Cedar, in his VK uniform, glared down upon the incoming group. Joel, who was completely dazed by everything and was in a new look, looked at his leader. He had a disguise on, completely confusing Joel. But he listened well.

"Moje dieťa..."

"Yes, Vaše Veličenstvo?"

"We have incoming enemies." The air slowly cooled as Joel gently got up to join him. Many spirits circled them as they looked out the window. Cedar locked eyes with Ice as power joined the air.

Cedar: "I know that your powers of retention
Are as wet as a warthog's backside
But thick as you are, pay attention
My words are a matter of pride
It's clear from your vacant expressions
The lights are not all on upstairs
But we're talking kings and successions
Even you can't be caught unaware
So be prepare for a chance of a lifetime
Be prepared for sensational news
A shining new era
Is tiptoeing nearer"

Spirits: "And where do we feature?"

Joel: "Just listen to teacher
I know it sounds sordid
But you'll be rewarded
When at last I am given my dues
And injustice deliciously squared
Be prepared!"

Spirit: "It's great that we'll soon be connected
With a king who'll be all-time adored"

Cedar: "Of course, quid pro quo, you're expected
To take certain duties on board
The future is littered with prizes
And though I'm the main attendee
The point that I must emphasize is
You won't get a sniff without me!
So prepare for the coup of the century
Be prepared for the murkiest scam
Meticulous planning
Tenacity spanning
Decades of denial
Is simply why I'll
Be king undisputed
Respected, saluted
And seen for the wonder I am
Yes, my teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!"

Cedar and Joel: "Yes, our teeth and ambitions are bared
Be prepared!"

Ice gritted his teeth as the spirits raced out to fight and Joel closed the window.

~~~

While the other BKs were fighting the front lines, Ice and Wendy made their way to the top. And since both were able to levitate, they were able to get to the top without the duo sensing them. It wasn't until they actually got in the room did they get spotted.

"Moje dieťa!" Joel instantly fired at them, getting blocked by Wendy. While the two Rangers collided, Ice shouted at Cedar, who was very well disguised.

"Cedar, drop the disguise and talk to me VK to VK!" Cedar hissed.

"You're not even a real VK! You're a LK that has lived in the harsh VK conditions! It doesn't matter what the lies said, it's all true!" Ice growled.

"While that may be true, you could've admitted your involvement in all of this!"

"Like hell I would! Besides, you won't be able to unmask the true threat. This will be your fall!"

"Cedar, I know what you can do! So fight someone your own size." Cedar chuckled.

"You're nowhere close to my size. Especially with how powerful I've become. Hell, the Lightwings made the mistake of letting me loose. Now to tear down the foundation that they love. It doesn't matter if they send me back. I already did my damage and nothing can freeze the plan." Cedar sent several attacks upon the icy LK. Ice gulped as he dodged.

"Cedar, I don't know what the problem is, but snap out of it." Cedar smiled as he spoke.

"Me? Snap out of what? The only one that needs that is Joel. And I'm not-"

A scream followed by tears cut him off as they turned to the other fight. Wendy had snapped Joel out of Cedar's control and had him in a tight hug. He was back in his normal form and was trying to pull himself together to apologize. Ice chuckled at the caster's reaction.

"Aw... is something wrong? Did your words fall apart just as they left your mouth?" He charged up his aura. "Now come and really hit me." Cedar let a hiss lose before they clashed.

~~~

The others looked up at the tower as they finished the battling. Joel's voice creeped from somewhere as the sounds of spells clashing escaped the tower. Elita gulped.

"Be careful..." A rather familiar voice spoke as someone approached.

