CHAPTER 23

"If you guys never would have brought him here, this never would have happened," Ellie says after being filled in. "What were you thinking?!"

"He was gonna come with or without us. We just wanted to protect him," Evie explains to her sister.

"Yeah, and we completely blew it, guys," Carlos says in defeat.

"Okay! Okay. So, what are we gonna do?" Jay asks trying to get everyone to work together.

"'We' are not doing anything. This is between Uma, Mal, and me," Ellie tells them. "And she's a punk. And guess what? Now I have to go get him."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Ellie. You're still gonna have to go through Harry Hook and his wharf rats," Carlos says trying to stop her.

"Yeah, you're gonna need us," Jay states in agreement.

"Mal has Harry handled if push comes to shove," Ellie says with an eye roll.

"Besides, Uma said to come alone," Mal says as she stands beside Ellie.

"Mal, come on," Evie tries, wanting to be by her sister's side.

"She said to come alone," Carlos says. "I know one thing. I'm not going anywhere."

"We'll be here when you get back," Jay says finalizing the decision.

Ellie and Mal walk in through the doors of the Chip Shoppe.

"We're back," Mal says with a smirk.

"Losers, party of two. Right this way, please," Uma says before kicking a chair at them. Ellie catches it before sitting down.

"Place still stinks," Ellie says as she scrunches her nose.

"Oh, I'm sorry. We're down a butler today... Princess," Uma retorts.

"Where is he?" Ellie asks as she worries about Ben.

"You know, I've dreamed of this. You both wanting something from me, and me watching you both squirm like a worm on a hook," Uma says with a smirk.

"I'm so flattered that you dream of us. I haven't given you a thought since I left," Mal retorts causing Uma to bang her fist on the table.

"Obviously. You have your perfect, little life, don't you?" Uma says before turning to everyone else. "Doesn't she have the perfect, little life? And we're 20 years into a garbage strike."

"Listen, if you have some kind of score to settle with me or Ellie, game on," Mal says.

"I see no need to bring Ben into this," Ellie adds in agreement.

"It may be a little unnecessary, but, oh, it is so much fun," Uma says with a laugh. "Here's the deal."

"Just like your mother, always a catch," Ellie says with a smirk before Uma sits directly in front of Mal.

"If she wins..." Uma says as she holds her hand up. "Ben is free to go. "

"Let's do it, Mal," Ellie says before Mal puts her arm up.

"Hmm? Don't you want to know what I get if I win?" Uma questions.

"Still dreaming," Mal tells her.

"Mm. Last time I checked, your mother thought she had things all sewn up, too, huh? How'd that work out for her again?" Uma retorts causing Mal to glare at her.

"On three," Ellie says as Mal grabs Uma's hand.

"One," Uma counts.

"Two," Mal counts.

"Three," They count together before they start arm wrestling.

"You know, that whole princess act? Ugh. Never bought it for a second. And a royal advisor too? You can stick a tiara on a villain, but you're still villains," Uma attempts to taunt the girls.

"And you can slap a pirate hat on, but you're still Shrimpy," Mal quickly retorts causing Uma to get distracted. Mal's eyes turn green as she starts to bring Uma's hand down.

"If I win... you bring me the wand," Uma says causing Mal to go into shock and lose her green eyes. Uma slams her hand down, winning. "Now... if you want beasty boy back, bring me Fairy Godmother's magic wand to my ship tomorrow at 12:00 noon... sharp." Uma starts to walk away before she turns back around. "Oh, and if you blab... you can kiss your baby goodbye." Uma blows Ellie a kiss before walking away. Ellie and Mal go to tell the others what happened.

"There's no way we're gonna give Uma the wand. We can't just let her destroy Auradon," Evie says as Ellie paces around.

"Uma doesn't get the wand, then Ben is toast, guys," Jay says.

"Right, so, we're gonna give Uma, of all people, the wand," Mal says before she, Evie, Carlos, and Jay start arguing.

"Wait! You guys!" Ellie says getting their attention. "Your 3D printer."

"A phony wand?" Carlos says with a smile.

"Yes!" Ellie cheers.

"In my sleep," Carlos agrees.

"And the second Uma tests it, she'll know it's fake," Evie says with doubt.

"Well, okay, so then we just get Ben out really fast. We need some kind of diversion," Ellie plans.

