Her parents come to tell her. Mention right away, naturally, that Greta's name was also on the address, and therefore she doesn't have to be even partially alarmed. Just recognizing the opportunity.

They hug her, and tell her how proud of her they are (not everyone finds their purpose so young!), and that they'll miss her but they're sure she'll do wonderfully.

She goes to make sure Greta knows, and hear updated instructions once Greta knows, and then goes into preparations.

'Within a week' isn't very specific, but good service needs to be prepared for that. She watches television sequences to study life in Auradon. She helps Greta practice probable Auradon school subjects. She crisscrosses everywhere she can get to and several places no one has probably considered that she can get to and stockpiles magical knowledge that may presently become practical.

She's ready when the car comes.

Her father is traveling somewhere or other with his show - she'll start keeping track of where when she's closer to being ready to further investigate and handle him, but she's not close yet so she's not doing it. She gets the news from Lisabet, and then later from her mother.

Her mother seems worried about something in there, which Greta thinks is silly. It's Auradon. And maybe her father will be angry but it isn't as though that never happens, and she's sure he'll be over it before long. Not like he has much use for her while she's here.

Adjustments and plans are in order - she has a few projects in the works but nothing that's going to suffer from being dropped. The word on the television is that Auradon is free of evil ever since the establishment of the Isle. She supposes that might be true, in which case she'll just need to load up on some resources, while she has the chance. But she's not believing it until she sees it, and if it turns out that's just another way the television lies - well, she's hardly intimidated by work.

The letter didn't actually demand he do it, so she's not surprised when her father doesn't show up at all before the week is up. She hardly needs him there, anyway. Just the car.

His father comes home furious. Is not satisfied with his chores, is not satisfied with his catechism, is not satisfied in his alacrity in coming to be punished for the former two. He redoes all of it. His father is not satisfied.

It is not until the next morning that he finds out why. Understands immediately, of course. His father would under no circumstances wish him to go, and his father knows that he does not have a choice in the matter. 

"I won't forget what you've taught me, father." (It is true. There are many things his father taught him that he does not believe are right, but he will not forget). He learns a new lesson, which is that he should not have said this. 

His father spends the few days left on lectures about evil, punishment for every infraction he sees Lius commit, lectures about the evil that lurks inside him, punishment for infractions he has not seen Lius commit, lectures about the evil of Auradon, and punishments which he refers to as prophylactic.

This does not leave Lius with very much time in the day. At night, when his father sleeps, he prays. He knows there is evil inside him. Everyone is born such, and surely he was born with more than most. Born with a soul that would find it easy to do evil, easy to to think it is good when it is not. Auradon has confronted evil before. Surely they must know how to deal with it. Surely if his soul leads him to evil deeds they will be prepared. 

Please may it be so. 

Ashwin barely hears his father talk, explaining what a ridiculous venture this is and how dare they this and how could they that, because all he can think about is being away from Nia. Would he be able to come back and visit? Could he? Or could he take Nia with him, smuggle her over the sea and into a land that would keep her safe, away from their father?

"Listen to me when I'm talking to you!" His father grabs him and shakes him. Ashwin forces his gaze back up. His father snarls. "You better remember where you came from, boy."

After that, Ashwin was left alone. Or maybe he simply avoided his father. Either way, there was preparations to be done. 

"Now when you get there, you will-" Cati's mother starts.

"Find the sceptre, bring it home," Cati finishes. Her mother, red lips pursed, nods.

"It's very important that you get it. More important than anything else, do you hear me?"

"On the pain of my neck, mother," Cati says, with a confident smile she doesn't feel. 

Her mother seems appeased, and nods again. She leaves Cati's room with a hesitant touch to her shoulder.

Cati's face drops once her mother leaves the room, and she has to sniff fiercely to keep them back. Fury, pure fury, that her mother could ruin something that could save Cati! Everything the Queen of Hearts touches turns to poison. 

She swipes away an errant tear, and clambers out her window, heading two roofs over to see her best friend.

Ashwin sits, holding his bow, his thumb running over the top. He looks up as Cati nears, but doesn't offer a smile. He simply shuffles to one side to give her a place to sit.

Cati sits, and lets the silence surround them for a moment.

"Do you know who the others are?"

"I heard Frollo raging about it, so no doubt his kid."

"Well. Won't that be interesting."

Cati looks over at him, biting her lip. "Have you told Nia yet?"

Ashwin shakes his head. His grip on his bow tightens.

"I'm sorry. You shouldn't have to leave her behind."

"If they cared about what we wanted they'd just take down the barrier."

"Ash..." she gets a noise in response. "Ash, this could be a new start for you. Maybe if things go well they'll let Nia come?"

"You don't believe that any more than I do."

He's not wrong. 

"When are you gonna tell her?"

"How can I? We've never been apart."

Cati wraps an arm around him, and rests her head on his shoulder.

Ashwin leans back on her, trying to stop the fear and sadness bubbling in his heart.

Soon enough Cati leaves, and the next few days pass without incident, as they prepare for their journey into Auradon.

The day arrives, not so much with fanfare, but certainly with awe as people clamour to watch a car drive across a golden bridge, and entering the barrier with ease.

Her parents help her check her bag. Nothing that would be forbidden in Auradon (not as far as they know, anyway), nothing that's forbidden on the Isle, but she'll as well supplied as she can be. Who knows what Greta might need. Hug her a last time. She promises to write, if they're able and if it doesn't interfere with what Greta will need. They smile at her. Of course. 

She doesn't bounce, waiting for the car to reach them. If tv is to be trusted, in Auradon they don't actually mind bouncing. She doesn't bounce much. 

She doesn't think it's customary in Auradon to carry weapons. Possibly not allowed. Best not to bring any then - even if they wouldn't be confiscated, best not to draw attention. She's sure they'll have kitchen knives or something anyway. She'll make do. She surveys who else is there.

He comes late, and running - his father had lectured him a final time, wanted him to recite instruction, started over again when he noticed Lius not paying full attention. Honor thy father, he told himself, tried to stop listening for the car or Auradon guards. He stops and waits as the car approaches.

He clutches his small bag to himself. He'd known his father would search it, hadn't tried bringing anything but what his father would wish. Materials for study. A change of clothes. (The clothes don't fit him very well. Earthly items are a false idol, and comfort of the body leaves the spirit to turn to wickedness, his father had said.)

Looks around a little, without looking far up. His father didn't like him leaving the house, so he hadn't, much, not when or where anyone might see him. His father has said they are all wicked and corrupt. He thinks this is something his father may be wrong about but - he doesn't know them, if not as much as he doesn't know the car. Or what it might bring him to. He prays.

(She notices Lius, makes a note to seek him out. Frollo's delivered regular diatribes about the evils of Auradon. Not like he's a trustworthy source, but more sources are better than less of those. She'll find him, when they're not being obviously watched.)