Magic Kingdom Hearts

Chapter 3: Girls, a Wizard, and a Warden

"You can open your eyes now, human," said Eli.

The blonde young lady was in the front of the staff with her eyes closed. While she was holding onto the staff for dear life, she was closing her eyes for dear sheer of not losing her lunch. Rapunzel hesitantly opened her eyes, and looked to the right of her to see the girl Cassandra riding a big yellow and red phoenix-shaped giant falcon flying with them. But then she looked down to see the ground hundreds of feet below them, rushing past. tightened her grip on the staff tighter. "Okay, I going to need some answers! I mean, flying staffs? Crazy monsters? You're a wanted witch criminal? That girl, Cassandra's riding a giant bird of whom was Phoelo moments ago?" Rapunzel asked, looking back at Eda. "What is this place?"

"Yeah, Phoelo's called a Filolial," Eli replied as he sat behind her, as he calmly explained, "They're a kind of horse-like creature in bird form and can run fast on land and fly high in the air. She's like a 2nd mode of transportation, a strong helper to pull the wagon, and my best enforcer/bodyguard/cute strong little sister figure."

Phoelo chimed at this, as Cassandra held onto dear life. "Yeah, back to the question Blondie just asked: What is this place?"

"This is the Boiling Isles," Eli as they flew through the sky, as both human girls took the moment to observe the land. Taking in the view of the blood-red trees, the violet sky, and strange mountains that looked oddly like rib bones. "It's an area of the Fey Realm to where all the mystical creatures of legend reside in. Think of it as a universe hidden in your universe, and only a select few can find and pass the Veil that separates them. And also, every myth that you humans have is caused by a little of our world leaking into yours."

A second later, a giant griffin flew up next to the staff and screeched. Clawing at the sky. "A griffin!" Rapunzel gasped in amazement. And then just like how she did a project on it, the griffin opened its beak and spewed out a swarm of spiders.

Cassandra too was a bit shocked and surprised, as she asked, "Wait, so Griffins came from this place?"

"Yep," Eli said, as he began to list, "Griffins, Hydras, Manticores, Vampires, Werewolves, Sirens, Mermaids, Harpies, even Giraffes.."

Both girls heard that and were a bit surprised by that. Rapunzel arched an eyebrow, as she asked, "Giraffes? But aren't they from our world?"

"Oh, we banished those guys a long time ago," Eli said, as he brought the staff down to the ground with Phoelo following for a safe landing. When they landed, Phoelo poofed and returned to normal with Cassandra landing on shaking legs, and Eli got off the staff, as he concluded on the reason why the giraffes were banished, "I'm not sure why they did it, but everyone says the reason was because they were, and I quote, 'Bunch of freaks'."

Rapunzel was about to hop off the staff as well, when she saw a blue still living severed hand holding onto it. She screamed at the sight of it, causing her to fall off.

"Oops," Eli said, as he grabbed the hand and opened his right front pouch, stuffing it in as it shrank to normal. A kind of pocket magic used there, and Eli shrugged like it was no big deal, "That happens sometimes. Living body parts escaping like that.." As

Rapunzel groggily got back to her feet, but quickly righted herself, as she walked to Phoelo and Cassandra, as she smiled, nervously, "Well, this was something unexpected. I have to say that this was a big shocker to see that this fantasy world isn't what I read it to be." And then gently snatched Pascal and put her on her shoulder, as she then said, "But maybe if you let us both go back, we can all go our separate ways."

He suddenly shot his staff to them, almost seemingly about to cast a spell on them. Only for him to draw it back, and smirked at them, as he said, "Only if you guys help me with something. Listen, let's go back to my place, it's not safe out here," and then used his magic to have the green bag float in the air and follow him. "Now, come along, humans."

Rapunzel blinked as she asked, "Your place?"

Rapunzel was about to follow, but was stopped by Cassandra, as she said, "What are you doing? WE can run!"

"Yeah, but he's probably the only one with a way back," Rapunzel said.

Cassandra sighed, as she heaved in defeat, "Fair enough." And both proceeded to follow.

But as they did, Rapunzel looked around as she realized something, "I'm… outside."

Cassandra noticed that, and said, "yeah?"

Rapunzel stopped as she looked around and smiled, "I'm outside."

