"We're gonna take you to see Dizzy." Evie said to Ella as they split off with the boys.
Mal nodded, "You're gonna love her, Jazzy would too. She's basically Evie's mini-me." Ella winced at the mention of Jazzy, she really hoped she was okay.
They were all worried about her, Jazzy is their sister in all but blood. It was the same thing with the boys, Ryder and Aaron. They told each other everything. They were family and they would stop at nothing to get each other back. They were connected through their magic, but it was more than that. They could have left it at the magic, but they didn't. They hung out with each other, they had fun with each other, they helped each other, they teased each other, they acted like family. That's what connected them all and made them as strong as they were.
They got to Curl up and Dye and they had Ella stay by the entrance to surprise her with a princess. Evie kneeled next to her; she looked up from the headband she was decorating to Evie. "Evie? Evie, you came back!" She tackled the older girl in a hug and they both squealed.
"H- Hey so great to see you to" Mal said sarcastically. Ella couldn't stop the silent laugh that tumbled from her lips.
Anthony, who was half asleep at his work bench, fell over at the noise, "Whoa Evie? How long was it out?"
"About an hour," a different voice called from the back. Both Mal and Evie's eyes widened, It was Ginny Gothel. They should have known she could have been here; she was Anthony's best friend. "Hey Mal, Eve." She wasn't really mean, just spiteful, but who could blame her, when your mom wanted some random royals over the bridge instead of you. She would get along well with Cassandra.
"Hey Ginny," Mal cringed.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "I already know she's here. Remember I'm in contract with CJ all the pirates are bragging about getting the royals. No one believes them of course but I figured if they had prince Ryder princess Ella wasn't far behind." They let out a soft breath, "don't expect me to be nice to her though."
Evie answered all of Dizzy's questions as Mal went to go get Ella, "Just leave it alone Gin." Anthony pleaded, "The sooner they finish up the sooner you never have to see the princess again." The glare Ginny gave him told him she wasn't going to listen; she was going to get all the petty revenge on Ella that she could.
"I saved your sketchbook for you," Dizzy said.
"You did?" But she didn't get an answer cause the moment Dizzy turned she saw Mal standing there with the princess.
"Oh My Gosh! it's Princess Ella!" The little girl squealed. Jazzy and Ella had been in the news a lot and Dizzy was so enamored with them.
Ella smiled at her, she thought she was adorable, and Mal was right she was basically a mini-Evie. Dizzy tried to curtsy, but Ella stopped her. "No none of that. I don't have subjects, I have friends. You can just give me a hug," she held out her arms. Dizzy didn't need to be told twice and jumped into her arms. "Get Evie her sketch book sunshine."
"What's going on?" Anthony asked Mal.
She sighed and nodded to Evie, "The others came, Ben, Aaron, Ryder and Jazzy were captured, we have a plan, but we need to make some smoke bombs as a diversion. Ya know an everyday heist."
Her grin only worked to annoy him "Yeah, I know. The Beast ripped me away from my family. He locked up my mom 'cause she was a bully as a teenager threw me in as well and left my dad all alone. Your boyfriend's family destroyed mine, why should I help him?"
"Anthony please we need this," that didn't work.
"We need to do this Tony, it's the only way more VK's are ever gonna get out of here."
He groaned not wanting to admit she was right. Ginny glared at Ella and tripped her on her way over to Dizzy and Evie. "Ginny!" Anthony chastised.
"No, it's fine I'm sure it was just an accident," Ella said, picking herself up and dusting off her knees.
Ginny laughed, "no it really wasn't."
Anothony glared at Mal, "fine."
Ella bit her lip but didn't say anything; she just moved to help Anthony set up some of the supplies they would need for the smoke bombs. The boy looked at the blonde princess in interest. "I'm Anthony, Anastasia's son."
Anthony expected her to turn away, to sneer at him, to fake a smile, anything but what she actually did. "Oh, you're Chad's little cousin!"
He blinked, "You know my cousin?"
She nodded, "He's, our friend. Which reminds me I owe him €20," she winced. Ginny growled as her best friend laughed. She was going to make this day miserable for her.
Ella could see a little sister in Dizzy, one they would all love to spoil rotten and a good friend in Anthony, "Princess Ella?" She snapped out of her thoughts and turned to Dizzy, "are there really closets you could walk in?
