Disclaimer: I own nothing. Everything belongs to Disney, Descendants, or Ginny's AU. I'm just playing in it. Any new OCs are mine.

Mindlink/Telepathy – Italics, no quotation marks

'Thoughts' – Italics, with quotation marks

Quotes from Ginny's series – Bolded

Normal Speech

A bit of timeskipping here! Follow up from last chapter, but then we skip a bit towards some meat! MWAHAHAHA

Updates may slow a tad once NaNoWriMo starts, plus the next chapter is a sort of 'Intermission' so to speak that will be quite long that will sort of summarize the start of this book up through this chapter but from some other POVs. It'll be fun, I promise!

Anyways, this chapter came about with much help from Ginnyrules27. Like A LOT of help. There's also a scene her she requested since it was left out of Choosing Love. I of course acquiesced because I love some drama. Plus it's her story as said in disclaimer. I'm just playing in it.

Jedblack1997: Unfortunately I don't think in this series. I do have plans for my own, even possibly in Hounds of Auradon, another series I'm working on, that may include Mickey. If not that series, definitely another at some point.

Danifan3000: Yeah I know Ariana pretty much abandoned Audrey the moment she got caught with the Coup and all. It would be interesting if Aaron or Ariana tried to make a ploy when Phil is about to take the throne, likely with Melody at his side. With Melody comes a mountain of Gods after all. And Hadie and Herkie are nothing if not loyal in their mini group already.

Ginnyrules27: I can relate too in a sense. My parents moved so often at first I was in a new school every year for almost all of elementary until they finally settled by the time I hit 8th grade. See, I used to toss around, but I learned young to basically sleep like rotisserie where I rotate in one spot xD Also, yes! I love how you've given Chad more depth, so I want to explore his growth more. I know I've said this before, but FlamingGlass is an AMAZING name, and I can just see it in my head like a movie poster of that glass slipper refracting like a diamond with a rainbow of different colors as it's engulfed in fire!

Yeah that scene…It wrote itself in the end. I just wanted a way for Hadie to find out about Leah being sentenced, and I recall that chain of gossip in one of your chapters that happened right after she was sent to the Isle. Gossip can be fun, but almost always has that harmful side to it even if people don't know it so I decided to utilize that since that definitely seems like how Ashaki sees things. Phil's worries are something I felt growing up, wondering if some other family member was more valued than myself. I also enjoy hierarchy/period inheritance dramas so if I had the time to write a political torn apart Auradon, I would! I don't have the energy for all that though, so even Hounds will probably just poke at it and run away xD But yeah, not only did Ashaki blurt it around someone from the Isle, that all those in that group already know has issues with sharing the experiences and they know the Isle is darker than they thought just from the Coronation Conflict, but she blurted it out in front of Phil, who's grandmother, liked or not, was still family who in a normal world would've caused serious political backlash. THIS IS A SUPER LONG RESPONSE, SORRY.

OceanBlueSeaEyes: It would certainly make things easier! I wouldn't want people to lurk on it or see through it like Uma has done though.

SnowWhite45: He hates being seen as a baby, but I can't help but make him a momma's boy and I want to coddle him so bad! xD

Please don't forget to follow and/or review!

The morning dew had frosted over from the winter's cold. Auradon Prep's halls were quiet as most of the students had gone home for the brief holiday break. Only a lone vehicle, a deep blue SUV trekked its' way up towards the school, the sound of its engine rumbling through the silence. A few minutes later, all was silent again as the driver parked in the visitor's area and hopped out of his car. A gentle wind blew through auburn locks as the hulking figure hiked the rest of the way towards the school.

The man meandered the halls, seemingly knowledgeable of his destination. A flash of white was seen as he briefly smiled wide, taking in the sight of the mostly empty cafeteria.

"Herkie!" He shouted across the hall, raising one hand into the air as he called the attention of the boy and his cousins.

"Dad!" Herkie leapt up, racing towards his father. Hercules welcomed his son with open arms, lifting his youngest into a hug.

"Hey, there kiddo," he set Herkie down, ruffling the boy's hair as he did. "Surprise!"

"What are you doing here?" exclaimed Herkie, staring up at his father incredulously. "I thought you and mom were going to visit γιαγια with Macaria and Hyllus?"

"They still are, but I realized something," Hercules began, watching as Hadie tensed as the much older cousin glanced in his direction. "Hadie," Hercules continued, nodding a greeting, a gentle smile softening his intimidating stature. "I'm glad to see you're looking well since we last met."

