Team Lilac's victory over the Sky Battalion is cut short as Zao's Airship begins to fall out of the sky, having substained too much damage from the attack. They hang on for dear life as they fall down into the Valley Region.
Hang onnn!
NNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!
The Airship lands safely in a river, and is still intact enough to stay afloat. Lilac, who had fallen into the water, swims back onto the ship, while Carol clings onto a high rope, Milla stumble backwards before landing on all fours and Torque sitting down.
Huh. So that's why your airships are boat-shaped. . .
Lilac is looking to the hills next to Torque, while Carol lays on the deck. She is furious, realizing that Zao had deceived them.
Our leaders are too brain-dead to pay attention to anything but themselves!
*sighs* Never mind. I'm just. . .
I don't know.
It's alright.
Torque steps near the front of the ship to look around.
How far is the closest city?
Shang Tu is just a few miles east. The river should take us there.
We'll give that panda guy an update on our situation. The Magister might be able to help.
I hope he believe us. . .
Lilac notices that Milla has gone to the back of the Airship again and goes to check on her. She finds her sitting by herself and draining water out of her ears.
Things have been pretty crazy so far, huh?
Yeah. . .
Lilac begins to show concern for Milla again, recalling the wish the young Hound made last night, so she sits down next to her.
How long have you been away from your parents?
I'm not sure. . . it feels like a really long time.
And you've been alone in the woods ever since?
Yeah. . .
I hope this doesn't sound weird, but. . . that's kind of impressive.
Arriving at the Royal Palace in Shang Tu, the Team is greeted by General Gong & the Bird Guard. Torque is shown to be in his Shellduck disguise once again.
My friends! How did the negotiations fare?
Prince Dail took the stone.
We need to speak to the Magister immediately.
*sighs* I see. . . Very well, then. He deserves to know.
Gong escorts the Team to the Audience Chamber to meet with the Magister, bowing before him upon entering the room. At the same time, Lady Neera enters the room.
It's been taken by a warlord named Brevon. He's been manipulating the three kingdoms into waging war.
And you have proof of this?
Torque pulls out a fragment of the Robopanther and presents it to the Magister.
This is a fragment from one of Brevon's machines. Have your scientists examine it. You'll find that it's mineral composition doesn't match anything that's built on your world.
The Magister attempts to get a closer look at the fragment, but a suspicious Neera stops him from doing so.
Wait! Don't touch it.
Neera steps forward before everyone.
This theory you have of a man from another world sound highly suspicious, at best.
If you would allow me to explain, Magister, I have a different theory in mind.
Proceed.
This is nothing but an attempt from Mayor Zao to cover up the atrocities he committed against our Kingdom Stone. He must've offered you a generous reward to come here and make up this ridiculous story. Afterall, you can't resist money, Sash Lilac and Carol Tea.
And you know our names because. . . ?
You were quite the fortune teller yesterday. So I couldn't resist doing a background check. Not only have the two of you been stealing crystal shards, you been working for the same group that claimed responsibility for the stone's theft. . .
The Red Scarves.
Neera shows a WANTED Poster of Lilac & Carol to everyone in the room, much to Lilac & Carol's shock.
Hey, look Lilac! It's our identical twin sisters!
They're criminals and spies, your excellency.
Neera steps back after presenting her theory.
Is this true?
We were just -
Wait.
Lilac steps forward in front of the Magister.
Magister, we're no longer members of the Scarves.
It was a long time ago.
We did what had to to survive.
The Magister turns away for a moment. Afterwards, he reaches a conclusion.
Detain them until further notice. Make sure the Commander and his "evidence" are properly quarentined.
On the Magister's command, Neera quickly spawns ice cages that trap the Team.
Heyheyheyhey! Easy!
Magister, please! We don't have time for this!
Your right. Take them away immediately.
Examine the fragment! Examine it!
The screen slowly fades to black as the Team is imprisoned. The Girls are now stuck in a prison cell, with Torque in a separate cell somewhere else. Carol angrily claws at the cell bars, furious at Neera's interference.
It has come to my attention that there are still Chasers among us. We must neutralize them.
Syntax moves next to Brevon and displays an image of Torque and Team Lilac, whom Brevon believes are also Chasers. Serpentine becomes infuriated by the image, likely recalling his recent encounters with them.
TSSSHAH! I'll get you, Commander!
Syntax changes the display to a map of Shang Tu, Team Lilac's current location.
Syntax
ACCORDING TO OUR INTELLIGENCE REPORTS, DIRECT INFILTRATION TO THE CITY WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT EXPOSING OUR OPERATIONS.
