Sorry for the long break, but fear not! I fully intend to finish the story so keep your eyes peeled.
A big thank you to everyone who's been keeping up with the story and those that have only recently found out.
A review would mean a lot, I appreciate all feedback.
Don't be afraid to ask any questions, I always try to reply.
Enjoy!
Chapter 5: Deception
"You're gonna say it, aren't you?" Ben asked as he stared out over the seas surrounding History Island.
"What?" Archer replied, looking intently at Ben.
"That this is wrong? That you have a bad feeling about this?" Ben inquired, keeping his eyes on the horizon where the sun was nearly sinking into the ocean.
"I mean, ehm… I wasn't gonna say it… But yeah, that's pretty much what I was thinking…" Archer murmured, rubbing his hands.
"We need to do this… If not now, then when?" Ben retorted.
"Not a clue…" Archer pondered. "It still doesn't feel right though, to have the villains present themselves on a platter like this to us…"
"We took every possible measure to keep them here. There are soldiers posted all around the island and on the sea, we kept Fairy Godmother's arrival as discrete as possible and we even have a backup squad ready on the mainland." Ben listed.
"I know that, and I truly hope that it'll be enough." Archer nodded.
"The alternative for us is to keep fighting, something we can do as well." Ben shrugged.
"Yeah, but at what cost?" Archer sighed. "The people are already scared… Opinion on the villain kids is as low as it has ever been… We need for something good to happen…"
"So, let's make it happen today! Our best chance of success is if everyone's behind us." Ben said.
"They are…" Archer replied, looking back at the group of people gathered at the main square of History Island.
For the occasion, Ben and Archer had been joined by Mal, Evie, Carlos, Jay, CJ, Freddie, Lonnie, Jordan, Chad, Aden, Royce and Alex. All of them were dressed for an eventual fight and carried swords or other weaponry. They went to this meeting with high hopes, but it would have been stupid of them to not prepare for any worse outcomes.
"Not everyone though…" Ben mumbled, looking at Archer from the corner of his eye.
Archer kept quiet, though Ben did notice that he clenched his jaw somewhat.
"What happened with Lance? The guys say that you've been fighting, and he quite resolutely told me that he didn't want to join us today." Ben added.
"It's, ehm, personal…" Archer practically whispered, uncomfortably rubbing his hands.
"Still feels like something I should know…" Ben opted. "I mean, he's basically our most valued magic user. If there's anything I could do…"
"No." Archer answered quite brusquely. "This is between me and him and we both just need some time to sort things out."
Ben nodded slightly as he also bit his lip. He and Archer then just looked on towards the others, where Evie and Freddie were seemingly trying to teach Jordan some sword fighting moves. CJ stood a little off to the side, not far from Mal. Both of them had serious frowns on their faces and their eyes switched from the other people gathered before them to the entrance of the bridge connecting History Island to the rest of Auradon.
"Does it have anything to do with CJ?" Ben suddenly asked, causing Archer to jerk up his head.
"No comment…" Archer grunted.
"What did he say?" Ben went on, crossing his arms.
"None of your business." Archer replied.
"Well, I am king… I could just order you to tell me…" Ben shrugged.
"That'd be real low." Archer retorted, though he did crack a small smile.
They stayed in silence for a few minutes after that, still mostly looking in the direction of their friends.
"How are things between you two?" Ben suddenly asked.
"What?" Archer replied, blushing.
"You and CJ? You know? Your first real girlfriend?" Ben added, nudging his head a little.
"She doesn't want to put any labels on it yet…" Archer sighed.
"Ouch." Ben grinned.
"No, not because of me or anything… She just, ehm, wants to take it slow first… You know, because she only just arrived… And, ehm, she has also never dated on the isle…" Archer rambled.
"But you do want to try, right?" Ben asked.
"Of course." Archer answered, looking in CJ's direction. "I really like her."
"Well, that's clear for pretty much everyone to see." Ben shrugged.
"Pff, like you and Mal don't constantly stink up the place with your romance and cuddling and all…" Archer complained.
"Well, we are getting married…" Ben replied.
"Just keep throwing that in my face, why won't you…" Archer sneered.
"But you trust her, right?" Ben went on.
"Who? Mal?" Archer questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"No, CJ." Ben corrected.
"What? Of course." Archer said, squinting a little. "How come?"
"Something Solomon said…" Ben pondered.
"He lied." Archer hastily interjected. "He knows that CJ's with us and is just trying to bring us off our game by inciting some trust issues."
