Yeva:

Yeva and Jay's Loft - Living Room

Yeva was making breakfast, which was a pretty big breakfast although not too elaborate, whistling to pass the time. She heard the knock on the door, looking up, smiling. "Come in."

Celia and Facilier made their way inside, looking around in impressed speechlessness.

Celia was in awe, smiling excitedly, looking around for her sister. "Yeva?"

Yeva chuckled. "Over here."

Celia and Facilier turned to face her, looking stunned by the breakfast.

"So you invite us over for breakfast for Celia's birthday and show us the place that you and Jay came up with," Facilier remarked. "Looks like one lesson I taught you two you took to heart. Making sure you got your cut."

Celia and Yeva smirked.

"Yeah, but I didn't con anyone into the money for this place," Yeva replied. "Bane and Mari pay the teachers at the school very well. Plus, Jay's been helping Carlos with the Tower, and they're both getting paid big, too. So, here we are."

"You got Yzma locked up?" Facilier asked. "So Yzma doesn't try to hurt or kill us."

"Yeah," Yeva answered.

Celia squealed excitedly when she saw the food, running closer. "This is your house? And you made all this for me?"

"Oh, yeah," Yeva answered, sliding the food toward Celia. "Dig in. As much as you want."

Celia smirked, shaking her head. "I ain't got to be told twice." The three of them laughed. Celia sat down to dig in. "Where is Jay, anyway?"

Yeva sat down across from Celia to start to eat as well. "Helping Carlos at the Tower as we speak. And as we eat." Facilier chuckled, sitting with his daughters to eat with them. "Mal, Malia, Izzy and I have to teach at the school later today, too. No one could get a day off in the middle of the week."

Celia seemed to realize what Yeva was trying to say, looking disappointed but unsurprised. "So my party..."

Yeva looked down. "I'm sorry, Celia. We might not be able to celebrate tonight, but we can tomorrow."

Facilier looked at her knowingly, hiding a smirk behind a drink of coffee.

Celia looked down, shaking her head. "Don't be sorry. On the Isle, no one had good birthdays, so I'm not really surprised at this point. I just thought that, since this is my first birthday not being on the Isle, that it would be different. Since we're here in Auradon, you know?"

Yeva nodded sympathetically. "Yeah. I know. I wish there was some way that I could make it up to you."

Facilier smirked knowingly, shaking his head. "You really shouldn't have said that."

"Why?" Yeva asked. "What do you want, Celia?"

Celia smirked a sneaky smile. "Well, now that you mention it..."

Yeva looked at her curiously in confusion, looking at Facilier, shaking her head. "You're right. I shouldn't have said that."

Facilier laughed. "No."

Celia smiled. "You know how my birthday is so close to Valentine's Day, just a week away?"

"Yeah," Yeva answered cautiously, not knowing where this was going.

"And you and Jay have been engaged for months now, and gotten a place together and everything," Celia pointed out. "Mal and Anthony, and Ben and Malia got married already. And you and Jay should too. Like by next week."

"You mean a Valentine's Day wedding?" Yeva asked in amusement.

Celia shrugged. "Well, I wanted to see my big sister marry the guy she's meant to be with, and the guy that me and Dad both actually like, even if Yzma doesn't."

Facilier smirked. "Who cares if Yzma doesn't? I like him because he was a thief and he still has trouble dropping his pickpocket habits."

"Of course you do," Yeva told him sarcastically.

Celia laughed. "And what better Valentine's Day/Birthday present can my newly reunited older sister give her newly found out little sister?"

"Celia's got a point, Yeva," Facilier told her. "Couldn't even pay Yzma back for trying to kill you two."

Yeva chuckled, shaking her head. "I don't know."

"Oh, come on," Celia begged. "If anyone can put a wedding together within a week, it's Evie and Ara, and they've both already been designing all our dresses for the wedding for months. Ara's an expert party planner and she's had Jane help her with planning out the wedding on paper."

"Yeah, on paper," Yeva agreed. "You don't know how long it could take to actually set up a whole wedding. Especially for Ara, Jane and Evie, who will literally go all out, pulling no stops."

Celia smiled. "I know. Isn't that the kind of wedding that you and Jay deserve, even if it's spiting Yzma? And with magic and help from everybody else, we can have it done, no problem." She put on a pout. "I mean, it's the least you can do, since we can't celebrate my birthday today."

Yeva scoffed but laughed at the same time. "That's--that's cheating."

Facilier smiled, laughing lightly. "That's good."

Yeva looked at Facilier. "Who's side are you on?"

Facilier looked between them, smirking in amusement, shaking his head. "This voodoo doctor's not taking sides. Not between two voodoo princesses."

"Please, Yeva," Celia begged.

"I would do it just to spite Yzma," Facilier told her.

Yeva looked at Celia. Celia was giving her puppy dog eyes until she gave in.

Yeva couldn't help one more second before she caved to the look her little sister was giving her. "I'll ask Jay."

Celia smiled smugly in victory. "I win. And at least you do get to spite Yzma." They all laughed. Celia played with a piece of Yeva's newly done hair. "And I didn't get the chance to say this before, but I love your new hair."

Yeva smiled. "Yeah, kept the black and purple look but added a few streaks of red. Since your hair's black with pink/red dye."

Celia smiled in touched sweetness. "Aw, you did that for me?"

Yeva nodded. "You know I did." Celia stood, walking around the table so that she could embrace Yeva. Yeva smiled, holding her sister close, while Facilier smiled slightly at that. "Happy birthday, Celia."

-----

Tails

Malia:

Ara:

Mari:

Anthony:

River:

Gaige:

Ara, Mari, River and Uma, with the help of Mal, Malia, Evie, Carlos, Jay, Anthony, Ben, Gaige and Gil, were decorating Tails for a birthday party.

"Hey, Carlos, can you get the balloons from outside?" Ara asked. "They're red with green skulls on them, just like Celia's hat."

"Yeah, I got it," Carlos answered, walking outside.

"Thank you," Ara called. "Jay, you talk to Yeva?"

"Yeah, she's got Celia and Facilier over at our loft for breakfast," Jay answered. "Celia's not gonna be here all day until they bring her here tonight."

Ara smiled. "Great. Uh, Gaige, Gil, you got food and beverages? You guys think that you can carry it all in?"

Gaige smirked in amusement. "Gil and I were the strongest two guys on the Isle, Ara. I'm pretty sure we got this."

Gil smiled, doing a handshake with Gaige. "Yeah, we do. Don't worry, Ara, I'll make sure that Gaige doesn't ruin things for Celia's birthday."

Gaige scoffed. "Please, you'd be the one screwing things up like usual, Gil. Let's go."

Gaige and Gil walked outside. The girls smiled in amusement.

"Anthony, Ben, can you see what's taking Bane so long to get here?" Mari asked.

"Yeah," Anthony answered. "We'll be right back."

"Don't say that if you're ever in a horror movie," Mari told them.

Ben chuckled. "Well, lucky for us, we're not."

"Not yet," Uma replied.

Anthony and Ben walked out.

Ara looked a little overwhelmed.

Evie saw that she did, turning to her friend. "Jay, can you go help Carlos with the balloons and gifts?"

"Yeah, on it," Jay answered. "Pretty sure it'll help me process the fact that Celia basically wants to blackmail me and Yeva to getting married on Valentine's Day next week, whether it spites Yzma or not."

River shrugged. "I would do it, just to spite Yzma."

Jay smirked. "That's exactly what Facilier said."

The others laughed lightly. Jay walked outside.

River smirked. "You know, Ara, Mari, I'm surprised that you took my and Uma's advice and colored your hair in your human form, too."

"Me too," Uma agreed. "You guys look great, though." Ara and Mari smiled. "Like the darker edge Ara's got with the black/blue with the pink. And Mari's looking good with the bright blue, right, River?"

"Right," River agreed.

Ara and Mari winked, causing the other girls to smile.

Ara jotted something down on her clipboard. "All right, so another party to plan within the next couple days." Evie took the clipboard from her. Ara looked up to complain. "Evie--"

"Ara," Evie replied. "Take a breath, take a break, something. We know how you get during events like this. You try to multitask too much at one time and you end up running yourself into the ground."

"Yeah, you do," Mal agreed. "Evie's right about that. And it's got to be worse now that you're queen of Scotland and you have things to do here and there, and if they need you there, you have to be there in a moment's notice, usually swimming at lightning speed in mermaid form just to get there in a few hours."

"An hour, if I push myself hard enough," Ara admitted. "That's if I don't fall asleep on the way there from exhaustion."

The girls gave her a look.

"Evie's right, Ara," Malia told her. "You need to take a break."

Ara sighed. "Fine."

Evie smiled. "Thank you. I'll go make sure the boys are doing okay. I will handle the party planning from now on, okay?"

Ara nodded. "Okay. Thank you, Evie."

Evie smiled, walking outside.

Uma turned to Ara. "It's really that tiring being queen on top of everything else you're always already doing?"

"Yeah," Ara answered. "I mean, being queen in Scotland and spending a couple months there, and then coming here to try to live my life while I'm at it, but then being called back to Scotland and having to swim there at my fastest just to be there in time..."

"You've actually fallen asleep while swimming to Scotland?" River asked.

"More than once," Ara answered.

"Well, it's almost as hectic for me trying to help Bane run magic school, and run here at Tails, and then being queen of Atlantica and having to swim there every time I get so much of a water illusion of emergency," Mari admitted. "Plus, there's a lot of trips between Atlantica, Scotland and Auradon since I've been trying to unite the three kingdoms, which I've been doing, and..."

"You've done a really good job, Mari," Mal assured. "You and Ara both have given everything. I'm just lucky that it's not that busy for me even after becoming queen of Auradon. And unlike you two, I have a king that takes care of most of it, and Anthony's such a natural at it. I barely have to do anything, but I get it, it can definitely get tiring."

Malia sighed. "Yeah, well, at least you guys have a life while being like this."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Uma asked.

Malia shook her head, looking down. "Nothing."

Ara raised her eyebrows skeptically. "Malia. Seriously? It's us. Mal's your twin. Mari, Uma, River and I are distantly related to you because all of us being descendants from gods, since Poseidon and Hades are brothers and are gods. Making all of us demigods."

"Which is really awesome when you think about it," Mari pointed out. They all chuckled. Mari looked at Malia. "Seriously, what's wrong?"

Malia sighed, shaking her head, sitting down. "I don't know. I mean, I love my life right now. Being with Ben is the best thing that has ever happened to me. It's fun with him, he always makes sure that I don't get overwhelmed, and he always takes me away on some date or adventure to be just us. But I'm not really doing anything as princess of Auradon. I might get a vote here and there, but I don't get the final say, and it's a good thing that that pressure is not always on me, because look at how well that went last time with the mistake of the idea of closing the barrier forever."

"Uh, that was a choice, not a mistake, but you guys made up for that," River pointed out.

"So, what, you're not liking the idea of being a pretty pink princess?" Uma asked. "Told you before, you can stick a tiara on a villain but you're still a villain. Or a Villain Kid in this case."

Malia shrugged. "Yeah, well, I was never trying to be a pretty pink princess. It's just... the whole politics of it all is super boring."

"What did you think it was gonna be like?" Ara asked in amusement.

Malia shook her head. "I don't even know. I'm just glad to be with Ben."

Mal smiled. "And I love being with Anthony. I admit, I sucked at this queen thing at first. But if it wasn't for Anthony, I wouldn't have gotten any better. It's so much easier now. And like with Ben and Malia, Anthony always takes me away to some date or adventure to make sure that I don't get too far caught up in all of this emotionally or stressfully, just so that we can be us and relax and just remember who we really are."

River smirked. "Sounds romantic. Mm, so Malia's bored with the politics of being a princess, and Mal, Ara and Mari are exhausted from the hectic lives of being queen."

"But it's easier for Mal since she has Anthony as her king," Uma mused. "Mm, sounds like Ara and Mari could follow that example."

"What are you talking about?" Ara asked.

"Carlos and Bane," Uma answered. "Both of you are in love with both of them, it's obvious for anyone to see. And we all know that they will one day become your kings."

"Oh, really?" Mari asked sarcastically to hide a blush.

