James was heading to the Winter Woods with Huck and Apple. Huck and Sled wanted to train with James while Apple was going there just to watch and laugh.

Apple: "I would've loved to see Huck applying for the Tron System Special Forces"

James: "You should watch Senya's video. With those sound effects she added, it's about twice funnier to see"

Huck: "Where were you anyway?"

Apple: "I won that trip to England as a first place prize in the martial arts tournament, remember? You were my first opponent"

James: "I guess that's why he needs training as much as Sled does"

Apple: "Considering that I defeated Sled the same way I defeated Huck, I guess so"

James reached the Winter Woods by the time Clarion reached Milori. Sled was waiting for James near Milori and Clarion's meeting spot.

Sled: "I thought you weren't getting here"

James: "Anyway, are you ready? And by ready I mean able to stand on your feet"

Sled: "Me? You should've seen me during the great freeze. Those ice monsters couldn't stand a chance"

James: "Against Sonic"

Sled: "Whatever. Can we start now?"

Clarion and Milori were passing by, completely unaware of the other group's presence.

Milori: "I suppose we have no more reason to worry"

James: "Huh? What are they talking about?"

Sled shrugged.

James walked after the royal couple. "This'll only take a minute"

Milori: "Do you think we can tell them now?"

Clarion: "It's still too dangerous. Maybe Stella was defeated, but she's not gone"

James (thinking to himself): "Stella? Isn't she the one Strawberry mentioned?"

Milori: "But the girls showed us that they could overcome the darkness"

Clarion: "Even so, Stella is still there. Think about what will happen if she takes over Strawberry again"

James (thinking): "Take over Strawberry? Again? Could that mean…There's only one way to find out"

James set off for the Hall of Winter, passing by Sled, Huck and Apple.

Sled: "So?"

James: "I'm sorry, but your training will have to wait"

Huck: "What? Why?"

James: "If they were talking about what I think they were, Strawberry might be in danger. In the meantime, you and Apple should return to the Pixie Dust tree. Sled, come with me"

Sled: "Got it"

By the time James and Sled reached the Hall of Winter, the place had already been visited by someone else. Someone who didn't seem to be very friendly. The books were scattered all over the floor. Dewey was cleaning up.

James: "Keeper, what happened?"

Dewey: "I don't know. I left for one hour and when I returned the place looked like this"

James: "Whatever happened, I have to know something about Strawberry. More specifically, about Stella Shortman"

Dewey: "How do you know about her?

James: "I heard Queen Clarion and Lord Milori talking. I still need to confirm my facts though"

Dewey: "Then you should see something. Come with me on the snowflake"

James and Sled followed Dewey's directions. Dewey showed them the same sequence he saw few days before. The sequence about Stella's attack on the Pixie Dust tree.

James: "So it's true"

Dewey: "I'm afraid it is. Now, if you excuse me, I have to clean up" he picked up a book opened to one certain page. A page that contained information about the Mystic Lights. More specifically, about their dark parts.

James: "Wait! May I see that book?"

Dewey handed James the book he was holding. "Of course"

James read a passage written on the page the book was open to. "This is not good. It says right here that the dark part of a Mystic Light can be set free as a separate entity by negative Chaos Energy"

Dewey: "Who could've been interested in this?"

James: "The queen saying something about Stella not being gone"

Dewey: "Oh, no!"

James headed to the Pixie Dust pool located in the Winter Woods. "I've got to tell the others"

Dewey: "What? You can't tell anyone!"

James didn't hear him. He had already jumped in the Pixie Dust pool and was on his way to the tree. With James about to reveal what he, the queen and the Lord of Winter had been hiding for seasons, he went after the royal couple.

Meanwhile, someplace else in the Winter Woods:

Milori: "I really hope the Mystic Lights will agree to stay in Pixie Hollow after they're done with the prophecy and everything else"

Clarion: "So do I. They could even help us with the change of seasons"

Dewey landed in front of them. "Queen Clarion, Lord Milori! We're in trouble! James knows about Stella!"

Clarion: "What? How could he have found out?"

Dewey: "He heard you talking. And he's going to the Pixie Dust tree to tell everyone"

Clarion set off for the tree. "I can't let this happen!"

Meanwhile, at the Pixie Dust tree:

James landed in the Pixie Dust pool and entered Queen Clarion's palace. "Strawberry! Strawberry! Where could this girl be?"

Strawberry got out of her room. "What is it?"

James: "I know everything about Stella! She's-"

James didn't get to finish his sentence as he vanished from the tree. He was now in front of Tails' crashed spaceplane.

James (thinking to himself): "What happened? Whatever it is, I'd better-"

James was ready to return to his team. However, something was behind him. Something that looked like a black smoke or a darkness cloud, from which Stella emerged.

Stella: "Well, well, well. Look who was about to get me busted. James the Hedgehog, is it?"