"This is it," Mal breathed. She flattened herself against the cold brick wall, watching as the others did the same beside her. "And we're sure your parents aren't home?" she questioned, her gaze drifting towards Ben who brought up the rear.
He nodded, uncomfortably adjusting his crown for probably the tenth time in the past five minutes. "They're on a trip around Auradon," he explained again. "It's...something they've always wanted to do. They were just...waiting on me to become king, I guess. This place...should be deserted."
"Only we know it isn't," Evie pointed out from beside him.
Ben nodded again and his eyes drifted towards the upper half of the castle where occasional flickering lights could be seen. It didn't take a genius to guess who had to be there, maybe even waiting for them. "So what's the plan?" he asked, fixing his attention on Mal who was busy sizing up the structure. "I mean, you do have a plan don't you?"
"Sure she does," Jay interrupted as Mal opened her mouth to speak. "Break in. Kick some villain behind. Save Auradon. Easy peasy." Mal narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head. He shrugged innocently.
"Um...I don't know about the rest of you," Carlos piped up. "But...I'd feel a lot better if we had an actual plan. No offense, Jay." He too was watching the looming building with a bit of concern.
"Okay, look. We all know who's in there. We all know what they are capable of," Mal sighed, pushing her bangs out of her eyes as her mind kicked into high gear. "So we need to be methodical about this. In order to take back Auradon, all four villains must be stopped. And out of all of them, who is the least dangerous?" Her eyes drifted toward Evie who sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Probably my mother," she confessed. "But that doesn't mean she'll be defenseless," she added hastily before any of them could get any ideas. "If I know her, she'll have as many tricks up her sleeves as Morgana and Maleficent combined. Let me handle her. I know her. I know how she thinks. I might be able to get her to return to the Isle peacefully, or, if I'm lucky, help us instead of Morgana."
"You really think you can convince her of that?" Ben asked.
She twisted around. "She's my mother. I have to try."
Mal nodded, recognizing the fire in the girl's eyes. "All right," she agreed. "You stop Evil Queen. Carlos will go with you." The white-haired boy's head shot up at this. He opened his mouth to protest but faltered and just stared. "You can do it," Mal reassured him. "You and Evie made a great team back on the Isle when you made that dome-breaker, remember?"
"I'm sorry, the what?" Ben blinked.
"Nothing! Nothing!" Evie answered quickly, waving her hands frantically and shooting Mal a dirty look. "It was nothing! Really!"
"All right," Mal went on, ignoring this. "So, Evie and Carlos will stop Evil Queen while the rest of us-"
"I want to go too."
Mal stopped, stunned. Her attention, as well as all the others', swung towards Doug who was trying his best to conceal himself in the shadows. He held her gaze evenly. There was a spark in his eyes, one that Mal had not seen since he'd first met Evie. This was no longer the scared pint-sized boy she'd met three years ago. This was a boy undeniably in love with Evie. He would do anything for her, including facing her mother.. He wants to prove himself. But it was far too dangerous. If anything were to happen to him, Evie would be furious and blame herself. And there was no time for self doubt.
"No."
Evie's jaw dropped as Doug fell back, looking hurt. "Mal!" Evie protested. "You can't just-"
"I said no, Evie," Mal repeated firmly. "This is no place for a...a...dwarf." She stared down coldly at Doug. I'm sorry, she told them both internally. But this is for your own good. "Go home," she told him. "There's nothing more for you to do here."
"MAL!" Evie yelled, causing everyone to jump.
Mal cautiously turned toward Evie, wary of the orange light that was already building around her. "Evie...just...hear me out..."
"No," Evie growled. "NO! Mal, for this entire trip, you have haggled, belittled, and ridiculed Doug! But don't you get it? He's one of us now! The Dragonfire chose him! Not Uma! Not Harry! Him!"
"But Dragonfires don't pick heroes," Mal snarled. "I thought you'd know that already, Missus I-Know-Everything. They never have! Villains! They pick villains!"
"Then why was Ben picked?" Evie was nearly in tears now as she pointed back to the king. "Huh? Why can Ben be chosen but Doug can't?"
"That's not the point-"
"Yes," Evie spat coldly. "Yes, I think it is. Ben was chosen because the stones can't distinguish between a hero and a curse! Audrey's spell may make Ben eligible...so why not Doug as well?"
