Johann was in quite a pickle, now that he was the last general standing that meant that any failure would be bounced off onto him rather than being shared out. In his efforts to become second-in-command, it would seem as if he left himself open to scrutiny.
"I see that it's not all roses at the top," said a shadowy figure within the doorway.
Johann turned and found a slim man with dirty blonde hair standing there. "Grimmel, I wasn't expecting you."
"Part of the point of a skilled hunter," said Grimmel as he entered.
"I suppose that you are very well aware of what has transpired in the galaxy," Johann assumed.
Grimmel smiled. "But of course. Word of the Power Rangers has spread very wide, not to mention the uprisings appearing on every single planet you've conquered."
"I need this fixed," said Johann as he placed his hands behind his back. "I don't suppose you be willing to offer your services."
Grimmel smiled. "All you had to do was ask."
Hiccup and the others meanwhile were on Dragkon hunting down any survivors from the battle. Valka and her team had been sent back to Earth, in case the Drago launched an attack, they on the other hand were trying to strengthen their relationships with the resistance in this hunt.
"Can you explain to me why we're hunting small fry?" Snotlout asked.
"To improve diplomatic relationships with the resistance," said Fishlegs.
"But aren't we already on good terms?"
"There's no harm of doing a little extra work," said Hiccup. "Besides most like Luna, don't trust us, and willing to bet even some of them believe that we wish to conquer their planet."
"We don't even have the technology to leave our own planet," Snotlout pointed out.
"But we have access to wormhole technology," Heather reminded.
"And Earth is far more advanced than you think, Snotlout," said Ragnar. "Don't forget we have been attacked by aliens a good number of times. Plus we have actually created our own colony ship."
"I don't remember one been launched," Snotlout frowned.
Astrid rolled her eyes. "You wouldn't, you weren't even born then. It was called Terra Venture, a good number of people signed up immediately to get away from monster attacks, though admittedly it had the opposite effect."
"Either way they manage to succeed in starting new colony Mirinoi," said Ragnar. "The fact the matter is Earth has a lot more advanced than we like to let on, especially when we're facing against a massive threat."
"Then how can we haven't started colonies on the moon or Mars?" Snotlout questioned.
"Because none of them have a breathable atmosphere, we haven't exactly found a way to start terraforming and before that happens you can hardly call those world home if you're stuck inside some sort of part 24/7."
"Can we just focus on our mission?" Hiccup asked.
"Fine," Snotlout grumbled.
They carried on hunting Dragkons for a good part of the day and soon returned to the capital by the afternoon.
"How was the hunt?" Toothless asked.
"Not bad, we were able to hunt down some stragglers," said Hiccup.
"Good, I'll take you to Skullcrusher," said Toothless.
They soon began making their way down through the capital.
"So how's the situation between you and Luna?" Astrid asked with a small smile.
"We've talked."
"Just talked?" Heather questioned.
Toothless sighed. "To be perfectly honest I don't know whether we'll ever have a relationship. We have different views, especially upon you guys."
"She still doesn't trust us?" Fishlegs frowned.
"If anything your recent actions have only made him more untrusting."
"Why?" Astrid asked looking utterly confused. "I mean we're helping you."
Toothless sighed. "You know that, I know that, a good majority of us know that, but Luna and her little movement still remain paranoid to the extent of xenophobia. Skullcrusher has managed to prevent them from becoming a splinter group, not that something would go to extremes."
"What kind of extremes?"
"Oh, just the standard terrorist acts one would expect."
"Do you think that Luna is involved somehow?" Heather asked slowly.
Toothless his head. "No, she would never go to such extremes."
Soon they reached the command centre and they heard loud voices coming from inside.
"Oh, here we go again," Toothless sighed.
Once they entered they found that the voices belong to both Skullcrusher and Luna and judging from the tone it was quite a heated argument.
"They completed their messenger send them home!" Luna snarled.
"Not until I'm certain that we're safe," said Skullcrusher folding his arms.
"I can't believe that you're trusting a bunch of aliens with something so trivial?" Luna roared in disbelief.
