The S-Class participants relaxing on the deck of the ship they were travelling on. They were that moment trying to keep cool, because the heat was incredible.
"Why is it so hard?" Ruby groaned. "Wasn't it snowing the other day? It feels like my skin going out of."
"She is kidding about the heat," Ruffnut groaned.
"No kidding, it's freaking boiling here," said Agatha trying the course of down with a fan.
"At least you guys don't have fur," Toothless groaned.
"My kingdom for an ice cream cone," said Ruby.
"We get it, its heart," Eret grumbled. "Just talk about something else."
"Still wish there was some sort of breeze," said Adelaide.
"I think the only one to unaffected about the heat are Hiccup and Ragnar," said Heather pointing.
Ragnar was relaxing in the sun while Hiccup was looking out to sea.
"What can I say I was told by Fire Dragon," Hiccup shrugged.
"Don't suppose you know anything about Cove Island?" Leo asked.
"Not much," Hiccup admitted.
"Then tell us what you do know," said Tuffnut.
"Sorry, that'll ruin the surprise," said Hiccup. He then looked out towards the sea. "Besides, it doesn't look like you have to wait long. We're hear."
Ragnar looked up. "Whoa, it's weird looking."
He wasn't wrong, the entire island was a pile of locks that resembled some sort of cove, which was no doubt how it got its name. In the centre of it was a huge tree, but other topic look like another piece of the island sticking out of it.
"That's the ugliest island I've ever seen," said Ruby.
"I think it looked cool," said Snotlout.
"Yeah, I want one!" said Tuffnut.
"Think about how much trouble we can cause with one," Ruffnut smiled.
"It's not like you can put in your pocket," said Ragnar shaking his head.
"An island on top of an island?" Fishlegs blinked.
"It's amazing," said Merrill as she felt the magic power exiting from the island. "So much magic power. I can feel it from all the way over here."
"Most impressive," said Garon.
"Now you glad I kept it a surprise," said Hiccup.
Stoick then showed up on the bridge. "There is a legend about this place. That the first Dragon Slayer was born here."
"Is the legend true?" Ruby asked.
"Nobody knows, but it is of great importance to our guild," said Stoick. "The resting place of our first master Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the First."
"Hang on, wasn't he an elf," said Ragnar confused. "If he was you and Hiccup's ancestor how come you're human?"
"True, but he fell in love with a human woman and elves can only produce elven children from other elves," said Stoick. "Anyway, back to the task in hand. I have to reveal the first round of your trial."
"There's more than one round?" Merrill blinked.
"If any of the Master's events were ever simple he would have quit a long time ago," said Garon.
"Please direct your attention to the smoke coming from the shore," said Stoick gesturing over to the distance and they saw a column of smoke emanating near the shore. "Your first task is to head to its source. Once there you choose one of the nine routes leading into the island. Each is for single team only, so don't doddle and pick one. After you've made your choice you have to conquer these obstacles."
He then snapped his fingers and a score of parchment appeared. They looked at it and saw nine different pathways, four of them linked with each other while three had a picture of either Astrid, Valka or Gildarts. Only a total of six routes lead to what looked like the exit.
"Teams that make it through these tests in one piece will advance to the second round," Stoick continued.
"I expected as much," said Hiccup.
"Some of those routes leading to S-Classers, tensed combat, no joke," said Ragnar.
"It would also seem that six of the routes link with one another," Leo noted.
"Combat routes are self-explanatory," said Stoick. "Two teams clash, but only one moves on. Use every power in your disposal. Intense combat routes are the hardest, by yourself on these and you have to deal with one of Dragon Tail's elite. So you'll need a whole lot of luck."
"He isn't joking," said Hiccup.
"Let's count on good luck," said Ruby looking at Agatha.
"Even as a gambler, I think that stretch she blows," said Agatha. "One third chance of fighting a S-Class Viking and as for the combat routes, we will know who our opponent is until we get there, we may end up fighting someone tough like Hiccup or Ragnar."
"If I've done the maths correctly, only a maximum of six teams will make it to the next round," said Rubbella.
"This sucks, if we pick the roots with S-Classers we'll be panelled," said Snotlout.
"You're a wimp," Rubbella muttered.
"The first round might be the end of us," said Fishlegs.
"With that sort of attitude it will be," said Eret.
"All right, you ready?" said Stoick. "Your trial starts now!"
"What?" Ragnar blinked.
"Hold on, it starts before we get on the island?" said Leo.
