Hey Descendants!

Sorry I'm getting this out to you so late. We had a storm today that kept knocking out the power, so after the third time I unplugged everything because that was some scary thunder and lightning.

Beautiful, but scary and I've already had one computer fry.

But it's gone, and I remembered!

Yay me.

And hopefully you enjoy the new chapter, which will be a yay for you as well.

Are you ready for a very important discussion? I mean... Deez-cussion?

Lots of love,

-Dark-

"You really need to work on more than defense Deez." Uma sighs, as Gil nods.

She huffs as Jay and T's agreeance on the subject echoed in her mind. She sits up taller and takes in a deep breath, "I do," She admits, "but I'm not comfortable workin' on it on the ship."

"You don't like working on it at the cove either," Gil bluntly calls her out.

"I don't like it." She shrugs, "but I'll do it because I'll be more comfortable there. You want me to practice offensive on the ship, let me use a training sword."

"You need to get used to your blade." Uma frowns, "So looks like we're going to the cove tomorrow."

"Fine." Deez crosses her arms over her chest. It felt like they were picking at everything she wasn't good at.

Everything she wasn't good at all at once.

She closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath, but she knew that wasn't true.

"Don't be like that Deez," Gil wraps an arm around her shoulders. "But T's right, you hate using your fire to defend yourself so you need to learn how to use a sword."

"More things I suck at." She sighs. She was more stung by her conversation with Gil than she'd wanted to admit.

Natural at everything.

Used to just being good.

Yeah right.

She put in months of hard work to get her fire under control. Even more time getting her strength under control. She knew how to use a sword, and sure, she understood the concept of if you don't use it you lose it, but she hated fighting against people she was scared of hurting.

"You just need to practice." Uma shakes her head. "I know it can be frustrating, but that's how you get better."

"Yeah," Gil nods. "I used to be super clumsy with them when I first started. I can't tell you how many times I accidentally cut or almost impaled myself. And we all know T-" He chuckles, "Was one of the worst at it, but look how far he's come. He's gotten good enough that he can hold his own against Harry now." He squeezes her to his side."We wouldn't push you if we thought you'd be hopeless."

"Sweet Boy's right, we know you can do this. You just hate the idea of hurting people."

"Yeah. I do." She snaps before she takes another deep breath, "I don't want to hurt anyone, and if I damaged your baby?" She pulls her fingers through her hair until she can tug on the ends, "I hate having to balance it all while dealing with moving around a wooden ship and avoiding the edges in case I over adjust or pull back to fast."

Ume frowns as she studies her, "I know you're working on so much already Baby Girl, and I know it can't be easy. Still, it would make us all feel better. So if you can't do it for yourself, can you at least try for us and our peace of mind?"

"Yeah," Gil nods, "And think about how much time we spent making your sword, it would be a shame if you never used it.

"Guilt trip?" Deez glares up at him, "You're better than that."

"I wasn't trying to guilt you," Gil pouts. "I was… It would just be cool to see you actually use it to its full potential. Besides, it's badass when you actually wield it. It's like twice your size and you swing it around like nothing."

She drops her eyes to the table and reaches out for another moldy piece of bread to give herself time to think. It was so confusing sometimes. She didn't have to be perfect, but she had to try harder. And even when she felt like she was trying, she still had to try harder. And when she admitted that she wasn't comfortable doing something yet, she was reminded of why she had to get over it.

It was overwhelming.

Overwhelming and confusing.

At least when she did things her way, she figured it out without hurting anyone. She was able to deal with the rest once she got the basics of whatever new thing she was working on down.

But now? Now she had to retrain everything it seemed. And had to do it with an audience

Uma studies her before she lets out a sigh, "Three hours a week. That's all I need. Just practice for three hours and I'll drop it." She offers. "I know this, moving on to the ship, learning to swim, working on school, and everything else you're doing for us has to be a lot, but it would mean so much to me if you put that amount of time into it."

Gil looks between the two of them, "And you know you can always ask us to work on things too if you see something we need to improve on, right? With how sharp you are, I'm sure there is stuff you notice that we need to work on. That's what being part of a family is. Helping each other be better."

She sighs. Like she wasn't going to pour everything she had into making herself better for Uma, into improving and living up to their standards and her own

"I know it doesn't seem fair. For us to expect so much when you guys are still adapting to this. We're just worried." She glares slightly, "And don't think for a moment you're the only one I expect to learn how to fight- I'll be talking to her when we get back to the cabin for skipping out on practice. It isn't acceptable. But you're more comfortable with us than they are. You know that. We wouldn't have thought about it if it wasn't for you."

