Snotlout found himself in a very dense forest and in the very centre of it was a large tree, the biggest in the entire world.
"Now we're talking," he said.
He soon made his way to the base of the large tree and began to climb it. "Just a drop upon your tongue adds ten years to your life, and good swallow gives you a hundred more. Drink it all and you will live forever," he sang.
Eventually he reached the top of the tree and that's where he saw a pond filled with light purple liquid. In the very centre of it was a goblet which was full to the brim of the same liquid.
"A miracle treasure guarded by a powerful guardian, the fountain of youth," he smiled. "And anyone who drinks the water flowing out of the cup gains eternal life. He gets most of those stories were exaggerated, I don't see any guardians around here."
Then he looked down and saw small young girl with black hair standing there. "Uh, you lost kid?"
The little girl then floated to face him. "I'm here guarding the spring, protecting it from bandits like you."
She then raised her hand and suddenly a powerful gust of wind slammed right into Snotlout and he was sent flying off the tree.
Snotlout then woke up after falling out of bed. It took several seconds to remember that he was inside the Black Dragon that he had reunited with Hiccup and Heather.
They had already left the town of Dalmary and Hiccup was already prepare breakfast for everyone. Heather was forced to sleep and eat outside as she was too large to enter the tavern, though she was given oversized meals.
"I hope it's enough," said Hiccup as he leaned out of the window to give Heather her breakfast.
"It's fine," Heather assured as she took the plate. "I know that eating a giant is not an easy business with humans."
Snotlout then made his way down and sat in the bar. "I could sure use a drink Hiccup."
"A little early don't you think," said Heather.
"Just have some breakfast," said Hiccup as he put a plate in front of him.
Once they were finished breakfast, Hiccup began to go over their plan and pulled out a map.
"It's time to head to the Necropolis," said Hiccup pointing down on the map. "We can start looking for Fishlegs over there."
"Wait a minute, didn't you say that Fishface was 6 feet under these days?" Snotlout asked.
"I feel as if we need to confirm the rumour is only one way to do that," said Hiccup.
"The City of the Dead sounds scary. What kind of place is it?" said Ruby looking concerned.
"No clue, the only thing that I know about it is that it actually exists," said Hiccup folding his arms.
"The place sounds as if it's bit haunted to me," said Ruffnut.
"Sounds like a good place we can have fun," said Tuffnut.
"We should probably ask ourselves what we would do if we do find Fishlegs," said Toothless. "We have no idea whether he's going to be alive not."
"Looks like someone is not too concerned," Hiccup noted.
Snotlout was snoring deeply.
He yet had another dream like the one he had before, the dream picked up where it left off and he found himself on a tree branch which had managed to cause him as he fell.
"Talk about a close call," he said and then he looked back up towards the tree. "So that's the Guardian that guards the pond, huh?"
The young girl was looking at the pond on top of the tree. "You're safe once again. I have taken care of the bandit."
However she then heard Snotlout singing again. "Just a drop upon your tongue adds ten years to your life, and good swallow gives you a hundred more. Drink it all and you will live forever."
She looked over the edge of the tree and saw Snotlout climbing back up and eventually he reached the top. However the moment his feet touch the ground, she summoned yet another gust of wind sending him flying.
Snotlout this time fell off the tree completely, but thankfully he landed on a large muscular which cushioned his fall.
He then began climbing the tree and singing once again. "Just a drop upon your tongue—"
He was then knocked off the tree by another gust of wind, but that didn't stop him and he kept on climbing. The moment he reached the top the little girl then sent him flying with another gust of wind and the same thing kept on happening again and again.
Snotlout was now getting annoyed as he climbed the tree once again. "Will you just stop?"
"You're the one that needs to stop around here!" the girl snapped. "How are you even alive anyway? No human could possibly survive a fall from this height."
"Well, I did get caught on a branch once. Then I fell into a clump of trees another time," he said scratching his head.
The little girl just stared at him. "Is that true? Why would the forest try to save a human like that?"
Snotlout laughed. "Like I care. I still can't believe the little thing like you is the guardian of this sacred treasure. But now it's my turn to get serious."
Snotlout then immediately drew his mace and swung it around preparing for a fight.
