I don’t think many casual fans recognize the enormous, colossal heart of this boy, and how strong he is. Like, the sheer emotional fortitude and maturity continues to astound me. Some fics and depictions paint him as weak, a pacifist, a pushover by his girlfriend, someone who needs to grow up, or just some effeminate guy, a coward even… like, No.
In D1, He was ridiculed, ignored, shunned by his village enough that he was ready to leave it forever, at the age of 15. Lost and alone for so long, that his only source of friendship came from a member of a different species. Yet when he saw his village, his father, his best friend sailing to their certain doom, he acted, even though his father had practically just disowned him. He was ready to give his life for all these people, his village, even after all that had happened, and he was ready to forgive his bullies, his father, to save them all.
In D2, he found out his mother had abandoned him. He found out his entire childhood, that strange listlessness like he was missing a part of himself all along, the doubt seeping into him even after he’d accomplished so many great things… and all the while he’d taken after her, and if she’d been there, he might not have been so lost. But he forgave her. He forgave her, he let her touch his face, and witnessed his parents’ reunion. For a few brief seconds, genuine, deep happiness bloomed on his face.
But then, he witnessed his best friend being turned against him. He witnessed his best friend kill his father, witnessed the gravest, darkest depths of fear, of power madness and cruelty. Two of the things he cherished most was ripped away from him in a single day, and still he did not falter. He shot the arrow, he stood up, he had tears in his eyes, but he did not falter.
And when he reaches his best friend, he forgave him. He brought him back, through pure love and their unshakable bond. This was mere hours after his father died, and he welcomed his friend back with open arms. And when he had Drago at his mercy? He gave Drago the option of mercy. He offered for the man to stand down, the man who had been responsible for everything, for inflicting so much pain, he was willing to let live.
In D3, one short year later, he stood up for what he believed in. He was headstrong, maybe, and foolhardy, definitely, but he cares for his people, and does what he thinks is best for them. He confronted his enemy head-on, twice, and would have won but for the new types of dragons brought into play. And all throughout this, he was dealing with his best friend and the new life ahead, and he recognizes the importance, and though it clearly pained him, he granted his friend autonomy. He willingly untethered himself, because he loves his friend and want the best for him. When they found the Hidden World, he was willing to permanently sever that tie, and felt wretched that he had ruined his friend’s future when they were discovered and Toothless was forced to save him.
He was willing to die. He was willing to die. With a smile, knowing his friend was saved, and his village was safe, even though he had a full life ahead of him with so much youth and promise. And, after that, perhaps the bravest gesture was his willingness to let go. The movie had many, many problems in the execution of this decision (and that’s been discussed by many people already), but the central heart of it doesn’t change. He saw a kind of simmering hatred that was too pervasive, too powerful, and too difficult to eradicate. He saw how close his best friend and his mate had come to dying. He didn’t want that to happen, ever again, to any dragon. So he let go.
Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III is many things. But a coward or a weakling are not one of those.
He is the strongest, warmest, bravest, and most deserving character I have ever had the pleasure to love.
Sorry to make this reblog so long, but he is just. Ugh. I want people to recognize how incredibly strong he is. He may look like a cinnamon roll, but inside him he’s got a heart as great as any dragon.