At Edinburg Castle, the silver haired girl then immediately guided her way towards Galand.

"I noticed that you weren't around, what have you been up to?" he asked.

She chuckled slightly. "Just having a little fun."


Snotlout and Ase meanwhile were in a small port town, trying to find any lead to locate a spell potion I could bring back the dead. Ase was a little impatient tapping her foot on the ground as Snotlout went the nearest apothecary.

"Come on, you can't be serious," said the shopowner. "A miracle potion I can bring back the dead back to life? Not sure where you got your information, but even if it were true I would be selling that potion to some king worth millions and just enjoy being retired. I mean what could be better than that?"

Snotlout spat. "So the rumour was bogus. Sorry for bothering you."

"I did hear a strange rumour recently that might interest you," said the shopowner quickly before he left. "They say that a dead person was brought back to life in a nearby town."

"Go on, you've got my attention," said Snotlout.

"That's about it, I don't know if the story is true, but there you go."

"And what is the name of this nearby town?"

Ase was doing her best to hide her impatience and eventually Snotlout exited the store.

"Ase, let's get moving," he said.

"Right," Ase nodded. "So where we headed this time?"

"Over to Ravens, the city of thieves, the nastiest lamb you'll ever see," said Snotlout.


Meanwhile at Easta, Ruby was looking at Hiccup, who just stood there completely motionless.

"Lady Zaneri, I don't understand," said Ruby with a worried look. "Why is Sir Hiccup acting strangely?"

"This is the Tower of Trials," she answered.

"The Tower of Trials?" Ruby blinked. "Is this the one where he'll find out whether he can get his power back?"

Zaneri nodded. "Right now he's been tested to see whether his soul is worthy of receiving the power taken from him."

"Oh, I see. Is it hard to restore somebody's power once it's been removed?"

She shook her head. "Not really, the issue is what will happen after once it's restored."

She then raised her hand and a goblet appeared filled with earth from out of nowhere. She then approached Ruby with the chalice and held it out to her.

"Ruby, I'm giving you this is your trial."

"It's just a goblet," said Ruby staring down at it.

"Not exactly. It is what in the goblet, a diseased flower seed has been planted in the soil, nor water nor light can make it bud now." Ruby then took the chalice and looked down at it. "Try and make it bloom."

Ruby stared at her. "Are you serious?"

"It should be rather simple, if Druid blood flows within your veins then you should definitely have the power to heal. If you can't even do this then you never hold your own in battle."

Ruby looked down at the goblet defiantly. "I accept and I will do my best."


Hiccup was still wondering how all this have happened, the last thing he remembered was a bright light within the tower. He can only assume that this was some sort of trial, but what kind he had no idea.

He was currently walking down the streets with Ruby and Astrid and they were acting exactly as he remembered. Astrid was still cold and unforgiving, putting as much distance from him as possible Ruby on the other hand was more cheerful and was more accepting.

"That Zaneri what does she think she is doing by showing me something like this?" Hiccup sighed.

Ruby gave him a strange look. "Are you all right, you've been acting funny all morning."

Astrid folded her arms. "Don't encourage him, just let him daydream."

"You're certainly not acting like Astrid 16 years ago," Hiccup sighed.

"Come again?" Astrid questioned.

"Never mind," said Hiccup raising his hand.

"Come are now treated to dinner," Ruby smiled.

"Sounds good to me," said Hiccup and followed her down the street, but he couldn't help but ponder why he was here. 'What do they intend to show me with an illusion like this anyway?'

Soon it was night and Hiccup couldn't help but notice how quickly it came, but he was a little more impressed by how real the illusion was. Everything from Ruby's house to the food she cooked, even the smell, it was all real.

'I wonder how they managed it,' he wondered. Soon they were eating and it was just like old times, Hiccup would busy tell them of his travels, Astrid would ignore him and keep to herself and Ruby would listen in rapture to his tales. 'All the troubles of Berk and revival of the Ten Commandments it sounds as if it never happened.'

