Chapter 5: The Watchful Highlands

If the awful smell of lemongrass wasn't enough to alert Audrey that she was in a dream, then the fact that she was floating in some blood-filled lake did. She wasn't relaxing nor was she drowning. Her body's weight was hard to define: like a bird's feather, she floated on the bloody surface, but like a pile of bricks, she couldn't move.

Bubbles grew around her. Audrey whimpered in horror at the idea of some nightmare fish emerging to swallow. She felt hands grabbing her and someone emerged out of the bloody lake and carried her out. Audrey ought to feel relieved, but mixed emotions came when the person lifting her out of the blood in his arms was the owner of the reflection Audrey had seen back at the creek. The red-coated, redheaded man who Audrey thought she had hallucinated after incinerating a tree. The strange being who had silently mouthed through his neutral smile what he spoke to her right now.

"My Queen of Mean."

"No… Don't call me that!" Audrey tried to force himself off his hold, but he kept holding her as he walked through the bloody lake. For crying out loud, where is the shore? Audrey mentally begged in her own night.

"My Queen of Mean, I am only doing what pleases you."

"I don't need you to please me! I don't even know why I see you! Let me go!"

"Certainly, my Queen of Mean."

Audrey panicked when he placed her back in the bloody water. She dreaded that he'd drop her and leave her to drown, but she found herself sitting in shallow water. Not too far from them, a beach of black sand spread out for miles. The scent of lemongrass made her feel sick as she got up. Audrey choked a sob when she saw her reflection in the red waters.

She still looked like her blonde self, insecure and vulnerable, but her blood-soaked clothing was her old Queen of Mean attire. "No… No!"

"It is only your nightmare, my Queen of Mean." The red-coated redhead man gallantly took Audrey's hand and gave it a small kiss. "For me, it's my most wonderful dream. A dream that would have become the world's greatest masterpiece."

His unnerving compliments and the way his gallant attention felt strangely satisfying convinced Audrey to pull his hand away from him. "Are you mad? Being the Queen of Mean nearly killed me!"

"And how I wish I could send Hades my eternal thanks for saving you! Your death is the only thing that can untether what we have. What you have given me."

"I didn't give you anything. I don't even know you!"

"Oh, but deep down, you know. You gave me your soul to guide. You gave me something to cherish among the corrupted society you live in. You summoned me with your fallen, angelic voice to come to your aid!"

Before Audrey could protest further, the man laughed and melted into the lake. When Audrey rushed to see where his residue had dissolved, three images projected themselves. Her eyes widened. The images were moments of when she had snapped. When she had cried in her room. When she had stolen the Queen's crown. When she had taken Maleficent's scepter and transformed. Each scene replayed the same lyrics.

Audrey: Now there's a devil on my shoulder

Where the angels used to be

And he's calling me the queen.

Now there's a devil on my shoulder

Where the angels used to be

And he's calling me the queen of mean.

'Cause the devil's on my shoulder

Where the angels used to be

And he's calling me the queen of mean.

"Princess… Hello… PRINCESS!"

Audrey popped her eyes open, courtesy of Gothy screaming in her ears. She jolted up on the bed she was sleeping on but winced when she felt some pain on her foot. That's when she pulled off the massive, but beyond cozy mint leaf-patterned quilt and saw her bandaged foot. She found Gothy, wrapped in towels, and tapping her foot.

"Gothy? How long was I ought?" Audrey looked around the room. "What are we doing in a Heidi cabin?"

"It's a wood and gingerbread chalet," Gothy bothered to only answer the last question. "I know you got a lot of stuff to ask, but you really need to take a bath."

"Again?" Audrey sniffed herself. "Gothy, how long was I out?"

"A day." Gothy helped Audrey get up. "Your magic kept you from bleeding to death while we went through the mist. But seriously, you need to get bathed. Our hosts want us cleaned up for breakfast."

After Audrey had taken a quick, cold shower, she put on the clothes that Ingwer Hexe had provided for her. She didn't know how the young witch knew her accurate size and color preferences, but Audrey did rather like the dark dirndl vest with magenta rose and feather patterns, dark pink blouse with matching trousers, and mountain shoes. The Hexe mother and daughter had them wait outside while they prepared breakfast at the patio, so Gothy helped Audrey get her hair done in a braided ponytail while the latter watched the environment they were in.

