The war with CJ Hook may be over, but there are other plot points that need to resolved, such as the outcome of Uma's betrayal. This chapter will be shorter though, but that's intentional because "Mal vs. Uma" is the only plot point in this chapter. Enjoy.
Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.
I'd like to thank the following users for reviewing the previous chapter: DragonEmperor999, mekuro-K, Quartz Rider, 61394, top story, Guest21, Elijah, M Elijah, TheLifeStruggleIsREAL, xez2003, TheGreatGodzilla
To mekuro-K: I would like apologize again for the violence and the gruesome fate of Zevon in the previous chapter. Thank you for your honesty, at least.
To Quartz Rider: Thank you for your comment on the battle scenes and the plot twist. I appreciate it so much. As for your questions, well, redemption for Mal is the next step, public opinion on her will be hard to turn around for sure, and CJ's fate, well...
To Elijah: If you really meant, "Is Mal going to turn good in the end?" then all I can say is she's still lingering on the grey area.
To xez2003: Thanks for sharing a deep insight on the last chapter. It made me feel like I did a good job with the final battle.
To TheGreatGodzilla: Don't hold your breath.
Uma wakes up with a headache, courtesy of Evie's punch. The first thing she sees is Evie, Jay, Ben, Harry, and Gil standing in a circle and looking down at her, clearly just waiting for her to wake up. Harry lends a hand and helps Uma stand up. She almost collapses because of her aching head. Harry gives her a container full of cider for her to ignore the pain.
Uma faces her new crew and asks, "Mind explaining why you're all just standing there and doing nothing when the enemy is right here?"
"You were defeated in battle. We had to stand down," said Harry.
"I appreciate your honor, but I expected grit from my first mate," said Uma.
"We would've done something, but Mal would've burned us alive if we delay your big battle with her," said Ginny.
"What big battle?" Uma asked.
"Mal wanted to settle a score, especially considering you betrayed her," said Evie.
"Oh, and, uh, you may want to know that The Lost Pearl sank into the swirly hole, so... we don't have a ship anymore," Gil reported.
"CJ?" Uma asked.
"As dead as Zevon," Ginny answered.
"Where's Mal now?" asked Uma.
"Waiting for you at Dragon's Point," Jay answered. "She's not very happy, just so you know."
"I couldn't even tell. She looked so... not emotional in the face," Gil commented.
"Let's get this over with," said Uma.
The AKs and VKs (minus Carlos, Lonnie, and Dizzy, whom were sent back to Beast Castle) walk up the cliff that is known as Dragon Point. They found Mal standing close to the edge, watching the stars twinkle in the sky. Her straight purple locks danced to the rhythm of the wind as she allowed the sight of a beautiful evening to calm her nerves.
Harry was tempted to hurt her for what happened to his sister, but Ginny held him back, reminding him that this is Uma's fight, not his.
"In Auradon, they say the best way to resolve conflict is through words. Kind, gentle words. Words said with the intention of peace," Mal started. "Well, we both know that things work differently on the Isle, especially when it comes to conflict. Something as simple as the wrong word or getting someone's way, most often literally, is enough to ignite a fight. Fights lead to grudges. Grudges lead to hatred. Hatred leads to future fights. That's always how things work on the Isle of the Lost, and that is how we are going to settle this dispute between us."
"Bravo. Amazing speech," said Uma sarcastically.
Mal reaches for a sword and quickly throws it at Uma. It lands just near her feet, startling the young sea witch.
"Pick up the sword, Shrimpy," said Mal.
Uma grabs the sword and pulls it out of the dirt. Mal draws her own sword and walks closer towards her rival, preparing for their fight.
"What's the deal, princess?" asked Uma.
"I told you that if you cross me, I'll make you regret it," said Mal. "So, I've decided to settle this the old-fashioned way. One-on-one. You and me. No magic. The victor claims the crown of the Isle of the Lost."
"You want your turf back, huh? Not happenin'," said Uma, confident.
