It had taken about a month and a half, but we had finally gained full control of the Northern part of the Isle. Word on the Isle that some Auradon kids now ran the North spread like wildfire. Today was the day Maddie and I planned to travel to the West to meet Lauren and Jack. We had told them of our visit, but we're still unsure of just exactly what we were walking into.

"Hey," Alex said catching Maddie and I's attention. "You two ready to go meet the patrons of madness on this Isle?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied looking to Maddie.

"I haven't seen Jack since we were kids," Maddie said nervously biting her lip. "Do you think he'll remember me?"

"You got a little crush on the King of Hearts?" Alex asked smirking.

"No," Maddie snapped. "Jack and I were really good childhood friends."

"Just friends?" Alex asked giving Maddie a look that said they didn't believe her.

"The closest of friends," Maddie sighed smiling happily to herself. An awkward silence fell over the three of us as Maddie reminisced.

"Well," I said breaking the silence. "We better go if we don't want to be late. Something tells me Jack and Lauren won't be patient people."

Alex and Maddie nodded following me out towards Lauren and Jack's "castle". It wasn't as long as a journey as we expected. Upon arrival, we were greeted with a strange array of cards and flying monkeys guarding the gate.

Maddie spoke to the cards in a low voice while Alex and I waited further away. Alex was absentmindedly rattling the chains on their pants.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd say your nervous," I smirked as the flames on their head grew more intense.

"I'm not nervous," Alex growled glaring at me. "Never nervous. I'm just impatient."

I nodded not fully convinced. "Sure, you're just impatient. It's okay to be nervous. You could lose your head or your flame today." Alex visibly swallowed. I smirked. Got them. "This could be the day we see how a god dies."

"Gods, your starting to sound like Harry Hook," Alex grumbled. "Gods can't die, sweetheart, but it'd be fun to watch those two try."

I smirked. "I like Harry. He's bloodthirsty but bold, insane but intelligent, flirtatious but fu-"

"Okay," Alex snapped. "I don't care if you want to do the Hook boy. All I care about is that you keep your head unlike him. I took a risk making a deal with you, and I want to make sure that this deal pans out for me."

Do the Hook boy? A picture of Carlos instantly flashes into my mind. I haven't seen him in almost two months, but every second not dedicated to the plan I spent thinking of him. Harry and I? It's almost laughable. Sure, we love to flirt with each other, but it's harmless. Harry knows I love Carlos. Harry encourages me to love Carlos, something about maybe I'll make a villain out of him yet. I miss Carlos intensely, I hope he misses me.

"Hey," Maddie called pulling me from my own thoughts. "You two ready to meet the King of Hearts and his Wicked Witch?"

Alex and I shared a smirk before following Maddie through the gates into the rose covered courtyard. We followed Maddie cautious not to stray from the yellow brick path, very funny Lauren. I looked at the roses noticing there was something off with their red color. As I leaned closer, I realized that they didn't smell like roses but of something foul. I jumped back in slight fear. They weren't red roses as I had previously thought but painted with the blood of I don't want to know what. I hurried on my way into the foyer.

The foyer was done in red, black, and green with many great columns holding up the checkerboard ceiling. At the end of the foyer in two large thrones sat Lauren and Jack.

Lauren:

Jack:

As we arrived at the end of their thrones, I could make out an chilling smile on Lauren's face and a look of pure anger on Jack's. Before any of us could even open our mouths, a flying monkey came down screeching from who knows where causing vicious laughter to come from Lauren. "So, before we speak business," Lauren began satisfied with our looks of terror from the flying monkey she had sent on us that now sat on the back of her throne snarling at us. "Perhaps you can settle something for us."

"We were discussing execution options," Jack explained leaning forward in his throne twirling a red rose I had not noticed him holding earlier. "I prefer a guillotine or a royal executioner."

"And I prefer more torturous methods," Lauren said. "I prefer to watch those who have wronged me suffer."

