How to Train Your Dragon

By Thora Diana Haddock

Chapter one-Raid in the Village

This is Berk, my home. It's twelve days north of hopeless and the nearest civilization and a few degrees south of freezing to death. It's located on the meridian of misery.

My village, in a word, sturdy. It has been here for seven generations, but every single building is new. There's fishing, hunting, and beautiful views of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests. Suddenly, an unexpecting sheep was snatched up by long claws, and as if nothing happened, another sheep went over to the same place where the other sheep was and continued to gaze. While some places have mice or mosquitoes, we have…

I have just woken up from the commotion outside. I had change out of my nightgown and put on my brown Viking boots, green shirt with the brown belt, my locket with the emerald, and my brown skirt, and put parts of my long auburn hair into braids and tied in the back.

I ran downstairs and open the front door. When I opened the door, there was a huge red monstrous nightmare spotted me and shot a stream of fire at me, but I shut the door in time with my back against "…Dragons" I said.

Outside, the men of my village were running, screaming, grabbing as many of the sheep and chickens as they could, and attacking all of the dragons they could see. At the same time, the women and older children of the village were busy putting out the fires and avoid the dragons. "You see, most sane people would leave, but not us, all the men in the village are Vikings, they have stubbornness issues."

"My name's Thora, Thora Diana Haddock" I was running towards the blacksmith shop where I worked. I had a couple of close calls with dragons' blasts and the men keep telling me to get back inside my house.

One time, I was almost burn to a crisp by a gronkle, but a big grabbed me by the back of my shirt. "Thora! What is she doing out? What are you doing out? Get inside now young lady!" as he flung me towards the nearest house.

The man was at least eight feet tall with the reddest and biggest braided beard in the whole village and arms the size of the smallest boulders on the whole island of Berk. "That is Stoick the Vast; he's the chief of the Hairy Hooligans, our people. I've been told that when he was a baby, he ripped a dragon's head clean off of its shoulders. Is that true?"He lifted a wagon with one hand and threw it at a dragon passing over head and it was a bull's eye. "Yes it definitely is!"

"What have we got?" he asked another Viking. "Gronkles, Nadders, Zipplebacks, and hordes of Monstrous Nightmares." Then an explosioncame out of nowhere and pieces of woods flew everywhere. The other Viking covered himself with his shield, while Stoick just stood there and asked "Any Night Furies?" "None so far." Stoick swept a small piece of burning wood off of his shoulder as if it was nothing. "Good!" he said.

They lit huge bowls with fire and lifted into the sky to see the dragons more clearly.

I had arrived at the blacksmith's shop. In there was a man about a foot shorter than Stoick. He had a long blonde braided mustache, he was missing his left hand that was replaced with a hammer, and he was also missing his right foot. "Oh, nice of you to join the party, I thought you wouldn't make it here." I put on an apron "What! Come on I'm way too fast for them to catch me, they wouldn't be able to keep up with all of this on land" I said conquering up a few muscles. "Well they need toothpicks don't they?" the blacksmith said jokingly. "I'm not that skinny!" I grumbled snappishly.

"The blacksmith's name is Gobbler the Belch. Normally a woman wouldn't be working here, but Gobbler is my father's best friend, so he let me work there as his assistant/apprentice ever since I was seven years. It's better than working as future housewife."I've started taking the smashed weapons from the Vikings who dropped them off to fix them up.

Meanwhile, Stoick ordered the other Vikings "We'll move to the wall for defenses, we'll counter them with the catapults." He and a few more Vikings took some sheep to a safer place. The dragons set some of the houses next to them on fire."See old village lots of new houses."

Outside, were a few teenagers about my age putting out the fires. A big chubby boy, "That's Fishlegs."a brawny mean looking boy (And unfortunately my cousin on my father's side) "Snotlout"a blonde boy and girl fighting over a bucket of water (Which is normal for them to be fighting) "The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut and…"one of the most amazing boys I have ever seen and who just moved to Berk with his mother a week ago. "…Asgerd" There was an explosion right behind him, which made him shine with courage and confidence; I really admire him for that. The other teenagers joined him as if he was their leader. I wanted to be out there so bad, being out was a whole lot better than being cooped up in the shop.

I leaned out the window to get a closer look at them, but a certain handicapped Viking pulled me back in. "Oh come on Gobbler let me out there, I have to make my mark as a Viking!" I said. Gobbler smiled amusedly. "First of all, you have made marks, just in all the wrong places, second of all you know you can't be a Viking." The only they say I can't be a Viking is because I'm a girl. "Come on" I protested "Two minutes, I'll kill a dragon, my life will get much better, and I might get a decent suitor who will like me for who I am."

"Even if you are allowed to be a Viking, you can't lift a hammer, you can't swing an axe, you can't even throw one of these." As he finished the sentence, a Viking grabbed the bolas out of his hand and threw it at a Gronkle sending it down.

