Hiccup's New Life (Film Version)-II

I hope you all are having wonderful holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, what have you.

So this chapter will commence part II. Part I was Vikings, Dragons, and Masks to Runaways aren't So Fireproof This Time.

Part II will probably be from this chapter called "You're a Gone Daddy Now, Hiccup" to "Maybe A New Start's A Good Thing" or something shorter.

I'm really glad a lot of people like what I'm doing with this. However, like I said, updates may not be as frequent since I have to make new chapters based on The New Life, both the rewrite and the upload. Ballpark, expect somewhere between 8-10 days between chapters.

DISCLAIMER: I don't own How to Train Your Dragon, the films or the books, nor the stories the cinematic fanfic is based on.


Chapter 9: You're a Gone Daddy Now, Hiccup.

Alta could definitely say that she was enjoying herself around Hiccup, Toothless, Alvis, and Ms. Valhallarama as she made her way up the stairs to where her father was. She woke up this morning, planning on going hunting for game, and what happened? She and her tribe were all spirited away to some unknown room to have everything they've accepted as truth about dragons has come crumbling down before their eyes. By now, the only thing preventing dragons and Vikings from coexistence was that damn war. She had made it back to her father, chief Hairke the Maximus, who continued to remain quiet as he watched the events of Hiccup's life unfold.

"Hey, Dad."

"Alta."

"…Seriously? No 'are you alright?' No 'why didn't you come back earlier?' You're not even going to say anything about the baby blue dragon in my arms?"

"…You and that boy decided on Lapis if it's a male and Sapphire if it's a female, didn't you?"

Alta had to blush. "How did you know?"

"Well, that dragon was right in front of me when Stoick's wife-"

"Ex-wife."

"Well, when she returned from the portal made by that sorcerer, the Night Fury was right in front of me. The two of you sounded like parents." Alta blushed at what her father was insinuating. How do you fall for a boy you met less than an hour ago?

"Oh…so you heard all that. You're taking this a lot better than I thought you'd be."

"I've been watching the boy's life play out in front of me…well, his adolescence, anyway. I'm impressed; most children aren't able to brush aside half of what that boy's been through, and he found a way to pacify dragons…Alta, should we meet the boy, I'm leaving him in your care. Besides, I can tell you've taken quite a liking to him."

"Have you been spying on me?!" Alta shrieked.

"Well, at least till you moved back into the front." Came a girl about Alta's age with black pixie cut hair. Her name was Woh Ebrima. She was one of Alta's few friends, but her father never liked her out of the house…or his sight…or his reach.

"Hey, Woh!"

"Is that…a Nadder?" The girl asked as she pointed to the baby dragon. Alta smiled proudly. "So…is it a boy or a girl?"

"Y'know, I really can't tell."

"Well, what can you tell me about the dragon boy?"

"Dragon boy?"

"Well, he's a boy who's friends with a dragon, hence..."

"Well, he's nice, funny, reckless, borderline crazy…"

"Cute?"

"Kinda…wait, what?!"

Woh laughed as Alta's blush returned in full force. "I want to meet him too! Can you take me to him?" Alta didn't even have time to answer as the girl zipped past her.


INT. TRAINING GROUNDS – LATE AFTERNOON

STOICK looks around at the collection of weapons in the Kill Ring. He looks around at all the weapons until his eyes settle on a small dagger. He lets out a sigh of pride and nods to himself before turning to the sky.

STOICK (PROUD)

"Ah, Valka…if only you could see our little Hiccup now. A slayer of demons, a true Viking. I'm sure you'd be just as proud as I am now…"

Valka still held a bit of anger towards Stoick for his poor upbringing of Hiccup. But maybe she had been too harsh on her stubborn husband. He may not have been the best father, but at least he was there, unlike her. Still, her son, a dragon killer? She shook her head fiercely at the notion. He was right about one thing, however. She was definitely proud of her Hiccup.

Stoick walks up the hill to his house, just in time to catch HICCUP at the front door of their house, wearing a leather harness of sorts with a large bag slung over his shoulder. Hiccup freezes, as if caught red-handed.

Stoick remembered that part. It was just after the villagers had finished celebrating Hiccup's ascension to top of his class and executioner of the Monstrous Nightmare.

'Hiccup said he needed last minute training. If I had known Hiccup was planning to leave Berk, I would've tied him to the house until the next day so that he could kill that Nightmare…wait a second…!'

HICCUP (CAUGHT)

"Uh, dad. Hey, I…I didn't think you'd be coming home so early. I mean you-you've got uh, duh…chief… stuff and everything and, um, stuff."

STOICK

"I know, I know, but I figured we could put all that stuff aside for today, given the big news. I mean, you, Hiccup, my son Hiccup, being chosen ta kill the dragon! And here I was thinking Gobber an' the rest were pullin' my leg or somethin…"

Stoick laughs out loud. Hiccup looks angrily at his father, but replaces it with a normal nervous smile when he turns around.

"Yeah, not the best thing to say to yur kid after he just beat a Gronkle." Gobber commented. Stoick said nothing, he just stroked his beard thoughtfully.

