Chapter 19: A Grimm Gambit
...Ever After High…
"Well, that's just prime," said Avery.
"You're not helping!" snapped Dexter as he searched the wall for the hidden passage, "now help me get this thing open!"
"I told you, it opens from the other side," said Blondie.
"Are you sure you didn't know this was here, Giles?" asked Briar.
"I…I swear I didn't," said Giles, "I…I had no idea my brother was capable of this."
"Well either we're all a topsy-turvy and a dipsy-dopsy," said Maddie, "or the headmaster just took my best friend!"
"Why?" asked Ashlynn, "why would he do this?"
"You saw who he was with!" said Hunter, "that was Ophelia! The headmaster's gone and flipped his own script!"
"No, I don't believe it!" said Giles, "I refuse to believe my brother has crossed over to the dark side. Yes, he's an obsessive prat and may resort to some extremes to get his way, but outright kidnapping? I refuse to believe he'd sink to that level."
"Well, you'd better believe it," said Briar, "Raven's gone and your brother's the prime suspect!"
"UHG! Why are we wasting time talking?!" exclaimed Dexter as his Henshin Belt appeared around his waist, while Gattak Zecter appeared over his shoulder, "I'm blasting this wall open!"
"Wait! I found a switch!" exclaimed Blondie as she pressed a hidden button, opening the passage.
"We're coming, Raven!" shouted Dexter, only to be shoved aside by Cerise as she ran into the passage and followed her nose.
"They're long gone by now," said Daring as he and the rest of our heroes hurried into the passage after Cerise.
"I can still try!" Cerise shouted back to the others. She soon reached the end of the passage, coming out at one of the castle's many gardens. Cerise sniffed the air and moved about the area, before barking in frustration, "lost the scent!"
"They probably teleported out," said Briar, she then pulled out her phone, "I'll ask Dorothea to track Raven's phone."
"You mean this phone?" asked Cupid as she picked up the broken remains of Raven's mobile device.
"Oh great, now we'll never find them!" moaned Dexter as he slumped down under a tree.
"Dude, don't give up," said Hunter, "it's not the end of the world, I mean, it's not the end yet, you know what I mean."
"We'll find her, Dexter," said Apple in a comforting manner as she walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, "we'll find and save Raven."
"I hope so," said Dexter, "and I hope so soon. Who knows what horrible things the headmaster and Ophelia are doing to Raven?"
"Oh, I can think of a few horrible things I'd like to do to Raven," said a familiar voice above our heroes. Apple and the others looked up and saw Faybelle Thorn, lounging on a branch.
"Oh yeah," said the daughter of the wicked faerie as she flittered down to our heroes, "there's a lot I'd like to do to Raven for ruining school for me."
"What do you want, Faybelle?" asked Briar irately, glaring at her would-be nemesis.
"Now is that anyway to talk to a friend who's been away on family business for so long?" asked Faybelle in a taunting manner, "careful, Briar, I thought I saw a few sharp objects nearby. You know how sleepy you get when you cut your fingers."
"I'm not afraid of that anymore, Faybelle," said Briar as she confidently crossed her arms, "I've moved on."
"A lot's happened while you were on vacation, Faybelle," said Cupid.
"Oh yeah, I know," said Faybelle smugly, "all of you've gotten in quite a lot of trouble without me; thwarting an alien invasion and getting caught up in a trans-dimensional war for the fate of all of reality, and not once during all of that did you ask me to help?"
"Are you kidding me?" asked Briar, "you're a villain!"
"You and I nearly went to war over who was to be the next top villain at school!" said Lizzie, "I wanted to cut your head off!"
"As if you could," said Faybelle, "yes, I want to help. I have just the spell that can find Raven in a heartbeat."
"You do?" asked Dexter.
"No, she doesn't!" said Briar stubbornly, "she's not here to help!"
"She says she is!" said Dexter, "she says she can find Raven!"
"She hates Raven!" snapped Brair, "I'll bet Faybelle's plan to find Raven is only a distraction. I'll bet her game is to lead us around until it's too late to save Raven! I'll bet she's working for Obsidian!"
"Briar!" exclaimed a shocked Apple, "why are you acting like this? It's not like you."
