Chapter 3
"We're still waiting for an explanation," said Ben as he and Mal looked at Saul, Jill and Andrew. Almost an hour had passed since the abductions and the tension had not lessened an inch. Ben's mood and soured as the minute hand crept across the clock, made worse as he watched the distraught Fairy Godmother try to unsuccessfully ease the worries of Aurura, Phillip and Mulan.
"I said it was a long story, your grace," said Jill, "we're trying to fit together a summarized version you and your comrades would best understand."
"What's to understand?" an impatient Mal asked as she irately paced back and forth, "my friends, including my BFFL of all people, have been abducted by musclebound barbarians! I swear, if those creeps try anything with Evie, if they think they can make her marry one of them and have muscular babies with green hair, I'll burn them so bad, they'll…"
"You'll have to get in line, Mal!" said Ben irately, "what von Karstein did tonight was nothing less than an act of war!"
"War? Let's not be so hastily, your majesty," said Fairy Godmother as she hurried over, "I mean, this whole fiasco may have been nothing more than a cultural misunderstanding."
"Excuse me?" asked Phillip as he walked over with Aurora, "my daughter has been taken against her will and you call it a cultural misunderstanding? With all due respect, Fairy Godmother, but have you gone insane?!"
"No, of course not!" said Fairy Godmother, "good grief, Phillip! My daughter was abducted too! But that's no excuse to lose our heads and rush into war for the wrong reasons! We have to look at this situation with cool, levelheadedness. We have to consider the reason for our daughter's abductions from other points of view."
"I'm partial to agree," said Mulan reluctantly, "for all we know, this is how Transdorian men chose their wives. This whole thing could be a form of counting coup. You know, they have to prove themselves worthy by committing a bold act."
"Makes sense," said Jay, "I don't like it, I really don't like it, but it makes sense."
"Not to me," said Carlos as he held Dude in his arms, "it seemed a little too spontaneous, them taking Jane and the others."
"He's right," said Aurora, "the von Karsteins, they truly believed a marriage agreement could be reached between them and King Ben. The abductions must have been a backup plan."
"Then what are we waiting for?" Chad asked, "we gotta save Audrey!"
"And Jane!" said Carlos.
"And Lonnie!" said Jay.
"And Evie!" said Doug, "we can't just sit around and twiddle out thumbs while our girls are forced to marry those bulging barbarians!"
"You heard my friends!" said Ben to Fairy Godmother, "we're going to war! Assemble the army and call up the reserves!"
"But…but, your majesty," said a nervously faulting Fairy Godmother, "Auradon doesn't have that much of a standing military force."
"Then build it up!" exclaimed Ben, "no matter how long it take, no matter how much it costs, we're gonna make von Karstein pay!"
"And how will you do that?" asked Beast as he and Belle walked up to him, "invade Transdoria and slaughter every innocent civilian in your path?"
"I'll do what has to be done to get my friends back, dad," said Ben, "whatever it takes to make Heinrich von Karstein and his family pay for humiliating Auradon!"
"Ben, you have to calm down," said a worried Belle, "your temper…"
"Don't Tell Me To Calm Down, Mother!" snapped Ben, "this is war! Someone give me a piece of paper! I'm gonna draft the delecration of war here and now! And pity anyone that stands in my way!"
"King Benjamin!" bellowed Saul as he grabbed Ben by the shoulders.
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?!" Ben bellowed back.
"Say Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ," said Saul.
"What?" asked a confused Ben as his wrathful train of thought was broken.
"Say Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ," said Saul, "just say it."
"Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ," said Ben, "I don't see how…"
"Say it again," Saul insisted.
"Oṃ maṇi padme hūṃ," said a somewhat calmer Ben.
"And again," said Saul, "and keep saying it. If it sounds too awkward aloud, say it in your mind."
At that Ben began chanting the famous mantra to himself, calming down from his enraged tirade.
"Oh thank goodness," said a relieved Belle, "he's back in control."
"You knew?" asked Mal, "you knew he could transform?"
"You knew, Mom?" asked Ben.
"It's…not something we like to talk about, son," said Beast, "you weren't always the thoughtful, selfless gentleman you are. You were…sort of a brat."
"Brat my eye, Beast," said Mulan, "Ben was utterly horrid when he was in his Terrible Two's." she looked at Ben, "I should know, I babysat for you a few times."
"I was?" an astonished Ben asked. "I don't remember acting bratty."
"Oh, you were more than bratty, sweetheart," said Belle, "when you were little, you used to transform into a beast on a semi-regular basis."
"You wrecked the castle more than once," said Beast, "it was funny and terrifying to see a furry little monster rampaging through the corridors. It reminded me of how selfish and callous I was, and how much of myself was in you."
"This is unbelievable," said Ben as he sat down, "I really don't remember any of that."
"Believe it, man," said Jay, "you've got the power."
"And the temper to back it up," said Carlos, "just remind me not to make you angry, I don't like you when you're angry."
"But what happened?" Mal asked, "why did he stop transforming?"
"It was The Enchantress," said Fairy Godmother in an embarrassed tone, "the same one who originally cast the spell on Beast that turned him into a beast. She showed up during one of Ben's episodes and used her magic, which I tried to stop by the way, you know, because…"
"We know why you don't like magic, FG," said Ben, "go on, what happened?"
"The Enchantress' spell reversed the transformation," said Belle, "she said it would keep you from transforming until you were old enough, wise enough and experienced enough in the world to control yourself, to use your power to protect the ones you love."
"The spell was supposed to wear off after you turned 21, son," said Beast, "we hoped that, by then, after a few years on the throne, you'd be more understanding about your power and have the reasoning on how to use it. But I don't understand how it wore off so soon."
"Our first date," said an astonished Mal, "when you swam in The Enchanted Lake, it reversed my love spell. It must have weakened The Enchantress' spell or something like that. I'm guessing the spell was strong enough that it took this long for it to fully wear off."
"The Enchantress was and still is one of the most powerful practitioners of the mystic arts," said Fairy Godmother, "and a renegade to boot. I keep hoping she'll give up her powers and live with us in Auradon, but she's still wandering the world, causing all sorts of magical mischief."
"So now I turn into a monster whenever I lose my temper," said Ben, "as if I didn't have enough to worry about."
"It's not so bad, Ben," said Mal as she sat next to him, "turning into a monster is kinda cool when you think about it."
"It's not so cool when I can't control it," said Ben, "I could have seriously hurt you, or Jay, or Carlos or Doug!"
"What about me?" asked Chad.
"You'd have been fine," said Ben offhandedly as he focused on Mal, "and anyway, you're one to talk, Mal. You get to turn into a dragon. You can fly, what can I do as a rampaging beast?"
"Uh…jump good?" asked Mal, "seriously, you jumped like halfway cross the ballroom without breaking a sweat."
At that Jay, Carlos and Doug began talking at once at how cool Ben was in his beast form.
