Chapter 16

3rd Person POV

Ali: So, Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Morro, Lloyd, Skylor, Pixal, Seliel and Lizzy fell down through the rabbit hole once again, which took them across Wonderland so they could get to the Queen of Heart's palace.

Lizzy looked ahead, only to see the castle miles away. They could only see the silhouette of it. "Rabbit, this wasn't a short cut at all."

"Oh dear, we took a wrong turn at the flying teapot! This way!" The group of ten followed after him.

Ali: Lizzy Hearts' mother was in danger from Camille Jester. Camille wants to find the Storybook of Legends and sign her name in Lizzy's page in order to steal her destiny as the next Queen of Hearts. Oh! And the White Knight is duelling with the Red Knight so that the group could escape from Wonderland High.

"The students!" Scott realised, "They've fled the scene!"

"And that means their school day is over!" The White Knight retorted, swinging their sword. The Red Knight growled, "It was my sworn duty not to let that happen!" His horse strode up behind him and he clambered on, "I'll bring them back if it's the last thing I do!"

The White Knight's horse appeared shortly after, and they too, fled after, brandishing their sword. As they rode on, the sounds of metal swords clinking could be heard as they rode off into the distance.

0+0+0+0

"Name?"

"Jeff the Alligator."

"Right then, in you go."

From the bushes afar, Camille popped her head through, watching the long queue of guests waiting to enter the palace grounds.

"Name?"

"I can't remember."

"Right then, in you go!"

On a tree branch near the entrance, Tox appeared, with the signature grin on her face. Perched on the branch, she looked around, "Mom? She must already be inside." She disappeared again.

"Name?"

"Bill the Lizard."

"Right then in you go."

Camille skipped ahead of the queue and stood in front of the two guards.

"I'm just in time for the party!"

"Name?"

"Camille Jester!"

"Camille, Jester..." they consulted the large list, "Pfft, Jester eh? What a big surprise! You're not on the list, can't come in. Step aside! Name?" The guards shoved her to a side and continued with their jobs.

"Johnny,"

"Right then, in you go. Name?"

Camille growled in frustration and stormed off muttering under her breath, "Can't let Camille in, she's just a lowly joker. Shuffle her to the bottom of the deck where she belongs!" she stared at the book of spells in her hand, only to see a small playing card poking through. She picked it up and frowned at it, "What's this?" she looked at the card and read aloud, "Just say who you want to be, and that's you that they will see..." her face stretched into an evil smirk, "Well this is going to be fun!"

She marched back up to the queue, grinning triumphantly, "Step aside! I'm on my way to see my mother!"

"Listen, didn't I already tell you to get lost?"

"Oh, I should hope not. After all, that's no way to talk to..." she swiped the card in front of her face, "Lizzy Hearts, your princess!" Her card had enabled her to forge into a different person, and hypothesise the guards, "I must see my mother!" she snapped in the accent Lizzy spoke with.

"Y-Yes your Royal Highness, please forgive me." They moved out of the way and let her through.

"Not likely!"

Camille looked around at the swarm of guests, "Now...to get my hands on the Storybook of Legends, which means catching the Cheshire Cat! Oh, maybe my dear sweet mother has seen her."

A frog hopped along the path, "All hail the Queen of Hearts and her amazing skills at croquet!" he gestured to where a crowd of people were applauding Her Majesty herself, "That's right, it's my birthday, and I'm going to play croquet, and everyone is going to watch me!" she grinned as a jewel-embroidered mallet was handed to her.

The frog hopped up to her, "But Your Majesty, more guests have arrived-"

"Ooh! Presents!" she threw the mallet back to whoever had handed it to her, and rushed away, seating herself in her throne. The frog cleared his throat, "Presenting Lord Unicorn."

The unicorn got down on one knee and presented his gift. The Queen accepted it, shaking it, before tossing it into a wheelbarrow which was already piled with assorted wrapped presents.

The Queen rushed back to where croquet had been set up and took her mallet, "Ball!" A hedgehog rushed up with the ball, and before he could position it the Queen swung her mallet. The ball slammed into a guest's stomach, then onto another guest's nose, before landing just in front of the wicket. The frog lightly kicked it in with his foot and the crowd cheered, "Excellent shot, Your Majesty."

