Chapter 6: The Shadow Lord and the sapphire eyes

 The darkness was thick around her when the hole closed from behind. She knew that now she was completely alone. No Shadow could be seen or even sensed, thanks to her necklace; she took out from her bag the small notebook, and took a look at her drawings.

The corridors had shapes and geometrical carvings on them; squares, triangles all of them were connecting together on both walls and floor, creating a passage. Roxanne stretched her hand and touched the wall’s surface. The cold stone made her fingers shiver and she started to walk into the dark corridors, searching for the ones on her drawings.

After a while the darkness was unbearable and even Roxanne was feeling uneasy. She tried to look around her but there was no sign of threat. Se concentrated on her necklace; the Blue Rose shined and two balls of light came from the shining blue diamond and started to float around Roxanne, lighting her way.

“That’s better.” She murmured relieved and she continued walking.

For a moment she thought that the path around her became wider and she moved her left palm, sending the blue light balls ahead, and scouting the surroundings. Her head moved back for a moment, checking cautiously her back, and she turned around again.

The sword moved with incredible speed and Roxanne managed to dodge it in time. The Shadow was standing in front of her in the form of a goblin huge and muscular with horns, followed by two smaller Shadows in the forms of smaller goblins.

“Malificent’s soldiers?” she wondered and drew her sword.

The goblin attacked her and she repelled back, hitting it in the hands and pushing it back. The Rose shined brightly, aking her blade shine and Roxanne's power increase, and the goblin retreated. Then the three of them attacked her at once but the sword’s blade became brighter and the two shining balls from earlier hit the two of the three goblins, dissolving them into smoke.

Roxanne’s potion effect disappeared and she could be seen from the remaining Shadow.

“Then, that Shadow couldn’t see me, it could smell me.” She realized and sheathed her sword back.

Roxanne looked at the remaining Shadow, which had curled its unshaped body away from her, trembling from fear.

“Hey…don’t be scared, it’s alright now. I will not harm you.” She spoke with worry when she saw its trembling state and leaned close to the Shadow.

“No…no more…pain…”

“Are you in pain?”

“Master…”

“Dragen?”

The Shadow shivered in the hearing of the name and Roxanne stretched her hand. The two light balls covered her body, trying to avoid her from touching the Shadow, but she pushed them back, ordering them not to move.

“Tell me…do you have a name?” she asked the Shadow and grinned gently.

“What’s a name?”

“It’s how people call each other. When I call you answer me back. It’s a vital point of our identity and existence.”

“I don’t have something like that.” The Shadow said and got up, taking the form of a small boy with red eyes.

“Then I will give you one. You are from now on...Max.” Roxanne said and smiled.

“Max? Max…Max!” the Shadow repeated many times, memorizing the name.

“Do you like it?”

“Very!” And Max flew around her, in the form of a crow.

“Tell me Max, do you know where the prisoners are kept?”

“Max knows! I will show Master!” and flapped his black, smoky wings happily.

“Call me Roxanne, not Master.”

“Yes, Roxanne. Max will show you!”

And together they started to run into the long, vast corridors.

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“This way! Hurry up!” Jack shouted and the last of their cargo was on the ship.

“Peter have you checked the sky?” Beast shouted at the flying boy.

“No Shadows! Clear for flying!”

They had loaded the most of their powers and ammo on the ship and now they were ready to take off. They would use themselves as a diversion for the Shadows in order for Roxanne to buy some more time.

The princes, Beast, Hercules Mickey, Peter, Jack, Tarzan and most of the strongest “evil” ones, had gathered together. Jack noticed that they were all co-operating quite effectively together and grinned.

“They would be a great crew…” he murmured to himself and took a sip of his bottle rum.

“Sparrow!” Hook shouted from the lower deck.

“What, in the name of the Kraken, do you want?”

“I am going to drive!”

"I got that ship first! I am going to be the Captain!"

“Here we go again…” Prince Philip admitted and the rest of them agreed.

Tarzan had already set the sails up, with the help of Slightly and Mickey looked at the direction of the Black Volcano.

“Wait for us Roxanne…” and gave the signal to Tinkerbel to use her pixie-dust.

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“Are we there yet Max?”

“Just a little more Roxanne!”

