Chapter 1: Just Two with the Wind

"Keep an eye out." Hiccup warned, waving a finger at Snotlout's face, causing the shorter Viking to twitch his nose. "Don't let the twins blow up the Edge, listen to Fishlegs, don't kill yourself, and we'll be back by tomorrow evening. Got it?"

Snotlout nodded meekly.

"Alight." Hiccup said happily, turning to climb onto Toothless's back. The dragon had two sets of saddlebags, two in the front and two in the back, all loaded with supplies for the two-day flight. Stormfly carried similar bags, Astrid packing the last of her supplies in their depths.

"Like I said." Hiccup repeated, turning to face Fishlegs. "We'll be back by tomorrow evening. And if we're not, we just got held up at The Defenders Island, okay?"

"Got it." Fishlegs nodded.

The twins ran up just then, panting heavily and straightening their helmets, trying to look somewhat orderly and like they hadn't arrived late. "We're here! It was all chickens fault, she got stuck up in the rafters and-" Tuffnut rambled, fumbling for a good excuse.

"Well, we're leaving now, so listen to Snotlout and Fishlegs- especially Fishlegs, got it? And DON'T. BLOW UP. THE EDGE." Hiccup added sternly.

"Aye aye!" the twins saluted before dashing off, laughing to themselves.

"I just hope the Edge is in one piece by the time I get back." Hiccup murmured to himself, not trusting the twins one bit. "Alright, tomorrow evening. Remember, check the defenses."

"We're fine, Hiccup. Just go and help Mala, we'll be fine here." Fishlegs interrupted, nodding his head and smiling.

Hiccup bit his lip, remembering the last time he'd left them alone. The first time Fishlegs and Ruffnut had nearly gotten married, and the second time, everyone ended up falling asleep in a hole, with no one defending the Edge either… did he really want to leave? Maybe he should just send Fishlegs and Astrid…

"Hiccup, come on. You need a break from the Edge anyways." Astrid interrupted his thoughts, as though able to read his mind. He smiled softly at her, realizing that maybe going on a trip with just the two of them wasn't such a bad idea after all… being able to "go out" would be a lot easier away from the others, since at this point, only two days after their first real kiss, Hiccup kinda wanted it to stay a secret from the others for a few more days. But it had been difficult finding time for themselves, seeing as how Snotlout was so nosy, as well as the others just being totally innocent to the entire thing, so interrupted quite often unbeknownst to the interrupters.

Astrid laughed, and Hiccup snapped out of his dreamy thoughts, hoping he hadn't been staring at her the entire time his mind had been rambling. But she was laughing obviously at him, which made him blush. Had he accidently said something..?

"What!?" Snotlout asked, looking rapidly from Hiccup to Astrid. "Did I miss something!?"

"NO!" both yelled in unison, Hiccup turning even redder. At this point, he probably looked similar to a tomato.

Fishlegs was smirking at them, making Hiccup narrow his eyes in suspicion. Somehow, he had a feeling that his burly friend knew something that was supposed to be a secret. Then again, Fishlegs wasn't dense. He'd probably figured it out after all the times he'd seen Stormfly walking about the Edge- without a rider- and Toothless and Hiccup nowhere to be seen. Although Snotlout and the twins probably didn't notice, Fishlegs was observant that way.

"You two go now, and have fun. Say hello to Mala and Throk for me." Fishlegs said, grinning from ear to ear.

"Yes!" Snotlout piped up. "Say hello to my queenie, and tell her I'll come to visit her soon." He smiled and sighed. "If she can stay away from me that long. Perhaps she could visit us here." He mused to himself.

"Alright, see you tomorrow!" Hiccup called out, Toothless turning and jumping off of the platform and into the morning sky, Astrid and Stormfly following close behind.

The first hour of the trip was spent in silence, and before long Dragon's Edge disappeared entirely behind them on the horizon. The sun slowly rose higher into the sky, until it was now fully above the line where the sky and sea meet. Hiccup's stomach grumbled, reminding him that he still hadn't eaten any breakfast.

"Hungry?" Astrid called out, Stormfly pulling up to fly alongside them. Hiccup puckered his brow, how did she know? Had his stomach growled that loudly?

"Yeah, you?" He returned, bending down to open a saddle bag and pull out the food stored inside. Astrid was doing the same, munching on the sandwich she'd made last night, especially for the trip.

"Yes, I forgot to eat last night so I'm famished." She smiled at him before taking another bit, the two falling silent again.

Minutes past, and the two finished their food long before the sun announced it was officially day time. Hiccup blinked, the bright sun now beaming up at them.

"Hm, this is nice." Astrid commented quietly. Hiccup glanced at her, smiling when he noticed she was already staring at him rather than the scenery. "It's been a long time since we've gone on a flight- just the two of us- like this."

"Yep…" Hiccup sighed and leaned back, releasing his hold on the handles of Toothless's saddle. "It's nice to get away from the others from time to time too."

"Yeah…" Astrid replied absent mindedly. "I think Fishlegs knows." She said, catching Hiccup by surprise at her random thought.

"Er-" Hiccup choked on his own saliva, giving a short cough and a shuddering laugh before stuttering a reply. "Y-y-you think?"

Astrid smiled, her eyes fixed on the sea before them. "You're stuttering again."

Hiccup swallowed, trying to get his vocal chords under control. "I-I stutter when I'm- uh- surprised."

Astrid laughed, the sound sending shivering tingles of joy running through Hiccup's veins. Gods, it felt good to know that they could now talk about their feelings. That he could actually say stuff without trying to cover up the words true meaning or for fear of embarrassing her or himself.

Yet again, for nearly the umpteenth time, silence fell, but it was comfortable, the two lovers just enjoying each other's presence. The morning was calm and cool, the weather nice and the landscape beautiful. It wasn't hard to relax.

