I'm back! Thanks for the warm welcome and all those nice reviews. They mean a lot to me. Anyway... after meeting Ben, I think it's time to meet our favorite villain kids, don't you think? It's their story, it's more than fitting they get an introduction. But first, as I Always do, I'm going to reply to the reviews you left on the prologue:

pinksakura271: Thanks for reviewing! I like Ben/Mal as well! But we'll have to see if their relationship works out. They're not the only ones with nicknames: every villain kid has one. He sure needs to become more confident, but will he? Maybe, maybe not. You'll get your answer soon, though not right now.

Kingson24601: We'll see if their relationship works out and how fast things will go! About Audrey... let's just say that growing up in different circumstances and environments may have helped her escape 8 times. Thanks for reviewing!

blackkitty5133: Thanks for reviewing! Well, if the villains hadn't taken over, I wouldn't be writing this now. Glad you like it!

PurpleNicole531: Yeah, it was a stupid move, but at least his parents got away. They will show up in this chapter, so let's see what they'll do. Thanks for reviewing!

TKDP: Thanks for reviewing! You'll see later if Ben's going to be okay. The wound is quite old, a couple of months, but only Beast knows how he got it (many suspect because he almost got captured by goons). What Audrey did will be explained eventually.

Enjoy!

-Writer207

Three days later

The streets of the village near Maleficent's castle had been deserted for a long time when the people started to go back outside. The houses had as much locks as fitted on the doors and windows. There were planks ready to be nailed against the windows. They have had to do it many times before and had to take them off again to get at least a bit of sunshine. The villagers did avoid going to the eastern edge, because that was the spot where the Princess, the Fur-Hunter and the Witch were waiting for their friend to return.

The first to stand in row was the purple-haired daughter of Maleficent. Mal was looking over the area, arms crossed, with the other two on her right and left respectively. She was not moving, just using her eyes to see where their friend could be.

On her left stood the only girl she could tolerate and which she could call a friend. Evie, the daughter of the Evil Queen, was wearing something comfortable yet fashionable for the occasion. She seemed a little impatient to see him back, easily seen from the way she tapped her foot to the ground and looked around, even behind her, to see if he had returned.

On Mal's right stood the son of Cruella De Vil. Carlos was wearing his usual attire, but this time he also wore the coat he made when he was ten, after he made his mother proud for the first time. He is one of the reasons the villagers in this part of the kingdom don't have a dog or hide it. When he noticed how impatient Evie was, he rolled his eyes and looked in the other direction. They knew he was arriving within half an hour, so why would she have to be that impatient?

Something stung Mal's back. Immediately she reacted, turning around and ready to cast a spell. Behind her, the Traveler held his hands in the air and smiled approvingly when he saw her reaction. Evie and Carlos turned around as well, warned by Mal's sudden movement. Their surprise couldn't have been bigger.

"JAY!" Mal yelled and Jay had to laugh. A smile appeared on the faces of both Carlos and Evie, satisfied to see their friend again after a long absence, but Mal was still mad at him for sneaking up on her and doing that. "If you do that ever again, I swear I'll kill you!"

"I'm sure you will," was his response and he nodded. "But I don't think they'll agree with you." He turned his head to Evie, who could barely hide her excitement. Out of the three, she had missed him the most. She took a step in their direction and he took his hand, turning her head to Mal.

"He's right," she said and turned her head back to Jay, "You can't kill him. We still need him to be close to us, right?" Jay nodded and they looked into each other's eyes. Carlos rolled his eyes again when he saw that.

"I sure need to be close to you, beautiful." Jay replied. Their heads came closer and closer. Mal rolled her eyes as well and shook her head. When they came too close, Carlos knew he had to do something.

"Jay!" he interrupted hem right before they had a chance to kiss, "Nice to see you again. Where'd you go this time, and where are you going next time? To Hades?" He faked the smile, even if he was genuinely glad to see one of the three only friends he has did return home. He sure could miss what Jay and Evie were doing.

"I'm only going to Hades when my time has come," Jay said. "Anyway, I had to cross the entire country to reach my destination. That's why I've been gone for so long." He looked to each of his friends. During his journeys, he met his fellow evil-doers, but he could never quite call them his friends. Those who traveled like he did, never visited this part of the country. It's not just villagers who fear Maleficent. He really had nobody but Mal, Evie and Carlos to grow up with.

