The rise of the Brave Tangled Dragons - The sequel

A new life

Merida - fear; losing control of her life

I stared at the envelope in my hand, hating it before I had even seen what it was holding. Slowly, I peeled open the flap, before pouring the two folded papers inside of it onto my hand.

I threw the envelope into a trashcan as I passed it. One of the papers was personalized, the other was impossible not to recognize; my grades. The envelope had clearly stated this was intended for my legal guardians, not me, but I'd rather be prepared.

I looked over the grades with a sigh. It would've been nothing but A plus' if it wasn't for the A-minus in French.

I cursed under my breath, putting my grades into my jacket pocket and bringing the personalized letter up.

If my grades wouldn't make my parents happy, maybe the letter would make it better. I unfolded it and started reading Miss. Maudie's messy handwriting.

'Mrs. and Mr. DunBroch

While Merida is the top of almost every class and is showing no problems in her education, I can't help but worry.

Six extracurriculars could wear down her mental state, especially at her young age. If you could consider talking her into dropping at least one of them it would truly ease my mind. Especially because her GPA is more than high enough for her to reach whatever college she wishes to go to.

As for her grades and overall performance, I do hope you understand that you have nothing but pride to feel for your daughter, as she is exceeding in school.

Both in-class and out of it.

Sincerely Miss. Maudie, teacher of grade eleven'

I crumbled up the paper and threw it in the closest trashcan with a huff. Talk me into dropping the curriculars. As if it was I who had chosen to take them.

"You must do it all if the DunBroch name is to stay intact" my mother would say. And it's not like I haven't tried to drop one of the clubs, but my attempt had only caused them to make me join one more, thus the strange number.

No, Miss. Maudie's letter would not do anything well, it would only make them think I had complained.

My train of thought was cut short by colliding with someone else because that is exactly what I needed after hearing this bad news.

Hiccup - fear; disappointing his father

The redhead before me swore suddenly as she put some space between me and herself, and only then did she realize just who she was looking at. The top of our school stumbled backward with wide eyes and I knew this was my chance to prove myself.

"What are you looking at?" I asked in the coldest voice I could manage; she lowered her gaze. "You're lucky I'm in a good mood, or my family's men would have come for your thick head." I continued, trying not to grimace. She hurried past me towards wherever she was going, but not fast enough for me to miss the look on her face.

She looked spooked, not necessarily by my words, probably just by my face. But either way, I hated seeing that look on peoples' faces.

I cast one last glance her way, before continuing up to the closest alley. I opened the door with a dragon head painted on it.

The club was crowded with my dad's men, but they parted around me as I walked through. I grabbed a soda one of the legacies was going to drink, I think they call him Tuffnut. I opened it and drank some as I walked to the back.

I made my way through the corridor to my room, where I threw myself onto my bed with a groan, keeping the bottle of soda upright to not spill.

Most parents are happy as long as their kids have good grades, which I have. But my father wants me to be dangerous, that's what would make him happy. Being the only child of a mob boss means I am his legacy, I will take over the gang when he needs me to, but I'm not fit for the job.