Eli stopped as he turned around and blinked, "Yeah, you're outside. I'm sorry, are you mentally okay? You seem a bit…"

Rapunzel realized how she acted, but answered, as she chuckled embarrassed, and smiled, "Sorry, it's just I... " but stopped herself as she didn't want to reveal too much, and said, "Let's just say I don't get out much."

Both Cass and Eli looked at her in confusion, but both shrugged in compliance not to go too further, as they all continued to keep going. After a while of following her, she and Eda approached a large house made from white brick with a sloping blue roof. A stained-glass window above the door gave the impression of a large orange demon eye. Much of the house consisted of a crumbling stone tower with orange moss growing on it was located to the rear left of the house.

"Aren't you worried about those guards finding us," Cassandra asked as they approached the door. "Seems kinda careless."

"Nope. This house has been fitted with a Unicorn Hair-powered barrier that blocks out enemy magic," Eli explained rather proudly, "And to add more, it has a state‐of‐the‐art defense system."

"Hoot‐hoot!" Both girls nearly flinched when they heard the high-pitched voice, but when they looked, they saw what it was. In the door was a wooden Barn Owl's face with brown eyes and an orange beak. "Password, please," it said before Eli poked it in the eyes with two fingers. "Aah!"

"We got no time for this, Hooty. Let us in," Eli said, deadpanning.

"All right, all right! Geez," Hooty frowned. "You never want to have any fun! You used to be cool, man! Ow! Hoot!" Suddenly Hooty retched and opened his mouth to the size and shape of a doorway. Eli, Cassandra, Phoelo, and Rapunzel walked inside, before Hooty retched again and closed his mouth, burping at the end.

Once they were inside, it was all dark and hard to see anything at all, as Cassandra asked, "Is there a light switch?"

"Hang on, just building for dramatic effect," Eli smirked, as he held up his right hand, as he smirked, "Welcome to..." and then snapped his fingers. "The Owl Sanctum."

Rapunzel's eyes filled with wonder and excitement as it turned out the house was much bigger on the inside. The first room they were in was the living room, and when the candles light up, the entire place seemed to just come to life. A fire started in the fire fireplace as a broom started sweeping and a wooden spoon started stirring in a cauldron. Massive artworks of an owl and a dragon-like creature on the ceiling started to glow brightly, bringing even more light to the room to show it had two couches, a wall of artifacts, and several wanted posters, with Eli's being in the center while on the right, a poster depicting a woman named Eda the Owl Lady was shown.

"Where I hide away from the pressures of modern life," Eli said, and then mumbled, "Also the cops. Mm, also Witch Hunters," he finished as he chuckled.

Cassandra looked around as she asked, "And this place is yours?"

"Well, it used to belong to my Great-Great-Grandmother, Evelynn, and then passed down to my Grandpa Dell. Then later, my Aunt Eda began to spruce up the place, and eventually gave it to me while she and Aunt Lilith are on their Round the World Trip thing going on," Eli explained as he set Flapjack down safely on a chair. "So I'm kind of house-sitting for her. As well as running her Human Treasure sales and Potion gig."

"This place is beautiful," Rapunzel said as she looked around the room wide eyes, as she placed Pascal on a couch arm as he too looked in wonderment. Fascinated by every aspect of the house, she looked to Eli and asked, "So you live here all alone?"

"Nah, I got Flapjack my Palisman to keep me company," Eli smirked.

Cassandra asked with an eyebrow arched, "Don't you mean Talisman?"

"Nope, Palisman," he explained. "I've also got Phoelo here too." He then petted the girl's head to whom she giggled. "And yeah, even Hooty's a riot to have around…. So long as he doesn't drive you nuts with his obnoxious and awkward ways."

Suddenly the ground started shaking with the sound of thudding footsteps. Luz quickly hid behind Eda as she crossed her arms, rolling her eyes, "Oh yeah, I also have a roommate."

Luz looked in the direction of a doorway that led into a hall and got into a fighting position for what was coming. "Who dares intrude upon the Owl Sanctum?" The footsteps furthered in as Rapunzel instinctively drew out her frying pan, and Pascal blended with the couch, as Cassandra, who managed to still keep her sword, prepared for what was to come, while Eli stood there unfazed, along with Phoelo"If they dare seek trouble, then they shall face I…" said a deep voice as a large shadow could be seen on the walls. But, when the creature showed itself, it was extremely anticlimactic to see it wearing a ducky towel and holding a rubber ducky as the deep voice became small and squeaky, "The King of Demons!"

