Chapter 20: Silver Rider Rising
"No," said Raven as the Fire Ant Worm restrained her at the foot of the mountain, forcing her to watch the rockslide. Struggle as she would, Raven was helpless and could only watch as her friends were buried alive.
Kick Hopper and Punch Hopper then landed next to Raven and powered down.
"Sorry we had to go and murder your friends there," said Lucian as he brushed some dust off of his shirt, "nothing personal, but orders from Ms. Katzenberg are orders from Ms. Katzenberg."
"You monsters!" shouted Raven as a dark purple aura surrounded her body, forcing the Fire Ant Worm away from her. She then blasted the creature with a purple fireball, knocking it to the ground. She then turned towards the sinister siblings and powered up two more fireballs.
"I don't think so!" said Lilia as she threw a small gray sphere at Raven. It hit Raven in the neck and expanded and solidified into a gray metal collar.
"What? What is this?!" exclaimed Raven. She then tried to pull the collar off but then cried out in pain from an intense electrical shock.
"Mr. Snyder thought you might need a little corralling before we bring you to him," said Lilia. She then took out a small metal box with a red button on it, "oh look, it even has a remote control," she then pressed the button, causing Raven to shout in pain again as she was shocked.
"If you try to take the collar off, you will be disciplined," said Lucian, "same goes if you try to use magic. And since my sister holds the box with the red button, she can shock you whenever she wishes."
"So that's how it's going to be?" Raven asked, "torture me before handing me over to Cuthbert? I thought this wasn't personal!"
"It isn't," said Lilia, "but if you give me a reason," she then held up the remote, "I will use this."
"Then where the hell is Cuthbert?!" Raven demanded, "if he wants me so bad, why didn't he come in person?!"
"Let's just say that he's not completely in control for the time being," said Lucian, "that he and the others are following someone else's plan."
"We've gossiped enough," said Lilia, "the sooner we get away from these mountains, the sooner we can transport you back to Mr. Snyder."
"You can't teleport here?" Raven asked. She then looked up at the mountain range, "we must be so close to Wonderland, it's interfering with teleportation."
"Like that's gonna help you," said Lucian, "now move! Before my sister gets trigger happy."
"Just give me a reason," said Lilia, "I dare you."
By now the Fire Ant Worm had gotten back up. It grabbed Raven by her arm and began dragging Raven down the foothills, with Lucian and Lilia following closely.
Raven managed to shrug the creature off of her, "I can walk on my own!" she snapped.
"Then walk already!" said Lilia.
Instead, Raven looked further up the mountain, trying to find the outcropping where she last saw Dexter and the others, but the rockslide obscured where her friends were.
"They're already dead if they're lucky," said Lucian, "now move!"
"You heard my big brother!" said Lilia. She then pressed the red button, causing Raven to cry out in pain.
"Alright, I'm going!" said Raven as she walked down the foothills, closely guarded by the Fire Ant Worm and the sinister siblings.
Back up the mountain the dust was still settling from the rockslide. But then some of the rocks fell from where they settled, then more rocks, then even more as something big pushed up from below, something that turned out to be a large enchanted umbrella that was held by Maddie.
"Everyone okie dokie?" Maddie asked as she looked down as the coughing, dust covered forms of Lizzie, Dorothea and Dexter.
"A little shaken up but fine," said Dorothea. She then looked at Dexter, "lucky you Clocked Up in time to deflect most of those boulders from us."
"Lucky Maddie had that big umbrella to keep the rest of the rocks away," said Dexter, "but what about Raven?"
"Yes, what about Raven?" Lizzie asked, "those sinful siblings must have teleported her to the main enemy base by now."
"Nope, nada and a whole lot of nil," said Maddie as she folded up her umbrella as held it across her shoulder, "no teleporting this close to Wonderland."
"Oh, that's right, I can't believe I forgot!" said an astonished Lizzie, "the very chaotic nature of Wonderland prevents teleportation, mirror travel yes, but no teleporting."
"How far does this effect extend?" Dorothea asked as she pulled out her cell phone.
"Depends on the weather, what season of the year and the mood of Wonderland itself," said Lizzie, "Wonderland is alive, sick from what Rebecca Queen did to the land, but still alive. But if the enemy had to come directly to us in order to capture Raven, then the effect must extend to the foothills and beyond."
"Then there's still a chance to catch up and save her," said Dorothea as she activated an app on her phone, "lucky that Avery slapped a mini transponder on Raven before we left The Base." Her phone began beeping, "The transponder is active! Let's go!"
"Shouldn't we call Avery and the others for help?" Dexter asked as they began making their way down the mountain.
"We can't risk calling The Base until Madison and the others have completed the move," said Dorothea, "otherwise the enemy could triangulate their location and they'd be surrounded and under siege. They'll call us once they've set up shop in the new location, so it's just us for now."
