Up in the announcement booth, Gabriel, Figment, and Randall were all sitting at a table, looking over the votes for the Tomada and Roman battle with great consideration. As that happened, the raven tapped out a beat on the desk, calling on some Fantasia as a piano started to play. "There's a lot to count up here…" Gabriel mused.
"Hey, can we get back to the fights soon?" Randall asked.
"Please?" Figment added.
Gabriel stood up, the raven starting to rap as he paced around. "Yo. Every action has its equal, opposite reaction. Brian's team lost the round; I love the guy, but he's in traction.
Poor Seth and Melody, are both missing in action. And Tomada's now tied with-"
"Roman Volk!" Figment and Randall chimed in.
"-with his own faction." Gabriel nodded.
"He's very attractive in the West, Hollywood like his chances," Figment pointed out.
"He's not very forthcoming on any particular stances," Randall rolled his eyes.
"Tomada has the spirit, but Roman's brought his skills and gadgets," Figment said.
"And the votes keep coming in, at this point I don't know who'll win!"Gabriel groaned.
"Truly, that's the problem, see, they both seem like they deserve the victory," Figment pointed out. "We need to change course, a key endorsement might solve this."
"Who did you have in mind?" Gabriel asked.
"Well, just an idea…" Figment muttered.
"Oh, just say it!" Randall shouted.
"There's only one person that could tip the scales here," Figment said. "And he's in this room right now."
"What?" Gabriel tilted his head as Figment started to sing.
It might be nice, it might be nice…
To have Gabriel on your side
Randall nodded, joining in the song as the two pointed at the raven.
It might be nice, it might be nice…
To have Gabriel on your side
"You guys are serious?" Gabriel asked.
"I mean, you are the Dream Keeper, so whoever you vote for will get a big push," Figment said.
The raven shook his head. "Look, I'll just go out there and see what the people say, but for now I'm not voting, got it?" Stepping outside the booth, Gabriel was surprised to see the stadium in an uproar as a mini election of sorts seemed to be going on. In the center of it all was Roman and Tomada, the two campaigning for why they should win.
Talk less (Roman!)
Smile more (Tomada!)
Don't let 'em know what you're against or what you're for (Roman!)
The wolf and Falcon smiled as he marched around the arena, shaking hands with the guests as they passed by.
Shake hands with him (Tomada!)
Charm her (Burr!)
It's do or die time, everyone, tell your friends: vote for (Tomada!)
"This is really turning into an election at this point…" Gabriel sighed, listening in on what everyone else was saying.
"I don't like either of them," a grumpy guest said.
"Well, one's gotta win, that's just defeatist," his friend said.
"And Tomada?" Toren asked.
"He's got his spirits, surely he can't be beaten," Silver nodded.
"I like that Roman Volk," Adam said.
"I can't believe we're here with him!" some of the female characters swooned.
"He seems approachable? Like you could grab a beer with him," Logan nodded. "Sorry Tomada!"
Everyone seemed to notice Gabriel approaching, the gang all swarming him with questions.
Dear Mr. Gabriel
Your fellow Dream Defenders would like to know how you'll be voting
"I'm taking my time…" Gabriel replied.
Dear Mr. Gabriel
You know one doesn't stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
"I'm taking my time…" the raven repeated, only for his friends to close in on him.
Tomada or Roman, Tomada or Roman?
We know it's lose-lose
Tomada or Roman? but if you had to choose
Dear Mr. Gabriel
You know one doesn't stand a chance, so who are you promoting?
But if you had to choose-
"Wait!" Figment shouted, appearing with a piece of paper. "I've got the current results right here!"
"Well then, let's hear them!" Randall insisted. Everyone in the stadium settled down a bit, but still started chanting as Figment read through the results.
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
"It's a tie…" Figment said nervously.
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
"It's up to the final vote…" Randall said.
If you had to choose
If you had to choose
"It's up to Gabriel!" the two shouted together.
If you had to choose
If you had to choose (Tomada or Roman?)
If you had to choose, choose! (Tomada or Roman?)