They had walked for quite some time. Roxanne realized that they were heading to the right direction; the corridors were exactly the same just like in her drawings. Max was right and Roxanne was curious about how easily a Shadow could change a Master just like that.

Max suddenly stopped flying and landed near her in the form of a small black dog. They were standing in front of one large gate, which was locked from the inside.

“Is this the dungeon where everyone are being kept?”

“There are two troops inside each consisted of five Shadows. Dragen increased the security since the incident with the Camp.”

"You were there Max?" Roxanne was amazed with the small black dog and Max whined at her.

"You really humiliated Servus; but he was the one who smacked the whole troop, down to the Volcano."

Roxanne patted the Shadow's head and turned again to the locked gate.

“So they are ten Shadown inside. Can you open this gate Max?”

“Only if I say the code.”

"On my mark then." Roxanne advised him and leaned her shoulders ready to charge in.

Max moved close to the gate and whispered something that looked like a whistle. The doors made a deep sound and started to open slowly.

Roxanne drew her sword and together with Max, in the form of a warrior, charged in. The Shadows were caught by surprise when they saw a human and a Shadow attacking them. Roxanne used the same light balls, making most of the Shadows disappear, while with her sword, she repelled the attacks of another. Her foe in the form of a faun with big black horns groaned against her; she jumped back and the shooting balls came from the tips of her fingers. The faun dissolved into ash and Roxanne turned to Max's direction.

Max was fighting with more strength than her; shifting his form quickly he managed to defeat most of he guards. She was amazed and at the same time scared from his powers; if one Shadow had so much power then what about Dragen’s army?

Max returned to her side in the form of a parrot holding on his claws the keys for the two smaller dungeons.

“This one has many, but this one doesn’t.” he pointed at the doors.

“Then let’s find out.” And Roxanne opened the first door to her right.

Inside the cell it was cold and wet. Her light, from the necklace, spread into the cold room, giving away a warm feeling. Roxanne quickly recognized them. Aurora, Belle, Jasmine, Snow White, Cinderella, Wendy, her brothers and the rest of the Lost Boys were sitting together on the floor and Roxanne kneeled close to them.

Their clothes were a little dirty but they seemed fine with no wounds on them.

“Are you all right? Did they hurt you?” her voice was full of concern, when she kneeled closer.

They all looked at her confused but the Blue Rose glimmered and they understood.

“My name is Roxanne. I came to take you away from here. Can you stand?”

“Yes I can thank you.” Belle said and got up, helping the rest.

“Get out from the cell, I am going to open the others too.” And she got out again heading to the next door.

When the door opened, a faint scent of essence came to her. This was not a dungeon; it looked more like a store house full of books and chained items. She recognized Aladdin’s flying carpet, which was trying to free itself from the chains, Pain and Panic chained into a small cage. A groan was heard behind her and she turned around, only to see Nala and Pumbaa locked together into a different cage.

“I will take you out now, hang on!” and she broke the bars with her sword. They smiled at her and stepped out from the dungeon.

She continued to walk until she heard a sneezing. Behind a pile of books Geppetto was lying on the ground chained together with John Smith, Aladdin, General Li Shang and even Mushu who was holding a familiar oil lamp.

“Wow…”

“A girl?” Geppetto asked when he heard her voice and tried to look at her.

“Pinocchio is doing fine and he doesn’t tell lies.” She said to the old man and broke his chains helping him get up.

“You came from the Camp?” Aladdin asked surprised and she helped him too.

"Is everyone safe?" John Smith sked with worry and Roxanne grinned at the blond man.

She gave him his gun, which she had found it as she walked and turned to Aladdin.

“Yes and just before I saw Carpet, tied back there. Come on everyone, they are waiting for you.” Roxanne responed at both of them.

Her words gave them the will to stand up. John Smith patted her head before getting out and General Li Shang bowed at her.

“Mushu, I think you should give me that.” Roxanne spoke to the red dragon and kneeled near him.

“And why I should do that?” the small red dragon insisted on holding the lamp.

“Because there is a good friend of ours in there and I really need his help.”

The small dragon gave the lamp at her puzzled and climbed on her shoulder. Roxanne rubbed its golden surface and the blue smoke covered them both, pulling them out from the dungeon. Genie was holding on his arms Roxanne and a startled Mushu and he was all over her, kissing her on her head.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!”

