...
...
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
...
"You know how much I hate this, right?"
Evie kept close to Mal as they skirted along the shadows, Jay, Carlos and Celia close behind. It was still early morning, the sun just barely scratching the horizon. But there were still plenty of people out, most of them drunk from the night before or working hard to get drunk so they could be hungover by noon, "we could have waited for Lumiere to come back."
"I don't think he's coming back, E," Mal told the bluenette, squeezing her hand for the sake of comfort as she exhaled deeply, "Ben's not stupid. He probably suspects somethings up now."
"But he wouldn't suspect you, would he?" Jay asked curiously, "I mean, you're his girlfriend and all."
"I honestly dunno Jay. But we don't have time to wait around. Audrey could be in danger, hell, all of Auradon is in danger." She'll die if Ben finds her."
"You care a lot about someone who was a total bitch to you not that long ago." Celia spoke up from the back, "I thought you didn't like Audrey."
"I don't." Mal snapped back automatically, "she's just...well, I have respect for her strength. That's all."
"Hmmm."
Ignoring Celia as Mal leaned slightly around a corner, she could finally spot the ship Uma proudly called her own. No one appeared to be on deck yet, besides Gil who was sitting on the ramp, and Harry who was rocking back and forth in a makeshift hammock.
"How do we do this without killing ourselves?" Evie whisper mumbled, watching Mal ponder as she reached down and scoop up a medium sized stone. Tossing it shallowly in her palm, the dragon girl tossed it to Carlos.
"You have the best aim."
Understanding what needed to be done, Carlos took Evie's place beside Mal as he stared at Harry. Winding up, the boy chucked the stone. It hit its mark, slamming down onto Harry's forehead as the pirate jumped to full alertness. Head pivoting sharply in their direction, Mal stood just in view, making sure she was spotted before ducking behind the corner.
"Alright, they're coming. Scatter."
The VK's breaking apart, Mal stood in the middle of the alley as Harry rounded the corner not a minute later. Cutlass in one hand, and hook in the other, his scowl was truly something else.
"Well, well, well..." slowing his pace, Harry's lip quirked upwards, "all alone again are ye? No friends?"
"I'm here on business, Harry," Mal spat unhappily, folding her arms as the pirate made circles around her.
"I don' do business with traitors."
"Not unless I can promise you something, right?" Mal asked, resting her weight on one hip as Harry came to stand before her again, the end of his hook gently lifting her chin.
"Oh? What would that be, Poppet?"
"Your captain."
Harry's intimidation halted as he stood a bit straighter, "Uma is outside the barrier. You help me find her, I can take you to her."
"Yer lyin'"
Sword raising to Mal's throat, the blade was instantly knocked aside as Jay jumped from the darkness. The weapon clanging across the stones, Harry took a step back, hands raised. "Now ye' got me cornered. That's not fair, Dragon Girl."
"Do we have a deal or not?"
"I don't make deals with people." Harry spat unhappily, glancing behind him where Carlos stood with Gil, who was happily eating a chocolate bar the other VK had given him, "ye shit for brains, Don' just take stuff from the enemy!"
"But it's so good," Gil complained, "we should just do it, you know? To find Uma."
"...fine." Glancing back at Mal, Harry nodded, "but once we find Uma, you're our prisoners."
"Hey, I ain't nobody's prisoner." Celia complained, shaking her finger back and forth as Mal snorted slightly.
"You're her crew. She hasn't been anywhere near Auradon, so where is she?"
"Follow us."
Elbowing Gil harshly as Harry passed him, the son of Gaston whimpered slightly in response but followed anyway. Nodding to her own group, Mal made sure no one got left behind as they made their way across the Harbor District. Skidding down into a small cove of sand and reeds, a figure with long turquoise braids was already waiting in the water just outside the barrier. Turning, her expression instantly turned dark.
"Mal."
"Uma. Long time no see," stepping into the shallow water, one of Uma's long tentacles lashed harshly in the water.
"Harry, what hell? Why are these traitors here?"