"I think it's time to get a real power source in there." They all turned in shock.

~~~

Joel trembled in Wendy's grip as the battle raged on. Cedar wouldn't let up while Ice hit the wall twice. His back was starting to feel numb from it. Ice slowly got up as Cedar huffed.

"Pathetic." Ice trembled just at the words. He couldn't face this level of darkness. He wasn't trained. "You can't beat something you don't know. So leave me and my plot alone."

"No..."

Joel tried to call out, but Cedar had silenced him a while ago. Ice stumbled as Cedar moved closer. Cedar knew he won, but with the defiance Ice presented, he wasn't accepting this act. Wendy trembled as she held Joel back from getting pulled into another trap. She had let too many people fall into false traps. A gentle noise filled the air as the air got cold. Cedar froze as a voice gently filled the air, getting louder every so often.

"Morning soon
The light dims fast here
Should we go outside... again?
One more day my dear

Why don't we just stay?
As the familiar fades away
Things are the same
Day by day

What are you waiting for darling?
What are you running from, stranger?
Where are you hiding now
Don't you Waste this chance

Do we have time for this dear friend?
How could we ever run out now?
All that we have is this moment
Let's make time

Time for the end of this story!
Time for the start of our new life!
Time for us all to come back for,
Fates Last Encore!

Will we find out what this all means?
It means a lot that you're here now
Let's make the most of this, shall we?
We have time!

All that we have is this moment
Let's make it last"

The fact that Crepe was able to get there and up the stairs with little effort kinda scared Wendy. Ice had sat down by then in a daze as the two VKs locked eyes.

"Out of the way."

"Make me."

Wendy slowly guided Joel over to Ice as the LK slightly shifted, slowly working out of the daze.

"Last chance Crepe."

"Ooh... scary. How about while you're at it, you call your mom to get picked up early?" Cedar made no noise as Joel pulled Ice into a hug, regaining the LK. Wendy got in front of the recovering LKs as she eyed the VK stand off. Cedar finally scoffed.

"Vigilancy of Zorn."

A mysterious aura surged before the spell slammed into the wall near the door, gaining access to an exit. Cedar froze as Wendy caught a steady voice from Crepe.

"Get them outside. I'm not saying leave the area, but they need to get out of here." She froze.

"But-"

"I'll see you on the other side."

Her mind must've been in a trance as she nodded before she got the duo outside while Crepe turned to Cedar and let his aura turn on.

~~~

She snapped out of it after she got the duo to Elita, who let them rest against her with a calm aura circling her. She absolutely freaked out as Crawford held her close.

"He's-"

"Wendy relax-"

A powerful aura surged before Crepe pulled his no doubt ace.

~~~

Cedar was screwed even before that.

"Wither and decay
End this destiny
Break these earthly chains
And set the spirit free

Take what has been hurt (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Grant them no mercy (ah, ah, ah, ah)
Bend and break the reigns
And set the spirit free
The spirit free"

No, he didn't know where the other voices came from. He just knew that Crepe hit center ground. The whole structure and darkness followed the chant as something wrapped Cedar up and they gently landed near the others. Cedar came out of the daze a little late before he finally backlashed.

"Let me go!" His disguise had dropped as Crepe kept a foot on his back as he flailed around. "I WANT TO BE RELEASED NOW!" Crepe purred.

"Oh, so now the little boy that is unstable reacts? How cute." Cedar trembled as he continued his attempts of escape. The tears said it all as he tried to kick out. Crepe, with hardly any problems, picked him up and started pulling him back to the others. "Great show. Let's go." The BKs just watched as the two VKs left their sight.

"Ok?"

~~~

Cedar was still crying his little heart out as the others tried to get him to talk, so they were forced to back off until he had calmed down. Wendy was quiet as she scanned both Crepe and Cedar. Something felt wrong. Crawford went over as she scanned the two brown-like haired VKs.

"You good?"

"Something's wrong." Cedar had finally been pulled into a hug by Lapis when the tears didn't stop and actually increased. "Sure, Cedar has the magic potential to do what happened... but why doesn't it feel like that? Like... he was blinded?" Crawford hummed as Cedar wailed out, kicking Dijon and somehow getting him to crumble. It was unknown where Cedar hit, but Wendy had her thoughts.

