A ball of blue fire flew over his head as Hiccup barely managed to duck below. Staying low, he focused and charged his opponent, swiftly dodging more azure flames as they came at him. Once his target was within reach, he pounced, his clawed-hand holding an inferno. His opponent drew back to avoid the strike, and pushing his advantage Hiccup threw another flaming kick.

Azula and Hiccup had been doing regular training bouts for the past weeks, each one more grueling than the last. He found Azula's 'instructional' sessions to be rather lacking, and the rigid forms and moves she taught felt awkward and antithetical to his tutelage under the dragons. One of the only techniques she showed him that he picked up well was jet propulsion. But in sparring his improvements were like night and day, he quickly got over the strangeness of fighting another human and was even able to put up a real fight against Azula.

The current spar had progressed into a close quarters engagement, Azula striking with fire daggers against Hiccup's flaming claws. Blow after blow countered and parried until Hiccup found his opening. Setting his whole body alight he charged, throwing Azula back, and as she tried to perform a counter with a jet of white hot fire he forced her to the ground.

From the edge of the ring, Toothless gave out a laughing warble before jumping Hiccup and bathing him in congratulatory licks to both their mirth.
Azula brushed herself off with a scoff, "Uh, your bending is so… uncivilized. Have you learned anything from those drills? And why do you let him lick you like that?"

Escaping Toothless's assault, Hiccup gave a shy smile, "Well, they're just… awkward. They don't feel right. I don't know, it's just very different from when I trained with the dragons," he scratched the back of his head, "and besides, there's nothing wrong with how I do it, it works."

"If you say so." She rolled her eyes. "Anyway, my father wanted to meet with me. So we'll end it here for today. Feel free to continue to use the area though. See you later, Hikroh." And with that, Azula left them and made her way to the palace.

Hikroh, right. It had certainly been an adjustment to transition from thinking of himself as Hiccup to Hikroh. Even after weeks, he still sometimes caught himself switching between the names in his mind.

Once she was gone, Toothless switched from goofy-best friend mode to teacher mode. The two had been working on one specific thing for weeks: plasma blasts. Toothless began to build a blast in his mouth, the iconic night fury sound being produced as he built up the plasma in his throat, before releasing it into the ground. Following his friend's lead, Hikroh took a deep continuous breath and focused on building the energy in his throat. He could feel the heat of the plasma build to near painful levels before he released it, spitting a small ball of plasma onto the ground in front of him. The blast was less than a quarter of Toothless's, but it was progress. They had started with generating the plasma in his throat, as it was easier to learn and concentrate the energy, but the problem was size. He couldn't build up nearly as much as Toothless, plus it left his throat a bit sore after the fact. The next step was to try to generate it in his hands.

A bit less than an hour later they flew home, only to find his grandparents crying over a letter in their hands…

His Uncle Zhao had led a siege of the North Pole, a place that somehow sounded more inhospitable than Berk. Zhao had been killed in battle, dragged to the depths by the Avatar. The day the messenger arrived nearly every piece of wooden furniture had to be replaced after Hiroshi's rampage, and Yuna clung to Hikroh as she cried into his shoulder.

The training acted as a good distraction for Hikroh, though even that was interrupted when Azula was called away on a mission by her father. He tried to press her for details, but the only response he got was 'family issues'.
But when Azula returned, she had quite a surprising request for him at the next training session.

"You what?"

"I want you to assist me on my mission to apprehend my treacherous uncle and brother." Azula stated matter-of-factly.

"Ok, yes, I get that part. But why ask us?" He gestured to himself and Toothless as he bandaged his most recent burn wound. "Wouldn't literally anyone in the military be better suited?"

"Well for one, you're a competent firebender, more so than most soldiers, and you have a dragon with aerial advantage and speed. You'd be valuable assets to the mission."

Hiccup though for a moment before speaking again, "So where are they? And I still don't quite understand how we're more useful than a huge army and navy."

"We don't currently know, and that's why we're not bringing the royal procession. It's dead weight, we need to be fast to catch them. They're probably hiding somewhere in the earth kingdom."

Hiccup and Toothless shared a contemplative look before a thought occurred to both at once. They'd been more or less confined to the fire nation since they arrived, and the chance to explore further was too good to pass up. Their shared look quickly morphed into one of excitement, "We're in!"

"Excellent. We leave tomorrow to pick up a few more members before we start the mission." Azula finished, and with that, they ended the session.

The flight from the palace was very short on a normal day, but the duo must have made record time, adrenalin running through their veins as they rushed back.

Bursting into his room, he started packing. This was the perfect opportunity not so much the capturing part, but the fact that they would finally get to explore the earth kingdom! They had been around the fire nation but never over the eastern sea to the earth Fire Nation may have been big, but it still had borders, borders both had become accustomed to living without. Plus, Hiccup thought, he would get to spend some more time with Azula. They were friends, right? He began rummaging through his room, grabbing his bag and started packing.

