Chapter 4.
Authors notes:
Chapter 4 here we go…
''Why edit a 3 year old fic?''
''It burns my eyes!''
''Can't be that bad''
Eye twitches.
''Today is about teamwork. Work together and you might survive.'' Gobber says to the teens at training grounds.
''Might survive? Aren't you there to prevent our kids from getting barbequed'' Mala asks with a raised eyebrow.
''Well ya but sayin; work together and you might pass this test- just doesn't have the same ring to it ya know?''
The camera focuses on a double-wide door, gas seeps through the cracks. Then it blasts open and a cloud of smoke engulfs the ring, swirling around the paired-up teens.
Astrid with Ruffnut.
Snotlout with Tuffnut.
Fishlegs with Hiccup.
All of whom carry buckets of water, poised to throw them.
''Now, a wet dragon head can't light its fire. The Hideous Zippleback is extra tricky. One head breathes gas, the other head lights it. Your job is to know which is which.'' Gobber states.
''That's always tricky'' Stoick says right before the Thorsten gush over their dragon.
''Easy. Barf breathes awesome gas!''
''Yea and belch breathes amazing fire.''
''And how should we know which one Barf is and which one Belch is?'' Astrid asks.
''I ride totally awesome Belch whilst my totally unawesome sister rides Barf'' Tuffnut says.
''What did you just say about me you butelf?!''
''Who are you calling butelf trollfaaagh, I'm hurt I'm very much hurt'' Tuff screams as Ruff pushes him out of his seat onto the theaters ground.
''Right and what if you aren't riding them?'' Astrid asks, distracting Ruff and thus saving everyone from another twin battle/scuffle.
''What?'' Ruff says distracted by Tuff before turning away from his fallen body and turning looking towards Astrid.
''I said, how would one know which is which if you're not riding them?''
''Why wouldn't we be riding them?'' Ruff asks confused, too which many Vikings slap their forehead.
Luckily Valka lends a helping hand, ''Let me try.''
''Be my guest'' Astrid replies.
''Dear how would one know which head breathes gas and which head lights it if it were some other Zippleback and not Barf and Belch?'' Valka asks Ruffnut, considering Tuffnut is still lying on the floor bemoaning his maimed state.
''How should I know?'' Ruff replies baffled.
The movie starts again stopping any more conversation.
Smoke fills the air enveloping the arena in a cloud of fog, effectively cutting the teens off from each other. They listen and watch for any sign of the dragon.
''Razor sharp, serrated teeth that inject venom for pre-digestion. Prefers ambush attack, crushing its victims in its...'' Fishlegs mutters to himself.
''Will you please stop that?'' Hiccup exclaims tensely.
Snotlout and Tuffnut are moving nervously through the fog, back to back. Snotlout is singing to himself to calm his nerves.
''If that dragon shows either of his faces, I'm gonna-'' Snotlout begins to say when he spots an approaching shape.
''-There!'' he says sounding terrified. Snotlout and Tuffnut hurl their water into the fog.
''Hey!'' Astrid yells.
''It's us, idiots.'' Ruffnut says. Astrid and Ruffnut are soaked.
''Your butts are getting bigger. We thought you were a dragon.'' Tuffnut says.
''Not that there's anything wrong with a dragon-esque figure.'' Snotlout says to Astrid
''Lads…'' Gobber says shaking his head sadly.
''So young.'' Viking Schreckle groans.
''how tragic.'' Another Viking mumbles.
''When's their funeral scheduled? I'd like to pay my respects to these unfortunate young ones.''
Tuff and Snot whom along with the dragons look confused as to what they've done wrong.
Astrid elbows Snotlout in the face. Ruffnut drops Tuffnut with a punch to the throat. ''Wait.'' Astrid says suddenly making all four freeze. A tail sweeps out of the fog, taking them down. As a result their buckets spill.
When Fishlegs and Hiccup come across them, they spot the puddles of spilled water. ''Oh, I'm hurt. I am very much hurt.'' Tuffnut exclaims dramatically
''Chances of survival are dwindling into single digits now...'' Fishlegs states.
