I DID IT. I ACTUALLY LIVED UP TO MY GOAL OF POSTING EVERY 2 DAYS. YESSSS! *fist bumps you guys*
Before I get started, I need to clear up a HUGE miscommunication from last chapter...
I never said I would stop writing this, guys! Nor did I ask—or beg—you guys for reviews. A lot of you seemed to think that's what I was asking—it wasn't.
See, by nature, I am an anxious person. Whenever I saw that the reviews were going down by each chapter, I panicked, thinking, I must be doing something wrong if they're reviewing less and less. So I hastily wrote that author's note before I posted.
Unless I have a very good reason, or inspiration just stops flowing, I won't stop writing these one-shots! Don't worry. Sorry to have freaked out on you all.
Now that that's cleared up (SO SORRY FOR THE MISCOMMUNICATION), your chapter:
Strategic Battle Planning: "Um... I think they need to discuss some final strategy. Alone." In the middle of Shell-Shocked Part 2, Astrid and Hiccup try and review the plan for the battle, but are obviously just enjoying the alone time together.
Requested byyyyyyy... Guest! Nice idea! It was fun to write!
This will be shorter than usual, as I have the luck of having both a doctor and an orthodontist appointment on the same day. I'm simply squeezing this in. In fact, I wrote this at my doctor appointment. :D
Anyways... ENJOY, AS ALWAYS!
Strategic Battle Planning
To be fair, they were trying to focus.
But it was entirely impossible to get work done this time.
It was nearly the middle of the night, yet Hiccup and Astrid were still up and wide awake. They were trying to discuss some 'final battle strategy,' but spectacularly failing. Every time their eyes met... well, it was hard to discuss something as bloody as war while staring into those beautiful blue eyes. More specifically, Astrid's beautiful blue eyes.
Hiccup snapped himself out of staring the third time it happened. He needed to focus. If he didn't make sure that the Riders were going to win the battle, then he wouldn't be sure if Astrid would be safe. And though he didn't value her life above the other Riders (they were all equal in his eyes... or should've been), he certainly didn't want her to get hurt. He didn't want any of them to get hurt. Gods, it was hard to explain…
"Hiccup?" said Astrid, seeing his distress. "Everything okay?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah, yeah, everything's fine..."
Hiccup turned back to the 3D map table. "Alright... so... battle strategy. Right. Okay... Let's finish this up."
He searched the board. He saw little Dragon Hunter ships, then the Riders' dragons clumped together near them. Hiccup and Astrid needed to figure out where everyone would attack. Who came from above? Who came from the side? There were many variables in it—such as whose dragon would be better a stealth, flying, skimming, etc. All of the Riders already knew their original positions, but Hiccup wanted to double-check that they were all correct. He couldn't afford a mistake on his part. He had already done himself and Astrid.
"Okay, let's think this through," said Hiccup. "Alright. So Fishlegs will be on the Edge to protect the Eruptadon baby, right?"
"Uh-huh."
"And the rest of us will prepare for the Shellfire's initial attack... nailing in a sort of armor to the Edge so our huts aren't destroyed..."
"That sounds right."
"Okay. And then, after, we need to go out and slow them down. It's all we can do. We can't stop them without reinforcements, but we can delay their arrival to give us time to prepare. However, we'll need someone to guard Viggo... forgot about that..." Hiccup chewed on his lip, looking through the remaining Riders. He certainly couldn't stay behind and babysit his sworn nemesis. He had a battle to lead. He didn't think Astrid would want to stay behind—she was all about fighting. Ruffnut and Tuffnut... he didn't think that they should be in charge of watching an enemy. They would probably release him or something, or nearly kill him. Dagur had already volunteered to protect the border of the Edge, so that left Snotlout and Heather open to the choice.
"Heather can do it," Hiccup decided. He picked up the little piece of the Razorwhip and moved it back to the Edge. "We both know that she won't release Viggo. She'll know what to do. And she can defend against an attack in case the Hunters get through." It made perfect sense in Hiccup's mind. "And Snotlout... he can be with us, like we had originally planned. Hookfang's stealth can help out if we—"
Astrid cut him off by shaking her head. "No." She gently tugged the Razorwhip from Hiccup's hand, then put her at the side of the ships with Hiccup and Astrid, who would lead their first attack on the Shellfire. "Windshear's razor-sharp tail can cut down those ships faster than fire can burn them down. She'll be more useful in battle than at the Edge waiting idle. Meanwhile, Snotlout can guard Viggo, as he's been doing. Hopefully, the muttonhead won't mess everything up... he somehow always manages to..."
Hiccup's brow creased in thought as he ran through the attack in his head. He was surprised. It would work, if it all played out correctly, like it did in his mind
He grinned at Astrid, meeting her eyes. "That's genius, Astrid. Thanks."
"Of course." She smiled back. "It's a team effort."
They stared at each other for a long, long time, wearing dopey grins and unable to tear their eyes away.
Finally, Hiccup gave a nervous chuckle, and Astrid did the same a moment later. Astrid broke the eye contact first this time.
"Alright." Hiccup looked down at the remaining Riders. Ruffnut and Tuffnut. "And Ruff and Tuff can be the ones to stay behind and guard the Edge with Dagur. The Edge is invaluable. It's the only stop between the Shellfire... and Berk..." His brown knit and his jaw clenched at the name of his village. He hated knowing that it was in danger. It was where he had grown up. Where he had met Toothless... Astrid... started the Dragon Academy... everything. And he would become chief there someday.
