Dabi had some explaining to do after such a wild claim. Both parties were equally shocked, not knowing whether to believe it or not. Shoto almost instantly put his hood back up, not liking the feeling of being exposed.
"You're silly!" Toga giggled, pointing at the fire mage.
"That's the prince dummy! You can't be brothers!"

Shigaraki, on the other hand, took this a lot more serious. When he found Dabi, the guy had an unusual amount of money on him and was able to wield powerful magic. Without words being spoken about it, he knew this boy's family was probably rich. But this? Royally rich? As in, the Todoroki's themselves? That was absolutely insane!

"And what if I told you that I'm a prince too? Would you believe me?" Dabi sighed, putting his hands in his pockets. Shoto jumped down from his horse, frowning at the man that claimed to be his older brother. Of course he knew Toya was still alive and this man certainly resembled his brother... Yet it was hard to believe he would just happen to stumble upon him like this. With people like that by his side none the less...

"You? A prince?! No way!" she exclaimed, harshly shaking her head. Tomura on the other hand... He wasn't all that happy about this new revelation.
"And you have evidence to back up that claim?" Shoto asked, keeping a straight face.
"Well, you were still fairly young when I left" Dabi started, turning towards his brother.
"But I'm sure you remember this-"

He closed his fist, holding it out to Todoroki. When he opened it, a bright blue flame was dancing around in his palm, only to be swallowed up again when his hand closed. A second later he opened it again, the blue flames now dancing on top of his fingers. He started juggling a bit, looking at Shoto with an amused face. His little brother was totally stunned, not knowing what to do or say. This was something Toya always did when he was down or felt sad. It would cheer him up to watch the blue flames jump up and down, admiring his big brother's magic.

"That enough for ya?" he asked, making the flames disappear into thin air.
"T-Toya..?" Shoto whispered with big eyes, not being able to control his emotions any longer. Dabi just laughed as he ran into his arms, hugging him like his life depended on it.
"I-I missed you so much! Why d-did you l-leave us?!"
"Ssh, it's alright... Look at you! All grown up eh baby bro? You're even promoted to heir! Congrats"

"Wait... So this isn't a joke?" Toga asked confused, glancing between Shigaraki and the hugging brothers.
"No, it's not" the necromancer hissed, glaring at his compagnon.
"Why the hell did you never say anything about this?!"
"I already told you my past is complicated" Dabi sighed, pulling back from the hug with Shoto.

"Complicated?! You were the fucking heir to the damn empire!" Tomura yelled, flinging his arms around.
"Can you yell it even louder?!" Dabi hissed, glaring right back.
"Ooh~! Dabi, you're little brother is so cute!" Himiko giggled, poking Shoto on his arm. The halfa shrugged her off, taking a step back.
"Dabi? So that's the name you use now, is it?"
"Can't go around being Toya Todoroki, now can I?" Dabi shrugged with a small smile.

"Anyways, it was nice seeing you again. Tell Natsuo and Fuyumi I said hi when you get back home"
"I will" he answered, giving his brother a forced smile.
"Uhm, Toya? C-could I get your current adress? Maybe we could write each other? To keep in touch"
"Hm, yeah, Fuyumi would like that, wouldn't she?" Dabi said with a dry chuckle, glancing aside at his two compagnons for permission.

Shigaraki threw his hands in the air in frustration, turning around in the process.
"Why the hell not?! Why not go have a tea party with the royal family while we're at it?!"
"Shiggy-" Dabi sighed, trying to make amends somehow. Tomura wasn't having it.
"No! You're not welcome anymore!" he hissed, glaring at the dark haired male.
"I don't want to see your face ever again, understand?! Come on Toga"

"Oh, Shiggy, come on-"

"No! Don't wanna hear it!" he screamed, angrily marching off. Himiko quickly hopped behind him, trying to calm him down. Dabi let out a long sigh, dragging a hand down over his face. He knew this would end in a mess...
"Here, my adress" he muttered, throwing Shoto a small card.
"B-but-"
"Nah, I'll fix it, no problem" the blue flame user shrugged, waving it off.

