Chapter 4

Warning: some violence in this chapter

Reader discretion is advised

I own nothing but my OCs

"You're …. Merlin?" Megan asked in shock.

Merlin! The man her mom, her Aunt Mim, hated for 20 years was under their very nose this whole time, teaching on the Isle of the Lost at Dragon Hall! Professor Yen Sid was the only one every kid on the Isle respected and liked, and to those who were born with magic he was like the parent they never had and helped them live with it, or tried to. For Megan, as soon as she got outside the barrier it was like she could breathe at last. There had to be more to this.

"Yes, I apologize for not telling you but … well, can you blame me?" Merlin said as Ben voiced his confusion.

"Megan you … you know Myles' dad?" He asked as Megan nodded "yeah, first day at Dragon Hall School on the Isle, he told us that your dad asked him to go there to teach the next generation how to live without magic, to use science instead" she said as Ben looked at Merlin in shock.

"Wait does … does Myles know?!" Ben said as Merlin nodded in response "yes, though your father … growled at me to do this, I went for another reason. As Megan can tell you, those with magic suffered on the Isle, it's like being strangled every second of the day with that accursed barrier" he said with a glare at Fairy Godmother who folded her arms at him but said nothing.

"Yes, I taught the children of the Isle to use science, but to those with magic, I also happened to find a way to … let them breathe so to speak, they could not feel the magic but by expanding their minds, making them focus on the harmonic frequencies still on the Isle, ironically from the only source of magic there" he said as Megan digested what he said as both she and Fairy Godmother, who looked appalled, caught on "you had us absorb some of the barrier's power" Megan said which got the wizard to chuckle.

"Not enough to weaken it, the blasted thing is in constant regeneration, but enough to where 'evil magic' is … shall we say … mutated? I gave you all exposure to good magic at a young age so that if I could ever free the Isle then King Beast would see no reason to fear you all" he said as FG finally spoke up "and their parents? What about them?! Maleficent, Jafar, Facilier, Ezma, all of them are still a threat!"

Upon hearing the Fairy's nagging, Merlin rolled his eyes and turned to her "Blue … you really need to let it go, I'm managing to reach out to them" "oh don't give me that! You know good and well-" she said as the two started to argue so bad that their words drowned each other out.

"And I thought Mom and Dad were bad when they argued" Ben said, which made Megan look at him like he was crazy before letting out a loud whistle which stopped the argument. "Look, as informative as this is, we need to focus at the problem at hand" Megan said as the two adults looked at each other sheepishly and … friendly? No … almost …

"Yes you're right" Merlin said, turning his full attention to the Headmistress "you mentioned something about Myles, is he ok?" He asked as FG looked to Megan and back to the wizard "I'm not sure. Megan … please tell Merlin what you told me" she said as Megan gladly did so.

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After hearing this, Merlin has to calm himself or he was going to end up storming the castle to find this Audrey. To shout at her or turn her into a pig was still up for debate in his head. "And you believe he has had this happen before?" He asked with a semi-steady tone.

"Only as a guess from the way they acted, but what I told you what she said is the truth" Megan said as Fairy Godmother spoke up "we were hoping you could extract a memory to make sure." She asked as Merlin nodded and made a carpet bag appear out of thin air and rummaged through it.

"I don't understand" Ben said, still unsure what to do "if Audrey has been threatening Myles, why hasn't he said? A-and what if it's just because of what he did yesterday? I mean-" he said looking to Megan who looked right at him sternly "that … is why. Because he knew if it came between him or Audrey, you would doubt your own friend's words"

What Megan said started to have Ben really think about everything. About how Audrey acted, how Myles was around her, how everyone was around her actually. In the end he felt ashamed his own best friend couldn't trust him to say something like this. "I can't be with her after this" he said depressingly as Merlin pulled out a large bowl that had water in it and made a long oak wood wand with a knobby notch at the end of it where he grabbed it and looked towards Megan.

