Chapter Text
“Diego?” Carlos called out, voice echoing as he walked into the old warehouse. A few metallic clangs rang out, before Carlos’s cousin responded.
“One sec!” Diego’s voice came from under a mostly wrecked car. Carlos drifted over to where he could see his cousin’s legs sticking out from under the car, face perfectly blank.
A couple more noises came from where Diego was working, before he rolled out from underneath it and sat up to give his cousin a smile.
“I’m doing those repairs you suggested, we may even be able to get it running within the month!” Diego grinned. But instead of grinning back like he normally would, Carlos’s blank expression stayed the same.
Diego’s smile fell. “What's wrong?” He asked, face scrunching up in concern.
Carlos averted his gaze, jaw tense.
“We’re going to Auradon.”
-=+=-
“You’re kidding, right?” Antonia laughed nervously, waiting for Evie to laugh back and tell her it was just a joke.
Instead, Evie smiled sadly at the other girl.
“I wish….”
-=+=-
“Well you can’t go, no matter what some stupid proclamation says!” Uma huffed, pacing her room.
Mal sighed, and ran a hand through her hair. “We don’t have a choice… our parents say we have too.”
Uma let out a rough scream, and kicked her dresser. The furniture crashed against the wall, though none of the teenagers in the room even flinched.
“Fucking why? Are they stupid?” Uma seethed. “‘Giving the new generation a chance’ my ass. This is obviously a trap!”
“Its bullshit is what it is…” Harry grumbled from the bed, bouncing his leg aggressively. Gil was frowning next to him, a quiet intensity surrounding him. He'd been silent since Mal and Jay revealed why they’d shown up at the docs in the first place.
“No shit.” Jay rolled his eyes, arms crossed. “We’re probably about to be dropped off to some kind of public execution.” He snorted, bitter. He then shifted, giving Mal a softer look, signaling her to say something that neither of them wanted to address.
Mal sighed again. “They want us to steal the wand.” Uma froze before them. Harry’s leg stilled, and Gil's eyes shot up from the ground.
-=+=-
“Like the one from my mother’s story?” Antonia asked, eyes wide. She placed her teacup on the table in front of her, hands shaking. Evie nodded at her solemnly.
“They think we can break the barrier.” Evie admitted. She forced a smile, trying her best to comfort the other girl.
Antonia let out a shaky breath, hand going to her hair. “ How? The Fairy Godmother is incredibly powerful, enough to probably kill any of them, let alone one of you. And you’ll probably have so many guards on you, I mean there's no way they can mean this legitimately ...”
-=+=-
“Obviously it won't work, but we don’t really have a choice.” Carlos exhaled, rubbing at his eyes with the heels of his palms. Diego stood before him, a pained look on the young man's face. He stepped forward, and engulfed his younger cousin in a hug.
“Dammit.” Diego hissed, pulling his younger cousin, younger brother, closer. Tears stung at his eyes. “I should have killed her. Years ago. I should have killed her so she couldn't have done this, so she couldn't have done anything to you.” He took a shaky breath.
Carlos shook his head, fighting back tears of his own. “It wouldn't have worked…. Not then, not now. They’re too powerful.”
-=+=-
The room sat in silence, the heavy truth that they had no choice, that the adult villains were too strong hanging over them.
“Hook,” Jay spoke, breaking the silence and pulling everyone's attention to himself. “You owe us a lot. You’re in our debt.”
Harry raised a single eyebrow at him. “And?”
“You need to take care of Jade,” Jay said, stonily serious. “Keep her away from Jafar, and I mean away. I don’t want them in the same room ever.”
Harry frowned, and nodded once. “She can stay with’ me da’s, take over me old room. Is’ right next to Harriet's, and I’ve been staying here anyway.”
Jay considered a moment, then nodded, and stuck out his hand. Harry took it, his grim smile mirroring Jay’s, sealing their agreement. Mal looked over to Uma, receiving a frown in return.
“I’ll keep an eye on the little voodoo doll, but don’t go dying on us and never coming back.”
Mal scoffed. “Of course not,” She smirked with confidence she didn’t feel, and shook Uma’s hand.
-=+=-
“I’ll keep an eye on Eddie, but promise me you’ll stay safe ‘Los.” Diego’s voice was thick.
Carlos took a shaky breath, and nodded.
“Okay…” Diego put his chin on his little brother’s head, holding the boy close. “I can’t lose you ‘Los...”
-=+=-
“I’ll be safe.” Evie promised, squeezing Antonia's hand. “Promise me too though, please. Keep yourself and Dizzy safe, go find the pirates or Diego and his crew if you get into trouble.”
Antonia nodded, and pulled Evie into a quick hug. Evie gave the other girl a sad smile when they pulled apart, squeezing her hand one last time.
“I have to go and....” She tilted her head to the door, biting her lip. Antonia nodded, and forced a smile.
“After you.” Antonia stood, opening the door for her with a small flourish. Evie smiled at the other, and closed the door behind her. She exhaled, letting her composure drop for a moment. Then, as quickly as she let it disappear, she had it back, like a protective shawl wrapped around herself. She took two steps forward, stopping in front of a bright pink door.
Now came the hard part.