Chapter 166: Ponies in Wonderland Part 3: The Battle for Underland
Morning came very quickly and both Alice and Spyro were stirring after being in the Bandersnatch den for the remainder of the night, Alice being the first to stir and saw the Bandersnatch was standing up, but it wasn't being aggressive, instead it seemed happy, peaceful and comfortable with her. Alice was relieved that the Bandersnatch was friendly now, but then saw that around it's neck was the key, realizing it was there the whole time, she reached for it, which the Bandersnatched hissed a bit, scaring her, but it looked at the wound on her arm, realizing what it did as instead of attacking, it started to lick her arm, allowing Alice to get the key and at the same time, her arm was no longer red, smiling as she looked up at the Bandersnatch, seeing the happy animal back away.
"Guess we're even now." Alice said. She then turned and used the key to open the chest, finally getting to the Vorbal sword, a long blade with baby pearl stones in the blade itself, Alice picking it up and holding it before walking over and shaking Spyro. "Spyro. Spyro wake up."
Spyro woke up, yawning as she stretched before seeing Alice, looking down as seeing the sword and was then wide awake.
"Holy cow you got it." Spyro said, looking to her arm and seeing it was no longer infected. "And your arm is healed. How?"
"Thank the Bandersnatch." Alice said, petting it. "He's actually a good boy."
"Well, glad to have him on our side now." Spyro said, getting up. "Right, let's get to the others and let's blow this popsicle stand."
The two of them ran out of the den and made their way towards the castle to get to hatter and free him, hoping to leave together and get to the White Queens palace. Meanwhile, in the Red Queens throne room, Stayne was on the ground, leaning on the throne while Vexen and Crimson Spark were near the doors, enjoying the Knaves misery as he tried to explain himself.
"You majesty, I told her that I only have eyes for you." Stayne said, lying through his teeth. "She threw herself at me. She's obsessed with me, I swear to you."
"Wow, if the queen falls for that, I might rethink this little bargain we made with her." Crimson Spark said.
"That goes double for me." Vexen said.
"Off with her head!" The Red Queen said, making both of them face smack.
"How did he get away with that?" Vexen asked.
"Guys like that, they always get away with many things they do behind their girls back." Crimson Spark replied.
In the Hatters workshop, Mallymkun was busy trying to free the Hatter of his bonds, using her pin needle while the ponies kept watch outside, making sure no one entered as they were busy trying to bust the Hatter out. A moment later, Alice and Spyro walked in, Alice holding the Vorpal sword as they walked in.
"Mallymkun, stand back." Alice said, the mouse standing back. "How's this for muchness?"
"No, no, the Vorpal sword is only to be used against the Jabberwocky, not for anything else!" Hatter said.
"Girls, did you try to use your Keyblades to unlock him?" Spyro asked.
"Oh yeah, forgot about that." Pinkie said.
However, before they could do a thing, the doors opened and Stayne walked in with Vexen and Crimson Spark, the three of them spotting Alice and Spyro as he called his Keyblade to fight them off.
"It's the Prince!" Vexen shouted.
"Arrest that girl for unlawful seduction!" Stayne shouted.
The two Red card guards made their approach as Vexen called his shield, holding it up as Crimson Spark pulled out both of his pistols, smiling as he aimed them at Spyro and Alice.
"Go, take the sword to the White Queen!" Hatter said.
"We're not leaving without you!" Spyro exclaimed.
Twilight summoned her Keyblade and pointed it towards Hatters shackle, stars flying at the tip as it shot out and entered the keyhole, unlocking the ankle clasp and freeing Hatter, but he got up and grabbed a couple of frabric clothes and threw them, knocking the card guards down as Vexen and Crimson Spark got ready to attack, but Spyro just threw the blade, Vexen dodging as he approached, but the bladebounced off the stone pillar and hit the Nobody in the head, knocking him down as Crimson Spark fired the pistol, attempting to hit him, but Spyro just dodged the bullet, Force Pushing the pony into the wall and knocking him out instantly as Stayne approached.
"Go!" Hatter shouted.
Stayne approached and took out his srowd, trying to attack, but Hatter grabbed one of the mannequins and used it as a makeshift weapon, blocking the attack, but Stanye knocked it out of Hatters hands, so the Hatter got a perfume bottle andgot onto a chair, standing on it and leaning to make it fell, but Stayne blocked him, ready to push him back as Spyro got the mini ponies and held them in his hand.
"Run Alice, run!" Mallymkun shouted, covering her mouth as Stayne looked at the massive girl.
"Alice." Stayne said, smiling.
"Time to go!" Spyro exclaimed.
Hatter sprayed the perfume in Staynes only eye, allowing for Alice and Spyro to run out of the red castle, the guards close behind, but a moment later, Nobodies appeared in front of them, forcing Spyro and Spyro to stop as he called his Keyblade and the guards surrounded them, pointing their spears at them as he tried his best to stand inbetween her and the guards, Stayne walking out as he smiled.
"Alice." Stayne said, walking towards them. "Of course, why didn't I see it earlier? Of course, it has been such a long time and you were such a little tyke."
"What?" Spyro said, using the forse to put the ponies down and set down the Upelkucken cake. "So you remember her?"
"Of course I remember her." Stayne said, tne guards approaching. "Though she was so young back then. Now, give me the sword."
"Stay back!" Alice exclaimed, holding the sword.
"The queen will be so pleased to see you." Stayne said. "She'll take great plasure in taking your head."
"Yeah, I don't think so." Spyro said. "Girls, now!"
On cue, Twilight and Rainbow Dash tookma single bite of the Upelkuchen cake and returned to normal size, summoning their Keyblades and taking the guards offguard as they took out a couple of Dusks, but Pinkie, she ate the whole thing, growing larger and larger until she was the size of a house, causing the guards to back away as she giggled to herself, taking a step and causing a small earthquake and knocking some of the guards over. A moment later, the Bandersnatch roared out and burst through the door and knocked more of the guards down and slashed through a couple more Nobodies, stopping next to Alice as she got on, Spyro grabbing Twilight and Force jumping onto Pinkie's back right as the Bandersnatch ran out of the castle.
"Pinkie, get us out of here!" Twilight shouted.
"Follow the Bandersnatch!" Spyro added.
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie replied.
Pinkie then bounced over the walls and over the blood filled moat, following the Bandersnatch throught he desert, bouncing far each time while Spyro held on for dear life while Stayne looked on in disbelief, having lost Alice and the sword as he went back inside. In the throne room, the Red Queen was waiting for Stayne to return, Crimson Spark having gotten back up and was int he throne room while Vexen was walking in, rubbing his head after a massive headache he had. As he walked in, Stane rushed in, heading towards the queen to inform her of what had happened.
"You majesty." Stayne said. "The girl Um, she was actually Alice."
"Alice!?" The Red Queen asked. "Did you capture her!?"