"You see, Ben?" Mal asked, "you've got a cool power. You just need to learn how to use it responsibly." She then looked at Fairy Godmother, "and I'm sorry about using magic earlier, but they were going to hurt Carlos."
"As far as I'm concerned, you did the right thing, Mal," said Fairy Godmother, "I doubt words would have resolved the situation. Of all the irrational, uncouth individuals, the von Karsteins are the worst I've ever seen in my life."
"They may be worse than you think," said Jill, "for if I'm right and my fell circus mates are right, then the von Karsteins are part of a vast conspiracy hell-bent on enslaving mankind and plunging the world into an endless age of darkness, doom and despair."
"We're still waiting on an explanation," said Ben, "who are you people?"
"I'll tell you," said Jill, "as soon as Andrew gets back from his phone call. Oh, there he is now."
Andrew, whom had been out in the parking lot to get better reception on his cellphone, walked back in, "Well, I just told Patricia and the others what happened. Oh, Princess Aurora? Your mother just pulled up outside."
"Oh no!" said a worried and somewhat embarrassed Aurora as she hurried out to the hotel lobby to head off Queen Leah.
"WHAT HAPPENED?" shouted Queen Leah from the lobby, "where'd they take my precious JoJo?"
"'JoJo?'" a confused Mal, Jay and Carlos asked.
"Didn't you know?" asked Chad, "that's Audrey's nickname from when we were kids."
"Yeah, it's an amalgamation of her middle and last name," said Phillip, "my mother, Josephine, and our family name, Joestar."
''Joestar?'" asked Mal, Jay and Carlos.
"You don't know?" Ben asked, "of course you don't know. Phillip, he's got a Star-shaped birthmark."
"It's kind of a family trait," said Phillip as he showed Mal and the others his birthmark, "my father had it and so does Audrey."
"Oh, okay, cool," said Mal.
"What'd Patricia say?" Jill asked Andrew.
"She said to tell King Ben and his friends whatever they need to know," said Andrew, "but not to expect help for a while. We weren't expecting von Karstein to make his move so soon, it'll be at least a week before Patricia and the others can get here from headquarters."
"So you did know they'd kidnap Lonnie and the others!" said an accusing Jay.
"We knew von Karstein was looking for breeding stock for his spawn," said Andrew, "we were hoping for a chance to get close enough to him and his sons and learn more about their connection with Shadowcast."
"Shadowcast?" asked Ben, "who or what are they?"
"They're merchants of death, that's what," said Jill in a hateful tone, "they ruined our lives and the lives of so many others."
"I think you'd better start at the beginning," said Mal.
"Good idea," said Andrew, "well…we really don't know where Shadowcast originally came from or how long they've been in operation. What we do know is that they're made up out of unscrupulous scientists and businessmen with no qualms about using people as slaves and test subjects."
"Their overall goal is to perfect super soldier programs and sell them to the highest bidder," said Jill, "I was a test subject in one of their revolting experiments twenty-five years ago."
"I was in another with Saul and a few others," said Andrew, while Saul nodded in agreement. "The program's goal was to activate and enhance latent psychic abilities to create human weapons.
"Oh, then that cannon on your shoulder," said Mal, "and that ghost train thingy Saul was directing."
"You saw them?" an astonished Saul asked, "you saw our Stands?"
"You saw the cannon and train, Mal?" asked Jay, "I saw them too."
"Me too!" said Doug.
"And me!" said Carlos, "and I also saw that gold aura around Jill. And I could swear I saw her arms and legs stretch when she fought those…those clone thingies."
"Doppelgangers," said Jill, "another of Shadowcast's super soldier programs that didn't pan out. So, you all can see Stands and my Hamon."
"I didn't see anything," said Dude, "but it could be because I'm a dog."
"Well, I didn't see anything," said Chad, "then again, I haven't been felling like myself lately," he shook his head to clear it, "seriously, the last day or so is like a fog in my brain. What happened?"
"Evie, Jane and Doug helped Audrey brewed a memory potion to make you forget that you and Audrey broke up after the tournament," said Dude.
"Seriously, Dude," said Carlos as he saw how embarrassed Doug looked, and the mortified look on Chad, "we need to do something about your telling the truth all the time."
"We'll worry about it later," said Mal, "okay, so, what are Stands and Hamon?"
"Hamon," said Jill, "is energy created through controlled respiration," she took a deep breath and the golden aura shined over her body, "the energy ripples through one's bloodstream and can be used for a variety of techniques."
Before anyone could react, Jill stretched her arm towards Jay and gently rapped her knuckles on his forehead. Her arm then retracted to its normal length with seemingly no ill effect on Jill.
"In battle, that technique is called Zooming," said Jill, "Hamon energy allows me to dislocate, elongate and restore my joints without experiencing pain. It can also heal wounds, both on my body and others." She then walked up to Jay, took another deep breath and touched his sprained wrist. The golden energy passed into Jay's arm and healed it within seconds.
"Wow!" said an astonished Jay as he flexed his restored wrest and hand.
"Hamon has other practical uses," said Jill as she walked over Carlos, "especially in a fighting style called Sendo. I'm just gonna borrow your dog for a moment, if that's okay."
"Uh…wait, what?" asked Carlos, but Jill had already picked Dude up and placed him on a nearby pile of ceiling rubble, on top of which was a relatively intact air conditioner unit.
"Carlos! Whatever she's doing, I don't like it!" said Dude, "wait, I can't move!" try as Dude did, he couldn't move his paws from the AC unit.
"Hamon can affect the living and nonliving," said Jill as she stood back a pace, raised her arm up and gently brought it down to touch Dude's head in a soft chopping manner.
"Whatever you're doing, stop it!" shouted Carlos, "let my dog go!" he started towards Jill but found himself restrained by Andrew and Saul.
"Just watch," said Saul.
"She does this whenever a newbie joins the circus," said Andrew, "it's okay."
"She's gonna hurt Dude!" shouted Carlos, "how is this okay?"
"It just is, trust me," said Jill. She then took another deep breath, generating more Hamon energy across her body and raised her arm up.
"CARLOS!" shouted a terrified Dude.
"DUDE!" shouted Carlos.
"Sendo Wave Chop!" said Jill as she brought her hand down. It made contact with Dude's head….
…and the air conditioner and rubble pile broke in half, while Dude was unharmed.
"See? He's fine," said Andrew as he and Saul released Carlos. He rushed to and embraced Dude.
"My Hamon passed right through the little one and destroyed the debris," said Jill, "If I wanted to, I could have sent the energy through the debris and destroyed your friend."
"If you ever do anything like that to Dude again, I'll tear you to pieces!" shouted Carlos as he defensively held Dude away from Jill, "are you alright, buddy?"
"Well, I feel like I had a few dog years scared off," said a somewhat shaken Dude, "but other than that I'm fine, how are you?"
"I'm fine, I think," said Carlos. He then glared at Jill, "seriously, you try anything like that again with Dude, I'll beat you to a pulp!"
