Audrey was very stealthy when she hid away from the two groups who were looking for her and Peter. She was getting more and more frustrated by the minute about Mal and her efforts in defeating her and taking her down and it was starting to make her seem very scary. At least mostly around Chad who looked like he was quaking with fear and really didn't want to be around Audrey anymore as he felt scared to death of her anger. Not to mention Ben was able to move on from Mal's heartbreak when she thought she could step in and save him only for him to appear to be interested in Keela of all people. Peter decided to brush Audrey's hair, smirking as he did so while Chad was trembling and being used as a footstool.
"I can't believe this..." Audrey growled viciously. "Ben's already moved on."
"Clearly he's deluding himself with that Keela girl... Those yellow dresses she wears make her look like a banana," Peter smirked. "Maybe if we're lucky, they'll get lost in a jungle and then a family of gorillas will rip her to shreds soon."
"Not soon enough," Audrey scoffed and shook her head before smirking a bit. "Let's mess them up a little."
"I say we go back to my place and maybe binge-watch some TV?" Chad spoke up quickly, trying to distract Audrey, smiling nervously at her wrath. "Huh? Or maybe order some stuff online? Yeah? Yeah. What about pizza, huh? Yeah, you don't like pizza. Salad? Sa-"
Audrey and Peter just glanced at him before looking at each other.
"I'm bored of him now," Peter replied. "Mophead isn't as much fun as I thought he would be."
"You're right... Perhaps he should be punished too... After all, he ditched me the minute we found out I had to go to summer school." Audrey said before grinning manically.
Peter grinned back. "Shall I dispose of him, my Queen of Mean?" he then offered.
"Do it." Audrey smirked with a firm and steady nod.
Peter nodded in return before he approached Chad with narrowed eyes, looking rather demonic in his gaze.
"No, no, no, no, Audrey. Audrey!" Chad cried out as Peter suddenly grabbed him by his shoulders and began to push him over to the closet that locked on the outside. "Audrey, don't let him! Peter, stop!" he then yelled out as he was suddenly pushed inside and fell on his hands and knees before the door shut in front of him and he was suddenly locked in.
"I honestly had higher hopes for that Mophead." Peter sighed with a shrug and smarmy smirk.
"He probably had to go anyway," Audrey sighed as she sat back in her seat. "He and I started to drift apart anyway... And you understand me like no one else does, Peter~"
"You deserve so much better than him." Peter said before he reached out and stroked Audrey's face, comforting her a bit.
"Mm... Yes..." Audrey smirked warmly and nodded.
Chad soon started to bang on the door, trying to get out.
"Do you think you're ready for a stroll?" Audrey suggested to Peter then.
"If The Queen of Mean wants to take a stroll." Peter agreed and nodded as he took a look at the time.
"She does," Audrey nodded. "Let's get going then. After a little chaos spread~"
Peter then smirked as he came over to the door and decided to open it for Audrey. Audrey then smirked as she came to go and join him.
"Where shall we go?" Peter then asked.
"Hmm... Perhaps we should check on the cheerleaders," Audrey suggested. "We have a routine to go over for tomorrow anyway."
"Oh... Right," Peter grinned. "It'll be one to remember."
Audrey giggled and nodded as she stepped out with Peter while Chad was stranded and locked in the closet, trying to cry out, but his pleas would so far lie on deaf ears.
Meanwhile, Gil, Uma, and Maddy were settling into their new surroundings that came with Emerald Acres after they all had dinner at Aunt Em's Diner. They were eating some of the leftover birthday cake that Jane had and had glasses of milk to go with it.
"Well, they seem to be settling okay," Evie said to her friend/sister. "Should we go back and meet Aunt Zelena?" she then suggested.
"Actually, Evie, why don't you go on ahead of me?" Mal replied. "I think I have to take care of something around here first."
Evie blinked before she looked over to Maddy and had a bit of an idea of what Mal was talking about. "...Why don't I wait for you?" she then suggested. "That way we can go to Aunt Zelena's together and not get lost?"
"...Okay, but this is just a little private," Mal replied. "Please don't listen in, okay?"
"I won't," Evie promised. "Just remember, you know where to find me if you need to have a more personal talk."
"I will, Evie," Mal reassured before she began to walk over to where Maddy was sitting. "Um... Can I sit here?" she then asked softly.
"It's a free world." Maddy shrugged as she continued to eat the birthday cake she was allowed to eat.
"So... I know it's been rough for you," Mal said as she decided to sit with her old friend. "Me moving away and you felt kind of abandoned."
"Yeah. We really tore up the town together back in the day." Maddy reminded, soft and firm in tone at the same time.
