Evie had promised both herself and Mal that they'd always meet in the space between, that even though they belonged to different worlds, they'd still be best friends.
Truth be told, she wasn't sure if she could keep that promise. She loved Mal like a sister, but she knew that the Isle would change her back to the person she used to be, before she had friends and was constantly under her mothers watch. She'd become cold, cruel and detached, and Evie didn't know how to stop it. Not from Auradon at least.
She stood anxiously alongside Ben, Carlos and Jay as the limousine pulled up to the front of Auradon Prep. She knew that Dizzy Tremaine, a little girl that had become more like a little sister to her, was sat in that car. She also knew that Uma, the girl who'd threatened one of her best friends' lives, was about to be released into Auradon.
The band cheerfully played as the limousine driver stepped out of the car. Evie looked over to the band, spotting her boyfriend Doug giving her a supportive thumbs-up. She smiled back before turning back around to face the limousine, the door opening slowly.
The first person to bolt out of the car was, of course, Dizzy. Dressed in her paint-splattered dress and smock, Dizzy spotted Evie in a heartbeat. Moments after, the younger girl was in the former villains arms.
"Evie!" She squealed happily, "Thank you! Thank you thank you!"
Evie giggled as she hugged the girl tightly, tears in her eyes. She knew they'd just changed her life dramatically, and they were about to change many more lives.
CJ Hook was the next to step out of the limousine, with her long red coat eerily matching her brothers, Harry Hooks. Her long curly blonde hair cascaded behind her back as she stood confidently in front of the former villains and the king, eyeing up her surroundings thoughtfully.
Jay watched CJ carefully. He'd had numerous encounters with the girl on the Isle, and he knew for a fact that she could be just as unpredictable as her brother, if not worse. She was a ticking timebomb ready to explode, and Jay knew that better than anyone.
Freddie Facilier was the next to step out of the limousine. She was probably the tallest out of the girls, with long brown ponytails and a wicked complexion. She was the spitting image of her father, who'd been less than happy to hear his only daughter would be leaving the Isle.
Uma was next, Ben watching carefully as she wrinkled her nose in disgust at the bright sunlight beaming onto her. Her long blue braids swished around her waist as she stood next to the two other girls, hand carefully placed on her hip as a smirk grew on her face.
Carlos instantly recognised the final two people to leave the limousine. Yzla and Hadie, two former friends of Carlos', stood next to each other shyly as they looked around the campus. Clearly, they'd been frightened to arrive to the school, but Carlos was determined to change that.
"Welcome to Auradon Prep," Ben began as Dizzy detached herself from Evie, "I'm Ben, and I'll be giving you a tour around the school today along with my friends Evie, Carlos and Jay. I'm sure you'll feel right at home here."
"Oh, we know who they are," CJ began snootily, crossing her arms, "Perfect Princess Evie, along with Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dumb."
"Hey-" Jay began, but was interrupted by Ben.
"I know there may be some bad blood between us," Ben began, purposely avoiding Umas gaze, "But we're here to reassure you that in Auradon, you don't have to be like your parents."
"It's the land of opportunity," Evie agreed, smiling brightly, "And I know things will be different from the Isle, but we know better than anyone that this place is where you'll realise your true potential."
"Besides," Jay added, "We have a killer Tourney team."
"What's Tourney?" Carlos heard one of them ask the other.
"Alright fine," Uma sighed, setting her plan in action as she stepped forwards and turned to the other villains, "We all agree that the Isle is like hell on earth, correct?"
"Agreed," Hadie mumbled as the rest of the group nodded in agreeance.
"So even though we may have to put up with some prissy princesses and spoilt princes here and there, I think we can all agree this place is still a thousand times better than home," Uma continued, turning to Ben and his friends with a small smile on her face, "So, when do we get to see our dorms?"
Ben beamed at Uma, and although the former Villain Kids didn't quite buy Umas act, they followed suit with their King. Ben extended his hand out to Uma as a sign of peace, clearing his throat.
"Let's start again, "Ben offered, "My name is Ben, and as a fellow student of Auradon Prep, I'd like to welcome you to our school and our Kingdom."
One thing Mal had not missed from the Isle was the smells. Sure, you'd eventually get used to them, but sometimes the smell of rotting fish and leaking sewers got a little bit too much even for Maleficent herself.
Mal followed Harry through the well-known alleyways of the Isle as they made their way to the docks. People still eyed her wearily, and although Mal knew her mother had no power over the inhabitants of the Isle anymore, she knew part of their fear was behind her name, not her actions.
"Gil will be so pleased to see you," Harry teased as they walked together, Harry looking around curiously as always, "He always had a soft spot for you."
"I would've never guessed," Mal replied sarcastically, remembering all the times Gil had tried in vein to join Mal's gang.
"Well well well, you're back one day and you're already slippin' back to the old ways," Harry teased, appreciating her sarcasm, "The others are gonna love you."
"Loves a strong word Hook," Mal replied as they finally arrived on the docks.
"And I don't use it willy-nilly," he winked, leading her on the battered ship, which was now the home of the crew.
Mal could hear the pirate crew laughing and singing together, all busy with one task or another. However, the ship fell to silence as everyone spotted Mal alongside Harry.
"What is she doing here?!" someone spat, the rest of the crew remaining silent.
"I have an announcement!" Harry exclaimed joyfully, stepping forwards and gesturing dramatically, "My dear friend Mal here will be replacing our beloved Uma as the captain of the Lost Revenge pirate crew."
Instantly, crew-mates began arguing, instantly shushed by a single wave of Harrys hook.
"Enough!" He continued, the ship falling back to silence, "Now that Uma and my sister have left, we need someone strong to keep us afloat. Someone like Maleficent's daughter. Someone who was able to defeat Maleficent. Because we all know that goody-two-shoes act was just an act, right Mal?"
Harry turned to Mal, raising an eyebrow expectantly. She smirked wickedly as she stepped forwards, deciding to continue the act Harry had begun.
"You all really think I'd actually become good?" Mal asked the crew, laughing wickedly just like her mother, "Sure, Auradon was nice, but nothing beats evil."
Instantly, the whole crew were convinced. Grins spread across the crew members as they cheered their new captain. Mal stood proudly, hands on hips next to Harry, who eventually shushed the crowd back down to silence.
"I think we all agree Captain Maleficent has a much better ring to it, don't you think?" Harry asked, turning to Mal once again.
During her time in Auradon, Mal had detested her name, purely because she knew it was an abbreviation for Maleficent. Her mother had denied her true birth name from the girl until she proved to be 'truly evil'. However, with her mother out of the picture, Mal decided she could get used to her new name.
"Captain Maleficent it is," Mal agreed, cheers once again erupting from the crew. Their celebrations had just begun, and Mal felt at home for the first time since she'd returned on the Isle.
A/N: Please feel free to leave any suggestions and comments in the reviews. Thank you! x