"Briar may have a point," said a concerned Ashlynn as she looked suspiciously at Faybelle, "she has been away for a while. Who knows what mischief Faybelle's been up to?"
"Just what have you been up to while we were busting our butts saving the world?" asked Hunter.
"None of your business, ax-head!" snapped Faybelle, "you think I'm working for Obsidian, do you? You think I would betray my world and the few friends I have just out of spite?"
"You'd sell us out if it meant being top villain," said Duchess as she danced up to our heroes, "sorry I'm late, had to ditch Sparrow. He just wouldn't stop bugging me with that new guitar solo of his. Seriously, he shouldn't be allowed to play."
"Have I really that low an opinion among you?" asked Faybelle, who looked sincerely hurt, "yes, I do want to be the villain of my story. I so much want to take over as The Wicked Faerie from my mother, and I wanted to hurt Raven for messing things up at school.
"But that was before I had a long and serious talk with my mother, who told me that there are times when good and evil must come together in the face of an even greater evil. I was prepared to offer my services in the fight against Obsidian, without an invitation by the way. Just now I was ready to help find Raven, but since you're all so set against me, I'll be on my way. Best of luck finding Raven, her corpse I mean!" with that she took flight.
"Wait!" shouted Dexter after her, "we want your help! I need your help!"
"No, you don't," said Briar, "You don't want anything to do with her."
"You may not but I do!" snapped Dexter. He then looked up at Faybelle, who was looking down at him, "please, I need your help."
"Oh, now you need my help?" asked Faybelle as she flittered back down to stand in front of Dexter.
"Yes, please help," said Dexter, "please help me find Raven. I…I don't know what I'll do if she's gone for good."
"Well, since you begged so satisfyingly," said Faybelle smugly, "I'll do it. But not for free, of course."
"Of course," said Briar as she rolled her eyes in disgust, "there's always a price." At that an annoyed Cupid nudged her in the ribs.
"However much you want, we'll pay it, Faybelle," said Apple, "though I'm a little peeved that you're putting financial gain over Raven's safe return."
"Oh, it's not money I want," said Faybelle, "I'm doing you all a favor," she looked at Dexter, "and in return you'll owe me a favor, of which I'll collect at a time and place of my choosing."
"Whatever you want me to do or get for you, I'll do it," said Dexter, "just find Raven, please!"
"Not just yet," said Faybelle, "there's the matter of our deal," she held out her right hand, "we offered to trade favors, so we must shake on it."
"Seriously?!" asked an outraged Briar, "they could be torturing Raven right now and you want to…"
Dexter ignored Briar as he shook Faybelle's hand.
"Pleasure doing business with you," said Faybelle smugly as she pulled out her phone and sent a text.
"That's how you're gonna find Raven?" asked Hunter, "social media?"
"Oh yeah, I'm gonna post a missing person on the Mirror Net," said Faybelle sarcastically, "no, you dummy! I'm calling some friends who have the potion reagents I need for the tracking spell."
"What kind of potion items do you need?" asked Avery.
"And who'd be your friends?" muttered Briar.
"Shut up!" said Cupid through gritted teeth as she nudged Briar in the ribs again.
As if in answer in Briar's question, up walked Ginger Breadhouse, pulling a large red wagon full of potion ingredients, "Hi, everybody!" called the daughter of the Candy Witch as she smiled and waved to our heroes. "Sorry I wasn't there to help before; my mom was sick and I had to stay at home for a while. But I'm here now to do whatever I can to stop Obsidian. Here," she opened one of the sacks in the wagon and handed out pastries to our heroes, "a little something to nibble on while I help Faybelle."
"Oh sure, you get to do all the easy work!" shouted Ramona Badwolf as she walked over, carrying a large caldron on one shoulder.
"Well, we can't brew the tracking potion without the right caldron, now can we?" asked Faybelle as she used her magic to gather a supply of wood. She then lit an enchanted fire.
"Yeah, just make sure I get what you promised me this time," said Ramona as she sat the caldron over the fire.
"Ramona?" asked a surprised and irate Cerise.
"Hey, little sister," said Ramona as she walked up to and Cerise, "long time no see," she then teasingly pushed Cerise's hood back and mussed up her hair, "hear you've been up to a lot of mischief."
