Wow. This is the fastest I've ever had to update a chapter. Thank you. All of you. Thoug I do want to note that identical reviews from guests only count as one. But even without the duplicate you guys got ten so here you go. In less than twenty four hours you get a new chapter. Thanks again and remember, seven days or ten reviews. i shall see you again.
Don't own HTTYD
EXT. WOODS - DAY ON AN OPEN NOTEBOOK A drawn map of the island, covered in X's. Hiccup looks up from it and peeks over a gorge, expectantly. Sees nothing. He adds another 'X' to the page, then scratches his pencil over the whole map in frustration. He snaps the book closed and pockets it.
Fishlegs grinned "What did the book do to you?" he asked.
HICCUP Uggh, the gods hate me. Some people lose their knife or their mug. No, not me. I manage to lose an entire dragon.
To Hiccup's surprise the masked figure chuckled at that. And to his further surprise the sound made him realize it had been a woman all this time.
Hiccup WHACKS a low-hanging branch. It SNAPS back at him, hitting him in the face. He looks up to see a snapped tree trunk. His eyes follow it to a long trench of up-turned earth. He follows it to a downed, black dragon, its body and tail tangled in a bola. It appears dead. Hiccup approaches, beaming.
The masked figure stiffened, watching the ordeal intently.
HICCUP (CONT'D) (IN SHOCK) Oh wow. I did it. I did it. This fixes everything. (ELATED) Yes!
He strikes a victory pose, planting his foot on the fallen Night Fury.
HICCUP (CONT'D) I have brought down this mighty beast!
It suddenly shifts.
HICCUP (CONT'D) Whoa!
Snotlout scoffed "It's tied up. Can't move. And your still afraid?" he asked. Hiccup shrugged.
Hiccup springs back, terrified. He turns his blade on it. Rattled, Hiccup creeps along the length of the weak, wounded dragon, dagger poised to strike. As he reaches the head, Hiccup finds the Night Fury staring coldly at him.
Fishlegs shivered "Toothless can really be terrifying when he wants to be." he said.
Hiccup nodded "I think it's a defensive mechanism to hide he's a cuddly cat inside." he said, earning another whack from a tail.
Hiccup tries to look away, but he's drawn back to its unnerving, unflinching stare. With the dragon safety tangled in the ropes, Hiccup jabs with his dagger, puffing himself up with false bravado.
HICCUP (CONT'D) I'm going to kill you, Dragon. I'm gonna cut out your heart and take it to my father. I'm a Viking. (BEAT) I am a VIKING!
"To be fair you really aren't. Dragon Rider. Totally different." Astrid commented easily.
Hiccup raises the dagger, determined to prove his Viking- ness. The dragon's labored breathing breaks Hiccup's clenched concentration. He opens an eye, uncertainty leaking through. The dragon holds the stare. Something profound is exchanged. Finally, the Night Fury closes its eye and lowers its head, resigned to its fate. Hiccup tries to go through with it, holding the dagger aloft... fighting himself... until finally lowering it with a frustrated sigh. He looks over the dragon's chaffed rope wounds.
HICCUP (CONT'D) (muttered, ashamed) I did this.
At this everyone leaned forward in anticipation. None of the Berkians had ever heard exactly what happened when Hiccup met Toothless after all and they would be lying if they said they weren't curious.
He turns to leave. Pauses. And glances back at the dragon, chest heaving. Hiccup GRUMBLES. He checks over his shoulder to ensure that no one is watching... then hurries back to cut the ropes. The Night Fury's eye shoots open. With the dragon watching his every move, Hiccup hurriedly saws through the bola ropes. As the last rope falls free, the Night Fury suddenly POUNCES!
Everyone winced, knowing the anger of a furious dragon. Honestly they wondered how Hiccup got out alive.
In a blur, the dragon is upon him, pinning Hiccup down, grazing his neck. Looking like it's about to kill him. Hiccup is paralyzed. The dragon's breath ruffles his hair. Hiccup opens his eyes to find the Night Fury's wolf-like stare boring into him. The exchange is intense, profound. The dragon draws a deep breath, as though it's about to torch him, then lets out an ear-piercing scream instead.
Stoick couldn't help but let out a shaky breath. This may have been in the past but it didn't stop him from worrying.