The 'King of Demons' appearance erased all worries of him being a threat too, as Luz saw it fully. As it turned out, it was some sort of a magical canine creature about either a foot or half a foot tall, with mostly dark gray fur, although his torso and the tip of his tail were covered in light gray fur. He had three fingers and two toes that, excluding his thumbs, looked like white claws. He wore a red collar with a yellow tag and had pink eyes with yellow scleras. The highlight of his appearance was a buffalo-like skull, with his left hair apparently broken off attached to his head that also hid his mouth.

The two human girls looked in disbelief shock, but Rapunzel stared at it as he gave his ducky a few squeezes, making it squeak. But the moment Rapunzel saw him, she gasped with sparkled highlights in her eyes and a blush on her face.

"YOU'RE SO CUTE!" Rapunzel exclaimed, rushing over and picking up the small demon and started hugging him tightly. Rubbing her face against his, as she cooed, "Eli, he is so cute!" She then looked at him, gushing over the little demon, who felt a bit worried, "Who's a widdle guy? Who's a widdle guy? Is it you? Is it you?" and then hugged him close to her, as she snuggled him.

"No! I don't know who your little guy is!" He exclaimed, freaking out and desperately trying to get away from this girl. He managed to push her off a bit, as he freaked out, "Eli! Who is this monster?!"

"This is Rapunzel, the human," Eli chuckled, pulling said blonde away as she tried to hug the demon again. "She and her friend, Cassandra, of whom is pointing the sword out, are gonna help us with our little… situation."

Now understanding this, King exclaimed calmly, "Oh! Hooray!"

Rapunzel's eyes widened before she stepped away from Eli. "Wait, what? I don't like the sound of this 'situation'," she said with air quotes.

Though Cassandra got in front of Eli, as she pointed her sword, "Yeah, what exactly is this situation? Don't make me hurt you."

"Okay, okay, settle down," Eli said as he backed away with some space, "Just... let me explain." He then centered himself into the middle of the room. With both hands, he clapped them together, and then used his fingers to draw a circle of blue light around himself. Suddenly, the circle expanded into a cloud platform of blue cloudish mist in front of him. And from the mist, shapes began to take form in images as he told the story, "King was once a mighty king of demons," A giant horned beast figure arose from the mist as it looked proud and might, "Commanding armies, having sumptuous feasts, and bringing terror and order to his subjects," But then a giant hand from below took the crown resting on the beast, as it began to panic, and shrink down to size to King's current form, "… until the day his crown of power was stolen," And then pointed to the real King, "… and he became... this."

"You mean this little bundle of joy," Rapunzel asked, hugging King again without him realizing she snatched him up.

King panicked again, "Wait! How did you grab me?"

Suddenly, a tall and muscled figure wearing a plague mask was formed from the mist, holding the crown overhead, "The crown is being held by the evil and very ill-tempered Warden Wrath.." He then faded into the mist, as suddenly, a pillar of yellow light shined upward, "… and locked away behind a magical force field…" and two little tiny human figures that mimicked Rapunzel and Cassandra were present, "… that only a human can break through- humans like you two," Eli finished, making the mist ring and the images disappear. "So here's my proposal. If you help us retrieve his crown, not only will I give back the crown that Phoelo stole, but we'll send you back to your realm. So whaddya say? Plus…." Eli said, as he picked up King and held him up by his head, and smiled, "Who could say no to this cute face?"

"No! Please don't encourage her," King screamed before Eli dropped him.

"I mean, we're kinda your only way home," Eli said. "Seeing as how I've got the only portal to the Human Realm and no one else does."

Cassandra though pointed her sword at him, as she sneered, "And what's stopping me from just taking the key and using the portal myself?"

"Nothing, but I doubt you'd kill someone who just kept you guys from going to prison, right," Eli pointed out.

Cassandra arched an eyebrow, but eased the sword down, as she looked to the blonde girl, "Well, Rapunzel? What's your vote?"

Rapunzel was very conflicted on this. She wanted out of the tower, but didn't expect be sucked into a fantastic nightmare-ish world. And now a wizard was asking her help to steal back a crown for a Demon King. She looked to Eli and asked with uncertainty as she fiddled with her frying pan, "So I don't really have much of a choice, do I?"

"Not if you wanna go back. Now, we've got no time to lose," Eli said, grabbing the girl before she could react, as he showed them outside to get ready to go. Phoelo ran after them as well, jumping for joy at this exciting event.

