How to Become a Trainer (Story)

How to Become a Trainer is a story that tells of how a group of misfits unites to form a team of heroes known as the Go-Getters. The story takes place on the How to Train Your Dragon timeline, and features Pokémon from Generations 1-6 as well as fan made Pokémon featured in the hacks Solar Light and Lunar Dark.

The story begins with Hiccup becoming acquainted with his newly-acquired Pokémon partner, a Snivy that can speak human. His Snivy asks about their island home, leading Hiccup to explain that their village is constantly raided by dragons and Dragon-Type Pokémon. While going to the forge, the two friends introduce themselves, the Snivy revealing that his name is actually Snivels. They run into the chief Viking, Stoick the Vast, and his partner, a Beartic, before reaching the forge, where Hiccup is Gobber, the blacksmith's, apprentice. The other teens arrive to put out fires, during which Hiccup introduces them to Snivels by name, Snotlout and his partner Magmar, Fishlegs with his partner Lombre, Tuffnut and Ruffnut and their partners Nidorino and Nidorina, and Astrid and her Combusken, Blaze. Snivels quickly learns about Hiccup's crush on Astrid.

Hiccup soon becomes interested in the raid after a Night Fury begins destroying the catapults. Grabbing one of his inventions, he leaves with Snivels to shoot down the dragon. He is successful in doing so, but is chased by a Monstrous Nightmare and Salamence soon afterwards. He and Snivels are saved by Stoick and Beartic, and Hiccup reveals to Snivels that Stoick is his father. The dragons are able to escape with some of the Vikings' food, leaving Stoick angry at Hiccup for unintentionally interfering with the battle. Hiccup is sent home, with Gobber and his partner, Probopass, accompanying him to make sure he gets there. Snivels accidentally reveals his ability to speak after Hiccup is teased by Snotlout and the twins, leaving everyone in shock. Shortly after returning home, Hiccup leaves to find the Night Fury he shot down, and Snivels runs off to find Blaze.

Blaze soon meets Snivels while she is preening herself, and the two are revealed to be good friends. Blaze is also revealed to be able to speak human, though she keeps it a secret. Blaze tells Snivels about her goal to get Astrid interested in Hiccup, and he in turn tells her that it is possible that they can end the war due to their combined knowledge of the dragons' innocence, as well as Snivels's knowledge of the location of the dragons' nest. The two part ways, with Blaze admitting to herself that Snivels is the perfect partner for Hiccup.

Hiccup is able to find the Night Fury in the woods, but is unable to bring himself to kill it. He instead sets it free, after which the dragon pounces on him and roars at him. The dragon leaves Hiccup unharmed, and the teen faints from the experience. Snivels soon arrives and drags Hiccup home, despite being significantly smaller than him. He is able to wake Hiccup after they reach home. Stoick soon reveals that he and Beartic are leading a search party/assault team to the dragons' nest, and that Hiccup and Snivels are assigned for Dragon Training he next morning. Hiccup tries to tell Stoick that he is unwilling to fight dragons, but with no success. Stoick and Beartic leave soon after.

Hiccup and Snivels reluctantly attend Dragon Training the following morning, accompanied by the other teens and Pokémon. Gobber begins to teach them, giving them advice on how to fight after releasing a Gronkle and Sliggoo from their cage. The teens are all eliminated, except for Astrid and Hiccup. Astrid is able to easily evade the dragons' attacks, but Hiccup loses his shield, and is trapped by the Gronkle. Snivels is able to save his trainer by using Vine Whip, but the Gronkle quickly throws him off. The Sliggoo soon recognizes Hiccup and Snivels, and explains their importance to the Gronkle, who listens to its partner's advice. The two dragons then retreat into their cage, with Gobber finishing the class by stating that dragons always go for the kill.

Hiccup returns to the forest with Snivels after class, realizing that the Night Fury didn't kill him when it had the chance. They are able to locate the dragon in a cove, where Hiccup learns that the dragon can't fly due to missing one of the fins on its tail. Snivels explains that Night Furies use their tail fins to steer while flying, and cannot fly properly without them, unintentionally making Hiccup feel guilty.

