It was night time and Snotlout and the others were riding with Eret as they made their way to the town where he was supposed to deliver the alcohol. Eret had kindly enough given Snotlout and Shanna a change of clothing and Ase was fast asleep in the cart.
Fishlegs was sitting next to Shanna as the two of them were having a very cheerful reunion.
"It's good to see you brother," Shanna smiled. "I never thought that I was going to have the chance to again. I feel so happy."
"I'm really happy to see you too," Fishlegs smiled.
"Good." Shanna then read his mind, which was deeply troubling. "So, you still have concerns about Hiccup, huh?" Fishlegs eyes lit up. "I just read your mind, a long time ago you could do that too, remember? I wonder why you're not able to anymore? Maybe you've been away from the Fairy Realm for too long."
Fishlegs blushed slightly. "Maybe, honestly I was never really any good at it. I may be the Fairy King, but I'm still a broom without any wings yet."
"Well, look at me, that makes two of us," Shanna smiled.
Snotlout raised an eyebrow. "You're going to grow wings, huh?"
Shanna immediately turned pink. "Whatever strange thing you're thinking about Snotlout, please stop."
Snotlout chuckled and he turned to Eret. "Hey, Eret, how much farther is it until we get to this place for the delivery?"
"Don't worry were almost there," he said.
It was now morning and Heather and Dagur were making their way to Vaizel.
"It's not too late," said Dagur looking at his sister. "You can still turn back Heather."
"If you're going to compete in this thing for the sake of Zol and Della then I'm coming along for your sake," said Heather.
"You're just as stubborn as ever," Dagur sighed.
"Look who's talking, you do remember that I'm your sister right?"
"Good point."
Eventually they reached a hilltop looking over the valley, but they did not see a town.
"Dagur, down there!" Heather pointed.
"What is it?" Dagur asked as he went to join her.
His eyes widened, because right in front of them was a huge labyrinth the likes of which they had never seen before.
"A gigantic maze?" Dagur stared.
They soon reached ground-level and found that the maze was even taller than they were, it has to be the size of a small mountain.
"It's an enormous, who could have built this thing?" Heather stared.
"Only a member of the Giant Race could have accomplished a feat like this," Dagur deduced and that when he saw the large rock in the centre. "That large rock must be the goal, I take it." He then raised his hand. "As for all the rocks stand in our way, I'll turn to dust!"
He then slammed his hand into the ground. "Flowing Palm Strike!"
The moment his hand struck the ground a massive shock wave of erupted turning everything it touched a dust and eventually created a new entrant within the labyrinth.
Heather looked at him. "Are you planning on smashing our way through to the finish line?"
"It's the most efficient way to get there," said Dagur.
However, rocks began to repair the damage that Dagur did to the maze and soon the entrance he created vanished.
"How strange," said Dagur.
"You said that only a Giant could built this, right?" said Heather looking concerned. "Is there one with stronger magic than yours?"
"Doesn't matter," said Dagur and made his way through the entrance and Heather followed him. "Let's just get this over with."
Heather then looked up at the walls. "I have an idea, if we walk on top of the walls getting through there should be a breeze."
She then immediately launched herself into the air, but before she could reach the top stone podium shot out of one of the walls and she hit her head against it. Heather rubbed her head and looked up at Dagur, who just stood there with his arms folded.
"The entrant has been blocked off too," he said gesturing behind them.
From afar the boy in vines and Drole had just witnessed the two of them entering the labyrinth.
"All right, looks like things are underway," the boy in vines as he rubbed the bottom of his chin. "And the first hurdle the Vaizel Great Fighting Festival is the mystifying deathtrap maze. Such impressive work, Drole, I must say your craftsmanship is a sight to behold."
Heather and Dagur weren't the only ones in the maze, there were many knights, mercenaries from different lands already in the maze trying to navigate through it.
"Since we have so many entrance than expected, we can weed out the weak ones here first."
Heather and Dagur will continue making their way to the maze, but it was soon discovered that not all the routes were the same size. They found themselves moving from a narrow passage which would have been fine if there were humans, but it was a tight squeeze for Giants.
