Been itching for some action? Whether the answer is yes or no, brace yourselves. Enjoy.
Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.
I'd like to thank the following users for reviewing the previous chapter: DragonEmperor999, CarvieCamfia2, danifan3000, xez2003, Descendants123
To danifan3000: Just wait and see.
CJ was out on her own, looking for her boyfriend Carlos. Right now, she's at Faraway Cove, chopping away at trees and bushes in a desperate rush to find the white-haired archer. After almost losing him to Mal last week, she didn't want him out on his own again. She would've stopped him earlier, but he insisted on doing this solo. She, however, insisted on following him. She doesn't know where he is, since the resistance transports in and out of the Isle using vanishing potions that can take anyone anywhere, but if she had to search for him all day, she would.
"That boy is so brave and so stupid at the same time," said CJ.
CJ continues to sneak through the woods just in case someone might see her. In a world ruled with villains, you can never turn a corner or take a nap without making sure you're safe.
"CJ!"
CJ turned around and pointed her sword at whoever called her. Fortunately, they were friendlies. Ben, Audrey, Chad, Lonnie, Jordan, and Scarlet.
"What are you guys doing here?" asked CJ.
"Eleanor said you snuck out to look for Carlos," said Ben.
"That snitch," CJ growled, making a mental reminder to talk to Eleanor later.
"You should've told us first," said
"I almost lost him before. I can't lose any of you too," said CJ.
"That's sweet," said Scarlet. "But he's my brother, CJ. If you were gonna bring some company with you, you should've come to me. I love and care for him as much as you do."
"No offense, Scarlet, but you don't know Mal," said CJ.
"What makes you so sure she even has him?" asked Chad.
"I'm not. But that's a worse case scenario I wish wouldn't happen," said CJ. "Just leave me alone."
"No," Ben insisted. "We're gonna help you look for him. Afterwards, we're gonna talk to you two about sneaking out without letting us know."
"Why? Because we're VKs?" CJ accused.
"Because we care about both of you. That's why we want you both safe," said Ben.
"Are you even sure Carlos was out for just food and supplies?" asked Lonnie.
"Trust me. I figured he was lying when he told me that, but all I care about now is finding him before someone else does," said CJ.
"Like we found you?"
The resistance jumps, startled, as they heard voices in the bushes. First to come out of the bushes is Harry Hook, followed by Uma and Gil. All resistance members get into their battle stances, preparing to fight the VKs.
"Seven of us and only three of you. Odds are in our favor," Chad said confidently.
"Guess again," said another voice in the bushes.
More VKs came out of the bushes. Freddie, Ginny, Claudine, Yzla, Hadie, and Mad Maddy, a.k.a. part of The Dragons, Mal's gang. That makes this battle nine to seven in favor of the villains.
"Now the odds are in our favor," said Uma.
"CJ," Harry greeted his younger sister casually.
"Harry," CJ greeted him casually.
"I thought you were dead," said Harry.
"Yeah, and odd that you never even cried about it," CJ said bitterly.
"Well, if you're working for them now, I may have no choice but to make sure you're in the ground for real," said Harry.
"No qualms about killing your own flesh and blood? I'm disappointed," said CJ.
"A traitor from the grave. The remains of the resistance's leadership. This is turning out to be quite a pleasant day," said Uma.
"It sure is."
Poofing into the area is Mal, accompanied by Evie and Jay. Make that twelve to seven in favor of the villains.
"Looking for Carlos, CJ?" Mal taunted.
"What did you to him?" asked CJ.
"Don't worry. He's safe... for now," said Mal. "But first, let's be smart. Twelve of us. Only seven of you. What are the chances either of you can walk away from this, least of all one survivor?"
"But you don't want that, do you?" Jay asked.
"No killing... not yet at least," said Mal. "I want them to have a public execution."
"Making an example of them, huh? Nice one," Uma said.
"Why, thank you, Uma," Mal replied.
"But we can leave some scratch marks, can we?" asked Freddie.
"Make them bleed, but make sure their hearts still beat," said Mal.
"How can you say that stuff without throwing up?" Jordan questioned, disgusted.
