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):

An Unfinished Life- Audiomachine

Author Warning, Notes:

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

Viewpoint Signs:

***MS*** (movie scene)

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

***PPOV*** (person's point of view)

...

Chapter 9

The blank screen came to life with images of a peaceful day on an island.

It was an island you could only get to by boat as it was located in the middle of a wide lake.

A hut painted in red (and white along the window-sills) stood in the middle of the island surrounded by many trees, and plants growing in the underbrush.

There were two smaller buildings on the island as well. An out-house built far behind the main hut, and the sauna-house that was built on a smaller island several yards away, with a narrow wooden bridge being the means of getting across the small gap in between the ground that was sometimes flooded at times when the lake-water was high.

...

It was in the middle of a warm summer and a pair of young kids, wearing the similar sort of bathing suits, were splashing around in the lake, laughing and giggling without a care in the world. They were just kids being kids.

The parents sat on the buoyant deck that sat beside the original one built from the rocks in the lake. (*1)

They had a blanket underneath them and a picnic basket sitting to the left side of the couple.

The red-haired woman was leaning against her husband's chest as she sat between his legs. One could tell from her serene expression that she was completely at ease with her family life.

And the way the man was glancing adoringly from her to their kids (with their strawberry blond hair plastered to their backs from the lake-water), spoke of a love, trust, and respect in their marriage.

***EMS***

'' Wow, what is that small Island? '' Snotlout exclaimed, looking enthralled by the peaceful atmosphere.

'' That's our summer-house,'' I answered before quickly shushing him, lest that memory shown on the screen were to be halted by Odin.

'' It looks so beautiful and peaceful,'' Fishlegs couldn't help but add, his voice soft as he patted his Gronckle on the snout.

I couldn't help but agree with the pair of them as I leaned back to rest against my father's knees.

The Dragon Riders and I had opted to sit on the pristine floor of the platform with our dragons, and Anca had her head on my lap as I absentmindedly petted her every now and then.

***MS***

The image zoomed in closer to the two girls splashing around in the lake just as the sisters swam over to something and managed to scramble up on top of it.

''Look, Daddy! Look, mommy! We found the underwater boulder!'' one of the girls with a turquoise bathing suit and red water-resistant headband cried out. (*2)

***EMS***

Many of the people here who had been amongst their families, and hadn't overheard the conversation between us teens back inside the Great Hall, uttered out exclamations of shock.

And most sentences went somewhere along the lines of,'' Thor almighty, those girls are identical!''

Or, '' How did their parents even manage to tell them apart?!''

'' Hah, hah, hah!'' I muttered sarcastically, recognising my rambunctious eleven-year-old self.

Back then I'd been extremely vocal, rambunctious and hyper to a fault. I could hardly recognise myself in this little girl from the person I had become after the loss of family members.

'' Hey, that's you, Ronja!'' Ruffnut and Tuffnut exclaimed at the same time, pointing at the image.

'' What the...? How did you two spot the difference so quickly? Even I had a hard time recognising one from the other in the early mornings,'' my father exclaimed.

This had me chuckling merrily at the reminder of those mentioned mornings.

'' There's a tiny difference in their eye colour,'' Ruffnut pointed out in a matter of fact tone.

'' Yeah, Sonja's eyes have a slightly more greenish tint, though she does have the brown spots, too,'' Tuffnut added for good measure.

'' Typical, you two! I'm beginning to think that if you had paid any attention in Gobber's classes you would have spotted the difference between the two Zippleback heads no problem,'' I groaned out, somewhat exasperated at the pair of them.

Hiccup, Astrid, Snotlout and Fishlegs all snickered at these words.

'' If you think these two could spot the difference between the two heads of a Zippleback because their twins, then wouldn't you have spotted the difference as well, Ronja?'' my father asked with a van smirk to his face.

My expression was none too amused as I looked at him from over my shoulder.

Ruffnut and Tuffnut joined the chorus of laughter just as the screen came back to life.

***MS***

The young girl waved her arms at her parents before letting herself fall back into the water, pulling her sister down with her.

'' WHOAAAAA!'' the other girl, wearing a red bathing suit (and turquoise headband), shrieked before her voice died down the second they hit the water together.

The two stayed submerged for some seconds before resurfacing to gasp in a breath.

'' Ronja, not so rough!'' the girl's mother scolded before shaking her head rather fondly.

The women's red hair seemed to glow in the sun and her sharp forest green eyes watched her children continue to play in the lake near the underwater boulder, climbing on top it and diving under the water.

Her expression had turned troubled.

'' You know they will be just fine, love. Ronja is rambunctious most days but she would never want to truly put her sister in danger,'' the father chuckled out.

