#Star's Peril

[slitheringss]

Scrapped Star's Peril Script/Chapter

So, while you all wait for Kinktober Days 8 & and 9, I thought I'd leave you all a scrapped original script/chapter from my Vigcup AU, Star's Peril.

The original plot was to follow the first movie up until the final battle. The battle and aftermath would still happen, BUT before Stoick finds Toothless ans Hiccup. They would have been saved and taken to a sanctuary by Khryneris, who was originally going to be the mother of all dragons and a dragon-god. After letting them both heal, she would have given Hiccup the blessing of wings and a tail because of how deep his bond with Toothless is. Together, they would haunt/free dragons around the archipelago; known to all as the Archipelago Wraith. Years later, the riders are young adults and get into a war with Viggo Grimborn. Eventually, it would lead into the plot of Last Auction Heroes.

Which leads us to what WAS going to happen in the fic but has been scrapped and revised. I'm way more happy with the new 'canon', since this original plot has a few plot holes.

Season 3 Ep 12: Last Auction Heroes

Original plot: When the riders uncover the location of Viggo's Dragon Auction, they must stop him from selling dragons and stealing all the gold in Berk.

New Premise: Having discovered Viggo is having a Dragon Auction, the riders intend to intercept it, but they're not the only ones who've learned about such dealings.

Summary: Riders learn about Viggo's dragon auction and race to learn of its location. Upon discovery and help from trader Johann, they settle with a plan to use berks gold and infiltrate the auction. While in the midst of trying to stop said auction, they're captured and forced to watch the auction take place. Having lost hope, they're unprepared for the Archipelago Wraith to appear. With their help, they free the dragons and escape but lose Viggo and Berks gold in return. They try to speak to their rescuer but find he's disappeared. Left with nothing else to do, they turn back home.

In Depth plot: The riders hear about an upcoming dragon auction and use traitor Johann to acquire the map that'll lead them to it. Johann sits in a dragon hunter tavern and overhears someone mention it and bring out a map. He steals said map, and escapes with the Dragon riders. They study over the map and try to come up with the best plan to take it down. Astrid and Snotlout argue over whose plans are better and what to use. Fishlegs and Heather try to drop in their own opinions as well. After hours of arguing, they come up with a semi decent plan. The only issue is that only the wealthy can get in, and they have no such funds. They travel to Berk to ask Stoick if they can use Berks gold. He, at first outright, disagrees, but the riders argue about how important this auction is. That if Viggo's auction is a success, not only will he have the funds to supply and build/buy his army, he'll hunt more dragons, eventually set his sights on Berk, and their own dragons as a consequence. Stoick looks over at Skullcrusher and thinks about Hiccup and Toothless. He relents the gold but ask Gobber to go with them. Meanwhile, a little past the Archipelago, Hiccup and Toothless are on another raid when they come across the map for an auction. Learning it's for Viggo's auction, they take the free dragons to their nest. They gear up and prepare to head out, with a few of their flock coming with them. The riders get there before T & H and try their best to sneak in. They only get so far before they're recognized and captured, their dragons caught and trapped. Viggo and Ryker are about to sell their dragons when T & H appear, scaring everyone with the classic night fury shriek as they plummet and hit the stage. T & H separate, with H sliding out the saddle and setting the riders free and T + flock helping the other dragons escape. Ryker and H engage in battle, with T helping out where he can. Viggo watchs and can't help admire how T & H move in synchronization, like they're in a complicated dance only they know the moves too. Viggo takes the gold and leaves. Eventually, the riders chase after him, leading to the ship where he tosses the chest into the ocean. While the riders dive for it, Viggo, T & H make eye contact from afar. The stare is profound but they know they'll meet again. Hiccup turns to address his flock and the new dragons, already taking off to sort through his next mission. Viggo gets away, and the Riders recover the chest, only to realize it's just rocks. Upset at having been tricked but happy that the dragons are free/the auction was stopped, they turn to thank the Wraith, only to find he and the most of the wild dragons are gone. They complain and wonder just who Wraith is but eventually have to set their sights home, dreading of telling Stoick the news. Already flying in the opposite direction, Hiccup muses over encountering the dragon riders and seeing Gobber but forces himself to focuses on the new dragons he and Toothless are going to relocate.

Now, I DO have the opening part of the chapter, but it's not much + isn't the best. So fair warning for me just throwing words on a doc and hoping it makes sense

Blue eyes drifted casually around the establishment, making sure not to catch the eye of any unsavory individuals; though he himself was one. But the job of the fool was a small price to pay for the large investments that were granted. This job in particular required such a charade. To have his services requested in learning any information about Grimborn's auction and in the riders cases, steal the map so they may intervene.

Johann huffed. He had been acting the part, quite wonderfully, he might add, of a trader who spewed embellishments to all that were near. It had gotten him quite the reputation, even more so with the Berkians. Kissing the boots of Stoick the Vast and suffering through the Archipelago as some trader buffoon. At least he no longer had to deal with Stoicks brat.