Before following them, King picked up his rubber ducky, and proclaimed, "Soon, Mr. Ducky, we shall drink the fear of those who mocked us!"

But as they were leaving, Rapunzel asked, as she looked to Eli, "Where are we going?"

"We're going somewhere super fun," Eda just said.

Late that Night

The Conformitorium

Cassandra arched an eyebrow, "How is this special?"

Thunder clapped in the darkened sky overhead as the group stood in front of a dark prison that towered ominously. Surround by giant rolls of sharp teeth. It was like something out of horror fantasy book or something from what Rapunzel read to get a good scare once in a while.

"The Conformatorium, a place for those considered unsuitable for society," Eli explained to the duo of human girls, plus Pascal who hid behind Rapunzel's neck, sarcastically. Finding the idea of it ridiculous.

With King on her head, Cassandra ripped off a poster from a wall. It was another one of Eli's wanted poster with a bounty of one billion, as she was verbally impressed, "Whoa. These guys really have the hots for you."

Eli winked confidently, "Yep. But we were never caught because we're too slippery."

"Try to catch me when I'm covered in grease. I'm a squirmy little fella," King said, before slipping off and falling down to the ground.

Rapunzel took the wanted poster and looked at it for a moment before folding it into her book, and turned to Eli, Phoelo, and King, "So, what's the plan?"

"You, the scary swordsgirl, the frog and I will sneak up to the top of the tower, where they're holding my crown," King said, pointing to the tower.

"And the Warden," Cassandra asked.

"Phoelo and I am gonna make sure the warden's distracted," Eli said.

Cassandra arched an eyebrow, as she asked, "You gonna seduce him?"

"More like annoy him so much, he'll lose his head," Eli answered, as he smirked, with his finger shooting her while making a clicking sound and a wink.

Rapunzel gasped happily, as she grabbed Pascal in excitement, "Will we need disguises?" Eli raised an eyebrow and looked to Cassandra who shrugged. "I've been waiting to use this," she then began to wrap her hair around her shoulders and head, making a kind of turpin cloak of her hair on her, and then smirked, "Ta-da."

Everyone had mixed emotions on this, as Cass started, "Okay…"

"It's hideous and disgusting," King said.

"That's neat," Phoelo smiled, while Pascal raised a thumb's up.

"Oh, you'll fit right in," Eli said before raising his staff as he said, "I'll send you…"

But then suddenly, Rapunzel lassoed her hair to reach for one of the tower windows with her frying pan as a hook, and swung over as she began to climb.

The others blinked at this, as Eli said, "Whoa…"

"Yeah, whoa," Cassandra added, as she walked over and began to climb.

Eli looked to King as he said, "Well, I'll whip up a spell to get you both up there, so…" But then suddenly, Cass turned around and walked over to pick him up as she walked back to climb, "Okay, that works too." He hopped on his staff with Phoelo hopping on as the two flew up, as Rapunzel was reaching the ledge, and he said, "Meet you guys at the top of the tower." And then flew away on his staff.

Cassandra climbed up with the use of the broken arrows she had, as King climbed up their bodies before crawling in. King let Rapunzel go first, and when she did, she helped him inside. However, it resulted in the two falling onto the stone floor as Cassandra landed in.

"Ha‐ha! Cats don't do that," King said to Rapunzel, before Cassandra scooped him up with a scowl on his face.

The two human girls stood up and gasped at the sight of the prison tower's interior. There was a path that spiraled along the walls that would take people up and down. In the walls were hundreds, if not thousands of prison cells that housed many prisoners on each section of the walls till you see a large skylight window that would allow the only source of light into the building.

"Hey, Blonde Mummy and Scary Woman, how'd you get out of your cells?" asked a woman's voice behind them.

The two humans in disguise, the chameleon, and little demon turned around and saw it was one of the prisoners. She was a slender girl with pointy ears, dark skin, black hair in a ponytail, hazel eyes, and notorious fangs. She was a purple shirt/dress which bared her shoulders and covered all of her upper arms and about half her forearms, and had a gold band around her neck.

"Oh, no, no, no. I'm not a mummy," Rapunzel said taking off her hood to reveal herself.

Cassandra then said, "And I don't know if I'm that scary, but I know we're not criminals."

"Not yet, you're not," Kings said, perched on top of Rapunzel's shoulder.