“Genie! Hey, put me down please!” and with a jump she was on the ground, laughing loudly.

All of the prisoners were gathered out from their dungeons but they didn't dare stepping further into the dark corridors. They looked tired and exhausted and Roxanne realized that her plan had a flaw; how the hell would she take them out from the Castle? True entering was hard enough but geting out was harder. She could only parya that Mickey and the rest would arrive in time.

Roxanne hadn't noticed that Max was hiding behind her afraid of their reaction. She leaned and took the black lion cup in her arms and turned to everyone.

“Well, everyone this is Max. He helped me a lot and I would really appreciate if you could accept him.”

They looked at the small Shadow with disbelief at first but Snow White came closr and patted gently Max's head making him growl, pleased.

"I know it will be hard for you but i need your help. Entering was hard for one person but getting out is much harder." she adimmted and looked at everyone.

“You made all this way until here right?” Li Shang asked and everyone agreed with him.

"I can use my ammo; at least the gunpowder is fine." John Smith added with confidence and raised his gun.

“I will carry some of us until the exit.” Aladdin said, with Jasmine on the Carpet.

“At least let’s secure the girls.” Roxanne spoke with relief on her voice.

“You are a girl too Roxanne.” Aurora said worried and she smiled.

She blushed from the compliment of the beautiful princess and turned at Genie.

"Can ou carry all these books and items with you? I dont want to leave anything of yours here."

His wide grin astonished her. With a "Count on me girl!" Genie flew back into the dungeon and red fire works started to pop out. Sure that he could manage it, Roxanne drew her sword and asked everyone to gather together. 

The princesses and old Geppetto in the center with those who could fight around them, they formed a safe circle with Roxanne in the front. Nala, Pumbaa, Genie with Mushuu were following from behind.

"And what wil you do Roxanne? If we manage to get out, how will we fight them? Not to mention Dragen and Servus."

"Don't worry General, Mickey will come, he promised. And besides, I can’t go back yet. I must find the Guardian. But I will take you out of here first.”

Suddenly an earthquake was heard and the ground started to tremble making everyone trip.

“What was that?” Roxanne shouted and got out from the gate, holding her sword.

“Max knows!” the Shadow said happily eager to pleasure her Master.

“You do?”

“That’s the sound of cannon! Max knows the noise; the crazy pirate always fire like that!”

“Crazy pirate?” everyone said with a voice and when they realized who Max meant, they ran back at the cells, hearing the upcoming blast.

The blast wave of the explosion was repelled from Roxanne, who formed a shield in front of everyone, trying to protect them from the ruins. The dungeon was filled with dust as the figure of the boy stood in the broken rocks, shouting like a cock.

“Peter!” Wendy shouted happily and ran into his arms.

Roxanne was relieved seeing them, but at the same time angry.

“Peter! Don't tell me that you allowed Jack to drive! Are you nuts?” she pouted with anger and worry but the boy simply smiled, still holding Wendy.

“There’s no time for that! Follow me everyone! I’ve made our way out!” and he flew again, holding Wendy on his arms.

Roxanne quickly advansed them, spreading a protective shield around everyone, just in case.  They were all running fast and the girl still couldn't get used to the new feeling of running fast. They met no Shadows on their way out and Roxanne could guess that they were dealing with something worse than the escape of their prisoners.

When they got out the corridors the battle was already at stake. The ship Jack and Peter had stolen from Eurodisney, was fighting against a whole army of flying Shadows and more seemed to come.

“Jack!” Roxanne shouted and for a moment Jack waved at her, shooting on of the eagle-like Shadows.

“Roxanne, can you lift them to the ship?” Peter asked her while trying to repel on incoming attack from the Shadow soldiers.

“I will try!” she shouted, while fighting back, trying to protect the others.

Her hands took the necklace, holding it tightly and she tried to imagine a giant, protective bubble around everyone, even the ship. The light burst out from her body and when she opened her eyes again all the prisoners were on the ship and Peter was fighting mid-air, inside the bubble she had imagined.

“Peter! The bubble will hold only for three hours! Get out from here!” she shouted and before Peter reacts, she disappeared back into the Castle, with Max following her, amazed.

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“They dare to attack us? Who do they think they are?” Servus shouted and ordered his troops to pursue the flying ship.

“Servus…” Dragen’s fierce voice made him shiver.