"Where did you go to?" Evie wanted to know. He put his arm around her.

"Well, I visited the Southern Isles. It's really hot down there," he said. The road to the Southern Isles was indeed long, especially when travelling on foot like Jay did. He didn't want to travel by horse or car.

"And?" Mal then asked, "Are the villagers right? Is Hans really that big of a jerk?" Jay shrugged.

"He was nice to me. Then again, I was his guest and he's afraid of my father. Wouldn't say bad things about me even if he wanted to." Mal nodded. No, he's afraid of my mother, she thought. Jafar, the Evil Queen and Cruella De Vil were close friends of Maleficent, having their own hierarchy projected onto their kids. Hans most likely feared Maleficent more than Jafar because the latter isn't a magical being anymore, just a vizier who lost his job and now runs this part of the country for Maleficent.

"Did you see Henry?" Evie then asked. Jay's smile disappeared and he shook his head.

"They still haven't found him." When he looked at her, he saw she was getting sad. Her own perfect smile had disappeared and tears almost welled up. Jay felt the need to comfort her. "Hey, I'm sure he'll show up someday." Evie nodded and fought back the tears. Mal knew Evie and Henry had a strong bond. They've only met once in person, but kept contact through letters. When he stopped writing, she became worried. When she asked King Hans about his son, he had to tell her Henry had gone missing. One day he was there, the next one he wasn't. Nobody knows where he is or who is with him. As long as Hades doesn't show up on the Southern Isles, Henry is still alive. If he hadn't disappeared, he and Evie would've met officially for the second time within a few weeks, and then Evie probably would go with Henry back home. Mal wondered if she already told Jay of her plans.

"So," Carlos eventually said, ruining the moment Jay and Evie were having, "are we gonna go home now? I'm sure the people have missed you." He pointed at the crowd behind him, still afraid to come closer but brave enough to hold their weekly market in the main street. The Fearsome Four exchanged some looks and without saying anything else, they ran towards the villagers present at the market.

The villagers ran away, scared of what they were able to do, with Mal up front and the other three following her. There were some older people who had learned to live with terror who, even if some opted to run away, would just stay where they were and not be intimidated. They did fake their fear – some people who didn't fear the Fearsome Four or their parents could be targeted as a resistance member and killed for something they might be doing - but that was only ten percent of the population. A young man backed away slowly when the kids came, putting his hands in the air and glaring at them when they weren't looking. The goods of a middle-aged woman in blue were trashed once Jay was done with it – she showed her so-called fear and then rearranged whatever was left in a semi-good condition.

Once they crossed the village and spread some more fear, they reached the square at the edge. This was the place where the resistance members would meet their ends while they could either look at the village or at the castle where Maleficent lived, just a mile away from the village. There was another castle ten miles to the south, where the Evil Queen lived together with Cruella De Vil and Jafar.

"Let's go home!" Mal told her three friends. Before she could walk towards her mother's castle, Jay had to say something.

"You know," he said, "I've been away from home for such a long time. I think my father would…" Mal turned her head. If looks could kill, Jay would drop to the ground immediately. He was lucky such magic didn't exist. He gulped. "Let's go to your castle," he added as he walked in the direction of Maleficent's castle. Mal, Evie and Carlos continued their way to the castle, which seemed to grow bigger with every step they took in its direction. In the end, they ran together, as if they were kids having fun.

They only went slower when they noticed the car in front of the gate and the two women waiting for them. The Evil Queen and Maleficent were standing there, watching their daughters come closer, never considering to take one step in their direction.

"She's waiting for you," Carlos said when he noticed the two women and he shook his head, "That's not good."

"Any why is my mom here?" Evie wondered out loud. Her mother barely visited Maleficent. Jay shrugged.

"I don't know," he said.

"I'm sure they'll want to talk to us," Mal then said and then sighed. Why did her mother want to talk to her now? "Where will you be waiting for us?"

"Dungeon." Jay said and Carlos immediately sighed once he heard that.

"Why do you have to go to the dungeon? It's just filled with possible resistance members and lovesick fools!"

"That's why I want to go to the dungeon," Jay replied. Carlos knew Jay only wanted to go to the dungeons to see how many victims Evie had made in his absence. Knowing her, it would be a lot. He also knew Jay shouldn't be worried, because Evie would always go back to him.

