SIX:

After a second try at a dress rehearsal where Mr Mulch had shouted at the entire class-including Hiccup-and run an uncharacteristically bad-tempered run through, the class were finally gathered on the big day of the one and only performance of "Berk High's Cinderella'. To everyone's dismay, the whole of the school was invited so in preference to classes, the whole of all four years of Berk High were seated in the Hall along with the parents of the performers all waiting eagerly.

"Okay-is everybody ready?" Hiccup asked. He had his annoted script, tissues, laces, duck tape and a box of powder in his pocket and was twitchy and nervous, trying to ensure that everything would go smoothly. Astrid was already ready, in her ragged light blue dress, her ballgown hanging from the rail in the wings. Snotlout was fussing, his huge pink wig and overstuffed chest jostling everyone as he went by. His multiple costume changes were all hanging on a rail by Astrid's gown, precisely laid out so he could change in moments. The twins were giggling, casting worrying glances at Hiccup and then laughing and Cami stomped by in a cloud of tulle, her hair improbably tamed and coiled in an elegant knot on top of her head. A wand was clamped in her hand as she sought out Heather, grinning as she saw her girlfriend looking poised in a long sleeved white shirt, deep blue thigh length waistcoat and grey breeches with black knee length boots, her long raven hair pulled back into a tight folded club at the nape of her neck and tied with a silver bow.

"You look amazing, babe," she smiled and Heather blushed.

"I make a pretty awesome boy," she smirked but Cami slapped her rump and she yelped.

"You'd need a bit of sock stuffing if you were serious," the blonde chuckled and stomped to her position behind the curtains as the narrator. The cast all pulled back to their positions, with Eret and Thuggory sneering at Hiccup and making comments at Astrid. Hiccup shushed them and they shared a glance and slank off to the back of backstage, for they weren't on for a few minutes. The sounds of the music blared through the speakers and the audience quietened as Queen's "It's a kind of magic" played and then faded and the curtains pulled back. Cami stood in the middle of the stage and twiddled with her wand. She looked up, saw the audience and grinned.

"Oh hey!" she said.

"I'm the Fairy Godmother. My name is Fay.

I'm here to start the tale of woe-

that not so very long ago

a young girl lost her her beloved Dad

it really was very sad.

His new wife, her step mother,

had her own children, two other

step-sisters, cruel and mean

times for Cinders became very lean,

they stole her home and all her she had

everything she had left by Dad.

Instead she slaves among the dirt

doing all the menial work

so among the ashes for now she stays

until she can one day find a way

to change her fortune and win the day…

In other words, to get away.

So now the précis is out the way

Let us present our humble play…"

Waving her wand, the curtain behind her raised to reveal the kitchen set and Gustav, sitting at the table, looking around warily in case the twins had boobytrapped the set as a scattering of applause sounded from the impressed parents. Pulling himself together, he began his speech and waved at the audience.

"So now you're my friends, I want you to do something for me," he said. "When I come on and say 'Hello Everybody' I want you to reply 'Hello Buttons, how's it going?'. Can you do that?"

There was a silence. Gustav cupped his ear.

"I can't hear you!" he announced. "I said-can you do it?"

There was a faint mumbling of 'yes' as the audience looked at one another. The large flatscreen that had been placed by the side of the stage flashed up advising 'Yes we can!'

"I said, I can't hear you," Gustav grinned. "Great Thor-did they put anaesthetic in the air con? I said-Can You Do It?"

"Yes we can!"

"Oh no you can't," Gustav challenged them.

"Oh yes we can!" the audience yelled getting into it.

"Oh no you can't!" Gustav yelled happily.

"OH YES WE CAN!" the entire audience roared and Gustav grinned and gave them a double thumbs up as Hiccup fist-pumped in the wings, relieved that they had got the idea. Though Berkians were generally stubborn and argumentative, they loved shouting and an entertaining show.

"I believe you!" he announced. "Now where is Cinderella?" and Astrid walked in, her arms full of firewood, an axe in one hand.

