Hiccup and the others landed on a small island on Lake Lance and were now spending as much time with the dragons as possible.
Hiccup rubbed Toothless' head. "I missed you more than you could ever know, Bud."
Toothless then licked him and Hiccup laughed.
And the others were bonding with their dragons with in their own special way, but they had turned their attention back onto the problem at hand.
"Now that we managed to rescue our dragons the Chancellor know longer has a hold on us," said Astrid looking at them all strongly. "I say that we marched straight up to the Earth King and try and get on our side."
Ragnar looked troubled. "The problem is the Earth King will trust in Lambert absolutely and I imagine that Lambert has already told him lies about us. Convincing him may not be possible."
"We have to try," said Astrid. "We need the Earth King support if we want to mount an invasion on the Empire."
"Ragnar still has a point," said Heather. "Lambert has full control over the city, his conspiracy with the Jade Vipers is too powerful. I think that we should just keep flying and leave this horrible place behind."
"I'm with Heather," Snotlout nodded as he mounted Hookfang. "I have seen enough of Meridian for a lifetime."
Hiccup then approached them. "I agree with Astrid, we have to try. Besides Princess Atali has said that she would support us and I'm the Avatar, I very much doubt that Lambert has told him of my identity. He respected my father greatly, I don't really is even aware that I was the Avatar or the fact that he's been assassinated."
Fishlegs wiggled his fingers. "I don't know guys, it seems awfully dangerous."
"Danger is our middle name," said Ruffnut with a smile.
"Yeah, let's storm the Palace!" Tuffnut nodded.
Heather and Ragnar looked at one another clearly torn with what to do.
"I suppose if you have King knew the truth things could change," Heather concluded.
"And let's not forget that we have only until summer's end before Drago ends the war in a fiery inferno," Ragnar added.
Hiccup then noticed something on the waters and saw several boats in the distance. "It would seem as if we've got company."
"No doubt is the Jade Vipers searching for us," Astrid concluded she then looked at Ragnar and Heather. "So?"
Ragnar and Heather looked at one another and nodded.
"Let's fly," said Heather.
It was becoming dark and Hiccup and the others mounted their dragons and made a beeline towards the Royal Palace. It was much harder to stay on their dragons since their saddles had been removed.
"We really need to buy new saddles," said Snotlout rubbing his rear.
Soon the Royal Palace came into view.
"There it is!" Astrid pointed. "That whole thing is the Palace, the Kings Chambers should be in the centre."
"We have to be careful," Ragnar advised. "Lambert has no doubt warned the King that were coming."
"Why would you assume that?" Snotlout asked.
His answer came sooner than expected as they were nearly shot down by a flying boulder aims from the Palace. They looked down and saw several palace guards were bending boulders from the ground directly towards them.
"Incoming!" Astrid cried.
Immediately Hiccup and the others made some fancy manoeuvres to avoid getting shot down. One of these boulders headed straight towards Hiccup, but he extended his fist and turned the boulders into dust.
With too many boulders aiming at them they had no choice but to dive down towards the Plaza. A boulder flew straight towards them, but Toothless fired a plasma blast blowing it to pieces.
On the ground the captain of the guard was standing on a horse with several of his men behind him. He raised his hand telling them to wait for his command to attack, but Snotlout jumped off of Hookfang and when he slammed into the ground he sent a massive pulse within the ground that not all the guards off their feet.
Hookfang then landed in front of the captain and growled, causing his horse to buckle and him to topple off it. Hiccup and the others soon landed on the ground and began to make their way towards the Palace gates.
Palace guards then immediately blocked their path and began to fire boulders towards them. Hiccup began blasting them to pieces with his Firebending, Ragnar knocks them aside with his staff and Snotlout crush them to pieces by raising columns of earth before they struck them.
Snotlout then created a barrier in front of them and began to advance forwards created a new barrier every step. Heather then began using her water Whip to use strikingly of the guards they passed.
Several guards then ran straight towards them, but Snotlout stretches harms forward causing the slabs beneath their feet to rise any caused him to fall like dominoes trapping most of the guards beneath them.