It was mostly basic stuff. Saddle, tailfin and backups, as well as a new flight suit and riding mask he had been working on. It wasn't all that complicated in design, mostly hardened leather with some steel elements, coated with the scale paste for fireproofing, but it did feature detailing reminiscent of both the Fire Nation and Vikings. The duo charged out of their room and towards the central area as they continued preparations.

"Hooo, slow down. What has you two so excited?" Hiroshi asked from his spot in the living area, cup of tea in hand next to Yuna.

"Well, Azula just asked us for help on a mission!"

Yuna's brows furrowed at the word, "What type of 'mission'."

"Well, apparently to track down her brother and uncle. They're hiding somewhere in the Earth Kingdom," Yuna opened her mouth to speak but couldn't get a word in over Hikroh's manic enthusiasm. "It's great! Me and Toothless will finally be able to explore the Earth Kingdom! And unlike last time, We'll have other humans with us! It's just so exciting!"

Yuna's face continued to morph into one of more and more worry as Hikroh spoke, until Hiroshi rested a hand on her shoulder, giving her a look that implored her to calm down.

Hiroshi gave a chuckle, "You are so much like your mother. Nobody could ever keep her in one place. A lot like Zhao too." The duo's jubalance was tempered and their heads downturned at the mention of their deceased family. Yuna got up and gave her grandchild a hug.

"Be safe, Hikroh. Just come back home safely," and giving a look to Toothless, "both of you. Even if you don't succeed, come home safely." Tears welled up in here eyes as she released him.

"What an honor this is. Traveling with the princess herself on an official royal mission!" Hiroshi bellowed with a great smile, bringing back some of the earlier liveliness, "What a deal! You get to assist our nation, see more of the world, and get to spend more time with a certain someone," adding that last part with a smirk making Hikroh flush bright red, Yuna giggle, and even even Toothless let out a chortle.

"Ah... It's not… no… it's not like that, ok?" He said with a small shake of his head and a laugh. "We leave tomorrow, I still gotta get my stuff together!" And with a wave the duo once again ran off.

Once out of earshot, Yuna sat back down with a sigh. "Are you sure we should let them go?"

"Yuna… you know what kids are like at that age. They want to see the world, adventure, it's in his blood. I did my fair share of it growing up," Hiroshi added with a chuckle.

"Just like Mahka and Zhao?" Yuna's face was downturned.
Hiroshi let out a sigh, "Those times were different. Mahka was alone, and Zhao was in a war against the Avatar himself…" tears were welling up in both of their eyes. "He's ready. He lived on his own in the wild for months before we found him, in the wild with dragons no less! He's one of the best firebenders I've ever seen, and with that dragon beside him they're nearly untouchable! Plus, they'll be traveling with the Princess. They couldn't be safer."

"But you heard who they were going after, the firelord's son and brother. You served alongside Iroh, you know his skill."

"Yes, but Iroh is an honorable man. I don't think he would kill Hikroh. And besides, I think Hikroh could even beat him! Even lightning doesn't affect that boy. And from what I hear, both Hikroh and the Princess far outclass the Prince."

With a sigh and sip of tea, Yuna relented, "I hope you're right…"

Hikroh had some expectations on where their next team member would be from. A military base, the guard barracks, a firebending dojo… but a circus was not on that list.

Azula, Hikroh, and Toothless walked through rows of tents and men, some practicing strange acts and others working with animals Hiccup had only ever heard about. But it was one specific performer they were approaching, a girl wearing pink and standing on her fingers.

"Ty Lee, could that possibly be you?"

The performer finally noticed them from her upside down position when her face lit into a smile, "Azula!" She then proceeded to flip over and bow before running up and hugging the fire nation princess. "It is so good to see you! Oh and who's this?"

She gestured to him and Toothless, "This is Hikroh, he's helping me on a mission"

"And this is Toothless, " he interjected as he greeted the girl and Toothless started sniffing at her and he had to stifle a laugh at her yelp. "Don't worry, he may be a dragon, but he's a big softie, ain't ya bud?" Hiccup getting a whack from a tailfin at the comment.

"Ooh, he's so cute!" Ty Lee knelt down in front of Toothless, who gave her a gummy grin. Ty Lee gave him a scratch which was rewarded by Toothless giving her a lick across her face. "Where is he from?"

"Me and him are both from an island far north. We left together and ended up here a couple months ago."

"But, please, don't let us interrupt your… whatever it is you were doing," Azula continued as Ty Lee rolled back into another contortionist pose, making Hikroh question whether or not she had a spine. "Tell me, what is the daughter of a nobleman doing here? Our parents certainly didn't send us to the Royal Fire Academy for Girls to end up in places like this." She looked around with a glare. "I have a proposition for you, I'm hunting a traitor. You remember my old fuddy duddy uncle, don't you?"

