Hiccup and Merrill were tossed right into a cell by Ryker. Hiccup was the first to cover and ran towards the cell door that his counterpart was closing.

He placed his hand around the bars and glared at him. "Where are the others?" he demanded.

"Others?" Ryker frowned.

"Yeah where our friends, Ruby, Toothless and Stormfly," Merrill demanded getting to her feet.

"Who's Ruby?" Ryker frowned. He then realised who they were talking about. "Oh, you mean the redhead, a pretty little thing, but unfortunately we have no use for her. So she is going to be executed."

Hiccup slammed his fists against the bars. "If you touch one hair on her head it'll be the last thing you ever do or else burn you down to a pile of ashes," he threatened.

"My, my, aren't you spirited," Ryker smirked. "You're certainly nothing like our Hiccup, for starters he would know when he was beaten and would have just surrendered. I'm beginning to wonder if all Midgard Vikings are just as ferocious as you."

"You're going to execute Ruby," said Merrill horrified. "What will happen to Toothless and Stormfly?"

"No need to worry about the Exceeds," Ryker assured.

"His name is Toothless," Hiccup snarled.

"The Exceeds," Ryker continued not registering that he heard Hiccup, "have accomplished their mission so we took them back to their homeland. In fact and betting the little guys have claimed their reward and having a feast as we speak."

"What?" Hiccup roared.

"What you mean? What mission?" Merrill asked horrified.

She then remembered the mission that Stormfly had mentioned back on Midgard. She then furiously shook her head. "No way, that's not possible! I don't know what kind of mission you sent her on, but I know Stormfly abandoned it!"

Ryker laughed. "Oh yeah, she actually completed it like a pro."

Hiccup and Merrill stared at him.

"That can't be," said Merrill. "What are you making them do for you?"

Ryker looked at them quite amused. "You mean you still haven't figured it out yet?"


Meanwhile outside, there was quite a festival going on and quite a lot of guards were guarding the lacrima in the town square.

One of the guards and noticed Edolas Eret taking some notes down in his notebook. He was so busy taking down, he noticed that the guards were pointing their spears at him until they were right in front of him.

"What are you doing and who are you?" said one of the guards.

"Oh, I'm just your average journalist," said Edolas Eret calmly. "I'm covering the ceremony and would love to ask you a few questions that is if you wouldn't mind."

"I've got no comment now beat it," said the guard.

"I see the King has troops stationed around the northern side of the Plaza, is it therefore safe to assume that there are soldiers stationed on the southern side of it as well?" Edolas Eret asked.

"Get out of here," the guard warned.

Edolas Eret took the hint and walked off. "Sorry gentleman, I didn't mean to disturb you."


Meanwhile the Midgard Eret had positioned himself in one of the towers and was looking down at the Plaza on the notice all the guards that surrounded the lacrima and not to mention the civilians surrounding the place.

"Just great," he muttered. "Can't rush in with all those people down there. They could wind up getting hurt when the soldiers attack. What am I going to do now?"

He then looked down and noticed his Edolas counterpart wondering within the crowd. He gave a quick look indicating that he had something planned.


Meanwhile, Toothless awoke to find himself in a bed alongside Stormfly.

"What the—where are we?" he said taking his surroundings. He then began to shake Stormfly awake. "Stormfly, wake up."

Stormfly awoke. "Tomcat? What is this?" she asked looking around. "What in the world—happened to us?"

"All I know is we were knocked out and woke up here," said Toothless. "This weird place, I know I've never been here before."

Stormfly then looked down at her feet.

"Are you okay?" Toothless asked.

Stormfly shook her head. "It seems my information was actually a trap."

"That's not true, I'm sure it was just a coincidence they found us," Toothless assured. "It wasn't your fault, Stormfly."

However, she wasn't convinced. "I betrayed poor Merrill. I swore that I would protect no matter what." She then began to burst into tears. "This is all my fault."

That's when the door opened and the two of them looked up in their eyes widened, because right in front of them was a cat like themselves with ginger fur and he was dressed in a manner that indicated he was a soldier. They just stared, because he bore a strong resemblance to Olatrand.

"I beg your pardon," he said. "Are you the ones that recently completed a Midgard mission?"

"You've got of the kidding," Toothless blinked.

"Nice perfume," said the cat.

"You're a cat like us?" Toothless blinked.

"Don't be silly," said the cat looking insulted. "I'm no mere cat, I'm an Exceed just like you."

