Hey howdy hey everyone! Enjoy the next installment! :D

Chapter 7

"Citizens of Berk," Stoick yelled, trying to quiet down the crowd. He had called for an emergency meeting at the Great Hall. Everyone was worried about what it was about. The chief never called emergency meetings unless something was dreadfully wrong. Nevertheless, they quieted down when Stoick rose to spoke. "I called this meeting for one reason and one reason only. You all know of my son, Hiccup," Hiccup stood up next to his father, nervously. He knew exactly what this meeting was about. "He is a great young lad! Maybe he's not the strongest, but he is the bravest and brightest. Those are two great qualities of a chief! He's going to make a great one someday," He slapped his son on the back, and Hiccup nearly fell over, but he caught himself. "Last night, something happened to my son. Something extraordinary! He chose his partner for life. Ladies and gentleman, I would like to officially announce the engagement of my son, Hiccup, and the beautiful Erika!" Erika stood up next to Hiccup and hugged him. The Great Hall exploded with wild cheers and celebratory screams. Hiccup gestured for everyone to quiet down, and he began to speak.
"I couldn't ask for a better life partner! I know we haven't know each other very long, but I feel like the Gods brought us together! You'll make a wonderful wife and mother! The heir to the throne is in your hands... Er... Your womb. Not yet, I mean. Ahh one step at a time folks," Everyone laughed a little bit. Hiccup was never really good at speaking in front of large crowds and was a little nervous. "Forget that part. Just know that this little gem here is the best on the entire island. She's everything I want in a woman and more. I know she'll make a great bride!"
"And Hiccup is just the darnedest thing! I knew as soon as he found me in that cave that he was the one. Men like him don't come around too often. He's a rare find, a special guy. I'm glad that I get to spend the rest of my days with you! I love you!" She stole a kiss, and the crowed erupted again. Gobber came up and personally congratulated Hiccup and Erika. Everyone raised their glasses and toasted to the new couple. Everyone in the room was excited. Everyone except for Astrid. Her heart sank into her stomach and she was holding back tears. She sat in the left corner with the other academy kids. The atmosphere around her seemed to blur. Her dreams were crushed right before her eyes. The man she had loved her entire life was planning to spend his with another women. She knew he would probably marry her, but she didn't expect it to hurt so much. Astrid has been hit, kicked, scraped, burned, and bruised before, but nothing hurt her like the pain of heartbreak. She felt her heart literally split in two and drop to the floor, as if Erika herself ripped it out and stomped on it. Astrid always thought she would be able to steal Hiccup away before he married her, but she was too late. She let Hiccup slip from right under her nose. All her life she's been trying to get Hiccup to like her, and just when she was beginning to think he liked her back, Erika comes along and snatches him right up. Astrid couldn't help it, and she let a tear run down her cheek. She tried to stop it, but more and more escaped, slowly, but noticeably. Ruffnut, who had previously been chugging a mug of mead, noticed Astrid.
"Hey, Astrid? Are you okay?" She asked quietly, moving next to her.
"Yea.. I just.." She couldn't even talk, because more tears escaped her eyes, faster and faster.
"Something the matter?" Astrid looked up at Hiccup and Erika receiving so many congratulations. This was supposed to be her engagement party. She was supposed to be up there, hugging and kissing Hiccup.
"Yea... I... I ... I have cramps."
"Ouch! Have some mead! Mead will fix it!" She placed her mug in front of Astrid and motioned for her to drink. Astrid took a sip, then put it back down.
"Thanks, Ruff. But I think I'll go walk it off."
"More mead for me!" She took her glass back and continued chugging it as if nothing ever happened. Astrid slipped out of the door unnoticed and walked out into the dawn. She stared at the rising sun and wiped a tear from her eye. The sunrise reminded her of the days when she and Hiccup watched it together. It was the only time she could really be with him. The real him, not the workaholic him. She loved the way he looked when he was watching the sunrise. There was a sense of peace on his face, like he felt like he belonged. Another tear escaped Astrid's eye, but she caught it. She couldn't bear the thought of someone else sharing the sunrise with him. Watching the sunrise was something only Hiccup and Astrid did. If he took her to see it, Astrid would feel like she didn't belong. Erika already took her man, her dream, her pride, and her happiness. She just couldn't let Erika take the one thing she had left. Subconsciously, Astrid started crying again. She realized it eventually, and collected herself. Vikings don't cry, and the ferocious Astrid Hofferson surely didn't. Legend has it that she was born with a stone cold look on her face. Not a single tear was shed.

