Esmeralda's POV

Jay, Carlos, Lonnie, and I drove over to the Isle of the Lost, and I was beginning to feel nerves build up inside me because I have never been here and have no idea what is in store for us. Carlos and Jay informed Lonnie and me what was happening and it sounds like we are in for a wave of mischief and evil from Uma and her pirate gang. Dealing with Uma and her pirates will be bad enough, but if Ingrid joins the party, then we have massive trouble on our hands.

As the four of us drove to the Isle, Carlos and I were sitting in the back as Lonnie and Jay were upfront together. I think Carlos was able to sense my nerves because he quickly grabbed my hand and my eyes turned to him with a small smile.

"Hey there Jitterbug," he chuckled and I exhaled with a nervous smile. "you're shaking up a storm there and it's not cause you're cold because you don't get cold."

I laughed, shaking my head, "I never get cold."

"What's wrong?" Carlos asked, squeezing my hand and gently rubbing circles on my knuckles.

"Just nervous," I sighed, looking down at our connected hands. "Never been here and don't know what to fully expected."

"You'll be okay," Carlos assured me and kissed my cheek. "I won't leave your side."

I smiled up at Carlos, who was smiling back at me, and I rested my head against his shoulder.

"I won't leave yours either."

——

We arrived at the Isle of the Lost and quickly got to work on the plan. I pushed aside my fears about this place and helped get the boys and Lonnie get ready for the battle that was up ahead.

"I'll get the swords," Jay offered before he and Carlos went over to the trunk, and Lonnie and I jogged up to Mal and Evie.

"Esmera, Lonnie," Mal gasped as Lonnie and I hugged her.

"I made them bring us," Lonnie told Mal as we pulled away.

"I'm so glad," Mal said with relief and I smiled as Evie gave us both a hug as well. "We're gonna need your powers, Esmera."

"That's why I'm here," I grinned.

"Welcome to the Isle, it's good to see you both," Evie greeted.

"Thanks," Lonnie and I replied.

I looked behind me and saw the boys approaching us with Dude beside them and I grinned.

"I thought you told him to stay?" I asked Carlos.

"Never listens to me."

"Oh!" Mal gasped when she saw the fake wand, "here, let me see."

Carlos handed her the wand and she checked it out.

"Wow, what a beauty," Mal remarked.

"Uma will never know," I smiled.

"It's noon," Jay informed us.

"Alright, are we ready?" Mal asked us and I nodded, removing my gloves off my hands.

"Yeah," Evie said, lifting the bag of smoke bombs.

"Let's do this," Mal declared and Carlos and I shared an uneasy look before all of us entered the tunnel. Carlos turned around and I followed his actions to see Dude chasing us, but Carlos pointed at him.

"Stay!"

Dude pouted in response.

"I mean it," Carlos sternly added, before he took my hand and we continued forward.

——

We exited the tunnel and walked across a wooden bridge to find a giant pirate ship in front of us. On the pirate ship were a bunch of villains and I recognized a few of them, including Uma, Harry, Gil, and Holden. I do not know what to expect, but I know getting Ben back will not be easy.

"Hey, guys!" I heard Gil call as we approached the ship. "They're here!"

"Welcome!" Harry greeted with a sly smile as he shoved Ben away and Uma appeared in front of him.

"Finally!" Uma laughed and Mal stood at the other side of Uma, while the rest of us were spread out behind Mal.

Uma:
Huh! Let's get this party started
I swear I'm cold-hearted
There's no negotiation
I'm not here for debatin'
You need some motivation?
Just look at Ben's face
Then ask yourself how long you think I'll remain patient
I'll throw him overboard and let him swim with killer sharks
You either hand over the wand, or he'll be ripped apart

Mal:
Now let's all just be smart, although for you that must be hard
You'll get your wand - no one has to come to any harm!
Don't try to intimidate
Your bark is much worse than your bite
Who's the baddest of them all?
I guess we're findin' out tonight!

Uma and Pirate crew:
Let's go! Bring it on!
Better give us what we want
It's the wand for the crown
If you don't it's goin' down

VKs, Esmeralda, Lonnie:
Let's go! Make your move!
Peace or war, it's up to you
Give him up and do it now
If you don't it's goin' down

Uma and Pirate crew:
We want the wand
Or else the king is gone
Your time is runnin' out!
You should really watch your mouth

VKs, Esmeralda, Lonnie:
Let's go! Pound for pound
We're prepared to stand our ground
Put your swords up, put 'em up!
It's goin' down!

