Hello everyone, and welcome to my brand new story - Descendants: Paint it Red!

IMPORTANT!

This story follows the events of my A Descendants Story trilogy. I would urge you to read the entire trilogy before commencing with this story.

If you happen to be pressed for time, I have added a short summary of the trilogy on my page as well, fittingly titled: A Descendants Story: Summary.

The following story features plot elements and characters from both Descendants 3 and Descendants: The Rise of Red.

A big thank you to everyone who is giving my stories a read.

A review would mean a lot, I appreciate all feedback and thrive on words of affirmation.

Don't be afraid to leave any comments or questions, I always try to reply.

Enjoy!

Chapter 1: Life's Gifts

CJ Hook let out an exasperated, but satisfied groan as she staggered into her room after having lazily kicked the door open. She was tired and a little cranky. She tossed the bag containing her Swords and Shields uniform and some practice swords into a corner before stretching her arms above her head, hearing her shoulders crack. It was late in the afternoon, and today had been the last S.A.S. practice of the schoolyear. Since there were no more matches coming up, the session had been laid-back and leisurely. Still, CJ had not let any of her teammates tag her even once. She always remained competitive.

It was a little over a year since Ben and Mal's wedding, and CJ was still acclimatizing to life in Auradon. Her story was very unconventional, even for villain kid standards. As the daughter of the notorious Captain Hook, she had gone from an outcast with no friends and no future back on the Isle of the Lost, to a somewhat regular student who was dating one of the most dashing princes in the kingdom here in Auradon. Memories of her time on the Isle, during her youth, and the war against Solomon, her formerly hated ally turned despised enemy, still haunted her, but months of therapy had been terrifically helpful.

She kept stretching her worn out muscles as she took a glance in the mirror next to her open wardrobe. Her time in Auradon had done CJ good. Before, she had been pale and scrawny, with spindly limbs and a nest of tangled hair. Now, since she went out in the sun more often and ate multiple good meals each day, she had grown more tan and filled out a little. Her hair, with the help of the shampoo Auradon so kindly provided, now always shone brightly.

Not everything had changed though. She was still short, she still always wore her hair in a braid, and barely a week ever went by where CJ did not receive a tap on the wrist for acting snarky or disrespectful, be it accidental or on purpose.

She looked around a little more. Her bed was unmade. Books were piled together chaotically on the shelves of her cabinets. The assortment of swords she had hung up on her wall were largely askew. In short, her room was a mess.

The standard junk on the floor, which CJ had always been too lazy for to throw away, had now been added onto by a number of open bags, boxes and suitcases, all strewn about randomly. Whichever items did not adorn the floor in messy clumps had been haphazardly packed into these containers. On the one hand, CJ felt terrifically annoyed at the prospect of having to organize all her stuff. On the other, the reason why she was packing up all her things was just about the most exciting thing to have ever happened to her.

In only a week, she would be leaving Auradon Prep.

She hadn't been expelled. No. It was the end of the schoolyear, CJ's first complete one in Auradon. She was a senior, and had surprised herself by actually managing to graduate. Sure, her grades weren't anything to write home about, but she had excelled in physical education, particularly S.A.S., attracting interest from several Auradon universities.

She had already made her choice. Sherwood University was renowned for producing some of the finest swordsmen in the professional Swords and Shields scene. This was but one of the two main reasons why CJ had opted to enroll there. The second, and the biggest, was that Sherwood University lay only about a two-hour drive away from Camelot, where Archer was.

The past year had been difficult at times for CJ, and even more so without Archer there to support her in person. CJ had barely realized how attached she'd grown to him during their time together. Sure, she had known that she loved him for a while now, but she now knew that she had taken his presence for granted.

They had spent virtually every second together ever since their fateful trip down the mountains, when Archer had convinced CJ to come to Auradon. Be it at school, in the armed forces or on vacation, Archer had always been right beside her, which had come in really handy. At the start of the past schoolyear, however, CJ had remained in Auradon Prep, while Archer had returned to his home in Camelot in order to prepare to someday rule over his parents' kingdom.

