Stained Glass Breaks and So Do Hearts

The Puppy and The Hag

Carlos sat in the garden, he knew he didn't have time for this crying. Today was also Jane's birthday but he didn't really care. All that was spinning through his head was his mother's torments. The sound of a fur trap in his head made his leg hurt. No one had it easy on the isle, Carlos included but it still honestly didn't make the emotions go away.

"'los?" He could hear Evie call. She always knew where to find him.

"Over- "He was cut off by the billowing of pink smoke coming from the sky. Audrey stepped out of it with Maleficent's scepter. She cackled a bit at his confusion and innate fear.

"Audrey? You shouldn't mess with that Scepter. It's the source of Maleficent's Evil. It will corrupt- "

"Shut up! You and that hag stole my perfect Benny-boo. I'll make sure you two can never marry." With a crackle of lightning and smoke, Carlos shrunk and shifted into a Dalmatian puppy. Audrey cackled just as Maleficent would. "Try marrying him now, everyone's adorable puppy prince." She disappeared as she had come.

"Carlos!" Evie called running to the adorable puppy who whined. "I saw... Oh 'los. We'll turn you back into a human, we have to find Mal." She scooped him up in her arms and ran back to Ben's office where he and his parents were discussing matters to calm the kingdom's panic.

"Ben!" Evie burst in. Everyone whirled around to her, clearly in the middle of an argument.

"Not now Evie" Ben sighed heavily looking worn out himself.

"Audrey had Maleficent's scepter... she went after Carlos." She said holding the adorable dalmatian puppy out. Everyone stared at her for a long moment before Ben came overtaking Carlos into his arms.

"Carlos?" He said unsure before Carlos started licking his nose. Ben chuckled a bit sadly, "And, here I thought you couldn't get any cuter." Ben gave him belly rubs and Carlos nuzzled and licked his hand. Ben sighed and handed him back to Evie. "Go get him to Mal, I need everyone if Audrey really has the scepter. Who knows what it could influence her to do?!" Evie sighed heavily, giving Ben a nod before heading back to her starter castle, Carlos obedient in her arms.

Once back she was horrified to see she was too late. Mal had been transformed into an old hag. "MAL!" Evie hurried over to her in horror. She did not age gracefully. "Audrey got to you as well... oh no... What do we do?"

"There's no way to reverse the curse of the scepter. The only thing stronger than the Scepter is Hades' ember." Mal's voice had gone raspy and wheezy.

"Alright let's go." She sighed and started to head inside before realizing Mal wasn't beside her. Mal was hobbling along. "Okay..." Evie and Mal made it inside. They rounded up Celia and Jay before They changed into proper outfits and saddled up on some motorbikes. Mal used her power to enchant the bikes and they set off across the water, going straight to the isle. Once they hit the barrier, Mal and Carlos began to deform into their normal selves. Carlos sighs in relief.

"Finally, God I was starting to lose my mind. I swear I was thinking in Dog... that and it was hard not to chew on your leather." Carlos chuckled hugging Evie.

"I'd have killed you if you had ruined my outfit." She says semi-jokingly. Carlos gave her a less than thrilled look.

"I may have nibbled on the Hem a bit... "Carlos mumbled. Evie checked her hem and ground a chewed-on part of her skirt. She grabbed a paper from the trash, rolled it up and swatted at him.

"Bad Carlos!" She hissed "I loved this skirt!" Mal grabbed the paper from her.

"We don't have time for this. We need the ember. It's the only way to fight Audrey." Mal was practically steaming as she led them to Dr. Facilier's Voodoo Arcade.

Meanwhile, Audrey showed up at Jane's birthday party. It was a spectacular birthday party set at the enchanted lake. Audrey arrived uninvited and stopped one of the boys there. "Did anybody save me any guacamole? No? It's like someone forgot to invite me." She spat bitterly, Maleficent's influence already taking hold. "Well, don't be expecting Mal or Carlos, they're... not feeling themselves. Does that make you sad? Does it just ruin everything? Mindless little drones. How could you forget what they did to us? How could you forget that I was supposed to be your Queen?" She bellowed before Chad had come. Poor pathetic little Chad. Always pining for a girl who didn't want him and being too naïve to see it.

"Time out, okay, okay. Time out. First off, great new look. I absolutely love the feathers. "He complimented, appeasing her of his intrusion at the least. "But, hey, before you do whatever you're gonna do, I was wondering if maybe you wanted a... loyal boyfriend by your side? Partner in crime? Sidekick? Or maybe just a lackey to do your bidding, um, change tires. Or smoothie runs? Please?" He groveled in front of her like that pathetic lackey he really was.

"You can be useful, stand behind me," Audrey commanded, adjusting her cape after he nearly stepped on it. "Auradon likes to forget so much. They'll love this. Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy birthday to Jane Happy birthday to you" Audrey sang mocking her as she slowly put everyone to sleep. "Sweet dreams Jane" She left with Chad to put the rest of Auradon to sleep.

Little did she know but Jane had slipped into the Enchanted lake, protecting herself from the magic of the scepter. When she came back out, she dried herself off and took one of the pool toys brought and filled it with the magical waters.

At the same time, Ben was sitting at his desk along with a picture from his desk of Carlos and him. It was a simple thing, but he couldn't help but worry about his little pup. Carlos could protect himself as a human but not as a puppy, he didn't know what to do. He felt helpless. Everything was coming down and it might be his fault.