Hiccup sat back as 'Cinderella' explained how busy she was and how many tasks she had still to do. Gustav-or 'Buttons the Page'-offered to help her and then had to hide in the cupboard as the Cook appeared. There were laughs as Snotlout bumbled into the set, his padded shape in the pink and white striped dress, hugely padded bust and enormous pink wig with a cotton cap on top.

"Lawks a lordy!" he exclaimed, flapping his rouged face as Hiccup silently cheered him for finally getting the line right. "I'm all of a tizzy! Those sisters are the most ill-mannered, rude, mean people in the whole Kingdom of Berk!" He collapsed into the rocking chair and flapped his face. As the scene continued. Snotlout launched into his song, moaning about his lot. 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' was greeted by cheers and whooping and the stocky boy was grinning from ear to ear before he pulled himself together and got back into part.

The scene changed to the centre of the town as Heather as Selina, a young woman with no money who was pretending to be young man, Cedric, to try to get a job and then runs into Fishlegs, the Prince's courtier, Arnold. Pretending to be a man, she was hired as a courtier as well and found Arnold becoming her friend. And then in the wings, Cami sidled closer to Hiccup as the scene changed back to the kitchen and the twins as the Ugly Sisters hamming it up. As Mulch had hoped and Hiccup had worked hard to achieve, the twins were amazing-loud, with perfect timing and completely inappropriate. The audience were laughing loudly and the laughter got even louder as Snotlout returned in his garish dress, playing the stressed cook.

Hearing the laughter and seeing the fun his classmates were having, Hiccup felt another pang of disappointment that all he was doing was directing but it was too late now. Mulch would know his contribution-but his father wouldn't have to thrill of seeing his only child up on stage. He sighed and backed away as Phlegma appeared as the Evil Stepmother to the boisterous hisses and boos of the audience. And then Cami grabbed his arm.

"We have a problem!" she hissed. Hiccup tensed. "Eret and Thuggory have gone missing-and they're on next!"

"What?" he hissed.

"Gone. Vanished. Evaporated. They're nowhere to be found!" she explained with a grin.

"What? How?"

"Look-no point worrying-you gotta cover for the Prince," Cami said urgently and glanced over at Gustav. The youngest member of the class grabbed Hiccup and hauled him to the rail, gesturing to a costume hanging there. Hiccup frowned because he had never seen it before: white shirt, gold waistcoat, deep green frock coat, lighter green breeches and shiny brown boots.

"Unless you want the Panto to come screeching to a halt, you need to get changed!" Gustav hissed and glancing round and wondering when Eret was going to jump out and sneer at him, Hiccup rested his clipboard and script down on a chair and stripped his sweater off, revealing his lean, pale, lightly freckled torso. He swiftly pulled the shirt on and then looked at the other two.

"A little privacy, please?' he murmured and refused to move until they turned round, when he stripped off his jeans and pulled on the breeches and boots, struggling but managing to get his prosthetic into the boot. Tucking the shirt in, he pulled on the waistcoat and fastened it up and tied a gold cravat around his throat. Cami adjusted her position so she could get a better view in the mirror she was using to watch the whole process and smiled: Hiccup looked amazing in the outfit that Tuff had sewn for him. Even though I'm not buying, no harm in window shopping, she thought with a smirk as he fastened up his waistcoat. Unable to help herself, she turned round and Hiccup yelped as she invaded his personal space, grabbing his shoulder, dusting his face with powder, running her fingers through his messy auburn hair and tugging it back into a very small ponytail which she secured with a black bow.

"You look perfect," she hissed, glancing onto the stage and seeing 'Cook' chasing the twins around with a broom and then off the stage. "And you're on!" Glancing over at Heather and Fishlegs, who were entering from the opposite side of the stage, Hiccup took a deep breath and walked forward, smiling as the other two greeted him with bows and smiles. Focussing only on the other two and acting the scene as he had watched Eret in the past, he opened his mouth and confidently said his first line.

