A/N: Thanks to Anne for beta help.
I do not own Austin & Ally.
"Cassidy? What are you doing here?" Austin demanded.
"I did say that you would lose them more than once," was the witch's simple reply.
The boys' grip on the girls tightened. "What is that supposed to mean?" questioned Austin.
The woman smirked coldly. "Oh, I am not going to hurt them…yet. I have plans involving more than just the princesses. I hope you will be ready…I will be back…very soon~" Her singsong voice then laughed a short malicious titter before she faded with the wind.
"What do you think she is up to?" asked Ally worriedly as the men paced around Mike's living room. It had been several days since Cassidy had appeared before them in the park.
Meanwhile the young child was wondering about the reality of it all. 'Time travel and portals? Spells and witches? Executions and conspiracies? WHAT?!'
Donna stared at Mike's face in concern, for his expression flitted from scepticism to disbelief to worry to pure confusion all within the span of a few seconds.
Dez was about to pitch an idea and opened his mouth to do so but was silenced indignantly by Trish's and Donna's simultaneous identical scowls; the two knew that Dez was probably going to suggest something silly.
Austin and Ally silently sniggered as they watched their interaction. It made sense that they were related now.
"Well, all of you seem to be having fun."
Everyone in the room jumped as they turned to see a blonde woman leaning against the wall in a corner of the room. Mike and Donna found her to be a stunningly beautiful lady.
"Cassidy!"
"I told you I would back very soon. Now that you and your descendants are here, what better time to completely destroy all of your existences in this timeline. I will handle your parents' demise by presenting them with your cold, dead bodies."
"Cassidy, please! Don't do this. You are one of our closest friends!" pleaded Ally.
The blonde female glared at the princess and the brunette was suddenly sent flying. Her body slammed against the back wall.
"Ally! Ally, are you alright?" Austin fussed over the brunette.
"I am fine, Austin," the princess reassured him as she grimaced slightly.
"Cassidy, stop this!" cried Dez.
"I just want everyone to be safe!" added Austin.
Cassidy scoffed coldly. "You want this, you want that. I wanted my family, but they are no longer here. I wanted to find love and experience life and romance, but now no man will ever want me. You want people to be safe, but people die. You want to have happily ever after with your fiancées, but here you are. People often confuse the fact that they want something with the assumption that they will therefore, be happy once they get it."
"Your analysis makes no sense. Of course we will be happy if the general population and ones we love are safe and happy." Donna said bluntly.
"Do not patronise me," Cassidy replied in a deadly calm voice as she cast a cold glare upon the girl. Mike tugged Donna behind him.
"Getting rid of us is not going to lessen your hate, Cassidy," said Dez.
Cassidy smirked, her eyes void and emotionless. "Well then, let us find out shall we?" She took a step towards them as the men, and boy, stood in front of the girls.
"You think that you can protect the ones you love? Think again."
"Cassidy, your actions will only help to justify the actions of the perpetrators who destroyed your family. They want to destroy you too! They want everyone to think you are a rogue witch who killed the royal family because you and your family's 'scam' got exposed and that you wanted revenge against the 'justice' that was served!"
Cassidy, breathing deeply, glared at Austin before looking down at the floor, her hair shielding her face as she seemed to contemplate his words.
The group glanced at each other, wondering if there was any way of escape or if Cassidy would relent.
The sudden cackling laughter of Cassidy's filled the space. "Naïve fools. This isn't over!"
The four became visibly nervous as there was a flash of darkness before Cassidy stood there before them with bloodthirsty eyes, the dagger in her hand at the neck of an unconscious Mike while the other held Donna in a stranglehold.
A calm voice and a gentle touch then intervened. "Cassidy, stop." (A/N: I really wanted to end it here but word count.)
"Dallas, what are you doing?" Cassidy dropped an unconscious Donna on the ground and shoved Dallas' gentle grip off her shoulder.
"Enough is enough."
"No! They destroyed my family, my happiness…I will not let them go scot-free!" she shouted.
"Listen to yourself. You are not this vengeful person that you have become. Your parents, your grandmother…they would not wish this upon you."
Cassidy glared at Dallas, her gaze still cold and unwavering, heaving slightly as her hand remained ready with the weapon.
"And you know perfectly well if the princes were capable of such acts. You were very close to the Moon and Wade families, you should be aware of their upright characters. They could not have done what you claimed that they have done. Do not let your hatred hamper your judgement!"
Cassidy's expression wavered slightly as her breathing hitched, her glare softening somewhat as she appeared to be thinking over his words, and the hand holding the weapon lowered.
She then scoffed and asked, "Why did you bother helping me if you think so fondly of the royal family then?"
"Because I love you."
Cassidy's gaze turned to shock briefly before hardening and going back to the look of hate that Dallas wished he could erase from the etched hurt of her heart.
"I should not have let things get this far. I apologise, your highnesses. Love made me a foolish and blind man," Dallas addressed the couples.
Turning back to Cassidy, he said, "I love you. I've loved you since I first met you at your debutante ball. I loved you so much that I lost sight of reality. I just wanted you to be happy, to be able to bring justice back to your family, so that you could smile beautifully again, just like you did when we first met."
"Well," Cassidy paused before speaking in a thick voice. "I am no longer that beautiful girl. I am nothing but a scarred criminal."
"You were and are still beautiful. Your beauty to me is not just unblemished skin, but your vibrant wonderful character, your beautiful voice, your resilience, your kindness and strength in standing up for the weak; your everything. If you could…" Dallas took a deep breath.
"If you could accept me, if I were there for you. If after everything, no matter what the consequences or what may happen from now on, I would be there by your side. It might not be the gold and silver lifestyle that you are accustomed to, but I would be there. Along with any request that you might ever have or want, I will try my best to give you the most comfortable home and all the happiness in the world. Your music which you so adore would still remain a large part of your life. Would that…would that be enough?"
There was a moment of tense silence before the dagger fell to the floor with a soft clang… "But…I deserve death for what I have done." Cassidy's voice was barely a whisper.
Austin and Dez exchanged glances before the former spoke up.
"We can promise no executions, and if your family's wrongful deaths were as you claimed then we will investigate them and serve justice. Your actions upon the royal family will be reviewed and leniency will be accorded as no harm has befallen anyone and taking into account your aggrieved state of mind. Once your punishment is served, you will return a free woman."
"Would that be alright with you? Would you be fine with me being your haven and home? If I were there all the way and at the end for you? Right by your side, waiting for as long as it takes?" Dallas spoke softly to Cassidy who looked back at him with tears in her eyes.
"...Ok…" Cassidy fell weakly to the ground as Dallas embraced her in his arms.
"We will organise an investigation once we return back to the palace," said Austin and Dez nodded as well. "Justice will be upheld."
Cassidy merely maintained her gaze on Dallas' countenance as he held her close and nodded in acknowledgement to the princes.
A sinister chuckle then sounded, causing them to look around for the source.
"Well, darn. To think that this was all going so well," spoke a mocking voice.
The group spun around to see a familiar face smirking tauntingly at them.
"Trent?"
A/N: Last sprint to the goal! All answers shall be revealed soon.
