Hello everybody! Wow, this chapter was quite long. I hope you like it very much and forgive me if there are any mistakes, it was difficult to translate. I wanted to clarify that this fic will have several chapters, I had initially thought of 10 but I think it could be even 15. Thank you very much for the follows, favorites and comments. Greetings.
"They're all crazy and those two are the most dangerous. Look at them, acting like the sea witch is royalty or something. And Hook's son… my dad told me that his eyes turn red when he wants to murder someone."
Evie couldn't help looking up at the table next to hers. It was a beautiful day and she had decided to go outside to finish some sketches, so she made her way to the field tables outside the boys' dorms, where she apparently ended up sitting next to a group of guys who were not yet agreed that the barrier had been removed. She wasn't entirely surprised. Ben was a king who had chosen to advance, but even with all the events of the past year, many of Auradon's young people still held a grudge over their parents' stories. Looking up, she Evie recognized those who were speaking and she was not surprised at all. The girl was pale and had black hair in a ponytail, the boy, caramel-colored hair and sharp features: Peter Pan's son, John Darling and Melody, daughter of Ariel and Eric.
Evie followed the direction of their conversation until she came across a peculiar sight. Uma and Harry Hook were coming out of the boys' dorm; before Uma came downstairs, Harry jumped the little way down from her and offered her his hand in a very royalty gesture. Uma allowed him to hold her and she came down the few steps with a strong and graceful bearing. Nothing new. That was Harry being Harry and Uma being Uma, until she turned her face slightly to meet Harry's gaze. Then, without even thinking about it, Evie had to look away from her, certain that she had witnessed some kind of moment too intimate to be destined for other people's eyes. For some reason she blushed and then mentally berated herself. What was wrong with her? It wasn't like they were kissing or something.
"Someone should put them in their place. You've seen what that witch tried to do with King Ben", said Melody.
"In my opinion, King Ben shouldn't even have allowed them to come. If the decision had been mine, I would have left her and her damned crew to rot on the Island." John's voice was full of anger. Evie frowned. Making noise on purpose, she got up from her chair, picked up her things and left, passing very close to the youth table. Evie was pleased to see that they had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Did Ben tell you when we could train a bit?" Uma asked Harry, serving their shared breakfast on the tray. Harry pointed to the brownies to make sure Uma had some of it.
"I asked him if we could do it on Friday afternoon and he agreed." He shrugged, like it wasn't a big deal, but Uma was sure that the same adrenaline she felt was spreading through his body at the prospect to have a sword in hand again. That was something else on the Island, you couldn't show how much you liked something, or it was most likely that it would end up broken, spoiled, lost or set on fire. Maybe all of that at the same time. "Where is Gil?"
"I kicked him out of the bedroom during the night." Desiree's voice told them that the girl had just arrived next to them. "Good morning Captain."
"What did he do this time?" Asked Uma.
Desiree rolled her eyes.
"Fool he hid a plate of eggs under the bed for a late night snack. I don't have to say more, right?"
Harry and Uma looked at each other, holding back laughter.
"By the way, Evie was looking for you," Desiree told Uma. "Something about your dress for Mal and Ben's wedding."
Uma groaned. Mal and Ben's wedding, how could she have forgotten? It was what everyone was talking about in Auradon this past week, with the event coming up by the hour. Uma guessed that was why she hadn't seen Mal or Ben much those days.
"Could you tell her that I returned to the Island?" Uma asked, thinking of the prospect of Evie babbling about dresses all afternoon. "Or that I'll go to the wedding in my boots and hat?"
"So I can go naked? That's my best suit," Harry asked, to which Uma responded by giving him a light punch.
"Ben and Mal would never forgive us," she replied, imagining the expression on their faces if they saw them appear like that. She couldn't help laughing.
The bell rang. Uma hooked her little finger to Harry's little finger in goodbye, took one of the chocolate cakes and popped it into her mouth as she walked with Desiree to her next class. She missed Harry's hook. Sure, she always touched it when they were in her room, but she wished they hadn´t forbidden him to have it always.
The dress was metallic turquoise, Uma's favorite color, with waves of flowing fabric in different shades of blue falling down the skirt. It resembled the sea, and when Uma moved, the cloth sheaths rippled as when waves collided with boulders in the sea.
At first, Uma had steadfastly refused to wear a fancy dress. It would remind her a lot of the cotillion, she had decided, and besides, she had nothing to pay Evie with. But Mal insisted. Evie promised that it would be nothing like her other dress and Mal assured her that she and Ben would pay for many of the outfits for boys and girls from the Island. Uma was left with no other choice when she realized that if she would continue to refuse Evie would start to insist. The dress was beautiful, but Uma preferred her usual outfits.