'' Oh, I'm not worried about that, Klaus. I'd be more concerned if those two ever have a rift and stopped interacting with each other.

The mother gave the father a playful shove on the chest.

'' And it's not really even that which I'm truly concerning about. I'm actually worried over an entirely different matter, Klaus. I'm sure you've noticed that Ronja and Sonja have grown a lot. At the age of eleven, their beginning to notice things they haven't done before. Just a few days ago, Sonja questioned me on how I came to own some of my knowledge and prowess.''

She paused for a moment, before continuing, '' I know at some point we're going to have to have that discussion, and I'm a little worried about how they will react.''

'' Ah, I see where you're going with this, my love. Their coming to that age where their beginning to notice things that are different compared to other parents and are questioning why that is.''

He started massaging his wife's tense shoulders and she sighed, leaning more heavily against her husband's muscled chest.

'' How can I tell them when it's not even a complete definite that they'll believe me?''

'' Like it or not, your going to have to bring it up with them. You cannot withhold the truth from them forever. And besides, you do have proof,'' the husband murmured, kissing the woman on the back of her neck.

'' I know I must, Klaus, but uprooting them from the previous beliefs on their heritage doesn't really sit well with me, either. And yet, I know telling them about my father and brother is the right thing to do,'' the wife murmured, hugging her knees tightly.

'' It's going to be just fine, you'll see,'' the father assured, tilting her head back gently and pressing a kiss to her lips.

Said kiss was full of love and tenderness brought on from years spent together.

***EMS***

I'd found myself uttering a choked sound when the camera had zoomed in closer to my parents.

Seeing my mother's familiar, strong wiry body and short sophisticated haircut (that marked a time period where women didn't need to have long hair) interacting with my father was almost physically painful.

Until today I had only my memories, the photos and even some home-videos of us as a family. But on Berk, I'd had none but my own memories to hold to.

I shuddered against my father and he put a palm on my shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. I squeezed his hand tighter for a moment before slackening my grip.

I could hear some Viking females give out sighs and fond 'awww' at the scene, mixed with some ' ewww' from children much younger than us teens.

But the most contrasting reaction came from some of the men in the tribe who saw it as 'not the Viking way'. The most vocal was, surprise surprise, Spitelout!

'' Why are you being so overly 'mushy' with your wife?! It's so un-Viking like that it's sickening!'' the dark-brown haired, and bearded Viking proclaimed with a scoff.

I looked over my shoulder quickly,  to see my father stiffen in aggravation to the other man's words.

'' It's a world and country that views the way men show affection towards the woman they love much differently from how you would want to see it,'' he pointed out, loudly, which caught everyone's attention.

'' If you can't 'stomach' the way I used to show my wife affection, don't watch!'' he finished, turning to give an angry look in Spitelout's direction.

I uttered a small laugh at my dad's sassy answer. 

I even heard the other teens, and a few younger children laugh at the quick come- back.

***MS***

'You know, Klaus, I've often thought about how different the twins really are,'' the mother spoke once she had slowly pulled away from her husband's lips.

'' Yes, they may look identical but in many ways, they are totally opposite in how they act. Even though they do often fall into the twin enactment,'' the blond haired man murmured as they both turned to watch over their children, again.

The two eleven-year-olds were standing on the underwater boulder, looked to be catching their breaths and strength (and the big boulder was a good place to do so).

Their eyes were following the movements of a motorboat soaring across the water's surface in the distance.

'' Sonja is quiet and somewhat shy, even. She is often letting her sister do the talking when near other adults, though she has these moments when she expresses her frustration or anger in more violent ways than her older sister. Most of it happens during our weapon training when she goes against me. She's academically skilled but she has to work on verbally getting her own thoughts across.''

The mother gave a slight sigh before saying,'' As for Ronja, I think she has either asked or forced her sister to do some of her work for a long time, now. It has been confirmed by her teachers that Ronja has quite a few gaps in her knowledge and she needs to apply to study more and spend less time on weapons training.

***EMS***

My smile, which had become a little more strained at each word my mom had spoken, disappeared immediately at the end of her speech. I stared intently at the widescreen as I took in every feature, and the expression on my parents faces.

Apparently, I'd been holding my sister back for years.

''So much for that 'oh so great speech' you made at the Great Hall that evening following our first training with Gobber,'' Ruffnut suddenly commented in a sarcastic tone.

'' Yeah, who's the bigger idiot now, the idiot who doesn't read, or the idiot who pretends to be smart?'' Tuffnut added with a sarcastic leer.

'' RUFFNUT! TUFFNUT!'' Hiccup, Snotlout and Astrid all exclaimed in a scolding tone.

Fishlegs glared at the Thorstons,'' For the record, she did say on that day that she learnt a lesson and had been working on bettering herself,'' the husky blond haired boy told the Twins.