"That's what I thought as well." Ben nodded. "But I have the feeling that Mal began feeling some small doubts…"
"That's only logical, seeing as how difficult it was to convince her that CJ was good." Archer replied.
"You're not bothered by it, right?" Ben hesitantly asked.
"Nah, I'm not gonna let any feeble scuffle throw me off." Archer shrugged.
"Good, I'm really not up for any of that kind of drama." Ben snickered as he turned away from the setting sun and began walking back to their friends.
"What drama are we talking about now?" Mal spoke up when Ben and Archer were in range.
"It's nothing." Ben simply answered as he went to stand next to her and softly stroked her shoulder.
"Not anything we should focus on at least." Archer added as he crossed his arms and took a quick glance at CJ.
"Are you all okay?" Ben asked, looking at the two girls but also examining CJ's pale face a little more.
"The nerves aren't anything new." Mal mumbled. "There are just so many things that could go wrong…"
"We took every possible precaution." Ben tried to reassure her. "This isn't like your rescue mission on the isle or the fight in the woods, we're better prepared now."
"Still…" Mal moped.
"You don't have to be here." Ben told Mal. "The same goes for you." He then said to CJ.
"No, I'm not leaving!" Mal immediately reacted. "Everyone is here. I'm not just gonna abandon you all!"
"That's all up to you." Ben nodded, but his eyes were still on CJ.
"CJ, how are you feeling?" Archer asked, seemingly a little hesitantly.
"Like I'm gonna puke." CJ snorted.
Archer chuckled a little, but his eyes were still filled with pity. "You're safe. Just remember that."
"Easy for you to say." CJ sneered. "I bet that they hate me more than any of you at the moment."
"And yet they won't even be able to touch you." Archer reassured her.
"Definitely." Ben added. "CJ, you're with us now. We fight for our own."
CJ blushed a little at Ben's words, but only nodded slowly in response.
"Did that Solomon say a time when he'd arrive actually?" Archer suddenly inquired.
"No." Mal answered curtly. "I bet he just wants us to wait endlessly for him."
"He said a week. That week ends today." Ben jumped in.
"He might not show up." Archer said, eyeing CJ to see if she'd be happier with that outcome. "Really, neither of us stand to lose anything if we simply skip this meeting."
"What if we'll genuinely be able to negotiate some terms?" Ben asked.
"Not possible." CJ spoke up, causing everyone to look at her.
"What do you mean?" Ben inquired.
"I mean that Solomon will not negotiate. With him, he either gets what he wants, or he takes what he wants. There's no middle ground." CJ went on.
"Are you saying that we should just give up then?" Mal asked indignantly.
"No, I'm saying that we should end the bastard before he ends us." CJ retorted. "I have no intention of dealing with him for any longer than absolutely necessary."
"I think we all agree on that front." Archer nodded.
"We need to keep some form of hope as well." Ben joined in. "I have faith in a peaceful resolution."
"You'll get used to his energy eventually." Mal told CJ when she saw her disbelieving stare.
"You mean he's serious?" CJ questioned.
"I know. Sad, right?" Mal smirked.
"There's nothing wrong with optimism." Ben sighed. "I thought I'd finally managed to convince you of that?"
"In certain cases, maybe…" Mal shrugged. "At least this time you prepared for a negative outcome. God knows you've been more ignorant in the past."
"God knows indeed…" Archer added.
"Shouldn't we try to be nice to each other in times like these?" Ben complained.
"I'm not saying I don't love these tender qualities of yours." Archer told Ben in a joking tone.
"No complaints here either." Mal smiled, elbowing Ben softly in the side.
CJ rolled her eyes but didn't comment when Ben placed a soft kiss on Mal's head in return.
"Why are you all so relaxed?" CJ asked, crossing her arms more firmly.
"It's a coping mechanism." Archer answered. "But really, we are all as terrified as you are."
"I doubt that." CJ mumbled.
"We are, really." Ben jumped in. "But I realized a long time ago that you can't let fear rule your life. Worrying too much will get us nothing, so we keep it light."
"Even you?" CJ questioned, looking at Mal with a raised eyebrow.
"I know, hard to believe…" Mal smirked. "But I have to admit that they do help me relax."
"Well, I'm growing impatient." CJ pouted.
"So are we." Lonnie said as she approached the group.
"Ben, is this still gonna happen?" Jay joined in as more people approached him.
"I'm not really the deciding factor in that." Ben shrugged.
"Still, are we supposed to just stay here and walk about for the entire night?" Carlos asked.
