Chapter 2
authors notes:
I tried to stick a lot to canon in the characters personalities but I think I changed Valka the most. Keep in mind she is from a time before Cloudjumper took her to the Wilderbeast. Any really out of character actions or reactions are due to circumstances either from what they're seeing or from what just occurred in their own timeline.
…..
We skim above a dark, wild ocean. The camera turns toward a lone island, Berk. It is a gigantic shard of rock jutting straight out of the water.
''Is that Berk?'' Valka asks leaning forward in awe.
''This, is Berk. It's twelve days North of hopeless, and a few degrees South of freezing to death. It's located solidly on the meridian of misery.''
The camera drifts over rolling hills to reveal a small village nestled on an outcropping of sea mounts.
A few Vikings grumble at Hiccups rather unflattering description of Berk.
''It aint that bad.'' Gobber exclaims.
Astrid hangs on to Hiccups every word just to hear his voice again for a little while.
''Hiccup'' Stoick says staring at the screen enraptured by his sons voice.
Valka who is sitting next to Stoick looks at the screen hiding a smile at her sons remarks about Berk. So wrapped up in the glimpse of the future she doesn't notice the saddened looks on everyone's faces and how sorrowful her husband said their sons name.
''My village. In a word, sturdy. And it's been here for seven generations, but every single building is new.'' The camera drifts closer, circling.
''I wonder why that is?'' Gobber says sarcastically looking at a couple dragons jokingly.
''The dragons duhhh.'' Tufnutt says not understanding that it was a rhetorical question.
''He was being sarcastic trollbut.'' Rufnutt says rolling her eyes at her idiot brother.
''was not''
''was too''
''was not''
''was too''
''was not!''
''was too!''
Unable to settle it with a verbal fight they resort to punching, kicking and head budding each other into surrender which is stopped by Gobber pulling them apart seeing as he wasn't enjoying them fighting when he is sitting on the seat in between the twins.
''We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunsets. The only problems are the pests. You see, most places have mice or mosquito's. We have... '' Sheep graze peacefully on a hillside. When suddenly one is snatched.
A door is pulled open as a dragon swoops directly toward it, blasting fire. The door is slammed. The fire shoots through the slats of wood, illuminating Hiccup, a gangly teenage Viking.
''...dragons.''
He reopens the sizzling door, and leaps off of the front porch. He weaves through the erupting mayhem as Vikings pour out of the buildings, ready for a fight. More dragons swarm in, setting rooftops alight and hauling off sheep.
''Is that Hiccup?'' Valka asks with a mothers pride, no one answers at first when they hear a deep voice say yes from the corner.
''Did Toothless just… talk?''Astrid asks uncertain and a little disturbed.
''You understand me?'' Toothless asks tilting his head at the humans.
''….'' Everyone just nods astonished, eyes wide and mouths agape.
''mmm strange''
''Humans can understand us''
''Hello Vikings, my name is Stormfly and that is my human hatchling'' Pointing out Astrid.
Astrid´s mother looks up, affronted by the claim. ''Your hatchling?!''
''Yes my human hatchling'' looking at the elder human with slight disgust, ''but I suppose we could share if we must.''
The movie starts up again so everyone quiets down.
''Most people would leave. Not us. We're Vikings. We have stubbornness issues.''
The Vikings grumble.
''Stubbornness issues?''
''Got no stubbornness issues.''
''No idea where he got that from.''
''The lads not wrong.'' Gobber says getting a few sour looks and even a few glares.
Vikings sound the alarm. Viking men and women pour out into the streets, axes in hand. Hiccup is darting through alleys, staying under the radar, making his way through the battle.
''Can't he ever just stay put'' Stoick sighs.
''You wanted him to stay in the house?'' Valka questions looking at her husband.
''Yes.'' Stoick answers getting swat with a small hand over the head as a reward.
''The house was getting fired at Stoick, lit on fire! Would you rather he stay inside and burn to death or have him leave the house?'' The movie theater went deadly silent at the burn to death part of Valka's question.
''Leave the house.'' Stoick replies quietly looking devastated, he quickly covers this up before Valka could focus on it and Thor forbid questioned him about it. He doesn't want to have to tell her what happens to their son in the future, not yet. He didn't want her to have to feel the pain he was feeling, a pain worse than losing one's partner… the pain of losing a child.
''My name's Hiccup. Great name, I know.''
''Hey! I picked that name, it's a nice name.'' Valka exclaims offended at her sons sarcasm.
''Yes it is dear.'' Stoick says relishing when his wife grabs his hand.
''Isn't Hiccup the name for the runt of nest with Vikings?'' Toothless asks not understanding why the humans would expect his hatchling to be happy with such a name.
