Chapter Ten
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney or the Greek Myths.
Well, it's finally come—the chapter you've all been waiting for. Also known as probably my favorite scene in canon because of the song It's Going Down. Fun fact, that song was written in the style it was because of the popularity of Hamilton (Hamilton came out in 2015/2016 and D2 came out in 2017). Though, as much as I love him, I do confess to skipping Ben's part. It's just…a bit awkward.
And really it's bits like how it was Mal and Jay standing opposite Harry and Uma that helped form the idea that they'd used to be friends (again, did not read the books. Only going off of the movies and what people have told me in reviews/what people have said on Tumblr).
Hope you like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Mal stared blankly ahead of her as she tried to ignore the water lapping against the ship, the rather peaceful sound hiding the ominous nature of what was going to happen. This was it. Whatever Jay had planned, she hoped it would come into fruition soon. Or hopefully Steph would come to her rescue. It'd damage Mal's rep on the Isle but at least it'd get her away from the water.
"Welcome!" Harry called as he marched to the middle of the ship, and Mal looked over at the pier. Her heart soared as she saw Jay, Carlos, Evie, Lonnie, and Ben standing there. Though a part of her knew that Ben shouldn't be there as King, there was a larger part of her that couldn't help but feel a bit thankful that Ben wasn't still mad about their fight.
That he still cared enough about her to come save her.
"Finally!" Uma called as Harry went to untie Mal from the mast. She knew where they were heading and her heart was nearly jumping out of her skin. Though she wouldn't let Harry or Uma know that.
They may have been friends once upon a time but right now? Right now they were enemies and one of the biggest rules on the Isle was that you never gave your enemy something that they could use against you.
However, a familiar yip caused all three of them to pause and look back at the docks. Sure enough, tugging eagerly against the leash in Jay's hands, was a Cerberus. Her Cerberus.
"I know you know who's symbol the Cerberus is Uma!" Jay called. "You wanna be smart about this? Let Mal go! Because I have a feeling Lord Hades won't be in a mood to listen to any explanations you may have if something happens to Mal."
"Oh ho! Listen to Jay telling me what my own uncle will and won't do," Uma chuckled as the crew roared with laughter. "I'm not the only one who might have to give an explanation after all of this is over, Jay."
You…you have Estelle, Mal thought as she stared at her dog, still tugging on the leash in Jay's hand. You went to my dad…how did you…Evie, you had one job! The whole reason why you were even brought into the gang in the first place was to keep you from blabbing!
Before Jay could say anything else though, Estelle pulled out of his grip and ran toward the gangplank. Thankfully, all of the pirates were stock-still at the sight. After all Jay was right, no one wanted to make Lord Hades mad at them.
"Hey boy," Mal whispered as Estelle made his way to her. He tilted his head as he saw that Harry was holding her arm behind her back, as if to keep her from running off. Rather hard to do that with her legs tied together but Mal was rather thankful for it. It kept her steady and not falling over herself in front of the pirates.
"Cap'?" Harry called. "Any change of plans? You know we didn't exactly account for a Cerberus."
"No change Harry," Uma said after a minute as she stared at the Cerberus before shaking her head. "Get Mal to the plank, she can go free as soon as Jay gives me the wand."
Mal's heart rate quickened even faster than it had been and had it not been for the fact that she was surrounded by pirates, she probably would have tried to squirm out of Harry's grip. But such an act would make her look weak and that was the last thing she wanted.
Estelle must have noticed something in Mal's eyes or a change in expression because he went over and sat himself in front of the plank, looking over at Harry as if asking him why he was trying to hurt Mal.
"Get Estelle to move Mal," Harry muttered in her ear. "You know perfectly well that if you don't, Uma's going to order one of the crew to do it. And they might not be as gentle as Uma or I would be."
"You hurt my dog, I'll make that burn on your wrist feel like a skinned knee Hook," Mal muttered back but sighed. "Estelle, move."
Estelle snorted, almost as if he was telling Mal that she must have been crazy to think he'd do that.
"Estelle, I'm being serious. Move."
A blank stare from all three heads was the only response she got. Mal could only hope that the slight quiver in her voice was only audible to her dog and not the pirate at her back.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "Gil! Clear the path to the gangplank but be gentle. Jay had a point there, the last thing we all need is Lord Hades mad at us. Well, madder than he already is."
"Aye Harry," Gil nodded and cautiously made his way over. It didn't help that Estelle had started to growl at him, as if sensing he was a threat to Mal and the others. "Easy boy. How about we get you something to eat? Something small and preferably not Gil shaped?"
Estelle dug his paws into the deck, putting all of his weight into not moving even as Gil grabbed his collar and tried to gently lead him off. No matter how many times the son of Gaston tried to move the Cerberus, the result remained the same.
Estelle would not be moved. Not until he knew Mal was safe.
"Mal, you know he only answers to you," Harry muttered.
"I tried already and you saw what good that did," Mal muttered back. "What does it matter anyway Hook?"
Harry didn't answer, only shook his head and sighed slightly. He knew that the crew was going to ask why he wasn't doing anything about that dog. And likely the next person who tried wouldn't be as gentle as Gil was.
However, everyone's attention was soon directed to the ship where two of the crew members found themselves pinned down by…seaweed?
"Uma. Amphitrite. Facilier!"