"You could never win in a sword fight against me, remember?" Mal reminded her. "You'd be wise to surrender while you still have your life."
"I never back down from a fight and you know that," said Uma.
"Everyone does," Mal agreed.
"So, how does this end?" asked Uma, tightening her grip on her sword.
"'Til one of us dies or surrenders," Mal answered.
The two engage in a stare down as they waited for each other to make the first move. Mal did so with a quick slug across the face. The others reacted with surprise.
"Cheap shot," Gil commented.
Uma started swinging her sword, but Mal dodges her swings like they're nothing. She then grabs Uma's arm and throws her across the grass, causing her to stumble close to the edge. Uma regains her balance and swings at Mal again. Mal blocks her strikes and then kicks Uma in the back of the knee, causing her to drop. Uma refuses to surrender and keeps on swinging, only to continue failing to strike Mal due to the sorceress' quick reflexes. Mal spins and hits Uma behind the shoulder with the pommel, as if to taunt her.
The two keep on exchanging swings. Uma was giving it all she's got while Mal was acting like she's fighting a child. Mal ducks under Uma's high swing and then kicks Uma in the ankle, causing her to drop again. Even on her current position, Uma continues to swing. Mal blocks her swings and kicks her in the shoulder, knocking her down on her back.
"She's good," Ben commented, admiring his fiance's swordsmanship.
"I guess death is good for the senses," Evie said half-jokingly.
"Makes you wonder why it took so long for her to beat CJ," Jay said.
Uma scrambles back on her feet and swings low. Mal simply raises her foot to avoid the blade. She dodges Uma's next couple of swings and then grabs her wrist. She slashes Uma's shoulder, right next to the scar that CJ left from earlier. Uma grunts in pain and clutches her bleeding shoulder. After using a bit of magic to stop the bleeding, she returns to the fight. She strikes left and right with so much anger, but Mal remained calm and poised throughout. Mal walks backwards as they kept swinging before stepping aside. Uma aimlessly stumbles forward and strikes nothing but air as she wandered away from Mal.
Uma strikes high. Mal blocks it. Uma strikes low. Mal blocks it. Mal pulls the same trick and steps aside in the middle of the mindless swinging, causing Uma to wander to nowhere and strike air as she stumbled further from her opponent. The smirk on Mal's face can tell that she was enjoying herself. Uma was just confused. They were always evenly matched until the end, yet it seemed that Mal has gotten better since her death.
Mal ducks under Uma's next swing, further angering the sea witch. Uma throws a punch, but Mal catches her fist. Mal elbows Uma below the neck and then kicks her in the stomach, pushing her away from her. Uma stumbles and falls, feeling battered from all the hits she's been given.
"Good thing we sent Dizzy home. I didn't want her to see this," said Evie, horrified by how violent Mal has become.
"Or Carlos?" Freddie questioned her. "I know he's traumatized and all and someone needed to look after Lonnie, but you don't have to treat him like a child."
"He's had enough to deal with. He doesn't need to see this," said Evie.
"He's a man, not a boy, Evie," said Jay, siding with Freddie. "He was willing to sacrifice himself just to save us."
"And yet, he's still afraid," Evie reminded him.
Uma stands up to continue fighting, only to be meet by a blade threatening her heart. Mal keeps her sword close to Uma and forces her to walk closer to the edge of the cliff.
"I don't know about you, but I'm having a lot of fun," said Mal.
Uma strikes Mal's sword away from her face and then grabs her wrist, making her drop her weapon. Uma swings at her again, only for Mal to grab her blade with her gloved hand before it made contact with her face.
Mal slugs Uma across the face again, steals her sword, and pierces her in the same spot where she stabbed Mad Maddy.
Uma drops to her knees as she puts a hand on her wound. Harry was about to run towards, but once again, Ginny holds him back, reminding him that it's her fight and her fight alone.
