The heroes soon arrived in a town with many windmills, stone and wood made homes and lots of farmland and fields. "Okay, if San Grio was Atopos and Abadat combined, then this place takes just Atopos and multiplies it times a billion."Sonic said.

"This place kinda reminds me of Holland a little bit." Hope said.

"Well, their names are almost the same." Layton said. "We should start by gathering a bit of information. Maybe the locals could use some help."

There was indeed help to be given, in the form of another puzzle.

Puzzle No. 072: Bemused Bunnies

Heavy rain has completely messed up the routes that the rabbits usually take

when they go home. The paths are divided into four panels and it's your job to

rearrange them so that the black and white rabbits can go to their respective

homes.

"This is a pretty simple puzzle if you think about it." Jeremy said.

"Yeah. Just switch the lower left panel with the upper right and the lower right with the upper left." Tails said.

"Correct!" said a farmer. "And just in time for the wedding of the year!" he said.

"Oooh, a wedding? Sounds like fun!" Amy said.

"Maybe I'll get some ideas for when Gray and I finally get married." Juvia said.

"You should. You two would make amazing brides." the farmer said.

"Really?" Both amy and Juvia said.

"Oh brother." Sonic said.

"Girl troubles much?" Gray said.

Just then, they felt a strong wind blow through as they saw a tornado rushing through the town, destroying random houses as it passed by. After it vanished, the group saw the bride in question with a pastor as they headed up a hill.

"They might've gotten scared and ran off during the ceremony." Wendy said.

"Or they're heading for where the ceremony is. But I don't see a groom anywhere." Emmy said.

"Before we go after her, can you tell us a little about this wedding?" Hope asked the farmer.

"You don't know? She's being married off to the Dragon Lord who lives in the chapel up the hill." the farmer said.

"Dragon Lord? Hey, do you guys think…" Natsu said.

"The man that brides gonna marry is this Drake guy Gothorita mentioned?" Gajeel said.

"We'll head up to the chapel and see for ourselves." Wendy said.

They group ran up the hill to see the bride and pastor outside a small metal dome. "And so, it is within my power that the Dragon Lord accepts this woman to be his next bride." the pastor said.

The bride then began to walk into the dome before a young man ran up the hill. "Wait! Romilda! Don't do this!" he shouted as the woman looked at him. "I'm sorry, Julien. I have to do this." she said as the doors closed and were locked. "May the Dragon Lord accept this bride." the pastor said.

The group then came over to Julien. "It's just a wedding, why didn't you want her going in?" Natsu asked.

"It's not just a wedding. She was being sacrificed to the Dragon Lord." he said.

"Sacrifice?" Everyone said

"Tis true." the pastor said. "It is customary to offer the Dragon Lord a bride every year in order to protect our village. Once they go in, after a while, all that remains is their clothes as they now join him as the air."

"That's insane! What kinda guy actually believes that stuff?" Emmy said.

"Watch your mouth missy, or you might not get married to him next year." a farmer said.

"Were not here to get Emmy married, we are here for an egg-like object, and it's possible your "dragon lord" has it." Natsu shouted.

"Unfortunately, we cannot open the doors to the chapel until seven days have passed." the pastor said.

"What do we do now?" Jexi asked. "We need the egg, but we can't just let that girl die there."

"I wanna get married with Nami or Robin, but not like this. No woman has to go through that!" Sanji said.

"Excuse me?" asked a woman nearby. "I couldn't help but overhear you wanna save Romilda. Is this true?"

"Of course we do." Layton said.

"Well, if you are serious, I might have a way to help you with that. Follow me into the woods in one hour." she said.

In the woods, the group met up with the woman next to something covered in leaves. "So, how can we help?" Natsu asked as the woman moved the leaves. Under them was a large array of holes. The group also noticed the hill the holes were in were under the Chapel.

