AN: Zahabiya: Thank you for the compliment on the front pic. It took me so long to draw Rose's beast eyes. Thank you for enjoying my story!
Creator of Magic: Rose is here! The wait is over! Can't wait to hear what you think of this chapter!
On the other side of the Isle, Mal and Celia both walked up to Hades gates. Mal felt stupid for not checking this part of the island. When Hades had disappeared, she went looking for him when she was old enough. Her father's absence drained something out of Maleficent. Mal could tell she was less happy than before. If that was even possible. Maleficent never spoke much about Hades, so Mal never asked. All she knew was that he was weak and selfish. She didn't know if he could ever forgive him for it.
Celia began to turn the key in its lock when Mall looked at the signs around the gate. "Hey," she eyes the Beware of Dog sign. Celia looked up at her. "How big is that dog?" The curly red head turned to the sign and gave her a worried look.
"You'll see," Celia opened the gate. When they stepped inside, Celia turned around quickly. "Make sure to stay quiet it echos like crazy in here." Mal grinned a little. Sneaking was her profession. If there was one thing she learned from being on the Isle so long, it was be quiet or you'll get caught.
As she followed Celia, Mal couldn't wipe the smug smile from her face. The girl's steps were echoing around the cavern, while Mal's were undetectable. Mal jumped to the sound of dogs. She looked around to see where the barking was coming from, but there was no source. She continue on her way. It was colder with each step. It was hard to see in the faint blue lighting.
They reached a bike with two seats and pedals. On the handle bars, two helmets were strung. Mal and Celia turned on the head lamps and clipped them onto their heads. When they began to pedal the bike screeched in its rustiness. Mal winced. She would rather walk along the track, but Celia kept pedaling. The bike's cart began to move. The lamp and head light beamed brightly. She felt like a coal miner as they moved along. The cave was getting narrower.
Mal looked around at the sound of barking again, but there was no dog to be found. They came to the end of the tracks and dismounted the cart. Placing her helmet back onto the bike, Mal looked around at Hades' secret home. At her feet there were many stairs down to the main platform. There was a lamp and shabby vanity set next to the raggedy couch. There slept her father. Mal's heart skipped a beat as her stomach dropped. He was here, all this time. Hidden away in a cave since the day she was born. He left her for this?
As the two made their way down the stairs, Celia's feet made more noise. The girl pointed to where the ember sat on a small pedestal. When they got down to the platform, the barking hacked up again. Mal searched the room until Celia nudged her and pointed to the record player. It was playing a record of dog noises. Mal shook her head as Celia grinned. Mal began to quest for the ember, she silently stepped behind the couch.
She looked down at her father. Mal wanted to slap him. Without seeing him for years, he comes back and tries to escape. Now he lay peacefully here alone. She resisted the urge and knelt down to get the ember. Celia suddenly stopped the record. "What are you doing here?" Hades asked. Mal held her breath. He was wearing sunglasses, hopefully her couldn't see her.
"I noticed," Celia turned to him. His head leaned up from its resting position. She pulled out a can from her bag. "You were low on canned corn." Celia tossed it to him, and Mal made her grab for the ember. Hades hand caught the corn as well her hand as she wrapped her fingers around the blue gem. She gasped. he carefully took it out of her hand and leaned his head on the back of the couch.
"He dad," Mal hesitated to call him it, but it slipped from her lips. Hades took off his glasses, revealing his bright blue eyes. He waved a little.
"Quite a show you put on the other day," his voice was smooth. She could feel tears beginning to form in the corner's of her eyes. This is what he has to say after all of theses years after his abandonment. Blinking them back, Mal looked at him coldly.
"Right back at 'cha." Mal kept her calm. It felt like she was talking to her mother, but she wasn't usually this nervous.
"I was just coming to see you." Hades laughed and got up from the furniture.
"Really?" Mal raised her eyebrows. "I wonder why? Is it because I'm going to be queen?"
"Ah," Hades laughed again. "Oh Mal don't be bitter." She was far from bitter. She was piping hot mad.
"You abandoned me when I was a baby," she folded her arms.
"Nope," Hades looked in the small mirror on a wooden post. He seemed to be a very vein man. "I left your mother. She's not the easiest person to be with."
"You think?"
"Ah," he turned to her as he wrapped a scarf around his neck. "See? We already have something in common. We both hate your mother."
"No," Mal held up a hand, "I don't hate my mother. She may be a lunatic but at least she stuck around."