"Our prisoners." Harry insisted, only to grunt as Jay whacked the side of his head, causing the Pirate to grunt in frustration and anger.
"Looks more like the other way around." The cecaelia grumbled, turning in the water to face Mal at a better angle, "so what do you want? Where's yours precious little prince?"
"Things have changed," Mal insisted, not in the mood to fight with Uma like small children with a feud, "circumstances are different."
"And why does that matter to me?" Uma growled back, "Harry and Gil could take you all out in a fair fight."
"When do you ever play fair?" Evie chimed in, only for Mal to ignore the banter. After all, she had real concerns to think about now.
"You want to do what's best for the Isle." Mal began, Uma's stare steely as Mal pursed her lips, "Ben isn't who I thought he was...he's not who youthink he is. He has plans to kill the people of Auradon, and the Isle of the Lost."
"Girl, that's a load of it." Uma complained, glancing between the VK's. She must have picked up on the somber atmosphere, her face crumpling slightly, "you're...not, lying?"
"I wish I was." Mal admitted, "you've been all over this ocean. Did you see a blonde girl in the water in the past few hours?"
Hesitating for a long moment, as though making a tough decision about something, Uma nodded once.
"Yeah. She promised me this if I got her to shore. Didn't look like an Isle kid, so I assumed she was on some sort of dare."
Lifting up her seashell necklace, a small white remote fell out, "said it could open the barrier."
"Only for a few moments," Mal confirmed to the horror of her friends, who's jaws fell to the dirt, "you wont be able to free the Isle with that."
"What does it matter?" Uma questioned, still hostile as she tossed the button back and forth between hands, "I could leave you all here."
"Ben would kill you before you could even come close to bringing down this barrier, even with your crew," Mal insisted, "I can help you. We'll get this barrier down and save these kids. But you'll need more backup."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
Reaching into her breast pocket, Mal pulled out Hades ember. Uma's eyes immediately went wide.
"I assume you know what this is?"
When there was no response from the cecaelia, Mal continued, "this can give you all the power you need to bring the barrier down. In exchange, you take us back to Auradon and help us take down Ben."
"...alright Mal." Uma drawled, "I'll play your little game. But if you double cross me..."
"I'll hook ye'." Harry interjected, eye's slightly crazed as Mal rolled her eyes and shoved him away.
"Harry goes through last," Mal mumbled, "Celia goes first."
"Fine."
Mal didn't actually think her little system would work. Swimming through the hole in the barrier, the Dragon Girl watched as Harry was the last one through, and the barrier was closed behind him. Treading water tiredly, the sun was fully in the sky now as Uma held Hades ember in her hand, observing it.
"Remember. It can't get wet." Mal snapped at her, breathing hard from the effort of swimming in leather as Uma slipped it along with the remote into her shell necklace again.
"Hold on y'all, this might get a little dicey."
...
"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them."
...
Mal felt a bit like a drowned rat, crawling up onto the sand from their swirling jaunt across Ursula's Sea. Coughing and sputtering, the others weren't doing much better as they flopped onto their backs, heaving deep breaths.
"I guess it's clear you lot can't handle a bit of water." Uma barked, walking onto the shore as she stumbled on a pair of legs, "woah,"
"Careful, cap'n," Harry said, shaking his head of water droplets as his eyeliner steamed down his face, "we need ye in tip top shape."
"Wow, is this what clean sand is?" Gil asked, running the grains through his fingers as they made small mounds beside his foot.
"We...need to focus," Mal coughed again weakly, feeling Jay's arms wrap around her back as she was hauled to her feet, "we need to find Audrey."
"Audrey who now?" Uma asked, squeezing water out of her braids as the group once again reassembled on the beach.
"The girl you brought here earlier." Evie explained, "she's been through a lot, and we need to make sure she's safe."
"She seemed tough enough to me," Uma complained, "took the journey better then you losers. Took off running the minute she hit the ground."
"Which way?" Carlos questioned, pivoting slightly as Uma pointed, "thats not a direct way to school."
