Chapter Text
EXT. TRAINING GROUNDS – MORNING
GOBBER (O.S)
Today is about teamwork. Work together and you might survive.
“Well, that’s reassuring…” Cassie mutters. Hiccup snorts noting the sarcasm.
ON A DOUBLE-WIDE DOOR. Gas seeps through the cracks.
“I have to admit that is an eerie sight.” Cassie comments.
“Imagine how it felt being there…” Hiccup states.
“Oh! Isn’t this the day Hiccup suddenly got good? Does that mean we get to see how he did it!?” Fishlegs starts to bounce in his seat giddy.
Stoick straightens excited at the thought of seeing his son excel.
It BLASTS OPEN. A cloud of smoke engulfs the ring, swirling around the paired-up teens. Astrid with Ruffnut. Snotlout with Tuffnut. Fishlegs with Hiccup. All carry buckets of water, poised to throw them.
“Why the hell did I pair Snotlout and Tuffnut? That’s a disaster waiting to happen.” Gobber questions very confused.
“I honestly don’t remember. I think we just quickly split after grabbing the buckets.” Astrid explains.
“He’s not wrong though, it did end badly for them.” Hiccup snorts at the memory.
GOBBER (CONT.)
Now, a wet dragon head can’t light its fire. The Hideous Zippleback is extra tricky. One head breathes gas, the other head lights it. Your job is to know which is which.
The smoke encircles them, cutting them off from each other. The teens LISTEN and WATCH for any sign of the dragon.
FISHLEGS
(muttering to himself)
Razor sharp, serrated teeth that inject venom for pre-digestion. Prefers ambush attack, crushing its victims in its…
HICCUP
(TENSE)
Will you please stop that?
“Sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous.” Fishlegs is quick to apologize.
“It’s fine, but it wasn’t helping.” Hiccup reassures.
“I’m more impressed that you got Hiccup to snap at ya. He’s the patience of a saint.” Gobber states. “Even the twins take a lot to break him.”
“Timing changes everything. I wouldn’t have snapped if was any other time.”
ON SNOTLOUT AND TUFFNUT
Moving nervously through the fog, back-to-back. Snotlout is singing to himself to calm his nerves.
“’Lout, you do know that singing made the dragon find you faster, right?” Hiccup asks.
“Oh, shut up! You didn’t do much better!” Villagers look at him incredulous.
Spitelout just sighs shaking his head.
SNOTLOUT
If that dragon shows either of his faces, I’m gonna –
(spotting an approaching shape, terrified)
-There!
Snotlout and Tuffnut HURL their water into the fog.
ASTRID
Hey!
RUFFNUT
It’s us, idiots.
Astrid and Ruffnut are soaked.
TUFFNUT
Your butts are getting bigger. We thought you were a dragon.
“You really are an idiot, boy.” Cassie says amazed at the stupidity. “You never comment about a woman’s figure.” Men are nodding frantically agreeing.
SNOTLOUT
(TO ASTRID)
Not that there’s anything wrong with a dragon-esque figure.
“And you just made it worse.” Villagers grumble in agreement. “Also, a ‘dragon-esque figure’? In a village where you kill dragons? That just wishing death on them.”
Snotlout blanches at the glares from Astrid and Ruffnut.
Astrid ELBOWS Snotlout in the face. Ruffnut DROPS Tuffnut with a PUNCH to the throat.
“You boys deserved that.” Stoick states. He learned that the hard way when he was trying to court Valka.
ASTRID
Wait.
They FREEZE. A tail SWEEPS out of the fog, taking them down. Their buckets spill.
ON FISHLEGS AND HICCUP coming across them. They see the puddles of spilled water.
TUFFNUT
Oh, I am hurt. I am very much hurt.
Snickers ring out. They’ve heard that phrase often enough.
FISHLEGS
Chances of survival are dwindling into single digits now…
HICCUP
Look out!
A Zippleback head emerges out of the smoke. Fishlegs hurls his water at it, completely dousing the head. It leers and opens its mouth, spewing gas into the area.
FISHLEGS
Oh. Wrong head.
GAS FLOWS around their legs. Fishlegs flees in a panic.
GOBBER
Fishlegs!
Beat. A clicking sound comes from behind them. Sparks flash in the smoke.
GOBBER (CONT.)
Now, Hiccup!
The other head sweeps out of the smoke. Hiccup hurls his water with all his might. It arcs and drops short of the dragon’s sparking mouth.
“How the hell did you miss! It was right in front of you!” Snotlout screams, hoping people will understand how disappointing Hiccup was proving to be.
“Well, I’m sorry that I’m the ONE teen on this island that’s never been taught to properly throw a bucket of water! You guys know how untrained I was!” Hiccup justifies.
Stoick frowns. ‘I really did just thrust him in without training, didn’t I? Shows how much I pay attention to my own son.’
HICCUP
Oh, come on!
Cassie snorts. “I absolutely love your sarcasm.” Many nods in agreement. Hiccup smiles.
GOBBER
RUN, HICCUP!
Gobber COVERS his eyes.
“You covered your eyes! WHAT THE HEL, GOBBER!” Stoick yells.
“I panicked!”
“It’s okay dad, everything worked out fine.”
Stoick looks around and sees the teens nodding; clearly, they knew things were okay. He settles down some, still unsure.
GOBBER (CONT.)
Hiccup!
Beat. The Zippleback hesitates. SNIFFS. Then retreats.
“What?” Stoick gasps.
“Just keep watching, Dad. I was fine.”
The teens get to their feet, watching transfixed. Gobber peeks through his fingers to see…
The Zippleback backing away from Hiccup. He stands and holds his hands out, as if controlling it.
HICCUP
BACK! BACK! BACK! Now don’t you make me tell you again!
The Zippleback retreats through its door and into its cave, hissing.
“I’m still confused…” Ruffnut mutters.
“Obviously, Hiccup has superpowers! What else could it be?” Her twin answers excited.
“Uh… no. It’s a lot simpler than that.” Hiccup corrects baffled at Tuffnut’s idea.
HICCUP (CONT.)
Yes, that’s right. Back into your cage.
Hiccup slowly OPENS his vest, revealing the spotted smoked EEL from earlier.
Sounds of clarity ring out.
“Out of curiosity, why did you bring the eel that day?” Astrid inquires.
“Just in case something happened like the first day. All in all, everything worked out.”
He TOSSES it inside the door, then SLAMS it shut.
HICCUP (CONT. Now think about what you’ve done.
Hiccup turns to the teens and Gobber. They stare, slack jawed.
“THAT’S MY BOY!” Stoick exclaims, socking Spitelout in the shoulder. “Always using his head!”
Gobber laughs. “It was such a shock. I don’t know how we thought it was anything else. We even found that eel later on.”
Meanwhile, Hiccup was as red as a tomato trying to hide. Astrid nudges him smirking while Toothless looks on smug at his rider’s performance.
HICCUP (CONT.)
Okay! So, are we done? Because I’ve got some things I need to…
Hiccup jogs out of the ring, past the speechless group.
HICCUP (CONT.)
Yep… See you tomorrow.
Astrid SNEERS. Something’s going on.
“I’m honestly surprised you were the only one that was suspicious. I would’ve thought at least a few others would have noticed.”
“Honestly, me too. I guess the techniques were just too mind-blowing to really think about it.” Astrid hypothesizes.
Many look to the screen keen on finding out what else Hiccup discovered. Stoick beams with pride, ready to watch his son outshine the rest.