''how is that helpful?'' Fishleggs father Bearleggs asks. ''It calms me'' Fishleggs says shrugging.
''Look out!'' Hiccup yells as a Zippleback head emerges out of the smoke.
Fishlegs hurls his water at it, completely dousing the head. It leers and opens its mouth, spewing gas into the area.
''Oh. Wrong head.'' Fishlegs says as gas flows around their legs. Fishlegs flees in a panic.
''Fishlegs!'' Gobber yells at Fishlegs retreating back.
Beat.
A clicking sound comes from behind them. Sparks flash in the smoke.
''Now, Hiccup!'' Gobber exclaims as the other head sweeps out of the smoke.
Hiccup hurls his water with all his might. It arcs and drops short of the dragon's sparking mouth. The dragon grins, savoring the kill.
''Am I the only one who finds the look on that dragon creepy?'' Fishlegs asks.
''Nope. It's creepy alright'' Gobber replies.
''Is it me or is that dragon grinning?'' Valka asks.
''We're grinning'' Barf and Belch reply both grinning insanely, showing of their razor sharp teeth.
''Oh, come on!'' Hiccup screams in exasperation.
''Run, hiccup!'' Gobber yells out and promptly covers his eyes. ''Hiccup!''
''Hiccup!'' Valka exclaims hugging baby Hiccup closer to her.
''Not to worry Lass, 'iccup was fine'' Gobber says way too casually.
''Did you just cover your eyes Gobber?'' Stoick asks incredulous.
''Well ya I thought the lad was about to become dragon chow'' Gobber answers making Stoicks eye twitch.
Beat.
The Zippleback hesitates. sniffs. Then retreats. The teens get to their feet, watching transfixed. Gobber peeks through his fingers to see...
The Zippleback backing away from Hiccup. He stands and holds his hands out, as if controlling it.
''How is he doing that?''
''Impossible''
''Amazing''
''Why did you listen to my Viking hatchling?'' Toothless asks Barf and Belch pleased but very confused.
''Dirty Viking tricks'' they practically hiss.
''Back! Back! Back! Now don't you make me tell you again!'' Hiccup yells at the Zippleback as it retreats through its door and into its cage, hissing.
''Yes, that's right. Back into your cage.'' Hiccup says.
Hiccup slyly opens his vest, revealing the spotted smoked eel from earlier. he tosses it inside the door, then slams it shut.
''So that's how he did it, I always wondered'' Fish says, the teens nod in agreement.
''Kinda mean of the hatchling to throw the eel into their cage now isn't it?" One dragon ponders out loud.
''I mean we did try to eat him so eh?'' belch responds.
''Now think about what you've done.'' Hiccup says before he turns to the teens and Gobber who stare at him slack-jawed.
''Okay! So are we done? Because I've got some things I need to...'' Hiccup says before jogging out of the ring, past the speechless group. ''Yep...see you tomorrow.'' Hiccup says awkwardly mid jog.
''Something's going on.'' Astrid sneers.
''jealous?'' Toothless asks smiling slyly.
''What, no …of course not!'' Astrid practically yells flustered making many laugh quietly '''Besides I was right wasn't I?'' she adds with a glare, shutting everyone up.
Hiccup cuts and stitches leather, draws and shapes steel. He works by candlelight. An overhead shot reveals what he's building: a harness, complete with handles and foot pedals.
''Where is he?'' Valka asks.
''The blacksmith stall.'' Gobber answers.
Hiccup appears before Toothless at the cove, holding the new prosthetic. Toothless runs off as Hiccup chases him down. ''Hey!''
All dragons perk up at this sight and simultaneously scream out ''Tagg!'' excitedly.
Toothless and Hiccup are zooming over the ocean. The tail breaks free sending Hiccup flying. ''Yeah! Whoa!''
The scene shifts again showing the blacksmith stall again where Hiccup adjusts the harness and uses a metal clamp to affix himself to Toothless' saddle.
''He's very talented'' Valka says with a smile.
