It was night, and everyone was still practising for the Festival tomorrow, making sure that everything was perfect.
"We have to get out of the gym soon, but we should have enough time for one more run full," said Dogsbreath.
Ruffnut began clapping at the dance team. "Look alive, and 1 and 2 and 3, and 1 and 3 and 3, and pose! Then Olaf goes to the centre!"
"I was scared that we were going to seem like amateurs, but things are looking good," said Tuffnut. "The band and dance teams are stepping up their games and putting in the work. Guess it helps, and my sister is a mirthless coach."
"Yeah, dancing is her thing, so she is taking this seriously," Dogsbreath agreed. "Though I think Snotlout fired everyone up and not just the band members."
"I admit I'm getting a little nervous," said Heather.
"Hey, don't improvise during the actual concert," said Ingrid looking at Snotlout.
"Huh?" he said.
"It's just not everyone can keep up with you."
"Why do you have to drag me like that, Ingrid?" said Clueless.
"I don't think she's the only one she's talking to," said Ragnar.
Astrid looked more nervous than anyone else. "I hope that the song is good, I don't wanna make up for myself out there."
"At least you'll be in good company," Hiccup smiled.
Astrid shook her head. "You're not helping."
Hiccup placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her. "You're going to be great, you don't need to worry."
The door then suddenly burst open, and Bloodhound stepped in, he certainly looked like a wild beast and even had a muzzle over his mouth.
"It's already 9 o'clock!" he roared. "Students should have already cleared out of the gym by now!"
"Crap, let's beat it," said Dogsbreath.
They grabbed everything and immediately ran out of the gym as quickly as they could. In the next 24 hours, the School Festival would begin and so with their concert.
It was 11:35 and most of the Class 1-A was still wide awake.
"I can't sleep!" Clueless yelled enthusiastically.
"Yeah, right! I'm super excited!" said Agnar, and the two of them began dancing around.
"Not so loud, people are sleeping upstairs," said Ruffnut.
"I just hope the audience will be that enthusiastic," said Speedfist.
"It probably best if we don't think about it very much," said Ingrid looking slightly nervous. "Being embarrassed, worried about what others are thinking? That will kill our vibe, we should focus on having fun that what really matters."
"Yeah, says the girl who was super scared to be part of the band," said Clueless.
"Shut up that was a totally different situation," Ingrid snapped.
"What Ingrid said is good advise for more than just the performance," said Hiccup as he began checking for all their gear.
"Oui," Olaf nodded as he assisted him. "When you try to make others feel good, you end up grazing your own spirits too."
"Exactly," said Hiccup and when he examined the role, he saw that it was frayed. "This rope is so frayed."
"Mon Dieu, we must put it through such abuse in practice," said Olaf.
"And now it doesn't meet the safety guidelines," said Hiccup.
"Don't sweat it. I'm sure Ashley would make a new one for you," said Clueless.
"Astrid is in bed already," Ruffnut pointed out. "Don't treat her like a personal factory."
"But people use me as a phone charger on the regular," Clueless grumbled.
"Because men don't get no respect," said Agnar.
"I think it would be better if I go to the hardware store and buying new in the morning," said Hiccup. "I'm an early training anyway so might as well kill two birds with one stone."
"Yeah, but the performance is at 10 tomorrow, and most places don't open until nine," said Clueless.
"Lucky for us that the hardware store in town that about 15 minutes away opens at 8 AM," said Hiccup.
"Still cutting it pretty close, dude."
Ruffnut then rose to her feet. "Well, good night I really should be getting to sleep."
"Before you do how about we night owls make one final promise to do our best?" Dogsbreath suggested. "We're going to pull this off and rock everyone in Berk!"
"Yeah!" they all cheered.
It was 6:30 in the morning and Hiccup was busy training in the forest. He was still trying to master his long-range attack, using all the lessons he learned.
'Channel 8% through my entire body and then switch to 20% for a single moment when I flick,' he said to himself.
Before he could do just that he heard rustling in the nearby bushes.