"I know..." Mal said before sighing. "I didn't wanna move, but... It was probably good for me anyway."
Maddy rolled her eyes.
"Maddy... Look at me..." Mal started to say then.
"Why? So you can rub it in some more?" Maddy asked. "Are you gonna make me say it?"
"...Say what?" Mal then had to ask.
"No one back home really likes or cares about me... I felt safe around you." Maddy defended before she glanced at Mal a bit.
"Huh?" Mal blinked.
"I guess sometimes things just change," Maddy shrugged. "Such as you leaving me and the life you had back home after Lily's funeral. Grammy was even gonna send me away to a finishing school in some weird place like Germany or Toronto or even Cleveland or something like that. She had I had caused a lot of trouble with you and I had to straighten up before I would end up being disowned by her. Your old place isn't much better either."
"You go there to visit sometimes after we left?" Mal guessed.
"You bet," Maddy nodded truthfully. "It was a mess the minute you left... You know how people get in our old hometown, even kids will try to pick-pocket you just so they can eat a decent meal. It was ransacked and everything you ended up leaving behind by accident was either stolen or destroyed."
"Goodness..." Mal cringed. "Listen, Maddy, I know you're having a hard time since I left, but you have to remember. It was Mom's idea I ended up in Auradon Heights in the first place. I was just as annoyed and pissed off as you were and I'm really, really sorry about that, but there's nothing I can do... But after a while, I grew to like it there," she then said with a small smile. "I gained pretty good friends... A new family. I like to think it's a land of new opportunities for anybody."
Maddy just raised an eyebrow curiously.
"Just hear me out... Regina decided to take me in and raised me as her other daughter and loves me just as much as she loves Evie and Henry," Mal then explained as calmly as she could. "I don't know how exactly she could help you, but if you let her, she could probably help find a new place for you to call home too. I mean... If you wanna maybe come back with us?" she then shrugged.
"Hmph..." Maddy snorted a bit. "I'll think about it."
"That's all anyone can really ask of you," Mal said. "I'm still sorry about what happened between us, but you can't be mad at me forever. You used to be my best friend."
"Right... Used to be... Keywords..." Maddy huffed.
"I'll leave you alone then to think about it," Mal replied. "Just remember, either way, there's a big day tomorrow for us school students."
"We school students." Evie corrected as she walked by.
"Whatever," Mal shrugged before nodding at Maddy. "Try to get a good night's sleep, okay?"
"I guess I'll see about that too," Maddy shrugged. "Whatever."
Mal nodded before she yawned slightly and stretched a bit. "Well... We better turn in for the night," she then suggested to Evie. "We've all had a long day, especially in trying to look for Peter and Audrey."
"I'll say," Evie nodded. "Let's get some sleep and find out who the big winner is in the end."
Everyone soon said good night to each other. Maddy watched them all go and she stayed silent as she had a lot on her mind and even more to think about now as she began to finish up her birthday cake slice. She was still mad at Mal, but probably not as much as she once was before and decided to get some rest too while everyone split up that evening, either going back to the hotel or if they were Mal and Evie, going back to Zelena's place.
The night was a very long one for everyone, especially for Peter who made a special stop that night after Audrey had fallen asleep and Chad probably tired himself out after trying to escape out the door he was locked into.
"Peter...?" Audrey spoke wearily as she rolled over in the bed, rubbing under her sleep mask after she heard the door open and close before locking for the night. "Is that you?"
"Shh... You sleep..." Peter told her in a hushed tone of voice as he soon set something down at the table and walked over to the bed, sitting on it and looked down at her as he put his knees up. "You've had a long day, my Queen of Mean."
Audrey yawned before she slid up her sleep mask and looked up at him as she decided to still lay down under the covers. "Where were you just now?" she then asked. "I was cuddling you after we locked Chad up for the night."
"Yes, I know, but I had to step outside for a minute," Peter replied. "Don't worry about it, alright?"
"Hmph... At least tell me what's going on..." Audrey pouted, though she did it with a small, sexy smirk in an attempt to be flirty with him before she leaned over, sitting up a bit, and started to nuzzle her cheeks against his, making herself blush.
"Let's just say it's something very special for tomorrow..." Peter told her with a wicked smirk.
"Like what?" Audrey smirked back. "The other Emerald Acres girls and I have something special to share with the audience tomorrow night."
"I know you do, it'll be sometime after that, I promise," Peter told her. "I just don't wanna have to spoil the surprise. I wanna see your face when you and everyone else sees it."
"Aww..." Audrey pouted before she yawned. "You're no fun."
