Descendants 3

~Until The End~

Chapter Four: Until The End

     "So, what's the plan again?" asked Marissa. "We're going to use that girl's loneliness to our advantage." Francis replied. "What do you mean?" Hugh questioned. "What I mean is, she'll want friends so we'll act friendly until we get the information we need and take over Auradon. By cursing it." Quinn grinned ear to ear, "Cursing it..." she echoed "Cursed with evil." Marissa pursed her lips, "I like the sound of that."

     Hugh cleared his throat, "So who's going to invite her over?" Silence. Quinn groaned, "Ugh. I guess I will. I'll say we're twinsies with our hair or something and maybe the little sucker will come." Quinn walked over to Aria, "Hi there. I'm Quinn" Aria looked up, "Hello." she replied, quietly. "Whatcha got there?" Quinn pretended to be interested. "Um... just my box of thingamajigs. I uh, like to... make stuff out of it."

     Quinn was getting bored already, but didn't let her know that, "Cool. So my friends and I were wondering if you wanted to come and eat lunch with us?" Aria was stunned, "M-M-Me? Really?" Quinn examined her nails, "Yes you, silly." she looked down upon her "I love your hair. Were like... twinsies." Quinn had to bite her lip to keep herself from gagging. But she continued to flatter a fake smile by gritting her teeth.

     Aria stroked her hair, "Really? Thank you." She grabbed all of her things and followed Quinn back to the table with the rest of the VKs. "Hello. I'm Hugh." he bowed and kissed her hand. She waved, shyly. "I'm Marissa." Francis smirked, "Francis." Aria put her book and box down on the table before taking a seat and adjusting her glasses, "I-I'm Aria. Ariel's daughter."

     Francis turned on the charm, "Oh, I see. And why is it that... well, you're sitting over there all alone?
Aria looked down, "I... don't fit in."
Marissa frowned, "Oh, I'm so sorry."
Hugh sat down beside her, "We don't fit in either."
Quinn nodded, "Yeah, in case you couldn't tell, VKs aren't really anyone's first choice to friends."
"Oh..." Aria sighed "Well, I disagree with everyone else. They're just..." her voice trailed off.
Francis pretended to think, "If only there was something we could do to change their minds."
Quinn gasped, "Maybe there is!"
Aria's face lit up, "H-How?"

     Francis reached into his backpack and took out his cards, "Let's change it 'round some." Aria was confused, "What do you mean?" Marissa rolled her eyes, "You look like your smart. You must know something." Aria was starting to feel uncomfortable, "I don't understand." Hugh put his arm on her shoulder, "You must know something that can help us change their minds." Aria shrugged, "I-I don't know."

     Francis was becoming impatient, "You see Aria... I think you know much more than you believe. And I'm going to unlock those answers. Magic is the art of directing and controlling energy using natural forces to produce the desired effect" "There's so much in Auradon. I'm an observer and I study a lot, but why do you need my help? With what?" Aria says.

     Francis flipped over some cards, "You know... Never mind all that. Do you want to play a game?" Aria shrugged while Francis hid an evil grin, "The cards will tell.... Pick three." Aria wanted to resist and run off, but she thought she'd made some friends and that this is what it would take to keep them. So she obeyed.

     Then, Francis tells her, "Put your mind at ease." Aris's lip quivered a little "Okay, if I'm going to do this you need to shake my hand." Aria hesitated, "Do what?" Francis chuckled, "Unlock your thoughts... Find what's in there...Come on, friend." He held out his hand. Is this what it'll take? she asked herself. She took a deep breath and shook his hand. "Yes...Yes..." he whispered.

     And just like that, she was their slave... their token to unlocking the secrets of Auradon. She sat up straight and her eyes turned green. Francis grinned sinister-like, "Ahem... now, Aria I want you to tell me where Ben and Mal go around this time."

     She closed her eyes for about  five seconds before replying, "It's noon, so they have to go out for their royal duties at this time including visiting the younger descendants at the day care to visit the kids." Marissa giggled, "Awesome. So... what does that mean?" she asked dumbly. Quinn rolled her eyes, "Should we even explain it to you?" Marissa nodded and the others shook their heads as they got up. "Lead the way." Hugh instructed.

     As they followed Aria to the day care, they informed Marissa in on the plan. "We're going to take the kids." Francis began. "And then we'll tell Mal and Ben to open the barrier in return for them." Hugh added. "Oh!" Marissa exclaimed "Now I get it." Quinn chortled, "Yeah, 'now'. Good pick, Francis." He smirked, but Hugh rolled his eyes and scoffed, "Lucky guess." Francis was about to retort, but Aria stopped walking.

     It didn't take long for them to arrive. Unfortunately, the place was surrounded by lots of people and it would look suspicious if the four of them just waltzed in there. "Aria, it'll look less suspicious if you go in and get them. Say your volunteering or something and then give a signal when you've got them and we'll make a distraction so you can leave. Meet us back here afterwards." Francis instructed.

     Aria had no choice but to obey. So she went through with the plan. She entered and found an unsupervised infant was and put him in her arms. She then made her way back towards the front entrance and made a noise, indicating the signal. But while she waited for the VKs to start a distraction, she heard clamoring and panic coming from behind her.

     It didn't take long for her to realize that somebody had noticed the child was missing, so without hesitation, she made a run for it to the meeting spot. She peered her head over the bush and saw nurses looking everywhere, they were clearly upset. But Aria had no feelings of guilt, because her conscience, as well as many other things, had been taken from her.

     She put the kid in a crib and ran out as fast as she could. The VKs met back up with her. "Hurry, let's get going." Francis told them. Aria had failed, but said nothing as she followed quietly behind them.

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