Of Monsters and Men

Everyone was frozen on the spot. It was deathly quiet, save for the threatening growl of the red furred werewolf. Which, they had just shockingly discovered, was in fact Johnny. No one was more thunderstruck than his girlfriend, Mavis. She stared at him with wide eyes, taking in the smell that was part Johnny and part wolf.

She took her eyes off her boyfriend to round on Marcus. "You turned my boyfriend?!" she shouted in fury.

"He was dying, I didn't know what else to do!" he said helplessly. "I didn't want you to get here, and find...a corpse!" he argued. Mavis glared at the wolf, before turning back to Johnny. How could this have happened? What was she supposed to tell his parents?

"Mavis?" Jack asked behind her. She turned around to face her friend, all of whom were staring at her, wondering what they were supposed to do now. Mavis looked away before letting out a breath. Then she clenched her fist and steeled her nerves before she stepped forward. She drew her plasma blaster and aimed it at the lock. Then she fired, destroying it before she reached for the door.

"Mavis be careful," Jack warned. "He's just turned. You know wolves who just turned can't control it that well."

She ignored him before she opened the cage door and stepped inside. Johnny growled at her, baring his teeth and looking at her through golden eyes. Mavis swallowed, knowing she was taking a gamble, but hoping that deep down Johnny was still in there.

"Johnny. Babe. Its me, Mavis," she whispered as she extended a hand out. Johnny tensed, hackled rising as his growl grew deeper and more menacing. "I finally found you. I was so worried," Mavis continued. "I'm so glad you're ok," she said with a sincere smile. Suddenly Johnny stood up and stalked forward, Mavis backed away, hands out. "Nonononononono, Johnny stop!" And as if finally heeding her words Johnny stopped right before her, looking down. His growling had stopped, and now he only cocked his head curiously at her. He sniffed at her, causing her to smile.

"Yeah, its me baby," she continued. She extended her hands out to touch his chest, hoping her touch would calm him. "Its ok. You're ok. I found you." Johnny whined before lowering himself down to eye level. She smiled at him. She didn't care if he was different. He was still her Johnny. Still her zing. And she loved him.

The others let out a breath in relief, which caught Johnny attention. And while he knew Mavis was no threat he could discern that her firends were also just there to help. Everyone saw him tense up, a growl emanating from his throat as he prepared to pounce at them.

Mavis' eyes widened as she shouted for him to stop. "JOHNNY NO!" But it was too late as Johnny leapt at them, claws and fangs out.

Now no one wanted to hurt Johnny. He was Mavis' boyfriend after all and they'd spent the last few days trying to find him. But they couldn't stand by and let themselves be attacked.

So unfortunately they had no choice but to act. Rapunzel stepped forward, cocking back her fist before throwing it forward. She caught Johnny right in his muzzle, sending him back and actually through the cage bars before slamming into the wall. Johnny gave a whine before going still, golden eyes closing as he blacked out.

"Johnny!" Mavis cried in worry. She was about to rush to him when Fury shot some bolas at him, ensnaring him for added measure. Mavis rounded on them with a snarl. Only to be met with Hiccup's stern stare as he opened up his helmet.

"It had to be done Mavis. You know that. He's too dangerous right now, too unpredictable," Hiccup said firmly.

"Yeah M. You know how new wolves are. He would have attacked us," Jack added, putting in his knowledge that Mavis knew to be true.

Mavis stared at them, but in the end her shoulders sagged. She nodded in agreement before checking on Johnny. "You're right. He's too dangerous right now. He needs to learn to control it." She looked back to Hiccup. "Looks like we have to go back to the hotel for a while. Can you give us a ride?" Hiccup nodded. He stepped forward before kneeling down to pick up Johnny. He threw him over his shoulder before carrying him out.

Before they left Mavis shot out Marcus' lock. She looked into his eyes, seeing the guilt and shame of what he'd done. "Thank you," she said with a nod. Though she didn't like it, she had to accept it. Marcus had no choice, he did what he could do and it saved him. So she couldn't be mad at him. He gave her a nod, and with that she left him.

Downstairs Vlad's monsters were all but defeated. Leaving the team's allies to start hiding the signs of the battle. This couldn't get out, or else all monster would be in danger.

As they were walking Mavis felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked back only to see nothing there.

"You find him?" the Invisible Man asked. Mavis nodded. "Good, wait who's the werewolf?"

"Its Johnny," Mavis revealed.

"Say what?!" Mavis told him everything. Invisible Man absorbed it all, in the end he had nothing to say.

"Hey Invisible Man?" The Invisible Man hummed. "Was my dad Vlad's sire." She heard him suck in a breath, telling her all she needed to know.

"We've lived a long time. We've all done things we regret. Your dad- he was just trying to give a man a second chance." Mavis nodded, so it was true. Still, she didn't feel sorry for his death. Vlad had been a monster. He'd abused his second chance at life her father had given him. He had to be destroyed.

"So what now Mavis?"

