Hali knew that it wasn't her place to come here and do this, but with the world burning down around her the ocean called out to her. After everything Uma had gifted her with- the love and devotion of her most important crew members, her curse lifted, and a chance at revenge as just a few examples- what right did Hali have to ask something of her captain? Even though she grew up in an apartment with an actual god and being a demigoddess herself, she still had reservations about standing before Uma's judgment.
The thought struck her not long after Harry and Gil had dozed off for the night, oppressive and demanding until it burrowed deep beneath her skin. Emotionally drained from the day's harrowing events, she wanted nothing more than to ignore the abrasive force knocking around in her head and go back to sleep and she knew without a doubt that no matter how many times she tossed and turned sleep was far from her grasp.
Frustrated and exhausted, she crept off the ship as quietly as she could manage, wanting to avoid waking the boys and the questions they would undeniably ask. This was something she felt she had to do solo.
A slight shiver wracked her slight frame wrapped in a too short leather jacket as she stood at the end of the dock, an inky blot against the black horizon staring out into the dark waters.
A week ago she would have thought twice about traipsing around in the middle of the night on a whim. With her curse broken and the granting of her god-like strength inherited from her father, she no longer doubted her ability to handle herself. However, standing there before the ocean alone was more intimidating than she could have predicted. Her nervousness betrayed her as her hands wrung themselves and words seemed to escape her. She wondered how Gil did it.
"I don't know why you chose me of all people," she began softly, eyes as watery as the rippling sea, "and I can't tell you how grateful I am, but I need to warn you and I hope you won't think badly of me after I do."
She paused to take a deep breath. "Hades is planning something and whatever it is, he needs my compliance. He's going to hurt my brother if I don't help him. I don't want to be the one that stands in the way of your revenge and if you tell me right now-" she bit down hard on her lip to keep the words from spilling out. The last thing she wanted was to have to walk away from Uma's crew. To say otherwise was next to impossible but she managed to choke out the words somehow as she blinked back tears. "If you tell me right now to step away...I will."
The mere notion of abandoning her brother was unthinkable. Hali could only pray that Uma would understand. She wasn't as helpless as she used to be. She could figure out a way to rescue Hadie and keep them both safe from demons Hades was sure to set after them for rest of their very long lives.
Bone tired, she fell to her knees uncaring of whether or not the mildew covered wooden planks ruined the fabric of her filched black dress. She cast her gaze downwards, heavy lidded and brimming with guilt.
"I can't thank you enough for everything you've done for me. I wish I could keep my promise to help you. Believe me, I want nothing more than to pay you back and help you achieve everything you've set out to do. I'm so sorry Uma."
The ocean waters before her may have calmed into a gentle push and pull, but the turmoil in her head was a raging monsoon that she was so wrapped up in she nearly missed the glass bottle bobbing in the water. Eventually, she did spot the message in the bottle and didn't hesitate to snatch it up from the crocodile infested waters. Their sharp teeth couldn't hurt her anymore after all.
Already imagining all the terrible threats Uma could have scrawled in a rage at having been double crossed, Hali gripped the bottle in an angry fist. With one damning swing she smashed the glass against the boards.
Among the shattered remains, Hali plucked the torn letter up with trembling fingers. She told herself that it didn't matter to her what Uma thought of her now. The captain couldn't hate her anymore than she already hated herself.
The letter's contents took a long while to finally sink in. Once the wild fury dissipated in her head, Hali held the letter to her chest and sobbed in stark relief. She couldn't believe it. Uma still wanted her in her crew. Nothing had changed. Tomorrow, Hali and the boys would go to Auradon and as the rest of Uma's plan unfolded once they were finally reunited with their captain, every single person who had ever wronged the pirate crew would get what was coming to them.
Deep down in their heart of hearts, every child on the Isle of the Lost wish to be taken away so that they may live in Auradon, not that any of them will ever admit it. And if they think they can fool themselves that they wish otherwise, they're sorely mistaken. Auradon may be a land of heroes and anyone who comes from the Isle are anything but, the Isle is and will always be a prison. So when the limo driver from Auradon caught Hali hesitating at the door, he would think it strange.
