“The AK’s are going home,” Evie explained, her face sorrowful but her heart still hopeful, “Yen Sid gave us a half hour, but that’s almost up now. They’re going home without us.”
“Just before we left,” Jay added, “Fairy Godmother called to tell him that she’s been relieved of her duties over this. They went back to straighten things out.”
“Unbelievable.” the purple-clad girl sighed in frustration, “That’s why I left. None of this would have happened if you guys had just stayed over there and left me alone.”
“That wasn’t gonna happen.” the blue-clad girl snorted.
“Mal, what’s unbelievable is you thinking that you’re not good enough to be Ben’s queen,” Carlos was suddenly vehement, “I mean, if being good and perfect was only qualification, he wouldn’t have even looked twice at any of us. Heck, if it was a qualification for living in Auradon, none of us would be there in the first place.”
“No other VK would have a chance either,” Evie added, “but Ben still wants to expand the program.”
“All he wants in a queen,” Jay said, “is someone who can help him show the world how love and goodness can change everything.” He smirked slightly, “That’s why you’re perfect.”
“Come on, Mal,” Carlos urged, seeing her facade waver, “You know this. Don’t kid yourself into staying here. Come back and be the queen.”
“I wouldn’t have minded saying goodbye,” she sighed, “but it was probably easier on them if I didn’t.”
“So we’re staying then?” Evie asked softly, “I mean, we could still…”
“No, I’m staying,” the purple-clad girl frowned, “That’s my choice, now you make yours.”
“I already have.”
Jay and Carlos nodded.
“Well, I’m gonna go back,” Freddie surprised them, “The antiheroes need someone over there.”
“Good for you, Freddie,” Mal looked grateful, “You’d better hurry.”
*o*o*0*o*o*
What are we gonna do?” Doug whispered, as he and Ben hovered near the window, “There’s not much time left. I didn’t come over here to leave without her.”
“Neither did I.” the king muttered, nervously chewing his lip.
“Um, hey, I was just talking with the others,” Claudine was suddenly behind them, looking nervous with a tomato red face, “and we think we might have an idea to hold things up.”
The boys spun around. “What?”
“Well,” she glanced over her shoulder repeatedly, “we were just thinking that since we have so many villains here, maybe we could steal the limo keys and hold the drivers hostage. I bet they’d come back in a hurry when they heard about it, right? They’d be so mad at us! Then we could tie ‘em up and throw ‘em into the cars.”
Ben and Doug almost burst out laughing.
“Shhhh,” Frollo’s daughter hissed, her eyes as wide as saucers. Whirling around, she saw Yen Sid still chatting with the drivers, “I mean, I know he won’t like it and I’ll probably get expelled from the club, but I think that’s okay…if they go back to Auradon.”
“You could come too, you know,” Ben offered, “We’d love to have you.”
“I’d love that so much!” she beamed.
“I can smooth things over with him.” the king eyed the Sorcerer, “Don’t worry about that.”
“You mean, we’re gonna do it?” Doug let out a giggly snort.
“Shh…yeah,” Ben shrugged, “I can’t leave without her again.” Glancing at his watch, he eyed Claudine, “There’s not much time left. Can you do it fast?”
She snapped her fingers and spun on her heels, “Be back in a jiffy.”
“Wow,” Doug snorted again as they watched her march straight over to the other kids, “I didn’t realize they were all in on it.”
“That’s awesome!” Ben grinned as they watched most of the AKs butt into the adults conversation with ideas about how to improve the Isle; they were so enthralled by the spectacle that they barely noticed when Lonnie and the VKs slipped out the door, “It shows that we’re more alike than different.”
“Time is up, I’m afraid,” Yen Sid’s raised his hand to stop the chatter, his calm voice making everyone stiffen as the little thieves quietly returned, “I’m truly sorry that things haven’t worked out the way we all hoped but it is time for you to go home.”
Every kid dropped their heads, knowing they’d have to play their part to a T if there was any chance of pulling off the scheme. Ben racked his brain to come up with a convincing farewell speech as everyone began saying goodbye.
“I-I-I’m sorry, guys.” he said, hoping he sounded devastated, “You can’t even imagine how much this hurts but, let me assure you, this isn’t over. I’m still gonna do my best for the Isle.”
“King Ben, King Ben!” Big Murph started chanting, as everyone trudged outside and the AKs climbed into the cars, “He’s our king! He’s our king!”
“Those kids stole our keys!” The drivers suddenly exploded from their seats with beet red faces, “Those little—”
“What is the meaning of this, my children?” Yen Sid arched a stern eyebrow at the antiheroes, instinctively making them shrink back, “You know stealing is wrong.”
“We don’t know what he’s talking about!” Hermie Bing declared, pouting as she folded her arms across her chest.
“Yeah!” Hadie agreed, “What a setup!”
“Search em!” the drivers insisted, “Once a villain, always a villain, I say.”
“Peace,” the Sorcerer held up his hand, “I will not have them falsely accused.”
“Falsely accused?” the drivers argued, “How could you even think it was anyone else? Our children would never even dream of such a thing!”
Yen Sid’s eyebrows arched upward again as his mind began to turn. “Yes, indeed.” he murmured, “How could those keys go missing when they’re about to leave their friends behind?” Turning towards the limoes with a crooked smile on his face, he said, “Alright, everyone out. Who did it?”
*o*o*0*o*o*
“Mind if we interrupt this little reunion?” The three pirates sauntered into the Sorcerer’s classroom as Freddie turned to leave.
“Hey, Evie,” Gil grinned.
