 |
 |
[Opening music plays as the Universal Logo plays out speedily, with the orbiting Earth, and the title Universal appears from behind, slowly moving to its right before it reads out "Universal. A Comcast Company." the logo dissolve fades to the Dreamworks Logo, with a bright light appearing, and the Fisherman Boy on the Crescent Moon is seemingly painted onto it. the titles below it then appear, reading out "Dreamworks. A Comcast Company." Drums and Flutes play as the logo then fades to the moon's reflection in the ocean, as we pull upward, and reveal to be a dark cloudy night as we move towards the Island of Berk.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) This... is Berk.
[enter through waves crashing against large rocks, transitioning closer toward the island, past the twin stone torch statues, and moving past the docs up to the village, past the torch statue on our left.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) So far off the map, that it might as well not exist.
[Transition to outside the entrance into the Great Hall, and move down through the village down to the fields.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) My Village? In a word, sturdy. It's been here for generations, but every single building is new. The air is crisp, the water's clean, and the views are nothing to complain about. The only downsides, are the pests.
[Move down to the fields where we see what looks to be a single sheep, standing out in the open. upon closer inspection, it's revealed to be a wooden decoy with a wool coat. suddenly, a pair of red talons snatches the decoy up, revealing a rope attached to the decoy. when snatched up, the rope tugs and pulls forward, setting off a pulley system which is connected to a wheel connected bell, which turns, prompting the bell to start ringing loudly.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) You see, most places have, mice or mosquitoes...
[Transition to the Haddock house, where a large flying creature swoops right past the screen. Zoom up to the doorway, where we see a teenage Hiccup opening the door to look outside excitedly.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) We have...
[Hiccup's excitement turns to shock when he sees a Monstrous Nightmare flying directly towards him, exhaling a stream of flames. Hiccup yelps as he shuts the door swiftly, standing away flinching as the fire is seen through the space between the door and doorway. When it ceases, Hiccup looks on in shock.]
Hiccup: Dragons!
[Without a second thought, Hiccup grabs the door handle, but not before flinching back and shaking it, having burnt himself momentarily at the touch. He then opens the door and heads out, being greeted by a trio of Vikings being chased by a Gronckle who releases a lava blast at them. Hiccup momentarily stops before continuing on, almost tripping after a fire blast on his left.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) Most people would leave. But not us.
[Hiccup heads down the hillside path, to where Phlegma was directing a group of warrior Vikings to their designated offense position.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) We're Vikings. We don't run from fights, we start them.
[As the offense Vikings head to their positions, Hiccup runs the opposite direction, running past them, getting Phlegma's attention.]
Phlegma: Hey- Hiccup!
Hiccup: (waves) Evening!
Phlegma: Go home!
Hiccup: I will! Just as soon as I, uh...
[Hiccup backs away, before turning around seeing a Viking with a shield, having gotten it from another Viking handing out shields from a wooden cart.]
Viking: You're in the way-again!
[Hiccup turns to his right and goes under a wooden fence that overlooked the village below, where it's chaos, with Vikings arming themselves, waving torches, and preparing for battle. Hiccup slides down the roof of one house and enters, where fires have started. Hiccup hides behind one of the houses as he watches the scene unfold.]
Viking: (V.O) Hiccup! Play dead!
[A Viking throws a torch into one of the twin torches, which is then raised up, above, dragons soar all around, roaring and snarling as they soar, swoop and dive.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) You see, dragons have become a bit of a problem. Here and well, everywhere. So we decided to take the fight to them.
[Ceasing the opportunity, Hiccup dashes from his hiding place and into the doorway into a warehouse. suddenly, he stops at the doorway as he looks outside.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) How's that working out for us? Eh...
[Hiccup looks to see a Blacksmith Shop right across from him, a line of Vikings outside. Suddenly, a Gronckle hovers down and plucks a sheep from the ground, before taking off, the sheep's owner holding on as he shouts in fright. Ceasing the opportunity, Hiccup sprints forward, halting momentarily for a passing Viking to run his trail, before continuing. Suddenly, a magnesium blast is fired right in front of him, before he is grabbed by Chief Stoick who looks at him sternly.]
Stoick: (Sternly) What're you doing? (shouting) What is he doing out again? (to Hiccup) Get inside.
[Forcefully, Stoick shoves Hiccup away, the latter keeping himself on his feet as he looks to the chief who turns his attention to the reptilian attackers.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) That's Stoick the Vast. Chief of the tribe.
[Suddenly, a Gronckle swoops down and fires a magma blast in front of Stoick and the small group of fighters beside him who hold their shields up to avoid the blast. The Gronckle then continues its path as Stoick looks on.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) They say that when he was a baby, he popped a dragon's head clean off its shoulders. Do I believe it?
[Without thinking, Stoick takes one of the shields from the fights, and throws it at a diving Gronckle. the shield then slams right at the robust dragon, smashing to pieces on impact. The Gronckle shakes off the impact and flies off.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) Yes I do.
Stoick: (to fighters) What've we got?
Hürl: Gronckles, Nadders, Zipplebacks, Skrills, Snorti spotted a Monstrous Nightmare.
Stoick: Any Night Furies?
Sorti: None so far, chief.
Stoick: Good.
[Without even looking, Stoick wipes a piece of ember on the left silver button attaching to his cape off.]
Stoick: Follow me. (walks off)
Hürl: Right, chief.
Stoick: (Shouts) Come on, ye wretches!
Hürl: (V.O) You heard him. Come on lads!
[In the background, Hiccup lifts his arms up to the sides, before sprinting off. Cut to the Blacksmith Shop, Blacksmith Gobber the Belch sharpening a sword on his sharpening wheel just as Hiccup enters and into his workspace of the shop.]
Gobber: Oh. out again?
Hiccup: Just pretend, I'm not even here.
[Hiccup enters his workspace, and takes a large tarp off of his latest invention, the Mangler, and rolls it out, just as Gobber gabs an apron and walks toward him.]
Hiccup: I'll be in and out before you can say-
Gobber: (stops him) Not so fast.
[Hiccup groans in frustration as Gobber lifts up his blacksmithing mask.]
Hiccup: Come on, please.
Gobber: Shh.
Hiccup: (Narrator) The meathead with attitude and interchangeable hands is Gobber.
Gobber: Here. (Gives Hiccup apron) Go on.
Hiccup: (Narrating) I've been his apprentice ever since I was little.
[In dismay, Hiccup puts his apron on and walks up to the sharpening wheel.]
Gobber: I'm keeping my eye on you.
Hiccup: I'm not even supposed to be out here!
Gobber: Ha! Since when did that ever stop you?
[Hiccup proceeds to head up to the front desk to a line of Vikings shouting over each other. Hiccup proceeds to grab a handful of weapons and heads up to the sharpening wheel.]
[Then cut to Stoick and his fighters at the edge of where the village meets the fields. Stoick and his warriors gather around as they strategize, Spitelout Jorgenson standing on his left.]
Stoick: (to Snorti) Guard the food stores.
Snorti: Aye chief. (heads off)
Stoick: (to Hürl) Protect the livestock.
Hürl: Aye Stoick. (heads off)
Stoick: (looks up) And keep an ear out for Night Furies.
