Disclaimer: I own How to Train Your Dragon and Brave in my craziest and wildest dreams.

This chapter is dedicated to Lostblueheart16. She is my first sort of friend in here. Hello girl, this is the third chapter you are asking me.

Chapter 3: The Dragon and his Rider

There was one place Merida had an idea where Hiccup might be. Years ago when Hiccup still used to visit her, he always come in DunBroch by a boat. Technically he rode his dragon on his way here, but he always left Toothless in an island a mile or two away from the mainland and arrived in the dock by an old boat. So, maybe there was a chance that he might be still there.

Running towards the stable as fast as she can, Merida was already thinking of what she would do with Hiccup if she saw him. They were best friends for more than a decade, thirteen years to be exact but there were still times that she cannot read or understand him at all. This one was a good example. She couldn't really understand why he had a month to make her a bow, one that she didn't really request him to make, but he didn't have a second to spare to see her or gave it to her personally.

Shaking her head, she entered Angus stall and hastily put on the horse's saddle and reins. Climbing up quickly at the animal, she gently patted and coaxed it to run as fast as he can.

"Come on Angus, I need you to run as fast as you can for me." she said as she leaned down toward the horse and reached for his reins.

Angus neighed and raised his front leg in response. Laughing, Merida smoothed down the Clydesdale's black mane.

"Let's go Angus. We have a Viking to track down."

The ride towards the dock was a short one, with Angus galloping around like a half mad horse and Merida urging him on, they made it there in couple of minutes.

Hopping down from Angus' back, she gave him some carrots that she quickly grabbed from the stable and patted him in the head. She then turn around and walked down towards the dock, hoping that she had made it in time.

Merida wad searching for Hiccup or his boat when an old man approached her.

"Good morning, your highness," an old and thin fisher man greeted her. He was carrying a pail full of fish on his right hand and a fishing rod on the other one.

Merida gave a polite nod to the old man. She hated it when her people called her like that, but she knew that arguing with them was pointless. So she just let it go.

"It's a good day for fishing. Are you in here to fish? Well it seems you didn't bring anything. I can lend you my fishing rod. It's really nothing to look at but you can at least catch a fish with this," the old man said he sat his pail of fish down. He then removed his straw hat and clutched it on front of him.

Merida let out a small smile. Did she really look like she's here to fish?

"Oh no, I'm not going to go fish today. I'm actually looking for a guy," she said as she looked around, trying to spot Hiccup's boat.

"A guy?" the man asked with a teasing lilt in his voice.

Merida frowned and she shook her head frantically. That was also one thing that annoyed her. She didn't mean it like that and Hiccup was only a friend, nothing more. Were girls forbidden to have a guy friend?

"It's not like that. I'm looking for a friend of mine," she defended herself as she pushed back her hair away from her face.

"Oh, you might saw him. Did you see anyone with auburn hair and green eyes?" she added as she continued to look around.

The old man gave a hearty laugh at the princess's expression. He then mumbled something that suspiciously sounds like 'Oh, young love.' that the princess ignored.

"He definitely sounds to be a charming young man to me but alas, I didn't find anyone in here expect from you and I," the old man answered, he then gestured around the empty dock.

"I've been here for almost four hours and I didn't saw anyone going in here."

Merida felt her face fell, she mutter a goodbye to the fisherman and climbed up on Angus. It looked like Hiccup already left.

After knowing that Hiccup was not in the dock like she expected. She let Angus walked her down toward the forest and she sticked to her original plan this morning.

Merida was deep in thought. She was more hurt than annoyed by Hiccup. If she had her say on it, it looked like Hiccup was avoiding seeing her. Sighing, she looked down at her bow and trace her name.

The letters were still constant and they were never late or anything like that, but Hiccup didn't visit her anymore. Actually, he stopped visiting her four years ago.

