Yes, I am still working on the story. Sorry progress has been this slow, but I will try my best to keep chapters coming!

A big thank you to everyone who's been keeping up with the story and those that have only recently found out.

A review would mean a lot, I appreciate all feedback.

Don't be afraid to ask any questions, I always try to reply.

Enjoy!

Chapter 24: Goodbye

"They're here." Mal elbowed CJ in her side as she said this.

CJ was promptly awakened from her musings and immediately gazed further up the cobbled streets of Belle's Harbor, towards a column of military vehicles that slowly hobbled towards them. They were standing near the shore, right beside the foundation of the magical bridge that sporadically leads towards the Isle of the Lost. It was a very early day, and morning dew still glistened on the few patches of grass that CJ could see.

Today was the day that the villains who had been taken prisoner during the 'second great war', as it had been dubbed, were to be transported back to their decrepit home. It had been almost two months since the black cauldron had been destroyed and Solomon had been defeated, and the realm was healing, as Ben and Archer put it. The path of destruction left by the villains and their undead army had largely been cleaned up, though many trees and fields had been left charred and many craters had left the Auradon soil broken up and scarred.

Most buildings had been rebuilt to the best of the ability of the Auradonian construction workers, though a multitude of scorch marks remained on several walls and rooftops in Belle's Harbor, Auradon City and parts of Corona. The people who had been displaced during the fighting had been allowed to return to their homes a few weeks ago, but things were still far from perfect. The lives that had been lost were irreplaceable, which was something everyone agreed on.

A cemetery had been established in and around the fields where the final battle had taken place, to honor those who had fallen during the war. A large funeral procession had been held about a week ago as well, with people from all over the kingdom having traveled down to pay their respects. Every ruler and person of some renown had attended as well, mostly to offer Belle and Ben their condolences in regards to Adam. A new statue had been erected in the exact center of the cemetery; one of Adam, his human form, clad in his armor and raising his sword towards the sky. CJ thought the statue was somewhat cheesy, but had refrained from making derogatory remarks for now.

Things were, well, things were odd. CJ was still not completely used to just walking around freely in Auradon. Her initial trial period had been cut short once Solomon and his associates had attacked Belle's Harbor, and no one had as of yet commented on the fact that, technically, she was still not legally an Auradon citizen. No one seemed to care, and CJ liked it that way. She had always preferred to stay out of the limelight and simply live a life where no one really paid all that much attention to her. Those days where she had walked around Auradon prep, often with Archer in tow, where people had openly stared at her like she was some spectacular oddity, had endlessly irked her.

Things had definitely changed in that department. The populace had returned to Belle's Harbor, and it was almost business as usual. Members of the clean up crew still occasionally hauled debris or supplies from one place to the next, and Auradon officials patrolled the streets as well. Other than that, life in the little town seemed normal, with people running errands, traveling to work or having a chat with their friends.

The crowd of people dispersed when the military vehicles began rolling in, with most quickly finding refuge in the nearest building. In the end, only Mal and CJ remained, along with a host of Auradon soldiers meant to keep the peace while the villains were being transported. Mal would conjure up the bridge, after which the vehicles would cross one by one and drop their respective prisoners off on the isle before returning.

None of CJ and Mal's friends, VK or Auradonian alike, had opted to join them. Ben, following his return to society, was continuously swamped by other rulers and Auradon officials, all of whom yearned for his council. Archer was still healing. He had already abandoned his wheelchair in favor of crutches, but it would likely take a while longer for his physical injuries to subside, and a whole lot longer before his mind would fully recover. Freddie, Evie, Jay and Carlos were also otherwise occupied, offering their help with whatever problems arose. CJ was still astonished at how Auradon had turned them into these selfless, helpful people. Still, it meant that CJ and Mal were the only ones from their friend group who had traveled down to Belle's Harbor.

CJ's own injuries had healed nicely, though she still sported several bandages wrapped around her stomach, hidden beneath her clothing. She had been urged by doctors to not perform any strenuous physical activities, like fighting, just yet. In all honesty, it was somewhat of a miracle that CJ was already up and walking. A blade through the abdomen would have been fatal in many cases, but the steel had missed her spine as well the other vital organs. The wound still hurt, but CJ was not someone who liked to show weakness, so she did her best to act indifferent.

CJ didn't need to be there, everyone had told her so, but she wanted to be. She had some unfinished business.

