Chapter Fourteen
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney.
Happy Holidays everyone! It's hard to believe that the year is almost done-and what a while ride it's been! If 2021 could be a lot more tame, I'd greatly appreciate it!
Thank you all for your continued support both with this story and with Choosing Love (if you haven't read it yet, go on and check it out!)
So, I do want to just note, I went ahead and added the deleted scene with Celia revealing she had the remote. Just in case people wonder where the scene came from. Also, yes, I changed who the student was who got turned to stone. Why? Well because...if I'm completely honest I wanted to write a reason for Leah to be slapped in this chapter.
Tracie Adams: Oh thank you! I'm so glad you like it!
LeanneJordan: I'm so glad that you're still liking the story! I agree, Ben really does need a break doesn't he?
Sorceress of Magic: I'm so glad you're liking it!
danifan3000: Honestly re: Audrey and the Isle, with all of Leah's teachings it wouldn't surprise me if in her scepter riddled state, Audrey did go after the Isle after taking over Auradon. I kinda thought the mohawk was weird too, felt out of place.
Roxas Itsuka: Oh thank you! Yeah, Audrey's really going to need some help after all of this. Though now you've made me wonder-could Maleficent have reached out with the scepter to mess with Audrey even as a lizard? I think Aurora and Phillip Sr will work to make sure Leah or Natalie will never be in the same room as Audrey. I know I gave Ben a vacation in Into the Depths but I'm giving him another one after this viewing. He needs it!
Guest: Thank you!
Turnabout of the Shadows: Oh thank you! Oh trust me, I personally hate the idea of Ben bottling stuff up-it's one of the complaints I have about D2, how Ben was put in the wrong for actually voicing his concerns and complaints to Mal. Do I think it came at the wrong time? Yes. Still needed to be said though. You'd be right about that child though it'd also be a quarter Beast since Ben does have remnants of the Beast enchantment.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Agreed, everyone needs a break!
Creator of Magic: Oh I'm glad you're liking it! And you're welcome! :D
TheRanger'sDaughter: It really was, especially being as short as it was. It'll be interesting to see how Ben, Chip and Mal react to seeing Ben as a Beast. As for Leah and Natalie, their fates are up in the air right now...since there will be another story after this one.
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! She sure can and agreed, poor Ben! Honestly, if I wasn't writing the story the way I am, I'd be going on a full multipage rant about how cruel Audrey had to be to actually turn Ben into his worst fear!
Fox-Hound: I'm liking the idea of Mary Poppins coming in, if just to complete the rule of three. But I'm not sure who she'd bring just yet. Also that's adorable!
lilyflower101: I agree, it definitely had to have been hard for them to see.
hvs8: Oh thank you!
smc-smfan1: Thanks!
Rebelbailey: I tried and I think it's a glitch in mobile. *shrugs*. And thank you!
twilightgirl587: You may have been kidding but I was serious :D Yes, there will be another story after this one! I have to tie up some loose ends and actually get Mal and Ben married (since Disney refuses to do it!)
Technobabble1: Oh thank you! As much as I love Melody in her movie, she does do some stuff that deserves a call out. I will be glad to try to include more Beauty Siblings! Thanks for addressing the fact that I've been pretty quiet with Phillip Sr. I'll try to make sure he talks or at least is in more of the chapters! As for Ben's phobia, it's actually mentioned in the book Audrey's Diary (yes I've read the additional books but haven't read the actual ones yet) where it's all three movies but from Audrey's POV. In it, Audrey states that Ben told her that he feared he'd somehow become a beast like his father had.
billyandkimfan1994: Yeah I'm sure it did.
Marcus Emrys: Thank you! Hard to say but I kinda hope it's seeing her future self shove Chad in a closet too. That being said, I don't know if Audrey actually knows about the claustrophobia.
Stoffe: Happy to keep writing as long as people keep reading :D Wait...people think Ben's at fault for saying he'd forgive Audrey? Um...they do know that stealing's a crime right? Ben as king could easily issue a pardon and it'd be swept under the rug. Gods, it's too early in the morning for this. As for Nightfalls, maybe two if I'm guessing correctly?
