Ch31: Everything good

I don't own HTTYD or it's sequel. I do make a few OC and OOC here in this story but within reason with reason.

"Lanie, that was bad."

"I will admit that that wake up was unique but it seems that things will improve for now. That is so long as Shazz tell everyone the real story and not some rage fueled opinion to discredit you."

"That is not what I'm talking about. You just lied to them and and gha! You told them something really bad."

"Hiccup what did you expect to tell them, the truth? We could still do that if that is what you are considering, but I thought that you wanted to keep Toothless a secret."

"I do! But Geez you shouldn't have told them that."

"Why not?"

"Did you not see her? Your daughter went from 'you bastard' to 'we got your back' like snap!"

"I still see no problem. It better that they accept you than be animus towards you."

"Yeah sure but that's sympathy that will turn really really bad once they learn the truth. I'm working with a dragon and they are Vikings, they don't mix well. Oh yeah and since they heard it from you they'll take you as our accomplice. They'll"

"Hunt me? Is that what is happening to you. Is Berk really trying to kill you? Is that what you were trying to avoid before?"

"It's not."

"Liar."

"I'm not."

"I do not like that I had to lie to Shazz and Chapskin. Thru them I lied to the whole village, and that was before you even woke up."

"Again you shouldn't have done that."

"But I did nonetheless. Do you know why?"

I can't answer that. I really have no clue why she would do that. She has a lot at risk and just as much to lose if Grissgom found out that she not only was lying to them but also hiding someone as dangerous and as wanted by Vikings as Toothless. He's a Night Fury, the person who kills him would become an instant legend. Even if she wasn't a fighter Lanie could still receive that glory if she turned us in.

To help a wounded stranger is one thing but to help his high risk friend was another, even she admitted that Toothless tried to hurt her yet I really don't feel any animosity from her towards him. So the only answer I can present as to why she lied "I don't know."

"I told you already, I will say it again but you need to know that I truly am your ally. I want to help you, both of you. I am sure there is a complicated reason that could be conjured if we take the time to think it out but that is nothing we need to contemplate right about now unless you really want to. Simple matter is that I am you're friend and like any friend I want to help."

"You shouldn't be doing that. It's too risky, it's not right for me to drag others into my, hhaa well for a lack of a better way to describe it, personally assumed war"

"War?!"

"Look that doesn't matter."

"Hiccup please don't tell me that you plan to do something like fight Berk for payback or something?"

"No I just….." I know what I want, I want to end all the fighting, change the way things are here in the Archepeligo. Show people the truth that we don't have to fight dragons. I call it a personal war because it's the only way to describe the level of danger, strife, and hardships it will take for me to finally achieve some semblance of peace here between Viking and dragon.

I just realized that I actually have made some progress on that. It's only one person but the fact that anyone at all other than me could go along with trusting a dragon shows that it can at least be done. It makes me feel that Toothless and I really can do it. But can I really trust her to help me do something that goes against everything she knows?

"No Lanie. I don't care about revenge or anything like that. No matter what I don't want to fight so long as I don't have to. What I want to do in life might as well be called war cause I know that what I want will be more difficult than anything I've done in my life. In fact it might be the most difficult thing anyone has ever tried to do here in the Meridian of Misery. Way I see it it's going to be me and Toothless against everyone else in the ultimate war of stubbornness tradition and wills."

"Three of us."

"Huh?"

"It will not be just you and Toothless. I hope you include me in your count. So the three of us will face this war of yours, along with anyone else that will help."

"You don't even know what it is. It's not anything you really need to bother with. Once I can I'll just leave. It'll be better the sooner I leave, it will cause less problems for you and everyone else here. After I'm gone everyone can just forget they met Berks most wanted."

"Do you really believe that?"

"That their hunting me down, absolutely. Both my dad and my uncle told me how badly they want me dead and I completely believe them. Look I've always been the outcast in my village. I know that I never belonged there so when it came to me joining Toothless it not only was easy for me to leave, it was easy for them to label me the enemy, their ultimate enemy. It's easy for them to forget me because I was never one of them. As for you and the rest of your tribe, you will forget me because it's the only way you'll be able to stay here and they will forget me because well they got better things to think about than some short term visitor."

