EXT. OPEN SEA/DRAGON ISLAND – DAY
[The armada coasts toward a shroud of heavy fog, hung like drapes from a low-hanging, ominous sky.]
[The ships enter, one by one. Visibility drops immediately. Flanking ships becomes ghosts. The armada disappears, drawn into the blinding mist. Complete whiteout. Nothing remains but the eerie creaking of wood on water.]
[ON STOICK at the bow of his ship. He taps his fingers on the gunwale, then looks back at Toothless impatiently. Weighed down with chains, Toothless seems unresponsive.]
Stoick:
Sound your positions. Stay within earshot.
[Shouts pour in from all directions.]
Viking #1:
Here.
Viking #2:
One length to your stern.
Viking #3:
On your starboard flank.
Viking #4:
Three widths to port.
Viking #5:
Ahead, at your bow.
Viking #6:
Haven't a clue.
Adrien: That isn't very reassuring.
Snotlout: I'm with the blondie on that one.
Vikings started to chuckle at that before continuing on with watching.
[ON STOICK straining into the fog as the calls continue. Massive, jagged sea stacks begin to emerge, threatening to rip the ships to shreds.]
[Gobber approaches him, speaking under his breath.]
Gobber:
Listen… Stoick… I was overhearing some of the men just now and, well, some of them are wondering what it is we're up to here – not me of course, I know you're always the man with the plan – but some, not me, are wondering if there is in fact a plan at all, what it might be?
Stoick:
Find the nest and take it.
Marinette: That isn't a plan at all.
Stoick: Sure it is.
Everyone but the vikings were stunned at this and continued to watch.
Gobber:
Ah. Of course. Send them running. The old Viking fall-back. Nice and simple.
Stoick:
Shhh.
[Stoick notices that Toothless' ear plates are at the alert, quietly reacting to inaudible sounds.]
[Stoick crosses to the stern of the ship and grabs the tiller moving the helmsman out of the way.]
Stoick:
Step aside.
[Stoick pulls the ship into a turn, covertly following Toothless' head movements.]
[The ship barely misses a jagged outcrop that suddenly appears out of the soupy fog.]
Viking:
Bear to port.
[The order is called out from ship to ship.]
[CRUNCH! The bow barely makes it past another sea stack. Stoick continues to follow Toothless' cues, undeterred.]
Alya: Bad idea to go with that huge dragon.
FT: No way. That's where all that action will be. I definitely wanted to go. It was far more exciting than staying on Berk.
They continued to watch confused.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS – DAY
[Hiccup raises the bolt on the Monstrous Nightmare's pen.]
Fishlegs:
If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle.
[Hiccup turns to see his fellow recruits, watching him with folded arms. Tuffnut steps forward with a scowl.]
Hiccup: How and why are they there?
FH: Astrid threatened them with her axe.
Snotlout: Classic Astrid.
They continued to watch.
Tuffnut:
You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon. (Beat) It's me.
Hiccup:
Uh…
Snotlout:
I love this plan.
Hiccup: You didn't even know the plan.
Hiccup:
I didn't…
Ruffnut:
You're crazy. (Sultry) I like that.
Astrid:
So? What is the plan?
[Hiccup smiles, glowing in the support of his friends.]
FR: Something awesome! That almost gets everyone killed.
Everyone didn't know what to say to that.
EXT. FOGGY SEA – DAY
[The ships follow in line through the gauntlet of rocks as orders are whispered from ship to ship.]
[A dragon head looms out of the fog. The men recoil… only to discover that it's a wrecked ship, impaled high on a gnarled sea stack.]
Gobber:
Ah. I was wondering where that went.
[A clicking buzz becomes audible, growing louder. It fills the sky, converging in one general direction. Stoick sniffs the air.]
Stoick:
Stay low and ready your weapons.
Nino: There's no way a weapon is going to work on that thing.
Hiccup: Obviously.
[Stoick's ship suddenly jerks to a halt as the keel burrows into shallow black sand.]
[They flinch, before paling at the next image. They'd arrived. Stoick hops overboard, landing on a sprawling beach. The buzzing suddenly stops. Above him, a craggy volcano towers into the gloom.
Stoick:
We're here.
[Behind him, several dragon-headed bows pierce the fog.]
Marinette: I wouldn't want to be there.
Hiccup: That's what I was trying to say.
They continued to watch.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS – RING – DAY
[Hiccup steps back from the door, drawing the Monstrous Nightmare out of its cave. It snorts, stepping into the ring, calmed by Hiccup's outstretched hand – focused on him.]
[ON THE TEENS… bewildered, in awe.]
[Snotlout nervously reaches for a spear laying near his foot. Astrid stops him.]
Astrid:
Uh-uh.
FA: And you wouldn't have Hookfang today if you tried to kill him.
FS: Shut-up, Astrid.
[Hiccup slows to a stop in front of the teens, with the Nightmare inches from his outstretched hand.]
[He reaches over and grabs Snotlout's trembling hand.]
Snotlout:
Wait! What are you…
Hiccup:
Relax. It's okay… it's okay.
[Hiccup replaces his outstretched hand with Snotlout's, putting him in control of the massive beast. The Nightmare snorts, but remains calm. Snotlout, by contrast, chuckles nervously – it's at once terrifying and amazing.]
[The others watch, spellbound. Hiccup turns and walks away.]
Snotlout:
Where are you going?!
Hiccup:
You're going to need something to help you hold on.
[The teens eye each other apprehensively, and look up to reveal…]
[ALL THE DRAGONS standing in the ring, facing the teens expectantly.]
Eliza: That is how you all get your dragons. Moving on...
