The Party stood before Maleficent's castle. To spare the people of the party, YRP had cast a mass sleep spell to send them all into a deep slumber alongside their princess. There would be no help from them, but also, hopefully, no damage would befall them either. The 3 fairies quickly surrounded Dotty and with a flash of light, she suddenly perked up.

[color=fff79a]"That should give you the strength to let Zen-Aku fight this final battle in your body, after that fight earlier."[/color] Rikku smiled at her.

[color=00aeef]"Alright, we get in, we free Philip, we stop for nothing. Avoid the witch if we can... Philip getting to Briar is the primary objective, anything else is moot."[/color] Taivas stated.

[color=6ecff6]"You can count on us, Han!"[/color] Dotty pumped an arm, before slinging the mask off her back. [color=6ecff6]"HEROIC SPIRIT OF POODLEWOLF! GIVE ME ABSOLUTE POWER!"[/color] She yelled, slamming the mask into her face and with an explosion of dark magics, Zen-Aku stood in her place. He looked down at the Shield of Hope he held in his hands, before walking to Taivas.

[color=bc8dbf]"Boy..."[/color] He nudged Taivas, who looked at him. [color=bc8dbf]"I think that, right now, if anyone needs the power of Hope on their side, it's you. I'll be relying on the Elephant Flail for this."[/color] He held out the shield. Taivas looked down at it, immediate flashbacks in his mind to that evil weapon Maleficent had forced him to weild. This didn't feel right... But he understood the power within that weapon. Anything that could tip the scales in their favour. Taking ahold of the shield, he didn't draw the sword, instead summoning his own Keyblade in his free hand. The pair, flanked by the fairies began making their way up the winding ridge that led to Maleficent's castle.

As Dotty's spectral form floated next to Zen-Aku, she looked at the fairies. [color=6ecff6]"Girls. I think our boys are gonna need a bit of pep in their step."[/color] She pumped her fist in the air, the 3 fairies looked at each other and nodded, before in a brilliant flash, all 4 of them floated in Songstress gear.

As Piano music began playing, Paine looked up. [color=silver]"C-Minor. Put it in C-Minor."[/color] She ordered as the music then restarted om the lower key. Dotty in a puff of magic turned back into a dog, still wearing the dressphere.
[i][color=6ecff6]"Where have all the good men gone? And where are all the gods?[/color]
[color=fff79a]Where's the streetwise Hercules to fight the rising odds?[/color]
[color=silver]Isn't there a white knight apon a fiery steed?[/color]
[color=7bcdc8]"every night i toss and i turn and i dream of what i need..."[/color][/i]

Zen-Aku grabbed the marble from a pouch on his belt and slammed it into the knife. [color=bc8dbf]"MIGHTY SPIRIT OF THE ELEPHANT!"[/color] the knife transforming into the Elephant Flail.

[i][color=7bcdc8]"HIT IT!"[/color][/i] Yuna yelled. Maleficents minions slowly made their way to the castles ramparts and looked down at the charge, one of them running to ring the alarm, but Paine pointed her microphone at it and a spectral clock appeared around the pig-creature, stopping it instantly.

[i][color=fff79a]"Oooooo[/color][color=6ecff6]Ooooo[/color][color=silver]OOOOOooooh![/color][/i]

With a mighty leap, Zen-Aku threw himself into the air and twirled, before sending the flail, turning the stalwart defensive structure into a shower of splinters that sent Maleficent's minions running. Quickly followed by Taivas landing on the shield with a roll, before slashing at a nearby minion, sending it spiraling into darkness.

[i][color=6ecff6]"I need a Hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night!
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!"[/color]
[color=fff79a]"Fresh[/color] [color=7bcdc8]from the[/color] [color=silver]fight!"[/color][/i]

As minions started surrounding them, Taivas brought the Shield of Hope to bare, pointing it at the crowd between him and the entrance to the tower where Maleficent kept her prisoners. The eye in the middle of the shield opened and a beam of light blasted a horde of minions to pieces.

[i][color=6ecff6]"I need a hero![/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup] [color=6ecff6]I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light!"[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Hero[/color] [color=fff79a]till the[/color] [color=silver]mornin'[/color][/sup]
[color=6ecff6]He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
and he's gotta be larger than life! larger than life"[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup][/i]

Rolling over Taivas using the shield to hold his weight, Zen-Aku spun around, launching the Elephant Flail straight at the door, smashing it to pieces again. Finally, the weapon Master Phant gave him was really coming into its element. They set off at a run as Taivas slashed at the minions that tries to dogpile them... He wanted to call on the dark magics he had learned, but right now... He wasn't quite sure about that... Rushing up the stairs, Zen put his weight into Taivas' back as Taivas held the shield up, the pair using it as a battering ram to push through the hordes desperately trying to get up the stairs to stop them. Minions flying off the stairway and smashing into puffs of black smoke as they hit the floor bellow.

[i][color=6ecff6]"Somewhere after midnight in my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach, there's someone reaching back for me[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Someone[/color] [color=fff79a]reaching[/color] [color=silver]back[/color][/sup]
[color=6ecff6]Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It's gonna take a Superman to sweep me off my feet!"[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup] [/i]

Finally making it to the top of the stairs, the pair rushed towards the cell door and looked in. Philip was still there. [color=bc8dbf]"Get up, Prince, your maiden needs you."[/color] Zen ordered. Taivas quickly performed the unlocking spell with his Keyblade, the locks to the door and Philips manacles springing open. As Philip opened the door, Taivas handed him the Shield of Hope.