"Well, we're not criminals either. That stupid warden likes to lock people up who don't fit in. Well, mostly by Belos's orders," the woman said before grabbing a book and opening it to a random page, to which caught Rapunzel's attention and awe. "Like, I write fanfics of food falling in love. I like food, I like love... Just let me write about it!"

Then a monster with more than two eyeballs on his head, with a few eye sockets missing an eye, joined in the conversation. "I'm here because I like eating my own eyes," he said, plucking one of his eyes and then eyeing it, and then it popped right back in its socket.

"We are agents of fwee expwession!" yelled another people with some form of rhotacism. The four turned to see a small round creature with large blueish eyes, a rather prominent nose, and reddish hair. She's practically just a big head without a body, with her limbs coming out of it. "They will never siwence us!"

Pascal arched an eyebrow, as did Cassandra, as she asked, "And that one?"

The fanfic writer pointed her thumb at her. Rolling her eyes, "Tiny Nose? Yeah, she's really big into conspiracy theories."

Cassandra looked surprised, as she asked, pointing at Tiny Nose, "That's a girl?"

"THE WORLD IS A SIMUWATION! WE ARE BUT PWAYTHINGS FOR A HIGHER BEING!" Tiny Nose yelled while grabbing the bars. "REALITY IS AN IWWUSION! THE UNIVERSE IS A HOWOGRAM! BUY GOLD! WOTS OF IT!" She then went wide eye, and almost in a trance, as she finished, "When the Gwavity Falls and Earth turns to sky, Fear the Beast with only One Eye!"

King arched an eyebrow, "Yeah, I can't tell either."

"Wait," Rapunzel said as she paced around the cells, trying to fathom why anyone would do this to people like this, "These aren't crimes. None of you actually did anything wrong."

"Yeah, honestly, I'm with her," Cassandra agreed. "I would know, my dad's a Guard Captain, and even he would agree with this being nuts."

Then a realization hit Rapunzel and she walked to them with a sad expression. "You guys are just like me," she said as she pulled out Eli's wanted poster. "You're all just a bunch of weirdos. Misfits. People that think differently. That are different."

The vampire-like girl nodded, she replied, "That's the kind of people that Belos locks up. People that have new yet dangerous ideas that don't fit in with his world of perfection. People he can't control."

Suddenly there were thudding footsteps coming way from the other side a door a few cells away from them. The fanfic vampire exclaimed with worry in her voice to the four, "It's Warden Wrath! You guys have gotta hide!"

Cassandra then grabbed Rapunzel's hand and pulled her into an empty open cell. Rapunzel lassoed the top with her hair, and pulled them down to close it as she, Cassandra, Pascal, and King scrambled to hide. Just in time before the door opened and the warden stepped inside the tower.

The being known as Warden Wrath was a humanoid creature with a large, muscular build and grayish sin. He wore a hood that was non-standard for a guard and a mask with yellow button-like lenses, resembling a medieval plague doctor. He wore a white sleeveless tunic with brass buttons, a leather belt with a brass buckle, and black trousers tucked into dark purple shoes. On the uniform, one could also see a triangular brass badge, which apparently emphasized his position.

With his silhouette looming over as the light in the other room made him even more menacing, and his yellow lenses glowing, Wrath said in a deep tone, "I can hear you."

Cassandra and Rapunzel placed themselves in front of King as she hugged him tightly. King also do it, as Cassandra held the two of them protectively. Even Pascal blended with King's skull, as he shrunk in fear of this being. Looking rather nervous at first as Wrath walked deeper into the tower, his footsteps shaking the place, probably showing that he was either stronger or heavier than what he looked.

"Just what are you fools whispering about?"

The behemoth of a being looked down, and when Rapunzel followed his gaze, her eyes widened. It was the wanted poster she had folded and put in her book. It must have fallen out, but the Warden seemed more interested in it than four new prisoners.

"Ah. The Red Dragon..." he said. "The nephew of Eda Clawthorne the Owl Lady."

Suddenly, he crushed the poster with a snarl from under his mask. His hand then transformed into a hammer, and he slammed it against the teenagers' call's door, denting it badly.

"I'll get my hands on her soon enough," he growled. "After I get done with her nephew."

Then he turned his head towards the three in the cell. Cassandra let go of Rapunzel and used her body to shield her, Pascal, and King from Wrath. Glaring at him with a brave expression.

