Author's Note: Man oh man, there sure are a lot of you following and favoring this story. Thanks a bunch. I'm really worried this story will go to the scraps, because it's hard to organize my ideas for it when I have a mental tally running that goes something like -"Tomorrow I have AP Psychology, I hate that class and I have Chemistry which I also hate. I also have band pregame practice before the football game and volunteer work Saturday. I have nothing Sunday, but my mom's growing irritation warns me that I may have to put up with her bullshit that day."

Story Note: The results of the poll are in: Adding in the reviews to the 17 unique voters (more than I expected), the results are a staggering "Yes." However, here comes the reassurance to those that dislike the ship. I've never written a kiss scene in my life and most likely will only have fluff till towards the end—so you'll be able to brush it off as brotherly. I may get some courage though, so we'll see how far I can take their relationship.

Disclaimer: Take me to court, I'll have no money to give you should you do so, I'll get down on my knees and beg you to not, good god, please spare my life.

...End of Author's Note...

"How does one find the Cheshire Cat?" Amir questioned as they walked out of the woods, his arms swinging eagerly.

"You don't, he finds you and screws you over," Jay said gruffly.

"He's just not a fan of cats, this one has a grudge against him," Evie said and turned her gaze to Jay. "And you're just being a sour-puss, because you think Carlos is going to apprentice with the Cheshire Cat like his mother suggested."

Amir raised an eyebrow, "But you guys aren't evil, shouldn't you apprentice with a hero?" His honest question was met with dubious looks.

"Mentor with what...a princess?" Evie scoffed.

"I'm not a fan of swords and fancy jousting. If I'm going to fight someone, we're doing it hand to hand," Jay said and shook his head. "You understand that, don't you?"

He pondered over the idea and Amir nodded, "Yeah, I'm not a fan of the jousting either."

"Back onto a serious topic, Carlos is going to have to help us find the Cheshire Cat, since he's the only one who the cat likes." Huffing, Jay kicked a pine cone hard enough to cause it to shatter in mid-air. "However, the main issue with Carlos coming with us is he is physically inept to make the journey. If we have Mal transport you two out there and then I the rest of the way it should be fine, but I feel like-"

"I'm going!" Amir cried.

"-That'll be the reason the journey will be hard. It would mean you would have to some of the traveling their on foot. Approximately, one or two miles."

"That's not that bad," Amir reassured.

"Through the Devil Woods," Evie said and Amir's mouth closed immediately, his eyes saying everything.

"No..." He whispered in awe, "We have to take Daniel. His like, dream, is to go through those woods like all the knights did in..."

Evie crossed her arms and her eyes glimmered as she glared at Amir, "Boy, do you think Mal and I just have endless amounts of power to transport you there and back?"

Jay wanted to high-tail it out of there and not be in the way of an angry Evie, but the dark look that shot to him the moment he stepped away made him stop.

"You said the Cheshire Cat is powerful and can get around magic? Does he possess any of his own?" Amir questioned.

Biting her lip in thought, Evie shook her head, not as in "no," but as in, "we shouldn't." Her arms uncrossed and she strode past him, "Fine, I'll transport you, Daniel, Jay and Carlos there, but don't complain about the seven mile walk. With the twist and turns added in, you have three-four hours to get to his place, and then three-four hours to get back to a point where Mal can safely transport you back."

"But what about asking the Cheshire Cat for help?" Amir questioned again, but Evie was already striding off towards the girls dorms.

Jay shook his head, "You can't ask the Cheshire Cat for anything without him asking for a trade or a ridiculous task. It's too risky."

"Then how are we going to ask him for getting around the magic that's warding the area?" Amir wondered.

"By tricking him," Jay said.

…

Carlos had finally gotten past his mood and was in slightly better spirits and was listening to Daniel tell a story about one of his father's best swords. Some parts he didn't really get, but Daniel's tone and gesticulations were interesting enough. He was about to drift off into a needed-sleep when the door swung open to the room.

No one interesting, just that blonde-kid.

"Oh, Carlos, I heard you were injured and hoped it wasn't too serious. Did the poison affect you at all?" The blonde-kid asked.

"Not really," Carlos answered, squinting his eyes slightly at the kid, "Why are you here?"

The blonde-kid rocked back and forth on his feet and innocently shrugged. "I was just curious you know, as is everyone else." He stopped rocking back and forth."Hey, Daniel was it?"

Daniel nodded, his position a little defensive, blocking Carlos from the blonde.

"Could you slip into the hall, just for a minute, I have something I need to tell Carlos in private?" Carlos requested with a small smile.

"If it's nothing major, you can tell him in front of me, Alister," Daniel said politely, but firm.

Hissing slightly in disappointment, Alister sighed, "But...it's about my sudden feelings for Carlos..."

