At the Black Dragon hideout, Hiccup received a message from the Golden Dawn.

"Looks like I'm heading out," said Hiccup as he stood up.

Gaspard looked up from his carving of Marie. "What's going on, Captain?"

"I just got this letter from Vangeance asking to speak with me," said Hiccup. "Sounds like he wants to apologise for the Langris debacle so I'm off to their HQ. Though, to be honest, I don't know why I'm the one who has to go. Personally, I think the apologiser should be the one making the trip."

"Does that mean I go and visit Marie while your way?" Gaspard asked.

"No," said Hiccup. "You need to stay putting in case a mission comes in."

Gaspard growled in annoyance.

"Can we come to?" Tuffnut asked.

"Yeah, we got a bone to pick as well," said Ruffnut.

Hiccup looked at them, unsure whether that was a good idea. "So long as you promise not to blow anything up."

"We cannot make such promises," said Tuffnut.

"Yeah, blowing things up this kind of thing," Ruffnut nodded.

"I'm going to regret this," Hiccup sighed.

"I want to go check in on Finral, so I'll be out for a bit, too," said Vanessa as she stood up. "How long can that boy stay asleep? Maybe if he senses I'm there, he'll wake up."

"And I've got some training to do," said Magnus. "I'm gonna get crazy strong. You wait and see."

"Good luck, Magnus," said Vanessa. "I know you didn't get into the Royal Knights, but try not to let it get you down, you little troublemaker."

"I know that as an insult in there somewhere; I just can't tell where."

"I'm going out to hand out for some delicious goodies," said Charmy. "I'm going to dig up a smorgasbord. See ya."

"Oh, come back soon, okay, you guys," said Grey.

"I get so lonely without all of your smiling faces here," said Gordon.

"All right," said Hiccup, looking back at them. "We should be back in a while, but try to make sure that this place doesn't get overrun by robbers while I'm gone."

He then mounted Toothless and took off while everyone else took off on their brooms.

Hiccup looked at Vanessa. "When you see the Doc, ask him how Finral is holding up."

"You got it, Captain Hiccup," said Vanessa.

"Here goes! Training time!" said Magnus.

"You guys soon!" Ruffnut waved.

"Try not to have fun without us!" said Tuffnut.

Charmy then made her way into the forest. "I hope you're ready, my scrumptious sweets. The day that I've been growing you for is finally here. Charmy and the Sheep Cooks are here to harvest every last one of you for snacking."

Gaspard was still working on his Marie sculpture, but Grey and Gordon's presence was distracting. Grey kept fumbling her words, and Gordon kept talking in a hushed whisper.

'What's with this?' he said. 'Both Grey and Gordon are sitting here staring me right in the face and not saying or doing anything at all. Maybe it's because all the usual loudmouths are gone, but this silence is kind of deafening.'

"It'll be great for the three of us to spend quality time together," said Gordon. "A lively conversation such as this can really lift the spirits!"

"Hey!" said Gaspard.

"I'm sorry!" Grey squealed.

"I know, let's take turns revealing our darkest secrets," Gordon suggested. "Though, I only know yours."

"If a mission request comes our way, I'll handle it myself," said Gaspard. "You two, feel free to go to your rooms and get some rest."

"Oh no, please don't stop at my account! I would rather die!" Grey cried frantically.

"Obviously, if a mission request did come in, I would be more than happy to accompany you at your best friend," said Gordon.

Gaspard just gave him blank looks. 'I can't understand a word they're saying.'

"Just take some time to relax," he said. "Besides, I need all the work I can get so I'll have extra money to pay tribute to my darling sister."

Grey just cried frantically.

"If that's what you prefer, then fine," said Gordon.

Gaspard just narrowed his eyes in frustration.

'I'm just too shy to go outside without Transformation Magic and let people see my true face anyway,' Grey cried.

"I was looking forward to a chance to deepen friendship with everyone at the Underwater Temple," said Gordon.

'Then again, the other Black Dragons do think of me as a friend, and if that's the case, I should at least be myself in front of them, right?' said Grey.

Gordon began to cry. "I was hoping to strengthen our bonds during the Star Festival as well."

'Besides, Gaspard even complimented this version of me,' said Grey, looking at Gaspard through her fingers.

"I'll use this time to the fullest and build a deeper relationship with them, deeper than the deepest sea," said Gordon.

"All right, that's enough!" said Gaspard as he stood up. "I am going to my room to concentrate on making a doll of my sweet goddess. Let me know if anything happens."

He was prepared to walk off, but Grey and Gordon stopped him.

