Chapter Twenty Five

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney. I also do not own the video that inspired this chapter—that genius belongs to a tiktok users named Marcus territory.

I swear, it was probably because I've been a little punch drunk from lack of sleep but I was watching that video for the thousandth time and thought '…yeah Chip would totally do that'. Thus the chapter was born! :D

Holy Cats you guys! We're sixteen reviews away from 600! :D

Tracie Adams: I think I can arrange that! :D

Urmimala Hazra: Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it!

danifan3000: Oh that's terrifying—the idea of Leah producing another kid! Just…just no!

shortanamx: You're very welcome, I'm glad you enjoyed the update!

OceanBlueSeaEyes: Leah's got the ego of Olympus doesn't she? Thankfully I think the VKs will help her deflate it! :D

Maybelle Rose: Thank you! You may slap Leah as many times as you'd like! :D

SnowWhite45: Leah's soon going to discover the joys of the Isle…and also the joys of being an ex person. I wanted her to survive long enough to write that scene though.

Anonymous Reader: Would you care for help with the Leah murder? And yay I'm glad you like Derek and Audrey! :D

hhh: Yeah Sarah Sanderson would have a lot of kids—probably with Gaston too since he didn't seem to care who had his child as long as they were a boy.

Guest: She's a stubborn one, that's for sure!

ObsidianDarkArrow: I couldn't resist! :D

Guest: Oh thank you!

AmethystDragon14: Yay! Agreed, go Audrey! And go Phil! You know what, go everyone but Leah! She truly is a demon bat!

Katt Kiki: Glad you liked the chapter!

61394: I totally read that in Scar's voice!

billyandkimfan1994: Did we really think Leah would handle the Isle?

Coolguest: I think a smacking can be arranged!

Kaybugg1: I'm so glad! :D

Angel Cauldwell: You've certainly got the gears in my head a turning with possible planning for this!

twilightgirl587: I'm so glad! And honestly I don't know the names of the VKs but they deserve all the good cake!

smc-smfan1: I'm so glad you liked the chapter—and Leah really did deserve that didn't she?

Bananaboat2009: Oh yeah Mal would always have two back up sketchbooks in case something happened to one!

Guest: It was really my favorite part to write about that chapter!

Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Ben wasn't going to lie. He was more confused than he had ever been—and no one would tell him what was going on!

It had started, of course, with Uma and Harry. They had found a video on Auratube and sent it to Mal. Who then sent it to Jay. Who sent it to Evie. Actually it'd probably take less time to say who they hadn't sent it to. Him.

No one would tell him what it was about! And Jay even stole his phone and blocked Auratube so he couldn't search for it himself!

I mean I like the fact that they're all getting along but Mal sent it to Audrey and not to me! Ben thought with a small pout. Lucas wouldn't tell him either nor would Jane, Liam, Harriet or Gia!

Which was why he was currently sitting in front of the two people he was positive would tell him what was going on.

"Honestly Ben, I don't know what you're talking about," Gil said and Ben sighed, pulling out his bribe. He hated to do it but it was honestly the last resort—well scratch that. Dude could talk and had been proven to be easily bribable with the use of chicken. If Ben struck out with the humans, he'd go ask Dude.

It wasn't the most Kingly thing to do but something was going on involving Chip and as the Gods as his witness, he was going to find out!

"Really Ben?" Carlos snorted. "Paint brushes? I know you're around the VKs more and more but that's got to be the most…is that a new tool set?"

"Sure is," Ben nodded. "Mal mentioned you were interested in possibly building your own computer. Well you need tools for that…and these can be yours if you just tell me what the inside joke is you all share!"

"Oh that! Why didn't you just ask Ben?" Gil chuckled as he reached for the brushes. "Chip—."

Carlos quickly covered his mouth but Ben sighed. "Why am I not surprised that Chip's involved? Excuse me, I need to make a phone call."

"Can we still have the bribes?" Gil asked after removing Carlos' hand from his mouth. "I want to make a present for Gia's baby, even if the baby might not be living with Gia."

"…go ahead," Ben said with a shrug. He was going to find a way to gift them to the boys anyway. Birthday presents or holidays or the like.

Carlos and Gil grinned, grabbing the aforementioned bribes, before scurrying off as Ben pulled out his phone.

"Yellow?"

"Chad, I need you."

"Ben, I'm flattered but aren't you engaged to Mal?"

Ben rolled his eyes. "When we were in school, you were the best at figuring out things no one else knew. I need that rather devious and underhanded behavior now more than ever."

"…what did Chip do?"

"Who said it had anything to do with Chip?"

"Ben, you only get like this when you're trying to figure out Chip's behavior," Chad said as a small bark sounded in the background. "As much as I love to help, Bruno wants a walk. We're going to go hang out with Ginny later anyway so I don't have much time."