"Okay, I'm confused," said Frankie, whom had been watching the whole exchange, "are they good or bad girls?"
"Technically, they're all villains," said Apple, "but of the three, Ginger's the Rebel."
"My sister's always been a rebel," said an annoyed Cerise as she straightened her hair and pulled her hood down, but smiled in spite of herself, "but she means well. Trust me, Ramona's on our side. I'm not so sure about Faybelle, though."
"I don't trust her," said Daring.
"Dexter does," said Cerise, "and I trust him."
"So do I," said Apple as she and the others watched Faybelle and Ginger add ingredients to the now boiling caldron, "I just hope we're not too late."
"I am so sorry it has come to this, Ms. Queen," said Milton Grimm as he and Ophelia looked at Raven, who was tied up and gagged. The three were in a castle somewhere Raven didn't know, nor did she know what Grimm and Ophelia had planned for her. But one thing was certain as Raven glared wrathfully at her captors; the instant she got loose, she was going to go completely berserk.
"Oh, don't look at me that way, Raven," said Milton in an admonishing manner, "if only you hadn't been so unreasonable, we wouldn't have to resort to such extreme measures."
At that Raven tried to shout something but the gag made her words unintelligible.
"I think she has something to say, Milton dear," said Ophelia.
"I think you're right, Felicity," said Milton as he walked up to Raven, "I shall remove her gag so Raven can have her say," he looked at Raven, "but don't bother attempting to spell me or Felicity. Those ropes around you have anti-magic properties. We wouldn't want you to try any curses, especially with your magic so unreliable."
Milton removed the gag and Raven vented her frustrations, "I don't need magic for the kind of cursing I have in mind, you sick son of a Blast-Ended Skank!"
"Young Lady! How dare you use such filthy language!" exclaimed Milton.
"You kiss your mother with that mouth?" asked Ophelia.
"How can I?" asked Raven as she focused her rage on Milton, "you sent her away, you fat, Floppy-Wanded Hobgoblin Buggerer!"
"Ms. Queen, if you're going to use such offensive language," said an irate Milton, "I'll be forced to gag you again!"
"Oh, you think you're shocked now?" asked Raven as she smiled with wicked intent, "you ain't heard nothing yet!" she then took a deep breath and let out a slew of curse words so vile, so outrageously obscene, that I can't even write them down uncensored.
"Your mother is a (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep)-ing (Bleep) lorem ipsum (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) Admitumvenium (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) treguna (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) hippopotamus (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) republican (Bleep) (Bleep)-ing Daniel Radcliffe (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) with a bucket of (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) in a castle far away where no one can hear you (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) soup (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) with a bucket of (Bleep) (Bleep) Mickey Mouse (Bleep) (Bleep) with a stick of dynamite (Bleep) magical (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) Alakazam!"
Her vent of foulness left Raven breathless for several seconds, while finding Milton and Ophelia dumbstruck.
"Wow," said an impressed Ophelia when her voice finally returned, "we've been Elder Sworn."
"The lengths you'll go to defy me, Ms. Queen, still astound me," said Milton.
"Just goes to show you how strong I can be," said Raven, "even without magic. I'll never sign The Storybook of Legends, never!"
"Oh, I'm not concerned about that right now," said Milton, "I have something else in mind for you." He indicated the magic mirror standing nearby, "we're going to have a little chat with your mother."
"So that's it, you're holding me hostage to get to my mom!" said Raven, "you want her to give back The Storybook of Legends!"
"You know!?" exclaimed Milton, "how did you know your mother took the book?"
"You told me, and I know a lot more you didn't want anyone to know," said Raven, "I know you cursed your brother to keep him quiet about your dirty little secrets."
"And what dirty little secrets did you hear from my brother?" asked Milton, "as if Giles could say anything you could understand."
"He told me what you did to my mother," said Raven, "that you took her baby from her before she could even give my sister a name! That's right, I know I have a half-sister, and you threw her out like garbage, you sick, twisted, sadistic creep!"
"Don't you speak that way to me, young lady!" snapped Milton.