"Hello, nice to, uh, see you too…I'm sorry," Hadie shifted awkwardly, eyes shifting side to side underneath his blue fringe. "I'm not sure how to address you, sir."

Hercules closed the distance between them slowly, Herkie glued to his side, before kneeling down so he wasn't towering over the godlings.

"Hercules is fine," a tan hand rested gently on Hadie's shoulder. "We're family, though it may be odd to address me as cousin considering our age gap for now. Feel free to keep in mind that I rarely acknowledge the Olympian lifestyle, so no need for any titles, okay?"

Hadie nodded, enraptured by Hercules relaxed and naturally jovial voice.

'Though I suppose I should expect that,' Hadie thought as he tilted his head, staring at Hercules inquisitively. 'When Herkie accidentally broke Ky's arm, and both Hercules and Megara showed up, they were nothing but kind, even if Megara was a bit standoffish at first.'

"Now, for the reason I'm here," Hercules smiled broadly, the crow's feet of his eyes crinkled as his voice pulled Hadie from his thoughts. "I don't want to interrupt your plans, but it's your first Saturnalia in Auradon, and I figured it's unfair that you'd spend it alone," He shook his head as Hadie opened his mouth to speak. "I know I gave permission for Herkie to stay, and I know Ariel did the same for Melody even though it's not something their side of the family really celebrates what with Eric sticking to Yule. But the school isn't able to isolate resources for a few students, so I got permission to come down, cook, and spend the day with you kids."

"Really?" asked Herkie, jumping on his dad's back in excitement.

"Absolutely!" the man stood, chest puffing up in faux pride. "Now, since it looks like your plates have been licked clean, how about you three show me the kitchens so I can get started? I hope you all made healthy choices to start your day." A lopsided grin appeared on his face, looking at the three expectantly, a keen naivety shining in his blue eyes as if he truly did think the kids had made such a decision. "You can tell me about what you normally do, Hadie, just so we have some basis…"

Both boys glanced slyly at Melody as they enthusiastically nodded along as Hercules spoke, at least for themselves. Herkie, fondly followed his father's nutritional advice whereas Hadie tended to keep to fruit and protein. Melody's habit of syrup-drowned chocolate chip covered waffles however…

Don't show me out like that you two! Melody whined over their mental link, though her outward appearance was all smiles as she nodded along with Hercules' words. Strong feelings of amusement were all she felt back over the link.

As the group of four trailed out of the cafeteria, a commotion could be heard from down the long hallway.

"Okay, color me curious, that came from the entry hall," Melody said, "Adventure detour?"

"Yes!" Both Hadie and Herkie grinned.

"Come on, dad," Herkie tugged at Hercules' sleeve. "Cooking can wait, you said you didn't want to interrupt our plans? Well, our plan simply consisted of taking us wherever our curiosity desires!"

"Just like old times I suppose," Hercules chuckled quietly. "Alright young adventurers, lead the way!"

The four of them tried not to rush down the hallway, hopeful to not miss any of what may have been occurring, their shoes already too loud on the marble floors possibly giving them away. Reaching the end, Melody, then Hadie and Herkie each peeked their heads around the door frame, one at a time to find the source of some rather loud voices. Hercules shook his head at the comical action and simply tilted his head slightly, his height easily lending him an advantage as he peeked around the corner himself. His eyes widened as he recognized just what was going on.

"I don't see why not! If Hercules is able to see him, I certainly should be able too!"

A large woman with reddish-brown hair stood intimidatingly at the doors of the main hall. She looked out of place, wearing a flowing chiton covered in various flowers and vines, a pale green glow emanating from her presence. Across from her, the little group spied the headmistress of the school standing firmly in the strange woman's way.

"I'm sorry Lady Demeter, but I have to refuse you entrance. In the case of Lord Hercules, he is a parent of currently attending students."

"Now, surely this is just a misunderstanding, as his grandmother—"

Fairy Godmother raised a hand, halting the Goddess' words. "I mean no disrespect, Lady Demeter, but you are only listed as an emergency contact. You do not have leave to visit or remove him from campus without Lady Persephone's permission. Which even if you did, it is up to the student in question if he wishes to see you at all."

Hadie bumped into Hercules as he pulled back, trying to press into the wall as if it could devour and hide him.

