Suddenly, a terrible roar pierces the din.
Gobber:" Night Fury! Get down!"
Toothless bounds over the crowd and BLASTS a hole through the chain enclosure. He flies through it and disappears in the boiling smoke.
The Vikings rush to the railings... in time to see a flurry of wings cutting through the dissipating smoke. Toothless and the Nightmare tumble into the clear, locked in a toothy, vicious fight. Toothless kicks the Nightmare off and plants himself between John and the nightmare
John begins to back up until he is with Stoick and Hiccup
The Nightmare snarls, circling them. Toothless lunges and ROARS... causing the Nightmare to relent and back away. To everyone's shock and horror, Hiccup runs where Toothless is and grabs Toothless protectively.
Hiccup:(Panicked)" Alright, Toothless, go. Get out of here!"
The crowd is gob-smacked, growing livid.
Viking:" Night Fury!"
Hiccup tries to shoo Toothless away in vain. Vikings begin pouring clambering through the enclosure and dropping into the ring.
Hiccup:" Go! GO!"
Viking:" Take it alive!"
Stoick grabs an axe and charges into the arena. Ashild calls out to him, panicked.
Ashild:" Stoick no!"
John also takes his sword and walks toward Toothless
Hiccup:" Dad! No! He won't hurt you!"
The other Vikings surround and attack Toothless. He tosses them aside like rag dolls, his eyes focused on Stoick.
Hiccup:" No, don't! You're only making it worse!"
Stoick raises his hammer as he charges for Toothless. Toothless ducks and pounces on him. They tumble end over end.
Hiccup:" Toothless! STOP!"
He pins Stoick and inhales. The familiar hiss of gas builds. Everyone braces...
John starts to run towards them
Hiccup:" NO!"
Toothless swallows back the blast and turns to Hiccup, not understanding.
Viking:" Get him!"
The crowd rushes him, piling on, and taking Toothless down. Ashild holds Hiccup back.
And John started to get some rope
Hiccup:(DESPERATE)" No! Please...just don't hurt him. Please don't hurt him."
Stoick gets to his feet, fuming, shaken. A Viking presents
Stoick with an axe. He eyes Toothless a moment, then pushes the axe back into the Viking's hands.
Stoick:" Put it with the others!
His burning glare turns to Hiccup.
————————————————————-
(GREAT HALL)
Hiccup Being shoved into the dank dimmed hall. SLAM! The massive doors rattle and echo. Stoick pushes past him. He paces against a backdrop of shadowy tapestries and carved pillars -- a legacy of heroes, all peering down in angered judgment.
Stoick:" I should have known. I should have seen the signs."
Hiccup:" Dad."
Stoick:" We had a deal!"
Stoick pauses to say something but stops short. He SNORTS and resumes pacing, repeating the cycle.
Hiccup:" I know we did... but that was before... ugh, it's all so messed up."
Stoick:" So everything in the ring. A trick? A lie?
He stomps toward Hiccup. Stops short and points, fighting back words.
Hiccup:" I screwed up. I should have told you before now. Take this out on me, be mad at me, but please... just don't hurt Toothless."
Stoick:" The dragon? That's what you're worried about? Not the people you almost killed?!
Hiccup:" He was just protecting me! He's not dangerous."
Stoick:" They've killed HUNDREDS OF US!"
Hiccup:" And we've killed THOUSANDS OF THEM! They defend themselves, that's all! They raid us because they have to! If they don't bring enough food back, they'll be eaten themselves. There's something else on their island Dad...it's a dragon-like--
Stoick HUFFS.
Stoick:" --Their island?"
He stomps back... pointing an accusing finger.
Stoick:" So you've been to the nest."
Hiccup:" Did I say nest?"
Hiccup goes silent -- he said too much.
Stoick:" How did you find it?!"
Hiccup:" No... I didn't. Toothless did. Only a dragon can find the island."
Stoick GLARES. A moment passes, and then an idea takes form on his face. His eyes flare. Hiccup watches, realizing. Stoick stomps toward the doorway.
Hiccup:" Oh no. No, Dad. No."
Hiccup chases after him, panicked.
Hiccup:" Dad. It's not what you think. You don't know what you're up against. It's like nothing you've ever seen."
He grabs Stoick by the arm, tugging with all his might. He has no effect whatsoever.
Hiccup:" Dad. Please. I promise you that you won't win this one. Nothing. No. Dad. No. For once in your life, WOULD YOU PLEASE JUST LISTEN TO ME?!"
He throws Hiccup off of him, SWATTING him to the floor. Icy stillness. Hiccup stares back, stunned.
Stoick:" You've thrown your lot in with them. You're not a Viking…You're not my son."
Stoick pushes through the door, leaving Hiccup alone, devastated.
John was at the entrance waiting
Stoick(CALLING OUT)" Ready the ships!"