Night Rider

The Gang

-Hiccup's POV-

"Are you sure?" Astrid asked, coming infront of me so we faced eachother. I was forced to stop or walk into her, and I didn't want to to that.

"Yes." I answered, then continued to walk past her.

"Okay." She said. I would have never expected Astrid to give up her fight that easily, but I took it as a good thing and she jogged to keep up with me. She didn't try to hold my hand again, which I was greatful for, as it would probably just lead to more questions when we reached the village.

We walked in silence. We were both thinking on how it would be best for me to tell them. I started to formulate a plan. However, we soon reached the village. It was deserted. It was empty. It was too quiet.

"Where is everyone?" I asked Astrid. A look of realisation hit her face and she physically face-palmed. "Astrid?"

"Today was the day the new dragon-fighting lessons started! Everyone was required to attend!" She said, in a fustrated way. "I missed it!"

"That's perfect!" I replied, smiling and brushing my hand through my hair. I can't believe my luck!

"Huh?" She questioned. "That's perfect?"

"I can find a hut to go into with no-one knowing I was there! Then when they have finished training, you grab Snotlout, Fishlegs and the Twins and bring them to me. I will then reveal myself!" I concluded, reminding myself to get a present for myself for coming up with such a brilliant plan.

"Why those?" Astrid asked me, "They are all crazy in their own way!"

"They have already seen me and Toothless as we truely are - the time I was shot with an arrow. They will be less likely to run or give away my hiding place. They know that I am not a huge threat." I answered.

"I guess..." Astrid started.

"And they won't question you when you tell them to follow you!" Hiccup said.

"Yeh..." Astrid said. We emerged into the village and quickly found an unused storage hut for me to hide in. I lit a torch and I settled down. The hut had a strange feeling of dampness. We waited for what seemed like years while I figured out what I was going to say to them and Astrid kept lookout by the door to stop anyone or anything coming into the fish hut.

"Hiccup, they have just finished." Astrid said, poking her head around the door. It snapped me from my thoughts and I put my helmet on again. "Are you sure that you want to do this?"

"Yeh. Positive." I replied.

"Okay, stay quiet and put out the fire." She said, before softly closing the door and running off. "I'm trusting you on this."

"Bye, Astrid." I said quietly after she had left. I sighed. I decided to rest too, and I leant against the wall and let my mind wander.

"Rider?" Asked a familiar voice. I opened my eyes and stood up, using the wall to help me. Astrid was standing in the doorway, her head poking through while her body remained on the other side. I must have dozed off...

"I'm ready." I replied. Astrid disappeared and then reappeared with the gang following her.

"Can you give us some light?" Asked Astrid. I quickly lit a pile of wood on fire and it burned beautifully. I stood strongly. Fear and dread started to fill me, but I couldn't let it show.

"Oh! Cool! Hey Night Rider." Said Ruffnut leaning against a wall, and was quickly followed by Tuffnut. I was surprised that they didn't seem shocked or scared at all.

"Please, call me Rider." I said, adding a friendly demeanour to the room.

"So, are we on like... first-name basis now?" Questioned Snotlout.

"Rider is not my name." I said, "It's just the name which you guys give me on Berk."

"Okay, yeh. Im... Violent Fighter, but you can just call me Fighter." Snotlout said, a smirk growing on his face, but that was quickly wipped from his face when Astrid knocked him on the head.

"I know your name, Snotlout." I said.

"Yeh! Then what is it?" He questioned, his arms folded and a smug smirk on his face. I opened my mouth to reply, but I shut it again when I realised that he had just asked a stupid question.

"Are you really the heir?" I asked. Astrid had told me that he had been appointed the new heir to Berk after I left and was pressumed dead.

"Yeah. And I'm perfect for it. Better than the scrawny one who was actually the chief's son." He replied. I rolled my eyes.

"Is it true that you trained a Deadly Nadder for Astrid?" Asked Tuffnut.

"Yeh..." I said. Obviously word spread quickly around Berk.

"Can you train us the most destructive and explosive one?" Asked Tuff eagerly, high-fiving Ruff.

"Errrmmmm....." I said, unsure what I should say.

"Do you have a Night Fury?" Asked Fishlegs, grinning from the corner of the room. I was glad that he changed the topic.

"Yes, Toothless is a Night Fury." I answered him.

"Woah! Awsome! How easily can he blow stuff up?" Asked Ruffnut.

"We havn't blown anything up recently." I answered Ruffnut.

"Boring!" Tuffnut piped up. "Where is he anyway?"

"Somewhere safe." I replied, "but we can catch up later."

"Can we have a Night Fury?" Asked Ruffnut eagerly.

"No."

"Can I ask one more question?" Asked Tuffnut.

"Yeh... I guess." I sighed, rubbing my hand through my hair. I always do that when I am nervous.

"Are you dating Astrid?" He asked. I was completely shocked. I couldn't find any words at that moment in time due to my astonishment, but thankfully Astrid stepped in.

"I think that's enough questions." Astrid replied.

"No, Astrid. I will answer his question." I said rather gloomily, "I am... I do have a small crush for Astrid." I fimished quietly, not meeting her eyes.

"Ewww! Does she even know who you really are?" Cried Snotlout, "And besides we all know that Astrid will soon be madly in love with the Snotmaster!"

"Snotmaster?..." Questioned Ruffnut as she and Tuff burst out laughing.

"I am falling for Rider too. And I know his name, age, Night Fury, adventures, childhood and basically everthing about him" Astrid said confidently smiling and waking over to me. She laced her hands with mine.

"Won't Hiccup be disappointed and angry at this Astrid? You like him, he likes you from Valhalla, and he will be watching you with another man!" Cried Fishlegs.

"Hiccups not in Valhalla." I answered him plainly.

"So, he is in Helheim!?" Said Tuffnut excitedly, a smile growing on his face, and then on Ruff's.

"What, no!" I replied.

"So, where is he then?" Asked Snotlout rudely. I turned around so my back was to the group and took a few slow breaths to calm myself.

"You don't have to tell them, Rider!" Said Astrid, facing me. I took off my helmet.

"But I want too." I replied, "Fishlegs, Hiccup isn't in Valhalla. Ruff and Tuff, he isn't in Helheim. And in answer to Snotlout's question..." I turned around so they could see my face clearly. "He is right here. I'm surprised that you didn't recognise my voice."