Chapter Text
Uma woke up as the first rays of the sun reached her from her window. Which meant it was actually well into the morning, since the window was covered in dirt both for privacy and just because it's the Isle. Getting up from her bed her back was familiarly sore. The bed was only different from sleeping on the floor thanks to the slightly softer mattress she’d nicked. As well as a few sheets and the old pillow she stole from Mal’s gangs’ hideout. Getting dressed in her Isle clothes was like slipping on old skin. Oddly nostalgic and depressing. Still, when she looked at herself in the cracked mirror she shoved in a corner of the room, she found she liked it. She looked like a Captain, like a VK, like that meant something.
“Nice to know my fashion sense hasn’t changed,” she poked at her headwrap, having wrapped her braids back for the day. She felt a ping of guilt when she had to adjust her corset but at least it wasn’t by much yet. Give it a few weeks and any weight she gained would be gone soon enough. The sore feeling in her muscles felt different and she had a feeling that was what her mother meant last night. Oh well, she’d get used to it. Not like she has a choice now. Slipping her boots on and hiding her twin knives inside them she left her room, intent on finding her mother and getting some answers.
This was not to be, as the moment she left the back rooms for the shop, having to go through it to get to the kitchens, there was a shout.
“There she is!”
The shop, which was always closed at this time of the day and most knew better than to try to get in before Ursula herself removed the sign, was crowded with VKs. And not just any VK’s; these VK’s were Uma’s crew, the Lost Revenge. Just as scraggly and grimy as before even with some new bits and bobs on their clothes. It took a half second to realize the bits formed Uma’s symbol, declaring what only the very dense or far away would miss.
Uma did not get choked up at the sight nor did she start crying like a royal with a split end. She did bust out laughing, her smile bright and smug enough to make several of the pirates there weak in the knees.
“Well well well! And they say there's no loyalty amongst pirates!” she crowed and the pirates cheered back, Uma joining them and being swarmed. The pirates didn’t hug her or anything as gushy as that, but they did bow or grip her hand. Harry and Gil looked relieved after giving her a look over but kept their thoughts to themselves, of course. Of the crew only three from before were missing. Uma glanced at Harry and he shrugged unconcerned from his spot at her side.
“Two left us after a few months, but Gonzo is at home sick,” he explained as everyone backed up and took their seats around Uma’s throne. Uma half nodded, not surprised at the news. Uma did leave everyone behind; planned or not. It was basic survival tactics to find someone else high up the ladder to follow. Harry wasn’t the same as Uma. He couldn’t match her control or presence but he was still her First Mate. The fact so few left was a good sign. Still, she would have to look into that later. Make sure there's no loose lips. Right now though she wanted information.
“Most don’t trust the ‘help’ the Auradons’ are brin’,” Bonny huffed with her arms crossed, explaining without telling why Gonzo was at home. After the first four VK’s finally got the lead out, there’d been a movement to send doctors to the island. There's even a monthly medical center the Isle 'residents’ could go too. “Even that house the de-Vil kid set up.”
“Let me guess, when the guards leave the place is attacked by the peeved off adults, the traders, and the unhinged for the betrayal?” Uma said smoothly, her eyes narrowed as she looked at her nails. The crew nodded or grunted yes. “Tell me everything.”
“Are you staying here?” Mixi, a younger VK who Gil had quietly taken under his muscles who didn’t know who her parents were, just that one must have been a fairy thanks to her pointed ears and allergy to iron, asked. Her dark curly hair was pulled back today, leaving her ears to the air. She only did this with the crew, and Uma felt privately pleased that hadn’t changed much. The trust, not the fact Mixi hid her ears away from the Crew. “What about the lizard?”
Uma snorted at that nickname. There were worse things to call Mal, and she would know; she came up with most of them. Good times. “A lot has happened in the last few days.”
“Yeah, we saw! The guy on the news report fell asleep and everything!”
“It was pretty boring after a while,”
“The adults thought it was pretty funny, I overheard some minions wonder if Maleficent escaped and was getting her revenge for the humiliation at the wedding.”
