XXV. Life doesn't discriminate

Wait For It by Hamilton Cast

The trio moved in tense silence through the woods, the weight of their betrayal still heavy on their shoulders. Every step was slow, deliberate—until a shout shattered the night.

Then, a surge of pink lightning tore across the sky, crackling above the castle.

A deep, guttural roar followed.

The three of them stopped dead in their tracks. They didn't need to see it to know.

Mal.

She was fighting Audrey.

Uma reacted first, spinning on her heel and bolting toward the castle. Harry and Estella hesitated for only a moment, locking eyes in silent fear before sprinting after her.

As they skidded onto the castle grounds, they barely had time to process before Mal—in full dragon form—swooped overhead, her enormous wings sending powerful gusts of wind toward the ground.

"Bloody hell," Harry muttered, staring up in shock.

Estella gritted her teeth. Mal was struggling. Even in dragon form, she wasn't winning.

"She doesn't stand a chance without the ember!" Uma yelled, gripping both of their arms.

Harry still watched the fight, his jaw tight. Estella exhaled sharply.

Before they could react, Audrey raised her scepter, pink lightning blasting into Mal mid-flight.

The dragon roared in pain, her wings faltering.

That was enough for Uma. She shoved Harry's arm. "Come on!"

Before Estella could protest, Uma had already grabbed her hand, dragging her forward.

They ran straight into the chaos, stopping right beneath the dragon. The ground trembled from the force of Mal's wings as she tried to recover.

Uma didn't hesitate.

She stepped forward, lifting her mother's now glowing shell necklace into the air.

"We're stronger together."

Her voice was unwavering, and she began to chant:

"Regain your might and ignite!"

The energy from Uma's necklace pulsed outward, shooting toward Mal.

The blue ember—still clutched in the dragon's talons—began to glow.

Harry let out a triumphant, "YES!" throwing his arms around Uma and Estella, holding them tight.

Estella gasped in relief, her heart still pounding, while Uma exhaled sharply, finally allowing herself to breathe.

Above them, Mal soared higher, beating her massive wings as she hovered at the top of the castle. Audrey, still standing defiantly, raised her scepter.

With one final, desperate move, both girls unleashed their power at the same time.

Pink lightning crackled through the air as Audrey's magic shot forward, meeting the radiant blue glow of Mal's ember. The two forces collided, swirling together into a massive beam of glowing purple energy, neither side willing to back down.

From the ground, Uma, Estella, and Harry could only watch, their hands gripping each other's arms as the power surged in the sky.

"Come on, Mal!" Uma shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth.

"You got this, Dragon Girl!" Estella yelled.

"Blast 'er, Mal!" Harry added with a wild grin, his hook raised high.

The battle raged on, their magic clashing, fighting, pushing.

But then—

Mal's ember pulsed with a final burst of power, overpowering Audrey's magic.

The pink lightning wavered. Then flickered. Then shattered apart like glass.

Audrey's scepter fell from her hands as her knees buckled. With a final, exhausted gasp, she collapsed.

Silence hung in the air for just a moment.

Then—

"WE WON!" Uma screamed.

Harry whooped with excitement, grabbing both Estella and Uma as they jumped around in a circle, celebrating.

Estella let out a victorious laugh, flinging her arms around Harry and Uma as they all shouted and cheered, the weight of the battle finally lifting.

Estella was completely knocked out, her cheek smushed against Harry's shoulder, breathing softly.

Harry smirked down at her, amused by how quickly she had passed out in the comfort of the chair. He adjusted his arm slightly, letting her rest more comfortably against him before pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

The room, however, was anything but peaceful.

Audrey lay unconscious in her bed, her breathing faint, her skin pale. The air was thick with tension as the group watched over her.

"She's slipping away," Evie murmured, voice filled with worry.

Mal exhaled sharply, running a hand through her now slightly frizzed hair. "Hades is the only one who might be able to do something."

Ben scoffed, arms crossed over his chest. "Hades? He's not going to help. He wouldn't lift a finger."

Mal hesitated, glancing at Ben before speaking carefully. "He actually might... for me."

Ben frowned. "What? Why would—" He stopped mid-sentence, the realization hitting him like a freight train. His jaw clenched, eyes flickering between Mal and the floor as he rubbed his forehead, whispering a stunned, "Okay."

The room went silent.

Finally, Ben sighed. "I'll have to send some guards to bring him in."

Uma, who had been standing near the foot of Audrey's bed, sighed as well, though hers sounded much more frustrated. "Maybe I could hitch a ride. The Isle is my home—someone needs to be there to protect it."

At her words, Harry finally moved. He carefully shifted Estella off of him, laying her against the cushions of the chair before sitting forward. He nudged Uma, flashing a grin. "Well, I guess you'll need your First Mate, then."