Biting down at her lip, she knew that he had his own reasons. She had an idea that he became busy even before he became the Chief of Berk. And it's not like DunBroch was only an hour ride from Berk. It takes five days by boat in a good weather and almost a whole day if you where riding a dragon.

But leaving a gift and not giving it personally to her? She was sure that he was avoiding her.

But maybe he's just busy and he couldn't spare another minute or two to give it to her.

She then frowned at the idea. He already wasted almost three days from going here in DunBroch. As if a couple of minutes to stop by and said hello will hardly make any difference.

Hearing the rustling sound of the river, she realized that they were already deep inside the forest. Grabbing her new bow, she looked around for a target to burn out her frustration. If she didn't shot anything now she would lose her mind.

She was surveying the forest for any challenging target when a glint of metal was caught by the corner of her eyes. She was about to dismiss it when the glint move its angle. Narrowing her eyes, she turned around to inspect the annoying gleam and imagine her surprise when she saw him.

Hiccup was casually leaning in a tree and eating an apple. He was looking at the river and he seemed to not realize that she was there.

Grinning like mad woman, she carefully climbed down Angus. She avoided making any noise than can distract him. Getting one of her arrows, she notched it up in her new bow. It's time to test if her new bow works well or not.

Pulling the string as far as she could, she let the arrow fly and pierced the still air. Hiccup wouldn't know what hit him.

He was already hungry and he didn't have a clue where Toothless was. After getting in the kingdom and dropping his gift for Merida, they fly towards the forest to rest. Yawning he stretched his arms over his head, he was still exhausted and hungry.

He looked around again for Toothless. Sighing, he shook his head maybe Toothless just wandered off to catch some fish. He was hoping that he wouldn't do anything to get them both in trouble.

Shaking his head, he realized that it was the first time that he brought Toothless in DunBroch. Well, he always rode him when he was going in here but he left him in an inhabited island mile away from here to avoid any trouble. Only the royal family knew about the dragons and no one, even Merida, had a chance to meet Toothless which was fine with him.

Getting his sack and rummaging for anything edible, he found a day old apple. Leaning on one of the trees that line up the forest, he was sure that Merida already got his gift.

Chuckling and taking a bit from his apple, he was sure that she was tracking him down now. He was certain that she will be angry with him and if she found him, he didn't know what the red head will do to him. Maybe she will hit him in the head and scold him. Smiling to himself, he thought that she might do something more drastic than that. She's Merida after all.

His train of thoughts was then interrupted when he heard a sound of an arrow hitting a tree. Looking down he saw the lower left of his trousers where pierced by an arrow. An arrow that suspiciously looked familiar. Raising his head he looked up to see an approaching glaring red haired princess.

He nervously gulped and flinched when he saw her expression. He was in deep trouble now. He must go back in Berk when he had his time and not linger around.

"Uh, Happy birthday Merida," he mumbled as he clumsily bent down and tugged at the arrow. He was avoiding looking at her eyes.

"Yeah, happy birthday indeed," she said as she finally reached his spot. She put her hands in her hips and looked down at Hiccup. He seemed to look a little different than what she remembered. He now sported two little braids at the back of his head which surprisingly suited him.

Hiccup was still pulling at the arrow with his left hand as his right still held his apple. He forgot how strong Merida was. The arrow didn't like to be plucked out and it was still deeply embedded in the tree behind him. After giving it a final tug it finally let go. Standing back straighter he looked at her.

She was glaring hard at him and if looks can kill he was sure he was already dead. Giving her a crooked smile he handed her the arrow.

"Nice shot," he commented as he watched her take the arrow from his hand. Merida glared at him and hitted him hard with the said arrow.

"Ouch!" he yelped as he covered his arms as Merida rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, I am already planning to shot an inch away from your ears but I might accidentally kill you so I shot down there," she said as she still observed him with narrowed eyes while putting the arrow in her quiver. She had to tilt her head a little bit to look at him in the eyes. She couldn't believe that he was this tall now.

