[Eret's ship is seen sailing through the ocean.]
Eret: Keep your eyes peeled, lads! With this wind, we'll reach Drago by daybreak, so best we fill this ship up with dragons and quick! It's no time to be picky.
Ug: Uh... Eret?
Eret: Not if we want to keep our-
[Toothless and Stormfly are spotted flying towards them]
Eret: HEADS! Off the port quarter! Net 'em, lads! Take 'em down!
Eret: You're not getting away this time! Fire!
The teens all watched in shock as the pair willingly land on the deck of the ship. Astrid cracked her knuckles towards Hiccup threateningly. "Just what do you have in mind of a plan…?" Her interrogating stare was met only with a gulp and a spout of nervous laughter.
Eret: And here I was worried we might turn up empty-handed.
Hiccup: Nope. It's your lucky day. We give up.
Hiccup felt a barrage of disapproving glares at the unpopular plan.
Hiccup: That's one Night Fury, one Deadly Nadder and two of the finest Dragon Riders west of Luk Tuk. That oughtta make the boss happy, right? Excuse us.
To say that Astrid was seething would be an understatement. Giving up?! Not on her watch!
Astrid: What are you doing?
Hiccup: Ah, Toothless, stay. The dragons don't really care for cramped spaces, so they'll just hang out with you. They won't be any trouble.
[The Dragon Trappers pull out their swords and spears.]
Hiccup: Unless you do that. You know, wooden boat, big ocean- H-How's your swimming?
No-Name: Not good.
Astrid laughed at his overly-calm manner in the tense situation. Receiving a hopeful look from Hiccup, she immediately quieted down. "Don't go thinking you're off the hook…"
[A burst of flame erupts from the live well, causing the crewmen to jump back. Hiccup thrusts Inferno through the grate.]
Hiccup: Oops. Almost forgot. Can't have armed prisoners.
Astrid: How is this a plan?
[He retracts the blade and offers it up. A crewman cautiously takes it, looking it over. The pommel of the hilt is expelling green gas.]
"Wait, now you're both unarmed?!" Even I'm not dumb enough to know that's a terrible idea…" Tuffnut scratches his head, utterly confused by the heir's intentions.
Hiccup: Just what every Dragon Trapper needs. One end coats the blade in Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The other sprays Hideous Zippleback gas. All it takes is a spark and...
[A curious crewman clicks the lighter, igniting the gas. Hiccup ducks as the sudden explosion sweeps over the deck.]/
Hiccup: Oh yeah, there you go! Once they see you as one of their own, even the testiest dragon can be trained, right, bud?
Fishlegs is immediately impressed by the sword's mechanics. "Genius!"
"Now that I know how it works, I'm guessing I use it mostly to keep the peace with the dragons…"
Eret: Give me that!
[Eret throws Inferno towards the ocean. Stormfly chases after it.]
Eret: What game are you playing?
Hiccup: No game. We just want to meet Drago.
Eret: Why?
Hiccup: Because I'm going to change his mind about dragons.
Snotlout shakes his head. "Even Stoick is afraid of this Drago guy. I don't know about you, but I'm steering clear of him."
[Eret and his men laugh.]
Astrid: He can be really persuasive.
"Awh, thank you, Astrid!"
"Alright, I'll admit I agree with my future self, but you'll probably need to update your technique…" Leaning in towards Hiccup, Astrid dropped her voice to a whisper. "I don't think kidnapping Drago and then being super cute and romantic is going to win him over." The son of the chief had to bite his knuckle to keep from bursting into a fit of laughter, while Astrid simply eyed him knowingly.
Hiccup: Once you've earned his loyalty, there is nothing a dragon won't do for you.
Eret: Puh! You won't be changing any minds around here./span/span/span/p
Hiccup: I can change yours. Right here. Right now. Ah, may I?
[Hiccup gets snatched by Snotlout.]/span/span/span/p
Eret: Dragon Riders!
[Toothless roars and climbs onto the top of the boat. Relaxed once he sees Snotlout, the Twins and Fishlegs.]
Hiccup: Put me down! Snotlout! What are you doing?
"Ha! This is going to be good! I only wish Stoick had a dragon, that'd be priceless!" Hiccup nearly screamed at the thought; five years was a lot of time, maybe Stoick had…? No, no; he had to hope not.
Snotlout: See how well I protect and provide?
Eww!" Ruffnut and Snotlout spat in distaste, practically in sync.
Tuffnut: Aggh! What is with all the nets?!
Ruffnut: Hey watch it! That was close...In slow motion) Oh, my. Me likey.
"Ooh, yes indeed...I'll take two." All heads whipped around at the infatuated Ruffnut, her brother even going as far as pretending to gag.