Bananaboat2009: Same to you! Happy Holidays!
KatnissForever17: Oh I'm so glad that you're liking it! I'll definitely have to check out your Hamilton fanfiction while I'm off for the holidays!
Soulmates: Thank you!
Guest: Oh thank you! As for the review replies, it was just something I started in Watch and Learn and then I wanted to keep the consistency in the series. I normally don't do the review replies this way.
Aleish: Oh thank you so much! Your review definitely put a smile on my face, it was so nice to wake up to and see! I do have plans for a series of one shots using events from the stories that I didn't have time to write when the stories were originally published! Thank you again for the compliment and I hope you have a great holiday!
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! If I don't get a new update done before the end of the year, hope you all have a great New Years!
[The scene opened on Jay and Carlos playing an Isle version of foosball
"Oh good, the bikes are safe," Dizzy grinned.
as Mal and Celia walked in, making their way down the ramp. Evie walked up to Mal, Celia running along ahead.]
"M. Did you see your dad?" Evie asked, keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard.
"Okay but why the secrecy? Dad did say you were his daughter when he stopped Maleficent at Ben's coronation," Hadie pointed out.
"Wagering a guess? Facilier's not an enemy but he's not exactly an ally either," Mal said flatly.
"I don't want to talk about that," Mal told her as Carlos made his way to the two girls.
"There was a musical number and he pulled a tambourine out of thin air!" Harriet quipped, causing Sammy and her brothers to chuckle. Even Mal couldn't help the small smile that pulled at her lips.
"You get the ember?" The son of Cruella asked.
"I think Mal would be a lot more upset if she didn't," Hyllus stated.
Mal held up the ember. "Any chance that our bikes are parked in a locked garage?"
"Locked? On the Isle? That's cute," Uma chuckled. "Like whoever wanted to wouldn't just pick the lock?"
"Uh yeah not so much," Carlos said, giving a look to Jay who gave a pained look at the fact that Harry and Gil eluded their grasp.
Harry chuckled and shook his head. "I'm guessing that's just payback for what you did with my hook in the last viewing."
"All's fair in sparring Harry. You know that," Jay told him.
"The only way back to Auradon is the bridge," Mal said, looking at Evie.
"Well, glad I wore my comfortable heels," the blue haired girl replied as Mal chuckled and Evie went to leave.
"Even the most comfortable heels would still hurt after walking to Auradon from the Isle," Lonnie stated.
"Hell, even tennis shoes would start to hurt walking that much," Ava pointed out.
Jay grabbed her arm, gently pulling her back to the group. "Yeah, we still need the remote to open the barrier."
"I would have thought that you'd have grabbed that," Emir said. "After all, having that just lying around on the Isle could be dangerous."
Celia looked over at them from her spot next to her father, having heard Jay's statement.
"Great," Evie said, putting her hands on her hips.
"I lifted it off from you," Celia said as she walked up to them, holding up the remote that opened the barrier. Jay turned to look at her, as did Evie and Mal.
"Ooh, I like her," Emir smirked. "Tell me, young Facilier, are you at all interested in learning to pick locks?"
"Gods help us all," Ashaki muttered as Celia perked up, a gleam in her eyes.
"It's for his safety Jasmine. He won't get into trouble with it Jasmine. I taught Aziz the same thing Jasmine," Jasmine said, giving Aladdin a look.
"Would you rather our son not know how to get out of a locked room if something happened to him?"
"I thought it might be useful and it is."
"Honestly, the fact that you swiped something off Jay is to be commended," Harry smirked.
"Don't make me hit you Harry," Jay said.
"You are making it very hard to teach you right from wrong," Evie said as she walked over to Celia. Celia looked slightly sad as Jay grabbed the remote from her.
"But technically she did the right thing even if she went about it the wrong way," Melody said. "If she left the remote on the bike, then you all would be trapped on the Isle."
"Sweet," the son of Jafar said and Celia smiled. Carlos grinned a little at the sight.
Jay chuckled a little, more than happy to make Uma's little sister smile. Oh sure, you'd think he wouldn't know but he was a year older than the other three. He remembered seeing Uma walking around the Isle holding an infant Celia back when Uma was six the few times Jay tried to fill his dad's quota in Facilier's territory.
