I Loathe You

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

Toothless barely made it out of cave before it all collapsed in on them.
The Night Fury landed and Hiccup quickly got up, carrying Astrid in his arms and setting her gently down on the grass.

"Astrid!" Hiccup was slapping Astrid's pale cheeks, "Astrid, please wake up"

Hiccup began fearing the worst, but Astrid slowly began to regain consciousness.

"Oh thank Thor you're alive!" Hiccup prayed.

"Oh wow Hiccu-" Astrid coughed, "I didn't think you cared"

"You're not as bad as I thought, Astrid" Hiccup confessed.

"Right back at ya" Astrid smiled weakly at Hiccup, "oh gods, where is the stone?"

"I think you may have dropped it into the lava when you passed out.. but it's okay, your life is way more important than a stupid stone" said Hiccup.

"So we pretty much did all that for nothing?"

"Well.. not nothing-" Hiccup was interrupted by Toothless, nudging his shoulder.

"What is it bud?"

Toothless opened his mouth and- behold! The stone rolled out onto the grass.

"Oh my gods, you got the stone?" Hiccup said, proudly.

Toothless nods.

"wow! You never cease to amaze me, bud"

"Well.." Astrid said as she sat up, "it's almost sundown, and I think we have a contest to win"
---
"People of Berk!" Stoick is once again on the stage in the great hall. "We have neared the end of our contest. Whoever has the stone, step up now and show me the stone to receive your prize!"
Many people stepped up, but they all had Changewing eggs. Not one of them had the real stone of fortune.

"Well.. this is a disappointing turnout" Stoick mumbled to Gobber, "are we not gonna have a winner this year?"

"I don't know, Stoick, but you're gonna have to announce it" said Gobber.

Stoick sighed and walked back onto the stage, "since nobody has procured the assigned item, it is unfortunate for me to announce that for this years' annual berk village contest, there will be no winne-"

"WAIT!" The doors of the great hall swing open, Hiccup walks in accompanied with Astrid. Everybody's head turns towards his voice, "we have the stone of good fortune"

"Gobber?" Stoick gestured to Gobber to go and confirm if that was in fact, the real stone of fortune.

Gobber examined the stone, tapped it, put his ear against it, then he smiled and turned to face the audience. "Vikings of Berk, we have a winner!"

The crowd cheered as Hiccup and Astrid walked over to the stage to claim their prize. Stoick puts a golden medal around Astrid's neck, then Hiccup's.

"Thanks, dad" said Hiccup.

"no problem, son. And besides, I knew you were gonna win"

"Yeah, but Astrid did the hard part. She's the one who got the stone." Hiccup confessed.

The whole room cheered loudly for Astrid.

Then, Naomi runs up to Hiccup and gives him a hug.

"Congratulations, babe!" Said Naomi, "lets go home, I want to hear all about your day!"

Naomi began pulling Hiccup away from the crowd, Hiccup looked back at Astrid and waved her goodbye.

The gang ran over to Astrid and congratulated her, then they carried her out of the great hall on their shoulders.

"ASTRID! ASTRID! ASTRID!" they chanted.
---
The next morning, Hiccup wakes up and hears a familiar voice coming from downstairs.

"Hiccup!" Called Naomi, "come on, we have to go"

Hiccup realizes what time it was and jumps out of his bed, throws on his suit and runs down the stairs.

"Late again?" said Naomi, embracing Hiccup.

"Well I'm thankful to have someone like you to make sure I'm on time" Hiccup chuckled as they both walk out of the house.

"See you after the lesson?" Asked Naomi.

"always" replied Hiccup, giving her a smile and as he started for the academy.
---
"Good morning, gang!"

"Good morning, Hiccup" everybody groans.

"Morning, Hiccup." Said Astrid.

Hiccup is surprised because Astrid never answers his "good morning"s, but this time, she did.

"Hey.. Astrid" he replied, "how's your day so far?"

"It's been good. And you?"

"Great!" Said Hiccup, "you know, I was almost late again but Naomi saved the day"

"Naomi, huh?" said Astrid, "speaking of, how are you guys?"

"Naomi and I? yeah uh- we're great. She's great."

"oh good" said Astrid, "that's great.. I uh, i wanted to thank you, Hiccup. for saving my life yesterday and helping me win the contest"

"its no problem, Astrid. Besides, you saved my life too" said Hiccup

"well yeah, but you saved me twice"

"That is true, it's very true. Don't worry, about it, I'm sure you'll find a way to repay the favor" Hiccup said and paused for a moment. "So.. should we get the lesson started?"

They turn around to see everyone staring at them.

"Uhh.. what are you guys looking at?" asked Hiccup.

"Nothing.." said Fishlegs.

"Yeah, nothing at all, it's just you too seem to be really warming up to each other" teased Snotlout.

Astrid scoffs and punches Snotlout in the face, again.

---after the lesson---

"Thank goodness today's lesson is over, i need my beauty sleep" said Snotlout, leaving the academy, followed by the twins and Fishlegs.

"Hey, good job today" said Hiccup

"Thanks. Maybe now I won't have to send you to Valhalla early" giggled Astrid.

"Haha, very funny"

Hiccup looks at Astrid as she walks away and smiles to himself.

---