He had still visited Auradon Prep and CJ many times, and the two spoke on the phone at least once every day when they weren't together. CJ still wanted more, which was why she was ecstatic to go somewhere where she would be much closer to him.

That wasn't to say she was all alone the past year. No, CJ was proud to say she had an abundance of friends. Prime among them was naturally Freddie Facilier. They had already been best friends back on the Isle, but they had gotten even closer in Auradon. They had all their classes together, and had driven most teachers halfway towards insanity with all their antics. Then there were Carlos and Jane, other seniors whom CJ had grown closer to over the past year. Aside from them, CJ had spent a lot of time with her S.A.S. team, having become one of the most popular and well-regarded junior fighters in all of Auradon. Her performances in the arena, which had been a crucial factor in Auradon Prep retaining the undefeated streak established by the golden team featuring Archer, Jay and Lonnie, had earned her much admiration from fellow students.

CJ looked over at her desk. The wall behind it was filled to the brim with polaroids she had hung up. Most of them were of herself and Freddie, taken during the past year whenever they had hung out together. Back on the Isle, CJ had never had any possessions to display or any pictures taken. The only image of her had been a family portrait painted by an artistic goblin that her father had once commissioned. She had always hated that painting.

Now, with her own room and plenty of space to decorate, she had made it her goal to make up for everything she did not have back on the Isle. Aside from the polaroids, CJ's desk practically served as a platform to display her favorite pictures and other such clippings.

The left side of the desk was completely dedicated to Swords and Shields. Front and center stood a large framed picture of CJ and her team that had been taken right before their very first match. Another picture displayed CJ taking on three members of the Seaside Swordfish in what many consider her finest performance of the entire year. At the very back stood the trophy CJ had been awarded as the season's most valuable player (MVP), which she now counted as one of her most prized possessions. The wall behind these pictures was decorated with snippets from articles discussing CJ's matches, as well as about a dozen more medals she had earned over the past year.

The other side of the desk was dedicated to those she held dear. The largest picture, also with the most richly adorned frame, was the group photo taken during Ben and Mal's wedding at the steps of the Auradon Cathedral. It had been a present from Ben and Mal which CJ very much appreciated. She counted every person on that photo as a friend or loved one, and it was nice to see them all together. Another prominent picture was one of her and Archer during Castlecoming, a dance held earlier in the schoolyear. CJ was wearing her favorite red dress and was smiling brightly, looking lovingly into his eyes.

Off to the side stood a picture of her and Harry, her brother, which had been taken only a little over a month ago back on the Isle. The Isle, while still grimy, dirty and chaotic, had undergone a notable transformation since Harry had taken charge and actually tried to make things better. CJ had tried to visit her brother at least once a month over the past year. This particular picture had been taken on a specific day when Harry had invited CJ to attend the opening of the Isle's first ever clinic, with the siblings smiling and standing arm in arm.

The rest of the pictures were smaller. These had mostly been taken during last summer, when CJ had spent the entire vacation with Archer and her friends. These were some of her favorites to reminisce about. There was one of her and Archer siting on a tree branch. Another where they were looking over a cliffside alongside Freddie and her little sister, Celia. One of the entire friend group swimming in one of Camelot Heights' many gorgeous creeks. One of CJ's first ever time sitting on a horse, highlighting her freaked out expression. The one furthest to the right was another simple one of her and Archer, lying on their backs in a peaceful meadow.

CJ smiled to herself as she thought back on the summer vacation, particularly Archer's interactions with the kids. He had never had any siblings, and had loved to dote on and goof off with the younger relatives of his friends. He and Celia had been practically attached at the hip whenever they'd go on a hike. He had spent hours playing all sorts of games with Doug's many cousins. Chloe Charming, younger sister of Chad, had always demanded his attention whenever she was present, and Archer had often gracefully granted it.