Come to think about it, that was probably why Lord Hades made Celia his errand rat. Celia was no relation to him but she was Uma's sister. It's not like Facilier could offer Hades anything that could warrant a deal.
"Bridge," Mal ordered and the four of them started to make their way out of Facilier's arcade. Celia gave Facilier a quickly hug before leaving.
"Overnighter," she told him as she walked off.
"Hey! Hey, hey, hey, Celia!" Facilier exclaimed, looking back at her and Celia stopped. "Make sure you get your cut."
Celia saluted him before running off to catch up with Mal and the others.
"Make sure you get your cut," Facilier repeated as he sat back down at his table.
Tiana couldn't help but smile once more at the sight, especially at how quick Celia had been to hug her father goodbye. Granted, they were in friendly territory since Facilier ran the arcade but word probably spread quickly around the isle.
Friendly hugs seemed like they could be dangerous.
But Tiana couldn't help but wonder if Facilier had taken to heart the words she'd told him twenty years ago.
"My daddy never did get what he wanted…but he had what he needed. He had love. He never lost sight o' what was really important."
No one could deny that Facilier had love for his daughter.
The scene changed to an exterior shot of the Isle before cutting to Mal and the others walking to the bridge.
"All right. Get in, get out," Mal said, keeping her voice low.
"Wouldn't that be something you'd say before getting to the Isle though?" Kitty asked.
"Jay, you're good?"
"Yeah," Jay told her.
"Except for the whole bikes getting stolen right from under our nose thing," Jay added.
"Okay. Hold on," Mal said, holding out her arms to keep the others back. Jay clicked the remote to open up the barrier and the five of them walked through the hole; Mal tossing the ember in the palm of her hand before crossing the barrier. As they crossed the barrier, a surge of energy seemed to go through all of them.
"That was weird," Neal said.
"It's probably the ember," Hades sighed. "I'm just wagering a guess though, I'm not sure."
Harriet smirked a little as she saw the onscreen Harry pull himself from what looked to be the water below, the onscreen version of the others not noticing as their backs were to him. If he was quick enough, her brother would be able to get through the barrier before it closed.
"Whoa. You got a little Hades thing going," Evie said to Mal, as if remarking of the fact that a few strands of Mal's hair had become dark blue instead of the traditional all purple they had been before.
Mal tilted her head, noticing the change in her hair color. Is that because of the ember, she thought. After all, if it was just because of my leaving the Isle, my hair would have started changing when I went to Auradon Prep.
"Wow," Mal said, looking at her hands as if noticing that Audrey's spell hadn't returned.
"That thing packs a punch, huh?" Carlos asked, also looking at his hands.
"Close the barrier!" Alexandria exclaimed. "I know Harry and Gil are alright but what if someone from the Isle gets out who isn't alright?!"
"How do you know they're alright?" Chad asked.
"Mal hasn't turned into a dragon and eaten them for starters. Also they seemed okay during the other viewing."
"The Charmette has a good point," Harry nodded. "Zevon could easily break out of the Isle with how long that barrier's taking to close."
"If Zevon ever came out of his hidey hole though," Mal pointed out. "You know he and Yzla practically live in the Spell Palace."
As the barrier closed, the five of them gasped as Harry and Gil dove through the opening, turning to witness it close on them.
"I just have to say, diving with that hook seems like a dangerous choice," Phillip Jr. spoke up.
"We made it, bro." Harry exclaimed, bringing Gil in for a hug.
"We made it." Gil said, hugging Harry back in his excitement. As the two of them broke the hug, they looked over at Mal and the others; Evie having moved Celia back as if to protect the younger girl while Mal and Carlos stood closer to keep Harry and Gil from moving forward.
"Mal, you look very confused," Carlos chuckled.
"Gil and Harry are hugging," Mal stated. "Not to mention Harry called Gil 'bro'. That alone would confuse anyone."
"Hey, guys. We're just coming for a wee visit," Harry said as he and Gil started making their way along the bridge but Jay and Carlos shoved them back. The four of them started pushing each other.
