Chapter Text
Lana and Lola jumped into the Warp Pipe and were instantly pulled into a swirling vortex of light. The sensation of falling through space and time lasted only a few moments before they landed on solid ground with a thud.
They looked around. They were on a massive, circular battlefield, surrounded by an endless abyss. The air crackled with energy, and the ground beneath their feet pulsed with a dark, malevolent power. At the far end of the platform stood Morag, her face twisted in anger and disdain.
"So, you've come back," Morag hissed, her voice dripping with venom. "I thought you two died after I summon the big Bob-omb back in our last fight."
Lana stepped forward, her fists clenched. "This ends now, Morag. We're here to stop you and take Lincoln back!"
Morag's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You think you stand a chance against me? After everything I've done to you, you still don't know your place." She reached into her cloak and pulled out the Starstone, the powerful artifact that had been the source of her strength all along.
Unexpectedly, Morag lifted the stone to her mouth and swallowed it whole.
Lola's eyes widened in shock. "What—what did she just do?"
Lana's heart raced as they watched Morag's body begin to change. Her skin shimmered with an otherworldly light as her form started to grow. Massive wings sprouted from her back, ripping through her cloak. Horns twisted from her head, curving upward like those of a great beast. A long, jagged tail lashed out behind her, slamming into the ground with a deafening crash.
Morag had transformed into a terrifying human-dragon hybrid.
"You wanted a hard fight?" Morag growled, her voice now a deep, guttural rumble. "Then I'll give you the last fight you'll ever have."
Lana and Lola exchanged a glance, fear and determination swirling in their eyes. This was it—the final battle.
Morag wasted no time. She lunged at them with incredible speed, slamming her clawed fist into the ground. The impact sent shockwaves rippling across the battlefield. Lana and Lola barely managed to jump out of the way, but the force of the shockwave sent them tumbling backward.
"Stay focused!" Lana shouted as she quickly got back to her feet. "We can't let her corner us!"
Morag unleashed a stream of fire from her mouth, the flames shooting high into the air before raining down as red and blue fireballs. The twins dodged as best they could, but the battlefield was quickly becoming a chaotic storm of flames and crumbling platforms.
Lola spotted one of the spiked orbs nearby, a familiar weapon from their previous battles with Lela. "We've got to use those!" she called to her sister.
"I see it!" Lana replied, darting toward the orb. Morag was ready for them, though. She leapt into the air, her wings spreading wide as she came crashing down, sending another shockwave through the ground. The platform cracked beneath her, and pieces of it began to fall away into the abyss.
"We have to move fast!" Lola yelled, grabbing the spiked orb. "She's breaking the battlefield!"
Lana circled behind Morag, watching as her tail lashed back and forth. She knew what they had to do. "Lola, throw it now!"
Lola heaved the spiked orb toward Morag, aiming for her exposed back. It struck her squarely, and Morag roared in pain, staggering forward. Her wings flared out as she turned to face them, fury burning in her eyes.
"That's one," Lana muttered, knowing it wasn't over yet.
Morag growled low, the ground beneath them trembling. "You think that's enough to stop me? I am power incarnate!"
She leaped high into the air, but this time, when she landed, the entire outer edge of the battlefield began to crumble, breaking away to form a jagged, star-shaped platform. The twins were now on much more precarious footing.
"Stay sharp!" Lana called as she dodged another burst of flames. Morag's attacks were becoming more aggressive, but the twins noticed something—after each attack, Morag's movements became more sluggish, more predictable. They just had to outlast her.
The second spiked orb appeared, and Lola wasted no time grabbing it. Morag was preparing another shockwave attack, but Lola used the momentary pause to launch the orb directly at her. It collided with Morag's side, and this time, the dragon-woman stumbled, clutching her ribs in pain.
"Two down!" Lola shouted.
But Morag wasn't done yet. She let out a deafening roar, the sound reverberating through the crumbling battlefield. "I will not be defeated by children!" she bellowed, her voice a thunderous echo. Flames erupted from her mouth, and the fireballs rained down with renewed intensity. This time, they split into smaller blue sparks upon hitting the ground, adding an extra layer of danger as the twins dodged and weaved through the chaos.
The battlefield was barely holding together, with pieces of it falling away into the abyss. The final spiked orb appeared on the platform, and Lola knew this was their last chance.
"We need to hit her one more time!" she called to Lana.
Lana nodded, already moving toward the orb. But as she reached it, Morag swung her massive tail, knocking Lola off her feet and sending her tumbling toward the edge.
"Lana!" Lola screamed, rushing toward her sister. She grabbed Lana's hand just as she was about to fall into the void, pulling her back onto the platform.
"Thanks," Lana panted, shaking off the daze. "Let's finish this!"