"I don't want to see her, not without my mom," Hadie whispered, looking down at his feet, trying not to shake with fear.

'Mom has shared mix stories about her own mom, and it's the only time dad tries not to say anything inappropriate even though it's written all over his face how much he doesn't like her! What if she tries to keep me from ever seeing dad again!'

"Hey," Hercules whispered, kneeling down at Herkie and Melody's level where they were still enraptured by the argument, unaware of their cousin's building anxiety. "You two take Hadie down to the kitchens, I'll take care of my aunt and have Fairy Godmother direct me afterwards."

Taking Hadie, by the arm, Herkie led the three of them away, Hercules waiting a few beats before walking out of their hiding spot.

It was a good thirty minutes before the Mini Three saw Hercules again. With a deft hand, Hadie hid the candy the anxious trio had begun to munch on into his coat pocket. Fairy Godmother led the demigod into the room, constant apologies and thanks spilling from her lips.

"I'm the one that should be apologizing, Fairy Godmother," Hercules shook his head as they entered the large kitchen. "I shouldn't have mentioned I would be visiting Hadie as well when I told my mother I was coming. You know how gossipy Olympus is."

Fairy Godmother nodded noncommittally, too aware to of insulting the Gods.

"Apologies for the interruption, students," the fae smiled at the entirely too innocent acting children. "Do try to keep out of too much trouble?"

Turning back to Hercules she waggled a finger at him, "Please make sure to clean up after yourselves, that's all I ask. The kitchen staff would appreciate it."

"Of course, Fairy Godmother," Hercules nodded sagely. "You can count on me."

As Fairy Godmother bustled out of the kitchen, Herkie snorted into his cup of hot cider, all too familiar with his dad's hero routine, even if it was entirely genuine.

Hercules clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Shall we get started?"

"We?" The trio said simultaneously, each tilting their head to the side as they looked at him questioningly.

"I thought you said you were cooking dad? You didn't ask for help!" Herkie protested as his cousins snickered on either side of him.

"Aw, come on, guys! Not even a little bit of help?" whined the outnumbered adult.

"We'll help clean after…" Melody giggled, "by eating the evidence!"

"With a generous amount of snarky commentary!" Hadie added with a smirk.

Shaking his head, Hercules looked around to find the supplies he'd had imported by the school at his own expense just a few days earlier. While he began to cook, the children began to wind down, chattering lightly about school before the conversation changed back onto the purpose of the day.

"—and last year, Grandfather was so drunk, he and Dionysus knocked over the dessert table and started a food fight!" Herkie roared, Melody and Hadie dissolving into their own fit of laughter. "Auntie Hestia was absolutely furious; she lit their chitons on fire! Grandmother let it go for a bit before she finally had Uncle Po-Po hit them with a tidal wave."

"We've done nothing so rambunctious," smiled Hadie, resting his chin on a hand. "We do the μιασμα cleanse, even though we can't really do magic on the Isle, but dad's pretty adamant about keeping souls healthy…" he trailed off, thinking listlessly, resisting the temptation to check in on his parents to see if they had anything planned without the brunt of the rugrats beneath their feet.

Despite speaking with them through telepathy every night, they were all so busy that apart from their Saturday talks, their nightly talks were mainly 'good nights' and 'love yous'. With it being winter, his mom was helping with the influx of souls, especially since his dad was still constantly being bothered with the other villains' problems.

At least the hours he set aside were being mostly followed, with Hades being quite firm with the use of a complaint box for him to pace through than dealing with an open idiot forum.

A poke at his cheek pulled Hadie from his thoughts, he looked up to see Melody grinning at him as she poked him again.

"Gone down a rabbit hole, have you?" a puff of flour decorated her hair in sharp black and white contrast from when she helped prep the phyllo pastry. After a moment she shrugged, unwilling to pester Hadie for his current thoughts. "My mom did send seawater like she promised, so we can do the ritual if you want. I don't know the words though."

"I'll send her a thanks. I still need to write her anyways after she sent that box of spiced chocolate to try last week," Hadie stuck his tongue out as he lightly smacked Melody's hand away as she tried to poke him again. "Your mom is really too kind, Mel."

"I think she's still trying to make up for never telling me the truth about the seawall," she awkwardly laughed. "It's a weird conundrum, being spoiled in addition to grounded. Anyways, you were telling us what you do before you spaced out. My family really does nothing for it. Grandpa Po-Po wants to host us next year now that I know about them though. Or even go visit for my birthday! You're totally invited either way!"