Hiccup and Toothless zip through the air - his rudimentary harness and tail controls are working, barely. They crash-land in an open field. Hiccup recovers to find Toothless still rolling around in the tall grass. Hiccup discovers that it's a patch of dragon-nip. Toothless writhes on his back, tongue wagging, in complete bliss.
''Aw you look so cute'' Valka coos to Toothless making him look away in embarrassment whilst everyone else laughs.
'oh ow the mighty have fallen' an extremely old Terror thinks wholly amused by the younger generation.
At the training grounds the next morning Hiccup grabs the Gronckle's head as instructed, then discreetly pulls out a fistful of dragon-nip and presses it up to the Gronckle's nose. It immediately stops struggling and goes weak in the knees. Hiccup drops the handful of dragon-nip to the ground. The Gronckle goes down with it, whimpering and blissful.
From Gobber and the recruits' point of view, Hiccup is controlling the Gronckle with no more than a limp arm.
''That looked awesome'' Tuff and Ruff say.
''Hmmf I could've done it!'' Snot huffs like a petulant child.
''Mhm, sure Snot'' Astrid says sarcastically.
''Thanks'' Snot says not picking up on the sarcasm, but Astrid doesn't correct him because Snotlout seems to have finally stopped calling her babe. Small victories.
The recruits walk home together, surrounding Hiccup and bombarding him with questions.
''Hey Hiccup, I've never seen a Gronckle do that before.'' Fishlegs says clearly intrigued and thirsting for knowledge.
''How'd you do that?'' Tuffnut asks joining the conversation.
''It was really cool.'' Says Ruffnut.
Hiccup squirms and invents an excuse. ''I left my axe back in the ring.'' He turns and hurries back. ''You guys go on ahead and I'll catch up with you.''
Astrid watches, suspicious.
''Why were you so suspicious of him?'' Mala asks her daughter.
''He didn't bring his axe that day'' Astrid answers.
At the cove Hiccup rubs Toothless behind the ear, causing him to relax and fall over.
Later at the training grounds an angry Deadly Nadder approaches Hiccup. Just as Astrid moves in to strike, Hiccup performs his special rubbing technique, which sends the Nadder down. Astrid and the other kids look on from the sideline in amazement.
''Wait. We've been fighting dragons tooth and nail for decades and all we had to do to stop them was cover the island in eels, use this dragon grass to incapacitate them or scratch them a certain way?!'' Stoick exclaims frustrated. This is made worse when more or less everyone in the theater nods.
Hiccup sits down at an empty, table in the mess hall to eat. The other recruits notice him and move over to his table to talk to him, leaving Astrid alone at their previous table.
''Hey Hiccup!'' Fishlegs says.
''What was that? Some kind of trick? What did you do?'' Snotlout shoots out rapidly.
''Hiccup, you're totally going to come in first, there's no question.'' Tuffnut states.
Later at the cove Hiccup is using a mirror-like object to create a patch of light on the ground. Toothless claws and chases the light patch like a cat chasing a laser pointer.
''Get it!'' Toothless exclaims as he charges the screen followed by many other dragons.
The scene quickly changes making the dragons growl and grumble.
''Next time I'll capture it'' Toothless says determination and the promise of a rematch in his voice.
Back at the training grounds a beam lifts from the door of another dragon pen.
''Meet the Terrible Terror.'' Gobber says to the teens as a tiny, pint-sized dragon steps out and moves toward the recruits.
''That's me!'' Sharpshot yells excitedly.
''Sharpshot! Sharpshot! Sharpshot!'' The other Terrible Terrors exclaim excitedly.
''Ha. It's like the size of my-'' Tuff begins to say but before he can finish he is promptly taken down in a blur.
''Sharpshot is it?'' Hellnut the twins mom asks calmly.
''Haha now you're gonna get it'' Tuff says.
Freaking out when faced with the bulky mama Viking, Sharpshot squeaks out a pitiful uncertain ''Yea?''
''Thank you for stopping my son from finishing that sentence''
''Ha! Get 'im mom! Wait what?!'' Tuff exclaims confused whilst the rest of the teens snicker.
''Get it off! Get it off! Oh! I'm hurt, I am very much hurt!'' Tuffnut screams as if he had been mortally wounded.