"Where are they?" CJ asked, looking over the row of vehicles heading towards them.

"They should be in the last truck. The prisoners from history island got 'special treatment'." Mal replied. "We're saving them til last, just to make sure their allies are not here if they decide to stir up trouble."

"I'm kinda hoping they stir up trouble." CJ smirked, cracking her knuckles. "Or give me another excuse to rough them up a little…"

"CJ, no." Mal sighed, glaring at her in an exasperated fashion. Her gaze also moved towards CJ's stomach, obviously worried about her accomplice's wounds.

"Relax, Malsie, I'm only kidding…" CJ grinned, though she also crossed her arms in front of her stomach. She hated it whenever people felt sorry for her.

Mal rolled her eyes, but CJ was able to detect the corners of her mouth twitch slightly.

The first truck screeched to a halt barely a few feet in front of Mal and CJ. An Auradon official stepped out of the vehicle and approached Mal. A few officials on their side joined the conversation as well as they went over the procedure one more time.

CJ didn't really listen. She was happy to be kept out of these sort of conversations, since it would be unlikely that she would be able to add much to them anyway.

The officials all soon nodded and took their respective places. A row of soldiers, all carrying crossbows or spears, guarded the column of vehicles on each side. Mal stood right beside the foundation of the bridge, with CJ next to her.

The shrill sound of a whistle being blown echoed through Belle's Harbor. Mal raised her arms and performed a seemingly simple spell, after which the golden magical bridge between the Auradon mainland and the Isle of the Lost appeared out of thin air. CJ, who was still not used to seeing spells like these performed in such a casual fashion, could not help but be slightly impressed.

The first truck drove past them. CJ was able to see the faces of some of its occupants. The captured villains all seemed downtrodden, sulky and annoyed, which was to be expected. Some still sported bandages, while others had relatively fresh-looking bruises or cuts adorning their faces. These villains had spent every day following the final battle in what the Auradonians had called a 'detention camp'. CJ had visited it once, and had seen that it consisted of little more than a bunch of hastily assembled tents surrounded by a fence and a battalion of heavily-armed Auradon officials. The villains were used to living in close quarters on the isle, but they were also used to a limited amount of freedom to move around at will. If reports were to be believed, the villains could barely last half an hour before coming to blows with one another, meaning that the Auradon officials had had to intervene on numerous occasions to separate the fighting parties. CJ knew most Auradonians cared very little for the wellbeing of their captives, and the officials only made sure the prisoners were fed and did not die within the confines of the camp. Compared to that sad affair, CJ guessed most prisoners actually looked forward to returning to the isle.

CJ recognized a few of the villains who passed by as associates of Solomon or Uma, with whom she had occasionally worked together during her time preparing for war on the isle. Whenever one of the villains laid their eyes on her or Mal, they would snarl and scoff, making it clear that these people had also not forgiven the former isle inhabitants for taking up arms against them during the war. CJ often responded by pulling faces or greeting the villains with impolite hand gestures. Mal did not join her, but also refrained from reprimanding her.

The process was slow. Each truck took about ten minutes to cross the bridge, deposit their prisoners and make it back, and there had to be over thirty trucks. CJ kept looking to the very back of the column, towards the only vehicle that interested her in the slightest.

This truck was larger and far more armored than any of the others. This was how the most dangerous 'enemies of Auradon', as they had been dubbed, were transported. These included powerful magic users, dangerous fighters and commanders of what had previously been the villain army.

The notable exception was Solomon himself, who was still being kept under lock and key in a heavily guarded special prison cell as he recovered from his wounds. Word was still not out on where Solomon would eventually be transported to. Sending him back to the isle was far too dangerous, but there was no other such location on the entire continent of Auradon where prisoners like him would otherwise be sent to. Talks were being held about building a new prison on some deserted island, made especially for Solomon, where he would be able to spend the remainder of his days without bothering anyone.

CJ was glad that she would not have to face Solomon. She was more than happy to never see or even mention him ever again. Aside from him, there were a number of others with whom both CJ and Mal felt the need to exchange a few words with.

"Lady Mal, how do you wish us to proceed with the final transport? The armored truck from History Island is too broad to cross the bridge." An official asked of Mal as he approached her.

"We'll transport the prisoners from one truck onto another, and have that cross the bridge. However, me and my, ehm, associate have some things to discuss with a few of the prisoners. Could you possibly bring them out one by one so we can speak to them individually?" Mal told the official, nudging her head towards CJ when she addressed her as her associate.