"You're welcome to try," said Andrew, "with Hamon, Jill can paralyze your muscles, take control of your body or even turn the most insignificant of objects into a weapon. And of course, you've got to get past me and my Stand, Big Bang Theory."
"What?" asked Mal, "oh, the cannon thing on your shoulder."
"Yep," said Andrew as the ghostly howitzer appeared on his shoulder, "Stands are psychic entities from the User's inner mind, basically the physical manifestation of an esper's power. With my Stand I can target and attack anyone within line of sight, or attack at a great distance provided I have the correct trajectory data."
"But why a cannon?" asked Ben, "and why a train for Saul?"
"There's still a lot about Stands we don't know," said Andrew, "for instance, why they take the forms they take. My theory is that our powers manifest themselves from an image or idea resonating from the subconscious. When I was little my favorite circus act was the human cannonball."
"I collected toy trains when I was little," said Saul as the multi-colored steam locomotive engine, Soul Train, flew around him, "and I love music."
"Shadowcast tried to turn us Stand Users into weapons," said Andrew, "and would have if we hadn't escaped."
"Long story short," said Jill, "a few of us human test subjects organized an escape plan, blew up the laboratory, saved as many of our fellow captives as we could and ran for the hills. Of course, we underestimated how spread out Shadowcast's reach was and had to keep running for some time. In the end we had to make a stand, no pun intended."
"We fought back and went on the offensive," said Andrew, "it took years but we stamped Shadowcast out, destroying their labs and defeating their monstrous minions at every turn. There were a lot more of us by then; freed test subjects and others whom we either taught Sendo, or were natural Stand Users."
"So you can learn to do both?" asked Mal.
"There are those of us who tried," said Jill, "but so far no dice. Some people do have the potential for both Stands and Hamon, but as far as I know, no Stand User on this world can use Hamon and vice versa, though it was rumored Shadowcast was working on a means of overcoming that disability.
"Anyway, after we razed the lased Shadowcast installation to the ground, some of us went our separate ways, but the majority decided to stick together and founded Joy Divison Circus. We figured that, as grateful as we were for our lives and freedom, that we should use that life and freedom to spread a little joy in the world. That and using our powers to make the show even more spectacular was an added bonus."
"But how can you still be fighting Shadowcast if you defeated them?" asked Carlos.
"We thought we defeated them," said Jill, "we truly believed they were destroyed once and for all, until they cropped up a few years later like a weed. So once again we had to battle and wipe them out, and then we had to do it again a few years later. Somehow they're able to rebuild and recover after each defeat. No matter what we do, no matter how many of their monsters we destroy, however many labs and workshops we demolish, however many of their scientists and executives we terminate, they come back."
"And now they're back again," said Andrew, "and this time they have Heinrich von Karstein as a partner."
"Okay, that explains a lot," said Mal, "but what now? What is von Karstein planning for our friends?"
"Nothing good, that's for sure," said Jill, "but one thing's for certain; my husband, Saul and I will do everything in our power to help you and King Ben rescue your friends."
"Oh yeah?" Chad asked, "how? We don't even know where von Karstein took Audrey and the others."
"We have our suspicions," said Andrew, "we have a friend who's gotten rather close to the von Karstein family and if your friends are where we think they are, he'll tell us very soon."
…someplace else…
Audrey, Lonnie, Jane and Evie all woke with splitting headaches and dry mouths.
"Oh gosh," moaned Lonnie, "if this is what a hangover feels like, I'll never take a drink ever."
"I just want some water," said Evie as she looked around at her surroundings with blurry eyes, finally focusing enough to find a jug of water and several glasses on a nearby table. After quenching her thirst, Evie brought the water over to her friends one by one.
"Okay, that's better," said Jane after taking a full glass of water, "now, what happened?" she then touched her neck, "and why is my neck so sore?"
"We were drugged, that's what!" said Lonnie as she and the others realized they were in an elaborately decorated suite of rooms that seemed over a hundred years out of fashion.
"Well, this…this sucks," said a panicking Jane, "oh, this really, really sucks."
"Oh, this more than sucks, Jane!" said Audrey, "we've been kidnapped! We're gonna die!"
"We're not gonna die, Audrey!" said Evie as she saw a nearby door and hurried to it, yet grunted her frustration when she found it was locked.
"Yes we are!" shouted Audrey as Jane and Lonnie tried several windows in the rooms, yet all were locked and barred.
"No, we're not!" said Lonnie, "not if we keep our cool and stay cool."
"You try staying cool in a situation like this!" exclaimed Audrey as she grabbed Lonnie by the arms, "we're locked in some crazy, last century retro hotel room or something with no way out!"
"There's got to be a way out," said Evie, "check the furniture! Check the paintings! Check the curtains! Check everything! There has to be a way out, there has to be!"
"Not if they want to kill us!" cried Audrey, tears of fear and panic falling from her eyes, "We're trapped! We're in some horrible trap where some sicko wants us to play some sick game to teach us some sick lesson that'll get us all killed! We're all gonna die!"
At that Lonnie slapped Audrey hard across the face, "Snap out of it, will you!"
Audrey immediately calmed down, "oh…oh, wow, that really worked," she said in a more reasonable tone as she felt where she was slapped.
"Feeling better?" Lonnie asked.
"Much better, actually," said Audrey, "thanks. But…we're still trapped."
"I think I know who trapped us," said Jane as she stood in the doorway of a bedroom. She pointed to one side where on the wall hung a massive portrait of Heinrich von Karstein, sitting in a large oak chair. Around him were his sons when they were younger; the eldest, Stefan, looked no older than 12, while the youngest, Gustav, was about 8. Right next to Heinrich stood a tall, curvaceous woman with long, raven black hair, an intoxicatingly beautiful face and captivating violet eyes.
"Countess von Karstein I presume," said Evie as she and the others looked at the family portrait.
"Helena," said Jane as she read the plaque at the bottom of the portrait, "her name is Helena. I think I know her. I mean, I know of her. Helena van Dorian of Kastrovalon."
"Of course, Helena van Dorian!" said Evie excitedly, "My mother had a serious rivalry with Helena for the title of 'Fairest of Them All' when they were teenagers. Helena wanted to inherit the title from her mother, Cassandra."
"Helena must've been really disappointed to lose to your mother," said Audrey as she looked at the image of Helena, "oh…imagine the attention I'd get if I had eyes like hers."
"Yes, she's very pretty," said Lonnie dryly, "too bad her sons got their looks from their dad." She then glared hatefully at Heinrich in the portrait, "you sick creep! Why'd you do this, you son of a motherless goat!" Lonnie then found a nearby knickknack and prepared to throw it at the portrait.
"Don't!" said Evie as she grabbed Lonnie's throwing arm, "don't damage the painting. It could be a vital clue."
"I'm sorry, but how's a painting gonna get us out of here?" asked Lonnie.
"It probably won't," said Evie, "but it may help us deal with Heinrich, whenever he decides to show his smug mug around here."
