Mal struggled under the weight of the beam on top of her, unable to find any leverage. The enchanted suit of armour grew closer, each step echoing with a heavy echoing thump. She held her breath as the mace rose above her.

"Excuse me," A pair of boots collided into the suit, knocking off the arm with the mace at the shoulder, "I call dibs on messing up that pretty face years ago," Harry jumped off its shoulders, getting his hook into the helmet and pulling it off with a flourish, "I'm not going to let a tin can take that away from me."

"Really Hook?" Mal called.

He looked over at her and shrugged, his smirk growing, "Did you want me to let it crush your face?"

Gil jumped down from the broken stairwell, starting to heft the rubble off Uma. Carlos and Jay jumped down, Carlos going to help Gil. Jay started to lift the beam on Mal straining as he did.

"Harry, want to give us a hand here?" he asked.

Harry started clapping slowly.

"Funny, you smartass,"

Harry grinned, "These guys are nothing but a metal house of cards. One blow and they-" The suit of armour he'd just decapitated reached out with its remaining arm, the gauntlet snapping around his neck. His eyes went wide, panic flaring in them instantly. His mouth opened but nothing but hoarse gasps came out. He brought his fist down on the arm, the first time sounding with a loud thud, amplified by the resonance the hollow armour. The second time he hit the joint and the gauntlet came free of the suit, but it was still latched around his neck.

His face was turning red now as he struggled. He stumbled towards Jay, gasping out a weak, "Help."

Right away Jay closed his hands on the gauntlet, clawing at the fingers that were squeezing around Harry's neck.

"Stop staring at him and get me out of this so we can help," Uma said, snapping Carlos and Gil back to their task. They pulled the rubble off her, as soon as she was free Gil dropped what he was holding and rushed to Harry's side, helping Jay. It took both of them but they were able to pry the gauntlet off, Jay chucking it to the opposite side of the room.

Uma as soon as she'd gotten out, moved to help Mal with Carlos. With the same length of wood Carlos had pulled off Uma, they wedged it under the beam pinning down Mal using the leverage to lift it enough for Mal to crawl free.

"Guys!" Celia called, just on the edge of the broken ledge, pointing her eyes wide, face pale. She pointed to the suit of armour that moments ago had Harry in a vice grip. Its dismembered arms were clattering across the floor towards it, magically lifting back into place. First, the arm with the mace fitted back into place, then the arm Jay threw, skittering over the floor noisy slotted back in. Its head rolled off on the floor screwing back into its proper fixture turning to face them.

"Celia, stay here," Evie said, jumping down to the others.

"We need to go after Ben," Mal said.

"And how do you propose we do that with the metal men in front of us," Uma said.

"Why don't you offer an idea instead of just adding to the problem?"

Uma grabbed a pair of swords of the wall and threw them, Gil and Harry, "Buy me time to do my thing."

They nodded at her, moving to interpose the closest suit.

"And what is your thing?" Mal asked.

"The solution. Not the problem," She snapped back.

Mal seethed, but she took the sword Jay had pulled free from its display. Her eyes glowed and she pulled the ember out, placing it against the hilt. A flame shot up the length of the blade, starting a dull red and growing brighter and richer until the very tip burned a whitish blue.

"On my lead," Mal said, pushing past Harry and Gil further into the room and closer to the rest of the suits. She tried to duck around most, but the later ones moved to block her path to the door. She blocked a slash from one, sparks flashing off the blades. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw another bearing down at her. Before she could react, Evie enters her field of vision stopping the suit's flail with a shield and swinging a mace down its arm, knocking it off. She swung again, a glorious clang as the mace impacted with the chest of the armour, the side buckling in.

Like before the suit was staggered for a moment before it magical reformed. "We'll get now where if we can't stop them permanently."

"I have an idea, but it's risky,"

"Now's the time for high risk, high reward."

Mal looked around, taking stock of where everyone was. Uma, Gil and Harry were at the far end of the room from her, Celia on the steps above them. Carlos and Jay were closer to them, holding off five suits together.