"Why? Am I hitting a little too close to home?" asked Raven, "I get it now. My mom and so many others, you made them into villains so they can act out the parts you set up for them in your stories, when in truth, you're the real villain!"
"How dare you!?" exclaimed Milton, "I am no villain!"
"Yes, you are," said Raven defiantly, "you've strung along so many people, manipulating them into your own sick ideals like some messed up puppeteer. My mom isn't evil, you are!"
At that Milton slapped Raven across the face so hard he knocked her to the floor.
"MILTON!" exclaimed a genuinely shocked Ophelia.
"She called me a villain!" snapped Milton, "she called me evil, when she is the evil one! Like mother, like daughter!"
"This isn't what we planned, Milton!" said Ophelia sternly, "you shouldn't have hit her! Now, would you kindly go outside and calm down!?"
At that Milton's expression went slack and he turned around and walked out of the room.
"I am so sorry, Raven," said Ophelia as she helped Raven sit up, shocked at the bruise forming on her face, "this wasn't how it was supposed to go. I guess I messed up Milton's mind more than I thought." She smiled sinisterly as she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe a small trickle of blood from Raven's mouth, "you see, it was I who 'cured' him of his obsession, when all I did was suppress Milton's madness just enough to have him declared sane. It's been fun manipulating the fool," she then frowned in disgust, "except when he kisses me. I know I'm doing the will of Obsidian, but if I have to suffer another snogging session with Milton Grimm before this is over, I'm gonna throw up in his mouth."
She then saw the confused look on Raven's face, "oh, don't look so surprised. I'm an Obsidian Proxy. The things I've done on the Council's orders would scar your DNA. Compared to that, suffering Milton's affection's a minor annoyance. But it won't matter for much longer. As soon as we convince your mother to reveal where she hid The Storybook of Legends, I won't have need for Milton any longer, and you, my dear, will finally have your audience with The Obsidian Council."
At that Raven spat bloody saliva in Ophelia's face, "I'll never join you or Obsidian! And if I know my mom, she'll never hand over The Storybook of Legends to you or anyone!"
"Defiant as always," said Ophelia as she wiped the bloody mess from her face, "almost admirable. I understand why Cuthbert found you so vexing, yet he kept coming back for more, and not just out of duty to The Obsidian Council; he had a bit of a crush on you."
At that Raven felt like she was going to laugh and throw up at the same time.
"But enough of that," said Ophelia smugly as she saw how deep a nerve she struck in Raven, "you'll soon forget all about love and affection once you've taken your place with Obsidian. As for your mother," at that Ophelia summoned a wicked-looking knife that made Raven's blood run cold at the sight of, "she'll have no choice but to give us the book, if she wants to spare her daughter unnecessary torment."
"What…what is that thing?" asked a terrified Raven.
"This little dark wonder?" asked Ophelia as she looked at the knife, "it's but a trifle. No, I take it back, the knife is no mere trifle. Far from it, this may be the most extraordinary dark magic artifact in existence, yet it is such a simple and elegant thing. It doesn't cut flesh," she then poked Raven in the arm with the knife, the tip of the blade passing through her as if it wasn't real, yet the pain Raven felt was definitely real.
"It leaves the body unmarked yet inflicts the same pain as if it were a real knife," said Ophelia as she removed the knife from Raven, "I can hurt you so much without leaving any physical damage. The suffering is all in here," she tapped Raven on the head with the flat of the blade, then poked her with the point, causing Raven to wince at the pain, "The Obsidian Council wants you untouched when I deliver you to them; they never said anything about other forms of torture."
"And you think torturing me in spirit will make my mother give you the book?" asked Raven calmly, yet in her mind and heart she was panicking.
"I'm optimistic she'll see reason," said Ophelia.
"My friends…" said Raven.
"Have no idea where to look," said Ophelia, "I made sure their efforts to locate and rescue you will fail. I've covered all the angles this time, Raven Queen; you're mine, and soon, you'll be Obsidian's. But first I'm gonna have a little fun with you, until your mother surrenders the book. Don't worry, I won't let you die, but your mother will see you suffer until your mind breaks, which I can always put back together," she then smiled sinisterly, "I fixed your headmaster after all!" she then laughed coldly as Raven's spirits fell, her hope for rescue dwindling as she realized just how desperate the situation was.
