Snotlout had just been hailed by Gab, but for some strange reason he didn't look utterly concerned by the spike in his chest.
"Are you really that sad to see me go?" he said.
"It appears you haven't learned anything in your five years here," said Gab. He then immediately forced his hand onto the spike deeper and pinning him to the wall. "Seven Deadly Sin Fox Sin, no matter how strong you think you are you are completely powerless before Gab."
Snotlout spat out some more blood.
Meanwhile outside Hiccup and Heather were still fighting one another, believing that they were facing against Ruin. Heather was attempting to squash Hiccup with her foot, but he proved to be quite nimble.
"Your small Dragon Knight, but you are pretty tough," Heather noted.
"Yeah, and you're huge but you're back on your feet," said Hiccup jumping into the air.
He then swung his flaming sword at Heather and I was followed by several quick kicks. Heather did her best to block the attacks, but the force actually pushed her back.
Toothless looked deeply troubled. "It would appear that each of them things that the other one is a Dragon Knight."
"Going to end up killing one another they keep this up," said Ruby utterly terrified. "You have to stop this!"
Somehow her words seem to reach the two of them and their eyes returned back to normal.
Heather looked at Ruby. "Princess? What are you doing here?"
"It's a long story," said Toothless looking immensely relieved.
Heather then saw Hiccup standing in front of her. "Captain? You're here, where is that Dragon Knight?"
Hiccup looked around. "You're right he's gone."
"Poor big lady," said the young boy rushing over to Heather. "Are you all right?"
Heather then leaned down towards him. "Yeah, you're okay? You're still here?"
"Yeah," the boy nodded and the bell on his staff rang.
The moment they heard the sound of the bell Heather's eyes became dazed once more and she saw that they had disappeared once again.
"Everyone is gone again," she said.
The bell then rang a second time and this time it affected Hiccup who immediately saw Heather as Ruin.
"That Dragon Knight," he said raising his sword.
"Sir Hiccup, no!" Ruby yelled rushing over to the boy. She then looked at him. "Come on you're in danger here."
Heather immediately turned to face Hiccup, who she believed to be Ruin. "You're hiding everybody from me again!"
She then raised her hand and slammed them down towards Hiccup, who immediately jumped into the air and struck in with such force that he created a small crater in the ground.
The young boy then immediately rushed over to the man. "I'm so scared. I don't wanna die, please!"
"We'll protect you," Ruby assured. "I swear. Even if it risks my life."
The man looked at him. "You'll do that?"
"Yes," Ruby nodded.
Friesia then stepped forward. "Touching to see a Princess, who actually cares. But is that truly what you would do or an empty promise?"
She then immediately clacked her whip onto the ground and immediately Fireworms began to swarm everywhere.
"Another Dragon Knight," said Toothless. "She must have been the one that sent all those Fireworms into town."
"Storm Rondo!" she yelled as the Fireworms began to fly around forming a tornado. "Now my little pets, their flesh is yours to burn off."
"No, I'm scared! Don't let it get me!" the boy cried as he ran.
"That kid whining is really annoying me," said Friesia and she cracked her whip. "You die first!"
The Fireworms then began to move straight towards the boy trapping him in place and they could hear his screams.
Friesia smiled. "Let see if you would risk your own life to save that boy. Despite those words, I extremely doubt that you ever planned that you would actually be doing it."
"She won't have to do," Ruffnut smiled and looked at her brother. "Ready, bro?"
Tuffnut smiled. "Ready whenever you are, sis."
"Then let's show them a little Twinsanity!" Ruffnut yelled.
Immediately the two of them immediately grasped each other's hand and suddenly a massive surge of power began to flow through their bodies.
"What's going on?" Friesia stared.
Ruby looked at her. "Individually they may not be stronger than common soldiers, but once they are together they can outclass any Dragon Knight."
Immediately the twins took off faster than anyone could blink and then they drew their swords. They then began to rush around the tornado slicing through each of the Fireworms creating an opening.
