"Ria! Hey, what's wrong? Wake up!" I heard someone shouting as I was being shaken awake. When I opened my eyes, I saw Harry looking down at me concerned as I was laying in a pile of my sweat. "You were screaming for help, what happened?" He asked as I sat up and hugged him tightly.
"I had that horrible nightmare again. The one where I'm trapped on the Isle by myself. I know it's just a dream but it feels so real and seeing everyone leave is terrifying," I admitted to him knowing that when I drank I had horrible dreams and this was a reoccurring dream that I had. It says a lot about my fears and my personality, that's for sure.
"It's alright," he whispered holding me closely. "You know that I would never leave you. You're never going to be stuck here without me. That wouldn't be fun for me either, now would it? I need someone to annoy," he told me trying to lighten the mood as he kissed the top of my head giving me a couple pats on the back.
"I know. Thank you Harry. I don't think I've ever told me how much you mean to me. You've been with me through thick and thin and it means the world to me," I stated as he just sat there smiling at me.
"Don't go soft on me Rider, but you don't need to thank me. You've been just as helpful and caring to me all my life. I couldn't see myself with anyone but you."
"Good, cause you're stuck with me," I teased kissing him and that's when I remembered he must have important news to tell me since he's back from his King hunt. "Wait, what happened since I was out?"
"What's the last thing you remember? Because when I left you were drinking with my father we both know that never ends well," he asked me stroking my cheek with his hand and looked to me a little disappointed.
"Hey, I could have came with you and I wouldn't have ended up drinking as much. Anyways, I just remember Gil running around screaming about King Ben and then you said you were going to go nick him in return Mal would give us the wand for the King. The plan is brilliant by the way and there's no way that we can lose," I told him with a wide grin on my face. After sixteen years I'm finally getting off this island. I will finally be free and I'll be able to sail the seas with Harry, Uma, and Gil. That's our dream well at least it is for Harry and me. I'm sure Uma and Gil would end up tagging along with us on our travels. I couldn't imagine doing anything without the two of them and Harry.
"Well, we did it. Got the King tied up on the ship. Gil's on duty now while Uma is speaking with Mal right at this moment. Everything is falling into place and it won't be much longer until we're able to leave the Isle," Harry explained to me as actual joy was expressed when we talked about the plan and leaving.
"Wait a minute, Gil's on duty?" I asked him and he nodded. "Think about that, for a second. I love Gil but I don't trust him especially with Belle's son," I said standing up quickly as Harry wrapped his hook around my wrist and giving a gentle tug.
"I think he'll be fine. Why don't you and I have a little bit of fun before?" Harry suggested as I shot him a look.
"As much as I'd love that, I don't want Uma freaking out on us because Gil screwed something up. Also after today, we'll have all the time in the world to have some fun," I explained to him with a wink as he sighed getting up.
"As you wish my princess," he responded with a little snark.
"Hey, watch it. This princess could still take you on in a sword fight," I told him as he laughed.
"Sure, that's what you think. It's not like I've had years of training from my father and his crew, but yeah you could totally take me on," he teased as he wrapped his arms around me from behind kissing the top of my ear as I just sighed.
"Okay Harry, you'd win in a technical battle of fair play sword fighting but who says I'd play fair," I remarked with a smirk as we exited his room that I fall asleep in even on nights where I didn't pass out. Having him by my side while I slept was always more comforting than sleeping alone in my bed with the room that I shared with Harriet and CJ. "Do you think Mal is actually going to give us the wand? Would anyone be that stupidly in love to do that?" I questioned as Harry nodded his head.
"Wouldn't you do that?" He asked me and I shrugged. "Because I'd without a doubt risk everything for you," he told me as he stopped me dead in our tracks as he looked me in the eyes completely serious. It was much more powerful than any form of "I love you."
"Even if it meant getting of the Isle?" I couldn't believe him, that's way too sappy, even for him when he's in one of his mushy gushy lovey dovey moods with me.
"Of course, my dream is to get off this Isle but with you. What would you do?" He questioned as he grabbed my hand with his hand as we walked outside from Hook's house. It was the middle of the night but evil never sleeps.
"I rather be with you than alone even with the barrier broken. You know that," I said to him but the situation with Mal was completely opposite of what was going to happen. No matter what she chooses the boy or Auradon, it's going to be a lose-lose situation.
"Good because I love you," he admitted to me and we didn't really throw around the word "love" all that much especially him.
"I love you too," I told him as we kissed outside Hook's home and then we were on our way to the docks. As we were walking I was yawning as Harry had his arm wrapped around my shoulder. I said evil never sleeps. Evil may be exhausted however sometimes, especially at five in the morning.
"What are we going to do for seven hours if Mal doesn't have to be here by noon?" I asked knowing that I'd fall asleep in a moments notice if I had to be on Ben watch while the King slept.
"Hey, I wanted to have fun but you wanted to look after Gil. This is your fault," he shrugged as we made our way to the ship. There were saw the King Ben himself tied up against our main mast of the ship. Gil was of course fast asleep slumped over sitting on the forecastle deck.
"Good thing too because look at him, he's fast asleep," I sighed as I rushed onto the ship letting go of Harry's hand and walking over to Gil. "Hey!" I shouted in a stern voice a couple feet away from him as he jolted away.
"Huh? What?! I'm awake," he responded as he saw me standing over him. "I was just resting my eyes."
"Sure you were, and I only had a little to drink tonight. We both know those are lies," I stated standing there with my arms crossed looking down at him.
