Astrid was walking around Berk. She looked at everyone working to break ice spikes from Drago's Bewilderbeast. But beside that, everyone was getting their life back. Although there were new faces among the people.
Hazel and Eret that were trappers but now dragon riders. They got trusted by Hiccup pretty quickly and they seemed really nice too. And there was also Valka, Hiccup's mom, and Meg. Her friend and now Hiccup's twin sister.
Astrid wasn't really that shocked when she found out.
Back at the Edge, they were really acting as siblings and they were also a looot look a like, physically and mentally. She was even relieved it was true. Their relationship was too strong just too be friends. And the fact that they were related with Valka, also explained where their love for dragons first started with.
Astrid sighed and went to sit on a random bench standing by a house. She sat and breathed. She felt a bit... apart now. Everyone had someone to talk to or to catch up with. But not her. So she just watched, on her corner.
-"Hey Astrid!"
Astrid jumped and looked for the dear person that just scared her.
-"Meg! God, don't scare me like that.", Astrid put a hand on her racing heart.
Meg chuckled and sat beside her.
-"So, this is what Berk really looks like.", Meg said watching the buildings and the in progress statue on Stoick.
-"Well, if you ignore the mess caused by Drago, yeah, this is pretty much Berk.", Astrid scoffed, "But you already came here right?", she wondered.
-"Well, I don't think landing on a cliff and flying just above the village counts. I mean, I never really got inside the village, see what a "human"'s life really looks like.", Meg explained.
-"Oh yeah, true.", Astrid hummed.
Meg turned to look at the blond haired girl and saw something wasn't right.
-"Hey, everything's okay?", Meg asked.
-"Yeah Yeah. Just, a bit tired. All these past hours were intense.", Astrid chuckled nervously.
-"Tell me about it. Yesterday I had only a mom and a cave as a room, and now I have a dead father and a twin brother with my own house. This is crazy.", Meg laughed.
Astrid joined her amusement. But Meg felt it was forced.
-"Astrid? Hey. What's wrong?"
-"Nothing, really."
-"Astrid.", Meg warned.
-"Meg. I'm fine, I promise.", Astrid smiled.
-"Did someone hurt you? Is Stormfly okay? Are your parents okay?", Meg kept asking.
-"Meg, everyone is fine. Stop worrying.", Astrid smiled at her worry.
-"Hey, you're my friend. And your behavior is worrying me.", Meg said seriously.
Astrid just sighed.
-"Did my brother- wow it feels weird to say that!", Meg interrupted her own self.
Astrid couldn't help laughing, which made Meg a bit relieved, but she kept going with her question.
-"Did my brother said something to you? Did he hurt you? If so, I'm gonna tell him that's not the right way to treat his girlfriend, he should-"
-"We are not together anymore."
Meg stopped and blinked.
-"Whut?"
-"We are not dating. It's.. we broke up.", Astrid played with her fingers.
Meg gasped and sat closer to Astrid.
-What the- What happened?!"
-"Well, he just happen to date the wrong person. He loves Ana. And it's okay. They are friends since so long so it's only normal. Beside they are really happy together, that's all that matters.", Astrid smiled, a bit too sadly for Meg's taste.
Meg sighed. That was why it was Ana that stayed the entire time next to Hiccup when their dad died. Meg didn't really know Ana that well yet. But she really seemed like a kind and sweet person and Hiccup did look like he was the happiest by her side.
She turned her focus back on Astrid and put a gentle hand on her shoulder.
-"How did you feel about it?"
-"I was surprised, angry but mostly sad but I accepted. I couldn't keep him if he didn't feel the same. It's wasn't fair for anyone. I guess that's part of the life.", Astrid shrugged.
-"You still love him?", Meg finally asked.
Astrid didn't answer. Her throat tightened and she just stared at the ground. Did she still love Hiccup? Probably. Did she move on? She didn't really know. But did she accept it? Yes. Ana was really nice, and also so beautiful. She wasn't mad at her. Not at all. She was more mad at her own self, for not being good enough. Not for Hiccup, not for her friends or even for Berk.
-"Astrid?"
She jumped on her sit, Meg's voice waking her up. She looked at her and saw her face torn in worry. Then she felt something wet on her face.
She was crying.
Why bother hiding it now? She let herself broke down and kept rubbing her tears with her gloves. She felt Meg putting her arms around her and she shook.
