Hey Descendants Fam!

Time to answer the question... What happened to the ship?

I've got one of you eeking at me ;) so I won't take too long.

Thank you for all the comments, and to everyone who helped us get through our five chapter slump, a very, very- from the bottom of our hearts thank you. That was so frustrating for us, but we got through it and are looking forward to kicking it in the ass as we move through the rest of the plot.

We hope you enjoy Priorities, and please leave us a shout out at the end.

Thanks everyone!

Lots of Love,

-Dark-

Earlier that day...

Uma looks from Yensid's passive face to James's barely contained excitement.

Her first upper crew meeting and they were all practically begging to set sail the moment Yensid mentioned it as a way to contain the situation T was in on the Isle.

Harry and Gil were just as excited as James to pull away from the docks and see what their lady could do.

Deez didn't seem to want to admit it, but she could see the apprehension in the set of her jaw and the way she held Gil's hand.

But Deez was, she hides her smile, also already attached to Gil by a rope around her waist.

Her Sweet Boy wasn't taking any chances with their Baby Girl's fear.

She turns to the sky, watching as the gray clouds looming above them swirl with gusts of wind.

The Sea Gods were definitely on their side today.

She felt guilty T wasn't going to be able to see this after all the work he and James had put into the ship, wouldn't be able to experience it the way the rest of her family was, but it was for the best.

T couldn't know, and Faustina couldn't be on deck with this many of her adult crew running about. It stung, but not enough to quell her excitement.

Faustina would understand, and T?

She sighs. T would forgive her, eventually.

At least once he got over her stepping in and taking over his retribution project.

"Please Uma, be ah lookin' at that fine wind just ah beggin' us ta be lettin' loose the sails."

"And the current is mighty fine for leavin' dock," James adds with a small smile, "I've been chartin' the currents with the instrument Yensid gave me. All we be needin' now is to set the sails and weigh the anchor."

"Aye." She responds shaking the thoughts from her head, unable to contain her own excitement as she lovingly caresses the helm. "I'm excited to see what this baby can finally do."

"That be ah yes?" Harry leans in closer as he drums his hands excitedly against Gil's back.

She tilts her head as if in thought, biting her lip before she drops her hands to her sides, "Aye, it be ah damn yes." She grins at the group before she sighs, "Like I could say anything other than yes to these guppy eyes."

Gil bounces on his feet as he presses Deez's back to his chest. "Best week ever." He says with a rumbling laugh.

She chuckles as her stomach flutters. "Aye, that it be." Her eyes drop to a tense Deez, "You ready for this Baby Girl?" She asks.

She knew her Baby Girl wasn't liking this in the bit. It was written all over her face.

A pang of guilt hits her when an errant thought crosses her mind.

Deez had to deal with this. Had to get over this eventually.

And it wasn't like they weren't going to be there to help support her.

"Aye." Deez squeaks as Harry and Gil press around her, "Gil already made sure I'll be safe." She drops a hand to the rope connecting them, "Besides, it's kind of exciting isn't it? Getting to see you direct the crew, finally see your ship do what she was made for." She smiles as she looks up, her blue eyes determined. "I'll get over the fear. It's hard to not pick up all of your energies."

"We are all kinda charged, aren't we?" She chuckles.

Wasn't that just the damn truth.

She was so on edge. Anxious even. For this to work. To be able to sail. For her family, her whole family, to enjoy it.

It helped to hear that, even as scared as Deez was, she was just as excited.

Even if her excitement was more for them than herself.

She appreciated it. The support.

"Aye, we be all that an more!" Harry whoops before he looks out over the railing to the mast, "Finally!"

"Yer orders, Cap'in?" James grins before he gestures to the rest of the crew waiting below on deck.

"DROP THE SAILS!" She bellows over the wind in response.

It felt like electricity was cracking through her.

"Aye aye!" The entire crew echoes.

"Gil, Deez, go get that anchor up." She grins at their salutes before they run off to their duties.

James whoops before he jumps down to join the crew as they prepare the ship to leave the dock.