"Okay, lifting boulders is not my specialty." I said, "That does not mean I'm not worthy of being a Viking, plus, those stones with the ropes at the ends are called Bolas" I pointed out. He blushed for a bit that I knew what it was and he didn't. "However, this little intention of mine will fire for me more accurately and farther" I had made a bolas launcher for more complicated situations, but when I touched it, bolas flew out by themselves and knocked a Viking out cold. "Sorry" I called out.

"Now this right here is what I'm talking about lass!" Gobbler shouted mad as a Gronkle that had its nap interrupted. (Not a pretty sight!)

"I just forgot to hook it closed that's all" I protested. "Look missy!" Gobbler said. "If you want things to change to need to stop all…" he swept his err… hands in front of me trying to find the right word. "…this."

I looked at myself confused and flabbergasted. "But you just pointed to all of me?"

"Yes, that's it" he said "Stop being all of you" "Ohhhhhhhh!" I said "Ohhhhhh yeah!" he mocked. "You mister are playing a dangerous game, keeping all of this Viking potential contained, there will be serious consequences!" I shouted. "I'll take my chances" Gobbler unimpressed, "Sword sharpen now!" So I went to the grinding to sharpen the sword he handed me.

You guessed it, my dream to become a great and honorable Viking like my father. "Someday I'll be out there fighting the enemies, sailing to new places beyond the waves of Berk, and protecting the village. But first, I have to kill a dragon."

I figured if I kill a dragon, I would automatically be a full-fledged Viking. I don't really believe in unnecessary killing, slaying those overgrown reptiles seems more like a side job to me. But I'm determined to be a great warrior.

"A blue Nadder would get me noticed at least, a tough Gronkle will definitely get me a wonderful boyfriend, a Zippleback two-heads twice the chance of me being a Viking."

"They've found the sheep!" said a Vikingstationed at one of the catapult towers. "Focus fire over the whole bank" ordered Stoick as he turned the catapult over where the dragons were attacking the sheep.

"Then the Monstrous Nightmare, only the best Vikings go after those, so that can be a shortcut."

A Monstrous Nightmare attacked the tower where Stoick was. It was on fire, which didn't harm it, that was its habit to set itself on fire. "Reload! I'll take care of this" Then Stoick started to hit the dragon in the head with his hammer.

Then there was a high pitch shrill in the air. Both Vikings and dragons both stopped fighting for a moment. The sound got louder. It was the prize that anyone would to die to kill it. Then someone shouted "Night Fury!" Then another one said "Get Down!" The fire from the mysterious beast was blue, but when it hit the tower, it turned red and the tower crumbled. The inexplicable creature just zoomed by. "Jump!" ordered Stoick as he and the others jumped just in the nick of time.

I had stopped working to try to catch a glimpse of this furtive dragon. "From what I've been told, this dragon never steals food, never reveals itself, and apparently…" Another shot hit the already flaming tower. "…never misses."

Then I realized that no one has ever killed a night fury, so I being the first one ever to do so, would make me a Viking faster than killing a Nightmare. "Man or… woman the fort Thora, they need me out there." Gobbler said attaching an ax to his left arm. Before he got out the door, he turned around to face me and pointed to the spot I was standing. "Stay…put…there" I stood there with an innocent smile like I wasn't going anywhere. "You know what I mean." Then he wobbled off with a battle cry. "You didn't say for how long." I thought to myself as I prepare to use my launcher on the Night Fury outside.

I took off my apron, and lifted the end of the launcher like a wheelbarrow. I ran through the village I as fast as I could swerving between the men. Not to brag or anything, but Vikings are not know for really fast running due to their size, so I'm consider the fastest in the village. Although, people said that's cowardly of me, but I find it a very useful skill.

Meanwhile, a bunch of dragons surrounded a flock of sheep ready to take them. However, Stoick threw a net over them to restrain their movement. "Mind yourselves, the beasts still have some juice in them" said Stoick as a Nadder breathe a stream of inferno into the air. Nevertheless, Stoick clamped its snout closed to keep them from using it.

I had found a clearing at the edge of the village where nobody and no other dragon can bother me, and set up my launcher. It was next to a different tower, I presume that's where the dragon will attack next. "Come on, I need something to shoot at." I whispered to myself. "Here Dragon Dragon Dragon!"

Lucky for me the stars were very bright tonight. I was able to notice a dark figure cover a familiar constellation I knew. It was unknown shape to me, so it had to be the Night Fury. Then I heard another high pitch shrill, I turned my invention to the tower and sure enough the dragon destroyed the tower and whizzed past as I saw its shadowy outline. I aimed as fast I could and pulled the trigger. The force of the launch threw me back to the ground as the bolas soared through the air. Then I heard the shrill and saw the black body fell uncontrollably towards Raven Point.

"What… I hit it?" I said in disbelief. "Yes I hit it! Viking hood here I come!" I turned around to see if somebody, anybody saw what I did. "Did anybody see that just now?" Suddenly I heard a loud crunch of wood from behind me. Something must have happen to my launcher. I also heard a menacing growl from behind me as well. I was afraid to look behind me, but I did. Right there, with its claw on my creation, was a huge Nightmare. "Except for you." I said. Then the chase for my life began… again.