"Okay, I'm looking at it," said Audrey, "all I see is a psycho with his psycho brood. Ugh, even as little boys, the von Karsteins were way to muscular. Seriously, what did they eat? Raw meat and eggs mixed with steroids?"
"You're focusing too much on the bigger picture to see the details," said Evie, "look at Heinrich."
"I am and I hate him even more," said Audrey.
"He's not so smug in the picture," said Evie, "the artist captured the sour mood Heinrich was in at the time. You see how grim is expression is? How he's gripping the arms of the chair? And next to Helena, part of the painting was redone some time after the original portrait was finished."
"It's almost as if someone wanted everybody to forget whatever it was that made Helena so happy," said Lonnie, "See her smile? That's the smile of a happy mother."
"So?" asked Audrey.
"So, the von Karsteins clearly have a deep, dark secret," said Evie, "if we can figure it out, we can use it make them let us go."
"Or we could have Jane zap us back home or whatever magic users do to travel," said Audrey, "Jane, make with the magic."
"I can't teleport all of us!" said Jane, "I can't even teleport myself."
"Of course you can teleport," said Audrey, "you've been practicing behind your mom's back."
"I've been practicing translocating small objects," said Jane, "and I still need more practice. If I try teleporting us, who knows where we'll wind up? And in what condition."
"How about a lockpicking spell?" asked Evie, "I think I remember the spell Mal used when we tried to break into the museum to steal your mom's wand."
"That could actually work," said Jane, "wait, you guys broke into the museum? Why aren't you in jail?"
"Well, we almost got caught," said Evie, "but Carlos bluffed the security people on the phone into thinking it was a false alarm, and we never did thank him for that."
"Yeah, he is a great guy," said Jane as she fondly thought of Carlos.
"Hello? Focus, Jane!" said Audrey, "Evie, give her the spell already!"
"Alright, let's see if I can remember it right," said Evie as she paced back and forth in thought, "ummm…how did it go? Oh, now I remember! 'Male it easy, make it quick, open up without a kick.'"
"That's actually a spell?" Audrey asked.
"It was in Mal's book," said Evie, "and she used it because Jay was gonna kick the door open."
"Ah, the old 'dynamic entry,'" said Lonnie, "Yeah, Jay's awesome like that."
"UGH! Can we focus on getting out of here and not on your boyfriends already?!" exclaimed Audrey.
"Okay, just give me a second," said Jane as she shook out her hands and took a bracing breath, "uh…do I need to sing the spell or something? Or wave my hands in a pattern or something?"
"Just say the spell and point at the lock," said Evie, "it'll click open, I hope."
"Just do it already!" said an impatient Audrey.
"Okay, here it goes," said Jane. "'Make it fast, make it quick, open up without a kick!'"
She pointed at the door and, much to everyone's shock, Jane's arm crackled with red energy. She cried out in pain and flew backwards, landing hard on the floor in a dazed heap.
"Oh my glob! Jane!" exclaimed Audrey as she and the others ran over to their semi-conscious friend.
"What happened? Did the spell backfire or something?" asked Lonnie.
"I don't know!" said Evie franticly, "this didn't happen with Mal.
"Oh, my head," said Jane in a woozy tone, "what…did it work?"
"The spell backfired," said Audrey as she and the others helped Jane sit up, "Evie must have remembered it wrong."
"I did not!" said Evie irately, "I was there when Mal used it! And further more…" she then paused as a troubling thought occurred, "am I the only one who thinks it's weird that the first thing we found when we woke up was a convenient jug of water?"
Lonnie went back to the main room and picked up the jug, "you think it was poisoned?"
"We'd all be affected if it was," said Jane in a disturbed tone, "but it's just me and I think I know why; I can't feel my magic."
It was then that the four girls heard the sound of someone sneezing, followed by someone harshly whispering, "oh crap!"
Evie glanced at the nearby curtains, then nodded to Lonnie, whom nodded in acknowledgement. "So…Jane…" said Evie in a nonchalant tone as she and Lonnie inched towards the curtains, "how'd you know about Ben and his furry little problem."
"Huh…oh, how he could transform," said Jane as she realized what was going on. "Well, I once overheard my mother talking with Beast and Belle a while back, before Ben's coronation that is. Belle was worried that Ben was growing up too fast and that the blocking spell The Enchantress put on Ben would wear off and he wouldn't be able to control his power and go full on beastly."
"Well, you learn something new about your friends every day," said Evie as she and Lonnie stood on either side of the curtain. "Guess life is full of SUPRISES!" at that she and Lonnie threw the curtain aside, revealing a girl of about 16 with long blond hair, brown eyes, standing just under 5ft tall and wearing a maid's uniform.
"Double crap!" exclaimed the girl and she dashed for the door, fumbling for something in her pocket.
"No you don't!" shouted Lonnie as she grabbed the edge of a rug and yanked hard, tripping up the girl in the maid's uniform. She fell on the floor and a ring of keys fell from her grip.
"Get her!" shouted Evie as she and Lonnie pounced on the terrified girl.
"NO! DON'T HURT ME!" the girl pleaded as Lonnie and Evie forced her to stand up with her hands held behind her back.
"Then don't give us a reason to," said Audrey, "Jane, grab those keys, one of them has to unlock the door."
"Right," said Jane as she picked up the keyring and began trying them on the lock.
"Alright, talk!" said Audrey to the terrified girl, "who are you? Where are we?"
"And did you poison that water?" asked Lonnie.
"I didn't put anything in the water, I swear!" the girl pleaded, "I just brought it in like I was told to. Please don't hurt me, I'm just a chamber maid!"
"No one's going to hurt you," said Evie in a placating tone, "we're not as cruel and crash as the von Karsteins," she looked at Audrey and Lonnie, "right?"
"Of course right," said Lonnie as she relaxed somewhat.
"Well, I guess so," said Audrey, "but that's no excuse for you spying on us. So, which of the von Karstein boys are you reporting to? I'll bet it's that pig, Wilhelm."
"I just do as I'm told, like the rest of the staff," said the girl, "please, you've got to let me go or you'll get me in trouble! I'm on thin ice as it is! I only just started working here at the castle and the von Karsteins expect their staff to follow their rules to the letter. Please don't get me in trouble! I need this job!"
"I'm sorry, but we have to," said Audrey, "my friends and I were taken against our will from Auradon, and since you know your way around this place, you're gonna help us escape."
"Escape?" asked the girl in an astonished tone, "but…why would you want to leave? This is The Falcon's Nest, ancestral home of House von Karstein. Why would you ever want to leave when you are about to become part of the family?"
"Are you dumb or something?!" exclaimed Audrey, "I just told you that my friends and I were kidnapped! Of course we want to leave!"
"But you're to marry Masters Wilhelm, Fredrich, Karl and Gustav," said the girl, "everyone's talking about how the young master's brides to be have finally arrived."
"Well, you heard wrong," said Audrey, "we're getting out of here, and you're helping us whether you want to or not!"