"Well, no you highness." Stayne replied. "She escaped." As he said it, the red queen smacked him, making him almost fall to the ground as he looked back at her. "On the Bandersnatch." The queen looked at him again, slapping him a second time while Vexen and Crimson recoiled, Stayne looking back at the queen. "With... the Vorpal sword."
The queen was furious, slapping him for a third time as Stayne fell down, shaking his head after being slapped three times.
"How could you let this happen!?" She shouted.
"I may have underestimated her and her accomplices, but we still have her conspirators." Stayne replied. "The Hatter and a door mouse."
"Off with their heads!" The Queen shouted.
A while later, Alice and the group had reafhed the White Queens castle, going down the row of trees and entering through the gate, both Alice and Spyro getting off their mounts and entering the palace, following the guards to the throne room where Spyro and the group, except for Pinkie as she was too big to go through the doors, saw the white queen sitting on her throne with a suit of armor next to her, approaching as she got up and smiled at them.
"Your highness." Alice said.
"Alice, your majesty, friends of the prince, welcome to Marmorial." The White Queen said.
"I believe this belongs to you." Alice said, giving her the sword.
The Whitw Queen took the sword, holding it in her hands and closing her eyes as if speaking to it, smiling as she looked to them.
"Thanks to you, the Vorpal sword is home once again." The Whtie Queen said, putting it with the armor. "Now all we need is a champion." She looked at Alice, seeing how tall she was and smiled. "You're a little taller than I imagined."
"Too much upelkuchen." Spyro said. "And you think this is tall, look outside."
She turned and saw the massive party pony, who was smiling and waved to her, making the queen smile and laugh a bit as she looked ot the group.
"Come with me." The White Queen said. "We can fix that."
They followed the queen down a corridor and arrived in a kitchen, the queen opening the door and ducking as a pit came flying by with a green liquid, which Spyro recognized as soup.
"Is the March Hare here?" Alice asked.
"Aye, yer a wee bit late for yer soup ya buzzums!" The March Hare exclaimed.
Alice used her finger to taste the soup, lookign at the hare as they entered.
"Could use some salt." Alice said.
As she said that, the hare threw a salt shaker at them, which Spyro caught and pointed at the hare as he chopped some vegetables, going back to the stove to continue cooking.
"Now, let's see, Pishsalver." The queen said, looking over the table of potion ingredients. "A pinch of worm fat." She took a small container and shook it into a funnel wuth no opening on the bottom before picking up a metal teapot. "Urine of the wasp fly..."
"Wait, that potion is made with pee!?" Rainbow Dash asked, Pinkie's cheeks blowing up as she was about to vomit.
"Ah, buttered fingers." The queen said, picking up a mumified finger and sniffing it, Twilight's cheeks blowing up as well, running out of the room to find a bathroom to puke in as the white queen put the first one into the funnel, the finger sizzling into liquid. "Unlike myself, my sister prefered to study over the dominion of other living creatures." She then got out another finger, putting it into the funnel to let it sizzle. "Tell me, what did you think of my sister?"
"Perfectly horrid." Alice replied.
"A complete monster!" Rainbow Dash said. "I mean, she cut off other creatures heads and throws them into the moat!"
"And her... head?" The White queen asked.
"Bulbous." Alice replied.
"Well, I think she has some kind of growth pressing against her brain." The White Queen said. She then grabbed three coins, throwing them in. "Three coins from a dead mans pocket before moving to a put and scooping some kind of paste out. "Two tea spoons of wishful thinking."
"You have no idea the kind of horrid things that go on in there." Alice said.
"Yeah, like, it's a completely horribly, evilly evil place!" Pinkie said.
"Oh, but I can." The White queen said. "But when a champion steps forward to slay the Jabberwocky, the people will rise against her." She then moved her mouth before spitting in it, making Rainbow Dash and Spyro cringe and grimace as she wiped her lips. "That should do it." She then took out a spoon and poured the liquid into the spoon, the queen presenting it to Alice as she blew on it, drinking the liquid and making everyone grimace, Pinkie's cheeks blowing up again as she rushed somewhere to puke, Alice shrinking until she was normal sized again, holding onto the dress she was wearing while the queen walked over to her with a smile. "Feeling better?"
"Much better actually." Alice replied.
"Come, there's someone who'd like to speak with you." The queen said.
She took Alice's hand and the two ladies walked out, Spyro and Rainbow Dash walking over to the potion and looking in it, looking at one another quizzically.
"Well, who's going to force this stuff down Pinkie's throat?" Spyro asked.
"Spyro." The Queen said, the prince looking over. "He'd also like to see you."
"Saves me the trouble of doing it." Spyro said. "Coming."
Spyro ran over to the queen and to Alice, leavng Rainbow Dash in the room with the potion, looking at it and then to the window, seeing the massive pony puking over a bunch of hills, gulping and wondering how she was going to make her friend normal sized again. A while later, Alice had gotten ito some new clothes as the night came in the White Queens domain, both kindgoms in different time regions by Spyro's guess as they walked out, following the queen until they arrived where the supposed friend was, finding Absolem there smoking.
"Absolem?" Alice asked.
"Who are you?" Absolem asked, blowing smoke at her.
"I thought we settled this?" Alice asked. "I'm Alice. And not the one you think I am."
"How do you know?" Absolem asked, taking another puff.
"Because you said so yourself." Alice replied.
"I said you weren't hardly Alice then." Absolem said. "But you're much more her now. In fact, you're almost Alice."
"Even so, I couldn't slay the Jabberwocky if my life depended on it." Alice replied.
"But it will depend on it." Absolem said. "I suggest you keep the Vorpal Sword in hand when the Franjous day arrives."
"You seem so real." Alice said. "I forget that this is a dream." Absolem took in a massive puff, blowing in her face and making her cough as she swipped the smoke away. "Will you stop doing that!?"
Absolem laughed, Alice leaving in a puff and Spyro was about to follow her, getting ready for the fight.
"Spyro." Absolem said, making him stop. "A moment if you please." Spyro turned, walking back over to Absolem, wondering what he wanted. "You can't keep it contained forever you know?"
"Keep what contained?" Spyro asked.
"The power inside you." Absolem replied. "I saw it as soon as I saw you."
"What did you see?" Spyro asked.
"Primitive Dragon." Absolem replied, surprising him. "The power of darkness, yet it's different."
"Different?" Spyro asked.
"You see, that power itself bonds to whoever it deemed worthy." Absolem said. "Basically, whoever touches it first. But should that power find the used unworthy, it flees, finding a more suitable host."
"Meaning me." Spyro said.
"And if left untamed, it will destroy you." Absolem said, blowing smoke. "You must bond with it."
"But how?" Spyro asked. "It's feral, wild-"
"It's a child." Absolem said, surprising him. "Primitive dragon is the spirit of a lonely child, destroyed at birth or early in life, seeking someone who'll be it's friend. Tell me, will you be it's friend?"