"Oh be careful," Anita said softly. There were no guardrails on that bridge. What if Carlos or Jay fell in? Or Mal for that matter? Evie and Celia had been smart to stay out of the fray.
"Come on. Hey. Hey!" Mal said and then gasped as the ember was knocked out of her hands as Harry shoved Carlos into her. She scrambled to pick it up but Harry sent it flying by directing her wrist with his hook.
Mal stared straight at Harry. "If this wasn't in the future, you'd already be dead."
"Understood Mal," Harry nodded.
Mal watched in horror as the ember went flying into the air, looking as if it was going to land into the water below.
"No!" Emma exclaimed, her hands going to her mouth.
Harry sighed as Mal shoved him out of the way.
"No!" Mal exclaimed, Carlos staring open mouthed as well. Just as the ember looked as if it was going to hit the water, a tentacle shot up and grabbed it in midair.
"I have never been more relieved to see a tentacle in my life," Akiho stated.
Mal, Jay, Gil, Harry and Carlos all raced to the edge of the bridge as a familiar voice began to cackle.
Uma emerged from the water, shaking her hair free from any standing water and looking slightly different than she had when she had last been seen.
"Yeah I'm pretty sure that's not how her hair was in the last viewing," Lucy nodded.
"It's been how long between that one and this one?" Kitty asked. "You don't think Uma might have gotten her hair done between that?"
"Where could she have gone? We're all looking for her!"
"She has magic!"
"Drop something?" Uma taunted slightly as she uncurled the tentacle to show the ember.
Mal couldn't help but chuckle softly under her breath. Just the way Uma said that line…it took Mal back to the days before the split.
"An excellent catch Ms. Uma," Smee said, giving the young captain a small smile.
"It can't get wet. Give it back before it goes out," Mal said, her voice slightly frantic as she held out her hand for the ember. However Uma only cackled in response.
"Before you all glare at me for laughing, I'd like to just point out that future Mal there is assuming I wouldn't be able to recognize my own uncle's ember," Uma said, her voice flat.
"Huh, she has a point," Macaria said.
"Uma?" Harry exclaimed.
"Uma?" Gil exclaimed.
"That's my name," Uma said, giving the boys a small wave.
"Oh good, you finally learned your name," Mal gently teased her cousin.
Harry looked over at Gil in excitement but Gil just looked confused. Uma brought her hands up and ducked down back into the water, taking the ember with her.
"No!"
"Hang on….Uma's tentacle was wet wasn't it? When it came out of the water? Shouldn't the ember be out already? Lord Hades didn't say it had to be submerged in water, just that if it gets wet it's game over." Kitty stated.
"…has your daughter considered going into law? Specifically contract law?" Hades asked Kit.
"No!" Mal shouted, Jay also staring at the water in shock. The water below bubbled with the only sign of Uma being the glow from her necklace. The bubble got bigger and began to rise almost like a reverse waterspout.
Uma did use to say that the first thing she'd do if she ever got out of the Isle was test out her powers on the ocean, Jay thought with a small smile as he thought about those years. Those years on the Isle, those years before Evie and Carlos were brought into the fray.
Mal and Jay continued to look at it, shock and dismay evident on their faces, before the bubble popped; spraying everyone with water. Mal, Jay, Gil, Harry and Carlos all looked over the edge once more.
"Hi, boys!" Uma's voice called from behind them and everyone turned to see Uma standing on the bridge.
"How in the world did you do that?" Melody asked, looking amazed.
"Um…I'm not sure?" Uma told her. Mal being somewhat friendly with her again was one thing, the brainless Atlanticans from the other side of the bridge were another thing all together.
Uma looked at them, holding the ember in her hand.
Harry pointed his hook at her and let out a small laugh. "Welcome back," he told her.
Why am I not surprised that Harry just accepted Uma back, no questions asked? Harriet thought with a small sigh. Then again, maybe it shouldn't have surprised her. Harriet was familiar with the split, it'd make sense Harry would want to keep his last remaining friend of the old crew.
Though if that was the case, then Harriet's anger toward Uma was only more justified.
"Uma, you swam off and forgot all about us," Gil said as he walked over to her, his voice soft.