[In the skies above, a trio of Deadly Nadders split up from the attacking flock, one in the middle swoops down and fires magnesium flame in the town square, leaving a trail of fire, and causing everyone to scatter. Another Nadder does the same, diving down and fires its flames downward, leaving a fire trail, followed by a third Nadder swooping and firing its flames as well, cutting off a group of armed Vikings from their escape route.]
[Cut back to Hiccup in the Blacksmith Shop.]
Gobber: (V.O) Hammer.
[Hiccup proceeds to pick a hammer up from off the shelf, and attaches it to the end of Gobber's right prosthetic. Suddenly, an explosion goes off, followed by screaming. Then voices are heard as Hiccup heads to the window.]
Running Viking: Fire brigade!
[that's when said Fire Brigade comes, consisting of Fishlegs Ingerman, Snotlout Jorgenson, and the twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut Thorston as they pull a cart with a large wooden water barrel on it, intended to help put out the fires.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) Ah. the Fire Brigade. Berk's cool kids. They get to be out in the action.
[Hiccup watches as Fishlegs and Snotlout carry two buckets of water and tosses them at a house on fire.]
Astrid: (V.O) Guys! Outta the way!
[Hiccup looks up, and sees a feminine figure atop one of the rooftops, just below a water channel above the houses.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) But they're nothing without their captain.
[The figure disconnects two parts of the channel, and holding onto the edge, pushes it forward, and swings it around, the water falling on the firespots.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) The shining star of our generation. A-Amazing without even trying.
[She then leaps off onto the roof where the disconnected channel stops right above the water falling right on top of a fire put on there. Hiccup smiles and watches as she climbs down.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) The one who smokes them all.
[the scene is now in slow-motion, as the captain of the Fire Brigade, Astrid Hofferson, walks confidently through the smoke, an unafraid look on her face.]
Hiccup: (Narrating|Sigh) ...Astrid.
[Hiccup smiles awestruck at the sight of her, putting her axe away on the satchel on her back. Astrid smiles, which Hiccup is surprised by. Time moves back to normal as Hiccup stands straight up, as Astrid notices him.]
Astrid: What?
Hiccup: (Looks behind him) Uh...
Snotlout: (Walking backwards) Shouldn't you be in bed?
[Snotlout laughs aloud upon saying that. Tuffnut gives himself an 'Hurry up' motion with his fingers, whilst Fishlegs just smiles nervously at him. Hiccup sighs in dismay as he turns to face Gobber.]
Gobber: Come on. Back to work.
Hiccup: (walks up to him) You know, I need to get out there! Show my stuff, make my mark!
Gobber: You've made plenty of marks. All in the wrong places.
Hiccup: Give me two minutes. I'll-I'll take down a dragon. My life will get infinitely better. I might even get a girlfriend.
Viking: (V.O) There's a Zippleback behind you!
Gobber: (looks outside) Astrid? (Wheezes) But she's a real Viking! You can't wield a hammer, you can't swing an axe, you can't even throw one of these!
[To show emphasis on what he was saying, he picks up a bola sling, which a Viking at the front desk takes from his hand, and throws at a nearby Gronckle. Hiccup heads up to his Mangler.]
Hiccup: See, but this...this will throw it for me.
Gobber: (V.O) Oh, not another one!
Hiccup: It's fully redesigned. It's, it's-
[Hiccup proceeds to open the Mangler, which activates the catapult mechanism, which launches a pair of bola slings. one of them shoots right out the window outside, and the other right into the face of a customer in line, making him fall to the ground.]
Hiccup: -Double-barrelled.
Gobber: You see, this right here- (walks up to Hiccup) -This is what I'm talking about.
Hiccup: (Stammering) Okay, this is a mild cal- Mild calibration issue.
Gobber: If you ever want to get out there and start fighting dragons, you need to stop all of... (Gestures to him) All of this.
Hiccup: You just gestured to all of me.
Gobber: Yeah. Stop being all of you.
Hiccup: Oh...
Gobber: Oh yeah.
Hiccup: You, sir, are playing a dangerous game. Keeping this contained? There will be consequences!
[Hiccup gets right in Gobber's face, but the latter pushes him away with his belly alone.]
Gobber: Well, I'll take my chances.
[Gobber leans to his right and picks up a sword, which he then tosses to Hiccup, who grabs it swiftly, yet carefully.]
Gobber: Sword--Sharpen. NOW.
[Gobber gives Hiccup a serious look, before Hiccup groans and turns directly to the sharpening wheel, and does as he's told.
Hiccup: (Narrating) One day I'll get out there. Because killing a dragon, is everything around here.
[Cut down to the fields. a lava blast hits the door of a fish storage house. Suddenly, a Gronckle slams right at the house, smashing its head through the door with ease. The rotund dragon then pulls itself out, a line of caught fish within its maw. A second Gronckle charges from the side, the entire storage house crashing down as it emerges with a line of fish within its maw as well. ]
Hiccup: (Narrating) Gronckles are tough. Taking one down would get me at least noticed.
[Next door, the right head of a Hideous Zippleback sprays green flammable gas down the chimney flew of a meat house, while two Vikings from inside open the door and flee. Outside, the Zippleback's left head ceases the opportunity and releases a spark from its mouth, exploding the house from the inside. Its right head then plucks from in the meat house a mouth full of meat cuts before taking off.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) A Zippleback? Exotic. Exciting. Two heads, twice the status.
[As it takes off, we see a battalion of Nadders dive down, one of them landing on the rooftop of one of the livestock safehouses.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) Lobbing off a Nadder's head, would definitely show them I belong.
[With its horns and pointed jaws, it slams its head into the roof, leaving a large hole. The Nadder snarls as another does in kind, whilst it looks down in all of the bleating sheep inside.]
[Meanwhile, with Stoick, he speed-walking up the steps of one of the catapult posts as they turn it toward the fields, preparing to fire.]
Viking Soldier: They found the sheep!
Stoick: Then let loose with everything we've got!
[Upon that command, they launch the catapult. And from it, a large net opens up, shooting down one of the Nadders mid-flight, whilst its comrades left. Stoick claps his hands clean, before an orange hew is emitted from below.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) And then, there's the Monstrous Nightmare.
[Suddenly, a large three fingered claws appears, gripping onto the ledge of the wooden platform, as a Monstrous Nightmare climbs up to Stoick's eye level, roaring viciously as its entire body is coated in fire. Stoick backs away for a moment.]
Stoick: Reload!
Hiccup: (Narrating) Only the best Vikings go after those.
[Grabbing a hammer, Stoick swipes it at the Nightmare's snout just as it was about to lunge at him. The Stoker class dragon backs its head away, before lunging forward, only for Stoick to lob it on the forehead with his hammer. The Monstrous Nightmare lets out an angry roar as it lunges with its jaws forward momentarily under the catapult before backing it away again. Stoick then hits it in the snout with his hammer again. Suddenly, the Nightmare ceases its attacking and looks up to the sky as the fire on its body cools. That's when a high pitched sound begins to crescendo, catching Stoick's attention as he turns to the source.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) But the ultimate prize, Is the dragon that no one has ever seen.
