Chapter Twelve
A/N: I do not own anything with the exception of my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney.
Guys, I can't believe that we're only 41 reviews away from 400! It really is hard to believe, and I want to thank you all so much for your continued support..even as I made you all sweat waiting for this chapter! Not intentional I promise, just the joys of the holiday season.
Hard to believe that in a week, it will have been three years since I started the Watch and Learn series. Honestly, I did not think it would get as big as it did. Fingers crossed I can manage to complete it.
If I don't post by the end of the year, I hope you all have a happy and healthy New Year's. I do plan on posting before the new year but as we all know, the holidays are upon us.
Special thanks to smc-smfan1 for help with part of the chapter!
ashley1985: Oh I'm so sorry! I think you'll enjoy this chapter though!
Sara: First off, no grammatical errors that I saw, and thank you so much for the compliment. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Or if you're the only child needing to use it against older cousins.
Amy: Thank you so much! I don't really have a schedule for updating, usually it's whenever I finish a chapter.
LeanneJordan: I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! Thank you so much for the compliment, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Marcus Emrys: Thank you! You know, I didn't really think of that at first but it could totally be a Persephone reference.
danifan3000: It...wasn't meant to be but I can see how that might be seen as a crack toward people who don't wear masks during COVID times.
TheRanger'sDaughter: Yeah, I thought it appropriate to have Jay be the one to realize that the bikes were going to get stolen since he was the thief of the group. You're right, Celia doesn't really do anything during the Mal/Hades scene so really Celia could have given the key to Mal and run off with the others. Evie was with the others, chasing after the bikes. Jay told Evie to cut them off while Carlos went over the roofs.
Tracie Adams: I haven't really thought about Mal's hair but you're right, it does turn blue slowly throughout the film. Another thing no one really comments on either.
Hotgirlow: Oh I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Of course Uma's proud of her little sister! Well I'm sure Carlos will make it so the bikes can't be hot-wired now!
61394: Very true-though if I'm honest, I think a reprise of DWYGD would have been better in place of MOUAT.
Turnabout of the Shadows: Exactly! Like they just park them there, no chain, no tarp, might as well have a neon sign with an arrow saying: bikes to be stolen. Do with them as you will! I mean, it's not like it's Ben-these kids grew up on the Isle! Good point about whether or not the barrier would affect a God like Chaos or a Titan like Kronos. I honestly have no idea.
smc-smfan1: Thank you!
Bananaboat2009: That's okay! :D Oh, I wrote your idea-it's a one shot. The muse got a little carried away so it's not exactly like what your idea but I hope I did it justice.
Guest: Thank you!
Guest: Oh, I'm sorry about that. To be fair, nothing much happened during that part of the movie anyway.
CrystalKaouri: No apology needed, I know December is the busiest month for a lot of people. I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! As for your last review, you weren't being mean-I appreciate criticism like that! It makes me a stronger writer.
ultimatebookworm08: Hey I chuckled a bit as I wrote it so we're in the same boat.
Sorceress of Magic: I'm so glad! :D
twilightgirl587: Yeah poor Jay...but really they deserve it for leaving the bikes out there like that!
lilyflower101: I agree, that would have been cool to see in the movie.
billyandkimfan1994: I do love the song Do What You Got To Do too and Hades is one of my favorite Greek Gods as well-Athena is my ultimate favorite.
Molly: Thank you so much! :D
Wolf: Ask and you'll receive :D
StydiaGal1993: Hmm, it's possible and I would agree with that sentiment. A giant Room of Requirement would be epic!
Mykeo: Thank you!
Yoshie: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Guest (fanartist): Oh no! I'm so sorry to hear about your computer, I know how much that stinks being almost finished with a project and having your computer break/die. I can't believe it's been almost three years since I started this series. Please don't stress yourself out getting that to me and I hope you have a great holiday as well!
Guest: It's possible!
marissamtz000: Ask and you'll receive :D
Carey14: Oh I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Another author on Wattpad was publishing my stories (with my permission) and their account has been taken down. They're trying to get their account back up but if they don't hear back by Saturday, they'll be putting the stories back up on their back up account.