"It feels like you think I'm arguing," Deez says around her mouthful of bread.

"We know you're not." Gil squeezes her to his side again, "We're just trying to get you to understand why it matters to us so much. But if it's too much for you-" He glances at Uma, "I think we can let it go 'til you're not so overwhelmed. We know how much you hate fighting, how much you go out of your way to avoid it."

"I know why it matters, hence not arguing" She swallows hard before she plays with her cup, "It's no less than I expect of myself anyway," She sighs, "I just keep putting all my effort all in the wrong places I guess."

Uma takes a deep breath, "No, you're not. Sweet Boy made a good point. We can wait for you to be more settled."

"I can give you three hours a week Uma." She rolls her eyes, "At the cove, until I'm not scared of holding the sword too tight and ruining it or dropping it. But seriously, it would kill me if I buried my sword and ruined the ship."

Uma smiles as she reaches out and takes her hand squeezing it. "I appreciate you caring so much about our Baby, but-" She sighs, "I think I just realized I'm more frustrated and worried about the other one than you. And I'm not being fair."

"What?" Deez grins, "Am I just easier to scold?"

"A little." Uma admits, "I at least know you can't hide from us forever." She sighs, "And that you're more than capable of defending yourself push comes to shove."

"I promise I do know how, even without using my fire," She shakes her head, "but I'll still practice if it makes you both feel better, which means it will probably make Harry and T feel better too." At least that was a reason she would live with. Pouring herself into getting better with the sword to make her family happy. She knew she needed to work on her handling anyway. Find the perfect grip. The best stance. She sighs. Jay and Carlos were always great at explaining different parts of swordplay until she could figure out. Until she could incorporate it into her own style as they called it.

"Thank you, Baby Girl. We all appreciate it." Uma squeezes her hand again before she lets it go and stands up. "Now come on, I think it's time I scold the right person." She smiles as she picks up their empty plates.

Gil nods as he stands up his arm dropping from her shoulders as he offers her his hand, smiling down at her when she takes it. "You heard the captain." He chuckles.

She sighs, but smiles as he pulls her to her feet, "Aye."

He grins down at her before he starts guiding her through the galley.

Uma joins them with two plates of food before they head back up to their cabin.

She sighs, not sure they entirely understood what she was trying to explain. Which fair, she wasn't entirely sure what she was trying to say- but at least they'd made some progress. She smiles softly. And as odd as it was, she was happy Uma was comfortable enough with her to hold her to the same standard as her boys. She knew it was a different standard than she had for herself, but maybe that would end up helping her in the long run.

Gil had scolded her for trying to be perfect.

She was worried about working on too many things at once and not getting better fast enough.

Maybe the answer, like the truth, was somewhere in the middle.

She nods before she grabs Gil's arm with her other hand, hugging it to her as they continued walking. It seemed like it was worth a try. Or at least she was willing to try for them.

Gil opens the door and they let Uma walk in first.

"What the fuck is this?" Uma demands not three seconds later. "She was supposed to join us for practice."

She stops in her tracks, yanking Gil back half a step since she was still hugging onto his arm.

"Uma, please, let me be ah explainin'!" She hears Harry whisper, the plea in his tone palpable.

Gil looks down at her with a warm smile before he pulls her into the room and shuts the door behind them. "Sorry." He whispers, "But the crew doesn't need to hear this." He clarifies before he guides her to the table and pulls her onto his lap. His arm dropping to hold her around her waist.

"So, let's hear it." Uma glares at Harry as she drops the two plates on the table across from them.

"She did'nah be ah sleepin' ah wink last night," He quickly explains, rushing as if he was afraid at any second Uma would explode on him and not let him finish, "an' I be thinkin' ya would be agreein' that ain'nah bein' ah good way ta be ah startin' weapon trainin'."

Uma takes a deep breath before she lets it out slowly and glances at Faustina with a frown. She walks over and gently pulls down her hood. Her eyes sweep over her face before she sighs. "Fine." She sighs. "Gil," She turns to them. "Help Pretty Boy here outta the hammock, please."

"Sure." Gil nods before he kisses the top of her head and slides out from under her before he walks over. He tilts his head, studying them for a minute before he shrugs and gently scoops Faustina up into his arms.

"Good job mate." Harry grins before he rolls out of the hammock.

Gil smiles before he turns to put Faustina in their bed.

Deez widens her eyes before she jumps up, holding her hand up, "Wait! Uh, not the bed." She wasn't entirely sure why, but she knew beds freaked T out sometimes. Was it the same for Faustina?