"Underwater guillotine," Madison said drawing attention to her. As soon as Jack's eyes landed on her his angry expression melted into one that I couldn't read. As he watched Maddie speak, I notice him jam his finger into the rose's thorn as if to check he wasn't dreaming. "You can treat the blade either with a chemical solution to prevent rusting or magic. Then you weight the person down locked into the guillotine. Only when they are about to drown do you drop the blade then they still drown for a while after losing their head."

"Madison," Jack breathed getting up from his throne. "I've missed your deviously mad mind, my love." He crossed the room to her grabbing her by the waist pulling her flush against him. Maddie's hands immediately roamed around his body ending in his hair moving the crown slightly to the side.

"My love?" Alex whispered to me. "Did you know about this!?"

I shook my head still staring at Maddie and the "King of Hearts". They were nose to nose seemingly content in each other's arms but somehow still not close enough.

"Did you know about this!?" I heard Alex whisper-shout to Lauren, who only gave a devious smirk as an answer.

"What have you done to your hair?" Jack asked running his hand around her face and through a strand of her blonde hair smearing his blood along the way. "It looks horrible."

"There's no point in it being red if you aren't around," Maddie whispered her lips coming ever so closer to his.

Jack whimpered at her words pulling her into a passionate kiss. I tore my eyes from the two joining Alex where they stood by Lauren who was only looking on in disgust while reclining in her throne.

"So when you think they were going to tell us?" I asked Alex leaning on Lauren's throne.

Lauren scoffed. "I wish he hadn't told me about her!" Lauren scrunched her nose up in disgust. "He never shuts up about her. He's always been bent on going back to Wonderland for her. It's actually disgusting."

Alex rolled their eyes. "Don't look at love like that. Look at it as the bargaining chip that you can use it for." Alex spun around a trail of smoke swallowing them before they reappeared right in front of my face. "You'd be surprised what people would give up for those they love."

"Like the respect of my close-minded people?" I rolled my eyes. "I swear the people of Agrabah have such a hatred for me being born first."

Alex smirked. "Gender is a stupidly human invention," they waved their hand dismissively. "Tell them to get the fuck over yours."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "Ignore them. If they won't listen to your words give them a reason to see you."

I smiled at the two's advice. "I've been trying to conform to someone that I'm not for years now, maybe it's time I stop that."

"You should've stopped that a long time ago," Maddie said drawing my attention to her and Jack. Jack had his arm draped around her shoulder.

"Yeah," I sighed. "I still have to get married before my 18th birthday though or the throne passes to Kamal."

"What kind of fucked up law is that!?" Lauren exclaimed.

"I have no fucking idea," I rolled my eyes.

"Just marry anyone," Alex said with an air of disinterest.

"You are royalty," Jack said. "And royalty always rules. So you can literally marry anyone, they won't outrank you."

"Why doesn't your dad just change the law?" Maddie asked. "Your grandfather changed the law for your parents."

I sighed. "My father doesn't want to change the laws for some stupid reason."

"What the fuck!?" Lauren exclaimed. "What's the point of being in charge if you don't change laws you don't like!?"

"Dad feels like he isn't worthy," I said. "He grew up a street rat and suddenly became sultan. He feels it's not his place."

"As much as I want to say that's stupid," Maddie said stepping closer to me. "I get that. When you're in a place you don't belong changing something, even if it's for the betterment of that new place, feels so wrong."

"Yeah, I understand, but I also want him to just get the fuck over it and change the law." I ran my hand through my hair messing up my carefully placed ponytail.

"I say tell your father you don't want to get married, he's sure to listen to his daughter if she doesn't want to get married." Jack said. "Surely, he can't resist giving his daughter something she wants."

I snickered. "There's a problem with that plan; he's met my boyfriend."

"So what!?" Lauren snapped drawing my attention back to her. "Just because you have a partner doesn't mean he or you are ready for marriage."