"Wow, I was not expecting Gil to be the one to point that out," Harriet muttered to Sammy.
Yeah. Planning her revenge, no doubt," Mal spoke up, her arms crossed over her chest.
"It's not all about you, Mal," Uma told her and Mal briefly lifted an eyebrow as if to ask Uma what it was she had been doing. "I was looking for a hole in the barrier to let everybody out.
"And that had to be done solo?" Harriet asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I'm a strong swimmer," Uma shrugged.
"Yeah. We know," Harriet scoffed. "It's just funny that you preach about loyalty to your crew but the minute you get a chance, you leave them to rot on the Isle."
"Okay that's it. Spit it out Harriet!"
"Harriet, don't!" Harry stated, knowing what his sister was going to say. "Just leave it."
"I'm not going to just—"
"Just. Leave. It."
And you know what I found, boys? It's way better out there than we thought. There's this thing that looks like a furry rock called a coconut.
"Oh yeah Miguel hates those," Emir chuckled.
"Then again, Conner did follow him around for a month singing 'consider the coconut' after Miguel ate a piece of the fruit and we won the game against Imperial Academy," Akiho pointed out.
"You didn't just win, you destroyed them," Lonnie smirked.
"Don't remind me," Shang muttered.
And fish so big you could dance on their backs. And they've been keeping it all for themselves."
"Whatever," Mal said as she held out her hand once more. "Uma, I need that to break a spell."
"Cast by Audrey, Sleeping Beauty's daughter," Carlos added.
"Who has Maleficent's scepter. Why are we leaving that part out of the conversations?" Chip asked.
"Mm. So the good guy is the bad guy?" Uma asked, as if needing clarification before letting out a small laugh.
"And no questions as to how Audrey is able to now cast spells?!"
"Well, I might not give it back. Let's see what happens," she said as she looked at the ember.
"Uma, it's not the time for games!" Mal exclaimed "People's lives are in danger!"
Phillip Sr. sighed softly as he looked over at Audrey. Where had he gone wrong in his parenting? Had it been allowing Leah to enter Audrey's life at a young age?
It hadn't been his choice—Audrey had been a complicated birth as the doctors lost her heartbeat and almost lost Aurora's, resulting in an emergency caesarean. Due to that, the doctors ordered that Aurora not pick up Audrey or do most of the traditional mothering duties until she was fully healed.
Of course, it hadn't helped that Aurora had also been diagnosed with what the doctors called postpartum depression—though most people didn't know that. Regardless, Phillip Sr. had tried his best but juggling assisting with running a kingdom, helping his wife recover and raising an infant daughter was more than anyone could ask. It didn't help that there weren't enough staff to spare to help raise Audrey, and Leah had almost had a fit when she had heard.
"Guarantee me that every single villain kid who wants to, can get off the isle," Uma said as Harry and Gil stood there chuckling.
"Yes," Ben nodded.
"You know she can't hear you right?" Mal asked.
"Doesn't matter. Yes, any child who wants to will be able to get off the Isle."
"I can't do that," Mal told her.
"Can't do that?" Uma muttered as she walked to the edge of the bridge, Harry giving a small little bow.
"Well, how about now?" Uma exclaimed, holding the ember over the edge.
"One moment where someone is not holding something important hostage to get their way, is that too much to ask?" Phillip Jr. muttered under his breath.
"Deal. Deal!" Mal shouted, once again holding out her hand for the ember as Carlos looked at her as if wondering what their next move was going to be. Uma gasped, pretending to drop the ember into the water.
"Harry…you know I can swim right?"
"Of course cap'n."
"Then why did you move to hold me steady like you thought I was going to fall in?"
"Uma!" Evie exclaimed as Mal gasped and Uma let out a small laugh at the purple haired VK's reaction. "Her word is good."
"She's literally lying right to my face."
"You're holding the ember hostage when we need it to save Auradon," Mal shot back though both barbs were missing some of the hostility they used to have. "What was I supposed to say?"
"That…is a fair point," Harriet nodded, though some hostility could still be heard in her voice as she looked over at Uma. "Captain to Captain, Uma, she's not wrong. Besides she even said she couldn't give you want you wanted before you threatened the ember."
