Okay, so here's a chapter that is...well, just read it, you'll see.

Astrid sped toward home. The cold, icy wind had not the slightest effect on her pale skin, or at least, any effect she noticed. She had this sort of warmth which comes from embarrassment that can keep one's cheeks red for hours.

She finally made it home. There had been a large party for Hiccup; the remnants were still at Stoik's house and barely noticed that he had been missing. In fact, it was a usual occurrence at feasts or gatherings to not notice Hiccup. She slowly tiptoed in through the front door of her house, so as not to wake anyone who may have been home.

She was cold, frightened, happy, tired, and yet she could swear she felt something else. Something -

"Astrid," Came a voice from the back of the hut. It was deep and low, one she recognized as her father's.

"Father?"

She hadn't seen him in weeks. He had been completely busy with the task of finding the dragon's nest and hadn't been home at all.

"Father!" She sighed with relief and went to the back of the hut to see him. It was very dark, but he had lit a candle or two and was reading in the back corner. "I've missed you, I - "

"Astrid, what happened?"

She stopped in her tracks. "What?" She breathed softly.

"I saw your last test," He said simply.

Astrid's confusion continued. She had forgotten about her anger toward Hiccup, in favor of a more tender emotion, but she didn't think her father would be angry. For that was certainly what was in his voice.

"I fought as well as I could - "

"How could you let him take that from you?" He raged.

"Dad, I tried - "

"You can't just try!" He stood up suddenly, sending Astrid back a few paces. "The point I'm trying to make is that a Viking doesn't let someone like that take away what they've been training for - "

"Dad, Hiccup isn't - "

"Astrid Ingrid Mohrgun!" She had done it now; her father slammed his hand down on the table and put a hand over his eyes.

"Astrid," He began once his temper had cooled. "I trained you since birth. Everyone in our family at one point or another has won that match! 300 years of such a noble lineage!"

She looked at him, and didn't say a word. That was why he wanted me to win...so what, now I'm a waste of time?

Finally, she spoke. "Father, I tried my best. I did everything...Hiccup won, though. He...he's a very good fighter once - "

"Astrid, this is Hiccup you're talking about!"

"Dad, I know! Look, he's...it's just..." She couldn't understand why she was suddenly at a loss for words.

"Look, Astrid, just...I just didn't exactly enjoy seeing you disgraced today."

"Do you think I did?" It was Astrid's turn to be angry. Their family also had a tradition of anger issues along with dragon-fighting glory.

"Astrid, I'm not kidding - "

"Dad, just listen to me!" She cried. "I know I lost! But, really, you've seen the way I fight! And I get it, I should have won, but dad, it's just a title! It's something that nobody's gonna remember in three years except maybe you! But you didn't train me just so I could get a title! You trained me because you wanted me prepared!" Or so I thought...

They both stood in silence, Astrid glaring at her father, Magnus staring at the floor. She was breathing heavily. Finally, when he didn't say anything, she stormed upstairs to her bedroom and closed the old wooden door.

The unfairness of the situation surprised her. Magnus wasn't an unfair man; in fact, he was one of the more clear-sighted ones in the village. But when he got into a rage...

And that was the other thing. He never got a temper with her. He was very patient with her, he always took the time to tell her he was proud of her...what happened? Is it really her fault, had she messed up in the ring that badly?

There was a quiet knock at the door. Astrid knew it was her father; there was no one else in the house. Did she really want to speak with him?

She sighed. Of course I do. It's my father...

"Come in."

He pushed open the door. "Astrid...Astrid, you were right. I'm sorry." Her eyes widened. "Yes, yes, you were right," He continued. "I shouldn't act this way. It wasn't out of anger with you that I spoke. It was mostly surprise.

"You did fight well, I knew that. But I always thought that if you lost...that you would be angry as well. Not that you would..." He trailed off.

Astrid smiled to herself. "That I would be okay with losing to Hiccup?"

He grinned slightly and nodded. "It was very surprising the way you spoke of him. Like...like you really admired him."

Astrid shrugged. "Yeah, well...things, er, happened..."

Her father laughed and put his hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure this conversation is for your mother to handle, but here's my advice: give those boys a good run for their money. Whoever runs the longest has my blessing...and sympathy."

Astrid gave him a look that didn't last long, She cracked a smile and nodded. "Okay, dad. I'll do that."

Up next: more not-in-the-movie-ness and angst. I'm sure that's what you ALL wanted.