"Certainly, milady." The official bowed before retreating.

"Certainly, milady…" CJ mockingly imitated the official.

"CJ…" Mal sighed.

"What? You're telling me you're already used to freaking grown men calling you 'milady'?" CJ asked with a smirk.

"It's just… I am Ben's betrothed, and I was lady in waiting before that. It's just the way they do things around here." Mal muttered.

"Yes, milady… As you please, milady…" CJ went on, trying her best to copy the fancy in way in which people like Audrey or Chad tended to talk.

"Good to know that surviving a major war and getting stabbed through the stomach hasn't made you any less annoying." Mal sneered, rolling her eyes at CJ's antics.

"Oh no, I wouldn't dare upset 'milady'…" CJ lowered her head in a mocking bow.

"They'll talk to you the same way some day…" Mal smirked in reply.

"What?" CJ snapped, looking back up.

"You know, if you and Archer do tie the knot eventually… You can mock us Auradon ladies by becoming one…" Mal joked.

CJ started blushing uncontrollably, only adding to Mal's amusement. She sputtered a little, but no audible words came out. She eventually settled for grumpily crossing her arms again and just watching the armored truck at the rear of the column slowly approach their location.

It had been bad enough when everyone found out about her and Archer after she had just come to Auradon, but now everyone knew that she had managed to save him using true love's kiss. In recent weeks, people like Jay, Carlos and especially Mal had often taken to teasing her about her 'true love', simply because they knew that CJ did not like discussing anything about her private life, and her love life in particular. Freddie, on the other hand, did not tease her per se, but she did like to mention Archer a lot and seemed extremely invested in their relationship. CJ did not like to think about her future all that much, but everyone else seemingly did.

The topic of Archer and her 'tying the knot', as Mal put it, had come up sporadically, mostly in the form of rumors. CJ did her best to ignore these, and otherwise she liked to threaten violence onto anyone who came up with such gossip. She and Archer hadn't discussed anything of the sort in all fairness. Both were still far too troubled with recovering from their wounds and helping the kingdom in this time of strife to busy themselves with such nonsense.

Mal noticed CJ's blush, as well as her renewed grumpiness, but did not tease her about it just yet.

The convoy of trucks slowly shortened as more and more villains were transported along the bridge. CJ's mood improved somewhat as she continued to sneer at the passing villains. The two pirates belonging to Harriet's crew who had accompanied her to the mainland passed by, both looking cranky and sullen. They were followed a little while later by Clay Clayton and Anthony Tremaine, the latter of whom sported an eye patch. Then came Ginny Gothel, who tried her best to spit at both CJ and Mal, but only succeeded in drenching the people who sat in front of her.

Gil sat in the second-to-last truck, looking unsure and somewhat meek. CJ felt a stab of pity for him. Gil wasn't evil. Not truly, anyway. He had been the only one of the crew on the mainland who had not actively mistreated her. When he spotted Mal and CJ, she saw the corners of his mouth perk up slightly, and he even waved at them. CJ tried to respond with a reassuring smile and waved back, but Mal stubbornly kept her arms crossed.

The sun had already reached its zenith by the time the armored truck from History Island screeched to a halt right in front of them. A few Auradon officials yelled at one another, after which the slamming sound of heavy doors being opened echoed through the still almost deserted harbor. Another, smaller truck rode up right beside the bridge and also opened its doors.

CJ carefully breathed in and out. She had tried to mentally prepare herself for this moment, but the tension still made her skin crawl. Beside her, Mal seemed calm, stoic and even somewhat impatient.

Two soldiers stepped into the armored truck, and CJ heard them yell instructions and warning to one another. A few seconds later, these sounds were accompanied by loud clanging and shrill threats.

"Sods! Vermin! Bags of slime and dirt! Hapless invertebrates! Cavemen! Cowards!" Mad Maddy shouted at the top of her lungs as she was escorted out of the vehicle by the two guardsmen, who notably turned their noses up at her.

Maddy froze when she spotted Mal and CJ, her eyes wide and insane. The only signs that she had participated in the final battle was that her hair was still somewhat singed. As she was transported to the smaller truck, Maddy seemingly racked her brain to think of suitably vulgar insults to throw at Mal and CJ's heads, but nothing seemed to spring to mind. In the end, she sufficed with spitting at them, missing by several yards.