"Jay, Carlos!" She called, "Fall back." She gestured behind her.

Carlos rolled out of the way of a hit, flinging his shield into an oncoming suit. Jay kicked one suit, causing it to topple into two others as he fell back behind Mal.

"I hope this works," Mal said, taking another quick stock of the room. Making sure she had everyone's location mentally she turned her sword over, slamming it down into the floor. The flames on the blade grew brighter, hotter, swirling out in a spiral around Mal. Lines of flames seared across the floor tracing jagged paths to each suit of armour in the room. Mal's focus was keyed in on her task, focusing the flames into concentrated points. The moment that focus wavered so did the flames, their breath leaping out, threatening to expand their damage if she didn't it tamper down. As the final line found its target Mal heard a roar, deep and primal. A moment later there was a surge from the other end of the room as a huge wave of dark green water suddenly flooded the area.

Heat, steam and hot water knocked Mal back, the sword ripped from her hands. Angry hissing filled the room as the water and flames collided, bursting to steam that took hold in the room.

"What the shit Uma?" Mal shouted, barely able to see her through the steam that now filled the room.

"What would you do that?" Uma shouted back.

"Do what? Try to melt the armour?"

"No. Turn the suits into ovens so the water I was going to use to sweep them away evaporated on touch!"

"Maybe if you told me what you were doing I could have planned batter."

"Maybe if you trusted me I would have shared the plan."

"Uh, the suits are still moving," Carlos shouted, "And now they're hot and slick."

"This is your fault!" Mal and Uma shouted together.

Glass shattered in the room. Once. Twice. Three times in quick succession. And then was a sudden draft inwards as everyone in the room felt the temperature drop in seconds. White mist, heavier than the steam filled the room and just as quickly cleared as all the moister in the room was sucked towards the armour and froze around them, making ice statues littering the room.

"Enough," Evie said, not shouting but her voice raised to cut across the others. She held a glass vail in her hands, a bright, light blue liquid swirling inside. "Both of you. Enough. We're on the same team here. Either you both learn to get over your egos right now or you might as well surrender because we're beating no one if you keep arguing."

"Whoa," Gil touched the frozen sword of one of the suits, "What did you do?"

"I took advantage of the opportunity Mal and Uma made," She said showing the vail in her hands, "It's a frost potion. Drops the temperature in an area to below freezing in an instant. Uma gave the water, Mal the heat. Not many people know this but hot water freezes faster than cool water and the suits are metal which is great thermal conductors. When the temperature dropped they became the coldest thing the quickest and the rest of the vapour in the air naturally migrated to them as it froze."

"Cool," Gil said, then he laughed, "Literally. I didn't even mean to make that joke, but it works."

Celia jumped down to join them, hanging from the edge of the ledge before dropping the rest of the way.

"Quick thinking Evie," Carlos said, sliding a little on the layer of ice that now covered the room.

She smiled, "Thank you. But I couldn't have done it if you two hadn't given me the conditions I needed," She said, looked at Mal and Uma, "See, what we can do, when we work together?"

Mal fidgeted, looking away. Uma folded her arms but crossed the room to them.

"Don't we have a king to save?" She asked, "What's the plan?"

"You're asking me?"

"This is your turf, isn't it?" She extended her hand, "I made a deal to help. That's what I should do."

Mal looked at the extended hand for a moment, "Yeah. But I could have been less of a bitch to you." She shook her hand.

"That's an understatement," Uma snorted.

"Don't push it."

There was a soft crackle. Then another, sharper and louder. A spider web of cracks appeared in the ice encasing one of the suits of armour. Then another. And another.

"The ice isn't holding," Evie said, backing away.

Ice went flying as the arm of one shifted free.

"Run!"

No one needed to be told twice, Mal taking the lead, navigating the hallways she once knew so well. The sounds of shattering ice and heavy footfalls closing in behind them.

