by Eric Geron
Uma nodded, and her expression softened.
“You’re a leader, Uma. So am I. Come to Auradon and be part of the solution.”
Uma looked Ben dead in the eye. “Me. Part of your solution,” she said.
Ben looked at her for a long hopeful moment.
She shook her head. “Hmmm. Nah, I don’t need you.” She jabbed a finger at Ben’s chest. “I’m gonna get there on my own.” She looked at the pirates and barked, “Harry!”
He marched over to them.
Uma touched her shell necklace. “And see what this puppy can do,” she added.
Mal and Evie waited in the noxious alley outside the rusty pipe tunnel.
The royal limo rolled up in front of them, and Jay, Lonnie, and Carlos got out.
“I’ll grab the swords,” Jay told Lonnie.
“Okay,” said Lonnie, closing the door.
Jay raced to the trunk.
Lonnie approached Mal and Evie.
“Lonnie!” exclaimed Mal.
Lonnie smiled. “I made them bring me.”
“Oh! I’m so glad,” said Mal.
Lonnie hugged Mal, then Evie.
“Welcome to the Isle,” said Evie. “It’s good to see you.”
“Thanks,” Lonnie replied.
“We brought swords,” Jay told Carlos. He opened the trunk of the limo and pulled out the quiver of swords, revealing Dude, who peeked up from a blanket.
“And Dude,” Jay added, surprised.
“I told you to stay!” Carlos said to the dog.
“I flunked obedience class,” said Dude matter-of-factly.
Jay smirked and rolled his eyes. “Great. And he can still talk.”
Carlos lifted Dude from the trunk. “Lucky I love you. Come on.”
Jay slammed the trunk shut.
“Oh, let me see,” Mal said, and Carlos handed the fake wand to her. “Wow.” She looked it over closely, then handed it back to Carlos. “This is great. Thank you so much.” Then she turned to her friends. “All right, are we ready?”
Everyone nodded solemnly.
“Yeah.” Evie held up Mal’s backpack, which contained the smoke bombs.
“Let’s do this.” Mal purposefully turned and led her friends into the pipe tunnel.
Carlos turned back to Dude, pointing the fake wand at him. “Stay! I mean it!”
Dude, who was seated beside the limo, wagged his tail.
Then Carlos vanished into the pipe tunnel to catch up with his friends.
Dude followed quietly behind him.
On the deck of the ship, Uma and Harry were by Ben’s side.
Harry pointed his hook at Ben’s neck, then watched his clock. It was seconds away from noon. There were pirates perched on the rigging and rails of the ship. In the crow’s nest, Gil scanned the cliffs. Harry checked his clock again. The minute hand struck noon. Harry grinned, scanning the rock cliffs and the pirate-filled pier—a series of wooden torch-lit platforms and steps leading down to their pirate ship.
“Hey, guys! They’re here!” Gil started to climb down from the crow’s nest.
Sure enough, Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Lonnie emerged from the rusty pipe tunnel that came out of the cliffside, and marched across a bridge that connected the pipe to the pier. Mal was leading, followed by Evie, Jay, Lonnie, and then Carlos.
They walked down the steps, passing pirates who strolled by or fished or hung up clothing on lines to dry. Wooden signs that said things like HOOK’S INLET, THIEVES’ MARKET, and MISERY ROCK pointed every which way, and alligator-infested waters frothed below them in the dark mist. The pirate ship was waiting.
Uma turned to her crew and smiled wickedly. “Let’s get this party started.”
This situation could end up being a real shipwreck.
But not with the daughter of Maleficent on board. Now, let’s trick this witch.
Mal reached the bridge that connected the pier to the pirate ship.
It was a rickety old thing, encrusted with brine. Below, sharp rocks and broken boardwalk beams jutted out of the roiling sea. Mal’s friends stood behind her in a supportive huddle. In front of her, on the ship, were dozens of ragtag pirates, made fierce by face paint and glinting swords. Uma clung to Ben’s arm. He stood on a plank with both hands behind his back, bound tightly with rope. Ben looked at Mal, whose eyes narrowed at Uma. Mal stepped onto the bridge.
She was going to get Ben back.
It would be the wand for the crown.
Harry stepped onto the bridge in front of Mal and glowered.
