Chapter Thirteen
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 honestly can't believe it! We're five reviews away from 400! It honestly seems like a dream-thank you so much for your continued support as I get these chapters written and published!
Oh, before I forget, special shout out to twilightgirl587...HAPPY BIRTHDAY! :D I tried to get this chapter done and published today for that reason! Hope you have a great one!
Special thanks to AmethystDragon14 for her help in coming up with some of the comments. Without your help, I'd probably still be staring at my computer screen, telling my brain to hurry up and work :D
LeanneJordan: Well I'm so glad that you continue to like the series and now I gotta ask...are you okay? Cause you seemed very excited to get the last chapter.
Guest: Oh I'm so glad!
Spirit-in-white: Oh thank you! I'm so glad you liked it!
danifan3000: Huh, that's an interesting theory and one I hadn't considered but it makes a lot of sense! I did not know that about Cheyenne Jackson and now I have to commend him for that. Oddly enough I got a bit of Hercules' Hades from him even though he'd never seen the movie. That...that makes sense re: Uma and the shrimp because I doubt she'd get that nickname from Mal just pouring a bucket of rotten shrimp on her.
LadyWinchester23: Oh thank you! I'm sure someone is going to slap Leah or Natalie (the when is the part I'm not sure about.)
Bananaboat2009: I'm willing to bet they do too. It'd be a way to survive the Isle after all.
Fangirl2118: Oh thank you, same to you!
medical ranger: Well, one of those three will be happening this chapter :D
Marcus Emrys: Honestly DWYGD and QoM are the two that are the most outside the norm in terms of songs from Descendants...and yet those are the two I like the most. Honestly, with Audrey, I always thought her goal was just to make those who she saw having wronged her pay. To quote Ben from D2: she was an angry girl with a bad plan.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Oh thank you!
Tracie Adams: Thank you so much! To be honest, I hadn't thought much about Mal's hair but it might change considering her hair does start to change by the time she leaves Hades' lair.
Mykeo: Oh thank you!
TheRanger'sDaughter: Thank you! Honestly, with Mal's body language, it's not something i noticed in the first viewing (on my television) but watching it on my computer, you get to notice the little things you wouldn't notice at first. I can promise a break chapter is coming so Hades and Mal might get to have a talk.
DS Rider: That's an interesting theory and one that makes sense!
Turnabout of the Shadows: Oh thank you! In my day to day life, yes I do consider Hestia, Hera and Demeter the female version of the Big Three. For this story though, I'm pretending that Hera and Demeter are not Zeus and Hades' sisters because otherwise Hades is married to his own niece and that's just a little too weird for my liking (curse you Ancient Greeks for that!). As for Leah's comment, yeah that's basically what she was doing. And no, she and her crony will stop at nothing to break Ben and Mal up.
TR Lara Croft: Oh I'm so glad, yep Steph was definitely upset about how Hades was acting toward Mal. Uma had a shock, I'll tell you that. I'm so glad you liked the chapter and happy holidays to you too!
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! I'm so glad you liked it! Trust me, I was laughing as I was writing them!
Sorceress of Magic: Yep, everyone knows and now Mal and Hadie don't have to hide it! :D
Humalover: Oh thank you!
smc-smfan1: Oh I'm glad you liked it-sorry about the wait, as the holidays come closer, the less time I have to write.
DragonFire Princess: Oh thank you so much! I'm glad you like it!
Kaybugg1: Oh thank you! :D I hope you also have a safe and happy Christmas or whatever you celebrate in December!
twilightgirl587: I'm glad you liked it-and happy birthday! :D
Guest: So I have a personal headcanon that Hook was not a good parent (I mean, the man shot canons at children in Peter Pan-could you imagine him with his own kids?) That being said, despite all that Harry still wanted to be like him.
Guest (fanartist): I saw and it's amazing! I left a comment on Tumblr but I wanted to also leave it here-you did a fantastic job at bringing my characters to life and I can't wait to see what else you do in January! Also, thank you for posting Harriet's rant, I look at it from time to time when I need a jolt of happy feelings (funny I know considering she's ranting in anger but it makes me happy nonetheless)!
Fan: Oh thank you! I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
billyandkimfan1994: Oh thank you! Natalie just has a problem with VKs in general, Mal specifically. Why? I'm not sure. I have to say I laughed the first time I saw that too. He didn't use an ember in the Hercules movie which might have been why he didn't think to talk to Poseidon to make it waterproof if he was getting used to having one.
