Chapter One Hundred and Ten
A/N: I do not own anything oher than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek myths.
*ducks projeciles* I know, I know it's been a while since I updated…blame the muse, is all I can say! It was more focused on Half and Half and Choosing Life.
Just a head's up, my attention may be primarily on Choosing Life as we're a little over 10 chapters away from its completion. And then it's off to its sequel where attention will be more evenly distributed once more :D
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Lonnie leaned over and grabbed a scroll, eager to start reading.
The group of four quickly made their way to the bikes.
"Is quickly the right word to use?" Evan asked.
Well, maybe quickly was the wrong word to use considering Mal moved rather slowly in her forced old age. In all honesty, it was rather frustrating for the other three but they tried to hide it.
Malinda shook her head in amusement. "Tried being the operative word," she chuckled.
It wasn't Mal's fault after all, and she was probably moving faster than she would if she was still in that cape shawl thing she'd been wearing when Audrey first transformed her into the hag.
"Mal can be a superhero," Neal said with a small smile, his voice having an almost song like quality to it.
"Oh Gods," Jay muttered after a few minutes of needing to stop and wait for Mal, and went to pick her up to carry her on his back as they got to the bikes.
"Mal's not gonna like that," Harry shook his head.
He knew it wasn't her fault but she was moving much too slowly for his liking.
Mal rolled her eyes. "Next time I'll wear roller blades, just for you Jay."
"Nex time? There's no next time!" Hades said.
"If you…carry me…I curse you," Mal threatened, glaring at Jay with as much force as her hag form could muster. Truthfully it wasn't that much but Jay knew the meaning behind the glare. Once Mal got back to her regular self, he'd be cursed to kingdom come.
Harriet shook her head. "Gods, you and Harry are almost cut from the same cloth," she said.
"Like you wouldn't have objected being carried if that was you," Harry said, raising an eyebrow.
"...You may have a point."
"Mal, you're moving slower than molasses in February." Jay sighed but stopped in his tracks. He knew that Mal was as good as her word anyway and probably wouldn't stop with just cursing him.
"You know me so well," Malinda shook her head.
Though she'd probably curse him into something that would cause Lonnie to laugh for weeks.
"Ooh, why do you care about Lonnie laughing at you, Jay?" Harry teased.
As long as it wasn't a parrot though, Jay'd be fine with it.
"Ooh make him a parrot!" Harry and Hadie grinned.
"Jay, if it bothers you that much, bring her bike to her. We're already here anyway," Harry stated as he climbed on his. "Gods, remind me to thank Ben for these bikes."
Benji smiled. "You're welcome Harry. Honestly, I was happy to do it."
They truly were great bikes; each one custom made to the rider's preferences. For instance, Uma's bike was teal blue with decals that looked like ocean waves along the frame. Whereas Harry's was red and black with a hook decal wrapped around the handle bars.
"If anything of Harry's didn't have a hook, I'd be surprised," Harriet said with a small smile.
Mal's bike, of course, was purple with decals along the frame that almost looked like the bike itself had wings furled up on each side, and Jay's bike was orange with a snake decal along the side.
Jay leaned forward a bit in interest and Mal perked up at the mention of her bike.
Ben, of course, got bikes for Carlos, Gil, and Evie once they were brought more into the fold but they didn't use them as often as the Rotten Four did.
"Evie and Gil don't really strike me as 'bike' people anyway," Rose said.
"Hey…where is Gil?" Jay asked as he looked at the red and gold bike with handlebars that almost looked like antlers.
"...Why would he be there?" Harry asked.
"He's with Carlos at Rodger and Anita's," Uma said. "He wanted to be with Macaria but apparently, she hasn't told her parents about him yet."
"Ooh drama!" Melody chuckled as Macaria flushed slightly at her parents' looks.
"What, is she ashamed of him?"
Ginny shook her head, the fact that Gil was dating a Godling finally sinking in. "I'm sorry, but how are they dating?"
"No one knows," Chad told her. "Seriously, they haven't even said in the scrolls."
