's loud banging woke him from his slumber. Beside him, Astrid mumbled something unintelligible before turning her back towards the door, burying her head into the pillow to drown out the loud noises echoing in her head.

"Dad!" Siri's voice whined from the other side of the door.

"We're aware it's morning, Seer," Hiccup said, groaning. "We were just hoping you didn't. Why don't you come back when it's...I don't know...later?" Following Astrid's lead, Hiccup buried his head under the pillows with a moan. "Or when we're more awake," he mumbled.

"Oh come on, dad!" Siri exclaimed cheerfully. "Where's your sense of excitement?"

"Asleep-" Hiccup answered drowsily, "-like it should be."

"Oh, just get up already, Hiccup," Astrid moaned as she dragged herself out of bed. "You know she won't give up until we do."

Outside the door, they heard Siri squeal, "Thanks mum! I'll get the others up!" before her feet pattered down the hallway to bang on her siblings doors instead.

"I know she's excited and all, but couldn't she have waited just a little longer?" Hiccup asked his wife, before he turned his attention to the sunlight creeping through the window above him. "I mean...it's not even fully light yet."

"She's getting her first dragon, Hiccup, of course she's excited," Astrid replied gently a she ran a brush through her blonde locks. "Besides-" she added with a grin, "-at least she let us sleep in past sunrise this time."

"I guess that's a bonus," Hiccup chuckled, quickly pulling his vest on. "Of course, I would have liked to sleep in for a little longer!" he exclaimed loudly in the direction of the closed door.

Hiccup and Astrid laughed when they heard a raspberry being blown from outside the door. "You can sleep in tomorrow, daddy! Now hurry up!"

"Alright, alright, we're coming!" Hiccup laughed, as beside him, Astrid's shoulders were shaking with silent laughter. "You know what?" Hiccup asked with a glance towards his wife, "-she's your daughter. She acts nothing like me! "

"Being annoying isn't like you?" Astrid asked him teasingly, resulting with a pillow to the face by her innocent looking husband. "Oh, real mature," she said with a roll of her eyes. "Now I know she's your daughter."

"Mummmmm!"

"We're coming!" Astrid called back quickly, before she turned to Hiccup with a grin. "We better get a move on before she bursts with excitement."

"I think we're already past that," Hiccup chuckled, as he and Astrid opened the door to Siri, trying hopelessly to get a shirt over the top of her little sister's head, all the while trying to stop herself from jumping up and down with excitement.

"What in Thor's name are you doing, Seer?" Astrid asked her eldest daughter in amusement as she took in her little girl's discomfort at being dressed by her hyperactive big sister. "She'll never get dressed at this rate!"

"I just wanted to save you time," Siri admitted sheepishly. "Is it really that bad?" she asked with a glance at her sister, whose arms were pinned uncomfortably to her side by her bright yellow shirt.

"Unless you were going for that look, then no," Astrid chuckled, as she placed an arm around the toddler's shoulders, before leading her back to her room. "But I think on the safe side, I'll do this. You and dad can wake up Leif."

"I'm awake!" Leif's voice came from behind his closed door. "Siri is loud."

"I have to be to wake you up," Siri scoffed as she opened the door to his room. "Come on-" she whined, "-I want to get going!"

"I'm coming, I'm coming," her brother answered as he grabbed his vest. Rushing for the door, though, he tripped over what appeared to be a green lump by his feet.

"Ow!" he exclaimed in irritation, "Mossy!"

What had first appeared to be a green lump at Leif's feet turned out to be a small olive green Terrible Terror whose colour seemed to give its name. Slowly raising its head to his young trainer, the tiny dragon lazily blinked one eye after the other, with an accusatory glance that screamed 'what did I do?', not bothered in the least that he had been tripped over just moments before, before returning to the state of slumber he had so rudely been awakened from.

"You're just going to sleep?" Leif asked the little dragon incredulously as Siri roared with laughter beside him. Turning to his sister, he gestured to the slumbering dragon by his feet, disbelief evident in his features. "Why did I choose him?" he asked her.

"Because he jumped on your head and you thought that meant he was cool," Siri said, making Leif frown in annoyance at her.

"He was cool," Leif protested. "But now he just sits there like...like-"

"Like moss on a rock?" Siri suggested for him, flicking her eyes towards the little dragon. "Well, maybe he's taking his name seriously," she added with a snort. "Maybe you should have given him a different name!"

"Can I switch dragons?" Leif asked hopefully. "I can have Midnight...?"

"There will be no switching dragons of any kind around here, buddy," Hiccup interjected sternly from the doorway, causing the six year old to jump and wheel around; a sheepish look beginning to form on his face. "Besides-" Hiccup went on as he entered the room with a quick glance towards the dozing dragon, "-Midnight is Siri's dragon and no one elses-"

"But Siri is getting a new one," Leif pointed out. "Why can't I-?"

"Midnight will still be mine after today," Siri said irritably, cutting off her brother's question. "I'm not giving her to you just because I have a new dragon. Daddy would never give up Toothless just because he got a new dragon."

"Well said, sweetie," Hiccup said with a smile in her direction. Turning to his son, though, his expression changed to one of seriousness. "Leif," Hiccup said gently as he bent down in front of the young boy, "-we don't switch dragons just because we're annoyed with them-"

"But-"

"No buts." Hiccup cut in firmly, placing his hands on the young boy's shoulders, green eyes meeting on green. "You chose Mossy because you thought he was cool and you're been caring for him for a year. Sure, he's lazy-" Hiccup admitted with a chuckle as he looked over at the dragon in question, "-but that's the point of having a terror. You learn to look after a dragon and care for them before you move to a rideable one. Maybe if you spent more time with him, he wouldn't be so lazy now, would he?"