Hiccup and the others in waste any time running past them and began to run up the stairs towards the gates. However several guards then appeared blocking their path to the stairs and immediately they began to rise statues of Eruptodons and tossed them into the air towards them.
Hiccup and Snotlout then quickly created a stone barrier around them just before the statue struck them. Fortunately the barrier was strong enough to withstand the attack and running out of the dust was Heather immediately drew her water and immediately frozen in front of her.
She then immediately skidded over the ice she had created and landed behind the guards over the moat, she then grabbed some water from the moat and struck the guards from behind causing them to fall into the moat. Heather immediately wrapped the water around her arms and used it in order to grab the guards on the stairs and tossed them into the moat as well. Hiccup then jumped over the water and immediately froze it trapping them in place as he and the others crossed the bridge.
From on top of the stairs more guards began tossing boulders down towards them and hundreds of them began running down the stairs. Snotlout immediately stepped forward and raised his arms upwards, he then pulled them back and cause the stairs to turn into a slide and this caused the soldier to slide down the stairs.
Hiccup and Snotlout together then began to bend a chunk of ground beneath them and began to ride it up the stairs passing the guards as they slid by them. Eventually they reached the top of the stairs and came face-to-face with more guards who attempted to form a pincer movement. However, Hiccup and Snotlout raised the stone slab and put it forwards knocking them backwards and continue to make their way towards the gate.
They then charged through the main gates and began running down for a series of corridors in the attempts to locate the Kings Chambers. Then several guards appeared from the passageways in attempt to stop them, but Snotlout slammed his hand into the ground and immediately columns of earth erupted beneath the guards pinning them to the ceiling.
"Any idea where the King is located?" Astrid asked looking at Hiccup.
"Don't look at me, I've never actually seen the Earth King before," said Hiccup. "Though if I had to hazard a guess you probably behind the biggest doors we can find."
Then immediately began running down a corridor engaging the guards at the charged at them.
Meanwhile Eret and Bjorn had returned to their apartment, but Eret looked in very bad shape.
"You did the right thing, letting the Avatar and his friends dragons go free," said Bjorn as he closed the door behind him.
"I don't feel right," said Eret rubbing his forehead.
He felt very dizzy and then toppled over, knocking over vase in the process.
"Eret!" Bjorn panicked and rushed over to his nephew.
Meanwhile at the Palace, Hiccup and the others had managed to take down the guards, but they had caused the mess in the passageway.
"The Earth King is going to need some serious remodelling done after are meeting," Ragnar noted.
Astrid groaned over some bubble and that's when she saw a large pair of doors in front of her. "I think we found the Earth King."
Hiccup, Ragnar and Snotlout then step forward. They then unleashed their Air and Earthbending and notched the doors off their hinges and they found themselves in the Palace Throne room.
It was almost being the largest room in the entire palace and everything was painted emerald green. And they found the Earth King on his throne and standing next to him was Lambert and in front of them were several Jade Viper agents.
Upon seeing the agents Hiccup and the others raise their arms and their weapons.
"We need to talk to you," said Hiccup looking directly at the Earth King.
Lambert turned and looked at the Earth King. "They are here to overthrow you."
"No, we are on your side," said Astrid strongly. "We are here to help."
"You have to trust us," Heather pleaded.
The Earth King gave them sceptical look. "You invaded my palace, where you waste to all my guards, break down the door to the throne room and you expect me to trust you?"
Fishlegs looked at the others nervously. "He's has got a good point."
The Earth King then rose to his feet. "If you are on my side, then drop your weapons and stand down."
They all looked at one another and immediately agreed. Hiccup dropped his blade, Ragnar his staff, Heather retracted the water back into her gourd, Snotlout dropped the boulder he was lifting in the air, and Astrid, Fishlegs and the twins dropped their weapons.
"Your Majesty I fear that there has been a great misunderstanding," said Hiccup looking at the Earth King.
The Earth King however did not look convinced and Lambert immediately gave the signal. The Jade Viper agents and immediately thrusted their stone fist towards them and wrap their hands behind their backs in stone.
"Detain the assailants," said Lambert with a small smile.
The Jade Vipers immediately propel themselves forward and appeared directly behind Hiccup and the others.
