Chapter Eleven
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney.
Honestly, it's hard to believe how close we are to the end. Of 2020 I mean, not this story. Oh no, we're nowhere close to the end of this story. Just a heads up, updates may be a little delayed as we get closer to the holidays. But I'll try to get as much updated as I can.
Thank you all for your continued support! It means the world to me! I can't believe we've gone over 300 reviews in just ten chapters! Let's keep it going! :D
Please continue to be safe while COVID continues to run rampant. I know I've got some friends of my family who've gotten it-thankfully they live in different states so I'm not at risk but it's still scary.
For the reviewers that haven't reviewed in a while but are on guest accounts, I hope everything's going well IRL! Fingers crossed for you!
Guest: Oh thank you!
marissamtz000: Ask and you shall receive! :D
LadyWinchester23: Oh I'm glad you liked it, I didn't want to make anyone cry but I'll take the compliment. Always appreciated and I may take you up on that offer to help with the French!
twilightgirl587: Yep, semi happy reunion indeed!
Creator of Magic: Oh I'm so happy you liked it. The Rotten Four are indeed back, and of course Uma saved Mal! After talking with another author, it just didn't make sense to me that Uma would just stand there and laugh while one of her crew drowned. I'm glad I could make you laugh! As for Leah...who knows what the future has in store for her?
Bananaboat2009: I'll see what I can do! :D
Tracie Adams: I'm so glad you enjoyed it :D
LeanneJordan: Oh wow, I am so happy you enjoyed the chapter! Thank you for the compliment, and I hope you enjoy thee next chapter!
danifan3000: Honestly it's hard to say how Uma would react to finding that out. Though I guess I should be thinking about that since it's the next chapter.
TheRanger'sDaughter: My feelings for Uma are complicated, just like they are for every character (except for Ben and Gil, they have done no wrong and can do no wrong). And yeah Mal's an idiot but to her, she went through a traumatic experience where her best friend and cousin just laughed while she was drowning. I'm not defending her per say but I can understand her idiocy a little. Besides, she was nine. Who wasn't an idiot at nine? As for the Blue Fairy...well she's always kinda been an observer in these viewings and not so much of an interact-or.
Wolf: Oh thank you! I'm glad you liked the chapter and hope you enjoy the upcoming ones too!
Marcus Emrys: I'm so glad you enjoyed it! As for the Underworld...probably Hecete. I know it's not Pain or Panic that's for sure.
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Well I thank my readers for their commitment to my story! Considering Evie's the one who wanted them to talk, she might be fine with it.
update: Oh thank you!
Roxas Itsuka: I do agree, it is nice seeing them getting along again. To be fair to Uma, she was nine and eight years later, she might not remember why she laughed in the first place. Though you are right, Mal did mess up with calling Uma shrimpy. Then again, if Maleficent found out that Uma had laughed at Mal while Mal was drowning and Mal didn't do anything in return...? But I do agree, they all had their faults about that day. MVP definitely goes to Evie for getting them to talk, falling into her peacekeeper role from D3. Trust me, there'll be more opportunities for people to yell at Leah! And yeah, I realized as I posted that I might have given Chip and Lucas the most difficult job in the world-making sure no one killed Leah or Natalie.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: True, but that could be a good thing! :D
Turnabout of the Shadows: Oh thank you. Yeah, Jay should have said something sooner but if Mal had gotten angry when he did tell her...he might not wanted to lose his last oldest friend. But you're right, there was the risk of too little too late. Re: your comment about thinking Chad was thinking with his friend downstairs so to speak...when I first watched D3, that's what I thought too. It wasn't until I rewatched it that I noticed that Chad's eyes seemed to flick past Audrey, almost like he was looking to see if someone had left.
ObsidianDarkArrow: Oh I'm so glad you liked it! :D Oh that would make my day to write that too!
61394: So it'll actually be the next chapter but yep, yay friendship! Thank you!
lilyflower101: Won't be long now :D
billyandkimfan1994: Oh I'm glad you liked it! Yeah, you can't blame Harry for wanting to do something to Leah-i think we all want to do something to Leah.
Mykeo: Oh thank you!
Sorceress of Magic: I'm so glad you liked it! The talk sure was needed, wasn't it?
