The Mystery E-rank

It was another day. It had been relatively uneventful. Merida and Rapunzel were at baking club. Rapunzel was baking cupcakes while Merida licked the leftover batter and watched. As she did she noticed Rapunzel humming to herself, looking strangely happy. Merida arched her brow as she noticed a tinge of pink on the blonde's cheeks.

"Someone is in a good mood," Merida commented.

Rapunzel smiled as she looked at her and let out a giggle. "It's just a good day. And I love baking! It's been too long," Rapunzel said happily.

Merida watched as Rapunzel began decorating the cupcakes with frosting. "Who are these for anyway?" Merida inquired.

"Oh I was just making them for Hiccup as a thank you for being so nice to me," Rapunzel stated.

"And why the heart?"

Rapunzel stiffened before glancing down at the cupcake, realizing she'd inadvertently made a heart. She squeaked and blushed as she began adding more frosting to cover it up.

"Oh," Merida said evilly as she grinned at her friend. "I think you have a crush on the E-rank. Is that it Punz?" Merida teased.

"No!" Rapunzel cried in embarrassment. She grabbed another cupcake and began to add the frosting. "Hiccup is just really nice. And he's kind of funny. And he helped me out when I needed him. He's also tall and his eyes are..." she trailed off, her cheeks reddening as she let out a sigh. She glanced down and realized she'd made another heart.

"Uh huh," Merida said flatly.

"These are just thank you cupcakes!" Rapunzel cried as she started adding more frosting to cover up the heart.

Merida smirked to herself and rolled her eyes. "Well I'm not going to say I don't think you should try to take this further," Merida said. Rapunzel looked at her. "But I think you could do better," Merida stated casually as she licked her wooden spoon.

"Aww. You care!" Rapunzel squealed as she hugged the redhead tightly.

The next day Hiccup and Jack were eating breakfast, and as they had been for the last few days the girls joined them.

"Hey guys," Anna greeted.

"Morning," Rapunzel greeted.

"Jack. E-rank," Merida said to acknowledge them.

"Hey guys," Hiccup greeted with a warm smile.

"Ladies," Jack said with a nod.

Their partner also gave the women a greeting.

With that the girls sat across from them. The boys arched a brow however as Rapunzel Pulled out a tray of six cupcakes with colored frosting. She placed them on the table and slid them before Hiccup.

"What's this?" Hiccup asked curiously.

"They're thank you cupcakes," Rapunzel mumbled shyly. "For helping me...us," she said as she gestured between herself and Merida.

"Oh," Hiccup said in surprise. "Well thanks. They look good," Hiccup said in gratitude. A hand reached out and snatched one up. Hiccup frowned and looked over to see Jack eating one of his cupcakes. "Really Jack?"

"What? You don't mind, do you Hic?"

"Well no. But-"

"Thanks, you're a pal," Jack said as he grabbed another one. Hiccup growled at him in annoyance. He glanced down to see only one cupcake remaining.

"Nomnomnomnomnom!" Hiccup looked over to Anna to see her cheeks full, with frosting and crumbs on her face. She sat up straight, looking anywhere but at him. The cupcakes were her one weakness. Chocolate!

Hiccup looked down to the last one. He was about to take it when a hand reached out form across the table and snatched it up. he looked to see Merida blatantly eating his last cupcake, not even having the decency to try and look repentant.

"Wow Rapunzel. Those were great," Jack complimented.

"Yeah! I'm sure they were delicious!" Hiccup said in indignantly as he cast everyone a scowl.

"Sorry Hiccup. I'll make more next time," Rapunzel said softly.

Hiccup only sighed and waved his hand. "No, it's ok. I appreciate the gesture." Suddenly Jack tapped him on the shoulder. Hiccup looked to him to see Jack motion with his head at something behind the girls. Hiccup followed his gaze, locking eyes with the blonde haired blue eyed girl frowning at him. She motioned with her head.

Hiccup sighed. "If you'll excuse me," Hiccup said as he stood up. They all watched him walked around the table. Toothless jumped and leapt onto his shoulder as he joined the blonde and then walked out of the mess hall.

"Who was that?" Rapunzel asked.

"Astrid," Jack stated flatly.

"Something you want Astrid?" Hiccup asked the blonde as he stood before her with his arms crossed. Astrid frowned at him. Leaning against her locker with her arms crossed and a disapproving look in her eyes.

"How could you sit with them Hiccup? They beat your cousin twice."

"Snotlout needs to get his butt kicked every now and then. No love lost there," Hiccup replied with an eye roll.

"What about loyalty?"

"Pssshhh! You want to preach loyalty to me? You guys don't even talk to me just because of my rank," Hiccup reminded her.