Suddenly the scene changed and Hiccup felt a drop of rain landing on his face. He opened his eyes and found himself standing in front of the ruined castle where big battle had taken place. There were so many dead that he couldn't count them all and in his arms was Ruby, who had been fatally wounded.

"No, not that day," Hiccup gasped in horror as he laid Ruby down against a stone pillar.

He quickly turned and saw Astrid, her body badly damaged just staring at him as monstrous beast to attacking the city. However, he was more focused on Ruby then anything else, because he knew that he had failed in his duty to protect and was soon overcome by grief.

"No!" Hiccup cried.

Upon seeing his pain Astrid finally snapped and then suddenly a great flow of power erupted from her body and consumed the entire kingdom.

Hiccup was on his knees still utterly devastated from what he witnessed.

"Hey, are you all right?" said Ruby's voice.

Hiccup opened his eyes and found that Ruby was looking down at him with concern not only that, but he was right back where he started.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," said Ruby.

It soon dawned on Hiccup what his trial was and was possibly be the most painful one ever devised. 'So, all part of my test, huh? Damn you Zaneri.'


Outside of the illusion, Ruby and Zaneri saw Hiccup's body cringing as if he was in very deep pain.

"Sir Hiccup!" Ruby cried rushing over towards him, but Zaneri stopped her.

"You have your own test now, it's not time to worry about others," she said dryly.

"Right, I get that, but Lady Zaneri listen," she said and Zaneri looked at her. "I've seen Sir Hiccup going through a lot, but I've never seen him in such pain. Just what kind of horrible test are you putting him through exactly?"

Zaneri just stood there. "A living hell."

Hiccup was reliving the same experience over and over again, he would find himself with Astrid and Ruby in different points in his memory. Then he would find himself facing Ruby dying and every single time he was overcame by grief which resulted in Astrid destroying the kingdom.

"The tranquil days and the cruel ones, spending with the girl he's in love with and the girl that he vowed to protect. He's repeating them hundreds if not thousands of times, with each instance it causes chain of events, Hiccup overcame by grief and then Astrid's anger is unleashed for seen him in such pain."

Ruby stared at her in horror. "B-but that's…"

"Seems cruel, but this is a test that will erase, no, kill of his emotions completely. We cannot simply return his power, it has been a long time since he used it meaning that the sudden surge of power flowing into him will overwhelm him. Also, the last time he used such power he nearly lost his humanity if it weren't for Sir Ragnar intervening when he did he would have been consumed by it.

The Dragonborn were feared, with good reason, 3000 years ago they led the charge against the Demon Race and they killed hundreds of them. Not all of them were low rank Demons either, but one towered above them all and was feared among the Demon Race, that is why it is imperative that Hiccup seals his emotions away so that he is not consumed by them."

Ruby can help you feel helpless upon seen the pain that Hiccup was experiencing.


Meanwhile the others were following Jenna to the other side of the island which was one giant hollow stump. One can only imagine the size of the tree that had been there or what finely chopped it down.

"This is where druid warriors go and prepare," Jenna informed them as they meet the way up the hill. "It is called the Cave of Training."

"Huh, hey, Jenna, what exactly are you planning to make us do?" Fishlegs asked curiously.

"Isn't it obvious?" Jenna snapped. "Rigourous training!" She then immediately turned and pointed has to them. "You are all too fragile, remember who you're facing. The legendary Ten Commandments of the Demon Race! They will show you no mercy, you will need to get into fighting shape so you can protect this world."

Everyone nodded.

"And by the way, there was another group that arrived just before you did," Jenna informed them. "I hear that they are acquaintances of yours."

"Do you think it could be Snotlout?" Toothless asked curiously.

"No, she said it was a group," Fishlegs reminded. "Gabrielle and Ase?"

"I'm sorry to disappoint you," said a voice in the shadow of the stump.