"Oh, believe me, I can be a lot of fun," Peter replied before he slid her sleepmask back down over her eyes. "Now, now... You get some sleep. You'll definitely need your rest for the excitement that's to come tomorrow."
"Okay. Okay." Audrey gave in before yawning.
"Sweet dreams." Peter told her before smirking as she began to lay back down under the covers.
"Good night." Audrey told him softly as she laid back down under the covers and turned over, hugging her pillow.
"Good night..." Peter nodded before smirking at himself. "Tomorrow is going to be when we fight fire with fire~" he then added with a rather evil sounding chuckle.
The next morning soon came. Emma was hard at work with the case of Audrey being missing, reported by both her maternal grandmother who was keeping an eye on her during her parents' and sisters' absences this summer and especially with Mr. Hyde reporting that he hadn't seen her in summer school. Edward was so distracted about Audrey being missing that he was concerned about the young girl who was a bright young girl who just could use a little bit of decent discipline and shape up to a decent young lady, even if her popularity sort of fizzled out after Ben had broken up with her and she grew very jealous of Mal that went through insane lengths. He had also made a promise to a treasured colleague of his that after summer school would be over, they would be going away together, but since Audrey hadn't shown up, he wasn't sure what exactly to do about his task of teaching summer school that year and what to do about his colleague and the promise they made with each other after regular classes would be let out so that they would both have free time.
Edward sighed as he sat at his desk before hearing a knock at his classroom door. He then stood up and walked over and opened it up to see a certain woman from the local university's Science Department. "Ah... Mary." he then greeted the woman of his dreams.
"Edward," Mary nodded as she stepped inside. "I heard about what happened... It seems tragic that young Audrey Thornley has vanished."
"Yes... It's very strange and tragic... Especially since her education will suffer," Edward replied as he agreed. "I know that Audrey is a very smart young lady and she shouldn't let popularity stress her out or be the highest priority in school," he then said before sighing sharply. "I just wish that children would not let that small stuff get to them when it won't matter in the long run like when they're about our age."
"I know just how you feel... Though I deal with college students, most of them don't care about that sort of thing, but it was almost like that for me when I was young," Mary nodded as she stepped inside and decided to sit with him to help comfort him. "My friends Lucy, Katrina, and Mina seemed to be so worried about beauty and impressing boys they liked very much, but they eventually grew up and moved on from that sort of thing, but we shouldn't urge young ones to grow up so quickly."
"Indeed... I've had to grow up rather quickly myself," Edward nodded. "Sometimes it feels like I was born a grown man... Especially... With what happened to my family a long time ago..." he then said as he looked off to the distance, a bit emotional about his own personal trauma.
"Oh, Edward... You're so brilliant and mature, but you shouldn't let your past haunt you... Yesterday is history after all and tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift... That's why they call it 'The Present'." Mary soothed and gently reminded.
"Oh, I know that... I try to tell the children that too," Edward nodded. "I just want to help my students apply themselves and show them how they're more capable than they think they might be. Sometimes I wonder if I should've gone to the university with you and John Darling rather than babysitting a bunch of future hamburger flippers or floor moppers if they don't listen to a word I'm going to say and remember my words of wisdom after their graduation."
"You're fine just the way you are, Edward, and nothing makes me love you any less," Mary said as she soon kissed him sweetly for a few moments. "I may not know where she is myself, but you, Sheriff Jones, someone... Will find Audrey Thornley and you can get done what you want to do for her and everyone else you happen to teach." she then soothed as sweetly as possible.
"Mm... Oh, Mary... You always know just what to say, don't you?" Edward smirked warmly.
"I try my best anyway," Mary smiled at him as she decided to rub his back soothingly. "Especially for the man I love very much and care about... Why couldn't Dr. Jekyll be as much of a gentleman as you are now?"
"Because I was raised to be a gentleman and I know how to treat a woman properly unlike him," Edward gently reminded. "I just do what I know and what I was raised to know."
"Well, whoever taught you how to be a perfect gentleman should be lucky that you were exceptional in that field," Mary smiled as she put her arms around his shoulders. "So are you going to drive after Audrey Thornley and bring her back home whenever they find out where she ended up?"
Edward thought about that before he thought about what he knew about Audrey. She was always concerned about her looks, especially in Gym Class and telling Coach Jenkins she didn't want to do any warm-ups and thought just the boys should since she just had a manicure or whatever else only to be told that the warm-ups included her, not to mention showing envy when Coach Jenkins thought about Evie being a cheerleader in the place of Audrey... Then he thought about Evie who was at Emerald Acres with a lot of other students from Auradon Heights. Wait a minute... "...I think I know where she is." he then suddenly said after he gave it some thought.
"Oh?" Mary asked rather curiously.
