Brandish sat right up and found herself with unfamiliar surroundings, the last thing she remembered was being choked to death by Atran.
"Wait where am I?" she said.
"The infirmary," said a voice next to her. She turned around and saw Ruby sitting next to her and Agatha were standing next to her, at the far corner was Gothi sitting on a chair. She then looked down at her wrists and saw that she was still wearing her cuffs. "Sorry, but Master Stoick insisted that we leave those on you."
"Hopefully they should be at least bit more comfortable, now that the not behind your back though," said Agatha.
"Where's Atran?" Brandish asked.
"You mean Mr A+?" said Ruby. "He's locked up."
"Right where he belongs, the psycho was trying to choke you to death," said Agatha.
"You owe your life to these young ladies, they saved you for some reason," Gothi explained.
"Why did you help?" Brandish asked.
"Think about it would you?" Agatha sighed. "It's because you couldn't tell us anything if you just croaked on the floor down there."
"I still won't tell you anything," she said turning her head away from them.
"Well, besides that we really don't want anyone to die on our watch, not even our enemies," Ruby added.
"Great so you just torture me."
"We don't do that stuff either."
"I will if you want me to," Agatha smiled fiendishly.
"Agatha!" Gothi warned.
"I mean we took a bath together, didn't we?" Ruby continued. "I don't know… I just don't feel like you're an evil person."
Brandish looked at her in silence for a moment. "I'll tell you everything I know about Crystal on two conditions." She then raised her manacles. "Lose these and allow me to talk to Ruby in private."
"I think you may be overplaying your hand," said Agatha.
"No it's fine," said Ruby raising her hand. "I'll let her have that for now."
"Very well then," said Gothi as she rose to her feet. "I suppose will leave you be, I'll remove the chain but the seal stone stays on."
Brandish accepted that condition and Gothi remove the chain around her manacles.
"If she tries anything you just holler. Okay, Ruby?" said Agatha as they made their way to the door.
Agatha then closed the door behind them leaving Ruby alone with Brandish.
"First off my full name is Brandish Greengem, my mother's Grammi," said Brandish. "She was a servant and worked for Crystal Heartfull."
Ruby's eyes widened in shock.
"When your mother quit being a Celestial Viking she interested three of her keys to her most loyal servants. The key for Capricorn went to Zoldeo, Cancer went to Spetto…"
"Sweet old Spetto?" Ruby blinked.
Spetto had been one of the servants employed by Ruby's family and she had no idea that she had been given Cancer's key. In fact, she had no idea which person receive which key from her mother.
"And as for my mum, she was given the key that unlocks Aquarius Gate," Brandish continued. "Mum had a lot of respect for Crystal and that key was her most treasured possession without a doubt. She took great care of it and even polished it every day." Her hands then gripped her bedsheets. "But still… somehow it must not have been good enough, because your mother betrayed her."
Ruby looked up confused. "How so?"
"Tell me exactly where did you get the Aquarius key?"
"Well… from mum?"
"But she had given it to my mother years before, so how could she possibly have passed it on to you?" Ruby wished that she had an answer, but she didn't. "It's easy, she simply took the key back after she murdered my mother."
Ruby's eyes widened, that she could not believe. Her mother couldn't even harm a fly let alone one of her most loyal servants. However, she couldn't think of another reason why she received Aquarius' key.
"No way," she said stunned. "That crazy."
"You're so hopelessly naïve, reality is not what you choose to believe!" Brandish yelled.
Ruby was so stunned that she failed to notice Brandish launching herself at her before it was too late. She then quickly placed her in a hold, pinning her arms behind her back and covered her mouth so that she wouldn't call the help. In the struggle, a jug filled with water fell onto the floor and the water spilt out.
"You also need to learn not to blindly trust people," said Brandish in her ear.
"Please…" said Ruby in a muffled voice.
"Sorry it has to be this way, but I can't take revenge on Crystal herself. Since your mum is dead, I'll have to get my vengeance by killing you. Just give up and die."
Ruby struggled to get out of the hold, but brandish was far too strong and she was unable to call out for help. They rolled over the floor until Brandish was on top, but then she was then struck by a massive surge of water knocking her clean off of Ruby. Ruby looked up and saw that she was now in the arms of Aquarius, much to her disbelief.