"In here," Mal called trying a doorway. It was locked but Harry pushed her out of the way, throwing his weight against it with Gil. They broke the lock open and as they stumbled in as the door gave way there was a sudden scream and the boys only got the briefest look at a pike coming toward them.

They both flinched, their arms raised to protect themselves. The pike stopped, as did the person wielding it.

"Wait," She said, looking up from the boys to the rest of the group, "Mal?"

"Belle," Mal pushed past Harry and Gil, pulling Belle into a hug, "You're okay."

"Oh thank god you're safe."

"This reunion is nice but we need to barricade the door," Uma said, glancing into the hallway.

"Right," They closed the door and pushed the furniture in the room against it.

"Mal, have you seen Ben?"

A shadow fell over her face and she pulled herself from Belle's hug. Seeing the cloud that overtook her expression Belle's body tensed, bracing for anything.

"Is he stone?"

Mal shook her head.

Uma cleared her throat, "The attackers, they had him. He looked unconscious when we saw him."

Belle took a heavy breath, sitting down.

"Look on the bright said, if they kidnapped him he isn't dead," Gil said.

Jay elbowed him, "Read the room dude,"

"Your majesty," Evie said, "You should also know, we saw King Adam."

Belle nodded, "I know. I saw when it happened." Her shoulders trembled, "He was protecting me."

The heavy footsteps of the suits were drawing nearing, unignorable now. The first shuttered against the doorway made everyone take a few steps back.

"Is that…" Belle started to ask.

"Oh, the bad guys used Mal's mom's staff to bring a bunch of suits of armour to life," Gil said.

"We need to get out of here," Mal said, running her hand over the walls, "Where's the tunnel entrance in this room?"

Belle shook her head, "Last spring the tunnel flooded with the melted snow and caved in."

"Is there another way out?" Harry asked.

"No."

"We're stuck in here with those things battering down the door?"

The wood of the door splinter inwards and they could see a sword beginning to breakthrough.

"You two," Uma said grabbing Mal and Evie, "What do you know about siren songs?"

"Beyond the myths of leading sailors astray?" Evie asked.

"Doesn't that only work on men?"

"Not necessarily," Uma said. Another crack of the wood, opening the hole enough for them see the head of the armour through now, "When sailors grew wise and began using magical protection the sirens had to adapt their songs to override magic."

"If you have a magical song that cancels magic use it already," Mal said.

"Siren songs don't work with one person they need to be sung in chorus."

"You need us to sing with you," Evie said, realizing what she was getting at.

"Sirens weren't covered in magic 1001," Mal said.

"I just need you to follow my lead. Do you trust me?"

Evie and Mal exchanged a glance. "Start singing shrimpy, we'll follow,"

Uma didn't have the time to look annoyed at the nickname as the next crack from the doorway cleaved part of the door away. Uma stood in front of the door, starting with a low hum. She raised her hand to her necklace as her lips parted and wordless vocals filled the room. There was an eerie echo to her voice even though there wasn't a natural echo in the room.

Evie joined in first following the tone and pitch Uma was singing with. Mal took a breath and lifted her voice with theirs. Their voices mixed and reverberated, but the armour was still pressing forward. The furniture barrier beginning to shift. Celia threw herself against it, pushing back. Her shadow appeared next to her, doing the same. The boys were moments behind, all going shoulders down, digging their heels in.

"Keep singing, we'll holding them back," Celia said.

Uma directed Evie and Mal with her hands, indicating when they needed to sing higher or lower.

Belle had joined the boys and Celia now as they all pushed against the invading armour but they were slowly slowing ground. Their feet struggled to find purchase against the smooth stone floors. The sword crashed down going through not only the door but some of the furniture, landing near Gil's head. With a yell, he rolled away.

"Ladies, I don't mean to rush you," Harry yelled, ducking as the sword swing over his head. They were forced to fall back as another swing got dangerously close to them. The armour pushed into the room their weapons raised. The boys engaged them head to head, but it would only be so long before they all got in the room and overwhelmed them with numbers.