In the audience, Stoick sat with jaw dropped and mouth open, staring as his son confidently bantered with the two 'courtiers' about the King's orders to attend the Ball and find a wife, poised and smiling as he effortlessly inhabited the part. Gobber, his best friend from Elementary School who had lost a hand and a foot in the army and had helped him since his wife had died, leaned close, his blue eyes twinkling and long braided blonde moustache swinging as he moved.

"Ye didnae tell me that the laddie was in this shindig," he whispered loudly. Stoick stared as Hiccup grinned at his friends and joined them in singing 'There is nothing like a dame'.

"I-I didn't know," he murmured. "He told me they didn't have a part for him…" Gobber grinned.

"Looks like they got the perfect part fer him," he pointed out, watching Hiccup performing the song in absolute synchronicity with the other two. Heather winked at the audience, who knew that 'Cedric' actually was a 'dame'. At the end of the number, the three walked off, chatting amiably to huge applause, led by the Mayor who was astonished and overjoyed by his son's performance.

Breathing hard and shocked at where he had found the courage to stand in front of so many people and act with no practice or preparation (apart from practicing the performance with almost every other cast member), Hiccup stopped as he arrived in the wings and faced Astrid, who was waiting for her cue. She caught his hands and grinned, then reached up on tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

"You were amazing," she whispered. "I knew you would be."

"That makes one of us," he mumbled as she swatted his shoulder gently.

"Muttonhead," she whispered with a smile. "You know this part-you practiced all of the second Act with me while I was learning my lines." He looked at her and then he heard the words from stage.

"You're on!" he hissed and she dodged onto the stage, resuming her part as the feisty Cinderella when Phlegma as the wicked StepMother and the twins as the Stepsisters received the Prince's invitation for the Ball. Cedric made sure that Cinderella knew she was invited and as the family prepared for the Ball, she was prevented from going, her dress ruined and she was eventually locked in the cupboard by the twins who grinned and dropped the key in the jar, leaving 'Cinderella' trapped. Buttons and Cook released her, with the help of the audience who yelled where the key was hidden, using the traditional shouts of 'It's behind you!' Once released, she showed them her wrecked ball dress that had been her dead mother's and touched, they tried to offer her one of Cook's insanely ridiculous dresses to go to the Ball and though Cinderella tried it on, she looked ridiculous. Forcing herself to smile, she thanked them but knew it was hopeless so she remained sadly sitting by the fire as they headed down to the Pub.

Hiccup altered the lighting, subduing the lights and switching on Cami's spotlight. There was a pause and she pranced on. Hiccup watched the transformation of Cinderella from ragged skivvy to beautiful Princess in her sparkling gown. As Cami waved Astrid off in the pumpkin coach, the sounds of 'Dancing Queen' rang out and the curtain came down at the end of the first Act.

Staring across the cast, Hiccup frowned.

"Okay-where are Eret and Thuggory?" he demanded as they all looked at him. Most were drinking a little water and looking for their Second Act costumes. The twins shared a look.

"They decided they didn't want to be in the Pantomime any more," Ruff said simply, dragging off her orange dress and pulling on a garish purple one, covered with far too many frills and ruffs and a huge lemon yellow bow on the tush.

"Yeah, they just cleared out and poof! Gone…" Tuff agreed, getting into his scarlet dress with the pale blue bow. He was wearing a very bouffant blue wig as well.

"Now, I know they want to be in this because they want their credits towards Graduation," Hiccup said sternly, folding his arms. "Especially since they have done absolutely nothing to earn them…"

"Well, they're not here now," Cami commented. Looking carefully round, Hiccup gave them all an exasperated look.

"Guys-they need these credits as well," he told them as his emerald glaze swept the group. "We need to give them the chance to take part…" Cami huffed.

"Okay-well, Gustav, Snot and I will go because you are all in the Ballroom scene!" she said firmly.

"But…"

"It's going brilliantly!" Mr Mulch said enthusiastically. "I wasn't aware you had recast but I am impressed, Hiccup. You're really getting the Prince better than Eret ever did. I like the decisiveness you have showed as Director after the last rehearsal-good work! Now five minutes to the next Act!"