"The odds are somewhat stacked against us, don't you think?" Lizzie asked.
"Oh, we'll be fine," said Maddie.
"Who told you that?" Dexter asked, "your narrator friend?"
"Nope, but it wouldn't hurt to ask him," said Maddie, "what do you say, Mr. AndrewK9000?"
I'm not spoiling things.
"Oh come on," said Maddie, "just a little hint to reassure everyone."
Sorry, I'm not giving out any spoilers any more.
"Oh, please?" Maddie asked as she smiled sweetly, her eyes batting with wanting, "pretty please with sugar lumps on top?"
Oh, not the sugar lumps! No! I must stay strung and remain neutral!
"What about with strawberry cheesecake and Cookies'N'Cream ice cream on the side?" Maddie asked.
No! I…can't…tell…must…resist…revealing that Raven will be alright.
"Thank you!" said Maddie happily.
Oh, damnit! You got me again!
"I sure did," said Maddie. She then looked at Dexter, Dorothea and Lizzie, "Raven's gonna be okay. We just need to get to her."
"Then let's go already," said Dexter. With that he and the others hurried down the mountain. But as they made their way towards the foothills, Maddie began lagging behind.
"What's wrong?" Dexter asked as he, Lizzie and Dorothea slowed down.
"I don't know," said Maddie as she rubbed her forehead, "I think I'm getting a headache." She then rubbed her forehead again, "it's nothing, just a Wangdoodle in my noodle, that's all. Let's go save Raven!" with that she sprinted ahead of Dexter and the others.
"Now I'm starting to worry about her," said Dorothea as she and the others hurried to catch up.
"How much longer do we have to walk?" Lilia asked as she, Lucian, Raven and the Fire Ant Worm made their way down the foothills.
"Until we get out of the interference field generated by Wonderland," said Lucian in an annoyed one, "I explained it to you already."
"Well, I don't get why a poisoned country is stopping us from teleporting," said Lilia.
"You can thank my mom for that," said Raven.
"I will," said an annoyed Lilia, "now keep your mouth shut or else."
"Or else what?!" Raven demanded, "you'll shock me again? I doubt Cuthbert would appreciate it if I was mistreated so."
"I hate to admit it but she's right, sister of mine," said Lucian, "so only press the button if Raven misbehaves."
"I'll behave if your sister does," said Raven.
"Keep pushing my buttons and I'll push yours," threatened Lilia as she waved the box in front of Raven's face, "you want me to use this? Well? Do you?"
"No do I don't!" said Raven, "sheesh, what's your problem?"
"I'm bored and my feet hurt!" said Lilia irately, "does that answer your question?"
"Well, if your feet hurt," said Raven, "then maybe the problem is your shoes."
"My shoes?" Lilia asked as she looked down, "well, they are kinda tight."
"You know," said Raven as she smiled disarmingly, "my friend Ashlynn owns the best shoe store in the realms. I could put in a good word with her about a discount and…"
"Don't even think about trying to make friends with us," said Lucian, "we don't need friends."
"That's right!" said Lilia, "the only friend I need is my big brother and I'm the only friend he needs, so don't even think about getting on my good side."
"I wouldn't dream about it," said Raven, "I was just wondering how you two got mixed up with the likes of Cuthbert, Ophelia and The Obsidian Council."
"That's for us to know and you to shut the hell up!" said Lilia, whom then pressed the button, causing Raven to cry out in pain as the collar shocked her.
"Okay, okay, I'll be quiet!" pleaded Raven.
"That's more like it," said Lilia.
"Feeling better?" Lucian asked.
"Emotionally, yes," said Lilia as she smiled smugly, then frowned, "but my feet still hurt."
"Well, my eyes hurt from all this bright sunlight!" said an irate Lucian, "and I'm starting to get a headache!"
"Is it my fault you forgot to bring a hat and sunglasses?" Lilia asked, "and let's not forget sunblock. Oh wait," she then pulled out from her pocket a bottle of SPF 50 sunscreen and began applying it to her face and arms, "good thing I'm always prepared."
"Do you have to be so liberal with that gunk?" Lucian asked, "you smell like coconuts."
"So?" Lilia asked as she rubbed the lotion into her skin.
"I hate coconuts!" said Lucian, "you know that!"
"I do," said a still smugly smiling Lilia, "I'm just grinding your gears, big brother."
"Well, stop it already," said Lucian, "because my gears are overheating."
"That's because you forgot to bring something to drink," said Lilia as she pulled out a bottle of water and took a large gulp.
"Wow, you really are prepared," said Raven.
"Thank you," said Lilia smugly, "now shut up."