"Well, let's see what happened"

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"HEY!" Audrey cried in the hall after last break to Myles who she spotted instantly. Naturally Myles was unafraid by her, even though she looked murderous. "What is it, your royal brattiness?" Myles said before Audrey slapped him across the face so hard it jerked his head to the side and turned his glasses askew.

Myles froze and looked at the angered princess in shock. This was the first time she ever struck him, every other time she was just hitting him with her words.

"I'm tired of this … i am the future Queen of Auradon! I deserve RESPECT!" She spat at him as Myles fixed his glasses and gingerly touched his face before glaring at her.

"Respect? To the one who kept calling me a loser? Worthless? You look down on me constantly and have your mind up about banishing me when that tiara goes on your head" Myles said with a scowl and shook his head. "I will never respect you, because you give me no reason to" he said before turning away and walked down the hall.

Audrey's anger peaked as she saw they were alone and looked around on the floor and noticed a loose brick on the grass from outside.

With her anger guiding her, she picked it up and strode up behind him "how about this then?!" She said as Myles turned to her and Audrey slammed the brick against the side of his head sending his glasses off in the other direction, shattering them as soon as they hit the floor, which was the same time he did.

Audrey glared down at him with sick satisfaction before slowly realizing what she had done and dropped the blood stained brick and looked at the bleeding, unconscious wizard in horror before turning heel to run. Or at least tried to.

Soon as she spun around she saw Jay, Mal, Evie and Carlos, who was holding a dog, look at her with pure horror and anger and at once the four moved. Jay went to pick up Myles and ran to the Nurses Office, Evie and Mal to restrain Audry and Carlos to run to get Fairy Godmother.

"I-I only found him-" "can it!" Mal said as her eyes glowed bright green which terrified the princess. "We saw you … and no way are we gonna let you get away with this"

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Merlin and Fairy Godmother stood in silence after reviewing the memory for what seemed like the twentieth time. "Even if it's in anger for what Myles did, this is serious" the fairy said as Merlin nodded "yes, this mindset … Myles acts like himself around Ben to keep him humble and feel normal, if Audrey is like this now then if she becomes Queen this could spell disaster" he said as Ben nodded.

"I agree, like I said, I can't be with her after this … I can't" he said as Fairy Godmother sighed sympathetically at him "you'll still need to bring someone to your coronation, Ben. It's tradition" she said but the prince honestly looked heartbroken. Megan knew it was now or never

"What about Mal?" she asked as a very confused Ben glanced at her. Megan just scoffed and played it off "oh come on, you practically shook her hand for an hour when you wanted to make your 'first impression', it's kinda obvious you have at least some kind of attraction to her" she said as Ben looked down frowning but then looked up with a mischievous smirk.

"Fine, then you can ask out Myles" he said as both adults looked shocked while Megan's jaw dropped "what?!" She exclaimed as Ben let out a laugh, something he was glad he could still do. "Oh c'mon, your reasoning is exactly the same towards him. I mean a complete stranger wouldn't come to us about this" he said, making Megan blush.

She was about to retort when Carlos came running in "Fairy Godmother!" He cried in urgency as a dog was chasing him. "Carlos, I told you Dude won't hurt you" Ben said as Carlos shook his head, not noticing Merlin and panted "Myles! He … he's hurt!" He said shocking everyone, but none more than Merlin and Fairy Godmother.

"What?!" Merlin said, making Carlos notice him and was surprised "Professor Yen Sid?!" He exclaimed as Megan shook her head "long story. what happened, Carlos?!" She said as the blonde haired boy told them what the four VKs saw and Merlin ran like a bullet with Fairy Godmother directly behind with Megan and Ben.

As the five ran through the halls, Carlos carrying Dude in his arms, they were glad that the halls were empty or they could have trampled over the students.

Bursting through the doors to the Nurse's Office, which was a glorified infirmary, they spotted Myles who was on one of the beds with half his face bandaged up and still unconscious with Jay standing guard, who naturally was confused to see the Dragon Hall teacher.