"You know what that means, bud," said Hiccup looking down at Toothless. "Time to jet."
Toothless nodded.
The two of them then jumped into the air, Toothless then grabbed Hiccup's shirt and summoned his wings. The two of them then flew up into the air.
"Looks like the first big as ours," said Hiccup.
"Catch you later," Toothless called.
"Hey! Get back here!" Ragnar yelled.
"That's cheating!" Snotlout yelled.
However, before they could leave, the two of them slammed right into a barrier away with ancient runes on it.
"An enchantment?" said Agatha.
They then noticed ancient writing all over the side of the ship and in the distance they saw Fenris, who created a pair of dark wings on his back, and Dogsbreath, who was floating on his dolls, heading towards the island.
"It is in permanent!" Fenris called. "Five more minutes, but won't kill you."
"That's cheating!" Ragnar yelled.
"I don't understand why you just keep them trapped here all day," said Dogsbreath.
"It wouldn't be much of a trial then," Fenris pointed out.
"Stoick, do something! This is gonna be against the rules!" Ragnar yelled.
"It not a race calm down," said Stoick.
"If it gets to the island first we're all screwed," said Ragnar. "He could cover the whole place with enchantments."
"Hang on, couldn't Fishlegs get us out?" Fishlegs asked.
Fishlegs was already setting to work on the enchantment. "This'll be a piece of cake."
"Nice!" Ruby and Agatha cheered.
"Sorry, but we rewrote it for me and Eret," said Fishlegs as both he and Eret jumped over the side.
"We should have seen that one coming," said Hiccup.
"I thought we were friends!" Ruby yelled.
"Not today," said Fishlegs as he and Eret swam to the shore.
However, Rubbella had also rewritten the enchantment for her and Snotlout.
"Now are you glad you teamed up with someone who knows Fenris so well's snot for brains," she smirked.
"I didn't know you could do that," said Snotlout smiling.
"Rewriting is something as this is child's play," said Rubbella. "Some of my towers could handle the toughest enchantment with ease. Let's go!"
"Prepare to dive!" Snotlout yelled as they jumped overboard.
"Okay this is getting ridiculous," said Hiccup.
"How much longer we stuck here?" Adelaide asked.
"Another four minutes at least," said Heather.
"Remind me to have Fishlegs around next I piss off Fenris," said Agatha.
They had to wait until the enchantment faded.
"Once you hit the water go all out!" said Agatha as she and Ruby ran to the side of the ship.
"Okay," said Ruby.
"Guess we're playing catch up," said Ragnar.
"Not the funnest game in the world," said Leo.
"Let's do this," said Hiccup.
"You got it!" Toothless cried.
Then they flew off towards the island.
"Time for a little Ice-Make: Floor!" Ragnar yelled as he created a frozen pathway from the boat to the shore.
He and Leo then began skating across it.
"Whoa, well that's one way to get across," said Ruby.
"Let's get going," said Adelaide and grabbed Tuffnut.
She then took the form of her Wrath Demon and they flew over towards the island.
Heather was swimming furiously across the water.
"I'm very fast at sea, are you sure you can keep up?" Heather asked looking up at Ruffnut, who had become a cloud of gas.
"Of course," she said.
"Never thought I envy a pile of gas," said Agatha staring at them.
Ruby then realised that they were far behind.
"What are we gawking for?" she said looking at Agatha. "If we don't get a move on right now we're going to be the last ones that."
"Don't be silly, Merrill and Garon haven't even left yet," Agatha pointed out.
However, when the two of them looked back onto the ship they found that the two of them had vanished.
"What the—" Ruby gaped.
"When did they leave?" said Agatha.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"If we don't get there a SAP we're going to end up fighting Astrid or worse," said Agatha as they swam furiously towards the island.
"We're dead," Ruby groaned.
Meanwhile, Hiccup and Toothless had reached the rondevu point. Once they landed they felt the power of the islands coursing through their bodies.
"You feel that Hiccup?" Toothless asked as he dropped him. "There's so much magic energy here it's kind of freaking me out."
"I know," said Hiccup.
Then they noticed nine different than caves, each with a letter initial. Four of them, however, were blocked off, indicating that they were already used by participants.
"Looks like we're way behind," said Hiccup, he knew three would have only been taken, but he had no idea how someone beat to the fourth one.