"Ok...ay..." Ben tried to step between them and soothe their tempers. "Look...I know everybody is stressed out but-"
"No, Ben, let her speak," Mal interrupted him, never stopping her staring competition with Evie. "E, I don't know what's twisted your ponytail but...You. Need. To. Let. It. Go. There are bigger things at stake right now. So...pick up the broken pieces, go with Carlos...and focus on the task at hand."
"No...but..."
"We can talk about it later," Mal insisted. She was starting to get worried. If they kept up this yelling fest, someone was bound to hear and come running. "Go. Just...go..." She turned away and started marching towards the front doors.
Evie stood there, jaw still dropped. Carlos stood uncomfortably beside her on one side and Doug on the other. Mal heard Evie sigh and turn to go the opposite direction toward the side door. "Doug...I'm sorry," the bluenette whispered. "Carlos, come on."
Mal felt guilty. But it was what was best for both of them. "Come on," she told the others. "Let's go, guys." Jay and Ben followed her as she headed for the front entrance. "Ben," she added. "Is there another way in?"
"There's a window on the third floor. Why?"
"Because we definitely aren't going through the front door."
How dare she?
How could she?
Why would she?
A million thoughts were rushing through her brain as she crept alongside the building. She sniffed and wiped away her tears before they could smudge her mascara. Stay strong. Don't let them see. Don't cry.
"Evie!"
Why would Mal do this? Does she not know what Doug has done? He was chosen just like we were! Why doesn't she see that?
"Evie! Wait up!"
The tears came harder and faster. Evie gulped them back as she rounded the corner and found herself facing a huge brick wall. Beyond it, she knew, was the courtyard, and that was their way in. Let Mal and the others go through the front door and get themselves caught. She'd be smarter.
"Evie! Come on, will you? Could you just-EVIE! STOP!"
She finally hit the brakes and spun on her heel, only to find herself nearly barreled to the ground by Doug who had been in hot pursuit. Carlos caught up a second later. Both were winded and carried shocked expressions on their faces.
"Evie..." Doug began softly, trying to hug her. She moved away from him and folded her arms. He frowned. "Evie, what is it?"
"You should go, Doug," Evie whispered, hearing her heart break at her own words. "Mal's right. It's not safe for you here. My mom, Queenie, Maleficent, Morgana...I can't keep putting your life in danger. And after that fight back there-"
"Hey, hey, hey," Doug cut her off. He tried to smile but she looked away, tears pricking her eyes once more. "I'm not leaving you. I don't care how many villains are up there. E..." She stared at him and he held her gaze. She looked deep into his bright green eyes. She could see it. The thing that neither of them had ever been able to say. "I...I won't go."
Evie sighed and rolled her eyes dramatically. "Doug..."
"No," he cut her off. He stepped forward and took her hands in his. "Evie, we're in this together. I know I've never been there before...with Maleficent...or with Uma, but...I want to help. And Auradon is in danger. I can't just sit by and let that happen can I? Can I? Evie?" He waited hopefully.
Evie hesitated for a moment. What would Mal think? She told him to go. And then, from a different part of her brain, came a small voice: But Mal isn't here right now. At this moment, I'm in charge. And I get to decide what my friends do.
"All right," she told him slowly. "You can come."
A big dopey smile spread across his face.
Carlos smiled and crossed his arms. "Nice job, dude." he told Doug. And, then, to Evie. "Now, I have an important question...how are we going to get in? I'm guessing you're planning to go over the wall right?" Evie nodded, frowning. Carlos moved towards it, looking pensive. "It's too high to climb," he announced. "Even Jay wouldn't be able to get over it. Do we have some kind of rope...or...something...to climb over with?"
Evie shook her head. Both of them turned towards Doug who looked at them blankly. He raised his hands to show them he had nothing. "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Evie told him. "Do you boys think you could lift me up and I could climb over and pull you up?"
The boys glanced at one another, unsure. Neither of them were very strong. They knew that and Evie knew that. But, maybe if they worked together...
"All right," Carlos decided. "Let's give it a try. Doug, you're probably the strongest of the two of us. You take the bottom and I'll get on your shoulders. Evie, you get on me."
Evie nodded, exhaling slowly. "Let's do it."
They moved into formation. Doug went to the wall and scanned it up and down. Then, without warning, Carlos propelled himself up onto the dwarf's back, causing the latter to yelp in surprise and teeter slightly, struggling to regain his balance.