Ella laughed, "Yeah some are really big like the one in my room at my parents' palace I could live in there and Ben's. Oh, we locked him in there for two days and he was fine, he had his phone and a mini fridge," Dizzy looked amazed. "Sunshine, I'll get you a walk-in closet."
"Really?!" Dizzy asked, surprised.
"Yeah, it's no problem," She said then thought for a second, "We might have to wait till next year but when you come to Auradon--"
"Wait When I come?" she asked.
Ella tilted her head, "yeah. Wait, did you think we were stopping at Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos?" She nodded, "no, the idea is to have the Vks' choose four more kids and then Me, Ryder, Jazzy and Aaron to choose another four at random. I assume Evie's gonna choose you." Evie had tears springing in her eyes, nodding quickly.
She paused, "Eek!" Dizzy turned to Mal and Evie, "did you know?"
Both girls shook their heads. And Idea came to Ella, "Till I can get you home, Me and Jazzy need some 'bad girl princess flare' for Cotillion tonight, have any ideas?"
"You want me to make something for princesses to wear."
"Definitely Sunshine," she smiled at the younger girl.
The whole time at curl up and dye Ginny made good on her personal promise. At every turn she made Ella's time just a little harder. She would trip her, burn her with a glue gun, hit her with a broom, 'accidentally' knock over a paint container staining her hands pink. But no matter what she did Ella just kept smiling or saying sorry for getting in her way.
"M, Glow, how amazing would this look with my shredded tee and my heart purse," Evie said Holding a headband over her head.
"Very amazing."
"Perfect."
"Take it, take a bunch!" Dizzy said, putting a bunch of her stuff in Evie's bag.
"Aww Dizzy. Oh my gosh," she said the last part after seeing how much she was putting in, "thank you."
"It would make me so happy knowing that you were wearing something of mine in Auradon, almost like me being there myself."
Ella and Evie hugged her "I really wish I could take you with me," Evie said.
"Soon I promise, I won't bring her now cause school is almost over but soon I swear Dizzy I will bring you home and stop calling me princess we're friends You can call me Ella or even Glow."
There was a loud groan and Ginny stomped out of the salon. Ella went to follow her, but Mal stopped her, "Glow we gotta go," she looked out at Ginny with pleading eyes. "I can't let you walk back alone; Uma would love a full royal set."
"I'll take her back. I have a truce with Harriet. Uma may be the captain, but no one goes against Harriet," Mal bit her lip but after a few words from Evie allowed it.
~~~
Ella found Ginny right outside and sat down a few yards away from her, giving her space, "what do you want princess?" she sneered.
"To make sure you're okay." She lifted her pink hands, "I know this wasn't an accident, but I said sorry because something made you do it. Anger, petty revenge, envy. I'm not here to assume I know what you're feeling, but whatever the case is I know I represent everything you hate. Again whatever that is, the crown, Rapunzel, Eugene, Cassandra. I'm an easy emotional punching bag so I let you get all of it out on me."
Ginny Groaned again, "Stop that!" She yelled, getting a few strange looks. Anthony was leaning against the other side of the door ready to intervene if need be. "Stop being so nice! I want to hate you."
Ella stayed calm, "but why do you want to hate me specifically?" her voice was level, there was no stern undertone, just a calm question and pure intentions. "What exactly is the problem? Maybe I can help," She asked, pulling her knees into her chest.
"I'm not you, that's the problem!" she yelled. Tears started pouring down her cheeks. "I'm not Rapunzel and I'm not a little golden child who can make her young again by singing a song. She hates me because I'm not like you!" She sobs, sinking down to the ground once again, "I hate you because my mom wants a complete stranger more than me," she pulled her knees up covering her face.
Ella inches closer until she's right next to her making sure not to touch her without permission. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea what was happening on the isle, I wasn't allowed to. None of the other kingdoms knew except Auradon. They wanted to assume full control upon the kingdom's allegiance. Basically, we weren't allowed to help."
She let out a pitiful snort, "I can see why they wouldn't let you see it. Look at this place." She gestured to the mess that was around them.
After a silent moment Ella asked, "do you wanna come next?"
Ginny flinched, "What?"
"Do you wanna come in the next group? I haven't chosen my kid yet."
"I'd be your pick. You'd take me over?" Ella nodded with a smile. "Even after all I did?"
"You're mad I get it you have the right to be," She turned over with a glimmering smile that made it hard to hate her.
Published: Nov 11, 2019
Updated/ Edited: May 18, 2023