Attention: King's Quest is property of Sierra. Most character names are also from the King's Quest Companion by Peter Spear. Some characters are my creation. This story also takes place after all eight King's Quest games.
Chapter 10: Tower's Task
I. Princess Yvette
Princess Yvette sat in the Quartz Tower, and she was worried. She wasn't sure how long she had been in the tower, but she knew each time the sun rose, it could mean her death. She started wondering why no one had ever destroyed the tower after Aunt Valanice's rescue. She then remembered that the only people who knew the truth of the tower were the ones who had planned to use it.
She got up and walked over to the balcony, peering over the edge. She was certain the fall from that height would kill her. However, she was sure that something would have prevented her from doing that. Like before, the wind was really howling, like it could lift a whole person.
The sound worried her more, as she noticed the stars moving across the sky faster than they normally did. It scared her to think that her time was running out, and she felt no one could save her in time, especially as the wind grew louder. In her mind, she could have sworn the end was rushing to her.
She then saw something that gave her hope. It appeared that some of the wind had taken a form that could carry people. As the form neared, she realized that it was true. Coming towards her, on a beast of wind, was her cousin, Princess Rosella, and her cousin's fiancé, Edgar. She quickly backed up as they entered the tower.
She wanted to give her cousin a hug, but she noticed they weren't getting off the beast that brought them to her. She did regain her wits long enough to say the question that was on her mind. "Did you come to rescue me?"
She was overjoyed to hear the answer from Rosella, "Yes cousin, but for our plan to work, you must listen." She nodded, knowing her cousin must have had a plan in the works. Her cousin had been responsible for saving the land of Tamir, as well as Edgars' home of Eldritch, from what she heard.
Princess Yvette watched her cousin look around for a moment, as she spoke. "My parents had come to rescue you, but it appears Hagatha had been up to something big. My father sent a message to me, and we came to the aid."
She was shocked by that. "You mean Hagatha may have Aunt Valanice. That can't be good. My father told me what our grandfather had planned. We can't let that happen. Will you be able to rescue both them and me in time?"
She watched as Edgar nodded. "If the plan we have works, it will. It appears Hagatha has sped up time here, no doubt to make her plans succeed. The plan we have is the only one that has a chance of working, but it requires you to stay here."
She swallowed when she heard that. It wasn't something she wanted to hear. She wanted to be safe. "Are you sure that's the only option? Surely you can get me out of here and at least to the island shores."
She was stunned when Rosella shook her head. "We could, but then this tower could be used again. Our plan is to use some special magical items to make you and Hagatha switch places. If we do this right, not only will you be safe, but the tower will be destroyed as well."
She nodded, understanding what they planned to do. "I think I understand. What must I do?"
She glanced at Edgar as he handed her a strange bracelet. "Put this on, and once the other one touches Hagatha, you will switch places with her. Now, where is the door?"
Yvette looked down towards the beach below, and pointed to the western shore. "Down there, and on the mainland, but hurry. The way the stars are moving, morning will be coming very soon."
She watched as Rosella smiled. "Don't worry, cousin. Sirocco is the swiftest of the winds. We will be at those doors in no time." She then watched as her cousin flew off on Sirocco.
She sighed, hoping that her cousin's plan would work. She then looked out at the horizon, and gasped as the wind blew. The gasp wasn't due to the wind, but the fact that the night was starting to give way to day. She looked then at the walls of the tower, and saw for a brief moment a spark of lightning, which told her that time was growing short, and that the tower was getting ready to do its task.
II. Valanice
Valanice was distressed about the situation she and her husband were in. They had been captured by Hagatha and her minions, failed to rescue her niece, and soon would be turned into undead creatures. Right now, their only hope was that Rosella had gotten word and was up to something. The only drawback was that time was racing by, which like everything else happening right now, was caused by their captor, Hagatha.
