The fight was all anyone could talk about after the bell rang to signal the end of lunch. Astrid walked out with holding Hiccup's hand as their friends stayed with them until they reached their classrooms and split off. Fishlegs, Heather, and Dagur were in the next class with Hiccup and Astrid. Thankfully, Eret wasn't. Many people were whispering while looking at Hiccup, wondering if he was going to really go through with this. Everyone kept going over what the two argued about, wondering if what Hiccup said about Eret was true. Was he really only fighting because he was jealous and insecure? The bell rang and class started, the first half was an actual lesson and the rest was discussing the project and whose 'weddings' were coming up that month.

Hiccup and Astrid's was scheduled for February, the week of Valentines day. Astrid didn't want to be wearing a cast for it and they had more things to finish planning but it'd been kind of crazy with everything going on. They were given class time to go over more plans, as were a few others who were behind. "So did we finish who we were inviting?" Hiccup asked her gently.

"I think so, lets go over it before we start on food." Astrid suggested. Hiccup nodded pulling out the paper.

"It said we can invite as many people as we want, but no less than 10 so lets see..." He began to count, "We have 9." Hiccup said.

"So we need a few more. And some might not be able to make it. Who did we invite, any changes we have to make?" Astrid asked looking over the sheet of paper now. "We have...Your dad, my parents, Snotlout, Dagur, Heather, Ruff, Tuff, and Fishlegs." Astrid pointed out. Her parents were still in a coma and Stoick said he wasn't sure if he could make it back, he'd let them know as it got closer.

"Well then we need one more. Technically 4 more since there are 3 we aren't sure of." Hiccup added.

"So who else do we invite? Not like we have more friends." Astrid asked.

"What about...Oh, Heather has a sister doesn't she?" Hiccup said now.

"That's right. I forgot about Eira! Oh, and Snotlout has a little brother named Gustav. That's two. Who else do we know?" Astrid said with a smile. Hiccup began to think now.

"My boss, Gobber." Hiccup suggested. Astrid nodded and wrote the 3 names down.

"Just one more...Does your boss have a wife?" Astrid asked, Hiccup laughed a little.

"He's gay, Astrid." Hiccup smiled.

"Oh! My mistake...Umm...Crap this is so hard." Astrid sighed sitting back in her chair. It was then that Hiccup got a text from his father. ::Hey son. Good news, I'll be makin it to ur 'weddin' after all. Sry if I bothered u in skool. Love you. -Dad.:: Hiccup cheered louder than he expected.

"My dad said he can make it! That's 10 right there and 12 if your parents recover in time. Great, so that's out of the way now." Hiccup sighed in relief as he put the list down.

"Thank Thor. Now what, food?" Astrid asked him smiling, he nodded and they got right to work naming off things they wanted, Hiccup minded the budget since he was good with math. The day continued for them until 2:05pm when the last bell rang. As soon as it sounded, Astrid's happy face turned to worry for her boyfriend.

"Everything is okay, Astrid. Trust me, remember?" Hiccup said softly to her as the exited class and made their way to the gymnasium where the fight was being held since it was raining outside. Eret was already there and people were filing in on to the bleachers. It was only the senior class.

"I trust you, Hiccup." Astrid said to him. Hiccup kissed her deeply as he then sent her off with Heather and Ruffnut to the bleachers. The room came to a hush as Mr. Bludvist and a few other teachers came in. Their principle, Alvin Treachor walked between the two who were glaring at one another.

"So you showed up. I thought you would of run." Eret remarked.

"I think you should know by now, I don't run." Hiccup replied.

"Alright you two. You know the rules. No weapons and no moves that could result in someone passing out and needing to go to the hospital. Its hand to hand only. You may punch and kick. The fight ends with someone admits defeat." Alvin said to them. Hiccup and Eret only nodded. "Are you both ready?" Alvin asked looking at them both.

"Yes." Hiccup replied.

"Born ready." Eret responded.

"There is to be no interference. On my mark boys. May the best fighter win." Alvin said with his hand up. Eret immediately got in to his fighting stance with his hands up. Hiccup stayed still. "Fight!" Alvin said bringing his hand down and stepping back against the wall with the other teachers. Neither of them moved at first.

"Well, Haddock? You talked big before. You gonna back it up?" Eret asked with a grin.

"Oh that, right. We're fighting aren't we?" Hiccup said in a calm tone. This seemed to make Eret mad.

"Quit being cute! Come at me, unless you're scared?" Eret yelled at him. Hiccup moved his head from side to side, making his neck crack.

"Astrid likes when I'm cute." Hiccup teased, "You got two legs and a heartbeat, what's stopping you?" Hiccup asked with a grin.