"They're proven themselves to be helpful allies and did you truly expect us to be isolated for so long."
"No, I suppose not, but I would have thought that you would prevent them from accessing sensitive matters. What if they send our most sensitive data to the enemy?"
"Why would they do that?" Skullcrusher questioned.
"To get rid of us so that they can colonise this planet!"
"Now you're just being paranoid."
Toothless coughed. "I hope were not interrupting anything."
Skullcrusher believed in seeing them. "No, please interrupt, starting to get a headache."
Luna looked at Toothless, but then narrowed her eyes the moment she saw Hiccup and the others.
"Giving them a tour are we?" Luna glared.
Toothless sighed. "Luna, maybe you would trust them more if you actually spend some time with them."
"Never," Luna hissed and then stormed off.
Hiccup looked at Skullcrusher. "I hope we didn't make the situation worse."
"Hardly, Luna's views are in the minority, though admittedly within those minority of those who are willing to conduct terrorist activity," said Skullcrusher regretfully. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure they'll come around eventually and in the meantime we'll try and keep them under control."
"The Rangers have taken down a good few Dragkons in the outskirts," Toothless informed them. "Also resistance hunting parties have reported the same thing, they seem to be disbursed and leaderless, I don't think the present much of a threat."
"I would like to keep it that way, we need to keep on hounding them to prevent them from organising some kind of resistance of the own," said Skullcrusher firmly. "Of course our biggest issue is Drago, I hear that he has yet to make a move on Earth."
"No, perhaps our efforts are slow in his progress down, though I imagine he is getting prepared for a huge invasion force," Hiccup assumed.
"If he's going down is going to take as many people down with him," said Skullcrusher bitterly. "On a more positive note the SPD have broken further into Drago's territorial, I expect that we'll be making contact very soon."
"Finally some order in this galaxy," said Toothless.
"I get the feeling that the people of Earth were getting quite sick and tired of monster attacks and alien invasions," said Ragnar.
"Hopefully they'll become a thing in the past," said Heather.
"Too early to say just yet," said Hiccup looking at them. "If there is one constant is in this galaxy there are always those trying to take over."
"Which is why we need to get prepared," said Astrid.
After the meeting, Toothless decided to talk to Luna, though she didn't appear to be quite the talkative mood.
"Are you gonna keep giving me the cold shoulder?" Toothless asked as he approached her.
"Only until you see sense," she said bitterly.
"Luna, I think you're being very unfair to the Power Rangers," said Toothless. "I know that it's a human commanding this army, but you're forgetting that he is a human from a bygone era."
"They don't even have a united government," Luna turned on him. "I've studied their culture and they have warred with themselves more times than I can count."
"So did we when we were young?" Toothless reminded. "In fact we were still fighting amongst ourselves when Drago appeared or did you forget that part of history?"
Luna groaned. "I just find it insulting that the same species that have scores such devastation is the same one that is saving us."
"I very much doubt that Drago considers himself human anymore," said Toothless folding his arms. "And it's unfair to judge an entire species by the effects of one man. We're all individuals and we all make good and bad choices, I'm sure if you got to know the Power Rangers you would see what I see."
Luna remained quiet.
Then suddenly an energy blast appeared out of nowhere and struck Toothless, knocking him to the ground.
"Toothless!" Luna screamed as she turned.
There was an energy bolt impaled on Toothless' shoulder, thankfully he was still very much alive though he seemed to be paralysed.
"I can't move," he said.
"That would be the arrow disrupting your nerves are system," said a cruel voice within the shadows.
Luna turned and then appearing from out of the shadows was Grimmel, who had a miniature crossbow attached to his wrist.
"Grimmel," Toothless growled.
"One and only," Grimmel smiled.
"Grimmel?" Luna blinked. "Isn't he the same man that has brought your clan to extinction?"
"The very same," said Grimmel with a small bow. "Though evidently I have failed to eradicate the Night Fury clan."
"And you've come here to finish the job," Toothless growled.