"Bye, bye." CJ sneered, flipping Maddy off once she had passed. She had nothing else to say to the turquoise-haired girl. She and Mal watched until Maddy had been safely stashed in the back of the smaller truck.

"And they dare call us insolent." Mal muttered, obviously referring to the many Auradonians who tended to complain about the manners often displayed by former inhabitants of the isle of the lost.

CJ snickered, but immediately focused when two more Auradon officials stepped into the truck to retrieve the next prisoner. There was no yelling or cursing, just a soft whimpering as Zevon was dragged out.

His dark hair, which he usually kept styled and standing straight up, now hung limply and lifelessly. He was still wearing his black coat, but seemed to have lost all the confident swagger he had previously always pretended he had. He did not resist in the slightest as his guardsmen pulled him along. He whined and blubbered a little, seemingly on the verge of bursting into tears. His right hand was completely covered in bandages. CJ had learned that Zevon had spilled some of his own malicious potions on his arm, which had caused most of the flesh and even some of the bone of that limb to melt away.

CJ did not pity him at all. He was a cowardly worm, always eager to join others in acts of cruelty if they would benefit him somehow, but always turning and running at the earliest sign of danger. Mal also kept her mouth shut, but her expression had changed to one of pure disgust.

Zevon passed without an issue, and he joined Mad Maddy in the second truck.

The next person who was being escorted out of the armored truck caused much more of a hassle. The entire vehicle shook when the first to officials entered, and the clanging sounds of a struggle became more and more audible.

"Don't bother." Mal mumbled when CJ took a step forward.

Two more guardsmen entered the truck, after which the banging sounds decreased in severity as the next prisoners was hauled outside.

CJ balled her fists and felt the anger start to build up inside her as Harriet Hook emerged. She looked totally insane, with wild strands of her dark curls dangling in front of her face in a disheveled fashion. She was taller than two of the guardsmen that escorted her, and CJ noticed that one had a bloody nose. Her hands were cuffed, but that seemingly bothered her very little as he kept trying to lash out with both hands at once, or kicking at her captors in vain. She was still wearing her trademark red leather coat. One of her feet was clad in one of her signature high-heeled boots, and the other still sported a cast, curtesy of the broken ankle CJ had given her.

"Pathetic weaklings, all of you!" She screamed at the guardsmen, who solemnly stayed silent. It took them notable effort to pull her towards the second truck. On the way, they passed Mal and CJ.

Harriet's eyes widened when she saw CJ, and her expression immediately changed into an even more furious grimace. She grinded her teeth as she stared daggers at her younger sister.

"You little bitch! How dare you!?" She sneered, continuing to pull at her restrains.

"Those cuffs really suit your complexion, Harriet." CJ casually remarked, crossing her arms.

"Take them off! A-And hand me a blade! Let's settle this! One last time… You and me…" Harriet retorted, eyes bulging and licking her lips.

CJ exchanged a quick look of exasperation and semi-amusement with Mal. "Well…" CJ began, swaying her head. "Nah… I feel like the two times I kicked your ass during the war were more than plenty…"

"Coward!" Harriet shouted, trying to rush at CJ before being held back by the guardsmen.

CJ did not flinch in the slightest. "Look, Harriet, I know we grew up together, and we're sisters and all that… But… Well, you've always been a complete, psychotic bitch…"

Harriet seemed to foam at the mouth in anger and shame.

"Everyone over here likes to believe the best in people, and that everyone can change, and so on… But, you are just the worst…" CJ went on. She had thought long and hard about all the things she wanted to say to her much-maligned sister. "We might be sisters, but I don't care… I never want to see you again, you got that? After you cross this bridge and return to that rotten island, you will never see me again. I guess you'll have to find some other poor schmuck to become your whipping post. I am done with you, Harriet, and I hope with every fiber of my being that you will live a sad and very, very lonely remainder of your life…"

Mal had pulled up her eyebrows in response to CJ's monologue, and her gaze switched between the two sisters. Harriet was panting at this point, her chest rising and falling with every heavy breath. Tears emerged in the corners of her eyes.

"Y-You bitch…" She eventually muttered, though very softly.

"Great comeback." CJ spat before turning to Mal. "Did you have anything to add?"

Mal shook her head. "What you said pretty much summed it up I guess."

