WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! If you are reading my series of fics and haven't gotten to this episode (look below) turn back . This chapter is essentially one giant SPOILER. If you have already passed that point, or you don't care, then proceed.
Takes place right after Fright of Passage ends from Not a Curse: Defenders of Berk (My Version)
Song: Who I'm Meant to Be by Anthem Lights
Who I'm Meant to Be:
Astrid lay awake in bed unable to silence her thoughts. She, with the help of her brother, Fishlegs, and Hiccup, defeated the Flightmare; the dragon that had haunted her very existence. Her family name was cleared. Vengeance was taken, though not in the way she'd originally envisioned. But now what? The spiral of thoughts that led her down that rabbit hole is what kept her awake that night. She couldn't shake the feeling that the Flightmare was her only motivation to ever get into becoming a shield maiden like her mother had been before she'd met her father and had Astrid, and then Aric soon after. It's not like Astrid had tried much else in her childhood. She and Aric had both started training as soon as they were physically able to with the threat of the dragon raids, but it was really the promise of vengeance and restoring the family name that fueled Astrid's fire. Now that fire was doused, and Astrid couldn't help feeling rather empty. Lost. (Start Song) She looked to her sword sitting in its corner of her room. Was her family's life really what she wanted?
Astrid stared up at the ceiling, her thoughts overwhelming and needing to be let out. She was quiet at first, not wanting to disturb her family sleeping. Tired of laying here though, Astrid sat up, her feet dangling off the side of the bed. "...I've wasted so much precious time, but I'm still not satisfied in the end. In the end", her head hung down.
Suddenly, though, one answer came clear. It wasn't. Did her parents even need both their children to follow in their family's line of work? Maybe Astrid could stray while her brother continued the Hofferson legacy. It was him who would continue the family line anyway. Their clan was one of great warriors, but maybe Astrid didn't have to be that. Astrid rose from her bed. Maybe she wasn't. Maybe, she just wasn't meant to be.
She moved to the window and lent up against the sill looking out to the village, thinking of all her friends and the paths they were already leading while she didn't even know who she was; what she liked. "…Comparing my behind the scenes against their highlight reel. I've burnt up so much energy. Won't let it keep distracting me anymore. Anymore!"
Grabbing her sword, Astrid headed for the stairs. She needed to get some air; needed to get out of this house. She strapped the weapon to her hip and slowly descended each step, eventually reaching the bottom and passing her brother's room. "I know I was made with a purpose, to reach passed the surface", she reached the door and placed her hand to the handle, pausing for a moment, before pushing it open and greeted with the cool air of summer. "…than to be who I'm meant to be."
Swinging the door closed behind her Astrid ran, Aurvandil's Fire still shining brightly in the sky above. She swerved passed houses, ducked under cloths lines, jumped and slid over carts and wagons, not knowing where she was heading but just letting her feet take her where ever they felt. "Live life with purpose! Reach passed the surface! Its who I'm meant to be!" Astrid skid to a stop. She was in the square; the center of the village where different pathways stretched in almost every direction. Remembering her sword, Astrid unsheathed it, looked at it with reverence and a sadness she couldn't explain.
She swung it with force, practiced her form, all the basics of which her father taught her. She fought an invisible opponent, probably the last she'd fight as a true shield maiden. Her stance vanished, the sword's point facing the ground. Then, in one swift motion, the sword was sheathed.
I hope you guys liked it. I'm just glad Astrid could finally have a song of her own. It wasn't easy finding a song that I felt really fit her, but luck was on my side when I came across this one.
And for those wondering where Smoke Gets in Your Eyes is, its coming. I just need to finish the last quarter of the episode.