"Evie!" Carlos called, ignoring Doug's protestant gasps as he leaned against the wall, struggling to hold them both upright. "You're up!"
Evie nodded, hurrying over and climbing up their backs. Doug groaned and Carlos winced but both stayed as still as possible until Evie reached Carlos' shoulders and could pull herself over onto the wall. "Made it!" she called.
"Great!" Carlos shouted.
"Uh-oh," Doug grunted.
Carlos frowned. "Uh-oh? What do you mean 'uh-oh'?"
Evie hurried back to the edge of the wall just in time to see the two boys topple backwards onto the dirt. She sighed.
"Owww, dude," Carlos groaned as he rolled back to his feet. "You really couldn't have held on for five more seconds until I could climb up?" He was busy brushing the dirt off of the white patches of his jacket.
Doug just lay there, eyes closed, and groaned. Evie couldn't help but snicker at him. His glasses were crooked and he looked exhausted. "Well...at least Evie's up..." he tried to reason.
"Yeah. And now we need to join her. Come on. On your feet." He pulled Doug up. "Let's give this one more try. E, you ready?" The blunette gave him a thumbs up. "Come on." Carlos steered Doug back to the wall and the dwarf braced himself once more as Carlos clambered onto his back.
Evie leaned over the edge to grab Carlos. She couldn't quite reach. "Just a little more," she groaned, flattening herself against the rock, trying to gain a couple more inches. "Carlos, reach out. Doug, hold on just a little bit longer."
Carlos obeyed and Doug gave a weak nod.
Evie was nearly suspended in midair by this point. She swung her arm and her fingers brushed Carlos'. "Come on," she groaned. She went for another pass...and successfully grabbed him. "Yes! Hold on!" she told him as she began to pull. "Doug, help me out here!" She took a deep breath and kept tugging. "Carlos! Put your feet against the wall! Use it to...yes! Just like that!" There was a moment of struggling and then Carlos' poofy hair appeared over the edge of the railing and Evie fell back with a sigh of relief.
"Wow," Carlos gasped as he leaned against the railing. "That was not awesome."
"Yeah, I agree with you. But what about Doug?"
Both glanced over the wall, finding Doug staring back up at them. He gave them a small wave. Carlos sighed and rolled his eyes. "Okay...now what?"
Evie didn't speak. She just gestured toward the wall and both dropped down against the cold bricks. "Okay, Doug!" she called down. "You're going to have to jump!"
He frowned. "Jump?"
"Don't worry!" she assured him. "We'll catch you."
Carlos glanced over at her. "We will?"
She hit him in the shoulder.
"Ow," he winced. "I was joking! I was joking!"
Evie rolled her eyes and went back to Doug who didn't look half-convinced that this was good idea. And Evie had to agree. She wasn't sure of it herself. But, at the moment, it was all they had. They had to give it a try.
"Dude, just jump already!" Carlos shouted.
"Carlos! Stop pressuring him!"
"Sorry."
Doug gulped and threw himself at the wall. Both Carlos and Evie lunged for him. Both missed and the dwarf hit the ground. Evie groaned. Carlos face palmed. Doug tried again. This time, Carlos caught him and yelled as he was nearly drug off of the wall himself. Evie grabbed a hold of Carlos and braced herself as they both started to slip. "Hold on," she grunted, taking a step backwards. And then another. Slowly, but surely, she pulled them up.
All three collapsed against the wall, panting.
"See?" Evie wheezed. "Totally caught you."
Doug laughed weakly as the three of them stood up and prepared to enter the castle.
Evie could only wonder what kind of traps would be waiting for them inside.
"Left! Left! No! Your other left! JAY! The OTHER way! BEN! WHAT are you DOING?"
Mal had reached the end of her patience with the boys...and they hadn't even gotten through the castle's defenses. At the moment, they were staring at the roaring moat and raised drawbridge. All the other times Mal had been to the castle, it had been lowered and welcoming. Now, in the fading light, the once sparkling castle seemed dark and unwelcoming.
"The defenses are up," Ben answered calmly from his position halfway down to the moat. "I figured we could just swim across the...oh..."
Mal raised her eyebrows pointedly. "Oh," she repeated mockingly. "'Oh' what? 'Oh', I just thought of something useful or 'Oh!' I forgot. My fiance can't swim!"