That wasn't the only obstacle most of the roots were also dead ends and more than once they found themselves in the same spot from where they started. They also encountered boulders rolling down, absolutely nowhere, though that wasn't so bad since the boulders would have crushed a normal-sized human but all they had to do was raise their legs to stop it.
Eventually was evening and they had made much progress.
"Seems like within wondering around this place forever and the end is nowhere in sight," said Heather.
"I must escape and win the Fighting Festival as soon as I can," said Dagur clenching his fist. "Zol and Della's lives depend on it." He then suddenly saw the two children running in front of him. "Wait, is that them?"
Dagur then began to follow them down another passageway, he had been so fixated on the two of them that he failed to notify Heather, who had her back towards him.
"I'm starting to get hungry," she said and then she saw a large chunk of meat in front of her. "Hey, meat."
Ordinarily she would find this unusual, but she was starving and immediately took a bite out of it. Only discover that it was nothing more than a boulder and she wasn't too hungry to be hallucinating.
"Dagur, did you just see that? The meat just turned stone all of a sudden," she said as she turned and found that Dagur had vanished. "Wait, where did he go?"
With no other choice Heather began making her way through the labyrinth by herself in the hopes to find Dagur, but there wasn't any trace of him. Eventually it was night full and she decided to sit down and have a rest.
"Heather, is that you?" said a voice.
Heather opened her eyes and found Toothless looking up at her. "A dragon? And it knows my name?"
"I can't believe that I ran into you here of all places," said Toothless shaking his head. He then looked at her. "I suppose you would know me, after all you are suffering from amnesia."
"Toothless, there you are," said a new voice.
Heather turned and found Ruby had just appeared round the corner. "A human girl? Who are you and what are you doing in this place? How did you get here?"
"Heather, I'm so glad you're safe," said Ruby looking relieved. "Everybody has been so worried about you. I don't suppose you remember me at all? I'm Ruby, I'm a Princess from Berk who has been travelling with you and the Seven Deadly Sins."
Heather frowned. "Ruby, huh? A Princess from Berk? And the Seven Deadly Sins?"
"You lost your memories after a battle with one of the Ten Commandments, since then we have all been looking for you. However, you were heading in the direction of the Ten Commandments and when it became clear that you were safe we didn't want to put you in danger so we had a hold off the search."
Ruby looked at her. "So you and I, we know each other?"
"That's right, the two of us are friends."
Heather looked at her curiously and Ruby smiled at her. "Well, you seem nice, but sorry I can't trust humans." She then bent down and picked up Gideon. "Those Dragon Knights from Berk seemed nice to, but then they tricked us and tried to kill my brother."
"Hold on!" Ruby pleaded.
Heather looked down at her. "Don't follow me."
Toothless sighed. "Hiccup did warn us that Heather would slow to trust humans, given her history." He then looked at Ruby. "So what should we do?"
"We'll follow her anyway Toothless."
They then continue to make their way down the labyrinth following Heather and that's when they noticed that in the labyrinth walls were houses which no doubt belonging to the people of Vaizel.
"That's not a good sign," said Toothless. "Looks like this maze was built the entire village was followed in into the foundations."
"But what happened to everyone who lived here?" Ruby frowned.
"I don't think we want to know the answers that."
Heather turned towards them. "I told you to stay away from me. What are you doing?"
"We happened to be going the same way direction, it has nothing to do with you," said Toothless.
Heather clearly didn't believe him, but gestured in front of her. "I see, then after you please."
"All right, let's see we can't join up with the others," said Toothless as he walked ahead.
Suddenly the ground began to give way and both Toothless and began to fall into the chasm. Toothless quickly spread his wings and grabbed Heather and pulled the two of them out before they reached the bottom, which was a good thing considering the bottom was covered in spikes.
"Thank you, Toothless," said Ruby rubbing his head.
Toothless looked into the pit. "I think we found the answer to what happened to the villagers."
Ruby looked down in her eyes widened, because inside the pit they found many villagers skewered by the spikes below.
"How awful," she said.
"You were lucky, try and be more careful of your surroundings," said Heather as they landed.
Toothless then noticed a very berry bush close by. "I found a ton of berries over here."
"You serious?" said Ruby turning towards him.
Toothless sniffed and to make sure they were safe to eat. "And they're edible."
