Meet Me At the Halfway Point

Till next time

(Year One, Spring, Day 3)

The next day, by late afternoon, Merida was leaning against Toothless as they both watched Hiccup ride Angus at full speed around the open field.

"I think he's got it, don't ye think so boy?" Merida asked Toothless. Toothless flared his nostrils and nodded.

"Here comes th' final test," she whispered to the dragon. Hands cupping her mouth she shouted, "ANGUS! JUMP!"

Following the command, Angus neighed and buckled his back legs and jumped as high as he could. Hiccup passed his test as he held onto the horses saddle rings, and helped Angus strike a perfect landing and slowed down to a stop.

"Did you see that?!" Hiccup yelled excitedly, trying to climb off but his metal foot was still tied the saddle, Merida walked over shaking her head and smiling, and loosen it for him.

Still- Hiccup went on "With Toothless, it's all about the feet and pedals, but I finally figured out the rings of the horse, you didn't think I could make that landing but I did, oohhh I did!"

Merida laughed and snorted, "O' course I knew ye could do it Hiccup, I should say ye finally got it."

"Yeah I do!" Hiccup shot his hands in the air in victory, wooing and jumping around the field.

Merida raised her eyebrows and whispered to Toothless, "Is he usually this cocky?"

Also annoyed , Toothless again nodded yes.

"Hiccup?!" She shouted. "Hate to be a party breaker bit look behind ye!"

Hiccup stopped dancing and looked back, noticing what she meant. The sun was slowly moving behind the mountain, it was time to head home.

Now a little embarrassed, scratching the back of his head, "hehe- sorry... I -guess we all lost track of time."

Merida smiled and sighed, walking over she placing her hands on the short Vikings shoulders.

"You can celebrate once ye get back to Berk in one piece."

"You're right- you're right, come on let's get going."

"Alright, so the Strike Class has what three things?" asked Hiccup, quizzing Merida, while walking through the forest.

"Blazing speed, vice-like jaw strength, 'n' extreme intelligence." She answered correctly.

"And the Skrill dragon can do what?"

"Shoot burst o' white fire 'n' lightning bolts, is only found during electrical storms, 'n' if you get to close your hair will stand on in." Merida finished this a smirk, "correct?"

"Correct-but not yet, what about a Night Fury?" suggested Hiccup.

"You make this too easy," said Merida

"A night Fury can blend into th' night sky, 'n' shoot plasma blast, 'n' if ever encounter one do two things, first get attention," to prove her point Merida jumped in front of Toothless, where he stopped walking. "And then earn trust," she finished by reaching her hand out and Toothless licking her hand in response. "See?"

"Good one princess, one class down, lots more to go".

"I do love a challenge," she said. Both began to chuckle as they walked ahead and into the clearing of the mountains in the direction for Hiccup to head home.

The laughs slowed down and turned quiet, it was the bittersweet time to say goodbye.

"So ye have everything- my books?" question Merida.

Hiccup patted to his satchel, "All right here."

"Right, well, good," Merida really didn't know what to say.

" I'll take good care of your books...promise."

"Please do, 'n' get back safe 'n' I'll see you next time."

"Right... till next time."

More dead silence until Hiccup shuffled his arms out and slowly went in to give Merida a awkward friendship hug. Awkward for Hiccup because he could rest his chin on her shoulder, awkward for Merida because his top hairs tickled her nose, overall Merida thought it was sweet of him and hugged him back.

"Right!" said Merida pulling away, "be ready fur next time I won't go easy on you?"

"Easy?" he was confused thinking back to when he was screaming in terror while in training.

"Berks missing ye, now go" pushing Hiccup towards Toothless.

When Hiccup finally got on Toothless, Hiccup waved goodbye and off they flew.

Merida took a deep sigh, smile, then walked back with Angus.

"I bet a bag of oats sound good about now ah boy?"

Angus neighed in agreement.

When Hiccup finally got back the next day it was early morning as Berks towns forks were waking up and dragons were everywhere in sight, just how Hiccup liked it. As he flew down he spotted Goober picking up tools at his shop.

"Well nice o' you to stop by- better have a good excuse fur leaving Berk for days, 'n' more importantly leaving me all this work by myself." Gobber finished with a tone of both serious and sarcastically. "Ye'r just lucky your father isn't here yet, or he lecture you himself.".

"Sorry sorry, I got held up," said Hiccup trying to hide his smile.