Chapter 29: Divide
"Location: Amity Park, The World Of Nickelodeon, November 22nd 2109"
In the Ghost Zone, Jubilee summoned some of her minions and a bunch of skeleton soldiers.
"Alright, here's my plan. I'm going to divide and conquer Vanellope's forces. I'm going to divide some of you up into groups to attack Richmond. Group one will be Gloyd, Dark Vanellope, and Hotep-Ra. Group two will be Fright Knight, Grima, Shadowed One, and a large number of skeleton soldiers. And group three will be Taffyta, Aragon, Archer Ghost, and Executioner Ghost. You all will attack different areas of Richmond. Vanellope will have to divide her forces to deal with all of you." Jubilee said.
"Ba! Why not just send our entire forces to destroy them?" Pariah Dark asked.
"Ah, Pariah Dark. Still so simple minded. This is a strategy, where we weaken our enemies and then utterly crush them. This plan of mine will stretch Vanellope's forces thin, exhausting each and every one of them. Soon, they will be utterly helpless before our might!" Jubilee replied with a grin.
"You... make a good point." Pariah Dark muttered in defeat.
"Good. Now head out." Jubilee ordered.
She opened a portal for her troops to go through. The small army of ghosts headed into the portal to begin their attack.
In the Guys in White's base, the prison had mostly been repaired. Agents K and O were looking at a Ecto monitor, when they picked up a huge spike in ghost energy in Amity Park. They quickly called in their superiors. The Mater Blasters were sent out with a squad of six agents for backup.
"Location: San Francisco, The World Of Disney, November 22nd 2109"
Disgust looked down at a map on the table in front of her. She stuck a pin in one of the corners while smoothing it out so that the wrinkles disappeared. Several tiny models of different fears from Riley's Subconscious stood at different locations on the parchment, and they occasionally glided back and forth over the paper. Disgust traced a line over the parchment with her finger before grabbing a pen off to her left and marking the map with dotted lines behind the moving figures. The black ink gleamed in the candlelight from a candlestick on a far corner of the map. Across the table from her, her guide from earlier watched for a moment before rolling his eyes.
"I still have no idea why you wanted that candlestick." the Mind Worker said.
"Shush. It adds to the ambiance. You produce dreams, so surely you should understand." Disgust explained. She glanced over the figures, grabbed a red pen and circled a marker that was labeled 'Hideout', and said "The devil's in the details, after all.".
The purple Mind Worker thumped his hand down onto the table.
"Yes, but I thought that we would want to be a little more efficient then this. You refused to even start talking until you had a table with a map, and even though we overdelivered and gave you one that let you see where the fears were, you immediately requested a candlestick." the Mind Worker said.
Disgust grinned.
"Well, it is my job. It's not my fault if you think that I nitpick too much." Disgust said.
The Mind Worker grumbled to himself for a moment, and Disgust circled another door that was labeled 'Subconscious' in red ink.
"So what is this mysterious plan of yours?" the Mind Worker asked.
Snatching up her black pen again, she continued marking paths behind the fear statuettes.
"What do you think that the fears want most?" Disgust asked abruptly.
The Mind Worker blinked.
"What?" the Mind Worker asked.
"You said it yourself earlier. Everything in Riley's Mind Space has a purpose. So, what is their purpose?" Disgust asked.
The Mind Worker scratched his head.
"Uh... well... I'm not entirely sure. I mean, as I said earlier, if they didn't exist, Riley wouldn't know what to be afraid of." the Mind Worker replied.
Disgust made a star at one point on the map where two of the fears had met each other before going in opposite directions.
"Exactly! So, their ultimate goal is to try and get Riley to be afraid of them. Unfortunately, they get close to no chances to do this, since their locked up in the Subconscious. So, the reason that their even bothering to slam on your door is that they are trying to fulfill their purpose by just expressing themselves through their dreams." Disgust explained.
She softly put down her pen.
"So, their trying to get into here and get into a film? How is that helpful?" the Mind Worker asked.
Disgust put a finger on a red circle on the map.
"You want to get the fears back in the Subconscious? You give them what they want." Disgust replied.
Disgust's guide gasped and shook his head frantically.
"We can't do that! It'll traumatize Riley!" the Mind Worker said.
"No, it won't. Riley doesn't even have any emotion right now. She's possessed by the Shadowed One. This is the perfect time to do this." Disgust said.
The purple Mind Worker shook his head again.
"But... that... we use them in emergencies only! When there isn't any other option, and she needs to sort through her problems about that specific topic!" the Mind Worker said.