"Shutting up now," said Raven in a subdued tone, yet inwardly she was smiling as a plan began to form in her mind.
"Why don't we all have a few moments of quiet," said Lucian.
"Fine with me," said Lilia. They walked in silence for a few seconds before Lilia began whistling a song that Raven didn't recognize.
"Do you have to whistle that?" an annoyed Lucian exclaimed.
"Sorry," said Lilia. She then whistled another song, to which Lucian cringed in annoyance.
"Stop that!" said Lucian, "I can't stand that song!"
"But I thought you loved Miley Cyrus," said Lilia.
"I did before she pulled a Lindsay Lohan and made a train wreck of her life!" exclaimed Lucian, "I can't believe you're still a fan after she started Twerking!"
"She's being independent and mature!" shouted Lilian.
"How does acting like a whore make one independent and mature!?" exclaimed Lucian, "her behavior and attitude is downright disgusting!"
"It's what her fans want!" said Lilia.
"Not this fan, thank you very much!" said Lucian, "this fan has had enough! It's bad enough that she blew off Disney after Hannah Montana ended, but she's like a completely different person, like a trailer trash version of Lady Gaga!"
"And Lady Gaga isn't?" Lilia asked. With that she and Lucian started shouting at each other like there was no tomorrow.
"Sheesh, they're really getting serious," said Raven. She then looked at the Fire Ant Worm, "don't you think it'd be a good idea to break this up before they hurt each other?"
At that the Fire Ant Worm looked as if he had no idea what to do, but then shuffled forward and tried to intervene between the arguing siblings.
"It's a good thing you Worms are so dumb," muttered Raven as she tried to sneak away. But before she got ten paces she cried out in agony as the collar shocked her again, only this time the electrical charge was stronger and lasted longer. She fell to the ground, twitching in pain as the collar continued to shock her.
"Oh, I forgot to mention," said Lilia as she held up the box with her thumb on the button, "if you try to escape, you get shocked, only I get to turn the voltage up."
"I think she's got the message, sister of mine," said Lucian.
"She'd better," said Lilia as she released the button. Raven gasped with relief as the collar ceased shocking her.
"Are you going to behave now?" Lucian asked as he, Lilia and the Fire Ant Worm walked over to Raven.
"Do I have a choice?" Raven asked in a hopeless tone.
"Not if you want to remain undamaged," said Lucian as he helped Raven stand up, "Mr. Snyder and Ms. Katzenberg may want to intact, but if you keep resisting us, we will hurt you in worse ways."
"I've got plenty of ideas on how to make you suffer without inflicting permanent harm," said Lilia.
"I won't resist anymore," said Raven, "but…"
"But what?" an irritated Lilia asked as she held up the box again.
"I was just wondering if we're somehow related," said Raven hastily, "that we're cousins or something."
"Me? Part of the line of Evil Queens?" Lilia asked in a thoughtful manner, "it'd be nice, but I doubt we're even remotely related." She then frowned irately, "now move!" with that she roughly shoved Raven forward.
"They're torturing her!" said Dexter as he, Lizzie, Maddie and Dorothea watched from the cover of some nearby trees, "we've got to save Raven now!"
"And get murdered before we can get to her?" Dorothea asked.
"She's right," said Lizzie as she shuffled her deck of cards in contemplation, "we need a plan of attack that will allow us to get to Raven without those dastardly Dark Riders seeing us coming a mile away."
"The element of surprise," said Dexter.
"Oh, you want to surprise them?" Maddie asked, "okay, I'll surprise them." With that she confidently jogged forward to catch up with Raven and her captors.
"Okay, now I'm convinced," said Dorothea, "Maddie Hatter is certifiably insane."
"We've got to stop her before she's spotted!" said Dexter.
"Too late," said Lizzie, "she's already out in the open."
"If she's lucky," said Dorothea, "if she's so lucky that every god in every pantheon in every universe has blessed her, she may be able to sneak up on Lucian and Lilia."
Just then Maddie shouted as loud as she could, "HEY YOU GUYS!" drawing the attention of Lucian, Lilia, the Fire Ant Worm and Raven.
"Did I say blessed?" an exasperated Dorothea asked, while Lizzie did a face palm and Dexter shook his head, "I should have said cursed."
But instead of attacking her, Lucian, Lilia and the Fire Ant Worm just stared at Maddie with dumbfounded eyes, while Raven was astonished and overjoyed to see her best friend alive and well.
"She's got their attention," said Lizzie, "now's our chance to get into position and strike."
"I just hope we're ready before they decide to murder Maddie," said Dexter.
"I hope so too," said Dorothea.
"Impossible," said Lucian as Maddie nonchalantly strode towards them, "we entombed you on the mountainside!"
