Serene's view

It's been four weeks since Eleanor's party, and I've skipped every single lesson with Pitch for two reasons: One, everyone that had been at the party has been going over to either Eleanor's house, or mine and Jenna's. It's been really fun. Two: I'm starting to have doubts about all of this. I'm also planning on skipping tonight's lesson.

School is different now. At lunch, I sit with Lucy, Eleanor, Evan, Isla, Janessa, and Max. Since Danielle, Finn, Brietta, and Hayder are Sophomores, they eat their lunch together with the senior kids. During the day, we all hang out together whenever possible. It's... kind of nice, being in a big group, instead of just Brietta and Lucy. It's also a little... weird. I've never been the kind of girl to laugh at a table full of kids, who know each other and are good friends, who make jokes that we all understand, who can reference something so weird, but not get judged.

I've learned a lot about everyone. For one, Max hates sports. (Janessa and Isla make it their daily mission to badger him about telling his parents.) Instead, he writes and acts. He has a way of lighting up when he talks about it, but I don't think he even notices.

Isla doesn't think she's going to be a good Queen. She knows what's expected of her, and she thinks she falls short. To everyone's surprise (especially mine) I was the first one to argue with her about that. From what I've seen, Isla cares about people, about Auradon. She's headstrong and stubborn, but that'll make her trust her gut more and make wiser choices.

Danielle wants to dance. She takes classes before and after school, (normally leaving our after-school things early on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) and plans to be on Broadway one day as a choreographer. She did a routine for us once, and Evan was the only one who wasn't shocked to silence. I swear the girl can move like a professional already.

Evan wants to teach. Specifically math, but science if he can. His thing at our table is that Danielle and I constantly have to translate for everyone, because he speaks in a years-ahead level. He takes a lot of higher-level classes, and even goes to some college programs on the weekends.

Eleanor is obsessed with fairies because it's something she associates with her childhood, and she's not quite ready to grow up. Everyone made some joke about Peter Pan after that, and she'd laughed and said she'd take it under management.

Finn is the most different of all of us. I'd thought he was cool, suave, but around us, when it's just us, after school, he's a total dork. He screams out whatever karaoke Elea picked that day without hesitation, and can easily figure out anyone's homework. He's (weirdly) one of the few who can sort-of understand Evan's science-speech, other than myself and Danielle.

Hayder is harder. He's friends with all of us, sure, but he's still silent most of the time. I think that's just who he is, watching instead of interacting. It doesn't seem to bother the rest of the group, who just teases him for being part-mute. He smiles and shrugs it off. Really the only ones he talks to are myself and Eleanor. They get along great, because both have the same genre of magic.

The days now go by faster than even the days when I used to look forward to my lessons with Pitch. Blake doesn't sit with Lucy and I at lunch anymore. Once I invited everyone else, he backed away without even trying to sit with us. He just saw them and turned away. Blake tries talking to me in class multiple times over the weeks, but I ignore him and block his shadows quite successfully, to the point where he corners me after History lets out one Friday.

"Hey, are you avoiding me?" Blake asks, grabbing my arm as I come out the door.

"No." I assure him. But I do make a point of removing my arm from his grip. "I've just been hanging out with my other friends lately. I meant to tell you, really. But I just..."

"What?" Blake snaps. "Is there something more important that they have to offer?"

"Whoa. What's with you?" I ask.

"Serene, you said you wanted to learn to control your powers." Blake says quietly, as more kids leave the classroom. "You said you wanted to learn to be bigger. What happened to that?"

"Blake, I just... I'm not sure about any of that anymore." I sigh. "I think I was being paranoid with all of that. I'm good at home now, I'm good at school. I don't think there ever was anything wrong. I was just being a stupid kid."

"Serene." Blake says firmly. "You---"

"Ready to go?" I hear behind me. I turn and see Hayder, giving Blake a very cold look.