''Well yes but it's still a good name'' Valka says only to have Toothless snort and grumble an unconvinced ''right''
''But it's not the worst. Parents believe a hideous name will frighten off gnomes and trolls. Like our charming Viking demeanor wouldn't do that.''
''Whats that suppose ta mean?'' Gobber asks.
''Ya im very charming right Astrid babe?'' Snotlout says seconds before getting punched in the nose by Astrid.
''Never call me babe ever!''
Dragons sweep back and forth, dodging axes and blasting the Vikings who throw them. A burly warrior gets tossed in an explosion, knocking Hiccup to the ground.
Viking yelling fiercely ''Arggghhhhh!''
Another greets Hiccup with an insanely cheery ''Mornin'!''
''Okay I git it now'' Gobber says nodding to the solid points Hiccup had made.
Hiccup gets to his feet and continues to rush past gigantic men and women.
''Meet the neighbors.'' Hiccup narrates.
Hoark the Haggard...
''What are you doing out!?''
... Burnthair the Broad...
''Get inside!''
... Phlegma the Fierce...
''Get back inside!''
''... Ack…'' He narrates as he passes a silent ox of a viking, picking his ear. ''Yep, just Ack.''
Ack just looks embarrassed whilst Hoark, Burnthair and Phlegma look kinda sad.
''we shouldn't have been so hard on ´iccup'' Hoark says
''Enter Stoick, the biggest Viking of all.''
He yanks Hiccup from the path of a strafing dragon and holds aloft to the crowd.
''Hiccup!?''
''What is he doing out again?!'' Stoick asks the crowd and then to Hiccup ''What are you doing out?! Get inside!''
Valka looks at her husband with a mix of disappointment and anger ''get inside? the house got attacked of course he had to leave the house!''
''And another thing don't pick him up like he's a piece of meat'' Stoick looks away a bit ashamed for his actions. Way to make their son feel smaller than he already his.
The flames light up his scowling face and matted red beard. He sets Hiccup down and turns to the sky, searching.
''That's Stoick the Vast. Chief of the tribe. They say that when he was a baby he popped a dragon's head clean off of its shoulders. Do I believe it?''
''That old rumor is still around'' Stoick says chuckling, but stops short when a monstrous nightmare questions him.
''You find the killing of dragons funny?''
''No, no. Well, not anymore..'' Stoick answers the drago.
''Mmm good. Cuz its not'' The nightmare states before shifting its attention back to the screen.
Stoick grabs a wooden cart and hurls it, knocking the strafing dragon out of the sky.
''Yes. Yes I do.'' Hiccup says sounding mighty impressed.
'O son' Stoick thinks.
An explosion forces the Vikings to duck. Stoick stands firm, brushing flaming debris off of him and barks at his men completely unfazed. ''What have we got?''
Viking Noname answers rapidly ''Gronckles. Nadders. Zipplebacks.''
''Oh, and Hoark saw a Monstrous Nightmare'' He quickly adds to the report.
''Any Night Furies?''
Noname answers the chief ''None so far.''
''Good.'' Stoick says relieved.
Toothless lifts its head proudly ''see I am the best and most feared dragon.''
''Not true, the Red Death is waaay scarier'' Meatlug states and almost everyone in the theater nods their heads. Only Valka and a few very young Vikings don't seem to get the reverence.
Toothles grumbles in response making baby Hiccup giggle, which lightens up the whole room when they realize that technically Hiccup is alive and well. A baby but alive and well just the same, hope is not lost. They just have to figure out how to keep their hero alive this time, treat him better given the change and maybe… just maybe assure that Hiccup doesn't grow up motherless.
Viking Dutchie screams, ''Hoist the torches!''
Massive flaming braziers are raised on poles, lighting up the night sky... and revealing swirling dragons of all types. Below, Hiccup crosses an open plaza and ducks into an open building with a tall chimney.
He crosses behind a counter, where a peg-legged, one-armed hulk of a Blacksmith reshapes blades with a hammer and tongs appendage.
''Ah! Nice of you to join the party'' says Gobber ''I thought you'd been carried off.''
Hiccup dons a leather apron and starts to put away Gobber's scattered appendages.
''Who me? Nah, come on! I'm way too muscular for their taste. They wouldn't know what to do with all this.'' Hiccup strikes a bodybuilder pose.
Everyone starts to chuckle and giggle a bit at this. Valka laughs but doesn't ones look away from the screen, enthralled by the young man on it.
''They need toothpicks, don't they?''
Full on belly laughs echo through the movie theater.
Hiccup gets to work, transferring bent and chipped weapons to the forge as Vikings crowd the counter for replacements.
''The meathead with attitude and interchangeable hands is Gobber.''
''Disrespectful youth these days'' Gobber mutters.
