Chapter 6
EXT. WOODS/HIDDEN COVE - DUSK
HICCUP, battered after another disastrous day in the ring. He studies the remnants of the discarded bola... revealing that he's back at the scene of the crime.
The crowd mumbled disapprovingly. Why was he back there after he was nearly killed? Does he have a death wish? Stoick resisted the urge to jump out of his seat and grab the projected Hiccup and drag him back to the safety of their home.
HICCUP: (MUTTERED) So...why didn't you?
The crowd stilled, wondering the same thing. Why didn't that Night Fury kill him? Maybe it thought Hiccup was too puny to be worth killing?
He drops the bola and presses on in the direction it flew off. He drops into a rocky crevice and follows it to an... ISOLATED COVE complete with a pristine spring pool. He scans the high stone walls... then notices a single black SCALE on the ground. He crouches and picks it up, studying it.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) Well this was stupid.
SUDDENLY, the NIGHT FURY blasts past him.
All the Vikings startled, pressing as far as they could into their seat.
Hiccup recoils, watching the massive beast struggle to climb the walls. It flaps violently, then peels away to a rough landing. The dragon is trapped. Hiccup grins, excited to see it again, and slips closer. He watches as the dragon, exhausted and frustrated, leaps into the air, beating its wings furiously. Again and again, it rolls uncontrolled and CRASHES heavily.
Both Vikings and dragons stare in fascination as the dragon leapt into the air multiple times. Why wasn't it flying away?
Hiccup stared forlornly at the screen. What was once terrified fascination was now replaced with immense guilt. What if he had never gone back for Toothless? He could have possibly been trapped there forever!
"I'm so sorry, bud." Hiccup whispered, staring into his best friend's eyes. Toothless chirruped happily and gently bumped his head against Hiccup's, causing Hiccup to laugh softly and silently thank the gods that they found each other.
Ali said, "A boy and his dragon friend." Her nightmare said in her voice, "Yep, best friends for life. Like us." Ali said, "You got it... Adina." Adina looked at Ali with a smile as the woman gave her the greatest hug ever. Adina purred and nuzzled Ali.
As if remembering to snap a photo, Hiccup pulls a leather bound book and flips past drawings of weapons to a blank page. He sketches the dragon quickly, desperate to record the image.
The Vikings stared at Hiccup's sketch in awe. They were unaware that Hiccup had been such a skilled artist! Stoick, as useless as he found drawing, was impressed that his son did have skills, just not in dragon killing. Ali smirked at Stoick.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) (MUTTERED) Why don't you just...fly away?
ON HICCUP as he spots the problem. He adjusts his drawing, carefully erasing one half of the dragon's tail.
A gasp resonated through the room. It was crippled! It couldn't control its flight with only one tailfin. Understanding dawned on Astrid's face as she realized what drew them together. A new sense of admiration for Hiccup developed as she figured that Hiccup had been trying to give it the ability to fly again all this time.
Adina asked, "Night Fury, did you?" Toothless showed Adina his tail as Adina gasped at the horror.
The Fury claws at the steep rock walls, trying climb out of the cove. It SLIPS and falls hard, crushing several saplings. The Fury rolls back to his feet and slowly crawls to the water's edge. He spots fish in the shallow water and snaps at them... but comes up empty. He lowers his head, looking weakened. He accidentally drops the charcoal stick. It rolls off of the rock outcropping that hides him from view and bounces into the cove. TINK. TINK. TINK. The Night Fury raises his head, spotting Hiccup. They exchange a profound, unflinching stare.
Stoick stared at the exchange, confused. The Night Fury didn't look threatening; instead, it seemed… curious. Maybe some dragons just wanted to get to know humans better… Wait no, what was he thinking? These dragons have pillaged and destroyed our villages since we've first arrived here! He cannot feel any sympathy for them!
DISSOLVE TO: INT. GREAT HALL - NIGHT
A storm is brewing outside. The great doors rattle on their hinges.
GOBBER: (O.S.) Alright. Where did Astrid go wrong in the ring today?