"Of course I'm not ashamed of him! Or scroll-me isn't!" Macaria exclaimed.
"Nope. Just wants to make sure Jerkules won't give Gil the 'Leah' treatment so to speak and judge him for crimes Gaston did."
Hercules frowned as he heard that. Had he given his daughter the impression that was something he'd do? He'd grown up being ostraziced for something he couldn't help, there was no way he'd do the same to any of the VKs.
Even if anyone who dated his little girl would have to prove his worth first. Just to make sure they were dating her because they cared about her and not because she was the daughter of Hercules.
"Oh…that makes more sense now that I think about it," Jay said as he went to get on his bike. "After all, it's not like Wonderbreath would say Macaria can't date a person who didn't have a divine background."
"Frankly I'd prefer if she didn't, as that would mean she'd be dating someone related to her," Hercules nodded.
"I'm just picturing the Gaston Twins' reaction to finding out that Gil is dating a Goddess," Harry smirked. "Considering those two like to align themselves with gangs like the Angels, they'll be pretty shocked indeed."
"Ooh think their heads would explode? Can I tell them to see?" Abby asked.
"Abby…I think their heads would explode anyway if you appeared in front of them," Chip told her.
"Oh…right…all the more reason to do it!"
Uma sighed and shook her head. "Aunt Persephone should let Uncle Hades know we're coming," she said as they all got on their bikes, trying to get the boys focused back on what they were aiming to do. She bit her lip as she saw Mal almost topple over as she tried to get on her own bike.
Malinda flushed. "I was hoping no one saw that," she muttered.
"You alright there Mal?" Jay asked.
"Just…fine…"
"Check her anyway," Benji said.
"You're not exactly one to talk," Malinda shook her head.
"Okay," Jay sighed. "Just wanted to double check. Last thing we need is for you to fall and break something."
Mal shrugged. "Uma's there. If something breaks she'll take care of it; enough that I can move at least."
"I'll break…your head…if you don't…stop worrying," Mal said with a glare though the threatening aspect of it was diminished by how soft her voice had become.
"Please," Harry shook his head. "Mal could be a lizard and she'd still be threatening."
Jay held back a chuckle as Mal finally righted herself and the four of them drove off to the Isle. Normally Mal would have basked in the glow of the sun along the ride or smiled at the thought of seeing her dad once more.
Malinda sighed. "I wish I could have," she said softly.
Not this time. This time her mind was busy going a million miles a minute, as if it was obligated to make up for the speed she now physically lacked.
"If anyone can turn a mental power into physical, it's Mal," Jay chuckled.
Gods, Audrey and Freddy teaming up? She thought with a small sigh. This was not good. Like so not good. It was probably one of the worst combinations we could get! If it was just Freddy it would be annoying but we know how to fight him. Hell I could just turn into a dragon and turn him back into a chew toy before we dumped him on the Isle for the Rats to handle. But Audrey? With Maleficent's scepter? Damn it'd be a challenge, especially since Ben wouldn't want Audrey getting hurt! And how in the world could I do anything in this hag form? I guess I'll just have to get to the Isle…maybe dad can do something with his ember.
"Exactly!" Hadie and Hades nodded.
"Uma…cast the….spell," Mal said as they stopped.
"You sure Mali?"
"It's taking a risk if I cast it," Mal nodded.
"I don't…know what…will happen if…I cast it," Mal said, her voice cracking and pausing every few words. Uma nodded and held her shell between her fingers, the glow of the golden shell barely visible in the light of the day.
Harry smiled to himself, he was happy for Uma. She deserved the chance to be off the Isle. To use her magic.
"Noble steeds, proud and fair, you shall take us anywhere," Uma said and then quickly drove off. She led the parade of bikes, with Harry and Jay flanking Mal's bike—one on each side. The last thing they wanted was for Mal to hit a wave and fall off.
"But wouldn't that risk the others falling off if they take their hands off the bike to catch Mal?" Ashaki asked.
Sure Jay couldn't swim either which in retrospect probably would have been better for him to drive with Uma flanking him or have Harry in the middle flanked by Mal and Jay.