Uma strolled onto the bridge beside him, flipped back her long turquoise hair, and cackled. Harry’s eyes bulged as he mumbled to Mal about what he’d do to harm Ben. In his excitement, he swung his sharp hook, but Uma grabbed it and yanked him back onto the ship. This trade would be between her and Mal.
Mal backed up, and Carlos shoved the fake wand into her hand.
At that instant, Harry tipped Ben forward on the plank. He gripped Ben by the jacket so that if he let go, Ben would surely plummet into the dark icy sea.
Mal and her friends froze and looked on, horror-struck.
Ben called out to Uma, telling her that he’d give her a chance at life in Auradon.
Uma met his offer with raucous laughter. Either Mal made the trade, she said, or Ben walked the plank. Uma walked farther out onto the bridge toward Mal, eying the sparkly wand gripped in her closed fist. “Hold up,” Uma commanded.
Mal waited.
“Too easy.” Uma grinned. “Give it a test drive! We want to see it work.”
The pirates behind her on the ship jeered and exchanged smiles.
Mal rolled her eyes. “Wow, you always were such a drama queen.”
Uma’s grin vanished. She sheathed her sword. “Nothing too big,” she threatened, “or else Ben is fish bait.”
Harry lowered Ben by his jacket even more.
“We’re dead,” Carlos muttered to his friends. But then Evie leaned in and whispered something to Carlos: “Dude.”
Mal spun around to look at her friends in terror; then Carlos nodded to the side, toward where Dude was sitting on the pier. “Okay,” said Mal, turning. She pointed the fake wand at Dude. “Although it seems absurd, turn your bark into a word!” Mal incanted.
Dude stared at her.
It was quiet except for the crashing of the tumultuous sea.
Mal and Uma glared at each other until Mal wheeled on Dude. “Talk, dog!”
Carlos gave Dude a squeeze to get him going.
“What? I hate public speaking!” cried Dude.
Uma’s face broke into a smile, and the leering pirates behind her nodded and nudged one another, beaming and mumbling among themselves excitedly.
Mal and her friends exchanged tense looks.
Hook, line, and sinker? Mal wondered.
“Anyone have some bacon? Anyone?” Dude asked.
Uma turned toward Mal, revealing that her smile had been replaced by a wicked snarl. “Okay, give me the wand!” Uma barked. She put out her palm.
Mal drew the fake wand toward herself. “Give me Ben!” she shouted back at Uma.
Uma turned to Harry, who was still holding Ben over the side of the plank. “Let’s go, Harry. Let’s go!”
Disappointed, Harry yanked Ben off the plank and dragged him toward the bridge.
“Ben!” called Gil. “Before you go! Um…can you tell your mom that my dad says hi, and also, tell your dad that my dad says that he wishes he had gotten rid of your dad when he had the chance?”
Ben just looked at Gil as Harry continued to nudge him along.
“Come on!” Uma shouted.
Things happened in quick succession next. Once they reached Mal, Harry kicked Ben to his knees and drew his sword. Uma held out her hand for the wand again. Mal held out her hand for Ben.
“Cut him loose,” Uma commanded Harry.
“I never get to have any fun,” Harry complained as he sliced Ben free with his sword.
; Ben grabbed Mal’s hand, but as he started to stand, Uma put a hand on Ben’s shoulder, letting him know he shouldn’t get up so fast—not until she had what was owed to her. Uma bore daggers into Mal’s eyes.
Mal handed the fake wand to her.
Uma couldn’t help grinning once she had the wand in her possession.
Ben quickly leaped up beside Mal, and they slunk off the bridge.
Uma retreated to the ship, where the other pirates swarmed around her and celebrated their victory with cheerful growls. She pointed the fake wand high overhead. “By the power of the sea, tear it down and set us free!” she incanted.
She thrust the wand at the magical barrier as the pirates grinned and roared.
Nothing happened.
Uma’s smile faded.
“No!” Uma screamed, realizing she had been tricked. She broke the fake wand in two. “You do not get to win every time!” she yelled at Mal and her friends, who were halfway up the pier. Uma regarded her crew. “Get them!”
“Now!” yelled Mal.
Carlos used his slingshot to launch a smoke bomb, which exploded in a thick colorful cloud.