"Well, I happen to believe in six impossible things every morning before breakfast," said Maddie, "being buried alive against my will, not one of those things. Surviving being buried alive, that might just count. You okay, Raven?"
"Aside from believing that my friends were dead and forced to wear a shock collar," said Raven, "I'm doing okay, you?"
"Never better," said Maddie as she reached them, "now, if you two don't mind," she then pointed at Lucian and Lilia, then at the Fire Ant Worm, "sorry, three, if you don't mind, please let my bestest best friend in all the whole wide world go."
"I'm afraid we can't do that," said Lucian, "we have our orders."
"Orders shmorders," said Maddie, "why do we have to fight so much? Can't we all just sit down for a cup of tea?" she then pulled out her trusty teapot.
"Keep back, psycho girl!" said Lilia as she held up the box as she cranked the voltage up all the way, "or I'll fry her like a turkey on Thanksgiving!"
"Maddie, stay back!" shouted Raven.
"But they're torturing you," said Maddie as she frowned, "it's not just right at all, as Blondie would say."
"Don't worry about me," said Raven, "worry about yourself! I don't want them to hurt you!"
"And we will hurt you," said Lucian as both grasshopper Zecters bounced into the area. He caught the Kick Hopper Zecter while Lilia caught the Punch Hopper Zecter with her free hand and both Rider Belts appeared around their waists.
"Just stay out of our way, psycho girl," said Lilia, "or I'll do to you what my big brother and I did to scorpion boy. I'll bet he's wallowing in his own misery in some rusty wheelchair somewhere." She then laughed cruelly.
Just then Dorothea appeared, screaming with fury as she rushed at and tackled Lilia to the ground, forcing the vile girl to drop both her Zecter and the shock box, breaking it into pieces. At the same time, the collar around Raven's neck broke open and fell to the ground.
"Don't you make fun of my friends, you evil, evil bitch!" shouted Dorothea as she punched Lilia in the face again and again. But then Lilia managed to push Dorothea off of her and delivered a punch that Dorothea partly dodged, the fist grazing her chin and knocking her over.
"Whatever happened to the element of surprise?" Lizzie asked as she and Dexter ran to catch up, while Gatack Zecter flew into Dexter's hand and his Rider Belt appeared around his waist.
"So all four of your are still alive," said Lucian as he helped a slightly bruised and bleeding Lilia back up.
"And kicking," said Dorothea as she got back up, wiping blood from her bleeding lips.
"That's my part," said Lucian. "Henshin!" both he and Lilia said as they slid their Zecters into place on their belts.
HENSHIN
Energy hexagons flowed from their Zecters, materializing into the grasshopper-themed armor of the two Dark Riders.
CHANGE: KICK HOPPER
CHANGE: PUNCH HOPPER
"Henshin!" said Dexter as he clicked his Zecter into place on his belt.
HENSHIN
Energy hexagons flowed from his Zecter, materializing into the Masked form of Gatack. He then flipped the fangs of his Zecter. Energy crackled as his amor segments separated.
"Cast off!" said Gatack as he flipped the fangs all the way.
CAST OFF
The armor segments blasted away from Gatack, revealing the sleeker, streamline form beneath.
CHANGE: STAG BEETLE
"Let's get it on!" said Kick Hopper.
"Gladly!" said Gatack as he released and wielded his Double Caliber swords. He, Kick Hopper and Punch Hopper rushed at each other and began exchanging blows, Gatack slashing his blades at the two Dark Riders, while they would alternate attacking and defending. One would block Gatack's attacks while the other would then either kick or punch at the blue beetle-themed Rider. It soon became clear that Gatack was forced on the defensive, barely able to hold his own against the Dark Rider's teamwork.
Meanwhile, Raven and the others were barely able to hold their own against the Fire Ant Worm. It would douse the area with its folic acid spray, then Clocked Up to attack either Raven, Dorothea, Lizzie or Maddie. It was all the four girls could do to avoid the acid spray and the vicious blows of the creature.
But then Kick Hopper and Punch Hopper delivered a double kick combo to Gatack, severely damaging his armor and forcing him back several paces.
"Dexter!" shouted Raven, only to avoid another gush of acid.
"I'm alright, Raven!" said Gatack as sparks flew from his armor, leaning on one of his fanged blades for support, "they're just a pair of pushovers!"
"Oh, we've been serious for some time now," said Punch Hopper.
"But my sister and I can get even more serious if you want," said Kick Hopper, "but instead of breaking your back, we'll break every bone in your body."
"I'd like to see you recover from that," said Punch Hopper.
"I don't think so!" said Dorothea as she smiled confidently. "You won't be hurting anyone else, not today or any other day!"
"What makes you think that?" Punch Hopper asked.