"There you are, Hiccup," said Sigrid covered in dirt and looked as if she hadn't been sleeping for a week. "I knew you'd be here!"
"Sigrid?" Hiccup stared. "Are you okay?"
"Ignore the dark circles and grime, I knew that I would find your training even though it's the big day," she said and then pulled out a pair of black gauntlets. "I've got the gauntlets you asked for, so I came to deliver them in person."
"Wow, these are so cool," said Hiccup as he grabbed them. "Thank you so much, though you could have waited until after the Festival."
"When it's over I'm going to sleep 36 hours," she said as he placed one of the gauntlets on.
"Can I take a look?" Stoick asked.
"Sure," said Hiccup handing him one of the gauntlets.
Stoick was rather impressed, the gear that he tried on in the past was like a full bodysuit. "Support items can be so compact these days it's crazy."
"The gauntlets should also complement the rest of your costume because you see a good designer is able to satisfy the client in one go," said Sigrid. "So when you think of them?"
Stoick handed Hiccup the gauntlet, and he placed it on. "I love them, seriously they're awesome. They should definitely help with my new moves."
"Is the manual," said Sigrid handing him the manual and then quickly zoomed off. "See ya!"
"Thanks again, and good luck today!" Hiccup yelled after her.
"How about we give them a trial run," Stoick suggested.
Hiccup nodded.
It was soon 7:50 and Hiccup was rushing down the Plaza as quickly as he could.
'Not good, it took a while to get used to the gauntlets, so I ended up practising for too long,' he said. 'I was hoping they would sell rope at the convenience store, but I guess it's more the speciality item. The clocks ticking, I need a hurry!'
It was an 8:15 when Hiccup reached the hardware store and quickly got some rope, he just exited the store in order to make his way back to Berk.
'Mission accomplished, I should have time to make it back,' he said, looking at his watch, which told him it was 8:30.
He was such a rush that he failed to notice two people in coats appear just around the corner. He almost collided into them, but he Solomon last-second and quickly jumped back. The two of them were, in fact, Gentle and La Brava, who were beginning to make their way to Berk themselves.
"Dear me," said Gentle.
"Sorry," said Hiccup.
"Do be careful, your most in the aftertaste of the Golden Tips Imperial," Gentle chastised. "A travesty that I would not be able to ignore."
He then grimaced under his scarf. 'Drat, he caught me off-guard. Not good, why did I open my mouth? I must avoid all contact en route to the school.'
He then looked down at La Brava, who is pretending to be wife. "Come, let us go La—honey."
"Honey?" La Brava frowned and then realised he was referring to her. "Oh, yes, that's me."
Without the two of them began making their way down the street and Hiccup frowned. 'Did he say Gold Tips? Wait that's the fancy tea that Jeeves made for us.' His eyes then turned to the small house, and it soon dawned on him that it was not a house. "Interesting, if he just had tea, then I guess that houses some kind of café."
Gentle heard and quickly turned his head, and La Brava grimaced.
'Gentle,' she said.
The Gentle then approached Hiccup joyously. "You must be familiar with Gold Tips Imperial if you have this realisation. You're obviously a boy of refined tastes, always a pleasure to meet a fellow connoisseur even if you are just a lad."
Hiccup was entirely sure how to respond. "Well, I don't really know that much. My robot butler made that he for us recently, that's all." He then frowned slightly as he recognised his voice. 'I feel like I've heard this voice before.'
"Oh, you must run with high-class circles," said Gentle and soon realise that he was making a mistake. 'Which suggests that he goes to an elite school.' There wasn't that many elite schools in Berk and obviously the most famous one was the Hero Academy. "You have a skilled butler." He tried to maintain his composure. 'Oh, no.'
"Yes, I'm lucky that he looked after me and my classmates," said Hiccup looking at him suspiciously. 'Wait a minute…'
"How delightful to hear, young man," said Gentle tried to hide the anxiousness in his voice. 'This child is one from the Academy.'
Hiccup recognised his voice. 'That voice… the tea.' He remembered that Astrid mentioned that he was super rare, and it was delicious.
