Author's Notes: Here, we rejoin Pops and meet the villainous Queen Pyra and some of her cronies. I will disclaim all that I do not own at the end of this story. Enjoy.

Chapter Four: Pops N' Pyra

Skoll sprinted up the long, spiraling staircase. The stairs were covered with a crimson, velvet carpet that seemed to stretch for miles.

Pops gazed around nervously and he flopped up and down on the treacherous werewolf's shoulder, wondering just where on earth he was headed to.

"Oh my," declared the smiling and ignorantly-brave Pops, staring at the treacherous wolf as he dashed. "You're travelling quite fast, do you mind telling me where I'm going?"

"You'll see soon enough, Bozo." responded the back-stabbing Skoll in his gruff, monstrous voice as his claws and paws dug into the stony floor to fling his gargantuan body forward faster.

The flight of stairs seemed endless to Pops. It almost appeared like a prison cell. The stones that made up the walls appeared old and seemed to have massive scorch marks on them, from some kind of malevolent flame.

The staircase was lit up by sconces, lined up in rows along the stone walls, sculpted into the shapes of winged dragons with their heads titled vertically upward with a tongue of flame spewing out of their mouths.

Where Pops was heading to, Skoll didn't say. But the joyful lollipop-headed fellow was being carried off to a very dangerous place. Somewhere that some of the bravest beings wouldn't dare to tread in fear of being burned to a crisp three times over. It belonged to someone whose name brought fear and agony into the hearts of the innocent and peaceful denizens of Outcast Town.

And her name was Queen Pyratranokiticalifa, or Queen Pyra, as she demanded to be called by her royal subjects (or else). Queen Pyra was a cold-hearted, cruel, merciless, and iron-fisted ruler. Anything she demanded, her servants and subjects would give to her immediately.

The bizarre universal laws of Outcast Town had also granted her a unique and very powerful ability; she could manipulate fire. She used these powers to intimidate and destroy whoever opposed her.

This place was Queen Pyra's throne room. It was a massive chamber that also served as the Great Hall of her fiery and colossal domain. Her royal subjects and servants often trembled when they stood before her, fearing her short and violent temper. If they even uttered something that she found unpleasant, she would scorch them alive, even if they were dead, she would continuously burn their bodies to ashes. Another disturbing fact, is that she has never smiled even once in her life.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of climbing up that endless flight of spiraling stairs, they reached a massive wooden door, with door-knockers in the shape of dragons with large rings in between their jaws and it had scorch marks all over it.

"Now listen and listen good!" declared Skoll, turning his furry, massive head only half-way, staring at Pops with only one eye as he spoke. "You're gonna respect the queen at all times. Don't speak to her unless she gives you permission, don't get on her bad side, and don't ask too many questions. She's bigger than me, and bigger than you, and the most important thing of all, is that she's bigger than me!"

"'Queen?" asked Pops, his eyes widening and his mouth shifting into a grin, "You mean like the ones in those Disney films?"

Skoll just stared at Pops for a second, blinked, and then decided to ignore his stupid question and proceeded to push open the fire-scarred doors to her throne room with his massive, clawed paws.

When the doors creaked open, the odor of smoke and intense heat blasted Pops' face and nostrils. Candles on top of scones rested in neat rows along the left and right walls. A sparkling and golden chandelier elegantly encrusted with precious gems clung from the ceiling, and an extensive crimson carpet that spanned from the entrance to the queen's diligently-crafted throne.

And on top of that throne, sat the ruthless Queen Pyra.

Skoll slowly walked into the room, making sure not to show any disrespect towards his queen by running like an idiot in her personal chambers. Pops' large lolli-pop head swung from left to right, observing all of his dismal and gloomy surroundings.

Massive red curtains clung from the tops of windows, and suits of armor stood lined up along the lines on both sides of the Great Hall.

The walls were stony and grim, and shaded a bleak turquoise color, stained and marked with what appeared to be more scorch marks, and quite possibly, blood stains.

Finally, after dragging on while entering the melancholy chamber, Skoll bowed down and presented himself.