"I guess so," Leif said slowly as he looked into his dad's eyes. "But-" he looked over towards his dragon; who was looking at his friend with one eye open, "-how can I stop him being lazy? He's the laziest dragon on Berk!"

"That's stretching it!" Siri snorted from the corner.

"She's right," Hiccup agreed with grin. "I mean, have you seen Toothless most days? Heck-" he looked over at Siri, "-have you seen Midnight some days? Buddy, if we gave up on our dragons every time they were lazy, no one would have one. Especially Gobber!"

Leif giggled. "Even Mossy isn't that lazy!" he said, knowing his father was speaking of Grump, who fell asleep anywhere, even while flying.

"See?" Hiccup said with a smile towards his son. "Now, I don't want to hear anymore about you switching dragons, alright?" he asked his son sternly, "-I don't want to find out off Siri that you've stolen Midnight off her."

"He wouldn't be getting her anyway," Siri said with a giggle. "She'd just ignore him!"

Giggling at both comments, Leif nodded seriously at his father, a small smile forming on his face. "Yes, daddy."

"Good boy," Hiccup smiled, giving his son a kiss on the forehead. "Now-" he said with a groan, as he heaved himself up, "-we better get going. Siri has a dragon to choose."

"Are you sure?" Astrid's amused voice came from the doorway, making everyone turn to her with a start. She chuckled. "I was starting to wonder if you'd changed your mind you've been so long," she told Siri with a grin.

"I haven't changed my mind!" Siri exclaimed, aghast as she looked over at her mother, and sister (now dressed comfortably in her mother's arms). "We had to stop Leif from stealing Midnight from me!"

"I heard," Astrid said with a glance towards her son, who grinned sheepishly at her. Shaking her head with a laugh, though, she turned her attention back to Siri. "Len's here," she told her. "He was wondering where you were."

"Oh!" Siri exclaimed. "Is he downstairs?"

"He's waiting outside," Astrid replied. "So, are you ready to pick your dragon?" she asked her daughter proudly.

"Dwagon, dwagon!" Ingrid echoed happily from her mother's arms. "Siwi pick dwagon!"

"That's right, Ingrid," Siri replied with a smile towards her little sister, beaming widely. "Are you going to see some dragons?"

"See dwagons!" the little girl replied giddily, as she reached out towards Siri, but was held back by her mother.

"Wait until we get outside, sweetie?" Astrid told the toddler, who whined a little, but didn't protest.

"Don't worry, Ingrid, you and Leif will see them," Siri assured her sister with a wide smile. "Come on Midnight," she quickly said to the dragon, loitering outside the doorway, who quickly followed her without delay. Inside the room, though, Mossy just gave the family a few blinks, before curling up to sleep again. Leif shook his head, but quickly followed his family out the door, before stopping dead as he realised they were one member short.

"Where's Toothless?" he asked, bewildered, as he looked around the house.

"He left early to gather the dragons together," Hiccup explained to him as they headed down the stairs. "He and Cloudjumper will meet us in the forest."

Leif's brows furrowed in confusion. "Which dragons?" the boy asked.

"The dragons without riders," Hiccup explained to his son. "Toothless is gathering them together just outside the forest so your sister can choose one."

"Why aren't we going to the dragon academy?" Siri asked with a frown. "That's where I got Midnight."

"Yeah, and Midnight's not the size of a house," Hiccup chuckled as he glanced down at the Terror in question. "The academy wouldn't hold all the dragons without riders, so the forest was the next best thing we could do."

Siri bobbed up and down in anticipation. "Oh, this is going to be awesome!" she squealed as she wrenched open the front door, only to run into Lennart who had been standing just behind it.

"Oh, I'm so sorry Len!" Siri exclaimed apologetically as Lennart heaved himself off the ground, rubbing his nose. "I didn't think you'd be so close to the door!"

"I wasn't until just then," the eleven year old answered, rubbing his nose. "I was going to knock to find out what you were doing." He frowned suddenly. "What were you doing?" he asked with a grin, his nose all but forgotten, "-I thought you would have been barging into my house by now you were so excited last night."

"I would have if I didn't have to stop somebody-" Siri glanced towards her brother, who grinned innocently back at her, "from trying to steal my dragon off me, all because his is lazy."

Lennart glanced towards the younger boy in amusement. "You thought that would work?" he asked.

"Not really-" Leif answered with a grin, "-but I tried!"

"And you won't be trying again," Hiccup cut in firmly. "If I find out you're trying to switch dragons again, you won't be getting your own rideable one. Ever," he added with a glance towards his son, who gave him a nod.

"Speaking of rideable dragons," Snotlout cut in as they started heading towards the forest, "-what are you hoping to get, Seer? Surely you have something in mind?"

"I don't know," Siri answered as she skipped along the path. "As long as I get one, I'm happy with any dragon!"

"Are you skipping?" Lennart asked in amusement as he watched his friend skip ahead of him. "I never thought of you as a skipper." Stopping in front of him, though, Siri spun around and stuck out her tongue towards the eleven year old with a giggle.

"I'm getting my dragon today, I can't help it!"

"I don't think I've ever known a person to skip in excitement over a dragon," Snotlout remarked with a laugh.

"Oh, I don't know, I'm pretty sure that's what Hiccup was doing when he was given the dragon academy," Astrid said, a teasing tone to her voice as she glanced over at Hiccup, who looked back at her incredulously.

