"Ugh, I'd forgotten how boring one of these can be." Ginny groaned, leaning over the edge of the windowsill she'd claimed. Uma snorted, eyes lowering from her spyglass. She held it out to her.

"Knock yourself out."

"So on top of being bored, you're giving me work to do?"

"I was giving you something to do." Uma returned to scanning the tree line at the edge of the school grounds. "Stay bored then."

Ginny arched a back, readjusting her position, pulling a desk closer so she could prop her feet up, "What's your deal?"

"Gothel, I don't have time for your riddles."

"I'm not the riddle type. I just want to know why you're here."

"To stop someone who's sworn to hurt VKs."

"Yeah, yeah, but besides that."

"What reason could I need beyond that?"

"If that's all you were worried about you wouldn't have left the Isle. I'm sure by now your crew has taken all the coastal territory. Mal, Me and Zevon had the largest claims near the coast aside from you. With the rest of us moved over here, that would all be open for your taking."

"Does this geography lesson have a point?"

"The sea and coast is where you work best and your people already own it. If you were just worried about your neck you would have stayed on the Isle and reinforced your defences. Whoever is behind it would either need to bring down the Isle's barrier if they wanted to keep their magic on the island or they would have crossed the barrier and lost their magic. Either way, it would level the playing field for you and you'd have home-field advantage, something you always knew how to work its fullest."

Uma's hand holding the spyglass dipped slightly but she didn't respond. Her gaze was locked straight ahead.

"I'm right and we both know it. So come on, tell why else you're here. Who am I going to tell?"

"Who wouldn't you tell should be the question," Uma muttered.

"Umm, well, it only matters if you care who I tell… You don't still have a torch for the dragon do you?"

Uma barked a laugh, "Please. There wasn't anything there to begin with."

Ginny folded her arms, arching a brow, "Come on. I saw the looks you would throw at each other."

Uma levelled a cold glare at Ginny.

"Like that, but with more lingering sexual tension."

"You're impossible."

"Nah. Just like to poke at buttons."

"You're so interested in me. What about you? Why are you here?"

"Unlike you, I'm not scared to admit that I actually give a damn about the people here."

"I heard you ditched first chance you got."

"I did. But that's because I wasn't about the rhetoric they were trying to push in school. I don't need a grade to tell me I'm not murderous like my mother. We wanted to go somewhere where when people looked at us, they'd see Ginny, not Gothel. There's a reason the twins wanted to be known by Two Tonne and Gaze and not the names their father gave them once we were here."

Uma gave a thoughtful hum, then snorted, unable to keep some amusement out of her voice, "He really can't name children."

"Right?" Ginny snorted. "Gaston the second, Gaston the third and Gaston the forth? How did they know who he was calling when he said that name?"

"I haven't heard someone call Gil Gaston the forth in over a decade."

"Yeah, well the threat of getting gutted by your hook enthusiast is a powerful deterrent."

A proud smile slipped onto Uma's expression, "But, Two Tonne and Gaze?"

Ginny gave a fond smile, "It's the names they liked. What are you going to do? I couldn't tell the big lugs no when they looked so pleased with themselves."

Uma laughed softly, "Which one is which?"

"Junior is Two Tonne. We called TT or just tonne most of the time."

"So three is Gaze,"

"The big G-man. Yep."

"Did he pick a G name because G rhymes with three?"

"Listen, don't judge my friends."

Uma couldn't help her soft laugh, "I wouldn't dare. And, sorry about the Gothel dig. I wouldn't have done it if I knew it bothered you like that."

Ginny waved a hand, "Eh, I know you mean it in a different way. It's fine."

"No, if you're not comfortable with it, I'll stop."

Ginny was quiet for a moment "I'm still going to keep calling you shrimpy though. This doesn't change that."

Uma rolled her eyes but was fighting back a smile, "Go ahead, Ginny. No one could ever stop you for doing what you wanted anyway."

"Damn straight."

"So, you're telling me you being here has nothing to do with your lingering sexual tension with the dragon?"

One of Ginny's feet slipped off the table. She stared for a moment before snickering.

"You said it yourself, you're exes." Uma said, tilting her head at.

"We were barely something. Certainly not enough to be exes now. But we never had the intense 'bitter-rivals-could-have-been-lovers' that you two had going on."

"Humour me then. What's the part that comes before the 'could have been lovers' part for you?"

