I do not own the How to Train Your Dragon franchise.

Yakking Up Yaknog

"Dude, if my old man ever finds out what you've done, he'll kill you."

This was said rather gleefully by Snotlout, who was lounging in the grass, watching Hiccup as he fed Toothless. Hiccup tossed a glare over his shoulder, dark bags under his eyes from the sleepless night of worrying over his uncle and what would happen if he was ever found out.

"Thank you. That makes me feel so much better." Hiccup grumbled, dropping a bucket of fish in front of his Night Fury. "And thanks for bringing Toothless back for me." He added, this time with genuine sincerity in his voice.

Snotlout gave a dismissive shrug. "Well, I couldn't just leave him stuck flying in one spot. You might not have been back for hours. Or at all, if Dad got his hands on you."

"Do you know how hard it is to run through the forest with this thing?" Hiccup demanded, sticking out his prosthetic foot. "There's roots to snap it off and mud to get stuck in." He paused for a moment before allowing a small smile to cross his face. "But I guess it was worth it. Spitelout's face was priceless."

Toothless growled. I wish he would have caught you. Maybe it would have taught you not to be so stupid.

Hiccup patted Toothless' head. "Don't worry, Toothless. I promise not to involve you in any more dares."

False promise. Two buckets of fish says I'll be in a dress within the next few weeks. Toothless snorted in disbelief, got up and waddled away.

"Great. Now Toothless is mad at me."

"He'll get over it." Snotlout said airily. "After all, it's not like you threw the poo in his face."

"If it had been him I would be dead right now." Hiccup said flatly.

"That's true." Snotlout agreed. "Come on, let's grab some grub. I'm starved."

The two cousins walked to the Great Hall and piled their wooden plates with meat. At their usual table sat the rest of the teen Vikings and the boys joined them.

"Glad to see you're still alive." Astrid smiled playfully.

"Barely." Hiccup sighed. "I don't know how much more of this I can take."

"You're doing great so far." Astrid said encouragingly. She punched his arm affectionately. "Besides, you have yet to give me a dare."

Hiccup choked on his ham, turning a stunned gaze to the blonde bombshell across from him. Astrid leaned her elbows on the table and arched an eyebrow challengingly, a smirk curling across her lips.

"Uh…uh…"Hiccup stuttered. "I wouldn't know what to…what to…"

"What's the matter? Chicken?" Snotlout mocked, flapping his arms in imitation of a chicken flapping its wings.

"Lay it on me, Hiccup. I can take anything." Astrid said firmly. "And you better not take it easy on me just because I'm the girl you like."

Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck, trying to desperately to think of a dare that wouldn't be too harsh and yet wouldn't sic Astrid on his butt for being too tame. And then it hit him.

"I dare you to drink five mugs of your Yaknog."

Astrid opened her mouth, about to angrily declare that he was being too soft, when her friends cackled and cheered. "What?" She demanded, having the feeling she was missing something.

"Oh, you'll see." Tuffnut snickered.

"Why don't you go make up your special Yaknog?" Ruffnut grinned. "After all, it's not fair if you don't get to taste your own creation."

Astrid swivelled her head between her friends, frowned suspiciously and stood up. "You guys are weird." She griped and stormed off to make her holiday concoction.

"You know," Tuffnut voiced after the girl had stepped out of the Hall. "I am going to be extremely disappointed and disgusted if she actually likes her drink."

…

About a half-hour later Astrid appeared back in the nearly empty Hall with a wooden tray piled with mugs of frothing Yaknog. She placed the tray on the table and picked up the first mug. "So all I have to do is drink all five?"

"All five." Hiccup confirmed. "If you don't, you fail and forfeit a pass."

Astrid eyed the mug for a moment. "Piece of cake." She declared and took a large swig.

And immediately spewed it back out.

Astrid pressed a hand over her mouth, holding back her bile as her taste buds screamed in protest. Her holiday drink was the most disgusting thing she had ever had in her life. "Why didn't you tell me it was nasty?" She rasped.

"Didn't want to hurt your feelings." Hiccup admitted.

"Come on, Princess. You have five of these things to go through." Snotlout smirked. "Drink up."

Astrid took a deep breath, closed her eyes and downed the first mug. It tasted like sweat and rotten fish, causing her stomach to roll and her face to turn green. Gagging, Astrid slammed the first mug down and went for the second one, figuring it would be easier if she drank all the mugs rapid succession.

But when she hit the fourth mug, her stomach won the battle.

Twisting on her heel, Astrid sprinted for the nearest barrel and hurled the Yaknog back up.

"Oh, gross. She just barfed all over this week's supply of fish." Snotlout groaned.

"Awesome." Tuffnut and Ruffnut breathed.

"Are you okay?" Hiccup called, torn between amusement and concern.

"It tastes worse the second time around." Astrid moaned, slumped against the barrel. "I can't do the fifth one. You jerks win."

Hiccup retrieved a cloth from one of the tables and brought it over to Astrid. He wiped her face clean with it and helped her to her feet. "Astrid, I hate to tell you this, but your Yaknog is disgusting."

"I greatly dislike you right now." Astrid mumbled, leaning her head on his chest.

"That's funny." Hiccup mused, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Because I greatly like you right now."

Their shared moment was quickly shattered when Tuffnut screamed, "Get a room!"

The dare of Astrid drinking Yaknog was suggested by quite a few people.

Next chapter: In which Astrid dares Ruffnut.

Recap: Astrid, Ruffnut, Hiccup and Snotlout are still in the competition. Tuffnut and Fishlegs are out, but can intervene at any time to give dares and participate in double dares, but they won't win the dare contest.