Hey y'all! Sorry I have not updated this for a while, but here's hoping I can get a few more chapters done before life gets crazy again! Thank you so much for your reviews- Enjoy!
Mateo clung to Migs as they flew through the barrier between Avalor and Vallestrella. He was bracing himself for the worst- a desolate realm already conquered by the Shadow Spirits and their mysterious leader- whoever he may be. Yet as Migs flew through the barrier, Mateo sighed in relief. It was a lovely day in Vallestrella.
His news would change that, Mateo thought, the glumness returning.
Migs ignored the shouts of fellow jaquins, who were calling greetings and casting questioning looks at the Wizard King. Mateo and Migs continued to fly to the palace- until Migs suddenly veered toward the trees in front of King Verago's home.
"Um, Migs?" asked Mateo. "What...what are you doing?"
"Giving a quick warning," mumbled Migs. "I have to make sure Dulce and our kids stay here- no matter what happens."
Mateo wanted to argue- to tell Migs that it was more important to get to Quita Moz before Avalor was destroyed. At the same time though, Mateo understood the jaquin's concern for his family. Mateo felt the same pressing sensation riding on his own shoulders; he wanted Elena and their baby to stay safe and he would give anything- ANYTHING, to make sure that happened.
"Dulce!" Migs called as he landed outside his nest. Mateo hopped off Migs' back and gazed around at his friend's home. It was strange for Mateo to think that he'd never seen where Migs lived- in all the years he'd spent with the jaquin, it had never even crossed his mind. He only wished he could visit with happier tidings.
"Migs?" Dulce poked her head out from a leafy partition separating the main space from the sleeping area. The whole home was more of a bird's nest than a house- and it was in the treetops. Mateo tested the woven ground beneath his feet before he took a step forward.
"Listen to me!" Migs started, talking rapidly. "I need you and the kids to stay in Vallestrella. And you have to deliver a message to King Verago for me: Avalor's been invaded by Shadow Spirits. We fought against them and lost everyone. Even...even Skylar and Luna. So basically- don't touch the Spirits if they invade. And stay safe. I love you." Migs motioned for Mateo to hop back on so they could go, but Mateo could already see that Migs' factual report wasn't going to fly with Dulce.
"WHAT!? MIGS? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!? AVALOR? FALLEN?" Dulce raced toward them. "Don't you dare take off!? What's going on?"
Migs quickly explained with a few more details, though Mateo could tell Migs was reciting the story on autopilot. He stared into the distance as he spoke, and Mateo figured the jaquin hadn't fully come to terms with Skylar and Luna's fate.
"I have to take Mateo to Quita Moz- the sunbird. He may be the only one who can help. Promise me you'll stay safe, Dulce." He stepped forward to touch noses with his mate, and she sighed and nodded.
"You be careful too, Migs. Don't do anything dangerous."
"I'll watch out for him, don't worry," Mateo heard himself saying. He didn't know why he had spoken- it wasn't like he could promise anyone's safety in the current chaos. He hoped it would be true nonetheless.
He hopped back on Migs and they left a moment later. Mateo peeked over his shoulder as they flew, and he saw Dulce heading toward Verago's palace. Perhaps it had been a good call for Migs to tell Dulce first. That way neither of them would have to be there when King Verago found out about the demise of his eldest son.
They flew toward the edge of Vallestrella and Mateo tightened his hold on Migs' neck as the jaquin picked up speed. Neither spoke; the mood was far too tense. If Mateo couldn't get Quita Moz's help, how would they ever save Avalor?
•••
Gabe stood in the doorway to the palace kitchens and tried not to sob. In less than an hour, his entire world had been jarred and scattered into pieces. At least Isa and Elena are safe, he constantly told himself. Mateo would save the day, it would all be fine- except for the fact that he was now Captain of the Royal Guard, and the lives that had been lost couldn't be replaced with any sort of magic fix.
"No! You don't need to bring anything! Out! This is an evacuation!" Esteban's voice echoed across the hall as he continued to make sure all the palace staff were leaving. Gabe scrubbed at his eyes and quickly grabbed the water jug he had been sent to carry.
Outside, Elena and Isa were supervising the loading of a wagon filled with food, water, and a few of Avalor's treasures. Elena was currently reminding the staff that the jewels and artifacts were of less value than everyone's lives.
"If it comes to it- forget everything and run. Don't let yourselves be turned into Shadow Spirits."
"Was that the last of the water?" asked Isabel as Gabe set the jug into the wagon. He met her concerned gaze and looked away.
"Yes. It should be set."
Esteban came outside, herding the last of the staff in front of him. "That is it! We are ready!"
"Take care, cousin." Elena hugged Esteban and sniffed loudly. Even Esteban looked slightly tearful when he pulled away.