Astrid figured figured she'd go down the Thor's beach and watch the sunrise, just like old times. It would take her mind off things. Maybe she'd finally see what Hiccup saw in it. To her, it was just a stupid sunrise. But to Hiccup, it was so much more. When Astrid got there, she sat down on a rock and stared out into the distance. She was so lost in thought, she didn't even notice the shadow appear in front of her.
"Astrid," The voice said. "Astird!" She looked up and met the eyes of a devil. Erika was staring at her with an emotionless face.
"Oh, it's you."
"I noticed you running off and I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"Oh, sure you did."
"Excuse me?"
"If you really cared about my feelings, you'd be gone!"
"Whoa there, hold on missy! I know what this is about. You like him. Everyone probably knows. But you have to realize he doesn't like you. You can't change someone's feelings for you no matter how hard you try. You can go to the ends of the Earth with someone and still hate them, or you could meet someone for the first time and fall in love. Feelings don't change, Astrid."
"I beg to differ. Hiccup liked me. I knew it! He did before! Now he doesn't thanks to you! You and your siren like ways had to take him away!"
"If he liked you before, he would have been dating you."
"If he hadn't been so wrapped up in his work. He's so blind, and I think you blinded him."
"I didn't make him anything he is today. Just face it, he never liked you. I know what it's like.."
"Oh, sure you do! Little miss charm my way into getting whatever I want. What? You thought I didn't know? Everyone else on this island might be stupid, but not me. I've got you all figured out."
"Oh yea? Then what am I?"
"You're a goldigger! You're only marrying him for the money!"
"If I were a goldigger, I'd be marrying Stoick! He'd die first!"
"Well, you're up to no good and I know it."
"Look, I didn't come here to start a fight..."
"Then what did you come here for?" Almost as if on cue, a small boat appeared and a man got out. He was tall and mysterious, even in the daylight. Erika noticed, and turned pale. This was the worst of times for him to appear.
"Hey! You, what are you doing..." Erika started to say.
"Erika, it's me, Welch! Don't you remember..." He noticed Astrid sitting on the rock. "Who's your friend?"
"I was just about to ask the same thing." Astrid said, standing up. When she stood up, she was able to see the man in his entirety. He was a hulking Viking who bore the Borg crest on his armor. His face was stern and rough. He had obviously seen things that cannot be unseen, and done things that cannot be undone. He showed no emotion, and had a rough tone to his voice. Scars and bruises covered his massive muscles, and he looked ready to kill at any moment. He looked almost like a robot, but certainly acted like one. Give him a command and he would oblige, no questions asked.
"Astrid, I can explain..." Erika started to say.
"No. No! I know who you are! Erika, you... you're a Borg? That explains everything. I.. I'm telling Stoick."
"I'm afraid we can't let you do that." Welch said, as she approached Astrid rather deviously. With no weapon or dragon, Astrid had no way to defend herself. Before she had the chance to run, Welch grabbed her and put a hand over her mouth. Erika, who had quickly ran to the boat and back, tied Astrid's hands and feet in a rope, then placed a cloth over her moth and nose, knocking her out instantly.
"What are you going to do with her?" Erika asked.
"Take her back to Borg I guess. We can always use more slaves. Or even a hostage." Welch replied.
"Good. Now that she's out of the picture, this whole ordeal will be easier."
"Causing trouble, eh?"
"You wouldn't believe it." Welch proceeded to throw a passed out Astrid in the boat.
"Well, word is he proposed."
"He did!" Erika showed Welch her shiny new ring.
"Keep that. It looks expensive. We can use the money."
"Really, I know! Well, dispose of her however you want. I have a wedding to plan." Welch got back in his boat and waved goodbye. Erika called for Tuna, who had seen the whole thing go down, and rode her off back toward the village. Tuna reluctantly flew, looking back at the scene of the kidnapping. She desperately wanted to go back and help Astrid, but Erika commanded her to fly toward the village. Once they got there, Erika met up with Hiccup, and ran into his warm, welcoming arms.

Thanks for reading! I'll try to update soon! I have a bunch of long rehearsals for a play I'm in, and they're really time consuming. But I'll still try to write as much as possible! Review/favorite/follow/whatever you want :D