She then nodded her head and the four guardsmen began ushering Harriet to the smaller truck. She still struggled, but most of the fight had seemingly left her.

"Wow." Mal snorted. "That was intense."

"It was a long time coming." CJ replied, crossing her arms. She tried to get her breathing back under control. Saying those things to Harriet felt good, like pouring water over hot coals, but she also knew that there were still two people in that armored truck whom she needed to face.

When the guardsmen entered the truck once more, they notably did so with more caution. They obviously expected the remaining passengers to kick up a fuss, just like Harriet had done. The second-to-last prisoner did not give them any trouble however.

CJ's breath got caught in her throat when her brother, Harry, was being brought forth. The scars from Ben's relentless beatdown still adorned his face, but seemed to have healed nicely. His demeanor was downtrodden and depressed. His shoulders sagged, his eyes were downcast, and his dark hair hung limply and gloomy. He too was cuffed, but made no effort to resist his escorts, who, in turn, calmly led him on, a hand on each of his shoulders. When Harry spotted CJ, he immediately perked up somewhat, his bright, blue eyes sparkling.

"CJ…" He muttered in a breathless tone. "Hi…"

"Hi, Harry…" CJ replied, smiling weakly.

Mal, next to her, crossed her arms, and CJ noticed how she dug her fingers into the sleeves of her leather jacket. CJ and Mal had discussed their tense predicament beforehand. They both knew that Harry would be among the high-profile prisoners being transported back to the isle, and they both knew that their views concerning him differed dramatically.

CJ knew that Harry had been one of Mal's premier tormentors on the day she had been tortured on the isle, and she also knew that Harry's crimes on the mainland did not make her like him any more. Still, he was CJ's brother, and she felt as though a somewhat peaceful resolution would surely put her mind at ease. Therefore, she had convinced Mal to let her speak to Harry privately. She did not expect, and also did not necessarily want Mal to forgive her brother; his crimes were far too severe for that, but that did not mean CJ should not at least get the chance for a meaningful goodbye.

"Try to make it quick, will you?" Mal told CJ in a steely tone before turning her back to her and walking off, opting to join a group of soldiers standing a little further down the harbor.

"Can you, ehm, leave us, please?" CJ asked the soldiers escorting Harry.

They looked at one another for a second before nodding. They let go of Harry's shoulders and stepped back, just out of hearing range.

"So…" CJ spoke, unsure of where to look. "How've things been? Your wounds heal?"

"Yeah…" Harry shrugged, his cuffs jangling. "That dagger you threw was a bitch though, but these Auradon pricks are good at stitching you up at least."

CJ felt a stab of annoyance. "I got stabbed through the stomach." She replied, plain and simple. "Almost all the way. Nearly bled to death."

"What!?" Harry's eyes widened and he took a step towards CJ. "B-But, you're okay, right?"

CJ just nodded.

Harry seemed reassured as he kept looking CJ over. "You look good…"

"You don't." CJ sneered, her gaze lingering on the dirty, stained and raffled edges of Harry's coat and trousers.

"Well, you know, prison and such…" Harry shrugged. "Still, these prisons are ridiculous. Did you see the beds they gave us!? And we even got our own freaking showers and toilets and such! And they brought us food three times a day! Like, what the hell!? That's nothing compared to the isle…" Harry's smirk slowly faded. He sighed deeply, probably realizing he would soon be heading back to the place both he and CJ despised so much.

CJ forced herself to smirk. "Yeah, they threw me in prison when I first got here as well. These people don't know what real suffering is…"

Harry bit his lip. "I'm never getting out, am I?" He eventually stated. "Away from the isle?"

CJ shook her head. "Probably not. No."

Harry sighed.

"You cannot honestly be surprised." CJ sneered. "Harry, after all the things you've done; the people you've hurt and the destruction you've caused, can you blame everyone here for wanting to lock you up?"

Harry blushed slightly. "I mean… You're here…"

"And you know damn well I was never as mean, or violent, or bloodthirsty as you, or Harriet, or Uma. I did my time. I've had to make some tough choices. And I fought alongside the people here, and nearly gave my life trying to bring Solomon down. I deserve to be here! To be happy!" CJ heard the confidence in her voice. Her justification for why she would probably be allowed to live a happy life, while Harry would slowly rot away on that decrepit island.

Harry blushed some more. "And you can't put in a good word for me or something?"