"But I…"

"And the change of songs is inspired," Mulch said. Hiccup blushed. The rather disastrous Dress Rehearsals hadn't covered the music and he had worked hard to get the gang singing as well as they could. "I am impressed at how well you are all working as a team. Keep up the good work!" He gave a double thumbs-up and vanished. Hiccup glared at Cami, Gustav and Snotlout.

"Please find out what happened to Eret and Thuggory!" he said and hurried to get to his position on the other side of the stage as they three headed round the back. Snotlout stopped and folded his arms, scowling…though the effect was diminished by his huge pink wig.

"Okay, spill," he demanded. "Those guys would never bail when they could get credits for doing next to nothing!" Gustav and Cami shared a look and then she sighed.

"The twins trapped them in the janitor's closet and locked the door," she explained. Snotlout tilted his head.

"Uh…why?" he asked.

"To give Hiccup a chance," Cami explained.

"But why?"

"Because he's helped us all, because he deserves it and because he's going out with Astrid so he deserves to kiss her in front of the whole school-because frankly, it's the only way we'll ever get him to admit they're an item," Cami told him.

"But…but she's really hot and he's Hiccup!" he protested.

"Snot-who's the star of this show?" Gustav asked him. The stocky young man adjusted his overstuffed bust and then planted his hands on his hips.

"The Panto Dame-me, obviously!" he replied.

"And who allowed you to get in touch with your feminine side and gave you the confidence to act?" Cami asked him pointedly.

"I mean-when we started, you didn't want to be Cook," Gustav pointed out. "And now-look at you. Completely awesome, acting your socks off, singing, dancing and getting the biggest laughs in the show."

There was a thoughtful pause.

"I know my Dad will be shocked but honestly, I have never enjoyed School so much…apart from Football," he admitted. "And this was the only way I could ever hope to pass English. And I think I want to do this again…" He glanced in the direction of the janitor's closet. "And they will mess it up, won't they?"

Cami and Gustav nodded in unison. Snotlout glanced around, hearing the sounds of banging on the door and shouts of 'Let us out!'.

"No sign of them anywhere," he said decisively. "Right-back to the set. Don't want to be late for our cues!"

Meanwhile, the Second Act had started at the Ball with the twins singing 'It's Raining Men!' and then throwing themselves at an awkward-looking Hiccup, who needed "Cedric' and 'Arnold' to protect him. Just as they reminded him he needed to dance with one of them, Astrid as Cinderella arrived, looking beautiful in a full length blue ballgown, strewn with sequins and crystals, her hair braided into a coil on the back of her head, glass slippers gleaming on her feet. The strains of 'Love is a Many Splendour'd Thing' rang out as they locked eyes and they both smiled and walked to meet each other, clasping hands as the band struck up. And not the planned waltz but 'She Bangs'. Fishlegs grabbed Ruffnut's hand and Tuff partnered with Heather as they all launched into a very impressive Tango.

The entire audience were on their feet as they finished, breathing hard. Stoick had a smile on his face that looked as if it would crack in two.

"Ye never told me the laddie could dance," Gobber pointed out between whistling and cheering.

"I never knew," Stoick murmured. "Especially since…" He swallowed. "He must have got it from Val."

"And that lass is perfect for him," Gobber commented sagely. "He looks genuinely happy."

"He is," his father noted with a smile as the audience finally took their seats. "He's gotten to dance with that lass he really likes." And he was smiling as he and Astrid gently sparred, trying to find out her name and she just introduced herself as 'Blondie'. Smiling, Hiccup leaned forward.

"Can I say something crazy?" he asked.

"I love crazy," Astrid grinned, catching his meaning. Hiccup took her hands and gently began to sing.

"All my life has been a series of doors in my face, and then suddenly I bump into you."

"I was thinking the same thing!" Astrid sang back.

"'Cause like I've been searching my whole life to find my own place, And maybe it's the party talking or the chocolate fondue…But with you…"

"But with you," Astrid sang, swaying with the music. "I found my place…"

"I see your face.." Hiccup continued. "And it's nothing like I've ever known before! Love is an open door!"

"Love is an open door!" Astrid echoed.

