Chapter Twelve

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything and everyone else either belong to Disney or the Greek Myths.

How's everyone doing? Hope you're all enjoying 2021 so far, even though it's certainly been a crazy start to the year. Please continue to stay safe and healthy while we work to get things figured out here in the States!

So I think ya'll enjoyed the review responses I did last time so I'm going to keep them going on here. If you ever want them to stop, just let me know! :D

TR Lara Croft: You are quite welcome and thank you! I personally think most of the villains on the Isle want revenge for losing against their respective heroes-most, but not all. As for Freddy, well he's a few fruit loops shy of a full bowl.

danifan3000: I'd like to think that Claudine will be recruited at some point but it'd be too dangerous right now. A gang of clowns on the Isle...well now I'm terrified. Let's just say Freddy wants to force Mal to do something. Huh, did not know that re: the people of the Isle looting Maleficent's place. I really should start reading those books huh?

CrystalKaouri: No need to apologize! I do have to agree, Freddy is way too close to being a Frollo clone but he is Frollo's son. As for Quasi, I don't see why he couldn't make a guest appearance :D Oh...you are actually pretty close to the mark I'm not going to lie!

Guest: Oh thank you! So glad you enjoyed it :D

AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Yeah Freddy boy is truly insane isn't he? Thankfully Claudine seems relatively normal for a Frollo child!

OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yep, Freddy's insane-his father's strong in that one. As for Leah, well you'll have to wait to find out :D

DOAWOTA: Freddy's a jilted rival but not a lover :D

twilightgirl587: So glad you liked the chapter! Yeah Freddy is a lot like his dad and I do agree, HoND is incredibly dark. I can definitely see about getting some representation for Quasi!

AliceCullen3: Oh I'm so glad!

lilyflower101: Yeah Freddy's not going to like learning that his sister's dating a Warf Rat.

Sorceress of Magic: What's life without a little drama?

Hope you all like this chapter! Let me know what you think :D

Ben sighed as he sat at his desk. It'd been a few days since Leah's exile to the Isle and he had finally gotten around to arranging a meeting with Aurora and Phillip Sr. With Stefan's death a few years back, and Leah being on the Isle now, Aurora was the legal heir to the throne of Auroria.

Ben had hoped Mal would be with him, if only so he could spend some time with her before the meeting. Ever since the council meeting, Mal seemed to be getting busier and busier. It honestly felt as if they'd only had fifteen minutes between them with how busy both their schedules had gotten.

This weekend, Ben promised himself. This weekend, I'll take Mal on a ride on my scooter. Maybe we'll go to the Enchanted Lake, just relax with the two of us. Or maybe the three of us. Estelle would like the Enchanted Lake I'd think. Run around, swim, or just chill out on the platform.

He smiled slightly as he thought about Mal's impressively loyal Cerberus. The pup, if he could be classified as such, loved to follow Mal around whenever he could; even going as far as to follow Mal into a few classes much to the amusement of the teacher and other students.

Estelle had been allowed in of course, if only because how do you say no to a Cerberus of all creatures? A symbol of Lord Hades?

A couple of teachers had come to him to voice their concerns but Ben had stated that it was a matter they needed to voice to Mal. Just because he was king and dating Mal didn't mean he was going to start telling her what to do.

Not that I really could, Ben thought with amusement. Mal's got a fire in her that I love. Not to mention, she's the daughter of a God. Two Gods actually. I'm pretty sure she outranks me.

He had considered though hiring a helper for Estelle, in the event that there was a class that didn't allow Estelle to join them as it might affect the safety of the students and of Estelle. He would have to broach the idea with Mal though—Estelle was her dog, he wasn't going to do anything behind her back.

"Sire?"

"Yes Dean?" Ben thought as he pulled himself out of his thoughts.

"Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip are here," Dean stated, his voice coming clear from the intercom. "Shall I let them in?"

Ben nodded and then paused as he remembered that Dean, despite being an excellent head assistant, could not see through the intercom. "Yes Dean, send them in."