"Are you telling stories about my key?" Aquarius asked.
"Aquarius… it's you?" Ruby stared.
Brandish looked at her stunned.
Aquarius then smiled down at Ruby. "Long time no see Ruby."
Ruby burst into tears and then hugged her. "I thought you would never come back!" She then pulled away from her and looked into her eyes. "It's a miracle, I missed you so much."
"Calm down, I'm not back for good," Aquarius warned. "About a year after my key was broken a new one appeared somewhere in the world. This will allow a human to open my Gate once again. Anyway even though no one has made a new contract as of yet, the Celestial Spirit King granted me passage into this world. However, I can't stay long."
Ruby just smiled. "Okay, at least I get to see your face again so I'm happy."
Aquarius then looked at Brandish. "And it's been longer for us… huh, Brandish?"
"You know her?" Ruby stared.
"Yeah, of course I do," said Aquarius. "Didn't she just tell you that her mother had my key for a little while? The two of us really had some fun times back in the old days, didn't we?"
Brandish just remained quiet.
"Listen you little brat!" Aquarius snapped loudly. "When someone asks you a question, answer it!"
"Yes, forgive me… please, Mistress," Brandish begged.
Ruby just stared dumbfounded. "Wow, what is going on here?"
Aquarius then last Brandish's cheeks. "I always knew that you would grow up to be some kind of twisted chick and I bet that nasty attitude has kept the boys away, hasn't it?"
"Yes, ma'am," said Brandish timidly.
Ruby was still trying to process what was going on because she never would have anticipated Brandish been so submissive especially with the dominant attitude.
"Been forever since I've seen a good dog impression," Aquarius smiled.
Brandish then sat on all fours and began barking like a dog.
"Now there's a good girl," said Aquarius stroking Brandish's head.
"Thank you, kind mistress," said Brandish.
"So behave!" Aquarius yelled slapping her across the face.
"Thank you, kind mistress, I will!"
"Okay, that's weird," said Ruby slowly.
Aquarius then looked down at Brandish. "In case you've forgotten I'm your master and Ruby is mine. You understand what that means, don't you Brandish?"
"I do, but nevertheless… I can't forgive Crystal for killing my mother," said Brandish. "Someone has to pay for that!"
"I hope you realise how stupid that sounds," Aquarius sighed. "Besides Crystal wasn't responsible for Grammi's death in the first place."
The two girls then looked up at her shocked.
"That's why I am here," Aquarius smiled. "To tell you the truth about what happened or more accurately to show you what happened."
Then there was a sudden blinding golden light which engulfed them.
When the light faded Ruby and Brandish found themselves in the darkness of space, but that wasn't the strangest thing. The two of them looked down and saw that they had become mermaids and were wearing bras made out of seashells.
"What's going on?" said Ruby.
"We're mermaids?" Brandish blinked.
Ruby then looked up at Aquarius, who was floating in front of them. "Hey, Aquarius, care to explain?"
"We're inside the Memory of the Stars, a place where the memories of Celestial Spirits are archived," Aquarius explained. "This may feel like a dream, but let me make it abundantly clear that everything you see and hear is exactly as it happened." A bright light then appeared behind her and she turned to face it. "Follow me."
The two girls looked at one another and decided to follow.
An image then appeared before them and they saw a woman wearing a robe and blazing red hair. Ruby looked at her closely and saw that she bore some kind of resemblance to the woman.
"Somebody is down there," she said.
"That's Sapphire Heartfull, she was your ancestor and also the first Celestial Viking," Aquarius explained.
Then approaching Sapphire were Master Hiccup and a woman she didn't recognise.
"1000 years ago and ambitious plan was put into action by your First Master, the Chronicler the younger sister of the Black Tyrant, the dragons and Sapphire working together," Aquarius continued.
"Master Hiccup?" Ruby stared.
"Emperor Drake's sister?" Brandish blinked.
"The plan was to send the dragons into the future in order to train young warriors to defeat both Drago and Acnologia. The Chronicler made this a reality by creating the Eclipse Gate, which was originated in the Celestial World. Sapphire opened this door into the future and for generations, the Heartfull family waited until the time came to unseal and the Chronicler kept an open eye on history in order to determine what time that would be."