"Your royal highness…," he began, lowering his claws and head onto the floor, showing his humbleness towards Pyra. "I have brought what you've asked for."

Skoll's massive and muscular body stood up, and he snatched up Pops. Pops cried out when the werewolf picked his slim and jolly body up off of the floor as if he weighed five pounds.

Skoll stuck Pops out in front of him as if he were some kind of trophy someone was showing off to their friends.

"…Bring him closer." ordered a female voice.

The treacherous wolf hurled Pops forward.

"Oh my!...d'oof!" He cried out as he landed face-first into the stony, carpeted floor. The overly-ecstatic lolli-man pushed himself up off the floor and shook his orbicular head. He rubbed his eyes and he gazed forward, his eyes landing on the queen.

Queen Pyra did not look friendly. At all.

She had a very solemn and serious look on her face, accompanied by two large, black bags hanging underneath her eyes. Her hair and eyebrows were, literally, made out of fire and flames. Her hair was extremely long and went down to her spine and spread out onto her shoulders as well. The flames slithering and dancing as they went down her body. She wore a tiara on her forehead that served as a crown, with a shining, glistening ruby encrusted in its center with the silver holding it in place having been diligently crafted to appear like flames. Her dress was a bright-red color with a golden pendant in the shape of a roaring dragon with ruby-encrusted eyes sewed below her neck. She wore long, white evening gloves that went up to her elbows. The lower half of her dress had a jagged line type of design with the fabric made out of pure gold, almost appeared to be a golden lightning bolt around the thighs of her elegant dress. Underneath the dress, one could see a pair of white stocks and crimson high-heeled shoes on her feet.

Pyra sat there, with her arms resting on her demonically-carved, dragon-shaped throne's armrests, staring at Pops with that solemn and somber expression pasted onto her face. To Pops, she didn't seem very old, probably in her mid-twenties, a little older than Mordecai and Rigby.

Queen Pyra leaned over a little, examining Pops more carefully. Her eyes traced the circular shape of his pink head. Pops blinked twice as he observed her inspecting his appearance and body like a car in a car dealership.

"I certainly hope I've brought you a good specimen, my queen. I'm sure he'll fit your requirements."

Pops arched his eyebrow when he heard this voice come from next to the queen's throne. He saw the glowing red eyes of his original kidnapper from the shadows, and the same person who demanded Skoll to bring him up here. Their face was obscured by the shadows of the room.

"Yes," declared the queen, leaning back into her glorious throne. "He fits my needs perfectly. I want it out of him. Now!"

What was "it"? What did Pops have that the wicked fire-queen wanted? Pops wobbly stood up and needed to ask some questions. He stood up straight and raised his hand mid-way, and asked, "Excuse me, but what do I have that you want? Is it money?"

Pops reached into his gray, khaki pockets and pulled out a handful of peppermint lollipops.

"Here! It's all I have!"

Queen Pyra, Skoll, and her mysterious and elusive personal apprentice just stared at Pops, not caring about his "offer". The queen turned her head towards the apprentice and stated, "Get the magicians. I've waited for this day for too long!"

The mysterious apprentice turned his head (Pops could see the unruly black tangles that served as his hair on his head as it turned around) and called out, "Tonto! Farfelu! Strambo! The queen summons you!"

Right at that moment, three voices of various tones in the background replied with, "Yes, our queen!" Pops arched his eyebrows as he observed three little creatures come scurrying out of the dark corners of the chamber.

They were all dressed the same, although in different colors. They wore what appeared to be wizard robes with capes wrapped around their faces. Their wizard hats engulfed pretty much their entire head. The collar of their capes and their hats hid their faces completely, except for a pair of lizard-like yellow eyes visible through the small slits. Their hands were a lime-green color, covered with scales and little black claws on their fingertips, and little traveler's shoes to match their wardrobe.

The one with the blue robe was Tonto, while the one in orange was Farfelu, and the one dressed in black was Strambo.

All three of these little wizards were servants of Queen Pyra, and like all her other servants, they feared her. They practiced a mixture of magic and science, and were often the scientists/magicians of Queen Pyra's castle.

They stepped forward in front of Pops, and they bowed down to Queen Pyra on all fours; palms and knees.

