A/N: No I do not own HTTYD.

From just the running routine, Hiccup's legs already felt like lead, weighing him down as though he were shackled by the ankles to heavy steel balls. Of course, that was just the beginning. A short respite later, Astrid took him through sparring, archery, the basics of hand-to-hand combat, and another short running session throughout the rest of the day. Lunch had been packed and brought by Astrid, so they didn't have to make the trek to and back from the village. After what felt like eternity, dusk finally set in and training had ended for the day.

"So, how're you feeling, Hiccup?"

*Incoherent moaning and groaning*

"What's that? It's too easy for you? We'll take it up a notch tomorrow then…" Astrid began cheekily.

"NO! NONONONO! How about we take it DOWN a notch? Please? I feel like a Gronckle is sitting on me right now…" Hiccup complained, his entire body aching.

"Aww c'mon! Don't be such a wuss! You snooze you lose~" Astrid singsong-ed. "Now let's get back for dinner before search parties come looking for us."

Hiccup groaned some more, but struggled to get up anyway. He could've sworn Astrid was practically prancing around in glee at his misfortune. Then again, if he could get her to smile like this every day just by going along with her training regiment, he would do it in a heartbeat. Seeing that smile, he gathered up his strength and stumbled after her back to the village. After dinner, she bade him a goodnight and even though his day was torturous, he was still looking forward to what the next day would bring. I must have a few screws loose to be anticipating pain so much, he thought to himself.

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(6 months later)

"HIIIIIYAAA!" Astrid opened with a vicious two-handed overhead swing at Hiccup with her wooden axe.

*THWACK!*

Hiccup had grown, not in just strength and skill, in the past 6 months under the strict training of Astrid. He could now lift any weapon with ease and had even managed to win a few bouts of their sparring sessions. He had excellent aim, and as such loved archery more than anything else. With newly developed lean muscles and abs, he was no longer a weak, scrawny looking kid. He could take Snotlout in a fight any day now, though with all the time he spent training and helping Gobber in the forge, he didn't cross paths with his cousin very much so there weren't really many opportunities for Snotlout to do any bullying.

Astrid, while perhaps slightly disheartened that Hiccup was able to beat her in archery and in the occasional sparring session, was extremely pleased at his progress, especially since SHE was the one training him. Who would've thought, Hiccup the screw-up could be trained to fight. She wondered why nobody had bothered trying before, then remembered that his father was the Chief and probably didn't have time to spare for a son whom he hadn't harboured any hope for, though he DID still love him all the same. It was never the same for Hiccup after his mother was carried off by a Stormcutter in a dragon raid, for she always gave Snotlout a good scolding if she ever saw him trying to pick on his smaller and weaker cousin. Regardless, those days were DEFINITELY OVER with Hiccup as he was now.

Hiccup blocked the move with his wooden sword, then spun clockwise while sliding his blade into nook of Astrid's axe and pushed it down, then stepped on it and raised his sword to her chest, claiming his victory and smirked at Astrid's huff of indignation.

"Point to me, milady."

"Oh shush you. Don't forget who taught you to fight," Astrid said teasingly as she stuck out her tongue at him.

"Aw gimme some credit why don't you. I came up with that move all on my own!" Hiccup protested with mock hurt in his voice.

"Alright alright, I'll admit it. That was a pretty cool move. Though I guess it should be expected from you, with all your crazy ideas and inventions and whatnot."

"I'll take that as a compliment milady."

*Whack!* she punched him in the shoulder. "Show off!"

Hiccup rubbed his shoulder, pretending it hurt when it actually didn't.

"Ow!"

"Wuss!"

"Well you did just lose a sparring match to a 'wuss' as you put it," Hiccup said cheekily.

Astrid's face started heating up as she realized that there was no witty comeback to that.

"BACK TO TRAINING, MISTER!"

Hiccup knew better than to argue with her at this point.

"YES MA`AM!"

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As the day drew to a close and they were back in the village, Hiccup insisted Astrid accompany him to the forge first.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

"Can't it wait till after dinner? I'm starving…"

"I…don't want other people seeing it. I'll probably get laughed at again…"

"So it's one of your crazy inventions huh. Alright I'll come along. But only because you always sharpen my weapons for free."

"Come on I know it's because of all this irresistible raw Viking-ness!"

*Whack!*

"HEY!"

"Can't all that 'raw Viking-ness' deal with my punches?"

"Sure it can. That's why I said 'hey' and not 'ouch'."

"Is that a challenge, Haddock?"

"Err…maybe not, milady."

Once they arrived at the forge, Hiccup quickly pulled Astrid towards his room at the back. A contraption covered with a cloth sat in the middle of the room.

"So, I've been thinking; since I'm pretty good at aiming, but don't really have the strength to fire at high enough speeds, I decided to build…THIS!"

With that, he uncovered his invention, which looked similar to a catapult.

"I call this the bola launcher. With this, I intend to shoot down the most elusive dragon we know of. The Night Fury. If I accomplish this feat, my father, the villagers, everyone will surely come to accept me. I will gain their respect and acknowledgement, and life will get infinitely better. But since I'm mainly stuck in the forge with Gobber during the raids, I'll need your help. Once you hear it arrive, get Gobber to go out there. Then, I will take my bola launcher and find that Night Fury. Can you do this for me? Please?" Hiccup implored Astrid.

She could see the desperation in his eyes, the need to be accepted, to feel like he belonged, and especially to see approval in his father's eyes instead of the constant disappointment. She couldn't say no.

"You can count on me."