Hiccup, his runt of a child. He hadn't found him impressive in the least. His moniker, Hiccup the Useless, was quite accurate. Compared to the hulking mass of his father and the legacy before him, he wasn't worth much. While his mind had potential, Johann had no time for such trivialities. There were far better things to spend his time and efforts on. For instance...

The Archipelago Wraith, now that was impressive. A nausince and ultimately something to crush under his boat or control as well, but still impressive. The stories varied but every one told spoke of it in feared hushes, as if just speaking its name would summon it. It'd sound more like a myth, if it weren't for the proof of sheer devastation it left in its wake. An abomination of a dragon twisted by the gods to reap at any soul its eye's landed on. They say you were marked for death if you caught it's acidic gaze. Others called it "they". A being that had split itself into two parts; half beast, half man. The beast is the main vessel, taking the form of the unholy offspring of lightning and death itself. Whilst it's other half is a malformed figure that thinks it's human but is everything but. A true demon taking the form of a mortal man. Scales line it from head to toe, with fins resting upon its crown. Claws, long and endlessly dark, fuse up to a gangling arms no thicker then a young branch. It movements faster than any viking can physically track and it's intelligence far more terrifying then if it was some mindless beast. A poor imitation of the world of man. If not the most off-putting, is its voice. Or what more accurately can be called its vocalizations as no one has ever heard it speak. Chirps, snarls, howls, shrieks, and wails would sound from its throat, paralyzing all that heard.

And unfortunately that is all that was written down. I know it's not a lot, and not the best but I'm glad I got something down at all.

I do hope you enjoyed that mishmash of incoherent thoughts.

[slitheringss]

I think my favorite part of this AU has been dealing with the different dynamics/bonds. For instance, I've been enjoying coming up with things/adventures Hiccup and Viggo would have done as kids while they grew up together. Building it up as they grow older till they hit 15 where it all comes to head when Viggo is told Hiccup is "dead", his journey and struggles through life as he grows, and then an unexpected reunion.

Viggo's mind came to a halt. It wasn't real. It wasn't feasible. No matter the forlorn look in Stoick's voice and eyes, it wasn't true. Hiccup had died. His best friend and growing crush had been killed, leaving him with the sour confirmation that Hiccup wasn't his soulmate; even if he wanted so badly for him to be. He would have felt it, and he's devastated at the loss of him. He made Viggo care when nothing else really mattered. He grows colder and distant, his presence far more chilling. He puts all his focus on dragon hunting and becoming chief. He may still occasionally feel pain from a person who's supposedly his other half, but what would that matter when they're still here and Hiccup isn't? No one would have been as worthy or acceptable of such a title as Hiccup. Hiccup had complimented him in ways he hadn't truly known till he was gone. No one would do such such a justice as him, and it'd be an injustice for anyone else to try.

So imagine his surprise to going up against the Archipelago Wraith and finding it a worthy adversary. Something more intelligent and quick than others believed. That this "creature" was far more sentient. A new player on the board. Another to rival his intelligence. It makes him yearn for all that was lost and taken from him. He won't let such an opportunity such as this go to waste. But in the quiet moments, when the world is quiet, his room bathed low in candlelight, and all is seemingly right with the world, Viggos mind wanders of Hiccup. What'd he'd think or do in the face of these situations.

When his 20th birthday comes around and no one has teleported to him, he's understandably concerned. The tribe worries, and his counsel is in an uproar. While they debate, Viggo finds that this is a much more suitable outcome. With the current circumstances, it would have been more of a detriment to drag a stranger along. Someone who probably couldn't hold a conversation or a flame to his own intelligence. No, this was far better. Besides, if it was meant to be, the gods would have brought them to him. They didn't. Therefore, they weren't meant for each other.

Months later, waking up in a room not his own, being stared down by twin shadows from above was not something he could have ever expected. Even more so for his elusive Wraith to reveal far more than they probably wanted and into a world known by only to few. To behold secrets the world would kill for. To find the one thing he's wanted, yearned, and mourned for for years. For him to discover Hiccup Haddock, lived. And just for a moment, everything was right.

[slitheringss]

The more I flesh out Khryneris, the more I love her interactions between Hiccup and Viggo. I will always stand by cosmic horrors/cryptids looking after/adopting a child as one of the best tropes. It's just too GOOD. There's too much potential in it, and I love the horrifying aspects/undertones whilst also being fluffy yet angsty. Especially when Khryneris predates before Ymir and watches the universe's creation come to life. She's seen it all, and yet these two tiny humans absolutely fascinate her. Hiccup and Viggo have no idea who's eyes watch over them and just what lengths they'd go to, to keep them safe.

[slitheringss]

I would like to thank @mdoodlerfandomart for their vigcup same age au art + fic, for totally uprooting my plot points + aus I had for my fic. Its fixed plot holes and the flow of the fic, but at what cost