STOICK (CONT'D)

"Ah, just look at you, all packed up and ready for…for, uh…"

Stoick sheepishly scratches the back of his head as he trails off. Hiccup's eyes dart as he searches for a good explanation.

HICCUP (HURRIEDLY)

"For…some last minute training! Yeah training…in the woods, where I always go. To do training and…give those dragons heck."

"Hiccup…" Valka sighed.

"Yeah mom, I know. Lying happens to be one of my many, many, many shortcomings. I'll, uh… I'll be sure to iron that out sometime."

"Don't forget your physical training." Toothless rumbled

"…Yeah, my physical training…coached, reprimanded, and monitored by a dragon…swell." Hiccup looked up from a sleeping Alvis to a girl staring intently at him. Her appearance was so sudden, Hiccup couldn't help but jump back a little.

"Hi, I'm Woh Ebrima! You must be Hiccup!" The girl said, holding out a hand. Hiccup looked between it and her for several minutes before carefully reaching out and shaking it.

"Eh, yeah. It's nice to meet you, Woh."

"You know, it's pretty cold up there in the back row. Mind if I stay here?"

"Hiccup…" Warned Toothless, already not liking the idea of being reduced to furniture.

"Well, I'll have to ask Toothless. What do you say, bud?"

"No. I've grown to tolerate the girl and the children. I'm not a resting area for-" Toothless was abruptly cut off when one of the children reached up to his blind spot again. "Fine…" The semi-conscious dragon droned before falling asleep again.

"That means yes." Hiccup chuckled, imagining Toothless' eventual disdain upon waking up. The newcomer at that time turned to Valka, who had remained rather quiet until now. "Oh, this is my mother, Valka Valhallarama." Like Alta, Woh curtsied to Valka in greeting.

"A pleasure."

"Likewise." Woh looked at the dragon Valka was lying against. "Whoa…I've never seen that kind of dragon before."

Valka smiled proudly. "He's a Stormcutter. They're not quite as rare as a Night Fury, but they're not too common. His name is Cloudjumper." Woh moved closer to get a better look. Its four wings and owlish face were the most outstanding traits of this dragon.

"Wow." She turned back to Hiccup and noticed the sleeping infant in his arms. "I didn't know you had a little brother?"

"He's not. He's my son." Woh's eyes widened, before she crossed her arms and looked at him mischievously. "What?"

"Nothing…No wonder Alta went red in the face when I asked about you, dragon boy."

"Dragon boy?"

"I said it to Alta too. I don't think I've seen anyone make puppies and kittens out of wild dragons like you can."

"What do you mean about Alta going red in the face-ohhhh."

"You're not as dense as most boys, at least."

He winces at the pathetic-sounding lie, but is relieved when Stoick looks at him with another beaming smile. His face is about ready to crack.

STOICK (GIDDY)

"Training! My son's ready to do a little training! Oh, I swear it's like I finally got my real son right here."

"…Yikes…" Woh winced.

"It's fine, I've already left. It's not like whatever he thinks of me matters to me anymore."

Hiccup's angry stare returns as he clenches the strap of his sack tightly. Stoick doesn't notice and turns back to Hiccup, bearing the same nervous smile as before.

STOICK (CONT'D) (PLAYFUL)

"You know, the ring's open right now, so you could do some practicin' there. No one's around and hey, like you need to worry about any dragons, ah?"

He laughs and SLAPS Hiccup's back, nearly knocking him over. Hiccup is quick to suggest otherwise.

HICCUP (STUTTERING)

"Ah-no, no, I'd really rather do this in the woods. It's my…personal place. Like where I can think and concentrate and plan and strategize and all that stuff. I mean, you know dragons… mindless, stupid, and totally inferior to us Vikings."

The dragons in the room turned to Hiccup dangerously. "I had to say it in order for him to back off! You know that's not how I feel about you guys!"

"Yeah I-I just, you know, figure some mental preparation might still be in order though."

Stoick nods his head in understanding.

STOICK

"Ah, gotcha, you can never be too careful with those tricky devils."

"They aren't devils!" Surprisingly, that wasn't Hiccup or Valka, but Alta who shouted at the screen. After talking with her father, she had returned to Hiccup. "If dragons are really as bad as we've learned them to be, how and why are me or any of the others still alive?"

In the rafters with the rest of the Bone Heads, Ruoy began seething with frustration. Toothless, meanwhile, looked at the now aggravated girl in surprise…then moved his head next to her to lick her cheek. Immediately, Alta lost all her anger and started giggling.

"Aww, Toothless! That's so gross!"

"I like you. You'd make a good mate for Hiccup." Toothless' blunt statement made the two humans look at each other, before turning away with scarlet cheeks. Hiccup unconsciously gave Alvis over to her, which she accepted compliantly. Woh and Valka proceeded to laugh, along with Cloudjumper, who started seeing Hiccup as a stepson of sorts.

STOICK (CONT'D)

"Well, good luck. Train hard. I'll be here, definitely."

HICCUP

"And I'll be back…probably."

"I should've said 'maybe', but then he probably would've gotten suspicious." Hiccup spoke robotically, still wired from Toothless' earlier statement.

