POV: A/N

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Luck isn't on our side today. Instead, we met one of Uma's lapdogs, Gil. not the smartest to the mind but the strongest at least. But raw strength is nothing against a dragon's cunning.

"Uh, let's go," said Valia, guiding Ben past Gil, with Jay, Evie, and Carlosflanking them. "Yeah, no, you are King Ben!" cried Gil, watching as they passed. "And you're Jay, Carlos, the tale of the Isle? No, wait... —hey, guys!" he said cheerily. Then his expression set into a substantial oafish grin. "Uma's gonna love this!" He could barely contain his excitement. The son of gaston turned and hurried off. Before long, valia, Jay, Evie, Ben, and Carlos arrived at the foot of the bridge hideout, where they knew they would find Mal. Ben noticed her scooter lying under the stairs, and he inspected its beat-up, graffiti varnish. He had never imagined his gift would take her to the Isle.

Meanwhile, Jay grabbed a rock and lobbed it at the sign. The gate glided up, and Jay steered Ben toward the stairs. The son of beast and belle peered into the darkness of the staircase that wound its way to the top of the hideout; then, he looked back at his friends. e looked back at his friends. "Wish me luck." Ben started up the stairs. Watching him vanish, Valia, Jay, Evie, and Carlos leaned and sat, prepared to wait. 

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I've never seen the VKs hideout, but it's good. However, I can see it's not what it used to be. I know Mal, though, would spray paint it better. Hopefully, Ben can convince her to come. If not, I know it's up to me. 

Inside a shoddy tower, Ben climbed the steps toward the sound of hissing spray paint. He stopped on a platform, noticing the grimy, dank vibe, and followed the noise down a flight of steps into Mal's hideout. Eyes wide, he took in the graffitied walls and continued to make his way farther into the room. He stopped short. There was Mal. She stood on an old trunk facing the wall and worked furiously on a self-portrait of a wild purple-haired Isleversion of her tearing her way out of the ice-blond Auradon princess version. Talk about making a statement. Ben quietly approached Mal. "At least I don't see a picture of me with horns and a pitchfork," he said jokingly. Mal whipped around. "Ben," she said, surprised. He took another step toward her. She held out her hand, motioning for him to stop.

Ben froze. "Mal, I'm so sorry about our fight. It was all my fault." He held out his beast-head ring. "Please come home."  Mal stepped off the trunk, hanging her head, and tossed the spraypaint can into a rusty shopping cart with a clatter. "Ben, this is my home," said Mal softly. She stopped in front of Ben, leaving some space between them. Ben smiled warmly at her. "I brought the limo. It's a sweet ride."Mal looked at his beast-head ring for a moment, then folded her arms. "I don't fit in. I tried, Ben. I gave it a shot. And if you think I can change, I think you might be wrong." 

Ben opened his arms. "Then I'll change. I'll skip school and blow off some of my responsibilities—"  "No! No!" Mal shook her head. "See? I am such a terrible influence! I mean, it's only a matter of time before I do something so messed up that the people turn on not only me, but they turn on you!" Ben took Mal's hand. "Don't quit us, Mal. The people love you. I love you." He handed her the ring. Mal stared at Ben in silence. She wasn't quite sure what to say. "Don't you love me?" Ben asked quietly. Mal took his beast-head ring, put it in his hand, and closed it. "I have to take myself out of the picture because it's what's best for you and Auradon."

Ben took a step toward her. "Mal, please."

Mal put her hand on his chest to stop him. "I can't do this." She turned and returned to the shopping cart, picking up the spray paint can. "You have to go," she said. She stepped up on the trunk and faced the wall. Then she turned and saw that Ben was still standing there. "Ben, please go. Please leave." 

Ben hung his head and slowly backed out of the room until he was out of sight. Suddenly, Mal felt as shaken as her spray paint can. She tried her hardest not to cry. 

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Mal had pulled a giant lever to lock the gate inside the hideout. Hervoice sounded through the horn. "Go away!" Valia, Evie, Jay, and Carlos looked at each other at a loss. Jay rested a hand on teh white-haired princess's shoulder. "Let's just give her a couple ofhours to cool off, alright?"Carlos looked down the alley, which fluttered with rags. "Guys..." hesaid. Valia, Jay, and Evie gathered beside him, and Evie said, "What?" "Where's Ben?" asked Carlos. Valia peered down the dim alley, but soon she saw a figure and slipped away into the shadows, her friends looking at her before looking back at each other, shrugging. "Ben?" Evie called out. A dark silhouette walked toward them. "Ben?" Evie sighed, relieved. "Ben! Don't scare us like that."The figure stepped closer. But it wasn't Ben. "Don't scare you?" Harry repeated sweetly. "You see, but that's myspecialty."

"Harry," gasped Evie. Jay took a step toward him. "What did you do with Ben?" he demanded. "Hmmm? Oh! We nicked him. If you ever want to see himagain, have Mal come to the chip shop tonight. Alone. Uma wants a littlevisit." Harry smiled and looked at them, landing his sights on Jay. "Aww. It seems you've lost your edge, Jay." that was when a growl cut the silence before jay could lunge at the pirate. The 3 Vks looked behind them, scared. But relaxed soon as Valia stepped out of the shadows. The son of Hook, though, hadn't relaxed. He gripped his Hook tighter and held it out toward the older girl. 

"Who are you?" he snapped, his eyes flashing hostility. Valia quirked a brow and glanced at her friends, who shrugged. "you don't know?" she said, and harry's face flashed in silent recognition. "you've heard my voice before Harry, son of Hook." the white-haired princess said and stepped forward, so it was only an arm's length between her and harry. Evie, Jay, and Carlos stared as the two looked at each other for a long while before Harry tensed again. "you the voice in my head?" he said, pointing his Hook at her. this triggered Carlos and Jay, but Valia held her hand, motioning them to stop. 

"tell your captain that the tale of the isle is going with Mal, and if I can't, then..." she paused and shrugged as her eyes gleamed. "you will have only me to answer to if you hurt Ben" Harry stepped back scared out of his wits by this seemingly simple girl. He didn't understand. How could she scare him, one of the most feared kids on the Isle? And how had he never seen her before? he would have recognized her beautiful face. And those eyes. The son of Hook shook his head and strolled off down the alley.

Valia stepped back to her friends, who at once started to ask questions as if she was okay. But she didn't mind them. 

Time to meet the "queen" of this island. Let's see whether she was against the power of a dragon. 

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