"𝖄ou do not get to win every time!"

Uma and her crew weren't as dumb as they looked--okay, some of them were, but not all. Uma should've known not to trust a double-crosser like Mal. It was too good to be true, and yet, she fell for it.

Rilynn thought the plan was good, even though she only knew so much; she didn't know what the VKs planned to do, but she trusted them anyway. Rilynn just wished they could've slipped away before Uma figured out their plan.

They won't be able to outrun the pirates, especially not when more came out from the depth of the docks, circling them. Rilynn turned around, and more pirates came out, eyeing them warningly.

"Did you guys have a Plan B?" Rilynn quietly asked Jay, ensuring she didn't look away from the pirates.

He snickers. "When do we never?"

Suddenly, Jay moved toward a barrel beside them and knocked it down, revealing a wad of swords inside. Rilynn grinned proudly before taking the sword Jay offered. She gripped the cool steel of the handle, twisting it expertly between her fingertips, eyeing a couple of pirates carefully. Rilynn couldn't be overly cocky about her swordsmanship skills because these were pirates; they're known for their sword skills, and Rilynn doesn't train for a battle like this.

Rilynn breathed out shakily, putting in a brave face and embracing herself for a fight that was bound to happen. As scary as it sounds, Rilynn was also a little excited, which sounds like a strange thought. All her life, Rilynn has been this perfect daughter and trapped in her family castle. This was one of the most exciting moments in her life.

"Get 'em!" Uma screeched in anger.

Just as the pirates charged toward them, Carlos distracted them by shooting a smoke bomb at them with his slingshot. They yelled in surprise, ducking to protect their eyes as the blue bomb exploded in their face.

Jay stepped beside Rilynn. "Stay close, got it?"

Rilynn shot him an amusing glance. "Where's the fun in that?"

The princess smiled before darting away, leaving Jay shaking his head but following close behind her.

One pirate lurched forward with a growl, throwing his sword up and down with a strike, but Rilynn used her sword and threw him off balance. He turned around and swung again, close to Rilynn's midsection, making her jump back to dodge the blade. She gasped when the pirate swung at her head; the princess ducked and created space between them.

Rilynn looked back when another cry was behind her; the princess saw a girl running toward them. Rilynn shoved the pirate away before turning around and throwing her sword up to stop the girl's sword.

"Cute dress," Rilynn smiled at the girl, but she didn't react.

She remembered the guy behind her, so she looked and saw him coming after her again. Rilynn grunts when she pushes the girl's sword toward her, quickly moving out of the way. The pirate girl stumbled in surprise, so Rilynn kicked her toward the other pirate. The girl squealed as she launched forward, running into the guy and sending them both tumbling on the ground.

Quinn jumped over the railing behind Rilynn, grinning cunningly. The princess turned and pointed her sword to Quinn, watching her carefully. Quinn moved quickly, but Rilynn was quicker; their sword clashed hard against one another, making them stumble. Rilynn jumped back in action, thrashing her sword back at Quinn, only for the evil princess to swipe it out of the way.

"Whoa!" Rilynn yelped when Quinn twisted with something in her other hand.

Rilynn didn't know what it was, but she heard it crash somewhere behind her. Quinn wasn't messing around. Rilynn has never moved so fast, especially with a sword; she swung up and down, left and right, diagonally. Rilynn was starting to get tired.

"What a pretty little thing," Quinn grins evilly.

"Can't we talk about this?" Rilynn jumped out of the way and swung her sword, hitting Quinn's backside.

"Oh, yeah, totally!" Quinn jumped up and over the edge, landing behind Rilynn.

Rilynn got the hint: Quinn wasn't going to talk, not that Rilynn was expecting a yes. Quinn was cornering her into the corner, and Rilynn was beginning to think she might not have the upper hand anymore. The princess tried to hold off as much as she could, but Quinn was thrashing and not holding back. The evil princess was manic-looking, seemingly thriving in Rilynn's demise.

"Hey, Heart!" Jay landed behind Quinn, glaring at the evil princess as she cornered his lover.

Quinn glanced over her shoulder, and a taunting grin etched on her face. "Jay! Glad you could join us!" She kicked Rilynn's leg, tripping the princess and gripping the back of her jacket before she could fall into the water. "I knew you couldn't stay away."

