I'm glad you guys are still enjoying this. I have had a fun time with the writing and I am honestly stunned to see it so popular. So once more, ten reviews or a week. Though I honestly should just epect to update sometime tonight by this rate. Thanks for all of you readers and reviewers, I truely appreciate the support.
Don't own HTTYD
INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - HICCUP'S CLOSET - NIGHT HICCUP is lost in thought, his head laid of a desk full of Toothless drawings. Burdened with the weight of the world. Suddenly, STOICK appears in the doorway. Hiccup jumps and quickly covers up his desk.
HICCUP Dad! You're back!
He skirts the bench, blocking Stoick's view of Toothless, the prosthetic fin, and other drawings.
Stoick couldn't help but gape. How could he have been so oblivious?
HICCUP (CONT'D) Gobber's not here, so...
He strikes an awkwardly casual pose, trying to cover up as much as possible.
STOICK I know. I came looking for you.
HICCUP (CAUGHT) You did?
STOICK (STERN) You've been keeping secrets.
Hiccup laughed nervously, glancing at his dad "Fyi...you scared me half to death." he commented.
Hiccup's legs give out. He slides, dragging the table's contents with him.
HICCUP I...have?
STOICK Just how long did you think you could hide it from me?
HICCUP (IN VAIN) I don't know what you're...
STOICK Nothing happens on this island without me hearing about it.
Tuffnut frowned "Are we missing something? I thought Stoick didn't find out about Toothless till later." he said.
HICCUP Oh?
STOICK So. (BEAT) Let's talk about that dragon.
Stoick groaned. He had been so close all along. Why had he been so dense?
Blood drains from Hiccup's face.
HICCUP Oh gods. Dad I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you. I just didn't know how to-
Stoick starts laughing. Big, booming. Hiccup stares, baffled.
HICCUP (CONT'D) You're not...upset?
STOICK What?! I was hoping for this!
"He was?"
HICCUP Uh...you were?
STOICK And believe me, it only gets better! Just wait til you spill a Nadder's guts for the first time.
Valka's face formed a mixture of anger and disgust.
Hiccup's elated expression sinks.
STOICK (CONT'D) And mount your first Gronckle head on a spear. What a feeling!
Stoick laughs and smacks Hiccup on the shoulder, sending him into the wall.
STOICK (CONT'D) You really had me going there, son. All those years of the worst Viking Berk has ever seen! Odin, it was rough. I almost gave up on you!
Valka looked back on Stoick, her glare icy which in turn made him he ignored her the best he could, looking at Hiccup "Son, I am proud of you. You do know that right?" he asked.
Hiccup nodded in reassurance "Yeah. I know. But...if you could maybe drop the whole 'Pride of Berk' title I promise I won't be upset." he said, a small smile on his face.
Hiccup gets back up, grimacing in the irony of it all.
STOICK (CONT'D) And all the while, you were holding out on me! Thor almighty!
Stoick grabs a stool and sits. His massive frame nearly fills the tiny room.
STOICK (CONT'D) (RELIEVED) Ahhhhh. With you doing so well in the ring, we finally have something to talk about.
Pregnant pause. Hiccup averts his eyes nervously. Stoick adjusts, awkwardly clearing his throat. After a long, uncomfortable silence...
"Akward..."
STOICK (CONT'D) Oh, I... brought you something.
He presents a horned helmet.
STOICK (CONT'D) To keep you safe in the ring.
HICCUP (SINCERE) Wow. Thanks.
Hiccup accepts it, looking it over.
STOICK Your mother would've wanted you to have it. (HEARTFELT) It's half of her breast plate.
Valka's face went from it's mixture of anger and disgust to something rather undefinable. It looked as though she were honored, albeit a little creeped out.
Stoick taps his own helmet and smiles.
STOICK (CONT'D) Matching set. Keeps her close, y'know?
Hiccup eyes the mismatched helmets, grimacing.
STOICK (CONT'D) Wear it proudly. You deserve it. You've held up your end of the deal.
Hiccup flinched.
Stoick beams with pride. Hiccup squirms. He forces a YAWN.
