A/N

so...

I'm sorry.

look i got distracted, and then uninterested and it just spiraled.

I'd like to finish this, I really would, but I feel like y'all have lost interest? and... honestly so am I a little? I don't know, I've planned the end, I'd like to write it, but every time I open the document I can't write.

I'm gonna try and finish this, but I make no promises.

anyway, enjoy this reeeeeeeeaaaalllllly late update.

Now Jupiter had a problem.

No one could know it was him. No one. Those dragon-lovers could not be allowed to connect a name to the god on the battlefield. If the rest of the council found out it was him behind this they'd throw him off Olympus in a mass mutiny.

So he did the best thing possible. He covered his tracks.

It was simple. One massive thunderstorm over Olympus drew everyone's attention away.

A bit of crumbling here, some magic. And suddenly, The Goddess of memory slipped from Olympus. Moneta. She'd be fine. She had plenty of followers- and a significant cult following. Her power would bring her back in a few days. But in the lapse of her power going stagnant Jupiter grabbed at it. he wiped Somnus' memory of his visit. He didn't have time to attack all of the sleep god's children, but whatever. Their tongues weren't loose.

So instead he slipped into Somnus' court for a final visit, drifting around the people. Murmured the right things to the right people. A few veiled threats.

They knew what would come to them if they let things slip.

And that was that.

For the second time in Hiccup's life, he woke up in Pluto's court.

He wasn't quite as scared this time, considering he knew where he was. However, he did have the understanding that this could mean he was dead.

Someone laughed and Hiccup turned to the side of the hall where Pluto stood.

"so... I'm dead, then?" Mars' words rung in his mind as he walked over to Pluto. He gives in to the eventuality of death, and it usually leads to half his men dead regardless of if the battle is won.

"no," he chuckled, clapped his shoulder, "but you gave it your best shot."

"then why am I..."

"I wanted to talk to you. And I figured waking up would be a bit of a... shock, considering what was happening when you were awake."

"what's that supposed to mean?" it wasn't much, but now he was worried. Were there some left over soldiers? Dragons gone mad? Were his men in danger?

"calm down, that's not what I mean," Pluto smiled, seemingly amused, "everything is fine."

Hiccup let out a breath, forced his shoulders to relax. When he woke up... the battles would be over. At least for now. But even still, he could go back to his legion's province. He could spend time on his inventions, smithing, drawing. The idea seemed impossible.

"but I need to talk to you about Drago's god friend."

Hiccup focused back in easily.

"mars stopped by."

"yes, I thought he would. I gave him that coin so you knew he was trustworthy."

"he took a girl's soul as an offering," Hiccup levelled a deadpan stare at Pluto, "I don't like him."

"sometimes in war decisions have to be made-"

"don't justify it to me." Hiccup hadn't even thought before he said it. he'd never usually be so brash with a god, but he wouldn't hear more excuses about necessity and more bullcrap.

Pluto nodded, sighed.

"give him a chance, we'll need him to take down whatever god is causing this tip in the balance."

"that doesn't mean I have to like him."

"no," Pluto smiled sadly, "but we need him and the rest of the council. Or at least the majority. Recently..."

"what?"

"a goddess, Moneta, was attacked. Most people think it was an accident and haven't taken much interest, but I think it was whichever god we're dealing with. Likely covering his tracks."

"Moneta is memory, right?"

"yes."

"so they've tried to make someone forget him. But not the gods or soldiers who've been fighting him?"

"yes," Pluto crossed his arms, "I can't investigate, it's against the very few rules we gods have."

"so you want me to look into it?" Hiccup raised an eyebrow, mind going back to his conversation with Mars again.

"yes. But things are quiet now, don't let on what little we know. we can't be sure if they have spies."

"brilliant."

"take some rest, that's an order," Pluto said and Hiccup grinned, "I'm serious you almost killed yourself doing that."

Hiccup laughed lightly, "no promises."

"of course not."

And the edges of his vision darkened as he slipped back into sleep.

And then woke up. Properly, in the real world.

The downside to actually waking up is that everything hurt.

It was a gradient, as he slowly became more and more aware. Dull aches turned to spiking pain, and his chest turned from feeling like a small wound to being on fire.

His vision was blurry and he blinked, tried to get his bearings. He sat up and hissed, his skin shrieked and his limbs shook with exhaustion.

