Part 48 – Truth in War

"How long until they get here?" Belle asked as she paced in the sitting room of the castle they were currently in. It was much smaller than Auradon Palace, and less grand in its appointments, but it was something that the palace wasn't – fortified. It was going to be much harder for an advancing force to just march their way up to, and apparently into, it like Dagon had with the palace. But as far as Belle was concerned, until her son, and the rest of the kids were there with them, she refused to feel even the slightest bit calm inside its walls.

"Soon," Adam told his nervous wife.

"How did this happen?" Chad's father, Charming, asked Adam from his place on one of the couches also, next to his wife.

"How did 'what' happen?" Adam asked back.

"This? Dagon out there running loose, and making this kingdom look like fools. And us, hiding in this backup fortress like scared children because the guards couldn't defend the palace," Charming railed.

"We're not hiding," Adam told him firmly. "This castle is specifically for this situation. A palace is built for living in. It's basically just a glorified residence. A castle is built for defense, and to keep intruders out. It'll make it more difficult for Dagon to get in here."

"He was never supposed to get to the palace in the first place," Charming pointed out. "He was supposed to be a statue forever… at least that was the sentence until Jane probably caused that too."

"Charming!" Cinderella shouted at her husband.

Charming looked at his wife. "We're all thinking it."

"We most certainly are not. I don't care what it looks like, Jane had…," Cinderella began, only to scream as Adam grabbed Charming and lifted him from the couch. Charming looked terrified as Adam held him by his jacket and held him close so that the two men were almost face to face. In fact, were it not for the six inches in height that Adam had over Charming, the two men would be.

"I don't know how Dagon got out from being a statue, but I know Jane had nothing to do with that," Adam told Charming, his voice scarily calm, but his eyes ablaze with anger. "And if I hear you blaming her again, Dagon will be the least of your worries… understand?"

Charming nodded nervously. Adam let him go, and walked over to one of the end tables. In the heat of the moment, no one heard Adam's phone sound off, except for him. "It's Fairy Godmother, she's arrived with the children," he said reading the message. Belle immediately got up and raced out of the room, with Adam not far behind.

"Did you see what he just did to me?" Charming asked, sounding insulted.

"Yes, and had it been me, I'd have punched you for accusing Jane," Phillip answered. He and Aurora began walking toward the door.

Charming looked back at his wife as he saw her standing. "We will be having a conversation over this," Cinderella said as she started walking away from him. "I mean really, she's your goddaughter," she added without waiting for her husband.

The group of parents met up with their children as they were being ushered inside. As each couple went to their children, Charming and Cinderella scanned the room, and became concerned. "Where's Chad?" Cinderella asked when she didn't see her son.

"A pair of guards helped him to get seen by a medic," Fairy Godmother answered.

"A medic? Oh God, he wasn't hurt in the battle was he?" Cinderella asked frightened.

Fairy Godmother shook her head. "No, no, Chad –"

"He was hurt pushing me out of the way of a suit of armor that came to life," Harriet spoke up. Cinderella and Charming looked over at her, perplexed by the young woman's words, and the young woman herself. They'd seen her hanging around lately, mostly with Jane – and being hovered over by Belle – but still didn't know her name. At first glance they could tell she was their son's type – female and attractive. But they'd never known him to put himself in harm's way over a girl. As much as they like to believe that Chad was tougher than he let on, they had to admit, that when it was all said and done, their son wasn't exactly known for his bravery. So, such a chivalrous action, even in the current situation, was a silver lining.

"I… I'm Harriet by the way," she introduced herself, uncharacteristically unsure. Cinderella smiled at the young blonde, and as much as she wanted check if she was alright as well, her focus was on her son. Without further haste, she and her husband left quickly, anxious to make sure their son was okay.

For their part, Aurora and Phillip were making sure that Audrey was alright. They took her aside when they saw that she looked overwhelmed, concerned that what she'd been through, and most certainly witnessed, was weighing heavy on her. Adam and Belle were also checking Ben over, having been previously informed about what had happened to him back at the palace. He assured them he was alright, if anything, his pride was hurt more than anything physically done to him. What he really wanted to do was get with the guards that were there and begin going over the defenses set up at this castle. Adam took him to meet with them, leaving Belle with the group. Without a second thought, she immediately rushed over to where Fairy Godmother was standing with the Jane, Mal, and Harriet. "Are you alright?" she asked.

