Mal didn't come back down for the rest of the evening. Left on her own Evie cooked dinner, leaving Mal's share for her. Ben had already called with more news, the dashcam footage from the back camera on the limo had gotten out. The press had a hold of it. This was turning into a public disaster.

Evie was furious. They had to fight just to confirm any new trip of kids. This would push back the next scheduled group by a month, at least. And she knew Mal would be blaming herself. She pulled up the footage, watching the grainy, shaky feed of Hades breaking away from the crowds, gunning on desperate feet towards the closing barrier. Even knowing what was about to happen she felt her throat close up as she watched the two guards come into view. This was bad. The entire incident was there. The comments on the news site that released the footage were blowing up.

Of course this would happen. We keep opening that doorway, it's only a matter time before unwanted things slip out.

I know bringing those poor kids over is important, but is it more important than the lives of our kids?

Argh, what's the king's pet dragon even doing? She almost let him get out.

If the king can't protect us, who will?

Sure, the villains are 'stopping' villains now. But what happened when enough of them are on our side? They'll take over everything.

Evie reading was interrupted a few comments after that with a message from Dizzy.

'Everything okay?'

'Define okay,'

'Shit,'

'It's not good. I'm going to be in meetings over this for the rest of the week, at least,'

'So I guess I'll be handling the fitting check for Darlings on Friday,'

'I'll be there if I can, but I'd love you if you could do it,'

'You already love me,'

'Very true. You're the best,'

'I saw the footage that's going around. How's Mal?'

Evie sighed, rubbing her brow, 'I'll answer that when I know the answer myself,'

She watched the text bubble for Dizzy start and stop twice before she finally sent something.

'I was scared for her,'

'Me too,' Evie replied simply. She sighed, putting the phone aside.

Somehow it was already after eleven. She went up to the tower. As she pushed the door open she caught Mal jumping in the plush seat they had in front one of the windows of the extension.

"Sorry," She called, "I didn't mean to startle you,"

"You didn't startle me," Mal defended, her hands deep in her pockets as she looked out the window.

With a soft smile, Evie drew closer but didn't cross an invisible threshold. Mal's gaze was fixed outside. With her legs folded up under her and her posture slouched into the back of the seat, she looked small and meek. But there was tension in her. Coiled in her muscles, just buried under her expression.

"Fairy Godmother told you to get to sleep at a reasonable time,"

"I'm pretty sure midnight is her definition of reasonable time. I still have like forty-five minutes,"

"Mmh," Evie hummed, "Maybe so. But you left me alone in our bed,"

"You're with me now,"

"I worry when you don't talk to me," Evie whispered.

"I…" Mal exhaled, "I need time to process,"

"I get that. I do,"

"You know that's the first time I can remember us being face to face,"

"Oh, Mal,"

"I'm fine Evie,"

"Okay. I understand," Evie whispered, "Is it okay if I hold you?"

Mal didn't answer right away. Her silence lasted long enough that Evie had taken it as a no, but then she saw the small jerk to Mal's head. A quick up and down. A nod so small she almost missed it. Evie moved closer, going slowly. She slid into the space next Mal, laying one hand over her waist. She didn't hug her, or draw her closer, giving Mal the space to move or pull away if she wanted to.

Mal wove one hand together with Evie's. She was the one to move in closer, tucking her head against Evie's neck.

"I've thought about… what a meeting between us would look like. I imagined it turning to violence a few times, but never like that,"

"What would you tell him, if it didn't turn out the way it did?"

Mal snorted, "You're not my therapist E. Nor should you have to be,"

"I know, but I want to help,"

"You already are, just being here,"

"Come back to bed with me,"

Mal nodded against her neck but didn't make any motion to move right away. Evie curled one hand into her hair, the other tracing the line of Mal's jaw.

"Do you ever think about what life would have been like if we had a normal childhood?" Mal's voice pierced their amiable silence bubble.

"I've thought about it," Evie admitted because what kid born on the Isle didn't think of another kind of life than the one they had to scrap in the grime of Isle of the lost streets. Mal was quiet and Evie knew she was waiting for her to elaborate.

"Do you think you'd want one?" Evie asked.

"Would you?"

"Depends,"

"On?"

"You,"

Mal pulled back, just enough for her furrowed expression to cast Evie with sceptical eyes.

"Me?"