Hiccup salutes his father as he immediately sets off for the forest. Stoick heads inside.

INT. STOICK'S HOUSE-CONTINUOUS

Stoick goes inside and sits in his large chair, whittling his axe and whistling away.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. STOICK'S HOUSE-MAGIC HOUR

Stoick remains in his chair, facial features mangled in worry.

Hiccup blinked on in slight surprise. He was sure that his father wouldn't have minded him not coming back early, or at all.

The dying rays of sunlight vanish from the horizon. Stoick stands in alarm and exits his house in a jog. He runs into several villagers.

STOICK

"Have you seen Hiccup?"

VIKING

"Sorry, chief, I haven't."

STOICK

"How 'bout you, you seen Hiccup?"

VIKING #2

"No, sir. Not since he took down that Gronkle."

"Gee Hiccup, I was thinking your dad didn't care?" Alta asked, surprised at Stoick's genuine worry for Hiccup. The youth in question simply watched in apathy.

"He doesn't. He only cares about 'Hiccup the Promising', dragon slayer extraordinaire. The real Hiccup's already dead to him."

Stoick catches eye of PHLEGMA THE FIERCE.

STOICK

"PHLEGMA! Have you seen Hiccup?"

PHLEGMA

"Sorry, chief, haven't seen the boy. But, just between you and me, I'd keep close watch on him and Astrid. The young lass might not have taken too kindly to our heir winning."

Stoick immediately runs towards the ring, where the other teens are gathered.

"Oh no." Fishlegs sighed.

STOICK

"Kids! You usually hang around with Hiccup, right? Have you seen him lately?"

The teens scratch their heads and look between each other.

FISHLEGS

"Sorry, sir…we haven't seen him since he won the right to kill the Nightmare."

TUFFNUT

"I haven't seen him – but he probably learned how to turn invisible and sneak up on people. Either that, or he's still in the woods."

RUFFNUT

"Yeah, he's usually back before sundown."

SNOTLOUT

"I wouldn't worry about him, chief. He always comes back. Every time you think you've gotten rid of him for good, he suddenly pops in out of nowhere."

That comment, surprisingly, earned a lot of dirty looks from the villagers towards Snotlout. Stoick still refused to comment as he suddenly started grinning.

"Astrid, on the other hand, she might know where he is. She's been trying to tail him into the forest for weeks-Hey, there she goes now!"

Snotlout points to Astrid, wearing a slightly miffed expression. Stoick immediately dashes to her.

Astrid turned to Snotlout, who made a slight move to stand behind his father before deciding against it. He stood his ground and stared back at Astrid, as if to say "Yeah, I said it. So what?"

STOICK

"Astrid! Oh, thank Thor I found you. Hiccup's not been back since early this afternoon. Would you happen to know where he is?"

Astrid's stony expression suddenly heats with small anger.

ASTRID (TICKED)

"Hiccup? I'm not sure I know or care where that weasel went."

"Oh, I'm a weasel now?" Hiccup spoke hotly. "How long did it take her to come up with that one?"

Astrid wasn't fazed in the least, but she did wonder why she wasn't apprehending Hiccup. She had the perfect opportunity when she had him in the cove. She shook her head rapidly and tried to convince herself that this was all a dream, an illusion, a fabrication.

"Let me know if you find him though, so I can find out how he got so good before I smash his crooked baby teeth in."

Stoick sighs before dashing off somewhere else. Astrid looks at the chief's retreating back, a small twinge of concern on her face.

"Hey, Hiccup…is that concern I see?" Woh teased. Hiccup scoffed and crossed his arms.

"Concern? Come on, Astrid concerned about me? I have better odds of..." Another phantom pain entered his head. "Okay, these are becoming way too common for it to just be coincidence. Mask!"

"Yo."

"I've been getting these phantom pains that hurt like Heated Engine Lumps. Is there something else I should know?" Hiccup's puzzlement continued further as Mask seemed to stiffen a bit.

"Phantom pains…interesting…"

"Um…"

"Oh. Umm, okay Hiccup, yes, there's more, much more you need to know. I'll explain it sometime later on."

INT. GREAT HALL

Murmuring fills the whole hall. Stoick, after seeing that everyone has been gathered raises his voice.

STOICK

"Alright everyone, settle down! I don't want to waste any time, so I'll get to the point. Hiccup has not returned from his last minute training in the forest. Normally, this wouldn't be so worrisome, but despite how successful he's been in dragon training, and how proud he's made me, he's not ready to take on wild dragons. I want every inch of this island searched, all forests combed, leave no stone unturned! There will be no rest on this island until we find my son…or his body."

"Good luck." Hiccup snickered. There was an evil pleasure Hiccup felt at seeing the villagers who once hated his presence so much search so earnestly for him.

EXT. GREAT HALL-NIGHT

Many of the villagers decide to fan out and search for Hiccup. They carry torches, clubs, and swords. They CALL OUT for the boy.

VIKING

"Hiccup?"

VIKING #2

"Come on out, lad!"

VIKING #3

"Where are you, Hiccup?"

VIKING #4

"Come out, boy-o!"

Stoick rushes to join them but Gobber hobbles over, intercepting him.