"Okay, alright, I'm sorry Merida. I really plan to give my gift to you but I then thought it's not a good idea so I don't," Hiccup explained himself. He didn't want her to be angry with him.

Merida just rolled her eyes at him and snatched the apple he was holding. Taking a bit in it, she raised her right brow signaling him to continue.

Hiccup shrugged his shoulder. He could at least stand this version of Merida.

"I don't go-"

"Neigh!"

Hiccup was interrupted as a huge black horse started to run towards them. By the looks of it the horse was scared and panicking. Looking at Merida, she seemed to be surprised too.

"Calm down Angus, what's wrong?"She said as she held the panicking Clydesdale's rein. The horse only whined and moved at her back.

Gazing back at the direction where her horse come from she saw a black animal. It had scales like a reptile and it also had a wing.

"Toothless." She whispered as she handed Angus' reins and her bow and quiver to Hiccup like she had been hypnotized.

She then walked toward the dragon with amazement and awe. It's her first time to see Toothless. Well, she heard a lot of story about this brave and strong dragon but she never seen and met him on person.

Toothless was looking oddly at her and he tilted his head at his side. His eyes were wide and playful. His tongue was even lolling outside of his mouth.

Seeing that the dragon was calm, Merida grinned at it and slowly approached it.

"Hello Toothless," she said almost breathlessly.

She could hear her ears ringing but it was not from fear. It's actually from pure excitement at seeing the dragon. She clutched the apple that she still holding in her chest.

Toothless crooned when he heard the princess muttered his name. He watched as she slowly put her hand in his head.

Sensing that the dragon was fine with her treatment she gentle scratched the top of his head and laughed out loud when he move his head like he was pointing where he want her to scratch.

Meanwhile, Hiccup was watching the two with a smile on his face. He was about to scold Toothless for scarring Merida's horse when she suddenly handed him her weapons and Angus' reins. He was even more surprised when she walked toward Toothless and petted him like what she is doing right now. He kind of expecting her to scream in surprise or attack Toothless but she didn't.

"Oh, you had green eyes like Hiccup," Merida said as she looked straight at the dragon eyes. She then looked at Hiccup who was still standing there and holding her things.

Moving her gaze back at the dragon, she remembered she was still holding the apple and tentatively offered it to him.

"Do you eat an apple?" Merida asked the dragon as she smoothed down its scale.

Hiccups snorted and shook his head as he walked towards the two.

"He likes fish but he didn't-"

Then again, Hiccup was interrupted as Merida let out a surprised squeal. Toothless already ate the apple that she was offering to him.

"Eat fruits or vegetable," he finished his line as he glare at Toothless but Toothless was not paying him any attention.

The dragon was looking with pure adoration at the princess. He even opened his flaps at his back and opened and closed it, much to Merida's amusement.

"Oh look at him Hiccup isn't he adorable?" Merida said as she giggled at the dragon's antic.

"Yeah, he is sooo adorable." Hiccup answered sarcastically as he rolled his eyes at the two. He then handed Merida her belongings and the horse's reins.

"Why are you being sarcastic? Afraid that Toothless will like me more than you?" Merida teased him as she slung her quiver at her hips.

"Nah, I don't need to worry about that we already bonded." Hiccup said as he looked down at Merida who's tying Angus's rein in the tree.

Merida playfully raised her eyebrows at him."Ah, I missed the day when you are not as confident as that," she said.

Hiccup blushed brightly and cleared his throat. Merida laughed and sat down at a rock beside the tree.

"Ah, that's the boy I'm talking about." She added as she forced herself to make a serious face but failed miserably.

Hiccup also chuckled and smiled crookedly at her.

"So? I'm forgiven?" He asked as he sat down beside the red haired princess.

"You're off the hook by now," she answered as she looked sideways at him. Hiccup gave her a large grin and a relieved smile.

