Wildwing brushed aside some icicles as the team made it's way through.

"A kingdom lies in icy despair, evil lurking in the ground and air.", Danielle recited as she held Canard's arm, "What do you suppose that means?"

Adam was floating alongside them and was deep in thought.

"Maybe this icy landscape is what needs to melt for the city to leave.", he assumed.

Canard nodded.

"Would make sense, but who caused the ice, and why?"

They had gotten around a bend to reveal what looked like an ancient city covered with thick blankets of snow and clear ice crystals hanging along the roofs and stairs. As the four made their way through, they found numerous people like the ones in Magical Anaheim, but they were encased in blocks of ice and wouldn't move.

"Wing, I'm getting a bit scared.", Danielle admitted.

Adam however looked giddy.

"This is exciting."

Wildwing paused as the group got to what looked like the palace of the place also covered in ice and snow, but a foreboding feeling washed through them like a wave on the sea.

"There is evil in those walls.", he said.

At that moment, huge snowballs began to rain down from the palace walls.

"Incoming!", Adam screamed.

Wildwing invoked Shield to keep the team covered while Adam and Canard retaliated. Danielle however felt something in the back of her mind.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?!"

Danielle looked alarmed.

"Hold it!", she screamed.

Both sides stopped suddenly, but Wildwing kept his shield up.

"What?", Adam asked.

Danielle looked a bit concerned.

"They think we're the invading force."

Wildwing looked confused.

"They?"

At that moment, the doors opened to reveal a beautiful woman in a cloak that looked like it was covered with snow and ice(which the ducks reminded themselves it probably was). She looked their way with a forlorn expression as she stood in the door way.

"Why do you invade?", she asked.

Wildwing let his shield down and looked apologetic.

"Forgive us, we just came to help this city get back to Borg."

The woman raised an eyebrow.

"Borg is caring and sure. If he sent you, maybe you can help me.", she answered, "Somewhere in this city is something anchoring us to this heat."

Adam gave a bow.

"We will dispose of it if that is your wish my lady."

The woman smiled.

"His attitude I like."

/

Nosedive blinked several times before the light was dim enough to see. That was when the team found themselves on the edge of a deep cliff to a city far below.

"Don't tell me we have to jump.", Thrash said looking a bit scared.

Morpha reformed itself as it left Julia into what looked like a parachute and pointed to itself with a tendril.

"Or we could do that.", Julia shrugged.

Each duck took a side and got to the edge.

"You dudes ready?", Nosedive asked.

"On three.", Mookie said trying to be brave.

They counted to three and after a pause, they jumped. They fell for a bit, but then Morpha opened itself up and the ducks descended more gracefully.

"Well that was easy.", Thrash said breathing a sigh of relief.

Then a huge gust of wind blew from the side making Morpha sway rather violently. They all held on tightly as Nosedive looked around.

"Man if I had my brother's...hey I know!"

He quickly tied his end around his ankles and after dropping, he whipped out Create and after a scribble, Wildwing's mask appeared on his face. Create vanished away and he did a quick scan. A few shadows came into focus and he then whipped out Arrow and got ready to fire.

"Brace yourselves!", he called out.

The other ducks covered their eyes as Nosedive fired. The arrow burst into a flash of light that lit up the whole area. Once the blinding light ended, Morpha had by now gotten to the bottom and the ducks relaxed as Nosedive got up and the mask vanished off his face.

"Well, it was fun while it lasted.", he said sounding a bit disappointed.

Thrash and Julia came over to help him up.

"Hey, you might get your own one day, but for now we got a city to save.", Julia assured him.

Nosedive smiled.

"You always knew what to say girly-girl."

Morpha barked several times getting the team's attention. They then found themselves near a city that looked plagued with winter. Nosedive however looked concerned.

"Wonder what those shades were for?", he thought out loud, "And who sent them?"

Mookie looked thoughtful.

"Bet you a discount at the comic shop it's either Malevolence or Lucretia.", she said.

Julia smiled.

"We'll see."

/

Duke was about to snap as he got the team through what looked like the fourteenth tunnel and the sound has gotten loud enough to be nearby. Grin could see Duke was near the end of his rope and needed a breather.