"No, I'm not gonna waste our time here for any longer than necessary." Ben answered.
"That maniac has had all day to get here, why should we give him anymore time?" Aden questioned.
"Ben, I agree." Evie added. "Solomon has his reasons for everything and we could be playing right into him."
Ben crossed his arms and didn't respond right away. He had been plagued with doubts about even coming here from the very start, and now that Solomon hadn't shown up yet the doubts about staying here were only growing. Naturally, he didn't want to waste his or anyone of his friends' time so he also didn't want to stay here for any crazy amount of time.
Still, there were some substantial benefits if Solomon were to actually show up. Either they would get an opportunity to maybe negotiate some peaceful resolution or they would get an opportunity to capture their enemy.
"We wait for now, but this is his last and only shot. After this, no more chances, no more mercy." Ben announced.
Everyone, including Mal, seemed somewhat distraught by that last comment, but no one spoke up.
It was at that moment that there was a sudden flash at Ben's left, making everyone immediately turn their heads.
Out of actually thin air, Harry Hook appeared, blinking a little as he took in his surroundings and grinning widely when he saw the shocked faces of Ben, Mal and the others. His face still clearly showed the signs of the beating Ben had given him, with lashes and scars still visible on his cheeks. Other than that, his blue eyes still twinkles in an amused way.
"Greetings." He spoke, straightening up and dusting his coat as he took one step in their direction.
"Not another step!" Jay immediately hissed as he took out his sword and approached Harry.
"Hold your horses, I'm just a messenger." Harry replied, raising his hands defensively.
"Where is Solomon!?" Ben asked, stepping forward alongside Jay.
"At a safe distance." Harry answered casually. "If you'll allow me, I shall summon him and my allies."
Ben looked back at Mal and the others, who all nodded as they slowly spread out to form a better perimeter.
"Do it." Ben told Harry with a small nod.
Harry grinned as he reached into his jacket and grabbed a small vial. Without a word of explanation, he popped of the cork and immediately a green light shot up into the air and exploded in a spark that would have been visible from miles away.
"Now we wait." Harry said in a relaxed tone as he crossed his arms.
"How long?" Ben asked, feeling his heart beginning to pound faster.
"However long it takes." Harry shrugged, still grinning.
Ben tried to calm himself, but the intense hatred he felt for the person standing in front of him was still clearly present. Next to him, Mal appeared to be calm but Ben saw the fierce intensity in her eyes, indicating that she as well harbored some negative feelings towards their adversary.
Harry seemed calm, but Ben could only imagine how he could possibly feel about him or Mal. He had thus far not said anything about CJ, which could only indicate that he hadn't seen her yet. Looking back almost unnoticeably, Ben saw that both Archer and Alex kept her from view.
Ben stared at Archer questioningly, but he only shook his head slightly in response. Ben could easily believe that CJ was not particularly excited to see her brother, who did not only fight on the opposing side, but whose side she had also practically betrayed by joining Auradon.
"Is he planning on making a grand entrance or something?" Mal suddenly asked, causing Ben to wake from his thoughts.
"Dunno… Probably…" Harry mumbled, inspecting the large building and cobbled paths of History Island more closely.
"I still can't believe you and Uma ever even considered joining up with him." Mal went on, the disgust dripping off her voice.
"Ah, you know… Sometimes the end justifies the means, or whatever…" Harry practically whispered.
"You know he doesn't care about you or your plans." Freddie suddenly joined in. "He would throw you under the bus at any time if it suited him."
"Hey, the feeling's mutual." Harry shrugged. "It's not like we're planning on staying pals after we win the war."
"He'll kill you too, and Uma." Mal continued, her tone not changing.
"Do you think we'll let him!?" Harry snapped. "And wow, I would not have expected you of all people to care for our wellbeing, princess."
Mal glared at Harry, breathing audibly through her nose as she balled her fists. "You idiot!" She hissed.
"Traitor." Harry retorted.
Just when both Jay and Freddie wanted to reprimand Harry, another bright flash emerged behind Harry, this one much bigger than the previous. The light soon disappeared, and only a thin mist remained present, momentarily clouding the people that had just appeared.
"Long time no see." Solomon greeted as he stepped out of the cloud of mist.
Ben felt an immediate switch in tension as all of his associates directed their attention towards Solomon. Beside him, Royce reached for an arrow on his back but didn't grab one yet, Evie, Jay and Carlos had all notably stiffened, Lonnie looked at Solomon with more negativity than Ben had ever seen and Mal's eyes had briefly lit up in a bright green.