"She was banned from The Summer School Games while everyone else went to go there," Edward said as he faced Mary then. "She had to have gone after them just to make herself look good or get payback."
"Payback? Do you really think she would do that?" Mary asked then.
"I'm not fully sure, but I have a pretty big hunch," Edward replied. "Audrey Thornley has always had a pretty big ego, especially competing with her older sisters. She often steps on others just to get what she wants... There's no doubt that she probably ended up there."
"In Emerald Acres? ...But who could have given her a ride down there since her family's out of town except for her grandmother who's right here?" Mary pondered thoughtfully.
"I don't know, but I think I can find out," Edward said before he stood up from his desk suddenly. "I'll call Sheriff Jones and we'll see what we can do about arranging a trip to Emerald Acres."
Mary then stood up with him as she tried to look brave and confident. "Then I'll go with you." she then decided.
"Oh, Mary, are you sure?" Edward asked softly. "I wouldn't want to drag you into this old high school student drama."
"If you're okay with it, then I'm okay with it," Mary reassured bravely. "I believe in you and I think I believe in myself enough too to go help you. Please Edward, I already miss you so much this summer since you have to worry about the summer school program delaying our plans together."
Edward looked over and gently took her hand. "...I know it's been tough, especially with what we planned together this summer... But all right," he soon said as calmly as he could. "You may come along, but don't say that I didn't warn you."
"It's a date," Mary smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Edward. For trusting and believing in me."
"Of course, Mary, you'd do the same for me." Edward smiled back before they shared a sweet and gentle kiss on the lips together.
Mary beamed and blushed before kissing him back. Soon, they parted away from the kiss, both smiling warmly and confidently at each other.
"All right, Mary... Let's go get a runaway student back." Edward said with strong determination.
"Let's." Mary nodded as she followed him out the classroom door.
Edward took a deep breath and soon continued down the hallway after he shut his classroom door and locked it, then went to go and head over to the car with her.
BACK IN EMERALD ACRES...
Nearly everyone was getting ready for the big night tonight which was the final day of The Summer School Games. However, Mal and Evie were pretty distracted about that as they need to find out more about what Peter and Audrey were up to. They decided to meet up with their friends and they told Zelena, Hades, and Baby Emerald that there was urgent teenager business that needed to be taken care of.
"That's a pretty interesting story, Henry," Evie smiled as she spoke on the phone with her little brother. "It sounds like a fairy tale."
"It's not a fairy tale, Evie!" Henry told his sister insistently on the phone about what he found out with Dee Dee and Sophie. "This is real!"
"Oh, I'm sure it's real," Evie said, humoring him, but shrugging with a small smile as she glanced at Mal who looked over at her, wondering what was going on. "Listen, I gotta get ready to do something with Mal, okay? It's urgent business."
"This is urgent business too, Evie!" Henry retorted before sighing as Evie suddenly hung up on him. "...Doesn't anybody say goodbye anymore?"
Mal soon walked on over to Evie. "Everything okay with the little tyke?" she then asked.
"Yeah, it's fine," Evie replied calmly. "He was just telling me about this crazy story about how everybody is a fairy tale character and we're all in some alternate universe or something. Pretty crazy, huh?"
"Yeah... Sounds kinda wild..." Mal nodded.
"And get this, he says that Aunt Zelena is a wicked witch and your dad is the same Hades from The Underworld in Greek Mythology and that Emerald is gonna open up another alternate reality or something," Evie said with an amused smirk. "Where do kids come up with their crazy ideas and imaginations, huh?"
"No idea," Mal chuckled before she then cleared her throat. "Ahem... Should we go and meet up with the others? We still have a little bit of time to kill until the big night at Lyman Baum Prep." she then suggested.
"Sure, we can do that," Evie nodded as she stood up. "Everyone agreed to the deal we made last night?"
"Yeah, and Uma even thinks she has a lead to find Peter and Audrey, but we gotta go now." Mal replied urgently.
"Right," Evie nodded before calling out. "Aunt Zelena! Hades! Mal and I gotta go and meet up with some friends!"
"Well... All right, dear," Zelena said as she stepped into the room, putting in one of her earrings, wearing a black dress with hints of emerald green. "Just promise we'll meet up outside at the football field? That's where the awards' ceremony is supposed to be." she then reminded.
"We'll be there, Aunt Zelena," Mal promised. "We just gotta take care of something a little personal first."
"Well... Okay," Zelena said before she smiled softly. "Just don't be late, okay? I'll call you ahead of time though."
"Thanks," Evie replied as she came over to hug her aunt. "Love you, Aunt Zelena."
