No Matter What

Rated: M

Pairings: Hiccup X Astrid

Disclaimer; I do not own How To Train Your Dragon, but I do own the rights to my OC characters!

Chapter One

=Astrid's POV=

{August 31, 2009-Monday}

I stood before the entrance of the school I've been attending since I was fifteen-years-old knowing full well that this would be my last year at Berkian Dragon Academy because today, I'm walking through these doors as Senior. My name is Astrid Hofferson, and I'm currently seventeen. I have blond hair and blue eyes. Also, I'm known for wearing my hair in a braid, black or gray leggings with a shirt. The shirt didn't matter for me as long as it wasn't pink or yellow. The time was 7:15 am, and the school day would start at 7:30 am, then run until 2:15 pm. I held my schedule in my hand, glancing it over because it had all my information on it. Classes, locker, and stable for my dragon. I smiled as I walked past the entryway and took a deep breath. I couldn't believe this was my final year here, and also that after I passed Dragon Training, I would get my flier license. This place was incredible, and I never got tired of being here, which you don't hear a lot of students say; that they like school, but I loved it.

Berkian Dragon Academy was equipped to handle all necessary High School courses and Dragon Training ones. However, the school worked on a two color-coded day process; black and white days. This meant that one a black day we had specific classes, and on white; we had the others, but never all on the same day. It was so we didn't get overwhelmed with work or something like that. I looked at my schedule again.

Black Day:

7:30 to 8:25-Language Arts
8:30 to 9:25-Choir
9:30 to 10:25-History
10:30 to 11:25-Physical Education/Health
11:30 to 12:15-Lunch
12:20 to 2:15-Dragon Training

White Day:

7:30 to 8:25-Science
8:30 to 9:25-Spanish
9:30 to 10:25-Math
10:30 to 11:25-Home Economics
11:30 to 12:15-Lunch
12:20 to 2:15-Dragon Training

Yes, Dragon Training was on both days and took up two blocks because we learned everything; laws, training, care, and riding. There were after school programs too, and I was on the academy's dragon racing team! It was Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 2:30 to 5:30 pm, and of course, our team competed against other ones around the island. Friday's were usually race days. I loved it, and I'd been on the team since Sophomore Year; that's when we could qualify for a Fliers Permit, and that allowed bonded dragon owners under eighteen to fly their dragons at a limited height, speed, and distance traveled. I guess that's it for school-related bits of my life.

I have a mom, Asvora, and my dad, Garet. My bonded dragon is a Deadly Nadder, female who I named Stormfly. My dragon has yellow eyes and is blue, with a white belly, and red on the wings but her tail as yellow and blue spines. Oh, I have an Uncle Finn too; he's the one who told me to always be strong and shoot for my dreams. I have some awesome and…strange friends also, but I wouldn't trade them for the world. There are three girls and four guys in our little group; Heather Berserk, Fishlegs Ingerman, Snotlout and Adelaide Jorgenson, Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston, and finally, Throk Wington. Four of those friends are dating; Throk and Ruffnut, and also, Fishlegs and Heather. Snotlout has been trying to hook up with me for two years, but I don't like him in a romantic sense; just friends.

All my friends have dragons. Heather Berserk has black hair and green eyes; she is sixteen with a female Razorwhip named Windshear. Also, Heather has an older brother, Dagur, who works for the island. Dagur has a dragon too, a male Gronckle that he named Shattermaster. Fishlegs Ingerman is sixteen; blond hair with green eyes, and is bonded to a female Gronckle called Meatlug. Heather and Fishlegs got together at the end of our Junior Year when summer began. Next on the list is Snotlout and Adelaide Jorgenson. Now, Adelaide is actually a Freshman and only fourteen, but she has a bonded dragon, and that's how she came to be at this school. Adelaide has brown hair, and baby-blue eyes; she has a female Razorwhip named Silverwind; her elder brother, Snotlout is sixteen with brown hair and light blue eyes, bonded to a male Monstrous Nightmare called Hookfang.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston; both have pale blond hair and blue eyes. Also, they are sixteen and share a male Hideous Zippleback. Tuffnut named the left head Belch whereas the right is called Barf by Ruffnut; the two ride on the necks of the head the named. Finally, there is Throk Wington who is seventeen with red hair and brown eyes. Throk is bonded to a male Gronckle named Stonefire, and he has been dating Ruffnut since the beginning of Junior Year; September 2008 when the academy held a welcome back dance. So yeah, that's all my friends. We've known one another since middle school; the fifth grade to be exact. The eight of us got paired together for a project and ended up becoming best friends; here we are now about to graduate together from the best school on the entire island.

Yes, we lived on an island called Archi, and it was right off the coast of Rhode Island. However, we governed ourselves because we were too far out to be considered part of the United States of America. Our president declared us Archian State, with our central city being known as Arc City. The city was in the middle and surrounded by smaller towns such as; Berkville(Berk), Outdale(Outcast), Meatsfield(Meathead), Berzton(Berserker), Shiverhurst(Shivering Shores), Visimar(Visithug), Lavawick(Lava-Lout), Murdstead(Murderous), Bogham(Bog-Burglar), Ugbury(Uglithug), Bashford(Bashem), Peacehaven(Peaceable), Hystpool(Hysteria), and Huntsmount(Hunter). Everything was relatively easy to get too, and never more than two hours by dragon flight, much longer by motor vehicle.

"Astrid!" I heard Heather call to me; I smiled wide and turned around to see her rushing into hug me tightly. "It's been so long!" she stated.

"It's only been two weeks," I laughed a little after we pulled apart.

"And that's too long!" Heather exclaimed.