River chuckled. "Yeah, really. Bane's already a prince, Mari. He'll know what to do and how to help you with everything you have to do, especially since you're uniting three kingdoms, and one of those are his. Ara, Carlos was always different from the Villain Kids, since he was way too sweet and kind..."

Ara smiled. "Yeah, I know."

"And I think that with his knowledge, he could really help you, even if you don't take him to be your king," River admitted. "You guys aren't alone in this."

Uma chuckled.

"What?" Mal asked.

Uma shook her head. "Nothing."

River tilted her head, skeptical. "Uma."

Uma smirked. "It's just that, River and I used to hate Mal and Malia. And I never once thought that we would be here sitting, talking to you about how to deal with being royalty, after what you two did to severe the ties between Izzy, Yeva, River, Gaige, Gil, Harry and me. And we also never thought that we would be able to be so close to Ara and Mari. Ariel's nieces."

Ara, Mari, Mal and Malia smiled in agreement, nodding.

"Yeah, but I'm glad that we did make it this far," Malia admitted.

"Me too," Ara agreed.

Mal and Mari nodded. "Same."

River smirked. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but me too."

The six of them smiled and chuckled.

-----

Outside

Gaige and Gil were carrying huge, heavy things for the birthday party that would have been hard for most people, but they could carry them with ease, both kind of showing off when they were doing it.

River walked outside, seeing Gaige and Gil carrying and showing off, smirking in amusement, crossing her arms, rolling her eyes. "Well, it is nice to have two of the strongest guys from either the Isle or Auradon on our side for birthday parties, and definitely for some battles."

Gaige smirked. "You know it. Though most of the battles around here are relying on magic, which Gil and I can't help with."

River walked closer. "Well, don't worry about it. You two are doing good as it is."

Gil smiled. "Thanks, River. I can leave you and Gaige alone for a second."

Gaige rolled his eyes at setting him and River up again. "Gil--"

River smirked.

Gil grinned goofily. "See you later."

Gil walked away.

River looked at Gaige in amusement, shaking her head. "Even when we're finally together, your brother still can't help but try to pit us together alone."

Gaige chuckled in agreement. "Yeah." River and Gaige sat down on one of the couches that were outside to overlook the ocean at the setting sun. "Man, Ara and Mari sure know how to pick their places to build Tails."

River smiled. "Yeah, they do. I mean, this sight is amazing."

Gaige looked at River, smirking. "Not nearly as amazing as the sight sitting next to me."

River hid a blush and a smile, looking down, smirking, biting her lip. "Smooth. As always."

Gaige chuckled, fixing his collar. "Well, I try to be."

River chuckled, shaking her head. "You, Harry and Gil were always the teen pirate boy heartthrobs back on the Isle. All of you had every girl fawning all over you. And just like Izzy, Harry flirted with basically everyone, and both had a reputation for breaking hearts, though Izzy more so because of her mom."

Gaige nodded in agreement, chuckling. "And Gil couldn't hold down a girlfriend to save his life, because like you said, most relationships don't work out on the Isle."

"Right," River agreed. "That's why I said that I didn't want to do anything before while we were stuck on the Isle. Because every relationship we heard of had ended badly."

"Including Izzy and Harry, though that was because Queen of Hearts threatened to kill Harry if Izzy didn't break him," Gaige agreed.

River nodded. "Jay and Yeva didn't even try to get together until they were here in Auradon. And ever since we got to Auradon permanently too, we finally got together, and Izzy and Harry got back together, after Queen of Hearts couldn't do anything to stop them."

"Because of a little nudge from Gil, but yeah," Gaige stated. They chuckled. "Is being in Auradon and finally able to lower your walls and let someone in everything you thought it would be?"

River looked at Gaige in amusement. "I'd never lower my walls unless it came to friends, family, and you, Gaige. But being here, being able to be with you... yeah. It's better than I thought it would be."

Gaige smiled. "I'm glad to hear that, River. Because it's better than I thought it would be, too."

River chuckled. "We're still so different but so the same, still, after all this time. And I think that's just what makes it better. Fire and ice, flames and the sea."

Gaige smirked. "Didn't I tell you before that we were better because of our differences?"

"Yeah," River answered.

"And I told you that there's not such a pair as we," Gaige added. "Looks like I was right."

River nodded in agreement, looking at him, unable to help a smile. "Yeah. You were. Gaige, after all this time, still feels like I'm falling for you."

Gaige smiled, and River realized what she said, becoming very nervous, looking down to hide a blush.

Gaige chuckled, taking River's chin to raise her head and meet her gaze. "River, it's okay. Because I feel the same."

River and Gaige started to sing a song 'Still Falling For You', the Victoria cover band version.

River took Gaige by the hands. "Fire and ice." Gaige spun River around, pulling her closer. "This love is like fire and ice." While Gaige held onto her hands, River leaned back, arching, before Gaige pulled her back up and spun her around to where her back was to his, their arms crossed as they held each other. "This love is like rain and blue skies." They raised their hands, spinning to uncross their arms without letting go of their hands, arms over their heads. "This love is like sun on the rise." River spun into Gaige's arms, who lifted her up and gave her a light boost into the air so she could roll through the air before landing in his arms again. "This love got me rolling the dice." River leaned back while still in Gaige's arms, spinning to her feet. "Don't let me lose." River and Gaige held hands, circling around each other. "Still falling for you / Still falling for you."

Gaige brushed back a lock of River's sea colored hair. "Beautiful mind." He spun River again, pulling her close to him. River placed her hand on his heart. "Your heart got a story with mine." River took Gaige's arm, wrapping it around her neck, looking from one side to the other, her face close to his as they leaned to the side into a dip. "Your heart got me hurting at times." Gaige lifted River up over his head. River held out her arms. "Your heart gave me new kind of highs." Gaige, holding River over his head, slowly spun around, slowly putting her down. "Your heart got me feeling so fine." River circled around Gaige, putting her hands on either of his shoulders to peek out from either side, flashing a smile that caused Gaige to laugh. "So what to do?" They lowered to a dip again, arms around each other, pulling back up so they could put their palms together, twining their fingers. "Still falling for you / Still falling for you."

River turned her back to Gaige, holding his arms around her waist, leaning back into his chest. "It took us a while / With every breath, a new day / With love on the line / We've had our share of mistakes." Gaige lifted River like that, spinning her around, making her laugh. "But all your flaws and scars are mine / Still falling for you." Gaige swirled River around in a dip, pulling her up. "Still falling for you."

Gaige lifted River again, spinning her around very fast but carefully, as hair blew around as they were both laughing, while Gaige sang alone. "And just like that, all I breathe, all I feel / You are all for me." Gaige put River down, as they did a few steps to the left, then to the right. "I'm in, and just like that / All I breathe, all I feel / You are all for me." Gaige turned his back to River, holding out his arms, almost acting like he would fall. River caught him from behind, keeping him standing, arms around his neck from behind, both smirking. "No one can lift me, catch me the way that you do." Gaige took River's arms from his neck to spin her around him to where she faced him. "I'm still falling for you."

Facing the same way, holding hands, they stepped in circles all around, kind of fast but not too fast.

River could only look at Gaige. "Brighter than gold / This love shining brighter than gold / This love is like letters in bold." They spun each other to face the other direction, doing the same dance. "This love is like out of control / This love is never growing old / You make it new." River spun beneath Gaige's arms to face him. "Still falling for you / Still falling for you."

 Gaige took River's arms to spin her around beautifully but in a badass swirl, pulling her closer, both raising their arms over their heads. "It took us a while." They lowered their arms, with River's arms around Gaige's neck, and Gaige's arms around her waist. "Because we were young and unsure." They stepped in a line. "With love on the line." They broke away from each other. "What if we both would need more?" They turned to face each other. "But all your flaws and scars are mine / Still falling for you / Still falling for you."

Gaige lifted River up, spinning her around over his head.

River held her arms around Gaige's neck, looking down at him with a smile. "And just like that, all I breathe, all I feel." She raised her arms over her head. "I'm in, and just like that." She put her hands back down as Gaige set her down. "All I breathe, all I feel / You are all for me." Gaige lifted River onto his shoulder, as she flipped down behind his back, but Gaige could reach behind him and catch her safely. "No one can lift me, catch me the way that you do." River spun around Gaige to where she was now in front of him, arms around his neck and legs around his waist. "I'm still falling for you."

Gaige lifted River just enough so she could unwrap her legs and set her down on her feet. They smiled at each other while singing, no longer dancing. "Falling, crash into my arms / Love you like this, like a first kiss." When Gaige got close enough to kiss River, River turned her head to where he kissed her on the cheek, making them both laugh. "Never let go / Falling, crash into my arms / Never breaking what we got /  And just like that, all I breathe / All I feel / You are all for me / I'm in, and just like that / All I breathe, all I feel / You are all for me / No one can lift me, catch me the way that you do / I'm still falling for you."

Finally after finishing the song and after a moment of a long, intense look, River and Gaige finally kissed deeply and passionately, but sweetly.

Ara walked outside, stopping awkwardly when she saw them, looking away. "Sorry, River. Sorry, Gaige."

Gaige and River shook their heads.

"You're good," River told her. "We were just..."

Ara nodded in amusement. "I see. Um, do you guys know where Carlos went?"

"Yeah, he got this alert on his phone and went straight to the Tower, if that means anything," Gaige answered. "Carlos told me to tell you when I saw you. Well, just saw you."

Ara chuckled. "Got it. Thanks, Gaige. I should go there."

River nodded. "Just remember that Yeva will kill you and Carlos if either of you miss Celia's birthday, Ara. You should know better than to mess with Faciliers. And she'll kill Harry, Izzy, Ben, Anthony and Bane if they're not back here by the party."

Ara chuckled. "Well, don't worry. And tell Yeva we'll all be here in time for Celia's party. No one's messing with the Faciliers. Even if I have to unplug Carlos's router to get him away from the Tower, drag Harry and Izzy here by the hook and pull beast hair from Ben, Anthony and Bane to get them all here."

Gaige nodded in amusement, smirking. "You do that. Good luck. Good thing about not messing with Faciliers."

Ara chuckled, walking away. River and Gaige exchanged a look, chuckling.

Gaige smirked. "Oh, River, River, River."

River smirked. "That's my name. What do we do now, Gaige?"

Gaige and River shared a kiss.

-----

Bane:

Castle - Beast Brothers' Lair

Bane was laying on the couch, having fallen asleep while playing a game. He was having a dream about a box with magical instruments being stolen, looking like he was trapped within a nightmare. He saw a man named Azari stealing the box.

Azari, even though this was Bane's dream, seemed to know that Bane was there watching from inside his head, reaching out to magically choke Bane through the distance. "Get out of my head!"

Bane woke up gasping for breath, frightened from the dream and from the fact that he couldn't breathe in real life either.

Ben and Anthony walked in. "Bane?"

"Hey," Ben told him. "How did we know that you would be here?"

"Well, I mean, it wasn't hard to guess at, since this is like your go-to space for thinking, since we always came here to think," Anthony admitted.

Bane was still trying to recover from the dream, which confused Anthony and Ben.

"Bane?" Ben asked. "You okay?"

Bane tried to catch his breath, shaking his head. "I don't think so."

Ben and Anthony walked closer to sit on either side of Bane.

"You wanna talk about it?" Anthony asked.

Bane started to shake his head at first, but knowing that he had to talk about it, stopped and gave in. "It's just like this crazy dream. I saw a man stealing a box that is filled with magical weapons."

"Box with weapons?" Ben asked.

"Yeah," Bane answered.

"What kind of weapons?" Ben asked. "Besides magical, I mean, obviously."

"I don't know," Bane admitted. "But I just felt like I had to protect them for some reason. I don't know why."

"Well, if that's the worst part, it doesn't sound too bad," Anthony told him.

Bane shook his head. "That's not the worst part."

"It's not?" Ben asked.

"No," Bane answered. "The man stealing the box of weapons... it was like he knew I was there. He gripped the air, and then I couldn't breathe, and he yelled for me to get out of his head, and then I snapped out of it and woke up."

Ben and Anthony were just as confused by the dream as Bane was, but knowing that he was freaked out by it, nodding understandingly in sympathy and assurance.

"That sounds intense, but it was just a dream, right?" Anthony asked.