"What. Are ye some sort o' walkin' map now?"
"Knock it off, Harry," Mal snapped, "we head to the school. That's where Audrey was rooming when everything happened."
"Speaking of," Uma piped in, "what exactly did happen to cause the King of Good Feelings to go awol?"
"It's a bit complicated, so we'll tell you on the way."
And indeed they did. Retelling the story of what has gone on so far in a flurry of words and gestures, all three pirates were enraptured by the tale of deep betrayal by Auradon's king. Stopping to take a rest on the back courtyard where no one seemed to be, Uma and Mal stared up at Auradon Prep.
"So, lemme make sure I got this. Ben was spelled as a baby, and when he met you, he turned into a complete tyrant? And he's after this Audrey person because she knows the secret and is threatening to expose him to all of Auradon?"
"That about sums it up."
"Man, that's pretty jacked." Hands on her hips, Uma nodded slowly to herself, "so, if it's a curse then it can be lifted?"
"Maybe? Hades said nothing would be able to cure him. But we have an advantage; we have the compendium. So maybe something will come to us."
"I guess. I wouldn't hold your breath though." Uma chided, "magic is a fickle thing. You of all people should know that."
Mal nodded unhappily, turning to look at their merry band. Gil was shoving blackberries into his mouth, while Jay kept Harry from stealing from peoples wallets. Evie had branched off sometime earlier to take Celia back to the Starter Castle.
"Alright. We need to figure out two things. Where Audrey is, and where Ben is. How...do we do that?"
Running a hand through her hair, Mal jumped when a small figure suddenly appeared from one of the bushes. Jumping in fright, Dude was bolting towards them, Carlos kneeling to meet the mutt.
"Dude. What's going on? Where is everyone?"
"At the Summer picnic!" Dude replies jovially, "but something's wrong. I just know it."
"Take the dogs advice?" Uma queried, not seeming too bothered by the talking animal as Mal nodded once again, more sure of the plan this time.
"Yeah. Come on guys, I know a back way."
Taking off in the direction of the small garden between the front and back lawns, Uma was close at her heels as they were all cast in deep green and floral shadows.
"...royals of Auradon, thank you for attending today's picnic."
Following the sound of Ben's voice through the microphone, Mal held up a hand to slow the others as they approached the edge of the garden. Only a few people stood here, those including Jane and Lonnie who were half hidden behind a large shrub. Using the tactic from earlier that day, Mal tossed a rock and hit Jane in the leg, causing her to jump and nearly yelp in panic.
Shushing her instantly as both girls turned, they quickly hurried across the lawn.
"Guys, we're so glad you're ok." Lonnie whispered, "why is Uma here?"
"Well hello to you too," the sea creature complained, only to get a sharp poke to the ribs from Mal.
"We needed help getting off the Isle. What's happening?"
"Ben planned an unplanned royal picnic," Jane explained hurriedly, "but something doesn't quite feel right about it."
"Dude said the same thing," Carlos chimed in, only to be cut off as there was a large roll of thunder. It being a clear day like always in Auradon, all heads whipped to the sky where a figure appeared on the school's front balcony.
Staring for a hard second, pink smoke dissipated as Audrey appeared, clothed in deep pink and black feathers. Her hair was bright, hung slightly over her scar and bad eye. In her hand was the scepter, glowing ferociously as there were many terrified gasps and screams.
"Audrey?" Mal rasped, watching the girl look over the picnic with her deep, empty gaze.
"You're being fooled, Auradon!" She announced angrily, unbothered as guards broke off from their ranks to run into the school and in her general direction.
"Murderer!" Ben exclaimed, pointing a finger a Audrey frustratedly, "traitor!"
"Monster!" Audrey snapped right back, Dragon Eye sparking in her grip as Mal felt the pull of her mothers magic from the young Princess, "you lie! You and your whole family have been lying to everyone."
"Don't listen to her," Ben cried out to the confused crowd, "she killed her own grandmother."