"I wasn't skipping!" he exclaimed quickly, "-I was...jumping with excitement," he mumbled.

"I'm pretty sure hopping with one foot to the other while walking is classed as skipping," Astrid teased, much to Hiccup's chagrin as everyone erupted with laughter around them. "Which is what you were doing," she insisted with a wide grin.

"Oh really?" Hiccup asked with an answering grin, "-because I thought for sure you did the same thing when I kissed you for the first time."

"That...that was not skipping!" Astrid spluttered, as her daughter and the rest of their friends hooted with hilarity behind them. "I was only...humph..!" Astrid was suddenly cut off as Hiccup's lips met her own, effectively cutting off the rest of her comment, causing a new round of laughter to emit from behind them; from the adults anyway.

"Ew, gross," Siri said in disgust as she watched the scene in front of her. "Do you guys have to do that?"

"Not really," Astrid answered with a grin towards her daughter, "-but if it embarrasses you, it keeps us entertained."

"Gee, thanks," Siri replied dryly, to the delight of Leif and Lennart who both snorted behind their hands. "Can we just go and get my dragon now?" she asked them impatiently.

"We were just joking, sweetie-" Hiccup chuckled, leaning down so he could kiss his daughter's forehead, "-but yeah we're almost there."

"Have you had a dragon in mind at least, Seer?" Anna asked, as she came into step beside the young girl. Looking up at Anna, though, Siri shrugged with a laugh.

"I like the common dragons," Siri admitted with a small smile. "You know-" she added quickly, seeing her friend's confused expression, "-Nadders, Gronkles and Nightmares. Although I would love to have a Storm Cutter," she added thoughtfully.

"I know you would, sweetie," Hiccup answered gently, "-but you know Cloud jumper's breed is fairly uncommon around here."

Siri sighed. "Yeah, I know," she said, before her eyes suddenly lit up as they approached the outskirts of the forest. "There's Toothless!" she screeched excitedly as she spotted the Night Fury within the trees, as well as a lot of other dragons, which made Siri's eyes widen in astonishment. "That's a lot of dragons," she said slowly as she swept her eyes from one breed of dragon to the other.

"This is going to be so cool!" Lennart exclaimed as he looked around at all the assembled dragons. "I can't wait until it's my turn!"

"It's only five more months, Len," Anna reminded him kindly, as she struggled to keep a strong grip on her two year old, who spotting the dragons, was trying to get down. Beside her, Astrid was having the same struggle with Ingrid, whose green eyes were as wide as saucers with all the dragons in one place.

"There you are!" Valka's voice came from behind the trees. "I thought you'd forgotten!" Coming out from the thick of the trees, Valka grinned at her granddaughter when she saw her bouncing up and down on the spot. "You look like you have a dragon in your pants," she noted with a giggle.

"Aren't you supposed to say ants?" Lennart asked the dragon woman shyly, who grinned with a shrug.

"Eh...dragons' funnier," Valka answered with a grin. "More relevant as well I think. I've seen many a Terrible Terror try it."

"Remind me to stay away from the boy's dragons," Snotlout muttered to Anna, who bit back a laugh.

"Can I go pick my dragon now?" Siri asked, having not heard the conversation behind her.

"Wait until Toothless comes to get you, dear," Valka said gently, as she looked back to where Toothless and Cloudjumper were arranging the other dragons. "I think he's making sure none of them do any funny business, like try to fire at you or something." Valka chuckled, as she watched the Night Fury growl at a Monstrous Nightmare who looked over in Siri's direction.

"He looks pretty protective," Hiccup noted with a laugh. "Both of them," he added as he saw Cloud jumper add his growls. Having heard his friend's voice though, Toothless soon rushed over to his rider and gave him a nudge to the stomach, making Hiccup smile back as he stroked the dragons head.

"Hey bud," he smiled warmly to the dragon, "-you ready for Siri?" He looked over at his daughter, who was almost ready to burst with excitement as she looked over at the dragons. Hiccup laughed. "I think she's about ready to burst, bud, you better take her over."

Toothless turned to Siri and gave her a gummy smile, which she returned cheerfully before following the black dragon through the trees, where she was met by Fishlegs and Gobber, who were all standing back watching.

The clearing in which they were standing was thrumming with dragons. The larger and the dragons more common on Berk – Gronkles, Monstrous Nightmares, Deadly Nadders and Zippelbacks – were crowded around the outside of the clearing, all facing towards the young Viking. Bristling just behind them in the trees were some less common dragons – Timberjacks and a few Thunderdrums, with fleeting glances of a Rumblehorn through the trees. Many were relaxing, sitting or lying on the ground, while others jostled or roosted in trees.

This was going to be a difficult choice Siri noted with a pang.

"How am I supposed to choose one?!" Siri exclaimed incredulously, looking around the crowded clearing, where many of the dragons were running around playfully. "There are so many!"

"You don't pick the dragon, sweetie," Hiccup said gently, meeting his daughter's eyes with a small smile. "The dragon will pick you."

"How will I know that the dragon chooses me, though?" Siri asked nervously, flicking her eyes back to the variety of dragons around her. "How do I know they're not just curious?" she added with a frown as she turned her gaze back to her parents.

"You'll know, Seer," Hiccup told her reassuringly. "A bonded dragon won't just give you a passing glance or sniff; they'll really show interest-"

"In other words, they'll stay with you longer than it takes to figure out who you are," Astrid cut in, seeing her daughter's confused expression. "See Stormfly?" the Viking warrior asked her eldest daughter, nodding her head towards the Nadder, playfully nudging up against Astrid's back. With a laugh, she reached up to stroke the dragon's nose, before flicking her eyes back to the twelve year old. "Stormfly tries to get my attention-" Astrid explained with a smile, "-and is very playful around me. She doesn't just want to know what I'm up too. That's how you know a dragon is for you."

