Author's Note: Hi guys, this is just a sorta one-shot that I did a few years back as part of an AP Lang class (yeah, I know, cool right!) Anyway, it's examining the binary between Hiccup and Stoick and comparing them as a father wanting to hold power over his son. This is just a recollection of the part of the movie where Hiccup messes up trying to hit a Nightfury and his father yells at him. I hope you enjoy it, and please review but don't flame me!

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters or elements relating to HTTYD.

How to Train Your Dragon: Power Play

Embarrassed after his latest disastrous act, Hiccup stood there awkwardly, and then sheepishly pointed and said, "Okay, but I hit a Nightfury."

Stoick grabbed his son, a tight look on his face, and dragged him past the villagers. Hiccup protested until his father turned back and roared, "STOP!"

Hiccup's words died in his throat abruptly.

Regaining a little of his composure, Stoick said quietly, "Just stop. Every time you step outside, disaster falls. Can you not see that I have bigger problems, winter is almost here, and I have an entire village to feed?"

Hiccup hid the guilt that creeped up on his face and muttered, "Well, between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding, don't you think?"

Angry, Stoick chastised him. "This isn't a joke, Hiccup!" He heaved a frustrated sigh. "Why can't you follow the simplest orders?"

"I-I can't stop myself!" Hiccup tried to get his point across. "I see a dragon and I have to just… kill it, you know. It's who I am, Dad."

Stoick sighed again, this time a little resignedly. "You're many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them."

Hiccup was hit with the realization that no matter how hard he tried, his dad could never see it from his point of view. He didn't think that his dad even tried. There was just too big of a gap between their personalities, their way of thinking, their age, and the fact that Stoick was Hiccup's father and had the power over him. Stoick would continue giving him commands that he could not obey, would continue trying to force him to do things that he didn't want to do, because Stoick was his father, and supposedly knew more than Hiccup did. And also, in part, because Stoick just could. Stoick had the power here, and Hiccup had nothing. Was nothing. Hiccup couldn't change the way it was.

His father said in a low voice, "Get back to the house." It was his way of telling Hiccup that he was dismissed. Hiccup wanted to say something else, but found out that he couldn't figure out what to say. Plus, who was he to say anything? His father was done talking to him, and that was it. It had always been this way.

Raising his voice, Stoick called to Gobber, "And make sure he gets there." With one last, disappointed and angry look at his son, he muttered, "I have this mess to clean up."

As Stoick walked off, Hiccup looked up only once to find that his father's expression was unyielding and cold. His dad was tired of trying to teach Hiccup, trying to stop his son from destroying the village and embarrassing his own father, the chief. Well, it's too bad that Stoick was tired, because that was his job. He, as the parent, had to take care of the son. It wasn't as if Hiccup could teach his father how to be better. That would never happen.

End of How to Train Your Dragon: Power Play

Author's Note: How was it? Did I do a good-enough job of showing their interior struggles as father/son? Please review, and thanks for reading!