Chapter 1
A/N: Hi, wonderful people who decided to read my story! For those of you who have read my other story, "The Return of the Guardians: They. Will. Rise.", don't worry about a thing, I promised I would finish it and I will. However, ideas for this would simply not stop pestering me, so while I was writing this, hey, why not post it? Watching-the-movie is one of my favorite types of fics. So I present to you the product of my crazy brain ;)
So-called "real world" ;)
Thoughts
The movie
Scene changes and action in the movie
Disclaimer: I don't own HtTYD, never have, never will. :( Dreamworks does.
"Okay, okay, I'm sorry! Now get me off of this thing!" Toothless looked at her, and apparently deciding she was sincere, leveled out. Astrid, expecting the worst, was surprised when she felt that the dragon beneath her wasn't falling like an arrow from the sky anymore; rather, he was pulling up.
She finally opened her eyes, and the scene that met her took her breath away. A strange whiteness surrounded her, just like she'd imagined Valhalla would be when she arrived there.
She reached out and touched it; much like when one is standing on something tall and reaching for the ceiling, she made sure her hand was firmly on Hiccup's shoulder before she reached out. It was much softer than sheep's wool, and that was saying something. There weren't many things on Berk that could be called "soft"; they were Vikings who didn't care much about things like that.
Hiccup and Toothless soared through the clouds, showing her a whole new world. As evening turned to night, she saw a dazzling display right above them; the overflow of colors from Valhalla, it was said, and she had never seen it this close.
As they dipped below the clouds, she saw Berk as if from the eyes of a dragon, and she smiled. This is my home; the village where we kill dragons, and the village where one boy, the weakest, has bonded with a dragon and—and stolen my heart too. But how do I show him that?
She almost laughed at herself for being a simpleton. Then, she confidently snaked her arms around his waist and put her chin on his shoulder. She felt him stiffen at first, but then, he relaxed again and they continued soaring; if Astrid could have seen his face, she was sure he would have been smiling.
When they had flown past Berk, a rainbow of swirling colors suddenly appeared before them. Astrid tightened her grip around Hiccup's waist. This was certainly not the usual lights of Valhalla; they had seen that a few minutes ago. This was concentrated in one place, almost like a portal to another world.
"Hiccup, what's that?"
"That's a very good question. Toothless, hold back. You never know what could happen." His arms tightened against his sides, holding her behind him. Astrid smiled at his protectiveness, even though it wasn't needed. She was the Shield Maiden, after all; she could protect herself.
Toothless pulled back, beating his wings to keep them aloft while they peered at the rainbow.
Astrid decided to voice her thoughts. "Hiccup, do you—do you think that could be an entrance to another world?" He replied, "I don't know. Could it be a hidden dragon world? Let's take a closer look."
As they drifted closer, she started panicking, though she would never admit it. "Are you crazy? That—thing, could be the end of us. Are you asking the gods to kill you?!" He didn't get a chance to respond; instead, he said, "Toothless, what are you doing, not that close!" Toothless kept flapping his wings, trying to keep them back, but he was being pulled towards it; with a cry, they were all sucked in, separating Toothless from his riders by magic.
On Berk, a similar vortex of color engulfed the island; when it lifted, every single Viking was gone, along with the four dragons imprisoned in the Training Ring. The other animals were left behind.
The residents of Berk (as well as the involuntary residents) landed in a dark room with a spacious floor, grumbling about being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. Stoick was the first to recover, jumping to his feet and grabbing for his hammer...which had mysteriously vanished. He shouted out instead, "WHAT HAPPENED, IS EVERYONE ALRIGHT, AND WHO HAS BROUGHT US HERE?!"
"I didn't think you'd react that...well, exuberantly. Of course, what do I expect from Stoick the Vast?"
Stoick and the rest of the village (well, after they untangled themselves and struggled to their feet) turned to see a girl step out from the shadows.
Barefoot, she was dressed in a hoodie that was a rich blue with something on her shoulders that was sparkling in the light; a closer glance revealed that it was frost. She wore deep blue leggings which came to her calves, and a snowflake was holding part of her waist-length silvery white hair out of her face. In her left hand, she held a shimmering rod of ice that was intricately carved with frost patterns and the letters "JIF".
