The Hero's Return

Chapter 24 - An Emotional Celebration

The winter slowly faded away, the chilling winter morning was no longer the first thing that greeted the Berkians. Instead, it was the warming light of the new season sun. The island of Berk was teeming with life, vikings and dragons once again out and about, running to prepare for the long-awaited Dragon Race.

"Do you know where this net goes, Stoick?"

"I thought my son told you already?"

"Ey, he did, but I forget. Too busy with the forging."

"Then you need to ask him, Gobber. If you cannot find him, then I think Astrid would be able to help."

"About that..."

"What is it now?"

"It seemed that the two of them could not be found, I think they are on one of their flight again." Gobber said awkwardly.

Turning his attention back that the course that had been expanded and upgraded, Stoick only had a lopsided smile on his face, "With how much work that the two of them had put in for the past few days, I think that those two deserved their little moments."

"Be honest, Stoick, you are just afraid of Astrid and her axe, aren't yer?"

"Would you blame me, Gobber? Last weeks, when I tried to wake Hiccup up from their little nap, she almost chopped my beard off."

"Ey, I don't blame, yer, Stoick. Everyone is afraid of the laddie one way or another."

"Just figure out where the net goes, Gobber, maybe Fishlegs can help."

The final finishing touches were added and the sun slowly rose up toward the sky, signally for everyone that the race was about to begin. On the starting line stood a mountain of vikings sitting anxiously on their dragons. On the stand, the Berkians and the representatives from every tribe, from the Outlaw to Beserker, even the Bog-burglar were there waiting and cheering loudly.

"You seemed energetic, milady."

"Of course I am, Hiccup, I am the reigning champion after all, so don't you think that I am going to go easy on you, babe." Astrid said playfully, yet, in her tone, Hiccup could feel the competitive side of her oozing out.

"But why do we need to compete with each other as well, can we just compete for Berk like the other vikings?"

"Snout, you are just sad that you could never score any point for the Jorgenson." Astrid mocked.

"Don't worry, I will share some of my points with you." Ruffnut joined in as she wrapped her arms around Snoutloud.

"Not today, sister. We barely got second place last time, I am not going to give it up, not even for love." Tuffnut said seriously.

Hearing it, Hiccup could not help but stare with wide eyes, the Tuffnut that would do anything in the name of love would not do so now. Glancing over to Fishlegs, who also had a look of determination of his face, a sight that Hiccup did not see that often. "I see that everyone is taking this Dragon Racing seriously."

"We do, it not only for our family, but it is also for Berk as the island of Berk never lost before."

"Then, is this the first time that the Haddock had a racer, milady?"

"This is the race for the younger generation who are more familiar to the Dragon, so this would be the first time for your family, Hiccup."

"Then I might get serious as well." Hiccup said quietly.

"You can try Hiccup, but remember that me and Stormfly beat you for a few time now, so don't be discourage, okay?"

Suddenly, Gobber's voice echoed in everyone's ear. "Yer ready?"