With the foggy night gone and the morning day out, Audrey saw that the chalet was located in some sort of highland that expanded around them. The cypress, pine, oak, and oddly, eucalyptus trees were spread out in particular patches that in the distance, the forest marks looked like thousands of blinking eyes. A few mountains and hills were spread out, not much to create a chain but strange enough to nearly be stoned noses inhaling the air. At the far west of the highlands, the mist stood out, only looking more serene than the thundering appeal it had back in Auradon. She wasn't sure why, but Audrey could only smile when she saw the environment. The red stag walked up the balcony, probably from some rapid stroll in the woods, and came back carrying wildflowers that it placed on Audrey's lap.

"You've been such a good friend." Audrey petted the stag.

"Is he your familiar?" Ingwer Hexe came out of the chalet, carrying a tray bearing three mugs of hot chocolate, a cup of tea, and a bowl bearing blood. She placed the bowl on the ground and the stag didn't even hesitate to walk up and drink from it.

"Oh…" Audrey was surprised.

"My…" Gothy looked like she wanted to throw up.

"No, no, it's OK." Ingwer shook her head. "It's only pig's blood. I feed Biscuits with it all the time. He's my familiar, you know." Speaking of the Devil, Biscuits jumped on the table where Ingwer had placed the tray and immediately snatched all the marshmallows from one of the mugs. Ingwer rolled her eyes and snapped her fingers; in a dash of white and red sparkles, more marshmallows came and Ingwer snatched the mug before Biscuits could steal more of them. Audrey and Gothy took the cue of sitting down and grabbing their own mugs.

"It's a magnificent view." Audrey managed to change the subject when some white birds flying towards the horizon. Golly, what on earth did those witches put in the hot cocoa? It was beyond delicious!

"Ah. The Watchful Highlands are rather serene at this time of day." Ingwer nodded.

"Watchful Highlands? Oh, because of the forests' eye appearances when you see it from above?"

"And because the villagers who live in the highlands are watchers. For, you know, whoever decides to come out from the other side of that." Ingwer pointed at the mist.

"I'm not sure I follow."

"Well you must know since you made it here that only refugees who really want to leave the other side can cross it. The mist is magic. It will let the ones who truly deserve it cross it, but it takes its precautions."

"So you and your mother practically live in these parts to watch out for Auradonians…" Gothy got cut off by Ingwer shushing her.

"Don't say the A-word!" Ingwer nearly choked on her cocoa. "If you're going to live in this part of the world, you gotta know that the older generation is VERY sensitive about the A-word! Don't go around asking people who are over 22 what happened!"

Audrey and Gothy glanced at one another. "But, do you at least know why people would leave… wherever we came from to come here?" The latter asked Ingwer.

Ingwer cautiously glanced at the doorway leading to the kitchen, where a digging sound suggested that her mother was done cooking breakfast. "All Ma would ever say was that they all cross the mist because they couldn't force themselves into the molds that the A-word hypocrites tried to inflict on them."

Mrs. Hexe came out. She loaded on the table at least six plates worth of waffles served with strawberries and hot fudge, cooked sausages, peanut butter or berry jam toast, semi-chocolate brioche, fresh squeezed multi-fruit juice, and scrambled eggs. Audrey and Gothy lost track of how much they ate, for it was too delicious. As the four ate, the newcomers explained the reasons as to why they came here.

"So, finding a missing sibling and inner self-discovery." Mrs. Hexe finished her coffee. "I daresay this is the first time I see mist-crossers so young. I hope your families suffer for the cruelties they inflicted on you."

True, Audrey's family had been rough on her. But calling them cruel? She wasn't really certain. "Let's just say mine didn't exactly make me as happy as I thought I should be," Audrey said quietly.

"You poor thing…" Mrs. Hexe gently patted Audrey's hand.

"My mother abandoned my half-sister when she was four. Some… magical robot told us her riddled address," Gothy said. "Do you happen to know anyone named Cassandra? Perhaps in her forties?"