He turned around; Dragen was smiling. His usual hazel eyes turned to red, and his lips parted even more. Dragen was happy about something that only he could understand.

“Yes, my Lord?”

“Tell the Volcano workers to have it ready.”

“That, my Lord? But it’s still too early!”

“She is here, and I know exactly where she will head.” He said with sadistic excitement and he headed outside from his room.

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“Quickly Max! We must find the Guardian soon!” she urged with worry of her time and the Shadow sprinted in front of her.

“This way Roxanne!”

Max was running left and right, passing through endless corridors and tunnels. The air had become colder and Roxanne was feeling uneasy; it was as if life was dying with every step she was making far into the depths of the Castle.

But her heart was also beating fast, as if she was getting closer and closer to something really important for her. She touched the rose on her necklace and she wondered if this was the powers of the Guardian, which wanted to resonate with their Master, or simply her wish to save him.

“We are here Roxanne!” Max shouted above her and showed the locked gate.

There were no guards in here and Roxanne drew her sword. Her left palm touched the cold surface and the light of her necklace destroyed the gate into tiny pieces.

Steady but cautious, she entered and she looked dumbfounded around her; the cave was even more enormous than in her vision, the ceiling was stretching even above the normal heights for a cave, while at the middle of it there was a opening that seemed it was heading to the sky.

The half part of the cave was covered with black, thick bars, which were beginning from the ceiling way to the ground. Max took the form of a puppy and sniffed around. Roxanne walked into the direction of the bars still holding her sword.

“Hello?” she dared to asked, with low scared voice.

A pair of two shiny green stones appeared behind the bars, looking at her from the shadows. Roxanne knew those eyes; she had seen them so many times and moved closer to the bars. Seeing them from closer, they looked like glowing precous stones with only two black slits as their pupils, eyeing at her, intensesly.

“You are the Guardian, are you?” she asked with expectation and locked her blue eyes with the green glows.

No response came, but the eyes moved around, as if something was moving from the shadows.

“Can you speak? Don’t worry; I will take you away from here in no time.”

Her hands tried to touch the bars, but black flames appeared and they quickly repelled from the blue light before they burn her hands. She used her sword, but they were unbreakable. Her sword broke in two when she tried once more to break the bars.

The green eyes were still looking at her, eager to know what she would do next. She looked at them again; they were calming and for a moment she thought that she heard a giggle. She grinned and looked at them directly.

“You know, it would really help if you could speak. I don’t think that you are the “silent” type and I am sure that Dragen might have already spotted us. Besides...I ahve questions and i want some answers from you.” she admitted with low voice.

Max groaned angrily, near her and Roxanne stopped breathing, as if the air had been sucked out from the cave. Her hands started to tremble and the green, calm eyes she was looking quickly turned into red, furious eyes as a loud groan came from the shadows.

Roxanne turned around, looking at the man who stood a few feet away from her in the entrance; he was tall with black hair and piercing red eyes. His armor was also black and his right hand was holding tightly on his sword.

“Dragen…” Roxanne said after finding the courage to speak.

“Oh, am I so famous? My name exceeds my presence. Just like you.” He answered and smiled.

His smile was even scarier than his expressionless face. His voice although soft and enchanting was dark and full of venom. She thought that he could kill her with on single step and she slowly stepped back, close to the bars. The groan became louder behind her, warning her.

I know, but what can I do?

Dragen took a step closer to her, keeping his guard. He was looking at her directly, still smiling.

“Tell me human. What made you decide to help them? Those imaginations, creations of foolish humans, can disappear at any time, because of their weakness.”

“Because they exist. They still exist! That’s why I am helping them! And we humans are not foolish!”

He wasn't too far away from her now and Roxanne could sense his powers from the way his steps were echoing in the black ground.

“Don’t provoke me girl. We both know what the human heart can harbor.”

“We do, but you must know that a human heart can also harbor dreams, faith, trust and… pixie dust!”

A handful of pixie-dust was thrown to Dragen from Roxanne, blindig him, and she quickly attacked him, using an explosive potion. The liquid exploded on Dragen’s face and his hand threw dark spears in every direction, hoping to hit the girl.

Roxanne quickly lied to the ground, taking cover. She didn’t realize that one of the spears hit the bars. A bang was heard and the black bars disappeared, making the darkness of the huge cell wear off quickly.