"Yeah." I give Blake a fleeting smile and follow Hayder. "I'll talk to you later, okay, Blake?"

"Fine." Blake says. "But don't expect everything to go the way you think it will!"

I don't answer, and I notice Hayder walks closer to me after that. When we're out, he mildly asks, "What was that about?"

"It's nothing." I say, not looking at him directly. "Just something I used to do after school with him. I think he's mad I stopped."

"Okay." Hayder says, his hands in his pockets. "But if he tries anything, I'm going to curse him into next century." he glances back at me, a tiny smirk on his face. "Although I'm sure you could handle him better than I could."

I smile despite my nervousness. "I'm glad someone thinks so."

"Trust me. That's one of the things I'm absolutely sure about." He looks away, and we walk together toward our group of friends.

"So what are we doing today, friends?" Eleanor asks, bouncing on her toes.

"Another sing-a-long?" Finn asks eagerly.

"What is it with you and singing?" Brietta asks.

Finn shrugs. "I happen to like my voice. Plus, c'mon, it's fun! We've done it so many times you guys know pretty much all my Broadway albums by heart."

"Well, if we have to do that, why don't we do one we haven't done in a while?" Danielle asks. "Like... Have we done Newsies?"

"Last week." Evan supplies.

"What about Six?" Brietta offers.

Finn glares at her and shakes his head, not-very-subtly pointing to Eleanor. Elea rolls her eyes. "I have listened to Six, Finneas, I know very well what is said and I love that soundtrack."

"When did you listen to Six?" He demands.

"When you weren't home the other day." She smiles slyly. "I noticed you'd hidden it, and I keep hearing such good things about it!"

"Finn, she's fifteen now." Isla scolds. "She's not a baby."

"I know that." Finn says, turning pink. "Okay, but not Six. That's all girl's parts."

"Beetlejuice?" Janessa says.

"Eh." Max says.

"OH! HEATHERS! I CALL HEATHER DUKE! WELCOME TO MY CANDY STO-ORE!" Brietta shouts, mimicking the dances from the show and earning a lot of weird glances from bystanders.

"Not a single chance." Finn says firmly.

"Oooh! I know!" Lucy squeals suddenly. Like always, she flushes a little bit when everyone's eyes are on her, but not to the degree that she gives up. Being in a big group has really broken Lucy out of her shell a bit. "It's kind of stupid. But Aunt Sera has like, all of the-----"

"Oh-ho-ho, I know where this is going." Brietta says smugly.

"So do I." I laugh.

"What? Where is this going?" Janessa demands.

"The Barbie musicals!" Lucy gushes. "They have the best songs, and I haven't watched them in forever."

"Wait, Barbie?" Hayder asks. "As in, pink-sparkly-ness doll thing?"

Brietta smacks his shoulder. "Those movies are a staple in my childhood, have amazing messages, and will always be the best thing this Earth has produced!"

"What about Humanity?" he argues.

"Humanity can go die in a hole!" Brietta scoffs. "Barbie reigns supreme."

"Okay, now we have to." Evan laughs. "I don't think I've ever seen those, and neither has Danielle."

"Speak for yourself." She laughs. "Mom and I used to watch Twelve Dancing Princesses every other Friday, while you and Dad went out to museums and stuff."

"Is that why you like dancing so much?" Max asks.

"Yes, actually." Danielle sets down her bag, and proceeds to do a few-second- long ballet move that looks very familiar. "I taught myself all of the dance sequences after doing ballet for a while. Well, the ones that don't involve a partner, anyway."

"Okay, so it's agreed. Barbie movies?" Eleanor says happily. Everyone nods in agreement, and Eleanor pulls her wand out, waving it. We all disappear in a flurry of gold sparkles, and reappear at my Aunt Sera's house.