The little girl just shook her head. "You only kill and steal. You all think the same, you want something without earning it."
Snotlout looked at her and immediately his mace began to glow and little girl immediately began to panic.
'That's magic,' she gasped and repaired to strike Snotlout.
Snotlout then swung his mace and a beam of purple light shot past. Then faster than she could blink the light grabbed hold of the chalice and Snotlout pulled it towards him and it landed in his palm.
He then sniffed the contents. "Not bad, doesn't smell like booze though."
The little girl was totally surprised when she looked back and found the chalice was gone.
"Well, bottoms up," Snotlout smiled and was about to drink from the chalice.
"No! You can't!" the little girl cried.
"When I say here's to my health, I mean it," he said with a large smile.
Immediately buying shot out of the tree and wrap themselves around Snotlout's waste, arms and legs before he could take a single drop.
"What's going on here?" Snotlout yelled as he tried to free himself.
Little girl just sighed with relief and took the chalice from him.
"You better get these things off me right now!" Snotlout demanded.
The little girl then floated towards him and gave him a scolding look. "I am finished trying to make you humans understand, but if the fountain of youth disappears everything in this forest will wither and die. So give up your quest and leave this place."
Snotlout looked at her. "Fine," he said shrugging.
The little girl just glared at him. "How dare you lie to me like that! What do you mean 'fine'?"
"I mean that I'm going to follow your wish, don't you know what the word means?" said Snotlout.
'He doesn't realise that I can read the minds of humans,' she said and her eyes began to glow as she entered into his mind.
'Man this really sucks, the ale made of wild berries from this place is seriously good stuff. It would be pretty lame if I couldn't have it any more,' he sighed.
'He means it.'
Immediately she retracted the vines that were holding him, freeing him.
The little girl then looked at him curiously. "Unbelievable, who are you?"
"Me, I'm a bandit," said Snotlout as he stretched his muscles to get some feeling back. "You really couldn't tell? And the name is Snotlout Jorgenson what's your name kid?"
"Oh, I'm not a child and my name is Shanna," she said.
When Snotlout woke up he found they were on the move again and then they suddenly came to a stop.
"We're here," said Hiccup.
"So this is the Necropolis," said Heather looking around and can only see a deserted village. "It's not what I expected."
"I wonder how rundown village like this got that name anyway?" Toothless wondered.
"The rumour has it this should be the place that is closest to it," said Hiccup.
Once they have a tavern in place they all then decided a plan of action.
"Let's see if we can get some intel on Fishlegs and find out where to go from here," said Hiccup looking at them all. "Now this is what I want you all to do…"
"Uh, Captain, Snotlout's gone," said Heather.
Hiccup looked turned and saw that indeed Snotlout had vanished. "Not again."
Snotlout was wandering through the village.
"Still as bossy as ever," he muttered. "Besides what kind of info does he expect to find here?" He just shook his head at the village. "This place is certainly seen better days."
He then stopped when he saw small girl leaning against an archway next one of the houses. She certainly looked familiar to him, but he knew that it was impossible.
"Shanna?" he gasped.
The little girl turned her head and that when he found that it wasn't her.
"Sorry about that," he said apologetically. "It can't possibly be her."
The little girl then collapsed.
"Uh-oh."
Meanwhile Hiccup, Ruby and the twins were doing some cleaning inside the tavern.
"So, Sir Hiccup… hmm?" said Ruby.
Hiccup turned and looked at her. "What is it?"
"How would you describe Fishlegs?" she asked.
"Yeah, what kind of guy you?" Ruffnut asked.
"And does he look as chubby in his poster?" Tuffnut gesturing to the post of Fishlegs which clearly showed him as an oversized man.
"Actually he prefer the term husky," said Hiccup as he leaned in a chair. "Fishlegs himself, let's say that he was nervous and got frightened easily. He was more the diplomat of the team and always attack from a distance."
"Sounds like the polar opposite of Snotlout," said Ruffnut.
Hiccup chuckled. "That's an accurate description. As you can tell Snotlout isn't prone to follow orders, he always believes that he's in the right and he causes more problems than anything else. In fact he's the reason for most of the complaints we got, especially around women."
