Marlos

Truce

The silence on the docks stretched, punctuated only by the creaking of the pier and the distant lapping of the murky water against the pilings. Uma's eyes, usually so quick to betray her emotions, were unreadable as she weighed Mal's audacious offer. The idea of being a "queen remembered for greatness" clearly resonated with a part of her ambition, a part that perhaps even she hadn't fully acknowledged.

Harry Hook, ever impatient, cleared his throat. "Uma? What are we doing? They're trying to trick you!"

Uma held up a hand, silencing him without looking away from Mal. Her gaze flickered to Carlos, then to Evie and Jay, assessing their unwavering resolve. She saw the genuine belief in their eyes, the tangible evidence of the sanctuary's existence, and the undeniable power Carlos now wielded. It wasn't just talk; they had already started to change things.

"Greatness, huh?" Uma finally sneered, though the venom in her voice was noticeably diminished. "And what makes you think I want your version of greatness, Mal? Your Auradon fairytale? I rule this Isle through strength, through fear. That's how it's always been."

"And look where that's gotten the Isle, Uma," Carlos interjected, his voice calm but firm. "A land of starvation and despair. Is that the legacy you want? Or do you want to be the one who finally broke the cycle? The one who brought true power, true prosperity, to her people?"

Uma's jaw tightened. The words clearly hit home. She knew, deep down, the limitations of her current reign. She had power, yes, but it was over a dying land and a struggling populace.

She paced a few steps along the pier, her boot heels thudding softly on the worn wood. Harry and Gil watched her, holding their breath, sensing the monumental decision hanging in the balance.

Finally, Uma stopped, turning back to face them, a new glint in her eyes. It wasn't trust, not yet, but a shrewd, calculating intelligence. "Alright, Mal," she said, her voice low and deliberate. "I'll hear you out. But this 'partnership' comes with conditions. My conditions."

Mal nodded, a flicker of relief passing through her. This was progress. "Name them."

"First," Uma began, her gaze hardening, "this sanctuary of yours. It expands. And it expands under my supervision. Any new resources, any new plans for the Isle, go through me. I control the distribution, the organization. No more backdoor operations."

"Agreed," Carlos said immediately, surprising even Mal. "As long as the people are cared for, and the resources are distributed fairly, we can work with that."

Uma raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise at his quick concession. "Second," she continued, "the barrier. It stays. But it's not just a prison for us anymore. It becomes a gateway. Controlled, yes, but a way for my people to eventually move between the Isle and Auradon, when the time is right. On my terms."

Ben had been working on this very idea, though the timeline was always uncertain. Mal saw the opportunity. "We can work towards that," she agreed. "A gradual integration, based on trust and mutual respect."

"And third," Uma said, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, her eyes fixed on Mal. "No more arm wrestling. No more challenges for the crown. You may be Queen of Auradon, but on this Isle, when we're working together, we're equals. And if you ever try to undermine me again, if you ever try to take what's mine, then this 'partnership' ends. And I will come for you, Mal. And I won't stop until I have everything."

It was a stark, brutal warning, a reminder of the villainy that still simmered beneath Uma's ambition. But it was also a promise of a fragile peace, a tentative step towards a shared future.

Mal met her gaze, her own eyes glowing faintly with a defiant resolve. "Agreed," she said, her voice firm. "No more challenges. We work together, Uma. For the Isle. For its people."

Uma held her gaze for a long moment, then, with a sharp nod, she extended a hand. It wasn't a friendly gesture, but a business proposition, a handshake between two powerful, wary leaders.

Mal took it, their hands clasping firmly. The air between them, once thick with animosity, now held a strange, uneasy truce. Harry and Gil, though still wary, looked visibly relieved.

"Alright then," Uma said, pulling her hand back. "Tomorrow, we start. And don't think for a second I'll go easy on you, Mal. This is still the Isle."

"Wouldn't have it any other way," Mal replied, a faint, challenging smile touching her lips.

As Uma turned and walked away, her crew falling in behind her, the four VKs stood on the docks, watching her disappear into the twilight. The wind felt a little lighter, the air a little less oppressive. The path ahead was still fraught with danger and uncertainty, but for the first time in a long time, there was a glimmer of shared purpose on the Isle of the Lost.