Uma catches Harry by the arm before he takes off, "You're sure Faustina is okay?" She whispers just loud enough for him to hear.

"Aye." Harry beams at her, "After last night she just be ah askin' ta be 'lowed ta be ah workin' in her workroom. She be ah expectin' me this evenin', mostly cause she be ah knowin' she be needin' some sleep."

Uma takes a deep breath before she lets him go.

Yensid sighs beside her.

"What's that for? I thought this was the best idea we could come up with?"

"It is. And please understand, I am very excited for all of you." Yensid nods, "But…" He takes a deep breath before he lets it out, looking over the deck where the crew was busy with the riggings, "I'm not certain it is wise to take your whole crew with the destination you have in mind. Perhaps it might be best to sail somewhere else first before dropping them off and circling back? Might be better to let them go celebrate at the Chip Shop for precaution's sake."

She frowns.

He was the second person she respected that didn't trust her whole crew.

First T now Yensid?

She'd easily been able to dismiss T's concerns as paranoia, but the old man too... That wasn't good. "I am loath to expose Deez's private cove to everyone." She admits reluctantly.

"Lettin' everyone practice first be ah good idea though." Harry adds, "We can be sailin' east first, then be ah doublin' back ta be droppin' the more unsavory o' us off."

She nods in agreement. "I think the crew would mutiny if I did try to just kick them off, wouldn't they." She chuckles lightly before her eyes harden.

If she could have thoughts like that, even passing ones, did she really trust her crew?

"Uma." Harry's brow furrows, "That ain'nah bein' funny."

Her eyes narrow at his genuine disapproval.

Harry too? Since when?

Maybe it was time to clean house.

The only problem was so many of the adults had experience sailing.

Experience that she couldn't ignore. Classes were nice, but some things were just best learned from doing. "We'll bait that hook when we have to. For now though, the sidekick kids in my crew need to learn from the adults who know-how, or we're just a floating building."

"Astute as always Captain." Yensid chuckles with twinkling eyes.

She preens under the compliment as he clasps her shoulder at the sails billowing with the strong winds. "This is gonna be one helluva adventure." She grins up at him.

"That it is Captain." Yensid smiles down at her as James calls out to weigh anchor.

The three of them turn to watch Gil and Deez struggle with the rusty spool connected to an equally rusted chain. It groans under their combined efforts before it finally starts moving.

She smiles, grateful for their strength.

That would have taken more than ten of her crew, and she wasn't sure she had that many who would willingly put that much effort into anything for her.

She narrows her eyes.

Where were these thoughts coming from? And why now?

Because before she was just grateful to have a sizable crew to add to her reputation on the isle. She never had to depend on them for anything. Now that she was taking her girl out, apparently her priorities were shifting like the sails in the wind.

It takes forever to get things going.

Or at least that was what it felt like.

The ship groans under the strain of the anchor being lifted, but after the longest twenty minutes of her life, the ship suddenly lurches and dips. Everyone grabs the closest rail for dear life as the sound of Deez's screech pierces the air.

Her head whips to them, but she smiles when she sees Gil pressing her head into his chest as he shoots her a giant grin and a thumbs up.

Of course he had her.

"ALRIGHT YOU SCURVY BILGE RATS!" She hollers as she bounces in place, "TIME TO RIDE WITH THE TIDE!"

Gil chuckles as he grips on to the railing.

He still felt wobbly, and his stomach fluttered as they swayed back and forth rather roughly. His eyes dart to Deez when he feels the rope go taut again.

She seemed to be having a hard time keeping her balance. Not that he could blame her. The water was choppy and the winds were whipping around them.

The spray of the ocean and start of the rain was, although he'd never admit it out loud, scary.

"Sorry." She shakes her head as she pulls herself back along the rope to him, falling into his arm once he tugs the rope to his side.

"No need to apologize." Gil pats her back soothingly. "I know it's hard. Trust me." His family definitely didn't come from sea baring folk. He was just happy he hadn't turned green like some of the younger members of their crew who'd spent a good chunk of time hurling over the side.

Thank the Sea Gods for that.