"You found some food?" said Heather looking down at them. She was tempted to join them in the feast, but she remembered the last time she trust someone from Berk and then began to walk off. "See ya."
"Heather, wait!" Ruby pleaded.
Heather continued to make her way down the labyrinth and soon found herself in a cave which was made of tree roots.
"I could drink an entire river," Heather sighed. "Come on, Dagur, where are you?"
She then suddenly stepped into a massive a swamp which reached just below her knees. "A swamp? And a pretty deep one, too." She then remembered Ruby. "It might be dangerous for a human to cross." She then shook Ruby out of her mind. "But what do I care?"
Suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her leg. "Ow, some things on my legs."
She looked down and saw massive leeches were attaching themselves to her legs. "I can't stand bugs," she screamed.
"Heather!" Ruby cried as she appeared on the other side of the swamp.
Without hesitation she immediately dived in and grabbed one of the leeches that were attached to her legs. "Leave her alone! Get away from, Heather!"
She then pulled all her might in remove the leech and she began to do the same to the others much to have a surprise.
Once that was all done the immediately made their way to dry land and Heather was still stunned by the actions of Ruby.
"That was scary, huh?" said Ruby smiling up at her.
"Huh-uh," Heather nodded speechless. "But why did you help me?"
"That's what friends are for, they help out when no one else will."
Heather felt quite ashamed, especially with the cold shoulder she gave Ruby earlier.
"Looks like I finally caught up to you," said Toothless as he approached them carrying a berry bush on his back.
"Toothless, there you are," Ruby smiled.
They then began to eat the berries that Toothless brought with them.
"It's delicious," Heather smiled after eating the last one.
They then suddenly heard footsteps and turned, then approaching them was none other than Hiccup.
"Well, well, look at what we have here, that one delicious looking meal," he said.
Ruby's eyes lit up. "It's Sir Hiccup!"
"I know you," Heather smiled.
Then suddenly more Hiccups appeared in front of them and they had hungry looks on their faces.
"I see a female human and a female giant and plump dragon too," said one of them looking his lips.
"What's going on here?" Toothless stared.
"Give us back our forest invaders," said one of the Hiccups.
"You changed our forest, didn't you?"
"Knew you remade it without our permission. You had better put it back!"
Toothless frowned. "What are you talking about? We're not the ones that built this crazy maze."
"This is like what happened before, in the Forest of White Dreams" said Ruby remembering when they first met Heather.
"Of course, their imps," Toothless nodded.
"Do you think the real Hiccup could be mixed in there somewhere?"
Toothless shook his head. "Doubtful, he would have already jumped in to help us out by now."
One of them then immediately jumped at them, but Toothless quickly jumped into the air and grabbed Ruby pulling her to safety.
"I know it doesn't change a situation, but the fact that they took on Hiccup's appearance means that the wheel one must be close by," Toothless concluded.
"I'm sure that," Ruby smiled.
"Then our first priority is to do something about those guys," said Toothless he then flew next to Heather. "Let's do it Heather."
"I'm sorry, but I can't do that," said Heather apologetically. "Hiccup is the one that saved my life, I couldn't do anything to hurt him."
"They only look like him, their fakes," said Toothless and immediately fired a plasma blast at the imps.
The imps jumped back to avoid the explosion, but they didn't dissuade them one little bit. They continue to look at them hungrily and there was no way they can convince them that they were the ones responsible for their situation.
"I just can't bring myself to do it," said Heather and immediately grabbed Toothless and began running.
Then suddenly a bolt of lightning appeared from out of nowhere and struck one of the imps and that was followed by a powerful tornado. It was powerful enough to knock the imps back forcing them back to their normal form and they quickly retreated deeper into the maze.
There rescuers were none other than Gilthunder and Ake.
"That's it, I didn't even broke a sweat with those guys," said Ake.
"Is everyone okay?" Gilthunder asked.
Once everything calmed down Toothless and Ruby quickly informed Gilthunder and Ake of Heather's amnesia. They had completely forgotten to mention to them previously, with everything going on.
"Unbelievable, you really lost your memory," said Gilthunder looking up at Heather.
"So you have no idea who we are?" Ake blinked.
"Sorry, I guess I don't," said Heather apologetically.
Ruby then looked at Gilthunder. "So, Gil, where are the others?"
