Excitement was gripping Berk High as the day of the State Championship Final-the Archipelago Cup-approached. Thanks to their astonishingly good performance at Meathead, they got a home draw for the Final and Meathead unsurprisingly beat the Hysterical Warriors in the Play-Off. This meant the Final would be between the two strongest teams in the competition and Berk and Meathead would meet for the third and final time for the Cup.

Principal Johann had come into the canteen on the afternoon before the match and had addressed the students. He was a man of medium height and average built, with wide eyes and a well-tended grey beard. He stood on a chair and faced the year.

"I know I am only a temporary appointment but I know how hard you have worked and how proud you are of your Team," he began, his pleasant voice clear. "I know you can beat the opposition if you believe it. Well-believe it! Berk Vikings are the best. So go out, support the Team and cheer them to victory..." He paused and there was a twinkle in his eyes. "Snotlout! Snotlout!..."

"OI! OI! OI!" the students roared.

"I am NEVER going to live that down," Hiccup groaned as Astrid swatted his shoulder.

"Hey, babe-at least it gets them all involved!" she pointed out. He sighed.

"I just wish some of them would be less involved in chasing me," he sighed. The pursuits of Hiccup by the girls hadn't improved and Lilah was still casting him what she imagined were alluring looks. He shuddered.

"As long as you don't let them catch you, I'll be happy," she reminded him. He made a helpless gesture with his hands.

"I'm running as fast as I can, Milady," he reassured her, "but what worries me is that you and the girls will be busy during the match...leaving me all alone and unprotected from all these ravenous gold-diggers." Her hand found his and he squeezed with a pained smile. "I know this is hard for you, Milady but you have to believe me that I would never betray you." He paused and his eyes drifted down to the table. She leaned closer to him.

"Hiccup...I believe you," she told him gently. "Just...stick close to us, okay? I want to keep an eye on you..."

"Oh Thor, now I'm in trouble..." he sighed, but his eyes were twinkling. She leaned against him.

"I was so proud of you when we played at Meathead," she murmured. "You were almost our entire crowd."

"Hey, I can make enough noise for a crowd if I try," he grinned, rising, her hand still twined with hers. "You need to get ready...and I promised I'd get your parents and Gobber good seats." He pecked a brief kiss on her cheek. "Love you," he murmured. She smiled.

"Don't you forget that!" she smirked.

oOo

The stands were packed and half of Berk was in attendance for the Final as the clock ticked towards the hour for kick-off. The Hoffersons and Gobber had prime seats and were standing waving their Vikings pennants. Gobber had adopted a Vikings helmet as well and was singing along with aplomb but without any semblance of a tune. Stormfly was standing with Astrid's parents while Toothless had sneaked away and was standing by Hiccup, who was leaning against the stands right by the Cheerleaders, dressed in his Vikings shirt and helmet. One of the Meathead supporters sidled up to him and pulled a face.

"Well, if it isn't Limpy the Viking!" he sneered. Then he looked at Toothless and started laughing. "And you have Limpy the Dog as well!" Hiccup almost glared at him and then forced himself to give a wide smile as two more Meatheads wandered up.

"My buddies!" he grinned. "Well, you saw how well we did when we only used three limbs to beat you. How d'you think you'll do when we use all four?" The Meathead lurched forward.

"You sarky little..." he growled. "You watch us kick your Berk asses!" Hiccup gave a small smile and gestured to his dog, who was growling.

"Really? Limpy the dog here-AKA Toothless, say hello Toothless..." The black mutt growled. "You may laugh at him but on three legs, he can outrun all of your players without going near full speed. But this match, we have the whole of Berk here behind the team and that's worth an extra man or five more yards!" The Meathead scowled.

"When we win, I'll find you and kick your ass," he threatened but Hiccup just grinned.

"I'll look forward to it," he said dismissively as the Teams lined up.

"B-E-R-K...GO VIKINGS!" Astrid shouted as the Cheerleaders began their routine and the Hoffersons almost burst with pride. Hiccup stole a proud glance and her...then nodded to Gustav, Olaf and Anna, who all split and headed to their assigned positions. Ruff and Cami had spoken to him about what they had heard and he had formulated a plan...but had decided not to involve Astrid. He didn't want her upset or worried and knew she would probably want to directly confront Lilah and her cronies...which would be futile, since she hadn't done anything...yet.