He then remembered the bid you will Gentle Criminal that he saw last night. "When I am preparing my personal kettle, I select a tea that correlates with the size of my current job. Be sure to stay in tune in. My next video will be an alarm not to just my people viewers but to all of society."
"Now if you pardon me," said Gentle as he turned around. 'Excitement got the better of me, such as the subduction of fine tea. Now us with exit.'
Hiccup realised his identity. "Tell me something!" Gentle linking to complete stop his heart pounding. "That he was part of your ritual, right?"
La Brava knew that the cover was blown and looked up at Gentle. 'You can't blame yourself Gentle, it could be helped. And now…'
'It's too late,' they said in unison.
Hiccup placed his bag down on the ground, he knew that the moment an alarm was sounded at Berk, even if it was a drill, the Festival will be cancelled. It wouldn't just be devastating for his classmates, but for the rest of the school and more importantly, Ariel and he couldn't let that happen.
"Ritual?" said Gentle as he slowly turned around. "Whatever do you mean?"
"I saw your video," said Hiccup.
Gentle removed his scarf and glasses. "La Brava, it's time to bring out the camera."
"I won't let you do this," said Hiccup defiantly. "I don't care what you have planned, I won't let you near my school!"
"Well, aren't you a perceptive young man," said Gentle.
La Brava looked at Hiccup and recognised him from somewhere. 'Wait, do I know him?'
Hiccup began thinking of his options. 'Saturday morning, no people around, no hero agencies near Berk so I can't expect backup, and I have no idea what this guy can do. If I can ask the cafe to call the police…' He then shook his head and began channelling his power for his body. 'No…'
"La Brava, there has been a slight change of plan," said Gentle. "For this moment on, no matter what, don't stop filming."
"Oh, I'm all over it, Gentle," she said, pulling out her camera. "But I you going to fight on the street? Right here? What about your master plan?"
"My dearest viewers, I believe it's time to give you a taste of my hijinks," said Gentle as he removed his coat and the air vibrated. "Try not to be so dazzled that you avert your eyes, as your favourite scandal shows off his talents. Gentle Criminal at your service." La Brava then removed her coat and continued filming. "My plans have shifted, due to our current predicament, I shall keep my words brief. For this caper, I will infiltrate Berk Hero Academy."
"So cool," said La Brava excitedly.
Hiccup wasn't as impressed. 'So, not cool?'
He then dashed towards Gentle. "I won't let that happen!"
Then suddenly he found himself colliding with something stretchy might some sort of trampoline.
"I conjured up this barrier as I cast off my overcoat," Gentle explained. "If you've seen my videos then you should already know that I have the power to make anything I touch elastic and I do mean anything, even the air itself. Now I bid you adieu."
Hiccup was then flung backwards by the elastic air and ended about 200 yards away from.
"By appal using violence to solve my problems," said Gentle, looking at the camera.
"Yeah," said La Brava, who was rather dumbfounded by how far Hiccup had been pushed back. "But that move was intense."
"I find myself completely confounded in this moment, La Brava darling," said Gentle equally as stunned. "His speed and power are starting an unexpected fall boy so young. Quite odd." The two of them then quickly dashed off as quickly as they could. "Sorry to cut and run, but the show must go on!"
"Don't apologise!" Hiccup yelled as he jumped back onto his feet and then dashed towards them. "Just stay away from my school!"
"Clever boy, but no such luck for you," said Gentle as he spun around and placed his palm on the street.
The moment Hiccup stepped onto the street, he was bounced off into the air like he was on a trampoline.
"When I was a student, I too worked hard to put on social events," said Gentle. "I'm sure that you have feelings invested in this Festival, but they cannot win against the desires of my soul. This scheme is a crucial step for me to become a legend. Be a dear, and stay out of my way."
Then both he and La Brava jumped off the pavement, and he began using his powers to create springboards within the air.
"Cheerio, lad, hope that you stick the landing," said Gentle as they bounced away.