Hiccup stops the Terrible Terror with the same light-patch trick he used earlier with Toothless. The tiny dragon retreats back to its cage. The teens approach him yet again as Astrid looks on with suspicion.
Everyone turns to Astrid with a questioning look on their face.
''What?'' She asks exasperated.
''Why are you suspicious now?'' Fish asks.
''Easy no one gets that good that quick'' Astrid says.
''Wow, he's better than you ever were.'' Tuffnut says to Astrid n passing.
Astrid furiously hurls her axe at a nearby tree in the forest moments later. When she notices Hiccup walking by in the distance, carrying one of his trademark harnesses. She quickly tries to follow, but he loses her in the woods.
She huffs, frustrated.
''He's faster than you'd think'' Astrid says to no one in particular.
Later at the cove Hiccup straps a newly designed harness onto Toothless. With Toothless tied to a nearby post with a rope. Hiccup rides him in the air while stationary. Toothless looks like a giant kite tied to a tree stump. This harness seems to work.
Many laugh at how funny they look.
Moments later the rope breaks and the pair crash into a tree. Hiccup's face is red. ''Oh, great.''
It's night, the streets of Berk are empty save for a lone Viking who crosses Hiccup's path.
''Hiccup.'' The Viking greets before going on his way.
Hiccup nods, trying to look casual. Once the coast is clear, he covertly steers Toothless into the Blacksmith's stall. Toothless presses himself inside, rooting through stuff and making a racket. Astrid, walking nearby, is alerted.
''Hiccup?'' Astrid asks.
Hiccup freezes. Then frantically tries to pry the ring off the saddle hook. It won't budge.
''Sticking together in all sorts of adventures'' Astrid muses. ''And looking ridiculous while you're at it.''
''Are you in there?'' Astrid questions.
Too late, she's right outside walking along the outside of the Blacksmith's. Hiccup jumps out the window and closes the shutters behind him. Hiccup's harness line is stretched through the window, still attached to Toothless' saddle.
''Astrid. Hey! Hi Astrid. Hi Astrid. Hi Astrid.'' Hiccup stutters nervously.
''I normally don't care what people do, but you're acting weird. Well, weirder.'' Astrid says suspiciously.
Toothless spots a nearby sheep and makes a move toward it. As a result, hiccup is suddenly pulled tight against the window shutters. He strikes a pose to compensate... Then gets pulled through the shutters. They snap back in Astrid's face.
Everyone in the theater burst out laughing.
Astrid reopens them and finds nothing but an empty stall. In the distance, Toothless and Hiccup slip off unseen.
At dawn a lone, battered ship is pulled into a slip at the docks, overloaded with equally battered-looking men. They disembark to a crowd of onlookers, looking like a team of hometown heroes who just had their butts kicked.
''You look…well you look…'' Valka says trying to think of something positive.
''Like you lost, lost horribly at that.'' Toothless finishes receiving many dirty looks from the Vikings whilst the dragons snicker.
Gobber hobbles through the mumbling crowd to find Stoick, last to disembark and glowering with battered pride.
''Where are the other ships?'' Viking Holgard asks.
''You don't want to know.'' Spitelout spits out as Stoick lumbers past Gobber, leaving him staring at the trashed ship.
''Well, I trust you found the nest at least?'' Gobber asks. Leave it to Gobber to search for the positives in a very negative situation.
''Not even close.'' Stoick replies.
''Ah. Excellent.'' Gobber says pretending like that was all good, according to plan. He follows Stoick up the ramp and snags his duffle bag with his hook appendage, sharing the burden.
''I hope you had a little more success than me.'' Stoick says.
''Well, if by success, you mean that your parenting troubles are over with, then... yes.'' Gobber says.
''You make it sound like he's dead'' Valka says to Gobber.
''I did no such thing las.'' Gobber denies.
''Almost gave me a heart attack'' Stoick says with a glare.
Stoick stops short. ''What does that mean?'' Stoick says just before a group of merry villagers rush past.
''Congratulations Stoick! Everyone is so relieved.'' The first Viking says.
''Out with the old and in with the new, right?!'' the second Viking exclaims.