"That's not right Hiccup. Meeting people doesn't mean that you will forget them the second their gone, especially those that need help. And you do need help. I still don't know what you plan to do or what you have in mind but even I can tell it's too big for you and Toothless alone."

"Big or not it's still something I have to do. I guess you could call it my duty for being the one to do it, make friends with dragons I mean. You're not wrong, what I want to do is difficult even when I think about it optimistically it seems impossible, but I will still try something."

"What is it? What do you want to do?"

"Doesn't matter."

"No it does. I said this a few time but it seems you do not believe me. Hiccup I am you ally and your friend. If you're going to face something then at least tell me so I can do whatever I can to help you. You two just cannot go it alone."

"It's better that way."

"No it is not."

"For the same reason you shouldn't have lied for me you shouldn't get too involved with me, it's too dangerous for you. This is your village and you belong here, if you get too involved with me and people find out what I've been up to chances are they will consider you my accomplice. Seriously I don't think you realize this but what I'm doing is just plain taboo to Vikings. I'm sure one day I can change that but that's not going to be any day soon."

"Ok that's enough."

"Ok so you get it."

"Hiccup please don't assume that by separating yourself like you are would be helping me. I chose to help you, I chose to let Toothless stay here, and I am choosing of my own will despite not only the danger of the dragon but the danger of my village turning against me to lie for you. I do understand that this is the same as betraying my village but I don't see it that way and I doubt that they would either."

"That's cause"

"No. I believe in my home but even if they do banish me for helping you I want you to know that I will not regret it because even if they don't think I did I will know that I did the right thing by helping you. I do not want to abandon someone who needs to be healed just because someone says it's wrong. I want to do what I believe is right, and helping an injured child I know is the right thing to do."

"You can say that now but don't forget you have a family here. What will they think if you did get banished? Or what would you do, your daughters not only getting married but she also with child, your grandchild. You can't say that you wouldn't regret never seeing them again?"

"Hiccup" She paused trying to think about what to say. I know that that would give anyone pause. No one would risk the family they care deeply for. I know I wouldn't with Toothless. And she even has a growing family, one that I'm sure she would like to watch grow even more. She can talk about doing the right thing for me but she can't forget that there are people here in her home that she is not only closer to but also need her just as much if not more than I do. She can't risk banishment like I did; she has roots and a life here in Grissgom, I barely had threads holding me to Berk after I met Toothless. I don't want to be the reason she no longer has any of that anymore. I don't want to be the reason that she loses her family.

"Hiccup I'll trust that if the truth of Toothless does comes out, my people will understand why I did this. But if they really cannot then I still will not regret my choice because I know I'm doing the right thing. Honestly I think that if that does happen I might not have any problems letting myself be banished."

"Easy to say that now but can you really say that if they really do get banished for lying about my real situation. Seriously helping a dragon stay in the village is not something they will overlook."

"Easy, no. But if it does come to that then so be it. So long as I can I promise Hiccup that I will help you, I am your friend and I will help you. Whether it's keeping Toothless a secret, help you in whatever conflict you feel so strongly to fight, or just staying here and starting a new life in Grissgom I will help you."

I take a moment to let what she tells me sink in.

"Lanie it's not even about just me. My staying here will cause tension between your people and Berk because they are hunting me. Grissgom will think that Berk is the bad guy for what they believe was done for to me based on what you told them, and Berk will see you as harboring a dangerous criminal."

"Hiccup if I told them you were a traitor who ran from Berk they could have chased you out or imprisoned you."

"And that would have been fine because no matter what I could just run away with Toothless."

"So that would have been your answer, just run."

"It sounds better than you make it sound. Better than being the cause of a war between Grissgom and Berk."

"You don't think we would fight for you?"

"I think that if that happens a lot of people would die for nothing. Berk would destroy Grissgom for harboring and protecting me. They would call you people my partners in crime against humanity, cause that's what their calling me. I'm sure even now they're readying weapons and ships so that they can come for me. Believe me I really pissed them off when I left."

