Hey everyone! Here's the fic I brainstormed alongside Shasta627 (you're the best!) It's set ten years from our first glimpse of Avalor, and though it's a little on the strange-side, I hope you'll enjoy it! Thanks so much for reading. Love you all!

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Mateo was walking down the hall when he nearly bumped into Princess Isabel. She was still dressed in her fencing clothes, her hair pulled back tightly. Avalor had been in peacetime for years, but Elena and Isabel had both wanted to know how to fight. Though Elena was already an expert and Isabel the complete opposite, both girls had been training with Gabe in their free time. At least until recently.

"Oh! Sorry," Isabel quickly apologized, turning at the last second to avoid bumping into Mateo. "I guess I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." The corner of her mouth arched in a smile, but she gave no explaination. "Hey, is the grand council meeting before supper, or afterward?"

Mateo scratched his head. As king of Avalor, he figured he should know. But he didn't. Everything had been chaotic lately, since he'd been doing a lot of Elena's duties. He thought for a moment and then sighed. "I better go find Esteban. He probably decided on the time in the first place."

"Most likely." Isabel rolled her eyes and turned back to her brother-in-law before he continued on his way. "How's Elena? I'll go check on her, but I wanted to change clothes after training."

Mateo smiled for so many reasons. He was twenty-six, and he and Elena had been married for the past four years. Now, Elena was five months along with their child, and the whole kingdom was ecstatic. Those closest to them joked that the baby would be the most magical person in Avalor, considering Elena's powers and Mateo being the wizard king. Unfortunately, Elena had been on bedrest on and off, which was why Mateo was almost singlehandedly ruling. Luckily for his sanity, she was steadily improving.

"She's good," he told Isabel. Mateo shoved his hands in his robe pockets. "She's hungry. Always hungry. I was off to the kitchens actually."

The princess laughed. "Well then, I'll let you get to it. See you for the meeting!" She strode away cheerfully. Isabel always did seem to like the grand council meetings, even though they were exceptionally dull. When she turned sixteen, she had been included on the council. When Mateo was about twenty, he had been officially invited as the royal wizard. Gabe had also been an addition, since it had been made official- he was to become the Captain of the Royal Guard as soon as his mentor, the current Captain, decided to retire. Elena technically no longer needed a grand council to rule, she was legally the queen, but after her coronation, her first act had only been to expand her council rather than end it. Everyone had been proud of her, Mateo as much as anyone. The change in her maturity was visible.

She was, in every way, an amazing queen.

Of course, Mateo knew he was much more confident and knowledgeable than he had been as a teenager. Maybe it had to do with more practice in his magic skills, or maybe it had been the year-long education required of him after he and Elena had gotten engaged. He had never imagined taking king-lessons, but it had been crucial. If he hadn't spent a whole year studying, Mateo was pretty sure Esteban would have protested the royal wedding. And everything he had learned was handy to know- as he had been discovering the past few months.

Naomi was in the kitchen with Luisa and several of the palace staff. "Hey Mateo!" Naomi flicked him with a towel as he walked in and he grinned. Being king had been terrifying at first, but as the years had passed, he had stopped concerning himself with what everyone else thought. His friends still treated him the same, and that was truly refreshing. Even though he was the most powerful man in the kingdom, he liked being treated as the goofy, slightly clumsy wizard he was at heart- at least when the teasing came from his friends.

"What's up with the Wizard King?" asked Naomi around a bite of toast.

"Getting Elena food," he said, smiling. He couldn't help but smile when he talked about Elena. "And you? How was your trip?! Did the meeting go well?"

"I guess," Naomi shrugged and took another bite of her snack. "You know I'm not much for ambassador chit-chat, but I loved being in Norburg. So did my parents. They went sightseeing for hours, and then we would all meet back up and do the highlights together. I met a lot of new people too."

"Including the younger Prince," put in Luisa.