Hadie shook his head fondly as Melody began to ramble. He quickly cut in to answer her question. "We really don't do much. We can't do much, what with the Isle. Dad cooks what he can, but…" he glanced briefly at Hercules who was still busy over the stove. He shook his head again. Hadie was done keeping secrets, at least when it came to his cousins. They'd proved themselves after his little meltdown a few days ago. "We have to keep everything rationed since there isn't exactly a lot of food. It's only a feast with what mom can bring back from Auradon and then we have to try to make it last a year until she comes back again."

The three glanced briefly at Hercules as they heard the clattering of metal.

"Uh, don't mind me," Hercules said, voice muffled by the thumb in his mouth to stopper a small cut. "I've always been a little clumsy."

"It's alright, Uncle Herc," Hadie smirked. With the age difference and already the kindness shown, Hadie felt more kinship with the son of Zeus than his actual Uncle. He'd stick to calling Herkie cousin to keep the differentiation. "Dad sucks his thumb too, you don't need to make excuses."

Everyone stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.

"A-are you serious?" Melody wheezed, clutching at her sides.

"Absolutely!" Hadie grinned madly. 'Sorry dad, but you're really not the big bad villain you used to be. Scary brilliant sure, fire ooga booga, but that world domination is long gone from the list.'

"Granted, he only does it when he's asleep and mom's off the Isle. Clings to her pillow and everything."

Hadie leaned back in his chair, pleased with his deflection as he continued describing their usual activities of clay crafts and story time. They seemed to think his dad's habit a joke, too outlandish of one of the greatest villains to believe.

'Their loss. I remember crawling in with him once after a nightmare when I was little. I don't think he realized I caught him. Or if he's even aware he does it. The one time Mal and I managed to move his hand without him waking up, he either whines or just starts drooling like crazy.'

A couple hours later, Hercules tugged a cart laden with food towards a private room put aside for them to eat in, the children following dutifully like ducklings as they continued to chatter along, carefully carrying plates and utensils. With the room set, it quickly filled with enticing scents of fennel and clove, racks of rosemary rubbed lamb and feta stuffed bell peppers amongst other drool worthy plates.

"It all looks so good, dad," Herkie groaned as he began to crowd his plate with various pickings.

"H-herkie, hey!" Hadie grasped at his own fork as he attempted to stop the other boy from piling food onto Hadie's plate for him as well. "I'm capable of making my own plate, thank you!"

"I just want to make sure you get a little bit of everything," Herkie protested back. "You need to eat more!"

"Gah, you're like the lunch lady, always trying to fatten people up!" Hadie tugged his plate away before Herkie could add anymore. "Thank you, but at least let me finish this mountain before you have to roll me out of here!"'

"As if we'd ever need to roll you out, Hads," Melody scoffed. "You'd need to eat three servings per meal for a year before you'd have trouble fitting through a door way."

"Make that ten years!" laughed Herkie as they all began to dig in. "I feel like everything you've been eating has just made you taller, but you're almost just as skinny as when we first met!"

Hercules chuckled as he watched the exchange. The boys certainly had developed a strong bond no one had expected, and with Melody in tow, it was like he was seeing what the Big Three could've been. Amicable. Happy. Naturally, that is genetically, chaotic.

'I know you were worried when Herkie first started writing home about becoming close with Hades' son, Meg…'

He'd fought, one of the few times actually, with his parents. Meg hadn't cared either way about her old boss's punishment as long as he left her and Hercules alone. Everyone else saw Hercules as far too forgiving.

'You've done a fine job raising your kids, Hades.' Hercules mused as made a platter for himself. Though he hadn't yet met Mal, only seeing her briefly at Family Day and the Coronation, Macaria had called home praising the girl often enough. 'Maybe one day father will forgive you too. He did it for Poseidon after all. It just took twenty something years.'

"Thoughts?" asked Herkie around a stuffed mouthful of food. "How's it compare to your dad's cooking?"

"Herkie," sternly said Hercules. His son swallowed sheepishly.

"I am willing to say it's just as good as my dad's, but you've yet to convince me your dad's better."

"Maybe dad can ask Grandfather to get your dad off the Isle for even just a little bit," a mad glint appeared in Herkie's eye. Hercules glanced at his son, slightly concerned as if the boy was in tune with the very thoughts he'd been thinking moments before. "I'd love to see a cook off between my dad and yours!"