Disgust's features hardened.
"Yes, exactly! And I'm not saying that you should do it more, but your running out of options! Do you want one night of fear, or no more dreams? Ever?" Disgust asked.
The Mind Worker across the table shrunk back slightly.
"And how is giving them what they want going to get them in the Subconscious?" the Mind Worker asked.
"You set up the dream capturers in the Subconscious. They'll want to go back, and you shut the door on them." Disgust replied.
The Mind Worker sighed.
"Do we really have a choice?" the Mind Worker asked.
Disgust laid her hand out on the map.
"You could always never have Riley dream ever again. Although, something tells me you don't like that option." Disgust replied.
The Mind Worker sighed.
"No, I just... are you sure that this will work?" the Mind Worker asked.
Disgust grinned.
"Well, as the saying goes, 'Do or do not... there is no try'." Disgust replied.
His groan reached her ears.
"Location: Richmond, Virginia, November 22nd 2109"
At the castle, Jack and Maddie picked up a huge spike of ghost energy on machines that they brought from Fenton Works. They quickly called the others to a lab that they set up in the castle workshop.
"The scanners just picked up a huge amount of ghosts entering Amity Park." Jack announced.
"I'm pulling them up on visual now." Maddie said.
An image of a ghost portal appeared on the screen and a bunch of ghosts marched out.
"Well, I see Taffyta and Gloyd, along with a bunch of other nasty ghosts." Periwinkle said.
Vanellope turned to Adorabeezle and Future Taffyta-A.
"How are the Gauntlets coming along?" Vanellope asked.
"We need at least another hour or so before they are completely ready." Future Taffyta-A replied.
"Well, I guess we're just going to have to capture them and bring them here." Jake said.
Sticky looked at the image.
"Hey, it looks like the ghosts are separating into groups." Minty said.
Sure enough, the ghosts were splitting up into groups. The groups that Jubilee had told them to split up into.
"Okay, we're going to have to divide our forces. Alright, here's the plan. Me, Taffyel, Danny, and Dani will go after Taffyta, Aragon, Archer Ghost, and Executioner Ghost." Vanellope said.
"Okay, and me and my future self will go after Gloyd and Hotep-Ra." Candi said.
"I guess that leaves the rest of us to deal with Fright Knight and his goons." Zarina said.
"It's risky, but it's one of the few options that we have. We're going to have to hit them hard and play it smart." Vanellope said.
Everybody nodded and geared up. Cosmo and Wanda used their fairy magic to restore Future Vanellope-A, Future Taffyta-A, Future Candlehead-A, Future Citrusella-A, and Future Candi-A's powers, and then they gave Taffyel energy and flight powers. Danny and Dani went intangible, grabbed Vanellope, and they and Taffyel flew out of the castle. Candi and Future Candi-A got onto the jet sled and flew away. The three remaining Fentons, Sam, Tucker, and the Nicktoons loaded up in the Fenton RV and headed out. And the Neverland inhabitants, the Sugar Rush racers (except Adorabeezle), Cinndon, Candace, Toxika, and Damon piled into the Jolly Roger (which Captain Hook had brought with him when he and the others fled Neverland) and took off into the skies. Adorabeezle and Future Taffyta-A watched them all go.
"You know, I wish that there was something more that I could do to help." Future Taffyta-A said.
Adorabeezle smiled.
"You can help by finishing the Ghost Gauntlets." Adorabeezle said.
Future Taffyta-A nodded, and the two of them went back to work on the gauntlets.
"Location: Berk, the Dreamworks Realm of the Dream World, November 22nd 2109"
The currently homeless people of Berk had finally found sanctuary behind the large and wondrous Valdra Falls. Stoick and the people were licking their wounds from crossing the mountains and fleeing from the terror of the Berserkers. With assistance from the Dragon Riders, Darryl, Heather, and Future Heather, the proud people of Berk managed to overcome any obstacles on their way to the Valdra Falls.
Stoick himself had been mourning the deaths of brave citizens that didn't make it out alive from the destructive forest fire. He was now sitting in silence and weeping, which was something that he rarely did, except if something was related to his son or wife. But the melancholy was suddenly taken away when he heard a loud horn call coming outside the fall. Stoick gasped at the sound with joy and pride. He along with Hiccup, Valka, Gobber, Spitelout, and Future Heather went outside the falls to check who it was. They became overjoyed.