With a burst of adrenaline, the twins worked together. Lana ran in a wide arc around Morag, distracting her while Lola grabbed the last spiked orb. Morag, enraged and disoriented, swung wildly at Lana, her claws missing by mere inches.
Lola hurled the spiked orb with all her strength, aiming for Morag's tail. The orb struck true, and Morag let out a final, blood-curdling scream as she collapsed to the ground.
The battlefield shook violently as the outer edges crumbled completely, but Morag's body remained still. Her dragon wings fell limp, her tail curling weakly around her.
For a moment, there was silence. Then, with a blinding flash of light, Morag's form reverted to her human shape. She lay defeated in the center of the ruined platform, her once intimidating dragon features gone, replaced by the weary face of a woman who had fought for too long. Her breathing was labored, her eyes no longer filled with anger, but a quiet resignation.
Lana and Lola approached cautiously, still on guard, but Morag made no move to attack. Instead, she slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position, looking at the twins with a strange mixture of sadness and respect.
"I suppose it's over, then," Morag said, her voice hoarse. She reached into her throat, grimacing, and after a moment, she coughed up the Starstone, the magical gem rolling onto the ground. "Here… take it. And the jumbo star as well."
The jumbo star appeared before the twins, shining with an intense golden glow, signifying their final victory. But before they grabbed it, Lana stepped forward.
"Morag… what now?" Lana asked softly. "You don't have to keep living like this. You could come back with us, face what you've done, and maybe start over."
Morag gave a bitter chuckle, shaking her head. "You're kinder than I deserve, but no. I don't belong in your world anymore. I chose this path, and I'll stay here, in this quiet place, far from everything. Let me be."
Lola exchanged a glance with Lana, then nodded. "If that's what you want… we'll leave you alone. We won't bother you again."
Morag looked up at the twins, her expression softening for the first time. "Thank you," she said quietly. "And… your brother. You can free him now. All the power stars you've gathered, use them on the painting. He'll be released."
Lana and Lola both nodded. They had what they came for, and Morag had made her choice. There was nothing more to say. The twins grabbed the jumbo star, feeling its immense power surge through them. In an instant, their caps transformed into Wing Caps, their feathers shimmering as they prepared to fly back to the castle.
"Goodbye, Morag," Lana said, giving her one last look. "Take care."
With that, the twins took to the air, soaring above the crumbling battlefield. As they flew higher and higher, the swirling void around them faded away, replaced by the warm sunlight of the castle's courtyard.
They landed gently on the grass, their caps returning to normal as the magic of the jumbo star dissipated. Angus was waiting for them, his face lighting up when he saw them return safely.
"Thank the stars! You're back!" Angus cried, rushing over to them. "But… where's Morag? What happened?"
Lana handed him the Starstone, the gem glowing faintly in her hand. "She's staying behind," she explained. "Morag doesn't want to come back. She'd rather stay in that world, alone."
Angus took the Starstone, his face falling as he listened. "I see… well, I suppose that's her decision to make. It's a sad fate, but maybe it's for the best."
Lola placed a hand on his arm. "She won't bother us anymore. The fight's over."
With that, the three of them headed back into the castle, their footsteps echoing in the grand halls. They made their way to the room where the cursed painting of Lincoln hung, still glowing faintly with dark magic. This was it—the moment they had worked so hard for.
"Are you ready?" Angus asked as they approached the painting.
The twins nodded. "Let's save him."
Lana and Lola raised the jumbo star and their 120 power stars, holding them toward the painting. The stars glowed brighter and brighter, their combined light overwhelming the darkness that had trapped Lincoln for so long. The magic swirled around the painting, and with a sudden, brilliant flash, the curse was broken.
Lincoln was released.
He fell gently from the painting, landing on his feet in front of his sisters. For a moment, he looked disoriented, as if he had just woken up from a long dream. Then, his eyes locked onto Lana and Lola, and a wide smile spread across his face.
"Lana! Lola!" he cried, rushing forward.
The twins were already in tears as they threw their arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace. "Lincoln!" they sobbed in unison. "We missed you so much!"
"I missed you too," Lincoln said, hugging them back just as tightly. "You guys… you saved me. I knew you two can do it."
Lana wiped her tears, laughing through her sobs. "Of course we did. We weren't going to leave you behind."
Lola nodded, her voice shaky. "We fought so hard for you, Lincoln. We collected every star, faced Morag… and we did it. We brought you home."
Lincoln pulled back slightly, looking at both of his sisters with pride. "I'm so proud of you two. You're amazing. You really are."
Angus watched the reunion with a smile, wiping a tear from his eye. "This calls for a celebration, don't you think?"
Lincoln laughed, nodding. "I think so, too."
But before they could celebrate, there was still one more task. Angus led them to the engine room, where the massive Star Engine awaited. The twins and Lincoln placed all of the power stars they had collected into the engine, watching as the stars merged into the machine. Finally, Angus placed the Starstone back in its rightful place.