She threw her mallet up in the air, "Oh this is such fun! I'm the happiest Queen in the world! Except...oh I'm the most miserable Queen in the world!" she cried, before dramatically falling back into her throne. The frog rushed over, "I was so looking forward to seeing Lizzy today."

"Of course your Majesty."

Another guard approached her, "More presents?" The Queen's eyes lit up

"Ooh!"

0+0+0+0

From one of the many roofs of the palace, the Cheshire Cat stared down at the ongoing party. "Mom, there you are!" Tox appeared in front of the Cheshire Cat, who grinned, "Tox! What a purrfect surprise! What are you doing here and not at school?"

"I-It's a long story. More importantly, do you have the Storybook of Legends?"

The Cheshire Cat smiles mischievously at her daughter, "Well, that's a long story too. Let's see...where shall I begin?"

0+0+0+0

"You fight gallantly, White Knight!" The Red Knight grunted, "I'll give you that!"

"As do you!"

The two were currently fighting whilst riding their horses, all the way to the Queen's castle.

The White Knight swung his sword, "Pity you fight for the side. Yield!"

"No, you yield!"

"No, you yield!"

As they fought/rode on, the portal at the side glowed, and Kai, Jay, Cole, Zane, Morro, Lloyd, Skylor, Pixal, Seliel and Lizzy flew out, landing in a dishevelled heap, just missing the two knights. Seliel shot up,  "What?! This isn't the palace!"

"Oh dear! My sense of direction is less sensitive inside the ground than outside the ground-"

"My mother is in danger, Rabbit! Please, please, just get me to the palace!"

"Oh my, oh dear. Y-Yes, your highness. This way...I hope!"

With not much choice, they followed after him.

0+0+0+0

The Queen let out a heavy sigh as she slouched into her seat.

"Presenting the Walrus and the Carpenter!" As the duo approached, they were pushed away, "Step aside!" Camille called out, "Royalty coming through! Look, mother, it's your precious little girl come for your birthday!" Gasping, the Queen jumped up and pushed Camille away, "Foul intruder! Guards! Somehow this...this wild card has crashed my party! Off with her head! In fact, off with all of her!" 

The guards raced over and picked Camille up. She laughed and brought out the card, "Oops, forgot! Is that any way to greet your...daughter?" The Queen's angry glare quickly faded into a happy grin, "Lizzy? Unhand her, you fools! Can't you see that this is my daughter?" she grabbed 'Lizzy' by the shoulders and hugged her tightly, "Go find that jester girl who was here a moment ago!"

The guards looked at each other confusedly, "Huh?"

Meanwhile the Queen of Hearts was peppering kisses all over 'Lizzy's' face, "Lizzy? Truly, my dear sweet princess! I have missed you so much. Since you've been gone I...haven't been the same. I am so, so, glad to have you back."

"Good to...be back. Oh, look at all these guests! You're ever so popular. Has the...Cheshire Cat popped in, hmm? Have you seen her?"

0+0+0+0

"...And then I tied the lion's tale to a table, and you'll never guess who I put in the punch bowl!"

"Mom, this is an emergency!" Tox reminded her, "I don't care about the party; I need to know what you've done with the Storybook of Legends. Do you still have it?"

The Cheshire Cat laughed, "Oh, that old thing? Well, you know they won't let you in here without a gift..."

"So...the Queen has it?"

"Not exactly..." she leaped over and looked down. Tox followed her, and the Cheshire Cat pointed out the Royal Guards, "See those presents down there?"

"The book is with them?"

"Those gifts are going to where my gift already is. Behind that door, in the Queen's present room."

Tox straightened up, "Then all I have to do is sneak in and grab it!" She hugged her mother, "Thanks, Mom!" She disappeared with a grin, before appearing down at the ground, "So much easier than I expected."she went through the doors and stopped short, seeing the mountains of presents, "or maybe not..." she ventured further in, and it was as if the piles were getting bigger, "Oh no. Oh no. Oh no no no! I'm...gonna need some help..."

0+0+0+0

"You know I was thinking of cancelling this party because birthdays aren't the same without you!" The Queen squeezed Camille's cheeks and she was screaming internally.

"Hmm, now nice, now about that cat-"

"But then I thought, what if my dear sweet Lizzy shows up? And now look, you have!"

"Mother! The cat!"

"Oh, the Cheshire Cat showed up hours ago! She gave me...some book. It's with the other gifts in the present room."

