Coming up with chapter notes is hard!

Uma didn't know what to expect when she was being dragged by the wrist, her crew members claiming there was something she had to see. She was being led to an unknown location very early in the morning. She had just began her shift, wondering if Evie would fulfill her promise and start on repairs in her shop, when several of her comrades came running in claiming something horrible had happened. She didn't even have time to react before they pulled her away from her sweeping and out onto the Isle that was just beginning to start its day. She was dragged about, winding through alleyways and store stalls.

It didn't take long, however, for them to reach their destination, it was a small secluded dock, not too far from the fish shop, it was fairly insignificant besides both Harry and Gil being there already. Uma then noticed the dock was stained red and saw three bodies laying there, limp and lifeless. She quickly rushed over to them, hoping that her first suspicions weren't true. Though once she got a closer look, she knew there was no hope.

Both Harry and Gil look at her sadly as she stared down at the bodies. Those were her mates, her allies, and now they laid dead and lifeless on a completely insignificant dock on an Isle that showed them no mercy. Uma's hands balled into fists as she tried to suppress her anger, though the fire in her eyes could not be denied.

"What happened?" She snarled.

"We haven't a clue," Harry informed, he said it straight and calmly. No games, and no tricks. Just pure honesty, "Mullins and Starkey were jus passin' through when they saw 'em, they came n' told us and we sent the others ta go get you."

"They musta been jumped last night after we all left the fish shop." Gil said, he was squatted down next to his now dead friends, his hands folded together.

Uma didn't know them for very long but she knew them well. They went by the names: Billy, Coxswain, and Grisly. All names the crew chose for them of course. They were fairly young, around four years younger than Uma herself. Coxswain and Billy were both starving on the streets when Gil found them nearly one year ago and Grisly attempted to steal food from the Fish Shop three months ago. Knowing her heritage, Uma couldn't stand poor unfortunate souls. In pain and in need. Did she help them? Yes, indeed.

"Oh, and-" Harry held up and small note for her to read, "-this was also on the bodies."

[ Her majesty grows impatient ]

Uma snatched the note from his hands and read the words over and over. Her mind was racing, what did it mean? She had already agreed to Evie's alliance, what more could she want?

"This is how our gracious Queen repays her allies?" Uma spoke, her rage fuming.

Harry and Gil look at each other, both too scared to say anything in fear of launching Uma into a rampage. She couldn't even process her fury at the moment, it was all happening so fast, all she wanted to do was act on her anger. She crumpled up the note, quickly turned, and began marching away.

"Uma! Where're you going?" Gil shouts at her.

"To see our beloved queen." Uma simply states.

"Wait!" Gill quickly stands up and runs after her, Harry starts following behind. Uma did not stop nor did she look back. She only had one thing on her mind. Her allies were dead, and someone was going to pay

As beneficial as being one of the Queen's top lieutenants was, Jay never found the appeal in it. There was no freedom or choice, all you did was listen to orders and tried to not be killed. There was no fun in it. Though, now that Evie was queen, he had to admit he had more independence, but it was never enough. All he wanted to to was run around, not a care in the world, and maybe take a girl with him on the way. Or a boy... he didn't really care which.

There was of course advantages of being in such a high position on the Isle. Jay no longer had to worry about people attacking him on the streets, no one would dare invoke the wrath of the queen. He also never had to explain himself anymore, people just listened to him. Evie was doing a fine job as queen. There was also a faint hint of pride in him, knowing that he was influencing the Isle and how it was run. That's the thing about Evie, she actually listened to him.

Jay walked down on of the castle's many hallways with great stride. He was heading for the throne room, no doubt he would get another muscle mission. He's been getting them a lot lately. Going down and roughing up a couple common folk to get them to comply with the queen or something like that. There was still blood on his shirt from the last mission he did; she was sending him out on them almost daily. He's noticed how much people now cower at his mere presence, like he was going to kill anyone at that very moment. Which is a very likely thing for him to do.

Promptly, as he was passing a door, it opened up and an arm dragged him into the room. His eyes widen and he tries to resist but the perpetrator was much to fast to give him time to react. The door slammed shut again and Jay found himself in Carlos' workshop. Most of the lights were off and strange images appeared on the screens in the corner. He turned on his heel to see Carlos himself standing at the door. Looking like he had a secret to tell.

"Carlos, what is this about?" Jay asked him cautiously, it was rather strange for Carlos to be acting like this.

