"Queen Elena? You are the true queen?" Haywire glanced between Isabel and Elena, perplexity reflecting in his beady eyes.

Elena took another breath to steady herself as she nodded. "I am the ruler of Avalor. The other 'queen' is my sister, the princess."

"She's lying to protect me!" Isa suddenly interrupted. "As I said, I'm Queen Elena!"

"No, she's protecting me. I'm the queen!"

Haywire was beginning to look amused. "Two Elenas. How exciting." He stared at Elena for a long moment, then gave his ghostly feathers a fluff, swiveling his gaze back to Isabel. "Yet one of you is clearly lying to me, and I feel it safe to assume it is the younger sister. You." He started moving back toward the figures trapped in the fountain, his beak pointed at Isa.

Elena's heart skittered against her rib cage. She had to think of something - some way to save Isa and Gabe and Esteban. But what could she do other than try to distract the Shadow Spirits' leader? She didn't have her septor; she felt helpless.

She needed Mateo. He would know what to do, and even if he didn't, he would try something at least. Chances were that his plan wouldn't work, but at the moment, Elena felt anything would be better than standing and waiting for her doom. Perhaps she could at least try another ruse.

With one hand resting on her stomach, Elena scanned the skies for anything she could possibly use as a diversion. Was that something flying in the distance? She figured it was simply another wraith, but it was as good as any other distraction.

"Look! It's King Verago! The jaquin king!"

At the mention of the word 'king,' Haywire turned back to Elena.

"What did you say?"

"I may be easy to defeat, but you'll never be able to catch up to King Verago," Elena bluffed, pointing at the flying shape. "You'll never win," she continued, motioning with her eyebrows toward her remaining companions. Hopefully they would pick up on the opportunity to escape. Why were they still standing around?

And then Elena realized the wraiths had already circled the entire plaza. They were floating subserviently, blocking all escapes, prepared to transform Elena's friends at a moment's notice.

There really was nothing she could do.

The realization hit with such force Elena wanted to collapse on the ground and kick her feet in anger. It wasn't right! Avalor didn't deserve to be conquered in a matter of hours. It didn't deserve to be invaded at all!

Haywire was still watching the skies though, so Elena managed to keep it together and see how much more time she could buy.

"Look," she taunted. "King Verago even brought his army."

In truth, it did look like there was a jaquin soaring through the air, with something huge behind it...But it wasn't an army. Elena's spirits lifted so suddenly she felt dizzy.

It was Quita Moz! Mateo had succeeded!

Haywire evidently realized something suspicious was happening. He fluttered his wings and looked like he wanted to take to the skies. Elena was filled with a rush of panic for Mateo. She had to do something!

"Haywire! Have you forgotten your plan to destroy me? You know I am the rightful ruler of this land." Elena stepped forward and made an entirely risky move- she reached toward Haywire's ghostly talons, attempting to grab ahold and distract him from her husband.

Unfortunately, the raven spirit didn't seem to like having his feet touched.

Elena jerked back as Haywire whirled on her. "Come, Queen Elena. Watch as I destroy your rescuers." With an angry, but dramatic swoop of his ghostly wings, he lifted into the air, grabbing Elena in his talons. They were oddly solid, but Elena still felt like she was going to fall to her death any second. As they rode into the sky, she could hear Isa's panicked screams. Elena didn't dare look down at her doll-sized family and friends below. Haywire continued to fly higher and every air current felt like it was going to knock Elena from the raven-spirit's grip.

It's going to be okay, baby, Elena told her child, comforting herself more than the blissfully oblivious baby. I'm going to be fine- everything is going to be fine. She repeated the words to herself as Haywire approached Mateo and Quita Moz.

"You're not the jaquin king!" Haywire was evidently close enough to see that Elena had been bluffing. "Halt!" he called, his creepy, but booming voice ringing through Elena's ears.

Elena didn't know if Mateo and Quita Moz could even hear the king of the Shadow Spirits. They continued to approach, probably not even realizing she was also along for the ride.

"I said HALT!" the raven-spirit shouted again. This time, Mateo, Migs, and Quita Moz all stared toward them. Elena could see Mateo aiming his tamborita at Haywire.

Uh-oh, was Elena's only thought before a flash of light spun her world upside down. Haywire flipped to the side to dodge the stream of light, and Elena flew to the side as well- fortunately still in his grasp. After a bone-jarring few seconds, his rapid wingbeats slowed and Elena was able to breathe again, but not for long.

"Try that again and I drop your queen!" Haywire roared, raising his talons so that Mateo and Quita Moz could see Elena. Her head whipped forward because of the air currents, and Elena winced as she squinted in her husband's direction.

"Elena!"

Mateo's shout pierced Elena's heart- and her confidence. Even if Mateo and Quita Moz had a way to defeat Haywire, she had jeopardized their success.

"Surrender! Now!" called the raven-spirit. Elena figured 'surrender' was Haywire's favorite word.

"Not until's Elena's safe!" Mateo hollered back.

Elena was still having whiplash from being swung around by a flying raven-spirit, but even in her distorted vision, she noticed Quita Moz was missing. Had he turned invisible? Was he using his talent to trick Haywire? Elena sucked in another ragged breath and was almost tempted to smile.

Maybe the plan wasn't ruined after all.

"Let's head to the ground- and then we'll talk surrender," Mateo was shouting.

"We'll wait until the Queen is safe," agreed Migs.

Elena didn't know if it was possible for ravens to snort, but she figured the noise Haywire was making was his best attempt at such an act.

"I plan to destroy the Queen; why should I care if she's safe?"

"Because we're about to destroy you," Mateo replied firmly. "Now!"

Quita Moz suddenly turned visible, his scales and feathers glowing bright white. He dove at Haywire, causing the raven-spirit to let out a distressed whimper...

...and drop Elena.

Elena screamed and her heart flipped into her throat. She was free falling fast. Too fast.

And all she could do was scream.

•••

"ELENA!" Mateo echoed her scream. "Migs!" he shouted at the jaquin - even though it was unnecessary. Migs was already racing toward his queen.

They swooped down, flying alongside Elena, and Mateo stood up, grabbing for her hand.

His heart was pounding so hard, Mateo could hardly see straight. But he could see enough to know that his wife-and unborn child- were still falling.

"Elena!" he called again. The ground was nearing; Mateo reached farther, barely even noticing his own precarious position, and then...his hand connected with Elena's wrist.

"Hold on!" cried Migs, veering up sharply to prevent them from crashing into the plaza, where their friends were watching helplessly.

Mateo pulled Elena into his arms and locked his knees around Migs' back. They arched back into the air, too relieved to say a single word.

But the fight wasn't over yet.

Haywire was still flapping his wings, dodging Quita Moz as the sunbird got closer and closer.

"You okay?" Mateo finally whispered to Elena. She nodded weakly and Mateo copied her, so grateful he didn't know how to form comprehensive words. Instead, he took a deep breath and raised his tamborita as Migs neared Haywire.

It was time to end this fight.

•••

Sorry for the shortness of this chapter! My goal is to get the following chapter uploaded by the end of the break, so we'll see how that goes :) Thank you for reading! Love you all!