Liars Never Prosper
We let ourselves into this princesses room with Mal and Evie checking the campus while we scoped out for clues with Celica trying on the jewelry and Uma and I were laid out of her bed with Uma reading her diary while I just reveled in the softness.
"So when are you and Harry gonna stop messing around?" Uma asked and I looked up.
"I already told you"
"Yeah and you lied, I know you both and ever since we met back up there's something different about you's...I mean you two were always different towards each other from day one but it's more obvious now...you like him don't you?" I frowned avoiding her eyes.
"I don't know okay, something changed and I don't what it is so I'm ignoring it" I argued and both her and Celica scoffed so I sat up. "What?"
"Your not doing a good job with that cheek kiss" Celica replied with a kissy face so I threw a pillow over at her right as Mal and Evie came back.
"She's nowhere on campus" Evie said thankfully missing what we'd been talking about since I didn't need the whole goody two shoed 'true love' speech since there was no way Harry and I were anything close to that.
"Found her diary and dang did you ruin Audrey's life" Uma spoke up laughing at Mal.
"Okay so did you find anything in there we don't already know or...?" Mal asked trailing off.
"She hangs out at fairy cottage, you know where Flora, Fauna and Merriweather hid her mom from your mom" Uma replied putting down the diary.
"Yes ha-ha the irony is not lost on me" Mal replied with a fake laugh and I sighed collapsing back on the plush bed.
"How could anyone with this bed ever be unhappy?" I asked closing my eyes since the best bed I'd ever slept on was the one with Harry on the Lost Revenge after Uma escaped and we took over the Lieutenants quarters since the past couple of weeks I spent 5 times out of the week staying there then I did in the lair on my pallets.
"Okay, how do I look?" Celica asked posing posh like with herself covered in Audrey's jewelry.
"Okay the bling stays here" Evie told her after smiling.
"But she's bad" Celica whined.
"And were not" Evie argued and I scoffed since speak for yourself but Celica put everything back before we left heading to Evie's and my eyes widened at the large cottage since wow...she really stepped up in the world.
"I really hope they found Ben" Mal spoke up and I rolled my eyes.
"Nice digs" Uma muttered looking at the cottage voicing my earlier thoughts.
"I got a really good deal" Evie smiled before we headed inside finding the Smee twins and Dizzy asleep under Audrey's spell and Dizzy looked like she was having a bad dream so Celica went over and soothed her throwing a blanket over them as we all watched with frowns since these kids have suffered enough in their lives.
"Don't worry Dizzy we can fix this and once we do they're gonna let all the kids come from the Isle...so happy dreams" Celica said and I smiled since that was the silver lining in all of this but we all turned hearing snoring from another room and us older kids moved towards the sound.
"Uh who's the dude?" Uma asked.
"Doug!" Evie exclaimed and went over to the sleeping guy on the floor. "Doug...wake up?" she shoved him. "Wake up!" I rolled my eyes.
"He's spelled" I called out before turning back to Mal. "Is she not a fast learner?"
"She's emotionally involved" Mal argued.
"Well in that case she should be able to wake him up" Uma replied and Evie looked up in confusion. "True loves kiss...can break any spell" Uma added explaining and I sighed shaking my head.
"That's enough for me, I'll be in here" I spoke getting the hell out of there not needing any more true love speak as I had my own insecurities to deal with.
"What's her problem?" I heard Mal say as I walked past her.
"She's emotionally...confused" Uma replied and I growled as I walked away since great just what I needed...thanks Uma.
I found the cake and helped myself ignoring Evie singing in the next room but couldn't help thinking and resonating with her lyrics 'Does he love me or does he love me not...do I love him?' I sighed especially when Uma and Celica joined me eating the cake and it was seriously the best thing we've ever eaten given our sweets and food on the Isle was nothing like this and that was saying something since just yesterday I was loving my stale bread pudding.
"That was a really good idea to check Audrey's room" Mal suddenly spoke up and Uma turned to her. "Now we know were on the right track"
"Is there an insult in there that I missed?" Uma asked her and I snigged as Mal smiled.
"Just...I wanted to thank you" Mal replied and I was surprised before turning back to my cake as Mal sat down next to me but I ignored her and she helped herself to some cake as well. "So...Harry huh?" she suddenly asked and I looked up before turning to glare at Uma.
"No" I told her since I wasn't doing this, I was not going to get all mushy and bond over talking about boys like gooey teenage girls.
"I don't who's birthday it is but I want this cake!" Uma exclaimed changing the subject and Mal laughed while I stayed silent eating the cake in peace.
"So I maybe kind of missed the boat a little bit on calling you Shrimpy and not letting you join the gang" Mal spoke up looking over at Uma before turning to me. "And for treating you the way I did" she added but I just frowned.
"Yeah" Uma sighed. "We really could've torn up the Isle together" she agreed and I rolled my eyes as this was all too mushy for my taste but we all jumped when planks started boarding up all the doors and windows.
"We're trapped!" Celica yelled from somewhere in the cottage.