"Is this you admitting there was something between the two of you?"

Uma arched a brow in response and Ginny seemed to take that answer enough for her.

"She was too hung up on someone else."

"Evie?"

"Always."

"Did you see that coming? The Princess and the Dragon?"

"Didn't you?"

"Honestly? No. The Princess was always dead set on finding her prince on the Isle."

"We're all pushed by our parents wants," Ginny said. Uma gave a hum. "Evie was the only one who Mal let by her side, going back to the Isle."

"We have our seconds too."

"Are you saying you and Harry aren't something more?"

"Of course we're something more. That 'more' isn't romance."

Ginny shrugged, "Maybe it's not that for you and me. But I knew that's what it was for Mal when I got to Auradon."

"And how did you know?"

"When Mal kissed me, she wasn't running to me, she was running from something."

"You really kissed her?"

"Would have done more if she was open to it." Ginny laughed, "I just had the worse luck with timing. When I got here, she was digging herself out of love with the good king and drowning herself to ignore the pit she'd always been in with Evie."

"And you're here now because you're still holding a torch."

Ginny smiled, looking up to the ceiling, "I'm not here hoping for something if that's what you're really asking. I know I missed my chance. Mal once told me we wouldn't work out. Maybe she's right. But it would have been fun to figure that out," Her eyes found Uma's again. "Alright, I've shared my secrets. It would be nice to have the favour returned."

"I don't think that counts as a favour."

"You're no fun." Ginny shifted closer, taking the spyglass from her to look through it.

"Now you're interested in lookout?"

"The coast looks clear." She lowered the spyglass and retracted it, "I think you can take a break for a few minutes."

Uma glared at her. Ginny's grin was unfazed. Snatching her spyglass back she tucked it into her pocket.

"The Isle is getting worse." She said simply.

"Its already a shit hole. I don't see how much worse it can get."

"For the kids. There's a growing sense of abandonment that's seeding among the people. You know power is the best card anyone can play on the Isle. Having a large number of people under you is one way you how that power. And kids are ready-made henchmen. When someone's own kids leave them, how does that look to rest of their people?"

Ginny's face darkened as the understanding sunk in.

"Most of the big names, like our parents, can persist on their status earned on past crimes," Uma said.

"But for the lackeys who were got dragged across the barrier too and then abandoned by their bosses in the new status quo, their current image is the most important thing. And then the child you produced decides the better option is leaving rather than saying by your side, that sends the wrong kind of image."

"Exactly," Uma nodded, "As long as the system exists as it is now, less and less kids are going to leave because of the pressure from their parents. Curly Joe, the Ringmaster's old informant beat his youngest when he found out they applied to leave. Might have killed them too if Ylza hadn't stepped in and took them to that home Carlos set up."

"Why didn't you tell us it was that bad?"

Uma and Ginny turned to Evie, standing the doorway a tray with mugs and plates in her hands.

Dizzy was lagging a few steps behind their group as they navigated their way to the address Belle gave them. Celia couldn't help but take notice, glancing back every so often. Freddie nudged her.

"What's up with you and her?"

Celia shrugged.

"You say you don't know, but that look says you do but you don't want to say."

"I want to say you're nosy."

"I'm your sister that comes with the territory." She nodded towards Dizzy again, "So, did something happen?"

"No," Celia shook her head.

"Was the something an 'I'll have to kill her now' kind of thing or an 'I have to invite her to dinner' situation?"

"Shut up," Celia shoved her.

"Okay. I got it now. This is an 'it's complicated' situation."

"You are so annoying. After this is done please never visit me again."

Freddie laughed, giving Celia a minute or so to stew in her irritation.

"What happened?"

Celia shoved her hands deep into her pockets, "She said some things that I can't just let go."

"What? What did she say?" Freddie turned around her whole demeanour shifting in an instant.

"It's not worth repeating."

"Geez, it can't be good if you don't want to say it. When did she say this? When you got here?"

"No this happened when we were still on the Isle."

"Why am I now hearing about this then?"

"Because I didn't tell you. I talked to dad."

"What did dad have to say about it?"

"He suggested I confront her, lay out how it made me feel. But I just avoided her instead. Before I knew it she was off to Auradon."

"But now you're here too."

"I just never expected to be friends with her again."

