Astrid was wandering through the streets of Berk, thinking. She and Hiccup were teaching an A-Team dragon workshop, and Odin only knew how much they needed it. Hiccup had told her the subject was loyalty.
The original riders were amazingly devoted to each other, even if they didn't always show it. As a matter of fact, Hiccup had once taken them to a cliff when they were eighteen and told them to jump off. While Fishlegs had been scared and hesitant, they had each done it without question, beginning with Astrid. (obviously, the dragons had caught them, but at the time the riders had thought that the dragons were off on some errand)
The A-Team wasn't like that. The original riders had been in so many life-or-death situations together, they could practically function as one. The most dangerous thing the A-Team had ever done was face a Skrill. They had been taken out in thirty seconds. On the other hand, the original riders had kicked the Skrill's butt twice.
There was no question which team was superior. The original riders had more experience, more skills, and their ages were closer together, but the A-Team should be making better progress than this.
The last drill Astrid had watched had been painful to look at. Gothi had crashed into Spitelout, who crashed into Bucket and Mulch, sending them crashing into the fish basin. Gothi and Spitelout had broken right through Hiccup's roof. The young chief had been livid. The Twins hadn't helped by commenting that the "smashed" look was in this year. Gustav hadn't helped matters either. He just sat there and yelled orders.
Hence the teamwork and loyalty lesson. Thor knew they needed it. Hiccup had added Eret to the A-Team. Gustav was leader, but Eret was obedient and mature. He would definitely help the team.
Astrid hated to admit it, but she wasn't succeeding. The A-Team was failing miserably. The original riders had met loads of bumps in the road, but any fights were promptly broken up by Hiccup.
The fact was, Gustav wasn't ready. He wasn't mature enough. Astrid was so glad she was just helping with the lesson, not teaching it.
Poor Hiccup. As if he didn't have enough on his plate. As Astrid stood in front of her house, she remembered another night.
It had been long ago, two years ago. She had felt the same sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, the sting of failure. That day was the day Astrid's house had burned down. Her childhood home- gone. Astrid was eternally grateful that her parents hadn't been home when Dagur attacked, but it still felt…
Wrong. Astrid was the strong one, the protector. She wasn't supposed to worry about the village or the A-Team. That was Stoick's… Er…. Hiccup's job. A heavy weight settled on Astrid's shoulders. She would be the chief's wife soon.
Astrid shook her head angrily. She was a warrior. Warriors didn't worry about responsibility. Good Thor, Astrid was going to marry Hiccup, and she'd be the best chief's wife there ever was.
Because Astrid was good at everything.
A/N: There shall be a part 2, with lots of ticked off Hiccup!