Chapter Text
Mal wiped her eyes as she brought her goggles up and flipped through her spell book until she came across the spell she wanted. Reading it to herself until she felt comfortable with the spell, she put the book back into her bag.
Clutching the handles of the scooter Ben had given her as tightly as she could, Mal recited, "Noble steed, proud and fair, you shall take me anywhere."
Please work, she thought. She had never cast such a spell before and if it didn't work, she'd wind up sinking in the bottom of the ocean. Something that was not the most pleasant of outcomes to think about when one had a fear of water and when said water was the only thing standing between her and the life she yearned for.
Jay knew of course, but he couldn't swim either since his father was from Agrabah. Not much use learning to swim when you hail from a place surrounded by sand—he wouldn't be much help to Mal if she drowned. She had no idea if Carlos or Evie could swim and by the time Ben found the note…
No! Don't think like that! She told herself. Things were going to be fine. She'd get past the water and live her life on the Isle, reclaiming her territory that the other gangs probably took over when the four of them went to Auradon.
Driving toward the Isle, Mal sighed in relief as she realized that the spell had worked. That didn't mean she could necessarily celebrate. With each wave that hit the scooter, her grip on the handles tightened until it was safe to assume her knuckles were pure white. The only reason she didn't know for sure was because Mal was making a point to look dead ahead.
The Isle. Right now, the Isle meant safety. The Isle meant home.
But Auradon has Ben, a crippling little thought entered her brain. Auradon has Evie, has Carlos and Jay. All the Isle has are two former friends, one of whom laughed as you drowned.
She tried to shove that thought out of her head. She would take her territory back. She would be with Hadie. She would be with Steph.
Mal bit her lip as she crossed through the barrier and drove past the adults who seemed to have moved into her territory. Judging by the fashions, Mal would have to say that they were pirates. Or at least loyal to the pirates. As she stopped to regain her balance as her magic was once again suppressed, she looked to her left to see a defaced poster advertising Cotillion.
You know, why did we put these posters up along the Isle? Mal thought as she stared at it. It's not as if anyone on the Isle could go to it. They'd only be able to watch it on the one of two television channels we have. And I'm sorry but dungeon shackle infomercials are only so interesting for so long.
She sighed and tore down the poster, balling it up and tossing it over her shoulder before driving off. She knew where she was going—six months away from the Isle couldn't erase her way to her clubhouse. She parked her scooter and hid it under a tarp so that no one would harm it.
Even if I'm never returning to Auradon…I…I can't let anything happen to the scooter. It was the last gift Ben gave me, she thought as she took her helmet off and strode off to go into the clubhouse.
And walked right into Gil.
"Hey!" Gil exclaimed as Mal paused. She didn't know how to react here—six months of being the perfect Princess meant she wasn't yelling at anyone and making them run away from her. Sure, Steph had worked with her on diplomacy in the event that she got off the Isle. But that wasn't how the Isle was run and after sixteen years of doing things one way, she had to work extra hard not to slip up.
But…this was Gil. Memories flashed before her eyes, unable to be suppressed, of Harry, Jay, Uma and Mal in the clubhouse and Harry ranting about Gil. Gil who had somehow repaired Ursula's necklace when they were seven and gave it to Uma, earning him a smile from her and a shove from Harry. Gil, who spent most of his time hanging out around Carlos until the split.
"Watch it," she growled, brushing past him before Gil had a chance to say anything else. She was so lost in thought though that she didn't notice Gil follow her. Didn't notice Gil see her throw the rock to get the clubhouse gate open. Didn't notice him run back to Ursula's Chip Shoppe.
"Uma!" Gil exclaimed.
"What Gil?" Uma barked, turning around from her conversation with Harry. The pirate was currently glaring daggers at the LeGume boy but there was nothing new there.
"Someone's in your clubhouse," Gil said and Uma paused.
"Explain."
"I was doing patrol like you ordered and I turned the corner by your clubhouse, almost running smack dab into someone. She had blonde hair but was wearing all purple. I almost thought it was Mal at first but there's no way Mal'd be back here."
Uma glanced at Harry. There were only four people who knew how to open the gate to the clubhouse—and two of them were across the bridge.
"Harry," Uma said, keeping her voice low. "I think you should take a team and go see who this person is who's in our clubhouse."
"Aye cap'n," Harry nodded. "Gil, you're with me. We'll grab one of the girls too—maybe Bonny."
"I don't care if you grab the damn tooth fairy!" Uma growled. "Go!"
The two boys chuckled and ran off, quickly grabbing their third team member before making their way to the clubhouse. Harry smirked and ordered the other two to close their eyes. Uma's rules after all. There were four people who knew how to do this…and four people there would always be.
Making their way up the stairs, Harry paused as he saw the blonde looking back at him.
"I thought I heard the gate open," she said and Harry was whisked back to a time not so long ago when he spent an amazing two weeks just hanging out with one of his best friends again. When he thought his crew would be whole once more.
And then Mal went back to not talking to him. Out of nowhere!
"Well, well," he said as he made his way toward her.
'Hi Harry," Mal said, making sure to keep her face expressionless. There were no weapons in the clubhouse. Not anymore.
"Guess we're invisible then," Bonny smirked.
Mal rolled her eyes. "What are you three doing here?"
"Gil came by the shoppe," Harry said, running the curved side of his hook down Mal's cheek. "Said that someone came into the clubhouse. Just wait til Uma finds out you're back. You know she won't just let you have your territory."
"Well then I guess I'll just have to take it back," Mal told him with a small smirk.
"You really think we'll let you? I could hurt you."
"Not without her permission I bet," Mal taunted, sounding a bit braver than she felt. If only she had a sword.
"Why don't you tell her that?" Harry said, looking at Mal. Blue eyes met green and for a second, Mal could see her old friend. There was a flash of something behind those eyes, a look that made it clear that he didn't want to hurt her. But he would.
Too bad for him Mal could also fight. And she could fight dirty.
"You'll have to drag me, Hook!"
Lashing out, Mal's knee went straight up and met her mark judging by how wide Harry's eyes got. He bent over, trying not to show how much that'd hurt. Not just the kick but who the kick'd been delivered by.
Mal ran. She rushed to the stairs, her mind only focused on one thing: get down the stairs and to the scooter. She'd be able to outrun Gil and Bonny on her scooter and find a new place to bunker down.
What she wasn't expecting was a pair of hands to wrap themselves around her waist. Gil caught her just as she made it to the top of the stairs and threw her over his shoulder.
"Well it's not dragging but it's the next best thing," Harry said, bending down to look at Mal. "Oh Mali, lost your touch?"
"When I get out of this, Hook…"
"I'm sure you'll enact your revenge. But for now, nighty night," Harry smirked and raised his hook as if to knock her out. Mal quickly reached out and grabbed Harry's wrist; the raven haired boy almost jumping back and tearing his wrist from her grasp as the smell of burnt flesh hit both of their noses.
Mal bit her lip—the last thing she'd want was to hurt Harry even if he was on Uma's side now. But her magic was still flaring up even now with her being under the barrier.
Harry looked at her in shock and Mal could see a bit of hurt hiding behind those blue eyes of his. Even though their flirtationship back when they were thirteen had only lasted two weeks, they'd promised they'd never hurt each other.
And Mal had just broken that promise.
With a whack of hook on skull, Mal's eyes closed.