Ch. 3
The Truth Revealed
INT. GREAT HALL- We see what looks like a statue of a dragon with a sword driven into its gut. There's a noisy din of protesting voices all around.
STOICK(V.O.): Either we finish them or they'll finish us! It's the only way we'll be rid of them!
"Ever thought that maybe violence wasn't the only answer?" Hicca mumbled to herself.
The cameral scans over until we see all the Vikings standing around a fire pit. Stoick is at one end, hunched over a large map.
Stoick: If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragons will leave. They'll find another home! He picks up a dagger and stabs it into the map. One more search, before the ice sets in.
Viking: Those ships never come back…
Stoick: (matter-of-factly) We're Vikings! It's an occupational hazard! Now who's with me?
No one raises their hands or responds. All the Vikings shift around, mumbling excuses, scratching their heads and necks.
Stoick: Alright. Those who stay will look after Hicca.
At once, all of the Vikings raised their hands up high, shouting their readiness.
Vikings:
To the ships!
I'm with you, Stoick!
"Wow… I feel so loved," said Hicca, rolling her eyes.
Most of the Vikings hung their heads, feeling a little ashamed.
Stoick: (dry) That's more like it.
Without another word, all of the Vikings rush for the door, leaving both Gobber and Stoick to themselves. Gobber chugs down the last of his drink from the mug he has attached to his arm. He pushes the bench back, ready to leave.
Gobber: Right, I'll pack my undies.
"Again, with the undies!" Hicca said, throwing her arms up.
Gobber shrugged. "Yah can never have too many undies, lass. I learned that the hard way, too. In fact, it all started long ago when I was-"
"Play the movie!" Hicca shouted. "Quick! Before he starts!"
All around, there was a small amount of chuckles from the other Vikings. Gobber gave the girl a small glare, then turned in his seat to watch the movie.
Stoick: No, I need you to stay and train some new recruits.
Gobber: (sarcastic) Oh, perfect. And while I'm busy, Hicca can cover the stall. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to herself… What could possibly go wrong?
"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Hicca defended.
"Not when I'm there with yah, but yah have a nasty habit of getting into trouble when you're left alone," said Gobber, and Hicca grumbled in response.
Stoick falls onto the bench beside Gobber. He rest his hands on his knees, looking exhausted.
Stoick: (exasperated) Oh, what am I gonna do with her, Gobber?
Gobber gives him a long look. He already has his answer.
Gobber: Put her in training with the others.
Stoick: No, I'm serious.
Gobber: So am I.
Stoick: He shakes his head. Gobber, Hicca has never been a fighting person, ever. Not only that, she's incredibly small, even for a girl. She'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of its cage.
Hicca hangs her head a little, saddened by the fact that her father had no faith in her whatsoever.
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, yah don't! Hicca could be the best fighter we've ever had, for all you know! But you don't know because you never let her try!
Hicca raised her head, and smiled at the blacksmith. "Do you really thinks so?"
He smiled, then patted her head again. "Of course I do. I don't think there's anything yah can't handle. You just need a little help sometimes, that's all."
Stoick turned and stared in amazement at the two, and how they were smiling at each other. Nobody could deny that Gobber had certain fatherly feelings towards Hicca. It was expected, seeing as how he was her guardian. But Stoick couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous. Gobber acted like more a father than he did, and Hicca seemed to look up to the blacksmith a lot more, too. Am I a bad father…?
Stoick: Look, you know what she's like. Ever since she could crawl, she's been…different.
Stoick gets up from his seat and starts walking around. Gobber chugs from his mug, and looses the rock he has as a tooth inside it.
Stoick: She doesn't listen, she has the attention span of a sparrow…
Upstairs, Toothless let out a low growl. He didn't care if that man was Hicca's father, he didn't like the way he was talking about her, at all.
Stoick: …I take her fishing, and she goes hunting for…for trolls!
Gobber: (defensive) Trolls exist! They steal your socks! But only the left ones. What's with that…?
"They do it just to piss you off, Gobber," Hicca said bluntly.
Gobber and several other Vikings laughed, but Stoick shot a small glare at Hicca for her language.
Stoick: (sighs) When I was a boy…
Gobber: (grumbling) Oh, here we go…
Stoick: My father told me to bang my head against a rock, and I did it. I thought I was crazy, but I didn't question it. And you know what happened?