"You seem to be hanging out with her a lot," Ben said, smiling slightly as Bruno barked again. "Speaking of dogs, we should get together—have Estelle meet Bruno and Dude. It could be a Tourney puppy playdate!"

Chad shook his head. "Only you Ben, only you. But sorry I can't help you with your super secret sleuthing—and Ginny and I are just friends so get that thought out of your head!"

"Come on Chadwick!"

"Sorry Benjamin!" Chad said with a chuckle. Ben was probably the only person other than his sisters that he would allow to use his full first name and that was just because Ben had a full first name too. "If it has to do with Chip though why not call his boyfriend? I'm sure Lucas could figure out what's going on."

"I did call," Ben said with a sigh. "He wouldn't tell me either, but he was amused so hopefully it just means that something embarrassing happened and that Chip's not hurt."

"I'm pretty sure your mom would kill Chip if he got hurt before his wedding."

"That's if Mrs. Potts didn't beat her to it."

Chad nodded and chuckled once more. "Well Ben, got to go. But oh! You're the bookworm of the Tourney team right?"

"The description I'm assuming you're looking for is 'well read' but yes."

"Whatever. Kat and I have a question. The knights of history? Did they ever ride into battle without a full face of make up on under their helmets?"

Ben stared in shock, a little unsure as to how he was supposed to answer that. Chad knew and he didn't?

"Wha—I—Chad!"

"Toodles Ben," Chad said and Ben could hear the smirk in his friend's voice as he disconnected the call. Ben sighed and called the one person he was sure could help him. Well the one person other than Chip's siblings but they were a last resort. A last human resort. Err…well the last non animal resort seeing as he was about to call a Godling.

"Hadie?"

"Hey Ben!" Hadie said with a grin. If anyone asked, Ben didn't know how the younger boy had a cell phone. It certainly wasn't one of his old ones that Carlos beefed up to take calls without a SIM card. And if Mal asked, Ben had no idea Carlos was going to do that. Nope. No way.

It wasn't like Ben gave Hadie that phone as a gift or anything. Mal had even said that it'd be a good idea for Hadie to have one! Granted she might have mentioned something about doing it when Hadie turned thirteen and Ben was pretty positive the kid wasn't yet twelve yet…

"What's up?" Hadie asked, pulling Ben out of his thoughts.

"Listen Hadie, I need a favor. Your sister's been sharing this inside joke with all the VKs and I'm—."

"You want in on the humor?"

"As bad as that sounds, yes! All I know is that it has something to do with Chip and it's driving me mad!"

"Don't you have actual Kingly work to do?"

"Not since Leah and Natalie went to the Isle," Ben sighed. It honestly was one of the things one could hate about Auradon. When nothing happened, it got really boring really fast.

Hadie chuckled. "All I'll say is that you should check out Auratube, Ben. It's almost ridiculous how many more views the top video has than yours."

Ben paused and tilted his head. He had a video on Auratube? What vide—oh! His declaration of love for Mal! After the Tourney game! Wait, how did Hadie know about that? Actually, scratch that, he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

"Hadie, you as always are amazing," Ben said.

"Why thank you Ben!" Hadie said. "Shall we enact my usual fee?"

Ben chuckled. "Your rates are tough but fair. One bag of assorted candies will be in your room by the end of the week."

"Pleasure doing business with you," Hadie told him as they disconnected the call. Ben shook his head and pulled his laptop toward him, opening up the internet browser of his choice. With a small smile, he started his search. Well not that he needed to do much searching—like Hadie said, Chip's video was the top viewed on there.

"What anxiety? I have cheekbones!" Chip's voice came from the speakers of Ben's computer as the video finished up and Ben had to stare in shock for about five minutes. What…what did he just watch?

"Dean!"

"Yes sire?" Dean asked as he poked his head in.

"Why is Chip giving a makeup tutorial on Auratube?"

Dean chuckled as he walked into Ben's office. "I'm under the impression that he is not fully sober there sire. Didn't you once say he tried to color your face with highlighter when he got drunk because he said that you were important?"

"Well yes but I thought Bonnie took away his alcohol privileges—and now I need to call his brothers."

"Very well sire. Oh I do have a question."

"Shoot Dean."

"Are your cheekbones strong and mighty and could support a family?"

Ben sighed. "Don't make me give you time off. I know how much you hate that."

"Of course not King Ben. After all, you love relaxing and not working yourself," Dean stated with a small smirk, turning to leave as Ben shook his head as he pulled out his phone once more and quickly dialed one of four numbers that he hoped would pick up.

"Gabriel?"

"Oh King Ben! How can I—?"

"Which one of you Potts boys gave Chip alcohol?" Ben asked, thankful someone had picked up right away.

