Heeeeelllllloooooooo! :D :D :D Hey guys! :D How've you been? :) So, unfortunately, I won't be able to do shout-outs this chapter, but NEXT CHAPTER, I promise I will! :D You all seem to be enjoying this story so much, and that makes me happy. :)

So, guys, I think I'm going to change the plotline of "Teach a Man to Fish" (see my profile for current summary). I've looked back at the stories I've done, and I realized that I did one focusing around Hiccup and Astrid, Hiccup and Ryker, Hiccup and Toothless, Hiccup and the gang, and so on and so forth, but I haven't done anything centering around Hiccup and Stoick.

(Okay, okay, so there was a lot of father/son bonding in "Tooth and Claw", but I mean an entire episode focused around Hiccup and Stoick).

And since I really want an episode in future Race to the Edge seasons that focuses on father/son bonding, it made me want to write my own take on a father/son episode.

So, let me know what you think I should do! Should "Teach a Man to Fish" focus around the gang, or Hiccup and Stoick? Let me know what you think, and I'll see you all next chapter! :D Love you! :D

The flight to Dragon's Edge was eerily quiet for the most part. Occasionally, Snotlout and Barreck would share a short conversation, and Fishlegs would try to enter in, but the moment he did, Snotlout shut himself up and refused to talk at all. When either Snotlout or Ruffnut tried to talk to Tuffnut, Tuffnut would ignore them; however, he did talk quite a bit more to Fishlegs, which was odd. Astrid and Hiccup, leading the group of sulking, fighting riders, remained silent, occasionally glancing over at each other with the same question played on their faces:

What in Thor's name was wrong with their friends?

"Dragon's Edge!" Hiccup called when the dragons broke through the clouds and shot downwards, towards their base. The black Night Terrors soared upwards to meet the other riders, flurrying around them like gigantic black snowflakes.

"Night Terrors?" said Barreck, reaching his hand out towards one of them; the Night Terror nuzzled him and swooped back towards the ground. "Incredible, aren't they?"

"They are indeed," said Hiccup, and the dragons shot onwards. Hookfang, Stormfly, Meatlug, Toothless, and Barf and Belch landed on the platform in front of the Clubhouse, and the riders dismounted. Instantly, Tuffnut turned and stomped away from Ruffnut, who followed him helplessly, and Snotlout stormed away from Fishlegs, equally angrily.

"I don't understand," Fishlegs said, "why would Snotlout be angry with me? I didn't do anything."

"I know you didn't, Fishlegs," said Hiccup, "but...I don't know…"

They missed Barreck's small smirk.

…

Astrid threw her axe at a target in the training arena, and the axe embedded perfectly in the center of the target. Stormfly, who was watching nearby, chirped in congratulations.

"Thanks, Stormfly," said Astrid, hurrying forward, grabbing her axe handle, and yanking it back towards her. "Throw the target for me, would you, girl?"

Stormfly growled her agreement and leapt into the arena. She grabbed the nearest target in her white teeth and waited for Astrid to take aim. As soon as Astrid raised her axe, poising to throw it, Stormfly twisted her neck and threw the target straight across the arena.

Astrid took aim, paused for just a moment, and threw the axe. The target was slammed against the ground, Astrid's axe protruding from its center.

"Yes!" Astrid cheered, heading over. With one foot keeping the target on the ground, she yanked her axe from the wood and slung it over her shoulder.

Barreck was watching her progress from above, right outside fhe arena, and after a moment of contrmplation, he leapt down into it. Astrid whirled around to see who had arrived.

"Hello, Astrid," said Barreck.

"Hello, Barreck," said Astrid. "Stormfly and I were just touching up some moves. We're going to be at our best if we want to plan an attack on the dragon hunter base."

"Agreed," said Barreck, nodding. "You have very good form, Astrid. How long have you practiced with an axe?"

"Since I was little," said Astrid casually.

"Well, it definitely shows," said Barreck, nodding. "I'm sure you can hit anything you aim at, even with your eyes closed."

Astrid turned to him, frowning. "What do you want?" she finally asked. "Why are you here?"

"I am simply finding my way around," said Barreck, "taking a tour. I heard you shouting commands to your dragon and was intrigued."

"Alright," said Astrid. "We're planning on attacking Ryker's base within the week. If we can formulate a plan in time, of course."

"Of course," said Barreck in agreement. "I have no doubt that you will."

Astrid raised her axe again, aiming for another target on the wall. The sun caught on the amber charm of Astrid's necklace, and Bareck looked at it, silently pondering.

"Your necklace is very beautiful," he said, nodding towards it, just as Astrid was about to release the axe. Astrid paused in her mid-throw and looked down at the necklace strung around her neck.

"Oh...thanks," she said. "Hiccup made it for me a few months ago as a promise." She threw the axe, embedding it in a target nearby. "A promise that he'd always be there for me."

"You and Hiccup are...close, are you not?" said Barreck.

"Well...yes, we are," said Astrid, turning and yanking her weapon from the target it was embedded in. "What does it matter to you?"

"Well," said Barreck, "relationships in your line of work can be dangerous, Astrid."

"Oh, right," said Astrid, nodding. "Sure. Listen, Barreck, you seem like a nice guy, and I'm sure you're only trying to help, but honestly, it's none of your business."

"I am only stating the obvious," said Barreck. "You cannot deny the danger that comes with having someone close to you within enemy reach."