The horn belonged to none other then Fergus. Earlier that day, DunBroch had been invaded and conquered by Validar, some of the Risen, Zwarte Pete, and Overdrive. Merida, Elinor, Fergus, Harris, Hubert, Hamish, the members of the different clans, the Witch, and Mor'du had fought to the best of their ability against the invaders, but their efforts were in vain, and most of the fighters got killed. Fortunately, the Witch managed to generate a portal to Berk, and the survivors ran through it. The refugees from Berk had heard about the attack and thought that they had all died, but now they saw that the inhabitants of the Brave world managed to survive. The Viking and Scot embraced each other in a hug based on comradeship.
"Oh, Fergus, I thought that you had perished in the flames!" Stoick exclaimed happily while hugging him.
"Ha, ha, ha, don't ye ever doubt the strength of the Bear King! Me brothers and sisters haven't tasted their blood on our steel yet!" Fergus exclaimed while smiling.
"You don't say! But let's be honest here, why did you and your associates come all this way? Do you have anything to report?" Stoick asked.
Fergus nodded.
"We have detected a large Berserker force marching nearby. Apparently, they seek to secure the whole western coast of this world. It won't be long before they take it over completely. But we won't abandon our homes in the highlands back in my world! We will stand up and fight, until the invaders are out of our sights! Truth is... I came here to offer ye a helping hand, and to ask for your help in taking back DunBroch." Fergus replied.
Stoick nodded.
"I accept it! My people and yours will make those villains pay for this war!" Stoick said. He then turned to Hiccup and asked "But what do you think, Hiccup? Since your chief, you have the final say in things.".
Hiccup nodded.
"Well, we should help them. Plus, we could use the extra protection." Hiccup replied.
Stoick nodded and put his hand on Fergus's shoulder, much to the Scot's amusement.
"Thank you. Let's gather up your people and we are off to DunBroch! We shall fight the enemy at our own doorstep!" Fergus said.
He, Stoick, the characters from DunBroch, Hiccup, Valka, Gobber, Spitelout, and Future Heather started heading back to the falls, so they could begin their plan of liberating DunBroch and then Berk.
Darryl stood outside the Valdra Falls and looked over Firefly, preparing to leave.
"Darryl?" a voice asked.
He turned around. Astrid was walking out of the falls, looking confused.
"Where are you going?" Astrid asked.
"I have to find my sister. Everyone else is safe, so I'm leaving." Darryl replied.
Astrid nodded.
"I understand. Although I was hoping that you'd join us permanently..." Astrid started to say.
"Maybe when I find Amber, but not until I do." Darryl said.
Astrid nodded.
"Alright then. It was a pleasant experience to work with you." Astrid said.
"Same here. See you later, Astrid." Darryl said.
He got onto Firefly, and the black haired boy and the Razorwhip flew into the blue sky above. Astrid watched them get further and further away until they were just a dot on the horizon.
"Location: Ylisse, the Nintendo Realm of the Dream World, March 30th 2143"
When the hero woke up, he groaned, feeling the ground beneath him. He opened his eyes and looked around. Immediately, his eyes widened with horror. Confusion enveloped his mind like he was stuck in a world with no up or down. All around him were buildings, but not just any buildings. They were buildings from the old Ylisstol, looking just the way that he remembered it with it's familiar structures. Too shocked to move and too confused to think right, the young man said the only thing that he could.
"U-Unbelievable." the hero whispered.
"Location: Berk, the Dreamworks Realm of the Dream World, November 22nd 2109"
Firefly gave a screech as she battled through the rushing winds and driving snow, her bright green eyes half-closed and her metal scales powdered with ice. Her legs were tucked up close to her body in an attempt to stay warm as she thrust herself ever onwards through a snowstorm that had formed. On her back, Darryl held the hood of his jacket up to hide his face from the bitter cold. He shivered and shook, his fingers and toes numb.
The feeling that something was wrong sat in the pit of his stomach like a painful sharp pebble, twisting his gut into a million shapes of worry. It left a bitter taste on his tongue and a dryness in his mouth. Who knew what the Berserkers had done to Amber. She needed help and fast.
His worry for his younger twin sister was making him feel ill. To combat it, he tried to think of something, anything that would make him feel happy, but nothing seemed to work. He bit his freezing lips, barely able to see through the thick snowdrifts.
