Homecoming (A "How To Train Your Dragon" Story)

Chapter 1:

ZEPHYR: (voiceover) This is Berk, well, technically it's New Berk.  Back then, Old Berk was known for being the first to ride and train dragons.  But it was too dangerous, for the dragons and our people.  So now, New Berk is our home.  The dragons found a new home too, in the Hidden World, a place faraway and unknown to many people.  That also meant that the dragons had to leave, so now people live without their dragons.  I wasn't born yet, so I never knew Old Berk. New Berk is the only home I've ever known.

My name is Zephyr.  I know, weird name, but it's not the worst in town.  I've seen a dragon once in my life, when I was eight years old.  To be honest, I find Berk boring because nothing ever changes.  People wake up each day, do their thing, go back to sleep, and then wake up and do it all over again.  One day, I'll get out there and I'll explore the world.

Erika, Nuffink, Ollie, and Kirk walk up to Zephyr.

KIRK: Hey Zephyr!  Are you going to training session today?

ERIKA: Um, hello?  Of course Zephyr is going to training session today!

NUFFINK: She's never missed a session in her entire life!

ZEPHYR: (voiceover) That's Kirk Jorgenson.  He's a real show off, just like his dad, Snotlout. That's Erika Ingerman, she's always pranking people, just like her mom, Ruffnut.  Her dad Fishlegs is always trying to get her to stay inside and study, but she always finds a way to get out of it.  She's always stirring up trouble with her cousin, Olivax Barfy Chickalin Thorston. Yep, that's his real name, but we just call him Ollie for short.  And then there's Nuffink, my annoying little brother.

Kids pass by Hiccup.

ZEPHYR: That is Hiccup the Horrendous Haddock III.  He's chief of Berk and people say that he's one of the best chiefs Berk has ever had.  He was known for being the first Viking ever to train and ride a dragon.  A pretty amazing feat if you ask me.

Zephyr walks up to Hiccup. 

ZEPHYR: (voiceover) Oh yeah, and there's one more thing you should know about me.

Zephyr taps Hiccup on the shoulder.

ZEPHYR: Hey, uh, dad.

A villager walks up to Hiccup.

HICCUP: Just a minute Zeph. (to the villager) Well, hello Freya!

ZEPHYR: (voiceover) Fun fact- he calls me Zeph sometimes, it's his nickname for me.

FREYA: Chief Hiccup, I just want to make sure that my husband's sheep are counted soon.

HICCUP: Yes Freya, we'll have your husband's sheep counted tomorrow I assure you.

FREYA: Thank you Chief Hiccup!

HICCUP: No problem, have a nice day!

Freya walks away, Hiccup starts walking towards the Great Hall.

HICCUP: Now, what were you going to say?

ZEPHYR: Yeah, um, dad, I was wondering if you could come to my training session today?

Hiccup looks at Zephyr blankly.

ZEPHYR: You know, training?  At the arena?  Mom's been teaching us a lot of new stuff, I'd want you to come and see.

HICCUP: Oh yeah!  Yes, of course!  I'll be there after I finish counselling at the Great Hall.

ZEPHYR: Really? (Hiccup nods) Okay! See you then!

Zephyr hugs Hiccup around the waist and then runs off to join the other kids.

ZEPHYR: He says he's coming!

OLLIE: Didn't he say that last week?

ZEPHYR: Well... yeah.

ERIKA: And the week before that?

ZEPHYR: Well... yeah.

OLLIE: And the week before that?

ZEPHYR: Well... yeah, but this is different.  I actually walked up to him, asked him, and he said he was coming.

OLLIE: I don't know. It sounds... suspicious.

KIRK: What do you mean?

OLLIE: I don't know... just seems... fishy.

Kirk rolls his eyes.

NUFFINK: Are you sure Zephyr?

ZEPHYR : Yes, he's coming, this time for sure.

(voiceover) I'm not actually that good at fighting or training.  I'd rather stay at home and work on my inventions than practice swordplay.  It's just that... Dad's always so busy- he never really pays attention to me.   He gives Nuffink attention, but that's only because he gets in trouble a lot.  I don't consider myself to be a troublemaker, so I thought that maybe if I get really good at fighting, he'll spend more time with me.