-"It's hard. So hard. I keep telling myself that it's okay but it's not. I... I'm not good enough. I mean I could have caused the end of Berk if Ana didn't speak up. I'm the worst when it comes to being nice with my own friends. I.. I'm not even worthy to being loved. I can't shake my feelings for Hiccup. And probably will never. And it hurts. It hurts so much to realize I can't have him anymore. I'm... I don't know..", she cried, surprisingly calmly, but she sobbed hard.
-"Hey. It's okay. Hey, look at me.", Meg turned Astrid's head to face her, "Don't say you're not worthy because it's NOT true. You are an amazing warrior. Probably the best at it. I saw you putting your sweat just for Berk. I don't think you're mean with your friends, you're just being you. Changing just to please them is not right. It's the people that appreciate your flaws and accept them that can be considered your real friends. I personally think you as my best friend.", Meg winked.
-"R-really?", Astrid gasped.
-"Hmhm. Since Aby is gone I uh.. kinda felt alone to be honest. Thank Thor Luna was here. But back then, you're the one that I was closer too if it wasn't Aby. I'm never gonna forget her, but I'm sure she will be happy to know that I call you my best friend from now on.", Meg smiled.
Astrid chuckled and sniffed.
-"As for Hiccup, I'm sorry I'm not good with those type of things but for me, I think it's only good if you try to move on but at your own rhythm. I know it might be hard but it's true that he's really happy with Ana, I felt it. And even if I really liked you both together, I don't want to interfere and want him to stay with her.", Astrid sighed and swallowed, Meg continued, "But Astrid, you'll also find your one and only true love. I'm sure of that. You have amazing qualities like being proud, caring, fierce and you are also very sweet when you want. And girl, you're gorgeous! Don't think you're not cause I'll hunt you down.", Meg warned.
Astrid couldn't help but laugh.
-"Just, don't give up. Life is unfair, it's not a secret for anyone. But it's also full of surprises, and who knows, maybe you'll find love in a year or so.", Meg shrugged.
-"Yeah right.", Astrid rolled her eyes playfully.
Both girls laughed.
-"Thank you Meg. Really. I needed this.", Astrid wiped her last tears.
-"Needed a best friend?", Meg grinned.
-"Yes.", Astrid smiled.
They leaned into a tight hug.
-"And here I'll stay. Always by your side.", Meg whispered.
Astrid smiled into her shoulder and swallowed her sob. Meg broke the hug slowly and gestured to her dragon.
-"Let's go flying now, Luna's wings are itching and I still need a tour of the island.", Meg explained.
-"Yes! Let's go.", Astrid stood up with her.
They both walked toward Stormfly and Luna who were chasing each other and stopped when they saw their riders.
-"Like the hair by the way.", Astrid said while climbing on her Nadder.
-"Oh really? Needed a change. And it was getting in the way, short hair is definitely better.", Meg shook her fresh cut hair once on the white dragon, "Shall we?"
-"We shall.", Astrid smiled.
They both took off in the sky and started racing.
Everything will be okay now. Astrid had Meg.
And she couldn't ask for a better support. Mostly for a better friend.
••••••••
-"Babe, isn't that Astrid with your sister?", Ana asked, joining Hiccup's side.
-"Yeah it is.", Hiccup smiled.
The couple watched the girls in the air flying around fast.
-"I'm happy for Astrid. She finally has a friend.", Ana said, wrapping her arms around Hiccup's arm.
-"Yeah. Me too.", Hiccup smiled, "Meg is definitely the right friend for her."
-"She is.", Ana smiled, but hide a small sadness, which Hiccup of course noticed.
-"What's wrong babe?", he asked.
-"Nothing it's just, I still feel guilty. Astrid probably was heartbroken and maybe she still is. And now, what if your sister doesn't like me-"
-"Ana. Hey. It's not your fault. We can't control our feelings. And if it's someone's fault, it should be mine. I should have realize sooner my feelings for you, I wouldn't have hurt Astrid that way.", Hiccup took her by the shoulders, "As for my sister, I'm pretty sure she likes you. She's new as the all open feelings but she has a sweet heart, I know it. She's my sister after all.. my sister.. wow, it's weird now saying this.", Hiccup raised an eyebrow at his own word.
Ana couldn't help but laugh.
-"I think it's great. Your family is bigger now.", Ana kissed his cheek.
-"Yup. Even if my dad isn't really there, I know he still living among us, through the village spirit. And I have you too.", he leaned to kiss her lips fondly.
-"Maww, you big fluffy ball.", Ana grinned.
They kissed tenderly, under the flapping wings of the two new best friends flying above them.