Uma and Pirate crew:
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Make the trade
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Or walk the plank
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(Uma, Uma, Uma - la - la - la)
Make the trade
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(Uma, Uma, Uma - la - la - la)
Or walk the plank

Mal:
Okay, look, this is not a conversation
It's a do-or-die situation
If you don't give me back the king, I'll have no hesitation
I'll serve you right here, and I don't need a reservation
That way your whole pirate crew can have a demonstration
Release him now, and we can go our separate ways
Unless you wanna deal with me and the VKs

Uma:
So that's your big speech, huh? An empty ultimatum?

Harry:
All it takes is one swing and I'll humiliate him
Matter of fact, make one wrong move, and I'll debilitate him
And if he even starts to slip, I'll eliminate him!
All it takes is one wrong look and I'll -

Uma:
Harry! We get it. Chill.

Uma and Pirate crew:
Let's go! Bring it on!
Better give us what we want
It's the wand for the crown
If you don't it's goin' down

VKs, Esmeralda, Lonnie:
Let's go! Make your move!
Peace or war, it's up to you
Give him up and do it now
If you don't it's goin' down

Uma and Pirate crew:
We want the wand
Or else the king is gone
Your time is runnin' out!
You should really watch your mouth

VKs, Esmeralda, Lonnie:
Let's go! Pound for pound
We're prepared to stand our ground
Put your swords up, put 'em up!
It's goin' down!

Ben:
Hey, we don't have to choose
We don't have to light the fuse
Mal, whatever you do, it's gonna be a lose-lose
There's gotta be a better way
Uma, I promise I'll give you your chance
You'll have your say

Uma:
Silly king! You? Give me?
You're gonna give me a chance?
Well, not a chance!

Uma and Pirate crew:
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Make the trade
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Or walk the plank
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(Uma, Uma, Uma - la - la - la)
Make the trade
Yo, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
(Uma, Uma, Uma - la - la - la)
Or walk the plank

"Hold on," Uma stopped Mal and grinned, "too easy. Why don't you give it a test drive? We wanna see it work and miss snow princess can't help."

I wrinkled my nose Uma and sent her a glare, but she sent me a smile in return.

"You always were quite the drama queen," Mal remarked.

"And nothing too big or else Ben is fish bait," Uma threatened and I glanced over to see Harry and Holden holding Ben over the ocean.

"We're dead," Jay mumbled and I looked around the place until I noticed Dude sitting nearby us. Mal looked back at us and Carlos and I gestured over to Dude without Uma noticing.

Mal stood by the railings and looked at Dude. "Okay... although it seems absurd, turn your bark into a word."

Mal waved the wand and pointed it at Dude, who did not react and nothing happened.

Mal smiled at Uma awkwardly, before looking back at Dude with an annoyed look.

"Talk dog!"

"Does this vest make me look fat?" Dude asked in a small voice and I giggled under my breath as the pirate crew laughed. "Does anyone have some bacon? Cookies?"

Uma laughed before turning serious, "give me the wand!"

"Give me Ben!" Mal shot back and there was a moment of silence before Uma gestured over to Harry and Holden.

"Harry, Holden, bring him over," Uma ordered and the pirate crew laughed as the two brought Ben over to us. Holden shoved Ben to his knees in front of Mal and he looked up at her as Uma put out her hand, but Mal put hers out.

"Cut him loose, Harry," Uma ordered Harry.

Harry groaned before slicing the ropes of Ben's wrist with his sword, "I never get to have any fun!"

Mal took Ben's hand and Uma grabbed the wand from Mal, which made the pirate crew cheer loudly. Mal pulled Ben onto his feet and began to push him away, but he continued to look back at Uma as the rest of us ran.

"Ben! Go!" Mal shouted as Uma and the pirate crew formed together with Uma pointing the wand at the sky.

"By the power of the sea! Tear it down and set us free!"

Nothing happened and Uma lowered the wand with an angry look. "No!" She smashed the wand and this made us run faster toward the exit, but we had no time to exit and needed to fight them. "You do not get to win every time!"

"Guys!" Jay called and Carlos, Lonnie, and I turned to see he had the barrel of swords we brought. He tossed each of us a sword as Carlos launched a smoke bomb at the pirate crew, which exploded in their faces. Carlos tossed me slingshot and I formed an ice ball that I launched at the crew, which froze the whole floor of the ship and two pirates. During this, Carlos launched another smoke bomb at them before Evie tossed Ben a sword and the pirate crew flung themselves over to us.

I noticed Holden make his way toward me and I leaped across the bridges, landing only a few feet in front of him.

"Hey ice princess," he greeted before we began to fight with our swords. "Dating a villain kid, huh? Doesn't seem your style."

"Whoever told you bandanas looked good on you lied," I countered and sprayed ice on the floor making him slip onto his but. "You're out of style."