GOBBER

"Stoick, what is goin' on 'ere? I 'avent seen ya this worked up since, well…ever. Not exactly livin' up to you'r name, if I might so boldly point out."

Stoick pants as he looks around.

STOICK (SHAKY)

"Hiccup…Hiccup's disappeared… no one's seen him since this afternoon."

"And no one will." Hiccup added darkly.

GOBBER

"And here I thought the teenage drama was over and done with. Oh, well, we best be gettin' a move on, 'fore yur hair ends up like mine."

He removes his long-horned helmet to show a bald head underneath.

All eyes in the room were on Gobber. Gobber sighed and removed his helmet, revealing the same bald head as the saw on the screen. "Aye, I'm bald. What of 't!"

Hiccup sighed, fond of the balding blacksmith. "Oh, Gobber."

Stoick lets a small smile grace his features as he ventures off, his brother in arms at his side.

INT. FOREST-NIGHT

Stoick and Gobber had come over the knoll. The moon shines through some of the branches in the timberland. The chief and the blacksmith continue searching until they come across Raven Point. The chief has a brief recollection before trudging on.

INT. COVE

Stoick and Gobber find the cove where Hiccup and Toothless spent most of their time. They enter it and look around, not catching anything of optical value. Stoick looks around once more before sighing, defeated.

Toothless and, surprisingly Hiccup, started glaring and growling at the sight of two Vikings invading their cove. That cove was their sacred place, and no one aside from themselves had permission to enter and exit as they pleased. If they returned to Berk for whatever reason, Hiccup imagined the cove would be the first place where they set foot. Though, it wasn't as if they owned that spot – now that they were gone, the Hooligans were free to trespass or do whatever they liked. Still, the act of violation nonetheless struck a bitter chord within them both.

STOICK

"This is a waste of time, Gobber, let's head back. Hiccup might have gone back to the village by now, and if not, we'll have the men redouble their efforts. I will not rest until I find him…"

ON GOBBER, who scratches his helmet with his hook hand.

GOBBER

"Eh, Stoick…Ye may wanna put tha' plan on hold for a momen' and come take a look a' this."

Stoick turns to see Gobber standing at the entrance to the cove, pointing at something with his hook-hand…an old, slightly worn shield wedged in between the massive stones that acted as a sort of gateway to the cove. Stoick inspects the gap underneath the gap; it was way too big for grown men such as him. He punches the shield and both Vikings enter the cove.

STOICK

"Hiccup!"

GOBBER

"Hiccup! Where are ya, lad?"

STOICK

"Hiccup, I know you're here! Come on out, son! You've had enough time to yourself! If this is some kind of joke, it's not funny! We need to get back to the village – everyone's worried sick about you!"

"Forgive me if I don't believe you for a second, chief." Hiccup snarked.

"Your final test is TOMORROW; you know you're gonna have to kill that Nightmare!"

Hiccup's eyes widened in alarm, not from the final exam…but from the fact that he forgot something extremely crucial. The dragons from training were still on the island. Would he really just leave them to die? It wouldn't be right for him to let a dragon fall victim to Viking prejudice simply because he sought freedom.

Stoick continues walking around the deserted cove until his foot hits something. A Viking helmet, the one he gave Hiccup just yesterday.

STOICK (CONT'D)

"What in the name of Thor...?"

Stoick kneels and picks up the helmet in his right hand, and inspects it until he notices the small dent in it. Confusion dissolves into apprehension as the chief's eyes widen.

"Mom, I'm sorry I kicked the helmet made from your…you know." Hiccup sighed, unable to face his mother without blushing. "But the helmet was a product of a lie. I didn't want to wear something on my head that basically screams 'Dragon Killer.'"

"It's alright, son. I wasn't able to move around much in that, anyway." Valka reassured, then a mischievous look crossed her face. "I'm curious, though…how did it feel?"

Hiccup's response: snatching Alvis and burying his face in the baby's stomach. The baby didn't complain, as it was happy to grab its father's hair again.

STOICK (CONT'D)(PANICKED)

"HICCUP?!"

GOBBER

"Stoick! You need ta see this! Altho' I can't guarantee yul like 'et…"

ON GOBBER, his hook hand gesturing to some manner of imprints on the ground. Stoick joins him moments later.

STOICK

"Dragon tracks."

GOBBER

"But which dragon? Too narrow for a Gronkle, too broad for a Zippleback, but bigger than a Terror at least. I also found these."

Gobber places a small, shiny, smooth, and colored pitch black object in Stoick's hand. Stoick gasps and slowly shakes his head as he makes the connections. He shakes his head more rapidly.

GOBBER

"Are ya thinkin' what I'm thinkin'? Cause whut I'm thinkin' isn't good."

"I'm pretty sure he's thinking what you're thinking, Gobber. He's just in denial." Hiccup laughed.

STOICK

"We're going back, and I want every able-bodied Viking looking. He's got to be here somewhere."

Stoick didn't even wait for Gobber to respond as he's already sprinting back to the village.