"But what were they waiting for?" Ruby asked.
"For the Eclipse to work you need to have one Celestial Viking stationed at the entrance and one at the exit. This plan needed the exit setting the future with enough ethernano for the dragons to entertain the candidates they chose, but no one knew when that time would come so they had to wait. As it turns out, that time happened during Crystal's generation."
Ruby stared as an image of her mother appeared before them.
"Mum?" Ruby gasped.
"Opening the Gate required all 12 of the zodiac keys," Aquarius explained. "Unfortunately, Grammi had moved to Alvarez and because of the distance Crystal can reach her in time in order to get back my key for this task. So to compensate for the missing magic power she used her own life force in its place."
"She did it?" said Brandish stunned.
"As far as opening the Gate her gamble paid off, but the toll it took on her already waning health course to develop severe magic deficiency syndrome. Grammi learned of this several days later and travelled back to Septem."
The image changed once again and now they found themselves staring at Crystal in her bed looking particularly weak. A woman who resembled Brandish who had to be her mother Grammi nude aside Crystal's bed.
"My lady, I'm so sorry," she said tearfully. "Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?"
Crystal merely smiled. "Sweet Grammi, I don't blame you for any of this… truly."
"I appreciate all that you have done for me and my daughter," said Grammi as she held out Aquarius' key. "But I'm not fit to have this key. Would you please take it back my lady?"
"I have no need for it, I can't use Celestial Magic anymore."
"Well then surely you can give it to Ruby? She's obviously gifted, I know that she'll grow up to be a great Viking like you."
Brandish just stared, she had always assumed that Crystal had taken the key by force. However, now she discovered that her mother was giving her the key of her own free will, in fact, she was begging for her to take it.
Crystal continued to smile. "Thankfully my family's duty with opening the Eclipse ends with me. I didn't want that burden to follow and Ruby, now she's free to live her own life. Which reminds me I hope that Brandish is doing well."
"Yes, she's a good girl. She'll probably throw a tantrum when she learns that Aquarius isn't coming back though."
"She and Ruby are around the same age, right?"
"Yes, I would love to bring her to buy some time."
"I think the two of them could become good friends."
"I think so too."
Ruby and Brandish remained in an awkward silence, their parents hope that they would become friends never came to pass. In fact, the opposite happened, they had become enemies each one trying to defend their own country in a war.
"Just like we are," Crystal continued.
"That suite my lady, but I'm just a humble servant," said Grammi.
"No, Grammi… I consider you a friend."
"Thank you, my lady."
The scene then changed and they saw Grammi leaving the Heartfull mansion behind with tears in her eyes. However, a shadowy figure then appeared from out of the trees and then stabbed her in the back with a sharp dagger. She turned her eyes and then discovered that the figure was none other than Zoldeo.
"Mum!" Brandish cried placing her hands over her mouth.
"This is all because of you!" Zoldeo yelled with tears in his eyes. "You're the reason… she's dying!"
"Zoldeo… I—"
"Oh gods, no!" Brandish cried.
Grammi just looked at Zoldeo. "You're right… it really is all my fault. We deserve to be punished."
"Yes, you do!" Zoldeo yelled. "You could have saved her!"
"I'm begging you… Zoldeo… please spare my daughter… my dear Brandish. Promise me, you won't hurt her. I'm willing to sacrifice my own life to save hers, it's my last wish."
Zoldeo then backed away in anguish as if he became a Morse for about what he had just done.
"Oh, ma'am!" Brandish cried.
Ruby then wrapped her arms around Brandish and then suddenly they found themselves back in the infirmary.
"I believe in my heart, that you and I can still be great friends after all this… like our mums wanted," said Ruby.
Aquarius then looked at Ruby. "There's something that we still need to talk about before I—"
The doors then burst open as Toothless entered in his battle form with tears in his eyes.
"You've got to help me!" he pleaded.
Everyone turned to face him.
"What's wrong Toothless?" Ruby asked.
That's when they noticed that in his arms he was carrying Hiccup, whose body was entirely limp.
"I don't know why, but Hiccup just stopped moving all of a sudden!" he yelled. "Someone needs to help him right now!"
