Disclaimer: Seriously. By now, I think we all know the truth.

Author's Note: Yeah, here come the inconsistent updates. Woohoo!

The two weeks were up and Astrid and Hiccup had no chance of getting out of it.

Astrid woke on the morning of the wedding with a knot in her stomach. Even after all that had happened over those two weeks, she still wasn't ready.

She wished she had dragon training to look forward to. Sadly, she had been disqualified the previous day and Hiccup was going to kill the Night Fury. The Vikings had this crazy idea that it would take place right before the wedding.

In the past, Astrid had watched the champion battle the Monstrous Nightmare and wished for her turn. Watching it always cleared her head and the fact that it was Hiccup about to kill her Night Fury didn't really matter as much as it would have any other day. She had to get ready. But she would never be ready.

Through all the preparations that morning, she said nothing, hanging onto the slim chance that Hiccup might not come out alive and she wouldn't have to get married after all.

Her hopes grew stronger as she heard commotion coming from the direction of the arena. She heard the distinct cry of "BETRAYED BY MY OWN SON!" (It was hard not to, as the chief could have been heard several beaches away.)

"What was that?" asked Astrid's mother.

The commotion grew louder and sounded like it was coming closer. Astrid heard the rush of wings and wondered if the Night Fury had broken free.

Then, her mother gasped, "NIGHT FURY! GET DOWN!"

A distinctive flash of purple lightning blasted the roof to smithereens. Astrid screamed and jumped out of the way of a particularly large falling piece. She would never be prepared for what she was about to see.

The Night Fury descended through the broken piece of the roof calmly. On its back was Hiccup, wearing a harness and a look of utter excitement, other than sheer terror, which Astrid had expected. It seemed as if Hiccup could not imagine anything better. He was strapped onto a saddle on the dragon's back.

She couldn't believe it! The dragon wasn't attacking him! How was he doing it? Was this another one of his tricks?

Or, thought Astrid, has he discovered how to train a dragon?

"What the-?" Astrid screeched.

The dragon landed and Hiccup offered her his hand. "Astrid, climb on."

"What?" She asked, recoiling from the Night Fury.

"Climb on," Hiccup repeated with a straight face, "Here, I'll help you."

"Are you insane?"

"Trust me; this is the right thing to do."

The din of the crowd from the arena sounded as if it was coming closer.

"Hiccup, what's going on?" Astrid asked.

Hiccup hurriedly explained, "My dad was so proud that you had brought down a Night Fury and I was jealous and I tried to kill him but I couldn't: he's really nice once you get to know him. Astrid, Toothless! Toothless, Astrid. So I stayed at the arena after training was over, let him loose, made him a new tail fin, and we became friends. He's tame, Astrid! I trained him."

The Night Fury growled at his rider. "Well," Hiccup added, "more like he trained me. But we have to get going: they'll think you helped me if we stay and get married."

"Wait, where are we going?"

Then, with unbelievable strength she never knew Hiccup had, he picked her up and put her on the back of the dragon. Just as the Vikings burst through the door, the Night Fury took off, Astrid screaming her head off in protest.

"HICCUP HORRENDOUS HADDOCK THE THIRD, I ORDER YOU, GET ME DOWN FROM HERE!"

Author's Note: YES! I didn't kill him off! I included some Toothless! I bet you weren't expecting that!