"Of course! Where else would presents be?" Camille laughed hastily, "Ah! In honour of your birthday, I say we play a game, hmm?"

The Queen of Hearts clapped excitedly, "Ooh! A game! I love games!"

"Yeah, well I call this one...'The Opposite Game.' Anyone tells you anything, it means the opposite! Hello, mum!"

"Hello? Ah....I get it! Hello!"

Smiling wickedly to herself, Camille marched off to find the present room. The frog approached the Queen, "You do realise of course that she is not your daughter?"

"Of course. She is not my daughter at all. Oh, this is going to be fun!"

Meanwhile, Camille pushed past some guests before stopping short, "Toxita Cheshire? Who left the cat flap open?!" she sighed, annoyed, "Here's what I get for leaving that ridiculous Red Knight in charge!"

Ali: Speaking of which...

0+0+0+0

"Agh!" The Red Knight groaned as he fell back. The White Knight laughed victoriously. The two had gotten off their horses and were still duelling on some mountain. The Red Knight dodged his opponent's moves, before jumping off the edge, landing back in the saddle of his horse. Unlucky for him, said opponent was right behind, yelling out war cries. They continued their battle as they journeyed.

Ali: Multitasking at its finest. Let's see what the students are up to!

0+0+0+0

Lizzy approached the entrance of the castle, followed by the LH students, "Step aside!"

"Y-Yes you Highness...again."

The group enter the palace grounds, were people were mingling with others. Lizzy grinned, "There she is! My mother!" she sprinted up to the throne.

"Guys!" Just as Lizzy left, Tox materialised next to Seliel.

"You find the Book?" Skylor asked. The cat nodded, "Yes! Well...sort of...come on!"

Meanwhile, Lizzy ran up to the field where her beloved mother was playing croquet, "Mother!" Taking the Queen by surprise, she hugged her tightly, "Oh, I am so happy to see you! I missed you." The Queen of Hearts smiled, but it quickly faded after what came next, "Oh mother, I love you so much!"

"You...love me? How dare you! I most certainly do not love you!" Lizzy gasped and backed away, "Wh-what? You don't love me?!"

"Of course not! Not at all! And by the way, you look horrid!" Lizzy's eyes filled with tears, "I...I don't understand...Mother, this isn't making sense! I missed you so much, and I thought that you still loved me and finally after all this time we're together and now you say all this!"

The birthday Queen laughed, "Oh, you are good at this game! Sorry, sorry, I meant bad. Did I lose?"

"Game?! I don't under- oh!" she quickly wiped her tears and smiled, "Is this an opposite game?"

"No!" The Queen giggled. Lizzy hugged her, "Then it's time to 'start' the game."

"Phew! Oh good, of course I love you, Lizzy!"

The crowed awed.

"Now you are here. Let's enjoy this party-"

"Wait! First, I need to warn you: Camille Jester's on her way here! That joker plans to steal your crown!"

"Dethrone me?! Camille Jester?! But-But she was just here! GUARDS!"

Almost instantly, several rushed up, "Yes, your Majesty?"

"Search the palace, and bring me Camille Jester!"

0+0+0+0

In the present room, Camille was throwing gifts left and right, "Where is it?! So many tart dishes and tea cosies and not a single book! Hold on...what's with all this searching by hand? I have magic!" Seating herself on top of the pile, she brought out the Spell Book, "To find the item which you seek, just say these words and here's a peek."

A large holographic hand shot out of the book and scanned the entire room, before pointing at the top of a pile where a familiar leather book with gold edges rested, with a purple bow on top. Camille smirked, "Perfect, now to get up there..."

She raced off, just as the doors opened and Tox walked in, followed by the LH students, "It's in here!"

"Looking for something?!" The students looked up to see Camille brandishing the Storybook of Legends, "Well, I believe I found it! The much sought-after Storybook of Legends! Oh it's a bit hefty, isn't it-" she was cut off by Tox appearing next to her, "I'll be happy to take it off your hands- woah!" Camille jumped out of the way, sending Tox to the ground. She neatly landed on her two feet, "That was fun!"

Morro glared up at the jester, before disappearing in a puff of dark green smoke. Camille opened the book and flipped through the pages, "Let's see...Savannah Hood, Naveah Charming, Kaiden Charming, Nicholas Piper, Lloyd White, Phoebe Goodfairy, Griffin Dumpty, Nelson Wonderland...Aha! Lizzy Hearts!"