As the third yells ''No one will miss that old nuisance!''
''The village is throwing a party to celebrate!'' The fourth Viking says.
The Vikings in question shrink in their seats hoping to disappear, especially when a certain mother starts twirling a knife whilst glaring at them. Where was she getting all those knifes anyways?
Stoick is stunned, overwhelmed by the insensitivity. He turns to Gobber.
''He's... gone?'' Stoick asks his face unusually white.
''Yeah...most afternoons. But who can blame him? I mean the life of a celebrity is very rough. He can barely walk through the village without being swarmed by his new fans.''
Stoick is doubly confused. ''Hiccup?'' Stoick asks doubtfully.
''Who would've thought, eh? He has this...way with the beasts.'' Gobber says practically beaming.
''That he has'' Astrid says.
That afternoon Toothless and Hiccup soar through a perfect blue sky. Billowing clouds rise like mountains. The ground seems miles below them.
''Wow'' All Vikings, excluding the gang, say in awe of the beautiful scene.
''Okay there bud, we're gonna take this nice and slow'' Hiccup says to Toothless.
Hiccup checks a leather cheat sheet, clipped onto his harness. Inscribed upon it are several tail positions and their pedal position equivalents.
''Here we go. Here we go...position three, no four'' He presses the pedal, causing the tail to flare. They roll off into an arcing bank, gloriously lit by the late afternoon sun.
Hiccup tucks tight against his neck, thrilled that his new harness and vest are holding. The foot controls make the tail appendage quick and responsive. He watches Toothless' every fluctuation, trying to match it with the prosthetic. Hiccup sizes up a target, a towering arch of stone rising from the sea.
''What is he planning?'' Gobber asks.
''Alright, it's go time. It's go time.'' They dive toward it, lining up to pass through the arch. ''Come on. Come on buddy. Come on buddy!''
They zip through the arch. A perfect maneuver.
''Yeah! Yes, it worked!''
The triumph is short-lived however as they smack into one of several sea stacks when Hiccup tries, but it unable to keep up with the turns.
Toothless grumbles.
''Oeh…''
''Aw!''
''That had ta hurt'' Vikings and dragons alike say grimacing at the crash.
''Sorry.'' Hiccup says to Toothless.
They hurtle into another rock pillar. Toothless grumbles.
''My fault.'' Hiccup says.
''I know'' Toothless says.
Toothless swats him with his 'ear' plate.
''Yeah, yeah, I'm on it.'' Hiccup says referring to the cheat sheet. ''Position four, no three.''
They pierce the clouds. For the first time, Hiccup can see the whole of the island below them. It shrinks with every passing second. He swallows hard and tightens his grip on the handles.
''Yeah! Go baby! Yes! Oh, this is amazing! The wind in my...'' Hiccup says elated. Then he spots the leather guide tearing free in the turbulence. ''... Cheat Sheet! Stop!'' Hiccup finishes panicked.
Hiccup grabs frantically for the airborne sheet...
''No!''
... and nabs it before it's carried out of reach. Toothless, however, obeys the command and suddenly stops beating his wings. As they slow to a stop, Hiccup goes weightless. The rings of his vest float off of the harness hooks. Hiccup suddenly finds himself detached, free-falling.
''Oh gods! Oh no!''
''Well at least we don't have to panic'' Snotlout says
''How so he's falling?!'' Valka asks incredulous.
''Cause he lives-'' Snot begins.
''To save us all'' Astrid quickly finishes afraid that Snotlout we'll say something involving Hiccups death.
''Oh. Really? He saves all your lives in the future?'' Valka asks amazed. Everyone nods their heads dragons and Vikings alike, not able to look the mother in her eyes though as they confirm this fact.
Without Hiccup, the tail loses control. Hiccup and Toothless spiral downward. Toothless fights to get back under Hiccup.
''Alright, okay. You just gotta kinda angle yourself. No, no...come back down towards me. Come back down-'' Hiccup says trying to calm Toothless. Hiccup extends his arms and legs, giving himself as much surface area as he can. He angles back towards Toothless as the tumbling dragon whacks Hiccup with his wing.