"Can you believe this is our last year here!?" Snotlout stated coming in next with Adelaide next to him.

"Hard to believe," Fishlegs interjected while walking up and kissing Heather's cheek gently.

"I gotta run Adelaide to her class, but I'll catch you later," Snotlout informed as he led his younger sister to her first-period classroom since she didn't know the school yet, and there was still five minutes until the bell rung.

"Hey, guys!" Tuffnut called while strolling over with Ruffnut and Throk.

"This will be the best year," Throk smiled.

"What do you have for first class?" Ruffnut inquired.

"I have Language Arts," I told them. "I'm headed to D-Hall, anyone else headed that way?"

"Same here," Fishlegs put his finger up.

"I think mine is Science," Heather pulled her schedule out to check. "Yep, in E," she muttered

"We got History in B-Hall," Tuffnut remarked.

"I believe I have Math," Throk said last. "In C-Hall," he added.

"Well, we best get going then. It wouldn't look good to be late on the first day of Senior Year," I waved to them before heading down the D-Hall which would lead me to C. The school was basically a square with two break-off hallways for E, F, and G. Halls A, B, C, and D were what made up the square going in a clockwise direction. Berkian Dragon Academy was for grades ninth through twelfth. The G hallway was only for the locker room entrance and gymnasium. However, F-Hall stemmed off of G. F was for Home Ec, Choir, Band, Spanish, French, and Italian courses.

A-Hall was the main office, nurse, computer labs, health rooms, nurse, and guidance office. The library was located in this hall too. C Hall held the Math classrooms. B was History. E was for Science. D Hall was for Language Arts. Each corridor had about the same amount of rooms. For Dragon Training, we had an outdoor field with a small indoor classroom for learning about the laws and history regarding dragons. Also outside were the stables for our dragons to sit in while we had other classes all day. I reached my classroom; D-12, which was on the left side of the hallway and walked in. Right behind me was Fishlegs; we grabbed two spots and sat down to wait for class to begin.

{Lunch; Cafeteria}

As usual; the first day of classes were going over rules, getting our textbooks, picking where we would sit for the rest of the year, and only be moved if the teacher felt it was necessary. Oh, and the always fun introductions took place; a way for everyone to get to know one another. It sucked, but at least we didn't get homework. Finally, it was time to eat! I raced to the cafeteria but was stopped by the headmaster of the academy, Alvin Ogglebert.

"Miss. Hofferson," Alvin stated.

"U-Um, yes, sir?" I replied nervously.

"We have a new student; she came a bit late, and I need someone to be her guide until she gets used to things. Seeing as…you are a top student here, would you like the job?"Alvin inquired.

"I just have to show her around?" I asked.

"And answer questions too. I'm placing her in your classes if that's alright?" Alvin stated.

"Yeah, sure, I don't mind. How long do I have to do this for? A couple weeks?" I wondered.

"Yes, two or so. Miss. Boggs just bonded to her dragon at the end of her old school's year, and she applied to come here. I have her in my office, can you come with me to greet her?" I nodded to him as we turned from the cafeteria, and entered the office, then his from there. Stepping in, I saw a woman with long blond hair reaching to behind and ice blue eyes. "Astrid, this is Camicazi Boggs,"

"Hi," I smiled holding out my hand. "I'm Astrid Hofferson," I introduced.

"Camicazi, but I prefer Cami," Camicazi replied shaking my hand now.

"You're in good hands with Astrid, Miss. Boggs; she's all yours, Miss. Hofferson," Alvin smiled.

"Come on; I'm headed to lunch right now, and then afterward we have Dragon Training," I invited. Camicazi nodded and followed me. "So, you're sixteen-seventeen-ish?"

"Seventeen as of August 8th," Camicazi responded.

"That's cool. I'm seventeen too. My birthday is April 29th," I informed as we stepped into the cafeteria. "I'll introduce you to my friends," I led her to the table where they all sat.

"There you are, Astrid. Who do you have with you?" Throk questioned.

"Gang, this is Camicazi Boggs, prefers to be called Cami. The headmaster asked me to be her guide for a few weeks until she gets used to the school. Cami, this is Throk, Heather, Snotlout, Adelaide, Ruffnut, Tuffnut, and Fishlegs. Ruff and Tuff are twins, Snotlout and Adelaide are siblings; she's his younger sister. Uh, Fishlegs and Heather are dating, and so are Throk and Ruffnut," I stated.

"It's…nice to meet all of you," Camicazi said as I sat down and motioned to the spot beside me that way she could join us.

"So, if you're here then you must have a bonded dragon. What kind?" Heather asked.

"Gender, name?" Fishlegs smiled.

"Um. It's a female Changewing, I named her Mimic," Camicazi said.

"That's awesome. My sister and I share a Zippleback," Tuffnut informed.

"I have Hookfang, a Nightmare, and male," Snotlout said proudly.

"Female Razorwhip called Windshear," Heather smiled gently.

"Meatlug is my Gronckle's name, she's female too," Fishlegs said.

"I also have Gronckle. Male with the name of Stonefire," Throk stated.

"And I have a female Deadly Nadder, Stormfly," I told her. "

Camicazi smiled a little as she nodded, showing she heard us. I got the odd feeling that she wasn't much of a talker, or maybe something was wrong, and she didn't want to tell complete strangers? I didn't know, and I suppose it wasn't any of my business. "Thank you for letting me sit with you; I hope we can become friends," Camicazi stated.

"I'm sure we will," Heather replied now. Yeah, I didn't see a reason why we couldn't be. For me, this was perfect. My first day of the final year was turning out to be a great start.