THE SCREEN FADES IN:
EXT. NORTH SEA/VILLAGE - NIGHT
We skim above a dark, wild ocean. The camera turns toward a
lone island, Berk. It is a gigantic shard of rock jutting
straight out of the water.
Eyes narrow at the sight of their village.
HICCUP (V.O.)
This, is Berk.
"Is that me?" Hiccup asked no one in particular. Maybe I will become someone great, he thought.
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.
Some of the vikings snort. Others look offended and others try to look offended (but can't because they're too busy holding in a chuckle).
Too bad it was his father that seemed to be genuinely offended, along with Astrid. At least Gobber seems amused.
Hiccup sighed, and turned to the giant picture, which seemed to be what would uncover his destiny.
The camera drifts over rolling hills to reveal a small
village nestled on an outcropping of sea mounts.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
My village. In a word, sturdy.
And it's been here for seven
generations, but every single
building is new.
"It's no wonder why," Spitelout, Snotlout's father, turns to glare at the dragons. Some hiss and snarl in response, but nobody can get out of their seats (or places, in the dragons' case).
The camera drifts closer, circling.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
We have fishing, hunting, and a
charming view of the sunsets. The
only problems are the pests.
Some vikings scoff at the word "pests"
You see, most places have mice or
Mosquitos.
We have...
Sheep graze peacefully on a hillside. Suddenly one is
snatched.
CUT TO:
INT. STOICK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS
A door is pulled open... as a DRAGON swoops directly toward
it, BLASTING FIRE. The door is SLAMMED. The fire shoots
through the slats of wood, illuminating HICCUP, a gangly
teenage Viking.
HICCUP
...dragons.
"That's me!"
The vikings are shocked to see Hiccup displayed in the picture. His gangly form is perfect and realistic, beating even Bucket's art. Stoick is, meanwhile, hoping Hiccup would stay inside for once. Barely outside for a second and already he'd had to shut the door to block out a dragon's fire.
EXT. STOICK'S HOUSE
He reopens the sizzling door,
Stoick sighs in defeat and Hiccup turns to him, giving him a confused glance.
and leaps off of the front porch. He weaves through the erupting
mayhem as Vikings pour out of the buildings, ready for a fight.
Some of the vikings muse over the fact that they could never avoid crashing into people and objects so many times, but Hiccup is oblivious to it, seeing as he's never believed it to be such a great thing.
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.
More scoffs. Stubbornness issues? The dragon's attacked first. It was only logical to attack back.
Vikings sound the alarm. Viking men and women pour out into
the streets, axes in hand.
Some vikings gasp, recognizing themselves and other neighbors.
ON HICCUP darting through alleys, staying under eaves, making
his way through the battle.
More musing, and at this point Astrid realizes an advantage she'd never taken into consideration before. She was just as gangly as Hiccup. She could do all of that too! Of course, it looks easy, she smirked. She would definitely win the upcoming dragon killing competition. (I don't know if I should have added that. To me it seems she already knew her advantages but meh)
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
My name's Hiccup. Great name, I
know. But it's not the worst.
Some vikings *cough*SNOTLOUT*cough* scoffed. Hiccup was what parents named the runt of the litter, how was it not the worst name out there?
Stoick looked over to Hiccup. "You don't like your name?"
"Better than Snotlout," Hiccup said, shrugging. Snotlout didn't hear him.
Parents believe a hideous name will
frighten off gnomes and trolls.
Like our charming Viking demeanor
wouldn't do that.
Some dragons chirped in agreement, and a few vikings fidgeted in discomfort.
Snort.
Hiccup stiffened. He turned to look over to his right, which he rarely ever did, and found something that terrified him half to death.
"Ahh!" The movie paused.
"What is it Hiccup?" Stoick asked. Hiccup buried his face between the seats he and his father were in.
"Dragon," he whispered. He was not going to be embarrassed by being frightened of a dragon! He couldn't defend himself if it decided Hiccup looked like a sheep!
Stoick looked up, and was shocked to see the pitch black dragon staring at his son. Gods if only he could stand up.
"Witch! What is the meaning of this," he asked, forcing his voice not to shake.
"Clara! It's Clara, damn it! And what do you mean? You do realized there're other dragons in the room."
"Why is my son seated next to one?" Nobody else was sitting so close to another dragon. The other rows of seats were seperated by a hall; a hall which didn't seperate anything in the last row. Hiccup and the dragon were right in the center of that row.
"Oh no; that's called a spoiler where I come from. Just watch the movie and you'll see," she said.
