The sky began to have a soft gray glow. After some time walking, more like running away from the Goblin Village, Pooh and friends made a small place in a dark grove where they wouldn't be seen. Pooh was humming a tune on a tree stump while Honey Maple gazed at the young Goblin girl. The baby dragon sniffed cautiously. Mageln stared in wonder. She gave the little dragon princess a few pats on the nose. Honey Maple cooed and started to lick her face. Pooh laughed at the sight. "I'm glad you're starting to feel better."

Onyx groaned. She lifted her head from her nest of nettles, her face tired. "I'm just glad to actually find a hiding spot after your heroics in the Goblin Villiage." She looked at the Goblin Shaman. "Did we have to bring him and his little girl along? It's bad enough we have the yellow furball tagging along."

Rabbit glared at the Kelpie. "Excuse me! This 'furball' just so happened to grab a few herbs and flowers. Might I add that these plants pose as some serious ingredients to the teleportation spell to send us back to the Golden Desert!"

"Um…Rabbit? Why couldn't we use that wind spell again?" Pooh tilted his head. "I'm trying to remember that we think of a place and we go there don't we?"

"The clouds are too thick here." Rabbit said, remembering what Gypsy and Lacy said about the spell during their travels. "Wind magic is weak around here. The elemental magics usually involve willpower, but it's also rumored that the Dark Dream King can sense these kinds of spells which makes them a last resort."

"Any elemental magic is weak around here." Whirlwind explained. He carefully placed a few fire logs down. He even went as far as grabbing a few fruits from the light magic Pooh had used earlier.

Pooh tilted his head. "Why's that?" Magelan and Honey Maple plopped themselves next to the silly old bear. Pooh giggled and hugged them both.

Kuml was quick to step in. "There's actually a story behind that." He chuckled at the shocked expressions of Rabbit and Pooh. "I'm sure King Moonsoul told you their version of the story."

Pooh shook his head. "No. He was so excited to have Honey Maple back…" He lowered his head. "I hope he and Queen Flamesong are ok."

—-(The Golden Desert)-

"What?!" King Moonsoul roared. "They just disappeared?" His mouth lit a golden flame that threatened to torch the tents. He and his wife were resting near the water. Trying their hardest to use whatever form of magic they could use to see if their child is ok. Then, a Honey Badger came and told them that Lacey, Gypsy and Tobias have all vanished.

"Yes…" The Honey Badger answered. He pulled out a strange black weed. "We found this nearby the camp. No doubt used to perform that strange transportation spell from a distance."

King Moonvoice growled. His claws dug into the cool sand. He got onto his feet. Blue eyes to the sky. "That's it! I can't stand around and do nothing. I'm going to the Hollow Realm and bring them back!" He flared his silvery wings to the sky. Before he could take off, Queen Flamesong stopped him.

"Don't! We don't know where they wound up." Flamesong's eyes were sore from crying.

"I have to try." He looked at the moon. "I owe that bear for keeping Honey Maple safe. Now, we must do something for him in return."

"Then I'm coming with you."

"Are you sure?"

Flamesong fluttered her wings. She raised her head a little higher. "Yes. I want nothing more than to face the ones responsible for poisoning me and taking my baby."

King Moonsoul smiled. "Alright." He looked at the Honey Badger. "Tell Queen Sandwisher that we're going to the Hollow Realm. Alone. Don't bring any reinforcements."

"But-" The Badger protested.

"That's an order." King Moonsoul said sternly. He looked at his wife. "Let's go."

—-(The Bat Caverns)-

Eeyore groaned. His stomach churned. His session with Jasper was grueling. It was mostly hoping and flapping. However, the winds were pretty strong for a baby bat the size of a hay wagon. Eeyore had been tossed this way and that. His world spinning up to the point where he had to close his eyes. Once Jasper was done, he was finally left alone with finishing his tunnel.

He kept digging and digging. Finally, he was at the other side. He was stuck for a moment. "Oh boy…" Eeyore pulled as hard as he could. Then he popped out and landed face first into a stalagmite. "Ow." He got up and looked around. So far none of the bats had heard him. "Not that they would care." He muttered to himself.

Eeyore trudged on. He listened for any slight movement of the bats. A few times he bumped but he made sure that no sound came out of him. He walked and walked. No sign of light could be found anywhere. Suddenly, a whistle reached his ears. He followed it. Eeyore figured it would be a trick but he had no other options. Finally, he reached a tunnel. A large gust of wind nearly knocked him off his spot. He backed away slowly. "That's a bit dangerous. Don't know if it'll lead the way out."

"Mr. Eeyore! What are you doing?!"

Eeyore turned, startled to see Jasper behind him. The young bat panting heavily. "You shouldn't be there!" He lunged for the donkey, but he slipped. Jasper tumbled. He crashed into Eeyore and the two plummeted down. The wind howled loudly. Eeyore yelled. Jasper screamed.

"Flap! Jasper! Flap!" Eeyore yelled. He moved slightly until he was able to wrap his arms around the little bat's neck.

"I'm trying!" Jasper yelled back. His wings make a frantic effort to find a current. "Mama said I wasn't allowed near here because I'd get swept away." He tried to flap again but it was all in vain. "It hurts."

Eeyore sighed. "So this is how it ends…Being tossed around by wind. Going to crash…" His eyes lit up. "Wait…" He leaned toward Jasper's ears. "Jasper, don't flap! Just let the wind carry you."

"What?! Are you crazy?"

"I don't think we have much of a choice. Rock!"

Jasper took notice of a rocky wall heading straight for them. With all his effort, he tilted his wings upward. A gust of wind caught the webbing like sails on a boat. Jasper was able to turn just before he collided. He went up and up until they popped out of a hole that was small enough for him to go through. He began to breathe heavily, his whole body shaking like a leaf. Jasper's eyes took in the barren landscape before them. "Woah…Is this the rest of the-" He coughed.

"There's a tree there." Eeyore pointed. "Go rest there." So I don't fall, He thought. Once Jasper landed, Eeyore slid off with a less than graceful landing.

Jasper hung himself upside down. He coughed a few times until his breathing finally evened out. "Th-Thank you Mr. Eeyore…I'm sorry I got you in trouble like that. I was only trying to warn you."

"Warn me?" Eeyore looked on confused. "I thought you were gonna eat me. Let alone stop me."

"Are you leaving?"

Something about Jasper's words made Eeyore's heart ache. More than normal. He hadn't felt that way since Christopher Robin died. "I…have to go find my friends."

"P-please don't go! I promise to behave!" Jasper fell as a tree branch broke under his weight. He began to cry. Tears streamed down his face.

Eeyore sat there for a moment. His mind began to think. I don't know anything about this place. I'll still be lost. He looked at Jasper. The young bat went through all that trouble of saving him from falling to his death. "Looks like I better return the favor. Not like anything worse will happen to me." He looked at Jasper. "Ok…Don't cry. You can come but be-Honk!" He gasped in shock as he felt wings wrap around him.

"Oh thank you! Thank you, mr. Eeyore!"

"Now we just need to find the others." Eeyore looked in the distance. "If we can find them, that is…"

—-

I'm leaving it there. Jasper finds a friend in Eeyore and King Moonsoul is going to find his child. However, the danger is growing and the group will reunite soon enough.