And we're going to your house why?", Kitty asked Faybelle as they approached Lucinda's Dark Tower.
"Because my mom may be a pain most of the time, but I'm gonna protect her from that bird-brained psycho", the teen dark fae replied as she unlocked and opened the heavy oak door. "Besides, it'll be easier to use my dad's wand to strengthen the wards here and just relax until this insanity blows over. MOM! I'm home! And I brought a friend! Mom?"
"*CAW-CAW-CAW!*", a raven squawked urgently, flapping around Fayebelle's head.
"HEY! DAMON! CHILL OUT! Where's mom?"
Still squawking, Damon led the girls upstairs. Along the way, they saw many of Lucinda's goblin minions had turned to stone! Fearing the worst, Faybelle flew as fast as she could until she found her mother...now a statue standing on the balcony of her private chambers.
"NOOOO! MOM!", Faybelle cried tears streaming down her face as she hugged her petrified mom.
"Duchess must've cast another spell", Kitty deduced. "Your dad's wand is probably what protected us."
"You better go find the rest of the Blunderland Brats", Faybelle hissed angrily. "I'm gonna go find my cousin and the others."
Why?", Kitty asked, confused. Everyone Ever After knew that Faybelle can't stand her cousin Christina.
"Because this Dark Fairy may be out for revenge, but I'm not crazy enough to try it alone. Duchess has the Evil Queen's scepter, so it's gonna take a lot of magick to stop her."
…...
The mood at Christina's house was somber and anxious. Half of Book End and Ever After High were cursed asleep and the other half were turned to stone. What was worse was that Alyssa and Maleficent had determined that the combined curses were slowly spreading further, toward New Salem and Monster High...unless Duchess could be stopped.
Sam was overwhelmed, though she would never admit it. First finding out that not only was she related to the witches of Oz and one herself, but that the family that raised her all her life weren't even real! Now some spoiled prima donna was cursing the whole world for no better reason than she wasn't getting her way. Right now she actually misses the cheesy moments since coming here, like Danny and the Monster Royals getting their Ever After 'companions'...
(Flashback, a few days earlier)
"Cleo De Nile!", the lovely mummy called out as she tossed the enchanted firework in the air. Moments later, a snake slithered up to her out of the forest; assure-blue with an indigo diamond pattern down it's back. It reared up and spread it's hood, denoting it a cobra, and it's belly was as gold as if touched by Midas. "So Beautiful", Cleo cooed as it slithered up to coil around her arm. "I shall name you Hissette!"
The other Monster Royals were impressed. Even Danny's girlfriend Sam was impressed. Maybe this wasn't such a lame tradition for EAH after all. Clawdeen stepped up next.
"Clawdeen Wolf!"
Less than a minute later, a wolf pup came bounding out of the trees to practically pounce on the she-wolf, yipping enthusiastically!
"Whoa! Ok! Ok! I like you too, Carmine! Can you please calm down now?"
"Carmine?", Duncan asked.
"Yeah, that's what he told me. And that he's wicked happy to be bound to an Alpha. Carmine? This is Duncan. He's my mate."
Duncan held out his hand. Carmine sniffed it a few times, then licked it. "Nice to meet you, Carmine."
"Isi DawnDancer!", the dancing deer-spirit girl called, to be answered by an owl that swooped down to land on her shoulder.
"I guess I'm next", Duncan said, stepping toward the forest edge. He popped and tossed the firework. "Duncan Xerxes Rosenblatt!"
Moments later, there was a flapping sound in the trees just before a small dragon flew over and crooned as it landed on Duncan's arm. It was about five feet long, half of which was tail. It had a saw-like fin down the length of spine from head to tail. It had four slim but muscular legs, and a pair of purple/magenta, bat-like wings. The overall color was teal with light-green on the belly. The eyes were large and somewhat bulgy, and gleamed with intelligence and affection. The teeth were small but sharp, and there was a single, hook-like horn on the nose and two twisty and bent horns on the back of the head. It hiccuped a small burst of flame, getting a chuckle from Duncan.
"That just leaves me. Daniel Fenton!"
As the firework burst in the air, a small ghost portal appeared from it! A small, barking, green bundle of energy dropped down in front of Danny and formed into a familiar shape.
"Cujo?!", Danny gasped in surprise.
"Wait", Sam said. "Isn't that the...?"
"Yeee-up."
"And can turn into a great big...?"
"Yup."
"Hoo boy. Only you, Danny."
(Present)
Duncan and Shaggy helped Alyssa make and serve some snacks for everyone. But despite the delicious treats, the atmosphere was still solemn.
"It's like Duchess is always one step ahead of us", Sam said, biting a bat-shaped chocolate cookie. "I thought she was just one of those shallow, air-headed, prissy-princesses. No offense, girls."
"None taken!" the other girls promised.
