"Can we go over this one more time?" Mal asked. She, Evie, Jay, Carlos and Ben were standing around Audrey, "The guy who stole the scepter approached you?"

"I don't know if it was him for sure," Audrey replied, a little defensive.

"Audrey, relax, no one is pointing fingers at you," Ben said.

"Yet," Jay added. Carlos nudged him.

"Okay," Audrey started, "About a month ago, I was working at Grandmother's non-profit. This guy, he introduced himself as Sir Robin Goodfellow. He said he wanted to talk to me about an opportunity,"

"You've gone over that part already," Mal said, "Can we skip to the part where the scepter is involved,"

"He wanted me to be part of some campaign. The way he described it, he made it sound like a spokesperson,"

"Like a political campaign?" Evie asked.

"Maybe. He was really vague about details, which was the first red flag. He said I was someone who'd agree with their group's rhetoric but then started talking about some vaguely anti-crown sentiments. I don't know if he thought getting dumped by Ben would mean I was ready to take a torch to Ben's hair. Which, it's funny anyone thinks I'd get that worked up over a guy… no offence Ben,"

"None… taken," Ben replied.

"He was also strongly anti-VK and at that point, I knew I didn't want whatever he was selling. I told him whatever his group was promoting I didn't want to be the face of it. It took a few tries for him to take no for answer, but he eventually gave up. I thought I wouldn't hear any of his weird ideas again but then the news happened,"

"When they took over the broadcast," Mal put the pieces together.

Audrey nodded, "They were more blatant about their ideals on the news, but the guy I spoke basically had the same manifesto. Heroes aren't being created, society has fallen because of it. VKs are a part of that problem,"

"So you think this Sir Robin Goodfellow is the one who stole the scepter,"

"Or at least working with them,"

"Here's the part I don't get. How'd you know we'd be here?" Jay asked.

She blushed a little, "I honestly didn't. I tried messaging Ben and Evie, but I figured it was lost in the avalanche of everything else happening,"

Evie instantly checked her phone, giving a soft, "Oh shit," When she found the messages.

"I know trying to get into your place without an invite is a nightmare," She said to Ben, then looked at Evie, "And it's not like we're close enough I got your new address when you moved after uni. I just figured someone here would be able to get a message to you. I wasn't expecting this…" She gestured weakly to the disaster of the house around them.

Somehow, the house had devolved into an even worse mess now. Knowing they couldn't leave the kids here Ben and Evie told them to pack some clothes and get ready to leave as soon as possible. Understandably some of the kids were scared and didn't want to leave. There were also the stubborn ones who didn't fully grasp the situation. The most heartbreaking thing was the kids still refusing to leave behind Florianna.

Dizzy, sans her glasses, came into the room just then, looking tired. "Got all the kids ages 8-11 packed. Some of the older ones are still being annoying about it,"

"Pre-teens," Milo grumbled under his breath, joining Dizzy in the doorway. Emu and Celia lurked in the hallway behind them.

"Jay, can you pull the tough love act?" Evie asked, "We need to move these kids sooner rather than later,"

"I'm on it," He clapped Milo on the shoulder as he walked out. Carlos, Milo and Emu went with him, but Dizzy hung back, and Celia, seeing wasn't following, stayed behind as well.

"We still need to figure out where we're putting the kids," Ben groaned.

"The school's out, obviously," Evie said. "I'd offer our place, but if they knew where Mal works…"

"There's a good a chance they know where we live," Mal finished for her.

"And we can't use FG's place after what happened to her," Dizzy said.

"Wait, what happened to Fairy Godmother?" Audrey asked.

"Still need to make announcements about that," Ben winced, "God it's going be horrible,"

"What happened to Fairy Godmother?" She asked again, looking at the other people in the room.

"They attacked her place to get the wand," Mal said, "They didn't get it, but did a pull an encore of that trick they pulled on live tv,"

"But she's not…" The way Audrey trailed off was loud enough to fill in her unsaid words. Again no one answered. "Guys, the lack of an answer is making me think the worse,"

"Of course she's going to be okay," Ben finally said, "Once we get the scepter back,"

"We don't actually know if they'll be okay," Mal said.

"They will be okay," Ben said emphatically, "We can fix this. You're going to get the ember then we'll get the scepter back. Everything will be okay,"

"That will all be moot if we don't protect these kids from someone who very clearly wants to hurt them,"

"I'll arrange for some orphanages to take them for now," Ben said.