"Harry!" CJ scolded. "A good word? To who? To Mal? Or king Ben? The only people who could possibly grant you your freedom both hate your guts, and I honestly can't blame them for that. Do you not even regret your actions in the slightest!?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "I mean… Maybe a little… I gotta admit, running riot on the mainland was not nearly as fun as I always imagined it would be, mostly 'cause of that prick…" He spat, his eyes darkening as he thought back on Solomon. "But… But I do regret the way I treated you, CJ… Over here, and back on the isle…"

CJ did not interrupt him. She bit her tongue as she waited to see where this was going.

"I took you for granted." Harry went on. "I always thought, 'cause you're my sister and all, that I could treat you however I wanted and you'd always have to come crawling back eventually. That's family, or so I always thought. That's how Harriet always treated me…"

"Real peace of work, our dear sister." CJ replied with a slight grin. "I don't truly blame you for the way we grew up… Everyone was terrible to everyone back then…"

"There were some good days though, weren't there?" Harry inquired in a hopeful tone.

CJ thought back on her youth. There had been days where she and Harry would play games, play pranks on people or just spend hours by the shore with a bunch of fishing rods while basking in the sun. Then again, those days were few and far between, with most time being spent at each other's throats, either through their own or someone else's doing.

"There were some good days…" CJ acknowledged. "But not nearly enough…"

"Is it too late to apologize for being a shit brother every once in a while?" Harry asked.

"Never." CJ answered.

"I'm sorry, CJ. For all the things I did to you." Harry said in a pleading tone, his eyes wide with regret.

CJ felt a lump in her throat. It was so obvious that Harry truly felt remorse that it nearly brought tears to her eyes. It was rare thing for any isle inhabitant, current or former, to lay their emotions out in the open like this. CJ was lost for words. She had spent the past few days making a list of things she wanted to scream at Harry's head, but now that the time had arrived, she realized none of these things really mattered.

Harry did not hate her. He did not want to actively ruin her life. He wanted what's best for her, and it was only because of the limitations of their upbringing and his own stupidity that he had not been able to prove that to CJ. Harry may have been a right bastard with a penchant for cruelty and violence, but his heart was in the right place where CJ was concerned.

CJ sighed, taking another step closer to Harry. "I can't get you into Auradon…" She mumbled, twiddling her thumbs. "But I can promise that I'll try to come visit you every once in a while… You know, see how you're doing an' such…"

Harry's eyes lightened up. "Ya mean that?"

CJ nodded. "Of course, if I do ever end up back on the isle, I'd appreciate it if no one would try to lay a trap for me…"

"I'll make sure of it. Please trust me, CJ, you'll have nothing to worry about." Harry tried to reassure her.

CJ smiled. It was as though a fire had been lit inside Harry. Her promise that she would come see him every so often meant that he had something to look forward to; something to live for.

"CJ!" Mal suddenly called out from behind her in a slightly annoyed tone. "Can you hurry it up a little!?"

CJ saw Harry's gaze darken as he looked over her shoulder. "Harry, don't!" She warned him before turning to Mal. "Almost done…"

"The nerves on that brat…" Harry murmured.

"Harry…" CJ groaned. "Behave yourself, for me, okay?"

Harry quickly calmed down and nodded. "I'll do my best…"

CJ smiled again, though this time a little forced. "I have something for you." She added, reaching into the small bag she now tended to carry with her wherever she went. She took out a small item wrapped in cloth and handed it to Harry. "It's your hook." She explained. "I kept it safe… I knew you'd probably like it back…"

Harry looked dumb-founded by CJ's thoughtfulness and wanted to open the package.

"Don't!" CJ warned, putting up her hands. "Don't… I mean, it'd be better to just leave it wrapped until you get to the isle… Please don't give the guards any reason not to trust you, Harry…"

Harry's shoulders sagged a little, but he managed to conjure up a smile as he stuck the package into one of his pockets. "I'll try not to cause any trouble…"

"I'll believe it when I see it…" CJ replied.

At that moment, both Mal and the guards walked in their direction again. CJ knew she had to hurry.

"Just take care of yourself, okay?" She pleaded with Harry, taking another step in his direction. "You're an idiot, and a dickhead, but you're my brother and I love you…"

Harry took a deep breath. "I love you too, CJ…"

CJ had initially planned on simply punching Harry on the arm or ruffling his hair a little, but she now found herself wrapping her arms around him in a hug. She was so much shorter than him that the top of her head barely reached his shoulders. Harry, with his hands cuffed, could not embrace her, but did lean into her and place his head on hers in an endearing gesture.

