Disclaimer: in the first chapter
Chapter 7: You have to believe
Author's notes Mk 2: Extra chapters for Christmas!
The four laughed contently. "That was one fine getaway, man!" Flynn praised the Viking who grinned.
EXT. DOCKS - DAWN
A lone, battered ship is pulled into a slip, overloaded with equally battered-looking men.
And the giddy mood was killed. Those are plot twists for you.
They disembark to a crowd of onlookers, looking like a team of hometown heroes who just had their butts kicked. Gobber hobbles through the MUMBLING crowd to find Stoick - last to disembark and glowering with battered pride. He lumbers past Gobber, leaving him staring at the trashed ship.
GOBBER
Well, I trust you found the nest at least?
Jack nodded in sympathy. "How horrible it would be for him if-"
STOICK
Not even close.
"-never mind."
GOBBER
Ah. Excellent.
Gobber follows Stoick up the ramp and snags his duffle bag with his hook appendage, sharing the burden.
STOICK
I hope you had a little more success than me.
As if on cue, the three turned to Hiccup grinning. He huffed fondly at them.
GOBBER
Well, if by success, you mean that your parenting troubles are over with, then... yes.
Stoick stops. What does that mean? A group of merry villagers rush past.
VIKING #1
Congratulations Stoick! Everyone is so relieved.
VIKING #2
Out with the old and in with the new, right?!
"Huh?" Hiccup gasped incredulous.
VIKING #3
No one will miss that old nuisance!
The guys were just about to open their mouths when the screen said its final words.
VIKING #4
The village is throwing a party to celebrate!
"They're talking like you died or something!" Hiro pointed out, shaking his head.
Flynn leaned past Jack to look at the brunette. "You haven't died, have you?" Hiccup snorted.
"I hope not. I think this is in my past though so I guess no."
Stoick is stunned, overwhelmed by the insensitivity. He turns to Gobber.
STOICK
He's... gone?
GOBBER
Yeah... Most afternoons. But who can blame him? I mean the life of a celebrity is very rough. He can barely walk through the village without being swarmed by his new fans.
"Is that true?" the three looked at the Viking who bent his head, a bit flustered.
"He's exaggerating." Jack smirked.
"Sure, Hiccup." The brunette stuck his tongue out at him.
Stoick is doubly confused.
STOICK
Hiccup?
"No, your other son." Hiro deadpanned.
GOBBER
(BEAMING) Who would've thought, eh? He has this...way with the beasts.
That threw the three into a fit of laughing and nudging each other. Hiccup, however, had just figured out when the movie was happening and felt a salad of feelings. On the one hand, he was thrilled to relive that first flight, on the other he longed to see how it looked from aside. There was, however, quite a lot of nervousness as to how the others would react – he wouldn't be surprised if they tried to kill him for nearly killing himself…
CUT TO:
EXT. SKY - AFTERNOON
Toothless and Hiccup soar through a perfect blue sky.
And at that moment three jaws hit the floor. Jack, Flynn and Hiro were practically in denial; they couldn't believe the Viking was flying. And yet the proof was there, on the screen. "You're flying him, you're actually flying him…" Jack murmured, "I thought only I could fly… This is…"
"Unbelievable…" Hiro's awed voice echoed.
Flynn seemed to put a lot of effort in speaking coherently. "I mean we already saw you on the saddle but this…"
"Wow…" the three drawled together.
Billowing clouds rise like mountains. The ground seems miles below them.
HICCUP
Okay there bud, we're gonna take this nice and slow.
Hiccup checks a leather cheat sheet, clipped onto his harness. Inscribed upon it are several tail positions and their pedal position equivalents.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Here we go. Here we go...position three, no four.
He presses the pedal, causing the tail to flare. They roll off into an arcing bank, gloriously lit by the late afternoon sun.
The three watched concentrated and a little tense – they couldn't help but worry. Hiccup, on the other hand, looked on in fascination.