…Dynatron Enterprises…
"What are you going to do, your majesty?" Dr. Scimitar asked timidly.
"Yeah, mom?" asked Clare, "what are you going to do? You gonna give Ophelia the book? Or are you gonna let Raven suffer into insanity?"
"I'll never give them The Storybook of Legends!" snapped Rebecca, "it's mine to do with as I please!" she then looked at the mirror, seeing Raven's hopeless state, "but I shouldn't let my daughter suffer needlessly."
With a wave of her hand, Rebecca changed the image on the mirror. It showed our heroes gathered around Faybelle and Giner as they finished the tracking spell. Faybelle added the final ingredient to the potion, moved the caldron off the fire and spoke the spell, only to frown when nothing happened.
…Ever After High…
"Well, Faybelle?" asked Briar as she placed her fists on her hips.
"Give it a second," said Faybelle, "it's working, just give it a second."
"The ingredients probably are all settled on the bottom," said Ginger as she hefted a large wooden spoon, "I'll just give it a little stir to jumpstart it."
"Nah, it just needs a kickstart!" said Duchess, chuckling at her pun as she gave the caldron a hefty kick that tipped it over onto the still burning fire, the potion crackling menacingly.
"EVERYONE GET BACK!" shouted Avery as he sensed what was about to happen. The volatile potion exploded, producing a cloud of thick smoke that left our heroes coughing. The wind soon blew the smoke away, revealing our heroes covered in soot, especially Duchess, Ginger and Faybelle.
"Well, back to the recipe book," said a slightly disoriented Ginger.
…Dynatron Enterprises…
"Foolish children!" laughed Rebecca, "they have no idea that any attempt to locate Raven with magic will backfire spectacular."
"So, is this it?" asked Clare, "are you going to let Grimm and Ophelia torture Raven?"
At that Rebecca was left speechless for several seconds, as if deeply thinking about what to do.
"Raven has been such a disappointment," said Rebecca after pondering the problem, "yet she is still blood of my blood. I will tolerate no unnecessary harm to her." She then wrote a short message, sealed it in an envelope and vanished it. "There, I've exploited a loophole in Grimm's idiotic plan."
Clare saw on the mirror the message appeared above our heroes, fluttering down into Dexter's hands.
"They'll have to expect a trap," said Clare as she watched Dexter open the letter and read, much to his surprise, instructions on how to find Raven.
"Naturally they would," said Rebecca as she watched our heroes' debate what to do with the information, "but then again, those on the side of good are often naïve enough to believe anything if desperate enough," she then smiled wickedly as our heroes made preparations to rescue Raven, "and they're just desperate enough."
"Alright, then," said Milton as he walked back into the room, "I'm feeling much better. Now," he then walked up to Ophelia and the captive Raven, "let's get this unpleasant business over with." He then took the knife from Ophelia and walked up to the magic mirror, activating it with a short spell.
"Rebecca! Rebecca Queen!" shouted Milton as the image in the mirror focused on Rebecca's prison, showing the defeated Evil Queen sitting quietly alone, "Rebecca, you've played your games with the fate of the world long enough! I have your daughter! I don't want to hurt her, but I will if you refuse to cooperate! Tell me where you hid the real Storybook of Legends," he walked back to Raven, "tell me, or whatever pain young Raven has to endure, be it on your head!"
Rebecca just sat and looked at the mirror.
"Oh, no clever words this time, Rebeca?" asked Milton, "no taunting quips on how inferior I am to your vile intellect?" He then held the knife point over Raven's face, causing her eyes to widen in terror, "don't you even care that I have the power to inflict terrible pain on your daughter?" he then winked at and whispered to Raven, "I'm only bluffing."
"No, he isn't," whispered Ophelia as she winked at Raven, causing Raven to sweat in mortal terror.
"I will do it, Rebeca!" said Milton, "so stop sitting like an inanimate object and speak to me!"
…Dynatron Enterprises…
"I believe my charade has gone on long enough," said Rebecca, "it's time the realm of Ever After learns that I am free once again!"
On the magic mirror, Rebecca collapsed into dust.
"What…what is this?!" demanded Milton.