Their eyes widened as emerging from the stump and a pair of baggy trousers and holding a wooden club was none other than Alvin, who was covered in bruises.

"There's no way," Fishlegs gasped in horror.

Jenna smiled. "Well, what do you know, I was just talking about you Alvin."

"Alvin," Fishlegs growled with hatred. He then immediately transformed Chastiefol into it increase form. "How are you still alive?"

Alvin just remain quiet and then suddenly collapsed face first, much to everyone's surprise.

Jenna sighed. "Oh man, I was expecting a lot more from him." She then looked at Fishlegs with a reassuring look. "I know all about why you people have a grudge against him, but since he's finally gotten himself back to normal pleas for my sake, try and put your anger for him aside."

"Look behind him," Gustav pointed. "There something on the ground."

"What is that a tatty bag?" Sven asked.

They could see three bodies lying down in front of the stump and all of them looked pretty badly scorched.

"No," said Toothless as he sniffed the air. "Whatever is over there is completely human, admittedly a bit scorched."

Everyone then moved in closer and their eyes widened, because laying before them were the unconscious bodies of Gilthunder, Gael and Ake, or them wearing baggy trousers and holding wooden clubs just like Alvin.

"Is anyone else confused?" Tuffnut asked.

"No, I'm right with you bro," said Ruffnut.

"Good, so I'm not the only one."


In the Tower of Trials, Hiccup was still experiencing his un-ending nightmare and Ruby and Zaneri just watched. From their perspective it didn't look as if Hiccup's emotions were disappearing, on the contrary they just appear to be getting worse.

In the world of illusions, Hiccup was finding himself at the dinner table with Ruby in Astrid.

"You two still haven't told me how you two met," she said looking at the two of them. "It appears you have a long history with one another."

"History I would care to get," said Astrid bitterly.

"So were you lovers?" Ruby asked with a mischievous look.

Astrid glared at her. "Let's just say that he did something that I will never forgive him for."

Hiccup smiled. "You have any reason not to forgive me, but believe me I'm suffering more than you."

"I find that hard to believe."

Hiccup closed his eyes. "I fear that you will someday."

The memory then changed and Hiccup was now facing Ruby's dead body and once again he overcame by grief. At the same time Astrid's rage consumed the entire kingdom of racing in from history.

Scene changed once again to a more peaceful time, were all these troubles never truly began.

"Why is it that you feel as if you need to protect me?" Ruby asked looking at Hiccup. "I mean what gave you the propulsion to save me during that one mission? You didn't even know me."

"You remind me of someone," said Hiccup solemnly. "Someone that I failed to protect a long time ago."

Once again he was facing Ruby's dead body on the chain of events started once again.

This cycle continued over and over again with no end in sight and it always had the same result. Hiccup was utterly happy and then was immensely devastated experiencing both the joys of life and the coolness of death.


Zaneri had seen enough and immediately placed her finger on his forehead releasing him from his nightmare.

Hiccup opened his eyes and found that he was back in the tower. "I'm back!" He then immediately turned on Zaneri looking furious. "Why did you pull me out of there?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she said. "You are still unable to suppress your emotions, repeating the cycle of mayhem of destruction over and over… if this continues rather than emotions your spirit is what will die."

Hiccup slammed his fist into the ground. "Damn it!"

"It's all right," said Ruby gently as she placed a hand on his shoulder. "No one is blaming you for anything, no matter how many times the odds have been stacked against you, you have always risk your life to fight for us Sir Hiccup." Hiccup looked up at her and saw her smiling down at him. "See?"

Hiccup felt that his anger faded away upon seen that smile. "Thank you, Ruby."

"Enough of this! You need to focus on your own test!" Zaneri snapped angrily.

"Right, sorry," Ruby squealed.

"Zaneri, send me back one more time," said Hiccup.

Zaneri stared at him. "What? That's insane, look not even you could possibly withstand any more this stress."