"Good to see you've come to your senses." Solomon continued, examining the place they were standing. "I knew you couldn't be all that dumb."
"So you're saying that meeting up with you is a smart idea?" Ben questioned.
"Of course, I proposed it." Solomon grinned.
"You're short a few people." Ben noted as he examined the group behind Solomon.
Aside from Harry, Ben only recognized Uma and Gil, the son of Gaston. Aside from those two, Ben saw a tall, skinny guy with dark hair, a girl with blueish green hair, a short-haired guy with a shotgun on his back and a tall guy with a smug expression. They were definitely with less than when they had fought in the woods the last time.
"What happened?" Jay joined in with Ben's teasing. "A mutiny? Did some of your people finally see you for what you really are?"
"I don't believe that's any of your business." Solomon grunted, his eyes flashing in annoyance.
"But we are so interested." Aden joked, twirling one of his knives between his fingers.
Solomon breathed in for a second as he stared daggers at Aden. "Well… I don't seem to be the only one missing people. Where's your wizard friend?"
"Who?" Ben genuinely asked.
"The skinny guy who packed a slightly better than average punch." Solomon added.
"He's not here." Ben answered curtly.
"And what about your new recruit?" Solomon continued.
"What?" Both Ben and Mal exclaimed.
"Where's CJ?" Solomon asked straight to the point.
Before Ben and Mal had a chance to do anything more than simply stare at each other in shock, Harry already spoke up.
"She's not with them!" He hissed, glaring at Solomon.
"Harry!" Uma snapped.
"No! He's been shitting on her for far too long! CJ is not a rat! She would never join up with them!" Harry ranted.
"Harry!" A voice from behind Ben yelled. Before he could turn around, CJ already brushed past him so she could stand in full view of her former accomplices.
"CJ!?" Harry exclaimed in pure shock while the rest of the villains simply scowled at her.
"Harry, enough of this!" CJ resolutely said.
"What are you doing here, with them!?" Harry asked, taking a few large steps in his sister's direction.
"I-" CJ began, before Harry already interrupted her.
"Are they holding you hostage or something? Are they holding you against your will?" He stammered, his eyes getting big with worry.
"Harry! I am with them now!" CJ stated, her nostrils flared.
Harry looked absolutely dumb-founded, staring in between CJ and the people behind her. "Y-you can't be serious…" He stuttered.
"I am serious!" CJ grunted. "Harry, I want nothing to do with you and them! I am here to stop you from hurting anyone."
"You are talking nonsense!" Harry roared, growing red with anger. "Don't say this! Don't be like this!"
"Harry, I'm finally happy!" CJ said in a pleading tone. "Don't you want me to be happy!?"
"Not with them!" Harry sneered. "You come back here, right now!"
"I don't have to do what you tell me to do!" CJ practically screamed. "I don't want to be a villain anymore!"
"Don't be stupid!" Harry raged, his eyes bulging as he took another step towards CJ.
"Don't call me stupid!" CJ snapped.
Ben wanted to intervene, and so did Solomon judging from his annoyed expression. Archer, meanwhile, kept close to CJ, his eyes suspiciously lingering on Harry.
"I'm warning you for the last time, CJ! Don't-" Harry began.
"No!" CJ interrupted him. "Harry, I'm warning you! I am with Auradon now and we will win this war!" CJ practically threatened.
"You would go against me!?" Harry puffed, looking like he was about to explode.
"Only if you force me to." CJ replied in a more compassionate tone. "Harry, it's not too late…"
"You're delusional." Uma suddenly spoke up, appearing behind Harry. "Don't listen to her Harry, she's a traitor."
"No, don't listen to her!" CJ pleaded. "There's more to life than being a villain."
Harry looked between CJ and Uma, momentarily looking confused. Still, he eventually turned to CJ again, staring daggers at her. "Y-you… You… I did everything for you… I tried to help you…"
"You only ever helped yourself." CJ spat, immediately turning sour.
"You ungrateful brat!" Harry yelled, storming at CJ.
Archer reacted, jumping in front of CJ to protect her. For a few seconds he faced off against Harry, who appeared as though he contemplated about whether or not to attack him. Archer didn't give an inch, his steely blue eyes looking for any signs of danger.
"Uma, call off your dog." Solomon suddenly ordered, seeming almost amused as he examined the scuffle.
"Harry!" Uma hissed, gesturing for her first mate to return to her.