"You're Highness, now!" Ruffnut yelled.
Ruby didn't waste a single moment and immediately rushed into the tornado. Despite the twins best efforts they weren't able to get rid of every single Fireworm which meant that Ruby was feeling the heat from their bodies. It was almost unbearable, but despite this she kept on making her way to the boy.
Friesia have been taken by surprise by this move. "She's actually doing it?"
"I promised," said Ruby as he kept on walking fighting against the heat. "I gave my word to you that I would risk my life to save you." She eventually managed to reach into the eye of the storm and then bent down towards the boy. "Even if I'm on my own I will still protect the kingdom and all of its people on the Dragon Knights."
"Oh, lady," the boy cried on her shoulder.
"It's too much," said Toothless noticing the burdens on Ruby.
Friesia clearly believe the same thing and immediately dispelled the tornado by cracking her whip onto the ground. The twins looked immensely exhausted from slicing all the Fireworms they could get out and immediately collapsed.
The moment they dispelled Ruby fell to her knees completely exhausted and very dehydrated.
"You all right?" Toothless called.
"I'm fine," she said weakly. She then looked at the boy. "You okay? You're not hurt are you?"
The boy looked down at her. "So, you would risk your life to save a poor boy like this one? That is quite commendable of you. However…" Ruby's eyes widened as suddenly the boy began to transform into Ruin, "reality can be rather cruel."
"That Dragon Knight was the boy? We were victims to an illusion?" Toothless gasped.
Ruby stared at him. "You did this? You're responsible for everything… their behaviour."
Ruin laughed. "The Seven Deadly Sins are nothing more than little playthings to me."
The twins then suddenly appeared behind him swinging their swords towards him. However before they could strike him, Friesia's with extended striking the two of them and knocking them down to the ground.
"That was for killing my little babies," she said.
Ruin then grabbed Ruby's hair and lifted her to his full height. He then dealt a powerful knee in her gut and she fell to the ground.
"You'll pay for that!" Toothless roared as he charged.
Ruin however raised to stop at the precise time that he pounced and slammed it down on top of him. The staff had been made of very hard metal because it actually hurt Toothless and knocked him unconscious.
Ruin laughed as he looked down at Ruby. "As we speak the two Sins are engaged in battle and will be dead within moments."
Ruby then lifted herself onto her feet, though it was very hard. "Turn them both… turn them back to normal!"
Ruin then immediately swung his staff striking Ruby across the head and sent flying across the ground.
The twins looked up.
"You're Highness!" they cried.
Friesia then approached him. "Wait a minute, Ruin. Isn't killing the Princess a bad idea?"
"Of course, I am well aware of that," he said and he looked down at Ruby was unable to move due to all the injuries. "Princess Ruby, out of respect for your bravery I will tell you something. The source of the hypnotic suggestion that I placed on them resides here on my staff."
He then raised his staff and then noticed the bell on it was missing. "It's gone!"
Ruby smiled and spat out the bell which was in her mouth. She had heard that bell ringing constantly and naturally assumed that it was the sort of hypnosis. When Ruin struck her she took the opportunity to snatch the bell with her teeth in the hopes that it would break the spell.
"You little bitch!" Ruin glared clenching his fist. "That is what you are after the whole time! How dare you!" He then raised his fist preparing to strike her. "Now you must pay for your insolence!"
However before the fist made contact something stopped his arm right in its tracks. He turned and found Hiccup standing there grasping his arm and would actually bending the metal with his grip.
"Not a chance," said Hiccup as he forced the arm upwards. "You're the one that's going to pay now."
"Dispelled been broken," Ruin gasped.
He then immediately tossed his hand aside free it from Hiccup's grip and immediately jumped as far away from him as he could.
Hiccup then immediately bent down towards Ruby. "You were so brave, now I've seen how far you will go."
Ruin was getting frustrated. "Ignoring me!" He then immediately charged at him and raised his staff. "He who strikes first wins!"