La Brava looked at Hiccup and finally recognised him. "Hey, Gentle, I know what I've seen him before. That boy's name is Hiccup Haddock, he is the son of Skullcrusher and Technora, and he came in second place in the Thawfest Festival."
"By Jove, we better get out of here post-haste," said Gentle they continued bouncing off his springboards. "We'll carry out the plan before he alerted his peers."
He then turned and looked at the camera that La Brava was still holding.
"Hello my friends, the outrageous scheme that is currently in progress has now become a race against the clock," he said dramatically.
Hiccup was starting to fall back towards the ground, but he was not giving up. Gentle was right when he said that he had feelings for the Festival, but they were all for one purpose to make Ariel smile. He also couldn't let down his Class, all them had worked hard, and he was not going to let that hard work go to waste.
"Hiccup," said Ingrid one day in class. "You're always scribbling a ton of stuff down in your notebooks. I was hoping that you can explain how you organise your notes and highlight the important stuff, I write down way too much. Do you have any advice?"
Hiccup grabbed a notebook and began looking through it. "Advice from the band members? You came up with these lessons, I'm impressed."
"I hope everyone else feels the same way," she said, looking rather embarrassed. "When you guy convinced me that my music has a purpose, I've been enthusiastic. It's possible that I went a little overboard."
During one of their practice sessions, Snotlout began scolding Ragnar.
"Ragnar, I told you to strum like your life depends on it!" Snotlout snapped. "Do you really think you can destroy Berk's ears with weak ass rifts like that! Where is the grit?"
Ragnar looked at Ingrid. "Can you translate for him?"
"Sort of, check out lesson three," she said.
Ragnar did exactly that checking through her notebook, which was now easy to understand thanks to Hiccup giving her a few tips.
Back in the present, Hiccup was feeling his new gauntlets at Gentle and La Brava. It was a good thing that Sigrid deliver them this morning because in this kind of situation he needed a long-range attack.
"You're done, Gentle Criminal!" Hiccup yelled as he prepared to aim. 'I have to stop him. I wish I was on the ground, but I have to calm down, or else I'll mess up if I panic. I can't let them escape, I need to focus.'
Hiccup remember the dancing lessons Ruffnut had given him. 'No good, you're still not nailing it down Hiccup. As you move, you've got to stay focused and in the moment.'
Hiccup took a deep breath and calmed down and remembered when he asked Sigrid to help him. 'So you want to weaponise wind pressure, huh?'
Hiccup nodded. 'I need more control with my blasts, especially from fighting in a city. True with my armour, I have several long-range attacks, but if I find myself in a situation without it, I have to use my super strength.'
Hiccup looked directly at Gentle and La Brava. 'The more types of attacks I have, the better.'
He then activated his gauntlets in the area around his wrists then expand. "Have a taste of this!"
He then flicked his finger on it by a concentrated blast which slammed into Gentle's back. The attack was strong enough to knock the wind out of them in catching completely by surprise.
"Some kind of wind cannon?" he stared.
"All right," said Hiccup.
"That's not enough to stop me," said Gentle as they continue to bounce around. "I will not be discouraged!"
Hiccup landing on a telephone pole and then jumped a great length closing the gap between the two of them. Gentle turned around just in time for Hiccup to grab him.
"I won't let you ruin this for my entire school!" Hiccup vowed.
"Dear boy, that's not your decision," said Gentle.
They then crashed into a nearby construction site with a huge crash.
"Gentle, no!" La Brava panicked.
An old man was walking close by when he noticed the crash, though we had no idea what caused it.
"Looks like something fishy is going on," he said.
"Nothing to see here, Mr," said La Brava as she lands a nearby rooftop. "We're just filming a little project. You think you can tell your neighbours to stay away too?" She was lying as she didn't want Lisle any nearby heroes involved. 'This fib is only going to buy a little time. I know you don't hear it Gentle, but at this point, it would be smart to retreat.'
Hiccup was rolling across the construction site, looking at his gauntlets as he did so. 'Thank you, Sigrid.'