"Oh, not quite," Grimmel smiled. "I merely going to use you as bait in order to do eliminating your Power Ranger pals."
"Why them?" Luna demanded.
"Because they have become a thorn in Drago's side and I was sent to remove it," said Grimmel bluntly and then he tossed Luna a disc. "Give that the Power Rangers if you would."
"What is it?"
"An invitation."
Luna growled at him and immediately pulled out a pistol. "If you think I'm going to let you get away with Toothless, you've got another thing coming."
Grimmel sighed. "Don't play the hero my dear, just be a good messenger girl and hand that information over."
"Do what he says," Toothless winced.
"I'm not going to leave you!" Luna roared.
"You're no match for him, tell the Power Rangers!"
Luna looked at him and was clearly conflicted and it was hard to tell what she was about to do.
"As fun as it is to watch this display, it's time for me to go," said Grimmel.
He then pulled out a grenade and tossed it onto the ground and suddenly there was a huge smokescreen. Luna was coughing heavily and immediately tried looking around for either Grimmel or Toothless, but it was all in vain.
The smoke soon cleared and the two of them had completely vanished which left Luna alone with the data disc that Grimmel gave her. She looked at it and growled with annoyance, because she was only left with one option and she despised it.
Meanwhile Toothless found himself tied to pole in the ground and his eyes were focused on Grimmel, who was currently talking to Johann by hologram.
"My orders were explicit, eliminate the Power Rangers and yet you brought me this Dragkon?" Johann growled.
"He is the bait for my trap," said Grimmel calmly. "I believe that he is a friend of the Power Rangers and they will no doubt come to rescue the comrade and once they do they will fall into my trap."
Johann eyed him carefully. "I hope that this is not all talk, because Drago is starting to get annoyed."
"I can assure you that I'm taking this seriously, more so than any of your meaning commanders," Grimmel assured him. "Believe me when I say that all your problems will disappear."
"If you don't mind out believe it when I see it," said Johann and the hologram vanished.
"You seriously believe that you can succeed where others have failed," said Toothless.
Grimmel looked at him. "Unlike the others, I am capable Hunter and I know the best ways of trapping my prey."
"Somehow I think that this prey will be able to avoid your traps," said Toothless.
"Good, I like a challenge."
Luna, very reluctantly, made her way to the command centre and gave the information to Skullcrusher and the Power Rangers.
"It's obviously a trap," said Ragnar.
"But we have to save Toothless," said Fishlegs.
"And how do you pose we do that Fishface?" Snotlout asked.
"For starters let's try not to eat each other's heads out," Hiccup advised. "Do we know anything about this rendezvous point that Grimmel gave us?"
"Indeed," Skullcrusher nodded. "We've done surveys of that area before, thick forests, large cliffs. In short it's the perfect place to be ambushed."
"Then we'll have to be careful," said Hiccup.
"I still say that I can send my team in," said Luna bluntly. "We've done training in that area before we can navigate safely and avoid the traps that Grimmel has set up."
"I don't question your squad's resolve, Luna, but if Grimmel doesn't see the Power Rangers he could easily kill Toothless and that is something which trying to avoid," said Skullcrusher.
"Maybe she should come with us," Hiccup offered.
"No," said Luna bluntly.
"Actually I think that's a very good idea," said Skullcrusher looking towards her. "You say that you know the area far better, then you can lead the Power Rangers through the forest and then they can rescue Toothless."
"You want me to go with them?" Luna yelled in uproar.
"If you wish to save Toothless, yes," said Skullcrusher bluntly.
Luna looked as if she wanted to argue, but she knew that deep down inside he was right. Working with them was the only way to guarantee Toothless safety, no matter how much she despised it.
Hiccup and the others reach the rendezvous point that Grimmel had given them the next morning. It was just as Skullcrusher said, the place had tall mountain ranges and a very vast and deep forest.
"Navigations can be a bit tricky," Ragnar noted.
"Not if you know the area," said Luna.
"And were great for you're here," said Hiccup.
"I'm sure you are," she said coldly.
They then began making their way into the forest with Luna leading the way.