As Tomada and Roman looked to Gabriel, the raven closed his eyes before opening them, staring with conviction.
Yo (oh!)
The people are asking to hear my voice (oh!)
For this tourney is facing a difficult choice (oh!)
And if you were to ask me who I'd promote… (oh!)
Gabriel turned around before dramatically point at Tomada.
Tomada has my vote (oh!)
The falcon looked at Gabriel with surprise.
I have never met with Tomada once (oh!)
And surely we're different on so many fronts (oh!)
But when all is said and all is done:
Tomada has my interest, Roman less so (ooh!)
"Sorry Roman…" Gabriel apologized.
"I get it," Roman nodded sadly. "I'll get my chance to shine next time!" He gave a salute before walking off with his team.
Well, I'll be darned
Well, I'll be darned
Gabriel's on your side
Bambi and Shere Khan sang as they smiled at their team leader.
Well, I'll be darned
Well, I'll be darned
"And?" Tomada asked.
"You won in a landslide!" Figment cheered, throwing out confetti.
"And with that, we can get on with the tournament," Gabriel nodded, cutting off Fantasia there. "Tomada, you and your team can get ready for your match. The placements this time are based around the previously gathered points, which means the following battles are going to be this:"
Ladies of Victory VS. King of Beasts
Dream Walkers VS. Forest Fighters
"See you all on the battlefield!" the raven said as he went back up to the announcer's booth.
[***]
"We have to fight Almyra!?" Ben groaned.
"Well, it was nice knowing you guys, but I think we should just leave now and cut our losses," Nuka shrugged, turning to leave.
Rocket rolled his eyes and pushed the lion back into the arena. "Oh no, we've come too far to turn back now. Besides, she doesn't know about our secret weapon yet."
"What? Do you have a super cool gun that'll blow her away?" Ben asked.
Rocket shook his head. "No, but we do have something else to stop her most deadly move. Ya see, Almyra has this thing called the hypnotic dance that can basically make any guy- or girl- fall to her knees and do whatever she asks of them. However, the power only works if the person is attracted to her…"
"Where are you going with this?" Nuka raised an eyebrow.
The raccoon smirked. "Ben is the perfect counter to her technique."
"Wait, you're… you know…?" Nuka said in surprise.
"Yes, Nuka, I'm gay," Ben sighed. "It's really not that big a deal."
"I didn't say it was!" Nuka raised his paws up in surrender. "I just never would have guessed that was the case. I mean, my own sister is into girls, so I have no room to judge."
"Are you boys done over there?" Almyra called from the other side of the area.
"There is a battle that's about to go down, after all," Angel said.
"And this one will be easier than the last," Mirage chuckled darkly.
"Are both teams ready?" Gabriel asked, both teams giving a nod. Okay then, your arena this time is: Shadow Dancers!" The arena shifted, turning the stage dark as smoke rose to cover the ground, with a disco ball floating overhead being the only source of illumination in the arena. "If both sides are ready, then here… we… GO!"
Almyra flared out her feathers, activating her Elemental Train as it glowed with purple magic, absorbing the darkness to create shadow energy. "Let's go, girls," she smirked, calling on her dancing skills as music started to play.
"We've got this, guys!" Ben said, his friends giving a nod as Nuka fled into the shadows and Rocket pulled out a pair of goggles to help enhance his night vision.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
Ben started by pointing his staff forward for a wind spell, but Almyra simply swatted it away with her train.
And oh…
I can fly, I can fly, I can fly
Ben tried to sweep her legs with his staff, but the peahen simply jumped over the attack, taking a moving to spin around and whack him in the face with her tail.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
The two stared at each other, Ben with a glare and Almyra with a smirk. They circled each other, before Ben started to sing along with the song, making it a duet duel between the two.
And I'm loving every second
Minute, hour
Bigger, better
Stronger, power
With that the two were off trading blows, with Mirage facing Nuka and Rocket facing Angel.
I got that power
I got that power
I got that power, power
Power, power
With a snap of her hips, Almyra took center stage as she sang her verse of the song.