"So..." Siri said slowly, "- a connection?"

"Precisely," Hiccup agreed with a smile. "And believe me; you'll know when a connection is made." With a warm smile, he turned his head towards Toothless, who looked back at his friend with a gummy smile of his own, before he turned his attention back to the other dragons. Siri followed his line of sight with an excited jump of her stomach. Noticing their daughter's anticipation, Hiccup and Astrid both faced their daughter with identical smiles upon their faces.

"Alright, Seer, don't go too far and make sure you don't-" Hiccup emphasised firmly, "-wander off without Toothless. Remember, these dragons are still wild and there's no telling what they'll do."

"Just walk around the clearing, and approach different dragons," Astrid added quickly as Siri went to wander off. "If they take off, don't chase them. Wait until they come to you or show interest, okay?"

"Okay," Siri replied with a nod. Turning to Lennart and Toothless with a grin, she quickly waved them over. "Come on, then!" she exclaimed impatiently, "- I want to find my dragon today you know!"

"I'm coming!" Lennart exclaimed as he took off after his friend and Toothless as they walked through the wooded clearing. A few dragons watched them curiously as they walked past, but none of them seemed worried, with a few dragons walking forward cautiously as Siri came over to them.

"She's a natural with them," Fishlegs noted with interest as he watched Siri's interaction with a few dragons nearby. "They seem to trust her."

"Well, I hope they do, or else the 8 years of dragon lessons have been for nothing," Astrid said in amusement, as she struggled to keep hold of her two year old daughter, trying to escape from her arms. "Ah uh, sweetie-" she told the toddler firmly, as she tightened her grip, "-I can't let you near the dragons."

"She can play with Meatlug if she wants," Fishlegs suggested as he watched the toddler squirm in Astrid's arms, "-she's very patient and she won't let her wonder off."

"Thanks, Fishlegs," Hiccup said gratefully, as he reached out to take hold of his youngest daughter. "Come here, baby," he said softly, before he gently lowered her in front of the Gronkle, who sniffed cautiously at the little human, before happily nudging her tiny frame, resulting in a high pitch giggle from the little girl as she reached up to stroke the dragon's scales.

"Good dwagon!" she giggled, stroking the dragon more gently than any regular two year old usually would, causing more than a few surprised glances in the girl's direction.

"Is it just me or is she a natural already?" Snotlout asked the group in astonishment, as the toddler continued to stroke Meatlug's scales. "I don't remember Siri or any of my boys being that gentle at that age."

"Or my kids," Fishlegs added in surprise, as he turned to Valka and Hiccup. "Is she a mix of both of you two, or...?"

"She's got this gentleness about her that we can't really explain," Astrid answered, before anyone could answer. "As well as a very thoughtful and quiet nature" Astrid added with a slight laugh. "And she certainly didn't get it from me!"

"Sounds like Val to me," Anna cut in with a smile.

"Another dragon lady in the village, huh?" Gobber grinned, with a glance towards the older woman, who rolled her eyes.

"Don't you start," she said with a chuckle.

"Daddy," Leif interrupted the adults with a sigh. "Can I go help Siri? This is boring."

"Alright," Hiccup agreed cautiously, with a quick glance to where the other kids were, "-just make sure you stick with Toothless."

With a relieved nod, the six year old quickly ran off in his sister's direction, who was now stroking a large Monstrous Nightmare which made Astrid's stomach clench nervously, despite Toothless's presence. Biting her lip, she turned to Hiccup with a worried glance.

"Urgh...should one of us be over there with her...maybe?" she suggested anxiously as she continued to watch her daughter with the Monstrous Nightmare. "You know...in case she needs extra help?" she hurriedly added, seeing Hiccup's amused glance being thrown in her direction.

"And here I thought I'd be the worried one," Hiccup teased, resulting in an unamused glare from his wife. He coughed awkwardly. "Do...do you want me to go over there?" he asked her.

"Please," she replied with a sheepish smile. "I know it's usually you that gets all protective, but it's just...that dragon is really big, and-"

"You're just being a mother," Hiccup finished for her. Smiling warmly, Hiccup leant forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. "I'll go over," he said quietly. "You just make sure little miss curious over there doesn't wander off." He gestured to Ingrid, still happily playing with Meatlug behind them. Following his line of sight, Astrid chuckled.

"I'll do my best."

Shaking his head, Hiccup quickly rushed over to his daughter, just as the Monstrous Nightmare she had been patting grew disinterested and trotted off, without a second glance. Undeterred, Siri gave a slight shrug before turning towards the opposite direction.

"Too bad-" Hiccup said as he approached her, eyes still on the dragon still slinking out of sight, "-I thought you had that one. He seemed pretty curious."

"Yeah, but he was huge," Siri replied with a quick glance in the same direction. "I'm tall, but even I wouldn't be able to get on him." She glanced back to her father, eyebrows furrowed. "Why are you over here?" she asked suspiciously, a grin forming on her lips. "Were you worried about that dragon?"

"For once it wasn't me," Hiccup responded, throwing up his hands in protest. "Believe it or not, it was your mother with the protective side this time."

"If it's not you, it's mum, huh?" Siri asked with a grin. "I guess I'll know if I have the right dragon now anyway."