"Aw. Boohoo," Hades shook his head. "You think you've had it rough. I used to be a god! I used to be feared by the entire world. Now, I have nothing. You have no idea what it feelings like to have nothing."
"SERIOUSLY!" Mal yelled. "Because for sixteen years I had nothing! And now I have a whole world, but unless I get that ember, its game over." She held out her hand, but Hades flicked it back.
"I don't need to hear the drama," Hades shook his head.
"Oh please," Mal shook her head back. "You only did what was best for you. "
"You do what you got to do to stay on top Mally," Hades held up the ember. "You know plenty about that. You're letting yourself become one of them."
"I will be their queen and I will not run out on my people. I will not be like you."
"Oh but you are," Hades smiled. "You are still looking out for number one. Believe me you are way stronger with those daddy issues."
"I don't need you," Mal held out her hand again,"I just need something you have. If you want to make up for being a lousy dad, give me the ember." She held out her hand again.
"The ember only works for me."
"False. I'm part Hades. We're blood."
"You're only half. The ember won't do everything it does for me."
"I'll take my chances." Mal grinned as he began to place it in her hand. Once she held it, she turned and began to climb up the stairs where Celia waited. She had forgotten Celia was there at all. A little wave of quilt washed over her. She shouldn't have yelled at her dad like that in front of her. Celia didn't say anything anything but followed Mal up the stairs back to the cave.
"If it gets wet its game over," Hades called after her. Instead of looking, Mal only waved. "Huh. That's my girl." This was said in a low voice, but Mal still heard it. She stopped for a moment as her expression softened. She couldn't help but look back once before the bike's cart pulled away down the tracks.
"I guess that's the reason he always asks about you." Celia said as they left the gate. This only added to Mal's confusion. Did her dad actually care about her?
"Evie is the only one who knows he's my dad." Mal stopped Celia. She nodded. "And as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't even exist." When she said this, her heart stung a little, but she kept walking.
Back in Auradon, Ben changed into a leather jacket Evie had made for him. He was sure that he needed to be ready for anything at a moment's notice. He was waiting for Rose in his office. It had been over ten minutes since he sent for her. What was taking so long? He hope Rose, his parents, Mal, and her friends were all alright. The king needed to at least know one of them was conscious.
"No," Ben held the phone to his ear. "I need the Auradon guard handing out gas masks. Only send two for Rose. She won't pull anything. I promise. Well, not everyone's asleep." He hung up his phone and looked at the butler. "Please go find my sister and find out what's taking so long. Also see if anyone's seen Audrey and what are her demands." He was sweating so much he clipped his neck strap of his jacket. It felt as if it was choking him. He then unzipped it so his lungs could fill with air. He sprung up from his chair at the sound of Audrey's voice.
"Just one." He turned to see his ex girlfriend. She was wearing the queen's crown over her new pink and blue ringlets. Her makeup was dark, but glimmered with the glow of the scepter. She took a step closer to him and grinned a little. "I want my life back. I have a proposition. I'll wake everyone up right now. Under one, itty-bitty condition, Benni boo." Her fingers walked up his sleeve and then she stroked his hair. "Make me your queen and we'll rule side by side." Ben hoped Rose would come in at this moment, but no one was at the door.
He caught her hand on his face. "Did someone put a spell on you? Just tell me who and I'll-"
"You'll what? Marry them? Or claim their innocent like your sister?" Audrey laughed a little. She turned from Ben and walked away. "Most people get dumped for not being good enough. I guess I wasn't bed enough." She turned to him. "How do you like me now Benni Boo?" She twirled in her dark gown and giggled. Ben finally knew what this was about.
"I liked the old Audrey better," he would try to talk her out of it,"She wouldn't want to hurt Auradon. Just give me the scepter and I'll forgive you." He reached for it, but she pulled back and held up a finger.
"You'll forgive me? I don't think so." Her expression went cold. "Sleeping is too goo fro you. Maybe you'll understand what your sister went through now." She blasted her scepter at him and he fell to the ground. "Sleeping is too good for Auradon!" She smashed down her scepter. The green glow surrounding her made her feel truly evil. She loved this feeling.
Meanwhile, Rose was sitting in her cell. The doors clinked open. "Come on out!" called a guard. She got up to her feet quickly. Taking one last glace at the stuffed bear on her bed, she walked right out of the jail cell she had spent the last half year in. She followed the guards up the stairs. She was shocked that she didn't link her cuffs together. They didn't even lay a hand on her.
