CHAPTER 24

"If you guys never would have brought him here, this never would have happened," Zoe 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.

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

"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," Zoe tells them. "And she's a punk. And guess what? Now I have to go get him."

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

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

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

"Mal, come on," Evie tries.

"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 before giving Mal a hug.

Zoe 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. Zoe catches it before sitting down.

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

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

"Where is he?" Zoe 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 Zoe, game on," Mal says.

"I see no need to bring Ben into this," Zoe 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," Zoe says with a smirk before Uma sits in front of her.

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

"Let's do it, Zoe," Mal says before Zoe 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," Zoe says as she grabs Uma's hand.

"One," Uma counts.

"Two," Zoe counts.

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

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

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

"If I win... you bring me the wand," Uma says causing Zoe to go into shock and lose her purple 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 Zoe a kiss before walking away. Zoe 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 Zoe 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!" Zoe says getting their attention. "Your 3D printer."

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

"Yes!" Zoe 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," Zoe 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 Zoe. "Oh, and sick hair, by the way. Evil Stepmom seriously stepped up her game."

"Okay, do you want to know something?" Zoe asks as she plays with her hair. "My sister did this."

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

"I know. I'm, like, loving it. It's, like, a lot lighter," Zoe 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," Zoe explains. "Cause we're rotten..."

"To the core," Everyone finishes.

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

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

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

"Evie? Evie! You came back!" Dizzy cheers causing Zoe 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 sketch book for you," Dizzy tells Evie as Zoe 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."

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

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

"You did," Evie says also laughing.

"Yeah, I saw that," Dizzy says with a smile before Zoe 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 Zoe to smile at her sister.

"Got it?" Zoe asks Evie, who is holding a glove open.

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

"Careful," Zoe tells her.

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

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

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

"Very amazing," Zoe 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 Zoe 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 Zoe share a frown.

"Yeah," Evie says sadly.

"E, we got to go," Zoe says as she walks over.

"Okay," Evie says as Zoe gives her sister a hug.

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

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

"Yeah. But she could be so much more," Zoe says with a small smile as she looks at her sister.

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