He was Uma's second. He couldn't be throwing up over the side of the ship. It was bad enough he could barely make it several feet without tripping over himself.

Deez wraps her arms around his waist before she looks up at him with a smile as the rain pulls strands of her hair into her face, "Glad I have an anchor."

He grins down at her boyishly as he tucks her under his arm protectively. "I'm not letting you go anywhere Deez." He assures her, "But ya gotta admit, It's kinda fun learnin' ta walk like this."

"Yeah." Deez smiles up at him, "But more fun if it was less stormy. I don't mind the rain," She looks out over the sea, 'but I'd be okay with less waves on our first time."

He chuckles as he holds her to him tighter, "I think it's making it more of a challenge." He smiles down at her, enjoying the cold spray of mist that stung his face. "T's gonna be upset he missed this. It seems right up his alley." He frowns. "Glad Faustina's not up here though." It would look weird if Harry tied a rope around her waist.

T would probably kill them all for that display.

"Right." Her eyes widen as the ship takes another dip, her arms tensing as she squeezes him tighter.

Harry grins as he struts up to them, "Ya two be doin' okay then?"

Gil punches Harry's shoulder playfully. He was surprised Harry had been the first of them, the teens, to gain his legs.

Then again, Harry was used to walking like he was drunk. That and his roof running with T. His eyes narrow not to mention he came from a family of seafarers. Maybe it was just in his blood? "It's not natural for all of us…"

"I be ah seein' that." Harry chuckles as he ruffles Deez's hair.

"How's the Captain coming along?" Gil asks curiously.

"She be walkin' around better now. Still shaky but she be better at hidin' it."

"Ah." He knew Uma was going to be the second to will-power her way through the odd sensation.

Their fearlessly stubborn Captain Kraken.

"James and Yensid though." Harry whistles, "Mate, they be adjustin' so fast it be like they always be livin' on the sea. It were downright embarassin'."

Gil chuckles as he clasps Harry's shoulder, "They do have an advantage. I wouldn't be too embarrassed."

Harry shrugs, "Just be ah takin' yer time guys. We be makin' our way back ta the docks here soon before we be ah sailin' for the cove." He drops his voice before he leans in, "Uma be wantin' ta drop ah few crew off for shore leave before we be sailin' inta secrets." He winks at them.

"That sounds like a good idea." Gil nods, seems he wasn't the only one noticing the mounting tension on the ship.

Hopefully, it was just the weather. But he was starting to get the feeling there was more to it. He bites his lip. It wasn't lost on him that the other teens were skirting the older members like they were about to push them overboard.

Where the hell had that come from?

His eyes sweep over the crew. The way the adults were eyeing each other.

Fuck.

It wasn't because they were finally sailing was it? His jaw tightens.

Or was it just T's paranoia rubbing off on him?

"Just keep practicin', you'll get it." Harry claps Deez on her shoulder before he winks at him

"Yeah," Gil grins. "We can do that."

"Aye." Deez nods as she smiles up at Harry.

Gil chuckles when he notices how forced her smile is, "You're doing better than me Deez." He runs a hand over her rain-soaked hair.

"The only reason you can say that with a straight face is that you haven't let go of the rail yet." Deez pouts as she looks up at him, "because every time I let go, I go flying."

"Really?" He blinks innocently. "I thought you were making a lot of progress."

"My turn to hold the rail then," She smiles sweetly, "be your anchor for a bit."

"Okay." He nods. "Don't laugh though." He adds as he pushes the rest of her hair behind her ear.

"You laughed at me." Deez chuckles as she loosens her arms from around him.

"You didn't ask me not too." He sticks out his tongue at her.

"Ooh, he be ah havin' ya there Princess." Harry chuckles as he helps steady her before she transfers her death grip onto the rail.

"I can't believe you let him get away with stickin' his tongue out." Deez says as she clings to the rail.

"He be ah needin' ta concentrate Fire Princess," Harry grins as leans against the rail beside her.

"Number One gets it," He lets out a rumbling laugh as he lets go of the railing. He fights the dizziness rushing his head as he uses his hips as a counterbalance to the waves.