"It's bad enough that we're in a group of three, but if you leave, it will be a one-on-one, and everyone knows it's the most uncomfortable thing of all!" Grey cried. "Gordon is pretty quiet, too, but it doesn't matter who it is. I'll be alone with another person, and I'm going to feel as if I've plunged into a puddle of humiliation."

"Let me go with you," said Gordon. "I don't mind if your room is messy. After all, we went to the library together, don't you remember, friend?"

'What is the matter with these two?' Gaspard groaned.

'Must up your courage; try to make some casual conversation,' Grey told herself. She then pointed out Gaspard's statue of Marie with her eyes closed. "Hey, Gaspard, that's an interesting project you're working on. What exactly is it?"

"Oh, this," said Gaspar, showing her the sculpture. I'm glad you asked. When I was a nerd, my eyes opened to the wonder of figurines. So, I'm making one out of Marie at a 1/8 scale."

"Wow, that, uh…" said Grey, unable to come up with the right words.

"I'll let you worship her once I'm finished it," he said.

"Uh, should I be grateful? Sorry."

"As I suspected, my dear friend Gaspard does have an interest in dolls," said Gordon, reaching for his robe. "It appears the time has finally come to show you my collection."

He then opened the robe, and Grey quickly covered her eyes.

"Oh my, please, I would rather not see that," she said.

However, she peeked through her fingers and saw beneath Gordon's robe were voodoo dolls resembling the Black Dragons; he even had one for Toothless. Upon seeing this, she screamed.

"These are my homemade black dragon replica dolls," said Gordon. "Dead ringers, aren't they?"

"His cloak was full of spooky voodoo dolls the entire time?" Grey stared.

"So cute," said Gordon as he cuddled his doll of Gaspard.

"Ew, I don't like this at all," Grey cried.

"Do you have any clue how scary you are?" Gaspard asked.

"Huh?!" said Gordon with a puzzled look.

"I know I've got no room to talk, but if building friendships is that important to you, that means you have to be more approachable. And you can start with your face."

"What? My face?" Gordon blinked.

"Try smiling for once."

"If you say so."

"Go on."

Gaspard and Grey looked on as Gordon smiled, but it was extremely creepy.

"That's even worse!" Gaspard yelled as Grey screamed.

Gordon then fell to his knees, looking heartbroken. "Ouch…"

"Well, anyway," said Gaspard as he put his sculpture on the table. "Nature is calling. Don't touch her."

"Got it!" Grey squealed.

"Oh, wait, where is it?" Gaspard asked.

"It's on the second floor down the hall to the right," said Gordon.

"Gotta," Gaspard nodded. "I still don't understand why this building always has to change its layout. It's really annoying to keep track of."

"Not sure," Gordon shrugged. "It's been this way as long as I've been here."

"Uh, what a headache," Gaspard groaned. "I'm sure it's some kind of spell, but what's the point of having it?"

"Please come back as quickly as you can, okay, Gaspard," Grey begged. "I know I've said it before, but I'm extremely uncomfortable with this."

"What were Charmy and Vanessa talking about earlier?" Gaspard asked, ignoring Grey.

"I saw something creepy; it was hard to make out, but it was definitely floppy and not a Sheep Cook either," said Charmy frantically. "It was way more mysterious than that."

"I swear it's not the alcohol talking," said Vanessa, looking completely plastered. "I'm telling the truth. I saw a ghost, a real-life ghost. I'm serious."

"What if it's not a spell in our hideout? Maybe it really is haunted," said Gaspard, giving a creepy laugh.

"Come on, you know it's not funny to joke around about things like that," said Grey.

Grey looked towards the window and instantly screamed as a zombie stared at them. They then heard something banging against the door. Eventually, it was not off its hinges, and then zombies began swarming to the hideout.

"What the?!" Gaspard stared. "We're surrounded!?"

"Oh no, this is terrifying," said Grey covering her face. "Please don't look at me. It's too humiliating."

"We have bigger problems here!" Gaspard snapped. "Hurry up and transform already!"

"I can't believe so many of you gathered together so you could be friends," said Gordon.

"No, you idiot!" Gaspard snapped. "I don't know what's going on, but these people are the opposite to our friends. Get ready for battle."

One of the zombies then grabbed the table where Gaspard's sculpture rested and tossed it. The sculpture fell to the ground, and Marie's head snapped off.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Gaspard roared furiously.

The source of the commotion outside was the Eye of the Midnight Sun, more specifically, Valtos, Rades, and Sally.

"So this places Dak's hideout," said Sally. "But I guess Dak isn't around today, huh? That's too bad. I was looking forward to dissecting him alive."

Rades narrowed his eyes as he rubbed his scar. "Sally, for the last time, he isn't your plaything because he belongs to me. I was excited to have some fun with him today, too."

"Sally… Rades… look, you do well to remember our current objective," said Valtos.

