The normal days are always the ones that turn out the most surprising, aren't they? Little tricksters, they are.

It was a normal day. I was in the middle of a fight; a daily part of my routine. Except this time I was going against three grown, very strong men, and it wasn't going very well. Apparently I hurt one of their sons. He should have known that I never lose a knife fight.

Anyway, I was taking one too many blows, my head starting to spin. Finally, one of the men got me cornered against a wall and grabbed my throat. I closed my eyes; surely, I was a goner. But all of a sudden, he was yanked away from me. I opened my eyes as quick as a flash. Some guy was pounding them all back. He turned and swung his left hand, covered in a hook, at one of my attacker's faces.

Of course. It had to be Harry Hook that saved me. We had only talked once, when he tried to convince me to swear allegiance to Uma. He had ended up insulting me, calling me weak, and I had slammed him to the ground.

"Never call me weak again," I had whispered, angry. He hadn't messed with me since, and I knew I had gained a little respect that day.

But now I apparently owed him my life. Matter of fact, he had just witnessed me lose a fight. And I was sure that would be something he'd hold over me for a long time.

Harry finished, the three men unconscious on the ground. He grabbed my arm tightly and started pushing me out of the alley.

"Let's get out of here before they wake up." I twisted my arm,

"Let me go!" He just chuckled and squeezed harder.

"Shouldn't I at least get a thank you?" Quick as a flash, I had my knife out and at his neck.

"You really want a fight, don't you?" He chuckled and pressed the flat of his hook up against my back.

"Like you could ever beat me or any of my friends." We were awkwardly close now, and so I sheathed my knife and wrenched my arm from his grasp. I barely made it one step before he had his arms around my waist, though, pulling me against him. I growled in frustration.

"What do you want, Harry?"

"You owe me, Cece," he purred. I groaned, throwing his arms down and spinning around.

"Fine. What do you need?" Harry reached out and ran a hand through my hair, from the dark roots to the blond rest of it.

"Come with me and join Uma's crew." I crossed my arms,

"I'm a loner, Harry, and you know it. Besides, Uma hates me. And I'm not a pirate, I'm a street terror. She won't accept me. She'll have me killed." He grinned.

"Oh, Darling, you don't know that. You're a strong asset, and she needs everything she can get to take over Auradon." I nodded my head in mock understanding,

"Oh, so that's what this is about." I pretended to feel indecisive, biting my lip and looking off to the side. Then I stared him down, "What's in it for me?" He laughed deeply at that.

"We might just let you live." I snarled, but I knew he was right. I really had no choice.

"I hate you. You're about to get me killed." He just slipped an arm around my shoulders.

"Let's go see Uma, Cece."

.....

"Her?!" Uma screeched, throwing a knife at me. I jumped up just in time to hit it with my boot and deflect. It speared in the wall of the ship an inch from Gil's head. One of the pirates whistled, which made me roll my eyes and turn back to Uma.

"I didn't ask to come here. It was all him," I said, shooting daggers at Harry. He stepped forward with a pleading look,

"Uma, she could be so helpful in the long run. She's an amazing fighter." Then he quieted to a whisper. "Give her a motive, and she'll do anything."

"I heard that," I snapped. Uma glared at me,

"What do you want most in this world?" I smiled like a shark.

"To get back at Carlos."

"Sibling drama? What'd he do?" she chuckled.

"Half-sibling, actually. And he got me kicked out of the house. He said he didn't feel safe with me in the house. Even though I'm a girl."

"Definitely more vicious, scary, and downright evil, though." Harry pointed out. I pushed back my coat to reveal the row of knives at my hip, then pretended to examine my (spiked) fingerless gloves. Another one of the pirates chuckled and I shot him a fierce glare. He swallowed. Uma grinned,

"You sure look impressive," but then she narrowed her eyes, "but you don't seem like the loyal type." I laced my fingers together and leaned forward with a smirk.

"Really?" Uma motioned to Gil,

"Get rid of her." He pulled out his sword and stepped towards me.

"Thanks for the generous offer, Uma, but I don't plan to die today." I jumped off to the side and rolled away from Gil's swing. With a leap, I was up and running to the door. I would have made it, too, but all of a sudden Harry was on top of me, wrestling me to the ground.

"Do you want me dead?" I screamed. He didn't answer, just looked up at Uma.

"I'll teach her loyalty. Just give her a chance! She'll be a powerful asset! Just help her get revenge on Carlos and she'll be loyal." Uma regarded him with cold eyes. I waited for her to motion to Gil to follow through. Instead she said,

"Fine. Keep her with you at all times. If she shows one ounce of disloyalty, Gil will do his job." She got up and leaned down to my face, "You hear that, Darling?" Through clenched teeth, I said,

"Don't call me that." Harry dragged me out the door.