Spyro was left more confused than ever, looking at Absolem and wondering what he meant by that before he disappeared in the smoke, leaving Spyro with more questions than answers as he reached his hand over his heart, thinking about it as the blue flames appeared in his eyes. Back in Salazen Grum, it was early morning and a crowd was gathered around the executioners block, everyone awating the beheading to commence as the queen sat atop her chair above it, her court around her as she smiled.
"I love morning executions." The Red Queen said. "Don't you?"
"Yes your majesty." Her court said.
Stayne motioned for the quards to bring the prisoners out, Hatter and Mallymkun coming out and moving to the block, the Hatter heeping his head down as he walked out first, moving to the chopping block as kneeling down with his head over it. The executioner moved to remove his hat, which the Hatter didn't like as he cleared his throat.
"I'd like to keep it on." Hatter said.
"Suit yourself." The Executioner said. "So long as I can get at yer neck."
He then moved the ribbon off the back of his neck, getting the axe ready to swing, but little did anyone know that it Wasn't Hatter on the chopping block, but the Chesire cat, solidifying this claim as he lifted his head and his eyes were cat like, showing the Hatter on the block was a fake.
"Off with his head." The Red Queen said.
The Executioner raised the axe, getting it back a bit before swinging to chop his head off, but the 'Hatter' turned itno thin air, evaporating in front of everone and cofusing the entirity of the crowd, watching the hat float int the air as it moved to the Queen, the hat turning and revealing the Chesire cat, smiling at her.
"Good morning everybody." The Cheshire cat said.
"Ches." Mallymkun said. "You dog."
The cat winked at Mallymkun, looking back to the queen as the Hatter appeared behind the queen, shocking the court.
"Madam." The Hatter said, scaring her. "You're being hamously bamboozled by these lick, spiddled toadies you suround yourself with."
Proving his point, he ripped one of the womans massive ears off, revealing they were fake as he laughed with glee.
"What is that?" The Red Queen said.
"I'm not the only one Majesty." The 'Big eared' woman said. "Look!"
They looked to a long nosed woman, showing that the nose was also fake.
"A fake nose!?" A 'Big Bellied' man said. "You should be ashamed of yourself!"
"Me?" The 'Big nosed' woman said, ripping off the fake nose. "What about that big belly you're so proud of!?"
They looked and saw he had pillows stuffed in his pants and shirt, which a big chinned man tried to gasp and pretend to be surprised, but his chins fell off, ripping a fake chest off another woman, revealing it to be fake as well.
"Liars!" The Red Queen said, clearly angered. "Cheats! Decievers! Off with their heads!"
The Hatter then got onto a flagpole, using it to get down and land on the execution block, approaching the center of it as the guards had their spears up.
"To the abused and enslaved of the Queens court." Hatter said, getting their attention. "All of you! Stand up in faith! Rise up against the bloody red Queen! And fight! Fight for the White Queen, for the Prince of Light and Darkness, for all of Underland!"
The Red Queen looked at everyone in horror, seeing her servants rising against her as the crowd cheered for the Hatter.
"Down with the Blood Big head!" The crowd chanted, everyone cheering in pure joy and bliss as those enslaved threw their hats, dropped the furniture, everything in defiance to the red queen.
"Release the Jubjub bird!" The queen shouted. As she shouted it, the guards in the tower opened the cage and took off the cover used to keep the bird calm, removing it and making it screech in rage as it went out. "You will all pay for defying me! I AM THE TRUE RULER OF UNDERLAND!" As she was screaming her head off, the moat was starting to bubble, the heads glowing a pink hearts came out of their foreheads and flew into the air, going into the small passage that the heads usually went to get into the moat. "And if you cannot love and appreciate me, then you will FEAR ME! OFF WITH THEIR HEADS!"
As she said it, the hearts all flew out of the hole in the middle of the courtyard, flying into the sky as dark red and black clouds gathered around, black lightning hitting the yard as black liquid oozed out and towards the hearts, covering them and gathering them into a single spot, turning into one massive heart as the silhouette took on a humanoid shape, black and red armor flying onto it, gauntlets lining the arms as spike grew out of it, the chest having an open heart shapped hole in it to fit the glowng pink heart, the legs turning to jester like shoes, but made of metal, fitting onto the legs. The helmet itself looked like the executioners mask, except it had devil horns on it and glowing yellow eyes coming out as demon wings grew out of it's back, roaring out as it plunged it's hand into the ooze and pulled out a massive axe, looking around as it landed on the ground, swinging and taking a few of the on lookers heads, making their bodies disappear as their hearts flew into it's chest, making it roar again as the crowd fled, the Jubjub bird diving down and attacking the crowd as well, making everyone run away as they tried to get away right as Stayne looked out, seeing the prisoners fleeing as he made it to the Queens balcony.
"The prisoners!" Stanye said.
"Let them go." The Queen said, looking at the massive heartless as it got more of the people, turning them into hearts and absorbing them. "They'll meet the same fate. Besides, it's better to be feared than loved. Prepare the Jabberwocky for battle. We're going to visit my little sister."
Back at Malmorial, Spyro and Alice were on the balcony, overlooking the castle as night continued on with the White Queen next to them, looked worried.
"I had hoped to have a champion by now." The Queen said.
"Why don't you slay it yourself?" Alice asked. "You must have the power."
"I'm afraid I cannot." The White queen replied. "It goes against my vows."
"I'm sure we'll think of something." Spyro said, looking out.
A moment later, he and the queen spotted something in the distance, Spyro using his dragon vision to see what it was and saw it was the Hatter and the Tweedle Twins, walking towards them aling with the white rabbit, Mallymkun, and Bayards wife and pups, smiling after seeing their friends were alright.
"We've got company." The White Queen said.
She and Spyro left the balcony, letting Alice look through the telescope to see their friends heading their way. A little while later, they were all in the courtyard and everyone was running to their friends, glad to see they were alright as bayard ran up, going to his wife as he barked.
"I'm so happy to see you." Alice said. "I thought they would-"
"So did I, but they didn't." Hatter said. "And now here I am, still in one piece and I'm rather glad of it after seeing you again and now seeing you as who you really are. The proper size, right size, correct size, the proper Alice!"
"Hatter." Alice said, calming him down.
"I'm fine." Hatter said.
"Hatter, what happened to your hat?" Twilight asked.
A moment later, the hat was floating down, Hatter getting it as Cheshire appeared.
"Chesire." Alice said.
"How's the arm love?" Cheshire asked.
"All healed." Alice replied.
"Good bye, sweet hat." Cheshire said, Hatter covering his hat to keep it out of Cheshire's paws.
Later on, Alice was on the balcony alone, Spyro over looking the palace on the nearby rooftop as he looked to the stars, thinking about what Absolem said as he touched his chest, feeling the dark dragon in him as the flames returned, hearing it's roar as he closed his eyes, feeling himself slip as he sat up.
