Earlier that same morning, Tess had woken up in a dim lit room. She could barely see anything. She tried to stand but she couldn't move. She felt a cold breeze brush up against her bare legs making her shiver a bit. Looking down, she noticed she was still in her nightgown. She was also tied down to a wooden chair, only her right arm was free.
Tess pushed against the ropes that bound her to the chair. She used her one free hand and tried to cross it over to her other hand. But being unable to turn her body so she could untie the knot made it a much more difficult task. No matter how much she reached, she just couldn't reach the knot.
Then the light suddenly turned on. She blinked as it blinded her vision. Once they adjusted, she took a note of her surroundings. She was sitting in front of a round table. It had an orange table cloth draped upon it, along with a deck of tarot cards. On the other side of the table, was a rather tall, comfortable looking chair. A pink curtain looked to enclose the aria she sat in.
"I see our guest is awake." Tess heard a man from behind her. He tilted her head up to see a dark skin man with a top hat that had a skull, loom over her. "Facilier's the name." He gave her a toothy grin.
"I know who you are. Now where's my sister?!" Tess asked with a stern face.
"Relax, your sister along with the others are perfectly fine." He spoke as he crossed over to the empty chair. Tess watched as his shadow pulled it out as he took a seat. He then grabbed the deck of cards and began shuffling them.
"What are you doing?" She asked with curiosity.
"Why, I thought you might like to see what your future holds. I think you'll find it to be persuasive." Facilier smiled as he faced out the deck. "Go on, just take 3."
Tess studies the deck. She wasn't sure what this man was getting at but decided to play along. So, with her free hand, she grabbed 3 cards from the middle of the deck, placing them on the table.
Facilier smiled as he shuffled the cards back into a deck placing them aside. He then picked up Tessa's. "The cards, the card, the cards will tell. The past." He placed the first card "the percent" he placed the second card "and the future as well." He placed the last card.
Tess watched as he flipped over the first card. It revealed a small town, the very same one she, Jess, and Jack called home. "Now, you young lady are from a small town. Doesn't seem to be very popular like it is today, hm?"
Tess rolled her eyes, she didn't really care for the small town. Once she was old enough, she was moving away from that god forsaken place. "Eh, It's never been a bucket list item. At Least not until the night you all came and ruined my life. After that the town grew in popularity. Everyone wanted to visit, it seemed everyone got a piece of popularity" She then sighed as her eyes drifted to her lap "except for me."
Facilier nodded as he flipped the next card. This one reveals a table that Jack, Jess, her, and Sarah sat around. Each had a piece of pie in front of them, exsept Tess. "It seems like everyone got a piece of the pie, everyone except for you."
Tess looked back up at the card. "Well ya, my mom was able to open a 5 star restaurant, my dad got an award and is chief of the police station, my twin sister and boyfriend became some of the most famous people on the planet just by flying with a Jedi and landing a school, and what do I get!" She was practically shouting at this point "a world where I'm forced to sit and watch as the people who were once there for me, slip away!" She slammed her free hand onto the table.
Facilier studied the girl for a moment before smiling. "What if I told you there was no need to feel like being a background character. What if we could give all the popularity and attention you want."
Tess raised a brow at his proposal. Could he really turn her life around? "Go on."
He flipped over the final card. "I see your future is just what you wanted, fame, popularity" he paused to emphasize "intimate power." He then pushed the card closer to her.
Tess studies the card carefully. It was her on the card, only it wasn't her. It was her dressed like a dark sorceress. She had a mixture of blue, purple, and red hair and wore a black robe with red trim held together with a belt. A sword in her right hand and a wand in her left. In the background were photographers trying to get her photo. It was just like she pictured, only without the magic wand and sword. She looked up at him and crossed her arm over her chest "What's the catch?"
Facilier raised a brow in confusion "whatever do you mean?"
"I know you villains, there's always a catch. Give me the details before I agree."
The shadow man cracked another toothy grin "clever one aren't you. Very well I'll give you the details. All we are asking is that you help us take over this kingdom. In exchange we give you what you desire." He then stuck out his right hand "do we have a deal?"
Tess studied the cards one last time. Was this the life she really wanted? 'Ofcouse, after all it was the life she once had, till little miss Jedi came along and ruined everything' tess through before looking up at the shadow man. "If what you're saying is true." She then grip his hand and shook it "then you guys just got yourself a new recruit."
"Exsilent." Facilier stated as he waved his other hand. The rope that once bounded her to the chair vanished. They both stood at the same time. "Follow me, I'll show you to your quarters."
Tess followed him as he left the room. He showed her to a long stone hallway. She had thought about running off, but decided against it. It would only get her in more trouble. But now she was getting something she wanted desperately now more than ever. No more standing in the background, watching her sister sign autographs, her boyfriend conduct another tv interview, then being stopped in the middle of the street for a photo where she was asked to take it. Yep things were finally gonna change for the better.