"You know I'm getting quite sick of her attitude," Snotlout whispered.
"Now you know how we feel about you," said Astrid dryly.
"I'm just saying that she could be a bit more appreciative for the ones that saved her planet."
"Try and look at it from her perspective," Heather sighed. "Her people are fighting against a tyrannical dictator, who is human. Then suddenly a bunch of humans appeared out of nowhere with powers of unknown power. I think it would make anyone a little bit cautious."
"But she's not being cautious," Snotlout pointed out.
"She can also hear everything you're saying," Luna snapped. "And for the record I don't trust you and I'm not sure if I'll ever will. You humans just came here out of the blue and proclaim yourselves our saviours, we should be the ones that save ourselves and we should be asking any help from aliens."
"You're not just talking about just us are you?" Hiccup assumed.
Luna sighed. "Skullcrusher has been making messages to the SPD, he wants us to join them. Affectively that is going to make us a vassal state."
"From my understanding SPD is just the security force," Hiccup frowned.
"And how do you humans know about what it is?" Luna asked.
"Because my father is wondering whether we should put a training facility on the planet," Hiccup explained.
"He is?" Fishlegs blinked.
"There are other forces out there and we do need as much protection as we can get," Hiccup pointed out. "Asking for help is not a show of weakness, refusing to ask help when you're into deep is just being stubborn and stupid."
Luna just remained quiet as they continued walking through the forest.
Grimmel was observing them from a cliff with a small smile on his face.
"It would seem as if they have taken the bait and it would seem as if your girlfriend has joined them," said Grimmel.
"She's not my girlfriend," said Toothless.
"Keep telling yourself that. Either way they should be reaching the first trap."
Hiccup and the others kept on walking, but then Luna raised a hand quickly to stop them.
"There's something off here," she said.
Snotlout snorted. "I don't see anything dangerous."
Snotlout was about to take another step, but Luna stopped him. She then pulled out a stone and dropped it in front of him. The stone landed on a trip wire and then suddenly two large logs tied to a rope came crashing down right in front of him, if Luna hadn't stopped him he would have been crushed.
"Perhaps you should take the advice of your guide," Luna suggested.
"Sounds good to me," Snotlout whimpered practically wetting himself.
Luna was proving to be quite the valuable asset, her knowledge of the area allowed her to notice things out of the ordinary. She was able to spot traps before they triggered them, pitfalls, landslides, any kind of trap imaginable she located and disarmed.
Grimmel was watching the entire thing and gritted his teeth in annoyance. "Why won't they fall into one of my traps?"
Toothless smiled. "Something wrong?"
Grimmel turned on him. "I'd watch your mouth if I were you, remember I don't have to keep you alive."
"Then why don't you finish me off?" Toothless questioned.
"And beginning to wonder that myself."
"Perhaps I can answer that question for you, it's because you still need me as a hostage. Hiccup and the others will be here soon and I'm the only piece of leverage you have left."
Grimmel growled in annoyance, because as much as he hated admitted Toothless was right.
"Then I had better set a trap which they will be able to detect until it's too late," Grimmel growled.
Hiccup and the others were soon reaching the cliff where Grimmel was located and they had no idea what they might expect.
"So how are we going to rescue Toothless?" Astrid asked.
"Mostly depends on what the situation is when we get there," said Hiccup.
"You mean that he could be using Toothless as a trap," Ragnar assumed.
"That we don't know whether he's gonna be at the rendezvous point."
"But you think that Grimmel will be regardless," Heather guessed.
"He's a hunter, there's no way he'll back away from his prey," said Hiccup. "We just have to make sure that we don't back into a corner too quickly. In a losing situation he could be capable of anything."
"How about you just leave Grimmel to me," said Luna.
Hiccup shook his head. "Far too dangerous."
"I don't need you to tell me what to do."
Hiccup looked at her. "I'm just trying to make sure we'll get out of this alive."
"If you truly want to succeed then you better follow my lead."
"Sorry, but Hiccup is the one in command here not you," said Astrid folding her arms.
