Away From Reality/ A Carlos DeVil Story/

Fairy Cottage

We headed to Fairy Cottage and by the time we got there it was dark. We all stood behind a tree, "Payton do you feel anything?" Ben whispered.

I knelt down and placed my hand on the ground, my eyes glowed and I felt a pulse of something. I felt the animals that were walking in the forest, and felt leaves fall off the trees. "Something is in the cottage, but I don't feel any magic." I shook my head and my eyes went back to normal.

"Let's go." Ben nodded. We all followed him to the cottage door. He kicked it open and there was nothing there.

Jay went to check upstairs and came back down quickly, "She's not upstairs."

"Something is here. I can feel it—" There was a banging on a closet door.

Ben went to check it out. He opened the door and there on the floor, was a trembling Chad. I groaned.

"Out of all the people in Auradon..." Carlos didn't let me finish my sentence and covered my mouth.

"Chad?" Ben said, clearly confused.

"I want my mommy." Chad trembled. Ben tried to help him up but he scrambled back.

"It's okay." Ben said and pulled him up.

"I say we leave him here." I said, emotionless.

"What happened buddy?" Ben asked the blonde.

Chad looked around. "Huh." He looked at Ben, "Ben. Ben!" He grabbed Ben's collar. "Your face." He felt Ben's face. "She's gone? Huh." He looked at us. "The door's open. I'm free. FREEDOM! OH!" He ran out the door in a flash. "Freedom!"

Harry and I laughed. "Oh I still hate that guy." I shook my head. "I can't believe I dated him." We walked outside and started heading to who knows where.

"Ooh. All right. Let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already." Uma sighed.

"I hear ya." I chuckled softly.

"What do you say, girls? Time to wrap things up?"

"You know, someday, you're gonna have to tell me how you guys all got teamed up." Ben said.

"Actually, Mal promised to let all the kids off the Isle once this is over." Evie smiled cheerfully.

I stopped, "You what?"

"Mal?" Ben frowned.

"I have to tell you guys something." Mal turned to face us. "Um...I lied to you. The kids won't be coming off the Isle."

"What do you mean?" Jay frowned.

"The program is shut down. And the barrier...will be closed for good."

"For Auradon's safety." Ben said sadly.

"I still don't agree with this you guys." I sighed. "There has to be another way."

"Hold up." Uma stopped me. "So we're saving your precious people and your behinds for a lie. I knew it was a mistake to trust you. You're always out for yourself." Uma frowned.

"And you, King Benny...you're probably just gonna throw us all back inside." Hook said sadly.

He was about to turn away but I grabbed his arm, "Harry..." He looked at me, "I never wanted this to happen." I whispered. "I'm so sorry."

He nodded but didn't say anything. He walked out of my grasp and back to Uma. "You know what?" Celia stepped forward. "I actually thought you were brave. You're nothing but a chicken. Too scared to tell me I was never gonna see my dad again." Celia grabbed the ember and tossed it into the birdbath.

"Celia. Celia. Celia, no!" Mal cried out.

"Celia!" Evie called out.

"No! No. Regain your might and ignite! No... Regain your might and ignite!" Mal tried to use a spell but it didn't work. She turned to Uma, who looked at her necklace, but it didn't glow.

"Bummer. Let's go find Gil and leave them all to rot." Uma said and she and Harry left.

I turned to Carlos, "Carlos, I never agreed to this I swear."

"I believe you." Carlos stopped me.

I looked out to Uma and Harry, "I'll be back." I told him and ran off after them. "Uma! Harry!"

"Uma!" Mal called out.

I ran after them. "Guys wait!" They finally stopped.

"What do you want?" Uma snapped.

I looked at both of them, "Look, I never lived on the Isle...but I almost did. And I've been there enough times to know what it's like there. I've seen how those kids live in the scraps and the dumps and the scars they have because of their parents." I paused, "And trust me when I tell you that when Mal suggested closing the barrier forever, I immediately said no."

"Why does it matter what you say?" Harry frowned.

"Because I'm Ben's advisor." I sighed, "Nothing goes without me saying so." I explained. "Ever since Carlos told me about life on the Isle. I have devoted so much effort to getting more kids off the Isle. No one should live that way. You guys shouldn't live that way. I had no idea Mal had made that deal with you." My voice broke. "But all I can say is that I am truly sorry." I whispered.

"You never knew. You couldn't do anything about it." Uma nodded. "But we'll always be villains in the eyes of Auradon."

"I told this to Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos when they asked me why I wasn't going to stop them from taking Fairy Godmother's wand when they first came to Auradon." I took her hands in mine. "I believe that people should choose for themselves, choose how they want to live. Everyone deserves a second chance. It doesn't matter what they think you are, it matters what you think you are." Uma smiled slightly at my words.

"Uma! Uma, stop! Please, stop! I need your help. We have a chance if we do this together." Mal ran up to us.

"Your friends kick you to the curb? Good." Uma frowned.

"Ben saw something in you. And today, Uma, I saw it, too. You care. Uma, you care about everybody. And Auradon is worth saving. Help us, please." Mal sighed.

"You talk pretty, but...she's already made up her mind." Harry looked at her.

"You brought this on yourself, Mal. You figure out how to fix it. Let's go." Uma scoffed and turned away. Her and Harry started walking away and I went after them.

"Harry!"

Harry turned and looked at me confused. "What do you want, Pan?"

I stopped in front of him, "Look, I'm done fighting with you. I don't care if we're supposed to be 'enemies', you aren't a bad person and I realize that now." I chuckled softly.

He smirked slightly, "You're not too bad yourself Pan."

I smiled, "So if you don't mind, I'd like us to start over as friends?" I suggested.

After a moment he held out his hand, "Hey, I'm Harry Hook."

I grinned and shook it, "I'm Payton Pan. Nice to meet you."