"So... I'm not the one asking."

"Yeah, don't be a victim. Watch from the pro." Crawford was not fast enough to stop her as she went over and Cedar kicked against Midnight's block. She stole him from Lapis and brought him to the ground before pulling him into a tight hug. "Sh... Cedar..."

He trembled against her as she felt his arms shift under the restraints, noting he wanted to return the tight hug. Her eyes scanned around, somehow not hitting Crepe. She mouthed her concern to Lapis, who only nodded since she did stop his kicking and wailing. As Lapis went to convince Crepe that Wendy had him, she spoke in a low tone.

"Ruhe jetzt, Facilier-Gothel. Ich werde dich befreien... aber ich will Antworten." He nodded as he continued his failed attempt at returning the hug. Her ears touched Lapis's voice.

"Crepe, I think she can deal with him without the ropes."

"The ropes will make it safer."

"Did it work last time when he zapped 12 people before he was released?"

Crepe didn't seem to have a comeback before she felt Cedar wrap his arms around her and the hug battle started. She tightened her end before he gave a playful squeeze, as if testing her. She gave a playful squeeze back, waiting. Then he tightened his side of the hug.

Hey, she could win this battle.

She tightened her side before they held there. It got quiet as they held out the tight hug. Anyone else wouldn't be able to hold him. She, on the other hand, trained to handle huggers like Cedar. She then spoke after a heartbeat of silence.

"Cedar... what truly happened?" He purred.

"Some... cloaked figure... came to me and coaxed me into helping something... I wasn't thinking and let them do all that... but I felt the aura..."

She frowned. The only people with an aura on the field when he went down were Crepe and Elita. So who- She scanned the duo. Elita was still working on Ice as Joel was helped by Marcus. Crepe was on the phone with someone in another language. Lovely. She gently rocked the hug as he finally released the pressure of his side. She loosened as well before a soft noise followed, indicating he had fallen asleep. She still didn't move as she eyed Crepe. What was really happening? She picked Cedar up and got him near the others in order for him to rest and get cleaned up.

~~~

Some Lightwings came after to pick up Shan Yu, grab Varian for something and talk to Joel and Cedar. Joel was checked by Belle since his mother had something to do (Belle said she was in an argument with Cinderella, which got a rather threatening glare from Joel at Sven) while Cedar was talked to by Mulan (It was going to be Rapunzel if Cedar didn't wail and nearly take out Dijon again). Rapunzel was actually talking to Wendy about what happened with Crepe, who was now talking to Sven as he stayed away from Joel.

"Interesting..." Belle stretched as she joined them.

"I'm not telling Snow that her son only has some mental damage that's currently getting mended." The other two giggled as they looked over at Cedar, who was curled up with his head on the warrior's lap. Dijon was already staying away from him since he was with his father's enemy and he was kicked almost twice. Wendy frowned.

"I should tell Cedar to kick him again."

"Who are you blessed by again?" The trio giggled as Cedar was left to rest.

"Are we sure he's a Facilier-Gothel?" They giggled before the trio Lightwings and Villain left. Wendy went back over to the caster as he rested. She then glanced over as Crepe looked over something in his hand.

"What are we really up against... Crepe?"

~~~

"Perfect... Perfect!"

The mysterious person, whose face was slightly shown, cackled at Crepe's update.

"No one can stop us! We have revealed the truth of the VKs, LKs, and BKs! Now nothing will be able to stop us with this info! Find your saviors now, Ks!"

Translations:

Vaše Veličenstvo: your majesty

Moje dieťa: Child of mine

Ruhe jetzt, Facilier-Gothel. Ich werde dich befreien... aber ich will Antworten: Hush now, Facilier-Gothel. I will free you... but I want answers.

Hope you enjoyed the story. Be on the lookout for "A Soulful Lead". It will be the next book. Enjoy the rest of the series and have a great day Mlm out.