Okay guys, this is literally a prologue. This should give one a reasonable introduction to the characters. Funnily enough, I still haven't really worked out a plot (and if I've still not worked one out by the end of Easter, then I'm stuck). All I know is that the story (excluding the prologue) is set in 1997 Britain, so relatively modern. I really needed a place to start, so I hooked onto the British Handover of Hong Kong. For those that don't know, Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997, when it was handed over to the People's Republic of China.

This story is written in British English and will also be set in the United Kingdom, which has a very different education system to the United States.

Disclaimer: 'How To Train Your Dragon' is owned by Dreamworks Animation and Cressida Cowell.

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The Escaped Wolf: Prologue

30th June 1997

Jardine House (House of a Thousand Orifices), Hong Kong, United Kingdom.

High up on the 49th floor, a group of British investors, joined by their teenage children, sat watching the British military retreat from HMS Tamar with great sadness. Today would be their last day in Asia, as they were leaving by private jet just after midnight. The sky was almost pitch black, any light being covered up by the thick rain clouds that had been dampening the day's ceremonies. Which, by the way, were going spectacularly well.

'Remind me, why do we have to watch all this? Can't we just…leave?' asked a boy, roughly 13 years old, wearing a black suit with a green tie. The boy looked exceptionally thin, which is probably why the suit certainly didn't suit him.

A beefy man with huge arms and a broad chest sighed disapprovingly at his son's impatience. 'Son, we have to watch all of this because in a few hours time, Hong Kong will become Chinese.'

The boy rolled his eyes, he knew all of this already. 'But how does this affect US? We are already leaving tonight any–' he was interrupted by a shout from the front of the room.

'Shut it, Useless!' called another boy, this time with strong, muscular arms and a rather large nose. 'We're trying to watch the soldiers shoot–wait, what are they shooting the sky?' he asked, his large face forming a frown.

'They're saluting the Union Flag, idiot!' shouted an angry female, who had also been trying to watch the ceremony. She was about to say something again, but she was smacked around the back of the head by a third boy; who looked remarkably like herself.

'No, you troll, they are saluting Prince Charles, you know Prince Cha–' he was swiftly interrupted with a punch in the face. 'Oww, why would you do that?' he continued muttering under his breath until 'Useless'' father's voice boomed.

'Scott, Toby, Rachel! Please shut up!'

'Oh come on Stoick, let them have their fun,' chuckled a second large man, who also had beefy arms and a broad chest. The exception though, is that the man had two realistic artificial limbs. 'It's not as if us watching a military withdrawal is going to make any difference to whether or not we leave.'

Stoick sighed in disappointment again, looking down at his son. 'Hiccup, you realise you're going to need to get used to this sort of thing, right? Because when I be–'

'–because when you're elected Member of Parliament for Dartford, I'll need to attend all your important meetings with lobbyists and ministers,' Hiccup finished for his father. He had had this conversation many times before, and it was boring him tremendously. 'You've told me that so many times!'

'Okay...Hiccup, Stoick, sit down and just watch the flags being lowered, okay?' asked Gobber, although he practically forced them both to their seats with the stern look he was giving them. Nobody ever called Hiccup by his real name, Henry; as they thought Hiccup was a lot more amusing. Although only because when Henry gets hiccups...he really gets hiccups.

The group settled down, although tensions could still be felt between father and son. This had been going on for some time, with Hiccup learning to hate his father's position as a British diplomat. Why does his father have to do all this diplomatic stuff, why can't Snotty's parents do it? Oh wait…

They do.

1st July 1997

Kai Tak Airport (Hong Kong International Airport), Hong Kong, China.

'Mr Blair, I can assure you that my son meant no harm in what he said. He was just being a bit delusio–'

'Mr Haddock, your son told Baroness Thatcher that she was a 'retarded, obnoxious cow' for handing over Hong Kong. Not only that, but he said it in front of the President of China!' The man responding was tall and very charismatic, although appeared now to be wanting to tear the man in front of him apart. 'You're lucky you're a Tory, because I'd have you expelled immediately from the Labour Party.'

'I'm sorry, sir,' Stoick looked down at the ground, deeply saddened and disappointed at what his son said. 'I can assure that nothing like that will ever happen again.'

'Well, let's hope it doesn't. I don't want another controversy in the newspapers. Now I think your son owes Baroness Thatcher an apolo–'

'I would strongly recommend against letting him anywhere near anyone important. At least for now.' Stoick shook hands with the Prime Minister, then grabbed Hiccup's arm as they moved towards their plane.

Hiccup winced in pain, struggling against the force of his father's strong grip. 'Dad! Stop it, please! This is embarr–oww!' Hiccup continued to struggle until his father pushed him aside, just before they got onto the aeroplane.

Stoick looked down at his son with a disappointed frown. 'Listen Hiccup, I know you dislike her; but you can't just go and call her a–'

'–I didn't! It was Snot! He stood behind me and whirled away after he said it,' Hiccup protested, hating the way his father would always blame him. Which was really the truth, Hiccup hadn't called her a cow; but it was assumed that he had because Scott was just so perfect he wouldn't dare do something like that.

'Look Hiccup… Let's talk about this when we get home, okay?' Stoick sighed, then patted his son on the back. Ever since his wife, Val, had died; he had become a completely different man. Rather than focusing on his family, he focused on politics. It was his get-out clause.

Hiccup nodded slowly, walking past his father towards the ramp that led up to their destination. Hiccup noticed Scott and Toby grinning, and he sped up. He knew what was about to come.

'Hey, nice going Useless!' called Snotlout.

'Yeah, she was such a cow, wasn't she?' The pair burst out laughing, along with Rachel; who had been critically following the situation.

'Alright, all of you on the plane!' shouted Gobber, who got his name from being well...gobby. His real name was Gerald, and he was Stoick's best friend and secretary. How he ended up becoming a secretary he'll never know.

After a few more teasing shouts from the other boys, Hiccup, followed by his father; boarded the aeroplane. The rest of the gang were not far behind.

Gobber stood next to Stoick for a moment, leaning over to whisper into his ear. 'At least that Ingerman boy and the Hofferson girl doesn't bully him like that. Maybe it'll get better at home.'

Stoick sighed for what felt like the thousandth time. 'If only Gobber, if only…'

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Okay… That's the prologue. I spent about an hour writing it, and I haven't proofed it. So if you find any mistakes, please do tell me. Reviews are welcome, as are suggestions. While writing this I've kinda began to work on what the plot will actually be. One hopes to focus on Hiccup and Stoick's relationship, and of course Toothless. It will be HxA, but it won't be a major part of the story.

See, this is what the Easter Holiday does to you. Bores you senseless until you start writing about Hiccup being in Hong Kong.

In the meantime… Goodbye!

-CGJ