I screamed at the top of lungs while running back to the village. So loud, Stoick heard me and saw me in trouble again. He sighed and left to help me. "DO NOT LET THEM ESCAPE!" he ordered.

I kept running and the Nightmare kept firing at me. I hid behind of the torch posts, but the dragon fired a long stream of fire at the pole and set it aflame. I covered my face with my fists. I looked behind the pole to see if it was still after me, but little did I know that its head was right behind me ready to take a bite out of me. Fortunately, a large figure tackled the creature at its side. It was Stoick.

It was alpha Viking versus alpha dragon. The Nightmare roared at him, while Stoick readjust his helmet not looking the least bit afraid. The dragon tried to fire at him, but all it got was bits of sticky fire. It looked at the large Viking as if it knew it was in trouble now.He cracked his knuckles and said "You're all out." He punched, kicked, and jabbed the lizard until it flew off defeated.

"Oh there something you need to know about me and Stoick" the pole gave out and started to fall revealing me trying to sneak away, but stopped in my tracks when Stoick saw me not looking very happy. The fire bowl on top of the pole landed on the boarded walkways crashing through buildings, and almost running into people. I hissed at all the sounds of pain. I looked at Stoick and said "Sorry, father." Yes, I'm Stoick the Vast's, Chief of the Hairy Hooligan Tribe only daughter and child.

The bowl finally stopped and let the captured dragons free and they took all of the food they could carry. It was all my fault. "Okay, but I hit a Night Fury." Stoick didn't listen and grabbed me by the back of my shirt and dragged me towards our house.

"It's not like the last few times, father, I really actually got one." I protested. "You guys were busy and I had a really clear shot, it fell somewhere around Raven Point, let's get a search party out there before…" But before I can finish, Stoick turned around. "Stop!" he roared frustrated. I froze immediately and stopped talking. "Just stop" he said a little softer, but still a little annoyed.

"Every time you step outside, disaster falls can you not see I have bigger problems!" he scolded "Winter is almost here and I have an entire village to feed."

"If you ask me the village can do with a little less feeding."I thought to myself. "Are you listening to me young lady?" he said sternly. He gave another upset sigh. "Why can you follow the simplest orders?" "I can't stop myself, I see a dragon and I just have to kill it, it's simply the way I am, father." I protested. My father put one of his hands on his face. "Oh dear… you're many things Thora, but a dragon slayer is not of them" he said.

Once again his words, hit me like a sharp stone in a heart. He's the one who inspired me to become a Viking in the first place, and even he doesn't believe I can be one. I hung my head low to look at my boots.

"Get back to the house" he said. "Make sure she gets there!" he ordered to Gobbler. "I have her mess to clean up" "Don't make me sound like a baby just because you treat me like one!"

Gobbler had me march up to my house, which seemed to survived the fire it had earlier. I was ashamed that I couldn't prove myself a Viking, and just my luck, we walked right past the others teenagers. Ruffnut laughed out loud. Her brother mocked "Quite a performance." Then my "lovable" cousin did his unusual "Cheer me ups". "I've never seen anyone mess up that bad, that helped" he said.

"She definitely takes after that idiotic mom of hers." Snotlout said coldly. I turned around with a sharp look. "Don't dare talk about my mother that way, or you will regret it dearly!" I said. "Okay that enough." Gobbler said pushing me towards my house and pushing down Snotlout.

When we got to the Haddock house, I couldn't hold it in anymore. "I really did hit one." "Sure you did" Gobbler said not really believing me. "He just never listens" "Well it runs deep in your father's side of the family" he added. "I know he's looking out for me, but he doesn't have to be so overprotective. I can just imagine what he was like when he found out I was a girl and not a boy. Like when there's no meat in his sandwich."

I turned around and did my best Scottish accent and mimicked my father's behavior. "Excuse me Barmaid, I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring, I ordered an extra large boy with beefy arms, extra guts and glory on the side, this here, this is a talking fishbone of a girl." I know for a fact that my father would rather have a son than a daughter.

"Now don't take it the wrong way." said Gobbler. "It's not so much as you not being able to do it; it's more like losing he's more worried about." I was confused; my father was more worried about me losing battles or something. "Thanks, that make me feel better."

"The point is, stop trying to be something or not." Gobbler said sympathy. "I just want one chance to prove myself one of you guys." I said as I went into my house.

I heard Gobbler leave. This was the perfect chance to sneak out and find the Night Fury. I could be Viking for sure if I kill it. I took off my skirt, which doubled as a cloak. Underneath was a pair of brown pants, I found this easier to move around in than a skirt. I made them in secret. There were a lot of things that even my father doesn't know.

I gather a water sack, some food, my field journal where I keep various drawings and information, and a small knife I made at the shop. Working at the black smith's has its good points. I put on the cloak/skirt and went out the back door. After making sure no one was watching, I ran towards the forest to find my shortcut to my destiny.