He stumbles once before he catches himself. He resets his stance, using his hips more efficiently the second time.

Harry whoops as he claps Gil on the back several times, "Be gettin' ah load ah you Sweet Boy!"

Gil can't help his boyish grin, "Thanks man," He claps Harry's back in return, before he turns to Deez, "It's all about counterbalance Treasure." He kneels as he puts his hands on her hips and looks up at her. "Here. Let go of the railing. I've got you." His head tilts up with a smile as he feels Harry crowd his back, keeping him in place.

Deez looks down, wide-eyed with skepticism before she swallows, nods, and lets go of the railing only to transfer her hold to his shoulders.

Gil grins encouragingly. "Good job Deez," He grips her securely. His hands squeeze her hips in the opposite direction of where the boat was rocking, showing her how to do it properly.

"Aye, now ya be ah gettin' it." Harry grins.

"I guess it's not so baaahh-" Deez squeaks as her feet slip out from under her.

He quickly catches her and pulls her to his pounding heart. "You should really be wearing your boots." He observes with a frown. "It'd be easier to do this if you weren't constantly slipping on the wet deck." He admonishes gently.

Why hadn't they thought of that sooner?

"Aye." Harry nods his head after he pulls his eyes from Deez's feet. "That be ah good point mate. The deck be slippery without it bein' ah freezin' ta near ice. Our girl be ah havin' a much better time with boots."

Deez pouts as she looks up between the two of them. "Do I have to? They're so uncomfortable..."

"Aye," Harry nods, "Least 'till ya be gettin' your sea legs." He chuckles. "Unless ya want to be stuck in the cabin or hold for hours at a time?"

"Good point," He sighs before he looks down to find Deez pouting.

"Actually, shoes sound great." Deez quickly amends.

"Aye," Harry chuckles, "Bet they be. How 'bout ya be ah goin' ta get them."

"C'mon Deez." Gil grins as he stands up. "Don't need ya to be slippin' in." She was already so uncomfortable in their home. The last thing they needed her to do was take an icy dip right off the side of the ship.

Uma would be beside herself if something happened to her that would make her even more frightened of being on the Revenge.

"I left them just inside the door." Deez nods before she turns.

"Deez!" Uma grins as she slides to a halt in front of them, kicking up water in her wake, looking like the kid she actually was for the first time in a long time. "I got James and Yensid at the helm," She chirps. "How are ya faring Baby Girl," She turns to him, "You too Sweet Boy? Findin' yer legs yet?"

"Oh sure, rub your legs in." Deez frowns as she flicks the extra water off her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly at Uma's confidence, "I feel like the ship is trying to toss me off." She sighs as the ship shifts and she slowly starts sliding away before he and Harry catch her each by an arm.

"Aye," Uma chuckles, "But our Sweet Anchor and Pretty Boy be having you nice and tight." She pats his shoulder. "Can't think of a better sandwich to be in." She winks as she lightly elbows Deez's side.

"Well, yeah…" Deez admits with a reluctant chuckle as a small blush covers her cheeks.

He lets out another rumbling laugh as he hugs her to him tighter.

"We jus' be 'bout ta be gettin' our Baby Girl in ta her boots, Cap'n." Harry winks.

"Hopefully I won't keep falling after that." Deez nods as she tests her foot against the deck before he grabs her to keep her on her feet.

Uma looks around the ship before she smirks, "Don't worry, you're not the only one eatin' planks."

Deez shrugs, "But I'm the only one giving Gil mini heart attacks, and that's not fun." She pouts.

He wraps his arm around her. "It's okay, pirates don't mind protectin' their Treasure." He winks down at her.

"Or their captured Princesses," Harry adds with a grin.

"Speakin' of Princesses," Uma turns to Harry, "Think our hidden one is sleepin' through this?"

"I went ta check an' she ain'nah answerin'," Harry frowns, "She were ah bein' up ah mite long, and T were'nah gettin' much sleep before her. I can be ah seein' her sleepin' through this, ain'nah like she be ah havin' ah bed ta be ah fallin' from."