Hiccup tucks tight against Toothless' neck, thrilled that his new harness and vest are holding. The foot controls make the tail appendage quick and responsive. He watches Toothless' every fluctuation, trying to match it with the prosthetic. Hiccup sizes up a target - a towering arch of stone, rising from the sea.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Alright, it's go time. It's go time.
They dive toward it, lining up to pass through the arch.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Come on. Come on buddy. Come on buddy!
"Come on…" The three boys chanted quietly as well.
They zip through the arch. A perfect maneuver.
"Yes!"
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Yeah! Yes, it worked!
The triumph is short-lived. They smack into one of several sea stacks as Hiccup tries to keep up with the turns.
"Ouch…" Flynn winced. Jack tried to drown out his chuckles, but failed and looked sheepishly at the brunette who grinned dismissively.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Sorry.
They hurtle into another rock pillar. Toothless grumbles.
"Ouch!" This time Hiro winced along with the thief. Jack's attempts not to laugh resulted in a snort.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
My fault.
Toothless swats him with his 'ear' plate.
The three couldn't help but chuckle. Hiccup smiled sheepishly.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Yeah, yeah, I'm on it. (Referring to the CHEAT SHEET) Position four, uh, three.
They pierce the clouds. For the first time, Hiccup can see the whole of the island below them. It shrinks with every passing second. He SWALLOWS hard and tightens his grip on the handles.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Yeah! Go baby!
Smiles rose on the watchers' faces.
Yes! Oh, this is amazing! The wind in my...
He spots the leather guide tearing free in the turbulence.
Hiccup tensed.
"No!" the other three cried.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(PANICKED) ... CHEAT SHEET! STOP!
Hiccup grabs frantically for the airborne sheet...
HICCUP (CONT'D)
No!
... And NABS IT before it's carried out of reach.
"You caught it…" Flynn murmured. But…
Toothless, however, obeys the command and suddenly STOPS beating his wings.
"No, no, no…" the three exclaimed.
As they slow to a stop, Hiccup goes weightless. The rings of his vest float off of the harness hooks.
"NO!"
Hiccup suddenly finds himself detached, free-falling.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Oh gods! Oh no!
Without Hiccup, the tail loses control. Hiccup and Toothless spiral downward. Toothless FIGHTS to get back under Hiccup.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(Trying to calm Toothless) Alright, okay. You just gotta kinda angle yourself. No, no… come back down towards me. Come back down—OW!
The watchers were staring at the screen tense, gripping the armrests of their seats.
Hiccup extends his arms and legs, giving himself as much surface area as he can. He angles back towards Toothless as the tumbling dragon WHACKS Hiccup with his wing.
After a few more misses, Hiccup finally GRABS HOLD of the harness and manages to lock in - just in time to pull Toothless out of his dive... barely shy of the treetops. They careen past the wooded cliff and directly into a treacherous slalom course of jutting sea stacks. Hiccup pulls the cheat sheet from his teeth and attempts to check positions. It flaps violently in the turbulence, making it impossible. With no time to think, Hiccup throws it away and steers Toothless' tail on instinct... with perfect intuition. Together, they manage a tight, hair-raising series of split-second turns, making it to the open water, unscathed. Hiccup takes a breath and glances back at the death-defying obstacle course, now safely behind them. He beams, relieved. He sits back and throws his arms up in victory.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
YEEAHHH!
It was only now that everyone let out their breath. For a moment all was quiet, then… Flynn.
"Were you out of your mind?! You could've died up there!"
"But, -" Hiccup countered, "-it was awesome."
"Yet! You could've died!" argued Jack
"But it was awesome, wasn't it?"
They gave up. "Yeah, it was, it really was…." Hiro reflected.
Toothless concurs with a happy SQUEAL and a fireball. Hiccup's glee turn to dread as they fly directly into it.
ON HICCUP'S FACE
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Ah, come on.
Hiccup pulled a face while the other three doubled in laughter.
EXT. BLACK SAND BEACH - SUNSET
Hiccup and Toothless lounge on a sprawling, deserted beach, snacking of freshly caught fish. As Hiccup cooks his over a fire, hair blown back and face covered in ash, Toothless suddenly regurgitates a fish head.
