Chapter Thirty Two
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
No guys, you're not dreaming. I had this chapter ready to go for Saturday but I figured with everything the past two chapters had, I thought I'd post this one. Honestly it's hard to believe we're just thirteen chapters away from the end!
Thank you all so much for your continued support! It means the world!
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! Yeah, I really hope that Ben and Ryan can start to heal now that they've seen their sisters...something tells me Freddy's in for a painful time when Ryan realizes. Not to mention what Derek and Henry will do!
Tracie Adams: I'm so glad you liked the chapter.
Katie2001: Oh thank you, I'm so glad you liked it. Oh Freddy is definitely dead but...maybe not via the crew as you think. I don't want to spoil any future chapters but let's just say you don't anger a dragon. Thank you so much for the compliment!
princesstwyla06: Oh I'm so glad! I can definitely see if I can put that scene in here, and if not, there'll be a sequel!
Guest: Oh thank you so much!
Marcus Emrys: The kids on the Isle never asked to be there, never did anything to deserve it so there really wouldn't be any reason for them to go anywhere other than Elysium. :D That's definitely a good punishment for Leah!
61394: Yep, Ryan's figured out what happened. And Freddy's days are numbered. As for Belle, I don't think Leah poisoned her. Not because I don't think Leah capable of that but because as High Queen, Belle probably had her own chefs. Especially while pregnant. That...is a perfect punishment for Leah actually. I'm so glad you liked the chapter!
Urmimala Hazra: I'm so glad you liked the chapter.
shortanamx: Oh thank you!
M.v.j.M: Oh I'm so glad to hear that!
CrystalKaouri: Oh I'm so sorry! Trust me, this hit a bit closer to home too-I lost an uncle to cancer when I was in middle school and my grandmother died on my birthday. I'd give anything to see them again. But I'm glad you liked it.
danifan3000: Okay now I really need to read the Percy Jackson books if water is being described as taking shots of hot sauce!
AliceCullen3: Oh I'm so glad!
twilightgirl587: I completely agree, I wish the Underworld was real. I've got plenty of family who I would love to see one last time. I think that can definitely be arranged-all the chapters for this story are planned out already but I think next story Belle can definitely get her picture.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Oh don't cry! I have a feeling that photo will work out.
Creator of Magic: I'm glad you liked it! Belle really is going to love that photo-her two kids together for the first time.
TR Lara Croft: I'm so glad you liked it! Of course Hades would help Mal with this. He's the God of the Dead, why wouldn't he? And yeah, Ryan's gonna kill Freddy. Or at least, the Rats are.
Hope you all like this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
While Ryan and Ben were having their time with their sisters, Mal smiled as she enjoyed some one on one time with her dad. Such time was rarer than sun on the Isle now that she was in Auradon and it would always be treasured.
"You know you can't always duck over to the Isle whenever you want, right Mali?" Hades asked as he started to whip up some of his garlic crispy chicken for her. He didn't need the Olympian mind link to know that's what she wanted. At some point, he'd have to talk to Beastie Jr. about possibly getting a delivery service set up so that Mal could have his cooking over there in Auradon.
But for right now, he'd savor the moments he got with his daughter. She certainly seemed happier than the first time he saw her, after all that handler nonsense got resolved. All he would say there is that that Natalie woman was lucky it had been Steph in Auradon and not him. She'd have gotten more done to her than just an inability to grow plants, that was for certain.
"Dad!"
"Whoa! Mali! What happened?" Hades asked as Mal rushed into his arms. Without thinking, he wrapped her up in a hug and frowned as it felt as if Mal's shoulders were shaking. Almost as if she was crying. But Mal didn't cry. The exception to that rule was obviously near death experiences but Hades didn't think Mal had any of those over in Boreadon. After all, all the villains were on the Isle.
His eyes looked over the other companions who'd rushed in with Mal, lingering on the newbie. "Explain," he growled, glaring at the new boy. Jay and Harry wouldn't have made Mal cry, and Uma would have killed anyone who even thought about it. That just left him.
