Skullcrusher was Stoick's dragon, a dragon Hiccup knew his dad cared about so much. Not only that, but finding Skullcrusher brought Hiccup and Stoick closer together.

And then, Stoick dies. Hiccup defeats Drago and takes back Berk without really any time to process. And then he sees Skullcrusher there, all alone, without a rider, yet strong despite his grief. And he sees Eret, this proud dragon hunter who's been humbled by learning that he was wrong about dragons, who feels out of place on an island full of people who love dragons.

It must have hurt Hiccup, to pair these two up -- he's just lost his father and he's only just met Eret. He doesn't even really know if he's trustworthy.

But Hiccup puts the two of them together anyways, because that's what they needed.

Skullcrusher needed a rider, and Eret needed a dragon.

So Hiccup puts away his pain in order to help others deal with theirs.

Ilya's Memories - Whatever Fits Together by Skullcrusher

You know what I love the most about Crushing it ? It's how much of a reverse parallel to How to pick your dragon it is.

First there is Stoick overall attitude towards flying a dragon.

In How to pick your dragon he is very much against it instead being dead set in traditions and the Viking way. He ignores every suggestion from Hiccup about the advantages it would give him and the village unless it is parroted back by Gobber.

In Crushing it, it is shown Stoick very much missed flying as he had made sure Thornado's saddle stayed shiny despite his friend being gone for three whole years.

He even said so when him and Hiccup were looking for the Rumblehorn: "Ah, it's good to be back up in the air again."

Then, once Hiccup did get on a dragon, Stoick basically took over Hiccup, riding Toothless in his place and cutting off his son when he tries to give direction to his friends leading to one of Hiccup's famous quip : "Can anybody even see me back here ?!"

In Crushing it, the opposite happens.

When Hiccup and Stoick arrived back on the Edge and are apprised of the current situation, Stoick, being Chief, immediately try to take charge. Except, this time, Hiccup is the one who cut him off and gives instructions to his friends while his father is caught by surprise.

Finally there is the way he behaves towards the dragon threat in each episode.

In How to pick your dragon, Stoick is so sure as to why the Thunderdrum is attacking their fishing ships while Hiccup thinks there maybe another reason and it's only when they discovered Thornado's injured friend they realised Hiccup had been the one who was right.

In Crushing it, it is Hiccup who is so sure of what the behaviour of the Rumblehorn means and that, he maybe forced to deal with him the old fashioned away while Stoick is the one who realised something doesn't add up and turns out to be proven right.

And, in the end he bonds with his two dragon friends because they all shared the same desire to protect what they hold dear at all cost.

Earthspark season 2 if the decepticons had gotten a redemption arc

Stoick doesn’t even HAVE Skullcrusher until the SECOND MOVIE. why are we selling toys of movie 1 Stoick with some random Rumbehorn (bc, as we can all see, unless they’re changing his design (for the worse), this is not Skullcrusher)???

why are the dragon designs so ugly? whose creative call was “let’s give a bunch of the dragons potbellies”?

if i could find the words to say (favourite lyrics from favourite love songs)