"Skullcrusher never told us who was in charge," Luna reminded.
"True," Hiccup admitted. "But remember the last time you faced Grimmel."
"This time I'm ready."
"I'm sorry, but I think it should be best left to us Power Rangers."
Luna glared at them, and there was no way she was gonna take orders from humans. She was about to say something quite loud, but stopped when they finally reached the top of the cliff.
"There's Toothless!" Heather cried pointing.
She was right, Toothless was tied to a pole and his mouth was gagged, but there was no sign of Grimmel. Hiccup knew that something wasn't right and the last thing he wanted was for them to jump in without thinking.
Sadly that wasn't in Luna's line of thinking and she immediately gunned towards him.
"Don't!" Hiccup yelled.
Too late, she triggered a trip wire which triggered a crossbow which fired a bolt towards her.
Ragnar then quickly fostered his hand forwards. "Unleashed the dragon within!"
He quickly transformed into his Ranger form and then immediately placed himself between Luna and the bolt. He just had enough time to raise his shield blocking it, though if he had been the second later things might have ended up differently.
They then heard the sound of clapping and immediately emerging from the shadows was Grimmel.
"Very impressive," he said. "I was half expecting one of you Power Rangers to jump in, but I never imagined that one of you would be quick enough to jump in to save the poor unfortunate soul that my trap almost killed."
"Grimmel I presume," said Hiccup.
"The one and only," said Grimmel as he bowed. "And I'm afraid that I'm the one who was sent to take you out."
"Not going to happen," said Hiccup and he looked at the others. "Ready?"
"Ready!" they nodded.
The immediately thrusted their fists forwards. "Unleashed the dragon within!"
Then they themselves transformed into their Ranger forms and quickly appeared beside Ragnar ready for battle.
Luna couldn't believe how stupid she then, if Ragnar hadn't jumped in when he did, she didn't want to think about it. As painful as it was to admit, she had to trust the Power Rangers while she attempted to rescue Toothless.
"Aren't you the least bit curious why I was chosen to hunt down the Night Fury clan?" Grimmel asked as he walked around the Rangers.
"I must admit I am a bit curious," said Hiccup careful not his eyes off of him.
"The Night Fury clan might not have been huge, but it was certainly powerful. Drago recognised the dangers and selected me to eliminate them one by one, not an easy job I must tell you. It's been a long time, but I finally hunted every single member of the Night Fury clan save for one."
"Well, you're not going to let that happen," said Hiccup as he immediately pulled out his sword.
"We'll see," said Grimmel.
Grimmel then immediately fired a bolt from his crossbow directly at them, but Ragnar quickly moved in and blocked the attack. He then immediately drew a sword and quickly struck Heather and Fishlegs, knocking the two of them to the ground before they had a chance to retaliate.
Snotlout then came charging in with his mates swinging it as hard as he could, but Grimmel leaned back in the mace went directly over him. He then quickly spun around and kicked him across the face and quickly raised his sword just in time to block Astrid's axe.
Ragnar then immediately moved in swinging his shield towards him, but Grimmel quickly manoeuvred himself so that Astrid was now facing Ragnar. Ragnar was moving too fast and can stop and so is shield slammed into Astrid's back and the moment when Astrid fell Grimmel struck him with an energy bolt which struck him on the shoulder and paralysed him.
He then quickly jumped back just in time to avoid Hiccup's sword and then he quickly jumped back in and soon the two of them clashed. Hiccup had to admit that he was very skilled, less than a minute he was able to take down all them except for himself.
Luna meanwhile use this diversion to approach Toothless, making sure that she didn't trigger any more traps this time. When she finally reached Toothless she removed the gag and began working on the ropes, though that was a bit tricky considering how tight the knots were.
"That was reckless," said Toothless.
"I know, I should have suspected a trap," said Luna. "But the moment I saw you, I just couldn't…"
"I probably would have done the same thing," Toothless admitted.
Luna saw that Hiccup was the last Power Ranger standing. "They're not faring too well."