[color=00aeef]"You'll need this more than i will."[/color] He said, Philip pulled the shield up his arm and drew the sword, smiling at his compatriots.

[color=f26522]"Thank you, my friends."[/color] He replied. Dotty's spirit floated around his head, blowing him a kiss. Philip looked rather confused by this, but quickly decided not to dwell. Rushing back to the stairs, they looked down to see another horde rushing up. Philip pointed to a hole in the wall, rushing over they looked down to see a pile of rubble they could slide down. The three jumped and slid down.

[i][color=6ecff6]Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear there is someone somewhere watching me
Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach like a fire in my blood[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Like a[/color] [color=fff79a]fire in[/color] [color=silver]my blood![/color][/sup] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Like a[/color] [color=fff79a]fire in[/color] [color=silver]my blood![/color][/sup] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup][/i]

Reaching the bottom of the wall, the Fairies quickly conjured Spectral mounts for each of them. A [url=https://www.rangercentral.com/database/2002_wildforce/images/prwf-ar-lunarcycle.jpg]Motorcycle for Zen-Aku[/url] a [url=https://www.finalfantasyd20.com/wp-content/uploads/goldchoco.png]brilliantly shining gold Chocobo for Taivas[/url] and a [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/powerrangers/images/1/1c/MSM-Unigolon.png/revision/latest?cb=20210921210629]Brilliant white, robotic Unicorn for Philip.[/url] Each of them landing perfectly upon their mounts as they began their escape.

Making their way out, Minions pushed boulders off of the gantries to try and impede them, but Zen-Aku was quick to draw the Cresent Moon blade and with one slash, the rocks were reduced to pebbles. As they made their way out, a flash of green magics repaired the drawbridge to cut them off, but Taivas was on it. [color=00aeef]"STOP FOR NOTHING!!!"[/color] He roared, slashing at the chains holding the bridge up with his keyblade, his blade sliced expertly through them, like a hot knife through butter. The drawbridge smashing down to allow the trio's escape.

Riding through the countryside and towards Steffan's castle [i][sup][color=7bcdc8]He[/color][color=fff79a]ro[/color][color=silver]oo![/color][/sup][/i] hoofbeets, birdfeet and rubber pounding the dirt as they flew towards destiny. But a great roar of anger could be heard over the horizon. Dodging lightning bolts, the trio did their best to keep ahead of the witch. Then they heard it over the music.

[i][color=39b54a]"The Forest of Thorns shall be your tomb!
Through the skies of a fog of doom!
Now go with a curse and serve me well!
'Round Steffan's castle, cast my spell!"[/color][/i]

[i][color=6ecff6]"I need a Hero! I'm holding out for a hero till the end of the night!
He's gotta be strong and he's gotta be fast
and he's gotta be fresh from the fight!"[/color]
[color=fff79a]"Fresh[/color] [color=7bcdc8]from the[/color] [color=silver]fight!"[/color][/i]

As they crested the hill, they spotted a black fog descend over the castle and turn into a forest of rose-bushes with razor-like thorns. As they neared it, they began hacking their way through the dense thicket. Taivas watched as Zen-Aku's Cresent Moon Blade, a weapon forged from the darkness that he himself came from seemed to be having a hard time cutting through, as opposed to Philips blade, forged from the very fires of hope itself seemed to practically melt through the evil vines. Focussing on his Keyblade, he managed to begin cutting with ease as well. Finally making it a bridge over the moat surrounding the castle, Philip set off at a charge on his unicorn, Zen-Aku and Taivas hot on his heels. Juggernauting their way towards the open drawbridge, in a flash of briliant yellow, purple and green magics, she appeared before them, a face of purest fury.

[i][color=6ecff6]"I need a hero![/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup] [color=6ecff6]I'm holding out for a hero till the morning light!"[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Hero[/color] [color=fff79a]till the[/color] [color=silver]mornin'[/color][/sup]
[color=6ecff6]He's gotta be sure and it's gotta be soon
and he's gotta be larger than life! larger than life"[/color] [sup][color=7bcdc8]Oooo[/color][color=fff79a]oooo[/color][color=silver]oooh[/color][/sup]
[color=6ecff6]"I NEED A HEROOO!!!"[/color][/i]

Throwing her arms wide, she began channeling all of the magic she seemed to be able to pull from this land. [color=39b54a]"NOW SHALL YOU DEAL WITH ME, OH PRINCE! AND ALL OF THE POWERS OF HELL!!!"[/color] Exploding in a burst of pure black magics and green fire, she ascended into the atmosphere before them, her body becoming scaley, the snout elongating with terrible sword-like teeth, wings of sackcloth that beat a terrible hurricane and claws of the fingers of death. A great dragon stood between them and the castle. The cackle of utter cruelty flickering from that terrible, yellow, snake-like tongue.

[color=00aeef]"Go, Philip, we'll deal with her.[/color] Taivas roared, steadying his steed.

[color=f26522]"I cannot just abandon you, my friends."[/color] He replied.

[color=bc8dbf]"It's not abandoning. If you deliver that kiss, she's finished. What happens to us is inconsequential!"[/color] Zen replied, reving the engine. The 3 fairies adopted their fully human forms, striking their pose.

[color=7bcdc8]"Y!"[/color]
[color=fff79a]"R!"[/color]
[color=silver]"P!"[/color]

[color=7bcdc8]"IT'S[/color] [color=fff79a]SHOW-[/color][color=silver]TIME!"[/color]

[color=39b54a]"Well, what do you know? The 6 of you may present something of entertainment?"[/color] The dragon chuckled, before letting loose a torrent of green flames towards them.