Stoick thought, A mere girl has brought us here? She must be a goddess to have such power. But if so, then why do we not recognize her? Why have there been no legends about this goddess of ice? He made to bow on one knee.
When she saw the look on Stoick's face, she laughed and said, "No, I am not a goddess, and I never will be. However, I do have the power to bring you here, as you have seen, as well as a few other things I will not mention now. I have brought you here to watch a movie, which is a moving picture with sound, and the movie is about the war between Vikings and dragons and its end. The movie shall be shown right inside this room, on the wall." She pointed her staff and a set of double doors appeared.
She said, "By the way, I am Jacqueline Frostine. Now that that's out of the way, there are a few things you all need to know. First, there will be dragons inside. I have taken your weapons for a reason. You are not to attack them. Also, you are not to verbally attack anyone."
She continued, "If you disregard these rules...let's just say that I have not told you the extent of my power for good reason; I wish you to feel free to act normally, not to cower in fear of me." Her voice gained a lighter tone. "Now, on to the movie!" She added that there would be breaks every now and then from watching.
They all filed into the room, which had seats all facing one wall. The dragons were already there, on the opposite side of the room. Jacqueline said, "Your names are written on your seats. I will be watching you." With that, she clutched her staff, jumped into the air, and with a gust of wind, she vanished, leaving the Vikings and dragons behind.
They found their spots. Hiccup on the end, next to Astrid and the other teens, was closest to the dragons and Toothless, though Jacqueline had taken them both aside and told them that they would have to wait a while before they could sit together. That done, they settled down to watch.
The screen lights up to show a stormy ocean and an island village.
HICCUP (V.O.): This, is Berk. It's twelve days North of hopeless, and a few degrees South of freezing to death. It's located solidly on the meridian of misery.
Gobber scowls. "It's not tha' bad!" While Hiccup and the other teens were wondering, Why is Hiccup/ Why am I narrating this?
He continues as we begin to see more of Berk.
HICCUP (V.O.): My village. In a word, sturdy. And it's been here for seven generations, but every single building is new.
Some of the Vikings huffed. A few "I wonder why"s were heard.
HICCUP (V.O.): We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests. You see, most places have mice or mosquitos. We have...
Sheep graze peacefully on a hillside. Suddenly one is snatched. A door is pulled open...as a dragon swoops directly toward it, blasting fire. The door is slammed shut as fire shoots through the slats of wood, illuminating Hiccup.
Some of the villagers leaned forward, ignoring Hiccup onscreen; more focused on the rest of the house. Not many had seen the inside of the chief's house, and those who had, had been too frightened out of their wits to notice anything. Thus the curiosity.
HICCUP: ...dragons.
He reopens the sizzling door, and leaps off of the front porch. He weaves through the erupting mayhem as Vikings pour out of the buildings, ready for a fight. More dragons swarm in, setting rooftops alight and hauling off sheep.
HICCUP (V.O.): Most people would leave. Not us. We're Vikings. We have stubbornness issues.
A Viking called out, "I do NOT have stubbornness issues!"
Hiccup said matter-of-factly, "Point proven." Astrid almost doubled over in silent laughter.
Vikings sound the alarm. Viking men and women pour out into the streets, axes in hand. Hiccup darts through alleys, staying under eaves, making his way through the battle.
Fishlegs said, "I guess being small does have its benefits." To which some agreed.
HICCUP (V.O.): My name's Hiccup. Great name, I know. But it's not the worst. Parents believe a hideous name will frighten off gnomes and trolls. Like our charming Viking demeanor wouldn't do that.
It was a tradition in Berk that for every month in a year, there were specific letters to choose from for the first letter of the name of the child that would be born that month. Stoick thought to himself, Val just had to choose Hiccup.
Dragons sweep back and forth, dodging axes and blasting the Vikings who throw them. A burly warrior gets tossed in an explosion, knocking Hiccup to the ground.
VIKING: Arggghhhhh! (cheery, insane) Mornin'!
Hiccup said loudly, "Almost gave me a heart attack, thanks."
Hiccup gets to his feet and continues to rush past gigantic men and women.
HICCUP (V.O.): Meet the neighbors. Hoark the Haggard...
HOARK: What are you doing out!?
