Even watching Hiccup speak to the tribe in the way Stoick always knew he could didn't manage to help him shake the rising shame and fear of watching himself on screen as he addressed his son. Stoick could safely say that this was the moment he was most ashamed of in his life- his priorities were completely skewed, and he almost destroyed the greatest bond he ever had.

Hiccup seemed to notice his strife, no matter how well Stoick tried to hide it.

"Dad, why don't you come and sit with me and Toothless?" He offered softly. "You can meet my new friends and we could watch the movie together?"

Stoick almost declined- the thought of looking his son in the face while the greatest mistake of his life played out on screen felt like some form of twisted nightmare- but then saw the way Hiccup's smile strained, the way that Toothless kept shooting little worried glances at him, the way Hiccups eyes seemed to be pleading.

If it was hard for Stoick to watch it, it had to be even worse for Hiccup.

His son was reaching out for him, asking for his support, asking if they could lean on each other, how could he saw no?

"Of course, son." He replied, pushing forth a smile and pretending not to hear the relieved sigh. "I heard your friends are pretty interesting."

"Oh yeah," Hiccup chuckled, "they're interesting alright."

…

"Guys this is my dad. Dad, this is Merida, Jack, Flynn, Rapunzel, Anna, Kristoff, Hiro, Honey Lemon, Wasabi, Fred, Gogo and Baymax."

"You, my sir, have an extremely awesome beard." Fred complimented.

Stoick raised his eyebrows. "And you have an interesting suit."

"Why thank you!"

"Mr. The vast?" Anna called, "Is it true that Vikings can tame seas and put out fires with their bare hands?"

"Well, I certainly believe it to be true."

"That's great. What do you think a Viking could do with an eternal winter brought by a mystical magical force?"

"Uh-"

Astrid hurried over, pressing a brief kiss to Hiccup's cheek. Stoick's eyebrows raised even higher.

"That was amazing Hiccup." She beamed.

"Yeah, you looked like a chief up there!" Rapunzel said, nudging Hiccup slightly.

Hiccup flushed red, cutting a nervous look to his dad. "Ah, no I couldn't-"

"She's right son, you did." Stoick said confidently, as if he didn't have a single doubt as to Hiccup's potential.

Hiccup's eyes widened and he ducked his head to hide his pleased smile.

[Scene cuts to at the Arena]

Stoick winced at the sight of him on screen. His words here- they were horrible. At the time they seemed funny but now -

Stoick: Well, I can show my face in public again! If someone had told me that in just few short weeks, Hiccup would go from being, well... Hiccup, to placing first in Dragon Training... Well, I would've tied him to a mast and shipped him off for fear he'd gone mad.

Merida, the only one not to smile at Stoick's arrival, crossed her arms over her chest. "Was that supposed to be funny?"

Stoick stuttered slightly but Hiccup cut in to save him.

"I mean, it was a little funny." He shrugged. "You've got to be able to laugh at yourself you know?"

Merida raised an eyebrow at him. "Yeah, laugh at yourself, not have other people laugh at you."

Neither Hiccup nor Stoick had anything to say to that.

Yes! And you know it! But here we are. And no one's more surprised...or more proud than I am. Today, my boy becomes a Viking. TODAY, HE BECOMES ONE OF US!

Astrid: Be careful with that dragon.

Hiccup: (Glances at Stoick ) It's not the dragon I'm worried about.

Astrid: What are you gonna do?

Hiccup: Put an end to this.

"He's going to train the dragon in front of them all!" Anna cheered.

"I knew it." Merida smirked. "This'll be so easy."

[She eyes him, dubious.]

Hiccup (cont.): I have to try. Astrid, if something goes wrong... just make sure they don't find Toothless.

Astrid: I will. Just... promise me it won't go wrong.

Astrid shifted so that her arm was pressed against Hiccup's.

"It better not go wrong." Flynn threatened lightly. "I swear, I'm going to get grey hairs worrying about you Hic."