"Why are you letting me roam free?" Rose was confused. She thought she would be shoved along into another cell. If she had her old cuffs, she would be trying to escape, but now there was no way she could fight off these two beside her. She hated Fairy Godmother even though she hardly knew her. She was too good at making these no magic cuffs. Rose couldn't feel a thing stirring inside of her. She felt empty.
"The king has an urgent request for your presence." Her thoughts began to run wild. Is it perhaps an engagement party? She knew there would be one but didn't know when. She had watched the proposal, but it cut off as soon as Mal had said yes. She was happy for her brother, but it couldn't help her but wonder what Audrey thought of it. She had destroyed the letters before these new cuffs were placed on her hands in hopes that Auradon would remain safe. But would this set her over the edge?
Rose didn't say anything else. Excitement and anticipation was building up inside of her. Did Ben actually do it? Did he manage to set her free? The thought of being free to roam again only added to her emotions. As they went up into the castle, Rose studied the portraits on the walls. She reappeared in the one of their family that was painted over four years ago. She looked so young and innocent then. At least on the outside.
A distant roar made her ears perk up. The guards raised their spears towards Rose. She raised an eyebrow. "Um excuse me," she took her finger and pushed the tips of the spears away from her. "That growl didn't come from me. Believe me, if it was me, I would be long gone by now." There were fumbles of movement up the hall. A distant roar echoed with a scream. The guards ran after the noise and left Rose in the dust.
For a moment, she didn't know what to do. She turned to run. "Your majesty!" She stopped and sighed. Ben needed her, escaping would only make matters worse. She ran towards the fight. The noise kept getting louder and louder. It sounded like a bear. Rose threw herself against the wall as it all fell silent. After a moment, she rounded the corner to find at least ten guards and the butler all were frozen in stone. She reached out and touched one of them. They were real stone.
With curious eyes Rose scanned the halls. They had been scrapped by claws. She pressed her hand against one of the marks. Looking at her fingernails, she realized how much she missed her claws. The girl continued to walk silently. Pictures and tapestries all were torn and off their posts. She swallowed as she turned into Ben's office. When she saw it empty, nerves began to build inside of her.
"Ben?" she called, but there was no answer. She wasn't getting invited to a engagement party or being set free, something terrible was happening. She went to the window to see the courtyard. Everyone was asleep in their chairs and on the ground. One stood by the fountain was also turned to stone. Who was making all of this mischief? Panic rose inside of the lost princess when she realized there could be only one. Audrey.
She needed to find Mal. Was she in trouble, was she looking for Ben? What was Rose to do? She went into Ben's empty office. The last time she was here, she stole the sword of enchantment. It was gifted to the royal family before she was born. It was only used at coronations. Rose had stole it for its power. Seeing it hanging back on the wall made her feel a pang of guilt.
Rose found herself walking towards it. Her eyes gazed at the engraved details on the silver blade. She ran her fingers across them. It was so beautiful, so delicate, but it was powerful and dangerous. She used to think of herself this way. That was before her magic was taken away from her. Now, she was useless. As she rang her fingers over the cool metal a memory was recalled to her mind.
"You're life wasn't fair, neither was mine. That's what makes us similar. That's why we're taking revenge on everyone who treated us wrong. Don't you want a piece of that revenge?" Rose asked the frightened boy. His eyes were trained on her. They were fearful, then confidant.
"Yeah," Carlos said as he continued to stare at her,"My life wasn't fair, but it didn't make me want to get revenge on everyone. See that's the difference between you and me. I have the power to put the past behind me."
That power Carlos spoke of was something Rose could still possess. She had put the past behind her. Rose wanted peace, for Ben. She was only half of the way there to mastering it. Her parents would never be forgiven for what they've done. She was glad Ben didn't force it on her anymore. They were a forever broken family, but they still shared the same blood.
Her nimble fingers picked up the sword from its holder. The sword would only unleash its full power for the rulers of Auradon, and she fell under that category. She was once told by her mother it could never be burned or bent, but only if you had true of heart would it become a source of peace. Of course, she knew this was all fake stuff made of for a beautiful and sturdily made sword. She took it out of spite for her coronation. The metal of her cuffs clashed with the weapon. The hilt was hanging from a hook next to it. Looking at her cuffs and the sword, Rose picked up the hilt and strapped it around her. She slid the sword into the hilt and tightened it. It was her turn to save Auradon, even without her magic.