Melinda, Dalton, Christina, Shaggy, and Scooby were continuing the search of Ever After High when a magic shock wave rolled through. Luckily, the girls were able to throw up shields to protect the boys, only lowering them when the magic had passed through.
"Like, I know I'm not going to like the answer but I'll ask anyway, what was that?" Shaggy trembled behind Christina.
"Duchess cast another spell," Christina replied gravely.
"See? I told you I wouldn't like it"
"They've turned to stone!" Dalton pointed out.
"This is not good," Melinda declared.
"C'mon we have to make sure everyone else is okay!"
Thankfully, through their own skills or simply jumping out of the way, the others were safe,
"We need to find Arthur," Raven stressed, "There's no doubt Duchess went after him"
"He like, wasn't at the school," Shaggy pointed out.
"If he was called away to do prince things," Melinda speculated, "Maybe he went home?"
"So he's at..."
"White Castle"
…...
(BP) Oh, they've got to find Arthur!
(MN FN and TP) *Snoring*
…...
"Like how is this place worse than the school?" Shaggy shuddered, following Christina with Scooby tip-toeing behind him.
"Because this is where she cast from," Raven answered quietly eyes scanning for danger.
"So where would Arthur be if he were doing er, Prince things?" Sam wondered.
"Judging by the effects of the spell, I say he's upstairs" Christina observed.
Raven pushed past her bounding up the stairs. The others followed shortly.
"Arthur!" they called spreading throughout the upper rooms, "Arthur!"
But they were being watched by Duchess who'd invaded fairy cottage, claiming it as her own.
"How did she break my spell!" she screeched focused on where Raven was combing through one of the halls, "Nothing should have broken it!"
"Ma-Maybe it was just a fluke?" Sparrow shrugged, "You never know"
"That's not how magic works!" Duchess whirled to face him.
"What are you going to do, now?"
…...
Back at the castle, Raven led the frenzied group, stampeding throughout the rooms until at last, they found Arthur in the office. A frozen statue.
"ARTHUR!" Raven yelled, "No...no...no"
Little did the solemn group realize they were being watched in the nearby mirror.
"Yes, Finally! This is it! This is the push my little birdie needs!" The Evil Queen cheered quietly, watching with gleeful anticipation.
Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.
"Raven," Christina laid a hand on her friend's shoulder, "Look,"
There were tears streaming down the statue's face, forming a puddle at his feet.
"He's still there, still alive," Raven slowly realized, drying her eyes.
"You know what he needs, don't you?"
Raven brushed the tears from Arthur's eyes before kissing him, pouring all her love into the action, nearly collapsing with relief when he returned the gesture.
"Arthur," Raven sighed with relief, "I-I thought I'd lost you"
"You'll never lose me, Raven," Arthur hugged her close, "You're my happily ever after"
"Gag me!" Sam choked, mushy displays of affection weren't her thing.
"What's our next move?" Duncan helpfully redirected.
"We need to find Duchess so we can fix this mess," Raven declared.
"And we need to hurry," Melinda added, "With every spell, she casts her magic gets stronger"
"That's like, a great thought," Shaggy ducked behind Christina, Scooby behind him both whimpering with fear
"It'll be okay, you two," Christina cast a reassuring smile over her shoulder, "I promise"
"Christina's right," Clawdeen agreed, "Now, let's get out of here"
"Which way's the fastest?" Danny questioned.
"Follow me," Arthur took the lead.
The group went from the office, zig-zagging through the rooms until coming to a hall lined with suits of armor, "There's a back staircase that leads right outside," he explained.
Christina for her own safety pressed closer to Shaggy with a slight shudder.
"What's the matter?" Sam wanted to know, taken aback to see Christina so shrunken down.
"Iron burns fairies, rather painfully," Melinda explained, "So Christy can't be near it"
"Oh"
For Duchess who was still watching, this was most excellent news. With a wicked laugh, she cast her spell to slow the group down. Just as they were reaching the door to the staircase the suits moved, drawing swords to block their path.
"Uh, we're surrounded," Cleo observed.
"Christina?" Shaggy glanced at the hybrid, "Can't you do something?"