However, she was thankful that the ogress had felt the need to gloat. She wondered if all the members of the Black Cloak Society were that egotistical. When foes were egotistical, they always told their plans, and unknowingly revealed the flaws in the plans. She was hoping that was the case as Hagatha walked around her, smiling wickedly.
Soon, the ogress stopped and waved her hand at the far wall. Almost instantly, she could see her brother's castle, and the ogress spoke. "I'm sure you'll love to see this. The darkness is about to consume Kolyma, something my sister and I had almost done ages ago. A shame Baba had been so brazen, but it took me years to correct her mistakes. It then took years to slowly corrupt your family, until your father promised you to me. Now that will be rectified, with you becoming a vampire, Graham a werewolf, and your brother's kingdom butchered."
She was glad when Graham spoke as bravely as he could. "That will never happen, Hagatha. Time may be going faster, but before your minions can strike, day will dawn. Your minions will be weakened." She knew Graham was right. It would take a lot of magic to keep the sun from rising.
She was stunned when Hagatha gleefully cackled. "So you would think, but once the Quartz Tower drains your niece, the magic in her will be transferred to me, and Kolyma will always be dark. In fact, it will just start with Kolyma. Shadrack has big plans for your kingdom. I wonder what disaster he'll put on them first."
She was thankful when her husband spoke up. "You've forgotten that there is an army at the castle. They will be ready for an attack, no matter what happens to us." It was conforting that her husband could still feel confident in a situation like the one they were in.
Her happiness ended when Hagatha just cackled. "Their army will only add to mine. Watch as the other werewolves wait around the castle." It was then she noticed the forms of the other werewolves. There were more than she had even thought there would be. Her brother, his family, and all his subjects would be killed, and all because they had failed to rescue Princess Yvette.
At that moments, the winds started to pick up again, and she noticed that the night was starting to give way to day. In moments, her niece would be dead, and her homeland and Daventry would fall into darkness. However, before she could believe it, the magic door burst open, and she could tell this surprised Hagatha as much as it surprised everything else there.
III. Hagatha
Hagatha was dumbfounded when the magic door burst open. Only something magically powerful could destroy the three magic doors. She was certain nothing could have done that, especially with her plan moments away from completion. If her plan failed, she was sure Shadrack would drop her out of the Black Cloak Society, just as he had done with her sister, Baba Yaga.
She got over her shock when she saw two people come through the door, mounted on a steed of wind, which had to be the force that destroyed the door. It didn't take her long to recognize the daughter of Graham and Valanice, Rosella, and her husband-to-be, Edgar. However, she was glad to see the extra spell she put on Princess Yvette had kept her in the tower.
She went to command her minions to attack the new arrivals, but was surprised when Rosella pointed a wand at both minions, and they were turned into frogs. She was not too upset about her minions being turned in to frogs, since it would only be a few more minutes until her plan would be successful. There would be no way to get Princess Yvette out of the Quartz Tower.
She cackled again, certain that her plan would succeed. She quickly cast a few fireballs, forcing her captives, and the new intruders back. "It doesn't matter what you do now. Soon it will be too late to stop me. In a few moments, Princess Yvette will be dead, and I will be in total control of Kolyma." To prove her point, Hagatha then shot a fireball that destroyed the wand in Rosella's hand. "Even that weapon is no match for me."
It was during that moment, she noticed something flying through the air. It was small, and wasn't likely to hurt her. In all her years, she had cast many spells to prolong her life, as well as protect her from harmful magic. It would take a very powerful spell to kill her now. She put the object out of her mind, knowing it could not kill her. However, she was distracted from it when Edgar said, "That wand wasn't meant to kill you. It just transforms, just like that teleports."
Hagatha gasped as the realization hit her, right at the same time the object magically landed on her wrist, and wrapped around it. As it did that, everything around her changed. The dark lair from the vampire's home instantly changed to windowed room, a crystalline room. She also noticed how it was decked out for a princess. It was then she looked out a window to see a balcony, and a sky that was just starting to brighten.