Hiccup clenched his fists. "It's not a problem, I can keep going." He then looked at her with a determined look and unwavering resolve. 'I have to keep going if I want to protect those I care about.'

"Please don't ask me to do that," Zaneri pleaded. "If this continues it could really break your spirit. One false move and you could lose your life."

"I can't move forward unless I pass this test so put me back!" Hiccup demanded.

Ruby had never seen him like this before. "Sir Hiccup?"

Zaneri just looked in Hiccup's emerald green eyes and could see that nothing in the world could stop him.

"All right, fine," she said reluctantly. "I'll do it, just promise me you'll come back safely."

"I promise," Hiccup nodded.

Zaneri then sent Hiccup back into the illusion of the unending nightmare.


'I already know what to do, to gain full control of my power I have to let go of my emotions,' he said to himself as he spent the joyous days with Ruby in Astrid. 'No problem, right, Hiccup? And to do that I have to forget about all those I care for, Ruby, Astrid, my parents. I just have to get used to the fact that I failed all of them.'

Hiccup was looking at the broken body of Ruby in the aftermath of a terrifying battle. "No problem at all, right Hiccup."

'It's not a big deal,' he said to himself, but no sooner had he for those words that he was overcame by grief. "No way I can do that!"


In the real world Ruby and Zaneri watched as Hiccup cringed with pain once more.

"I can't watch any more this," said Zaneri and was prepared to free him from his nightmare. "I'm pulling Hiccup out of there!"

Ruby then suddenly placed herself in front of her blocking her path. "Lady Zaneri please wait."

"Get out of my way!" she demanded. "At this rate he is going to…"


In the world of illusions Hiccup was looking down of the crater that was all of the remains of Danafor.

"I just can't do it," he said solemnly. "Forgetting about you is impossible, getting used to losing you no way."

"Then you should learn to live with it," says Astrid's voice behind him. Hiccup turned and found Astrid now standing beside him as she used to look down at the crater. "I never truly understood what you think going through all these years. I now finally understand why you did this to me, you just couldn't accept losing me after losing everything else or failing in your duty."

Hiccup closed his eyes. "I keep on meeting her and I am always forced to say goodbye. No matter how many times I try, I just cannot save her."

Hiccup remember the ghostly shadow of Fraudrin, who had just stabbed Ruby.

"You're not the only one who failed," Astrid reminded. "I failed in my duty too, but I can only imagine what you feel and I am so sorry. However, what I do know is that looking to the past won't help you. What is done is done you just have to live with it, if you can."

"But for me that is just impossible," said Hiccup with tears in his eyes.


Ruby was still trying to convince Zaneri to not interfere and have faith in Hiccup's resolve.

"Sir Hiccup will come back safely, no matter what," she said confidently. "He promised that he would do that for you, remember?"


Back in the world of illusions, Hiccup was now standing beside Ruby as well as Astrid.

"I would never trade all the days we shared for nothing," said Ruby looking at Hiccup.

"I feel exactly the same," Hiccup nodded.

Hiccup was now back looking at Ruby's broken body and slowly approached it.

"And that is why I never want to see this site again," he said to himself. "I just can't take it." Tears then began to form in his eyes. "I do not want a repeat… never again. No matter what."


"You have to have faith in him!" Ruby cried.

"You do not know what you're talking about girl," Zaneri snapped angrily.

Then her eyes widened in shock and will be turned around to find Hiccup had returned. Hiccup was looking at Ruby with tears in his eyes and he merely smiled.

"See I kept my promise," he said looking at Zaneri.

Zaneri stared at him bewildered. "Hiccup? How did… Hiccup, if you overcame that trial does that mean you really abandoned your motions?"

Hiccup looked at her. "No, I didn't. I could never give up my emotions, no matter how painful they are."

Zaneri looked complexed. "Hold on, then how did you…"

"Since I passed the test, as you requested, I will be taking my power back."