"Well...then...I'll just have to carry you, I guess." He worked his way back up the hill and lifted her onto his shoulders. She screamed, laughing as he lifted her onto his shoulders. Jay just smirked as he followed. He wasn't able to swim either, but he was tall enough that he probably wouldn't have to worry about it.
Mal shrieked as Ben plunged into the water with a beastly roar and she covered her eyes as water flew everywhere. The ride was a short one, and, before Mal knew it, she was back on dry land. Ben stood beside her, attempting to shake the water out of his clothes and hair. Jay appeared a moment later, his pants and the bottom part of his shirt wet. He seemed mildly amused, however.
"Oh, what?" Mal snapped at him.
He shrugged innocently.
Mal growled and followed the boys as they headed for the front doors. She knelt down next to Ben while Jay tested the lock. "It's open," he announced in a whisper a moment later. He glanced back at Mal with a grin. "Ladies first."
Mal rolled her eyes and stalked off into the building. Ben and Jay followed quickly. The halls were dark and deserted. Mal felt a shiver dance up and down her spine as they advanced down the corridor. Their footsteps were the sole sound in the echoing structure. If the villains are here, where are they hiding?
"Mal?" Jay whispered. "I don't like the look of this."
"It's too...quiet," Ben agreed.
Mal nodded. Right at that moment, she wished Evie were there to make some kind of awkward joke or offer them some kind of weird gum that they all suspected she'd made in science class. She felt guilt knaw at her. What were the others doing right now? Did Doug leave? Had Carlos and Evie found a way in yet? Somehow, she suspected the answer to the first was no and the second was yes.
"Stay alert," she told them as they moved away from the hall into the living room. It was three times the size of Mal's dorm, filled with large plush couches and a huge brick fireplace. She remembered her first Christmas there, when Ben had accidentally dumped hot-chocolate all over himself. She didn't remember having ever laughed as hard as she did then. We have to stop this madness. For Auradon. She glanced toward Ben. For us.
"Where do you suppose everyone is?" Jay asked.
Mal shrugged. "I don't know. Upstairs?"
"I'll go check it out," Ben offered, immediately heading towards the stairs.
"No!" Mal cried. "Wait!"
He paused.
"I really think we should all stay together," Mal explained. Ben nodded and hurried back over.
"Sounds good, but, where's Jay?"
"Jay?" Mal turned abruptly. "JAY?" There was no sign of the boy.
"Jay?" Ben scanned the room worriedly. "Jay, man, you there?"
"Uh..." Jay's voice. Weak. Coming from the second floor. Both looked up. Mal felt her heart stop. "Yeah...I think we found the villains."
Queenie stood there, sword pointed at Jay's chest, a triumphant grin on her face. "Well, well, well, hello son of Jafar and daughter of Maleficent. How nice of you to drop in. Beast," she added with a fake nod to Ben. "What a pleasant surprise. And where might your friends be? Hmmm? Evie, Carlos, and that dwarf. I was hoping to talk to you all at once. But, I suppose, my associates will be finding them soon enough. Now...why don't you hand over that Dragonstone before I have to run one of you through? Believe me, I don't want to. Too messy."
She wrinkled her nose and flicked her blade. Suddenly, two shadows spawned in and shoved Ben and Mal up the stairs to join Jay and Queenie. "Now..." the Princess of Hearts tapped her blade tauntingly. "I wonder which one of you had the Dragonstone. Not you," she said quickly, talking about Ben. "You're a hero. Jay?" She looked him up and down. "No. Too easy. Mal?" She stepped closer to the purplette and the two girls glared at one another. A minute passed and Queenie stepped away with a wicked smirk. "No. You disappoint me, Mal," she sighed, stepping back and snapping her fingers, ordering the shadows to restrain the three of them. "I thought for sure you'd be the one with the Dragonstone. So..." she raised her sword to Ben's throat, never taking her eyes off of Mal. "Which one of your pathetic little friends has it? And don't lie to me, or Beast here gets it."
A moment of panic flashed through Mal. She had the Dragonstone! She hadn't given it to anyone! It was right in her pocket! Her fingers reached down into her jeans and met thin air. She gasped and the others twisted to glance at her in surprise. But she didn't know how to tell them the truth and could only stare back at them with an equal level of shock.
The Dragonstone was gone.