Just then something silver and fast flew into the area and slammed into the Fire Ant Worm, knocking the creature down. Into Dorothea's hand flew a silver Zecter shaped like a Hercules Beetle.
"Is that…!?" exclaimed Lizzie.
"My Zecter," said Dorothea as a Henshin Brace appeared on her right wrist. She then clicked the silver Zecter into place on the brace, "Henshin!"
HENSHIN
Energy hexagons flowed from her Zecter, materializing around Dorothea as a suit of silver armor with a beetle motif. On her right shoulder was a set of beetle horns while in her hand was a weapon similar to Kabuto's Kunai Gun.
"No way!" said Punch Hopper.
"Oh yes!" said Maddie, "Yes! The Book was right! Kamen Rider Hercus is here!"
"Who? What?" Gatack asked.
"That's what I saw in the book," said Maddie.
Hercus then aimed her blaster at Punch Hopper and fired several blasts, hitting the dark rider in the torso, damaging her armor and nearly knocking her down.
"Don't you hurt my sister!" shouted Kick Hopper, only to be tackled by Gatack. Kick Hopper kept his balance and the two of them began exchanging blows.
"Looks like it's you and me, new girl," said Punch Hopper as she regained her balance. "But do you have what it takes to face me one on one?"
"We'll soon see," said Hercus as she opened the horns on her Zector, causing her armor segments to separate with a crackle of energy, "Cast Off!" she said.
CAST OFF
The armor segments blasted away, revealing a sleeker, more streamline form beneath.
CHANGE: HERCULES BEETLE
Hercus then switched her Kunai Gun from blaster to axe form and rushed at Punch Hopper, while the Dark Rider rushed at her. The two began exchanging blows.
"We've got to help them!" said Raven, only for her to dodge another acid blast from the Fire Ant Worm.
"We've got this ugly jerk to deal with first!" said Lizzie. She then threw her cards at the creature but the explosive cards barely made it flinch.
"If only we had some ant poison or something!" said Lizzie.
"Let me check," said Maddie as she reached into her hat, "let's see…ant poison…ant poison…"
But then the creature rushed at Maddie and knocked her to the ground. It looked over her, preparing to douse Maddie with acid.
"NO!" shouted Raven, her shout suddenly merging and was replaced by a familiar roar. From out of nowhere charged The Bandersnatch. Howling with primal fury, it slammed into and knocked over the Fire Ant Worm, then began mauling the creature with fangs and claws.
"Maddie!" said Raven as she rushed over and helped her friend up.
"Now my head is really hurting," said Maddie as she placed her hat back on her head, wincing with pain. She then saw the Bandersnatch assaulting the Fire Ant Worm, "hey, look who came to help. Oh, Raven, I found some ant poison." She then held up a can of bug spray
"Thanks," said Raven. She then cast a spell that caused the can of bug spray to levitate out of Maddie's hands, glowing with bright purple magic as the can dissolved and infusing the pressurized poison within with an explosive charge.
"Get out of the way!" Raven shouted at The Bandersnatch. The legendary creature from Wonderland seemed to understand and it bounded away from the Fire Ant Worm. Raven threw the charged poison at the creature, hitting it with a double blast of deadly force that caused it to violently explode.
At the same time Hercus had Punch Hopper on the defensive, countering each of the Dark Rider's attacks and striking back with blows of her own, while Gatack also had Kick Hopper on the defensive.
"Rider Beat!" said Hercus as she pressed a button on her Zecter.
RIDER BEAT
Tachyon energy charged from the Zecter into her Kunai Gun. Hercus then slammed the axe-like weapon into the chest plate of Punch Hopper and slashed downward, while the Dark Rider staggered back as energy crackled from the damaged section of her armor. Sparks and minor explosions went off as she fell to one knee.
At the same time, Gatack began pressing the button on his Zecter.
ONE
TWO
THREE
"Rider Kick!" said Gatack as he flipped the fangs on his Zecter and flipped them back.
RIDER KICK
He then delivered a jumping tornado kick to Kick Hopper, hitting the Dark Rider in the torso and nearly knocking him over. Energy crackled and sparks flew from the damaged section of his armor as he fell to one knee.
"Is it over?" Lizzie asked.
With a double flash, both Dark Rider's transformations were canceled, revealing a heavily dishelmed and winded Lucian and Lilia.
"That…was unexpected," said Lilia.
"That it was…sister of mine," said Lucian as they both struggled to their feet, "I think we've worn out our welcome."
"I agree, big brother," said Lilia as she walked over to Lucian, "and I think we're clear of Wonderland's interference."
"I think so too," said Lucian. As if in affirmation, a shimmering gray door appeared behind the sinister siblings, "you may have won today, Raven, but next time will be different."
