HailToTheMightyStarWarrior

Daroach sighed as he gazed down at the sweet girl lying on top of him. She looked as if she was sleeping, but he knew better as she was clinging to him and nuzzling his chest affectionately. he smiled as he ran his fingers through her short hair, enjoying the softness of it.

After their long, passionate kiss, they had collapsed on the bed and spent the next hour or so enjoying each other’s warmth. As the play “footsie”, they gently embraced, getting lost into each other’s arms. His heart sank at the thought that adeleine would eventually come to her senses and this glorious bliss would end, but this thought only made the moment last longer as he would tighten his grip on her. If this was a one-time thing, he might as well relish in every second of it.

He wasn’t dreaming. His angel was here in his arms and had no intention of ever letting go. To tell the truth, Daroach did not want adeleine to leave as he hugged her tightly

Meanwhile, adeleine was lost in her own sensations. She had not expected things to go this far, let alone that she’d be taking pleasure in them. She kept trying to remind herself that this was a monster that had done terrible things to herself and her friends. Yet here she was in his arms, the two of them curled up on the bed. Whenever her head told her to stop the madness, the warmth and softness of his embrace would lure her back. She cuddled up to daroach like a younger girl might. She hid the intense blush on how close she was into daroach.

Adeleine watched until elline was gone from sight. Then she inhaled deeply as she turned her attention to the floor. Daroach’s triumphant expression diminished when he saw how broken she was. He knelt down to her and lifted her chin.

“Aw, don’t cry, my sweet,” he said softly. “ your situation isn’t all bad”

Adeleine narrowed her eyes and wrenched her head away. This action pulled at daroach’s heartstrings. This wasn’t what he wanted. He needed her to smile for him; otherwise the sight of her was just too painful.

Then he had an idea. A golden brooch identical to the one he had destroyed is in his paw.

“Look,” he said, stretching it out with his fingers. “It’s just like your old one.” he opened it to reveal the same image of her baby picture. “Except, you know, it doesn’t have the magic to defeat me. That brooch was a nuisance, but it did look lovely around that pretty neck of yours…”

He attempted to put it on her, only for her to swat it away.

“I don’t want it,” she murmured

Daroach flinched at her coldness, but he wasn’t giving up that easily. “oh , but it pains me to see you so glum, my sweet. The least I can do is…”

“I don’t want it”

“Please, let me put it on you…”

“Stop it!” adeleine screamed, snapping her head around. “just stop it! I gave you the brooch! What more do you want for me?!”

He was about to reveal his wish for her to be his queen for all eternity, but stopped himself. She was not in a condition to receive such an offer. She was angry with him, and he didn’t want her to be when he told her.

So instead, he gently brushed her hair and replied, “I have big plans for you, my dear, but believe me. It won’t be bad as you think”

The tone in his voice made adeleine shiver. Whatever he had planned for her, she didn’t think she was going to like it.

“Squeakers!” daroach called

The squeakers saluted, awaiting his command.

“Take our pretty guest to my chambers,” the squeak king ordered. “And send word to the others that the nutcracker is still at large. Bring him and his merry mates to me unharmed. I want the pleasure of destroying nut boy myself”

Adeleline gasped as the squeakers carried her

“Please, do whatever you like with me! Just don’t hurt him!”

“Really?” daroach said with a hopeful grin. “Well, We’ll Discuss that later when you’re in a better state”

Adeleine scowled in hatred. Still, he hadn’t won yet. Metaknight was still out there. She would be rescued. She was filled with so much anger that she wanted to show him that he did not own her. So she wrenched herself from the squeakers’ grip. They were about to grab her again when she held up her hands.

“I can walk myself, thank you very much”

The squeakers looked questioningly at their king, who had watched the scene in awe. It was so strange, seeing the timid little girl act so defiant. It made his admiration for her double.

He nodded assuredly at the squeakers and they walk at a steady pace behind the girl, who was holding her nose into the air.

“Isn’t she just perfect” daroach sighed once she was out of hearing

“She’s nice,” esgargoon stated. “You know, when she’s not being held against her will.” he looked up at his master. “You sure asking her to marry you is a good idea?”

“Oh, she’ll come around, once she sees i’m not as evil as she thinks”

“Yeah? How you gonna do that?”

When nothing happened, adeleine opened her eyes and saw in horror as the sword plunged into daroach’s side, knocking daroach to the floor

“No!” adeleine cried out

She suddenly freed from her paralysis and knelt down beside the wounded king. He was not dead yet, but was wincing in pain. adeleine looked up at the nutcracker in disbelief

“Why did you do that?!”

Metaknight gazed down at the dying creature in guilt “I was trying to prove a theory”

Elline put her hands on her hips “you do realize that if that theory was wrong, you could’ve stabbed adeleine?!”

“I was choking! I didn’t really have much time to think it through! I thought he’d just stop the blade from flying. I didn’t think he’d…”

“He made the choice,” drawcia said hoarsely

“But…” adeleine whimpered “why stab himself?”

“To keep you safe,” daroach whispered, opening his bloodshot eyes. “I said i wanted to make you happy, and the only thing keeping you away from happiness…was me”

As he steadied his breathing, adeleine tried to blink back her tears.

“The sword was about to destroy you,” he heaved “and I…couldn’t bear…to let that happen”

He gazed up at her and reached out his paw. She held it as she allowed him to caress her face and wipe away her tears

“My only regret,” he choked, “is that i could never get you to love me”

She gave him a soft smile and gently stroked his cheek “I wouldn’t…say never”

He shook his head “you gave me a second chance…and i blew it”

“I’m willing to give you another one”

He winced as the pain took him over “It’s too late for that”

He opened his eyes when he felt hot tears on his face and saw adeleine leaning towards him. She stroked his cheek once more and whispered:

“It’s never too late”

Everybody gasped as Adeleine planted a soft kiss on daroach’s lips. What was more shocking was the event that followed

Their lips started glowing pink and as adeleine pulled away, that glow spreading across daroach’s face. Her eyes widened in amazement as the magic moved down daroach’s neck, across his chest and to his wounds. Her jaw dropped as the wounds slowly closed up

When the glow vanished, daroach let out a gasp of air as if he had been underwater. He sat up and looked down at his side

“What the…? He uttered “I…I feel…” he smiled brightly “Brilliant!” then he frowned “And confused”

The onlookers nodded as they scratched their scalps

“I know we have weird magic stuff and all” elline said, “but what the heck just happened?”

“The artist’s brooch”

“Huh?” everyone said as they turned to the witch sisters

“Like we said: darkness undone by the artist’s brooch”

“But i saw daroach destroy the brooch!” escargoon declared

Drawcia and paintra chuckled “We never said it was an actual brooch”

“Huh?” daroach repeated “But your vision…you showed me the brooch!”

“We showed you an artist wearing a brooch. You just assumed the brooch was a brooch”

Ribbon gasped “Hey, I get it! Adeleine! You’re the artist’s brooch!”

“What?” adeleine uttered

“That brooch was only a shield” drawcia said as she stepped forth “You were the one with the power all along”

“Of course,” daroach whispered. “In the cave, when you tended to my wounds, i thought i had accidentally healed them myself! But you…” he took her hands as he gazed at her in awe “Your kindness was what healed them”

Adeleine shook her head. “But i don’t understand!”

“Dark magic causes confusion and destruction,” paintra explained “only an artist who approaches it with kindness and compassion can tame it. Your infinite capacity for love gives you the power to calm any corrupted being”

“Why didn’t you tell me all this before?!” daroach demanded accusingly

The witch sisters smirked “You didn’t ask us”

He let out an exasperated sigh and smiled down at adeleine “you know what? I’m gald you didn’t tell me. otherwise , i wouldn’t have…”

He trailed off as he recalled his past deeds and frowned “Oh, who am i kidding? Maybe you think less terribly of me, but i doubt you could…”

Adeleine‘s lips cut him off. He looked down at her with wide eyes. Many of the onlookers cringed. Tuff and spinni were about ready to gag. Ribbon, tiff, and the mage sisters let out a collective sigh

When she pulled away, daroach blinked a few times to process what had just happened

“Really?”

Adeleine nodded “really. You know, as long as you stop with the evil overlord charade…”

“No problem!” He glanced nervously at metaknight and the fairy queen “Err…that is, if i’m not thrown in the dungeon…”

“I think getting stabbed in the gut was punishment enough,” the fairy queen said with a smirk. although, the damages you made are going to take awhile to clean up…”

He sighed. “Okay, okay i get it”

“But for now. I’d say a celebration is in order”

“PARTY!” susie cheered

“But wait a minute,” the fairy queen said as she glanced mischievously at metaknight “There’s still one loose end that needs tying up”

She grabbed the nutcracker and kissed him passionately. Metaknight moaned in gratitude as his wooden body slowly returned to flesh. The crowd applauded as the couple deepened their kiss

“Eh,” susie shrugged “The other kiss was more epic”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thus an all-day celebration began. The fairy queen married metaknight and they never felt so happy that their beautiful dream has come true. Together they shall rule dreamland with justice and compassion

And daroch is better than his word, he became as good a friend, as good a master, and as good a squeaker as the kingdom ever knew. Just because of his love for Adeleine redeemed him which gave him nobility and righteousness to his fairy queen once more. She always uses cool logic, reason, and a good pinch of honor to propose a compromise.

Now Adeleine, who was once the saddest and loneliest, little girl you can find now has a new home with all the friends in the land of dreams. she’s finally able to be herself . Finding an intellectual equal in the form of a handsome squeaker is a blessing that she never would’ve seen coming.

The squeakers cackled as they bound the nutcracker to the stake. He gazed down at the pile of wood surrounding him and knew what was up.

Throughout the courtyard, more citizens were being brought in chains. Tiff gasped when she spotted a familiar group

“Tuff!” she shouted

The guards holding her chains prevented her from rushing to her brother

“Ah, let her go!” doc said nonchalantly. “Let them have their sappy reunion while it lasts”

The squeakers released the rebel leader and she didn’t waste a second. After a few stumbles, she reached her brother and embraced him as best she could without choking her with the chains.

“What’s going on sis? Tuff asked “Why are we all here?”

“I don’t know,” tiff said, wiping away the tears. “I’m so sorry, tuff. I came to save you, but…”

“It’s okay. You tried. At least we’re together now”

metaknight turned to the right when he heard a familiar grunt. He gasped when he saw who the squeakers were tying to the other stake

“Fairy queen!”

The queen met his gaze and cried, “Metaknight!”

“They’re going to kill you too? But I thought Daroach wanted to marry you!”

“So did i, but he said he had another girl in mind”

“Another girl? Who?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say her name”

The nutcracker sighed “I’m sorry, my lady. I swore i would return for you, but i let you down. And now…daroach’s won”

She looked at him empathetically. “No, he hasn’t. Not completely. He failed to drive us apart”

She reached out her hand out as far as she could from the ropes. Metaknight did the same

“Metaknight!” another familiar voice called

The nutcracker turned to see the witch sisters being dragged into the courtyard “Drawcia, paintra!”

“Metaknight, the artist’s brooch! It’s the only thing that can stop daroach!”

“Adeleine’s brooch?”

“No, metaknight! The artist’s brooch is…”

“Hey!” storo shouted “Shut her up!”

The squeakers tied a gags around the two witches’ mouths, preventing them from finishing their sentence

Meanwhile, daroach was watching from the shadows, smiling in triumph. Escargoon ran up to him and tugged on his cape

“The bride’s ready, your majesty,” he said “She’s waiting in the back”

“Good,” the squeak king said rubbing his hands together “showtime!”

“By the way, is the fairy and the pink ball gonna be sticking around?”

“Yes, yes, whatever” daroach grumbled,waving his paw. “We’ll decide who stays and who goes later. I mean i have to keep some servants, don’t i?”

He took a deep breath and stepped out to the head of the crowd

“Hello, my loving subjects!” he greeted

The populace quieted down as they turned to glare at the squeak king

“It’s so nice of you all to join us on this happy occasion!”

“You dirty rat!” somebody called from the crowd

“You don’t deserve that crown!” cried another voice

“What’ve you done with adeleine?!” tiff demanded

“You can kill us, daroach,” metaknight shouted, “but it won’t help you earn the people’s respect!”

Daroach huffed. “I don’t need your respect! Your pathetic little opinions are nothing to me! I only care about one person’s opinion and you’re all about to meet her!”

“What are you talking about?” the fairy queen asked

The squeak king smiled and lifted his arms dramatically in the air. “This day marks the beginning of a new era! Today, we will be making a slight change in the government!”

“Didn’t you already do that when you took over the place?! Tuff spat

“Smart aleck,” daroach groaned. “No, no! This day will be different, for today, will be adding a new member to our cabinet, so to speak. today, my loyal subjects, you will have a queen!”