"No," Evie said instantly, "Orphanages? No, absolutely not,"

"Evie, what other choices do we have? What facilities are fit to sudden take in dozens of kids without parental supervision?"

"These kids are scared and you're going to, first one separate them, drop them in with other kids they don't know, and caretakers who we don't the political views on?"

"Don't give me flaws, give me an alternative,"

"I could take them,"

Ben and Evie's head swivelled to Audrey. Audrey shrugged, "We have the space,"

"Audrey that's- I don't know," Evie hesitated.

"I can guess why you're hesitating. Grandmother doesn't think well of the VK program, but mom always been in favour of it. She can relate to the whole kid having an abnormal childhood because of their parents' choices thing,"

"Are you sure?"

"I know mom. She won't say no, not to this,"

"We'd be in your debt,"

"Reserve mom and me a couple of seats at your next fashion show and we'll call it even,"

"Deal," Evie said.

"Great, I'll let mom know we're having guests over,"

"And I'll arrange the transport to take them there," Ben said, following her out.

"Are you sure this is the best idea," Dizzy asked Evie.

"No. But it's far from our worst option,"

"It's a shame, I would have liked to see Sleeping Beauty's place," Dizzy said.

"What are you talking about? You're going there too," Mal said.

"No, we're going to the Isle," Dizzy countered.

"No." Mal pointed at herself then towards Evie and Celia, "We're going to Isle,"

"No. If this is the same bullshit about it not being safe, you can't say Celia gets to go but you're leaving me behind,"

"D, that's no–"

"I'm just as capable as you two,"

"You are," Evie said.

Dizzy started with another argument, but deflated, "Wait…"

"D, we, probably more anyone else, know how cunning you are." Mal chuckled, "For one, you've got a perfect poker face,"

"Wait, this better not be some trick to flatter me into staying behind,"

"It's not," Evie said, "Look at these kids. There's going to need someone they know keeping an eye for them,"

"There are others, older kids to keep an eye out,"

"Yes, but these aren't the only VK's we're worried about," Evie said.

"Even before the manor was attacked we talked about contacting those of us who moved away from Aurdon," Mal said, "And with this, we need to warn them. They're all potential targets,"

"Ben's having people call everyone we can call," Evie said, "But there are a few people we don't know how to contact. But we do know where they are, more or less,"

"Jane's going to go to them, but you know how we are. Slow to trust anyone who's one of us,"

"You want me to go,"

"You know at least one person on our list pretty well," Mal said, handing her a page.

Dizzy scanned it, "Antony… you really don't have another way to contact them,"

"If we did, we wouldn't ask you to do this,"

"Are you sure you don't want to be there too? It's not every day you get the chance to see Ginny," Dizzy said.

"Oh trust me, I'd rather see Ginny. Stealing from Hades isn't exactly a bucket list wish,"

"It's not like he'll have magic this time. What's the worse he could do?"

"Right," Mal sighed, "No magic. This will be a breeze,"

"M," Evie said gently, "Jay and I are just as good pickpockets as you we could-"

"No," Mal cut her off, "No one is going in there but me. If I didn't know your response already I would have asked you guys to stay behind,"

"And let you have all the fun?"

"Not all the fun. Dizzy gets to go on her adventure,"

"Oh stop pretending like you didn't dodge a bullet not seeing your ex," Dizzy snorted.

"You still haven't said if you're going to do it or not,"

"I'm going to do it. I'm not thrilled about seeing my cousin again, but after this we can't leave them in the dark. What's the plan? Ask them to come to Auradon?"

"If they'll willing, we'll take them in, but knowing how most of these people roll, they won't come back," Evie said, "Just, ask to keep a low profile. Maybe take a trip somewhere else for a few days,"

"Okay, I'll talk to them,"

"Jane will be with you, so keep an eye out for each other,"

"You guys keep safe too," Dizzy said. She turned to Celia who'd hung in the background of this conversation, "Look out for them. It's been a few years, they've probably gotten soft, what will all the chocolates and castles,"

Mal and Evie snorted in unison. "Us? Soft?" Mal said.

"Don't forget who used to rule the Isle,"

So things had gone to shit. Mal was expecting that. One of the first things her mother had taught her was a lesson about expecting your best laid plans to get chucked out the window moments after you were actually in the heat of it.

"Plan for the worst, Mal" Her mother's voice rang in the back of her head, "And once the worst has happened, know it will only goes down from there. When the world is against you, you must be ready to go against the world. Can you fight the whole world, Mal?"