"Mr Solatrant, Sir," said a new voice and they found another cat wondering inside. He was dressed smartly and had brown fur. "I've been told this is the first time they've been to Edolas. In fact some doubt they've ever seen another Exceed before."

"Really," said Solatrant, crossing his paws. "Well, I had no idea. Welcome I am Solatrant the captain of Extalia's Royal Guard."

"And my name is Grump, otherwise known as Extalia's Minister of State," said Grump. "Congratulations on your mission."

"Our mission?" Toothless blinked.

He noticed that Stormfly was still upset. "It will be okay, Stormfly," he assured.

"I know this is rather sudden, but the Queen would like to see you," said Solatrant. He then headed towards the door "Follow me."

"The Queen, seriously?" Toothless yelled.

He then looked back at Stormfly, who was still down in the dumps. "Don't worry, Stormfly. Just leave everything to me. The first thing we need to do is get the lay of the land."

However she still remained silent.

"I promise I'll protect you, Stormfly," he assured clenching his paw.

They followed the two Exceeds and noticed there were two other Exceeds guarding the door.

"Excellent work men," said Solatrand.

"Sir," they said.

"There's cats everywhere," said Toothless.

"I bet you're excited, aren't you?" said Grump.

"I might be if I knew what the heck was going on," said Toothless narrowing his eyes.

They soon reached the end of the corridor and Toothless eyes widened, because right in front of him was a village and everywhere he looked he saw other Exceeds.

He was completely speechless for he had never seen anything of it's like before he met Stormfly he always assumed that he was the only one of his kind and now is discover there was an entire city of his kind.

All of them were acting as if they were humans, telling wild stories, buying supplies and teaching the young. He even saw some kids playing in the streets.

"Land of cats," he said in awe.

"Look at Sir Solatrand," said one of the Exceed as they walked past.

"Sir Grump how are you today?" said another Exceed.

"I'm great, thank you for asking," said Grump.

"Hey, check it out, is that them?" said an Exceed looking at Toothless and Stormfly.

"Yes, they're the ones that completed their Midgard mission."

"Your heroes!"

"At chick is pretty hot, I wonder if she's with that guy."

"Everybody is a cat here," Toothless blinked.

"I'm afraid you're wrong, my friend," said Grump. "Where Exceeds here, we stand above the humans. It's our duty to guide them each and every day."

"I've never heard anything like this before," Toothless frowned.

Grump didn't hear him. "And that beautiful site before you is the Exceed Kingdom Extalia."

Toothless eyes widened as he saw a large castle coming into view.


Meanwhile, in the Royal City, the festival had just begun and drummers were drumming through crowds of people towards the giant lacrima.

In the middle of the crowd was Edolas Eret, still taking notes down and wondered closer to one of the guards.

"I see things are finally getting underway," Edolas Eret noted.

The guard nodded. "The kingdom would be much more stable after this."

"Well on the southern side of the Plaza, let me ask you security is tight on the eastern western side as it is here?" Edolas Eret asked curiously.

The guard shook his head. "No, but only because there's not enough room for anyone to hide there."

"Oh really, is that so?" said Edolas Eret.

The guard quickly realised his mistake. "Please don't like that in the article, it'll give me trouble."

"I would never do such a thing," Edolas Eret assured. "I assure you that I'm completely aware what's appropriate what to write in and what's not. I strive to be a fair journalist."

The garden look convinced, but there was very little he could do about it.

Edolas Eret slowly moved through the crowd as the parade reached the lacrima. He then began to read through his notes. There were troops stationed in north and south side, but just north of the southside was undermanned. According to his sources the ceremony will be held south of the lacrima.

He then looked up at one of the towers where his Midgard counterpart stood and tilted it hat giving him a signal. He then moved his finger where the guards were undermanned and Eret caught on at once, for his counterpart started moving again.

"I see, well here goes nothing," said Eret.


Meanwhile Toothless and Stormfly had just entered the Royal city in Extalia and kept following Solatrand and Grump.

"You see in our world, humans are foolish and inferior species," Grump explained. "So it is our duty as Exceeds the keep them under control."

"In case you haven't noticed they have a nasty perfume," said Solatrand.

Toothless notice that Stormfly was still looking depressed he wasn't quite sure how to comfort her. It soon became clear that it will be up to him leading them if they found a way to escape.

Grump continued with their education. "Our Queen watches over the humans and governs them from this castle."

