[hides behind a shield]
Hey guys,
so sorry for not updating last week. I don't have any excuses, I just didn't take the time to write this, I was too focused on work and another story. Maybe I also wanted to delay the end of The Lost Boy… Anyway, no more waiting, here is the last chapter.
Love and scales.
Homecoming 5
(after Book 4)
The curtain opened on a mostly empty stage. There was only two trees as a set, with a view on New Berk in the background.
All the vikings of the village, with a few dragons roaming around, were gathered to watch the pageant. A lot of them were still a bit tired from Black Plague Friday, but still they came.
In the diming lights of dusk, lantherns had been scattered in the streets and around the stage, adding soft yellow glows. Once the musicians started to play, vikings applauded in anticipation, the children in first rows bouncing excitedly.
Among the spectators was the chief's family. Elska was chatting with Olgarg with an excited Alwine on her knees, smiling broadly with her eyes fixed on the stage. An equally excited but half-asleep Haldrik in Gorefrid's arms was trying not to doze off. On her part, Zephyr was blased, just waiting for the show to begin next ot her father. Eret was amused and trying to cheer her up, but nothing could changer the young girl's mind for now. Pretty much everyone was curious about the new pageant, while Hiccup dreaded it. Tuffnut playing the role of his teen self was sure to be a punch in his ego, but Gobber playing Stoick ? It could be either barely correct, or devastatingly catatrophic. With the help of Astrid and Joke, he was keeping an eye on the act from the backstage.
The actors entered the stage, blinded by the light shining on them thanks to Hoark's trick with his shield and a few candles. The costumes were a bit… creative, to say the least. Tuffnut looked like a overgrown teen Hiccup with a bouquet of sticks as a hat, and blond dreadlocks not even hidden. As to Gobber, Hiccup had to admit using painted broomsticks to try and impersonate the huge red beard was not a bad idea, but a tomato for the nose ? Seriously ?
The chief tried to shake off these thoughts and focus on the show, though he knew his character was going to be belittled. Well, at least it was not so far from what he had known when he was a teen, but this show was surely going to depict him as worst than a talking fishbone, especially if Stoick was to be the hero of this story.
Gobber opened his mouth and started the show. His accent was not so bad, but his voice lacked the booming sound Stoick used to have.
''Hiccup, today is the day everything changes. I have tamed a dragon !''
The real Hiccup tried all his might not to roll his eyes, and dreaded Tuffnut's retort. Well, he dreaded Tuffnut's impersonation of him, but thinking the actor would not actually act was not expected. Indeed, the blond viking bent a bit to litterally read the text Snotlout was showing them from a hidden spot on the stage's floor. It was only meant as a reminder if the actors happened to forget their line, but Tuffnut was squinting to read it. No emotion in his voice, slightly hesitation as he couldn't see clearly.
''I am so tiny and afraid.''
People laughed in the crowd while Hiccup started to wipe his hands around.
''Wha-What is that ? That never happened !''
Astrid snickered and pushed his hand down.
''So ? Gobber took a few liberties.''
Indeed, this line was not in the script Hiccup had checked, or else he would have made sure it was removed. While the show was going on, the kids infatuated in it and this funny picture of their father, Hiccup kept on whisper-complaining to his sister-in-law.
''I don't know, there were dragons everywhere, and people doubted me. Especially my own father. And then I stood my ground, and touched one. I touched a dragon. That's how it occured.''
''He got the spirit of the story.'' Astrid assured him. ''And that's what this pageant is about, isn't it ?''
Hiccup shrugged.
''Yeah, I guess so.''
''I'm still getting a word with Gobber later on.'' Joke murmured as he arrived with Lumiverse. ''He pushed the joke a bit too far.''
''Hiccup,'' Stoick (Gobber) claimed. ''You are weak and fear dragons. I am strong and understand them.
''I… I don't know if I want to go through with this…'' The cheif hesitated.
Joke was about to try and cheer him up, reminding him why they were doing this, but Astrid used her own ways to convince him : harsh and not-letting-you-time-to-say-no. She walked to her brother and helped him push Limuverse towards the stage.
''You're on !'' She said.
The Light Fury grumbled a bit to the push but calmed down as Joke softly patted her side, gently prompting her.
''You're good, princess.''
She shook her head and started to walk towards the stage. At the beginning, they had decided to let Toothless impersonate himself for the show, but Black Plague Friday wame by and the Night Fury had been so sick he was not in condition to perform anything. The poor dragon was resting at the shed, surrounded by two of his hatchlings since the others were glued to the Haddock-Storm kids. So Lumiverse ended up getting the rôle of the Night Fury, ending up painted head to toes in black.