CJ looked over every picture, including the polaroids on the wall. She would have to pack up every single one, only to later again unpack them when she would arrive at her dorm at Sherwood University.

Laziness took over, and CJ decided there was not enough of a rush yet for her to start stressing about last-minute packing. She instead plopped down on the comfy chair closest to her bed and took out her phone. She started checking the transfer rumors about some professional S.A.S. players, but also wasn't really trying her best to pay attention to what she read.

Tomorrow was another big day, and CJ was awash with giddy excitement.

The final week of the schoolyear would also service as an introductory period for new students, who would check out the dorms, attend a few classes and familiarize themselves with the grounds and extracurriculars. This week would start off tomorrow with a grandiose introduction ceremony, which a lot of parents and other associates would be attending as well.

There were multiple reasons why CJ was actually looking forward to this day. One, because Celia Facilier was one of the new students who would be attending Auradon Prep. Second, because most of her friends who had already graduated from Auradon Prep would return to celebrate the introduction ceremony. Last, and most definitely not least, Archer would also be coming back after he and CJ had not seen each other in over six weeks, which to her felt like an eternity.

She had circled the date on her worn-out calendar. She just simply could not wait. There wasn't a lot left unsaid between them, since they did still talk every day, but she just wanted to see him… Hold him… Smell him… Do, ehm, other things to him…

CJ leaned back in her seat. Now that tomorrow was right around the corner, she grew more impatient than ever. She looked down at her phone background, which was a selfie of her and Archer pulling funny faces. She smiled as she dialed his number.

No answer.

CJ frowned. She could not remember the last time Archer had not picked up one of her calls.

She texted him. She saw the little sprinkles of fairy dust at the bottom of the screen, indicating that Archer had read her message. Yet he did not answer. CJ considered that he might be in a meeting of some sort, and maybe just couldn't answer her right this second.

She shrugged and reached for her headphones, thinking she could spend her time listening to some music before dinnertime.

There was a knock at her door.

"What?" CJ called out, not even bothering to look back at the door. She tried thinking of who it could be. Freddie maybe? Though she had told CJ that she would spend the day getting her room ready for Celia's arrival tomorrow. It could be Carlos? Or a teacher?

The door opened. "Is this a bad time?" A deep voice asked.

CJ's head whipped around with such force that she smacked herself in the face with her braid.

There, in the door opening, stood Archer.

Without saying a word, CJ leapt up, bounced over her bed and jumped straight at Archer, who had to drop the two bags he had been carrying in order to catch her. CJ squealed in delight as she nearly slammed him off his feet. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snaked her legs around his waist as she brought her face closer to him and kissed him right on the lips.

Archer stumbled a little following their collision, but quickly reciprocated her feelings and kissed her back. He straightened up, holding her tight against him. CJ felt the familiar tingling sensation in her head and stomach – the one she had come to associate with true love's kiss.

After what had to be over a minute, she finally pulled back a little and looked her boyfriend over. Archer stared at her with those incredible blue eyes of his and smiled broadly. His hair was shorter than when CJ had last seen him, though he apparently still could not get it to stay down.

"What are you doing here?" CJ squeaked, still clinging to him.

Archer pulled up an eyebrow. "What? Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Yes! Of course I am! But I thought you would come back tomorrow…"

"Wel… I wanted to surprise you… Business back in Camelot is a little boring at the moment, so I took a day off and came here early."

"So that's why you didn't pick up your phone…" CJ grinned, her hands playing with his collar.

"I was literally entering the building when you called. I freaked out. I thought you spotted me. That would've ruined the surprise." Archer sighed, his eyes sparkling.

"It's a great surprise." CJ leaned back in to start kissing him again. Archer walked a little further into her room and kicked the door closed behind him on the way.

CJ couldn't help herself. Even though she had been mentally preparing herself to see Archer again in only a day, this unexpected visit made her heart flutter. The two made their way over to her bed, still with Archer carrying CJ.