"She has an absolutely delightful perfume," said Solatrand dreamily.

"It would be dangerous if the humans numbers were to get out of hand, so the Queen determines which humans are unnecessary and have them executed," Grump explained.

Toothless eyes widened. "Why would she want to do that?"

"To help restore the magic power that's dwindling from our world… at least that's what the Queen said. You see not only does she governs the humans of this world, but she controls the humans from Midgard as well along with the elves."

"But what about dwarfs?" Toothless asked.

"Well, since they do not possess any magic power it was deemed unnecessary to control them."

"And she decides which people live or die?" Toothless asked sceptically.

"Yes, our benevolent Queen has that authority," Solatrand nodded. "After all, she is a goddess."

"A goddess?" Toothless eyes widened.


Meanwhile in the Royal city, the celebrations were going underway and both Erets were taking out their positions. They had only one shot and they had to make it count.


Meanwhile back in the Royal city of Extalia Stormfly finally looked up.

"This mission the Queen sent us on," said Stormfly and then looked down at her feet. "I remember. It's coming back to me, this mission has been imprinted on me since I was born."

Strangely enough both Solatrand and Grump looked at each other slightly surprised, but Toothless wasn't paying any notice as he looked at Stormfly.

"The Queen chose me to help her control the human, elf and dwarf population… I was ordered to eliminate… the Dragon Slayer Merrill."

Toothless' eyes widened. "What's that supposed to mean, Stormfly?"

"Please don't ask," Stormfly snapped at him.

"I've been waiting patiently long enough, you still haven't told me what this mission of ours was all about and now you tell me that your mission was to eliminate Merrill!" Toothless yelled, but then his eyes widened as realisation hit him. "No way, does that mean— my mission was to—? No, it can't be true!"

"I'm sorry," said Stormfly sympathetically. "I thought you were better off not knowing the truth."

"I just can't—believe it. My mission was to eliminate Hiccup!"


Back in the dungeon of the Royal City, Ryker had just explained what Toothless and Merrill mission was in the two of them just stared at him in horror.

"That can't be right," said Hiccup.

"No way," said Merrill.

Ryker just smiled enjoying the horrified expressions on their faces.


Meanwhile in the Plaza, the crowd was growing restless the Royal Army looked as if it was ready to convert the giant lacrima into magic power. Quite a few of their Vikings were holding up staffs which began to glow and the lacrima too began to glow.

Both Erets knew that they couldn't wait any longer or else their friends would be lost forever.

Meanwhile in Extalia, Toothless was still processing their mission.

"I was supposed to have eliminated Hiccup," he said quivering.

"Will you just calm down, tomcat," Stormfly snapped. She then turned and looked at Solatrand and Grump. "Let me make one thing clear, we didn't accomplish our missions nor did we ever intend to do so. Why is everyone talking to us as if we have?"

Both Solatrand and Grump looked at one another quite shocked.

"Do you think its amnesia?" Solatrand asked.

"Perhaps, you see, there are countless side-effects overriding that are still widely unknown—"

"Answer me!" Stormfly demanded.

"Of course, please allow me to explain," said Grump. "About a year ago our beloved Queen sent one hundred Exceed eggs to Midgard in the hopes of better controlling the human and elf population. After they hatched the information they had been given would lead them to seek out and eliminate the Dragon Slayers.

"Then one day, this situation changed, you see when the humans created Anima we were presented with a new and exciting possibility. With its invention we realise than rather killing Midgard humans and elves we can convert them to magic power and its well-known Dragon Slayer are the most powerful of the human and elven Vikings. Therefore instead of eliminating them you were order to bring them into custody."

Toothless and Stormfly looked at the two Exceeds with horrified faces. Stormfly then fell to her knees shaking uncontrollably and Toothless was just the same.


Meanwhile, in the dungeons Ryker had just finishing explaining Toothless and Stormfly mission to Hiccup and Merrill. The two of them just stared in horrified, unable to speak and unable to comprehend what had just happened.

"This is excellent," said Ryker. "We finally got our hands on you. You both have so much of a Dragon Slaying Magic inside of you are we gonna do now is extract it from you.


Meanwhile in the Plaza, the crowd began cheering as the Royal Army began to extract the magic power from the giant lacrima.

Eret looked up at it and you that he had to hurry, but with it being so crowded it was almost impossible to move let alone fight.