"You don't understand we are your allies," Astrid pleaded.
"Make sure the Avatar and his friends never see the light of day," said Lambert.
"The Avatar?" the Earth King blinked and Lambert quickly realised his mistake. He then pointed at Astrid. "You're the Avatar?"
Astrid then gestured ahead to Hiccup. "No him."
To demonstrate Hiccup bended the stones around his wrists away. "Hiccup Haddock, son of Stoick the Vast."
The Earth King looked up. "Stoick? I haven't seen him in years, but you look a bit young to be his son."
"It's a long story," said Hiccup.
"And whether he's the Avatar or not it doesn't matter your Highness," said Lambert looking at the Earth King. "They are enemies of the state."
"Perhaps you're right," said the Earth King, though he appeared to have his doubts.
"I wouldn't listen to him father," said a new voice.
Their faces turned as emerging from a side entrance was none other than Atali were several her handmaidens. Hiccup blamed because she looked entirely different now that she was wearing a dress, though she appeared to be a bit uncomfortable with it.
The Earth King immediately stared at her. "Atali, I thought I told you to stay in your room. I have this perfectly handled."
"Father, the Avatar is not your enemy, he has been trying to see you but Lambert has made it difficult for him," Atali explained and narrowed her eyes and Lambert, who apparently was taken aback by this. "While there entrance was a bit overdramatic they had perfect cause, I plead with you to hear them out."
Lambert immediately turned on the Earth King. "Your Majesty you can't honestly say that you—"
"I'm willing to hear them out," said the Earth King strongly.
Lambert looked displeased.
Hiccup then step forward. "Your Majesty, the first thing you should know is that my father has been assassinated. Drago Bloodvist orchestrated a coup attempt and has now taken the throne and no sooner had he sat on the throne he waged a war against the other nations. The Air Nomads have already been destroyed and this war has been continuing for the past 20 years. The Jade Vipers have been keeping it secret from you, it's a conspiracy to control the city and to control you."
"A secret war?" the Earth King stared. "That's crazy."
"Completely," Lambert agreed.
"Lambert did not want us to tell you, so he stole our dragons into blackmailing us," Hiccup continued. "And blackmail is the least of his crimes, he brainwashed our friend."
"All lies," said Lambert looking at the Earth King.
Atali then stepped forward. "Then explain the increase of citizens in the slums, explain the look of terror on their faces every time a Jade Viper walked past them."
Lambert quickly turned to the Earth King. "And clearly your daughter has been manipulated by these hooligans. Besides, I have never seen a Night Fury I believe them to be extinct."
The Earth King then sat back down on his throne. "Your claim is difficult to believe, even for Avatar." He then turned and looked at his daughter. "And Atali, while I want to believe you I cannot do so without any solid proof."
Lambert then approached the Earth King and whispered in his ear. "These hooligans are part of an anarchist cell that my agents have been tracking for weeks. If you listen to them, you're playing right into your own destruction."
The Earth King pondered for a moment and looked down at Hiccup. "Unless you're able to provide any evidence to the contrary, I have no choice but to believe my adviser."
Hiccup and the others were completely crestfallen as the Jade Vipers began to drag them away.
Astrid then looked at him. "Wait, we can prove that he's lying. Lambert said that he's never seen a Night Fury, ask him to lift his trouser leg."
"What?" Lambert yelled preposterously. "I do not have to follow your commands."
Astrid looked at Ragnar and he nodded. He then immediately took in a deep breath and unleashed a powerful burst to win from his mouth directly at Lambert. Next thing Lambert knew his trouser legs were immediately lifted up towards his thigh. That's when everyone saw a bite mark on his leg, Toothless' bite mark.
"There Toothless bit him!" Hiccup smiled.
"Never met a Night Fury, huh?" Astrid smirked.
Lambert immediately dropped his trouser legs and looked furious. "That happens to be a large birthmark, thanks for showing everyone."
The Earth King looked at Hiccup. "I don't suppose you have any we are proving where those markings came from?"
"Actually I do," Hiccup smiled.
They didn't waste any time getting toothless inside the throne room and immediately opened his mouth. And that's when everyone saw the marks on Lambert's leg match to that of Toothless' teeth.