"You think she'll do it?" Twilight asked.
Spyro looked to his right to see Twilight was coming to him, laying down next to him as he looked back up.
"I don't know." Spyro replied. "It's all up to Alice. It's her choice if she wants to fight it or not."
"You ask me, she's just being stubborn!" Rainbow Dash said, zipping to them. "She still thinks this is some dumb dream when it's as real as we are! What's it going to take to convince her!?"
"Oh, maybe a hit to the noggin will her see this isn't a dream!" Pinkie suggested, pulling out a cartoonishly large mallet, which Spyro just smiled.
"No Pinkie, that won't help." Spyro said, making the Pinkie pony look glum as she threw the massive hammer away. "Absolem said that Alice is more herself than she was before. It makes me think that she really is the one. Stayne said she was a little kid when she first visited this place, which means she's been here before many times as a child."
"So, what, will revisiting her memories help her realize this is real?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"You'd be suprised how much power memories have." Spyro said. "Especially the memories you make in your childhood. And I think I know a way for her to see this is all real."
He sat there, holding twilight close as they looked to the stars, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie looking at one another and shrugging their shoulders, going over and laying next to, or in Spyro's lap, Spyro scratching Rainbow Dash's head as she fell asleep while under the stars. The next morning, the white rabbit had a trumpet out and blew in it, assembling a massive army of chessboard pieces that served as the White Queens guard and some of her loyal citizens, coming to see their champion.
"Who will step forth to be champion to the white queen?" McTwisp asked.
"That would be me." Hatter said, stepping up.
"You have poor evaporating skills." Cheshire said, reappearing. "I'll be the one."
"No, I shall." Mallymkun said.
"No, we will." Tweedledee said, he and his brother coming out of the crowd.
However, the White Queen waved her finger, indicating for McTwisp to unroll the Oraculum for everyone to see.
"Is that the Oraculum?" Spyro asked.
"Yes, it is." McTwisp replied. "I took it from the Red Queens quarters while she wasn't looking."
They all looked at the scroll, seeing the image of Alice slaying the Jabberwocky and looked to her.
"No other slayer no how." Tweedledee said.
"If it ain't Alice, it ain't dead." Tweedledum said.
Everyone looked to Alice, the girl looking afraid as the White Queen looked at her.
"Alice, I cannot ask you to give your life to please others." The White Queen said. "The choice must be yours. For once you step out onto the battlefield, you do so alone."
Alice backed away, her fear getting the best of her as she ran away, breaking everyones spirit while the ponies wanted to go after her, but Spyro held up his hand, wanting to go alone as he walked after her. He followed the fear that Alice was giving off, finding her under a gazebo having a panic attack before sitting down, unsure of what to do as she cried.
"I know it's a difficult choice Alice." Spyro said, approaching her. "But no choice is ever easy."
"Why must I be the one to do it?" Alice asked, tears rolling down her face. "Why can;t some one else do it? It's not fair."
"Nothing is ever accomplished with tears." Absolem said.
The two of them looked to one of the stone pillars and saw Absolem hanging upside down, wrapping himself into a cocoon.
"Absolem?" Alice asked. "Why are you upside down?"
"I've come to the end of this life." Absolem replied.
"You're dying?" Alice asked.
"I'm transforming." Absolem replied.
"Please, I need your help." Alice said. "I don't know what to do."
"I can't help you if you don't know who you are stupid girl." Absolem said.
"I'm not stupid!" Alice replied. "My name is Alice, I live in London. I have a mother named Helen and a sister Margaret. My father was Charles Kingsley and he had a vision that stretched half away across the world and nothing ever stopped him. And I'm his daughter, Alice Kingsley!"
"Alice, at last." Absolem said. "Just as dimwitted as the first time you were here. You use to call this place Wonderland as I recall."
That was when Alice froze, the name sounding familiar as she looked down, the memories coming to her as she remembered the adevtures she had while in Wonderland, looking to Absolem as her mind was now wide open.
"It wasn;t a dream at all." Alice said. "It was a memory. This place, everyone here, you're all real."
"When you were a child, this world was calling to you." Spyro said, sitting next to her. "Calling for your help to free it from the reign of the Red Queen and her Jabberwocky. This world needs you Alice." Spyro looked across the canyon before them, seeing everyone getting ready for the fight to commence. "They all need you."
"Remember Alice." Absolem said, getting their attention. "The Vorpal sword knows what it wants. All you need to do is hold onto it."
Absolem was then fully encased in his Cocoon, his metamorphosis commencing as Spyro looked to Alice.
"If you're going to fight, you'll need your armor Alice." Spyro said, getting up.
He reached out his hand to her, Alice looking at him and then to his hand before taking it and being helped up, the both of them going to the castle to get her ready for the fight ahead. In the Courtyard, the White Queens horse was getting ready for the journey, everyone looking back to see if Alice would come, but they didn't see her, the Queen getting on her horse as the ponies looked back.
"I thought for sure Spyro would comvince Alice to fight this thing." Rainbow Dash said. "He knows how to encourage anypony."
"Maybe... this time he can't." Twilight said, looking back. "Looks like we're on our own."
However, a moment later, they heard the bandersnatch and looked, the guards moving out of the way as Alice rode on it, coming their way wearing the armor while making everyone smile, Spyro appearing next to her wearing his Beskar armor and smiled, the Ponies smiling back as they tapped the gems on their necklaces, getting their armor on as the guards got into formation, everyone moving to the battlefield. After a little marching, they arrived on a ruined field, a chessboard being the battle ground as the two armies stood on opposite ends, the Red Queen being helped out of her carriage while a army of Heartless and Nobodies appeared, Vexen and Crimson Spark appearing next to Stayne as the White Queen got off her horse, both sisters approaching one another as McTwisp got in between them, Alice and the Keyblade warriors ready to go as the queens stood before one another.
"Hello Iracebeth." The White queen said.
"Hello Mirana." Iracebeth said.
The horn blowed to announce the beginning of the battle, McTwisp stopping a bit later.
"On this day, the frabjous day, the queens, red and white, shall send out their champions to do battle on their behalf." Mctwisp announced.
"Iracy..." Mirana said. "We don't have to do this."
"I know your little game little sister." Iracebeth said. "You think that by blinking those pretty little eyes, I'll melt like mumu and daddy did."
"Please Iracy." Mirana said, holding her hand out. "We don't have to do this."
"NO!" Iracebeth said, growing furious as a dark aura surrounded her. "The crown is mine! I am the eldest!" She then looked back, furious with her sister as the aura went into the ground and the ooze started to rise up. "JABBERWOCKY! BLACK HEART EXECUTIONER!"
