"Ellie! Ellie! Ellie, come on! Please wake up!"

What the heck? Why am I so cold? My skin feels like it's in ice! What is going on? I register that my breaths are coming in shallow gasps, and I cough. It shakes my body, rattling down my throat painfully. But my chest clears and I roll over wherever I am, spitting up salty water. 

I finally clear my lungs enough to gag at the taste. "Ugh." I groan, reaching up to my head. It's pounding almost as bad as when Harry knocked me out. Someone puts a hand on my shoulder. 

"Ellie? You okay?"

I crack my eyes open just enough to see I'm on the floor of a limo. Judging from now I'm lying, I was on the seat but I rolled off. Evie has her hand on my shoulder. I give a scratchy laugh. "Check back in a few years." I tell her, sitting up against the side of the limo. 

Everyone in the limo gives a sigh of relief. Carlos takes my hand. "Are you okay?"

I wave him off. "I'm fine. Feel like someone just used my head as a drum, but other than that, just peachy!" I groan and sit up the rest of the way, grinding both hands into my forehead. "What happened?"

Everyone looks at Carlos. It's only then that I notice he and I are the only ones who are soaked. 

"What happened?" I repeat.

Carlos clears his throat. "Well, um, after the Hanses threw you over, I kinda dove in after you. Took me a minute to find you, because you sunk like a rock. But when I did find you, you had already been down there for a while. But, you, um.... Well."

"Remember the coronation?" Jay asks from the driver's seat.

"Yeah, I froze." I say. 

"You did it again. Except this time, it put you in a coma." he explains.

I look down at my hand. "And let me guess, once you got me out, if wore off?"

"Yeah." Jay pulls the remote out and pulls the golden road up. We all flinch when we pass through.

"So, wait. Let me get this straight. I was in a coma sort of thing? Because I got the gloves off?"

Carlos nods. "Be glad you got those off, because I'm not sure if you would have made it otherwise."

"That's not creepy at all." Dude remarks. 

"Wait, how can you talk?" I ask. "The wand was fake, right? Or did Uma just snap FG's wand in half?"

"I ate a truth gummy! It was nasty!" Dude says. 

"Why did you have a truth gummy?" I question.

Carlos covers his dog's mouth. "No reason!"

Evie laughs, but Mal and Ben just stare out the windows. What happened while I was out? Did they fight again?

"Get ready guys." Jay says. "We're back."

He pulls up in front of Auradon Prep and lets us out. It's so weird being back in the bright sun and happy faces having just come back from literally almost dying. We walk across the grass and Lonnie waves. "I'll get these back to the gym." She hoists the swords higher and walks away. 

"Thanks." Jay tells her.

"See you later."

Mal is walking with her arms crossed, looking dejected. Things really didn't go her way. Or mine. Sad as it is to say, I really felt good being on the Isle. I really did. 

"Ben!" Jane comes over. "There you are! Cotillion is tonight! C'mere." She shows him the stained-glass window of Mal. "Look. This is the stained glass window for Mal. Isn't it beautiful? She's gonna love it!" Jane jumps up and down in giddiness.

Ben turns to Mal. "Do you wanna cancel?" he asks her. She looks up at him in surprise. 

"Huh?" Jane asks. "Um, you know what, I can come back. Uh, but like, really really soon."

"No no no. No no no." Ben assures her. "Now's fine. Um." He leans over and looks at the glass window. Then he turns back to Mal and says something to her. I elbow Jane. 

"Something happened." I tell her. "Don't worry about it, okay?"

She nods, confused. Ben comes back and Evie grabs me and Mal. "We need to talk." She tells us. 

"Yeah." Mal sighs. 

"No!" Carlos says behind us. 

Evie stops and turns around. "No?" She asks. 

"You guys are always going off in a huddle, whispering your...girl talk. Stuff. And---" he looks back and forth between us. "Jay and I are tired of it!"