"Hiccup?" Astrid said, Hiccup snapping to attention in an instant.

"Hm?"

He turned slightly so he could see her better, noticing how she was gnawing slightly on her lower lip, and she looked nervous. That made him focus even harder on what it was she had to say, because Astrid rarely looked nervous.

"I… I was wondering…"

Hiccup waited patiently, "…Yes..?"

"Do… do you… "like" me?"

Hiccup almost swallowed his tongue when she said the words, taking him by surprise that he nearly coughed up his spleen with all the hacking and coughing he was doing.

"Wh-what!?" Hiccup choked.

Astrid did NOT look amused. She looked almost angry, but with a hint of embarrassment in the gorgeous blue eyes. "Fine. I-I just-" Hurt flashed across her face, and Hiccup rushed to answer her earlier question.

"Astrid!" He said, still in mild shock. "Why- why would you even ask that?"

"Because." She snapped in her embarrassment and anger. He could've sworn he saw tears glisten in her eyes, which made him stutter to try and reply, but her harsh words cutting him off. "Because after our kiss, I- you never said and…"

"I thought I didn't have to." Hiccup interjected softly. She paused, her eyes still snapping blue fire.

"Astrid…" Hiccup started slowly, noticing how she was gnawing on her lip again. "I… no… I don't like you, Astrid-"

Astrid's gaze hardened and she turned her head to stare hard at the ocean below.

"I… it's more than that, Astrid."

She slumped a bit, but since he could no longer see her face he had no idea how she'd reacted.

"I… uh… have sorta… loved you for a long time…" Hiccup stuttered, finding himself sputtering like an idiot, much like he'd done years ago. He'd somewhat grown out of the habit of stuttering continually, but still, whenever he was nervous or embarrassed, the old habit returned.

Astrid didn't move, causing Hiccup's heart rate to pick up and panic to take hold.

"Astrid…?"

She turned then, and she was smiling brilliantly. "I love you too, Hiccup." She said simply, her eyes shining and proving her words very much so correct.

He grinned and absently leaned towards her, but Toothless wobbled and crooned in annoyance, flipping his head to whack Hiccup straight in the face with his ear flap.

"Yeowch! Geez, sorry!" Hiccup said with a laugh, but froze in place when he noticed something thump against his back, and strong but gentle arms wrap around his torso.

"Uh, Astrid? Whatcha doin'?"

Astrid poked her head over his shoulder and smiled again. "I think this calls for a make-up kiss." She said seriously.

"Oh for…" Hiccup grinned at her, his teasing words dying out. He turned a bit more before pressing his lips against hers, one of his arms going to wrap around her waist while her hand went up to rest on his shoulder.

Toothless rumbled, but Hiccup ignored the sound, knowing Toothless could very well last a little bit longer…

"HICCUP!" Astrid screamed in panic, pulling away from him and pointing in the direction of their path.

Hiccup swung around and had barely enough time to lean forward and direct Toothless into a dive, the arrows flying over their head and harmlessly into the ocean.

"WHAT THE!?" Hiccup shouted in confusion. Where had those come from?

"Look!"

Toothless flew out of the clouds, and only then did Hiccup catch sight of four Dragon Hunter ships, all bustling with activity and loaded with weapons. They weren't very far away from a small island, surrounded by a few scattered sea stacks, the ships blending in quite nicely with the surroundings.

"Look out!" Hiccup warned, Toothless barreling and Stormfly following behind, squawking in alarm. More arrows along with nets flew overhead and around them, making flying difficult, especially since Astrid was still riding behind Hiccup making dodging harder.

"Perfect…" Hiccup muttered sarcastically, earning a hard rib in the side from Astrid.

"What to do, Hiccup!?"

"Uh- give me a sec-!" more arrows whizzed past, Astrid pulling her axe off her back and blocking them before any could do any damage. Toothless shrieked and shot plasma blasts at the ships below, Stormfly also blasting angrily at the Hunters.

"No time!" Astrid replied.

"Uh- I…"

Toothless shrieked again and jerked to the side, but was too late. The giant stone knocked into his backside, while more arrows flew around them. Hiccup gasped in shock and pain at the sudden impact, his left leg shooting daggers up and down through the pedal and prosthetic and into his thigh.

Toothless shrieked, his wings pumping in attempts to stay in the air, but it was helpless. Hiccup was disoriented, and something was obviously wrong, not to mention Hiccup could barely focus given to the pain.

"HICCUP!" Astrid screamed, and it was only then that he snapped out of his daze. He sat up frantically, ignoring all discomfort in his leg as he searched frantically for the girl.

He leaned over and saw her falling fast towards the island below, his heart pumping fast and threatening to pound out of his chest.

"Astrid!" Hiccup shouted, but there was nothing he could do, for Toothless was already starting to plummet to the ground after her. He leaned forward, squeezing his eyes shut and praying that he, Astrid and Toothless all made it out of this one alive.

Stormfly's squawk was heard distantly in his mind, and he hoped that the loyal dragon was trying to rescue her human. That was all his mind had to think before the sound of wood breaking, a screech of dragons, and the shouts of alarm and outright pain greeted Hiccup in one swift blow, overcoming his body and mind and forcing him into unconsciousness.

Wwwwwhhhhhhhuuuuuuttttt?

Yep! I released this BEFORE the original release date! :D And I have a reason for doing it, so let me explain.

I won't be able to update Thursday or Friday on anything, because I have an event going on on Thursday, and on Friday we'll be going back home. So there's my explanation, and since I didn't want to just leave and postpone my stories till next week, I thought I'd try and post them earlier! :D

See you next chapter!