Ch20: Too Much To Ask

I don't own HTTYD and charaters. But only here do I OOC and OC

Once we heard the people coming towards us Toothless quickly took cover. He already had most of my stuff set up on him so it was going to look like I didn't have much on me. I'm also injured so they shouldn't see me as a warrior.

It'll all help me face these people. I shouldn't appear to be much of anything to them so it' will hopefully mean I can avoid any fighting.

If I do need to however I have Toothless somewhere near to either help me fight or run. But for now I'll wait and see. I keep their focus on me then they should have no need to look around for Toothless. If they say that they heard talking I can say I was thinking out loud or talking to myself.

The first person that appears nearly causes my heart to jump from my throat. But not by their presence but by their appearance.

Astrid!?

She was probably only 3 years older than me, so about 17 or 18. She had blond hair tied in a thick braid, basic Viking armor in green and red with a long sword on her back. She looked like a freaking older version of Astrid! The only difference was she had forest green colored eyes.

After she poked her head to look at me the other person she came with popped up next to her. I had the same reaction as I had when I looked at the girl. Scruffy red hair, lanky body, dressed in blue and brown, and about the same age as the girl before him. The guy looked like me if I was older, but with two differences, he had cerulean blue eyes and he was missing his right arm.

In my head and to my eyes I was looking at a different pair of Astrid and Hiccup.

I stare at them as they stare back at me. I'm wrapped up in bandages so they probably can't make out my features.

"See I told you I heard something." The girl was the first to break the staring.

"Hey I heard it too, I just didn't think it was a person." The guy retorted.

"Hey, if you're gonna argue could you do it elsewhere. Otherwise I might have some questions." I tell them.

"Right uhh who are you?" The guy asked first.

"And I thought I had the first question." I tell him.

"Not when you're outnumbered here. So you get to answer us first." The girl remarked.

"Fine." Better not to poke the bear. So what do I tell them?

"I'm Hiccup. And you two?"

The guy answers me. "I'm Chapskin and this is Shazz."

"Ok."

"Good."

"Uh huh."

...

Well this is going nowhere.

I try to engage them again. They seem to be wary about my presence. If this is their Island then I'm trespassing. If they deem me at threat (though I don't know why or how considering how scrawny I look) then they could try to attack. I've got back up if they try anything but it doesn't do me much good if I don't know what the situation is. I could end up making a possibly good situation bad.

"So, may I ask a question or two now?" I ask them.

They look at each other then back at me nodding, giving me the go ahead.

"Where are we?"

"A forest." The older boy answers. Of course we are. Apparently this guy's got a bit of sarcasm in his blood.

"Right a forest, I wasn't sure. I could have sworn I was having a picnic with my brother in a beautiful cove next to a lake."

"Sorry, but you do have the majestic beauty of the snow blanketed forest."

"I still prefer my lake side view. But that's just me."

"You know I do know this one spot on a cliff overlooking the sea. It breathtaking at sunset."

"I knew a place like that, but rather sunset it was better at sunrise."

"Sounds like another you preference."

"Probably right, but my view was always best when standing with some close." The memory of being at that cliff with Astrid as kids and with Toothless a few weeks back was a bright point that used to starts my day or just to relax with the smooth winds after a brutal day with whatever was the pain of the week.

That same quaint cliff was also the same one that Astrid and I last saw each other, and where she made a new promise to kill me.

"Yep, good times on that cliff." I add.

"Yeah I know what you mean. It was the first time the two of us OWW!" Chapskin was cut off from finishing his statement when Shazz punched him in the arm.

"You don't have to tell him that! Geez, what's up with you two? You're acting like two friends who haven't seen each other in years."

"Yeah, I'm sure I would have remembered mister one eye over here if we had."

"I don't think I would have forgotten that face either."

"Either way, you said your name was Hiccup, right. What are you doing here?"

"Just passing thru."

"By yourself?"

"Kind of. I'm only here to rest, I didn't know this place was inhabited."

"You must have landed on the far side of the island without knowing about the village."

"If you're by yourself than Shazz and I could take you to the village. I think you should. You look like you might need a healer to look at you.

"You sure? You don't have to like tie me up or anything?"

"Nah."

"But we could if it makes you feel better about coming with us." She adds to Chapskins answer.

"Nah, I have enough trouble walking already."

"Alright, then if you would follow us." The two of older teens turn around and direct me to walk with them. I put out the fire and start going their way. In the corner of my eye I see Toothless watch me go. I signal to him to do nothing.

Looking at the two just ahead of me I can tell their talking about me, but I can't hear what exactly it was they were saying.

I can't blame them for being suspicions and talking about me, I'm a stranger and an intruder to their home. I don't like it, it's too much like Berk and all the negative gossip they did around me. I won't complain about that now cause really I've been lucky they didn't just attack me before, but still doesn't feel right.

But what I really can't bring myself to look at is the two of them and how close they look. I really can't deny just how much they look like me and Astrid would in a few years. They just had some minor differences like their eyes, the way they dress, and how they behave around each other.

Really if I didn't know better I would say that I was looking at some weird future were I was still a member of Berk rather than hunted by them.

Johan was walking to the village healers hut. It's been a day since Hiccup left on his dragon.