The citizens whispered to each other in confusion and alarm

“Oh, don’t worry,” he continued “You’ll like her. For she is the sweetest, most beautiful girl you will ever meet! And you lucky blokes will get to witness our glorious union!”

“Who in their right mind would agree to marry that pest?” tiff murmured to her brother

“You!” daroach cried pointing to an androgynous, young, spider-like creature. He has brown skin and two orange horns with brown rings and yellow tips, as well as shiny, silver, curvy hair; additionally, he has two orange fangs protruding from his upper lip, which is lined in white. On the front of his head, he has two orange-yellow eyes in his hair and two white eyes with a slight purple glow on his face, along with four more orange-yellow eyes on the back of his head. He wears a crimson scarf and a jagged, dark green cape with orange lining in a spider-web pattern. The dark green clothing on his body has two silver buttons on its front and crimson circle designs on both sides. He also has a crimson stinger-like appendage on his bottom and six disembodied hands with white and orange gloves holding a violin with two bows.

“Tarantula!”

“Taranza,” the spider like creature grumbled, as if he had said this in a hundred times

“Whatever. Can you play a wedding march on that violin of yours?”

“Well, I once did this wedding in fine fields…”

“PLAY!”

That jumped the jester into playing the march on his violin. The squeakers made a long red carpet stretch across the courtyard

“My people!” daroach exclaimed, pointing to the far end of the courtyard. “Behold, your new queen! Queen… Adeleine!”

“What?!” metaknight and tiff both exclaimed as they followed everybody’s gaze

Adeleine walked slowly into the sunlight. Daroach’s breath was taken away as she seemed to glimmer. She wore a sparkling white gown with rainbow streamers. The dress had round, puffy shoulders, a big pink ribbon on the chest and a pink sash. On her back are a pair of oversized rainbow colored butterfly wings. Around her neck is the same brooch daroach gave her and on her ears were a pair of Star earrings. On her head is a headband with two star-like antennas with a pink ribbon tied to the back of her hair and a light, translucent veil fell gently over her face. On her hands she wore delicate white gloves as she held a bouquet of purple roses for enchantment. Ribbon and kirby carried her train, making occasional glances at the pair of squeakers pointing spears at their backs

Adeleine looked around in shock at the crowd, particularly at metaknight and a tall fairy she assumed to be the fairy queen tied to two stakes with firewood at their feet

“Adeleine!” the nutcracker called. “What are you doing?!”

“Are you out of your mind?!” tiff shouted

Many cappies called out similar things. Some murmured to each other, wondering why this girl was going through with this

“Maybe she’s under a spell”

I say she’s a traitor!”

“I think he put her up to it with threats!”

She wanted to deny these accusations and shout the truth, but she didn’t think it would be of much use. She turned her attention forward and decided to explain everything after the ceremony

Daroach was smiling brightly at her, his paws over his heart.it’s like a dream, except that it’s real. Sometimes dreams can be real. He truly looked excited and adeleine might’ve been too, had it not been for the hundreds of imprisoned citizens surrounding her.

He took her hand and led her up the steps. Then he knelt down and carefully lifted her veil

“You look beautiful, my dear” he breathed, kissing her lightly on the forehead. "So lovely"

“Daroach, what is all this?” she whispered, looking out the crowd

“Why, they’re here to watch, of course. A royal wedding is a big occasion”

“Yes, but…why are metaknight and the fairy queen tied to those stakes?”

“Oh, don’t worry darling,” he winked. “I’ll set them free once the ceremony’s over. The stakes are just for…insurance”

She looked at the nutcracker and then back at the squeak king. “So…if I don’t go through with this, you’ll…”

“But you won’t, will you? He said through his smile, pulling her closer

Adeleine glanced nervously back at the crowd. “But you’ll let them go as i say ‘I do’ right?”

“As promised, dearest,” he said, raising his paw, “I will bring them no harm”

After a few more glances, she gulped and nodded “Let’s…continue then”

Doc sped in front of the couple with an open book

“Dearly beloved,” he recited to the crowd, “We are gathered her today…”

“I can’t believe she’s doing this,” tiff murmured as doc continued his speech

“Isn’t that the girl we caught with the captain?” tuff asked

“Yup” tiff nodded

“I’ll bet daroach cast a curse on her!” tiff declared “There’s no way she could be doing this willingly!

“What are we gonna do?” tuff beseeched

“We gotta stop this!” the rebel grunted as she tugged on her chains. “Ugh! I really gotta start wearing hairpins!”

“Hey!” the boy exclaimed as he glanced down at his wrists “Wha?”

“What in the…?”

“Shhh!” a small voice whispered

They turned their heads to see nobody there

“Stay cool,” the voice said in tiff’s ear, “And wait for the signal”

The rebel smiled as she recognized the voice and nodded

“If anyone has any objections…”

The crowd roaded in protest. Daroach and snapped his fingers to make the squeakers gag everybody’s mouths

“Nope!” he chirped “No objections here! Just skip to the vows!”

“Do you, king daroach, take this girl…? Doc continued

Metaknight struggled in his bounds, determined to stop this ceremony. He didn’t care what happened to him, but he couldn’t let adeleine suffer a fate worse than death

He froze when he heard a “PSSST!” behind him

“Hold still!” a voice whispered

The nutcracker looked back at the empty space and raised his eyebrow in confusion

“Come on, you didn’t think I’d leave you hanging, did you?”

He smiled and shook his head

“…for as long as you both shall live?” doc said

Daroach grinned down at adeleine as he took her hands “I do”

“And do you, adeleine, take this squeaker, to be your lawfully wedded husband, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

Adeleine could not find her voice. Daroach’s loving gaze urged her to say the words. But as she looked back at her friends bound and chained…

“Uh, miss adeleine?” doc said

“What?” adeleine said with a jump

The small squeaker tilted his head toward daroach. “I Believe the words are ‘i do?’”

She looked back up at daroach, who was biting his lip in worry.

“I…” she stammered “I…I…”

Daroach flashed the crowd an awkward smile and knelt down to his bride

“Darling, what’s wrong?” he whispered

“Daroach, I’m sorry, but…” she uttered, shaking her head “I just can’t do this!”

He stiffened “Why not?”

“This…this is just wrong! I can’t marry you like this!”

“Yes, you can,” he insisted,taking her face in his hands “You must! Please, adeleine…”

“I can’t marry you when there are strings attached!” she shouted

Daroach’s eyes flashed red and he scowled. She yelped as he grabbed her shoulders and shook her.

“Say ‘I do,’ or I will KILL EVERYBODY HERE!”

“Let her go, daroach!”

They turned and gasped to see the nutcracker free from the stake with his sword at the ready.

“Your reign of tyranny ends now! Everyone, for freedom!”

A series of battle cries rang out as the citizen burst from their chains, which had mysteriously been unlocked. The sqeakers were taken by surprise as their prisoners overcame them

“What?!” daroach shouted “How did…?”

His answer was given as elline and claycia materialized in front of them, each holding a set of keys

“Lose something, your majesty?” elline smirked

“Elline!” adeleine exclaimed in delight

“Traitor!” daroach growled

“Oh, no you majesty,” elline said, twirling the keys with her finger. “Don’t you remember? You laid me off earlier today. How can i betray you when i no longer work for you?”

“Doc! Get them!

Doc dropped the book and leaped at the sisters, who vanished before he could get close. He landed on the ground with a thud

“That’s it!” daroach declared as he pulled out his cane, bursting into flames. “These folks are all going to burn!”

“Daroach, no!” adeleine cried, tugging at his paw “You promised!”

He sighed as he extinguished the flame. “You’re right. Squeakers! Kill them! Kill them all!”

“No! You said…”

“I said i wouldn’t hurt them. And i won’t, darling. The squeakers, however made no such promise!”

Tears started welling up in adeleine’s eyes “Daroach, please! This is wrong!”

“They attacked us, dearest! This is just self-defense!”

Suddenly, a beam of electricity zapped onto daroach like the shock of a joy buzzer.

“What the…?” he said, scanning the courtyard. “Who Did That?!”

One the other side of the battlefield, he spied a pink haired girl

“Good shot, susie!” the blue ball next to her cried

“Take that, you big bully!” the pink one yelled

Three sisters dressed in black with with hair colors of blue, red, and yellow are behind them

“Alright, mages! Susie shouted “Ready!”

The sisters brought out their respective weapons. The blue mage’s weapon is a freezing soda gun, the red mage’s weapon is a giant flame cannon, and yellow mage’s weapon is a giant ring contraption with three taiko drums.

“Aim! FIRE!”

Daroach shrieked as a wave of ice, fire, and lighting came right towards him. He grabbed adeleine and pulled her out of range

“Susie!” metaknight called as he fended off a squeaker “You made it just in time!”

“And guessed who we bumped into on the way over here!” susie piped

“Waddle dees!” two voices shouted “attack!”

The nutcracker grinned as waddle dees came pouring in from all the quad’s entrances

“I think the cavalry’s here! Ribbon exclaimed before hitting a squeaker with a spear

“Shoot!” the squeak king cursed under his breath

“Daroach, stop this!” adeleine pleaded “I can’t let you…”

She was cut off as daroach abruptly lifted her into his arms and rushed to the nearest exit

“What are you doing?!” she screamed

“Getting you to a safe place!” he whispered harshly

Metaknight saw daroach slipping away with adeleine, but he was too far away to follow them

“Tiff!” he called

“Yeah?” the resistance leader responded after bashing two squeakers heads together

“We gotta make our way down the courtyard and stop daroach before he gets away with adeleine!”

“On it!”

She saluted before doing a backflip in the air and landed on a squeaker’s head. She hopped from head to head, knocking their owners down in the process. Unfortunately, the last head was storo’s, who was waiting for her. He grabbed her leg and tossed her to the ground. Tiff looked up at him smugly.

“We really gotta stop meeting like this”

“Oh, i’ll make sure it stops,” storo said, raising his hammer “For good”

Before he could strike, he suddenly stiffened and dropped his weapon. He cried out as he clutched his crotch. Elline materialized in front of him and knocking him down with a blow to the chin. Tiff grabbed her whip to fend off incoming attackers

“Glad you came back, elline,” she said to the paintbrush fairy

“Yeah,” elline laughed awkwardly as she kicked a squeaker. “Sorry about the whole backstabbing thing. I wasn’t lying when i said daroach had my sister”

The rebel smirked. “I was wrong about you, elline”

The paintbrush fairy shook her head “No, your right. I am one, without looking, she punched a squeaker in the face, “Bad girl”

And a final blown in the place below

On the other side of the battlefield, taranza was rushing toward susie

“Susie!” he called

“Taranza!” susie gasped

The couple zoomed into an embrace

“Did you bring your suit?”

“Sure do!” she chirped

Then susie brought out a pink and white robo mech suit which made tarnaza smile. She squeezed herself inside.

“Ready?” susie asked, powering up.

“Aim!” taranza exclaimed, releasing purple energy balls

“FIRE!”

They both released balls of energy across the courtyard, knocking squeakers down like bowling pins

Sword knight and blade knight are backing away from a pack of enemies, as was the witch sisters. Neither of them saw each other until they collided. They shrieked and turned to face each other, Their swords and brushes. They paused for a moment and then laughed awkwardly

They were brought back to reality when squeakers started closing in on them. The commanding officers stuck their hands out protectively in front of the sisters

“We’ll hold them off,” you make a break for it and…”

They were cut off as their enemies pounced without warning. Sword knight and blade knight raised their swords but before they could strike, a bolt of colorful energy shot the squeaker nearest to him back. confused , they watched as that same bolt took out the others one by one. When they were in the clear, the commanding officers glanced at the witch sisters, who were blowing out their brush wands

“Wow,” they both said in awe

Escargoon was pressed up against a wall, watching the battle before him. He wasn’t sure whether he should get involved or run. After all, he wasn’t a soldier, even though he was working for the bad guy

“Oomph!” ribbon cried out as she was knocked back against the wall. “Oh, you brutes!”

“Um,” escargoon said with an awkward smile and wave “Hey”

The fairy looked down at him and cringed “Uh…”

Their attention turned to the squeakers closing in on them

Ribbon didn’t get the chance to hit them as a whip wrapped around the squeakers and toppled them over. Escargoon’s eyes widened when tiff leaped on top of them

“Ribbon, the captain wants us to get to the exit over there!” the rebel declared “Daroach went out that way with adeleine!”

Ribbon nodded and dashed off. The snail was left frozen as he stared at the strong, confident blonde girl before him. His jaw dropped when she swipe the sweat off of her brow. She shook her head, allowing her long, straw-like ponytail to snap back and forth like a whip

She looked down at him with emerald green eyes and smiled. “You okay?”

Escargoon nodded dumbliy “Uh-huh”

“Stick with me. I’ll help you get through”

She ran close to the wall where there was less danger. For a moment. Escargoon just stood there in awe. Then he smiled and smoothed out his chest.