While still bowing their heads, Tonto spoke up. "Permission to lift up our heads, your majesty." Queen Pyra replied with, "You may."

Tonto picked up his head and stated, "What can we do you for, your highness?" The evil queen raised her arm and pointed a knife-like finger at Pops, who was confused as ever, tapping his finger tips against each other and his eyes flicking from left to right. "You know what I want from him."

All three little magicians stood up and declared, "Yes, Queen Pyra!" They all turned towards Pops, and jumped on him, shoving him to floor.

While on the floor, Pops cried out, "Excuse me, but what are you…hey, hey! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaa! Wait! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa! Please stop, that tickles! Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaaah!"

Tonto, Farfelu, and Strambo were holding Pops down, trying to get him on the floor in a certain position.

Finally, after kicking and non-stop laughing, they managed to rearrange him in the correct position.

"Aaaaaa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaa! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha….ah-ha….ha….ouch…ouch! OW! Hey, that doesn't tickle! That hurts!"

All three of them summoned magical chains made out of yellow electricity to wrap around Pops' ankles and wrists, and stretch out his arms and legs. They also summoned a dissecting table, also made from magical electricity, to strap him onto. For such little beings, they were stronger than they appeared to be. They threw him onto the electric table and the chains magically did what they were supposed to.

Pops looked from left to right frantically, trying to figure just what the heck was going on. The electric chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles rapidly. He just stared at all of them, wide-eyed and speechless as he lied there, all chained up. What were they going to do to him?

""Tear it out of him," demanded the queen from her throne, as she (almost hungrily) gazed at Pops.

The lolli-pop headed man blinked, confused by whatever was going on. Were they going to give him surgery? Why? What was wrong with him? He was beginning to get a little scared.

The three wizards exchanged nervous glances at each other, knowing that they had some news Pyra would most definitely not like. Both Tonto and Strambo turned to Farfelu, and nodded their heads.

"It's your turn to tell her news she doesn't want to hear!" whispered Strambo. Tonto nodded his head in agreement.

Farfelu shook his head, took a deep breath, and gulped. He shakily stepped forward to Queen Pyra, who by now, was giving him the evil eye, with her other eye twitching in rage that was starting to build up.

"Um, you see, my queen…my most powerful, majestic, glorious, merciful, beautiful, inspiring, radiant—"

"What…is the matter?" demanded Queen Pyra, her voice lowering to a dangerously snake-like whisper.

"This procedure…" The orange wizard paused for a moment, put his scaly hands together, and began playing with his thumbs in nervousness, "takes a while to actually do, at least, do it right. So…I'm afraid you're going to—"

"'Going to have' to wait?" When she asked this, her hair seemed to glow brighter and the flames on them began to dance more furiously.

Farfelu shielded his face and began trembling violently like a leaf, fearing his queen's wrath. She could fry him to a crisp in a heartbeat, and that, for her, was being too generous.

When he didn't feel any flames burning his clothes and skin, the small orange wizard lowered his hands slowly and began talking again.

"I'm ah-ah-ah-afraid so, my queen," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. But then he brightened up a little and said, "But-but-but-but-but-but don't fret, your royal fiery-ness! We've learned new magical spells that can help us multiply!"

Farfelu turned around to gaze at Pops for a moment. The poor gentleman having a troubled look on his face as he overheard their bizarre conversation.

The wizard turned back around and stated, "This could reduce the time we have to spend making the right chemical mixtures, getting the right tools, and chanting the right words!"

Queen Pyra did not lose the somber and stern expression on her face. Farfelu blinked and said, "Let me show you!" He clapped his hands twice. The sounds of the claps echoed throughout her giant throne room, and out came four little wizards similar to Tonto, Strambo, and Farfelu, except they were all dressed in white.

"They will help us with the procedure! See, they've already started!"

One of the white wizards came rapidly waddling forward like a penguin carrying a large beaker filled with a liquid that had a mysterious blue tint to it.

"That particular plasma is vital to our experiment! And it's rare! Without it, we couldn't pull out what we need to from our test subject!" explained the orange-robed wizard as his clone waddled by Pyra and Farfelu.