"We'll tighten the waist a little more and you're done," Evie announced, measuring Uma's waist with concentration. "You will look beautiful."
Uma couldn't help but laugh. Beautiful. Yeah right. Intimidating, strong… she had always been that on the Island. No one had ever called her beautiful, except Harry. Uma smiled fondly at the thought of her first mate.
"I'm sure Harry is going to go crazy," Evie blurted out as if she didn't want it.
Uma frowned at her.
-What do you mean?" she asked sharply.
Evie hid a smile.
"Something changed recently between you. Don't worry, no one else knows. I only bumped into you in the morning as you were leaving the boys' dorms. The way he looks at you is very intense".
Úrsula's daughter tensed, preparing to defend herself.
"I won't tell anyone, Uma". Evie assured her. "I just wanted to warn you to be careful. Not everyone in Auradon is like Ben. There are those who still hate us for what our parents did. And this is done. I will make the last adjustment and you will have the dress in the afternoon. Tomorrow is the wedding and I have yet to get Mal to try on his shoes."
Uma took off her dress and put her clothes back on as she processed Evie's words. She took her things hastily and before leaving the room she turned to the girl.
"I… thank you, Evie," she said, "for everything."
Evie smiled at her.
"You're welcome".
Uma woke up in the glare of the sun. It was Saturday, but there was a lot of bustle outside. Ben and Mal's wedding, she recalled herself. She dragged a lazy hand to touch Harry, only to remember that he had stayed in his own room and she was with Desiree because the Fairy Godmother inspected the rooms on Fridays. Had she had nightmares? She vaguely remembered having dreamed of the Island, of her childhood. She shook off the thought and got off the bed. She saw the dress Evie had left in her room the day before in the afternoon hanging in the closet.
She hadn't even set foot on the floor when someone knocked on her door. Uma frowned. It wasn't Harry. Harry never played, he entered with all the cheek in the world. She put on a robe and hurried to open it.
It was Doug, Evie's boy. He looked stressed and constantly looked at his back as if he expected someone to attack him.
"Doug?" she asked, confused.
"Mal and Evie went crazy. I can't think of who could calm them down but you. Carlos hid in a closet as soon as I told him, and Jay says that he prefers to go back to the Island before trying to calm them down when it is clearly a girl problem. Please, Uma, you have to help me. They will destroy Auradon if someone doesn't reassure them."
Uma sighed. Yes, she could imagine the scene.
"Give me two minutes and I'll go with you."
She closed the door. She dressed in her usual pirate outfit and wrote a note for Harry explaining where she would be. Doug was shaking when they reached the rooms where Mal got ready at the palace. He did not want to enter the room with her and Uma understood when she opened the door and a ball of cloth slammed directly into her face.
"What the hell?"
The room was a mess. There was fabric everywhere, pins hanging from the curtains, measuring tapes on the floor, and Mal was standing on the bed, in a half-finished wedding dress, threatening Evie with the heel of a slipper.
The two girls turned to see Uma, who raised an eyebrow.
"Uma, how good you're here! So you could tell Evie that I actually need to be able to walk without killing myself on MY WEDDING day!" Mal yelled.
Evie was enraged.
"Don't be stubborn, Mal! They are not even that high!"
Uma crossed the sea of fabrics to reach them and yank Mal's heel off.
"It's unbelievable that I say this, but Evie is right. I've seen you wear shoes taller than this. Now, really, what happens?"
Mal broke into a whimper.
"But what if I fall?! In front of all Auradon! I'm going to make a fool of myself!"
She took the hand that Uma offered her and got off the bed to hug Evie, who reassured her like she reassures a little girl. The blue haired girl gestured the word thank you in Uma's direction.
Mal turned to her.
"Uma, could you stay? Actually, I'm glad you're here."
So they spent the entire morning helping Evie finish the dress, trying it on Mal every two minutes, and when lunch was brought to them on shiny gold trays, Evie forbade Mal from having a single bite, sparking another crazy fight between the two girls while Uma ate all the sandwiches curled up on the couch.
Then it was time to do the hairstyle, which Uma was happy to help with. Evie took advantage of the short break to go to the bathroom and Mal and Uma were left alone in comfortable silence as Úrsula's daughter twisted Mal's hair into bright waves.