The recruits are seated at a table, eating dinner by the glow of the fire pit.
Hiccup spoke in a high voice, "I mistimed my somersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw of my reverse tumble." Ali and the dragons laughed hard as some adults and the teens laughed too. Ali and Hiccup high fived. Astrid angrily pouted and grumbled, "I don't sound like that." Snotlout looked at Hiccup and Ali laughing as he turned red in jealousy, How is Useless getting girls and not me?
ASTRID: I mistimed my summersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw off my reverse tumble.
Eye rolls from the group.
RUFFNUT: (SARCASTIC) Yeah. We noticed.
SNOTLOUT: (grabbing Astrid's hand) No, no, you were great. That was so 'Astrid'.
Astrid snorted in disgust and attempted to inch further away from Snotlout, who was glancing at her with a grin, vying for her attention. Ali pretended to throw up as she muttered, "Suck up." Hiccup quietly laughed as Toothless laughed too.
GOBBER: She's right, you have to be tough on yourselves.
CREAK. All eyes turn to Hiccup, entering the hall, sheepishly. Gobber glares at him.
GOBBER: (CONT'D) (glaring at Hiccup) Where did Hiccup go wrong?
"Um, he was born!" Snotlout drawled, snickering to himself. Astrid contemplated seriously maiming him while Ruffnut and Tuffnut joined in with matching giggles. Hiccup, immune to Snotlout's insults, merely tuned him out and focused on the screen. Ali said, "Don't you ever wish you could strangle them?" Hiccup said, "A bit, but I learn to deal with it." Ali looked at him as she said, "Dude, you're just way too nice for your own good."
He tries to take a seat at the table...
RUFFNUT: He showed up.
TUFFNUT: He didn't get eaten.
"Nice one!" The twins grinned at each other and high fived. Ali fired two water balloons at them, which cause them to get wet from behind. Both twins angrily stared at Ali as she gave them a huge stare which caused them to turn back around.
... but the recruits keep closing the gaps. Rolling his eyes, Hiccup sits at the vacant table next to them.
Astrid stared sadly; maybe they teased him a little too much back then… They wouldn't even let him sit with them! Why didn't she do anything? Ali said, "That was harsh."
ASTRID: He's never where he should be.
GOBBER: Thank you, Astrid.
Ali said, "She's right. He should be with the dragons. Not with people who hates him with all their living fiber." A few Vikings flinched at her words as Stoick yelled, "No, he belongs with Vikings! He is the heir!" Ali disbelieved that as she said, "Sure, and Snotlout is going to wear a pink frilly dress and prance around Berk in little pink shoes." Hiccup snickered at the thought of Snotlout in a dress. Ali said, "Face it, Stoick! Hiccup would rather stay with dragons than suffer a day more in a place where everyone hates him! Believe me! I'd leave on the spot!"
Gobber stands.
GOBBER: (CONT'D) You need to live and breathe this stuff.
Gobber lays a giant book in the center of the table.
GOBBER: (CONT'D) The dragon manual. Everything we know about every dragon we know of.
"Except for one…" Hiccup whispers, a little happy at the fact that he knows something everyone else doesn't.
A RUMBLE of thunder shakes the hall. Rain pours down outside.
GOBBER (CONT'D): No attacks tonight. Study up.
Gobber EXITS into the storm, leaving the teens staring at the book.
TUFFNUT: (you've got to be kidding) Wait, you mean read?
RUFFNUT: While we're still alive?
SNOTLOUT: Why read words when you can just kill the stuff the words tell you stuff about?
Tuffnut, Ruffnut, and Snotlout all nod vigorously at their screen selves, agreeing wholeheartedly with the opposition to books and something as boring as reading.
Ali asked, "And what's wrong with reading? You might increase the IQ of your little brains."
FISHLEGS: Oh! I've read it like, seven times. There's this water dragon that sprays boiling water at your face.
"Known as the Scauldron", Hiccup calls out, briefly distracting the Vikings.
FISHLEGS: And there's this other one that buries itself for like a week...