An amused yet slightly exasperated look crossed Hercules face.

"Herkie, let's not make light of Hades' situation," Hercules interrupted. "Even Hadie, who's done nothing to be on that Isle, was stuck there until King Ben came into power. Even when several gods had been pestering my father, he didn't bother to set a conversation with the previous King to see if it'd even be a possibility."

"T-there were multiple gods?" asked Hadie, tilting his head. "I just know my mom said, uh, grandmother, was pretty vocal about keeping me with her on her farms instead of going between the Isle and Auradon."

"Demeter was absolutely vocal, still is, as you saw today," Hercules pondered slowly counting off fingers. "Her sister Hestia of course, Hermes, Aphrodite and Artemis are all good friends of your mother too. Unfortunately, Hestia no longer sits on the council of Olympus, having retired, so that isn't enough clout to force my father's hand."

Hadie looked down at his plate, slowly chewing as he savored the flavor of the pilaf.

"It's nice to know that there's other Gods I might be able to trust," Hadie eventually said. "Mom doesn't really speak about the other gods because dad tends to monologue and rant for hours. Though trust might be a strong word…I still don't know how I feel about Demeter? Grandmother? I don't even know what to call her!"

"What do you mean, Hadie?" asked Melody as she fashioned herself a poorly constructed gyro.

"Even once I meet her officially, I'm worried she won't like me," Hadie mumbled. "She doesn't like dad, and I look well enough like him…"

"Hey, now, that's nothing you need to worry about until it happens," Melody spoke, as she scooped a less than healthy amount of ice cream into a bowl. "And your mom plans to be right there with you at least!"

"And from what I've heard from my parents, and evident by today, she's desperate to meet you," Hercules smiled gently, placing dessert onto the table. "Your mom is pestered for new photos every time she comes back, so I doubt you looking like Hades has had much impact on Demeter's views. I think she's just genuinely excited to have grandchildren, but since you were on the Isle, she hasn't had the chance to be a grandmother as she would like to be."

Hadie looked down at his plate. He had a feeling the first meeting would be…tumultuous.

'I'll try. If…grandmother…can learn to be tolerable of dad,' he thought as they all dug into their food. 'I'm willing to give her a chance.'

Time moved forward as it's won't to do. Before Hadie knew it, another month and a half had passed since he'd arrived in Auardon.

'Another month and a half closer to seeing mom again,' Hadie hummed happily to himself as he nearly vibrated with anticipation, practically skipping through the halls. There had rarely been a poor day since the revelation that Leah had been sent to the Isle. With her death so soon after, Aaron and his annoying little group had thankfully left Hadie alone. At least for now.

Today would be even better because he'd get to see Mal.

As soon as Mal was done with a Cotillion fitting with Evie—and yes, he called her Evie when Mal or Uma weren't around thank you very much or Dizzy would have his head—she finally had the time to hangout, just the two of them.

The two siblings had both been so busy with school, particularly Mal, that they only seemed to have alone time with each other once a month. Today they were meeting in the student kitchens, the one's where students were actually allowed, usually used for Everyday Skills Without Servants. Like cooking and sewing. The school had changed the name after complaints from the public. Apparently, it'd originally been Life Skills of Commonfolk. Hercules had only used the large kitchens because it had the equipment he wanted. Not to mention being an adult meant it was allowed. The student ones just had a few ovens and stoves, not a giant vertical spit to make gyro meat that no child would know how to handle.

Following the directions Alexandria had given him—something that occurred with increasing frequency—Hadie eventually found the room.

'Seriously. Maps are important, Ben! Should've included that with your Introduction to Auradon package,' Hadie ranted to himself, slipping into the room and hopping on a stool as he waited for Mal. 'Alex has yet to lead me astray, even if I never quite made it to the library that first day, but it wouldn't have been necessary to ask if I'd just had a map!'

"Hey Storm cloud!"

"Mali!" Hadie flung himself into Mal, causing her to drop the bags of ingredients occupying her hands.

"Oof, okay, you're getting way to heavy for that, Hads!" Mal tried not to double over from the impact as she held her brother tightly. "Probably shouldn't risk jumping mom when she gets back too, soon only dad's going to pick you up for much longer."

"I'm only a bit taller Mal," Hadie huffed, pouting at the thought of not being able to sit on their mom's lap anymore.