He couldn't help but smile as he saw Aurora and Phillip walk through the doorway, though he had to admit he was nervous. He hadn't seen either royal since he broke off his betrothal contract with Audrey. Well scratch that, he had seen them at his coronation but the traditional meet and greets were cut rather short due to the surprise visit from Maleficent.

"Your majesty," Aurora said, her voice as soft and pleasant as it normally was whenever she spoke to Ben. She gave a small curtsey as Phillip gave a small bow.

"Princess Aurora, Prince Phillip, there's no need for that," Ben said gently. "I've known you since I was a toddler. You're friends with my parents. No formalities are necessary."

"Then there's no need to use our titles," Phillip stated, a smile on his lips. "Though I think I know the reason why you've called us down here."

Ben sighed. "I do need to talk to you about the line of succession for Auroria. With your mother—"

"Please forgive my interruption Ben but from what I understand of her crimes, the former Queen of Auroria is no mother of mine," Aurora stated. "It is unfortunate that we share the same gene pool but that is it. I, in all honesty, consider Flora, Fauna and Merryweather to be more of mothers to me than her."

Ben nodded softly. "Understood. With Leah's exile to the Isle of the Lost, Auroria needs a Queen."

"Are you asking if I will be willing to pick up the mantle and the duties of Queen?" Aurora asked softly.

"I know it's a lot to ask, especially with everything your family has been through in the past few days," Ben said. "If you need time to think about it, I can set up a steward in your place."

Granted, he wasn't exactly sure who that steward would be but he'd set one up. Aurora gave him the kindness of getting out of the contract when she could have insisted that he honor his commitment. The least he could do is allow her a few days to think over such a life changing decision.

"…I owe it to the people of Auroria and the people of Auradon to make up for Leah's crimes," Aurora said softly. "If by becoming Queen I can begin to heal the hurt she caused, I would gladly do so."

Ben gave her a small smile. "We can arrange for your coronation to occur whenever you see fit. I'll get the paperwork started immediately though."

"Ben, I can do that," Aurora stated. "You've got so much work to do yourself, adding another thing onto your plate wouldn't be fair."

"As well we wanted to inform you of some information we obtained," Phillip said softly.

"Phillip…."

"Aurora, he's got to know. It's not fair to Ben if we were to keep this from him."

Ben tilted his head, slightly confused. "What information? Obviously it seems to pertain to the safety of Auradon?"

Aurora and Phillip looked at each other before Aurora sighed. "Leah…before this council meeting, Leah was attempting to drum up support for you to be reinstated into the betrothal contract by stating that it was weakening Auradon by you not having an official heir."

Ben froze in his seat. That had not been something he had been made aware of. To his knowledge, Emma White was still the unofficial heir of Auradon—the agreement had been made between their parents when they were three after his mother had miscarried. Of course the agreement was only made verbally, there was nothing written Ben could obtain as proof.

If Leah had been trying to drum up support to reinstate the contract…well then they could just convene a meeting of the newly formed 'what the hell are they gonna do' committee.

Because there was no denying the fact that Leah was right in one regard: the kingdom did need an heir and unfortunately, that fact gave Leah and Audrey a strong argument as to why the contract should be reinstated.

Just Audrey actually, Ben thought as the realization struck him. Leah's on the Isle, it'll take her time to drum up any support there. If she can at all actually, a former royal of Auradon's probably not going to be the most popular over there if I remember correctly.

There'd been a reason why Mal and Jay had disguised him after all when they went on their clandestine trip before his coronation.

"I'm dating Mal though," Ben said after a few minutes as he seemed to be able to form words again. "I'm sorry but I'm not going to end my relationship with Mal just to reenter a contract I honestly believe no one was happy in."

"Trust us, we understand Ben," Phillip said softly. "We're in no way forcing you to do so. Not that we could considering you outrank us. But we figured it was information you'd want to have on hand."

"We don't know if Audrey knows about what her grandmother was trying to do," Aurora told him. "I understand that she didn't take the dissolving of the contract all that well."

That is putting it mildly, Ben thought but only nodded. No matter what Audrey had done, it wouldn't be fair to say it in a room where she wasn't there to defend herself.

