Chapter 63. Funeral of a Warrior

EXT. DRAGON MOUNTAIN - LAGOON - DUSK

The flash of the screen starting to move again pulled everyone away from the touching moment between father and son, focussing back on their imminent future.

[A KEEL grinds against the shoreline pebbles as a listing, battered ship is pushed into the still iceberg-filled lagoon.]

GOBBER: May the Valkyries welcome you, and lead you through Odin's great battlefield. May they sing your name with love and fury, so that we might hear it rise from the heights of Valhalla... and know that you've taken your rightful place at the table of kings.

Tears stung at Stoick, Valka, and H's younger Toothless settled for the dragon equivalent.

As for Hicc and Hiccup.

"Oh God," Hicc said, his voice breaking slightly.

"I can't watch this." Hiccup added for him.

Seeing the two older versions of the boy's distress, Ast and Astrid both reached over to either of them and hesitantly touched each of them in their arms in reassurance.

Both looked up to see each of their Astrids giving either of them a tentative smile, which they both returned, with a wobbly smile of their own.

As for Gen Hofferson she and Chief Hiccup both Hugged each other at the tragic memory.

While Chieftess Astrid and Older Hiccup along with their kids cuddle closed together.

[Bows and pitch-dipped arrows are gathered from the battlefield. Gobber hands a set to Hiccup, meeting his eyes with a sympathetic glance.]

Sniffles could be heard throughout the hall, everyone bowing their heads in respect for the chief. Stoick found this very odd, to be watching his own funeral. He was touched by Gobber's speech, and the respect of his tribe.

"What are you doing?" Asked Hiro. This wasn't what he was used to.

"You'll find out." Replied H, sadly.

GOBBER: For a great man has fallen. A warrior. A chieftain. A father. A friend.

[Hiccup dips his arrowhead in a smoldering chunk of wreckage, igniting the pitch that coats the tip. He releases his arrow, which sails through the air and lands on the deck of the ship, where Stoick is laid out on a pyre, covered by a sail, his helmet upon his chest. The others follow Hiccup's lead. They DRAW BACK in unison and LOOSE their arrows, filling the sky with crisscrossing, flaming streaks. They arc over the lagoon and set the ship alight. ON HICCUP, fighting back emotion and losing the battle.]

Stoick hugged his son tighter. H, finally let go of Toothless and the six (Younger Astrid, The Haddocks, Stormfly, Toothless and Cloudjumper) went into a group hug. The Vikings, in a rare show of emotion, were wiping tears from their eyes.

HICCUP: I'm sorry, Dad.

Older Hiccup's lip wobbled as he recalled how he felt delivering the speech he knew he was about to give. Almost mimicking her younger counterpart exactly, Chieftess Astrid gently caressed his arm to comfort him, and leaned her head on his shoulder.

[He eyes the engulfed ship.]

Many of the Vikings and guests wiped their tears away, though new ones quickly replaced them.

HICCUP: I'm not the chief that you wanted me to be. And I'm not the peacekeeper I thought I was. I don't know…

The village of old Berk couldn't help but feel for the kid. After all, he had just reunited his family with such hope, only to have it ripped away from him, seemingly taking his identity with it. But then Stoick reassured him.

"Son, you'll know that I never gave up on you? Even when you nearly destroyed the village!" Reassured Stoick.

"I do now!" H, answered with a small smile.

The Older Hiccups of course smile at this as well after Stoick look at them as well.

[Valka watches him, her heart breaking. She steps forward.]

VALKA: You came early into this world. You were such a wee thing. So frail, so fragile. I feared you wouldn't make it

[Hiccup lowers his eyes, but Valka lifts his chin.]

VALKA: But your father... he never doubted. He always said you'd become the strongest of them all.

H, gave Stoick a surprised glance. His father nodded proudly. Though while also remembering how small Hiccup was as a baby, and the worry that plagued him night and day, until Gothi confirmed that she thought Hiccup would survive.

(BEAT)

And he was right.

Everyone cheered him on (besides the obvious). Valka and Stoick hugged their son tighter. For once, S, Snot and Legs all didn't have a patronizing comment ready.

(BEAT)

You have the heart of a chief and the soul of a dragon. Only you can bring our worlds together. That is who you are, son.

H, Hicc and Hiccup all beamed under the praise, even through their tears.

Chief and Older Hiccup both also looked proud remembering the exact same words as their own Mother described either of them in their own timeline during this tragic Event.

[Hiccup meets her bolstering stare. He turns to the ship and watches it in silence, silhouetted in its glow.]

HICCUP: I was so afraid of becoming my dad. Mostly because I thought I never could. How do you become someone that great? That brave? That selfless?

"You already are," Remarked Younger Astrid and Ast nodded at this.

"And don't try to tell yourself otherwise." Scoff Ast causing both H and Hicc nodded.

As for Stoick his eyes became wet with tears as he regarded his son with such love, and that Hiccup found new tears prickling the backs of his eyes, moved by his father's rare display of love for him.

(BEAT)

I guess you can only try.

"Hiccup?"

"Yes, Dad?" Were answered by the Hiccups.

"Son/s, you're a good leader, because you already are. And I'm proud to call you my son!"

"Thanks dad!" Exclaimed the Hiccups all proudly.

HICCUP: (to the others) A chief protects his own. We're going back.

The loud cheers died down when they realised he couldn't.

"Ah wait, with what exactly?" Anna asks but Chief Hiccup and Older Hiccup grinned at her.

"You'll find out." Replied Chief Hiccup.

TUFFNUT: Uh, with what?

RUFFNUT: He took all the dragons.

HICCUP: Not all of them.

There were many confused faces in the audience but then Tadashi laughed. "Called it! The babies!"