Rotten To The Core

Back On The Isle

CHAPTER 20

"Deborah?" Ben asks as he pages his assistant.

"Yes, Your Majesty?" Deborah replies.

"Can you ask Lumiere and Mal to call me regarding Cotillion?" Ben asks her.

"Yes, sir," Deborah replies.

"Thank you," Ben says before going back to his work.

"Ben?" Evie asks as she knocks on the now open door.

"Evie!" Ben says as he stands up. "Come on in." She closes the door behind herself.

"Ellie and Mal have gone back to the Isle," Evie says as she wipes a few tears from her cheeks before walking over and giving Ben the note that Ellie left. Ben starts looking at the note. "Ben..." Evie then hold out his ring that he had given Ellie. Ben takes the ring before reading the note.

"This is my fault. This is all my fault," Ben says as he finishes the note. "I... I blew it. She'd been under so much pressure lately, and instead of being understanding, I just went all Beast on her. I have to go there and apologize. I have to go there and... and beg her to come back."

"Ben, you'll never find her," Evie tells him.

"I..." Ben tries before turning to look out the window.

"You need to know the Isle and how it works and..." Evie starts to explain before realizing what had to be done. "You have to take me with you."

"Yes!" Ben says as he turns to face him. "Uh, are...are you sure?"

"Me too. They're my best friend and sister," Evie says in agreement. "And we'll bring the boys, too, because there's safety in numbers, and none of us is really too popular over there right now."

"Thank you," Ben says as he looks at Evie.

"But let's get two things straight," Evie says. "You have to promise me that I won't get stuck there again."

"I promise," Ben tells her.

"And there's no way you're going looking like that," Evie tells him before they go to get the boys and Ben a change of clothes.

"I think it's time we get rid of this basic hair," Ellie tells Mal, who smirks.

"Agreed," Mal says before they leave. They arrive at Lady Tremaine's Curl Up & Dye before remembering that it doesn't open until midnight. They sneak in anyways. Mal and Ellie share a smile as they stand at the entrance of the paint splattered room. Ellie's eyes then land on Dizzy, who is sweeping as she dances around.

"Ellie! Mal!" Dizzy exclaims as she catches sight of the girls before running over and hugging Ellie. "Is Evie back, too?"

"As if," Mal says as she pops a piece of gum into her mouth. "I, um, forgot that the place don't open till midnight. Place looks good." Dizzy laughs as she looks around. "So what is your deal? Has your grandmother given you any customers yet?"

"Ah, just a witch here and there. Mostly, it's a lot of scrubbing and scouring and sweeping. Lots and lots of sweeping," Dizzy explains.

"Sounds like the old Cinderella treatment," Ellie says with an eye roll.

"Yeah, she's gone from Wicked Stepmother to Wicked Grandmother," Dizzy says causing Ellie to giggle.

"That's not really much of a switch. Hey, Dizzy, you used to do Evie, right?" Mal asks her.

"Yeah. I thought of the little braids," Dizzy answers with a smile.

"You have any ideas for us?" Ellie asks her with a smile. Dizzy squeals before looking at their hair.

"The brunette with blue tips? And the washed out blonde with purple tips? The best of no worlds. You can't see where your face ends and your hair begins!" Dizzy accesses before pulling Ellie into a chair and grabbing her hand. "Oh, what is this, 'Bored to Death Pink'? Hmm. How far can I go?"

"The works? I mean, whatever makes us feel like us, but, you know... way worse," Ellie answers her with a smile.

"Yay!" Dizzy says before grabbing a huge pair of scissors. Dizzy starts by cutting some of Ellie's hair off then dying her hair blue. She then rolls it up on cans, before sticking Ellie's hair under a dryer. Dizzy paints Ellie's nails black before letting out an excited squeal. Dizzy then gets to work on Mal. Later, Dizzy takes her Ellie's hair out of the cans before spinning her around to reveal her new look.

"Hey! There I am," Ellie says as she looks in the busted mirror.

"Voila!" Dizzy exclaims causing Ellie to smile.

"Voila," Mal says before handing Dizzy some cash.

"For me?" Dizzy asks.

"Yeah. You earned it," Mal answers her with a smile before walking to grab her bag. Dizzy then walks over to the register as Harry Hook enters the room.

"Fork it over, you runt," Harry says not noticing Ellie or Mal. Harry taps the desk with his hook causing the change to move in the register. "Now the rest of it." Dizzy gives him the money. "Hmm. Thank you. Mm-hmm."

"Still running errands for Uma, or do you actually get to keep what you steal?" Ellie asks as Harry turns to leave.

"Well, well, well. What a nice surprise," Harry says as he turns to face Ellie.

"Hi, Harry," Ellie says uninterested.

"Just wait until Uma hears you're back," Harry says as he walks over to Ellie. "She's never gonna give you back your old territory."

"Oh, well, that's okay. Because I will be taking it," Ellie explains to Harry with a smirk.

"I could hurt you," Harry says as he moves some of Ellie's hair with his hook. Mal quickly grabs his arm before sticking her gum on the tip of his hook.

"Not without her permission, I bet," Mal says with a smirk causing Harry to falter for a second. Harry puts the gum in his mouth before swiping things off of the desk. Harry bows sarcastically to Ellie before leaving but not before winking at Mal.

"Great. More sweeping," Dizzy says sarcastically.

"Here. Like Mal said you deserve it," Ellie says as she hugs Dizzy before giving her some more money.