Snotlout meanwhile was snoring on a table and Ase was feeling a bit awkward. The two of them had stopped at the tavern at Ravens and there were a lot of thuggish figures looking at them intently.

"Snotlout! Come on, wake up already!" Ase roared.

Snotlout's eyes shot open and it only took a few seconds with his brain to process what was going on. "Keep it down, will you? How long I sleep is up to me, not you Ase."

"The creeps in this tavern have been staring at you snoring for while now," she informed him. "You have no idea how uncomfortable I am."

Snotlout could see that she was right, in part, everyone looking all the men in the tavern were thuggish and would probably murder you without a second thought. However, they weren't looking at him and he knew why.

"Actually the not staring at me," he said as he sat up. "Their eyeing you."

"Huh, wait, at me?" she blinked.

Snotlout turned to face. "Being well dressed is the same as saying, 'Hey, I have money.' Plus, you have the scent of a woman."

Ase immediately glared at everyone present.

Snotlout then rose to his feet. "Looks like as poking around the info got us nowhere." He then grabbed his rucksack. "Let's get out of here."

Ase stared at him. "Huh? Wait!"


Soon they began making their way down the street which was boarded up and practically deserted.

"There's no telling how many of those guys are working together," Snotlout explained. "Avoid trouble as much as possible."

"Yeah, but…"

"I'm still tired and I want to lay down so hurry," he yawned.


They soon found in and booked a room for the night, though the inn itself was not very inviting. There were cobwebs everywhere, loose floorboards and the tables were covered in dust as if they had been clean for century.

"I'm going to need five silver coins and advance," the innkeeper informed them.

"That's fine, she's paying," said Snotlout pointing at Ase.

"Like hell I will," Ase glared.

"No money means no room," said the innkeeper bluntly. "Sleep in the streets then."

Ase didn't fancy sleeping in the cold streets where she was vulnerable to every cook in the city, especially after the incident in the tavern.

"I'll pay! I'll pay!" she yelled pulling out five silver coins.

"By the way, I heard a rumour that a dead person being brought back to life here on Ravens, that true?" Snotlout asked.

"No idea, bud," said the innkeeper dismissively. "I bet it's just another moronic lie that some punks spread around. Anyway, don't get too excited and break the bed, it's old and rickety."

Ase's face turned completely pink upon hearing those words and Snotlout just stood there clueless.


The room that the innkeeper gave them wasn't luxurious, there was only a single bed in the entire room was filled with cockroaches and Ase had a the fovea to creepy quarries as well.

"Bugs! But over there!" she screamed pressing her body as close to the wall as humanly possible.

"Bug have a right to live too," said Snotlout.

Ase stared at him in disbelief. "Five silver coins for this dump? Come on, this condemned hole in the wall is worse than Grimbeard prison."

"This is one of the better in is in town, just relax and go to sleep," said Snotlout tiredly.

Reluctantly Ase took the bed and Snotlout chose to sleep on the floor.

"Aren't you going to sleep in the bed?" Ase questioned. "There is some room next to me so…"

"These days I'm used to sleeping on the floor," said Snotlout with his hands behind his back.

"Really? And I was trying to be considerate so you wouldn't catch a cold," Ase grumbled.

Snotlout chuckled. "How surprisingly high-class of you."

Ase just glared at him. "You seem to know quite a bit about the shady little town were in," she noted. "Have you been out here before?"

"I used to live in this place when I was a kid, but that was a long long time ago," he said without looking at her.

Ase looked up. "Yeah, so tell me what you were like back when you were a kid?"

Then suddenly they heard voices outside, they quickly made their way to the window and saw three thugs attacking a man in a hood.

"Come on! Let's rough them up and taken everything he's got!"

"Take this!" said one of the man punched him hard in the face.

"Hey, look, someone is getting beaten up by a bunch of thugs," said Ase.

"Just ignore it and let it go," said Snotlout. "I thought I told you not to get mixed up in any trouble, it happens all the time in this town."

