Lightning and Death Itself Deleted Scene 02

A/N I've gotten multiple requests to write sequels, epilogs, etc., for this story. At this time, I don't have any ideas to add; the book is pretty well closed. But in the interest of keeping my readers happy, I can offer you something a little different: deleted scenes.

Like the deleted scenes from a movie or TV show, these are chunks of dialog and action that I considered writing, but ultimately left out or glossed over because I thought they distracted from the flow of the story. But they have merit, and since you want to read more from this story, I'll write them out and let you enjoy them. They will appear in no particular order.

This scene takes place immediately after the end of Chapter 9.

o

"Okay, guys, now what do we do?"

Ruff's question fell on three sets of completely stunned ears. They had just come (they thought) within a hairsbreadth of being attacked by two Night Furies, only for the dragons to claim that they were actually two of their friends, Astrid and Hiccup, who had disappeared days ago, and had somehow turned into dragons since then. The Night Furies hadn't tried to attack at all; instead, they scratched runes on the rocks, trying to communicate with the teens. Ruff was completely convinced that it was really them; the others weren't so sure. It was such a bizarre, unexpected encounter, they still weren't even sure it had really happened. The best proof that it wasn't a dream was the rows of runes that the dragons had made.

One set, in particular, demanded a response on their part.

TELL OUR PARENTS WE ARE OKAY
TELL THEM WE RAN AWAY
WE WON'T BE COMING BACK

"Do you want to take a message like that to the chief?" Snotlout quavered; he'd been badly shaken by the encounter. "I sure don't!"

"Somebody has to do it," Fishlegs countered. "He hasn't been himself since Hiccup vanished. All he does is send out searching parties that don't find anybody."

"Do you think this is going to make anything better?" Tuff challenged him.

"Well, somebody has to tell the Hoffersons, that's for sure," Ruff said. "They're both total wrecks. I'll do it, if somebody comes with me." She looked at each of them in turn. They suddenly realized that whoever didn't go with her would wind up taking the message to Stoick instead. They all volunteered at once.

"I'll take my brother," she decided. "Snotlout, you're in Stoick's family, and Legs was… sort of a friend to Hiccup, so you talk to the chief."

"Now?" Lout asked, hoping the answer was "no."

"It's too dark for us to go back to town now," Fishlegs said. "We ought to wait until the morning." It was decided; they would wait.

None of them got much sleep that night. Their camping trip had taken a turn for the weird.

The next morning, they packed up their gear without saying much to each other. They all reread the dragons' runes several times, knowing that this might be their last contact with their friends. One or two storms would wash the runes away, and they would be gone forever.

The trip back to town was also mostly silent. Ruffnut and Tuffnut didn't even bother fighting with each other over who would carry what. They returned to their homes, greeted their families without much joy, and met again in the middle of town.

"Don't you guys dare wimp out on this," Ruff warned them. She and her brother turned and headed for the Hofferson home. Snotlout and Fishlegs looked up the hill toward the chief's house.

"You know," Lout said thoughtfully, "if the chief is in a bad mood, then it wouldn't be wimping out if we don't tell him. It would be the smart thing to do."

"I really don't think that's what Ruffnut had in mind," Legs objected.

"Who put her in charge?" Lout demanded.

"Well, Astrid used to be in charge, kind of, and Ruff is the only one who's making decisions, so I guess she put herself in charge."

"Huh!" Snotlout snorted. "I didn't vote for her, so she can't order me around! I've got some important stuff to do anyway, so you can do whatever you want." He trotted back toward his home, leaving Fishlegs alone and full of dread. He couldn't do this by himself!

Then his face lit up as he realized he might not have to. He ambled toward a place where some strong moral support might be found.

Edda Hofferson heard a knock at the door. She rushed to open it, hoping it might be Astrid, home at last.

"Oh, hello, Ruff, Tuff," she said, trying to mask her disappointment. "What can I do for you?"

"Can we come inside, Mrs. H?" Ruffnut asked. "There's something we need to tell you."

Somehow she knew it had something to do with her missing daughter. She invited them in, and they all sat around the fire pit.