"Do you want to talk first?" Archer inquired, pulling back momentarily.

"No." CJ answered brusquely as she swiveled and threw Archer down onto her mattress.

A short while later, the two found themselves red-faced and panting as they stared up at the ceiling. CJ cuddled up closer to Archer, her hand caressing his stomach.

"I've missed you…" She muttered as she traced one the many scars that adorned his skin.

"Right back at you." Archer's breathing slowly steadied as he put an arm around her and held her tight. "But this was the last time we had to be apart… When you attend Sherwood, I can come visit you every day if you want…"

CJ smiled at the thought. "That sounds nice, but it won't be necessary. Don't get me wrong, I'd love having you close by, but I still need to be my own person, Archer…"

Archer shrugged. He did not seem hurt or disappointed. "Fair."

"That doesn't mean I don't want to keep seeing you as much as I want…" CJ said as she reached up to stroke his jawline. "Don't forget that I love you, Archer…"

Archer smirked as he pulled her into another kiss.

If it were up to CJ, the two of them would remain like that until the introduction ceremony the next day. Now, she realized that this wasn't feasible, but it was still a nice thought.

Another knock at the door.

CJ's eyes widened. Archer's did as well.

"Uhh… Not now…" CJ stammered as they hastily threw the covers off and scrambled to put all their clothes back on.

"CJ… I just need a moment…" Freddie's voice said from the other side of the door.

"Just a sec!" CJ snapped as she tried to step into her jeans with two legs at once. Next to her, Archer was struggling to button his shirt.

"I'll be in and out." Freddie went on as she opened the door.

CJ quickly wrapped a blanket around her shoulders to cover up a little, while Archer tried to unsuccessfully hide behind one of her bed posts.

Freddie's mouth dropped as soon as she entered. She quickly glanced over the scene, taking note of both CJ and Archer standing with their backs turned towards her. CJ had only managed to pull her jeans up to her thighs, while Archer remained completely pantless, only wearing his underwear and chaotically buttoned-up shirt.

"Oh my god!" Freddie cried out as she put a hand in front of her eyes. "Hi, Archer… I didn't know you were back…" She had notable trouble not bursting into laughter.

"It was a surprise…" Archer murmured as he got dressed more professionally.

"Well… Color me surprised…" Freddie chuckled.

"What is it, Freddie?" CJ snarled, blushing uncontrollably as she reached into a pile of her dirty laundry and threw on the first tank top she could find.

"I need another sleeping bag for Celia and her friends tomorrow… You still got the ones we used when we went camping last month, right? I wanted to come get it…"

"Help yourself." CJ muttered, still beet red as she gestured at a corner filled with junk she did not use on the daily.

"Goody." Freddie mumbled, mostly to herself, as she started digging through the heap.

Archer had finally gotten dressed again and had straightened his hair a little. Not knowing what to do, he began to robotically adjust CJ's covers and pillows, the ones the two of them had chaotically reorganized earlier. CJ just stood with her back to the wall, practically dying of embarrassment.

She never liked to get too intimate with Archer in public. Not because she was ashamed of him or their relationship, but simply because she was a stern supporter of the concept that some interactions are just meant to stay behind closed doors.

"So, ehm…" Freddie mumbled as she rummaged through CJ's stuff. "You must be excited for the introduction week as well, right, Archer?"

"Oh, most definitely." Archer answered, his tone completely normal again. "Yeah, I still remember my introduction week and how the older students showed me the ropes. I hope to become a similar role model to the young ones tomorrow."

"Well, I know for a fact that Celia can't wait to see you again. Both of you." Freddie went on. "She never goes too long without going on about 'Archer this' and 'CJ that'… She's your main shipper…"

"Our what?" CJ pulled up an eyebrow, finally able to articulate some words again.

"A shipper." Freddie started explaining. "You two get covered in Auradon gossip blogs a lot, and so people start supporting your relationship. There are even entire accounts dedicated to you on InstaRoyal and Zapchat."