“Whatever you say, ma’am!”

Metaknight was almost at the exit when he was suddenly tackled. He reached for his sword but was flipped over and met with a pair of violet eyes”

“Your majesty!” he breathed

“Oh, metaknight!” she exclaimed, moving in to kiss him

“Not yet,” he said, putting his hand to her lips. “There’s still daroach to take care of, and it’s not as easy for him to stab me when i’m wood. Come on. Our only hope of defeating him is if we get you to the great crystal in the throne room”

“Right” the fairy queen said, standing them both up

“Come on, they can’t have gone far!”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Daroach was moving so fast that adeleine was running in his grip. Once they reached the throne room, she tried to break herself free

“Daroach, stop!” she shouted “Please! You’re hurting me!”

He finally came to a halt and released her hand. She gently rubbed it as she glared at him

“Daroach, this madness has to end,” she said in a low voice “You promised you wouldn’t hurt them!”

“And I’m not, dearest” he assured her, reaching out to caress her face

She slapped his paw away. “Don’t you ‘Dearest’ me! Do you really think i’m that stupid?! You were going to kill them anyway, weren’t you? As soon as i said ‘I do,’ you were going to burn metaknight and the fairy queen, weren’t you?!”

“adeleine, you must understand” he fell to his knees. “If i let them live, they’ll stop at nothing to destroy our happiness! He took her hands in desperation “I did it for us!”

“Humph!” she huffed, jerking her hands away “I was willing to give you a second chance, and you continued doing evil behind my back! You’re never going to change! Not as long as you’re wearing that…that thing!”

She pointed angrily at the bell. Daroach held it protectively

“What are you saying?”

She sighed “I’m saying you must make a choice, daroach! It’s either that bell, or me”

He blinked “what?”

“That bell is making you do awful things, and all because you wanted power! I can’t marry someone who loves power more than his own wife!”

He seemed truly hurt by this declaration “Darling, you don’t seriously believe that, do you?”

“Well, if you had a choice between me and that bell, which would it be?”

He opened his mouth, but choked on his words. After a while, adeleine turned away from him in disgust

“If it’s that difficult a decision,” she said coldly, “Then I’ll make it easier for you”

“adeleine, wait!”

“Goodbye, daroach”

“Please, adeleine, I…I love you”

She crossed her arms as she started to walk away “I don’t believe you”

She shrieked as she was suddenly spun around to face him. Daroach’s eyes were glowing red and his teeth were gnashing together in fury

“Who says i have to make a choice,” he sneered, giving an eerie grin, “when i can have both?!”

“If you don’t step away from her now you’ll end up with neither!”

He looked up at the group standing before him: metaknight, the fairy queen, elline, claycia, ribbon, kirby, tiff, tuff, sword knight, blade knight, drawcia, paintra, and even escargoon. Daroach greeted them with a maniacal laugh

“You all really think you can stop me? Me?!”

“Get to the great crystal,” metaknight whispered to the fairy queen

Daroach chuckled as he watch the fairy queen rush behind the great crystal

“Go ahead. Touch that thing. See what good it does you”

The fairy queen paused and looked at her love in concern “it’s a trick”

“We have no other choice!” metaknight declared

She nodded and touched the crystals. Light pulsed through the gem around. The fairy queen opened her glowing white eyes as the great crystal’s magic pulsed around her. Everyone was blinded by a white flash that spread across the room. When the magic reached the outside, the populace and the squeakers ceased their fighting and dropped their weapons

When the light had diminished, the fairy queen’s had been restored to its former glory. The fairy queen was adorned in a glittering gown and a golden crown on her head. She looked at metaknight and frowned. He glanced down at his still wooden body

“I guess you still have to kiss me for this one” he shrugged

“Of course,” daroach cackled “that was the spell!”

The group were aghast when they saw that daroach had been untouched by the magical blast

“But you should be gone!” the fairy queen declared, rising to her arms “or at least mended!”

“You’re forgetting, my dear!” He taunted, holding up his bell “nothing can counteract the magic of the bell! sure, you can break a few of its spells, but not the bell itself! Now that the artist’s brooch is gone, i am invincible! You may won back the land of dreams, but i at least get a consolation prize!”

Everyone gasped as daroach swept his arms around adeleine and began backing away

“You can keep the kingdom!” he sneered “I don’t need it anymore! adeleine and i can start a kingdom all our own!”

“Daroach, let me go!” adeleine screamed, attempting to break free

“Turns out you’re going to get what you wanted, dear, your little friends get to live in their happy land, and we get to live in ours! Everybody’s a winner here!”

“No! Stop it!”

“Let her go daroach!” metaknight commanded, drawing his sword “There’s only one way you’re getting away with her!”

Daroach’s eyes glowed brighter “A duel to the death?”

The nutcracker nodded. “Let’s settle this rivalry once and for all!”

“Very well”

adeleine shrieked as she was sent hurdling back to the wall. She tried to move, but found herself paralyzed. Daroach pulled out his triple star rod. Some of the others, including the fairy queen, rushed to assist the nutcracker, but he held up his hand

“This is between him and me”

Daroach chuckled darkly “Couldn’t have said it better myself, nut boy!”

More of the citizens and some squeakers entered to see what ruckus was about. They all watched as the two foes clanged weapons for what might be the final time

“You may have taken back my kingdom,” daroach growled, “but you will not take my love from me!”

“Funny,” metaknight grunted as he blocked daroach’s blow “I believe i said something along those lines you took the fairy queen from me!”

“This is different!”

“You’re right. It is different. Because the fairy queen and i actually love each other!”

“You saying i don’t love adeleine?!”

“That’s why you want to marry her? You think you love her?”

“I don’t think! I do love her! And she loves me! At least she will! And we’re going to be happy! You hear me?! Very, very, happy!”

For a moment, the nutcracker almost felt sorry for him. Despite daroach’s mania, he sounded like he believed what he was saying

“Do you even know what true love is?” metaknight asked as their swordplay continued. “It’s about caring for somebody more than you care about yourself! It’s about being honest and compassionate towards each other! It about making sacrifices not so you can be happy together, but so the other can be happy! I've crossed realms and risked my life for the fairy queen! What have you ever done for adeleine?”

Daroach let out a furious cry and dropped his star rod. He held out his paw which he was glowing red in his eyes and tightened metaknight. He lifted the nutcracker into the air with a murderous growl

“Don’t you compare your love for the fairy queen and mine for adeleine!” he snarled “I may be a liar and a fink, but i mean it when i say that i love adeleine more than life itself!”

Metaknight glanced between daroach and adeleine, who still frozen against the wall. Then he glared defiantly at the squeak king as he raised his sword

“Prove…it”

Using all his strength, he thrust it past his enemy. Daroach spun around when he heard adeleine’s scream and dropped the nutcracker. The golden blade was hurdling towards adeleine, and thanks to him, she was unable to move!

“Metaknight, are you nuts?!” elline hollered

“adeleine!” daroach shouted “NO!”

Two voices argued in daroach’s head:

Let it stab her. She caused you nothing but trouble

Don’t do it! she’s the only one who understands!

She pretended to like you just to save her friends

She cares for you! She wants to help you!

She wants to change you!

adeleine looked up at him and gazed into those eyes that were once filled with sympathy. now They were filled with terror, adeleine closed her eyes, waiting for the blade's impact, and it broke his heart.

Go on. Kill her. Don’t you want ultimate power?

Daroach narrowed his eyes in determination

“Not…any…more!”

Daroach sighed as he gazed down at the sweet girl lying on top of him. She looked as if she was sleeping, but he knew better as she was clinging to him and nuzzling his chest affectionately. he smiled as he ran his fingers through her short hair, enjoying the softness of it.

After their long, passionate kiss, they had collapsed on the bed and spent the next hour or so enjoying each other’s warmth. As the play “footsie”, they gently embraced, getting lost into each other’s arms. His heart sank at the thought that adeleine would eventually come to her senses and this glorious bliss would end, but this thought only made the moment last longer as he would tighten his grip on her. If this was a one-time thing, he might as well relish in every second of it.

He wasn’t dreaming. His angel was here in his arms and had no intention of ever letting go. To tell the truth, Daroach did not want adeleine to leave as he hugged her tightly

Meanwhile, adeleine was lost in her own sensations. She had not expected things to go this far, let alone that she’d be taking pleasure in them. She kept trying to remind herself that this was a monster that had done terrible things to herself and her friends. Yet here she was in his arms, the two of them curled up on the bed. Whenever her head told her to stop the madness, the warmth and softness of his embrace would lure her back. She cuddled up to daroach like a younger girl might. She hid the intense blush on how close she was into daroach.

It was as daroach had said earlier. For a moment, they were the only two in the world and nothing else mattered.The gray squeaker went on cuddling with Adeleine happily, absentmindedly rubbing her tummy gently.

Then daroach had another disturbing thought. What if this was a trick? Was she just playing with him to get the upper hand against him? He looked down at her worriedly and felt he had to make sure her feelings were genuine

“Adeleine?”

“Mmm-hmm?” she moaned, not moving from her position

He bit his lip. “Do you… still think i’m… a monster?”

She lifted her head and looked up at him sympathetically. Then she raised her hand and stroked his cheek, making daroach close his eyes in contentment

“Just because someone looks like a monster,” she said, choosing her words carefully, “doesn’t mean they are one”

He opened his eyes, his worry returning. “But.. even if i didn’t look like this.. Would you… would you still think that?”

She blinked and kissed his cheek “Anyone would act monstrous if…if they never been shown love”

Daroach smiled and brought her lips to his. Then he slowly sat them both up and pulled away as he looked at her hopefully

“Do you love me then, adeleine?”

She became pale “I…I”

His smile vanished and his ears drooped. She averted his gaze

“This…this all happening so fast…”

“I see,” he said sadly turning away.

“No, daroach,” she pleaded, touching his paw. “What i mean is…I…I might love you…in time, but… well, there’s so much we don’t know about each other and…”

“Then tell me,” he said, taking her hand and cupping her chin “Tell me about yourself”

She blushed “Well…actually…I was thinking that…you would…”

His sadness returned “oh. You…don’t wanna know about me…”

“But i do. How did you come to be…like this?”

“Well,” he said, twiddling his fingers. “There’s not much to tell, really. I lost my parents when i was very young. In fact, i don’t remember them at all, really. Everywhere i went, people would either laugh at me or run in fear”

He sighed ”so you’re right. I guess…nobody ever loved me”

“The fairy queen did though, didn’t she?” adeleine asked

Daroach scowled “why bring her up?”

“I mean she must have cared for you at least a little. She did make you her royal advisor, didn’t she?”

“Yes, but that was out of pity. It just so happened she liked my ideas for improving the political system. But she never really cared for me. She obviously preferred the younger, handsomer type! I’m not as old as I look!”

“I thought you didn’t love the fairy queen”

“I didn’t, but she was the first person to ever show even the slightest amount of kindness towards me that i thought…” he stopped suddenly and shook his head “Well, doesn’t really matter anyway”

He smiled as he took her hands with his eyes filled with desire, determination ,and witty, “because i have you now”

“Daraoch…” adeleine started to say

“So what about you? What’s your story?”

“Oh, um…well, back home i lived in the orphanage…”

“What did you do in your spare time?”

She looked shyly away, her hair falling over her eye. “Oh, nothing special, just… the occasional art and drawing”

“Really?” daroach said, scooting closer. “What kind of flowers do you like?”

She shrugged “all of them, especially tulips, roses, carnations…” she looked at him suspiciously.

“Um, last time someone gave me flowers…it didn’t turn out so well”

“Oh, right,” daroach chuckled awkwardly

Then he grinned brightly and took her hands again “you know? Once we’re married, you can have a whole garden to yourself, filled with plants and animals you desire!”

Adeleine blinked in astonishment “really?”

“Really! You can have your own patch of green where you can spend all day rolling in the grass and smelling the flowers! Pretty as you are, you'd make a lovely butterfly”

"There's so many great things in this world. I hope I have time to show you all of them…" daroach said sincerely.

She blushed and glanced at the floor. “That sounds wonderful, but…”

“I mean it! Just tell me what you want and I'll give it to you! I could give you the world on a string! The world, adeleine! The whole world will be…”

“Daroach,” she said gently. “I don’t want the world”

He frowned slightly. oh . then…what do you want, my angel? Just say the word and it’s yours”

Adeleine bit her lip in nervousness. This was it: the moment to test her theory.

“You say that if i married you,” she said slowly, “you would take care of me”

“I would,” daroach insisted. “I’ll be as good a husband As I Can be!”

“Even so, you can’t just be a good husband. You have to be a good person. In other words, if you want to marry me, you…you have to be a good…king”

She shut her eyes, waiting for him to explode in rage. When nothing happened immediately, she opened one eye and saw him tilting his head in confusion

“What do you mean by that?”

