Chapter 3

The whole room was dead silent, only broken when Toothless crooned sadly at Hiccup. Hiccup took a deep breath and sat down, leaning against Toothless who curled around him. A little red Terror walked up to him and nuzzled his leg as comfort. Hiccup put a hand on the little dragon and started to pet him. The Terror curled up against Hiccup and fell asleep. (A.N. Think when the terrors steal the fish and one curls against Hiccup)

"Wolf can you continue the movie?" Hiccup asked after several minutes of tense silence. Wolf nodded and pressed play on the remote.

HICCUP (CONT'D) (surprised, then elated)

Oh I hit it! Yes, I hit it! Did anybody see that?

Hiccup's victory is short-lived. A Monstrous Nightmare appears, slithering up over the lip of the cliff.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Except for you.

Only a few people laughed at Hiccup's sarcastic reply. Most were still tense from Hiccup's rant.

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. Alarmed, Stoick abandons the Nadders and runs off.

STOICK

(To his men, re: the NADDERS)

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. 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. He turns back to find it leering at him, blocking his escape. It takes a deep breath. Hiccup is finished. 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.

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...

"What's that?" Tuffnut asked. Ruffnut hit him over the head again.

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.

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.

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! Just...stop.

He releases Hiccup. Everyone goes silent, staring expectantly.

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!

'Was I really that harsh?' Stoick thought watching himself on the screen.

Hiccup looks around. All eyes are upon him.

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.

"That was mean," several Vikings whined.

"Sorry. Sarcasm is a defense," Hiccup replied shrugging. Stoick looked at his son in guilt.

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.

"Not anymore," Hiccup whispered to Toothless. His dragon nudged him with his head softly.

STOICK

You are many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them.

"For once dad was right," Hiccup said as he started to pet Toothless.

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.

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.

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!" both father and son yelled out at Gobber.

"See. You are alike. And neither of you listen," Gobber chuckled. Hiccup rolled his eyes and sat back against Toothless. Stoick sat down as well. The rest of the Vikings chuckled at them.

HICCUP

And when he does, it's always with this... disappointed scowl. Like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich.

(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.

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.

(Beat).

HICCUP

Thank you, for summing that up.

"Sorry. Hiccup. You're right. I can't do pep talks," Gobber said sheepishly rubbing the back of his head.

"No worries Gobber," Hiccup said waving.

They reach the doorway.

GOBBER

Look, the point is, stop trying so hard to be something you're not.

Hiccup SIGHS heavily.

HICCUP

I just want to be one of you guys.

Gobber eyes him sympathetically. Hiccup turns and goes through the front door. And straight out the back door. He hurries off into the woods, determined.

"You're kidding me right. You went straight out the back door," Snotlout said in disbelief. Hiccup nodded.

"Aww come on Hiccup. Do you ever stay put?" Gobber asked in exasperation.

"Nope," Hiccup said popping the p.