Chapter 8

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. HIGH SEAS - DAWN

A painted DRAGON, with a sword run through it. It's the billowing sail of Stoick's ship. Stoick hovers over the familiar nautical map - his eyes on the uncharted corner, swirling in mist and illustrations of dragons.

STOICK

I can almost smell them. They're close. Steady.

Stoick raises his gaze to...

"Oi, we bathe!" Many of the dragons yell at Stoick clearly offended.

"More often than we do" Hiccup says dryly, earning a chuckle from the dragons.

AN EPIC FOG BANK, towering from sky to sea like a bruised, daunting curtain, beyond which nothing is visible. The three ships drift alongside it, skirting its solid edge, looking for an opening.

ON DECK the crewmen mill nervously, all too aware of what Stoick is considering.

STOICK (CONT'D)

Take us in.

The helmsman steers Stoick's ship into the fog. The men draw their weapons, prepping for the worst.

VIKING

Hard to port... for Helheim's gate.

The first ship disappears into the whiteout, followed by the other two.

A BEAT

Suddenly a flash of light. A silhouette of a dragon. Hollers. Sounds of splitting and shattering wood. Plunges into the water. Another bright flash.

Many Vikings shudder at this scene.

MATCH CUT TO:

EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - RING - DAY

CLOSE ON a DRAGON painted onto a shield. Hiccup runs his finger over its outline.

HICCUP

You know, I just happened to notice the book had nothing on Night Furies. Is there another book? Or a sequel? Maybe a little Night Fury pamphlet?

"You know Hiccup. You're the only one who would ask this during training, and staying calm while being chased by a Nadder." I state.

The Nadder in question comes to lay near Hiccup crooning softly.

KABLAM! A blast takes the axe head off of Hiccup's hilt, leaving a smoking hole behind him. Hiccup YELPS and RUNS.

"Nevermind the staying calm part." I say.

GOBBER (O.S.)

FOCUS Hiccup! You're not even trying.

CUT BACK to reveal a Deadly Nadder, loose in a maze-like arrangement of moveable walls. Gobber calls orders from above.

GOBBER (CONT'D)

Today... is all about attack.

The Nadder hops from wall to wall, sending the recruits scurrying.

GOBBER (CONT'D)

Nadders are quick and light on their feet. Your job is to be quicker and lighter.

The teens move in, stumbling over Hiccup and his unwieldy shield. The Nadder spots Fishlegs' ample rear hiding behind a wall. It whips its tail of spikes.

Fishlegs SCREAMS and lifts an entire wall to shield himself from the spray.

FISHLEGS

I'm really beginning to question your teaching methods.

"Only now Fish?" Hiccup raises an eyebrow. "I've been questioning it all my life."

GOBBER

Look for its blind spot. Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike.

Ruff and Tuff rush in, diving and rolling up to the Nadder's nose. The Nadder sniffs the air - it can't see them. Tuff and Ruff are smashed together - too close for comfort.

RUFFNUT

(WHISPERED)

Do you ever bathe?

TUFFNUT

If you don't like it, then just get your own blind spot.

RUFFNUT

How about I give you one!

Ruff and Tuff SHOVE each other, till their movement and noise gives them away. The Nadder ATTACKS, SNAPPING at both of them.

GOBBER

Blind spot? Yes. Deaf spot? Not so much.

Hiccup wanders up to Gobber, while the others dart past.

HICCUP

Hey, so how would one sneak up on a Night Fury?

"You're not even going to question why he wants to know that Gobber?" Stoick asks.

"Nope." Gobber says sheepishly.

GOBBER

None one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Now get in there.

Hiccup raises an eyebrow, and looks to Gobber. "Twice already Gobber."

HICCUP

I know, I know, but hypothetically...

ASTRID

(WHISPERED)

Hiccup!

She puts her finger to her lips and gestures for him to hide. A moment later, the Nadder leaps over the walls, surprising them by landing in front of her. Astrid somersaults into its blind spot, confusing it. She rears back to strike - just as Snotlout LEAPS IN, protectively SWEEPING Astrid behind him.

SNOTLOUT

Watch out babe. I'll take care of this.

This earns Snotlout a punch in the nose from an angry Astrid. "Don't call me babe."

ASTRID

Hey!

Snotlout MISSES. Astrid glares at him.

SNOTLOUT

(DEFENSIVE)

The sun was in my eyes, Astrid. What do you want me to do, block out the sun? I could do that, but I don't have time right now!

The dragons are eying Snotlout. "Hatchling is he crazy?" A Monstrous Nightmare asks.

"No, just stupid." Hiccup replies.

The Nadder tears off after her, knocking down walls in pursuit. She leaps and dives like a highly trained gymnast. Hiccup wanders up to Gobber again.

HICCUP

They probably take the daytime off. You know, like a cat. Has anyone ever seen one napping?

Toothless tail slaps Hiccup again.

GOBBER

Hiccup!

ASTRID

-Hiccup!

Hiccup spins around to see the maze walls collapsing like dominos toward him. Astrid comes flying through the dust and crash-lands on top of him, laying him out in a limb-tangled mess.

TUFFNUT

Oooh! Love on the battlefield!

RUFFNUT

She could do better.

"Who? Snotlout?" Red asks causing many Vikings, and dragons to laugh.

The Nadder closes in, emerging through the cloud of dust.

HICCUP

(struggling to untangle)

Just... let me... why don't you...

The Nadder spins around and races back toward them like a Raptor.

Astrid untangles herself and tries to pull her axe from Hiccup's shield... which is attached to his limp, gangly arm. She PLANTS her foot on his torso and YANKS the axe free, still burrowed into the shield. She SPINS and SWINGS the axe and shield, scoring a DIRECT HIT on the oncoming Nadder's NOSE. It yelps and scurries off.

Red gets up and starts petting said Nadder.

GOBBER

Well done, Astrid.

Gobber hobbles off to wrestle the Nadder back into his cave. Hiccup gets to his feet - all eyes are upon him. He turns to find Astrid glaring at him, winded.

ASTRID

Is this some kind of a joke to you? Our parents' war is about to become ours. Figure out which side you're on. She grabs her axe and stomps off. Hiccup watches, stung.

All eyes turn to Astrid. The Vikings now knew Hiccup sided with the dragons, Astrid had just given him the ultimatum.

"Well, we know who's side he will pick." Red whispers to me.