Hope you all like the chapter! Sorry it's shorter than normal-I promise, the next chapter will longer! :D
[The scene opens on a shot of the Isle, thunder rumbling in the distance. As the scene cut to the interior of the Isle, the five VKs rode their bikes through the alleyways they once ran before parking them, startling one of the VKs sitting on the edge of a railing with the screeching of the bike tires. As Mal took off her helmet, we can see that the spell has worn off and she's no longer a hag.]
"Woo! Mal's Mal again!" Emir cheered.
"But I thought only the ember could reverse the curse of the scepter," Emma asked, biting her lip. "What if this is only temporary and Mal turns back when she leaves the Isle?"
"Okay we're putting a ban on that kind of thinking."
"But—"
"Banned!"
Emma chuckled before kissing his cheek. "Fine. I won't verbally express those kinds of thoughts."
"Good," Emir smiled.
"I'll just think them."
"Emma!"
"Hey! I'm me again," Mal said as she realized that she was no longer under Audrey's spell.
"Evil magic doesn't work on the Isle, remember?" Uma told her, amusement coloring her voice as she smirked at Mal. Mal, in turn, gave her cousin a good natured eye roll.
"So how does one define 'evil' magic? Since one could argue evil magic could be done with good intentions, wouldn't that then make it good magic?" Jane asked. "If, in the previous viewing, you had actually gotten my mother's wand instead of the copy Carlos and Jay created, would you have been able to take down the barrier because it would have released kids from a horrible situation?"
"That…is a very good question Jane," Fairy Godmother said, nodding her head in thought. "I would imagine since my wand was one of the instruments that helped to create the barrier, Uma would have been able to use it inside or outside the barrier."
"Plus she's a descendant of the Gods," Elle pointed out. "Granddaughter of Poseidon and all that."
"Wasn't the barrier strengthened by Lord Zeus though?" Neal asked. "Otherwise you'd think Lord Hades and Lady Persephone could easily escape. Not to mention Maleficent."
"Fairy Godmother's wand being used by a descendant of the Gods might have countered that," Flora explained.
"Duh. Evil magic doesn't work here," Celia told her as the boys walked up. "Kind of the point."
Uma looked over at her half sister and smiled slightly. I've taught you well. That was the perfect amount of sass.
"Welcome back." Evie told Mal, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Thanks E," Mal grinned. "It's good to be back. Or at least it will be good to be back."
"Talking about the future is confusing," Hadie nodded.
"Thank you," Mal said with a chuckle as they walked off, Jay and Carlos following behind and Celia leading.
"Um…is he okay?" Lil' Shang asked, pointing to Jay. The son of Jafar was currently whacking himself over the head with a pillow.
"Jay?" Mal asked. "Where did you even get a pillow?"
"We didn't hide the bikes," Jay muttered, ignoring Mal's question. "How long did we live on the Isle and the second time we go back, we don't hide the bikes? I mean, for Zeus' sake, we hid the limo in the last viewing! Bikes are easier to hide than a Gods' damn limo!"
"He'll be like this for a while," Mal told everyone. "Let's just move on."
Celia led them down an alleyway to a door where she pounded out a rhythm. The person on the other side of the door stomped out another rhythm in return, which caused Celia to knock once more.
"That wasn't Freddie was it?" Uma asked as Jay continued to mutter in the background. "On the other side of the door?"
"No," Facilier shook his head.
"Freddie snuck in with the Tremaines but Ben didn't want to send her back when he found out. Especially after E and I vouched for her," Mal chuckled, ignoring Leah's scoff. "She's currently with Ally exploring Wonderland."
"Ally?"
"Alice's daughter."
"That probably should have been obvious based on how you said 'Wonderland'."
The person on the other side opened the door and Celia turned to the others, grinning, before walking in. Mal smirked at the others before following her; Evie right behind her.
"And the boys are our guards," Evie smiled at the sight on the screen.
"From now till always," Carlos nodded, whacking Jay over the head to finally end his muttering.
"Yeah, it's the four of us…well the seven of us now," Jay said, looking at the Sea Three and rubbing his head as he whacked Carlos on the arm in return. "It's just tentative right now."
Once inside the arcade, Celia made a beeline for her father who had just finished up assisting another kid.
"Hey."