They call me will-A
Stay so cool, I'm chilli
I done made that milli
On my way to that valet
The peahen smirked as she called on the shadows, twisting them around Ben's legs. The wolf yelped as she activated Shepard's Wool for just a second, giving him time to move out of the way of the attack.
Used to have a piggy bank
But now I got that bigger bank
Who who cares what the haters think-
They hate on me 'cause we doing what they can't
Almyra frowned, but continued to put on the pressure as wind and shadow clashed.
I stay on that hustle
I flex that little muscle
Hate to bust your bubble
I'm on that other level
Meanwhile, Nuka was running circles around Mirage, but the sorceress had a plan. As Nuka pounced at her, he ducked down low like she was limbo dancing, letting the lion soar over her. With a flick of her wrist she grabbed his tail and sent an eclectic shock through it.
I'ma take it higher and high and high and higher
I stay in fly attire
Keeping burning like that fire
"That's what you get for messing with a dark sorceress, kitty cat," Mirage laughed as Nuka twitched on the floor, knocked out.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
"Nuka… I'll win this for you," Ben said.
"Eyes on the fight!" Almyra said, switching from using shadow magic to plant magic, her train glowing green as she did so.
And oh…
I can fly, I can fly, I can fly
Ben slammed his staff into the ground and did a super jump, before landing on the rapidly growing vines and grinding on them like a railing.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
"I knew that jungle training with Tarzan would pay off!" the wolf laughed as he managed to turn Almyra's attack against her.
And I'm loving every second
Minute, hour
Bigger, better
Stronger, power
"Good job, kid, but don't get cocky!" Rocket called as he traded laser blasts against Angel's music notes.
I got that power
I got that power
I got that power, power
Power, power
"Now it's my turn," Ben said as he began to rap the second verse.
Y-y-yes y'all feeling funky fresh y'all
Work to be the best y'all
Work good under pressura'
The wolf moved to the beat with ease, flowing like the wind around Almyra's moves.
"Impressive," the peahen mused. "Unorthodox, but enough to keep up with me."
Been through all that stress y'all
Get-get this off my chest y'all
Made it out them project with this project that's progress y'all
"And just enough to stay alive," Ben muttered. Even he wasn't sure how he was able to keep up, but his reunited bond with Nuka seemed to have made his wind magic more stable.
I beat it for my mama
I told her when I was younger
That I'ma be that number
One day I'll be that number one
With Rocket, the raccoon pulled out a flash bang and dropped it, making everyone wince at the bright light. Once that was done, he snuck up on a blinded Angel and got her in the back with his blaster. While the attack didn't hurt her, it did stun her long enough for Rocket to drop a plasma net on her for a pin.
I take it higher and high and high and higher
I stay in fly attire
Keeping burning like that fire…
"Yeah, don't bother struggling. Nothing can break through that," Rocket chuckled as Angel was declared out.
"Hm, so we've both taken one side down," Almyra said. She looked at her opponents and started swaying her hips, waves coming off her body as Mirage gave her a boost with magic. "Why don't you both be good boys and take yourselves out for us?"
Rocket suddenly felt very smitten by the peahen, but Ben shook his head with a smirk, stepping in front of the raccoon as he continued to sing along with the song.
Whatever doesnt kill you
Only makes you stronger
So I'ma get stronger
"It's not working on him…" Mirage frowned. Sher fired a beam of darkness at Ben, the wolf holding up his staff to block it, grunting as he started to get pushed backwards.
Comin' like a bataram, bataram
I'm knocking- knocking' down that door again..
"Rocket, I could use some help here!" Ben said.
"What…?" the raccoon said in a daze. With Almyra's hypnotic dance out of view now, Rocket came back to his senses, pulling out a portable shield and setting it up to block the magic beam.
Comin' like a bataram, bataram
I'm knocking-knocking down that door again…
"You ready Rocket?" Ben asked.
"Time for our finisher," the raccoon nodded.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
"They're doing something," Mirage said.
"Yes, a finishing move. We can take them, though," Almyra said. Joining hands with Mirage, the two began to glow as their light and dark magics turned into a swirling vortex around them. "Dance of the Midnight Veil!" they shouted.