"I'm not sure Mal could have given Uma what she wanted even without the threat of closing the barrier," Ben said softly. "VK Day was set up through the council, any change to that would be a council decision anyway."
"Honestly I'm a little surprised none of you three are at all surprised to see Lord Hades' ember with Mal," Hyllus pointed out. "I'd at least be wondering what deal she made to get it if I didn't already know her relationship to him."
Uma brought her arm in and walked over to Mal, still holding up the ember, before pausing.
"I'll still keep this, for the time being," Uma said as she put the ember in her jacket.
"But that's Mal's by right!" Hadie spoke up. "Yeah, you're dad's great-niece but Mal's his daughter. If anyone has a greater claim to it, it's her!"
"Because if you think I trust you to save the world on your own, think is a job for pirates."
"That's…that's irony," Lil Shang stated.
"Yeah," Gil said as Harry chuckled and the three embraced.
"We can always go back to hating each other when this is over," Jay muttered to Mal, having slid up to her side. Carlos looked over at the two of them in slight confusion.
"My future self apparently didn't have the talk with you two that Evie and I did back in the last break," Carlos said to Mal and Jay.
"Apparently," Jay sighed, hearing the words about hating Uma and Harry come out of his future self's mouth. He was indifferent in his feelings toward Gil.
Uma, Harry and Gil looked back at Mal; glee evident on their faces at potentially getting one over on Mal.
"Fine," Mal said though it was clear that it was the last thing she wanted to do. She looked over at Jay and tilted her head toward Auradon.
"Where are our bikes?" Jay asked, turning to face the other three.
"Finally! I've been waiting for this question to come up!"
"Calm down Lu," Alexandria chuckled.
"Oh, yeah. We crashed them," Gil told him, Harry just looking amused while Uma looked slightly impressed. Harry pretended to be riding a bike before whistling and imitating the sound of a crash.
"Why not keep them?"
"The parts the bikes had were probably worth more than the bikes themselves," Mal told Hadie. "Plus, I hate to say it, but crashing them was probably the smartest thing they could do. Prevents Zevon or Freddy from stealing them from under their noses."
Mal stared in slight shock while Jay just looked annoyed as Harry let out a small laugh, pointing to Jay as he backed up to stand by Uma.
"Jay looks like he's ready to murder Harry," Elle shook her head.
"Here's a thought," Evie said as she walked up to stand between the two trios. Mal and Jay looked over at Evie while Carlos just stared off into the distance, as if wanting to be done with the whole conversation. "We could try to be friends. Put our history behind us and celebrate our differences."
"You know this may seem entirely off topic but has Evie been wearing that tiara the whole time?"
"Yes, Robin, she has." Rowyn stated.
"Even when wearing her helmet on her bike? Because there's no way that could have been comfortable."
Uma, Harry, and Gil looked over at Evie; the looks on their faces indicated that they were not in the mood to 'celebrate their differences' with the others.
"The girl we used to pelt with smoke bombs is telling us to put our history behind us?" Harry chuckled.
"Yeah?" Evie asked, looking over at Mal and the boys, Mal still staring blankly at Evie, Jay looking slightly perplexed and Carlos looking slightly disgusted. Evie pulled out a small bag from the sleeve of her jacket "Who wants gum?"
"The whole 'wanting us to talk' thing makes so much more sense now," Uma muttered.
Evie gave the bag a small shake as if to offer it to the others. Uma still looked unimpressed.
"Let's go," Uma said, walking off.
"No?" Evie asked, still rattling the bag; Celia looking at the ground.
"I'm pretty new to the whole 'crisis' thing but I don't think it's the time for gum," Celia said softly.
"Ah!" Mal exclaimed, causing Uma to stop. "No. I'm in charge. Let's go."
"Is it really the time for pissing contests about who's in charge?" Evan shook his head.
"Okay so just...none of our children go to The Snuggly Duckling ever again," Rapunzel sighed.
The two groups walked off as Evie took one of the gum balls out of her bag and put it in her mouth. The next shot was an exterior one of Auradon Prep as the group of eight walked onto the quad only to see everyone who was outside snoring; clearly under Audrey's sleeping curse.