Ooh all three names from Steph, Mal thought with a small smirk as Uma's head turned toward the docks. The pirates who normally lingered around to sell their wares were quickly getting out of dodge upon seeing the angry Goddess, in case it started to come to blows between the groups.
But what Mal was more focused on was the angry God next to her.
Wow…is today the day of the estranged men in my life meeting or what? Though I…I guess you really can't call Ben estranged…but still, you know what I meant, Mal thought as she stared at her father for the first time since she was nine. Since she walked out of the Underworld the day she fell into the Cove. The day her world fell apart.
Wait…seriously Hads? You know I can see you crouching behind those barrels, she thought with a small mental chuckle. If I can see you, so can your parents. It wouldn't kill you to pick a better hiding spot you know!
"Your last name is Facilier?" Gil asked but was ignored by everyone around him. Granted it was a fairly ridiculous thing to focus on since everyone and their father knew that Uma's dad was Dr. Facilier. The only reason why Ursula kept custody of her was because of the Facilier girls, Uma's magic was water based or at least that's what the rumor was.
"You too Harrison James Hook! What do you think you're doing?!" Persephone shouted, putting her hands on her hips in what could only be described as a 'mom' stance.
"We weren't going to —."
"Ah ba ba ba! I don't want to hear it mister!" Persephone said as Hades glared, almost acting as backup should Persephone need it. He may have been the one to almost successfully launch a coup against Olympus and freed the Titans but everyone knew about the mint plant and how it came into being. "Honestly! I have never been so disappointed in either of you!"
"She does know she's acting like an Auradon mom right?" Lonnie muttered to Jay as Persephone continued to tear into them. "I thought that didn't necessarily fly on the Isle?"
"Are you going to tell an angry Goddess what is and isn't the best way to act on the Isle?" Jay muttered back.
"…no I don't think I will."
"Smart choice."
Uma shook her head. "Look, we just—."
"Uma, I'd think very carefully about what you'r going to say next," Hades warned. "Because if it's not that you're going to be untying Mal's hands and legs, and letting her go to the merry band of idiots waiting for her, I have no guarantee about what Persephone will do next. Or what I'll do next for that matter."
"Or what we'll do," Jay called, ignoring the fact that Hades had called them all idiots. Granted, they were a merry band of about five people getting ready to take on a crew of seventeen pirates. And one of said five people was the King of Auradon. Maybe they were idiots after all.
"Oh really Jay? I seem to recall kicking your arse with a sword when we were younger," Harry shouted.
"Times change Hook! Now give us Mal!"
"Give us the wand!" Uma snapped back.
Mal's eyes widened as she saw the wand in Ben's hand. "Ben! What're you doing? You can't possibly be doing—I'm not worth it! Get the wand back to Auradon!"
"We'll fill you in on the details later Mal," Carlos called.
"There will be no details later because there will be no giving up Auradon's safety for me!" Mal snapped. "Honestly, how did you guys even get it out of the museum? Because I doubt Fairy Godmother just handed it to you!"
"Mal, details to follow," Jay said, his jaw clenched as he could see the wheels start to spin in both Uma and Harry's head. "Uma! You want to make an exchange? Your window's closing. Mal for the wand!"
"Jay, are you crazy?!"
"Going once!"
"When I get out of this I'm kicking your ass all the way to Agrabah!"
"Going twice!"
Uma held up a hand, as if to shut everyone up. "Fine. After all, Jay kept his side of the bargain. It would be bad form if we didn't keep ours. Harry. Take Mal to the dock."
"Aye cap'n," Harry nodded and started leading Mal toward the gangplank. Once he saw that Mal was heading toward land, Estelle grinned and trotted after them, pausing to give some of the tied up crew mates a gentle reminder as to why you didn't mess with his hooman.
"Uma! That Cerberus just peed on me!"
Good boy, Jay thought with a small smile.
"Be thankful it wasn't the other option," Uma snapped. "You really think you can tell a Cerberus where he can and can't go to the bathroom, Dustin?"
"…no cap'n."
"So you do have a few brain cells rattling around in there! Good!"
Jay snorted before he and Ben made their way to the middle of the dock; Uma and Harry meeting them with Mal.
"Give us the wand," Uma said firmly.
"Mal first," Jay snapped back.
"Oh Jay, don't you trust us?" Harry asked, a slightly mocking tone to his voice as his elbow almost dug into Mal's back. Mal's eyes narrowed and she knew that despite everything, she couldn't be the reason Ben gave up Auradon's safety.
She started to twist out of Harry's grip, trying to get herself enough of an opening that either Jay or Ben could grab her and they could run. She'd even worry about the image of being thrown over someone's shoulder later, since her feet were still tied together, all that mattered was that the villains of the Isle did not get the chance to raid and pillage Auradon or imprison its leaders.
Imprison Ben.
However, the docks had deteriorated in the years since Mal had been there and the planks that had been there to keep drunken pirates from falling into the cove had fallen into a state of disrepair.
The moldy and warped boards gave no resistance to Mal's body weight accidentally pressing against them in her bid for freedom and, with her feet still tied together while wearing her Isle shoes, she lacked the stability she normally would have in them.
Everyone paused as the cracking of the wood broke through the silence like a gunshot and, before anyone could move, Mal found herself falling into the cove for the second time in her life.