Astrid and her group was still wandering around the forest, there was no clear path and most of the time they were climbing over giant roots.

"So far there's no indication of anyone living here," said Astrid.

"If this really is this Enel's sacred ground very much you would allow anyone to settle here," said Toothless.

"Putting it mildly," said Fishlegs. "You guys haven't seen what I've seen, if you had you would know this is a guy you don't want to mess with."

"Which is why we need to know more about him," said Astrid. "You might have seen his power, but you haven't seen the man himself so we can't tell for definite if he is a god or not."

"He's able to rain fire down from the sky and you're saying he's not a god?" Fishlegs stared.

"I'm not saying his power isn't real, but that doesn't make him divine."

"It does."

Toothless looked over the ledge to the other side of the ocean. "We can stay here and discuss the whole thing if you want, but it's not going to get us out of here. I say we cross the river and see what's on the other side."

"Sounds like a plan," said Astrid.

"Yes, I agree," Heather nodded.

Fishlegs stepped close to the edge. "And how do you plan to cross this time? I don't see any vines handy it's a shame that Hiccup isn't here he could—"

Then the lead she was standing on began to give way and he found himself falling towards the sea. At that moment a sky shark launched itself out of the ocean and opened its jaw wide. Toothless quickly retracted kicking the shark away and pulled Fishlegs to safety.

"That was close," said Astrid.

"Those things are everywhere," said Toothless.

"No way we're swimming across, we need to find a safe way to get over there," said Fishlegs.

"Guess we have no choice but to keep walking upstream and hope we find a safe place to cross over," said Astrid.

Heather then noticed something unusual and then bent down. "Hey, guys look at this."

"Look at what exactly?" Astrid frowned.

Heather touched the ground and robbed the substance over her fingers. "It's dirt."

"Are we missing something?" Astrid frowned.

Fishlegs eyes lit up. "This is a sky island."

Toothless realise what he was getting at. "You're right, the ground is not fluffy."

"I keep forgetting that sky islands are made of cloud is not dirt," said Astrid as she began to feel the ground.

"Yeah, I noticed this stuff the first time I came here," said Fishlegs as he examined the ground. "The stuff we take for granted in the Blue Sea is foreign to everything up here as much everything foreign up here is down there to us."

"So why is this island so different from the others?" Astrid asked.

"Not sure, but the fact that it is different might make why this place is so special," Heather theorised. "At any rate, it's another reason to start exploring."


Hiccup and the others were currently deciding on which route to take, but the ordeal names did not them a single clue on what they might be facing.

"So what we do?" Snotlout asked.

Hiccup folded his arms. "There's no way to tell which route is the safest in fact. It could be quite possible they're all equally dangerous."

"I would say more than likely," said Ragnar.

"So you're basically saying that will land in trouble no matter which route we take," Ruffnut simplified.

"Pretty much," Hiccup shrugged.

"I'm liking this place more and more," said Tuffnut.

"I'm not!" Snotlout yelled.

Ragnar looked at Hiccup. "So which route do we take?"

"We'll have to use the old decision effort that humans have been using for centuries," said Hiccup and raised his finger pointing at each one of the entrances. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe."

"Seriously?" Snotlout stared.

"You have any better method?" Ragnar asked raising an eyebrow.

"I—shut up Ragnar," Snotlout grumbled.

"Catch a tiger by the toe," Hiccup continued. "If he hollers, let him go. Eeny, meeny, miny, moe."

His finger pointed at the entrance to the Ordeal of Spheres.

"Spheres it is," said Ragnar.

Snotlout looked at him. "He just went eeny, meeny, miny, moe in order the side our lives and you're okay with that?"

"He made a snap decision and we really can't waste time on a debate," said Ragnar plainly.

"I've got no problem," said Ruffnut.

"Yeah, if he didn't do it I would have," said Tuffnut.

"I can't believe I'm doing this," Snotlout grumbled as he turned the boat towards the entrance to the Ordeal of Spheres. "But if I die, I'm blaming you!"

"Don't let your guard down guys," said Ragnar. "Remember these islands are 10,000 meters above sea level meaning that just about anything could happen."

"We're pumped," said the twins.

They soon entered the entrance and found themselves going down a deep dark tunnel and Snotlout was keeping his eyes firmly shut.

"You know if you want to stay alive perhaps you should keep your eyes open," Ragnar suggested.

