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protectshisownPositive-Trivial: And you have babies? (Form: Springerle cookies. 1/5)
From 14:26 to 15:10
Break Down
-Sure am on an island full of dragons.
-W-walking around like it's cool to be here.
-Feeling of looking for...something specific?
-Over this ridge, I'm seeing a cluster of dragons that I can...apparently recognize.
-Hookfang! A Monstrous Nightmare who isn't inclined to eat me, awesome.
-HUGGING THE DRAGON.
-And a Deadly Nadded named Stormfly!
-Who nuzzles me even more than Hookfang.
-And they have babies!
-This was...not a surprise by this point, but still unexpected sort of thing.
-Oh my gosh, the baby dragons are so cute.
-SO CUTE.
-YOU GUYS.
-THEY ARE ADORABLE.
-YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
-Whose a cute widdle baby dragon~
-The dragons were leaving to celebrate their own sort of holiday.
-It...wasn't known this is what they did when they left...?
-And a little bit of a sad feeling.
-I want to go back to my holiday.
-I SHOULD GET BACK.
-Even if there's cute baby dragons here.
-Asking Hookfang for a ride.
-....
-I GOT ON THE MONSTROUS NIGHTMARE'S BACK AND IT FLEW UP.
-This dragon is willing to let me ride him.
-WITHOUT HESITATION.
-And abrupt cut when we get into the air.
-BUT WAIT.
-WHAT'S HOME.
Meaning
OH MY GODS, I DON'T HAVE MY LEG.
It's actually kind of still painful, so it's not that long after the loss, relatively. It's not a wound that's going to bleed anymore, but not really full healed yet. But still, first memory without it! And he has absolutely no idea what happened after everything went downhill. (The memory does not include him calling out Toothless or his mention of Berk because really I only let him get this because Christmas Special.)
Hiccup did mention 'going home.' Unfortunately Rider can't be sure if this home means Berk, or perhaps a new home he has. Rider already figured out even if things DID go the worst, then he did find A REASON to live because...lost his leg, you need will to survive through something like that. Him giving up and then losing leg would probably mean he'd have died.
So it could be he just found another village. MAYBE HE'S STILL AT BERK? And he's made friends with a bunch of dragons apparently! Who are...near his home. So he found a village who made peace with the dragons already? He helped them made peace? Did he make things all right with Berk and do what he wanted to do?! He really doesn't want to make a conclusion because he doesn't want to be disappointed. The thoughts will just nag at him as he goes back and forth and just refuses to commit to an idea. B-but hey, proof that he did find a reason to keep moving.
And he's...relatively happy? There's still nagging feelings. At this point Hiccup is worried that he'll never see Toothless again and he's worried about his own holiday, so there is this feeling of sadness that he's just ignoring. But he's not DEPRESSED because d'awwww, cute babies and the dragons I'm friends with, cool. So Rider can't be sure if those are just feelings he's moving passed or something else, so...
BUT OVERALL, HE IS NOT A COMPLETE MESS AFTER HIS LEG.
Negative-Significant: Into the nest. (Form: Heart shaped mini apples. 1/7)
EDIT Proper video!
Over here!
From 56:05 to 58:43
It has the visual, and the music (which is off sync), but none of the dialogue.
Beginning right after this memory ends.
ASTRID
So what now?
Hiccup groans. It's a problem without an answer.
Hiccup, your final exam is tomorrow. You know you're going to have to kill...
(WHISPERED)
... kill a dragon.
HICCUP
Don't remind me.
A strange, unearthly din approaches with a thick fog. Toothless' ear plates suddenly stand on end. Panicked, he abruptly dives, dipping into fog cover.
Toothless! What's happening? What is it?
Toothless BARKS at him. 'Quiet' is the meaning. Suddenly, out of the dense cloud, a Monstrous Nightmare emerges.
Get down!
Hiccup and Astrid duck. The Nightmare calls out. A Zippleback appears to the other side of Toothless, boxing him in.
ASTRID
What's going on?
HICCUP
I don't know.
(BEAT)
Toothless. You've got to get us out of here, bud.
Toothless HISSES. Other dragons, previously invisible in the thick clouds, appear all around them. HUNDREDS of them, all carrying fish and game in their talons.
(WHISPERED)
It looks like they're hauling in their kill.
The Zippleback eyes them.
ASTRID
What does that make us?
The dragons BANK and dive in formation, plummeting through the thickening fog and weaving between towering, craggy sea stacks. They emerge at the base of a massive volcanic caldera, glowing with rivulets of lava. The flock of dragons fall into rank, funneling through a crack, and zipping through a winding tunnel. It gives way to a vast, steamy inner chamber, tiered with pocky shelves. Dragons of all breeds lay about, nested in hordes. The arriving dragons fly in, dropping the fish and game into a central pit, glowing red and shrouded in mist. Hiccup is amazed.
HICCUP
What my dad wouldn't give to find this.
Toothless peels away from the procession, landing on a small shadowy shelf to keep a low-profile. Hiccup and Astrid peek around, taking in the busy hive of sorts. They watch as the food continues to be dropped into the pit.
It's satisfying to know that all of our food has been dumped down a hole.
ASTRID
They're not eating any of it.
Last to arrive is a dim-witted Gronckle. It hovers over the pit and regurgitates his paltry contribution -- a pathetic little fish. As it falls into the steamy pit, a terrible ROAR rings out. The Gronckle tries to flee, but before it can, a gargantuan dragon head juts from the steamy pit and SNAPS it out of the air. Swallowing it back whole. Hiccup and Astrid recoil, terrified.
What is that?
The monstrous beast SNIFFS the air, seemingly aware of them. It nears the ledge where Toothless is hiding... and ROARS. Several dragons take flight in fear.
HICCUP
Alright buddy, we gotta get out of here. Now!
Toothless takes flight, barely evading the monster's snapping jaws. The behemoth dragon lunges for them, snatching a Zippleback out of the air instead. Toothless disappears into the winged exodus as thousands of dragons flee the caldera in fear.
Break Down
-Oh, hey, it's after that romantic flight, starting off with nice feels.
-Which went down like that as soon as Astrid asks those questions. WELP.
-Oh, so this the night RIGHT BEFORE I have to kill the Monstrous Nightmare.