And oh…
I can fly, I can fly, I can fly
Rocket pulled out one of his blasters, which quickly unfolded into a gun ten times his size. Ben jumped on top of the gun and pointed his staff forward, building up the biggest wind blast he could manage. "Rocket Wind Barrage!" they called as the gun fired.
And oh…
I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
The wind-powered missiles collided with the magic vortex, both attacks holding until a big explosion went off.
And I'm loving every second
Minute, hour
Bigger, better
Stronger, power!
"Okay… Is everyone okay down here?" Gabriel called as he looked through the smoke. "That was a pretty big explosion…"
"I'm good," Rocket called, still standing where he was before, though looking a bit burnt in some places.
"Ow… I think I broke my… everything…" Ben called, his body comically embedded in the far wall, his wind blast having backfired at the end. The wolf then let out a wheeze before falling out of the wall, barely conscious.
As the rest of the smoke settled, Almyra and Mirage were both still standing as well, though the peahen soon fell to her knees, panting with exhaustion as Mirage caught her. "That used up… all of my magic to hold off…" Almyra said.
"As it did mine," Mirage said, the sorceress barely able to stand.
"Well, if you two can still stand, there is still some time left in the match for you to win," Gabriel said. "Both teams are still in.
Almyra held up a wing. "Wait… I'd like to… let Ben move on…"
Mirage looked surprised. "But we could still go on! Win this entire tournament!"
Almyra shook her head. "Look at us, Mirage. Our magic is drained, and we can barely stand." She then smiled. "Besides, Ben impressed me by being able to resist my Hypnotic Dance."
"That's because… I'm not… into girls…" Ben replied.
"Hey, don't talk too much, kid," Rocket said, pulling the wolf to a sitting position.
Almyra giggled. "Still, it surprised me. I've never felt such a rush, even in the time I've spent training my combat abilities with Lady Mirage here. I know you and your friends will go far, Ben. I have my dancing and my show in Epcot to bring me fame. What's the harm in giving a rising star their chance to shine?"
"Heh… Thanks, Almyra…" Ben said with a smile.
"Well, if that's the case… The Ladies of Victory forfeit, meaning King of Beasts will move on to the finals," Gabriel said with a nod. "And to both sides, good job!"
[***]
"You ready, Tomada?" Bambi asked as they entered the arena.
The falcon nodded, holding up a fist to the sky. "I'm so ready for this. I even have a new spirit I wanna try out for this battle. Hope you guys are ready to wash away the competition!"
On the other side of the arena, Jameson hummed to himself as Violet and Venom watched him from behind. "If you notice anything else off about him, let me know," Violet whispered, Venom giving a nod.
The battlefield suddenly shifted, turning into a large bowl with a rim to stand on at the edges. "This stage is called: Bowl of Doom! You gotta jump in and get sliding around if you want to make the most of this battlefield! If both teams are ready… 3, 2, 1, GO!"
Tubguin Ace!" Jameson shouted, calling on a penguin Dream Eater sitting in a hot tub. Jameson hopped in as Venom pushed the tub into the bowl, sending the two sliding around the arena like an out-of-control hockey puck. "And Balloonga!" the owl added, calling on magic bouncing balls to start shooting around the area as well.
"Shoot! He's already controlling the battlefield!" Tomada panicked.
"Don't get all soft on me now," said the voice in Tomada's weapon. The tomahawk shifted into a fishing spear with a crocodile's head biting around the tip. "Go on and show that little bird the rage of the Nile!"
Tomada nodded. "Right. Okay Sobek, let's go!" The falcon hopped into the bow, using his new spear to create a wave of water to ride around on, with Shere Khan and Bambi following close behind.
"Did he just say Sobek? As in that jerk that attacked my brother?" Vitani growled in the crowd.
"Hold on there a bit, Vitani," Logan said. "Bast and Anubis made sure to set Sobek straight after he was swayed to Ammit's way of thinking. The big guy needed a mortal he could put his trust into to restore his faith, and my falcon buddy Tomada was just the guy for the job."