EXT. STOICK'S HOUSE – NEXT DAY AFTERNOON

Stoick climbs up the steps to his home, finding it as quiet as the previous evening, the fire not even lit to provide any kind of warmth or light. The Viking chieftain climbs the stairs, hoping to find his son…

INT. STOICK'S HOUSE- HICCUP'S ROOM

Only to find that Hiccup's room had been cleared out of everything. There was no blanket or pillow on Hiccup's bed. Stoick looks around, confused and haunted by the absence of his son. He looked around expecting to find something, anything that might lead him to his son, but finds nothing. He looks inside Hiccup's closet and finds it bare, no tunics, no pants, no extra boots. Stoick releases a shaky breath as he sits on Hiccup's bare bed. As he sits, a large piece of parchment paper tied up in string falls, landing by his foot. Stoick takes it and removes the string.

STOICK (WHISPERING)

"A letter."

He picks up the paper, unrolls it and begins to read.

HICCUP (V.O)

"Dear Dad, if you've found this letter and are reading it now, then the first thing I should probably say is, I'm sorry. This is probably going to be incredibly difficult for you to swallow, or maybe it will be the news you've been waiting 14 long years for."

"Well, Stoick's the kind of person that tries not to let things go. I'm pretty sure it's the former." Valka suggested.

"Maybe…maybe not." Hiccup replied.

"I don't know, I guess I've never known. But I'm leaving Berk."

The Hooligans all let out a breath. Some breaths were of relief, some were of shock, and some were of devastation. Stoick simply watched it all unfold, wearing the impression of his namesake.

DISSOLVE TO:

EXT. SKY - DUSK

HICCUP AND TOOTHLESS, high in the clouds. Hiccup stares forward, a stray tear falling from his eyes. He wipes his eyes as Toothless croons in concern. Hiccup pats Toothless' head and offers him a smile.

HICCUP (V.O) (CON'TD)

"I know that you see me as a mistake. I know that the entire village does, and I know that I'll never be good enough in anyone's eyes, yours or theirs."

Hiccup's eyes fell. No matter how many times people would say it to him, or whenever he said it to himself, it would always hurt as much as it did the first time. Alta sat quietly and listened to how lowly Hiccup thought of himself.

"All my life, I've just wanted to be a warrior, like you. I could never do it your way though, so I had to find ways to compensate. I had to throw away everything that makes me… me, but for you, I always told myself it would be worth it in the end. I just wanted to make you proud, and I always hoped I would someday. But now I see that that someday was never going to come."

BACK TO:

STOICK, joined by Gobber, who looks just as shocked.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"You and everyone else hate me and always will, no matter how much I try, because I'm scrawny, weak, and…different. I can't help the way I am, and you know what, I don't want to change just because you all think I'm some accident of nature."

Alta looked up at the screen. At that point in time, she and Valka had half a mind to march into the Berk room, a second time for the latter, and call everyone out on how they treated the boy. Then she heard the boy proudly state that their opinion of didn't matter anymore. She turned to him, admiration swelling within her.

"I've been treated like less than the dirt you walk on for long enough, I've jumped through too many flaming hoops to turn all that around, and I am DONE."

EXT. STOICK'S HOUSE-DAY

Gobber exits the Haddock household to the sight of the villagers. Many looked at him with worry. Gobber speaks unaudibly, and the crowd looks to each other in shock.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"I'm not sorry for who and how I am, Dad. Get over it. I hate Berk. And I hate hurting dragons. The training in the ring? That was just a show, a series of tricks for your cruel amusement. So yeah, the thought of killing a dragon makes me sick to my stomach."

The general majority of dragons had decided earlier on, but this clinched it. They all started to take a serious liking to the boy, starting from when he freed the Night Fury.

"You have no idea how much I wanted to throw up when you talked about spilling Nadder guts and decapitating Gronkles."

Both the Nadder and the Gronkle from training shuddered at the way the chief from Berk commented on the possibility of that gentle boy killing a dragon. Hiccup unconsciously clenched his fists as he remembered the feeling himself.

"I'm never going to kill a dragon, Dad. NEVER."

"Actually Hiccup, you will kill a dragon." All eyes turned to Mask, annoyed. Mask looked around, sweating a bit. "Well, I mean, you'll have to kill a dragon in order to put an end to the war. It's unavoidable."

"Look, man, you could've picked a much better time, preferably after all this. Not right now, when a lot of mixed feelings are going around."

"Yeah, but I-"

"Go back into the rafters, Mask." Valka sighed.

"But…"

"NOW!"

"…okay." Mask slumped as he vanished.

Fishlegs looks at the ground in shame.

Fishlegs looked on, shame flooding his being like a virus. Childhood was a simpler time for all of them and maintaining what shaky relationships they might have had then, but now it seemed that they were acquaintances to one another, save for the self-exile in question. Fishlegs had remained Hiccup's friend for the longest time out of all of them, but he broke all contact, all friendship with him at the order of his parents. He had basically left him to the wolves to save his own skin. From his parents' standpoint, it made him smart.

Deep down, he knew it made him a coward.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"I'm not a Viking and I never will be, I finally see that, and that is perfectly fine with me. I don't want to be a heartless killer like the rest of you. I'd MUCH rather betray my tribe than kill a misunderstood creature who has just as much right to live as the rest of us."