Jay nearly ran forward, but he stopped for Rilynn's sake. "Don't do it, Quinn!" He glared hard at the redhead, but she smiled almost teasingly back at him. She loves taunting him. "Let her go. This is between you and me."

She tilts her head. "Is it? I think pretty-pink-princess here should know about us, shouldn't she?" Quinn leans closer to Rilynn. "Jay and I go waaay back. He was a different person, then. So, what makes you so special?"

"Nothing," Rilynn answers.

"Riles."

"Yeah?"

"Get ready."

Rilynn frowned at Jay's words, but she didn't have time to ponder because she suddenly fell forward. Rilynn let out a soft 'oof' when she fell on her belly, but the loud thud ahead of her caught her attention. The princess pushed her hair out of her face when she saw Evie holding Quinn down. Where did she even come from?

However, Rilynn decided not to dwell too hard on that.

Evie knocked Quinn off her feet, using her weight to send the evil princess toppling over the ledge and down onto the next level.

Jay rushed to Rilynn's side, helping the princess back to her feet so quickly she barely had time to process what just happened. Rilynn was still looking where Quinn ended up, and Jay was dragging her to where everyone was gathering.

"Jay, Rilynn, go start the car!"

"I'll meet you guys there," Evie added.

"On it," Jay nodded. He intertwined his hands with Rilynn's, gesturing her along. "Come on."

The couple goes down the long bridge, hand-in-hand, avoiding the fight. Carlos and Evie followed close behind the couple, keeping the pirates away from the couple to get away. Rilynn and Jay made it to the bridge that connected to the dark tunnel, and luckily, they made it through without any trouble.

Once they made it to the limo, Rilynn noticed Lonnie catching up with them; she must've looked surprised because Lonnie chuckled.

"Happy to see me?"

"Uh, yeah!" Rilynn pulled Lonnie into a big hug. "I can't believe you're here."

Lonnie grinned with a shrug. "I made them let me tag along."

Rilynn laughed. "I wouldn't expect anything less."

"Riles," Jay called, interrupting the girls. "In the car, please."

Lonnie rolls her eyes. "He is so protective of you," she laughs nonetheless. "Go before he goes into full panic mode."

Rilynn didn't need Jay's protection, but considering she had him panicking all night, Rilynn figured she should give Jay this ounce of comfort. She parted from Lonnie and forced herself into the passenger seat, knowing it would make Jay feel better.

☼☼☼

Quinn whipped her red hair over her shoulder when she caught a speck of blue standing over her. Evie was holding pirates by her lonesome, but the sight just lit a fire in her chest. Quinn didn't know when she'd ever see Evie again, but now that she was here, Quinn wanted her to herself.

The redhead jumped onto the next level, picked up a discarded sword she found, and started toward Evie. She was fighting another pirate when Quinn caught her.

Evie shoved the pirate off, but when her eyes drifted to the apparent red standing in front of her, Evie tensed. It was weird seeing her friend after all this time, but it was different; Quinn wasn't happy to see Evie, especially after things ended between them. Not that Evie ever wanted to end their friendship, but ever since she met Mal, Quinn was jealous.

"Quinnie--"

"You don't get to call me that anymore," Quinn interjects aggressively. "You lost that privilege when you left me for them."

Evie frowned regretfully. "It wasn't like that, Quinn. I swear. You were my best friend."

"That might've been true a long time ago, but you ruined our friendship."

"You know I didn't," Evie shook her head, almost wanting to plead her case.

"Stop talking," Quinn grits.

The redhead swung her sword at Evie aimlessly; Evie had to step back in a moment of surprise. Evie jumped and ducked from Quinn's sword, hearing the air swish around her. Evie swiftly moved around Quinn and managed to swipe Quinn's sword from her hand when she was distracted.

It clattered on the floor next to Quinn. She tried to reach for the weapon, but Evie kept the tip of the blade on Quinn's chest.

Quinn stared at Evie with the same betrayal as the day Evie ditched her. Quinn has never hated anyone as much as she does Evie, which is saying a lot because Quinn doesn't even like her own mother.

"Don't do this, Quinn," Evie breathed heavily with a faint frown on her forehead and a sad tone. "I know you want to hate me--" Quinn scoffed. "--but I know you also care, too. I never gave up on you. I promise you that one day, I will come back for you. I'm always here for you."