"I will not just abandon you especially if you are in such danger but if you insist and strongly advise then I will be cautious, I will follow your lead in whatever it is your planning." She agrees but still had a tone of reluctance like she didn't like it. "What do you plan to do? You have my support with whatever it is you plan to do."

"We'll have to stick with the story you gave them for now but no matter what I have to leave before the sea thaws and Berks ships come looking for me and spreading news of my being joining the dragons. Once that happens well let's just say that that will be the start of my real troubles cause it won't just be Berk that will want me."

"I guess I understand."

"If I'm being hopeful then I really should be leaving if not tomorrow then the day after. I know theirs that wedding but really it has nothing to do with me so I'll probably leave before then if I can. My life isn't something to get involved in. Not when you don't have to, not when you have your own to live."

Chapskin and Shazz were walking back towards the village where they first had to clear up the wild rumor that by now was taking over the villagers, and secondly continue preparing for their wedding in two days.

"So Shazz how do you plan to fix what you said?"

"You say that like it's my fault."

"No I didn't. Just saying you shouldn't have yelled that out. It didn't help anyone especially your mom."

"It was all his fault!"

"Forget whose fault it is, Shazz you're the one who yelled it out."

"I didn't mean to it just happened. How come you're not mad?"

"First of all she's not my mom, secondly what could I have done"

"You could have said something!"

"Thirdly I'm pretty sure it's an accident like they said."

"How do you 'accidently' end up like that?"

"I don't know but what would you believe more, one of them made a move on the other, or they accidentally fell asleep while talking and started grasping for something close cause it was cold last night. The fire wasn't on when I got their so it does make sense."

"Well"

"One more thing but keep in mind what he told us about what he went thru before getting here."

She went silent recalling the story.

"That's what I thought. Look he's probably scared and pretty shook up. I know I would be if I were him."

"What do you mean if you were him? No offence but he's practically you four years ago."

Yeah I know. I know who he is now that I heard his story; He's the Loser. "He may look like me but please don't go thinking that that makes us the same."

"Sorry just saying."

"I know but still I don't like it. Besides that not the only thing we need to be thinking about. So let's just tell everyone what we know and get back to getting ready for our wedding."

"Chap stop for a moment. I want to talk to you about that."

"What?" I ask as she looked at me with a familiar look of seriousness.

"I want to hear what you plan to do about your Best man."

"Well, I did think about it but"

"But what? Cause I really think you should just ask Hangnail or maybe even Dryfins." Seems she was thinking sort of the same as me.

"Umm Shazz I don't mean to be rude or anything to them or you, but I really think you should think about that for a moment."

"Why?"

"Seriously just think about who you just recommended for a position of public respect and highest point of happiness in our lives up till now."

She takes a moment to think about this. I know she'll realize the same thing I did. Seeing her shake her head proves that she was predicting the same as I did.

"Yeah that's Yeah sorry. Your right those two attention hogs probably would have caused a bit of trouble wouldn't they."

"A bit? Let just run down the way I know things would go if we did that. Let's start with just standing there on the alter with me."

"Once up there they would try to start a conversation with whoever was nearby. They would eventually start joking and dancing up their till thing get started." She starts on the prediction we have for those two.

"Or someone slapped them. Then would come the chiefs speech on the tradition and the bonding. If they don't fall asleep then they"

"They would probably start cleaning their nails with a knife where they would then cut themselves and because of that they would start dramatically crying up there as they climb on top of the alter bleeding and crying all over."

"And then would be the vows and exchange of the rings and offering of the swords. I know that the sword and rings would reach the alter just fine but once their they'll drop the ring"

"In someone's boot"

"Where they would jump to get it back"

"And cause everyone nearby to topple over like dominos."

"And the swords."

"They would twirl and play around with that thing till it slipped out of their sweaty hands"

"Which would send the sword flying just grazing past the chief's head"

"And jam straight into the head of the statue of Odin"

"Causing it to split in two"

"Sending the crowd into panic"

"Everyone will say the marriage was cursed and start a riot"

"At which point I would kill them."