"I don't know," Bane admitted. I mean, that's what freaks me out so much. It felt so real. And when I woke up, I couldn't breathe either. Anthony... Ben... I think on some level, that it could have been real."

None of the brothers knew how to react to this, and not knowing what to do about it.

-----

Izzy's Mansion

Izzy:

Izzy was bringing Harry in to show him her mansion that she had just gotten, holding her hands over his eyes. "I can't wait to see your reaction to this place."

Harry smirked in amusement. "Isabella, there's no need for secrecy or surprises. I think we've all had that too much in our lives already. And there always seems to be another secret and surprise right around the corner."

"True, but you'll like this secret and surprise," Izzy assured. She took her hands away from his eyes, stepping away to face him. "Okay. Open."

Harry opened his eyes, looking around at the very large mansion around them, scoffing in disbelief, but pleased. "You've got to be kidding me."

Izzy smiled. "You like it?"

"The exterior looks like a red and black gothic mansion, but the inside looks bright," Harry remarked. "Quite the trickster you and your house are."

Izzy laughed lightly. "Working at Bane and Mari's school and using my own magic, this place was no problem to get."

Harry raised his eyebrows at the last part, giving Izzy a look. "And by magic, I hope you mean your own magic, and not using Queen of Hearts's scepter."

Izzy sighed, tilting her head. "Yes, Harry. I haven't been using the scepter all that much anymore. Mostly because you and the others won't let me."

"Good," Harry replied. "You don't need to use it any more than you have to, because each time you have it around you, you're risking your mother driving you more insane."

Izzy nodded in acknowledgement, sighing, looking around, perking up, holding out her arms to show him the mansion, turning around grandly, smiling. "So? What do you think?"

"I love it," Harry answered. "But isn't it a little big for just you? Even Princess of Hea--" Izzy gave him a look, causing Harry to smirk. "Diamonds shouldn't need a house this big to herself. I know you've always wanted more and wanted big, Izzy, but this..."

"Well, this is for times when all our friends are over," Izzy admitted. "Plenty of space for everyone. And I might not have to be the only one actually living here permanently."

Harry looked at Izzy when she said that, but Izzy was sheepish and kind of embarrassed, looking down to hide a blush with her hair, swinging her arms.

Harry chuckled in amusement, walking closer, trailing the tip of his hook through Izzy's hair. "Isabella... you, my little duckling..." Izzy smiled slightly when she heard him say that in the husky voice that he always used when he was trying to get a reaction out of her, looking down. "Are you asking me to live here with you?"

Izzy looked up, never moving her gaze from his, biting her lip slightly, nervously, smirking a little. "Maybe."

Harry smirked, chuckling lightly. "So months go by, and with a little help from our friends, they try to help us steer clear of any madness either of us could have. Both of us have been getting a little better. And now you're asking me to move in with you? We went from baby steps to a big step, love."

"Yeah, but we got back together almost a half a year ago, and before that, we were together for months on the Isle," Izzy pointed out. "And we've known each other since we were kids. I don't know, I just feel better when you're close."

Harry smiled slightly. "Should I let that go to my head?"

Izzy smirked, taking hold of the hook he still had in her hair, pulling down his hands to hold them in between them. "Definitely not, but I know you, and I know you'll let it go to your head anyway." They both laughed lightly. "Harry, you told me once that I helped you with your craziness and made it easier, and that got better when everyone else was helping both of us too. And you've always made sure that my mother can't drive me anymore crazy than she already has. So, yes, if you want to put it simply and smugly like you always do..." Harry smirked. "Yes, I am asking you to live here too. If you want to."

Harry chuckled, suddenly taking Izzy in his arms to spin her around, making her laugh as he set her down. "How can I say no when you put it like that, princess?"

Harry and Izzy both smiled happily, arms around each other as they started to kiss passionately.

-----

The Tower - Control Room

Carlos was typing at the computers, trying to fix something, getting frustrated when it wasn't working, sighing in agitation.

He heard Ara's voice calling through the Tower as she was looking through the building. "Carlos? Carlos?"

"In here, Ara," Carlos called.

 Ara walked into the control room. "Even though this place isn't done yet, it's freaking huge and like state of the art."

Carlos smiled slightly. "That's the idea."

"Gaige said that you got an alert on your phone and you took off to come here," Ara explained.

"Yeah," Carlos answered. "I told Gaige to tell you like two hours ago."

"Yeah, but in his defense, I was busy trying to help Uma, River, Mari, Mal, Malia and Evie plan Celia's birthday party while Yeva and Facilier keep her distracted for the day," Ara explained. "That's before Evie forced me to take a break."

"Good," Carlos told her. "You run yourself into the ground with things like this."

Ara tried not to smile. "That's exactly what Evie, Mal and Malia said."

"Yeah, because everyone knows how you get with things like this," Carlos told her. "It was even worse during cotillion time. You were trying to balance doing a play about your aunt with prepping for cotillion with helping Anthony create a stain glass window for Mal with helping Evie with your guys's fashion line with helping Mal, Malia and Mari becoming Ladies of Auradon Court, with helping me, Yeva, Mal, Malia, Evie, Jay, Anthony and Ben try to get through to Izzy when she went back to the Isle, getting through to her yourself, and then having to help all of us, Bane and Mari save Ben and Anthony from Uma, River, Gaige, Harry and Gil, where you and Mari ended up saving Gaige, Gil and Jay from being shark bait, right before cotillion where you, Mal, Malia and Mari battled with Uma and River again."

Ara frowned in confusion, walking closer. "Okay, Carlos, you only ramble on about stuff like that when you're nervous and you're confused."

"That's because I'm nervous and confused," Carlos admitted.

"Why?" Ara asked. "What's wrong?"

"Okay, so ever since Mal and Malia let Yeva bring down the barrier to make up everything to her and Izzy about breaking their bonds with Uma, River, Gaige, Gil and Harry, and about lying to them about the idea of closing the barrier forever, and Yeva brought the barrier down and let everyone out, I set the computers and tracers here at the Tower to track black magic or dark magic so that we can be aware of when something happens," Carlos explained, ranting on "Since all the villains from the Isle are out now and no one knows if one could want revenge."

"How can you track dark magic?" Ara asked.

"Well, I made a computer algorithm that scrapes data from cameras, security footage, strange sightings, local news sites, and then it puts everything through a..." Carlos trailed off.

Ara walked closer. "Carlos."

"Yeah?" Carlos asked.

"I don't speak tech," Ara reminded him, trying to lighten him up. Carlos chuckled at that. "Can you explain in simpler terms?"

Carlos nodded. "The computer will tell me."

Ara chuckled, nodding sarcastically. "Okay, I know that much. What about all this?"

"So I got into the security systems of basically all of Auradon to see if it could alert me to anything," Carlos explained. "Rerouted any surveillance cameras I could need, programming them to look specifically for dark magic or power."

"So you found something?" Ara asked.

"No, the issue's that I didn't find anything because there was nothing to find," Carlos answered.

Ara frowned in confusion. "So is that a bad thing or..."

Carlos nodded, knowing that he was not explaining it right, gesturing for Ara to come closer. "Here, I'll show you."

Ara walked closer to stand next to Carlos at the computers, so Carlos could show her a surveillance videos. At first, there was nothing wrong, before the cameras were overrun with red/black smoke to block out anything that they could have seen.

Ara raised her eyebrows. "Okay, that is definitely something."

"Yeah," Carlos agreed. "But we can't figure out what that is or who it is because they're blocking out the cameras and everything I use to try to look for things like that."

"They know about your system," Ara surmised.

Carlos nodded. "And they know how to block it so we can't trace them or find them or even know who they are."

Ara took a deep breath, sighing. "Okay, I get that this could be bad. But can we put the worry aside for at least one night so that we can focus on Celia's birthday? We're gonna be late if we don't leave right now. And then--"

Carlos winced, making a face. "And then Yeva would kill us."

"Yeah," Ara agreed. "We gotta make sure that Harry, Izzy, Anthony, Ben and Bane get there in time, too. Everyone's already there, even Dizzy, since she's Celia's best friend." Ara took Carlos's hand, looking at him reassuringly. "It'll be okay at least for a few hours, okay? We have to go tell the others anyway and see what we can came up with together, as a team, all right?"

Carlos nodded in agreement. "All right. You're right. We'll go and get Harry and Izzy and bring them to Tails just so that Yeva doesn't kill us for missing Celia's birthday party. Don't want to risk the Facilier voodoo wrath." Ara smiled. "And Ben, Anthony and Bane can meet us there. We can all talk about it after Celia's party so that we don't ruin her birthday tonight. None of us had really good birthdays."

Ara nodded sympathetically. "I figured. Which is why we should go and try to make sure that nothing ruins Celia's birthday, all right? All of you VKs have gone through so much. You deserve a lot better. And this is a good first step for Celia."

Carlos nodded, smiling. "I love how much you care about all of this. Making sure that us VKs live our best lives now that we're not in the Isle."

Ara smiled. "Well, I know you didn't have a lot, and you all went through so much. I just want to make sure that you all have the lives you deserve now."

Carlos chuckled. "The reason why I fell in love with you."

Ara tilted her head. "I know. I love you, too."

Carlos and Ara smiled, sharing a kiss and embrace, holding hands before leaving together.

Carlos pulled out his phone to make a call. "Izzy, you and Harry better be ready by the time that Ara and I come and get you two, because Yeva is gonna kill us if we miss Celia's party, unless you want to risk the wrath of the Facilier voodoo family." Ara laughed in agreement as they walked outside. "Ben, Anthony and Bane should be meeting us there."

-----

Azari's Lair

The red/black smoke that had been in Tails the end of the last book, that had been reaching for Izzy, appeared, and it formed into Azari, who was carrying the box from Bane's dream. He walked toward a table, putting the box down, admiring it for a moment, smirking crazily, opening the box. A powerful mist was released from the box, in forms of weapons and artifacts, and although some of the weapons got away through the flying mist, Azari kept hold of the artifacts, and was able to control them and choose which one to use. He grabbed the first artifact, the Web of Darkness, that released a cloud of darkness that could take away people's souls, leaving only their bodies. He knew that there were a couple people who could feel this happen but also knowing that they wouldn't know what it meant yet, calling out to one person who he knew that would be able to feel it. "Isabella."

-----

Tails - Outside

Jay was waiting outside, seeing Carlos, Ara, Izzy and Harry arrive. "There you guys are. Just in time, too. Yeva, Celia and Facilier are almost here. If Yeva saw you guys getting here late, she'd really go full voodoo princess on you guys."

They smirked in amusement.

Izzy felt what happened with the box, the weapons and the artifacts, while also hearing Azari's voice in her head. "Isabella."

Izzy stumbled slightly as if from an overwhelming force.

Harry reached out to steady her, confused and concerned. "Isabella?"

"Izzy?" Carlos asked worriedly. "What's wrong?"

Izzy shook her head in confusion, not knowing the answer. "I just... I felt... this coldness out of nowhere. It was dark and endless. It felt like an explosion of... power. And I heard someone say my name. I think I'm going crazy fast."

Jay shook his head. "That was different, Izzy. That wasn't like anything we've seen from you so far, because of Queen of Hearts. This wasn't you."

"Then what was it?" Ara asked worriedly. "If it wasn't from Queen of Hearts?"

Jay, Carlos, Ara, Izzy and Harry exchanged a look of confusion and worry.

-----

Multiple Places

The Web of Darkness was being released all over Auradon, spreading all over the kingdom. Each person it passed over, it starting to take the souls of the people one by one, leaving their bodies to fall to the ground, but not killing them.

The other three people who could feel this happening were Yeva and Celia (in the street with Facilier walking to Tails) and Bane (in the Beast Brothers' Lair with Anthony and Ben). Yeva, Celia and Bane all felt the same feeling that Izzy felt, but none of them heard Azari's voice since he hadn't been calling out to them, only to Izzy, all of them freaked out from the feeling like Izzy had been, looking dizzy as well.

Facilier helped steady Yeva and Celia, holding his daughters' arms in confusion. "Yeva? Celia?"

Ben and Anthony caught Bane on either side before he could fall. "Bane?"

Yeva, Celia and Bane didn't know how to explain to Facilier, Ben and Anthony at all, or to themselves.