As she shouted that, the army looked back, the dead trees in the forest and then a moment later, they errupted, the Jabberwocky awakening while causing many of Mirana's followers back away, the massive monster walking to towards them as the Red Queens army made a path for him. A moment later, the black ooze rose up and eruoted, turning into the armored heartless that looked down at them, sending shills through everyone's spines as even the white queens guards backed away.
"This is impossible." Alice said, feling her heart quiver in fear.
"Only if you belive it is." Hatter replied.
Thye watched as the Jabberwocky walked towards them, the Black Heart Executioner walking forward as they all looked at the massive Heartless warrior.
"Sometimes, I believed six impossible things before breakfast." Alice said.
"That is an excellent practice." Hatter said, seeing them approach. "But maybe, right now, focus on the Jabberwocky."
"And on the Heartless." Spyro said, walking up next to her. "Leave it to me. The overgrown lizard is yours Alice. Let the sword guide you."
"This isn't fair." Mirana said. "The rules stated only one champion, not two."
"What's the matter Mirana?" Iracebeth asked. "No one else to die for you? Where are your two champoins sister?"
"Here." Spyro said, he and Alice walking out, facing the enemy.
"Hello Um." Iracebeth said.
The champions walked forward, Spyro walking to the Black Heart Executioner while Alice approached the Jabberwocky, each ready to engage their respected opponent.
"Six impossible things Alice." Alice said to herself as Spyro called his Keyblade. "Count them Alice." The two queens backed away, watching their champions get to the middle of the field to fight. "One: There's a potion that'll make you shrink." The Jabberwocky roared out, trying to intimidate Alice while the Black Heart Executioner got his bassive axe out to fight the prince as he raised his blade, moving away from Alice. "Two: there's a cake that'll make you grow."
"So, my old foe." The Jabberwocky said, lookign down at Alice. "We meet on the battlefield once again."
"We've never met before." Alice said.
"Not you, insignificant bearer." The Jabberwocky said. "My ancient foe. The vorpal one."
"That's enough chatter!" Alice said. She then swung her sword and cut the monsters tongue out, making it screech in pain as it swiped it's tail, knocking Alice down while Spyro dodged the Heartlesses attack, jumping backwards as he stopped his foot into the ground and made a giant boulder, kicking it and turning it into fast moving projectiles, making it stagger backwards. "Three: Animals can talk." She then rolled out of the way as the massive dragon like creature stomped it's foot to crush her, getting back up. "Four: Cats can disappear."
She then sung the blade at the Jabberwocky, missing as it moved backwards, releasing a wave of lightning at her, which she blocked with her shield while Spyro leapt up, the water from the nearby lake moving to him as the tendrils wrapped around it, freezing the heartless as he landed, but it broke free from the prison and swung, missing Spyro as he cartwheeled away, raising his hands as the field broke and magma shot out, hitting the Heartless and making it screech.
"Five Alice!" Spyro shouted, dodging another attack. "What's five!?"
"Five: There's a place called Wonderland!" Alice said, swinging the blade again and making the Jabberwocky back away. "And six: I can slay a Jabberwocky."
She continued to swing to hit the massive monster, landing a hit and cutting it's hide, but it roared out and knocked her away, knocking the sword out of her hand right as Spyro looked, seeing she was in trouble as she wouldn't be able to reach the sword in time. However, the Hatter snuck around, pricking the massive monsters tail as it turned and hissed at it, giving Alice enough time to get back up and get the sword.
"They're interfering!" The Red Queen shouted. "Off with his head!"
Stayne took out his sword as Hatter dropped his hat, the two armies running at one another to fight while Alice and Spyro continued to fight their opponents.
"Alice, the ruins!" Spyro shouted.
Alice looked to the ruins, finding there were still some stone columns there to hide behind, so she ran up the stairs while Spyro kept up the fight with the Black Heart Executioner. Riku was rushing into the fight, slicing through the Heartless and Nobodies while Rainbow Dash swooped down, slicing some of the ground Heartless and Nobodies while mostly keeping the airborne ones busy, providing some relief for her friends. Twilight and Pinkie however were back to back, twilight using her magic and Force abilities to strike down the heartless while also using the Force to tell her when to duck and dodge, weaving through the enemy as they all converged while Pinkie just got her cannon out and blasted a whole group of Nobodies with confetti, sending them into a catapult that the red guard had set up, which it launched a boulder, but it ended up crushing the Jubjub bird by mistake.
"Now that turkey is going to need some stuffing!" Spyro said, getting a laugh out of Riku.
"Spyro, look out!" Rainbow Dash shouted.
He looked up and was then kicked by the Executioner, getting knocked back into the ruins and knocked out as the massive Heartless moved to finish him, raising it's axe to finish the deed, but Rainbow Dash came in, hitting it in the head and distracting it to give Spyro time to recover. However, Spyro found himself in a stange place, finding he was in a heart, but it wasn't his, finding he was in the middle of what looked to be a temple room with a pool in the middle of it, the temple appearing to be in ruins as he looked around.
"Where... am I?" Spyro asked. "What is this place?" He then heard someone move behind him, turning to see a silhouette running into another room, peaking his curiosity. "Hello? Who's there?" He then ran after the shadow, following it into another room, but as he did, he saw a small squad of apes smashing dragon eggs, destroying them without remorse or fear as they laughed and cheered, one of them drinking the yolk from one of the eggs as Spyro watched. "This is... what is...?"
"Are you my friend?" A voice asked.
Spyro turned around to see who it was, looking down to see a golden baby dragoness hatchling at his feet, a pair of white horns and golden wings with white membrane and a white underbelly, her eyes sapphire blue as she looked at him.
"Who are you?" Spyro asked, kneeling down.
"I don't know." The baby dragoness replied. "I don't have a name. Do you know my name?"
"No... I don't." Spyro replied. "What is this place?"
"The temple." She replied. "This is where my egg was brought. And where it was smashed."
"Smashed?" Spyro asked, looking around as he recognized the temple. "By the ancestors. This is the hatchery that Spyro's egg was in."
"But... isn't your name Spyro?" The baby dragon asked.
"It's... a long story." Spyro replied, sitting down. "But... why are you still here? Why are you here all alone?"
"I had nowhere else to go." The dragoness replied. "The bad dragon tried to make me do awful things. Wanted me to hurt people. But I didn't want to do that. I found you when you were in trouble. I thought I could help."
Before Spyro could say another word, they heard something behind the baby dragon, seeing the battle field rage on while as he got up, both he and the baby dragon walking to the screen as he saw Rainbow Dash distract the Executioner.
"Rainbow, no!" Spyrp shouted, trying to call her and make her stop.
"Why are they fighting?" The baby dragon asked.
"That's what war looks like." Spyro said. "The red guys follow the red queen, but out of fear, not loyalty."
"I can feel what she's done." The baby dragion said, blue flames appearing on her back. "She's hurt som many people, killing them just because they didn't like her!"
"Kid." Spyro said, acking away.