"That's disgusting." CJ sneered. She honestly had no clue any of this had been happening. She wasn't on any social media, and was planning on keeping it that way.

"It's cute." Freddie shrugged. "Well, when the kids do it, anyway. You two got some adult fans as well…"

"Freddie! I don't want to hear about old people talking about Archer and me online!" CJ whined, starting to braid her hair in order to not focus on this conversation too much.

"Then you should stop being Auradon's favorite new couple." Freddie teased, eyeing the many pictures of the two on CJ's desk.

"Just, can you ask Celia to tone it down tomorrow? It was bad enough when she kept running around us during Ben and Mal's wedding and tried to get us to keep dancing and making out…" CJ complained.

"Or when she kept taking pictures of us during vacation." Archer added. "Though I have to admit, some of them turned out pretty good…"

"She just really looks up to both of you." Freddie pouted, finally managing to dig a sleeping bag out of the pile. "Matter of fact, they all do. Many of the new students are big S.A.S. fans. You really made a name for yourself over the past year, CJ. And Archer, you still got a lot of admirers as well…"

"Well…" CJ rolled her eyes. "I wouldn't mind if they'd come up to me with S.A.S. related stuff… But the second they start demanding Archer and I put our hands on each other, I'm gonna smack 'em on the backs of their heads…"

"There's the CJ from the Isle I love so much…" Freddie said in a teasing tone, hugging the sleeping bag to her chest. "Well, it's been fun and all… Dinner is starting soon, and I still got some stuff to put away… Maybe you should start cleaning up as well, CJ… You should try to make a good impression on the young 'uns."

"Like I care!" CJ shouted as Freddie left the room. Her face turned grouchy as she once again examined the mess that was her room.

"I could help you, if you'd like." Archer suggested, reaching down to pick up some of CJ's dirty laundry.

"Don't bother." CJ shook her head. "I mean, what's the point of cleaning up if I'm gonna be moving it all to a new place in a week anyway?"

"I can help you pack then… Anything really in order to make this room look like a hurricane hasn't blasted through here…"

"Har har…" CJ stuck out her tongue. "I guess I could use the help though. I've never moved. I just can't envision spending all this time putting all my stuff in boxes, only to later take it all out again…"

"You just start with one box and make your way down." Archer advised. "Start with the stuff you don't use that much. And it's not like you got that much to begin with. Most of this stuff is dirty clothes and junk." He went on as he picked up an empty pizza box off the floor. "You live like a pig…"

"It's cleaner than anything I ever had back on the Isle." CJ argued.

"Thank heavens for that." Archer muttered as he tossed the pizza box into the already overflowing garbage can in the corner of the room.

The two slowly made their way through the room, their first order of business being to clear most of the clutter from the floor. CJ was soon satisfied, but Archer worked more meticulously.

CJ accidentally kicked against one of the bags Archer had brought along, and felt her foot come into contact with something metallic. Curious, she leaned down to open it up.

"Ho, there!" Archer called out as he hastily jumped over the bed and yanked the bag away from CJ. "You're going through my stuff?"

"What?" CJ asked with a hint of amusement at how panicked Archer seemed. "What do you got hidden in there?" She reached for the bag again.

"It's not for your eyes to see…" Archer tried to keep her at arm's length.

CJ's interest was piqued even more. Archer almost never kept secrets from her, and he seemed genuinely nervous at the thought of CJ finding out what he had brought along.

"Come on… Tell me what you brought…" CJ whined in a bratty tone. "Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me…"

"You're insufferable." Archer started laughing.

CJ began to send playful punches to Archer's chest and upper arms. "Tell me…"

"It was supposed to be a surprise…" Archer said, trying to shield his body and holding the bag behind his back.

"Another one, really?" CJ pulled up her eyebrows as she stood back. "Well, now you got me more curious… Come on… Show me…"

"I actually wanted to wait until tomorrow…" Archer pondered.