"Or, and this is just a suggestion, use the limo!" Chip exclaimed.
But as he'd tell you, Mal was more important anyway. She was the future Queen of Auradon while he was just a former thief.
"Akiho?" Lonnie asked.
"Yeah Lonnie?"
"You know that copy of The Gazelle you randomly keep on your person so you can whack Ben with it?"
"You want to borrow it?"
"Please and thank you!"
Ben shook his head. "I'm sorry, you what?"
"It's when you get in your paperwork mode," Akiho shrugged as Jay began to try to dodge Lonnie's whacks.
Though, Uma had been quick to notice that he didn't say that type of thing around Lonnie.
"Clearly because if he did he'd be whacked with a copy of The Gazelle," Li'l Shang chuckled.
In fact, ever since Cotillion, he was always quick to make sure she knew he'd be okay if he did something dangerous. Though if you ever asked him about it, he'd say something about not wanting to worry Ben or something along those lines.
"Someone has a crush," Harry 'coughed'.
"You're one to talk Harry," Jay muttered, his cheeks flushing. Though he was thankful he'd finished dodging Lonnie's Gazelle, he could play the flush off as exercise and not embarrassment.
He had even sent her a quick text before they rode off, letting her know about Audrey and that he'd be on the Isle and unreachable for a bit.
"He claimed that Lonnie should hear it from him rather than hear it on a news cast when we got to tease him over at dad's," Malinda said with a small chuckle.
Oh he thought he was being sneaky about it but Uma didn't grow up on the Isle without developing a sense of knowing what was happening around her. Plus Harry read it over his shoulder and relayed it to her.
"Of course he did," Jay shook his head.
Denial, thy name is Jay, Uma chuckled. Sure it was one thing to take a girl to Cotillion but she had spent enough time around the Auradon lot to know that Lonnie may have been one of the few girls in Auradon to know how to wield a sword but she still wanted a bit of romance.
"Harry, take note of that!" Mal teased.
Personally, not really Uma's thing but Lonnie was good people. She'd take care of the Freddy problem and then Uma would whack Jay over the head with something until he finally planned a romantic date. Sword fighting and dinner in the cafeteria wasn't going to cut it this time Jayden!
"If you need something to whack him with, Akiho apparently has a copy of The Gazelle he'd be happy to loan out," Emir chuckled.
They hit the barrier and Uma smiled as, out of the corner of her eye, she could see Mal change. That was the whole reason why she wanted to return to the Isle in the first place. Well, and to see her Uncle. What? Seeing Uncle Hades meant eating Uncle Hades' food!
"I knew it, you only love me for my food!" Hades exclaimed, earning a chuckle from the kids.
"Look who's back," Uma said as they parked the bikes and Mal lifted up her goggles to show that she was truly back to her normal self.
"Oh thank Gods!" Mal muttered. What? You think she wanted to be a hag?
Mal grinned back at her. "I'm me again!"
"Evil magic doesn't work here remember? Kinda the point of the barrier?" Uma chuckled. "Why do you think I wanted to come here in the first place?"
"You and Celia really do think alike, she said the same thing in my timeline," Audie said with a smile.
"And here I thought you just wanted to bring dad into the fray," Mal chuckled and Uma did the same.
"That was only one of the reasons Mali!"
"Jay, Harry, hide the bikes," Uma ordered as they made sure to put them all in one close cluster. Jay quickly pocketed the remote to the bridge on the off chance some urchin ended up finding their bikes anyway.
"Good," Aladdin nodded. The last thing they needed was the kids getting stuck.
They could always get new bikes. They couldn't get a new control—and with Freddy still in Auradon, the last thing they needed was to be trapped on the Isle.
"Though at least people know where you are," Audie said. "In my timeline, you didn't tell anyone that you were going to the Isle."
Malinda shook her head. "Your timeline's filled with idiots," she said with a sigh.
"Aye cap'n," Harry nodded, quickly grabbing a tarp and tossing it over the bikes.
