Chapter 27 - The Final Conflict
Later that evening inside the palace, the book animals were busy getting ready for the ball that was to take place soon. Adventure, Horror and Mystery all had black bowties around their necks, while Fantasy and Sci Fi each wore a white ribbon around their necks. Fantasy happily hummed a tune while brushing her tail in the mirror, but Sci Fi just looked very glum as she combed her fur. "Sci Fi, what's wrong?" asked Fantasy with concern when she saw her friend, "You tell your best friend about it."
Sci Fi sighed and said, "We're never going home with that girl."
"Who, Bethylasia?" asked Fantasy.
"That's her name in this world," remarked Sci Fi, "But in the real world, she's Becca – the person I know best."
Mystery came over to Sci Fi and comforted her by saying, "Come now, Sci Fi. You should be happy for the princess! After all, she's found out her identity, and she's found the courage to take Malaria down when the time is right! Besides, would you rather be checked out from the real world's library as a marten, or as a book?"
Sci Fi chuckled a bit and said, "A guess as a book." Then she thought for a moment and said, "I suppose you're right, Mystery. Bethylasia should at least spend a little time with her family when the curse breaks!"
"Now that's the fearless and confident friend I know!" laughed Fantasy as she embraced her friend with a hug.
Adventure heard some music from outside the dressing room, and said, "I think it's time we get out and start celebrating on the main deck!" Everyone else agreed, and followed the beaver.
Out in the main ballroom, people were dancing, talking, laughing, and enjoying refreshments in honor of the princess's return. Just then, a chamberlain blew a horn and announced, "Ladies and gentlemen! Let me be the first to present the Pagemaster and his long-lost granddaughter, Princess Bethylasia!" The Pagemaster and Bethylasia entered the room, while Sheila tagged along at her mistress's feet. Everyone cheered and bowed to their rulers before they went back to dancing and socializing.
The Pagemaster and Bethylasia sat down at their thrones and watched all the guests happily enjoy themselves as the wizard told his granddaughter, "Look around you, my child. You were brought into this world of high society, sparkling jewels, and all of the world's greatest literature. But I wonder if this is truly enough for you?"
Bethylasia took Sheila into her lap and looked at her grandfather, saying, "I guess so. But I miss my life back in the real world when I was Becca. I miss my real parents Tasha and Mark just about as much as I miss my parents in this world."
The Pagemaster could see his granddaughter's eyes get moist, and he gently held her hands as he coaxed, "Bethylasia, I can tell that you're homesick. But I need you right now, because my cousin's curse is growing immensely. However, when you defeat Malaria, you may think about which family you would like to live in for the rest of your life. But no matter what you choose in the end, we will always have each other – as Becca Ridges, you can still dream about me and the rest of your family and friends here in Libralia, and we will all be there for you." The wizard then got up from his chair to check on his guests. Bethylasia turned around and thought about her grandfather's advice for a moment. She was about to say something to him, but he was already gone when she looked up.
The princess then decided to join in the dancing when she heard some meowing outside. Somehow, Sheila had run away from her, and was outside! "Sheila?" Bethylasia called softly. She looked straight on, and saw a faint figure at the edge of the doorway to the gardens. Sheila was out there! So Bethylasia picked up her skirt and walked quickly over to the doorway while quietly calling, "Sheila, what are you doing out there?" By the time the princess got outside, Sheila was already scurrying down some steps to the garden. "Sheila, come back here!" Bethylasia softly called again; but the kitten had disappeared into the labyrinth. The girl had no choice but to follow Sheila in the maze. "Sheila, where are you?" Bethylasia called as she ran, "Sheila?" Unknown to her, the labyrinth made some thorny branches that closed behind her, and a topiary of a lion was given glowing, red eyes!
Back at the ball, the book animals were at the refreshments table enjoying some snacks when Fantasy became a little concerned. "Has anyone seen Bethylasia lately?" she asked the other books.
Mystery finished eating a chocolate brownie and replied, "Um, the last time I saw her, she was going outside for something."
"I thought I heard some meowing from her kitty," said Horror.