"You think that's disgusting? How about I rip your heart from your chest? Is that disgusting?" Mal replied with a sadistic smile.
"You're sick," Ben insulted.
"Aw, thanks," Mal said, pretending to feel touched by the insult.
"Ready when you are, Mal," said Freddie.
"Ready," Mal signaled.
Before the fight can begin, an arrow comes out of the shadows and heads straight towards Mal. She grabs it before it hit her face, but what's odd is that the arrow had a flat head. A red light blinks as the arrow starts beeping. It explodes and releases a smokescreen.
"Go! Now!" A voice in the woods said.
"Carlos?" CJ recognized.
"Go!" Carlos repeated.
Jordan was about to snap her fingers and teleport herself and her friends away, until she got zapped by a purple magic ball coming from within the smokescreen. It was Mal, who cleared the smokescreen with a simple wave of her hand. Now that the smoke is cleared, everyone can see who fired the arrow. It was, indeed, Carlos.
"What part of stay put did you not understand?" Mal asked angrily.
"That part where you're gonna kill my friends," said Carlos. "Hey, CJ."
"Hey," CJ greeted. "You're in big trouble when we get out of this."
"If you get out of this," said Evie. "You chances are not looking so high."
"Enough talk. Let's finish this," Harry said early.
And the battle begins. The VKs engage the resistance in a fight to the not-death, since Mal (the future ruler of Auradon) wants to use the resistance as an example. That doesn't mean the VKs are gonna hold back. Despite the disadvantage in numbers, the resistance fights with all they've got.
Mal and Uma double-team Ben.
Evie and Audrey engage in a princess-vs-princess sword fight.
Gil fights Chad.
Jay goes one-on-one against Lonnie.
Claudine and Ginny gang up against Scarlet.
Freddie and Yzla combine their magical talents against Jordan.
The two Hook siblings face each other.
Hadie and Mad Maddy decide to take on Carlos together.
CJ and Harry were evenly matched. CJ had no intention of holding back even though she's a hero now. CJ ducks under Harry's high swing and kicks him in the stomach. Harry blocks CJ's next swing, causing the two to get caught in a lock. They push hard in order to knock the other down. Harry's strength is superior, but CJ is resilient.
"I knew you were soft, CJ, but allying yourself with the resistance? You have lost it, sister," Harry said insultingly.
"I lost it? At least I opened my eyes to the truth, Harry," said CJ. "The resistance, they treat me like family despite their doubts. At least they know how to care about someone, unlike you and dad and Harriet."
Scarlet knew that a bow and arrow will not do well in up-close combat, so that's why her bow is made of reinforced carbon fiber, just like Carlos'. She uses it like a sword against both Claudine and Ginny, both whom were using daggers like swords.
"You may want to choose a more efficient weapon," Claudine mocked.
"The bow can handle swords and fire. I think I'm good," Scarlet replied.
"Then you're dead, Red," said Ginny.
"My hair is scarlet red, but I get the insult," said Scarlet.
Gil's smarts allow him to think even during battle. After dodging Chad's swing, he elbows Chad in the face and then kicks him on the hip. Gil points a sword at Chad's face to force him not to make another move.
"You're not so smart, are you?" Gil insulted. "Anticipate and calculate. Try it some time."
"Oh, like you're a smart fighter," Chad insulted.
"Uh, who here has a sword pointed at his face?" Gil retorted.
Jay was going easy on Lonnie as he underestimated her at first. Lonnie, on the other hand, was giving it all she's got. Jay was starting to feel overwhelmed by Lonnie's strength, speed, and skill. From high swings to spin swings, Lonnie's attacks were making Jay stumble backwards to the point where he almost falls.
"Whoa, you got spunk," Jay complimented.
"Think I'm just some pretty girl, street rat?" Lonnie replied.
"Well, I can't say you're ugly," said Jay.
"Your wife must be all kinds of ditzy to marry someone like you," Lonnie insulted.
Jordan was hiding behind trees to hide from incoming fire. Freddie threw magic cards at her. Yzla threw potion bottles at her. Hadie used dark magic to draw her out. Jordan had to keep teleporting from one tree to the other to avoid getting hurt.