''Like you were any better at his age Gob'' Valka says with a small laugh.
''I've been his apprentice ever since I was little. Well...littler.''
The camera mover outside where we see Stoick.
''We move to the lower defenses.'' says stoick. ''We'll counter-attack with the catapults.''
Armed men rush past, flanking others who carry sheep to safety. Stoick follows up the rear as, overhead, a dragon strafes the rooftops with Napalm-like fire.
''See? Old village. Lots and lots of new houses.''
Viking Nether hollors ''FIRE!''
In response to that the fire brigade charges through the plaza, four teens, tugging a large wooden cask on wheels. From it, they fill buckets of water to douse the flames. One among them is a cute, energetic Viking girl. Hiccup leans out of the stall to watch her.
''Oh and that's Fishlegs, Snotlout. The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut.''
''That's me''
''That's us"
''And... Astrid.'' Hiccup adds dreamingly.
'if only I hadn't ignored him so much' Astrid thought feeling disappointed in herself.As if feeling her riders distress Stormfly nuzzled Astrid.
Valka on the other hand is excited and whispers not so quietly ''Aww, look Hiccup's first crush.''
A slow-motion explosion erupts behind her, framing her in a sexy ball of fire. The others join her, looking awesome and heroic.
''I look amazing as always'' Snotlout exclaims showing of his muscles.
''Wow. We look awesome.'' Fishlegs states.
''I look the awesomest of course.'' Ruffnut says as if it was the most obvious thing she was pointing out.
''Nu uh, I do.'' Tufnutt counters.
''nu uh'' r
''yes I do'' t
''no you don't'' Ruffnut says at the ready to jump her brother.
''yes I...'' Tuffnut disagrees ones more but is interrupted.
''Children. Children enough, you all look equally heroic'' Valka states placating the twins somewhat.
''Their job is so much cooler.'' Hiccup tries to join them as they pass, but he's hooked by Gobber and hoisted back inside.
''Ah, come on. Let me out, please.'' He pleads from the air ,''I need to make my mark.''
''The hatchling does not appear to enjoy being picked up like that males'' a deadly nadder states innocently.
''Yes, males he doesn't appear to enjoy it one bit'' Valka states emphasizing 'males' with a raised eyebrow and a glare. Gobber and Stoick shrink in their seats mumbling apologies. They were Vikings true, but they weren't suicidal and angering Valka is a sure way to meet your end. She may look delicate but there is a reason Stoick fell in love with Valka and it wasn't just her looks.
''Oh, you've made plenty of marks. All in the wrong places.'' Gobber states.
''Please, two minutes.'' Hiccup pleads his case, ''I'll kill a dragon.''
''My life will get infinitely better.'' He adds trying to convince Gobber, ''I might even get a date.''
Gobber however has plenty reasons not to let him out, ''You can't lift a hammer.''
''You can't swing an axe...'' Gobber grabs a bola and says ''... you can't even throw one of these.''
Even though she is happy that her son isn't out killing dragons, it saddens her that he wants to join the other young ones but isn't allowed to. And as superficial as it sounds, her son is right. If he killed a dragon or even showed the bravery to be able to do it, his status in Berk and thus his dating and marriage prospects would rise.
A Viking runs by and nabs it out of Gobber's hand, hurling it at a dive-bombing Gronckle. The bola binds its legs, sending it into a heavy crash.
The Gronckle in question speaks up ''that hurt you now.''
The Viking who threw the bola says a pitiful ''sorry'' and leaves it at that. This not killing is all brand new to him and everyone else, let alone talking with one.
''Okay fine, but...'' He rushes to the back corner of the stall and presents a bizarre, wheel barrow-like contraption.
''What is it?'' a deadly nadder asks.
''I guess we'll see'' Fishlegs says.
''... this will throw it for me.'' Hiccup opens the hinged lid of the device. An arm springs up, equipped with twin bows. They prematurely launch a bola, narrowly missing Gobber... and taking out a Viking at the counter.
''Nice a Viking trapper.'' a terrible terror says making many dragons laugh and look even more intrigued.
''Not so fun when it´s you huh.'' the Gronckle from earlier states when a few Vikings start to scowl.
Viking Tremble screams ''Arggh!''
Gobber says ''See, now this right here is what I'm talking about.''
''Mild calibration issue'' Hiccup states.
''Hiccup. If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you need to stop all...'' Gobber gestures in Hiccup's general direction. ''... this.''
''Did you just point at all of my son'' Valka asks in a deathly calm voice.
Gobber not realizing the dangerous water he is threading in answers, ''wel ya but wha' I meant was...'' at that point a knife flew right past his head.
''Don't ever do that ever again understood''
''Understood lass, lou' an clear'' Gobber answers looking at the knife that just whizzed by him landing in the wall beside his head.
