Astrid woke up and trained like she did every morning.

Visited Gobber, hung out with the other teens and did what was asked of her. It was the same old thing every day. She couldn't possibly think of what could have made her days any different... except for 1 thing. The rogue dragon rider.

He was a mystery she yearned to solve. He rode high above never really showing himself.

He was really only seen when he called to the dragons to not attack if they were provoked or upset or if a dragon was being attacked.

His voice was muffled by the bandana he wore but you could tell it was a he. If she was honest, it sounded like he was her age. She figured this was the case when she was 12.

She found a gangly boy who looked around her age asleep in the extra food supply cellars. Underneath the potato sacks. She thought he looked cute... especially since the only decent guy her age was Fishlegs as Tuff was just annoying and Snotlout was just so irritating, Insufferable and just plain Snotlout.

As he had done no harm and rumouredly stopped dragon attacks for 3 years she let him be. She did study him, however. When he woke up in the cellar, he noticed her watching him. He was alarmed at first and still had his face covered. He wore a bandana over his face with a slit in it so you could see his eyes and the crook of his nose.

She asked for his name. To her surprise he replied and said warily, "Call me Ryder." she wasn't certain if it was a fake name for Rider but she didn't question it. She found herself quite liking him and spoke to him quite a bit that day. He didn't tell her much about himself at all. He did mention he had a Dragon called Toothless. For a specific reason she couldn't quite remember.

She remembered that he made it very clear how much that dragon meant to him. She told him her name as well.

When Ryder said abruptly that he had to go. He got up and left but not before asking her to never tell anyone she had found him here. She agreed to this, she never knew exactly why but she was a Woman of her word and upheld it. Due to never being able to talk or see him afterwards, their brief friendship was nothing more than a faint memory.

All she really remembers of him was the day when she was recruited to attack the dragons when they came to raid the food again when she turned 15. Despite them being peaceful raids.

She saw the Dragon rider with his bandana and ran towards him with her axe, he slid under her skilfully and pinned her down to the ground. She flipped him over and was then on top of him. She paused and noticed how beautiful his eyes were. He had stared back, before coming to his senses and making an odd whistle which the dragons retreated to and he knocked Astrid of him and jumped onto his Night Fury and flew off. When she turned 16 she noticed that the Dragon Rider had started wearing a metal mask, (A:N/the one in the films/ Httyd 2 and 3).

His voice was deeper now...not as if she cared. Yet, she still had that curiosity and a certain determination towards everything related to him. Once she even snuck into the great hall in the middle of meeting about what to do about the rider and listened in. Not exactly sure why, but was grateful that she was never caught. If she gave her honest opinion, she found him quite puzzling. She had always wanted to properly meet him and get to know him...for some odd reason.

However, she never thought she would have a proper conversation with him until it actually happened. It wasn't exactly how she imagined it would be either.

She had just turned 20 and was chosen to scout and map new waters that could be discovered outside of the archipelago. It was simple. It would be a week-long trip max and it should go without any Hiccups (hehe).

She was getting pretty bored despite having sailed into uncharted waters that was so rapid that it swept them at least a weeks Journey ahead. It was the 3rd day when she noticed something on the horizon. It was huge and scaly and was flying steadily yet slowly in their direction.

She realised it was a dragon. Not one she had seen before. It was triple the size of a monsterous nightmare and figure of a gronckle. They threw all the weaponry they had at it. However, it didn't even look bothered in the slightest and even yawned as the spears and arrows bounced of it. They all retreated and decided to watch it. They realised exactly where it was heading while they watched it mercilessly burn down an island in front of it. It burned down everything in its way and created its own war path...and Berk was in its path.

As they were faster than the dragon the odd rapids that appeared under the boat carried them all the way to Berk within 2 days. It did stop every now and again but it kept moving. At the pace the beast was going and also the time it took to decimate all the islands in its way. Gothi had approximated that it would take the beast 3 weeks max.

There was an urgent meeting in the great hall to discuss this. Everyone suggested things to ward of the dragon and several methods... none would work, some (cough cough the twins) suggested the dumbest things possible. Or just plain old 'let the dragon come and wreak havoc, It'll be awesome to see all the destruction.' Which was classic Ruff and Tuff.

Arguments aroused and there was shouting soon enough until Gobber banged his arm on the table to silence everyone which got him plenty of glares. He says, "We need the Dragon Rider..."