Page 68 of Barbie: Dreamscape

And now my land is in danger. He holds the keys. He has the necklaces. He has everything.

The girl might not have magic here, a voice says from the darkness.

The lion guard.

But we do.

And all at once, the lord’s crown flies off his head and across the cell. My limbs come back to me just in time to catch it.

Lord Evernight bellows, his body twisting painfully as he shifts back into that monstrous being. His red eyes burn through the darkness. He lunges toward me. Toward his crown.

Just as all the golden barriers in the hall vanish. Including the one behind him.

And a wall of enchanted creatures rushes forward, every single one of them freed.

Lord Evernight gasps and turns. “Wait!”

Take the crown far away, a voice says.

And it isn’t the lion.

It’s Bartholomew. He’s leading the charge, alongside another group of winged creatures I saw imprisoned.

Now the reason he helped me from the start becomes clear. The reason he materialized now, on this night, to lead me into the masquerade, after so many years away.

He sends images through my mind. Of him, the king of Everland. Until, determining this place didn’t need a monarchy, he stepped down to let the people and animals rule themselves. But his previous right-hand adviser—Lord Evernight—didn’t want to give up his power.

He tricked Bartholomew and stole his crown, the most powerful relic in this land, and used its ability to create an endless masquerade that he invited all enchanted creatures to, its magical music sending them into a trance so he could draw from their powers. The masquerade became his own personal continuous influx of strength.

The people continued to live normally in the village, clueless about what was actually going on in the manor. Lord Evernight wasn’t interested in them.

And the enchanted creatures continued to attend, even knowing as they went that they may never return, just to see the friends that remained in the manor. There wasn’t anything they could do to stop Lord Evernight: When they tried to stand up to him, he threw them into the dungeons. When they tried to hide from the masquerades, he sent his guards to drag them from their homes in the forest.

Soon the enchanted creatures lost their will to fight. Bartholomew had all but given up on the idea that his friends would one day be freed.

When he saw me, someone from another land, who reminded him of wonder and hope, with keys on a necklace, he decided enough was enough.

I knew there was something special in you, he says, his voice coming into my head crystal clear over the din of the freed creatures. Now, go. Take that crown with you. And these.

I watch my necklaces cartwheel from the lord’s grip and careen toward my neck. The clasps latch back on securely, the chains magically repaired.

Thank you, Bartholomew, I say, strumming the charms with relief as, at last, pink light begins to pour through them, awakened by his magic.

Thank you, Barbie.

The crown in my hand lights up pink in return, and Everland begins to fade away, just as the enchanted creatures overtake Lord Evernight, who is screaming—

And I’m flying up out of the prisons, then careening forward.

Shooting stars rush all around me, falling in shrieking streams like rain. I can see the shadow of the next world closing in. It’s becoming clearer and clearer with every inch.

Dreamland. Finally.

Just before I make it there, a firm hand closes around my wrist, pulling me back.

Lord Evernight—

But when I turn around, it’s not him at all.