"Is that what you are? Friends? Are you comfortable with that if whatever she did dug that deeply?"

"She apologised."

"If you won't tell me exactly what she did I can't say how good my advice will be."

"But you're still going to give me advice."

"First thing, you don't owe her anything. You can accept her apology and still not want anything do with her. That's fine. Someone can have a world of growth, but if they hurt you in the past, no amount of growth makes them worthy of being part of your life again. The only person who gets to decide that is you. Get it." She hit Celia's shoulder lightly.

"I get it."

"But, the next thing, we were all young and dumb in the isle. We all did stupid things. And for a lot of us, we were trying to live up to some impossible standard looming above our heads because of our parents. Dad, he was one of those rare exceptions of that on the Isle so we're luckier than most. I'm not saying it's an excuse because it's not, but whatever she said back then might not have been her. The real her. And if she's really changed…" Freddie shrugged, "Like I said, only you get to decide. But if the way you haven't stopped looking at her if any indication, I know what you want to do."

"Argh, why are we related?" Celia said, walking away from her sister.

"Guys, hold up," Carlos called to the group, stopping at the pathway to a house.

"Did we finally have the place?" Harry asked as they stopped, stretching his hands above his head, "When you said this place was far I didn't know it would take all day."

"At least we still have some sunlight," Freddie said.

"Are we sure we have the right address?" Celia asked looking at the house in front of them.

"This is the address Belle gave us," Carlos said, double-checking his information.

"It looks so…normal?" Dizzy said.

They were all looking at a cookie-cutter suburban home. One story, a light yellow paint job. Hedge fence around it.

"Never judge a book by its cover?" Freddie shrugged.

Carlos took the lead, pressing the doorbell. The others gathered up behind him. Harry slipped his hook out of his pocket and Freddie got a couple of cards between her fingers. Dizzy put a hand on both their wrists.

"How about we don't jump whoever opens that door?"

"I'm just being careful lass," Harry said.

"I don't want to give them the chance to get the jump on us," Freddie agreed.

There was the sound of shuffling footsteps from behind the door. The sounds of a lock being drawn and with a low creak, the door opened inwards.

"Yes?" In the doorframe stood an older woman, dark hair heavily streaked with grey and pale blue eyes squinting from behind thick frame glasses.

"Um…" They looked at each other, all struck silent and grasping for words.

"Can I help you?"

Harry poked Carlos in the back.

"Hi, we're looking for Cedrick Baker?"

"Cedrick isn't home. He doesn't really live here, he comes and goes but hasn't been here for a few days. Are you friends of his? You seem a bit younger than him."

"Not exactly," Carlos said, glancing over his shoulders at the others. He knew they were all thinking the same thing when they heard this guy hadn't been home in days. "You said he doesn't really live here? But he is here sometimes?"

"He's my son and this our home so of course he always has a place here. Not that he has much time for his mum these days. Always zipping out the house."

"When was the last time you saw Cedrick?"

"Oh, last week, oh what day was that? Wednesday? Yes. No. I'm sorry. It was Tuesday. It was just before my bridge game with the ladies and that's every Tuesday."

"Did he say anything about where he was going or what he was doing?"

The woman seemed suspicious now, "Is Cedrick in some kind of trouble?"

"He is the trouble," Harry said, making Freddie elbow him.

The woman's eyes widened slightly as she looked between them, "I'm sorry Cedrick isn't here to greet you. You'll have to come back another time." She started to close the door but Harry was faster, getting his hook between the gap, digging into the wood at the edge of the door. The woman gasped, her eyes widening. Her hands pulled away from the door like she'd been burned.

"I think we're not going anywhere until you tell us where your son is."

"I don't know, now, please leave before I call the cops."

"I don't know if you've seen the news lately lady," Freddie said, "But the cops have their hands full right now. And it's because of your son."

"My Ceddy would never." Her voice had a bit of tremble to it now.

Harry pushed the door open, pushing the woman back with the force.

"Hey, came down." Carlos grabbed his arm before he could cross the threshold, "We warned you about this. Doing things the right way."

Harry grumbled but didn't move.

"Ma'am, please listen to us. We think Cedrick is part of this group responsible for the attacks in Auradon. Please, we want to stop them before they can hurt anyone else."

The woman was frozen the small foyer, her eyes darting between them all, but she refused to look at Harry.