''Oi that musta hurt.'' Spitelout says.
After a few more misses, Hiccup finally grabs hold of the harness and manages to lock in just in time to pull Toothless out of his dive... barely shy of the tree tops. They careen past the wooded cliff and directly into a treacherous slalom course of jutting sea stacks. Hiccup pulls the cheat sheet from his teeth and attempts to check positions. It flaps violently in the turbulence, making it impossible.
With no time to think, Hiccup throws it away and steers Toothless' tail on instinct... with perfect intuition. Together, they manage a tight, hair-razing series of split second turns, making it to the open water, unscathed.
Hiccup takes a breath and glances back at the death-defying obstacle course, now safely behind them. He beams, relieved. He sits back and throws his arms up in victory.
''Yeeahhh!'' He yells. Toothless concurs with a happy squeal and a fireball. Hiccup's glee turn to dread as they fly directly into it.
''Ah, come on.'' Hiccup says as his face is covered in soot and his hair sticks out every which way.
Everyone bursts out laughing at Hiccups face and hair, temporarily forgetting about what's to come.
At sunset Hiccup and Toothless lounge on a sprawling, deserted beach, snacking of freshly caught fish. As Hiccup cooks his over a fire, Toothless suddenly regurgitates a fish head. Hiccup smirks with forced politeness.
''Uh..no thanks. I'm good.'' Hiccup says gesturing to his fish on a stick.
''I don't understand why he always burns his food'' Toothless says.
Several Terrible Terrors land like seagulls, hissing and nipping at each other as they approach Toothless' pile of fish. One grabs the regurgitated fish head and drags it away.
Another attempts to steal it from him. They face off and last fire balls at each other to settle the fight. Hiccup and Toothless watch, amused. That is until...
Toothless spots one of his fish leaving the pile. A stealthy Terrible Terror is exposed as the thief. They tug on the fish, and it snaps back into Toothless' mouth. He swallows it back tauntingly.
''Sharing is caring'' Valka says.
''Whoever said I cared?'' Toothless answers.
Irate, the little dragon paws at the ground and prepares to blast at Toothless. He opens his mouth, the gas hiss comes, and Toothless fires a tiny flame straight into its mouth, causing the gas to backfire into the little dragon. It coughs up smoke and staggers away, looking ill. Hiccup laughs.
''Not so fireproof on the inside, are you?'' Hiccup asks before throwing the hapless Terror his freshly cooked fish.'' Here you go.''
The appreciative little dragon gulps down the meal and approaches Hiccup cautiously. He curls up next to him. Hiccup is amazed.
''Everything we know about you guys is wrong.'' Hiccup says as he carefully pets him... sending the Terror into an immediate, blissful sleep.
''I wan a terrr…rrror momma, can I can I pwease momma?'' A 3 year old Viking asks his mother.
Before the mother has a chance to answer, a young red terror flies over and curls herself around the three year old making the child squeal with joy.
''This is my human hatchling'' The terror hisses menacingly to no one in particular.
The child on the other hand not noticing any of this grabs the terrors head kisses it and exclaims ''I wove you!'' making the terror purr loudly.
That night at the blacksmith stall hiccup is lost in thought, his head laid of a desk full of toothless drawings. Burdened with the weight of the world when Stoick suddenly appears in the doorway. Hiccup jumps and quickly covers up his desk.
''Dad! You're back! He skirts the bench, blocking Stoick's view of Toothless, the prosthetic fin, and other drawings.'' Hiccup says a bit panicked. ''Gobber's not here, so...'' He says striking an awkward casual pose, trying to cover up as much as possible.
''I know. I came looking for you.'' Stoick says.
''You did?'' Hiccup asks nervously.
''You've been keeping secrets.'' Stoick says sternly.
Hiccup's legs give out. He slides, dragging the table's contents with him. ''I...have?''
''He has'' Stoick grumbles.
''Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?'' Stoick asks.
''I don't know what you're...'' Hiccup tries to say in vain.
''Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it.'' Stoick states.
''Oh?'' Hiccup says weakly.