"I assure that he is not the Sin of Pride or Lust?" Toothless asked.
"Like I said the sins that were marked down represent our crimes not our individual personalities," said Hiccup. "Those two never really got a long, Snotlout always try to goad him into a fight and Fishlegs always backed away."
"To me it sounds as if he's a man with a really warm heart, I admire that," said Ruby.
"And it means that Snotlout is an even bigger jerk than I thought he was," Toothless added.
Meanwhile Snotlout was down at the village trying to wake up the young girl he discovered.
"Hey, come on," he said. The young girl woke up. "You all right?"
"Get your filthy hands off Helga!" a voice yelled. Snotlout turned and saw small boy holding a pitchfork at him. "Just what do you think you're doing to my sister?"
"Look, kid, if you are her brother and watching out for her shouldn't you make sure she's getting enough food?" Snotlout asked.
"Shut up! Go away and leave her alone!"
Snotlout was starting to get a little impatient. "Now I'm going to ask you again are you making sure she's getting enough food? Or should I take her away?"
The boy then immediately charged at him and impaled him with the pitchfork. Of course the moment he did so he immediately regretted it.
"No, brother!" said Helga she rushed over to her big brother. "This man was only trying to help me! What have you done?"
"But I thought that…" he said as Snotlout was removing the pitchfork. He then immediately fell to his knees in front of Snotlout. "I'm sorry, what can I do to atone for my sins, sir?"
"You want to atone, huh?" said Snotlout as he rose to his feet. "What are there to make amends for, kid?"
"But I just—" He stopped when he saw that Snotlout injuries had already healed. "Your wound?"
"There's something you should know," said Snotlout looking down at the two of them. "Real gentlemen sins… no amount of repenting of erases them."
Then suddenly he felt something impaling him and it was in fact a large spear and floating just above it was a husky boy of 20 years.
"Seems someone is finally realised that," he said.
Snotlout immediately coughed up blood the two kids were immediately stared.
"It's been a while, Snotlout," said the young man. "I admit I was actually looking forward to this meeting." Snotlout just stood there in silence. "This is the first, you're not opening up big fat mouth of yours."
Snotlout frowned. "Hold on. Who are you?"
The young man didn't look surprised. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you don't recognise me, I mean it is the first time you see me like this."
"Then how about you quit the riddles and tell me," said Snotlout looking annoyed.
"No, I think I'll let you figure that out for yourself, I mean I don't want to deprive you that small brain of yours," said the young man. "Besides it doesn't matter what you know we are not, because I know exactly who you are."
Suddenly the spear began to spin and it shot out of Snotlout leaving a massive hole in his chest. "You are Snotlout the Fox Sin, the Sin of Greed."
The spear then floated up into the air and the young man stood on its point. "Or maybe you prefer if I call you this name…" The children just stared as Snotlout immediately heal the wound in his chest in a manner of seconds, "Snotlout the Undead."
"You're really starting to get on my nerves pal," Snotlout glared. "And how the hell do you know anything about me anyway?"
The young man sighed. "I know your Sin." Snotlout gave him a puzzled look. "Even if you don't remember me, you can still remember your own Sin can't you? You know that terrible awful crime you committed, to satisfy your selfish greed and gain eternal life. You murdered the Guardian of the Fountain of Youth."
Snotlout then started to remember Shanna and remember the bloodstains on her dress and on his hands.
"Listen up," said Snotlout as he clenched his knuckles. "You better get out of here."
The two children behind Snotlout then immediately ran out of the yard.
"Let's get out of here Helga," said the boy dragging her sister away.
The young man sat upon the spear and then came charging down towards Snotlout.
"I'm right, aren't I?" he said.
He then immediately performed a U-turn and headed straight towards Snotlout's chest again, but this time it was more than ready and jumped directly over him.
"I'll ask you one more time," he said and swung his fist. The young man immediately propelled himself forwards and avoided the punch which smashed right through a wall. "Who are you?"
The young man rode the spear and stop a safe distance away from Snotlout. Snotlout himself then immediately jumped towards him, but the moment he landed on the ground he found that the young man was gone.
"I'm happy you came out of here to play with me," said the young man's voice behind him. Snotlout turned and saw him directly behind him and he began wave his hand. "Because you just fell into my trap."