Harry looked over at CJ one more time, both agitated and a little hopeful. CJ only stared back rebelliously, no compassion present on her face. With a final scoff, Harry turned around and stomped back to his allies, who all glared somewhat uneasily between the groups.
"Family drama, there's nothing quite like it…" Solomon smirked.
"Enough of this." Ben said with authority. "I did not come here to waste time, so we need to negotiate."
"How fun…" Uma sneered. "More talking…"
"Talking is what we're meant to do! Talking is what will help us reach peace!" Ben barked.
Solomon spat on the ground, grinning evilly. "There's your peace. I don't care about what you have to say! I care only about your surrender!"
Ben carefully breathed in. "What are you trying to achieve? Why are you here?"
"When you have the means, you do not always need a reason…" Solomon grinned.
"Freaking psychopath!" Mal snapped.
"And you are a pansy, spineless weakling." Solomon retorted.
Ben felt himself grow red in anger. His hands started shaking at hearing Solomon's words. "Are you simply here to insult me, insult us?"
"Maybe, if you are stupid enough to refrain from giving me what I want." Solomon sneered.
"Do you actually know what the word negotiation means?" Archer suddenly spoke up as he left CJ's side and joined Ben's.
"I do. I also know what an ultimatum is." Solomon replied. "So, either you give me what I want, or I shall take it… Violently…"
"Your threats don't scare us! You bark away and the bite always disappoints." Mal scoffed before Ben could speak up. "You seriously can't be so empty-headed as to expect us to simply roll over."
"You would do so, if you know what's best for you!" Solomon grunted, his face scrunching up in anger at Mal's insults.
"What's best for us and Auradon is you leaving!" Ben retorted.
"Preferably with your tail between your legs." Jay added.
"And what about my aspirations then?" Solomon asked with mock concern. "You truly do have a lot in this wretched place… A lot that I want…"
"And what could we give you so that you'd make a hasty retreat?" Ben questioned.
"Everything…" Solomon answered. "Everything…"
"A tough offer…" Archer mumbled, audibly breathing out.
"An impossible offer." Ben added. "With little room for bargaining it seems."
"Merely a strong position on my part I believe." Solomon said, most amusement having disappeared from his face.
"He's thick as pig shit." Jay spat. "We should not listen to him anymore."
"No, please… I enjoy this…" Solomon spoke in a bored tone.
"Last chance!" Ben barked, almost startling himself. "I will either have your surrender or an agreement for a peaceful solution!"
"You will have my blade through your heart and a hole in the ground." Solomon retorted, leaving any signs of previously feigned tranquility.
This was the sign where everyone on Auradon's side had been waiting for. Everyone pulled out their swords or other weapons. Royce knocked an arrow onto his bow and aimed it straight at Solomon while Archer unsheathed Excalibur and took a fighting stance.
"Oh, I appeared to have hit a soft spot." Solomon grinned as he retreated back a few steps. Beside him, his allies pulled out their own weapons.
"You wasted your last chance!" Ben yelled as he and his friends slowly advanced. "Now come peacefully or there will be violence."
"Now… Seeing as I appear to be outnumbered… I don't very much feel like sticking around for much longer…" Solomon announced as he and his allies retreated even further, keeping a tight perimeter.
"Let's go." Uma snapped, keeping her eyes on Mal.
"Very well." Solomon replied before grabbing a small vial out of his pocket, after which the other villains did the same.
"I wouldn't try that." Archer warned as he kept moving forward.
"And I appreciate your council." Solomon sneered before raising the vial above his head and throwing it to the ground.
The other villains also threw their vials down. Instead of the villains disappearing in a bright flash though, the vials simply shattered in an anticlimactic crash. Solomon and the villains looked down at the broken glass at their feet in complete shock and surprise.
"Wha-?" Uma mumbled as she looked around in utter bewilderment.
Solomon appeared similarly flustered and only looked between the remains of the vials and Ben and his allies, who were still approaching. "You…" He muttered.
"You didn't honestly think we'd just let you leave, did you?" Ben said with a bit of a smirk as he also raised his sword.
"How?" Solomon asked in a bit of a shocked tone, also reaching for the blades around his waist.
"Some friends." Ben replied.
At that moment, the heavy doors of the museum of History Island swung open, revealing a whole company of Auradon officials, carrying spears and shields, with Fairy Godmother in the middle. She had her wand raised and her usually calm and friendly face scrunched up in anger.
The villains were forced to retreat from the door, shocked at how they were now completely surrounded by their enemies. Ben's allies were advancing from all sides, closing them in.