"Looks like you really scared her," Freddie whispered to him.

He gave a low snort, "That's her issue. Not mine."

"We don't want to cause a scene," Carlos continued, "But if you know anything about where your son, it could help us."

"Cedrick, he's…he's a good boy."

"I'm sure he is." Carlos let a comforting smile fall in place and he glanced over towards Dizzy.

"Mrs. Baker," Dizzy said, "No one wants anyone hurt here. And I don't think Cedrick wants to hurt anyone either. They've only been using sleeping and stone curses after all. We know that Cedrick and whoever is a part of this just want their voices heard, but we're scared if we don't find them soon, well, the military has been mobilized, and things might get dangerous for everyone on both sides. If we could find Cedrick before that happens, things can end peacefully."

"The military wants to attack my boy?" The woman's voice quivered.

Dizzy shook her head, "They want to attack someone who they think is a villain, but if you help us, we can stop them before that happens. He's just your baby, after all. We don't want to hurt someone like that."

The woman wrung her hands, looking at a photo on the wall. It was one of a young boy, smiling a large gapped toothed smile into the camera.

"Please," Dizzy implored.

"I-I…I really don't where he is." She said, defeated.

"If there's anything at all," Carlos said.

"Maybe. Okay. C-come inside. Don't stand in the doorway like this." She led them to a living room. There was a tired-looking couch set and shelving full of picture frames and small trinkets. Carlos, Freddie and Celia sat on one couch. Hook lingered behind them, standing. Dizzy sat in the next couch. The woman picked up one of the pictures, giving a watery smile. She handed it to them, there were three people in the photo.

"That's us at Cedrick's high school graduation. Cedrick, me and Cedrick's father."

"Is he home right now?" Freddie asked, handing off the photo to Celia, "Your husband?"

She shook her head, "No he's still at work, but I doubt he would know more than me. He and Cedrick didn't always get along the best growing up. But you know how boys are with their fathers." She laughed weakly.

At this comment Harry snorted and wondered out of the sphere of the discussion, drifting to the side of the room. Carlos asked some more questions, but none the woman could answer definitely.

"I don't know who he could be with. He was such a lonely boy growing up. He didn't have many friends in school and never clicked with any of his co-workers. A couple of years ago he started going out more and just said he'd made some friends online. He never gave me more information. I didn't press, thinking he was feeling shy about needing the internet to find friends."

Celia shifted from one couch to a spot next to Dizzy with the photo, "I'm not crazy right, he looks like someone."

Dizzy looked at the frowning face of a teenage Cedrick Baker, "Actually, now that you mention it…why does he look familiar? I didn't notice it before with the current picture we had."

"He doesn't have a beard here and his hair his shorter," Celia said, she and Dizzy completed tuned out from Carlos and Mrs. Baker conversation.

"Is it the eyes?"

"He does have really dark eyes. It really stands out here, when both his parents have blue eyes."

Suddenly with a sudden disruption of noise everyone's attention was jerked towards Harry. He grabbed something from the shelves, knocking down a couple of wooden figures in the process.

"Do you want to try answering my friend's questions again?" He said, marching on Mrs. Baker, his fist clenched tightly around something. "And with the truth this time."

"I-I…" She shrunk away from Harry.

"Dude," Carlos surged to his feet, "Calm down. You're scaring her, she's not going help us."

"She's not doing that already." He snapped.

"She's been answering our questions."

"But she's been very nervous and fidgeting since she opened that door," Freddie said, standing now too.

"It wasn't from the beginning." Dizzy thought back on it, on the opening moments of their interaction, "It was when Harry jammed his hook in the door to keep it open."

"It scared me!" Mrs. Baker cried.

But the room was quickly getting colder. Harry held up what he had in his hand. It was a little wroth iron figure, a mermaid, twisted around a coloured gem, "I've seen this before. On the Jolly Roger."

Carlos took a step back at that.

Harry faced Mrs. Baker again, "He had a draw filled with ones like this. He'd brag to me that he would give one to the women he slept with. Something cheap to make them feel good about themselves and their night together."

"I know who Cedrick reminds me off," Celia said, a little late because it was obvious at this point.

Just like in that photo of a teenaged Cedrick, before them was the same kind of displeasure, the same kind of dark eyes, on Harry Hook.

Two Cliffhangers for the price of one chapter.

Nardragon- Until the next page.