"We're so gonna beat your butts bloody!" said Lilia. With that they walked into the gray doorway, which vanished after them.
"Wait, why did we let them go?" Raven asked as Gatack and Hercus powered down, "we could have stopped them here and now!"
"I think we've had enough," said Dexter as he walked over, "are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
"Nothing that a nice, relaxing bath can't cure," said Raven. She and the others then looked at The Bandersnatch, which was standing a few yard from them, looking at the weary travelers with eyes that spoke of deep intelligence and wisdom.
"I've a feeling he's smarter than the average beast," said Dorothea.
"I know he's smart," said Maddie, "thanks for the hint, Mr. AndrewK9000."
"If it's smart," said Lizzie, "how do we communicate with the creature?"
As if in answer, The Bandersnatch began drawing lines in the ground with its claws.
"We don't have to communicate with him," said Dorothea, "he's communicating with us."
"But what's he trying to say?" Dexter asked as he and the others looked at the lines.
"They're ancient Wonderland glyphs," said Maddie as she looked at the lines in amazement, "it's how they wrote in Riddlish many, many, many years ago."
"Can you read it?" Raven asked.
"Absol-doodle-lutely," said Maddie. She then cautiously walked over to the Bandersnatch and looked closer at the drawings, "um-hum, um-hum, um-hum, yes, I think I got it."
"What's he saying?" Dexter asked.
"I have no idea," said Maddie in a nonchalant tone as she poured a cup of tea, earning a sigh of exasperation from Dexter, Lizzie and Dorothea.
"Why don't I just use a translation spell?" Raven asked.
"Good idea," said Dorothea.
Raven walked over to the Bandersnatch and cast a spell over the drawings, which rose up into the air and rearranged themselves into English.
'The Enemy Of My Enemy Is My Friend.'
"What does that mean?" Dexter asked.
"It means that our vicious associate seeks friendship and cooperation against Obsidian," said Lizzie.
The Bandersnatch nodded and then began drawing more lines in the ground. When he was finished, Raven cast her translator spell again.
'I Scratched Your Back, Now Scratch Mine.'
"He helped us, now he wants us to help him," said Dorothea.
"I got that part," said Dexter.
"What do you want from us?" Raven asked. She and the others waited for The Bandersnatch to draw more Ancient Riddlish glyphs, which she translated.
'The Heart That Was Taken From Me.'
"I'm willing to bet that he wants us to reunite him with his mate," said Dexter.
"Truly, the love of The Bandernsatch is great and powerful," said Lizzie, "yet his loneliness must be sheer agony."
"But if his mate is back in Wonderland," said Dorothea, "then…"
"Then the land must be healed for the two separated hearts to be rejoined," said Maddie, "least they be lost to each other until the end of time."
"But how are we going to do that?" Dexter asked, "Raven's mother cursed Wonderland and no one knows how she did it."
"And she once boasted to me that she'll take the secret of that curse to her grave," said Raven. She then looked at The Bandersnatch with grim determination, "my mother stole your love from you, but I will reunite you with her. I don't know how or when, but I swear on my own life, I will restore Wonderland and reunite you with your mate."
At that The Bandersnatch nodded in acknoledgement and headed back up the mountain.
"There goes a strange and deep soul," said Dorothea as she and the others watched The Bandersnatch leave, "do you really thing we can break the curse on Wonderland?"
"We can try," said Raven, "and we will try, as soon as we beat Obsidian." She then frowned, "but for no we've got to go back up the mountain as well. I lost the Odamantine and it must have been buried by the rockslide." She then frowned again, "and I lost the divining rod as well."
"Well, that's just poopie," said Maddie, "and my head still hurts," she then took off her hat.
"Great balls of fire!" said Dorothea, "what's that on your head?!"
"Huh?" Maddie asked as she felt her head and found to her surprise a lump of Odamantine. "Oh, now how did that get there?"
"Must have gotten knocked in there by the landslide," said Dorothea as Raven took the Odamantine.
"Well, all's well that end's well," said Dorothea. Just then her phone rang with an incoming text, "it's from Avery and the others, they have the new Base set up."
"Then let's get going," said Raven. With that she and the others headed back towards Book End.
…The Enemy Lair…
"You incompetent idiots!" shouted Cuthbert as he paced back and forth in front of Lucian and Lilia, "you bumbling buffoons! I should have you scourged within an inch of your worthless lives!"
"You will not touch them!" said Ophelia irately, "they are not yours to punish!"
"That's right!" said Lilia vindictively, "if anyone's gonna punish us, it'll be Ms. Katzenberg."
"You're on thin ice as it is, Lilia," said Ophelia as she glared wrathfully, "you and your brother, so keep quiet until I've decided what to do with you!"
