Hiccup's P.O.V.

I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned my head to see one of Avechi's friends, Shalu, looking pretty shaken. "Um, chief, Chumhog is saying he's going to take Avechi back to Berk," she tells me.

"Look, kid, your chief is entertaining his guests, you'll have to wait," Stoick says and Shalu flinches before nodding and walking away.

"I'm sorry, that girl that is going to be taken back to Berk is my daughter, and I don't treat my village children like that," I tell him before standing up.

"You mean you let them just walk up to you and make a request, not even showing respect?" Snotlout asks.

"They show plenty of respect," I counter, "And they are children. I am approachable by my people so they do not fear me."

"They do not respect you if they do not fear you," Astrid says, not looking at anyone.

"They respect him because they love him," Scarlet says.

"Well I hope they do," I joke before walking to the young vikings' table. I walk by the young man and grab the collar of his tunic before pulling him outside.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What's goin' on?!" he shouted as I released him roughly.

"You trying to put the moves on my daughter?" I ask as Avechi joins us.

"Hey, she was giving all the positive signals," he says.

"I was trying to get away from you!" she snaps.

"You said you were going to take her back to Berk?" I ask.

"Uh..." he avoided my eye.

"You try to take anyone from this island, and you will not walk straight for the rest of your life," I growl and he nods before Avechi and I go back inside. "Uh, Avechi," I put a hand on her arm as she tries to go back to her table, making her stop. "You have more than enough skill to give those guys a lesson. Why didn't you?"

"I thought you'd be mad if I attacked a member of a tribe that is in need of help," she says, not meeting my gaze.

"Avechi," I grab her shoulders and lift her chin to make her look at me, "Next time any of them try to look at you, I want you to go crazy and not worry about the consequences. Got it? Tell the others I said the same goes for them. No doubt the girls are going to be flirting with Thork's son. I suggest you and Torgna keep an eye on each other, being the two best looking 15-year-olds on the island," I tell her before her cheeks dust pink. I chuckle as I walk back to my table. She hated it when I called her attractive. Said it made her uncomfortable when I'm simply saying she should open her eyes and see how many fine young fellows are after her. I sit back down to have Heather look at me.

"Everything okay?" she asks.

"Well, Avechi's a little shaken, but I don't think Chumhog will give her anymore trouble," I say.

"And what about the other girls?" Thunder asks from down the table.

"Oh, I think she and Torgna can handle everything," I tell him.

"Damn straight," Thork says, leaning into the conversation, "My son and your daughter are unstoppable."

"Well, we have Heather to thank for that," I say, before adding to Stoick, "She's the best trainer in the Archipelago."

"I'm afraid you have her mistaken with Astrid," he says and Astrid rolls her eyes.

"No, I don't really think so," I say lightly.

"Really?" Snotlout says, "Well then why don't we have a little competition? Astrid picks her best student, and you pick yours." I exchange a glance with Heather.

"I don't think that's necessary," Heather chuckled nervously, "I'm fine to except that you think she's a better trainer than I am."

"More like you're scared to find out that she really is," Snotlout says.

"Now that's enough. A village has the right to be proud of their villagers. Now why can't we just agree to disagree?" Astrid cuts in.

"Astrid, stand down," Stoick says and she lowers her gaze. Well, that's not right.

"I see you treat your 'best trainer' with no right," I say after a pause.

"Excuse me?" Stoick hisses.

"Of course it's no real business of mine," I add.

"Get your best student ready," he growls before he, Snotlout, and Astrid storm to the young vikings table, dragging a girl around Avechi's age outside.

"I suppose Avechi will be able to take a scrawny delicate twig like that," Heather sighed. My shoulders slump as she stood up and walked over to my daughter.

"Dada!" I looked at Tawny as she ran up to me and picked her up. "Where Chi going?"

"She's just going to defend the Fire Tribe's honor," I tell her as I walk to the door.

"Can I help?" she asks.

"No... No, you're not old enough." She whimpered at hearing this. "But, once you turn 17, and finish your training, you can help defend the entire island. The dragons, the villagers older and younger than you, everything."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Now lets go cheer on your sister," I pat her shoulder before carrying her to the ring where the two girls were preparing for the brawl.

"Chief! Avechi's reporting dizziness and someone saw her hit her head earlier. I think she might have a concussion and she's in no condition to fight," Heather says as she comes up to us.

"Okay, I'll go and talk to her," I say before setting Tawny down and jogging into the ring. Avechi was about to chuck her ax at a practice target but I could see her swaying on her feet. I paused to study her. Her eyes were darting from the target, to the wall next to it, and back again. Finally, she threw her weapon before it got stuck in the stone. "Avechi!" I called, running to her.

"Yeah?" she asked as she turned to face me.

"How many fingers am I holding up?" I ask, holding up two fingers.

"Uh...n-9?" she guessed after a pause. I grab her arm and pull her to the side. 

"Yeah, you're not fighting today," I say as I make her sit on the bench. "Thork, can you go get Shayla?" said man runs out of the ring in a full on sprint. Shayla was our village's healer. "Torgna, you're fighting in her place," I say. He looked to the girl in the ring who was swinging her mace above her head. I saw Tuffnut and a woman talking to her as she stretched and guessed they were her parents. I didn't think Tuffnut would find someone who could handle his craziness. "Avechi, I want you to lay down and don't even think of lifting your head, got it?" I order and she nods before obeying. I then hand Torgna his hammer and walk him into the middle of the ring where Stoick was waiting with Tuffnut's daughter.

"I see your daughter is chickening out. I can't say I expected more from the offspring of a coward," he growls as Toothless walks up to the girl I couldn't be prouder to have as a daughter.

"She happens to have a concussion. Thank you for your concern," I say with sarcasm edging my voice. I see Gothi, on the sidelines, scribble something in the dirt before Gobber reads it. 

"Um...Chief?" he says as he walks up to Stoick and I.

"Yes?" we reply in unison.

"Um...Gothi, our healer, has offered to take a look at your daughter. It might be something more serious than a concussion," he says.

"Like what?" I ask skeptically.

"There is a new plague going around the Archipelago. It can cause death if not caught early enough," he informs me. I pause, rubbing the back of my head in thought.

"Very well. That's very generous; thank you," Gobber nods before giving Gothi the go ahead.

"Introduce your warrior," Stoick orders. Torgna extends his hand to the girl.

"Torgna Shadders," he introduces himself and the girl shakes his hand.

"Grubnut Thorston," she says with a nod before the hand shake is broken.

"Now, Stoick, I'd like to set the rules if you don't mind," I say and he glares at me.

"It is your island," he growls, submitting reluctantly.

"No head injuries, accidental or intentional. Minimal bloodshed. And, to ensure that, we'll shake things up a little bit. No weapons. You are only allowed to use your wits," I announce and Torgna throws his hammer to the sidelines without hesitation. Grubnut hesitates before following his lead. "First one to pin the other wins. You may start when ready," I say and Stoick and I walk to the side.

"Yet another reason we are different. On Berk, there are no rules when someone is trying to prove their ability," he mutters.

"It's also another reason why the Flames are above the Hooligans," I reply coolly, watching as the competitors shook hands again and backed away a few paces.