Hiccup and the others were catching up with some sleep after losing quite a bit of it from being chased by Devi. They had set up camp near a mountain to rain so that Hiccup could begin his Earthbending training.

However soon of them were rudely awakened when Snotlout slammed his foot into the ground creating a small earthquake.

"Good morning Earthbending student!" he announced dramatically.

Immediately all them shot up and started to regain their bearings.

"Good morning, Snotlout," Hiccup groaned.

Astrid yawned. "You know some of us are still trying to get some sleep."

"The early bird catches the worm," Snotlout smirked.

Ragnar sighed. "Well, we're now we might as well stay up."

"You two can start while we prepare breakfast," said Heather.

Hiccup then made his way over to Snotlout, not bothering to put his boots on as he needed to be in contact with the earth as was tradition with Earthbenders.

"So what's first on the agenda?" Hiccup asked.

"Let's start simple by moving a rock," said Snotlout.

Soon Snotlout took Hiccup to a clearing where there was a large rock ready to be moved. Astrid and Ragnar were observing as they began their first lesson.

"The key to Earthbending is your stats," said Snotlout demonstrating. "You've got to be steady and strong. Rock is a stubborn element, if you're going to move it you got to be like a rock yourself."

"Understood," said Hiccup.

"Now the actual motion of this is pretty simple," said Snotlout as he began to move his body.

He then slammed his foot forward and thrusted his fist and immediately the boulder in front of him was propelled forwards and slammed into the cliff face.

"Now you try," said Snotlout looking at Hiccup.

Hiccup nodded and took up the stands and then thrusted his hand forward. Immediately as is handmade the boulder moved, though not as far as Snotlout.

"Not bad for a first try, but you could do with a little more power," said Snotlout.

Bjorn was dreaming back before the war even began when he was playing with his son Vadim.

"Got you Dad!" Vadim yelled cheerfully thrusted his hand forward pretending to fire fireball.

Bjorn then pretended to got hit and fell to the ground. Then Vadim landed on top of him and they both laughed.

Then the scene changed to the day when he lost his son, it was raining and he was looking at his son's grave marker which he erected to the place whether you supplied.

"My beloved Lieutenant," he said with tears in his eyes. "I will see you again."

"Uncle?" said a voice.

Bjorn then opened his eyes and found Eret looking down at him.

"You were unconscious," said Eret. He then winced finding that the side of his chest was wrapped up in bandages. "Devi did that to you. It was a surprise attack."

"Somehow that's not so surprising," Bjorn winced.

Eret then handed him a cup of tea. "I hope I made it the way you like it."

Bjorn immediately drank it and soon discover that it tasted awful. As not to hurt Eret's feelings he held in. "Good," he lied. He then took another sip and fought the urge to throw up. "That was very… bracing."

Eret then poured him another cup and when he went to pour himself a cup Bjorn immediately chucked the tea out of the window.

"So uncle, I thinking," said Eret. "It's only a matter of time before I run into Devi again. I'm going to need to know more advanced Firebending if I want to stand a chance against her."

Bjorn nodded in agreement. "She's crazy and needs to go down." Then with great effort he stood up. "It's time to resume your training."

Meanwhile, Hiccup and the others were discussing the problems about Hiccup's power.

"He managed to push it, but not very far," Astrid noted. She then looked at Ragnar. "Any thought about where he went wrong."

"You're asking the wrong person," said Ragnar looking at her. "As much Fire is the opposite of Water. Earth is the opposite too Air. Earthbending is about facing your problems head-on, but my people prefer to find alternative ways of fighting."

Snotlout rubbed his chin. "We need to strengthen that scrawny butt of yours."

Soon Snotlout put him into some rigourous training to strengthen his muscles.

First he placed a bolt on Hiccup's shoulders and forced him to walk with it. To make it even harder Snotlout began bending the earth beneath his feet so he had to watch his footwork. However, despite his best efforts, Hiccup found himself unable to keep his balance and toppled over with the boulder.

Next Snotlout showed a technique to strengthen his hands by striking the bedrock in front of them. Hiccup performed the same stands, but all he accomplished was nearly breaking his wrist.

Next they borrowed Astrid's axe so that he could train with it. Hiccup was completely blindfolded and Snotlout began erecting columns of earth around him. Hiccup was opposed to smash them to pieces with the axe by trusting his other senses. He missed a few of them, but managed to strike one that appeared directly in front of him and Snotlout nodded.

Next Snotlout created two walls of earth either side of them and then drew a line in the dirt. He then covered himself in stone and then charged towards Hiccup. The idea was for Hiccup to push him beyond the line using nothing but brute strength.