[From back in the Blacksmith Shop, Hiccup ceases his current activity as he then suddenly hears the high pitched sound as well.]
Hiccup: (Narrating) We call it the-
Hoark: Night Fury!
[Cut back to Stoick.]
Stoick: JUMP!
[From the skies above, a purple plasma cannon makes its trajectory towards the platform. everyone jumps off just in time as it makes contact, destroying the catapult and shattering it in seconds. a shock wave then emits from the wreckage as the silhouette of the Strike class dragon whooshes overhead, so fast its hard to make out.]
[Back in the Blacksmith Shop, Gobber halts putting hot metal into a cooling bucket.]
Gobber: And we've got a Night Fury.
[Gobber heads to his hand storage, whilst Hiccup remains still and motionless.]
Hiccup: (Quietly) Never steals food... Never shows itself.
Gobber: And never misses.
[After choosing from his selection, Gobber detaches his hammer hand, and replaces it with an axe, indicating he was joining the battle. Gobber then walks right up to Hiccup's right with a look of glee on his face.]
Gobber: Time for ol' Gobber to take over.
[Gobber is about to head out the door, just as a Nadder dives in for a magnesium flame blast, but he halts in his tracks, and turns around to Hiccup.]
Gobber: Go. Stay put here. Here. I'm serious. (walks out)
Hiccup: (Narrating) No one has ever killed a Night Fury.
Gobber: (heading out) Attack!
Hiccup: (Narrating) That's why I'm going to be the first.
[Cut to a short time after, Hiccup is racing down the village, carrying his Mangler which was in transport mode, numerous Vikings passing him, shouting upwards to the sky. Snorti runs right passed, wielding a battle axe before stopping upon noticing him.]
Snorti: You again? Get back inside!
Hiccup: I'll make a point of it!
[From the balcony of her house, overlooking the village, Elder Gothi slowly walks out, looking down at the current scene, a wise yet curious look on her face.]
Plegma: (V.O) You're gonna get yourself killed, Hiccup!
Hiccup: I know! Sorry.
[As she watches Hiccup sprint through the village with his plan, she tilts her head slightly to the right, keeping her gaze upon the young boy.]
[Cut down to the fields, where Stoick passes two running Vikings, and comes to a halt. Below, he sees a Deadly Nadder slowly walking up to a pair of bleating sheep, tilting its head snarling.]
Stoick: Here, give me that.
[Stoick grabs the netting from a passing Viking, before tossing it towards the Nadder, just as it lunges to attack. The sheep pair flee in the nick of time as the net collapses right on top of the horned dragon, who shrieks out in confusion. It looks up to late to see the village chief leap right onto the right side of its face. His weight and effort pins the large dragon down as he holds it to the ground.]
Stoick: Mind yourself! This Nadder still has some fire in it!
[Cut to Hiccup. He rolls the Mangler at the cliffs where the land met the sea, dragons seeing flying around the village in the background. Hiccup prepares the Mangler, opening the twin covers, the catapult mechanism automatically activating. Hiccup grabs out a pair of reel handles, turning them clockwise as he reals it to firing position, before locking it, and looking to the skies.]
Hiccup: (quietly) Come on. Give me something to shoot at. Give me something to shoot at.
[Hiccup looks up to the skies, nothing but blackness and stars.]
Hiccup: (Quietly) Come on, show yourself.
[Hiccup looks into the Mangler's scope, and then, though the darkness, a black figure soars across the night sky, its figure blocking out stars as it soars. Hiccup keeps watch, and then came an increasing high pitched sound, then suddenly, a plasma blast hits a catapult post, causing it to explode, a black dragon-like figure swiftly soars passed in a blink and you'll miss it moment. Hiccup swiftly turns the Mangler right, before slipping, firing the device, and falling backwards, the twin slings swinging counter-clockwise as Hiccup gets up. The sound of an impact is heard, followed by a dragon's roaring as Hiccup watches.]
Hiccup: I hit it.
[Hiccup watches as the beast is taken out of the sky, its left wing free as it tries to fly, but in vain as it disappears behind the cliffs. Hiccup is speechless as he gets up, exclaiming in triumph, turning around.]
Hiccup: I hit it! Did anybody see that?
[Little did he know that a Monstrous Nightmare appears from below the cliff's edge, its snarling making Hiccup turn around to face the dragon, his excitement swiftly disappearing.]
Hiccup: Except for you.
[Hiccup momentarily slips before the Monstrous Nightmare snarls again, prompting the boy to flee.]
[Cut back to Stoick, he and a group of Vikings still pinning down the Deadly Nadder. He suddenly hears shouting, and turns his head to the right to the ledge where he sees Hiccup running, the Nightmare chasing after him.]
Hiccup: Oh Gods!
[The Nightmare snaps its jaws right behind him as he continues running. Stoick grunts as he proceeds to get up, and looks up to Spitelout who stands across from him, wielding a spiked hammer.]
Stoick: Spitelout, Do NOT let that escape (heads off).
Spitelout: Thanks a lot.
[Spitelout throws his hammer away as Stoick leaves, and proceeds to hold down the Nadder's head in his place, putting his entire weight on top of it.]
[Cut to Hiccup, sprinting through the village, the Nightmare right on his tail, exhaling a blast of fire as he sprints, leaping over a turned over cart, falling momentarily. Hiccup gets back up and starts running again just as another fire blast is fired right behind him. The Nightmare swoops up, and perches on top of the roof of one of the village houses, looking directly at Hiccup as he hides behind a large wooden pole. Hiccup hides behind it as yet another fire blast is exhaled right onto the pole. Hiccup slowly looks to his right, but doesn't see the dragon. He then hears a vicious snarling, before looking to his left, and sees the Monstrous Nightmare looking directly at him. Just as it is about to open its jaws, it is suddenly kicked to the left. The Nightmare staggers before keeping on its claws and talons, as its attacker reveals to be Stoick. The dragon roars as it tries to exhale another fire blast, but all that comes out of its mouth is a spark and smoke.]
Stoick: You're all out. Let's see what else you're made of.
[Stoick proceeds to take off his cape and tosses it to the side, preparing to fight. the Nightmae lunges forward, but Stoick punches its face to his right, its tongue flailing out. The Nightmare prepares to lunge again, but is punched twice to Stoick's left. The Nightmare lunges forward, but Stoick dodges, and slams his arms down on the dragon behind the horns. The dragon shakes off the blows before snarling lunging forward yet again, only for Stoick to punch him to his left again. Stoick then walks right up to the dragon's face, before slamming his head down on its snout. Ultimately, the Nightmare proceeds to climb up one of the houses, and takes off in defeat.]
Stoick: Aye. That's what I thought. (Breaths)
Hiccup: (Narrating) Oh. And there's, one more thing to know.
[Stoick turns to look directly at Hiccup, who stands out in the open, out of hiding. Suddenly, a titling sound is heard. Hiccup turns and sees the pole being one of the twin torches, which, thanks to the fire, snaps in half. Hiccup bolts out of the way, just as the torch snaps off, destroying an entire house, with the end of it rolling down the hill, causing more destruction in its wake. Hiccup looks on in shock and fright, whilst Stoick looks to him in disappointment. Hiccup turns to Stoick, an embarrassed look on his face.]