"Okay, Uma. Let's make another deal, shall we?" Mal proposed. "I have magic. I can heal you. All you have to do is surrender."
"Never," Uma replied stubbornly.
"You can bleed and die right here and now, or you can live to fight me another day. Your choice," said Mal. "And make it quick. You don't have a lot of time."
Uma grunts in pain as she thinks about the proposal. She didn't want to surrender because it would show weakness. When she turned her attention to her crew, she began to second-guess herself. The look on Harry's face, it was full of fear. Fear of losing her. Uma knew he loves her, even if she might or might not feel the same way. Could she just rip herself away from the one person who cared about her for the sake of showing no weakness?
"I surrender," Uma said, making her final choice.
Mal smirks as she begins using her magic to heal Uma's wound, sealing it and stopping the bleeding. Mal walks away while Uma lies on the ground, still battered and still distressed from the wound. Harry frees his arm from Ginny's grip and runs towards his captain. Before he tended to her, he stops to give Mal a warning.
"One of these days, Mal, I will make you suffer for my sister's fate," he said to her threateningly.
"Try if you dare," Mal replied, showing no fear.
Harry continues to rush towards his captain, who was still lying down in pain.
"Are you a'right?" He asked.
"I will be," said Uma.
"You just surrendered. That is not like you," said Harry.
"What would you do without me?" Uma asked with a smile.
Harry smiles as she leans in for a kiss. Uma, however, blocks the gap between their lips with her finger, stopping him from coming any closer.
"Not yet, Harry," said Uma. "Another time, another day."
"I look forward to it," said Harry.
Mal plants her sword on the ground as she approaches her "friends." They were both amazed and appalled.
"How did you get so good?" asked Jay, still baffled by Mal's increased swordsmanship.
Mal smirks and answers. "Death changed me, remember?"
With that, Mal just walks back to the limo, leaving her friends still baffled.
"Mal Reborn... that's quite a story to tell," Jane commented.
"A story full of evil and death, I doubt the kids will love it," Evie replied.
"I'd love to read that book," said Ginny.
While Evie and Ginny glare at each other, Ben decides to approach Harry and the still recovering Uma.
"Are you okay?" Ben asked.
"Besides getting a second scar on my shoulder and almost dying, I think I am," said Uma sarcastically. "What do you want, your majesty?"
"I thought about your request and I have decided to approve it," said Ben. "You and your frie... crew... will be welcomed to attend Auradon Prep next school year."
"Well, at least something else worked out well for me today," said Uma, still bitter about losing her position as Queen of the Isle to Mal.
"One thing, though. Given the recent events, I can't just let you and your crew loose on my kingdom. I'm afraid you will have to remain on the Isle of the Lost until the school year begins," said Ben, speaking with confidence and sophistication.
"Ooh, looks like Beasty Boy is finally showing some guts," Uma complimented him. "I suppose one more summer on that disgusting rat hole wouldn't hurt."
"I'll be right by your side, luv," said Harry, smiling again.
Harry touches Uma's cheek with his hook as he looked into her eyes with lust and love.
"I think it's nice that you have someone who really cares about you, Uma," said Ben, smiling. "We all need someone like that in our life."
"Not Mal, though," said Uma. "She doesn't need you or her friends or her own people. You may want to get that gold beasty-headed ring off her finger. How are you so sure she'll keep it?"
"Because she loves me," said Ben.
"True," said Harry. "But..."
"But what?" Ben asked after Harry's voice trailed off.
"Do you love her enough to forgive her?" Uma finished Harry's sentence.
The question hit Ben hard. He has been thinking about what to do with Mal once the war with CJ was over. Now that it was over, he has to decide. Should he give the woman he loves a chance to redeem herself or punish her for the good of his people?
What is Ben going to do? Well, don't dwell on it too much.
So, that wraps up the "Mal vs. Uma" part of the story. I hope it wasn't too violent or anything. I'm sorry if I sound paranoid, but...
What do you think?
Merry Christmas!