Hiccup let out a shaky breath and took in a shakier one. "It's alright. It can't attack it can't attack it can't attack," he repeatedly whispered.
Stoick huffed. Clara pressed play, and the dark dragon dragged its eyes away from the boy's figure.
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
(FIERCE)
Arggghhhhh!
(cheery, insane)
Mornin'!
Nobody but the dragons question the act.
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!
"Feeling the love," Hiccup muttered, attracting Stoick's attention. His voice was still shaking, but the comment didn't seem at all forced. He mused that his son was so... weird. Weird enough to let out yet another one of his retorts in the presence of a dragon that could quite possibly kill him.
HICCUP
Ack.
He passes a silent ox of a viking, picking his ear.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Yep, just Ack.
Enter STOICK, the biggest Viking of all. He yanks Hiccup from
the path of a strafing dragon and holds aloft to the crowd.
Some of the teenagers laugh at this. It never got old for them.
STOICK
Hiccup!?
(accusingly; to the crowd)
What is he doing out again?!
"Just trying to get to Gobber's," answers Hiccup. Clara smiles.
Stoick looks at him, and starts, as if justifying his actions.
"You bring trouble where ever you go Hiccup, I can't be too sure-"
"Oh come on, Dad!"
(TO HICCUP)
What are you doing out?! Get
inside!
The flames light up his scowling face and matted red beard.
"Ladies and Vikings, my Dad's face twenty-four-seven."
Clara and Gobber laugh, along with a few other vikings.
He sets Hiccup down and turns to the sky, searching.
HICCUP (V.O.)
(IN AWE)
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 smirked. That had never happened, but he knew some of the teenagers still spoke of it. He very much doubted Hiccup believed it though.
Stoick grabs a wooden cart and hurls it, knocking the
strafing dragon out of the sky.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Yes I do.
Stoick stares and Hiccup fidgets awkwardly. He doesn't look at his father as a small smile reaches Stoick's face.
An EXPLOSION forces Vikings to DUCK. Stoick stands firm,
brushing flaming debris off of his shoulder.
STOICK
(barking; to his men)
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
(RELIEVED)
Good.
The dragon next to Hiccup gives a short snort and a nod of approval, but Hiccup doesn't notice.
VIKING
Hoist the torches!
Massive flaming braziers are raised on poles, lighting up the
night sky... and revealing swirling dragons of all types.
Below, Hiccup crosses an open plaza and ducks into an open
building with a tall chimney.
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - CONTINUOUS
He crosses behind a counter, where a peg-legged, one-armed
hulk of a Blacksmith reshapes blades with a hammer and tongs
Appendage.
"Hey, that's me," shouts Gobber.
GOBBER
Ah! Nice of you to join the party.
I thought you'd been carried off.
Some in the crowd chuckle. Even Hiccup smiles at his (only) friend's joke.
Hiccup dons a leather apron and starts to put away Gobber's
scattered appendages.
"Clean up a little will ya?" Clara's voice came.
"I know, right," Hiccup said before he could stop himself.
"You're both very annoying, you know that?"
HICCUP
Who me? Nah, come on! I'm way too
muscular for their taste. They
wouldn't know what to do with all...
Hiccup strikes a bodybuilder pose.
This.
The room is filled with more laughs and some dragons snort. Hiccup sinks into his seat in embarrassment and Stoick hides his face behind his hand. Even the dragon next to Hiccup gave out a snort.
GOBBER
They need toothpicks, don't they?
"Gobber!" Hiccup complained. This was already too embarrassing as it was...
Clara laughed along with the vikings and dragons.
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.
Too true, thought some vikings. They chuckled.
Hiccup gave a sigh. He set himself up for that one. When exactly had he said all of this?
EXT. VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS
ON STOICK
STOICK
We move to the lower defenses.
We'll counter-attack with the
catapults.
Armed men 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.
VIKING
FIRE!
In response, the fire brigade charges through the plaza -
four 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.
"Hey!" "Hey" shout the twins.
"That's us!" Snotlout stated out.
Fishlegs and Astrid stay quiet; the former being stunned by his image and the latter in suspicion.
HICCUP (V.O.)
Oh and that's Fishlegs, Snotlout.
The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut.
And...
(DREAMY)
Astrid.
A SLOW-MOTION explosion erupts behind her, framing her in a
sexy ball of fire. The others join her, looking awesome and
Heroic.
"We look awesome," said Tuffnut.
"Awkward," whispered Clara.
Astrid's face remained poker, but Hiccup was blushing at his cousin's snickering,
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
Their job is so much cooler.
Hiccup tries to join them as they pass, but he's hooked by
Gobber and hoisted back inside.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(PLEADING)
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.