"My plan failed," he said plainly, his head hung low, "she knows."

"You're going to have to be a little more specific," Jay told him, "I'm not as smart as you."

"The magic mirror signal was cut off as of last night," Carlos explained, gesturing to a series of jumbled up wires and machinery, "at first I thought it was a glitch in the hardware but I haven't gotten any feedback since then. She knows, Jay, she knows we planted it there."

Jay could hardly keep up with what he was saying, but he understood enough. He folded his arms and shifted his weight to one side, a large sigh escaping his lips.

Carlos spoke up again, "I don't know how she figured it out, I was very careful with everything."

"Have you told the Queen yet?" Jay asked.

Carlos' shoulders dropped, he made his way over to a few of his little trinkets, "I haven't found the right time."

"Look, Carlos, the Queen has to know-"

"You think I don't know that!?" He suddenly growled at the ruffian, his teeth bared and a frustrated look painted on his face.

Jay was taken aback at his outburst, the subject was more sensitive than he initially anticipated. Jay, with his silent footsteps, went over to Carlos who was now bent over his work space trying to hide his expression.

"Hey," Jay began to speak, he wasn't very good at the whole feelings thing, "it's gonna be alright, okay? Just, uh... don't sweat it." He put a hand on his shoulder for support.

"It's just... this was the one thing that kept us safe from her, even if it was only for a little bit." Carlos said, refusing to look at him.

"I bet you'll come up with an even better plan than before!" Jay tried to lift his spirits to the best of his abilities, but he was finding that this wasn't really his forte.

"That's what I spend all last night doing, I've come up with nothing," Carlos sighed, "Bargain Castle is nearly impenetrable from the outside, and getting in is out of the question too."

"You gotta tell the Queen soon though," Jay said, "the longer you wait the more pissed she's gonna be."

"I know that, I'm just... biding my time." Carlos chewed on his thumbnail.

Jay didn't know what else to say, again, he wasn't good at all this touchy-feely stuff. The only thing he did was place his hand on top of Carlos' for any form of comfort. Carlos looked at Jay in surprise. There faces were mere inches apart, Carlos could practically feel his hot breath on his lips. Once Jay realized how close they'd gotten, he quickly looked down and backed away. Clearing his throat, he nervously put his hands in his pockets.

"I should um," he struggled to find his words, "The Queen is waiting for me... I have to go."

"I told you before, you don't have to call her that." He looked away from to boy again.

"I know..." Jay shrugged.

Carlos didn't press the matter, Jay was glad he didn't.

"Catch you later?" Jay tried to break up the tension.

"I'll be here." Carlos stated, preoccupied with another project already.

Jay nodded and left the room, still shaken by what just happened. He tried to forget about it, none of it really mattered anyway. He kept his eyes ahead, only focusing on getting to the throne room where the Queen would probably be waiting fairly impatiently. He wondered how long Carlos would force himself to stay in that workshop, without sleep or food. At least until he comes up with something knew, Jay decided. It was a bit of a long walk to the throne room from where he was, and Evie had already been waiting long enough, he quickly made his way there. Almost running into some servant in his stride.

Evie was gracefully sitting in her iron throne, a hand gently placed at the bottom of her chin, and a hint of annoyance in her eyes. Two guardsmen stood at the bottom of the steps with makeshift weapons secure in their hands. When Jay got there he hardly had time to explain himself before she spoke up.

"I trust you have a reasonable explanation for your delay?" Evie spoke calmly and viciously. It is as if venom was dripping from her throat.

"Yes, your majesty, I was-"

"I don't want to hear it, Jay," She interrupted, "I should believe that this will not happen again?"

"Yes, your majesty." Jay bowed his head slightly to show his respect.

"Now, there is the matter of your summoning," she said, "I've summoned you here to-"

A banging on the large wooden door interrupted Evie in her sentence, she looked up past Jay only to see the doors fly open with a kick. Who stood there with her foot outstretched and a menacing look on her face was none other that Uma herself. Evie could also see behind her were a few of her other guards, beaten bloody and tossed to the side. Behind Uma stood Gil and Harry, who promptly spit on the floor once the doors were opened. Evie had the slightest bit of a smirk tugging on her lips when she saw the pirates. Uma stepped forward, her knuckles white and bloody from her clenched fists.

"Uma," Evie said with a wicked grin on her face, "so nice of you to stop by, I was wondering when you would get here."