Uma raised her voice and the first suit of armour in the line frozen, like a wave the others behind it slowed. There was a terrifying moment when the metal creaked like it was going to keep moving. And it did, falling apart into loose pieces that tumbled down around their feet.

Everyone held their breath, waiting for any moment. A few seconds passed with nothing happening. Then a few more and there was a collective sigh of relief.

Mal slumped against the wall, a hand at her throat, "Why does it feel like someone took sandpaper to my throat?"

"Siren songs will do that to you," Uma smiled, but even her voice sounded rough, "You did well for a first time."

"No time to catch our breath," Mal said, pushing herself upright, "We need to go after them."

"They probably teleported away by now," Carlos said.

"I'm still going to take look from the sky."

"And we need to get Belle to safety."

"They tore through the royal focuses to get here. Is anywhere safe?" Carlos asked.

"Outside of Auradon?" Jay suggested, "We could call Lonnie."

"I'm not going to abandon Auradon with Ben in danger and Adam… disposed."

"Your majesty, please…"

"Evie, don't try to get me to leave. It won't be happening."

"Maybe we call Lonnie for reinforcements then."

"Any help would be welcomed at this point."

As they'd been having this conversation they were moving through the castle, heading outside. As they stepped out the doors Mal said, "I'll be back in five minutes," before going into a run and transforming into her dragon form.

"What's our next move?" Uma asked looking to Evie.

"We need some way-"

There was an abrupt scream and Mal, a human Mal crashed into the ground several feet from them.

"Mal? Mal!" Evie was the first to her, a spike of fear in her voice "What happened? Are you hurt?"

Mal shook her head, pushing herself up on shaky limbs.

"I transformed back."

"You haven't had a fail transformation in years," Evie held Mal's face in her hands, "M, you're feverish."

Mal pushed Evie's hands away, "I always run hot after a transformation."

"Mal," Evie's voice held no place for argument. But Mal still tried. She stood, dusting herself off, struggling to hide the tremble in her limbs.

"I'm fine. Just need another go."

"I know you." Evie placed her hand on her forehead, "This isn't your usual temperature."

"When was the last you slept?" Celia asked.

"I don't know kid, since before someone attacked with my mom's staff."

"Well there's your problem," she said.

"What do you mean?" Mal asked, the words coming out harsh.

"You haven't slept in a day and you've been using your magic, a lot."

"I've gone three days with no sleep. This is nothing."

"Not using your magic like this," Carlos said.

"Didn't your mom teach you about magical fatigue?"

"Do you think if my mother taught me anything about her magic we'd even be here in the first place? I could have stopped the staff the first time and none of this would be happening,"

Celia shrunk back when Mal took a step towards her, her eyes flashing.

"Mal," Evie placed herself in between Mal and Celia, "Take a breath."

Mal seemed to realise how harsh she'd come across and her shoulders fell slightly.

"Celia, magical fatigue, what does it do?" She asked, her voice controlled this time.

"It's like normal fatigue, but for your magic. Use too much and don't give your body the chance to rest and your spells can start failing the same way our muscles do if you push too hard physically."

"And how do stop it?"

"A good rest is the only real answer. Proper rest and you'll be top shape again."

Evie turned back to Mal. Mal shook her head, "As long as Ben's missing we can't stop."

"No."

"Evie…"

"No. No. Absolutely not," She shook her head.

"It's mother's staff, the magic won't work on me."

"It fucked well did when it put you to sleep."

Uma did a double-take, looking at Carlos next to her, "Wait, sleep? Sleeping curse sleep?"

"Maleficent's signature."

"Who woke her?"

"Evie," he said, his head tilting to the side slightly a little perplexed at the question. Despite that Uma's brows still shot up. Even Belle, standing just behind them looked surprised.

"Well, shit…"

"E," Mal continued, her eyes going soft.

"Don't, you even dare use that with me. We're going home."

"But…"

"No. There is no argument here. We are going home."