Uma frowns at the reminder but nods in approval.

"An 'sides Captain, if they do wake up I'm sure T'll take over with how rough the sea is." He offers with a grin. "He ain't gonna let anything bad happen to our Beautiful Girl."

Uma pats his back, smiling at his reassurance. "Best be gettin' our Baby Girl in boots then. I'mma check on the others that seem ta be having a rough time." She grins before she takes off with a wide grin.

He chuckles as he watches her slide to a perfect halt to Sam.

"Show off." Deez grumbles through a smile.

"Aye." Harry grins watching their captain in appreciation. "The Kraken be right at home."

He wasn't kidding.

He really couldn't recall the last time he'd seen Uma so genuinely happy outside of their cabin. It looked good on her.

Looked good and felt right.

He grins as they all sit around a small fire, content with their day's endeavor.

James returned to the ship after they'd shown the cove to him, his curiosity about their secret place overriding his exhaustion.

The others had been too tired to even try to come to the shore.

Exhausted.

Tired.

From their first sail.

Their first sail! He still couldn't believe it.

He chuckles as he wraps his arms around himself.

A storm on their first outing? Even in his wildest dreams, he'd never thought up a more perfect first sail.

And the sight on James' face when the Captain had grabbed him by the shirt and kissed him for all the work he'd put into helping fix up the ship?

It had been priceless.

His only regret was not having the camera for that moment.

He grins. James would have been mortified.

Lucky him.

It had been a great day. He looks out to the ship anchored in the deeps.

It was strange to see her looking so trim and at home on the water.

"That be exhilaratin'!" He chuckles as he turns back to the others.

Deez smiles at him.

"I see you've been reading the dictionary you borrowed." Yensid chuckles.

"An' findin' new favorite words ta be expandin' me vocabulary." He nods as he sits up straighter.

Uma clasps him on the back as Gil drops a hand to his head.

"That's my Pretty Boy, usin' his head." Uma smiles at him proudly before she looks at Yensid, "Speakin' of which, how do you think we're comin'?"

Yensid's eyes brighten. "You've all come a long way, I couldn't be prouder of my students. It's clear you're putting real effort into your work, and it shows." He smiles at them.

Deez looks around the group before she turns to Yensid with a smile, "School's definitely a lot more fun now."

"Yeah," Gil grins as he hugs Deez to his side. "It's way better than I remember." He kisses her forehead.

"Aye." He agrees, "It ain'nah bein' nearly as frustratin'." He admits.

Hard? Sure. Frustrating? Definitely. But not nearly as much as it had when they'd been attending school as wee ones.

He'd really been intimidated at first with Deez, T, and Faustina working with them. But even T had proved to be kind and patient, fuck hadn't even teased him once. It had surprised him, he'd been expecting at least some type of it.

"I have often found things that can be hard and frustrating end up being less so when in good company." Yensid chuckles warmly, "And even with your varying skills and understanding you all work very well to keep each other in good spirits while working through the more vexing subjects. Now that-" He holds a finger up, "Is a subject that can't be so easily taught, and yet you all have mastered it."

"Thank you," Uma preens. "Though I can't take much credit for it," She adds sheepishly. "Our Sweet Boy and Baby Girl are just naturally gifted in that area. Harry and me, not so much but they make great examples for us to follow." She wraps her arms around Deez before she leans over to kiss her temple. "An' Beautiful Girl an' Problem Child be surprisingly patient helpin' when we get stuck."

"Aye." He chuckles. "We'd be a mite angrier an' frustrated without the rest o' our family ta be helpin' an' encouragin' us." He grins at the two across the flames.

Or would have already given up.

"You guys really don't give yourselves enough credit." Deez chuckles before she rubs her nose against Uma's cheek.

"None of you do." Yensid corrects. "You're all brilliant in your own ways, it's been an utmost pleasure watching you fi-six come along. You've all made such great strides. I'm proud of each of you."

"Really?" Gil asks with a shy grin.

Yensid nods, "The support you have for one another and the way you pick it up once it's explained in a way you understand it- Is very brilliant indeed."

