The Time Skip In Book Ten Has Me In A Chokehold Again The Emotional Potential Is Too Great. Our Lonely

The time skip in book ten has me in a chokehold again… the emotional potential is too great. Our lonely little quartet on one cold and unnamed night on the run. I actually love how this turned out but I’m still not sold on Windwalker’s design.

I just finished rereading httyd.

Defiant optimism

That is how I would describe the overall tone of the last few books. (Read the first eight a few weeks ago, read the last four tonight.)

Again and again the story tells us that History Repeats Itself. That the future is doomed. The Doomsday is coming.

And again and again the heroes decide. "You know what? I don't care. I'm going to hope for the best anyways!"

again and again and again.

The Wodensfang decides to hope for the best. One last time, even if he really thinks they're all doomed. Hiccup will not stop looking for Fishlegs. Even when everyone tells him that he's probably dead and that they have other, bigger problems. Hiccup refuses to give up on Snotlout. Even though he has betrayed them so many times, Hiccup keeps giving him more chances. Camicazi refuses to believe that Hiccup is dead, no matter what the evidence would suggest.

Hiccup refuses to destroy the dragons. He keeps offering Furious peace. Keeps promising to try his best to fix this broken world.

Yes, the story tells us, Doomsday is Coming, History Repeats Itself, and sometimes even the greatest heroes will find their triumphs turned to tragedy.

But.

If it doesn't end well, it isn't the end.

And sometimes all it takes is someone saying "No."

"No. I dont care what you say, or how hopeless it is. I will keep fighting. I will keep trying. I will not let your hatred destory the world I love. I will always try."

That makes a hero. That makes a king.

Hiccup doesn't win because he's lucky or chosen or smart.

He wins because he never gives up hope. Even when his friends tell him it's hopeless he keeps going. Keeps trying. Keeps doing the right thing.

And that is what makes him a hero. A legend. A king.

And it's what wins the day.

Because no matter how many times his tries fail, Hiccup keeps trying.

Again and again and again.

Hiccup tells Furious that as long as there is even one human, humanity will keep fighting for those they have lost.

But I think that might be how Hiccup sees himself.

One last human fighting for what humanity has lost.

For the dragons, for freedom, for peace. For love.

Because at the heart of all that trying, is love.

Love for his dragons drives Hiccup to plead for their freedom. Love for Hiccup the Second leads Furious to choose peace. Love for her son leads Valhallarama to change the Slavemark back to the Dragonmark, and rally the tribes to try again. Love for her friends makes Camicazi fly to find Hiccup.

Sometimes all you can do is try your hardest.

But if you keep trying your hardest. And try your hardest out of love. Sometimes it will add up.

Its the smaller things of the world that change things. All those little acts of trying your hardest. Doing the right thing, no matter how small.

They add up.

And sometimes they add up so big...

That they make a hero.

And that hero could be you.

This may be a dumb question, but did Hiccup ever become chief of the Hairy Hooligans ? Because that was the main plot of basically the first half of the series.

If I remember correctly, he was never actually chief ? Obviously he became King of The Wilderwest at the end of book 12, but is it ever established what happens after Stoick inevitably died ?

Did the chiefdom go to Hiccup, because it couldn’t go to Snotlout anymore (RIP) so was it Baggybum ? Or did Hiccup just rule as chief of Berk AND King of The Wilderwest ?

Anyone know anything ? Please help

History is a set of repeating cycles...

I have determined that I am done with this for now :o)

A little late for dinner over here, but nonetheless finished!

These books, guys... This poor wet Viking, and the broken world he loves...

The song is "My lovely isle of Innisfree" and this version (which is my favorite) is sung by Joe Miller of The Irish Rovers. And the rest of the song fits Hiccup really well, but I didn't feel like doing the whole thing. I may yet, someday :]