Gobber: He rolls his eyes. You got a headache. He retrieves his rock-tooth from the mug, and uses said mug to hammer the rock back into his gums.
Stoick: That rock split in two. (BEAT) It taught me what a Viking could do, Gobber. He could- he could crush mountains, level forests, tame seas! Sits back down next to Gobber. Even as a child I knew what I was, what I had to become… But…Hicca is not that child.
Hicca clenched her fists together and held her breath, trying to make herself not get upset. Well, she thought angrily, I'm sorry I couldn't be the child of your dreams, dad…
Gobber: Yah can't stop her, Stoick. You can only prepare her. Sighs. Listen, I know she's your little girl, and I know deep down you want what's best for her. I know because I feel exactly the same. And I know it probably seems hopeless, but the truth is you won't always be around to protect her. She's going to get out there again. She's probably out there now!
The camera zooms in on Stoick's face. He's looking away from Gobber, thinking everything over. He knows what he must do.
By now people are muttering to each other again, but no one has anytime to start a conversation before the next scene comes up.
EXT. WOODS- Our first image is that of an open sketchbook. Inside is what appears to be a small map of the island. So far, nearly all of it is covered with small, black x's. The end of a pencil run along it until it stops on a spot. Then we see…
Hicca, holding her sketchbook and pencil in her hands. She has her eyes closed as she lifts her head up, then opens them…
Nothing is there.
Hicca: (angry) For crying out loud!
A few Vikings chuckle at Hicca's misfortune. Stoick however, looks a little less pleased.
"Hicca, please tell me you didn't go out to find that beast on your own…" Stoick moaned, holding the bridge of his nose.
"Well…yeah…" Hicca shifted around in her beanbag. "I mean…I told you I took care of it, didn't I?"
Stoick did remember that. And the thought that his little girl had finally defeated a dragon gave him the excitement to sit tight and watch it all unfold.
She groans irritably and marks another x into the book. Then her hands start to shake a little, and she starts scratching up the whole book in frustration. When she's done, she places the pencil in the book, snaps the book shut, and places it in her vest pocket.
Hicca: (hopeless) Ooh, the gods hate me… Some people loose their knife or their mug, but no, not me. (frustrated) I manage to loose and entire freaking dragon?!
Out of anger, Hicca reaches up and whacks a low-hanging branch. It then snaps back, hitting her in the face.
Hicca: OW! Damn it!
"Hicca! Language!" Stoick snapped, but Hicca just shrugged.
She looks up to glare at the branch…and her face falls. Her eyes follow it to a long trench of up-turned earth. She slowly slides down the hill she's on and follows the path, walking around branches and logs. She crawls up a bit on the small hill to continue following the trail…
And is met by a large, black creature on the other side.
All of the Vikings gasp in surprise. They're all thinking the same thing. It's the Night Fury!
Hicca was shifting around in her seat uncomfortably. While she liked seeing her dragon up on screen, she was hoping not to see him like this again.
Suddenly, there was a loud pop, and Jess appeared in front of the screen.
"Oh good, I caught yah just in time," she said hurriedly. "Okay, listen up! As only one of you may know, dragons have their own language known as Dragonese, right? Well, there are gonna be some times in this movie where some of them speak Dragonese, and other times…other things will happen. I'm only telling you this now because I forgot to tell you earlier. Any and all questions will be answered later on in the movie. So, to save some time and energy, I'm going to allow you to hear what some of the dragon's are saying in their language. But while they are talking, no one will be able to understand them in the movie. Got it?"
She said all this very fast and excitedly. All the Vikings and dragons stared at her, and after a moment, they all nodded.
"Good!" she looked up. "Let it play, Ridge!"
And with another loud pop, she vanished. Everyone went back to watching the movie.
Hicca gasps and ducks down. Almost instantly, she slowly rears her head back up, and looks to see it's a dragon. She scrambles around with her vest and produces a small dagger. She takes a deep breath and climbs over the hill and slides down to where the dragon is laying. It appears to be unconscious, or even dead.
Hicca: (amazed) Wow, I…I did it? (thrilled) Ooh, I did it! This fixes everything! Yes! She marches over and places her foot on the dragons' side. I, Hicca, have brought down this mighty beast-
'Mighty beast, huh?' Toothless asked Hicca.
