I pull back the hammer and try one more time, only for the tool to bounce off the side of the nail head as I aim too far to the right.

"Agh! I missed it again!" I cry in frustration.

"At least you're not constantly hitting your fingers!" Chris complains.

"I have to say," George remarks, "I didn't think it was actually possible to be worse at handling construction equipment than me."

"Oh, really!" Chris shouts back, "I've put one up already!"

"It's been like 10 minutes. Me and Molly have each done 5," George replies.

"Okay, shut up," Molly says, "Ashley, let me help you."

With Dizzy's latest letter, she had included a large folder containing hundreds of posters of information about the upcoming VK Day- including the fact that applications for the next one would be handed out at the event. As per Dizzy's request, I had rounded up my friends to put up these posters all over the Isle, hoping to encourage even just one kid to throw their name into the pool of applicants. Unfortunately, it was turning out to be a bit of a disaster.

She takes the hammer and holds the nail in place, "So, you're probably just afraid of hitting your fingers, but you don't have to hit it so hard the first time. Just," she hits the nail a few times, "Sort of tap it until you don't have to hold it anymore."

She hands me the hammer again, "Here. You can finish this one."

"Okay, thanks. You should probably help Chris now," I laugh.

"Yeah... That might be a lost cause, but I'll do my best. I mean, we need everyone to get all these posters up by the end of the day."

"We don't have to do every single one today," I respond before hitting the nail further into the pole, "Hey! I did it!"

Molly smiles softly, lightly bumping my shoulder with hers, "We at least need to finish up Dragon's Eye. VK Day is only two days away!"

"I know, Molly. But you really shouldn't stress. We've totally got this," I say reassuringly, right before we both hear a loud bang as Chris drops his hammer.

"It's fine, I got it!" He shouts, and me and Molly wince.

"Besides, it's not like VK Day isn't being advertised to everyone who has access to a TV or radio," I continue.

"Yeah, I know that," she sighs, "It just feels nice to be doing something, you know? That might help somebody."

"Well, I'll finish up this one," I reply.

"And we're almost done with this block already. We can definitely knock out most of the island today," George finishes.

"Yeah, you guys are right," Molly sighs, "Thanks."

"No problem at all, Molly," George grins.

"And we can grab some food at my dad's place!" Chris exclaims excitedly.

Molly smiles, "Sounds good to me."