Morro materialised atop of a pile, but it was the wrong pile. Disappearing again, he reappeared on a completely different pile.

Camille laughed, before conjuring a feather pen, "Out with the old, in with the-"

"No!" Morro grabbed the book, before tripping and falling onto a lower pile. The book fell just in front of the students. The jester growled, "You'll pay for that!" she brought out her book, and Morro gasped. Camille simply smirked, "You recognise my little book, don't you?"

"You don't understand the power you're playing with, Camille! Put it down!"

Camille scoffed, before opening the book, "Well, someone's got to pick up where mumsie left off! Might as well be me. Oh, fancy that! Lowly Camille Jester inheriting the power of two queens, no less! Well, you can be sure little Morro Queen, once I've conquered Wonderland, Legacy is next on my list!" She looked down at the book, "With this spell I lay waste the past, and seal your fate with a savage blast!" a large blue orb formed in her hand and she aimed and threw it towards Morro, who disappeared before it could hit him. Now on the floor, he crawled and hid behind a mountain of presents.

"Where are you?" Camille taunted, "I'm going to get you!" she summoned more orbs, throwing them all at once. They blasted the mountain Morro was hiding behind. He ran, as Camille kept firing, "She's too strong!"Morro yelled once he was within earshot of his friends.

"Morro can't win, not without his full powers!" Pixal realised.

"But the only way he get get his full powers is if...oh no," Kai looked up, guilt etched into his face. Cole looked at the book in his hands, "If he signs his page in the Storybook of Legends!" Lloyd took the book and approached his cousin.

"I can't do that!" Morro yelled, "It would mean-"

"It doesn't mean that you will become the next Evil King. I know I always wanted my happy-ever-after, and sometimes I wanted you to be like your Mom, but now...I just don't think it's in you. Your heart is just too good. The decision is yours, Morro. It always has been."

Morro took the book, but their moment was cut short as a blast disintegrated the pile of presents into a pile of ash. "There you are!" Camille laughed, summoning more orbs. Lloyd looked at Morro with urgency, "Either way, I believe in you. We all do."

The feather pen appeared in Morro's hand, as he held the book open on his page. Thinking fast, he scribbled across the dotted line, and the signature turned gold the minute he lifted the pen off the paper. A blast of dark green smoke blew him up into the air, his eyes squinted shut.

Still surrounded by green flames and smoke, Morro opened his eyes, which weren't the usual dark green. Instead they were deep red.

From above, three guards ran in from the second entrance. One pointed right at the joker, "There she is, get her!"

Camille used the appearance changing card, "Guards! It is I, your princess Lizzy Hearts!" she pointed down at Morro, "Seize him at once! And all his friends too!"

"Right away, your highness!" They jumped down, and surrounded the Rebel, who smirked, before using his new powers on them. They simply disappeared. He too, vanished, before reappearing on top of a pile, and throwing a dark green orb at Camille. It blasted the pile she was standing on, and she simply hopped to another one.

From below, Lloyd stared up at his cousin, "I know Morro, he's stronger than the dark powers."

Camille sent blue orbs at Morro, but they deflected due to the protection shield he was using. He wiped out every pile the jester jumped to. "His magic's too strong...there has to be a better spell in here- no!" the book floated from her hands, and into Morro's, "There's more than one way o read a book, jester!" The spell book turned to a pile of ash, "All done." 

With a final blast, he disintegrated the pile she was standing on, and she fell to the ground, just in front of Tox and the LH students. Morro stood between them, before summoning a large power orb. Slowly he approached Camille, "And now, to finish you."

Clearly not thinking, Lloyd ran and stood between the two, stretching his arms out as a barrier, "Morro, stop!"

"Lloyd, get out of the way!"

Jay joined him, "Morro, this isn't you! Choose who you want to be! Isn't that what you always tell the rest of us?"

The red in Morro's eyes faded, as did the smoke, and he was about to fall back, only to be supported by Seliel and Skylor.

"Guys, thanks."

Zane shook his head, "No, we should be thanking you, Morro. Otherwise, we'd be toast. Literally!" Pixal laughed, and took the Ice Prince's hand.

"What is the meaning of all this commotion?!" The Queen of Hearts marched in, accompanied by her daughter and some guards.

