Hi there!

MC: Well we're at it again.

Yep! A brand new chapter. Here is where trouble starts.

MC: Yep. Let's hope everyone escapes this alive.

Yeah. Let's hope...

Warning: Apparent character death

MC: And remember people, me and Nellie only own our respective OC's that's all.

Chapter 10: Sacrifices

The gang continued through Bandit Valley, as Darrell looked at Willow. She seemed to have calmed down after that outburst from earlier. But she still felt rather upset. "Icy... you know, Shawn didn't mean to anger you like that." He told her.

The princess sighed. "Yes, I know... but I was trying to defend the fact that my mother is very much alive... I just know she is..."

"I think she is too..."

Willow looked at her friend, "You do?" She asked.

Darrell nodded, "Yeah. I mean. It's never been reported that she's dead. So she much still be alive... and maybe even looking out for you."

Now, Darrell. Now's the chance to ask her. Go for it.

With that, Darrell stared into his love's eyes and took a deep breath. "Now that we're this far... I wanna ask you before it's too late... Willow... will you-"

Once again, karma struck as before Drake could finish his question, an arrow struck between them, hitting a rock. Willow gasped, "It's an ambush! Bandits!"

And she was right, as the gang looked up above them. And saw dozens of criminals all around them. "Run!" Peter shouted. And that's what the kids did as they ran away from the bandits.

"You two get the jewels..." Said one to his allies. "You three, come with me..."

And so the chase was on, as the gang ran down the canyon, that's when Drake noticed a rocky slide ramp. "Quick! Up here!" Everyone started to go up the little ramp, except for Radia, who tripped. But Shawn quickly helped her back to her feet.

But as he did, Drake jumped right in front of them, smirking evilly. "Going somewhere you two?"

Radia gasped as Shawn stood in front of her to protect her. But at an unfortunate same time, some of the bandits had caught up with Shawn and Radia as she gasped with shock. Shawn realizes the bandits about to strike and tells Radia, "Stand back Radia, I'll take care of them." Cracking his knuckles, he starts to brawl with all of the bandits in his way as fists and swift kicks could be heard being thrown.

As he fought though, Drake takes this moment to grab Radia by the neck and takes her away. "You're coming with me honey." She began to scream with fear, calling out for help! As Shawn fought off the bandits, he quickly noticed Radia being taken away by Drake. Much to his horror, "RADIA!" Now he was completely livid as he somehow with Hercules like strength, lifts all of the bandits and throws them into the canyon.

Once the bandits were out of the way. Shawn makes a fast dash towards Drake aimed to save Radia from his evil clutches. As he reached him, he leaped up and actually tackled Drake down. Causing the Vampire to release Radia in the process. Once on the ground, Shawn tells Drake. "Alright Vampire! I'm ending your terror right here, right now. So put em up!"

Drake chuckled as he got into a fighting position, and so did Shawn as he rolled his sleeves up. And soon the two began to brawl one another to the brink of death with Shawn throwing a devastating right and left hand to Drake's face, Drake would counter by twisting Shawn's leg as he screamed in pain. The All Star grew furious as he proceeds to lock Drake into a very tight and deadly looking choke hold. Choking the life out of the Vampire.

Radia watches on with concern, hoping that Shawn would win. But Drake would suddenly break the hold by delivering a massive blow to Shawn's gut as he holds it in pain. Allowing Drake to take the moment to pull out his dagger and starts to slash Shawn severely with it all over his body. And Radia covers her mouth in complete shock, watching the all star losing a whole lot of blood as we speak.

"SHAWN! NO!"

The all star fell to the ground, breathing heavily. That's when everybody else noticed, and was shocked. Willow held a frightened Vada as Drake put Radia over his shoulders as she struggled. "How dare you touch me?" She told the villain as he chuckled.

"Now, now. I'm just trying to comfort you is all."

With that, he ran off. Now Willow knew she had to do something. "Darrell. Let's go. We have to save Radia."

And so, the two ran after Drake, who was approaching a rickety old bridge. That's when Willow realized something, what he was planning. "Oh no!"

"I'll stop him..." Darrell insisted as he ran across the bridge, "Hold up, Drake! Surrender the lady!"

Drake turned to the boy with a frown. "And why should I?!"

"Because she doesn't belong to you. She belongs to Shawn K."

Drake laughed, "You mean that idiot?!"

"Yes. Now let the lady go."

However, Drake only gave Darrell a punch straight through his chest as Willow gasped in shock. "Darrell!" She exclaimed as her friend fell on the bridge. Drake smirked as he looked at his bloody fist and dropped Radia on the bridge, giving everyone a warning before he left. "I warned you all! If one of you cross my line, you all shall pay the price!"

With that, he disappeared. Willow looked on to see Darrell in pain as she told Radia, "Get off the bridge. Get to safety."

Radia did as told as she ran off the bridge... and into the loving, yet injured arms of Shawn. "Shawn..." She whispered. "You're still alive."

