CHAPTER 4

Milton rushed into the throne room when his queen called for him. He knelt down on one knee and head bowed, as he listened to his queen voice her plans for her daughter.

"Milton?"

"Yes, my queen."

"I want my daughter's heart brought to me She has grown into quite the beauty, blossoming over in Auradon into a truly stunning vision. But there are whispers that she has grown more beautiful then me, this will not do. Never was she to surpass me!" Queen Grimhilde stalked over to the fireplace and brought over a jewelled box, "Get rid of her and put her heart in this box. I want it brought back to me by the end of the day."

Milton kept his head down as he raised his hands and let his queen place the box into them.

"I do not want failure this time," She hissed, moving back to her throne, "I will kill you myself if you come back empty handed. Do you understand?"

Milton squeezed his eyes shut and nodded.

"I can't hear you. Do you understand!"

"Yes, my queen," his voice didn't shake, but his hands did, "Bring back your daughter's heart or you'll have mine."

"Perfect," Queen Grimhilde smiled and stroked her vulture's feathers, and waved her other hand in the direction of the door, "You may leave now."

Milton scrambled to his feet and dashed out of the throne room. The box pressed to his chest, as he began planning the murder of a teenage girl. The henchman felt disgusted with himself, he was to kill a girl no older then his own daughter, just because she was deemed too beautiful by her own mother. Not much of a choice really, her death or his own. Milton hated that this was what his life had come to.

He made his way to the front hall of the castle, waiting for him were four armed guards, ready and awaiting for orders.

"Okay men, orders are in. Let's get ourself a princess."

"We need to leave now," Mal said, shaking off her shock and moving towards her unconscious friend, "Jay help me get Evie. Carlos go start the limo up."

"Lonnie go with him, in case he needs back up?" Ben asked.

Jay nodded and tossed the keys up and over the group. Carlos stood up and caught them with one hand, before dashing off through the tunnel, Lonnie hot on his heels, sword ready just in case.

"Ah, ah," Uma stepped in front of Harry and Evie and drawing her sword, she signalled at Gil, "You ain't leaving this island without us again."

Mal growled as Gil stepped forward and blocked the end of the broad walk with his hulking mass, trapping the remaining three teens between the pirates, again.

"Really Uma," Mal scoffed, "Now is really not the time to do this."

"It's the perfect time," Uma counted, "We'll help you we get the princess to the limo and you get us off this island. Pretty simply, if you ask me. But I'd make a decision quickly though, not sure how long Evie can last with that stomach wound."

Mal lunged at the sea witch, but Ben stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. The king stepped forward and put himself between the two girls, he needed to be diplomatic about this. He knew the pirates wouldn't let Evie continue to hurt, they had proven to be good people when they helped save her, but Uma was right about the entire situation on the Isle. Something needed to change, and maybe offering an olive branch could set things off to a good start.

"You give me your word that you'll help us with Evie? No tricks, no double crossing and you'll keep Harry in check?" Ben asked Uma, reaching out his hand towards her, "You help us and I'll ensure that you three will get safe passage to Auradon." He hoped she would take the deal.

Uma raised her eyebrow and stared Ben down, wanting to see if he truly meant what he was saying. When Ben didn't waver she smirked and placed her hand in his and shook it.

"Deal."

"Really Ben, we're going to trust these three," Mal cut in, "They kidnapped you and were willing to make you walk the plank."

"They had their reasons," Ben put is hands up in a calming gesture, "I can't fault their actions, they're in a no win situation on this island and Uma just wants to make the best with what she has. For herself and her friends."

Mal threw up her hands in defeat. Ben didn't know Uma like she did, Mal knew Uma would stab them in the back the first chance she got.

"Well I'm glad we sorted all this out, but Evie's still bleeding out," Jay pointed out, "So are we going to go or not? Carlos and Lonnie are probably wondering where the hell we are."

"Yeah, we're good," Uma smirked, and reached her hand to down to her first mate, "Up you get Harry, we've got a princess to save. Again."

"Jay, get Evie from him," Mal ordered, not liking the thought of Evie still in the hands of the pirates.

Harry mirrored Uma's smirk and took Uma's hand. While Uma pulled him to his feet, Harry kept a firm grip with his other arm on Evie and pressed her close to his chest, making sure she didn't fall. Once standing, he readjusted the princess, making sure her was secure in his arms. Jay walked forward at Mal's command and went to take Evie from Harry's grip.