"You don't need me to tell you that, Seer and you know it," Hiccup said as he glanced around; just spotting an olive coloured Gronkle edging over to them, sniffling curiously at the small group. Gesturing silently to his daughter, Hiccup wrapped an arm around her shoulders before carefully guiding her over to the inquisitive dragon, where she extended her arm cautiously. Looking on excitedly, Leif and Lennart just watched as the dragon warily poked his snout into her outstretched hand, letting her pat it, before it closed its eyes; a sure sign it was comfortable with her.

"This is cool" Leif said in awe, as he watched his sister stroke the dragon's snout. "I can't wait until I get my rideable dragon."

"You still have another six years yet, buddy," Hiccup answered, not taking his eyes off the girl and Gronkle. "What about you, though Len?" he asked the older boy, barely glancing in his direction. "You'll be doing this in five months. What are you hoping for?"

"I wouldn't mind getting a Monstrous Nightmare," Lennart replied. "Of course I wouldn't treat him the way dad does," he added with a laugh.

"Good to know," Hiccup chuckled, with a quick glance in the eleven year olds direction. "I think your dad missed the memo on how to handle a dragon, and he's still trying to figure it out until this day."

"Mum says that all the time-" Lennart said with a small smile, "-but I sometimes think Hookfang just likes torturing him."

Hiccup chuckled. "Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me." He turned back to watch his daughter, only to find the Gronkle suddenly lose interest in her human companion, and begin to saunter off in another direction. Siri's shoulders slumped a little, but she soon shrugged and turned to face her father with a small smile.

"I guess she wasn't meant for me after all."

"I think she liked you," Hiccup told his daughter gently, patting her shoulder, "-but she was too young. I think she was only around ten or so. You would have been the mature one in that friendship."

"Well... I didn't really want a Gronkle anyway," Siri admitted guiltily. "They're too...wimpy," she finished a little lamely, causing Hiccup to raise his eyebrows. "That's not what I meant," Siri protested hurriedly, seeing her father's expression. "It's just that I was hoping for something a bit more...warrior like. Meatlug is just fine for Uncle Fishlegs, but he's not going to be Chief one day-"

"Enough said, Seer," Hiccup interjected quickly. "You want something a bit tougher in other words."

"Yeah," Siri admitted with a nod as she began to walk off again. "You know?" she said, "-one that will help me with chiefly duties and all when I'm older. Of course no dragon will be as good as Toothless" she added with a grin in Toothless's direction, who returned it with a lick to her face.

"Eww, Toothless!" Siri giggled, as she wiped the saliva from her face. "I didn't ask for a bath you know!"

"That's what you get for telling him he's awesome," Hiccup quipped.

"I didn't tell him he was awesome, though! Not exactly anyway-" Suddenly stopping dead in her tracks, the twelve year old gave a frown as she felt a pair of eyes on her back. Her stomach gave a lurch. "Is it just me?-" Siri asked slowly as everyone turned curiously towards her, "-or is someone following us?"

Hiccup frowned slightly. "What do you mean following us?" Turning around, Hiccup's eyes widened in surprise. "Ohhh..."

"What?" the kids echoed nervously. None of them moved from their spots.

"Well, someone's following us alright-" Hiccup amused voice came from behind, "-but I wouldn't call them a threat."

Frowning curiously, the three kids quickly turned around, only to find themselves face to face with a very curious violet coloured Nadder, who was looking at Siri with such a look of intense curiosity that she seemed to be studying the young girl.

"Well, hello," Siri giggled as she approached the inquisitive Nadder. "Have you been following us this whole time?" Reaching up to pat the dragon, her heart skipped a beat as it immediately leant into the girl's touch, without even hesitating.

"Amazing," Hiccup said in awe as he watched the dragon's actions. "I've never seen a dragon so comfortable with a human that quickly before. Even Toothless took a few days to let me touch him."

"I think she really likes me." Stopping mid sentence, though, Siri looked over at her father with an uncertain expression. "Urgh-" she said awkwardly, "-it is a girl, right? Because I've never been good at checking this in dragons..."

"Yes, it's a girl, sweetie," Hiccup laughed, watching his daughter's face turn to one of relief. "And from the looks of her..." Hiccup circled the violet Nadder thoughtfully, "...she's not much older than you. I'd say...around 14 or so. Quite good for you."

"How do you know it's a girl?" Lennart asked, his brows furrowed.

"Do you really want me to get into that?" Siri asked him, amused, before Hiccup could answer. Hearing this comment, though, Hiccup coughed awkwardly making Lennart turn a brilliant shade of magenta.

"I don't need that lesson, Seer!" Lennart stuttered; a look of mortification growing across his face. "I just thought it was different for dragons is all."

"How different?" Leif asked innocently, flicking his eyes from his sister's embarrassed friend to his father, torn between embarrassment and laughter. Hearing his son's question, though, all traces of laughter vanished from his eyes as he coughed awkwardly.

"That's not something you need to know just now, buddy," he told his son uncomfortably, before he quickly turned his attention back to the matter at hand.

"So...what do you think, Seer?" he asked the twelve year old, whose attention was still sorely on the purple dragon in front of her. "Do you think she's the one?"

Siri emitted a high giggle as the Nadder nuzzled her face gently, resulting in it making a contented squawk of its own at the sound of her new friend's giggle. Reaching up to stroke her muzzle, Siri smiled widely as the dragon continued to hang around.

"I think so," Siri answered her father, looking over at him with a joyful smile that lit up her bright azure eyes. "She seems to like me, but I don't know if it's just curiosity or not."

"That's easy to check," Hiccup said. "Why don't you slowly wander off and see if she continues to follow you? If so, she obviously wants to be your dragon."

