Disclaimer: Still don't own Descendants.

Chapter 8: The Unexpected

Though as unexpected as Freddie's appearance in Auradon after months of everyone on the Isle assuming she was dead, Uma knew that the anger rolling off of Harry in waves was to be expected.

Her first mate never liked the girl, especially since that one time a few years ago where she attempted to use her and Uma's similar looking facial features (a fact that both girls had an unspoken agreement to never delve into just why they looked so similarly related) to get some merchants on Uma's turf to hand over money that was supposed to go to the pirate captain. (It had taken several dice games to win back the money, and ever since, Freddie Facilier hadn't been allowed ten feet within the docks.) It also didn't help that Freddie often partnered (though Uma had her suspicions that it had been more than that) with the youngest Hook sibling, CJ, who never seemed to stop being preferred over Harry by their father despite not having a ship or even a crew of her own.

Personally, the pirate captain wasn't a fan of the other girl, but her feelings of distrust towards Freddie were nowhere near as intense as Harry's. Uma still wasn't sure if Harry disliked Freddie for the sheer nerve of the girl and the schemes that she undoubtedly had a hand in helping with - CJ had often directed her pranks towards Harry - or if this was another example of the ever complicated relationship between the Hook siblings that partially stemmed from their father having them compete against one another for his approval. (In the end, it always went back to how screwed up their parents made them.) Whatever the beef between Harry and Freddie, she had expected Harry's anger.

She didn't expect Gil's.

Her attention had been so focused on Harry that she didn't even really comprehend the hated nickname being used. She definitely had not been paying attention to her blonde crew member and how he stepped forward, stepping protectively in front of his captain and first mate. "Don't call Uma Shrimpy," the son of Gaston said with a frown on his usually bright features. The look would have almost put her on edge if he hadn't had glanced back at her, in classic Gil fashion, as if he wasn't sure if he was doing something right or not. "She doesn't like it." Uma allowed herself to give the boy a grin of approval that seemed to brighten his entire expression.

Freddie snorted, poorly attempting to hide her chuckles as she pushed past him, patting his shoulder reassuringly. "Sure thing, tall, blonde, and dim." She turned toward Uma, giving her a playful wink and ignoring the growl coming from a now standing Harry who only restrained himself from leaping at her due to Uma's hand on his shoulder. "I just came for my schedule. Fairy Godmother said I passed her final exam last week and didn't have to stay with you lot."

"Yer fuckin' mad if ye think I'm letting you go," Harry growled, his accent getting heavy in his anger. "What in the seven hells are you even doing here? We all were hoping ye were dead, along with that idiot sister of mine," he snarled, leaning over the table menacingly. "Now tell me where Calista Jane is or yer gettin' scalped!"

"Harry! Calm down!" Uma ordered. She could feel Harry shaking with rage under her hand and she wondered if this too was going to set him off like yesterday. She squeezed his shoulder, making her presence known in his rage clouded mind. It would do no good for her first mate to lose himself now.

Freddie snorted again, crossing her arms as she looked unimpressed by the first mate's threats. Uma supposed that was another thing that unnerved Harry about the daughter of Dr. Facilier and set him off even quicker than usual. She never seemed to show the appropriate response of fear when near the pirate. "Believe me, I didn't choose to come here. You can blame Mal and Jordan for that. But I stayed because the food isn't half bad...and some of the Auradon brats aren't bad either," she said with a look that was so soft but quick that Uma almost missed it before it was replaced with Freddie's usual grin. "And as for your sister, I don't know. Don't care. We split a while ago," she said with a look that told Uma that the two girls had not parted on the best of terms.

Fortunately, (or maybe unfortunately) Fairy Godmother chose that moment to appear. She paused, taking in the tense atmosphere and the way that Harry seemed to be burning holes into Freddie.

"Is everything alright, dears?" she asked taking a moment to lay her gaze on Uma, Harry, and Freddie expectantly. Harry was about to snarl a nasty retort at the woman when he caught sight of a hook shaped object wrapped in a soft blue fabric in her hands.

Freddie took that moment to snatch her schedule from out of a distracted Harry's hands before spinning around and tossing the headmistress a grin. "Just peachy, FG! Later!"

Harry made a move to follow her but Uma's hand was still on his shoulder. He looked at her with a scowl that quickly turned into a pout. She shook her head, giving a subtle nod to Fairy Godmother who had moved to the front of the class but was still looking at Uma and Harry. "We'll find the little voodoo witch later, I promise." He grunted, frown etched deeply onto his face but he gave her a sharp nod, silently pulling out a chair for her before taking the seat next to her. Gil sat in the seat behind them while the other former Isle kids found their own seats.