"Yep, that pretty much proves it," the Earth King nodded.
Everyone cheered in triumph.
"But it doesn't prove this crazy conspiracy theory," the Earth King continued.
Everyone then groaned in disappointment.
"Though… I suppose this matter is worth looking into," the Earth King added.
Hiccup and the others lit up slightly, but Lambert wasn't best pleased. He then walked off with his agents without uttering a single word.
Meanwhile at Eret and Bjorn's apartment, Eret was sweating feverishly.
"You're burning up," said Bjorn as he placed a wet cloth on Eret's forehead. "You have an intense fever. This will help cool you down."
"So thirsty," said Eret weakly.
Eret sat up Bjorn immediately pushed him back down.
"Here is some clean water to drink," he said pulling a bucket close to him and pulled out a cup. "Stay under the blankets and sweats this out."
Bjorn then began to pour the water down his throat, but Eret not his hand away and practically guzzled down the cup. Apparently was another as he tossed the cup aside and immediately grabbed the bucket and began drinking that without stop. He then tossed that aside and laid back down on the ground began coughing furiously.
Meanwhile Astrid and the others, minus Hiccup and Ragnar, with the Earth King as they escorted him to Lake Lance. With very little method of transport they were forced to the train and the passengers just stared at the King and Princess blankly.
"So this is what a train is like," said the Earth King looking around. "I realise it would be this… public."
Heather was surprised. "So you've never been outside the upper ring before?"
The Earth King smiled. "I've never been outside the palace." His eyes then turned outside. "Now that's the way to travel."
He was pointing directly at Hiccup and Ragnar, who are writing their dragons and escorting the other dragons as an escort. The King then looked back at them his eyes filled with curiosity.
"So, may I ask where were going?" he asked.
"Underneath Lake Lance, your Majesty," Astrid answered. "It's the location of the Jade Vipers secret headquarters. You're about to see where all the brainwashing and conspiring took place."
Eventually they reached the lake and Snotlout then began to lift the entrance out of the water. However, they discovered that the pathway was completely demolished and the entrance was non-existent.
"It's gone," Snotlout stared.
Fishlegs groaned. "The Chancellor must have destroyed the evidence…"
The Earth King however did not look convinced and Atali bit her lip. It became clear that no amount of words she said could convince her father.
"That seems awfully convenient," Earth King noted.
"I understand how it may look your Majesty, but I assure you that there was something here," said Astrid calmly.
"Lambert was right, this was a waste of time," said the Earth King narrowing his eyes at them. "If you excuse me I'm going back to the Palace."
He and his guards then walked off and they practically dragged Atali with them.
Ragnar looked up. "The wall… they'll never be able to cover that up in time."
"Quick thinking," said Hiccup as he quickly made his way over to the Earth King. "Your Majesty, we have more proof at the outer wall. We can easily prove to you that the secret war really exists."
The Earth King narrowed his eyes. "No Earth King has ever been to the outer wall. I don't have any more time for this nonsense."
He then walked off.
The twins then quickly approached him.
"We can make it worth your while," said Ruffnut excitedly.
"You can ride on the back of one of our dragons," Tuffnut offered.
The Earth King stopped at a small smile appeared on his face.
The Earth King and his men immediately mounted Skull, who was large enough to carry them in the immediately took off. Atali was flying on Stormfly and had her arms around Astrid and appeared to be enjoying the flight. The Earth King however was panicking slightly as he saw how high they were flying.
"First-time flying," Ragnar asked looking back.
"It's both thrilling and terrifying," said the Earth King.
Ragnar chuckled. "Yeah, I love it too."
The Earth King frowned. "I have to be honest with you, part of me really hopes that what you're telling me about this war isn't true."
Hiccup closed his eyes. "I wish it wasn't."
Meanwhile at Eret and Bjorn's apartment, Eret was still in very bad shape and Bjorn was doing everything he could to keep them stable.
Eret was dreaming about taking his rightful place as Lord in the Senate just like his father. He was sitting alone on his chair and that's when two serpent-like dragons began to circle around him.