Evie smiled, "Would have we have still become friends if we were born to someone else? Would I still be friends with Jay and Carlos? Would Dizzy still be in my life? Would you love me? I can't imagine a life with you all in it. I don't want to imagine it. Maybe there's a universe somewhere I was born to normal parents where the worst thing they've ever done was run a stop sign. If that universe is one where I didn't know you, then I'm happy with this one,"

"E, that's… I'm not worth that,"

"The fact that you even say that makes me know you are worth it," She stood, holding a hand for her, "Now, come on, that's enough existential questions for one night,"

"It's not even 12 yet,"

"Then you don't have to worry about your carriage turning into a pumpkin,"

Mal chuckled, taking Evie's hand, "I'm okay,"

"I know. But I'm cold without you,"

Mal conceded, her heart never fully capable of denying Evie her desires. But as she clung to the soft touch of Evie's hand her thoughts weighed heavy. Dragged down with memory of Hades' magic sparking across her back and chest. The sight of Ben and Jay getting knocked back and the darkest part of her mind adding Carlos or Dizzy or Evie to that image.

Their room was dark, but a sliver of light spilled across the floor at their feet. Mal reached deep into her pocket, fingers closing around the now familiar touch of cold metal that had been tethered in her pocket for weeks now.

"Evie," She took a breath, making sure her voice wouldn't flatter right now, "Today wasn't a great day,"

Evie eyes, already soft with her concern, softened more.

"It's okay M. It's over now,"

"If Hades had-"

"Hey, shh," Evie cupped Mal's face in her hands, "He didn't hurt anyone because you stopped him. And once we deal with the emergency council over this it will be like it never happened,"

Mal's hand stilled in her pocket. Cold dread crept up her spine and latched itself around her neck.

"I'm sorry, I should have- done something sooner. Anything. If I have gone dragon right away those guards, Jay they wouldn't have… and now you and Ben wouldn't… If we can't bring more kids-"

"Shhh," Evie wove her hands into Mal's hair, pulling Mal to her, "None of this is your fault,"

"He's my father," And there they were, the words that were screaming in her head. "He's my father,"

"That doesn't make you responsible for anything he does,"

"He just happens to try this stunt the one time I'm there to pick up the kids,"

"Hey, he couldn't have known you'd be there,"

"I should have done better,"

"Mal, the world isn't on your shoulders,"

"Then why does it feel like it. Why does it feel like every time I'm on the edge of finally settling into my happily ever after something has to come to rip my feet from under me?"

"Oh, M," Evie breathed, cupping her cheek, "What do you need from me?"

"I don't know," She choked out, bowing her head. Evie kissed her brow, pulling her to her chest.

"I love you, so much. I make me so happy. Every day. Do you hear me? Every day. And you deserve happiness. Not because you're kind or brave. Not because you make me feel loved. Because you do all those things, but you deserve happiness just because. The world is cruel at times. To us more so. But that's the way of the world. It's not telling you shouldn't be happy. It's not telling you haven't earned your happiness yet. Because happiness isn't something you should have to earn. It's something that should be given,"

"Is that enough?"

"What?"

"Is happiness enough? Is love enough?"

Evie eye's flickered across Mal's expression, drawing back. Evie chose to ignore the way her throat constricted. Choose to ignore the emotions that could be causing it, "Do you feel like it's not enough?"

Mal's breath sounded fragile, "I-I don't know,"

The night swallowed the conversation and the room filled with the sound of thoughts. Mal dropped to the edge of the bed, but Evie didn't move.

"Is this still about Hades?"

"Yes. I don't know. Yes and no. It's… it's making me think about other things,"

"What other things?"

"Is this what a happy ending looks like?" Mal gestured at the room, "Or are we just the prologue in someone else's horror,"

"A horror? Are we the victims then? Or the villains?"

"Somehow we're both,"

"You're the not villain,"

"We don't get to pick that label. Never did. We used to own it though. Wore it like a badge of honour."

"It was our armour. Never a badge. If it's was something you wanted you wouldn't have hesitated when that wand ended up in your hands."

"I know that," Mal covered her eyes, "It never felt right. Especially here when we had a choice. But I hesitated then and I hesitated today. What does it make me? I'm not a villain. But I'm not a hero either. No one else hesitated. The boys, Ben, they were ready to fight a god and I just froze,"

"That's what this is about," Despite kicking down the anxiety before Evie felt it melt away properly, "Oh Mal. He wasn't just a villain to you. He's your dad,"

"I didn't hesitate with my mother,"

"You weren't put in a position where you might have hurt her,"

Evie could see the distance in Mal's eyes. The conflict of emotions boiling under the skin. She knelt in front of her, placing a hand on her knee.

"M, are James and Roddes evil?"

Mal did a double-take, completely thrown for a loop on how the guys who maintained their lawn once a month had come into this conversation.

"I'd hope not," She answered.

"Are they heroes?'

Mal sighed, understanding what she was getting at, "Evie that's not the same,"

"Why not?"

"They're not…"

"No what?"

