HEY IT'S HOPE! I've decided to continue updating weekly at the latest :(. Any way I don't have much to say at all, thanks to everyone who reviewed or told me their ideas for this fic and the future like doing HTTYD2 and Race to the Edge. Do you agree with this? And should I do the other tv series first? Like 1. Riders/defenders of berk, 2. Race to the Edge then HTTYD 3? Well here's chapter 15. Enjoy!
Key:
Normal Text
Thoughts
"Speech"
[Movie]
"Movie Speech"
Dragon Thoughts
"Dragon Speech"
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY
[The grounds have been transformed. Banners and flags flap in
the morning sun. Surrounding the ring, a festive crowd had
gathered. All of Berk has turned out for the event.]
Hiccup looks at the screen worryingly. If he was doing what he was thinking last night things might not go the way he planned. Astrid squeezes his hand reassuringly, and for good measure pecked Hiccup on his cheek. The others picking up on his mood gave him encouraging smiles.
Stoick looked slightly stressed and worried he was starting to change his mind about dragons but his future-self was still the same, and if he had any indication of what his son was thinking things weren't going to end well.
STOICK
(aloud to the crowd)
Well, I can show my face in public
again.
[LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE]
STOICK (CONT'D)
(PLAYFUL)
If someone had told me that in a
few short weeks, Hiccup would go
from being, well... Hiccup, to
placing first in dragon training...
I would've tied him to a mast and
shipped him off for fear he'd gone
mad. Yes! And you know it!
The teens and Stoick wince at how bad it sounded. Hiccup was starting to feel more nervous.
(BEAT)
But here we are. And no one's more
surprised...
[ON HICCUP standing at the entrance to the ring, listening,
looking burdened.]
STOICK (CONT'D)
... or more proud than I am. Today,
my boy becomes a Viking. TODAY, HE
BECOMES ONE OF US!
[CHEERS and ROARS.
Astrid approaches Hiccup.]
ASTRID
Be careful with that dragon.
HICCUP
(re: the roaring crowd)
It's not the dragon I'm worried
about.
Stoick's stomach dropped. He was talking about himself.
ASTRID
(WORRIED)
What are you going to do?
HICCUP
Put an end to this.
The teens eye Hiccup worryingly even the twins.
[She eyes him, dubious.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
I have to try.
(BEAT)
Astrid. If something goes wrong...
just make sure they don't find
Toothless.
A ghost of a smile appeared on Snotlout's face "you could possibly die… and you're worrying about Toothless not yourself" he chuckled and shook his head.
ASTRID
(GRIM)
I will. Just promise me it won't go
wrong.
[Hiccup can't. Gobber approaches.]
The twins sighed "he can't".
GOBBER
It's time, Hiccup. Knock him dead.
Stoick and Gobber looked burdened.
Toothless warbles trying to reassure Hiccup that it was going to be ok.
[Hiccup puts his helmet on and enters the ring.]
[ON THE TEENS
HOOTING and HOLLERING from the stands.]
TUFFNUT
Show 'em how it's done, my man!
Hiccup smiled for a second and shook his head smiling slightly at Tuffnut before looking burdened again focused back onto the screen.
[Hiccup locks eyes with Stoick. Stoick nods with a smile.
Hiccup returns a half-smile. Takes a deep breath.
He hoists a shield onto his forearm and selects his weapon
from a rack of many - a small dagger.]
STOICK
(MUTTERED)
Hrmph. I would've gone for the
hammer.
Hiccup rolled his eyes of couse you would.
Toothless getting fed up with the room feeling so tense that could be cut by a knife, wacked Hiccup on the head. This action broke the tension for a moment as the teens snicked, snorted or giggles at Hiccup's facial expression.
[Hiccup turns to face a bolted, heavy door. Takes a deep
breath.]
HICCUP
I'm ready.
[The door bolt is raised. The crowd grows quiet...
(Beat.)
BOOM! The doors blast open with a stream of sticky fire.
Followed by a Monstrous Nightmare, coated in flames. It tears
out of its cave like an irate bull - as the crowd roars and
jeers.