Ben frowned at them. "What about Estella?"

At the mention of her name, Harry tensed. His fingers absentmindedly curled around the arm of the chair. He took a slow breath before shrugging, voice unreadable. "I want her to come with me." He glanced at the sleeping girl beside him, his gaze softening just a little. "But... it's up to her."

The next day, Estella was exactly where she wanted to be—wrapped in Harry's arms, in their bed on the ship, back on the Isle.

But this time, it didn't feel like a prison. It didn't feel like she was trapped or left to rot.

For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt free.

Uma was here, giving her days a new kind of excitement with her presence. Having her best friend around again made everything feel complete. Harry and Estella were inseparable, just like before—always laughing, always scheming, always with wide smiles on their faces.

They spent the day like they used to—stealing from street vendors, jumping across rooftops, running through alleyways with reckless grins. They were back to their old ways, back in their element, and it was thrilling.

Meanwhile, Gil was back at the Chip Shoppe, telling all the kids wild stories about Auradon—about the grand castles, the soft beds, and the ridiculous amount of food. They listened with wide eyes, hanging onto his every word.

The next day, Estella stood tall in her usual light sage green leather combo, her knee-length brown boots clicking against the pavement as she walked. Harry was right beside her, dressed in his signature pirate attire, his hook glinting in the sunlight. Uma stood ahead of them in a stunning seafoam teal outfit, matching her freshly dyed teal locks that shimmered in the light. Behind them, Gil followed closely, his usual cheerful grin widening as he took in the sight before them.

And what a sight it was.

The sky above the Isle was bright, clear and blue—so different from the usual gloom and gray. But that wasn't the only thing that had changed.

The barrier.

It was gone.

For the first time ever, there was no shimmering force field trapping them in, no invisible cage keeping them separated from the rest of the world.

They were free.

Free to cross the bridge, free to step into Auradon—just as the Auradon kids were free to step onto the Isle.

Estella let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her lips curling into a soft, hopeful smile. This had to be Ben's doing. He had to be a part of this extraordinary movement, this change that was unlike anything she ever thought possible.

And then she saw her.

Gwen.

Dressed in her usual scarlet red and black ensemble, her Doc Martens planted firmly on the ground like she belonged nowhere else.

Estella barely registered the tears in her eyes before she sprinted, her legs carrying her faster than they ever had before.

She crashed into Gwen's arms, sobs spilling from her lips as she held onto her friend like she never planned to let go.

Gwen Gothel pulled back just enough to cup Estella's face, her dark eyes glistening with tears.

"I'm so sorry," she choked out. "Every day, I lay in bed sick with worry, thinking about you—wondering if you were okay, if you were safe. I should've been there. I should've—"

Estella shook her head, a watery smile forming on her lips. "It's okay, Gwen."

Before Gwen could say another word, a looming shadow cast over them. She glanced up, her brows furrowing as she took in the figure hovering over Estella.

Harry Hook.

His stance was protective, his sharp blue eyes locked onto Gwen with mild suspicion, as if making sure she wasn't going to take his girl away.

Gwen's lips parted in surprise before her gaze flickered back to Estella. "Wait... you two?"

Estella grinned, leaning into Harry's side and wrapping an arm around him. "Yeah."

Harry smirked, his grip on his hook tightening as he threw an arm around Estella's shoulders. "Got a problem with that, Gothel?"

Gwen scoffed, shaking her head as she crossed her arms. "Honestly? No. Just... shocked."

Before anyone could say anything else, a figure approached them hesitantly.

Ben.

He walked over slowly, his eyes scanning Estella carefully as if searching for something in her expression.

"Can we talk?" he asked, his voice unsure, guilty.

Estella studied him for a moment before nodding. "Yeah."

She stepped away from Harry, who gave her a reassuring squeeze before letting her go. Gwen shot Ben a warning look before allowing them space.

Not even a second after they moved out of earshot, Ben broke.

Tears welled in his eyes as he took a deep breath, his hands shaking slightly.

"Estella, I—I don't even know where to start," he admitted, his voice heavy with regret. "I failed you. I failed all of you. I thought I was doing what was right, but I hurt you instead. And I am so sorry."

Estella stared at him, her heart clenching at the sight of the usually composed prince looking so utterly broken.

"I should have listened. I should have fought for you guys sooner. You were right. Keeping the Isle locked away wasn't safety, it was a prison—a prison I helped keep you trapped in." He wiped his face with his sleeve, letting out a shaky breath. "I don't deserve it, but... can you ever forgive me?"

Estella inhaled sharply, her anger toward him melting away as she saw just how genuine he was.

She stepped forward, reaching out and squeezing his arm.

"I forgive you, Ben."