"Also known as the Whispering Death", Hiccup states ominously, unconsciously drawing shudders from many Vikings.
The teens stare as Fishlegs goes on too long.
TUFFNUT: Yeah, that sounds great. There was a chance I was going to read that...
RUFFNUT: ...but now...
Snotlout gets up to go.
SNOTLOUT: You guys read, I'll go kill stuff.
"Killing is my specialty! I'm gonna be the best on this island!" Snotlout exclaimed pretentiously, earning glares from the rest of the teens.
"Yeah, say that when you actually kill a dragon." Ali shot back, causing Snotlout's smile to falter slightly.
The others follow, with Fishlegs in tow.
FISHLEGS: Oh and there's this other one that has these spines that look like trees...
Astrid is the last to go.
HICCUP: So I guess we'll share-
ASTRID: Read it.
She pushes it toward him and leaves.
Astrid sighed quietly to herself as she saw Ali shaking her head, disapproving her actions. She was just as bad as they were, although she didn't openly tease Hiccup. She resolved that she'd apologize to Hiccup after all this was over.
HICCUP: All mine then. Wow, so okay. I'll see you-
Slam.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) Tomorrow.
Gobber and Stoick exchanged glances. They hadn't realized Hiccup was treated like that around the other teens. Maybe they should lighten up a little around Hiccup from now on… Ali asked, "Why can't you stupidheads be a little nicer to Hiccup? Geez, is that like too much to ask?" Snotlout ignored her as he scoffs. Ali threw a rock at Snotlout as it banged on his helmet as he turned to see Ali cracking her knuckles, warning him of her. Scared of her, Snotlout shuts up and turns to face the screen. Spitelout watched this in annoyance, Why is my son scared of a simple woman, who is friends with the demons?
DISSOLVE TO: INT. GREAT HALL - LATE NIGHT
ON HICCUP'S HAND OPENING the massive book. Thunder BOOMS outside. The hall is vacant and dark, but for the few candles he's pulled together. Hiccup pours through page after page of strange and frightening dragons.
HICCUP: (V.O.) Dragon classifications. Strike class. Fear class. Mystery class.
Hiccup turns the page.
HICCUP: (V.O.) (CONT'D) Thunderdrum. This reclusive dragon inhabits sea caves and dark tide pools. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Hiccup's eyes drift to a lurid illustration of decapitated Vikings.
A couple of Vikings shifted nervously in their seats. They hoped they'd never meet such a terrifying creature in real life!
Hiccup, however, stared at the image of the dragon, fascinated yet slightly scared.
Another page, another dragon.
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D) Timberjack. This gigantic creature has razor sharp wings that can slice through full grown trees...extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
The illustrations seem to take on a life of their own, shifting and squirming in the candlelight.
Many Vikings shook their heads, attempting to clear their vision and stare at the screen again. Was it just them, or were the images moving?
HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D) Scauldron. Sprays scalding water at its victim. Extremely dangerous.
The storm outside rages against the shuttered windows. Hiccup is startled, but presses on.
All the Vikings felt the fear growing in Hiccup as he read more about the dangerous dragons recorded in the book. They all eyed the screen, feeling as though they were the one in the Great Hall on that dark and stormy night reading about the dragons that had plagued the nightmares of children for decades.
HICCUP (CONT'D) Changewing. Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight. He begins flipping through the pages. A blur of dragons...
HICCUP (CONT'D) Gronckle. Zippleback. The Skrill. Bone Knapper. Whispering Death. Burns its victims. Buries its victims. Chokes its victims. Turns its victims inside-out. Extremely dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight...
Hiccup finally lands upon the page he's been looking for.
"The Night Fury…" Stoick and Gobber both whisper, completely absorbed by the screen.
HICCUP: (V.O.) (CONT'D) Night Fury.
It's BLANK - no image, save for a few, sparse details.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) Speed unknown. Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself.
Hiccup grinned at the description. "You're nothing like that description, you know that Toothless? Maybe when you're angry, but you're more like a cute playful litt-" Toothless promptly whacked Hiccup playfully upside the head, liking the fear-inducing original description more. Hiccup chuckled and conceded, turning his attention back at the screen.
