“You really don’t think we should do anything?” Fairy Godmother started second guessing herself again, “I mean they’re—”
“Just kids?” Belle gave her a lopsided smile.
“Surrounded by the worst villains who ever lived?” Beast added.
“Yes, yes!”
“My dear…” the retiring Queen patted the headmistresses’ hands sympathetically, “Remember what I said. They need to do this. I’m sure of it. More than ever. They’re not children anymore and their parents need to see that.” She grinned at her son, “Just like parents on this side of the strait.”
“Mom’s right, Fairy Godmother.” Ben’s face lit up, “They’ve got this—and they need to do it on their own.”
“Oh, but…” she hesitated, smiling uncomfortably, “well…”
“Let’s give ’em a chance, at least, before we do anything.” Beast squeezed her shoulder.
*o*o*0*o*o*
“Well, that was kinda fun!” Uma snickered, sliding up to Mal as the large group turned towards Dragon Hall; the old headmaster had spilt and they finally felt free, “Unpopular in these quarters, I’m sure, but fun.” Suddenly, she reached for the purple-clad girl’s hand, “Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, actually, I did.” Mal shrugged, “I’ve been wrong a lot of times and everyone around here has felt my wrath.” She turned to give the blue-clad girl a quick smile, “I made up with E, Jay, and Carlos. No reason why I can’t make up with you…and everybody else.”
“I wouldn’t try too hard.” the green-clad girl smirked, “It’ll take ya the rest of your life.”
The girls cracked up like old times, but finally Carlos brought them back to earth.
“Don’t get too excited yet. Dr. F. will be back and who knows what he’ll do.”
“You’re not worried about his friends on the other side, are ya?” Freddie teased.
“Not really.”
“Are we really going back there?” Harry looked peevish when the school came in sight, “Wouldn’t that make it easier for Dr. F?”
“Yes, we are.” Uma gave him a look.
“Why?”
“Don’t you wanna play nice, Harry?” Evie slid over next to him, “Maybe you’ll get picked to go to Auradon if you play nice. Take our place and all.” She grinned as he scowled.
“Buck up, Harry,” Mal smirked, “They don’t bite.”
“I’m not scared.” He cut her a sour look.
“I didn’t say you were.” She gave him a look.
“Alright, alright!” Uma quickly got between them with a twinkle in her eyes, “Why don’t we just concentrate on getting ready for Dr. F? Carlos is right. He’ll be back.”
“Got any ideas?” Mal asked.
The green clad girl frowned in consideration, “Well, the most important thing we can do is put up a united front.”
Say, that reminds me,” Claudine spoke up, “Hadie said—”
“Yeah, it’s true…” Mal sighed, looking uncomfortable.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Big Murph cried.
“Because she didn’t want to.” Uma rolled her eyes, “She doesn’t have to tell you anything.”
“That’s mean, Uma.” Hermie Bing spoke up.
Uma shrugged, “Well, it’s true.”
“Yeah, but seriously, Mal…” Claudine looked worried, “They didn’t seem too happy when he mentioned it…Beast, Belle, Fairy Godmother…even Ben.”
“Well, that’s another reason for me to stay here.” the purple-clad girl retorted softly.
*o*o*0*o*o*
Dr. Faciller was in shock as he loped down the street; he’d been so close to getting off the Isle that he could taste it and then he’d frozen when the kids showed up. Nobody would see him as a top tier villain now. When this got out, he’d be finished…unless he did something to rectify it.
“Mind if I come in, your majesty?” he took off his top hat and bowed when Evil Queen answered his knock, “I have news concerning your daughter.”
“Come in…” she answered coldly, stepping back to let him through; she wasn’t concerned about Evie, “I trust everything is well with you and Madame Medusa tonight, doctor?”
“Very well, your majesty.” he swallowed hard, intimidated and intrigued, “except that your daughter has gone over to the good side.”
“My daughter betrayed us many months ago, doctor,” she answered coldly.” She laughed suddenly, “But it doesn’t matter because she has promised to bring me what I want, when I want it, and that’s all I care about.” Flinging her robe around her as she turned, she seemed to float above the thick carpet as she walked back down the hall, “I trust you will show yourself out, doctor.”
The old witch doctor ground his teeth in frustration but turned around in obedience; no one ever dared to cross Evil Queen except Maleficent herself.
Turning towards Hell Hall, he rapped smartly on the door.
“Good afternoon, Cruella!” he bowed with a flourish then pushed past her to invite himself in, “How are you doing?”
“You woke me from my nap, you imbecile.” she growled, slamming the door shut, “What do you want?”
“I bring dreadful news, darling.” he answered, spinning to face her, “Just dreadful news from my friends from the other side. Your son, Carlos, has become a good boy.”
“That’s old news.” she glowered, crossing her arms over her chest, “and I don’t care. He washes my coats and car when he’s here and Jace and Harry do it when he isn’t so it doesn’t matter.” She opened the door suddenly and grabbed him by his collar, tossing him down the steps, “Now, get out!”
Rising to his feet spluttering with anger, Dragon Hall’s headmaster had just enough time to jump out of the way as a vase came flying through the window at him.
He dusted himself off at a distance and began to realize that it wouldn’t do any good to call on Jafar, Ursula, Captain Hook, Evil Stepmother, or Gaston. His only choice lay in not letting word of his defeat get out. Perhaps, he could bribe the kids…
*o*o*0*o*o*
The sound of Dragon Hall’s huge double doors clanging shut reached Yen Sid’s ears and he breathed a sigh of relief; he could feel good news in his bones and couldn’t wait to hear their story.
“They’re here, your majesties…” his face glowed.
“Why, Yen Sid…”
Fairy Godmother almost giggled at his uncharacteristic show of emotion then it seemed like time stood still when the knock sounded on the door.
“Come in…” The Sorcerer’s voice was like soft thunder.
The antiheroes filed in first, their stoney faces giving nothing away. Next came Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos, Freddie.
Ben’s heart was in his throat and Celia almost giggled at his expression. She knew her friends were trying to drag out the suspense.
Finally, the door opened just a crack. They could see Uma peering through. Then Harry’s eyes appeared above her. Then Gil ripped the door open and the pirate leaders danced in.
Mal received Uma with a hug. Then she turned to Ben with a beaming face.
“It looks like I’m useful after all. We did it.”
Hadie walked over to lay a hand on her shoulder, “You did it, sis.”
“No…we did it. All of us.” she blushed, looking down for a moment before smiling at her younger brother, “I think I have some explaining to do.”
“No, no,” Ben blurted out, “We get it. We both have two parents.’ He gripped Belle and Beast’s shoulder, smiling fondly, “I’ve got the poster parents for goodness.” He shrugged, grinning, “You’ve got the mistress of all evil and the lord of the underworld.”
“Ain’t that the truth…” Claudine muttered, flashing Uma a tiny smile.
“Yep…” The green-clad girl smiled back.
<Previous |