A terrible terror walks up to Gobber and gives him some advise. ''Never ever mess with a momma's hatchling's cuz even though the hatchling is small and weak , the momma's not and they get angry when you mess with their hatchling's'' he says nodding at his own sound advice.
''I noticed''
''But... you just pointed to all of me.'' Hiccup says astonished.
''Yes! That's it! Stop being all of you.''
Hiccup lets out a threatening ''Ohhhh...''
Gobber mimics him ''Ohhhhh, yes.''
Hiccup says ''You, sir, are playing a dangerous game. Keeping this much, raw...Vikingness contained.''
A beat of silence between them.
''There will be consequences!''
The teens laugh at the banter, so do most of the adults.
'Hiccup and I never talk like this' Stoick thinks partly sad and partly jealous.
'Does he always reflect his hurt like that?' Valka asks herself concerned for her son.
''I'll take my chances'' Gobber tosses him a sword and says, ''Sword. Sharpen. Now.''
Hiccup takes it begrudgingly and lobs it onto the grinding wheel. He stews... fantasizing... ''One day I'll get out there. Because killing a dragon is everything around here. ''
Nadders land, gathering like seagulls around a seemingly vacant house.
''A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed.''
The Nadders clamber onto the building, tearing the roof and walls apart. Sheep pour out and Scatter.
The Nadders look insulted, ''only noticed?''
''What the hell, like we are a stepping pebble not even a stone.''
''A live sacrificed for practically nothing.''
Elsewhere, hippo-like Gronckles pick drying racks clean of fish and fly off like loaded pelicans.
''Gronckles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend.''
Gronckles look at the screen disappointed, ''still low.''
''Better than a nadder…''
''A girlfriend is a maybe mate right? So worth a lot?''
''Maybe mate. Not actual mate, not worth much...''
A stealthy, snake-like dragon head peeks over a rooftop, breathing gas into a chimney.
''A Zippelback? Exotic, exciting. Two heads, twice the status.''
A second head pokes through the door and lights it. kablam! The two heads fly through the explosion, their necks zipping together to reveal a single body.
The zippelbacks look proudly at the screen, ''at least a mate.''
''Mmm.''
''Twice the status of a Gronckle'' one states looking smugly at a Gronckle close to him.
It flies past Stoick as he climbs to the top of a catapult tower.
Catapult operator, ''They found the sheep!''
Stoick is getting frustrated and orders ''Concentrate fire over the lower bank!''
Catapult operator, ''Fire!''
Boulders are catapulted at the corralling Nadders... Just as a huge red dragon whips past, spraying the base of the catapult with sticky fire.
''And then there's the Monstrous Nightmare. Only the best Vikings go after those. They have this nasty habit of setting themselves on emerges from the flames'', climbing the catapult with a leering, toothy grin.
''Only the best Vikings go after us so we must be the best.'' States one of the monstrous nightmares cockily raising its head haughtily.
''Reload!'' Stoick yells at the catapult operator. ''I'll take care of this.'' Stoick takes on the Nightmare, face to hammer. Suddenly, a loud ballistic moan streaks overhead. The catapult crew ducks.
Hiccup looks up from his work, reacting to the same sound. ''But the ultimate prize is the dragon no one has ever seen. We call it the-''
Viking Nether ''Night Fury! Get down!''
Vikings everywhere take shelter. The moaning sound builds. The Monstrous Nightmare suddenly stops fighting and takes flight. Stoick looks skyward.
Stoick ''Jump!''
Kaboom! The Catapult explodes as though hit by an artillery shell... sending Stoick and the crew leaping for their lives.
''This thing never steals food, never shows itself, and...''
The sound recedes, leaving the crippled catapult in flames
''...never misses.''
A beat.
''No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first.''
'Like I stated earlier best dragon ever' Toothless thinks smugly from where he is sitting on the support beams, holding his hatchling tightly.
Gobber trades his hammer for an axe. ''Man the fort Hiccup, they need me out there!''
Gobber pauses. Turns with a threatening glare. And says ''Stay. Put. There. You know what I mean.'' Gobber charges into the fray, hollering. A smirk crosses Hiccup's face.
Wham!
Hiccup pushes his wheeled contraption through a wall of clustered Vikings. He weaves through the ongoing mayhem, as fast as his legs can carry him.
Viking Os ''Hiccup, where are you going!''
Viking Schrekkle ''Come back here!''
Hiccup ignores their commends walking past them anyways, ''I know. Be right back!''
Every Viking in the room turns to Os and Schrekkle in disbelief, ''you actually believed him?''
''I well…'' Schrekkle says searching for a good answer whilst Os just rubs his neck getting redder by the second.