-What does that mean? Did I go against the Nightmare? How did Toothless play into this?
-w/e w/e
-I don't even want to think about it.
-And feel like I...won't....?
-Oh, except TOOTHLESS IS DOING THINGS.
-And there's...some....strange noise here.
-OH, SUDDENLY DRAGONS EVERYWHERE.
-T-Toothless can't get us out of here.
-But he seems to not be...responding well.
-Hauling in their kill.
-WE ARE NOT TOOTHLESS' KILL ASTRID.
-B-but no, this is really nerve wracking, what's going on.
-And Toothless is acting weird and why would he come towards this and this isn't good.
-...why is his ears/horn/sensor things moving like that.
-And let's do some flying around some rocks, woo~
-There's definite fear here, but also a strange sort of...calm? Not a good calm, just level headed, LOOKING AT ALL THE THINGS.
-And into a cave and this doesn't seem good, bud.
-Oh, w-we're in the nest, aren't we?
-Still looking, trying to take in details, be calm because Astrid's fingers digging into my chest says she isn't.
-And Toothless is hiding us over here!
-And dragons are dumping food into a hole...
-What.
-WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT, WE FIGHT OVER THAT. =T
-Gronckle is sloooow.
-And gives a little fish.
-.....
-Oh
-Fucking
-Hell
-That is a REALLY DAMN BIG DRAGON.
-IT MADE A GRONCKLE BIT SIZED.
-....also that sound stopped.
-TOOTHLESS, GET US OUT OF HERE.
-And NOW he can respond.
-R-running away and poor Zippleback, but EVERYONE IS RUNNING.
-Yes, let's get far away from this island, holy shit. o_o
-....and realizing what exactly happened on their way back to the cove because they do have it put together by that scene.
Meaning
W E L P
I can see why I was scared now.
THERE IS A GIANT DRAGON ON THE ISLAND THAT MAKES THE OTHER DRAGONS BITE SIZED SNACKS. All of them fit in it's mouth. But then there was that SOUND. (Kind of mixes with the soundtrack, but we hear sounds that are not the soundtrack, or the usual dragon sounds and because of the dragon the Red Death is based off of. And that din. Never sure how well humans hear it, but they could in the book, s-so with how Hiccup is examining things, I'm going to assume he noticed.) And Toothless was acting weird and his ear things were moving listening to THINGS.
S-so it's a giant dragon that makes other dragons bite sized and can CONTROL THEIR MINDS enough to keep them coming back. Maybe more, don't know, don't know if we got away because it just didn't control Toothless or maybe I was distracting, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, BUT THAT IS A SCARY DRAGON.
Because it still kept every single dragon there in line and that was a whole bunch of dragons. Still come even under threat of being eaten.
There is also another feeling Rider can't quite identify yet, but it's the feeling of 'I CAN'T RUN NOW.'
Because as I said under Romantic Flight, Hiccup's goal was to convince Astrid to stay quiet. After he sees the Red Death, he realizes that no. He can't run. Because he knows what the problem is now, why the war is going on, and because of that, he has a REAL CHANCE to actually end it. So it's that uncomfortable feeling of knowing he has to do something, really not wanting to, but knowing he can't run away. Easy solution gone, time to watch everything go to hell and hope for the best.
But there is also another element here. Hiccup is TERRIFIED there. He's very terrified and he's bridging on panic, but he DOESN'T. Between the two, it's Astrid whose freaking out more. She's worried Toothless, who she just said was amazing, was going to eat them. She clings to Hiccup pretty desperately. Mostly because it's a really scary thing, and she doesn't have what Hiccup has.
Hiccup trusts Toothless. He's confident that Toothless will protect them. So while he's scared, he's calm. He's taking in the situation, trying to figure out what's going on, snarking a bit to relieve TENSION, but overall, he's in control of himself. Which, right now, is nice. Because Rider is in a total disarray of his FEELS lately, but he's been working to get himself to pull his shit together and be functional. Having a memory of fear and near panic, but keep it together really helps in just reaffirming this.
Neutral-Significant: To protect the 'pet' dragon. (Form: Bowl of water with water receding each use. 1/3)
Some visuals! Also this memory continues on after Memory 18.
EXT. HIDDEN COVE - NIGHT - LATER
Toothless glides into the cove and touches down on the moonlit beach.
ASTRID
(her mind reeling, talking Hiccup's ear off)
No, no, it totally makes sense. It's like a giant beehive. They're the workers... and that's their queen. It controls them.
She leaps off of Toothless and runs toward the village.
Let's find your dad.
HICCUP
No, no! Not yet. They'll... kill Toothless. Astrid, we have to think this through carefully.
Astrid eyes him, incredulous.
ASTRID
Hiccup, we just discovered the dragons' nest...the thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here. And you want to keep it a secret? To protect your pet dragon? Are you serious?
Hiccup stands firm, resolute.
HICCUP
Yes.
Astrid's taken aback.
ASTRID
Okay.
(BEAT)
Then what do we do?
HICCUP
Just give me until tomorrow. I'll figure something out.
ASTRID
Okay.
Astrid PUNCHES Hiccup in the arm.
That's for kidnapping me.
Hiccup looks to Toothless for support. Toothless SNORTS, dismissive. Astrid grabs him. He braces for another hit. She KISSES Hiccup on the cheek.
That's for, everything else.
In the awkward wake of the moment, Astrid hurries off...leaving Hiccup
, stunned. Toothless hobbles up, eyeing him.
HICCUP
What are you looking at?
~ ~ ~
And then Hiccup spent several hours agonizing over what to do! Still in the Cove, probably talking to Toothless. There will be the realization that Hiccup had intended to run, but can't now that he knows about the Red Death. Possible to run when he doesn't know WHY dragons are attacking, just that there's a reason, can't when he does know and thus can DO something about it. Ideas of showing everyone with Toothless. Decides against it because no, it might go South, he doesn't want Toothless there. Then the realization he CAN do something else, but as in other memories, what he can do fuzzes out so he isn't sure what he decided. And probably some encouragement from Toothless, and maybe bits of worrying for the whole rambling thing from Hiccup.