"Sorry, but he fell asleep and then I started to drift off," he admitted as I sighed.
"Okay, he's still here and nothing happened. You're lucky Gil. Uma would have been beyond pissed if something were to happen and you were found asleep on the job," I explained to him as the two of us heard Ben making noises as he woke up and Harry was slowly making his way over to us.
"Ria? Is that you?" The King questioned as I looked to him in utter confusion.
"Yeah? What's it to you?" I asked making my way over to him cautiously as Harry came over to me wrapping his arm around me as the King's expression changed from confused to shocked. What was going on?
"You're with him? What happened?" I looked to Harry as he was holding back a laugh. Okay seriously what in the world is he talking about?
"I'm sorry but have we met? You think I'd remember meeting a royal snob that questions my choices," I answered in a condescending tone taking a step towards him.
"Ria, it's me. I'm your best friend. You're Maria Fitzherbert, the daughter of Eugene and Rapunzel," he shouted at me as I took Harry's hook out of his hand without him being able to react to stop me. With the hook in my hand, I rushed over to Ben placing the hook right again his neck as he gulped.
"Call me Fitzherbert one more time, I dare you," I threatened as the King looked me dead in the eyes and they were flooded with fear but a sense of hurt. I couldn't imagine why or what he was rambling on about Rapunzel or the fact that I'd ever be friends with a person like him.
"Ria, come on. You can't hurt him. Uma told Mal no harm until noon," Gil scolded me off all people grabbing onto my hand with the hook in it and pulled it away from his neck.
"I don't know Gil. I absolutely love this side of Ria, what's a few nicks here and there gonna do?" Harry proposed with his signature devilish smile on his face that would make my heart melt.
"No, not without Uma here," Gil stated putting his foot down. He was completely blowing me away with his assertiveness. What's gotten into him?
"What did you freaks do to her?" The King yelled directly at Harry and there was so much passion behind the King and whatever he thought he knew about me. How hard did the crew hit him to knock him out? Mal's not going to be a happy with a delirious King.
"Freaks huh? Tell us how you really feel, my King. Let's talk about how you think we're nothing but villains and deserve this life because of who are parents are. Let's hear it," Harry screamed at him taking his hook back from me as Ben moved his head away from his as much as possible.
"I didn't mean it like that. I shouldn't have said that because it's not true. I just want Ria back," he admitted with a sigh. As I looked to Harry who was looking back to me, I didn't quite know how to respond to that being that I don't know what he's actually talking about.
"Harry, can I speak with you?" Gil asked as Harry backed off of Ben and I took a seat a few feet away from the King on the upper deck.
"I can't see what could be so important right now but fine. Ria, make sure he doesn't try anything and don't listen to him. He's making things up," Harry told me as I nodded. They started walking to the back of the ship as Ben stared me down looking like he was going to cry.
"What did they do to you? This isn't you Ria, snap out of it," Ben pleaded and I just rolled my eyes.
"What's the real me then?" I asked completely uninterested in what he was rambling on about.
"A sweet and pure of heart princess, that's in love with Carlos De Vil and best friends with Evie, Mal, Jay, and me," he stated as I started cracking up laughing.
"Me a princess and with De Vil, that softy? That's too funny and everyone said that'd you'd be a total square. That was a good one," I told him standing up and giving him a pat on the shoulder as I went to see what was going on with Gil and Harry. "Don't cause too much trouble," I stated as I overheard a part of Gil and Harry's conversation without them seeing me.
"Harry, I hope you know that Ria isn't going to be happy if your plan falls apart. There's ways to, even I can see that," Gil told Harry and I could only imagine what he was talking about. What plan? Capturing the King and getting the wand isn't his plan. That wouldn't make any sense. Then what could Gil be talking about?
"Well let's make sure that doesn't happen then!" Harry yelled at him giving him a smack on the head. "That's really want you needed to talk to me about. Get back on duty," Harry told him as Gil sighed making his way back towards Ben and me. Before he did that, I rushed back over to my spot where the two of them left me as Ben looked confused as he watched me try to act casual as Gil came back over.
"He stop bothering you Ria?" Gil asked as he sat down next to me and Harry came back over as well.
"Yeah, he's really funny though. I mean he honestly thought I could be a princess, as if that would ever happen," I laughed as Harry did as well.
"Well he's not wrong, you're my princess after all," Harry stated as he walked over to me wrapping his legs around my waist as he sat on my lap and kissed me passionately as I heard Gil and Ben make disgusted noises.
"If I'm a princess, then you're definitely a prince," I teased kissing him once more as I heard footsteps creeping onto the ship. Looks like Uma's back.
"Oh get a room you two," Uma shouted at us and at moments like this I could sense jealous of Harry's and my relationship. I mean can you blame her? Harry's gorgeous, wicked, and perfect in everyway. I'd be jealous if Uma was off with Harry and I was stuck alone or even Gil. Sorry buddy, but it's true. "Mal should becoming by noon and then we will finally rise."
"Seriously?" I questioned as Harry jumped off of me and she nodded with a wicked smile. "Harry, our dreams are going to come true!" I cheered wrapping my arms around his neck as I kissed him again and he had the brightest smile on his face once I let go of him.
"I can hardly believe it and my dream will come true with you right by my side. I couldn't ask for anything better, my dear princess," he teased as the crew started making their way to the ship as the sun was starting to rise. "Only six more hours and we'll finally be free!"