Siege & Storms - Chapter 1 Astrid

Siege & Storms - Chapter 1 Astrid

Post Fire Tides-Story. Nightmares haunt Astrid while Hiccup and Toothless try to escape from the underwater City.

A scream tore through her throat as he fell. "Hiccup!" Her fingers wrapped tightly around the metal rings of her saddle as she leaned forward. “Come on, Stormfly. Get down! Get down!” The blood roared in her ears as the Nadder plunged into a dive, away from the ashen sky and down to the deep black sea that spread out beneath them like a rolling velvet carpet. Below her she saw the frightened eyes of her boyfriend, desperately trying to hoist himself onto the back of his night fury, whose dark scales seemed to almost merge with the darkness of the sea surface. She reached out, tried to reach for him, but he was so far away. So far away. It was as if time stood still as their bodies split the surface of the ocean, like a black mirror breaking into a hundred thousand small pieces. "No. Nooooooo! Hiccup!” she shouted against the roar of the waves. No Answer. Not a brown head in the waves. No wing flapping. The ocean had swallowed them. She sat up, with a clear conscience that this too could be her end. But to hell with her life when the man she loved more than anything was in grave danger. And she jumped. Cold water stabbed her soft skin like hundreds of knives, she opened her eyes and there was the deepest blackness around her. She suddenly flash something in the endless black. A body. Hiccup, she thought. She continued to dive, the pressure on her ears reinforced with every meter she swam. Hiccup's pale, thin body appeared in her mind's eye, his limbs hanging limply in the water, his otherwise beautifully bright emerald eyes staring into space. She reached for him, but couldn't get hold of him. Like a sack full of stones, his body sank deeper and deeper towards the seabed. And there was nothing she could do about it. She was powerless. No matter how hard she tried to move forward, an invisible force had a firm hold on her. She kicked around wildly, screaming at the top of her lungs, so that the salty sea water flooded her throat and sent air bubbles to the surface. The darkness became more and more impenetrable, more and more merciless. Slowly she saw in depth how the body of the person she loved above all else, who she had known since childhood, who had shown her the beauty of the world, had enriched her own life with his good heart and his deep love for her was drawn.

Astrid woke up with a scream. The endless darkness around her, hit her, she gasped, clutching at her sweat-soaked chest where her fearful heart was pounding as if it would shatter her ribs at any moment. With trembling fingers, she reached for a candle that was on the nightstand next to the bed and lit it. Her eyes wandered around the room, past the various prosthetic tails that Hiccup had made for Toothless over the years, to the large map of the archipelago that Hiccup had drawn on his explorations of the barbaric land. Her shaky hand slid over the empty side next to her where her fiancé should be lying. The blood ran from her fingertips, her stomach cramped as her eyes remained on the mattress. She didn't know if Hiccup was still alive or if he was injured and dying. She convulsively choked down the lump in her throat, trying to smother the tears that began to roll down her cheeks faster and faster. To calm herself, she took the green fabric of his tunic, which she had worn every night since his departure, between her hands and breathed in its remaining scent of leather and forge that had not yet been singed by her sweat. He was alive. He wasn't dead. He was alive. He wasn't dead... She pulled her legs up to her chest and began rocking back and forth, more tears gathering in her eyes. She had to stay strong, for the village, for Valka, for Hiccup. Hiccup. She squirmed internally. "He's alive, he's alive, he's alive...",she kept telling herself, fighting the emptiness that was rapidly spreading in her heart. The dark, cold emptiness swallowed her soul, dragging her down into a bottomless abyss of loneliness and ruin. Everything went quiet in her head; she could only hear the steady beating of her heart. She jumped when something warm and scaly suddenly snuggled up to her. Stormfly. Astrid wrapped her arms around the Nadder lady's head, heard her breathing, felt the warmth emanating from her body. A small smile crept across Astrid's lips as Stormfly rubbed her head against hers. “Thank you, my girl. I love you too.” Stormfly squealed and looked at her rider with concern in her round golden eyes. She gently nudged Astrid with her nose. Astrid sighed and wiped her tears as she stroked her best friend's shiny scale dress. She sniffled: "You know, it's hard sometimes to always have to be strong." The Nadder lady snorted in understanding. Astrid leisurely lifted her legs out of bed, Hiccup's tunic barely reaching enough to carefully cover her intimate area. She grabbed the candle that was on the bedside table and walked out of the room, her heavy steps making the floorboards creak on the way to Hiccup's late father's old room. Astrid hesitated, then knocked on the door. “Come in,” she heard Valka’s tired voice from the other side. She entered the large bedchamber, Valka was sitting up in bed, a bag full of ice pressed to her forehead. “Is something Astrid? Can I help you in any way?” Astrid shook her head as she closed the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed next to her future mother-in-law. “Yes, everything is fine,” she lied as she smoothed the fabric of the tunic. "I just wanted to see how you were doing." Valka smiled gently. "That's kind of you. But you don’t have to worry about me.” A loud rumble of thunder shook the night, shortly followed by a pelting rain that hit the wooden roof. Astrid's fingers dug into the fabric of the tunic and she gritted her teeth. The fine hairs on her neck stood up against her sweat-heated skin. She hated thunderstorms ever since a lightning strike left her blind several years ago. Although she was now able to cope better with thunderstorms and the darkness, she still felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up every time a storm came. “I'm just going to go outside to see what's going on,” she said shortly without looking at Valka. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she saw her nod in confirmation. -

Next Chapter follows soon…

So the Megamind Sequel ended with the Anouncement of another Sequel, god damn Why?