"whoa there hero." Someone pushed him down, face at the edges of his vision, "let's not pull any stitches."

"what?" he rubbed at his eyes, looked around the room without sitting up, "where's Toothless?"

As if he had summoned him, Toothless grumbled from the side. Hiccup didn't see him but he heard Toothless stalking around, and the medic grunting as he pushed him away.

"calm down you overgrown lizard."

Hiccup laughed, turned his head to the side. Toothless sat like a dog, tail unable to stop moving.

"okay, fine." The medic conceded and Toothless bounded up to Hiccup's side, "gentle!"

Hiccup could only laugh, "what, did you miss me?"

His dragon sniffed at him and licked at his face, much to Hiccup's annoyance. Toothless's tail still thrashed, but he backed off to look over Hiccup and his injuries.

"I'm fine bud," Hiccup said, trying to sit up again, wincing as he did so, and looking over himself "all three limbs accounted for."

Toothless huffed with a deadpan look, clearly annoyed with his rider's actions. 'stop doing that!' he seemed to say and Hiccup could only answer with an embarrassed laugh.

"still plenty of injuries, though," the medic reminded him.

Hiccup finally got a good look at the doctor. He wore the usual white clothes and very little armour, but he was young. Gold hair and tan skin, no weapons, but a small pan flute hung off his belt.

"you worship Apollo?" Hiccup had never met one of Apollo's medics. He'd heard they were good at their jobs, but in the past months he hadn't had the misfortune to require their skill.

"yes," he nodded, "and it's a good thing I'm here or that chest wound would've been infected by now.

Hiccup didn't quite know how to answer that so he settled for an awkward smile. "thanks."

The medic smiled himself and walked to his table, started packing up his gear.

"you've been out for two days."

"what?!" impossible, he swung his legs over the bedside, "I should get to Aeliana, I need to-"

The medic didn't stop him from standing up, instead he let him try. Hiccup's knees shook and he almost collapsed on the first step, his prosthetic not helping him keep balance. He leant on a table for support and the medic took his arm and pushed him back onto the bed.

"you have orders from Praetor Aeliana to stay in this bed till this afternoon. You require sleep, food and water. Doctors' orders." He crossed his arms, levelled a glare on Hiccup.

"but-"

"no."

"I can't just sit here."

"you're not going to." he gestured to the pillow, "you're going to lie here." The medic grabbed his bag, saluted and walked out the door, "rest up, Praetor."

Hiccup looked to Toothless with astonishment, "can you believe him?"

Toothless grumbled, grabbed hiccup's shirt cuff and pulled him down onto the bed. Then dumped his head on his stomach.

Hiccup winced as his wounds were irritated, Toothless shifted.

"this is treachery. Betrayal."

Toothless laughed and shifted his tail to curl around the bed. His wing resting on the edge.

"I can't believe you."

He officially couldn't get up. Not only did he have orders from his Praetor, but he also had a night fury's head resting on his stomach. Brilliant.

He finally surveyed the room properly. He was surprised it wasn't a tent, and he was on his own. Not legionnaire's quarters then. Or a medic tent.

It seemed like a building in the city. An empty house? He couldn't be sure, but it was only small. Not a problem, he was stuck on the bed anyway.

He was only wearing his tunic- unbuttoned to not irritate the uncovered burns surrounding the bandaged wound- and his pants. After months of practically living in his armour he felt strange without it. at least he had a giant plasma breathing reptile to protect him.

Drago had survived.

He ran off, no dragons left. Barely any Vikings. His ships were destroyed. He had to clamber together the least destroyed boat and do basic repairs. They sailed off to the nearest Viking land mass.

He had no plan. Jupiter did not reappear. He assumed he was dead.

He lived off his anger.

He'd find that roman soldier. The dragon master. he'd find him. He'd kill him. He'd kill his dragon. He'd kill his friends.

He didn't just want to kill dragons anymore. They were at the top of the list, but right below it was every Roman soldier who'd fought on that battle field.

he fuelled himself with his revenge. He'd be back.

but now he had experience, a better understanding of who he was up against.

He would re-amass his troops. By taking over the entire Viking archipelago.

But first things first, he had to get out of Roman waters.

Hiccup was stuck till the afternoon. So as soon as the sun started to set and the sky tinted the clouds orange he was up and putting on his boots.