"Ben…" Aurora said. "I know Leah probably never said it at the council meeting but I will. I'm so sorry she's put this on your plate, and I know Lady Mal probably won't want to see me so if you could…if you could let her know I am so sorry that she was put through that for sixteen years, I would greatly appreciate it."

"Of course," Ben nodded. "Aurora, your apology is not necessary. It wasn't you who committed the acts."

"But as acting representative of Auroria, I should apologize on behalf of my family and my kingdom," Aurora stated. "Leah's actions do not reflect our beliefs and we stand behind our king."

And you are the reason why we put up with Leah for so many, many years, Ben thought with a small smile. Aurora was truly her mother's opposite in every way, shape and form. While Ben had been given the gift of Hope at his christening, he'd begun to give up a little hope of ever having a situation where Leah would not hold power over legislation or of his decisions.

Speaking of decisions…

"Aurora, there is one more thing I'd like to ask you," Ben said. "A spot has opened up on my council due to Leah being escorted to the Isle. I was wondering, as to ensure that Auroria is still represented, if you or Phillip would be interesting in taking that spot? It is yours by right."

The spot on the council that had been held by Leah was supposed to go to Aurora after Stefan's death. No one had really tried to figure out why it hadn't but Akiho always had the theory that Leah refused to give it up.

After knowing what he knew now…Ben honestly wouldn't put it past the Beauty Matriarch from Hell as Chip liked to call her among other nicknames.

"While we of course accept the position on your council Ben, let me talk with my husband to see which one of us will actually sit on the council," Aurora said. "The new duties as King and Queen will take some getting used to of course."

"I think you're preaching to the choir there Briar," Phillip chuckled as he looked at Ben. Ben smiled; for as long as he could remember, Phillip had referred to Aurora as 'Briar' whenever it was an informal setting or around royals they trusted.

"It's been an…adjustment I must admit," Ben nodded. "Still, the ability to make changes for the betterment of Auradon and the people of the Isle is one I welcome."

Aurora gave him a small smile. "And I look forward to working with you in achieving those changes, Ben. I hope the trust between our kingdoms and our families is still intact."

"Aurora, you allowed me the chance to back out of a contract we'd established when Audrey and I were three," Ben said gently. "As I've been saying about the VKs, they are not their parents. Why then would I judge you on an action of yours? Especially when you allowed me the aforementioned kindness?"

"Well to be fair, we couldn't really insist you kids stay in a contract when we married for love," Phillip spoke up. "I was prepared to give up my throne for who I believed was a peasant girl I met in the woods."

"You were lucky that we were betrothed ourselves then," Aurora teased her husband slightly as she gave him a smile. "But anyway Ben, there are no hard feelings about that. I apologize, let me revise that statement. There are no hard feelings from me or Phillip."

"I know Audrey still is adjusting," Phillip sighed. "She's probably not going to take the fact that Leah's on the Isle all that well."

Ben held back a sigh of his own; that was an understatement. The nickname the Tourney team had bestowed upon her of 'Banshee' seemed aptly earned. Ben was honestly worried his ear drums were going to burst at one point during her tirade.

Thankfully, his friends and shadows had whisked Mal and the other VKs away as they saw Audrey approach so they weren't subjected to Audrey's ire. As it should have been really, He was the king, it was his decision to seek restitution for the Isle and its citizens.

For the Auradon citizens segregated into their own subsection of Auradon, split off from the rest by natural and magical means.

Ben wasn't going to lie though, after about fifteen minutes of a rant about how he was specifically targeting Leah because he never really liked her grandmother, he was thankful when Chad came and somehow led Audrey away.

I don't know how he can do it, even when they've been broken up for a couple of weeks, but Chad has always been an Audrey whisperer, Ben thought.

"Is there anything else you'd like to discuss Ben?" Aurora said softly, breaking through the silence that had overtaken the trio of royals.

"….not that I can think of," Ben said as he thought about it. "I do appreciate you coming down here. If there's anything I can do for you or your family—"

"Ben, that is incredibly kind but there's no need," Aurora said, giving Ben another kind smile as the two Auroria royals got up to leave. Meanwhile, on the other side of Auradon Prep, there was another meeting going on. However, this one was more impromptu.

