Here is the next chapter!
Surprise, surprise. Everyone who answered the question got it correct, so you receive this chapter as an award! Carlos says, "Your Royal Purpleness" at the beginning of the third movie.
This chapter contains my version of Maleficent discovering that the Dragon's Eye scepter is within the barrier. Diaval won't be in this chapter because, as stated before, he was announced as dead in the first chapter. This chapter will also help explain future events, like how Audrey is able to touch the scepter without falling asleep immediately after—since that was a major plot hole in the third movie.
At the author's note at the end of this chapter, you will see an announcement regarding the next chapter.
Enjoy.
Mal was standing in the corner, nursing her spicy cider, when she noticed two figures trying to sneak their way toward the buffet table to grab a couple cans of expired sodas. It was Carlos, of course, and Princess Blueberry. Evie didn't look any worse for wear after spending time in Cruella's closet. There wasn't a scratch on her or even a run in her stocking. Carlos must have helped her somehow.
Mal let a small smile linger on her lips. Carlos gained some bravery after all. Finally. The plan worked even if it was slightly.
Even though it was getting close to her curfew, Mal could already tell it was time to go. All the food was gone, and the evil step-granddaughters looked tired of pretending to hate being chased by the rowdy pirates.
Setting the empty cup on a nearby table, Mal left the party without a backwards glance. Carlos didn't need her there, so there was no point in staying for much longer. When she entered her home, she didn't expect to see her father kneeling before her mother, who was slumped over on the couch, looking as though she could vomit at any moment.
"Mom?" Mal greeted in confusion as she slowly crept forward. "What's wrong?"
"Her scepter," Hades began as he continued to rub soothing circles on his wife's hand. "It's awake. Here. . . on the island."
Mal gasped over-dramatically at the announcement. "What? How is that possible?"
"I'm not sure," Hades admitted as he spared a quick glance at his daughter. "But for a brief moment, my ember—which has remained dormant for quite some time—sparked to life. Magic must have seeped into the barrier somehow."
Deciding to not question that theory for a moment, Mal wondered, "Why is Mom acting like this?"
"Well her scepter was created to help her walk after her wings were forcefully removed," Hades continued to explain while his wife flinched at the reminder of the horrific event. "It was then used to absorb her anger, sorrow, hatred . . . . The scepter is practically connected to your mother, so all those negative emotions suddenly swarmed into her, reminding her of all the pain she has suffered over the years."
Unable to handle the overwhelming emotions, Maleficent leaned forward to rest her forehead on her husband's shoulder, sobbing silently as a single tear dripped down her cheeks. Hades kissed the top of her head as he cooed reassuring words into her ear. Mal's heart ached at such an unusual sight.
"We have to find the scepter," Hades announced as he turned his gaze back to his daughter. "Malef said that if anyone, who does not share her blood, touches the scepter, they will instantly turn evil and have a limited source of the scepter's magic. If you touch the scepter, you may fall asleep for a few minutes before of the curse first casted with it, but it won't leave a lingering effect."
"So we can't let anyone else get the scepter," Mal mused. "Where exactly is it?"
"On a separate island just outside of our own," Hades answered knowingly. "Your mother somehow had a vision of it at the Forbidden Fortress, on a small island just outside the coast of the Isle of the Lost, but still within the limits of the barrier."
"I'll go get it," Mal volunteered bravely. "You can stay and comfort Mom."
"You can't miss school."
"I'll go Saturday!" Mal reasoned. "I'll have Jay go with me so I'm not alone."
Hades sighed softly as he ran his hand through his wife's beautiful brunette locks. "Your mother and I will talk it over," he decided, "and we'll let you know tomorrow. For now, you need to head off to bed."
Mal merely nodded and trudged off to her room. Not tired enough to actually fall asleep, she spent the next few minutes out on her balcony, staring out at the vast horizon. Soon, she heard the sound of jiggling trinkets, which meant Jay dropped by for some reason.
"I'm out here," Mal called softly so her parents couldn't hear her.
Within a handful of seconds, Jay had climbed up the side of her house. "You left before the fun really began," he informed, meaning the party. "We turned the ballroom into a mosh pit and crowd-surfed." He joined her on the balcony, a bag of smelly cheese curls in his hand.
"I should have left sooner," Mal insisted with a slight bitterness in her tone. "My mom somehow sensed her scepter—the Dragon's Eye—come alive. It's on a separate island just outside the coast of this one. We have to find it."
"Mal, it's not poss—"
"We have to," Mal insisted stubbornly.
"Eh," Jay replied shrugging his shoulders and turning toward the window to go back inside, most likely going to attempt to see her mother in her 'relaxed' state. "We'll see."
Mal took one last look out at the horizon to the bright, sparkling speck in the distance. She felt a pang in her gut, like longing. But what for, she couldn't say.
Eventually, Mal's parents agreed to have her search for the scepter. So early Saturday morning, Jay met Mal at the crowded marketplace so he could swipe supplies for their journey to find the other island and fortress.
"So, how sure are you about this whole thing? I mean, a little sure? A lot sure? Just-want-something-to-do sure?" asked Jay, juggling a few bruised peaches.
"I don't know. But I have to at least try to find the fortress, especially if the Dragon's Eye is there. Also, don't you think it's weird that we've never left the village? I mean, this island's pretty small, and we've never even tried to look around."
