HTTYD "Reboot" (alternate timeline)

Chapter 10: Let's rumble, Air Nut

Berk, Hofferson House

Hiccup had arrived early. Gobber gave them the day off to practice and plan for tommorow's fights. Hiccup and Astrid had taken advantage of the sunny day and were planning out in the backyard, near where Astrid's father grew the blueberries he used to give an extra taste to his brew of mead. Astrid had Hiccup try to hit her with the wooden sword that she found laying around, trying to teach him how to attack. Curiously enough, he was doing really well, getting very close more often than not. She thought back to the training session before, in the woods. He took down Ulfhild in a single attack. And she could see Dogsbreath explaining something to him, though she couldn't hear what. It seemed as though he was practicing by himself too, getting more confident.

Astrid:"Good form, Hiccup. Now, give it your all. See if you can hit me!"

He would have said he doesn't want to hurt her, but this was Astrid. No way was HE going to hurt her in any way. He sped up and attacked again and again. Astrid was holding her own just fine, all of his hits close but she was still too fast for him. But someone like Fishlegs or the twins wouldn't stand a chance if this is how he fights. She nodded at him, and he stopped. He sat on the ground, exhausted. He was used to working in a forge, but fighting was a new and different kind of activity for him and tired him out way faster because of it. Astrid went inside to grab some water for the two of them, and Hiccup thought about what would happen if they won. Would people finally take him seriously, or would they just give credit to Astrid? As Astrid returned with the water, she sat down next to him. They've been training since noon, and it was pretty late in the evening.

Astrid:"I'm impressed. I wasn't expecting you to be so quick."

Hiccup:"Uhh, thanks."

Astrid:"Look, tommorow's gonna be rough. Between Ulfhild, Snotlout and Dogsbreath, each team will have a major threat. I'll deal with that. But you need to deal with the other one."

Hiccup:"Ok, and how?"

Astrid:"Fishlegs is slow and scared. Come at him like you did at me during training, and he'll probably scream and drop his weapons."

Hiccup didn't like how she insulted his friend, but he couldn't deny it was the most likely scenario.

Astrid:"It's a shame, really. His dad is one of the village's best fighters and arguably the strongest, and Fishlegs could be that of our generation, but he just doesn't have the balls to get up and practice, he'd rather lie in books all day. Then the twins. Ruffnut's tricky, I don't know anything about how she fights. And Tuffnut just swings for the fences, dodge and strike and you'll take care of him with ease."

Hiccup:"You know, you seem to have a lot of confidence in me."

Astrid:"I have confidence in my training. And you surprised me today, noone will expect you to fight at all, let alone so quickly."

Hiccup:"And if, by any chance, your opponent beats you, how should I approach them? I know it sounds ridicu-"