Congrats to Shelleymh for being the first to answer correctly! As I told them, I was not expecting that so quickly. ArcheressxX was the next to answer correctly.
As promised, here is the next chapter!
I won't say too much about what happens this chapter. I will say that it is short and when I was first creating this story, this chapter was one of the first ideas that came to mind. In fact, for either half or a majority of the "Descendants 2" events of this story, it will be in somebody else's perspective. That 'somebody' will appear in this very chapter.
I think that is about it, so . . .
Enjoy!
Closing the office door behind her and locking it for good measures, Mal proceeded to close the blinds on the windows first before scurrying over to Fairy Godmother's desk. It was the same old routine she's been doing for nearly five months now, but she enjoyed it nonetheless. Mal found herself wasting her life and her time for the next Thursday arrive, which annoys Evie to no end.
Mal can't help that she gets excited at the thought of seeing him again.
Sitting at Fairy Godmother's desk, Mal pressed a few buttons on the conveniently placed laptop before the screen came to life. Grinning from ear to ear, she greeted happily, "Hi, Daddy."
On the computer screen, Hades offered a small, yet saddened smile of his own. "Hello, Mali."
In all honesty, Hades has not taken living without his wife very well. Since he's been living alone, he doesn't bother keeping his mohawk as maintained as it used to be, majority of it drooping down like it lost its will to live. He had dark bags under his eyes from lack of sleep and from working too hard on his Underworld duties. Although he used to go to town once a day, Hades now changed the routine to once a week. Even living alone where his family used to live was too much pain for him, so he spends every other week at his lair to keep himself from throwing a godly temper.
In fact, his cave-like lair is exactly where he was during the weekly video call. Truth be told, Mal has only seen the inside of his lair from those video chats, never in person. She couldn't even tell you where it was on the Isle.
"Daddy, you need to get some sleep," Mal chided as she rested her crossed arms on the desk. "You'll get sick if you keep this up."
"And you need to unspell your hair," Hades retorted with a slight yawn, practically proving his daughter's point. "I still can't believe you did that to your beautiful hair. If you were on the Isle, I would ground you for a year. Why did you even choose blonde in the first place? Your mother's hair is brown."
"There are four queens in Auradon that have blonde hair," Mal weakly explained as she gave out a small yawn on her own. "I thought making my hair blonde would make me seem as friendly and kind as them."
"You already are kind," Hades argued softly. "And you sound like you need some rest as well. You are probably exhausted from planning your Cotillion."
"Can we please not talk about it?" Mal requested as she leaned back in the leather chair. "It seems like that's the only thing everyone wants to talk about. Who'll going to be there, what I'm wearing . . . I just wish it would pass already."
"It is supposed to make you the Lady of the Court," Hades reminded softly yet knowledgeably. "It's practically the next step before you become engaged, though he's going to have to ask for my permission before he asks you."
"That's what you told me last week," Mal recalled with annoyed sigh. "I'm not ready to be engaged, but I know I would feel more comfortable about the Cotillion if Cruella was the one creating my dress. Don't get me wrong, Evie is a brilliant fashion designer, but the dress isn't me."
"Nothing is you right now, Mali," Hades commented sadly before tilting his head curiously. "Will Beasty be there?"
"She told me a few days ago she wouldn't be able to make it." Mal rolled her eyes before explaining, "Apparently her family, meaning her biological parents and Audrey, threw a fit about the idea of her going. Originally, Audrey was supposed to help me with the planning, but then she made an excuse about going on a spa vacation with Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather to get out of it. Audrey pushed everything onto Jane, whose interrogations are close to being on the verge of harassment, though she doesn't really realize that."
Hades raised an eyebrow in amusement. "For someone who doesn't want to talk about Cotillion, you sure are talking a lot about it."
Once again, Mal rolled her eyes, but this time at her father's teasing. "That's because you tricked me, again," she grumbled. "By the way, remember how you told me I had to keep you a secret from the people of Auradon?"
"Let me guess . . ." Hades trailed off as he leaned his head against his hand. "Somebody noticed her wedding ring like I knew they would. Did you tell them what I told you too?"
"Every single word," Mal confirmed as she mimicked her father's action. "It killed me inside, but they bought it. Let's just hope they won't be too cruel to me when they find out the truth. It seems like during every interview, there is a question about Mom."
"How is she?" Hades wondered almost hopefully. "Can you tell how she's feeling?"
"Well she hasn't changed back yet," Mal commented, answering the question she knew her father wanted to ask. "She just spends all day sleeping and laying in her cage. I'm almost afraid how she will feel when she turns back into a fairy. I know her back was hurting when she came to Auradon. I'm afraid that the pain will be unbearable."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Hades reassured. "Right now, I'm more worried about you. You need to take a break from all the Cotillion planning."
"I have a picnic date with Ben later on today," Mal said with a little more happiness in her tone than before. "And he said something about going someplace special so the paparazzi can't find us. Maybe we can go to the Isle? It would give him a chance to finally meet you."
"That's if the rest of the Royal Council will allow you two to go," Hades pointed out. "I know you said he and his parents have built a better relationship, but I doubt it's well enough for him to visit an island filled with criminals."
"We'll deal with that when the time comes," Mal teased, using the same words her father said a few moments prior. "I'll just be happy with some peace and quiet, and not having to worry about people eavesdropping on our private conversations."
"Speaking of private conversations. . ." Hades raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Have you told Ben you loved him yet?"
Mal blushed at the personal question. "Not yet," she admitted a little bashfully. "I think I do, but I'm not ready to say it yet. I know he loves me, and I know he's waiting for me to say it to him. I don't know what to do."
"Take your time," Hades advised slowly so his daughter could hear him clearly. "It took a year of knowing your mother before I told her and before she told me. In fact, the first time I told her I loved her was during our first big fight, which was also our last fight. Anytime we had a disagreement, we talked it out so it wouldn't ruin or end our relationship. I can't wait until I'm finally reunited with her."
"I know, Daddy," Mal commented with a soft, discontent sigh. "I can't wait to see her too. I miss seeing her beauty every day."
"As do I." Hades left out a huff at seeing the time. "I'm sorry, Mali, but I really have to go. I have a trial starting in the next five minutes and I need to make myself look somewhat presentable. Your uncle has been scolding me for dressing like a slob the last few times."
"Don't worry about it," Mal insisted as she failed to hide her snicker. "Evie is wanting me to do a fitting for my dress anyways. I'll talk to you next week—"
"Same time as usual," Hades promised. "And I will be looking forward to watching you on the television screen during your Cotillion. I know you will look like a queen."
"More like an Auradon princess," Mal corrected with a little disdain in her tone. "I gotta go, Daddy. I love you."
"Love you too, Mali."
The computer screen finally when blank, giving Mal the opportunity to slouch in her seat in depression. Only a week to go before she could talk to him again . . .