"Hey! Lightning Butt!" Uma snapped as she finally came across one of her Olympian cousins. If she hadn't known better, she'd have thought that they were avoiding her.

"Yes Uma?" The girl asked with a sigh as she turned to look at her.

"Look, I'd rather not spend more time with you than I need to so I'll get right to the point. What's going on with Mal?"

The other girl frowned and tilted her head slightly in confusion. "I…I thought that was your doing."

"Why in Uncle Hades' name would I change my cousin into avoiding all things Isle in her wardrobe?"

"Well sorry Uma but Mal wasn't like this before you came so it was a logical step. Especially since I don't know you all that well."

"And who's fault is that Macaria? Considering you and your siblings seem to excel at avoiding us Isle kids."

Well, not all of us, Uma corrected herself with an inward frown. Macaria had instantly taken a shine to Gil of all people, at least according to Carlos. Uma never thought she would agree with the brainless morons who called themselves family but she had to agree with Hyllus on this one whenever the older Zeus grandchild called the two of them being together strange.

Uma sighed and looked back over at Macaria. "Does Mal have your mental link on mute?"

"Mal…Mal knows about the mental link?"

"Of course she knows! She was raised as Uncle Hades' daughter, you really think he'd keep that from her?"

Macaria shrugged. "She never really brought it up whenever we talked but let me go ahead and give it a go."

Uma nodded and watched as Macaria grew silent, trying to reach out to Mal with the mental link of the Olympians. It wasn't five minutes before the brunette spoke once more.

"She…she didn't answer," Macaria said, a dejected note to her voice that seemed rather out of place if Uma was being honest. "The link is supposed to work between Olympians without fail. The only time it doesn't is if one of us has it on mute or…"

"Or?" Uma prompted.

"Or you're not considered family," Macaria whispered. "I knew Mal's not the fondest of my grandfather or father but I thought…I thought she at least considered me family. I know it's stupid especially since we've only known each other for about a month but…"

Uma sighed. "Look, if it makes you feel any better, she's got me and Hadie on mute too and I know she considers her brother family."

"She does?"

"Yep. And I'm willing to bet any money that she's got Sushi Breath and her little sister on mute as well."

"Elle doesn't eat sushi—"

"Yeah, yeah," Uma waved her hand as if brushing off the complaint. Hey, she needed a cruel nickname that wasn't about the girl's chair. She was wicked, not lazy. Why go for the low hanging fruit after all?

Macaria sighed. "So if she's most likely got all of us on mute, then what in the world is going on with Mal?"

"Well I'd be the first to blame Blueberry but she's been out of our room so much it's almost like she doesn't live there," Uma stated.

It was the truth—as the doctors got closer and closer to waking up Evie's father, the blue haired girl had spent more and more time away from the dorm. That, on top of classes and her start up business, made it so that Evie was only in the dorm when it came time to sleep.

Not that Uma was at all complaining about that of course.

"Could it be Audrey?" Macaria asked. "She seems to be more on the warpath than she usually is, going on about how Mal stole her life."

Uma scoffed. "The day Mal takes anything Sleeping Brat says seriously is the day we should just start panicking."

"Okay…" Macaria said slowly as she turned to leave. "But just something to think about Uma. The impossible has a way of happening in Auradon. Did you ever think you'd be having a civil conversation with the daughter of Hercules?"

"Hey, my hatred of your father notwithstanding, you're less insipid than the other Boreadon girls around here. Plus you're one of the few people I could reach out to about Mal without worrying Aunt Steph."

"You know Great Aunt Persephone will find out eventually," Macaria pointed out. "She's only on the Isle for six months after all and she's going to see the change in her daughter."

Uma paused and looked over at her.

"What?" Macaria asked, noticing how silent Uma had gotten.

"You called Mal Aunt Steph's daughter."

Macaria shrugged. "Yeah. That's what she is."

"I thought you'd be in the same camp as Sleeping Brat, she keeps going on about how Mal is biologically Maleficent's."