He then struck Hiccup when he wasn't looking with his staff sending him crashing into the ground and then immediately jumped after him. While the two of them were in midair he struck Hiccup once again with his staff creating a massive crater in the ground.
"Hiccup!" Toothless winced.
Ruin graft Hiccup face and lifted it towards him and laughed. "Pathetic. The kingdom actually felt threatened by this scrawny brat."
However Hiccup's eyes and immediately shot open and he immediately grasped Ruin's arm once again much to his surprise. Seconds later he slammed a powerful fist right into his faceplate sending him flying and creating an updraught as he soared over the ground. Hiccup then immediately jumped after him and judging from the direction and speed they were heading straight towards Grimbeard Prison.
"Oh no, Ruin!" Friesia cried.
She then heard the sound of knuckles cracking and turned around slowly to find Heather standing directly behind also free from the hypnosis. She was currently glaring down at her while cracking her knuckles.
Ruin was still flying across the ground until eventually he crashed right into ground just in front of Grimbeard Prison. The soldiers guarding the perimeter were caught completely offguard as dust covered them.
"What was that?"
"I think there was a man flying in."
Ruin immediately got to his feet, but he then saw Hiccup standing directly in front of him. Next second Hiccup dealt a powerful uppercut right underneath his chin sending him flying right into the walls of the prison creating a massive crack in the wall.
The guard is merely just stood there in bewilderment as they looked at Hiccup.
"All right," said Ruin has he picked himself up. "This is more like it… wouldn't you agree, Dragon Sin Hiccup?"
The guard immediately stared at Hiccup as he approached Ruin.
"What?"
"Is that guy the Captain of the Seven Deadly Sins?"
Hiccup then immediately punched Ruin in the chest and this time shattered the armour plating.
"Impossible. How could you have crossed my armour with a single blow? Well done, indeed." said Ruin clutching his stomach. He then stood up straight and his skin started to become darker and the muscles on his chest extended. "Is that what you expected me to say you fool! This is nothing more than an armour shell, my flesh is my true armour! Many times stronger harder than steel! Now what will you—"
Hiccup immediately punched him through his stomach and then everyone saw blood pouring out of Ruin's helmet.
"Attempted murder of the princess is a capital offence worthy of death," said Hiccup emotionlessly. He then pulled his fist out of Ruin's stomach and he collapsed to the ground. "Justice has been served."
The soldiers just stared in horror at Ruin's dead body.
"A Dragon Knight… with one blow. It's really true, he must be one of the Seven Deadly Sins!"
"Run!"
All the soldiers immediately ran away from Hiccup out of fear.
Meanwhile Gab had just pinned Snotlout to the wall, but Snotlout still didn't look the slightest bit concerned.
"Do you like to know why it is you people are able to catch me five years ago?" Snotlout asked. "Back then I was depressed so I allowed you to capture me. I figured wallowing away and suffering would make me feel as if I was alive." He then grabbed hold of the spike and began to pull it out of his chest. "But I'm way over that now, your pain has become boring."
Gab just stared at him in shock.
"If Hiccup is alive that means you trying to get the band back together and let me tell you the seven of us play a mean tone. If that's the case then there's no reason for me to rot away in this prison."
Snotlout then immediately stabbed Gab with his own spike and he was too afraid to do anything.
"Wait… are you going to try to overthrow the kingdom like you did 10 years ago?" Gab winced.
"Overthrow the kingdom?" Snotlout blinked. "I certainly remember something about that."
"Try it again, I dare you, every Dragon Knight in the land would leap at the opportunity to engage in an all-out war against you Sins!" Gab spat as he coughed out some blood.
"Sounds like fun," Snotlout smiled.
Meanwhile Heather had literally squashed Friesia under her heel and then cleaned the hands of the entire affair.
Toothless and the twins have made their way over to Ruby, who had been able to move at all.
"We failed you your Highness," said Ruffnut looking down at the ground.
