Rotten to the Core // Descendants 3 / Harry Hook

I Need That Ember

Mal's POV:

Harry and Gil managed to get through the barrier just before it closed. I saw Mia passed out in Harry's arms. "What happened to her?"

He looked at me. "Daddy issues." He turned to Gil. "We made it, bro!"

"We made it." Gil answered.

Harry turned back to us and smirked. "Hey, guys. We're just coming for a wee visit."

Carlos pushed them and they pushed back. As I got pushed, the ember fell from my hand. "Come on. Hey. Hey!" The ember fell into the water and I cried, "No!"

Suddenly, a green tentacle lifted into the air, curled around something.

Uma appeared and asked, "Drop something?"

My eyes widened. "It can't get wet. Give it back before it goes out."

Uma laughed and Harry and Gil's eyes widened. "Uma?"

She smirked. "That's my name."

"No!" I cried again, seeing the water spin around like a tornado.

We all looked out in the water feeling defeated. Uma's voice caught our attention. "Hi, boys."

She was standing on the bridge on the opposite side of us. Harry set Mia down and walked over to Uma. "Welcome back."

Gil nodded. "Man, you swam off and forgot all about us."

I crossed my arms. "Yeah. Planning her revenge, no doubt."

Uma frowned at me. "It's not all about you, Mal. I was looking for a hole in the barrier to let everybody out. And you know what I found boys? It's way better out there than we thought. There's this thing that looks like a furry rock called a coconut. And fish so big you could dance on their backs. And they've been keeping it all for themselves." She glanced down to see Mia. "What happened to her?"

I pursed my lips. "Daddy drama. Uma, I need that to break a spell."

"Cast by Audrey, Sleeping Beauty's daughter." Carlos clarified as Mia's eyes opened. He helped her up and smiled. "Hey, Mia."

Uma thought for a moment. "Mm. So the good guy is the bad guy? Well, I might not give it back. Let's see what happens."

I glared at her. "Um, it's not the time for games! People's lives are in danger!"

"Guarantee me that every single villain kid who wants to can get off the Isle."

I looked at the ground for a moment. "I can't do that."

"Can't do that?" Uma retorted, hovering the ember over the water. "Well, how about now?"

I groaned inwardly. "Deal! Deal."

Mia shot me a look. "M, I don't think that's such a good idea."

I silently pleaded for her not to say anything. "It's all we've got right now, A."

She let out a small sigh and nodded. Uma pretended to drop the ember into the water and Evie said, "Uma! Her word is good."

Uma thought for a moment before pocketing the ember. "I'll still keep this, for the time being. Because if you think I trust you to save the world on your own, think again. This is a job for pirates." She turned to Harry and Gil and smiled.

The pirates all cheered and high-fived each other.

Jay stood behind me and said quietly, "We can always go back to hating each other when this is over."

I pursed my lips and nodded. "Fine."

Jay then looked up at the pirates. "Where are our bikes?"

Gil grinned. "Oh, yeah. We crashed them." He and Harry started making crashing noises with their mouths.

Evie smiled. "Here's a thought. We could try to be friends. Put your history behind us and celebrate our differences. Yeah? Who wants gum?" She held out a packet of gum and no one accepted any. "No?" She put a piece in her mouth.

"Let's go." Uma said.

"Ah!" I called. "No. I'm in charge." I waited for anyone to challenge me, but they remained silent. "Let's go."