"Too true."
"Gobber!"
HICCUP
Please, two minutes. I'll kill a
dragon. My life will get infinitely
better. I might even get a date.
"Ha!" Snotlout let out a laugh.
GOBBER
You can't lift a hammer.
"Yeah, but-"
You can't swing an axe...
"Okay, yeah but I-"
Gobber grabs a bola (iron balls connected by rope).
GOBBER (CONT'D)
... you can't even throw one of
These.
A Viking runs by and nabs it out of Gobber's hand, hurling it
at a dive-bombing Gronckle. The bola binds its legs, sending
it into a heavy crash.
Hiccup's eyes widen, and a smirk reaches his lips. He's ready for that if this was the future...
HICCUP
(ready with the answer)
Okay fine, but...
He rushes to the back corner of the stall and presents a
bizarre, wheel barrow-like contraption.
"The Mangler! I'm working on that right now," Hiccup stated proudly.
"Oh gods, save us," someone said.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
... this will throw it for me.
Hiccup OPENS the hinged lid of the device. An arm springs up,
equipped with twin bows. They prematurely launch a bola,
narrowly missing Gobber... and taking out a Viking at the
counter.
VIKING
Arggh!
"Damn! I thought I fixed that! I- I mean, s-sorry!"
"Oh, so you actually think these things through?"
"Shut up..." This was the first time he'd actually thought to revise a weapon over, rather than test it out on the field. Still didn't work...
GOBBER
See, now this right here is what
I'm talking about.
HICCUP
Mild calibration issue-
GOBBER
Hiccup. If you ever want to get out
there to fight dragons, you need
to stop all...
Gobber gestures in Hiccup's general direction.
GOBBER (CONT'D)
... this.
HICCUP
(ASTONISHED)
But... you just pointed to all of
Me.
"You just pointed to all of me," the real Hiccup says in astonishment, his voice mixing in with the voice on the screen
"My point exactly."
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.
Scoffs from the audience.
(BEAT)
There will be consequences!
Chuckles from the audience.
Gobber tosses him a sword.
GOBBER
I'll take my chances. Sword.
Sharpen. Now.
Laughs from the audience.
Hiccup takes it begrudgingly and lobs it onto the grinding
wheel. He stews... fantasizing...
HICCUP (V.O.)
One day I'll get out there. Because
killing a dragon is everything
around here.
EXT. VILLAGE - LOWER PLAINS - CONTINUOUS
Nadders land, gathering like seagulls around a seemingly
vacant house.
HICCUP (V.O.)
A Nadder head is sure to get me at
least noticed.
Some Nadders snort. They were at least mentioned, and that had to mean they were great. It was all vanity with them after all.
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.) (CONT'D)
Gronckles are tough. Taking down
one of those would definitely get
me a girlfriend.
Some Gronckles beat their wings in appreciation. They were dragons worthy of being mentioned after all, and they surpassed the Nadders...right?
A stealthy, snake-like dragon head peeks over a rooftop,
breathing gas into a chimney.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
A Zippelback? Exotic, exciting. Two
heads, twice the status.
The Zipplebacks in the back start to light a fire when Clara appears with a bucket of water and throws it at the right (by that I mean correct; I have no idea which is which, and I'm not sure how Clara knew) head.
A second head pokes through the door and lights it. KABLAM!
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 corralling 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.
A Nightmare bows its head humbly. They already knew they were dangerous and they weren't vane like the Nadders. They acknowledged that they deserved respect, was all.
They have this nasty
habit of setting themselves on
Fire.
"Oh yes, other than that, they're harmless and make lovely pets," Gobber said bitterly.
"Sorry?"
It emerges from the flames, climbing the catapult with a
leering, toothy grin.
STOICK
Reload! I'll take care of this.
Stoick takes on the Nightmare, face to hammer.
Suddenly, a LOUD BALLISTIC MOANING streaks overhead. The
catapult crew ducks.
A few gasps among the crowd and the dragon next to Hiccup looks up in recognition. Hiccup doesn't fail to notice it this time.
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - CONTINUOUS
ON HICCUP, looking 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!
Vikings everywhere take shelter. The moaning sound BUILDS.
The dark dragon next to Hiccup chortles, and Hiccup jumps.
Oh gods, it's a-
He suddenly can't breath. Hiccup stiffens, but nobody notices.
EXT. VILLAGE - CATAPULT - CONTINUOUS
The Monstrous Nightmare suddenly stops fighting and takes
flight. Stoick looks skyward.
STOICK
JUMP!