Brevon stands up from the the King's Throne and walks up to his troops.
As soon as they leave I want them dragged to our remote base. Do what ever it takes to bring them under our control.
Serpentine and the Shade Elites leave the Throne Room.
Shang Tu: Royal Palace (Night)[]
Milla continues to make her way though the palace sewers in search for Torque. Suddenly, an ice cage appears over head and traps her. Neera appears on the scene, having thwarted the Puppy's escape attempt.
What are you gonna do to me?
Relax, it is dishonorable to hurt small children.
Neera releases Milla from the ice cage.
Follow me.
Neera escorts Milla back to the prison cell, where Lilac & Carol watch Milla's face turn red from embarrassment from being caught.
Nice try.
Well there goes that plan. . .
I'm sorry. . .
As Neera starts to leave, Lilac runs up to the cell bars.
Wait!
Tell the Magister I want to confess!
What?!
Very well.
Neera leaves the dungeon to inform the Magister.
It's okay. I have an idea.
The sence changes to the Audience Chamber, where Lilac is presented to the Magister for her "confession".
So Torque has nothing to do with this. We forced him to help us against his will.
I see.
-Start of Blooper-
We shall establish a timtams currency exchange program.
Huh?
WE SHALL ESTABLISH. A TIMTAMS. CURRENCY EXCHANGE PROGRAM.
No, no, it's okay. I was just surprised, is all. Go ahead.
-End of Blooper-
Since you have displayed integrity in revealing this farce, I will release your friend. But this does not change your fate. You and your companions have lied to us, and in doing so have wasted our time and resources. You will remain imprisoned until I deem otherwise.
If I may make one last request. . . I want to say goodbye to him and apologize to him for the trouble I've caused.
Very well. Make it quick.
Lilac is alone in a room with Torque, who is released from quarantine.
I don't know what to say. . . we needed Shang Tu's support.
I know. . . but we can't do anything while we're all sitting behind bars.
We need more evidence.
But what about you guys?
We'll catch up to you.
Busting out here will be a piece of crab cake.
Shang Tu: Palace Exterior[]
Soon after Lilac returns to her cell, a segment of the prison wall in the Royal Palace is blown out as the Girls make good their escape into Jade Creek, with Lilac using her Dragon Boost, Carol having obtained her Motorcycle trough unknown means and Milla simply jumping out of the Palace.
As Team Lilac make their way through the creek, they find themselves being pursued by Neera and the STPD. A hovercraft, piloted by the Bird Guard, tries to freeze the Girls with ice missiles, but they manage to evade them. Eventually, they are confronted by Neera herself, who is determined to put the Girls' efforts "on ice".
You betrayed the law!
The Team fights Neera and manages to beat her back, forcing her to jump onto the hovercraft and go on ahead. Just then, a large submarine, controlled by Brevon's Forces, emerges from the Creek. After the Girls fight their way across the sub, they are confronted by Neera again.
Freeze!
The Team's second encounter with Neera is short lived, as an ice missile fired from the Bird Guard's hovercraft inadvertently hits Neera, freezing her in a block of ice. The Bird Guard, having a shocked expression on his face, takes the frozen Neera away, leaving the the Girls to continue their way to Torque.
-Boss Battle-
It begins to rain, and the Girls notices something quickly flying by: it was Brevon's personal Starship, the Absolution. By the time they reach Torque, he has already been knocked out and captured by Brevon's forces. Syntax carries the unconscious Torque into the Absolution.
No! STOP!!
STOP!
As the Absolution takes off and flies away, the Girls chase after it. Just then, Serpentine, who is itching for revenge, appears from behind and attacks them.
I've got you now!
Team Lilac battles Serpentine again and beats him back. Serpentine hops into his Gunship and deploys a pair of Shade Elites.
I've had enough of your kung-fu tricks!
Milla helps her friends by tossing a Life Flower to them and blocking the Shade Elite's shots with her Shield. After a fierce battle, either Lilac or Carol lands the finishing blow, destroying the Gunship. Despite yet another victory over Serpentine, the Girls stand in the rain, realizing that they failed to save Torque.
What do we do?
Lilac doesn't say a word and continues to look towards the horizon.
Lilac?
I don't know!
Lilac quickly realizes she yelled at Milla and turns her attention back to the horizon.
I don't know. . .
The situation has taken a turn for the worst. Both Torque and the Kingdom Stone are now in the hands of Lord Brevon, the Three Kingdoms are on the brink of Civil War, and with Team Lilac now wanted fugitives from the law, the fate and future of Avalice is looking grim.
(Lilac)
(Carol & Milla)