-----

Castle - Hallway

Bane was going to get his scepter because of the bad feeling that he had had, not knowing that Izzy, Yeva and Celia had also had it. When Bane grabbed his scepter, his eyes glowed blue/gold, and he started to see a vision of Azari coming to attack Bane, Ben and Anthony. Knowing that he was coming, Bane ran back to the Beast Brothers' lair.

-----

Beast Brothers' Lair

Bane ran back into the room, slamming the doors closed, running toward Ben and Anthony. "Stand back."

"What?" Ben asked.

"What's going on?" Anthony asked.

"Just get away from the doors," Bane told them.

Anthony heard a noise, looking toward the doors. "Did you hear that?"

Ben nodded. "Get down!"

The three brothers took cover behind the furniture in the room.

Azari arrived, using his power to blow the doors of the room up, sending the pieces of the doors flying to the floor, walking in, looking around, not seeing the brothers. "Bane. Anthony. Ben. Don't you think it's a little silly to be hiding?"

"How do you know our names?" Anthony asked.

Azari smirked. "I know more than you could possibly imagine. And you can't hide from me forever." Bane was behind Azari with his scepter, trying to hit Azari with magic. Azari sensed the magic coming, ducking so he wouldn't be hit, using inhuman speed to turn to face Bane, grabbing Bane by his throat. "Hello, Guardian. How I missed you."

"Who the hell are you?" Bane asked.

"You Guardians and voodoo princesses have lost sight of the past," Azari remarked. "None of you know the truth. But I sure as hell haven't forgot." Still gripping Bane by the throat, Azari started to take away his life force, making him turn sick, pale and weak. "Do you feel that, Guardian? That's your life force slipping away from you into me. Does that hurt you? Try being in the prison that the last Guardian and his friends put me into, but now that I'm free, I am gonna enjoy taking you all out and getting back what they stole from me."

"I don't even know who you are," Bane told him weakly.

Azari smirked. "And you never will. Are your brothers still here? Are they gonna hear me kill you?  You always had to save Anthony and Ben, Bane. Too bad they can't save you this time either."

Ben found a sword, jumping out of hiding to attack Azari. "I wouldn't be too sure about that."

Azari held his free hand toward Ben, using magic to freeze him midair to stop him, not realizing that Ben was distracting him so that Anthony could jump out of hiding and stab Azari through the back, making him let go of Bane. Bane used his staff to send Azari flying back through the air, sending him sliding down the bowling lanes in the room. Bane took Anthony and Ben's hands with one of his, raising his scepter in his other hand, making all their eyes glow blue/gold as he made them disappear in a whirl of blue smoke. They reappeared in a room full of suits of armor and swords to try and defend themselves against Azari.

"Anthony, Bane, swords," Ben instructed, getting the swords, tossing them to each of his brothers.

Bane was really weak after what Azari did to him. "Ben... Anthony... whoever that was, he was draining my life force. I don't have the power to defeat him on my own."

"Well, you're not on your own, Bane," Anthony told him. "Ben and I are not gonna let you die. We're gonna get out of here. I promise."

"Bane, what did he mean when he called you a Guardian?" Ben asked.

Bane shook his head. "I have no idea."

"What he called Bane doesn't matter right now, Ben," Anthony told him. "What matters right now is that we find a way to get out of here alive. He can obviously find us wherever we go."

"We just need a plan to distract him," Ben pointed out.

Bane nodded, looking at the suits of armor around them, getting an idea. "Here's what we do. You remember what Mal, Malia and Mari told us about how Audrey used magic to animate the knights of armor at the magic school to fight them, Izzy, Yeva, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ara, Uma, River, Gaige, Gil and Harry?"

Ben and Anthony realized what Bane meant, nodding.

"Just be careful, Bane," Ben warned. "We have to make sure that we can get you to the others and heal you before you can do anything serious with magic."

In the hallway, Azari burst out of the Beast Brothers' lair room to stride down the corridors of the castle, searching for them. "Bane! Anthony! Ben! Come on out, Beast Brothers. You're only delaying the inevitable. The longer you hide, the longer I make you die." Azari walked past a door, but stopped, sensing something, smirking. He turned to the door, kicking it in, walking inside, seeing that it was the room with the suits of armor and the swords, but not seeing the Beast Brothers. "Come on out, boys. I know you're here. I can smell you." Bane was using magic to animate the knights around Azari so that they could attack him. Azari smirked, shaking his head in amusement. "So you're taking lessons from Sleeping Beauty's daughter. If you think that Isabella, Princess of Hearts could stop those knights with magic, that I could stop them with mine?"

Azari found an extra sword, able to spin around and deflect all of the moves from all the knights in a blur of motion. One of the knights did manage to stab Azari in the shoulder from behind though, causing him to get very angry. Azari held out his hand, which blew back the knights to the floor, closing his fists, not even needing a spell melt the suits of armor into a big pile of melted silver in the middle of the room.

Anthony, Ben and Bane seemed to appear behind Azari.

"Not bad," Anthony mocked. "Then again, not as good as we thought."

Azari turned to shoot a blast of red/black magic at the Beast Brothers, only to see that they disappeared. "Illusions, Guardian? Really? Why don't you stop the childish games?"

"It's called our only way of survival," Bane replied. Azari turned around to find another illusion of Anthony, Ben and Bane behind him, with Bane speaking. "Not gonna stop."

Azari shot another blast of red/black magic at the illusion, making it disappear. "The harder you made me look, the harder I'm gonna be on you."

Another illusion of Anthony, Ben and Bane attacked Azari to distract him.

The real Anthony and Ben jumped out from hiding to stab Azari from each side with their swords.

"Good thing you don't have to look anymore," Ben replied.

The real Bane appeared, using his scepter to blast Azari into the wall, making him fall. He took Anthony and Ben's hands again, raising his scepter, causing all their eyes to glow blue/gold as Bane made them disappear in a cloud of blue smoke, so they could escape to tell the others.

Azari looked up, becoming very angry when he saw that the Beast Brothers got away from him, his eyes turning completely black, slamming his hands on the ground, releasing a roar like a demon monster. "No!"

-----

Tails

Everyone else, besides the Beast Brothers and the Faciliers, were waiting inside Tails, except for Carlos, Ara, Jay, Izzy and Harry, who were still outside.

"Hey, Mari, how far away do you think that Yeva, Celia and Facilier are?" Dizzy asked. "Do you think I have time to go to the bathroom?"

Mari chuckled. "I'd hold it, Dizzy."

Evie heard someone coming. "Quick, everybody hide."

Everyone ducked into hiding, jumping out when they heard the door open. "Surprise!"

Carlos, Ara, Jay, Izzy and Harry were the ones walking inside.

"Do we look like Celia to you?" Harry asked.

Evie, Mal, Malia, Mari, Uma, River, Gaige and Gil walked toward them.

"Hey," Mal told them. "Malia, Mari and I haven't heard from Ben, Anthony and Bane."

"And aren't Yeva, Celia and Facilier supposed to be here by now?" Gil asked.

Jay looked at his phone. "Yeva just texted me. They're almost here."

Izzy wasn't in the mood to talk after what happened outside, walking away, to the confusion of Evie, Mal, Malia, Uma, River, Gaige and Gil.

"Izzy?" Uma asked.

"What's wrong with Izzy?" Gaige asked.

"She had a dizzy spell outside," Ara answered. "She nearly fainted."

"She said that she heard someone say her name in her head," Carlos added.

"A voice in her head?" Gaige repeated. "Like Queen of Hearts?"

Gil raised his eyebrows. "So Queen of Hearts's tricks on Izzy getting worse?"

"No, this wasn't Queen of Hearts," Harry answered. 

"Then what was it, if it wasn't Queen of Hearts?" Mari asked.

Jay sighed, shaking his head. "We don't know. But it freaked her out pretty bad."

Malia nodded to Evie, Mal, Uma and River to follow her toward Izzy. "Excuse us."

They nodded in agreement. Evie, Mal, Malia, Uma and River walked toward Izzy.

"Hey," River told her. "Izzy? You okay?"

Izzy sighed. "Harry, Carlos, Ara and Jay send you over to talk to me?"

"We came on our own," Mal answered. "You okay?"

"Not really," Izzy answered. "I don't know what happened, so don't ask me."

Uma nodded in understanding. "All right. We won't."

"We just wanted to make sure you were okay," Evie told her. "Whether it was Queen of Hearts or not."

Izzy sighed, turning to face them. "I don't know the meaning of that word anymore."

Malia looked at her sadly in sympathy. "Oh, Izzy..." The girls embraced. "Don't worry about Queen of Hearts or whatever it was. Yeva's gonna be here soon with the rest of the Faciliers, too. She always knew what to say to you for moments like these."

Izzy chuckled a bit, nodding in agreement.

Dizzy looked out the window. "Guys, they're really coming this time."

Everyone ducked into hiding on all sides of the room. Mal used magic to turn the lights off. When Yeva, Celia and Facilier walked in, Mal turned the lights back on.

Everyone jumped out of hiding. "Surprise!"

Celia jumped in surprise, chuckling a bit, her smile not quite reaching her eyes after what she and Yeva had felt on the way there. "Oh, my God. You guys totally tricked me."

Facilier chuckled, patting Celia on the shoulder. "It kind of runs in the family, Celia. But it was Yeva's idea to surprise you."

Celia looked up at Yeva, touched. "Really?"

"Yeah," Yeva answered. "Wanted to give you the best birthday I could. And I know that neither of us are feeling too good after earlier..."

Celia suddenly embraced Yeva tightly, causing her to chuckle as she returned the embrace. "The party's perfect. Thank you."

The others walked closer.

Dizzy smiled. "Hey, Celia."

"Dizzy," Celia replied.

Dizzy hugged her best friend. "Happy birthday."

Celia forced a smile. "Thank you."

"Is it just me, or is the birthday girl not in the birthday spirit?" Gil asked, frowning slightly, looking a little sad at that fact.

"It's not your fault," Facilier told them. "When we were on the way over, Yeva and Celia got hit by this wave of nausea or something. They nearly passed out. Would have if I hadn't been there to keep them up."

Ara, Carlos, Harry and Jay exchanged an alarmed look with Evie, Mal, Malia, Mari, Uma, River, Gaige and Gil since they had just explained that was what happened to Izzy. They all looked from Yeva and Celia to Izzy. Izzy sighed, closing her eyes, lowering her head. Their reactions only made Yeva, Celia and Facilier confused.

"What is it?" Yeva asked. She realized who was missing. "Where are Ben, Bane and Anthony? Oh, if they skipped and made this any worse, I will kill them."

The others chuckled because they knew that Yeva would have done that and Carlos, Ara, Gaige, River and Jay had even said that she would.

"We don't know where Ben, Bane and Anthony are," Mari admitted.  She sighed. "But Ara, Carlos, Harry and Jay were right outside with Izzy when she got hit by something like what hit Yeva and Celia. And at first, we thought it was Queen of Hearts, but apparently it wasn't. Faciliers..."

"Yeva, Celia, did you or Facilier hear anything when it happened?" Uma asked.

"No," Yeva answered. "Why?"

"Because Izzy said that she heard a voice in her head saying her name when she got hit by it, but that it wasn't Queen of Hearts," Uma answered.

Izzy, Yeva and Celia exchanged a very overwhelmed look. Everyone looked at them in confusion and concern.

"Okay, so it definitely wasn't Queen of Hearts playing tricks on Izzy, then," River told them.

"Then what the bloody hell was it?" Harry asked.

Carlos shook his head. "A question for another day. Celia, since you're not feeling well, do you want to cancel? We can send everyone home and figure out what's going on."

Celia looked conflicted, not knowing the answer herself. "Well..."

Yeva scoffed. "No, we're not canceling." They all looked at her. "We're having a party tonight."

"Looks like responsible big sister slipping back into restless troublemaker ways," Jay remarked.

Carlos chuckled. "Yeah."

"No, this has nothing to do with being responsible or being a troublemaker," Yeva told them. "Celia's party will go ahead as we planned."

"But with everything going on..." Ara trailed off. "Queen of Hearts, Yzma, whatever you guys heard..."

Uma shrugged. "So something magical's happening in Auradon again, as it happened before, and as I imagine, will happen again. But we don't know exactly what."