It turns and takes flight, flapping violently through the canopy of trees. It bashes against a nearby mountain side, recovers, and drops out of view some distance away. Winded, Hiccup struggles to his feet, staggers a few steps, collapses to his knees, and faints.
To Hiccups surprise the masked figure suddenly turned, hugging him tightly. The others rose to their feet and watched the figure warily but Hiccup motioned for them to stand down. They did so warily but Stoick moved closer, ready to protect his son if need be. Suddenly though the masked figure blinked "I never knew. All this time...you took after me." the figure whispered. Hiccup barely heard it.
He looked at the figure in confusion "Should I know you?" he asked, just loud enough for her to hear. She just shook her head again, turning and sitting silently, staring resolutely at the screen. Slowly Hiccup sat down, sending a reassuring nod to his father and Astrid.
INT. STOICK'S HOUSE - CONTINUOUS Hiccup enters to see... STOICK, seated on a thick slice of tree-trunk. He is slouched over the fire-pit, stirring the coals with his axe. Embers waft around his beard. Hiccup tries to sneak past, up the stairs to his room. Stoick seems none the wiser, when...
STOICK Hiccup.
"Busted."
HICCUP (CAUGHT) Dad. Uh...
Stoick stands, takes a deep breath.
HICCUP (CONT'D) I, uh... I have to talk to you, Dad.
STOICK I need to speak with you too, son.
Hiccup and Stoick STRAIGHTEN at the same moment.
HICCUP STOICK I've decided I don't want to I think it's time you learn fight dragons. to fight dragons. (BEAT) (BEAT) What? What?
Fishlegs blinked "Uh...what just happened?" he asked.
Hiccups rubbed the back of his neck "Just me being me." he asnwered
STOICK (CONT'D) You go first.
HICCUP No, you go first.
STOICK Alright. You get your wish. Dragon training. You start in the morning.
HICCUP (SCRAMBLING) Oh man, I should've gone first. Uh, 'cause I was thinking, you know we have a surplus of dragon-fighting Vikings, but do we have enough bread-making Vikings, or small home REPAIR VIKINGS-
"You...are a terrible liar. I thought Fishlegs was bad." Ruffnut said.
Astrid smirked "It gets better." she said.
STOICK -You'll need this. Stoick hands Hiccup his axe. Hiccup avoids taking it.
HICCUP I don't want to fight dragons.
STOICK Come on. Yes, you do.
HICCUP Rephrase. Dad I can't kill dragons.
STOICK But you will kill dragons.
HICCUP No, I'm really very extra sure that I won't.
"He was so close. And I never even knew it." the masked figure whispered. Hiccup hesitated, unsure of what to think. So he settled for setting a comforting hand on her arm.
STOICK It's time Hiccup.
HICCUP Can you not hear me?
STOICK This is serious son!
Stoick forces the axe into Hiccup's hands. Its weight drags him down. He looks up to see Stoick under-lit with firelight.
STOICK (CONT'D) When you carry this axe... you carry all of us with you. Which means you walk like us. You talk like us. You think like us. No more of... (GESTURING NON- specifically at Hiccup) ... this.
"Actually I am grateful for being a hiccup. Sorry but there is no way I want to end up like Snotlout." Hiccup said teasingly as he glance at his cousin.
Snotlout nodded "I agree. I don't want competition for the best viking on the island." he said quickly, earning a laugh from the teens.
HICCUP You just gestured to all of me.
STOICK Deal?
HICCUP This conversation is feeling very one-sided.
This time the figure turned to look back at Stoick again. He couldn't help but flinch. He already felt guilty enough for how he acted back then. He just hoped that it didn't show what had happened after he found out about his son training dragons in the first place.
STOICK DEAL?!
Hiccup glances at the axe in his hands. It's a no-win argument.
HICCUP (RESIGNED) Deal.
Satisfied, Stoick grabs his helmet and duffel bag... and heads for the door.
STOICK Good. Train hard. I'll be back. Probably.
HICCUP And I'll be here. Maybe. Stoick heads out the door, leaving Hiccup holding the axe.
Astrid frowned, looking over at Hiccup "Sometimes I forget how you guys used to be around eachother. This is almost brutal to watch." she said quietly, making sure to not let Stoick hear.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - DAY Gobber raises a massive iron gate at the entrance of a vast stone arena.
GOBBER Welcome to dragon training!