"Oh, sorry," he said as he turned towards her. "The moment we entered we fell into a series of traps and before we knew it…"
"Gil and me ended up together," Ake finished.
"Care for everyone, stay on guard," Gilthunder advised.
Ake then immediately cried out as something grabbed hold of his leg and pulled it into the ground.
"Ake, what's the matter?" said Gilthunder turning towards him.
"Something down those grabbing hold of my leg," he said.
He immediately raised his land and plunged it into the ground and then they saw something moving underground.
"Dammit, it's gone away," he cursed.
"It could have gotten far," said Gilthunder.
Toothless immediately began to sniff the ground. "I smell it, it's getting close."
Then suddenly something shone the ground and bit down on his tail. The creature was a cross between a lizard and a fish and had a sharp series of teeth, though they didn't seem to be able to puncture Toothless' scales.
"Toothless, be careful," Ruby pleaded as Heather grasped hold of her in order to protect.
"I've got it," he said and immediately slammed his tail into the ground striking the creature. He then quickly turned around and fired a plasma blast hitting the creature dead on and killing it.
"Remind me not to get on that dragon's bad side," said Ake.
"What was that?" Heather frowned.
"A Sandcrawler," said Gilthunder. "They live on the desert and mainly prey on small animals so it's not much of a threat."
"Pretty bold going after a dragon though," Toothless pointed out. He then looked at the maze curiously. "Whoever built this maze must have used the surrounding areas and dumped a bunch of different creatures inside of it."
"Just be glad we didn't run into a big one," said Gilthunder. "When it's fully grown it turns into what is known as an Earthcrawler, increasing in size and ferocity. Some Earthcrawlers have been known to swallow entire houses and Titan Class Dragon's too."
"N-now you're scaring me," said Ruby nervously.
"Of course that's only what the records say, it's doubtful that will ever run into such a huge creature," Gilthunder assured.
Toothless looked at them awkwardly and then raised his claw. "I wouldn't be too sure about that."
They turned around and saw a massive Earthcrawler directly behind them slamming its jaws down on top of them causing the entire ground to shake. Earthcrawlers looks like their offspring, but they had legs allowing them to walk on the earth and were twice as large as Heather.
Other competitors close by felt the earth shake.
"What was that?"
"It's nearby."
Then saw the ground beneath them beginning to shake. "Wait, something is coming from."
Suddenly they will launch into the air as an Earthcrawler emerged and then swallow them whole. It then turned his attention on a mage, who had his back towards it.
From afar a minstrel was streaming his lute as he saw the carnage. "Awaiting you here, to trample dreams and wishes. Is the reality known to us as death."
Heather and the others had managed to avoid getting swallowed thanks to Toothless warning and now they were prepared to counter attack against the Earthcrawler.
Heather spun Gideon above her head, she then jumped into the air and slammed the hammer down upon the Earthcrawler. However, its skin proved to be too slimy in the attack merely bounced off of it and Heather stumbled as she tried to regain her balance.
"It's so slimy my weapon has no effect on it," she said.
Toothless then fired more plasma blasts at the creature, but it's like protected itself from the explosions.
"My plasma blast having no effect either," said Toothless as he quickly flew into the air to avoid getting eaten.
Gilthunder then began to charge lightning into his sword. "Hey, Ake!"
"Huh-uh," said Ake as he began to channel wind around him.
"Combined Attack! Dragon Castle!" they yelled.
They combined their attacks forming a powerful tornado around the creature with lightning surging through it. Heather then noticed that the Earthcrawler was about dig itself back underground in order to get away from the attack.
"Oh, no you don't," she said as she began to spin Gideon behind her back. She then immediately slammed her hammer down into the ground and to stone fists erupted from the ground striking the Earthcrawler. "Double Hammer!"
"That's our Heather, way to go!" Ake smiled as he and Gilthunder regrouped beside her.
Heather smiled.
"Keep your guard up, this isn't over," said Gilthunder.
He was right, they had only been able to stun the creature and now it slammed its tail into the ground so hard it created a powerful shockwave blowing them backwards. Heather was able to hold her ground, but Ake was sent flying into the wall and Gilthunder managed to use his speed to avoid the attack completely.