"Do you remember why we're here Hiccup? Or should I remind you?"

"My memory is just fine Astrid."

"Then why are you so content on staying the lowest rank in the entire school? It's an embarrassment to us! To Berk!"

"We're here, to improve our relation with this kingdom. Which I've been trying to do. All you guys have been doing is perpetuating the stereotype that Berk and the northern tribes are all a bunch of battle crazy savages," Hiccup said back.

Astrid narrowed her eyes and snorted in disgust. "Whatever," she said as she stood up. "They won't be a problem for much longer anyway," she Astrid said as she began to stroll past him. Hiccup raised an arm in her path, instantly halting her.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Red and sunshine are just going to be knocked down a few pegs," Astrid said firmly as she shoved by him.

Hiccup watched her go, glaring at the back of her head. This could only mean one thing. Either Astrid or Heather were going to challenge Merida and Rapunzel to a duel. And those two were vicious when it came to battling. They held nothing back, utterly destroying their opponents, sometimes scarring them permanently.

They may have been new, but they were still his friends. He decided in that moment to step in.

"So what's the deal with Hiccup and those other guys?" Merida asked Jack as she and the girls walked to class.

"Other guys?" Jack questioned.

"The other people with dragons," Merida clarified. "Don't they come from the same place? Why does it seem like they avoid Hiccup?" Merida couldn't help but ask. She didn't know why she cared. She was just curious.

"Oh yeah. Those guys. Well they and Hiccup are all from a region to the north of this kingdom. Apparently there had been quite a few border skirmishes until just recently. The two sides made peace and as a show of good faith they let some of the younger generation come to this academy," Jak explained.

"Those guys are all obsessed with bringing glory to Berk," Jack said with an eye roll. "They're obsessed with rankings. Hiccup doesn't really care so they kind of ditched him," Jack finished.

"Well no one wants to be associated with a cowardly Knight," Merida said on their behalf. Jack chuckled at her response. "What's so funny?" Merida asked with a frown.

"You think Hiccup is a coward," Jack said with a chuckle.

"He always forfeits every match. Sounds like a coward to me."

"There's a difference between being afraid to fight, and simply not liking to fight. Hiccup doesn't see the point in fighting for rankings and glory. He believes he should only fight when he has too," Jack explained.

Jack smirked. "Let put it to you like this. Even on his worst day, Hiccup could wipe the floor with any A-ranked Knight."

Merida and Rapunzel looked at Jack skeptically. Neither quite sure they believed that. Rapunzel had found Hiccup stuffed into his own locker several times. And Hiccup just didn't give off the feel of a powerful fighter.

The day continued, everyone went about their day like they normally did. But Hiccup seemed strangely distracted. They watched as during physical education class he spoke with the black haired girl with the metallic looking dragon. They spoke back and forth , the girl giggling and blushing at whatever Hiccup was saying until they apparently came to some sort of agreement with a nod.

Merida and Rapunzel exchanged a glance, wondering what that was about.

At the end of the day the girls were putting their books away, chatting as they prepared to head to baking club.

"Pardon me," came a voice. Rapunzel jumped as a pale and platinum blonde blur briskly walked by her, placed herself into her locker and then shut it.

Rapunzel and Merida blinked as they stared at Rapunzel's locker.

"Hey guys." They glanced back to see Jack behind them. "You see Elsa? I could have sworn she came this way."

All eyes flicked to Rapunzel's locker.

"Nope. Haven't seen her," Anna said with a shrug.

"Dang. Alright. See you guys. C'mon Baby Tooth," Jack said as he strolled away.

They watched him walk away. And once he was out of earshot Anna tapped on the door. "He's gone Elsa."

"Oh thank goodness," Elsa said from within the locker.

"Elsa. These are my friends. Rapunzel and Merida," Anna said to the locker door.

"Nice to meet you both," Elsa said from within.

"Likewise," Rapunzel said.

"Hello," Merida said in greeting.

Finally Elsa stepped out. The girls took a good look at her, noting how she looked very much like Anna. Only paler and with a more slender face and slightly taller stature. She wore her hair up in a tight bun.

"Thank you for letting me use your locker. Jack can quite...tenacious," Elsa said as she nodded at Rapunzel in thanks.

"Oh. Uh, no problem," Rapunzel dismissed.

"So guys. This is Elsa. My big sister," Anna finally introduced. They greeted her once again.

"Hey guys. Elsa," came a voice from behind. The girls glanced back to see Hiccup standing behind them. "You guys see where Jack went?" he asked as he looked around.

"He went that way. Looking for Elsa," Anna said rolling her eyes.

Hiccup chuckled. "Can't seem to shake him, can you Elsa?"