"Yeah, I'm no idiot," Macaria scoffed. "With the exception of the dragon motif, there's nothing about Mal that could connect her to Maleficent. And regardless, she stated at Ben's coronation that she wasn't Maleficent's daughter. I'm not arguing with someone who can turn into a dragon."

"You may actually have some brains in that head of yours," Uma chuckled. "Must come from your mother."

"I'd be offended on behalf of my father but his history has shown that you have a point," Macaria sighed. "I have to get to class Uma. Let me know if you need any help figuring out what's going on with Mal."

"I…I will," Uma nodded. She wasn't going to go out of her way to befriend her cousin but another Olympian on the case might help.

Now all she'd have to do is make sure Harry didn't spend the entire time flirting with her and Uma would be great. Seriously, did that boy have a habit of flirting with her family members or something? She still remembered the flirtationship Harry had with Mal when they were thirteen.

Well more like she remembered walking in on them in the clubhouse. Let's just say Uma spent about two weeks enjoying Jay's company and avoiding Mal and Harry's.

At least Mal looked guilty about it, Uma thought as she made her way down the hall. Harry to this day maintains he doesn't know what he did to earn the silent treatment. I mean the boy has two sisters and does not understand women at all.

"Hey Uma!"

"Speak of the sea devil and he shall appear," Uma chuckled as Harry came up. "Where were you?"

"Trying to avoid working on the Remedial Goodness homework," Harry stated. Uma nodded. Fairy Godmother had originally decided that it would be a good idea for them to write letters to their parents' respective heroes to reach out and create a dialogue, show that they had changed and that they weren't their parents.

Uma and Hadie, understandably, thought the assignment was dumb simply because their parents' respective heroes were also family. Harry was avoiding the assignment on principle. As he stated, Pan cut off his father's hand and caused him to have a debilitating case of Krokodeilophobia. Why should Harry then have to reach out to Pan?

Poor Gil was the most confused.

"Umm…does that mean I need to write a letter to the Queen Mother?" Gil had asked in class. "Or can I just write to Ben? Because I'm pretty sure Ben already knows I'm not my dad."

Let's just say Fairy Godmother quickly gave them another assignment. Uma still wasn't going to do it of course but even Harry had been impressed with Gil.

"So, saw you talking with the Demigoddess," Harry said as they made their way down the hall together. "Was she able to get Mal on the mental link?"

"No, and you saw me talking with her and didn't come up?"

"Thought you might want some privacy for that conversation cap'n."

Uma smiled slightly at that before sighing. "Harry, what am I going to do? Something's obviously going on with Mal but I don't know what."

"You could talk to Blueberry. Don't you share a room?"

"Much to my displeasure, but Blueberry's been out of the room so much that she's practically invisible. What about Gil? He's perceptive and he's not as close to Mali as we are so he might see something we're missing."

"Fish for Brains has been a little down lately according to DeVil," Harry sighed. "I doubt he's noticed anything."

"What's wrong with Gil?"

"I think he's missing Brooke. I know the lass left us for Freddy and the Angels but she was still his cousin."

Uma gave her first mate a small smile. Harry may have hated the ground Gil walked on, even though he was under their protection, but every pirate understood the importance of family.

"Not to mention the fact that Brooke didn't really leave us willingly," Uma sighed. "Locklyn basically gave her an ultimatum: us or her."

Harry shook his head. "The LeGume brains are strong in that one. It was bad enough she entered a fling with Freddy but to not only leave the crew but take Brooke with her?"

"Well it was her decision," Uma said. "We couldn't force her to stay and it was probably safer for the crew that we didn't. Not with the younger members of the crew that we have."

Still…I wonder if Ben might be able to get Brooke off the Isle? Uma thought briefly. The young girl was the one Angel who didn't deserve to be there. But then she shook her head. She needed to focus first on Mal and then on getting Celia off the Isle.

Brooke would get her chance.

"Well I guess it's up to you and me then, cap'n," Harry said with a small smile.

"I guess so," Uma nodded. "But first I guess we should do that Remedial Goodness homework otherwise Fairy Godmother will be on our backs."

Harry sighed. "I guess you're right. But after that we talk with Mal?"

"Of course!"