Astrid thought back. A million things shot through her mind; all the dangers she and the others went through for the sake of each other. "I know you're trying to help," said Astrid, "and I know you're probably only telling me this, because your best friend was just taken by the dragon hunters…"

Barreck looked down.

"...but I'll make sure we're careful," said Astrid.

"You do that," said Barreck, nodding. "I am glad we had this chat, Astrid. I shall see you soon."

And he turned and left, just like that. Astrid slipped her axe into its sheath strapped to her back, watching him leave with slight confusion.

"Okay," she said, "that was kinda...weird."

Stormfly stepped up behind her, a target in her mouth, growling in agreement.

"Come on," said Astrid, taking the target from her dragon's mouth and casting it aside before mounting her. "To the Clubhouse!"

Stormfly spread her wings and launched herself into the clear blue sky, flying towards her assigned destination.

…

"It doesn't make any sense," Fishlegs fretted, pacing the floor of the Clubhouse. "I don't know why Snotlout would be mad at me. I can't think of anything I did to make him angry with me…"

Hiccup, sitting at the round table in the center of the Clubhouse, looked up from his book. "Fishlegs."

"I mean," said Fishlegs, "we joke around and shove each other all the time, and it's never bothered Snotlout before! I'm not treating him in a new way, or anything!"

"Fishlegs-"

"Maybe he's decided he hates me! What can I do to that? I didn't do anything wrong!"

"FISHLEGS!" Hiccup finally shouted, and Fishlegs stopped pacing.

"What!?" Fishlegs cried.

Hiccup nodded. "The floor," he said.

Fishlegs looked down; the wooden floorboard he had been pacing on was nearly cracked. "Oh," he said quietly, and instantly stepped off the board.

"Look, Fishlegs," said Hiccup, shutting his book and setting it on the table, "if you want to pace, you can go to the lake. We need a moat dug there, anyway."

"This isn't funny, Hiccup!" Fishlegs said desperately. He dropped himself into the chair across from where Hiccup was sitting and put his head in his hands. "I don't know what to do!"

"I know, Fishlegs," Hiccup said, folding his hands, "but honestly, it's impossible to know just what in Thor's name's going through Snotlout's mind. I'm sure he's just upset about something else and is taking it out on you."

"Are you sure?" Fishlegs asked uncertainly, raising his head. "He seemed pretty mad…"

"I can talk to him later if you're worried about it," said Hiccup, "but honestly, I don't think you need to worry about it. Snotlout's just kind of...a loose canon, if you ask me. I would know. He's my cousin, after all."

"Right…" said Fishlegs. "Right, you're right...you usually are…"

"Always a tone of surprise."

"Well, thanks, Hiccup," said Fishlegs, standing. "It makes me feel a little better."

"Yeah, you bet," said Hiccup, "and I'll talk to Snotlout later anyways. I'm as shocked by him right now as you are."

"Thank you," said Fishlegs. "Well, I'm going to go make sure the Night Terrors are still patrolling, and I'll see you later!"

He hurried towards the door, nearly crashing into Astrid on his way out. "Oh, sorry, Astrid!" he said quickly, and he headed out of the Clubhouse.

"Astrid!" Hiccup called. "How'd the training go?"

"Uneventful," said Astrid. "Hiccup, I need to talk to you."

"Sure," said Hiccup. "What about?"

Astrid took in a deep breath and sat down on the chair Fishlegs had occupied moments before. "It's about Barreck," she said.

Hiccup frowned. "Barreck," he repeated.

"Yes, Barreck," said Astrid. "He was showing himself around the Edge earlier. He came to the arena when Stormfly and I were practicing."

"Sounds okay so far," said Hiccup. "Keep going."

"He didn't exactly do anything wrong," said Astrid. "He was just talking...weird. And the look in his eyes was just...Hiccup, I don't think we should trust him," she finally said. "His story about being Alvin's son, I mean...it's not exactly believable. Even Stoick said he didn't know Alvin had a son, and Stoick knew Alvin his whole life."

"It's definitely a likely story," said Hiccup, "but I don't understand why he would lie about it. I'm with you, Astrid, and I don't think we should trust anyone blindly, but...it's hard to say at this point."

Astrid sighed. "I know," she said, "but I'm just worried...remember Heather? Back when she was working with the Outcasts, back when they were still our enemies? It nearly cost us our lives when we didn't keep a better eye on her."

"Which is why," said Hiccup, "we're not going to not keep a better eye on Barrack.

"So, what are we going to do?" said Astrid.

"We'll watch him," said Hiccup. "If it looks like he's trying to betray us, we'll have to take it from there. But if it doesn't, and he proves loyal, well, who knows."

Astrid nodded and rose from her seat. "Alright," she said, "that sounds like a plan. Thanks for listening."

"No problem," said Hiccup.

"And speaking of plans," said Astrid, "how's the attack on the dragon hunter's base coming?"

At this, Hiccup groaned and dropped his head against the table. "My brain is fried," he said. "I've managed to get part of a map of their base charted down, but I'm not so sure where to go from there. We've never actually seen Ryker's prison cells. We have no idea where he's keeping the Dragon Eye, or Barreck's friend."

"You'll think of something, Hiccup," said Astrid. "You always do. And of course, you have me if you ever need any help."

Hiccup lifted his head and smiled faintly at her. "Thanks," he said. "I'm sure we'll think of something."