Hiccup held his ground and began pushing him back, but he wasn't going to make it that easy. Snotlout constantly began pushing him backwards, but Hiccup tapped into some unknown strengthen managed to push him beyond the line.

Next Snotlout had extended to columns right beneath Hiccup's feet and had him tossed away into the air made of pure stone while catching it in the other hand. Snotlout then placed himself between the two columns and immediately slammed his palms into them causing them to shake. Hiccup, however stood his ground and wasn't shaken in the slightest.

Snotlout then extended a column into the air to look at him in the eye nodded.

The twins meanwhile were hunting for food and that's when they saw the small dragon wandering around.

"You're cute, but sadly you're made of meat," said Ruffnut.

Tuffnut licked his lips as the dragon approach them. "Just a bit closer."

They then jumped down with their spears in their hands, but they landed into a large crack in the earth and found the lower torso were stuck inside of it. The dragon just looked at them curiously and immediately they raised their spears.

"Gotcha!" they yelled.

However before they could strike the sunk deep into the crack leaving only their heads exposed. They tried to pull themselves out, but they were completely stuck on what was worse they were next to one another.

"Get off of me!" Ruffnut snapped.

"No you get off of me!" Tuffnut snapped back.

"This is worse than the womb," Ruffnut muttered under her breath.

Meanwhile Bjorn was giving Eret his first lesson the advanced arts of Firebending.

"Lightning is a pure expression of Firebending, without aggression," Bjorn explained. "It's not fuelled by rage or motion the way that other Firebending is." He then immediately poured Eret a cup of tea. "Some people call lightning the cold-blooded fire. It is precise and deadly, like Devi." He then handed Eret his cup. "To perform the technique requires peace of mind."

"I see," said Eret understandingly. "That's why we're drinking tea. To calm the mind."

Bjorn smiled. "Oh, yeah, good point." He then shook his head. "I mean…yes."

He then took him outside where he was about to give him a demonstration.

"There is energy all around us, the energy is both light and dark," he said and held out his fingers. "Positive energy and negative energy. Only a select few Firebenders can separate these energies. This creates an imbalance, the energy wants to restore balance and the moment the positive and negative energy comes crashing back together, you provide release and guidance creating lightening."

Bjorn then held his hand out telling Eret to move back. Once he did so Bjorn then began moving his fingertips and he watched as lightning began to form around them. He then thrusted his hand forward unleashing a burst of lightning into the sky.

"I'm ready to try it," said Eret.

"Remember once you separate the energy, you do not command it," Bjorn reminded. "You are simply its humble guide, breathe first."

Eret then took a deep breath and then began to move his fingertips in the same manner as Bjorn. However instead of forming lightning explosion happened on his face causing him to fly backwards.

Bjorn shook his head as if he wasn't surprised at the outcome.

Meanwhile Snotlout was continuing Hiccup's training.

"This time we're going to try something a little different," he said. "Instead of moving a rock you're going to stop a rock. Now get into your stance."

Hiccup immediately perform the stands.

"I'm going to roll that boulder down at valley," said Snotlout pointing behind him. "Now let's see of all that training pays off."

"Snotlout are you sure this is the best way to teach Hiccup Earthbending?" Ragnar asked looking a bit concerned.

"Good point, there is a better way," said Snotlout he then immediately grabbed the blindfold and place it over Hiccup's eyes. "With your eyes, but you really have to since the boulder coming towards you in order to stop it."

"Not what I meant," said Ragnar.

Soon Snotlout positioned himself at the top of the cliff and immediately pushed the boulder down and began rolling towards Hiccup. Ragnar and Astrid could barely watch and at the very last moment, Hiccup jumped out of the way.

Snotlout then made his way down into the valley looking furious as Hiccup remove the blindfold.

"I panicked," he said.

"More like you chickened out!" Snotlout spat. "I don't know why am surprised! You have in taking the training seriously, you're nothing but a coward! Heck, I bet you can't even throw a decent punch!"

Hiccup immediately narrowed his eyes at Snotlout. "Just remember, you wanted this."

Hiccup immediately raised his fist, but Snotlout didn't make a move to avoid it. That proved to be a mistake as he slammed his fist right into Snotlout so hard that he collapsed.

"Ow!" he yelled.

Hiccup then stormed off. "I'm going to do some Waterbending practice with Heather!"

Snotlout rubbed his cheek and then suddenly a tooth out of his mouth. "What's his problem?"

"You called him a coward," said Astrid narrowing her eyes at Snotlout.

