Ok, This is gonna be one of my longest chapters by far I think, I started working on this and realized I didn't have a good place to stop till Hiccup claims he is going to be the first to shoot down a Night Fury. I'm am so excited to see this written because I have had this idea floating around in my head for ages now. I finally got tired of it not leaving me alone, so I am writing it.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own How to Train Your Dragon, its characters, or it's script.


STOICK

Enter Stoick, the biggest Viking of all. He yanks Hiccup from the path of a strafing dragon and holds aloft to the crowd.

Hiccup!?

(accusingly; to the crowd)

What is he doing out again?!

(TO HICCUP)

What are you doing out?! Get inside!

Stoick flinches at the image on the screen, he had never realized how harsh he had sounded when he talked to his son.

The flames light up his scowling face and matted red beard. He sets Hiccup down and turns to the sky, searching. Hiccup rolls his eyes and continues to run to the forge.

All around them, tendrils of darkness work to make the Vikings run and swing faster, the dragons slower and just about anything that will help keep the Vikings alive. Hiccup slows for just a moment, marveling that no one can see the back withering creatures at work before he shakes his head and keeps going.

HICCUP (V.O.) (IN AWE)

That's Stoick the Vast. Chief of the tribe. They say that when he was a baby he popped a dragon's head clean off of its shoulders. Do I believe it?

Gobber and Stoick both glanced at each other in disbelief, that rumor they had started as teenagers was still around.

Stoick grabs a wooden cart and hurls it, knocking the strafing dragon out of the sky.

HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Yes I do.

For a moment Stoick almost laughed, he had never known his son believed in him so strongly. It brought a good ache to his chest, a few happy tears mingling with the sad ones in his beard.

An explosion forces Vikings to duck. Stoick stands firm, brushing flaming debris off of his shoulder.

STOICK

(barking; to his men)

What have we got?

VIKING #1

Gronkles. Nadders. Zipplebacks. Oh, and Hoark saw a Monstrous Nightmare.

STOICK

Any Night Furies?

VIKING #1

None so far.

STOICK (RELIEVED)

Good.

VIKING

Hoist the torches!

Massive flaming braziers are raised on poles, lighting up the night sky... and revealing swirling dragons of all types. Below, Hiccup crosses an open plaza and ducks into an open building with a tall chimney.

INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - CONTINUOUS

He crosses behind a counter, where a peg-legged, one-armed hulk of a Blacksmith reshapes blades with a hammer and tongs appendage.

Gobber sits forward in interest, he didn't realize that when Zyenna had said everything, she had meant everything.

GOBBER

Ah! Nice of you to join the party. I thought you'd been carried off.

Hiccup dons a leather apron and starts to put away Gobber's scattered appendages. Thin tendrils of black wrap around his arms, helping him to be stronger. He picks them up with practiced ease, only pausing to pretend to struggle when Gobber looks at him.

All the Vikings shudder for reasons unknown, recognizing the evil in the blackness on the young smith's arms. "That is what we are exposing, you all never saw it during these events but that evil was all over your village." Zyenna's voice comes from seeming nowhere, causing the Vikings to jump. "I'm watching with you guys, but not where you can see me. I'll answer what questions I can if you have any."

HICCUP

Who me? Nah, come on! I'm way to muscular for their taste. They wouldn't know what to do with all this.

Hiccup strikes a bodybuilder pose.

GOBBER

They need toothpicks, don't they?

Hiccup gets to work, transferring bent and chipped weapons to the forge as Vikings crowd the counter for replacements. The blackness helping to keep him from straining.

Everyone was supposed to see that Hiccup needed next to no help lifting the heavy load. "I thought Useless was weak." Snotlout said out loud, only to get hit in the head with a frying pan that popped out of nowhere. "DON'T INSULT HICCUP!" Zyenna, Astrid, Gobber and Stoick all shouted as one. "The lad usually was weak around ya, he spent all his energy helping me in the forge. He wa' mighty strong when he wa' fully rested." Gobber said sadly, he had seen his apprentice do some amazing things both in and out of the forge.

HICCUP (V.O.)

The meathead with attitude and interchangeable hands is Gobber. I've been his apprentice ever since I was little. Well...littler.

Gobber chuckled at the apt description, while Stoick scowls. He had never realized how close his son and his best friend were.