"Myles! Myles!" Merlin cried as he felt his son's face as Fairy Godmother started to sob at the sight. Megan stood there in horror before rounding on Jay, looking at him with pure rage, making the thief finch in fear. "Where is she?!" Megan snarled.

Ben saw this and grabbed her shoulders which caused him to be under the girl's murderous gaze, which was difficult for Ben not to flinch at. "I know how you feel, Megan. But I can't let you go after Audrey like this" he said as Fairy Godmother nodded but was obviously enraged too "I promise she will be punished for this, but for now Myles is the main concern"

Megan had to fight to calm down, when she did all she could do was cry. When the doors opened again, Mal and Evie came running in. "Where's Audrey?" Jay asked as Mal gave him a reassuring look and looked to Evie who took off her purse and handed it to Fairy Godmother.

The Headmistress looked confused before feeling the fabric move and looked at the two in shock "you shrunk her?!" She said as Mal nodded "she was squirming too much and no one was around to help us … it was either that or tie her up in a broom closet" she said as Ben smirked slightly.

Fairy Godmother, after sighing slightly, looked at the two gratefully "thank you, all of you" she said looking to the five VKs and sniffed back a sob. "We only just arrived when we saw her hit him. I'm sorry we couldn't-" Mal started to say but Fairy Godmother only hugged her.

The gesture was confusing to not only the VKs but to Ben as well. "Uh … Fairy Godmother … are you okay?" Ben asked having never seen her act like this before. The Headmistress let go of Mal and looked at the children guiltily "I … well-" "MOM!" Jane cried interrupting her and gasped covering her mouth upon seeing Myles and a tear fell.

"Ok seriously!" Mal said, utterly confused "you three act like you hate each other and now you two are all mopey? I get that he's hurt but … why do you two look like it's more than that?" She asked as Jane and her mom looked at each other before Jane sighed in annoyance surprising the VKs.

"He can hate us after, I'm tired of keeping this secret. It's idiotic" Jane said as her mom sadly nodded then looked at the VKs "dispite your wording, i agree … Myles is my son" she said as every kid's eyes, minus Jane, went wide as saucers while Fairy Godmother continued "Jane is his twin sister"

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The VKs and Ben all looked at Jane, Fairy Godmother and Merlin with wide eyes and dropped jaws. Each one having a million thoughts going through their heads.

"So … when he said you and he had a childish feud-" Evie said looking at Jane "It really is a childish feud? Over what?" She said as Jane rolled her eyes "magic, i was always fascinated by it, still am .. but mom thinks it's a bad idea for me to be too dependent … while Myles could cast spells still in the cradle" she said while her mom looked away trying not to look guilty.

"And … you really meant it when you said you constantly worry about him?" Megan said as the fairy frowned "of course I do! I'm his mother, even though we bicker we're still family" she said as Merlin nodded "you can imagine the Christmas dinners" he said as all of them thought about it and looked repulsed "no … god no" Ben said making Jane giggle.

"But why keep it a secret? I mean if Audrey knew-" Jay started to say as Jane shook her head at him "Audrey wouldn't care …I mean it's public knowledge I'm Fairy Godmother's daughter and I still get picked on. If anything it might have made him shunned even more"

"You too you know" said the raspy voice of Myles that everyone saw was awake. Megan instantly ran up quicker than everyone, surprising both parents who looked at each other. "Myles! Oh thank heaven" she said as the boy wizard smiled at her but it looked painful.

His cleaned up face was covered in a large blue bruise on the left side of his face, a scar over the bridge of his nose where his glasses cut him when they flew off and his left eye was swollen shut. "Is it bad? I'm not missing any teeth am i?" He asked, trying to defuse the tension. Megan just sadly chuckled and shook her head "no … hardly noticeable" she said.

"You're a bad liar, you know" he said as Megan sadly frowned at him. "Well she's not lying about the teeth" Jane said, making Myles roll his good eye but winced in pain, which made him in even more pain.