Leaves the Cover, but has Toothless keep on the saddle in case things go south and he might need to run. =|
Break Down
-Yep, confirming the fact we both think there is, in fact, mind control involved somehow.
-DRAGONS ARE SECRETLY BEES?
-Wonder how normal this is, dragons seem to think on their own, Toothless did listen to him more, SO MANY QUESTIONS.
-IDK, BUT EITHER WAY, BIG DRAGON IS TO BLAME, YES.
-Astrid wants to go to dad.
-I AN DECIDEDLY NOT FOR THIS.
-They would kill Toothless if we just go tell them.
-Have to be careful about this.
-WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF I TOLD BEFORE.
-We did find the dragon's nest, yes.
-Viking have been after it since we first sailed here.
-SO THIS WAR HAS BEEN GOING ON AS LONG AS BERK HAS BEEN AROUND.
-Which is probably more than just my generation, so LONG WAR, lovely.
-Which is...actually kind of annoying.
-Been here the whole time and no one's noticed dragons are not bloodthirsty monsters, REALLY. (Because why else is Hiccup eyerolling there with annoyed look...)
-I will do anything and everything to protect Toothless.
-There is a lot of confidence and conviction here.
-And...Astrid listens. '-'
-I will figure something out.
-S-sure do feel like the weight of the world is on me.
-ewajheoiwja REALLY WITH THE PUNCHING.
-...well, okay, I did kidnap her and I guess even Toothless agrees I deserved that. '-'
-Wait, don't need a seco-
-....oh.
-Well.
-o////////////o
-Maybe my chances AREN'T zero with Astrid. >_>
-...Toothless. =T
-THAT WAS TOTALLY NORMAL.
-But no, okay, need to think of a plan.
-IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER TO RUN AWAY.
-But no, no, I know what the problem is, I can fix the problem.
-RUNNING AWAY NOW MEANS EVERYONE WHO DIES FROM THIS POINT ON I COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SAVED.
-Damn feelings of responsibility.
-So, plan.
-Yes, I am, in fact, not so stupid to drag Toothless into the village to show dragons aren't dangerous, good.
-At least the first attempt.
-...so what DID happen.
-Toothless worries, what a bro.
-But trusts me to do it.
-K-keeping saddle on him in case I need to run.
-I HAVE A PLAN, WHO KNOWS WHAT.
-W E L P
Meaning
I am sure that plan did not go badly at all. =|
But no, there is some good in this memory. There is a sudden feeling of weight on the world on Hiccup at this point. Because Hiccup is, in general, pretty prone to avoiding things if he can help it. And the whole 'dragons aren't evil, how do I stop this war' has been the elephant in the room for pretty much the whole time since he's known Toothless. He wanted to learn about the dragon, so he did. He realized dragons weren't evil, so he didn't want to hurt them. But overall, he hasn't pursued any attempts to figure out WHY they attack or figure out ways to STOP the fighting because he really did not want to open that can of worms.
Hiccup has a hilarious set up of being very selfless and very selfish. Hiccup doesn't like problems, he doesn't like confrontation, but if there's enough injustice and such happening, he can't actually ignore it. S-so he just tried to avoid finding out TOO MUCH of a problem so he can effectively ignore his conscience to do the right thing. Such is why he wanted to run away, but N O P E. He knows too much now, his conscience won't let him not do something. This is why he didn't try to find out, BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
How to deal with this situation, the Red Death, the Vikings, his father, all of that is uncertainty and fear that his conscience is making him face. However, in that sea of uncertainty, there is one thing Hiccup knows. One thing he will do to his utmost ability without fear or hesitation. It's such a strong feeling of confidence Hiccup never feels.
He is going to protect Toothless. Push comes to shove, Hiccup will go with what can protect Toothless because healthy codependence. It's the first thing Hiccup's ever been one hundred percent confident in. (And that's what gets through to Astrid. Seeing the boy who never had confidence show that much is kind of a head turner.)
And that is kind of...nice for Rider. The last memory helped some for Rider's keeping cool under pressure ability, but even for Rider, being one hundred percent confident in something is alien. But it's...nice. Very nice and reassuring right now.
Rider knows the plan isn't going to go well, whatever it is. It IS going to blow up in his face and Toothless is going to be in danger, but the feelings are still strong here. Maybe part of getting through to people IS believing in yourself. And maybe it wouldn't hurt to be that confident again. It didn't work out, right then, but that confidence got Astrid on his side. And any hope Rider has about things going well have all been on Astrid.
So maybe it does work out.
ALSO TOOTHLESS DERE FOREVER. And Astrid dere. But no, ridiculous Toothless dere levels, want my dragon.
Neutral-Trivial: Dragon manual. (Form: Cookies shaped like a girl, one good, one burnt. 1/2)
INT. GREAT HALL - LATE NIGHT
ON HICCUP'S HAND
OPENING the massive book. Thunder BOOMS outside. The hall is vacant and dark, but for the few candles he's pulled together. Hiccup pours through page after page of strange and frightening dragons.
HICCUP
Dragon classifications. Strike class. Fear class. Mystery class.
Hiccup turns the page.
Thunderdrum. This reclusive dragon inhabits sea caves and dark tide pools. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
Hiccup's eyes drift to a lurid illustration of decapitated Vikings. Another page, another dragon.
Timberjack. This gigantic creature has razor sharp wings that can slice through full grown trees...extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
The illustrations seem to take on a life of their own, shifting and squirming in the candlelight.
Scauldron. Sprays scalding water at its victim. Extremely dangerous.
The storm outside rages against the shuttered windows. Hiccup is startled, but presses on.
Changewing. Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight.
He begins flipping through the pages. A blur of dragons...
Gronckle. Zippleback. The Skrill. Bone Knapper. Whispering Death. Burns its victims. Buries its victims. Chokes its victims. Turns its victims inside-out. Extremely dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight...
Hiccup finally lands upon the page he's been looking for.
Night Fury.
It's BLANK -- no image, save for a few, sparse details.
Speed unknown. Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you.
Hiccup pulls his sketchbook out of his vest and opens it to his drawing of Toothless. He lays it over the book's blank page and considers it.
CLOSE ON the drawing of Toothless...