"…what makes you think it was us?"

"Because Emir and Akiho know what happens to Chip when he gets shall we say impaired. Or do you not remember his twenty first birthday?"

"Right," Gabriel sighed. "It was Julian. We tried to stop him but he couldn't make it to Chip's twenty first birthday due to a work emergency and therefore missed the whole highlighter fiasco. He also said that since Chip was practically eloping anyway that we should give him a bachelor party."

"Isn't that the best man's job?"

"The activities we did weren't exactly 'King Ben' approved," Gabriel said with a small chuckle. "Hence why Chippy's currently nursing a hangover right now if you were thinking about calling him."

Ben nodded. "Right, right. There's just one thing I'm confused about."

"Who filmed and put it on the internet if we were all drunk off our asses?"

"Exactly!"

"He roped one of the VKs who's staying with him into it," Gabriel said with another chuckle. "The smaller girl, Lacey I think her name was. He plopped her on the counter, handed her his phone and then grabbed Bonnie's make up bag to do the tutorial."

"Did he say why?"

"If he was sober, he probably wouldn't've but as it was drunk Chip at the wheel, all he said was 'if the VKs can wear makeup and look damn good doing it, then the AKs can too and no one's going to stop us'."

"Oh dear Gods," Ben said, unable to hold back his amused chuckles anymore. Note to self, don't let Harry hear that Chip said that. It'll go straight to his ego. "You realize, now that I know this exists, I must send it to your mother?"

"…Think you could hold off until after the wedding? Lucas might kill you if you make the groomsmen count uneven due to our mother killing one of us."

"Gabriel, it's me. I wouldn't show it to Mrs. Potts," Ben said and smirked as he heard Gabriel's sigh of relief. "My fiancée on the other hand…"

"You're evil Benji!"

"Nope, just embracing my wicked side," Ben said with a small chuckle. "I'll call Chip in a bit once he's nursed off his hangover. Though after five years and no alcohol, it's probably a bad one."

"You can say that again. Thankfully, Blaise is prepared with all the necessary hangover cures!"

"You do know studies have proven that none of those work right?"

"Let us live in our denial!"

"Fair enough," Ben said. "I'll see you at the wedding?"

"Ben, if one of us isn't there, you can assume it's because mom and Belle have killed us for getting Chip drunk."

"I think Chip has a reasonably positive relationship with Lord Hades, he might be able to bring you back if that happens."

"Good to know!" Gabriel said, clearly not going to ask as to why his little brother had a positive relationship with the Lord of the Underworld. "That being said I'd like to avoid dying if at all possible. Just to save people the trouble of bringing me back to life."

"That's a good policy to have," Ben nodded. "So, are you boys freaking out yet? After all, Chip's the baby of the family and he's getting married first."

"We spent ten years of our lives as teacups Ben. We are content to say whatever happens happens and not to question it," Gabriel told him. "It's pretty much the reason why Chip is the way that he is."

"And we wouldn't have him any other way," Ben said with a fond smile as he thought about his brother in all but blood.

"You got that right! Catch you later Ben, I gotta go before Bonnie realizes we gave Chip alcohol and reads us the riot act."

"Wouldn't Lacey tell her?"

"Chip bought her silence—art lessons with Queen Rapunzel."

"And the other VKs?"

"Hermie was out of the apartment, and Brooke and Gia were too amused really to threaten to squeal. I swear Ben, it's like I got more siblings than I know what to do with!"

"I know! Isn't it the best?" Ben asked with a grin threatening to split his face in two. He loved that Chip was able to provide a place for the VKs to feel safe and he loved the fact that his family was slowly starting to rebuild their reputation among the VKs.

Note to self, check in on how the soup kitchen's going. Audrey's been great at bringing back VKs who need to come to Auradon but she hasn't said anything in terms of needing supplies Ben thought. Then again, Auroria has been rather hands on with keeping the soup kitchen stocked. Granted Phil Jr.'s been at the helm there. It's nice to see them getting along again.

Smirking slightly as he pulled a notebook close to him, Ben grabbed a pen and began jotting down some notes for his best man speech. Hey, he had months of 'ridiculous' jokes from Chip even though he hadn't been there at the first viewing to see it! It was his brotherly duty to get him back!

"What anxiety? I have cheekbones!"

"Ah! Yeah that's going on a loop," Ben chuckled as the video began to replay.

"I must put on makeup fellow men, join me…"

At least Chip's a happy drunk, Ben thought. Whenever dad drinks too much, he gets mopey and pensive. Chad gets weepy—not that we've ever drank. Nope. We definitely didn't sneak in some alcohol after we won the Tourney championship…

Ben shook his head and brought his attention back to the speech. He'd only get one shot at this, he wanted it to be good!