"Well," Fairy Godmother said with a large smile. "Let's begin! Welcome to Remedial Goodness 101!"

WLTF

Once upon a time, before she chose good, before she left the Isle, before she teamed up with Jay, Evie, and Carlos, Mal was approached by her mother.

"You're running off with Ursula's daughter again, aren't you." It was a statement from her mother. Not a question. The distaste coming from the dark fairy was almost palpable.

"Yeah, we're gonna terrorize some people down by the docks. Maybe steal some stuff from the shops," Mal said, trying to keep the nervous feelings in her stomach to a minimum. Her mother always had a look when she was on the verge of being disappointed with her daughter. "Y-you know wreak some havoc."

"You've been spending a lot of time with this girl," Maleficent said, breaking contact with the girl and gliding over to the large window that looked out onto the busiest part of the Isle.

Young Mal nodded, looking at the imposing figure her mother cut against the dusty light of the window. She had to keep herself from fidgeting, lest her mother decide to punish her in some way. Maleficent had never put a hand on her daughter but the young girl knew first hand just how cruel her mother could be even without being physical. "She's my friend."

Maleficent spun around, green fire blazing in her eyes. "You stupid little girl! She is not your friend, she is your competition! Do you think she cares about you? Do you think you and she will be best friends forever?" she asked the last part in a tone so saccharinely sweet that it sent a chill down Mal's spine. "There are no friends on this Isle!" Maleficent hissed as she circled around the small girl with a predatory grace. "Do you not hear how the groveling whelps on this Isle talk about you two? It's never Mal and Uma it's Uma and Mal. You're an afterthought at best and if you don't squish her now she'll destroy you and you, the daughter of the Mistress of Evil, will make my name a laughing stock of this entire island! Do you want to be seen as weak?"

Mal shook her head. "N-no."

"Do you want to be Queen of this Isle one day?"

"Yeah, I-"

"Then," Maleficent sneered, yanking her daughter forward by the collar of her shirt, "You better do something about it quick, my nasty girl!"

Mal blinked, pulling herself from her thoughts, as she made her way towards where she could see a blue head of hair. She leaned against the lockers, watching lazily as her blue-haired friend found her books for the day. "Another late night of plans to take over the world?" she asked teasingly.

Evie chuckled. "Actually, Ben did most of the calls. I just stayed up a little bit later to finish some designs that I've fallen behind on."

"Can't say I miss getting poked by a stray sewing needle now that you've essentially set up shop in Ben's office," Mal snarked, though an apologetic look was present on her face. Ever since the Royal Cotillion, Ben and Evie had been working hard on improving Isle conditions and getting more kids to come over to Auradon. Mal had of course helped when needed but the politics behind all of it gave her a headache and Evie, being the wonderful friend that she was, had eagerly taken over the duties that should have technically fallen on Mal. But that left Evie with very little time for her fashion design business. (And sleep. Mal had to start counting on her toes how many times these last few weeks she had to make her way over to Ben's office and drag both of them away from what they were working on, ordering them with glowing green eyes to go to bed.)

"Seriously, everyone needs to stop pouting" Evie sighed, rolling her eyes, already knowing what Mal had been thinking. "I enjoy working on the Isle project and don't regret the time spent working on it. No reason for you to fret, M. I'll figure out how to get my designs done."

"And sleep," Mal said pointedly.

Evie let out a laugh that pulled a small grin from her best friend as she linked their arms together, heading towards their first class. "Whatever you say, Lady Mal."

"Ugh. That's gonna stick isn't it?" Mal said with a bit of unease but not the same amount that she had felt before she had fled back to the Isle. She wasn't sure if she would ever feel like she was ready or worthy to be the Queen of Auradon. However, Ben had made an extreme effort to make sure that whatever responsibilities she had to meet as Lady of the Court were met on her terms. It was still very exhausting, but Ben and Evie had been with her every step of the way as well as Carlos, Jay, and the rest of their Auradon friends. She frowned briefly as memories of her mother calling her pathetic and weak swirled in her head before she pushed them down.

They both walked in silence punctuated by Evie's yawns or waving hello to some of their friends as they passed.

"You know," Mal began, her earlier daydream on her mind "You never told me what you really thought about all of this. About Uma."

Evie shrugged. "I thought it was obvious," she said tossing her hair over her shoulder as she made them both stop so they could face each other. "I might not like Uma very much, but I honestly don't know her very well outside of the bad blood between you two. Compared to Auradon's standards she's not 'good' but on the Isle she seemed to be a fair leader, even when she didn't have much turf. I know when we went to the Isle it still looked bad and decrepit after being here, but you have to admit, it was actually in pretty good shape for Isle standards despite the fact that your mother is no longer in the picture."

