I walked into the shoppe.
"Look everyone! It's Hadie." Harry says with a smirk. The people in the shoppe laugh and jeer at me. I roll my eyes. "She's no threat, as she is my girlfriend." Harry continues.
"In your dreams, Hook." I say.
"Nightmares are dreams too, Hadie." Harry says. I click my tongue.
"Being the highly educated girl I am, I already knew that." I say, I feel my hair start to burn, even though I'm not in Auradon. "Anyone have a mirror?" I ask.
"Hadie… your hair is on fire." Gil, one of Uma's pirates, says.
"Thanks Fish Gils." I say. I spent a few minutes just sitting there. The door suddenly flies open, and Mal walks in.
"I'm back." Mal says in a singsong voice. I give her a reassuring smile. She raises her eyebrows at Uma.
"Loser, party of one. Right this way, please." Uma says, kicking Mal a chair, which Mal grabs. Mal sinks into the chair.
"Place still stinks." Mal says, I nod.
"Oh, I'm sorry. We're down a butler today… Princess." Uma says.
"Where is he?" Mal asks. Uma rips off her apron. Harry turns me to face him. I raise an eyebrow.
"Hadie, darling…" I gag. "I need you to come with me, again." Harry says.
"No, not happening." I say.
"Fine. I was wondering if maybe you wanted to stay here… forever."
"Yeah, but not because of you." I say smoothly.
"Okay, but I know you really came back to say how wrong you were, Hadassah."
"Don't ever use my full name, you understand?" I say, the fire on my head blazing.
"Okay, okay." Harry says. We sit in silence for a few seconds, when I hear Mal.
"And you can slap a pirate hat on, but you're still Shrimpy." I smile to myself. Uma and Mal continue their arm wrestle, and Mal almost wins. Keyword there: almost.
"If I win… you bring me the wand." Mal froze in shock, and then Shrimpy won. Cheers and applause break out. Mal and Uma have a hushed conversation. Harry turns to me.
"You're on the wrong side, Hadie. Come, be a pirate with me."
"I'm good. I don't want to be on Uma's side, I'd rather be with my friends." I say. Harry gives me a weird look. Mal and I leave to the hideout. When we get there, we explain everything.
"There's no way we're gonna give Uma the wand. We can't just let her destroy Auradon." Evie says.
"Uma doesn't get the wand, then Ben is gone, guys." Carlos says.
"Right, so, we're gonna give Uma, of all people, the wand." Evie says.
"Do we have another choice?" Jay asks.
"Wait! You guys!" Mal says. We face Mal.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" I ask.
"Your 3D printer!" Mal and I say at the same time, and I point to Carlos.
"A phony wand?" Carlos asks.
"Yes!" Mal exclaims.
"In my sleep." Carlos says.
"And the second Uma tests it, she'll know it's fake." Evie says.
"Well, okay, so then we just get Ben out really fast. We need some kind of a diversion." Mal says. An idea comes to me.
"Smoke bombs!" I exclaim.
"That's perfect! I'll get the chemicals I need from Lady Tremaine's place, That could work." Evie walks over to Mal. "Oh, and sick hair, by the way. Evil Stepmom seriously stepped up her game."
"Okay, do you want to know something? Dizzy did this. Mine and Hadie's." Mal said.
"Little Dizzy? Shut up!"
"I know. I'm, like, loving it. It's, like, a lot lighter."
"Really proud of her." Carlos clears his throat.
"Hello?" Carlos says. Mal and Evie face us three.
"Right." Evie said.
"Carlos, Jay, you guys meet us at Pirates Bay no later than noon. And, you guys, losing… Not an option. 'Cause we're rotten…"
"To the core." We all say.
"Let's do this." Evie said. I went back to Dad's lair, and told him everything that happened.
"Ugh! I can't believe that Shrimpy would try to ruin mine and my friends' lives. Haven't we been through enough already?" I rant.
"No, you will have many more adventures. Go, find your friends, and rescue the King, okay? I will miss you, but Auradon is better than the Isle." Dad says.
"A few months ago, I would've said 'stop being sentimental,' but now, I actually really appreciate it." I say. I leave, prepared to fight Uma.
LATER:
We see Lonnie, Jay and Carlos getting out of the limo.
"Oh, Lonnie!" Mal exclaims.
"I made them bring me." Lonnie says.
"Oh, I am so glad. We are outnumbered… by a lot." I say.