"Ake, no!" he cried.
"Gil, look out!" Ruby cried.
The Earthcrawler was directly behind him and was about to slam its jaws down on top of him, but then a split second they felt the temperature dropping slightly.
"Why is it certainly so cold?" Gilthunder frowned.
"And now Freeze Coffin," said a gentle voice. Then to their astonishment they saw the Earthcrawler was now frozen completely. "Freezing it, slime and all, is most efficient."
They then watched as the Earthcrawler crumbled to dust and then floating there before them was none other than a mage.
"Hey, thanks, but who are you?" Gilthunder pondered.
The mage just looked at him and then floated away.
Elsewhere competitors were facing against the Earthcrawler, but only a few had any sick kind of success. Three robed figures had managed to poison when and judging from the look on its face it was in great pain.
"The poison will take effect soon."
"As always the Assassins of Malachia have no blindspots."
"We'll win the Great Fighting Festival and have our greatest wish granted as promised."
Another competitor had managed to take down one of these Earthcrawler, he was a muscular young man holding a staff and he was dressed like a priest.
"Oh, what a pathetic shriek of agony, this is indeed the soul crying out," he said and then placed a hand over his heart. "Allow this humble priest to hear that tortured soul of yours to cry out more and more."
Another competitor had managed to cut an Earthcrawler two and a couple of nights was staring at the stranger in awe. He was oddly dressed indicating that he was in from the continent and his posture indicated that as well, he was wielding a strange curved like sort which was strapped to his waist.
"With just one strike?"
The strange swordsman just stood there solemnly. "The peak that I inspired to reach, is still a distant dream."
Hiccup was currently with Gustav and he had been able to take down an entire herd of Earthcrawler. Now the two of them were sitting by a campfire eating.
"That was awesome, you took down a whole herd of them," said Gustav in awe.
"Actually I only knocked them out, but I do admit that I got this neat from one of them," said Hiccup and he immediately ate the meat he was cooking over the fire.
Once they were safe, Ruby began to heal Ake, who had raised his leg in the fight.
"This is awesome," said Ake as he stared down at his leg.
Heather looked at Ruby, she would never imagine she had such powerful healing powers. "Hey, is that a druid's magical power?" She then began to wonder whether Ruby would be able to use the same kind of magic on Sol and Della. 'With magic like that, Sol and Della could be…'
She then quickly looked down at Ruby. "Hey, you're Highness, that power of yours…"
She then stopped when Ruby turned her attention towards one of the walls, it was almost as if she could sense something behind it.
"Sir Hiccup," she said quietly.
Hiccup was indeed on the other side and he too sensed Ruby and approached the wall.
"What's the matter?" Gustav asked.
"Here," he said simply.
"Here what? Is it another monster?"
Hiccup placed his hand on the wall. "Thank goodness."
Everyone else was staring at Ruby, they can believe that she was able to sense Hiccup on the other side of the wall.
"Wait, behind that wall?" Heather frowned.
"Ruby, are you sure he's there?" Gilthunder asked.
"I am, I can sense him and it feels strong," she said as she placed a hand on the wall. "Very strong. I'll be waiting for you, right here, Sir Hiccup."
"I am here Ruby, I'll be there as soon as I can."
"I don't sense Ruby or anything really?" Gustav frowned.
"I can tell, she and I have a special connection so I just know she's here." Hiccup then suddenly sensed something else close by. "It would seem as if Ruby is not the only ally close by."
"Wait, someone else's here?" Gustav blinked. "Who?"
"We just keep on running into each other," said a familiar voice. They quickly turned and found Snotlout standing there. "I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you were here of all people."
"Snotlout?" Hiccup blinked.
Gustav looked up. "Something just doesn't seem right."
Snotlout looked at Hiccup. "There something different about you, I could sense that the moment we met up."
"You could say that I've gone through a few changes," Hiccup shrugged.
"So you got your strength back," Snotlout assumed and then he leaned over towards Hiccup. "Go ahead and prove it to me."
"Okay, but remember you wanted this," said Hiccup.
He then punched Snotlout hard in the face and sent him flying creating a small crater within the wall the moment he made an impact.
"Yep, you're definitely stronger now than before," Snotlout groaned and he started to heal himself. "I can't believe that you got in this strong in a short amount of time. Why did you even give up power like that?"