As the two began to talk to each other, the dragon was thinking with itself. He liked the fire haired woman, she looked strong and brave but she didn't hurt him, she was not even afraid of him and her eyes were pretty they are the same color of the sky.

So even though he didn't really eat apples like Hiccup said, he still ate it. Hearing the word bonded, he had an idea to tell this girl that he liked her and to make an excuse to finally lose the apple. It's making him squeamish and slightly ill.

Padding slowly toward where they were, Toothless sat down beside the archer and looked at her with wide eyes while tilting his head.

Then suddenly some rumbling sounds came from the dragon's stomach. Slowly, a lump travel from his stomach into his throat. He then dumped a slimly, saliva and gastric juices soaked remains of an apple into Merida's fine dark blue dress.

Merida was caught off guard by the dragon. All she knew was she was talking to Hiccup then the dragon dumped a disgusting half digested apple at her. She felt her stomach turned at the sight and smell.

"Oh you are so unfair!" Hiccup burst out as he looked at Toothless and then the half digested fruit.

Merida looked at him with puzzled expression as she handled the apple. It is squishy and extremely slimy. The juices were already dripping into her hands to her dress.

"What are you talking about?" she questioned Hiccup, she was about to throw the slimy apple away when the dragon rumbled.

Looking back at Toothless, he nodded his head towards the apple and gulped. Merida nervously looked at the fruit then to Hiccup who just shrugged his shoulder and muttered something like 'he make eat a raw fished that was half digested and covered in slim like that.'

Looking back again at the apple she slowly brought it close to her face and held her breath then she take a small bite. She instantly gulped it down and breathed with her mouth for a couple of seconds.

Toothless gave her a gummy smile and nudge her head with his. He then move away from them and towards the river, he was hungry again.

Sensing that the dragon is not angry anymore and nowhere in sight, she discreetly threw the remains of the apple in her back as far as she could.

"That's disgusting," she said as she wiped her hand in her dress. She already had a large vomit like stain on it so it wouldn't matter.

"You're lucky, he made me eat a raw fish and that's way more repulsive." He said as she watched Merida.

"I couldn't even believe it. He warms toward you faster than anyone else, including myself," he continued as he looked at the direction the dragon went.

"It didn't harm that I knew how to treat him," she answered. She then stood up and looked down at the dark stain in her clothes. She smelt like vomit and sour apples.

"I mean, I never even saw him to be that playful with Astrid," he said as he reached for his sack and get a piece of cloth that he tossed to Merida.

The princess caught it and then wiped out the slim with the cloth.

"So, how are things at Berk?" she asked.

"Well, it's all the same. Training the kids with their dragons, making sure the village will not be burn down and helping everyone that asks for help," he answered.

Merida smiled and threw the cloth back at him

"You're much better in your letters. I mean, when are you and Astrid going to get married?" she asked as her smile turned into an excited one.

"Well, maybe next year or two. I'm not sure," he replied.

"I didn't get you Hiccup. Astrid and you are together for what? Seven years? Eight years? Why don't you two just get married?" Merida questioned him.

"You know that I don't want to get married before you and it's not like I didn't have an intention to marry Astrid. I do but not now," he explained as he looked at her eyes.

"Ugh, you are an idiot. You're a one lucky guy. Look at Astrid, she is the perfect Viking. She is strong, beautiful and of course she loves you. If I were you I already married her first chance I got." Merida said as she furrowed her brows.

"And if I were you I already choose a husband so my best friend can now marry his fiancée," he shot back playfully.

Merida glared at him as she tugged at her curly hair.

"Can you hear yourself Hiccup? They are all beyond terrible! If you are on my position you couldn't stand them at all or anyone of them and you not marrying Astrid is not my fault, you made that decision alone," she told him with wide eyes and a horrified expression.

Hiccup ignored her last comment. "I'm sure they are not as bad as you said. You're just extremely picky."

"Nah, I'm not exaggerating things. They are all horrible. Either they are self-centered or they are disgusting," she said seriously.

