Hubert still couldn't quite get over his amazement at all of this. Joey hadn't stopped talking about how Hiccup had killed the powerful sorcerer who'd oppressed everyone in the castle, and how now he was learning everything he could about the skinchangers and his, no, their history. Because Valka was Hubert's mother as well. He had a share in this crazy world, and he wasn't sure what to think about that. Did he have these…these shifting abilities too?

And then there was the matter of succession. As the firstborn of Valka's sons, traditionally he would be the one to rule over this kingdom. But he already had a duty to his home, the world he grew up in, the place he'd been trained to govern. How did he suddenly transfer everything he'd been taught about how to govern one people to an entirely new culture? How to did you what was best for a kingdom you didn't know?

And it shocked him just how little he did know. He'd spent the first six years of his life with a mother who was part of this, and he'd never thought to ask about the rest of his family, his extended family. It made sense for Hiccup. Their mother had died shortly after giving birth to him, so he'd never had a reason to really wonder about that, and trying to make up for what he lacked hadn't left much time for questions either. But that was no excuse for Hubert.

Then Joey opened the throne room doors and Hubert saw his skinny little brother sitting in that massive, beautiful throne with an absolutely beautiful dragon curled up next to him. Mark noticed the black beauty right away and asked, "Who's that?"

Hiccup grinned. "It's Toothless. She's staying as a dragon for now to heal better." Toothless warbled and nudged his cheek with her snout. He laughed and returned the gesture.

"So she's a skinchanger?" asked Hubert. Just how much deeper was Hiccup involved with this part of their heritage than he was?

"Yes," the younger prince answered. "Actually, almost everyone in the castle is one. Gaius and I are the only humans, as far as I know."

"Who is Gaius," asked Gawain.

"He's the physician," he answered. "He helped get me and Toothless back on our feet after the battle."

The battle. Hubert had almost forgotten about that. "You'll have to tell us about that sometime," prodded Gawain from beside and slightly behind the elder prince. Leave it to Gawain to ask the question everyone wanted to.

So Hiccup led them to a more comfortable sitting room and launched into the story, with Toothless cooing or growling at certain points as Hiccup talked about how they'd met up in the forest before attacking, when the Red Death flamed at them, and she actually winced when he described how her tail had been injured.

"So that's how we ended up back here," Hiccup wrapped up the story. "I've been studying their culture, and it's absolutely fascinating! All the saddle designs and long range weapons they've developed, it's fantastic!" Then he slumped back against his chair. "But I still haven't found anything that might help us with what to do next."

"What do you mean," asked Gawain.

"Well, Princess Valka as the last royal this place had, and she had three children. Us." He gestured to Hubert and himself. "And Hamish, of course. But really, since Hubert's already in line for Dad's throne, it's really between me and Hamish. And as the next oldest, he should get the position. But…"

Hubert saw the problem. "He wouldn't know how to rule this place, or its people."

"Yes," Hiccup said, relieved. "And I don't want Toothless' people to be ruled by someone who doesn't understand them. So we're trying to find a way to bypass that rule. Do you know of anything?"

The three ambassadors shook their heads. "Abdication wouldn't work. He'd have to be king first, and Sophia wouldn't let him give that up once he had the chance at it."

Then the doors opened and a shadow slipped into the room. Cloudjumper greeted the man, or rather boy. He looked no older than Hiccup. "Windwalker, good to see you. Did you find anything?"

The boy leaned towards the other man and whispered. Hiccup saw the curious stares of the others in the room. "Oh, this is our librarian, Windwalker. He likes to be addressed by the type of dragon he turns into, which is a windwalker. Very high flyers, but gentle creatures. Much like him, actually."

Windwalker blushed mildly at the praise and walked forward, handing a document to the prince. He thanked the shy youth and skimmed the document. Then he let out a triumphant yell. "Yes! This is just what we need!"

"Well, what is it," asked the other royal in the room.

Hiccup grinned. "There's a lot of fancy language, but I'll read you the important part it says that, in order for the needs of all who reside in the kingdom to be properly considered, at least one of the rulers must be a skinchanger. Hamish and Sophia are both human."

"How do you know? If our mother was one, we might be too." Hubert really wanted to know. Was he going to be able to fly? The idea was tempting.

Hiccup sighed. "Believe me, I wanted to fly just as much. But skinchangers attract tons of dragon by the time they turn seven, and it doesn't stop until they've chosen a form. They're also rather undersized through their teen years, but that can happen to some half-skinchangers too, so it isn't as accurate of an indicator. Although," he shrugged, "at least I know why I'm so scrawny now." He laughed, but without much mirth.

Hubert decided to move the conversation onto less volatile ground. He asked to see the document and Hiccup handed it to his brother. The elder prince scanned the sheet, looking for any loopholes or things that might provide a chink in its proverbial armor. When he didn't find any, he handed the piece of paper back to his brother. "Looks like you're the only heir that fits the bill. When's the coronation?"

This is our last full sized chapter. Then tomorrow it's a short epilogue, and we're finished.

Please review and check out my other stories.