''So.'' Stoick says
Beat.
''Let's talk about that dragon.''
Blood drains from Hiccup's face.
''What you knew?''
''How did you know?''
''I thought you found out at his final exam?!''
Stoick doesn't respond knowing the confusion will be cleared up in a minute.
''Oh gods. Dad I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how to-''
Stoick starts laughing. Big, booming. Hiccup stares, baffled.
In the theater some are gaping at the screen others looking back and forth between the screen and Stoick and others are looking baffled just like the on screen Hiccup does.
''You're not...upset?'' Hiccup asks.
''What?! I was hoping for this!'' Stoick exclaims happily.
''Ya were?!''
''You were!?''
''What?!''
''Uh...you were?'' Hiccup asks utterly confused but happy.
''And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait till you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time.'' Hiccup's elated expression sinks as Stoick continues, excited to be able to bond with his son over a shared skill.
''Ah''
''That sounds more like ya, Stoick''
''Poor Hiccup''
The Deadly Nadders squawk indigently.
''And mount your first Gronckle head on a spear. What a feeling!'' Stoick laughs and smacks Hiccup on the shoulder, sending him into the wall.
Many wince at the force of the smack especially Stoick himself not having realized how rough he had been with Hiccup.
''Careful with the hatchling male, they're very fragile'' Meatlug states letting the whole 'mount your first Gronckle head on a spear' thing slide for now.
''You really had me going there, son. All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen! Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you!''
''You almost gave up on our son did you?'' Valka asks frowning.
''I didn't mean it like that.''
''But that's what you said, and straight to our sons face'' Valka says shaking her head sadly and looking away from Stoick. 'Oh how her poor son must've felt all those years'
Hiccup gets back up, grimacing at the irony of it all.
''And all the while, you were holding out on me! Thor almighty!'' Stoick grabs a stool and sits. His massive frame nearly fills the tiny room. ''Ahhhhh. With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about.'' Stoick says relieved.
''You were glad you could finally connect with Hiccup over something'' Valka says getting hit with the realization.
Pregnant pause. Hiccup averts his eyes nervously. Stoick adjusts, awkwardly clearing his throat.
''Awkwaaard'' the twins drag out, gaining a lot of glares and an ear pull from their mother.
'I should've helped Stoick out more after Valka died, it was clear then as it is now that he didn't know how to raise a child alone' Mala thinks ashamed that she and her husband didn't take the father and son duo under her wing.
'I can't imagine me and Snotlout struggling just to talk like this…'' Spitelout thinks sympathizing with his brother and nephew. 'Hiccup might be a little, okay a lot different but to think that their relationship disintegrated into this was unimaginable.'
After a long, uncomfortable silence...
''Oh, I... brought you something.'' Stoick says as he presents a horned helmet. ''To keep you safe in the ring.''
''Wow. Thanks.'' Hiccup says sincerely. He accepts it, looking it over.
''Your mother would've wanted you to have it. It's half of her breast plate.'' Stoick says heartfelt. Stoick taps his own helmet and smiles. ''Matching set. Keeps her close, y'know?'' Hiccup eyes the mismatched helmets, grimacing.
''You didn't'' Valka says grimacing, touched but also mildly disgusted.
''Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal.'' Stoick beams with pride. Hiccup squirms forcing a yawn to swindle his way out of this awkward situation.
''I should really get to bed.''
''Yes! Good!''
''Okay. Good talk.''
''See you back at the house. We should do this again.''
''I'm Great. Thanks for stopping-''
''Glad I stopped by, I hope you like the-''
''by and for the... the uh, like the hat.''
''breast hat.'' Stoick and Hiccup say talking over each other.
''Well.. uh.. good night.'' Stoick leaves the room awkwardly, leaving Hiccup looking more burdened than ever.
''Poor lad looks like he has the weight of the world on 'im '' Gobber says.
'I can't even imagine me and my dad talking like this…' Fishlegs thinks, comparing the awkward father and son duo on screen to him and his own father. 'How lonely Hiccup must've felt, unlike Stoick he really had no one on his side for so long.'