"Always ready to follow Uma's command," Audie said with a small smile.
"Good," Uma nodded. "Let's go."
Harry bit his lip and looked in the direction of Pirate Cove and the Lost Revenge. "Um, cap'n? Do you mind if I run and do something real quick? There's someone I need to talk to."
"Someone…on the ship?" Harriet said softly, a tiny bit of hope in her voice as her eyes flickered over to CJ
"Harry, we don't have time for you to flirt with Ginny Gothel," Uma sighed.
Ginny couldn't help but flush slightly as Cassandra turned to give Harry a look.
"No, no," Harry shook his head ignoring the slight shudder of disgust at the thought of flirting with Ginny again. He did that once when he was fifteen and Uma didn't talk to him for a week. "It's CJ."
"Nothing happened!" Harry cried.
"I can second that, nothing did happen," Ginny nodded softly. Though she did frown slightly at the shiver of disgust that was mentioned but she chalked that up to the fact that she wasn't Uma.
Uma tilted her head. "Harry, you never call her that. I think the last time you've called CJ by her name was when she was thirteen. It's usually 'runt' or 'small fry' or 'guppy'—I've been meaning to ask, was she born premature or particularly small because all your nicknames are all size based."
"Well" he was two," Aziz said with a slight chuckle.
"Uma, I was two when she was born. Do you really think I remember how big CJ was at birth?"
"Good point, please proceed."
"Yes please, keep him taking before he changes his mind," Harriet nodded.
Harry sighed and ran a hand through his hair, Mal and Jay having gone on a bit ahead as to give the two of them privacy. "Harriet told me, in the limo. CJ thinks I hate her."
"You do..." CJ whispered.
"Don't you?"
"Maybe before I got to Boreadon," Harry sighed. It was true that he wasn't the most fond of his kid sister—I mean, he'd still protect her with his life because she was crew and that's what you did. But anything else…?
CJ glanced at Harry, biting her lip slightly.
He wasn't lying when he told Harriet what the shrink said. After spending many sessions getting Harry to finally open up, the therapist had sat in shocked astonishment as Harry told him the story.
"I think most things on the Isle would shock someone from Auradon," Celia nodded.
"So your mom died when you were two?"
"That's what I said," Harry nodded, sitting on the therapist's desk and swinging his feet in the air.
All who knew Harry snorted fondly.
"And you've hated your sister ever since?"
"Harriet? No of course not. She's amazing," Harry said. "She's basically been a mother to me and the runt after the Captain foisted the parenting responsibilities onto her. I mean, she was five and could barely say the runt's full name."
"Frankly I wouldn't have minded not having my name," CJ said softly.
"And do you know your little sister's full name?"
"Calista Jane," Harry said, almost without thinking.
Harry nodded. "Calista Jane Hook," he said. "Harriet asked the Captain once why CJ got the matching letter treatment to her name while we just got 'H' names."
James sighed "I never would have planned to name her without her mother…" he said softly.
"And what did he say?" His therapist asked as he took a note on the clipboard he always had with him. It was as commonplace to see it as it was to see Harry with his hook.
"I bet if you'd asked Goob where he'd end up in life, he wouldn't have told you that," Malinda chuckled.
"That the runt was named after our grandmothers," Harry said. "Calista was my mother's mother and Jane was the Captain's. Combine that with the fact that the runt looks like our mother except blonde and you'll see why it's safe to say she's the favorite."
"I mean, you were named after your mother's father lad," James said. "Technically Harriet was as well, we had thought she'd be a boy."
"The favorite that you hate?"
"You'd hate anyone who murdered your mother," Harry muttered, casting his eyes downward.
"Harry," Milah warned as CJ flinched.
His therapist shook his head. "Harry, you've told me a lot about the Isle and about this one person—Freddy you said his name was?"
"Oh why must we talk about him?" Mal groaned.
"What about Freddy? I thought we were talking about the runt?" Harry asked, growling a little at Freddy's name.
"No one blames you for that Harry."