"I love you too, Princess," Zelena smiled as she hugged her niece back before looking over. "How about you, Mal? Do you want in on this? You're family too after all." she then offered.
"N-No... It's okay..." Mal said as she turned away slightly. "...I-I just don't hug people or anything..."
Zelena chuckled, a bit amused by that response.
"Sorry, Aunt Zelena, but Mal's not much of a hugger." Evie then told her aunt.
"So I see," Zelena nodded. "You remind me of a younger Regina sometimes, Mal."
Mal gave a small smile in response to that, but she just shrugged.
"Just remember to wear your Sunday best, girls." Zelena then reminded.
"We will." Mal and Evie promised as they waved goodbye and went out the front door.
Zelena smiled calmly before she went to go back over to her husband and daughter until it would be time to head over to school grounds for the awards ceremony.
Mal and Evie then came out to see the rest of their friend group who were anxious about tracking down Peter and Audrey.
"Ready?" Maddy asked.
"We're ready." Mal and Evie nodded.
"Good. Cuz I might have a lead." Uma replied.
"Lead the way then, Uma," Mal said to her. "Hopefully we can track those two down soon before someone gets hurt."
"Come on then," Carlos piped up. "We don't have a whole lot of time."
"He's right. The Awards Ceremony will be starting very soon." Keela added urgently.
"Come on. Follow me." Uma told the others before she ran off suddenly.
The others then began to follow after her to see what she had in mind as there was the sound of thunder rumbling.
"The kids go out?" Hades asked as he came to see Zelena.
"Yes, I'm afraid they did," Zelena nodded as she gave Emerald a quick bath in the sink before they would head out tonight. "Apparently there's urgent teenager business I'm too old to understand."
"Oh, I don't know about that," Hades lightly chuckled. "You're not as old as your mother."
"...Thanks, I guess." Zelena briefly rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she wasn't sure how that was supposed to help her.
"Hey, come on now," Hades said with a small smile. "You know you love me, right?"
"...Yes, I do," Zelena smirked a little bit. "Especially with our first bike ride together."
"And that time I picked some poppy flowers for you..." Hades smiled and nodded. "I love you a lot, Zelena... Even if it's just you, me, and Emmy."
Zelena softly looked at him before sighing as she looked at their daughter who cooed and giggled, gently splashing in the water.
"...You miss your sister, don't you?" Hades then asked Zelena softly.
Zelena looked over at him before looking back down. She didn't say anything, though she seemed to sniff a bit.
"Zee, you can tell me," Hades said as calmly as he could. "It's natural to miss her... You haven't seen her in a long time. Regina agreed to let Evie stay with you though after knowing you lived here with me now... You should see your sister."
"Oh, Hades, I don't know... It's been too long..." Zelena frowned as she heaved a sharp sigh as she continued to clean and wash their daughter. "I don't even know if she'd want to see me again... Sure, she let Evie come here... Even Mal, but... Like I said, it's been too long. How will I even know she would want to talk to me again?"
"You never know unless you try," Hades said calmly. "I mean, look at me, I've had my own set of family issues and that's not including Ciara, Malissa, and Lilith."
Zelena looked at him wearily then.
"At least try... For me?" Hades asked. "If I can try to talk to Mal again after what happened, you can talk to Regina about what happened between you two and maybe it'll even be good for you to become sisters again and reconnect your family." he then advised.
"That's it. No more fortune cookies for you." Zelena then tutted and shook her head.
"I'm serious." Hades defended lightly.
"So am I." Zelena retorted.
"...Zelena, at least keep it in your mind?" Hades then suggested. "I just don't want this eat you up on the inside forever."
"It won't eat me up inside forever," Zelena firmly pouted as she turned away from him before sighing sharply. "...But you're right."
"Oh, am I?" Hades then asked with a small, hopeful smirk on his face.
"Don't get such a swelled head," Zelena smirked back at him as she chuckled while finishing up with Emerald. "But... I'll have to see what I can do. I can't make too many promises, but I'll see, okay?" she then asked him, hoping that would be enough.
"Okay... That's good enough for me," Hades said as he nodded at her. "Thank you, Zelena."
"Of course, Hades," Zelena smiled softly at him before looking over as Emerald continued to coo and giggle around. "Well... Someone looks excited about something."
"I wonder what's on her mind?" Hades chuckled. "You think maybe she's excited about The Awards' Ceremony for her big cousin?"
"Maybe," Zelena smiled softly. "I wouldn't put it past her. Let's finish cleaning her up and getting her dressed for tonight... Hopefully she doesn't barf all over herself."
"I wouldn't talk like that if you don't want that to happen," Hades smirked. "That's like asking for something like that to happen."