"Not the first time he's pissed at me, believe me. But he has never hit me like father did so guess I'm good, right? He always seems to forgive me too, so, ya know?"
"I'm happy you found a place you like" Shoto said with a small smile.
"I should get going, father is expecting me to report about my visit to the Dragon Kingdom"
"The Dragon Kingdom? What the hell were you doing there?" Dabi asked confused.
"I was sent as a suitor to the king" the prince answered, hopping back on his horse.

"I'll write you about it"

With that the heir left, his horse running off into the horizon. Dabi just blinked. Shoto? A suitor? His baby brother, send to sell as a bride to another royal? He could barely imagine it... Yet Shoto was never a liar. So what he told him must've been the truth... Geez, did their father really lose his shit this time? Sending the heir off as some low fetched suitor? Ugh, he was glad he never had to go through any of that nonsense...

He quickly snapped out of it, turning back around to see his two friends already pretty far away.
"Shiggy! Wait up!" the ex-prince shouted, running after him. They didn't stop for him, although Toga turned around with a worried face a few times.
"Ahw come on~! Don't be like that!" Dabi yelled, finally catching up to them.

"Shiggy-"

"DON'T SHIGGY ME YOU BASTARD!" he hissed slapping away the hand Dabi managed to place on his shoulder as he angrily turned around.
"I-I... I'm sorry okay?" Dabi whispered, taking a step back at seeing the fuming necromancer.
"I promise, no more secrets or surprises. My past is my biggest secret a-and now you know, right? I-I'll tell you everything you want to know!"

He simply scowled, grabbing Dabi by his collar and pressing him against a tree. Only his pinky didn't touch his skin as Tomura held him in place. Everything he touched with all five fingers fell into inevitable decay. A curse that was placed on him when he was a child. Dabi was frozen in place, not moving an inch. He'd seen Shigaraki like this at least a hundred times before, yet this was the first time he ever did it on him.

"Do you know why I have this curse, prince Toya?" he snapped.
"Because of your fucking family!"
He took a shaky breath, visibly trying to control his raging anger and not turn the blue eyed boy into ash on the spot.
"My parents weren't rich like yours. Their farm was funded by the empire in exchange for their products. A sweet deal, until they turned their backs on us... I was taken as collateral, cursed and used as an executioner to work off the debt my parents had build up"

He pushed a little harder, making it difficult for Dabi to breath. Toga was staring in fear and worry, not wanting this to happen but not having the power to stop it.
"Your family did this to me! You're all fucking crazy sociopaths! Who the hell would curse a child of four and force them to kill?! WHO WOULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!"

Dabi stayed silent, focussing on his breathing while mentally cursing his father. What the hell?! No wonder he hates the royal family! Did they really do that..? Did they steal children and force them to do their dirty work? Was Endeavor really that mad?
"Give me one reason why I should spare you" Tomura hissed, glaring into those bright blue eyes.

Deep down he knew Dabi hadn't done anything to hurt him, ever. Yet his family had made his life a living hell, cursing him to be an outcast forever. He'd escaped their torture after years of being used as a tool, only to find his home burned to the ground... And when he finally did meet his parents again, he killed them with a hug... Everyone who saw screamed and called him a monster. He was chased away from his own village and forced to live on the streets. That's what the Todoroki family did to him. They were responsible for all of this!

"Damnit Dabi! Answer me!" he yelled in anger, kicking the younger one. All the dark haired male did was groan in pain, closing his eyes for a little bit.
"I-I can't justify what m-my father's rule caused... W-why'd... Why'd you think I r-ran away..? H-he gave me t-these scars"
It was silent for a bit while Shigaraki was trying to figure out whether Dabi was lying or not. Endeavor showed no mercy, that much was certain. But was he capable of hurting his own children to get what he want? Probably...