"They're normal people,"

"So are you. You don't owe anything to anyone. You're not the villain of someone's story. You don't have to be the hero either. You've been in impossible situations more times than anyone should have to be. And you've risen to the challenge every time. But if there's a time you can't that doesn't make you less than,"

"Fuck, this is exactly what I didn't want. E, it's not on you to fix me,"

"You don't need to be fixed,"

"Of course I do. I'm fucked up. I fought my father today and I don't know if I regret that I didn't hurt him or that I did attack him,"

"You do not need to be fixed," Evie repeated, voice steady as she looked up at Mal. "You're not fucked up. The situation is, but not you,"

The weight behind Mal's exhale carried with a clear call to end this. "I just want to put this behind me. To put him behind me,"

The words sounded bitter to Evie's ears. She knew Mal didn't like the taste of them. There was more she wasn't saying, but she had already pulled away and ducked under the covers on her side of the bed. Evie toyed with a thread on the edge of the comforter watching as Mal's shape was obscured. She dropped the edge of the comforter and she lay down in bed in her place.

The next morning Mal was woken by Evie.

"M, hey. I need you up,"

There was a terseness to her tone that made Mal lean up on her elbows.

"What's happening?"

Evie's lips pressed into a thin line.

"E, what is it?"

"Ben called, they're asking that you come to the council meeting today,"

"Me?" Mal hadn't been to a meeting like that since before she and Ben broke up, "Why?"

"They want to hear your version of events,"

"But, you and Ben were there,"

"I know. But because the video got out and everyone knows you were the one to stop Hades… if it's too much I can tell Ben you're still too weak after the fight,"

That made Mal sit up fully, "No. If they think Hades made me weak that's going to make them more scared to open the barrier again," She got out of bed, "How quickly do I need to get ready?"

"As soon as possible,"

"Let me grab a shower. Pick something for me to wear? I'll feel better knowing I won't be underdressed,"

"Mal," Evie called, "Thank you,"

Mal nodded. She knew how personal the VK program had become to Evie. To all of them. She got ready, a royal car arriving to pick them up. The impromptu meeting was being held at Ben's castle. The familiar setting and kind staff helped set Mal at ease. Until they stepped into the chamber hall and several eyes found her and Evie at once. About two-thirds of the council were there already, representatives who severed as liaisons to the other royal families or noble families with enough influence to earn a place as a voice to the king.

Whispers broke out instantly. Mal knew they were about her. She felt a hand on her lower back.

"Okay?" Evie asked softly.

She nodded. She spotted Fairy Godmother in conversation with another council member and made her way over to her.

"Mal, dear," She said, as they stepped into the circle of conversation, "How are you feeling?"

"Better, thank you,"

Mal saw the way her eyes gave her a critical once over. Mal both felt a rush of affection over the show of concern, but also a seed of unease. She pushed it down, reminding herself that someone's compassion wasn't a comment on her weakness.

"Ah, Ms. Mal," The gentleman Fairy Godmother had been talking with extended a hand, "We're all… eager to hear your testimony,"

"Anything to help this situation getting cleared up,"

"Tabitha and I were just discussing what happened yesterday," He said, "It's dreadful to think of any of those villains escaping, but Hades would have been a global disaster. From what I saw, he hit you the hardest. Are you alright?"

"I am,"

"It seemed like you had a chance to attack him sooner, why didn't you?"

Mal stiffened, not answering for a moment "I wasn't sure how far back my friends were. I knew it would take a strong blast to send him back and I didn't want to risk any of them getting hurt,"

"So you saw the footage?" Evie asked.

"Of course. It was all over the news,"

"It is questionable how it got out," Fairy Godmother said.

"Someone who had access to the limo must have leaked it," Evie said.

"Yes, that's the concerning thing. That means either an Auradon Prep employee or someone on the royal staff,"

"Regardless of how it got out, it's more concerning that the king wasn't going to share that information with the public,"

"He was going to make a statement today. He still plans to make one," Fairy Godmother said.

"You should have made one as soon as he got back,"

"He was more concerned about making sure everyone present had proper medical attention," Evie defended.

"That's the most appalling thing. You were hurt. It could have easily gone much worse. Hades is the god of death after all,"

"He's not a god," Mal cut in.

He gave her an odd look, "I'm just repeating what I've heard,"

The chamber doors opened and Ben stepped in. "Thank you, everyone, for being here. I'd like to start if everyone is ready," He said, not pausing in his stride to his seat.

Mal followed Evie to a seat. Ben gave a quick opening statement about his version of events. He was assaulted by questions as soon as he finished.

"Not all at once, please," He said. There was an edge to his tone that Mal had probably heard twice before. Dark shadows under his eyes spoke of a poor night's sleep as well.

"Sire, there isn't meant to be magic on the Isle. Yet Hades seemed at full power," One lady spoke.