Sci Fi gave a look of fear and said, "You know what? I think she's in serious trouble! I have a gut feeling." She then turned to her friends and gave a serious expression before she said, "We need to go out and help her – NOW!" The other animals stopped what they were doing and nodded at the marten.
Meanwhile, in the labyrinth, Bethylasia was getting worried about Sheila. The kitten kept running away and meowing, and the princess kept following her. "Sh-Sheila?" called Bethylasia, "Here, girl!" Another set of thorns blocked the part where Bethylasia went through, and the princess turned around and gasped in fright. When she turned back around, she saw Sheila sitting by some bushes and meowing with fear. "There you are!" Bethylasia said as she embraced her kitten.
Just then, a voice called, "Bethylasia!" The girl got up from her knees and gasped as the voice kept repeating her name. Suddenly, some purple smoke appeared from behind the princess, making her cough and run towards an open entrance in the labyrinth; however, Bethylasia tripped over a rock and fell face-down on the ground, knocking her glasses off her face! But she got back on her feet, put her glasses back on, and dusted herself off. When she looked forward, Bethylasia found herself in a meadow and was shocked by what she saw – an evil-looking woman in a purple and black dress smirking at her – Malaria! "Bethylasia," said Malaria, "Your royal highness! So much has happened within the past ten years in this kingdom. You have grown from a scrawny blossom to a beautiful young rose, and my curse has grown into an apocalypse for literature and happiness!"
Bethylasia studied Malaria's facial features with fright and gasped, "I know that face!"
Malaria chuckled, "Yes. Do you remember seeing it at a celebration like this one?"
"My seventh birthday," the princess remembered.
"Followed by a tragic day for your grandmother and the rest of your family!" finished Malaria, "Remember, Bethylasia!" She then put her hands in the air, and pointed at the ground, creating a purple atmosphere all around the meadow.
The princess immediately recognized who this woman was now. "Why, you're Malaria!" Bethylasia gasped with fright.
"Of course," Malaria chuckled before she snapped, "Your grandfather's cousin who was turned down when it came time to rule Libralia! But you know what they say, 'what goes around comes around!'" She then summoned some of her ghost minions out of her necklace pendant and told them, "Why don't we humiliate this girl a little bit, boys?"
"Yes, ma'am!" saluted the ghosts. They then floated their way towards Bethylasia and laughed at her. All the poor girl could do was stand in terror as the ghosts began to push her around, yank her tiara from her head, and pull her necklace off from her neck.
Eddie, who was watching the scene from a high branch in a leafless tree, called to Malaria, "Your excellency, I think this is going too far! Maybe you shouldn't be so cruel to this girl. She hasn't done anything wrong to you!"
"SHUT UP, YOU OVERSIZED CROW!" Malaria snapped from down below.
Meanwhile, Bethylasia tried to escape the ghosts, but one of them caught her hair and sneered, "Where are you going, princess?"
"Yeah!" laughed another ghost, "The party's just starting!" Bethylasia's hair came undone as the ghosts continued harassing her; this time, they started tearing her dress in a very cruel fashion.
One ghost ripped the girl's sash from her waist when Malaria ordered, "Alright, my phantom friends! I think that's enough. We shouldn't do too much more tearing, or she'll be a nymph!"
The ghosts all disappeared as Bethylasia sneered at Malaria, "I'm not scared of you, you heartless fiend!"
"Oh, I can fix that!" said Malaria with an evil grin, "Care to meet an old friend? One who murdered your best friend?" She then waved her hand over her necklace pendant and slowly transformed into a monstrous grizzly bear.
Bethylasia watched in terror as she recognized the scary animal from the terrible day when she lost her best friend in the real world. Malaria, who was now a grizzly bear, stood on her hind legs and gave a big roar before going back on all fours and asking the princess, "Remember me now?"
Bethylasia was speechless. "You mean you were the one who…" she started.