"As loathe as I am to admit it, you're going to be taller than me one day, Storm cloud," Mal blew a raspberry at her brother as she laid out what she'd brought on a prep table.

"Yeah, well, that's not exactly a difficult achievement there, Mali," Hadie smirked, placing a bowl on the counter and grabbing the cornstarch from Mal in order to fill the bowl.

Mal rolled her eyes as she cut up the chicken. It was weird, seeing what pre-butchered cuts looked like in Auradon instead of having to break down a chicken themselves. The two of them both learned once their dad thought they were old enough to handle knives. Not that that stopped Mal, but wielding a knife in the kitchen was different than wielding a dagger for combat.

As the pair of them set to work, attempting to make the food they missed most, Hadie and Mal talked about everything and nothing. Their desire to simply try to enjoy each other's presence as the normally attached at the hip siblings found their time together too rare while in Auradon.

"I know mom'll be back in a couple months, but only having telepathy to speak with her and dad sucks!" Hadie lamented as he hopped back onto a stool to help prepare the garlicky coating they loved so much. "I miss them."

"I do too, Hadie," Mal sighed, picking up the tray filled of finally prepped chicken. "That's why we're here trying to make some semblance of a taste of home."

"You're doing so well, here in Auradon, though," Mal added, smiling sadly at her brother as she slid the chicken into the oven. "Fairy Godmother keeps me updated on your grades, and you've made plenty of friends. Even had a bit of a growth spurt like I said. Though proper food would do that."

"Being social and smiles doesn't mean everything's fine, it just looks like I've adjusted," Hadie sighed, dropping his chin into his hands as he rested his elbows onto the table, pouting. "Keeping myself busy with school is what I did on the Isle. Now I just have more people my own age to distract myself with. Something you of all people may relate to right now."

He glanced at Mal from the corner of his eyes, he didn't want to do this, but when Mal bottled up, sometimes being blunt and ripping the bandage off was the only way to go. Mal stiffened, Hadie immediately recognizing 'defensive Mal' activating.

"Mal…?" Hadie carefully began. Even when Mal had first entered the room, he could tell there was something wrong. He wanted to ignore it, tried to, but he couldn't in good conscious allow Mal to continue bottling up whatever she had been hiding for the last few months. "Please…talk to me?"

At first Mal turned away, occupying herself with the chopping of garlic.

'Well, that's not the worst she's ever responded with when confronted,' Hadie thought wryly as he waited for his sister to finally say something.

"I'm not entirely sure what you need me to talk about, Hadie," Mal finally said as she began aggressively mixing a sauce together.

"You might've learned the mind link first, but you've always been shit at it," he groused, miffed at Mal's stubbornness. "You don't want to worry our parents, but they've absolutely noticed because you've got emotions of stress and fear feeding over the link every day!"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Even if I was, you shouldn't be getting any of my feelings."

"Uh, because Uma is picking it up and told me? Dad too, he pesters me every weekend to ask, but you're either busy or avoiding me it seems like!"

"A-avoiding you? I would never do that on purpose Hadie, you're my little brother!" Mal stared at him in shock. "I know I'm busy, but as soon as Cotillion is over, I'll try to make more time for you! I know we only see each other a few times a month, but—"

Hadie couldn't help it. That was the last straw. The last drop that overfilled his already brimming cup, the lone dam holding back his own frustrations and worries. He slammed his hands angrily into the counter.

"Come on, Mal! What's going on? It's not a few times a month, it's ONE! You're not even talking to mom or dad at all! For your information, Herkie told me that you have Macaria on mute too and by extension all of our Auradon godling cousins. But me and Uma as well, barely speaking with us outside of meals? Which, don't think I haven't noticed you've began to skip out on. Or leave early!" He drew a deep breath, his next works weaker and pleading. "Please, Mali. I grew up with you protecting me, helping me. Now let me help you."

"I'm sorry, Hadie, you're too young to deal with my problems. Which there aren't any." She said dismissively. "It's just school and meetings, I swear."

"You swear? But you don't promise. Don't think I don't know the difference Mal! Unless you're willing to swear by oath? No one seems to know anything; it'd help to even just tell someone. Myself, Uma or Ben?"

"I don't have to tell you anything!" Mal shouted, standing up abruptly. She tried to ignore that the difference in their height was almost gone, barely able to look down at her little brother. "It's my responsibility to protect you! Not the other way around! Don't you remember what happened the one time you were allowed out on your own? I've made sure it would never happen again, even if I had to be around Maleficent just to trick her into dealing with those idiots who tried to kidnap you, permanently. You're my little brother, not my keeper."

