Chapter 10: The Final Battle?

We continue throughout the castle, trying to locate the prince and the fairies ... and Sarah. Merryweather is confident that I should be able to do this without much trouble. The spear provides light and gets stronger as long as I remain a pleasant individual. This proves difficult in some cases, which the spear responds to by flickering.

Stone steps greet us as we cross the dank hallway. We go down them and get to the landing at the bottom. Exiting the door, we come to another spiral staircase. The stairs are wide, and hardly look like they spiral. We head up the stairs to as quickly as we can. My ears pick up a sound though. It sounds like music. Is someone playing the harpsichord? As we continue our ascent, the music grows louder. And louder. The music is really intense, like the kind you would hear when you faced a boss in a video game. Am I in a video game?

The harpsichord still plays as we come to the door at the top of the stairs. I take a deep breath and push the heavy door in.

Before us Maleficent is seated at the instrument and is furiously playing something that sounds like Prelude and Fugue in C Minor by Bach. Suddenly she stops playing, but doesn't face us. "You're late, my dear Ben. I could have sworn you would have arrived sooner."

I don't say a word. I hope she's bluffing. She can't know that I'm here. Sure enough she arises and heads over to where her raven is perched at a window sill. "Oh, my dear, sweet reliable pet. Are you sure you searched everywhere for that idiotic child? He couldn't have just vanished into thin air ..." She strokes the bird's feathers and then turns in my direction and her eyes suddenly go wide. "Ah, you really are here, Ben. Tell me, what frightened you most? Pooky or Grizella?"

I continue to stand still until I realize that she's not looking at me but the glowing spear I hold before me. Surely she knows that I'm here now. Stupid me ... no! Be positive! Smart, lovable me! ... who just messed up entirely.

"I must say I'm impressed yougot this far," she drawls. "Although you've made more treacherous journeys I'm sure. The Forbidden Mountain is forbidden for a reason. There are trolls and goblins that won't hesitate to catch you and eat you up. The landscape itself is precarious, yet you traversed it all the same to interview me. Now what is it do you plan to do, young hero? Have you come to save your precious princess? Your fairy guardians that I hold captive in Stefan's own dungeon, hmm?"

I hold my tongue longer. Perhaps she'll disclose more information.

She removes her gaze from me and begins to walk to another window. "This castle bears quite a resemblance to the one my lover once conquered centuries ago. It was in another land to be sure, filled with strange creatures and even stranger people.

"When I told him that I lived in a kingdom governed by two imbeciles, he couldn't resist coming here to do the same thing he did as before. With his cunning and my magic, I was confident he and I could overthrow the monarchy.

"Little did we know that Stefan had a plan. He employed the services of the good fairies and renowned wizards across the land to set a trap. My poor beloved never stood a chance even in his strongest form. He disappeared before my very eyes. I knew I couldn't have withstood the powers of all these magic folk, so I fled to the mountains, honing my powers and seeking a way to exact vengeance upon Stefan.

"It would seem that my revenge is nearly complete. I'm actually much further ahead than when we had our interview, Ben. I suppose I should thank you for this rather fortunate turn of events."

"You won't be thanking me for what I'm about to do to you, witch." Wow, was that me? "I'm here to defeat you and bring justice to the land." I look to my hands to see them slowly materialize. "Your reign of darkness ends here."

"Big words for such an insignificant human." She turns to face me, a scowl upon her face. "You obviously do not know who you're dealing with. A pity seeing as we had such an engaging second interview."

I remain quiet.

"If you truly wish to fight me, then let's go somewhere a little more ... fitting."

We appear in a courtyard in the middle of the castle. High stone walls tower over us and I know that his is the end. Either for me, for her or all of us. There was no turning back.

Then out of nowhere I hear a shout. I hear my name being called and I see green, red and blue lights coming out one of the doors followed by Spatterson and Phillip. They both have their weapons back in their possession, both radiant and beaming.

"It would seem we're right back where we started from, noble heroes. I can assure you I won't go so easy on you this time!"

A battle like that in Chapter 6 commences only with less ridiculousness, more action and suspense ... and more turkeys ... and cheesecake.