The pirates ducked and fell back but were quickly up again.
Carlos chucked another smoke bomb.
“Go!” Uma commanded her pirates.
They roared in anger and swarmed past Uma, who stood furiously glowering at Mal and her friends.
Jay tipped a barrel that stowed the quiver of swords. He doled out swords to Evie, Lonnie, Mal, Ben, and Carlos. The friends took strong stances and braced themselves against the pirates, who were charging forward at full speed and swinging on ropes from the ship to the pier. They were out for blood.
In moments, Mal and her friends were battling the vicious crew.
Lonnie fought a pirate and disarmed him. Wanting a real fight, she said, “Here. Take mine,” and offered her sword. The pirate grabbed it and struck at Lonnie. She ducked out of the way once, twice, three times, four times and kicked the pirate, who flew backward onto a landing. Then she picked up her sword, thrust it in the pirate’s direction to scare him, laughed, and ran, leaving him groveling on the floor.
Harry had leaped from the ship onto a ladder and landed facing Jay on the pier. He removed his pirate’s hat and twirled his hair, sizing Jay up. He unsheathed his sword and swung. Jay dodged the blade. Soon Harry was swinging his hook, too. They parried and thrust, blade hitting blade. Harry pinned Jay against a wooden rail with his hook and sword locked on to Jay’s sword, and Harry’s pirate’s hat fell into the sea below. In a few snakelike moves, Jay freed himself from the tangle, and he kicked Harry down while yanking his hook right off his hand. Jay dangled the hook off his sword blade and held it out over the edge of the boardwalk, smiling. Harry extended his hand, but Jay let the hook slide off his blade and fall into the sea. Harry moved past him, ducked under the rail, and dove in after it.
Being the captain of R.O.A.R. had come in handy.
Meanwhile, Mal had been knocking pirates’ swords away with hers while Evie and Carlos did the same. Mal sent one pirate flying off the bridge and into the sea. She dodged a few more and ducked under others. I’ve still got it, she thought.
Finally, Uma strolled across the bridge toward her.
It was time for the two of them to battle now.
Oh, please. Uma should know all about bad deals.
Her mom is Ursula, For badness’ sake!
Uma swung her sword at Mal with every bit of strength she had.
Mal blocked it with hers, again and again. Their blades quivered against each other, and their panting faces were inches apart, much like during their arm wrestling match—but the loser of this struggle would not live to spill the tea about it later.
“Hi!” Mal pressed her face closer to Uma’s. “Didja miss me?” She smiled.
Uma sneered as she struck her sword against Mal’s.
Chop!
Chop!
Chop!
“Come on!” Uma roared.
Mal and Uma swung swords. Blade hit blade. Their weapons collided in a perfect X—locked there, trembling. Uma grabbed Mal’s forearm and pushed her backward, then pushed off her and spun, only to face her again. Uma swung, and Mal stomped on her blade and ground it under her boot, then ran up the steps. Uma followed right behind her, pirate sword poised in her hand.
“Uma!” cried Harry from the edge of the dock. He was dripping wet, holding the hook he had recovered.
Uma knelt and took her friend’s hand, helping him drag his drenched body onto the dry wharf. Then she quickly turned back toward the melee. “Mal’s mine!” She took off with Harry following her hungrily.
Ahead, Gil swung at Ben, pinning him to the floorboards until Carlos interfered. Ben ducked and rolled under their crossed swords and ran off, and Carlos battled Gil. He snatched up a dented old bucket and shoved it down over Gil’s head. Then Carlos took Gil’s sword and tapped the blade against the side of the bucket before kicking Gil off the boardwalk entirely. Carlos laughed at his victory.
Evie fought another pirate. She blocked his sword with hers. “Nice scarf!” she cried as she yanked it off his neck and he spun to the floor. “It’s mine now!” While Ben leaped beside Evie and sword-fought with his own pirate, Evie dueled yet another one, disarming him—and herself accidentally. She threw a basket at him, and he flew back and out of sight. “That’s the way you do it, boys,” she said with a winning smile.
Carlos shouted from the top of the pier, “Jay, start the car!”
Jay and Lonnie ran across the bridge and vanished into the pipe tunnel.