Afternoon the next day a Gronckle hovers above the ring of the training grounds, hunting for victims as the teen recruits scramble. Astrid ducks behind a barrier to find Hiccup already there. She forces her axe at his throat.
''Stay out of my way! I'm winning this thing.'' Astrid says threateningly.
''Please, by all means.'' Hiccup replies.
''He wanted to lose.'' Stoick says realizing this for the first time.
She darts off, closing fast on the dragon. the crowd above cheers her on.
''You got it Astrid!'' Vikings in crowd yell.
Hiccup stands and looks around. Amidst the crowd of onlookers, Stoick watches keenly, beaming with pride. He locks eyes with Hiccup, giving him a nod of encouragement. Hiccup adjusts his new helmet and forces a half-hearted smile.
''He just wants to make his dad proud.'' Valka says, dismayed to see the relationship her husband and son have. Remembering how Stoick proudly showed Hiccup off to 2 visiting chiefs a few weeks ago, boasting and celebrating about every minor thing he did.
Unbeknownst to Hiccup, the Gronckle spots him and makes a bee-line toward him.
The camera moves back to Astrid... as she catches her breath behind a barrier. She scowls, focused, determined. ''This time. This time for sure.'' with a fierce battle-cry she leaps from cover, axe cocked to throw.
''Aaaaaaaaaa...'' And as she clears the barriers, she sees that Hiccup has already laid the Gronckle out. ''...aaaaaaauGGGGGHHHHHHHH! No! No!''
'If only she could learn that there's more to life than just killing dragon' Astrids aunt muses. Her husband and Astrids favorite uncle had been killed in a raid when Astrid was still but a wee-lass. From that day on the girl had taken it upon herself to avenge his death, even when it started taking over every part of her life.
Hiccup shrugs, as unhappy with the situation as she is.
''No! No! Son of halftroll rat eating munge bucket!''
''Language young lady'' Mala says sternly.
''Sorry ma'' Astrid replies embarrassed by her outburst.
A loud clack rings out. From the crowd above, Gothi, the village elder, steps forward, tapping her staff. Everyone lights up excitedly.
''Wait! Wait!'' Stoick says as Hiccup tries to make a break for it.
''So, later?..'' Hiccup says whilst making his way to the exit.
But Gobber snags Hiccup before he manages to leave. ''Not so fast'' He says.
''I'm kinda late for-'' Hiccup tries to say.
''What? Late for what exactly?'' Astrid asks livid.
''Temper temper'' Toothless teases making Astrid glare at him and Stormfly nip his ear in defense of her hatchling.
Stoick holds out his hands to silence the jabbering crowd. ''Okay quiet down. The elder has decided'' Stoick says.
Thrilled, Gobber stands behind Hiccup and Astrid. He points to Astrid as the crowd waits in silent anticipation. Gothi shakes her head 'no.' The crowd 'Oooohs.' Gobber then points to Hiccup. The elder nods an affirmative 'yes.' The crowd erupts in cheers and Astrid turns a seething, deadly glare on Hiccup.
''You've done it! You've done it, Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!'' Gobber exclaims excitedly.
''Ha, ha! That's my boy!'' Stoick says full of pride.
Hiccup is hoisted onto the recruits' shoulders and carried out to the cheering spectators...
''Heh, heh. Oh yeah! Yes! I can't wait. I am so...'' hiccup says masking panic.
''So what?'' Tuff asks.
''How should I know?'' Ruff snips back annoyed.
''Who said I asked you trollface?!''
''Did you just call me 'trollface' Ratbutt?!''
''Aaaagh'' Tuff and Ruff scream as they charge each other only to headbutt before being lifted in the air by Barf and Belch just out of each other's reach. Doesn't stop them from desperately kicking and punching the air trying to reach each other though, much to everyone else's amusement and two parents embarrassment.
Authors notes:
Well this was chapter 4 hope you enjoyed it.
''Author out'' symbolic mic drop.
Rapid pitter patter of footsteps.
Snatches mic from the floor.
''Still have to rewrite/edit 4 more chapters…sigh. See ya'll in chapter 5.''
Dramatic and rapid typing sounds start up ones again.
