Rachel ran back in the direction to where she last the others. She needed to figure out what was going on now. What was the plan now? How are the going to stop Audrey?
When Rachel burst through the trees to the cottage, the blonde teen stopped in terror.
Her friends.
Carlos.
Evie.
Jay.
Ben.
All of them, frozen to stone.
"No," Rachel's voice was a whisper.
She ran over and looked over at all of them. She stood in front of Jay. Her eyes are saddening as she examines the stone that is Jay, her eyes move to the ground and noted that Dude was also turned to stone. Her eyes going to Carlos.
Tears flooding her eyes.
She shakes her head.
She moves her gaze to Evie.
Then lastly her eyes land on Ben.
"Ben," She sobs.
She reaches out and places her hand on his shoulder. She looks at the stoned shoulder and then to the stoney eyes that used to be hazel-green.
"I- I can't do this without you," Rachel said, "I can't do anything without you. You- You tell me I am the one who is full of wisdom and sage advice, but- but Ben-,"
Rachel shakes her head as tears expel from her eyes.
"You- You're far more wise than me. I- I mean look at you." Rachel sadly chuckles, "You're the king for crying out loud. You- You want to reunite the Isle with the people of Auradon, that- that is far more that I've done."
Rachel closes her eyes as tears escape her eyes.
She kept her hand on Ben.
"Flower gleam and glow," She began to sing.
Nothing.
"Let your power grow," She still sings.
Still nothing.
Rachel opens her eyes.
"Please," Rachel sobs.
Rachel shakes her head.
"Please," She said.
Suddenly, Rachel heard a loud blast in the distance. Her eyes, still wet from her tears, turned to the direction. The school. She saw glowing beams in the sky and then what appeared to be the shadowy figure of Mal in her dragon form.
Rachel looked back at the stone figures of her friends and then to the direction of the school.
"I gotta go, Ben." She said, "I'll figure a way to bring you all back, but first- I gotta help Mal in any way."
-D3-
Mal in her dragon form rose ferociously out of smoke.
It was time to put an end to Audrey's reign in terror one way or another. Mal flew above the school and spotted Audrey perched on the parapet below, cackling at her.
Now wearing a villainous black cape, Audrey looked even more diabolical than before, as if the specter's evil venom had spread to her soul.
Mal dove towards her and blasted the sorceress with her flaming breath. Audrey blocked and deflected the flame easily with her scepter.
Audrey laughs with a sinister laugh.
Audrey then used the scepter to send savage lightning bolts at the dragon. Mal ducks and swerves, narrowing avoiding the crackling bolts. Wings pumping, she reared back and prepares to release fiery havoc on Audrey once again, but is stopped at a sight below.
Audrey had a hold of Celia, holding the young VK as a human shield.
"Be careful not to fry your little VK buddy." Audrey cackled vilely.
Mal pulls back.
There was no way to attack Audrey without putting Celia in even more danger or worse. Mal needed a new idea, a new plan to defeat Audrey and not harm Celia.
The ember.
Mal held the ember while still in the dragon form. However, the extinguished ember refused to light. Not even a spark.
On the ground, Rachel had arrived at the school. She is met with Uma, Harry, and Garrett. All four of them had arrived at the scene at the same time.
"She- She doesn't stand a chance against her," Uma says frowning.
Garrett glanced from Uma and then to Rachel.
Harry nods in agreement.
Rachel looked at the scene in utter frustration.
Here she was gifted with magic, but can't do a single thing to help. She couldn't save the VKs or Ben. She can't save Celia. She can't save Audrey.
She can't do anything.
Audrey fired willfully into the sky again, taking a sharp hit to release another bolt of lightning. This time it was a direct hit on the dragon, causing a loud howl of pain escaping the dragon's mouth.
It hit her on her right wing.
Mal reeled back, then faltered, her balance and flying skills were both compromised by the injury. Mal dropped from the sky, she wanted to get up as Celia screamed from the top.
"Help me, Mal!" Celia screams, "Help me!"
But Mal was too riddled from her injury to come to Celia's aid. She watched helplessly as Audrey tries to get Celia on the parapet.
Uma looks at the shell around her neck and it was glowing.
"Stronger together!" Uma yells at Mal.
Mal looks over at Uma, still in her dragon form. She saw the pirate captain with two of her crewmates, as well as Rachel still present.
Mal wasn't alone.
Uma, standing strong and proud, held onto her glowing necklace.
"We're stronger together!" Uma bellowed, "I'm right here, Mal."
Mal began to move. The dragon form, despite injured moved the wings and pushed through the pain to get back into the sky.
"Regain your might and ignite!" Uma shouts.
Mal flew up to face Audrey again.
Harry held onto Uma for support.
Garrett glanced over to Rachel.
"Blondie, you got magic too." He spoke to her.
Rachel's eyes slip over to Garrett's gaze.
"Wha-?" She says.
"Come over here and help Uma and Mal." Garrett basically ordered.
