Part 3 – Chapter 20
Snotlout would also get a beating, meaning I actually have to write it, and I kind of don't want to. Ugh, whatever. Snotlout will be completely confused on how to feel – should he still want to kill dragons, or no? Are they bad or good? Is it because of the Red Death that the dragons are bad, or are the dragons naturally bad, but the Red Death is the baddest of them all? Should he trust Hiccup, or trust the tribe? He's always trusted Hiccup, but has he been right? His dad never encouraged to hang out with Hiccup, rather, he did the opposite, but he's never trusted Spitelout. But would the entire tribe be wrong? Doesn't it make more sense for one person to be wrong as opposed to hundreds? He can't think, and when Spitelout falls asleep, he goes out for another walk. He tries to clear his head, but it's not happening. Every time he thinks that one side may be right, the pain from the bruises are more prominent, and he wonders which side would cause him more pain. He's completely confused, comes to no decisions, and has no idea what to think about anything anymore. Everything he once knew has now been questioned, but he has come up with no answers.
Flashback Op: Astrid talking to Hiccup about how her parents don't want her play with him anymore. Hiccup asks why, and Astrid beats around the bush. Hiccup says it flat out though, "it's because I'm smaller, isn't it?" Astrid asks where he found that out, and he admits he Ruffnut and Tuffnut talking about it with Fishlegs' parents. Astrid apologizes, but Hiccup is surprisingly mature for his age (what should I put them at? 5 or so?) and says that she should listen to her parents: she's going to be the bravest, strongest, bestest warrior Berk has seen. He knows he would never be anything close to that. "Besides," he laughs, "if I'm around you, I'll look even worse." Astrid scowls and punches his arm, but laughs, gives him a hug, and says good bye. "Maybe one day we can be friends again?" Astrid asks. "Maybe."
This confusion stays until the next morning.
Hiccup walks to the arena the next day feely fairly uneasy. The cheering at the arena is a deafening roar of a repeated, "Hiccup," which Hiccup can't help but think is somewhat cult-like. Astrid comes and informs him how much he's messed up, and good luck getting out of this one, but it's interrupted by Snotlout saying, "Since when are you two a thing," instead of Gobber right away. Astrid looks between the two, trying to decide who's she's angrier at, before settling on, "I'll kill you both." Hiccup notices Snotlout's tired expression, and semi-hurt in his eyes, and tells her that she'll probably only have to kill one after this. It's a very somber mood down there. Hiccup says something like, "I know I can't expect anything from you two, but if, and when, things go wrong – I don't even know. I just hope Toothless stays safe, but you guys don't care." Astrid looks at him in surprise, nodding over to Snotlout, wondering if Hiccup momentarily forgot his cousin's presence. Hiccup sighs, "He knows." Astrid looks over at Snotlout now, in bewilderment, and Snotlout drops his gaze. He's still so confused, and so hurt, but he doesn't know who hurt him, and nothing makes sense anymore, and he doesn't want her to see that, even if it seems that they might not have a chance anymore. He drops his head even more as he momentarily wonders if they ever had a chance at all.
Gobber walks in on everyone standing around uncomfortably, and valiantly tries to lift the mood, to no success. The gates raise, and Hiccup walks in, putting on his helmet in an act that should appear as brave, but his facial expression already shows defeat.