A/n: The first of TNT's ideas. The scuttleclaws are back, and this time, Hiccup has help.
"Why do we have to do this?"
"Duh, stupid, it's cos..." Tuffnut stopped to scratch his head, "I don't know. Why are we here?"
Astrid sighed. "Because we're helping Hiccup? Do none of you remember that?" The Vikings shook their heads. "He told you five minutes ago!"
"Whatever," Snotlout said dismissively, "What're we supposed to be doing?"
"Helping Hiccup, duh!" Tuffnut said, "Don't you listen?"
By now, everyone knew there was no point in pointing out the irony to him.
"We're teaching the scuttleclaws," explained Fishlegs, who had actually listened when Hiccup requested their help that morning, and understood Shootout's question. "Those big baby dragons that don't listen to anyone." he elaborated once he realised that nobody knew the species name of the excitable babies. Most Vikings just referred to them as 'the big babies', as per their usual naming prowess.
"That's right," Hiccup agreed, walking in with the younger dragons in tow. It was less a walk than him being shoved, pushed along by the scuttleclaws. Toothless hovered behind him, eyeing the young dragons nervously but not making any move to stop them. "So, any ideas?"
"Yell at them!" Snotlout suggested, striding over to a green and red one about his height. "Sit!" he barked, pointing to the floor. Behind him, Astrid and Fishlegs rolled their eyes; this method had been tried, tested and failed by Hookfang.
The scuttleclaw sat without protest. The other dragon riders watched, open-mouthed, as Snotlout proceeded to give each scuttleclaw the same order. It wasn't a fluke; they all obeyed.
"What." Hiccup said, completely dumb-struck. "How did you..."
"I must just be the best dragon trainer there is," Snotlout said with faked modesty. He leant against one of the seated scuttleclaws as he pretended to examine his nails in studious disinterest. As soon as all his weight was being supported by the young dragon, it shifted out of the way, leaving Snotlout to topple over onto the floor.
"Maybe not the best..." Hiccup commented, silently relieved that Snotlout hadn't just gained complete control over the babies. He could imagine just how well that would go.
"So, can we go now?" Ruffnut asked suddenly. Without waiting for a response, she walked out, dragging Barf and Belch with her. Tuffnut soon followed, yelling after her with threats to punish her for stealing his dragon.
"But we need to get them to do more than listen to Snotlout..." Hiccup complained weakly, knowing that there was no point in trying to stop his friends from leaving, Vikings and their stubbornness issues be damned.
"Well, I'm going too!" Snotlout announced, waving Hookfang over and moving to walk out. Predictably, Hookfang made no move to follow. Less predictable were the actions of the scuttleclaws, who all circled around Snotlout and started following him. "Stop following me!" he snapped, shooing away the babies with his hands. They didn't budge.
Toothless jumped out of the way just in time to avoid being knocked over by the scuttleclaws, who all jumped straight at Snotlout with excited vigour.
"Should we help him?" Astrid asked, eyes glinting in barely concealed amusement.
"I think he can work it out himself," Hiccup said, grinning. "After all, he is the best dragon tamer there is."