"Hold on, Audrey," said Evie, "there's no reason to get her in trouble," she then looked at the girl, "what's your name anyway?"
"Marie," said the girl, "Marie Lehmann. Please, you don't understand what it's like in Transdoria for the common people. Either you work or you fight."
"What are you talking about?" Lonnie asked.
"Ever since Count von Karstein became the driving force in Transdoria, unemployment has all but vanished," said Marie, "but not in a good way. Count von Karstein expanded the military and instigated mandatory service for anyone not employed by the age of 16. If I lose this job I'll be drafted, and I don't want to be drafted."
"You don't?" asked Audrey, "so what if you go into the military? At least it's a stable job and it's not like Transdoria is at war with anyone, or are they?"
"Not yet," said Marie, "it's rumored that Count von Karstein is waiting for something, some plan or weapon to make his armies unstoppable. And there are other rumors, about what happens to soldiers once they pass basic training, rumors of experiments, terrible experiments."
"I had no idea," said a disturbed Evie, "why doesn't anyone do anything about it?"
"And get thrown up against an execution wall? I don't think so," said Marie, "no, better to keep your head down and hope for the best."
"Ugh," said a disgusted Audrey, "you'll never get anywhere if you keep your head in the ground. Jane, how's that door coming?"
"There's a lot of keys," said Jane as she kept trying keys in the lock, "it's gonna be…oh! Got it!" she turned the key and the lock clicked. Jane then eagerly threw the door open, then let out a terrified squeak as she backed away. In walked Claudette von Karstein, flanked by several bodyguards.
"Mistress Claudette!" exclaimed Marie as she freed herself from Evie and Lonnie, then flew herself at Claudette's feet, "I'm so sorry, I knew I shouldn't have interacted with the girls, but I was curious, and they were waking up while I was making sure everything was perfect in their quarters!"
"That's enough, Marie," said Claudette sternly, "you know the rules and you broke them. I'm afraid my husband will…"
"Oh no! Please don't tell Master Stefan!" pleaded Marie, "and don't tell his brothers or Count von Karstein! I beg you! I'll never break the rules again! Please!"
"Well…I suppose I can overlook this one indiscretion," said Claudette in a more compassionate tone, "but consider this your one free pass. The next time I'll have no choice but to report you to my husband and father-in-law."
"Oh, thank you!" said a joyfully crying Marie, "thank you, Mistress Claudette! You won't regret this!"
"See that I don't," said Claudette, "now pull yourself together and get back to work."
"Yes, Mistress Claudette," said Marie as she stood up and wiped her eyes. Regaining her composure, Marie walked out of the room.
"Forgetting something, Marie?" Claudette called after her.
"Forgetting?" Marie asked as she stood in the doorway, "I don't think I've…oh! Oh!" she then retrieved her keys from the lock, "oh, of course, silly me!" she then hurried down the corridor before she got herself in further trouble.
"I do apologize for this little episode," said Claudette, "she's still learning the ropes."
"At least someone in the von Karstein family has a heart," said Lonnie as she, Jane, Evie and Audrey stood together.
"What did you put in the water?" asked Evie, "what did you do to Jane?"
"Just a mild drug to ensure she doesn't use her magic," said Claudette, "it would have affected Lady Mal just the same, can't have you leaving before the nuptials of course."
"Oh for crying out loud!" exclaimed Lonnie, "we're not marrying the von Karstein boys!"
"I'm afraid you have no choice in the matter," said Claudette, "preparations are already under way. Yes, my brothers-in-law are in dire need of etiquette lessons, the gods know I certainly had a lot to work with when I married Stefan. It almost killed me but I made a halfway decent gentleman out of Stefan, so I'm sure you four are more than capable of whipping Gustav and the others into shape."
"I'd rather be thrown off the tallest building in the world, run over by lawnmowers and trampled by a stampede of wild animals than marry one of your in-laws!" said Audrey as she irately crossed her arms, "ain't that right, girls?"
"Darn right!" said Lonnie as she, Evie and Jane irately crossed their arms.
"Again, you have no choice," said Claudette, "once my father-in-law sets his mind to something, he sees it through, no matter what it takes. One way or another, with or without your consent, you will marry Stefan's brothers."
"Why?" asked Evie, "why is Heinrich so zealous about us marrying his sons? What does he hope to get out of it? Besides overly-muscular babies with green hair."
"My father-in-law has a dream," said Claudette, "a grand vision for the future he'll go to any length to see come true. Whether you like it or not, you four are part of that vision." At that she turned to leave.
"Please, don't do this," said Jane, "help us."
"Don't try to escape again," said Claudette at the doorway, her left hand touching her right forearm as if remembering something painful, "it's better not to try." She walked out the door, followed by the bodyguards. The door closed and locked again.
"Well, this is just great!" said Audrey irately, "we're no better off than we were before."
"We know they're suppressing Jane's magic with drugs," said Evie.
"So don't drink the water and don't eat the food, Jane," said Lonnie.
"And die of starvation and/or dehydration?" asked Jane, "it's alright, I doubt I could have gotten us out anyway, not with my undeveloped powers anyway. No, girls, if we're gonna get out of here, we'll have to do what my mother always preaches; do without magic."
"This isn't happening," said a panicking Audrey as she began pacing back and forth again, "this is so not happening."
"Denying it won't change anything," said Lonnie, "do I have to slap you again?"
"You slap me I'll slap you back!" snapped Audrey, "wait, why am I worrying? Ben, Chad and the others back in Audradon, they'll come help! All we have to do is wait patiently for our princes and friends to come and they'll come!"
"I hope so," said Evie as she sat down, "I don't even want to think about what horrors von Karstein has to stop our friends. I just hope Mal, Doug and the others are alright." She frowned in slight confusion and felt her pocket. She started to pull something out, then stopped and stood up. "I have to use the bathroom."
"It's a free country," said Audrey, "at least in theory."
"Whatever," muttered Evie as she hurried to the bathroom. She closed the door, then looked around at her surroundings. It was an enormous bathroom, bigger and more lavish than anything in Auradon. The least expensive parts were the solid gold sink and faucet. Evie could only guess how much the bathtub, the size of a small swimming pool and encrusted with thousands upon thousands of jeweled tiles, cost.
Evie put all thoughts of her extravagant surroundings aside as she searched the room for surveillance items; cameras, microphones and so on.
"Times like this I wish I still had my magic mirror," said Evie as she finished her search as best she could. She then reached into her pocket and pulled out a small, folded piece of paper and read it.
Destroy this as soon as you read it. I'm sorry if I come across as a sniveling coward looking out for herself, but I can't risk the von Karsteins finding out who I really am or why I'm really here. I can't tell you my mission, but if the chance to help you and your friends escape comes, I'll take it. Don't lose hope, you have a friend in The Falcon's Nest.
Evie smiled as she read the note several times to make sure she didn't miss anything, then tore it to pieces and flushed them down the toilet. She left the bathroom to rejoin her friends, unaware that a small panel in the wall was open, unaware that a pair of mismatched eyes watched her with intense curiosity.
