The rain was softly rattling against the roof and windows. The parts of the sky CJ could see were grey, as they pretty much always were.
CJ was killing time before she would get dinner by simply laying down on her bed in Freddie's old room and bouncing a ball against the wall. She'd had a long day of checking in on the production of armor and inspecting the far away Auradon shoreline for any suspicious activity.
Most of her days were like this now, simply putting in effort for 'the cause', as Solomon would call it. Every once in a while, there would be another meeting between the gangs, but these had become quite boring as well ever since that quite eventful first meeting.
Apart from these instances, CJ was mostly alone. She did not feel the need to reach out to any members of Solomon's gang and thus mostly kept to herself.
In a way, she missed the time when she still had to fend for herself. Sure, she now no longer had to fear to be killed every waking hour, but there was a certain feeling of excitement that went along with the danger. Back then, there were certainly no days when she would have several hours to just be bored.
The one silver lining in CJ's life right now was Harry. Ever since she had decided to let him in again to make things right, she felt a certain security. As if whenever Solomon would do something to her if she would displease him, Harry would be alongside her. CJ was naturally unsure if he would make good on his promise, but he seemed genuinely determined to make things right.
CJ was all lost in her own thoughts and mindlessly throwing her ball, so when a bright, white light suddenly emerged in the middle of the room, she was rightfully dumb-founded. The ball bounced off the wall right against CJ's head, but she couldn't care less as she watched the light take shape.
Barely a second later, Freddie Facilier appeared out of the light, basically out of nowhere. CJ blinked, convinced that her mind was playing tricks on her somehow. There was no way that Freddie just randomly turned up here, in this room, on the isle.
CJ watched as Freddie blinked a couple of times and inspected her surroundings. A quite somber look appeared on her face as she inspected the room, and then their eyes met.
Freddie went completely stiff the second she saw CJ, and CJ was similarly unable to move or produce any sound.
After a long silence, CJ slowly stood up. "Freddie? Is that you? Are you really here?"
Freddie was still stunned, not moving from the spot from where she's appeared.
"Am I going crazy?" CJ said out loud, more to herself than to the person she believed to be standing in front of her.
CJ closed the last space between her and Freddie and softly placed a hand on Freddie's upper arm. She felt it. She could feel her. This was real! Freddie was back!
CJ couldn't contain herself and pulled her former best friend into a hug. She felt Freddie stiffen up even more if that was possible, before she felt a pair of arms around her as well.
The two separated after what felt like a long time.
"Hi." Freddie said timidly.
"Hi." CJ replied. She was still shaking. How could Freddie be here? How was this possible? "H-how did you-, How are you here?" She asked.
Freddie fidgeted with her sleeve. "A spell." She eventually said softly.
CJ was slightly intrigued as to what spell Freddie could have used to teleport herself inside the barrier but felt as though she had more pressing matters. "W-why are you back? Are you staying?" CJ asked semi-hopeful.
Freddie didn't look her in the eye. "No, I just came to get some things and then I'll be on my way."
CJ felt as though her heart sank in her stomach. Here was her best friend, who had seemingly popped out of thin air, brought back to her, only to say she would immediately leave again. "Oh." Was all CJ managed to say.
"Why are you here actually?" Freddie asked, pointing at the room which now held a lot of CJ's possessions.
CJ shrugged. "I kinda live here now. Have been for a while. I just figured, since you left, that I could- you know?"
"Yeah, no, I get it." Freddie said.
The two remained in silence again for some time. "How is it?" CJ eventually asked.
"What?" Freddie replied.
"How is Auradon?"
"Oh. Well, it's- CJ! I'm sorry, but I'm really not here to talk or anything. I was supposed to just find what I was looking for, stay hidden and go back." Freddie said agitated.
CJ quickly angered. "Oh well, go ahead then. Find what you're looking for." She said as she turned her back to her former best friend.
Freddie seemed a bit brought down by CJ's response, but nonetheless left her old room to search the rest of the house.
CJ went back to throwing her ball against the wall until Freddie returned barely five minutes later. "Got everything you came for?" CJ asked scornfully.
"Yes." Freddie replied, not acknowledging CJ's rude behavior. Freddie sat down at the foot of CJ's bed, forcing CJ to stop throwing her ball and look at her. "CJ, I really am sorry for everything that has happened, especially the way we said goodbye."
CJ snorted. "Well, you should. You basically made it clear that you would rather forget about me, all while you would be living it up in that rotten fairyland."
"I know, and I'm sorry." Freddie said, hanging her head.
"Jeez, you've really become soft overseas." CJ half-laughed as she softly punched Freddie on the arm. "You've only been gone a couple of months and they've already brainwashed you."
"They didn't brainwash me!" Freddie exclaimed indignantly. "CJ, it's a wonderful place with wonderful people. This place made me a better person, a good person. I truly wish that I could show it to you."
"Then why don't you?" CJ asked skeptically. "You have your little spell, take me with you." She tried to sound cynical but did actually hear a hint of desperation in her voice.
"I can't, the spell only works for one person, the one who holds this." Freddie replied as she held up a keychain around her neck.
"Can't I just hold it, while it's around your neck?" CJ asked.
"No, then you'll be teleported, and I'll stay behind." Freddie in a sad tone.