"We're fine, a little shell-shocked, but otherwise okay," Fairy Godmother answered.

"How bad was it?"

"The battle?" Fairy Godmother asked. Belle nodded. "Do you want me to be brutally honest?"

"Ben said that his pride was hurt, that has to mean something. So yes, I want the truth – no sugar coating."

Fairy Godmother wanted to pick her words carefully. Her friend wanted the truth, but she didn't want to devastate her either. "Dagon proved how truly unprepared we really are for him – for any attack."

A look of pained resignation came across Belle's face. What did we bring upon ourselves, she thought as she reflected on the past week. Deciding that that question was better left for a time when they could all ascertain the answer, she decided to focus on what was right in front of her. "Do you all need anything?" she asked the trio of teenage girls in front of her. Mal and Jane shook their heads, while Harriet let out a small no. Belle was about to take the answer until she saw Harriet roll and rub her right shoulder. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked worried.

"I'm good, I just failed to miss the wall with my shoulder after Chad pushed me out of the way," Harriet told her.

"Did she get checked out?" Belle asked Fairy Godmother.

"I didn't even know she needed to," Fairy Godmother answered while shaking her head.

"Because I didn't – and don't – need to," Harriet replied. "Because I'm fine," she emphasized.

"I still think we should get you checked out. Come on," Belle all but ordered as she grabbed Harriet by the other hand and began pulling her in the same direction Chad was taken to be seen.

"But I'm fine," Jane, Mal, and Fairy Godmother heard Harriet call out as they watched the two of them disappear from view.

"That doesn't seem weird to anyone?" Jane asked.

"What seems weird?" Fairy Godmother asked.

"That? Belle being so concerned about Harriet."

"Yeah," Mal concurred. "I mean there's this. And then there's how she's going out of her way to keep Harriet here in Auradon, letting her stay in the palace, and the closet full of clothes. She wasn't really like that with me until I started dating Ben. And she's not like that with Evie," Mal pointed out.

"I'm sure it's just Belle's maternal instincts on overdrive because of Ben being hurt," Fairy Godmother said, mentally praying that the girls believed her.

"Even in times of crisis, you can't stay away from a library can you?" Fairy Godmother asked Belle as she found her on a two person couch in the fortress's reading room.

"Well, it's not as large as the one I have at the palace, but it'll do. After all, reading helps me relax," Belle answered as Fairy Godmother sat on one of the arm chairs adjacent to the couch.

It was late, and everyone had gone to bed. Though she doubted that the kids were asleep, choosing to stay up like teenagers typically did. And while most of their parents were probably asleep, she knew Belle would still be awake. The stress of the past few days would be weighing on her mind and, as previously mentioned, her favorite activity helped her relax and calm down enough for sleep to eventually come. But before she could get to that point, Fairy Godmother had to speak with her. Mal and Jane's observations earlier had made it necessary.

"We need to talk," Fairy Godmother began, saying the words as gently a possibly despite their directness.

"About?" Belle asked as she placed a bookmark on her current page and set the book next to her.

"Harriet." The VK's name barely caused a reaction in the Queen Mother. "It hasn't gone unnoticed how much you dote on her," Fairy Godmother informed her.

"I'm looking out for her while she's here, just like I would for the other villain children."

Fairy Godmother almost scoffed. "Except you don't. You show concern for the other VKs, but not on this level. Even Mal noticed that she didn't get the same kind of attention until after she began dating Ben."

"Be that as it may, I don't see the reason for bringing it up," Belle countered.

"Because if the girls notice it, how long until others notice it? How long until Harriet notices it and begins asking questions?"

Bell opened her mouth to speak, then stayed silent. Finally, after a small moment of contemplation, "What would you have me do?"

"The same thing you made me do with Jane and Mal – tell her the truth."

The next day, Ben had everyone gathered to discuss the situation. And despite the fact that they'd more than likely have very little input, Mal and Jane, Chad and Audrey, and Harriet, were allowed to be in the room. "Thank you all for meeting this morning," Ben said as he looked at the few royals. "I know it's early, but I didn't want to waste any time after yesterday's attack."

"Or the next attack," Charming commented.

"I'm sure that we can figure something out before that happens," Ben replied. "Does anyone have any suggestions of the next course of action?" There were no immediate replies, just a few scattered glances. "Anyone."

"Appeasement?" Charming spoke up again.

"That's not funny," Adam told him annoyed.