"Oh yeah, he was so funny!" Ty Lee giggled.

"I would be honored if you joined me on my mission."

Ty Lee's face fell at that. "Oh, ah, I would love to," she stood up, "but the truth is, I'm really happy here. I mean, my aura has never been pinker!" What in helheim an aura was or why and how it was pink, Hiccup didn't understand but he assumed it was a good thing.

"I'll take your word for it. Well, I wouldn't want you to give up the life you love just to please me."

Ty Lee smiled, "Thank you, Azula." And she went back to her stretching as Azula started to walk away and gesture for Hikroh to follow. He waved goodbye as he followed.

"Of course, before I leave, I'm going to catch your show." That made Ty Lee pause.

"Uh, yah, sure, of course."

As the two walked away and towards the main tent approached by a grey haired man in fancy garb and wearing a large purple and red hat.
"Princess Azula." he bowed, "What has brought you to our humble circus?"

"Oh, just here to see an old friend," she said, "but I'm planning on staying for the show tonight."

"Yes, Princess. You will not be disappointed." Then his eye caught the dragon rider duo behind her, or more specifically, the dragon. "What is this? What type of magnificent animal is this?"

"Uh, this is Toothless. He's a dragon." Hiccup answered.

"Incredible. How much would it be to purchase him?" the man asked.

"Wait, what! No, nobody is for sale here! And who in Hel are you?" Hiccup demanded.

"I'm Shuzumu, ringmaster of this circus, " Shuzumu stated, "And I only wish to purchase the dragon, not any services from you, sir."

"Well like I said, nobody's for sale, including him." Hiccup said and was punctuated by Toothless's own growl.

"Well, sir. Not to be rude, but you seem hardly in the position to be taking care of such a dangerous and exotic animal. Animals like this take special accommodation to care for, accommodations that we can make arrangements for here." Shuzumu went on.

"Well, you listen. Toothless is not for sale. He's not just an animal, and you certainly don't know anything about dragons, especially night furies."

"Well, why are you so certain you know better than us, we have highly trained specialists here to-"
Hiccup cut him off, "Because he's from MY homeland and is my best friend, and you're not sticking him in a cage. And if you make one more insinuation about Toothless, I'll personally stop you." Hiccup threatened igniting a small fire in his hand.

Shuzumu's face hardened, "Sir, I think you should leave the premises immediately."

"Yah, I think you're right, I'm tired of dealing with you. I'll meet you after the show, Azula." And with that he flew off.

Azula caught up with him a few hours later alongside, to his surprise, Ty Lee.

"I thought you weren't coming?" He asked.

"Well, the universe was giving me signs for a career change" Ty Lee smiled and said.

Azula cut in, "Tomorrow, we head to Omashu. You remember Mai, don't you?"

"Ooh, Mai, I wonder how she's doing." Ty Lee said.

Hikroh couldn't help but gasp as they neared Omashu. The city was huge, maybe even bigger than the capital. The walls were huge and made of solid stone, undoubtedly made by Earth bending. And the mail channels that went along the city's rooftops were ingenious. Those fascinating elements juxtaposed the smoke that wafted up into the sky, and the large number of soldiers he saw as he walked through the city, and how the citizens gave them a wide berth. He couldn't tell if that was because of the entourage, guards, dragon, or a bit of all three, but it was a bit disconcerting nonetheless.

Azula rode her palanquin as he, Toothless, and Ty Lee walked next to it as they approached the palace. It wasn't quite as extravagant as the fire nation palace, but not by much. And standing by the stairway to greet them was a black haired girl.

"Please tell me you're here to kill me," she said with a bow. The comment would have been concerning if her straight face hadn't turned into a slight smile.

"It's good to see you, Mai," Azula said. As they embraced before she was given a great hug by Ty Lee.

"I thought you ran off to go join the circus? You said it was your calling." Mai asked.

"Well, Azula called a little louder," she replied.

Mai turned to Hiccup, "and who are you, Azula's boyfriend?" she asked with deadpan sarcasm.

Hiccup laughed, while also trying to hide a bit of a blush, "No, no. Nothing like that. I'm just the guy here to kill you, you're welcome." he replied with his own sarcastic tone.

"That's enough, you two," Azula said, "I have a mission for you all."

"Count me in," Mai replied, "Anything to get me out of this place." Mai frowned, well frowned more than her resting face, "there's only one problem..."

"I'm sorry," said Ukano, Mai's father and governor of Omashu, "You've come to Omashu at a difficult time. At noon we're making a trade with the resistance to get Tom-Tom back."