Fairy Godmother stood, "Magic both exists in the world around us and comes from within," She said, pressing a hand to her chest. The barrier works to suppress magic, but as Hades was in the threshold and the barrier wasn't fully closed he was able to access some of magic,"

"He had some sort of magic weapon. We could see it in the video," Another council member spoke. The roll of eyes from Evie as he did told Mal everything she needed to know about him. "How did we let a villain keep a weapon in the Isle?"

"The spell we used to transport the villains to the Isle before evoking the barrier had to be very strong, or we risked it not working on the more powerful magic users. The basis of the spell was a long-distance location spell combined with a binding spell. The binding element was intended to bind their magic temporality. Since this was the first time we or anyone else in known history for that matter used a spell like this. The combination of magics reacted with one another. The location spell designated the induvial but the binding spell bound just not just the designated person but any items that they held a strong personal connection too. When they teleported, those items teleported as well. This is why someone like Captain Hook didn't leave his hook behind even though that's not technically a part of a body. And yes, it also worked on magical items such as the Evil Queen's mirror and Hades' ember,"

"If you have the spell to bind their magic why didn't you do so permanently?"

"The kind of magical power that would take is impossible for any number of magic users to produce. It would have surely killed anyone attempting the spell. As it was the spells used in the formation and development of the Isle almost killed those of us who enacted them. Yensid's magic was never the same,"

"What's from stopping Hades from escaping the next time the barrier is opened?" Another voice from across the room sounded.

"We'll be better prepared next time," Ben said.

"Why weren't you prepared enough this time? Two guards to travel to the Isle? It should have been six, at least,"

"There was never a reason for so many guards before,"

"It's the Isle,"

"And no villain has tried a stunt like this before," Ben said crossly.

"Does it even matter how many guards we send. We saw what happened to them,"

"Exactly. They were helpless in front of Hades. Is your dragon going on every trip the Isle?"

"That is not Mal's responsibility," Ben said stressing on her name. His voice rose to cut over the mummers that were starting.

"If she wasn't there he surely would have escaped,"

"We don't know that,"

"Of course we do. If it wasn't the dragon-"

"Mal isn't in charge of security for the Isle. She's her own person and yes I'm grateful she was with me when this happened, but we will not ask this of her,"

"Well, could someone else have stopped Hades?"

"That's-" Ben started to speak but he was cut off by someone from the council.

"This should be answered by the one who stopped Hades. She would know best, yes?"

Mal felt the room turn to her. She looked to Ben. His eyes were pleading for help. She stood, clearing her throat.

"I don't know if anyone could stop Hades," She answered honestly. The room broke into voices at once.

"Silence," Ben boomed, "Mal isn't finished speaking,"

She shot Ben a grateful look before continuing, "But perhaps with long-ranged weapons that could push Hades back or anyone else who may attempt this,"

"A perhaps? Someone could? Sire are we to take this girl's 'maybe' claims. Let's admit what we're all thinking. The Isle needs to stay closed,"

"That's unacceptable," Ben said.

"Sire, we all know how much this child project has been to you. No one wants to see their first proclamation end in failure. But it's not a failure. We're brimming full with children from the Isle. We can all say it's been a wonderful project, but it's time to declare it over,"

"The VK project is not being stopped," Ben said.

"Be reasonable, Sire,"

"No, you have to be reasonable," Fairy Godmother said, "These are children,"

"Eight-nine," Evie spoke up for the first time.

"I'm sorry

"Eighty-nine. That's how many children that we're brought to Auradon in the near seven years the program has been running. That's including myself, Mal, Jay and Carlos. My lord, in what context would you consider eighty-nine children to be a brimming number. Certainly in comparison to the fifteen hundred total students attending Auradon Prep and Auradon Private Elementary combined it's a paltry number. What about in comparison the 200 children of Felicity, a town of similar size to the population to the Isle. Or how about we compare that eighty-nine to the number of children currently on the Isle. Or the number of children who have yet to be born,"

"It pains us all to see this project end,"

Ben, Fairy Godmother and Evie all started to speak but stopped when they heard each other. They glanced at one another, judging silent who should speak. Mal made the decision for them.

"I will do it," She said, "Serve as a guard when bringing the children to Auradon,"

"Mal we can't ask that off you," Ben said.

"You don't have too. I'm volunteering,"

Questions started to fly in her direction from the other council members. Ben had to call for silence once again.

"Please, we're don't need to be shouting over one another,"

"Indeed sire," One person said, standing, "And I believe even in all the questions thrown out just now, no one asked the right question,"

"And what is the right question, my lord?" Ben asked.

"Are we going to let a villain protect us from the villains?"

Next chapter - the return of Bria, the wild gay OC. Oh and some bad stuff too.

Nardragon- until the next page.