Migs swooped lower to the ground and Mateo braced himself for a rough landing. Quita Moz's cave was directly ahead, but Mateo still didn't know whether the Sunbird Oracle would be willing to help. He had assisted Elena during her Spector training, Mateo recalled, thinking of their happy teenage-years. But even Shuriki seemed tame next to the Shadow Spirits. How many people had they already wiped out?

Mateo shook his head to keep his thoughts on track. He needed to be as persuasive as possible. If Quita Moz declined his assistance, what would happen to Avalor? What would happen to Elena?

"Here we are," stated Migs, his voice grave. He landed on the rocks outside the cave and Mateo quickly dismounted, his knees shaking slightly.

"Do you want me to come with you?" asked Migs, glancing at the dark rocks. The air was still. Even the birds had stopped singing. It was as if all of Vallestrella could sense the impending doom.

"I'll...I'll be fine. Quita Moz knows me." Mateo hated that his voice quivered. He did know the sunbird. It was fine. Except for the fact that all of Avalor was depending on his success.

Focus, Mateo...You can do this! You're the wizard-king!

He slowly entered the cave, fiddling with the tamborita attached to his belt. What if Quita Moz wasn't home?

He murmured the words to a revealing spell under his breath. A second later, Quita Moz became visible and dropped from the ceiling.

Mateo jumped about a foot.

"Ha! Always be on your guard, my young wizard friend. Sorry for frightening you."

Mateo kept a hand over his chest, trying to calm his heart rate.

"I would say it is good to see you, but I sense something is gravely wrong." Quita Moz craned his head to one side, his colorful body looking duller than usual due to the darkness of the cave.

Mateo nodded, then took another deep breath and launched into the story about the sudden earthquake and the portal to the Shadow Realm.

"There were Shadow Spirits everywhere. Everything happened so fast. I...I don't understand. Who's leading the Shadow Realm? Why are they attacking Avalor?" Mateo scuffed his foot through the dirt on the ground. "Please tell me there's a way to reverse what's happened. Everyone who touches a Shadow Spirit becomes a wraith."

Quita Moz wrapped his tail around himself and fixed his abnormally large eyes on Mateo. They seemed to stare at something beyond the Wizard-King, seeing into possible futures- and failures.

"Your tale concerns me, young wizard. But I am not altogether surprised. The Shadow Realm had been in turmoil for quite some time. I had sensed it."

"But you didn't warn us?" Mateo tried to keep the accusatory note out of his voice.

"I am an oracle. I have seen many futures filled with darkness over my years. Yet time is constantly fluid. I did not think to worry you." Quita Moz blinked solemnly, his tone grave. "A rogue Spirit Guide has come to power. His name is Haywire. Back when I first saw visions of him, he was content with ruling his own realm." Quita Moz shook his head again, his long neck curving sorrowfully. "His pride and hatred for the other Spirit Guides have led him to attack the Chanul school. And now Avalor."

"Why did Haywire turn rogue?" Mateo's head ached as he tried to process all the new information.

"He felt his advice was not being used to its full extent. He was ambitious." Quita Moz now closed his eyes, evidently replaying visions in his mind. "He started controlling every decision his humans were making. The other Spirit Guides planned to take away his stripes. He was taking over peoples' free will."

"Let me guess, he escaped before that happened, and then became King of the Zanies."

The Oracle nodded. "Then he entered the Shadow Realm, disposed Bobo, and gained absolute power over the Shadow Spirits. They became his."

"To use in revenge," finished Mateo. "But if you've seen all this, surely you've seen some way to reverse it? I need your help. Please."

Quita Moz didn't respond. Mateo's blood ran cold and he wanted to be sick. There had to be a way to stop Haywire. Quita Moz could see hundreds of futures. Surely Avalor won in at least some of them.

Mateo held his breath while Quita Moz continued to gaze sightlessly around the room. Finally, the Oracle lifted his head to Mateo and nodded.

"There may be a way I can help. Possibly. It is uncertain whether I shall be successful."

"But you'll come?" That was all Mateo needed to hear.

Quita Moz gave Mateo a solemn nod. "Yes. Though we must hurry. Your friends are in danger as we speak."

•••

Naomi stood on the docks alongside her parents. They were still attempting to evacuate the kingdom.

"Let's go! Let's go!" she called over the shouts and sobs echoing around her. Hysterical children, elderly men and women, and their assorted families piled onto boat after boat. All the while, the sky grew darker and more buzzing Shadow Spirits left the portal in the sky, free to roam the streets.

"Almost there." Naomi extended a hand to a crying lady and motioned her toward the nearest vessel.

"Naomi! Look!"

Her father's scream jerked Naomi away from helping the lady. Instead, she ran across the dock to see where her father was pointing.

Up in the sky, there were more Shadow Spirits than ever before. And they were descending toward the docks!