"I feel their hate, their anger!" The baby dragon said, her eyes having dark blue flames appear around them as she said it. "I hate her! I HATE HER!"
She screamed in rage and erupted into the Primitive Dragon form, making Spyro back away as the flames were too hot for him to handle, waking up and breathing heavily as he felt his body, glad to see he was alright. However, when he looked up, he saw that Rainbow Dash was still distracting the Black Heart Executioner, but a moment later, a Sniper got a lucky shot and hit her in the chest, thankfully the Beskar withstood the hit, but the Executioner grabbed her, squeezing hard and making her scream in pain as the Beskar tried to hold it's shape, it being the only thing keeping her alive.
"Leave her alone!" Spyro shouted, his eyes turning blue as he felt his anger boil. The Executioner kept squeezing, unable to crush her as she screamed in pain, so it threw her down, making her hit her head as she fell unconcious with a trail of blood running down her head, making Spyrp's own blood freeze when he saw that. It then lifted up it's axe, getting ready to attack and finish her when it turned to Spyro, the blue flames forming a circle around him as his anger reached it's max, everyone seing a blue light and stopped fighting, Crimson Spark having fired another round at one of the chess piece guards as he looked at him. "I... said... leave... her... ALONE!"
A dark blue dome formed around him, spinning a couple of times before it shattered, unleashing Primitive Dragon as it roared out, a dark silhouette appearing in the dark blue flames as it walked forward.
[Unknown voice]
Primitive Dragon!
The sound of crunching bones filled the said, the Executioner changing targets as it swung at Spyro, but the dragon caught the axe with it's claws, shattering the axe and making it stagger backwards, falling to the ground. The dragon then looked around, finding Twilight still fighting a couple of heartless, so it raised it's claw up, aiming at Twilight and sent the claw towards her, Twilight slashing through the heartless as the claw grabbed her, dark lightning entering her as she screamed. A dark blue orb appeared around her and it then shattered, creating a dark purple ehtereal Alicorn with a set of blue glowing lights around her eyes and her horn surrounded by the same blue light, neighing in rage as it tried to free itself.
Midnight Sparkle!
"Oh, that can't be good." Crimson Spark said, backing away as Vexen walked towards it.
"Incredible." Vexen said. "Pure, uncontrollable rage and hatred. There's nothing of the likes I've seen before!"
The dragon kept looking, finding Pinkie trying to hide behind one of the red card guards, so it launched it's claw at her, which she ran away and ducked behind a rock, the claw looking over, but Pinkie popped her head out from behind another, the claw looking to it's left and rushed to grab her, but she ducked down and disappeared as it looked, appearing behind the one on the left, so the claw rushed to it, but she disappeared again, popping back up behind the right rock. The left claw did it's best to capture her, but she kept on disappearing, infuriating it, so it backed away, waiting for her to pop back un when it felt heavier. The claw raised its fingers as if looking on it's back, noticing the pink party pony on it's back, so it spun quickly, knocking her down and then grabbing her, making her scream as the same dark lightning enter the party pony, creating another dome before it shattered to show a dark magenta-purple color, the mane a brihgt pink while the face looked white as a ghost, neighing in rage as it tried to break out of it's grasp.
Party Crasher!
Get!
It then released the poinies and they charged towards the heartless, the massive beast getting up but was then hit by the corrupted party animal, going through and wrapping it around in ribbons and streamers while the Alicorn unleashed a flurry of dark magic spells, hitting the massive warrior and making it holler in pain as the dragon roared again, ordering them to return as the flames grew.
"Now's our chance!" Crimson Spark said, aiming the weapon at Spyro.
Primitive Dragon saw him aim the weapon and as he fired, the massive beast used it's claw and blocked the attack, doing nothing to the claw as the flames enveloped them, the two ponies running into the flames as they changed into dark purple and dark magenta, mixing together.
[Unknown Chorus]
Baki Boki Bone!
Gaki Goki Bone!
P-ri-mi-ti~~ve... Dragon!
The flames disappeared as Spyro roared out, growling like a demon as his armor had changed again, this time it was dark purple on the right with many stars, dark blue and black in color with constellations on it while on the left side, it looked like a part with ballons and different candies, but they were corrupted, the ballons showing little color or joy while dark flames were burning on the candles on the shoulder, both shoulders having pony arm guards while the helment was the dragons skull, looking up at the battle as it roared in rage.
"Amazing." Vexen said. "Such negativity!"
"Yeah, yeah, fascinating, now get out of the way!" Crimson Spark shouted.
he pushed Vexen out of the way and started firing, making Spyro raise his arms and block the attack when he roared in rage, grabbing the minotaur axe on his back, but it then changed, the blade turning dark purple in color while dark stars were on the shaft of the blade, ten jewels going down the shaft as he charged. The bow on his wrist was pink this time, but it still kept it's form as he raised it and fired on Crimson, both getting into a shoot out to hit the other, but the armor bounced the magical ammunition off Spyro, not leaving a dent when a Reaper appeared, slashing and hitting the armor, but it did no damage, the corrupted warrior getting into a fight with the reaper as the fight around them continued, each exchanging blows, though the armor was too tough for the scythe to pierce. They then locked their weapons, Spyro roaring in rage as he looked at the blade, seeing something new to play with as he broke the lock, hitting the Reaper in the head and dazing it as he spun around, plunging the axe into the Nobody's stmach as he grabbed the scythe, the Nobody turning into black mist as he looked at the new weapon.
He put the axe back on his back and held the scythe in both hands as it started to change, the weapons color changing from pure white to black, the blade turning to a dark purple with the same ten dark gem stones on the shaft of the scythe and a dark star on the blade, examining it as Crimson took aim again.
"Crimson, no!" Vexen shouted.
Crimson Spark didn't pay any attention to him and fired again, but Spyro just blocked the blast using the scythe, rushing towards the pony as he continued to fire, but he blocked each blast before turning and slashing upward, catching the pony off guard as the weapon was thrown away from him, skidding away before stopping. Crimson managed to hold onto his other pistol and kept firing, but the bullets kept bouncing off and being deflected, Crimson doing his best to back away, but Spyro got close enough and swung the scythe, cutting the unicorns horn off, making him scream in pain as his yellow aura flickered and faded, sparking as he tried to use his magic again, looking down at his horn in horror.
"MY HORN!" Crimson Spark shouted. "MY MAGIC!"
He looked at Spyro in fear, backing away as the Alicorns eyes glowed dark purple, backing away to get away, but Spyro walked towards him as the scythes blade started to glow.