Wolf: Oh thank you! I promise you, I'm not going to abandon it!
maybetoday: My personal belief is that he was a relatively (by Isle standards) good father...to his youngest child. The other two, he was a typical Isle parent.
Guest: I've seen reviews for Hook, I only included Jack and Maggie in Watch and Learn because they were requested though. That being said...that's an interesting aspect I hadn't considered for Choosing Love and now I have to see about watching Hook.
Technobabble1: Oh thank you! I'm glad that you're enjoying it-balancing three continuities isn't easy but I enjoy the challenge!
Guest: Not a strange question at all-Natalie has nothing against the VKs as individuals. It is simply because they are the children of villains.
Roxas Itsuka: Oh thank you! I figured it'd be a good idea to focus on the relationship since that would be the crux of the chapter anyway. As for the part where Ben learns, I'm not sure. I know I'm going to do something for that part but it's undetermined right now. In terms of Leah knowing...she found out in the first viewing, when Hadie spilled the beans to all those at Family Day. Akiho being liked by Hades is something we should all be concerned for!
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Quick question-next chapter is going to be them walking from the Isle. Should I include the deleted scene where it's revealed that Celia swiped the remote for the barrier or should I start where the movie starts?
Celia and Mal walked back through the tunnel, making their way back to the others who hopefully had retrieved their wayward bikes.
"Can…can the cart/bike thing only be taken one way? But then who moves it back to the starting point so you can get back on it?"
"Emma, why is that the thing you focused on?" Emir asked his girlfriend.
"Hey, Akiho has his hangup about Ben not using his guards. I notice weird things," Emma shrugged.
"I guess that's the reason why he's always asking about you," Celia spoke up after a minute of silence and Mal stopped.
Mal glanced over at Hades. He…he had been asking about her? It just..he had Hadie. He didn't need to ask about her.
"Evie is the only one who knows that he's my dad.
"Hang on! That's clearly not true, since the new group of VKs here were the only ones to react! Hell even Former Queen Bat knew judging by her lack of reaction!" Celia exclaimed. "You're lying to me!"
"Technically you all should have known anyway," Mal said softly. "I mean, he did say to Maleficent not to threaten me at Ben's coronation and called me his daughter in the process."
"You think any of us were focused on that when Maleficent got off the Isle?"
"Good point."
"You know, I like her," Akiho nodded. Anyone who had a hatred of Leah was alright in his book.
"Me too, you know you're more than free to use my nickname for her," Chip told Celia.
"What's that?" Celia asked, tilting her head.
"The Beauty Matriarch from Hell."
"Ooh, that's nice!"
"Apparently the only thing needed to unite the VKs and the Aurardonians was hatred of Leah," Ben muttered under his breath as he ignored the ever growing glare coming from Leah.
And as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't even exist."
Hades wasn't going to lie, hearing that was like a punch to the gut. The logical side of him knew that it was probably just a way for her to protect herself on the Isle, since it getting out would still put a giant target on her back. Even though everyone should already know as Mal had said earlier.
Then again, most of the Isle barely had two brain cells to rub together. Otherwise the new VKs in attendance wouldn't have been surprised by the revelation.
"Hey, I'm sure she doesn't mean that," Persephone said softly, noticing the look on her husband's face.
"I wish there was a way to know for sure," Hades whispered back, sighing softly.
Well you could always talk to her, Persephone thought to herself.
Celia walked off but Mal stayed for a moment, as if in thought. The next scene opens on an exterior shot of Ben's castle before quickly moving to the interior with Ben on the phone in his bedroom/office.
"We should probably get Ben set up with a proper office at the castle," Adam/Beast leaned over and whispered to Belle.
"Agreed. He shouldn't be working where he sleeps," Belle nodded. "Being able to walk away from work is very important."
Belle also noted to herself that it might be a good idea to remove the giant photos of herself and Adam/Beast from overtop Ben's bed. At some point, he and Mal might want to move forward physically in their relationship and…well those photos might be off-putting to Mal. Or Ben. Or both of them for that matter.
"No. No, I want the Auradon guard handing out gas masks," Ben exclaimed, talking on the phone to someone. "Well, not everyone's asleep!"
Akiho and Emir looked at each other, resisting the urge to make a comment. The last time they had heard that tone of voice from Ben, it had been in the previous viewing after he'd gotten Mal's note from Evie. The note that said that Mal had returned to the Isle.