"They're asleep," Mal said, looking around. "Everyone."
"Very good Mal. Maybe next we'll learn how to not steal people's boyfriends!"
Mal sighed but ignored the taunt from Audrey. It had been a pretty obvious observation her future self had made. Anyone could have seen that everyone was asleep.
She looked at her phone, having tried calling on it to no avail. "I can't get Ben."
Okay, that explains my stating the obvious. If I'm worried about Ben, I'm not going to be as focused on other things. Wait…why can't I get Ben on the phone?
Ben paused, the worried feeling from the previous scene coming back with a vengeance. He would never just ignore Mal's texts or calls.
"Or Dizzy or Doug," Evie stated, also looking at her phone as the group continued to walk
"Or Jane. The signal's out," Carlos added.
Oh thank Gods. The signal's out, Ben thought with an inward sigh of relief. Mal gave him a small smile and gently squeezed his hand.
The group continued to walk through the quad, Carlos holding up his phone as if to get a better signal.
Jane couldn't help but smile a little at the sight. Carlos seemed determined to get that signal.
"Is that Auradon Prep?" Celia asked, pointing to the building.
"But the VK pick up left from Auradon Prep," Rowyn pointed out. "Wouldn't you guys have returned to the same location?"
"Not…not after the excitement on the Isle," Mal said softly. "We brought the VKs over to their guardians as quickly as we could."
"Yeah. When everybody wakes up, you're going to love it," Carlos told her. Celia continued to stare at the building in shock before pumping her fists slightly in celebration.
"Everything is so…" Gil said as they continued to walk around, looking at everything.
"Freaky," Jay finished for him.
"…green," Gil corrected. "You have leaves on your trees. And what are those colored things on the bushes?"
"Uh... Flowers?"
"Kinda weird that there're flowers. Isn't Lady Persephone on the Isle?"
"It's Auradon. Why are we questioning flowering plants?"
"Flowers are pretty." Gil said before looking at a bowl on a nearby table in surprise. "Cantaloupe! Mm! Mm!"
Jay moved like he was going to stop him before looking guiltily at the sleeping people at the table by them, as if apologizing for Gil stealing their food.
"It'd just go to waste," Lucas sighed. "We don't know how long the sleeping curse will be in effect and unless Audrey put a spell on that food too…"
"We don't have fresh fruit on the Isle, remember?" Uma told him and Jay looked back at Gil, now scarfing down a thing of grapes.
The four original VKs looked at each other, feeling slightly guilty. The food deliveries that had been going to the Isle had focused mainly on non-perishables, to prevent what had happened in years past and to rebuild trust in the barges.
Sadly, that'd meant that things like fresh fruit were not in the cards yet.
"Let's see if we can fix that," Evie whispered to Mal, who nodded softly.
"Thank you," the blond said as he set down the plate.
"I thought…I thought thank you's weren't done on the Isle," Herkie said. "That's what you all said last viewing."
"He's not on the Isle though," Macaria pointed out.
"They're grapes," Jay told him, patting Gil on the shoulder before walking off.
"Grapes? I love grapes."
Good to know, Macaria thought with a small smile. Wait, though, he might not have ever had grapes before. Plus that's his future self saying it.
"Hey, if it means I don't have to stomach watching Gil eat eggs, I'll get him all the grapes he wants," Uma muttered.
"I believe I deserve some compensation for my muscles, my wile, and my role in this endeavor," Harry stated, taking the wallet of one of the sleeping students.
"You have five seconds to put my brother's wallet back where you found it," Rachel said, her voice firm.
"You do," Jay said, stalking over to Harry and snatching the money out of his hand. "Me not squashing you like a bug."
"Thank you Jay!"
Harry laughed, tossing the wallet back onto the table as Jay put the money in the student's shirt pocket. "Think I'm scared of you, Jay?"
"Guys," Mal and Uma stated, their tone of voice indicating that this type of confrontation was almost routine for the two boys.
Mal shook her head; it almost reminded her of when Jay had just joined their group and he and Harry seemed to have verbal sparring matches every other week. Some things would never change it seemed.
Harry looked over at the two girls and Jay walked off.
"Mm!"