All of the teens shuddered. Dragon training with Gobber was more brutal than Astrids training excersices.
The recruits file through the gate, and out onto the arena floor. They take it in like gladiators entering the colosseum. The walls are covered in scorched silhouettes of blasted Vikings. It's a grim yet awe-inspiring place.
ASTRID No turning back.
TUFFNUT I hope I get some serious burns.
RUFFNUT I'm hoping for some mauling, like on my shoulder or lower back.
ASTRID Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it.
HICCUP (O.S.) Yeah, no kidding, right? Pain. Love it.
Fishlegs sighed "Now that I know Gobbers training method I wish my parents would have been hesitant about letting me join." he grumbled.
Hiccup chuckled "Now imagine being his apprentice for about ten years before that." he said.
Fishlegs blinked "Huh. Meathead seems much more appropriate now." he said.
"Oi!"
The recruits turn to see Hiccup behind them. Groans all around.
TUFFNUT Oh great. Who let him in?
GOBBER Let's get started! The recruit who does best will win the honor of killing his first dragon in front of the entire village.
SNOTLOUT Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so does that disqualify him or...?
"I still stand by that!"
The recruits LAUGH and chatter in the background.
TUFFNUT Can I transfer to the class with the cool Vikings?
"To be fair there was only one class." Hiccup commented.
Gobber throws a supportive arm around Hiccup and ushers him along.
GOBBER (cheery, in confidence) Don't worry. You're small and you're weak. That'll make you less of a target. They'll see you as sick or insane and go after the more Viking-like teens instead.
"Again. Inspirational speeches...not for Gobber." Hiccup said dryly.
GOBBER stick him in line with the others and continues on toward five massive reinforced doors. Terrible ROARS and BELLOWS issue from within.
GOBBER (CONT'D) Behind these doors are just a few of the many species you will learn to fight.
Fishlegs bounces and giggles with excitement, barely able to contain himself.
Astrid shook her head "Some things never change."
GOBBER (CONT'D) The Deadly Nadder.
FISHLEGS (under his breath) Speed eight. Armor sixteen.
Astrid smiled as she glanced at Stormfly.
GOBBER The Hideous Zippleback.
FISHLEGS Plus eleven stealth. Times two.
The twins chuckled mischivieously.
GOBBER The Monstrous Nightmare.
FISHLEGS Firepower fifteen.
Snotlout grinned at his dragons strength.
GOBBER The Terrible Terror.
FISHLEGS Attack eight. Venom twelve.
All of the teens smiled at their contest between terrors.
GOBBER CAN YOU STOP THAT?! (BEAT) And...the Gronckle.
FISHLEGS (quietly; to himself) Jaw strength, eight.
Gobber shot Fishlegs an annoyed glare. Fishlegs just shrugged sheepishly, grinning happily at Meatlug.
Gobber pulls a lever, raising the cross beam on the last of the doors.
SNOTLOUT Whoa, wait! Aren't you gonna teach us first!?
GOBBER I believe in learning on the job.
"And again. Try that in the black smith stall." Hiccup said dryly.
Astrid chuckled "I'm sorry."
BAM! A GRONCKLE thunders out of its cave, charging into the ring like an irate rhino. The recruits scramble in every direction. Except for Ruffnut and Tuffnut who rush toward it, like pumped-up rodeo clowns.
GOBBER (CONT'D) Today is about survival. If you get blasted, you're dead. Quick, what's the first thing you're going to need?
HICCUP A doctor?
"Seriously. Someone get Gothi?" Hiccup joked.
FISHLEGS Plus five speed?
"At least plus two speed." Fishlegs begged.
ASTRID A shield.
"It should have been obvious." she commented dryly.
GOBBER Shields. Go.
The recruits scramble for shields, finding them scattered around the ring. ]
GOBBER (CONT'D) Your most important piece of equipment is your shield. If you must make a choice between a sword or a shield, take the shield.
Hiccup STRUGGLES to lift his. Gobber helps him and sends him running. Ruff and Tuff stand amidst a dozen shields. But only one has a skull painted on it. They both grab it.
TUFFNUT Get your hands off my shield!
RUFFNUT There are like a million shields!
TUFFNUT Take that one, it has a flower on it. Girls like flowers.
Astrid, Ruffnut, and even the masked figure turned their gazes on Tuffnut "Girls don't always like flowers you know. Sometimes we also like destroying you from the inside and out." Astrid responded slyly.
