Christina paced her tower prison after Drew left. Her skin crawled at the thought of marrying him. Even if they were the last two on earth she wouldn't marry him. He was so vile, so evil, so dark as evidenced by Shaggy's treatment in the courtyard below. Servants were still beating him, wanting him to break she could tell but Shaggy despite the cowardice she had come to associate him with, stood tall and brave, fighting his binds at every chance.
She did the same.
The cuffs that imprisoned her weren't like her bracelets however and Christina, who'd only ever had accidental brushes with pure iron found herself in agony, the burning never ceasing. First, she had to get her hands free then she could worry about escaping the tower which seemed increasingly smaller. Was it nerves or enchantment?
Were the others trapped? Had the witch fulfilled her threats?
What of Melinda?
Where was everybody else?
…...
Melinda awoke with a sharp gasp, looking around wildly.
"Please, please don't scream"
Once her eyes focused she found she was locked in a damp cell that directly faced two other identical cells. One held a plant-girl the other, a reptile-boy. Both seemed drained and tired.
"I'm not going to scream," Melinda glanced around, "She's corrupted my home, this used to be my classroom"
"You're Theodora's daughter?" gasped the plant-girl.
"Yes, I'm Melinda, who are you?"
"Venus and, that's Duncan"
"Nice to meet you both" Melinda got to her feet, "We're going to get out of here,"
"We can't!"
"We must!"
"Why?"
"Because the rightful ruler of Oz has returned,"
"The Queen, that's just a story,"
"No, it's true, except what many don't know is the Queen had a child"
"And you think it's returned?"
"Oh, I know she has," Melinda grinned.
…...
Have to get out of here.
Have to save Christina.
SO MUCH PAIN!
If it weren't for the ropes binding his limbs Shaggy would have collapsed
Drew had been by hours earlier. Taunting him, telling him how Christina was going to be his.
"Do you think she'd love you?" Drew spat.
Ever since then he'd been fighting. He would get to Christina. He would save her.
He had to get free first.
…...
Christina pulled and pulled. Uncle Henry had always said she was strong. Maybe she could break the chains. All she did was fall. Again and again.
"Poor girl, don't you understand?"
Regina swept into the room.
"Go away" Christina spat.
"No, I just want to talk."
"I have nothing to say to you"
"But I have plenty to say to you," Regina laughed, "Your Highness"
Christina kept her back turned.
"You know, I didn't connect the dots at first but the more I thought about it, the more I knew you were the Princess. Problem is, no one remembers your mother so no one is going to rescue you. I was going to have you brainwashed but I think," she grabbed Christina's shoulder, nails digging into her flesh, "It will be more fun to break you"
Cackling, she left Christina, locking the door behind her.
…...
"The bars are specially crafted to hold the prisoners," Duncan groaned tiredly, watching Melinda blast the bars of her cell repeatedly, "I know, I've tried"
"Why are you two down here anyway?"
"She forces me to grow the poppies," said Venus.
"She uses me as a power source"
Melinda grasped the bars, "Doesn't matter, we're still breaking out"
"I wouldn't count on that," Drew rounded the corner, "You'll find my home to be a never-ending maze"
Melinda stood tall, chin held high and eyes defiant, "You clearly don't know me very well"
"Oh, I think I do, poor little witch. How did it feel watching your mother's sanity return? To see the love in her eyes...before she was knocked from that cliff?"
"When I get out of here I'll tear you to pieces you powerless, spinless 'prince',"
"Big words for such a small girl," Drew smirked, "You'll never get out...alive"
…...
For the next week, the trio was subjected to tortures unimaginable and numerous. Too gruesome to explain but they never stopped fighting.
Day after day, Christina pulled her chains convinced they could somehow break despite the taunts from Regina as she had her beaten bloody.
Day after day Shaggy fought his binds no matter how servants whipped him.
Day after day Melinda tried to rebuild her powers, to reforge the connection with her childhood home.
When night fell and they were left to sleep, Shaggy's eyes never left the tower where he knew Christina was kept. Melinda never stopped listening, only she could understand the screeching chatter of the corrupted monkeys who prowled the dungeons.
