Chapter 19

The monster raises its head to the sky and BELLOWS. The sound SHAKES the beach, knocking Vikings off their feet. This island is his. Stoick stops a Viking General.

STOICK (CONT'D)

Lead the men to the far side of the island.

"Dad, you're going to do something crazy aren't you?" Hiccup asks.

"Probably" Was all Stoick states.

"Well we know where he gets that from then" Toothless, and Astrid say in sync with an eyeroll.

SPITELOUT

Right.

(turns to the others)

Everybody to the far side of the island!

The Vikings scatter into the rocks like ants. Satisfied with the ships destruction, The Red Death turns its attention back to the Vikings. They seem to have vanished. It SNIFFS the air, searching for their scent. Gobber drops in beside Stoick, like two soldiers in a trench.

Fire blasts over head, causing them to duck.

STOICK

Gobber, go with the men.

GOBBER

I think I'll stay, just in case you're thinking of doing something crazy.

Stoick grabs him.

STOICK

(EMPHATIC)

I can buy them a few minutes if I give that thing someone to hunt.

Gobber removes Stoick's hand. Clenches his forearm, determined.

GOBBER

Then I can double that time.

Both Hiccups eye Gobber who states "Shut it lads, I don't want to hear about stubborn Vikings."

"We weren't going to say anything meathead" Both Hiccups say earning chuckles from the Vikings. Gobber grumbles something about insulting teens.

Stoick grins. Friends to the bitter end. They BREAK COVER and dash into the open, SPLITTING UP. Stoick rips a sharpened post from the ground and hurls it into the monster's face.

STOICK

HERE!

GOBBER

NO, HERE!

It spots both of them. He fuels up to fire, glancing back and forth between the two men. He focuses on Stoick.

GOBBER (CONT'D)

Come on! Fight me!

STOICK

No, me!

The Red Death remains focused on Stoick - this is it. It rears back and inhales. Gas begins to amass, when...

KABLAM! A BLAST explodes against the back of The Red Death's head. It turns distracted, as...

... a Nadder punches through the flames, banking across the sky. Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, a Zippleback, and a Gronckle. They roll in unison, revealing the recruits riding on their backs. Hiccup leads, with Astrid clinging to his waist.

GOBBER AND STOICK, watch slack-jawed, in awe.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON A DRAGON" Mrs. Hofferson yells at Astrid.

"SAVING YOUR ASSES!" Astrid yells back as Mrs. Hofferson glares at her daughter.

"WHERE did you learn to swear, cause I know I didn't bring up no daughter of mine like that" Mrs. Hofferson asks

"Talk to father." Astrid points to the man next to her mother trying to look very small.

Mrs. Hofferson turns, and glares at him then slaps him across the face before yelling at him "WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT SWEARING IN FRONT OF THE KIDS"

The other Vikings wisely stay out of the argument, because Astrid didn't get her axe throwing skills from her father.

"So that's where Astrid got her temperament" Red states while watching the on going argument. All the Vikings visibly pale while Mrs. Hofferson spins around, and glares at Red.

At this point I wisely seek refuge under Opal's wings, who was cuddling Drago. "You're on your own with this Red" I tell him as I hide.

Drago tries to turn in Opal's jaw but has little success. "I don't think I want to be in the room anymore." He mumbles. "Things are getting too dangerous. I have one crazy woman hurling axes in my time. I don't want to meet the mother." A shudder running through him.

"Astrid honey, would you be kind enough to hand me your axe" Mrs. Hofferson asks while still glaring at Red with what all Vikings call the 'Glare of Hel'.

Astrid hands her mom the axe and quickly scurries back to her chair, making sure to stay out of the line of fire.

"Thank you honey" Mrs. Hofferson says before cocking her arm back over her shoulder and throwing the axe directly at Red who simply catches it in front of his face with millimeters to spare, but he doesn't pay attention to where Mrs. Hofferson is, seconds later he realizes his mistake when he is tackled to the ground, and sat on by Mrs. Hofferson.

"YOU WILL LEARN TO RESPECT YOUR ELDERS!" Mrs. Hofferson yells before punching Red squarely in the jaw, only to have her face go from angry, to surprised, to pained.

"SON OF A TROLL EATING MUNCH BUCKET!" Mrs. Hofferson yells in pain.

"I thought you didn't swear Ma" Astrid says calmly while watching the scene unfold.

"You try punching someone only to have it feel like punching a piece of iron" Mrs. Hofferson says while continuing to say profanities under her breath, at this point Mrs. Hofferson gets up and walks to Gothi, who somehow manages to hit Red on the back of the head with her staff.

"OW…. THAT BLOODY WELL HURTS!" Red yells in surprise, and pain.

At this point I poke my head out from under the wings. "Is it safe again?"

Seeing no more danger I return to my seat leaving Drago at the mercy of Opal.

Red sits down beside me grumbling on about 'old ladies, and canes'.

Gobber give Red a sympathetic look, and says "Now ya know how I feel." which also earns him a whack from Gothi.

HICCUP

Ruff, Tuff, watch your backs! Move Fishlegs!

The monster shakes off the blast and snaps in their wake. Hiccup directs his squadron out of harm's way. They climb out of reach and circle each other.

TUFFNUT

Look at us, we're on a dragon! We're on dragons, all of us!

HICCUP

Up, let's move it!

The dragons climb past the Red Death.

ON THE GROUND

Gobber hobbles over to Stoick.

GOBBER

Every bit the boar-headed, stubborn Viking you ever were.

Stoick is speechless.

As are the rest of the Vikings in the theater.

IN THE AIR

The group circles over the dragon's head.

HICCUP

Fishlegs, break it down.

FISHLEGS

Okay. Heavily armored skull and tail made for bashing and crushing.

(MORE)

FISHLEGS (CONT'D)

Steer clear of both. Small eyes, large nostrils. Relies on hearing and smell.

HICCUP

Okay. Lout, Legs, hang in its blind spot. Make some noise, keep it confused. Ruff, Tuff, find out if it has a shot limit. Make it mad.

RUFFNUT

That's my specialty.

TUFFNUT

Since when? Everyone knows I'm more irritating. See.

(IRRITATING SOUNDS)

HICCUP

(EXASPERATED)

Just do what I told you. I'll be back as soon as I can.

TUFFNUT

Don't worry, we got it covered!

FISHLEGS

Yeah!

Hiccup and Astrid peel away. The teens bank and dive toward the monster, splitting up. The Twins race alongside the monster's head, taunting it.

TUFFNUT

Troll!

RUFFNUT

Butt Elf!

TUFFNUT

Bride of Grendel!

"You know I've been wondering who Grendel is?" Red asks me.

"He's the giant that was slain by Beowulf. It's from Anglo-Saxon literature." I simply state.

"What surprises me is that the twins know it, because they are well… the twins" I indicated to Ruffnut, and Tuffnut who were busy poking each other.

"Hey, we happen to like Anglo-Saxon literature! The elegiac themes simply bring out the best in the story." Ruffnut replies, causing the entire theater to still.

"Yeah, and all the explosion, battles, and general chaos are too good to pass up." Tuffnut adds.

"But I thought you couldn't read" Red says earning laughs from most of the Vikings.

"They may not seem like it but they are brilliant in their own minds" Gobber says.

"We can read, we just don't like to for knowledge reasons" Ruffnut says.

"Destruction, and Chaos are better reasons." Tuffnut states.

The Red Death unloads a spray of fire at the twins. They barely dodge it.

Fishlegs and Snotlout hang behind its eyes, banging away at their shields, making a racket. The Red Death opens all SIX of its eyes, spotting them.

FISHLEGS

Uh, this thing doesn't have a blind spot.

ON HICCUP AND ASTRID

... searching for Toothless. Hiccup spots him among the burning ships.

HICCUP

There!

He steers the Nadder over the deck and hands Astrid the reins. He lines up his jump... and hops off, guarding his face from the flames. He lands on the burning deck.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

(TO ASTRID)

Go help the others!

She and the Nadder take off. As Hiccup fights his way to Toothless. He unbuckles the muzzle. Toothless shrieks.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Okay, hold on. Hold on.

He gets to work on the chains.

ON SNOTLOUT AND FISHLEGS

They clang their weapons against their shields, making the monster wince.

SNOTLOUT

It's working.

The huge beast starts to sway its head dizzily.

FISHLEGS

Yeah! It's working.

"Wait a minute….. Wouldn't that also affect our dragons" Fishlegs ponders with a look of realization on his face.

PAN DOWN to reveal that the noise is also confusing the Gronckle and the Monstrous Nightmare. Both dragons lose their bearings.

The Red Death thrashes, knocking Snotlout off of his dragon and onto the monster's gigantic head. Snotlout bounces across the top and comes to a stop just shy of the hundred foot drop.

SNOTLOUT

Agghh!

Fishlegs' Gronckle goes down in a spin of confusion.

FISHLEGS

I've lost power on the Gronckle. Snotlout! Do something!

He hurls Snotlout his hammer. The Gronkle crashes and skids to a stop...

FISHLEGS (CONT'D)

I'm okay!

... then flips over, crushing Fishlegs.

FISHLEGS (CONT'D)

(FEEBLE)

Less okay.

This earns chuckles from the entire theater.

BACK TO SNOTLOUT

... who eyes the Red Death's gigantic, veiny eyes. He raises the hammer...

SNOTLOUT

I can't miss!

... and hammers the monster's eyes, playing whack-a-mole.

SNOTLOUT (CONT'D)

What's wrong buddy, got something in your eye?

Astrid flies by on her Nadder, catching Snotlout in all his heroics.

ASTRID

Yeah! You're the Viking!

Snotlout grins, finally vindicated in her eyes. In his distraction, he gets thrown and lands heavily on one of the Red Death's spines - clinging precariously. A close call.

SNOTLOUT

Whoa!

ON THE GROUND

The monster's tail sweeps across the burning ships, snapping masts like twigs. We follow one down as it crashes onto a deck, revealing...

HICCUP

Working at the chains. He can't budge them. Fire licks at his clothes. He looks up to see...

THE RED DEATH blasting at the teens, enraged.

The monster's giant foot crashes through frame, smashing the bow under its impressive weight.

Hiccup and Toothless are thrown into the water in a maelstrom of burning planks and rigging.

"Hiccup!" Both Vikings, and dragons yell. Even Drago is clutching an armrest, while still trying to get away from Opal.

"I better not lose you yet son" Stoick states.

UNDERWATER

Hiccup swims toward Toothless. They're both caught in a mess of rigging, being dragged down. The heavy palette settles into the rocky bottom like an anchor. Toothless has stopped struggling. Hiccup takes one more hopeless tug at the chains - he's almost out of air. Suddenly, a meaty hand grabs Hiccup.

STOICK explodes to the surface, pulling Hiccup to the shoreline through flaming debris. He lays him down, under the shelter of an overhanging rock.

Stoick sighs in relief after seeing that on screen.

HICCUP

(OVERWHELMED)

Dad...

Stoick dives back into the water between flaming flotsam.

UNDERWATER

ON TOOTHLESS, drowning. Stoick appears in front of him. Toothless freezes. Stoick tears the chains off of the yoke and lets it float free. Momentary stillness. They eye each other, through the churned up bubbles. Toothless lunges out of the bars – grabbing Stoick.

BOOM! In an explosion of sea water, Toothless lands on the shore, setting Stoick down and releasing him. Hiccup is awed. The ground rumbles underfoot. The monster screeches. Its massive claws stomp around in the smoke. Stoick gives way as Toothless mounts the rock and raises his wings. He turns to Hiccup and SNORTS - Let's go.'

HICCUP (CONT'D)

You got it, bud.

Hiccup climbs onto Toothless and buckles himself in. Stoick grabs his arm.

STOICK

Hiccup. I'm sorry...for everything.

HICCUP

Yeah...me too.

STOICK

You don't have to go up there.

HICCUP

We're Vikings. It's an occupational hazard.

They exchange smiles.

STOICK

I'm proud to call you my son.

Hiccup beams, taken aback.

HICCUP

Thanks dad.

Stoick lets go of Hiccup's arm. Hiccup spurs Toothless on, charged with his father's belief in him. They rocket into the sky as Stoick watches.

IN THE AIR

Astrid sees Toothless streaking through the sky, gaining altitude.

ASTRID

He's up!

She turns to Ruffnut and Tuffnut, who are ARGUING and THROWING PUNCHES at each other.

ASTRID (CONT'D)

Get Snotlout out of there!

IN MID-PUNCH, the twins look over to see Snotlout stranded on the monster's head. They eye each other.

TUFFNUT RUFFNUT

I'm on it! I'm on it!

TUFFNUT

I'm on it first! I'm ahead of you.

"Guys! Same dragon!" Both Hiccups can't help but yell.

The twins spot Snotlout on the giant dragon and steer their Zippleback in his direction.

RUFFNUT

Hey! Let me drive!

The twins peel off, ARGUING as they race each other to the monster.

Snotlout sees the Zippleback diving toward him and DASHES down the Red Death's head. He runs up the end of its horn... As the twins sweep past, both missing him... but perfectly snatching him where the necks merge. Ruff and Tuff eye each other, surprised and impressed.

TUFFNUT

I can't believe that worked.

"Wha… Wait you didn't know if it would work!" Snotlout screeches.

"Nope" Ruffnut says, followed by Tuffnut replaying with "Nuhuh."

The Red Death spots Astrid and INHALES, preparing to blast.

She and her Nadder get caught in the suction, pulled toward the monster's gaping mouth.

"OH my THOR! Astrid." Hiccup yells nearly jumping out of his seat.

ON THE GROUND

The Vikings watch with dread. They hear the familiar whir of the...

GOBBER

Night Fury! Get down!

Toothless turns to Gobber. "Must you do that every time?"

"Sorry, force of habit" Gobber sheepishly rubs the back of his head.

"Just wait… it gets better later" Older Hiccup says to Toothless.

IN THE AIR

A massive BLAST jolts the Red Death's head sideways. Astrid is thrown clear of its mouth... AND her Nadder. She tumbles through the air. The ground races toward her, when... She's suddenly CAUGHT by the leg. She looks up to see Toothless.

HICCUP

Did you get her?

Toothless grunts.

A collective sound of relief goes through the theater.

ON THE GROUND

They fly over the crowd of Vikings and set Astrid down, mid- run. They circle back to re engage - a black speck against the clouds.

ASTRID

(BREATHLESS)

Go.

IN THE AIR

Hiccup and Toothless rocket past the Red Death's head and climb, higher and higher.

HICCUP

(TO TOOTHLESS)

That thing has wings! Okay, let's see if it can use them!

Hiccup pulls Toothless into a turn. They plummet, gaining tremendous speed. The wind buffets them as they target the Red Death as supersonic speed. KABLAM! Toothless unloads a fireball against the Red Death's head. It goes down with a rumble as they climb anew.

ON THE GROUND

The Vikings shield themselves from the dust of the fallen monster... as its wings unfold and extend.

IN THE AIR

Hiccup looks back as they put distance between them.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Do you think that did it?

"Yep" Was Toothless's only reply.

Suddenly, the enraged behemoth RISES into frame... flapping its wings furiously. A daunting sight.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Well, he can fly.

"It's a wonder. She's been a couch potato for a few centuries." Red says.

"Question!" The movie pauses as I turn to both Hiccups

"How did you know it was a he? You guys called it a Queen earlier" I ask the Hiccups, and the dragons.

"Now that you mention it I just assumed." Older Hiccup says, and turns to the dragons.

"Any ideas guys?" He asks getting negative grunts.

"We never really thought about it either" A Gronkle replies.

"And this conversation suddenly got weird" I overhear Red mumble.

Hiccup and Toothless DIVE into the tangled sea stacks – they weave through the rock like rabbits through a briar. The Red Death SNAPS at them, but cannot reach them. Hiccup and Toothless PULL AHEAD.

The Red Death SMASHES through the canopy of rock and pulls in behind Toothless. He BURSTS THROUGH fifty-foot formations like they were saplings.

ON THE GROUND

Stoick, Gobber, and the Teens watch as Hiccup and Toothless streak past, weaving through sea stacks.

TEENS

Woohoo! Yeah!

A moment later the Red Death SMASHES the sea stacks to dust in hot pursuit. The Vikings mood is quenched.

IN THE AIR

Hiccup and Toothless can't slow the monster down. Hiccup eyes the clouds above. An idea hits him. He locks eyes with Toothless.

HICCUP

Okay Toothless, time to disappear.

Toothless PULLS into a steep climb, heading toward the clouds.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Come on bud!

The Red Death follows, closing in fast.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

(hearing the gas)

Here it comes!

BLAST! They narrowly dodge a column of flame and smoke. They reach the low-hanging clouds and pierce them. The monster follows, immediately losing them in the hampered visibility. It roars irritably. From out of nowhere, Toothless DIVES at the huge dragon, BLASTING and PUNCTURING a hole in its wing. Toothless and Hiccup are gone again before the dragon can get a shot at them.

ON THE GROUND

The Vikings stare up at the sky listening to the resounding BOOMS and watching FLASHES light up the clouds. Gobber places a hand on Stoick's shoulder.

IN THE AIR

HICCUP and TOOTHLESS dive in again and again, using the clouds to hide and surprise as they puncture the monster's wings. It BELLOWS in frustration and WHIRLS around, unleashing fire blindly, in all directions. Hiccup sees the glow of fire cutting towards them.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Watch out!

The random blast CLIPS Toothless' tail. It's heavily damaged.

"Oh no" Both Hiccups say.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Okay, time's up. Let's see if this works.

He pulls Toothless into a turn. They fly directly into the Red Death's face, taunting it.

"YOU DIDN'T KNOW IF IT WOULD WORK" Stoick yells.

"Well that is the largest dragon we have ever seen, and we haven't studied it so yeah no idea" Hiccup replies calmly.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Come on! Is that the best you can do!?

Toothless utters an insult too, and they jackknife into a steep dive. The Red Death pursues. Toothless PUMPS his wings, racing faster than he's ever gone before. Hiccup and Toothless stay just ahead of the Red Death - no longer trying to evade it. Hiccup glances back to check the tail - it's disintegrating.

"By the Norns Hiccup! Get out of there!" Stoick yells.

"If I get out the Red Death lives, and we all die" Younger Hiccup states. "That dragon would enjoy a Viking Barbeque."

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Stay with me buddy. We're good. Just a little bit longer.

The Red Death closes the gap. Hiccup tucks in and holds Toothless steady - allowing the monster to set its sights on them. It narrows its eyes.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

Hold, Toothless.

The Red Death OPENS his mouth. The familiar gas HISS emanates from his throat - ignition is coming.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

NOW!

Hiccup HITS the PEDALS HARD as Toothless extends one wing.

They PIVOT in place, hurtling directly into the Red Death's mouth.

Toothless FIRES point blank down the monster's throat. Its amassing gas is ignited, BACKFIRING into the monster, erupting in a chain of blasts throughout its body. Hiccup and Toothless BURST from the clouds, the Red Death hot on their tail, exploding from within. It glances forward and sees the ground rushing up. It throws open its wings, attempting to put on the brakes, but the punctured, damaged wings can't stop its momentum. As the Red Death chokes on the expanding fireball, he sees Toothless suddenly pull out of the dive, streaking up, past its head.

The Red Death HITS the ground, head-first. It EXPLODES like the Hindenburg. Hiccup and Toothless weave through the monster's massive back plates, wings, and flailing legs - a high-speed recall of the FREE FALL slalom run. The expanding fireball races toward them, about to swallow them. They manage to clear the obstacles. Hiccup glances back. They're outrunning the fireball. He looks forward just in time to see the monster's massive club tail careening toward them. He tries to shift their direction. The last shreds of Toothless' tail tear away. Hiccup's pedals go DEAD.

HICCUP (CONT'D)

No. No.

The audience watches the scenes through their fingers or paws, to afraid to see what happens to Hiccup, and Toothless.

Hiccup and Toothless can't maneuver - they're dead in the air. The giant club tail CLIPS Toothless, TEARING Hiccup from the harness and sending him tumbling against the backdrop of the fast-approaching fireball. Toothless STRUGGLES with all his might to reach the unconscious Hiccup. But the fireball swallows them both.

ON THE GROUND

The Vikings watch in horror as Hiccup and Toothless disappear into the boiling inferno.