"But you wouldn't trust her," Mal questioned, sounding unsure. "Right?"

Evie frowned, tucking a stray strand of hair behind Mal's hair. "What's this all about, M? Really?"

Mal struggled to put the warring thoughts and feelings burning inside of her into words, Evie waiting patiently. She was still figuring out what she was actually feeling when someone ran into her, knocking her onto the ground.

"What the fu-"

"Oh my clams! I'm so sorry!" a voice squeaked.

"Princess Melody?" Evie questioned recognizing the black-haired girl as she helped them both to their feet. Mal got up to her feet and managed to clamp down her first instinct to growl or glare at the girl.

Melody laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck before she seemed to remember herself and did a curtsey. "I'm so sorry Lady Mal. I wasn't watching where I was going," she said glancing up before gasping slightly when she noticed Evie was also there. A slight blush tinged her cheeks as she dipped into another curtsey. "Hello Princess Evie."

A sad smile fell on Evie's lips at the incorrect title. "It's just Evie," she corrected before giving Melody a warmer smile. "And it's nice seeing you again after the last council meeting. Are you a new transfer student?"

Grinning, Melody seemed a little less flustered. "Yes! I've decided to start my schooling at Auradon Prep to prepare me to be a better leader for both mer-people and land-folk residing near Seaside. Also," she said, rubbing her arm nervously, "that council meeting really made me want to reach out and help Um - I mean the children coming from the Isle. No one deserves to be hurt or abused for things that they have no control over."

"That's right!" Mal watched Evie say with a genuine smile. "I'm so glad you feel that way and I'm sure Ben will be as well."

Melody grinned before she saw the time on her watch. "Oh my gosh! Is that the time? I'm going to be late for my first day of classes!"

"Do you know the way?" Evie asked concerned.

The Granddaughter of King Triton nodded. "Yeah! One of my cousins goes here as well and she already showed me where all my classes are. I guess I'll see you later," she said before quickly taking off.

Both Mal and Evie watched her go.

"I think I needed that," Evie said bouncing in her spot, looking more energized than she had seemed just a few minutes earlier. "It's not just about bringing Isle kids over but it's also about changing the perception that people have about others due to their rank or who their parents were."

Watching her blue haired friend, Mal was hit by just how lucky she was to have this beautiful soul as her best friend. She knew that their friendship hadn't started off the way that most friendships in Auradon started, but a very possessive part of Mal, a part that she wasn't too happy to admit that she had, would do things exactly the same all over again if it meant having Evie at her side.

"Yeah," Mal said linking arms with the girl as she pulled them towards her class. "Seriously, E, you'll be ruling the world in no time," she said causing her friend to let out a peal of laughter.

WLTF

Harry wondered if he could get away with murder in this place. It shouldn't be too hard. Step one: Get his hook and carve that annoying smirk off of the shadow wench's face. Step two: Get Uma (and he supposed Gil too…). Step three: Steal a boat and sail far far away from the land of rainbows and sickeningly sweet goody-two shoe traitors and their beasty boy toys. (Step four: Get Uma to go on a date with him, but no rush. He's wearing her down.)

It took a lot of restraint that Harry barely had on a good day to keep his mind off of one half of the current source of his frustration, Freddie Facilier. He tried to not think about how the bloody girl had been on this side of the damn barrier all this time. Tried not to focus on how CJ had been in Auradon when they had all thought she was dead or where she might currently be. (Tried not to think about how with only Uma as his witness, he had made his peace with her assumed death in the dead of night in a small cove of the island where Uma listened to him silently as he told story after story of his childhood, before he met Uma, when he and CJ followed Harriet up and down the docks like little ducks...) Instead, he directed his glare towards the other source his frustration: Fairy. Bloody. Godmother.

He gritted his teeth, trying to ignore the way that sweat was beginning to form on his brow or the way that his foot seemed to tap along with the rampant pounding of his heart. Bloody hell, not this shit again, he thought, frustrated and angry at himself.

He heard shuffling next to him and the next thing he knew, the spot on the desk that he had been staring intently at was filled with a bare arm, the hand of the other arm holding out a pen to him. A small grin played on his lips as he took the pen and began to draw on his captain's arm. It was something they had done often back in Serpent Prep when they were bored. Harry wasn't much of an artist, but Uma didn't care as long as he didn't draw any parts of the male anatomy on her arm.

Every now and then, Uma would glance down to see what he had drawn but for the most part, she kept her eyes up front, not participating in the silly fairy's multiple choice questions but not totally disengaged and asleep like the spawn of Cruella's Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Seven hells, what even was their high pitched, brunette dyed (because everyone and their mother on either side of the barrier knew that wasn't her real hair color) prison guard even saying at the moment?