"I do believe you've been had, Milton," said a genuinely astonished Ophelia, "we all have. I believe Rebecca Queen is no longer in her prison and has been free for some time now."
'My mom's free?' Raven thought in both horror and delight. But such thoughts fled from her mind as Milton cried out in deranged frustration. He rushed to the mirror, picked it up and smashed it against the wall, shattering the glass into countless pieces.
"Milton! Calm down!" exclaimed Ophelia.
"That horrid woman! She fooled me yet again!" exclaimed Milton.
"Stop this, Milton!" exclaimed Ophelia, "will you kindly calm down!?"
"She's always defied me!" snapped Milton as he paced back and forth, "always exceeding her boundaries and wanting more than the natural order! She always seeks to make a fool out of me at every turn!" he then looked at Raven, a look of utmost hate and rage in his eyes, "but not this time! Rebecca may be free, but her freedom will come with a price!"
"Will you kindly stop this, Milton!" snapped Ophelia.
By now Raven managed to spit the gag out of her mouth, "I don't think you can control him anymore," she said, both trying to sound ironic, while also voicing her growing fear of impending doom.
"I think you're right," said Ophelia. She then fired a stunning spell that knocked Milton down.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this, Milton," said Ophelia as she walked over to deliver the coup de grâce, "it's been fun messing you, but playtime's over. I'll find The Storybook of Legends myself, after I deliver Raven to Obsidian, of course."
Milton then stabbed the knife into Ophelia's kneecap, then sliced Ophelia's wrist, earning a wail of agony from Ophelia as she fell down, clutching at her leg with one hand and cradling her other arm against her chest, her nerves afire with the pain of wounds that weren't there.
"Enough is enough," said Milton in a deranged tone as he slowly walked towards Raven, "I'm ending this nonsense once and for all!"
"Take it easy, headmaster," said Raven as she struggled to free herself from the anti-magic ropes, "you don't really want to hurt me, do you?"
"No, not hurt," said Milton, "you, Ms. Queen, are going to die, because I am going to kill you."
"I figured as much," said Raven.
…Outside…
"He's gonna kill Raven, the fat bastard!" exclaimed Cedar as she and the others looked in through a window. It turned out that Raven and her captors were on a ground-floor room the whole time, a derelict castle known as 'Wild Trap Keep.'
"We've gotta get in there!" exclaimed Dexter.
"We'll never make it in time!" said Hunter, "you remember what we learned about this place in Adventuring Class, right? This is a dungeon for advanced princes and heroes only. It's full of monsters and booby traps!"
"Well then," said Daring, "if time is such a factor, why not employ an old fashion Dynamic Entry?"
"You mean burst in like Kool Aid Man?" asked Avery, "that could work."
"We'll never get through in time!" exclaimed Blondie, "the castle walls are solid stone and the window's bulletproof!"
"And the construction's laced with anti-magic runes," said Faybelle, "you can use magic inside, but not to break in or out."
"I can get through," said Ramona as she cracked her knuckles.
"That won't work here!" said Cerise.
"It doesn't work against brick and mortar," said Ramona, "do you see any bricks here?"
"Uh, no," said Cerise sheepishly, "okay, knock yourself down."
"Oh, something'll get knocked down alright," said a grinning Ramona. She then took several deep breaths.
"Oh man! Everyone take cover!" said Briar as she realized what was coming. Our heroes scrambled for cover as Ramona took a huge breath, expanding her lungs beyond normal capacity. She then unleashed a hurricane-force gust of air at the castle wall.
…Inside…
"Say goodbye to all of this, Raven," said Milton as he waved the knife about, "and hello to oblivion."
"Could we talk about this?!" pleaded Raven.
"No," said Milton coldly as he raised the knife to stab Raven in the heart. But then they both heard an incredible wind blowing outside, breaking Milton's concentration from his murderous intent. The walls shook violently before collapsing inward, producing a cloud of dust and debris that blinded the would-be killer and victim.
"OH YEAH!" shouted Frankie as she and the others dashed through the wide opening, with Dexter, Avery, Hunter, Briar and Tobias tackling Milton to the floor, with Frankie hurried over and kicked the vile knife away.