Just so long as you know your place.” Mal’s face darkened sourly.
“Well, I know my place isn’t here,” Uma gripped her mother’s necklace tightly, “I deserve better and I’m gonna take it!”
“Lots of big talk there, shrimpy.”
“Come on, Mal,” Evie murmured, “Let it go.” She looked wistful, “If we’re gonna stay here and really make things better, then we gotta start getting along.”
“What are you saying, E?” Mall cut her a look.
“She’s saying that we’re equals now.” Uma answered flatly, delighted to sense the rift, “That’s what she told me anyway.”
“What?” Mal’s mouth dropped, “E—”
The blue-clad girl shrugged demurely, her blood-red lips twisting upward, “Why don’t we all just hit Pleasure Island together and see how that works out?” She caught both sets of eyes, “No tricks, no jokes, no sass, alright? Just hangin’ out.”
Gil almost whooped, “Really?”
“Why not?” she grinned at him, sensing that he could be her ally, “It would be so much fun!”
The purple-clad girl’s mouth opened to protest, but no words came out. She couldn’t believe her best friend was doing this to her.
The green-clad girl also frowned, not trusting anything. Then something crazy happened.
“Okay,” Uma shrugged, “Why not? Harry, Gil, go round everybody up. Tell ‘em to meet us there.”
“Can I stay with Evie?” Gil lagged behind, “I wanna escort her into the park!”
“No!” the green-clad girl glared at him, “Get out of here!”
“But—”
“Now!”
“It’s alright, Gil,” the blue-clad girl gave him an encouraging smile, “I’ll wait for you at the gate.”
“Really?” his eyes widened with delight, “Cool!”
“Just make sure your brothers know because I still owe you a kiss.”
“Evie…” Uma gave her a look as the brown-clad boy dashed away, “Enough already.”
*o*o*0*o*o*
Lonnie exited the limo. She walked straight to the drivers and deposited the keys into their outstretched hands without flinching. “Need I remind you that breaking the rules is not villainous. My mom broke the rules. We just wanted to help our friends.”
“We need to get going.” They frowned at her.
“Wait!” Claudine rushed forward, “It wasn’t Lonnie’s idea! It wasn’t any of the AKs. I thought of it! Don’t punish them, please!
“Peace, Claudine,” Yen Sid held up his hand, “No one will be punished. You were all very resourceful and I’m proud of you.”
“Really?” Frollo’s daughter looked awkward.
“Yes, I’m proud of you,” the Sorcerer laid a hand on her shoulder, “You displayed courage and loyalty, like true heroes.”
“What about—?” Jane’s eyes welled up with tears; she burst out of the limo,”What about our friends?””
“I’m very sorry, Jane.” Yin Sid shook his head, “You don’t know how sorry, but everyone agreed to a half hour and that time has passed. Your parents are expecting you.”
“No!” Doug scrambled back out too, “I won’t accept that! I know Evie loves me!”
“We’ve gotta go, Doug.” Ben eased out of his seat to looped an arm around his friend’s shoulder, “I know, I know, but our parents have been through enough today. We tried, but Jane’s mom—”
“My mom will be fine!” Fairy Godmother’s daughter snapped as anger welled up in her, “But I won’t be!”
“Ben is right,” Lonnie came to put an arm around her shoulders, speaking softly, “I told Jay to do what he needed to do, even if it’s hard. Now, we’ve got to do the same.” She sighed and slid back into the limo, buckling in with tears on her face.
“But this isn’t over,” Ben reassured everyone, turning towards the steps where the antiheroes stood in silence, “We’re friends now and we’re gonna come back.” Tearfully grinning, he added, “Heck, I even want to go to Pleasure Island someday.”
“Wait a minute!” He suddenly spun towards the Sorcerer, a crazy inspiration lighting his face, “Yen Sid put me down to attend the next Antiheroes meeting.”
The Sorcerer’s eyes widened; he put his big finger to his lips. The Isle wasn’t the place to announce plans to the world.
“Hey, yeah! It’s next week!” Big Murph grinned excitedly, “Will you really come? Maybe I could fight Lonnie then!”
“Big Murph…” Yen Sid stilled the burly pirate’s son with a powerful hand.
“I’ll do my best,” Ben tried not to laugh, “and I’ll be in touch.”
*o*o*0*o*o*
Mal’s eyes glowed green with relief as she caught sight of the barrier opening and closing from the top of the ferris wheel. Her AK friends were safe and now everything was as it should be—or at least almost.
Turning to Uma, who was watching the same sight with deep pain in her eyes, she wondered again how she’d gotten stuck in a seat with her childhood friend turned archrival.
“Kinda ironic, isn’t it?”
“Yeah, well,” Mal shrugged, “But Evie promised to ride with Gil, Jay and Harry have some things to work out. I was kinda surprised about Carlos and Freddie riding together, but whatever. Your pirates are afraid of me.”
Uma snorted, “No one in my gang is afraid of you.”
Mal shrugged again. She didn’t care. Right now, all she wanted was to be left alone.
“Evie said we’re equals now,” the green-clad girl continued.
“I didn’t tell her to say that.”
“What’s that mean?”
The purple-clad girl shrugged, her old grudge was the last thing on her mind, “She must have had a reason. I just can’t fathom it.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I guess it means that I don’t really care about our fight anymore.”
“Well, I do!”
The harsh words brought green fire into Mal’s eyes and a silent standoff ensued. The purple-clad girl could feel the old familiar devil sitting on one shoulder, but now there was an angel on the other.