Tuffnut nodded. "Your father gave us the important task of protecting you and look at what a good job we've done so far."
Heather then approached them. "She's pretty messed up. We have to get her back to town."
"Hold on," said Ruby weakly. "I want you to take me along with you. I want to be there with you with Sir Hiccup and Sir Snotlout."
"Out of the question," said Toothless. "You're too injured to make such a journey."
Heather nodded. "It's Grimbeard Prison and the enemy is lined up there waiting for us. You will be able to do anything in the shape you're in."
"I suppose not," Ruby sighed.
Heather then looked at the twins. "You to take her back to the town and tend to her injuries. Toothless and I will make a way to Grimbeard Prison to meet up with the Captain."
The twins then each grabbed an arm and then lifted Ruby onto her feet and then the two of them started to make their way back to the town.
The man that accompanied Ruin then quietly tried to make his getaway. However, Toothless saw this and immediately rushed over towards him.
"Hey you," he growled as he stopped right in front of the man. "You're a soldier from Grimbeard Prison, right?"
The man shook his head. "No! That Dragon Knight forced me to come here!"
Toothless growled viciously at him. "But you know where there holding the Sin and the doctor's daughter, don't you?"
The man immediately panicked. "Now wait those Dragon Knights mean business, if I tell you what you want you have no idea what they can do."
Heather then immediately step right behind him and he slowly looked up. Heather was looking down at her with Friesia's crumpled body in her hand.
"Here's a question for you, would you rather have this done to you by the hand of a Dragon Knight's or by us?" she asked.
The man just looked at her in fear.
Eventually they met up with Hiccup at the prison and informed them of everything that happened.
"You sure that she is in this tower?" Hiccup asked.
"Let's say that I gave him a reason for telling the truth," said Heather.
Hiccup smiled. "At least you manage to get Ruby back to the town safely."
They then started to make their way to the entrance, but the unusual thing was they found the place completely deserted.
"This is weird, the entire place looks deserted," Heather frowned.
"I guess they got scared of after the way I took down Ruin," Hiccup concluded.
"Still you would have thought they would have some sort of defence after all the trouble they put us through," said Toothless as they entered.
In truth the entire battalion was actually outside the prison and leading them was Ase and the only surviving member of the Weird Fangs, Golgius.
"It looks like they've gone inside," said Ase looking at Golgius. "What do we do now Sir Golgius?"
"I must admit, I am rather impressed," Golgius admitted. "But the great strength that they have shown will soon come to an end with an agonising death." He then pulled out a black ball with a strange rune on it.
"Sir, is that a spell bead?" Ase asked.
Golgius then immediately tossed the bead on the ground and a strange mist exiting from it. It then began to cover the entire prison and a force field, preventing anyone from getting in or anyone from getting out.
"What is that?" Ase asked.
"A magic quarantine banner," said Golgius. "An indestructible internal seal spell. So powerful that they couldn't break it with 10 Catastrophic Quakens dragons. The Sins will wither away into nothingness inside is eternally lost cage."
Eventually Hiccup and the others are managed to locate Sigrid's spell and found that she was sleeping inside. Heather was forced to hang back since the corridor was far too small for her.
"That's her, the doctor's daughter," said Toothless.
"Then let's get out," said Hiccup and looked directly at Heather. "See what you can do about the bars."
"I'll have them removed in a snap," said Heather as she began to extend her hand.
Unfortunately at that precise time Sigrid opened her eyes and saw Heather's large hand heading straight towards her. She then immediately screened as Heather tore the bars off and fainted.
Hiccup then immediately placed her on Toothless' back and strapped in with some rope.
"You think you can carry her, bud?" Hiccup asked.
Toothless looked at him. "Of course."
They were about to leave when suddenly they saw someone approaching them from the shadows and once they step into the light they discovered that it was Snotlout.
"Snotlout," said Hiccup.
"Been a while, Captain," said Snotlout narrowing his eyes.