Painting her had taken almost the whole day as she didn't like the scent of the paint, but in the end the twins' prank on Hiccup a few days ago proved useful : mixing paint with dragon nip was actually efficient to convince Lumiverse.
Joke kept an eye on her as she entered spotlight. He knew she could become nervous when having too much attention on her, that's why the stage team was ready to water a fire. Well, Fishlegs and Ruffnut could have been ready if they were not too focused on each other and kissing every minute. One could have thought they would have calm down after ten years of mariage and four kids, but they were still as lovestruck as the first day.
Everyone in the public held their breath as Lumiverse stepped in. Seeing the Light Fury all painted in black was kind of surprising, earning her some giggles from the kids. Her ears fell flat against her skull and she grumbled, but Joke adressed her whispers formt he backstage to keep her cool.
''There he is !'' Stoick (Gobber) explained, gesturing to the dragon. ''The Night Fury !''
Lumiverse rolled her eyes and stood on her hinder legs, opening wide her now-black wings for show. She was welcomed with more cheers than the actors, filling her with pride but unease at the same time. While spectators were clapping, Gobber and Tuffnut watched, until the black-smith started to sob.
''This pageant is bringing up so many memories ! Stoick would have loved this ! The only thing vast in his presence was his capacity of mirth !''
Since he was sobbing uncontrollably, he swiftly went to the curtain and blew his nose in it, or rather his costume's nose. He blew so hard the nose and the beard dropped, pushing a torch and starting a fire in the curtain. At first, nobody noticed, and the show went on with Tuffnut's tirade.
''Well, father, I will remember your wise words. Hiccup, you can be a giant. But face thy enemies with care-''
He was suddenly cut as Snotlout spotted the fire and stood out of his hiding spot. Everyone was puzzled by this, so the actors tried to continue without him, thought Tuffnut had really forgotten most of his lines, and resumed reading the notes from his black-haired friend.
''Huh Hiccup, you can be a giant… buttface.''
In the backstage, Snoutlout was trying to contain the fire but it had spread more than he had anticipated. Fishlegs and Astrid soon joined him while Joke entered the stage to try and sooth Lumiverse's growing panic. While Tuffnut st arted to repeat the same line, competely oblivious of the upcoming disaster, Gobber tried to reassure the public.
''Don't panic, it's just part of the show !''
The buckets of water Fishlegs and Ruffnut had prepared quickly got used by the fire was too strong. The staff panicked, the flames spread, the roof of the stage collapsed. The spectators started to panick too, and soon everyone was running to get water, until dragons came to the rescue. Fiery and his mate flew above the stage and spat ice on it, efficiently putting out the fire, but also freezing the stage in odd shapes.
Well, at least the panick soothed and the show could resume, though a lot of vikings were shaken. They were expecting a quiet, entertaining pageant, not a heart attack, but after a few moment they found it funny. Gobber tried to calm down his racing heart and used the ice dragon's intervention for a little improvisation, wanting to make it look like everything had been planned.
''See, Hiccup ? I told you, I udnerstand dragons ! I tamed them !''
Much to his delight, the crowd believed it and cheered. Among the smoke made by the incident, now invading the remains of the stage, Joke gently pushed Lumiverse. Her silhouette was barely visible for the vikings, making her even more impressive, mysterious, dangerous. Without meaning it, the stage team managed to make the perfect representation of what the dragons meant to them back during the war.
Tuffnut having fled from the stage, there was only Gobber and Lumiverse left, only 'Stoick' and 'Toothless', ad this was the final. The moment everything changed for both vikings and dragons.
''Greetings, magnificient creature. Will you allow Stoick to tame you with his gentle touch ?''
Using his fake hand, he extended his arm towards the Light Fury in disguise, mimicking Hiccup's first contact with his dragon best friend. Not thrilled by the wooden hand, Lumiverse huffed and was about to decline, ruining the pageant, but then she saw her hatchlings in the crowd.
Wide eyed, excited, Daylight, Moonshine and Midnight convinced her to play along. Her whole face soften, adding to the act, and then she gently pressed her snout against the wooden palm. Aws and cheers rose from the crowd.
''Let man and dragon be forever bounded'' Gobber claimed. ''in trust and love !''
This was the end of the pageant, and Hiccup had to admit that, despite the fire incident, it had went better than he was expecting. Surely Gobber teased him a bit too much, but in the end, the people of New Berk liked it, and that was more important. Looking at the crowd, he even saw a few kids mimicking the hand gesture with their dragon or viking friends.