Zelena rolled her eyes before she went to finish cleaning up Emerald, cooing and giggling at her baby. Emerald then cooed back at her mother as she seemed to have a spark in her eyes. Zelena smiled, hugging her daughter before lightly kissing her forehead as she soon pondered and thought about what Hades had said about her trying to make up with Regina. She would just have to see about that in the future. Maybe not right now, maybe not tomorrow, but she definitely decided soon. Perhaps when it was time for the girls to go back home to Auradon Heights.
Mal soon made it to the hotel room as she took out a pin to trick the lock and managed to open the door after finding out which room that Audrey was staying in even though she was supposed to be waiting back home and in summer school. She then winced as the door creaked as she opened it and looked around, though no one seemed to be in there. No Peter or Audrey, although she did hear a strange sound within the room, it appeared to be the sound of some banging along with a hint of crying.
Ben went to investigate. "Chad?" he asked surprised and opened the door after unlocking it.
"I want my mommy," The blonde-haired boy said. He then jolted as Ben went to help him up. "No!" he gasped.
"It's okay. What happened, buddy?" Ben then tried to soothe the boy.
"Oh... Ben... Ben..." Chad called once he made it outside of the closet, being free at last as he looked traumatized and fearful right now before he looked around. "They're gone, huh?" he then noticed the door as he twitched about, looking like a feral animal exposed to a crowd for the first time. "The door is open. I'm free. Freedom! Oh! Freedom!" he exclaimed as he ran past everyone and out of the hotel room before anyone could stop him.
The others sweat-dropped as they watched as Chad fled out the door just like that as he gave into the sanctuary of being free, both from being locked in overnight and free from Audrey and Peter's tyranny.
Mal blinked as Chad ran out the door. "...Well, that just happened."
"Well, looks like Peter and Audrey cleaned out of here before we could catch them." Jay said as he soon came to meet the others.
"Ooh. All right. Let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already. What do you say, girls? Time to wrap things up?" Uma grinned when they left and smirked while fist-bumping Mal.
"Nice to see you two getting along for a change." Ben remarked with a small smile.
Suddenly, everyone flinched as they heard something.
"What was that?" Carlos asked.
"I think that was music." Mal guessed.
The group then left the room and looked out the window in the hallway. Everybody was getting ready to gather around Lyman Baum's school as it was getting dark outside and there was a thunderous rumbling sound heard. Doug appeared to be leading his school's band over there while Boris led the marching band for his school. Both sides had colorful banners with one side showing blue and gold banners and the other one showing green, black, and purple banners.
"The Awards' Ceremony," Uma realized. "We better get down there. We'll have to worry about Audrey and Peter later."
"No doubt they're planning something for tonight though." Maddy guessed.
"Makes sense since everybody will be at that school together." Uma nodded at her.
"So... Should we go then?" Gil asked as he tilted his head.
"We probably should," Harry suggested with a nod. "We'd really stick out like sore thumbs if we didn't end up over there where everyone else would be."
"I know this has to be Peter's plan though," Uma then said to him. "Pinky's diary said that they're planning on ending The Summer School Games with a big bang and I don't like the sound of that."
"Maybe he's just gonna launch fireworks for everybody?" Gil suggested.
Uma sighed and shook her head. "Oh, Gil... Why are the cute ones always so dumb?" she then scolded before facing him with a forced smile. "You know we hate Peter Banning more than anyone else, especially with what he did to Harry a while back."
"Or have you forgotten?" Harry then added firmly as he crossed his arms.
"No, I remember... Peter ruined Harry's life at his fancy new school that got him kicked out." Gil said, stating the obvious.
"...What?" Mal asked shallowly then.
"I'll tell you more later. I promise." Harry whispered to her.
Ben nodded to that, deciding to keep Harry's secret safe until he was ready to confess to Mal about what happened between him and Peter a very long time ago.
"Come on, guys," Maddy spoke up. "We better get to down there now and fast."
"Yeah, Aunt Zelena will expecting us anyway," Evie told Mal. "We better get dressed and ready... Especially for me with that cheerleading routine I promised."
"All right, everybody. Let's get it on and keep an eye out for Audrey and Peter." Mal proposed firmly.
"Right." The rest of the group agreed before they soon left the hotel and dispersed to get dressed and ready for the big night tonight.
At the school, the students were lining up together and going to their respective sides for their schools. Even the mascots were getting ready while other students, along with parents, guardians, and faculty were meeting up in the bleachers with Dizzy and Danny covering the announcements together again. The ceremony had to be held indoors due to the sudden rainstorm coming, but everyone hoped that the rain would be over by the time the ceremony would end and maybe they could enjoy fireworks since it was summer vacation after all. Audrey was shown to be with the cheerleaders from Emerald Acres while Evie rounded up the cheerleaders from Auradon Heights. There was a bit of banter between the two mascots while the cheerleaders got into position.