"Surrender! You have no way out!" Ben ordered, looking intently at Mal, who was advancing by his side.
"Solomon!" Uma hissed, looking around in somewhat of a panic.
Solomon, meanwhile, was still glaring mainly at Ben, drops of sweat developing on his forehead. "Magic… M-magic…" He mumbled.
"Your magic won't work here anymore! You are trapped! Now, surrender!" Ben demanded.
"Solomon!" Uma hissed again as she fumbled with her necklace.
"W-what did you do?" Solomon stammered, his voice shaking as he directed himself at Ben.
"A barrier, just like the one on the isle." Ben explained. "You are powerless here and you cannot escape!"
Solomon's eyes suddenly gleamed as he stiffened. "You tricked us…"
"Hurts, doesn't it?" Jay teased.
"Give up! You don't 'have' to die!" Mal threatened.
Ben briefly glanced at her, a little shaken by her outburst, but quickly focused on the cornered villains again. "You don't want to make her mad…" He said with a nod towards Mal.
"You don't frighten me!" Solomon retorted. "You don't know what you're dealing with…"
"Now, now…" Fairy Godmother suddenly said, waving her wand. "Things have already gone a little out of hand… So, how about we simply lay down our swords and we can end this silly feud."
"Jeez, who invited the old bat?" Uma sneered.
"They're not the talkative type, Fairy Godmother." Lonnie told her, keeping her eyes mostly on Uma.
"We have you surrounded! You have no magic! You have no choice but to give up!" Ben ranted.
"You said that you placed on in a barrier just like the one on the isle…" Solomon inquired.
"Right, so no magic…" Ben replied.
"No magic for you, you mean!" Solomon grunted, raising his arms with his hands open wide.
All of the sudden, the ground started shaking like an earthquake and cracks in the ground appeared all around Solomon. Ben and his allies stumbled on the moving ground, trying to keep their footing and their weapons aimed at their enemies. Wind suddenly started blowing as well, as if a hurricane had come out of nowhere. Fairy Godmother nearly fell, but was kept upright by the surrounding soldiers. Everyone screamed and shouted, it was complete panic.
The villains appeared to also have no idea what was happening, judging from their wide-eyed faces and the way in which they broke formation in an attempt to keep their balance. Still, they soon looked around with more of a sense of intrigue as they realized that it was Solomon's intent to cause all this mayhem.
Around him, and above him, Ben saw what appeared to be some sort of transparent dome flickering against the backdrop of the dark night sky. The barrier that Fairy Godmother had conjured up wasn't working correctly and it felt as though there was a continuous shift in temperature around them.
The shaking continued as Solomon raised his hands even higher, visible cracks appearing in the ever flickering barrier around them.
"Ben!" Someone behind him yelled.
Ben immediately turned around, only to find Archer, CJ and Alex on hands and knees, having lost their balance.
"Ben, what do we do!?" Archer practically screamed.
Ben's mind was in a whirl though, as everything around him had erupted into chaos in mere seconds. All around, he saw his friends stumbling, tripping and backing away from the increasingly dangerous area surrounding Solomon.
"M-mal!" Ben stammered, taking a few wobbly steps back as dangerously hard gusts of wind nearly blew him off his feet. "Mal!" He could not see her… Dust and dirt flew around, clouding Ben's vision enough to not be able to distinguish anything in front of him.
Vague shadows danced around him, the flickering of the barrier almost seeming like thunder, the wind howled and the cracks in the ground grew wider as the shaking became more vigorous.
A sudden blast came from Ben's left, blowing away all the dust and revealing the scene in front of him. The earth stopped shaking and the people sprawled about on the ground became visible.
Aside from his friends and foes, who all seemed flustered and confused, one figure stood tall and advanced on the villains who were again on the retreat.
Fairy Godmother, wand raised and pointed straight at their adversaries, slowly moved forward. Her hair looked unkept and there was dirt on her face and clothes, but she nonetheless stepped on, looking quite fierce as she forced Solomon's dark magic back.
"You are trespassing on Auradon soil, I will have no more of it!" She yelled, resolutely sending waves of magic at Solomon, who trembled and stumbled as he was forced to retreat.
"Ben!" Someone beside him yelled.
Ben looked back to see Mal, kneeling on the ground but seemingly unhurt.
"Mal! Are you alright?" He asked.
"Y-yes…" Mal replied as she looked over at the intense magical battle which was still raging. "Should we help her?"