"Of course I am. Interesting fact you should know about me is that when in the Tooniverse, I live forever." He responded softly as he kissed Radia on the forehead. Suddenly, they heard Willow and Darrell shout out, as a bandit on the other side cut the ropes holding the bridge, causing it to fall.

But luckily, Willow held on to a rope as she also held on to Darrell's hand. "Hold on, Darry..." She whispered.

"I don't think this rope can hold us..." Darrell said, sadly.

Willow gasped. "Don't say that, Darrell. It will... it will..."

"Icy... I'm sorry... I think this is the end... I already have a massive hole in my chest... I don't think I'll make it..."

"Stop talking like that... you'll make it... please. Don't leave me..."

Tears were already falling from Willow's eyes. She was scared. She didn't want Darrell to die... he just couldn't die. He just couldn't. Suddenly, she felt her grip on his arm... loosening.

"No..."

"Goodbye, Willow." Darrell whispered. "And remember this... I will always be watching over you in heaven... and I... love you."

With that, Darrell slipped, and fell into the deep deep canyon. Willow screamed bloody murder.

"DARRELL!"

Her worst nightmare had come true! Darrell.. was gone... "No... no... no, no, NO!" She screamed, as tears streamed down her cheeks. That's when she felt herself being pulled up by the others. After doing so, Willow flung herself into Peter's arms. "He's gone..." She sobbed. "My good friend... gone!"

Peter had tried to comfort her, "Easy Willow. I know this is hard, but he wanted you to stay alive."

"He's been wanting to ask me something important... but... he never got the chance to..." She cried, sobbing into Peter's shirt.

Shawn frowned, as he had to speak up regarding that. "Well actually Willow, here's the thing. Darrell told me about the question and was planning to ask you to be his Valentine for Valentine's Day."

Willow gasped, "He... wanted me to be... his Valentine..." That only made her cry all over again. Peter glared at Shawn. "What?"

"Smooth, all star... real smooth.." Was all Peter said.

Later on, the others had gotten shelter in a cave as it started to rain. But everyone still felt very gloom over what had transpired on their trip. Especially Willow, who had isolated herself from the others on the other side of the cave.

Wanting to be alone...

The princess took out a wand... Darrell's wand. Before he fell, he had slipped it in her pocket. She sighed when she remembered his last words to her.

I... love you...

"I... love you..." She repeated. "I... love you... I love you, Darrell. Oh, I LOVE YOU, DARRELL!"

She yelled that out as everybody heard this. "I LOVE YOU!" She screamed again, breaking down in loud uncontrollable sobs. She was taking this really hard. As for the other, they had no idea what to do at this point. But Maggie just walked over to her distraught friend and hugged her. Vada soon joined her when she saw that, now wanting to help.

Soon, that's when the pirate crew joined in, and so did the royals. Along with Peter, Radia, and even a wounded Shawn K. It was a friendly group hug. Not to mention a sympathetic hug. "We're here for you, Willow." Maggie told her.

Suddenly, Willow hugged them all back. "Thank you so much..." She whispered. Peter smiled as he wiped her tears away.

"You're welcome.."

They all stayed in that position for the rest of the night... until morning... it was Valentine's day at last. And when it was morning, and not raining anymore. They decided now was the time to go, cause they have to get back in time for the party.

As for Willow, she was feeling a lot better than she was earlier. But she was still devastated. For without Darrell, what's the point of having Valentine's Day. She continued to look at Darrell's wand. "He loved me... and I love him..." She whispered.

Suddenly, she heard laughter... evil laughter.

"Oh no..."

In a puff a dark smoke, Drake appeared, with the most sadistic smirk Willow has even seen. "Well Willow, with Darrell out of the picture. It looks like you'll need somebody to be your Valentine."

The princess backed away from the evil sorcerer, until Shawn and Peter stood in front of her, shielding her away. But then, Drake did the unthinkable to the two and blasted them out of the way, as he took Willow's hand and said this long sentence.

"I'm going to take you back to your castle and set you up with announcing a big statement regarding your new king of Magicia."

Willow gasped, "New king?"

Drake nodded with a smirk as he began to further explain. "That's right. Since Darrell is now finally dead, I can finally take the next step and marry you so that way you shall become my Queen. And all of Magicia shall fall under my ruling."

"No!" Willow cried. "Don't! I don't love you... I love Darrell!"

Drake suddenly grab her and tells her. "I didn't ask you to do this, I am forcing you to!" And in a sudden instant, he and Willow disappear, probably back to her palace! The others were now shocked, as Peter grew angry. "That jerk..!"

"What are we gonna do now?" Maggie asked.

Sadly, nobody had any ideas at all. But there was one thing for sure... they have to save their friend Willow, right now!

Ooh...

MC: This is not good! Not good at all!

I know. Darrell is gone!

MC: Please don't say that! Maybe he somehow survived. At least I hope..

Now I'm certain he survived, but we'll find out in the next chapter... so, we'll see you guys later, and don't forget to review, please. Thank you.