Rachel moved over to Uma, and suddenly out of all support to help Mal and save Celia, Uma grabbed a hold of Rachel's hand. Both girls looked at each other for a moment before back to the sky.
"I'm right here, girl. We're both here." Uma said.
Mal held out the unlit ember in her talon, flapping her one good wing with all her might and strength. Mal's gaze moved down below to Uma, who was also looking up at Mal's direction.
The pair held their gaze on each other.
Uma then nudged Rachel.
"With all your might, Punzie, use all your magic and recite what I say." Uma said.
Rachel looks at Uma and nods.
"Sure, yeah." Rachel said.
"Regain your might and ignite!" Uma yells.
Rachel nods and yells, "Regain your might and ignite!"
The ember lit for a brief moment before fading again.
The doughty dragon flared her damaged wing with difficulty, and re-positioned herself directly above Uma and Rachel.
Below the dragon, the pirate and princess held hands tightly close to Uma's glowing necklace. Harry kept his hands firm on Uma to let her know he was there. Garrett glanced from the scene before him and then to Rachel.
"Regain your might and ignite!" Both girls shout.
Their words were more powerful than the last, they were filled with more passion and conviction this time. In a magical moment, the ember in Mal's talon flared to life. The wing she'd injured in the firefight was healed. With renewed vigor, Mal spread her wings and returned to her fiery showdown with Audrey.
Audrey was attacking Celia, who was doing her best to avoid being blasted by the evil princess. Celia was cowering in fear as Audrey stalked her. Audrey blasted Celia with a wild display of sparks that sent the young girl flying into the stone wall.
Mal had enough of this.
With courage and grit, the dragon thrust the newly lit ember towards Audrey. Not wanting to be outdone, Audrey thrusts the scepter towards Mal. Mal's blinding blue laser and Audrey's pink lightning bolt met in the middle of the sky.
The wo magics locked in a power struggle.
"Come on, Mal." Celia cheered from her spot.
Harry let go of Uma and punched at the sky.
"Go on, Mal!" The son of Hook yells.
"You got this girl!" Uma yells encouraging.
Rachel felt a hand slip into her other hand. She glanced over and saw Garrett holding her hand. His eyes were at the fight above.
"Go, Mal!" Garrett yells.
Rachel smiles softly and then turns back to Mal.
"We all believe in you!" Rachel screams.
Mal's blue laser locked on to Audrey, flashed bright, then drained the young sorceress of her power. Audrey felt herself weakening under the ember's crippling glow. She panicked and wailed, but it was too late.
Maleficent's scepter fell from her hand to the ground with a clank.
Audrey crumpled beside it, unconscious, the queen's crown no longer resting on her head.
Mal's dragon form turns to smoke before the smoke lets up on top of the castle, near Audrey and Celia.
Below, the pirates began to cheer at their victory. Harry grabs Uma and spins her around with glee at the defeat of Audrey's reign.
Rachel turns to Garrett.
"Garrett," She says softly.
Garrett let's go of her hand and says nothing.
She frowns and then looks up at the top of the castle.
The spells Audrey used with the specter has worn off which meant people would be waking up from the sleeping curse, which made Rachel wonder about Ben.
Her gaze moved from the castle to the direction of the forest.
"Rachel-!"
Rachel's eyes shifted to where she was being called from.
It was Mal from above.
"She's not waking up!" Mal yells.
-D3-
Inside Audrey's room was Ben, Jane, Rachel and all the VK's; Evie, Carlos with Dude, Celia, Jay, Mal, Uma, Gil, and Garrett.
Audrey was laying on her bed, unconscious.
The room was somber.
Rachel was standing above Audrey with her hand resting on Audrey's forehead after singing the song to try to heal her.
Her hands were glowing but nothing was happening.
Frustrated after another failed attempt, Rachel turned to the others.
"Sorry, it's- it's just not working." Rachel frowns.
Jay looks up at her.
"You tried your best," Jay said.
Evie frowns as she looks at Audrey.
"We have to figure out something," She said, "She's slipping."
Mal bit her lip in a thought.
"There's only one person in the world who might be able to do something about this. And that's Hades." Mal said.
"Hades!" Ben yells, "He wouldn't do it, and I wouldn't risk it."
Mal looks at Ben.
"He might, actually, he might do it for me." She said.
Mal takes a deep breathe.
She looks at her friends, worried on how they'd react to knowing such a deep secret she's been keeping all this time.
"He's my father," Mal said.
Jay and Carlos exchanged shocked looks. Ben looked shocked too but also seemingly understood how this explains a few things.
Ben looks at Mal.
"I'll have to send guards to get him," Ben said.
Uma then steps forward.
"Maybe I can hitch a ride," Uma said.
Mal looks at her questioningly.
"The Isle is my home and someone needs to take care of it." Uma said.
Harry placed a hand on her shoulder with a grin.
"Well, then you'll need a first mate." He said.
Gil also nods with a smile and Garrett also joins in with the others. The pirates all stood together. Their loyalty to each other was something to admire.
Rachel looks at Garrett.
