Savior
"The Rotten Four are trying to encroach on Warf Rat territory," Harry informed Uma. He, Uma, and Gil were hanging out in an abandoned bar (it had been a bit difficult to keep the bar open after the owner was killed in a bar fight, though its patrons had made a valiant effort), a favorite place for the Warf Rats to get away from the rest of the Isle and plan their antics when Uma could get out of working at her mom's restaurant. "Their minions have been jumping over the dividing line." Harry was referring to the invisible line that divided the Isle. It stretched from Dr. Facilier's apothecary to SEB's (which stood for Shenzi, Ed, and Banzai, the hyena henchmen who'd once served Scar) Snack Shop.
Uma curled her lip in disgust. "Those four are never content with what they have. If they want a turf war, we'll give them one."
"Harry and I can raid Jafar's Nicked Knickknacks store," Gil offered. "That'll send a message."
Harry and Uma exchanged wicked grins. "Sounds like a perfect start to a turf war to me," Uma said.
Before any more plans could be made, the doors burst open and Bonnie fell through them with a gasp. Her make-up was smudged, almost like she'd been crying. "H-help," she said, stumbling to her feet. "I need help." Her voice was ragged, her eyes wild with panic.
"Is it the Rotten Four?" Harry asked, jumping to his feet with his hook in hand, ready to race out and hook whoever was responsible for Bonnie's disheveled state.
She shook her head, her blond hair flying wildly about her. "No. It's my dad…he hurt Chrysta." Chrysta was one of Bonnie's two younger sisters, the one closer to her in age. Chrysta wasn't officially a Warf Rat, but she did run with them sometimes. Her father was a former pirate of Captain Hook's, and regularly took his anger over not having any sons out on his daughters.
"Where is she?" Uma demanded.
"Still at the house," Bonnie said, an uncharacteristic sob escaping her lips. "It's bad this time, really bad. I couldn't move her by myself. Not and fend dad off at the same time."
"You stay," Uma ordered, rage coiling inside her. "We'll go get her and bring her back here."
Bonnie looked about to argue, but Harry pushed her into one of the chairs left when the bar was shut-down. "You're not in any state to fight right now," he said quietly. "We'll bring her to you."
"Call Gonzo and tell him to meet us at your place. Then call Desiree and have her wait with you," Uma added. She was afraid of what might happen if Bonnie waited alone. She was one of the toughest of Uma's gang, but she looked ready to fall apart at the moment. Uma was almost afraid of what they'd see when they reached Bonnie's place.
~.~
Uma kicked the door open, sword in hand. Behind her, both Gil and Harry had their weapons out. Uma marched through the short entryway, past the tiny kitchen where she spotted Meena, Bonnie's youngest sister, drying dishes, and into the filthy living room. There she found Bonnie's overweight father sitting in an armchair that was more ripped stuffing than chair watching TV. She pointed her sword at his throat.
"What are you doing here?" He demanded, trying to stand before realizing he'd gouge himself on Uma's sword if he did. A small drop of blood dripped from his neck as he sat back in the chair, settling for glaring at Uma. "This is my home. How dare you walk in here? Get out, you curs!"
"You call this a home?" Uma asked, letting her eyes wander around the curtains stained brown with dirt and food, the carpet that looked sandier than the beach, and a pile of rags she had to stare at for a moment before realizing it was Chrysta, unconscious in a corner with her face beaten black and blue. Uma's eyes tightened.
"I really don't think you're in any place to be making demands of me," she said in a quiet, lethal voice.
He gulped, his eyes going to the sword pointed at his throat. "Wh-what do you want?" He asked. He tried for the same obnoxious tone he'd used before, but his voice was noticeably shakier as he saw the barely leashed violence in Uma's eyes.
"Me?" Uma asked innocently. "Oh, I want a lotta things. A ship of my own. For the blasted barrier around this island to be gone. For Auradon to burn down while its citizens scream in agony. Of course, you can't give me any of those things, so I guess I'll just settle for taking anything of value you have instead. Oh! And your daughters. I'll be taking them too." Bonnie and Chrysta would not be coming back here. The abandoned bar was hardly set up to act as a home, but at least it had a kitchen and bathroom. That was more than could be said of plenty of places on the Isle.
"Gil," she said, jerking her head at him. "Grab anything worth taking." Gonzo appeared at that point, an empty bag slung over his shoulder. He knew the drill.
Bonnie's dad looked like he wanted to try standing again, but wisely stopped himself in time. "Why!?" He demanded.
Uma's cold stare shut him up. "Everyone in my crew knows they can come to me if they need to." A cruel smile curled her lips. "But taking care of so many people isn't cheap. Parents should pay for the care of their kids, you know? Don't worry, everything we're taking from you will be used for Bonnie's and Chrysta's benefit. Consider it payment for services rendered."
The man fumed as Gonzo and Gil gathered up what little they thought worthwhile.
Once they were done, Uma turned to her second-in-command. "Hey, Harry?"
"Yes, Uma?" His attention, which had been on Gonzo and Gil, immediately turned to her.
"What do you think would happen to our reputation if all we did was steal a little and give Mr. Beer Belly here a slap on the wrist?"
Harry grinned. "I think people would say we've gone soft."
"I was thinking the same thing. Have at it."
Harry replaced Uma, holding the man in place with this own sword and raising his hook.
Uma ignored the man's pleas for help and mercy and the pained cries that followed. Gonzo held the bag of loot as Gil and Uma wrapped Chrysta's arms around their shoulders and hauled her up. She was still unconscious.
Their progress was slow as they made their way to the door and Uma paused at the kitchen. She stared at Meena until Meena paused from her dish drying to show she was listening. "You could come too, you know," Uma offered.
"I don't want to be in a gang," Meena said quietly. Uma wasn't surprised. Meena was too soft for the Isle. Which probably meant she wouldn't live to see fifteen. "And who will take care of Dad if I go?"
"You don't owe that old slop anything," Gonzo told her angrily.
Meena shrugged, staring at the floor. "He's my father," she said simply and went back to her drying.
Uma sighed, frustrated at the girl's foolishness. "The offer still stands if you change your mind." Meena nodded.
~.~
"Get in there," Harry said as he and Uma shoved Fasoon, the Sultan's former doctor and former accomplice of Jafar, into the abandoned bar. He was the closest thing the Isle had to a doctor.
"There's your patient," Uma said, pointing at Chrysta. She lay on the dusty floor with her head in Bonnie's lap. She was conscious now, but in no state to move.
"I'm not doing this for free," Fasoon snarled, though his eyes darted nervously between Uma and Harry. "And do you know how much trouble I could get in with Jafar for helping you guys out when you're his son's rivals?"
"Here's your payment," Desiree said, thumping several bottles of booze they'd gathered. Some had been left in the bar (only because they'd been hidden under floorboards), and some had been taken from Ursula's Fish and Chip Shop.
Fasoon's eyes glittered as he gazed at the bottles. "Fine," he agreed, turning toward Chrysta.
"One more thing Fasoon," Uma called from the doorway, which she and Harry still guarded.
"What?" He growled.
Uma raised her eyebrows at his tone. "If I'm not satisfied with the job you do, not only will you be leaving here without payment," she leaned forward to emphasize her point, "you'll be leaving without a limb or two as well."
Fasoon paled under his dark skin and went to work.
~.~
"Thank you, Uma," Bonnie whispered to Uma later than night, after they'd found a pile of blankets for Chrysta to sleep on.
"We don't thank people on the Isle," Uma reminded her friend. "That's Auradon's way. Your thanks is being a good and loyal member of my crew."