"It's not Ben's fault Uncle Hades," Uma said immediately, as if to bring attention away from the guy.
"I thought we weren't going by that while we're on the Isle?" 'Ben' asked and Hades paused. Ben...Ben...wait, wasn't Mal dating a Ben?
"You wouldn't happen to be King Ben would you?" Hades asked, his voice still dangerously low. After all, Ben was a fairly common name and it was more than likely parents started naming their own brats after the Prince upon his birth.
"Yes, Lord Hades," Ben nodded and Hades had to give the little sunspot credit, he wasn't melting into a puddle of goo the way most mortals would at seeing an angered Lord of the Underworld. Then again, Beastie Jr. did have the advantage of the fact that Mal was still in his arms. Hades would never want to risk hurting Mal, no matter what happened.
"Then maybe you or one of Mal's minions here could explain why my daughter is currently crying in my arms?!"
"Why does he insist on calling us her minions?" Harry muttered.
"Because that's what we are in a way. We'd do anything for Mal and you know it," Jay chuckled.
"Aye Jay but the difference is this. Mal would also do anything for us."
Hades shook his head. "I'm growing ancient here!"
On that note, where was Persephone? She had gone to Auradon at King Ben's invitation but he knew there was no way she'd let their daughter just go back to the Isle without her. Or without their son. If Zeus had done something because it wasn't one of her six months in Auradon, heads were going to roll!
"You already were ancient Uncle Hades," Uma stated but then sighed as she started explaining everything that had happened. By the end of it, Hades had a pretty good list of all the tortures this Natalie would face once her soul came to be judged by him.
Persephone may have handled her punishment in life. But death was his playground.
"Hey, hey, Mali, it's okay," Hades said soothingly; gently rubbing Mal's back and ignoring Ben's wide eyed stare of astonishment. He figured it was probably a strange sight, the big bad Lord of the Dead being gentle. But Hades didn't really care right now. All he knew was that he had an upset daughter and he would do anything to make it so she wasn't upset anymore. "Hey, you want some garlic crispy chicken? And I'll fill you in on everything that's been happening here?"
Mal looked up and gave him a weak smile. A smile that Hades readily returned as the group made their way to the kitchen and Hades learned everything that was going on.
Let's just say he was fairly impressed that the Cerberus in a mortal's body his daughter was dating didn't hightail it out of there the moment Hades started shouting.
"How've you been?" Hades asked. Ever since that first encounter, he had grown to tolerate Beastie Jr. If anything, he was good around Virgil, the older boy having been in the kitchen their first trip. Most people would have easily gotten annoyed by the half-imp's stammer but Ben seemed to take it in stride.
"I've been good," Mal told him as she shook her head. "Ben's been insane about making sure I don't have too much stuff on my plate after everything that happened with Natalie. Akiho and Emir have practically become my shadows which is annoying because I've actually started liking some of the Cotillion stuff. None of the prissy dress stuff but working with Jane to make sure the colors don't clash, it's actually testing my art abilities and it's kinda fun."
"Have you told them that?"
"Of course I have!" Mal chuckled. "But they don't do it often, only if they think I look overworked. And nine times out of ten it's just a quick break to the Tourney field to throw toys for Estelle. We went to the Enchanted Lake once but I think they picked up the hint that water and me don't mix when I refused to get in."
"You know I'm sure Ariel would be happy to—."
"Yeah I'm sure too and I'm also sure that Poseidon would also be happy to give me swimming lessons," Mal shrugged. "All the same, I'm fine on the land. Uma and Harry are the swimmers after all."
Hades nodded and plated the chicken for Mal, ignoring her mention of his little brother. He might not have been on Hades 'dead to him' list but he still wasn't thrilled that Poseidon hadn't attempted to help when Persephone went to Zeus all those years ago. Speaking of brothers... "How's your brother doing? He never seems to come on these clandestine trips of yours. You two aren't in a fight or anything are you?"