Everyone was bewildered but watched on.
EXT. DRAGON ISLAND – DAY
CLOSE ON
[Tree trunks, being sharpened and planted into the sand at angled rows.]
[Boulders being loaded into catapult baskets. And a war plan being scratched in the sand.]
[Stoick looms over it, looking determined. His generals are at his sides.]
Stoick:
When we crack this mountain open, all hell is going to break loose.
Gobber:
In my undies. Good thing I brought extras.
There was another chorus of 'eewss'.
Snotlout: Gobster. What is with-
FH and PH: NOOO!
Hiccup: I still have nightmares.
Everyone was baffled but continued to watch.
[Stoick turns to face the men.]
Stoick:
No matter how this ends, it ends today.
[He walks toward the base of the volcano wall, back by several hundred warriors. He raises his arm and drops it.]
[A line of catapults unleash their two-ton loads into the cliff wall. It cracks and flakes away.]
[Several more hits tear away at the hollow shell of hardened lava.]
[A final boulder shatters the fractured wall, creating a deep, dark opening to the cavern within.]
[Silence. Stoick raises his hand, makes a gesture. A flaming bushel is launched into the dark, lighting the wall… CHOKED WITH DRAGONS.]
[Stoick pulls his hammer and rushes into the cave, brazen.]
[Stoick war cries and slashing efforts.]
[In a chaotic flurry, the dragons suddenly rush out like bats from a cave. The take to the air, bypassing the axe-swinging Vikings and fleeing the island in a mass exodus.]
[The battle-ready Vikings drop their weapons, confused.]
Gobber:
Is that it?
Alya: Not even close.
[Above the island, dragons pour from every crevice, fleeing to the sky. The sound of screeching dragons fades.]
[Vikings cheering as one.]
Spitelout:
We've done it!
[Stoick doesn't celebrate. Something is not right. He hears something. Stoick turns to peer down the dark throat of the cavern.]
[A deep, rumbling roar echoes from the cavern. The ground underfoot trembles. The ships rock. Their sails fill with a blast of air.]
[The cheering stops. Stoick's expression sinks.]
Stoick:
This isn't over. Form your ranks! Hold together!
[The men scramble to organize themselves.]
Stoic:
Get clear!
[The ground cracks. Stone tears away, cascading like an avalanche. And through the settling debris, the silhouette of a gargantuan dragon emerges – THE RED DEATH. Stirred and furious.]
Gobber:
Beard of Thor… what is that?
FT: RED DEATH TIME!
Everyone was a little on edge at Tuffnut's excitement knowing they find danger a thrill.
Stoick:
Odin help us. Catapults!
Marinette: No kidding. That thing is the size of a mountain.
Everyone was wondering how they get out of this alive.
[The Vikings score direct hits. The burning stones bounce off the dragon's skin. The Red Death focuses on the catapults. It crushes the first one- smashing it and its crew, rattling the beach underfoot.]
[Stoick races toward the second catapult. He leaps and pushes a Viking out of the way just before the dragon crushes him under his forepaw.]
[The Vikings scramble in all directions.]
Viking #3:
Get to the ships!
Stoick:
No! NO!
[The Red Death blasts the ships like a mile-long flamethrower. The sails are torched. Vikings dive overboard and masts come down.]
[Gobber joins Stoick.]
Gobber:
Heh. Smart, that one.
Danny: That isn't good.
Hiccup: Nope.
Tuffnut: But it makes it more interesting.
[Stoick looks up and down the beach for an answer.]
Stoick:
I was a fool.
Alya: No joke.
Marinette: Says the one that follows Akumas.
Alya: Hey, Ladybug and Chat Noir saves the day.
Sam: You rely on a ladybug and a black cat to save the day?
Eliza: You'll see. Back to the show.
[The monster raises its head to the sky and bellows. The sound shakes the beach, knocking Vikings off their feet. This island is his.]
[Stoick stops a Viking General.]
Stoick:
Lead the men to the far side of the island.
Spitelout:
Right. (Turns to the others) Everybody to the far side of the island!
[The Vikings scatter into the rocks like ants. Satisfied with the ships destruction, the Red Death turns its attention back to the Vikings. They seem to have vanished. It sniffs the air, searching for their scent.]
[Gobber drops in beside Stoick, like two soldiers in a trench. Fire blasts overhead, causing them to duck.]
Stoick:
Gobber, go with the men.
Gobber:
I think I'll stay, just in case you're thinking of doing something crazy.
[Stoick grabs him.]
Stoick:
I can buy them a few minutes if I give that thing someone to hunt.
[Gobber removes Stoick's hand. Clenches his forearm, determined.]
Gobber:
Then I can double that time.
Marinette: You people are crazy.
Snotlout: We live for the battle. If we die in battle, it is honor.
They were a little freaked out but continued to watch.
[Stoick grins. Friends to the bitter end. They break cover and dash into the open, splitting up. Stoick rips a sharpened post from the ground and hurls it into the monster's face.]
Stoick:
HERE!
Gobber:
NO, HERE!
[It spots both of them. He fuels up to fire, glancing back and forth between the two men. He focuses on Stoick.]
Gobber:
Come on! Fight me!
Stoick:
No, me!
[The Red Death remains focused on Stoick – this is it. It rears back and inhales. Gas begins to amass, when…]
[KABLAM! A BLAST explodes against the back of the Red Death's head. It turns distracted, as…]
Sarah: FINALLY!
Everyone was taken back by her excitement.
Sarah: The true Hiccup under his sarcasm has arrived.
They were really confused.
WHOSE READY FOR A FIGHT?!