The Short Version of This is: It does the Same thing that the Nine Realms does, insulting the Original. But I‘m not suprised anymore when DreamWorks puts things on Peacock. It‘s just embarissing for Them because they Are the King of Sequels and they could‘ve just Puss in Boots2 us with a theathrichal Release and a real Sequel. Megamind would deserve it. As a Rise of the Guardians Fan and someone who really wants to see my Favorite Santa again on the Big Screen I don‘t want it, if they ever do it, ended like this.

From Megamind to Nevermind, huh @dreamworksanimation ?

I had a Little Idea 💡

A rough Rewirte Idea I have, that I want to Share with you.

The First thing I would do is, outwrite the disrespectful Connection to the Trilogy. Then I would give all the characters emotional backgrounds. (Jun & D’Angelo wouldn’t exist in My rewirte Universe, because I don‘t know what to do with These two.) Tom has no Connection to Hiccup and Astrid and his Dad is ahead of a research station That Researches Old civilisations. His Mum is ahead of a archilogy Team there. Because his parents Are divorced but still forced to work with each other, the releationship between them is Not the best because they Part ways on bad terms. The bad releationship between his parents affects Tom, because they Are always fighting and hating at each other. One day it all becomes too much for him and he runs away. He hides in an Old Ruin where he finds an old Journal with Stories about Hiccup and his Family and their life on New Berk. (There you could put Flashbacks in a respectful way where we See for example the Wedding Party from Hiccstrid, Pregnant Astrid, Zephyr and Nuffink as babys, their first steps,…). Then he could find Alex and Eugene who also hide in there. Alex because she needs some alone time and Eugene because he had a terrible fight with his Mum. (The Background-Stories of These two were: Alex was bullied in School because she has two Mums and also because she‘s very shy and different than the others. Eugene on the other Hand loses his Dad on Cancer and he and his Mum Haven’t the best releationship after his dead, they also weren‘t on the best terms before.) In one of the Old Ruins they found the old Dragon Book and Stoicks Notes about the hidden World. The three decide to search for this secret world, because they wanted to Go on a Adventure to forget which Troubles they have. They three Happen to find the Hidden World After a Long Journey. First they Are very afraid of this gigantic World and the Dragons they first encounter with. But soon they became Friends. For the three their Dragon-Friends became a Escape from the Reality of Life. The Kids thinking about to stay in the Hidden World But have to relealize that its untamble for humans. So they have to Go Back to face their demons. But they decide they will come back to their new found Friends to Visit them. However, the more often they visit the dragons, the more skeptical their parents become. And not just them, some scientists too. One day, one scientis follow Them and Discover the Dragons. He/She kills one and brought it back to the Research Station, where other scientist want to find More Dragons. Now the Kids most Protect the Dragons from the Scientist, to keep Hiccup and Toothless‘ Legacy but also most learn to face their issuse they have in their lifes.

The whole massage would stick true to the Trilogys ending But the overarching theme for this would be the importance of Family, Friendship, to face your Troubles and that you can‘t run away from your Problems.

I still wish someday we get something good out of this Spin-off Show because I want so badly Httyd in modern day. It would be so cool and interesting.

I‘ve watched Riders of Berk again after a long Time…

…And I can’t remember likening it that much. For the first httyd Series it’s a pretty good start. Bucket and Mulch are very cute Toegether. I like the Rivaly they set up between Snotlout and Hiccup, the hicctooth-episodes are brilliant and touching, I just say: I save you, you save me. That’s the way it is. The little Moments between Hiccup and his Dad are very cute. makes Httyd2 and httyd3 even more heartbreaking. What I also really like are these little Moments between Hiccup and Toothless, for example in Viking for Hire when they sit in Hiccups Room and Hiccup talks about Gobber to Toothless that he made his metal leg. Outcast Island gives me by the way gothic vibes and it looks pretty cool. Honestly there’s maybe a Chance that they could’ve planned it since than that Johann is going to be a Villain in Rtte, even they haven’t known that they would get Rtte later, some things could be hints, to build something up, for example when he says he has a Knife with him but rejected that after or the fact that he brought Mildew the Dragon Flower. By the way Mildew, I was surprised that he only annoyed me in one episode, in the rest of the season he was a decent villain. The Cinematography was also pretty cool, I personally Love the shot when Hiccup and Snotlout crash land on Outcast Island und you see all these high spiky rocks which are shrouded in fog.