"Ahhh!"

"Hurry!"

"Go!"

Legs and arms flailed in all directions as people scrambled over the top of each other, racing for the boats. Naomi's blood stilled as she realized they couldn't escape fast enough.

A Shadow Spirit jaquin turned his head toward the frantic group, and in a moment, every other hovering wraith was also headed toward them.

The air was freezing. Naomi reached for both of her parents as the Shadow Spirits grew closer, their wispy gray figures lifeless and chilly.

People were still screaming in the background, trampling each other as they ran. Naomi decided she was in a nightmare.

Yet there was nothing they could do; no where to go.

She supposed it was the end of Avalor.

Shadow Spirits descended on several of the boats. The screams of terror fell quiet as innocent citizens became wraiths.

"I'm so sorry," Naomi whispered to no one in particular as the Shadow Spirits hovered above her and her parents. They held each other tightly and Naomi closed her eyes as the wraiths moved toward them.

Something ice cold touched her forehead and a wave of horror washed over her.

That was the last thing Naomi Turner remembered.

•••

Isabel huddled by Gabe behind a wagon abandoned in the streets. Haywire had taken Esteban to the middle of the town plaza. Wraiths perched on the awnings of the buildings and fixed their lifeless gazes on their king. It reminded Isa of the crowd in an Olaball stadium - except much more deadly.

"Look, there's Esteban. Haywire's tying him up," whispered Gabe. His hand was still resting on his useless sword.

Isabel glanced back up the street. Elena was sequestered behind the storefront display of a textile shop. Hopefully she would stay put.

"You ready?" Isa asked Gabe, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice. Part of her hoped he would insist they wait a little longer. Evidently though, he was out of excuses.

"We might as well get this over with." He spoke through clenched teeth, and kept a hand on Isa's shoulder as they got to their feet.

Esteban was tied to the fountain - or rather, half-in the fountain. He looked more annoyed than scared. Isa and Gabe marched toward him, feigning confidence.

"King of the Shadow Spirits!" Isabel called, keeping her chin high. Haywire stared straight at her. It was hard to determine the ghostly raven's expression.

She cleared her throat loudly. "I am Elena, the Queen of Avalor. Why are you terrorizing my kingdom?"

Her heart was beating in overdrive as the other Shadow Spirits turned toward her and Gabe. If it weren't for the Captain of the Guard's hand still resting on her back, Isa was fairly certain her legs would have buckled under her. Standing up to villains was much more of Elena's thing.

Haywire moved closer to Isa and Gabe as well. His beady eyes studied her intently. "Welcome, Queen Elena. Your kingdom is highly praised, and for good reason. I do not plan to terrorize it - only to rule it in wisdom." He fluttered his wings, agitated. "You see, I give good advice - if I rule the realm, think of how many lives I could improve!"

"By turning your subjects into Shadow Spirits and stealing their free will?" Isa spoke loudly again. "I am sorry, your majesty, but I must kindly ask that you stick to ruling your own realm. I am sure we could come up with a compromise of some sort." Isa glanced sideways at Gabe, desperately hoping Haywire would agree. Any sort of treaty would be better than Avalor's destruction. Though they didn't have much to bargain with... Isa clenched her hands together to keep them from shaking.

Haywire made some sort of screechy snorting noise. "Sorry, Queen Elena. I must reject your demands. You see, it is my destiny to rule - to have my subjects listen to what I say. I knew that back in Chanul school, yet no one believed me - until I invaded their realm, that is."

"Have you conquered every realm?" Isa was afraid of the answer. If Vallestrella already belonged to Haywire, Mateo's quest was doomed. They were all doomed.

"Not yet, unfortunately. Avalor is but a stepping stone."

"So you would be willing to let some of us live?" questioned Isabel. Her shoulders were already taunt with stress. The hungry gazes of the Shadow Spirits didn't make her feel any better.

"That remains to be decided," Haywire flapped his somewhat ghostly wings and moved closer to Isa and Gabe. Her breath stuck in her throat. What was she supposed to say next? The rogue raven spirit was still getting closer.

"Stop!" Gabe jumped in front of Isa. "Why do you want the Queen anyway? Why hold Esteban as bait? What do you want from us?"

Haywire came to a halt in front of the Captain of the Guard. Isa stepped out beside him, trying to ignore the frantic shaking in her knees.

"Why did I want the Queen?" Haywire made a screeching noise that Isa assumed was a laugh. She glanced at Gabe frantically and he put a hand out in front of her.

"I want the Queen's surrender...or her destruction!" Haywire paused so dramatically it might have been funny, except that his maniacal request seemed to end all hope Isa had for her future - for her kingdom. She wanted to break down and mourn - her terror was overwhelming. But then it got worse.

One of Haywire's ghostly talons swooped out, knocking Isa and Gabe into the fountain with Esteban. The cold water snapped Isa out of her stupor - but there was still nothing for her to do. How could she fight against Shadow Spirits?