"She, ehm, appears to be doing just fine…" Ben mumbled as he helped her up.
Fairy Godmother was still using her magic, bright sparks flying from her wand and creating a shiny, transparent wall between herself and Solomon. Uma, Harry and the other villains held out their weapons in a vain attempt to somehow shield themselves.
Around them, their friends and allies stood back upright, watching on in awe. Still, though the tide appeared to be turning, no one really knew what to do as they simply looked on with their weapons held loosely in their hands.
The magic battle began to get fierce again as Solomon regained his footing and fought Fairy Godmother inch for inch. The magical wall in between the two started pulsating, sending blasts of pure magical energy in every direction.
"What is she doing?" Ben asked over the roaring of the spells being cast.
"She's trying to encapsulate him in another barrier." Mal answered, staring open-mouthed.
"C-can we help her?" Ben questioned.
At that moment, a bolt of lightning sprung from the magical barrier and practically blasted a hole near Ben and Mal's feet, causing them to move back a few steps. Everyone around them had already taken cover as more and more blasts of magic erupted from the duel and caused havoc around them.
Ben quickly ushered Mal away from the fight, behind a small wall where Evie and Carlos were already taking shelter.
"Mal! Ben! What is she doing!?" Carlos yelled over the crashing sounds of the battle.
"Is she winning?" Evie added, shielding her head from flying debris.
"We don't know!" Mal shouted as the roaring of the magical battle became even louder.
"We need to get out of here! It's not safe!" Ben roared, looking around only to see all his allies on the retreat.
"After you." Carlos nodded as they tried to stay as low to the ground as possible.
In front of him, Ben saw Archer, CJ and a handful of soldiers, all taking cover and heading towards the bridge as fast as possible. When Ben looked back at the battle, he saw to his shock how Solomon had managed to conjure up some sort of black smoke which he fired in Fairy Godmother's direction. Fairy Godmother, in return, looked to be on the defensive, her wand trembling in her outstretched arm.
"Mal!?" Ben called out in alarm.
"Oh my god…" Mal gasped when she saw what was happening.
"Help her… Mal, you have to help her!" Ben said in a pleading tone.
"Stand back." Mal warned as she stepped out of their cover and took a deep breath.
Her eyes suddenly glowed a bright green as Mal spread her arms. Ben looked on in complete awe as the first wisps of purple smoke began to appear around Mal, and he knew what was happening…
Before Mal could make any progress with her transformation, the ground shook and everyone was blown back by a huge explosion erupting from the place where Fairy Godmother had been dueling with Solomon.
Ben watched on helplessly as Mal was flung back. He made a desperate attempt to catch her, but she flew past him and hit the ground hard. "Mal!" He screamed in a panic as a cloud of dust once again settled in, obscuring his sight.
Everything was almost terrifyingly silent, the deafening sound of the magical battle having rapidly faded away. Ben looked back at the place where the duel had taken place, where smoke and dust rapidly disappeared to reveal the villains standing in a completely desolate spot of destruction.
Solomon was also still standing, smoke rising from him as if he was burning. The others were still silent, looking over the battlefield as if they still weren't sure if it was all over. Looking back even further, Ben was shocked to see Fairy Godmother on her back, obviously having been flung back with great force. She was not moving, and her eyes were closed.
"You made a great mistake!" Solomon barked, making Ben jerk up his head to look at him. "You have no idea what's coming for you!"
Ben was frozen in place, taking heaving breaths as he felt fear and anger course through his body.
Solomon raised his arm and a rain of red sparks shot into the air and exploded above them all, illuminating them for a second.
"We'll see you on the battlefield, Beasty Boy." Uma cackled, grinning widely as he examined Ben before stepping back to join the other villains.
"Play time's over." Solomon grunted as he reached into his pockets and retrieved yet another vial of clear liquid.
"No!" Ben yelled as he tightly grabbed his sword and stormed at his enemies.
The villains looked semi-amused but also apprehensive as they all grabbed their respective potions and threw them to the ground as one. This time, the glass spattered and a cloud of bright, white smoke engulfed the villains. Ben charged straight into the cloud with a scream but found no one in his path. The smoke disappeared almost instantly, again giving Ben a clear view of the battlefield.
The villains had disappeared, to where Ben did not know. He spun around, hoping desperately and against better knowledge that they were still somehow present. He was thus startled when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Ben! Jesus!" Jay exclaimed as he retracted his hand. "They're gone, Ben… They're gone…"
"Dammit!" Ben shouted at no one in particular.
