"You're making a huge mistake, Queenie," Mal growled, eyeing the redhead pacing back an forth in front of them.

The Princess of Hearts only sneered at her. "Nooo, I don't think so." She held up Maleficent's spell book. "No book. No magic. Right?" She pretended to frown but her eyes gleamed triumphantly as she tucked the spell book into her satchel and continued her pacing. "So...what's your great plan now, Mal? Wait for your friends to show up to rescue you? Try to break out yourself? Honestly, I just want to know your plan. Maleficent always said you were cunning. But, I have yet to see it."

Mal growled.Evie was right. She does talk too much. But Queenie was right. The three of them were a bit...tied up...at the moment. The Dragonstone had disappeared, and, at that time, there had been so sign of the others. That was obvious by the dark glares Queenie had been giving every inanimate piece of furniture. Which means Evie, Carlos, and Doug are still all right. They can still stop all of this. She had to admit, she hated relying on others to save the day. It was a feeling she was much more accustomed to having herself. Not that she was selfish about the concept of saving everyone. She just didn't like to let anyone put themselves at risk.

On her left, Ben struggled against their restraints. Mal sighed and rolled her eyes. "Ben, stop," she groaned. "That's not going to work." She's got us. She glanced down at her hands, tied tightly behind her back, and to the pole, along with Jay's and Ben's. We've got to think of a way out of here.

Her eyes drifted around the room, searching for something she could use her magic on. She knew a few spells, but nothing that could provide them with any assistance in this type of situation.

Ben kept struggling.

"Ben. Man. Seriously, stop," Jay hissed from Mal's right. "We need to get out of here," he added to Mal in a frantic whisper. "The others could be in trouble. Especially if one of them has the Dragonstone."

"Yeah, I'm still trying to process how that is possible," Ben joined in. "How did you lose it in the first place?"

Mal shot him a dirty look. "Okay. First off, I did not lose it. It just disappeared! And second, we don't know that the others even have it or if they've been caught! So let's not assume the worst, all right? They'll find us. We'll get out of here."

Queenie threw back her head and laughed maniacally. "Oh, oh, that's good," she sneered. She strolled over to them with a devilish grin. "You honestly think those...those fools...can rescue you? Well, I've got news for you, we found them. Right about now, our decor should have almost finished them off. And as for the Dragonstone, it will go down with them, along with any hope you had for saving Auardon." She pretended to look heartbroken. "How sad."

Jay tried to lunge at her but he could only glare and grunt furiously.

"You'll never get away with this, Queenie," Mal snapped.

"Oh, hmmm. And who's going to stop me, Mal? You? I think you've already proven that you can't. You couldn't even get close. Evie's smart, I'll give her that. But not smart enough. Did you think I didn't guess what your plan was? I know you, Mal. Your friends were never going to get in here without me noticing them. It was stupid of you to even try."

As Queenie turned away, Mal was already looking for another way out. She, Jay, and Ben were all bound together by the same rope and tied to the same pole. So, maybe, if there were a way to knock over the pole...

A burning pain suddenly rushed through her chest. She gasped, feeling her magic surge and churn throughout her body. The stone, she realized. Someone's using it. But how? And who? Had Evie found it? Was this hers or Carlos' doing? The vision stone, she sensed. The silver Dragonfire had been activated. They're all right! Her breath of relief was short-lived, however, as she realized something. If she could feel the Dragonstone, then so could Maleficent. She'd know the others escaped.

She blinked, coming back to reality, and found both Ben and Jay staring at her. Queenie hadn't seen her reaction, so she leaned over to whisper to her friends. "The others are alive," she hissed. "The Dragonstone...someone used it."

They looked relieved. "Do you...do you know who used it?" Ben questioned. "Can you...sense it?"

Mal shook her head. "No. I can only feel that it's been used. Vision."

"Vision?" Jay repeated. "Doug?"

Queenie paused her pacing at this. Mal ignored this reaction and shook her head quickly. "No. Impossible. Remember what Celia said? Only a villain can use the stone now that it had been combined. Or...more accurately...someone with villain blood. It was Evie or Carlos."

"Queenie!"

Everyone twisted toward the source of the fierce snarl. Morgana descended the stairs, her body still fading in and out of reality. Her eyes flashed dangerously as she eyed the three captives. "Where is the Dragonstone?" the sorceress demanded coldly. "Maleficent's daughter does not wield it. You know what will happen if those children learn what it can do...and the identity of the NeoMerlin."

Jay's brow furrowed. "NeoMerlin?" he mouthed to Mal who shrugged, drawing a blank as well. What's the NeoMerlin? There was nothing about that in my spell book. She waited, hoping Morgana might elaborate.

She was in luck.

Morgana, noticing her confused expression, glided to the front of the room. "Twenty-two years ago," she began. "When Beast banished all the villains to the Isle, I escaped to a world without magic, where we all are merely figments of people's imagination. There, Merlin's ring chose its Prime Merlinian. While powerful, Merlin knew that his powers would not last forever. They would fade and eventually disappear. For that reason, he foretold a successor, someone to inherit his powers. But he did not want just anyone. No. To show he held no grudge against the villains, he said the NeoMerlin would be the offspring of both a hero and villain. A half-breed."