She sighed “Daroach, I…I can’t be with someone who has every intention of hurting the people i care about. metaknight…”

He dropped her hands and stood up, groaning as he brought his paw to his head.

“The nutcracker, the nutcracker, the nutcracker!” he shouted “it’s always about the nutcracker! That’s what this is all about, isn’t it?” you’re doing this to save him, aren’t you? You want me to spare him so he can steal my throne!”

“No, daroach! Adeleine said quickly “I’m not asking you to give up the throne! Keep it if you want, but don’t let other people suffer for it, especially metaknight and the fairy queen! If you let them go, allow them to live in peace…”

“SO THEY CAN COME BACK WITH REINFORCEMENTS LIKE NUT BOY DID LAST TIME?!” he bellowed, making her jump back in fear. “I already spared metaknight’s life once and what did he do? He came back to destroy me!”

“But if you give them a place where they can live happily, if you prove you can be a good king, then they won’t try to destroy you”

“I doubt anything can make them change their minds!”

“Maybe if you didn’t keep so many people imprisoned here…”

“If i release them, the first thing they’ll do is start an uprising! Or did you forget that at least half those slaves are freedom fighters?!”

Adeleine narrowed her eyes and stood on the bed “they wouldn’t be planning such thing if you were kind to them!”

“Suppose i did what you asked and set them free, what makes you think they’d believe i’d changed?!”

She reached out and touched his paw “I’ll help you”

His eyes were glistening that she could’ve sworn they were filling with tears.

“But…” he choked

“Promise me you will at least try to be a good king”

He gazed deeply into her wide, pleading eyes

“If i did this,” he said, sitting back down beside her “and…tried to change…would…would you accept my proposal and,” he took her hands “be my queen?”

For a moment, adeleine hesitated. Marrying the squeak king would not only put her in a dangerous position, but could prevent her from ever seeing the cold hearted matron and her orphanage again. Either way this was her only chance to save her friends

Who knows? She thought maybe he will change.

So she nodded and whispered, “yes”

Daroach smiled brightly “Really?”

She held up her hand “if you promise you’ll try to be good!”

“I do” he exclaimed, lightly kissing her hand “i promise. If it’ll please you, I’ll try my love” he sighed “oh, you have no idea how happy you’ve made me! Oh Adeleine, the gods smile as they imagine us!”

He pulled her in for another kiss and adeleine couldn’t help but smile. Kissing him was both strange and exciting. While one part of her brain was still telling her how wrong this was, nothing else in her life had ever felt so right

She believed him when he vowed he would change. She could tell by the way he passionately embracing her that felt something for her and that truly would do anything to make her happy

Maybe being married to him really wouldn’t be so horrible

At first, neither of them heard the door knocking, the turning of the spare key, the door bursting open, or spinni shouting:

“Your majesty! The squeakers have come back with…”

The yellow squeaker froze when he saw the display before him. The guard peered in and his jaw dropped

“Your majesty!” he exclaimed

The couple turned to the door. adeleine squeaked while daroach growled

“I THOUGHT I GAVE YOU SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS NOT TO DISTURB US!” He boomed

“Err, yes” the guard said warily, “Unless it was an emergency”

“Well, what’s the emergency?!”

The guard nudged spinni forward, but the yellow squeaker was still in shock

“Uh…” he stammered

“Well, out with it boy!” daroach bellowed. Can’t you see i have important matters to get to?!”

“Ahem” adeleine coughed

She gave him a warning look and tilted her head towards spinni

“Oh,yes,” daroach said clearing his throat. “Spinni, would you be so kind as to tell me what the trouble is?”

The yellow squeaker shook his head back to reality. “Right! Um i was sent to tell you that the squeakers have captured the nutcracker and his companions”

Adeleine gasped and daroach grinned

“Really?” he released adeleine and stood up “where are they now?”

“The squeakers are holding them courtyard,” spinni replied, “awaiting your orders”

Daroach chuckled as he rubbed his hands together, his eyes flashing red. “Finally! Revenge will soon be…”

“Ahem!”

He turned back to see adeleine glaring at him with her arms crossed

“Oh,” he stammered “Uh, i mean…”

He glazed between his minions and his bride-to-be, biting his paw, unsure of how to handle the situation. He had made a promise to his love to break the chains of a despot like him., but he also didn’t want to lose his crown. She had assured him that nobody would overthrow him if he treated him justly, but she couldn’t see the future. What if metaknight took advantage of his freedom? Not only would he come after daroach, but might separate him from his queen! He couldn’t throw away everything he had worked for, especially now that he had found happiness with adeleine

He couldn’t risk letting that happiness destroyed

After reaching a decision, he smiled and said to the yellow squeaker, “go tell the squeakers to keep them in the courtyard, but make sure they are securely bound. In fact, have them bring all our prisoners to the courtyard, the fairy queen included”

Adeleine stood in fright. “Daroach you…”

“Don’t worry, my darling,” he said, taking her hands. “ I haven't forgotten my promise to you. And to prove it to you, i will release them all once our ceremony is over”

“You promise?” she whispered. “You won’t hurt my friends?”

“I promise. I promise that i will not hurt your friends”

He kissed her softly before turning back to his minions he saw that storo and doc had arrived as well, his eyes widening at the scene

“Storo, doc” daroach chriped “good, you’re here”

“I,uh,” the blue squeaker stammered, “just came to say that the new prisoners are getting restless and…”

“Yes, yes. I just told spinni here that i want you to keep them in the courtyard and bring all the other prisoners there too”

“What?! But sire, we might not be able to handle so many…”

“That’s an order, you two! I want them all to watch”

“watch, sir?”

Daroach clapped his hands together “We’re going to have a wedding!”

Storo and doc both blinked “what?”

The squeak king took Adeleine’s hand and brought her forward “Say hello to my fiancee!”

“You’re marrying that human?! Your majesty, are you sure about that…?

Daroach gritted his teeth “Need i point out that once adeleine and i are married, she will be your queen?!”

“Oh!” doc exclaimed, he and storo started bowing “A thousand apologies, my lady!”

That’s better, spinni get the dressmakers! Tell them they must prepare my bride for the ceremony!”

“Um, daroach?” adeleine piped

“Yes, angel?” the squeak king replied with a smile on his face

“Could…could you send my friends, ribbon and kirby up here?”

He blinked “Who?”

“The fairy and the pink ball. I’d like them to help me get ready.”

He leaned toward her and whispered, this isn’t a trick, is it?”

“Oh, no! I’d just…feel a little more comfortable if my friends were here to help me. I’m about to get married, after all”

“Well, i don’t know if i…”

“Please? It’s all i ask”

“It actually sounds like a reasonable request,” spinni said

Daroach then shrugged “Well, i don’t see any harm with in it”

She surprised him with a peck on the cheek, making a grin appear on his face. He brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes and sighed

“I’ll see you in a few hours, my love,” he whispered

He kissed her one last time before departing out the door

She was about to thank him when she saw the guard ready to insert a key in the lock

“Wait!” she called “You’re still locking me in?”

“Oh,” daroach said, smiling awkwardly. “Yes, that. It’s not that i don’t trust you, darling, but i really can’t risk somebody bursting in to rescue you or the off-chance that you start having second thoughts. It’s really just a precaution, dear! Love you, bye!”

He shut the door before she could say anything further. After turning the key in the lock, daroach sighed dreamily against the door

“I’m getting married…”

“I don’t believe it,” escargoon said in awe “You actually got her to like you! Guess i owe taranza ten bits”

“What was that?”

“That’s what i thought. Come on, boys. We’ve got work to do”

As he, storo and escargoon started their way down the hall; daroach put his arm around storo and muttered:

“Gather as much wood as you can. Build to piles around two long stakes. Make sure there’s enough space between them so nut boy and the fairy queen will be out of reach from each other”

The blue squeaker grinned mischievously “as you wish, your majesty”

Escargoon had heard the command and widened his eyes once he realized its implication

“But sir,” he protested, “didn’t you promise adeleine that you wouldn’t hurt her friends? Doesn’t that apply metaknight and the fairy queen?”

“Uh-uh!” daroach said, holding up a finger “I promised that i wouldn’t hurt her friends. That’s why storo here will be lighting the match”

“Wow, boss!” storo laughed “You really had me going there! For a second, i was worried you’d gone sappy over a pretty girl!”

He quieted down when daroach shot him a glare.

“Oh, i still have every intention of marrying her,” he declared “I’m just not going to be a pushover who does everything his wife tells him to do! No. i only have to make her think she has control over the situation”

“But won’t she be mad once she finds out you burned two of her friends at the stake?” escargoon inquired

“Oh, that can be easily fixed. I’ll just tell it was a relapse. After all, she can’t expect me to change overnight. A little begging and pleading and she’ll be putty in my paws once more! I can keep my marriage and my crown!”

“Won’t she get suspicious though? I mean if you keep doing bad things and then apologize for them…”

“What are you?!” daroach snapped, sticking his snout in the snail’s face. “A marriage counselor?!”

“N-n-no,” escargoon stuttered

“Then stop acting like one! Now go get the dressmakers like i told you!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the snail ran off, daroach rubbed his hands together with a chuckle

“This is a great day, storo!” he declared. “Not only i have my revenge, but a queen who loves me! And nobody will stand in my way,” his eyes flashed red as his chuckle grew darker, “Ever again!”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adeleine paced around the bedroom, wondering if she had made the right decision. There was something suspicious about daroach’s promise that he wouldn’t hurt her friends. Why was having them watch the ceremony? Was it really so he could prove his sincerity by releasing them in front of her? Or was it so he could show everybody that he won her?

She recalled the way he had spoken to her, how he had looked her in the eye and held her hands. She wanted to believe him, but something at the back of her brain was sounding an alarm.

She stopped when she heard the door open. Her heart leaped with joy when ribbon and kirby were tossed into the room

“Ribbon, kirby!” she exclaimed, rushing towards them

The pink duo looked up and ribbon shouted “adeleine!”

“Poyo!”

“You’re okay!” ribbon squeaked as the three embraced each other

“He hasn’t hurt you, has he?” ribbon inquired

“I’m fine,” adeleine replied “But there’s something i…”

“Enough talking and get to work!” doc commanded as he tossed in a basket. The dressmakers will be up soon and his majesty wants her ready within two hours!”

As he slammed the door, ribbon looked at adeleine questioningly

“What did he mean by that and what’s with the haircare products?” ribbon asked as she examined the basket

“I’ll explain while you two do my hair,” adeleine said, seating herself before a vanity

“Do your hair, what’s the occasion?“

The girl gulped “My wedding”

Ribbon dropped her basket and shouted the same response as kirby:

“What?!”

Adeleine grinned awkwardly ‘funny story, huh…”

“But…but who? Ribbon inquired “Who are you marrying and…what happened to your brooch?”

“Well,” adeleine said softly “long story short, daroach asked me to marry him and…”

“And you said yes?!”

“Geez, adeleine!” ribbon exclaimed “I’m all for impossible romance, but this is just crazy!”

“Why would you say yes?! You don’t…love this guy, do you?”

Adeleine looked at her friends sincerely “It doesn’t matter if i love him or not. I agreed to marry him so that you and the others would be safe. Besides,” she said with a blush, “i actually think he’s kind of… sweet”

Ribbon raised an eyebrow “sweet, you think he’s sweet; you’re not serious, are you?”

“Guys,think about it. Daroach is powerful. If metaknight tried to destroy him, he’d only destroy himself. But if i marry daroach. If i can tame him even in the slightest, he might spare all of you”

“But why does he want to marry you? Ribbon asked I thought he wanted the fairy queen”

Adeleine gazed back in the mirror “he…he says he loves me”

Ribbon shook her head. “Adeleine, monsters like him would say anything to sway somebody to their side! You don’t really believe he meant what he said, do you?”

Adeleine hung her head as she pondered this

“Nevertheless,” she whispered, it’s the only way i can save you”

Ribbon and kirby glanced at each other, not liking their mistress’ answer

“I think you should get started on my hair,” adeleine said, lifting her head. “No use making him mad”

Ribbon pulled out a brush out of the basket but hesitated

“Don’t worry, ribbon,” adeleine said with a smile “I know what i’m doing”

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Not far from the palace, Caycia and Elline were walking slowly down the rainbow road. The pale skinned girl looked up worriedly at her sister, whose head was hanging low

“You gonna tell me what’s wrong? Claycia asked for what felt like the hundredth time

“Nothing’s wrong? Elline muttered mechanically. “What makes you think something’s wrong?”

“Well, for one thing, i thought you’d be excited. We’re together again, aren’t we? And we no longer have to worry about that big bully!”

“Yeah. sure.”

Claycia tilted her head. “Why did he let us go, anyway?”

“I don’t wanna talk about it”

Claycia scowled and blocked her sister’s path “You’re gonna tell me why you’re sulking. Now!”