Tomura let go, taking a step back. This action made Dabi stumble forwards a bit, coughing as he could breath normally again.
"He burned you?"
"Everything to make his people stronger" Dabi breathed, glancing up at their leader. Toga was relieved Shiggy had let go but this was far from over. It would take some time for trust to be regained and their broken bond to be restored. Hopefully the two could become as close as they were once again...

At the castle of the Dragon Kingdom

"Well, what do we do with him now? We can still use him as bait but if they don't even have the egg anymore..." Kirishima sighed, watching the king pace back and forth in his study.
"I don't know okay?! This was all we had to go on! If this isn't solved soon, I'm afraid I'll have to send you into the field to retrieve it. You're the only one who can feel its presence if close enough"

"As is my ability as an Aplha, yes, but I'm also needed here and you know that. My people will riot without me here. They'll attack the humans, even you, and will try to break free somehow" the red head responded.
"They'd really do that?" Izuku gaped. He was still with them, wanting to know what would happen to Denki now that they arrested him.

Meanwhile Uraraka was taking a bath filled with bubbles and rose parfume. She was enjoying every second of this royal palace life for as long as it lasted!

"Dragons are still wild animals Deku, no matter how intelligent or friendly" Katsuki sighed.
"Chances are that they'll see this a sign of betrayed trust and refuse my command"
"I'm really doing my best not to kill that guy, to be honest" Kiri grunted, his arms crossed, his eyes staring angrily in front of him.
"We will fix this, alright? Together, like always" Bakugou stated, stopping in front of his best friend.

"I promise you Ei"

"You better" he hissed, turning his head aside to glare at the wall.
"I'm going back to the sanctuary to tell the others what's happening-"
"King Katsuki! There are two knights from the Midoriya Kingdom here to see you!" a servant yelled as they came in the rooms after knocking. Izuku froze up, instanly jumping behind Kacchan.
"Why are they here?" the blonde ruler demanded.

"They won't say. They only said they want to talk to you, my king"
"You validated their status at least?" the king groaned.
"Yes sir"
"Kirishima-"
"On it" he said, seemingly having snapped out of his angry daze. He grabbed Izuku by his arm and dragged him into the hallway away from the throne room.

"Where are we going?!" the green head whisper hissed as the red head opened a secret passage way behind a painying. What?!
"Sanctum" he muttered, pushing the prince inside and closing off the passage.
"We all know why those knights are here so you don't have to play the innocent card here Izuku"
"T-thank you..." the green head smiled, following the alpha dragon towards the sanctuary.

If there is a place those knights certainly won't come, it's there. The sanctuary is sacred ground, no outsiders allowed. Well, technically Izuku was an outsider but the dragons know him so it's alright, right? Meanwhile Katsuki was marching to his throne room, glaring at the two knights who now stood before him.
"What the hell do the two of you want?! I'm busy!"

"We're very sorry to interrupt you, Dragon King" the girl spoke politely, kneeling down in front of him. The guy groaned and did the same, showing respect to a man that wasn't even their king.
"We are on a quest for our king, All For One" she continued, looking up at the blonde royal.
"His son, prince Izuku Midoriya, has gone travelling but an emergency requires him to come back home. We have heard from our sources he is headed to you. Therefore we please ask you for any information you are able to give us"

"Out travelling huh? Good for him" Katsuki muttered, wondering if these two idiots knew the truth or if they were fed this lie.
"What kind of emergency?"
"Just tell us if you've seen him or not" the guy grumbled, earning a fist to the head from the girl.
"I apologize for his behaviour, king Katsuki, he doesn't know better"

"All muscle and no brains huh? Did the Midoriya Kingdom really sink that low" he snorted, mocking them.
"Anyways, I haven't seen him so get lost. I have more important things to take care of"
"Could we stay in case he arrives?"
"No! Now get the fuck out of my castle!" Katsuki hissed, signing a guard to take them out.
"I have no treaty with All For One so be happy I don't feed you to the dragons!"

"If we find out you're hiding him from us, there will be severe consequences" Kendo warned, standing up and dragging her comrade with her.
"Ooh, I'm so scared~" Bakugou pouted, waving his hands around before turning angry and serious again.
"Get them out of my fucking sight!"