Jay turns to us and raises his hand. "I'm not."

Carlos gives him a really? look and turns back to us. "We're your family too. We've been through a lot. Together." He says. "We're not stopping that now. Okay?"

Mal gives a tiny nod. Carlos looks around. Most of us are still not convinced. "Everybody sit." he plops down on the grass. 

We all stare at him.

"Come on." He tells Jay. Dude whines. "You too." Carlos tells his dog. We all sit down in a circle. For a second, Carlos just sits there. "I don't know how to start girl talk." he admits. 

Jay shrugs. "What up?"

Evie gives a laugh. Mal looks ready to cry. "I'm a mess. I'm such a mess." Then she really does start crying, and Evie puts a hand on her shoulder. "I mean, six months ago, I was... you know. Stealing candy from babies, and now everybody wants me to be this Lady of the Court and I have no idea how to keep up the act."

"Then don't." Carlos tells her. 

"Well, at least you have a place to run to, Mal!" I burst. I'm not mad at her, but I can't help it. "You're the bad girl, or you were. I mean, you---you're Mal. Daughter of Evil. You fit in here for a while, and you fit in effortlessly on the Isle. You're an amazing person, and I'm just..." I stare at my hands. "Nothing."

"Ellie---" Mal starts, but it's Jay that interrupts. 

"Ellie, who was the one that was able to survive in the freezing spell last year and get the wand from Maleficent?"

"Me. But that was---"

"And who was able to technically breathe underwater for a bit until I got you out?" Carlos breaks in. 

"Yeah, but I got captured in the first pla---"

"Be quiet, girl! They're complimenting you!" Dude says. "And if you're nothing, why'd my buddy try so hard to ask you out? Three times!"

"What?" Evie, Mal, Jay, and I yell.

"Dude!" Carlos complains. 

"What? You like her!"

"Yeah, but she didn't know I'd tried to ask her out before!"

"Wait, that was what the carrot cake thing was?" I ask. Carlos nods. I think back. Oops. The fencing court. 

"Wait, what was the third time?" Evie asks. 

"During the fight at the ship!" Dude pipes. "And she said yes!"

"DUDE!" Carlos yells. 

"See? This was dumb." Jay says, starting to get up.

"Maybe it wasn't." Evie says. He eases back down. Evie takes Mal's hand. "We're always gonna be the kids from the Isle. Even if, technically, Ellie, you were born here." She shakes her head and gets back to the point. "I tried to forget it. I really tried. But those are our roots. And we all did what we had to do. To survive." She looks at Mal and I. "But it made us who we are. And we're never going to be like anybody else here. And that's okay. That's okay!"

"And we can't fake it." Carlos jumps in.

"No." Evie agrees. 

"Yeah, I mean, especially without my spell book." Mal says sadly. 

"Hey, I never had a spell book." I tell her. "And you don't need it, Mal. The real you, the fun one." I bump her shoulder. "The one who lets go! That's who we love."

"Mal, if Ben doesn't love the real you, then he's not the one." Carlos says. 

"I like that." Evie says. 

"Give it a chance here, guys." Carlos whispers. 

Mal hesitates. I don't and hug Carlos. "Thank you."

Jay snickers, but for once I don't care. 

Evie gives Mal a look. "I'm going to go make some changes to your dress. And if you're up for it--- only if you're up for it--- it'll be waiting for you, okay?"

Mal nods. Evie hugs her and mouths something to Carlos. Then Carlos stands up. "C'mon, buddy." he tells Dude. I stay with Mal as everyone stands up and starts to leave. I nudge Mal.

"Hey. Mal. Look at me."

She does, somewhat unwillingly. 

"Come to Cotillion tonight." I tell her. "If Ben isn't smart enough to love you, and you can't stand another day, I'll steal one of the limos and drive you back myself."

She nods and gives a tiny smile. I stand up to leave. "Ellie?" She calls. 

I look back. "Yeah?"

