Dragon Music Tales
Rewrite the Stars
Summary: In the universe of what might have happened if Hiccup haven't shot Toothless down in the first movie shown in the episode "Darkest Night", Hiccup and Astrid eventually develop a secret friendship, which only turns into something more. Astrid wants him to pursue her, but Hiccup knows that he couldn't because of his reputation as a misfit, and that she deserves someone better than him.
Post-RttE.
WARNING: THIS ONE-SHOT COMES FROM A STORY THAT HASN'T BEEN POSTED YET. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.
One warm, peaceful night, an eighteen-year-old Hiccup was in a cove, sitting on the ground, looking at his reflection in the pond. This cove was one that he, Ragnar and Juno had found three years ago that served as a new favorite spot that they would use to escape the constant criticism of the village. Right now, he was by himself. The other two had wanted to join him, but it was obvious that he wanted to be alone right now.
That afternoon, it was probably one of the worst in his life. I knew it was a bad idea to go with her. Hiccup scolded himself, his reflection copying his berating grimace. He scolded himself for being the son of the Chief, yet he was nothing like his peers. Scrawny, brainy, and inquisitive. Everything that a Viking was not supposed to be. Yet, why does she still stick around him?
He was thinking about Astrid Hofferson. The perfect example of a Viking shieldmaiden. She was everything that he could want in a special someone, yet due to their opposing reputations, it doesn't seem possible. Especially since his cousin, Snotlout was trying to woo her. That golden axe that he ordered Hiccup to make was almost done, yet Hiccup knew that Astrid would most likely use that axe to try and chop off his dim-witted cousin's head.
However, after his failed attempt to shoot down that Night Fury three years ago, when she was out training with the other Viking teens in Dragon Training, not including himself and his friends, she seemed to want his company. She said that it was because she would rather throw herself off a cliff than deal with Snotlout, the twins, or even Juno; much to Hiccup's chagrin as he recalled that those two used to be pretty close as children.
Anyway, because they knew that people would have a lot of nerve about their growing friendship, they decided to meet in secret or in the forge whenever Astrid needed her axe sharpened so that they could chat for a few minutes. All the while, Hiccup's feelings for her had grown.
As the Haddock boy remembered what happened that afternoon, a grimace came on his face.
Flashback
Hiccup was waiting for Astrid near the forge. He tapped his foot, wondering where she could be.
"She usually comes around this time." He said to himself. He had managed to send Ragnar and Juno back home to get dinner ready, saying that he could close up the forge.
Soon, Astrid had arrived. She seemed to be glowing as her soft smile grew on her face. Hiccup wondered what she could be so happy about.
"What's gotten you so giddy?" He asked her with a teasing smile, eager to hear what his secret friend had to say.
Immediately after he had said that, Astrid's smile disappeared and she seemed to be really nervous, holding her hands behind her back and shuffling one foot against the ground. Hiccup was confused about her sudden change of emotion.
"Are you okay?" He asked her.
Call him crazy, or it was probably just the sunlight was setting on her, but Astrid's face seemed to turn a soft red as she looked up at Hiccup. "Can you come with me?" She asked him. "I want you to meet some people."
Hiccup was still a little confused, but complied as he followed her away from the forge. In a matter of minutes, Hiccup saw that they had arrived at Astrid's place.
"Uh, Astrid? What are we doing here?" He asked nervously.
Astrid rubbed her arm. "I'm sorry, Hiccup." She said. "I was about to leave my house to meet you, but my parents caught me. They said I wouldn't leave the house until they knew why. Again, I'm sorry, but I had to tell them that I was... meeting a boy."
Hiccup's eyes widened. "You mean, me?" He asked. His answer was a nod.
Astrid knocked on the door, and sure enough, her father answered. Asmund Hofferson was surprised to see his daughter with the poor excuse of a Chief's son with her.
"Is he who you were telling me and your mother about, Astrid?" He asked. Hiccup visibly flinched when he heard the harsh tone on how he was pointed out.
"Yes, Dad." Astrid answered, sounding so confident.
Then, her mother appeared in the doorway. She too was surprised to see Hiccup standing there with her daughter, but then a smile came on her face. Alva Hofferson was always a little nicer to Hiccup while he was growing up, yet he didn't feel like returning her smile. He was more focused on Asmund's reaction.
"I'm very disappointed in you, young lady." He said to Astrid, making her eyes widen in shock.
That was enough for Hiccup though, and he turned around and dashed off into the forest, ignoring Astrid's calls.
End of Flashback
Hiccup grabbed a rock and slammed it into the water, rippling his reflection into blurs. That was less than an hour ago. As he stepped away from the pond and sat on a nearby rock, he hugged his arms and began lamenting on why he was so different in his mind.