All at once, she realized what was about to happen. She tried to move quickly, reaching for the door, only to hear the growl of the creature guarding the door. She started to panic, hoping she could get out, and beg Shadrack to forgive her. She remember that after Baba fled Kolyma, she had traveled around until she heard from her sister from another land, where she had cursed a Baron. During that time, Shadrack dropped Baba out of the high levels of the Black Cloak Society. After that, and she heard of Baba's defeat at the hands of a hero, her sister had been kicked out.
As sparks started to appear, and the sky got brighter, Hagatha knew what was coming, and hoped she could avoid it, even if it meant losing her standing in the Black Cloak Society. She then tried to rush to the balcony, all the time, trying to cast the spell to remove the safeguards. She quickly realized it was too late as the first bolt of energy hit her, and more started to follow. She also realized that Princess Yvette had been rescued, and the Quartz Tower would destroy itself as it killed her. It was the very last thought she had as her body was consumed by the energy of the Quartz Tower.
IV. Princess Rosella
Rosella breathed a sigh of relief when she watched Hagatha disappear, being replaced with the appearing form of Princess Yvette. It was all she needed to see to know that the plan had succeeded. However, she waited as her cousin looked around the dank room, and realized that she had been rescued. "Thank goodness it worked. I was close to being part of that evil tower's task."
She watched as everyone gathered round her cousin, and heard her father say. "Indeed. But what happened to Hagatha? Can we afford to relax if she is still around?"
As if to answer her father's question, a blinding flash, and a loud explosion came from the magic door. Those two items told her that the plan had been successful. She smiled as Edgar said the words. "I'd say that the Quartz Tower is no more. Maybe feeding on evil magic was what was needed to destroy it."
She then looked over where the two minions, that were now turned into frogs were. In that moment, she was stunned to see them explode. She wondered if that had been linked to the destruction of the wand, when the whole castle they were in started to rumble. As the rumbling started to get louder, she heard her father shout, "I think when the tower did it's task, it also ended anything Hagatha's magic was still influencing. We need to get out of here quick."
She nodded, and wondered if Sirocco would be able to carry them all in time, until she remember the magic door was still open. She looked towards it, and said, "The door is still open. Let's go back through." She then rushed through, followed by her parents, cousin and Edgar. Soon the gloomy keep was gone, and they were on the shore that faced the Quartz Tower. From the point they were at, she could tell the tower was gone.
After a moment, the door closed behind them, and she breathed a sigh of relief. The swiftness of what had happened made her think that things might be better in Kolyma. She looked over at Sirocco, and then at Edgar. "Do you think we might all be able to ride back to my Uncle's castle? I'm sure we all need to see what had happened." She also noticed that everyone was agreeing with her, and was thankful when Edgar also nodded.
Once they were on Sirocco, they were airborne, and crossing Kolyma. As they crossed, she heard her mother gasp, and the tone of the gasp told her what here eyes now saw. The building they were in was gone. The poisoned late was clean and clear. Hagatha's evil influence was gone. She was also glad that as they neared the castle, everyone had come out to greet them, including her brother's friend, the djinn Shamir.
As they reached the ground, she saw that others were there as well, and while she didn't know them, she could tell her parents were familiar with them. However, the first to approach them was her uncle, King Drake. He looked very happy to see his daughter again. "You all did it. Scarlett had teleported in once her captors disappeared and told us you had succeeded."
She smiled when her mother spoke. "It is good to hear she is alright. We were lucky that Rosella had gotten Graham's message, and had come up with a plan. If she hadn't, this would have been disastrous."
She felt everyone's attention turn to her. She honestly didn't want to tell them about her plan, and how risky it had been. So she decided to politely curtsy, and respond. "It has always been tradition to come to the aid of those who need it in our family. I'm just glad that Hagatha is gone now."
She then heard the wizard that stood next to her uncle speak. "Indeed. Hagatha's dark magic had been growing over the years. It had a major set back years ago, and now the land is free of it. You've all done a far greater thing then anyone could have. Right after you had succeeded, the djinn made a full recovery."