Mal shook her head as she dug into her chicken. "No, no nothing like that. Nine times out of tine, we don't even plan these trips so there's no time to grab Hadie. Besides, he's usually with Alexandria anyway."
"Who?"
"Alexandria Charming, the youngest daughter of Kit and Ella."
"Oh, one of the daughters that caused Tremaine to be in a snit for a month after we heard the news," Hades nodded.
"Lady Tremaine wasn't...oh wait what am I saying? Of course she wasn't happy to hear Cinderella had healthy children," Mal sighed, shaking her head.
"That would be an understatement Mali," Hades chuckled. "Furious would be more accurate."
"Furious? That Cinderella had healthy kids?"
"Apparently, since Queen Ella used to be a scullery maid, having healthy kids was above her station," Hades rolled his eyes. "Never mind the fact that Cinderella's father was a lord when he died meaning having healthy kids would be perfectly within her station but the woman's insane anyway. Err...Tremaine, I mean. Not Cinderella."
"I knew who you meant dad," Mal chuckled as she continued to eat her chicken, cleaning her plate and leaned back with a sigh. "Gods, I know Auradon has some good food but there's nothing that can beat your chicken!"
"Flattery will get you everywhere Mali," Hades smirked as he held up a Tupperware container of garlic crispy chicken. "There's enough in there for both you and your brother since this is Hadie's favorite too. I can't believe I have to say this but share with your brother."
"Dad, I'm sixteen not six."
Actually, she'd have to check and see how far off her birthday was. It'd be weird, celebrating in Auradon instead of the Isle for the first time in her life. But it'd also be the first birthday she'd get to celebrate with Ben. She'd have to put her foot down to avoid him spoiling her too much.
"Yeah well separating my chicken from you is like taking a bone from Cerberus," Hades teased as he put the Tupperware container in a small bag. "How much time did I tell you to give them again?"
"Half an hour," Mal sighed. "I can't believe I didn't know Ryan had a sister. How can I call myself a Captain if I don't know what's going on in my crew's life?"
"Mal, people keep secrets," Hades said gently. "I mean, for example, I thought everything was going fine in my daughter's life even though she'd just turned her birth giver into a lizard at the same event where her boyfriend becomes King of Auradon and then one day she mutes her mental link and her mother and I were forced to speculate until her cousin finally reached out."
"How long are you going to play that card?"
"As long as I'm able to."
Mal shook her head. "I told you guys. I didn't want to worry mom, you know since she was trapped on the Isle. I didn't think Ben would just invite her off for me."
"How long have you been dating the sunspot?"
"Why?"
Hades chuckled. "Because Mali, it's clear to anyone with eyes that he'd do anything for you. If you told him you wanted your mom, he'd get you your mom."
"...he told me he loved me," Mal said softly and Hades stiffened slightly, not expecting that turn in the conversation. "After the mess with Natalie I mean. Well actually he told Natalie first but I was just in the room."
"Okay, I'm going to need an explanation there."
"Ben said he wasn't going to stand for her treatment of me and that my Isle clothes and my spray painting were what made me the girl he loved," Mal said with a small smile. "I didn't tell him back but...I do love him dad. You and mom made it so Hadie and I know what love feels like, even being on the Isle. Looking at your relationship with mom...that's what I want. Minus the having to leave each other for six months."
"And you'll get it Mali," Hades said gently. Did he want to be having this conversation with his daughter? Not necessarily, since in his mind she was still the five month old baby Maleficent had stolen from him. Thanks to the Dragon, he was robbed of five precious years with his daughter. Years that had caused her to grow up too fast.
But Ben made her happy. He allowed her the chance to see the sun and would do anything for her. At some point, Hades knew Ben was probably going to come and ask a question every father dreaded.
He also knew there was only one answer he could give.