"Let's do it," I grin.

~~~~~~~~~

Chris leads us through the back door of Frollo's Creperie and into some sort of break room.

"Um, Chris?" Molly says, "Are you sure we should be back here? It says Employees Only."

Chris shrugs, "Nah, we're fine. Barely anyone comes in here. And besides, it's way quieter."

"Good enough for me," George replies, then sits on the couch, "Ugh, did we really have to keep going for four hours?"

"Yes," Molly answers defensively, sitting down with me, "Especially because we just started on Disputed Territory."

"Well, we finished Dragon's Eye. We can rest for a little bit," I say.

"Absolutely! I say we all deserve some of Frollo's best crepes," George states.

"I can get us some stuff from the kitchen. But you guys are gonna have to pay for it if you want actual meals," Chris retorts.

"What about you?" Molly asks.

"Um, I get it free," he answers, "My dad owns the place and all the servers love me."

"Lying to your friends again, genius?" A girl asks sarcastically as she opens the door and walks in.

"Oh, hi Rey," Chris waves and smiles.

She scowls as she takes something out of the cabinet, "It's Reina. What are you doing back here, anyway?"

Chris shrugs, "Nothing much. Sometimes I hang out here."

"That's creepy," she comments, "Who are your friends?"

"Oh, right. This is George, Molly, and Ashley," Chris introduces us, "I must have mentioned them at some point."

"You probably did, and I just didn't care," she sits down on the couch.

"Can you maybe get us something from the kitchen? We'll tip really well," Chris offers.

"I just came for a snack," Reina replies innocently, "My sincerest apologies that you find yourself unable to walk the 10 feet to the kitchen and back, but it's my break."

Chris groans and stands up, "Do you guys want anything specific?"

We all shrug, and Molly answers, "Surprise us."

"Okay, I'll be back soon," Chris says, "Reina, be nice to them while I'm gone."

She grins, "I always am."

"So..." I scramble for a conversation starter as Reina turns to stare at me, "Where do you live?"

I cringe inwardly as soon as the words leave my mouth, but I can't exactly take them back.

"I live near the Voodoo Arcade in Disputed Territory," Reina says, "With my older sister."

Molly smiles, "I live right around there, too! In Dragon's Eye, but still. Who's your sister? I might have seen her around before."

"You won't," Reina replies, "Know her, I mean. She doesn't really get out much."

"Well, what's your last name?" Molly asks, "You'd be surprised, I know a lot of people-"

"Convida," Reina snaps.

Molly pauses, "Yeah, never heard of it."

"Are you excited about VK Day?" George cuts in before the silence gets too awkward.

"Eh, I might be if there was any chance I could get picked," she responds.

"Why wouldn't you?" George asks.

She looks at him weirdly for a few seconds, "Well, first of all I didn't bother applying. But the main reason? No one important knows who I am, and no one knows who my parents are. And nineteen is just a little too old to fit their model 'bright-eyed, bushy-tailed, innocent little Villain Kid'. There's no way they're going to pick me. I'm a nobody."

"But-" I stutter, "But that's not-"

Reina laughs, "That's not how it works? Oh, kid, you have much to learn. You see, this is why you're perfect to be poster children. You believe everything about the perfect, shining, welcoming, generous kingdom of Auradon."

She stands stiffly, but pauses before adding sincerely, "I do hope it works out for you. Really. It's nice to see people who still have..."

She shakes her head, seeming to be surprised by the words coming out of her mouth, "Anyways, I've got to get going. My break is almost over. Nice chatting with you."

She walks out the door right as Chris walks in, almost running right into him.

"Hey!" Chris exclaims indignantly as Reina just shoves past him.

"I'm still expecting that tip, Frollo!" She calls from down the hallway, "And no, you cannot have any of my snacks."

George raises an eyebrow at Chris, "Everyone here loves you, huh?"

Chris rolls his eyes, "Only Reina has any problem with me. She's kind of a grouch."

"I heard that, genius!" She yells from what I assume is the kitchen.

Chris shouts back, "Shut up!"

I cough into my hand to cover my laugh as Chris huffs and sets down food on the table.

"She seems nice," I comment, giggling at Chris' expression of annoyance.

"A ray of sunshine if I've ever seen one," Chris snarks, holding up his hand to imitate her talking, "I'm Reina and I've never smiled before and that makes me better than you."

I can't manage to stifle my snort this time, almost knocking the bread Chris had given me off the table. Molly pats my shoulder with a smirk and comments,

"She is very cynical."

"Oh, totally," Chris agrees, "She's been working here for almost a year now, but she still acts like everyone is secretly plotting her demise."

"Oh, crap!" I exclaim, "I totally forgot, but I promised my aunt that I'd run the store for her this afternoon. You guys can finish the posters without me, right?"

I shove some food into my mouth and stand up.

"Yeah, we can do the rest ourselves, don't worry." Molly responds.

"Thanks, guys," I smile and open the back door, "I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"It's all good!" Chris replies.

"Good luck at the store!" George waves.

I close the door and start walking around the building, but stop abruptly when I hear two people arguing around the corner. I turn to walk the other way when I realize that I recognize one of the voices.

Is that... Reina?

I peer past the corner just enough to see that it is her.

"What do you mean you don't like it?" Reina whispers intensely, obviously trying to keep her voice down, "They could keep us safe. They used to run the whole Island. We wouldn't have to be his prisoners anymore!"

I shouldn't be listening to this. I should just turn around and walk the other way. I'm going to be late enough as it is.

"Of course I want to, Reina. You have no idea how much I want to just run away with you and live on a pirate ship, but I can't just leave them!"

Pirate ship?

"You care about your stupid assassin team more than me? Ira-"

"You know that's not fair!"

Reina sighs, "You're right, you're right. I'm sorry. But I've been working here for almost a year, I've saved everything-"

"It won't help. He'll find us, you know he will. No one on this island is powerful enough to stop him from hunting us down and killing us, and anyone who tried to help us."

"I just want this all to be over, Tana," her voice cracks.

"I know, I know. I'm sorry-"

"Stop saying you're sorry! You're the one risking your life to keep me safe! And what am I doing? Working at a stupid restaurant and-"

I hear both of them gasp sharply as I shift forward slightly, knocking a pebble across the pavement.

Shit! They're totally going to come over here and know I was spying on them-

But nothing happens. I look past the corner and see Reina standing there by herself, sewing a button onto her shirt. The other girl she was talking to is nowhere to be found.

Am I seeing things?

I finally decide to go and walk past Reina.

It's where I was going to walk anyway. Let's get this over with.

She doesn't even glance at me as I turn the corner, instead seeming to focus more on the needle in her hand.

"Hey, Reina," I say without thinking.

She looks up at me, terrified. But when I blink, she looks as calm as she did back in the restaurant.

"Hi... Ashley?" I nod and she continues, "I thought you were in the back with the rest of your strange friends."

"I have to go help my aunt with her store. Curl Up and Dye." I glance around a bit, trying to find the source of the other voice I was hearing.

"Oh yeah, I've heard of that place," she narrows her eyes at me, "What are you looking for?"

"Oh! I just- I, uh, thought I heard you talking to someone."

"Well, it's just me," she shrugs, "I've got to get back to work. Have fun at your aunt's."

She walks back into Frollo's Creperie and continues on as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

But something did happen. I saw it.

Who was that... And where did they go?

I finally convince myself to walk away from the restaurant, if only so Reina doesn't notice me staring at her through the window.

I'm not crazy. There was... someone.

I continue to walk, scuffing my feet on the ground and staring at my shoes in an attempt to give myself more time to think. There has to be some way for me to figure out what's going on. Suddenly, it hits me.

I grin and start to run in the other direction.

I might not know who that girl was... But Uma's crew might.