"You're Genie's daughter, aren't you?" Freddie taunted. "Use your magic. C'mon!"
"Coward," Yzla insulted. "Too bad. I was hoping for more of a fight."
Jordan comes out of the tree and snaps her fingers, creating flashing magic smoke in front of the two VKs, temporarily blinding them. She decided to do something her father would do. She poofs up two water balloons and then throws them at the two VKs' faces. What they didn't expect is the water balloons releasing water that is ten times the volume that balloon could hold, soaking them and sending them floating down into the woods like a river.
"That better?" Jordan sassed.
Evie and Audrey are both princesses who are capable of defending themselves. Evie learned from her fellow VKs while Audrey trained with Ben. So far, Evie is showing herself to be better, striking left and right as fast as she can to keep Audrey from getting the chance to counter. Evie kicks Audrey hard in the knee before slashing a part of her hair off.
"Be glad I wasn't aiming for your head," said Evie.
"You don't fight fair," Audrey said, clutching her aching knee.
Hadie was using his dark magic against Carlos. Mad Maddy, in wolf form, chases Carlos through the woods. Carlos zipped from one tree to the next with his grappling arrows, all the while firing electric arrows and smokescreen arrows at the two VKs, trying to keep them off his back. Right now, Maddy is lying down temporarily immobile due to too much electricity in her system, while Hadie is coughing from too much smoke.
"Fight like a man, tinkerer!" Hadie taunted.
Carlos responds by tying up Hadie with a steel cable arrow.
"A man fights in his own way and sticks to his own way. Robin Hood taught me that," said Carlos.
Mal and Uma seem to be doing just fine against Ben. Strength in numbers and all that. Mal and Uma are taking turns swinging and kicking at Ben. The young future king can only block the incoming swings and kicks with his sword and arms, unable to find room or time to strike. Mal and Uma pull off a combo move together. Mal spins out from behind Uma and spin-kicks Ben in the stomach, giving Uma time to strike him in the face with her magical braids.
"Nice one," said Mal.
"I hope you still remember our triple-sea-slash comb," said Uma.
"Ah, pff... of course I do," Mal lied.
Ben's beastly fury gets to him as he continues to fight with his sword. It was just him versus Uma. Uma tries to stay on her feet, but Ben's rage-filled swinging was making it hard. First, he swings so hard that he has her stumbling sideways. Next, his next swing knocks her sword off her hand. Ben was about to make another move, until Mal blocks Ben's sword with her own.
"I think someone needs to cool off," Mal said jokingly.
"I'm not a damsel in distress, Mal," said Uma, a bit ticked that she was rescued.
Mal said, "Hey, if it wasn't for me..."
Mal does a little spin move with her sword still locked on Ben's and then kicks him down to the ground with force. She then helps her "BFF" up on her feet.
"You'd be down to four limbs, and I'm not talking about human limbs," Mal finished humorously.
"Hey, where're Freddie and Yzla?" Uma wondered.
"Genie's daughter sent them into the jungle with magical water," Jay said while still fighting Lonnie.
Jay ducks under all of Lonnie's swings, only to get roundhouse-kicked in the face.
"Wow, you hit really hard!" Jay complimented in spite the bruised jaw.
"For a girl, right?" Lonnie asked accusingly.
"My fiance fights like a warrior. I don't judge," Jay said. His jaw aches again and he says, "Ow."
"And where's De Vil?" asked Mal.
"The snow-haired loser? He followed Jordan into the woods," Evie answered while fighting Audrey.
Evie kicks Audrey's ankle before back-kicking her towards a tree, cornering her there.
"Uma, keep an eye on Prince Bennyboo. I gotta go find Carlos," Mal ordered.
"Why are so worked up about that traitor?" Uma asked.
"No one messes with my slave but me," said Mal.
"I still have that scar from last year," Gil said, pulling down his shirt collar to show said scar on his chest.
Carlos and Jordan are looking for Freddie and Yzla, both whom were "washed away" by Jordan's water balloons. Jordan searched by walking while Carlos kept zipping from one tree branch to the next with his grappling arrows. Jordan was not impressed.