The girls looked to Elsa, to find her facing away from Hiccup. Her hair had mysteriously come undone, flowing down over shoulder as she ran her hands over it over and over with a red face. "Mmmmhmmm," she responded quietly.

"Alright guys see you later," Hiccup said as he walked away to locate Jack.

"B-Bye," Elsa said weakly as Hiccup walked off.

The girls glanced back forth between a retreating Hiccup and a red faced Elsa.

"Anna, does Elsa-"

"Yep," Anna said with a laugh. "But Hiccup has no idea." The girls arched a brow. Wondering how Hiccup couldn't see it. It seemed fairly obvious. "He's super smart when it comes to books and stuff. But when it comes to women...he's kind stupid."

With a sigh Anna grabbed her sister by the shoulder and led her away.

"Seems like you have competition Punz," Merida said as she gave her friend a nudge. Rapunzel blushed in embarrassment.

The next day was a weekend, meaning all students had the day off. And as promised Merida decided to go into town with Rapunzel. They invited Anna, who joined them since she had nothing else to do. Anna, who actually knew the city showed them around, taking them to clothing stores, showing them some local street performers, and then taking them to her favorite place, a chocolate shop.

Merida and Rapunzel stared at Anna greedily devouring many chocolate candies. They began to see that Anna probably had an unhealthy obsession with chocolate. But they said nothing before leaving.

But nearly the moment they walked out they noticed two figure walk by in the distance. They stared in shock as they watched Heather and Hiccup strolling side by side through the streets. They were walking very closely, with Heather at his side, a hand wrapped around his bicep.

"Are they on a date?" Merida asked aloud.

Anna gasped dramatically and Rapunzel couldn't help but deflate in disappointment. However, intrigued they followed after the two of them. They followed them into a clothing store, hiding behind mannequins and between clothes racks as Heather picked out clothes, occasionally stopping to ask Hiccup for his opinion. After nearly 20 minutes of shopping Heather walked out with three bags which she had Hiccup carry. The young man did so without complaint.

Next they went to a small cafe with an outdoor dining section. They sat on a bench a distance away and watched as Heather and Hiccup ate. They were very curious, but they were too far to hear what they were saying.

Meanwhile, at their table.

"So, anymore stops?" Hiccup asked heather.

"What's wrong Hiccup? Aren't you having fun?"

"Being a pack mule? No, not so much," Hiccup said flatly.

Heather pouted at him. "Most guys would kill to be in my company. Snotlout and Tuffnut have come to blows many times."

"I'm not most guys," Hiccup said with a shrug.

Heather smiled at him. "I know."

"So. Are we good?"

Heather hummed as she took a sip from her cup. "Well Astrid won't be happy that I decided to suddenly not duel those two. But I can handle her," Heather said casually. She looked up at Hiccup and arched a brow. "You wouldn't happen to like either of them?"

"Nah. They're just good friends."

"Good. Because I might have changed my mind out of jealousy."

Hiccup arched a brow at her. "Are you serious?"

Heather smiled at him slyly. "I don't know. Am I?" she teased. "Well whatever. They're safe from me. Still, Astrid might decide to take matters into her own hands. Can't help you there." Hiccup nodded in understanding. "Now then. Shall we seal this deal with a kiss?"

Hiccup's face went blank in unamusement.

"Can't blame me for trying," Heather said with a sigh.

With their 'date' over the girls followed the pair back to the academy. They watched from a distance as Heather took her bags, gave Hiccup a wink and left.

The girls exchanged glances, wondering if this meant Heather and Hiccup were a couple.

"Me and Heather? No," Hiccup stated firmly when they asked him at breakfast the next school day.

"But we saw you the other day. You looked awfully chummy," Merida pointed out.

The girls all stared at him for an answer. Rapunzel held her breath in anticipation.

"We were just hanging out," Hiccup dismissed casually.

The girls all arched their brows at him. But Hiccup ignored them as he ate breakfast.

"So you're not going to challenge them now? Just like that?" Astrid asked in annoyance.

"Yep. Just changed my mind. Don't feel like it anymore," Heather said with a shrug.

Astrid scowled at her. "And what brought this on?"

"Nothing. You're welcome to challenge them yourself. But I'm sure Hiccup would probably just order you not to. And as the heir to your tribe you'd have to obey him. Unlike me who's not a member of the Berk tribe and therefore has no obligation to obey him."

Astrid glared at the side of her face. But Heather ignore her, one of the few people unafraid of Astrid's wrath.

Astrid silently fumed. Her plans falling through. Heather was right. Though he rarely threw his power as heir around he'd likely do it to defend a friend. And as a member of the Berk tribe Astrid was forced to obey him if he gave her an order.

She silently cursed. Glaring and scowling over at Hiccup's table.

Those two were safe...for now.