"Crocodile Geyser!" Tomada called, shooting himself into the air with a burst of water that transformed into a watery crocodile. The beast roared before slamming down into the arena, shaking the floor and ending Venom and Violet tumbling into the bowl.
"We're losing ground here!" Violet said in alarm, holding out a hand as Jameson caught her, pulling the hummingbird into the hot tub.
"I think we need something a bit more useful," Jameson said. Sending Tubguin Ace away, he called on a different Dream Eater, this one being the elephant-like Beatalike. "Let's shred it up, Beatalike!"
"Hah! I've faced elephants before," Shere Khan boasted, using his roar to shake the ground again.
"But not one on a skateboard!" Jameson retorted, Beatalike giving a trumpeting noise before skating right over Shere Khan, stunning the tiger in the process. "Violet, now!"
"On it!" the hummingbird replied, pulling out a potion and tossing it at Shere Khan, freezing the tiger on contact.
"That's one member down!" Gabriel called.
"Bambi, wrap them up!" Tomada ordered as he was distracted by blocking Venom with his spear.
The deer nodded, sending out vines to grab the Beatalike and stop it from moving. Bambi then reared up, calling on a different magic spell as snow started to fall, rapidly freezing the watery trail Tomada's water attacks left behind.
"Oh no, oh no…" Jameson panicked, taking to the skies and desummoning his Dream Eater to keep it safe. "Venom, Violet, we need a new plan here!"
"All we need to do is-" Violet started to say, before Bambi came up behind her and tossed her into the air with his horns.
"Crocodile Lunge!" Tomada called, rushing at Violet with another water avatar. The crocodile chomped down on the hummingbird, leaving Violet knocked out from the blow. "Yeah, and now we're even."
"We need to end this, quickly," Venom said as he and Jameson regrouped at the top of the bowl. "Take my power, Jameson."
The owl looked alarmed. "Venom, I don't think that's a good idea. Your body is affected by your host's emotions, and I'm not nearly as calm as Violet is."
"It does not matter. All that does is we win," Venom said, before grabbing onto Jameson and pulling the owl in. Jameson squirmed as he was coated in symbiote goo, before gasping as the two started to share memories.
In her lair on Mount Vesuvius, a certain dark sorceress laughed as she looked over her cauldron. "Yes, soon my latest plan to get back at Scrooge McDuck will be complete!" Magica de Spell cackled.
"CAW!" said the vulture next to her.
"Quiet, Bradford! This is my plan, not yours," Magica said. "And it's a brilliant plan too."
"CAW," Bradford rolled his eyes.
Magica growled and zapped the buzzard, singeing his feathers. "Sure, my wretched niece turned against me, but that was because I made her a teenager! Always so moody and wanting independence. The fact that she turned my own brother against me as well…" The duck stiffened before staring back into the cauldron with rage. "That is why this time, I'll make my newest creation a mere child, easily manipulated by his Mommy."
"CAW?" Bradford tilted his head.
"Yes, I'm making this one my son. Evil mothers are better at manipulating their children anyways," Magica said. Casting some magic into the cauldron, the liquid inside started to bubble up. "Yes, and now to add the last ingredient…" Magica grabbed a bottle and poured the entire thing in. "A heaping dose of Dream Eater Magic, to allow my spawn to travel into McDuck's dream and torment him there as well. Scrooge will have no rest with my newest creation!"
Magica laughed as the cauldron shot up a beam of darkness, blackening the sky around the volcano and calling down a lightning bolt into the pot. Once the dust settled, Magica reached into the cauldron and pulled out a baby owl with pitch black feathers.
"CAW?" Bradford said in confusion.
"Well of course he's an owl. They'd get suspicious if he was a duck like Lena," Magica said. "Now then, what to name you? How about…?"
"Jameson!" Violet shouted, shaking the owl awake.
Jameson popped up in a cold sweat, looking around to see that he was in the medical bay. "Wha… What happened…?" he asked.
"You and Venom managed to beat us good, that's what," Tomada said, sitting on the other side of the room. "I didn't have a flame or sound spirit to summon, so you guys took care of Bambi and I with no issues. But then Venom started screaming and spit you out. You were having a seizure of some kind and muttering about a volcano…?"