EXT. VILLAGE - CONTINUOUS

STOICK

We move to the lower defenses. We'll counter-attack with the catapults.

Armed men rush past, flanking others who carry sheep to safety. Stoick follows up the rear as, overhead, a dragon strafes the rooftops with Napalm-like fire.

HICCUP (V.O.)

See? Old village. Lots and lots of new houses.

Yet, it's been several years' sense we have lost anyone to those fires. No one thinks that's strange, but I know the reason why.

All the villagers paused, thinking back, it had been seven years sense they had lost someone to a raid. Up until then, it had never seemed strange. "You all are idiots…" Zyenna said blandly.

VIKING

FIRE!

In response, the fire brigade charges through the plaza - four teens, tugging a large wooden cask on wheels. From it, they fill buckets of water to douse the flames. One among them is a cute, energetic Viking girl. Hiccup leans out of the stall to watch her.

HICCUP (V.O.)

Oh and that's Fishlegs, Snotlout. The twins Ruffnut and Tuffnut. And...

(DREAMY)

Astrid.

A slow-motion explosion erupts behind her, framing her in a sexy ball of fire. The others join her, looking awesome and heroic.

Astrid blushes, despite the tears in her eyes. She had never known that Hiccup had watched them.

HICCUP (V.O.) (CONT'D)

Their job is cool, but I'm needed in the forge. Not that I wouldn't mind doing their job, they always get all the recognition. Hiccup leans a little too far out as they pass, but he's hooked by Gobber and hoisted back inside.

HICCUP (CONT'D) (PLEADING)

Ah, come on. Let me out, please. I need to make my mark.

HICCUP (V.O.)

Not that I needed to, I have a bad habit of causing mass chaos, but it was essential that everyone thought I was an attention seeking twerp.

GOBBER

Oh, you've made plenty of marks. All in the wrong places.

HICCUP

Please, two minutes. I'll kill a dragon. My life will get infinitely better. I might even get a date.

GOBBER

You can't lift a hammer. You can't swing an axe...

Hiccup tries to deny each accusation, but isn't given the chance.

Gobber grabs a bola (iron balls connected by rope).

... you can't even throw one of these.

A Viking runs by and nabs it out of Gobber's hand, hurling it at a dive-bombing Gronkle. The bola binds its legs, sending it into a heavy crash.

HICCUP (ready with the answer)

Okay fine, but...

He rushes to the back corner of the stall and presents a bizarre, wheel barrow-like contraption.

... this will throw it for me.

Hiccup opens the hinged lid of the device. An arm springs up, equipped with twin bows. They prematurely launch a bola, narrowly missing Gobber... and taking out a Viking at the counter.

VIKING

Arggh!

GOBBER

See, now this right here is what I'm talking about.

Gobber sighs, knowing what comes next, and not proud of how he had reacted.

HICCUP

Mild calibration issue.

GOBBER

Hiccup. If you ever want to get out there to fight dragons, you need to stop all...

Gobber gestures in Hiccup's general direction.

... this.

HICCUP (ASTONISHED)

But... you just pointed to all of me.

Everyone can't help but hear the slight hurt tone in Hiccups voice. "I'm sorry lad…" Gobber says under his breath.

Hiccup leans forward in his chair, pressing his hand against the glass as he sees Gobber shed a few silent tears. "Can't they know... that I'm alive I mean…" He asks, feeling horrible for his friends and family having to sit through this torture thinking him dead. "No… they have to be away from you for them to be able to see the daemons affecting them. It's the only way we can get rid of her for good." Zyenna says sadly, knowing the pain Hiccup was experiencing. The young Viking just sighs as he sits back to watch the events be retold from his perspective.

GOBBER

Yes! That's it! Stop being all of you.

HICCUP (THREATENING)

Ohhhh...

GOBBER (MIMICKING)

Ohhhhh, yes.

HICCUP

You, sir, are playing a dangerous game. Keeping this much, raw...Vikingness contained. (BEAT) There will be consequences!

Gobber tosses him a sword. Which Hiccup struggles to not catch with just one hand, awkwardly cradling it with both arms.

Gobber sighs at his inattentiveness, he had never known just how strong Hiccup was but he had always had his suspicions.