"I thought I ordered you to rest?" Aeliana sighed, arms crossed and standing in the doorway.

Hiccup finished tying his laces and sat up with a grin.

"only till the afternoon." He would stand but he was worried he'd lose balance like last time, and Aeliana would definitely ground him longer.

Aeliana looked to Toothless, who was curled in the corner, "what happened to keeping him on the bed?"

Toothless shifted his wings similar to a shrug and Hiccup made an insulted face. "treachery."

Aeliana snorted and helped him to his feet, not looking in his eyes and instead at something a little lower.

"you might as well get up, your soldiers await."

"oh, no, no, no." he started buttoning up his shirt after noticing the direction of Aeliana's eyes, "I was only acting Praetor. You're back to your best, and now I'm a legionnaire again."

"oh, you haven't heard?" she dramatically grinned, "you turned the tide of the in-air fight and chased off the god. That counts as a great heroic act in battle, which means-"

Hiccup caught on before she finished the sentence, "no." he held a finger up, "I am not-"

"you're a Praetor now."

Hiccup took a deep breath, pinched the bridge of his nose, "that is a horrible idea."

"the legion demands it. they'd have carried you around the battlefield on their shoulders if you hadn't passed out." Lia snickered, "what, don't think you're up to it?"

"I don't think I'm not up to it, I know I'd suck at it."

"prove it."

"The entire reason I'm in Rome is because I suck at leadership. It's crazy enough that I'm a legionnaire-"

"you sucked three- almost four- years ago. You no longer suck. Welcome to my world." She grinned.

Hiccup searched for another excuse, but really the biggest one he fell back on was his worry that he couldn't fill the role. He lacked a degree of confidence, and that was it.

"this is going downhill, you'll see."

Aeliana patted his shoulder, "I'll show you the ropes, don't worry." She rested her hands on her hips, "as soon as we're done clearing things up here we'll be headed for the capitol for your official promotion."

"great." He forced himself not to scowl, "we're gonna have to go to a party, aren't we?"

"almost definitely."

He sighed and toothless laughed.

"I'll make you go," he threatened and his dragon shut up before glaring.

"try not to get too excited, you get to fulfil real Praetor-ly duties first," she said, pointed to his gear on one of the tables, "get dressed, Toothless knows where our meeting spot is. Try not to get too busy dealing with your adoring fans."

She walked off, waving over her shoulder while Hiccup rolled his eyes.

He really hoped she was exaggerating.

She was, unfortunately, not exaggerating.

It seemed the Praetor's quarters had been assigned to a group of small connected houses. Once he entered the street he came across legionnaires and centurions, delivering messages and moving gear. Almost every single one stopped and congratulated him. Several asking if he'd be at the mess hall to celebrate that night.

He was lucky he didn't have to walk far, Toothless took him down a few streets to a public hall. He'd only had to extricate himself from a handful of awkward conversations to get to the door.

Once he was in Atticus hooked him around the shoulders with a laugh, "back from the dead, already!"

"gonna take more than a couple scrapes to put me in the ground," he said, and while Atticus laughed he moved out of his grip and took a seat at the table.

Toothless couldn't sit in for the meeting, the room wasn't big enough for their dragons, so he curled up on the roof, right above a window.

"well now you're here we can catch you up," Charlotte said, smiling.

"we've started helping with rebuilding, made sure all of Drago's captives are found and accounted for. Any children have been moved to temporary volunteer families in the towns to the south," Viriel began, shuffling through a stack of paper, "reports state almost all injured are being cared for alongside our soldiers. We've called for more medics from surrounding regions and the capitol, most have arrived, the rest are expected tomorrow morning."

"how long will we stay to help with repairs? Do we have enough resources?" Hiccup asked, took the papers Viriel offered him.

"we'll stay for a month, afterwards we'll head pack to our province," Charlotte explained, "the eighth will continue to give aid, as this is their jurisdiction. Donations are already feeding in from other towns and cities, we've requested supplies from the capitol already."

"the enslaved dragons? Are we taking them in?"

"I suggest we find them and begin rehabilitating them," Jera said, "we have a few free soldiers from our cohorts who can be spared. We'll have trainees from the eighth's main camp join us here, they can take it as a practical part of their dragon training."