"Don't send me back there!" Jameson suddenly shouted.
"We're not going to, Jameson," Gabriel said, entering the room. "But we do need to know what's going on with you."
"I… I can't tell you that," Jameson said, shaking his head.
Violet looked her friend with a serious expression. "Jameson, despite having a victory today, I refuse to continue fighting at your side if you don't tell us what's going on. Even Venom is worried about you! And if this keeps affecting you like this… then I'm sorry, but we're going to have to forfeit."
Jameson looked nervously around at everyone in the room, before giving a big sigh. "Okay, I'll tell you… But you have to promise not to tell anyone, especially Lena!"
"What does my sister have to do with this?" Violet asked.
"You see, my nightmares, what Venom saw…" Jameson swallowed his nervousness before blurting out, "I'macreationofMagicadeSpell!"
Gabriel blinked. "Oh, is that it?"
"Wait… You already knew!?" Jameson exclaimed.
"I mean, considering the way you reacted that one time we fought Nightmare and he took the form of Magica, and the fact that Logan told me you aren't a guest but a creation of the Magical World… It wasn't hard to put two and two together," Gabriel shrugged.
"That actually explains a lot now," Violet nodded.
"I don't have any stakes in this," Tomada said.
"You aren't going to hate me now, are you?" Jameson asked.
"What logic is there in that?" Violet questioned. "My sister is also a creation of Magica, and she's now one of the most powerful sorceresses in the world, and a good guy to boot. Frankly, I don't think that woman can create anything that doesn't eventually backfire horribly on her."
"Agreed," Gabriel nodded. "I'm guessing your real fear is telling Lena and Poe, right?"
Jameson nodded. "I don't want then to hate me, especially since I was created to spy on them for Magica."
"Like Violet said, We do not hate you," Venom said. "If you want, We can eat Magica's brains for you!"
"No brain eating, Venom," Gabriel warned. "Still, we're all here for you Jameson, and I know that Poe and Lena will accept you as well when you tell them." He smiled. "That's all on you, though. I'm not blabbing to anyone, cross my heart."
The little owl sniffled, before jumping up and hugging his friends. "Thanks guys…"
"Now then, don't you have a tournament to win?" Tomada said.
"That's right! We did get to the final round!" Jameson gasped.
"There's no time to waste then. Take a few minutes, and we'll have the final arena ready for you," Gabriel stated before heading out.
Author's Note
How about those explosive matches! The first part of this chapter was a plan on the song "The Election of 1800" from Hamilton, with lyrics changed to be about the competition between Tomada and Roman. In the end they both got an even number of votes, so Gabriel had to make a decision and chose Tomada to advance on, seeing his spirit powers as having more potential for interesting fights. Roman's a good sport, though, so he'll take the battle with stride and continue honing his skills.
Ben and Almyra and an intense fight set to "#thatPower" by Will. I. Am. Both sides showed a lot of skill, with Ben even managing to be one the few people that Almyra's hypnotic dance doesn't work on due to his orientation. Their finishing moves also canceled each other out, but drained both parties of their energy to continue fighting. Ultimately, Almyra chose to back out of the tournament to give Ben a chance to shine in the spotlight. She really is an elegant and noble bird, isn't she?
As for Jameson and Tomada, the falcon warrior pulled out a new spirit, this one being the god of the Nile River, Sobek! He's turned around since the Valentine's special, thanks to Logan, Anubis, and Bast talking him away from Ammit's path of vengeance on mortals. Tomada must have really impressed him to tame the mighty crocodile.
And Jameson finally opens up after Venom's mind meld forces him to relive his creation at the hands of Magica de Spell. The little owl has been plagued with guilt over the circumstances of his birth, which up until now hadn't been fully explored in any Magical World story. Gabriel and his friends assured Jameson that they accept him despite his origin, however, and the little owl now has more confidence in himself. He'll need it too, since it's final battle time!
Next Time: The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing versus the Dream Walking Owl!