"Guys, there's no good time to relax," River pointed out. "But none of us had a great upbringing or birthdays, and at least now, we can try to give Celia the best one we can."

"You deserve this party, Celia," Gaige told her. "And we all deserve the chance to relax and calm down and have fun."

Harry shrugged. "Let's put it to a vote. Everyone in favor of keeping the party going, say 'aye'."

"Not all of us are pirates or Scottish/British," Mal pointed out. "But okay."

Everyone said, "Aye."

"I think Yeva, Uma, River and Gaige are right," Malia agreed. "It's the best advice we got for right now. Even if Ben, Anthony and Bane are running late, they should be here soon."

Evie looked at Yeva, Uma, River and Gaige, smiling. "You are great people of our time. So wise already. Besides, a little party never killed anyone, right?"

They all chuckled.

"And anyway, besides Ben, Bane and Anthony, we're all here," Jay pointed out.

"So we'll be able to look out after each other and have cake," Carlos told them.

Izzy nodded in agreement. "Exactly."

"Well, when you put it like that..." Ara trailed off.

Mari smiled. "Let's have some fun."

Everyone around them cheered.

Yeva took Celia by the hands, pulling her toward the stage so they could sit down together. "And I know that not all of us are feeling up to the party but agreeing to it because we all know that we need it. And I do have a birthday gift for you, a couple actually. You do get your bling and makeup that I promised you when I was talking you out of stealing from Audrey." Celia smiled while everyone else laughed. "And you get presents from everyone here, too."

Celia looked at everyone. "I'll be accepting and expecting cash."

There was more laughter.

Facilier nodded in approval, pointing at both his daughters. "Proud of you two. Making sure you get your cut. Even without conning."

Everyone laughed.

Yeva was still holding Celia's hands in hers. "And you know I hate those pop teen/child songs, but I know you like some. And there's one of your favorites that describes how close we've both gotten in such a short amount of time. And being sisters, the song describes us so well. And I just wanted to sing it to you as another present for you. On top of makeup, bling and money." Celia smiled excitedly. Everyone smiled at the sweet scene. "And since this is one of your favorite songs, I definitely want you to sing with me when you feel like stepping in, okay?"

Celia nodded. "Okay."

Yeva smiled, nodding to Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River, while Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry were creating beats by instruments around them, and Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River did vocalizing for Yeva. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh."

Yeva stood, turning to do a little dance, keeping it very simple, raising her arm over her head. "If I'm the sun, you're the moon." Behind her, Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River did flips with their hair. Immediately recognizing the song, Celia smiled excitedly in awe, touched, looking the most happy she had ever been. Uma/River, Ara/Mari, Mal/Malia and Izzy/Yeva circled around each other on the stage, surrounding Celia, making her look around and smile. "If you're the words, then I'm the tune, yeah." Yeva put a hand to her chest, reaching out to take Celia's hands. "If you're the heart, then I'm the beat." Yeva let go, turning to the other girls. "Somehow together we're complete, yeah." Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry were creating beats by instruments around them, having a blast. "There are times my world is crumbling and the rain is crashing down." Celia looked around, smiling happily. "But everywhere you are, the sun comes out." Yeva stood in front of Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River, standing in between Evie and Ara so that she was in the middle as well, as they all did circling motions with their arms. "Even when you're gone." The girls behind Yeva did waves of their arms like explosions of light, while Yeva crossed her arms over her chest like a hug. "I feel you close." The girls behind Yeva were stepping through a wave of movements behind Yeva so that they were switching places smoothly and easily. "You'll always be the one I love the most." Yeva pointed at Celia, tapping herself on the chest and head. "You're in my heart, on my mind." Standing in a line again behind her, Mal, Malia, Izzy, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River were stepping side to side, running their hands along their arms. "You are underneath my skin." Yeva stepped down the steps further into Tails while everyone was bopping to the music and the beat that the boys were making, spinning around. "And anywhere, anytime, that you need anything / Count me in."

Dizzy and Mari both took hold of Celia's rolling chair so they could roll her across the stage toward Yeva on the other side of the room, making Celia smile and laugh, putting a birthday hat, beads and other birthday things on Celia for celebration.

Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River did vocalizing for Yeva, as the girls stood behind Yeva, and they all were doing circling motions to make it look like a fan made by them. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh." They stepped in place, waving their hands over their heads. "Count me in, yeah."

Yeva spun Celia around in her chair, sitting next to her so they could embrace.

Celia smiled with tears in her eyes. "I don't need to say a word, no / 'Cause you know when I'm happy and when I'm hurt / We're close as pages in a book." They looked toward where Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River were dancing in a line, stepping in a march, throwing their hands in front of them then behind them. "'Cause you make me feel better with just one look / There are times my world is crumbling and the rain is crashing down / But everywhere you are, the sun comes out." They looked toward where Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry were creating beats by instruments around them. "Even when you're gone." The girls now stood behind Yeva and Celia, shooting confetti down around them, making them laugh. "I feel you close." The girls behind Yeva and Celia were stepping through a wave of movements, circling around them in a dance. Celia hugged Yeva close. "You'll always be the one I love the most." Yeva stood, taking Celia by the hand, spinning her around in her chair. Celia jumped up, pointing at Yeva, tapping herself on the chest and head. "You're in my heart, on my mind." Standing in a line behind the two sisters, Mal, Malia, Izzy, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River were stepping side to side, running their hands along their arms. "You are underneath my skin." Celia jumped down from the chair she was now standing on, spinning around. "And anywhere, anytime, that you need anything / Count me in."

Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River did vocalizing for Yeva and Celia, as the girls stood behind Yeva and Celia, and they all were doing circling motions to make it look like a fan made by them. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh." They stepped in place, waving their hands over their heads. "Count me in, yeah."

Yeva and Celia held each other by the hands, standing up so they were face to face. "'Cause we're two halves of the same new heart that beats to our own drum." They both looked at Facilier as they were singing the next line, since Facilier was also known as the Shadow Man. "You're the shadow always by my side." Facilier smiled proudly. "One that sometimes knows me better than I know myself." Yeva and Celia embraced tightly. "And I'm so glad that you're here with me tonight." Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma, River, Yeva, Celia and Dizzy were all spinning around in a dance together, going all over Tails, causing everyone to cheer. "Even when you're gone, I feel you close / You'll always be the one I love the most." Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry were still creating the beat, smiling at the girls having fun. "You're in my heart, on my mind / You are underneath my skin / And anywhere, anytime, that you need anything / Count me in."

Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River did vocalizing for Yeva and Celia. "Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh."

Yeva, Celia, Izzy, Mal, Malia, Evie, Ara, Mari, Uma and River finished the song together. "Count me in, yeah."

When the song finished, everyone cheered and applauded loudly, while Yeva/Celia, Mal/Malia, Ara/Mari, Uma/River were all smiling and embracing, the four sets of sisters very uplifted after the song. Izzy and Evie were cheering for them, as were everyone else. The girls all shared a big embrace.

-----

Street

The blue/gold smoke that was transporting Bane, Anthony and Ben magically was soaring down the street, but as it got closer to Tails, the weaker the magic became because of how weakened Bane was from the attack from Azari. When the smoke had to come to a complete stop, the smoke faded, materializing into Ben, Anthony and Bane, their eyes glowing blue/gold as magic was effecting all of them, but the glow in their eyes quickly faded. Bane was very weak, coughing, nearly falling.

Ben and Anthony caught Bane from falling, keeping him up. "Whoa, Bane."

"It's okay, it's okay, we got you," Ben told him. "All right. It's okay. We're alive, okay? We got away from whoever that was. We're fine."

Bane shook his head. "No, we're not. Ben, Anthony, we need to get to Tails and to the others."

"Yeah, we know," Anthony agreed. "But you have to take it easy on yourself. That guy or whoever that was tried to kill you and would have if Ben and I hadn't stopped him. You still look like you're dying. So please, just don't do anything that can kill you before we can get you healed. Like pushing yourself too hard."

Ben looked away, seeing something in the distance, looking in shock, horrified. "Bane. Anthony."

Bane and Anthony looked at him. "What?"

Ben pointed down the street. Bane and Anthony followed his gaze. They saw the darkness from the artifact that Azari activated, the Web of Darkness, soaring down the street, and taking people's souls and leaving their bodies behind, effectively freaking out all three Beast Brothers. Bane raised his scepter, making his, Anthony and Ben's eyes blue/gold, making them disappear in a swirl of blue/gold smoke and fly down the way.

-----

Tails - Outside

Yeva was leaning against the railing overlooking the ocean, still feeling bad about the feeling before, on her phone, leaving a voicemail. "Bane, it's me again. I don't know where the hell you, Ben and Anthony are, but you better be dealing with the end of the world, since in case you forgot, you missed Celia's birthday party, so I will kill all three of you."

Yeva hung up, sighing in frustration, turning to go back to the party, but stopped when she saw the blue/gold smoke, frowning in confusion, raising her hands to use magic in case it was a danger.

The blue/gold smoke separated into three groups of smoke. Two of the smoky columns floated inside, while the other one stayed outside in front of Yeva.

The smoky column in front of Yeva materialized into Bane, who was looking even worse than before, more pale and near death, bleeding from his nose and eyes. He could barely say the voodoo princess's name. "Yeva."

Bane weakly fell.

Yeva caught Bane before he fell, looking at him worriedly, laying him down on the ground. "Oh, my God, Bane." She yelled out. "Help! Mari! Guys, come out here!"

Because of the music inside, the others didn't hear her.

Bane looked at Yeva weakly, coughing. "I was trying to get inside, but I had to stop. But Ben and Anthony, they made it inside, I think."

"Don't talk too much," Yeva told him. "Save your strength, okay? While I try to heal you."

Yeva put her hand on Bane's chest, making her eyes glow purple as she tried to heal Bane with a spell.

"We have to hurry," Bane told her. "He tried to kill me. He was going to kill Anthony and Ben to get to me. I saw what he is trying to do. He and it is gonna come for everybody."

"What do you mean?" Yeva asked.

"The man who attacked me, Ben and Ant," Bane answered. "And the darkness."

Yeva was confused, but more worried about making sure Bane survived, continued to heal him, her eyes still glowing purple.

-----

Inside

Celia's party was still going strong. Celia and Dizzy were on the stage, dancing freely, having fun.

Mari, Ara, Uma, Izzy, River, Malia, Mal and Evie were standing together, talking and laughing.

Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry were by the other side of the room, shooting darts.

Over by the other girls, Uma started to see the two columns of blue/gold smoke form behind Malia and Mal, grabbing their arms to pull them away. "Mal. Malia."

They all looked at the blue/gold smoke.

"What the hell is that?" Izzy asked.

The smoke materialized into Ben and Anthony, who looked at them in relief.

"Mal?" Anthony asked.

Ben sighed in relief. "Malia?"

Malia embraced Ben. "Ben, what happened to you two?"

"We got into a fight," Ben answered.

Mal embraced Anthony. "Anthony, what happened?"

"We kicked ass," Anthony answered.

"Where's Bane?" Mari asked.

"You guys missed like half the party," Uma told them.

"Why is there blood on you?" Evie asked.

"And where is beasty boy number three?" River added.

Ara cut them all off. "Girls, give them a second."

"Some guy came to kill Bane," Ben explained. "We managed to fight and escape, but he got Bane good. He's in bad shape. He smoked us out, but I think he stopped outside because of the way he is."

"I'm going outside," Mari told them, running outside.

Ara followed her sister. "Mari, wait."

"Let's go," Izzy told them, following after Mari and Ara.

Evie called out to Jay, Carlos, Gaige, Gil and Harry. "Boys, let's go."

The girls passed by the boys to get outside, led by Anthony and Ben. The other boys watched them go in confusion.

"What's happening?" Gil asked.

Gaige shook his head. "No idea."

"I don't think it's good," Jay told them.

Carlos sighed. "Oh, God."

Harry was annoyed with the interruption. "Pity. This party was just getting good."

The boys followed the girls, Ben and Anthony outside. Celia and Dizzy were still dancing when Celia saw them all go outside, confused.

-----

Outside

The others walked outside, seeing Yeva still with Bane, but he was better now. They all moved Bane to one of the couches by the ocean.

"Oh, my God," Evie whispered.

"Bane?" Mari asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Is he okay?" Ben asked.