Meanwhile, Astrid was searching all over the forest for Hiccup. Her plan had went so wrong. She was really hoping that her mother would talk some sense into her father about him. If only he would bother to get to know him, like she did.
She learned that Hiccup Haddock was really smart, inventive, loyal, stubborn, sarcastic, in some ways artistic, and actually, with a little more training, he could be a fine warrior. He certainly has potential, and now that he was older, he can swing an axe, he can use a mace, and he was actually pretty skilled with a sword. Also, he was really kind and caring when she saw him with helping his friends and hanging out with the children of Berk, who unlike most of the adults and teens their age, loved him dearly.
She still regretted all that she had done to him when they were kids themselves; ignoring him and not defending him when Snotlout and the twins would treat him and his friends like dirt. But after that dragon raid, she saw that Hiccup was studying the dragons that she and the others were fighting as they trained. When she actually had the gall to try and talk to him, she quickly realized that there was so much more to the awkward son of the Chief.
Soon, they had become real friends, but decided to keep it secret because Hiccup thought it would be bad for the both of them if they were seen interacting in a friendly manner. But as the years went by, Astrid felt a growing feeling of warmth whenever she thought of him, and it had only gotten stronger. Right now, as she was searching for him, she recalled what happened after Hiccup ran off from her parents' place.
Flashback
Astrid had called for Hiccup to stop, yet the Haddock boy had already sprinted off into the woods, not hearing her. She whirled around to face her father with a glare.
"How can you say that to him?" She asked.
"You know that boy is causing enough trouble as it is." Asmund said. "Though he had stopped ruining attacks, that doesn't make him any better."
"And who is better?" Astrid demanded. "Snotlout?"
"Of course not." Asmund answered.
"You don't even bother to get to know him, Dad." Astrid said, her temper flaring. "Yeah, maybe he was a trouble magnet when we were younger, but he was never a bad person. In fact, I think he's one of the best guys here on this island. Maybe even in the whole Archipelago."
"Just because he is the Chief's son doesn't change what he has done, Astrid." Her father said.
"Asmund!" Alva scolded her husband.
"I don't like him because he is the heir." Astrid said. "I like him for who he is. The sooner you see that, the sooner everyone's lives will be better."
With that, Astrid stormed off and headed into the forest to find Hiccup.
End of Flashback
After she had recalled that moment, Astrid realized something. It then made everything clear. Why she would get butterflies in her stomach whenever Hiccup got into her head, why she felt like smiling every time she would see him or hear his name.
She was in love. She was in love with Hiccup Haddock. If she would travel back in time and told her fifteen-year-old self this revelation, her younger self would probably chase her with an axe. But now, it all made sense. And she was happy with this newly discovered fact.
Just then, she saw that there was a large cove down in the ground in front of her. If she hadn't stopped when the realization hit her, she probably would've fallen in. There, sitting on his knees near the edge of a small pond, was the boy who had stolen her heart.
"Hiccup!" She called.
Hiccup turned around and saw Astrid above him, sliding down into the cove. He slowly got back up on his feet and stood right where he was as she landed on the ground and headed over to him.
"Hiccup, I am so sorry." She said.
A hurt look came on his face as he tried to walk past her and towards the edge of the cove, not wanting to talk. Astrid grabbed his arm.
"Please, Hiccup. Look at me." She pleaded.
He still didn't turn to her as he gently pulled his arm away from her. "I don't care what my parents say. Or what anyone else thinks." She said, trying again.
Hiccup still didn't look at her as he once again started towards the rock walls of the cove. Not knowing why or how she got the idea, but Astrid had a feeling that this might be the only way for him to listen. She took a deep breath and began to sing.
Astrid: You know I want you.
Hiccup stopped in his tracks, and though he still wasn't facing Astrid, he had a look of surprise in his eyes. Seeing that whatever she was doing was working, Astrid continued.
It's not a secret I try to hide.
I know you want me,
So don't keep saying our hands are tied.
Slowly, Astrid began walking slowly towards Hiccup, still singing. When she would get close to him, he tried to move further away, yet she persisted after he had gained some distance each time.
You claim it's not in the cards,
And fate is pulling you miles away
And out of reach from me.
But you're here in my heart,
So who can stop me if I decide
That you're my destiny?
What if we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine.
Nothing could keep us apart.
You'd be the one I was meant to find.
It's up to you, and it's up to me.
No one can say what we get to be.
Finally, she had reached Hiccup, turned him around to face her and took his hands. His palms were slightly calloused from all the years working in the forge, yet they were ever so gentle and warm.
So why don't we rewrite the stars?
Maybe the world can be ours tonight.