"Uma?" Mal asked.
"Yes?"
"Can I ask you a favor?"
Uma hid the surprise on her face, knowing that Mal could see her in the reflection of the mirror in front of her. Auradon or not, they both knew very well that asking for a favor was something that showed weakness, that compromised the will. Although it was not a really important favor, the concept always made the guys of the Island shudder. But Mal smiled.
"If I fall down and make a fool of myself in front of everyone, could you threaten them for me?"
"That's what you have Evie, Jay and Carlos for," Uma replied, not quite sure what to say.
Mal laughed.
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure Evie would go crazy if someone dared to laugh at me," Mal said. "But you know, you scare them more."
"If that's your way of telling me that you respect me and trust me, I accept it," Uma replied. On the other hand, you really did go soft, girl."
Uma smiled when she finished combing her hair.
"Have you seen the time?!" Evie's voice rose in panic. The girl had just returned, and she seemed more stressed than ever. "Two hours until the wedding! Quick, this must be done. Uma, I asked them to bring your dress here, they shouldn't be long in coming."
Evie slipped into her bridesmaid dress, combed her hair, and put on makeup while Uma waited. Her clothes arrived half an hour later, so she got dressed, put on her shoes, and let Evie do her makeup. They left the castle towards the cathedral escorted by a ridiculous number of guards. Uma thought about what Harry was doing and she became anxious as she remembered his desire to go naked to the wedding.
People were entering the cathedral, a crowd, surely all Auradon. Mal and Evie were taken apart and Uma searched her crew with her eyes. She then she saw Harry. She couldn't stop a strange sound escaping from her lips, her first mate was with Gil, Jay and Carlos almost to the front. Uma couldn't stop her eyes from going over him in what was a very cheeky look. Harry wore a red jacket, long and tight at the waist, like the one they had discovered kept in his father's old closet the only time they had dared to snoop Captain Hook's things in the Jolly Roger, only this jacket was new, shiny, and made Harry look more handsome than usual, if that was possible. He too wore black boots with chains, and, by some miracle, they had let him carry his hook. Uma wondered if this was Evie's doing. Maybe it was the sticky atmosphere of the wedding, but Uma wanted to smile. Then Harry turned in the direction where Uma was. She saw in his eyes the devotion he had for her, the happiness it caused him to see her. She hoped that somehow her own gaze reflected all of that to him.
"Uma, you look so beautiful!" Gil said, smiling fondly at her. Uma noticed that even Jay and Carlos looked at her like they never believed Shrimpy could look good. "I like your dress. It looks like the sea."
The first thing that crossed her mind was reprimanding Gil for paying his compliments. No one on the Island paid compliments, but she took a deep breath and reminded herself that they were in Auradon. At Mal's wedding.
"Did you expect less from your captain?" Uma said. Then she softened her voice. "Your tie is badly tied. Come here, let me help you with that."
Gil walked over with a bright smile and let her help him.
"Harry tried to fix it, but his finger got caught in the knot," he said happily. Uma bit back a laugh. Yes, she could very well imagine the scene.
"Shame on such audacious pirates, not knowing how to tie a knot," she said. "It is done."
She took her place next to Harry, hooking her little finger around his hook. Oh, she had missed this.
"You look like a goddess just out of the sea," Harry told her, speaking close to her ear. Uma rolled her eyes, smiling slightly.
"And you are the most handsome pirate in the seven seas," she replied, feeling flushed.
Harry laughed, that wild, carefree laugh that she loved so much. The music began to play before they could say anything more and they all turned to see Mal enter the cathedral, her wedding dress gleaming, Evie behind her as a bridesmaid. Uma hadn't even noticed that Ben was up front, with the Fairy Godmother. She supposed she had been too absorbed in Harry.
The Fairy Godmother said a few words about the path that Mal and Ben had traveled since they met until then, she mentioned that they both deserved to be happy and that their reign would be good because they were full of love. As the Fairy Godmother spoke, Harry began to grow impatient. Yes, it was sure all very romantic, but wouldn't there be swords or something like that to, you know, increase the excitement of the moment? It wasn't like his heart needed to be more agitated, after seeing Uma he seriously wondered if she wouldn't give him a heart attack in the middle of the ceremony. Afterwards, the Fairy Godmother finally declared them husband and wife, all Auradon exploded in happiness and the bride and groom left the cathedral to be followed by all their guests at the party. Evie was having a fit of excitement, causing her to cry and have another stress attack from the makeup. Jay and Carlos hugged each other pretending to cry with happiness and Mal and Ben laughed, close together, posing for photos. Harry only had eyes to see Uma, who was busy attending to Evie's panic attack. He couldn't help but think that she deserved all that too: a life full of happiness and love.