"You should go get them," Hades said softly as he looked at the time. "Any longer and they risk getting stuck in there."
"I know," Mal sighed. "But...I don't want to take them out too soon either. I know Ryan's got Henry and Derek looking out for him but at the same time I'm still his co-Captain. I want to make sure he's taken care of, that he...that he won't end up hurting himself in his grief. And then there's Ben. He's never even gotten the chance to talk to his sister before."
"I know Mali," Hades nodded. "But if you leave them in there for too long and they'll become part of the Underworld. There's a reason why mortals aren't allowed in here unless they're dead after all."
"What about Icarus and Abu?" Mal asked, referring to the two mortals Hades and Jafar had kidnapped in their brief team up to take down Aladdin and Hercules.
"I'm convinced that kid was secretly immortal, no one survives flying that close to the sun and the less I say about that monkey, the happier we'll all be."
Mal nodded and quickly got up to give Hades a hug.
"Hey, hey, none of that," Hades said gently though he returned the hug and gently kissed the top of her head. "With all the back and forth you all do, something tells me that this won't be the last time I see you."
"I promise dad, the next time I see you I'll bring Hadie," Mal told him before ducking down the hall to get the two boys, the bag with the Tupperware clenched firmly in her hand. Hades smiled and nodded as he started to clean up. He had no doubt that what Mal said was true.
Meanwhile, across the bridge in Auradon, a tall, dark haired boy smirked as he strolled across the quad at Auradon Prep. It honestly was like he was invisible, with no one even looking twice at him in his Isle garb.
Then again, with all the VKs already here, it was likely that the denizens of Auradon were used to people walking around in leather and other Isle clothing.
Honestly, all the royals here and there's no security? Freddy thought with a scoff as a few boys ran past him. That stampede had worked out better than he had thought. He originally was just going to pin the mess on that Rat in training he'd been talking to but to have her get crushed in the mess herself...and God, Ryan's reaction! He couldn't have predicted that if he tried.
But as they say, God works in mysterious ways. Ryan's reaction had driven Henry from the barge and completely monopolized the attention of the others, even removing three of the six Rats from the clean up crew; allowing Freddy the chance to sneak on board and make his way to Boreadon. However, now he knew he'd need a disguise and quick. Jay, Hook and Uma were somewhere. Not to mention Mal.
If there were four people who Freddy knew would ruin his plans, it was them. He knew Blueberry was probably keeping to herself after the fiasco at the coronation so she wouldn't raise a fuss, and DeVil was still too timid to fight back. Gil would always be an idiot if Freddy's experiences with the boy's older brothers and even his older sister Locklyn taught him anything. Even if Locklyn was one of his Angels.
He could handle those three. But he did not want to meet the 'Rotten Four'.
Oh they would meet...when Freddy was ready for them to. But until then he wasn't about to have them chuck him back onto the Isle.
Claudine can handle the Angels for a while until I can get them off the Isle, he thought. After all, what was the point in getting her out of her shell if she can't run the gang? Then again, she can barely get a boy to break his no flings vow so maybe I should have made Strat the second in command like I promised when I stole him from the Rats. Uma didn't know a good thing when she had it and stuck with Hook, the worthless pirate who's own father doesn't want him.
Ducking into the school, Freddy opened the door to the first dorm he found. He blinked as the spotless interior stared back at him.
"Okay...is this a person or a puppet?" Freddy muttered as he walked inside, closing the door behind him. "Gods, there's a reason why we called this place Boreadon if this is how they live. There's not a speck of dust out of place is there?"
Pausing at the bedside table, Freddy smirked as he looked at a picture that was front and center. Oh this was too perfect. Not only had he wound up in a Boreadon royal's room, but it was Mal's Boreadon royal's room!
"Well then, this'll teach King Beastie Jr. not to have decent security around his room," Freddy smirked. "I wonder if he has a change of clothes I could 'borrow'. After all, it's the least he can do considering his father's the reason why we were all trapped on that Isle."