"Daddy!" Celia exclaimed.
Mal smiled softly, thinking back to when she was younger. The days before Hadie…before she felt she'd been replaced. The joy she'd felt seeing Hades, having a parent who cared about her. There was a part of her who longed to have that again.
Well, in addition to what she had with Steph. Her relationship with her step mother had mended itself after Mal had grown to like Hadie when she was thirteen and he was seven respectively.
But with Hades…her dad…there'd just been too much said for the same relationship to develop.
There are still days where I wonder what might have happened if Uma had known, that she was my cousin, Mal thought. She was such a force of nature when we were kids. Still is now that I think about it. She probably wouldn't have put up with the silent treatment I was giving to dad. Err…Hades. I don't want to slip up and call him dad in front of Uma. Sure we're allies again but that's just a discussion I'd rather not get into.
"Here she is!" Facilier said, lifting Celia up into his arms and laughing. The two of them did what looked to be a little dance as Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos looked on fondly from the balcony area. "Come on. And.. And… Ho! Hey, yeah."
Facilier tapped his cheek for a kiss but Celia just flicked his hat, before running off. Facilier wrapped her up in his arms.
"Come here little rascal," he said as he walked off to the side with Celia.
Tiana couldn't help but smile at seeing the interaction between Facilier and Celia. It reminded her a little of her own relationship with her father, how filled with joy Facilier had been upon seeing Celia, and it made her feel happy to see that at least some of the kids on the Isle had good relationships with their parent.
Not that any of the kids deserved to live on the Isle but no need for a bad situation to be worse with neglectful parents at best.
"Ah! So, what kind of hustle you got going on with them shiny people?" Facilier asked as someone, assumed to be an employee, tossed him his cane.
"Shiny? What are we, robots?" Carlos asked.
"Beep boop, Emir bot ready for commands," Emir said, making his voice monotoned and moving his hands like one would imagine a robot would.
"Shut up," Ben chuckled.
"Powering down per Ben protocol."
No one was safe from the round of laughter that spread through the room…well except for two people but the less said about them the better. Even Audrey managed a small smile at Emir's antics.
"No hustle. I got friends on the other side," Celia told him.
"Ah! I hear you. I hear you," Facilier said as Celia walked over to the fortune telling table and grabbed a key before turning back to her father.
"We're on a mission. I'm kind of a major player so that's why I can't stay long."
"And the fact that someone would notice you missing and report it to Ben would be another reason why you wouldn't be able to stay long," Mal pointed out.
"Honestly, they'd be more likely to notice you missing," Akiho added. "As future queen and all that."
"You make sure you get your cut," Facilier told her and Celia nodded, smiling.
Uma couldn't help but smile slightly at that, remembering the lessons her father would give her when she was Celia's age—about the importance of not getting stiffed of your fair share of the loot. Then again, as captain, she had first dibs on the loot so it wasn't as vital a lesson.
The lessons were few and far between after Celia was born…but Uma wouldn't begrudge her baby sister the attention from their father.
Carlos, over by the tv, found a coin sitting on top of it. Looking at it, he put it in the coin slot that was sitting on top of it. This seemed to turn the TV on as a news program started playing, clearly already in progress.
"Alerts of the sleeping spell keep coming in as it spreads throughout Auradon," the male reporter stated from his location in front of Auradon Prep.
"I'm more amazed that there isn't a mob of parents trying to take their kids out of summer school," Kit noted.
"Most of them probably did it after Lord Hades attempted to escape," Cinderella told him. "After all, with technology nowadays, the summer school could be done virtually."
Aurora perked up slightly at hearing that. After all, if Audrey had to complete her summer school, why not do it in the castle? That way, at least, Aurora could be sure Leah was nowhere near her daughter.
"Uh. guys. Come look at this," Carlos said and the other VKs crowded around the TV.
"There are rumors that Sleeping Beauty's daughter, Audrey, is behind the spell. We're trying to discover who is responsible for these vicious lies, and which villain has perpetrated this evil.
"Gee, I wonder who's pocket this guy's in," Uma scoffed.
"How dare you!"
"Unfortunately, that reporter would be Brandon's older brother," Chip sighed, ignoring Leah's outburst. "Considering how Brandon acted at your guys's graduation, with his 'reporting' for the Auradon Daily Times, I'd say he came by it honestly."