"Ben!" Someone else yelled.
He looked back, to see a few people crowded around the still grounded Fairy Godmother. Ben hurried over to the group, Jay right behind him. "I-is she… Is she…" He stammered, the thoughts in his head too terrible to voice aloud.
"She's alive…" Alex mumbled as he felt Fairy Godmother's pulse and raised her head a little. "But unconscious…"
"What happened?" Jay asked.
"How the hell should we know?" Royce spat. "A freaking explosion that was… She got thrown back… A nasty fall…"
"That magic they used, it was unlike anything I've ever seen…" Jordan spoke up in a somewhat fearful tone as she kneeled down next to Fairy Godmother as well.
"Call emergency services! We need to have her brought to a hospital right away!" Ben urged, and some of the soldiers surrounding him ran off to do so immediately.
"They're gone, aren't they?" Someone asked from behind Ben.
He turned around and looked straight into the eyes of Archer, who had an all too serious look in his eyes.
"Yes, they've disappeared… Again…" Ben lamented.
"How is she?" Archer added, looking over Ben's shoulder.
"Unconscious, but alive… Emergency services are already being summoned." Ben answered.
"Right…" Archer mumbled. "You should check on Mal by the way…"
"What!? Where is she!?" Ben immediately called out in a panic.
"S-she's right back there… A little dazed, but unhurt." Archer quickly replied.
Ben turned his back on Fairy Godmother and the people around her and ran over to the people on the other side of the square and looked for anything purple. He quickly discovered Mal, sitting down with Evie pressing a cloth against her head.
"Mal! Are you hurt!?" Ben asked as he ran over and kneeled down next to her.
"I'm fine…" Mal mumbled with a grimace.
"She hit her head, nothing major." Evie added, easing Ben's mind a little.
"Fairy Godmother?" Mal then inquired, looking over at the other group of people opposite of her.
"Unconscious, but alive. We have no idea what's happened to her." Ben told Mal and the other people in the near vicinity.
"Is anyone else hurt?" Evie asked.
"Not sure, don't think so though…" Ben mumbled in response.
"Solomon buggered off again, didn't he?" Freddie questioned as he walked up to them and also looked down at Mal with some worry.
"Fucking prick." Mal winced as Evie pressed the cloth against her head again.
"He fled… He's a coward…" Ben grunted, trying to mask his anger. "Mal, did you see what magic he was using?"
"Dark magic." Mal immediately answered. "Powerful as well, to be able to combat the magic of the wand and cause an explosion like that… Damn, I was about to transform as well…"
"Don't you dare blame yourself, and you as well!" Evie urged them. "We knew that it'd be dangerous…"
"The past is past…" Carlos added, joining them as well. "No need to concern ourselves with what happened… What are we going to do now?"
"We go back to our old plan and hunt them down. We found their hideout once and we can do it again." Ben explained in a somewhat steely tone.
"Great, and next time I shall squish that snake Solomon the second I see him!" Mal grunted as she got back to her feet, supported by Evie.
"We need to transport Fairy Godmother and then reconvene at Auradon City. The other rulers will want to know what's transpired." Ben announced to no one in particular.
"Then we'll go after Solomon again, right?" Freddie inquired. "They had those vanishing potions, surely they have some crazy hideout again…"
"Hey, did anyone else see that red spark Solomon shot up into the sky?" Carlos suddenly spoke up.
"Yeah…" Ben and the others all replied.
"What was that? A signal or something?" Carlos contemplated. "If so, then to whom?"
"No one, his whole crew was here, right?" Ben offered. "But it had to have been something…"
"Who could have seen that spark? Who was he trying to reach?" Evie asked.
"Nearly everyone along the coast or at sea… I mean, from this point you can even see…" Ben suddenly stopped talking and turned around to look at the edge of the island, with the coast underneath it.
"Ben? What's wrong?" Mal asked, looking a little worried.
"You can see the isle from here!" Ben grunted as he ran for the edge of the square to look over the broad, dark sea surrounding Auradon.
Beside him, he felt how Mal, Archer and numerous others joined him. Squinting in the near darkness, Ben could not really make out anything particular on the water.
"M-maybe you're mistaken?" Carlos offered.
Just then, the clouds drifted away from the moon and the scene around Ben and on the water was suddenly illuminated by the pale light.
Everyone, including Ben, gasped as they were now able to see what transpired on the sea. Around the isle, where fires appeared as tiny specks of light in the distance, there were ships…
Dozens of ships…
All headed for in one direction…
Auradon…