We have one more chapter left after this one! That one will be my longest chapter for this story, so I think I will wait until maybe Monday the 26th to post it. It may be sooner so keep an eye out for it!
Two major events take place in this chapter. The first one is Celia 'destroying' the ember. The second is the group discovering that Uma and Celia are sisters.
ANNOUNCEMENT: Please no fighting in the reviews. If you have a disagreement with someone, please do it over PM or somewhere else. I don't mean to be rude! It's just when I'm typing chapters, I read the reviews to keep me motivated. Seeing people fighting puts me in a mood where I don't want to write any chapters or any story. I had three hours to type stories/chapters, but didn't because the fight sort of depressed me. Actually, there was a LONG period of time when I didn't work on this story because of the argument, which explains why it was posted so late.
Now, without any more interruptions, here is the next chapter!
Celia couldn't believe what she was hearing from the future queen of Auradon.
Just a few minutes ago, the gang swarmed into the Fairy Cottage, where Audrey was nowhere to be seen. When they walked out, Mal reluctantly revealed that she had lied to all of them. The program for bringing over new VKs has been shut down as the barrier will be permanently closed. No one will come in or out of the Isle again.
That meant Celia would never be able to see her father again. Since Uma would probably be going home to the Isle, that meant Celia would never see her again, which meant her promise wouldn't be kept.
They were being separated AGAIN!
With tears of disillusionment spilling from her brown eyes onto her rosy cheeks, Celia marched right up to Mal, ready to confront her while not caring about the initial consequences.
"You know what? I actually thought you were brave." Celia shook her head in denial and shame. "But you are a coward. You were too scared to tell that there was a chance I would never see my dad again. That I would be separated from my big sis again!"
"Celia," Uma warned cautiously. "Be careful with what you say. Mal still has the ember. Who knows what she will do if you say something she doesn't like?"
That idea only made things worse in Celia's corrupted mind. With the ember, Mal could close off the barrier. With the ember, Mal would break the promise Uma made to her. There was only one thing that could prevent either one from happening.
That ember would have to go.
While Mal had her guard down, Celia forcefully grabbed the precious 'family heirloom' out of her hand. The fortune-teller remembered the one thing Hades warned about with the magical item.
It couldn't get wet.
Celia carelessly, yet purposely tossed the stone into a nearby birdbath. The mighty weapon exploded with a nasty hiss before it sizzled out in the water. The ember was extinguished for good. Nothing could bring it back.
Satisfied at the outcome, Celia whipped around her head of curls and ran down the forest path.
"Celia!" Uma called after her sister.
Mal looked to Uma for help, but Uma was no longer interested in a dragon-octopus collaboration. "Bummer." Uma commented as she twirled her shell necklace in her hand. She turned to Harry. "Let's go find Celia and Gil. We'll leave them all to rot."
Many things happened after the half-sisters had separately stormed away from the Core Four.
To start off, the evil Audrey captured Celia and basically used her as a pawn to lure in Mal. Mal transformed in a magnificent dragon, though she could do nothing since Audrey was using Celia as a human shield.
Hearing her sister crying for help, Uma discovered the predicament and realized the only way she could save her was by helping Mal relight the ember. After a few attempts, Uma's spell somehow ignited the magical ember which helped Mal overpower Audrey, breaking the spells that the 'Queen of Mean' casted.
But now she was in a critical state.
About an hour or so later, a majority of the gang was sitting around in Audrey's room as they watched her sleeping figure, becoming weaker and weaker by the minute. Mal revealed that the only person who can save the ailing princess was Hades, who just happened to be her father. Although he was surprised by the announcement, King Ben decided he would send guards to the island to retrieve the villain.
Uma stepped forward, the seashells on her shirt clattering. "Maybe I can hitch a ride." She sighed softly, almost in regret. "The Isle is my home. Someone needs to take care of it when the barrier closes."
"Well then," Harry placed both of his hands on her shoulder, "you'll need a first mate." He gazed down at her as she gazed up at him. Those who could see their faces could clearly see the love they shared for one another.
Mal nodded, moved by their selfless sacrifice. "The Isle will be in very good hands."
Celia eagerly jumped up from her seat at the bay window. "Can I go, too?"
"No," Uma denied with a stern look. "You're staying in Auradon."
Celia whined in sadness. "Umie, you said we wouldn't be separated again!"
"I know what I said, Cece." Uma insisted. "But you, young lady, worked too hard to get to Auradon. You have a chance to have an amazing life here with so many wonderful opportunities. That's something you can't have on the Isle."
"I don't care!" Celia exclaimed hysterically. She began sobbing as insisted, "Auradon doesn't have you!"
As the tears start streaming down her cheeks, Celia stumbled toward her sister. She wrapped her arms tightly around Uma's waist as she laid her head against her chest. Crying softly, Celia professed, "I love you, Umie. . ."
Stunned by her sister's emotional state, Uma slowly started running her fingers through Celia's hair to soothe her. "Cece . . ." Uma cooed lovingly. "I love you too, but . . ." She trailed off. She didn't know what to say. What could she say?
"Uhhh," Carlos uttered from his seat in one of the comfortable couches. "Did I miss something? Why are Uma and Celia acting so lovey-dovey with each other?"
Harry sighed softly, deciding to be the one to break the news. "Because they're sisters . . . half-sisters."
The group gaped at the announcement, but they couldn't deny the family resemblance. With them so close to one another, they definitely looked alike. Celia was basically a mini-Uma.
"Why didn't they tell anyone?" Evie interrogated Harry, mainly because the Uma was still trying to calm down her little sis.
Harry scoffed. "Would you have let Celia come to Auradon if you had known?"
Nobody said anything, but their silence was answer enough. During the silence, Uma pondered on what exactly she should do.
Like she had done a few hours before, Uma forced Celia to lean her head back slightly so she would look at her. Uma wiped away a tear with her thumb as she chided, "Now I already told you, Cece, a big girl like you shouldn't cry." Uma smiled knowingly. "And I will only share a bed with a big girl."
Celia's eyes lit up in surprise as she let out an inaudible gasp. "You mean—!"
Uma nodded sincerely. "We are going home."
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