Hiccup sat at her desk in the blacksmith shop, flicking her pencil up the desk and letting it roll back down to her fingers.

She was pondering everything she knew about the Vikings and the dragons.

They thought that dragons were mindless, blood-thirsty, animals. But now that she had seen their daily lives with her own eyes, she knew that they were just as intelligent and gentle as humans. Just, bigger, and stronger.

Now, she was faced with a choice. She had to choose a side. She had grown up with the Vikings. They never accepted her efforts, but she trusted them, and wanted the best for her tribe. If she stayed, she'd be turning away from her only friend. But she'd be loyal to her father. She had also grown up half dragon. The flying serpents seemed as though they accepted her just as she was. But if she joined them, she'd be betraying her tribe, of which she was the heir to the throne.

What side do I choose? she kept asking herself.

Suddenly, she heard footsteps entering the back room. She turned and saw her father standing right in front of her.

"Dad!" Hiccup jumped backwards, "You're back! Uh…. Gobber's not here. So…"

"I know. I came looking for you."

"For me?"

"You've been keeping secrets."

"I-I have?"

"Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?"

Hiccup's heart began to speed up. Did Stoick know about Toothless? Had he seen her? She tried to deny it, "I-I…. I don't know what you're…."

"Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it. So, let's talk… about that dragon."

Hiccup sighed, Stoick had discovered everything. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I wanted to tell you-I just didn't know how I-"

Stoick suddenly began to laugh. Hiccup joined in nervously, then asked, "You're not upset?"

"What?" questioned Stoick, insulted, "I was hoping for this!"

"Uh…. You were?"

"And it only gets better! Just wait until you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time. And mount you're first Gronckle head on a spear!"

Stoick shoved Hiccup backward with joy and exclaimed, "What a feeling! You really had me going there, Hiccup! All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen!"

Hiccup sighed. It turned out Stoick had fallen for her trick as well. But she was somewhat disappointed because she couldn't tell Stoick that dragons weren't what they were thought to be.

Stoick continued, "Odin! It was rough, I almost gave up on ya! But all the while you were holding out on me-oh Thor almighty!"

Stoick pulled up and stool and sat on it, "With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about."

Hiccup was rather hurt inside. Everyone accepted her now that she was no longer herself. Did they really hate her that much?

"Oh!" Stoick held up a traditional Viking helmet. "I brought you something. To keep you safe in the ring."

"Wow!" breathed Hiccup, "Thanks!"

"Aye! Your mother would've wanted you to have it. It's part of her breastplate."

Hiccup was sliding her fingers along the rim when Stoick said this. She immediately lifted her hand off the helmet and held it by the horn. Hiccup chuckled nervously.

Stoick tapped his own helmet, "Matching set. Keeps her close."

"Okay….?" Hiccup placed the helmet on the desk.

There was a long, awkward silence. Hiccup knew she had to get away. So she pretended to be tired.

With a fake yawn, she admitted, "I should really get to bed."

"Alright then," nodded Stoick, "Good talk."

"And thank you for the-Uh-breast hat."

"The hat. Yeah."

Stoick clumsily left the back room.

Hiccup remembered something. One final class would be taught tomorrow. If she won, she'd be chosen to kill the dragon. She knew she couldn't afford to win. So she'd have to make sure she lost. She couldn't try anything to even get the dragon's attention.