"Aye, we all be ah bein' mighty brillant." He chuckles with the rest of them before he catches Deez furrowing her brow as she looks towards the cliff entrance. "What ya be ah hearin' Baby-"

"Someone's running this way." Deez says as she jumps to her feet.

The rest of them follow, surging to their feet as they turn to find T running towards them at full speed before he skids to a halt.

T's head whips towards each of them, "Fu-"

"T?" He frowns in confusion before he takes a step forward, "Wha-"

"T!" Uma shouts as T falls to the ground.

They all run over to him, but he gets there first. He kneels in the sand to pull T to his chest.

How the fuck had- Why was he here?

And why was he running towards them from the Isle?

Deez crinkles her nose as she takes a small step back into Gil's chest. "Oh no." She gags before she covers her nose with her hand, "T?"

Uma quickly slides next to him as she checks his forehead before her nose crinkles too and she pulls her hand back. "Gil, you and Deez go show Yensid the hammer you've been working on."

"I have been looking forward to seeing the work you've done." Yensid quickly offers.

"Yeah…" Gil nods as he takes Deez by the shoulder and turns them, looking over his shoulder in concern as they walk away. "We're all most finished with it." He adds absently.

Harry takes a deep breath, waiting a moment before he growls, "He- he had ta be leavin' the ship 'fore we be takin' off." He shakes his head as he starts pulling layers of cold damp clothing out of the way, feeling for injuries to explain the blood.

But in the back of his head, in a part of his mind he didn't want to look at too closely, he knew T was fine.

Knew the blood wasn't his.

Knew the only reason T would have snuck out. Would have left him and Uma behind with no word.

It was over.

T had finished the list.

Maybe even visited Stomboli and the Coachman.

T wasn't just covered in blood, he was soaked.

It was blood that refused to be washed off in the rain.

That was why the scent was so strong, why the blood was thin in some places, congealed in others.

T just wanted to finish what he started.

But, when had Faustina left?

When had T surfaced?

And how had he been so stupid?

Not checking on Faustina better. Trusting that she'd secure her lab the moment she felt the first rock.

Believing that she'd fallen asleep.

He should have checked.

He should have picked the lock.

He should have known they weren't on the ship.

What the fuck was wrong with him?

What the fuck was wrong with T?

Why was he winded?

Why had he passed out?

"Aye." Uma agrees tensely as her hands explore T's skin for anything they couldn't see in the dark. Her eyes glancing from T to the cliffs in the distance in concern several times.

"It ain'nah bein' from him." He breathes out slowly. Which only confirmed his theory.

Setting sail to keep T from finishing the list had been a long shot at best. They all knew that.

"Then what the fuck happened?" Uma frowns as she turns her attention to T's face in confusion.

He shakes his head, "I ain'nah bein' too sure, but I be suspectin' T be wakin' up 'fore we be leavin' dock."

Uma's eyes narrow as she caresses one of the dark circles under T's eyes. "I agree with you on that… But- What the fuck had him runnin' like that?" Her eyes bounce back to the cliffs.

He shakes his head, "I don'nah be ah rightly knowin', but might be ah bein' best ta be gettin' back ta the ship case he be ah runnin' from somethin'."

Uma nods her head. "Go get him in the dingy, I'll get the others."

Harry nods as Uma stands and rushes for the cave.

"T, what the fuck mate?" He whispers as he gathers T in his arms and stands.

They were going to have to get him cleaned up in the room, and sea gods help him if T woke up and complained.

Even he wouldn't be able to protect him from the Kraken's wrath.

Sup Fam?

So, there we go! Sea Family back together and everything.

Was that what you were expecting when the ship wasn't at port?

How cute were the Sea Four during their first outing?

Gotta love them D and Gil scenes.

Uma getting to act her age?

Harry getting to be a real pirate?

And the crew? Has anyone else felt like they were sus af?

And then T comes stumbling in… *smh* way to make an entrance and scare the shit outta everyone.

How do you think the Kraken is gonna take the news?

Let us know!

Much love and appreciation

-Twisted