It wasn't long before they arrived at a wooden door. Facilier opened it, revealing a rather nice looking bedroom. The room was made of stone but the furniture was something out of a mansion. There was a wooden dresser, and a wooden chair with a desk in front of it. There was also a red leather chair with a small side table next to it and a circular red rug underneath it. Lastly there was a bed that looked fit for a queen. It had a red blanket with a variation of red pillows along the back.
"I hope this is to your liking?" He asked.
"You're kidding." Tess said with a smile and she stepped further in "this is way better than my room at home, we'll accept for the fact it's made of stone, but at least it's not a mess of fabrics."
"Then I'll let you settle in." He tipped his hat to her before leaving.
Tess took a seat in a fuzzy red chair. She was so happy with the new room, especially since it was red. She loved all things red, from roses, to carpets, to fabrics, always trying to incorporate red into everything. She smiled as she glanced around the room once more before noticing something on the bed.
She got up to see that on it layed the very same outfit that was on the card. But it came with a plain black shirt and leggings. Below it was a pair of red shimmery flats. Wanting to get out of this old nightgown she clocked around and saw another door, different from the one she entered. 'That must be a bathroom' she though. So she gathered up the outfit and flats and rushed to the bathroom.
Inside was just that, a bathroom. It was completed with a toilet, shower, sink, and mirror. It came with anything she might need, soap, hairbrush, toothbrush, deodorant,etc.
She dropped the clothes onto the ground and quickly chained. Looking in the mirror, she enjoyed her new look. The robe really brought out her popular side. But she still wondered if she had made the right choice. Was she really going to do this? Was this the path she was meant to take? "Of course." She said aloud "after what Sarah had done, running my life! Giving everyone a slice of pie except me! She deserves it." She sighed as she looked at herself "I just hope Jess and Jack can see where I'm coming from."
A knock at the bedroom door interrupted her. "Just a sec." Tess called out. Before leaving she took one last glacé at the mirror. "This time, I'll be the center of my own story." Again the knock became more rapid "coming!" Tess called again, a bit annoyed that the villains had no patience.
She exited the bathroom, crossing over to the bedroom door. She quickly opened it revealing a tall, green skinned fairy, "Maleficent!" She spoke in surprise. She backed up a bit in a defensive stance.
Maleficent merely smiled at the girl's defensive demeanor. "Goodmorning my dear, you must be Tess, correct?"
Tess nodded "what's it you want?"
"The questionable type as well." Maleficent murmured as she stepped closer "at least you look resourceful. Tell me, what's your opinion on the Jedi named Sarah?"
Tess rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms "her, she means nothing. All she did was ruin my life. I was the most popular kid in school growing up, not the mean kind but was able to put fear into those who dare cross my path. Then that lousy Jedi came along and I became second best. Lego years later you guys came along giving everyone else popularity but me, cause fighting off stormtroopers is just what everyone else did. I'm not a Jedi, or the girl who hid the key and blew up tie fighters, or the guy who landed a school from outer space!" Tess stopped her foot on the ground as she dug into her arms "I'll do anything to get back at her."
"And Popularity you shall have, but now why not start with a bit of revenge."
"That being?" Tess raised a brow.
"Your six-friend Sarah and the rest of those goodie two shoes characters all have something we desire, the key to the wishing star. The only problem is that the girl won't talk no matter how much pain we inflict on her. What we need is for you to play the good guy for a little bit longer, see if you can get them to spill the beans. Once we have that key we can finally take over this reached park for ourselves!" She let out a loud cackle.
"And once you have what you want, you'll give me my popularity and status back." Tess asked, she wanted to make sure she was still getting paid.
"Of course, we made a deal didn't we?" She gave her a smirk "you help us, we help you." Her eyes then narrowed on Tess "failure to do so and all the knowledge you gain will be lost, understand?"
Tess nodded "I understand."
A small cough from the door interrupted them. Maleficent rolled her eyes in annoyance as she turned. "What?" Tess peaked around her to see that it was jafar.
"You said you wanted to know when they were awake. Well they're awake." He spoke with annoyance.
"Exsilent." She then turned back to tess. "How do you feel about a chat with your sister and boyfriend? See if they know anything about that key to the wishing Star."
Tess simply shrugged "sure, why not."
"Good, jafar will escort you down." She then turned and left the room. Not before whispering something to him. He nodded as she walked by.
"We'll come along, I don't have all day." He spoke with annoyance as he gestured for Tess to follow, and she did. She followed him all the way to the cell, where she waited for her cue to enter. When she heard a snap, the pirate, who was standing guard, grabbed her and shoved her inside. And inside stood Jack and Jess, each surprised by Tessa's new look.