The second he finished explaining what the plasma was needed for, the white clone stumbled.

"Whoa!" it cried out as it tripped over its own feet and let the beaker wobble dangerously from side to side in its green hands. Unfortunately, it tripped and fell onto the floor, letting the beaker shatter and rendering the blue plasma useless.

One second later, a horrible screaming sound was heard. The three wizards and Pops stared wide-eyed and in horror as they watched the clone on fire. The clone stood up, its body covered in large flames, and began running around in little circles, screaming as the fire chewed through its robe. This enraged the queen even more, so she stuck out her hand again, and another massive fire-ball shot out of her palm, knocking the clone on the floor, its screaming now ceasing as it stayed on the floor, twitching.

Even then, the queen shot another fireball at its lifeless body, and another one, and another still, until another one of the clones spoke up, crying out "No! Stop! Please!"

The queen merely turned her head, her eyes burning with rage, and gazed at the rebellious clone, and instantly, it burst into flames, leaving behind only a few tongues of flame to remain burning gently on the carpeted floor. She could also manipulate fire with her own mind.

Pops and the wizards just stood there, too terrified to make another move. The gentleman groundskeeper turned to the other clone, the one that had carried the beaker, and saw that it was now only a pile of ashes in the shape of its body.

Seething with fury and anger, she turned to Farfelu and demanded "How long will this take?"

Farfelu nervously opened his mouth and quietly replied with, "Uh…about a few hours?"

He saw the queen's fingers on the armrests of her throne, and she had began to squeeze them in aggravation. Her fingers began forming cracks on the throne, with smoke arising from her fingertips.

"Get to work!" she barked out, her voice shaking the entire throne room. For one second, nobody did anything, they just stood there shaking.

"…NOW!"

The three wizards all gasped and sprinted out of there, preparing their magic spell books, scientific instruments, and snacks to eat to get ready to perform their elaborate experiment.

Skoll turned away and rubbed his eyes sleepily, not really surprised by any of her actions, since he had been one of her personal servants long enough to know what she was really like. He still feared her, but he knew her temper.

Her mysterious apprentice, by her side, had not moved an inch.

Pops stayed chained to that table, still amazed at what he had just saw.

"My," he stated, his round eyes wide and astonished, "Benson is never that hard on Mordecai and Rigby. I'm sure he'd like this fire-lady…" he smiled a little and said, "I'm sure they'd be great friends!"

"Shut your mouth!" declared Skoll, zooming his face up to Pops, breathing gusts of air into his pink, jolly face.

Pops smiled a bit and said, "You seem cranky…maybe I should take you for a walk?" Skoll's eyes widened, and then he raised his claws, and uttered through gritted, blood-stained teeth, "Why you little…"

"Skoll!" yelled that authoritative apprentice, observing everything that was going on. "What did I just tell you?..."

Skoll, immediately lowered his claws, backed away from Pops, and stated, "Sorry sir, I just—"

"Silence! You are not to lay a finger on him until we are done with him. Is that understood?"

"….."

"Is that understood?"

"Yes…"

Skoll began turning around and managed to sneak in a dirty glare at Pops, who was smiling as happily as ever, and he didn't hear Skoll grumbled under his breath, "When we're done…I'm tearing you to pieces first…"

Pops giggled a little, and he heard a strange wailing roar outside, almost like the sound of a whale's song out in the ocean, except it was more sinister. He arched his eyebrow and gazed out of the window, and he could've sworn he saw the shadowy silhouette of a pair of enormous bat wings go whooshing by outside.

Skoll stopped for a second, gazed out of that same window, and chuckled a little while saying, "I guess Cinder liked the show today, eh…"

Pops stayed staring out of the window, as he heard the giant pair of wings slowly flapping and circling around the massive fire castle.

"What a strange sound," stated Pops to himself, "I wonder if it's a giant butterfly…"

Author's Notes: So here, we were introduced to some of the antagonists of the story. What does Queen Pyra want with Pops? Will they hurt him? Probably. Will he be ok? Who knows. Please leave a review, thank you.