Anything Is Possible

Rated: M
Pairing: Hiccup & OC-Runa
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the HTTYD or Frozen characters. Everything belongs to its original creator. However, I do own all my characters.

Chapter 38.

=Normal POV=
[December 18; Night]
[Hunter Isle; Great Hall]

Honestly, Hiccup was having the time of his life so far and Gobber could see it. Hiccup loved that he didn't have to hide his powers and that everyone accepted and supported him despite knowing nothing about them. No one had even asked for an explanation; they all just saw that it was cool and mystical. Hiccup was smiling again, which made Viggo, Ryker, and Gobber happy. There was no doubt that Hiccup was probably still dealing with a lot from his time captured and Berk's betrayal, but he was trying to get through it by staying happy and busy. The three older males were sure that there would be harder days for Hiccup, but they were all ready to help him through. And were certain the rest of the tribe would too when Hiccup was ready to reveal what he'd been through. The morning and afternoon were fun; Hiccup and Gobber spent both with the Grimborn family, then helped Viggo and Ryker make sure things for the feast were set. Hiccup felt like he should help out, and Gobber was mainly helping and observing to ensure Hiccup would be alright when he left in another week or so.

Gobber seemed positive that Viggo and Ryker were real friends to Hiccup, Gobber understood that when Hiccup explained to him that Viggo asked and trusted Hiccup to use his powers to save Runa, then made it better by saying he believed in Hiccup. Ryker had said it too. And perhaps what ultimately made Gobber see that Hiccup was good on Hunter Isle, was that the tribe didn't betray Hiccup like Berk did when his powers were revealed in full. It had been the same situation, Hiccup protecting someone. The difference this time was Hiccup having control. Gobber suspected Hiccup might have had it all along if he stayed focused, but understood that the moment Astrid's life was in danger after Hiccup had been hiding his powers for the last sixteen or so years; they raged in compliance with Hiccup's emotions to protect the woman he loved. Hiccup didn't put that barrier up of his own will, that's just what happened.

Gobber appreciated that Viggo and Ryker were willing to help Hiccup learn what else he could do and control his powers. That is something Gobber and Gothi wanted Stoick to do for Hiccup, or let them help Hiccup if he wouldn't. Gobber would talk to the brothers before he left about the best ways to help Hiccup since he couldn't be there, but Gobber planned to try and visit Hiccup often now that he knew where he was and would speak to Hiccup about staying in contact with Terror Mail. At the moment, Gobber, Hiccup, and the dragon hunters were all in the great hall. It was just now 7:30 pm, everyone had already eaten supper together. Now, the tribe and two guests were relaxing, drinking, and talking. There were smiles and laughter all around; it was a wonderful time and the night was still young. Currently, Hiccup was actually sitting with other members of the tribe besides the Grimborn family, usually, he wasn't anywhere away from them, so that told Gobber Hiccup was becoming more comfortable with everyone.

Hiccup was seemingly having a good time talking to others from the tribe while Gobber remained with Viggo, Ryker, Truda, and Hertha at their table which faced the others in the Great Hall. All the Grimborn children were hanging with friends, and Runa was oddly close to Hiccup no matter where he ventured in the hall. It was likely her gratefulness to Hiccup saving her earlier, and also maybe her having him be more social with other people than just her family.

"It's good to see him talking with others," Ryker mentioned to Viggo.

"Yes, it's only taken a month or so, but it took time on the ships too," Viggo reminded calmly. "Who can blame him for being quiet and reserved after what he'd been through," the man added.

"Right," Ryker nodded in agreement.

"You stated that Hiccup has been with you since June, dear?" Hertha questioned, looking at her husband.

Ryker nodded. "Yes, the very first days into the month is when we found Hiccup unconscious in the water," He informed.

"He's becoming comfortable being around people who aren't judging every single thing he does," Gobber pointed out to the brothers and their wives. "Everything he knows has been turned inside out and upside down; it's common for someone to not know how to respond to all that and sit in silence to figure it out," He added.

"Hiccup has said he's never had it easy," Viggo claimed, recalling previous conversations. "Always had good things to say about you, though," He smiled.