Hiccup: Sorry, dad.
[Cut to the fields. The torch end rolls over the ledge and hurtles right towards where Spitelout and his men were pinning the Nadder down.]
Spitelout: Watch out!
[All the men flee from the area, just as the torch bounces right over the Nadder, who ceases the opportunity to break free from the nets, and plucks a sheep off the ground with its talons.]
[Back in the village, Stoick looks on as all the raiding dragons take to the skies, with most of the village's food in their mouths, claws and talons, a majority of the village destroyed or on fire. Stoick turns directly at Hiccup, a furious look on his face.]
Hiccup: Okay, but I hit a Night Fury. [Stoick grabs Hiccup by the arm and drags him with him as they walk down the village, a majority of the villagers returning to the center.] Dad, this isn't like any other time. I mean, I really hit one.
Stoick: (Scoffs) Aye, a dragon no one's ever seen.
Hiccup: Because it uses night as its camouflage! If you squint, you can see it blotting out the stars! That's, how I shot it down.
Stoick: Stop!
[Everyone turns their attention directly to the village chief and son as Stoick turns to face Hiccup.]
Stock: Stop! Every time you step outside, disaster happens. Can you not see that I have bigger problems? Winter is almost here, and I have an ENTIRE village to feed!
Hiccup: Between you and me, the village could do with a little less feeding.
[At that comment, a majority of Vikings look down at their rotund and bulging bellies.]
Stoick: This isn't, a JOKE, Hiccup! Why can't you follow the simplest orders?
Hiccup: Because I can't stop myself. Okay? I see a dragon, and I have to just... kill it. You know, i-it's-it's who I am.
Stoick: (Sighs) You are many things, son. But a dragon killer is not one of them.
[Hiccup momentarily looks disappointed and looks away from his father. Stoick then gently pushes him forward.]
Stoick: Get back to the house. (to Gobber) Make sure he stays there.
[And so, Gobber and Hiccup was forced to leave, before he stops to turn to the fire brigade.]
Ruffnut: How much could one person mess up?
Tuffnut: Anyone else would've been booted off the island by now.
Astrid: I guess being son of the chief has its privileges.
Snotlout: If not for the chief though...
[Hiccup continues on, with Gobber close behind, just as Snotlout gets up and stretches.]
Snotlout: Anyway, my dad's super proud of me, so...
[Snotlout exhales, just as his father, Spitelout walks right passed him.]
Spitelout: (approaching) Don't mind me.
Snotlout: (Chuckles) Dad! I was just talking-
Spitelout: (Sternly) Don't talk to me in public.
[Spitlout then leaves just like that, Snotlout nodding in an embarrassed way.]
[Cut to Hiccup and Gobber, as they walk up the hill and across a small bridge to the Haddock house as dawn breaks.]
Hiccup: You know, I really did hit one.
Gobber: Of course you did, Hiccup.
Hiccup: He never listens.
Gobber: Well, that runs in the family.
Hiccup: And-and when he does, it's always with some disappointed scowl, like somebody forgot the meat in the stew.
Gobber: (Chuckles) I've seen that look. Oi. You're thinking about this all wrong, eh? It's not so much what you look like, it's what's inside of you he can't stand.
[Hiccup shows a confused expression at that statement, before walking to the door, upset.]
Hiccup: Thank you for summing that up.
Gobber: W-wait (stops him) The point is...stop trying so hard to be something you're not.
Hiccup: I just wanna be one of you guys.
[With that, Hiccup enters through the door, and closes behind him. Gobber turns away, an upset look in his eyes.]
Gobber: I know you do.
[Gobber then walks off down to the village. Inside the house, Hiccup stands right behind the door, his back leaning against it. He then gets an idea. He opens the door, and looks to see Gobber heading off. Hiccup takes the opportunity to head out, and without a second thought, dashes off.]
[Transition to the inside of the Great Hall, the entire village inside, standing around a great stone fireplace/council table arguing amongst themselves over each other. In the center, Stoick looks down to a map of their known territory, Spitelout on his left, and Elder Gothi on his right, before looking up to the arguing Vikings.]
Stoick: NO ONE SAID IT WOULD BE EASY!
[Everyone turns to face their chief, who in turn points their direction to a trio of Vikings statues as he speaks.]
Stoick: But may I remind you, we're all, descendants of the finest dragon fighters from everywhere Vikings ever travelled, Who gathered here because they knew, that we were within spitting distance, if a key, dragon's nest. If we could just take it, we can wipe out the devils for good.
Burnheart: Take it? We can't even find it!
Viking: (V.O) Exactly.
Phlegma: This nest is starting to sound more and more like a fairy-tale.
Hürl: We're exhausted.
Hoark: And what do we have to show for it, eh?
Vikings: (Overlapping) Nothing.
Stoick: We have purpose.
Burnheart: (chuckles) Oh, Come on.
Vikings: (Laughter)
Stoick: WE, are the warriors of Berk! The roughest, toughest tribe this side of the sun.
[Everyone remains silent, before Stoick walks up to Phlegma, a wooden leg resting on the table.]
Stoick: Phlegma. We watched you take down a Zippleback singlehandedly. I mean sure, you lost your leg in the process but, you came out on top, didn't you?
Phlegma: Well- (stammers)
Stoick: Yes, you did.
[Stoick continues whilst Phlegma has a puzzled look.]
Stoick: Retcha, you're people came from the far east. Fungi, yours all the way from-from the silk road. And Loogi, your people came from the sun baked coasts of Blaland. And look at us. we're still here, we're still fighting. We're still watching each other's backs. So, are we really gonna back up and go home, while these BLOODY BEASTS, are still a threat to all our lands? Is that who we are?
Viking Soldiers: (In unison) No.
Stoick: Is it?
Viking Soldiers: (In unison) No.
Stoick: IS IT?
Viking Soldiers: (In unison) NO!
Stoick: (angrily) IS IT?!
Viking Soldiers: (angrliy) NO!
Stoick: (Facing Fungi) Is it?
Fungi: Uh, No, chief. I guess not.
Stoick: That's what I thought.
[With that, Stoick slaps the table, before walking toward the village Elder.]
Stoick: Elder Gothi, give us a sign. Do we stand a chance of finding the nest before the ice sets in?
[Elder Gothi picks up a fabric pouch, before emptying a pile of chicken bones on the table. She then lifts her right hand, and raises it just above the bones, as everyone looks on in absolute silence. Ultimately, after a few seconds, Elder Gothi looks to Stoick, and gives a simple nod. Stoick holds a confident look.]
Stoick: Then that's all I need.
[With that, Stoick grabs a knife, and stabs it to the top left corner of the map, showing a fogbank guarded by dragons.]
Stoick: Back into the fog we go.
Spitelout: All right, everyone. Prepare the ships!
[With that, all the Vikings shout in confidence and triumph, as they all grab their weapons, and put on their helmets, and head out the door to the docks. All that is, except Gobber, who sits at a table a little ways from everyone else, rubbing his thumb down the blade of his axe.]
Gobber: Do I take my bucket hand for when they burn our ships, or my swimming hand for when they sink 'em?