The two friends return to the village and go to the Great Hall, only to be teased by the other teens once again, this time with Astrid insulting them as well. Snivels throws a rock at Snotlout, provoking him to chase Snivels around the Great Hall. Snivels is able to stay ahead due to his unnaturally high speed and agility, and is able to fend Snotlout off by using Tackle and Vine Whip. Gobber is able to regain the teens' attention by showing them books about dragons and Pokémon, and assigns them the task of reading. Many of the teens refuse, leaving only Hiccup. He hesitates before looking up Snivy in the Pokémon book. After learning about its evolved forms, he skips ahead to find a list of Pokémon names that supposedly belong to Legendary Pokémon, some of which are noted to be Dragon-Types. Hiccup then reads the Dragon Manual, finding very little information about the Night Fury, as no one has seen one before. Snivels then calls for Hiccup, who joins him. The two friends notice a young Charmander hiding under a house, its flame about to go out. After learning that a Charmander dies when its flame goes out, Hiccup brings it to his house to warm it up by the fire. The idea works, and the Charmander is revealed to be female. She introduces herself as Amber, and begins a relationship with Snivels.

Meanwhile, the Vikings are sailing to the dragons' nest, but are stopped by a spirit that is dubbed the Ghost of Dragon Island.

Back on Berk, Snivels and Amber chat with Hiccup on the way to Dragon Training. A smitten Snivels gives compliments to Amber, and mentions to Hiccup his knowledge of the latter's crush on Astrid. In Dragon Training, the teens are pitted against a Deadly Nadder and a Flygon. Snivels and Amber are able to calm the Flygon down by explaining the situation, while the Nadder begins to chase Astrid and Blaze, seeing them as the biggest threat. Astrid eventually ends up falling onto Hiccup and getting her axe stuck in his shield. She is able to use the shield to hit the Nadder, causing it to fall unconscious. The Flygon tries to help its friend, but is attacked by Blaze. Amber is able to stop Blaze long enough for the latter to explain that she's doing what her trainer expects. Astrid and Blaze leave the arena, and a battle ensues between the teens' Pokémon, with Snivels and Amber victorious.

Hiccup later returns to the cove with Snivels and Amber to offer the Night Fury a fish. The dragon accepts it, revealing its retractable teeth. Snivels meets a baby Salatad named Crackers living in the pond, and suggests that he joins them. Seeing how nice Hiccup is to his Pokémon, Crackers accepts, revealing that his original trainer had abused him, leaving him with countless bruises on his back. The group of friends are able to befriend the Night Fury, who gives his trust in return.

Later, after a brief meal with the other trainees, Hiccup makes a prosthetic tail for the Night Fury, who is named Toothless. He brings more fish for the dragon, who becomes terrified of an eel that was included in the offer. Hiccup quickly removes the eel, allowing Toothless to eat. Hiccup and Snivels put the tail on Toothless, who is able to fly with Hiccup operating the tail manually. Hiccup is soon tossed off with Snivels, leaving Toothless without an operational tail fin. Despite the failure, Hiccup is overjoyed at the fact that the prosthetic worked. Crackers turns away from the pond to see a female Bulbasaur hiding in some grass. The Bulbasaur introduces herself as Venus, and quickly becomes smitten with Crackers.

Later, the friends are put up against a Hideous Zippleback and a Zweilous. They develop a strategy for Dragon Training, with Hiccup's Pokémon conversing with the Dragon-Types while Hiccup calms the dragons. The plan works as Hiccup is able to frighten the Hideous Zippleback with an eel, and the Pokémon are able to convince the Zweilous that they are friends.

As the the days go by, Hiccup and his friends continue to work on Toothless's tail, creating a saddle and a riding outfit for Hiccup. They continue to be successful in Dragon Training, and soon engage in their first Pokémon battles. Hiccup uses Venus against Fishlegs's Lombre, which Venus wins with a mix of Attract and a powerful Sludge Bomb. Next is Amber and Crackers against Nidorino and Nidorina. Using teamwork, Amber and Crackers win the battle. Snivels is then pitted against Snotlout's Magmar. Despite the Type disadvantage, Snivels is able to beat Magmar thanks to his special ability, Overgrow, increasing his attack power. Astrid refuses to battle with Hiccup, despite Blaze showing interest in Hiccup's use of strategy instead of power alone. While improving Toothless's prosthetic tail, Hiccup meets and befriends a male Helioptile named Tito.