"Yes!" said Malaria, "I was there. I travel in the real world quite a bit, where I take many forms when you least expect me around! That day, I was a bear who was enjoying a freshly killed deer, when I saw you and your little friend disturbing my peace! I smelled you, and I immediately recognized you as the one who escaped your family's coup! I wanted to charge at you, but you played dead and I had no other choice but to take someone else that you cared for most!"
"Why?!" Bethylasia shouted angrily, "Why didn't you just take me?"
"Because my bear instincts were immediately kicking in," replied Malaria, "And when I saw you playing dead, I knew this wasn't a good time to get rid of you. So someone else had to die and make you suffer for the loss! But enough with memories of your friend; now it's time to take you down once and for all! That way, I will be able to destroy literature once and for all!"
"Think again, sweetheart!" shouted a tough female voice.
"This is mutiny!" cried a familiar pirate's voice.
"SANCTUARY!" shouted another familiar voice. Bethylasia turned and saw all her animal friends come to the rescue! Sci Fi ran and jumped onto Malaria's head and bit into her nose, making her roar in pain! Adventure bit her on the leg, and Horror jumped onto the bear's back!
Bethylasia found a nearby thorny stick and picked it up as she cried, "I can't believe you guys are here to help!"
"Naturally, honey!" said Fantasy as she ran to her aid, "That's what real friends are for!"
Malaria, meanwhile, put up a major fight with Sci Fi, Adventure, and Horror. First, the bear shook Sci Fi off her face, making the marten land on the ground; but Sci Fi wasn't hurt! Malaria also grabbed Adventure and Horror by her front paws, and threw them into a bush, where they stayed hidden. Bethylasia whacked the bear on the head with her thorny stick, and Malaria roared another big roar; she swiped her front paw at the girl, and sent her down to the ground! Bethylasia wasn't seriously hurt, but Malaria got in front of her, and then tried to attack her again. Suddenly, a familiar green fisher appeared and bit Malaria on her front leg! He then let go of his bite and growled at the bear.
"Mystery?" Sci Fi wondered as she saw the scene. She then got back on her feet and ran towards Mystery. She growled menacingly at Malaria, and then bit her on the shoulder.
Bethylasia, meanwhile, got back on her feet and picked up a sharp rock. She tried stabbing the bear in the back with it, but Malaria turned around and attacked her again. "BECCA!" Sci Fi cried as she and Mystery ran to her aid.
But Malaria snorted and sneered at the girl, "Goodnight, sweet princess! It's time for your demise!" Bethylasia looked closely at Malaria's neck, and saw that she was still wearing her magic necklace. Quickly, she snatched it off the bear's neck, and then whacked it on the ground, creating a large crack in the stone pendant! A light purple beam shot out from Malaria's right shoulder, making her roar in agony. "What are you doing?!" she demanded.
Bethylasia held up the necklace and said with rage, "This is for Nicole!" She whacked the necklace's pendant on the ground, creating another crack.
This time, another beam shot out from Malaria's abdomen, making her scream, "You give my necklace back, you little brat!"
"This is for the Pagemistress and the rest of my family!" Bethylasia shouted as she whacked the pendant again, making yet another crack.
Another beam shot out of Malaria's right leg as the bear shouted, "You better stop doing this to me, or you'll be very sorry!"
"And this one is for YOU!" Bethylasia yelled with fury, "Farewell, Malaria! Parting is such sweet sorrow!" She then whacked the necklace's pendant again, this time, making it shatter into a thousand pieces! A powerful beam shot out from the left side of Malaria's chest, making her roar in deep agony.
Suddenly, the spirit of Malaria's necklace appeared, and then he circled around the helpless bear while mocking, "What's the matter, little teddy bear? Are you all out of magic because of not using it wisely? Well, now you will suffer dearly for it, thanks to the girl who has defeated you!" With that, the ghost went inside the bear's mouth, and an explosion of purple and black smoke happened! Bethylasia managed to escape the impact, and shielded all her animal friends while Malaria withered away to a pile of purple dust. The atmosphere went back to a normal nighttime setting, and poor Eddie the raven was so terrified of the princess, that he flew away, never to be seen or heard from again.