Snotlout opened his eyes. "It's just as dark with them open."

Ragnar looked at Hiccup. "So any idea what we might expect?"

"Can't say, but one thing is for certain it won't be a walk in the park," said Hiccup.

"Yeah, I think that's a given."

"Hey, I don't like stumbling in the dark as much as the next guy but it's not like we had all lot of options. I mean I could fly around the island, the canopy so thick I very much doubt I'll be able to spot them."

"Hey, I just had a thought what if we pick the wrong one?" said Tuffnut.

Everyone looked at him.

"What do you mean the wrong one?" Hiccup frowned.

"I mean what if it's a pick the right door challenge," said Tuffnut. "I mean if you pick to write your golden, but if you choose the wrong one you fall off the island."

"Don't be ridiculous, nothing like that is going to happen," said Ragnar.


They then reached the end of the tunnel and soon discovered that the road had completely vanished and they had just sailed of a massive peak. They could also see the other free entrances had Milky Road leading to different points on the island, but there's just plummeted downwards into the clouds.

All of them did the most logical thing that came to mind, they scream their heads off as they plummeted towards the clouds.

"You've got to be kidding me!" Hiccup yelled.

They fell through the cloud layer then suddenly found themselves landing on the ocean with a mighty crash which was so loud that the birds in the trees took off. It only took them a few moments to realise that they had fallen down a waterfall.

"We're alive?" Ragnar panted.

"I seriously thought we were falling all the way back to the Blue Sea," said Snotlout.

"My life flashed right before my eyes, it was very boring," said Ruffnut.

Tuffnut stared at her. "You're saying fighting fish-men, taking on a warlord and having a massive engine the clouds was boring?"

"No, those were the only highlights," Ruffnut shrugged.

"That's 10 seconds in my life I'll never get back," said Hiccup shaking his head.

"So where do we land?" Ragnar asked.

"Well it looks as if we landed in a forest filled with balls," said Hiccup.

He wasn't kidding throughout the entire forest they were floating white ball all over the place.

"Looks like their balls made of island clouds," Ragnar noted.

"They look like really big snowflakes," said Tuffnut.

"Nothing scary about these things," said Ruffnut.

"Looks like the Milky Road is leading us up towards the trees," said Snotlout.

"Don't see how this is an ordeal," said Ruffnut looking at the floating balls.

"I'm inclined to agree, they look perfectly harmless," said Ragnar.

"And that was worrying me," Hiccup frowned. "These guys think were criminals and they made it abundantly clear that we weren't going to get a slap on the wrist. No way they would let us off that easy."

Ragnar nodded. "We could encounter more traps like the ones earlier, we need to stay sharp. Let's just keep moving."

Snotlout looked at him. "You're not the boss of me, you can't tell me what to do!"

"Yeah, but I can and I agree with Ragnar," said Hiccup. "Snotlout does keep on steering the rest of us will keep a watchful eye out."

They were now sailing on-road that practically carried them through the treetops and it was a long way down.

"Didn't realise how high up we were," said Ragnar as he looked over the side.

Hiccup frowned. 'Something is not right, it's far too quiet. There are four Gothar so I assumed that each tunnel would lead us to one of them and yet we haven't seen any of them yet. I have a bad feeling about this.'

"Hey, Ruff! Catch!" said Tuffnut as he tossed one of the ball to his sister.

"I've got it, I've got it!" said Ruffnut bounty back towards him.

Hiccup looked at them. "I thought I told you to keep watch!"

Then suddenly a snake shot out of the ball just as Tuffnut tossed it back to his sister. She ducked just in time to avoid it biting her head off and everyone started to panic.

"A snake!" Snotlout cried.

"Get out of here!" Ragnar yelled as he kicked the ball away from them.

"Okay, didn't see that one coming," said Hiccup looking bewildered.

"There's another one heading our way!" Ruffnut yelled.

"I've got this one," said Snotlout as he cracked his knuckles. "Can't say I like the idea of getting surrounded by snake eggs."

He then punched the ball with all his strength, but instead of a snake popping out of it, it exploded writing their faces. The smoke finally cleared in all five of them was smouldering.

"Looks like not all of them have snakes in them," Hiccup coughed.

"Yeah, I think we got that," said Ragnar.

"Silly children, these are surprised clouds," said a voice within the treetops. "You never know what's going to come out of them."