Uma joins her, "Just put her back in the hammock Sweet Boy."

Gil turns to look at her in confusion, "But she'll sleep better." He frowns.

Harry pats him on his back, "Beauty Girl be bein' 'fraid o' beds mate."

"Huh." Gil tilts his head to the side before he turns back to the hammock and tenderly places her back in the netting.

Uma lets out a sigh of relief before she turns and slides into a chair.

Was it a fear? She frowns before her eyes drop to the table. Everyone else knew, except Gil. Was this part of whatever it was that was painful and they were just protecting her from it? Were they also protecting Gil? He wasn't very happy the last time they'd tried to do that. She shifts enough to look at Uma who was rubbing her temples.

Whatever that was, it was obviously stressing Uma out. She frowns before she walks over and starts rubbing her shoulders.

"Thank you, Baby Girl." Uma drops one hand on top of hers as she looks up over her shoulder.

This was why she loved being here. She loved the little ways she was able to help. She smiles and nods before Uma turns back around and leans forward, giving her more room to work.

Gil grins at them as he pats her shoulder before he slips into the chair next to them. Harry follows after he flicks a blanket over Faustina to tuck her in, settling into the chair across from Uma.

"Thank ya," Harry nods to Uma as he pulls the plate to him.

"Mhmm." Uma shakes her head before she groans when she finds a particularly tight knot.

"Sorry." She grimaces, slowing her massage though she doesn't move away like she would have in the past.

"Don't be," Uma assures her as she leans into her hands further. "It didn't hurt in a bad way."

Gil chuckles as he watches them and the room falls into a content silence while Harry eats. After a moment, he pulled his English books to him.

Deez bites her lip as she works. Uma was full of knots. More than usual. This wasn't from scolding her or being upset about Faustina missing a practice. This felt deeper. She tilts her head to the side before she wraps her arms around Uma's chest, hugging her tightly from behind, "What's wrong?"

Uma sighs before she twists to pull her into her lap, rolling her shoulders happily before she looks down at her, "You learning to read muscles?"

Deez frowns up at her, "I can tell you're stressed about something," She takes one of Uma's hands and starts rubbing her palm, "even your palms are tight."

"Of course you can." Uma smiles softly, "It's just something Faustina said yesterday after doing some rather depressing math."

Oh math. She huffs. How it seemed to love to fuck them all over.

Harry looks up at Uma with a frown, "Aye, that be ah makin' sense."

Gil tilts his head to the side as his eyes glance between the two, "What'd she say?" He lifts a brow.

Uma sighs, watching her work her hand before she looks up. "How would you guys feel if we never ended up in Auradon? It's been two months, and the Rotten's didn't mention anything about another group gettin' pulled… And," She gestures to Faustina with her chin, "Beautiful Girl be makin' a lot of points yesterday I hadn't even considered."

Deez sighs. She'd been waiting for someone to talk about it. To mention the depressing lack of evidence that another group would get called over any time soon. She'd started doubting herself, doubting the connection she felt to the prince the longer they went with no word. Hearing Harry and T talk about seeing the Rottens again, and meeting the prince, hearing about how he kept her letters. Maybe it was the fact that it had been news, had been something. A confirmation that her letters had made it, had made a difference.

But was the difference just for Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos? The longer they'd gone without talking about what hadn't been mentioned in the video chat, the more she'd thought about it.

They might be the only four to ever get out.

"As long as we're together it wouldn't be the worst thing," Gil offers. "I'd be sad to never see Carlos again but…" He shrugs, "I think he's better off there."

Harry and Uma both smile at Gil before they both turn to look at her.

But what about Dizzy? Cecelia? Mimi? The little pirate twins? Freddie?

All the kids? And why? Why would Auradon bring only four over and then stop?

Mal might be an acquired taste, but she knew, believed with everything she was, that Mal was a good person. Could be a wonderful person if she was given a chance. The prince obviously thought so too.

And if she could be good, the rest of her friends would surely thrive over there. So, why?

She blinks back a tear before she looks up and realizes they were all still looking at her. "Sorry, too many thoughts." She bites her lip.

"It's okay Baby Girl, I know it's not something any of us want to think about- But it's a reality we need to face." Uma rubs her hand up and down her back, "I haven't checked her math… But Faustina said it would take about nineteen years if four of us were taken every three months- Assuming they even do that. And she made a great point about how it would be for the best if we were one of the last groups taken, cause no one else is gonna write him like you do…" She sighs.

