Author's note: Hey guys ! Welcome back ! In this chapter we start where we left off ! Enjoy :)

Chapter 28 - Night falls

Slowly, with ceremonial gestures, Harry placed a rusty iron hook on Uma's lap.

"Wow, chill Harry. We're not getting married !"

The pirate rolled his eyes, but nothing could tone down his smile right now. The fact that Uma was safe, and the words she had just said to him had put him on cloud nine.

"I know" he said with a falsely annoyed tone "Don't think I'm giving it to you. It's only a loan."

Uma raised one eyebrow - intrigued. And so he finished:

"I know you. Don't act like you're not already planning your revenge on that blonde bitch."

A smile pierced on Uma's lips. Of course she was. And of course Harry had guessed. The thing Uma hated the most in the world was feeling helpless. She hated being saved, protected. She hated Harry for taking care of her because it only meant that she was incapable of doing it herself. But she had made a promise to herself when she had escaped the isle. It was her life, and she would not remain passive. Shutting down was for the weaks. Now, she wanted to be alive and awake - strong. She would find Audrey, and get payback for what she did to her. She would teach her - and the entire world - that no one can attack the famous Uma without paying a severe price. She wanted to hurt Audrey, and she wanted to do it herself.

Harry knew all of that. Uma always had the same spirals after every traumatic events. First, she would shut down. Then, she would try to push him away. Which would always fail. Which made her mad. Anger would wake her up, and she would feel tired of being sad and useless. So, she would try to gain her agency back by starting fight and abusing her power as a gang leader - since she couldn't directly get revenge on her mother. This time, the thought process was a little different, but not really. So Harry knew that Uma would go get revenge and that she would forbid him to help her do so. But the thing was, Harry was also really - really - mad at Audrey. That little girl thought she could mess with his girlfriend ? No way.

"Do me a favor. If you…"

He laughed and corrected himself:

"When you hurt her… Do it with the hook. That way, you get your revenge and I get mine."

Uma smiled and ruffled Harry's hair, who growled in contentment.

"So you want to be my right hand ?" she asked

"Literally."

"Alright… I'll use the hook."

Harry offered her one of his psychotic laugh - satisfied at the idea of Audrey's blood on the metal of his hook - and Uma bit her lips. Damn, that boy was crazy - but he was also crazy hot.

Mal was lying on her back, eyes wide open. In the same bed, right next to her, Evie had just fallen asleep. But Mal couldn't do the same. Everytime she closed her eyes, she saw the green light of her mother's scepter and the expression on Audrey's face right before she disappeared with Ben. Where were they ? What was she doing to him ? Why weren't they already running after him ? It had took seven different people explaining to Mal why she had to go to sleep and let the guards look for Ben, to convince her to go back to her dorm room - but she still didn't get it. Adrenaline was rushing through her veins, stopping her from falling asleep. Her heart was aching, her stomach hurted. How did they except her to sleep, wait and do nothing while Ben was missing ?! He needed her !

She sit up on her mattress, and Evie rolled on her other side. The two girls were sharing bed, because Carlos was occupying Evie's side of the room. He really didn't wanted to sleep alone in his room while Jay was at the nursery. But he was not sleeping either.

"We need to do something…" whispered Mal to him

Carlos sit up too and turned on the light on his night stand. Evie groaned but did not woke up.

"What can we do ?" he asked "Harry is still locked up in the nursery with Uma. He won't talk until she totally fine."

"Ugh…" growled Mal "I hate him ! Why is he so…. annoying !"

Carlos sighed and let himself fall down on his pillow. But Mal was restless. She stood up and clapped her cheeks to herself courage.

"I'm gonna go talk to him !" she said

"Mal, it's two in the morning !" protested Carlos

"I don't care ! I'll wake him up if I have to !"

But right as she was wrapping herself in a night robe, Evie sleepy voice echoed in the room:

"It's no use… Even if Harry tells you where Audrey is, we're gonna need Uma on our team for this."

Mal turned around, surprised. Carlos raised his head from his pillow to look at the girl. Even Dude, laying next to his feet perked up an ear.