"I feel like I don't have a choice," I whined. "If I felt I had a choice I wouldn't be here discussing plans with the two of you."

"Oh yeah," Jack said finally letting go of Maddie. "You came here to discuss business. So what's this plan?"

I explained the plan to the two of them. They smirked looking at each other briefly before returning their gaze to me. "We're in."

Ani and I found our way through the streets of the Eastern side of the Isle. "Kami, do you really think Ming Yu and Zhen Nan will listen to us?" Ani asked an edge of panic in his voice. "Like isn't gathering all these different gangs in an alliance like really, really dangerous?"

"Ani," I sighed. "I have no idea. I have no idea how any of this is going to turn out. And that's what scares me most, Ani."

Ani looked at me wide-eyed never having heard such uncertainty from me before.

"I'm scared," I sighed letting my shoulders slump. "I don't have a backup plan. This is all I've got. Ani! I'm the leftover! Nadia is destined to be Sultan, and I just exist!"

Ani puts a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"All I have is my plans," I looked down at my feet unable to meet my best friends eyes. "I'm just-"

"Stop," Ani snapped bringing my eyes to meet his. "You are so much more than the leftover. You're a natural born leader, Kam, and you have helped Dia through so many hard times. When Dia decided to take off her hijab who was there? If you weren't around who would I have came out to first? If you weren't around I wouldn't get to say that I've got a real ace of a friend."

I laughed. "True." I wiped a tear from my eye. "You wouldn't get to make the best puns."

"There's the smile I love to see," Ani pinched my cheek. "Now let's get moving. I want to see if this Zhen Nan is as hot as they say he is."

I smiled following my best friend further down the streets.

We walked until we reached the front of a small gym. Stepping inside we were greeted with the sight of a woman kneeling beside a child talking to her in a quiet voice. A young man was standing behind her glaring at Ani and I. He looked like someone we wouldn't want to get in a fight with.

"Told you they said he was hot," Ani whispered to me. I snickered shoving him away.

The young woman stood up facing us as the child ran happily out of the building.

"You must be Kamal and Anwar," She said staring at the two of us with an intense gaze. "I'm Ming Yu, that's Ming Yu, not Min Gyu. This is my associate Zhen Nan. We were told you wanted to discuss something?"

"Yes," I said stepping forward my confidence returning. "We have a proposition for you if you're up for it."

"If it involves war the answer is no," She said turning from us.

"Aren't you a general?" Anwar asked missing the look I was giving him telling him to not ask that question.

Zhen Nan stepped forward before Ming Yu stopped him with a hand to his chest. "An intelligent general does not seek out unnecessary war. War only causes pain and destruction. To seek out war is unwise and unjust."

"That's intelligent," I mumbled.

"What was that?" Zhen Nan growled.

"You're the first person on this isle I've met that cares about justice," I said looking to Ming Yu who smiled.

"I only want to look out for my people," Ming Yu said smiling sadly. "My baba was taken from me in war. I do not wish to be taken in the same way. Or anyone else to have to go through that as well."

Zhen Nan's stone cold facade dropped for a second as he smiled sadly down at Ming Yu. "So many of us lost our parents to the war."

"And so many parents abandon children on the Isle without a second thought," Ming Yu adds.

"We take them in. We teach them to survive. We teach them to fight." Zhen Nan said.

"And they become a part of our family," Ming Yu smiled. "The other gangs are scared of our military might, but our loving nature is not favored by them."

I smiled. They didn't seem as scary as everyone makes them out to be. "It is favored by us if that's how you feel."

Ming Yu smiled. "From what I've heard you know about looking out for your own, King of Thieves."

I smiled. "It's true, we look out for our own, but we do have one rule."

"What is that?" asked Ming Yu.

"Never harm the innocent," I replied.

Ming Yu smiled warmly. "That is a rule I can stand behind. We'll hear out your proposition; I must insist that you have a cup of tea though."