Jay puffed out his chest and stepped up to Harry who jutted out his jaw, ready for Jay to make the first move.

"What the fuck kind of game are you playing here, princess?" Uma was in no mood for games, and certainly not for Evie's ridiculous royalty act.

"What ever do you mean?" Evie asked, pretending to be innocent to the situation.

"You think you can just murder my crew and expect to get away with it!?" Uma stated firmly, hatred and enmity rising up in her voice, "I'll kill you, you fucking bitch!"

"I never wanted to harm anyone of your crew, but I grow impatient for your answer," Evie explained, "some convincing was necessary."

"Convincing of what!?" Uma shouted, her frustrations becoming clear, "I already agreed to your stupid alliance."

"I have heard nothing of the sorts."

Uma was taken aback, "what? I sent Gil here to tell you."

"Gil has not entered this castle the entire time I've been in reign," Evie said sharply, "your lies will not work on me."

Uma stopped for a minute, her face filled with confusion and fury as she looked over at Gil.

"Gil, you told the Queen of the Isle that I agreed to her alliance, right?" Uma spoke through her teeth, the anger still set in her eyes.

Gil was previously very distracted by the decor in the throne room, not listening to anything that was going on, but he quickly snapped his head around to look at Uma, "um, yeah, yeah! I did."

"Stop fooling around, I can personally promise you I have heard nothing of Gil-"

"Oh no, it wasn't Evie I told, it was Mal." Gil spoke over Evie and a still silence fell over the room immediately following.

"What!?" Uma broke the silence with her booming voice.

"You told me to tell the Queen of the Isle that you accept her offer and agree to her alliance, that's what I did," Gil spoke defensively, "I told Mal that you agreed to her alliance."

Uma could not contain the rage that was teeming through her body, she violently grappled onto his leather shirt, her teeth bared as she pulled him into herself.

"Please tell me this is some sick joke." Uma was being careful not to clobber him right there.

"What? Why would I joke about that?"

"Idiot! Mal is no longer the Queen of the Isle!" She shouted in his face.

He seemed unphased by the action, "oh! You know, now that you mention it, I completely forgot about that!"

She didn't know what pissed her off more, the fact that Gil could be so stupid as to tell Mal about her association with Evie, or the fact that her anger did not seem to affect him. She shoved him away from herself, causing him to stumble back on his butt; making his grunt a little in pain.

Uma promptly whipped her head back to look at Harry, who was obediently waiting for orders, she nudged her head towards Gil who was just now getting back up. Harry nodded, understanding Uma perfectly, and marched over to Gil. Taking his hook into his collar and dragging him out of the room.

When the door slammed shut, Uma was left to face Evie on her own. She looked back up at her, wondering what she'll do. Hell, if she's willing to kill just because she wanted an alliance, who knows what she would do with this news.

"Hard to find good help isn't it?" Evie spoke with an unexpected calmness and mockery.

"Look, Evie, I didn't-"

"I am your Queen, am I not? Address me properly, wench." She said coldly.

"You're no queen to me," Uma said with a low tone, "any queen who is willing to kill her subjects so freely shouldn't have the title."

Evie scoffed, "please, they were just commoners. Nothing special about them."

"They were members of my crew."

"Their deaths are insignificant."

"You better watch your fucking tongue, princess." Uma glared at Evie with fiery hatred growing in her.

Now Evie had fury developing in her eyes, she dug her fingernails into the arms of her throne.

Uma spoke again, "the deal's off. I'll never align myself with the likes of you."

"Is that truly what you want?" Evie asked, generously giving Uma the chance to change her mind.

"Never been more sure in my life." Uma turned and headed for the door. Eager to leave this messy situation behind her.

"And you will willingly let your restaurant fail? Leaving you and your mother on the streets to fend for yourselves?" Evie spoke and Uma hesitated in her motion, "I suppose you don't mind now that your territory will become unprotected once more, I assure you more of your crew will fall victim to my plans."

Uma clenched her hand into a fist as she stopped in her tracks. That sick fuck would really trap her in a corner like this? Uma was more than excited when Mal was put in her place by her best friend, a betrayal most would not survive, but Evie is turning out to be a bigger problem than her predecessor. Uma took a deep breath and turned to face Evie in her throne once again.

"If I join you, my crew will be unharmed?" Uma asked simply.

"I guarantee it." Evie said with confidence.

"Then..." Uma hesitated, "will you let me to join you once again?"