…The Isle of the Lost…
"It's a curious thing, Mr. Smee," said Harriet Hook as she and Sammy Smee stood on a beach of the seaward side of The Isle, looking out towards the open ocean, "you can't see it but it's there," she pointed out with her cutlass, "that barrier has kept our forbearers and us younger generation imprisoned on this aquatic gulag for a solid score of years. There's been many an escape attempt, yet none successful, until today."
"Beging your pardon, Captain," said Sammy Smee timidly, "but…your brother and sister…."
"Ah yes, me dear brother Harry and sister C.J.," said Harriet contemptuously, "both of whom snuck off without so much as inviting me along for the ride, let alone biding me farewell. Well, let them. Let me ditz of a sister make a fool of herself on dry land. As for Harry, I could care less about him. So what if he's signed on with that barnacle bimbo, Uma. That miserable excuse for a Sea Witch doesn't know the first thing about piracy."
"And what about Gil, Captain?" asked Sammy Smee, "didn't you date him for a while and…"
At that Harriet pointed her cutlass tip at his throat, "if you mention that brainless buckethead again, Mr. Smee, I'll skin ye' alive and make a new flag out of yer hide, is that understood?!"
"Perfectly undersood, Captain!" said Sammy Smee as he nervously clutched at the red hat he inherited from his father.
"Excelent," said Harriet as she sheathed her cutlass, "now, where was I?"
"Uh…no one has escaped The Isle until now, Captain," said Sammy Smee, "unless you count Mal and her friends…"
"I meant no one has escaped without outside help, Mr. Smee," said Harriet, "but we shall put all past escape attempts to shame! With our glorious boat!"
Harriet pointed her cutlass at a cave. She and Sammy Smee walked into the cave, where what appeared to be a submarine was moored to a makeshift dock. The sub looked to be assembled out of recycled metal and plastic parts.
"Two years ago this was nothing more than a barge of waste," said Harriet fondly as she and Sammy Smee boarded the submarine, "until our dear mate U.N. Owen Jr. had a stroke, of genius!"
The two made their way to the captain's quarters, decorated with recycled old trinkets and salvaged items from the ocean floor.
"Everyone is assembled, Skipper," said Clay Clayton as he, Ginny Gothel, Anthony Tremaine and Claudine Frollo, stood in a line in front of the rest of the crew.
"Excellent, Master of Arms," said Harriet as she patted Clay on the shoulder. She then looked at Ginny Gothel, "Helmsperson," then at Claudine Frollo, "Navigator," then at Anthony Tremaine, "Purser. You, the officers and crew of The Gray Phantom, our beloved boat and new home, have done exceptional work. Extra grog with dinner tonight, on me!"
"Three cheers for Captain Harriet Hook!" shouted Ginny Gothel, at which she and the rest of the crew shouted "HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!"
"The trial runs we've done with The Gray Phantom have proven her not only to be seaworthy," said Harriet, "but also capable of penetrating the hated barrier surrounding our island prison, and it is a prison. The Isle of The Lost has never been our home. The sea, the open ocean, that is where we belong. Soon we shall leave this accursed island and Auradon forever!"
"Another three for the Captgain!" shouted Claudine Frollo.
"HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!"
"And it's all due to our dear friend U. N. Owen Jr," said Harrier, "the son of a forgettable henchman. He had the miraculous luck to find among the endless shipment of Auradonian garbage an intact copy of Captain Nemo's notes on The Nautilus that somehow survived the destruction of Vulcania.
"It was our friend Owen, who had the divine genius to interpret Nemo's notes. It was he who discovered the deposits of Raritanium in the undersea caves in and around the island. It was he who reasoned how to refine the Raritanium and combine it with recycled garbage to construct this marvelous vessel. Auradon's waste is the key to our freedom!"
"HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!"
"Soon, me dear friends," said Harriet, "very soon, we shall at long last, take our leave of The Isle and Auradon! We shall live as Nemo did, farming the ocean riches and striking terror in the hearts of his enemies. And just who are our enemies, dear friends?"
"EVERYONE ELSE!" shouted the crew.
"Yes, yes indeed," said Harriet, "now, back to work, everyone! There's still much to do before we set sail."
"AYE, SKIPPER!" said the crew.
"Now," said Harriet to Sammy Smee as the crew dispersed, "where is our friend Owen anyway?"
"I believe he's in the cargo hold, Skipper," said Sammy Smee, "With Mr. Huntsman and Ms. Seuton."
"Oh, they're not still trying to get that blasted chest open, are they?" asked an annoyed Harriet, "well, we'll soon put them to right!" With that she, with Sammy Smee in tow, hurried down to the cargo hold to find three individuals standing around a table.
The first was a short boy of about 18 with short black hair and wearing grease-stained overalls beneath a lab coat, gray with age and stained with who knows what filth. Wrapped around his eyes were a pare of mechanical goggles that had adjustable lenses.
The second was a boy, also about eighteen, tall and well-muscled, with short brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a stitched-together uniform on which was pinned seashell carved into the shape of a diving helmet.
The last was a girl, about fifteen, with long, dirty blonde hair braided into three plats, with hazel eyes and wearing a different uniform and stockings.
The three of them were focused on a large chest on the table. Stained by water and covered in barnacles and bits of coral, the chest had two oddly defining features; it had no lock and no hinges.
The girl noticed Harriet and Sammy Smee, "Captain on Deck!" she shouted and she and the two boys came to attention.
"At ease, Fen," said Harriet as she and Sammy Smee stepped closer, "so, you three still at it? Fen Seuton, my adjutant and steward," she looked at the tall boy, "Chief Petty officer Geoffrey T. M. Huntsman," then at the short boy with the goggles, "and Chief Engineer and dear friend, U.N. Owen Jr. Haven't you three got anything better to do than fool around with a chest that can't be opened?"
"It can be opened, Skipper!" insisted Geoffrey Huntsman, "I know it can be open! Mr. Owen, he as a new invention…"
"With all due respect, Skipper," said U.N. Owen Jr, or just Owen, "ever since Geoffrey found the chest while bravely testing the diving equipment…"
"I was there too, Skipper," said Fen Seuton, "I tested one of the diving suits to."
"I know, you two were very brave," said Harriet, "but this is getting ridiculous. You've been trying to crack this shell open for…how long has it been…three months?"
"Three months, nine days and eleven hours, Skipper," said Owen, "and I'm not ashamed to admit it, I'm dying of curiosity. I must know what's in the chest, and today I will. I finally have my laser cutter working." He indicated said device on another table, "if this doesn't get that chest open, nothing will."
"A chest with no lock and no hinges," said Sammy Smee, "you should never have brought it aboard. The longer it's been here, the more I feel like it's bad luck. That's what it is, nothing but bad luck!"
"It's got treasure in it, that's what!" said Geoffrey Huntsman, "it's got riches beyond our wildest dreams!"