Ruffnut and Tuffnut look at each other and lower their heads. They both leave in separate directions before Tuffnut turns to follow Ruffnut.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut felt something in their stomachs. They didn't know what it was, but every time they thought of what they did to Hiccup, that feeling would suppress any nostalgia they felt and replace it with something…uncomfortable.

"Hey, Ruff?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I'm feeling…guilty."

"You sure?"

"Well, I'm not hungry; we just ate. I don't think I'm sick…unless I've come down with some sort of disease that makes me unable to feel any immediate side effects!" Tuffnut gasped. Ruffnut pinched the bridge of her nose.

"No, that's just you being an idiot."

"Oh…then I'm definitely feeling guilty."

"But why? We didn't feel guilty when we did all those things to Hiccup." Ruffnut asked, confused.

"Maybe it's because he's gone. Now we only have Fishlegs to play with, but everyone in the village respects him more." Tuffnut sighed.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"This is my final goodbye. If you can find it in your heart, if you even have one of those, then let the Nightmare go – it shouldn't have to die in the name of what you consider 'honor'. If that's not the kind of man you are though, then give Astrid the kill, she's got skills and she's wanted it more than I ever did."

Astrid simply stares in shock and disbelief, before slowly coming to terms with what Gobber had just said. Any ill intent directed towards Hiccup left her and she all but shed a tear.

Astrid looked on, disgusted at how she would react in the future. But the contents of his letter had been read out to the whole of the tribe and all of his carefully hidden secrets were being revealed, including his means in winning training. She would hear the truth and still be unhappy that he left.

Then again, why wouldn't she be unhappy? As much as she hated Hiccup for lying to his tribe, his chief and father, and her, Snotlout was by no means a better option. Hiccup leaving meant his unbearable cousin was guaranteed his place as heir; Snotlout would ruin Berk, because Hiccup wouldn't step up and take responsibility for his tribe.

"Why would he? It's not like we gave him any reason to stay. Then again, you don't have to be happy to be chief. Plus, no one on Berk would marry him, no matter how high the bride price. If anything, the wife would end up making all the decisions because he doesn't have the backbone to make any himself."

A thought entered her head.

"Wait…we've watched what happened before, we're watching what's happening and what will happen. Actually, what would happen. That means…!"

She began thinking more and more. The more she thought, the wider the grin on her face became. She sighed contently and relaxed in her seat.

"And take Snotlout as your heir. But be careful; he's so stupid, he can't tell the difference between a sword and a kitchen knife."

Everyone started laughing at that remark, save for the Jorgenson pair, who looked on in embarrassment.

"SHUT YOUR MOUTHS, MORONS!" Snotlout roared. "In case you forgot, Useless is gone, meaning Berk's as good as the Snotman's! Now unless you want me to remember this when I take over, I suggest you get on your knees and beg me for forgiveness."

"Believe you me, we'll all be off th' isle 'fore you get th' chance." Gobber muttered, earning another round of laughter. Snotlout was ready to open his mouth, before Gobber intercepted him. "Now before you sign meh life away, you 'ave to wonder, who's gonna be makin' yur weapons? Hiccup, not 'Useless', Hiccup is gone, therefore mah forge'll be somewhat understaffed. So unless you want yer tribe o' one left utterly defenseless, I suggest keeping yur trap shut, boy." Gobber finished. Snotlout replied with a red-faced cutthroat gesture.

Snotlout clenches his fist in anger and remorse. His face is locked firmly onto the ground beneath him. He sighs and shakes his head before his eyes glaze over thoughtfully. Then, a smug smirk slithers onto his face before he walks off.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"Tell Gobber I said thank you. He was the only one who actually treated me with kindness, the kind I think Mom would have shown. I mean, seriously, just because we're- YOU'RE Vikings doesn't mean you all have to be impatient, ruthless barbarians who hurt and kill for no good reason other than you can. Maybe one day you'll realize that true strength is a bit more than that."

The whole of Berk is filled with shame as they all turn and depart for their respective homes. Gobber walks off, a heavy sigh escaping his chest.

HICCUP (V.O) (CONT'D)

"Goodbye, Da- Stoick. Hiccup."

Hiccup remembered every emotion he felt when he wrote on that parchment. The damp weight of sadness and regret, the burning fires of anger…and the airy feeling of freedom, as if he were a lifelong prisoner having his shackles removed and stepping into the light for the first time.

His hands fall limp to his sides as his fingers let the now-read letter drift down to the floor, his knees crashing down before it. Small tears run down the chief's face, his hands on the floor with fingers clenching into fists.

"Wow. I didn't think he was capable of sadness." Alta spoke.

"I've never seen this emotion from him before. Disappointment, yes, anger, definitely, but sadness? This is new." Hiccup concurred.

Stoick buried his face in his hand. Everyone in the Berk room turned to him. They had never seen their chief cry at all, even when he had lost Valka, but here he was, tearing up for the whole of Berk, the dragons, Draak, and Hiccup to see.

STOICK (BROKEN)

"He's gone."

'Oh no, he's not.' Stoick thought.