"So what?"

"You don't understand," said Astrid rubbing her forehead. "In our culture being called a coward is a great insult. We of the Empire always fight with honour in battle, though these days it's more to do with glory and many have forgotten their honour."

Ragnar nodded. "That explains why Hiccup never finishes his opponents off, they're already been beaten."

Astrid nodded. "Striking a faux when he's defenceless, there is no greater dishonour."

"I seem to remember that a lot of Empire soldiers beating people when they're down," Snotlout pointed out, still rubbing his sword cheek.

"Like I said many people in the Empire have forgotten that," Astrid sighed. "Drago cares more for conquest and could care less about honour and the same goes to all those running the military. In fact the only military officer that I know that maintained his honour was Bjorn Eretson."

"You mean Eret's uncle?" Ragnar blinked.

Astrid looked at him. "You may not know this, but he is the Dragon of the West."

Snotlout's eyes widened. "You mean the Empire general that nearly conquered Meridian?"

Astrid nodded and then looked at Snotlout. "Just remember that those of us who remember the old Empire care much about our honour."

Meanwhile Eret was still having problems with reducing lightning, every single time he tried it blew up in his face, literally.

"Why can't I do it?" Eret yelled in frustration. He then turned to his uncle, who had been watching everything. "Instead of lightning it blows up in my face! Like everything always does!"

"I was afraid this might happen," said Bjorn as he approached Eret. "You will not be able to master lightning until you have dealt with the turmoil inside you."

"What turmoil?" Eret roared.

"Eret, you must let go of your feelings of shame if you want your anger to go away," Bjorn explained.

"But I don't feel any shame at all?" said Eret confused. "I'm as proud as ever!"

"Eret pride is not the opposite of shame, but it's source. True humility is the only antidote to shame."

"Well, my life has been nothing but humbling lately," said Eret sadly.

"I have another idea," said Bjorn. "I will teach you a Firebending move that even Devi does not know. Because I made it up myself."

Eret turned towards him and smiled.

The twins were still stuck in the crevice and no matter what they did they couldn't free themselves.

"You probably think that we deserve this, don't you?" said Tuffnut looking up at the baby dragon on his head.

The baby dragon then looked down at him.

"Bro I think you're beginning to lose it," said Ruffnut.

"Hey, if we hadn't been hunting down this baby dragon we wouldn't be in this mess."

"But it's the natural order of things, big things eat smaller things. It's not like it anything personal."

"Shame it didn't work out that way."

The baby dragon then jumped and landed on Ruffnut's head.

"All right, admit, he's pretty cute," Ruffnut admitted.

"If we ever get out of this alive, but become vegetarians," said Tuffnut.

The baby dragon then jumped off Ruffnut's head and flew off. Seconds later it came back with apple and its mouth and it rolled it towards them.

"Finally food," said Ruffnut with relief.

However the apple just stopped a few feet away from them and despite their best efforts they can get anywhere close to it.

"Oh, come on!" Tuffnut yelled.

Meanwhile Hiccup and Heather were in a pound doing some Waterbending practice. Hiccup was slowly getting better at it, though he was nowhere near Heather's level.

"Don't let Snotlout get to you," said Heather as they began moving water around them. "You mean you're doing your best."

"Apparently my best is not good enough for him," said Hiccup.

"Hey, I would have jumped out of the way as well," said Heather comfortingly. "I mean sending a boulder straight down at you, not the wisest teaching moves."

"Look you're learning a lot faster than Waterbending," Heather pointed out. "Firebending is aggressive while Waterbending is calming. Besides Earthbend fired nature is a stubborn element and you're probably missed most of in person I know."

Hiccup sighed. "You think that I'm the problem?"

"I think some of it is Snotlout's problem, I mean he is new to teaching and he's not exactly the most patient guy we know," Heather pointed out.

Meanwhile up in the mountains, Bjorn was teaching Eret about the other bending fighting techniques.

First he drew the symbol for fire in the dirt. "Fire is the element of power, the people of the Fire Empire have desire and will and the energy and drive to achieve what they want." He then began to draw the symbol for earth. "Earth is the element of substance, the people of the Earth Kingdom are diverse and strong. They are persistent and enduring." He then drew the symbol for air. "Air is the element of freedom, the Air Nomads detached themselves from worldly concerns and found peace and freedom. Also they apparently had a good sense of humour."

Bjorn then smiled at him broadly, but Eret gave him a dull look.

Bjorn then drew the final element, water. "Water is the element of change, the people of the Water Tribe are capable of adapting too many things. They have a deep sense of humility and love that holds them together through anything."