"With these, you can get in the Chapel without being seen. I cannot follow you, but if you can save Romilda, please do so. I've been using this hole for years to save the brides they toss in there. They leave the village to pursue lives in the outside world. We both know this Dragon Lord stuff is a bunch of hooey. I tried to convince her earlier, but she refuses to go. She's actually convinced there is a Dragon Lord." she said.

"If we all go in there, it might be a bit of a ruckus, so who's gonna-" Jexi started to say before noticing Sanji was gone. "Well, guess he didn't need permission."

"We'll go as well." Layton said with his group.

"So will I." Hope replied.

Sanji was already running in the tunnels before hearing a noise in the tunnel nearby before seeing Julien with a shovel in his hands. "You?" Sanji asked.

"Beatrix is my fiance. I'm not going to sit by and let her die just like that." Julien said.

"Guess we've got something in common. But there's another way to get there besides digging." Sanji said.

"When it comes to love, you'll take any lengths necessary." Julien said.

"Amen to that, brother." Sanji replied.

The two continued down to see an underground chamber where the bride stood. All around they saw several fans built into the sides and Azran lines all over the chamber as well as a device in the center.

"This must be the Azran ruins Auroras people left behind." Sanji said. "Sycamore was right, they really were everywhere."

"Beatrix! I've come to save you!" Julien said.

"Go away. I don't want you here." she said.

"But, I came here to rescue you." Julien said.

"Look. This is how things will go. I'm going to die here. When people see my body here, they'll finally learn there is no such Dragon Lord." Romilda said.

"Wait, you wanna prove it a hoax just like us?" Sanji said. "But that woman told us you believed it."

"She can assume all she wants. I'm staying by my own volition." Romilda said.

"No. I'm going to put an end to this." Julien said raising his shovel about to smash the device in the center, when the circle in the center glowed. "Hmm?" Sanji thought as the shovel began to move around in Julien's arms before flying out of his hands and sticking to the ceiling.

"I get it. So this is how they've managed to protect their ruins. A device that takes away weapons and powers." Sanji said.

"Now we see the truth behind this Dragon Lord." Layton said approaching the two. "But, there might be a way we can shut this facility down." he added approaching the center device to see eight buttons and two exposed pillars. He pushed a button on the top left, making six pillars appear in the empty slots, making the device recede into the ground and the wind machines slow. In its place appeared a small dragon head statue with the egg inside its mouth.

"That's it! That's what we need!" Hope shouted as he took the egg. "Now you two don't have to worry. This Dragon Lord business is finally over. You can finally live a happy life together."

Back up on the hill, the group waited as the doors opened up. "Huh? Why are the chapel doors opening?" the pastor asked as the group inside came out. "What? Why are you in the domain of our lord?"

"Your lord was nothing but an illusion." Layton said.

"This chapel is actually a facility made by an ancient race. Something caused it to be unbalanced, but it's fixed now." Sycamore said.

"So, we have nothing to fear?" the pastor asked.

"Yes. Only fair winds shall blow through your village now, spreading the seeds of life." Aurora said. "Wait, could you be… a disciple of the Dragon Lord?" the pastor asked.

"They never give this stuff up, do they?" Hope asked.

"I should have listened to you. Who knows how many poor brides I've sacrificed to bring peace to the village." the pastor lamented.

"They are all safe. And in a way, your last sacrifice did kinda bring the village peace." Jexi said.

"Regardless, you've lifted our spirits and bring true peace to us. I cannot thank you enough." the pastor said.

"Okay, one more stop before this whole mystery of the Azran is solved!" Layton said.

"So, see anything new Aurora?" Luke asked.

"Yes. I see a windy valley and there are thousands of bird like machines gliding in the air." she said.

"Our last stop is the walled city of Mosinnia. What say we pay it a visit?" Jexi asked.

"Do you think we'll find any more heroes there?" Hope asked.

"Not likely. From what I heard, its suppose to be a deserted city." Emmy said.

"Still, we can expect the unexepected. To mosinnia!"