"Do you have to keep showing off?" asked Jordan.
"Sometimes, having aerial advantage is key," said Carlos.
Suddenly, a trio of magically-charged cards fly straight at Carlos. He back-flips off the branch quickly, letting the cards hit another tree and damaging its bark badly. Another trio of magic cards zoomed towards the heroes, this time at Jordan. Jordan snaps her fingers and quickly blocked the cards with a magical shield.
"You're gonna pay for that lousy bath, She-Genie!" Yzla said vengefully.
"And you're so gonna pay for my hat," said Freddie, who lost her little top hat in the flood. "My dad's not gonna be happy if he finds out I lost it."
"Oh, just get a new hat," Jordan sassed.
Jordan snaps her fingers and poofs up magic sparkles that caused Freddie to sneeze and cough since they were at her face. Jordan snaps her fingers again and knocks down Yzla with a magical burst of sparkles. Unfortunately, Yzla threw a potion bottle at the same time. The bottle hits Jordan and covers her lower body in thick layers of ice. Thin layers of ice covered her upper body, which means she can't move.
"Leave everything to me, huh?" Carlos complained in a mocking kind of way.
Carlos draws back his bow and aims an arrow at Freddie. Before he could release the bow, something bit his shoulder. It was Mad Maddy, who is still a wolf. Before Carlos' situation could get worse, Maddy was knocked off the boy with a cloud of flashy sparkles. It looked like Jordan's work... only Jordan was still frozen.
Did I do that, Jordan wondered.
Suddenly, Mal poofed up next to Carlos. She grabs him and then poofs away with him.
"No!" Jordan cried. "CJ's gonna kill me."
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ ROTTEN TO THE CORE ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
On the other side of the woods, Mal cauterizes the bite marks on Carlos' shoulder with a little fire. He winced and screamed a little, but Mal tried to be as gentle as she could. As the flames burned his skin, Carlos' mind started to rattle like a wild animal in a cage again. More strange images popped into his head.
Mal shows him the truth gummy he asked for.
Singing, dancing, and creating chaos on the Isle with Mal, Evie, and Jay.
Disarming a security alarm at a museum while running away with Mal, Evie, and Jay.
"Carlos?" Mal called.
Carlos opened his eyes as soon as he heard Mal's real voice through his ears. She had finished cauterizing his wound ten seconds ago, but he still looked like as if his skin was being burned.
"You okay?" asked Mal.
"CJ... the others... we have to go back," Carlos said, worried.
"No, you're not going anywhere with your shoulder in that state," Mal said, concerned. "My magic is healing it, but slowly. "
"I can throw arrows like spears, and I still have one uninjured arm," said Carlos. "Mal, please, you promised you would protect me and my friends. Take me back to them."
"Ugh! Fine!" Mal gave up.
"But wait!" Carlos called as he grabbed her arm. "In case something bad happens..."
"No, don't ever say that," said Mal.
"Mal, please, listen," Carlos pleaded. "I just want to ask you... did we know each other before?"
"What?" Mal asked, confused.
"You once asked me if you did something to me that you didn't know about," Carlos remembered. "I've been getting these strange pictures in my head. The thing is, they feel like... memories. Memories of my past. A past that doesn't even exist, but somehow felt real."
As she processed the information she was given, Mal looked back to what could've caused this. The kiss on the cheek. Of course that was it. Half of a true love's kiss or whatever must've triggered his memories. But wait... Mal thought of something very important. Can I bring back everyone's memories of the old reality?
"And what would you say if I told you that we share a history you don't remember?" asked Mal.
"That there's more to this story than I've been led to believe," Carlos replied.
Unexpectedly, Mal kisses Carlos on the lips as she teleports them back to where the fight was. Carlos opens his eyes only to see that Mal was gone, probably having returned to the fight. Before he too could rejoin the fight, another image flashed in his head.
It was Christmas. Mal kissed him... on the lips.
"Who are you, Mal?" Carlos wondered.
Carlos stopped wondering when he noticed that five of his arrows were taken from his quiver.
Things were not looking good for the resistance.
