The Alpha is Rising

Preparations

That day started out like any other, Hiccup got up bright and early, ate breakfast with his parents before his dad dropped him off at school. He quickly found his friends, Fishlegs eager to talk about the newest dragons in Dragon Tamers, as always. School itself dragged on like usual, Hiccup preferring to draw, play Dragon Tamers, and build things out of Legos rather than listening to his professor drone on about history. Of course, Hiccup could just watch Merida and daydream about how he would ask her out and where they would go. He'd plan out their entire future if he had the time, but by the time they were boarding a plane for their honeymoon, the class was over and it was on to the next one. It wasn't until it was time to leave that someone mentioned the clearly obvious.

"Go on, Hiccup, ask her out! Or else Snotlout will think he's actually got a chance!" blurted Fishlegs.

"I thought Snotlout already asked her out, and she turned him down cold?"

"Yeah, but he's going to try again. No one has ever asked her out twice, and he thinks he's got the charm to make her melt!"

Hiccup chuckled, "Think is the key word, Fishlegs. Snotlout doesn't do much of that outside of finding new ways to get girls to notice him." At that moment, Snotlout walked up to them, a smug look on his face.

"Well I think Merida will say yes. Once she realizes just how irresistible I am, she'll be asking me to marry her!" grinned Snotlout. Fishlegs and Hiccup groaned and rolled their eyes. Snotlout thought he was so awesome that he couldn't see that he wasn't! "Ah, oh Merida, darling princess!" Snotlout rushed after the redhead, who was just getting out of archery club.

"OK, this, I've got to see," smirked Fishlegs as he and Hiccup began walking after him.

"Watch the very first, second failed attempt?" grinned Hiccup.

"Oh, I know! When Snotlout gets annoying, you swoop in and rescue her!"

"What? No! She'd never forgive if I did that!"

"Excuse me?" came Merida's sharp Scottish accent.

Snotlout began stammering, "I, uh, um, w-was wondering if you'd go out with me to H-Hiccup's party tomorrow."

"No," came the quick reply. Hiccup let out a soft sigh of relief before he and Fishlegs began snickering as Snotlout's face changed from surprise to crestfallen.

"What? But . . ."

"No, I'm not going with you."

"But, but, who would go out with me?"

"I would," stated Ruffnut as she, Astrid, and Heather joined Merida.

"You would?"

"Well, yeah, if I wasn't already going with MacIntosh," she added, indicating the brunette who joined her side.

"Oh man!" Everyone burst out laughing.

"Better luck next time, Snotlout," snickered Astrid.

"Yeah, but, just out of curiosity, Mer, who would you go out with?" asked Heather.

"Someone who hasn't asked me out yet," quipped Merida as she turned to walk away.

Fishlegs elbowed Hiccup, "Did you hear that, Hiccup, did you hear that? You're the only one who hasn't asked her out yet!"

"What? No I'm not, you haven't asked her out, Eret hasn't, nor has Tuffnut."

"Hey Merida! Are you going to Hiccup's party tomorrow?" shouted Fishlegs.

Merida turned and shouted back a bit harshly, "Who wants to know?"

"Hiccup!"

"What? No! Fishlegs!" hissed Hiccup.