The creature which was lying into this cell steady got up and stood on its huge feet, which were decorated with big, silver claws. His neck was long and shiny like pearls, while his body had on its back a pair of white wings. Roxanne looked at the creature amazed and it turned its neck at her, looking at the startled girl with those deep green eyes.

“Get on!”

The voice was demanding but at the same time comforting. Roxanne grabbed Max and climbed from his feet, to the base of his neck. His wings flapped and with a jump the dragon was climbing all the way up to the opening, heading for the sky. His movements were harsh and weak from the long time of his prison. Roxanne tightened her hold on the dragon’s scales and the blue light from her necklace covered the dragon’s body.

His power became bigger and he speeded quickly, hurrying their exit into the dark sky. Upon their escape the right tower was annihilated and Roxanne understood where the dragon was held captive.

“Hurry! We must escape!” she shouted to the dragon’s head hoping that he could hear her.

But the dragon turned and looked horrified at the smoke that came out from the Volcano’s Crater. The gigantic creature that came out from the Volcano looked at them with fury. Two spots made of lava were his eyes and his whole body was made of smoke and lava. His beak was firing fire and his wings moved violently, burning everything on their way.

“Firebird…” Roxanne whispered with horror and Max, in the orm of a boy, pissed his pants.

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Cinderella looked around her; the bubble was still protecting the flying ship as they were making their way back to the Camp. Her prince came to her side and hugged her tightly.

They were not the only ones; the whole deck was a mass of emotions as everyone had found their precious ones once again; only the “bad” guys were looking at them with stiffen expressions. Mickey and Jack on the other hand watched the Shadows abandoning their pursuit as their ship was heading away from the Volcano and the Castle, into the forest.

"They finally stopped! That ws a close one." Jack admitted as he saw the last Shadow disappear from their sight.

“I hope Roxanne is all right.”

“Don’t worry mouse; she is a tough nut and she could easily be even a mermaid if she wished that.”

The scream made everyone stop; they looked horrified at the giant bird that rose from the Volcano heading to the opposite direction. Its wings was burning the ground and smoke ws arising from the Volcano/

“Or maybe a roasted mermaid…” Jack corrected his words and headed quickly to the steering wheel.

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“It’s coming closer!” Max screamed, looking behind and holding Roxanne from her cape in the form of a small monkey.

“I am heading to the sea!” the dragon shouted and his wings moved faster, heading quickly to the south.

Roxanne turned behind; the Firebird was following them and on the top of its head Dragen was screaming out loud, ordering the creature to move faster and at the same time firing lava and flames on them.

“I need a weapon! Anything I can shoot at him!”

“Use this!” Max shouted and transformed himself into a bow with many arrows.

“But…”

“Shadows don’t disappear that easy.” The dragon said, while flying faster and faster.

Roxanne took the bow in her trembling, from fear hands, and tried to shoot. Her arrows were missing and Max groaned displeased with her. On the other hand, Firebird and Dragen were attacking them over and over, covering quickly their distance between them.

The dragon soared again when they reached the outskirts of the ocean. The blue waters gave more courage to the girl and she shouted to the dragon to fly lower, close to the sea. With a dive they quickly headed down, rushing through the air.

The Firebird followed them from behind; but Roxanne was already pointing her arrows at Dragen, who now was closer than ever. Her arrow from black became blue and was fired from the bow with incredible speed; she gave everything she had on that one shot.

“Reach him!!!” she screamed and her necklace resonated with the dragons flying movements. The light covered them both and the arrow found its target, piercing the Firebird’s heart.

Both Dragen and the Firebird screamed from pain as they dissolved into smoke and thick tar. The Lord of the Shadows was screaming from pain and fury cursing Roxanne and the Guardian with all his might.

“Don’t think that it’s over human! Be it from me or from the Guardian you will soon die!” he shouted at her and he disappeared into the smoke.

Roxanne heard his words but her body was now heavy and her mind hazy; feeling her fingers numb and her cest heavy from the pain in her heart ,she weakened her hold on the dragon’s neck. Her fainted body fell from the dragon’s back into a fatal fall on the cold ocean. The dragon soared from his fear for her safety  and dove, following her.

“Roxanne!” he shouted and grabbing her with his claws they both fell at the sea.