Ruffnut uses the shield to BASH Tuffnut in the face. He doesn't let go.
RUFFNUT Ooops, now this one has blood on it.
"See?"
The Gronckle takes aim at the distracted twins. Blam! The shield is blasted out of both of their hands. Tuff and Ruff SPIN like tops and go down.
GOBBER Tuffnut, Ruffnut, you're out!
TUFFNUT (DAZED) What?!
RUFFNUT (CONFUSED) What?!
"Things haven't changed." Astrid said in a mixture of annoyance and amusement.
Snotlout grinned "I still stand by what I said at Dragons Edge. Execution?" he asked, earning groans from Hiccup, Astrid, and Fishlegs.
The Gronckle scoops up a pile of rocks and SWALLOWS them back. The teens gather on the far side of the ring.
GOBBER Those shields are good for another thing. Noise. Make lots of it to throw off a dragon's aim.
The kids scoop up weapons and begin hammering on their shields. The Gronckle shakes its head at the clatter.
GRONCKLE'S POV - the teens targets become blurry and scrambled. It's working.
"Huh. So that's what a dragon sees like. Interesting." Fishlegs said in wonder, already taking notes.
GOBBER (CONT'D) All dragons have a limited number of shots. How many does a Gronckle have?
SNOTLOUT Five!
FISHLEGS No, six.
"And that's what we always win dragon trivia." Astrid said, high fiving Fishlegs.
GOBBER Correct, six. That's one for each of you!
FISHLEGS I really don't think my parents WOULD-
BAM! Fishlegs has his shield blasted away.
GOBBER Fishlegs, out.
"And all to happy to agree." Fishlegs said firmly.
Gobber spots Hiccup hiding from the Gronckle's molten slugs.
GOBBER (CONT'D) Hiccup, get in there!
ON ASTRID bouncing on her heels, ready to dodge a blast. Snotlout appears, trying to hit on her.
SNOTLOUT So anyway I'm moving into my parents' basement. You should come by sometime to work out. You look like you work out-
Snotlout looked at Ruffnut "If it helps babe I'm totally over her." he said, earning an eye roll.
She cartwheels out of the way, allowing a shot to shoot past her and hit Snotlout's shield. He's blasted onto his back.
GOBBER Snotlout! You're done!
Astrid ROLLS to a stop beside Hiccup, who stirs awkwardly, trying to look cool.
HICCUP (VOICE BREAKING) So, I guess it's just you and me huh?
ASTRID No. Just you.
"Feeling the love." Hiccup teased. Astrid smirked, leaning over to kiss his cheek ""Your welcome." she said.
Astrid ROLLS away. A split-second later a lava slug knocks Hiccup's shield clear off of his arm. Hiccup is exposed.
GOBBER One shot left!
"How come I wasn't deemed out?" he asked.
Hiccup panics and chases after his shield as it rolls across the ring. The sudden movement sends the Gronckle chasing after him, leaving Astrid in the clear.
GOBBER (CONT'D) (WORRIED) Hiccup!
The Gronckle drives straight toward Hiccup, pinning him against the wall. It opens its mouth and cocks its tail, ready to fire point-blank. Gobber lunges in and hooks the Gronckle's mouth at the last second, causing its head to jerk back and fire against the stone wall above Hiccup's head.
"Talk about close." Hiccup joked. He then glanced over at the masked figure, noticing they seemed tense as they watched the scene.
GOBBER (CONT'D) (rattled, but masking it) And that's six!
Gobber wrestles the irate Gronckle back into his pen.
GOBBER (CONT'D) Go back to bed, ya overgrown sausage! You'll get another chance, don't you worry.
Fishlegs quickly pet Meatlug "Don't worry girl. He didn't mean it." he reassured.
Slam! Lock. Gobber turns to the recruits.
GOBBER (CONT'D) Remember... a dragon will always, (with a stern look to HICCUP) always go for the kill.
He hoists Hiccup to his feet and walks off. Hiccup looks overhead to see a steaming pit in the solid stone wall.
Hiccup smirked, looking back at Gobber "Always?" he asked.
Gobber brushed him off "That was before you pulled the world out from under us and threw chaos into the order we've followed for years." he commented.
Hiccup smirked "Keep telling yourself that."