"Pretty please?" CJ batted her eyelashes as she purposefully swayed her hips a little.

Archer's look softened. "You really can't wait?"

CJ playfully shook her head, making her braid bounce around.

"Fine then, you impatient little twerp…" Archer relented as he placed the bag onto CJ's bed.

CJ smiled. She honestly wasn't that curious about yet another surprise Archer had in store for her, but she liked to challenge him and keep him on his toes.

Archer stuck his hand in the bag, still keeping it out of reach from CJ. He first pulled out a handful of old, leatherbound books.

"Books?" CJ asked, the disappointment dripping from her voice.

"Not for you." Archer tapped her on the wrist as she reached out to pick one up. "These were confiscated back in Camelot. They are all tomes of dark magic and curses. Apparently, there was some sleeper cell of neo-anti-villains operating from a ruined castle."

"Neo-anti-villains?" CJ questioned. She could vaguely remember hearing the term before.

"The anti-villains were a movement that protested the existence of the Isle of the Lost. They operated shortly after the first great war ended." Archer explained.

"Sounds like a righteous cause…" CJ replied, a little confused.

"You misunderstand me. They protested the existence of the Isle, because they believed all the villains should have been eradicated for good…"

"Ahhh…" CJ sighed. "Anti-villains… So, like, no more villains, period…"

"Exactly." Archer nodded. "Their organization faltered eventually since the Isle never gave mainland Auradon any trouble. There was somewhat of a resurgence after Mal and the VK's first crossed over, and they grew even more vocal during and after the second great war… These newer groups are called neo-anti-villains. There was even a protest over in Corona shortly before Ben and Mal's wedding, I'm not sure if you caught that… But, anyway, we've been keeping tabs on their operations in Camelot, and eventually undertook a raid. We confiscated all these books. I'm gonna take them to Beast Castle later this week so Belle can add them to her forbidden collection. It's some dark stuff…"

"But, why would anti-villains possess books about dark magic?" CJ was confused. "That's, like, the most villainy thing to have…"

"You're not wrong." Archer smirked. "But these lunatics have convinced themselves that the ends justify the means in terms of getting rid of all villains, even if it means turning a little villainy themselves."

"Idiots…" CJ scoffed.

"Indeed." Archer nodded. "But enough about them. Do you still want your present?"

"Yes." CJ bounced on her heels, her hands clasped behind her back.

With an air of showmanship, Archer once again reached into the bag and pulled out a long package covered in wrapping paper. He handed it to CJ with an expression of eager anticipation.

CJ weighed the package in her hands. She could already feel that it was a sword.

"Open it." Archer told her.

Not needing to be told that twice, CJ immediately tore off the paper and revealed her present. A gorgeous, hand-made hilt stuck out of a richly adorned red-leather scabbard. CJ just stared at it, her mouth open as she turned and twisted the weapon, looking at it from all angles. The model was a mix between a saber, her preferred kind during real combat, and a longsword, like Excalibur had been. The guard and pommel were made of bronze-ish stainless steel, and the grip was wrapped in red leather, like the scabbard.

Still with her mouth wide open, CJ unsheathed the sword to admire the blade. The edges were razor-sharp and the blade itself was slender and just slightly shorter than was ordinarily the case with weapons like these. Its dark-grey steel carried a carried a distinct pattern of banding and mottling reminiscent of flowing water. CJ turned the sword again, the pattern on the blade giving the illusion that the steel itself was somehow swirling, as though it hadn't settled yet.

"Made especially for you…" Archer spoke, carefully examining her reaction. "The blade is fashioned from meteorite ore from a wishing star, folded and tampered by the best swordsmiths of Camelot and the Summerlands… I personally designed the hilt… It's lighter and more nimble than ordinary longswords, to suit your style better…" He started blushing as he rambled.

CJ's eyes were wide as she finally looked back at him.