"Uh," Gil started to say, "We're still feeling great so we could look…"

"Nuh-uh dude," Jay put a hand on his shoulders when he started to move to put himself directly into the conversation, "You don't want to be a part of that right now."

"I couldn't stop the staff. That's on me. This is on me. I need to fix it."

"You didn't use the staff to put people to sleep or turn them to stone."

"But I could have stopped it. I need to stop it. I can't have mother's shadow over me anymore that it already is and not even when she'd not the one using the staff."

"Screw your mother."

"Evie,"

"No," Evie put her hands on Mal's face, "No. Hey, listen to me. Your mother's faults aren't on you. They are not your life. Your life is what you've made in Auradon. With me."

"You know why I can't stop."

"And you know why I can't let you keep going." She brought their foreheads together, "You just fell from twenty feet in the air. What would have happened if your magic failed when you were higher?"

"I… I…"

"It wasn't even twelve hours ago when you asked me to marry you."

"What?" Carlos and Jay said at the same time, but they weren't acknowledged by Mal or Evie.

"What would have happened just now if you were a hundred feet up? You would have left me."

"That's not fair."

"Fair? There are hundreds of people under a sleeping curse right now. Who knows how many more turned to stone. We don't even know if we can break the stone spell. What isn't fair is if something happens to you. Something that could have been avoided if you weren't so stubborn. You're going to meet me at the end that aisle. Do you hear me?"

A weak smile appeared on Mal's lips, "There's nothing I want more."

"Then do everything you can to make sure it happens. Let me take you home today so you can take me home tomorrow."

"We might be the only person who can find and stop these guys."

"I'm not asking you to give up. I'm asking that you slow down. That you rest. If your magic fails again the next time it could be so much worse than twenty feet."

Mal sighed, looking to the others, "Is that okay with you?"

"Do you think we're dumb enough to argue with Evie?" Carlos asked.

"Come on hot stuff, I'll give you a lift to the Van," Jay said, letting Mal get on his back. "Also when the hell did you get engaged?"

"And you didn't tell us."

Mal chuckled, "We've been kind of busy."

"You still had time to pop the question," Jay jostled her playfully.

Uma hung back, pulling Evie with her. "Gil had a point. We can keep looking for Ben if you can point us in a direction."

Evie shook her head, "I'd prefer you close."

Uma frowned, "You don't trust us?"

"No," She shook her head, placing her hand on Uma's shoulder, "I swear, it's not that. When this started, the first person they went after was Mal. This is the second time she escaped them. I don't think I'm strong to protect her on my own if they come after again. I need someone with magic. Strong magic," Evie looked to Mal, her gaze infinitely tender.

"You two really have true love," Uma said.

"No one was more surprised by the development than me."

"What does your mother think of the fact that your prince is actually a dragon who's also a woman?"

"Funny. You think my mother knows."

"Do me a favour, send my wedding invite early so I have time to evacuate the isle before she gets hers."

Evie's laugh was dry and stunted. She didn't answer because until that moment she hadn't processed if her mother was someone she would want at her wedding or not. She made the choice to continue not processing that. At least until they were safe again. If she could, she'd avoid thinking on it until they had to send out their invitations.

Her breath caught with that thought. Their invitations. To their wedding. They'd talked about it, of course. About spending their lives together. They'd known for years now they were each others' person. Even before dating Evie never considered a lifetime without Mal by her side. Once they got together that only solidified that fact all the more.

Yet, somehow when they'd discussed something more permanent, something more set in stone, with vows and rings and dresses, it had seen more conceptual. Mal was never one for all the pomp and circumstance and sure Evie would love a ceremony, but she never needed one. All she needed was Mal.

But Mal, her sweet Mal, was willing to give her everything. They were going to stand in front of their friends and declare their love in the most recognisable way. Just the thought gave her thrills. She was going to have a wife.

There was so much they were going to get to do. Just as soon as they were safe.

Nardragon- until the next page.