Hiya Descendants!

I know, super early... But I was up and rather than risk forgetting later, I thought I'd get this posted now/

May this early chapter be a worm for you birds.

:)

Did I mention I didn't get a lot of sleep X.x

Lots of Love,

-Dark-

The lump in her throat grows larger as the knot in her stomach tightens.

She turns her attention to the sky.

Where the fuck were they?

What was taking Hiro and Lilo so long to return with her pup?

She felt like she was going to throw up.

She just had to see with her own eyes that he was safe.

She needed that.

Needed it to help her face the truth.

They were here.

All of them.

Jafar, Evil Queen, and Cruella.

She was shocked.

Shocked and terrified.

Terrified.

She presses her hand against her rebelling stomach.

She felt like she was going to be sick.

She scans the sky again.

Terrified.

She didn't feel that way often but…

Fuck if she wasn't feeling it right now.

Evie had been poisoned- sure only for an hour but still, it was a clear warning.

A warning and probably an introduction of what was coming.

Jay, fucking Jay, athlete extroidanere, had nearly drowned.

Drowned.

Had nearly- She roughly wipes at her eyes, trying to abate the burning.

If it hadn't been for David and Nani-

She puts her hand to her stomach as she shuts the thought down.

Jafar.

The sad man.

The non threat.

Had he risen again?

The vizer?

The fucking genie-

She closes her eyes.

And then there was Cruella.

Fuck only knew what the crazed bitch had done to their pup.

They still hadn't gotten any information, besides the fact he'd been abducted.

She'd never thought she'd be so grateful for Hiro.

How quickly the man had responded.

If it wasn't for him-

Would they even have stood a chance at retrieving their precious pup?

She glances at Ben, Lonnie and Jane, ignoring the concern in their eyes as she continues to pace.

Pace in rhythm with Jay.

Mirrored.

Opposite.

Meeting in the middle only to exchange worried, understanding glances before they continued.

Like the loyal second he was.

She swallows hard as tears spring to her eyes, only for her to wipe them away angrily.

She was the fucking leader.

She was the one in charge of their safety.

And she'd failed.

Failed miserably.

If they thought she'd been paranoid before-

She closes her eyes again-

Constant vigilance.

It just kept ringing in her ears.

T.

It was even in his 'I can't believe you' tone.

Moth- Fuck help her, she never thought she'd miss the little shit so much.

She'd taken it, him for granted on the Isle.

Taken his protection of her pack for granted.

If he'd been here-

He'd be out there, right now, hunting those cunts down.

But, she-

She was too busy being terrified.

Sure, they'd taken out Maleficent,

But, she hadn't had time to plan.

To scheme.

Hadn't known that they would turn on her.

Hadn't known they'd switched sides.

But, if they were here-

There's no way they didn't know.

Hadn't seen the news reports.

Hadn't seen Hiro and Queen Leah's debate.

That shit was still running.

Fuck help her-

She wanted T here so bad.

So fucking bad.

She bites her lip hard enough for it to hurt.

What kind of leader was she?

She had magic now, didn't she?

There had to be something she could do to protect them.

Her pack.

The HKs she'd found herself surrounded by.

But-

She'd never done big spells before.

Defensive spells.

She looks back at the school as her chest tightens.

E had.

On the fly.

To protect everyone who'd attended the ceremony.

She'd paid for it, but-

But the price was something she was willing to pay if it meant this never happened again.

She just didn't know where to start.

The knot in her stomach loosens when she hears the familiar hum of the spacecraft Hiro tried to pass off as his car.

She jumps when Jay drops a hand to her shoulder and squeezes.

"It's gonna-" He stops himself as he looks away, "We'll figure this out." He breathes.

"Right," She nods firmly, her eyes not leaving the ship as it slowly lands.

Never.

Never did she think that she'd be grateful to see that ship.

She's not sure which one of them reaches the ramp first, her or Jay, but when the door hisses open, she nearly collides with Lilo.

"Mal," Lilo nods as she studies her before she turns to look up, "Jay." She greets half heartedly.

"Where-"

"Sleeping," Hiro greets from behind his wife, cradling their pup protectively, looking more somber than she ever imagined the older pain in her ass could be.