"Love is an open door…" they sang together. And then Hiccup grinned, taking her hand. "I mean it's crazy…"

"What?" Astrid asked.

"We finish each other's-"

"Sandwiches!" Astrid interrupted with a laugh. Hiccup leaned close.

"That's what I was gonna say!" he sang. "I've never met someone-"

"Who thinks so much like me!" they both said at the same time and laughed. "Jinx! Jinx again! Our mental synchronization Can have but one explanation…"

"You…"

"And I…"

"Were…"

"Just…"

"Meant to be!" they sang together, hands clasped as they gently danced together. "Say goodbye...To the pain of the past. We don't have to feel it anymore! Love is an open door! Love is an open door! Life can be so much more. Meant to be! Say goodbye...To the pain of the past

We don't have to feel it anymore! Love is an open door! Love is an open door! Life can be so much more! With you! With you! Love is an open door…" They rested their hands flat against one another's and stared into one another's eyes.

"Love is an open door," Hiccup sang gently and closed his hands, his fingers slipping to lace with hers. There were 'awws' from the audience. Then he smiled. "Can I say something crazy?" he asked her gently. "Will you marry me?"

Astrid smiled and opened her mouth…

And then the clock began to chime Midnight. She gasped and then glanced at the door-before looking back into Hiccup's eyes.

"I gotta go!" she gasped and broke away.

"Wait!" he cried. "When can I see you again?"

"Never!" she said and ran from the Ballroom, leaving a glass slipper behind. Hiccup dropped to his knees and held it tenderly as he stared after 'Cinderella' and the curtains closed. When they opened, they were back in the kitchen with Cook and 'Buttons' by the fire. The panto sped on with the proclamation that the Prince was coming round to see who would fit the glass slipper-and he would marry her. Hiccup aced the song of 'She' when he arrived at the House to huge applause and then the Stepmother realised who he was talking about. Astrid was locked in a closet by her before she could make herself known and the twins tried on the glass slipper without success. But Buttons released 'Cinderella' and as she came forward for her turn, the Evil Stepmother caused Arnold to drop the slipper and it smashed…only for 'Cinderella' to produce the other glass slipper and try it on to prove she was the mystery woman 'Blondie'. The twins were wailing and crying at losing their chance as Prince Hiccup asked 'Cinderella' to marry him. And this time, she said 'Yes'.

The audience cheered.

The final scene was the wedding with Hiccup and Astrid holding hands and kissing tenderly, both wearing crowns as Cedric reveals he is a girl and Arnold asks her to marry him.

Suddenly, there was a commotion and very dishevelled Eret and Thuggory burst through the scenery, their gazes locking on the shape of Hiccup. Thuggory was bright green-even down to his eyelashes-and Eret appeared to have feathers stuck all over him, causing an outbreak of laughter from the audience who were eager to see what happened next. Eret drew his arm back even as Astrid was yelling 'Watch Out!' and punched the auburn-haired young man. He staggered backwards and fell off the stage.

"That's for locking us in a closet!" Eret yelled.

"Hey-he didn't!" Cami shouted back as Astrid glared at him.

"You know what, you self-important ass?" she snapped. "No one missed you! Hiccup was a far better Prince and an infinitely superior person than you!"

"Bet you missed me with the kiss," he scoffed.

"Not for a second," she snapped and grabbed her gown, lifting it as she landed a furious kick in his middle and a second to the face. He flew back and impacted the floor hard. The twins threw themselves at Thuggory and jumped him, with Ruff wrapping herself around his shoulders while he tried to hit Tuff. The male twin desperately searched his pocket as Thuggory grabbed his collar and tossed a packet of grey powder in his face. Instantly everyone began to sneeze.

"Muttonhead!" Ruff managed between three sneezes. "That was the Super-Strength Sneezalot! You're only supposed to use a pinch!"

"Gettoff me!" Thuggory sneezed and threw Ruff-though Fishlegs managed to catch her. She instantly wrapped her arms around him and launched into a frenzied kiss that had the husky guy flailing for air. Snotlout threw himself at Thuggory and suddenly punches were flying before Heather and Cami leapt at Eret, who was trying to get up and clothes-lined him. He went down again. Astrid, meanwhile, had scrambled off the stage and was crouching by Hiccup, who was winded and pressing a hand to his bruised face.