Hiccup chuckled nervously. He didn't want to give it away, but he had a feeling that Flynn was going to be doing a lot of worrying in the next couple of minutes.

Weirdly, it was sort of nice to be worried about.

Gobber : It's time, Hiccup. Knock him dead.

Tuffnut : Show ' em how it's done, my man!

[Hiccup enters the Arena and picks a dagger from the weapons stand]

Stoick : Hrmph . I would've gone for the hammer.

Hiccup: I'm ready.

[They release the Monstrous Nightmare. Hiccup approaches the Nightmare slowly, raising his hand like how he did to Toothless]

Stoick : What is he doing?

Hiccup: It's okay. It's okay. [throws helmet onto floor] I'm not one of them.

Stoick and Hiccup flinch.

Stoick : Stop the fight.

Hiccup: No! I need you all to see this. They're not what we think they are. We don't have to kill them.

Stoick : I SAID STOP THE FIGHT! [slams hammer against the Arena railings, agitating the Nightmare] Out of my way!

Stoick jolted. He hadn't realized- it was entirely his fault-

"No," Hiro gasped, "no, it was all going perfectly!"

[Frightened, the Nightmare attacks]

"Oh my God." Flynn whines. Rapunzel curls a small hand around his bicep.

Hiccup feels Astrid tense next to him and immediately, without thinking, goes to grab her hand. And then after a moment reaches for his father's hand.

A small 'I'm still here', ' I'm not hurt'.

Toothless croons at the sight of his rider in so much fear on screen and moves so that his head is halfway in his lap. Hiccup, with no more hands left, looks down at his dragon painfully but Jack swiftly places his cold hands on the dragon's scales in comfort.

Hiccup shoots him a warm smile, but Jack was too busy watching the screen to see it.

Astrid: Hiccup! HICCUP! [enters the ring]

"You shouldn't have-"

"Hiccup. You could've been killed. I'd do everything I could to stop that." Astrid stated firmly, her gaze never leaving the screen.

Hiccup blinked but once that settled, he squeezed her hand in thanks.

[Meanwhile, at the cove, Toothless hears Hiccup's screams and races to the Arena]

" He heard you ." Honey Lemon gasped in shock. "He heard you and is coming to save you."

"Yes!" Fred cheered.

"But wait, now all the Vikings will know about Toothless." Honey Lemon gasped. "And they'll know that Hiccup's been-"

"Training with a Night Fury." Wasabi finished fretfully.

"I cannot believe I couldn't see he was protecting you." Stoick cursed. "How could I not have seen?"

Stoick : This way!

[Astrid escapes, but Hiccup is pinned under the Nightmare's claws. Suddenly, a resonating blast fires at the Arena's railing. Toothless jumps into the Arena. The smoke clears up, revealing the two dragons fighting]

Gobber : Night Fury!

Hiccup: Alright, Toothless, go. Get out of here!

"Oh no, oh no." Rapunzel chants nervously.

"Why didn't you leave?" Hiccup mutters. "I would've been fine. It would've been just another failure for me- but I can't lose you bud."

Astrid, hearing him, rests her head on his shoulder. "He knows you don't deserve that." She whispered softly. "Just the same way that I know it."

Hiccup sighed but pressed a kiss to her forehead in thanks.

Vikings: Night Fury!

Hiccup: Go! GO!

Viking: Take it alive!

"They're not killing him!" Hiro exclaimed gratefully.

"Yeah, but who knows what they're going to do with him." Jack said lowly, patting at Toothless nervously.

Astrid: Stoick , no!

Hiccup: No, Dad, he won't hurt you!

Hiccup shuddered; the sight of his father pinned down by his best friend was something he never wanted to experience ever again.

Hiccup (cont.): No, don't! You're only making it worse! Toothless, STOP!

Hiccup (cont.): No! NOOOOO!

Viking: Get him!

Hiccup: No! Please, jus- just don't hurt him! Please don't hurt him.

Stoick : Put it with the others!

Hiccup tensed and Astrid pressed closer, keeping her eyes locked on the screen.

