My first fanfiction I'm writing mostly out of boredom and partly out of appreciation of the franchise and for writing practice. Not really spoilers for the Homecoming Holiday Special, it's basically just my version of it since I really disliked the premise of the one we got. I liked the concept of them having a play to remember the dragons though, so I'm using that along with some direct quotes from the first book. I'd really give reading the book series a try btw, even if it is a children's book it's still mildly entertaining.
I'm also realizing while I'm writing this that it's December so hopefully it still will be if / when I post it, would be fitting. Anyways, enjoy the fluff if people really like it I might do more, mayhaps.
"There were dragons when I was a boy..."
"That must've been a super long time ago!"
"A-alright, who said that? Nuffink? Zephr!"
Giggles erupted from the mouths of children from their place under the stage. Another Snoggletog celebration was taking place, right at the center of town. Every year the villagers of Old Berk feel the chill left behind when the dragons left. But every year on the coldest day of the year, they remember their warmth and share it with the citizens of New Berk. It was only natural really, emblems of the dragons they once lived in peace with adorned every piece of decoration and embellishment imaginable. Only a matter time when they would begin to wonder.
So, a new tradition began, one of deep melancholy but one they share with great hope in their hearts. When Hiccup and the other adults grew tired and weary of retelling their adventures, it was Ruffnut and Tuffnut who got had the idea of 'instilling the youth with inspiring, dramatic theater!'… as they so elegantly put.
And now there they all were with Hiccup, as always, in the center of the stage. The stage itself was adorned with decorations and painstakingly put together by the other adults. The background was a perfect replica of the view from Old Berk's Beautiful cliffs to all who remember it that is. Miniature metal statues of dragons scattered about, the stage itself was only just recently broomed clean of freshly fallen snow. Everything thoughtfully and meticulously put in its place, details that will forever be etched in the minds of their young audience.
Of course, it wasn't just children in the audience, while plenty of the adults helped back stage, many still enjoyed the play itself from the crowd along with their cups of mead. The play continued on though, once the children got over the initial interruption. Hiccup only rolled his eyes with a smile under his bushy beard. Zephr and the other children her age already heard the introduction years ago, but still, they come, they sit and they listen in hopes of hearing a new story.
"There were great, grim sky dragons that nested on the cliff tops like gigantic scary birds. Little, brown, scuttly dragons that hunted down the mice and rats in well-organized packs..."
The introduction continued and as it did, shadows of dragons appeared behind the Chief. The first, a gigantic Typhomerang and the second was a groups of Night Terrors. The children marveled at the silhouettes, the more skittish ones jumping in surprise at the monstrous roars that tore through the chilly night.
"Perposteriously huggee Sea Dragons that were twenty times as big as the Big Blue Whale and who killed for the fun of it.", Hiccup outstretched his long and still lanky arms out for emphasis and as though he himself was as enraptured in the story was the children below.
Once again silhouettes danced in the background but these were of the horrendous Red Death and the other the great Bewilderbeast. Dragons so colossal and fearsome, they had to take turns on the stage. Mouths fell open in awe and shock while imagine took over what their true forms looked like.
"But now... dragons have returned from whence they came, back to the Hidden World. Leaving not a bone, not a fang for men to remember them by and soon... the world will believe the dragons are gone.", his voice previously full of passion became calm and thoughtful only for a smirk to emerge on his face.
"But we Berkians know the truth."
The background shifted, being pulled from the side to reveal a new on behind it. This one of a great waterfall, though it appeared to look more like a hole in the Earth, where it led? Only a few outside the Gods would ever know or live to pass it on. Once the second background was fully unveiled, six of the metal statues on stage were pulled into the air by the ropes hooked onto them. The statues were that of a Gronkel, Zippleback, Monstrous Nightmare, Deadly Nadder and a Night Fury.
"And every year on this day, we'll share the secret until dragons can return in peace."
The final words of Hiccups speech became an echo from the children and adults in the crowd repeating the phrase having heard the same phrase from previous years. The toddlers and such went wide-eyed with amazement and eager for more.
"...Now, we can interrupt."
Chaos. A good chaos, but still chaos all the time. Hands rose into the air and people's shouts grew louder from trying to get one's request heard over the rest.