"I-It's good, right?" Archer inquired. "I mean, I worked really hard on it… I-I kept up with the progress every day as it was being made…"

CJ leaped into his arms, careful not to accidentally impale him with her brand new sword. "It's amazing…" She cried, having to actively put effort into not bursting into tears. No one had ever given her a gift that even came close to being as awesome as this one.

Archer notably relaxed as he hugged CJ back. "Thank heavens. Honestly, if you didn't like the sword, I'm not sure what I would have done with myself…"

"I love it!" CJ emphasized as she stepped away from Archer and raised the sword, performing a few practice swings. "Holy shit, the balance is amazing! A-And the weight… It's so light, but sturdy…"

"It might genuinely be the finest sword in the kingdom." Archer nodded. "I would be jealous if it were wielded by anyone other than you. I tried it out a little before I came here, and it was the closest any blade has gotten to Excalibur…"

CJ's smile faltered a little. "And you want to give it to me?"

"Of course." Archer confidently stated. "You deserve it, missus Swords and Shields MVP… Also, the color of the hilt clashes with my eyes…"

CJ playfully jabbed him in the shoulder. "It's amazing… How can I ever repay you?"

"Just be yourself." Archer smiled. "And, you know, maybe take it easy on me during sparring sessions every once in a while…"

"Never gonna happen." Her eyes sparkled as she stood on her tippy toes and leaned into Archer, who also brought his face closer as they shared another kiss.

"There is one more thing, though… About the sword…" Archer said as he momentarily leaned back.

"What? Does it glow in the dark as well?" CJ teased.

"I don't think so. But it is even more special than I already let on… You see, I really wanted to make it exceptional… Unique… Something that is distinctively a part of me and you…"

CJ just listened. She could tell by Archer's tone that this was a momentous occasion for him.

"It's extra special…" Archer went on, eyeing the sword with reverence. "Because there's a piece of Excalibur imbued in the hilt…"

"There's what!?" CJ shrieked. She looked back down at the sword, suddenly feeling as though she was no longer worthy of holding it.

"I visited the museum of cultural history and retrieved the largest shard of Excalibur's blade I could find. I had the swordsmiths imbue it in the hilt. For you, CJ…"

CJ's jaw hit the floor. She could barely comprehend that she could mean so much to Archer that he had gone to these lengths to do something for her.

"I wanted to do it." Archer emphasized, seeing her face. "Excalibur… I can't use it anymore, but if there's a chance it could still do some good in the world, then I will gladly take it. And there's no one I would trust more with the legacy of the blade than you, CJ…"

CJ was moved, almost to tears. "S-So… So, ehm…" She struggled to find her voice. "So, what does it do?"

"Well…" Archer began, looking over the sword once more. "In theory, at least some magical properties should have been transferred onto this blade. I was able to do all kinds of stuff with Excalibur… Magic blasts… I could conjure it up out of thin air… It could absorb certain magical attacks… I'm not sure what this particular blade can do… You'd have to find that out for yourself through time and practice."

"Bloody hell…" CJ muttered. "Here I was expecting a nice, calm evening, when my boyfriend shows up outta nowhere and gives me a magical sword…"

Archer shrugged. "Welcome to Auradon."

CJ eyed whim with utter gratitude and affection, her shoulders slumping and the tip of the blade grazing the floor. "I… I…" She began, unsure how to best convey how much this meant to her. "I will make you proud… I promise… I wouldn't even be that bothered if a few villains would show up, just so I'd get a chance to try this bad boy out…"

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves…" Archer couldn't help but smile. "But I'm glad you accept the gift and the responsibility. Now, do you want to go have dinner and maybe show off the sword and make everyone super jealous?"

"You read my mind." CJ's eyes twinkled playfully as she sheathed the sword and walked ahead of Archer and out of her room.

Her excitement was palpable. She could not wait until tomorrow. All her friends were coming. Her boyfriend was already here. She had a brand-spanking-new sword.

Life was better than ever.

Nothing could go wrong. Nothing. Surely.