KABOOM! The Catapult EXPLODES as though hit by an artillery
shell... sending Stoick and the crew leaping for their lives.
HICCUP (V.O.)
This thing never steals food, never
shows itself, and...
The sound recedes, leaving the crippled catapult in flames.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)
...never misses.
"Damn right," says an annoyed viking.
(BEAT)
No one has ever killed a Night
Fury. That's why I'm going to be
the first.
The room is filled with condescending laughs, and Hiccup straightens his back, forgetting anything about the dragon next to him to pride.
"I can do it," he defended himself.
"Sure you can, Hiccup."
"Shut it Gobber." Real annoyance seeps through his voice.
IN THE STALL
Gobber trades his hammer for an axe.
GOBBER
Man the fort, Hiccup, they need me
out there!
Gobber pauses. Turns with a threatening glare.
GOBBER (CONT'D)
Stay. Put. There. You know what I
Mean.
"Hel no," -Hiccup.
Gobber charges into the fray, HOLLERING.
ON HICCUP, a smirk crosses his face.
EXT. VILLAGE - MOMENTS LATER
WHAM! Hiccup pushes his wheeled contraption through a wall of
clustered Vikings. He weaves through the ongoing mayhem, as
fast as his legs can carry him.
"I swear, one of these days..."
"Hiccup," Stoick started, "listen to Gobber..."
Hel no, Hiccup decided not to say it aloud this time.
VIKING #6 (O.S.)
Hiccup, where are you going!
VIKING #7
Come back here!
HICCUP
I know. Be right back!
ON THE PLAIN BELOW
The Nadders have cornered the house-full of sheep. They close
in, ready to spring upon them.
Stoick suddenly appears, HURLING FISHING NETS over them. The
surprised Nadders are caught. Stoick and his men rush in.
A Nadder blasts a hole through its net. Stoick leaps onto it,
clamping his thick arms around its head, forcing its jaws
shut.
STOICK
Mind yourselves! The devils still
have some juice in them.
ON THE PLAIN ABOVE
Hiccup reaches a cliff overlooking the smoking CATAPULT and
drops the handles to the ground. He cranks several levers,
unfolding and then cocking the bowed arms of his contraption.
He drops a bola onto a chamber and then pivots the weapon on
a gimbal head toward the dark sky.
He listens, with his eye pressed to the scope, hand poised on
the trigger. He hears the NIGHT FURY approaching... and turns
his aim to the defense tower. It closes in for the final
strike, completely camouflaged in the night.
HICCUP
(TO HIMSELF)
Come on. Give me something to shoot
at, give me something to shoot at.
KABLAM! The tower topples. The blast of fire illuminates the
dragon for a split second. Hiccup pulls the trigger.
KERTHUNK! The flexed arms SNAP forward, springing the weapon
off the ground. The bola disappears into the sky, followed by
a WHACK and a SCREECH.
The room is silent.
"Oh I hit it! Yes, I hit it! Did anybody see that?" Hiccup asked the crowd, staring at the screen in amazement...
"He... Actually took out a Night Fury," came Snotlout's voice.
Astrid stared at the screen in disbelief, much like Stoick was.
"You-"
"I-"
"Never thought you could do it, Hiccup,"
Hiccup snaps out of his daze and glares a Gobber.
"Feeling the love," he rolls his eyes. He slumped down in his seat. He snuck a glance at the dragon next to him. It was glaring at him, and he felt himself coward farther more into the seat.
"Hiccup?" His father asks, noticing the act.
"I'm fine! Just keep- just keep watching the... prophecy?"
"Movie." says Clara
"Alright... That."
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(surprised, then elated)
Oh I hit it! Yes, I hit it! Did
anybody see that?
"That"s what I said!"
Hiccup's victory is short-lived. A Monstrous Nightmare
appears, slithering up over the lip of the cliff.
Gasps are heard all around the room.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Except for you.
Some gasps turn into involuntary chuckles and Stoick covers his face.
"You can't be afraid like a normal person, Hiccup?"
"I'm pretty sure I can," Hiccup responded, scooting away from the Night Fury he was "destined" to take down.
ON STOICK, holding down the netted Nadders. He hears a
familiar HOLLER and looks up to see...
HICCUP running through the PLAZA, SCREAMING,
with the NIGHTMARE fast on his heels.
"Nice scream," said Ruffnut, and Hiccup sighed. They would have heard it anyway if the "movie" really did show the future.
Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain on the side of his head.
"Ow!" He turned to see the Night Fury innocently staring at the screen. He scowled.
"Really? If this is fate, I'm pretty sure that's not gonna stop me from shooting you down," he said, suddenly forgetting what he was speaking to. His eyes widened, and he shrunk when the Night Fury growled, reminding him.
Stoick heard that. "What!"
"Oh my God! What is it now Stoick!?"
"You- you witch!"
"I am."
"You seated my son next to a Night Fury of all dragons!" He said, angrily ignoring her previous sarcasm.
Clara looked at him. "So you found out so fast, huh? I expected Hiccup to, but most vikings aren't very observing."
"Well, it was m-"
"That's not the point. Why would you seat Hiccup next to this Devil!"
She turned away from him with a smile.
"It seemed...appropriate." Clara pressed play before Stoick could reply.
Alarmed, Stoick abandons the Nadders and runs off.
STOICK
(to his men, who are holding the Nadders down)
DO NOT let them escape!
IN THE PLAZA
Vikings scatter as Hiccup dodges a near fatal blast. The
Nightmare's sticky, Napalm-like fire splashes up onto
buildings, setting them alight.
"At least I can dodge the blasts," Hiccup pales. He'd never gotten that close to dying, or that's what he thought anyway. It's hard to realize when running away from a dragon, which he'd done two or three times before already. But a Nightmare! Hiccup felt kind of proud.
Hiccup ducks behind the last standing brazier - the only
shelter available. The Nightmare blasts it, spraying fire all
around him. Hiccup peers around the smoldering post. No sign
of the Nightmare.
"Why don't you try the other side," suggests Ruffnut.
He turns back to find it leering at him, blocking his escape.
It takes a deep breath. Hiccup is finished.
Some of the vikings, Stoick, Gobber and Hiccup included, pale at the image. A few chuckle.
The Night Fury chortles in approval and Hiccup turns to glare. This dragon was starting to piss him off, and he was absolutely sure the feeling was mutual.
"Never mind," Ruffnut rolls her eyes and Tuffnut snickers.
"So much for Hiccup the Night Fury Slayer," comments Snotlout.
Suddenly, Stoick LEAPS between them, tackling the Nightmare
to the ground. They tumble and wrestle, resuming their
earlier fight. The Nightmare tries to toast him, but only
coughs up smoke.
"Go Dad!" Hiccup cheers along with some vikings.
STOICK (CONT'D)
You're all out.
He smashes the Nightmare repeatedly in the face, driving it
away. It takes to the air and disappears. Winded, Stoick
turns to Hiccup.
HICCUP (V.O.)
Oh, and there's one more thing you
need to know...
The burnt brazier pole collapses, sending the massive iron
basket crashing. It bounces down the hill, destroying as it
goes and scattering the Vikings who were holding down the
netted Nadders. The freed dragons escape... with several
sheep in tow.
"Damn it," some of the vikings exclaim.
"Good job Useless."
"At least I can shoot a Night Fury and survive a Nightmare in the same morning," Hiccup retorted, effectively keeping Snotlout's mouth shut.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Sorry, dad.
EXT. VILLAGE - UPPER PLAZA - CONTINUOUS
The escaped Nadders fly past with sheep in their clutches.
The raid is over. The dragons have clearly won.
The murmuring crowd eyes Stoick, awaiting his response.
"Ugh," Hiccup leans his head back.. Here it comes, he thought.
And so did everyone else, dragons not included, because it always came.
Stoick looks at his son. "Sorry about this Hiccup," he says, and Hiccup stares back. Then he smiles.
Nobody sees him smile, but Stoick, and he can't help but feel nostalgia. It's been so long since Hiccup smiled, one of his real smiles. Not the sarcastic smirks he may sometimes give Gobber.
HICCUP
(SHEEPISH)
Okay, but I hit a Night Fury.
Stoick grabs Hiccup by the back scruff of his collar and
hauls him away, fuming with embarrassment.
"Hahaha," laugh the twins and Snotlout. Astrid looks at them and rolls her eyes, while Fishlegs sighs.
Hiccup's smile widens. While the movie Hiccup wasn't doing so great, he was liking it better out here more and more. His dad seemed more accepting, and even Fishlegs and Astrid seemed to be on his side, and he could always count on Gobber, of course.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
It's not like the last few times,
Dad. I mean I really actually hit
it. You guys were busy and I had a
very clear shot. It went down, just
off Raven Point. Let's get a search
party out there, before it-
STOICK
-STOP!
Real Hiccup winced out of his smile, remembering that voice all too well. The Night Fury looked at him.
So vikings actually hold emotions, it mused. Maybe there's a reason they hunt us after all, he thought. Of course, the unholy offspring of lighting and Death didn't let itself continue to think that, already having heard the stupid reasons from the boy at the beginning of the prophecy.