Weeks later, Hiccup, Toothless, and Snivels go on their first real flight, despite Snivels being afraid of heights. At first, all goes well, but Snivels falls out of the saddle bag. He is rescued by a baby Noibat named Verne. Hiccup is able to successfully steer Toothless through a maze of rock spires, but is burned by one of Toothless's plasma blasts. While resting, Snivels and Verne develop a friendship, with the latter deciding to join their team. While talking, Snivels reveals to Hiccup that he was raised by Speed Stingers, a type of flightless dragon, and is therefore able to understand and talk to dragons. Hiccup realizes that the Vikings' information about the dragons is false. Verne is left in the cove with Toothless so that the Vikings don't hurt him.

Stoick and Beartic return from the voyage, having failed at finding the dragons' nest. Stoick is proud of Hiccup for doing well in Dragon Training, and gives him a Viking helmet he claims is half of Hiccup's mother's breastplate (the claim is later proven to be false). However, Stoick questions why Hiccup has more than one Pokémon partner, to which he replies by saying that he's "building a team."

The next morning, Hiccup and Astrid are the only teens remaining in Dragon Training, the winner would win the "honor" of killing a Monstrous Nightmare and Salamence. They're up against the Gronkle and Sliggoo, this time without their Pokémon. The dragons recognize Hiccup from the first class and refuse to attack, leaving the Vikings thinking that Hiccup subdued them. Hiccup is declared the winner, much to his and his friends' disappointment.

Hiccup then attempts to leave on Toothless, but Astrid and Blaze follow him to the cove. While bribing him for answers as to why he was doing to well in training, Astrid angers Toothless, who attempts to attack her, but is held back by Snivels and Venus's Vine Whips. Hiccup is able to get Toothless to calm down and introduces him and Verne to Astrid, who runs off to tell the other Vikings what she discovered, with Blaze reluctantly following. However, they are caught by Toothless, and put in a tree so that Hiccup can explain. Astrid refuses to listen, so Hiccup offers to take her flying.

The flight starts out rough, as Toothless is still mad at Astrid, but Blaze is able to get Astrid to apologize, revealing her ability to speak. Toothless almost instantly forgives Astrid and smooths the flight out with an almost romantic setting. Astrid enjoys the flight, at the same time obtaining a crush on Hiccup. Snivels then pokes his head out of the saddlebag, revealing that he had been there the whole time. Verne soon arrives, having followed them due to Snivels sneaking away. While trying to figure out how to help Hiccup get out of killing the Monstrous Nightmare and Salamence, the small group ends up finding the dragons' nest, and discover the reason the dragons are raiding the Vikings: to feed a giant dragon known as the Red Death. Snivels translates some of the dragons' speech, once again explaining his experience with the Speed Stingers, which Astrid immediately assumes is made up. They return to the cove, with Astrid eager to tell Stoick. Hiccup stops her, stating that the Vikings would kill Toothless and Verne. Astrid is amazed at Hiccup's determination to protect his friends, developing a strong liking to him. Before leaving, she punches him in the arm for kidnapping her and Blaze, and then kisses him on the cheek for everything else.

While walking through the forest, Astrid questions Blaze's ability to speak, to which the latter replies by saying she learned how from Astrid, quoting her trainer's advice to "watch and learn." Blaze then asks Astrid about Hiccup, with Astrid admitting that she has feelings for him. The two then make a deal in which Blaze will tell Hiccup Astrid's feelings if Astrid doesn't do it herself.