[Gobber proceeds to get up, and heads towards the door, until-]
Stoick: (stops him) Not so fast, Gobber.
[Gobber halts just as he was right outside the door, before turning to Stoick, who takes off his cloak and sets it on the table.]
Stoick: I don't have time to train this year's recruits, so you'll do it.
Gobber: Ah, the ol' rite of passage. Hiccup's just come of age, hasn't he?
Stoick: I meant the others.
Gobber: Yeah, so, while i'm busy, he'll c-cover the stall. Molten steel, razor sharp blades, lots of time on his hands. What could possibly go wrong?
[The two sit down at a wooden table together, Stoick sighing.]
Stoick: Oh, what am I gonna do with him, Gobber?
Gobber: Stick him in training.
Stoick: No. (takes off helmet) I'm serious.
Gobber: Yeah, So am I. The kid wants this more than anything. Believe it or not, that young man actually wants to make you proud.
Stoick: But he's got a mind of his own. Gets that from his mother. (Scoffs) Look what happened to her.
Gobber: Yeah, 'cause Valka was the stubborn one.
Stoick: See, when I was a boy.
Gobber: Oh, here we go.
Stoick: I-I followed orders, right? I worked hard. (gets up) Because I believed what a-a Viking could do. (faces statues) Crush mountains, level forests, tame seas. I knew who I was, what I had to become. Hiccup is...he's not that boy. What chance does he have at following in my footsteps.
[Stoick sighs as he sits back down.]
Gobber: (seriously) You can't stop him, Stoick. You can only prepare him. Because the truth is, we're always gonna be around to protect him. He's gonna get out there again. (Chuckles) He's probably out there now.
[Stoick looks to Gobber, whom the latter proceeds to get up, and heads out the door.]
[Cut to many wide shots of the island. First of the entire island from far away, then to the Clifftops overlooking the sea, a forest of trees spanning up to the mountains. on the very edge, Hiccup is seen walking along the cliff's edges. Then cut into a large forest of tall and mighty pine trees, Hiccup wandering through the trees all by himself, a small journal in his hand. Birds are heard singing in the background as Hiccup looks in the area he's in. He holds up his journal and marks the latest of 14 crossed out spots on a small doodle of an overhead shot of the island. Hiccup sighs as he continues onward. Cut to a small riverbank, Hiccup crosses the numerous stone as a bridge to the other side. Hiccup slips momentarily before re-catching his footing, and continues. Cut to Hiccup walking down a sloping hillside, exclaiming in annoyance.]
Hiccup: How could I lose, an entire dragon?!
[Hiccup pushes at a branch, only for it to swat him square in the face, making him lean backwards and holding his face where he was hit. He then looks to the branch, before he realizes: the entire tree it was connected to was nearly broken in half. He looks ahead, and sees a dirt trail heading downwards. Curious, Hiccup follows the pathway down the hillside. Hiccup continues forward before heading up to a small hill. He looks over, and sees a downed dragon on the other side. Hiccup exclaims before hiding behind the hill. Hiccup breathes as he gets up, slowly peaks his head over to look at the fallen beast, a shocked look on his face. Thinking fast, he gets up, slides down the other side of the hill, and heads to behind a large rock. Breathing heavily, Hiccup pulls out a knife from his fur jacket, and turns to his right. And there it was. The Night Fury he had shot down. Hiccup comes out of hiding, and sees it just lay where it fell, motionless. Hiccup walks forward, before chuckling gleefully.]
Hiccup: I did it.
[Hiccup chuckles silently, putting a foot atop the left forelimb of the motionless dragon.]
Hiccup: I did it!
[Suddenly, the forelimb wiggles around, making Hiccup move backwards, almost splitting himself. Hiccup regains his footing, pointing his knife at the dragon. The Night Fury reveals to be alive as it slowly breaths, one of its ear-like appendages wiggling. Hiccup breathes as he slowly walks up to the large dragon.]
Hiccup: Oh, why couldn't you have been dead? Now I have to kill you.
[Hiccup walks up closer to the Night Fury, as it cuts to moving over the dragon's left wing, before to the left side of its face, its eye wide open, looking directly at Hiccup. Hiccup looks to the dragon, before looking to where its chest was. Hiccup moves his knife to point down, before lifting it into the air, preparing to finish the fallen dragon. The Night Fury moves its head slightly, looking directly at the young human. Hiccup just his arms upward, preparing for the blow, before turning to look at the Night Fury. The dragon's eye is almost closed, looking directly at Hiccup, who just looks at it back. The Nigh Fury slowly closes its eye, a nictitating membrane covering its eye before it's fully closed, and rests its head on the dirt, accepting its face. Hiccup watches in dismay, before closing his eyes, and resting his hands and knife handle on his forehead. Hiccup lowers his arms, and then looks back down to the fallen Night Fury at his feet, breathing deeply. Hiccup backs away, and looks in sorrow and guilt at the state the dragon was in. Hiccup then puts his knife back in its sheath on the belt around his waist, and turns around to leave, but stops. Inhaling, he takes his knife, and heads back up to the Night Fury. He then starts cutting the ropes of the sling around the Night Fury, who's eye just open, and looks directly at the human. Just when Hiccup cuts a rope attached to its wing, the Night Fury suddenly gets up, and lunges at Hiccup, who falls backwards against the rock. the Dragon lands right up to the young boy and snarls, looking directly at him, a furious look in his eyes. Hiccup breathes heavily as he looks into the dragon's yellowish-green eyes. The Night Fury slowly leans its head back, opening its mouth widely, before jutting it forward and exhaling a loud defaming roar. The Night Fury then ceases, before letting out a satisfied snort, and turns around to leave. Hiccup watches as the Strike-Class dragon lets out a series of roars and bellows as it clumsily tries to take off, but fails, ultimately crashing into a tree, before flying downwards to the cove on the other side. Hiccup stands up as he slowly breaths, before sighing in relief.]
[Cut to the inside of the Haddock House. Stoick is sitting by the fire place, adjusting the burning wood with a kindling stick. From the doorway, Hiccup quietly enters through, trying not to make a sound. Hiccup quietly closes the door behind him, and slowly and quietly heads to the staircase to his room.]
Stoick: Hiccup.
Hiccup: (halts) Dad. Uh...Look, I need to talk to you, dad.
[Stoick gets up from his chair, and walks up to his son.]
Stoick: I need to speak with you too, son.
Hiccup: I've decided that I don't wanna fight dragons.
Stoick: (At the same time) I think it's time you learn to fight dragons.
Stoick and Hiccup: (In unison) What?
Stoick: Well, you go first.
Hiccup: No, no, no, no. You-you go first.
Stoick: (inhales) You get your wish. Dragon training. You start in the morning.
[Stoick then turns around and walks away, leaving Hiccup lost for words at first.]
Hiccup: Oh, man, I really should've gone first. You know, 'cause I-I was thinking, we have a surplus of dragon fighting Vikings, but do we have enough bread-making Vikings or...
[As Hiccup continues speaking, Stoick grabs a battle axe hanging on the wall, before walking up to his son and putting said axe in his hands.]
Stoick: You'll need this.