Ase wasn't too happy, but she knew that he was right. "I know, but still…"

"We know all about it you monster," said one of the thugs standing over the poor man. "You are the one that's been bringing dead people back to life, aren't you?"

Snotlout looked up and as quick as a flash he immediately jumped down and took down all three thugs each with a single blow. Then just as quickly he grabbed the man and placed over his shoulders.

Ase was completely bewildered as Snotlout made his way back to the room with the hooded man in tow.

"What do you think you're doing?" she said in disbelief. "You said to avoid trouble as much as possible."

"'As much as possible' not no matter what," he said and then suddenly tossed the man much to Ase astonishment.

However the man proved himself to be quite nimble as he landed on all fours on the wall and immediately jumped down to the floor. As a result his hood slid off revealing himself to be a beast man and he resembled that of a fox.

"A fox? A beast man?" Ase stared.

"A werefox, huh," said Snotlout looking intrigued. "That would make sense, no wonder your moves looked so superhuman to me. Pretending to be beaten up to a pulp, but really dodging their blows by a hair." Ase stared at him in disbelief. "And if that wasn't impressive enough, you're not a bad thief either."

The werefox reached into his garments as if looking for something, but clearly it was missing. Snotlout then held out Ase's bag of coins for them all to see.

"I'll give it back to her for you okay," he said handing the coins to Ase, who didn't realise that she had robbed.

"What? You robbed me when did you do that?" she stared in disbelief.

The werefox looked at Snotlout. "Not bad youngster, hate to admit it but I guess I've lost my edge," he said in an old gruff voice.

"That story about you bringing people back from the dead, is it true or what?" Snotlout asked.

"Sorry, to disappoint you, but beast men don't have those powers," he said as he reached for his hood. "If we're done here, I'll be heading out."

He started to make his way to the door, but then he suddenly collapsed.

"Huh, you are right?" Ase stared.

Snotlout looked at her. "Ase, give him your bed."

Ase didn't argue and immediately the two of them laid him down on the bed. Ase managed to get a bucket of water and a wet cloth as the beast man had quite the fever.

"Until now I've been able to escape from humans, but I guess there's no running away for your lifespan is there?" he said weakly. "We beast men have always been loathed and despised by humans, driven off our own land and deprived of substance. You probably don't have any idea how it feels to survive by stealing from others and living like vermin."


Actually Snotlout knew the feeling quite well, when he was young he was all alone, no father, no mother, no friends. He could only survive by stealing food and coin from the people in town, but he wasn't always careful.

One time when he was about eight years old, he managed to steal some potatoes and ran off as quickly as his little legs to carry him.

"Get back here, you little thief!" the store owner yelled chasing after him.

Try as he might Snotlout couldn't get away from him and the owner grabbed the helm of his shirt and he recognised him.

"It's you again, huh? This time I'm not gonna let you off the hook so easily!"

The store owner then began beating him up harshly and then let him on the street. It soon began to snow and Snotlout was barely able to move and still the man was beating him up.

"I'm sure there's a cell for you in the prison, you little punk," the shop owner growled.


With so much theft in the town there was no surprise that there was actually a prison, but usually was only the really poor thieves that got thrown in there and even sometimes innocent people. Snotlout frowned that he was sharing his cell with another prisoner, a man in his late 30s.

"Hey, you there ," said the prisoner.

Snotlout just sat there and ignored him.

The prisoner then reached into his pocket and pulled out a potato and handed it to him. "Hey, kid. Want this?"

Snotlout didn't hesitate and immediately snatched the potato and scoffed it down.

"I'm about ready to bust out of this prison and when I leave here do you wanna come along?" the prisoner asked.

Snotlout looked at him suspiciously, but the prisoner just gave him a reassuring smile.

"Hey, those aren't the eyes of a little kid, so tell me what's your name?"

"Snotlout. What's yours old man?"

"The name is Sullivan, nice to meet you Snotlout," he said with a smile.