Jay's eyes widen, but she also sees the way he sets his jaw.

The way he pulls his arms behind his back.

The physical way he was telling himself not to take Carlos.

"Here," Hiro offers, "I get it."

Jay shakes his head before he points to Carlos's hand wrapped tightly in Hiro's shirt.

"Oh," Hiro sighs, "Yeah," He frowns, "He hasn't let go since we found him." He looks over Jay, "Sorry."

"Don't be." She shakes her head.

"But, can we get inside?" Jay asks as he jumps down from the ramp, hiding his face after his feet hit the ground.

"Of course," Hiro nods as he starts down the ramp.

"Come on." Lilo holds her arms out as she looks between her and Jay.

Jay was quick to wrap his arm around her shoulder as she hesitantly takes the offered hand.

She owed them so much.

Like so fucking much.

She turns to Ben, Jane, and Lonnie and nods. The three of them quickly lead the way.

They walk calmly down the hall, ignoring the looks of confusion as people separate to either side of the hallway.

Like they had when they'd first arrived.

When they'd been accused of terrorizing the school.

Except this time there was something else in the gazes.

Concern?

Some of them looked like it could be that.

Curiosity and concern.

Mot- T fucking help her, was it pity?

It had better not fucking be.

VKs were not people to pity.

She never thought she'd miss the fear.

She looks up when someone takes her other hand, and a weak smile tugs at her lips.

Ben.

When had he fallen back?

Not that she was complaining, it actually felt nice to have his silent support.

He nods, giving her a weak smile of his own as they finally reach the med bay.

Roy turns almost instantly, "One oh-!" He frowns as his eyes become glassy. "Is he-"

"C?" Evie sniffs weakly as she pulls away from Doug's shoulder.

"He's okay now." Lilo quickly assures him as she gently squeezes her hand before she loosens the grip, "Just wiped out."

"Thank goodness," Janice sighs in relief.

"We sent you the address." Lilo explains softly to the corner of the room as she lets her and Jay go.

Cobra looks over the room before he nods, "Janice."

"I'll join you shortly," Janice nods.

Cobra turns to leave.

"Thank you." Jay says as he walks up to him.

Cobra pauses to glance at Jay, as creepily stoic as ever, before he puts a hand on his shoulder. "We will figure this out, and it will be taken care of." He states with unwavering confidence.

Jay nods, "I know, I, I trust it."

Cobra stares at Jay for a brief moment before he nods, releasing his shoulder before he takes his leave.

She turns to find Hiro leaning against the headboard of the bed closest to Evie.

"I just need to observe Carlos for a moment, Hiro." Janice whispers as she walks over to the bed.

"Gonna have to do it like this," Hiro shrugs as he looks down at Carlos with a sad frown.

"That's fine." Janice nods understandingly.

She frowns as she watches Janice like Tuck watched mice.

What exactly was she going to figure out that Baymax couldn't?

"You okay?" Jane asks as she walks up beside her, "Wait, no, that was a stupid question." She grimaces as she shakes her head, "I- I just meant, hi?"

"Hi," She returns shortly, not looking away from the two crowding Carlos.

"Mom said there was magic involved with what happened to Evie," Jane continues as she watches with her, "I think Cobra told her it would be a good idea to look for it in the others too."

She side-eyes Jane for a brief moment, before her attention jumps back to their pup. "Thanks." She says shortly.

It helped.

Being in the know.

Not a lot, but still...

She needed something to offset her worry.

The fear.

He was so pale under his freckles.

Looked so small in the hoodie Hiro must have given him.

Helpless.

He was their pup.

The baby of their pack.

And she let this happen.

It hurt that Jay had been attacked.

Made her seethe that Evie had been poisoned, magic or otherwise.

But C?

It made her eyes sting.

Made her throat burn.

It hurt.

Hurt to see him so scared, clinging to Hiro like he was his only lifeline.

"He's always been so nice to me." Jane sighs, her sorrow tangible as the words fought to get over her trembling lips. Her tears fall unchecked before she wipes her cheeks with one hand.

"Sounds right, Carlos is one of the kindest people I know," Ben sighs, "This is…"

"Fucking bull shit." She finishes. "C's mom-" She squeezes her hands tightly, noting Ben's flinch, and the way he didn't pull away.