Hiccup: Dad...I don't wanna fight dragons.
Stoick: (Laughs) Come on. Yes, you do.
Hiccup: No, let me rephrase: I can't kill dragons.
Stoick: But you will.
Hiccup: No, I'm very extra sure that I won't.
Stoick: (seriously) It's time, Hiccup.
[Stoick then proceeds to pay Hiccup on the shoulder before walking to the fireplace, and picks up his helmet.]
Hiccup: Uh-Can you not hear me?
Stoick: (agitated) Can you not hear me?
[Stoick looks toward his son, plopping his helmet back down.]
Stoick: The Trial of Flame is where Vikings are made. Where heroes are forged, where future chiefs are born.
Hiccup: I-I'm none of those things. I'm not like you, dad.
[Stoick proceeds to shake his head, and take a deep sigh, before walking up to Hiccup.]
Stoick: Listen-(takes axe) When you carry this axe, you carry all of us with you. Which means you look like us, you talk like us, you think like us. (puts axe in Hiccup's hands) No more of... (gestures to him) This.
Hiccup: You just gestured to all of me.
Stoick: Deal?
Hiccup: This conversation is feeling very one-sided.
Stoick: Deal?
[Hiccup just gives a defeated look, and looks away, with no say in the matter.]
Hiccup: Deal.
Stoick: Good.
[With that, Stoick grabs a large sack, and hoists it over his shoulder, then grabs his helmet and puts it atop his head.]
Stoick: Train hard. (Heads to door) I'll be back. (turns to Hiccup) Probably.
[With that, Stoick closes the door behind him, leaving Hiccup all by himself.]
Hiccup: And I'll be here. Maybe.
[Switch to a new location, a large wooden gate is risen upwards slowly.]
Gobber: Welcome, to the Trial of Flame!
[Gobber then leads Astrid and the Fire Brigade through the open gates. they all enter a large round arena, with buckets with weapons, blast marks on the walls, shields held against said walls, protective wooden walls, and giant pen doors. Above, a giant roof with chains connected to a pole, where spectators would watch. This was the dragon killing arena, in the outskirts of the village.]
Snotlout: The moment we've all been waiting for. I just gotta pick a spot for my statue.
Fishlegs: It's so much bigger from down here.
Astrid: Can you guys believe we're actually standing here? This is where Chief Greybile slew the Whispering Death!
Tuffnut: Yeah, and this is where Chief Tuffnut will slay everything else. Watch and learn.
Snotlout: Man, I can't WAIT to get some legendary war wounds!
Ruffnut: Yeah, like a nasty gash right across my face.
Fishlegs: Call me boring-
Snotlout: Boring.
Fishlegs: -but I'm just excited to see some real live dragons up close. You know, I could do without the preeminent injuries, and...
Tuffnut: Oh, where's the glory in that?
Astrid: Yeah, it's only fun if you get a scar out of it.
Hiccup: (V.O) I know, right?
[Everyone turns around to the entrance gates, where Hiccup enters, holding his axe just as Gobber lowers the gates.]
Hiccup: Pain. Love it.
Tuffnut: Oh, great. Who let him in?
Ruffnut: Mm, I guess daddy pulled some strings, huh?
Hiccup: Aren't you two like, a little old to be here?
Snotlout: Ouch.
Tuffnut: Wait, what did you say, whippersnapper?
Ruffnut: What did you say? Can you say it again?
[The twins walk directly towards Hiccup, but Fishlegs gets between them.]
Fishlegs: (To Hiccup) Yeah, touchy subject. They've, flunked dragon training a few times.
Ruffnut: Um, it was four times, actually.
Tuffnut: Yeah, and it's called being held back. As in too valuable to let go of.
Snotlout: Real sensitive, Hiccup. Nice name, by the way.
Hiccup: You're name is snot-lout.
Snotlout: Exactly. It's a manly Viking name! Translates from the ancient text as "one who beateth the snot out of a-
[Before he could finish, Gobber hits him in the helmet with his hammer hand.]
Gobber: Shut up. Let's get started. (to himself) Bloody kids.
[Gobber proceeds to walk up to the front of the group of teenagers, and turns to face them.]
Gobber: You are now the latest to join this time honored tradition. Every toe-biter born into our tribe must one day survive this arena, if they ever hope to do battle alongside the rest of us. It will be grueling, and it will be very, very dangerous. But, whoever does best will win the title of Top Slayer, and with it-
[Ruffnut was picking at the tip of the spear she was holding before Gobber faces her, forcing her to regain her composure.]
Gobber: And with it, the honor, of killing their first dragon in front of the entire village! There is no greater glory!
[Snotlout smugly lifts his hand.]
Gobber: What?
Snotlout: Hiccup already killed a Night Fury, so does that like, what, disqualify him or...
Gobber: (to Hiccup) Oh ignore him. Your skinny, you're weak, that'll make you less of a target. they'll see you as slim pickings. Not worth the effort. They'll go after the more uh, Viking-like teens instead.
[Everyone turns their direction to Fishlegs, whom Gobber was looking directly at.]
Gobber: Behind these doors, are just a few of the many species you'll learn to fight.
[Our attention turns to the individual doors into each of the den each dragon species was in, pounding their weight against the door.]
Gobber: The Deadly Nadder.
Fishlegs: Attack 8. Armor 16.
Gobber: The Hideous Zippleback.
Fishlegs: Plus 11 stealth, times two.
Gobber: The Monstrous Nightmare.
Fishlegs: Firepower 15.
Gobber: The Terrible Terror.
Fishlegs: Attack 8! Venom 12!
Gobber: Will you stop that? (Fishlegs stops) You big bag of wool!
[Fishlegs quiets himself, as Gobber walks up to one of the doors]
Gobber: And finally, the Gruesome Gronckle!
Fishlegs: (to others) Jaw strength 8.
[Gobber walks up to the lever that opens the cage to the Gronckle's pen, the Boulder class dragon inside being faintly seen through the holes within the wooden barred door.]
Snotlout: Uh, hey big guy! Aren't you gonna, like, teach us something first?
Gobber: I believe in learning on the job.
[With that, Gobber pulls the handle, which releases a large boulder attached to a chain connected to a mechanism, which is connected to a counterweight in between the bars holding the doors together, which rises up, allowing the Gronckle to push herself right through and hover toward the teens.]
Gobber: Today is all about defense.
[Instead of attacking the teens who scatter, the Gronckle flies towards the chains above the arena. She pushes against them, and bites at them with her teeth, but with little success.]
Gobber: (Con't) If you get blasted, you're out. Or, y'know. Dead. So what's the first thing you're going to need?
Astrid: A shield!
Gobber: Shield, yes! Go.
[With that, the teens all proceed to scatter around to grab their own shields.]
Tuffnut: Outta my way!
Ruffnut: That one's mine!
Gobber: Shield is your most important piece of equipment.
[Cut to the Gronckle, who belly-flops to the ground below, and proceeds to start crawling around as she consumes all the available rocks around her.]
Gobber: If you had to choose between a weapon and a shield...
[Cut to Gobber, who walks up to Hiccup, who is attempting to pick up his axe while holding his shield. Gobber rips it out of his hand and tosses it aside.]
