The Dance of Dragons | X

"In the midst of chaos, the true test of strength is revealed."

... THE WEIGHT OF POWER

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It was strange and a little unsettling to spend time with the children of villains—the very people your kingdom had sworn to despise for eternity. Yet, here you were, tagging along with them as they did something forbidden. Well, visiting the historical museum wasn't exactly a crime, but sneaking in after hours certainly was!

"You know you don't have to come with us," Mal said as you all crept along the museum wall.

 You scoffed, "You ask me to risk my kingdom's trust and betray my vows, but you don't think I'm serious about this?"

Jay sighed, "We'll just turn you in if you try to back out now. You know we can do it, right?"

You laughed coldly. "You? Never in a million years! I'm not afraid of your parents—why would I be afraid of you?"

Evie was leading the way, but you held up a finger, cutting in. "Don't be so quick to underestimate me, sweet princess. I'm not joining you because I agree with your villainous agenda. I'm here because I believe magic shouldn't be suppressed." With that, you marched towards the museum's doors, climbing the grand staircase and passing a sign that read "CULTURAL HISTORY MUSEUM."

"Check yourself in the mirror," Mal whispered to Evie.

"Is my makeup smeared?" Evie asked, glancing at her reflection.

"Yes, and while you're at it, see if you can locate the wand for us," Mal replied.

"On it!" Evie exclaimed, holding up her magic mirror. "This way!"

The group followed Evie to the rear of the building, stopping before a pair of double doors. They peeked inside, spotting a security guard sitting at the reception desk, swiveling in his chair while monitoring several screens. The screens displayed iconic artifacts from famous tales: King Beast's enchanted rose, Cinderella's glass slipper, Aladdin's magic lamp, and King Triton's trident.

As the guard turned towards the doors, Mal and her friends ducked out of sight. You sighed, subtly weaving a spell. A shadowy tendril snaked over the door, seeping through the lock and across the floor towards the guard. He glanced down just as a shadowy fist struck him squarely in the face, rendering him unconscious.

"Let's go," you whispered, ushering the group inside. The museum's interior was eerily quiet, the dim lighting casting ominous shadows on the artifacts around you. You could sense the faint traces of magic emanating from the objects, their latent power subdued by the enchanted barriers that surrounded them.

Mal led the way, her eyes scanning the exhibits as she searched for the wand. You couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as you trailed behind her, knowing that you were aiding in a heist that went against everything your kingdom stood for. Yet, deep down, you knew that your actions weren't driven by malice, but by a desire to see magic flourish once more.

Evie led you down a long corridor and up a flight of stairs, halting abruptly at the entrance to a room labeled the Gallery of Villains. There, on a pedestal, stood a wax figure of the Evil Queen, exuding regality, menace, and terror—a formidable sorceress in her prime. You recoiled at the uncanny, unsettling likeness of the powerful queen. *Damn,* you thought, *and I thought I had strong parents.*

Evie appeared to be quite perplexed as she gazed up at a wax figure of Jafar, adorned in traditional Arabian attire, holding a cobra staff menacingly above his head.

"Intense," remarked Jay, shaking his head in disbelief.

Carlos stared in horror at the statue of Cruella, with stone Dalmatians fleeing in fear around her. "I will never forget Mother's Day again," he declared.

You gave him a sympathetic glance, causing him to blush, before turning your attention to Mal, who stood in the shadow of a large dragon figure. She looked up in admiration at the most imposing display of all: Maleficent, invoking dark powers.

"None of you are them. Now let's retrieve the wand before I begin to regret assisting you four," you stated firmly. Your tone was unintentionally sharp, but it was necessary to convey the urgency of the situation. They needed to refocus and complete the task before the guard woke up.

Mal's anger ignited in her eyes, a fierce intensity that seemed to pierce through to your very soul. "You don't get to dictate our reactions, Erindil. We don't need you right now," she hissed, her words sharp and cutting. You couldn't look away from her, mesmerized by the raw power emanating from her green, flashing gaze. It was as if she had tapped into a primal force, one that demanded respect and obedience. And in that moment, you knew that crossing Mal would be a grave mistake.

You leaned into her space, baring your own fangs as your eyes flashed gold. "Do not underestimate me, Mal. I will personally drag you all by your ears if we don't get a move on right now and get out of here," you snarled, your voice dripping with authority. "And you do need me. I am holding the guard's mind captive in sleep. Do you even know how hard it is?" Your lip pursed, the strain evident on your face.

"What?" Carlos exclaimed, his disbelief evident. "You're holding the guard captive? How?" The tension in the air was palpable, as the gravity of the situation began to sink in for the group. The stakes were higher than they had ever imagined, and the weight of their mission hung heavy in the air.You let out a heavy sigh, the weight of your powers and responsibilities pressing down on you. "It's another power of mine, a manipulation of the mind, but it won't hold for long. I don't know how many dreams this guard does, but he certainly is resilient," you explained, the strain evident in your voice.

You leaned back and uncrossed your arms, the anger dissipating like ocean waves. "Look, I'm sorry I snapped at you, but sometimes you don't know what's going on, Mal. Just because your parents will have your heads if you don't pull this off doesn't mean that my parents won't do the same," you admitted, a sense of vulnerability creeping into your words. With a final sigh, you stepped out of the gallery of villains and towards the stairs. "Now, let's get a move on." The urgency of the situation was clear, and there was no time to waste.