~~~~~

"Trespasser!" Desiree calls, jumping down from the ship to the dock that Ashley is standing on. A few more pirates Ashley doesn't know make their way towards her. She sees a couple more near the back of the ship herd the younger ones under the deck.

Ashley gulps, pretty sure that if they remember her, the pirates won't be too happy to see her. But she squares her shoulders and faces them.

"Who are you and what do you want?" A pirate with a red bandana around their hair points a sword at Ashley's throat.

"Uh, I'm Ashley. Ashley Tremaine," she says, holding up her hands in surrender, "You're Bonny?"

The pirate lowers the sword slowly and narrows their eyes, "That's right. Acting captain of the Lost Revenge, so don't think we're unprepared without Uma."

A beat of silence and recognition washes over Bonny's face. They scowl, "You better not be here to see Arcadia."

Bonny might as well have slapped Ashley across the face with the mention of her old best friend.

And the way they said it... Like she needs to be protected from me.

"Um, no, that's not-" Ashley clears her throat, swallowing back the rising lump, "I'm here for something else."

"Well then," they take a step back, crossing their arms, "What do you want?"

Ashley takes a deep breath, "Well, I just met someone today. Have you heard of anyone named Reina Convida?"

Bonny's eyes narrow, "No, but we know the last name. Why?"

"Well, I met Reina earlier today. At Frollo's Creperie. She works there. Well, uh, I overheard her talking to someone in the back alley."

"Did you get a name?" Bonny asks intently.

"Um, not a full one, just Tana. Unless that was a full name, but I'm not sure," Ashley stutters a bit, nervousness creeping into her voice, "Uh, Reina was trying to convince this person to stop doing something, get out of a dangerous situation. They wanted to come here. Well, Reina did. The other one thought that whoever they're trying to get away from is too powerful for you to protect them. They said that he would kill them and whoever tried to help them if they left."

Bonny and Jonas glance at each other, "Did they say anything about others?"

Ashley pauses, "Tana said something about not being able to just leave people behind."

"Was there a name?" Bonny demands.

She startles, "No, uh, she was about to say one. It started with I-R, I think?"

It's almost like Ashley set off a bomb, with the way the whole crew starts yelling and running, and it takes a few seconds of Bonny yelling to get everyone under control.

"You said Frollo's Creperie, right?" Bonny asks her.

She nods, still unsure of what's happening. Bonny starts yelling orders, the crew tosses swords and other weapons to each other, and Ashely just stands there, completely baffled.

"What's going on?" she exclaims, having to raise her voice to be heard over the commotion.

Bonny turns and answers, "We're going on a rescue mission."

"But- but who are they? What's going on-"

Bonny cuts her off, "Nothing that concerns you."

When Ashley stands there for a few seconds, flabbergasted, the raven-haired pirate turns back to her and states, "You can leave now."

"But I want to help," Ashley protests, "You said there was a rescue mission. I want to help with the... rescuing."

A few pirates turn to stare at her as she finishes awkwardly, but Ashley doesn't dodge their gazes like she normally would. Bonny signals for everyone to get back to work while walking over to her.

"Listen kid, you don't know what you're getting into here. We've been following one flimsy lead for months, and we've gotten into some awful stuff. We're lucky only one of us is incapacitated, and also not dead," Bonny stares me down, "You're not part of the crew, you're not trained, you're completely unprepared, and we won't ask you to risk your life."

"I can handle myself! I know how to fight, and I want to help," Ashely states confidently.

Bonny raises an eyebrow, "Fine. Let's play hardball. You barely know how to use a sword, we don't have enough time to brief you on the basics of a break-and-enter, you might be a spy and betray us, and even if you don't, you still might get us killed because of your lack of skill."

Ashley is unfortunately aware of how ridiculous she looks, standing there and gaping like a fish. Bonny turns back to the crew, thinking that they've taken care of her. It's then that Ashley finally figures it out. She marches up to the pirates.

"It's Iraia, isn't it?" Ashley is almost gratified by the look of shock on their faces, but decides to press it just a little further, "I'm not weak, and I'm definitely not a traitor. I can help you save her, and I want to, no matter how dangerous it is. If you-"

She yelps as one of the pirates grabs her hands, swiftly maneuvering them behind her back. She struggles, but the grip is like iron. Bonny walks up to her with a glass vial full of something pale-green.

"Sorry about this, kid."

Ashley tries to wrench herself free, but Bonny manages to get whatever it is down her throat.

"Sweet dreams," is the last thing she hears before everything goes dark.

~~~~~~

Ashley blinks, bewildered.

She looks around, finding herself in the middle of Voicecatcher turf, not too far from Frollo's Creperie.

She presses her fingers to her forehead, feeling a massive headache beginning to form.

What the hell happened?

I put up posters, went to Frollo's... and then something else.

She does a double take at her surroundings, desperately trying to remember what she was doing and where she was going.

I must have spaced... out.

Oh no.

She sprints down the road towards the east side of the Island.

I'm really going to be late to Curl Up and Dye!