[Hiccup pushes off Hookfang.]
Astrid: HOLD YOUR FIRE!
Hiccup: Uh, WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING HERE?!
Gobber: We're here to rescue you!
Hiccup: I don't NEED to be rescued!
Stoick: ENOUGH!
"Oh, shame. You will be thoroughly missed, Hiccup. I'll make sure Toothless is looked after once you're gone."
"I swear to the gods, you are extremely unhelpful."
"Might as well get a head start on things...when we get back, I'll make sure to get a good flight or two in on Toothless."
Astrid darted up to give Snotlout a fist in the face, but Hiccup surprisingly beat her to it. In one quick move, he was in front of his cousin; before the boy had any clue what he'd said, he was grabbing his shin howling.
"Ogh! Metal feet hurt, Hiccup!"
"What do you think the point was?! Nice kick, by the way, Hiccup…"
"Thanks, Astrid." he looked back over with a glare towards Snotlout. "Stay away from Toothless."
Eret: Well, didn't you just pick the wrong ship eh? I am Eret, son of-
[Stoick shoves his face]
[Gobber hits him in the head and Grump lies on him]
Eret: Get... this... thing... off... me!
Gobber: Anyone else? Hmm, that's what I figured.
Stoick: You. Saddle up. We're going home.
Hiccup: No.
As soon as the word was out of his future counterpart's mouth, Hiccup began hyperventilating. "Did...I...just...tell...him...no?!"
"Once again, the offer still stands-"
"Snotlout I swear, I will use this." Hiccup snapped out of his panic, gesturing angrily at his leg. The look on his face clearly warned his cousin that if he had to go over there again, things wouldn't be pretty.
Stoick: Of all the irresponsible-
Hiccup: I'm trying to protect our dragons and stop a war! How is that irresponsible?!
Stoick: BECAUSE WAR IS WHAT HE WANTS, SON!
[Stoick realizes he has to explain.]
Stoick: Years ago, there was a great gathering of chieftains to discuss the dragon scourge we all faced. Into our midst came a stranger from a strange land, covered in scars and draped in a cloak of dragon skin. He carried no weapon and spoke softly, saying that he, Drago Bludvist, was a man of the people, devoted to freeing mankind from the tyranny of dragons. He claimed that he alone could control the dragons and he alone could keep us safe, if we chose to bow down and follow him.
[The gang laughs]
The teens laugh despite themselves, mirroring the screen.
Ruffnut: Stupid.
Tuffnut: Ah, good one.
Stoick: Aye. We laughed too. Until he wrapped himself in his cloak and cried, "Then see how well you do without me!". The rooftop suddenly burst into flames, and from it, armored dragons descended, burning the hall to the ground. I… was the only one to escape.
Any laughter in the room immediately stopped.
Stoick: Men who kill without reason cannot be reasoned with.
Hiccup: Maybe.
"Honestly, I'm not even sure if I agree with myself anymore…"
Stoick: Hiccup...
Hiccup: I'm still going to try. This is what I'm good at. And if I could change your mind... I can change his, too.
Hiccup: (To Toothless) Come on.
[Astrid climbs Stormfly.]
Astrid: Let's go.
Stoick: No! Lead the others back to Berk. I've had enough mutiny for one day.
"Sorry, I tried...please don't get killed the one time I'm not tailing you."
"You know me, my middle name is 'safety'- ow! That's definitely a bruise...Okay, whatever, I'll be good!"
Ruffnut: (To Eret) Ooh, I like that.
Stoick: Ruffnut!
Ruffnut: Ugh! Okay!
"He's never going to fall for you if we're enemies, y'know." Astrid tried explaining to Ruff, hoping she'd understand.
"Well, then just have your boyfriend Captain Persuasia talk some sense into him!" Hiccup and Astrid blushed violently at the use of the word "boyfriend," before remembering they'd seen the evidence of a long relationship unfold on the screen.
[Hiccup stares ahead, frustrated, as Toothless glides over a bed of clouds, glowing in the low, Arctic sun. Hiccup screams in frustration, then slumps back onto the saddle. Toothless recoils, sensitive to Hiccup's upset.]
The teens flinched at the upset Hiccup and turned their heads to the younger version, as in hoping for an explanation.
"Well that's a first...did you guys know that Hiccup could get mad?" Tuff was the first to break the silence in the room.
"Hey muttonhead, how about that time, oh I don't' know- five minutes ago when he kicked me in the shin?
Hiccup merely shrugged it off. "Well, after five years I'm probably dealing with this more...gotta let of steam somehow.
Hiccup: Don't worry bud, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you. I promise.
[The clouds start to tear from something and then a mysterious person appears to be flying in thin air.]