"Thank you. For everything."

I smile. "What are friends for?"

She gives a real smile then. "I mean it. Even though you got captured, and the Hanses almost killed you... I'm glad you came with me." she stands up and flicks a piece of my blue-streaked hair. "Dizzy really did an amazing job."

I laugh and shove her a little. "She did better one you. I mean, the blonde looked nice on you, but purple is definitely your color."

She laughs. 

__________________________________________

"Hey! Ellie!"

I turn around to see Lonnie, in a pink and blue fencing outfit. "Hi Lonnie."

"I never got to talk to you. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. What about you, what were you doing on the Isle?" I ask.

She laughs. "I made Jay and Carlos take me by threatening to tell Fairy Godmother."

I grin. "Well, that'd work!"

"And you'll never guess where Jay tried to tell me they were going."

"Where?"

"Okay, so I had swords with me, and Jay said "We don't need swords at the Waffle Hut!""

I snort so hard I double over. "He said that?"

"Yeah!"

I laugh some more. "Oh my gosh. That's awesome."

She laughs with me. "Oh, hey, Jay asked me to stop by the practice later! Wanna come with me?"

"I thought he said---"

"He found a loophole. I'm not telling you unless you come!"

"Wait, let me get this straight. Chad will be there. You're joining the team." I repeat.

"Yep."

I link my arm through hers. "Yes! I'm comin'!"

She laughs and pulls me along. I go up on the balcony part since I'm technically not supposed to be able to interfere with practice. Lonnie doesn't come in yet. 

Jay comes running into the circle. "Let's bring it in, boys! Let's bring it in. All right." He pauses and looks around. "You all know  I come from the Isle, right? Things are pretty whack." He laughs. "No, but there is one thing the Isle's got in Auradon. If you're strong, we want you by our side. Girl or boy."

FINALLY!!!! I cheer inside my head. I wonder how Jay's going to get this to work?

"W-wha--Hey, hey." Chad comes up next to Jay and puts his arms around his shoulders. "Jay hold on here, we don't--ah--we don't break the rules here in Auradon. That's over on the Isle."

"Shut up, you idiot!" I say. I don't think he heard me. Aw.

Jay pulls out the rule book and opens it up. "The team shall be comprised of a Captain and eight men." Chad looks over his shoulder like, duh. He looks around, confused. "So, uh. Give it up for your new team captain." Jay says, moving aside. Lonnie walks into the room, to Chad's dumbfounded expression. 

"Woah, what?!" He yells. Lonnie smiles up at me. Jay puts the whistle over her neck.

"Thank you." She tells him. Jay starts clapping and everyone but Chad follows the example. Then Jay bows. Again, Chad's left. He makes a all right, whatever motion and bows as well. 

"Fine." he mutters. 

Lonnie blows the whistle. "Give me ten!" She says, moving to the side. Everyone goes down in pushup form. "Come on, guys!" She slams her foot down on Chad's back. "Pick it up, Chad! Nice form, Jay!" She keeps pushing Chad down, which I find hilarious. Once the ten is up, Lonnie blows her whistle again. "Kay, practice is over. get outta here! Go get ready for Cotillion!" I leave and use the stairs this time to get down there. Lonnie's leaving with Jay. I catch her hand. 

"That was awesome!" I tell her. 

She beams. "Thanks. I can't believe Chad backed down so fast!"

"I'd watch my back if I were you." I warn her. 

"I don't think I'll have to. I've got Jay on my side now."

I stop. "You like him, don't you?"

"What? No! How did you get that out of that sentence?"

"You do!" I accuse. "Oh my gosh, this is almost as cute as Doug and Ev--"

"If you're allowed to fangirl about my crushes, I'm allowed to tease you about yours." She interrupts. 

I shut up abruptly. 

__________________________________

"Evie!" I call. "Hey, you called me?"

"Yep! I finished your crown!" She holds up a half-circle of silver that has blue gems dotting it on the tips of a white snowflake.