Nodding silently, Siri slowly pulled her arm away from the dragon, before gesturing Lennart and Leif to follow her as she slowly began to walk away, straining her ears slightly in an effort to hear the sounds of dragon footfalls behind her.

She didn't hear them.

Crestfallen, Siri quickly turned around to find the Nadder where she had left her; its head cocked to one side as if confused, but it didn't show any signs of following her.

"She's not following." Looking back towards the dragon, Siri heaved a loud sigh. "I really thought she was the one this time."

"I wouldn't give up just yet, Seer," Hiccup said quickly, noticing the dragon's cocked head. "I've seen that look on Stormfly many times when your mother can't play or fly with her. She's probably just confused on why you've walked off. Just give her a minute."

Sure enough; no sooner had Hiccup suggested this, the dragon, still looking over at them in bewilderment suddenly bounded over to them, immediately nuzzling the girl's blonde hair, making Siri squeal in excitement, despite herself. It was official. This was the one.

"This is the one, daddy!" Siri squealed delightedly, as she continued to stroke the dragon's nose. "I've found my dragon!" Smiling up at the dragon, Siri's face broke into a grin. "Do you want to be my dragon?" she asked the Nadder, who gave a small squawk of approval at the question.

"Well, it's official; you're just like your mother," Hiccup laughed, as he watched his daughter with her new Nadder. "Except, the colour is different to Stormfly, of course" he added, noting the dark purple tone to the dragon's scales, complete with red markings to her face that would certainly make it easy to spot her in a dragon race.

"Yeah, what is it with you and purple?" Lennart teased, looking the dragon up and down. "Midnight is purple, and now this one is! You'd think it was your favourite colour or something."

"That'd be blue, but close enough," Siri grinned at him. "But it's not my fault that every purple dragon seems to like me." Casting her gaze back over her new dragon, though, Siri suddenly frowned thoughtfully. "Actually, do you know what her colour reminds me of?" she asked Lennart, suddenly turning her attention back to him.

Lennart frowned. "No," he answered, puzzled, before realisation flickered in his sky blue eyes. "Ohhh," he said, "-yesterdays' sunset, yeah."

"Sunset?" Hiccup narrowed his eyes suspiciously at the two pre-teens. "What were two doing watching a sunset together? Or more importantly-" he added with a flicker between the two of them, "-when?"

Siri rolled her eyes. "Try last night when Len was about to go home. Remember?" she asked her father. "You were there." With a shake of her head, the girl laughed. "Seriously dad, stop worrying! Len and I do not like each other that way."

"Don't like each-" Lennart started, bewildered, before his eyes suddenly widened in realisation of what she meant. "Oh, gross!" the boy exclaimed in disgust, looking up at his chief with wide eyes. "Why would you even think that?!"

"Because you're almost teenagers and I dread the day that will come," Hiccup mumbled.

"Well, that day isn't today," Siri said with a shudder. "Anyway-" she continued, with a glance back to Lennart, "-I think I might have a name for my new friend here."

"What, sunset?" Lennart snorted, all remnants of the previous conversation gone from his mind. "A little girly for you isn't it?"

"No!" Siri shook her head in annoyance. "And not dawn either," she added, seeing her brother opening his mouth to say something. "I want something stronger than that and since the sunset yesterday was all cool and purple because of the storm coming in, I have a perfect name for her." She nodded to the Nadder, who seemed to be listening intently.

"And what's that?" Hiccup asked her curiously, making Siri grin in anticipation.

"Night Star."

"That-" Lennart said, grinning, "-is awesome! But-" he glanced towards the Nadder with a furrowed brows, "-why Night Star? Wouldn't Night Storm make more sense? If you're basing it on yesterdays sunset anyway," he added quickly seeing Siri's bewildered look towards him. Hearing this, though, a look of understanding crossed her face and she chuckled.

"Not every purple sunset leads to a storm does it?" she asked logically. "Besides-" she added with a shrug, "-I saw a few stars in that sky last night, more than lightning anyway."

"Fair enough," Lennart agreed with a smile.

"Well-" Siri said with a cheerful glance up at her new dragon, "-what do you think?" she asked the dragon. "Do you like the name Night Star?"

A quick playful nudge to the twelve year olds head soon answered that, and Siri laughed and giving her new dragon a warm hug around the neck, she glanced towards her father and Toothless, who was looking up at the dragon warily. After a few tense moments, Toothless emitted a low coo of acceptance towards the Deadly Nadder who gave her alpha a low rumble of gratitude back at the acceptance.

"Don't pretend you didn't like her, bud," Hiccup said with a grin towards the Night Fury as they began walking back to the rest of the group. "You're the one who didn't even flinch when she was following us. Don't deny it, buddy-" Hiccup added as Toothless gave him a sideways glance, "-you both knew she was there and did nothing."

With sheepish grins, Toothless and Cloudjumper quickly rushed ahead, leading to a chorus of giggles to emit from Hiccup and the kids.

"I thought it was strange Toothless didn't seem to notice we were being followed," Siri laughed, looking after the dragons retreating backs. "He must not have seen her as a threat."

"Obviously not," Hiccup agreed, wrapping an arm around his daughter's shoulders, "-which means that you have found the perfect dragon if even Toothless approves."

"That'd be a first," Siri said, "-he still doesn't like Midnight after all these years!"

"I think that's because he isn't a fan of terrors more than anything," Hiccup smiled, as they came in earshot of the rest of the waiting group, where Leif suddenly broke away from the little group, hopping up and down in excitement as he pointed towards the Nadder, following her new friend affectionately from behind her.