"Malice!" Spyro said, the first gem on the scythe glowing. "Fear! Wrath! Hatred! Despair! Strife! Bloodthirst! Ruin! Extinction!" He then raised the scythe a bit and tapped the bottom of it to the ground, ther gems glowing as the eyes on the Alicorn shoulder guard glowed. "Conclusion nine!" A moment later, the corrupted warrior disappeared from his sight, making the dehorned unicorn look around in fear until he was struck in the chest, making him yell in pain before being thrown in the air and a massive dark star appeared and from it, a dark meteor storm, much like what Maleficent used, came from the star and hit the pony, each hit causing an explosion before he came from the star and slashed, cutting clean through him, leaving a glowing purple line as he yelled in pain and his heart came out, cracking as it shattered, causing him to fade into black smoke. "Magic's Extinction!"
Riku was focusing on a couple of Heartless, taking them down when he looked over at Spyro, seeing the corrupted warrior finish the pony off and felt a chill run down his spine as it looked at him.
"Spyro, you ok?" Riku asked.
Spyro didn't answer, looking down and seeing the pistol that belonged to Crimson Spark and bent down, picking it up and when he did, it changed as well, a dark mist going around the weapon as it changed from an old fashioned flintlock, the most moving down a bit and then across the arm until it turned into a small minigun, except it had a single handle on it with a single red button on it, the barrels looked to be like candy canes, except they were black and blue, the body being black with ten red party balloons on it, examining the new weapon as the Black Heart Executioner got back up, looking to it's opponent and walking towards him, swinging the axe at friend and foe alike, collecting their hearts to make itself stronger.
"OFF WITH HIS HEAD!" The Red Queen screamed.
Spyro looked at the massive Heartless as it swung it's axe, but when the Heartless hit him, the blade shattered like glass, the heartless looking at it and then back to Spyro as he aimed the minigun right at it, pressing te trigger and unleashing a flurry of magical blasts. Each blast caused a random element to hit the Heartless, ranging from dark elements like poison, fear shadows, to corrupted versions of elements like fire, water, ice, every element in the book, making the large heartless stumble a bit before falling down, causing both armies to tumble and fall, even Alice fell down as she looked to the heartless, seeing it was down before getting back up and ran up the stairs of the only tower still standing. Spyro slowly approached the heartless as the two armies got back up to fight as the eyes on the corrupted earth pony glowed a dark blue.
"Malice!" Spyro said, one of the red ballons glowing. "Fear! Wrath! Hatred! Despair! Strife! Bloodthirst! Ruin!" The eyes then ignited into dark blue flames as the balloons glowed and aimed the cannon at the massive Heartless. "Conclusion eight!" The barrels charged up with a large amount of dark energy, firing the energy as the heartless, hitting around the heart as eight dark magenta colored lights glowed, the warrior then leaping and splitting into hundreds of coppies of himself, each one taking a shot at the before the original appeared, pulling out the same cartoonishly large mallet and smashing it in the chest and popping out the heart, causing the Heartless to explode as he landed. "Laughter's ruin!"
The heart flew into the air, the crystal heart breaking and cracking until it exploded, releasing all of the hearts as Spyro looked up, seeing them all fly into the air as he looked to the tower, seeing Alice get flung into the air before coming down and cutting the head off of the Jabberwocky, the head bouncing down the steps before stopping at the foot into the ruins, everyone looking at it as the Red Queen looked up, furious that her champions were dead.
"KILL HER!" She screamed.
Spyro roared in rage, charging towards the red queen witht he scythe, wanting to destroy her.
"Stop!" Spyro shouted, grabbing it's arm and making the dragon in side stop, looking at him in rage. "That's enough. It's over."
"We don't follow you anymore, bloody big head." One of her guards said.
"How dare you!" The Red Queen said. "Off with his head!"
No one listened to her, but instead, one of her guards threw down his weapon, not wanting to fight anymore followed by more of his fellow soldiers and even the Mirana's guards did the same, Primitive Dragon lowering the scythe.
"The Red Queen has no more power here." Spyro said, letting go of it's arm. "They're free now. Free of fear and of a dictator."
Primitive dragon started to calm down, glowing as it split into three different colors, Spyro, Twilight, and Pinkie returning to normal as they collapsed from exhaustion, Spyro sitrring first as he sat up, clutching his head from the killer headache he had.
"Spyro!" Riku said, running to him and helping him up. "You ok bud?"
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Spyro replied. "Gotta get a hold of this power."
"What was that thing?" Riku asked.
"A kid." Spyro said, remembering the baby dragon. "A very, very scared and angry kid."
"Spyro?" Rainbow Dash said, sitting up as he rushed over to her. "Ugh, good thing you gave us this armor."
"Hey, anything to keep my girls safe." Spyro said, helping her up as the other two started to stir.
A moment later, the crown on Iracebeth's head flew itno the air, floating over to Mirana and changing from gold with rubies to silver with sapphires, being placed on her head as she was once again the true ruler of Underland, looking at her sister with disdain and authority.
"Iracebeth of Crims, for your crimes against Underland, they are punishable by death." Mirana said, making her sister fearful. "But that would go against my vows. So I hereby banish you to the outlands. No one will show you and kindess... or love. Forever alone."
"Uh, I hope your majesty holds no ill towards me." Stayne said, trying to plead his case.
"Knave of Hearts, your crimes coincide with Iracebeths, so you to will join her in exile." Mirana said, both the red queen and he chained together. "For no one shall show you or owe you any such kindness either."
"At least we'll be together." Iracebeth said, looking at Stayne.
However, Stayne looked at her, not wanting to be stuck with the red queen for all eternity, so he took out a knife, trying to kill her, but the hatter took out a large needle and threw it, hitting him in the wrist and making the Knave yell in pain as some of the red queens former guards grabbed his hand, takign the knife away while holding onto the knave.
"Majesty, please!" Stayne screamed. "Kill me!"
"But I don't owe you a kindness." Mirana replied.
"Savage." Spyro said.
"Take off my head!" Stayne pleaded. "Please!"
"He tried to kill me." Iracebeth said, looking horrified as she looked to her sister. "Did you see what he tried to do!? He tried to kill me!"
The guards took the two prisoners away, leaving everyone alone on the field while the light shined through the clouds.
"Frabjous day!" Hatter exclaimed excitedly.
Hatter then started to do a dance, his limbs moving like his joints were made of rubber as his moves moved fluidly while everyone enjoyed the show, Pinkie bouncing to him while everyone watched.
"What is he doing?" Riku asked.
"I think they call that the Flutterwacken." Spyro said.
He watched as Pinkie got into the the dance, mimicing hatters moves as their joints seemed nonexistent, their bodies turning, but nt their heads as their limbs moved like water, ending the dance with a bow as everyone clapped their hands and hooves for the both of them, enjying the show as the Keyhole for the world appeared in the ruins, shining brightly for everyone to see.
"What is that?" Alice asked.
"The Keyhole." Spyro replied, calling his blade.
He raised his Keyblade to the Keyhole and a moment later, it shot out a beam of light and entered the hole, everyone hearing a click as the Keyhole disappeared, safeguarding the second Wonderland and dissipating the Ion Storm around the planet. A moment later, the Mirana walked over to the Jabberwocky's head and took out several vials, getting some blood from one of it's teeth before walking over with it.
