Disclaimer: I don't own anything canon.

Hiccup

Soon after we were all paired up, Nadia led me to a set of doors.

"As king of autumn, you must be able to adapt quickly. Like a leaf, if you fall, you still must be able to fertilize the ground."

I nodded. "You mean, after I get decomposed?"

Nadia smiled. "Precisely."

Umm. She was kidding, right?

"Welcome home, my king." She flung the doors open and we were met with a blast of fresh air and the smell of maple.

She held the door open and gestured at me to go in.

Stepping inside, I could understand the smell of maple.

I was standing on a plateau covered by leaves. There was probably about two feet of it. Tall maples surrounded the area, with leaves still on them.

Two more steps forward and I would've fallen straight into the prettiest place I had ever seen.

All you could see was red, gold, orange, and brown. Leaves played tag above the colors randomly.

I felt Nadia stand next to me. "It is amazing what magic can do, yes?"

I nodded numbly. Realizing my mouth was open, I closed it. I could imagine Astrid laughing at me.

Astrid. I missed her.

Nadia pinched my arm, suddenly stern. "Focus my king. Come." She turn and started walking.

I hurried to catch up. "What about Toothless?" I asked.

"Hasn't Flynn told you? After you pass your first training session, your dragon will be brought to you."

"How long will that take?"

She stopped and turned to look at me. After looking me over a couple of times she turned back around and walked again, ignoring my question.

I looked at the ground as I walked. I hated being away from Toothless. Especially when I wasn't in Berk. I was so lost in thought I smacked face first into something soft. Looking up, my eyes widened as I kept looking up, up, up. A large pile of leaves that was so tall it nearly reached the tree tops lingered in front of me.

Nadia pinched me again, frowning. "I told you to focus." I looked back to her and nodded. I waited for her to lead me, but she didn't.

"Umm. Where are we supposed to go?"

Nadia sighed and shook her head. "Naïve child. Through the leaves."

"How?"

"Your powers, of course."

"My what?!"

She sighed again and took my hands. "Focus. Breathe. Feel the power go through you. Use your mind, and your gut. You're the king. You're in control." She moved my hands so my arms were stretched towards the giant pile and stepped back.

I tried to focus, closing my eyes. Feel the wind. I inhaled and exhaled. Finally, I opened my eyes.

"It's not working."

Nadia raised her eyebrows. "Really?" She gestured to the leaf mountain.

At first I didn't see it. Then I realized that a small tunnel of leaves had cleared away, so that it was cleared to my mid chest- Nadia's neck.

"Come. It won't stay open for long." She swept into the leaf pile, somehow still moving gracefully. The leaves she knocked down righted themselves up again behind her.

I took a deep breath and slammed into the leaves after her. I fell at least three times.

When we finally got to the other side, Nadia was waiting for me. I sighed in relief, thinking I was out. But no. There was a small pile of leaves left, and I tripped over it, falling on my face.

"Umm. I like your shoes." I said as I got up and brushed myself off. She gave me a tight smile.

"Seems that metal leg of yours could be a problem."

I looked down at my replacement. "Not really. It's easy to walk and fly in."

Before I could blink, Nadia dropped down with one foot out and turned, sweeping my feet from under me. She stood over me. "Perhaps. But is it easy to fight in?" She turned and kept walking.

I groaned and pushed myself up. I ran to catch up. When I finally did catch up, she was standing in front of another large pile of leaves.

"Want me to move it again?" I asked, closing my eyes and lifting my hands. She grabbed my arm.

"No need." The leaves came forward, and a group of them formed into a human form made of leaves. He moved a section of the leaves as if he were opening a door. Nadia nodded at the figure and strolled through the door. I reluctantly followed her.

Looking around, we were surrounded by some kind of leaf wall, guarding the circular hollow area. The top was left open, so leaves came and went randomly. Displayed proudly in front of me were four huge pictures of men riding different animals. A lion, a horse, a pterodactyl, and some type of frog-horse-bird hybrid.

I watched as another leaf man soared in through the opening in the ceiling and gave Nadia some neatly folded up cloth.

"Put these on." She ordered, gesturing towards one wall. "Use your powers. Break through the leaves and you'll find another room."

Great.

I glanced at her as she looked at me impatiently before slowly moving over to the wall. I tucked the clothes under my arm and put my hands up again, trying to concentrate. I could feel Nadia's gaze turn away from me. Only then did the leaves part slightly. This time, they only came up to my knees.

I turned around to see if Nadia noticed. She was busy, talking to the leaf men. Whenever I did something great, nobody noticed, as usual.

I slipped into the room and changed into the weird white clothing with brown trim. I was a struggle with the mechanical leg. When I came back out, Nadia was kneeling on a pillow of leaves, eyes closed. When she heard me, she opened her eyes and scowled disapprovingly at my peg leg.

"Sit."

I did.

"Doesn't the whole leaves thing get uncomfortable." I asked.

She just raised eyebrow. Guess not.

"You are obviously have trouble with your powers." I felt my cheeks go hot.

"I admit, this is unusual. Like I said earlier, the autumn kings are the quick adaptors. Every sibling has a role to play, and being a strategist is yours." I said nothing, so she continued. "So, I can only believe you have the power of greatness inside of you. You're just reluctant to let it out. To show others."

I raised my eyebrows at that. For the majority of my life, all I wanted to do was show greatness. To please my village. And my dad.

"I see you don't believe me. Then tell me. Why do your powers work better when I turn away?"

I opened my mouth to reply, but she got me there. I had always assumed it was just rotten luck. Was Nadia right? Was I holding myself back?

I shook myself back into the real world and asked as confidently as I could. "What do I do?"

She smiled at me. "You must free your mind let instinct take over. Relax. Let energy flow through you. And meditate."