Hali could hardly explain it herself. This extravagant ride to Auradon Prep was everything her and the Sea Three had been working towards, probably for longer than any of them cared to admit.
She anxiously clutched the strap of her bag, practically bursting at the seams with the pilfered wardrobe that Harry gifted her with before their departure from the Lost Revenge. Harry and Gil were already seated inside the vehicle eyeing her with growing concern as she remained outside holding the door ajar. Unable to meet their eyes and reassure them she wasn't thinking about backing out of the plan even a little bit, she turned away from the fallen bridge to Auradon.
The sweet aroma of candy and baked goods inside the limo and the promise of freedom wasn't enough to blot out her crippling fear of whatever torture her sweet but self conscious little brother was being put through at that very moment by his own father. She could feel the driver's gaze burning into her along with the boys. The slight trembling of her hands became harder to fight the longer she gazed down the dilapidated street leading further into the Isle.
"Miss?" the driver addressed her, holding a hand out for her bag. "Are we waiting on one more?"
Her eyes flickered to him for a second. She clutched the strap of her bag tighter, her gaze trained on the uneven street behind the car. She knew she needed to hand over her bag, pretend everything was fine, and fulfill the plan. That was what she needed to do if she wanted to keep her brother safe. So why did she feel like throwing up?
Another rebellious part of her fueled by her new found anger at the world she lived in was also fully prepared to say 'to hell with it' and go get Hadie herself through brute force.
"Hali?" Gil gently called to her.
Stiffly, she shook her head at the driver, biting down hard enough on her tongue for blood to start seeping because if she didn't she was going to scream instead. The driver weighed her answer presumably against her "father's" villainous reputation for a moment before nodding, apparently satisfied.
She handed her bag over without a word. Harry and Gil continued to stare at her in concern as she settled into the limos cushions, cheeks flush with anger. The slam of the door caused both of them to flinch. Hali simply crossed her legs and folded her arms, and scowled at the other window.
When the car rolled forward, Harry slid closer to her until he was pressed snugly against her side. "Goddess, everything is going to be okay. We'll make sure it is."
"Yeah Hali! We're driving over a magic bridge right now!" Gil exclaimed gleefully from where he was pressing his face against a window.
Her lip quirked in what might have been a smile. Leave it to Gil to put a crack in her armor. She allowed herself a small fraction of giddiness at the dazzling presentation of magic.
Once, not too long ago when Evie's chosen few were leaving the Isle left and right, Hali had watched curiously in the distance as the golden, magical bridge lit up. After a long day of slaving away in Hades' Souvlaki and dodging the devil himself, she would gaze forlornly through the uneven boards of her cracked window and hadn't believed for a second that she would someday be considered worthy enough to travel along said bridge.
For the duration of the car ride Hali allowed herself to indulge in her childhood dream as the three of them pressed their faces against the windows, munching on the complementary candy. Auradon was as different from the Isle as night was from day. On the Isle there was so much rot and decay, Hali was overwhelmed by all the dazzling was so much life all around!
A couple of pretty flowers, however, had nothing on the splendid grandeur of Auradon Prep. Maleficent's now abandoned Bargain Castle was as close to an actual castle Hali had ever gotten in her life and the crumbling remains of the Evil Queen' castle was a pale shadow of what it once was. The sprawling castle grounds that the limo pulled up in front of was completely intact almost as if brand new.
Hali glanced at the boys to take in their reactions of the sight. Harry was obviously very guarded about what his first impression was and appeared decidedly unimpressed. For someone who's moods shifted as much as the ocean tide, Hali wondered just how long the young pirate would play it cool in this uncharted territory. Gil, on the other hand, could always be counted on to be an open book of expressions. She was actually relieved that she wasn't the only one excited by the new surroundings.
When the driver opened their door, Gil was the first scramble out of the car. Harry lingered for a moment so he could look at her. She tensed as their eyes locked.
Everything he had to say could be read in those piercing silver blue eyes of his. The longer she stared, the more grounded she became and reality came crashing down around her. She remembered the plan. She remembered her mission. She remembered her simmering rage.
With a wicked grin, Harry gently lifted her chin on the curve of his hook. "Chin up, goddess. It's the beginning of the end."