"It's getting late," said the dragon on his left who had the voice of Devi. "Are you planning to retire soon my Lord?"
"I'm not tired," said Eret.
The dragon on the left continued to circle around. "Relax, Lord Eret. Just let go, give in to it. Shut your eyes for while."
Eret found himself getting sleepy and began to close his eyes.
"No, Lord Eret," said the dragon on his right with the voice of Bjorn. His voice immediately caused Eret to wake up. "Do not listen to the female dragon, you should get out of here right now. Go! Before it's too late!"
"Sleep now Lord Eret," said the female Dragon slyly.
Suddenly everything around them began to crumble and he found himself in complete darkness. Then emerging from the darkness was the female dragon advancing towards him with evil in her eyes.
"Sleep just like your mother!" she snarled and immediately pounced upon him.
Suddenly he had a vision of his mother appearing out of the dark moving her hood. "Eret! Help me!" she pleaded.
Eret then found himself being dragged through the chair and then there was nothing but blackness.
Meanwhile, it was getting late in the afternoon, but Hiccup and the others finally reached the outer wall.
"It's still there," said Hiccup with relief.
They soon reached the location where the drill dark into the wall and it was still there. Earth was elected around the drill and troops were beginning to dismantle it but it was so large it was taking time.
"What is that?" the Earth King stared.
"It's a drill," said Astrid as she flew closer towards him. "A giant drill made by the Empire to break through your walls."
The Earth King was utterly stunned.
Eventually they landed on top of the wall with the Earth King get a good look at the drill and he scarcely believe what he saw, though the evidence was irrefutable.
"I can't believe I never knew," said the Earth King leaning over the battlements.
They then heard the sound of sliding Rock and turned to see Lambert and to Jade Viper agents emerging from the ground on a stone slab.
"I can explain this your Majesty," said Lambert calmly. "This is nothing more than a construction project."
"Really?" said Heather sceptically. "Then perhaps you can explain why there's an Empire insignia on your construction project."
The Earth King closely at the drill and indeed saw the Empire insignia on it, he then turned to Lambert and narrowed his eyes.
"Well it's imported of course, you know you can't trust a domestic machinery," said Lambert.
Atali scoffed. "And what need would we have four giant drill in the wall?"
Lambert could tell that no one was buying his excuses, then in one last desperate attempt he looked towards the Earth King.
"Surely you don't believe these children instead of your most loyal attendant," said Lambert in disbelief.
The Earth King looked from Lambert to Hiccup and the others and then back to Lambert. "One of these children happens to be my daughter." He then turned to the Jade Vipers. "Jade Vipers, arrest Chancellor Lambert, I want him to stand trial for crime against the Earth Kingdom."
Lambert's eyes widened in shock, clearly he had not seen this coming. Judging from the open mouths on Hiccup and the others neither did they, but they sure weren't complaining. Eyes turned to the Jade Vipers, and no one was sure whether they would follow the order considering they were about to arrest their leader.
However they immediately raise their arms and chains shot out and manacles attach themselves to Lambert's wrists. They then pulled him towards them and held him firmly in their stone fists.
"You can't arrest me!" Lambert yelled. "You all need me more than you could ever know!"
"I think that we can do very much without you," said Astrid.
Later that night the returned back to the Palace, and the Earth King was still shocked about what they had discovered.
"I want to thank you young heroes, for opening my eyes," he said with gratitude. "All this time what I thought to be a great metropolis was merely a city of fools. And that makes me the King of Fools, we are at war with the Fire Empire."
"That's why we came to Meridian, your Highness," said Astrid as she stepped forward. "Because we think that you can help us end the war."
Hiccup then stood next to her. "We don't have much time, there is a comic coming this summer's end and its energy will give the Firebenders unbelievable strength, they will be unstoppable."
"But there is hope," Astrid continued. "Before the comet comes we have a window of opportunity, a solar eclipse is coming. The sun will be entirely blocked out by the moon and the Firebenders will be helpless."
"What are you suggesting, Astrid?" the Earth King asked.
"That is the day we need to invade the Empire, the day of Black Sun."
The Earth King closed his eyes. "I don't know, that would require moving from out of Meridian. We would be completely vulnerable."