It climbs the walls and chain enclosure like a bat, hissing
at the provoking crowd and blasting fire.]
Stoick holds his breath.
[It spots Hiccup and descends, leering and licking the flaming
drool from its lips.
The crowd grows silent, bracing for the big fight.
With the Monstrous Nightmare's eyes locked upon him, Hiccup
deliberately drops his shield and dagger stepping away from
them. The dragon pauses, confused.
ON STOICK, also confused.]
Stoick shook his head smiling ghost like just like Valka.
STOICK
What is he doing?
Stoick shook his head. Why didn't he pick it up? His son was just like Valka.
[The dragon presses closer, snorting. Hiccup extends his open
hand. It snarls.]
HICCUP
(WHISPERED)
It's okay. It's okay.
[The dragon continues to pace, focused on... HICCUP'S HELMET.
Hiccup realizes, then reaches up and removes it. Taking a
breath to acknowledge the point of no return, he tosses the
helmet aside. It hits the ground.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
I'm not one of them.
The Village gasp in time with the villages on-screen.
The teens look worryingly at Hiccup. Astrid pecks Hiccup's cheek and squeezes his hand trying to reassure him that it was all going to be ok.
Hiccup looked it to Astrid's watery eyes seeing that she, along with the others, were worried for him, not laughing or bullying him, generally worried for him.
[GASPS and MURMURS race through the crowd.
ON STOICK, as all eyes turn to him. He's welling with upset.
Hiccup avoids Stoick's glare and remains focused on the
Nightmare, holding his hand out. It paces around him, calming
down.]
STOICK
Stop the fight.
HICCUP
No. I need you all to see this.
[The crowd gets restless.]
The audience get restless, getting worried.
The dragons (who have come to like Hiccup) grow even more worried, some start snarling at the screen but soon stop from a half-hearted reassuring look from Hiccup.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
They're not what we think they are.
We don't have to kill them.
STOICK
I SAID STOP THE FIGHT!
Everyone winced. Hookfang gave Hiccup a sympathetic look apologising for what was happening.
[Stoick whacks his hammer against the iron enclosure, rattling
the arena with a terrible reverberating clatter.
Spooked, the Nightmare snaps at Hiccup's outstretched hand.
Hiccup YELPS and springs backward.
The spell is broken. The Nightmare reacts to Hiccup's sudden
movements and blasts another stream of fire. Hiccup SCREAMS
and barely dives out of reach.]
Everyone held their breaths.
EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS
[ON TOOTHLESS
His ear plates shoot up. Panic flares in his eyes.]
Hiccup sighed. He didn't want Toothless to get hurt.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS
[Hiccup scrambles around the ring. The Nightmare pursues,
snapping and springing from ground to wall.
Stoick pushes through the crowd, rushing to the doorway.]
STOICK
Out of my way!
ASTRID
Hiccup!
[Astrid wedges her axe under the arena gate and squeezes
through.]
Hiccup smiles at Astrid silently thanking her for helping him.
EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS
[Toothless bounds to the cove walls, clawing them in
desperation. It seems he's as trapped as before, but with an
incredible BURST of effort he HOOKS a claw over the upper lip
of the stone wall.]
Hiccup stares worryingly at Toothless along with many others who along with the teens had realised that the black lump on the ground hear the teens was in fact Toothless, a dragon.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS
[A narrow stream of fire narrowly avoids Hiccup as he
continues to dash around the ring, evading the Monstrous
Nightmare. Desperate, he goes to the weapon rack in an
attempt to arm himself, but the Nightmare quickly destroys
the rack and closes in on him.]
EXT. COVE - CONTINUOUS
[Toothless tears through the woods, bounding like panther and
taking to the air in short bursts.]
Astrid lets go of Hiccup's hand and hugs the dragon thanking him for coming.
Stoick sighs and looks down. He was jealous of the dragon. This dragon, this Night Fury, was more concerned for Hiccup, his son, then he was, what an amazing father he was!
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - CONTINUOUS
[Stoick wrenches the grated door to the arena and jumps
through. The Monstrous Nightmare is only a few feet behind
Hiccup. Astrid is now in the ring.]