"Ex-prince. I met him in a restaurant," clarified Naomi. "He's our age, but his older brother wants the throne, so he had total freedom to abdicate- without feeling guilty. Now he's a sailor."

"Right up your alley," said Luisa. Naomi waved her off with a flick of her hand.

"Anyway, Mateo. It was a good trip- I'm glad Elena let me go. And it was fun to tell Esteban about my treaty strategies. I think he just about had a heart attack."

Mateo laughed and reached for a roll and some fruit. "Well, I'm sure I'll hear even more about it at the briefing after supper. Or is it before?"

"After," said Luisa, solving the mystery.

"Thanks." Mateo waved and headed back to his room. Elena was standing, combing her hair by the mirror, and Isabel was sitting on the bed, now dressed in a more formal blue gown. The sisters were busy chatting, as usual. They both turned to stare at him as he walked in and set the food on Elena's nightstand.

"Hope you're craving either an orange, a banana, or a roll," said Mateo.

"All of the above," replied Elena. She set down her comb and walked to the nightstand, but before eating she turned to Mateo and kissed him.

He wrapped a hand around her waist and kissed her back, but only for a moment. He pulled away for Isabel's sake. The princess was still sitting on the bed, watching them. Though she was twenty-two, extremely intelligent, and quite pretty, Isabel had never shown much interest in romance. After she had returned from studying at the Avaloran Science Academy, several potential suitors from various kingdoms had taken an interest in her. She hadn't batted an eye at any of them- at least as far as Mateo knew.

"I'll let you girls get back to your visiting. See you for dinner," Mateo told his wife and sister-in-law. He had just turned toward the door when the normal afternoon changed forever.

It happened much too fast.

The sky outside the giant windows went dark. It was mid afternoon, but suddenly it looked like evening.

Had a giant cloud blocked out the sun? Mateo started toward the world window in confusion.

"What-?"

The shaking ground cut off his perplexed question. However, now Mateo was really concerned. Avalor rarely ever had earthquakes. What was happening?

Mateo grabbed Elena and pressed them both against the wall as the shaking continued. There was a cracking noise and the chandelier over the bed broke free from the ceiling. Isabel yelped and dove away, rolling onto the quivering floor.

Mateo realized he was trembling. So was Elena. They were in one of the tower rooms. And the palace was built into a cliff side! If the floor under them gave way it would all be over...

But then it was over. The shaking stopped as quick as it had started, and the terrified trio got to their feet and hurried out of the palace. They met up with a group of palace staff in the outdoor courtyard.

"Is everyone here? Are you all okay?" Elena took charge, as was habit, and began scanning the crowd.

"It's still dark," whispered Isabel, standing nervously behind them. "Do you think there's magic at work here? It's not another eclipse. There's no logical explanation!" She sounded like she was on the verge of hysterics. Mateo tried to calm her down.

"We'll figure this out. We always do. For now, let's just make sure everyone is safe and then we'll take stock of the damage to the palace." Mateo hoped that sounded like a good plan.

He turned back to Elena. "Is everyone here?"

"All except for Abuelo, Gabe, and a group of the Royal Guards. They had gone into town though, so hopefully they took refuge there."

"We'll go find them, your Majesties," promised another royal guard. He motioned to his companions and they hurried away.

"The palace!" Esteban looked as upset as Isabel. "The entire structure is cracked and chipped! It won't be safe for days! Weeks!"

"Relax," commanded Luisa. "What matters is that we are safe."

"Not for long!" yelled Armando. Everyone turned to see what he was pointing at in the sky.

Mateo felt his heart skip multiple beats. There was a hole in the clouds. A dark void; a portal he figured. But out of the portal, shadowy figures were appearing.

It wasn't just any portal. The earthquake, the darkening sky, the wealth-like figures coming out of the hole...

Mateo had read all about the realms outside of Avalor. And if shadows were emerging... He put two and two together.

The Shadow Spirits were invading.

Avalor was being overtaken by the Shadow Realm!