Harry laughed loudly and turned his back to Jay, "Nah, mate, Ah'll be holding her for now. Think of it as insurance, can't leaves us, if we've got her."

Jay scowled slightly but put his hands up in surrender, "Just don't drop her," He turned back to Mal, "We need to head out now. Don't know if anyone else will try and come for us."

Mal nodded, and spun around on her heel, they did really need to get to the limo and off this island. Even if Mal didn't think she belonged in Auradon, there was no way she was letting Evie make the trip back without protection. She could always make her way back to the Isle if things didn't work out.

"Okay, the limo is parked just outside the tunnel," Ben told the pirates, "Just in case there's something waiting for us on the other side, Jay, you and Gil take point, swords ready. We'll keep Harry and Evie in the middle. Mal, Uma and I will stay at rear. Okay with you captain?" Ben turned and ask Uma, hoping she was alright with him ordering her people around.

"Sure, sounds good, pretty boy," She smirked, "You heard him Gil, play nice with Jay and lead us out of here."

Gil smiled and nodded, bumping shoulders with Jay, as he took his place in the front of the pack. The group moved through the dark tunnel, keeping their ears and eyes open for any sign of trouble. Luckily nothing attacked, but upon arriving at the limo, the group found themselves staring at fallen bodies of more minions.

Carlos and Lonnie quickly made their way to the limo, both had their swords ready. Sneaking quietly through the shadows, they glanced out the entrance of the tunnel. Lonnie poked her head out to look around and swore under her breath. She put her arm on Carlos' chest and pushed him back.

"There's four guys out there with deadly looking weapons," She whispered, "You stay here, I'm pretty sure I can take them out myself."

"You sure?" Carlos asked, nervously biting his lower lip, "I can help."

"I'll be fine." She assured him, "Just be ready when they're down. The others can't be to far behind us."

Carlos nodded and squeezed her hand for luck. Lonnie squeezed back and silently made her way out. Carlos could only watch in awe as Lonnie stealthily took out two of the men within moments, choking them out. She stuck to the shadows and used them to her advantage, knocking out the third man out before he even knew what was going on. The last one, proved to be a challenge, as he had found Lonnie's first victim unconscious and was now on high alert. But Lonnie proved to be her mother's daughter, twisting and weaving, Lonnie used her smaller size to gain the upper hand and finally the butt of her sword came down on his head.

Carlos whistled, impressed with Lonnie's handy work, "Jay should really get you on the team, you're amazing."

Lonnie blushed slightly at the praise.

"What the hell?" Jay muttered to himself, "Carlos! Lonnie! You guys okay?"

Carlos popped his head over the back of the limo, not a scratch on him and a massive smile gracing his face, "Lonnie is totally a beast with her sword. She took them all on and won."

"Yes, I won," Lonnie came out of the shadows and made the group jump in surprise, "But there is more coming. We need to leave now."

The teens sprung into action. Carlos popped the boot of the limo, for everyone to throw their swords into and opened all the doors. Jay slide into the driver's seat, Carlos in the passenger side with Dude on his lap and the rest of the group piled into the back. Gil helped Harry carefully get Evie into the back seat, trying not to aggravate her wound. The two boys sat with Evie secure between the two of them, Gil keeping pressure on Evie's stomach, while Ben and Mal sat on the left side, with Lonnie and Uma on the right.

It was going to be a very awkward ride back to Auradon, with the way Uma and Mal were eyeing each other up.

"Everyone in?" Jay asked from the front.

"Yep," Mal assured him, "Now floor it!"

"Yes ma'am," Jay threw the limo into gear and speed away.

Milton watched in displeasure as the tail lights of the limo disappeared into the distance. He shook his head at the fallen bodies of the Queen's gaurds.

"Aww, fuck," He swore to himself, "Mistress isn't going to be happy."

He turned to walk away and inform Queen Grimhilde of his failure, but something caught his eye. Looking down, Milton spotted a leather bound book. It had a dragon symbol on the cover.

"It can't be," Milton flicked through the pages, "Maleficent's spell book,thought that was still at the school."

Quickly pocketing the book, Milton all but ran back to his queen, hopefully the spell book could be of some use to further her plan.

TBC . . .

What do you think guys?