"The Chosen One," Ben guessed, eyes wide.

Morgana eyed him disdainfully. "Yes. For the first time in many years, I sense the presence of ancient magic within these walls."

"So, you're saying-" Mal's brain was hastening to fit all the pieces together.

"The NeoMerlin is here."

Evie. Mal's mind let off a thousand warning sirens but she managed to keep her face emotionless. Whether or not she believed it, the evidence was all pointing towards her best friend. It was as clear as day to her. There was no way it could be anyone else.

It was evident by the boy's shocked expressions that they had been thinking the same thing and agreed with her.

Queenie noticed their shared glances. "You know!" she gasped. "You know who it is, don't you?"

Morgana glared at her. "Do not always believe what you see on the outer surface. The answer is not always a straight line, nor is the solution ever the obvious choice," she warned in a faint, and slightly threatening, hiss.

Queenie rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, whatever."

"Why are you telling us this?" Jay demanded.

"Because..." Morgana turned towards him. "The NeoMerlin is powerful...too powerful...their magic is enough to destroy all of Auradon and the Isle at once. And that magic...it can be enough to corrupt even a hero...especially with the addition of the Dragonstone. One might just go...insane."

"And what do you want us to do?" Ben asked suspiciously.

"My dear Beast, is it not obvious? I am not the villain here. I want to save everyone, just like you. All I am asking is that you find the NeoMerlin and stop them before they destroy everything."

"You. Want us. To help you?" Mal echoed.

"Yeah," Jay scoffed. "Not happening."

Morgana's eyes flashed dangerously. "You will help me," she hissed, waving a hand in front of them.

Immediately, Mal's eyes began to feel heavy and her head swam. She knew they'd been spelled, but she found she had no strength or willpower to resist. Their restraints fell away and she found her body moving against her brain's screaming.

"That's better," Morgana sneered. "Now...I want the three of you to go and find the NeoMerlin. And, once you find him, I want you to kill him."

Having one best friend disappear into a greedy (not to mention hungry) rug trap is bad enough.

But to have two...that was just the worst.

So that was why, when Evie and Doug disappeared into the mountain of sand, Carlos began to have a mental breakdown.

Where did they go? Where are they? Are they all right? Are they dead? Should I go after them? Where's the Dragonstone? Evie took it with her. What do I do now? Do I have to face all of the villains alone? I can't do it! I need help! Evie! Doug! Where are you?

Okay...okay...think Carlos. Think. What would Mal say if she were here? Breathe. Breathe first. Formulate a plan. Execute it.

But I have no plan! I'm all alone! And the floor just ate Evie and Doug!

He was so freaked out that he didn't even notice the flash of silver light. He heard a two loud thumps, followed by pained groans, and spun around, gasping as he spotted Evie and Doug laying on the floor across the room. Both were on their backs, panting. Tears were streaking down their faces, though Carlos had no idea why, and the Dragonstone was glimmering dimly in Evie's hand.

"Guys!" he gasped, vaulting the furniture and skidding to a halt before them as they staggered to their feet. "What happened? Where'd you go? How'd you get over here? Are you both all right?"

Evie nodded slightly. "Yeah," she groaned, standing up and then turning back towards Doug who was halfway up, looking scared stiff. "Hey," she whispered, kneeling back down beside him. "Are you going to be okay?" Her voice quivered. She'd been crying. Hard, by the sound of it.

He nodded slowly and heaved himself to his feet, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on the ground.

Carlos had no idea what had happened to the two of them. He could tell, by the way the jewel was shining, that they'd just seen a vision, but of what, he couldn't begin to guess. "Are you sure you're both all right? I mean, we can stop and take a break...if...if that's what you need."

"No," Evie said quickly, while Doug shook his head in protest. "No, we've got the Dragonfire. We need to get it back to Mal as quick as possible and then find the villains before they can cause any more harm."

"Well, isn't this your lucky day?" came Mal's cold voice from the doorway.

Carlos felt himself twirl around, along with Evie and Doug. He gasped, seeing Mal, Ben, and Jay standing in the doorway. Only, they didn't seem like themselves. The way they stood, and the way Mal spoke, it was more like they were mind-controlled zombies or space aliens, than their friends. And, it didn't help matters that Queenie was standing only feet behind them, and they didn't even seem to care.

"Mal?" Evie took a step forwards with a frown. "Mal, what's going on? What are you doing with her?"

The purplette gave no sign of hearing her. She only tilted her head and smiled slightly. "You have something that belongs to me. I want it back." Before anyone could say anything, her eyes glowed green and she raised her hand. There was a sonic explosion and Evie was sent flying backwards to the floor, stunned, the Dragonstone clattering uselessly away. "Now," Mal went on with the same zombie-like voice. She turned her haunting glare on Carlos and Doug as the two moved defensively in front of Evie. Carlos stood firm, though every nerve in his body was screaming for him to run. Next to him, he could feel Doug shaking, though the dwarf refused to leave Evie's side. "Give me the NeoMerlin," Mal hissed.

"Or what?" Carlos demanded, hearing his voice come out as more of a frightened squeak than a challenging roar.

Mal blinked and her grin grew even wider. "Give me the NeoMerlin...or you will all die."