Seeing as they weren't getting any answers they turn back to the screen much to the relieve of Os and Schrekkle.
The Nadders have cornered the house-full of sheep. They close in, ready to spring upon them. Stoick suddenly appears, hurtling fishing nets over them. The surprised Nadders are caught. Stoick and his men rush in. A Nadder blasts a hole through its net. Stoick leaps onto it, clamping his thick arms around its head, forcing its jaws shut.
Stoick, ''Mind yourselves! The devils still have some juice in them.''
Hiccup reaches a cliff overlooking the smoking catapult and drops the handles to the ground. He cranks several levers, unfolding and then cocking the bowed arms of his contraption. He drops a bola onto a chamber and then pivots the weapon on a gimbal head toward the dark sky.
'What is he doing?' Valka questions as she watches her son fiddle with the strange contraption.
He listens, with his eye pressed to the scope, hand poised on the trigger. He hears the night fury approaching... and turns his aim to the defense tower. It closes in for the final strike, completely camouflaged in the night.
Hiccup mutters to himself ''Come on. Give me something to shoot at, give me something to shoot at.''
Kablam! The tower topples. The blast of fire illuminates the dragon for a split second. Hiccup pulls the trigger. Kerthunk! The flexed arms snap forward, springing the weapon off the ground. The bola disappears into the sky, followed by a whack and a screech.
''So that's how he did it I always wondered'' Toothless calmly states, ''he used the Viking trapper.''
Several terrible terrors gasp at the scandal, one of them climbs up to baby Hiccup and under Toothless watchful eyes states, '' No no, bad hatchling. Viking trapper is for trapping Vikings not night furies understood?'' baby Hiccup simply gurgles happily.
''I'll take that as an understood'' the terrible terror then walks back to his seat having reprimanded the small hatchling, takes a village after all.
Hiccup is surprised, then elated ''Oh I hit it! Yes, I hit it! Did anybody see that?'' Hiccup's victory is short-lived. As a Monstrous Nightmare appears, slithering up over the lip of the cliff.
Hiccup looks at the monstrous nightmare and says ,''Except for you.''
Everyone laughs at this. ''He has a great sense of humor'' Valka says to no one in particular, delighted by her sons sense of humor.
Stoick, while holding down the netted Nadders hears a familiar holler and looks up to see...
Hiccup running through the plaza, screaming, with the nightmare fast on his heels. Alarmed, Stoick abandons the Nadders and runs off but not before ordering his men not to let the Nadders escape!
Vikings scatter as Hiccup dodges a near fatal blast.
'why aren't the adults helping his hatchling, surely they protect others hatchlings too, not just their own?' Stormfly thinks to herself, worried for the small human. They usually don't attack the young ones but she understand why Skybright did, he shot down Toothless after all.
The Nightmare's sticky, Napalm-like fire splashes up onto buildings, setting them alight. Hiccup ducks behind the last standing brazier - the only shelter available. The Nightmare blasts it, spraying fire all around him. Hiccup peers around the smoldering post. No sign of the Nightmare. He turns back to find it leering at him, blocking his escape. It takes a deep breath. Hiccup is finished.
So wrapped up in the movie everyone holds their breath wondering if Hiccup will survive, Valka has one hand covering her mouth and the other tightly grasped in Stoicks.
Suddenly, Stoick leaps between them, tackling the Nightmare to the ground. They tumble and wrestle, resuming their earlier fight. The Nightmare tries to toast him, but only coughs up smoke.
Stoick, ''You're all out.''
He smashes the Nightmare repeatedly in the face, driving it away. It takes to the air and disappears. Winded, Stoick turns to Hiccup.
''Oh, and there's one more thing you need to know...''
The burnt brazier pole collapses, sending the massive iron basket crashing. It bounces down the hill, destroying as it goes and scattering the Vikings who were holding down the netted Nadders. The freed dragons escape... with several sheep in tow.
''Sorry, dad.'' Hiccup says, revealing to all the dragons that Stoick is his father.
''Wait, wait, wait, the father?...'' A Deadly Nadder questions shocked, ''really?''
''Yes really.'' Stoick says annoyed at the disbelieve of the dragons.
''You sure?!'' a Monstrous Nightmare asks.
''Hatchling takes after the mom I guess.'' Another dragons theorizes.
''Sure, must be it…'' an unconvinced Zippleback says.
''Still not convinced, maybe their eggs got switched by accident'' '' a Gronckle says, getting some nods. It was a good deduction, only one flaw in that theory tho.
''Humans don't lay eggs'' Astrid say, disturbed by even the thought.
''Of course they do where else do the hatchlings come from? Mmm young hatchlings think they know everything…'' an older terrible terror responds.