"Don't worry L'Orange, we're almost there.", Mallory assured him.

Duke sighed.

"Thanks guys.", he admitted, "I just don't feel like I can do this without your aid."

At that moment, the mists lifted revealing that they were in an open field of flowers and what looked like an old Chinese man making tea at an open fire looking their way and smiling.

"Ah, you see. Humility reveals what's really important."

Clyde looked impressed.

"That's true."

Duke breathed a couple more times and calmed down.

"Any way to the city of the mists?", he asked as the team came over.

The man pointed further down, then to his tea.

"Care to join me?"

Mallory rolled her eyes.

"Sir, we don't really have time for-"

"One must not rush a goal.", the man interrupted, "Wisdom provides those who show patience."

Grin got into his meditative pose as he took a cup from the old man and sipped it.

"His words ring true and my inner peace feels restored.", Grin said sagely.

Mallory was reluctant, but she took a cup. The tea felt refreshing and warm as she drank it. The old man then pulled out a scroll wrapped in silk and handed it over smiling.

"Test number two has been learned.", he said, "Your last one lies in where the heart is."

The ducks thanked him , but before they left, the old man gave them a pot of the tea they had.

"For good luck.", he said as Grin took it.

As the ducks walked further along, Duke looked thoughtful.

"Our final test lies where the heart is.", he recalled, "What do you suppose that means?"

"I hear home is where the heart is.", Grin answered, "But even I'm at a loss."

They reached the top of the hill to see what looked like the Forbidden City of China laying out before them covered in more mist.

"Well, it looks like we're here.", Clyde said as if it were obvious.

/

Phil was looking winded as the group walked further down the road.

"Can we take a break?", he asked, "My feet are killing me."

Klegghorn looked insulted.

"You're out of shape.", he said firmly, "Besides we have a city to save."

Derek looked unsure.

"I hope Danielle is okay."

Rosie put a hand on her husband's shoulder.

"She'll be fine. She's with friends."

Benny was already giddy and overeager to say the least.

"We're off to see the city."

Snowdrop rolled her eyes.

"Benny, we have to be careful around here.", she warned, "It's not safe around here."

Benny however wasn't listening. Timmy however took his sister's words to heart. Benny then noticed a nice looking cottage with an apple tree growing not far off. Phil saw it too and walked up to the tree to reach for an apple.

"Phil!", Klegghorn screamed running over and wrenching the apple off Phil's fingers, "Don't eat that apple!"

He flung it far away while Phil looked annoyed.

"What was that for?", he asked.

Klegghorn looked annoyed.

"Doesn't this place look familiar?"

Snowdrop looked a bit alarmed.

"Snow White's cottage?"

Timmy then looked thoughtful.

"So that tree could've grown from the pits of the apple that poisoned her?!"

Phil then looked alarmed and wiped his hands on his chest plate still looking annoyed.

"There is never anything safe around this crazy plane of existence is there?"

Benny looked a bit unnerved, but got over it fast. After a little further down the road, they saw a city that looked like it was once a grand one now fallen to ruin and wore away with time.

"Is that it?", Derek asked.

Klegghorn checked the radar on his com.

"Yep, that's the place.", he said, "Now remember something, don't go anywhere alone. We don't know what is around here so it's better to not get separated no matter what."

/

Draco managed to get to the ledge that overlooked Drux. Gerazi, Darcel, and Harzep made it also and the view of the city was clear as day. A large city formed what looked like a circle around a tower that reached far above into the clouds with the mountains seeming like they were natural walls.

"So, you didn't bother to leave."

The group turned to see Geoff appear next to them looking better than when they first met him, but not much. Draco frowned.

"Listen carefully you over posh peacock.", he snapped rapidly turning into a yell, "I have had enough of your mistreatment! Darcel proved that he's great and you sorcerers have only shown that you're all just a bunch of egotistic snobs who grew too big for their britches just because they can do magic. Nobody's perfect Geoff so you and Drux can stop pretending it is!"

Geoff looked surprised. He hadn't expected such a statement from saurian of that age. Then he turned to Darcel.