After a few more minutes of doodling, the bell rang and a collective sigh of relief was heard. Remedial Goodness was not exactly the most challenging class for the current new arrival of Isle children since Yen Sid had already taught them the basics months ago. As for Uma, Gil and Harry, the concept of basic goodness was easy to understand for Uma (though she generally didn't practice it) or, in Gil's case, came somewhat naturally when presented with the option. Harry couldn't have given less of a damn and only paid the minimum attention to the lesson so that he wouldn't be called on while doodling on his captain's arm.

Letting go of Uma's arm, he let his fingers trail lightly over the temporarily inked skin (he wouldn't even deny that he enjoyed the little intake of air she made and the goosebumps forming along her skin from where he touched her) and the first mate felt a bit calmer. He watched with a bit of pride as his captain ran her own fingers along her skin, tracing one particular drawing that took up the back of her hand, a compass with the needle pointing to a hook instead of north. The pirate bit his lip to contain a satisfied smirk as the corners of her mouth twitched upwards.

"Harry, may I talk to you?" Fairy Godmother called as the rest of the class finished packing up and filed out.

Uma nodded for him to go on, Gil already waiting by the door. "We'll wait for you outside," she said getting up. Harry allowed himself to grin as he watched her tie her jacket around her waist, leaving her newly penned tattoos exposed.

When he turned back around, Fairy Godmother was just a few feet away holding his hook. It took everything in him to not just snatch it from out of her hands, not because he wanted to be nice or respectful, but because Uma would have his hide if he got himself in trouble on the first day (especially without her).

"As promised," Fairy Godmother began, "here is your hook. It's been spelled so you won't be able to harm anyone. However, I'm aware that your hook can have...other uses."

Harry gave her a lazy grin. "Gotta say, I didn't peg you as the type to be into that sort of thing," he drawled, as the petite woman turned red and started spluttering.

"No – I just meant – This is highly inappropriate!" Fairy Godmother exclaimed, her voice going up several octaves as Harry snickered. She smoothed down her dress and frowned sternly at him. "I just ask that you please refrain from bringing the hook out during classes. Understood?"

Harry rolled his eyes and nodded, hoping it would shut her up and have her hand over his hook. However, just as he nearly had the precious metal in his hand, the blasted woman withdrew it.

"Just one more thing, dear. There's been a change to your schedule," she said handing over a new sheet of paper and the boy's hook. "Now you've just-"

"Yeah, yeah, thanks or whatever it is you people say," Harry said dismissively, already halfway out of the room.

At the sight of his hook, both Uma and Gil grinned, already noticing a visible difference in the boy's attitude.

"What's that?" Gil questioned, noticing the paper in the first mate's hand.

Almost too preoccupied with admiring his hook, Harry handed the new schedule off to Uma. "Something or other about a change in me schedule. Maybe they cut out that Basic Chivalry shit."

His Captain nodded, her face expressionless as she looked over the sheet. "They did," she said. "And replaced an hour of that with...therapy?"

WLTF

"So I heard your little reunion with CJ's brother didn't go well."

Freddie snorted in response, rummaging in her locker for her Life Skills Without Magic assignment. "Oh it went as expected. You know, he was all like" she pulled herself out of her locker and crooked her pointer finger into a hook shape. "Argh! Shiver me timbers! Walk the plank! Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me."

Her companion rolled her azure-colored eyes, arms crossed. "Wow, yeah. That's probably exactly what he sounded like."

Freddie chuckled. "Okay, I may be exaggerating this time, but he actually did have a period where that was all he said. Even had a damn eye patch that he would take everywhere," she said, closing her locker.

"He doesn't sound too bad."

The former Isle resident leaned against her locker, gazing at her friend with a rare serious look. "Don't underestimate him, and definitely don't underestimate Uma. She wasn't Mal's biggest rival on Isle because of some silly little shrimp prank. She's a storm in the form of a girl."

Her friend just grinned brightly. "Well, this place could use a bit of rain to wash away some of the muck that Auradon tries to sweep under the rug."

Rolling her eyes, Freddie moved away from her locker, calling over her shoulder towards the person who was probably her best friend on this side of the barrier. "Your roommate and her psycho boyfriend problem now."

I was almost going to fully reveal Uma's roommate but then I was like...nah. One person came pretty close to guessing who it is though.

Anyway, as always thank you for the lovely support whether it's reviews, likes, favorites, or those who found me on tumblr and sent asks (edream93). I really appreciate them. Also, thank you to the elphaba_swan who deals with my semi-edited first drafts and adds a special magic touch to each chapter edited so far.

Not much else to say but thank you for reading and I hope you continue to enjoy this story. Until next time!