TR Lara Croft: I'm so glad you're liking it! And yes, I will be writing a story for after D3 to tie up any loose ends!
williza seawitch: Oh thank you! I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
Canonnn18: Thank you! It was on Wattpad but the author who was posting them (with my permission) got their account temporarily taken down. They're in the process of putting it back up.
fallondyson: They used to be but the author who was posting them got their account temporarily removed. They're working on getting it restored. If they don't hear back by Saturday, they're going to put them on their backup account.
Honour: Okay seeing it written out like that...it's a lot better than I could have ever thought to write. I may end up going in that direction.
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
[Celia and Mal approached the entrance to a tunnel with the words 'Get Lost' around the top of the entrance. Celia went to unlock the gate.]
"Hey, how did Lord Hades rush you guys when you were getting the kids off the Isle if he's locked in?" Akiho asked, looking at Mal.
"I asked Celia to leave it unlocked that day," Hades shrugged. Akiho nodded, not wanting to push one of the Big Three for information.
"Hey," Mal said as Celia turned the key, causing the younger girl to pause and look at her. "How big is that dog?"
Wouldn't you know? Macaria asked Mal, employing the mental link. Seeing as you're Uncle Hades' daughter?
Look, Macaria, I haven't been to the Underworld in a long time, Mal thought back. It could have changed.
Celia looked behind her at the poster that said 'Beware of Dog' before looking back at Mal. "You'll see."
The two of them looked at each other before opening the gate and walking into the tunnel. Before they got too far, Celia turned to Mal.
"Okay, stay quiet. It echoes, like, crazy in here," the younger girl told her, her voice a near whisper, before she walked off. Mal looked back toward the rest of the Isle before turning to follow Celia.
Mal sighed. That would be the first time she stepped foot in the Underworld since she was nine…after all, her father had insisted on her staying in her old room for the night since it was a colder month. That being said, Mal had slipped out as soon as she could.
She really hadn't been in the mood to talk to anyone. Not after the words she'd said a few days after Hadie was born. They…they hadn't parted on the best terms.
"What was the point?" Mal asked, glaring at Hades. It was maybe two weeks after Hadie was born and Mal was fed up with being ignored. "You form the alliance with me and you tell me I'm your daughter for what? So you could have a practice kid till you got one that wasn't tainted by only being half God? Or did you just want a kid that wasn't influenced by Maleficent? He's practically your clone! Well congrats, you got your practice kid and now you don't have to deal with me—you're good with that! After all, you left me when I was a baby!"
Mal didn't remember if Hades had said anything in response but she had run out of the room and back toward the Isle before he'd had a chance.
As they walked down the tunnel, the sudden sound of a dog barking caused Mal to freeze and look around.
"Seriously? That's what caused you to jump?" Uma asked Mal, but the smirk on her face was less adversarial and more amused.
Mal rolled her eyes. The recording was new. She definitely didn't remember it from when she was five.
"Come on. Come, come," Celia said, almost sounding annoyed by the delay. Mal followed, though she still looked over her shoulder. The two girls went over to a mine cart/bike hybrid and proceeded to ride it down the tunnel;
"It echoes like crazy…so you're going to ride a creaky old bike down a tunnel you could have walked?" Alexandria asked.
electricity cracking and the dogs barking all the while. While Celia looked almost nonplused, Mal had a pensive, almost worried look on her face.
Ben looked over at Mal and gently grabbed her hand, giving it a loving squeeze as if to remind her that he was still there. Whatever happened in the future, they'd handle it as a team.
As they reached the end of the tunnel, Celia gave Mal a thumbs up and they got off the device, taking off their helmets.
"Again, just gonna said…you could have walked that."
"Time is a factor here, Alex," Kitty said. "You cover more ground quicker if you take the bike cart thing than if you walk."
They walked toward a flight of stairs, and Celia waved her hands as if to show off.
Hades could be seen in the middle of the room, sitting in a chair and snoring softly.
"You know if I slept like that, I wouldn't be able to feel my back for a week," Beast muttered to Belle.