Just...stop.
He releases Hiccup. Everyone goes silent, staring
expectantly.
"Don't you guys have things to do or something?"
"Nah. This is way more entertaining," said Tuffnut. Ruffnut agreed and even Gobber nodded.
So much for counting on Gobber...
STOICK (CONT'D)
Every time you step outside,
disaster follows. Can you not see
that I have bigger problems?
Winter's almost here and I have an
entire village to feed!
Hiccup looks around. All eyes are upon him.
"Go away!" Some vikings smirk and others chuckle.
HICCUP
Between you and me, the village
could do with a little less
feeding, don't ya think?
A few rotund Vikings stir self-consciously.
Vikings in the real world do the same, and Hiccup's amused that the chuckles stopped after that comment.
STOICK
This isn't a joke, Hiccup!
(EXASPERATED)
Why can't you follow the simplest
orders?
HICCUP
I can't stop myself. I see a dragon
and I have to just... kill it, you
know? It's who I am, Dad.
STOICK
You are many things, Hiccup. But a
dragon killer is not one of them.
Hiccup flinches. So his father didn't think he was a dragon killer. Did his father even consider him a viking? Neither of his neighbors (Stoick and the Night Fury) fail to notice the flinch.
Hiccup doesn't even have the energy to comment on the stares and nods on the screen.
Sting. Hiccup looks around to see many nods of agreement.
STOICK (CONT'D)
Get back to the house.
(TO GOBBER)
Make sure he gets there. I have his
mess to clean up.
"S'not like I wanted to get attacked by a Nightmare," Hiccup mutters. Stoick looks at him, feeling guilty. He didn't say anything though.
Stoick lumbers off in the opposite direction.
Gobber leads Hiccup through the walk of shame. They pass the
teen fire brigade as they snicker.
TUFFNUT
Quite the performance.
SNOTLOUT
I've never seen anyone mess up that
badly. That helped!
HICCUP
Thank you, thank you. I was
trying, so...
Hiccup avoids Astrid's glare and heads up toward a large
house, standing prominently on the hill above the others.
Nobody comments on the scene. The teenagers messing with Hiccup wasn't uncommon. Stoick however never actually knew about it, so he was quite perplexed.
Gobber and Hiccup sigh, ready for the rant Hiccup would usually perform for Gobber after his father's scolding.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
I really did hit one.
GOBBER
Sure, Hiccup.
HICCUP
He never listens.
GOBBER
Well, it runs in the family.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"'Man the fort, Hiccup, Stay there.' Hiccup, do you ever listen to me?"
"I shot a dragon! That was worth it, don't you think!?" Gobber scoffed.
HICCUP
And when he does, it's always with
this... disappointed scowl. Like
someone skimped on the meat in his
Sandwich.
"No I don't."
"Yeah you do, actually," responded Hiccup.
"No I don't," Stoic spoke with more authority.
"Actually, you do," Gobber decided to say, "And I'll shut up now," he turned from Stoick's glare.
(MIMICKING STOICK)
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 fish bone.
Tuffnut and Ruffnut started to laugh, and even Hiccup had to admit, his impression of his Dad was pretty comical. The Night Fury and other dragons seemed to agree, but he couldn't be sure. He didn't think dragons could laugh...
Stoick looked at the screen, pained at his son's impression of him. Then again, it wasn't like it wasn't somewhat true. He loved Hiccup, but to be honest, he did find his son's appearance frustrating. But what he found the most frustrating was Hiccup's unique attitude.
He was weird and not viking-like. It made grown men such as himself be wary of him. That was what frustrated Stoick. It was just a unique attribute Hiccup had. An example would be his adaptability. Why couldn't he have some of that viking stubborness that made viking Viking? Work out until he could lift a bola rather than build strange machines?
GOBBER
You're thinking about this all
wrong. It's not so much what you
look like. It's what's inside that
he can't stand.
Some vikings laughed, and Stoick noticed how Gobber translated what he had just thought, but completely wrong.
"Thank you, Gobber, for summing that up," he heard Hiccup retort, and Gobber chuckled.
(Beat)
HICCUP
Thank you, for summing that up.
"Just said that," Hiccup says in a sing song voice.
They reach the doorway.
GOBBER
Look, the point is, stop trying so
hard to be something you're not.
Hiccup SIGHS heavily.
The one in real life does the same. I just want to be one of you guys, he thinks.
HICCUP
I just want to be one of you guys.
Gobber eyes him sympathetically. Hiccup turns and goes
through the front door.