"Of course, I've never done him any wrong," Gobber remarked, arms folded over one another. "Maybe teased him a bit, but only to make him laugh. It was never to hurt him as the others did. I also encouraged him to be himself, and not try so hard to be something he wasn't. I knew that boy was different from the day he was born. It's a shame it took everyone else fifteen years to see how smart, caring, and useful he is. And it bothers me that his abilities caused them to abandon him a second time. I don't blame him for leaving, I'd have done the same," Gobber explained.

"He did not deserve all he got, from what we've heard," Ryker said.

Gobber shook his head. "No, he didn't deserve it at all. Not from the Hooligans, his former friends, or his father…" He huffed. "And if I ever get my hand and hook on the people who captured him…" The man paused.

"We're with you on that," Viggo nodded, understanding the implication of what would happen.

"Do you know what he went through?" Truda wondered. "We only know betrayed by his tribe and captured,"

"I know everything. Hiccup doesn't keep secrets from me," Gobber stated calmly, and with respect. "Hasn't he said anything to you?"

Ryker and Viggo shook their heads, so did Truda and Hertha. "Hiccup says he can't remember much, other than captured, tortured, and knowing Johann was part of it all," Viggo clarified.

"Hiccup can't remember some parts of what happened, but he's mostly recovered his memories. A lot of which came while telling me. I'm sure he'll tell you when he's ready. It's not that he doesn't trust you, but I'm the one who basically raised him," Gobber reassured.

"We understand. Family before friends," Ryker agreed. "We saw the state he was in when we recovered him from the water, and we even told Hiccup that when we capture people; we never leave them in such bad condition, also that we let them go."

"I know, Hiccup told me about all your talks," Gobber concurred. "And how you earned his trust. I believe I owe you thanks for saving him and allowing him to remain with you thus far,"

"His company has been insightful," Viggo chuckled. "Very bright and resourceful young man," He added with a smile.

"We've learned quite a bit in various topics from him," Ryker agreed with a nod.

"Hiccup has that effect of people, part of why I believe he'll change the world as we know it," Gobber laughed a little. "I've always seen what he's capable of, and there's probably a lot more hidden in those powers of his. I hope he'll realize that and stop feeling like his gifts are a curse,"

"Ah, that comes from not understanding why he has these abilities," Viggo mentioned. "I can't blame him there, waking up one day and seeing yourself with something you don't understand, can't control, and have no idea where it came from would probably scare me too."

"Can I just say how wrong it was for his father to not tell everyone," Ryker scoffed.

"Believe me, I know," Gobber sighed. "I understood hiding the information until Hiccup was older, and had maybe gained some control. But Stoick hid all of it from the tribe, and then made Hiccup bury his powers under feeling nothing at all. All his powers did were continue to grow stronger, uncontrolled. The worst thing was having them suppressed, laying dormant until the one time his emotions slipped and his powers sparked up," He closed his eyes.

"And because they've never seen anything like it; they got scared?" Hertha inquired softly.

Gobber nodded to her. "Your people have never seen it either, but they didn't react the way Berk did. First, it was fear and shock, but they were open to things if Hiccup could control it. And he couldn't; they tested him that entire week…And of course, Hiccup had no control, which is why I laid into Stoick the morning after we realized Hiccup ran away," Gobber answered.

"And the lack of control is why the tribe felt he was dangerous, and that they weren't safe with him around," Ryker asked to confirm as Gobber nodded.

"It's shocking to us too, but he did a good deed with his abilities," Truda reasoned.

"Aye, he did a good deed when his powers were revealed too, saving the woman he loved from weapons falling on her, and himself. But the tribe only saw that Hiccup was different, which should have come as no surprise since he always has been, but this was too different, apparently," Gobber rolled his eyes. "He put up a barrier to save his betrothed,"

Viggo and Ryker looked at Gobber quickly now. "Betrothed?" The two asked.

"Yes, or didn't you know that Hiccup was betrothed to Astrid?" Gobber arched a brow as the two shook their heads.

"When was all this?" Ryker questioned.