Agatha and Gothi had heard all the commotion and then rushed in.
"What's going on?" Agatha asked.
"Certainly a lot of commotion," said Gothi.
Toothless placed Hiccup on the floor. "Hiccup was a big fight against Drago, but then we had to pull back. I was trying to keep them safe, but the next thing I knew he just went limp and quiet."
Ruby then rushed over to Hiccup. "Hey, Hiccup… what's the matter? Say something!"
Agatha then looked at Aquarius, somewhat confused. "Hold on, what in the hell are you doing here?"
"I don't have time to explain to you," she said folding her arms.
Ruby then placed her ear over his chest and she couldn't hear his heartbeat. "I can't even hear his heart beating."
"Hiccup… please don't die!" Toothless pleaded.
"There's no way," said Ruby in disbelief.
Gothi then rushed over. "Move it!"
Ruby and Toothless moved away so that Gothi could examine him. She took out the wooden stake and then placed it against his skin and then immediately burnt.
"Of course he had to go and do something reckless as always," Gothi grumbled. "He has been overtaxing his magic power for years resulting in an anti-ethernano tumour."
Toothless was an entirely surprised, he had witnessed Hiccup and unleashing a magical search of magic power during his battle with Drago.
"What is that mean?" Agatha asked.
"A malignant mass is going inside his body and unless it's removed, he will soon be dead," Gothi explained.
"Can't we get somebody to take it out?" Toothless asked.
"Of all the healers in Septem none can do that."
"Not even Merrill or Shanyla?" Agatha asked stunned.
Gothi shook her head. "I'm afraid it's impossible."
"Then what are we going to do?" Ruby asked.
"I'm sorry," she said closing her eyes.
Ruby just couldn't accept this as she looked down at Hiccup. "This can't be real… Come on, please say something… Hiccup."
Brandish just watched as Ruby cried. "Hey… take these off. Let me use my magic, I can change the size of anything that I want so if I know the exact location of his tumour I can make it small enough that it will never pose any risk."
"You would really do it?" Toothless asked.
"If you can save him, I'll do whatever you want," Ruby pleaded.
A few moments later, Brandish had completed the operation stabilising Hiccup's condition. Gothi and Stoick were looking over him as he laid on one of the beds, he still had regained consciousness and there was no telling when he would wake up.
"What a nightmare, leave it to my son to rush out on some pools errand and come back in this condition," Stoick grumbled.
Gothi raised an eyebrow. "I seem to remember a young Viking acting recklessly and your wife is not much better. Is it really surprising that he would do something like this?"
"I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Stoick grumbled.
"Hiccup will recover, all thanks to that Western girl's magic."
"I never would have imagined we would get a helping hand from the enemy."
"After this turn of events, is she?"
"Until the war is over, I can't answer that for sure."
Brandish had volunteered to go back to her cell and the only thing that she asked was for her coat.
"It's rather odd," said Stoick. "Why would she volunteered to go back?"
Ruby and Toothless visited Brandish was just sitting in her cell, it looked as if she was contemplating something.
"That was so nice, thank you," Ruby smiled gratefully.
"I can't thank you enough for saving Hiccup's life," said Toothless.
Brandish just sat there in silence.
"You didn't have to go right back to your cell, you know?" Ruby pointed out.
"We're at war, keep being naive and it's going to get you killed," she said plainly. "Whatever happened in the past doesn't change much from me. I have no interest in being your friend."
Ruby was rather disappointed upon hearing this, but then she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see Aquarius floating behind.
"She just needs some time," she said.
"You haven't gone back yet?" Ruby frowned.
Aquarius looked at Brandish. "I'll be seeing you again, Brandish." Brandish just remain silent. "Hear me!"
"Yes, ma'am," said Brandish typically.
A few moments later, Ruby and Aquarius were outside on the balcony watching the sunset.
"Anyway, I was trying to tell you something before all the drama," said Aquarius as they leaned against the railings.
"What is it?" Ruby asked curiously.
"Well, do you remember how I was saying that my key regenerated?"
"Yeah?"
"That means it out there somewhere in the world, maybe it's close by in Septem or maybe all the way to Alvarez or maybe on some other continental together. But what's certain is I can't give you any clues to where it is."