Just how bad was it?

The rest of the Vikings watched in quiet shock, after seeing just how badly they messed up and learning how they were wrong about dragons, there was nothing to be done.

Stoick : I should have known. I should have seen the signs.

Hiccup: Dad-

Stoick : We had a deal!

Hiccup: I know we did... But that was before... Ugh, it's all so messed up!

Stoick : So everything in the ring... A trick?! A lie?

"No," Gogo muttered, "it wasn't ever a trick. He just learned something completely different. Everything he did was genuine."

Hiccup: I screwed up. I should have told you before now. Take this out on me, be mad at me, but please... just don't hurt Toothless.

Toothless crooned softly and Hiccup smiled- albeit bitter sweetly. "I'll always try to protect you bud. Always."

Stoick, hearing the utter devotion in his son's voice couldn't help but cringe in shame.

Stoick : The dragon? That's what you're worried about? Not the people you almost killed?!

Hiccup: He was just protecting me! He's not dangerous.

Stoick : They've killed HUNDREDS OF US!

Hiccup: AND WE'VE KILLED THOUSANDS OF THEM! They defend themselves, that's all! They raid us because they have to! If they don't bring enough food back, they'll be eaten themselves. There's something else on their island, Dad... it's a dragon like-

Stoick : -Their island? So you've been to the nest.

"No-" Rapunzel whimpered, tears building in her eyes. Flynn wrapped an arm around her shoulders, despite also feeling just as helpless as she did.

Hiccup: Did I say nest?

Stoick : How did you find it?!

Hiccup: No... I didn't. Toothless did. Only a dragon can find the island.

"Oh no Hic-" Flynn winced.

Hiccup ducked his head at that. He really fucked up there. Gods, if only he'd kept his mouth shut, his dragon wouldn't be-

Toothless' paw against Hiccup's chest knocked him out of his thoughts.

I'm here. He crooned. We're together.

Hiccup (cont.): Oh, no, no. Dad, no! Dad! It's not what you think! You don't know what you're up against! It's like nothing you've ever seen! Dad, please! I promise you that you can't win this one! No! Dad, no! FOR ONCE IN YOUR LIFE, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME!

Stoick : You've thrown your lot in with them. You're not a Viking. You're not my son.

There was a pause.

Everyone in the room was completely silent, stuck still in shock, unable to even think.

Snotlout, of all people was the first to speak. He whispered a quiet- "Holy shit-"

And suddenly Merida was moving, her face twisted in anger, she looked like a forest fire, ready to burn Stoick to the ground. Astrid stopped her, pulling away from Hiccup for just a second so the redhead wouldn't maim her chief. Jack was the next to move, only a beat after Merida. The temperature seemed to drop and the icy blue glint in his eyes promised a frozen hail of pain but this time Hiccup- with tears blurring his vision slightly- stopped him.

"J-jack, stop." Hiccup weakly pushed Jack down back to his seat. "Stop."

Even though Hiccup knew that Toothless felt the anger down in his scales, he curled around Jack, simultaneously keeping him from hurting Stoick and himself from as well, if only at his rider's wishes.

"I can't believe you'd disown your only son for this!" Rapunzel shouted; her face bright red. Flynn kept a hand on her elbow, holding her back despite the dark, angry look in his eyes that showed that he wouldn't mind letting her lose.

"Hiccup is kind and brave and smart and a million times better than any of you Vikings!" Anna growled. "If anything, he should disown you!"

"If I had my bow-"

"Oh, I wouldn't need a bow-"

"-Hiccup was right to want to leave-"

Hiccup watched them all with wide eyes. It was nice to be protected- it was amazing honestly- but his dad.

Stoick had his head bowed and silent tears streamed down his face, but he didn't even bother to respond. It was as if he thought he deserved every word they aimed at him.