She watched as the djinn twirled around happily. "Now we can head home when ever you are ready, Your Majesties. I'm sure that the Princess would need some time to recover." Rosella was about to say something, when she remember it was her cousin who the djinn was talking about.
She smiled as her redheaded cousin nodded, and then walked over to her. "Thank you again, Rosella. I wish I can have some adventures like you some day."
Rosella smiled, and then had an idea. "Indeed, but I have a great task for you in the near future. I'd like you to be one of my bridesmaids." There had been a few gasps, but she ignored them, realizing they were a joyful sound. "Then, you will get to see some of the fantastic lands I've seen."
She watched as Yvette nodded in response to her request, and then her father said, "At least this ended on a good note. We shall be looking forward to the wedding then. Now, let's all head home so we can all rest." She and Edgar nodded, and mounted Sirocco again, and as they flew off, she watched her parents and the djinn disappear out of sight.
V. Shadrack
Back at Daventry Castle, Shadrack watched the events through a magic crystal. Hagatha's failure pleased him, since it was part of his master plan. The process had given him the second power in the special crystal, and set things up for the next phase of his plan. It even gave him a wicked idea to work into phase four.
As he got up from the table in the quarters he occupied as Cale Silver, he was not surprised to see Manannan jump up onto the table. The former wizard had been privy to his whole plan, and had been watching the scene with him for a bit.
As Shadrack went over to some papers, the cat spoke. "So your plan continues to work, but were all those events foreseen? Did you expect Rosella to come to the rescue, or even offer Princess Yvette a place in her wedding?"
Shadrack pulled out some papers, and nodded. "Not everything was foreseen. However, it allowed me to find out the resourcefulness of Prince Edgar and Princess Rosella. It also allows me the great pleasure of delivering the news of Hagatha's passing to her failure of a sister. She had almost redeemed herself from fleeing Kolyma. To think she had the land of Spielburg under her control, and lost it."
As he turned towards the cat, he noticed it was nodding in agreement. "You never did forgive her for that. You always seemed more forgiving of Hagatha. So how soon do we start on Phase Three."
Shadrack placed all the things he needed right on the table next to Manannan. "Very soon. I want to give them time to think things have calmed down, before restoring you. After that, we shall begin Phase Three. Now, I must continue my charade. Keep quiet until I return, and stay out of sight as well."
With his last words, he left the quarters, and headed down to the throne room. He wanted it to appear that he would be surprised by their arrival, instead of expecting them to appear. He made his way, deciding what question to ask King Alexander, so he would appear to be there as coincidence to the King's arrival home.
As he entered, he noticed that King Alexander was already talking with the wizard, Crispin. He knew the wizard was of advanced age, but he was certain the old wizard wasn't as old as him. As he moved closer, all he heard from Alexander was "That is wonderful news. Hopefully my father will return soon so we can tell him."
At that moment, he saw Alexander turn, and notice he was there. "Ah, Cale, I've just heard some news, and you might like it." Before King Alexander could continue, they were all surprised by the djinn's arrival with the King and Queen. He could tell that Alexander was happy about that as he said, "Welcome home, father and mother. I'm sure your mission was successful."
He watched as Graham nodded and responded. "Indeed, Hagatha is no more, thanks to your sister. I hope nothing happened while we were gone."
Shadrack held his tongue, knowing if he did answer, it might cast suspicion on him. With his cover, knowing the present would be bad. He remained silent as the old wizard spoke. "Something good has happened. Cedric had arrived not too long ago to tell me that Derek is soon ready to return. He might even be able to give pointers to Cale."
He slightly smiled as King Graham said, "That is joyous news. I'm sure Cale would appreciate the pointers. After that, I'll make sure you have safe passage out of Daventry. Does that suit you, Cale?"
He nodded, but he also started planning a change to Phase Three. Derek's return now needed to be indefinitely postponed, and he hoped King Alexander would be in the Green Isles when he started Phase Three.