Some of the vikings sigh. Even Hiccup was down. Usually he was the hardest person to break, other than Stoick.
(No one realized that they had just compared Hiccup to his father.)
And straight out the back door. He hurries off into the
woods, determined.
"Thor, can't you just stay inside," Gobber exclaims. Hiccup, along with some Vikings chuckle.
INT. GREAT HALL - DAY
A noisy din of PROTESTING VOICES leads to...
STOICK, glowering in the firelight. Surrounded by his men.
STOICK
Either we finish them or they'll
finish us! It's the only way we'll
be rid of them! If we find the
nest and destroy it, the dragons
will leave. They'll find another
Home.
"That's a dumb plan," Clara states out, and Hiccup nods in agreement.
"What's wrong with it?" Stoick asked.
Hiccup answered. "The dragons would probably migrate to Berk. They might even come back for revenge."
"You're overthinking it," Stoick said, and then turned to Clara. "And you," he pointed at her, "are a witch."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Stoick stays silent and Clara huffs, but starts the movie again.
He sinks his blade into a
LARGE NAUTICAL MAP, spread out on the table... the blade
pierces the middle of an uncharted corner, swirling with
painted sea monsters and dragons.
"Nice map," Hiccup says aloud. He'd drawn one before, but it wasn't nearly as well done as this one.
"Bucket drew it," replied Mulch. Bucket waves.
STOICK (CONT'D)
(DECIDEDLY)
One more search. Before the ice
sets in.
VIKING
Those ships never come back.
"Then maybe you shouldn't go," replied Hiccup, logically.
The crowd stared at him, and he raised his hands in defence.
"If so many ships disappear, I doubt finding that island will be too beneficial," he reasoned.
They promptly ignore his logical reasoning and continue to watch the movie.
"Tsk," Clara shook her head in disappointment. They should listen to Hiccup more often.
STOICK
(MATTER-OF-FACT)
We're Vikings. It's an occupational
hazard. Now who's with me?
Stoick throws up his fist. No one follows. The crowds shifts
in restless silence. Head scratches. Eyes averted.
"Duh Dada. You're dead," Hiccup joked. "And seriously? Occupational hazard? Who says that?"
Clara giggled.
"What?"
"Shush, and watch the movie."
VIKING
(FEEBLE)
Today's not good for me.
VIKING (CONT'D)
(EQUALLY FEEBLE)
I've gotta do my axe returns.
STOICK
Alright. Those who stay will look
after Hiccup.
Hands jut into the air, volunteers galore. Enthusiastic
murmurs of prep and packing fill the room.
"Hey!"
PHLEGMA THE FIERCE
To the ships!
SPITELOUT
I'm with you Stoic!
"That's just rude," Hiccup complains, crossing his arms around his chest.
STOICK
(DRY)
That's more like it.
The Vikings rush for the door, leaving Gobber and Stoick
alone. Gobber gulps back the contents of his tankard
attachment and scrapes back the bench.
GOBBER
I'll pack my undies.
"You and undies," comments Hiccup.
"What would you know?"
"Oh I don't know, maybe I've been your apprentice ever since I was little-"
"Littler," adds Ruffnut, and her twin along with Snotlout, Fishlegs and other vikings laugh, but not rudely...
They were joking around, but not laughing at him. This time, they were laughing with him. Hiccup smiled.
And just as fast, frowned. They're sure different now that they know I took down a Night Fury...
But, that's what he'd wanted this whole time...right?
STOICK
No, I need you to stay and train
some new recruits.
"Dragon training," whispers Astrid.
"Something I'll never be allowed to get into," Hiccup says dryly.
"Now you will," Stoick announces proudly.
"Seriously?"
"Yes, Son."
Hiccup turns back to the movie, giddy.
The Night Fury stays silent but glares at Hiccup from the side. Disgusting.
GOBBER
Oh, perfect. And while I'm busy,
Hiccup can cover the stall. Molten
steel, razor sharp blades, lots of
time to himself...what could
possibly go wrong?
"Absolutely nothing," retorts Hiccup, his past giddiness temporarily left aside.
Stoick sinks onto the bench beside Gobber, his brow burdened.
STOICK
What am I going to do with him
Gobber?
"What do you mean?"
GOBBER
Put him in training with the
others.
STOICK
No, I'm serious.
GOBBER
So am I.
Stoick turns to him, glaring.
STOICK
He'd be killed before you let the
first dragon out of its cage.
"I would not! I survived that Nightmare splendidly if I do say so myself. And it was a Nightmare! I-"
"Hiccup."
"Yes Gobber," still a bit miffed.