"Fine, I will!" Eret yelled charging at Hiccup now, upon approaching him he went to throw his left fist at Hiccup's face but Hiccup simply stepped to the right to avoid it. Eret pulled his fist back and tried with his right. Hiccup stepped to the left. Eret was fuming already and it wasn't even two minutes in to the match. Eret went to kick Hiccup but he jumped up and kicked Eret in the stomach making him stumble back.

"Are we fighting or what? This is more like a training session with my dad." Hiccup asked him.

"You're awfully cocky for a fishbone, Haddock." Eret said as he got back in to his fighting stance.

"Not cocky. You're supposed to be captain of the fight club. Fight me then." Hiccup told him.

"Don't mock my title! AHHH!" Eret yelled charging at him again with his fists out and swinging blindly. Hiccup managed to dodge them all with easy movements to the left, right, or ducking. With one punch that he crouched to avoid, Hiccup adjusted slightly and elbowed Eret in the stomach then curled his fist and gave him an upper cut to the chin. Hiccup slid back as Eret fell forward holding his stomach and glaring at Hiccup panting slightly.

"Are you getting tired already?" Hiccup asked him. "We can stop this right now, Eret. Just give it up and I won't have to put you on your ass in front of the entire senior class." Hiccup offered to him.

"Like hell I'm stopping! I'll keep going until I beat you..." Eret said getting up again.

"I tried to be nice." Hiccup shrugged as he now stood in a fighting stance and used his hand to motion for Eret to come at him. Eret took the bait of course, he charged again and Hiccup moved the side, swinging around and bringing his elbow down on Eret's back hard. Eret dropped to his knees and went to reach for Hiccup's foot but Hiccup used his back as a way to seemingly do a cartwheel to the other side and knee him in the side. Eret gasped out for air using his hands to keep himself from falling face first. "You done yet?" Hiccup asked.

"Never!" Eret said forcing himself to his feet again and looking at Hiccup angrily and then he got an idea. "I'll admit you're a better fighter than I gave you credit for, Haddock. Must of gotten it from your old man right? Because your mom certainly wasn't a fighter." Eret remarked with a smirk. Hiccup froze as Astrid saw his head lower and his eyes close.

"Oh no..." Astrid whispered. The whispers began instantly, some who were around for the fight when Hiccup kicked Eret's ass the first time at his house remembered what happened when Eret mentioned Hiccup's mom. He snapped and beat Eret in to the ground with just a head lock. "Hiccup! Don't listen to him!" Astrid called out.

"Did I hit a soft spot, Haddock?" Eret asked moving closer to him now. Hiccup didn't say a word to him, he wasn't even looking at him. Eret took his chance, he brought back his fist to punch Hiccup and let it fly towards him. Hiccup's head snapped up at him as he moved his head to avoid the punch and once Eret's arm was past him, he grabbed it and glared at him with a deadly look in his green eyes. Eret's cocky face dropped now seeing the look and tried to pull his arm back but Hiccup had it locked in place over his shoulder. Hiccup span making Eret's arm behind him as he elbowed Eret again and flipped back to raise his leg and kick Eret in the face, at this time he let go of Eret's arm when Eret stumbled back.

"Don't bring my mother in to it. It's between you and I, Eret. Last chance. Give it up." Hiccup said to him standing in a firm position.

"No! I will beat you! You got lucky!" Eret yelled at him.

"Perhaps. Or maybe I'm just a better fighter." Hiccup stated.

"No you aren't! I've been champion here since Middle School! I'm not losing to you! I refuse too!" Eret said to him.

"Then shut your damn mouth and fight me, Eret because so far I haven't seen anything closely resembling a champion fighter!" Hiccup said stepping towards him angrily. Eret stepped back slightly. "Are you hesitating?" Hiccup asked now.

"N-no! I just...lost my balance." Eret said quickly.

"Yeah right. You're done, Eret. You can't fight anymore." Hiccup said turning his back and walking away from him. Eret's eyes narrowed with anger as he got up and rushed for Hiccup again who stopped and smiled waiting for the moment, he counted the quick steps coming from Eret and when the moment was right, Hiccup whipped around and caught his fist before it hit him, Eret tried to punch with his other hand and Hiccup caught that one too. The two were locked in that position, staring at one another.

"I'm not losing to you..." Eret said through his teeth trying to push Hiccup down with force but it didn't have much effect. Hiccup was skinny, but he was stronger than he looked. Hiccup pushed back making Eret slide slightly.

"And I'm not going to stop defending the people I care about." Hiccup said to him, it caught him off guard as Hiccup head butt him making him fall back.

"Defending!? I'm not even attacking them!" Eret yelled now.

"That's the difference between you and I." Hiccup said plainly.