"Raven!" exclaimed Apple as she, Cupid, Ashlynn, Blondie, Cerise and Cedar rushed over and untied her, "are you alright?"
"I think so," said Raven as Ashlynn and Cupid helped her stand up, "yeah, I'm alright," she then saw Milton on the floor and her face twisted with rage, "no, I'm not alright, and neither is him!" she walked over and began kicking Milton in the side, "take that, you crazy son of a (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep)-ing (Bleep) lorem ipsum (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) Admitumvenium (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) treguna (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) hippopotamus (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) republican (Bleep) (Bleep)-ing Daniel Radcliffe (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) with a bucket of (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) in a castle far away where no one can hear you (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) soup (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) with a bucket of (Bleep) (Bleep) Mickey Mouse (Bleep) (Bleep) with a stick of dynamite (Bleep) magical (Bleep) (Bleep) (Bleep) Alakazam!" At that Raven let out a relieved sigh and staggered back, nearly fainting into the arms of an astonished Dexter.
"Now I'm okay," said Raven breathlessly.
"Wow, you really Elder Swore the pompous, fat bastard," said Faybelle as she flittered over to and sat on Milton.
"Raven, remind me to never get into an insult contest with you," said Hunter, earning laughs from our heroes.
"I'm just glad you're safe, Raven," said Dexter, "I'm glad it's over."
"Oh, no, Poindexter," said Ophelia as she staggered to her feet, her good hand clutching the knife, "it'll never be over."
"Ophelia," said Avery as he looked at the Obsidian proxy, "give yourself up and I promise you'll be treated fairly!"
"As if you or any of your companions can contain me, Avery Manning," said Ophelia as she pointed the knife at our heroes, "whichever of you comes after me first will be in for a world of hurt!"
"That knife's dangerous!" said Raven as she felt her arm where she still felt the pain, "it hurts you without actually hurting!"
"I'm taking my leave of Ever After for the time being, Raven Queen," said Ophelia, "I will return, after I track down your mother. I'm going to have a little talk with her about where she hid The Storybook of Legends."
"You're not going anywhere until you've paid for what you've done!" shouted Ashlynn.
"Just give up, Ophelia," said Briar, "You're hopelessly outnumbered!"
"But not outwitted," said Ophelia as she smiled sinisterly, "you opened the door for me. By blowing down the castle wall, you broke the anti-magic wards!" she laughed wickedly as she teleported out.
"Oh, that poxy proxy's gone and flew the coop!" said a frustrated Maddie.
"We've got bigger problems than that, guys," said Raven.
…Dynatron Enterprises…
"Oh, your problems are just getting started Raven," said Rebecca as she watched her daughter tell her friends of her mother's escape, "soon, very soon, you shall face a dilemma that will set you down the path of darkness, a path that will return you to my side where you belong!"
"And how are you going to arrange that?" asked Clare, "and just where did you hide the real Storybook of Legends?"
"Spoilers," teased Rebecca, "but I promise you this, when Raven faces what I have in store for her, she will have no choice but to turn to evil. Even if she overcomes the challenge I have in mind, she will still turn evil. Either way, I win!"
"You've failed yet again, Ophelia," said Chairman Onyx as Ophelia stood before The Obsidian Council.
"It wasn't a complete failure, my council," said Ophelia, "I now know Rebecca Queen is on the loose. It's only a matter of time before I find her and make her tell me where she hid The Storybook of Legends. As for Raven, I trust that Irvin's efforts will force her to come to us, if only to save her friends."
"And what of Milton Grimm?" asked Chairwoman Sable, "will he prove to be an advantage or disadvantage to Raven and her friends?"
"Oh, you don't have to worry about Milton Grimm, my council," said Ophelia as she smiled with wicked mischief, "he may have broken my conditioning, but I left a little surprise in his subconscious, just in case."
…Ever After…a short time later…
"So, wow, your mom's free," said Dexter as he and Raven sat aside from the others outside the wrecked castle. The police and medical services had arrived, mostly to put a blanket over Raven's shoulders and hand her a cup of hot chocolate, 'to ward off shock,' and to take Milton Grimm back into custody.