Hiccup remembered his father's earlier words: " I should have heard you out because no matter what, you're my son"

"Guys, stop." Hiccup said firmly. They all immediately quieted and looked at him, their eyes all softening. They were only this angry because they cared- it made Hiccup's heart hurt. "I- I know you're angry- trust me, I know. I felt it too, still do. I'm hurt and I feel betrayed and I'm upset. But- but we can't hold on to these emotions because then we'll never heal. He apologized and maybe it's not enough for you, but I-" Hiccup paused and turned so he was looking at his father now. "It's enough for me and I'm working to forgive him. So please, if not for him, stop for me?"

Merida inhaled. She pulled away from Astrid stiffly and nodded. "I- I'm sorry Hiccup." She apologized.

Jack took a breath and the temperature seemed to warm again. "Me too."

Rapunzel frowned, but instead of apologizing she pulled Hiccup into a hug. Anna followed close behind with Hiro at her heels. Hiccup curled readily into the comfort.

"I just want to say-" Stoick spoke up, his voice gravelly and hoarse. Merida, Jack and Flynn couldn't stop themselves from shooting him a glare, but Stoick was speaking directly to Hiccup. "Disowning you was the most shameful moment of my life and the worst mistake I've ever made. I am willing to do whatever it takes to regain your trust. And I'm severely glad that you have friends like these in your life, sonr ."

Hiccup nodded, a small smile lighting his face.

Stoick (cont.): READY THE SHIPS!

[Before walking to the docks, Stoick staggers back, realizing the mistake he just made.]

"Oh Stoick." Gobber sighed, shaking his head.

Stoick : Set sail! We head for Helheim's Gate.

Stoick (cont.): (to a chained Toothless) Lead us home, Devil.

"My humblest apologies, Toothless." Stoick said solemnly and Toothless, still half curled around Jack, warbled.

"He accepts your apology." Hiccup translated.

Astrid: It's a mess. You must feel horrible. You've lost everything. Your father, your tribe, your best friend…

"Wait, this- we've never had this conversation." Hiccup blinked.

"Thank God," Flynn chuckled. "You're amazing Astrid, but this is a terrible start to a comforting conversation."

"So, does that mean we're watching the future?" Hiro asked.

"This must be what happens if everything plays out the same way." Hiccup realized. "This could be our future."

"So if we watch this, we can learn what not to do and what to do." Stoick mumbled, watching in renewed interest.

Hiccup: Thank you for summing that up. Why couldn't I have killed that dragon when I found him in the woods? It would have been better for everyone.

Astrid: Yep. The rest of us would have done it. So why didn't you?... Why didn't you?

"Yeah, I'm still wondering-" Fishlegs sighed. Even though he loved learning about dragons, he knew that if he was in Hiccup's position he wouldn't hesitate. Maybe that made him a bad person, maybe it didn't.

Hiccup: I don't know. I couldn't.

Astrid: That's not an answer.

"You're really not the best at this are you?" Hiccup asked lightly.

Astrid rolled her eyes. "I have a plan Haddock."

"Oh do you?"

"Always." She smirked. "Haven't you learned by now that I know what I'm doing?"

Hiccup snorted.

Hiccup: Why is this so important to you all of a sudden?

Astrid: Because I want to remember what you say, right now.

Astrid absently nodded along with herself. Because she did- it was a new feeling in her chest, a sort of longing to hear what Hiccup had to say. She wanted to know what he thought and what his opinion was on almost everything.

She could feel herself turning soft for Hiccup Haddock and maybe it was a good thing.

Hiccup: Oh, for the love of- I was a coward! I was weak! I wouldn't kill a dragon!

"Hiccup, you weren't weak for that." Jack offered. "You were actually extremely strong."

"Aye," Stoick nodded. "And even more so for trying to show it to all of us."

Astrid: You said "wouldn't" that time.

Hiccup: Whatever! I wouldn't! Three hundred years, and I'm the first Viking who wouldn't kill a dragon!

Astrid: First to ride one, though. So...?

Hiccup: ...I wouldn't kill him because he looked as frightened as I was. I looked at him, and I saw myself.