"Celica" I yelled and she ran over and I wrapped my arm over her shoulder.
"Are you guys okay?" Evie asked running in with Doug. "What's going on?"
"You've caused my friends pain and fear we've had enough now disappear" Mal chanted out a spell, eyes glowing green but nothing happened. "You guys I'm sorry, my spells aren't working Audrey's magic is getting stronger" I looked down at my neck seeing the glowing ember before I turned to Uma and her shell necklace was glowing so we nodded and stepped up on either side of Mal grabbing her hands.
"You've caused my friends pain and fear we've had enough now disappear" we chanted all together and after a slight pause all the boards fell disappearing.
"You did it" Evie said coming up behind us. "Together" she added and we all shared a look. "This is what I've been talking about" I frowned avoiding Mal's eyes since I wasn't ever gonna be able to forgive her and we weren't ever gonna be sisters.
"I guess my shell likes you" Uma added nodding at Mal and I sighed when they fist bumped knowing I can't be a part of this anymore as it stirred feelings I didn't want to be stirred.
"Here" I pulled the ember off the leather rope and handed it to Mal. "You have the spell knowledge and need it more than I do" I explained when she gave me a curious look as Celica ran over to the door looking out before turning to us.
"Hey it's your baes" she sang and Mal gasped running out with us following her as she ran into Ben's arms while I ran to Harry and hugged him.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he wrapped his arms around me before cupping my cheeks and I nodded smiling before I turned to Gil doing our pirate handshake while Uma and Harry greeted.
"I always knew you's would be apart of the solution" Ben stated looking at Uma and I.
"What is this?" Mal asked in a loved out voice running her hands over the beard on Ben's face. "I could get used to this"
"You like it?" Ben asked her and I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smile and walked over to them.
"I love this" Mal stated.
"What about those?" I asked pointing to my canines indicating Ben's which were sharpened like fangs.
"Oh" Ben said and showed Mal who shook her head.
"No"
"I like them" Ben argued as I laughed going back over to Harry and smiled once more at him before grabbing his hand squeezing it.
"Okay so we all think that Audrey could be at Fairy Cottage, we have no idea where that is did she ever take you there?" Mal asked getting back to the situation at hand.
"Every Fairy Godmothers day, where is Fairy Godmother when you need her?" Ben replied looking over at a girl that came with the boys.
"I wish I knew" she replied before Carlos went over to her.
"Hey um...this might be a bad time but..." he handed her a small square gift box. "Happy Birthday, I made it with my 3D printer" she opened it and pulled out a small gold necklace. "It's our names put together"
"No right I get it yeah-"
"Yeah because you know were together, you and me were like a couple" I rolled my eyes since did they all have partners, I scoffed...traitors.
"Right cause Jane and Carlos make Jarlos"
"Yes yeah I could've gone with Cane um...but I went with Jarlos, unless you prefer Cane"
"Oh no I love it" Jane argued.
"You prefer Cane, yes you do you know what it's fine I can remake it, it's cool its fine" I rolled my eyes at Carlos freaking out about something so stupid.
"No Carlos" Jane said stopping his rant. "It's perfect" she said then turned and Carlos clipped the necklace around her neck.
"Doug, go with Jane we need to find Fairy Godmother" Ben instructed.
"They might need some muscle" Uma argued.
"Hey" Doug protested.
"Well I'll go" Gil said after looking at his muscles making me smirk.
"Yeah actually I would feel better" Carlos agreed.
"Yeah actually I'd feel better too" Evie seconded.
"Same" Mal added.
"Actually I would too" Doug finally agreed and I scoffed.
"Alright man let's do it" Gil laughed putting his arm around Doug. "Let's go Jane" he added and the girl nodded before they walked off in one direction and the rest of us went back inside Evie's to come up with our plan to stop Audrey.
"So I see you survived your stroll through the woods with Jay" I laughed at Harry as we all sat down and continued to eat the cake.
"Aye he saved me gorgeous face" Harry replied and my laugh grew as I raised my fork feeding him some making him smirk at the sugary goodness while we waited for nightfall then we headed to Fairy Cottage with Ben leading the way.
We crept forward using the trees and bushes for cover as we got closer and closer to the cottage before Ben barged in but Audrey wasn't here and Jay ran to check upstairs but came down stating she wasn't here but we heard knocks coming from a door so Ben went over and opened it and some guy sat crouched on the floor rocking himself back and forth.
"Chad?" Ben asked as the guy looked at us.
"I want my mommy" I sniggered since is he serious, Ben reached for him but he flinched back. "No!"
"It's okay" Ben soothed him and helped the guy to his feet. "What happened buddy?" he asked and the guy just looked out of the closet at all of us.
"Ben...Ben!" he exclaimed after turning to Ben as if seeing him for the first time and grabbed his jacket pulling him in close. "Your face" he stroked Ben's beard making me laugh even more. "She's gone huh?" he asked turning to us. "The door is open, I'm free!" he exclaimed before taking off. "Freedom!" he yelled out the door and Harry and I both burst out in maniacal laughter and I didn't miss the smile Uma sent us before we followed Ben again since it was clear Audrey wasn't here.