"Huh, I guess if this is the Black Dragon's secret hideout, I'll probably find plenty of toys just begging to be mine," Rades smirked. "I can't wait for it."

"Yay, experiments," Sally beamed. "I want to cut them open! Rearrange their innards! Watch them bleed out!"

They then saw a bunch of mirrors hovering over the hideout, suddenly releasing rays of light upon Rades' wraths.

"Lookie!" said Sally.

As the dust settled, they saw Gaspard, Gordon, and Grey exiting the hideout, the latter in her disguise.

"All right, intruders, listen up!" Gaspard glared. "I don't know whose stupid decision it was to break in here like this, but you will pay."

"Ah, here they are," Rades smiled. "Those rotten Magic Knights."

Gaspard instantly recognised Vatlos and Sally. "You guys again?"

"Does that mean you know them, Gaspard?" Gordon asked.

"Of course, I know them; they're all terrorists from the Eye of the Midnight Sun."

"Those villains!"

"So what do you want? Did you come here to get another beating from us?" Gaspard asked. His eyes then turned to Rades. "I noticed you're controlling a bunch of Wraths, so I'm guessing you're the one they call Rades."

Rades smirked. "This guy gets it. We're are on the hunt for something."

"Is that right? In this rundown mess of a hideout?" said Gaspard, raising an eyebrow.

"You may not know about it, but it's definitely here, and it's something good too."

"If you're looking for friendship, it's right here," said Gordon.

"Would you shut up?" Gaspard groaned.

"You idiots," Rades smirked. "Don't worry, we'll find it, and we might as well tell this place the pieces while we're at it."

"Not if I kill you first. Now Mirror Magic: Reflect Ray!" said Gaspard and fired off a beam of light.

"Gel Magic: Sticky Salamander!" said Sally.

She conjured up her gel lizard, which absorbed Gaspard's attack. "There it goes."

'I forgot my kind of magic is useless against hers,' said Gaspard, looking annoyed.

"There's no need to get upset," said Sally. "Gaspard is your name, isn't it? You're not my target; in fact, I was specifically instructed to leave you alive, so you've got nothing to worry about."

"Huh?" Gaspard frowned, and everyone looked at him, confused. "What do you mean?"

"To be honest, I'm not too sure," she said. "You'll have to ask Master Licht."

'Their leader really said that?' Gaspard puzzled. 'Come to think of it…' He remembered when he and Black Dragons battled against Licht, and he spoke as if he knew him. Plus, the wounds that he had received were superficial at best; it was like he was trying not to kill him. "… Why did he spoke as if he knew?'

"Come on, let's play," said Rades. "This might hurt a bit, so say your prayers, you Black Dragon boneheads."

"No time to ask questions; we've got to do something about these guys," said Gaspard, turning his attention back to the Eye the Midnight Sun. "The Captain and the others probably won't return for a while. Which means it's up to the three of us."

Sally then injected one of Rades' wraths with some sort of serum. "Here… Dark Magic Item: Properties Boost Reinforce! Ta-da, you're all set! Let's go!"

The moment she injected the serum into it, the wrath grew in size, and its skin turned green. It roared angrily and began charging towards them.

"Go!" said Gaspard to Gordon.

"The Eye the Midnight Sun… the really bad people who hurt my friends… Stay away from our hideout," said Gordon as he opened his grimoire. "Poison Curse Magic: Aufawachen Dachs!"

He then conjured up some wolves, which were made of poison, and they quickly pounced upon the wrath. They bit down hard upon it and began to spread their poison into his, causing it to slowly disintegrate.

"Since we're dealing with the undead, I don't have to hold back my magic," said Gordon.

"Good work," said Gaspard, looking impressed.

"Oh dang, that is some nasty poison you've got there," said Sally. "It doesn't matter, though, " she said, jumping up on her sticky salamander, "because my gel can neutralise it easily."

She then launched herself directly towards them. Gaspard knew they were in trouble; neither his nor Gordon's magic were compatible with hers.

Grey then transformed her true form. "Hmm, I should have told you, but…"

"What?" Gaspard asked.

"I actually learned a new spell that might actually be helpful," said Grey and frantically ran out in front. She then extended her hands and closed her eyes. "Transformation Magic: Magic Conversion!"

Sally's salamander began to glow and suddenly transformed into pure crystal.

"Changing Gel Magic into Crystal Magic?!" Sally gasped.

"That's a surprise," said Gaspard shocked.

"There you go, your turn, Gaspard," said Grey.

Gaspard got the idea. "I see. Now, I should be able to break it. Mirror Magic: Reflect Ray!"

Gaspard fired his mirror later, which shattered the crystal salamander.