"You're already vulnerable," said Astrid. "The Empire has already made two attempts to break through and both times they've managed to break through the outer wall. It was sheer dumb luck that stops both attempts from succeeding. The Empire will not stop until Meridian falls, you can either sit back and wait for that to happen or take the offensive and give yourself a fighting chance."
The Earth King closes eyes as if deep in thought and then his daughter stepped forward.
"Father, please listen to them," she pleaded. "I know that it's asking a lot, considering the conspiracy that has just been revealed to all. But if what they say is true about the comet then Meridian will fall by summer's end nothing we can do can stop that."
A small smile then appeared on the Earth King's face and he looked at them. "Very well, you have my support."
Hiccup and the others immediately cheered in triumph.
"Your Majesty," said a new voice. They turned and saw a general approaching them, he appeared to be both strong and respectful by the way he was moving. He then approached the Earth King's throne and went down on one knee. "I apologise for the interruption."
The Earth King then looked at Hiccup and the others. "This is General Rendon, he is the leader of the Council of Five, my highest ranking generals."
General Rendon then raised his head. "We searched Chancellor Lambert's office, I think we found something that would interest everybody."
They immediately made their way into the library and a soldier appeared with a chest filled with scrolls.
"There are secret files on everyone in Meridian," said General Rendon he then looked at Hiccup and the others. "Including you kids."
"Secret files?" Ragnar stared.
The Earth King immediately opened the chest and began looking through the scrolls.
The Earth King held the first goal he grabbed. "Snotlout Jorgenson."
He then handed it to General Rendon, who then handed over to Snotlout, who immediately opened the scroll.
"It's a letter from Ida, she's here in the city and wants to make me," said Snotlout stunned.
"So Lambert intercepted are mail," said Ragnar looking disgusted. "And I thought he was a jerk before."
"Hiccup," said the Earth King handing him the scroll.
"This scroll was attached to the leg of your Night Fury when the Jade Vipers captured him," General Rendon explained.
Hiccup unravelled the scroll and read it. "It's from the Eastern Air Temple."
"And that's not all," said General Rendon as he pulled out a scroll. He then approached Heather and the twins. "I have an intelligence report that you might find interesting."
Heather took the scroll and unravelled it. "A small fleet of Water Tribe ships."
"What?" said the twins looking over her shoulders. "They could be from our tribe?"
"Protecting the mouth of Chameleon Bay, led by Oswald the Agreeable?" said Heather with her eyes lit up. "It is our tribe!"
It was late at night and Bjorn was still tending to Eret in their apartment.
"You should know this is not a natural sickness," said Bjorn as he poured out a cup of tea for the two of them. "But that shouldn't stop you from enjoying tea."
He then poured the cup of tea down Eret's throat.
"Wh-what is happening?" Eret asked.
"Your critical decision… what you did beneath that lake it was in such conflict with the image of yourself that you are now at war within your own mind and body," Bjorn explained as he kept on pouring tea down Eret's throat.
"What does that mean?" Eret coughed.
"You are going through a metamorphosis my nephew, it will not be a pleasant experience, but when you come out of it you will be the noble Lord you were always meant to be."
In the Royal library Hiccup and the others began to discuss the next plan of action.
"I don't believe it, there's a man living in Eastern Air Temple, he says that he is a Druid," said Hiccup looking at his scroll.
"What is a Druid?" Snotlout asked.
"They are spiritual experts," Ragnar explained. "Many Air Nomads have actually become Druids and spread the teachings to others."
"Well this one wants to help take me take the next step in the Avatar journey," Hiccup informed them. "He says that he can teach me to control the Avatar State."
"And I can't believe we know where our parents are?" said Heather stunned.
"Yeah, and you think that Ida has been in the city this entire time," Snotlout added.
"This is certainly all big news, but where do we start?" Astrid asked.
Ragnar sighed. "I hate to say… but we have to split up."
Heather looked at him. "Split up? We just found our dragons and got the family back together? Now you want us to separate?"
"Hiccup has to meet this Druid, if we are going to invade the Empire, Hiccup needs to be ready when he faces against the Emperor," Ragnar explained. "I'll travel with Hiccup to the Eastern Air Temple."