"Well dear, you're not a God," Belle muttered back to him.
The girls quietly approached and Celia pointed out the ember sitting on the table next to Hades.
"What, no mutters about how there's no security system?" Audrey taunted Mal.
Mal looked blankly at her. "It's…it's sitting right by him! Besides, you'd need the key to even get in there in the first place. Unless you've got a death wish, you're not robbing Hades."
"You are apparently."
"And why is that Audrey?" Mal asked gently, trying to avoid antagonizing the other girl. Oh, not because of what she could do to Mal—Mal was fairly certain she could still dragon up. No, she was more worried about what Audrey might do to Hadie.
"Did it ever occur to you that maybe I shut off the security system when I turned off the cameras?" Audrey snapped.
"Then I have to ask why the security system is attached to the cameras," Mal sighed.
As the girls crept closer, the dogs barked once more and Mal looked around again. Celia almost rolled her eyes before pointing to a vinyl recording of dogs barking.
"Why not just get a dog?" Zeus asked.
"The Isle's barely able to keep humans alive, do you really think it'd keep a dog alive too?" Hades scoffed.
"But…the sound of a dog barking would only scare someone like Carlos back when he was afraid of dogs," Jay pointed out.
"Yeah, it definitely wouldn't scare anyone like my brothers," Gil nodded.
"No, the sight of me would though," Hades said.
Mal walked forward a bit before Celia held her back, pointing to another path for Mal to take.
"Just a thought, and I mean no offense to you Mal, but Celia seems to be the more experienced thief. Why wouldn't she be the one to grab the ember?" Lonnie asked.
Mal looked at Celia, who nodded as Mal went off to take the path. Celia tensed up and went over to the recording, removing the needle from the vinyl.
"Why would you do that?" Emir, Eugene, Robin Aladdin and Jay all asked, the latter two looking like the act physically pained them.
"When I have the ability to talk to my future self, I'll let you know," Celia said.
"Why did you react?" Eugene asked his daughter.
"Uncle Lance taught me a few tricks," Robin shrugged.
"I'm starting to think he's a bad influence on you kids," Eugene muttered.
"What are you doing here?" Hades asked as soon as the record scratched, causing Mal and Celia to freeze.
"You have got to be the lightest sleeper known to man. That was an instant wakeup call," Akiho said, fairly shocked.
Hades chuckled. "You know, I like him."
"Oh Gods," Ben muttered as Akiho puffed up in joy. That could not be a good sign.
"I noticed you were low on canned corn," Celia said, holding up a can as Hades lifted his head to look at the younger girl.
"You actually eat that stuff?" Hera asked.
"It's the Isle. Canned corn's one of the few things you all throw out that didn't have mold or maggots in it…though the food's gotten better since King Beastie Jr. came into power and we all sat through that second viewing."
"You know that's your future son in law right?"
"Nicknames are my thing Hera. You know this."
Mal took the opportunity to continue to creep toward the ember as Celia tossed the can to the deity. As Mal reached for the ember, Hades reached out and grabbed her hand, causing Mal to gasp softly.
"He wasn't even looking and yet he grabbed her hand."
"Dad's just that good," Hadie smiled as he heard Herkie's amazed mutter.
Celia rolled her eyes softly as Hades turned to look at Mal, taking the ember.
"Hi, Dad." Mal said softly, causing Celia to look at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry, what?" Uma asked, staring at Mal in shock, mimicking the look on her on screen sister's face. Actually, all of the Isle contingent was looking at Mal in shock.
Mal snapped her fingers softly. "I knew there was something I should have brought up when we were in that room," she muttered to herself.
"You're his what?"
"Daughter, I don't know how I could be clearer on that."
"But that would mean…you're my…"
Mal gave her a small, sad smile. "Hey cuz."
"How long have you known?" Uma asked.
"Since I was five."
"Since you were…you knew while we were still friends?!" Uma exclaimed. "And you don't think that should have been something I could have known then? We might have kept the crew together if I'd known! Wait…did Evie find out before me?"