"Nice job," said Sally as he jumped to safety. When she landed on the ground, she looked at Grey excitedly. "That was great! Your technique can change the very essence of a spell. You really piqued my interest; I bet I can learn a lot from doing some experiments on you."

"D-Don't look at me!" said Grey, frantically covering her face. "It was nothing!"

"That'll make it even more satisfying to crush you," Rades smirked. He then turned to Valtos. "Valtos…"

"Right," he nodded and opened a portal.

Then, emerging from the porthole, was another wrath, but it looked as if it was two bodies stitched together.

"This guy's name is Number 0: Mikael Caesar," said Rades.

"What the hell?" Gaspard stared. "What is this creepy thing?"

"You'll see," Rades smiled.

It then outstretched his hands and, from its right-handed fired a powerful gust of wind, and with its left, the metal-like vine with horns. Grey jumped, narrowly avoiding the wind, while Gaspard deflected it with his mirror, and Gordon jumped out of the way of the vine.

'He can use two spells with different attributes at the same time?' Gaspard stared. 'With such an incredible amount of force.'

"This big fella together really took a lot out of me," said Rades.

Sally narrowed her eyes. "Yeah, but you never would have pulled it off without the help of my dark magic items, remember. Some thanks would be nice."

Rades ignored her. "He's made out of two different corpses, and that's not even the best part. The both of them were Magic Knight captains."

Their eyes widened in horror.

Mikael Caesar then put his hands together, combined both spells and launched three separate attacks, which crashed into the three of them. Grey and Gordon were instantly blown away, but Gaspard was able to hold his ground using his mirror as a shield. However, the attack was far too strong, and it shattered right through his mirror, and he landed next to the others.

"Those cute little spells of yours may be clever parlour tricks, but there will never be enough to defeat the perfect wrath I created," Rades laughed. "This pathetic Magic Knight hideout is only getting in our way. Go ahead and decimate it for me!"

His wrath then rose to their feet and began making their way towards the hideout.

"Attack," said Valtos.

The wrath began to swarm into the hideout and began to tear the place apart. Gaspard and the others were too weak to move, so they could only watch.

'Stop it, now,' said Gordon. 'My family was in the business of hexes, never given the opportunity to make friends. I grew into a poor communicator with revolting Poison Magic. Everyone that I met despised and shunned me.'

'Don't do this,' Grey cried. 'At first, I lacked the confidence to let others see my true self, so no one trusted me. Everyone was so quick to assume that I was weird and creepy. I was always by myself.'

'But then this place…' said Gordon as he slowly picked himself up.

'But then these people…' said Grey as she slowly got up.

Hiccup found the two of them and invited them to join his squad; at first, they were shocked, but they readily accepted his invitation. My friends soon met up with the other members of the Black Dragons, and they formed a sort of strange family and had a lot of fun.

'My friends…' said Gordon.

'This place…' said Grey.

'… I finally have somewhere where I belong.'

They finally got back up and defiantly faced the Eye of the Midnight Sun.

"We're outnumbered, and their power is off the charts," said Gaspard as he sat up. "Damn, how are we going to win this?"

"Don't give up yet, Gaspard," said Gordon, who spoke out loud for the first time.

"No matter what, we will protect our hideout!" Gordon and Grey yelled in unison.

Gaspard smiled. "I see; you've been quiet since I met you, but now you're finally raising your voices. It turns out it's not just my sister. I have all these people, too, and I want to make sure they can stay safe."

Gaspard then stood up and joined the others. "Besides, we've got Captain Hiccup to worry about. If he comes back and sees we let this place go to the dogs, there's no telling what kind of punishment we'll get."

"Oh wow," said Sally, looking at them amazed. "You're still able to stand up? Well, I think I'm about ready to start dissecting you three."

"Fancy speeches and intentions won't help you," said Rades. "The truth is you don't stand a chance of surviving this battle. Here comes the finishing blow!"

"Just don't kill them, okay," said Sally. "I want them alive when I dissect them."

"I'm not making any promises," said Rades. "It's time to rise and shine, Mikael Caesar."

Mikael Caesar was poised to attack again, but they suddenly heard alarm bells from the hideout.

"That's odd," said Gaspard as they faced the hideout.

Suddenly, the hideout began to move.

"It's shaking," said Grey.

"What's happening to the hideout?" Gordon asked.

Valtos had teleported inside the hideout during the chaos, and he could feel the entire building shaking.

Outside, everyone watched as the wraths were flung out of the hideout. Then, in the very centre of the building, a door opened, revealing someone standing behind. Standing there was a very thin young man with extremely long black hair, which reached all the way to the base of his feet. All he was wearing was simple white nightclothes.

"What is all this?" he said very slowly.