"And protect yourself, dear Elena. You also, Isa." He hugged the princess as she started to sniffle as well.
"Good luck. And hurry," said Gabe when the girls had finished their goodbyes.
As one, they all glanced at the Shadows filling the sky above them. Any moment, they could swoop down and turn them into wraiths. Gabe's hand flew to his sword instinctively, and he had to remind himself it wouldn't do any good.
"What are we waiting for? Let's go!" Esteban motioned for the staff to start moving. He followed the wagon, and slowly, the courtyard was abandoned. Gabe, Isabel, and Elena were the only ones left. It was eerie. He had never seen the palace so lifeless, especially with the cracks and damage from the earthquake.
"Do you hear that noise?" asked Isabel. She was pointing to the sky, where the Shadow Spirits continued to swarm like an angry bee hive. "Something's happening. It's a different sort of buzzing."
"We best get out of sight," Gabe motioned for Elena and Isa to move toward the palace. "Even if we stay in the lobby, we'll be sheltered. Perhaps the Shadow Spirits won't come looking."
"And if they do?" Isabel turned to Gabe, her dark eyes terrified and beautiful. Gabe swallowed heavily. Normally he tried to curb all thoughts that involved the princess's beauty, or intelligence, or overall amazingness. Nothing could ever come of it. Yet now, he figured if the world was about to end he was allowed to admit it to himself- Isa was scared and gorgeous and he wanted nothing more than to hold her and tell her everything would be fine- and to hear her say such words to him.
"Gabe?" She asked again. "Do we have any sort of plan?"
He blinked, trying to organize his thoughts. Elena spoke before he got a chance.
"We'll try to negotiate an end to this- and if that fails, we run and hide, and simply hold on until Mateo returns." She nodded- half to herself- and stepped inside the palace entrance. Before Gabe and Isa could do the same, there was a loud whooshing sound and the Shadow Spirits swooped to ground level.
Gabe stepped in front of Isa subconsciously.
The Shadow Spirits didn't seem to notice the three stragglers in the entryway- they immediately focused on the fleeing palace staff. Gabe watched, sick to his stomach, as the Shadows engulfed the fleeing figures in seconds.
Except...were they talking with them?
"I'm going to see what's going on," said Gabe, cautiously stepping forward. He pointed at the queen and princess. "Stay put."
"But-" started Isa. For once, Elena had enough sense not to argue. She put a hand on her sister's shoulder, holding the princess from running alongside Gabe. He would've liked Isa's company, but it was far too dangerous. He would never risk her safety in such a way.
"Please. Allow me to reason with your leader. I'm the Chancellor, the cousin of Queen Elena. I have royal blood; I'm on the Grand Council. Let me negotiate. Please."
Gabe ducked behind the rubble that had fallen from the gate during the earthquake. He could see Esteban standing on the road several paces ahead. All the other palace staff were Shadow Spirits, hovering in the air nearby.
The buzzing noise grew even louder, and suddenly, Gabe looked up to see a huge spirit drift out of the portal in the sky. It wasn't like the Shadow Spirits though- it wasn't gray or wraith-like. In fact, it looked more like Elena and Mateo's descriptions of a Spirit Guide, than a Shadow Spirit. Except maybe it was a darker blue...Gabe couldn't tell. He wasn't real knowledgeable as far as magic went.
The large Spirit Guide joined the others in a ring around Esteban. The newcomer was a raven- large and intimidating. He spoke to the Chancellor and Gabe felt shivers along his spine.
"I am Haywire, King of the Shadow Realm. I do not wish to negotiate, because Avalor is mine." The Spirit Guide's voice was deep and serious- terrifying. "However, you are not the Queen, and I would like to meet her. Perhaps you will be sufficient bait to draw her out of hiding."
"Wait! What? You cannot do this to-" Esteban's protests were cut off as the huge raven spirit- Haywire, reached out and grabbed the Chancellor with the ghostly looking talons. Surprisingly, they were solid enough to lift Esteban into the air, and within moments, Haywire and his minions had disappeared into the city center- Esteban shrieking all the while.
Gabe's stomach lurched violently, and he had to remind himself that Isabel and Elena were watching; he couldn't get sick in front of them!
The wagon was left alone in the road; the palace staff- who were now Shadow Spirits -slowly floated after Haywire, their new king. Gabe watched them also disappear into the city's center, a cold dread rushing through every inch of his body.
Why? Why was everything happening? And so quickly too! He could hardly process one tragedy before he was launched headfirst into another.