"Hi. Welcome to the Isle. It's good to see you." Evie said.
"Thanks." Jay and Carlos open the trunk.
"And Dude." Jay says.
"I told you to stay." Carlos says.
"I flunked obedience class."
"Great. And he can still talk." Jay says.
"You're lucky I love you. Come on." Carlos says.
"He's also lucky he can talk. We can use that so then Uma thinks it's the real wand." I suggest.
"Great idea, H." Evie says. Carlos and Jay shut the trunk, and walk over to Mal.
"Ooh. Here, let me see." Carlos hands her the fake wand. "Wow, what a beauty."
"It's noon." Carlos says.
"All right. Are we ready?" Mal asks.
"Let's blow this popsicle stand." I say with a small smile. We walk to Uma's pirate ship. We get to the ship, and my heart beats rapidly. I could lose a friend today.
And a certain someone is staring at me.
"Welcome!" Harry says. He glances over at me, again, and I glare at him.
"Finally!" Uma says with a laugh. "Huh, let's get this party started
I swear I'm cold-hearted
There's no negotiation
I'm not here for debatin'
You need some motivation?
Just look at Ben's face
Then ask yourself how long you think I'll remain patient
I'll throw him overboard and let him swim with killer sharks
You either hand over the wand or he'll be ripped apart." Uma sings. Harry stares at me, but I pretend I don't notice.
"Now, let's all just be smart
Although for you that must be hard
You'll get your wand
No one has to come to any harm
Don't try to intimidate
Your bark is much worse than your bite
Who's the baddest of them all?
I guess we're finding out tonight!" Mal sings. I focus on one thing, and one thing only: my powers and the glowing ember around my neck.
"Let's go, bring it on
Better give us what we want
It's the wand for the crown
If you don't, it's going down," Uma's pirate crew sings, and yes, Harry did throw a glance or two my way.
"Let's go, make your move
Peace or war, it's up to you
Give him up and do it now
If you don't, it's going down." Us VKs sing. I feel like ice, cold.
"We want the wand
Or else the king is gone
Your time is running out
You should really watch your mouth."
"Let's go, pound for pound
We're prepared to stand our ground
Put your swords up, put 'em up
It's going down."
"Oh, oh, oh, make the trade
Oh, oh, oh, or walk the plank
Oh, oh, oh, make the trade
Oh, oh, oh, or walk the plank." Us VKs and Lonnie huddle into a circle. We have to free Ben!
"Ok, look, this is not a conversation
It's a do-or-die situation
If you don't give me back the king
I'll have no hesitation
I'll serve you right here
And I don't need a reservation
That way your whole 'pirate crew' can have a demonstration
Release him now, and we can go our separate ways
Unless you wanna deal with me and the VKs." Mal sings.
"So that's your big speech, huh?
An empty ultimatum?" Uma asks. Harry steps up and looks at me.
"All it takes is one swing and I'll humiliate him
Matter of fact, make one wrong move and I'll debilitate him
And if he even starts to slip, I'll eliminate him
All it takes is one long look and I'll-" Harry sings.
"Harry! We get it, chill." Uma yells at Harry. I try not to laugh.
"Let's go, bring it on
Better give us what we want
It's the wand for the crown
If you don't, it's going down." Uma's pirate crew sings.
"Let's go, make your move
Peace or war, it's up to you
Give him up and do it now
If you don't, it's going down." We sing.
"We want the wand
Or else the king is gone
Your time is running out
You should really watch your mouth," Uma's crew sings. I roll my eyes.
"Let's go, pound for pound
We're prepared to stand our ground
Put your swords up, put 'em up
It's going down." We sing. Carlos hands Mal the wand, and Mal goes to give the wand to Uma. Ben speaks up.
"Hey, we don't have to choose
We don't have to light the fuse
Mal, whatever you do, it's gonna be a lose-lose
There's gotta be a better way
Uma, I promise I'll give you your chance
You'll have your say," Ben sings. Famous last words right there.
"Silly king! You? Give me?
You're gonna give me a chance?
Well, not a chance." Uma sings.
"Oh, oh, oh, make the trade
Oh, oh, oh, or walk the plank
Oh, oh, oh, make the trade
Oh, oh, oh, or walk the plank." Mal goes to hand Uma the wand.
A/N: Halfway done with this book. Don't reread that. Yes, I said HALFWAY DONE. That's it. Have a fantastic day. Don't get kidnapped by pirates.