Authors Notes:
And the second phase has ended. I do hope that the loyal readers, as well as those who check it out from the King's Quest Omnipedia, have enjoy this story arc. In the near future, it will be time for Manannan to take his turn.
As always, I include my refresher of all those names standared with the series. I'm sure you might be wondering about some of the names, and with the exception of Cale Silver, Brutus, Anne, Geoffrey, Sir Robert, Princess Yvette, David, and King Drake are all are from established King's Quest background. I'll give some basics about the names mentioned in the fic, just to help bring you up to speed.
Graham - King of Daventry. Main character of King's Quest 1, King's Quest 2 and King's Quest 5.
Valanice - Queen of Daventry. Originally from the land of Kolyma. First featured in King's Quest 2. Main character in King's Quest 7.
Alexander - Son of Graham, now King of The Land Of Green Isles. Main character of King's Quest 3 and King's Quest 6.
Rosella - Daughter of Graham and Valanice. Twin sister to Alexander. Main character in King's Quest 4 and King's Quest 7. At end of King's Quest 7, she was courting Edgar of Eldritch.
Crispin - Wizard who helped Graham in King's Quest 5. I know I've misspelled it a few times in this story. As well as Derek's name.
Cedric - Owl familiar of Crispin. Featured in King's Quest 5.
Arch Duke Fifi The Yip-Yap. Ruler of Falderal. Featured in King's Quest 7.
Connor - Hero of King's Quest 8. At the end of the game, he was known as Chapion Eternal.
Sarah - Citizen of Daventry, and girlfriend of Connor. Was turned to stone in King's Quest 8. Released from spell when Connor restored the Mask of Eternity
Edgar - Prince of Eldritch, featured in King's Quest 4 and King's Quest 7. Courting Rosella.
Dahlia - Witch featured in King's Quest 1. In the game, she remained unnamed. This name is from the King's Quest Companion.
Hagatha - Witch featured in King's Quest 2. It is she who was behind Valanice's imprisonment in King's Quest 2. My current choice to make her an ogress is based on her appearance in King's Quest 2, and her nature for cannibalism.
Manannan - Evil Wizard from King's Quest 3. He was changed into a cat during King's Quest 3. He returned in King's Quest 5 in his cat form.
Lolotte - Evil Fairy from King's Quest 4. She was destroyed by Cupid's arrow by Rosella, freeing Edgar from the curse she held him with.
Mordack - Evil Wizrad from King's Quest 5. Brother of Manannan.
Shadrack - Only mentioned in King's Quest 6. A running theory is that he is in charge of the Black Cloak Society.
Abdul Alhazred - The main villian of King's Quest 6. He is currently a prisoner in the land he tried to take over.
Malicia - Main villianess of King's Quest 7. At the end of the game, she was turned back into a baby.
Lucreto - Villian from King's Quest 8 (Mask of Eternity). At the end of King's Quest 8, he was imprisoned in a void.
Shamir Shamazel - The djinn who was forced to serve Abdul in King's Quest 6. In the best ending of King's Quest 6, he serves Alexander.
Saladin - Captain of the guards in King's Quest 6.
Genesta - Good fairy that Rosella helps in King's Quest 4.
Sirocco - Swift wind from Eldrich from King's Quest 7. Normally seen in the form of a horse.
King Otar - Leader of the Vulcanix Underground from King's Quest 7.
Spielburg - Which this is never visited or seen in the King's Quest series, it is the first land mentioned in the Quest for Glory series. It could be theorized that the settings of both series are divided by a great sea.
Baba Yaga - Ogress who is featured as the main antagonist in Quest for Glory 1, and appears again in Quest for Glory 4. In the second story arc, it is mentioned that she and Hagatha are sisters.
Scarlett - Scarlett was the little red riding hood character in King's Quest 2. In the story, it is suggested that both she and her grandmother are good witches.