Only that morning he had been sitting with the Captain, droning on about how the kingdom was always so quiet; there hadn't even been misdemeanors for days. They had laughed, talked as usual, and then Gabe had gone on another perfectly uneventful patrol. Fencing class with Isa had been by far the most exciting part of the day- but that was only due to spending an hour alone with the Princess. Gabe was used to calm, normal days. He liked when everything went as planned. So when the sun had darkened, it had scared him- worse than geckos. The earthquake was even more terrifying. Knowing that his friends were trapped in the building as it crumbled on top of them was a feeling that would haunt Gabe in his dreams for the the rest of his life. But then the Shadow Spirits!? The jaquins' terrible fate? Haywire?
Gabe swallowed hard and got to his feet. He could- and would -freak out later. But for now, Elena and Isa were counting on him to keep his head on straight. They would have to come up with a plan to save Esteban. Preferably before the Chancellor was turned into one of the mindless wraiths. But then... wasn't Haywire just using the Chancellor as bait? He was only after Elena it seemed. But he didn't want to negotiate, so why did he need the Queen?
Unless he simply wanted to destroy her.
Gabe's mind was such a muddle, it was as if he had to swim through mud just to connect each thought. He forced himself to jog back to Isabel and Elena and relay the Spirit Guide's information. Surely the girls would make some sense out of the chaos.
"What?!" Elena threw up her hands in bewilderment as Gabe finished talking. "You're telling me Haywire is a Spirit Guide? But that's impossible! If he were a Spirit Guide he would be helping people, not trying to destroy them!" She was breathing heavily, looking somewhat betrayed. "How could he graduate from Chanul school and get his stripes if he was so evil?!"
"Maybe he turned evil after he graduated?" Isabel offered, shrugging. Gabe had no idea what they were talking about so he didn't comment. Instead he stared at the gaping hole in the clouds. Most of the Shadow Spirits had followed their leader into town, but there were still several hanging out near the portal in the sky.
"Okay." Elena closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "So we'll say Haywire was a Spirit Guide. He got his stripes, started his duties, and then had a change of heart. Apparently he left the Chanuls, and became King of the Zanies, and let himself be sacrificed to the Shadow Spirits, where he then replaced Bobo and established himself as leader of the Shadow Spirits. I guess that could make sense."
"If you say so," muttered Isa with a shrug. Gabe was just glad someone else was at least a little puzzled.
Elena was nodding to herself, looking more determined than afraid. "Well then, if he wants to meet with me, he's going to get more than he bargained for." She pulled up the edges of her skirts and started walking toward the palace courtyard. Gabe and Isa chased after her.
"Where do you think you're going?" Gabe was not about to let Elena walk directly into her own destruction. "Haywire literally said he was setting a trap for you."
"And sorry, hermana," Isa chimed in. "I'm not about to let you endanger yourself- and my niece or nephew. If anyone's going to talk to Haywire it'll be me."
"What?" Now Gabe rounded on the Princess. "Absolutely not. Neither of you are going anywhere near Haywire. His Shadow Spirits can turn you into enslaved drones with a single touch. You think that's what Avalor needs right now? Think again."
"Well do you have a better plan?" Isa folded her arms and faced Gabe. He swallowed heavily.
"Just uh...give me a moment. I'll come up with something," he mumbled, fiddling with the handle of his sword. If only it was an enemy he could fight...
"This is ridiculous. Esteban could be dying right now. Hundreds of Avalorian citizens could be cornered by Shadow Spirits as we speak, waiting in terror." Elena tugged at a loose strand of hair. "We have to do something, and talking to Haywire seems like our only option at the moment."
"Then I'll be you," insisted Isabel. "You stay here and wait for Mateo, and I'll go tell Haywire I'm the Queen; he better release my kingdom!"
Gabe opened his mouth to reject that plan, but Elena beat him to it.
"You expect me just to sit and wait? Need I remind you, that's not one of my strong suits."
"And that's too dangerous for you!" Gabe tacked on, talking to Isa. "He said he wasn't going to negotiate."
"Yes, but we've been over this." The Princess crossed her arms. "We have no other option- no other way to get information. So either we all sit and wait for Mateo, or we at least try to save Avalor."
Gabe sighed. Why did he even try to argue with the two girls? They were both so stubborn. He supposed he couldn't blame them though. He didn't want to wait either.
"Okay, fine. But I'm insisting on two conditions: that Elena stay out of sight, and that I accompany Isabel."
Elena looked ready to protest, but she finally she conceded, placing a hand over her stomach.
"But if something goes really wrong-"
"Be smart about it," interrupted Gabe. "Don't get yourself turned into a Shadow Spirit for nothing."
Elena nodded solemnly and then glanced at her sister. "Well, Queen Elena, what are we waiting for?"
Isabel managed a grin and Gabe swallowed heavily. He had a feeling they were all going to their doom and there was nothing he could do about it.