"We got a message from Astrid last night," Ruff began, and got no further before Mrs. Hofferson grabbed both her hands tightly.

"Where is she? Is she all right? Is she hurt? Where has she been? Where is she now?"

"She gave us a message," Ruff said again, trying to fight back tears. "She said to tell you she's okay, and… and…" She broke down, unable to continue.

"She says she ran away and she isn't coming back," Tuff finished. He was embarrassed by his sister's emotional display, and couldn't wait for this uncomfortable meeting to end.

Mrs. Hofferson sat stone-still, unable to process what she'd just heard.

"Why?" she finally managed to whisper.

"That was the whole message," Ruff choked out.

"But why would she run away? She was so happy! She didn't have a problem in the world, except she was mad about Hiccup beating her in… did this have something to do with Hiccup?"

Tuff started to answer, but Ruff cut him off. "That was the whole message."

"You're keeping something from me," Mrs. Hofferson said suspiciously. "I know my daughter. She would have said a lot more than that! Tell me! I don't care how hard it is for me to accept – I have to know! Tell me!"

This time, it was Tuffnut who cut his sister off. He suspected she was about to reveal the truth, and somehow he knew that wasn't a good idea. "Mrs. H, we're both really shook up by this. She just appeared, gave us the message, and vanished in the night. She and my sister were friends; Ruff is really taking this hard. I think I need to take her home."

You think she's taking this hard? Edda thought. Wordlessly, she rose and opened the door for them. She knew they were holding out on her. She would learn their secret if it took her a year. Gods willing, Astrid would be back long before then.

How was she going to break this to her husband when he came home?

The twins waited until they were far from the house before they dared to speak to each other. "You almost spilled the beans, didn't you?" Tuff demanded.

"I owe you one," she nodded.

"Do you really think that dragon was Astrid?" he demanded.

"Yes," she said. "It doesn't make any sense, but I just know it's her." She wiped her nose on her sleeve. "I hope she's going to be all right."

Stoick was pacing the floor when he heard the knock on the door. He opened it hesitantly… and found a very nervous Fishlegs Ingerman on his doorstep, with Gobber right behind him.

"This young man has somethin' he's wantin' to tell ye," the smith said by way of introduction.

"All right," the chief rumbled. "Well?" Fishlegs was close to panic.

"I'm thinkin' ye might want to invite us in for a few minutes," Gobber suggested.

"Oh! Oh, yes, of course," Stoick replied, and let them into the house. The two guests sat in the closest chairs they could find. Stoick had no idea where this was going.

"What's on your mind, young man?"

"Well, sir, uhh... we teens were camping out last night, and, uhh... something happened."

"What happened?"

"Uhh... we got a message. From Hiccup."

"From Hiccup?" The chief was on his feet. "Where is he? Is he all right? Is he hurt? Where has he been? Where is he now?"

"Sir... I'm sorry..." Legs was trying not to cry, and failing. "He said to tell you he's okay, and... he ran away... and he isn't coming back." Gobber rested a huge hand on Fishlegs' shoulder.

Stoick sat down again, stunned. "Did... did he say why?"

"No, sir."

"What about the Hofferson girl who disappeared? Did you see her?"

"I think they're together, sir."

Stoick's face clouded over. "Why would he...? If he wanted to marry her, I would have arranged it for him! Why didn't he come to me?" He suddenly turned on Gobber. "Did I push him away somehow? Tell me the truth!"

"I don't know, Stoick. I wasn't there. I'm just here to support the boy. He was afraid o' facin' you by 'imself."

"Have you told the Hoffersons about this?"

Fishlegs nodded. "Ruffnut and Tuffnut are telling them right now."

The chief turned away from them. "Thank you. Please... please go now." As they left, they heard him almost sobbing, "My son, my son! What have I done? How can I get you back?"

"Thank you for coming with me," Fishlegs told Gobber earnestly as they walked away. "Did I do the right thing by telling him that?"

"I've heard that, for a parent whose young 'un has disappeared, the worst news is no news at all," the smith said thoughtfully. "Now 'e knows his son is alive and well. That will be some small comfort to 'im."

I hope, he added mentally.