It was only when they found themselves flying through an ashy cloud of icy black fog that he knew that he had found his target. The storm was less intense here, and as he and his dragon dropped closer to the ground, he found that he could make out the forms of Berk's buildings down on the Isle floor. Firely stretched out her legs and landed outside of the village, between tall elegant pines that stood straight and proud despite the freakish weather. The Razorwhip growled unhappily as her rider slid carefully from the saddle and staggered into one of the thick trunks. Every joint was agony, thanks to the cold, and Darryl took a slow walk to try to ease his stiff and stubborn limbs. When he turned to look, he saw his dragon disappearing over the edge of a gorge and jogged towards her, not keen on being left behind. Firefly was scouring the gorge side closely, and as she seemed to find what she was looking for, she came back up for her rider.
The cave was rather small, only big enough for the dragon to squeeze herself in and curl up in a tight ball. The Razorwhip lit a warm fire before herself and closed her eyes, almost instantly falling asleep. Her rider, on the other hand, gathered close and warmed himself thankfully before setting out again. Whatever trouble Amber had got herself into, it couldn't be good, and he refused to stop and rest before heading out to find her. The quicker they got out of here, the better.
He quickly found a snow-caked pathway, slippery with hidden ice, that led down into the village via steps. The citizens that hadn't managed to escape Berk during the invasion were milling around, muttering and pointing unhappily. Darryl pulled up his hood and walked down into the village. He tried to make it look as though he knew where he was going as he hurried through the village, his hood muffling the sounds from outside. Once or twice, he almost bumped into one of the townsfolk, but other then that, he felt that it was going rather well right up to the point that he felt a tap on his shoulder. He stopped, whirling around to face whoever had tried to catch his attention. Morgan (M) stood behind him, a look of curiosity on his face. The other boy patiently waited as the blue haired boy looked him over, biting his lip beneath the shadow of his hood.
"I haven't seen you around before. Where do you come from?" Morgan (M) asked, in a manner that suggested that he was very sure of himself.
"I'm... but a humble traveler, of course." Darryl replied, putting on an odd voice to mask his identity.
"Hmm. Come in with the reinforcements on the ships before the storm, huh?" Morgan (M) asked.
Darryl nodded quietly. He quietly thanked that he had inherited Future Heather's acting skills.
"Just got in in time. Good thing too, it's a nasty one." Darryl replied.
"Yes, it is rather bad out there. Well, if you need anything, don't hesitate to ask. I'm Morgan, a guard at the prison." Morgan (M) introduced.
He reached out to shake Darryl's hand, clasping it tightly. The black haired boy's heart skipped a beat.
"See you around, traveler." Morgan (M) said.
He walked off. As the blue haired boy left, Darryl let out the breath that he didn't realize he was holding. He had recognized Morgan (M) because he knew the boy from 2138, but the odd estranged look in his eyes and the way that they were narrowed at him gave him chills that the snow and ice couldn't possibly match. With a shiver, he turned to hurry away. The gravity of the situation had never felt so heavy. His numb feet carried him quickly down the winding face that snaked along the bottom of the gorge side.
When he was sure that no one was looking, Darryl threw back his hood, feeling the biting cold on his face. He looked around, searching closely, and found a sort of deer track that led up the side of the cliff, covered over by heavy foliage and baby pine trees that clung onto the rock. If he was just careful enough, he could get up there, and with the thick snow, there weren't many people around to watch. With a last glance behind him, he began to climb, grabbing roots and digging his bare fingers into the soft sucking mud.
By the time that he was even close to the entrance of the prison, he was lagged in a thick layer of sticky rain soaked mud, and his fingers could barely move for the cold. His knees were sore and red, his soft palms were cut in places, and his face was nicked by brambles and smudged with dirt. He stifled a cough as he peered out of the greenery at the prison. Any sudden noise could give him away and ruin his chance of ever seeing Amber again, and he wouldn't let that happen. Luckily, he found that the guards were rather lenient, only guarding the bottom of the cliff walkway, as though they thought that was the only escape. There may have been more guards inside, however, and Darryl pulled out an axe from a sling that was across his back. However much he didn't want to use it, there may come a time when he would no longer have a choice.
Slipping out of his cover, he quickly made for the prison, diving inside and flattening himself against a wall. A few meters away, the two guards were jovially chatting away.
"Maybe they aren't stupid." Darryl muttered.
He gripped his axe and drew up all of his courage to take a look down the long stone cave that made up the prison. Beyond where the two guards were standing, one lean and tall, the other slightly shorter and skinnier, the corridor dissolved into darkness. He couldn't see anything beyond but the suggestion of a cavern, but even that he couldn't be sure of. He was cascading into the unknown, all on the off-chance that his sister laid waiting for him in that pitch black cave. He hefted his axe and readied himself for the fight.