It had been two hours since Mal and Ben became husband and wife when Harry and Uma were finally able to congratulate them. Harry and Ben fist bumped while Mal and Uma hugged each other, and then Harry fist bumped Mal while Uma hugged Ben.
-Thank you so much, guys. It means a lot to us." Ben appreciated the congratulations, all smiles and loving eyes.
Uma and Harry finally made their way to the table where they had been assigned a seat. The party was being held in the castle garden and there were purple and blue lights everywhere, the cake was interspersed with purple and green frosting floors and blue and yellow frosting floors. Somehow, they had made Mal and Ben's colors look good together. In the center of the garden was a large dance floor and the champagne flowed freely.
Evie, Doug, Jay, Carlos, Jane, Celia, Dizzy, Gil… they were all sitting at the same table as Harry and Uma, where there were also two empty seats where, Uma suspected, Ben and Mal would later occupy.
The night was beautiful, and happiness was perceived among all the guests. At the table of the guys of the Island there was carefree laughter and everyone was having a really good time. They were good drinkers, so the glasses were gathering on the table. Uma felt relaxed, laughing, drunkenness was a state very similar to being in love with Harry, she decided. And then she smiled at the thought. In love with Harry. How could that sound so good?
"Come dance with me, Uma!" Harry asked, getting up and offering his hand for her to take. And she didn't hesitate, she slipped her fingers between his and they headed for the dance floor. The previous song was ending, and another began, one that Uma had heard a few times on the Auradon radio.
"I like that song," she told Harry. He held her very close to his body. Uma could hear the mad pounding of his heart and she leaned her head against his chest to hear it better for a second. Then she looked him straight in the eyes and found intensity in Harry's gaze. Love beyond love, blind devotion. Again, she felt powerful, loved, grateful. By the seven seas, what had she done to deserve him? She slid her hand through Harry's hair to bring him closer. They danced slowly and she suddenly remembered how the lyrics of the song were going, so she sang it to him, knowing how much he loved her voice.
Hold me like you never lost your patience
Tell me that you love me more than hate me all the time
And you're still mine
So smoke them if you've got them
Because it's going down
All I ever wanted was you
Let's take a drink of ever
This can turn around
Let's raise a glass or two
To all the things I lost on you
Tell me, are they lost on you?
Just that you could cut me loose
After everything I've lost on you
Is that lost on you?
Is that lost on you?
She traced Harry's jaw with her fingers, caressed the shape of his lips, and Harry held her in his arms as if she were the saddest and most beautiful pearl in the sea. His friend, his captain, his love.
She kept singing until the song ended. Uma remembered dancing many times with Harry before, always on the deck of Lost Revange. They had danced foolishly under the influence of rum and danced in imitation of the pompous auradonians, always eliciting a chorus of happy laughter from the crew. They had never danced like this, as if there was no better place in the world to be than in each other's arms.
Harry wrapped her in a hug and spun her around in the air, laughing happily. She could see that his eyes were slightly cloudy from the alcohol, but honestly, she didn't care about it. How long had she worked so hard so that everyone could be happy, so that Harry wouldn't have to suffer again. They stood there for a while longer, laughing and talking, moving gently across the dance floor. Then Uma pulled Harry over to the table where all their friends were. She was surprised by the sights she found when she turned to face them. They couldn't hide the surprise from their faces and even some blushes. Had Mal and Ben been making out too much in public? Uma turned to where the newlyweds were, but she also found surprised looks in their eyes.
"What's up, guys?" Harry asked when they arrived with the others, obviously noticing the same thing as Uma.
Evie had a petulant face, as if she knew something that the others did not, and Jay and Carlos shared a look that said clearly that they did not know how to say something, Dizzy and Celia seemed excited and suddenly the only thing that Uma and Harry knew was that Gil had held them in a bear hug.
"Oh, congratulations guys! I am so happy for you! Does that mean you are getting married too?"
Uma looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait, what are you talking about, Gil?"
Evie cleared her throat.
"You two were sharing some very intense glances over there," she informed Uma. "So it's obvious now."
"At least we already know who to turn to if a spell hits one of you," Celia said, smiling cheekily.