"What are you talking about!" Eret snapped angrily. Everyone else was just as curious now, they all assumed this was supposed to be a fight. Why would Hiccup be talking about defending people? Who was Eret hurting? So many unanswered questions running through the minds of the room.

"What does it matter to you, Eret? You don't care. Look at you! You haven't landed one hit on me since we started 20 minutes ago and you can barely stand up straight." Hiccup stated to him. "I know why I'm fighting. Why are you?" Hiccup asked now.

"What kind of a question is that! To beat you and reclaim my popularity, to reclaim what you took from me!" Eret said firmly pointing at him now. Hiccup shook his head slowly now.

"I haven't taken anything from you, Eret. I'm the same now as I always have been." Hiccup told him calmly.

"You took everything from me! Astrid, my pride, my popularity." Eret said trying to charge at him again. Hiccup narrowed his eyes with a sigh as he readied himself for the attack. Eret started with a kick this time which Hiccup blocked with his arm and used the other to block the punch. The two continued this another 10 minutes before breaking apart because Hiccup kicked him back hard. Eret coughed a bit panting as he saw Hiccup standing 3 feet from him.

"Yeild, Eret." Hiccup told him.

"No! No, no, no! I won't lose to you again!" Eret said trying to get off his one knee to stand.

"And why not, Eret? What are you fighting for?" Hiccup asked again.

"I told you!" Eret yelled back.

"Different question. I asked you why you were fighting the first time. Now I'm asking what are you fighting for." Hiccup explained.

"Me, obviously!" Eret replied angrily to him. He didn't understand what Hiccup was doing, this was supposed to be a fight.

"That's why you're losing to me right now." Hiccup said simply. There was a round of gasps next, more whispering.

"You took Astrid from me, you took my popularity, my friends! All because you're the son of Stoick! You didn't go through what I had to get to the top and then you come around and take it from me without even blinking!" Eret yelled next.

"I didn't take those things from you, Eret. And I don't have what I do because of who my dad is." Hiccup said to him calmly.

"Yes you did! It's your fault!" Eret yelled at him. Hiccup stepped towards him and punched him right in the face, kicked the back of his head, then grabbed Eret's collar and forced him to the ground, still holding him in place there as he looked up at Hiccup with shock.

"IT'S YOUR OWN FUCKING FAULT, ERET! Everything you claim I took from you! Everything you're supposedly blaming me for, is your fault! I didn't make Astrid walk home with no jacket in her cheer leading outfit in minus 30 degree weather because I was mad about a school project pairing! I didn't accuse her of cheating! I didn't leave her alone in the worst part of town, hoping she'd get attacked and raped to be broken in for you because she refused to have sex with you! I didn't take your stupid popularity, and I didn't take your friends. They all saw what an asshole you became! That was all YOU!" Hiccup yelled at the top of his lungs angrily. No one said a word.

Eret's tried to turn his head to the side but Hiccup made him look at him again. "She's dating you! My friends went to you! And everyone wants to be your damn friend because of who you are!" Eret replied now.

"You damn idiot! I don't want the popularity! I hate it, that's why I hid it for years by using Borgeson as my last name. I know what would happen if people knew I was the son of Stoick Haddock! I still don't want any part of it and I've made that clear numerous times since everyone found out. I still don't have parties. I'm still not trying to fuck every girl who drapes themselves over my shoulder telling me how hot I suddenly am. I want no part of the lifestyle, Eret. Because the only reason everyone is claiming I'm popular is because of what I have or who I know. Not a friggin one of them wants to be near me for ME. The reason your old friends are coming to me is because you've shown them who you really are. A spoiled, jealous, insecure little boy who is mad that he can't have what he wants." Hiccup stated furiously to him. Eret didn't say anything now.

"The reason Astrid loves me is because I treat her like a woman should be treated. You treated her like an object for your amusement that broke! You hurt her, you pushed her away! Snotlout and Dagur became my friends, not because of who I was but because the genuinely saw how good of a friend I am, at the same time they proved to me they wanted a real friendship with me. Hiccup. Not Hiccup the son of Stoick! You pushed them away, Eret. I didn't take them away. You say you had to force yourself to the top? Guess what, I forced myself to stay at the bottom as a loser. I could of been on top with one phone call years ago, but I didn't want it. I'd rather be the loser of the year than be on top." Hiccup told him.

"Why?" Eret asked.

