This is the Finale of the My Gift To You Birthday Special. Last time, everybody was kind of down in the dumps about how badly the attempt to reclaim the Sanctum Sanctorum went. Hard for it to get worse than completely losing the place, I guess. Caretaker tried to reencourage everyone by saying the war wasn't lost yet. But it seems Cynder took a little longer for it to take, as she looked like she was about to answer the call of the void at the edge of the Abbey for a second. Thankfully, Caretaker said one thing that nobody expected, Cynder had changed her mind about all of this. But she was left only hoping that it would work. So, did it? Read on to discover...

(The scene resumes in a hallway in the Abbey, where Cynder is strolling by with melancholy in her step, her eyes still red from probably crying the whole night through. But beyond a door, Caretaker and Doctor Strange are talking)

Caretaker: I know this is difficult for you, Stephen. But the Sanctum is gone. And we need to prepare for what comes next.

Doctor Strange: What's Next?! Armageddon has already come! What's next is Hell on Earth. The barrier has been breached. Expect the world to fall, city by city, nation by nation.

Caretaker: I'm not ready to give up. And neither should you.

Doctor Strange: It's not just losing the Sanctum that hurts. It's also Banner. And Spyro.

Caretaker: Banner we can handle. So long as he doesn't become the Hulk. Put the latter and Spyro together, then we've got a problem.

Doctor Strange: It's Banner's mind I'm more concerned with. That rift charge is just the start of the vile things he could conceive of. He is Lilith's most powerful mental weapon. And given all the power that Spyro possesses, which surpasses anything I've seen, I fear even without turning into the Hulk, the two together are a problem.

Caretaker: Then you know exactly what we need to fight back with.

Doctor Strange: That was literally the first thing we tried. Blaze is being impossible. Unless he gives us the Parchment...

Caretaker: (Shushing him) Voices carry. Let us make ours lower.

(Cynder at this point can't hear anything else, then processes what they just heard)

Cynder: I know Spyro went with Strange to talk with Johnny Blaze, but what's this about a Parchment? (Turns away from the door) Something we'll have to figure out.

(With that eavesdropping out of the way, Cynder heads upstairs where Nico Minoru, Magik, and Ghost Rider are talking with Captain America and Iron Man, updating them on what's happening in New York over social media, along with Blade and Spider-Man.)

Nico Minoru: Looks like there's zombies in the sewers.

Ghost Rider: And now vampires in Manhattan. Well, more than usual anyways.

Magik: The green sky is growing.

Captain America: Alright, let's not give into rumors just yet.

Spider-Man: Sorry, Cap. I don't think these are just rumors. The ol' Spidey-sense has been on double red alert since...

(At this point, Doctor Strange and Caretaker enter)

Doctor Strange: Since we lost the Sanctum. Perhaps now you understand why I was so adamant about saving it. (To the group) The Sanctum was, in essence, our world's supernatural ozone layer. When it breaks down, or blows up...

Caretaker: Holes form. Only instead of a bad sunburn, you get demons coming through. Lots of demons.

Cynder: (Seemingly recalling something) "And his children basked in his light as the temple of the false gods fell..."

Ghost Rider: What album was that from again?

Caretaker: The Prophecy. The dark god Chthon readies his return. (To Cynder) How did you know that line?

Cynder: The Hunter's still in my head, remember? Told me the entire thing last night.

Captain Marvel: Did The Hunter say anything about Chthon owning a dude ranch in the southwestern US? Because that's where a lot of this madness seems to be focusing.

Iron Man: Sounds like we'd better tell them.

Nico Minoru: About...?

Cynder: I'll take a stab and say Johnny Blaze.

Doctor Strange: Exactly! But how...

Cynder: Long story, I kind of overheard you and Caretaker.

Iron Man: Regardless, she's right. Johnny Blaze and the Quentin Carnival.

Ghost Rider: No way! The OG Ghost Rider?!

Caretaker: And keeper of the Parchment of Power.

Cynder: What exactly is the Parchment of Power?

Caretaker: The last page of the Darkhold. The missing piece Lilith will need to complete the Prophecy and free Chthon.

Doctor Strange: Spyro, Tony, and I went to speak with him about that, but...

Captain America: And when were you going to tell us this?

Magik: Welcome to our world.

Doctor Strange: The entire point of a secret guardian is to remain, well, secret. Even Spyro didn't know what we were planning.

Cynder: So why was he even there?

Doctor Strange: We knew how you two were close with Blaze, so I figured he could soften him up?

Blade: Well, it looks like the secret's out.

Doctor Strange: With the barrier gone, our enemies no doubt can detect the page's foul presence.

Cynder: That just begs the question, what or who did Lilith and Malefor send to retrieve it?

(Surely enough, Cynder's question is quickly answered, as we see Fallen Spyro and a newly revealed Fallen Sabretooth ransacking the Quentin Carnival with a host of literal hellhounds, no doubt looking for Johnny Blaze and the Parchment of Power, as our tale ends for today)

This concludes the My Gift To You Birthday Special. Here's to another orbit around the sun, and hopefully to many more to come. And what a year it's been for me. Especially in the last few months. Won't get into the details here, but let's just say it involved medical travails that caused me to skip that one weekend back in January. Anyways, looks like the Quentin Carnival is our next stop. But will the heroes arrive in time? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!