ASTRID
Hiccup!
[She picks up a hammer and hurls it at the Monstrous
Nightmare, hitting it in the head. It turns its attention to
Astrid, and begins chasing her. Stoick raises the arena gate,
waving her toward it.]
STOICK
This way!
[Astrid makes it through, but the Nightmare BLASTS the
doorway, cutting Hiccup off. It pounces on him and prepares
to finish him off.]
Toothless growls at Hookfang who whimpers and apology.
[Suddenly, a terrible roar pierces the din.]
GOBBER
Night Fury! Get down!
[Toothless bounds over the crowd and BLASTS a hole through the
chain enclosure. He flies through it and disappears in the
boiling smoke.
The Vikings rush to railings... in time to see a flurry of
wings cutting through the dissipating smoke. Toothless and
the Nightmare tumble into the clear, locked in a toothy,
vicious fight. Toothless kicks the Nightmare off and plants
himself between Hiccup and it.
The Nightmare snarls, circling them. Toothless lunges and
ROARS... causing the Nightmare to relent and back away.
To everyone's shock and horror, Hiccup gets to his feet and
grabs Toothless protectively.]
HICCUP
(PANICKED)
Alright, Toothless, go. Get out of
here!
Stoick stomach dropped again along with most of the villages. He was going to try and kill Toothless.
[The crowd is gob-smacked, growing livid.]
VIKINGS
Night Fury!
[Hiccup tries to shoo Toothless away in vain. Vikings begin
pouring clambering through the enclosure and dropping into
the ring.]
HICCUP
Go! GO!
VIKING
Take it alive!
Said Viking looked down in shame.
[Stoick grabs an axe and charges into the arena. Astrid calls
out to him, panicked.]
ASTRID
Stoick no!
HICCUP
Dad! No! He won't hurt you!
[The other Vikings surround and attack Toothless. He tosses
them aside like rag dolls, his eyes focused on Stoick.]
Hiccup stared at Toothless mumbling under his breath "toothless no…"
HICCUP (CONT'D)
No, don't! You're only making it
worse!
[Stoick raises his hammer as he charges for Toothless.
Toothless ducks and pounces on him. They tumble end over end.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Toothless! STOP!
[He pins Stoick and inhales. The familiar hiss of gas builds.
Everyone braces...]
The audience gasp.
HICCUP (CONT'D)
NO!
[Toothless swallows back the blast and turns to Hiccup, not
understanding.]
VIKING
Get him!
[The crowd rushes him, piling on, and taking Toothless down.
Astrid holds Hiccup back.]
HICCUP
(DESPERATE)
No! Please...just don't hurt him.
Please don't hurt him.
The audience looked down watery eyed.
[Stoick gets to his feet, fuming, shaken. A Viking presents
Stoick with an axe. He eyes Toothless a moment, then pushes
the axe back into the Viking's hands.]
STOICK
Put it with the others!
[His burning glare turn to Hiccup.]
INT. GREAT HALL - DAY
[ON HICCUP
Being shoved into the dank, dimmed hall.
SLAM! The massive doors rattle and echo. Stoick pushes past
him. He paces against a backdrop of shadowy tapestries and
carved pillars - a legacy of heroes, all peering down in
angered judgement.]
Stoick caught Hiccup's eyes and silently apologised which Hiccup accepted gratefully knowing he was slowly changing his father's mind.
STOICK
I should have known. I should have
seen the signs.
Stoick and Gobber shared glances with Hiccup giving the duo a confused look.
HICCUP
Dad.
STOICK
We had a deal!
"a very one-sided deal" Hope mumbles under her breath, but the teens heard.
[Stoick pauses to say something, but stops short. He SNORTS
and resumes pacing, repeating the cycle.]
HICCUP
(FLUSTERED)
I know we did... but that was
before... ughh, it's all so messed
up.
Hiccup nodded with his future self.
STOICK
So everything in the ring. A
trick? A lie?
[He stomps toward Hiccup. Stops short and points, fighting
back words.]
Stoick grimaced.
HICCUP
I screwed up. I should have told
you before now. Take this out on
me, be mad at me, but please...
just don't hurt Toothless.