"Stoick announced it on Snoggletog after the kids came back from Dragon's Edge when the battle with you was over," Gobber remarked. "Hiccup and Astrid had been dating about three months, and since Hiccup is heir to the tribe, and was in a stable relationship with the woman he's literally been after since he was probably twelve, Stoick figured there was no reason to wait longer and he'd been planning to train Hiccup to become chief too," He began to explain as the other four listened.

"That was the thing that had the village so busy after Snoggletog last year…" Hiccup cut in as they all looked at him now. "Dad announcing mine and Astrid's betrothal. Everything with my powers came out the week before the wedding…And then Astrid left me the night before…So I decided to leave the island altogether,"

"So that's what you were talking about with her lying…" Viggo noted as Hiccup nodded softly.

"She told me her parents made her break the betrothal because they were worried about her safety, which I'm not doubting, but if she really loved and supported me as she had with everything else…She would have told her parents no. They had no say in her decisions once the marriage contract was finalized; the only two people who break the contract once it's signed and all negotiations pieces are met, and or exchanged, are the two people getting married," Hiccup said gently.

"So even if her parents did want her to leave you," Hertha frowned.

"It was still her decision to break the contract in fear of her life, which is the only way to end the betrothal aside from unfaithfulness or death," Truda finished. "And she's lying about her parents making her because they have no say, also that she believes you don't know about all that stuff?"

Hiccup nodded to confirm for her that belief. "I cared that she left me, but I think I was hurt more by her lying to my face, twice. I asked her right out if she was leaving because she was scared, and she told me it was because her parents made her,"

"Probably because she didn't expect you to know such laws and traditions as you never had any interest in learning all," Gobber rolled his eyes. "Oh, and who is to thank for all that knowledge you have?"

Hiccup shot him an unamused look. "Yes, father, thank you for giving me such enticing reading material while I sat in your shop every day from dawn to dusk,"

"Told you it would come in handy one day," Gobber grinned. "Where would you be without me?"

Hiccup had a sarcastic remark lined up and was debating on using it. "Fewer burns, and less of an alcoholic," He smirked at his mentor.

"Why you little-!" Gobber reached for Hiccup as he shifted to standing behind Ryker, causing the Grimborn parents to laugh at the antics of Hiccup and Gobber. "You are so lucky I love you…Anyone else would have been hit with the hook,"

"Yeah, I'd probably have fewer headaches caused by you hitting me too!" Hiccup teased with a smile.

"Me? Never." Gobber folded his arms.

"Riiight, and I'm the king of the Archipelago," Hiccup rolled his eyes.

"Probably could be with those powers, coupled by riding the most feared dragon known to humans," Ryker commented.

"Pfft, I didn't even want to be chief…" Hiccup stated. "What makes you think I want to rule the Archipelago?" He asked.

"Power?" Viggo offered.

Hiccup shook his head. "It's not about power for me. I don't want to be well-known with everyone bowing at my feet in fear of me," Hiccup started. "I don't want to lead people. I don't want to fight. I just want there to be peace, which I know has to be fought for and obviously maintained…But more than that…I just want acceptance. It's all I've ever wanted. Just people accepting me as I am…I don't want to have to hide who I am for people to like me. I don't even care if they do or not…I just want to be understood as the different one, and accepted as such,"

"You don't have to hide with us," Ryker reminded.

"Doesn't mean I'm accepted. I didn't think I had to hide with Berk either, look how fast that changed when my powers came out?" Hiccup informed.

"You showed them here, there hasn't been any rioting to remove you," Brynjar interjected, joining at the table with his family. Agnar too, but Runa and Vera were still hanging around the hall.

"Opinions can be kept to themselves, it doesn't have to be said out loud. My powers still brought the area to silence, with all the same looks of shock. My abilities could still scare people, just as they did before because I don't have control…Maybe some over the floating of objects or people…That doesn't account for anything else I might be able to do and can't control," Surmised Hiccup. "It's nothing against any of you, but I had hope twice that things would be okay…And all hoping did was prove that I should never have held on to such a false feeling…" He looked down some.

