How To Train Your Dragon- From One World To Another, And Yet I'm Home

Disclaimer:

The Film 'How To Train Your Dragon', is Copyrighted by DreamWorks Animation and Distributed by Paramount Pictures. Directed by Chris Sanders and Dean DeBlois and released on March 26, 2010

The DreamWorks 'Dragons' were directed by Dean Deblois and Chris Sanders and released in 2013- 2018. I only claim Copyright to my characters and some of the elements of the story that are of my own creation.

Chapter Soundtrack(s):

Undying Love- Audiomachine

Author Warning, Notes:

This symbol (*) means that there's something written about this particular paragraph in the Ending Author's Notes.

Viewpoint Signs:

**D*** (means Diary Text)

**ED*** means End of Diary)

**BOF*** (means the beginning of Flashback)

**EOF*** (means the end of Flashback)

**MS*** (movie scene)

**EMS*** (end of movie scene)

...

Chapter 10

My father lunged to his feet and rounded on my uncle with a shocked and outraged expression to his face.

'' Oh no! Why in 'Loki's tricks' didn't I have the forefront of your mind to tell my father of such an important fact instead of taking him on that flight with Anca?'' I uttered with a loud groan of despair as I, too, lunged to my own feet in hopes of stopping what looked to become a miniature apocalypse if no one intervened.

'' Olen minäkin pölkkypää [I'm such a blockhead]!''

...

All Vikings and dragons turned their attention to my father at the sound of his furious tone as I slipped in between my father and my uncle.

The dragons shifted and grunted uncomfortably at the tense countenance of the two men as I put all my strength into pushing against my father's chest to get him to step away from approaching his brother in law.

'' Dad, what happened with uncle almost executing me is a really long story and is tied to the reason Vikings and Dragons are no longer at war. It will probably be shown later on the screen so just... don't get carried away right now, okay? Please?''

Dad heaved in a calming breath, his fists clenching with the effort to restrain himself from striding forward to punch the larger male. He then fixed Stoick a dark look before backing away until his knees hit the edge of the seat behind him.

He slumped heavily down on it, uttering an angry huff before looking at the ground in deep thought.

'' Ronja.''

When I heard my uncle's quiet voice behind me, I stiffened ever so slightly and my heartbeat (that was already pounding from the last seconds), picked up a notch.

'' I know I didn't quite apologise to you, as I should have done, yesterday when we had that conversation, but I'm doing it now. I'm so, so sorry for giving you a reason to feel afraid, and wary, of me following the events of the 'Final Training Test'. ''

The scenes from that day were still very fresh in my head; flashing in my memory. Both the bad and the nightmarish ones! I'd actually been afraid of my own relation that day! Even more so when he had me chained to the pole for the 'Blood-eagle' execution.

How could I not have become slightly wary in his presence after he had me chained to the metal execution pole for a whole day without food following the treason Hiccup and I had committed?

Hiccup had been a known relation to the chief and I'd been just a nobody, an outsider that Stoick's tribe had taken into their midsts until I'd apparently committed a treason to said tribe through befriending a dragon.

Thankfully I had not ended up being executed. But all the thanks went to Hiccup and the other teens who had jumped down from the rafters to run over to stand between me and the Chief. 

They had shielded me from the knife, made deadly by my uncle's hands, that would have marked the image of a soaring eagle before my lungs would have been severed from the spine and pulled through the opening to create a pair of "wings".

I'd had them as a shield until the teens had been pulled away from me by the warriors of the tribe. Snotlout, Astrid, Fishlegs, and the Twins had been kicking and screaming in retaliation of the idea of the Chief performing an execution on someone they had known for quite some time.

I didn't know what had made my uncle forego the execution, but I did know what had made me turn my head slightly so that my left eye was turned straight at him. Even though I had been trembling inside I'd wanted to look straight into the eyes of the man who was my uncle. 

I'd wanted to bravely face death if that were to be my fate!

The weeks following the battle against the Red Death had been healing, and the last two weeks stuck in the Great Halls with my uncle and the rest of the Viking community had been less of a struggle.

But I'd still been uneasy. That wariness had still been present whenever my uncle had caught me unawares with contact. I'd always involuntarily flinched before getting my act together.

I'd not been the one to initiate contact with the auburn-haired man. It had always been Stoick. I knew my reactions to him bothered my uncle to some extent, and I knew it definitely bothered Hiccup when he had seen me flinch that one time his father had touched me.

Hiccup and I had both had come to the same realization that Stoick wasn't as quick to anger as he had been since the days before the battle against the monstrous sized queen dragon. Stoick's flaring anger and frustration had been long drawn due to the constant raids, but once they had stopped he had become less inclined to snap at someone.

I had known that in my mind, but it hadn't changed the truth that I'd been somewhat mentally damaged by what had almost occurred in the' Dragon Kill- Ring'.

Therefore, I had not fully allowed myself to be at ease around him. Even during those mutual moments of worrying for Hiccup when he had been unconscious because of his injuries.

But last evening I had felt safe around uncle Stoick for the first time in a long while.

And right now, it was him who was broken, though it wasn't too easy to notice with him keeping his posture straight and face impassive, again. But it was all in the eyes; the kind of emotion I'd been under last night. The sadness and the grief of having his little sister's death confirmed! 

Albeit Sigrun's death had happened much later than he had likely believed.

I slowly moved closer to my uncle, and Stoick looked up at me questioningly as I approached him. Then, with a bit of hesitance, I climbed on top the closest chair's armrest and used it as a springboard to leap towards my uncle.

The scene drew surprised ' OH's ' from the Vikings and Dragons alike, and I could practically feel the other teens eyes on the back of my head as I threw my arms around Stoick's wide neck.

I could hear my uncle inhale and exhale sharply at the feel of me nuzzling my cheek into the side of his neck, almost roughly.

I wasn't sure why I did so. Maybe I was forcing myself to accept that this was my uncle and that I needed to be the one to initiate contact with him so I could get over that still lingering wariness of him.

He wasn't a bad person!

He cared for the lives the tribe-members and I did admit that Hiccups' and mine actions had put other people in danger that day.

'' Oh, Ronja,'' I heard Stoick murmur very, very quietly as he slowly circled his arms around me as if expecting a flinch as soon as his hands touched.

But It didn't happen this time, and I could hear him give a relieved sigh into my hair as he tightened his hug, though not by much, thankfully.

I tightened my grip slightly and murmured,'' And I'm sorry for, well, everything leading up to this day. Hiccup told me once about how his mother, my aunt, was taken by a dragon and also... of my mother's disappearance years ago. It must... be a great shock to see things being revealed about my past, and my heritage through this 'Modern contraption'.''

I gestured to the Movie screen, and Stoick's breath hitched slightly as he whispered,'' It is a big shock finding out my sister's daughter had been living under the same roof with Hiccup and me for the past fifteen months. But your facial features; their all Sigrun's when she was your age! I should have noticed a long time ago.''

'' It's been years since you last saw your sister. I'm sure she would not have been bothered by you not realizing the connection, especially when I never gave you an inkling of a possibility that I was related to you and Hiccup.''

Stoick hugged me close for a moment longer before he carefully unwrapped my arms from around his neck.

'' That may be the case, but from the conversation we had last evening, I am beginning to put things together in my head for the reason why you didn't speak a word,'' he said sadly before turning his head to peer around at the watching teens.

'' I believe there is a group of teens you need to have a conversation with, as well.''

I peered into my uncle's eyes, nodding in affirmation to his words.

Stoick lowered me down to the ground, and I took in a deep breath as I slowly turned around and made my way over to the other teens. I sunk down before my cousin who slowly turned his emerald eyes to me.

For a moment we just sat there staring at each other until Hiccup made the first move. He reached over to pull me into a hug that was surprisingly strong coming from him.

'' Y- you were the only teen who stood by my side these past several months. You were my best friend, alongside Toothless. And now I find that you are my cousin?!'' Hiccup exclaimed weakly.

'' I can understand if your upset with me for withholding the information, but I had good reasons for it,'' I murmured into his shoulder before pulling away slightly to peer into his tearing eyes.

'' I- I never got to get to know my mother, Ronja. A- and now I've lost the chance to get to know my aunt. A- and I have another cousin, your sister, Ronja! T- they both died before I got the chance to even meet them.'' Hiccup almost whispered, voice trembling.

I pulled him back into my arms, and he clung desperately to me.

'' Why?! Why did they have to die, as well?'' Hiccup choked out.

'' I asked myself that for who knows how many times, Hiccup. ''

(*1) '' I- I know you have, but my mother! Your mother and sister! Is the 'Haddock- house' cursed to always lose the important people in our lives?''

'' Or maybe it's the other secret 'House' we belong to, that not even your father knows much about, that is cursed to lose loved ones, Hiccup. But I seriously hope we aren't cursed! It would just make our futures more morbid,'' I answered with a shaky breath.

'' What happened with my mother, and Sonja, just happened all of a sudden. There was nothing I could have done to save either person. And if I hadn't badly jostled my previously broken arm on the day before the tragic accident, there is a real possibility that you would never have known you had more family, Hiccup.''

'' By the Gods! Your father and you could have met the same end!'' Hiccup gasped out in horrified realization.

I allowed a small sound, like a choked sound, escape my lips as I hid my face into my cousin's tousled hair. I could feel Hiccup shuddering lightly at the morbid thought.

'' I survived because I hurt my arm again, Hiccup! Me, the twin who was a big fat, bully of a sister! Mom shouldn't have died that day. I shouldn't have been the one safe and sound,'' I repeated inwardly.

This was something repeatedly thought of on dark days, despite knowing that such self-deprecation wasn't the right way to go with life. But even so, I hadn't been able to stop thinking that it should have been me out there. Just me, not my little sister and my mother!

...

Snotlout suddenly stood up and approached the two of us, his expression unreadable as he sat down in front of us.

'' And you couldn't find any way to prove that you are uncle Stoick's niece by blood?'' he asked me straightforwardly.

I took a moment to think back to the first moment I ever met the chief of Berk in Laketown, the Island that was a trading post between Berk and Berserker Island.

Yes! What I believed back then, was what I still firmly believed today to have been the right course of action! And such opinion wasn't to be shaken by others who were knowingly or unknowingly attempting to make me second guess that decision.

I gently pulled back from Hiccup's arms and abruptly stood up.

'' I could have mentioned my mother was an excellent axe and knife thrower. I could have even told him of her maiden surname. But still, that would not have been enough without any of the things that had belonged to my mother. There are Viking Villages out there in the Archipelago who have heard of Sigrun Ingrid Haddock. Those Chiefs would have probably questioned if my claim to be related to the Chief of Berk was just a ploy to gain favour from Stoick the Vast, '' I spoke in a loud, clear voice, hoping that everyone sitting scattered around on the tiers would hear my confession.

There was a ripple of loud murmurs from the people sitting on the Cinema- tiers.

I listened carefully and found to my relief that the murmuring people sounded like they understood the argument as to why I had kept my heritage a secret from everyone in the Village.

'' You realized that saying you were of the Haddock-house, could have led people into thinking you were an impostor bent on slithering your way into my household,'' Stoick stated as he broke into the conversation. 

I nodded firmly.

'' And be banished from the island of Berk, or in the worst case scenario, executed for treason,'' I added with a grimace.

I could hear Fishlegs utter a nervous squeak as Stoick closed his eyes for a moment, looking pained.

'' Which almost did happen just some months ago,'' the blond boy murmured to both Hiccup, and Astrid, who both quickly shushed him.

I smiled a little nervously as I turned to face Snotlout again. He surprised me when he quickly stood up and approached me fully to circle his arms around me.

'' I didn't ask you those questions because I doubt your words and reasonings, but because I just wanted to hear the full reason from your own mouth, not through the 'moving paintings','' he told me as he hugged me tightly.

'' So... your not furious at me for keeping all of this to myself? And that question is for all of you,'' I asked a little nervously.

'' Considering the circumstances of you suddenly being thrust into another world and time without any tangible evidence, like your mother's belongings, to prove that your claims to be of the 'Haddock line' are authentic, I'd say your reasonings were sound,'' Fishlegs commented, nodding his head at me.

I visibly relaxed at his kind smile.

'' I second that notion, Fishlegs,'' Astrid said, giving me an encouraging smile, that I quickly returned.

Hiccup was still quiet, but his face told what his voice couldn't or wouldn't say. He believed I'd made the right choice in keeping my secrets to myself.

'' Oh, we all believe you,'' the twins exclaimed as one.

Well, that was until Tuffnut muttered, '' Wait, what were we agreeing on, again?''

'' Pay attention, would ya?! You are such a muttonhead,'' Snotlout muttered as he slapped a palm over his face and shook his head.

The rest of us chuckled merrily at his exasperation and the very familiar sight of one member of the 'Twins' getting distracted again.

'' I know it will likely be shown on screen later on, but I would like the whole 'my daughter almost got executed for treason' explained in full. I understand, from what my daughter told me earlier, that these Dragons are no longer a threat to Vikings. But I don't understand how it came to be when the village of Berk has been dealing with raids for centuries. What events made it all stop? How did my daughter become a Dragon-Rider?''

'' Oh, dad,'' I sighed inwardly as we teens, and the villagers turned to see him regarding my uncle with some reservation still remaining in his stance.

Well, at least he was still sitting in his seat and not causing trouble in his want for information.

But then Odin's voice interrupted our discussion.

'' You will know all in due time, Klaus Sakari Aho. But there is much still to be shown before those events will show up on screen. Now, I understand that personal opinions are important, but constant interruptions will just slow our progress down. I will pause the images at certain points, but I must ask you all to refrain from interrupting the flow of scenes unless absolutely necessary.''

'' Oh I'm sure people will find a reason to interrupt the progress of the movie,'' I muttered to my friends as we all settled back to where we had been seated earlier; only, Hiccup and Toothless, of course, sat down on the floor beside me.

Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut all sniggered at my words as I looked around the theatre.

I saw many a nod from the villagers of Berk. And while my father didn't look all that happy, he refrained from arguing the case as the screen continued the story where it had been left off earlier.

***MS***

'' I often wonder, if your father and brother would have accepted me as your husband as we didn't have the same courtship that was traditional in the Viking society, and I'm not a Viking. I'm not a fierce warrior, Sigrun. My profession is a cook, and I work at a restaurant.''

Sigrun smiled and brushed a hand over Klaus's bearded chin.

'' But we've have stayed together all this time, haven't we? Despite the occasional arguments and stubbornness over opinions, we've gotten this far in our marriage. We have two beautiful children who we both love,  and respect them just as much as we love and respect each other.

***EMS***

Nervous laughter followed the 'younger Klaus's' words, the sound echoing along every vacated seat in the theatre.

'' Did Odin have to show this part?!'' dad groaned in my ear as he leaned in close to me, putting his hands on my shoulders, even as his eyes were fixed on the screen.

'' It's true that he can be rather intimidating. I certainly felt that upon meeting my uncle for the first time in Laketown,''I muttered as I leaned my back against my dad's knees, again.

'' And a lot more intimidated later on,'' I added without voicing it out loud, for everyone's sake.

***MS***

'' And you can be gruff and manly, and silently brooding when something upsets you. But you are also witty, funny, gentle and most importantly you love your family deeply. You strive each day to make a good foundation for our daughters' later lives. That's what I love and admire about you, and with those qualities pitted up against my father's and brother's potential argument, I'm sure they would gradually accept my decision to marry you. I love you deeply, Klaus, and I would not allow them to second guess my decision of marrying you.''

'' Well, I still gotta say that if I do ever get into a situation where I meet your father and older brother, I would honestly be a tiny bit intimidated to meet the man who popped a dragon's head clean off its shoulders in order to save his baby sister's life during a Dragon-raid,'' Klaus chuckled out as he leaned over to rest his chin on top of his wife's head.

'' Oh yes, Klaus, Stoick Haddock could be utterly terrifying but there is also reasonability in his repertoire when it comes to doing what's best for his people. In our village life, the constant dragon raids and sometimes even war built him into how he stands today, '' Sigrun answered with amusement in her voice.

She and Klaus shared a short laugh together as they continued keeping a close watch on their playing children.

The sun was slowly beginning to lower from the sky over the lake, but everyone knew it wouldn't fully set until past eleven o'clock.

''I was still young, barely fourteen when I disappeared from the island of Berk,'' Sigrun suddenly murmured to her husband.

Klaus's eyes turned a fraction more solemn when he was reminded of where Sigrun had once lived before becoming a part of his life. 

It was a blessing that she had become his wife, but equally as sad to the people on Berk who had lost Sigrun to a strange fate. And to Sigrun herself, who had been but a teenager when she had been taken away from a familiar place by the god, Odin.

''I hadn't even been inside the Dragon Kill- Ring, though I was excellent in weapons training. I became a part of your second cousin's family's life. And then I met you at a family gathering and we came to know each other. And finally, years later we became husband and wife. My life in this world made me who I am today. But who knows how our children's lives will pan out.''

***EMS***

My brows furrowed in regret as I sunk deeper into my father's knees, feeling slightly sick as I took in my mother's last words.

I knew exactly how my sister's, as well as my mother's life, had changed in a matter of minutes! And mine, too, when I'd been suddenly transported to the very world that my mother had used to call a home!

'' If only I had spent more time with both my family members before everything had abruptly fallen into pieces. Mom, Sonja I miss you both so much, '' I thought as I sucked in a sharp, trembling breath.

Another wave of shocked exclamations rippled amongst the crowd and it, as well as my father inadvertently jostling my back, startled me from my private thoughts.

I looked up just in time to see my uncle approaching us with measured steps.

I swallowed through the sudden dryness of my throat when Stoick seemed to almost be looming over my father.