HICCUP: ... Burnthair the Broad...
BURNTHAIR: Get inside!
HICCUP: ... Phlegma the Fierce...
PHLEGMA THE FIERCE: Get back inside!
Hiccup said, "Sure; go inside when the house is on fire. Great idea."
The other Vikings were wondering if they really sounded that harsh. Astrid frowned.
HICCUP: Ack.
He passes a silent ox of a viking, picking his ear.
HICCUP: Yep, just Ack.
Enter Stoick, the biggest Viking of all. He pulls Hiccup from the path of a strafing dragon and holds aloft to the crowd.
STOICK: Hiccup!? What is he doing out aga-what are you doing out?! Get inside!
The flames light up his scowling face and matted red beard. He sets Hiccup down and turns to the sky, searching.
"Thanks, Dad."
HICCUP (V.O.): That's Stoick the Vast. Chief of the tribe. They say that when he was a baby he popped a dragon's head clean off of its shoulders. Do I believe it?
Stoick grabs a wooden cart and hurls it, knocking the dragon out of the sky.
HICCUP (V.O.): Yes I do.
An explosion forces Vikings to duck. Stoick stands firm, brushing an ember off of his shoulder.
STOICK: What have we got?
VIKING #1: Gronckles. Nadders. Zipplebacks. Oh, and Hoark saw a Monstrous Nightmare.
STOICK: Any Night Furies?
VIKING #1: None so far.
STOICK: Good.
Toothless almost purred. He was the best!
VIKING: Hoist the torches!
Massive flaming braziers are raised on poles, lighting up the night sky and revealing swarming dragons of all types. Below, Hiccup crosses an open plaza and ducks into an open building with a tall chimney. He crosses behind a counter, where a peg-legged, one-armed hulk of a Blacksmith reshapes blades with a hammer and tongs appendage.
GOBBER: Ah! Nice of you to join the party. I thought you'd been carried off.
"You wish."
"What's tha', Hiccup?"
"Oh, ah, I was just saying that, uh, I like your hammer and tongs. Nice invention."
Gobber looks at him. "You invented it."
Hiccup rubbed the back of his neck. "I did? Oh, uh, yeah, I did, didn't I?" Gobber didn't reply, and Hiccup sighed in relief.
Hiccup dons a leather apron and starts to put away Gobber's scattered prosthetics.
HICCUP: Who me? Nah, come on! I'm way too muscular for their taste. They wouldn't know what to do with all this.
Hiccup strikes a bodybuilder pose.
Everyone chuckled.
GOBBER: They need toothpicks, don't they?
"Did you just call me toothpick, meathead?"
"Oi! Who are you callin' meathead?"
"The same one who called me toothpick." Gobber glared at him playfully.
Hiccup gets to work, transferring bent and chipped weapons to the forge as Vikings crowd the counter for replacements.
HICCUP (V.O.): The meathead with attitude and interchangeable hands is Gobber. I've been his apprentice ever since I was little. Well...littler.
Around on the other side of the village, Stoick is shouting orders.
STOICK: We move to the lower defenses. We'll counter- attack with the catapults.
Armed Vikings rush past, flanking others who carry sheep to safety. Stoick follows up the rear as, overhead, a dragon strafes the rooftops with Napalm-like fire.
HICCUP (V.O.): See? Old village. Lots and lots of new houses.
Everyone chuckled at Hiccup's ability to make light of the situation.
VIKING: FIRE!
In response, the fire brigade charges through the square-five teens, tugging a large wooden cask on wheels. From it, they fill buckets of water to douse the flames. One among them is a cute, energetic Viking girl. Hiccup leans out of the stall to watch her.
HICCUP (V.O.): Oh and that's Fishlegs, Snotlout. The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut. And...Astrid.
Said two Vikings blushed furiously while Snotlout pouted.
An explosion erupts behind her, framing her in a ball of fire. The others join her, looking awesome and heroic.
HICCUP (V.O.): Their job is so much cooler.
Hiccup tries to join them as they pass, but he's hooked by Gobber and hoisted back inside.
Snotlout and the twins snickered. Hiccup sighed. "Seriously, what do you guys have against me and my shirt? Did it prank you or something?"
HICCUP: Ah, come on. Let me out, please. I need to make my mark.