"Because I would of been miserable, heartless, cold, and a jerk like you are now. Fighting me because you think I took everything from you. But is it really my fault, Eret? That's why I didn't want it. I liked being the loser even if it meant being teased and bullied. Astrid gave me a chance and even after coming to my house and learning the truth of who my dad was...she said I was still a cool person, even without all I had. She is one of the most popular girls in school, and she chose to be my friend when we got paired for the project. Me of all people. The rest started seeing it too, that I wasn't such a bad guy and that's why we're friends. Astrid's with me, because I make her happy and I'd rather have a few good friends in my life rather than be surrounded by fake ones." Hiccup told him. "Now I will ask again. Do you yield, Eret?" Hiccup asked. Eret closed his eyes turning his head.

"I yield." Eret finally said. Astrid sighed with her friends as they smiled now. Alvin walked over with a smile as well as Hiccup let go of Eret's collar and stood up.

"I declare Hiccup Haddock the winner!" Alvin said as the crowd cheered for him. People began to come down from the bleachers to congratulate him. Astrid, Fishlegs, Snotlout, Dagur, Heather, Tuff and Ruff stood behind Hiccup now. Then Hiccup did something no one expected, he offered his hand to Eret to help him up after a minute, Eret grabbed it and Hiccup pulled him to his feet.

"I–I don't understand...When did you get so strong?" Eret asked him.

"It wasn't because of strength that I beat you, Eret. It's because of what I was fighting for. Them." Hiccup told him with a calm smile as Astrid came beside him and kissed his cheek.

"That...doesn't make sense." Eret said.

"Let me ask you something...When you were fighting me, who were you fighting for?" Hiccup asked.

"For myself...To get back what you took from me." Eret replied.

"That's the difference between us. That's why you didn't beat me. You were relying on your strength and anger to motivate you to fight me. True strength Eret, comes from those around you, from the people you care about. They are the reason I fight. You wouldn't leave them alone, it hurt them, bothered them to see what you had become. I fought you, for them. That's why I didn't ask for anything else when I beat you. Just for you to leave them be. If it were just me, I wouldn't care. I can take it but when you mess with them, I won't stand for it. That's why I fought you. There's a reason I didn't want to be popular, and I told you that. Now let me ask this..." Hiccup said as Eret looked at him. "Has being popular made you happy?" Hiccup asked him.

"No. No, it's made me miserable." Eret answered him with a look of realization in his eyes.

"This is why I stayed a loser instead of becoming popular. I knew I could but I didn't want it because I'd be miserable trying to live up to everything that everyone wanted me to be. Being the loser gave me freedom. I like being the loser, but at least I'm happy. So come on. Moment of truth or this whole thing was for nothing...Whose fault is it you're miserable?" Hiccup asked softly.

"My own...Man, I can't believe I had to get my ass kicked to realize that." Eret sighed. Hiccup put a hand on his shoulder now with a smile.

"Sometimes all we ever need is a good ass kicking to realize our own faults. It doesn't have to be this way, Eret. If you want to be happy and have real friends, join the losers." Hiccup said as a few people laughed behind him. Eret looked at Hiccup now and saw his hand being held out for a hand shake.

"Thank you, Hiccup for making me understand." Eret said with a smile as he took Hiccup's hand and they shook them. "And damn you gotta show me some of those moves!" Eret chuckled, everyone laughed now.

"Tell you want. I'll show you what I know if you agree to be my friend. But if you ever do this shit again, I won't hold back...Deal?" Hiccup grinned.

"Deal." Eret agreed nodding then stopped and looked at him quickly. "Wait a second, you were holding back!?" He asked.

"Dude, if I didn't you would be in the hospital with a full body cast. And the rules of challenges are that nothing that can result in knock out of hospitalization. Hello, son of a wrestler. Yes I could of done a lot worse than some bruises and sore body." Hiccup chuckled at him.

"Fair enough. Friends?" Eret asked with a smile.

"Friends. But you still owe them an apology." Hiccup said. Eret looked to the group of friends.

"I'm sorry for everything to all of you. Especially you, Astrid. I'm sorry for all I put your through. I let everything get to my head and I took it out on you. You didn't deserve any of it. I hope one day you can forgive me, that all of you can. I'm glad you're happy Astrid." Eret said.

"What do you think guys? Can we give him another chance?" Ruffnut asked them.

"Well, he did say he was sorry and got his ass handed to him." Dagur chuckled.

"I think he's suffered enough." Heather nodded.

"We forgive you." Astrid said with a smile.

"Thank you." Eret said.

"Okay can we please go home and order a pizza or something! I'm starved!" Astrid said to Hiccup.

"Anything you wish mi'lady." Hiccup grinned as he picked her up bridal style and kissed her deeply. "I told you I knew what I was doing." Hiccup chuckled to her.

"I'll never doubt you again babe." Astrid replied. After that they all got in their cars and went to Hiccup's. Only Fishlegs, Tuffnut, Ruffnut, Heather, Dagur, Snotlout, and Eret went and they all had a great time sitting around laughing and having fun.