Throwing her hands in the air as a form of surrender Astrid says, ''I'm not explaining that.''
''Okay, everyone. Yes Stoick is Hiccups father, no humans do not lay eggs and for as to where 'hatchlings' come from… well, uhm they get brought to us by storks'' Valka says calming everyone down.
Gaining some dubious looks from the other adults about the whole storks part but hey if they want to explain that they're free to do so. 'I am not explaining to a room full of dragons and Vikings where babies come from'
The escaped Nadders fly past with the sheep in their claws the raid is over. The dragons have clearly won. The murmuring crowd eyes Stoick, awaiting his response.
Hiccup sheepishly says ''Okay, but I hit a Night Fury.''
Stoick grabs Hiccup by the back scruff of his collar and hauls him away, fuming with embarrassment.
''It's not like the last few times, Dad. I mean I really actually hit it. You guys were busy and I had a very clear shot. It went down, just off Raven Point. Let's get a search party out there, before it-''
Hiccup tries to say when stoick interrupts ''-STOP! Just...stop.''
He releases Hiccup.
Many dragons are fuming ''So rough with the hatchling.''
''Really I have seen eels with better fathers'' Stoick is trying very hard not to look at anything but the screen. Valka is fuming in her seat so is Toothless but deciding to wait it, out thinking similar yet different thoughts.
' When Hiccup comes home I will be back from my duties as the chiefs wife, and will hear about all of this and whip Stoick back into shape . Besides he's probably just having a tough day that's why he's being kind off ruff with Hiccup, she'd set him straight though.' Valka thinks.
'Well apparently the Viking called Valka is Stoicks mate so that means she is Hiccups mother, mmm. Let's see if she is worthy of raising Hiccup if not I will just raise him in his old nest without the queen there, it will be like those many many years ago a time before the Red Death.' Toothless thinks.
Everyone goes silent, staring.
''Every time you step outside, disaster follows. Can you not see that I have bigger problems? Winter's almost here and I have an entire village to feed!''
Hiccup looks around. All eyes are upon him. ''Between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding, don't ya think?''
A few rotund Vikings stir self-consciously.
''Who is he looking at?''
''Not me.''
''Nu uh, I'm not fat I'm fluffy is all.''
''I am kinda hungry.''
''Ye me too.''
''Doesn't mean I'm fat this is all muscle.''
''This isn't a joke, Hiccup!'' Stoick asks exasperated ''Why can't you follow the simplest orders?''
''I can't stop myself. I see a dragon and I have to just... kill it, you know? It's who I am, Dad.'' Hiccup says rather unconvincing.
''You are many things, Hiccup. But a dragon killer is not one of them.'' Sting. Hiccup looks around to see many nods of agreement. ''Get back to the house Hiccup.''
''Make sure he gets there. I have his mess to clean up.'' Stoick says before her lumbers in the opposite direction.
''That was harsh'' Os says.
''He's just a hatchling they make mistakes.'' Stormfly says cuddling Astrid.
Gobber leads Hiccup through the walk of shame. They pass the teen fire brigade as they snicker.
Tuffnut, "Quite the performance.''
Snotlout, ''I've never seen anyone mess up that badly. That helped''
Hiccup ,''Thank you, thank you. I was trying, so...'' Hiccup avoids Astrid's glare and heads up toward a large house, standing prominently on the hill above the others.
All the teen lower their heads in shame well except Snotlout who lowered it out of fear for his aunt and uncle who were respectively glaring and scowling at him.
'I wish I had stayed friends with Hiccup yea we would have been bullied but we would have had each other, at least we wouldn't have been alone' Fishlegs thought.
'If we'd been friends with him it would have been awesome he could have made us weapons of mass destruction and we could've taught him the joy of it' Ruffnut and Tuffnut thought.
'Did they always treat Hiccup like this? I thought they were friends, at least they were when they were younger' Stoick thought, 'They used to run around playing tag and played games where they sang songs like-hide the sock blame the troll, take the left hide it in a hole now that I think about it, it is a rather strange song. Oh well' Stoick thoughts trailed off.
'If they aren't his friends then who is? They are the only ones born into his age group' Valka thought worriedly.
''I really did hit one Gobber'' Hiccup says walking with Gobber.
''Sure, Hiccup.'' Gobber answers unconvinced by the young lad.
Hiccup grumbles, ''He never listens.''
'' Well, it runs in the family.''
''What is that suppose to mean?!" Stoick, Valka, Spitelout and Snotlout exclaim.
''Just wha' I said'' Gobber replies and just turns back to the screen, no regrets.
''And when he does, it's always with this... disappointed scowl. Like someone skimped on the meat in his sandwich.''