At the royal palace of the Todoroki Empire

The prince soon arrived back at his home, being welcomed by servants that took care of his horse and provided him with a bath and fresh clothes. As he let himself soak in the hot water, he thought about everything that happened. Having complained about going to the Dragon Kingdom to his sister seemed like a far away memory. Katsuki Bakugou wasn't what he had thought at all. No, they get along great. He was glad.

And then there was Toya... What are the odds of him running into his brother on accident? Certainly when that brother was persumed dead in the eyes of the people? He wondered what his life looked like now... Shoto could see Toya had found friends he trusted, even if they were far from the kind of people Endeavor surrounded his children with. Maybe that's just why he chose them? To defy their father? It wouldn't surprise him to be honest... He also dyed his normally wild red hair into a pitch black. Probably so he wouldn't be recognized.

Shoto was pulled out of thought by a knock on the door, which slightly opend afterwards. Instantly self-conscious about his body, he grabbed a towel.
"Shoto? It's just me" Natsuo said as he walked in, closing the door behind him.
"They told me you were back and I wanted to see how you were doing before father starts his interrogation"
This made the both of them chuckle a little as Natsuo walked up to his younger brother.

"Mind if I join you?"
"If you wanna share dirty bath water, be my guest" Shoto muttered. The royal bath was more like a hot spring, really. It could probably fit something of a thirty people. So they will still have more than enough room to themselves. Besides, they used to bathe together all the time when they were younger. He heard how his brother stepped into the water, only looking when he fully sunk into the water. The bubbles and shampoo prevented them from seeing beneath the surface, which was better if you asked the halfa.

"So? How was your trip to mister dragon barbarian?" Natsuo asked with a small chuckle.
"Better than expected, actually" Shoto stated, earning the intrest of his older brother.
"King Katsuki is surprisingly soft and caring for those close to him. It's kinda cute in a way"
"No way... First time out and someone already stole your heart?" Natsuo asked surprised, making Shoto laugh a little and shake his head.

"Oh no, not like that! Bakugou is charming in his own way but neither of us feel that way towards each other. We actually jokingly played suitors the whole time I was there. He brought me flowers and treated me on dinner, it was fun"
"Really? Huh, quite strange indeed..." Natsuo pondered, sitting back.
"Are you sure he doesn't fancy you? I mean, you're not ugly and we both know it"

This made Shoto laugh and shake his head. No, Katsuki did definitely not fancy him in any way. He only helped the king out with his problems and had a great time doing so. The young prince just hoped that dark magic wielder would get caught quickly... That kind of magic is dangerous. It shouldn't exist, shouldn't be used. It goes against nature, that's why it's forbidden for Godsake!

"I can assure you, our relationship is purely platonic"
"Well, good thing you two can stand each other in case father wants to arrange a marriage between the two of you to unite our realms" Natsuo mumbled.
"Anything else happened? Something interesting? Or can I start complaining about yet another rampage of father"

"Actually" Shoto smiled, sitting up a little.
"I ran into someone on my way home"
Natsuo frowned at that. Shoto travelled at night to avoid being seen for a reason. Nobody besides thugs would be out there at that time and the prince could look after himself in case they tried to rob him. A mage that could wield two kinds of magic was and should be feared. He was very powerful like that.

"Someone tried to rob you or something?" Natsuo chuckled.
"No, it was actually rather peaceful and uneventful for the most part..." the halfa sighed, leaning back.
"Actually it was someone we both know... Or well, knew, I guess... He looks a little different now but I still somehow recognized him. You know, from the big memorial painting in the hall"

"W-what..? You don't mean-"
"Toya, Natsuo. I-I saw him. I talked to him. It was really him"
"You what?!" Natsuo hissed, his eyes big in shock and surprise. He was totally flabbergasted, to say the least.
"Come on, we'll discuss this further with Fuyumi over tea" Shoto smiled, standing up and grabbing his towel.