Uma opened her mouth to reply, but at that moment Harry gently tugged on her and kissed her. The touch of his lips on hers made her forget about everything, and when they parted, it took Harry a few seconds to remember where they were. Their friends gave shouts of joy, telling them that it was about time they stopped being stubborn, and the crew came over to celebrate and lift Harry and Uma on their shoulders, even Ben, Mal, and the Fairy Godmother joined in the little moment.
It was when they were finally lowered that Uma felt the blow. Someone had pushed her. She looked around her, annoyed, only to find a pale, black-haired girl, and a boy with sharp features.
"Excuse me, can I help you?" Uma asked, the edge of her sword sliding into her voice. The girl glared at her.
"You don't deserve love, not after what your mother and aunt did to my family, you ugly sea witch," the girl snapped. Harry stepped forward, ready to start a fight, Uma tugged at his sleeve before he did something stupid, but Harry's eyes had already turned red.
"You won't live to tell another day!"
"And this pirate," the boy spat next to the black-haired woman, "is surely as despicable as his father. They should be on the Island, rotting. Especially after what this witch tried to do with the king."
Uma shot them her best death glare, the one that used to make everyone on the Island shiver and Harry cracked his crazy grin, playfully tapping his hook. She was pleased to see fear replace anger in their eyes. When she spoke, she did so as if she was talking to the worst cockroach in the world.
"If you open that mouth again without thinking about what you're going to say, I suggest you face the consequences. The next time I'm not in the mood you could take on me and my crew, and to be honest I don't think there will be much left of you after that."
Mal and Ben intervened.
"Melody, I suggest you apologize," Ben said.
Melody. Uma laughed heartily; a fierce laugh that made everyone recoil.
"That explains all the whining."
"I'm afraid I'll have to ask them to leave the party," Mal asked Melody and the boy, although there was no choice in her tone of voice. "Now."
Uma turned around, held Harry's face and looked him in the eyes until the red was gone from his gaze. Almost everyone at the party had noticed the mishap and many were whispering with interest, so Uma decided it was time to left.
"I'm sorry, Mal, Ben. Harry and I should go," she said, looking at their friends.
Mal shook her head.
"No, Uma. You guys didn't start anything, right?" said Ben, "please stay."
Uma softly denied. She felt Harry draw closer to her, a way of saying that he would follow her wherever she went.
"We've already caused a lot of fuss here. I'm really sorry we ruined your party."
Mal sighed, knowing how stubborn Uma could be.
"Hey, I'm glad it was you and not my mother. You know.
Uma laughed.
"I'm going with you!" Gil said, turning to Uma's other side. The crew approached them and raised their voices in agreement. They would not leave their captain alone. Uma's heart raced at the thought of her affection for all of them.
"No," she said, her voice hard. "You guys stay and enjoy, it's an order."
Harry offered her his arm and she moved closer to him, wanting to get out of there as soon as possible. They left the party and Harry fell silent, annoyed. Uma sighed and reached out to kiss his cheek, which seemed to soften him.
"No one will ever speak to you like that again, Uma," he promised. "I'll see to it that everyone knows that you are a goddess, and that they should respect you."
She was going to argue, tell him that this was not the Island and that, although it hurt, she was not powerful here, but a scream interrupted them.
"Harry! Uma!" Gil's voice took them by surprise. "Wait for me!"
Gaston's son was running toward them, across the grassy yard. For a moment, Uma didn't know if she was offended by the fact that he had disobeyed her direct order, or if she was grateful that her friend was there. She opted for the second option.
"I told you to stay inside," Uma chided him.
"Can I go with you? Please?" Uma couldn't say no to that bright smile.
"Okay, so here's the plan: we steal the best rum in all of Auradon and get drunk until dawn," Harry said.
Uma smiled.
"I like that plan." They began to walk away from the party. "Come on, Gil."
And they did. Gil and Harry managed to steal rum from the castle kitchens (hey, it wasn't like it was anything that serious or evil, plus it wasn't like there wasn't much more rum), they went back to Auradon Prep and got drunk in the gardens. Uma jumped onto a table to sing as Harry and Gil clapped, shouted, and praised, they did drunk races (in which Harry fell asleep after his second fall, only to wake up and see that Uma had won), figured out how to take photos using the cell phone Evie had bought for them, they told each other the worst pirate jokes they could think of and then fell asleep on one of the tables in the gardens. As Uma closed her eyes, filled with exhaustion, she thought about how grateful she was for that moment. She had Harry, with whom she was deeply in love, and she had Gil, who would always be her best friend, her brother, and would support them in everything. It had been a good night to celebrate.