Mrs. Hexe grimaced and shook her head. It lead to the part that Ingwer had mentioned earlier, about how most of the adults here didn't want to talk about 'Auradon'. The old witch struggled. "You see… We were thousands to run off here before the mist shielded us from the other side. A few of us were alright with staying in the Watchful Highlands in case, for any strange reason, someone who wasn't a refugee managed to cross the mist. But everyone else, they wanted as far away from the mist." She pointed ahead, towards the east, where the sun was partially above a blurred horizon of grey hills. "They have and still are recreating their territories on this part of the world. It's further east where they created the biggest towns and biggest cities and other ways to reach dimensions that give them sanctuary."

"They got to create their own cities?" Audrey was marveled.

"Oh yeah!" Ingwer nodded. "We try to go there for holidays. My Pops is currently on a trip in the east with my little brother. You know, it's why our house is cleaner."

Gothy got up to have a better view of the eastern horizon. "If Cassandra wanted to stay as far from Corona as possible for its safety, then she's definetly gonna be in the east…" She then pounded on the wooden railing. "Damn that riddled address!"

"Ah, yes! What is the first clue to her sister's address?" Mrs. Hexe asked Audrey.

"The forsaken daughter you seek, a dangerous quest from the start. Find the abused princess the king raises." Audrey repeated the lines that the Archive Librarian had recited back in Corona.

"Damnation…" Mrs. Hexe muttered.

"What is it?"

"Well, if there's one thing that Ma has noticed ever since refugees come knocking at her door, it's that they come up with tricky riddle addresses particularly if they don't want to be found," Ingwer explained, "and the way they usually do it is by associating the first clue with the Fae."

"The Fae?" Audrey asked.

"Yes, Fae. Like fairies, the kind that curse or bless you, the kind that switch your babies with theirs at night, the kind that can twist your wishes if you don't get specific, or the kind that can force your hand to add on their trophy wall!" Ingwer agitated her fingers. "Benevolent or malevolent tricksters! Heck, the first territory you step on after the Watchful Highlands is known as the Fae Moorways!"

"Fae live in moors?" Gothy scowled.

"No. The Fae Moorways are moors full of doors that lead to different turfs dominated by the Fae. They're too selfish to actually share the moors, so it's full of doorways so they can come and go as they please or if some mortal idiots want to visit to make deals."

Audrey wiped her lips with her napkin when she was done with her last sausages and waffles. "So you're saying that the first clue always relates to the Fae because… in case the refugees could be followed by someone who wanted to catch them, the Fae would drive them nuts."

"Got the pie out of the oven, clever girl." Mrs. Hexe gave her a wink.

"But then why did you say 'Damnation'?"

Mrs. Hexe yet again grimaced. "'The abused princess the king raises.' I find it too much of a coincidence that for the only Fae royalty I know to treat his own heiress like garbage, he's currently on a business trip. And he won't be back at his castle until Tuesday."

"And today's Sunday." Gothy sat back down. "How far are the Fae Moorways from here?"

"A day's worth by sailing down the river with the ferry," Ingwer answered. "We don't have trains in the highlands. You'll only be able to use them once you reach the towns in the east… Well, you know, if the Fae don't drive you nuts yet."

"Eh." Gothy shrugged. "We stole, we ran away, we got chased by magic ooze, and Princess here has the Bloody Bambi as a bodyguard." The red stag snorted at Gothy and went to rub its head on Audrey's arm.

"Totally a familiar." Ingwer rolled her eyes.

The Hexe women were generous enough to give Gothy and Audrey an enchanted wagon ride to the river village to reach the port in time for the ferry's departure at 11:40 am. Contrary to the charming, rustic aspect the witches' wood and gingerbread chalet had, the river village looked and smelled like cement walls and constantly polished sandstone roofs. Besides the ferry, boats were pulling from the east and sailors were lifting crates onto trucks. As they waited for Mrs. Hexe to pay for two young adult and one animal tickets, Ingwer explained for the fifth time how she and her mother adjusted the girls' bags with enchantments.

"The food's enchanted to be sustained for a week at the most until you cook it and eat it. We've expanded the first-aid kits, clothing to last you a week, some blood bottles for the Bloody Bambi…"

"You don't mind us nicknaming you that?" Audrey smirked at the animal. Bloody Bambi merely shrugged.

"Enchanted camping gear, a map of the lands, some candy in case you get cravings, a lot of cash…"

"Is there anything else you need to say that you haven't already told us?" Gothy was getting tired of the explanations.

"I snuck my beginner's spellbook in your bag, Audrey," Ingwer did just as Gothy asked. "I don't exactly know how magic from your old home is different from ours, but maybe the spellbook will help you out."

"You shouldn't have!" Audrey was touched.

"Little tip: always start off with the basic incantations before creating your own."

Mrs. Hexe came back with the tickets. The witches escorted them to the boarding dock, where people were boarding the grey-colored ferry. Some were carrying more crates to deliver to the east, but an interesting portion of the passengers, perhaps close to ten, were refugees carrying whatever luggage they had on them. Audrey and Gothy were equally shocked to see wide-eyed men hugging themselves as they climbed the ferry, young women who held on to one another, and surprisingly enough, a big number of Huns of all ages and genders. The best guess that the girls had was that they weren't the only ones to have recently run away from Auradon and it looked like Shan-Yu's former warriors weren't ready to remain in the Isle or move in Auradon.

"Be very safe." Mrs. Hexe gave each of them a strong hug.

"Thank you so much for everything, Mrs. Hexe," Audrey nodded. "We'll write to let you know when we find Cassandra."

"And when you are getting settled in."

"You can always visit us," Ingwer nodded.

The ferry's captain blew the siren, indicating that the passengers had to hurry. Gothy handed their tickets and the trio boarded the ferry. They waved good-bye one more time to the Hexe witches before they followed the sailor who guided them towards three-wooden seats. Audrey sat on the one closest to the window while the Bloody Bambi didn't hesitate to position itself on the one next to her and cuddle its head into Audrey's lap. Gothy, meanwhile, observed the other refugees.

"Finally out of Auradon… I couldn't take it!"

"It's too much back there…"

"My job at the post office was horrible!"

"I couldn't handle the pressures…"

"They wouldn't even let me use my talents!"

"Living in the lands of oppressors." The next sentences, Gothy heard it from the Huns. Still, she avoided making eye contact with them. The last thing she needed was for them to pester her on why she was traveling with a princess. "The Isle is just an ex-prison turned poor area. And Auradon is nothing but stolen lands. Our lands aren't even there."

"You think we'll be able to find wherever they put our old territories? It would be nice to find the good old mountains we used to live in. More space to explore, hunt, and live. Back to our ways."

"I still can't believe Shan-Yu didn't want to come. He didn't even ask what happened to our home."

They couldn't handle the pressures. They couldn't be themselves. They didn't know where their old homes were because they weren't there anymore?

"Hey, Princess…" Gothy tried to start a conversation. Just then, the ferry's engines fueled up and sailed rapidly down the river. The passengers had to hold on to what they could as their mode of transportation bumped up and down the river, took dangerous turns, and even went through rapids.

"Alright, newcomers!" The captain came to the main deck with a microphone at hand. "Thank you so much for joining our ferry! Feel free to sit back and relax while we explain to you why you made the perfect decision of leaving everything behind!" Sailors jumped next to him, carrying instruments that could only mean one thing.

"Boat ride music…" Gothy groaned while the Bloody Bambi pulled back Audrey after she threw up through the window.

Captain: Now it all happened 2 decades ago,

Back when the world had its own flow.

Seven continents and seven seas,

Worlds underneath and parallel, ya see.

A diversity of people walked the lands

And heroes and villains had their stands.

You'd think evil would get to rest in Hell

While heroes had their ending so swell.

The whole crew: But no. It came

It was a tragic shame.

You definetly would have known that it wasn't your day

When they made it clear that you had no say.

No say-ay-ay-ay!

No say-ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

Captain: There came a monarchy deal from an entitled beast

To seal in an enchanted island away those wanted least

And to give heroes a deserved paradise.