"There was an incident you told me about, where your friends…Jay, Nick and Jake needed to hold you back?" The therapist said, flipping back through his notes. "Can you repeat what you said you had told Freddy the day of?"
"Do we have to go over that?" James and Milah growled.
Harry bit his lip as he thought back to that day. The day Freddy had said that he wanted to play with CJ's pirate booty and about three of the Rats needed to hold Harry back.
"I'm surprised it only took three," Aziz muttered.
"...It might have been more…numbers aren't the easiest," Harry muttered.
"I said…"
"Go on."
CJ tilted her head. Why was this so hard for Harry to say?
Harry sighed. "I said 'my sister is a child, Freddy! I don't want to think about you sniffing around her anymore. Do you understand? Boy, you must have lost your damn mind because I'll help you find it! Don't bother looking for Jesus or whatever it is you like to preach while doing the opposite just like your father. Your God could come walking onto the Isle and he's not going to be able to help you if you don't stop sniffing around my baby sister!'"
Harry sighed. CJ was never supposed to know what actually happened…
His therapist nodded. "Anyone who can say those words I don't think would then hate the person they were defending with said words."
"The point I've been making for years," Harriet whispered.
"Ever hear about the phrase 'enemy of my enemy'?" Harry asked and his therapist sighed.
"...We know it well…" Claudine nodded slowly.
Believe it or not his therapist scheduled a lot more sessions for Harry to attend.
"No offense Harry but I can believe it," Henry said.
"Harry, I want you to be able to go to her," Uma said gently. "But we don't have much time and the last thing I want is for you to get hurt."
"Then go with him," Dizzy said as if it was obvious.
"Why would I—?"
"Harry, she's spent how many years thinking you hate her? I mean, think about it. Even if you nearly stabbed Freddy with your sword for that comment you never really checked on her."
"...I can see where Uma's coming from" Rachel sighed.
"I asked Harriet if she was okay," Harry said. "After all, CJ was there when Freddy made the comment."
"Did she hear your defense of her?" Uma asked.
"No…no I didn't," CJ said softly.
Harry shook his head. "Jade whisked her away before I got a chance to get it out. I think I was choked by rage because It took a good few minutes before I was even able to get the words out of my mouth and that was before I tried to skewer Freddy with my sword."
"And I should have" Harry muttered.
"Good for Jade then," Uma mused. "Alright Harry. If you really want to go talk to CJ, take Jay with you. Check on Ryan and the others on the crew while you're at it."
"Yes Cap'n!"
Harry smiled, a smile that Uma returned willingly. Let it never be said that Harry did not care for his sisters.
"And I stand by that" Uma nodded.
"Come on you lot! I'm growing ancient here!" Mal exclaimed, tapping her foot. The longer they took on the Isle, the longer it would take to get back to Ben. With Audrey having already announced that she was going to make Ben her next stop, Mal was chomping at the bit to get her dad's ember and get back to Auradon.
"We are on a time limit, chop chop!"" Mal nodded.
She just hoped she wouldn't be too late and that Ben could handle things until she got back.
Oh who was she kidding? Of course Ben could handle things—he was the King and she was just his Lady. Well, more than just his Lady—his fiancee.
"And proud of it," Malinda grinned.
"Okay, are we sure she's not dead?" Phil Jr. asked, looking over at Leah's cell. "That should have gotten a reaction from her."
Hades glanced over at the eyeball. "Ladies?"
"She's alive…unfortunately," one of the Fates responded.
Did she mention how much she loved that change in title?
"I loved it as well," Benji said with a small smile.
Shaking her head to maintain her focus, Mal led the way as the two groups veered off—Mal and Uma heading left to make their way to the Underworld and to talk to Hades while the boys veered right to get to the ship and for a certain First Mate to have a well overdue talk with his younger sister.
"...I hope this goes well but Henry…have a first aid kit ready" Harriet muttered.
"That's the end of the scroll," Lonnie said.
"I'll go," Aziz said. It'd been a while since he read and with how dark the scrolls were becoming, he had a feeling it'd be better if he read and not his younger siblings.