"Nearly half of the roots have already been taken," said Toothless. He then looked at Hiccup. "So, which one should we take? You choose?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure which one we should take," said Hiccup. "Either way we're gonna need an extraordinary bit of luck." He then looked at the tunnels and then pointed at the one with the letter E on it. "Let's go with this one."
They ran into the passageway and a magical barrier appeared right behind it.
Half an hour later, Ruby and Agatha made it and found that every passageway was blocked off, except for one.
"Looks like were dead last," said Agatha. "I can't believe even Merrill and Garon got here before we did."
"Hey, don't sweat it," said Ruby. "Like they say the best is always saved for last." She then winked. "That's us. We've got good looks and good luck. What you say we get you to that S-Class rank?"
Agatha nodded. "Nice to know that one of us can stay chipper."
They then walk through the last of the passageways which was marked C. As they walk through the passageway they found the entire place lit up by strange glowing insects.
"I didn't expect the cave to be so well lit," said Ruby.
"Probably all the spirit flies," Agatha guessed. "Since the island stays warm all year they multiply like rabbits."
"Ah, I was just starting to relax," a voice groaned.
"Who's there?" Agatha yelled.
"If someone else is here then that means…" Ruby gulped. "That our luck sucks."
It's only did, because they were facing against Fenris and Dogsbreath.
"Look babies," said Dogsbreath. "It Agatha and a loudmouth redhead."
"The name is Ruby, jerk!" Ruby snapped.
"Sorry, it appears you won't be making it past this round," said Fenris.
The annoying thing was, he was probably right. The two of them had already faced them before during the Battle of Dragon Tail and it hadn't and well. The problem was that Fenris had annihilated Agatha and Ruby was only saved from Dogsbreath, because the intervention of Leo, who she couldn't call forth to help.
"Ruby? On a skilled one to ten how screwed are we?" Agatha asked.
"Eleven give or take a hundred," said Ruby fiercely.
Dogsbreath then gestured towards a gate that was closed. "The gate will only open when one team wins," he explained. "I'm sure it ain't going to be you two bimbos."
"Forgive me, Agatha," said Fenris. "I can't allow you to pass this round, not now. If I am to follow in Alvin's path then I must win here."
Agatha was slightly nervous, but regained her composure. "Back off, I swear I'm not going to let the S-Class slip through my fingers a fifth time. It's all a nothing for me."
"Then let us begin," said Fenris.
"Save your energy," said Dogsbreath. "I'll take them both for myself."
"Very well, I'll leave it to you," said Fenris.
"You really think you can take both of us on?" Agatha snapped.
"Sure I can," Dogsbreath smirked.
He then sent his dolls straight at them, but they were able to dodge them gracefully.
"I like how you're dancing for me," Dogsbreath smirked. "Oh yeah, I could watch this all day long."
"You pig!" Agatha yelled and tossed three cards, however they dodged them.
"That's strike two. Get them babies!"
He then sent them flying towards them once again and Ruby quickly grabbed Aries key.
"Open! Gate of the Ram!" she yelled.
Aries then appeared. "What would you like me to do?" she asked nervously.
"Anything! I don't care!" Ruby yelled as she dodged the dolls that flew at her.
"Anything? Okay? Wool Wall!"
She then created a wall made of wool that caught the dolls and Dogsbreath.
"You've got a beat killing me," said Dogsbreath furiously. "A ram check that fires wool!"
Then Ruby appeared out of nowhere and kicked and right across the face and knocked him flat onto the ground.
"Oh, yeah!" Ruby cheered. "My strategy worked. I remember him he's really weak without his babies. These bimbos really kicks your butt, pal."
"If it's okay, Miss Ruby, I really like to go home now," said Aries. "I'll see you next time."
She then vanished.
"Don't forget you still got me to content with," said Fenris he then pulled out his sword.
"Oh no, here we go," Ruby panicked.
"Dark Écriture: Wing!" he yelled as a pair of dark wings appeared on his back.
He then flew up into the end Agatha tried to hit him with several other cards, but he sliced them to pieces with his sword. He nearly got her, but fortunately she was able to dodge it, though she did onwards lose her footing.
"Agatha!" Ruby cried.
"Don't worry, it'll take a lot more than a little script to take me down," she said. She then pulled out a card with a picture of a fountain on it. "Here goes nothing. Grand Fountain!"
She then slammed the card down onto the ground and at once erupted. What a shot out from it and headed straight towards Fenris, but he sliced it with his sword.
"It's no use!" he yelled.
"Not again," Agatha groaned.