"Fight against the oppwessor!" Tiny Nose suddenly shouted. Wrath turned to her and reformed his hand back to normal, releasing the poster as she continued, "We will wesist! We will conquer! We will never be afwaid of you, you old cweep!"

Wrath did say a word and just pulled a level next to the cell door, opening the cell.

Tiny Nose for a moment was surprised, but cried out in a calm fashion with her hands in the air, "Hooway! I'm fwee!"

But that joy was cut short like a blade through flesh and bone when Wrath grabbed her. His large hand covering her arms, legs, mouth, and anything below her nose and eyes.

"Let this be a lesson to all of you," he threatened the other prisoners, "There's no place in society for you if you can't fit in."

Tiny Nose muffled a scream as he crushed her, almost hard enough to make blood leak from her eyes, like he was going to pop her. The two teens, chameleon, and demon watched with terror as the warden then turned and stomped out of the town with the small girl. Without a moment to waste, Rapunzel and Cassandra opened the cell door and the four of them ran out to the fanfic writer's cell.

"Don't worry. We'll get you out," Rapunzel said as she tried to push the door open. Turning to her right, she saw the lever and tried to push it up. But to no avail. "Curse my weak arms!"

"Hang on!" Cassandra came over and the two tried to push the lever up. But it wouldn't budge.

King walked over and looked at the lever, and shrugged, "Yeah, I doubt I can make a difference."

"Just get out of here while you still can," the writer sighed. "Enjoy freedom for us." She then turned and walked away from the cell bars.

The two human teenagers were conflicted and shared their internal conflict with a glance. They couldn't leave them here, but they weren't strong enough. What could they do for them? Realizing it was futile to try and help, and with heavy hearts, they turned and walked out of the tower. Traveling down a hallway toward the location Eli and Phoelo were waiting for them.

And speak of the devil, Eli floated down to them on his staff, as he smiled, "Hey, I just checked. The warden's distracted, tormenting some tiny creature. He won't be coming around here anytime soon."

"Yeah, we noticed," Cassandra replied with a grim expression, as Rapunzel looked sad. The two of them passed the wizard as he wondered what was wrong with them, "Hey, you guys okay? You seem awfully bummed out."

Together, they approached a large door that was boldly labeled with the word CONTRABAND.

"My crown! It's close! I can sense its power!" King exclaimed, rushing to the door. At first, he scratched at it before seeing the large doorknob. Jumping up at it, he grabbed on and tried to use his bod to turn it.

"Aw, he gets so cute when he's thirsty for power," Eli gushed at the small demon. However, both girls and Pascal weren't amused, as Eli noticed it, and then asked, "Hey, you guys are witnessing cuteness. Wouldn't you be gushing, Human Rapunzel?"

"It's not fair that they're all in here," Rapunzel said, looking up to Eli. "They just want to be themselves. Why does everyone think that being a weirdo is so bad?"

Eli thought for a moment, and during his time being cocky and confident, he sighed as he scratched the back of his head and sighed, "Well, to this crooked system, it is."

"Then as one of the most powerful wizards," Cassandra said, taking that first part with mocking tone, asked, "Why don't you use your great powers… to fix that?"

Eli sighed, as he looked to them, looking rather serious, "Others like me did. But Belos's rule fed off their resistance. The more they fight, the more strength he gets. And those who keep resisting…" then pointed to the right of them, showing a row of statues of unidentified witches and wizards, "Petrification is the Ultimate in punishment for our kind."

Both Cassandra and Rapunzel realized what he was talking about, and even more so realized that the statues… were witches and wizards. Even Rapunzel asked, "You mean they're…?"

"Yep," Eli replied. All this sunk in for them all, even as Phoelo gently clutched to Eli, like she didn't want him to die.

Before the conversation could continue, King broke off the doorknob from the door. Cackling victoriously, he pushed against the door with all his might, opening it open slightly before slipping in.

"Come on, before he hurts himself," Eli told the two and they started walking to the door.

"Ow!"

"Too late," Eli said as they entered the room.

Contraband Room

The chamber was massive on the inside. Mostly because it was empty. Devoid of anything like furniture or decorations. However, in the middle of the room was a large column of white light that had a green aura to it. King was in front of this light column. He rubbed his head after his first attempt failed, before trying again. Charging at the light for a headbutt, but when he made contact with it, it deflected him. Bouncing him back and preparing to ram it again, until Eli caught him.