"Uma ?" repeated Mal "No way. We don't need her."

Evie took off her sleeping mask and sighed. She gave Mal a special look - which meant "you know I'm right".

"Yes we do" she insisted "Audrey has your spellbook AND your mother's scepter. If we try to fight her like this, we'll lose for sure. However, Uma has her seasell and her own powers ! Right now, we need her as an ally."

Mal shook her head in disagreement, but she sat back on the bed - upset. She would rather die than team up with Uma. Last year, the girl had kidnapped Ben, almost threw him in shark infested waters and casted a spell on him ! And she was supposed to work with her to save Ben ? It didn't make any sense.

That been said, Evie did have a point with the magic thing.

"I can still transform into a dragon !" exclaimed Mal "We don't need her sea magic or whatever !"

"Uh, actually" - interrupted Carlos "You can transform into a dragon, but… you still don't know how to do it on command."

Evie nodded and Mal rolled her eyes.

"Okay, maybe" she admitted "But I transform when I'm mad, or in danger. And trust me, I'm furious against Audrey."

"But what if, you're more sad to see Ben hurt ? Or worried for him ?" interjected Evie.

Mal sighed. She was out of argument. Damn, why were her friends so smart? Silently, Evie smiled. She knew she had won this conversation. Mal let herself fall back on the bed and placed her head on her best friend's shoulder.

"I really don't want to work with Uma. We don't even know if we can trust her ! She hates me !"

Evie shrugged. She had a good feeling about this alliance. After everything that had happen, it felt right to bury the hatchet between the two VK squads. But Mal was still going:

"What if she tries to sabotage us ? Or team up with Audrey ?"

"Audrey beat her up" objected Carlos

"Okay but what if… What if, uh…"

She was running out of ideas.

"What if she tries to steal Ben like she did last time ? Huh ?"

"Oh my gosh" said Evie in a whisper "Look Mal, we got bigger fish to fry. We have to put our differences aside because, right now, we're all on the same side."

Mal bit her lips, embarrassed. Damn, Evie was right. This was bigger than a stupid pride war. Ben's life was counting on it. If she had to make peace with Uma to save him; she would do it. Plus, Ben would probably be rooting for that reconciliation.

"You know what" added Evie "I think I'll be the best for everyone if I'm the one leading this attack."

And no one could tell her otherwise. It was time that the daughter of the Evil Queen took on the strategy skills she inherited from her mother. Evie was not Mal and Evie was not Uma. She was not royal but she was well accepted and loved in Auradon. She was no longer evil but she was deeply proud of her roots and of her heritage as a VK. She always tried to bring out the best in people and do the right thing. She wanted to protect Auradon; but she also look out for the Isle and its inhabitants. She was the perfect mixture of what both worlds had to offer. She was like a bridge - capable to unite universes opposite to each other. And this time, her mission was to unite the original VKs with the pirate crew. And all of that while preparing for an epic battle...

But she knew she could do it; and it was under her directives that - the next morning- Uma and Mal shook hands in the front of the nursery.

After Fairy Godmother's spell and a good night of rest - with Harry at by her side - Uma was feeling as good as new, ready to get revenge. The son of Hook had finally dropped the precious information he detained, and motorcycles had already being prepared for them to rush over to the cottage - followed by guards in car. Fairy Godmother was too valuable - and old - to sent on such a dangerous mission; which is why, after hours of argumentation and begging, Jane had been entrusted with the famous wand and authorized to join them. Everybody was on edge. The Queen had giving them 24 hours to get back King Ben, capture Audrey and get the scepter back. Until nights falls. Tension was building up over our little group. Mal and Uma in particular bad moods, after being forced to work with each. Just one slip, one word or one bad look and insults would start flying between them. And its with teeth clenched that they claimed - while shaking their hands:

"Truce, we'll stay together until the battle is done."

...So ? Did you guys notice what I did there ?

This chapter is kind of transition, directly inspired from the Descendants 3 song "Night Falls" !

There will be more dialogue inspired by song lyrics in the upcoming chapter so stayed tuned for that ! ;)