Elline looked up at her sister and sighed “Oh, claycia. Getting you out of there wasn’t easy. I…I did some horrible things…things to people who didn’t deserve it. They’re…they’re all gonna suffer because of me…becuase i didn’t want to lose you, claycia”

She hung her head again. I know you’ve always thought of me as a hero, but in truth is…I’m a coward. I’ve never done anything valiant in my life”

Claycia smiled and lifted the paintbrush fairy’s chin. “Hey. you did all that stuff for me. It might’ve been bad stuff, but at least you had good intentions”

“Yeah, but at what cost? About a hundred citizens are either enslaved or put up for execution because i ratted on them. I mean i was the squeak king’s number one spy, claycia!”

“But you’re not his spy now, are you?”

“No. he doesn’t need me anymore, remember?”

Claycia smirked. “So that means you don’t take orders from him anymore, right?”

Elline tapped her chin in thought. “Right…”

“Soooooooo?”

Tha paintbrush fairy looked at her sister and grinned

“Oh,claycia, you genius!” she exclaimed

“Well, I learned it from the best!” claycia said proudly.

“Now remember,” daroach whispered to the squeaker guarding the door to his chambers, “under no circumstances are you to disturb us. Well, unless, of course, if there’s an emergency like the castle’s on fire or something, but other than that, you are not to open this door! Understand?”

The guard saluted “Yes, you’re majesty”

“Good”

daroach took off his hat, licked his paw and slicked back his fur. he figured an hour was enough time for her to compose herself, and he was too anxious to wait any longer.

"Alright," he said, clapping his hands together, "here it goes"

he reached for the door handle and was about to unlock it when he paused

How should he go about this? ask her straight out or woo her a little first?

"Come on, this shouldn't be hard" he told himself "you already did this to the fairy queen"

but it had been different with the fairy queen. his intentions then been solely for power and hadn't held any affection for her. he didn't want adeleine to just say yes. strange as it was, he wanted her to like him at least. that was something he wasn't really good at.

then again, he had managed to charm the fairy queen into making him her advisor, but he didn't think crawling on the floor like a wounded animal would have the same effect, and a young lady like adeleine most likely wouldn't be interested in his economic proposals

"Come on, if you can take over a kingdom, you can talk to a girl"

He took a deep breath and opened the door to his bedroom.

Adeleine sat on the bed, she turned her head slightly to who had come in and stared at him in terror. this wasn't their first time alone, but it was their first time alone without the brooch protecting her.

For some reason, Daroach found himself speechless.

she waited for him to say something. if she can just smile for him, her smile could nearly blinding daroach with all the joy she seemed to bubble with most of the time. however all that came out of his mouth was "Hello there"

she just stared at him for one second before turning away again

he stepped forward "You comfortable?"

Adeleine gave no answer but moved back away

“Sweet Heavens, She’s Pretty…” He Thought, She Looks Too pretty, Even when she’s startled. He’d never seen such a beautiful figure. the way she glances at him,his heart just melted into a gooey mess inside his feet. but the girl was very cute, even at just a glance. He Knows She Is Too Adorable For Words.

Daroach shook out his thoughts courting was so much easier when he wasn't attracted to the girl

“I’m assuming you are, my dear” Daroach said, casually sitting on the far end of the bed. “You know,” he patted its surface and rubbed the silky sheets, “it’s my opinion that there is nothing softer in the world than feathers and downy fluff for such a good, cozy bed”

Again, Adeleine did not reply. She just turned her head further away and closed her eyes, preparing for the worst. Daroach just turned his head and twiddled his fingers as he thought of another approach. He’s Thinking about her just being too shy for his charms.

"You Hungry?"

again, she did not reply

then he thought of a comeback and pulled out a small Strawberry Shortcake in front of her

"I heard you like them. you know the ones spinni and elline gave you? I made them. so if you want more…

"No, I'm not hungry" Adeleine whimpered

daroach frowned "You thirsty?" he pulled out a wine glass and a bottle of fizzy pink liquid. he topped it off with a small red ball that dissolves into the drink. "I should imagine one would be thirsty after spending all this time in…"

“Why don’t you just get it over with?”

He tilted his head “get what over with?”

"You're here to torture me, aren't you?" she said in a cracked voice. "or are you here to kill me?"

Daroach was taken back “What? Kill you? Oh, no, no, no, no, no! That would be…” he paused as he slowly raised his paw to her hair, “such a waste…”

She snapped her head around before he could touch her “Then what are you going to do to me?”

He grinned as he lowered his paw “Yes, I was just getting to that…”

when she saw that that he was scooting closer, adeleine backed up more until she hit the pillows

"as you have probably guessed, my dear," Daroach began, "I have everything. thanks to this bell, I have ultimate power to get me whatever i want, whenever i want. i hold the land of dreams in the palm of my hand! Oh Yes, I have everything, Except…"

He trailed off as he gazed at her, imaging what would be like to run his fingers through her hair

"…Somebody to share it with" he cleared his throat. "which is why I've been searching for a queen"

"i Know" adeleine said "that's why you want to marry the fairy queen

"what? her?" he huffed. "oh, she's old news. no i have somebody else in mind"

“Really?” she rolled her eyes. “I feel sorry for that girl.”

“Oh I Think you’d like her. After all, what’s not to like? She’s the,” he scooted closer, “the sweetest” closer, “gentlest,” his hand reached out, “the most beautiful girl in all the whole world, maybe in even the whole universe”

He sighed as his paw made contact with the soft black silk. “And to think she’s the only girl ever to get the best of me… until now, that is”

Adeleine’s eyes widened when she felt his paw atop her head. She gasped in shock

“You don’t mean…?”

Daroach leaned forward with a wicked grin on his face "oh, Adeleine Are you really that blind?"

Her heart raced as she backed away from him "M-m-me?! B-b-but…I don't…what?"

"don't tell me you Didn't feel it," he chuckled as he crawled towards her "Didn't your heart stir when we stood before each other? Didn't it feel like an eternity when we held gaze? Didn't your skin tingle whenever we touched?"

Adeleine yelped as she fell off the bed. Daroach caught her and brought her to his face. he pinned her onto the bed.

"Didn't you ever think of the possibility of what we might become?" he asked. reaching his paw to her face.

she slapped his paw away and got up out of his grasp. Daroach only laughed

“There’s nowhere to run now, my sweet!” he said playfully. “It’s just the two of us and you don't have that brooch to protect you!”

Adeleine shrieked as he pursued her. After a few circles around the room, she put the bed between them

“Why me?!” she demanded “I…I’m not even that pretty!”

Daroach chuckled as he slithered around the bed, only for Adeleine to jump over to the other side

“Don’t sell yourself short, my dear! You’re the finest girl I’ve ever laid eyes on!”

“w-well ,” she stammered, “I…I’m not a princess!”

He huffed “As if that matters! I mean I wasn’t born royalty myself”

“But why me?! You can have any girl you want!”

“Exactly! And I want you!”

He leaped over the bed, only for her to dodge out of the way, which made him fall flat to the floor. as he got his head up, daroach groaned in annoyance.

“This is getting ridiculous”

Adeleine rushed to the door. And right when she is about to grab the door handle, daroach grabbed her by the wrist.

He wagged a finger at her in mild reproval.

“Tsk tsk tsk, what a naughty girl” he teased.

“Think carefully, child” daroach warned “I rather best resort into other ways and that would be an ugly way to win a pretty wife”

Still, the scolding was nothing but a wag of the finger

Daroach pulled out a key and locked the door tight so Adeleine can’t escape.

“I’m Sorry, daroach, if you Please, but I hope I didn’t Mean to be ungrateful, But…” adeleine begged in a timid voice, trying to respond to daroach

"Oh, now now, don't think this is a bad thing, darling. After all, once you marry me, you'll be Queen of the land of dreams"

she looked up at him in horror "You're not gonna put a spell on me, are you?"

he tapped his chin "Hmm, not a bad idea" he shook his head "No, no. I was thinking more along the lines of…"

"This!" daroach said as he took a red rose out of a vase above the mantel and put it between his teeth

adeleine gasped as he grabbed her hand and pulled her in for a dance. she panted as daroach jolting her around in a tango

"Ugh naw haw mhm," he said between his teeth

"Huh?" adeleine questioned

daroach spat out the rose "I said i'm not all bad”

she yelped as he dipped her

"I'm not a complete stranger to the ways of love"

her eyes widened at his puckered lips

"I, uh," she stuttered as she attempted to push away his face "I don't really"

"at least give me a chance,my love" he whispered

Adeleine shook her head. "Love? I don't think you know the meaning of the word"

"You're right," he grinned as he laid his paw on her waist. "I didn't" he brought her closer "Until I met you"

she narrowed her eyes "Do you think this is love?" she huffed "You're only interested in me because you think i'm pretty!"

"That's not true," he said as he moved behind her "You're not merely pretty, my sweet" he pulled her up and whispered into her ear "You're more beautiful than the orange sun of Orange Ocean setting into the night where the auroras from Rainbow Resort glows with their vibrant colors"

"Humph!" she grunted, crossing her arms and turning her face away from him

"Oh come now, darling, don't be so bitter. If you're my…"

"Wife? or plaything?"

Daroach was taken aback from this remark

"Of course not, you would be my idol! I’m a very rich man, My Dear. I would give you riches, fine clothing, sweet purfumes…"

“and dress me up like a doll?!" Adeleine spat "That's all I'd be to you! You'll treat me just as you are right now!"

she tried to let go of the gray squeaker's paw "You know nothing about real love! If You want me, I won't be your idol, but a pretty doll that you can play with!"

Daroach scowled "strange that you use that analogy! don't you have friends that you play with whenever you like?"

"That's different!" Adeleine declared "I actually cared about them! What about you? If I wasn't beautiful anymore, would you still want to hold me?"

he blinked "Of course I would"

"Exactly what I th…" she paused "what?"

Daroach whispered "I don't want you because you're beautiful, although the sight of you is breathtaking"

"b-b-but," she choked, but you…I…wha…?"

"Remember when we were in the cave? he asked softly "And I was on fire? Most People would've let me burn, but you…not only did you put out the fire, but you tended to my wounds. no one has ever dared to touch me or even… look at me. not in the way you did"

she said nothing, only stared in amazement at the sincerity in his eyes

“I have longed admired you, gazed with wonder at your sweet and lady virtue, marveled by your tender loveliness and charm.” daroach said, being swooned,looking down at his beauty. “I Am Asking You To Become My Wife”

"it's not just your face i'm in love with," he breathed, his eyelids sliding closed as he leaned forward. "It's your, gentle, colorful soul…"

adeleine's eyes widened as she snapped out of her trance. she slipped her hands out of his grasp and backed away

"No," she said "you're…you're just toying with me! you're just only doing this get back at metaknight”

daroach opened his eyes and shook his head "no, no, no. if this was all part of my revenge game with nut boy, i'd be pursuing the fairy queen, not you. besides, she didn't fall for my charms anyway"

"You Are Magic Too I Think."

"Oh, No… "

“Oh,You Are,My Dear. I Know. Magic Cannot Hide From Me. Magic Is My Friend.” Daroach Wraps His Arms Around Her from behind. “You Belong Here… with me.”

"so i'm just the next big thing?"

"oh no my darling. you're even better!"

daroach gently patted her head "now be a good little girl"

he then pulled her in again "Young Lady, May I have this dance?"

"un deux trois, un deux trois, Very good, you doing splendidly”

"Daroach, this is getting.." she started to say

she was interrupted as he started slowly twirling her

she scowled as his paws moved down to her waist

"what makes you think i'd be that lady?"

Daroach carefully bringing her up to his chest "You treat me differently…"

he smiled as he twirled her again. "Then why did you help me in the cave?"

her face flushed as he slowly dipped her "Well, I…i was, um…I…"

"Just admit that you felt something between us. remember those little moments where we were both struck speechless and nothing else seemed to matter?"

Once again, they were trapped in each other's embrace. daroach stared in awe as the blush rushed to her soft baby pink skin. her big brown eyes were wide with curiosity. it was as he could read her mind and knew that electricity was passing between them

Daroach uses his cane to make snowflakes fall gently in mid-air as a result of the sensations stirring within the squeak king. This did not go unnoticed by either of them, but all they could think of was what had occurred the night before

Daroach’s eyelids drooped as he leaned forward, intending to finish where they had left off.

“My dream,” he whispered

Adeleine blinked back into consciousness as soon as she heard these words

“WAIT, WHAT?!”

She pushed his paws away, not realizing he had been holding her in midair and thus dropped to the floor. Daroach looked at her in worry

“What’s wrong? What did i say?”

She immediately recovered and backed towards the wall

“Y-y-your…” she stammered, “dream?”