She blushed. Mighty? Perhaps. Beast? …Not even close.
Toothless grinned down at his rider.
Suddenly, the dragon shifted, pushing her leg away. Hicca gasped and took several steps back, terrified. She holds out her dagger as she slowly shuffles back over to the dragon, who is now shifting around against the bola ropes. As the camera scans over, we see the dragon is staring intently at Hicca, his eyes almost complete slits.
Toothless: "You? …You're the one that hit me?"
All of the Vikings gasped. Jess was telling the truth!
But of course, all Hicca can hear is growls. She tries to look away from his gaze for a second, but is drawn back to it's gaze for a few seconds. She starts taking long, slow breaths, preparing herself for what she's about to do.
Hicca: (darkly) I'm gonna kill you, dragon. I'm gonna…I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father. Because…because I'm a Viking… I'M A VIKING!
"No, I'm not!" Hicca cried quietly, her voice cracking.
Toothless: (pleading) Please, don't do this… I don't wanna die…
But all that Hicca can hear is a sad whine.
All the Vikings stared in amazement. They couldn't believe what they were hearing. The legendary Night Fury was actually asking for his life to be spared! Well, no matter. His pleas were worthless. Hicca said she took are of him, right?
Upstairs, the dragons were all staring at the Night Fury amongst them. They couldn't believe that he had begged to that human female to spare his life. Toothless, however, had his eyes set only for the small brunette sitting down below.
Hicca was now literally holding herself to keep herself together. She was taking long, staggered breaths through her mouth, trying to keep the volume down. She couldn't believe it. Toothless had begged for her to not hurt him, and yet, she had kept going until she nearly did kill him. How could she do something like that to him?
"Hicca?" Stoick stared at her. "Are you al-"
"I'm fine," she said quickly.
Hicca raises her dagger high, ready to plunge. But something makes her open her eyes, and she is met by the dragons' stare. There's something powering in the gaze, and she doesn't know what. She groans as she closes her eyes and raised her dagger higher. The dragon closes his eyes and lowers his head to the ground. He has accepted his fate.
Toothless: (miserable) "Just make it quick, please…"
"Oh, gods…"
Hicca buries her head in her hands, now crying a little into her palms. She couldn't believe what she was watching herself do!
'Hicca, please…' Toothless soothed. 'It's not your fault. Please, stop…'
Hicca lowered her hands. She continued her sniffling, but stopped crying.
Hicca keeps the dagger up high, and irritated look on her face. She's fighting with herself to do what she must. She holds her breath for a second…then lets out an irritated sigh as her hands fall on top of her head.
All of the Vikings stare in confusion. What is she doing? they thought.
The dragons upstairs were no less confused. That human had the opportunity to kill a dragon, and yet she didn't.
Hicca's hands slide off as she looks at the dagger, then at the dragon tangled in the ropes. Her face falls to that of sadness.
Hicca: (ashamed) I did this… She turns to leave…
Toothless: (irritated) "Yes, okay? You did it! Just stop gloating and finish it already!"
Hicca still doesn't understand, but she did hear him groan. She looks back at him, seeing him struggle a little more with the ropes. She then rolls her eyes and lets out a groan through gritted teeth.
Hicca: (mumble) I'm gonna regret this…
"No, I don't," Hicca mumbled.
'I would think not,' said Toothless, making her grin.
Sighing, she looks over her shoulder to make sure no one is watching before she turns and runs back, sliding on her knees until she's by the dragon's side. She grabs one of the ropes, pauses… then immediately starts cutting it. She doesn't see that the dragon opened his eyes and is now staring at her, waiting.
Stoick is staring up at the screen, half-glaring at what he was witnessing. What the hell was his daughter doing? Why wasn't she killing the beast?
As the last rope is cut, there's a loud roar as the dragon pounces on her. In a second, the dragon is on Hicca, using one of his paws to pin her to a large rock, his claws grazing against her neck. Hicca is panting, looking terrified. She stares up at the dragon, who gives her the same powering stare from before, his pupils now small ovals instead of slits. Hicca is paralyzed, but her eyes widen as she is surprised to still be alive. The dragon rears his head back and draws a deep breath, looking as though he were about to torch Hicca. She closes her eyes and quickly turns her head away. Then…an ear-piercing roar is heard, and it comes out as…
Toothless: (roaring) GO HOME…!