Speaking of which... Haywire's transparent henchmen floated around the fountain, blocking all escape. Isa could discern jaquin Shadow Spirits from villagers - some of the wraith-like faces even looked familiar. There was the bakery's owner, and the lady who sold flowers in the mariposa plaza, and...was that Captain Turner? Isa brushed water out of her eyes, convinced it had to be blurring her vision. No...all of this was just a bad dream...it couldn't be real... The Turners had escaped. All the villagers had. Everything and everyone was perfectly fine. She would wake up within minutes.

"Did you have an escape plan?" She felt Esteban's hand on her shoulder. Isa looked at Gabe, her teeth chattering partially from the cold water, partially from terror. He stared back at her hopelessly.

So this is how it ends, thought Isa.

Shadow Spirits continued to circle the fountain and Haywire looked on in anticipation. Isa hoped Elena would stay in hiding. Maybe she could escape the realm at least.

Maybe even Mateo would survive. Perhaps he could save Avalor and avenge them.

But Isa could only stand with Gabe and Esteban and wait as the last few seconds of their lives ticked away.

•••

Gabe had never imagined death-by-Shadow Spirit. For Isa's sake, he hoped it would be painless. He didn't want her to have to suffer.

"No! This can't be the end!" moaned Esteban dramatically. The Chancellor had Isa's shoulder in a death grip. Gabe settled for grabbing the Princess' hand.

They were seconds away from dying. What was the worst that could happen?

Isa glanced at their interlocked fingers and started crying. Gabe quickly let go of her hand. Making Isa cry during her final moments of life...definitely the worst.

"I'm..." sniff, "so sorry, Gabe." She sniffed again. "I never even got...to tell you..." She broke off.

The Shadow Spirits were so close Gabe could see the zombie-like glazes in their transparent eyes. But he chose to ignore them completely.

Whatever Isa had to say was suddenly more important.

The Princess tipped her head toward him despairingly, and Gabe saw not only his own terror and confusion and heartache, but also his own dreams - washed away. Even his favorite dream: his life with Isa. They could have been happy - they would have grown old alongside Elena and Mateo and Naomi. It didn't matter that Gabe wasn't royal blood - he was the Captain of the Guard. There would have been no objections.

"Don't cry, Isabel," he said quietly, hoping and guessing her unspoken words matched his.

Gabe didn't usually think of himself as rash- quite the opposite really. But he chose not to waste his last few breaths on reason. He leaned over and kissed the princess.

She blinked in shock, then her eyes fluttered closed and she kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Gabe closed his eyes too, but not before he caught a glimpse of Esteban's reaction.

The man's eyes were wide as saucers, and Gabe thought the Chancellor was in danger of going into shock. Poor Esteban... But surely his confusion was at least a nice distraction from impending doom.

Gabe and Isa paused their kissing, but still held each other tightly as the Shadow Spirits got closer.

Gabe breathed in the scent of the princess' shampoo and closed his eyes for the last time.

Any second now...

•••

Elena's fists were clenched so hard her fingernails were leaving white creases in her palms. How dare Haywire threaten Avalor like that? How dare he threaten Isa and Gabe?

What had anyone ever done to him?

Elena hated sitting still. It was like when Shuriki had been on the loose- only worse now that she could see the villain in front of her, taunting her little sister. UGH. Elena sighed for what felt like the hundredth time that minute. Patience had never been her biggest ally.

"I want the Queen's surrender... Or her destruction!" Haywire roared. From her hiding place, Elena caught a glimpse of the rogue Shadow Spirit knocking her companions into the water fountain with Esteban.

Not good, not good, not good, thought Elena. She had to do something!

With a worried prayer for her baby, Elena jumped up and headed toward the raven spirit. Meanwhile, she could see Esteban freaking out and Gabe and Isa...kissing?

Well, now or never, thought Elena with a slight smile. Ever since she'd married Mateo - the love of her own life - she'd been keen to matchmake Isa. Finally, the Princess had begged Elena to stop, confessing that she did care for Gabe, but nothing would ever come of it. Elena hadn't been quite as sure. It had been all too obvious to see Gabe's true feelings - for quite a while actually.

But now wasn't the time to muse about her sister's love-life. Elena had only a matter of seconds to stop the Shadow Spirits.

She took another step closer to Haywire and called out in her loudest shout, "Wait! She wasn't the Queen of Avalor!" Elena's voice still trembled, but she tipped her head proudly, determined to distract the Shadow Spirits if it took everything she had.

"I'm the one you want! I'm the Queen."

At her words, Haywire turned his chilling gaze toward her and Elena wondered what in the world she had just done.

•••

Sorry for not posting regularly, but thank you to everyone who's taken the time to read this crazy fic! Love you guys!