"That's okay," Ruby smiled. "I can't lose a friend like you so I'll do whatever it takes to find it."
Aquarius smiled at her. "Thanks, Ruby, I magic I looking forward to seeing you again."
She then started to glow and then faded away into nothingness.
Ruby brushed away the tears in her eyes and looked back towards the sunset. "We can't afford to lose."
Meanwhile, the Battle of the Shivering Shores continued to rage on and though the Allied forces of Thor's Hammer and Valkyrie Sword had fought bravely the Alvarez still remained strong and had forced them to retreat.
They had set up camp on a hill that overlooked the city and was now tending to the wounded while they were planning the next assault.
"Their numbers are too great for us," said Lyon.
"At this point, we can't even get anywhere close to the city," said Shanyla.
"I know, but we have to take it back to stave off the invasion. Because if we don't they're going to keep on sending ships full of reinforcements."
Shanyla looked concerned. 'We have to get the upper hand. I wish that Merrill were here.'
Camicazi was sitting by herself is thinking back to her battle with Griselda and she still felt very embarrassed.
Neria sat down next to her. "Camicazi… are you okay?"
Camicazi remembered how Griselda had ripped her shirt to pieces, she didn't even see her move let alone raised her sword. She hadn't just ripped off her shirt but her skirt as well, which caused all the men nearby to stop with doing and stared at her even the enemy soldiers.
Even now most of the men from Thor's Hammer were staring at her with dreamy looks.
"Right now I-I'm not okay," she said.
"Poor thing," said Neira.
Kelail glared at the men. "Get the hell away from her you bunch of creepers!"
Instantly the men retreated as far away as possible.
"It's strange," said Camicazi. "She shredded my clothes, but she didn't even move a muscle. We were away is a part but she tore my entire clothing to pieces in an instant."
"Well, I would be willing to bet she was using some kind of long-range spell on you," said Kelail.
"Yeah, maybe," Neira nodded. "Unlike her stored could just be for show."
Camicazi shook ahead. "I can always tell when there's aggression coming my way, I can feel it. So it's our that I didn't sense it this time, she was completely motionless and calm."
Kelaill nodded. "That is weird, out of all of us you are the type to let your guard down and fall prey to a sneak attack like that."
"Well, how do you think it happened?" Neira asked.
"Her power is nothing like I've experienced before," said Camicazi. "Not sure what it is, but it's dangerous and unpredictable."
Meanwhile, in the North, the Allied forces of Sabretooth and Blue Pegasus had also set up camp for the night after a long day of battle. They had also been forced to retreat due to the fact that the enemy army was under the command of Bloodman.
"I've lost count of all the casualties," said Sting.
"I don't know if we can handle this many troops," said Hookfang.
"We are outnumbered and there are so few of us," said Skull.
"Even so whatever choice do we have?" Rogue asked.
"Right," Vala nodded. "We have to keep our front line strong next thing you know they could be marching right into Crocus."
"Not to trivialise things, but we don't want Sabretooth to be the reason we lost," said Sting. "I would never be able to show my face to Hiccup if that happened."
"And I definitely don't want to be on Eret's bad side," Rogue smiled.
"Help should be arriving here shortly," said Vala.
"It's up to us, we've got to hold things together until they come," said Hookfang.
"We should be able to manage that it least," said Skull.
Sting then rose to his feet. "Not moping around, let's show them what Sabretooth is made of."
At the East, another battle had reached a disastrous end, as the four emperors were now laying down on the ground helpless before God Serena.
"How lame," he said looking down at them. "You had a four against one advantage and this is the best you old farts can do?"
"This does not bode well," said Draculos. "He took us down with no help from the others."
"I'm afraid going to Alvarez has only made him stronger," said Wolfheim. "How can this be?"
"We failed," said Jura. "We sullied the name of the four Emperors of Septem."
"My old friend, sadly I'll never see your smiling face again," said Wade and a tear appeared in his eye. "I am sorry, Hiccup."
God Serena smiled down at him. "Don't worry, Wade. You'll see your friend again in the afterlife. Time to say god bye-bye."
'Grimbeard… Runa… I'll be joining you very soon,' said Wade.