Opening the wardrobe, Freddy began pawing through the collection of suits Ben had available. Quickly passing on the blue suits, and pondering how many blue suits a guy could really need, Freddy stopped on a light grey one. It was dark enough that it would still be him but light enough that anyone in Boreadon wouldn't stop him and ask him what he was doing there.
He put it on, frowning slightly as he saw that the pants were a bit too short in the ankle. But there was no time to fix that. If anything, the imbeciles in Auradon might just think that he'd recently had a growth spurt. There was no way they'd think he was someone from the Isle.
And if they did, well then they'd just be considered paranoid really. Even though they'd be right.
"Now then, what do the Boreadon boys do for fun?" he muttered as he straightened the tie before making his way back to the quad. He wasn't going to lie, he wasn't used to how bright the sun was. It honestly made it hard to see where he was going and so he could be forgiven for bumping into someone.
"Excuse me!"
Oh God, I think they heard her back on the Isle. There was no need to be so ear piercing loud, Freddy thought as he turned to look at the girl. She was the stereotype of a Boreadon Brat, clad all in pink and had a posse of hanger ons at her side. Her brown hair was tied up in a pony tail, as if she'd been born with it in that style.
But Freddy wasn't the head of the Angels for just his good looks. Giving the girl his best smile, he gave a small bow. "Pardon me mademoiselle, I was blinded by your beauty. As surely someone as angelic as yourself was brought here by the grace of God himself."
The girl smiled as her posse giggled. "Finally, someone around here who knows how to treat a princess," she shook her head and held out her hand.
"Now you, your highness, are no mere princess," Freddy said, gently taking her hand and chastely kissing her knuckles. Such an action disgusted him to his core but he knew it was the only way to avoid being discovered. After all, if Jay or Hook heard about a dark haired boy kissing a princess' hand, they wouldn't think anything of it.
"Have you ever heard the saying that flattery will get you nowhere?"
"Will it get me your name?"
"Oh he is smooth," one of the princess' friends giggled. "Smoother than Ben ever was. Cut your losses and get with this one!"
"Hush!" The princess snapped before turning back and smiling at Freddy. "The name's Audrey. Princess Audrey."
"Well then Princess Audrey, should you need someone to accompany you to an event, allow me to be of service," Freddy said with another sweeping bow. "The name's Fredrick."
He may have hated his full first name but in times like these, it came in handy. The Angels only ever referred to him as 'Fred' and of course Mal and her ilk gave him that disgusting nickname of 'Freddy'. If they heard the name 'Fredrick', they'd have no clue they were the same person.
Which was just what Freddy was counting on.
"Well Fredrick, maybe I'll see you at Cotillion," Audrey said with a small smile. "I have a spa appointment before hand of course but I should be there."
"And where would this Cotillion be? If I were to meet you there?" Freddy asked. A big event like that would be the perfect place to enact his revenge against Mal and her gang. Without any of the Rats for backup, they'd be sitting ducks.
"It's the same place every year," another one of Audrey's hanger on's said. "It's the royal yacht in the harbor."
Oh that'll work perfectly, Freddy smirked as the memory of Mal floundering in the Cove when she was nine and he was twelve came to the forefront of his mind. He could still hear her shouting for Uma to help her.
There'd be no stupid dog this time to hold her up. No Hook to dive to her rescue.
"Well, your highness, until we meet again," Freddy said and gently kissed her knuckles once more. In all honesty, he had no intention of ever seeing that girl again. All she was was a spoiled Boreadon brat who didn't know how good she had it compared to the others.
But she did provide him with the information he needed to get his revenge. Now...where could he make a smoke bomb?
Hook was certainly going to recognize him by this Cotillion and there was a likelihood of a sword fight against the son of Hook since Jay would more than likely be holding back Mal and Uma. Time for that Rat to be hoisted on his own petard.