Edolas Eret knew to it was the time to act and pulled out a strange contraption out of his pocket. He then began to move as close as he could towards the lacrima.

One of the spectators notice the device in his hand. "Hey, what the heck is that thing?" he asked.

"Oh, this," said Edolas Eret gesturing to the device and is hand. "Well… uh… fireworks for the magic power extraction. Cool, huh. Watch this!"

He then activated the device which sent up a flare straight up into the sky.

"Fireworks!" someone cried.

"That's awesome, I hope they shoot some more."

A guard saw it completely confused. "What that—"

The guard next to Eret was equally as confused. "Nobody said anything about fireworks."

Eret looked up and saw the sparkles in the sky and noticed that they made the letter "N".

"Guess one letter is not enough," said Edolas Eret noticing the guards were still where they were meant to be. He then pulled out more similar devices. "Let's go all out!"

He then fired them in up into the sky and each one credits on letter. Eret could now see the word "NORTH" in the sky.

"The north," he said.

"And the rest is up to you, my friend," said Edolas Eret and walked away.

"Soldiers!" Eret cried trying to make his voice as much militarily as possible. "That must be some kind of warning! We must protect the lacrima! I suspect there's someone suspicious at the north side of the Plaza!"

"What?" said a soldier.

"We gonna do something," said a soldier next to him. "That's the rear side of the lacrima, we don't have many men positioned there."

"Keep your forces here and I'll take the others north. Push the crowd back for their safety."

"Yes sir," said the soldier as his commander took several men to the north. He then looked at the crowd and slowly he and his men began to push them back. "You heard the man, everyone please move back."

Everyone except Eret moved. "All right, it's about time for me to make my move, here goes," he said.

"Hey, didn't you hear me? I said move back!"

Eret then removed his robe and charge straight towards them.

"That Mystogan guy maybe a weirdo, but I've got no other choice but to trust him for right now," said Eret.

The guard attempted to stop him, but their eyes widened at his arm turn into a metal club.

"Iron Dragon Club!" Eret roared smashing through the guards.

Edolas Eret could tell by the sound of the fighting and the way the soldiers were getting confused that the plan was working.

"It's going precisely as planned," he said and walked off.

"Iron Dragon Sword!" Eret yelled as his arm turn into a metal sword of spikes. He then slammed it against the lacrima. "There's no stopping me!"

He then slammed his sword against the lacrima once again and this time it began to glow brightly. The crowd began to panic and Eret smile, but then his face turned to surprise.

"What the—"


Meanwhile in Extalia, Toothless and Stormfly were still trying to figure out what was going on and were now crying.

"Judging by your reactions it would appear that overwriting your orders remotely may not have been the best idea," said Grump.

"However, everything worked out in the end, you were still able to bring the Dragon Slayers to us despite the erroneous orders," said Solatrand. "The humans have been tasked with magical extraction, which is their conversion of magic power. After all, they are proficient at that sort of thing."

"No, it can't be," said Stormfly, shaking her head as he fell to all fours. "I came to Edolas—I came here with my own free will."

"Afraid not," said Grump. "You are acting on the will of our fair Queen."

"But I lead everyone to the channel to try and save them."

"It may have appeared that way to you, but actually we were the ones who guided you there."

"No, it can't be. All I ever wanted—all I wanted was to protect Merrill, she's all that matters to me."

"What you experienced was actually a self-delusion," Grump explained. "When your order is changed from eliminate to capture your duty became too protecting the Dragon Slayers to ensure they were not killed."

"That's not true!" Stormfly yelled.

"Whether you like it or not your every move up to this point has been completely controlled by us," said Solatrand firmly.

Toothless kept on crying, but they weren't of sadness they were of anger. He then got to his feet and clenched his paw as he remembered all the happy times he had with Hiccup. He refused to believe that any of it was fake.

He then looked up and glared at Grump and Solatrand. "Let's get one thing straight," he said in anger. "When not your puppets!"

Both Grump and Solatrand were taken aback, apparently had not expected this.

Stormfly just stared at Toothless. "Tomcat?"

"You've got all wrong," said Toothless glaring at the two of them with rage he had never felt before. "We're members of Dragon Tail we don't work for you!"

It was then that the three of them felt a massive surge of power coming from Toothless the likes of which they had never seen before. Grump and Solatrand were nearly knocked off their feet because of that power and they just stared in horror at Toothless.

Stormfly just stared at Toothless, still crying, but in amazement. "Toothless?"