"Is a crazy fucking piece of shit." Jay finishes with a stern frown.

Lonnie glares at nothing, "I-" She frowns, "She sounds like it. This is-" She growls, even as a tear rolls down her cheek.

She nods. Not needing to know what the other girl was going to say to agree with the sentiment.

T, she fucking hated this.

Hated everything at the moment.

Everything but-

She glances around the room.

-the shared concern for her gang.

Nani walks over and gently lays a hand on Jay's shoulder, "Remember when we were in the hospital and you said you needed to get to your pack?"

Jay sighs as he looks up at Nani, "Yeah. I- You're right," He nods with a frown before he walks over to a bed and kicks it hard enough to slide next to E's.

She nods in approval, glad he hadn't fought Na-

No, Nanni was so much more to him.

She was his mother.

A mother he clearly respected.

Doug doesn't say anything as he tucks Evie in next to Jay, letting her take solace there.

A silent acknowledgement, but one she appreciated.

Being tucked in closer to Jay doesn't stop Evie from holding on to Doug's hand.

"Sit," Jay orders Doug as he points to the other side of Evie.

Doug's lips twitch, but he manages to not smile as he nods and sits beside Evie, the two of them flanking their princess.

Their.

She glances around the room as her eyes slowly bounce to each of the HKs present.

From Jane standing next to her in solidarity.

To Lonnie who'd managed to slip onto the foot of Jay's bed.

Roy, who was hovering over Janice' shoulder as she examined their pup, his hand never far from the bow strung to his back.

And then her eyes settle on Ben, only for him to meet her gaze. His hazel blue eyes deepened by sadness, and concern.

She sighs as she leans into his side.

Grateful.

She wasn't sure how, or when it happened, but they'd all worked their way into her pack. Each establishing and carving out their own position.

She turns from Ben as they search for the adults.

David was leaning silently against the wall closest to Jay, arms crossed as he observed the going ons with a grim expression that was so far from his usually carefree smile.

Lilo, who never left the entryway, was currently standing guard in front of the door, her arms behind her back as if she were just waiting for something to pounce on.

Nani was just settling on the wall opposite David, her expression grim even with the forced smile on her lips as she watches over the room.

Hiro was clinging onto Carlos just as tightly as their pup was holding on to him. The look on his face so at odds with the murderous contempt she could see so clearly in his eyes.

And Janice?

Her new mother, face screwed in concentration as she wholly focused on her task.

So many people.

More people than she had ever imagined worried about her pack.

Sure they'd had Deez and T-

Misfits their age that didn't belong anywhere with their stupid ideals.

Ideas that didn't belong on the Isle.

And yes, it would seem Harry and Gil also cared about their pack.

Stupid people on the stupid Isle.

But this?

These people weren't misfits, Roy being the only exception.

These people were adults.

Hks.

So opposite from them, peers- friends- unintentional packmates.

Sisters.

Boyfriends.

Girlfriends.

Whatever the fuck Roy was to Carlos. Bros?

Like Jay and Harry.

She'd been so pissed by that.

So, betrayed.

But now?

Seeing the love and affection that Roy had for Carlos?

She was happy Jay had been able to find something akin to that on the Isle.

Even if it did have to be behind her back.

Janice takes a deep breath before she steps back, nodding at Hiro before she looks around the room.

When she finds Jay in the bed she looks up at David.

"Please." He nods, "We need to know." He turns to Jay, "Janice's going to check you over for magical residue." He states. "And then Baymax is going to run a diagnostic on you."

"Understood." Jay nods, a frown pulling at his lips as he turns slightly to stare up at David.

David nods with a weak smile, "Thank you."

There was so much stress.

So much worry.

So much concern.

And an undercurrent of fear, and trepidation that she could almost taste.

The room falls silent, interrupted by the occasional squeak and pitter of Baymax moving around to help Carlos.

"Override 28461." Hiro mutters to the robot when it states it needs Carlos to remove his shirt, before he glances at her. "Mine took care of him already." He shrugs.

She bites her lip to keep from crying out.

Had she, had that bitch-

She nods as she silently mouths 'thank you'.

Hiro gives her a half smile before his attention returns to Carlos.