"Not trying to be. I'm thinking what we should all be thinking," Charming told the group. "We can sit here debating what to do next, but we've done that. And no matter what we've come up with, what measures we've taken, in the end… Dagon has alluded us, outsmarted us, and quite frankly embarrassed us. In all honesty, I'm surprised he hasn't killed us."

Once again, there was silence as Charming's words sank in. Now the scattered glances had a tinge of nervousness to them. While no one wanted to admit it, Charming's words struck a chord. And while they might not all fully believe in what he said, there was a small glimmer of doubt in all of them that crept into the minds and almost whispered to them, "You know he's right. You can't win."

"Dagon doesn't want to kill us," Fairy Godmother spoke after a tense moment.

"And you know that how?" Charming demanded.

"Because I know him – better than anyone at this table. Believe me when I say, that if Dagon wanted to kill us, we'd all be dead already. Our lives are not his objective. And if we want to stop him, we should figure that out. Because once we know what he wants, we'll know how to go after him properly."

"I think he's made his intentions clear, he wants revenge on us for sticking him on the Isle for fifteen years as statue," Charming said in an almost deadpan tone.

Fairy Godmother shook her head. "If this was about revenge, he would have just destroyed the palace yesterday along with, and it pains me to say this, kill Ben when he had the chance. Revenge is not why he's here; at least not in the conventional sense."

"He's here to set things right," came the comment from where the teens were sitting. All the adult eyes turned toward them. What they saw was wide-eyed Mal as she suddenly felt like a spotlight had been turned on her. "Sorry," she said sheepishly.

"Don't be," Ben said softly. "I'm open to hearing any theories."

"Well, um…," Mal stuttered, finding herself uncharacteristically shy. "Back when Jane and I were talking to him in the dungeon, he said that he was here to set things right."

"Set what right?" Phillip asked.

Mal looked at him blankly. "I… I don't…"

"His conviction," Fairy Godmother interrupted. "He always maintained that he was innocent of the murder charge that sent him to the Isle."

"He seems to forget that we had incorruptible evidence," Adam said.

"Exactly, he's on video, there's no questioning that," Charming added.

"Then why challenge it?" Fairy Godmother asked. "Dagon is many things, but the kind of man who rolls boulders uphill is not one of them. If he thinks he's innocent, then he has something that he thinks can prove it."

"Or someone," Ben said, thinking back to a report he was given earlier. Everyone looked at him as he began going over the printed reports. "Don't forget, when Dagon stopped the attack and retreated, he didn't do so empty handed. He kidnapped a guard – Captain Richard Uther. Why did he want that guard? Does that name mean anything to anyone?" he asked knowing that all the adults present were around when the murder happened. "No one?"

Ben found himself astonished. Did his parents… his friend's parents, all put this situation out of their minds so much that they'd forgotten details like this? Was their want and need to purge evil from Auradon so ferocious that they could truly act like this never happened to the point of a full lack of recollection.

Adam reached over and grabbed his son's tablet. He opened the function that gave him access to Auradon's criminal files on all its villains. "Look up Dagon's history, and open the last case file link," he told his son as he handed it back to him. Ben did as told, bringing up the file and reading through it. Oh my God, he thought.

"It was Captain Uther's testimony that convicted Dagon? In a trial that lasted all of day, where Dagon not only wasn't allowed to present evidence or testify on his own behalf, but he wasn't even allowed a lawyer?"

"He was guilty," Adam answered.

"He was railroaded and denied proper due process," Ben replied.

"He was guilty!" Adam yelled. "Everyone knew it; everyone but Dagon," he said further in a much calmer voice.

"Well apparently he's hung onto his side of the story long enough that we have a successful escape that's turned into a hostage situation," Ben countered. He then looked at all the royals, his parents, and Fairy Godmother. "I want to know everything all you remember about that night… now."

Part 49 – Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

The sound of his cell door opening forced Uther to slowly awaken. He looks around and sees the same room he was in the day before. So, not just a bad dream, he thought as he takes notice of what's going on. Dagon's men have set up a small table with what's looks like a portable stovetop on top of it. He watches as they set up an additional table next to it and place several food items on it.

"What's going on?" he asks as a third table is placed in front of him along with an empty chair. "Hey! What the hell's going on?" he shouts after them as they leave the room. He struggles with his restraints again, hoping that all the other times he done it before have loosened them sufficiently now. But as he found himself unable to break free, he ruefully cursed his situation again. He heard the door open again and looked up.