Spitlout had just finished being treated for his new injuries he received from facing Hiccup. It was still hard to believe that little Hiccup had managed to drop one of Berks strongest warriors so effectively. He had never seemed much the fighter but more the intellectual type that thinks more then he acts, I always figured that's why he was such a good inventor. Always seemed to be like he was born to the wrong group of people.

But to face and take down someone like his uncle, he might have more Viking in him then others might have guessed. Even himself.

Once I'm in front of the hut, I knock and announce myself. "Mr. Jorgensen, It is Johan. You wished to see me?"

"Yes." His voice was soft and without any of the boast that Vikings have in their words. I step into the room he was in and observe his condition. He was laying down on a mat close to the fire. His head was bandaged tight around his eyes and multiple stiches were scattered across the rest of his face.

He had ten big pieces of black dragon scales which had to be pulled out of his eyes and face. I see the scales next to him in a water filled basin.

"Johan, I'm sure I don't have to tell you just how dangerous the situation is."

"I can figure. Hiccup is wanted by Berk correct?"

"Yes, he's been deemed a dangerous traitor who is in league with our most hated enemy."

"Dragons."

"Yes."

What does Berk intend to do about him? A bounty? Or perhaps you wish to go after him yourselves? To avenge the humiliation he's done to you."

"That is what I wish to talk to you about. I was hoping that you would be able to assist in spreading word of his new outlawed status. His father has even given permission to issue a formal bounty for all in the Archipelago. Berk will offer a hefty reward for him dead or alive. The reward will also be doubled if alive."

"Why is that? I would imagine that his death would be all you require. That certainly seemed to be your intent earlier."

"That portion was not my decision but of the chief. He believes that capturing him alive will prove useful in locating Dragon Island. I however am under the impression that he believes there is still a chance to bring him back as one of us. After today and the trickery he used, I'm certain that he truly has become one of them and will become an extreme threat later. He must be killed. This is why I would like to alter the bounty. Doubled if brought dead."

"Quite extreme but are you allowed to do that?"

"It's for the greater good. That boy has ruined my family's name and reputation, and his continued existence threatens the lives of all on Berk and in the Archipelago. He is the ultimate enemy, he must be eliminated."

"Again quiet extreme. So what is it you would like me to do?"

"I'd like you to help me spread the news and emphasize the level of danger that that boy represents to all the village as possible."

"That will have to wait till the ice thaws and we are able to leave port."

"I'm aware. But until then I would like to at least inform this village."

"And afterwards? What do you plan to do after you return to Berk?"

"I don't intend to return just yet. It would be a shame for me to return without completing my duty. I will travel to several villages to warn them before I return home."

"Ahh and you would like the assistance of my ship to deliver you to your destinations, correct. You will spread the news of his bounty to the islands that I trade with."

He nods in affirmation.

"Well I have no objection. You and Berk have been good customers so I don't mind helping at a discount."

"Discount?"

"Of course. I remind you that I will be dealing with a dangerous fugitive. Look what he did to you. There is significant risk to me and my business."

"So you will be charging me?!"

"Yes.

"This is important. You've seen the danger he poses! How can you expect to charge for doing the something good?!"

"It's nothing personal or anything wrong to do. Hiccup truly has become such a threat so doing anything to antagonize him would put my crew and I at risk. So naturally the great level of danger will require you to pay equal to the threat he poses. And I fear that the great danger he poses will make the fee rather high but again I am offering a discount just for you."

"You little! Ghaa ahshiaaah!" he tried to stand and pose some threat to me but his face must have hurt. His yelling seemed to aggravate his wounds because he held his face to try to hold the pain back. He fell back to his mat still holding his face.

"I think that make my point. It's a matter of loss and gain. I can help but I need insurances. I can't risk everything like this."

He stayed on the ground hands on his face but it looked like he was thinking about the deal. Personally I know the loss and gain in this deal better than he does. The boys flying a dragon and given the information I gave him he's probably halfway to Kalonna or Falden. There's no way they're going to catch him even if he does stay here. And all they spend on spreading the bounty will be my gain.

I actually don't feel like helping him or Berk. Personally and professionally. Personally I loath child abusers and torture defiantly fits the bill. Professionally, I'm sure that if Hiccup meets up with any of my brothers on his trip it will be a good profit like it was today. I looked over the plans he made and gave me and I have to say their unique even to my untrained eyes.

"Very well then. I will pay till I return to Berk. How much will it cost?"

"We can negotiate fees later. However I have a question."

"What is it Johan?"

"You're not hunting him for any other reason than Berk are you?"

"I have personal reasons to kill the boy myself."

"Really. Personal how?"

"I said it before that cursed boy has stolen my son's destiny. Hiccup and his inventions have made it so my boy can never become the chief like he should have."

MMM sounds like theirs something bad happening at Berk that has more to do with than just dragons. "Might I guess that it has to do with an intruder from a foreign land?"

His body stiffens hearing my question and in a whisper he finally responds. "What do you know?"

"Not too much just what I've discussed with"

"Hiccup!"

"No. Stoic and Gobber." He seemed to understand and motioned for me to continue. "I know that his inventions have him in some dangerous people's crosshairs. But that is all."

"The full story is how his inventing forced my son to give up his chiefdom rights. It was a chaotic series of events that that spawn has set into motion and now Berk is left without an heir all because of him."