"Where's that voice coming from?" Hiccup asked as they began looking around the source.

They looked up and saw sitting on top of one of the ball was a plump looking elf in a bowler hat.

"I am so glad that you picked my challenge the Ordeal of Spheres, I am High Gothar Selhen," he laughed.

"Got to admit, I was expecting someone grander," said Ragnar. "I mean this guy is one of Enel's Gothar?"

"Not exactly what I imagined," said Hiccup as Selhen danced around on his ball.

"He's not as bright as I expected either," said Snotlout.

"Don't underestimate him, Fishlegs and Arial's father did say that these guys were strong," Hiccup reminded them.

"I'm not seeing it," said Tuffnut.

"Yeah, the guy looks like a talking dumpling," said Ruffnut.

"I hope for your sake that Astrid and the others are safe!" Ragnar threatened.

"The sacrifices?" said Selhen as he danced. "They'll escape or they won't, doesn't really matter which. If they escape they die if they're sacrificed well then they'll die then too."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Hiccup yelled.

"I would be more worried about yourselves, you'll have to beat me if you plan on going any further," said Selhen. "And I really don't see that happening."

He then laughed and jumped off the ball and swooped down towards them.

"He's coming right for us!" Snotlout yelled.

"I've got this," said Hiccup as he took on his hybrid form. He then took off and clenched his fist. "Dragon…"

"A simple punch?" said Selhen.

"…Fist!" he yelled as he swung his fist.

However just before he was about to swing his fist, Selhen swerved out of the way and he missed him entirely. Then with his guard off and Selhen placed his palm against Hiccup's chest and then he was struck by a massive impact sending him flying towards one of the large trees.

"Hiccup!" Ragnar yelled.

They turned and watched as Hiccup reverted to his human form and crashed to the ground.

"What just happened?" Tuffnut asked.

"It was like he knew what Hiccup was about to do before you even did it," said Ruffnut.

"What was that attack just then?" Snotlout asked. "I mean how could have gotten hurt that bad with his scales?"

"Well, you see it's not what you call a normal hit," said Selhen who was now standing on the boat.

"I'll show you not normal!" Ragnar yelled as he rushed towards him.

"Right foot, high kick," said Selhen.

Ragnar then got ready to perform a high kick with his right leg, but then to his astonishment just as he lifted his leg Selhen managed to sidestep to avoid the attack.

"Only the most trained are granted the power of Mantra," he said as he coming back around.

Ragnar stared at him. 'Impossible how could he have predicted my attack?'

Selhen then placed his palm over Ragnar's face and just like with Hiccup he was slammed with a massive impact and he was sent flying off the boat and landed right next to Hiccup.

"Let's get him!" said Ruffnut as she drew her sword.

"Right with you, sis," said Tuffnut as he drew his blade.

"A swing on both sides," said Selhen.

The twins then swung their blades, but Selhen merely jumped over them. Then he placed both his palms over their faces and then slammed him with a similar impact knocking them off the boat and they too landed with Hiccup and Ragnar.

Snotlout looked over the edge. "Guys!"

"I warned you didn't I," said Selhen behind him as he placed his palm on the back of his head. "Impact!" Snotlout was then sent flying off the boat. "The shock destroys the body from the inside out."

Snotlout then landed on the ground next to the twins.

Hiccup began to pick himself up. "Guys, you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ragnar groaned as he sat up. "But what did that bastard do to us?"

"No idea, it could be a form of martial art," said Hiccup.

"This is what happens to all those who enter my domain," said Selhen as he danced around. "Irene down upon judgement upon criminals such as yourselves. I own the vearth in this Lost Forest."

"The Lost Forest?" said Hiccup.

"Why yes, my forest and all of its glory," he said gesturing to everything around him. He then pressed down on the accelerator on the boat. "And now…" The bow then started to take off and he jumped onto one of the balls that floated close by. "…your boat will be lost in its illusions."

"Okay, this is a problem," said Hiccup.

"She will now speed along the Milky Road, eventually weaving her way to the forest only exit," said Selhen smugly. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but if you lose this dial boat in here it's the same as losing your way to the sacrificial altar. That means you'll have to find the boat and board her before that happens. Of course, my 100 surprise cloud and I will never allow you that chance. Does that seem unfair to you? Welcome to the Upper Yard, the Ordeal of Spheres there's 10% survival rate so good luck."

"Just a 10% survival rate?" Snotlout gulped.