"The Blood of the Jabberwocky." Mirana said. "You have our ever asting gratitude. And for your efforts on our behalf."
Alice and Spyro took the vials, looking at it before looking back at Mirana.
"Will this take me back home?" Alice asked.
"If that is what you choose." Mirana said.
"Well, at least the Jabberwocky's no more." Rainbow Dash said. "Hey, where's Vexen?"
"He disappeared after the fight." Riku replied, walking to them. "But I'm more worried about what that was earlier, coming from you Spyro."
"It's... a long story." Spyro replied. "Thankfully, the Jabberwocky is no more, and neither the Organization, nor Malefor got what they needed."
"Are you sure about that?" A voice asked.
They looked back to the head and saw Aphara, having gotten a small vial of the blood as she smiled.
"It's Aphara!" Spyro shouted.
"Thanks for doing the heavy lifting." Aphara said.
Spyro called his blade and threw it at the dragoness, but a dark portal opened up underneath her feet and she disappeared through it, the blade passing through her and having no effect, making Spyro growl in rage.
"Dang it!" Spyro shouted, his blade disappearing.
"Don't worry, we'll get her next time." Twilight said.
"Who was that?" Alice asked.
"An old headache." Spyro replied, turning to his friends before looking to Alice. "You sure you're not staying here in this world?"
"That's a mad, wonderful idea." Alice said. "But I can't. There are questions I need to answer and things I must do." She then opened the container, drinking the blood before dropping it. "But don't worry. I'll be back before any of you know it."
"You probably won't remember me." Hatter said.
"But of course I will." Alice said, looking to the Hatter. "But Hatter, why is a raven like a writing desk?"
"I haven't the slightest idea." Hatter said, making them both laugh.
A moment later, she started to fade, disappearing from Wonderland and returning home while Spyro passed around the vials to the other ponies, each of them looking at the blood and then to Spyro, not sure if it was a good idea.
"Why not give Pinkie the coffee you brought?" Rainbow Dash asked.
"Yeah, that stuff was good!" Pinkie said.
"Well..." Spyro said, pulling it out and dumping it. "It's too old to drink. Don't want to get Pinkie sick. Besides, I think this is a bit more effective."
"Will you come and visit?" Hatter asked.
"Someday, we'll come back and visit." Spyro said, opening the vial and drinking it. "But right now, we need to get back home. Our friends are waiting for us."
"Well, you're more than welcome back anytime you want." Mirana said, smiling at them. "Wonderland will be more than happy to welcome you."
Spyro smiled at their friends as the ponies drank the blood, the world fading in front of them as they returned into the room their friends were in, reappearing behind them.
"Oh, I hope they'll be alright." Fluttershy.
"Who knew Pinkie bein' as hyper as she is would go crazy after drinking some coffee." Applejack said.
"I wonder when they'll be back." Rarity said.
"How about now?" Spyro asked.
He inadvertently made the ponies scream, scaring them after accidently scaring them.
"Spyro!" Applejack exclaimed, glarring at him. "Will ya stop doin' that!? ya want me to have a miscarriage!?"
"Sorry AJ." Spyro said, walking up and kissing her. "Just great to be back home."
"So, how was it?" Fluttershy asked. "What was it like?"
"Fluttershy, trust me, you're all better off being here than there." Twilight said. "Trust me, it was both a beautiful experience, but also quite horrible to."
"Yeah, you'd probably have a fit if you met the Red Queen." Rainbow Dash said. "Trust me, she's not a nice person."
"Well, it's good to have you all back." Princess Celestia said. "Hopefully we can get to the summit before something else happens that'll take you off world again."
"Uh, everypony, where's Pinkie?" Fluttershy asked.
They all looked around the room, wondering where it was that Pinkie ran off to when a guard walked in, everyone looking to him.
"Excuse me your highness, but the summit is about to start." The guard said.
"Thank you soldier." Princess Celestia said.
"Say, have you seen a pink pony with a poofy mane run somewhere in the palace?" Spyro asked.
"Oh yes, I saw her run to the break room." The guard replied. "Said something about wanting to get some coffee."
"OH SUGAR HONEY ICED TEA!" Spyro exclaimed.
Everyone ran out fo the room to get to Pinkie before she ended up drinking more coffee, fearing she might drink some Coffe was wasn;t decaf, not wanting to find out what she would be like if she had some of that. Elsewhere, in Malefors stronghold, Aphara was walking up to the statue as a ball of darkness appeared next to it, the white eyes appearing in the ball as she presented the vial.
"Excellent." Malefor said. "I hope it wasn't too hard to get."
"Not too difficult indeed." Aphara said. "All I had to do was wait for Spyro and his friends to do the hard work and I'd reap the reward."
"A well though out plan indeed." Orion said. "Now, pour the blood into the book." Aphara walked over and thde book opened, pouring the purple blood into the pages and as she did, the blood moved to the first of seven circles on the page, entering the first one as it glowed purple, changing from black to purple as Orion laughed, the dark orb taking on a humanoid appearance as he looked at himself, marveling at his body. "Yes, exactly what I need."
"So, that's one down, six to go." Aphara said. "What's the next key?"
"This one will be tricky to get." Orion replied. "We would need the fractured remains of an Abstract, but that can only be found in one world."
"So send me there and I'll-" Aphara said, but he held up his hand.
"It's not that simple." Orion replied. "The path to this world is locked within The Grid, a digital world. Finding the path will be difficult. You'd almost need a tech genius to find the path inside."
"So, what do we do?" Aphara asked.
"Like you did in Wonderland, we wait." Malefor replied. "The Prince's curiosity is one of his many weaknesses. He'll find the path and when he does, we'll be ready."
Malefor then started to laugh, followed by Orion and then by Aphara as they waited for Spyro to find the path into the Digital Circus, one they could exploit. In the circus, inside of one of the rooms, a brown haired and white skinned girl wearing a red and blue jester costume was sitting on her bed, her head in hr hands as she starred at the ground, her heart racing as fear was taking over, a dark aura appearing around her as she mumbled to herself.
"I want out." She said to herself, starting to abstract as she said it. "I want out! I want out of here!" She then looked to the ceiling, her eyes swirling as she was continuing to abstract a bit as a tear rolled down her face. "SOMEBODY GET ME OUT OF HERE! I'LL DO ANYTHING TO GET OUT! I JUST WANT OUT OF THIS PRISON!"
In the corner of the room, a pair of green eyes appeared, a dark smile appearing in the shadow as she revealed herself to be Maleficent, holding her staff as she stroked the orb of her staff, the girl looking back down in defeat as she realized she was going to be trapped forever.
"Anything, my dear?" Maleficent asked, the girl looking to her in fear as she smiled at her.