"That's enough." CJ felt a hand on her shoulder at the same time someone wrenched her arms away from Harry. Mal pulled her back a few paces, and the guards did the same with Harry.

"I thought we said 'no touching'?" Mal snapped at CJ, obviously a little agitated.

CJ did not pay her any mind. She waved at Harry and kept looking at him as the guards took him away. The sight weighed heavy on her heart. "See you soon, okay?" She called out after him.

"Ya bet!" He shouted back, not resisting as the guards hauled him into the next truck, where he would be joining Maddy, Zevon and Harriet.

CJ looked back at Mal, who looked both annoyed and a little skittish. "I'm sorry if that was at all troubling for you…" She mumbled.

Mal scoffed. "You try looking on as someone on your side hugs the person who nearly killed you multiple times."

CJ blushed a little. "He is my brother."

"He is also a murderous psychopath." Mal protested.

"And he'll get what's coming to him. He's going back to the isle. I never once asked you or Ben to be lenient towards him or reduce his sentence or any such crap… I know who Harry is and what he's done, and I believe he should be punished just as much as you do, but that won't stop me trying to bring out the little bit of good I know he's got in him…" CJ explained.

Mal just snorted and shrugged. "What'd you give him?"

"His hook."

"CJ!" Mal called out. "Are you goddamn serious!?"

"What's he gonna do?" CJ shrugged. "He promised me he'd refrain from doing anything stupid until he got back to the isle."

For a second, it looked as though Mal wanted to shake CJ back and forth in an attempt to rid her of her stupidity, but she apparently decided to act against this maddening impulse and just angrily crossed her arms. "I hate your entire bloodline…" She eventually muttered.

"Peachy…" CJ replied, refraining from uttering a snarky comeback.

They both fell back into silence as they again gazed at the armored truck. They both knew who its last passenger was, and they were both somewhat apprehensive at the thought of confronting this person. The guards again stepped into the vehicle. Just like with Zevon and Harry, this prisoner did not make any noise or threw any sort of fit as they were escorted out.

Uma looked horrible. CJ had not seen her since the night before the final battle. Mal had told a harrowing story of how she and Uma had duked it out on some far away hill while the rain came pouring down. She had let Uma live, powerless and beaten, and the villainous sea witch had actually tried to run off before getting captured by Auradon officials a day later.

The reports from the villains' prison stated that Uma had bluntly refused any form of care and had thrown out most food they had given her. The result of all that was that she now stood in front of them wearing the same dirty, torn clothes she had worn the day of the battle. Her wounds had also not been cleaned professionally, and several cuts on her arm and face looked unwashed and infected, and her swollen eye still hadn't fully healed either.

Her appearance was nothing compared to her demeanor however. CJ had only ever known Uma as someone who was stubborn, proud and possessed an unhealthy desire for grandeur and notoriety. She had always carried herself like she was better than everyone else and more worthy of praise or even worship. This new, beaten version of Uma felt more animalistic and unpredictable.

Her braids hung like a curtain in front of her face, but CJ was still able to distinguish her one unswollen eye, which smoldered like a dying ember. She too was cuffed, and her claw-like hands gripped onto the front of her leather vest with chipped and serrated nails. She was heaving with every breath she took, and she made a hissing sound every time she exhaled.

The guards that escorted her kept her at arm's length, both occasionally staring at each other in unease.

"Leave us, please." Mal requested, and the guards happily obliged, releasing Uma from their grasp and taking a few hasty steps back.

Uma did not attempt to run or to fly at either Mal or CJ in a fit of unbridled rage, which could only be a good sign.

"Well… Prison seems to suit you…" Mal spoke, slowly and a little hesitantly.

Uma just continued hissing, like a snake about to strike.

"This will be the last time you'll see me, Uma. Or, us for that matter…" Mal went on, nudging her head towards CJ. "So, if you have anything you need to get off your chest, now's the time…"

Uma still did not say anything, though CJ did notice her hands grab onto her vest more compulsively.