"Good morning, Captain," Dagon said as he entered. This time he had completely forgone the suit coat and his shirt sleeves were already rolled up. "Slept well, I hope?" he asked as he went to the stovetop and turned on the burners. Uther then watched as he put a griddle top on one half of the stovetop and pan on one of the burners of the other half.

"Let me out of here."

"Of course," Dagon responded as he went to Uther's chair. Dagon pulled out a pocket knife, flipping it open, and bringing it to the restraints on Uther's wrists. "Are you ready to tell me what I want to know?"

"Screw you, you bastard," Uther told him defiantly.

Dagon nodded insolently and began walking back toward the food. He hovered his hand over the pan and the griddle and nodded. Uther then watched as he stuck his knife into one of the containers of food. When he pulled it out, a steak was attached to the end until Dagon placed it on the griddle. He repeated the action with another steak, and then drizzled some oil into the pan.

"What the hell are you doing?" Uther asked, confused.

Dagon turned toward him. "Making breakfast," he said obviously. While the steaks were beginning to cook, the smell of searing meat was making its way to Uther's nose. His mouth began to water at the scent of the steaks as he watched Dagon open a container from the prep table and dump what looked like chopped potatoes into the pan. Uther felt his stomach rumble at that sight and the thought of the new smell that would be hitting him as Dagon seasoned the potatoes.

"This doesn't seem like torture," Uther told him.

Dagon smiled sarcastically. "It's not meant to be. But while we're on the subject – or at least adjacent to the subject – care to tell me about the night Michael Merlin died?"

Uther groaned and rolled his eyes. "I already told you: you killed him. I saw you enter his room, and then leave his room. The next morning, they found him dead. The security tape saw the same thing. Open and shut."

Dagon nods his head dismissively. It certainly was, he thought. Without looking at Uther, Dagon then flips the steaks over, the sound of sizzling becoming louder as the fresh raw side begins to cook. The smell of the meat hits his nose as the steaks come closer to being done. He hears a small a small groan from Uther, so small that it's almost drowned out by the sound of the food. Dagon smiles wickedly as he stirs the potatoes once again, gauging their progress. Happy with what he sees, he turns off the burner their placed on.

"There's just one problem with that version," Dagon says as he begins cracking several eggs onto the unused half of the griddle. He then begins to move them around, scrambling them as he continues. "You see, while I was in the palace at the time I was allegedly entering the elder Merlin sibling's room, I was actually in the garage, personally going over their vehicles, checking for sabotage, or other kinds of devices."

"No one would try and blow up a car in Auradon," Uther scoffed.

"No one was supposed to kill someone in Auradon, yet, here we are," Dagon said as he plated the eggs. He covered the plate and then came over the table set before Uther and leaned onto it. "You want to know my theory? I think, magic was involved."

"Says the wizard," Uther fired at him.

Dagon looked at him, his eyebrows raised in mock indignation. "Sorcerer," he corrects Uther. "I don't wear a hat. I'm also getting off topic. As I was saying, I'm thinking someone – the real killer in this case – used magic to assume my form, sneak into Michael Merlin's room, kill him, and then left."

"Too simple a theory."

"Simple doesn't mean incorrect. After all, there were three people in the palace that night all with the knowledge and power to pull off that trick. What they lacked was the inside man to erase any footage confirming my alibi. And since you're more than stupid enough to get yourself roped into this plot, I want to know who that person was."

Uther groans in frustration. "I already told you, I wasn't working with anybody. You're just delusional, or something. Now let me go!"

Dagon breathed in deeply and nodded his head again. "The steaks should be done," he said offhandedly as he made his way back to the food. Uther watched as plated everything, adding a little extra salt and pepper to the potatoes. Dagon then set the plate of food on the table in front of Uther and sat down. He started cutting into the meat, slicing off a small piece. Uther's mouth salivated as he watched Dagon enjoy the food. "Mmm, perfect," Dagon commented. "Been a while since I had a good steak."

Uther gulped audibly. Even louder was his stomach as both men were able to hear it growling. Without looking at him, Dagon gathered some of the eggs and potatoes onto his fork and ate those as well. He stared at Uther as he chewed, making sure he could see the pleasure he got from the food before swallowing.

"I'm sorry, where are my manners?" Dagon said after wiping his mouth. "Are you hungry? After all, we haven't fed you since you've been here."