"But she also be ah pointin' out that the OV's be gettin' older by the year." Harry elaborates, "And that we could be knockin' em out slowly over the next couple of years."

Deez wraps her arms around her waist, hugging herself against a sick feeling lodged in her ribs. Nineteen years? At least? She knew she'd never want to leave unless everyone she cared about was safe.

She shivers.

Four at a time? Her eyes slid around the room, but there were five of them. Would they have to be separated eventually? Would she have to be left behind again? She blinks. Why hadn't she thought about this before? Had she been too afraid to face it?

Gil blinks before he turns to look at Faustina in confusion. "She thinks we should kill them? Thinks we could actually win against them?"

Uma lets out a heavy sigh as she nods. "She thinks between the goblins and the urchins-" She turns to her, "That you and T have made friends with, that we could defeat them. And… Thinks that I-" She laughs tightly, "I could take Maleficent's place."

She bites her lip again, "You'd be the best at it." She whispers, unable to make her voice any louder.

"I've never really thought about it," Gil looks at Uma, "But if anyone could change this place, it'd be you." He smiles.

"Ya be ah seein'?" Harry chuckles lightly before he stands in his chair and puts a foot on the table, "Queen Uma, ruler o' the Isle o' the Lost." He spreads his hands in front of him as if he was dramatically unfurling a banner, "I be ah thinkin' it be ah havin' ah nice ring to it."

Uma looks around the table before her gaze drops to her, her eyes narrowed thoughtfully, "Not tellin' ya to ever stop tryin' to get the Prince to understand why we shouldn't be here. It's still a possibility-"

"But if it doesn't work," She looks up at Gil, taking a deep breath as she struggles to collect her scattered thoughts before she makes eye contact with Uma again, "that future sounds like one just as worth living for. Worth working for." She rolls her bottom lip over her teeth before she reaches up to play with Uma's braids, "You'd be a good Queen. You're already an amazing Captain, an amazing leader." She smiles as she arranges Uma's hair behind her shoulders, "And isn't that the same thing at the end of the day?"

Gil reaches out to take her hand and squeezes it.

"You two really think that?" She looks between her and Gil.

"Yeah." Gil furrows his brow, his tone the same as if he was reminding her that she wasn't dumb. "I mean if it comes to that. If we never get taken. It's like Deez said. You'd make this place worth living in. None of the other leaders care as much as you do about the fate of all of us. And for as much as I never thought about it- I agree with her." He points to Faustina.

She smiles as she runs her thumb over Gil's fingers, "I can't say anything about the rest of this yet, the rest of Faustina's points or T's thoughts on the OVs and taking them out." She shivers at the idea of the war on VKs that could start. And if they suffered, it would only trickle down to the Side Kicks, their kids, the poor kids on the streets, and the Goblins. She didn't like their caste system, but that didn't mean she didn't understand it. "You being the best leader for the isle though? I know that's true." She smiles at Uma, "I wouldn't have said it if I didn't believe it."

Uma bites her lip as she falls silent. "We'd have to do something to make sure I could actually hold the seat Deez… I don't like it, and it's a last resort. But it might be something we should all start thinkin' about."

"Aye." Harry agrees with a surprising amount of seriousness before he turns to Faustina with a thoughtful expression.

"I didn't say-" She sighs in frustration, "I just said I can't- I need-" she closes her eyes as she squeezes Gil's hand, "I know it would have to be done- I just don't have anything, to add or argue."

"Sorry," Uma squeezes her to her chest, "Didn't mean to upset you, Baby Girl, I just know how much you hate the idea of hurting people and confrontation in general. It might not ever happen- It's just if it does," She shrugs, "Sea Gods forbid, I just think it would be a good idea to start thinking about, maybe even preparing-" She pauses as her head whips to Faustina her eyes narrowing. "For it." She finishes slowly still looking at the sleeping girl suspiciously.

Harry furrows his brow, tilting his head as he follows her gaze, "Ya can'nah be ah thinkin'-" He slowly turns back to Uma, "Nah, really? But he be ah gatherin' shit for so long."

"I know," Uma frowns, "But you heard her yesterday- It clearly wasn't just an on the spot thought."

Deez snorts before she pops her free hand over her mouth.

"What's goin' on in that head of yours Baby Girl?" Uma prompts as she finally pulls her eyes off Faustina to drop down to her.

"Too much." She says under her hand.

"I get that." Uma nods, "But why the snort?"