'' Their reaction is granted, you guys. I did mess up in how I treated Sonja! And Ruff and Tuff can have their own opinions on the subject of the speech I made at the Great Hall. I only said those things because I was sick and tired of everyone belittling Hiccup. I was angry and aggravated because I knew, that all he wanted was to be given chance to fit in with the other villagers; but was unable to do so because of how he was viewed as lacking physical traits, and in how differently he acted the Village, as well,'' I said quietly.

Astrid, Snotlout, Fishlegs and the twins all looked contrite at my spoken words, whilst Hiccup could only sigh and rub his forehead at the reminder of those days.

When I looked over my shoulder again I could see the rather pinched expression to my father's face. Quite possibly a mix of mental distress over the knowledge I'd once acted so irresponsibly towards my own studies; as well as to see his wife and my mother shown on the screen.

A moment later there was a spark of sympathy in his expression when he looked down at my cousin who was looking around at the occupied Cinema- tiers with an uneasy countenance

When turned my attention to my uncle, I could see him shifting uncomfortably in his seat as Toothless crooned at his rider before nudging at his arm until Hiccup petted him on the head.

Anca gave a slight noise and nudged me on the stomach with her snout.

I uttered and small sigh as I petted her, still lost in thought until the screen came back to life.

***

''But to survive on an island where it snows nine months of the year and hails the other three, and where dragons raid the village six times a year every year, the kids would have to deal with much hardship. And to eventually adapt to a very different lifestyle.''

***

'' And this is all leading to what?'' Astrid muttered thoughtfully, turning to look at me briefly before facing the slowed down image again.

I heard several muttered questions from the Vikings sitting in their seats.

And Gobber spoke up loudly,'' Now that I think about it more deeply, Ronja's mother looks familiar somehow, but for the life of me I cannot place where and when I could have possibly met her.''

'' I hear ya, Gobber, she does look familiar somehow,'' Stoick rumbled back with a thoughtful expression

'' I triple that notion,'' Spitelout exclaimed, rubbing his bearded chin.

'' But where could I have possibly...?''

'' Oh, just wait for it, it's gonna be a real shocker for everyone here,'' I thought inwardly and shared a despairing glance with my father who squeezed my shoulder encouragingly.

***MS***

'' And Ronja has this sort of vim and vigour that would suit for harsher living conditions like the ones found on the island I was born on. She may be a lesser when it comes to academic smarts, but whenever she plays those chess-games with her grandfather, Ronja does excel in strategy. And she also has the superior physical strength on her side despite her small stature,'' the mother continued with a slight smile to her lips.

'' You think she would eventually get used to the life in your old village if she ever were to find herself on Berk?'' Klaus asked as they both watched their children forego rest and begin playing around in the water, again.

'' I'm not saying Sonja wouldn't eventually get used to Living on Berk. She's academically skilled, as I said before. And adrenaline makes her strong in battle,'' the mother answered.

She gave a loud laugh that brought her attention from the two playing kids who paused for a moment to watch her laugh with confusion on their faces; before the two turned back to their own games.

'' They both have inherited the stubbornness and whim that has always represented my father's house. But that 'Haddock- house' trademark has always been more pronounced in our eldest daughter. And it's Ronja, I deem, who would embrace the difference and persevere in those conditions.''

(*3) ***EMS***

' HADDOCK- HOUSE?!''

A great wave of gasps rouse amongst all peers, and Stoick the Vast whipped to his feet to stare intently at the screen.

His forest green eyes were firmly fixed upon the paused image of my mother.

...

And out on one of the Cinema- tiers, the sudden shocking revelation sparked up an intense discussion among three mothers...

'' Oh, Thor almighty, now I understand Ronja's secrecy,'' Mrs Jorgenson breathed out to Mrs Hofferson who could only nod, too shocked to answer otherwise.

'' A secret like this would have raised waves in 'Berk', and if she had no proof of her being Sigrun's daughter then she would have recognised herself to be in danger if she told her family who she is. She was protecting her own interests, but with good cause,'' Mrs Ingerman said nervously.

She looked over to where their chief was standing, breathing in and out heavily as if battling to control whatever temper was fighting to get to the surface.

'' Not that she and Hiccup didn't 'raise waves', as you say, in other ways,'' Mrs Jorgenson sighed as she gestured shortly at all the dragons packed into one area, that was the platform.

'' True enough,'' Mrs Ingerman sighed.

'' Well, the chief isn't looking too good right now, and neither is Hiccup by the looks of him. Poor boy,'' Mrs Thorston murmured.

'' And poor Ronja, as well. She looks scared stiff along with his father who isn't looking too well, himself,'' Mrs Ingerman added, earning affirmative noises from the three other women seated beside each other.