"Belch!" Flynn gagged. Jack looked weirded out.
"Uh, think I'll pass, thanks."
Hiccup smirks with forced politeness.
HICCUP
Uh… No thanks. (Gesturing to his fish on A STICK) I'm good.
Several Terrible Terrors land like seagulls, hissing and nipping at each other as they approach Toothless' pile of fish.
Hiro narrowed his eyes a bit. "Um, are they friendly, or…"
One grabs the regurgitated fish head and drags it away.
"Oh, just hungry."
Another attempts to steal it from him. They face off and last fire balls at each other to settle the fight. Hiccup and Toothless watch, amused.
The four guys were too.
That is until... Toothless spots one of his fish leaving the pile. A stealthy Terrible Terror is exposed as the thief. They tug on the fish, and it snaps back into Toothless' mouth. He swallows it back tauntingly.
The foursome laughed. "Ha-ha," Jack exclaimed, "in your face!"
Irate, the little dragon paws at the ground and prepares to blast Toothless. He opens his mouth, the gas hiss comes, and Toothless fires a tiny flame straight into its mouth, causing the gas to backfire into the little dragon.
They laughed even louder now. "Pwa-ha-ha! In your mouth…" Flynn chuckled.
"… Literally!" Hiro added, doubling over in laughter.
It coughs up smoke and staggers away, looking ill. Hiccup laughs.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?
Hiccup throws the hapless Terror his freshly cooked fish.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Here you go.
"Aww…"
The appreciative little dragon gulps down the meal and approaches Hiccup cautiously. He curls up next to him.
Hiro's head shot up. "Did the Terror just purr?"
Hiccup is amazed.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
(PENSIVE) Everything we know about you guys is wrong.
"It really is though..." Jack murmured thoughtfully. The others nodded in agreement.
Hiccup carefully pets him... sending the Terror into an immediate, blissful sleep.
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - HICCUP'S CLOSET - NIGHT
HICCUP is lost in thought; his head lies of a desk full of Toothless drawings. Burdened with the weight of the world.
And the movie paused.
"Wait, what happened?" Hiro looked around unsure; suddenly his gaze fell on Hiccup's face, which had a look of recognition. "Do you know?"
"Yes, uh, no, I don't know what happened, but I now this time – it's the end of my story."
The two older boys cocked their heads at him. "What do you mean?"
"Well, it was there – um, then – that I fell asleep and found myself here."
"Actually," a voice came from behind them, "Hiccup's only halfway right." The guys turned around and saw the two sisters. Arwen, who'd apparently been the one to speak, went on. "This is where – uh, when – we…" Tauriel coughed and her sister groaned, "Fine, I shot Hiccup with a ball of dream-sand to take him here. We got Hiro just after he came home from the police department; I shot him right as his head hit the pillow. Flynn we took when he was actually asleep, he'd just told, um… someone… his story. And you know for Jack, it was after he agreed to help with the teeth." She looked around at their confused expressions. "Yeah, I know it makes zero sense now, but just you wait. The point is, Hiccup is wrong on the second thing – this isn't the end of his story. From now on, you'll be watching his future – and then all of yours too!"
The guys' mouths flew open. Arwen couldn't help herself.
"DUN, DUN, DUN!"
Tauriel shot her a disapproving look. "Sis…"
"What?"
Original A/N:We all know I can't fulfill promises but there we go, I promise to at least try and upload another chapter before Christmas. On that note though, we just made the Christmas tree and I'm feeling super festive! Anyway...
Tauriel says I'm making her OOC. And she put a rubber on my nose.
She deserves it! XD
Authors notes Mk 2: I love it when a plan comes together… and what are the chances I'd publish this chapter the day I finally put up my Christmas decorations too? But of course the annual holiday cold has come round again (pity me! L) however, while it is bloody miserable, I should now get a chance to work on my continuation chapters from where Arwen left off.
Happy holidays y'all!