"I need more magic," Yeva told them. "He is getting better, but we got to heal him more."

"We have to get out of here," Anthony told them.

"Yeah, but first, what the hell is going on?" Izzy asked.

"Some man got into the castle to kill Bane," Ben answered.

"He blew up the doors, and he could have gotten to us, but Bane had a vision and warned us," Anthony explained.

"Visions?" Malia repeated. "Since when does he have visions?"

"Since today, apparently," Bane answered.

Gil smiled. "Cool."

Gaige gave his brother a look. "Not cool, Gil."

Gil shook his head. "Right, not cool. Gaige's right. Sorry, Bane."

"Can we go back to the whole 'somebody tried to kill Bane' thing?" River asked.

"Yes, please," Harry agreed. "I'm curious, mates. Especially since I'm disappointed they beat me before I could hook him for calling me hooky."

Izzy hit him on the arm. "Harry."

"So that guy came in, but he didn't count on me and Anthony being there," Ben went on. "He blasted the doors and then started to take away Bane's life force or something."

Ara nodded understandingly. "That explains his state."

"Yeah, you should have seen him once they got here," Yeva told them. "It wasn't pretty."

"There's no time," Bane told them weakly. "We have to get out of here. We saw it. The darkness is on its way."

"What darkness?" Carlos asked.

Celia walked outside. "Yeva? What's happening?"

Yeva stood. "Celia, go back inside with Dizzy and the others."

"What?" Celia asked. "No."

"Yeah, this is saving the world stuff," Harry told her. "You're not there yet."

"Ease up, Harry," Gaige told him.

Celia scoffed. "Screw that. You better tell me what's going on right now."

From the other side of Tails, the Web Darkness was getting in through the vents.

-----

Inside

The party was still going, everyone having fun, not noticing the darkness starting to come in until it was too late, surrounding everyone, starting to take their souls, making them cough.

Facilier called out to everyone but it was too late. "Everybody get out!"

Dizzy tried to call outside. "Celia! Evie!"

Dizzy fell to the ground weakly.

Facilier slowly sunk to the floor, trying to call for his daughters weakly. "Yeva. Celia."

-----

Outside

The main group was still outside.

"This is pointless," Bane told them. "We have to go before the darkness gets here."

"What darkness?" Uma asked. "We don't see any--"

Gil noticed the darkness covering the doors of Tails. "Um, guys?"

Bane, Yeva, Celia and Izzy started to hear a ringing in their heads, making them clutch their heads and yell in pain.

Mari, Ben and Anthony caught Bane from falling, holding him worriedly. "Bane?"

Jay caught Yeva and Celia with either arm to hold them. "Yeva? Celia?"

Harry held Izzy standing, looking at her worriedly. "Isabella?"

"What the hell is that?" Izzy asked.

"Wait, what?" River asked.

"We can't hear anything," Carlos told them worriedly.

Gaige followed Gil's gaze, seeing the darkness. "Guys!" Everyone looked at him. "Look."

The others turned to look, seeing the darkness had taken Tails completely.

"Oh, my God," Malia said in shock.

Celia was about to run inside. "No!"

Jay, still holding Celia up from catching her, held onto her more tightly to stop her. "Celia, don't."

"Our dad is in there, Jay," Yeva told him.

"And so is Dizzy," Evie told them worriedly.

"It already took them," Bane told them. "We can't help them now."

"We have to get out of here now," Anthony told them.

"How?" Uma asked.

Mari looked at Ara. "The water."

Ara nodded in agreement. "Mari is right. We can open a portal in the water. It can't get us there if we pass through the portal."

"Where would we go?" River asked.

"I know where," Carlos told them.

Mal looked at Carlos. "Great, so you go through it first."

"Well, let's try," Gaige told them.

"Now would be a great time, because it's coming," Harry told them.

"Everyone jump in, now," Izzy told them.

Everyone started to run to the water, diving in. Once underwater, Ara and Mari had to take off their mermaid ring and necklace, turning into mermaids so they could use their mermaid magic to open a portal in the water, creating it out of swirls of water. Carlos went in first with the others following, Uma, River, Ara and Mari making sure that no one drowned, all of them making it quickly through the portal. Once they were all through the portal, Ara and Mari used the same magic to seal the portal closed behind them, saving them all from the darkness.

-----

The Tower - Hallway

The water portal opened in the hallway, and the gang all started to come through it, all of them now dry thanks to the mermaid magic. Ara and Mari were now in human form.

Gil held his stomach in pain. "Oh, God, I'm gonna vomit."

"Next time we have to escape death through a portal, can it not be water made, please?" Jay asked.

Evie looked over her outfit. "At least we're dry. There's no way we could have battled the darkness wet. Especially not with me in this dress."

"Can we please focus?" Mari asked. "We gotta find out what's causing the darkness."

Bane started to walk away, but still weak, he nearly fell.

Yeva caught Bane from falling. "Like I said before, he needs more magic, so can we go somewhere to heal him?"

Carlos nodded. "Follow me."

Carlos led everyone into the control room.

Uma looked around in awe. "Wow."

"This was not so advanced last time we were here," Gaige mused.

"Yeah, well, Carlos has gotta keep busy somehow, and I help out," Jay replied.

Ben and Anthony led Bane to one of the seats.

"Girls, come on, can you heal him?" Ben asked.

Yeva, Celia, Uma, River, Ara, Mari, Mal, Malia and Izzy walked closer, putting their hands in the air around Bane so that they could use their magic, strongest together, strong enough to even heal Azari's damage on Bane.

Anthony sighed in relief when Bane was okay. "Okay, so while they're doing that, we have to come up with a plan to save everybody."

"Anthony is right," Mal agreed. "First we gotta identify the situation."

"Since when are you two in charge?" Harry asked.

"Harry, not the time," Izzy told him.

"And you realize that they're the king and queen, right?" Malia asked.

Harry knew that Malia had a point, but was still annoyed.

Anthony looked at Harry. "And somebody has to make sure we all don't die out there, so meaning they got to be responsible and logical thinkers. Do you want that job?"

"Not really," Harry answered. "On second thought, keep going."

"Thank you," Mal told him sarcastically.

Celia sighed. "Back to business."

"Okay, so let's set up a timeline to now," River told them. "What happened first? We were planning Celia's party in Tails, and Bane wasn't there, so Mari told Anthony and Ben to go get him. Why?"

"I fell asleep because I had a nightmare," Bane answered.

"About?" Mari asked.

"The same man that tried to kill me, Ben and Anthony," Bane answered. "He was stealing a box of magical artifacts. From the dream, it looked like Pandora's Box. Wherever he's got the box, it's causing this."

"This was earlier, right?" Carlos asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Bane answered. "Why?"

Ara pointed at Carlos. "The feeds."

Carlos pointed at Ara, nodding. "Exactly."

"What feeds?" Celia asked.

"I had to leave Tails because I got an alert on my phone, and I told Gaige to tell Ara to meet me here, and yet he told her two hours later than I wanted him too," Carlos explained, giving Gaige a look. "Thanks, Gaige."

"Not my fault," Gaige replied. "Go on."

Carlos took a seat at his computer. "You see, I made a system hat would alert me of magical threats to track them."

"How did you do that?" Izzy asked.

Ara sighed, shaking her head. "Long story. A lot of tech talk you won't get."

"Well, thing is, the system stopped," Carlos went on. "But before it stopped, it picked up this."

Carlos showed them the same video of the red and black smoke.

"That's him," Bane told them. "The man that came to kill me, Ben and Anthony. The smoke he turned into in my vision looked just like that."

"That's not troubling at all," River told them sarcastically.

"So what happened?" Gil asked.

"We found Bane in our lair," Anthony answered. "He was scared, and he said that the man that was in his dream knew he was there and didn't like it."

"Okay, so that explains what went on with the Beast Brothers," Uma told them. "What about what Izzy, Celia and Yeva felt?"

"What do you mean?" Anthony asked.

"Me, Celia and our dad were walking to Tails for the surprise party when Celia and I got hit by this feeling," Yeva explained. "It nearly made us pass out, but we didn't thanks to our dad."

"It felt cold and dark," Celia added.

Izzy nodded. "If Harry hadn't caught me, I would've passed out, too. It felt like I was trapped in an endless void..."

"Of darkness," Bane finished with Yeva, Izzy and Celia.

Malia nodded nervously. "So I take it Bane felt it too."

"Yeah, he explained about it earlier," Ben answered. "It made him pass out almost, if it wasn't for me and Anthony, he would have. It was awful."

Evie nodded. "So Izzy, Yeva, Celia and Bane all felt it and all nearly passed out from it, and we saw them all scream earlier from hearing something we didn't hear. That's not creepy at all."

"What happened after that?" Mal asked.

"Well, I went to get my scepter when I got hit with the vision of the attack at the castle and the darkness," Bane answered.

"You got visions of that, too?" Malia asked.

Bane nodded.

"Oh, so beasty boy's suddenly psychic, apparently," Gaige said to try to ease the tension.

Harry looked at Bane. "Can't you get another vision and figure this out?"

Bane nodded sarcastically. "Sure, Hooky." Harry looked away in annoyance, tapping his fingers on his hook. Izzy reached back to put a hand on his arm without looking at him. "Just let me do a quick Bluetooth connection to that psycho and ask him for the answers while he is killing me. Great idea."

"Okay, scratch that plan," Ara told them. "Let's keep talking."

"What happened next?" Jay asked.

"Bane came back and told me and Ben of the vision of the attack, and we heard something so we took cover before the doors exploded," Anthony explained.

Ben nodded. "That man came in to kill us and Anthony, and Bane tried to attack him but failed. That guy grabbed his throat and well..."

Ben gestured to Bane where he was still being healed by the girls's magic.

Mari held Bane by the hand worriedly. "You can skip this part. We get the idea."

"So we fought him off, got away and found you," Ben finished.

Uma nodded. "Which took us to this moment."

"Okay, so now that we're caught up, what's the plan?" River asked.

"We need to have one if we're gonna fix this," Evie told them.

Gil chuckled. "Even I know that."

"Let's start by figuring out who this man is," Izzy told them.

Carlos was typing. "Trying to find out. I'm hacking into the security feeds of the castle cameras to see if he was caught by one of them, and I think we got him."

Carlos made a small video of Azari walking in the castle before the cameras stopped.

"That's all we got?" Mal asked.

"Seriously?" Malia asked.

"Yeah," Ara answered. "He must've stopped them like before."

"But that's him, right?" Evie asked. "Ben? Anthony? Bane?"

"Yeah, it's him," Anthony answered.

Mari was by Bane's side trying to heal him. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm better now," Bane answered. "Thanks, girls. You can stop now."

Bane could stand up on his own. The girls all nodded, walking to different places. Mari stayed with Bane.

"Okay, so this dude has a darkness that is doing what exactly?" Uma asked.

"It looks like it's taking away the souls, leaving the bodies," Yeva answered. "Only as husks of everybody it touches. It's spreading, and soon it will take all of Auradon and move on somewhere else."

"And you know this how exactly?" Gil asked.

"Please tell me this is something to do with the fact that you and Celia are voodoo princesses with the Shadow Man witch doctor Facilier with friends on the other side, Yeva," Jay told her.

Yeva and Celia nodded. "Mm-hmm."

Gaige smirked in amusement. "Great."

"That's inspiring," River told them sarcastically.

"Apart from that, we have a super magical psycho with..." Harry trailed off.

"A box with magical artifacts," Izzy finished.

Harry pointed at Izzy. "Right, yeah, but I'm not saying that. He has the box and he can use it to get out who knows what. Great."

"So how do we find it?" Mal asked.

Carlos was still typing. "I've been getting reads from my satellites."

"You guys have satellites?" Malia asked.

"Three, actually," Jay answered.

"Continue," Evie told them.

"Right, so getting the reads on the darkness, and it's pretty much all over Auradon, but I think I can manage to to the most exit point," Carlos explained.

Mari nodded. "Maybe it would be with the box."

Ara shook her head. I don't think so. If he went to the trouble of getting the box, he won't just leave it where it would get attention."

"Ara's right," Uma agreed. "This is too easy to find."

"Got something," Carlos told them, making an image of a mountain appear.

"Where is that?" River asked.