He dropped kicked me and I slipped onto my butt which allowed him to push me off the edge. I yelped, grabbing the railing to stop me from falling and he laughed, bending down.

"Have fun with the sharks," he laughed and was about to push me, but Carlos suddenly appeared and kicked Holden into the ocean below us.

"Carlos!" I smiled and he immediately helped me onto my feet.

"You okay?" He asked me and I nodded, before glancing down to see Holden swimming below us

"Just preachy."

Not even five seconds later, we got interrupted by two pirates and began to fight them. Uma and Mal were fighting as well as Jay and Harry and Gil and Ben, while Lonnie and Evie were being queens and taking down the other pirates.

"Carlos," I said as we were fighting.

"Yeah?"

"I'm so glad you're not overprotective of me and allow me to fight," I told him and he chuckled.

"Something I've learned being a villain kid is to treat everyone equally no matter their gender," Carlos explained to me and we stood back to back. "And being my girlfriend does not change anything about that."

I smiled, "well, thank you."

After I finished my sentence, we both successfully took out the pirates and watch them fall into the ocean. Carlos and I smiled at each other and hi-fived.

I noticed Ben struggling with Gil and leaped over to help.

"Gil!" I called and he turned to me, striking his sword and I blocked it with mine.

"Get out of here Ben!" Carlos yelled and Ben made his escape as Carlos and I dealt with Gil.

Once we got past Gil, I noticed Uma and Mal move and heard Holden and Harry, who had fallen into the ocean, call out to Uma.

Uma paused and helped the two boys back onto the bridge and my eyes lingered on Uma's random act of kindness toward her crew.

My thoughts got distracted when I heard Carlos say something.

"Jay, go start the car!"

"I'll meet you guys there!" Evie added before Jay and Lonnie sprinted to the tunnel and left. The rest of us continued to fight the pirates off, but it was not easy and the pirates were not giving up.

Holden appeared in front of me, but without his bandana.

"Look who's learning about style," I joked and he snarled, striking me with his sword. I dodged it and we started to fight with our swords.

"Carlos!" Evie called, "smoke bomb!"

Carlos tossed Evie a smoke bomb and I used all my might to shove Holden into the blast area as Evie smashed the smoke bomb onto the ground. Carlos, Ben, Mal, Evie, and I quickly made our escape as the pirates and Uma were distracted by the purple smoke.

Mal stayed back to make sure Uma and the pirate crew couldn't follow us. The rest of us made it back to the limo in a rush in hopes no one followed us and I was praying Ingrid wouldn't show up.

She didn't rear her ugly head during the battle, but I know she'll return soon. I can feel it.

"You okay?" Carlos asked me as we ran out of the tunnel and saw Lonnie standing there waiting for us to arrive.

"Yeah!"

"Nice work out there Lonnie!" Carlos praised Lonnie as we passed her and she smiled at us.

"Dude, hop in," I told Dude and he leaped into the limo, which Carlos sigh.

"Okay, so you listen to her," he complained and I giggled as Lonnie and Evie rushed over to us.

"Come on, Evie, get in!" Carlos rushed and the two girls got inside the limo.

"Mal!" I hear Ben call when he appeared from the tunnel as the rest of us were waiting in the limo. Mal ran out of the tunnel and she and Ben ran to the limo, getting inside. Once everyone was in the and doors were closed, Jay immediately drove off and we all took a break of relief.

I felt my body lean back and it landed right on Carlos's chest, who draped his arm around my body. Dude was sat on Carlos's lap and I softly petted his fur.

"I'm really sorry that things didn't go the way you wanted them to," Ben suddenly apologized, cutting the tension in half.

"I mean... as long as you're safe that's..." Mal heavily breathed in her reply.

"At least I got to see the isle," Bena remarked. "They're my people too. Uma helped me see that."

"Ben, Uma captured you," Mal reasoned.

"She's an angry girl with a bad plan," Ben told her. "It's not so different from you when you came to Auradon."

I scratched my neck and looked away, feeling the awkwardness build up. Ben's not wrong though, Mal was the same way.

"Awkward!" Dude chirped and I turned to the dog,

"Dude, I know you can talk, but that doesn't always mean you should," Carlos berated Dude and the awkwardness lingered in the air the entire ride home.

——

We arrived back at Auradon and as we were walking across the campus I felt my phone buzz. I checked it and saw ten missed phone calls and fifty texts from Andy.

"I need to see my cousin," I told the others as Lonnie left to put the gear and swords away. "He's pretty upset."

"See ya later at Cotillion?" Carlos asked me and I nodded before kissing his cheek.

"Of course," I smiled and he returned it before I walked off to get ready for Cotillion. "See ya guys later!"