***MS***

'' You, Ronja and Sonja all have the stubbornness of the 'Hairy Hooligan Tribe', even though Sonja doesn't show that side of her too often. The bullying and laziness vibes, Ronja is showing now will go away as long as we make an effort to guide her through it and make her see what she does isn't right. She could change so much as she gets older and more mature. As for the stubbornness, I'm sure she will learn to curb that trait in and only use it at opportune times. Like you have, Sigrun,'' Klaus chuckled out.

'' Oh, yes, but sometimes I do wonder if my brother, Stoick, ever learned to control his 'stubbornness issues','' Sigrun laughed, nudging her husband gently on the chin with her elbow.

***EMS***

'' Oh, no, uncle really hasn't curbed it in all the way,'' I groaned inwardly, a slightly nervous snigger escaping my lips at the apparent affection my mother had shown towards dad even when she nudged him on the chin.

As a child I hadn't really paid much attention to that sort of behaviour, but now...

'' Ghost of Odin, it really is Sigrun,'' Stoick muttered, his voice slightly choked.

I turned my eyes in his direction, my smile fading away at the pain in my uncle's voice.

Stoick's forest green eyes held such sorrow as he ran a meaty hand swiftly over his eyes. He was trembling!

'' Uncle,''' I whispered sympathetically as I reminded myself that Stoick had already lost someone precious to him.

Hiccup's mother, who was also the aunt by marriage to Sonja and me.

That particular tragedy had happened years ago when Hiccup had been less than a year old, Valka had been carried off in the talons of a massive 'Stormcutter dragon'.

But it was clear that Valka being carried off had played a part in how Hiccup had been treated by his father over the years. Pressured by his chief- duties Stoick had not had the spare time to fully get to know his son beyond the outer countenance he carried.

And now my own small family was linked with his own!

And it was to be, that two members were gone on my side of the family. Stoick's little sister and a niece my uncle had never gotten the chance to meet and get to know.

And poor Hiccup had lost the chance to get to know a mother figure, and the youngest of his cousins. They were dead, with him not getting the opportunity to even 'talk' to either of them once.

'' I couldn't imagine what sort of emotions are running through their heads right now,'' I thought, swallowing at a huge lump in my throat before glancing briefly at Hiccup.

Hiccup was being looked after by Astrid! I could see her lower a hand on his shoulder as he seemed to tremble against his dragon's side.

'' Hiccup, are you alright?'' Astrid could be heard murmuring to the slight -built boy who's emerald green eyes were wide in disbelief and shock.

'' I- I'm fine, Astrid. N-no needs to worry,'' Hiccup answered, staring down at Toothless who had turned his head to look at his Rider's face, crooning worriedly.

''But he doesn't sound alright,'' I thought, wincing inwardly at the shakiness of his voice.

I turned away, meeting eyes with Snotlout who wasn't looking at the screen, but straight at me with an expression that mirrored Hiccup's.

In fact, Astrid, Fishlegs, Ruffnut and Tuffnut looked to be in the same state of shock right then. 

Astrid, though shocked herself, was focused on Hiccup, but the other teens were all staring open-mouthed at me. Until Snotlout was the first one to become vocal with me again.

'' Why, in the name of Thor, did you NOT TELL uncle Stoick? WHY keep something like this from Hiccup? WHY would you keep such an important revelation a secret from ALL of us?'' Snotlout grunted out. His hands were clenching and unclenching as he tried to control his temper.

I opened my mouth to explain myself but before I could speak up I overheard Gobber asking my uncle if he was alright.

And that was when the Great Chief of Berk suddenly lost control of his emotions...

'' ALRIGHT?! AM I ALRIGHT, GOBBER!? Mighty Thor, I ordered Ronja to be chained against that pole! I almost ended up executing my own niece for treason, and you're asking me if I'm alright!'' he practically exploded at his friend.

'' EXCUSE ME?! YOU ALMOST DID WHAT TO MY DAUGHTER, STOICK?''

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 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, sprang 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]!''  

To be continued... 

End Of Chapter 9

...

Author's Notes:

Well, the news probably left many Vikings 'shellshocked' ;)

 And we shall see what sort of apocalypse will happen in the next chapter that will be updated sometime next week.

(*1) That rock- deck is a real thing that my relations built years ago. Back when I wasn't in school yet. I noticed in a home video that my sisters and I there on the island as it was being built.

(*2) That boulder is a real thing, too. When the water wasn't too high, my sister, little-cousin and I used to play on top of it (when we were older, of course).

(*3) Hopefully, the setting for the revelation of Ronja's heritage wasn't too boring for you, my readers, but I felt it needed to start here at a serene setting.

Constructive criticism is always welcomed by the Author