"agreed," Viriel seconded, "scouts have tracked down some dragons that seem to have integrated into nearby flocks without too much issue, but there are several still unstable."

"we can send word to the sanctuary, tell Valka to be on the lookout for dragons in need." Charlotte gave Hiccup a pointed look, and he nodded.

"let's address the elephant in the room," Verlin piped up from the side, "did anyone actually see Drago die? How can we be sure he hasn't run off with his tail between his legs?"

"he's got a point," Atticus said, seeming to attempt at offering a supportive smile to his friend, "maybe we ought to be sending scouts out to find him?"

"that depends on what's more important. Revenge and executing someone to make a point, or helping the people of our empire to refortify themselves?" Aeliana said, gave Verlin an apologetic look, "I don't think we should be putting resources towards finding someone we're just going to kill off in the name of justice."

"the people will want revenge," Viriel pointed out, "and the senate will want to make an example of him."

"yes..." Jera said, "but if priority number one is the people and we just..." she looked around the table, "don't find Drago, then can they really blame us?"

Verlin blinked, "yes. They can. What happened to everyone doing what the senate wanted because the threat of a public flogging was a big deal?"

"and you want to find Drago because you're scared of a public flogging?" Hiccup asked, frowning and looking at his friend. When he'd met Verlin he'd been about to break a rule taken very seriously no matter the consequences.

"Are you not?" Verlin deadpanned, and Hiccup for a moment believed that was all the issue was.

"He just got out of compulsory bed rest," Aeliana said.

"beside the point," Hiccup pinched the bridge of his nose, "let's consider this from the stand-point of what we actually can do without the threat of a court martial. What are our current orders?"

"begin rebuilding, refortifying, etcetera. Ensure Drago's dragons are rehabilitated. Everything we're doing, plus make sure there isn't a bunch of Vikings close by biding time to attack again." Charlotte said.

"so basically, we shouldn't be leaving Roman waters, otherwise there will be immediate suspicions of our actions. It's easier to go against orders in small amounts and not draw attention than do something huge and never anything else," Atticus said, "so suggestion; we have a group go out searching for Drago. They don't find him, big whoop. They do find him; we send him to the capitol for an execution."

"and if he is out there? And he comes back?" Verlin pointed out.

"seconded," Gaius added, and at the looks he got elaborated, "truth is I don't want to be back here in three years because we didn't track down the culprit."

"fair point," Atticus sighed.

"then final suggestion," Aeliana leaned forward, "I move, we keep up what we're doing but alert the senate of the possible threat. If they wish they can send whomsoever they please on a manhunt. In the meantime, we alert Valka in the North as well as the wing maidens and Queen Mala, if Drago is hiding in the north they will find him."

"that's a copout." Verlin said and received several withering stares.

Viriel looked between him and Aeliana, sighed, "as much as I like to keep propriety loose, can we still remember that this is a military and there is a system of management."

Verlin scowled and leaned back in his chair.

"moving on." Aeliana cleared her throat and sat forward.

Hiccup needed to speak to Verlin.

The day's work for Hiccup included heading to the dragon pens to help with the dragon's being rehabilitated, making his way around the camp to check on progress in general, then helping with the rebuilding of taller structures.

If he was being honest with himself it didn't get interesting till he was finally off duty and found himself wondering to the part of the city that wasn't inhabited by the army.

Even though he was off duty he was still on campaign, so he was wearing his shin guards and greaves, his sword strapped to his hip and his praetor badge on his chest. Technically it was Charlotte's, but at this point in time they didn't exactly have a spare one floating around. He wanted to check morale. There weren't a lot of civilians still in the city, it was mainly builders and other tradesmen and their family members. but where demand existed, supply would spring up. So some restaurant owners had come back to help out, a few tailors had moved back in and the produce suppliers were slowly returning.

So, walking down the street he got several salutes, a couple smiles and the odd thanks. Each returned ten-fold.

Eventually he made it to where he wanted to be. On one of the middle walls, with a great view to the north, he found Annabella, right where Charlotte told him she'd be.

There was an adult with her, shivering from the wind and glancing anxiously between the child and the edge of the wall. Hiccup patted him on the shoulder, earning a mile-high jump, and said he'd take care of her and that they'd best head inside before they caught a cold.