And Christina?
Christina never stopped dreaming.
Then one night, there was a breakthrough. A perfect storm.
…...
Just a little more!
Christina with all her might pulled against the chains, grinning when they finally snapped from the wall. She wasn't afraid of the sound waking the guard because he was a heavy sleeper, he favored strong drinks when no one was around and was never alert. The chains were damaged, and though it still hurt to do so she used her magic to turn the chains to bubbles which quickly popped.
Now to get out of the tower.
…...
Meanwhile outside Shaggy received some battered but welcome visitors. Robecca and Hoodude who brought the pups with them. Scooby and Jade were tugging at the ropes holding his back legs while Robecca slipped the muzzle off him Hoodude tried to help of course but his fingers were made of fabric so he could do little else but stand watch.
"Where are the others?" Hoodude questioned.
Shaggy craned his head toward the tower, pawing at the ground in frustration at his current lack of speech.
"You lead, we'll follow." Robecca offered.
Shaggy nodded.
…...
If they have another argument about bananas Melinda inwardly groaned.
Night after night she listened hoping to learn something useful but all the monkeys seemed to talk about were bananas. Until...
she sat up suddenly. The guards gave her a curious look but she leveled them with a scowl.
Careful to keep her face an angry calm she rejoiced.
Regina's power was locked inside her necklace. Break it and she was powerless
but what of Revolta? The evil four-armed witch was always said to be around, lurking but never seen. Even the monkeys had never seen her. What was her weakness? Melinda needed to know in order to truly free her fellow prisoners.
So what was it?
…...
Back and forth, back and forth Christina paced. She could bust open the door but that would cause a commotion. She could try using her powers but nervous sparks were dancing on her wings a sign this was a bad plan.
And her hands?
Scarred by iron, blistered and cracked.
She hated to look at them.
A sudden noise at the door made her pause, pace quickening with the fear that Drew had decided to pay her another visit. What was she supposed to do if they found she had gotten out of her chains?
"Christina"
"Robecca?" she whispered.
"Are you alone?"
"Yes, hurry"
The door opened allowing Christina to see the guard had a bump swelling on his head. She noticed this only briefly as Shaggy still in full wolf form bounded at her. He seemed to realize at the last second that he was much much larger than her and tried to skid to a stop only to spin and knock her to the ground. He circled back to where she sat up, whimpering apologetically.
"It's alright," she smiled, "Let's see if I can help you"
closing her eyes, ignoring her lingering pain she allowed herself to feel the magic coursing through her veins. To feel it heat and surge, flowing from her palms.
"Wow," Scooby uttered, jade nodding her agreement while Hoodude and Robecca watched silently.
The magic flowed, wrapping itself around Shaggy who shut his eyes fearfully.
"I-I did it" Christina cheered a few minutes later.
Shaggy's eyes shot open. He stretched his arms out before him, flexing each one of his claw-tipped fingers, a smile slowly spreading over his face. He looked to Christina who was clearly still processing.
"Uh, not to ruin the celebration," Robecca said cautiously, "But, we have to find Melinda and get out of here"
"Don't forget the spellbook and the broom," added Hoodude.
"One thing at a time," said Christina as Shaggy gently pulled her to her feet, "Scooby, can you find Melinda?"
The pup put his nose to the ground and got to work.
/...
"They think they can escape, do they?" Revolta chuckled from where she watched hidden deep within the castle walls, "We'll see about that, won't we? CREEPER"
"Y-yes, your wickedness?" the large potato-like monster skittered nervously into the room.
"Get Regina and Drew"
"Y-yes, Revolta"
…...
"Melinda!" Christina embraced the witch as the other cells were opened.
Melinda clutched her arm, "We have to go, now, right now"
back up the staircase, they ran. The broom and spellbook were no longer of importance. Not after the week, they'd suffered. Melinda allowed herself to smile as the front doors came into sight.
Only to cry with frustration as they slammed shut.
"Well, well"
Whirling, they found, Regina, Drew and, Revolta sneering down at them.
"You aren't going anywhere,"