Hiccup removed his hands and quickly scaled up the rock wall of the cove. No matter how many times she would see it, Astrid was impressed with his increasing skills of endurance, grace and dexterity. Once he had reached the top, Hiccup looked down at Astrid, the moon shining behind, shadowing his figure as he began to sing as well.
Hiccup: You think it's easy?
You think I don't wanna run to you?
But there are mountains
And there are doors that we can't walk through.
Hiccup then slid back down into the cove, slowly stopping on a couple of ledges to keep his balance, but on the third time, when he was sliding down to the ground, he had grabbed a nearby vine that was growing along the wall from a tree that slightly hovered over the Cove and was now swinging around in a circle in the air. Once in a while, he would get lower, almost to where Astrid could reach out and grab, but he would swing out of the way.
I know you're wondering why
Because we are able to be
Just you and me within these walls.
But when we go outside,
You're gonna wake up and see that
It was hopeless after all.
No one can rewrite the stars.
How can you say you'll be mine?
Everything keeps us apart,
And I'm not the one you were meant to find.
It's not up to you, it's not up to me
When everyone tells us what we can be.
How can we rewrite the stars,
Say that the world can be ours tonight?
Now, when Hiccup was low enough, Astrid jumped up and wrapped her arms around his back, joining him in the air. When the two of them faced each other, it was the first time that night when Hiccup smiled, making Astrid return it as they swung around while singing.
Both: All I want is to fly with you.
All I want is to fall with you.
So just give me all of you.
Astrid jumped down and gracefully landed on her feet on the ground. She saw another vine dangling down into the cove that was parallel to Hiccup's, and she grabbed it. After gaining enough speed, she jumped into the air, swinging opposite to Hiccup as their vines began to intertwine.
Hiccup: It feels impossible. (Astrid: It's not impossible.)
Is it impossible?
Both: Say that it's possible!
When their vines couldn't twist anymore, the two young Vikings were so close that they could feel the other's breath on their faces with their bodies pressing almost too close together. Then, their vines quickly untangled and they were both on opposite sides of the cove. Once Astrid was nearing the ground, she jumped off her vine and landed, watching Hiccup soar above her, smiling down at her.
How do we rewrite the stars?
Say you were made to be mine.
Nothing can keep us apart
'Cause you are the one I was meant to find.
Astrid quickly scaled up one of the larger boulders in the cove, watching Hiccup's speed and position.
It's up to you, and it's up to me.
No one can say what we get to be.
Once he was close enough, Astrid jumped off and joined Hiccup in swinging on one vine, with one of her legs wrapped around his waist, one of her arms around his shoulders, and her spare hand grabbing his hand that was gripping the vine. One of Hiccup's arms took hold around her own waist.
Why don't we rewrite the stars,
Changing the world to be ours?
Slowly, the two of them began to slow down as they got down to the ground. Hiccup let go of the vine and they both dropped down onto their feet. They were both breathless, with Hiccup's hands on Astrid's waist, and Astrid's own hands on his chest. They both were staring into each other's eyes, feeling the other's warm breath on their faces again. Sapphire blue became lost in emerald green and vice versa.
Hiccup: You know I want you.
It's not a secret I try to hide.
Astrid felt her heart slightly leap at the proclamation. But then, it deflated with his next words.
But I can't have you.
We're bound to break and my hands are tied.
With a heavy heart, Hiccup slowly removed his hands from Astrid's waist, stepped away from her and started out of the cove, leaving the blonde shieldmaiden alone in the cove with a broken heart and tears streaming down her cheeks. Yet, Astrid knew that they were meant to be together, one way or another.
A/N: *sniffs* I think I almost cried while writing this. If anyone of you are crying, here's some tissues.
*hands a box of tissues around*
Who doesn't love hearing "Rewrite the Stars" from "The Greatest Showman". But as much as I love this beautiful romantic song, I don't own it in any way.
And fine! I discovered that there was a Hiccstrid Week somewhere in June. I can't wait that long with this one-shot pounding in my head. Every time I hear this song, I think of this, when I'm not thinking of my other OTPs or my own love life (which I will NOT go into detail about).
Also, when I was watching the episode "Darkest Night" for the fifth time, when the scene came to Astrid hugging Hiccup, it got me wondering. Why would she just go up to him and hug him if all that time, something didn't happen. She would've still given him the cold shoulder unless something had happened between them. With that thought and this song, this one-shot came to be.
One more thing. Like I have said before, updates on any of my stories will be really slow because of my tablet out of commission. And there is a big chance that unfortunately, all of my work will be gone. Luckily, I'll have some work on my Google Drive, yet I can't get on it a lot because of limited access at home and at school. So yeah, my lack of writing stuff is really getting on my nerves.
So until then, I'll see y'all! Please leave a review about what you think. They are highly appreciated.
Got to fly! ;)