"It's gorgeous!" I gush. "I know I say you're an artist, Evie, but you truly have a gift."

She grins sneakily. "Actually, I didn't make this. Guess who did?"

"Who?" I run people through my head. 

"Dizzy!"

"No kidding? That sweet little girl made this?"

Evie points to the snowflake in the center. "I added this, but she made the original design. Tilt it in the light."

I follow her directions and tilt it a bit in the sunlight. A beam of deep blue light bounces off. "Wow."

"I know! I wish Dizzy could come here. She'd love Auradon." Evie looks a little sad.

"Hey, I actually know someone else who I think would---"

Someone knocks on the door.

"Hold that thought." Evie says. "Come in!" She turns to her rack of dresses. 

The door opens and Doug bursts in. "I have a scout badge in s'mores!" He yells. 

Evie turns around in surprise.

"How could you go camping without me?" Doug exclaims. 

Camping? Is that what he thinks the Isle is?

"What?" Evie asks, just as confused as I am. 

"Are you seeing someone else? Are you?" Doug demands. 

"No!" Evie protests.

"Is--is it Happy's son?" Doug points upstairs. "Because let me tell you. He is not as happy as his dad. Kind of a dark streak, in fact."

Evie smiles. "Doug, Ben and Ellie were captured on the Isle."

Alarm flashes in Doug's face, turning to look at me. I wave.

"We rescued them and saved Auradon." Evie continues. 

Doug turns back to her. "So you're not seeing Happy's son or anyone else?"

Evie smiles and takes his hands. "Don't be Dopey." She whispers. She leans forward and kisses his cheek. Her foot pops! I can barely contain myself. 

"Besides, we have dresses to deliver!" Evie says, turning away. "It is Cotillion day, after all."

Ahh, she's distracted me. "You finished mine yet?" I ask. 

She nods and hands me a black bag. "Don't open it yet! Wait 'til you're back in your dorm." She turns to her desk and picks up a headband. "And you know what? I was lucky enough to have been given a chance. And...now I need to give someone else a chance, too."

"My Uncle Bashful used to say that." Doug comments.

"Did he?" Evie asks. 

"Yeah!" Doug goes behind the dresses. "But really quietly."

"What would you expect, a name like Bashful?" I ask. 

Evie laughs. "Let's do this." She says to Doug. They pull the long rack of dresses from the room. 

_____________________________________

"Hey! Ellie!"

I turn around, still clutching Evie's dress. "Hi, Carlos! Hey Dude."

"Got any bacon?"

"Sorry, no. What did you want?" I ask Carlos. He runs a hand through his hair. 

"Well, I mean, when I asked you it was kinda sudden, and we might have been about to die, and I just wanted to ask you formally to be my girlfriend?"

I stare at him. Why do I always stare when he asks this?

"Unless you've changed your---"

"NO!" I yelp. "No! No way! I just---" I pause and smile. "You really have a gift for saying the sweetest things, you know?"

He goes red. I hug him, and he doesn't hesitate to hug me back this time. 

Someone clears their throat. We jump apart to Jay's amused expression. "So, I take it, you're officially Carlie?"

"What?" We both ask.

"It's what Evie calls you guys."

"Oh, so she has time for my ship name but not hers!" I burst.

"Ship name?" Carlos asks.

I put a hand on his shoulder. "I shall teach you, my young padawan."

"What?"

"Oh my God, you don't know what a padawan is?"

"Nope. Should I?"

"Um. In a manner of speaking, I'd consider breaking up with you if you don't learn."

"Looking it up now!" he tears across the grass.

_________________________________________

Eyo! So, slightly longer chapter this time. Ha. But, the next chapter will maaaaybe be the last...? Of Descendants 2, that is. I already have so many ideas for afterwards. Anyways, comment, as always, and hope you guys like! Also, shoutout to @BeautyBeastRose for the ship name!