Stoick eyed the group of teens and Hope sadly. Hope was right he hurt his son, and he was going to possibly pay.
STOICK
The dragon? That's what you're
worried about? Not the people you
almost killed?!
HICCUP
He was just protecting me! He's not
dangerous.
Stoick refused to look at anyone.
STOICK
They've killed HUNDREDS OF US!
HICCUP
And we've killed THOUSANDS OF THEM!
They defend themselves, that's all!
They raid us because they have to!
If they don't bring enough food
back, they'll be eaten themselves.
(BEAT)
There's something else on their
island dad...it's a dragon like—
[Stoick HUFFS.]
STOICK
-Their island?
The teens gulp. Hiccup face-palmed, he said too much… again!
[He stomps back... pointing an accusing finger.]
STOICK (CONT'D)
So you've been to the nest.
HICCUP
Did I say nest?
[Hiccup goes silent - he said too much.]
Gobber chuckled and threw a mocking stern look at his apprentice when he looked their way.
STOICK
How did you find it?!
HICCUP
No... I didn't. Toothless did.
Only a dragon can find the island.
[Stoick GLARES. A moment passes, then an idea takes form on
his face. His eyes flare. Hiccup watches, realizing. Stoick
stomps toward the doorway.
Snotlout shook his head "this just keeps getting worse and worse".
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Oh no. No, Dad. No.
[Hiccup chases after him, panicked.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Dad. It's not what you think. You
don't know what you're up against.
It's like nothing you've ever seen.
Stoick paled, he was going to send the villages to their deaths. All because he wouldn't listen to his son.
[He grabs Stoick by the arm, tugging with all his might. He
has no effect whatsoever.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
Dad. Please. I promise you that you
can't win this one.
[Nothing.]
HICCUP (CONT'D)
No. Dad. No. For once in your life,
WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO
ME?!
That hurt worse than all, Stoick looked once again sadly at the group of friends.
Hiccup mirrored Stoick's look and looked away as soon as he locked eyes with his fathers. It was his fault he was going to send the village to their deaths.
[He throws Hiccup off of him, SWATTING him to the floor.
Icy stillness. Hiccup stares back, stunned.]
STOICK
You've thrown your lot in with
them. You're not a Viking.
The teens gasp.
(BEAT)
You're not my son.
Everyone paled and looked between the two Haddocks.
Stoick didn't know what he felt like. All he knew was it was all his fault.
[Stoick pushes through the door, leaving Hiccup alone,
devastated.]
STOICK (CONT'D)
(CALLING OUT)
Ready the ships!
EXT. GREAT HALL - CONTINUOUS
[Stoick staggers on the steps, breaking inside.]
"Well that was an interesting scene" Hope broke the silence.
Hiccup looked up at Stoick who was wearing an awful grim look. He was blaming himself. He was feeling awful.
Hiccup having enough got up, ran to his father and hugged him.
Stoick half shocked wrapped his arms around his son, and they shared a heartfelt hug warming the room.
Hope giggled drawing everyone's attention to herself. "What?" she looked around confused
Snotlout broke the silence "you giggled. Why?"
"I was just thinking about Hiccup's name"
Hiccup looked confused "why?"
"Your name's meaning is really stupid" Hiccup didn't know whether to feel insulted or not?
Tuffnut looked interested "what does it mean?" Hope continued to giggle. The teens plus Gobber and Stoick glared at the girl.
"Oh alright I'll tell you. It literally means 'runt crazy fish the third'. You know Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, runt crazy fish" Hope not being able to hold it in any longer started laughing.
Everyone couldn't help it they all laughed, some ended up on the floor laughing. The teens and Toothless were the worse, crying and not being able to breathe. Toothless was collapsed on the ground in dragon like laughter.
Hope smiled contently, feeling good with herself.
DONE! What did ya think? Does Hiccup live up to his name? runt crazy fish? I hoped you enjoyed this chapter! I sure enjoyed writing the last part. Don't judge me where I got the name meaning, I thought of it one night in bed. Anyway till next chapter…
-Hope logging off!