Aunt Sera is one of the only people I know who didn't take a palace. Since she never got married, she and Arson live together in Evie's old 4-Hearts store. After Evie upgraded to a full store, she gave it to Arson, who asked if Sera wanted to move in with him. Since Sera's rarely home anyway, being Captain of the Guard, (and PE teacher when she can) she agreed, and she and Arson live here together. Arson is gone most of the time too, since he's always teaching the little kids, or exploring Auradon. Even after years of being free, I don't think he's gotten used to being able to go anywhere he wants.

The second we enter, there's a loud crashing noise, and a siren goes off, flooding the room with red light. Out of nowhere, there's a loud shriek and my Aunt Sera enters, holding a grenade and what looks like a spear.

"YOU BETTER BE RUNNIN' ALREADY, YA SON OF A---oh. Hi kids!" Sera whips the weapons behind her back, easily drop-kicking them into a subtle hiding place. "What're you doin' here?"

"We came to watch Barbie movies." Eleanor says calmly, ignoring what almost happened.

Aunt Sera grins. "Well then, by all means!" she ushers us into her living room. "OI! AR! WHERE'D I STORE THE---oh." She stops, seeing her brother already entering the room, holding a stack of DVD's.

"Hi, Uncle Ar!" Janessa chirps. He waves good-naturedly to all of us.

"Hello. Watching movies?" he asks us. Mom and Dad told us that when Uncle Ar was a teenager, he couldn't talk really all that much. I have no idea what he was like when I was little, but he can talk in near-full sentences now, and doesn't have a problem getting his point across. He acts like a little kid sometimes, but that's normal for anyone related to Aunt Sera.

"We're doing a sing-a-long!" Lucy says, running up to hug him. I think Arson loves Lucy more than any of us, though of course he's never outright said that. But they're both so alike, sweet and innocent, I think Lucy sees him as an older brother. I know for a fact Arson thinks of her as his little sister, because he calls her Lil Sis most times he sees her.

Arson hugs her back, then holds a finger up. Reaching down to the DVD's, he pulls out The Princess and the Pauper.

"Why not Island?" Sera whines. "It has the best song of all tiiiime!"

"Wait. Your favorite song of all time is in a Barbie movie?" Max asks.

"Yes." Aunt Sera says. "Isn't yours? Barbie music is superior."

"I haven't watched Barbie since I was like, five, and had a sleepover at Isla's house." Max says.

Aunt Sera closes her eyes, bringing a hand to her forehead. "You poor, depraved soul."

Isla snaps her fingers. The DVD in Arson's hands snaps open. The disc disappears, and Sera's TV flickers to life, loudly playing Kelly Sheridan's voice over the speakers.

Finn groans. "Why did I agree to this?"

"Don't deny it---you're going to sing out all of Julian's parts LOUDLY!" Eleanor teases, shoving his shoulder. "I know you remember them."

"He only has one song." Finn argues.

Brietta looks smug. "So you do remember."

Finn turns red. Everyone laughs, and we settle down to watch the movie.

Blake's view

Before I can change my mind, I slip the envelope into the pocket of darkness. If I have calculated correctly, and I'm sure I have, this letter will appear right in Serene's mother's hands. Now I just have to ensure I interrupt all communications between the Charming and the De Vil family for three weeks, until Isla's Coronation.

Two things will hopefully come from this. One, my father needs Elicia De Vil unstable. He needs her to break. What I have written will do so. Two, after Elicia confronts her daughter, Serene will want to continue her lessons, right up to the final test.

Serene is vital to this. We need her back.

And if this is the only way... so be it. I'm ready to do anything to make Serene come back. To take my revenge on Auradon on behalf of my father.

And if that means taking advantage of the only person on this planet I think I can call my friend...

So be it. 

____________________________

Mwahaha. HA. HA!

Only I know what is coming... you guys won't be prepaaaaaared! Hopefully. Probably. Maybe. 

Anyways, for those of you who wondered what Sera's favorite song was in that mini-chapter, this chapter was pretty much for you. Her song is one of my all-time favorites as well, because the message behind it is pretty well applied in real life.