They changed the world! Like a cake slice!

Sailor #1: Majesties acted like it's no big deal.

They got to self-indulge while others had to kneel.

Sailor #2: They didn't even ask the common folk what they desire,

But they already merged kingdoms prior.

Sailor #3: They acted like they could defy Death's rules.

They call it utopia, we call it a bigger mess of fools!

Captain: When many protested that the new world was unwanted,

The royalty made their condition so haunted.

'Rule-followers for Auradon and traitors in the Isle of the Lost!

We care little of your choices! Harmony was at the cost!'

As they sailed further in the river, the passengers could have sworn that the wind was booing with the singing ferry crew.

The whole crew: But no. It came

It was a tragic shame.

You definetly would have known that it wasn't your day

When they made it clear that you had no say.

No say-ay-ay-ay!

No say-ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

Captain: Then came a witch, as cruel as thoughtful.

She found a solution to drag the cart off the bull.

During a dark night, we ran to the wall in a mass.

The soldiers pursued, but her mind was sharper than glass.

She cast a mist to separate Auradon from the lands it rejected.

What the kingdoms didn't want, we arrived protected.

The benevolent devil cast more spells only refugees came to penetrate.

That's why you didn't hesitate.

You couldn't handle their slate.

We're happy that you managed to penetrate.

Now your life will finally be great!

The whole crew: But no. It came

It was a tragic shame.

You definetly would have known that it wasn't your day

When they made it clear that you had no say.

No say-ay-ay-ay!

No say-ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

Ay-ay-ay!

When the sailors were done singing, every passenger applauded. Gothy and Audrey, however, could only give small applauses.

Later

Nighttime had fallen, and thankfully, the ferry had reached calmer waters. The gentle currents actually cradled the passengers to sleep, except the trio. Unable to sleep, they went to sit on the outer deck and eat some of tuna sandwiches Mrs. Hexe and Ingwer had packed for them. Bloody Bambi didn't eat and rested underneath Audrey's back, cushioning her. Still, despite how delicious the tuna sandwiches were, the girls had a hard time focusing to eat. They watched as they went further through the Watchful Highlands. The mist now seemed so distant.

"All this… land that Auradon just discarded like it was trash…" Audrey shook her head. She almost wished that the tuna sandwich could choke her. "That's what the mist hid? The stuff Auradon didn't want? The people who ran away because they didn't feel like living there was worth it?"

"No wonder Auradon is so puny." Gothy ate her sandwich slowly. "The royals practically turned everything into what they saw as a family-friendly Pangaea." She saw Audrey still looking miserable. "Let me guess. Your guilt is expanding because your relatives were a part of it?"

Audrey nodded.

"It was more than 2 decades ago, Princess. None of this has to do with you."

"Don't you get it? My grandfather King Stephan was among the kings who agreed to Beast and Belle's plans on merging the kingdoms to create Auradon… He was OK with removing the lands he didn't want to create the ideal kingdom… I mean, didn't you notice that the Forbidden Fortress is near Bald Mountain and not at the edge of Stephan's kingdom? And… they were OK with shoving civilians in the Isle just for not going along with it! IS THIS REALLY THE BLISS I'VE BEEN LIVING IN? MY FAMILY REALLY EXPECTED ME TO BE QUEEN OF STOLEN LANDS?" In an angry fit, Audrey threw her sandwich off the boat. A seagull immediately snatched it in its beak and ate it. Judging by how it licked its beak, Gothy knew that the wildlife also like Mrs. Hexe's cooking.

"How come you're not as angry as I am?" Audrey demanded.

"I'm from the Isle. I practically lived in the hybrid of Auradon's trash as well." Gothy shrugged. "I mean, we knew the world changed. Some villains have brought up names of places they explored like Paris, London, Las Vegas, and even some place they randomly visited by accident called Whoville… They said they've been to a lot of cities that somehow they don't hear about anymore. I guess those places disappeared just like that when Auradon came to be."

"But that's not fair!" Audrey protested.