With a loud hum, the engine roared to life, glowing brightly as its magic spread throughout the castle. The paintings, once cursed and dangerous, returned to normal, their enchantments broken. The castle was finally free of Morag's influence.
"It's done," Angus said, his voice filled with relief. "The castle is back to normal and we won't see Morag again since she stuck in another world forever."
The twins looked at each other, smiling with satisfaction. They had done it. Together, they had saved Lincoln, restored the castle, and defeated Morag.
As they stepped outside into the warm sunlight, Lincoln looked at his sisters and grinned. "So… what now?"
Lana and Lola exchanged glances, both of them still feeling the lingering exhaustion from their adventure, but the happiness of having their brother back made everything seem brighter.
"Well," Lana said, stretching her arms above her head, "we were thinking about taking a long nap, but first..." She turned to Angus with a curious smile. "You mentioned something about a cake?"
Angus, who had been waiting by the entrance with a knowing grin, nodded. "Aye, I did. While you two were out there collecting stars and saving the world, I thought we'd need something to celebrate with. So, I whipped up the best cake I've ever baked."
Lola's eyes lit up. "Cake?! Oh, that sounds amazing right now!"
"Lead the way, Angus!" Lincoln chimed in, his excitement matching his sisters'. "After everything we've been through, I think we deserve a big slice."
The group made their way back inside the castle, heading toward the kitchen. The air was filled with the delicious smell of vanilla and fresh frosting. When they entered the kitchen, the sight before them made them all pause for a moment—on the counter sat the most beautiful cake they had ever seen. It was tall, with several layers, and frosted with rich white icing. Delicate fruits and colorful sprinkles decorated the top, along with little sugar stars that glittered in the light.
"Wow," Lana whispered, eyes wide. "Angus, this looks incredible!"
"You really outdid yourself," Lola added, already imagining how it would taste.
Angus chuckled, looking a bit bashful. "Ah, well, I just wanted to make something special for all of ye. You deserve it." The twins and Lincoln didn't need to be told twice. They each grabbed a slice, and as they took their first bites, their faces lit up with joy.
"This is amazing!" Lincoln said, his mouth full of cake. "I didn't know cake could taste this good."
Lola nodded in agreement. "This is the best cake ever, hands down!"
The three of them sat at a long table, plates piled high with cake and glasses filled with lemonade. Laughter filled the air as they swapped stories of their adventures, the trials they faced, and the friends they had made along the way. Each slice of cake was a sweet reminder of their triumphs and the bonds they had strengthened.
After the last bite was savored, the mood turned slightly more somber. Lincoln looked around the castle's courtyard, taking in the vibrant colors of the flowers and the sounds of the fountain bubbling nearby. "I guess this is it, huh? Time to head back to Royal Woods," he said, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"Yeah," Lana replied, her gaze drifting toward the horizon. "It's going to be strange not being here anymore. I'll miss these amazing worlds and all the adventures we had."
Lola nodded, her eyes shimmering with a hint of sadness. "Me too. Every world was like stepping into a dream. I wish we could explore more."
Lincoln sighed, the weight of regret settling on his shoulders. "I wish I hadn't gotten trapped in that painting. If I hadn't, I could've been out there with you, collecting stars and having fun."
"Next time, Lincoln," Lana reassured him, reaching over to squeeze his hand. "There will be more adventures, and one day, you might join us."
"Yeah," Lola chimed in, her eyes brightening at the thought. "We'll make sure you get to experience it all! Just imagine—flying through the skies, solving puzzles, and meeting new friends together."
Lincoln smiled, his spirits lifting at the idea. "You really think so?"
"I know so!" Lana exclaimed. "We'll bring you to our adventure when we get one."
"Definitely," Lola added, her enthusiasm infectious. "Adventure isn't the same without you."
As they gathered their things, Angus joined them, holding a small bundle wrapped in colorful paper. "Here's a little something for the journey back," he said, handing it to the twins. "It's a care package filled with snacks and little trinkets to remember your time here."
The twins beamed, grateful for Angus's thoughtfulness. "Thank you, Angus!" they chorused.
With everything packed, the trio made their way to the docks, where a magnificent sailboat awaited them, its white sails billowing gently in the breeze. The sight of the ship brought a renewed sense of excitement and adventure, but also a bittersweet farewell.
As they climbed aboard, Lincoln took one last look at the castle. "Goodbye. Thanks for everything."
"Goodbye, Angus!" the twins called out in unison.
Angus waved, a smile on his face despite the twinge of sadness in his eyes. "Safe travels, my friends! And remember, you'll always have a home here!"
With the sails unfurling and the wind guiding them, the boat slipped away from the dock, leaving the castle behind. The sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink as they sailed toward their home.
The End.