Hiccup inhaled sharply. He did. He hadn't realized before hearing it from his own mouth but it was true. Toothless was like his other half, his soulmate in the most platonic way. He couldn't live his life without his best friend.

Astrid: I bet he's really frightened now. What are you going to do about it?

Hiccup: Eh, probably something stupid.

"Uh, can you not?" Kristoff winced. He, just the same as Flynn, was beginning to feel extremely protective over the young Viking.

"Yeah, I'd appreciate it if you could not do anything stupid." Flynn sighed.

Astrid: Good. But you've already done that.

Hiccup: Then something crazy!

Astrid: That's more like it!

"Oh no." Stoick sighed.

Stoick : Sound your positions. Stay within earshot.

Viking #1: Here.

Viking #2: One length to your stern.

Viking #3: On your starboard flank.

Viking #4: Three widths to port.

Viking #5: Ahead, at your bow.

Viking #6: Haven't a clue.

Gobber : Listen... Stoick ... I was overhearing some of the men just now and, well, some of them are wondering what it is we're up to here- not me of course, I know you're always the man with the plan- but some, not me, are wondering if there is in fact a plan at all, what it might be?

"I hope I get to you in time." Hiccup worried.

"I hope you don't." Stoick admitted. "If it goes wrong-"

"If it goes wrong, I want to be there." Hiccup said firmly.

"Let's hope it doesn't go wrong." Astrid sighed.

Stoick : Find the nest and take it.

"That's not a good plan." Fishlegs groaned.

"Hopefully Hiccup's is better." Snotlout winced.

Gobber : Ah. Of course. Send them running. The old Viking fallback. Nice and simple.

Stoick : Shhh

Stoick (cont.): Step aside.

Viking: Bear to port.

Fishlegs ( o.s .): If you're planning on getting eaten, I'd definitely go with the Gronckle .

Tuffnut : You were wise to seek help from the world's most deadly weapon. That's me.

Hiccup: Uh…

Snotlout: I love this plan!

Hiccup raised an eyebrow at the sight of his cousin so enthusiastic about something he had planned.

Hiccup: I didn't…

Ruffnut : You're crazy! I like that…

Astrid frowned and absently scooted closer to Hiccup.

Ruffnut choked at her on screen self and Tuffnut shot her a grin. "Oh, Hiccup huh?"

"Shut up Tuff."

Astrid: So? What is the plan?

"That's what I'm wondering too." Merida frowned.

Gobber : Ah. I was wondering where that went.

Stoick : Stay low and ready your weapons. We're here.

[At the arena, Hiccup has released the Monstrous Nightmare. He gently guides it toward Snotlout , who is scared and grabs a knife.]

Astrid: Uh-uh.

Snotlout : Wait! What are you-?!

"I- I get a dragon?" Snotlout gasped. Maybe Hiccup would forgive him. And even if he wouldn't, Snotlout had to apologize anyway. Seeing Hiccup talk to the village confidently and being disowned harshly by his father made Snotlout's guilt even more pronounced than before.

If Hiccup didn't accept his apology, Snotlout still vowed to help him, to stand behind him, to protect him where he could. The fact that he'd been treating his own cousin so terribly because he couldn't please his father was despicable. The only way to truly make it up to Hiccup was with actions.

Hiccup: Relax. It's okay... it's okay. [ Snotlout bonds with the Nightmare]

Snotlout : Where are you going?!

Hiccup smiled; a Nightmare fits so well with Snotlout. Their arrogant natures and hot temper would make for an interesting bond.

Hiccup: You're going to need something to help you hold on.

[The teens glance at the three other dragons, all out of their cages]

Hiccup was so excited; he could already see the pairings in his head. The twins with a Hideous Zippleback would work because despite the twin's constant fighting, they worked extremely well together in battle and seemed to know each other's moves better than anyone. Fishlegs with a Gronkle due to the dragon's reputation of being a gentle giant. And Astrid with the Deadly Nadder because both the dragon and the girl were beautiful, light on their feet, tough and deadly; a force to be reckoned with.

This was going to be amazing.