"Still, Uma has a point," Elsa said. "All the villains are supposed to be on the Isle and the VKs are clearly not evil. So why would he report that the rumors are lies?"
"Especially since we all know of someone who'd stop at nothing to make sure her family's reputation is as pristine as possible," Anna added, glancing at Leah.
We have an update. It's what? It's moving this way? It is moving this way," the reporter stated as Celia and Facilier joined in watching the news broadcast.
"So here's a question, if he knew there were at least rumors of a sleeping curse, why wouldn't he wear a mask or something?" Hadie asked.
"There's no cure for stupidity," Kitty sighed.
As the five VKs left the arcade, Carlos walked out while Jay almost looked shocked at first but then grew annoyed.
Tiana couldn't help but smile softly at the Creole wording on the door. It was like a little taste of New Orleans.
"Wow! Rookie mistake?" Carlos asked as the boys rushed toward their bikes as it's revealed that Harry, Gil and some of the other pirates had commandeered the VK's bikes.
"Called it," Jay sighed, shaking his head.
"Rookie mistake? Can there be rookies on the Isle?" Kitty asked.
"Newborns," Mal said dryly.
"I want to know is how were they able to start the bikes? It's not like Jay and you all left the keys in the ignition," Lucy pointed out. "And before you say 'hotwiring', wouldn't Carlos aka the tech wiz have been able to make it so the bikes couldn't be hot wired?"
"I want to know how you know about that," Chad said.
"Bobby and I talk," she shrugged.
"Long time nay see," Harry taunted as the other pirates began to drive off.
"Get off my bike, Hook," Jay said, his tone still sounding annoyed than anything else.
Mal shook her head softly. Even though the four of them hadn't talked in this future that was being shown to them, she couldn't help but detect only annoyance toward Harry from Jay. Like an older brother dealing with a younger sibling messing with his stuff rather than two enemies.
"Catch me if you can, Jay," Harry shot back, clearly amused as he rode off on Jay's bike, Gil having already rode off on Carlos'. The five VKs ran after them but Harry had already driven off.
"You seemed way too amused by that," Uma noted, turning to look at Harry.
"It's the future, captain," Harry shrugged.
"Over the roofs," Jay said, patting Carlos on the arm before nodding to Evie. "Cut them off," he told her.
"…they're on bikes," Akiho said. "How are you going to cut them off when they could just run you over?"
"Stop using your dad's common sense!" Jay told him.
"I can't help it!"
"Are you implying I don't have common sense, Jay?" Anna asked with a chuckle.
"Not at all your highness," Jay said, shaking his head. Other than, you know, trying to marry a guy you just met.
"Yup," Carlos agreed and the three of them ran off after the pirates. Celia began to follow until Mal held her back.
"Aww, let her help Mal!" Hadie said with a pout.
"Hey, hey, hey, hey, not you. They got this. You and me gotta go find the ember."
"But you know where it is," Gil said. "It's with Lord Hades."
Macaria shook her head. He's lucky he's cute.
La la la I don't want to hear that!
Then don't listen Hyllus!
"Good timing. It's right about his nap time," Celia said as she walked off, the look on Mal's face indicating that was new information that she wasn't sure she wanted to know as she followed Celia; Harry riding Jay's bike down Evie's alley and laughing all the while.
Hadie gave his father a questioning look. "Since when do you take naps?"
"Since I had you," Hades told him, every parent in the audience nodding knowingly.
And since I dedicated a good chunk of my day to keeping watch over Mal through the ember. That takes a toll on me, what with the barrier and all, he thought.
"You know, that cut to Harry made it seem like he was laughing about it being Lord Hades' nap time," Aziz pointed out.
"Thank you, I was hoping to be killed by an angry God this viewing."
"Happy to be of service," Aziz grinned. "And yes, I am aware that was sarcasm. My younger siblings speak it fluently."
"Oh so you know my pain?" Harriet asked with a chuckle as Harry, Emir and Ashaki all rolled their eyes.
Hades chuckled. "Now, now, sometimes it's the older siblings that are the ones fluent in sarcasm."
"Don't remind me brother," Zeus sighed. "But I think we're delaying the viewing."
"Right, right. Well then, let's carry on."