I quickly ringed Andy and he picked up almost immediately.

"Andy-"

"Esmeralda!" He gasped, "I was so worried! You didn't respond or pick up! What happened? Are you okay?"

I chuckled at his worriedness for me, "I'm okay. I had a bit of an issue to take care of but it's all solved.

"What was it?"

"Ben got captured by Uma and her pirate gang and I had to help save him," I explained to Andy. He probably won't believe me because it sounds very unlikely.

"Seriously?" He asked me and I sighed, "wow, I'm glad you're all okay."

"Yeah, me too, I just hope nothing bad happens, ya know? Cuz Uma was really angry and..." I paused and lowered my voice, "Ingrid showed up."

"Ingrid?" He shouted and I shushed him.

"Yeah, she showed up before I left for the isle and I have a feeling that wasn't the last time I'll see her," I remarked as I walked into the dorm hall. "I'm gonna come to your room."

"Good," he said before he hung up randomly.

I put my phone away and chuckled, before walking toward Andy's room.

I arrived at his room and knocked on it a few times before the door swung open to reveal my cousin. He was currently getting ready for Cotillion and this reminded me of something.

"Couz!" He beamed and pulled me in for a hug when I walked in and I chuckled hugging him back. "I'm glad you're okay."

"Me too," I smiled as we pulled away. "So... you have a date? Like a certain fairy godmother's daughter?"

"Actually yes," he smiled proudly and I audibly gasped. "I asked her a couple of hours ago."

"Dude, I'm proud of you," I smiled, high-fiving him. "See, it wasn't that hard."

"Turns out she likes me too and if this goes well, I'll be a taken man," he remarked and I clapped happily.

"That means double dates for you two and Carlos and me," I giggled and he shrugged with a blush.

"Yeah, definitely," he agreed. "I couldn't have asked her without you. Thanks for pushing me to do it."

"No worries," I waved him off. "You can always count on me."

"Same here," Andy grinned and I smiled back at him.

Esmeralda:
If I'm the sun then you're the moon
If you're the words then I'm the tune, yeah
If you're the heart then I'm the beat
Somehow together we're complete, yeah
There are times my world is crumbling
And the rain is crashing down
But everywhere you are, the sun comes out

Esmeralda and Andy:
Even when you're gone, I feel you close
You'll always be the one I love the most
You're in my heart, on my mind
You are underneath my skin
And anywhere, anytime, that you need anything
Count me in
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Count me in, yeah, yeah

Andy:
And I don't need to say a word, no
'Cause you know when I'm happy and when I'm hurt
We're close as pages in a book
'Cause you make me feel better with just one look
There are times my world is crumbling
And the rain is crashing down
But everywhere you are, the sun comes out

Esmeralda and Andy:
Even when you're gone I feel you close
You'll always be the one I love the most
You're in my heart, on my mind
You are underneath my skin
And anywhere, anytime, that you need anything
Count me in
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Count me in, yeah, yeah

Andy:
'Cause we're two halves of the same new hearts
That beats to our own drum

Esmeralda:
You're the shadow always by my side
You're the "sometimes knows me better than I know myself"

Esmeralda, Andy, Both:
And I wish that you were here with me tonight
Even when you're gone I feel you close
You'll always be the one I love the most (I love the most)
You're in my heart, on my mind
You are underneath my skin
And anywhere, anytime that you need anything
Count me in (oh, oh)
(Oh, oh, count me in) Oh oh oh oh oh
Count me in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, count me in
Oh, oh (oh oh oh oh oh), oh, oh, count me in
Oh, oh, oh, oh, count me in

Andy and I hugged tightly and I smiled against his chest

"Love ya, couz," Andy said.

"Love ya too."

——
Up Next: Cotillion Madness

HEY HEY HEY HELLO IM BACK AFTER A YEAR OF NO UPDATES

IM SO SORRY I APOLOGIZE OKAY!! I GOT SO BUSY WITH MY HENRY DANGER STORY AND COMPLETELY LOST INTEREST IN THIS BOOK AND LIKE ALL MY OTHER BOOKS! IM SO SORRY FORGIVE ME:((((

Anyways, since I finished my Henry Danger series (go read it if ya haven't) I can focus on my other books. I'm taking my time with my books cuz I wanna make them as great as I can. So, my attention will be on this book and when I complete this book I will take a small break before I do book three. I plan to focus on a different book during that time before getting book three started. Don't ask for updates cuz I will not answer them and it's useless to ask me. I update when I can and when I want to.

I'm sorry for the year-old wait. I feel so bad, but I hope you all will continue to read this book anyway.

I love you all! See ya in the next chapter <3