The whole theater flinched at the volume and intensity of those word. Man, that dragon could scream.
Instantly it turns and takes flight, flapping violently through the canopy of trees. He bashes againg a nearby mountain side, recovers, and drops out of view some distance away.
Panting and overwhelmed, Hicca struggles to her feet, watching as the dragon flew away. As he disappeared, she turned around and started to take a few steps. Then, as her legs begin to shake, she lets out a weak sort of moan, and collapses onto the ground. She has fainted.
There was a long, intense silence throughout the entire theater. Nobody moved, nobody spoke. Then…
"HICCA!"
Hicca yelped as she jumped from her beanbag, falling onto the ground in the process. She sat up quickly and looked up. Her father had stood up from his seat and was stomping over towards her. Hicca gulped.
"D-dad, wait! I can explain-"
"Hicca Horrendous Haddock III, what have you done?!" he shouted. "That beast- that monster that has terrorized our home, was right there at your disposal!"
"Dad, you don't understand-"
"You could've finished it and ended our suffering!"
"Dad, stop!"
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?!"
By now half of the village was up on their feet, all of them standing behind Stoick. They shouted similar remarks, raising their fists in the air. They shouted things like 'traitor,' 'abomination,' 'banish her!'
Hicca couldn't find the strength to stand up, so she resorted to moving backward on the ground. All the teens were up on their feet and advancing towards her, punching fists into their palms. She had never felt so scared of her own village in all her life. Oh Thor, please help me…
Suddenly there was a loud, thunderous roar all the Vikings stared up and gasped. Hicca didn't have time to look up before something large and black slammed onto the ground in front of her. She gasped when she realized it was a dragon.
It was Toothless.
"It's the Night Fury!" someone shouted.
"Toothless…?"
'Hicca, stay back,' he said, then he looked forward. 'All of you, stay away from her! Anyone who takes another step will have to deal with me!'
Stoick glared at Toothless. "You don't command me, devil! Sword or not, I will kill you right now!"
And with that he started running at them. Toothless got into a stance, ready to pounce…
"Protego!"
A small flash of blue light appeared, and some sort of force put itself between Stoick and Toothless. Toothless felt nothing, but Stoick was pushed back several feet towards the Vikings. A second later, Jess landed beside Toothless, holding out a long, mahogany wand.
"THAT IS ENOUGH!" she shouted at the Vikings. "I don't want another outburst like that from any of you ever again! Understand?!"
All the Vikings stared at her, jaws fallen. Jess groaned as she turned back and walked towards Hicca. She kneeled down and held her hands out.
"If it makes you feel any better, I was about to let Toothless come down anyway."
Hicca sniffed, then took Jess's hands. Jess helped her to her feet with ease. Then she raised her wand and gave it a tiny flick. The mattress Toothless had been laying on before floated down from upstairs and landed on the floor beside the dragon.
"You'll need that," Jess placed her wand in her pocket and turned to the Vikings. "I'm going to be keeping this shield up until I can be certain that none of you will harm Hicca or Toothless. Until then, you are to stay in your beanbags as instructed. Got it?"
There was a very long, intense pause. Then, slowly, all of the Vikings shuffled back to their seats. In the end, the only one not sitting was Stoick. He was still standing his ground, glaring at Toothless as the dragon climbed up on the mattress and curled around it.
"Stoick, go!"
Stoick glared at her, but after a moment, he went back to his seat, as well. With that said and done, Jess Disapparated.
Once Toothless was settled on his mattress, he turned to look at Hicca.
"Care to join me?" he asked, smiling at her.
Hicca blushed slight, but nodded. She slowly walked over to the mattress and sat down next to Toothless so that she was laying on his side. Toothless leaned forward and nuzzled her face, making her giggle.
Then they both heard a small set of footsteps from in front of them, and they looked up. Austen was standing there, dragging his blue beanbag behind him. He had a small, hopeful gaze on his face.
"…Could I sit with you guys?" he asked quietly.
Hicca stared at him for a long moment. Then she smiled at him, and nodded.
"Of course."
Austen smiled. He drug his beanbag over next to the mattress and sat down in it, looking much more comfortable.
With incredible tension still filling the room, the movie finally continued.