How To Train Your Princess

Co Ed.

The field had seemingly been transformed. New lines were painted on the grass and large tents were set up off to the left. I breathe it all in, trying to calm my nerves. This was it. A Lower Valley is gonna show these nobles how polo is played.I lean my head back, soaking in the sun's late morning rays. The academy girls are spread out along the bleachers, chatting as we wait to begin. The king and queen, along with Phlegma and Gobber, occupy the long table under the tent, chatting with other important nobles whom I've never met before. i shake my head, amused over the fact that they are sitting outside eating while we trot around on horses for their appeasement. Once you get past the making of the laws and governing a whole kingdom, being king doesn't sound so bad; fancy parties, sports played just for your eyes, servants at your beck and call, luxury.

I sit up, retie my boot laces, and head over to Stormfly. Our horses have all been tied to a post in the ground on the complete opposite side of the king's tent. I don't blame him for that though. She whinnies at me, spotting me from the corner of her eye. I pat her shoulder and tighten her girth, just for something to do. I check her bridal next and her leg wraps, making sure everything is secure and ready to go. Once bored with that, I head over to the water cask set up for us. I unscrew the cap on my canteen, and dunk it in. It bubbles as the water feeds into the round bottle. I sigh, sweeping my bangs off of my forehead, holding them on top of my head with my free hand. "Come on. Lets just get this game started. The wait is killing me." I say aloud, watching the bubbles slowly die down. I pull the canteen out of the water, screw the lid on and wipe my wet hand on the back of my neck, before slicking my bangs back on my scalp.

"Impatient, much?" someone says behind me. I smile turning slowly around.

"Ease drop much?" I counter, leaning back against the side of the cask, smirking, my arms crossed over my chest. He lets out a short laugh, his head bent down as he peeks at me through his bangs.

"I wasn't ease dropping," he says, cooly.

"Hmmm...,' I hum doubtfully. He stops directly in front of me, towering over me. "So, are you ready to lose, Your Highness?" I ask, teasingly.

"Why does it always have to be a competition?" he says, his smile crooked as he speaks.

"Why not?" I shoot back.

"You nervous?"

"Of course."

"Don't be. You've played against us a million times." he encourages. I quirk up an eyebrow. "Ok. That was an exaggeration. Not a million times, but enough to know our strengths and weaknesses. You'll do great." i glance over his shoulder as he talks, noticing his parents watching us from across the field. He follows my gaze, sensing my unease. "Don't worry about them either."

"I don't think they like me, based on how I embarrassed you at the ball last night." I admit.

"Actually, I was right."

"About what?" I ask, furrowing my brows.

"My dad liking your spirit. He told me when I was heading to my bedroom. He called me into his study to talk about you. He was impressed how you weren't afraid to stand up for yourself, and be bold enough to speak to me that way in front of the king and queen. He also thinks you make up for what I lack. So.... Yeah." He turns back around to face me again, offering a reassuring smile. "Don't fret about it. Just focus on winning." I nod, releasing a breath to ready myself. He surprises me by bending his knees slightly and hooking his arm around my waist, bringing me flush against him. He rests his forehead against mine, breathing in. "You'll do great." I nod again, closing my eyes. My arms feel limp, since his are around my waist, so I reach up, stroking the small braids I put behind his right ear. I tilt my face up some, lining my lips up with his. I'm about to kiss him, when a horn blows and we jump away from each other, startled.

"i guess it's starting now?"

He nods. "I'll see you on the battle field." and with that, he walks off toward his horse.

We are lined up in the center of the field, Hiccup standing in the middle of his team, us opposite of them. I recognize him, Snotlout, Eret, Dagur and that weird Gustav kid who keeps making kissy faces at me. I make a repulsed face and look away. I can hear Hiccup laughing at me. I make a cracking sound with my neck and he shuts up. I don't recognize the rest of the boys on his team. And, it finally sinks in; how hard this is gonna be. It's boys versus girls. Boys are automatically stronger than girls, apart from Gustav and Hiccup of course; no offense to them.What was Hiccup thinking, setting me up for failure by boosting my confidence only for me to get crushed on the field?

"Commence play!" a man shouts, and all the boys charge forward, smacking the ball in between us girls. We all stand there, disoriented. I blink, trying to get my head in the game. "You can do this Astrid. They're just teenage boys....Full of hormones and muscle. We are dead. No! I'm Fearless Astrid Hofferson. Hoffersons don't give up and they most certainly don't lose!" I spin Stormfly around, charging after them, causing the other girls to begin operating again. The Dagur guy has the ball. I kick Stormfly, gaining more speed, weaving through the opposite team. I come up behind him, watching his movements, waiting for him to push the ball to his right side. As soon as he does, i pull up beside him , and use my mallet to steal it away, whipping Stormfly around, racing to the other end of the field. By the time most of the players realize what has happened, I'm halfway down the field. its Hiccup who catches up with me first. he speeds up ahead of me some, and I realize what he's about to do. I stop the balls movement, pulling Stormfly to a halt, when he tries to cut me off, and i go around, while he's stopping and then confused.

"Sorry Haddock! I don't fall for those tricks!" I call to him before smacking the ball into the goal.

"Point, Academy!" the man calls out, the audience clapping.

Heather rushes over to me, grinning. "Yes!" we both shout, bumping our forearms together.

The game continued on, more intense than i'd ever imagined a polo game could be. The boys were good. Very good. But, we still came out on top. By one point. 32:31. But, I felt that I proved my skills on the field enough to impress the king and queen. I received a nod from the king himself, a smile from the queen and Phlegma, an 'I knew you could do it', from Hiccup, Snotlout, and Eret, and a congratulatory dinner with the academy girls in the dining hall that night. I was proud of myself, and the team work we showed out there today. Phlegma was obviously pleased in the way we presented ourselves out there. I don't think she became worried once. Ehhh... that's probably not true, but I can dream. It was probably from me that she ever froze up and everted her eyes from the other nobles watching her after i did something non-lady like or whatever. But, that's ok. She'll get over it. Besides, we won. Nothing like some good ol' refreshing girl power, if I do say so myself.