My favorite Episodes are:

Animal House

Viking for Hire

When Lightning Strikes

What flies beneath

Breakneck Bog

Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man

The first Reviews of KFP4 have arrived

And Man I have mixed feelings Now because of the Reactions because they are also very mixed. the only thing I can think about Now is: Was a fourth KFP Movie nessecary?

(And I also got a Little bit spoiled thanks to YouTube, LOL and Tigress makes a Cameo in the Final Trailer☺️ I don‘t if they brought Angelina Jolie Back but her Voice Sounds very similiar.)

I‘m curious But still very sceptical. I think I will see if its nessecary when it Releases in My Country.

Kung Fu Panda Fox 4 - from Cinema to Illumination Level

First I was really hyped about this Movie, because I was thinking: Hey they made Puss in Boots: the Last wish what could go wrong? The first Trailer then dropped and it looked promising, then I watched the Movie….

And oh my god why have they removed the Director? Why couldn’t we get Joel Crawford or Jennifer Yuh Nelson, who also worked on 2 and 3. Seriously Mike Mitchell? He is not famous for his incredible Track Record. But to the Film now. As a Standalone it works and it has some good Action Scenes like the Scene in the Tavern. The side Plot with Pos Dads was kinda funny, wish the whole Movie was about them. But the Story was a big disappointment on my side. It just doesn’t makes senses that Po has to pass the Title of the Dragon Warrior, he is in the prime of his life. It’s not like he is diyng or is sick or very old like Oogway was when he chose the new Warrior. Also they reahash the Messages from the first three Movies again as if Po had to learn them again, there no wise words or any emotional hook like in the previous three, which was one of the things I like about KFP so much, the Movie feels lackluster without these elements. Also they do the Hug-Scene with Po and Zhen like with Tigress and Po in KFP2, but less emotional. Apropos I don‘t hate Zhen as a Character, I also doesn’t find her Voice Actress annoying like in the little Mermaid but she doesn’t earn the title Dragon Warrior, it just feels wrong and she looks Designwise straight out Zootopia and doesn’t feel like she belongs in the World of KFP. Her Releationship with Po is okay I guess, but I prefer the fourios Five over her, hell Tigress and Master Monkey Are Pos best Friends, it would be so much better if they go with Po on the Journey and meet Zhen on their way to Juniper City. Also her Backstory reminds me to much of Tigress again. Another one who doesn’t belong is the Chameleon, she is also the reason why we can’t have the fourios five, because her motivation is she is to small to learn Kung Fu and Mantis and Viper are also small but can Kung Fu so…also beware of the Stairs when she’s around. I’ve seen how she pulled the the bear down the stairs. It doesn’t look dramatic. I prefer the word ridiculous. Compared to the other Villains we had she feels lackluster but had a lot of potential to be a great Villain. The plot with the return of the villains is also very useless, Tai Lung is just in the first scene and the end and says something really out of Character. They did Kai (who shouldn’t be there in the first place because his spirit got destroyed in the spirit realm) and Lord Shen dirty too, never would one of them bow to Po. And in my Opinion none of the Villains needed a Redemption. Fuck them to do Lord Shen dirty, he’s my favorite Villain in the Original Trilogy. Also Shifu has nothing to do in this movie, he’s just there for whatever. Also how he talks to Po is like KFP1-3 didn’t happen.

I was genuinly suprised that they have given this movie Illumination Budget, 85 USD that’s not much for a KFP - Movie and embarrassing too. I missed the old background style from this very much. The Original Trilogy has such beautiful backgrounds that looked like Chinese Paintings. To the song baby One more time I have to give one credit, it’s better than the Original but it doesn’t fit KFP at all. In httyd terms it’s like you would play heavy metal instead of Where no one goes, sticks and stones or Toegether from afar at the end.

Well another Franchise on my list I don’t care about anymore, I guess. Count me out if the next Kung Fu Panda Movies are about an Character that doesn’t earn the title and isn’t as enjoyable and charming as Po was. My closing thoughts are: this happens when you try to expand on a Franchise and that has already an ending, with Puss in Boots, Rise of the Guardians or Megamind (until they butchered that too as we had to witness) it is something else, these worlds you can still expand because these movies are in their infancy. With a Movie like KFP this doesn’t work at all, because it had an perfect ending and Pos Character Arc is completed. It’s not a bad Movie by any means, you can still go and enjoy it. Looking back I would also say it was an alright film, a nice gap you can ignore when your more of a fan of the original trilogy. But for KFP it is in my personal opinion a letdown. Also it is just a copy and paste of the Masterpiece that is called KFP2 but without any of the emotions. I’m also lowkey happy though that this movie is so mid, than now KFP3 gets more of the appreciate that it deserve, I’m honest it’s a still a pretty great Movie. The Wild Robot seems like an Apology for Megamind2 and KFP4 now and their last Hope, but I will accept it when I have seen this Movie.