Hiccup sighed. "I see you haven't dropped the attitude."
"And I see that you haven't dropped your know it all attitude either," said Snotlout folding his arms.
"Does that mean you're not rejoining us?" Hiccup asked.
Snotlout shrugged. "I've got nothing better to do. Though in case you failed to notice we are trapped in a barrier of some kind."
"Yeah, I know," said Hiccup.
Toothless looked at him. "Since when?"
"About 10 minutes after we entered the prison," said Hiccup looking at him. "Decided not to mention this because we were more focused on trying to find Snotlout and the doctor's daughter."
"Any ideas on how we get out of it though?" Heather asked.
Snotlout then cracked his knuckles. "I say the direct approach."
All three of them smiled and nodded.
Hiccup looked at Toothless. "Make sure that she's safe."
Toothless was slightly confused and then suddenly he watched as the three of them began pummelling through the walls. In fact they smashed right through the wall so hard that the rubble pierced through many others.
In fact they hit the walls with so much pressure that they were sending shockwaves across the entire prison and it was making the entire place unstable. Eventually the floor caved in and they began to fall, thankfully Toothless was able to keep Sigrid's safe by flapping his wings and hovering above the others.
Outside the barrier immediately collapsed and everyone watched as the prison began to crumble into dust.
"The barrier," Gologius gasped.
"Impossible," said Ase stared as the prison fell and immediately the soldiers began to run away. "The Sins just how much power do they actually control?"
"Strategic withdrawal," said Gologius as he made himself invisible leaving Ase all alone.
"What? Hey, hold on a minute what about me!" Ase cried as he ran from the rubble.
They soon made their way back to Doctor's Sven's house and found that the doctor was very much alive. Sigrid was overjoyed and immediately embraced her father in a massive hug.
"Father! I was so scared," she said.
"My sweet little girl, I'm so glad that you're okay," said Doctor Sven relieved.
"I was worried about you father. I assumed the worst."
"We actually thought that you were dead," said Toothless.
"Look at this," said Doctor Sven removing his shirt revealing the last scar in the centre of his chest and it looked like that it was fading away.
"It's just what happened with Hiccup's wound," Toothless frowned.
Doctor Sven looked at him. "Is that true?" Hiccup nodded and he began to place his shirt back on. "Even though that I'm a Doctor, I am ashamed to say I have no idea how I'm still alive right now."
"I wouldn't complain about that," said Hiccup. "Anyway we ought to be moving on. More than likely Dragon Knights will be sent downhill once they realise what has been going on."
Hiccup was about to leave, but the Doctor Sven stopped him.
"Hiccup," he said and Hiccup stopped. "Will you let me do something to say thank you? Even if it's something simple as a meal?"
Hiccup looked at him. "I think I'll take you up on that offer."
Later that afternoon, Hiccup made his way back to the Black Dragon. Heather was already there with the twins and their taking care of Ruby. They had dressed her in her nightshirt and placed in a bed.
"How's Ruby doing, guys?" Hiccup asked.
"She's resting comfortably," said Heather.
"Good to hear."
"Though I don't get why she's in your room?" said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, is in her bedroom on the third floor?" Tuffnut asked.
Hiccup sighed. "Snotlout had other ideas. The minute he walked in he took the bedroom and said that it was his no matter what."
Heather huffed. "I see those five years in prison hasn't changed in the slightest."
"So where you going to sleep?" Toothless asked as they jumped off Heather's shoulder.
"I'm going to sleep in the bar, with you," said Hiccup.
Ruby then opened her eyes and saw Heather out the window. "What happened?"
"We managed to find Snotlout and the Doctor's daughter and brought them back to town in one piece," Heather explained. "Everybody else is fine."
"Thank goodness," Ruby sighed as she began to cry. "What a relief."
Heather smiled. "Just sleep Princess, you deserve it."
Later that night, all them were celebrating on the Doctor Sven's house. Ruby was there with them, though she was still too worn out to party down and had to lie down on a bench.