"Morro, your Majesty! He's a hero!" Cole grinned, slinging an arm around the raven's shoulders.

"I took away most of her powers, your Majesty, but she got away."

From behind them, a figure sneaked towards the entrance, revealing to be Camille Jester. She ran off, not looking back.

"Young man, I owe you a tremendous debt of gratitude. You are hereby invited to my party!"

"We would be honoured, but there's something we need to take care of first."

0+0+0+0

The throne room was filled with balloons and assorted decorations. The guests were partying. Everything was perfect.

"Happy birthday, Mom!" Lizzy grinned.

"My daughter at my side is the greatest gift a mother could wish for!"

Morro approached the Queen, "Your Majesty? With your permission..."

"Proceed."

The Rebel grinned and cleared his throat, "From bad to good, to better from worse, from Wonderland I now, remove this curse!"

Morro's power whizzed around Wonderland, freeing it from its curse.

"The nightmare's done. The day has dawned, so let's join as one, and party on!" Everyone laughed as the music started up. The LH student's overly crazy dresses soon magicked back to their usual ones.

Ali: And so, Morro's spell released Wonderland from the Evil Queen's curse and lifted the barrier between the two worlds.

Magically, the rest of the students from LH appeared at the party. Tonight was a night to let loose, have some fun. They'd worry about their Headmaster later, as for now, they'd won.

Lizzy approached Lloyd, Skylor and Morro, holding a familiar book, "Guys, I believe you wanted this..."

Lloyd nodded and took the Storybook of Legends, "Thanks, Lizzy."

"No problem!" she raced back to her mother's side. The two cousins head out onto the balcony.

"Mind if I join?" They turn to see Jay grinning as he approached them, "Man, what a party! What are we gonna do with the book?"

Morro stared at it, "Get rid of it. Why should we be forced to live the lives we don't want?"

Lloyd laughed lightly, "Things used to be so simple; you signed the book you lived your destiny but now, if anyone can use the book to steal a destiny, well, maybe the book is more trouble than it's worth."

"Whoa!" Jay breathed, surprised by Lloyd's words. The blonde smiled at his friends, "I still want my happily ever after but I don't want our stories in danger of being stolen. They should be ours to choose or to change."

"Well then," Jay took the book, "What are we waiting for?" He threw the book up into the air and Morro blasted it with his powers. It opened, and all the pages flew out. They floated to each student, and just lightly hit each student, before bursting into sparks and disappearing.

"Now, everyone can write their own story, whether we want to follow our fairy tale, or not!" Morro grinned. Kai looked up at the trio, as he and Skylor danced together, before giving them a thumbs-up. On the other side, Zane and Pixal were slow-dancing together, and Cole and Seliel were devouring pieces of chicken. Jay was chatting with Griffin and Nelson.

From the inside the large mirror, the Evil Queen watched her son, "Oh something's in your heart alright, my precious son. Cast your mighty spells. Revel in your newfound power. My first step towards freedom is complete."

Ali: Uh...back to the party!

Lloyd, Jay and Morro had joined up with their friends and were laughing, talking, dancing, and just letting loose.

From the entrance of the room, swords clinking and grunts could be heard, and everyone stopped dancing. The room fell silent as the White Knight and the Red Knight stumbled in, still duelling. Everyone jumped out of the way as the White Knight kicked the Red Knight in the stomach sending him to the ground. His sword fell out of his grasp. He groaned.

"Alright! I yield! You win!" Standing up, he removed his helmet, "What a knight! What skill, what power! What manner of man are you?" He was clearly impressed an intrigued. All eyes were on the White Knight.

"Actually, I am no manner of man-" The White Knight paused to remove their helmet, revealing the familiar face, "-I'm a girl!"

Murmurs of surprise arose amongst everyone. Kai rushed forward, "Nya?! You're the White Knight?! We thought you were back at Legacy!"

Nya grinned at everyone, "I guess you'd all like an explanation of what I've been up to." The armour clicked, before revealing that her height had been enhanced as the platform on the armour was elevated. She stepped down, "Well, sorry. That story's best told another day. I believe right now...it's time to party!"

The music started up and everyone cheered. Jay ran up and spun the girl around, till they were both dizzy.

Ali: I wish we could end the story here folks, but all things have a consequence!

Bạn đang đọc truyện trên: AzTruyen.Top