He then fired the spear directly at Snotlout, but he moved his head just in time to avoid it. However, the spear immediately appeared right next to the young man once again.
"Now you won't escape," he said. He then controlled the spear to move faster than anyone could blink in an attempt to strike Snotlout, who successfully dodged each and every strike. "Maybe you still remember Bumblebee."
"Sorry," said Snotlout as he jumped into the air and appeared directly over the young man. "It's not ringing a bell either!"
He then swung his fist of the young man, but he vanished and then reappeared on the ground just as Snotlout landed.
"I wish she could see this and watched the man that took her life," said the young man as he floated up into the air, "practically begging for mercy in agony."
Snotlout was now really annoyed now. "For the last time," he said and immediately raised his hand into the air, "who the Hell are you?"
Then suddenly Hiccup appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his arm. "Stop that."
Snotlout looked at him. "Why did you do that for?"
Hiccup narrowed his eyes. "Do you really think that you can skip out on work?"
"Hey, this punk that I never seen before started attacking me out of the blue," said Snotlout pointing at the young man. "You what he did to my sweet fragrance."
Heather then appeared. "Someone had better tell me what all this commotion is all about."
Then both she and Hiccup saw the young man in the eyes widened. "Fishlegs!" they yelled.
Snotlout's mouth fell wide open. "Tell me how that guy is Fishface?"
Admittedly he didn't exactly look like it wanted poster or how Snotlout remembered him. 10 years ago, Fishlegs looked like a middle-aged man now he looks like a normal human boy of 20 years, though he still maintained his facial features.
"It's a long story," said Hiccup.
"Then how about you tell it to me!" Snotlout yelled.
Heather smiled at Fishlegs. "Fishlegs, we came to look for you and now you're here. I'm relieved to see you again."
Fishlegs however just looked at them in silence and then immediately took off into the forest.
"That was strange," Hiccup frowned.
Soon they made their way back to the Black Dragon with the two kids Snotlout had found. Hiccup had just managed to make a big meal for everyone and smiled.
"Okay, dig in," he said.
The two kids looked slightly uneasy.
"It's great," said the boy. "But we don't really—"
"If you don't then I'm going to eat all of it," said Snotlout as he began to dig in.
That got the kids to eat and judging from the large smiles on their faces they were enjoying a meal.
"This is so delicious!" said Helga.
"Thank you," said the boy.
"Now it's time for some give-and-take," said Snotlout looking at the children. "Now tell me everything you know about this Necropolis place."
Hiccup frowned. "Snotlout, we already know that Fishlegs is alive and well. What reason do we have to fight the Necropolis?"
"Well, that guy asked us questions about it a lot," said the boy. "He told me that he had to find it, no matter what."
"He said that?" Hiccup frowned.
The boy nodded. "He told us that he's been looking for a long time too."
"So it is actually here," said Toothless.
"Not exactly, but it is pretty close."
"Then where is it exactly?" Heather asked.
"The entrance to the Necropolis, can be found here in this hamlet. But it is not a place that you can reach just because you want to."
Snotlout was starting to get annoyed. "Look riddles are not really my thing."
"Actually I think I may understand," said Hiccup folding his arms. "We can't get in there physically, but there is some sort of magical gateway?"
The boy nodded. "You got it. It's not really a graveyard either, just a place where the spirits gather when they die."
"Is he talking about the afterlife?" Ruffnut asked.
"If it is how do we get there?" Ruby asked.
"I don't suppose you had a chance to get there yourselves?" Snotlout asked.
The boy shook his head. "No, of course not."
"The only way to get in there is by concentrating on your most precious memories and they will guide you to the Necropolis," said Helga. "The man next door always told us. I'm sorry, but that's all we know."
"I think that's enough of info to satisfy my hunger," Snotlout smiled.
Ruby looked at Hiccup. "What possible reason would Sir Fishlegs want to get into the Necropolis?"
"Good question," said Hiccup scratching his chin. "I think the only way we can know for certain is once we get there."
Fishlegs was currently in the forest floating up and down, his meeting with Hiccup and Heather had completely caught by surprise.