HICCUP I should really get to bed.
STOICK HICCUP (talking over each (talking over each OTHER) OTHER) Yes! Good! Okay. Good talk. See you back at the house. We should do this again. I'm Great. Thanks for stopping glad I stopped by, I hope you by. And for the... the uh, like the hat. breast hat.
STOICK Well..uh..good night.
Stoick leaves the room awkwardly, leaving Hiccup looking more burdened than ever.
Astrid frowned "Wow. You guys are amazing at conversations." she said dryly.
Hiccup shrugged "We've gotten better." he defended.
Astrid smirked "Says the guy who spent all morning avoiding his father." she pointed out.
Stoick frowned "So that was on purpose." he said.
Hiccup flinched "Well it was kind of big to drop on some one first thing in the morning." he said.
Valka looked at them in confusion but it looked like only Gobber, Astrid, Stoick, and Hiccup knew what they were talking about. The others seemed just as clueless.
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS - AFTERNOON A Gronckle hovers above the ring, hunting victims as the teen recruits scramble. Astrid ducks behind a barrier to find Hiccup already there. She forces her axe at his throat.
ASTRID Stay out of my way! I'm winning this thing.
HICCUP Please, by all means.
"Competitive." Ruffnut sang.
She darts off, CLOSING FAST on the dragon. The crowd above cheers her on.
VIKING IN CROWD You got it Astrid!
Hiccup stands and looks around. Amidst the crowd of onlookers, Stoick watches keenly, beaming with pride. He locks eyes with Hiccup, giving him a nod of encouragement. Hiccup adjusts his new helmet and forces a half-hearted smile. Unbeknownst to Hiccup, the Gronckle spots him and makes a bee- line toward him.
Hiccup groaned "I should have known." he muttered. Meatlug crooned apologetically.
BACK TO ASTRID ... as she catches her breath behind a barrier. She scowls, focused, determined.
ASTRID This time. This time for sure.
With a FIERCE BATTLE-CRY she LEAPS from cover, axe cocked to throw.
ASTRID (CONT'D) Aaaaaaaaaa...
And as she clears the barriers, she sees that Hiccup has already laid the Gronckle out.
"To be fair it was all in the name of saving Meatlug." Hiccup defended.
ASTRID (CONT'D) ...aaaaaaauGGGGGHHHHHHHH! No! No!
Hiccup shrugs, as unhappy with the situation as she is.
ASTRID (CONT'D) NO! NO! SON OF HALFTROLL RAT EATING MUNGE BUCKET!
"Wow. Who knew Astrid had such a wide vocabulary." Ruffnut said, high fiving her brother. The girl in question blushed, sinking lower in her seat.
A loud CLACK ring out. From the crowd above, Gothi, the village elder, steps forward, tapping her staff. Everyone lights up excitedly.
STOICK Wait! Wait!
HICCUP So, later.
Gobber snags Hiccup as he attempts to leave.
"And again with the picking me up."
GOBBER Not so fast.
HICCUP I'm kinda late for-
ASTRID (LIVID) What? Late for what exactly?
"Touchy."
Stoick holds out his hands to silence the jabbering crowd.
STOICK Okay quiet down. The elder has decided.
Thrilled, Gobber stands behind Hiccup and Astrid. He points to Astrid as the crowd waits in silent anticipation. Gothi shakes her head 'no.' The crowd 'Oooohs.' Gobber then points to Hiccup. The elder nods an affirmative 'yes.' The crowd erupts in cheers. Astrid turns a seething, deadly glare on Hiccup.
"I'm surprised he's still standing." Snotlout commented, kind of impressed Hiccup was actually still alive after that look.
GOBBER You've done it! You've done it, Hiccup! You get to kill the dragon!
STOICK Ha, ha! That's my boy!
Hiccup is hoisted onto the recruits' shoulders and carried out to the cheering spectators...
HICCUP (MASKING PANIC) Heh, heh. Oh yeah! Yes! I can't wait. I am so...
Stoick frowned, not having known about this part. Hiccup was so what? Hiccup however recalled exactly what his thoughts were and tensed up, waiting for the storm that was surely to come.