"Siri chose her dragon!" he shouted wildly, pointing excitedly towards the dragon. "Siri chose her dragon!"

"We can see that, buddy," Astrid said, amused, as the group approached them. Looking towards her daughter, Astrid gave her a proud smile. "A Nadder, huh?" she asked, with a glance towards the dragon. "She's beautiful." Reaching up to stroke the dragon's scales gently. "What's her name?"

"Night Sta,r" Siri answered proudly, as she watched her dragon become immediately become comfortable with her mother. "And yeah, I know-" she added with a grin, as her mother looked at her questioningly, "-I seem to have a thing for purple."

"I wasn't going to say a word," Astrid grinned, as Ingrid suddenly appeared beside her older sister; emerald green eyes wide with curiosity as she looked up at the dragon.

"Siwi pick dwagon!" she exclaimed cheerfully, as she reached up for the dragon. "Me pat!"

"I got you, Ingrid!" Placing his arms around his sister's middle, Leif groaned as he tried, unsuccessfully, to heave his sister up to see the dragon properly.

"Don't hurt yourself, Leif," Siri cut in, as Leif plopped his younger sister back on the ground with a grunt. "I've got her."

Picking her sister up with much greater ease, Siri lifted her to eye level with the Deadly Nadder, who gave the toddler a gentle lick on the cheek, causing her emit a round of giggles, as she carefully pat the dragon's snout.

"That didn't take as long as I thought," Astrid whispered quietly to her husband, keeping her eyes locked on the three children for a moment before glancing towards Hiccup warmly. "Thanks for helping her."

"It was all her, Astrid, I had nothing to do with it," Hiccup answered her with a small smile, before pressing his lips against Astrid's golden locks, as Siri, her arms shaking with effort of holding up her sister, set her back on the ground with a slight grunt.

"Bit heavy there is she, Seer?" Hiccup asked her.

"Just a bit," Siri replied, rubbing her arm. "Especially when I had to hold her up so high. Night Star is pretty tall in that case."

Well, I have to admit, Seer, she's a beauty," Gobber interjected, looking the dragon up and down, impressed. "I had a feeling you'd get a Nadder."

"How?" Siri asked him, brows furrowing, making Gobber grin a toothy grin towards the young girl.

"The fact that you are so much like your mum didn't even give you a hint?"

Siri's face fell. "I'm not mum, though," she argued, hesitantly. "Why does everyone compare me with her?-"

"We're just kidding, baby-" her father assured her, with a kiss to her blonde locks, "-don't take it so seriously. We know you're not mum."

"Although there are similarities," Gobber mumbled, earning him a glare from his young Chief. "What?" he said with a shrug, "it's true."

"But if you're having second thoughts on having your beautiful Nadder because you think you're like your mum-" Valka teased, effectively defusing the situation as Siri went to protest back, "-I guess you can't get your present."

Siri's eyes widened. "Present?" she asked, excitedly, looking from her parents to her grandmother with interest. "What present?" she asked again, all signs of the earlier argument erased from her mind.

Hiccup and Astrid exchanged a mischievous glance that made Siri's heart leap with excitement.

"In honour of you getting your first dragon-" Valka said, reaching her hand behind a tree, "-your father made you something to get you started." Siri's eyes widened as the object came into view, and she gasped, her heart thumping in her ears, as her eyes fell upon the item for the first time.

It was a saddle; but not any ordinary saddle. Made from the softest of pale brown tanned yak leather, there where whorls and swirls embroidered around the edge of the seat, a yew figurehead of a dragon poking up from the leading point of the seat, and various hooks, strap points and pockets adorning the read end of the seat - which had been made with the knowledge that Siri was still young, and had ample room for her to grow into the seat, as well as the fact it could have been placed upon the back of any species of dragon. Trailing from the back ridge of the seat, above the pockets and tie points, were three streamers; two purple and one white, and just in front of this where they were attached to the saddle was Siri's name, scorched into the leather, so that it would never fade or wear out.

"I made it a few months ago," Hiccup said nervously, watching as Siri's hand trailed over the intricate details of the saddle mutely. "I tried to make sure it would fit any dragon you chose, as well as fitting you as you kept growing, but if you don't like it, I can easily change it-"

"I love it," Siri whispered.

Hiccup frowned, not catching what she'd said. "What?" he asked her.

"I love it!" Siri screamed again, a little louder, her voice filled with exhilaration. "I love it, I love it, I love it!" She raced over to her father and fling her arms around his waist, hugging him so tightly, he felt as if his ribs might break. "Thank you daddy!" Letting go of him, she beamed. "It's perfect!"

"You're welcome, baby," Hiccup said, a little emotionally as stroked his daughter's cheek warmly, with a tender smile. "I just thought that I had to give you something special for the day you've been looking forward to for a long time. A really long time," he added with a laugh, remembering her toddler days when all she'd wanted was a dragon of her own.

"Thankyou," Siri repeated joyfully, kissing her father's cheek, before she engulfed her mother as well, who was taken aback, but gladly embraced her eldest daughter lovingly. "Thank you both of you!" she repeated again, giddily, before she quickly grabbed the saddle and raced over to her new friend. "I'm going to try it out right now!"

"Hold up!" Hiccup exclaimed hurriedly, quickly grabbing a hold of her shoulder. "As much as I can't wait to see you on a dragon for the first time, you can't just yet."

"Why not?" the twelve year old asked, disappointedly.

"You can't just get on a dragon, sweetie," Astrid told her with a sigh. "We can put the saddle on, but you need a lesson in flying without falling off before you can fly on your own first."

