An: Little shorter chapter, but I think everyone likes them this way. :) Please enjoy.
Creator of Magic: No, its not in the movie. But if I went with the movie, we would be done in another 5 chapters! This is the unexpected Twist I've been hinting at. Its truly original content for this chapter. No, Harry doesn't know. He thinks it was just the house shaking. Rose has yet fallen under the bus, but this whole series has been about her. Well it was the plan. She was going to be in the first story, but I wanted to wait and make it a bigger reveal. This series is about how she regains and finds herself. No worries, all will be well in time.
Zahabiya: I'm glad you're interested in this story now. I know it was following really close to the movie, but now its original again. From here on out it'll be different. We'll get back to the plotline again, but it won't be so close to it.
Mal sat up and pinched herself. She wasn't dreaming. She was really on the Isle. They were in the front square of the island. Mal felt a gasp escape from her lips as she turned her head to where the barrier was closed. Beyond the transparent golden dome, dark clouds were swirling above the kingdom. Pink lightning was escaping the clouds and hitting the ground with a loud boom.
The daughter of Maleficent focused her eyes on the girl who was standing on the edge of the Isle. The braid down her back was loose. The reddish-brown wisps were flying in the breeze. She stood still like a statue. The rose painted on the back of her boot heal was scuffed. Mal felt anger build up inside of her, but she had other matters to attend to. She turned to the entrance, nobody else was with them.
"We're all spread apart," Rose said as Mal scrambled to her feet. Her voice was cool and calm, she hadn't moved a single muscle. She only stared into the horizon. "I'm assuming this is what Audrey wanted. For us to squabble around looking like idiots to find each other."
"I know where to go," Mal said as she straightened her jacket. "Everybody will probably go back to the old hideout. But I'm the only one with the key so we probably should get going." She knew she had to bring Rose with her. Even though she and Ben fought, Ben would still want Rose to be safe.
"No," Rose's voice cracked.
"What do you mean?" Mal tried to keep her anger down.
"I have nothing left to keep going for," Rose looked down. "I wanted revenge, then I wanted to help. Both have failed. Disappearing is the only option left." Her voice was quiet and filled with hope as she whispered. "I could finally be free."
"You know you can't do that," Mal crossed her arms.
"No strings are attached," Rose grinned. "Nothing's holding me back." Suddenly Rose jolted to life and ran as fast as she could. Mal gasped and threw her hands out, but her summoning spell didn't work. She had forgotten she was on the Isle again.
She watched as Rose quickly scaled a small hut and vanished. Mal ran after her, but as she approached the hut, Mal dropped her hands. There was no use. Rose was definitely going to win the chase. Mal would just have to wait for another opportunity to find her. She then turned to the tunnel and walked through it. She would have to carry on.
Ben awoke to see the golden barrier. He rubbed his eyes in hopes he was still asleep, but this was real. He looked around to see he was on Uma's ship. The last time he was here he was taken a hostage in that small battle. It was a small and fun game compared to this battle. His eyes continued to dart around to take in every detail, when he heard somebody.
"What in the name-" she suddenly stopped talking. Ben recognized the voice. It was Uma.
"Uma?" Ben got up. He spotted her turquoise hair peaking above a barrel's top.
"Ben?" Uma turned. He lifted the lid off of her head. She looked up at him. "Oh thank Ursula. I thought I had gone blind." She hesitated, but took his hand and stepped from out of the barrel.
"Five more minutes mom," Gil's voice echoed. Ben lifted another lid to find the son of Gaston. "You're not my mom." Gil shot up from his holding.
"I'm here too," Jay was stretching from the third barrel. He yawned and ran his fingers through his hair.
"We've gotta find Mal," Ben said urgently. He ushered Uma along, but she didn't move.
"Whoa," Uma held up a finger. "What makes you think I want to go?"
"You guys made up," Ben shrugged.
"Yeah for the battle," Uma crossed her arms. "But we're back here on the Isle. Without anybody to let us out, its game over."
"We don't know that," Ben argued.
"Um, guys," Gil looked beyond them and pointed softly. The two looked through the barrier to see the dark clouds and the lightning stretch over Auradon. Ben's heart crushed. It was his kingdom, he was supposed to protect it.