Azula watched him, kneeling on a pillow in front of her on the throne of Omashu. "Yes, I'm so sorry to hear about your son, but really," Azula stood up, "what did you expect by just letting all the citizens leave?" Her tone turned harder, "My father has trusted you with this city and you're making a mess of things!"

Ukano and his wife prostrated themselves on the ground. "Forgive me, princess," he pleaded.

"You stay here" Azula commanded, "Mai will handle the hostage trade so you don't have a chance to mess it up." Azula started to leave the room, Hikroh, Toothless, Mai, and Ty Lee followed behind her. "And there is no more "Omashu". I'm renaming it in honor of my father, the city of New Ozai."

"So, what's this whole hostage trade all about? Who has your brother anyway." Hikroh asked as they waited on the scaffolding of the in progress Ozai statue.

"My father recently became governor of the city, and we've been pestered by a resistance for weeks," Mai replied, "they've been the only thing keeping life interesting up until now. But they have my brother."

Hikroh nodded, "OK, and what are we trading for him?"

"Their old king Bumi, or at least that is what we're supposed to be doing," Azula smirked, "but I have a plan…"

Hikroh and Toothless watched the exchange from the top of the scaffolding. Well, exchange wasn't the right word, it was a trap for all intents and purposes.

He felt a bit sorry for what was happening, apparently the fire nation had just conquered this place, but he especially felt sorry for the three people that came for the exchange, they were not the type of people he expected from an insurgent force. They were young, as young as his group and the kid with the head wrap looked even younger, not even old enough for dragon training on Berk. Why were they the ones handling a hostage exchange? What type of army uses children on the front lines? It was barbaric.

It was then that Mai gave the signal and recalled the crane, lifting Bumi back up. And that's when the surprises began. The kid whipped out a staff that folded out into some sort of glider, and he actively had to stop his brain from distracting him with ideas about reproducing it. By some sort of unknown force, the kid managed to fly and land on the chain holding up Bumi's metal enclosure. But in the process, his wrap came off to reveal a bald head and tattoos of… arrows? They obviously meant something based on Azula's shocked face, and within seconds she was ascending the scaffolding.

The two teenagers with Mai's brother started to run, and the boy blew into some strange whistle. Toothless bristled and growled at barely audible high-pitched tones. As the teens attempted to make their escape, Ty Lee suddenly popped out of the ground below them, striking the teen holding Tom Tom, who fell to the ground and dropped the child.

As the chaos erupted, Toothless dove, signature Night Fury whistle forming in their wake. The sound caught their opponents attention, but all they saw was a black blur as they snatched up the two-year-old from beside the teen.

They quickly flew to the palace balcony where they dropped the infant off to the arms of his parents before they went to rejoin the fight. The only problem was the fight was almost over. Azula was cut off from the prisoner and the arrow-boy, and the rest of them escaped on some kind of large, flying, white, six-legged, mammalian… What the Hel is that thing?

But he did notice one thing that didn't escape: the earthbending king sliding up the ramps in his metal prison. Hikroh guided Toothless down and landed right on top of the king's metal tomb.

Now, normally people in this situation would be fearful (they knew that from personal experience) but not Bumi. He just looked at them with a confused expression and then smiled. "Why hello there."

The casual tone in the king's voice surprised and infuriated him, "Why is your army using children to handle a hostage exchange?"

Bumi gave him an exaggerated confused look for a second, "Aren't you doing the exact same thing? Aren't you yourself a child? Aren't all of you children handling a hostage exchange? "

"Well, yes, technically. But it's… different. We can handle ourselves."

Bumi looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze. "You're not a fire national, are you?"

"Wait, how did you… ?" he was cut off by the snotty laughter of the mad king.

"Well, many things, very subtle things…" he continued to snicker, "like the dragon!" Before he burst out laughing.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, if you were a fire national, you'd have killed him the second you had the chance." He gave another snorting laugh at Hiccup's shocked face, "great honor, I hear. Even get a title out of it." His laugh abruptly cut off, "also, your face and voice give it away. Your accent still needs work." And then he burst out laughing again.

Hiccup glared at him, and Toothless gave a soothing croon towards his rider. But Hiccup still had one question, one thing that didn't quite add up.

"Why didn't you escape with them?" But Bumi only chuckled.

NOTES:

It's been a while! I'm not dead.
A lot has happened in the last couple years. My life became a bad anime for a while. I almost sold my soul to med school. Made friends, lost friends (in multiple ways). I nearly died several times. My family nearly died several times. Spent a lot of time in hospitals. 2023 was kinda the worst year of my life.
Life hit me like a brick shit house. But, I'm finally back, and I don't plan on leaving again anytime soon.

I debated splitting this chapter up into two, but I felt you guys deserve an extra long chapter after such a wait.

Thank you to all the wonderful readers who've read and left comments on my crazy little stories.

Special thanks to merc7271 on . You kept me going and inspired me to break out of my slump.