Thawfest : How it should have happened

The Winner?

'YOU CHEATED!' yelled a voice.

Everyone in the crowd and pit of the Arena fell silent and turned their attention to the owner of that voice. Snotlout. After he had finally calmed Hookfang own, he had stood in disbelief, realizing that he had lost the Thawfest Games, realizing he had lost to Hiccup, the village reject that everyone had hated, and that the entire Berkian population had been cheering his name. His outburst had left everyone shocked. Then Hiccup approached Snotlout, calmly and quietly. The entire village, including Stoick and Spitelout, watch as the Haddock walked towards the Jorgenson slowly, stopped before him and looked him in the eye. Snotlout's anger turned to caution when eye contact was made, but he felt his father's gaze on him, he felt everyone's gaze on him. He was trapped. He could not back down, if he did, he would be doomed to become the very thing he hated right now. The object of his hatred spoke in a calm voice and this only agitated Snotlout further.

'What makes you say that, Snotlout?' asked Hiccup.

'I don't know, you're smart, you obviously found someway to cheat and take what's rightfully mine,' Snotlout replied. A short awkward silence. Astrid and several others attempted to intervene, but Hiccup held up his hand and shook his head. They held back and let him handle it. He then turned to his fuming cousin, his own temper flaring up at his cousin's accusation.

'Snotlout, Toothless and I won fair and square, you're just being a sore loser because you can't handle being beaten by me,' he responded back, his voice increasing in volume as his fury continued to build up, 'Don't dare accuse me of cheating because you can't handle losing'. During this standoff, Spitelout had made his way down to the Arena floor and approached the pair, standing by his son and towering over the Heir of Berk.

'I'd watch what you're saying boy', growled the elder Jorgenson. Hiccup, again glanced backwards and held up his hand, Stoick had started to stand from the Chief's Chair. Once more his son understood the Chief's forced neutrality in the Games, he sat back in his chair, keeping his eyes on the Arena, just in case. His son again turned to the Viking father and son, he sighed. Fortune favours the bold they say, he thought. He took a deep breath and began.

'I've tried to be the better Viking in these Games, I tried to compete with the best of my abilities and at the same time compete with honour', he looked at Snotlout. 'Though I was tempted to gloat over winning events like you have done every year, Snotlout, I've tried to play in Thawfest and still maintain a friendship, if not understanding with you, but, being the typical Jorgenson you are, you have made that very, very difficult to accomplish'. Snotlout and Spitelout stood there speechless for a moment, before shouting back objections

'You know what, Hiccup, up yours!'

'Listen, boy, we Jorgensons have been reigning champions for years'.

'We know how to win, even without your stupid honour thing'.

'We've passed the winning streak from father to son'. Spitelout turned to his son, who looked away in fear and shame. 'Until now, that is.' Hiccup observed all of this, arms crossed and brow lifted, waiting for the Jorgenson's to finish their part before he continued.

'This is what I'm talking about, you only know how to win, if you lose, you place blame on others. This set of personality is passed from generation to generation, the pressure of winning is placed on the next line,' stated Hiccup, looking at Snotlout. The younger Jorgenson was torn between his father's wishes and his cousin's logic. 'I, for one, will not continue this feud for the sake of ego and self vanity'.

'He's at it again', groaned Gobber, 'givin' me 'nother 'ead ache, him and his big words.' Looks from Stoick and other nearby Vikings quieted the blacksmith.

'Not helping Gobber,' warned Stoick. All turned back the argument below.

'So, you'll admit Snotlout's the better Viking and relinquish the medal to him,' Spitelout asked with hope and surprise, Snotlout copied his dad's looks and thoughts.

'No, I won fair and square and that's that,' refused Hiccup firmly, 'I'm not to going to win, and then not rub Snotlout's face in it, just to give him the medal, I've won with honour'. Spitelout's and Snoutlout's features twisted into contempt and fury. Then Spitelout gave a malicious grin and spoke.

'Well its good thing I remember a certain old rule of the Thawfest Games then. ' Hiccup made a look of concern knowing where Spitelot was getting to, a fraction of a second before others did. Stoick rose and snarled.

'Spitelout, you son of a-'

'According to the traditional rules of Thawfest,' interrupted Spitelout, raising his voice for all to hear. 'The previous reigning champion has the right to dispute the victory of the victor and has the right to challenge him for the medal if he believes that so would be usurper has cheated to gain his win.' He looked to the crowd, trying to drum up support. 'AND WE KNOW HOW THAT DISPUTE IS SETTLED, DON'T WE,' he bellowed. He finished and waited for a response.