Eret frowned as he looked up at his uncle. "Why are you telling me these things?"

"It is important to draw wisdom from many different places, if we take it only from one place it becomes rigid and stale," he said as he drew lines on the ground between the four symbols. "Understanding others, the other elements, and the other nations, will help you to become whole."

He then drew a circle around the symbols.

"All this four element talk is sounding like Avatar stuff," Eret noted.

"It is the combination of the four elements in one person that makes the Avatar so powerful," Bjorn explained. He then pointed his stick towards Eret. "But it can make you more powerful too. You see the technique I'm about to teach you is one that I learned by studying the Waterbenders."

Eret smiled.

Hiccup was meditating while looking down into the ravine and then Snotlout approached him. He held a block of eyes and was pressing against his chin.

"You know you got one meaning of a right hook," he said.

Hiccup looked at him. "Sorry about that."

Snotlout shrugged. "I was asking for it, literally." He then looked at Hiccup apologetically. "Astrid told me about your culture and I wish to apologise."

Hiccup sighed. "You know what pains me more than anything else. It's the fact that Drago has twisted the teachings of the Empire. Fire has always been the element of power, but we always held that with dignity and honour. However, Drago twisted it and now my nation is using it to her people, usually in the most dishonourable ways."

Snotlout nodded as he sat next to him. "I can't even imagine what you've been going through."

"And the worst part is I can't take the throne, because I'm the Avatar," Hiccup added. "Astrid is right that we need to select someone, who can bring honour back to the Empire and yet we have yet to find anyone."

"Maybe there's someone in the Empire, like a member of the resistance," Snotlout offered.

"That's what I'm hoping," Hiccup sighed.

Fishlegs then came running up to them looking a bit concerned.

"Guys, have you seen the twins?" he asked.

"Who wants to see them?" Snotlout asked.

"Well, it's nearly stand down and they haven't come back from their hunt," said Fishlegs concerned. "I think we need to go look for them."

Hiccup nodded and got to his feet. "We'll find them faster if we split up."

The all nodded and went their separate ways.

The twins were still stuck in the ground with the baby dragon for company.

"Do you think that anyone is going to come to our rescue?" Ruffnut asked.

"I hope so, because I'm famished," said Tuffnut.

Then they saw Hiccup close by on their faces lit up.

"Hiccup!" they cried.

"Thank Thor you're here," said Ruffnut.

"You got any meat?" Tuffnut asked.

Hiccup made his way over towards them. "Looks like you guys are stuck."

Hiccup attempted to pull them out of the crevice, but they were wedged in and wouldn't budge an inch.

"Well that didn't work," said Tuffnut.

"Do you have a plan B?" Ruffnut asked.

Hiccup looked at the crevice. "I think the only way to get you out is through Earthbending."

"Then Earthbend us out of here," said Tuffnut.

"The only problem is I have yet to move a single thing," said Hiccup rubbing the back of his head.

"You mean you haven't learned how to move a single crevice in the time we been gone?" Ruffnut yelled in outrage.

"Hey, it's harder than it looks," said Hiccup defensively.

"Then go and find Snotlout," said Tuffnut.

"I don't know where he is," Hiccup groaned. "We separated in order to look for you guys."

The twins groaned.

Then the baby dragon approach them.

"Oh, meet new little friend," he said.

Hiccup blinked. "Now there's something you don't see everyday, a baby Typhoonrang."

The twins blinked.

"That's a baby Typhoonrang?" they said.

"Must got separated from its mother," said Hiccup picking up the baby dragon. "So what are you doing out here little guy, did you lose your mamma?"

They then heard a very loud all and Hiccup turned slowly to see that a fully adult Typhoonrang was looking down at him.

Meanwhile Bjorn was teaching Eret his secret technique.

"Waterbenders deal with the flow of energy, a Waterbender let's their defence become their offence, turning the opponent energy against them," Bjorn explained at Eret copied his movements. "I learned a way to do this with lightning."

Eret's face lit up. "You can teach me how to redirect lightning?"

Bjorn nodded. "If you let the energy in your own body flow, the lightning will follow it. You must create a pathway from your fingertips, up your arm to your shoulder. Then down into your stomach, the stomach is the source of all energy in your body, it is called the sea of mana." He then rubbed his stomach playfully. "Only in my case, it's more like a vast ocean."

He then chuckled.

He then became seriously once again. "From the stomach, you directed up again and out of the other arm. The stomach de tour is crucial, you must not let the lightning pass through your heart. All the damage could be deadly, you may wish to try a physical motion to get a feel of the pathways flow like this."