"I told you," Uma said in a low voice. "Its over." Ben looked to her, but she was already turned away.
"How can you turn your back on this?" Ben stuttered a little.
"Because Auradon turned its back on me," Uma turned back. There were small tears forming in her eyes. "Don't you understand? You've been raised in that land while I've barely got a taste of it. I owe it nothing. At least your sister would understand. She's never felt at home there."
"What?" Ben stopped worrying about the kingdom for a moment. Uma's face softened.
"You're still oblivious?" Uma raised an eyebrow. Ben didn't respond. "The letters, Ben. Rose still feels like she doesn't belong. She wanted the kingdom to fall so she could be free. It was obvious. You were there. You said you faced the reality. The reality right now is there is no hope for Auradon. Its over." She turned back around, leaving Ben speechless. He had forgotten about his fight with Rose. She was right. It is over.
Gil followed her to the deck. Jay patted Ben's shoulder. "We need to go. Mal must be looking for us. We'll go to the hideout. That's the usual place to meet." Ben didn't make eye contact, but nodded in agreement. The two began to wander through the Isle.
Carlos was already by the hideout when he awoke. At first he had thought it was all a dream. The take over, the fight between Ben and Rose, the fire, and Evie bursting into flames. There was pinching in his chest as he recalled the horrid memory. He thought about where she was. She wasn't dead, was she? No, there's no way.
The door opened before Carlos could think of anything worse. Mal's purple hair peaked above the stairs, for Carlos to let go of his hopeful breath. When Mal saw him, she let out a sigh. "Oh, Carlos," Mal plopped down on the couch next to him. "I'm glad you're here. It seems Audrey separated us among the Isle. Hopefully everyone finds their way back."
"How do you know everyone else is here?" Carlos asked.
"Guys?" Jane's voice called out. She stepped from behind a wall. "Oh thank goodness you're here! Where are we?"
"The Isle," Carlos explained. "This is the hideout I told you about." Jane looked around and admired the artwork. mal got back the conversation.
"Rose was with me." Mal bit her lip. "She escaped before I could get her to come. I'm just afraid for when Ben finds out. After all, this is what she wanted. She's won." Carlos pondered this for a moment. Did she really want this? Why would she offer her friendship to him if she wanted all of this?
"No," Carlos said softly. Love is a weird thing, or so I've been told. There was so many levels of that sentence than Carlos had thought about when she first said it. She was reaching out to him. Telling him she had never been loved. She was almost asking him what it was, and he didn't give her an answer. She didn't want revenge, she wanted love. "She's changed."
"B-" Mal was cut off by the doors opening. Jay and Ben both walked up the stairs. Mal gasped and ran to Ben. She embraced him tightly before they all went and sat on the couches.
"We ran into Celia on the way here. She's going home." Jay said as he straightened his jacket.
"Uma's not coming either," Ben said quietly. He looked around, then his eyes shifted back down to the floor.
"Rose fled away, but I'm sure we'll find her." Mal put a hand on his shoulder. She debated on telling him. With no reaction, she began to question her action.
"Why would I care?" Ben whispered. "She is no longer a sister of mine. This is what she wanted." Mal had to agree, but the look on Carlos' face said otherwise.
"Wait," Jay said, looking around. "Where's Evie?" Carlos could feel tears forming in his eyes.
"S-she's gone," Carlos managed to say. He thought of the sight of her going up into flames.
"Audrey wouldn't kill her," Mal shook her head.
"But she's killing me." Carlos said this in the most quiet whisper, but it was audible in the silent room. A hot tear burned Carlos' cheek as it streamed down to his chin. "There's no way I'll see her again. Not unless she's on the Isle." As he continued to cry, Jay and Mal exchanged looks. There was nothing to do. Jay finally mouthed to her.
'Welcome home.'
Harry had been wandering the Isle for a while. He had been looking for his next move. Whether he would go searching for his team, go to his ship, or go home. He really didn't have much of a home, but it still was an option. He would search for anyone with a familiar face wandering around, but there was no luck. he then headed into the market alley and stole an apple, just for fun.