"That's Bald Mountain," Anthony answered.

"The Bald Mountain?" Gil asked.

"You guys heard of that?" Ben asked.

"Yeah," Gaige answered. "I mean, Gil and I heard stories about the ghost that exists there and that it's like haunted."

"Gaige and I always wanted to go there," Gil explained.

Celia shrugged. "Well, now you get the chance, then."

"So the artifact is there?" Harry asked.

"From Carlos's calculations, yeah," Ara answered.

"So what's the plan?" Mal asked.

"We get out there and get the artifact," River answered.

"And how do we get everybody back?" Malia asked.

"Objects like these are bound to their effects," Bane explained. "So if we take down the artifact, deactivate it, we free everybody and everything goes back to normal."

Yeva nodded. "Okay, let's do it then."

"Let's break it and bring everybody back," Izzy agreed.

"We gotta be careful," Gaige told them. "Legends say it protects it."

"There is no room for mistake," Evie stated.

"If we do make a mistake, then we all fail and Aurdon's lost," Mari told them.

"No pressure," Anthony told them sarcastically.

"Losing is not an option," Izzy told them.

"Come on, guys," Uma told them.

Jay nodded. "Let's get this party started."

-----

Bald Mountain

The group walked into the caves that led to an underwater portion.

"The artifact is here," Bane told them.

"I can't believe that we're here," Mari told them. "It's Bald Mountain."

"Since when does Bald Mountain have an underwater cave?" Yeva asked.

"Does it matter?" Izzy replied. "This place is protected by a variety of lethal magical obstacles that only we can get past to get to the artifact."

"Come on," Mal told them. Seeing bugs blocking the way. "Careful. They're blood scarabs. Only thing stronger than their venom is their bloodlust."

Malia used Dragon fire to breathe out onto the blood scarabs, burning them alive, sending them running until they died. "That's how it's done."

They walked into another part of the cave, where the artifact was protected by a wall of fire.

"The artifact," Evie stated. "Fire, forged from the breath of Dragons. Ara, Mari, pretty sure you can take care of this."

Ara and Mari waved their arms, creating water in the air out of mermaid magic, throwing them onto the flames, drenching the flames and putting them out.

"Next time, maybe something challenging," Ara suggested.

"Ara's right," Carlos agreed. "This is too easy."

Jay rolled his eyes. "Don't say too easy. Every time someone says that, something bad happens."

The mountain started to shake.

"What the hell?" Uma asked.

"Jay told you not to say it, Carlos," Gaige told him.

"Shut up, Gaige," Carlos replied.

"What is going on?" Ben asked.

Anthony saw something rising from behind the cave wall from where the artifact was. "Guys. What the hell is that?"

A shadow monster was rising up from the wall, ready to attack the group before them.

"Is that a shadow monster?" Celia asked.

Harry sighed in exasperation. "Oh, great."

"There's a crack in the wall that we can make it through to get to the artifact," River told them.

"Well, that's easier said than done," Gil pointed out. "This thing could take any of us out."

Izzy shook her head. "Doesn't matter. We can do this, guys. Together we can."

"Mal, Malia, you're gonna have to go Dragon to distract this thing so we can get to the artifact," Evie told them.

Mal and Malia nodded in agreement. "We got it, Evie."

"Just be careful," Malia told them.

Mal and Malia let their eyes glow green, and in a swirl of purple smoke, transformed into their Dragon forms. Everyone backed away to give them room to fight. Dragon!Malia and Dragon!Mal roared at the shadow monster. The shadow monster roared at the Dragon sisters in return, shooting shadows at Jay and Carlos, making Jay and Carlos both duck, dodge or flip out of the wall. Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia were hurling fire at the shadow monster to lure it away from the artifact, trying to let their friends get to it.

"You guys ever go up against a shadow monster before?" Yeva asked.

Everyone else answered, "No!"

Jay shrugged. "First time for everything."

Izzy and Bane held up their scepters, with Izzy's scepter and her eyes glowing red, and Bane's scepter and his eyes glowing blue/gold. With the help of Yeva and Celia's purple magic and glowing purple eyes, and turquoise magic from Ara, Mari, Uma and River, they shot all their magic at the shadow monster, pushing it away from Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia, but couldn't seem to hurt it.

"Oh, you wanna do it the hard way, eh?" Harry asked. "Good. The hard way's my favorite way."

Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia lunged themselves at the shadow monster, tackling it away from the group, making everyone jump in surprise. The shadow monster launched itself at Dragon!Mal, clawing into her repeatedly, making her release a Dragon roar.

Anthony ran closer worriedly. "Mal!" He got the attention of the shadow monster away from Dragon!Mal. "Hey, shadow monster thing! Come and get me!"

The shadow monster shot shadow at Anthony, but Anthony ducked away behind a pillar to make it miss.

Dragon!Malia released fire at the shadow monster to send it flying away from Dragon!Mal, getting her enough time to get up.

The shadow monster threw shadows at the group below, making them run for cover and take shelter for safety.

Gaige was drawing the shadow monster's attention away from the artifact so they could get to it. "Come on!"

As the shadow monster threw shadows at Gaige, Gaige rolled over the floor into cover to avoid being hit, safe. He saw the wall, able to climb up along it to jump onto the shadow monster's back to distract it. Uma, River, Gil and Harry were trying to throw their swords at the shadow monster, but it was able to fly around and make them miss.

The shadow monster threw Gaige to the floor, trying to throw shadow at him.

River magically pulled Gaige toward her into safety. "Gaige!"

The shadow monster lunged at Harry. Harry managed to swipe at it with his sword. The injury caused a deafening scream from the shadow monster, but it healed quickly. Harry slashed at the shadow monster again. The shadow monster tried to shoot Harry with shadows, but Harry ducked out of the way just in time.

Gil and Harry threw their swords into the shadow monster to distract it, while Izzy, Yeva, Bane, Ara, Mari, Uma, River and Celia continued to hit it with magic, and Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia hurled fire at the monster.

The shadow monster disappeared into a swirl of shadows, reappearing next to the artifact before Jay, Carlos, Bane and Ben could get to it, throwing them down the steps so it could grab hold of the artifact, flying down into the water of the cave, going deep below the surface.

"Ara, Mari, Uma and River are the only ones who can go after it right now," Gil told them.

Ben nodded to the four of them. "Go."

Ara and Mari pulled off their mermaid ring and necklace, handing them to Carlos so that he could hold onto them, diving into the water to go after the shadow monster. In a swirl of twinkling lights, they turned into their mermaid forms.

Uma and River ran to the edge, jumping into the water, using their power to transform into their giant octopus forms to help Ara and Mari go after the shadow monster, creating huge splashes of water that got everyone wet. As soon as they were underwater, they used their tentacles to hit at the shadow monster repeatedly to try to distract it and to stop it from hurting Ara and Mari.

The shadow monster shot shadow through the water at Ara. Ara waved her arms, creating a wave of water in front of her that acted as a shield against the darkness, powerful enough to protect her. She waved her hands through the water on either side of her, using mermaid magic to create almost like a bomb of water, thrusting her hands forward to throw it at the shadow monster, making it burst and throw the shadow monster backward through the water, making it spin uncontrollably and making it lose its grip on the artifact.

The shadow monster swam/flew through the water to grab the artifact before Mari could, trying to shoot her with shadow. Mari dove further down in the water to make it miss, waving her hands in a circle motion in front of her, creating a strong torrent of water, pushing it forward, making it soar straight to the shadow monster, which started to freeze it in place, making it start to sink.

Uma and River hit the shadow monster with their tentacles again, starting to circle it with their tentacles and crush it, making it drop the artifact.

Ara instantly swam up like lightning to grab the artifact, swimming up to the surface of the water, bursting up above high in the air to throw the artifact toward the others. "Guys!"

Ara fell back into the water with a huge splash.

Celia caught the artifact before it could fall to the ground. "I got it!"

"Great, Celia," Jay told her. "Do you know how to deactivate it, too?"

"No," Celia answered.

"Well, you guys better figure it out fast because we can't hold this thing off for much longer," Uma told them.

The shadow monster, underwater, lunged for Ara and Mari, but Ara and Mari used their mermaid magic to freeze and burn the water around the monster to make it stop. Uma and River were helping Ara and Mari get the upper hand by lashing at the shadow monster with their tentacles, closing them in on around the monster. The shadow monster was breaking free and trying to hurt all four of them with shadows, but they managed to duck and use sea magic to defend themselves. Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia flew closer, hurling fire at the shadow monster to burn it and help their cousins. Ara and Mari exchanged a look, nodding, holding their hands out at the water surrounding the shadow monster, to make a whirlpool around it to bring it down slightly so it couldn't attack them or anyone. Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia flew down closer, trying to hurl fire at the shadow monster. The shadow monster ducked underwater and struggled to get out of the whirlpool that Ara and Mari were creating, making the fire fly past it, coming back up, breaking free from the whirlpool, flying up above. Ara and Mari stopped the whirlpool.

Bane took the artifact from Celia to try to figure out how to stop all of this. "Guys, I don't know how to do this."

"Bane, you got this," Mari told him from the water. "You're Prince Bane. You can do anything."

Bane, reassured by Mari that he could do anything, looked at the artifact in his hands, holding it, deep in thought, trying to concentrate.

The shadow monster, flying through the air, shot shadow at Evie, making her duck as she tried to defend it off with a sword. Before the shadow monster could attack Evie again, Uma used her tentacles to wrap around Evie to pull her to safety on the other side of the cave.

Evie looked at her down at her outfit. "Yeah, great. Now I'll never get the smell of octopus tentacle out of this dress."

Uma nodded sarcastically. "You're welcome."

River focused up at the shadow monster in the air above, trying to hit it with her tentacles, but it narrowly avoided, circling around in the air, coming back, shooting shadow at everyone, making them duck.

"Any day now, Bane!" Harry told him.

Bane's concentration and magic finally worked. His eyes glowed blue/gold, and without really knowing what he was doing, he closed his eyes, and soon, the artifact in his hands stopped glowing, and he had deactivated it. As the shadow monster was flying closer for another attack, now that the artifact was deactivated, it exploded into ashes, raining down on everyone. They all looked up, standing, walking closer to the ashes. Uma and River used their power to return to human form. Carlos, Uma, River and Bane helped pull Ara and Mari out of the water. Carlos put Ara's mermaid ring on, and Bane took Mari's mermaid necklace from Carlos to put in on Mari. Once they were wearing the mermaid jewelry, Ara and Mari, in a swirl of twinkling lights, returned to human form, able to stand up with the others.

Dragon!Mal and Dragon!Malia flew down, and in a whirl of purple smoke, returned to human form. "Whoa."

"Bane?" Ben asked.

"How did you do that?" Izzy asked.

Bane shook his head in confusion. "I don't know. I just... I felt what I had to do... and I did it."

Everyone was stunned, trying to catch their breath.

"Is everyone okay?" Anthony asked.

Everyone looked at each other, checking on each other, seeing that no one was badly injured, nodding in answer.

-----

Street

The gang was walking down the street, getting back to Tails, seeing all of the people in Auradon were getting their souls back and waking up. Everyone was reuniting and cheering.

"Well, you were right, Bane," River told him. "Taking down the artifact did fix it all."

Bane smiled. "Thanks, River. I am a genius."

Uma pushed Bane lightly. "Shut up."

Celia looked at the others. "I know this might be weird, but this is not the worst birthday ever. It's my best, actually."

Harry smirked. "Why am I not surprised?"

"Well, we did battle a shadow monster," Mal pointed out.

Malia smiled. "Which was so exciting."

Ben looked at Malia in amusement. "You look too excited about that."

Ara looked at Malia teasingly. "Wonder why."

"What?" Ben asked.

"Nothing," Mari told them.

"Well, we still got a party to get back too," Anthony pointed out.

Gil smiled. "Great, 'cause I still want cake."

"Yeah, Yeva, Celia, we still need to say sorry about missing the party, Faciliers," Anthony told them.

"Speak for yourselves," Bane told them. "I was dying, so I got an excuse."

Yeva gave the Beast Brothers an amused look. "It's fine."

Jay chuckled, wrapping an arm around Yeva. "Just don't do it again. 'Cause getting attacked is an excuse Yeva Facilier would only take once."