"Horribly kill them." I add to her prediction.

"Exactly." She finishes.

"So?"

"Yeah your right that wouldn't work out."

"Sad part is that we could expect the same thing from both of them."

"Right I know, they've grown but"

"They still have the mindset of when they were 15 when they wanted to be the village's center of attention. Anyways I know I'll find someone I'm actually thinking Rockthroat but I also see some issues with that. Either way it's my issue to figure out, you got to work on that shark, right."

"Hold on Chap, you may have another option."

"What?"

"Well what do you say to"

"No!" I cut her off realizing what she was thinking as her eyes drifted towards her house.

"I think Hiccup should be your Best man."

"Really? First you call him a bastard now you want him to stand at the alter with us?"

"I know but I think it would work for you."

"Just because he looks like me doesn't mean anything."

"I know that but I do think it would work. I really do."

"Why?"

"It's just the way you two are. I mean from the moment you met it was like you already knew each other. I saw you two in the forest and in my house and honestly I don't see anything but two best friends discussing their own thing together."

"We are not like that."

"Yes you are. You should see how you two are, it borders on creepy. I'll admit that I don't like him much but that kinda guy is practically a gods send right now. First he and you seem like you could work great together based on how you get along, and you do get along great. Next we need someone, I admit that while someone from here would be good, I just feel that he would be great, I can't think it's a coincidence that we find him and then we learn we need a new Best man. It almost feels like a gift from Odin himself how continent it is for us. Lastly I think it would really work. I really think since you two are just very similar that it would be really unique to have your own lookalike in our ceremony. I'll say again I don't like him much, looking at him"

"Just brings back old memories of worse days right, I know I feel the same. Look I'll admit that we can hold some casual conversation I'm sure I couldn't have with many of the people here without it resulting in a fight and that he does seem like he might do an alright job if we show him what he would have to do. And he doesn't seem like a showoff that would cause problems like Fins and Nail. I'll also say like you did that it's good fortune and unique. Look I know that it might be a cool idea to have a mini-me participate, if he really is like I am then he would be great cause it be like I was the groom and my own Best man at the same time and I'm sure it it's like that then I could trust him to keep everything in line with how we want it. Not to mention that we already know he's good talking and he's been pretty friendly aside from the morning and the creepy lookalike thing and" I look at Shazz as she gives me her You-know-I'm-right look. She is right everything we described makes him close to ideal to be a Best man for me. Seriously having the wedding with both me and younger looking me would make it really memorable for everyone.

"Chap I'm sure you have conflicted feelings over having your face on someone else, especially someone who looks worse off then you did when you lost your arm. But I'm sure if nothing else he will do this. I don't know how to explain it but he is like you were and at the same time he is like you are."

"I know what you mean." Probably better then you do Shazz. "But do you think I really could? I mean you don't think it could be against tradition or something to have an outsider play a role in a village event?"

"I don't see why not but just in case you should ask the chief. You have to talk to him regardless about Hiccups story of why he's here."

"Yeah. Wait why just me?"

"Because I have to negotiate with the cooks in the Great Hall about the dinner." I don't believe it, she's still thinking about that shark meal? "Anyways you should at least ask him to see if he will do it."

Forget asking I'm sure he'll say yes. So I guess would that solves that problem.

"So Shazz what are you going to do about the ugly rumor you started about your mom?"

We start walking but I see her pout about my question. "I guess I'll deal with it. All I got to do is find Cal."

"Right cause she won't turn a rumor around for her own amusement or anything."

"I'll handle it. I can clear it up with her and the rest will take care of itself."

Yeah that's pretty much the best strategy against a rumor: fix it with the one or ones who start and spread it.

Once we enter the village following a quick kiss we split up and head our own way to handle our own preparations. She has the reception preparations and whatever else she needs to do for the wedding plus talk to Cal about what everyone heard her yell out. I have to talk to Stickstone about Hiccup and if he can be my Best man. After that I'll either talk to Hiccup or head to the forge to work on my personal Shield. Yeah we got enough to keep us busy.