"Even if it doesn't have treasure," said Owen as he powered up the laser cutter, "I'm dying of curiosity to find out what's in it. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make this thing as hard as possible to get open. They obviously wanted to keep something safe."
"Something valuable," Geoffrey Huntsman insisted, "something perhaps my beloved Evie would appreciate! Yes, it has to be something she'd want! I'll bring it to her and she'll join us at sea! And we'll be together beneath the waves, forever!"
"Oh come on, Geoffrey!" said Fen, "you've been moaning and moping about Evie since we were kids. She barely knows you exist, so get over it."
"NEVER!" exclaimed Geoffrey, "I will never abandon my love and loyalty to Evie! My uncle failed her mother when he refused to deliver Snow White's heart, but failure isn't in my vocabulary! I'll deliver the hearts of everyone in Snow White's family to Evie if it'll prove my love and devotion!"
"Yeah, keep dreaming, my friend," said Owen as he finished powering up the laser cutter, "now stand back if you want to keep your head, shoulders, knees and toes, I'm blowing this dome!"
Harriet and the others backed away as Owen aimed and fired the laser cutter at the chest, burning away the seam connecting the two halves of the wooden container. After several minutes he had cut all the way around.
"This is it, people!" said Owen triumphantly as he powered off and set down the laser cutter, "after who knows how many years, decades, centuries even, we will be the first to see what's inside this most peculiar chest!" he then lifted of the lid with a dramatic flourish.
The young freebooters clustered around the table and looked into the chest. Inside was a mask carved from white stone and slightly cracked with age. The mask had a somewhat masculine face with sharp, slightly slanted eye slits, a small mouth that, depending on how you looked at, seemed to be smiling slightly with full lips and small fangs resting on the bottom lip. At the bottom of the forehead was a raised ridge running to the top, joining another ridge that spiraled to the left side.
"Well, this was anticlimactic," said Fen.
"A MASK!?" bellowed Geoffrey, "We spent three months trying to get this stupid chest open? And all for a crummy mask?!"
"The cosmic trickster got us good this time," said Owen as he took the mask out of the chest, "strange, I have no idea what kind of stone this is, and I've read all I could about geology from the books the Auradonians threw away. It's so light and…" he turned the mask around and found several lines of writing on the reverse side, "and I have no idea what language it is."
"Probably says who it belongs to," said Fen, "whoever it belonged to is long dead. Best throw it back into the sea, Skipper. I'll take it up top and…"
"No," said Harriet as she took the mask from Owen, "no, I think I'll keep it for a while."
"Captain, I think that's a very bad idea," said a visibly frightened Sammy Smee, "you should get rid of it."
"Now why would I do that, Mr. Smee?" asked Harriet, "it's just a mask," she then put the mask over her face, "See? It's just a mask," she took the mask off and looked at it, "not a very flattering mask, I'll give you, but…there's something about it…"
She looked at the mask for several seconds with a blank expression, as if in a trance. She blinked and looked at her crewmates, "it's just a trinket, nothing special, but I kind of like it."
"In that case, I'll take it to your quarters, Skipper," said Fen, "but perhaps I'll clean it up a bit first? It was sitting in that chest for who knows how long, it might…"
"I'll clean it," said Harriet insisted as she walked towards the door, "I'll take care of the mask and keep it in my personal safe, which I alone have the combination."
"Where you keep your most prized posessions, Captain?" asked Sammy Smee, "but…"
"She's gone, Sammy," said Geoffrey as Harriet left the cargo hold, "with that stupid mask. What a waste of time. I should grab that mask and smash it."
"You'll get keelhauled for your trouble, my friend," said Owen as he more closely examined the inside of the chest, then the inside of the lid, "you know how our dear captain gets once she has her hooks into something. It's how we managed to put this marvelous vessel together so quickly. Speaking of which, we've still got a lot to do before we're ready to set sail."
"Uh…yes, we do," said Sammy Smee, "we've still provisions to put aboard, plus the rest of the Rareatanium fuel."
"Oh, that reminds me!" said Owen, "I need to finish the secondary and tertiary fuel systems! We'd be in a sorry mess if we were stuck on rough seas with a broken fuel pump, now would we?"
At that Owen, Sammy Smee, Geoffrey and Fen went about their duties.
But Fen hurried to her quarters and locked the door. Activating an anti-eavesdropping device, she pulled out a miniature HAM radio set, put a pair of headphones over her ears, tuned the radio to the desired frequency and pressed the transmit button.
"DFX-824 to HZ-19, DFX-824 to HZ-19, do you read me, over!"
"HZ-19 to DFX-824, I read you. How are things, Fen, over!"
"DFX-824 to HZ-19, please don't use my name! Joy Division could be listening on this frequency, over!"
"Fen, they're not. We've got Joy Division chasing so many shadows, it's miracle they know which way is up. Now please call me Adriane, for crying out loud, over."
Fen sighed with anxiety before continuing, "alright, Adriane. Now, I need to report something incredible! You know that item you told me and the other operatives to keep an eye out for? Over."
"You mean you found it?" Adriane asked.
"You're supposed to say 'over' when you're done talking," said Fen, "and yes, we found it, over!"
"Where is it?" Adriane asked with anxious desperation, "I've been looking for another Stone Mask for years. The one I had was destroyed and I had all but given up hope of finding another!"
Fen kept silent as she waited for Adriane to finish her end of the conversation.
"Over, already!" snapped Adriane.
"It's just as you described, Adriane," said Fen, "the spiraled ridge, the fangs, the writing, it's the real deal, over."
"Did you do the test to make sure it is the real deal, over?" asked Adriane.
"Uh…no," said Fen, "Harriet has it. She seemed fascinated by it and has it locked in her personal safe, which I don't have the combination to. Over."
"That's a problem," said Adriane, "fortunately I think I have a plan to get it, and get rid of Harriet while we're at it. I've thought about your last report and agree, Harriet Hook could be trouble. I'll let you know when I'm ready to make my move, over."
"Roger, HZ-19," said Fen, "this is DFX-824, over and out."
…Elsewhere…
"Insufferable twit," said Adriane irately as she switched off her superior communication device. She then settled into a meditation posture and, after several minutes of mantra chanting and concentration, projected her astral form across the material plane to Bald Mountain. She soon reached the cave where Uma and her crew were lounging about, remaining invisible as she spied on the young pirates.
"I'm starving," said Harry.
"Then pop something in the microwave," said Uma as she pointed her pistol towards the makeshift kitchen set up deeper in the cave.
"I don't want something frozen," said Harry.
"Then open a bag of chips!" said Uma, "we've got plenty of junk food and stuff."
"Let me explain it plainer," said Harry as he sat up, looking irately at Uma, "I don't want something preprocessed. I want something fresh, something hot out of the oven, something somebody actually made right in front of me."
"Are you implying that you want me to cook for you, Harry Hook?" an annoyed Uma asked as she stood up.
"Well, since you're the only member of the crew who actually knows how to cook, yes," said Harry as he stood up.