"So currently you're shooting air forward in a wide arc that is hard to control," said Sigrid when he explained exactly what he wanted. "What you need something it one of my babies to help you fire off bullets of air so you can hit precise targets. I'm surprised you don't make it yourself."
"Since I'm so busy with the Festival, I don't really have time to come up with a plan, and I want it done as soon as possible. I know that you're busy with the Festival, but I also know that you have hundreds of different ideas flowing in that head of yours."
"True enough, I might have an idea already."
Hiccup skidded across the ground and managed to roll himself onto his feet. 'Thanks, Ruffnut, that extra dance practice is already coming in handy.'
He then began looking around for Gentle. "Where is he?"
"What an unexpected turn, this will do at all," said Gentle's voice. Hiccup turned around and found himself hanging from a beam from his waistcoat. "However, one must keep a sense of humour about such things mustn't one?"
"Isn't it about time to drop the act!" Hiccup snapped.
"My plan will be a smashing success, this is but a delay. Minor setbacks do not worry a gentleman."
'He's not giving up,' Hiccup grimaced. 'The Festival is still in danger.'
"Yes, that is the resolve of Gentle Criminal," said Gentle.
"You're no gentleman!" Hiccup yelled, pointing his finger that him. "I know that you're planning to do something to Berk Academy. What do you want with my school?"
"You would like to know my scheme, aw," Gentle smile.
La Brava was now making her way into the construction site.
"When is this going to be on TV? What channel?" the old man from earlier asked.
La Brava ignored him as her focus was more on Gentle as she jumped over the fence.
"Ruffian though I may be, I implore you not to confuse me of those bowel wretches from the League of Villains," said Gentle.
'Gentle! My beloved Gentle!' La Brava panicked as she ran up the steps.
"You see I have no palette of kidnapping or murder or any such rubbish," Gentle explained to Hiccup. "I simply wish to sneak into your School Festival's of the world knows that I am indeed a master criminal."
'Please…' La Brava pleaded. 'Do not let in defeat you.'
"Now kindly let me go," said Gentle just as she reached the top floor.
'He's pleading for his life?' she said.
"You have to know that the campus is on emergency alert, someone is bound to catch you before you sneak in which will set off all kinds of alarms," said Hiccup. "We would have to notify the police, the School Festival will be cancelled, and you'll end up in jail! So give up now!"
Gentle laughed. "I do not fear of being detected. My partner has devised an ingenious way of disabling every security sensor. Nothing will be cancelled, and my dastardly plan will be a success. It's a win-win situation, my boy."
"That's a win for you, but a disaster for us!"
"There are enough."
La Brava stared dumbfounded. 'A rhetorical defeat?'
"So, now you're aware of my nefarious scheme," said Gentle. "It's been fun chatting with you, but I best bid you goodbye and be on my way."
"I've already called the authorities! Stay put, the police and pro heroes will be here any minute now," Hiccup lied. 'Come on, come on, please let this bluff work.'
"I don't think so," said Gentle as he greeted an elastic platform beneath his feet. "While the aftertaste that he remains, I'll make certain that you cannot ruin my machinations!"
He then launched himself into the air and Hiccup quickly jumped after him, but he merely bounced off a beam shot off in the opposite direction. Hiccup landing on a steel girder and quickly raised his gauntlets.
'Protect your opponent's movements and…' Unfortunately Gentle was bouncing up the beams like springboards making it impossible to predict his movements. 'No, I can't. He's too fast.'
Despite this, he did attempt to fire an air bullet at him, and it really did look as if it was going to hit. However, at the last moment, Gentle created springboards himself in the air and spring to safety. Additionally, the air bullet bounced off the air springboard and collided with others across the construction site, you split seconds later it struck Hiccup in the shoulder.
Hiccup was dazed, but quickly recovered; however, he then noticed that all the beams with jiggling like they were made of jelly. 'What's happening to the beams?' He then saw Gentle landing on one of the beams. 'There he is!'
Gentle looked down at him. "I know your game now, but I can bounce your air bullet that easily!"