Quinn contemplated Evie's promise, and for a moment, she actually believed her. She'd come back? Quinn might actually have a chance to go to Auradon. It sounds too good to be true.

"Really?" Quinn wondered doubtfully.

"Yes," Evie said confidently, and her eyes didn't waver. "You will always be my best friend, Quinn." Evie looked as if she was near to tears, which took Quinn aback. "I loved you like a sister."

Quinn couldn't move, nor could she talk. What was she supposed to say to that? For as long as Quinn and Evie stopped hanging out, the redhead kept this grudge against her for the sake of her pride. Quinn wants to be mad at Evie for the rest of her life, but Quinn hates to admit that she has a soft spot for Evie.

Her soft spot was a girl who didn't love her like Quinn loves Evie. It's a knife to the heart, but that's how easily Quinn folded to Evie. The redhead let Evie break her heart a million times if she could be by her side.

Quinn swallowed her pride and stepped back, silently letting Evie know that she wasn't a threat anymore. She doesn't know if Uma noticed, but surely she'd understand, right? Ha! Uma is the last person who would understand. Quinn is always in her own little world; she would let this slide.

Evie smiled gratefully back at Quinn, hopeful her friend was there somewhere. Evie walks around Quinn wearily before breaking off into a run. She didn't think twice about it and helped her friends fight off Uma's pirates, feeling her muscles burn. Evie didn't see Quinn after that.

"Carlos!" Evie calls after she manages to shove a pirate away. "Smoke bomb."

He tossed one to her, and she instantly slammed it to the ground, watching it explode with a vibrant purple color. Everyone backed away when they couldn't see anything, which gave the VKs the perfect opportunity to get out of there.

Mal was the last to cross the bridge; she turned around and grinned smugly. It was another moment that Mal got the upper hand over Uma, who wasn't happy to know she lost to Mal again. Mal was shoving her victory in Uma's face, and it was irking. To add salt to the wound, Mal kicked the bridge off the ledge of the tunnel, watching it plummet into the ocean below. The waves craved, and the sea engulfed the bridge, sinking it to the bottomless ocean.

Quinn found herself beside Gil, watching Evie slip away with her friends.

☼☼☼

Rilynn hung halfway out of the window with Jay waiting impatiently beside her. It felt like forever since they'd been waiting for the others to arrive, but it must've been no more than five minutes. Rilynn tapped the side of the car anxiously as she kept her eyes trained on the dark tunnel, hoping her friends would emerge from the shadows. They made sure to have the vehicle started and ready to zoom out of there, but the others were taking longer than they would've hoped.

She counted the seconds they'd been waiting, expecting them to show up any second. Eventually, a figure moved in the darkness, and Rilynn could barely make them out; she sat up higher as if she could see them better. Rilynn sighed in relief when Carlos jumped out of the tunnel.

"You okay?" Carlos asked Lonnie as he ran by, tossing a sword carelessly to the side as he darted toward the car.

"Yeah, I'm good."

"Nice work out there, Lonnie. Where's--" Carlos caught the golden-haired princess hanging out the window. "Rilynn." Carlos breathed in relief, pulling her into a hug. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"

Rilynn shook her head, smiling reassuringly. "I'm okay. They didn't hurt me," but then the smile on her face slipped into a frown. "They know about my hair, though. Ginny caught me when I was looking for Ben and used my hair to heal Quinn's cut--which is another long story."

"Well, I'm glad you're safe, but next time, stay close."

"There won't be a next time to worry about," Jay interjected, earning an amused head shake from Rilynn.

Carlos patted Jay's arm before rushing to the back door, pulling it open, and beckoning Dude to get in. For once, he listens; how ironic.

"Come on, Evie. Get in."

"Wait. Where's Mal and Ben?" Rilynn frowned when neither of them appeared.

Evie leans closer to the window, separating the backseat and the front. "They're right behind. Don't worry."

As if they heard them, Mal and Ben ran out from the tunnel and hurried to the limo, dropping their swords in the trunk. The last three jumped into the limo just as Jay peeled the car out of the garage, pressing on the gas a little harder.

Lying on the ground, an abandoned book remained.

As terrifying as this was, Rilynn wouldn't hesitate to do this all over again.