"She found out when I was about thirteen," Mal shrugged.
"Wait, wait," Harry said before Uma could speak again. "I had a flirtationship with Lord Hades' daughter?"
"Yep."
"Harriet, you might want to tell the Captain that I'm dead," Harry said softly, his face going pale.
Hades chuckled. "Yeah, I'm not going to kill you Hook Jr. Underworld's crowded enough. But while we're on the subject…get your paws off my thirteen year old!"
"Yes Lord Hades!"
Mal rolled her eyes. "You know I haven't been thirteen in a while, right?"
"Yeah well I couldn't do it then so I'll do it now," Hades smirked.
Uma sighed. "Can we get back on track please?"
Mal sighed. "I was going to tell you but…there was never a right time," she said softly. "And then that day happened…would you have believed me if I came up to you later on and said 'oh by the way we're cousins?' Uma, I wasn't telling anyone who my father was because of the giant target it might have put on me if the wrong people knew. Evie only found out because she saw me after getting food from the restaurant."
"She's not lying there," Jay spoke up. "I only knew after the first viewing."
"Hadie dropped the news on everyone," Mal explained before holding out a fist. "We cool cuz?"
Uma sighed. "I don't like that you kept it from me…but I can understand why. We're cool Mali," she said and gave the purple haired Godling a fist bump.
"Awesome! Does that mean the family feud is done?" Hadie asked.
"One of them," Mal quipped, looking at her father and his brothers.
"Oh that one's never going to end," Persephone shook her head.
Hades took off his glasses and gave a small wave of his fingers.
So that's where she got it from, Natalie thought with a small frown, thinking back to the day when King Ben fired her. Mal had been in the room and had given her a small wave just like the on screen Lord Hades had given.
"Quite a show you put on the other day." Hades told her.
"Wait, so you weren't draining her powers?" Zeus asked.
"Of course not!" Hades said as if Zeus had mortally offended him.
"Right back at you."
"Hmm. I was just coming to see you," Hades said as he got up out of his chair.
"That was a very dramatic way to go see her then," Hyllus said.
"Have you seen our family?" Macaria asked. "Dramatics are kinda in our blood."
"Really? Wonder why. Is it because I'm gonna be Queen?" Mal shot back, getting up as well.
"Ah!" Hades said with a small laugh. "Now, Mal, don't be bitter," he said as he looked at himself in a small mirror.
"What…what was bitter about that sentence?" Emma asked, looking around in confusion.
"You abandoned me when I was a baby," Mal said, crossing her arms as Celia made her way to the exit.
Better abandoned than dead, Harry thought for a brief second, thinking about his mother. At least you can still see him.
Harriet rested a hand on his shoulder, as if she knew what he was thinking about.
"No. No, I left your mother." Hades corrected, pointing a finger at Mal. "She's not the easiest person to get along with."
"Understatement of the century," Jay snorted in slight amusement.
"You think?"
"Huh. You see?" Hades said, dusting off a scarf. "We have something in common already. We both hate your mother."
"More or less than Zeus?" Poseidon asked.
"Hmm….more. But just barely," Hades said after thinking about it for a minute.
Zeus shook his head. "When are you two going to get over that?"
"Oh, let me see. When am I going to get over being eaten as a baby?"
"You're here now aren't you?"
"Only because our mother finally realized that not giving her baby to our father to eat might be a good idea!"
And I thought I had father issues, Mal thought with an inward snort.
"No," Mal said, walking up to him. "I don't hate my mother. She may be an evil lunatic, but at least she stuck around."
"You and I both know that Maleficent would have dropped you like a hot clam if there was a way off the Isle though."
"I know," Mal nodded.
"Okay, just checking," Uma said.
"Oh! Boo-hoo. Wake up and smell the stink. You think you've had it rough? I used to be a god!" Hades exclaimed, causing Mal to jump slightly.
Gods Mal, what did Maleficent do to you? Persephone thought with a small sad smile at seeing Mal jump. Though granted, she'd probably be startled too if Hades had yelled that close to her ear.
"I had an entire world which bore my name. And now I have nothing!