Mimicking Stoick Hiccup says,'' Excuse me, barmaid. I'm afraid you brought me the wrong offspring. I ordered an extra large boy with beefy arms. Extra guts and glory on the side. This here. This is a talking fish bone.''
''Oh son…'' Stoick says despairingly.
''You're thinking about this all wrong. It's not so much what you look like. It's what's inside that he can't stand.''
Beat.
''Thank you Gobber, for summing that up.''
They reach the doorway.
''Look, the point is, stop trying so hard to be something you're not.''
Hiccup sighs heavily. ''I just want to be one of you guys.''
Gobber eyes him sympathetically.
Every Vikings heart aches a little after hearing that.
One dragon simply says ''I'm glad he isn't one of you guess. I mean, could you imagine if he was just like you, killing dragons instead of befriending and riding them?''
''Brrr'' the dragon shudders, other dragons and even Vikings agree with them.
Hiccup turns and goes through the front door. And straight out the back door. He hurries off into the woods, determined.
Back to another part of the village. Noisy din of protesting voices leads to... Stoick, glowering in the firelight. Surrounded by his men.
''Either we finish them or they'll finish us! It's the only way we'll be rid of them! If we find the nest and destroy it, the dragon swill leave. They'll find another home.''
''You do realize that Berk is the closest island therefore the most likely place for the dragons to seek refuge?'' Fishlegs asks, not understanding the adults flawed thought process.
''No, no I did not Fishlegs.'' Stoick says.
He sinks his blade into a.. large nautical map, spread out on the table... the blade pierces the middle of an uncharted corner, swirling with painted sea monsters and dragons.
''One more search. Before the ice sets in.'' Stoick says determinately.
Viking Gore ''Those ships never come back...''
Stoick, ''We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard. Now who's with me?!'' Stoick throws up his fist. No one follows. The crowds shifts in restless silence. Head scratches. Eyes averted.
Viking Dliga ''Today's not good for me.''
Viking Joirmix ''I've gotta do my axe returns.''
Stoick ,''Alright. Those who stay will look after Hiccup. Hands jut into the air, volunteers galore. Enthusiastic murmurs of prep and packing fill the room.''
Toothless looks confused as does Valka.
''First of all rude and inappropriate'' he says to Stoick and then adds, ''second of all, where are you?'' he asks Valka accusatorily .
''Yes, I'd like to know that as well. Where am I? I haven't been seen or even mentioned at all.'' She looks at Stoick, who opens his mouth and closes it again.
''Well uhm.. well you got,'' Stoick clears his throat, ''you got taken by a dragon when Hiccup was 1 years old.'' He manages to get out of his clocked throat.
Valka stares at him for awhile before hugging him. Toothless carefully climbs down and gives them baby Hiccup, retreating but not before saying his peace, ''hurt him and I'll do much worse than kill you.''
Which everyone in the room believes but especially the dragons they know stories of night furies tearing dragons 5 times their size to pieces because they thought their hatchlings were easy prey.
Phlegma the fierce ''To the ships!''
Spitelout ''I'm with you Stoick!''
Stoick dryly says ''That's more like it.'' The Vikings rush for the door, leaving Gobber and Stoick alone.
Gobber gulps back the contents of his tankard attachment and scrapes back the bench. ''I'll pack my undies.'' Gobber says
''No, I need you to stay and train some new recruits.'' Stoick states.
''Oh, perfect. And while I'm busy, Hiccup can cover the stall. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time to himself...what could possibly go wrong?''Gobber asks sarcastically as Stoick sinks onto the bench beside Gobber, his brow burdened.
''What am I going to do with him Gobber?''
''Put him in training with the others.''
''No, I'm serious.''
''So am I.''
Stoick turns to him, glaring. ''He'd be killed before you let the first dragon out of its cage.''
''Oh, you don't know that.''
''I do know that, actually.''
''No, you don't.''
''No, actually I do.''
''Same nest?'' One dragon questions.
''Same nest.'' Another confirms, I mean just listen to them. No way they didn't come from the same nest.
''No you don't!''
''Listen! You know what he's like. From the time he could crawl he's been...different. He doesn't listen. Has the attention span of a sparrow. I take him fishing and he goes hunting for... for trolls.''
''Trolls exist! They steal your socks.'' Gobber says darkly ,''But only the left ones. What's with that?''
'They sang a song-hide the sock blame the troll, take the left hide it in a hole ' Stoick just starts chuckling confusing everyone, but not wanting to debunk the troll's he says nothing about it.
Stoick ,''When I was a boy...''
''Oh here we go.'' Gobber grumbles having heard this story a thousand times before.
''My father told me to bang my head against a rock and I did it. I thought it was crazy, but I didn't question him. And you know what happened?''
''You got a headache'' Valka says already having witnessed most of this conversation personally.