It was clear that their friend was worried and extremely stressed—and there was nothing they could do about it.
However, that didn't stop Akiho from perking up a little at the mention of the Auradon guards. Hey he was only human!
"Did you change your clothes?" Ashaki asked, tilting her head a little. "I mean, I'm liking the jacket but…why?"
"Not the time sis," Emir shook his head.
He hung up the phone and tossed it on his desk before pointing to a nearby attendant. "Find out if anyone has seen Audrey.
"Mal has."
"And technically so have Jay, Carlos and Evie."
"We're just going to assume that on-screen Ben has already tried to contact those four," Lucas sighed at his boyfriend and Harriet's antics. Sammy gave him a commiserating look as she shook her head.
"What about Celia? She ran out with Jay, Carlos and Evie," Harriet pointed out.
"I don't have a phone though," Celia spoke up. "There'd be no way for Ben to contact me."
And find out if she has a list of demands!" Ben added as the attendant turned to go.
Gods I hope the demands are something I can make happen, Ben thought with an inward sigh. How did I not see this coming? She was my friend before we dated. Plus we dated for a year before Mal and the others arrived. I should have seen this!
The attendant gave a small half bow before walking out of the room. Ben sighed before furiously undoing the collar of his jacket and unzipping it. Sighing again, he sat down, rubbing his forehead.
"Ben, when this is all over, take a break," Chip said gently. "I'm not going to lie Benji, you look worn out."
"Yeah dude, I know you can't really take a break with everything that's going on but in the event that this isn't our future…I see a nice long vacation in yours," Emir nodded.
Belle nodded softly; the last time she had seen someone in her family look as stressed as the on-screen Ben had looked, her husband was in the throws of setting up the Isle. She had hated seeing it then and she hated seeing it now on her son.
The camera slowly crept toward Ben's back before revealing Audrey standing behind him.
"Just one."
Is it a cowbell so you can stop these freaking jump scares? I mean this has been the first time but one is one too many! Akiho thought with a small frown as Belle gasped softly, grabbing onto Adam/Beast's hand which had only just recovered from her squeezing it during Ben's kidnapping in the previous viewing.
Ben gasped before almost leaping out of his chair to face her.
Audrey wasn't going to lie, there was a small part of her that hated seeing that look of fear on Ben's face. While she wanted to be dangerous…Ben wasn't the one she wanted to appear dangerous to.
I mean sure he hadn't picked up on her signs that something was wrong but…he was still Ben.
"I demand my life back." Audrey told him as Ben looked at her with uncertainty, as if unsure as to what giving Audrey her life back would entail.
"I'm not the one who can give that to you Audrey," Ben said gently. "I can help but you never lost anything after we broke up."
I don't think that's what I meant, Audrey thought. If she was right, her future self was talking more about the life she had before her grandmother came in and ruined…well everything.
"I have a proposition. I'll wake everybody up right now...under one...itty-bitty condition, Benny-boo." Audrey said as her fingers went trailing up Ben's shoulder before brushing some hair out of Ben's eyes
"Get. Your. Hands. Off. Him!" Mal snarled, her eyes flashing green. While the events on screen may have been from the future, seeing Ben under yet another love spell or hypnosis was not something Mal wanted to see. "You'd better not be thinking about casting a love spell Audrey!"
"Oh well thank you for the idea Mali," Audrey taunted. "It would be poetic justice wouldn't it? After all, you stole Ben from me the same way."
"Audrey, stop it," Ben stated. "You can't steal a person. They're not objects. Besides, I know you were trying to save face but it still hurt seeing you go straight to Chad not three minutes after I did the performance for Mal. Love spell or no. We did date for a year after all."
"You didn't even try to talk to me after you were released from your love spell!" Audrey snapped. Ben sighed, not wanting to risk Audrey using the scepter in a small room like this.
Turning to Mal, Ben put his arm over her shoulders and his tone changed to a more gentle and soothing one than the flat and authoritative one he had used while talking with Audrey. "Mal, dragon, it's okay. Look at me. This hasn't happened yet. It won't happen."
"He is a braver man than I," Harry muttered, his eyes growing dark hearing Audrey use Mal's nickname. There were only three people allowed to use it…well four now that he knew Lord Hades was the one who used it. Regardless, Audrey was not one of those four. "The last time Mal was that angry, we had a dragon in the theater."