She's answered with an obedient "Yes, mother," then, so young a gap in her teeth made her slur the 's' sound in yes.

Planning for the worst might as well be the first thing she wrote on her to-do list every morning.

Rough waters that made getting to the Isle difficult? She handled it with a spell and bikes Evie had begrudgingly admitted weren't completely useless impulse purchases she and Jay had made.

Uma's gang started tracking them minutes after they'd stepped foot on the Isle? Easy enough, cut through the home Carlos had set up the year before for kids who didn't feel safe sleeping at home. Also, file away the information from said kids about Uma's gang protecting the home from grubby adults trying to steal the mattress.

Their bikes being stolen when while they were in Celia's dad's arcade so she could collect a key for Hade's place? That she could leave up to her friends, trusting them to deal with Harry and Gil while she got what they came for.

Those were all things she could handle. What she couldn't deal with was her father's insufferable smirk as he dangled the emerald in front of her.

"Look, I don't want it forever. I'll bring it back once I deal with a little issue,"

"A little issue? Mhmm?" He arched one eyebrow and then the other, "Your mother's scepter being stolen and in the hands of someone absolutely oozing righteous anger is a little issue over in Auradon? So what's a big issue?"

Mal clenched her jaw.

"Oh, did you forget already one of the three channels we get here is that obnoxious one that's only the news 24/7.

"I didn't forget," Mal said.

The Isle's been buzzing since word broke. All kinds of rumours of who the VK behind the mask is. Must be a pluck one to use your mother's scepter. I can say from experience her brand of fey magic is no picnic to understand. Well, I don't need to tell that to you. Miss dragon, saving the day,"

"I wouldn't have guessed you'd be the kind to watch the news,"

"Well, how else am I supposed to keep up with what's happening in your life? You never write,"

"Oh gee, I wonder why?" Mal drawled.

"It used to be so much easier when you were dating the king. You were all they talk about. These days I see you on the arm of Grimhilde's daughter sometimes, but it's been an absolute dry spell of information. What's happening with you?"

"Funny, you never seemed to care about how I was doing when I on the Isle,"

"Yeah, but you were right there. I could walk up the road and spy on you when I wanted see what you were up too. That hideout you had isn't too far from here after all,"

Mal's stomach swooped strangely, "You know about that place…"

"It's still empty. Your paintings are good, by the way. Are you still doing that, over there?" he pointed vaguely in the direction of the mainland.

"If you suddenly want to be the concerned father, you can start by giving me the emerald," Mal said holding out her hand.

Hades was silent, looking between her hand and face. With a dramatic sigh he started to extend his hand, but he stopped with the gem a few inches above Mal's hand.

"Hold on," He said, snatching his hand back, "This is the only thing on the Isle I owe of any real value. I can't just give this away,"

Mal cursed.

Hades tsked, "Maybe I'll trade you something for it," He tapped his fingers together, "What do you got?"

Mal gritted her teeth, "I have some money on me. No much because I'm not stupid enough to walk with money on these streets,"

"That's useless to me here,"

She started emptying her pockets, "I have a healing draught, a couple other potions. My friends have more if you're interested in magical stuff," "

"Healing draught… mildly interesting. Who taught you potion brewing? Certainly wasn't your mother. She detested human strains of magic," He picked up the vial, examining it in the light.

"I didn't brew it. A witch I know did,"

"Who's the witch?"

"It's not important,"

"Of course it's important. I need to know if this potion is worth my emerald. This witch… She powerful?"

Mal was quiet for a long moment, "She doesn't use her magic often, but I think she is,"

"Maybe I'll take this potion," He said, pecking through the small pile of things Mal had laid out "But let's see what else you have before we shake on it,"

When she saw him pick up the small velvet pouch her heart twisted. Shit, she's been careless to just empty out her pockets. She forgot about everything she had on her.

"Oh?" Hades said she pulled out the ring, "What do we have here?"

So, some quick notes about Audrey. In the movie, I actually thought it was a clever move to make her villain if only to confront the fact she had been slighted by Ben and Mal in the first movie. No one ever deals with the fact Ben was in a relationship, broke up with her under the influence of a spell and did nothing about that once he regained his own mind again.

But that being said, Audrey, as she appeared in the Uncertainty of Darkness, couldn't be the villain. She had her own personal confrontation about her and Ben's relationship and moved on. She was even on sort of friendly terms with Evie in the Uncertainty of Darkness.

Nardragon- Until the next page.