"Well, you'd better learn how to cook yourself," said Uma, "because my days of slaving in a filthy kitchen are over! You wanna eat, make it yourself!"
"Or we could just order something," said Gil as he held up a pilfered cell phone, "we can order pretty much anything with these. Why didn't we use them before?"
"Because, for the hundredth time, cell phones don't work on The Isle," said an exasperated Uma, "and if you actually had two brain cells to rub against, Gil, you'd know we can't order anything without getting caught."
Just then Adriane appeared, startling Uma and her crew, "or you could set up a rendezvous point for the deliverymen."
"Don't scare us like that!" said Uma, "and stop showing up unannounced!"
"I do apologize for my uninvited intrusion," said Adriane, "but I couldn't stay away, not with what's happening in Auradon. You do know what's happened in Auradon?"
"Yeah, we're causing havoc in a scale those prim and proper posers are completely unprepared for," said Uma.
"I'm not talking about our exploits," said Adriane, "you all have smartphones, use the news apps, assuming you've mastered the use of your new devices."
"Of course we know how to use them!" said Harry irately, "it's just," he then looked at his pilfered cell phone, "I think mine's broken."
"Allow me," said Adriane as she took Harry's phone, "some phones have the power button on the side, others have them on top. Personally I think they should all be the same, and I certainly hate the fact that they stopped installing headphone jacks on the newer models. What if you don't have Bluetooth headphones? What, am I supposed to fork over another hundred clams just for another device I have to plug in and recharge every few hours? And why can't they make a battery that lasts longer?"
"Never mind that dugong dung!" exclaimed Uma, "What's the news?"
"What news?" asked Adriane.
"The news in Auradon, you scurvy simpleton!" Harry demanded.
"Oh, that news," said Adriane as she pulled up a news story on Harry's phone, "apparently Auradon is about to go to war."
At that Uma, Gil and the other teenage pirates hurried to pull up the story on their phones, while Harry roughly grabbed his phone back from Adriane.
After a few seconds of reading, Harry and Uma began laughing wickedly.
"I don't get it," said Gil.
"You're reading the wrong story," said Adriane, "I'll summarize it for you; the post-tournament party was sent into an uproar when Count von Karstein and his sons abducted Princess Audrey, Princess Evie, Lady Lonnie and Lady Jane."
"While Ben and Mal were made complete fools of!" laughed Uma, "they just stood there while their friends were taken! What losers!"
"I'm afraid the media's not telling the whole story," said Adriane, "they fought back, with magic and so much more. No doubt Fairy Godmother didn't want the kingdom to know their monarch and his paramour were breaking the rules."
"Okay, so, Ben and Bal were humiliated by outsiders," said Harry, "good for the outsiders. But what does that have to do with us?"
"You really are lacking in imagination, young Mr. Hook," said Adriane, "don't you see? Don't any of you realize it? Auradon has been thrown into chaos by von Karstein's uncouth actions. Now is the time, while King Benjamine's focus is on getting revenge on von Karstein and saving his friends. Now, while the authorities are organizing for war, to finish the job and get the last shipment of pharmaceuticals."
"I'll be darned, she's right," said Uma, "they'll all so wacked out by what's happening to pay any attention to us." She stood up and grabbed her cutlass, "the tide is rising, mates! Shall we rise with it or get swept out to sea!?"
"RISE!" exclaimed Harry, Gil and the other teenage pirates as they all brandished their weapons.
"I believe you and your compadres are going to enjoy the life of luxury," said Adriane, "and you're going to be even richer, Uma. I have something extra in mind, a special job. just for you, Harry and Gil."
"A special job?" asked Uma, "with extra pay? How much extra?"
"I'll double what I promised," said Adriane, "for you and your closest companions. I don't trust anyone except you, young Mr. Harry and Mr. Gil, and it must be done right away. Let the rest of your crew get the pharmaceuticals, this, this one item is going to make or break our fortunes."
"Sounds serious," said Uma, "what is it that's so important?"
"A mask," said Adriane, "a magical mask with great power. Whoever possesses that mask can rule the world, if you know what to do with it, that is."
"And you're willing to pay us for this one magic item?" asked Uma, "well, fry me up and serve me with tartar sauce. We'll just take a huff of Jet and cruise over to the museum in Auradon City and bust that mask out…"
"It's not in Auradon City," said Adriane, "it's on The Isle of The Lost."
"Excuse me?!" exclaimed Uma loud enough for Harry, Gil and the others teenage pirates to hear.
"You heard me," said Adriane, "the mask is on The Isle. I want you, Harry and Gil to go back to The Isle, take the mask and bring it to me. For this I'll double your pay."
"Uh-uh! No way!" exclaimed Harry, "we finally got off that blasted island prison and now you want us to go back? I'd rather be cooked in a stew and fed to The Croc."
"I'd rather be cooked up as Jambalaya than go back to The Isle," said Uma vindictively.
"I just don't want to go back," said Gil honestly, at which the other teenage pirates nodded in agreement.
"You won't go back to stay," said Adriane, "just to pick up this one important magical item, that's all. But, I can see you lot have no interest in returning from whence you came, which is understandable, The Isle is a hole, after all."
"Glad we're on the same page," said Uma.
"It's a shame, really," said Adriane. She then looked at Harry, "and here I thought you'd want a chance to show up your dear sister Harriet."
At that Harry did a double take and glared at Adriane, "Harriet? What about Harriet?!"
"Oh, you didn't know?" Adriane asked innocently, "your sister's been working on an escape plan for quite a while now, and from what I've heard, it looks like she might actually succeed where so many failed. Yes, Harriet Hook and her crew of rapscallions are going to escape from The Isle of The Lost all on their own with no outside help at all. Oh, and did I mention that Harriet is in possession of the magic item?"
"No, you didn't," said Uma, "how convenient of you." She gestured at Harry and Gil to come over and the three of them had a whispered conversation for several seconds.
"Alright," said Uma as she, Harry and Gil looked at Adriane, "we'll go back to The Isle and get your mask."
"And show Harriet she can't upstage us," said Harry.
"Darn right!" said Gil.
"I'm glad we could come to an understanding," said Adriane.
"We have a few demands first," said Uma, "first of all, we want triple the pay, for all of us. I'd be a sorry captain if I didn't look out for the welfare of my crew."
At that the rest of her crew shouted in agreement.
"Done," said Adriane.
"We also want to go with you to your employers when you give them the mask," said Uma.
"Yes," said Harry, "it's high time we met the ones dolling out the loot."
"Darn right," said Gil.
Adriane hesitated for a few seconds before speaking, "Done. Anything else?"
"I've got nothing else," said Uma. She then looked to her crew, "you guys have anything?"
"Got a pencil?" asked one of the crew, at which the rest of the teenage pirates began shouting their demands.
'Offer a rogue enough booty and they'll break their back for you,' thought Adriane as she listened to the chaotic cacophony of the young pirates.
…To Be Continued