From the outset, the game was fierce with crunching collisions and no quarter given. Fishlegs was flattened but got back up and gave as good as he got as Snotlout marshalled his team. Meathead scored first, Berk responded but Meathead scored again and the crowd began to get nervous. The Cheerleaders were screaming themselves hoarse and Hiccup led the crowd, chanting the team's names and hoping they would respond. Then he shook himself: at the start of the year, he wouldn't have cared what happened because it was nothing to do with him, a sport done by people who hated and despised him...but now...some of them were actually friends...

Gustav walked by and winked, signalling Hiccup to excuse himself and head for the bathrooms...but then he ducked back as he saw Savannah race after him as they had guessed she would. He watched Anna walk quietly after Savannah and then Roland intercept the vain blonde, asking a very long and detailed question. Savannah huffed and snapped an answer, then raced in the direction of the bathrooms, her faithful tail still following her. Hiccup grinned then sped back to his seat, grabbing a hot chocolate on the way and making his way to the stands and sipping the warm drink.

"Can I have a sip?" Astrid asked, walking up to him. "It's freezing..." He immediately handed his drink over, smiling.

"Of course, Milady," he smiled, hopping down to stand by her. Toothless barked and wagged his tail and she automatically patted him. When she straightened up, he wrapped his arms around her and leaned close. "Do you trust me?" he murmured. She nodded. "Whatever happens over the next few minutes, trust me." She nodded, finishing the drink.

"I trust you," she reassured him.

"There he is!" Lilah announced, her face triumphant. She smirked as Savannah sidled up by her and made a kissy face at Hiccup. Astrid scowled and felt Hiccup tense against her. "And Astrid...I am so sorry to have to tell you this..."

"Lilah...it's the middle of a match," Astrid sighed as the other Cheerleaders walked up. Toothless stared at the girls facing Astrid...and growled. "Can't your bitchy games wait?"

"They could...but they shouldn't," Lilah sneered, her eyes scornful. "And you should thank me for this, Astrid! Your lying scumbag boyfriend is nothing but a cheating bastard!" She stiffened and felt Hiccup tense more...and then he moved.

"Wow, Lilah...I'm touched you've taken the time to do such a thorough character assassination," he snarked.

"Baby...how can you say that after what we've just been doing?" Savannah whined, pouting. Astrid tried to pull away and lunge at her...but Hiccup determinedly held her still.

"And what would that be?" he asked calmly. Savannah gave a coy smile.

"Well, big boy, are you sure you want me to tell all these people?" she smirked. "I mean, a few minutes ago, you were saying..."

"Nothing to you," he said calmly and smiled as his friends walked up. "You talked to Roland and he asked you if you were familiar with the points scoring system in Football and if you were aware of the probability of victory with Berk having a seven point defect at half time." Her jaw dropped. "I know because I gave him the question when he intercepted you." He smiled and gestured to Anna. "Now, Lilah...you wanted expensive presents off a rich boyfriend before you humiliated and dumped him like the worthless trash he was." Lila's eyes widened.

"I have no idea where you got that idea..." she blustered. Cami and Ruff grinned.

"BUSTED!" they shouted. Lilah glared.

"That's a foul lie...while you and Savannah totally got off and..."

Hiccup nodded and Anna, Olaf, Gustav and Roland all waved Go-Pros. Lilah's eyes widened and she went pale.

"Lilah, Savannah-meet your personal film crews," he smirked. "They've been following you everywhere for the last two days...and have continuous footage of what you have been doing since we left the canteen."

"Do you really want us to play the film of you in the bathroom on your own, Savannah?" Anna asked with a grin. "I was surprised you could make that range of noises...and all on your own What were you doing in that cubicle?" Savannah flushed scarlet. Lilah turned on her in a second.

"Savannah! How could you lie to me? Astrid...I only wanted to warn you that he is just treacherous and..." she gabbled. Astrid turned to Hiccup and firmly kissed him.

"I trust Hiccup," she said sternly, her hand tight around his. "I know he wouldn't betray me..."

"But the same can't be said for Lilah!" Gustav put in excitedly. "I filmed her talking to the Meathead Captain and Coach. They were very interested that she was planning on disrupting the Team during the match..."

"What's going on here?" Mr Johann asked. Astrid turned to him.

"It seems Lilah has been working with the Meathead Team to disrupt and distract the Team and the Cheer Squad during the match and Savannah has accused Hiccup of being...unfaithful with no basis!"

"Is this true?" The Acting Principal's tone was stern.