"Now, I'm sure you are exaggerating," he said as he looked at her with raised brows and a smirk.

"I'm serious," she answered.

"They are all like 'I'm so strong I can kill bears bare hand' or 'I'm so wealthy I can buy the whole universe for you if you want' and that is not even the worst part," she said as she imitated some of her suitors' line. She then sighed and shivered as she remembered the worst part of all.

"So what's the worst part?" Hiccup asked as he leaned closer. This was the first time that Merida told him something about her suitors and he would not miss this opportunity.

"Ugh, this is embarrassing," she said as she frowned. She usually avoided this topic because it always annoyed her and ruined her good mood.

"It's the poetry."

Hiccup raised his eyebrow.

"They are all awful," she started as she started to run her hands in her hair.

"They always compare my hair into a wild fire and my eyes to ice or something far unspeakable," she added as she gestured at her hair and eyes.

Hiccup shook his head and smiled a little bit. That was predictable and that was how most guys do their poetry.

"Well most guys did that. It's not that bad," he reassured.

"'Your hair is red, your eyes are blue, if I tell you I love you will you love me too?' Don't you think it's not more than awful?" she asked out of frustration. Her cheek started to turn into a bright shade of red, she never meant to say that out loud.

Meanwhile, Hiccup was laughing and clutching his sides.

"Did I really heard it right?" Hiccup asked between gasps. His eyes were blurring with tears as he laughed.

Merida kicked him in his left foot and glared at him.

"It's not funny when you are the one being described. That was the biggest insult I ever heard!" she almost shrieked as she sat down beside Hiccup. She then looked up at the trees.

"I'm now glad that I'm not in your position." Hiccup said, he was slightly guilty for laughing at Merida. Well, he thought it was kind of funny and dumb.

Merida looked at him in the corner of her eyes.

"Think about what they will say if I were you," he added as he stood up and looked at her.

"Looked at you princess you had an eyes like a grass, a hair with the color of twigs and your also kind of scrawny. My' don't you look like a tree," he continued as he made his voice deeper. Merida was rolling her eyes again at him but she was giving him a small smile.

"You're as bad as them," she said as she also got up. She then dusted her dress and got her bow.

Hiccup shrugged and said playfully, "I know but I know you love me."

Author's Note:

So this is the third chapter. Is this good or bad? Please leave me a review and tell me what is in your mind.

I still want to remind all of you that they are not in loved with each other, yet. There are just best friends for now and they will fall for each other a long way from here maybe ten chapters or up I'm not sure.

Again, thanks to all of you who read, favorite, follow and review FS. I'm so happy. I didn't expect my little fic to garner this kind of attention.

On with the Guest Reviewers!

Anna: I'm so happy that you love my story.

Guest: I'm glad that you love how they met. I'm happy that others like it too.

Noctus Fury: Did I really say that I love your review? LOL. Well, if I'm not in love with them before I'm totally in love now. :-)

I'm flattered that you actually considered befriending me, too bad you didn't have an account. Did you know I'm actually wishing that you already made an account know so I could pester you? XD. My sister even called you crazy, she didn't mean it in a bad way, after she read your review and she said we might get along well, she said we almost sound like each other.

I'm really happy that you loooove last chapter and my crazy ideas. I'm like yes! He/she likes it. Sorry I'm not sure if you are female or not. Well you sound like a girl for me but I'm not sure. But then I kind of feel bad that I dedicated a chapter full of errors to you. :P

By the way Merida is 9 and Hiccup is 10 when they met. They are 22 and 23 now.

LOL, you are receiving a special treatment among all of my reviewers don't you think they would be jealous of you now. Hahaha XD.

KrazyKratts: Hello darling, I'm glad that you think this is an amazing story. I kind of feel bad to turn down your offer for being my beta but I really need someone who can be committed to this and your parents won't let you made an account. By the way, thank you for your offer.

Okay guys, see you in the next chapter!