"Nope, iron repels fae magic, Melinda?" Christina looked to her friend, "Please tell me you have an idea"
"We're clearly not getting out of here without a fight," Melinda observed, "I think I have an idea"
"What?"
"Raven, Sam, and I will-"
"Me?" Sam interrupted, "Why me?"
"Because you have magic too, it could really help-"
"I do not"
"Yes you do"
"Ladies, please," Duncan stepped between the pair, "In case you forgot we're surrounded by a small army"
"Watch your back, watch your back
Watch your back, watch your back
We can counter their attack
Hit 'em 'til the armor cracks"
"I have an idea of my own," Sam declared.
"This could get a little sticky
How to win this battle could be tricky
But I know the best way, fall back, let me lead
You hold the line and we'll bring them to their knees"
Melinda who was just as stubborn as Sam if not more so, grabbed the swords from the walls, tossing them to the others.
"Swords in the air if you're with me
They got us outnumbered one to fifty
But victory is ours 'cause I got a strategy
You take the left and the rest of you can follow me"
"Uh-Uh" Sam objected, she did not like being ordered around.
Finally, Christina was forced to intervene, stepping between the two:
"Oh my gosh
Look, guys, we've got bigger fish to fry
Put your differences aside
'Cause right now we're on the same side"
"Until the night falls, everyone
We'll stay together 'til the battle is done
Watch your back, watch your back
Watch your back, watch your back
We can counter their attack
Hit 'em 'til the armor cracks
Until the night falls, we're aligned
It doesn't mean that we're on the same side
Watch your back, watch your back
Watch your back, watch your back
Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast
They're too heavy to react"
An all-out battle ensued, each relying on their own strengths but there was hardly a dent in their foes. Melinda took charge again, hoping to steer the battle in their favor.
"This situation's getting kinda heavy
Hold your weapons tight, keep 'em steady
'Cause if we stick together, we can make it out alive
I'll cause a distraction, you attack them from the side"
Of course, Sam had a different approach:
"All my soldiers stand at the ready
We can cut 'em up like confetti
We'll hit 'em from the front, you counter from behind
Don't forget the fate of Ever Afters on the line"
The group came back together, stepping as one to ward off any attacks while the two girls thought up a plan.
"This is all-out war, they got us outnumbered
The way the swords clash is the sound of the thunder"
Christina, burnt and bloody flew upward to avoid further injury, still clutching her grandmother's staff. Following behind her were Duncan and Danny who each decided an aerial approach had its benefits while on the ground, Raven tried her best to rally everyone together.
"And we are not going under, we will never run for cover"
"We battle for the victory and ride for each other"
"Until the night falls, everyone
We'll stay together 'til the battle is done
Back to back, back to back
Back to back, back to back
We can counter their attack
Hit 'em 'til the armor cracks
Until the night falls, we're aligned
It doesn't mean that we're on the same side
Back to back, back to back
Back to back, back to back
Hit 'em hard and hit 'em fast
They're too heavy to react"
Finally, Melinda and Raven each had their own light-bulb moment, joining hands they incanted:
"Suit of armor strong and true
Make this metal bust a move!"
The Ripple effect was almost instant, their foes stopping still forced to mirror whatever the teens did. Which meant they were led through a string of hard to perform moves, causing the metal to creak and groan with protest, damage slowly becoming visible.
"Until the night falls, you can trust
I'm gonna help you win this battle because
I got your back, got your back
Got your back, got your back
All for one and that's a fact
Knights fall, pitch black"
The suits of armor crashed into a heap.
…...
"NOOO!" Duchess angrily shrieked, magic exploding about the cottage.
"You tried your best," Sparrow offered meekly, "What do you say we go back to my treehouse and listen to some music? That always helps take the edge off"
Duchess whirled on him.
"Or-or we could watch a movie?"
She didn't take too kindly to this suggestion either, turning her blasts on him until he was forced into the closet for his own safety.
"I think it's time for things to be a bit more personal"
…...
Bum Bum Bum!
YEESH DID THIS EVER GIVE ME A HEADACHE!
There's so much to do!