GOBBER

I'll take my chances. Sword. Sharpen. Now.

Hiccup takes it begrudgingly and awkwardly lobs it onto the grinding wheel. He stews... fantasizing...

HICCUP (V.O.)

One day I'll get out there. Because killing a dragon is everything around here.

EXT. VILLAGE - LOWER PLAINS - CONTINUOUS

Nadders land, gathering like seagulls around a seemingly vacant house.

HICCUP (V.O.)

A Nadder head is sure to get me at least noticed.

The Nadders clamber onto the building, tearing the roof and walls apart. Sheep pour out and scatter. Elsewhere, hippo-like Gronckles pick drying racks clean of fish and fly off like loaded pelicans.

Gronckles are tough. Taking down one of those would definitely get me a girlfriend.

A stealthy, snake-like dragon head peeks over a rooftop, breathing gas into a chimney, as a few children come running out the door in the front, black sick looking dogs nipping at their heels, though none of them seem to notice them.

A Zippelback? Exotic, exciting. Two heads, twice the status.

A second head pokes through the door and lights it. KABLAM! The two heads fly through the explosion, their necks zipping together to reveal a single body. It flies past Stoick as he climbs to the top of a catapult

TOWER.

CATAPULT OPERATOR

They found the sheep!

STOICK (FRUSTRATED)

Concentrate fire over the lower bank!

CATAPULT OPERATOR

Fire!

Boulders are catapulted at the corralling Nadders... Just as a huge red dragon whips past, spraying the base of the catapult with sticky fire.

HICCUP (V.O.)

And then there's the Monstrous Nightmare. Only the best Vikings go after those. They have this nasty habit of setting themselves on fire.

It emerges from the flames, climbing the catapult with a leering, toothy grin. Though it doesn't seem to be able to open its mouth any more than that.

STOICK

Reload! I'll take care of this.

Stoick takes on the Nightmare, face to hammer.

Suddenly, a loud ballistic moaning streaks overhead. The catapult crew ducks.

INT. BLACKSMITH STALL - CONTINUOUS

On Hiccup, looking up from his work, reacting to the same sound. Holding the sword in one hand for a moment, forgetting to pretend to struggle.

HICCUP (V.O.)

But the ultimate prize is the dragon no one has ever seen. We call it the—

VIKING

Night Fury! Get down!

Vikings everywhere take shelter. The moaning sound builds.

EXT. VILLAGE - CATAPULT - CONTINUOUS

The Monstrous Nightmare suddenly stops fighting and takes flight. Stoick looks skyward.

STOICK

JUMP!

KABOOM! The Catapult explodes... sending Stoick and the crew leaping for their lives. Each one sent in a direction that keeps them relatively unharmed, black tentacle snake around their legs, helping them to jump at the last minute in the right direction.

HICCUP (V.O.)

This thing never steals food, never shows itself, and...

The sound recedes, leaving the crippled catapult in flames.

...never misses. No one has ever killed a Night Fury. That's why I'm going to be the first.

Astrid leaned forward in anticipation, she hadn't had the chance to hear how Hiccup and Toothless met, the young Viking remembered Hiccup claimed to shoot down a Night Fury. 'I wonder… it can't be the same one… can it?' She contemplated.


Thank you for reading. I'll get the next chapter out as soon as I can.

I have had several people ask me why my story is rated M. Honestly, I just rated it as such to play it safe. This story might seem pretty tame now, but I am working on one of the gory scenes for the fourth or fifth chapter. I'm trying to make it as horrifying as possible, so hopefully I won't disappoint. I haven't written much horror so this is an experiment for me. I've gotten some help from a friend who had watched a lot of horror movies, so keep your fingers crossed and your minds open.

Charminghex99 – You'll just have to wait and see! I've left hints in this chapter. I don't feel like they are all that subtle but I like how it's going so far personally.

ladipretender – I've definatley gotten some AU in this chapter, I plan to deviate quite a bit, hopping to add several scenes that I feel will help my story along though for the most part your gonna have to just read to find out what I change. Such as I have done with this chapter. And I completely understand your pet peeve, it's one of mine too so there is no chance I'm not going to finish this one, no worries! As long as I keep getting reviews and I know people are reading it will keep my butt in gear.

Thanks for reading! Please review!