"Are you okay, babe?" she asked, gently helping him sit up. He winced.

"Oww!" he protested. "Why did he hit me? What happened? Who locked him in a closet?" Astrid glanced up at the stage and saw Tuffnut and Snotlout trying to pin Thuggory while Heather, Gustav and Cami were lying on top of Eret.

"I would give you three guesses but I don't think we need to ask," she sighed. "Sorry, babe-it was going so well." Heather glanced down.

"We were all in on it-except Snotlout and he helped Gustav not free them once we told him what was going on," she called, wrestling with Eret and liberally pouring 'Thorstons' Patented No Relief' itching powder all over him. He yelled and frantically started scratching. Cami scrambled to her knees, her dress ripped and an eye bruised.

"Yeah-you did so much for us all in this Pantomime that we thought you deserved the part you should be playing-the Prince," she said.

"I mean, we kind of saw you and Astrid together and thought she would be happier kissing you than that ass Eret," Ruff added, her hand clamped around Fishlegs's.

"She's not wrong there," Astrid commented, helping Hiccup to his feet.

"You helped everyone and were so patient when we were so awful that we decided we would do our absolute best to make this a success," Gustav added, scratching his arm where he had caught a little itching powder as well.

"And it was going so well until they burst in and ruined it," Heather sighed. Hiccup looked up and saw the audience unsure what to do but hanging on everyone's words.

"No, they didn't," he said firmly, rubbing his bruised jaw. "You were all great-and I think we gave the audience a great show…except…Cami…you need to do the end narration…"

Cami looked up from where she was sitting on the edge of the stage and grinned at the stunned audience. She thought quickly because the original script certainly didn't cover this brawl.

"And now our little play is done

We hope that you have had some fun.

Evil is conquered and true love won.

Cinderella has her Mister Right

And we all bid you a good night

While we continue with this fight!"

The curtain came down as the audience, rather hesitantly, began to cheer, There were still curses and the curtain was being moved by the continuing brawl but the audience decided it had probably ended and they all got to their feet, clapping and cheering. Astrid helped Hiccup back up onto the stage and they took their bows as the rest of the cast gradually-and in various states of disrepair-appeared to thank the audience. Snotlout had a black eye and had lost one of his chests but got the biggest cheer of them all, alongside Hiccup and Astrid and as the cast finally trailed behind the curtain once more, the cheers slowly died down.

Mulch was beaming from ear to ear as he popped through the curtains and grinned at his cast-apart from the two jocks who were sneezing and itching respectively.

"Well done everyone-As all round except Mister Haddock who gets A+ and Eret and Thuggory…you can see me after the holidays and explain why you decided to disrupt the play right at the end. If you had an issue, you come to me. You do NOT try to ruin the others' hard work by your behaviour!" Then he looked up. "By the way, the audience is still cheering-you should take a final bow!"

So the gang all filed out, Hiccup and Astrid in the middle and took a final bow to the cheers of the audience. Stoick was looking so proud that Hiccup felt his heart soar: all he had ever wanted was to make his father proud and he was so happy that he had been given the chance-by his friends, no less, when he had least expected it. Then he turned to look into Astrid's eyes.

"You know-the twins have tied some mistletoe over the centre of the proscenium arch," Astrid murmured. "Seems a shame to waste it…" So he leaned forward, took her in his arms and kissed her for all he was worth to the cheers, whoops and whistles of the entire school and the unmistakeable sounds of Stoick yelling 'That's my boy!' When they finally pulled back, both were breathing hard and smiling stupidly.

"Merry Christmas, Hiccup," Astrid smiled and he grinned back.

"Merry Christmas, Milady," he said.

The End

A/N And Merry Christmas to you all.

A/N #2 "Love Is an Open Door" is a song written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez for Walt Disney Animation Studios's 53rd animated feature film Frozen.