He blushed suddenly, something adeleine would’ve never expected the squeak king to do

“W-well, you see,” he said with a shy smile. “Last night, I dreamed of the two of us dancing in a snowy forest…”

“Were there fairies?” adeleine beseeched

He blinked “why…yes, how did you…?”

His answer was given when she turned away from him, but not before he caught a glimpse of the pinkness in her cheeks. Adeleine tried to hide the intense blush

“Wait,” he uttered. “You…you dreamed it too, didn’t you?”

Adeleine gulped “N-n-no”

“You did, didn’t you?”

“No! I did not dream of us dancing in a snowy forest at night!”

He crossed his arms “I never said it was at night”

Adeleine stiffened as she tried to come up with an excuse, but daroach was alreadly stalking towards her with a hopeful expression on his face

“You know what this means, don’t you? He said as he laid his paw on her shoulder.

She spun around and shouted, “No!”

“Yes,” he grinned, taking a step foward. “It’s our destiny”

“No,” adeleine uttered as she backed away. “This…this is a trick! You just planted these thoughts in my head!”

“I didn’t! I swear! look!”

He held up the bell around his cape, which was pulsing with light

“See?” he insisted “I was told that this bell would point me to my destiny and it glows whenever I’m around you! And your brooch, it was doing the same thing! Don’t you see, adeleine? This means we’re meant for each other!”

“No!” adeleine repeated as her back reached the wall “You…you…you’re evil! You…you feel nothing for me!”

He raised an eyebrow “funny. I don’t hear you denying you feeling something for me”

She looked off to the side. “I…I don’t!”

“Oh, but I think you do”

“What would you know about my feelings?!”

He sighed “I know that whenever, for a moment, we stopped fighting, you feel a strange, tingling sensation within you” he touched her chin and turned her face towards him. “That when we hold gaze you feel like time has stopped and we are the only two people in the world”

He leaned closer. “That you also feel curious as to what would happen if…if we weren’t adversaries, if the distance between us were to just disappear”

Adeleine inhaled sharply. Then turned her entire body away and pressed herself against the wall. Daraoch sighed sadly

“I suppose I’m not expecting you to love me right away, adeleine, but… do you think you could at least give me a chance?”

After many minutes of silence, adeleine finally got up the courage to look at him again.

There they were again: those sad, pleading eyes staring right into her soul, leaving Adeleine to try to make sense of everything…or, at least, her own version of “sense.”

He had been right about one thing. She was curious. Curious about him. What had made him like this? Had he really meant everything he had said?

A part of her told her not to trust him. After all, he had lied to her to get her brooch

But another part told her not to judge him harshly. His words had confirmed her theory that no one had ever cared for him enough to make him care for anybody else.

And The look in his eyes told her that he truly and honestly wanted her to do just that

Then something else occurred to her. This could be her ticket to saving her friends. If he really did care for her, perhaps she could convince him to stop his evil ways… even a little?

The beating in her chest then clouded her mind. She felt something for him. That she could not deny. Whether or not it was love, she wasn’t sure. But if… yes if she did… what would happen?

Daroach was anxiously awaiting her answer. She glanced at him and looked him boldly in the eyes.

“Y-you,” she stammered. “You take my hand”

Confused, but curious to see where this was going, he gently took her hand

“Put your paw around my waist”

He arched an eyebrow, but complied with her request. They found themselves back in the dipping position they were in before

“N-now,” she said with a blush, “K-k-kiss me”

He stiffened “What?”

“It’s okay,” she breathed, meeting his gaze again “I…I want you to”

Daroach wasn’t sure if it was his surprise at hearing these words from her mouth or his realization that his angel was lying willingly in his arms. Either way, he hesitated. He finally had the girl of his dreams and he was hesitating. His mind was such a muddle that for some reason, he couldn’t go through with it.

Eventually, adeleine lifted her hand to his cheek, closed her eyes and brought his face towards her.

Then he couldn’t keep it in anymore

He darted forward and closed the gap between them. Her lips tasted better than he had imagined, like a blend between honey and buttercream. He wrapped his arms around her and moaned happily as he relished in the heaven he was in.

It’s his first kiss and he had never felt happier

What made it even more incredible was that adeleine, much to her surprise, was enjoying every second of it

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Metaknight, tiff, ribbon, and kirby peered over the cliff and beheld the heavily guarded castle before them.

“There it is,” the nutcracker whispered “The dream palace”

“Also known as,” tiff growled, “Daroach’s fortress”

“So what’s the plan?” ribbon asked

Metaknight surveyed the palace “Okay. daroach most likely has the fairy queen imprisoned in one of the towers. We should get to her first”

“What about adeleine?” ribbon inquired

“The source of the fairy queen’s power comes from the great crystal in the center of the throne room. If we return her to the throne room, she will regain her strength and might restore order to the land. That way, she’ll have a chance against daroach”

“But how do we get in?” ribbon asked

“I remember an underground tunnel was used for emergencies. it ‘s supposed to lead to the cellar. We can sneak in and surprise them by…”

“What was that you said about surprise?” a familiar voice spoke behind them

They turned and gasped to see a pack of squeakers. Tiff growled at the source of the voice.

“Storo”

“And this time,” storo laughed, “you don’t have your little army to back you up. Get ‘em boys!”

Tiff smirked as she pulled out her whip ”didn’t you learn your lesson last time?”

The squeakers pounced on them and tiff’s pupils shrank when she realized their numbers tripled theirs. But that didn’t stop her from cracking her whip, however

Ribbon levitated her shoe but froze when kirby screamed. She turned to see kirby struggling in doc’s metal arm. This distraction was enough for three other squeakers to tackle ribbon to the ground

metaknight tried to fight them off with his sword, but they surrounded him and eventually pinned him down from behind. Tiff wrapped her whip around storo’s paw, who only smiled. He tugged the whip, pulling the rebel off balance. She didn’t have time to recover as a squeaker pulled her hands behind her back

“Keep scrubbing, snail!” daroach yelled at escargoon who was kneeling at the fairy queen’s throne with a sponge “My queen’s throne must shine! If i see a single speck of dust on it, i will wringing out your mucus and make a backscratcher out of you”

The snail squeaked as he scrubbed harder. Daroach stroked his fur as he gazed at the small throne

“Can i stop cleaning now?” escargoon asked hopefully

“Oh no, it still lacks luster”

The snail sighed “why do i even bother?”

Daroach spun around when he heard heavy breathing behind him. he grinned brightly when he saw Spinni dashed through the door with adeleine over his shoulders with Elline and dark metaknight behind him.

"You did it, Spinni!" he exclaimed. "you brought her! Finally!

"she's..." Spinni huffed, "heavier than i thought..."

Daroach scowled "How dare you say that about my future queen?! And give her to me! you're going to drop her!"

spinni collapsed as soon as he grabbed adeleine. the yellow squeaker waited to catch his breath before speaking.

"We did what you asked," Elline murmered, "now can you please give me..." spinni quickly sat up "wait, what? did you say queen?!"

The grey squeaker looked down at the young unconscious lady tucked into his arms, Immediately with the suddenness that all young maidens are prone to and leaving him beaming.He looks at the young and innocent child,sleeping peacefully,knowing she did nothing wrong, dreaming sweet dreams without care. He couldn’t repress a soft chuckle. Oh, She was adorable.”aww…sleepy girl” he crooned, gently rubs her under her chin. He had a wonderful touch, So tender and soothing.

"isn't she beautiful when she sleeps? So lovely" daroach whispered, not seeming to hear them "I Just Love To Watch Her Sleep, Look At How Pretty Her Hair Looks, Her Pajamas Are Darling"

he was cradling the young girl in his arms, gazing in awe as he brushed her gentle black hair from her sweet, peaceful face. Daroach smelled her hair, Warm and passionate, the smell of confidence. "Badump. Badump. Badump." went the girl's heart. daroach's cheek and ear was pressed up against her chest and he'd been listening to the girl's heart all day. It was soothing; it sounded like gentle ocean waves, soft and comforting. A gentle version of a waterfall. Elline And spinni's eyes widened in realization

"wait, you don't mean...?"

"Oh yes, my little friends" Daroach replied as he wrapped his cloak around her, whisking to his chambers. he cooed to humming a lullaby at every step. he laid her down gently on his vast, plump canopy bed. The material was so soft and bulky it felt like a pillow beneath Her.

"Ah, so darling, even asleep, this lovely girl is going to be my squeak queen, and will rule the land of dreams by my side" Daroach smiled, gently patting her head.

he smiled as their trinkets started glowing again. he was tempted to kiss her, but thought it would be better to wait until she was awake. Daroach noticed her enchanted paintbrush from the pocket of her robe which he gently pulled out. He examined the brush, It’s such a beautiful giveaway adeleine has. meanwhile, his spies including escargoon gave him a funny look

"um...don't talk this the wrong way, sire, but... i don't think she's your type"

daroach turned around and scowled "insult my queen again and i will turn you inside out and wear you over my shoulders.”

"Whoa, whoa, calm down!" Spinni screamed

Elline approached him, holding up her hands "Look. we did what you ask us to do isn't, can you just give me back claycia so i can go?"

the squeak king scoffed "Oh. I'm not done with you just yet, brushhead"

Elline's face fell "what? But we had a deal!"

he held up a finger “ah,ah,ah! I said that once i had the brooch, you would get your big sister back"

"Yeah, we brought her, now it's your turn to uphold your end of the bargain"

“Yes. I have her, but the brooch is still on her, and as long as it's like that, I can't touch either of them. she is the only one who can remove it. we'll have to persuade her somehow. Snail!”

escargoon went up to him and saluted

"keep an eye on my bride and inform me when she wakes up. I'll seal off this area so she can't escape. oh, and don't do anything silly with her!"

"right, Sire" escargoon squeaked, innocently patting Adeleine's head "i'll keep her safe, no sweat!"

"GET YOUR SLIMY PAWS OFF OF HER!" daroach bellowed, his eyes litterally blazing with fire.

"right!" the snail quickly retracted his hand "Sorry!"

the squeak king relaxed and turned to take one more look at his bride. He Then tucks a small blanket around adeleine like a shawl. she looks very cozy under it. As daroach began to draw the curtains around the bed, he gazed at Adeleine, who hadn’t budged an inch during this entire conversation. the child looked very cute and comfy on his featherbed, sleeping beautifully like an angel. "My poor tired lady," he thought lovingly. He blew a kiss at her, "pleasant dreams, my dear"

the squeak king turned to the paintbrush fairy

"now," he said, flashing a tooth grin, "As I was saying, I may still have some use for you yet, elline"

—-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adeleine was so exhausted that her not-so-little nap lasted for nearly four and a half hours. At some point, she surfaced briefly and realized that she was in bed, but this knowledge had barely dawned on him when she was out again. Finally, in the middle of the afternoon, she managed to open her eyes. adeleine's head spun as she started to wake. she didn't remember how she had fallen asleep.

In a rare occurrence adeleine’s eyes fluttered groggily open. She turned sleepily over facing away from the light that pierced its way through the curtains, wiggling herself back into a comfortable way in the bed. adeleine couldn’t help but sigh contentedly, feeling so at ease. Her little frame sank a bit into the super plush mattress and around her shoulders, she was wrapped in the baby pink fuzzy blanket. She let out a soft sigh determined to sleep a bit longer

she herself was lying on what appeared to be sheets hewn of silk, on the fluffiest pillow she had ever felt in her life. But where was she? Adeleine had nearly drifted back off when her tired mind came to. The light filtered through the crack of the curtains around the bed, billowing the curtains with cool wind that wafted through. She rose up with sudden concern and tossed back the warm blanket and sat up. “Oh no, what time is it? I slept like a baby" she opened the curtains to reveal the outside of the bed

For a long time, she wasn’t sure where she was. Somewhere, definitely, but she had never been in this room before. It was nearly as lavish as Susie's chateau, but much more spacious, Yet here she was, wrinkling priceless sheets.

“Oh dear ,oh dear…” Adeleine yawned,stretching and rubbing her eyes.

She stayed where she was for several minutes, blinking sleepily, until escargoon peeked into the room to check on her.

“Oh good! You’re awake!”

“Oh my goodness!” adeleine gasped “you’re a snail, why aren’t you the most cutest, huggable snail I ever met!”

Escargoon blushed in spite of himself “aw shucks!” as he held his hand to get her out of the bed. Adeleine then gave him a warm, gentle embrace.

“Wow. i’m beginning to see why daroach picked you for…”

“wait,“ adeleine said jumping back. “Daroach?”

“Yeah. didn’t you know this was his castle?”

She looked back at the front of the bed she had been lying in and saw a large “D” carved onto the footboard. Its symbol it reminded her of…

“Daraoch! Oh My God!”