"Or I could just talk…" Mal shrugged, not bothering to wait for Uma. "Uma, I have hated you for years now. I hated you back on the isle, and I hated you while I was in Auradon. You have done horrible, despicable things to me… Things that we could never even hope to resolve… Then again, we could only hope to resolve things if we both wanted to, but my guess is that we are both more than happy to go to our graves hating each other… You're a disease, Uma… A terrible disease… So, there's that… I just want you to know that I plan on living a long and happy life here, in Auradon, with Ben… And I plan on barely ever even thinking about you again, while you waste away on that doomed island… I won, Uma… I won…"

CJ kept her mouth shut while Mal talked. Her gaze shifted between the two young women, both of whom she herself had fiercely hated during a significant portion of her life. With Mal, a sense of that feeling still lingered, but it was now accompanied by respect and even some hesitant affection. With Uma, CJ just felt an intense animosity, paired with some disgust and resentment. Uma had made CJ's life a living hell just as much as Mal had done, but where the latter had tried her best to make things better between the two of them over the past couple of months, Uma had never shown the slightest interest in CJ's happiness or wellbeing. So, hearing Mal say these things made CJ feel as though justice was being served. Her words were cruel, yes, but if anyone deserved to hear them, it was Uma.

Uma muttered something undecipherable, her braids still keeping most of her face obscured.

"Anything to add?" Mal asked CJ, acting like whatever insults Uma was undoubtedly mumbling under her breath were not worth listening to.

CJ thought for a moment. "I never did anything to you…" She eventually began to speak, addressing Uma directly. "And yet you always treated me like garbage from day one. You picked on me, belittled me and beat me whenever you could, knowing I had nowhere else to go. I could forgive you for all of that, Uma, if it hadn't been you who poisoned Harry against me. It was always you, whispering in his ear and pulling the strings, that made him resent me… You took my brother from me, Uma, and I will never forgive you for that…"

"Harry never cared about you…" Uma hissed, baring her teeth. Her voice sounded coarse and raspy. "You were always just an insufferable little brat to him…"

CJ notably exhaled as she straightened herself. "You're lying. You know you're lying. Harry and I have a bond that you were always jealous of. That's probably why you always hated me so much, isn't it? Because you know that Harry's love for me will always be bigger than whatever he feels for you… Did you know Harry surrendered to me during the final battle, all because he could not bring himself to hurt me?"

Uma made a strange sort of barking sound as she harshly pulled on her cuffs, which would not come undone. "Lies!" She spat.

"Harry will try to better himself from this day on, as best as he can." CJ replied, her tone somewhat cruel and uncaring. "So don't be surprised if he distances himself from you, Uma… After all, we all know what a terrible influence you are… It's like Mal said… You're a disease, Uma… Everything you touch turns to ash… And you will spend the rest of your life paying for the things you have done… I never want to see you again…"

CJ stepped back, and both she and Mal stared at Uma with crossed arms.

"I will be back…" Uma whispered, barely audible. "One day… A-And I will tear you apart like an animal… And you will die like animals…"

"Guards!" Mal called out, putting up her hand. "Goodbye, Uma."

"Until never." CJ sarcastically waved.

"You think you're safe, but you'll never be safe! Not as long as I live and breathe… We will be back! Evil is never truly vanquished! You will suffer, like you deserve to suffer! You, you and Ben! And everyone in this rotten kingdom!" Uma started shouting, and finally struggled when the guards once again put their hands on her shoulders. "I will be back! I will be back!" She screamed at the top of her lungs as she was escorted to the next truck, her rants finally dying down once the doors were closed.

Mal and CJ watched as she soldiers signaled to each other some more, a sharp whistle sounded, and the final truck commenced its journey across the magical bridge towards the Isle of the Lost.

CJ felt another lump in her throat as she thought about Harry. She really hoped he would stay true to his promise of trying to better himself, and hoped he would be able to distance himself from Uma and ignore her beckoning calls.

"Well…" Mal began, sounding a little unsure of herself. "That's done…"

"Yeah…" CJ mumbled, feeling a strange sense of melancholy at the thought that, had things gone differently, it could very well have been her who had been sent back to the isle. If not for Archer's care and Mal's newly forgiving nature, her life could have easily kept being an amalgamation of misery and danger.

Mal seemed to know what she was thinking. "Don't let it get to you…" She patted her on the shoulder. "You deserve to be here, CJ… You deserve to be happy…"

CJ smiled. A bright and honest smile. She turned her back to the Isle of the Lost and gazed at the lively town before her, and the green lands and faraway mountains of Auradon beyond it. "I know." She sighed. "And that's what I plan on being…"