On his escape, he scaled a hut. At the top, someone had cut him off. He ducked below them, but their eyes met. Rose's blue eyes were filled with fear. He felt as if they were in slow motion. When Harry got back onto his feet. He turned to look at Rose, who only stared at him for a moment. Harry sighed with relief. He opened his mouth to speak, but Rose was too quick.
She ran off quickly. "No!" Harry was about to go back and chase her, but she was already out of sight. After a second of seeking, Harry gave up and bit into his apple. It didn't matter, she was the 'bad guy.' At least according to those letters.
The son of Captain Hook carried on to find his ship. Well, Uma's ship. Once he reached it, he was relieved to find Uma and Gil already there. He ran to them. Uma only go a glance before he wrapped his arms around her. She stiffened herself. Uma then pushed him off of her. "No need for that. We're all alright." She looked away uncomfortably.
"Oh," Harry scratched his face. "I don't know what came over me." He had to admit, he didn't know what came over him. Giol then suddenly hugged him, which he returned.
"Glad to see you're alright buddy."
"Is the Auradon scum here too?" Harry coughed a little.
"King and Jay for sure," Uma crossed her arms. "But I'm sure Mal and the rest of the squad is scrambling here too."
"Yeah," Gil said, "Uma got into Ben and let him have it."
"He just needed to know the truth," Uma shook her head. "He wouldn't except that this is over. "
"Over?" Harry looked through the barrier to see the suffering Auradon.
"There's no way out now," Gil grinned to himself. He left after a moment, leaving Uma and Harry alone. The sea witch's eyes were kept on Auradon. Harry nudge Uma a little as he stepped closer to her. She tilted herself away from him.
"Gil and I were talking," Uma said in a monotone, "The crew's abandoned ship, I think its time for us to do the same."
"What?" Harry was confused. "But Auradon was your dream."
"I know," Uma bit her lip. "But back then there was hope. There was a kingdom to go to if we got out, but now its in shambles. I think its best for us to go home and adjust to this again. This ship is never going to set sail. The barrier will never come down. She's won." Uma turned and was about to walk, but harry caught her arm with his hook.
"But what about Gil and... me?" Harry looked her in the eyes, but she didn't look back. "Do we mean nothing to you? Do I mean nothing to you?"
"I just don't know what else to do," Uma looked into his eyes. A tear fell down her cheek. She took a step back from Harry and held out a hand. "You were a good first mate." He hesitated, but shook her hand. he was tempted to pull into another embrace, but she looked at him again. "Goodbye Harry." Her warm hand left his. He held onto it as long as he could, but she walked away. Gil was standing there with both of their bags of belongings. She took one and together they left the ship.
Harry stood there for a moment. He looked back to Auradon. How could it really be over. He was just getting settled in the new land, now he had to give it up? Why did no one want to fight? Was there really no hope?
Evie had sprung up from her slumber. Her scream echoed from moments before her awakening. The last thing she remembered was holding Carlos in her arms, the pink fire surrounding them. Then, everything had gone dark, until now. Her eyes adjusted to the dim lights. The only one she could see was a small candle burning up on a platform hinged to the wall.
She stood up to hear her boot heal click as it hit the cold floor. The air was cold. Perhaps she was underground? But where? In Audradon's dungeon? The Isle? Some other place? Evie didn't know. She took a step towards the candle, and her eyes darted to a small stream of light. There was a hole in the wall. Her nimble fingers traced the side of the wall. There was a small glimmer to the surrounding wall of the tunnel. She suddenly pulled her fingers away and gasped it was the mirror. Her magic mirror.
Evie was back in her mother's castle. Once again. She was held captive. Evie could feel her heart beat in her ears. There was a small sound. Glass tinkling against brick. Her eyes gazed to the broken mirror. In the next room, the glass shards began to levitate. Horrified, it took Evie a moment to collect her thoughts. She suddenly rushed towards the mirror. She jumped through, but then, she was floating along with the glass.
"No," Evie whispered. She was being pushed back into the other room with force. The blue haired princess tried to escape, but it was no use. The mirror glass replaced itself into the golden frame as she was thrown to the ground. There was a loud boom as the mirror became whole once again. Evie's tears were streaming down her cheeks as the voice that haunted her nightmares called out again.
"Hello, my queen."