"Promise me you'll keep yourself in line?"

Darcel frowned.

"As much as I am able...brother."

Draco then looked curious.

"You two know each other?"

"Of course.", Darcel answered appearing to grow angrier with each word, "My mother and father were so..thrilled the day he got accepted. Was I acknowledged? No it was Geoff this and Geoff that. Turning vermin into dust, harvesting herbs and graves and being...out of the ordinary. They were thrilled to having a sorcerer in the family."

Geoff could tell Darcel needed a moment so he took over as he used magic to levitate the group to the ground.

"Most of that is true Darcel, but I always believed in you having potential. Then you got cursed by the patron of madness which would've made the emperor question Drux's methods of who was teachable."

Darcel didn't look assured.

"You turned against me. When that vote was passed for non-magic saurians to be exiled, you just stood there in silence."

Geoff looked his way apologetic.

"Is it too late to say I'm sorry?"

Darcel's expression lightened.

"That's what I thought you'd do.", he said.

Draco turned to Harzep.

"Is this normal?"

"Family trait.", Harzep answered, "These two seem to fight like enemies, but behind it all they care."

/

Charyus stepped to the doors to the tower again, but Dragaunus called in.

"Charyus, what are you still doing there?!", he barked, "Return to the Raptor immediately!"

Charyus frowned.

"No. Not yet."

Dragaunus looked ready to explode.

"You dare?! Drux will be aware of-"

"My intentions?", Charyus asked cutting him off, "Already obtained."

Dragaunus turned to Wraith still looking angry.

"And why are you there?"

"My lord, Charyus is about to obtain a spell that can help our cause."

Dragaunus didn't look assured.

"Forget it! I'm bringing the ship there and I will bring you aboard myself!"

Then he hung up. Charyus looked annoyed.

"Simple minded fool.", he muttered, "Did he not know what I'm seeking?"

Then Lucretia materialized nearby with a scroll in her hand which she handed over.

"One scroll of demise as agreed.", she said slyly, "Now for my half."

Charyus smiled.

"I'm a man of my word."

He pulled out a box from his robe which glowed like a sun was inside.

"Purified light from Highark. Able to cleanse the darkness of Abyssal if outside the afterlife."

Lucretia seized the box, tore open the top and the light enveloped her for a second, but then she fell to the ground in agony. Charyus frowned.

"Now what?"

He conjured several baubles which showed the ducks tangling with demons in the cities in Limbo they were in.

"It appears we've miscalculated.", Wraith said gloomily.

Charyus' smile didn't fade.

"Not really. We got what we needed from those cities. Well played Lucretia."

Lucretia had gotten enough strength to stand and look fine again.

"I'm going to be so thrilled when I put those ducks out of their misery.", she said before warping away.

By then, Wraith turned to see Geoff arrive with Harzep, Darcel, Gerazi and Draco all looking ready to rumble.

"It's not wise to steal from the tower Charyus.", Geoff said firmly.

Charyus' smile didn't flinch as he noticed Draco.

"Regum Draco, nephew of Dragaunus of the Annectia Sea. I'm so glad you could be here."

Darcel drew his blade.

"Zip it sorcerer."

"How nice, you let your curse-blood brother back into the city.", Wraith commented, "Drux seems to have changed is Mormon ways."

Before anything could happen, several other Drux sorcerers arrived and started chanting. Geoff then held his staff outward before turning to Darcel.

"Like we used to?"

Darcel smiled.

"You read my mind."

Charyus and Wraith raised their own staffs and were about to chant also before a beam of light shot out of the clouds and hit them both warping them away, but leaving the scroll behind. Geoff looked enraged.

"Cowards!", he screamed.

Another sorcerer looked offended.

"Geoff, a sorcerer does not-"

"Forget the path!", Geoff yelled picking up the scroll Charyus had, "Look what they almost stole!"

He threw it upward, and what came out made the whole crowd shudder. Geoff looked Draco's way.

"You guys want our aid, you got our aid."

Darcel looked commented.

"Guess you have a little bit of madness yourself huh?"

Geoff looked his way annoyed.

"Don't push it."