Next chapter! I've had a lot of time on my hands recently, so I've been writing a lot. Here's where the story starts to really pick up! Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Light filled the Island of Berk. It was early morning but the town was already bustling with life. Hiccup and the academy kids were in the training arena ready to start another day of dragon training. It was just like any other day, except for the fact that Hiccup was about to announce something important.
"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." Hiccup said
"You're quitting?" Ruffnut asked, excited.
"You're dying?" "Tuffnut asked, even more excited.
"You finally have a girlfriend? Because I'd be surprised if you did." Snotlout asked
"No, no, no!" Hiccup yelled.
"I knew it! No one would ever date you," Snotlout said. After he said it, Toothless shot a plasma blast his way. It missed him, but knocked him off his feet and caused his Viking hat to come down over his eyes. "I meant to do that." He said, trying to skillfully recover from the blow.
"We have a new member joining the academy today. I found her on the beach yesterday. Remember that Borg boat we saw? Turns out it wasn't a Borg boat at all. It was a fishing boat. Her name is Erika, and she's from Scauldron Cove. It's a small fishing town you've probably never heard of." Erika appeared next to Hiccup and wrapped her arm around his waist, hugging him. Hiccup's face turned red with embarrassment, and Astrid's face turned red rage. How dare she try to make a move on Hiccup?
"Hi everyone! I'm so excited to be working with you all!" Erika said, pulling out from the hug.
"She has her own night fury, Tuna." Tuna appeared with Toothless, roughhousing as usual. Except this time, Toothless presented a Tuna fish to Tuna, and she gladly accepted. She vomited up half of it and gave it to Toothless. He accepted it with excitement, than rubbed his face against Tuna's.
"Ewww. Dragon love is gross." Tuffnut said.
"Human love is grosser." Ruffnut replied. The twins agreed with each other by head butting and falling to the ground. They both let out a simultaneous "awesome" before getting back up.
"That's Ruffnut and Tuffnut," Hiccup explained to Erika. "They're twins. That's Snotlout, my cousin, Fishlegs, and Astrid."
"Nice to meet you all!" Erika said sweetly. Snotlout swooned over her, Fishlegs blushed, and Astrid crossed her arms and scoffed. Hiccup noticed Astrid's movement and asked to speak to hear alone. They went into one of the dragon cages and closed the door slightly, so a little bit of light came through.
"What's your problem?" He asked her.
"Nothing, I don't have a problem!" Astrid denied.
"Yes, you do. I've known you for years, and I can tell when you have problems. What is your problem?"
"That's it! That's my problem! You've known me for years, and you've known her for a day! Why are you letting her into the academy? What if she's out to hurt you, or us?"
"When did you turn into my father?"
"When did you turn into an idiot? I know you, Hiccup. You're always cautious and vigilant. You're usually the one to question weather people are enemies or not. Why in Thor's name are you letting a complete stranger into the academy?"
"What's her name?"
"Erika..."
"Then she's not a complete stranger is she? I know what I'm doing Astrid."
"Fine, but when you get hurt at the hands of her, don't come crying to me." With that, she left. Hiccup followed soon after. Truth be told, Astrid wasn't really mad at him for letting a stranger into the academy. She was mad because he was falling for her. Anyone with eyes could see that. All her life, she's been sort of fond of Hiccup. Even in the days before he defeated the Red Death. She just pretended to hate him because she didn't want to be judged too harshly or disowned by her parents. Over the years, her feelings for him grew stronger. Now, at the prime marrying age, she only had eyes for him. But he had eyes on everything else but her. Astrid never dared to tell him how she felt, for fear of ruining a lifelong friendship. She was going to wait it out until he fell for her. But now that little miss stranger was in the picture, Astrid feared that would never happen. She would just have to work harder to make Hiccup like her, or at least appreciate her.

Erika's first day of dragon training was a success. She was a quick learner, and superb at bonding with dragons. It was an important skill to know according to Hiccup, who kept extoling her virtues all day, even if those virtues were not so virtuous. The two of them were walking home when Erika suggested that they take a brief walk in the woods to get to know each other better. They walked and talked about their towns, their parents, their childhoods, how Hiccup lost his leg, and more. It wasn't long before they reached the clearing area where Hiccup had met, bonded with, and trained Toothless.
"This is the place." Hiccup announced.
"Wow! It's so beautiful!" Erika said.
"And secluded. Perfect place for hiding. Not even my dad knows where this place is. Only me, you, and Astrid."
"Astrid, huh? What's with that girl?"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw her mocking me at dragon training today."
"Oh, oh that! Yea, she's just a little on edge about me letting a stranger into the academy."
"Oh, Gods! I'm not going to hurt you! Look at me! Would I hurt you?"
"Right? That's what I'm saying!"
"Does she have a crush on you or something?" Erika sat on a rock and started picking the pedals off of a flower."
"Astrid? A crush on me? Never! She'd rather actually crush me. Maybe we've kissed once or twice, but that doesn't mean anything."
"A kiss doesn't mean anything? Erika reached the last pedal of the flower.
"I mean, we were kids back then. Stupid kids. Just caught up in the moment of things I guess."
"Was it your first?" Hiccup blushed a little when she asked him that.
"Yes."
"Then of course it means something! You never forget your first kiss! Or your first anything for that matter."
"I know but... I don't think she likes me that way. Oden knows I don't like her that way."
"Who do you like then?"
"Come again?"
"You're seventeen now. It's the age to get married! A little on the older side, but still! You have to have your eyes on someone!"
"Well, I sort of do."
"Who! Tell me!"
"Look down at the flower pedal tell me yourself."
"He loves me..." Erika whispered. She did play a game of "he loves me, he loves me not" silently to herself, and she landed on "he loves me"
"Exactly."
"You... you love me?"
"Well, maybe not love, but I am fond of you."
"I'm fond of you too."
"Well then, I guess there's only one thing left to do."
"What would that be?" Hiccup grabbed Erika off the rock by the waist and kissed her. In the commotion, she dropped the flower pedal she was holding. She kissed him back with more passion, enjoying every second of it. Eventually, Hiccup pulled apart and smiled at Erika.
"Now that one meant something." He said, pecking her lips once more. The sun was setting on the Island of Berk as the two walked off, hand in hand. As dawn turned to dusk, a new day was preparing to begin. Hiccup leaned into Erika once more, teasing her. She laughed and kissed him. They mounted their respective dragons and flew off into the sunset.

For those of you shipping Astrid/Hiccup, my sincerest apologies. Don't stop reading now though! It's called How To Train Your Enemy for a reason... lets leave it at that, shall we.