"No, sir! It's a total lie!" Lilah said in a tearful voice. "This is all a vicious lie by these people. Hiccup Haddock is always causing trouble and lying about people and this is just another example. He's fooled everyone but I see exactly what he is!"

"Lilah...you do realise that Gustav and Olaf were still filming you when you and Savannah made the accusations against me to Astrid just now?" Hiccup asked her. She screamed and flung herself at him, but Toothless was quicker, leaping and knocking the girl backwards into the mud. She landed with a splat and screamed in rage. Toothless stood on her chest, his tongue hanging out and mouth open in his Toothless smile.

"Get off me!"

"Mr Haddock, are you admitting that you have had other students following these girls around for two days filming them covertly?" Mr Johann asked, his eyes hardening. Hiccup sighed and nodded.

"Yes, sir," he admitted. "I knew they were planning to do something like this and I needed proof because I didn't want them to make an accusation that my girlfriend would have to believe." Astrid looked at him and heard the lack of self-confidence in his voice...and she hit him on the shoulder.

"Why would I not believe you?" she demanded. He shrugged.

"You're jealous of all the attention, even though I only have eyes for you," he said, "and I really aren't worth a quarter...no a hundredth of you. I mean...you're fabulous. You're Astrid Hofferson and I'm just Hiccup Haddock...and I knew you would be suspicious because..."

She pressed a finger to his lips and sighed.

"Babe-I am fed up because all these worthless sluts chasing you but I know you won't do anything because you are a decent guy," she smiled. "But you found something a bit more serious..." She turned to Lilah, who was being helped up by Savannah and Raylee. "She's working with the Meatheads to put us off...in the freaking FINAL!" With a scream, she punched Lilah and with a scream, both she and Savannah toppled back into the mud, brining Raylee down as well. Everyone collapsed with laughter as the three struggled back to their feet. Mr Johann stared at the muddy girl and her equally muddy friends.

"I think we should investigate this further on Monday," he said. "You three-please leave the stadium now. You are suspended until Monday. Report to my office at 10am and we will discuss this."

"But..."

"NOW!" Johann snapped and the girls complied, still protesting their innocence and cursing Hiccup. "Mr Haddock-may I borrow your devices as evidence?" Hiccup nodded.

"You can keep them once you've finished-for the School A/V labs," he said with a shrug. "I just wanted to make sure they didn't get away with this." Mr Johann nodded and turned to see the Team ready on the field.

"I think we need our Cheerleaders," he suggested and beckoned Anna, Olaf, Gustav and Roland to come with him as Astrid kissed Hiccup's cheek briefly.

"Trust me," she reminded him. "I love you. I know you won't betray me. And I'll always be honest with you..." He smiled.

"Forgive me?" he murmured. She smiled.

"That was very...cunning..." she smirked and nodded to the girls. "Now let's show these Meatheads that they can't put us off. We are VIKINGS! We're seven points behind...but the only score that matters is the one at the end of the game!"

Hiccup nodded, seeing Tuff and offering a thumbs-up. The male twin shouted to Snotlout and the Captain fist pumped. And then the game resumed...

The match remained really tight but Berk scored early and Snotlout ran in an early Touchdown to close right up. The crowd were chanting, the Cheerleaders were screaming themselves hoarse and Berk pulled closer and closer. Until there was less than a minute on the clock. Berk got the ball, passed accurately and Snotlout saw the Meathead defender thundering down on Tuff. Eret got the ball, saw Fishlegs block and threw straight to Snotlout. Looking up, he saw he was alone...and accelerated, dodging defenders and diving over the greedy hands as the end zone approached...

The stadium exploded in cheers as he scored. Astrid grabbed Heather and swung each other around, squealing. Hiccup hugged Toothless and Astrid's parents were screaming and waving their pennants. Gobber tried to dance a jig and almost flattened three children standing in the stands nearby and the entire team jumped on top of Snotlout and almost squashed him. And then Hiccup turned round...to be hit by a flying Astrid, her arms wrapping around him. He hugged her fiercely, kissing her urgently and savouring her closeness.

"We won!" she squealed. He grinned, thinking back to the events of the afternoon.

"Yeah...we certainly did," he murmured. "I think people may realise that I am definitely yours and I will fight to stay with you..." She smiled at his thoughtful face, her azure eyes sparkling with delight and happiness.

"Then I am officially the luckiest girl in Berk."