Bjorn then began to demonstrate the movement and Eret copied him.

"Now are you focusing your energy, can you feel your own mana flowing in? Down? Up? And out?" Bjorn asked before me each of the movements in turn.

"I think so," said Eret.

"You need to feel the flow," said Bjorn.

They practised and practised, until Eret got it perfectly.

"Excellent," Bjorn smiled. "You've got it."

Eret bowed to his uncle respectfully. "Great, I'm ready to try with real lightning."

Bjorn's eyes widened. "What? Are you crazy? Lightning is very dangerous."

"I thought that was the point," Eret blinked. "You teaching me how to protect myself from it?"

"Yes, but I'm not going to shoot lightning at you," said Bjorn fearfully. "If you're lucky you'll never have to do use this technique at all."

Eret was disappointed and then saw storm clouds forming close by and got an idea.

"Well, if you want help me, I'll find my own lightning," said Eret.

Bjorn closes eyes as Eret mounted the horse and took off.

Meanwhile Hiccup was very nervously facing down the baby Typhoonrang's mother, who was growling angrily at him.

"Hey, there…" said Hiccup nervously. "We found your baby."

The Typhoonrang then roared, but it sounded as if it was in pain. His mother wasn't too pleased and Hiccup immediately placed the baby down. It then scampered off into the bushes and Hiccup looked at her nervously.

"See, we have no problem with you. We are friendly," he said nervously.

Unfortunately the mother did not believe him.

"Hiccup, I think she's upset," said Tuffnut.

"Get us out of here!" Ruffnut yelled.

Immediately the Typhoonrang then charged at them and they screened. Hiccup immediately used his Airbending to lift the Dragon directly over them and her sharp claws missed the twins by inches. She immediately landed behind them, but she appeared to be more annoyed than ever judging from her growls.

"I think you made angrier," said Ruffnut.

"Just relax," said Hiccup and immediately fired a fireball directly at the Typhoonrang.

That only made her angry and she immediately charged at them and began spinning around while on fire like a fiery inferno. Hiccup immediately used Airbending to push her away, but she immediately took made a U-turn and headed back towards them.

"She's still coming!" Tuffnut cried.

"It'll be fine," Hiccup assured.

The Typhoonrang then charged towards them once again, but Hiccup this time held his ground. And then blasted her with a powerful air gust, so strong that she was sent flying. She picked herself up, but he clearly had an up and made her way back into the woods.

Then he heard the sound of clapping and saw Snotlout standing there with a smug look on his face.

"What are you doing here?" Ruffnut asked.

"Just enjoying the show," he said.

Hiccup stared at him. "Wait a minute, you were there the whole time?"

"Pretty much."

Hiccup looked outraged. "Why didn't you do something? The twins were in trouble! I was in trouble! You could have gotten them out and we could have gotten away!"

"And if I did, you wouldn't have held your ground against an angry Typhoonrang," he said with his hands behind his head. "And now that you've held your ground, let's see if you can Earthbend."

Hiccup blinked, but did what he was told. He slammed his foot into the ground while facing a boulder. He then thrusted his hand forward and the boulder skidded away and this time it went much further than before.

"You did it!" Snotlout cheered. "You now officially become an Earthbender."

"And I'm one step closer to defeating the Emperor," Hiccup smiled.

"You know this is really nice, but in case you forgot we're still trapped!" Ruffnut yelled.

"Get us out now!" Tuffnut roared.

"I'll do it," said Snotlout taking a step forward. "You're still pretty new to this, we don't want you to accidentally crush them."

"Crashing sounds fun," said Tuffnut.

Snotlout then slammed his foot into the ground and immediately the ground beneath the twins rose up they soon found themselves free from the crevice.

They soon returned back to the campsite with the twins and Astrid and the others were immensely relieved.

"You found them," said Fishlegs rushing over towards the twins.

"And that's not all," Hiccup smiled. He then thrusted his hands and knocked a large chunk of rock away.

"You did it!" Astrid cheered. "I knew you had it in you!"

Hiccup just smiled at her and felt his face blushing slightly.

Meanwhile Eret was up in the mountain tops in the storming reign as lightning shot in all directions. He looked at the storm clouds looking defiant.

"You always thrown everything you could let me!" he yelled. "Well, I can take it! And now I can get it back!" He saw as a bolt of lightning struck across the sky. "Come on! Strike me! You've never held back before!"

However no matter how much he yelled, this guy did not answer his cries with lightning. Tears began to form in his eyes and he roared in frustration and fell to his knees.