"OH, oh! How about the time you-"
"No, No! I want to hear when-"
"-what about-!"
"Okaayyy, how about we let the youngest get first picks? It's only fair you know."
"Awww~! Hiccup the Buzzkill!"
"...Tuffnut you were there for most of these, Hel, you caused probably half of them."
"Well yeah, but you tell it so eloquently I just gotta hear more, you know?"
"Something about the nasal I'd wager."
"You said it sister!"
"You guys please-!"
...
The night continued, stories of Hiccup's faithful dragon Toothless, how they met and how together they ended the tyranny of the Red Death but at the loss of his leg.
"Bu-but, wasn't it scary waking up alone?"
"-and missing a leg!"
"Well, I wasn't really alone you know. Toothless was right there when I woke up and he helped me walk again just like how I helped him to fly. Yes, I lost a leg but I gained my best friend.."
...
Other's joined in to tell their stories, though the accuracy of they can be debated...
"And then I said, 'OH! You wanna go Alvin the, uhhh, not-so-Treacherous?! Then let's go-!"
"-annnddd then Snotlout immediately dropped his bludgeon as soon as Alvin turned around."
"Hey! That's not- Shut up, Astrid."
"Yeah, almost as good as when Fishlegs almost flattened him for stealing a Changewing egg!"
"Ooohhh, can we please not bring that up, Astrid?! So embarrassing...", moaned Fishlegs while hiding his head in his hands presumably trying to hide.
…
"OH! Oh! How did you and Grandpa Stoick meet, Grandma?"
"Ahaha, well before I settled on Old Berk I was a traveler, Zephr."
The once bare stage was now crawling with people, the storytellers on chairs and the ever excited children crowded around each one. Zephr, Hiccup and Astrid's daughter, posed the question as to how her beloved grandmother met her legendary grandfather while scooting closer to a seated Valka. Her younger brother, Nuffink, following her lead as he always does. It was a questioned she had wondered about for ages but one she kept to herself until this night.
"I was only meant to stay there until I found the next island to visit but as fate would have it, there was a Berserker invasion one day and we fought alongside each other."
"Erm, uhh, what's a Berserk?", a younger and more timid child asked.
"Only the FIERCEST, MEANEST and CRAZIESSTT Vikings in all of the Archipelago-!", the twins cut in and answered the child's question, Tuffnut yelled out erratically as was per usual.
"Or at least they were before Dagur the not-so Deranged took over", Ruffnut finished.
"He's the one we went to war with right?"
Valka took over the question and her story from the twins with time. "The Berserkers and Hairy Hooligans were at odds for much of our histories. But back when I met Stoick, Osvald the Agreeable lead the attack, back when he was Osvald the Antagonistic."
Her voice turned grave at the end while leaning forwards towards the children for affect, the children also leaning in enraptured in the story. And the night went on...
…
"What're you doing out back here?"
Hiccup turned to see his wife, Astrid, approaching. The two were backstage, behind the background painting, Hiccup leaning on one of the stage posts and Astrid coming up to his free side. He was staring out into the vast sky, arms over himself and lost in thought prior to Astrid's arrival.
"Oh you know... just uhh, wondering..."
"Wondering... about him?", Astrid finished for him while resting her chin on his shoulder and her arms also being wrapped around his sides.
Hiccup shrugged, "I was thinking about how much I missed him and wondering if...he misses me."
His gaze returned back into the sky, as did his mind. Astrid remained quiet but her presence alone was of great comfort to him regardless, there was little to say about his musings because she felt the same. They all did. They all worried and wondered, how could they not? The holes in their hearts left behind by the dragon's would always be hollow, but one they hoped to fill with the love of the memories they all shared together.
Eventually, the Chief and his wife were called back to the stage to recount the story of their final fight with the Dragon Hunters on Berserker Island. It was a story they had told before and one they would keep telling so that others may hear it, remember it and share it until the day that the dragons may return in peace...
WOw, I cannot believe I got this out in time even if it is a short one, it's a one-shot for a reason. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed my first fanfic attempt, I may or may not do more. It's all up in the air at this point but, I think this one came out alright. :]