Hiccup rubbed the back of his head. "Truth was I had no choice, if I didn't give it up probably would have decimated the entire country."
"Oh, I had no idea you had such a bad streak."
Soon the two of them agreed to an arm wrestle and Gustav agreed to act as the referee.
"You know that I've overpowered you a good number of times when we did this a decade ago," Snotlout reminded.
"That was then and this is now," Hiccup smiled.
"R-right, are you ready?" Gustav asked looking at the two of them. The two of them just looked at one another. "Go!"
Snotlout then immediately slammed Hiccup's into the ground created a crater in the process.
"Looks like I win," said Snotlout as he rose to his feet. "No matter how much power you have, it matters very little when you have speed on your side."
"That's rich coming from you," said Hiccup folding his arms. "You've always used your power in the past."
Snotlout shrugged. "Good point."
Hiccup then looked at him seriously. "Tell me did you come here to the Great Fighting Festival with the hopes of getting your wish granted?"
Snotlout shook his head. "Not at all, I was only here to help out with alcohol directly in Vaizel, just doing a favour for Eret."
Hiccup's eyes widened. "Wait, you mean you were with Eret? Is he here?"
Snotlout looked at him. "Yeah, and Shanna's with me too." Hiccup stared at him and Snotlout shrugged. "It's only natural that you should be surprised, to be honest I can't keep up with all that's going on either." Hiccup just continue to stand there staring at him. "Don't you have any questions about this?"
Hiccup shook his head. "I'm just happy that you're back with your true love. Let's just leave it at that."
Snotlout clenched his fist. "Because I can't! I tried to… I tried it kill you to bring her back."
"Sounds as if we just need to find everyone and escape from this maze," said Hiccup as if he hadn't heard a single word Snotlout spoke.
Snotlout looked down at the ground. "Hiccup, I'm sorry."
"Then start moping around and let's get moving, if we want to protect those we love."
Snotlout nodded. "Right."
The two of them then turned to face the wall where Hiccup sensed Ruby and the immediately drew their weapons out.
"All right, you can go and look for Shanna," said Hiccup.
"Oh, I'll do that, that is until after we find the Princess that you say is on the other side of this wall."
Hiccup looked at him. "But Snotlout…"
"Don't worry about it, I've got a dependable Fairy King and Dragon Knight protecting her while I'm not there. Besides we won't get anywhere if we keep on wondering aimlessly around this maze."
"You're right, then let's make a shortcut."
Hiccup then grasped Inferno. "We just have to make sure that we headed as strong and as quickly as we can to prevent it from regenerating."
Snotlout grasped his mace. "I can get behind that plan."
Gustav just watches the two of them channelled their strength, they then immediately began attacking the wall furiously. They were moving so fast that I were nothing but blurs in the war was clearly weakening.
On the other side Ruby immediately faced the others.
"Everyone get back!" she yelled.
Seconds later there was a huge shockwave as the wall was literally torn apart.
Gustav just stared at their power. 'They're even faster than the wall's magical ability to regenerate? So this is the power of the Seven Deadly Sins Dragon Sin and Fox Sin. Incredible.'
He then made their way through the massive hole they had created and joined up with Ruby and the others.
"Here they come," said Ake.
"Snotlout and Gustav are with you?" Toothless blinked.
"Gil! Ake! Toothless! You guys okay?" Hiccup asked.
Ruby approached him with a huge smile on her face. "Sir Hiccup."
"It's good to see you, Ruby."
"Amazing," said Heather in disbelief. "Not even my brother could destroy the wall itself."
"Heather, you're here as well?"
Heather looked at him. "Hiccup, is it really you?"
"Of course it is."
"All right," Gilthunder smiled. "With this many of us reaching the goal isn't just a dream."
"Actually a bad dream will come a lot faster," said Hiccup pointing.
They turned and discovered that Hiccup and Snotlout's attack happened just broken through one wall, but the one after that as well.
"Looks like we went a little overboard," said Snotlout.
On the other side about war was the goal and there was a good number of people already there waiting.
"There's the goal," said Hiccup.
The boy in vines smiled as they entered. "Excellent, it looks like all the main players are here now."
