Eleanor could scarcely believe their insane luck. One minute they're booking it through the Wicked Witch of the North's twisted ice covered castle, the next they've somehow activated a portal and tumbled out at the literally mythical Peak of Faerie?!
Getting to her feet, Eleanor helped Shane up as they both gawked at the crazy beautiful scene around them - a bridge of glowing ice crystals suspended in outer space connecting to a mega sparkling tower. It was like Vegas on celestial acid out here.
"Are you seeing this insanity too?" Eleanor whispered. Shane just nodded, wide-eyed.
Then some tall glowy figure started gliding toward them across the bridge and Eleanor's nerves kicked into overdrive. Please be friendly, please be friendly...
But the angular face studying them intently as he approached seemed more curious than pissed. The ice blue gown and angular crown also kinda screamed 'Not a Demon Lord' so that was positive.
Stopping a polite distance away, the crowned ice kingdom elf dude inclined his head.
"Greetings, visitors. I am Oriander, Keeper of this realm." His voice reminded Eleanor of wind chimes. "Might I ask how you managed to activate a gate reserved for my messengers?"
Before Eleanor could get her thoughts together, Shane piped up eagerly. "Well sir, I recognized some similar mechanics shared between this gate's crystal relays and our transport platforms back home. So I figured out how to mimic an authorization sequence by-"
"Yes yes, no need for technical explanations," Eleanor interrupted, giving Shane a curt nod. She turned back to Oriander with an apologetic shrug. "Sorry to literally crash your realm. We're in a tight spot being chased by an evil witch queen."
"Ah, the Dread Queen of Shadowfell," Oriander nodded sagely. "A most vicious entity indeed." He peered more closely at Eleanor, ethereal eyes widening slightly.
"And you my dear lady...might you be Queen Eleanor of Eldoria by chance?"
Eleanor blinked in surprise. "Uh yeah, that's me. Have we met or something?"
The floated dude King Oriander smiled mysteriously. "In a sense. Your arrival was long foretold. We guardians have watched your trials with interest." His eyes glinted. "That is quite the formidable mage you squared off against."
"No kidding," Shane muttered. "She's got freaky monsters on tap down there. We barely escaped by the skin of our teeth after she caught me trying to rescue Eleanor here."
"Which we greatly appreciate, by the way," Eleanor said, squeezing Shane's hand with a grateful smile. She turned back to Oriander. "So what now? Can you zap us back home through another magic doorway thingy?"
"I cannot interfere directly in your realm," Oriander intoned. "But your quest to defeat the Dread Queen aligns with destiny's course. So I shall impart an ancient gift to aid you."
He waved a gloved hand and a glowing ice scepter encrusted with runes appeared hovering before Eleanor. "This was wielded by the first Eldorian monarch. It will enhance your frozen magic tenfold when the hour is darkest."
Eleanor reverently accepted the scepter, feeling power thrumming within her chest. Shane whistled appreciatively. "Dang, that's some seriously badass hardware!"
Eleanor lifted her gaze with newfound determination. "We won't squander this gift. It's time to take the fight back to the witch's lair...and end her darkness for good!"
Shane cracked his knuckles with a fierce grin. "Too right! We're busting back in guns blazing, tech Engine style. That old corpse picked the wrong enemies to mess with!"
Eleanor nodded firmly, hefting the scepter. "Then let's do this...partner." Their unified resolve shone brighter than the celestial realm around them. The showdown awaited.
As Oriander conjured a shimmering portal back to their world, Eleanor clenched her mystical new scepter anticipating the coming battle. "That witch isn't gonna know what freakin' hit her when we storm back in guns blazing now!"
"You got that right, partner!" Shane agreed fiercely. "I'll rig up some sweet explosive surprises from my gear to provide cover too." His mechanical eye was already assessing resources.
But Oriander held up an angular hand in warning. "Do not underestimate the Dread Queen's cunning. She has ensnared countless challengers across the ages within her deceptive web." His eyes flashed urgently. "You must unbalance her by targeting the source of her dominion.
Eleanor's excitement dimmed at the grave reminder. "You mean that freaky dark well she uses to summon demons and crap? Yeah...that thing totally gives me the creeps." She shivered at the memory.
"Without its malignant power, her magics shall weaken substantially," Oriander confirmed. He traced an intricate sign in the air, transferring shimmering runes into Shane's monocle and Eleanor's scepter. "These spells shall reveal unseen energies - use them to find any vessel anchoring the well's force."
Shane grinned, cycling through new visual modes. "Excellent! We'll sniff out whatever is juicing up that nightmare vortex and smash it to pieces!" But Eleanor caught Oriander's subtly worried look as the portal opened.
Clenching her jaw, she steeled herself with Shane at her side. Maybe stealing the witch's mojo source wouldn't be enough...but failure clearly wasn't an option with both their world and this ethereal realm depending on them.
Whatever that corpse-faced hag threw their way next, Eleanor silently swore not to hold back. For Shane, for Eldoria's people, she would rip this dark empire up by its very roots!
***
Weapon and spells primed, Eleanor and Shane stepped through the shimmering portal, ready for the witch's lair. The air crackled with magical energy as they scanned for the anchor powering her darkness.
There! A pulsing black orb hovered by the shadowy well, fueled by captive spirits. With a nod, the partners unleashed their arsenal. Explosions rocked the witch's defenses as they struck the orb with magical lightning.
The Dread Queen shrieked, shadows swarming in rage. But Eleanor and Shane fought towards the fractures now webbing the dark anchor. With a final heave, their combined powers shattered its husk, releasing the trapped souls.
A deafening roar erupted as the shadow vortex collapsed, its master's spells dissolving. But the witch turned on them, madness in her eyes. This battle was not yet won.
Gripping her scepter, Eleanor faced the wavering villain. "Your darkness ends here!" she declared. At her side Shane aimed every weapon at the creature who had tormented Eldoria for so long. No matter what came next, it ended now.