"Is it really now that you realize nothing in life is fair?" Gothy asked Audrey. Her quiet question resulted in Audrey silencing herself. No, Audrey never really stopped to think about life outside of her own was unfair. Gothy hadn't joked: it's only now, after they crossed into territories she knew nothing about, that it occurred to her that life itself was unfair. Gothy didn't even have to draw a list. She grew up living an unfair life.

"Is Grandpa Stephan the one hitched to that bossy grandma of yours?"

"Was." Audrey sighed. "He died when I was little. That's when my parents took over the kingdom…"

"And the royal granny spoiled you and tried to have you raised in their magnificent spoiled mess. 'Yeah, it's practically stolen lands! But don't worry, it doesn't matter! All you have to do is sit on a throne next to the heir of the usurpers! Make us proud by being a trophy wife and don't be yourself!'" Gothy imitated the voice of an old crone down to the coughing. Even though it was an insult to practically everything, Audrey laughed her head off when Gothy tried to imitate her grandmother.

Meanwhile, in Auradon Prep

It was around ten when Celia Facilier had gone back to Auradon Prep after taking Dude out for a walk. Though Celia had been very kind to take him after Carlos' death, Dude hardly spoke a word lately. He really wasn't the same nowadays without his original best friend.

The two just got inside when they found Queen Leah sitting on a hallway chair. When they cautiously approached her, they noticed that the Queen was looking at some framed picture of a tourney game that probably dated to years ago. Audrey was leading the cheer squad in the background.

"Everything OK with Audrey, ma'am?" Celia asked.

Queen Leah barely looked up. "She left Auradon to rediscover herself… and Ben's father won't tell my family what's on the other side of the Auradon Wall…"

"My dad might."

Queen Leah looked at her in surprise. "He would?"

"He knows a lot when it comes to the other side." Celia shrugged. "But when it came to the other side of the wall, he'd only bring up the friend that Maleficent owed."

This caught Queen Leah's attention. She moved over and patted for Celia to sit down next to her. Celia picked up and held him in her arms as she sat down.

"Why would Maleficent owe to anyone?" Leah asked quietly.

"She'd owe someone for giving her the scepter," Celia explained. "My dad told that there are two methods to get magic. You are born with it out of randomness or because you're from a magical species, or because you were mortal and you applied a method that got you powers. The problem with the last option is that you might become a magical species in the process or you're indebted to the magical being who helped you out. You know, like my dad's friends on the other side. He had magic because he passed a contract… and you know the story."

"Still… are you suggesting that Maleficent was human before she had magic? And that someone passed a contract with her?"

"All I know is that her scepter is shut down for good and my dad doesn't want to stick around when the friend comes to collect the fee that Maleficent owes her." Celia grimaced. "I'm not sure how that fee is going to work, though. Mal's mom is a lizard…"

"Wait." Leah covered Celia's mouth. That's when they heard the strange static sound. It didn't echo above a whisper, but they could still hear it. Dude jumped off Celia's lap and ran to wherever the sound was coming from. The women silently followed Dude until he stopped three feet away from a barely opened door. They stared at each other in alarm when they realized that something might have broken into Audrey's room. Cautious, they stayed in the shadows and did their best to peak through the door's opening. In the room's darkness, a figure in a red cloak stood out. Whoever it was, he was searching through the princess' wardrobe.

"I really thought she was rather mean… I hoped that she'd be my queen… And there came the lousy scene…" The figure muttered to himself as he pushed through the hung dresses and coats. The hidden observers became unnerved that the static they had heard was also coming out of him. He literally spoke through static! "I'd give her that… I'd follow my little leader of the dark and the bad… Ah, ah! There you are!"

Celia and Leah silently gasped when they saw the figure pull out a discarded carton box, open it, and pull out a familiar pink dress. Leah recognized it as the dress Audrey had worn when Ben proposed to Mal. Celia primarily saw it as the dress that got stained by darkness for the former Queen of Mean.

"Oh, my queen of mean… You'll need to be reminded as to why you need me…"

In some fit, Dude came out barking at the figure. He hissed in anger and broke the window to escape. Celia and Leah watched him disappear in the darkness, taking the dress with him.

"I'm… guessing that Audrey has her own friend on the other side that she probably summoned by accident."