"I'm going to take Johnny back to the hotel. Try to get uncle Wayne to teach him how to control it."

"Sounds like a good plan. Good luck to you." Mavis nodded and smiled before jogging to catch up with her friends. When they got outside Hiccup called the Timberjack. They loaded into it, gently setting the unconscious Johnny down before Hiccup directed them out of the city.

"Its going to be a long flight," Hiccup said. Everyone nodded before settling back for the ride. They succeeded. They'd won.

And they'd done it together.

Meanwhile, outside the city in the middle of the desert Le Fou body was slowly healing. He smiled to himself. With Vlad gone he'd finally be the big boss. And now that he knew how to make every Vampire a pureblood he'd go after the daughter of Dracula again. After all, he had all the time in the world...

Were those coyotes? Why were they surrounding him? Why were they licking their chops?

Why did they look hungry?

About eight hours later the sun had risen and the team was still on their way to the hotel. They'd slept as Hiccup set the ship to autopilot. And now they were awake and awaiting their arrival. They heard a groan from the back of the TImberjack, they all turned to see Johnny, back in human form, and slowly coming to. He blearily blinked his eyes before they opened and took in his surroundings.

"Johnny," Mavis said happily as she came forward to embrace him. Johnny looked up at Mavis in shock.

"Mavis? What happened? Last thing I remember-" Mavis placed a finger to his lips to silence him. She took a breath before looking up with an apologetic smile. Then she told him everything, what had happened, what Marcus had done to save him, and what he now was. Johnny absorbed it all with a slack jaw.

"So I'm a werewolf now? Like your uncle Wayne?" Mavis nodded. Johnny remained silent, likely trying to determine whether he should be happy about this new development or not.

"Its not all bad," Mavis chimed in. Johnny looked to her. She smiled before leaning down to kiss him. "You're immortal now. Like me," she offered, hoping that would be a silver lining. And to her elation Johnny's face broke into a wide grin.

"You're right." He moved in to kiss her again when Mavis leaned back, face serious.

"Still, for now we're going to have to put our travel plans on hold. We're going back to the hotel, at least until you learn to control it. Otherwise..." she trailed off awkwardly.

"You might end up eating someone," Jack finished for her.

Johnny sighed before nodding in agreement, Mavis beamed before kissing him once more. Happy to have him back. The others watched with smiles, happy to have reunited the couple.

Suddenly Hiccup's head was turned by Merida. She smiled down at him, eyes filled with boundless affection.

"Come here you," she said as she planted a kiss on his lips. Hiccup smiled against the kiss as he wrapped a hand around her head.

"Aww," Rapunzel cooed. She looked to Jack before leaning in. But to her dismay Jack leaned back.

"Still haven't showered babe," he said as he looked to her filthy attire. Rapunzel pouted and crossed her arms over her chest. She couldn't wait to take a bath.

Toothless looked up to his master and Merida and wagged his tail in delight, glad to see them happy and together. Then he felt something wet on the side of his muzzle. He turned to see Orthrus, whining at him as she wagged her tail. She gave a yip in excitement.

Toothless snorted and growled at her before getting up and moving.

A few hours later Hiccup set the Timberjack down at the edge of some woods. Somewhere inside was the hotel. Mavis had an umbrella to shield her from the sun as she and Johnny walked to the edge. Johnny looked back to Hiccup and Jack.

"Thanks guys. I owe you one," he said in gratitude. The boys both waved it off, saying it was nothing. Meanwhile, Mavis was saying goodbye to Rapunzel and Merida.

"So give me a call sometime, ok?" Mavis said with a smile. She was happy to have some female friends now. "And take care of those idiots for me will ya?" she asked as she jerked a thumb back at Hiccup and Jack. The girls laughed before nodding. They gave her one last hug before she turned to approach Hiccup and Jack.

She smiled up at them, but she could feel hot tears beginning to form. She enjoyed being with them again. Both as herself and Calamity. It brought back memories of all the good times they had defending Berk. She could never have asked for better friend than these two. She knew that. And now she'd always have one more memory of their adventure together. She stepped forward before wrapping her arms around both their necks.

"I love you guys. Thank you, for everything," she whispered to them. She heard them sniff, and when she pulled away she saw them both holding back tears of their own. She chuckled and was about to turn around when Hiccup patted her on the shoulder. She looked back to him as he presented her a metallic suitcase.

She eyed it curiously before looking up to him.

"New costume. Also made you some new guns," he explained. Her eyes widened.

"I can't-"

"Its like you said," Jack interrupted with a smile.

"You are Calamity Bane," Hiccup finished. "Even if you're not with Frost and Fury." Mavis stared at them in shock. But then her face broke into a wide smile. She accepted the case before hugging them one last time.

Finally, with that she turned and looped her arm around Johnny's as they walked into the dark forest. The others watched them go, waiting until they disappeared among the foliage and trees before they walked back to the Timberjack.

They all silently wished the couple luck before they headed back home.

They'd had enough of magic and monsters, and now they just wanted to do something a little more...human.

The End