"I've never seen them have this much trouble since Drago," Toothless admitted.
"Question is can they survive?"
"Not without a little help."
Hiccup was matching Grimmel's move from move, he also correctly anticipated that he would use dirty tactics. Grimmel try to find energy bolt like you did with Ragnar whenever Hiccup lowered his guard. Unfortunately, he was just fast enough to avoid getting grazed by one of them, though he knew that his lot would hold for very long.
"I'm impressed that you've been able to last this long, normally my prey would have fallen by now," said Grimmel.
"I think you'll find today that you'll be the prey," said Hiccup.
"Your confidence is commendable, but I'm afraid you're dead wrong."
Hiccup smiled. "Am I?"
Grimmel must realise that something was wrong, and that when he remembered Luna and Toothless. He quickly pulled away from Hiccup just in time to avoid bullets coming from the two Dragkons.
Grimmel then noticed that the other Power Rangers was starting to get back to their feet, apart from Ragnar who was still paralysed and would be for quite some time. He knew that they will be ready for his tactics this time and now here to watch the bullets coming from the two Dragkons, this left him with only one option.
"I think it's time that we settled this one-on-one," he said and immediately pulled out a remote.
He pressed down the button and then suddenly emerging from out of nowhere was a massive zord. This zord was quite lean and it had laser cannons on its shoulders, clawlike fingers and its head had two horns shaped like a V.
Johann had given this zord to Grimmel as an insurance policy, in case he got over his head. He then immediately teleported and soon found himself in the cockpit.
"Come and get me if you can," Grimmel challenged.
"Is Ragnar okay?" Hiccup asked.
Heather had managed to move the bolt and was now scanning Ragnar. "His vitals are strong, but I'm afraid he's paralysed he won't be able to help us."
"Looks like he's gonna get that one-on-one battle we once," said Astrid.
"A like fight on his terms, but we've got no other choice," said Hiccup regretfully.
They immediately raise their hands into the air. "Dragon Spirits arise!"
Immediately they transformed their Dragon spirit forms.
"Dragon Spirits combined!" They then started too combined into the Dragon Spirit Megazord. "Dragon Spirit Megazord!"
"Let's see what you've got," said Grimmel.
Grimmel then immediately fired his laser cannons striking them.
"He's not pulling around is he," said Fishlegs.
"Neither are we," said Astrid.
They then began making their way towards Grimmel, withstanding his lasers, much to his own surprise.
"Impossible!" Grimmel roared as he put in more power into the lasers. "How can they withstand this much power!"
The truth of the matter was they couldn't very much longer, but they kept on pushing.
"Keep going," said Hiccup as they kept on advancing towards Grimmel.
Grimmel started to slowly back away and try putting more power into the lasers, but they had already reached their limit. Eventually there was an overload and several small explosions which resulted in the laser cannons been deactivated.
"No! No!" Grimmel roared.
"Now guys!" Hiccup yelled.
They then immediately extended their hands forwards. "Dragon Fury!"
They fired a very powerful blast directly at Grimmel and within seconds his zord was utterly destroyed.
Johann had watched the entire thing and slammed his fist against the console.
"Once again they are proven themselves to be a thorn in my side," he growled.
Hiccup and the others soon returned to the capital in order to give their report to Skullcrusher.
"It's good to see that you are successful," said Skullcrusher smiling at them. "I imagine you feel pretty good with Grimmel gone, Toothless."
"I'm just sorry I did get the chance to take down myself," said Toothless.
"Anyway, I wish we could be saying, but we really need to get back to Earth," said Hiccup.
"You could stay a little while longer," said Luna.
Toothless smiled at her. "Luna are you actually beginning to like the Power Rangers?"
"Okay, I admit, then not as bad as I imagined and you were right," Luna admitted.
"I'm afraid we can't," said Astrid regretfully. "Drago no doubt has sites on Earth and we need to be ready to defend it."
"Well know that you're always welcome here," said Skullcrusher.
Toothless and Luna stood there as they watch the Power Rangers entering the wormhole and soon they locked hands with one another.