"Oh for the-" Janice grimaces as she takes a step back from Jay's bed, "Bippity," She thrusts her hand into her pocket.

Jane stills before she shivers next to her.

Did Fairy Godmother just growl? The big bubbly FGM?

Huh.

"Is there-" But Nani doesn't even get the full question out.

"Yes." Janice nods as she pulls her phone out and presses it to her ear before she walks away.

The look on her face.

It was extreme, and one she'd never seen on her adoptive mother's features.

Pissed?

Furious?

Annoyed?

Outaged?

All of the above?

"Baymax," David calls the robot's attention, "Jay." He sighs as he looks him over. "Please." He adds tightly.

"Yes David." Baymax nods as he patters over.

Lonnie squeezes Jay's hand before she slips off the bed.

"And you laughed when I said I really hate worrying you." Jay sighs as he leans into the pillow behind him.

David manages a small smile, "Who knew, right?"

From the looks of it, Jay.

Jay knew. Knew that his parents were worriers.

"Scan complete. I have made a treatment plan."

Ice packs pop out of Baymax's stomach as he dispenses pills into his hand. "And drink plenty of water." The robot orders before it looks around. "Would you like a lollipop?"

Jay shrugs, "Sure," he takes the candy before he looks over Evie's bed, "Hiro."

Hiro catches the lollipop without looking up.

Her eyes narrow.

T damnit.

How the fuck did a techie have so much situational awareness?

And, her eyes settle on their pup, why couldn't C?

Janice clears her throat as she hangs up the phone, "All of you are excused from classes for the week," She sighs, "I will be back to check on you all later." She turns to her attention to Jane and the rest of them standing with her. "When I return, we'll be doing our first spell together, so have your focuses ready."

"Yes mom," Jane nods.

She nods curtly.

Jay eyes her curiously.

"Beginner wands," She shrugs.

"Huh." He nods.

Hiro frowns, "Can I look at it after?"

She shrugs, "Sure."

What was she going to say? No?

If it could help- She'd give him her fucking spell book.

"I'm guessing we all had magic on us." Jay says after Fairy Godmother leaves.

She turns to him, "Her growl gave her away."

He nods with a sigh. "Wonderful."

"What does that mean?"

"I don't know what it means for C, but you and I? It means they're here."

She rolls her eyes, "Cunts probably took her with them. You know how EQ is with Cruella."

"But magic? That bitch doesn't use magic."

"No," Evie bites her lip, "But ours do." She frowns, "And like Mal said, my- Evil Queen and Cruella…" She looks down.

"Liked to compare notes." She finishes with a snarl.

Hiro and Lilo glance at each other before they turn to Evie with a look of sheer concern.

"Not like that." She breathes as she runs her hand through her hair.

She could offer that at least.

Hiro and Lilo both let out a whoosh of relief.

Then her eyes settle on David.

She sighs, that was good, right?

His parents, his real parents, and his counselor knowing at least the physical part of what Cruella did.

"We'll find them." Ben pulls her closer to his side.

"Between Hiro-"

"Don't leave me out." Lilo cracks her knuckles.

Ben nods apologetically before he continues, "Fairy Godmother, Cobra and-"

"My parents-" Lonnie adds firmly.

"My dad." Roy nods.

"Snow, and Florian." Evie adds softly.

"Our Ohana," Jay smiles weakly as he looks between David and Nani who both nod sternly.

"And the Crown.' Ben adds before he tilts his head thoughtfully, "Not to mention several other families and groups. The point is, we'll find them and make sure they can't hurt any of you again."

This shit had me near tears on the reread.

Like a heaviness over my heart.

It's just so painful.

Like smothering the hope that everything is going to be okay right outta these kids.

Who guessed that it was their OVs who had escaped?

Are these kids ever going to escape the shadow of their parents?

What's going to happen next?

Think the OVs will be found soon?

Will they be brought to justice?

Fuck. Like seriously fuck.

If Jafar had nearly drowned Jay, and Evie had been straight up poisoned… What the fuck was Cruella really planning to do the pup?

Will they ever be safe?

Thank god for the HKz and adults helping out.

Think this'll be over quickly?

Don't really have a fave quote for this one… It's just depressing.

Much love and appreciation,

-Twisted