Gobber: Just put it down, take the shield! (pushes Hiccup forward)
[Cut to the Thorston twins, as Ruffnut grabs a green shield with a yellow Zippleback depiction on it, but not before Tuffnut grabs it, as they then stat tussling over it.]
Ruffnut: Give it!
Tuffnut: It's mine! Mine, mine, mine!
Ruffnut: Find your own shield!
[Ruffnut gruffly shoves the shield at Tuffnut's face, whilst in the background, the Gronckle hovers around before she spots squabbling twins. The rotund dragon then heads up to them, and fires a lava blast at the shield they were fighting over, shattering it to burnt pieces, and sending them falling backwards.]
Gobber: Ruffnut, Tuffnut, you're out. Shields are good for another thing: Noise. Make plenty of it to throw off a dragon's aim.
[Upon hearing Gobber's instructions, everyone except Hiccup use their weapons to bang on their shields. The Gronckle shakes her head in disorientation and confusion, as it then cuts to her POV, where certain characters start to stretch and become out of focus upon banging their weapons against their shields.]
Gobber: Remember: all dragons have a limited number of blasts! How many does a Gronckle have?
Fishlegs: Ooh! Ooh! Six!
Gobber: Six! Yes! That's one for each of ya.
Fishlegs: Although, interesting tidbit: rocks from different regions vary in mineral compos-
[However, before he could finish his sentence, the Gronckle snuck up from behind and fired her second lava blast, hitting Fishleg's shield, making him go off balance and fall forwards, losing grip of the shield, which bounces off the wooden wall Gobber was on the left side of. Hiccup then peaks his head out from behind, and faces Gobber.]
Hiccup: W-What are you- What are you doing?
Gobber: What are you doing? Get in there!
[Assertively, Gobber marches right towards Hiccup, prompting him to run off into the open.]
Gobber: Fishlegs, your out.
[With Astrid, she makes it right behind the hovering Gronckle, who looks around for any other attackers. Snotlout appears behind her shortly after.]
Astrid: Four shots left.
Snotlout: Yeah, we're pretty much gonna be the stars of this thing. Almost like we were meant to be together.
Astrid: It's an elimination game, genius. There's only one Top Slayer.
[With that, Astrid leaps over to the left, leaving Snotlout vulnerable as the Gronckle proceeds to fire her third blast at him. Snotlout yelps as he holds up his shield to protect him, only for him to be launched off his feet and sent a few feet away.]
Gobber: Snotlout, you're done.
[With Hiccup, he's hiding behind another wooden wall just as Astrid lands right in front of it, keeping her attention on the Gronckle.]
Astrid: Three shots.
Hiccup: Looks like it's just you and me, huh?
Astrid: Nope. Just me.
[Astrid then leaps out into the open, banging her axe against her shield to get the robust dragon's attention.]
Astrid: Hey! Eyes on me!
[The Gronckle turns her direction onto Astrid, who proceeds to cartwheel to the left, then ends with a backflip. Hiccup watches in adoration as Astrid then grabs a spear from a weapon's stand, and throws it at a barrel of sharp weapons. The Gronckle then proceeds to fire her fourth shot at it, making the barrel explode.]
Gobber: Yes. well done, Astrid. Two shots left.
[One of the shields rolls right up to Hiccup, who looks down to it. He then hears a snarl, and looks up.]
Hiccup: Oh, come on.
[It was the Gronckle, who then proceeds to fire her fifth blast at him. Hiccup lifts his shield up, and thankfully stays on his feet, before he sprints off to the left.]
Gobber: Hiccup, you're out. One shot left.
[Hiccup continues to flee, looking to the fire on his shield, He then proceeds to ditch it and look for a place to hide, while behind him, the Gronckle hits the wall with the left side of her body. Meanwhile with Hiccup, he heads up to where the twins were, and runs right passed them.]
Ruffnut: Hey, watch it!
[Hiccup continues running for his life with the Gronckle hovering right behind him. Suddenly, Hiccup slips and falls, turning around to face the dragon.]
Gobber: (V.O) Hiccup!
[Hiccup backs up to right on the right side of the doorway into the Gronckle's pen, just as the dragon herself hovers right in front of him. Snarling intimidatingly, the Gronckle opens her jaws, orange light illuminating from within, preparing to fire her sixth shot. However, before she does, Gobber punches the dragon, making her chuck her head upwards when she fires, making her hit the left side of Hiccup, missing him by inches.]
Gobber: End of lesson.
[with the Gronckle biting onto his hammer hand, Gobber pulls the large rotund beast towards the entrance into her pen. He then grabs the doors, and proceeds to forcibly push the Gronckle inside.]
Gobber: Go back to bed, you overgrown sausage.
[Right when he says that, the Gronckle rips his hammer hand right off its socket, before flopping to the ground. This gave Gobber the time to head up to the other door, and lock the pen doors up while the Gronckle was busy shaking the hammer around in her jaws. Gobber then proceeds to walk up to Hiccup while looking to the other teens.]
Gobber: Remember: a dragon will always, always (to Hiccup) go for the kill.
[With a disappointed look, Gobber shakes his head at Hiccup, and walks away, leaving the young boy to ponder about what he had just said. He then looks to the spot the Gronckle fired, and wonders...]
[Transition to later that day. Hiccup returns to the spot where the Night Fury fell, squats down, and picks up what's left of the sling ropes.]
Hiccup: So, why didn't you?
[Hiccup proceeds to stand up, and walk in the direction the Night Fury had fled off to. He eventually enters a small cave tunnel, pushing through vines and leaves, before coming through the other side. He walks forward to the edge of the tunnel, which opens up to reveal a large round cove surrounded by cliff walls, a large lake smack in the center surrounded by beach. Hiccup momentarily smiles at the sight, before he looks down. He notices three black scales sitting close to him. He squats down, and picks one up to examine it. Suddenly, a loud noise startles him. He turns to his right, and sees the Night Fury, attempting to scale the cliffs. The dragon then loses grip and falls backwards, but luckily glides down to a foliage covered pillar before clumsily hopping into the air, only to collapse to the ground immediately after. Hiccup lays down and watches the dragon as he proceeds to take off again, only to collapse to the ground immediately after, his left wing splashing into the water. The Night Fury then proceeds to soar up to the cliff walls, only to collide with it. As this happens, Hiccup decides to take out his notebook.]
Hiccup: Okay.
[Hiccup then looks over to see the Night Fury wail as he collapses to the ground Below. Hiccup then proceeds to draw in his notebook, drawing out a sketch of the Night Fury from a top view, spreading out its full wingspan, and its sails where its tail meets its torso, and the sail fins at the end. As Hiccup draws, he watches the Night Fury get up and walk away. that's when he notices that its left tail fin was missing. Hiccup then proceeds to use his hand to erase it out of his sketch as well.]
[Down below, the Night Fury leaps into the air for take-off again, but proceeds to collapse to the ground again, landing on his left side, facing the pond. He then sees a fish jump out of the water, and proceeds to get up. Through the water surface he sees two fish right before him. He lunges his head forward to catch them, but the fish swim away too fast. Defeated, the Strike class dragon lifts his head out of the water.]