Hiccup: Aw, come on, Dad! Really?!
Ruffnut squinted at the strange figure. "Did Stoick get a haircut?" Her remark was met with groans emulating from all around the room.
Hiccup: (To Toothless) Okay. No sudden moves.
[Cloudjumper appears]
Hiccup: Hold on, hold on.
"Hiccup, I highly suggest not staying to find out what they want…" Fishlegs was barely audible, having hidden his face in his hands at the first sign of the stranger.
[Hiccup gets snatched by a dragon and Toothless falls]
Astrid and Hiccup both stand, fear etched into their features.
"Hiccup!"
The boy barely had any time to register her worry. "Toothless!" His concerned cry was met with utter confusion from the other teens. He was captured, and he cared about his dragon more than his own safety? He elaborated for the others. "He can't fly on his own! He'll drown!"
Hiccup: TOOTHLESS!
[Toothless falls through ice and Hiccup gets carried away, Toothless watches and struggles to get out the water. Seashockers carry him away.]
Hiccup: HEY! YOU LEFT MY DRAGON BACK THERE! HE CAN'T FLY ON HIS OWN! HE'LL DROWN!
The gang squirmed as they were once again reminded of the gravity of the situation; Toothless is drowning, and Hiccup was captured. As much as he'd changed in five years, being prone to danger clearly had not!
[Hiccup is carried into the Dragon's Sanctuary]
Hiccup: Hey! We have to head back for my dragon!
[Dragons surround Hiccup. Hiccup pulls out his fire blade, showing he's one of the dragons.]
[Hiccup draws a circle of gas and ignites it. Walking towards a dragon with an extended arm. The warrior steps forward, scaring Hiccup.]
Hiccup: Who are you? The Dragon Thief? Drago Bludvist? Do you even understand what I'm saying?
"Ugh, this is giving me the chills..is this Drago, or is it the rider?"
"I'm not sure, Astrid. I just hope I can get out of there before anything happens."
[The warrior orders a dragon to bring Toothless]
Hiccup: Toothless! It's okay, it's okay. I'm glad to see you too, bud. You really had me worried there.
"Oh thank Thor!" Hiccup sighs, as they all release the breaths they'd been holding. Noticing Snotlout's relief, Fishlegs sent the boy a questioning look.
"Well, I'm not heartless, Fishface…"
[The warrior orders the dragons to light the place]
"Gah, okay, thanks for my dragon back...but please stop touching my face. Seriously, what is so fascinating about my scar?!"
Astrid laughed at his commentary. "Well, it's pretty mysterious...where did you even get that scar?"
"Not entirely sure; I've had it as long as I can remember."
Warrior: Hiccup? C-Could it be? After all these years? How is this possible?
"Woah, Hiccup do you know them?" Astrid's eyes shot open.
"Not really, thought I guess the voice rings a bit of a bell…"
Hiccup: Uh, should I... should I know you?
Valka: No. You were only a babe. But a mother never forgets.
Hiccup slumped out of his chair, eyes rolling back. Panicking for his sake, Astrid did the first thing to come to mind; she smacked him across the face, hoping to revive him. It worked like a charm, better than even expected, and in less than a second he was up on his feet.
Besides passing out, his first instinct was to question the woman. "Where have you been?" he asked the image of his mother on the screen.
[Hiccup stammers, tongue-tied, aghast.]
Valka: Come…
"Woah, woah, wo- Where d'you think you're going?! I need some questions answered!" Hiccup's face was unreadable; Astrid couldn't tell whether he was mad, scared, happy, confused, or all of the above. His mix of emotions were replaced in an instant with one of fear as a thought crossed his mind.
"Thor help her when my dad finds out…"
XxXxXxXxXx
A/N Sorry this took so long! It was ready less than an hour after I finished chapter four, but something kept going wrong and it wouldn't go into the doc manager. Then, as you may have seen, it became code...so pissed, RAWR. Adding more surprises later, though, soooooooo yeah. I hope that makes up for this. The only good thing about it taking so long was that during the process of trying to get it to work I fixed some of the sloppier commentary (it's still not my favorite, but hey; I tried!).
"Also! Please check out my profile sometime soon, if possible; I'm introducing an OC (ugh, I know) and also an organization similar-ish to that of the G.M.A.D.s, PM me for information or to join. The OC might be in this story a bit later on, I haven't decided yet...R and R! Byeeee!
P.S. First PM or two who want to be an Elitist also have the option of being in this or another story (as per request) :)
P.P.S. Thanks to those who reviewed telling me about the code problem! I hadn't even checked it afterwards, I was just so exhausted; thanks so much for bringing it to my attention.