"I'll come too," Fishlegs added. "I've always wanted to see a Druid."
"And we have to see our parents," said Heather gesturing to herself and the twins. "Will make a way to Chameleon Bay."
"Then I'll stay behind with the Earth King and help him and his generals to plan for the invasion," said Astrid.
"Then it looks as if we have a plan," said Ragnar.
The next morning they made their way outside and everyone minus Astrid and Snotlout mounted their dragons for the long journey. The Earth King and Atali then made their way down the steps to see them off.
Hiccup then looked at Astrid. "Astrid, I need to tell you something…" Astrid then turned around and looked at him. "I've been wanting to see it for quite some time."
"What is it Hiccup?" Astrid asked.
"Astrid I…"
However before he could say anything the twins immediately jumped in out of nowhere.
"All right, road trip!" Ruffnut yelled.
"Let's go on a new adventure!" Tuffnut cried.
The Earth King and Atali then approached them. "I personally wish to see you off and wish you a good journey. Meridian owes you its thanks and we will look forward to your safe return."
"And I hope that it's a swift return," Atali added.
"Your Majesty," said a guard as he approached them. "There are three female warriors here to see you, here to see you. They are from the Island of Maaike."
"The Defenders of the Wing?" Ragnar stared.
The Earth King looked at them. "You know these warriors?"
"Indeed," Hiccup nodded. "The Defenders of the Wing are skilled group of warriors. Trustworthy too. They are good friends of ours."
The Earth King nodded. "Then we shall welcome them as honoured guests."
Hiccup was about to mount Toothless, but Astrid caught his arm. "Hiccup, wait."
He stopped and looked at her and she immediately kissed him on the cheek.
"We may be separating, but we shall never be a part," said Ragnar looking at them all.
"Personally I do with the peace and quiet," said Snotlout folding his arms. "But comeback quick."
Astrid and Snotlout then watch as Hiccup and the others mounted their dragons and took off.
Eret then awoke in his compartment and found his uncle sleeping. He felt immediately worn out and started to make his way to the bathroom and washed his face. However, when he looked at the mirror he immediately jumped because he looked exactly like Hiccup.
Eret cried out and immediately shot up upright, it only took a few moments to realise that he been dreaming.
Hiccup and the others were flying on the respective journeys.
"I just can't believe it's happening," said Fishlegs looking at them all. "And be not only did we save the Earth Kingdom from a conspiracy, but were so close that defeating the Empire."
Ragnar nodded. "And with Astrid helping the generals I have no doubt that it's a plan for success."
"Nothing can go wrong how," said Heather.
Hiccup couldn't agree more. "And it would be nice to see Mala again."
The former Chancellor was trapped in a prison cell and soon approaching at his cell door was a Jade Viper. He then immediately shoved a tray of exquisite food into the cell.
"Dinner," he said. Lambert then immediately began to eat. "The Council of Five and the military are loyal to the Earth King, but the Jade Viper remains loyal to you, Lambert, Sir."
Lambert smiled as the Jade Viper left for him to continue his meal.
Snotlout meanwhile soon made his way to the address on the scroll he received from Ida. He soon made his way inside, but the house looked as if no one had ventured inside.
"Hello? Ida?" Snotlout frowned as he entered the house.
He then immediately sensed something immediately took up a fighting stance, but then falling from the ceiling was a metal cage which immediately trapped inside.
"I don't know who you are, but you have actually got no idea who you're dealing with!" Snotlout yelled.
Then suddenly landing from the ceiling was none other than Wade and Balder.
"A loudmouth brat, who scurried off with a noble lady," said Balder.
Meanwhile at the Royal Palace, the Earth King was welcoming the Defenders of the Wing and there was quite a procession as the Defenders made their way to the podium he was standing on.
"In our hour of need, it is the highest honour that I welcome our esteemed allies the Defenders of the Wing!" the Earth King announced.
The Defenders immediately went down on one knee, but it wasn't Mala leading them. It was none other than Devi, May and Talia all dressed in the garments of the Defenders of the Wing.
"We are the Earth King's humble servants," said Devi.