Astrid suddenly noticed how tense he was. "Hiccup... I'm sure everything will work out in the end. We'll stop the Shellfire before it gets to Berk." She reached out over the map and touched Hiccup's shoulder. "We will."
Hiccup's form relaxed at her touch, and he looked up. "I... I know that we can. But looking at it all..." He gestured to all of the Hunters' ships. So, so many of them. The Riders were badly outnumbered. "It's seems so... impossible to do."
"Hiccup! You're you. You're known for doing the impossible," chuckled Astrid. "Four or five years ago, I would've said it was impossible to ride a dragon. And look at us now! Risking our very lives to defend them! No, Hiccup. Nothing's impossible. Just.. Improbable."
Hiccup allowed a faint smirk. "Yeah, you're right... but I... Astrid..." He struggled for the right words. "These next few days are going to be some of the biggest in our lives," he finally said. "War will continue to rage. Danger will grow. And I... I don't want to lose you. I can't lose you. Especially not right after we started... well... us."
"You won't. And I..." Astrid glanced down, then back up again. "I don't want to lose you, either."
Their eyes connected once again. Hiccup so badly wanted to lean forward and kiss her... but... but... he couldn't get distracted... he had to be clear. Focused. Decisive. No matter how much it hurt. But... what if he lost her tomorrow? Did he really want to spend their last night together ignoring her affection? Trying to block away his enjoyment of their alone time together? No. He didn't.
"So..." He cleared his throat. He wanted to say something romantic or something, but couldn't quite come up with anything…
Astrid tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "So..."
"Strategic battle planning," he blurted out. Wow, that's a very romantic topic, he thought sarcastically. "Alright. Um... almost done, just a few more things to clear up."
Hiccup looked over the board again. "We're done with reviewing our first attack and how that will go. Now we need to discuss what to do if it all goes wrong." He sighed. "I hope it doesn't go wrong. But a leader must always face that inevitable possibility…
"If something goes wrong," he continued, "no matter what, we have to still defend the Edge. Even if one of us is hurt..." His voice cracked. "...o-or worse, we have to keep fighting."
"I agree," said Astrid. "However, if, in the case, one of us is wounded—badly, though, not a small burn or scratch-, Heather will have to stay behind on the Edge and look after the injured person. She's our best healer. But, that'll bring us down two Riders. The Hunters will've hit two birds with one stone."
Hiccup swallowed. "Yeah. But, Astrid... if I'm the one hurt, or... in an unresponsive state, you guys still have to hit the Dragon Hunters with everything in you." He stared into Astrid's eyes, completely serious. "Don't stop to grieve. You all have to protect the Edge. For Berk. For the whole archipelago."
Astrid took in a sharp breath. "But you won't get hurt, Hiccup. You won't. Even though you're a trouble magnet, a-and Ryker's got it in for you, you're going to be fine. I'll make sure of it." She pounded her fist in emphasis.
Hiccup smiled at her stubbornness. She could always bring him out of his dark moods. "Oh, I bet you will..." He looked back down at the board. "After the first attack—assuming we're triumphant—we need a place to hit next. Now where should that be...?" He moved his finger down to the map, searching. But Astrid had the same idea and placed her own hand on the board, as well. As they dragged their fingers to their chosen spots, their fingers brushed each other, and they both stopped.
Each laughed at the outcome. Astrid began to remove her hand, but Hiccup grabbed it and squeezed it tight.
Astrid looked up, blowing her bangs away. Hiccup was grinning at her.
"What?" she said curiously.
Hiccup moved her hand up to his chest, just over his thumping heart. "Do you feel that?"
Astrid squinted, her own heart fluttering at his touch. "Yes. It's your heart."
"Correct," smiled Hiccup. "And as long as it beats, I am yours. Whatever happens tomorrow will happen. But I want you to know that I... I love you, Astrid. And I always have. I've wanted to tell you that for so long, and now... before anything else happens..." He ducked forward and kissed her on her cheek. "I want you to know how I feel about you."
Astrid's eyes shone. "Hiccup... I... I love you, too. In so many ways. You're my best friend, my leader, my—my boyfriend. And you've always stayed by me. So thank you." She smirked. "I'd hug you if you weren't standing on the other side of the table."
Hiccup, without releasing her hand, walked around the table and came over to Astrid. "What do you mean, other side of the table?"
Astrid laughed as he enveloped her in a hearty hug. She fell into him, nestling her chin on his shoulder. At peace, she closed her eyes, smiling blissfully.
Hiccup didn't know what exactly would happen tomorrow. He had tried to plan it all out, but the thing was, it wouldn't go exactly as planned. Not with Viggo in the mix.
Hiccup knew one thing, though. Astrid would be there for him no matter what. Whatever they decided to do, they would do it hand in hand. Side by side.
Together. For always.
And whatever happened tomorrow... well... that could wait for tomorrow!
Right now, Hiccup was just going to plan for today.
Special thanks toooo...
thepurplewriter333, FanWriter02, harrypanther, Hiccstridlover13, SunshineGirl14, Chibibread, katurdi, Fantasygirl1329, DragonRider015, Guest #1(it's okay, I know you weren't complaining!), Poop (Guest #2), phieillydinyia, icy-rain499, imagination-running, aannnnndddddd DragonGirl310! SO MANY REVIEWS THIS WEEK THAT MADE MY HEART SIMPLY FLY! THANK YOU, EVERYONE! :D :D
Thanks for reading! I'll hopefully post on Friday, but again, no promises! ;-)