"Why did those two had to show up?" he groaned as he hugged a large pillow. That pillow was in fact his spear which somehow transformed. "I knew that they were travelling with Snotlout, but I had no idea they would show up just before I could take him down."
He then frowned with a puzzled look on his face. "Now that I think about it Hiccup hasn't changed in the slightest. He hasn't aged in 10 years, but still it was nice seeing them again. Of course I can't let Snotlout deceive those two. Snotlout I'm good and do everything I can make sure that you pay for this."
Hiccup and the others then began to make their way through the hamlet as they began thinking of ways to enter the Necropolis.
"You know even if this place actually exists, there's no way to get to the other side," Toothless reminded.
"I suppose the fastest way would be to kill ourselves," Hiccup concluded.
"I'm not willing to test that theory," said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, I kind of like being in the here and now," Tuffnut nodded.
"Helga said that we had to concentrate on precious memories of the dead," said Ruby. "Well, maybe I should concentrate on my mother. I mean she died when I was very young."
"But then you won't have any precious memories of her," Toothless frowned.
Ruby sighed. "I guess you're right. I barely have any precious memories of her."
Snotlout just stood there and began thinking back on the day that he met Shanna.
This was just after, Shanna had released him and then she began to enquire why he had been after the fountain.
"Snotlout, why are you after the Fountain of Youth?" she asked.
"I just lived a lousy life, I figured that if I lived long enough something good might happen," said Snotlout as he leaned on the tree branch.
"I see, but what if you gained eternal life and nothing good ever comes your way?"
Snotlout looked at her confused.
Back in the present, Snotlout was brought out of his thoughts by Heather's laughter.
"I never knew that you were a flower person," she teased.
Snotlout frowned and found that the entire field that was barren a moment ago was now filled with flowers.
"What's going on?" he asked.
"Ruby, come here! Look at all these flowers!" Heather called.
Hiccup and the others soon made their way into the field.
"Oh my, what kind are theyof?" said Ruby hypnotised.
"Who cares about a few stupid old flowers?" said Ruffnut.
"Yeah, I very much doubt they have anything to do with the Necropolis?" said Tuffnut.
Tuffnut then kicked one the flowers immediately storm of petals began to engulf them. Fishlegs was watching from the bush and his eyes widened when he realised what was going on.
"Something tells me that you were way off," said Toothless.
"Hey, guys!" a voice yelled. They turned around and saw the two kids looking at them and the boy was looking at with concern. "Be careful!"
Then suddenly they the petal storm began to rage around them and at the exact same time Fishlegs entered inside of it.
When the storm finally dispelled they found themselves no longer in the hamlet, but in a strange place covered with strange crystals.
"Hiccup, where are we?" Heather asked.
"I think we've just entered the Necropolis," said Hiccup.
Fishlegs was watching them from behind a crystal. "No doubt about it. It's certainly Necropolis, memories belonging to one of them opened the pathway."
"If we are in the Necropolis, then one of us must have opens the gateway," said Toothless.
"Do you think that it was my wish to make my mother that opened the gateway?" Ruby asked.
"I don't know, but my mind was completely blank," said Hiccup.
"Same here," Heather added.
"Ours too," said the twins.
Snotlout looked around and saw Shanna wandering in the distance and then ran after a without saying a word.
"Snotlout!" Hiccup yelled.
"Hold it!" Fishlegs yelled and immediately shot off after him.
"Fishlegs?" Hiccup gasped as he flew over them.
"But how did he get here?" Ruby stared.
"Hiccup, what should we do?" Heather asked.
"The only thing we can do, follow them," said Hiccup.
Snotlout was jumping from crystal to crystal running after Shanna and Fishlegs was right on his tail.
"You're not going to escape," said Fishlegs.
"I won't let you get away from me again," said Snotlout.
Meanwhile in the hamlet, the two children just stood there as Hiccup and the others had just vanished in front of them.
"Helga, did you see that?" the boy asked.
"Yeah," Helga nodded as they stared at the barren earth. "Those people just disappeared."
"Well, well," said a voice. "It seems the Necropolis really does exist."
The children turned around and saw a tall young woman with long black hair and a rapier strapped to her side, standing behind them.