Descended

Chapter 4

The look of confusion cannot be masked on Ben's face. He starts to rush over to Mal and the others, but hesitates after only a second. Why are they floating? Why are they sleeping? He hopes they are sleeping.
Doug manages a slightly calmer look of curiosity. Obviously the villains of legend are asleep. Doug just wonders who knocked them out. He figures it was more than likely Mal. She could get a little hasty when she was feeling protective.
Doug prodded Ben so that he was moving again. Within seconds they were face to slack face with the elder villains.
"Before you say anything," Mal starts.
"We found them this way," Jay finishes.
Evie jumps in, "They are under the sleeping spell."
"Yeah. We found them all with this." Carlos holds up the apple core once more.
"Who would do that?" suddenly Ben has found his voice. "Weren't most of the inhabitants of the Isle over here?"
"Actually, no. There was at least 200 people that haven't ventured over yet."
"200?" Now Doug is finding his footing. "How many people live over there? It can't be that big."
Jay laughs.
Carlos shakes his head. "It's bigger over there than you would guess, and without a lot else to do or the means to prevent anything from happening, um. Things happen." He gestures at himself and the others while he emphasizes the word things.
"You are getting a bit off track Ben." Mal states. "We need a place to store them. We do not know who did this or when, and we couldn't leave them where we found them. That coat closet isn't even safe for the coats."
Carlos shudders and Evie grips his hand.
"Do you know how to wake them?"
"Of course we know. Even you know." Evie states.
"Somehow, I don't think true loves kiss is an option this time," Doug supplies.
Jay looks at Carlos who still has not let go of Evie's hand. If anything the other boy is gripping her tighter and tighter as his eyes stay on Cruella.
"Do you have a place we can store them? A securely locked place?"
"Locked?" Ben is puzzled, but catches the head movement Jay makes in Carlos's direction. "Of course. We can keep them in my father's dungeons. And, I'll alert Fairy Godmother of the situation."
Mal threads her fingers into Ben's hand. She can tell he is completely unaware of what he should be feeling. Relief? Pity? Sadness? Joy? The truth was that she and her friends were all feeling a mix of those emotions as well. She needed to go check on her Dragon-in-a-jar mother and ensure that Maleficent was still there. Still a small little lizard. But first, "Lead the way, Benny-boo."
The use of Audrey's old nickname for him drew Ben back to reality.
"Right, this way."
The six friends walked in relative silence behind the floating, cursed villains. Holding each other. Each contemplating how they had gotten that way. Their children wondering if it was worth it to try to wake them.

On The Lost Revenge, Uma was having a hard time sleeping. Silly, honestly. She was finally home. Sleep should be coming so easily. She had not admitted it to Harry, but she had not slept while they were apart either. Not really.
She could tell by the sound of his breathing that he was not asleep either. She could also tell he was pretending to be asleep hoping she would not kick him out of her chamber.
Harry was uncomfortable. He was also afraid to move. Anything that might make her send him out of the small room was not an option.
He was finally close to her again. But, she was so upset that he could not touch her. "Sleep on top of the covers." That was what she had said. Harry knew she was actually saying, "Touch me and die."
What had he done? Saved the world. Gone back into the barrier with her. Flirted and been devilishly handsome. Danced with that princess. Maybe that was it. But, she said that was ok.
Ugh. He was going to have to ask her.
"Uma?"
The door creaked open and Gil whispered the captains name.
"Get in, Gil." She replied.
The muscly blond crawled under the blankets and fitted his back against Uma. She drew circles on his arm while shifting her body into Harry's. The other boy rolling to his side to accommodate their new bed partner.
Harry saw that Gil was under the covers and let out a defeated sigh.
"Get under the damn blanket and stop pouting, Hook."
Harry did not need to be told twice. He clambered to shimmy the threadbare cover from under his body, and reveled in the feeling of Uma's warmth as the thin barrier was removed from between them.
"Now, boys. Sleep. Captain's orders."
And the three of them slept in a tangle of limbs. Uma being pressed from all sides. Content to be the thing her friends sought for comfort.

The lock clicked into place in the dungeon. All three parents were safely behind magical bars.
"No one can get in or out, right?" Carlos asked quietly.
"I made sure of it." Mal said pulling him into a hug. "Tomorrow we worry about it more. We only have like five hours left until Evie is going to start waking us up."
"Hey!" Evie cries. " I'll let you sleep until 8'o'clock."
"E, it's 3 AM now."
"Better get to bed then because I am waking you all up in five hours." Evie chuckles halfheartedly. "You want to come stay with us, Ben?"
"No, I have to alert my parents about all this. Be safe."
He takes Mal's hand and kisses it, pulling her close. In her ear he manages to whisper, " Sometime I'd like to have a less eventful event."
The fairy laughs.
"I don't think that'll be happening soon."
Her eyes flash green mischievously was she walks away. All that had transpired tonight was not going to keep her from spreading a little wickedness while she figured this out.