30 Worlds: Royal Megaforce, Episode XXI: "Flight of the Jaquins"

CHAPTER THREE

World of Elena of Avalor

Avalor Castle, Royal Council Chamber

Elena sat at the center of the table. Around her, the members of the Avalor Grand Council—Chancellor Esteban, Elena's grandparents Luisa and Francisco and Naomi Turner—were sitting down for the emergency meeting Elena had called to discuss what William and Sofia had told her about the A.I.C.

Elena entered the chamber, followed by William, Sofia and Elena's sister, Princess Isabel. William and Sofia sat at the table across from where Elena sat, while Isabel sat next to Elena. "Thank you, members of the Council, for taking time out of your busy schedules on this sacred day to attend this meeting," Elena said after she sat down.

"I have just been presented with some very disturbing information by our distinguished visitors from Cinnabar, King William and Queen Sofia. It is for that reason that I have also invited them to this meeting," Elena said. William and Sofia stood from the table, bowed to the members of the Council, then resumed their seats.

"I am sure many of you remember the battle we had to liberate Avalor from Shuriki," Elena said to the members of the Council. "I am also sure that you assumed that Shuriki was killed when she fell from that bridge. I am sad to say that she survived."

A dismayed expression crossed the faces of the Council. "How do you know this, Elena?" Naomi asked. "Because of us," William said. "While Sofia and I are indeed from the Kingdom of Cinnabar, we come from another dimensional plane."

"What do you mean, King William?" Luisa said. "For many years now, William has been on a mission from a wizard known as Yen Sid," Sofia said. "This mission is to stop an evil force known as the Army of Inter-Universal Chaos from destroying or taking over by force the many dimensional planes that exist."

"Shuriki is being supported by the A.I.C.," William said. "How are you supposed to stop this A.I.C.?" Francisco said. "Each dimension we are to protect has one person, a group of people, or an item that when combined with their counterparts from twenty-nine other dimensions, would form a Grand Key that would destroy the A.I.C."

"Which is why I have called this meeting," Elena said. "I have been told by William and Sofia that the Key—as they call it—from this dimension consists of two people: myself and Isabel." Isabel's eyes widened. "Why me?" she asked.

"Because you, more than any other person in Avalor, have inspired me to do all I can for the kingdom and its people," Elena said. "This is why, after we rid this world of Shuriki for good, Isabel and I must leave this world with William and Sofia."

Elena turned her gaze back to the Council chamber at large. "Until the threat of Shuriki is removed from our midst once and for all, this information must remain between us," Elena said. "Do we understand each other?"

Everyone in the Council chamber nodded. Elena smiled. "Then, if there is no further business, let us adjourn and return to the Dia de los Muertos celebrations," Elena said. "If we're missing for a long time, the villagers might get suspicious."

Everyone let out a slight chuckle, then began to clear the chamber.

Later that night, as members of the Council and Elena's inner circle began to get ready for their holiday dinner, William and Sofia walked in, bearing two covered pots. "If you'll have us as guests for your family celebration, we have a pair of specialties for you to enjoy," William said.

"Come in, William, Sofia. After all, mi familia, su familia," Francisco said. "We are honored you consider us family," Sofia said as she and William placed their pots on the huge dining room table. Francisco sniffed at the pots. "Smells delicious," he said.

"They are delicious," Sofia said. "They are the personal recipe of King William's late aunt, Queen Scarlett Katherine Felchenerow of Cinnabar. May she rest in peace." "And Elena, as a token of thanks for your hospitality today, you can have the first bite," William said.

William smiled as Elena lifted the lid of his pot and ladled out some of the soup into a bowl. She then used her spoon to sip at the soup. "Your aunt had great taste," Elena said.

"She would have been proud to hear you say that," William said.

That night, as William and Sofia prepared to depart for the Gavan's Glory landing site, William felt a familiar presence...one he should never have been able to feel again. "Hello, my nephew," a voice called out.

William wheeled around and saw an apparition that resembled... "Aunt Scarlett?! But, you're dead!" William said. "It is still Dia de los Muertos in the World of Elena of Avalor, is it not?" Scarlett's spirit said.

"Yes, but..." William started. "Well, then, it should not be surprising for you to be able to see me in this form," Scarlett's spirit said. "After all, it is said that on Dia de los Muertos, the spirits of the departed are said to be able to return to the world of the living and interact with their loved ones once more."

"Can Sofia see and hear you?" William said. "No," Scarlett's spirit said. "Only you, as the Scarlett Warrior, can see and hear the spirits of your predecessors on occasions such as this. But, Sofia will know of this. After all, I taught her about this in her time under my tutelage."

"Scarlett, I met Aunt Rose," William said. "Oh?" Scarlett's spirit said. So, William explained the meeting he had with Rose in the Grove of Memory. "Rose is a powerful ally, William," Scarlett's spirit said. "But, I am sure she had her reasons not to join up with you at this point in time."

"Scarlett, what do you know of Shuriki?" William said. "I only know that Shuriki is not a being to be trifled with," Scarlett's spirit said. "Do not confront her unless you have to."

"Scarlett, I miss you," William said. "And I, you, William," Scarlett's spirit said. "However, when your time comes, I am sure we will meet again. Before I go, however, I have a bit of information for you." "Yes?" William asked.

"An old friend will soon return to the Enterprise...but in a form you will not expect. In this friend's case, 13...will...be a lucky number," Scarlett's spirit said before fading from William's sight.

A few minutes later, Sofia approached where William stood. "William, you look like you've seen a ghost," Sofia said. "You have no idea," William said.

Meanwhile, in a small cabin in the woods far from Avalor Castle, a wrinkled old woman sat in front of a fire and waited. Finally, a knock sounded on the door. "Come in," the woman croaked out. The door opened, revealing a woman in an A.I.C. uniform.

"Mistress Shuriki, I have good news and I have bad news," the woman said. "Bad news first," Shuriki said. "King William and the Enterprise are here," the A.I.C. officer said. "Bah," Shuriki scoffed. "And the good news?"

The A.I.C. officer reached into the satchel sling over her shoulder and pulled out a small leather-bound volume. "I have it," the officer said before handing the volume to Shuriki. "Where did you get this?"Shuriki said.

"One of our spies in the World of Decendants...liberated...Princess Consort Mal's spell book from the Auradon Cultural Museum, ma'am," the A.I.C. officer said. "He thought that you could make use of it." Shuriki began to cackle as the power the spell book held began to course through her body.

On the Bridge of the Enterprise, Kara sat in the command chair as Batou reported, "Kara, we're receiving an emergency action message from the World of Descendants. It's from King Benjamin." "Put it through," Kara said.

The visage of King Benjamin of the United States of Auradon carried a worried expression. "Enterprise, this is King Benjamin. Please respond," he said. "This is Kara Zor-El in forward command of the Enterprise, Your Majesty. We read you," Kara said.

"Kara, there has been a break-in at the Auradon City Cultural and History Museum," King Benjamin said. "Mal's spell book is gone. I can only conclude that it is now in the World of Elena of Avalor...and possibly in Shuriki's hands as well."

Kara turned to Calhoun. "Sergeant Calhoun, take us to Tactical Alert. Bridge to Princess Consort Mal. You'd better get up here," Kara said. "We have a big problem. Batou, send a message to Challenger Base. We might need backup here."

::TBC::