Even Zephyr was pleased, and it was a deed seeing of blased she was at first. Haldrik was the more excited of them three, so much he wanted to try and fly with Moonshine. That ended up by his sliding from her back as she barely started to walk, making his sister and cousin guffaw.
Alwine left the group and circled the stage so she could reach the mess of the backstage. In the smoke, she spotted her aunt and fathers with their friends already cleaning up, while Lumiverse was trying to wipe the paint by rubbing her back against a burnt beam.
''Hey, Dad ? Daddy ?'' The girl called.
''Hey Awie,'' Joke smiled. ''How was the show ?''
''It was so cool ! And Lumi's so cute in black.''
The dragon snorted at that and grumbled. The vikigns laughed at that, then Hiccup approached his daughter and crouched in front of her.
''So… Still thinking your grandad hated dragons ?''
''No, and I'm sorry I didn't believe you.''
''It's okay, sweetheart. Come here.''
She smiled and hugged him, before she decided to help them clean up the mess.
It was one of these fresh and peaceful nights the berkians loved so much on their new island. Snoggletog lights were glowing in the dark, stars shining in the sky, wind soflt blowing. Some chorus could be heard, and countless laughter and chatting from the center place fo the village, while the Haddock-Storm family and their friends were heading towards the chief's hutt for their Snoggletog gathering meal.
On their way, they stopped in front of Stoick's statue, where they saw a group of teens hoisting a leaf crown around the stone neck in sign of respect. Gobber sighed in content, this was the complete opposite of what he had witnesses a few days prior, and it was heartwarming.
''I'm Stoick the Vast !'' Zephyr played, puffing her chest and talking in a deep voice.
''And I'm Toothless !'' Alwine added while pushing her head against her cousin's hand. ''Let's be friend !''
''Looks like the pageant worked.'' Joke teased.
''You were right.'' Hiccup smiled. ''It was exactly what everyone needed. For the kids, and for the memory of my father.''
The healer smiled and took his husband's hand, before they both turned towards the black-smith.
''Gobber, you have well honored my father and yor friend.''
''It was my deepest privilege to do so. Thank you, Hiccup.''
They smiled at each other, until Joke pointed a finger to him and added ''Just, next time try to go easier on my husband, okay ?''
''I make no promises.'' The black-smith said while lifting his hands – well, hand.
''Anyway !'' Snotlout all but yelled. ''Enough with the hearty chit-chat, where's the food ?''
''Yeah, I'm starving !'' Tuffnut added.
The whole group went on towards the hutt. They were so many Joke had planed to settle them all in the living room, hoping there was enough space. Gobber offered to cook one of his sheep staw everyone loved, including dragons, but as the black-smith stepped on the front stoop of the house, Alwine grabbed his arm to stop him.
''Wait, Gobber !''
She stole her brother's helmet and threw it in front of them, and tha triggered the traps she had hidden there.
A mace fell on the helmet, crounching it, before two arrows stombed a inch farther. Gobber laughed at that.
''Hey, that was clever !''
''So proud.'' Hiccup mused out loud, while Joke snickered and squeezed his arm.
Everyone entered the hutt, filling the living room. While Gobber started to cook, with the help of Joke and Elska, the kids and dragons scattered all around the house to play. The chief's hutt was one of the biggest of the island because it was built to let the Fury family stay whenever they visited, and it proved useful to welcome all the dragon riders' families.
Snotlout and Vikka with their kids Igvid and Sneezelout. Fishlegs and Ruffnut with their kids Fishnut, Huffnut, Nutlegs and Birdlegs. Tuffnut and Nadda with their sons Dart, Fart and Bart. Astrid and Eret with Zephyr. Hiccup, Joke and their kids Alwine and Haldrik. Gorefrid, Olgarg, Elska and Gobber. The Fury family with their five Night Lights, Meatlug and her four Gronckles babies.
Even if Stoick had left a hole behind him, a hole nothing could refill, Hiccup had learnt that he was not alone. He still had a family, he had started another one with Joke, realised dragons were also part of this family. And now, during Snoggletog, he realised his friends were also part of this family. With this many people in his house, he was certain that he would never be alone.
Looking back at his past, Hiccup remembered how he had felt when he had fred Toothless instead of killing him like viking standards and traditions were telling him too.
What he had thought as a sign of weakness had proven to be an act of courage. Who could have known making friend with the enemy would have changed everything for the better ? Well, teen Hiccup couldn't, and he was sure he would have never believed it if someone had told him.
And that's what makes it so special. Because it was risky, unpredictable, and so beautiful.
He would have never changed this story. Not one line.
THE END