"I'll leave you two be," Daniel practically flew out of the room, his cheeks a blazing red.

Both Alister and Carlos watched him leave, feel amused and annoyed reflectively.

"He's a sucker," Alister said.

"That he is," Carlos said and propped himself up a little more. "Lemme take a guess, you poisoned one of the dogs?"

The blonde rolled his eyes and shook his head, "Nope, but I was involved. Take a stab at it."

"The messenger," Carlos stated.

"Yup," He tutted. "Darn, I was hoping you wouldn't guess so I could have a cool line," Alister said shaking his head.

"Too bad, so what does the real mastermind behind the plan have to say?" Carlos asked, keeping his tone nonchalant and his muscles relaxed. It was a show that the other side didn't disturb you, that their threats and possible implications were beneath you.

"A race to secure the Trickster's help." Carlos just gave him a confused look. "I am a much better spy than you think, I know a few things. Your friends want his help and now so does the Boss. The Boss says he'll give you a head start—that is, if you leave tonight."

Tonight? That could put him in bad shape if the poison hadn't completely left his system.

"Consider it done," Carlos said, smiling, "You may be a good spy, but I'm much more resourceful."

"We'll see. I won't be the one racing to get to the Cheshire, mind you, but good luck with the race." Alister's eyes flickered for a moment and a look of regret crossed his expression. He turned his back to Carlos.

"I hope, knowing that you evil-kids proved everyone wrong by being semi-decent, you could do the same for someone like me; I'm not a bad person, but I am acting badly," Alister said.

"Don't rant," Carlos said simply, causing Alister to wheel around offended, "We all screw up. I don't know why one of you princes with the nice, well-laid, easy-"

"How dare you assume anything we have to go through is easy!" Alister yowled, causing Daniel to open the door, concerned. "My mother is gone, they took her, Alice had nothing to do with anything, she never even voiced-" Alister cut himself off at Carlos' expression.

Old habits die hard. This is where the good guy would have comforted the bad guy or at least etched a look of pity or sadness into his face. Alas, no, Carlos was grinning, he had hit a nerve, he had found something he could work with. While the other three were free to roam and collect information as they pleased, he had gotten his own very tidbit without moving from his spot. Perhaps, he'd feel pity for Alister later and maybe lend him a helping hand, but currently, there would be no gentle-givings.

"You disgust me," Alister spat. "Rotten little maggot, you are." He fixed his vest and turned on heel and strode past Daniel, shoving him aside on his way out.

"What happened?" Daniel asked glancing between the two in utter confusion.

"I rejected him," Carlos said smoothly, letting his expression slip into a neutral one again.

"Oh," Daniel's cheeks were red again, "Um...is it, because you don't like guys? I mean, that's cool, and I understand. Girls for life, am I right? And..."

"No," Carlos cut him off and Daniel glanced at him, his expression one of pained social-awkwardness, "I like guys taller than I am."

"Heh, okay, that's rad," Daniel quickly said and then sat in the chair, avoiding looking at Carlos.

Gets them every time. Carlos relaxed on the cot again and closed his eyes. It would be nice if he could get some sleep now, maybe just for a little, it wasn't night time yet so he should be fine.

The door opened and closed again.

The inside of Carlos' tired mind caught on fire and his eyes snapped open, his mood returning.

"Carlos, we're back," Jay called, "miss me?"

"I miss being able to sleep in peace," Carlos replied and sullenly sat up again, rubbing his eyes. His eyes darted skeptically to Amir and then to Daniel. Jay just shrugged and inclined his head a little, "they're with us."

"Well, we're heading to the Trickster's place to-" Jay started

"Tonight."

"What?" Amir stared at him in astonishment. "You're not even healed!"

"Absolutely not," Jay growled, "The cat's tricky enough as it is and you're still at risk."

"Am I missing something?" Daniel asked. "It sounds like I was dragged into a plan without even being told the details."

Amir just grinned at him, "Same as usual, follow my lead Daniel and this will all go smoothly."

"It never goes smoothly," Daniel said.

"You're just jealous of my escape abilities."

"Am not."

"We don't have a choice," Carlos gritted out and motioned with his eyes for Jay to lean in closer while Amir and Daniel argued. "Word from the messenger from his Boss, they're planning on seeking the Cheshire's help."

"Son of a bitch," Jay hissed and sucked a breath in through his teeth, "One trouble stacked on-top of another, who are these guys and why are they so damn determined to get us out of this school?"

"Who knows, we just need to get two steps ahead of them so we can figure out their identity before they make their next move directly against us," Carlos said and Jay nodded in agreement.

Jay straightened up as Amir crossed his arms in triumph, having won the argument.

"So, when are we leaving?" he asked.