But when I peered at him standing there, I saw something else other than anger.

There was a surprisingly unsure demeanour to him. His wide chest was constricting and expanding as he inhaled and exhaled calming breaths as if struggling to speak something out loud.

My father resolutely reached over to gently push me away from his knees before bravely standing up to greet his brother-in-law.

I found myself biting my lip out of nervousness when I noticed the rigidness in my father's stance as he held his back straight, and I could feel my cousin (who had moved a lot closer to Anca and me following the moments of family revelations) squeeze my shoulders comfortingly. 

The two of us resolutely kept eyes on our respective fathers who were still silently regarding each other.

My father had a bit of nervousness in his eyes, even though he was masking it under the still lingering resentment for my uncle's actions towards me.

I could tell as much from the expression on his face. I just wished my father would restrain himself from punching my uncle. We really didn't need an apocalypse of fights breaking out in this theatre.

'' You are aware that even family members can commit treason? No matter how important the person may be to the family he or she belongs, in the name of equality to all villagers, even a person that is in relation to a Chief is to be punishable for his or her actions. No man or woman will escape from it when it comes to paying for their misdeeds.''

'' I am aware of these tribal rules thanks to the many conversations with... Sigrun,'' my father paused for a moment.

''But one is always protective of their children. And actions such as what you almost did to Ronja is a matter of outrage to me. The imagining of my daughter's ribs severed from the spine with a sharp tool, and then her lungs pulled through the opening, makes bile rise in my throat, '' Klaus grunted out with a shudder.

Stoick noticeably winced at my father's words.

'' But my daughter still breathes, so something momentous must have happened for her to still be here, '' Klaus sighed, rubbing a hand over his face.

'' You can thank the youngsters of the tribe for distracting me. It gave me time to clear my head a little so I was able to rethink my actions in front of all Villagers,'' Stoick breathed out, as the both of them turned to look at Hiccup, Snotlout, Astrid, Fishlegs and the Twins sat, self consciously shifting on the spot.

But there was a hint of pride simmering just under the surface on all their faces; just waiting to be let to the surface. 

And I certainly wasn't begrudging that emotion in light of how they had all defended me.

'' And speaking of thankfulness, I must commend you for many of things, Klaus. Foremost, I can see you made my little sister very happy in life. There is no doubt about it with it so blatantly shown to us with these... moving paintings. And you are a responsible father. In fact, you have done, and are doing something I failed to do for my son for years until certain life-changing events. You loved, and love, your children unconditionally without expectations beyond their capability. You are someone I admire in that regard.''

'' Thank you, I... try,'' Klaus answered softly, albeit still a little stiffly.

Stoick suddenly reached over to pull my father into a rib-cracking man-hug that drew an immediate grunt of discomfort from my father. 

Uncle was really damn strong! 

But before the moment could become awkward, dad quickly acknowledged the gesture through patting the Chief's back.

'' My little sister may be in Valhalla with... my niece. A marriage can be dissolved if the widow or widower wants to marry again. But until that time comes, I'd be honoured to call you my 'brother.'' Stoick uttered emotionally, quickly wiping a hand over his eyes that had become watery. He pulled back with his hands still on my father's shoulders

I couldn't deny that I was shocked by the turn of events even as I heard our dragons utter sounds of what I believed was of relief. 

Anca, Hookfang, Toothless, Stormfly, Meatlug, Barf and Belch were probably relieved that the tense situation had been resolved so easily, and without a physical fight.

As for me, I had half- expected my uncle to start off by shouting at my dad for marrying my mother without consent from the Viking's father, grandparents and Stoick himself. What I hadn't expected, was for my uncle to deliver a speech about the rules of Berk, followed by such a heartfelt, emotional speech about him being thankful for making his sister happy and content in her life.

As the two men turned to glance at me they found me still sitting there with my mouth slightly parted in shock from the words delivered to my father.

Seeing their amused expressions, I quickly snapped my mouth shut and shared a stunned expression with my cousin, Hiccup, before our attention was reverted to my father approaching us teens.

My father reached out his hand to clasp my friends lower arms (one by one) into a warrior's handshake and kept eye contact with each of them the whole time.

''' Thank you!'' my father then said to everyone, following him pulling away from a handshake with the Twins.

The proud smiles of my friends never waned until the screen, which had gone blank, before slowly changing to a new scene where the narrator was speaking, again.

End Of Chapter 10

...

Author Notes:

(*1) Poor Hiccup who will have to deal with a lot of emotions in that category in the Dragons Race to the Edge 

P.S. Constructive criticism is always welcomed by the Author