"Good luck out there, Evie," Mal told her best friend. "I'll be rooting for you for our school cheer to help our school win."
"Even though this is just a friendly competition," Evie lightly reminded. "Remember, it's not always about winning. It's about fun."
"Yeah, yeah..." Mal replied before rolling her eyes. "Better than my old school at least where we always cheated to win."
"Man... That school really sounds messed up..." Evie remarked.
"E, you have no idea," Mal shook her head in dismissal. "Don't worry about it though. You guys are my school family now and I wouldn't trade you guys for the world."
Evie smiled softly and warmly as that sounded so very nice before she soon hugged Mal. "Well, I better get going with the other girls," she then suggested. "See you soon."
"See ya, Evie... Go wow Emerald Acres with a real Auradon cheer." Mal smiled back and nodded as she hugged Evie back before they broke apart from it.
And with that, Mal and Evie soon walked off in two different directions as it was time for the moment everybody was waiting for all week.
"Welcome game fans to the final night of The Summer School Games where we end things off with a cheer-off between The Walter Elias Academy and The Lyman Baum Prepatory School!" Danny soon announced as he sat behind a table with Dizzy, both dressed in a forest green suit and black, green, and blue dress respectively.
"This will help determine who the final winner between the schools will be and we thank you for joining us tonight, here, in The Lyman Baum Prep School Gym!" Dizzy then added.
Everybody in the gym began to cheer and applaud, looking hopeful and excited about what will happen next for the two schools.
"Okay, you guys," Evie said as she soon walked over to the other cheerleaders from her school. "We've got the cheers and we're gonna win, win, win! Nobody's got the cheer and the moves like we've got!"
The other cheerleaders nodded.
"Break a leg, Evie." Audrey said as she walked by.
"Oh. Thanks, Audrey." Evie smiled, taking that as actual good advice, even though that saying was mostly used for the theater.
"No, seriously, break a leg," Audrey said before smirking as she came up into Evie's face. "For taking my spot in OUR school... You all could've had me to lead you to victory, but no... You all chose her instead of me... Why not just Mal and feed her ego even more?" she then rolled her eyes a bit.
Evie firmly pouted, but decided not to get angry as it wouldn't solve anything and she wasn't one to let her anger take over her mind.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome The Lyman Baum Preparatory School's Fighting Monkeys!" Danny soon announced as spotlights came down to show Audrey with the other cheerleaders from the school from Emerald Acres.
"Ready? Okay..." Audrey asked the audience before smirking and nodding as she soaked up the cheers from the crowd in front of her. "F-I-G-H-T! What's that spell? Fight, fight, fight!" she then started to chant a very familiar sounding cheer with the other cheerleaders from the school beside her.
Peter snuck around in the back as he brought out a bag that he got from the store and took out what looked like very lethal and dangerous fireworks. He didn't seem to be noticed by anyone, but he went to go somewhere to use them, but wasn't going to use them outside as he had something very special planned.
"Oh, my goodness..." Dizzy whispered to Danny.
"Are you okay?" Danny asked her as they watched Audrey and the other Emerald Acres' cheerleaders in action.
"I recognize that cheer," Dizzy replied as she faced him. "Ivy says that Audrey's older sisters used that routine for plenty of games for our school."
"So... That means..." Danny started to say.
"That's our routine!" Keela cried out.
"THEY STOLE IT!" The other Auradon Heights' cheerleaders added in realization.
However, Principal Walsh and Vice-Principal Glinda didn't seem to do anything about that as Audrey was in charge of the cheerleaders for their school, so if she wanted that to be their routine, it would have to be. This would be bad news though for the Auradon Heights cheerleaders as they would have to come up with a brand new routine and fast if they wanted to compete for their school.
"Those jerks stole Evie's school's routine." Zelena firmly pouted and whispered to Hades as she held Emerald in her arms who was just cooing and giggling obliviously.
"Scumbags," Hades added sharply. "Should we do something?"
"I'm not sure what we could do." Zelena said to him softly, looking worried for her poor niece and her friends.
The crowd then cheered for Audrey and the Emerald Acres cheerleaders as their routine then ended.
"Let's hear it for The Flying Monkeys, I guess." Dizzy shrugged while the crowd went wild for them.
"No points for guessing how they were able to find out that routine." Mal narrowed her eyes sharply at the cheating cheerleaders.
"I've got to do something..." Mal said as she stood up from her seat and came down from the bleachers.