“Mal, come on!” Evie called to her friend.
Mal bolted up more steps of the multi-level pier until she finally reached the top and found herself face-to-face with Ben. “Ben!” she cried. “Ben, go!”
Ben pulled Mal close. “I’m not leaving you. If we’re going down, we’re going down together!”
The tender moment was cut short. A drenched Harry, wielding his hook, leaped onto the platform and swung his sword at Ben, who ducked behind a ladder, grabbed Harry’s arm, and held him in place. Then Ben tickled Harry’s chin in a mocking way.
“Coochy coochy coo,” said Ben.
Harry lunged at Ben with his hook, but Ben moved out of the way.
Uma and Gil raced up the steps, and Uma charged Mal, grinning maniacally. All her teeth showed. She struck Mal’s sword again and again, with great agility and surprising strength, but Mal kept blocking her, nearly buckling under the blows.
“Say your prayers, sweetie!” Uma stabbed at her.
Mal swung back. “You got something between your teeth!” she called out, trying to distract her opponent.
“Feels like old times, eh?” Uma told Mal with a smile. They swung at each other in a lethal dance. They spun, hair twirling wildly. “Only this time you lose!” Uma slashed at Mal again and again, her hair flying out from under her pirate’s hat, her eyes intense and her mouth set in a snarl. Finally, Uma’s sword connected with Mal’s leg. Her leather pants ripped. Mal cried out. Uma glared at her and went in for the kill.
Meanwhile, Harry charged Ben, about to strike.
It looked like all was lost for Mal and her friends.
Just then, Evie chucked a smoke bomb.
A purple cloud exploded, and all the pirates backed away, spluttering.
It was just the diversion the friends needed.
“Let’s go! Come on!” Evie grabbed Ben. The two of them ran across the bridge and into the pipe tunnel after Carlos, with Mal in step behind them.
Mal spun around in the entrance to the tunnel. Uma ran up and stopped short of the bridge. Mal looked across it into Uma’s eyes, and she grinned. Then, with a kick of her boot, Mal broke the piece of the bridge that connected it to the pipe tunnel. The bridge fell and dangled uselessly from an old chain.
Mal smirked at Uma triumphantly. Then Mal walked away, vanishing into the darkness of the tunnel. Across the divide, Uma glared haughtily, pant
ing hard. She wheeled around, shouted, and marched past her crew to the ship.
Uma hadn’t been this mad since Ben had invited Mal and her friends to Auradon. The battle may be won, but the war is far from over, she thought angrily.
Not far from the limo, Dude emerged from the pipe tunnel into the alley, followed by Carlos and Evie.
They hurried into the limo.
Ben ran out of the tunnel next, then spun around. “Mal!” he called. His voice echoed off the rusty walls of the tunnel. He extended a hand into the darkness. Mal took it and stepped into the alley, and she and Ben rushed to the limo.
“Come on, come on, come on!” Lonnie urged Mal and Ben, who hurriedly tossed their swords into the trunk and climbed into the vehicle. Ben immediately shut the door. Lonnie slammed the trunk and raced to the passenger seat, and the limo peeled out.
As they quickly sped through the streets of the Isle of the Lost, Mal turned around in her seat in a panic, realizing too late that she had dropped something as she hurried into the limo.
“My spell book!”
I couldn’t believe I’d left my spell book behind. I also couldn’t believe I was headed back to Auradon.
Ben and Mal were still trying to catch their breath. They sat side by side, but with an empty seat between them.
“I’m really sorry that things didn’t turn out the way you wanted,” said Ben.
Mal turned to look at him. She didn’t know what to say. “I mean, as long as you’re safe, that’s…” Her voice trailed off and she looked away.
A tiny smile formed on Ben’s face. “At least I finally got to see the Isle. They’re my people, too,” he said. “Uma helped me see that.”
Mal looked back at Ben, staring in disbelief. “Ben. Uma captured you.”
“She’s an angry girl…with a bad plan. Not so different from you when you came to Auradon, Mal.”
Ouch. Mal looked away, stung.
Ben faced the window.
“Awkward,” said Dude.
Evie and Carlos exchanged glances.
“Dude, I know you can speak, but it doesn’t always mean you should,” Carlos told him.
