What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball (Part 2)
What could’ve happened at Castlecoming Week here (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
What could have happened AFTER the Castlecoming Ball here (Part 1, Part 3)
Ella leaned against Bridget’s door, her heart racing as she tried to process everything that’s happened. The weight of her friend’s pain pressed heavily on her chest. Slowly her back slid down the door until she found herself sitting on the cold floor of the dormitory hallway. She was supposed to be back home by now, but now is not really the time for her to worry about her stepmother. She needed to make things right with Bridget.
With a deep breath, Ella prepared herself. She couldn’t afford to wallow in guilt; she needed to act. She needed to get her hands dirty. She needed to jump headfirst into this mess, the chaos she had inadvertently triggered. She needed to confront Uliana.
Ella made her way to Black Lagoon, the air thick with an eerie mist that swirled and enveloped her like a dark cloak. Each step felt heavier as she walked on the jagged rocks, the sounds of water lapping against the shore echoing ominously in the silence.
“ULIANA!” she shouted, her voice cutting through the stillness. “ULIANA! SHOW YOURSELF!”
As if in response, a strange light began to glow from the depths of murky waters. A giant angler fish emerged, its bioluminescent lure casting an otherworldly glow across the lagoon. The fish’s enormous form seemed to part the water, revealing a stone path that led directly to its mouth.
Ella hesitated for a moment, the sight both mesmerizing and terrifying. Memories of Bridget’s tear-streaked face flashed in her mind—the pain, the betrayal in her eyes. She couldn’t let that be the last image she had of her friend. No, she owed it to Bridget to make things right. She prepared herself, and her resolve hardened. She couldn’t turn back now.
The fish opened its massive mouth, and Uliana emerged from its depths, her silhouette framed by the shimmering light as her crew followed her.
“How dare you, a mere peasant, call for me,” Ulaina sneered, her voice dripping with disdain.
Ella squared her shoulders, refusing to be intimidated. “Give it to me. The spellbook. The cursed item. Just give me what you used on Bridget. Do it while I’m asking nicely.”
“Easy, lass. It’s not like you can do anything about it.” Hook interjected, his tone dismissive.
“Don’t get me started with you, Hook. I’ll deal with you later,” Ella shot back, her anger flaring. Her fist clenched at her sides, and she could feel her pulse quicken as the heat of her frustration surged through her.
Uliana cackled, a sound that sent shivers down Ella’s spine. “If I don’t give it to you, what are you gonna do about it?”
“On second thought, Morgie darling, fetch the cookbook,” Uliana commanded. Morgie obediently retrieved it, her tentacles writhing with excitement.
“Why don’t you return this to Principal Merlin’s office, since you’re quite eager to get your hands on it?” Uliana tossed the book towards Ella, who barely caught it, her heart racing.
Ella opened the book and flipped through the pages, desperation clawing at her insides. She scanned each spell, searching for the one that had cursed Bridget. Finally, she found it, but her heart sank as she read the description. She can’t understand it. The spell only changed a person's appearance—nothing about personality or anything internal.
Ella’s mind raced. This didn’t make sense. Bridget had always been the sweetest, most forgiving person she knew, never holding grudges, even when others mocked her for being too nice. She remembered the times when Bridget would laugh off insults with a lighthearted joke or offer treats to someone who wronged her. Bridget always said, “There’s good in everyone” or “You’ll always get more with sugar than salt.” This newfound anger, this darkness—it was so unlike her.
Did she really mess it up? But Bridget wasn’t a resentful person before. Was it really just her fault? No, there must be something else. There had to be something more at play, something beyond the simple spell described in the book.
As the VK began to head back into their hideout, Ella murmured, “Where’s the rest of it?”
“Huh? The rest of what?” Morgie piped in, his tone a cutesy mocking one.
“Where’s the rest of the spell?” She yelled out frantically, heaving loudly as her heart pumped fast.
“There’s nothing else. That’s all you need to bring back that desperate girl to her original form.” Uliana said, her voice laced with mockery.
“This can’t be! She’s already in her human form. You must’ve done something that messed with her head. She’s never mad at me like this!” Ella protested, desperation creeping into her voice.
Uliana turned to her crew, a sour expression crossing her face as she sensed betrayal in the air. She narrowed her eyes, scanning each member with suspicion. Could it be one of them? she thought. Loyalty is a fragile thing, easily swayed by fear or greed. She’s seen it before—those who claim to be allies, only to stab them in the back when it suits them. But she won’t let that happen again. The memory of her past betrayals flickered in her mind, fueling her resolve. They should know by now that crossing me has consequences.
She then fixed her gaze back on Ella, a smirk playing on her lips, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, peasant. Are you sure it’s not you running off with your prince that messed with her head?”
The crew erupted into mocking laughter, their jeers echoing around the lagoon like a chorus of torment. Ella felt her cheeks flush with anger and humiliation, but she stood her ground. This was about Bridget, not her.
“Enough!” Ella shouted, her voice steady despite the fear swirling inside her. “You think this is a game? You think you can just toy with people’s lives and get away with it?”