"Make me your Queen, and we'll rule side by side." Audrey said softly. Ben gently grabbed her hand and Audrey closed her eyes, as if imagining life the way it was before.
"…you're holding the kingdom hostage," Phillip Jr. said flatly.
"Phillip—"
"Mom, that's what she's doing," Phillip Jr. stated. "Yes I know Grandmother had a hand in making Audrey like this but are we just going to ignore the fact that Audrey is holding the kingdom hostage?!"
"Yeah, not sure you're one to talk here," Elle stated. "Considering you left Audrey alone with your grandmother when your sister was asking you for help."
"When it comes to dealing with my grandmother, Audrey was the favored child and I was literally considered the spare," Phillip Jr. explained. "Was I supposed to subject myself to an abusive situation just because Audrey was asking?"
"You could have taken her with you."
"Who would have ruled Auroria?"
"That's when you call your parents, idiot," Melody rolled her eyes. "Actually you should have called your parents in the first place when Leah appeared at your castle! Common sense! It's a thing you know!"
"Oh says the girl who stormed out of her room because she found out that her mom was keeping a secret from her!" Phillip Jr snapped back. "Where was your common sense then huh Mel?"
"Dude, stop digging," Neal said. "Look, just think about it this way. You're antagonizing your friend who is also the great-granddaughter of Poseidon. Do you really want to damage your kingdom's relationship with Olympus?"
"Did someone put a spell on you?" Ben asked, his voice soft as he removed Audrey's hand from his cheek, Audrey looking at him in shock. "Just tell me who and…"
"Does it count as a spell if she willingly went to where the scepter is?" Alexandria muttered to Hadie, who shrugged. She would have said it louder so that everyone could hear but after that scene with the sleeping curse…she didn't want to risk it.
Especially with Chad in Audrey's clutches in the future. Who knew what was happening to his future self?
"You'll what?" Audrey asked. "Marry them?"
"Well now that just makes it sound like Mal put a spell on her," Elle pointed out. "Which we all know Mal wouldn't do."
"She put a—"
"Yes she put a love spell on Ben. However that was back when she was working on a plot from Maleficent and it was clearly obvious that failure wasn't exactly an option for the four of them. Has Mal used magic on anyone other than herself since Maleficent turned herself into a lizard?"
"…she attempted to erase Ben's memory in the second viewing during their fight," Akiho muttered to himself.
"You're not helping," Elle sighed, having heard the mutter. "Okay, other than Ben or herself, has Mal attempted to use magic on anyone since Maleficent turned herself into a lizard?"
Audrey glared at the daughter of Ariel but didn't answer.
She let out a small giggle at that as Ben continued to stare at Audrey in shock, as if still not computing that the person in front of him was his ex-girlfriend. However, Ben did back up a step as if to put some distance between him and Audrey.
He really is afraid of me, Audrey thought. I mean…that's what I wanted right? For people to fear me. To be dangerous. But…it's Ben. Mr. Hopeful. Mr. Second Chances. For him to be afraid…no, this is the only way. The only way to take back what is mine and make Auradon pay for turning their backs on me.
So why did seeing that look on Ben's face make her feel so…bad?
"Most people get dumped because they aren't good enough," Audrey said as she walked toward the open door to the patio before whirling around. "I wasn't bad enough. How do you like me now, Bennyboo?"
No one knew exactly what to say to that. Most of the adults in the room admittedly didn't know if they should comment—the courtship of royal life wasn't exactly applicable to dating. No one got dumped in a courtship. It pretty much led to marriage.
The VKs held their tongues as well, not because of fear of the scepter but because they too had no applicable situations where advice could be gleaned from. Flirtationships or flings were done for power or access to food. Most of them were over and done within weeks, a few lasting a month or two.
"Audrey…" Phillip Jr. said softly but then stopped. He'd no idea his sister had felt this way.
Oh and you really made yourself someone she could talk to didn't you? What with basically accusing her of wanting the crown when she told you about Grandmother's plan, he thought bitterly.
Audrey gave a small twirl before laughing once more.
Aurora held back a sigh; Audrey was almost like a little girl playing dress up with that twirl. Looking at the screen, it was hard to imagine her little girl being the same person who would risk the lives of almost everyone in the kingdom.
"Audrey, I fell in love with Mal because I love her," Ben said, trying to keep his tone gentle. "It didn't matter how good or bad she was, she just needed to be herself."
You were my friend when we were younger because we both loved being outdoors, going to Fairy Cottage together and feeding the animals that'd come up to visit.