EXT. SMALL ISLAND - AFTERNOON

Hiccup sits on a small cliff, his fishing line cast into the ocean waiting for a bit. The runaway heir to Berk laughs in thrilling disbelief, as if he can't believe he's here.

HICCUP

"I am so much better off without Berk constantly dragging me down. Fourteen years, fourteen long painful years of loneliness and people underestimating me. And now it's all over. It's just me and Toothless now; he's all the family I need."

Hiccup nodded, affirming the statement he would make in the future. He turned to Toothless, whose eyes were shimmering, as if he were getting ready to cry.

"Maybe we should just travel the world, like nomads. Yeah, that could be fun. We could meet new people, find new species of dragons. Who knows what the future has in store for a boy and a Night Fury? Aw, man, it all sounds…too amazing. Just imagine what we could-"

A small, strange, loud, wailing sound, very high pitched and almost infantile, similar to crying is heard.

"Those cries…" Hiccup started.

"The hatchling!?" Toothless asked. Both looked to Alvis, who was mesmerized by the screen.

Hiccup looks in the direction of the forest, before turning around and concentrating on his line. The cry reaches higher in volume. SIGH.

INT. SMALL ISLAND – FOREST

Hiccup carefully walks through the tall pine forest, sword out and ready. As Hiccup treks further, the sound grows louder. Eventually, he stops at a tangle of branches. The cries are at peak volume. Hiccup parts the branches and what he finds forces him to recoil in shock.

HICCUP

"What the-?!"

A baby, swaddled in blankets, lying alone in the grass, crying as hard as its tiny body could.

Everyone in the room save for Hiccup, Woh, Alta, the dragons, and Valka gushed at the sight of the baby. How could such an adorable creature lay there alone with nobody and nothing to protect it? The dragons immediately started conversing amongst each other.

"That's a human hatchling?"

"I always thought they'd be smaller."

"But where are its parents?"

"They probably went hunting?"

"Or maybe they're dead?"

"He was abandoned." Hiccup told them. Their tones immediately increased in aggression.

"ABANDONED?!"

"ABANDONED?!"

"What kind of parents abandon their child?"

"Vikings. We shouldn't be surprised."

Hiccup had to agree. It disgusted him how when it all boiled down to it, reputation was a key factor in almost everything Vikings did or held sacred.

Hiccup sheathes his sword and slowly approaches the crying infant. It's male, as far as Hiccup can tell. Hiccup cradles and bounces the baby, shushing to calm him down. Soon, the baby ceased crying and opens his big eyes to look at Hiccup.

Stoick looked on in surprise. That infant, it bore the same physical qualities as Hiccup did when he was a babe! The small strands of hair, the eyes, the baby fat!

Something profound is exchange in the stare between eyes of green. Hiccup smiles radiantly.

HICCUP (GENTLE)

"Hey, little guy."

He tickles the baby's belly with a finger. The sweet sound of giggling erupts from the child.

The people of Berk looked on in astonishment. They wouldn't let Hiccup anywhere near their children because they believed that he might curse them to grow up and be just as clumsy, as thin, and as weak as him. However, the infant in Hiccup's arms wasn't even afraid or disgusted. It actually laughed at Hiccup's antics. Valka was nearly brought to tears at the sight of her beautiful grandson. She had already met him before, but that face brought back so many memories, she couldn't help but be moved.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

"What's a cute thing like you doing in a scary forest like this? Where's your mama? Or your daddy?"

Hiccup has to pause after the last word. He stares at the baby as if seeking an answer, but only receives a blank stare. Hiccup looks down at the ground in contemplation…before he furrows his brows in resolution. He turns back to the baby with a small smile.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

"Well, little guy, if you've got nowhere to go, why not come with me. I was planning on it being just me and my dragon, but hey, the more the merrier."

The Hooligans and Ruoy jumped in alarm.

"WHAT?!"

"THAT THOR-DAMNED FOOL!"

"DOES HE WANT THE DRAGON TO EAT THE BABY?!"

Toothless practically smelled Ruoy's baseless rage as he suddenly screened down the stands to where Hiccup was. In an abrupt motion, Hiccup and all the children seated against Toothless suddenly fell backward as the Night Fury tackled Ruoy.

"Get off me, you damned demon!"

"No way, chump."

"Thank you, Toothless." Hiccup sighed as he handed Alvis to Woh. He walked over to Ruoy who was currently glaring at Hiccup with an unquenchable rage. "Now what made you think that you could just up and take my son away from me?"

"He's just a kid and you're going to corrupt him and turn him against his own kind!?"

"His 'own kind' abandoned him. He's a baby, for crying out loud, and he's left to die in a forest?"

"What business is it of yours? You don't know him; why make it your business whether or not he lives or dies?"

"So what you're saying here is to go ahead and let him die? Alone, cold, hungry, and scared?"

"You know that's not what I meant!"

"Well, if you have to know, it's the same reason why I cut Toothless free in the first place. He was just as frightened when I found him. Toothless, Alvis, it's like looking in a mirror with either of them. I was aware of the risks when I set Toothless free. Alvis…I don't think I need to explain." Hiccup sighed, rubbing Toothless' head.