Siri raised her eyebrows incredulously. "Are you serious?" she asked, disbelievingly. "I've been on Toothless and Stormfly loads of times!"

"I wish we were"- Valka said, apologetic look towards her eldest grandchild, "-but rules are rules."

"You're not kidding?" Groaning loudly, Siri pulled the saddle away from her dragon, who herself looked disappointed that they couldn't go for a fly. "This sucks."

"Welcome to dragon training, dear," Valka said with a slight chuckle towards the young girl. "But once you have your first lesson tomorrow, you can fly solo."

"Tomorrow?" Siri asked, eyes bright. "Yes!" Looking back to her dragon again, though, she sighed once more. "It still sucks, though."

"Yeah, it does," Lennart agreed with a frown. "I wanted to go for a fly too."

"No, you wouldn't be, Len" Hiccup told him awkwardly. "Not until you have your own."

"Oh man," Lennart whined.

"I know, but we have these rules for a reason," Hiccup told him and his daughter with a small smile, who returned it, albeit half heartedly. "Dragon training isn't just for the fun of it. It's to make sure that you and your dragon can bond in the best way possible and to help the dragon too."

"Glad you think so," Snotlout scoffed, gesturing towards Hookfang behind him, "-this one has never seemed to respond." Hearing his human's voice, Hookfang looked up from playing with the two youngest Jorgenson boys, and gave his friend an annoyed look.

"Wish I could train Mossy like this-" Leif said in a huff, "-I can't get him to do anything!"

"Your Terrible Terror, Mossy?" Valka asked her grandson, surprised. "Why didn't you tell me? I can help you with him if you want?"

Leif looked at his grandmother in disbelief. "Why didn't you tell me before?!" he exclaimed, throwing his hands up dramatically for a six year old.

Valka shrugged. "You never asked."

Peals of laughter rang around the group as Leif opened and closed his mouth like a fish as he processed this answer, before he just sighed and plopped himself onto the ground in defeat.

"Hey Val?" Snotlout snorted, "-you think you could me with this one?" He pointed to Hookfang again who glanced back in irritation. "You'd think after 20 years, he'd actually listen to me now, but no-" he drawled, "-he's just gotten worse!"

"Well maybe if you were nicer to him, he wouldn't be," Anna told her husband with a sigh.

"He's pig headed, An!" he exclaimed with a glance towards her, not noticing the Monstrous Nightmare coming up sneakily behind him, "-he doesn't listen to anyone!"

"Um…Snotlout?" Hiccup said hesitantly, keeping his eyes on the sly dragon.

"Well, he doesn't listen to me anyway," Snotlout continued, not noticing everyone's nervous looks towards him. "But-" Snotlout suddenly stopped, and looking around everyone's sheepish looks, he suddenly felt his bottom burning hot, and his face fell.

"Ow, ow, ow, hot, hot, hot!" he screamed, as he ran towards the only water trough available and flung himself in it. Breathing a sigh of relief as the water put his burning pants out, everyone around him, especially the kids, were all howling with uncontrolled laughter; his own kids the loudest among them.

"And this, Seer, is the reason we have dragon training," Astrid said with a shake of her head, as she, Siri and Hiccup tied to bite back their laughter at the sight. "To avoid getting your bottom burnt because people don't watch what they say."

From the water trough, Snotlout glared towards her in irritation as his face burning as red as Hookfang's satisfied scales.

"Shut up, Astrid."

You have no idea how long I've been waiting to put a Snotlout and Hookfang joke into this story, and I finally managed! :p Last chapter, I also had some people asking me about why Leif didn't have a Terrible Terror last chapter too, now you know he does! That storyline just linked in better with this chapter is all. There was also a quote in this chapter as well about embarrassing Siri being entertaining to them and I would like to credit the series 'Call the Midwife' for giving me that hilarious quote!

Anyway, Siri has a Nadder! And I would like to thank MI games BeremyHaylijah freak, for giving me the name Night Star for the dragon, as well as a whole list of names, that made narrowing them down so difficult! They were amazing and Night Star is a wonderful name! Thanks to everyone who suggested names! Now, contrary to what people may think, no, I did not choose a Nadder for her to be like Astrid. I have just always imagined her with a Nadder. I also quite like Nadders, and I always thought they'd be the best dragon for her with both of them being a little vain for perfection, although in different ways, but I understand why you would all think that :)

Speaking of being compared to her mother, yes, Siri is starting to feel a bit of animosity towards the fact that people always seem to compare her to her mother, which fits in well with her getting a Nadder too, because it will just make the comparisons go into overdrive now. This will come to a head next chapter where 'while competing in a dragon racing competition, Siri grows tired of the endless comparisons to her mother, and in an effort to stop them, tries to change her image, with interesting results'. This includes trying to act like her father at some point too lol. The dragon competition is for all the different age groups of dragon riders too, so yes, you will see Hiccup and the others taking part too! Siri will have just turned 13 in this chapter too, and she will really start to grow up a bit by this time as you'll see ;p I'm not giving anything away though!

Anyway, DON'T FORGET TO REVIEW! Just remember, NO FLAMES, but KIND constructive criticism is accepted :) Sorry it wasn't my best work! Now, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be up due to the fact that I am starting to get a little busy as I am a casual teacher. I will continue to try and update once a fortnight, but if chapters take a little longer, like this one, it can't be helped. Please be patient with me while I try to write these chapters. I can only write as fast as I am able and my boyfriend, who helps with and edits my chapters, can only work so fast too considering his busy university schedule. Thanks! :)

Thanks for reading! :D