"So like what we had to do on the ship with earning your trust; you require proof you can hope again, and proof that it won't be in vain?" Viggo pondered. Hiccup nodded. "And no offense taken, Hiccup. You're absolutely right to feel the way you do after all that's happened. But remember what I told you on the boat before we arrived here," He paused as Hiccup looked at him. "My people do not judge, and we prefer everyone to be themselves, no matter how alike or different. Also…If you can trust Ryker and me, you can trust our word on all this," He smiled.

"I'll bear it in mind, but actions speak louder than words. I know you, Ryker, and the crew from the ships have not passed judgment on me…But that was the ship, and this is the island…So I have to see it here too," Hiccup admitted with a shrug.

"Hey, we get it," Brynjar chuckled a bit.

"We'll show ya that you're good with us, but don't forget we've said it too," Agnar winked with a thumbs up.

Hiccup smiled, nodding. "Hiccup!" Runa called to him. "Come here," Hiccup excused himself from the head table and moved near Runa, evidently to meet one of her friends that he hadn't met yet as she returned the night before from a trip to visiting family on another island.

"Berk and Johann's betrayal is why he doesn't trust easily anymore, right?" Ryker questioned.

Gobber nodded. "Yes,"

"Gobber, may I ask something…And I understand if you say no and it's up to him to reveal it in his own time…But what happened to him while captured? I don't need details, just the main idea," Viggo asked.

"Why do you need to know before he tells you?" Gobber replied.

"He suffers a lot of nightmares, and want to understand where they're coming from. We saw a lot of damage, but can't make out what it would have been from," Ryker added.

"I'll accept that answer," Gobber nodded as he sighed and closed his eyes. "It was bad. As I said, not even he can remember everything in detail, but he knows what everything was," The man continued. "I'll give it easy, and don't tell him I told you. If the day he decides to come out about it, don't act like you know…I'm only telling you because I won't be here to help him through this to keep for his cover of not telling Berk where he's at…" Gobber warned as they nodded. "He was beaten, starved, whipped, cut, burned…" He paused, feeling like the basic method was enough to say. "And raped." The man finished quietly.

"We suspected that might have been the case. Our head healer, Olga, was the one to examine him when we brought Hiccup aboard; she said it was awful without mentioning the acts committed." Viggo sighed some.

"She did mention he healed faster than expected," Ryker remarked.

"I believe that might be due to his abilities," Viggo responded, now knowing that he has them.

"It's possible that he possesses healing powers that activated on their own accord to keep their host, in this case, Hiccup, safe," Hertha suggested.

"Didn't you mention he burned his hand that day at the Southern Markets forge and his hand was basically healed just a couple of days later when it should have taken a few weeks?" Truda asked.

"When was this?" Gobber asked.

"Over a month ago now. We were in the Southern Markets, Hiccup was making his fire sword and shield in the forge there. We scared him by accident and he burned the hell out of his hand. But just a couple days later; it was fine as if nothing happened," Viggo explained.

"It's a healing ability, for sure. Not one I think he realizes, though. It happened a lot when he worked with me in the forge and got injured; his powers would almost activate while he slept and he'd be fine the next day, or some later on," Gobber informed. "I've never seen a physical glow or anything; I'd just notice it was better and crack a joke that nothing keeps him down. His father didn't want me drawing any attention to his powers, or like Hiccup does; he'd ask questions and Stoick was afraid it would get out." The man sighed, rolling his eyes. "Regardless…Don't bring up what I told you happened to him. I told you so you'd know and maybe can ease into him talking, and letting you help him get through it,"

"We'll do what we can. This has been what we've wanted to do all this time, just help him get passed things and live a somewhat normal and happy life again," Viggo reassured. "You have nothing to worry about, my friend. We only want to help him. And you know we accept and support him too."

"I trust in that. Now, let's get on happier topics and enjoy the rest of the holiday," Gobber said as the others nodded and sure enough; they went back to talking about other subjects and enjoying Snoggletog. The celebration closed around 11:30 pm with many drunk and tired, but happy too. Hiccup crashed with Gobber at the guest house, and the Grimborn's went home. That was it for the rest of the night, peaceful, and everyone excitedly ready for a new year to begin.