"Tonight," Jay confirmed, and cast a look of distress towards Carlos, "But with the amount of traps and tricks we're going to have to stumble through with Carlos' state, it's going to take us more than three-four hours to get through the woods."

"I'm fine," Carlos said, crossing his arms across his chest, "I'm definitely better than earlier."

"If you say so," Amir said, squelching the argument that could of arisen, "a man knows his body best. Would leaving during the fireworks be a good time? No one would look for us." Amir glanced at the both of them.

"Sounds like a plan," Jay said, "we'll meet at the exit to the boy's dorm." His eyes shot to Carlos. "If you faint or fall over dead on the trip, I'm gift-wrapping your body and sending it to your mom for Christmas."

"Harsh man, freeze me first," Carlos said.

"Try to get some rest before we leave," Jay said shaking his head, "You don't look too hot."

"Will do," Carlos said and leaned back, his eyes fluttering closed.

…

Evie went up to her room and collapsed on her bed. She was exhausted. If running the show-boat of moronic boys was anything like being queen she'd be haggard before she even turned thirty! Closing her eyes briefly, she stretched out the tired, mostly unused muscles that contained her magic. She was a little rusty on spell-casting, but she'd be fine.

Mal entered the room and closed the door behind her. She glanced over at Evie, beaming.

"Guess what!" She exclaimed.

"You and Ben kissed?" Evie asked, her arm resting over her eyes.

"Nope, better." She could tell Mal was bouncing up and down.

"If it excites you so much, just tell me, Mal," Evie mumbled.

"Fine, Prissy Pants, I-" Mal rose up to her fullest height, putting her hands on her hips. "Was accepted by the crowd and they loved me."

"I'd say fear works better, but do as you wish," Evie commented causing Mal to shake her head in disapproval.

"Oh, boo you. You know all the girl talk you used to try and drag me into, the talk that I rejected?" Mal asked.

"Yes."

"Help me. He has to run errands, but we're supposed to see the fireworks tonight and I...Evie I love him."

"So?" Evie asked, moving her arm and sitting up.

"I've never, ever, felt this way before. It's wonderful, it consumes my thoughts, I..." Mal rambled on passionately till she ran out of breath. "What I'm saying is, Evie, how do I make sure I never lose this feeling? I don't want to ever end up with as much hatred for the world as my mother possessed."

"Mal, I don't have an answer for everything. Love isn't something you can perfect," Evie closed her eyes and took a steady breath to hide her feelings on the matter. "Whatever you do, be honest with him. Go have fun on your date, don't worry so much about these things." Evie stood up and embraced her friend. "If he turns out to be a jerk in the future, just know as your best friend I'll hex him and his whole family for you."

"Aw, you're so sweet," Mal said.

"Ick," Evie wrinkled her nose, "You're vocab is starting to sound like theirs. Sweet, what even is that atrocious concept?"

Giggling, Mal headed to the door, but then paused, remembering something. "Did you guys find anything?"

The room suddenly felt a lot more suffocating.

"Strong magical warding, to keep us from following a trail. The only being with that kind of power to get around it is the Trickster," Evie explained.

"When are we—or is it just...?"

"Jay and Carlos, but the boy of Aladdin's invited himself and his friend," Evie said with a groan.

"We're going to need a lot of magical energy for that teleportation? What time are we doing this? Tomorrow, I hope. I don't want to miss the fireworks, I feel like they could be the perfect end to the perfect day," Mal said dreamily causing Evie to gag.

"What a princess, you've become," Evie muttered. "And yes, tomorrow. Carlos' condition makes it impossible for us to do it tonight."

Mal tsked, "I'm going to go check out the festival, do you want to come with me?"

She wouldn't be very welcome after her earlier stunt and she could make Mal look evil. Her heart seized at the thought; her best-friend in the whole world was Mal, but with their different positions and alignments, they couldn't be seen with one another. Mal may not be aware of it yet, but Evie could already feel the divide drawing itself on the ground in front of them as they stood there.

"No thanks, I need my rest. I'm a little too unpracticed to be doing the spell back without some studying," Evie said and Mal frowned.

"I'll miss you! At least come out and try one of these deserts we've heard so much about over here," Mal said cheerily before slipping off.

"I wish I could Mal, I wish I could," Evie muttered.

…

End of the Chapter

I stayed up a little to get you guys this chapter. Hopefully, seeing it in your alerts and emails makes you feel all a little bit better. Happy Friday!

Request for Help: On a side note, I would like to ask if anyone has ever wrote a smut scene? I need one for a story I'm working on for...something else...and I've well...Could someone PM me some pointers and maybe read over what I've got? God, I'm blushing at that, I feel like my computer is getting a virus from me trying to write smut XD.