She dashed across the room to the door

“Uh” escargoon uttered, raising his hand “I wouldn’t do that if i were…”

She ran headlong into different directions of the hallways, into the unknown. There was nowhere else she could go. Every turn adeleine took was like a labyrinth. She can still hear the familiar voice. His good hearing could hear the sound of her footsteps. Adeleine nervously checks for dark lurking shadows in the corners,thinking that daroach is waiting to grab her. Poor Adeleine ,All she could do is run, but Which direction could she even go?

As luck have her, Adeleine finds a corner, when she’s out of breath. She braced up against the wall and tried to save her breath until she hears the voice of the squeak king

Adeleine Notices Something down the hall, It is a double doorway. She wonders where that door would take her, The way out of the castle or a room to hide from daroach .When she approached the door, adeleine slowly reach for the handle. She knows it’s now or never, until she opened it to unlock the throne room

“Yeah,” the snail chuckled awkwardly “daroach kinda didn’t want you to leave, so…”

“Oh no, i need to get out of here now!” adeleine shouted as she kept breathing nervously. “I need to get to my friends! How did I even get here?!”

“Oh, that’s right! I need to tell daroach you’re awake!”

She stopped breathing and slowly turned her head towards escargoon “No! Don’t call him here! He’s horrible!”

“Exactly why I have to get him!” he cupped his hands around his mouth “your majesty! She’s…”

His voice was muffled as adeleine covered his mouth

“No! You have to get me out of here! He’s going to take my brooch, and then he’s going to kill me!”

“Oh, adeleine, surely you don’t think of me as that cruel?”

She spun around at the voice and found herself face-to-face with the squeak king once more. She was so surprised that she stumbled backwards onto the floor. Daroach chuckled as he shook his head.

“Must we always meet like this? Me, towering over you and you, cowering in fear? Sweet, sweet, Adeleine, you have nothing to fear from me”

Adeleine pressed her back against the wall as he started circling her. She looked down, trying not to look in those cruel eyes. She shivered as he leaned over and whispered in her ear.

“You are a difficult girl to catch”

She turned her face away and weakly asked, “what do you want from me?”

“I told you. Your brooch”

She decided to be braver and squared her shoulders, still not looking at him. “Well you can’t have it. And if you try to take my brooch…well, you remember what happened last time, and this time, you won’t receive any pity from me”

She yelped as he grabbed her shoulders and spun her around to meet his furious gaze

“Oh, I considered myself as a patient creature,” he growled, “but you’re not making this easy for me! Just give me the brooch!”

“No!” Adeleine spat “You’re evil, I’ll never give it to you!”

Daroach felt like he’s ready to strangle the girl, but he took a deep breath and smiled

“My previous offer still stands. I can send you home to that drab orphanage”

“It wouldn’t matter!” she exclaimed, pushing him away. “Even if you’re telling the truth and you do send me back, my friends will still be here, and no doubt you will make them suffer! I’m not even sure you will keep your word! Monsters like you never do!”

The word “monster” pierced him like a sword and his eyes flashed red as he stormed over to her. She screamed as he gripped on her robe.

“WHY YOU NO GOOD FOR NOTHING LITTLE WENCH!” he bellowed, pushing her to the ground “YOU THINK YOU CAN BACK TALK TO ME LIKE THAT?! ME?! THE MASTER OF THE SQUEAKS?! THE MASTER OF ALL THINGS…”

He paused when he heard a soft whimper. Daroach would be able to hear little sniffs and hiccups; it was probable the girl was trying not to cry as she lay on the ground. Adeleine’s face was hidden by her black locks, but all he could see was a single teardrop plop to the floor. His heart instantly softened and he reached out his paw.

“Shhh, shhh, don’t cry…” he whispered as he gently touched her chin. He couldn’t help but draw out his handkerchief to gently wipe her tears away. He thinks she’s adorable when she cries. Her tears are like little stars falling out of her eyes and her blush makes her innocent and natural as a rose. Daroach didn’t mean to frighten her or hurt her.

Adeleine’s eyes widened in bewilderment as he tenderly lifted her head. She wanted to tear herself away, but something about his surprisingly warm gaze had her frozen in place. Why did he always have the same effect on her?

“I can make you a better offer,” he said as he lightly stroked her black hair. “You give me the brooch, and i will give you whatever your heart desires”

“Will you please spare metaknight and the fairy queen?” she asked with wide, pleading eyes

Daroach blinked “well, no, but…”

She slapped his paw away “well then there is nothing you can give me!”

He growled through his teeth and raised his paw to strike her down, but after another deep breath, he regained his composure. Then he smiled wickedly

“Oh isn’t there?” he snapped his fingers “oh, boys!”

Adeleine turned her head as a pair of squeakers burst into the room, elline is struggling in their grasp

“Elline!” adeleine cried

“Adeleine, don’…”

Daroach uses the enchanted paintbrush to draw a black streak that zipped elline’s mouth closed before she can finish. He grabbed her around her small body as a way of begging to strangle the paintbrush fairy

“Yes, we caught her along with you,” he smirked. “The colorful poinsettia? I put a spell on it. Your friend here couldn’t help but take a sniff herself” his eyes flashed red again. “I might not be able to hurt you, my beauty, but your friend here doesn't have a magical brooch protecting her”

he began to shake and strangle elline and she screamed through the sticky black line covering her mouth as she gets tortured. The sight brought adeleine to tears.

“Stop it!” she shouted “she doesn’t deserve this!”

“Oh, I’ll stop,” daroach said, strangling harder around elline’s neck, “if you give me the brooch”

Adeleine glanced solemnly at elline, who was wildly shaking her head. Her muffled cries of protest did not help her change her mind. Adeleine looked back up at daroach and sighed in defeat as she undo the button on the ribbon of her brooch.

“Alright daroach, you win,” she murmured

Daroach grinned in triumph as the brooch fell into his paw. He released his hold on elline and chuckled darkly.

“That’s a good little girl” he turned to the two squeakers “release her, boys”

The guards dropped the paintbrush fairy to the floor. Elline gasped as the sticky black line vanished from her mouth. She looked up at her friend in guilt

“Adeleine,” she breathed “what have you done?”

“I’ll tell you what she’s done,” daroach sneered, gripping the gold brooch “guaranteed that my reign will last for all eternity!”

Daorach revealed the brooch’s image of Adeleine’s parents and their baby girl. He smirked at the image “Won’t your parents feel sorry for you.”

He tossed the brooch into the air and brought out his cane to give it a deep freeze until it became solid piece Of ice.

Adeleine watched in horror as he crushed the cold brooch in his paw and it crumbled into a rain of icy dust. Adeleine dropped to the floor.

“funny,” daroach said, raising an eyebrow. “I thought it’d be harder to destroy” he shrugged “oh well. Who cares? Now there is nothing left to stop me!”

“Except maybe the nutcracker”

The squeak King darted his eyes at escargoon, who immediately regretted and jumped behind the thrones.

“Yes” adeleine said defiantly. “Metaknight will stop you! All my friends will stop you!”

Daroach laughed. “You really think your friends will come and rescue you? Given your choice of friends, I find that hard to believe”

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh,that’s right, i nearly forgot,” he turned to elline and started clapping as he approached her. “Brilliant performance, elline! You nearly had me fooled!”

“Please don’t…” elline begged

“Elline, what is he…?” adeleine asked in confusion

“Haven’t you figured it out? Daroach Mocked as he put his arm around his minion. “Don’t you remember who gave you the poinsettia?”

Adeleine blinked as she looked at elline in disbelief. “No, spinni and her…”

“Oh but they did!” he chuckled as he pinched the paintbrush fairy’s cheek. “Spinni, elline, and dark metaknight had been my loyal spies this whole time! I had to get you here somehow, you see?”

More tears were coming as adeleine shook her head. “No! You’re lying! Elline, tell me he’s lying! Elline?”

Her former friend hung her head in shame “I…I’m sorry, Addy. I…I can’t lie anymore”

Adeleine said nothing, only stared at her as the tears flowed down her cheeks. Then she turned away and mutter:

“I thought you were my friend”

Elline sniffed “I was”

“Oh, don’t be so blue, brushhead,” daroach said as he ruffled her rainbow colored hair. “You don’t need friends. Friends are people who say you can trust them, until the day they stab you in the back. Of course, you’d know all about that, wouldn’t you”

She looked up at him with a hard, cold gaze. “Ok, i did what you asked. Now give me what you promised”

Adeleine turned her head a little, curious as to what this promise was

“Hmm,” daroach said, tapping his chin “I did promise you something, didn’t I?”

After a moment of thought, he shrugged. “Oh what the heck? I’m in a generous mood today. Shame though. You were such a useful asset” he sighed. “Very well. you may have your reward”

He snapped his fingers to summon the guards bringing in a pale skinned girl with baby blue hair. She wore a magenta beret as her cyan hair that covers her eyes, and magenta hairclips. Around her neck she wears a giant lilac scarf with magenta lines at the tips. Her body is dressed in an oversized purple coat covered in magenta dots. On her feet she wears a pair of magenta shoes similar to those of a jester. The sculptress also has a pair of small, floating hands. Elline’s eyes glistened at the sight of her.”

“Claycia?”

The girl in purple sweater turned and gasped “Elline”

Adeleine watched in amazement as the fairy and her big sister rushed to embrace each. A few tears escaped elline’s eyes as she ran her hands all over her sister

“Oh, claycia, are you alright? He didn't hurt you, did he?”

“eleine, I’m fine!” claycia groaned

Daroach gazed at the two crying girls embracing, it brought him tears of joy to see claycia reuniting her fairy friend. "oh, how sweet...". He couldn't help but draw of his handkerchief to gently wipe his tears away "oh, i just love tearful reunions"

As she continued hugging claycia, elline gazed at Adeleine through her tears. From that look, adeleine understood what she was trying to say.

Elline had never wanted to hurt her. She had been telling the truth about claycia and that she would’ve done anything to get her back. Daroach had manipulated her like he did everybody else

It was enough to turn adeleine’s sadness into rage

“Okay, enough with the sappy reunion! Squeakers, escort these two out. they are no longer of any use to me”

“Wha…? Claycia said. “Elleine, what’s going on?

“We’re free,” elline muttered

“But why? What happened?”

The paintbrush fairy gave adeleine one last look as the squeakers led them out of the room. “Sacrifice”

Adeleine watched until elline was gone from sight. Then she inhaled deeply as she turned her attention to the floor. Daroach’s triumphant expression diminished when he saw how broken she was. He knelt down to her and lifted her chin.

“Aw, don’t cry, my sweet,” he said softly. “ your situation isn’t all bad”

Adeleine narrowed her eyes and wrenched her head away. This action pulled at daroach’s heartstrings. This wasn’t what he wanted. He needed her to smile for him; otherwise the sight of her was just too painful.

Then he had an idea. A golden brooch identical to the one he had destroyed is in his paw.

“Look,” he said, stretching it out with his fingers. “It’s just like your old one.” he opened it to reveal the same image of her baby picture. “Except, you know, it doesn’t have the magic to defeat me. That brooch was a nuisance, but it did look lovely around that pretty neck of yours…”

He attempted to put it on her, only for her to swat it away.

“I don’t want it,” she murmured

Daroach flinched at her coldness, but he wasn’t giving up that easily. “oh , but it pains me to see you so glum, my sweet. The least I can do is…”

“I don’t want it”

“Please, let me put it on you…”

“Stop it!” adeleine screamed, snapping her head around. “just stop it! I gave you the brooch! What more do you want for me?!”

He was about to reveal his wish for her to be his queen for all eternity, but stopped himself. She was not in a condition to receive such an offer. She was angry with him, and he didn’t want her to be when he told her.

So instead, he gently brushed her hair and replied, “I have big plans for you, my dear, but believe me. It won’t be bad as you think”

The tone in his voice made adeleine shiver. Whatever he had planned for her, she didn’t think she was going to like it.

“Squeakers!” daroach called

The squeakers saluted, awaiting his command.

“Take our pretty guest to my chambers,” the squeak king ordered. “And send word to the others that the nutcracker is still at large. Bring him and his merry mates to me unharmed. I want the pleasure of destroying nut boy myself”

Adeleline gasped as the squeakers carried her

“Please, do whatever you like with me! Just don’t hurt him!”

“Really?” daroach said with a hopeful grin. “Well, We’ll Discuss that later when you’re in a better state”

Adeleine scowled in hatred. Still, he hadn’t won yet. Metaknight was still out there. She would be rescued. She was filled with so much anger that she wanted to show him that he did not own her. So she wrenched herself from the squeakers’ grip. They were about to grab her again when she held up her hands.

“I can walk myself, thank you very much”

The squeakers looked questioningly at their king, who had watched the scene in awe. It was so strange, seeing the timid little girl act so defiant. It made his admiration for her double.indeed adeline is full of wit, creativity, and surprises.

He nodded assuredly at the squeakers and they walk at a steady pace behind the girl, who was holding her nose into the air.