GOBBER: Oh, you've made plenty of marks. All in the wrong places.
Some winced, remembering the consequences of some of those "marks".
HICCUP: Please, two minutes. I'll kill a dragon. My life will get infinitely better. I might even get a date.
Astrid said to him, blushing, "You got one without even doing that."He smiled and squeezed her hand.
GOBBER: You can't lift a hammer. You can't swing an axe; you can't even throw one of these.
Demonstrating, Gobber grabs a bola. A Viking runs by and nabs it out of Gobber's hand, hurling it at a Gronckle. The bola binds its legs, sending it into a heavy crash.
HICCUP: (ready with the answer): Okay fine, but...this will throw it for me.
He rushes to the back corner of the stall and presents a contraption that resembles a covered wheelbarrow.He opens the hinged lid. An arm springs up, armed with twin bows. It prematurely launches a bola, narrowly missing Gobber...and taking out a Viking at the counter.
VIKING: Arggh!
Said Viking, whose name was Ballok, called to Hiccup, "Oi! That hurt!"
"Sorry! Like I said, mild calibration issue."
GOBBER: See, now this right here is what I'm talking about.
HICCUP: Mild calibration issue.
"Or maybe not so mild."
"Hey! It worked on the hill!"
GOBBER: Hiccup. If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you need to stop all...this.
Gobber gestures in Hiccup's general direction.
Hiccup looked confused and mildly irritated. "What do you mean, 'all this'?"
Snotlout snickered loudly. "Do I need to make a list? Oh, let's see, 'Hiccup is annoying, Hiccup is weak, Hiccup is useless, Hiccup is—"
"Don't you dare finish that sentence, Snotlout."
The whole village turned to watch as Jacqueline appeared out of nowhere, her lip curling up in disgust. "Or that list. You don't even want to know what I'll do to you if you keep this up."
Snotlout, even though he felt a touch of fear, leaned back and smiled at her. "What if I do? You can't harm the great Snotlo—"
"I have your weapons, you know. And I know how to use them."
"Like what, a puny little toy?"
She concentrated on her hand until a glow appeared, and she lifted her hand. Every Berkian gasped when they saw their weapons appear, hovering in the air. The glow remained in Jacqueline's hand, and she shifted, the weapons following her movements, all pointing straight at Snotlout.
He was speechless, not being able to hide his fear. "You—uh—."
She smirked. "Your own weapons used against you, huh? Consider this your warning."
The twins, who had been at a loss for words, spoke up. Tuffnut yelled, "WOMD! I have to have it, I have to have it!"
Ruffnut said, "Yeah, can I have it? Oh, by the way, my annoying twin means Weapons Of Mass Destruction."
Jacqueline laughed. "As much as I'd like to use or see this used on Drago, Johann, or the rest of the dragon trappers, the gods, as well as the rest of Berk, would kill me if I did, so no." The twins huffed and started sulking in their seats.
Stoick was about to say something about Drago, but Jacqueline said, "Okay, enough distractions, back to the movie." Everyone settled down, and Jacqueline disappeared again.
Hiccup thought, Wow, that's the first time I can remember that someone stood up for me. She didn't have to though...I should probably tell her that during the next break.
HICCUP: But... you just pointed to all of me.
GOBBER: Yes! That's it! Stop being all of you.
HICCUP (THREATENING): Ohhhh...
GOBBER (MIMICKING): Ohhhhh, yes.
HICCUP: You, sir, are playing a dangerous game. Keeping this much, raw...Vikingness contained. There will be consequences!
GOBBER: I'll take my chances. Sword. Sharpen. Now.
Gobber tosses him a sword. Hiccup takes it begrudgingly and heaves it onto the grinding wheel. His eyes narrow as he thinks.
HICCUP (V.O.): One day I'll get out there. Because killing a dragon is everything around here.
Hiccup sighed. I wish it wasn't.
Outside, Nadders land, gathering like seagulls around a seemingly vacant house.
HICCUP (V.O.): A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed.
Yet-unnamed Stormfly squawked indignantly. Only "at least noticed"?!
The Nadders clamber onto the building, tearing the roof and walls apart. Sheep pour out and SCATTER. Elsewhere, hippo-like Gronckles pick drying racks clean of fish and fly off like loaded pelicans.