"No," shaking her head, Audrey pointed the staff at Ben as Mal's heart leapt, "show them your truths, you beast!"
Everyone screaming as there was a bright flash and a crackle of lightning, Ben was smacked in the chest with the spell. Flying backwards across the podium, a loud, monstrous roar broke through the air. "I know what you are, Benjamin." Audrey hissed, "you're no king."
Rising, Ben's face had transformed into a horrible creature. Gasping by mistake, his head swiveled to land on Mal. Slits sharpened as his muzzle raised in a animalistic growl. Audrey noticed this too, clapping her staff on the tile of the balcony just as Ben launched into the crowd. Screaming out in fear, Mal held up her arms only to be engulfed by thick pink smoke as she was lifted from the courtyardand her world fell to blackness.
...
"She writes things with her movements that I for the life of me could never write with a pen.
...
When Mal came to, someone was sitting by her side. Sprawled across a cold marble floor, the Dragon Girl groaned slightly in pain as she glanced up. Audrey was the one crouched beside her, bright magenta hair curling down around her cheeks. The Princess didn't even seem to notice her stirring, one thumbnail clasped between her teeth as she rocked on her heels.
"...Audrey?"
Grunting slightly, the Princess finally took a moment to glance down. She looked very haunted, her one dark eye red rimmed and filled with tears, "what happened?"
"Oh Mal...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Are you ok?"
"Audrey, what happened? Was I dreaming?"
"N-no," holding out a hand, Mal took it as she was brought to her feet. Audrey's dress was so much more detailed up close, and the darkness in her gaze made Mal shiver. She wasn't afraid of the Princess, one who somehow found a way to wield the scepter Enchanted by the mistress of all Evil. But rather she was relieved.
"I'm just glad you're alright. How did you get the scepter?"
"It's a bit of a long story." Audrey admitted, "come on, the others are already in the library."
"And you just left me on the floor?"
"You were sleeping so soundly! I didn't want to be the one to literally poke a sleeping dragon, ok?" Audrey countered easily, her black and pink cloaks billowing as she strode across the floor. Mal had to admit that evil was a good look on her. She had an air of confidence around her that had been vacant since they had met. As much as Mal hated Audrey being manipulated by her mothers magic, something just seemed so perfectly ironic at the twist in the tale. And, if Mal were to look at it through Evie's eyes.
Audrey was killing it.
Opening a wooden door, Audrey allowed Mal through first. The rest of the gang, Pirates included, sprawled about. Uma was browsing the extensive shelves, while Harry and Gil dozed by the roaring fire. Jane and Carlos were bent over the Compendium whispering to one another, while Jay and Evie sat with what appeared to be the map of Auradon. All glanced up as she entered.
"Mal," Evie greeted, "you're ok?"
"Fine. Did all of that really just happen back there?" She asked, searching the eyes of her friends for some sort of humor. But none was found. All were serious, and Audrey shifted awkwardly on her heels.
"I did what I did to stop Ben," she spoke, moving to the window as she looked out, "we can't stay here for long. He will come looking for us."
"Where exactly is here?"
"Auroria. It's the first place I could think of. And with Ben as a beast, he has incredible speed and strength. There is no defeating him in a physical battle."
"So we need to find a cure." Uma spoke up, book in hand, "for this curse I mean."
"Ben is far gone," Audrey mumbled, her eyes flashing a dangerous green as her atmosphere changed to something somber, "I'm not sure there is a cure."
"Guys!"
Glancing up from their conversation, Carlos had lost a shade of color in his already pale cheeks, "you need to see this."
Brushing Audrey's shoulder with a hand to make sure she was fine, Mal moved towards the book of knowledge. A new two page scene had appeared. One that shook Mal to her very core. On the page was two rivaling groups of people. On the right, The Queen led the charge. On the left, a monster lunged through the air, claws borne.
"What does it mean?" Jane asked, looking to Mal fearfully as she swallowed thickly, not wanting to answer.
The compendium was predicting war.