Written in the Stars

Dorcas

Dorcas had never been one to call herself lucky. Luck doesn’t get you where she is, survival does. But this mission, though it’s sure to cause some kind of trouble, is an opportunity for her to get away from her mother. Maybe she does have a bit of luck in her. As the time to leave approaches, she’s hit with a wave of nerves. She was almost glad she didn’t eat much last night, otherwise she’d probably throw up. 

“Are you ready?” Pandora pops into the door frame to ask. Dorcas jumps.

“Mother of evil!” Dorcas exclaims, “Was that necessary?” Pandora smiles at her, and Dorcas can’t help but feel some excitement herself.

“I’m ready. You?” She asks. Pandora excitedly runs into the room. 

“I can’t wait! We’ve never left the isle. I wonder what Auradon is like. Do you think we’ll meet a princess?” She rambles. 

“I hope not.” Dorcas mumbles. Still she can’t help but smile, Pandora’s excitement is contagious. Though she’s still skeptical, she doesn’t want to ruin Pandora’s happiness; it means a lot to her. The other girl throws her arms around Dorcas’ neck, in a tight embrace. She freezes. Her body remains rigid as she waits for Pandora to pull away. Most of the villain kids don’t particularly care for physical touch; except from Pandora. She’s the exception, even Reg lets her hug him. With a single squeeze, she lets Dorcas go. She looks so happy and full of excitement. Dorcas was ready to protect her against every single snobby little brat in Auradon.

“Thanks, Dorcas,” Pandora sighs, “but I don’t need protecting.” Confused for a second, Dorcas remembers her last thought. Oh. She turns serious.

“Hey listen,” she says slowly, “Reggie and I talked, and we both think it’d be best if you don’t tell anyone about your… gift.” They didn’t want to risk some stuck up royal hurting their friend’s feelings, or worse, people taking her away to study. Pandora frowns, slightly deflated, but nods. 

“Look,” Dorcas sighs, “we don’t know these kids. I just want you to be safe.” 

“I know,” her friend responds.

“Besides, it’ll be our little secret. Something the Auradon kids won’t see coming.” Pandora perks up at that.

“Kids! Your ride is here!” Dorcas hears the Evil Queen shriek. She rolls her eyes.

“Let's go, before she gets mad.” She says. They head down the stairs. Dorcas sees Regulus standing next to his mother, looking incredibly stiff, then catches her own mother waving her over. She already knew her mom would pretend their argument last night didn’t happen. Yay for small miracles. As she suspected her mother gave her a fake smile as she approached.

“Dorcas, my dear, I have a gift for you.” she says pulling out a leather bound book from her cloak. Dorcas’ eyes widen, she recognizes the book. It’s brown with decorative purple and green swirls and symbols on it.

“As you know this is my spell book. It’ll prove useful in Auradon. Use it well.” Dorcas gently takes the book from her mother’s hands. She feels the rough leather beneath her fingers; calling to her like a beacon.

“Thank you.” She states clearly.

“Don’t disappoint me, Dorcas'' was her mothers only response. That’s as good as I'm gonna get. Reggie and his mother finish up their conversation, which seems to leave Regulus incredibly irritated, and all the kids and parents head outside. Pandora gasps out loud. Dorcas herself barely manages to tamper down her own awe. Sitting there in shiny, black glory is a stretched out car. There were no cars on the Isle, just broken car parts and descriptions in books. She didn’t even know they made cars this long. A man steps out of the car, dressed in a blue and yellow uniform. 

“I’ll be your driver and I’ll help you all with your bags.” He says, looking very twitchy. It’s clear to Dorcas that he’s scared shitless. She shoots an amused look to Reggie, who just shakes his head like this whole ordeal is getting on his nerves. Once all their stuff was packed away into the trunk, they gave their parents half-watered goodbyes and piled into the long vehicle. Entering the car, Dorcas observed that it was very roomy. Though the five of them were close packed, they weren’t on top of each other. They took in the space. The seats were some kind of nice leather and the interior had a clean scent to it. Then they looked out the windows, including the front. Dorcas saw what looked to be the start of a bridge, however it didn’t get far before it abruptly stopped. Leaving nothing but vast nothingness above the open water. She looks to the others in confusion, then looks to the driver, who shows no signs of panic and no sign he was stopping. It’s some kind of suicide murder, she thought.

“Hey!” She yells to the driver, “What are you doing?” He simply ignores her and keeps driving. Panicked, she tries the doors which seem to have been locked some point during the drive. She meets Reggie’s eyes, if the boy was as scared as she was, he didn’t show it. 