"Smoke bombs!" Jay says.

"That's perfect. I'll get the chemicals I need from Lady Tremaine's place. That could work," Evie says finally on board as she walks over to Ellie. "Oh, and sick hair, by the way. Evil Stepmom seriously stepped up her game."

"Okay, do you want to know something?" Ellie asks as she twirls her hair. "Dizzy did this."

"Little Dizzy? Shut up!" Evie says excitedly.

"I know. I'm, like, loving it. It's, like, a lot lighter," Ellie explains.

"Really proud of her," Evie says.

"Hello?" Carlos calls as Jay clears his throat.

"Right. Carlos, Jay, Mal, you guys meet us at Pirates Bay no later than noon. And, you guys, losing... not an option," Ellie explains. "Cause we're rotten..."

"To the core," Everyone finishes.

"Let's do this," Evie says before they all leave.

Ellie and Evie stop at the doorway of the salon and see Dizzy at a desk.

"Shh," Evie tells Ellie, who nods. Evie sneaks up behind Dizzy before hugging her.

"Evie? Evie! You came back!" Dizzy cheers causing Ellie to smile.

"Hi!" Evie squeals as they hug.

"Is it all just like we imagined? Do they really have closets you can walk into? Have you been to a real swimming pool? What does ice cream taste like?" Dizzy questions Evie.

"It's cold and it's sweet, and if you eat it too fast, it gives you a headache," Evie answers her with a boop on the nose.

"Really?" Dizzy asks excitedly.

"Yeah," Evie answers with a smile.

"I saved your and Ellie's sketch book for you," Dizzy tells Evie as Ellie walks over.

"You did?" Evie asks shocked before Dizzy runs and grabs the book. "Dizzy! Oh, my gosh. Wow." Evie sits down as Dizzy hands her the book. Evie opens the book to a gold and blue dress. "I made this dress out of an old curtain and safety pins."

"I remember that," Ellie says as she and Evie smile at each other.

"It reminds me of the dress you made for Ellie when she met Jasmine," Dizzy says as she hugs Ellie.

"I spilled curry all over that," Ellie says with a laugh.

"You did," Evie says also laughing.

"Yeah, I saw that," Dizzy says with a smile before Ellie walks away to gather the stuff they needed for the smoke bombs.

"You're totally right, Dizzy. This was... this was totally the inspiration for that," Evie says as she looks at the dress.

"I knew it! You can take the girl out of the Isle, but you can't take the Isle out of the girl," Dizzy says before giving Evie a hug.

"Is this... too much, or is this fabulous?" Evie asks as she picks up a bracelet and crowned heart off of the desk, to change the topic.

"Hand me the glue gun!" Dizzy says excitedly causing Ellie to smile at her sister and Dizzy.

"Got it?" Ellie asks her sister, who is holding a glove open.

"Yeah, I got it," Evie says as Ellie pours in some of the chemicals.

"Careful," Ellie tells her.

"I got it," Evie says as Ellie finishes. "Perfect. That makes five smoke bombs."

"Okay. I think that's enough, right?" Ellie says as Evie ties the glove closed.

"Yeah," Evie agrees before she picks up a small crown. "El, how amazing would this look with my shredded tee and my heart purse?"

"Very amazing," Ellie says with a smile.

"Take it. Take a bunch," Dizzy says excitedly as she starts grabbing more things that she had made.

"Oh, Dizzy!" Evie says as she grabs her purse. "Oh, my gosh. Thank you."

"It would make me so happy to know that you were wearing something of mine in Auradon. Almost like me being there myself," Dizzy says causing Ellie to frown as she packed the smoke bombs.

"I really wish I could take you with me," Evie says as she pulls Dizzy into a hug.

"At least two of us had their dreams come true, right?" Dizzy says with a smile as Evie and Ellie share a frown.

"Yeah," Evie says sadly.

"Sis, we got to go," Ellie says as she walks over.

"Okay," Evie says as Ellie gives Dizzy a hug.

"See ya around, kiddo," Ellie says before following Evie. Dizzy starts looking through Evie and Ellie's sketch book as Evie stops at the door.

"She's gonna be okay," Ellie tells her.

"Yeah. But she could be so much more," Evie says with a small smile.

"Let's go," Ellie says before they leave.