Welcome back to Ashes of Midnight. Last time, the team realized Lilith and Malefor have set up shop on Wundagore Mountain and HYDRA is reinforcing the place like crazy. Iron Man attempts to hand control of the mission over to Captain America, but then Nico Minoru gets involved, finally allowing the Midnight Sons to take charge. Cynder is hesitant at first, having just apparently been made leader of the group, but with reassurance from Ghost Rider, Nico Minoru, Magik, Blade, Scarlet Witch, and even Spyro, she's got her confidence and the Midnight Sons head out to strike. So, how's that going to go? Read on to discover...\
(Our scene opens in the dead of the night on Mount Wundagore. An eerie green light emerges from an ancient ruin built deep into the mountain itself, fading in and out. Around the entrance, HYDRA Soldiers are on patrol. But up on the side of the mountain, rest Spyro, Cynder, and the Midnight Sons, preparing to strike)
Nico Minoru: What? No giant alien slime bubbles, demon energy barriers or jolly green monsters?
Magik: They're ours, no doubt about it.
(At this moment, Cynder notices something about a symbol pulsing above the entranceway, noting something... familiar about it)
Cynder: That rune...
Spyro: I've seen it too.
Scarlet Witch: Lilith's Tomb.
Spyro: You were right, Wanda. Looks like I owe you $50.
(Just as they realize this, a giant's growl can be heard within. Fallen Hulk is here alright)
Blade: Pay up later. We've got bigger problems.
Ghost Rider: Let's do this then.
(Wasting no time, the Midnight Sons alongside their dragon leadership step out of their hiding place into full view of the HYDRA troops)
Cynder: Here we go. (With bold new confidence) Midnight Sons! Into Battle!
Nico Minoru: I'm liking the sound of that!
(And with that, the battle begins. After a few moments, the Midnight Sons have the enemy under control, until helicopters soar in, firing missiles at the group. But Nico Minoru readies her staff)
Nico Minoru: (As she channels her magic) Buy us some time!
(The spell generated blasts out from the staff, and actually freezes every enemy in front of them in time, at least for as long as Nico Minoru can hold it, as a horde of demons emerge from inside the Tomb behind them.)
Magik: Get inside!
Cynder: Are you crazy?! We're not leaving you here!
Blade: We can handle this!
Ghost Rider: Time to punch it!
(Using the Spirit of Vengeance, Ghost Rider summons the Hell Charger and takes the wheel with Blade hopping into the passenger seat, driving it straight into the Tomb, burning the demons away, allowing Cynder, Spyro, and Scarlet Witch to advance to the Tomb itself, where Lilith and Malefor are conducting some sort of ritual on Fallen Hulk, who appears to be holding a book.)
Lilith: You alone among our kind can serve as the conduit of my power, precious child. LIBER TENEBRIS, REVERSUS ET NOBIS...
Malefor: This had better work.
Lilith: It's going to. Only a few moments more and we will have reforged the Darkhold, and we shall usher in...
(But before that sentence can be concluded, the Hell Charger drives in as Blade jumps out of the passenger seat and leaps at Lilith and Malefor just as Cynder, Spyro, and Scarlet Witch enter)
Blade: It's over you two!
Malefor: I don't think so, Daywalker!
(With that, Malefor casts a massive barrier around the trio, forcing Blade into a pillar and crumbling it)
Cynder: Lilith, you've got to stop this!
Spyro: You okay, Blade?
Blade: Lucky shot, they won't get me twice.
Lilith: This is all for you, child. Everything I've done was for you.
Caretaker: (Over the comm system) Block her out! She gave up the right to that term when she sold her soul to Cthon!
Lilith: (Hearing Caretaker's voice) The truth shall reveal itself soon enough, sister.
Malefor: You're more correct than you know, Lilith!
(With that declaration, Malefor finally makes his move, siphoning Lilith's power away from the ritual and into himself, finally allowing himself to break free from within Lilith's body, actually reversing the situation, so now she's trapped inside of him.)
Fallen Hulk: Mother!
(Fallen Hulk attempts to attack Malefor, only for him to use the power he absorbed from Lilith to take control of him and resume the ritual to construct the Darkhold.)
Malefor: Finally, I AM FREE!
Spyro: Oh, that's not good.
Cynder: So this is your game, eh Malefor? Use Lilith's care for her child to get the Darkhold?
Malefor: Ah, Cynder, there's one thing you still don't know. Lilith agreed to work with me, because we shared a motive.
Spyro: (Unsure of what he's going to say) Don't listen to him, Cynder. Don't listen to a word he says!
Scarlet Witch: What are you talking about you demon?
Malefor: Lilith isn't the only one facing their child here!
Cynder: (Fully realizing what this means) What?!
Malefor: Did you never wonder why I chose your egg specifically that fateful night? That's right, Cynder. My blood flows through your veins. YOU ARE MY DAUGHTER!
(Cynder is stunned by this, staggering back in surprise as Malefor takes full command of everything, summoning HYDRA Mystics to do his bidding)
Malefor: The ebony dragoness is to be unharmed. Dispose of the rest.
Cynder: We've got to stop this. Now.
Caretaker: (Via the comms) How? Even if Malefor is concentrating both his and Lilith's power on that damned book, that barrier spell won't be easy to take down.
Ghost Rider: (Analyzing the fallen pillar) But this cave will be.
Caretaker: (Via the comms) Bring the entire place down on top of them?! (Sighs) Anything that'll buy us some time...
Cynder: (Trying to regain her composure) Alright then. Midnight Sons, Disassemble.
Blade: Now you're talking.
(So as the HYDRA Mystics try to stop them, Cynder and her team start taking out the support pillars one by one. And soon enough, the entire cavern starts to collapse, but the barrier has not faltered)
Blade: That barrier is still holding!
Malefor: LIBER TENEBRIS, REVERSUS EST NOBI!
Caretaker: Everybody get out of there! You've done more than anyone could ask for.
Ghost Rider: One thing before I go. (To Malefor) Yo, Dork Master! (Summoning the full Spirit of Vengeance) THIS IS FOR JOHNNY BLAZE!
(And with that, Ghost Rider unleashes a massive stream of Hellfire, which actually manages to take down the barrier, and takes everyone to the floor)
Malefor: No! The spell cannot be interrupted!
Spirit of Vengeance: (Finishing the stream of Hellfire) NOW WE MAY LEAVE.
(And with that, everybody starts to vacate, but Cynder is still taken aback at who she's fighting)
Cynder: (Under her breath) Father...
Caretaker: (Through the comm system, with knowledge she shouldn't have) That thing was never your father. NOW GET OUT OF THERE!
(Realizing this is no place to die, Cynder turns and vacates Lilith's Tomb, leaving Malefor, Fallen Hulk, and the nearly completed Darkhold behind, with Malefor attempting to finish the ritual.)
Malefor: This is not the end, my girl.
(And as the last of the cavern comes crashing down around them, the scene ends)
And that looks like a good spot to end for today. So, Malefor has finally made his move, and actually managed to swap his and Lilith's situation, so now he's in control of all the power and Lilith is powering him up. He's even brought Fallen Hulk under his command. And with that, a dreadful reveal. Malefor is Cynder's father. I'll be honest, that was literally a last minute decision. As in, I came up with it while writing this chapter a few weeks ago. But speaking of this new twist, how does Caretaker seemingly already know this? Is that the real reason she was so hesitant to have Cynder be at the forefront of all this? Hopefully next time we start getting some answers. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!