McKenna’s POV

The hideout was dimly lit, the air thick with tension. I had just returned from my encounter with Xavier, and my mind was racing. As soon as I stepped inside, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Mal turned their full attention to me.

“We need to talk,” I began, my voice steady despite the storm raging within. “Xavier has Ben, and he’s made his demands.”

“And?” Evie pressed, crossing her arms.

“He wants the wand. If we don’t give it to him, Ben’s done for.”

Evie shook her head vehemently. “There’s no way we’re giving Xavier the wand. We can’t just let him destroy Auradon.”

“Right, because we’re just gonna leave Ben to his fate?” Carlos shot back, pacing. “Xavier doesn’t get the wand, then Ben is toast.”

“And if we do hand it over, we’re handing Auradon over to him,” Jay retorted. “Do we even have a choice here?”

Carlos stopped pacing, looking at Jay pointedly. “Do we?”

“Wait!” Mal’s eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. “Carlos, what about your 3D printer? Can we make a fake wand?”

Carlos blinked. “Yes! Totally! In my sleep.”

“And the second Xavier tests it, he’ll know it’s fake,” Evie countered.

“Well, then we just need to get Ben out before he has a chance to check,” I suggested. “We need a distraction.”

“Smoke bombs,” Jay offered with a sly grin.

“That’s perfect,” Evie said. “I’ll get what I need from Lady Tremaine’s shop. This could actually work.” Her eyes darted to my hair, a smirk curling her lips. “Oh, and McKenna? Sick hair. Evil Stepmom really stepped up her game.”

“Funny enough, Danielle did this.”

“Little Danielle?” Evie’s voice was incredulous.

“Shut up!” Mal chimed in, grinning.

“I know, right? I’m loving it. It’s so much lighter.” I laughed. “Really proud of her.”

Carlos cleared his throat, snapping us back to the matter at hand. “Hello? Focus?”

“Right.” I nodded. “Carlos, Jay, you meet us at Pirate’s Bay by noon. And guys? Losing isn’t an option. Because we’re rotten…”

“To the core,” we all chimed in unison.

“Let’s do this,” I said, my resolve hardening.

Once the boys left to start on the phony wand, Mal, Evie, and I made our way to Curl Up & Dye. As we entered, Danielle was perched at a makeshift desk, flipping through a book. Her face lit up when Evie approached her.

“Evie? Evie! You came back!” Danielle squealed, throwing her arms around her.

“Hey! So great to see you too,” Evie said warmly.

Danielle launched into a rapid-fire stream of questions. “Is it all just like we imagined? Do they really have closets you can walk into? Have you been to a real swimming pool? What does ice cream taste like?”

“It’s cold and sweet, and if you eat it too fast, it gives you a headache,” Evie replied with a laugh.

“Really?” Danielle’s eyes sparkled with wonder.

Evie smiled. “Really.”

Danielle pulled out a sketchbook. “I saved this for you.”

Evie gasped. “Danielle, you didn’t!”

Danielle opened the book, revealing Evie’s old designs. “I made this dress out of an old curtain and safety pins,” she said proudly. “It reminds me of the dress you made for McKenna when she met Jasmine.”

I chuckled. “And I spilled curry all over it.”

Evie laughed. “You did.”

“Yeah, I saw that,” Danielle giggled.

“You’re totally right, Danielle,” Evie said, flipping through the pages. “This was the inspiration for that.”

Danielle beamed. “I knew it! You can take the girl out of the Isle, but you can’t take the Isle out of the girl.”

Evie hugged her, though I noticed a flicker of hesitation. Danielle’s words seemed to hit harder than she let on.

We worked on the smoke bombs, the girls chatting as I focused on our task. Mal nudged me at one point, drawing my attention.

“So,” she started, her voice low. “How was it seeing him again?”

I hesitated, glancing away. “I think I still have feelings for him.”

Mal raised an eyebrow. “You think?”

“Fine. I do.”

“And what about Ben?”

I sighed heavily. “I don’t know. When he asked if I loved him, I froze. I couldn’t say it.”

Mal nodded thoughtfully. “Do you think Xavier still has feelings for you?”

“I doubt it.” My voice was soft, uncertain.

Mal rested a hand on my shoulder. “You’ll figure it out.”

“Love’s complicated,” I muttered, focusing back on the smoke bombs.

Once we finished, we packed them into my bag. “Careful,” Evie warned.

“I got it.” I secured the last one.

“That makes five,” Evie confirmed. “Should be enough.”

Before we left, Danielle offered Evie a handful of her jewelry. “It would make me so happy to know you’re wearing something of mine in Auradon. Almost like I’m there myself.”

Evie’s smile faltered. “I wish I could take you with me.”

“At least one of us got her dream,” Danielle said softly.

Evie lingered, sadness clouding her eyes. “She’s going to be okay,” I said gently.

“Yeah,” Evie murmured. “But she could be so much more.”

With that, we left for the hideout, determination setting in.

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Xavier’s POV

Ben struggled against the chains binding him to the cold, damp wall of my lair. His defiance was admirable, if a bit foolish.

“You won’t get away with this,” Ben growled, his voice hoarse.

I smirked, leaning against the nearby table. “Oh, I already have, Your Highness.”

“What do you want?” Ben demanded.

I crouched to meet his gaze. “The wand. And I’ll get it, one way or another.”

Ben’s jaw tightened. “They won’t give it to you.”

“Oh, I think they will.” I stood, pacing slowly. “You see, McKenna knows what I’m capable of. She won’t risk your life.”

Ben’s eyes narrowed. “McKenna?”

I chuckled darkly. “Didn’t she tell you? We have… history.” I leaned closer, savoring his confusion. “She was mine once, long before you. I wonder if she still thinks of me.”

Ben stiffened, realization dawning. “That’s why she couldn’t tell me she loved me.”

“Interesting theory,” I mused, enjoying his discomfort. “Maybe she’s still in love with me. Maybe you’re just… second best.”

Ben glared, his voice low and fierce. “You don’t know anything about McKenna.”

“Oh, but I do,” I replied, my tone dripping with mock sympathy. “And the best part? Now you’ll never know if she’s saving you out of love… or guilt.”

I turned away, leaving him stewing in doubt. The game had only just begun.

Hey guys I hope you like this chapter. Looks like McKenna had a choice to make. Who will she chose???