Ben was proving himself as the superior swordsman, but Uma's temper was getting to her. After some angry screaming and some strong swings, she uses her magical braids to her advantage. She roped Ben's arm, disarms him, and then kicks him towards a tree. She used her braids as handcuffs for him.
Evie fights dirty again by kicking Audrey's heels, tripping her. Another thing that hasn't changed in this new world is Evie's unfair combat tactics.
Jay has been getting humiliated by Lonnie over and over again, but this time, he gets the advantage by stealing Chad's sword.
Speaking of Chad, he just lost to another sword fight with Gil, all thanks to the son of Gaston's quick-thinking and amazing thought-to-action skills.
Ginny's magically-charged dagger slices Scarlet's bow in half, allowing Claudine to beat her with a few swift kicks and a quick slash on the arm.
Meanwhile, in the woods, Jordan is still frozen. Freddie, Yzla, and Mad Maddy are still knocked out.
Harry's spin strikes were overwhelming CJ. She tried using her own spin moves, but ended up tripping herself. Harry now has his sword against her throat and her head is against a tree.
"You lost your flare, sister," said Harry.
"Stop calling me that," CJ growled.
Harry pokes her cheek with his hook in a threatening manner and strangely says, "I must say, they do give you quite the facial treatment."
"Well, a girl's gotta look foxy for her man," CJ replied casually.
"I think it's safe to say this is a win for us," said Uma. "Wouldn't you say, Prince Beasty Boy?"
"Unhand me, sea witch," Ben demanded.
"Hey, shut it," Uma snapped. "Don't make me feed you to the sharks. Or better yet, maybe I should feed you to the piranhas. All those teeth chattering at your face, I can only picture it."
"Man, Uma sure is different when she's not hanging around with Mal," Jay whispered to his fiance.
"We all have our personality shifts, my love," said Evie. "We're not all one-dimensional VKs."
"Okay, let's go and give Mal the good news," said Claudine. "I cannot wait to witness the execution..."
Once again, an arrow comes out of nowhere. This time, it was followed by three more arrows. An arrow was also planted at the spot where Jordan and the other VKs were. Two of the arrows at the main battlefield detonated and created another smokescreen while the other two caused flashy explosions. Everyone is blinded and forced to avert their eyes. In the woods, the arrow just covered Jordan in smoke. Once it cleared, she was gone.
And so were the rest of the resistance.
"What the heck?" Jay wondered.
All of a sudden, Jay was a magically lifted into the air and slammed face-first to a tree. Who else could be doing this? Mal. Carlos' unconscious body was seen by her feet.
"You idiotic, moronic imbeciles," Mal growled angrily. "I trusted you to do one thing. Win this fight. And you couldn't even do that?"
"Hey, that little slave of yours cost us the fight," Uma said, pointing a finger at the unconscious archer.
Mal walks up to Uma with that stoic but scary look on her face. Uma backed up a bit, but could not escape being met by Mal's glowing green eyes. Everyone stepped back in fear.
"Are you saying it's my fault, Uma?" Mal questioned.
"N-N-No," Uma answered, intimidated.
Mal releases Jay and turns her back on her fellow VKs. She grabs Carlos by the back of his shirt, dragging him deeper into the woods with her.
"Where are you going?" asked Evie.
"To blow off some steam," Mal answered.
Mal poofs away along with the unconscious white-haired archer.
"I'd hate to imagine what she'll do to him," said Hadie, who had just been released from his ties.
Ben wakes up after what felt like a long nap. The first thing he saw is that he's at a familiar place. It looked familiar alright, but different. Rundown ruins. Crystal blue waters. Shiny cliffsides. There's only one place in Auradon he knows that could stay in pristine condition in this bleak, villain-dominated world.
"The Enchanted Lake," Ben remembered. "But why am I here?"
"Well, well. Good morning, Mr. Sleepy Head."
Ben recognized that voice. It's the voice that reminds him of the one who killed his parents. The daughter of that someone, to be specific.
Mal.
"I think it's time you and me have an actual conversation," said Mal.
Gone through several chapters in this story of keeping Mal and Ben separated. But for the next one, it's gonna be mostly about their little conversation. What will she say to him? Will he listen?