"I liked the old Audrey better," Ben said as he slowly walked toward her. Audrey paused, her head tilted as she took in Ben's words. "She wouldn't wanna hurt Auradon."
That was before Auradon hurt me, Audrey thought but then paused as she thought about her phone, with all the missed calls and messages and texts. She slowly pulled it out and looked at it again.
There were calls that she hadn't noticed the first time…calls from the VKs of all people. Jay, Evie, Carlos…Mal. They were dated a few days after graduation but they were clearly from Mal. Ben had given her Mal's number a few days after Mal had gotten her phone back before Grammy had taken Audrey on her spa retreat since Mal was going to help with Cotillion. She had never gotten around to erasing it from her contacts.
Hell, there were texts from Emir and Akiho. Two boys that she'd been convinced were poisoning Ben against her back when they were dating. Boys she was convinced hated her. Yet there they were, asking if she was okay since it'd been weeks since anyone heard from her.
Had she had her phone, she'd have seen these. Had Grammy not taken her phone, she'd have been able to respond.
Audrey glanced at the scepter before looking back at Ben, an odd expression on her face.
I knew my daughter was in there somewhere, Aurora thought as she saw the on screen Audrey look at the scepter. The look on her face was one that might have been akin to guilt. Now…how can I make it so that everyone else can see it too?
It was a shame no one was looking at Audrey at that moment. If they had, they'd have seen her grip on the scepter loosen just by the tiniest bit.
"Just give me the scepter, and I'll forgive you," Ben said, walking closer to Audrey but froze as Audrey pointed at him, changing the hand that held the scepter.
"You're too good Ben," Harriet muttered under her breath, looking at Audrey. Sure it was clear that the girl at least somewhat regretted her actions but she still stole one of the most powerful objects known to man, God or Fae. Something like that didn't just warrant a simple bit of forgiveness.
"You'll forgive me?" Audrey asked, her voice laced with anger and possibly tears. "I don't think so. Sleeping is too good for you."
Audrey zapped Ben with the scepter and a flash of pink light filled the screen.
So now we'll add cursing the king on my sister's list of future crimes, Phillip Jr thought but didn't speak into existence. Instead he, like everyone else, sat in silence; waiting to see what exactly Audrey would do to Ben.
Belle tightened her grip on Adam/Beast's hand, as if that would somehow protect her son from harm.
As it faded, an animalistic roar could be heard as Ben hit the ground and Audrey turned back toward the open doors.
Ben froze slightly, hearing that animalistic roar. He didn't see the future version of himself…did Audrey actually…no, she couldn't. Audrey knew what one of his greatest fears was. That he would somehow turn into a beast like his father had before him.
She wouldn't actually turn him into a beast. Right?
"Hey, Ben, it's alright," Mal whispered, noticing how quiet he'd gotten. "Ben? Ben?"
Lucas looked over at Chip, who was looking at Ben in worry. "Go on," the brunett whispered. "He needs you right now."
"I love you," Chip whispered back, kissing Lucas on the cheek before going and moving to the other side of Ben.
"Benji? Mal's right, it's okay. We don't know that it was you who made that roar. There could just be an animal in the room next to you."
Ben nodded slightly. "You're right," he said softly. It wasn't fair to Audrey to make that assumption without proof. But the nagging feeling was still there. Could…could that have really been him that made that noise?
"Sleeping is too good for Auradon!" Audrey declared before raising her scepter and another flash of light filled the screen. Fairy Godmother could be seen running up the steps of the Museum of Cultural History, presumably to get her wand. However, with the flash of light, she was quickly turned to stone, a bit of pink mist at the bottom of her feet as Audrey laughed in the background.
"No!" Jane called out, her hands flying to her mouth in terror.
"I'm sure your mom's fine," Carlos said softly, trying to comfort her.
Jane shook her head. "It's my fault. If I hadn't told mom to get her wand…"
"Hey, you don't know that," Carlos told her, softly rubbing her back. "Maleficent's scepter's incredibly powerful, it's possible it could have gotten your mom even if she was safe in her house."
Jane nodded slightly, her eyes still welling with tears at the thought of her mom being turned to stone.
"I think a break might be in our near future," the Blue Fairy said softly. "Perhaps in a few minutes?"
"I agree," Ben nodded. No matter what feelings he was going through, or fears he had about the future, he was still the king. He needed to shove his personal issues aside and act the way his father had as a ruler.
Right?