"Easy, buddy. You don't have to do that," he said with a smile. King just huffed, preparing to go headbutting again. "We have humans, remember," Eli said, gesturing to Rapunzel and Cassandra.

"Oh, yeah," King said, realizing the situation.

Rapunzel looked to the barrier and took a deep breath. She then gently walked towards the barrier to go through… only for it to deflect her, as she stumbled back, in shock of this turn of events, as did the others as they saw this.

Eli walked over to her and asked, "Rapunzel? Do you… have magic?"

Realizing her secret could get out, she grabbed her hair, bunching it up like a bag, as she tried to deny it, "What? No! not at all, my hair isn't magical…" But then paled as that came out wrong, "I mean, there is no magic, and not that it's in my hair."

Cassandra then walked towards it, and apparently, it let her go through without much effort or resistance against her.

Inside the Barrier

When she made it through to the other side of the light, the maid made guard girl opened her eyes and saw a mountain of various stuff in front of her. At the top was something shining. Cassandra looked and began to climb up the mountain. It wasn't too long before she made it to the top and looked down at the crown with big smiles. However, that smile disappeared when she saw the crown.

"Wait a second," Cassandra said, "Is this a..." But then slouched over in annoyance, "Oh, you've gotta be kidding."

Moments Later

The girl had come out with the item in toll. Though why she looked disappointed or cheated out of something exciting, it was fairly evident in Cassandra's hand. The crown… was in fact a paper crown you could get at Burger Queen. Which ironically, was what it was. A cardboard crown that was easily obtained at a human Burger Queen restaurant. And while the two human teens knew that it had no power, King was elated to see it.

"My crown!" King exclaimed, as he suddenly jumped up and begged, trying to grab it from Cassandra, "Give me! Give me! Give me!" she just sighed as she gently dropped it in King's eager hands. Raising it over his head, he slowly placed it on for dramatic effect, "Yes. Yes! I can feel my powers returning! ALL THE POWERS OF DARKNESS RETURNING TO THE RIGHTFUL KING!" He then pointed to a stuffed rabbit, as he ran over and picked it up, giggling, "You, there. Nightmare critter. I shall call you Francois, and you shall be a minion in my army of darkness. Ha‐ha!"

Cassandra being exhausted from this nonsense sighed, rubbing her forehead, while Rapunzel then took the moment to ask, "That crown doesn't give him any powers, does it?"

"Uh, no," Eli snicked.

"What is wrong with you," Cassandra shouted, as she angrily scolded Eli, "You lied and used us to get a stupid crown that's nothing but paper! A crown, btw, that you could get from another restaurant! Were you ever going to let us go home!?"

"Of course I was. Unlike a certain other magic user in this realm, I at least keep my word," Eli exclaimed, arching an eyebrow. But the two girls weren't buying it as the raven-haired woman seemed visually cheesed off. Seeing that she wasn't going to let it go, he looked at the two with a serious, but saddened expression, "Oh, look at us. King, Phoelo, and I don't have much in this world. We only have each other. So if that dumb crown is important to him, it's important to me." He then half-smirked as he winked, "And besides, us weirdos have to stick together, you know what I mean?"

Rapunzel looked at Eli in amazement. As for Cassandra, her anger glare softened to a sad expression. In a lot of ways, she could relate. She had no one. All she really had was her father, but even then, nobody understood her. So, with a long sigh, she let go of her annoyance, as she sighed heavily and allowed her shoulders slumped. "You're lucky that you have the only way back, otherwise I would have pummeled you, pal," Cassandra smirked.

"Well, we owe you two one," Eli said, not noticing a familiar dark shadow towering over him slowly. "Now, let's get out of here before the warden finds us and loses his head."

"Too late."

Warden Wrath turned this hand into a scythe and sliced off his head at the neck.

Time slowed down for the two humans, King, Phoelo, and even Pascal, as they watched the head fly in the air, before Rapunzel caught it. She screamed, staring into Eli's face. But then he suddenly came to life again, as he spoke with an annoyed expression, "Ow! Oh, I hate it when that happens."

This suddenly made both Rapunzel and Cassandra freak out in utter horror at the sight of this new discovery.

Next Chapter: The Great Escape; A Bargain Favor Owed

Sorry I had to cut the chapter short here. I don't usually do that, but with this weekend work, I figured I wouldn't have time. So stay tuned for the next episode.