CJ remained quiet after this remark and threw her ball against the wall again, a little harder this time.
"How are things here?" Freddie said as she looked around. "On the isle?"
"I thought you didn't come to talk, only to get whatever you've been looking for?" CJ said sneering.
"Well, now that I've done that, I am quite bored. So, let's talk." Freddie said cheerfully.
"Fine, why come here? What did you want to get so badly?" CJ asked without looking at Freddie.
"A magical receiver." Freddie replied.
"A what?"
"A charm that will help me to focus and stabilize my magic."
"You have magic now?" CJ asked, temporarily interested.
"Yep, in Auradon anyway. You should see the things I can do to playing cards, it's quite similar to what dad did." Freddie told.
"So, why need that magical replier?"
"Magical receiver. And I do not yet have complete control of my magic, but I really want to. This thing will help with that. I just can't wait."
"Good to know that you're having fun over there while I'm here bickering for scraps." CJ scornfully declared.
"I have worried about you CJ, don't think that just because I moved to Auradon that I forgot about you." Freddie said as she tried to reach for CJ's hand.
CJ angrily slapped her hand away and stood up. "You really wanna know how it's been on the isle? Do you really?"
Freddie nodded, her eyes wide.
"It's been hell! It's been hell Freddie! You left me, so I had to do everything alone! I had to steal, I had to fight, I had to run! Harriet had taken over Hook's inlet and Harry left me there, pretty much for dead. When I tried to steal from the market again, I got caught by Clay and his goons, they shot me and would have done worse if not for…" She ranted before stopping.
Freddie had put her hands in front of her mouth and CJ actually saw some tears in her eyes. "CJ, I'm so sorry. I didn't k-"
"You did know! You did!" CJ yelled. "You left me here, all alone, what did you think that would happen? I have had to fight for my life nearly every day while you've been out in Auradon with Malsie and her little friends. You are pathetic, Freddie! Pathetic!"
For the first time, CJ saw some anger flash across Freddie's face along with sadness. "CJ, please! I'm trying to apologize and be nice, I'm even trying to help you! We're friends. I would really appreciate it if you would not insult me."
Even CJ was baffled at this response. "Did I hear that correctly? You are trying to reason with me? Jeez, those 'how to be good' lessons in Auradon are really paying off. And how are you trying to help me!?"
"I might be able to get you into Auradon, I'm friends with Mal now and she's the king's girlfriend." Freddie hastily said.
CJ made a small puking sound. "Please, the last thing I want is help from little miss perfect herself."
"Well, you can't stop me from trying once I get back." Freddie replied with a satisfied smirk.
"What actually makes you think that I want to go to Auradon?" CJ asked contemptuously.
Freddie looked a bit agitated at this question. "Really? Besides from not having to fear being murdered every day?"
"Just stop, Freddie. I don't want to go to Auradon, so don't even try."
"Can't you just please let me help you for once?"
"Why would I?" CJ scoffed.
"Because I want to, I really do. Please CJ, if you really don't want to go to Auradon then that's your business. But let me at least try to make it up to you in some way." Freddie pleaded.
CJ suddenly realized something. Freddie was here, on the isle. She was here. CJ had been completely baffled by her sudden appearance that she only now remembered her deal with Solomon. For her deal with Solomon, the primary thing that she had needed to do was get Freddie on board with the plan! And now she was here. This was her chance to save her from everything, and otherwise she would be saving herself.
"Okay, Freddie, hear me out here. There is a way for you to help me, and I mean really help me. You would basically be saving my life." CJ tried to express as much worry in her voice as possible.
"How?" Freddie asked both excited and suspicious.
"There is someone on the isle, someone who has threatened me. And I do actually need your help to get that person off my back."
Freddie looked away from CJ and started fidgeting with her sleeve again. "How could I possibly help with that?"
"This guy just wants to ask you something, something about Auradon. After that you'll be free to go, and he'll leave me alone. If you would just come with me to see him really quick, please." CJ quickly said.
"CJ." Freddie whined. "I actually can't leave the room, it's way too dangerous outside. I'm sorry, but I can't. I made Mal a promise."
"Then let me get him. I'll go get him and bring him here! Please Freddie! Just do this one thing for me and everything will be fine again." CJ practically begged.
"Who is it?" Freddie asked as she crossed her arms.
CJ hesitated. "It's Solomon."
"Solomon?" Freddie exclaimed. "What does he want with you?"
"It's really complicated, but please just let me get him. You know how he is, you could be saving my life Freddie." CJ pleaded.
"Okay! Okay! But hurry up, I only have about forty more minutes before Mal teleports me back."
"Thanks." CJ said as she quickly left the room. This was actually perfect, whether Freddie would agree to join them or not. CJ would have done her part and that was all Solomon had asked of her. If Freddie would join, that would be ideal. CJ would have her best friend back and would no longer have to worry about either of them becoming a victim of Solomon and his war.
If she wouldn't join, she would be teleported back to Auradon anyway, out of the clutches of Solomon. CJ would still have done her job and Freddie would be safe. She would even be able to warn others about Solomon's incoming attack. Auradon's forces would have time to prepare and Solomon would surely get beaten. She excitedly hurried through the streets, on her way to the den.