"Ooh alright let's get this Audrey chick taken care of already" Uma breathed out as we walked away from Fairy Cottage and we all laughed agreeing. "What do you say girls, time to wrap things up?" she added and her and Mal fist bumped again.
"You know someday you're gonna have to tell me how you guys all got teamed up?" Ben asked and I sighed since I wasn't teamed up, I was just sticking by MY friends.
"Actually Mal promised to let all the kids off the Isle once this is over" Evie said smiling at us.
"Mal?" Ben asked clearly shocked and confused by something.
"I have to tell you guys something" Mal suddenly spoke up and turned in front of us. "Um...I lied to you" she said and my eyes narrowed. "The kids won't be coming off the Isle"
"What do you mean?" Jay asked her clearly not in the loop on this.
"The program is shut down and the barrier will be closed for good" Mal explained and I glared at her since I knew we shouldn't have trusted her.
"For Auradon's safety" Ben added.
"Hold up..." Uma cut in walking towards Mal. "So were saving your precious people and your behinds for a lie" she added and I walked up as well.
"I always knew it was a mistake to trust anything you say" I added glaring harder at her. "Your always out of yourself"
"And you King Benny..." Harry spat behind us. "Your probably just gonna throw us all back inside" he deadpanned making me frown but to be honest I'd rather be on the Isle since at least we knew what we were getting and we weren't being lied to.
"You know what?" Celica spoke up walking towards Mal. "I actually thought you were brave, you're nothing but a chicken" she told her voice breaking with tears. "Too scared to tell me I was never gonna see my dad again"
"Celica...'' Mal began but Celica didn't want to hear it and grabbed the ember out of Mal's hand and threw it into the bird bath and I didn't even care that it was destroyed.
"Regain your might and ignite!" Mal chanted trying to relight it. "No regain your might and ignite!" she looked up at me and Uma but I just shook my head as Uma held up her shell which wasn't glowing.
"Bummer" Uma spat at her. "Let's go find Gil and leave them all to rot" she added towards me and Harry before she walked away with Harry following her while Mal stared at me.
"You only have yourself to blame Mal" I spat before catching up with Harry and Uma.
"Uma...Hadley!" we heard her call but we didn't even look back, I had honestly thought we finally had a chance but we weren't them...we couldn't turn our backs on the Isle.
We walked towards Auradon Prep to find Gil none of us saying a word or even looking at each other except for when Harry grabbed my hand and actually entwined our fingers making me smile at him as we crossed the grass only for Mal to come running up behind us calling for us to stop.
"Uma...Hadley!" we kept walking until she was in front of us forcing us to stop. "Stop please stop, I need your help we have a chance if we do this together!"
"Your friends kick you to the curb?" Uma asked her. "Good" she spat.
"Ben saw something in you's and today I saw it too, you guys care...you care about everyone and Auradon is worth saving" she argued and I scoffed.
"For who Mal?" I spat at her feeling the anger rising and knew if I had the ember my hair would be ablaze.
"Help us please?" she begged but Uma and I both remained silent.
"You talk pretty but they've already made up their minds" Harry spoke for us and squeezed my hand.
"You brought this on yourself Mal" I added.
"You figure out how to fix it" Uma said before we moved around her and continued walking but I stopped pulling Harry to a stop turning since I thought I'd heard something.
"What?" Harry asked.
"Help me Mal!" it was Celica.
"Celica!" I exclaimed and we turned running back towards Auradon Prep and saw Mal flying overhead on dragon form and Harry pulled Uma and me to a stop as we looked up watching Mal try and reignite the ember with her dragon flame but I knew it wouldn't work...its a different kind of flame...it's hell fire, I looked down at my hands and channeled every bit of power into them and produced a small flame it wasn't as big without the ember but I was doing it.
"She doesn't stand a chance without the ember" Uma spoke right as Mal was hit with a bolt from the staff and came spiraling down to the ground, I sighed letting go of Harry's hand and run towards Mal.
"Hadley!" Harry exclaimed but I ignored him.
"Mal I'm right here, drop me the ember and I can use it" I yelled up and she nodded before dropping the ember and I ran to catch it. "Regain your might and Ignite!" I yelled and it glowed it my hand. "Were stronger together Mal, you need to get me up there" she nodded flying down and grabbed hold of me in her front talons.
"Hadley!" Uma and Harry both yelled out but I didn't look down since this was actually terrifying hanging from dragon claws but saw Audrey once we were high enough and she laughed waving the staff about before shooting a beam at us and I channeled every ounce of magic I could from the ember and myself firing back watching purple meet blue before the blue started taking over the purple before finally exploding and Audrey collapsed as I could hear the cheers below as Mal flew us over to the roof and dropped me onto it before changing back.
I grabbed a hold of the side wall as my whole body felt drained and weak as dark spots clouded my vision as I looked up towards Mal who ran towards Celica to make sure she was okay and I sighed in relief when she appeared unharmed.
"Mal" I muttered before everything went black.