Meaning
Break Down
It is the memory of him reading the book, but since that knowledge should all be covered in a skill, he's not going to remember EVERYTHING that's in the book. Since I assume he actually did go through the ENTIRE book because Hiccup wants to know more about dragons. So he'll just retain the information actually addressed in the memory and KNOW there's more. He knows there's more he's supposed to know about the dragons, that there's more to their classes, but it's hard to try and remember beyond the stuff he said.
Negative-Significant: Figure out which side you're on. (Scrap of paper in team color. Eat it. Non-shareable.)
From 25:32 to 27:41.
Break Down
-After Memory 20, class the next day!
-And there is a maze and a loose Nadder and I-
-I am not paying the least bit of attention to that.
-Trying to ask Gobber about Night Furies without giving anything away.
-In the middle of training.
-Still holding weapons with my right...
-But really want this info!
-AND NADDER BLAST, there goes my axe.
-Time to run.
-Time to take the long route around.
-Nadders are quick and light on their feet.
-Blindspots are important!
-All dragons have them.
-Dragons are, in fact, not deaf.
-No one has lived to tell the tale of sneaking up on a Night Fury.
-I could work with some ideas...
-Astrid is cool and competent, okay.
-I AM NOT COOL ENOUGH OR WEIGH ENOUGH TO DO AN EPIC SHIELD ROLL.
-RUNNING.
-Aaaaaand back to talking to Gobber again.
-Don't even give two fucks about that Nadder hitting the wall behind me right now.
-ASKING IF A NIGHT FURY WILL SLEEP IN THE DAY TIME.
-LIKE A CAT.
-IS A NIGHT FURY LIKE A CAT, GOBBER?
-HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN ONE NAPPING?
-Oh, is something actually coming for me now?
-SUDDENLY ASTRID FROM ABOVE AND WALLS COLLAPSING.
-Sure did nearly get axed there.
-SUDDENLY ASTRID ON ME AND TUFFNUT IS NOT HELPING.
-Astrid trying to get untangled.
-OW OW OW OW.
-Let me hel-
-OW!!!
-OH SHIT, BAD THING.
-Oh, no, it's cool, Astrid's got this.
-Astrid thinks that I think is a joke.
-S-super intense about this war.
-That will become ours.
-W-whoops.
-And I need to figure out which side I'm on.
-...
-Good question.
-AND THEN HE GOES OFF TO FORBIDDEN FRIENDSHIP SCENE.
Meaning
....okay, MAYBE I HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM.
Was I trying to ask Gobber about Night Furies while a dragon was actively trying to attack me? Because that seemed to be a thing. REALLY MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST TIME, ME.
And damn, Night Furies seem to be really elusive and scary to vikings. Which is hilarious when Toothless really can act like a cat and can be subdued with scritches. '-'
AND THEN THERE'S ASTRID. Just really hitting home that Hiccup doesn't know what he's doing with his life. Which side he's on? He doesn't know. He honestly can't fight, he knows that. But what is he supposed to be doing with these dragons and these CURIOSITIES?!
Well, apparently, go make friends with it, because that is clearly the answer to all my problems right now. If I'm gonna be a screw up, MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR BROKE.
Mundane Skill: Drawing (Form: Stick with a blueberry. None-shareable.)
RIDER CAN DRAW. Rider can draw really well. He drew that in like fifteen seconds. And this. And all those. In CHARCOAL. So yes, very good.
With the skill also comes Hiccup's HABIT. Meaning there is literally no piece of paper that is safe in Heliodor. If it is left out, there is a high chance when the person comes back for it, it will have a drawing on it. Or several. (Stoick's lists are covered in Night Furies, unless Stoick is stealing from Hiccup's notebook, but it seems more likely Hiccup has idle hands than Stoick taking a book Hiccup always has on him.) It will probably be a drawing of a dragon or some animal in Aather, particularly Heliodor pets. Sometimes maybe even teammates or things he's building!
Negative-Trivial: Never where he should be. (Form: A wooden heart with a crank. 1/6)
From 21:57 to 23:10.
Break Down
-Coming back from that first time I watched Toothless in Memory 14. IN THE RAIN.
-To the Great Hall.
-And there's everyone talking about time in the Ring.
-Astrid being tough on herself, Snotlout hitting on her, Gobber praising Astrid about being tough on herself.
-Grabbing food, about to si-
-Snotlout. =/
-UNSURPRISED by his move, just rolls his eyes, and moves on, quickly snatching a drink before moving to the other table.
-Yes, thanks Gobber, say what I did wrong.
-No idea what I did wrong, actually.
-Showed up, didn't get eaten...
-Astrid saying he's never where he should be.
-Astrid....
-But accurate, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE I GO, fffff.
-Gobber says she's right, so I'll probably have a pleasant memory then.
-PICKS AT HIS FOOD.
-Gotta live and breathe this stuff.
-I DUNNO, GOBBER.
-Oh, he's the one who gave us the dragon manual.
-VERY interested in reading it right now.
-Others not so keen on reading it.
-Except Fishlegs, WOW, Fishlegs is really into this stuff.
-But Astrid isn't complaining...
-And isn't walking off.
-MAYBE-
-You know, just...share a little bit, mutual studying, and mayb-
-NOPE.
-She's already read it and is off.
-All mine then, I guess.
-I'll just see you-
-...
-W E L P
Meaning
Fishlegs is cool. I should be friends with Fishlegs. WHY AREN'T I FRIENDS WITH THIS GUY, HE IS LEGIT, AND KNOWS COOL THINGS. Probably because he hangs out with everyone else.
Mostly it's just a kick in the feels of what Hiccup's life was. A lot of casual cruelties and isolation from others. Always seen as the mess up, the screw up. Even when he's doing something he's supposed to be as some weird right of passage, he can't do it RIGHT, and he's still rejected by his peers. Always the outlier and no one really wants to interact with him and it HURTS.
He knows he'll eventually get Astrid's respect, but it all kind of hurts right here. Just a reminder of how it all was and how much BETTER Aather is in welcoming him. How much happier he is in general.
From 14:26 to 15:10
Break Down
-Sure am on an island full of dragons.
-W-walking around like it's cool to be here.
-Feeling of looking for...something specific?
-Over this ridge, I'm seeing a cluster of dragons that I can...apparently recognize.
