Here is the next chapter!
Before we start, I would like to say thank you so much for all the reviews. It really does effect how well chapters are written and how fast they are typed, which explains why this chapter is published after two have been published the previous day. It may have also something to do with my view count yesterday being 1,680.
If the good reviews and views keep going, I may make posting two chapters per update a thing after this week. Who knows . . . maybe you will see five chapters this week instead of four? I do have quite a bit of spare time since I haven't decided when to work on other stories.
Although this chapter could be identified as a filler, it will be important when doing my version of the 'Isle of the Lost' book, which will start next chapter.
Enjoy.
After that night, Mal forced herself to stop watching the Auradon News Network. She feared that if she continued to watch that channel, her heartbreak would only grow worse. So, every time her parents watched the program, Mal would hide out in her room until she heard the television turn off or the channel changed to the shopping program.
With her new spare time, the fairy tried to develop ways on how to announce she was 'Queen of the Isle' without being laughed at; like Anthony Tremaine was laughed at when he tried to get everyone to call him 'Lord Tremaine'. Although Mal had quite few ideas, none of them seemed appropriate or good enough for her.
But then one day, a few months later, she heard the worries of a single mother.
Mal—still thirteen, but close to fourteen now—had just come home from finishing her first day of eighth grade when she noticed Cruella sitting on the couch with her mother and father trying to comfort her. By the looks of it, her godmother had showed up just a few moments before she did.
"—I thought I would walk Carlos home since it was his first day of seventh grade," Cruella began to retell. "It was such a big transition for him: going from the elementary building, where no one can pick on him, to the high school building, where everyone is much bigger than him."
Let me explain something before we continue. Dragon Hall consists of two separate buildings; one that is a single level while the other has at least three floors, maybe more. The smaller building holds the elementary grades of kindergarten through sixths grade. The larger building holds the high school, which consists of grades seventh through twelfth. There are no other buildings for a middle school, so the seventh and eighth graders share a building and classrooms with the actual high schoolers, which makes bullying more susceptible.
"When he walked out, Carlos was so surprised to see me," Cruella continued as she reminisced what occurred a few moments before. "Meanwhile, I was surprised to see his new black eye and the bruises on his wrist from someone grabbing him. He wouldn't tell me who hurt him. Hell, he couldn't come up with a lie on how he got hurt. He insisted it was nothing before he brushed pass me, saying he had chores to do."
Cruella shook her head in dismay. "I only gave him those lists of chores so he'd learn to stand up for himself and speak up. I'm afraid I only made his lack of confidence worse. It doesn't help that we have nothing in common. I'm into fashion while he's interested in electronics and science."
Noticing another presence in the house, Hades adverted his attention to his daughter, who had been silently standing at the kitchen island. "Did you see who hit Carlos?" he interrogated. "Or did you see anyone bullying him?"
"No, sir," Mal answered respectfully, knowing her father's temper was being tested at the moment. "I did notice his injuries, but it wasn't until the end of the day when I bumped into him in the hallway. They weren't there the hour before, so it had to happen when the bell ranged for dismissal."
And just like that, Maleficent came up with a plan for her daughter. "You know how you've been trying to find a way to establish being the Queen of the Isle?" The fairy reminded softly. "Here's how you do it: confront whoever bullied Carlos and put an end to it before it gets worse. While you're at it, try to help him with his confidence. Who knows? Maybe one day, you, him, and Jay can become friends because of this."
The next day, Mal kept a careful eye on Carlos, whether it be in the hallways or in the classes they shared. This was the only day that Mal was consistently late for class, as she waited until the last minute of the passing hours to head to her classroom after making sure Carlos was safely in his. Everything seemed perfectly fine—
Until the end of the day.
Mal was trying to find Carlos so she could walk him home when she heard a large bang, like someone had been shoved against a locker. Upon further investigation—after shoving through the large crowd—it turned out to be Carlos, who had become a victim of the Gaston Twins.
Of course, it would be those oafish twins. They think they are so big and bad because they were the first children to be born on the Isle of the Lost when they were nothing but pig-headed jerks seeking attention.
Time to put a stop to it.
As Carlos tried to stand to his feet from having the wind knocked out of him, Mal stood in front of him, blocking the twins from making their next move.
"That is enough," Mal chided forcefully as her eyes changed their hues to a very bright green. "And you will leave Carlos alone."
"Get out of the way," Gaston Jr ordered.
"Or we'll make you." Gaston the Third continued as he stepped forward threateningly.
"Go ahead. Hit me," she antagonized fearlessly. "When you do, remember that my father is a god and a king, just like my two uncles. They will find out if either one of you hit me before I tell them anything. And you really don't want to anger my father, considering what he is the god and king of."
"We ain't scared."
Mal raised an eyebrow in doubt, considering she didn't believe their lies. "My father is King of the Underworld," she reminded sternly. "He oversees the care of the souls in the afterlife. So your simple minds can understand, he decides whether a soul goes to heaven, hell, or receives a punishment."
Mal took a menacing step forward, while the twins took a hesitant step backwards. "You have two options," she claimed. "You leave Carlos alone for good and you might be safe when your soul is judged in the afterlife. Or, you can hit me—the Princess of the Underworld—and I will inform him what you did to me and his godson, Carlos. Obviously, he will punish you since you hurt his godson, but it will be worse since you hurt his beloved daughter."
Gaston Jr clenched his jaw in aggravation. "Who do you think you are?"
"Queen of the Isle," Mal announced before crossing her arms defiantly. "Your choice."
After sharing a look with their twin, the two burly sons of Gaston walked away with an irritated huff.
Once they were out of eyesight, Mal adverted her attention to Carlos, who was completely mystified about what just transpired. She smiled kindly in a way to comfort the preteen.
"Don't worry," Mal reassured softly. "They won't bully you ever again. I promise."