Ani and I looked at each other debating their offer before deciding simultaneously that if they were willing to listen then we could sit down for tea.

Seeing our hesitation, Zhen Nan snickered. "Your not the Imperial Chinese that changed our people's culture and killed our parents, we have no ill intent with you."

We shared a laugh sitting down to join the two at the tea table. I explained the plan to the two of them highlighting the aspect that I believed would agree with their philosophy.

When I was done explaining everything, they talked to each other in Cantonese for a bit before looking to us agreeing to the plan. Perfect that should be everyone.

I sat down beside Gil, who was scarfing down whatever fish was in front of him, at the chip shop. I looked down in my bag at the hand mirror tempted to call Quinn not sure if I should in the middle of the restaurant. Finally caving into the boredom, I grabbed the mirror from my bag. "Hey! Idiot!"

I see a lot of fast movements before I am revealed the face of Quinn looking kinda panicked. "You realize my roommate is dating Evie right!? What am I supposed to tell Doug if he hears your voice, Dia?"

I shrugged. Quinn's voice caught Gil's attention beside me as he leaned over to see what was going on. "Oh hey, it's," he swallowed. "That Rider guy!"

His exclamation grabbed the attention of Uma and Harry. Thanks, Gil... They hurried over to see who I was talking to.

"Hey guys," Quinn said before returning to scolding me. "You have to be more careful, Dia."

"Yeah, yeah," I said rolling my eyes. "I'll be more careful, mom."

"Oooohhh, hit me right where it hurts didn't ya?" Quinn joked putting a hand to his heart in mock hurt.

"Look, Quinn, stop for like five seconds." I put the mirror down clapping with each word. "I have tea."

"Is that," he gave a quick glance to Harry behind my head, "you know who is into guys? Because your boy needs a partner. I'm tired of being the sad, lonely pansexual."

"Between you and Ani we ain't gonna have any more boys left are we?" I snapped jokingly.

"Well, you know we could always get you a girlfriend if we run out of boys." Quinn laughed.

I laughed then bit my lip. "Well, I mean there is this really pretty girl..."

"You have a boyfriend," Quinn said. "What are you doing?"

"Okay, be completely honest, Quentin. How do you think Carlos is going to feel about all of this?" I asked only half-joking.

"I think the whole having to marry before your eighteenth birthday is more likely to scare him off than this," Quinn said to the surprise of Gil, Harry, and Uma.

"Thanks for reminding me of that Quinn," I deadpanned before changing the subject. "So how's Operation Cheat Code going? Have you met with Solid or Not?"

"I've met with Not multiple times and plan to meet with Solid later this week," Quinn said not minding the confused looks we were getting from Gil, Harry, and Uma.

"Ooh! Fun! Tell Solid I said hi!" I replied perking up a little bit. "And tell Right Hand I said watch out."

"I understand the first one, but why the second request?" Quinn asked.

I shrugged. "I think it'll be funny."

With that Ani and Kam came through the doors of the chip shop. Kamal unceremoniously dropped his sword into the sword check crossing his way over to us with Ani not far behind. They both looked very delighted.

"Talk to you later, Q," I said putting up the hand mirror. As Ani and Kam sat down, I asked. "How'd it go with Ming Yu and Zhen Nan?"

"They're on board," Kamal said smiling. "And I really like them. They might be the most like us, you know if thieves had honor."

I rolled my eyes.

"How'd it go with the patrons of madness?" Ani asked.

"Of course, my fiance is on board," Maddie said before I could speak up. "And Lauren was interested as well."

"Wait, hold up, back that up," Ani said shocked as everyone else around me was. "Did you just say fiance?"

Maddie looked at them innocently. "Yeah, did I never mention that Jack and I have been betrothed since I was like 2 and he was 4?"

"No," Kamal sputtered. "No, you never mentioned that."