"That happened when I was six! I'm almost twice that age now, and older than you were when you started running an entire gang. I just want to help you, is that too much to ask?"

Mal only shook her head, refusing to say more as she crossed her arms.

"You go off sparring with Uma all the time, or your new Auradon friends, but what about me, Mali?" Hadie whimpered. "I've hung out with Estelle more than you, with Ben too! Do you not have time even for your own dog?"

"I can't exactly take Estelle to classes," Mal rolled her eyes and huffed. "And I can't exactly stop sparring, Uma would come after me no matter what. Everyone else comes to me. You're more than welcome to do the same, we can always work on swords together. But I just…don't really have a lot of space in my schedule so it's usually just class stuff, it's not like I've had time to hang out with anyone else either. Anyways, my secrets are mine!."

Hadie felt a scream bubble up in the back of his throat. The urge to throw a little tantrum like he used to when Mal first started to keep what she could about the Isle from him. She was being so flippant about her own problems, ignoring his concerns. Instead, he lowered his voice, knowing defeat. He would have to hope someone else would get through to Mal, before it was too late. He focused a glare on his sister, his lips forming a pout as he shook his head with disappointment.

"Secrets? Secrets are no fun. You won't tell me? Then we're done."

The modified saying fell from his lips automatically, as if he was in a trance. Ignoring the flash of hurt in his already crumbling sister's eyes, Hadie turned away and fled from the kitchen, the temptation of their favorite food abandoned.

'Damn Mal's stubbornness and pride.'

Mal buried her face in her hands as the timer went off for the oven, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling.

Neither noticed the wisps of blue fire evaporating from either of their hair.

Waking up the next morning was hard.

'Is it…cold?' Hadie sleepily wondered as he climbed down from his bed to prepare for classes, the protections of his must-be-magical blanket left reluctantly behind. Taking his usual doses of medicine, Hadie rummaged through his closet for one of his sweaters. 'I'm usually resistant to the cold though…not like…not like Mal. She's going to hate today.'

It stung, recalling yesterday's fight, but Hadie felt absolutely sure that he was in the right.

'I'm not going to be the one to apologize first,' he thought as he turned on the shower water as hot as he could withstand. 'That isn't to say I won't at all, but Mal is the one refusing help. I can't do anything more about that. The only S.O.S she's willing to give right now is 'Stubborn Old Sister'.'

Content that he was right, Hadie settled on ignoring Mal even if it hurt. He'd only listen if she finally opened up and asked for the help she clearly needed.

Getting dressed he threw a jacket on over his sweater as he left for classes, thinking no more of the creeping cold. So assured in his quest to ignore Mal for the time being, he barely gave it a second thought that he never saw her at any point that day.

It was a week later he learned she had fallen ill.

He also learned someone had finally done something, succeeding where he had failed.

He also had a surprise guest.

The day had started out like any other, except not really. Due to Cotillion preparations, occasionally Fairy Godmother would allow a free day from classes. Melody had gone off with Elle after the older girl had gotten back from a date with Akiho with Emir magically appearing shortly after the two Atlanticans had left. The King's Shadows stayed for quite a while, keeping an eye on the rather rambunctious mass of various younger siblings as they hung out in the library courtyard. At least until Akiho started listing about a hundred possible sandwich combinations and the pair of shadows zoomed off with no other explanation.

Hadie watched from his perch, having beat Akiho and Herkie up one of the trees earlier, as Evan and Ashaki clearly cheated at 'Cheat', somehow sneaking cards into Phil and Neal's hands as they raced to rid their own hands first. He laughed as Herkie hung from a branch, bouncing up and down, shaking the tree they were in.

"Hadie?" The librarian, Sylvia, stood at the doors that led to the library, everyone turning to her as she called out. "There's a visitor here looking for you." Hadie slowly straightened up, like a meerkat peering into the distance towards the door as Sylvia held the door open for Hadie's supposed guest. After Demeter had showed up, he was apprehensive. A soft green glow surrounded the person, obscuring Hadie's ability to properly make out who they were and furthering his concern due to the similar color to his grandmother. His jaw dropped as his eyes widened, finally comprehending who approached, not used to seeing them surrounded in a glow. Jumping down from his place in the tree, he hesitantly spoke:

"Mom?"