"With all due respect, Ms. Katzenberg," said Lucian, "and you, Mr. Snyder, my sister and I fought with everything we had."
"You should have fought harder!" said Cuthbert, "but no, you gave up the second another Rider got her Zecter!"
"It's not our fault!" said Lilia, "you should have sent us more Worms! And you didn't tell us about that no-teleporting field of Wonderland until we were already in it!"
"And who's fault was that?" Lucian asked, "I'll tell you, it was Dr. Halberd! He didn't tell us about the anti-teleporting field! It was his plan that called for too few Worms!"
"How dare you!" shouted Dr. Halberd as he walked up to the sinister siblings, "how dare you mock my plan! It was perfect, everything about it was perfect! It was you two numbskulls who failed to carry the plan out to its completion!"
"You expected us to make due with that one Molted Worm?" Lucian asked, "and if your plan was so brilliant, then you should have taken into account the new Rider."
"My plan was perfect," said Dr. Halberd.
"Perfectly stupid!" said Lilia, only to be slapped in the face by Dr. Halberd, whom was then punched in the face by Lucian.
"Stop it! All of you!" shouted Dr. Stiletto, "you all messed up," just then a technician handed her a report, "and here's another screw up. We found the enemy headquarters."
"We did!?" Cuthbert and Ophelia asked at the same time.
"Of course we did!" said Dr. Halberd smugly as he smiled with bleeding lips and nose, "my plan to triangulate the location of the enemy base was perfect."
"Then how come when we tried to penetrate their headquarters, the empty warehouse that disguised their headquarters exploded?" Dr. Stiletto asked, "they knew we were on to them, so they moved their headquarters and booby trapped the warehouse! We lost fifty Salis Worms in that explosion!"
"What?" Dr. Halberd asked in a disbelieving tone, "how? How!?" he then began flipping through the pages of his notebook, "how!? This wasn't part of the plan! This was not part of the plan!"
"You and your plans," said Cuthbert as he smiled viciously, "I'll be sure to mention it at my next meeting with The Obsidian Council." He then gestured to two disguised Worms, "get him out of my sight! I'll deal with him later."
"This cannot be!" exclaimed Dr. Halberd as the disguised Worms dragged him out of the room, "my plan was infallible! Infallible, I say! INFALLIBLE!"
"Is it me or has Foundation X lowered its standards in employee competence?" Cuthbert asked.
"I beg your forgiveness, Mr. Snyder," said Dr. Stiletto, "had I known how much of a fool Dr. Halberd was, I would never have allowed his assignment to the campaign." At that Drs. Scimitar and Falchion nodded in agreement.
"I don't want your excuses," said Cuthbert, "I want results! I want Raven Queen captured! I want Apple White dead! I want The Storybook of Legends and I want this entire world corrupted to the darkness! And what I want is what The Obsidian Council wants!" he then glared the handful of Worms in the room, at the Foundation X scientists and technicians, at Lucian and Lilia and at Ophelia, "none of you seem capable of delivering those desires!"
"Maybe you need to put out an ad in the classifies," said Clare as she leaned nonchalantly against the doorway. She then sauntered into the room, "I can see it now! 'Wanted: Evil Minions Capable Of Fulfilling Dark Desires.'"
"Well, look who came crawling back," said Lilia irately, "the prodigal Rider returns."
"Oh, I've been here all along," said Clare, "at least long enough to know how epic of a fail that Dr. Halberd was," she then looked at Lucian and Lilia, "and how badly you two ankle biters screwed things up."
"You bitch!" shouted Lilia as she tried to rush at Clare, only to be restrained by Lucian, "don't you make fun of my big brother!"
"I wasn't making fun of you," said Clare, "I was merely pointing that you two suck as Dark Riders. I killed two, while you only put one in the hospital and allowed another to get her Zecter, not to mention that you got your asses kicked, where as I am undefeated."
"If you're so powerful, then you kill them!" said Lucian, "you kill Kabuto, Gatack and the rest!"
"Is that a challenge or a request?" Clare, "I can do both, but I don't work for free."
"Since when has your dark services been for hire?" Ophelia asked.
"Since I broke free of that moronic maniac, Claymore," said Clare, "I had a lot of time to think things through and I want in."
"In on what?" Cuthbert asked.
"In on whatever you have planned for Raven," said Clare, "and in on the death of Apple. When the time comes, let me kill her, and let me capture and bring Raven to The Obsidian Council. I want to know firsthand what they want with her."
"What will that accomplish?" Ophelia asked.
"So I can testify before Obsidian themselves that I am superior," said Clare, "superior to Raven that is. Whatever they want with her, I can do better."