"What's there to look at? You said it yourself—we're probably headed for Nowhere. But say we do get a hold of the Dragon's Eye and it can't do anything?" Jay questioned. "There's no magic on the Isle. Nada."
"Well, maybe there's a hole in the dome, or something," Mal suggested.
"A hole?" scoffed Jay.
"I told you, I don't know; all I know is mom could sense its power since it's somewhat connected to her. If you're too chicken to come with me, then go back and steal for your junk shop like a coward," Mal somewhat insulted.
"I'm not chicken or a coward!"
"Yeah—more like a parrot."
Jay sighed. "Fine," he grumbled. "Maybe you're right: maybe there is a hole."
Mal's and Jay's squabbling voices carried throughout the marketplace, and Evie couldn't help but overhear. She was at the bazaar for her first-ever shopping trip with her mother.
Evie squinted at their faces. Mal was scowling and Jay looked annoyed, as per usual. Was she imagining it, or did she hear them say something about a hole in the magical barrier? The memory of the burst of light that had shot out of Carlos's invention the night of the party came to her quickly.
"Are you guys talking about a hole in the dome?" she asked, coming up to the two of them.
Mal looked up suspiciously, but when she saw Evie her voice turned thick as honey. "Why, Evie! You're just the person I've been looking for."
"She is?" Jay asked, confused.
"Yes, she is," Mal said definitively, deciding she may be useful, especially if Carlos got involved. "Now, what were you saying about the dome?"
Evie wondered if she should tell them what she knew. She knew she couldn't trust Mal, and she had an inkling that Jay was behind her missing poison-heart necklace.
"Nothing," she said.
"Tell us," urged Jay, crossing his arms.
"Why should I?" Evie sniffed.
"Because," Jay said. Then he was stumped. "Um. Because if you don't, Mal will curse you?" he added, even though he didn't sound convinced himself.
"If you haven't noticed, there's no magic on this island." Evie said huffily.
"Not yet," Mal claimed mysteriously. "But there may be one day." She took Evie's arm in hers and whispered. "Look, I know we didn't start off on the right foot, but I think we should let bygones be bygones. It's a small island. We shouldn't be enemies because of our parents' hatred for one another."
"Really?"
"Really," Mal insisted with her sweetest smile.
Evie couldn't tell if Mal was being sincere, but she was intrigued enough to play along with it.
She was about to tell her what she knew about the dome when Evil Queen burst out of Bits and Bobs. "Evie! I got some new eye shadow for you! Oh!" she exclaimed when she saw Evie wasn't alone "If it isn't Mal!" she added nervously. "How are you, dear? Your parents still together or have they finally divorced?"
Mal's eyes flashed their dangerous and threatening green hues that could make anyone scared. "They've been married for nearly seventeen years," she corrected with a 'I-know-what-you're-doing' smile. "They are still hopelessly in love with each other. For the past ten years they haven't had to worry about any snobbish wannabe queens trying to break them up or spreading false rumors by dying her daughter's hair to claim one of them cheated. They will never stop caring for one another. I can only hope to find someone who I love and will love me as much as they do, hopefully more."
"Right," the Evil Queen agreed begrudgedly, knowing she lost the fight. "Let's go, Evie."
"Oh, can Evie hang out with us?" asked Mal with a syrupy smile. "We were just about to grab a few unhealthy snacks from the Slop Shop."
Evie was torn. On one hand, she knew she should stay away from Mal if she wanted to be safe, but on the other, she never got to hang out with kids her age.
Evil Queen nodded. "Sure! I'll see you at home, sweetie." As she left, she mouthed, "Reapply your lip gloss!".
Evie decided it would be best to pick up the last conversation from where they had left off. "So, you guys want to know about the hole in the dome, or not?"
Mal and Jay exchanged glances. "Of course, we do," they chorused.
Evie shrugged carelessly. "Well, something happened the night of the party that may have to do with the dome."
"Is that right?" Mal wondered with a raised eyebrow. She had no doubts about that since it was the same night her mother felt the scepter come to life.
"You need to talk to Carlos," said Evie. "He knows what happened."
"Carlos? Why? What does he have to do with anything?" Mal demanded as they passed a tent selling colorful scarves. Jay practiced his parkour by running across the walls and rooftops.
"Because he was the one that did it," Evie claimed. "He punched a hole in the dome."
Jay barked a laugh and dropped down next to them. "Yeah, right—as if that little guy can punch anything. Come on, Mal. We've got work to do." He began to turn away.
Evie stared at Mal. "I'm not lying," she said to Mal.
"I didn't think you were," Mal argued, her green eyes flashing. "I'm sure your mother at least taught you that a princess doesn't lie."
"You actually believe her?" Jay gawked, sounding right then like Iago.
"I think we need to check it all out. We'll head toward Hell Hall first. I want to talk to Carlos," Mal decided. "My parents wanted me to check on him anyways to make sure he's fine after staying home alone for a couple days. You're coming with us, Evie."
Evie didn't argue with that. Something big was going down. Something had started, the night Carlos had turned on that machine. And against her better judgement, Evie wanted to see how it would end.
Guess what?
This story now has more views than "Maleficents' Weakness". To celebrate, there will be a new chapter on Friday, which will have Carlos standing up to his mother, who will then visit her friends in time to hear about the letter.