"Really Hades? I mean I understand you're upset but you don't have to throw a temper tantrum like you're only an eon old," Zeus shook his head.
Hades paused and pointed his finger at Zeus. "You, baby brother, have no right to understand me being upset when you were the one to insist I got thrown on that Gods forsaken Isle in the first place! King of the Gods my ass!"
And you have no idea what that feels like."
Persephone sighed before whacking Hades on the shoulder. "What is wrong with you? Your daughter is there, willingly talking to you, and you're acting like a petulant child?!"
"Lady Persephone, would you prefer to use this?" Akiho asked, pulling out a rolled up copy of The Gazelle. "It's easier on your hand."
"Why thank you," Persephone said with a kind smile, taking the newspaper.
"…do I want to know why you had that on your person?" Ben asked, looking at the Arendelle prince with slight trepidation.
"In the likely event that you do something stupid," Akiho said without hesitation. "It's the only thing The Gazelle is good for. That, and starting fires."
"Steph, I promise…I haven't even done this yet! Why are you whacking me?!"
"To remind you that acting like this would be a bad idea…for that matter, where am I? Where's Hadie? Aren't we supposed to be on the Isle with you?"
"You could be on your walk," Hades suggested.
"Really?!" Mal asked, causing Hades to pause slightly, as if not expecting a response. "Because for 16 years, I had nothing.
That's not true…you had me, you had Steph and you had Hadie, Hades thought with a small sigh.
"Um, excuse us, what are we? Dog kibble?" Carlos asked, pointing to him, Jay and Evie.
"Yeah Mal, I'm pretty sure Harry and I aren't 'nothing'," Uma teased gently.
And now, I have a whole world. But unless I get that ember, it's game over."
Mal held out her hand, expecting Hades to hand over the ember. Hades looked at her for a minute before flicking Mal's hand back to her.
"Petulant…Gods I think Hadie would have had a better response!"
"Hold, please," Hades said as music began to play in the background. Mal looked on in annoyance.
"Mal just looks so done with that," Lucy chuckled.
Hades [turning around to face Mal]:
Listen little girl
You're talking to a god
"I…I thought you used to be a god?" Elle asked. "I mean, that's what you just hollered."
"Also, little girl? She's seventeen!" Melody exclaimed.
"To the Gods, that's practically an infant," Ariel sighed.
Meanwhile, Poseidon and Zeus were looking at Hades in shock.
"What?"
"Since when can you sing like that?" Poseidon asked, still amazed. Hades chuckled.
"Welcome to my stage boys."
And I don't wanna hear
The drama
Kindness ain't my brand
"But…kindness isn't a brand," Lucy said softly. "It's a personality trait."
"But it can be part of a brand," Neal told her. "Like how my mom's brand is 'the fairest of them all'. Looks by themselves aren't a brand but they can be part of it."
Mal:
Oh, I guess that's why you ran
"I did not run," Hades muttered.
Hades:
Try being married to your mama
"Marriage is…is a thing on the Isle?" Phillip Jr. asked.
Mal snorted. "Not in the traditional sense. More like it was an alliance that was only brought on because Maleficent and Hades were the most powerful people on the Isle."
"Are we sure then that she is a suitable match for you, your highness? After all, Mal would technically be a child born of wedlock."
"Your mother has a death wish," Phillip Sr. muttered to Aurora.
"No Leah has a death wish. She is no mother of mine," Aurora muttered back. "She keeps this up, she'll be slapped at the very least. Say nothing of smote."
Mal:
You stink at being a dad
"No he doesn't!" Hadie exclaimed.
"Yeah, there are worse dads on the Isle," Harry muttered under his breath. Like the Captain for one…
Hades [walking back down the stairs]:
Poor Mali, are you sad?
Mal paused. While she had heard that nickname earlier from Uma, it'd been years since she had heard it from her father. She had to admit…she'd missed it.
Mal:
Not as sad as you
Without your powers
I didn't come to fight
"She insults him and then says she didn't come to fight," Harry mused. "Seems backwards to me."
