Stealing the Black Cauldron///A Descendants Applyfic///CLOSED

Chapter Thirteen: The Last Chance

"Last chance."

That was the only thing that the King told Hannah and CJ before they left.

This was their last chance, or else he would do... something. But they knew with every ounce of their common sense that it would be good.

"No more screwing around then..." CJ mumbled as the two went back to the bridge to wait for Embry. Hannah didn't respond, her hands twitching and shaking, like she'd hit anyone who surprised her.

"If we fail..." CJ decided to say carefully. "I'll protect you from him. I-I'm sorry that I couldn't before with... the whole... y'know..." He trailed off, losing his voice.

"I'm not worried about what will happen to me." Hannah said, her voice quiet and slow. "I could care less, if I'm honest. I'm worried about what's gonna happen to you..." She sat down next to the barrier, leaning her back on an old market stand.

"All of this is wrong." She stated bluntly. "The Cauldron, the warriors, fighting the Guardians, everything...!" Her voice grew harsh for a moment before settling back down. Hannah looked away, feeling embarrassed by the near-outburst.

"No, I'm being silly." She scolded herself as CJ sat next to her.

"Hey..." He reached over, pulling her close. Instinctively, she rested her head on his shoulder. "I don't blame you. For any of this." He continued.

CJ laughed for just a second. "Everything is screwed up, but we didn't make it that way. It kinda always was like this. A big bad rises from the deep and a group of heroes form to take it down. And there's always something much deeper actually happening.

Hannah considered that for a moment. That maybe, she wasn't the big bad she always felt destined to become. Maybe she was the "something much deeper."

"Do you ever feel evil? But... even though you feel like that, it's like you're not enough?" She asked, looking at him.

CJ smiled, chucking quietly. "Hanny, you know me. Son of Chernabog who failed at necromancy? Kinda speaks for itself." He joked, playfully nudging her away.

Hannah smiled in response and laughed, hugging him so fiercely that she accidentally knocked the both of them to the ground. The two laughed at the messiness and strangeness of it all, but it died down quickly. Their settings came back to them.

CJ sighed a little, laying his back against the gravelly road. Hannah rested her head on his chest, staring up at the sky and stars that dared to glimmer at a time like this.

In the darkness, Hannah whispered something that CJ couldn't hear. The winds lifted the words up and swirled them into the clouds to waltz among the stars, not to return to the world to be heard. Not yet.

She closed her eyes.

Not yet.

...

"Heya! Guess who just-"

Gracie's excited greeting was cut off by Hannah shouting in surprise, jumping up and turning to face her friend. The two stared at each other for a moment as CJ laughed from the ground.

"Bad time?" Gracie teased, smirking and putting her hands on her hips.

"Anyway, I got Gumbie to a safe place- favor from a friend. He's okay, this idioso figured it out!" She beamed proudly. CJ just nodded in response, getting up and brushing the dirt from his hair.

Hannah felt the pressure in her chest expand tenfold, but she nodded and gave Gracie a tense smile.

"Great. Let's get going then..." Her enthusiasm was hard to muster, but she managed to keep it as the three went across the bridge again.