-Hookfang! A Monstrous Nightmare who isn't inclined to eat me, awesome.
-HUGGING THE DRAGON.
-And a Deadly Nadded named Stormfly!
-Who nuzzles me even more than Hookfang.
-And they have babies!
-This was...not a surprise by this point, but still unexpected sort of thing.
-Oh my gosh, the baby dragons are so cute.
-SO CUTE.
-YOU GUYS.
-THEY ARE ADORABLE.
-YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
-Whose a cute widdle baby dragon~
-The dragons were leaving to celebrate their own sort of holiday.
-It...wasn't known this is what they did when they left...?
-And a little bit of a sad feeling.
-I want to go back to my holiday.
-I SHOULD GET BACK.
-Even if there's cute baby dragons here.
-Asking Hookfang for a ride.
-....
-I GOT ON THE MONSTROUS NIGHTMARE'S BACK AND IT FLEW UP.
-This dragon is willing to let me ride him.
-WITHOUT HESITATION.
-And abrupt cut when we get into the air.
-BUT WAIT.
-WHAT'S HOME.
Meaning
OH MY GODS, I DON'T HAVE MY LEG.
It's actually kind of still painful, so it's not that long after the loss, relatively. It's not a wound that's going to bleed anymore, but not really full healed yet. But still, first memory without it! And he has absolutely no idea what happened after everything went downhill. (The memory does not include him calling out Toothless or his mention of Berk because really I only let him get this because Christmas Special.)
Hiccup did mention 'going home.' Unfortunately Rider can't be sure if this home means Berk, or perhaps a new home he has. Rider already figured out even if things DID go the worst, then he did find A REASON to live because...lost his leg, you need will to survive through something like that. Him giving up and then losing leg would probably mean he'd have died.
So it could be he just found another village. MAYBE HE'S STILL AT BERK? And he's made friends with a bunch of dragons apparently! Who are...near his home. So he found a village who made peace with the dragons already? He helped them made peace? Did he make things all right with Berk and do what he wanted to do?! He really doesn't want to make a conclusion because he doesn't want to be disappointed. The thoughts will just nag at him as he goes back and forth and just refuses to commit to an idea. B-but hey, proof that he did find a reason to keep moving.
And he's...relatively happy? There's still nagging feelings. At this point Hiccup is worried that he'll never see Toothless again and he's worried about his own holiday, so there is this feeling of sadness that he's just ignoring. But he's not DEPRESSED because d'awwww, cute babies and the dragons I'm friends with, cool. So Rider can't be sure if those are just feelings he's moving passed or something else, so...
BUT OVERALL, HE IS NOT A COMPLETE MESS AFTER HIS LEG.
Negative-Significant: Into the nest. (Form: Heart shaped mini apples. 1/7)
EDIT Proper video!
Over here!
From 56:05 to 58:43
It has the visual, and the music (which is off sync), but none of the dialogue.
Beginning right after this memory ends.
ASTRID
So what now?
Hiccup groans. It's a problem without an answer.
Hiccup, your final exam is tomorrow. You know you're going to have to kill...
(WHISPERED)
... kill a dragon.
HICCUP
Don't remind me.
A strange, unearthly din approaches with a thick fog. Toothless' ear plates suddenly stand on end. Panicked, he abruptly dives, dipping into fog cover.
Toothless! What's happening? What is it?
Toothless BARKS at him. 'Quiet' is the meaning. Suddenly, out of the dense cloud, a Monstrous Nightmare emerges.
Get down!
Hiccup and Astrid duck. The Nightmare calls out. A Zippleback appears to the other side of Toothless, boxing him in.
ASTRID
What's going on?
HICCUP
I don't know.
(BEAT)
Toothless. You've got to get us out of here, bud.
Toothless HISSES. Other dragons, previously invisible in the thick clouds, appear all around them. HUNDREDS of them, all carrying fish and game in their talons.
(WHISPERED)
It looks like they're hauling in their kill.
The Zippleback eyes them.
ASTRID
What does that make us?
The dragons BANK and dive in formation, plummeting through the thickening fog and weaving between towering, craggy sea stacks. They emerge at the base of a massive volcanic caldera, glowing with rivulets of lava. The flock of dragons fall into rank, funneling through a crack, and zipping through a winding tunnel. It gives way to a vast, steamy inner chamber, tiered with pocky shelves. Dragons of all breeds lay about, nested in hordes. The arriving dragons fly in, dropping the fish and game into a central pit, glowing red and shrouded in mist. Hiccup is amazed.
HICCUP
What my dad wouldn't give to find this.
Toothless peels away from the procession, landing on a small shadowy shelf to keep a low-profile. Hiccup and Astrid peek around, taking in the busy hive of sorts. They watch as the food continues to be dropped into the pit.
It's satisfying to know that all of our food has been dumped down a hole.
ASTRID
They're not eating any of it.
Last to arrive is a dim-witted Gronckle. It hovers over the pit and regurgitates his paltry contribution -- a pathetic little fish. As it falls into the steamy pit, a terrible ROAR rings out. The Gronckle tries to flee, but before it can, a gargantuan dragon head juts from the steamy pit and SNAPS it out of the air. Swallowing it back whole. Hiccup and Astrid recoil, terrified.
What is that?
The monstrous beast SNIFFS the air, seemingly aware of them. It nears the ledge where Toothless is hiding... and ROARS. Several dragons take flight in fear.
HICCUP
Alright buddy, we gotta get out of here. Now!
Toothless takes flight, barely evading the monster's snapping jaws. The behemoth dragon lunges for them, snatching a Zippleback out of the air instead. Toothless disappears into the winged exodus as thousands of dragons flee the caldera in fear.
Break Down
-Oh, hey, it's after that romantic flight, starting off with nice feels.
-Which went down like that as soon as Astrid asks those questions. WELP.
-Oh, so this the night RIGHT BEFORE I have to kill the Monstrous Nightmare.
-What does that mean? Did I go against the Nightmare? How did Toothless play into this?
-w/e w/e
-I don't even want to think about it.
-And feel like I...won't....?
-Oh, except TOOTHLESS IS DOING THINGS.
-And there's...some....strange noise here.
-OH, SUDDENLY DRAGONS EVERYWHERE.
-T-Toothless can't get us out of here.
-But he seems to not be...responding well.
-Hauling in their kill.
-WE ARE NOT TOOTHLESS' KILL ASTRID.
-B-but no, this is really nerve wracking, what's going on.
-And Toothless is acting weird and why would he come towards this and this isn't good.
-...why is his ears/horn/sensor things moving like that.
-And let's do some flying around some rocks, woo~
-There's definite fear here, but also a strange sort of...calm? Not a good calm, just level headed, LOOKING AT ALL THE THINGS.
-And into a cave and this doesn't seem good, bud.
-Oh, w-we're in the nest, aren't we?
-Still looking, trying to take in details, be calm because Astrid's fingers digging into my chest says she isn't.
-And Toothless is hiding us over here!
-And dragons are dumping food into a hole...
-What.
-WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT, WE FIGHT OVER THAT. =T
-Gronckle is sloooow.
-And gives a little fish.
-.....
-Oh
-Fucking
-Hell
-That is a REALLY DAMN BIG DRAGON.
-IT MADE A GRONCKLE BIT SIZED.
-....also that sound stopped.
-TOOTHLESS, GET US OUT OF HERE.
-And NOW he can respond.
-R-running away and poor Zippleback, but EVERYONE IS RUNNING.
-Yes, let's get far away from this island, holy shit. o_o
-....and realizing what exactly happened on their way back to the cove because they do have it put together by that scene.
Meaning
W E L P
I can see why I was scared now.
THERE IS A GIANT DRAGON ON THE ISLAND THAT MAKES THE OTHER DRAGONS BITE SIZED SNACKS. All of them fit in it's mouth. But then there was that SOUND. (Kind of mixes with the soundtrack, but we hear sounds that are not the soundtrack, or the usual dragon sounds and because of the dragon the Red Death is based off of. And that din. Never sure how well humans hear it, but they could in the book, s-so with how Hiccup is examining things, I'm going to assume he noticed.) And Toothless was acting weird and his ear things were moving listening to THINGS.
S-so it's a giant dragon that makes other dragons bite sized and can CONTROL THEIR MINDS enough to keep them coming back. Maybe more, don't know, don't know if we got away because it just didn't control Toothless or maybe I was distracting, I DON'T EVEN KNOW, BUT THAT IS A SCARY DRAGON.
Because it still kept every single dragon there in line and that was a whole bunch of dragons. Still come even under threat of being eaten.
There is also another feeling Rider can't quite identify yet, but it's the feeling of 'I CAN'T RUN NOW.'
Because as I said under Romantic Flight, Hiccup's goal was to convince Astrid to stay quiet. After he sees the Red Death, he realizes that no. He can't run. Because he knows what the problem is now, why the war is going on, and because of that, he has a REAL CHANCE to actually end it. So it's that uncomfortable feeling of knowing he has to do something, really not wanting to, but knowing he can't run away. Easy solution gone, time to watch everything go to hell and hope for the best.
But there is also another element here. Hiccup is TERRIFIED there. He's very terrified and he's bridging on panic, but he DOESN'T. Between the two, it's Astrid whose freaking out more. She's worried Toothless, who she just said was amazing, was going to eat them. She clings to Hiccup pretty desperately. Mostly because it's a really scary thing, and she doesn't have what Hiccup has.
Hiccup trusts Toothless. He's confident that Toothless will protect them. So while he's scared, he's calm. He's taking in the situation, trying to figure out what's going on, snarking a bit to relieve TENSION, but overall, he's in control of himself. Which, right now, is nice. Because Rider is in a total disarray of his FEELS lately, but he's been working to get himself to pull his shit together and be functional. Having a memory of fear and near panic, but keep it together really helps in just reaffirming this.
Neutral-Significant: To protect the 'pet' dragon. (Form: Bowl of water with water receding each use. 1/3)
Some visuals! Also this memory continues on after Memory 18.
EXT. HIDDEN COVE - NIGHT - LATER
Toothless glides into the cove and touches down on the moonlit beach.
ASTRID
(her mind reeling, talking Hiccup's ear off)
No, no, it totally makes sense. It's like a giant beehive. They're the workers... and that's their queen. It controls them.
She leaps off of Toothless and runs toward the village.
Let's find your dad.
HICCUP
No, no! Not yet. They'll... kill Toothless. Astrid, we have to think this through carefully.
Astrid eyes him, incredulous.
ASTRID
Hiccup, we just discovered the dragons' nest...the thing we've been after since Vikings first sailed here. And you want to keep it a secret? To protect your pet dragon? Are you serious?
Hiccup stands firm, resolute.
HICCUP
Yes.
Astrid's taken aback.
ASTRID
Okay.
(BEAT)
Then what do we do?
HICCUP
Just give me until tomorrow. I'll figure something out.
ASTRID
Okay.
Astrid PUNCHES Hiccup in the arm.
That's for kidnapping me.
Hiccup looks to Toothless for support. Toothless SNORTS, dismissive. Astrid grabs him. He braces for another hit. She KISSES Hiccup on the cheek.
That's for, everything else.
In the awkward wake of the moment, Astrid hurries off...leaving Hiccup
, stunned. Toothless hobbles up, eyeing him.
HICCUP
What are you looking at?
~ ~ ~
And then Hiccup spent several hours agonizing over what to do! Still in the Cove, probably talking to Toothless. There will be the realization that Hiccup had intended to run, but can't now that he knows about the Red Death. Possible to run when he doesn't know WHY dragons are attacking, just that there's a reason, can't when he does know and thus can DO something about it. Ideas of showing everyone with Toothless. Decides against it because no, it might go South, he doesn't want Toothless there. Then the realization he CAN do something else, but as in other memories, what he can do fuzzes out so he isn't sure what he decided. And probably some encouragement from Toothless, and maybe bits of worrying for the whole rambling thing from Hiccup.
Leaves the Cover, but has Toothless keep on the saddle in case things go south and he might need to run. =|
Break Down
-Yep, confirming the fact we both think there is, in fact, mind control involved somehow.
-DRAGONS ARE SECRETLY BEES?
-Wonder how normal this is, dragons seem to think on their own, Toothless did listen to him more, SO MANY QUESTIONS.
-IDK, BUT EITHER WAY, BIG DRAGON IS TO BLAME, YES.
-Astrid wants to go to dad.
-I AN DECIDEDLY NOT FOR THIS.
-They would kill Toothless if we just go tell them.
-Have to be careful about this.
-WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IF I TOLD BEFORE.
-We did find the dragon's nest, yes.
-Viking have been after it since we first sailed here.
-SO THIS WAR HAS BEEN GOING ON AS LONG AS BERK HAS BEEN AROUND.
-Which is probably more than just my generation, so LONG WAR, lovely.
-Which is...actually kind of annoying.
-Been here the whole time and no one's noticed dragons are not bloodthirsty monsters, REALLY. (Because why else is Hiccup eyerolling there with annoyed look...)
-I will do anything and everything to protect Toothless.
-There is a lot of confidence and conviction here.
-And...Astrid listens. '-'
-I will figure something out.
-S-sure do feel like the weight of the world is on me.
-ewajheoiwja REALLY WITH THE PUNCHING.
-...well, okay, I did kidnap her and I guess even Toothless agrees I deserved that. '-'
-Wait, don't need a seco-
-....oh.
-Well.
-o////////////o
-Maybe my chances AREN'T zero with Astrid. >_>
-...Toothless. =T
-THAT WAS TOTALLY NORMAL.
-But no, okay, need to think of a plan.
-IT WOULD BE SO MUCH EASIER TO RUN AWAY.
-But no, no, I know what the problem is, I can fix the problem.
-RUNNING AWAY NOW MEANS EVERYONE WHO DIES FROM THIS POINT ON I COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY SAVED.
-Damn feelings of responsibility.
-So, plan.
-Yes, I am, in fact, not so stupid to drag Toothless into the village to show dragons aren't dangerous, good.
-At least the first attempt.
-...so what DID happen.
-Toothless worries, what a bro.
-But trusts me to do it.
-K-keeping saddle on him in case I need to run.
-I HAVE A PLAN, WHO KNOWS WHAT.
-W E L P
Meaning
I am sure that plan did not go badly at all. =|
But no, there is some good in this memory. There is a sudden feeling of weight on the world on Hiccup at this point. Because Hiccup is, in general, pretty prone to avoiding things if he can help it. And the whole 'dragons aren't evil, how do I stop this war' has been the elephant in the room for pretty much the whole time since he's known Toothless. He wanted to learn about the dragon, so he did. He realized dragons weren't evil, so he didn't want to hurt them. But overall, he hasn't pursued any attempts to figure out WHY they attack or figure out ways to STOP the fighting because he really did not want to open that can of worms.
Hiccup has a hilarious set up of being very selfless and very selfish. Hiccup doesn't like problems, he doesn't like confrontation, but if there's enough injustice and such happening, he can't actually ignore it. S-so he just tried to avoid finding out TOO MUCH of a problem so he can effectively ignore his conscience to do the right thing. Such is why he wanted to run away, but N O P E. He knows too much now, his conscience won't let him not do something. This is why he didn't try to find out, BECAUSE THIS WOULD HAPPEN.
How to deal with this situation, the Red Death, the Vikings, his father, all of that is uncertainty and fear that his conscience is making him face. However, in that sea of uncertainty, there is one thing Hiccup knows. One thing he will do to his utmost ability without fear or hesitation. It's such a strong feeling of confidence Hiccup never feels.
He is going to protect Toothless. Push comes to shove, Hiccup will go with what can protect Toothless because healthy codependence. It's the first thing Hiccup's ever been one hundred percent confident in. (And that's what gets through to Astrid. Seeing the boy who never had confidence show that much is kind of a head turner.)
And that is kind of...nice for Rider. The last memory helped some for Rider's keeping cool under pressure ability, but even for Rider, being one hundred percent confident in something is alien. But it's...nice. Very nice and reassuring right now.
Rider knows the plan isn't going to go well, whatever it is. It IS going to blow up in his face and Toothless is going to be in danger, but the feelings are still strong here. Maybe part of getting through to people IS believing in yourself. And maybe it wouldn't hurt to be that confident again. It didn't work out, right then, but that confidence got Astrid on his side. And any hope Rider has about things going well have all been on Astrid.
So maybe it does work out.
ALSO TOOTHLESS DERE FOREVER. And Astrid dere. But no, ridiculous Toothless dere levels, want my dragon.
Neutral-Trivial: Dragon manual. (Form: Cookies shaped like a girl, one good, one burnt. 1/2)
INT. GREAT HALL - LATE NIGHT
ON HICCUP'S HAND
OPENING the massive book. Thunder BOOMS outside. The hall is vacant and dark, but for the few candles he's pulled together. Hiccup pours through page after page of strange and frightening dragons.
HICCUP
Dragon classifications. Strike class. Fear class. Mystery class.
Hiccup turns the page.
Thunderdrum. This reclusive dragon inhabits sea caves and dark tide pools. When startled, the Thunderdrum produces a concussive sound that can kill a man at close range. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
Hiccup's eyes drift to a lurid illustration of decapitated Vikings. Another page, another dragon.
Timberjack. This gigantic creature has razor sharp wings that can slice through full grown trees...extremely dangerous. Kill on sight.
The illustrations seem to take on a life of their own, shifting and squirming in the candlelight.
Scauldron. Sprays scalding water at its victim. Extremely dangerous.
The storm outside rages against the shuttered windows. Hiccup is startled, but presses on.
Changewing. Even newly hatched dragons can spray acid. Kill on sight.
He begins flipping through the pages. A blur of dragons...
Gronckle. Zippleback. The Skrill. Bone Knapper. Whispering Death. Burns its victims. Buries its victims. Chokes its victims. Turns its victims inside-out. Extremely dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Kill on sight. Kill on sight. Kill on sight...
Hiccup finally lands upon the page he's been looking for.
Night Fury.
It's BLANK -- no image, save for a few, sparse details.
Speed unknown. Size unknown. The unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Never engage this dragon. Your only chance, hide and pray it does not find you.
Hiccup pulls his sketchbook out of his vest and opens it to his drawing of Toothless. He lays it over the book's blank page and considers it.
CLOSE ON the drawing of Toothless...
Meaning
Break Down
It is the memory of him reading the book, but since that knowledge should all be covered in a skill, he's not going to remember EVERYTHING that's in the book. Since I assume he actually did go through the ENTIRE book because Hiccup wants to know more about dragons. So he'll just retain the information actually addressed in the memory and KNOW there's more. He knows there's more he's supposed to know about the dragons, that there's more to their classes, but it's hard to try and remember beyond the stuff he said.
Negative-Significant: Figure out which side you're on. (Scrap of paper in team color. Eat it. Non-shareable.)
From 25:32 to 27:41.
Break Down
-After Memory 20, class the next day!
-And there is a maze and a loose Nadder and I-
-I am not paying the least bit of attention to that.
-Trying to ask Gobber about Night Furies without giving anything away.
-In the middle of training.
-Still holding weapons with my right...
-But really want this info!
-AND NADDER BLAST, there goes my axe.
-Time to run.
-Time to take the long route around.
-Nadders are quick and light on their feet.
-Blindspots are important!
-All dragons have them.
-Dragons are, in fact, not deaf.
-No one has lived to tell the tale of sneaking up on a Night Fury.
-I could work with some ideas...
-Astrid is cool and competent, okay.
-I AM NOT COOL ENOUGH OR WEIGH ENOUGH TO DO AN EPIC SHIELD ROLL.
-RUNNING.
-Aaaaaand back to talking to Gobber again.
-Don't even give two fucks about that Nadder hitting the wall behind me right now.
-ASKING IF A NIGHT FURY WILL SLEEP IN THE DAY TIME.
-LIKE A CAT.
-IS A NIGHT FURY LIKE A CAT, GOBBER?
-HAS ANYONE EVER SEEN ONE NAPPING?
-Oh, is something actually coming for me now?
-SUDDENLY ASTRID FROM ABOVE AND WALLS COLLAPSING.
-Sure did nearly get axed there.
-SUDDENLY ASTRID ON ME AND TUFFNUT IS NOT HELPING.
-Astrid trying to get untangled.
-OW OW OW OW.
-Let me hel-
-OW!!!
-OH SHIT, BAD THING.
-Oh, no, it's cool, Astrid's got this.
-Astrid thinks that I think is a joke.
-S-super intense about this war.
-That will become ours.
-W-whoops.
-And I need to figure out which side I'm on.
-...
-Good question.
-AND THEN HE GOES OFF TO FORBIDDEN FRIENDSHIP SCENE.
Meaning
....okay, MAYBE I HAVE A BIT OF A PROBLEM.
Was I trying to ask Gobber about Night Furies while a dragon was actively trying to attack me? Because that seemed to be a thing. REALLY MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST TIME, ME.
And damn, Night Furies seem to be really elusive and scary to vikings. Which is hilarious when Toothless really can act like a cat and can be subdued with scritches. '-'
AND THEN THERE'S ASTRID. Just really hitting home that Hiccup doesn't know what he's doing with his life. Which side he's on? He doesn't know. He honestly can't fight, he knows that. But what is he supposed to be doing with these dragons and these CURIOSITIES?!
Well, apparently, go make friends with it, because that is clearly the answer to all my problems right now. If I'm gonna be a screw up, MIGHT AS WELL GO FOR BROKE.
Mundane Skill: Drawing (Form: Stick with a blueberry. None-shareable.)
RIDER CAN DRAW. Rider can draw really well. He drew that in like fifteen seconds. And this. And all those. In CHARCOAL. So yes, very good.
With the skill also comes Hiccup's HABIT. Meaning there is literally no piece of paper that is safe in Heliodor. If it is left out, there is a high chance when the person comes back for it, it will have a drawing on it. Or several. (Stoick's lists are covered in Night Furies, unless Stoick is stealing from Hiccup's notebook, but it seems more likely Hiccup has idle hands than Stoick taking a book Hiccup always has on him.) It will probably be a drawing of a dragon or some animal in Aather, particularly Heliodor pets. Sometimes maybe even teammates or things he's building!
Negative-Trivial: Never where he should be. (Form: A wooden heart with a crank. 1/6)
From 21:57 to 23:10.
Break Down
-Coming back from that first time I watched Toothless in Memory 14. IN THE RAIN.
-To the Great Hall.
-And there's everyone talking about time in the Ring.
-Astrid being tough on herself, Snotlout hitting on her, Gobber praising Astrid about being tough on herself.
-Grabbing food, about to si-
-Snotlout. =/
-UNSURPRISED by his move, just rolls his eyes, and moves on, quickly snatching a drink before moving to the other table.
-Yes, thanks Gobber, say what I did wrong.
-No idea what I did wrong, actually.
-Showed up, didn't get eaten...
-Astrid saying he's never where he should be.
-Astrid....
-But accurate, YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE I GO, fffff.
-Gobber says she's right, so I'll probably have a pleasant memory then.
-PICKS AT HIS FOOD.
-Gotta live and breathe this stuff.
-I DUNNO, GOBBER.
-Oh, he's the one who gave us the dragon manual.
-VERY interested in reading it right now.
-Others not so keen on reading it.
-Except Fishlegs, WOW, Fishlegs is really into this stuff.
-But Astrid isn't complaining...
-And isn't walking off.
-MAYBE-
-You know, just...share a little bit, mutual studying, and mayb-
-NOPE.
-She's already read it and is off.
-All mine then, I guess.
-I'll just see you-
-...
-W E L P
Meaning
Fishlegs is cool. I should be friends with Fishlegs. WHY AREN'T I FRIENDS WITH THIS GUY, HE IS LEGIT, AND KNOWS COOL THINGS. Probably because he hangs out with everyone else.
Mostly it's just a kick in the feels of what Hiccup's life was. A lot of casual cruelties and isolation from others. Always seen as the mess up, the screw up. Even when he's doing something he's supposed to be as some weird right of passage, he can't do it RIGHT, and he's still rejected by his peers. Always the outlier and no one really wants to interact with him and it HURTS.
He knows he'll eventually get Astrid's respect, but it all kind of hurts right here. Just a reminder of how it all was and how much BETTER Aather is in welcoming him. How much happier he is in general.