“Well that is a bit right,” Uma said flippantly.
“Yeah some were even parting until some of the Huns pointed out we’ll all starve if the spell sticks.” Jonas said, picking at his nails with a dagger from who knows where. “Fae magic likes overstay it’s unwelcome, and it's not like there's plants growin' here.”
No kidding, tell that to my hair. Uma thought though it didn’t show on her face. While the shrimp smell didn’t last nearly as long as the rumors say, it did seem like Mal’s magic had something to do with it. Uma, Gil and Harry had to fight off a few of the Evil Queens’ minions for the few hair products sent on the barges. Great team building exercise in hindsight, although what she was able to get in freedom probably would have saved her the scalp burn. Turns out quite a few products for hair and skin sent to the Isle would be recalls’ and mostly used containers so people had to make their own. While the Tremanies helped in that department, they didn’t really do hair past 2b. Thankfully Freddie was willing so long as there was something in it for her. She even had a mini hair school when she felt up to it and lots of the ‘weaker’ VK’s took the opportunity to learn a skill that’d get them at least some favors. No matter the being, if you had hair on the Isle there was someone with the skill to help. For a price.
Uma mentally shook the barnacles out of her head to focus and got settled to explain the tale of the past week, when the telltale floorboard outside squeaked and in ran Gonzo.
“A messenger is here and says everyone has to get to the entrance!” he panted, his face a bit more flush than normal under haphazard makeup. Those words sent everyone into chaos, with only Uma, Harry and Gil silent as they shared looks. There were few reasons for such a gathering and only one wasn’t ending with Uma behind bars. Still, somehow Uma had a good feeling about this; search her for why. Better not get her crews’ hopes up yet, better to deal with disappointment then crushed hearts. Or a gang fight with cameras likely around.
Uma stood up and stomped her foot. “Shut it!” she snapped and everyone stopped to look at her. Uma felt her heart twist at the blatant looks of worry and indignation. “If this is what we’re all thinking of, I’m not going down without leaving an impression. And if this isn’t , I want us looking our best. Crew, makeover time.”
Her pirates saluted or nodded and Uma and her boys left for her rooms, the rest helping each other touch up their looks. Gonzo was easily ignoring Mixi’s glare to go and rest and instead was drinking from the flask he always carried. Most likely it had some MacGyver's mess of herbs and tea since the people of the Isle didn’t always trust what med’s made it on the barges. True the tea usually wasn’t in their boxes but beggars can’t be choosers.
Harry confidently lifted the bed mattress and Gil pried up the floorboard. He grabbed the box inside and after the bed was dropped Uma sat on it. Harry dug through the box muttering as Uma started on her hair.
“Aye, that’ll do it.” Harry tapped an old makeup brush on the side of the box then dipped it into some blue eyeshadow.
In under ten minutes Uma was wearing her blue dress with puffy sleeves, black boots and her hair had beads and feathers from the twists. Hidden under her wrap were small metal lockpicks and her gloves had subtle brass spikes over the knuckles. It never hurts to be prepared.
As one the crew of the Lost Revenge were marching or running towards the docks. It had been years since Auradon last told everyone on the Isle to report to one spot, Mal and her friends little show notwithstanding. The fighting that broke off afterwards was made worse by the doctors refusing to return. Ever since then Auradon had stayed out of the islands' business and they had to make due with plants, what potions didn’t need magic after they were created, and what medicine ended up on the Isle.
Once they got there Harry and Gil, who caught up to them with Celia, cleared the way up to the balcony facing the broken bridge. There must have been some magic at play as when Mal started talking, everyone at the docks could hear her. That was mostly Uma’s crew with some tagalongs from the run. Most villains would avoid the area, especially after what Hades pulled days before. He practically put a target with a red bow on the other adults and he probably knew that quite well.
When Mal’s words registered Uma felt such a rush of relief and pride she couldn't help but sing. Her voice mixed with the joyful laughter and dancing and for once she just let herself live in the moment. The dome was gone and they were Free!
It’ll be hours before she thought of her mother.