"Where are you going?" Maddy asked Mal.
"I'm gonna help out my friends," Mal told her. "I know you're mad at me, but feel free to come along if you really want to."
Maddy blinked before she seemed to be thinking about it a little.
"We can't do the same routine," Evie pouted. "We'll be disqualified."
"Next up, The Auradon Heights' Fighting Knights!" Danny soon announced, prompting the crowd to cheer for them next.
"How are we supposed to come up with another set of moves?" Evie then wondered. "There's no time."
Zelena looked even more worried, almost like she could tell just what Evie was thinking about right now.
"Hey... Follow our lead." Mal said as she came by suddenly.
"Mal?" The others asked as they looked at the girl who came, along with her old best friend.
"We might have something that just might be able to help." Maddy added.
"Kick it old school." Mal said with a small smirk.
"Follow your lead?" Scarlet complained. "I think I'll just turn in my pom-poms now."
"Uh... Mal? Your cheers aren't exactly, um... Cheerful." Evie then added, trying to explain in a way not to hurt her friend's feelings.
"Never say die when we can try," Mal retorted. "Maddy, let's show them what made our school popular back home."
"I know just what you're thinking, Mal." Maddy said with a small smirk.
The other girls then began to share concerned looks as Mal and Maddy soon went over to get into position. It was then time for a brand new routine as gothic music began to play while the audience waited in anticipation. Everyone shared looks of curiousness as the cheerleaders of Auradon Heights soon began to show a brand new routine which was a bit dark and gothic as Mal and Maddy voiced about a cheer that sounded grim, but the audience seemed to love it.
"There's no doubt we'll be the winners, Knights eat Monkeys for dinner!" Mal and Maddy then cheered together as the routine came to an end and there was even a pyramid in the very end.
The audience gasped at the dark themes before they soon applauded. Maybe even more so than when the Emerald Acres were cheered on.
"That's definitely gonna be tough to beat." Principal Walsh smiled at Vice-Principal Glinda.
"It was a bit dark and thrilling," Vice-Principal Glinda smiled back. "Very unique, especially from Auradon Heights as well. I think we might have a winner."
Audrey overheard that before groaning and growling in frustration as her life was being ruined yet again.
It was getting very dark outside as Peter saw this through the windows and smirked at himself as everyone got settled.
"Thank you all for coming to The Summer School Games." Danny smiled.
"There will be a feast for everybody to celebrate the victory and to announce the winner of the whole competition." Dizzy added before taking an envelope to open it up, nodding her head at a certain boy.
Doug nodded at her and soon began to play a drumroll suddenly.
"And the winner of The Summer School Games is-" Dizzy began before gasping as her microphone was taken. "Hey!" she then glared at the person who took it away from her.
"Me... Peter Banning." Peter grinned as he took the microphone away.
"What?!" Everyone else asked, shocked and confused.
"Attention, ladies and gentlemen of all ages, you will all surrender to me or face the consequences," Peter smirked as he took the microphone away from Dizzy and he came to the center of the gym as a spotlight came down on him. "This was all just a ploy to get you all together and the rain helped make it even more possible."
The crowd then murmured at each other, feeling even more confused.
"I wanted The Summer School Games to end with a bang... And so they shall..." Peter grinned before he came over to a large collection of fireworks.
"Peter, you can't set off all of those fireworks all at once, especially indoors!" Evie cried out. "You'll set the building on fire!"
"Fireworks... A big bang!" Mal gasped as she suddenly realized what Peter was up to.
"That's exactly what I'm hoping for," Peter grinned. "I won't miss any of you and I hope you had a lovely time... But now it's time for ALL OF YOU TO FRY!" he then called out as he pulled several strings at once, setting off the fireworks.
"NO!" Mal and Evie cried out as this could only have disastrous results.
Indeed it did as the fireworks all began to zoom and zip around they all started to explode and soon, the building was slowly catching on fire. The crowd began to scream and panic before they all ran down and off of the bleachers to get away. Peter just laughed once the flames started to spread, looking rather evil, demented, and overall crazy before he started to look for his own way out. More and more explosions were set up, covering the building with more and more flames and making it seem very difficult and precarious to escape from.
A/N: Pretty dark chapter, huh? Yeah, I know, right? Btw, you ever notice in kid's shows with cheerleading competitions that the antagonists who steal the routine always somehow are able to go first? I wonder how that is... They must plan that in advance, right? Anyway, Read & Review, this story is almost over and the Descendants of Storybrooke trilogy will come to a close except for a Halloween and Christmas special a little further down the line, but remember, it'll almost be time for The Modern Fairy Tale Town saga, so look for forward to that at least and I'll see you there!