"Yeah, she's free alright," said Raven, "I don't know how to feel about that. Yeah, I know she's evil and wants to take over the world, but on the other hand, she's my mom. I know she's dangerous, but there's still some good in her, and when I see her, I'll try to bring that good out."
"You mean if you see her," said Dexter in a worried tone.
"No, I know I'll see her again," said Raven with calm but serious certainty, "I know."
They then heard a commotion over by the others. Dexter and Raven walked over to where Milton Grimm, secured in a straitjacket, was about to be taken back to the hospital. Giles was there, yelling at his brother.
"For the love of all things sacred, Milton!" exclaimed Giles, "are you indeed insane!? Kidnapping Raven just so you can enforce your views of order and stability on the world? For the love of God, brother! Say something!"
At that Milton spoke, but what came from his mouth was a stream of utter gibberish. He blinked in surprise as he realized what he said, then tried to speak again, paling in horror as more nonsense flew from his tongue.
"Aphasia?" asked a worried Apple, "did Ophelia hit him on the head?"
"It's worse than that," said Faybelle, "I sense a curse at work!"
"A babble curse," said Lizzie, "he's talking in ancient Riddlish, a dialect of Wonderland so old, no one understands it anymore."
"And since Ophelia did it herself, we have no idea how to undo it," said Faybelle.
"You mean…?" asked a shocked Raven.
"Yes, Raven," said Giles grimly, "my brother is doomed to speak nonsense forever."
…Meanwhile…
A gray-clad man fled in terror through a shadowy forest. Constantly looking over his shoulder, fearful that his pursuer was still behind him. The man, Orson was his name, failed to see a root protruding from the ground. He tripped, falling and rolling down a hill and came to a halt at the bottom, covered in muck and dead leaves.
"You shouldn't have run," said Richter as he stood in front of the dazed Orson, "you're only delaying the inevitable."
Orson cried out in terror and scrambled to his feet, careful to avoid Richter's piercing eyes.
"Leave me alone, man!" shouted Orson, "I signed the letter to Irvin! I'm done with Obsidian and Dai-Shocker!"
"You should know that neither Obsidian or Dai-Shocker forgives or forgets," said Richter as he pulled out his Kaiza gear, "nor do we forgive deserters."
"No, no! Leave me alone!" shouted Orson as energy lines appeared on his face in the pattern of a rhinoceros. With a flash of energy, he assumed his Rhino Orphnoch form. Bellowing with the fury of a cornered animal, it charged at Richter.
"Still delaying," said Richter calmly as he put the belt on, dodging the Rhino Orphnoch's mad charge, then dodged several punches and horn strikes. Richter opened the phone, dialed and pressed Enter.
913
STANDING BY
Richter lifted the phone into the air, "Henshin!" he called out before connecting the phone to his belt.
COMPLETE
Gold energy lines shot from the belt, transforming Richter into Kaiza.
The Rhino Orphnoch rushed at Kaiza, whom dodged and struck back with several spark inducing blows, finishing with a hard kick that knocked the creature several feet into the air.
"No! Please stop it!" cried the shadow of Orson as the Rhino Orphnoch tried to get up, "all I want is to live a normal life, that's all!"
"Pathetic," said Kaiza as he took out both his Mission Memory and Blaygun, connecting the key card to the X shaped weapon, pulling one end back to charge up the yellow blade of energy.
REDDY
Kaiza then pressed Enter on his phone again.
EXCEDE CHARGE.
A pulse of gold energy flowed from the belt, up his arm and into the Blaygun. Cocking the hammer back, Kaiza fired a blast at the Rhino Orphnoch, the blast spreading out and ensnaring the creature in a web of gold energy.
With the blade on the Blaygun glowing brightly, Kaiza assumed a attack stance as a gold X appeared in front of him. He merged with the X, which then slammed into the Rhino Orphnoch. Kaiza emerged behind the creature as another gold X, much bigger, appeared in front of the Rhino Orphnoch, before the creature burst into blue flames and crumbled into dust.
"All too easy," said Richter after powering down, "but there's still much to be done. Perhaps the next one will be more of a challenge." He then used his phone to send a text, before opening a portal to another world.
'One down, Irvin, twenty-five to go.'
…The End is Just the Beginning…