Annabella was sitting on the edge, legs hanging over, a bag sitting against the low walling she so effortlessly perched on. Hiccup eyed the drop and sighed, shrugged, then sat down next to her.

He didn't know how to start. It turned out he didn't have to.

"You're the dragon guy," She said, smiled.

Hiccup blinked, got out a surprised "yeah."

"I talked to you on the battlefield," she said, completely nonchalant, "you have the cool sword."

Hiccup chuckled, "I wanted to ask you-"

"about the magic? The arrow you fired without killing yourself?" her face stayed close to smiling, eyes bright.

Hiccup nodded, "a friend of mine..." his voice faltered, "she used some really powerful magic that devastated Drago's army, but-"

"she died." She said, face infallible.

He couldn't take offence from a child, but the complete emotional detachment in her voice hurt. Jael deserved more than 'she died.'

"yeah." He finally managed.

"you want to know why you didn't, when logic says that much magic would kill you. It's because you weren't using your own magic."

"excuse me?"

"your friend was already dying, that is a fact. The fact she used so much energy to channel the power of a god through her hastened it. But she was a warlock, what she did was provide a pathway for a god to use her body and direct large amounts of magic at the enemy." She explained, "all this time, however, the magic you've been using is your own. Pluto gave it to you, and your body generates more energy for you to use. The difference on the battlefield is you weren't using your magic."

Hiccup blinked, "what?"

"you funnelled power from the underworld, something that takes control but does not expend you in any other way. Large amounts can make you go mad, but with everything else going on you were fine. You weren't using your own power, so you couldn't run yourself into the ground and eventually die. You weren't using Pluto's power because he is separate from the energy of the underworld, merely ruling it." She elaborated.

Hiccup looked out to the sky, took a deep breath. "this is all way too convoluted for me."

"no, it's just convoluted enough," Annabella grinned, "Pluto knew you could handle this, that's one of the reasons he chose you."

"and what about you? You threw some pretty heavy magic out there."

"I'm not a champion, I'm a..." she trailed, frowned. "I'm not sure, but I represent Mars. When in need I can... channel his power. And on a battlefield, that is particularly strong. As a representative I can't die from using too much of his magic, I'm equipped for it."

Hiccup felt a pang in his heart. There was nothing he could do for this child and it ate at him.

"any other questions?"

"uh," Hiccup looked for something to say, "Atticus told me you heard about something more powerful coming, I've heard some things too. Do you know what's happening on the god's side?"

Annabella tilted her head, eyes unfocusing as she gazed out at the sky.

"no more than you should already know. Except what I said to your blond friend, look at the children. No one ever does. I don't know what it means, but Mars suggested it. You know how gods are." She smiled.

Hiccup hummed, "unfortunately."

"I have one more thing to tell you before I leave."

"leave?" Hiccup whipped his head to her. She swung her legs over and dropped back to the floor of the wall, picked up her bag.

"I am leaving. I have to. I can't stay here, there's work to do," she said, turned to him as he stood in front of her, "but I will tell you this, as one person working for the gods to another, know yourself."

Hiccup raised an eyebrow, "oh?"

Annabella smiled, "I said one more thing. No more elaborations."

"you don't really think I'll just let you walk off, on your own, you're nine."

"and a half."

"stating that just points out how young you are."

Annabella's smile didn't falter, "nevertheless, I represent war. You represent decay."

The wind tugged at Hiccup's clothes and something in Annabella shifted.

"your power is a cycle into mine, you cannot stop me, you cannot fight me in any way that matters."

Looking into her eyes Hiccup was reminded of Vesta. A spark existed where fire did not, bright and shining in her eyes.

"I will see you again," she said, "but if war is to end, then you must let go of it."

She smiled, the light dimmed, and she turned, began to walk away.

"only if you do." He called after her.

She paused. And Hiccup was reminded once more that she was not even ten. She spoke like his friends, held herself like a soldier, reasoned like someone twice her age.

She turned her head, looked over her shoulder, "then I suppose we'll both be stuck here."

And as she walked away she faded, gone without an inferno or a flash. she became stonewashed against the air as she disappeared.

And Hiccup let out a shaky breath as he turned away as well, towards the door that led back inside the wall. His hands grazed the wood and he sighed, thinking to himself very bitterly as he pushed it open and started back to the camp:

'If only I'd learnt to be good at something other than war.'