Everyone was silent. Everyone pondered over what Spitelot had said. Everyone pondered over how the Haddocks would respond to this abrupt challenge. Then the debates began whether to go along with Spitelout's suggestion or ignore tradition because the new victor had won on fair terms. The argument came mostly from Vikings who were on good terms with the Jorgenson's or those who wished to remain in their good books. They accounted for a third of the village. Their anger was countered by those completely loyal to Stoick or those who had seen Hiccup conduct himself in the Games, they numbered over a third of Berk's population. There was a group of neutral Vikings who just wanted to stay. . . . . well neutral.

'THAT'S ENOUGH EVERYONE, THAT'S ENOUGH,' roared the Chief, within a moment every Viking ceased making sound. Stoick was trembling with rage. He saw Berk's people at one another's throats because the Jorgenson's refused to admit that they had been beaten at the only thing they had had fame. He saw his tribe being torn apart, like it had with Alvin when he was exiled, it would not survive another split. He had to do this, to preserve Berk as a whole. This should have been Hiccup's moment of glory after all the pain and sadness caused to him. He had to do this. He stood and looked down at his Heir with grim look, hiding the anguish tearing at him behind his stoic gaze. He had to do this. He loved his son and they had only started to rebuild their broken relationship, he hoped that Hiccup would understand this difficult decision. He took a deep breath, there was no turning back now. He had to do this.

'Hiccup . . . . . will face Snotlout in a final round to decide the true victor of the Thawfest Games,' Stoick announced, sheer willpower stopping his voice from breaking.

No sooner did he finish speaking, the crowd burst into an out roar, pro-Hiccups like Astrid, Toothless and Silent Sven screaming, roaring or gesturing in objection at this cruel and unfair judgement, while the pro-Snotlouts like Snotlout, Spitelout and Mildrew whooped with joy at getting their own way and have one final opportunity to have a crack at Hiccup. Mulch and Bucket tried to bring the crowd back into order, Ruffnut and Tuffnut shouted for the sake of shouting along, whilst Fishlegs stood quiet and timid with the other Neutrals. Stoick stood there silent, looking and waiting for the reaction of only one Viking. His son, who he had just nominated to preserve the unity of the Hairy Hooligans, whose hard earned, honourable win he had just sacrificed to prevent the Haddock-Jorgenson Rivalry becoming an actual all-out tribal split. The Heir was taking slow, deep breaths of fury accompanied with the look of a man who had been cheated and at the same time understood why he had been cheated. He was trying to keep control, but he was slipping. He nodded to his Chief, turned and left the Academy, leaving the chaos, havoc and mayhem behind him, Toothless faithfully following him. Gobber placed a hand on Stoick's shoulder in sympathy, the other Viking returned the gesture with a look of thanks, turned with Thornado and left the Academy himself to catch to his son. To apologise.

It was late evening when Stoick and Thornado finally caught up to Hiccup and Toothless as the younger pair had just reached the Chief's House in which the two Vikings and two Dragons shared. He started his apology.

'Look Hiccup, I'm sorry lad, I-', he was interrupted by the younger Viking who faced him, still taking those slow, deep breaths of fury.

'Was it too much to ask for those two Jorgenson's to finally admit they were not good at something other than being yak arses!' exclaimed Hiccup through clenched teeth. He then realized that it was just his Father he was talking not also his Chief for now, he took a deep sigh and spoke again to Stoick.

'It's not your fault, Dad, I know that, you have to preserve and protect the tribe, that's your duty, and the Jorgenson's know that, that's why they pulled that stunt in the Academy, I understand that', Chief and Heir once again understood each other and they shared a episode of mutual love and respect, Hiccup continued.

'But right now you need to stay out here or fetch some ice blocks please Dad, because I feel like my head is about to explode', he went into the house and slammed the door.

Half of the entire Viking population was rudely woken all of a sudden and the entire Terrible Terror population was sent flying in all directions in fear from the echoing 'FUCKKKKKKK!' coming from the Haddocks household.

Sorry for the wait, guys , but the episode did not have the plot time to fill in the gaps of Hiccup's and Snotlout's rivalry, or Spitelout's zeal in keeping his families track record and Stoick's concealed care for his son. In my opinion, Hiccup is not as angry as he should be, I'm hoping to get some of his emotions and resentments out onto the table, whilst at the same time, keeping him as the calm, considerate Viking with sarcasm and smarts that we all remember.