"Oh, well," Maddie said shrugging primping her hair a bit. "We're engaged. That's why I came to the overland, to retrieve my fiance."

"Wait," I snapped looking at my best friend and roommate. "You only did the exchange program to break into the Isle of the Lost and breakout Jack?"

"Yeah," Maddie mumbled. "I never expected to get mixed up with all of you's plan mumbo jumbo. We don't do plans in Wonderland."

"So," Gil said looking to Maddie. "Do you even believe in what they're saying?"

"Of course I believe in what they're saying," Maddie rolled her eyes coming closer to us. "I just want to go back home, to nonsense." She sighed slumping her shoulders. "I miss my friends. I miss Wyles and Maria. I miss the croquet and tea parties. I miss the Cheshire kittens. I miss-" She sighed in frustration. "Harry, do you understand?"

We all looked at Harry, who looked as confused as the rest of it.

"Don't you miss Neverland?" Maddie asked desperately.

"Sorry, lass, I was a babe when we left," Harry said looking genuinely sorry for once. "Besides I don't think I ever was on the Island just the Jolly Roger. You can ask my sister if she remembers anything."

"I thought CJ was born on the Isle," I said knitting my eyebrows together in confusion.

"My other sister, Princess, Harriet," Harry corrected.

I nodded in understanding mumbling to myself. "The scary one."

Harry and Kamal laughed.

"Look! It's not like she's super scary or anything. It's just that she's like more intimidating than CJ!" I protested.

"How often have you been talking to my sisters?" Harry asked.

"I've talked to CJ way more than Harriet, but Harriet and I have business to attend to," I said. "So we'll be talking more often."

"You keepin' lots of secrets, Princess?" Harry asked leaning closer to me. "First, you talk to Rider about this Operation Cheat Code, and now you're discussing business with me older sister."

I shivered slightly his accent sounded really intimidating when he was glaring at me like that. "Operation Cheat Code is about setting up a special date for Sara and her girlfriend, and if I told you what I had to discuss with Harriet that would ruin the surprise."

Harry looked at me suspiciously. He leaned closer grazing my cheek with his hook. "Are you sure that's all you want to tell me, lass?"

I smirked. "Gut me, Harry," I leaned into the hook. "We all know you want to. That bloodlust in your eyes. It could be my blood."

Harry snickered pushing the hook deeper into my cheek causing a cut on my cheek. A drop of blood ran down my cheek staining the tip of his hook. I hardly noticed the pain just looking into Harry's blue eyes with my brown ones daring him to go further.

"You want to," I breathed. "So go ahead and do it. Hurt me, Harry."

"Okay, that's enough, Harry," Uma said pulling him away from me.

"Are you done, sis?" Kamal asked. "I really did not want to know that much about your kinks."

I burst into laughter at Kamal's words.

"Now we've both had our face covered in blood today, or at least one cheek," Maddie said smiling at me.

"Yeah, well," I snapped. "At least mine is my own, ya freak."

Maddie laughed. "I didn't ask him to."

"Okay," Kamal yells clapping to get our attention. "Guys! Guys! Guys!" He puts his hand in a prayer position in front of his face dividing his face into halves. "I do not need to know about your kinks! Stop right now!"

"The ace has spoken," Ani said banging an imaginary cane. "From here on out, have it known that you shan't talk about your kinks. Hear! Hear!"

We laughed rolling our eyes at the two. "Okay."

"Like we weren't even talking about it, but-"

"Look whatever was going on there was a kink," Kamal said. "I'm not sure what it was called but it has a name. What is its name?"

Ani shrugged. "I don't know. I just know names of like the big ones."

"Please don't list them," Kamal stuck up a hand to stop him. "You people are going to be the death of me."

We laughed returning to our meeting of how we would proceed now that we had the gangs of the Isle united.

A/N: I know it's really long, but it is the end of part one!! I will get part two out as fast as possible!!