At that Cuthbert laughed viciously, "you…you actually think that you can convince The Obsidian Council that you are superior to Raven Queen?" He then glared hatefully at Clare, "you dare believe that you can sway The Council to cast Raven aside and choose you!? Raven Queen is everything The Obsidian Council has been searching for. Centuries upon centuries The Obsidian Council has sought out a girl like Raven. She meets every criteria of their objectives to the letter, and you wish to subvert that criteria? To undermine a quest that has lasted hundreds of years?!"
"Yes," said Clare in a matter of fact tone.
At that Cuthbert smiled coldly, "you're either as insane as Claymore, or you might just be the one Obsidian has been searching for. Very well, you may try to kill Apple White and capture Raven, and you may accompany me when Raven is presented before The Obsidian Council. You may state your case before them and try to sway them into choosing you."
"NO!" said Ophelia, "this is an outrage! I won't stand for it, and neither will The Obsidian Council! They will kill her the moment she dares defile the council room with her presence!"
"Oh, I'm so glad you care for my wellbeing," said Clare mockingly.
"Let her try," said Cuthbert, "let her try and see what it gets her."
"Thank you," said Clare. "You let me know when you're ready for me to go to work." She then looked at Lucian and Lilia, "try to stay out of my way, it'll only make you even bigger failures." With that she sauntered out of the room.
"Just give me five minutes alone with that usurping bitch!" said Lilia, "I'll knock all her teeth out!"
"She's not worth it," said Lucian.
"How do you know?" Lilia asked, "alright, I won't, yet."
"In the meantime, how do we clean up the mess we're in?" Lucian asked.
"I don't know," said Cuthbert, "but I know one thing; Raven and her friends may enjoy victory now but the final victory shall belong to Obsidian, I swear it!"
…The Deep Dark Woods…
"Well, I've gotta admit it," said the old mad as he, Daring, Tobias, Cupid and Cerise, all sat around a campfire the girls and Tobias helped build, "you two young bucks are the best kids I've ever taught."
"We're just above average learners, sir," said Tobias.
"Are you kidding me?" the old man asked, "you got your strength back quicker than anyone could have imagined. You don't need them cockamamie crutches anymore. In fact, you can run faster and longer than before, not to mention jump higher, am I right?"
"True, all true," said Tobias, "I'm amazed how fast I got my grove back."
"It's this particular part of the forest," said Cerise, "there's healing magic here. I thought I sensed something before when we got here."
"I sensed it too," said Daring.
"Then why hasn't it done anything for your eyes?" Cupid asked.
"It did one better than heal his eyes, angel girl," said the old man, "it helped him master his second sight, again, faster than even I could have imagined, and considering how long I've been around, I've imagined a lot." He then stood up, "you're ready to get back into the hero game, well, almost."
"What else is there to do, sensei?" Tobias asked as he and Daring stood up, followed by Cupid and Cerise.
"Just one more thing," said the old man. "And for that, I've invited some friends of mine to help."
Just then two more old men walked up to the fire. The first wore a set of blue and yellow mage robes and the other wore a leather blacksmith apron and pushed a cart loaded with a small anvil and tools.
"My friends," said the old man, "the deaf mage and the mute blacksmith. They're gonna help forge young Daring a special sword."
"Huh?" the deaf mage asked, while the mute blacksmith nodded in acknowledgment.
"I'm honored, great sages," said Daring in a modest and slightly embarrassed tone, "but…that's not necessary."
"You'll take the new sword and you'll like it," said the blind sword master, "and you're gonna need it against The Worms, trust me."
"I think you should accept the new sword, my friend," said Tobias, "if only to be polite."
"I always try to be polite," said Daring.
"Oh really?" Cupid asked, "I seem to remember hearing about how Raven and Apple came to you to borrow your hand mirror and you couldn't stop making love to your reflection."
"That was a different time!" said a flustered Daring, "I'm not a narcissistic twit anymore!"
"Then take the sword and use it to drive the evil from our world," said the blind sword master.
"What's that you're saying?" the deaf mage asked loudly, "and look at me when you talk! I can't read your lips if I can't see them!"
"Don't shout at me, you old coot!" said the blind sword master as he looked at the deaf mage.
"Who are you calling an old coot, you senile dingbat!" snapped the deaf mage.
"Don't call me a dingbat, you birthday party magician!" snapped the blind sword master.
Cerise and the others then saw the mute blacksmith sigh with exasperation and roll his eyes. "Are they always like this when you get together?" she asked, to which the mute blacksmith nodded. He then began unpacking his cart.
"Looks like we'll be here a little longer," said Daring as Cupid and Tobias helped the blacksmith unpack his tools.
"But it'll be worth it," said Cerise, "I just hope this sword is as special as it's supposed to be."
"I hope so too," said Daring. He then reached out his hand, to which Cerise took and grasped comfortingly.
…The End Is Just The Beginning…