He looks at her.
"Well then, the Isle will be in good hands." Mal said.
Celia jumps in the middle.
"Can I go, too?" Celia asks.
All eyes on her.
"I wish I could be in both places, but I want to be able to see my dad." Celia said.
Mal wished for that and more. Her eyes moved from Celia, who got the approval from Ben, to Uma.
Uma looks at her.
"I think Evie was right. I do think that we could've been friends. I- I'm really sorry I lied to all of you guys. You deserve so much better than that." Mal said geniunely.
Jay jumps in with a small smile.
"You were just trying to do the right thing." Jay said.
Mal looks at Jay, ever so grateful for their friendship. One by one, each of the kids, even Uma and the pirates, nodded at Mal with forgiveness.
-D3-
As the guards were getting things prepped to go to the Isle to fetch Hades, they were also getting Celia's things packed and placed in the vehicle. Uma was saying her goodbyes to Ma and Evie. Dizzy was hugging goodbye to Celia. Gil and Harry were chatting it up with Carlos and Ben.
Jay noticed Garrett.
Garrett was looking in the direction of Rachel.
She was speaking to Fairy Godmother.
Someone had to explain everything to the headmaster after all, and Rachel volunteered. The conversation looked tensed, but then again it wasn't a super fun adventure.
Jay walked over to Garrett.
"Garrett," Jay said.
Garrett looks at Jay.
"You're getting what you want," Garrett said sadly, "No me around to ruin any chances of you and Blondie getting back together."
Jay sighs and then shakes his head.
"I- I think that ship has sail, man." Jay said, "In our time apart, we've grown apart romantically. I'll always care about her, but- what we had before isn't possible."
Garrett shakes his head.
"Doubtful," Garrett said.
Jay placed a hand on Garrett's shoulder.
"Dude, she really cares about you." Jay said, "I- I think you ought to tell her how you feel. She deserves to hear what you truly think of her before you leave."
Garrett laughs.
"Ah, unload all my baggage before I never see her again." Garrett said, "Clever and also possibly cruel."
Jay sighs.
"She deserves the truth." He said, "And you deserve to hear her truth."
Jay then walks away.
Garrett watched Jay go to Gil, Harry, Carlos, and Ben.
Garrett looks back at Rachel.
Rachel looks away from Fairy Godmother and her eyes land on Garrett.
Fairy Godmother must've noticed because she then nudged the young princess forward, saying some things that Garrett didn't hear before walking along. Rachel walked over to Garrett.
"Hey," She said.
Garrett nods.
Rachel looks from him to her feet.
"I- I'm sorry about-," She starts.
"I shouldn't have yelled at you like that," Garrett said.
Rachel looks at him.
"All this time, you've- you've been probably the most honest person I've met from here. You've been so spunky when we first met but- but completely genuine about helping the kids on the Isle with King Benny over there." Garrett said.
Rachel gives him a small smile.
"Heck, you've used magic in front of me knowing how craze my mom is about the magic of the sun drop." Garrett said, "You trust me with that information."
Rachel looks directly into his eyes.
"You're not your mom. You're a good person, Garrett." Rachel said.
Garrett reached forward and grabbed Rachel's hands with both of his hands. Both teens were blushing from the quick contact.
"I feel like I am a good person because I met you," Garrett said, "All this time after meeting you, I- I wanted off the Isle to see you again, even if it was one last time."
Rachel sees the sad smile on his face.
"And since this is it," Garrett said, "I guess I should've done what I wanted to do when I first saw you."
Rachel furrowed her brow.
And then Garrett pulled Rachel in for a kiss. It was a quick kiss, but it was enough.
All eyes on them.
Uma, Harry, and Gil were confused.
Evie was excitingly jumping.
Mal smiles.
Carlos holds Dude with a big smile.
Ben wraps his arm around Mal with a smile.
Celia and Dizzy smile.
Jay crosses his arms on his chest with a sad smile on his face.
"King Ben, we're all ready to go." A guard said.
Ben nods.
"Alright," Ben said.
The final goodbyes are being made.
Celia heads into the car first, as the others begin to follow after her.
Garrett let's go of one of Rachel's hand.
"I have to go," Garrett said.
Rachel smiles sadly, "I know." She said.
Garrett kisses her hand.
"Goodbye, princess." Garrett said.
Rachel sees the young teen holding back tears in his eyes. Rachel used her other hand to mess with Garrett's hand.
"Bye, pirate." She said.
Garrett follows Harry in the car. The last remaining VK's and guards get into the car before it hauls off in the direction of the Isle.
Rachel kept her composure fine until the car was so far away that there was no way anyone in the vehicle could see her fall apart. Rachel had tears sliding down her face.
Ben walks over to Rachel.
"Rach," Ben said softly.
Rachel looks at Ben with a sad smile mixed with her tears.
"I want to be alone right now." Rachel said.
Rachel looks at her friend and then exits herself. She walks off towards the school, her hand in her hair as she steps away from her friends.
Jay frowns.