“Let us out!” Evan screams, grabbing for his sister, who looked completely nonchalant about the whole thing. That only eased her fears slightly.

“Relax Evan, they wouldn’t kill us on the drive there,” Regulus drawls, “then everyone would know it was planned. They’ll wait till we’re at school and claim it was an accident.” Dorcas barely registers the driver’s scoff. As they approach the bridge, all she can do is close her eyes and pray her friend is right. They get closer…closer…closer. Just when Dorcas is sure the car is going to go over, she feels a presence around her. She opens her eyes to see; spirals of golden magic envelop the car. A magic road builds itself in front of them. Dorcas breathes out a sigh of relief. Reg fixes them all with a smug, I told you so, look.

“See. Everything is fine.” he says primly. Nobody responds to him. The rest of them are too busy staring at the array of color decorating the shelf in the car. They hadn’t noticed it before. Dorcas didn’t even know cars could have shelves.

“Excuse me, sir,” Evan pipes up, “could you please tell me what all that is” he gestures to the colorful objects. Dorcas and the others gape at him. In all her life, she’d never once heard Evan use the word please. The driver seems confused too, for he stumbles out his words.

“Uh. I-It’s candy.” He says reigning in his composure. Still they stare blankly at him. He sighs.

“You eat it.” he supplies, before pressing a button that lifts a screen between them. Barty hits Evan on the shoulder.

“Ow! What?” he growls. 

“Excuse me, sir,” Barty mocks, “What the hell was that?” 

“I was practicing. My dad says to try and fit in.” Evan says, “It’s called being polite. Everyone in Auradon does it.” Barty mock gags.

“You think it’s poisoned?” He questions, eyeing the candy suspicious. Reggie rolls his eyes.

“I just said they wouldn’t kill us on the trip there.”

“Do you think it’s a test?” Dorcas asks. Reggie ponders it for a moment before speaking.

“I believe it’s… customary.” He says slowly like he had to dig for the word. 

“What? English please.” Barty says, with a roll of his eyes. Turning to Regulus, Dorcas saw that he was exasperated. She thinks he sometimes forgets he’s the only truly well read one in the group. The rest of them could read, of course, and she and Pandora had gotten a little more schooling than Evan and Barty, but only Reggie’s mother had insisted that her child be well read and well spoken. 

“Customary means it’s just there to be nice. They’re trying to put us at ease.” He explains.

“So…” Even says, reaching for the candy. Regulus just nods. Immediately the boys, minus Reggie, grapple for the candy, shoving the pieces into their mouths. Regulus crinkles his nose in disgust. 

“Holly shit. Girls you have to check this stuff out. It’s like, really sweet.” Evan says in wonder. Pandora grabs some sort of brown circle and takes a bite. Her face immediately lights up. Now Dorcas is tempted. She reaches for a container of rainbow beans. Taking a tentative bite from one, she lets it’s sweet taste wash over her. She almost had to close her eyes, there was so much flavor. Nothing tasted like that on the Isle. Food was dull back home. They ate in a buzz filled silence for five minutes. That’s when she notices Reggie hasn’t eaten a thing.

“Reg, come on, try some.” She urges him. Her friend glares at her.

“I’m supposed to watch my figure,” he says annoyed, “Those things are probably full of sugar.” She scoffs. Those are the words of his hag of a mother, not him.

“Screw your figure. I can see the end of the bridge, we’re almost there. Just try some,”she says. She really wanted Reggie to be able to let go a little, while they were away from the Isle.

“Please.” Pandora chimes in. With a completely exaggerated sigh, Regulus caves. He goes for a piece of hard candy on a stick. Upon trying it, the barest hint of a smile ghosts his face, before he mumbles something about it being alright. My work here is done. They enjoy the rest of the drive in peace, well almost. Barty and Evan start fighting over some kind of candy, as they pull into the school. 

“Knock it off. Now.” Regulus demands. The boys begrudgingly stop, though they continue shooting glares at each other. Even they could recognize the atmospheric change in the air. When the car stops, Dorcas breathes in a steadying breath. 

“Just be pleasant, ask helpful questions,” Reg says pointedly, “and be vigilant. We look out for each other, alright? VKs protect their own.” He finishes. They all nod in agreement. Dorcas hears two thuds as the driver gets out of the car. Here we go. The door opens to a magical new world, just waiting for them to conquer it.