"Dude," Carlos said, clearly excited to see that his friend wasn't asleep.
"You know, that raises a question. Does the sleeping curse affect dogs? Could the love between a dog and his human wake Dude up from the sleeping curse or would he need a romantic True Love's kiss?"
"That's what you decided to focus on?" Aziz asked his little brother, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Delicious," Dude said before letting out a small burp.
"Is there any way to make the dog stop talking?" Uma asked.
"Dude, really?" Carlos asked as Jay walked up.
"What? It wasn't me, I swear. Okay. It was me," Dude told him as Mal also came up to the group.
Kitty shook her head in amusement. "It must be from the truth potion. Remember the gummy Mal gave Carlos was a truth gummy so it'd make sense that Dude couldn't lie."
"Hey, do you know what happened here?" Carlos asked after glancing at Mal.
"Yup. Audrey showed up. She put everybody to sleep. And then she turned some of them to…"
"I have to say I like that mutt," Harriet said. "Nice succinct report."
"But Carlos saw the news report," Sammy pointed out. "Wouldn't he know or at least have some idea what happened?"
"Guys," Evie said, looking almost horrified at a statue that more than likely wasn't there before. The others quickly made their way over to her and Mal, Carlos and Jay stared in horror at the statue. "Lonnie turned to stone."
"No!" Lil Shang exclaimed while Lonnie stared in shock.
"Wait, I thought Lonnie had left school?" Kitty asked.
"I…I must have come back when I heard that Ben proposed," Lonnie said softly. Meanwhile, Mulan glared over at Leah.
"Are you happy?"
"I beg your—?"
"If you hadn't told your own granddaughter that it was her fault her school age relationship didn't work, Audrey wouldn't have been pushed to her breaking point, wouldn't have grabbed the scepter and my daughter wouldn't be stone right now!"
"Well technically she's—"
"Zip your howling screamer Leah! Gods, you just don't know when to quit do you? You deny food to the Isle, potentially killing children. Then, after you're caught, you move on to shoving your insane values down your granddaughter's throat which also results in people potentially dying!"
"I still don't see how this has to do with—"
Before anyone could react, Mulan got up and, within about five strides, cleared the distance between herself and Leah. Using her dominant hand, the savior of China swiftly slapped Leah across the face.
"I make it a rule not to hit children. Especially when they haven't done the action that will get them into trouble yet," Mulan hissed. "But you? You are not a child and it's clear that you have no regrets over what happened. Make no mistake, if Lonnie does wind up being turned to stone after this viewing, your own ancestors won't be able to protect you."
She marched back to her seat and sat down next to Shang.
"Don't even bother looking at me Leah," Shang said. "You deserved that and everyone knows it."
"All right. Everybody stay on their toes," Jay said though it was obvious he was worried too.
Lonnie shot Jay a small smile, hearing the worry that'd been in his voice.
"Look, since we're here, let's check the school," Uma said, Celia nodding along in agreement.
"Smart, you'd be able to at least check that off the list," Poseidon nodded and looked at his granddaughter. "Athena'd be proud."
"No," Mal said, causing the other four to pause. "Audrey went straight for the crown, so, I think it's safe to assume that she's gonna go for Ben and his castle next.
"However, she'd also be proud of that reasoning as well," Poseidon said, looking over at Mal.
That's where we'll go."
"Says who?" Uma asked, walking slightly up to Mal.
"Says his worried fiancee," Elle pointed out, rolling her eyes.
"Says the future Queen of Auradon," Macaria added.
"Says me," Mal told her, closing the distance.
"Says you. And that's supposed to mean something to me?"
It used to, Mal thought before shoving that thought aside. They were rebuilding their relationship, what was said in the future wouldn't be said in their future.
"Guys," Evie said softly and Mal looked over to her.
"To the castle," the future Queen stated, walking off; the others following her. Harry looked at the statue before bringing up the rear of their little group.
"Well now…I'd say it's the perfect time as any to take a small break," the Blue Fairy stated.
"I agree," Ben said softly.
"Me too for that matter," Harriet nodded, a small growl coming to her voice as she looked at Uma.
"Very well," the Blue Fairy nodded.