"Shut up." Hiccup sinks into his seat and crosses his arms.
"I did survive it pretty well."
"Sure you did."
"For a hiccup I sure did."
"You're no longer a hiccup if you took down a Night Fury," Gobber retorts. Hiccup didn't know whether to be happy or annoyed so instead stayed silent, ending the discussion.
GOBBER
Oh, you don't know that.
STOICK
I do know that, actually.
GOBBER
No, you don't.
STOICK
No, actually I do.
GOBBER
No you don't!
STOICK
Listen! You know what he's like.
From the time he could crawl he's
been...different. He doesn't
Listen.
"I listen," Hiccup furrowed his eyebrows. Stoick and Gobber looked at him and Hiccup blushed.
I do listen... I just have unaccomplished orders, Hiccup thought. Which he did. Make Dad proud. He couldn't do it as a viking, so he might as well try it Hiccup-style.
STOICK (CONT'D)
Has the attention span of a
sparrow. I take him fishing and he
goes hunting for... for trolls.
"Last time we went fishing I was nine! I don't believe in trolls anymore. Only Gobber and little kids do," Hiccup said, and to prove Hiccup's statement:
GOBBER
(DEFENSIVE)
Trolls exist! They steal your
socks.
(DARKLY)
But only the left ones. What's with
that?
STOICK
When I was a boy...
GOBBER
(GRUMBLING)
Oh here we go.
"Here we go again," Hiccup said as well. Stoick turned to him and Gobber along with other vikings chuckled. Gobber had infected Hiccup with sarcasm years ago, which had already been pretty bad before. They were a pair to wonder at when Hiccup wasn't messing things up.
STOICK
My father told me to bang my head
against a rock and I did it. I
thought it was crazy,
"It was," Hiccup says.
but I didn't
question him. And you know what
happened?
"You got a headache," Hiccup earned another round of chuckles from the crowd. He frowned once again, of course only after the crowd had turned back around in their seats. Taking down a Night Fury had gotten him popular, just as he always wanted. It didn't feel right though.
GOBBER
You got a headache.
"I'm getting you out of blacksmithing," Stoick facepalmed. When had his best friend and son become so alike?
STOICK
That rock split in two. It taught
me what a Viking could do, Gobber.
He could crush mountains, level
forests, tame seas! Even as a boy,
I knew what I was, what I had to
become.
(BEAT)
Hiccup is not that boy.
Hiccup stayed silent. He knew what his father thought of him. It just hurt when he said it out loud. This time, he couldn't really complain to Gobber like before though.
"That's not true son," Stoick said, and Hiccup nodded. That only made him feel worse. Even he could tell it had been an accident to hit the Night Fury. It was a great coincidence. Was...
Everyone turned to the movie but Hiccup looked down at his lap. He sighed, and started to speak before he could stop himself.
"I wish I hadn't hit you," he whispered to the Night Fury, surprising both he and the dragon.
GOBBER
You can't stop him, Stoick. You can
only prepare him.
The boy and the Night Fury looked at each other. Hiccup gave an inaudible gasp and the Night Fury cocked its head.
(BEAT)
Look, I know it seems hopeless. But
the truth is you won't always be
around to protect him. He's going
to get out there again. He's
probably out there now.
ON STOICK, as Gobber's words hit their mark.
Hiccup gaped at the Night Fury, but the dragon had already turned.
Its eyes are green, he thought, realizing he'd never really thought about it before. It seemed to... understand me... It looked surprised... He has feelings? He didn't realize he'd referred to the Night Fury as a "he".
Then he turned to the movie, eyes still wide.
Okay, here's the thing. I should've probably clarified that this is already complete, I just have to finish editing, so I'm sorry; I can't make it HTTYD2. I wouldn't even know how to set that up considering this is before the movie. I'd be more than happy to write it after I'm done editing this, but not yet. I'd also be glad to do the Gift of the Night Fury.
Also, sorry for taking so long to update. I hate editing, it takes long without a mouse. Plus, I'm only free on Fridays and maybe weekends. Meh. Ignore homework it is.
Now, I'd like to clarify one thing in particular. I wrote this to understand characters, not to make it funny or enjoyable for an audience. I really just don't see Hiccup as completely selfless. Nor do I see him completely brave (especially not before he met Toothless). This may be different from what you're used to, but what you're probably used to sometimes annoys me so... yeah. I guess there's only one perfect fic for everyone and mine is the one I wrote (except Hitchups. I love Hitchups. Especially chapter 19. Thank you for your story Antic Repartee)
Thazzit. See ya, I guess...