Hiccup and his friends arrive at Dragon Training the next day, hoping to show everyone the truth about the dragons. Snivels becomes angry at Stoick's delight of his son becoming a Viking, for reasons unknown. Astrid and Blaze wish Hiccup luck, and Hiccup promises to do his best as long as Astrid and Blaze help keep Toothless and Verne safe. Gobber lets Hiccup and his Pokémon into the arena, closing the door behind them, and the team gets ready for the dragons to come out. Shortly after the Monstrous Nightmare and Salamence are let out of their cage, the friends attempt to train them. Snivels and the other Pokémon are successful in taming the Salamence, and Hiccup tries to calm the Monstrous Nightmare. He drops his knife and shield, and removes his helmet, at the same time throwing away his wish of becoming a Viking, instead choosing to protect his friends. Despite Stoick's anger, Hiccup is able to tame the Monstrous Nightmare, but the dragon becomes angered at the sound of Stoick banging his hammer. The Monstrous Nightmare goes on a rampage, chasing Hiccup and his Pokémon around the arena while Salamence tries to help him calm down. Astrid and Blaze manage to get into the arena and divert the Nightmare's attention. Stoick opens the gate to the arena, but only Blaze and Astrid are able to get out. Hiccup is pinned by the Monstrous Nightmare, while his friends try to save him. Toothless and Verne arrive, and engage in battle with the Nightmare. They are able to subdue it long enough for Salamence to calm it down, ending the dragon's rampage. The Vikings enter the arena to fight Toothless, thinking he's a threat. Stoick is about to attack when he is tackled by Snivels, which causes all of the Vikings to freeze in shock. Snivels promptly insults the Vikings, stating that all they ever care about is their own personal safety, and that they are fighting for nothing but themselves. When questioned by Hiccup, Snivels explains that his family - his parents being the King and Queen of Pokémon - was killed by Vikings, and that many of his trainers didn't treat him properly. One of the Vikings grabs Verne, while a Rhyperior holds Snivels back. Seeing Snivels in distress, Verne evolves into a Noivern and fights back. He is quickly outnumbered, and reluctantly leaves to avoid major injuries. Toothless is distracted by Verne leaving, and is overpowered by the Vikings, despite Hiccup's pleas.

Stoick leads Hiccup into the Great Hall to talk with him, having learned the truth of why Hiccup was doing so well in Dragon Training. Hiccup is quick to defend his friends, stating that they were trying to protect him, but Stoick refuses to listen. Hiccup tries to explain that the dragons are only stealing food to survive, but accidentally informs Stoick about his knowledge of the dragons' nest. Stoick then realizes that he can use Toothless to find the nest, and ignores Hiccup's pleas against leaving. Stoick, angry with Hiccup, disowns him, and leaves to rally the Vikings. Snivels and the other Pokémon, having witnessed the conversation, grow a strong disrespect of Stoick, Snivels even walking away and sticking his tail up at Stoick.

The Vikings ship off for the dragons' nest, with Toothless held captive on board, much to Hiccup's distress. Astrid and Blaze join him, along with Snivels and the rest of Hiccup's Pokémon. Astrid asks Hiccup why he didn't kill Toothless when he had the chance, but he is reluctant to say so. Snivels and Astrid manage to persuade him to tell them the reason, which he says was because Toothless looked as scared as he had been, for him it was like looking into a mirror. With his friends' encouragement, Hiccup comes up with an idea to save Toothless.

The Vikings start searching for the nest, encountering the Ghost of Dragon Island once again. Beartic is unable to land an attack due to the Ghost's intangibility, and the Ghost forcefully tells them to leave. Stoick refuses, while asking Gobber if he'd rather take orders from Snivels. The Ghost is shocked at the mention of Snivels's name, leaving the Vikings to return to the nest. Stoick uses the retreating Ghost as a guide to reach the nest successfully.

Back on Berk, Hiccup gathers the Viking teens and introduces them to the dragons. They are reluctant at first, but get the hang of their new companions. Snivels also reunites with his Speed Stinger pack, saying to a shocked Astrid, "And you thought I made it up!"