Evie smirked and leaned back in her throne, thinking over Uma's statement with pleasure. Uma waited there in agony, just waiting for her response. She knew that if she didn't align herself with Evie now, she would suffer. After several painstaking moments, Evie finally parted her lips to speak.

"Beg for it." she spoke with a despicable smile on her face.

Uma was visibly disgusted and surprised, "excuse me?"

"Beg me for my forgiveness and I might just give it to you." Evie spoke with so much superiority, it wouldn't come as a surprise if she thought of herself as a god.

"You can't be serious." Uma scoffed.

"I was the one to overthrow Mal and beat her at her own game, and I did it with a smile on my face," Evie told her, "ask me again if I'm serious."

Uma gulped hard as she assessed the situation. She cracked her knuckles with her fingers, she could hear her heart beating steadily in her chest.

"I-"

"On your knees." Evie commanded.

Uma hesitated one again, but she complied. Thanking the heavens Harry and Gil weren't in the room. She slowly dropped to her knees, feeling the dust and dirt on the carpet, and she looked up at Evie.

"Your majesty, I beg you for your forgiveness." Uma spoke stiffly and she tried to suppress her disgust and anger.

Evie relished at the sight of Uma on her knees begging. A wide smirk of pleasure appeared on her face. The great and powerful Uma was begging in front of her. Not many can say they've seen the sight. Uma looked a lot like Mal the last time she saw her. Another reason why pleasure was written all over her face.

"I will graciously forgive you, Uma," Evie said after a minute of basking in her victory, "you may rise."

Uma could barely handle the fact that Evie was practically commanding her to these things. She played along though, just waiting for her opportunity to leave. Evie was ruthless and cruel, she had no right manipulating the people of the Isle in this way. It made Uma's blood boil.

"Jay?" Evie said and he stepped forward obediently, "mind showing our newest ally out?"

"No need," Uma put her hands up, and sauntered over to the door, "I'll find my own way out. Rather not spend another moment with you people."

"An interesting comment, given that we will be working closely together very soon." Evie said but Uma did not respond. She just needed to leave. The castle walls seemed a bit less inviting, a little more closed in, and all Uma wanted to do was tear them to the ground.

She hardly recalled the trip she took through the castle, she remembered the way Jay showed her last time, and shuddering at the sight where he had pinned her to the wall in an interrogation. She hadn't been to the Queen's Castle much, but now she was realizing all the changes Evie has made in just the short two months she's been queen. She could now see that the blue flags were just spray painted over the purple that once stood there. The curtains were always open and the bleak daylight shined onto the carpets, something that never occurred when the Dragon Queen was in reign. Uma wondered if Mal was never overthrown, would she be stuck in a mess like this? There's no way to know now.

Her thoughts drifted to Mal yet again. She's been on her mind so much more as of late. Uma hasn't seen her since that night in the fish shop. The taste of her lips still lingered.

We could be the most powerful team on the Isle, Uma. I know you desperately want to sit up on that throne.

She hated the way Mal knew so much about her. A talent that she always seemed to possessed. And yet, Uma knew nothing about Mal. Sure she knew the stuff everyone else knew, her mother's Maleficent, she's sadistic, she has no respect for anyone, and her stupid tags will be placed all around the Isle. Uma wanted to know the deep dark secrets, the deep desires that drive her and motivate her, she wanted to get under her skin and exploit her weaknesses. Too bad someone beat her to the chase. Another reason why Evie is now slowly climbing to the top of the list of people Uma despises.

Uma left out the castle's very large and intimidating front door only to find Harry and Gil waiting for her eagerly.

"So, what happened?" Harry asked her once the doors shut again. Uma didn't stop for a second in her stride, both Harry and Gil straggled behind to keep up with her.

"Queen Evie is now our new ally." Uma stated firmly.

"What?" Harry was shocked, "that brat killed our men! Ye can't join her, ye should have killed her! By the seven seas, Uma, look at yourself. Ye can't do this to yer crew, it isn't fair."

"You know what they say, Harry." Uma's lips twisted into a villainous grin.

"What are ye going on about now?" He asked, still frustrated with her.

She stopped and looked at him, her face had an evil grin on it, "keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."

Harry thought for a moment, considering what it could mean, but then his face slowly turned to realization, "aye! Ye are despicable indeed, my captain, very despicable indeed."

Uma let out a chuckle, "just wait, soon I'll be sitting on that throne. With our beloved queen begging at my feet."