HICCUP: (CONT'D) Never engage this dragon. Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you.
"Or in my case, find the dragon and free it, putting your life on the line!" Hiccup whispered amusedly.
Hiccup pulls his sketchbook out of his vest and opens it to his drawing of Toothless. He lays it over the book's blank page and considers it. CLOSE ON the drawing of Toothless...
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.
Ali called, "Maybe it's the stench of upcoming failure!" The Vikings groaned, this was the day they failed again on finding the nest.
Stoick raises his gaze to... 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.
The teens and Hiccup watched carefully, anxious at what a nest search was like. Soon, they would also be the ones participating in these searches, and it didn't look like any fun.
Suddenly a flash of light. A silhouette of a dragon. Hollers. Sounds of splitting and shattering wood. Plunges into the water. Another bright flash.
The teen and Hiccup jumped slightly, horrified at the danger the older Vikings and chief were in. Stoick groans, remembering this failed search clearly. How humiliating! Ali asked, "Should I ask what happened in there?" A Viking replied, "You don't want to know."
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?
The teens chortled. "A sequel? Night Fury pamphlet?" Astrid questioned with a laugh. Only Hiccup would ask that kind of a question. Hiccup's face burned slightly red, but he laughed regardless.
Ali said, "Dude, there is a time and a place."
KABLAM! A blast takes the axe head off of Hiccup's hilt, leaving a smoking hole behind him. Hiccup YELPS and RUNS.
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.
Said Nadder in the back of the room perked up. There is was! It squawked to its fellow Nadders and stared proudly at the screen.
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.
Gobber snorted, his teaching methods were foolproof! He's bred the best dragon killers with these practices.
GOBBER: Look for its blind spot. Every dragon has one. Find it, hide in it, and strike.
"Pretty difficult to do when you're busy trying to outrun a murderous beast!" Tuffnut called out, feeling at a disadvantage.
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.
The Vikings stared eagerly, this was their chance to strike!
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.
A sound of disappointment spread through the Vikings. What a shame!
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?
GOBBER: None one's ever met one and lived to tell the tale. Now get in there!
"Guess I'm the first", Hiccup thought to himself, happy that he was finally first in something.
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.
Astrid groaned, irritated at Snotlout's constant interventions. All he does is make things worse!
SNOTLOUT: Watch out babe. I'll take care of this.
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!
Ali said, "And that ladies and gentle Vikings is How NOT to get a girlfriend!" Everyone laughed as Snotlout turned red from embarrassment.
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?
Stoick grew more irritated at Hiccup's lack of participation in the training exercise. How can he kill a dragon if he's just standing there talking with Gobber?
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.
Hiccup and Astrid coughed uncomfortably. This was an awkward moment for both of them.
TUFFNUT: Oooh! Love on the battlefield!
RUFFNUT: She could do better.
"Knowing the other Vikings on this island, Hiccup's probably the best I'll get." Astrid thought to herself, annoyed at Ruffnut's comment. Then she caught herself. Did she just confess that she likes Hiccup? Her face burned with confusion, and she decided to distract herself by focusing solely on the screen in front of her. Ali whispered to her, "It's better than Snotlout. Trust me." Astrid had to agree with Ali on that one.
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.
Hiccup flinched, he knew Astrid desperately needed her weapon to defend herself, but that didn't mean it hurt any less when she practically yanked it out of his arm.
She SPINS and SWINGS the axe and shield, scoring a DIRECT HIT on the oncoming Nadder's NOSE. It yelps and scurries off.
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.
Astrid remembered saying those words, but didn't realize how harsh she sounded to Hiccup. She felt slightly guilty for exploding on Hiccup like that, but she was caught up in her frustration at the moment. She turned to see Ali looking at her cross and disappointed.
Hiccup merely watched, remembering the confusion he had felt as he was torn between the dragons and the Vikings. But now, he stared at the screen with hard determination in his eyes. He knew what side he was on. And it wasn't the Viking's.