The Vikings are able to drive the dragons out of the nest, but are surprised when they don't fight. The Ghost throws hateful insults at Stoick before the Red Death emerges from the nest. Realizing his mistake too late, Stoick tries to distract the Red Death to buy the rest some time, while the giant dragon burns up the ships with its fire. The teens then arrive on the dragons from the arena, with Snivels running with the Speed Stingers and the rest of Hiccup's Pokémon riding on Verne. Hiccup gives orders to the Viking teens to keep the Red Death busy while he goes to get Toothless. He finds the Night Fury and tells Astrid to help the others. He is unable to free Toothless before the ship breaks, and nearly drowns trying to help his friend. He is saved by Stoick, who is stopped by the Ghost when he tries to get Toothless. The Ghost angrily tells him that he's done enough before going to save Toothless itself. The Ghost is successful in saving the dragon, who briefly reunites with Hiccup before the two get ready to battle. Stoick apologizes to Hiccup, taking back his disowning, before the latter rides Toothless into battle.

The Red Death attempts to eat Astrid and the Deadly Nadder, but they are saved by Hiccup and Toothless. Astrid falls off the Nadder, but is saved by Blaze and Flygon, and placed on the ground safely. The Ghost appears again, and is asked by Stoick what its identity is. The Ghost then reveals itself to be a Serperior, who Blaze recognizes as Salene, the deceased Pokémon Queen and Snivels's mother. Salene throws more insults at Stoick before Snivels rushes to meet her. Salene recognizes her son and the two embrace, having reunited at last. Salene bids goodbye, as she can now rest in peace knowing her son is safe, and promises Snivels to say hello to the Legendary Pokémon Arceus, the Guardian of the Heavens.

Hiccup and Toothless continue to battle the Red Death, leading it to fly after them into the clouds, where they are almost invisible due to Toothless's dark scales. They attack the Red Death's wings, puncturing holes in them, but Toothless's prosthetic catches on fire. They lead the Red Death downward, with Toothless firing a plasma blast down its throat as it is about to breathe fire at them. The Red Death can't pull up due to its injured wings, and explodes when making contact with the ground. It is then that Toothless's prosthetic burns to ashes, leaving the Night Fury unable to fly.

Arceus watches the battle from in the Heavens, where Salene reunites with her husband, Svenan, and her eleven deceased children. Salene keeps her promise to Snivels and says hello to Arceus, who speaks to Toothless telepathically, saying that Hiccup has to live. Toothless hears the message and proceeds to save his friend as they fall.

Snivels is able to pick up Toothless's scent, but can't pinpoint where Hiccup is. He runs ahead and finds Toothless, but the dust prevents anyone from finding them. Snivels gets on Verne's back and rides him into the sky, getting over his fear of heights, and launches a SolarBeam so that his friends can find them. It works, and they are able to find Toothless. Toothless then reveals Hiccup wrapped in his wings, and Hiccup is revealed to have survived. Snivels reunites with Amber, who kisses him. It is eventually revealed that Hiccup didn't escape unscathed, though it's unclear of what his injury is.

The group of friends - now officially called the Go-Getters - returns to Berk with the Vikings. Astrid leaves to have some time alone in the forest, but Snivels follows her. Astrid reveals her feelings for Hiccup, and confesses that she never felt that way about anyone. Snivels tells her that her friends are willing to help her, and that they're all a family. He also tells her that Hiccup has similar feelings towards her, making her feel better. He then leaves, saying that he and his friends "have some work to do."

Three weeks later, Hiccup awakens to find Toothless by his bed. The excited Night Fury leaps into the rafters, causing a frustrated Hiccup to get out of bed. Before he does so, he realizes that part of his left leg is missing, and has been replaced with a metal prosthetic. Toothless helps Hiccup walk to the door, which the latter opens to find the village full of dragons. Stoick greets his son and confesses that they really needed Hiccup all along, and Gobber tells Hiccup that Snivels and his friends had made the prosthetic for him. Astrid then punches Hiccup in the arm for scaring her, and cuts off his complaining with a kiss. Blaze and Snivels, who see the kiss, persuade Astrid to confess her feelings to Hiccup. Astrid hesitantly professes her love to Hiccup, who professes his love to her in return. Snivels and Blaze, both proud of their trainers, evolve into Servine and Blaziken, respectively. The rest of the Go-Getters reunite with Hiccup, while Snivels gives him a new saddle and tail fin for Toothless. The Night Fury happily joins them, and Snivels helps Hiccup with the saddle and tail fin by using a new move: Cut. The story ends with the Go-Getters flying on their dragons.