Chapter 6

As the teens run to get away from what looked like a big, pink, fluffy tiger, the tunnel opens into a gem mine belonging to the dwarves. On the other side, Grumpy, Merlin, and Ben were trying to figure out where the dragon was coming from. "Hi Ben! A tiger is chasing us! Move it!" Hadley says from the back of the pack. Tiger teeth nearly making contact with the back of her leather jacket.

Ben quickly moves out of the way as the group barrels past him. Catching a glimpse of the tiger turning into a dragon. "Merlin, I think I found your dragon," he says blocking Mal from the pinkish purple threat.

"That's not a dragon, that's Madam Mim," Merlin says as he takes out his wand. Merlin and the witch from Camelot go into a shapeshifting battle. Only ending once the witch tired out. "Now, she shouldn't be able to leave the Isle again. She used up all her magic!" The wizard snaps his fingers and the passed-out Madam Mim disappears. "Now, do you kids want me to transport you all back to Auradon Prep? I will stay here to fix up the hole in the barrier," Merlin offers as he turns to face the teenagers.

"Thank you, Merlin. I'll send Fairy Godmother to help you," Ben smiles as he takes Mal's hand in his own. In a flash of bright light, they still appear in the courtyard of Auradon Prep. Standing in front of the bronze statues of King Father Adam as the Beast. "I'm going to find Fairy Godmother. I'll find you all later," Ben says. Kissing Mal's cheek before walking to the Headmistress' office.

Mal turns to her crew before Hadley has the chance to leave. "We need to give the symbols to Fairy Godmother. Before we are tempted by them," she says. Glancing at Hadley at the mention of temptation. Knowing that her younger sister is the most likely to abuse the power.

Hadley rolls her eyes before starting toward the dorms. "We both know that you will be tempted. You're weak," she mutters under her breath as she walks inside. Heading up the wooden stairs to the long row of dorm rooms. Within a few minutes, she made it to her and Elyse's room and went inside.

"What's her problem?" Jay asked as they watch Hadley walk off.

"She failed her trial. She's probably off searching for Elyse. The poor kid seemed very…" Evie starts to say before she saw Carlos shake his head. His way of saying that she said too much. "I'm sure that Hadley will be fine! Elyse will comfort her!"

"Nice save," Carlos chuckles with a shake of his head. "I'll check on Hadley after I give the ring to Fairy Godmother. I'm more likely to be let into Hadley and Elyse's room. I do have Elyse's hoodie after all."

"Sounds good. Meet back in Evie and I's room after washing up and returning the symbols of power. If Hadley failed… we need a contingency plan," Mal orders before heading back to the dorms to shower. Not waiting for the others to follow her or comment.

"The sisters will go to war, won't they?" Jay asks as he watches Mal's retreating form.

"Only if Hadley finds out about the contingency plan," Carlos says knowing that Hadley would never forgive that betrayal. He had seen how Hadley got her revenge on Hades for the almost engagement. It took him weeks to get the pink hair dye out. With a sigh, he goes with Evie and Jay, to hand over the ring, apple, and staff.

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Up in the dorms, Hadley was relaxing next to Elyse on the bed they have started to share. "Tough day?" Elyse asks as she strokes Hadley's hair out of her face. The younger teen having her head on the princess' shoulder.

"We had to face our weaknesses. I failed," Hadley says as she sighs as she turns and cuddles into her girlfriend's side. She had taken off her leather jacket and hung it in the shared closet right after getting back to the room. The ember hidden in the fireplace behind a false brick.

"How did you get the ember then, love?" Elyse asks as she continues to play with Hadley's hair. Despite Hadley's strength returning, she was still paler than she usually is. Her muscles were tense, either from guilt, overexertion, or stress. Which one? The snow princess doesn't quite know yet.

"I stole it. After… you aren't only with me because I won't steal your throne, right?" Hadley asks as she looks into the blue, patient eyes of her true love.

"I'm with you because I love you. Why would you think otherwise?" Elyse answers before kissing Hadley's forehead. Her eyes soften as she tries to comfort the other girl.

"There was this… thing. Kinda like mimics in Dungeons and Dragons. Or shapeshifters. It… looked and sounded like Mal. Said it read her mind…" Hadley says as she wraps around her Elyse's chest. Holding her close for comfort.

"You killed it and took the ember. Knowing you, you didn't tell Mal," Elyse says as she rubs circles into the space between her shoulder blades. When Hadley nods into her chest, Elyse shifts to kiss her cheek. "I'll need to chat with Mal. Clear the air. Mediate before you two go to war," she says before slipping out from under the demi-goddess. "I won't be long," she promises before walking out the door. Not waiting for the daughter of Hades to reply. She walks past several rooms until she reaches Mal and Evie's dorm. After knocking on the door, she crosses her arms and waits for an answer.

Mal opens the door as she was looking down at her phone. Assuming it was Jay and Carlos. "Took you long enough. I'm still trying to get in contact with the thief," she says as she sends yet another text to Hadley.

"You don't even use her name when she isn't around? We really need to have a chat," Elyse says coldly. Pushing past the fairy into the room. "Evie, you should tell the boys that Mal is held up."

"I have no time to talk right now. Sorry that Hadley is all roughed up after the tunnels. She fell into a river," Mal says figuring that Hadley returned weaker than she left.

Elyse just makes eye contact with Evie and motioned to the door with her head. The other girl got the hint and walked out of the room. Closing the door behind her. "Hadley told me what happened during her trial. What she had to face read your mind. Or at least it claimed to."

Mal moves over to her bed and sits down with a sigh. "I'm guessing it made her doubt your relationship."

"Do you really think that I'm only with Hadley because she won't take my throne?" Elyse asks as she stands in front of the younger teen. Arms still crossed. "Don't bother lying. Hadley told me your tells."

Mal gulps and looks down. After years of Hadley seeing through her lies, Elyse knowing her tells does not surprise her. "At first, yeah. I really thought that you were playing with my sister's feelings. Ben told me that you would never consider hurting Hadley," she says after a moment. If it wasn't for Ben, Mal would have tried to talk Hadley into leaving the princess months ago.

"I came here because I care about Hadley. She thinks that you only see her as a hired thug still. That you don't respect her. If Ben makes you a Lady of the Court, that will have to change if you don't want a war to start," Elyse warns before she leaves the room. Passing Evie, Jay, and Carlos on her way out. Frost on the floor where she was standing in the room.

"So how did your chat go?" Evie asks as they walk in.

"We need to get Ben here… Elyse may have threatened war against me," Mal says as she grabs her phone and sends a text to Ben.