Uliana’s laughter faded, replaced by a cold glare. “Mind you, we’re not here to play games, but to rule.”
She turned back to enter the angler fish while the rest of her crew followed her. “You’ve wasted enough of our time.”
She blew her shell necklace. In response, their giant angler fish hideout’s mouth started to close. “Good luck with the giant eels,” Uliana said to Ella as the rocks descended with the hideout.
Ella narrowly escaped the eels as she hopped on the descending rocks, tossing the book first before diving onto the shore like a mad woman. She landed hard, her chest heaving as she lay sprawled on the ground, adrenaline coursing through her veins. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, her limbs trembling from the exertion. Dirt clung to her sweat-soaked skin, and her muscles ached from the desperate scramble. For a moment, she just lay there, eyes wide, heart pounding in her ears, struggling to process the danger she had just survived.
While Ella struggled to escape the giant eels above, another struggled beneath the surface of the lagoon.
“WHO DARES TO BREAK BRIDGET’S CURSE?” Uliana yelled angrily at her closest crew.
Each one denied with “I don’t even like her,” or “I wouldn’t do that to you, my goddess,” or “I don’t care,” But one, out of the four, remained silent. Hook processed what he had done, unsure why he had acted. For him, it was really just a spur of the moment, nothing else. Or was it?
As he stood there, a flashback of their dance at the Castlecoming Ball flooded his mind—the way Bridget had looked at him, her eyes filled with warmth and trust. He remembered the softness of her hand in his, the lightness of her laugh as they moved across the floor. It had been a rare moment where he felt something—something he couldn’t quite name, but it lingered, stirring a part of him he thought long buried.
Was it guilt? Was it something more? Even he himself didn’t know why he had acted, but the memory of Bridget’s smile haunted him, leaving him more conflicted than ever.
“James, would you care to explain.” Uliana smiled with wide eyes that could kill.
Morgie and the couple moved aside as Uliana approached him. “I thought we had already established that you don’t have anything to do with that pesky princess.”
“I don’t.” Hook answered shortly, gulping.
“Then tell me, why in Merlin’s world is she back to her normal self?” She asked, her tentacle brushing his cheeks.
“LIES!” Uliana accused firmly.
“There’s only five of us who know how to reverse it.” She paused, scanning the group. “These three,” pointing at Maleficent, Morgie, and Hades, “don’t like her enough to do her a favor.”
“But you, my dear, have been showing a lot of interest in her. Even danced with her during the ball. Was it really all just an act, Hook?”
Hook couldn’t utter a single word, also unsure where his loyalty lay.
Uliana took his silence as a no, "I guess you’ve made your choice.”
She inhaled deeply before she yelled, “THROW HIM TO THE EELS!”
Uliana’s other lackeys started to surround Hook as she blew her shell necklace.
“WAIT! Do we really have to do this, Uli?” Morgie interfered.
She scoffed before saying, “ Loyalty isn’t gray like people, Morgie. It's black and white. You’re either completely loyal or not loyal at all.” She continued in a bitter tone.
“NO MORE BUTS! THROW HIM NOW!”
Maleficent cast a spell on the lackeys, freezing them in place.
“I’m not,” she defended herself.
“I just thought that we could use him to torment princess weirdo more,” Maleficent suggested, her eyes glowing green, signaling her psychotic tendencies. The thrill of watching Bridget squirm under their manipulation was far more appealing than simply eliminating Hook; it was a game, and she relished the thought of orchestrating chaos from the shadows, savoring every moment of the princess’s despair.
Uliana narrowed her eyes, contemplating Maleficent’s suggestion. Maleficent wasn’t always like this; she never orchestrated a plan, especially something that could harm Hook. Maybe she had a change of heart. Maybe this time, Maleficent had chosen to be more active in ensuing chaos.
“You think you can manipulate him to your advantage? That could work, but it’s a risk.”
“Every plan is a risk,” Maleficent replied smoothly, her expression sly. “But if he’s truly conflicted, we can use that to our benefit. He’ll be our pawn in this game.”
“Fine, but do it properly,” Uliana said to Maleficent as she exited the hideout with Morgie following right behind her.
Hook felt grateful to Maleficent. She always had his back, always diverting the attention from him whenever he needed it. However, he would never guess she would suggest he become their pawn. Their pawn. Maybe it was just his theatrics rubbing off on her.
He approached her. “Thanks for that, Mal. I know that I can count on you,” he said, placing his left hand on her shoulder.
Maleficent looked at the hand as if disgusted by it. Pushing the hand away, she said, “Don’t be ridiculous. There’s no fun in making you eel food. Controlling you would be much, much more thrilling.” Her eyes glowed green again.
“I already warned you before, so don’t even.” she threatened her ‘friend’, before leaving the hideout with Hades.
Hook couldn’t believe this. A wave of dread washed over him. He had underestimated Uliana’s wrath. He underestimated the depths of Maleficent’s cunningness. Maybe for once, he also needed to take his own advice: Trust no one, because even salt can look like sugar.
A/N: After a few days, I finally finished it. Don't really know if it makes sense, but I hope it does! Happy reading everyone!!!
