You readers are probably wondering how Slapi and I managed to destroy Diversity's castle. It was not that difficult. It was my idea after all, and Slapi made it a reality.

We were able to get our hands on a large crate of bombs and stole them without anybody else knowing. Then I became the distraction and kept Diversity's focus on me, while Slapi was inside the castle and planting bombs everywhere. Once he and Caleb were safe and sound, I activated the bombs, and each and every bomb ignited, making the castle explode.

"Good thing that we found those special bombs," my brother said loud enough for Diversity to hear. "Now Diversity will have to admit that we are the greatest fictional villains ever, Ava."

"I am the greatest fictional villain," I corrected him. "You can be second best."

"Second best is fine with me as long as Diversity's title is given to you. Then she will have no choice but to bow down to you."

The former villain locked her eyes on me and gritted her teeth. "You are not the greatest fictional villain. I am!" She raised a hand with her thumb and fingers outstretched, and a big, blue ball of energy shot out from her palm and hit me.

"Ava!" Slapi cried.

I flew into the air and landed on my back. I grunted and wiped off some mud that had gotten on my cheek. I was about to get back up, when Diversity hurried to me and pressed her foot against my stomach. I wrapped my thumb and fingers around her ankle.

"Ha! You are pathetic, Ava." She lowered her voice to a whisper. "You can try as much as you want, but the truth is that you will never be like me."

"Oh, please," I said. "Anyone who is smart enough will know to never be a racist idiot."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "You dare still insult me despite the fact that I have the upper hand?"

"Who says that you have the upper hand? Now, Slapi!"

My brother was behind her, reached out, and wrapped his hands around her neck. She gasped as he dragged her off me and began choking her.

"This is dark," he remarked. "Especially for a children's book."

I rose to my feet. "This book series is aimed at children?" I asked him.

"The Forlot series is for both children and adults."

"How the crub did our writer get away with such dark themes? Like Nigel's mother who drowned in a lake. Or that wicked man who forced Margaret to be pregnant."

"How do you know those things when they have not even happened yet?"

"Logic has been thrown out the window when it comes to Forlot. Anybody can expect a pig with bird wings and human eyes. And guess what? There already is a pig with bird wings and human eyes."

"Really? Cool! We should set aside a day to go looking for it, Ava."

We - I mean, I - would have won sooner if not for those pesky gremlins. They were not caught up in the explosion because they all had been outside and doing some gardening. They revealed themselves and surrounded us.

One of the gremlins stormed up to my brother and kicked him hard on the side of his leg. Slapi cried out and released his hold on Diversity's throat. She rubbed her neck all around and grinned at me.

"Nice work, my gremlins," she said. "You have earned yourselves an enormous meal."

The gremlins cheered and hopped up and down.

"I promise that I will throw in the biggest dessert that you have ever seen. A tall, chocolate cake with chocolate frosting on top and chocolate filling inside. In order to receive it, you need to seize Ava and Slapi and lock them in the dungeon."

A gremlin gently tugged on her dress and pointed at Caleb and an unconscious Cindy.

"Take my cousin and her friend to the throne room. I so am in the mood to make their lives a living heck."

I watched as the gremlins reached up and grabbed ahold of Slapi's pants and ankles. They tried to do the same to me, but I had no problem prying them off.

"Face it, Ava," Diversity spoke. "You lost. I won."

I suddenly felt weird. It was as if something were boiling inside of me. And there certainly was. It was not a feeling like happiness or anger. It felt like that feeling that you get when you have to barf. But I did not have to barf.

I aimed my hands at Diversity with my palms showing and could feel whatever it was crawl up my legs and down my arms.

"What is the matter, Ava?" Diversity teased. "Is that your pathetic way of begging for mercy?"

"I assumed that she had to go to the bathroom," Slapi stated.

To everyone's surprise, including mine, two purple and black balls of energy shot out from my own hands and hit Diversity hard. She flew back and landed on her side. She was hugging herself and shaking.

I threatened to do what I did to her to the gremlins if they did not back away. They did so with worry and confusion as I raced to Diversity and kneeled next to her. She was in a horrible state, and it was all thanks to me. I had powers that she did not even have. That is why she wanted to take away my strengths and transfer them to her. She was hungry for my powers.

Diversity's skin was now a bit pale, and thin lines that were black and purple were on it and sparkling. I was taken aback and asked her if I did this.

"You most certainly did," she snapped. "I am now corrupted because of you."

"You do not seem corrupted."

"The aftermath of your powers is a part of me now. I will never be the same."