"I managed to stop the bleeding" Merlin said, gripping his son's arm firmly "i can accelerate the healing so your scars will fade in about a week, but I'm not going to leave without making sure you're safe" he said as Ben took a step forward "i promise he'll be safe, sir … he'll be looked after" he said as Merlin glared at the prince. It was obvious the sorcerer blamed Ben for this, which is why Megan stood by his side "yeah, we will" she said as the VKs instantly moved behind Ben and Megan as if challenging Merlin to doubt them.

Merlin simply sighed before nodding "very well, but just to be safe" he said before producing a very tiny owl in his hands. It was obviously very young but not too young to be considered a hatchling. The adorable bird looked to Myles and tilted it's head "his name is Aristotle, one of Archimedes' offsprings. I figured he would be happier with you" he said then looked at Jane with a smile and winked at her as a tiny sparrow appeared on her shoulder. "That one, I believe, I will let you name" he said as his daughter gave him a warm smile.

Myles smiled at his dad as he held the little owlette as Merlin looked to Fairy Godmother sternly "i better return before some on the Isle get suspicious" he said as the Headmistress took his hands "I hate that you have to do this, I already told you I regret my actions!" She said as Merlin smiled and touched the side of her face.

"I know, but this is not about your actions. Someone needs to look out for the children" he said as a tear fell down her cheek. "now, now, Blue … no tears … I promise you, my role will end soon if things progress as I have seen it" he said pressing his forehead against hers before his body twinkled transparently before vanishing.

Every one of the children looked away from the sight when Fairy Godmother looked towards them, which she appreciated and wiped away her tears "well … I think it's safe to say you five just got high points in Remedial Goodness. I think you deserve a free period tomorrow" she said before scurrying out in order to avoid crying again.

Ben looked over at his friend sadly who was looking over where Merlin had stood seconds before. "That's the first time I saw dad in years …" he muttered as Ben tried to put a comforting hand on his shoulder but, since he remembered his own father sent him there, his hand faltered.

Still, he had to say something "Myles …" Ben said as his friend gazed over at him. "Why didn't you tell me Audrey was threatening you?" He asked in concern. Myles, however, hesitated before taking in a breath "because you loved her … and i didn't want to break your heart"

Hearing this, Ben felt a feeling of guilt wash over him, feeling it was his fault Myles got hurt. "Well … I'm just sorry it took this to realize Audrey and I … weren't meant to be" he said as Myles gave a shrug of the head which could have been a nod. "You can trust me" Ben suddenly said, stepping closer to his friend's side, his eyes full of determination. "Even if it would hurt me, it doesn't matter. please … please know you can always trust me, you can tell me anything"

Myles looked at Ben with an unreadable look. In truth he was terrified, he thought that Ben would forget about him and ignore him given the opportunity. Sad as it was, Ben was his only friend. "Yeah … i know"

Ben was the last to leave after a very reluctant Megan, who begged Myles to get some rest, and exhaled heavily trying to control himself so he wouldn't 'Beast out' as his dad would call it. "Some friend I ended up being" he said as a hand was gently put on his shoulder. Turning around, he found it was Mal's as the girl herself just said nothing, which helped more than talking.

"Until Myles gets better, I need to ask you all to keep his parentage a secret … please … until he's ready to reveal it himself" Ben asked as the five VKs nodded. "We won't say a thing" Carlos said as he was still petting Dude who was in his arms making Ben chuckle before turning back to Mal and seemed speechless.

To Mal it just seemed like another Auradon brat who didn't want to thank a villain kid but to Ben, he just had butterflies in his stomach upon looking at the girl and after how she and the others selflessly helped his best friend, he saw her in a new light. "Thank you" he said with emotion and smiled at the purple-haired girl "for everything" he said as Mal looked hesitant before smiling back.

Watching the five VKs walk off, Ben couldn't help but feel ecstatic at the thought of Mal smiling and turned walking the other way to his office 'maybe … Megan might have had a good point'

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ok so, long chapter this time. I couldn't find a good place to end it so this was the result.

Also I had planned on the Fairy Godmother bomb to be revealed at the coronation but this made more since considering the angle I'm going with via the love spell.

Also, apologies to any Audrey fans

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