Gaige smirked. "So keep that in mind for next time."

Evie laughed. "Going back to the cake, I could use some."

"Me too," Izzy agreed.

"Me three," Carlos added.

They all laughed at that.

Bane started to hear the same ringing from before, yelling in pain, making the others stop. Celia and Yeva felt the sudden rush of cold and darkness again, having to stop. Izzy was overwhelmed with a dizzy spell, nearly falling or fainting, but Harry caught her in concern.

Mari held Bane's shoulders worriedly, comfortingly. "Bane, what's wrong?"

"It's back, the ringing," Bane answered.

Ara looked at Izzy, Yeva and Celia. "Do you guys hear it, too?"

"No, but I'm cold," Yeva answered. "And I feel that darkness from before."

Celia nodded in agreement. "Me too."

"Isabella?" Harry asked in concern.

Izzy regained her balance, shaking her head. "I'm dizzy."

"What does it mean?" Malia asked.

"Guys?" Mal asked in concern.

"It's him," Bane answered. "The man. He is here with us."

"Where?" River asked.

Black and red smoke started to surround them. Mal, Malia, River, Uma, Mari and Ara raised their hands in case they needed to use their powers, while Yeva, Celia, Izzy and Bane were recovering from what they felt. The smoke went to move in front of the group, materializing into Azari.

Azari walked closer to the group, smiling, spreading his arms slightly. "Hello, children of heroes and villains."

"Who the hell are you?" Jay asked.

"I go by many names, but seeing as I am gonna take over your world, you might as well call me Azari," Azari answered.

"You tried to kill Ben, Anthony and Bane," Evie told him.

Azari shrugged. "Yeah, well, honestly, I was aiming for the Guardian, so not my fault that Ben and Anthony are related to him."

"What do you want?" Carlos asked.

"Besides just being a pain in our ass?" Uma asked.

Azari looked at Bane, Yeva, Celia, Mal, Malia, Ara, Mari, Uma and River. "Oh, that's easy. World domination for starters, and oh, yes, your deaths."

Gaige nodded sarcastically. "Good luck with that. We're tougher than we look."

Gil was worried. "Gaige..."

"Yes, I noticed that you're all more capable than I first thought," Azari agreed. "Your little play time with the shadow monster was a test from me. Word of advice? I'm much, much harder to kill."

"We're still going to stop you, even if we don't kill you," Anthony told him.

"How would you do that?" Azari asked. He looked at Bane. "I mean, honestly, Guardian, I was kinda knowing you would survive. You can find a way off any sinking ship."

"Thank you," Bane replied.

Azari chuckled. "But anyway, this shall be all. I will see all of you next time I come to kill you. Adios, children." He turned to face Izzy, smiling. "Nice to finally see you in person, to meet you, face to face, Isabella." Everyone looked at Azari in confused suspicion, worried for Izzy. Harry stood in front of Izzy. Azari looked at him in amusement, smirking. "You don't need to protect her from me, Harry Hook."

Izzy was unnerved by the special treatment, even more suspicious and confused than anyone else, overwhelmed because she recognized Azari's voice from when he called out to her earlier after opening Pandora's Box. Azari dissolved into red/black smoke, flying away, leaving the others in absolute shock.

-----

Tails - Outside

Dizzy, Facilier and everyone else in Tails that had been asleep, were now all find and awake, and walking outside. The group walked up to Tails, now all fine, but reeling from what went down and having seen Azari, confused and nervous about it all.

Dizzy squealed when she saw that they were okay. "Evie! Mari! Celia!"

Dizzy ran toward them.

Evie, Mari and Celia all embraced her in relief. "Dizzy!"

Facilier saw his daughters, sighing in relief, walking toward them. "Yeva. Celia."

Celia ran to embrace him. "Daddy!"

Yeva walked closer to them.

"Are you okay?" Facilier asked.

"We're okay," Yeva answered.

"Looks like you reversed the damage of the Web of Darkness," Facilier told them. The others looked at him in surprise. "I'm a voodoo king witch doctor. They call me Shadow Man for a reason. I explained everything that happened to the others already."

"Good," Mal told him. "Because none of us really feel like explaining everything again."

"Yeva, Celia, be thankful Facilier is a witch doctor that knows his stuff," Uma told them.

Malia smirked. "Right."

"Is everyone okay?" Dizzy asked.

"We're fine," Jay answered. "Mostly."

Facilier looked at his daughters. "Mostly?"

"They're fine," Carlos answered. "They helped kick ass, actually."

Bane nudged his brothers teasingly. "Even Ben and Anthony got to help us kick ass this time."

Ben and Anthony smiled.

"Yeah, each time something like this happens, Anthony and I somehow get frozen or turned to stone," Ben pointed out.

"Yeah," Anthony agreed. "Not this time, Ben. It felt good to help with the saving part."

Ara smiled. "It always does."

Izzy was withdrawn, not knowing what to say after everything, confused.

Harry walked toward her in concern. "Isabella? What's wrong?"

"He knew me, Harry," Izzy told him. "That man. That... Azari. That was the voice I heard in my head earlier when he said my name."

"Izzy, it's okay," River told her.

Gil looked around. "It is still Celia's birthday. We can do one more song until it's over."

"It's almost midnight," Gaige agreed. "It will be in a few minutes. We only have a little while, but we can make the most of it, try to get our minds of off all of this and try to have fun for the remainder of Celia's birthday. You guys in?"

Yeva and Celia nodded. "Count me in."

Yeva and Celia exchanged a look, causing everyone to laugh because of the song earlier.

Jay smirked. "And I know just the song."

To begin the song, each one from the group had a lantern to light up the night sky, the lanterns reflected on the water surrounding them, making it look beautiful in the night, as they all danced in one line up to the large stage, stepping out of the line into their own places, releasing their lanterns into the sky one by one. They all spun around, throwing their hands up.

Jay stood up on a chair on the stage, clapping his hands over his head. "I had a dream the other night." He did a flip off the stage he was on to the ground, rolling over it to his feet. "About how we only get one life."

Harry sat down on a chair, moving his arms all around it in a dance, throwing his arms up and then down. "Woke me up right after two." He did a criss cross with his legs as he spun to stand up, turning to look at Izzy. "I stayed awake and stared at you." He did a beat on his seat with his hook, holding his head in his hands. "So I wouldn't lose my mind."

Yeva stepped onto a seat in front of her, spinning around to jump off on the other end. "And I had the week that came from hell." She spun to face forward, crisscrossing her arms in a dance, putting her hands to her head, waving her arms in a circle, turning to the side, spinning to face the front again. "And yes, I know that you could tell."

The group all held flashing drum seats toward Izzy as they knelt around her.

Izzy was using drumsticks to create a beat. "But you're like the net under the ledge." She made a pushing outward motion with her arms, which caused the others all to fall back. "When I go flying off the edge." She spun around, flipping the drumsticks in the air, throwing them into a target's bullseye. "You go flying off as well."

Mal spun around, making a motion like flying through the air, kneeling for a moment before spinning to her feet, toward Anthony. "You got something I need." They both spun around, getting closer to the other, taking each other by the hands and circling each other. "In this world full of people, there's one killing me."

They let go.

Anthony held out his hands. "And if you only die once, I wanna die with you."

Mal and Anthony did like a skipping in place, banging their arms. "You, you, you."

Malia held out her arms over her head, crossing her legs, jumping to spin around. "You got something I need." She ran a hand along her side to her arms, up to the sky. "In this world full of people." She threw her arms out at the sides, doing a little bop in place as she spun around slowly. "There's one killing me."

Ben nodded to the beat, crossing his arms and legs in a dance, pulling them free to spin around. "And if we only die once." He jumped, landing. "I wanna die with you."

Ben and Malia spun to the ground, spinning over to face the other direction, crossing their arms and legs, pushing themselves up. "You, you, you."

Ara spun through the air, jumping to spin again. "You got something I need." Carlos did a little footwork, spinning around, and spinning Ara around, making her smile. Ara slid from one side to the other, moving her arms in a blur. "In this world full of people." She turned to the other direction, putting out one leg to the side, moving her arms to the side. "There's one killing me."

Carlos stepped forward to a beat, bopping in place, punching the air in front of him. "And if we only die once." He held up one finger, spinning around to face Ara. "I wanna die with you."

Ara and Carlos waved their arms over their heads diagonally, turning to each other. "You, you, you."

River was doing a boxer's rock back and forth. "Last night, I think I drank too much." She spun around, making punching moves in the air in front of her, bringing up both her elbows to her sides, waving her arm in a circle, pulling her fists up to either side of her head. "Call it our temporary crunch."

Gaige did a circular motion that showed off his muscles in his torso and arms, jumping off the stage, flipping through the air, landing on his feet. "With broken words I've tried to say." River jumped down next to Gaige. "Honey, don't be afraid."

River and Gaige looked at each other. "If we got nothing, we got us."

Mari spun around, hopping over a seat on the stage, raising her arms on either side of her head, throwing them down. "Hmm, yeah." She did a little strut, hands on her shoulders. "You got something I need." She held her hands to the left, then the right, throwing them in a circle like an earth. "In this world full of people." She held her arm out at one side, sliding the other underneath her chin, right at her throat like a cutting motion, out to the other side, so she could point at Bane. "There's one killing me."

Bane threw his arms up and down, then made a viola gesture. "And if you only die once." He ran to do a flip, landing on his knees, sliding forward on the stage toward the edge. "I wanna die with you."

Mari spun closer, taking Bane by the hands to spin him up to his feet, as they both sang. "You, you, you."

Izzy strut down the stage, holding out her arms, turning to face Harry. "You got something I need." Harry smirked, spinning around. Izzy did a circle around her body to illustrate world. "In this world full of people." Izzy, closer to Harry now, took Harry's hook in her hands to prove her point. "There's one killing me."

Harry shook out his shoulders, stepping side to side, tilting his body to the left. "And if we only die once." He circled back around to take Izzy's hand, spinning her around. "I wanna die with you."

Izzy and Harry spun each other around. "You, you, you."

Yeva swung side to side, spinning around, throwing out one arm, waving them down. "You got something I need." She held out one arm to the right, elbowing the air next to her with her left, kicking out her leg to spin herself around. "In this world full of people." She stood still, moving her upper half of her body in a circle while standing in place. "There's one killing me."

Jay ran up the steps of the stage, doing a very impressive flip through the air to land a few feet away from Yeva. "And if we only die once." He spun closer to Yeva. "I wanna die with you."

Yeva and Jay smiled. "You, you, you."

The song became more softer in tone, so the dancing stopped.

Mal turned to face Anthony. "I know that we're not the same."

Anthony smiled. "But I'm so damn glad that we made it to this time."

Mal and Anthony turned in other directions, but next to each other so they could take each other by the hands and spin each other around. "This time around, yeah."

Evie sat down on her seat on the stage, smiling, shaking her head. "Mm, yeah / And if you only die once, I wanna die with / You got something I need / In this world full of people, there's one killing me."

Uma took a seat next to River, holding her sister's hand. "You got something I need / In this world full of people, there's one killing me / And if we only die once, I wanna die with you / You, you, you."

Gil sat beside Gaige, as they hugged brotherly and did a fist bump. "You got something I need / In this world full of people, there's one killing me / And if we only die once, I wanna die with you / You, you, you."

Celia sat beside Yeva, leaning her head on her shoulder as they embraced. "You got something I need / In this world full of people, there's one killing me / And if we only die once, I wanna die with you / You, you, you."

River stood to face Gaige to sing her part of the final chorus of the song. "You got something I need / In this world full of people, there's one killing me."

Gaige stood to face River to sing his part of the final chorus of the song. "And if we only die once, I wanna die with you."

Gaige spun River around, ending the spin with River's back to his chest, his arms around her, both smiling. "You, you, you."

Yeva and Celia, still sitting down in each other's arms, finished the song together sweetly and calmly, smiling at each other. "If we only live once / I wanna live with you."

Izzy, Harry, Jay, Yeva, Celia, Mal, Anthony, Malia, Ben, Bane, Mari, Ara, Carlos, Evie, Uma, River, Gaige and Gil all stood to face the crowd as they were all cheering happily and loudly for them, bowing to them, to which they all took a bow as well, all smiling happily at what was a carefree moment when they needed it.