For once do something right
Hades [draping the scarf around Mal's neck]:
I steal souls
Were you expecting flowers?
"For the last time, you did not steal my soul," Persephone rolled her eyes. "The options were eating the pomegranate seeds or getting turned into a tree by my mother."
"That might have been a reference to my soul though," Meg pointed out.
"You made a deal, that's not really stealing your soul though."
Mal [taking the scarf off, balling it up and throwing it at Hades]:
I only need you
'Cause I came here
for something
"Okay…both of you are acting like petulant children," Persephone muttered. "At least Mal has an excuse only being seventeen."
"Can I be in the dog house for something I haven't done yet?" Hades asked.
"Yes," Chad nodded. "I speak from experience."
Hades:
I've given you everything
Both:
By giving you nothing
By giving me nothing
"What…what was that dance? You both look like toddlers indicating you need to go to the bathroom."
"I know I'm probably the last person to say this but let's not insult one of the Big Three or the future queen," Emir told his sister.
Hades [marching through the curtains]:
I did what I had to do
Celia:
Ooh
"Really?" Uma snorted in amusement, looking at her little sister.
Mal:
No, you only did
What's best for you
Hades:
Well you can learn
A thing or two
When push comes to shove
You do
Ben stiffened up, glaring slightly at the screen if only because there was no way he could get away with glaring at the real life Lord Hades. But…he had pushed Mal…laid his hands on her…well technically his hip but you know what he meant!
What you've gotta do, yeah
Mal [leaning on the back of the chair, looking at Hades]:
You were never there
I guess you don't have a phone
"What good is a phone without cell coverage?" Hades asked.
You never called to say
"I miss you"
Every day…I miss you every day, Hades thought.
Hades:
Are you kidding?
Is this a joke?
You need to let it go
"Yes Elsa, we know that's your line," Anna chuckled. Elsa shook her head at her sister's amusement.
You're stronger with those daddy issues
Mal:
Oh, thank you
"For some reason, I don't think she's that appreciative," Aziz shook his head.
Hades [having gotten up and using the lamp as a microphone]:
Show me some respect
It ain't easy to neglect
You got that right, Hades thought with a small sigh. All those food parcels in her little hidey holes, making sure she got extra whenever Jay picked up their food order…at least until the restaurant shut down around when Mal was fifteen.
My attention
Would've made you softer
Mal [Hades holding the lamp to Mal]:
Should I be proud?
Don't turn this thing around
Hades:
I guess you are
Your father's daughter
Mal:
Don't think I need you
I just came here for something
"But it's his ember…so technically you'd need him to give you the ember," Travis pointed out.
"He's got a point," Naveen whispered to Tiana, agreeing with their son.
Hades:
I've given you everything
Both:
By giving you nothing
By giving me nothing
Mal:
And I did what I had to do
Celia:
Ooh
Celia being there is probably the reason why we're acting like this, Mal thought with an inward sigh. I mean, it's the Isle after all. Just because Celia's his errand rat doesn't mean he'd be willing to spill his guts in front of her.
Mal:
I made it on my own
"What are we, chopped liver?" Jay asked as Carlos and Evie chuckled in amusement.
No thanks to you
Hades:
Well you could learn
A thing or two
"Mal, you bend any further back and you'll break your back," Elle chuckled.
When push comes to shove
You do what you gotta do
Again? I mean it emphasizes his point but still…Ben thought with a small frown before shaking his head slightly. Mal can fight her own battles.
How about I go with you
And we'll spend some time?
"What?! No, absolutely not! It's bad enough we're letting the children of villains out but the villains themselves?!"
Mal:
How about you stay here
'Cause you're out of your mind
"Oh Gods, I'm agreeing with Leah," Mal muttered. "Or at least my on screen self is."
Hades:
Let's make new memories
You can show me the town
Mal:
No you can keep
Your memories now
Hades (spoken):
Get over it
"Get over…what?" Hadie asked.
Probably get over the fact that he had a son, Mal thought with an inward sigh. After all, I'm friendly with you and Steph…not so much with dad.
Mal (spoken):
I am over it
You could have fooled me, Hades thought.
