Timeless Legacy

Girl talk

As the VKs and Ben made their escape from the Isle, tension hung in the air. The adrenaline from their encounter with Uma and the pirates was still coursing through their veins, and the reality of what had happened was beginning to sink in.

"You okay?" Carlos asked Lonnie as he jumped out of the pipe, his concern evident.

"Yeah, I'm good," Lonnie replied, exhaling deeply. The rush of the moment still lingered, but she kept her composure as they made their way toward the waiting limo.

"Nice work out there, Lonnie," Carlos said as he opened the door for Dude, who obediently hopped inside. "Come on, Dude, hop in. Oh, now you listen to me," he added with a small chuckle, trying to lighten the mood.

"Let's go," Evie urged Lonnie, and the two girls hurried towards the car.

"Come on, Evie, get in!" Carlos called from inside, and they quickly piled into the vehicle. Meanwhile, Ben, still by the pipe with Maddox, called out for Mal and Elina, worry creasing his brow.

"Mal! Elina!" he shouted, his voice filled with concern. The two girls rushed over to the car, glancing back at the Isle one last time as Uma stormed off in a fury.

"No! Move! Get out of my way!" Uma cursed, pushing through the crowd of pirates, while Harry stood still, grappling with the weight of his actions.

Inside the car, everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. Elina leaned on Maddox, seeking comfort, while Ben sat beside her, lost in thought. What Mal didn't realize was that her spell book had slipped from her grasp and was left behind.

"I'm really sorry that things didn't go the way you wanted them to," Ben said after a moment, looking between Elina and Mal. Elina sighed and nodded, her mind heavy with the events that had transpired.

"I mean, as long as you're safe, that's..." Elina said and Ben trailed off, searching for the right words. "Well, at least I got to see the Isle. They're my people, too," he continued, his gaze distant. "Uma helped me see that."

Elina looked at Ben, her eyes wide with shock and hurt. Mal noticed the expression on her best friend's face and felt her own anger flare up.

"Ben, Uma captured you," Mal exclaimed, her tone sharp with disbelief.

"She's an angry girl with a bad plan. That's not so different from you when you first came to Auradon, guys," Ben said, looking around the group, as if expecting them to understand.

Elina's shock turned to frustration. "Wow. Well, maybe you should have dated her then," she huffed, turning away from Ben and leaning closer to Maddox for support. Ben, stunned by her words, turned away as well, a hurt expression crossing his face.

"Awkward," Dude piped up from Carlos' lap, breaking the tension with an ill-timed comment. Evie and Carlos quickly tried to shush him, embarrassed by the interruption.

"Dude, I know you can talk, but it doesn't always mean you should," Carlos scolded gently, trying to keep the mood from souring further. Meanwhile, Elina clung to Maddox, seeking solace in his presence as they crossed the bridge back to Auradon.

As they drove over the bridge, Jay turned to Lonnie with a playful grin. "Why don't you stop by practice later?" he suggested, trying to lighten the mood.

"What, in the mood to break some rules?" Lonnie teased back, her spirit returning despite the recent tension.

"No," Jay laughed, shaking his head. "Just thought you might want to hang out."

When they finally arrived back at Auradon, the group walked across the campus together, the weight of their mission slowly lifting. "I'll get these back to the gym," Lonnie said, gesturing to the swords she carried.