Hiccup's tiny toothless dragon draws mockery from Snotlout, who owns the prized Monstrous Nightmare. When Snotlout attacks Fishlegs for defending Hiccup, Hiccup challenges him to a fist fight for the right to keep his dragon. The scene captures Viking bravado, bullying, and the first hint of Hiccup standing up for himself.
Chapters
How to Train Your Dragon, Chapter Four. How to Train Your Dragon. Ha ha ha ha! Snotlout was laughing so hard that he hadn't managed to say. The boys were hanging about the village gates, taking opportunity to show off their dragons they had caught. Hiccup had tried to walk through without being noticed, but Snotlout had stopped him. Let's see what pathetic creature Hiccup's got, said Snotlout, and took off the lid. Oh, this is brilliant! Look at it! said Snotlout, when he had finally got his breath back from laughing. What is it? Hiccup! An icky brown bunny rabbit with wings? A flower fairy? A fluffy flying frog? Gather round, everyone, and see the magnificent animal that our Future leader has caught himself! Oh, Hiccup, you are useless! crowed Speedy Fist. You're the son of the chief, for Thor's sake! Why didn't you get one of those new monstrous nightmares with the 6-foot wingspan and extra extendable claws? They're really mean killers, they are. I have one! Grins Snotlout, gesturing to the terrifying-looking flame-red animal asleep in his basket. I think I shall call her Fireworm. What are you going to call yours, Hiccup? Sweetie Tums? Sugar Lips? Baby Face? Hiccup's dragon took this particular moment to give a huge yawn, opening its tiny mouth wide to reveal— A flickering forked tongue, very pink gums, and absolutely no teeth at all. Snotlout laughed so hard Dog's Breath had to hold him up. Toothless! cried Snotlout. Hiccup found himself the only toothless dragon in the uncivilized world. This is too good! Hiccup the Useless and his dragon Toothless! Fishlegs, Leapt to Hiccup's defense. Well, you are not allowed a monstrous nightmare that you've got there, Snotface Snotlout! Only the son of the chief is allowed a monstrous nightmare. That fireworm dragon is Hiccup's by right. Snotlouts Eyes narrowed. He grabbed Fishlegs' arm and twisted it viciously behind his back. Nobody's listening to you, you plankton-hearted Fishlegs Disaster Area! sneered Snotlout. Thanks to you and your snivelling, sneezing disability, the whole military operation was nearly a total disaster! When I'm chief of this tribe, the first thing I am going to do is Boot out! Anyone with a pathetic allergy like yours, straight into exile! You're not fit to be a hooligan! Fishlegs! Fishlegs went very white in the face, but he still managed to gasp out, but you are not going to be chief of this tribe! Hiccup is going to be chief of this tribe! Snotlout dropped Fishlegs' arm and advanced menacingly on Hiccup. Oh, he is, is he? Jeered Snotlout. So I'm not allowed the Monstrous Nightmare, am I? Our future leader is keeping very quiet about it, isn't he? Come on, Hiccup, I'm stealing your inheritance. What are you going to do about it then, eh? The boys all looked solemn. Snotlout really had broken an ancient Viking rule. Hiccup should challenge you for the dragon, said Fishlegs slowly. Everybody swivelled round to look expectantly at Hiccup. Oh, brilliant, muttered Hiccup under his breath. Thank you, Fishlegs. My just day got My day just got better and better. Snotlout was a great brute of a boy who didn't really need Dog's Breath's help when it came to bashing people up. He wore specially constructed bronze-tipped sandals in order to cause maximum damage when kicking people. Hiccup tried to stay out of his way as much as possible, but he couldn't ignore this insult to his stature. Now Fishlegs had painfully pointed it out, without looking like a coward in front of the other boys. And if you became known as a coward in the Hooligan Tribe, you might as well go the whole hog and wear a pale pink jerkin, take up playing the harp, and change your name to Ermentrude. I challenge you, Snotface! Snotlout, for the dragon Fireworm, who is mine by right, said Hiccup, trying to hide his reluctance by speaking as loudly and formally as he could. I accept your challenge, said Snotlout super-fast, grinning all over his horrid, smug face. Axes or fists? Fists, said Hiccup. Because axes were a really bad idea. I shall look forward to showing you how a real future hero fights. It's not loud. And then he remembered something. After the initiation thing on Thorsday Thursday, though. I don't want to stub my toe or anything while I'm kicking you all around the village. Hiccup might win, Fishlegs pointed out. Of course he won't win! boasted Snotlout. Look at my sporting ability, my Viking courage, my capacity for mindless violence! I shall win just as surely as I shall be chief of this tribe one day. I mean, look at my dragon and then look at his dragon! He pointed mockingly at Toothless. The gods have spoken. It is only a matter of time. In the meantime, Snotlout carried on, I shall live in fear of being gummed to death by Hiccup's terrifying toothless terrapin. And Snotlout sauntered off in a lordly fashion, giving Hiccup a nasty kick in his shins as he did so. Sorry about the challenge, Fishlegs apologised after they had left their baskets with dragons in them under their beds at their homes. Oh, don't worry about it, said Hiccup. Somebody would have got me to do it anyway. You know how they love to fight.