HICCUP (V.O.): Gronckles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend.
A stealthy, snake-like dragon head peeks over a rooftop, breathing gas into a chimney.
HICCUP (V.O.): A Zippleback? Exotic, exciting. Two heads, twice the status.
Soon-to-be Barf and Belch bobbed their heads, looking important.
A second head pokes through the door and lights it. The two heads fly through the explosion, their necks zipping together to reveal a single body. It flies past Stoick as he climbs to the top of a catapult tower.
CATAPULT OPERATOR: They found the sheep!
STOICK (FRUSTRATED): Concentrate fire over the lower bank!
CATAPULT OPERATOR: Fire!
Boulders are catapulted at the sheep-herding Nadders...just as a huge red dragon whips past, spraying the base of the catapult with sticky fire.
HICCUP (V.O.): And then there's the Monstrous Nightmare. Only the best Vikings go after those. They have this nasty habit of setting themselves on fire.
It emerges from the flames and climbs the catapult, grinning leeringly.
STOICK: Reload! I'll take care of this.
" 'Take care of it'? Thats how you think about it; something just to be dealt with like—" Hiccup caught himself and stopped.
Stoick, growing curious, decided to brush aside the fact that Hiccup had partially disrespected him, asked, "Like what, son?"
Hiccup sighed and mumbled, "Like me." Toothless crooned from the other side; magical barrier or no, he could feel Hiccup's emotions seeping through and wondered how Stoick hadn't picked up on it by now, not realizing that humans couldn't sense that like dragons. He must be very stupid not to know that Hiccup is wary and extremely intimidated. What is wrong with him?
Stoick, on the other hand, was feeling guilty that Hiccup thought that of him. He was about to say something, when Hiccup said, "It doesn't really matter; let's just watch."
Stoick reluctantly turned away for the moment, fully intending to continue this later.
Stoick takes on the Nightmare, face to hammer.
Hiccup and Astrid winced at every blow.
Suddenly, a loud ballistic moaning sounds from overhead. The catapult crew ducks. At the smithy, Hiccup looks up from his work, reacting to the same sound.
HICCUP (V.O.): But the ultimate prize is the dragon no one has ever seen. We call it the—
VIKING: Night Fury! Get down!
Hiccup smiled at the reference to his best friend, and Astrid did the same. Stoick figured that was one of the mysteries that would be revealed later, but it made him suspicious.
Vikings everywhere take shelter. The moaning sound builds. At the catapult, the Nightmare suddenly stops fighting and takes flight. Stoick looks up, then hollers.
STOICK: JUMP!
HICCUP (V.O.): This thing never steals food, never shows itself, and...
The catapult suddenly explodes, sending Stoick and the crew leaping for their lives. The sound recedes, leaving the crippled catapult in flames.
HICCUP (V.O.): ...never misses. No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first.
Astrid whispered to Hiccup, "Or the first to befriend and ride one," making him smile weakly.
"It's just, I was the one who took his flight away. What kind of friend does that?"
"Hiccup, you didn't know him then."
"Yeah, but it doesn't bring his tailfin back with excuses."
"Or regrets." Toothless, sensing his distress, crooned from the other side. Hiccup noticed.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. Thanks, Astrid." She squeezed his hand in response.
In the smithy, Gobber switches out his hammer for an axe.
GOBBER: Man the fort, Hiccup, they need me out there!
Gobber pauses and turns with a threatening glare.
GOBBER: Stay. Put. There. You know what I mean.
Gobber then gives a war cry and charges into the fray. Meanwhile, a smirk crosses Hiccup's face.
"Gobber, did you really think that was going to make him stay? He didn't before!" Stoick glared at Hiccup and Gobber.
Hiccup said, "Well, technically I did go inside when you asked me to; just to a different place."
Astrid shrugged. "Can't argue with that."
They all settled down to watch the next scene unfold.
A/N: Did anyone catch the reference to HtTYD 3?
Anyway, there is the first chapter! This one will most likely be the longest, given that it includes the introduction as well as some of the movie itself. Love it? Hate it? Let me know, review! (But preferably not hate; that's a given ^^) See you next time,
Jacqueline