Both:
I'm over you being over it
Hades:
Let's dance
"So I gotta ask…how often does Lord Hades burst into a musical number with a tambourine so that Mal caught it without a second thought?" Emir asked.
Both:
I did what I had to do
Celia:
Ooh!
"I love how Celia's providing the background vocals," Dizzy chuckled.
"Someone has to," Celia shrugged.
No you only did
What's best for you
"What did that poor tambourine do to you Mal?" Jay teased.
"Did…did we throw out a tambourine?" Neal asked. "I'm just trying to figure out how one would be on the Isle in the first place."
"Didn't we try a toy drive one winter?" Emma pointed out. "I was eight, you were six. Nothing really came of it so we stopped."
Well you can learn
A thing or two
When push comes to shove
You do
That's my dragon, Ben thought with a small smile seeing Mal give Hades a shove.
When push comes to shove
You do
When push comes to shove
You do
What you gotta do
Hades:
Yeah
Mal [as Hades pretended to be the roar of the crowd as the song ended]:
Please...
Mal rolled her eyes slightly and turned to face Hades, who was chuckling slightly. "Do you wanna make up for being a lousy dad?"
Hadie turned to look at Mal, tilting his head a little in confusion. It almost sounded like the onscreen Mal was holding back tears. But…that was impossible. Mal didn't cry. Well, other than that time in the other viewing. But that was an extreme circumstance.
"Give me the ember," Mal said holding out her hand once more.
"The ember only works for me."
"No. It'll work for me. We're blood." Mal told him.
At least now you're willing to admit it, Hades thought with a small smile.
Hades gave a small chuckle at that. "You're only half Hades. The ember won't do everything for you that it does for me," he told her as he held up the ember.
"I think the only thing Mal's concerned about is whether or not it'll counteract Maleficent's scepter," Lucas said.
"Speaking of which, why not just tell him that?" Chip asked Mal. "Instead of the cloak and daggerness, you could just say 'someone in Auradon has Maleficent's scepter so I need the ember.' Easy peasy lemon squeezey."
"As Celia said earlier, when we have a way to communicate with our future selves, I'll ask mine and let you know," Mal said, rolling her eyes.
"I'll take my chances," Mal said, her voice soft as she gave him a small smile before it quickly faded. Hades paused for a second before putting the ember in Mal's waiting hand.
A parent would do anything for their child, Ariel thought, looking over at her Great Uncle with a small smile.
Upon receiving it, Mal quickly turned and walked up the steps.
"Not even a thank you," Emir chuckled.
"We're on the Isle, 'thank you's' aren't done there," Mal reminded him.
"If it gets wet, it's game over," Hades called after her.
"Dad, couldn't you just talk to Uncle Poseidon about making it waterproof?" Hadie asked.
"That…is not something I'd thought of," Hades said, pausing in thought. "Poseidon, is it possible?"
"To be honest, I've no idea," Poseidon said. "Where did you even get the ember in the first place? No offense, but you didn't need it when you tried to take over Olympus."
"Well I mean the Titans did most of the work there…"
"Did you need the ember to release the Titans?"
"Well, now that I think about it…no I didn't."
Mal's only response was a small finger wave, similar to the one Hades had given earlier.
Like father, like daughter, Natalie thought with an inward eye roll.
Hades watched her leave before giving another small chuckle. "That's my girl," he said to himself.
Mal couldn't help the small smile that formed on her face as she heard that; it was almost like being five years old again.
No, she told herself. You're only looking to get hurt. That being said…I've forgiven Evie for not inviting me to her birthday, I've tentatively forgiven Uma for the whole 'laughing as I drowned' incident…dad couldn't really control having a son after all…
And, looking back, had he truly been a lousy dad? After all, he'd been there to help the others fish her out of the cove that fateful day.
But still...he'd never tried to contact her or actually talk to her since she left that day when she was nine. Mal had honestly just assumed that it'd been a fluke, that he hadn't wanted her soul floating around the Underworld for him to deal with the rest of all time.
She definitely had a lot to think about.