The baby coos with a smile. Hiccup carries the baby away.

EXT. SMALL ISLAND-TWILIGHT

TOOTHLESS looks around from side to side from the campsite. He is irritated, likely from the lack of his rider. As soon as he catches sight of Hiccup, he bounds over to him, a not-so-pleased look gracing his features. Hiccup is carrying something.

TOOTHLESS (RELIEVED, ANGRY)

"Where the HELL have you been?!"

HICCUP

"Sorry, bud, but look what I found."

Hiccup holds the baby up, then lowers it to Toothless. The dragon's mood is replaced with a cautious one as he sniffs at the infant.

TOOTHLESS

"This is a human hatchling?"

A moment passes, then Toothless press his large snout on the baby's belly to sniff its fabrics. He displays a gummy smile, and his eyes dilate. He licks the baby's face slightly, and it giggles. Toothless produces a sound similar to laughter.

"Well, Toothless, it looks like you're an uncle now." Valka chuckled. Toothless turned to Valka and gave her a weird look.

"Please don't call me that."

"Why not, Uncle Toothless?"

"Hiccup…" Toothless warned, receiving a chuckle in response.

TOOTHLESS

"He's alright…but where's his mother? Or even his father? He's just a hatchling, after all."

HICCUP

"I don't know where his parents are…Or if he has any family nearby. The poor baby was all alone. That's why I've decided that I'm going to take care of him. You don't mind, do you bud?"

Toothless responds by licking Hiccup's cheek. He's fine with it.

TOOTHLESS

"Don't mind? I'll gladly take care of you and your son."

Hiccup laughs and pats his dragon's head.

HICCUP

"Thanks bud. I'll be sure not to let any of us down."

Hiccup looks up. The sky is growing dark. The stars shine as the sun sinks at the horizon. He turns back to the baby before walking to his makeshift tent. He empties his bag of its contents, taking the fur blanket he had brought from Berk and places it neatly on the ground, folded up halfway to protect the baby from the hard earth beneath. He places the baby inside, his blankets already keeping him warm and snug. The infant almost instantly falls asleep. Hiccup smiles in adoration.

"Aw, look at you, Papa Wolf." Alta giggled, nudging Hiccup. He ruffled her hair in return, which led to her pouncing on him. They both ended up laughing. "You really would be a good father."

"You think so?"

"I know so.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

"There you go."

He kneels and strokes the baby's almost nonexistent hair. Hiccup's head snaps up as if he had forgotten something important.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

"We should name him."

"How about Useless the Second? You can tell now it's gonna run in the family!" Snotlout roared with laughter. He looked around and everyone looked simply tired of the same joke being used over and over.

He adopts a thinking pose as Toothless walks over and settles down behind to him.

HICCUP (CONT'D) (TRAILING OFF)

"How about...Alvis?"

"Alvis is originated from the language of Old Norse, by the way. It means 'all wise.'" Mask squeaked before quickly disappearing, not wanting to be reprimanded by Valka again.

Toothless cocks his head, then looks down, eyes narrowed. Moments later, he nods in approval.

TOOTHLESS

"It's interesting... like 'Hiccup.'"

HICCUP

"Hey!"

"What? It was a compliment; your name is interesting!" Toothless warbled innocently.

Hiccup turns a non-malicious glare on Toothless, before sighing and turning back to the baby.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

"All right, you stupid reptile. Alvis it is."

Hiccup hesitates, then bends over to kiss the infant's forehead goodnight.

TOOTHLESS

"Guess what, Hiccup?"

HICCUP

"What?"

TOOTHLESS

"You're a daddy now."


"And I'll be a great dad. I'll make sure he doesn't grow up in a world ravaged by war. I'll treat him with more kindness than I received. He'll know love, happiness, and peace."

"How? In case you've forgotten, there's still a 300 year old war going on against the same beasts you're defending, traitor!" Ruoy yelled.

"Defend…defend…you know, Toothless…dragon training, Vikings do it as a rite of passage…" Hiccup pondered.

"But the man who sired you talk about it…as if it were a pastime!" Toothless realized.

"They kill dragons for sport on Berk! They talk about finding the nest and destroying it so the dragons will leave, but then they go on about killing dragons for 'honor' and whatever other self-righteous garbage they can come up with!" Hiccup roared.

"Those hypocritical, self-serving bastards! Well, what are we supposed to do?"

"Whatever happens now, we have to save the dragons."


With this, part II has just begun. The next chapter will be The Guilt of a Father who was Shot Down. See if you can spot a double meaning behind that one.

Also, I'm not intentionally trying to make everyone hate Ruoy. It's just, up to the point where he stopped being such a prejudicial jerkass, he was…well, a prejudicial jerkass.

Sorry this was so late, I had trouble getting back into the swing with my birthday and Christmas all in the same week. Also, I'm getting surgery in the morning. Like tomorrow, January 5 morning. I don't think it'll stop my writing though.

IT'S 2016! MAKE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAPITAL PUNKS!

P.S. Special Thanks to ChaosX97 for beta-edits.

UPDATE: Thanks for all the well wishes for my surgery. It actually wasn't that bad. Expect the next chapter in the next 4-7 days.