Selhen just laughed their dismay as he danced around as if it was some sort of victory dance.


Meanwhile the sacrificial altar, Chopper was still coming to terms to the fact that he was now utterly alone.

"Toothless! Astrid! Heather! Fishlegs!" he cried. "Why did you leave me all alone? Please come back, I don't want to stay by myself!"

Of course, there was no sign of any of them and the only thing she could see were the sea sharks swimming in the ocean.

"What will happen if I attacked now?" he whimpered. "I can't fight, they'll be no one here to save me."

Then suddenly a sky shark shot out of the water towards him and he screamed, but thankfully the altar was too high for it and it fell back into the water.

"This is all because of Hiccup, if he didn't want to come to Skypiea so bad then I will be stuck here," he said. He then remembered that Astrid was quite certain that Hiccup and the others would arrive to rescue them. "That's right, Hiccup and the others are coming here. So really I have to do is stay alive until they show up, it should be long until they get here I just need to keep busy. I know our work on fixing the ship like Astrid and Toothless asked me to, I can do that."

He then began hammering away on the hull of the ship in his human form. "They'll be so surprised when they see how well I'm taking the ship all alone."

Sadly he had his eyes close wasn't watching where he was hammering and accidentally struck his fingers. This caused him to drop the hammer which fell down the steps, but it stopped at the step before the ocean.

"The hammer," he said and reverted to his hybrid form. "I have to get it back." When he looked over the side he saw that there were several sharks close by. "Oh, dear."


Hiccup and the others were having their problems with Selhen and now their boat was sailing away without them.

"You had better catch up with your boat pretty soon, she is getting away!" Selhen mocked.

"He's right, we need to get moving now before we lose sight of her!" said Snotlout. "If we lose having this forest biding her again could be impossible!"

"We're with you," said the twins.

Then he and the twins took off.

"Wait, guys, fighting each one be easy either!" Ragnar yelled and looked at Hiccup. "Hiccup, you coming?"

Hiccup shook his head as he reverted his hybrid form. "Go ahead without me, someone needs to handle this Gothar."

Selhen laughed. "This should be amusing, do you really think you can beat me, dragon boy?"

'Hiccup's right someone needs to deal with this guy,' said Ragnar then looked back at Hiccup. "Try not to get yourself killed."

"No promises," said Hiccup as Ragnar ran off. He then looked back at Selhen. "Now it's just you and me."

Selhen smiled. "He'll fly into the branch above him."

Hiccup then spread his wings and flew up to the branch above him.

"Same movers before," said Selhen.

Hiccup then flew towards Selhen clenching his fist. "Dragon Fist!"

However just like before Selhen managed to sidestep away, he then grabbed Hiccup's tail with both hands. He then started to spin him around and then released him towards a tree with incredible strength. Hiccup was unable to stop himself from slamming into the tree, but he managed to wrap his tail around one of the branches to support himself before he fell.

Selhen laughed. "What's the matter I thought you were going to take care of me?"

"Oh don't worry I will," said Hiccup as he straightens himself up. He then released his tail and then flew back towards Selhen. "And this time I won't miss! Dragon…"

"He'll faint a punch, but follow with a tail whip," said Selhen.

Hiccup clenched his fist, but then the last possible second he spun around swinging his tail at Selhen. However, instead of falling for the fixed, he merely jumped avoiding the tail.

"And again!" Hiccup yelled as he spun back around.

However once again Selhen grabbed his tail, but Hiccup then opened his mouth.

"Plasma…"

Selhen then raised his palm and placed it against his chest striking him with the same impact move he did earlier. Now weakened, he began spinning him around again and sent him crashing into a tree. Hiccup then had a chance to counter all the cover as Selhen placed his palm at his face and then struck him with several impacts.

Ragnar and the others were meanwhile tried to chase after the boat, but with so many Milky Roads littering the place was an utter maze.

"Where is she? Where is the Raven?" said Snotlout as he looked around. "If we don't get her back we'll be stuck here forever!"

"Can't see anything from down here," said Ruffnut.

"Then let's climb that tree," said Tuffnut.

Ragnar was still concerned about Hiccup. 'What yourself Hiccup, these Gothar are far from ordinary. We need to find that boat and get out of here fast.'

Hiccup was removing his head from the tree trunk. "Is that all you got?"

Selhen laughed. "My ain't you stubborn?"