"Okay will be time for me to officially introduce you," said Hiccup. He then gestured to Snotlout, who was now wearing black leather trousers and a jacket. "This is Snotlout… he's the Fox Sin of Greed."
Snotlout winked. "Hey, beautiful."
Hiccup frowned. "Wait a minute, where did you get that outfit?"
"I could hardly prayed around naked in front of the Princess," said Snotlout.
"But how did you buy those clothes without any money?"
"I kind of stumbled across them. It was a total fluke."
Earlier that night, Snotlout decided to walk around town and that's when he went past two guys. Upon seeing one of them wearing a pair of black leather trousers and a jacket, he immediately took them from him.
Heather, who was leaning against the roof, rolled her eyes.
Snotlout then looked up at Heather. "Having seen you in a while either, Babe."
"I would perfectly happy to go a hundred years without seeing you again," Heather huffed.
"I'm Ruby, please forgive me for not rising to greet you," said Ruby apologetically.
"Don't worry about that your Highness, we're not big on ceremony," said Snotlout respectfully. "So let's be friends." He then looked at Hiccup. "So, you haven't found the others yet?"
"Astrid, Ragnar and Eret are still unaccountable," said Hiccup gratefully. "However there is a rumour that Fishlegs is dead."
Doctor Sven and Sigrid had finished preparing a meal.
"I you finish with the introductions?" he said smiling. "Come, eat up before your dinner gets cold."
"Let's do it again!" Ruffnut cried as they rushed over to the table.
"Me first!" Tuffnut yelled.
"Don't start without me!" Snotlout yelled.
Sigrid smiled as she made her way over to Heather and Ruby with their meal. Heather was given a large chunk of meat as well as an entire barrel of milk.
"And here's yours you two," she said and then she looked at Heather looking a bit concerned. "Doesn't bother you to stand here by yourself?"
Heather shook her head. "I'm just happy for the chance to be able to eat with everyone for once."
With that all them began eating and drinking, talking and laughing as they enjoyed the evening.
"I kind of wish that this could go on forever, but I guess that is not in the cards for us is it?" said Ruby.
Heather then looked down at her. "Hey, Princess? I don't know a lot about humans, or the customs most humans have and I'm not as interested. However…"
"What is it?" Ruby frowned.
"I'm okay with the idea for fighting for you though, because honestly you were pretty brave out there today," she said smiling.
Ruby sat up straight. "Who me? I didn't do anything."
Heather shook her head. "No you did and you do have a power, a really strong one. The power to move the hearts of both me and the Captain."
"But Lady Heather?" Ruby frowned.
"By the way, Princess. Would it be all right if I called you Ruby?" Heather asked.
Ruby smiled. "Yes."
"Then don't worry about being formal to me either okay."
Ruby shook her head. "I couldn't possibly."
"Hey, it's fine," Heather assured.
Then a shooting star ran across the sky.
"Father look at that," Sigrid pointed.
They all then looked up and saw shooting stars racing across the night sky in the form of a cross.
"Remarkable, it's like a passage from one of Afoth's old fables," said Doctor Sven. Everyone then looked up at the stars in wonder. "When shooting stars fill the night sky in the form of crosses. Afoth will face her most desperate hour, this is a trial preordained by ancient times. And will herald a new beginning of a Holy War, between the guiding hand of the light and the bloodline of the darkness."
In a rundown village, Gilthunder was in a house and he was looking at the large husky boy with short blond hair, but with very thin legs. He was wearing a green shirt with pockets, a pair of trousers that stopped just a move his heel and a pair of trainers.
"Hiccup, Heather and Snotlout have come together,"Gilthunder informed him.
"Hmm, I wonder why they finally decided to take action?" the boy wondered.
"Be careful not to betray the great trust I have placed in you…" Gilthunder then turned to the boys angle which showed an image of a grizzly bear, "Fishlegs."