She sighs before she drops her hand, "I uh, because what if she's like me, I mean thinks like me? Sometimes things pop out of my mouth before I- I mean like I always try so hard to think about what I'm going to say before I say it, too much sometimes, but sometimes it happens. It pops out and I'm just as surprised as the rest of you when that happens."

"Huh." Uma frowns, "Maybe…" She turns back to Faustina. "She was full of random bits of insight yesterday. I've never heard her speak so much… Or expected her too, at least not so soon."

"Aye… Ain'nah that bein' just the truth o' it though." Harry grumbles before he shakes his head. "But she did be ah sayin' she be ah thinkin' 'bout it lots. That she be ah havin' lots o' time ta be ah thinkin' 'bout it."

"Aye," Uma nods.

Gil shrugs, "Either way it's something important to think about. We never really think more than a week or so ahead." He turns to her and squeezes her hand again. "Well, us, you probably do." He grins at her.

She smiles, returning the hand squeeze as she adjusts in Uma's lap. She wasn't sure why that made warmth bubble and fizz in her chest and under her cheeks, but it did. She couldn't remember ever telling him she had a problem staying focused on the present, that half the time her mind was overly jumbled with thoughts about how things, all things, were going to pan out and affect their future. But, he knew. Or at least knew her well enough to guess. "I do, almost all the time." She finally admits as she leans against Uma's shoulder to watch him curiously.

He leans over and kisses her temple. "Figured. Jus' think you might be a bit more optimistic than her." He pulls back to look over at Faustina before he tilts his head to the side.

"T calls it wishful thinking." She chuckles.

He shakes his head before he turns back to her. "T's also a jerk." He frowns. "Or at least can be."

"Heya now, be ah bein'-" Harry chuckles, "Nah, he be ah straight up dick at times, not gonna lie." He props an elbow on the table and rests his chin in his hand, "I be ah likin' it."

Uma snorts. "Course ya do." She sighs as she shifts in the seat, though Deez smiles at how careful she was to keep her balanced against her shoulder.

Like Uma was rocking her like she used to so long ago.

She smiles before she nuzzles her face against Uma's shoulder, happy all over again when she slowly starts rubbing her back.

They fall into a comfortable silence before Gil breaks it, "Think it bothers her that we didn't initiate her into the family too?" He blurts out. "I mean- It doesn't feel right. It's bad enough she felt like she had to hide the first few weeks she was here."

Deez frowns as she rests the back of his hand on her knee before she starts tracing the compass scar on his palm, "We could ask how she feels or what she thinks. I get the feeling she likes when one of us ask for her thoughts, or wants to know how she feels." She smiles, warm all over again at how sweet Gil was. How much he also hated the thought of hurting people he loved. "But, ya know, just one of us."

"I'll talk to her." Uma nods, "You make a good point Sweet Boy, I never thought to ask if she wanted to join." Deez feels her sigh deeply, "Which, was wrong of me to not even ask T if both of them were okay with it."

Gil nods with a small smile. "I think it would make her happy, I don't think she always feels like she belongs with us. And even if she says no, I mean, we should at least offer."

Uma takes a deep breath before she stands and passes her to Gil who takes her automatically, "Imma take a walk. You three get to work on the workbooks." Her eyes drift to the hammock, "Quietly, and when Yensid gets back he said he was going to have another class for us, but if she's still asleep we'll move to the galley." She nods.

"Aye Captain." She answers when the boys seem too lost in thought to respond.

Uma's eyes soften before she bends to kiss her cheek, "Make sure they get workin' for me, Baby Girl." She sighs as she straightens up and looks them over.

"I will Uma, don't worry." She quickly assures her, wanting nothing more at that moment than to ease the lines of stress and worry on Uma's forehead.

"Thanks." Uma ruffles her hair gently before she turns and heads out of the room.

Yo,

We're so sorry math keeps being an underlying theme here... we promise it's not intentional... As we both dislike it but here we are...

But hey at least we got more introspection as to why Deez acts the way she does. And how she ended up the way she did.

Senior really is a fucking prick.

My heart goes out to our little Demi in this one. It sucks to feel misunderstood. And being forced to learn something that seems pointless to you is frustrating, but Uma likes her family well rounded and since D ain't a fan of using her fire in combat... Where do you stand on the subject?

So, what do you guys think? Would Uma rock being Queen of the isle?

Seriously though? What do you think of Faustina's hypothesis? And the rest of the family's thoughts on it?

Do you guys think that's why T's been stockpiling shit at the hangout and on the ship? Because he and Faustina were preparing for the worst? Or do you think it's just a coincidence?

Overall what did you think of Deez's thoughts on everything?

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted