More Than Just A Bonny Face (Rewriting)

The Story

Astrid approaches us from behind.

"What's the plan?" She asks us. I scream. "Sorry, Beth!"

"The plan is improvisation." Hiccup points at a ship. "There!" Eret and his men start shooting at us but they miss. We land on the ship and I take out Silverblade.

"And here I was worried we might turn up empty-handed." Eret points his dagger at Hiccup.

"Nope. It's your lucky day." Hiccup motions for me and Astrid to lower our weapons. "We give up." We jump down from our dragons. Of course Hiccup helps me down. "That's two Night Furies, one Deadly Nadder, and three of the finest dragon riders west of Luk Tuk." Hiccup throws a net over me and Astrid. "That oughtta make the boss happy, right?" Hiccup gives Eret Silverblade and Astrid's axe.

"Hiccup!" I say quietly so only him could hear me.

"Excuse us." Hiccup lowers someone's weapon.

Astrid takes the net off us. "What are you doing?" She hops into a below deck cage before helping me down.

"I'll be okay, Goldie." I smile at my dragon.

"Toothless, stay. The dragons don't really care for cramped spaces, so they'll just hang out with you." Hiccup closes the grate. "They won't be any trouble." The Dragon Trappers pull out their swords and spears. Startled, Toothless and Gold-Heart growl. "Unless you do that. Wooden boat, big ocean- how's your swimming?"

"Not good." One of the men looks away. A burst of flame erupts from the live well, causing the crewmen to jump back. Hiccup thrusts Inferno through the grate.

"Oops. Almost forgot. Can't have armed prisoners." Hiccup gives away Inferno.

"How is this a plan?" Astrid whispers. Hiccup motions her her to keep quiet and wait. He retracts the blade and offers it up. One of the men cautiously takes it, looking it over. The pommel of the hilt is expelling green gas.

Hiccup winks at me before looking back at the men. "Just what every Dragon Trapper needs. One end coats the blade in Monstrous Nightmare saliva. The other sprays Hideous Zippleback gas. All it takes is a spark and..." Another man clicks the lighter, igniting the gas. Hiccup ducks as the sudden explosion sweeps over the deck. I start laughing. "Oh, yeah, there you go! Once they see you as one of their own, even the testiest dragon can be trained, right, bud?" Toothless starts trying the catch the ashes.

"Give me that!" Eret throws Inferno towards the ocean. Stormfly chases after it. "What game are you playing?" He asks us.

"No game. We just want to meet Drago," Hiccup says. Stormfly comes back with Inferno.

Eret throws it the other way, and Stormfly chases it again. "Why?"

"Because I'm going to change his mind about dragons," Hiccup says seriously. Eret and his men laugh. Stormfly brings back Inferno again, asking to play fetch.

"He can be really persuasive." Astrid pops up with me. I stroke Gold-Heart.

"Once you've earned his loyalty, there is nothing a dragon won't do for you." Hiccup strokes Toothless.

"Puh! You won't be changing any minds around here," Eret tells us. Stormfly asks the other crew members to play fetch.

"I can change yours. Right here. Right now." Hiccup pushes Toothless's tail lever forward, spreading the prosthetic tail. "May I?" He gets snatched by Snotlout. Barf and Belch slice through the port sail.

"Dragon riders!" Eret shouts. Toothless roars and climbs onto the top of the boat. He starts to relax once he sees Snotlout, the Twins and Fishlegs.