[Hiccup watches all this unfold, fiddling with his pencil. However, it then slips out of his hand and falls off. Hiccup tries to get it, but is too late as it falls off the ledge. The Night Fury then hears it rolling off the rocky ledge, and looks up to face the young boy. Hiccup looks down at the lone dragon, who holds his head close to the ground, growling up at the boy.]
[Cut to later that night. Hiccup walks down the path to the Great Hall. it is raining and Hiccup is wet. Thunder crashes in the background as he enters the Hall. Gobber and the teens are on the top floor, the teens sitting in the same table.]
Gobber: Let's review, shall we? Where did Astrid go wrong in the ring today?
Astrid: I mistimed my summersault dive. It was sloppy. It threw off my reverse tumble.
Tuffnut: Uh, yeah. we noticed.
Ruffnut: (Smacks his shoulder) Hey! Back off my girl, alright? she's trying her best.
Snotlout: Yeah. Don't beat yourself up. You'll get it.
[Snotlout reaches his hand out to touch Astrid's.]
Snotlout: just follow my lead next-
[Astrid twists Snotlout's hand before he finishes.]
Gobber: Astrid's right. Ye gotta be tough on y'reselves. All it takes is one weak link.
[Hiccup appears in the room, holding a bowl in his hands. Everyone turns to face him]
Gobber: You made it, then?
[Hiccup walks in, but passed the teens who stare at him.]
Gobber: (sternly) you gotta start takin' this seriously. (to teens) because we are living in a battleground.
[Hiccup sits at a table facing away from where the teens are sitting as Gobber continues.]
Gobber: And in case ye haven't noticed, the othe' side is winning. You're gonna need every advantage you can get. So, if you haven't done you're homework, allow me to present to you...
[Gobber walks up to an open hole with a small chest inside, locked behind a barred door. Gobber opens the door open, and turns the key in the keyhole of the chest, and lifting it open, to reveal a mammoth brown book with a dragon insignia on it.]
Gobber: -The Book of Dragons. Everything we know about every dragon we know of.
[As he speaks, the teens listen with mixed expressions. Snotlout turns to Fishlegs who had an excited look upon his face. Hiccup too listens in.]
Gobber: Each of your tribe's brought their wisdom and experience to these pages.
[Gobber places the Manual down on the teen's table, and stares at it.]
Gobber: It's our most hollowed possession.
[Gobber's interrupted by the sound of thunder. Everyone looks as the flashes momentarily light the room.]
Gobber: No dragon raids tonight. So study up. (walks off)
Tuffnut: Uh....you mean read?
Fishlegs: I've read it like a hundred times. There's a Scauldron, that sprays your face with boiling water. And then there's, um, another...
[Fishlegs stops as Snotlout holds a two tipped fork in his hand, a stern look on his face.]
Snotlout: WHY would I read words, when I can just kill the stuff the words tell me stuff about?
Tuffnut: Right? I mean, like I'm the kinda guy that other guys write word books about.
Snotlout: nice.
[Tuffnut leans up to Snotlout as they both then high-five each other.]
Snotout and Tuffnut: (In unison) BOYS!
Fishlegs: Don't worry, i'm here for all you're dragon-related inquiries, okay? Theories, stats, I even made, um, cards-
[As he speaks, he pulls out his Dragon Cards, but they all scatter out. Meanwhile everyone around him gets up and proceeds to leave. Fishlegs collects his cards and follows Ruffut as she leaves.]
Fishlegs: Um, you can ask me anything.
Ruffnut: Stop following me.
Fishlegs: Why not now? Try me now.
Ruffnut: (V.O) Absolutely not.
[Astrid is the only one of the teens left. Hiccup proceeds to get up, clean himself up, and walks up to the table, a nervous smile. Astrid is about to leave, but Hiccup stops her.]
Hiccup: So...sounds like a gruesome, grisly, good time, huh?
Astrid: (unphased) Read it.
[Astrid gets up, but Hiccup stutters.]
Hiccup: Y-Y-Ya know, uh, (sits down) Maybe they're not as bad as we think they are.
Astrid:...are you actually insane or do you just act that way?
Hiccup: Is-is there...is there a third option?
Astrid: (sits down) Wiping out dragons is why we're here. It's why the best of our tribes came together. Because YES. Dragons ARE as bad as we think.
Hiccup: Y-Y-Yeah, I-I know. I'm just saying, maybe we're part of the problem. Ya know, moving in on their lands, eating their food.
[Astrid stares at Hiccup, a blank expression.]
Astrid: Wow. You live in a different world, don't you?
Hiccup: What?
Astrid: Just coast by, taking it all for granted.
Hiccup: Well, I don't think that-
Astrid: (continues) Never having to work for anything, never struggling to get a foot up. Well guess what? (stands up) I come from nothing.
[Astrid walks up to Hiccup, who backs away the best he can.]
Astrid: (continues) No chief for a dad, no handouts, no excuses. I'm not afraid of hard work. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to get the job done, which in THIS case, means Wiping out the dragons for the good of EVERYONE.
Hiccup: Yeah...
Astrid: (Smirks) ya know what else?
Hiccup: (stutters) i'm-i'm afraid...i'm afraid to ask
[Astrid momentarily looks to her left, before returning her gaze to Hiccup.]
Astrid: I've got my eye on that big house of yours. I'm gonna be chief one day.
Hiccup: I-I don't doubt it. Actually, I think my dad would be thrilled. Besides, you're the kid he always hoped for. Instead, he got... (Gestures to himself) All this.
[Astrid looks on in surprise, but keeps a stern expression.]
Astrid: Stay out of my way, Hiccup.
[With that, Astrid proceeds to walk away, leaving Hiccup sitting all by himself. Hiccup sighs momentarily. Cut to shortly after. He opens the Book of Dragons to the map of the known Viking world. He turns two pages, the one on the right listing the different dragon classes.]
Hiccup: "Dragon Classifications: Strike Class, Fear Class, Mystery Class."
[Hiccup turns a handful of pages to the entry of the Thunderdrum dragon]
Hiccup: "Thunderdrum. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous, kill on sight".
[Hiccup turns another handful of pages to the entry of the Timberkack Dragon, cut to the Skrill entry, then Whispering Death.]
Hiccup: Timberjack. Skrill. Whispering Death.
[Cut to Hiccup flipping through numerous dragon entries, to the Scauldron, Scuttleclaw to Shovelhelm, Smothering Smokebreath to Snaptrapper.]
Hiccup: "Burns it's victims, buries it's victims, chokes it's victims, turns it's victims inside out.".
[Hiccup continues flipping through pages, which all have the same exact warning in each of them: "Extremely Dangerous, Kill on sight.]
Hiccup: "Extremely dangerous, Extremely dangerous, kill on sight, kill on sight, kill on sight."
[Hiccup eventually makes it to where he needed to go. The entry of the Night Fury, only for there to be no images of the dragon.]
Hiccup: "Night Fury. Size: Unknown. Speed: Unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon."
[Hiccup stares at the entry's lack of stats, before he then gets out his small notebook, and opens it up to his drawing of the Night Fury and it's open wingspan, and looks at it with curiosity.]
'