“Isn’t she just perfect” daroach sighed once she was out of hearing

“She’s nice,” esgargoon stated. “You know, when she’s not being held against her will.” he looked up at his master. “You sure asking her to marry you is a good idea?”

“Oh, she’ll come around, once she sees i’m not as evil as she thinks”

“Yeah? How you gonna do that?”

The fairy queen was awoken by a loud crash. Before was a tray of food. Not sweets, but a bag of sour-balls.

“Morning, My little ray of sunshine” daroach mockingly

The fairy queen rubbed her eyes and glanced out the window, seeing that it was still dark outside “have you been messing with the sun again or are you just waking me up real early? And what’s with the sour-balls?”

The squeak king shrugged “ oh, i thought you’d just like to have a little something to eat before your execution”

The Queen sat upright in shock “what?!”

“Of course, every prisoner is entitled to their last meal. I’m not completely heartless”

“But…but…” she gripped her neck “Execution?”

“Why so surprised? You said so yourself you would rather die than marry me”

“But…i didn’t think…”

“That I'd give up so soon, you thought wrong. You see queenie, once i have the nutcracker in my grasp, I’ll have no more use for you. And don’t think you can change my mind. You were right when you said I could have any girl in the land, I’ve found one who is not only a better candidate for queen, but surpasses your beauty by infinity”

The fairy queen blinked. “You’re marrying someone else?”

Daroach grinned toothily. “Jealous queenie? Well, had your last chance, but the ship has finally sailed off!” He went to the door. “Enjoy your meal, queenie. Did i mention it will be your last?”

The fairy queen narrowed her eyes “whoever this girl is, She’ll never love a monster like you!”

He shuts the door with a smirk “we’ll see about that”

On his way to the throne room, Daroach passed by an open room filled with cloth and sewing equipment, squeakers and cappies are working tiredly on an unfinished gown hanging on a dummy in the room’s center.

“Put your backs into it!” he shouted “my bride deserves only the best!”

“but, you’re majesty,” a cappy squeaked, “i’m not sure how fast we can…”

Daroach’s eyes flashed red “don’t you talk back to me!”

He shrunk back in fear “but we don’t have her measurements…”

“THEN GUESS!”

“Yes, sir!”

As the cappy went back to the sewing machine, daroach turned to Doc who is standing guard

“Anything from spinni and elline yet?”

The old squeaker shook his head. “No your majesty, None Of us haven’t heard the whistle yet.

Daroach groan as he pulled out his pocket watch “It’s been ten hours what’s taking them so long?”

“You sure don’t need anything else?” susie asked the nutcracker

“No, thanks,” metaknight said, looking back at the heavy bag of sweets tiff was carrying “I think we’re settled”

“You know,” Tiff said, “you all be valuable assets for when we face daroach. You two have especially good aim?”

“We’ll catch up with you later,” I think we’ll convince the three mage sisters to come and help. They’re hiding out at the hidden temple”

Don’t worry,” metaknight said to susie and the twins. “We’ll get taranza back”

“Oh I can’t wait to see tarzana again!” Suise said

“Thank you so much,” adeleine said, “for everything”

“Aw, it was no problem!” lololo exclaimed

“Well,” spinni muttered with downcast eyes, “see ya”

Susie and the twins shout their goodbyes as their friends departed

“Bye!” susie called

“Good luck, guys” lololo waved

“Have fun storming the castle” lalala waved

“What a nice family,” ribbon declared

“Wish i had known about them earlier,” said tiff. The resistance could’ve really used them”

“We won’t need the resistance anymore after today,” metaknight claimed

Elline gazed up at the sky. “I thought we agreed we weren’t traveling by night. Why didn’t we stay with susie and the twins?”

“That’s what daroach want’s us to do: continue until morning, which he will never make come”

Then he’ll catch us in our sleep! Tiff finished “Or at least catch us off-guard!”

“Oh, they’re good” Elilne thought

It was just as well she hadn’t blown the whistle last night. She was going to. She had the whistle at her lips

The sound of tiff yawning had stopped her in mid-blow. Elilne had waited until the rebel had gone quiet before raising the whistle again

She didn’t know what it was that had made her tear the accursed thing off her neck. Maybe it had been the light snoring of the twins on the other side of the room, or the sound of adeleine turning on her side

Either way, she just couldn’t go through with it. She might have signed her sister’s death warrant, but she and spinni couldn’t betray there good people that had so far treated them like a friend. Who knows? Perhaps the mission would be successful and the squeak king would finally be defeated

“Spinni, Elilne!” A voice whispered

“Ho ho speak of the devil,” spinni thought as Elilne bit her lip and dark metaknight spoke nothing.

“Uh…guys?” spinni called to the others “we, uh, gotta go!”

Tiff turning back to them in exasperation “didn’t you go before we left?”

“Sorry! Ya can’t control these things! this’ll only take a minute, i swear?”

They quickly dove into the bushes. They raised their hands and was about to knock the side of their heads when doc’s saucer saved the trouble.

“Message for you” as the red saucer unveils a viewscreen, revealing the squeak king

“It’s been ten hours since i turned out the light,” he growled, “plenty of time for everyone to fall asleep, and the squeakers haven’t heard a single squeak!

“Spinni and Elilne sweating “we can explain…”

“My patience is wearing thin, you three!”

“No, you see the nutcracker was standing watch so the squeakers wouldn’t have been able to sneak…”

“Wait a minute!”

The saucer’s arm pulled on to the front of elline and examined her neck.

“Where’s your whistle?” he demanded

Elline gulped “i. Uh…”

“WHERE’S YOUR WHISTLE?!”

“Spinni, elline, are you alright?” adeleine’s voice called

“Yeah!” spinni called “i’m fine, just…” he paused and wailed as if he were in pain. “Oh boy, is this a hard one to get out or what”

“Ok, then” said adeleine’s voice “But keep that information to yourself!”

Daroach lowered his voice. “Well, where is it?”

“I,um,” elline stammed, “lost it”

He scoffed. “What kind of fool do you take me for? I know what’s going on. You’re having second thoughts about this aren’t you? You’re growing attached to these people! Am i right?!”

“Well, uh…”

“Go ahead, brushead. Spit it out”

“I…” she paused And looked boldly up the squeak king. “I don’t think i can be a part of this anymore”

He sighed as the metal arm released her “i see. Shame. You were such a useful minion. Well, i can’t really blame you for your softness. You are no squeaker like spinni, after all. however , if you think this little betrayal isn’t going to go unpunished, then you’re wrong. Oh, you’ll get off scot-free. Your big sister, however…”

“Look! I’ll do anything you want! Just please, i don’t wanna hurt anybody”

He laughed “well, it’s a little late for that! Oh, and do you really think the nutcracker and his motley crew will actually be successful trying to defeat me!” He patted her head. “My little, naive elline, they can’t save your sister, if that’s what you think. They don’t stand a chance against me. Your choice, elline. Will it be the group of friends you just met yesterday or your dear sweet sister who’s counting on you to save her?”

Elline glanced back at the bush, as if she could see the others on the other side of it

“They won’t be hurt?” she asked weakly.

Daroach shrugged. “I can’t say much for the nutcracker, but i assure you, the worst the others will get is hard labor, as for our dear friend adeleine…” he smirked “well, you could say she’ll be treated like a queen”

Elline raised and eyebrow at this last statement but then nodded slowly

“What do you want us to do?”

“Well,” daroach said as he tapped his chin. “Since you ‘lost’ the whistle, we’ll have to try something different. My bell’s magic won’t work on her. Well i can’t teleport her to the castle, anyway yet somehow i was able to shrink her. Maybe …if we use a magic that the brooch won’t suspect, magic that doesn’t harm her in any way, magic that is not mine…”

Doc’s red saucer pulled out something in its claw. It was a single poinsettia of a very unusual color: rainbow

“Give this flower to her," he commanded as the saucer’s claw gently handed it to spinni. “Don’t inhale its scent”

“Why?”

“Because doing so will be put into a deep slumber, but only temporarily. Give this to adeleine, and she falls under its spell, take her back to the palace”

Elline glanced down at the flower “And after i do this…you…you will release claycia?”

Daroach grinned as he stooped down to her “Once i have the brooch, your precious little family will be together once more. Just bring her to me. And there better not be a scratch on her, or I’ll put an equal on you”

She nodded anxiously “understood!”

“Good. now go. And whatever you do, don’t get caught”

The viewscreen is put away as doc’s saucer zoomed off and the three spies was left with the deadly rainbow flower

“Spinni, elline?” called adeleine

Spinni tucked the poinsettia away and stepped out of the bushes with elline and dark metaknight. He looked around and saw adeleine was the only one there

“Where’s everybody else?”

“Tiff didn’t want to keep waiting” adeleine explained “so the others decided to scout ahead. I volunteered to wait for you”

Spinni blinked “Wow,um…thanks”

“Come on. We should be should be catching up with the others”

As They when they went through the forest, there came a large clearing

The robins and warblers sang in the trees of an ancient woodland while bees and butterflies fluttered through a field of flowers.

The flowers practically seemed to range through every color of the rainbow, with lovely shades of blue and pink being the most common. Combined, all the flowers put a sweet scent out into the gentle breeze as they swayed.The flowers were huge, and of the loveliest colors ever seen. There were flowers of every color, but of course baby pink and baby blue were the most common. A gentle breeze floated through the vast field, carrying what seemed to be the pleasant scent of perfumes.

The paintbrush fairy and the golden squeaker both said nothing as they unenthusiastically followed the young girl. Spinni withdrew the colorful poinsettia and gazed at it. Such an innocent-looking object: an appropriate seal to an innocent girl’s fate

Elline looked back up “hey adeleine?”

“Yes?” adeleine replied without looking back

“If your parents were in trouble, you would do anything to save them, right”

“Of course. Why do you ask?”

“Nothing, just…making sure you understand”

Adeleine stopped her tracks and turned to her “is this about your big sister?”

Elline bit her lip. “Kinda”

It was just now adeleine noticed the flower “Oh, my! I’ve never seen a rainbow flower before! Where’d you find it?”

“Uh…” spinni stammered. It’s in the field somewhere! Yeah, I saw it and, um…” he held it out to her “Do you want it”

“Oh, thank you!” adeleine exclaimed as she carefully took the poinsettia in her hands “oh, it’s so lovely!”

“Come on, give it a sniff. It smells, uh, really good”

Elline watched in agony as adeleine brought the flower to her face, closed her eyes and inhaled it deeply

“Oh, it’s so…”

Adeleine’s eyes began to feel heavy and felt lightheaded. Her heart began beating sleepy. her mind was melting away from her usual logical state and into a fuzzy and sleepy state of mind. she feels pretty dizzy and nearly lost her balance

“Goodness, I feel so dizzy…” She trailed off as she dropped the flower and her legs gave out beneath her. Dark metaknight caught her before she could hit the ground. She beautifully fell asleep peacefully.

“I’m sorry, addy,” elline whispered “I’m so, so, sorry”

—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I wonder where those guys and adeleine are,” ribbon said, looking back at the way she and the others had come

I’m telling you,” tiff said, “they maybe just ran off and left adeleine waiting for nothing!”

“I’m sure they’re fine,” metaknight said “still, it’s been a while. I’ll go back and she if they’re alright”

“I don’t think that’ll be necessary,” ribbon said, pointing up to the sky.

Everyone looked up and gasped when they saw dark metaknight zooming past, carrying the unconscious adeleine in his hands. Right behind him is elline with spinni in her hands as well.

“Hey!” tiff hollered. “What are you doing?!”

“Adeleine!” metaknight called, attempting to run after them “What’s going on?!”

But alas the spies were too fast for them and was soon out of sight

“Where are they going?” ribbon questioned “what are they doing with adeleine?”

“What do you think they’re doing?!” tiff snapped “their taking adeleine to Daroach! I told you their spies! I told you those guys couldn’t be trusted!”

“But…” the young fairy sniffed “their are our friends…”

“They lied!”

“No!” metaknight cried, collapsing to his knees “this is all my fault! I should’ve stayed with her! I swore to protect her! First the fairy queen and now adeleine!”

“Don’t worry,” said ribbon laying a hand on his shoulder. “We’ll rescue her, just like we’ll rescue everybody else”

The nutcracker sighed “But now he’ll be expecting us for sure. Not only will spinni and elline will tell him we’re coming, but now he has adeleine as bait”

“Not to mention the fairy queen and tiff’s brother and a whole lot of cappies,” ribbon added “but i still can’t believe that elline, spinni, and dark metaknight would…”

“Forget them!” tiff exclaimed “what matters now is stopping daroach once and for all, so we can get adeleine, the fairy queen, tuff, and everybody back!”

Metaknight’s eyes narrowed in determination as he stood up. You’re right we need to do this” he drew his sword and raised it above his head “For the fairy queen!”

“And adeleine!” ribbon exclaimed

“And tuff!” tiff shouted

“Poyo!” Kirby cheered