To prove his point, he created more air springboard and continue to bounce around. Hiccup couldn't get a clear shot, and even if he could, Gentle would simply bounce the bullet back at him as he did before.
"Gentle, I hate to say it, but maybe we should head back to base?" La Brava suggested.
"No, La Brava," said Gentle as he landed on a beam. "I'll prevail."
"Gotta catch him," said Hiccup as he dashed towards him.
The Gentle elasticated the bolts on the beam and began to pull them out. He then elasticated beam itself began bouncing up and down on it.
"Now, boy, do pay close attention to what I'm about to say," said Gentle. "By can't cancel the effects of my power, the things that I elasticised return to normal gradually over time. Imagine the structural integrity of this deal is effected by this unnatural bounce? Oh, did I mention that I for that it would be prudent to remove the bolts from the one that I'm standing upon? Just think if this beam should fall, that having it would wake on anything or anyone below."
Hiccup's eyes widened as he looked down and saw an old man looking up at them.
"Something is shaking up there," he said.
"You're a Berk student, yes?" said Gentle. The steel braces on the girder then snapped, and the beam began to fall towards the old man below. "If someone is in danger…" Hiccup quickly dashed forward and caught the beam. "… you'll save them."
Hiccup was now holding the beam with all his strength, but he was now trapped.
He glared down at Gentle. "Not a murderer, huh? You just try to kill that old man!"
"Not at all, I simply wanted to keep you occupied," Gentle explained. "I planned on bouncing the beam out of the way myself if you didn't step in for some reason."
"I look scary, this must be the big climax," said the old man and ran off.
"I thought that you would simply rush for the chap, I see that you really do have frightening rebels of speed and power," said Gentle as he walked off casually. "I hate to leave you under such a strain, but Stapleton bear the pain patiently." He then approached a crane and placed his hands upon it. "Help will arrive soon, and you will be saved. I shall be done filming at that point."
He then used his powers in order to investigate the crane and began pulling it towards him.
"Grab hold, La Brava," he said, looking at her.
"That harsh, Gentle. You're playing dirty," she said.
Hiccup felt utterly useless. 'No, this can't be how the fight ends!'
His eyes then turned towards Berk, and he knew that it was 8:45 and everyone was prepping for the Festival.
The band team were getting their instruments ready, and all them were wearing orange shirts with the words Berk Academy written on them with white letters.
"It's almost time," said Clueless frantically. "My nerves are killing me."
"Just take a few deep breaths," said Heather, equally as nervous. "Try and centre yourself, Clueless."
"Perhaps you should take your own advice," Ragnar suggested.
"We went through the trouble of having shirts made so put yours on Snotlout," said Ingrid.
The dance team were also putting their costumes on which were bright yellow. The boys have suits on while the girls were wearing skirts.
"These costumes are super cute, and all we did was dad up some dresses," said Ruffnut.
"If I can de-wrinkle it," said Helga fretting.
"Still super sexy!" said Agnar.
The special effects team were getting everything sorted.
"Hiccup still isn't here," Ranger noted.
"He went to buy rope earlier," said Olaf.
"But he should be back by now, right? It's odd."
"He'll be here," said Olaf confidently.
Gentle grabbed La Brava and pulled on the crane which was now elastic, springing the two of them into the air.
"Our timeline has changed, La Brava," said Gentle. "But if they're on their guard and I still managed to sneak in, and I may yet obtain the notoriety I seek. As a man who accomplished a great feet, history will remember my name."
Hiccup wasn't giving up that easily and found all the strength he could muster, he managed to balance the beam with his right arm. He then raised his left, activated his gauntlet and then flicked his finger, firing an air bullet directly at Gentle.
Gentle's will be air bullet at the corner of his line quickly elasticated a piece of the air in order to bounce out the way.
"He's still fighting?" said Gentle stunned.
La Brava looked at Hiccup as he placed the beam down. "I see a lot of viewing that boy, neither of you are going to give up. I think it's time, let's use my power."
Hiccup looked directly at the two of them, revealing his determined look as he planned to stop them no matter what.