"*Grrrrrr!* I'm sick of just reacting to everything!", Duncan growled. "Christy, Raven, Melinda; can you three block her from spying on us so we can get the jump on her and end this?"
"Hmmmm...maybe. But even if we did...", Christina started.
"...we'd still need to know where she is or where she's going to head her off", Melinda finished. "And she's blocking us from spying on her as well."
"I...might have a solution to that", Raven said hesitantly.
"Well, let's hear it ghoulfriend", Clawdeen urged her.
"Sis, you don't mean?", Dirk asked Raven with concern.
Raven sighed deeply and walked over to the nearest mirror and waved her briefly glowing hand at it, causing the glass to glow for a moment.
"Mom, I know you're there. Talk to me", Raven called, to the surprise of the others. Surprise turned to shock when the face of the Evil Queen appeared in the mirror! Dirk stepped up beside his sister.
"Raven! My beautiful little black-bird! And Dirk, my little warrior, it's been Forever After. How do I look?"
"You look great, Mom."
"Have you been a bad little boy and girl?", she asked hopefully.
"You already know we haven't, Mom", Raven replied with a sigh while Dirk shook his head. "We know you're always watching us through every mirror you can, so you can stop pretending."
"Well, can't blame an Evil Queen for trying, Dear. But this isn't Visiting Day, and this isn't the usual mirror. So as tickled as I am to see you both, why are you contacting me?"
"We need your help, Mom", Dirk said bluntly. "You must know what's going on. You always do. Duchess has your sceptre and is out of control."
"So I noticed", she smirked. "I do wonder what kind of turmoil she could have feeling for my sceptre to call out to her. It must have been positively DREADFUL! Ha-ha-ha-ha!"
"Mom! Hocus-focus!", Raven huffed. "Can you help us find her?"
"Perhaps...If you let me out of the mirror", she grinned evilly.
"Nice try, Mom, but you know better than that", Dirk smirked back.
"Oh very well", she sighed. "I will search my mirrors on two conditions. Ask your father to visit me from time to time, Dirk? I do still...love him deep in my black heart."
"I'll ask him", Dirk said slightly touched. "And the other?"
She looked to Raven with a gleam in her eyes. "When to defeat that upstart prima-donna, YOU must claim my sceptre for yourself, Raven, and all the power that comes with it!"
"No, Raven!", Christina warned. "That much dark magick could corrupt you and turn you evil!
"She's right, Sis!", Dirk growled, glaring at their grinning mother in the mirror.
"But it could also be our only chance to get a step ahead of Duchess", Raven argued.
"I say it's up to Raven", Duncan said. "I have faith in her will and sense of self. Other than turning herself into a swan, Duchess had no previous experience with magick, and she gave herself freely to the sceptre. Raven is stronger than that."
"You could be right, Duncan", Christina considered, knowing her friend well. The others nodded as well.
"Alright, Mom, I'll do it; I'll claim your sceptre as mine by birthright", Raven told her.
"Hexcellent! I'll be back in two shakes~!", the Evil Queen replied in a sing-sing voice and faded from the mirror.
Sam sat next to Danny, idly twirling her new wand and drumming her fingers on the small spellbook Melinda had given her to start learning from. She was determined to help, but was uncertain as to how much help she could be.
"Found her", the Evil Queen announced, returning to the mirror, breaking Sam from her revery. "She's at Ever After High, just standing at the entrance like she's waiting for something."
"She is", Christina said. "Us. She knows she has the upper-hand and that we can't hide forever. Why hunt us when we have to go to her?"
"That's where she is now", Isi said, "but she was at the Fairy Cottage where the good fairies raised Aurora earlier. I saw it in a vision. Maybe she left a clue or something else important there?"
"We'll go", Fred volunteered. "We're no use against Duchess like this. But facing off with Christina and the rest of you big guns, I doubt she'll notice that we're not there."
"Good point, Fred", Velma agreed.
I can lead you there", Briar said.
"I don't know about taking her head-on", Christina said doubtfully.
"You're not alone", Duncan reassured her. "You got me, Clawdeen, Danny, Melinda, and Sam backing you up."
"Count ME in, too!"
They all turned in surprise to the front door to see Faybelle.
"Fayebelle?", Christina said with clear shock in her voice.
"She turned my mom to stone, Cousin", Fayebelle seethed, holding back tears. "MY MOM!" Christina was shocked. She might not like her Aunt Lucinda very much, but she was still family. She walked over and embraced her almost crying cousin, who hugged her back with trembling arms.
"*AHEM!*Ok, enough mushy stuff! This dark fairy is out for revenge, and even my dad's wand, I need your help."
...
Hi there! This ENTIRE chapter was written by my friend, DRAGONDAVE45, Didn't he do amazing (so much better than me).
We're taking turns LOL.