POV: A/N

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"M, he was going to come with or without us. We wanted to protect him," said Evie. "Yeah, which we blew," added Carlos, throwing his arms up. "Okay, okay. So what are we going to do?" asked Jay. "We are not doing anything," Mal insisted, stopping in front of her friends. "This is between Uma and me. She's a punk, and now I need to go get him." She picked up her leather-studded backpack from the dusty old couch. She could feel the weight of her spell book inside it. I wish I could use it here to get us out of this, she thought. Dumb Auradon rules strike again. "Whoaaa, Mal. You're going to have to go through Harry Hook and his wharf rats, and Gil..." said Carlos.

"Exactly. You need us," said Jay. Mal shook her head. "Uma said to come alone."Evie put her hands on her hips. "Mal, come on."Carlos shrugged and looked at Evie, Valia and Jay. "She doesn't have a choice." 

Evie sighed, knowing he was right. "I know one thing," said Carlos. "I'm not going anywhere." He sat on the couch. Jay nodded. "We'll be here when you get back." Valia stood and walked over to Mal sliding an arm around her "well, M, I won't be here. I will follow you," she said. The daughter of the evil mistress stared at her older and slightly taller friend. Was she mad? she can't go against Uma. "I won't let you go alone, M. I told that son of Hook anyway I was coming, and if I didn't, he would have my wrath to answer to if he ever hurt Ben. that king of yours is my friend too mal" the purple haired girl sighed. she knew her best friend was right. she needed help in this and fso why not take the most cunning and polite of them all?

"alight, cmon," Mal said, and the two girls walked off toward Uma's hideout. The fish and chips shop. 

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I knew Mal would be angry at us, but what could we have done? Ben chose his heart over his safety. I would've done the same. 

Uma emerged from the kitchen in Ursula's Fish and Chips in her apron. She carried a tray of fish and chips in each hand and dropped one on the long wooden table in front of an old pirate who looked like she wore a potato sack. The fish and chips flew off the tray with the impact and landed on the dirty table. "Hey! I wanted the fried clams!" the angry customer shouted at Uma. The other diners looked up from their tables at the outburst. Uma wheeled menacingly on the customer. "And I wanted a sea pony. Life ain't fair." 

The customer recoiled. Uma strolled across the diner and roughly slid the other food tray to a table. "Order up," she mumbled. She looked up, and a smile spread across her face as she watched the dingy green doors to the diner open and the daughter of the evil strut into the building. Behind her, though, was a girl Uma had never seen, but Harry and Gil, who reconzied her, lit up. Or Gil did, and Harry whimpered a little though it was unavoidable. Finally, the two girls paused in the doorway. "I'm baaa-ack!" mal sang.Uma cackled. "Loser, party of one," she said. "Right this way, please."She gestured toward an empty table. As Mal approached it, Uma kicked a chair toward her. But Mal quickly caught it by its back, turned it around, and plopped down into it in front of the table. Uma crossed her arms, watching. 

Valia didn't sit down. Instead, she leaned on a pole not far from the two. The pirate queen glanced at the white-haired girl and then back at Mal. but the daughter of maleficent didn't bother to introduce her friend and smiled smugly. "Place still stinks," she noted. "Oh, I'm sorry," said Uma with feigned concern. "We're down a butler today, princess." She cackled again and looked around the fetid diner at her fellow pirates.

Valia rolled her eyes from her spot and started to play with her magic, but her ears were still listening. "Where is he?" asked Mal, getting down to business. Uma plucked off her soiled apron, dropped it onto the floor, and started to pace in front of the purple-haired girl. "You know, I've dreamed of this," Uma said. Then her expression hardened. "You needing something from me and watching you squirm like a worm on a hook." Uma looked at the pirates, who nodded. The daughter of Ursula smiled again.

Mal let out a short laugh. "I'm so flattered that you dream of me. I haven't given you a single thought since I left." "Oh, obviously," said Uma, stooping so that her face was inches from Mal's. "You have your perfect little life, don't you? And we're twenty years into a garbage strike." Uma walked around the table and put a hand on the chair across from Mal. Valia sighed. Their life was far from perfect on Aurodon either. But she stayed silent, her magic flying in the air mesmerizing the pirates around her. she paid them no mind. "Listen, if you have some score to settle with me, game on! I see no need to bring Ben into this," said Mal. "Oh, it may not be necessary, but it is so much fun." Uma walked around the table and moved her face close to Mal's again. She smiled. "Here's the deal," she said.

Mal interrupted her with a laugh. "Just like your mother. Always a catch." Uma rolled up her sleeves and sat across from Mal. She slammed her elbow onto the table as if she was about to arm wrestle. "If you win, Ben is free to go," she said. Mal liked a challenge. She rested her elbow on the table. The diners noticed something was happening and got up from their tables to crowd around them.

They glanced vaguely at Valia, who sent them an unbothered look, but her purple eyes gleamed dagnrulsy, telling them not to come close to her or Mal. Uma grinned. "Oh, don't you want to know what I get if I win?" "Still dreaming," said Mal. Uma chuckled. "You know, as I recall, your mother thought she had things all sewn up, too," said Uma. "How'd that work out for her?" 

The white-haired girl straightened her posture, and her eyes glinted again. Good one, she thought. But you can't insult Mal and her mom with me here, sea witch. "On three," Mal said, locking eyes with Uma. "One," said Uma with a smile. "Two," Mal said flatly, betraying zero emotion. "Three," they said in unison. 

And so it begins. Let's hope my evil dragonet will win. 

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