''You got a headache.'' Gobber drawled out slowly.
''That rock split in two. It taught me what a Viking could do, Gobber. He could crush mountains, level forests, tame seas! Even as a boy, I knew what I was, what I had to become.''
Beat.
''Hiccup is not that boy.''
''He's not what boy? Not a Viking?'' Valka asks in disbelieve, I mean sure he isn't the strong, beefy Viking type by any means but neither is she. Does her husband think she is any less a Viking because of her small build?
Looking at his wife he apologizes, ''I was wrong Valka, our boy is every bit a Viking.''
''You can't stop him, Stoick. You can only prepare him.''
Another beat.
''Look, I know it seems hopeless. But the truth is you won't always be around to protect him. He's going to get out there again. He's probably out there now.'' Gobber's words hit their mark.
Shifting away from the mess hall, the camera pivots to Hiccup. On an open notebook lays a drawn map of the island, covered in X's. Hiccup looks up from it and peeks over a gorge, expectantly. Sees nothing. He adds another 'X' to the page, then scratches his pencil over the whole map in frustration. He snaps the book closed and pockets it.
''Uggh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife or their mug. No, not me. I manage to lose an entire dragon.'' Hiccup whacks a low-hanging branch. It snaps back at him, hitting him in the face.
Everyone chuckles and giggles whilst the youngest kids full out laugh, even Valka laughs albeit quietly.
He looks up to see a snapped tree trunk. His eyes follow it to a long trench of up-turned earth. He follows it to a downed, black dragon, its body and tail tangled in a bola. It appears dead. Hiccup approaches, beaming.
''He shot you down?'' a tiny baby Deadly Nadder asks.
''Yeah, but he also helped me.'' Toothless defends Hiccup.
''Oh wow. I did it. I did it. This fixes everything.''
''Yes!'' He strikes a victory pose, planting his foot on the fallen Night Fury. ''I have brought down this might beast!''
It suddenly shifts. ''Whoa!'' Hiccup springs back, terrified. He turns his blade on it. Rattled, Hiccup creeps along the length of the weak, wounded dragon, dagger poised to strike.
A few hatchling dragons look away or get shielded by their parents from this part.
As he reaches the head, Hiccup finds the Night Fury staring coldly at him. Hiccup tries to look away, but he's drawn back to its unnerving, unflinching stare. With the dragon safety tangled in the ropes, Hiccup jabs with his dagger, puffing himself up with false bravado.
''I'm going to kill you, Dragon. I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father. I'm a Viking.''
Beat.
''I am a Viking!'' Hiccup raises the dagger, determined to prove his Viking- ness.
'Don't do it son' Valka thinks
The dragon's labored breathing breaks Hiccup's clenched concentration. He opens an eye, uncertainty leaking through.
The dragon holds the stare. Something profound is exchanged. Finally, the Night Fury closes its eye and lowers its head, resigned to its fate.
Hiccup tries to go through with it, holding the dagger aloft... fighting himself... until finally lowering it with a frustrated sigh. He looks over the dragon's chaffed rope wounds.
''I did this.'' Hiccup mutters ashamed.
Intrigued the dragons look at the Night fury, how'd he make the human stop?
He turns to leave. Pauses. And glances back at the dragon, chest heaving.
Hiccup grumbles. He checks over his shoulder to ensure that no one is watching... then hurries back to cut the ropes.
The Night Fury's eye shoots open. With the dragon watching his every move, Hiccup hurriedly saws through the bola ropes.
As the last rope falls free, the Night Fury suddenly pounces! In a blur, the dragon is upon him, pinning Hiccup down, grazing his neck. Looking like it's about to kill him. Hiccup is paralyzed.
no one in the room moves even a muscle. Only Toothless looks relaxed, looking at the past. Though he misses his tail wing for a second.
The dragon's breath ruffles his hair. Hiccup opens his eyes to find the Night Fury's wolf-like stare boring into him. The exchange is intense, profound. The dragon draws a deep breath, as though it's about to torch him, then lets out an ear-piercing scream instead.
It turns and takes flight, flapping violently through the canopy of trees. It bashes against a nearby mountain side, recovers, and drops out of view some distance , Hiccup struggles to his feet, staggers a few steps, collapses to his knees, and faints.
"O thank Odin" Valka says.
authors notes:
Well I did end up adding some new lines and rearranging a whole lot of things, newbie me wrote this piece in 2018 and it shows. Fics like this take so much time to write and edit because you have to work around an entire script that you also need to edit to make it even somewhat readable. It's extremely time consuming to say the least but I'm powering through cuz I honestly can't enjoy the old version myself. Other than that I hope you are enjoying the story so far if your new and if you aren't, welcome back I hope you like the changes and additions.