Uther opens his mouth to speak, but then closes it. But his growling stomach once again betrays him.

"Nothing?" Dagon shrugged and took another helping of steak. "Getting back to the subject of my frame job, I had you looked into. Imagine my surprise when I find out that all those years ago you were under a pile of debt the size of Bald Mountain. Then, a few weeks after I get sent to the Isle, all your back alimony and child support… paid. Your gambling debts… paid. A few weeks after that, one of your ex-wives remarries in what might as well be an out of nowhere shotgun wedding… so, no more alimony there. And then, your other ex-wife petitions the courts to waive her alimony payments… she keeps the child support, though. All in all, quite the windfall. And I've already established that you're not smart enough to orchestrate that, and that tells me that someone pulled those strings. That is very valuable information to me," Dagon explains as he once again hears Uther's stomach growl.

Dagon rises from his chair and goes back to his prep table. When he returned, he carried a fresh plate with him. He began splitting the meal between the plates until half the eggs and potatoes and one of the steaks were on the fresh plate and placed before Uther. "You haven't eaten since before we grabbed you. You're probably more than starving by now. And well, foolish me, I made enough for two. So, Captain, you tell me what I want to know, and you can have some breakfast."

Uther looks down at the food, and then up at Dagon. He contemplates what to do over the sound of his stomach growling louder than before.

Part 50 – Going on the Offensive

The reporter from Auradon's news station stood outside the small castle. He was looking around, seemingly astounded by the lack of any other structures in any direction for what looked like several miles. You'd see anybody coming with more than enough time to prepare your defense, he thought. "You ready," he heard the cameraman say.

He turned and saw that the camera was in position and properly set up. The reporter nodded and gave a thumbs up. The cameraman waited for his cue to come from inside his headphones and then held up three fingers. The reporter watched him count down: three… two… one, and them pointed at him.

"I'm standing outside a castle that's situated several miles outside Auradon City. We've been told by sources inside the royalty that this is where King Ben, his guard, and what few royal heads of state are still in Auradon City have gathered to come up with a solution to the problem that Dagon has brought. Now, we don't know specifically which royal heads of state are…"

"How the hell they find out we were here?" Adam bellowed as he and the group watched the news report.

"I thought this locations was being kept secret?" Fairy Godmother asked.

"It was," Ben answered as he felt a flood of dread come over him. He turned to the guard nearest to him. "Get someone out there to stop that reporter before –"

Before Ben could finish his command, a bright, swirling light overtook the room. Everyone covered their eyes until it disappeared, and when they were able to focus again, the only thing they were left with was fear.

"Hello all," Dagon said as he stood inside the meeting room, a unit of about ten men standing behind him, every one of them with swords at the ready.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" Dagon asked Uther as he pointed at the large slice of lemon meringue pie. Dagon grabbed a fork, broke off a piece, and held it up in display. "Last chance. I don't think I can finish the whole slice; I am almost full from eating that whole breakfast by myself."

Uther shook his head weakly. Dagon shrugged and was about to eat the piece of pie when one of his men walked in. "Sir, there's something you need to see," here whispered in Dagon's ear.

"Be right back," Dagon told Uther, leaving the pie on the table.

Dagon follows his underling back to their main room and sees his other men gathered around a table. On the table is a tablet showing live footage from an Auradon news report. What the hell, he thinks as he watched Auradon guards are squaring off against himself and several other soldiers. He looks at the background, the banners and flag standards telling him that they're at the auxiliary fortress in the Redemption area near the border of Auradon City and South Riding.

"Not again," Dagon says, his voice calm but with a tinge of uneasiness.

"Sir?"

"Not again, I'll be dammed if I let this happen again," he says, his voice sounding both angry and desperate. He charges away from the table and rushes in a rage back to Uther's holding cell.

"You can keep the damn pie, I won't –"

Uther never finishes as he watches Dagon throw the table aside. Before he can register anything else, Uther begins feeling the pain from Dagon's fists as Dagon starts to assault him. "Who hired you? Tell me!" Dagon shouts at him as he refuses to relent his punches. He feels the rattling of Uther's jaw under one punch, and the breaking of his nose from another.

From outside the cell, Dagon's men can hear the impact from the beating. Uther's screams are just barely louder than Dagon's demands for answers. Finally, after an unknown amount of time, they hear Uther shout, "I'll talk! I'll talk!"

The beating continues as Uther begins screaming his answers.