"Water, huh?" said Ruby smiling.
Agatha turned and realise what she was up to. "No, it won't work with this! Its volatile magic made for attacking. If you touch it could kill you."
"You got a better idea?" Ruby asked pulling out Aquarius' key. They all watched as she placed the key with in the water. "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!"
Aquarius appeared from the water and she didn't look she was in a good mood.
"Take him out quick!" she yelled.
Aquarius tinned follow that order to the letter. Instead of attacking Fenris, she slammed her urn into her and Agatha.
"That hurt!" Ruby moaned. She then glared Aquarius. "Do you have sponge for brains? Look, he is the enemy!"
"You looking to get battered and deep-fried!" Agatha growled.
Ruby looked between Agatha and Aquarius and knew instantly that this was an argument she didn't want to get into. "I'm staying out of this," she said.
"Can you not tell the difference between friends and enemies?" Agatha roared.
"Every woman alive is my enemy!" Aquarius glared. "Idiot! Do you think your heart stop just because you let your jubilees out to jiggle? Wow, I didn't know girls were so desperate these days, poor thing. You'll never land and that way."
"I bet you settled on the first ugliest merman that show you his trident. It must be worth when you're twenty leagues up your stank."
"Rummy wench."
"Fishy sea beast."
Ruby was utterly terrified tween the argument between the two girls.
"I love to chat more, but I have to meet my…" She then looked over to Ruby. "Boyfriend."
"Would you quit bragging about it?" Ruby snapped. She then vanished. "Why'd I even use her?"
Fenris just stood there. "Not that this hasn't been amusing, but if you're done."
"Forgot about him," said Agatha.
"I'm all out of ideas," said Ruby.
"Don't worry, I got it covered," said Agatha. She then tossed several cards in front of Fenris. "Iron Prison!"
Suddenly iron bars appeared around Fenris trapping him in place.
"Impressive, but your cage has a weak spot," said Fenris as he drew his sword. He then sliced right through rock that produced the only opening within the prison.
However, the moment he was out of it he found himself surrounded by several different cards. It became clear that he had freed from one trap and ended up in another.
"He fell for it," said Agatha.
"Oh, yeah!" Ruby cheered.
"Oh, dear," he said looking at the cards.
"Summon Lightning!" Agatha yelled.
Fenris was electrocuted by a massive surge of electricity emanating from the cards. He then toppled over and was knocked out cold.
"Whoa, we beat him," said Agatha stunned.
"Hey, look, the gate leading to the next round is wide open," said Ruby pointing.
She was correct the gate, that had been closed, was now open.
"You know what this means?"
They then high-fived each other. "That we will rock."
"S-Class rank, here I come. Let's go!"
Then the two girls ran down the passageway that led to the next trial.
Ten minutes later, Fenris and Dogsbreath got up.
"You sure this was for the best?" Dogsbreath asked. "You lost S-Class."
"I'm sure," Fenris assured. "If it had been anyone else, I would have given the fight my all. But I feel I owe those two a debt of sorts and giving and this victory seemed a fair way to pay it off."
"Whatever," Dogsbreath shrugged. "We put on a killer show, but to be honest I think you got the better end of the deal."
"Perhaps."
"I am surprised. I mean weren't you dead set to set upon Alvin's footsteps?"
"I'd like to, but that's not what's most important to me." He then turned and looked at Dogsbreath. "Being in Dragon Tail is all that matters. Besides, I have no doubt that Alvin will return one day."
"I can't believe it," said Dogsbreath shaking his head. "Those girls hit the jackpot. What are the odds that they would run into us? I guess they're pretty lucky after all."
Meanwhile, Hiccup and Toothless was still walking down their passageway.
"We have to be going close by now," said Hiccup.
"We are, look ahead, the battle ahead opened up," said Toothless.
When they walked inside they could see somebody standing there.
"There is definitely somebody here," said Hiccup.
"But who is it?"
The lights from the spirit flies and to that question and it was the last person they wanted to face. It was Gildarts.
"Oh, no," Hiccup groaned.
"Sorry, dead-end," said Gildarts. "Luck is just not on your side."
"So much for S-Class," Toothless groaned.
"I should warn you," said Gildarts taking a few steps forward. "I've never been good at holding back in a fight. So, this will be quick."
However, instead of backing down, Hiccup's body went ablaze.
"Hiccup?" Toothless blinked.
"I'm not going to back down to anyone," said Hiccup.
Gildarts just smiled.