"Fine!" Mal then said, "We'll meet you there." Then they stopped talking, because the two mothers would be able to hear them from that distance. There they stood, powerful and strong, both intimidating and proud. Soon, the Fearsome Four stopped in front of them, keeping their distance.

"Mal, I have to talk to you," Maleficent said. Mal and Evie looked at each other, then at their own mothers.

"Yes, mother," Mal replied, staring at Maleficent with confidence and respect. Maleficent nodded when she heard her daughter's response.

"Evie," the Evil Queen then said, "you and I need to talk as well." Evie just nodded and looked to the stones at her feet.

"Let's go." Maleficent said, breaking the silence. Mal stepped forward and followed her mother to the throne room of the castle. Evie and the Evil Queen would find themselves a separate room to discuss whatever the queen wants to talk about. Carlos and Jay went straight to the dungeons. The throne room and the entire castle once belonged to Aurora's family, but they were taken care of over the years. Some say a daughter of Aurora still walks around, but she hasn't come to claim the stolen property yet. Once the castle could have been called beautiful, but not since Maleficent moved in.

Maleficent sat down on the throne and stared at her daughter, who remained standing in front of her. Their meetings in the throne room always went like this.

"Do you know why I brought you here?" Maleficent asked her. Mal shook her head in response, never looking away from her mother.

"No, mother," she replied. Maleficent stood up from her throne and started to pace up and down.

"I am the supreme ruler of this part of the kingdom," she said. Mal knew she was currently talking to herself as if her daughter wasn't even in the room, "People fear me, villagers and villains alike. And yet…" She paused on purpose, stopped in her tracks and looked at Mal.

"What do you want me to do, mother?" she asked. Maleficent then walked back to her throne and sat on it as she spoke.

"I want you to find the Fairy Godmother's wand. I can already bend evil to my will, but with the Fairy Godmother's wand…" She paused for dramatic effect. Mal could see she really wanted to have that wand. "I will be able to break the spirits of those foolish resistance members and bend evil and good to my will. No peasant will disobey me ever again! No villain will stand in my way! And when I'm done, I will give you a part of my realm to rule…" A smile crept on her face. The mere thought of being able to rule just a part of the kingdom made her excited. She could already imagine the fearful expressions when she watched the peasants.

"Thank you, mother," she said. She couldn't conceal her excitement. It made Maleficent grin evilly as well.

"Yes, you'll need all the practice you can get before my time has come. Oh, I almost forgot!" She suddenly jumped up from her chair, remembering something she hadn't thought of earlier. "You will need this on your journey to find the wand." She walked to that particular wall of the throne room where she had built her secret room. Only Mal knew where it was, even if she wasn't allowed to go in there. A few times she had dared to go in there and take a look in her mother's spell book, but never too long. When Maleficent left her secret room, she held that old book with worn-off cover and near yellow pages in her hands. She handed it over to Mal, who stared at it with big eyes.

"Your spell book?" She was surprised and enlightened with that gift. At least, Mal assumed it was a gift. Her mother already knew all the spells, so she wouldn't have any use for it anymore. Maleficent nodded.

"Yes, yes. You are old enough to cast the more powerful spells. I know what you've done the past few years." Mal looked up from the spell book and stared at her mother. How did she know about her sneaking in? There was nobody here to catch her, except the raven. Doubt and fear took over, but they disappeared as soon as Maleficent continued talking. "I don't disapprove, only because you haven't been caught."

Mal smiled her evil smile. Even mothers don't like it when things are stolen from them. At least this mother approved because she is a villain. How else are the children ever going to learn to steal from everyone and sneak into places where they're not wanted?

"Thanks, mother," Mal replied, "I won't disappoint you."

"You will not," Maleficent said, either convinced Mal wouldn't fail her or telling Mal not to fail her. "One more thing: don't come back without the wand, okay? I will alert you if I found it before you could." The cold look in her eyes and the tone of her voice expressed the seriousness of the situation. Mal even had to suppress gulping in front of her mother. It made her look scared, and a daughter of Maleficent shouldn't be scared.

"Yes, mother," she then replied so she wouldn't sound too scared. It was normal, right? Every kid is scared of their parents once in a while, right?

"Now go." Maleficent ordered her daughter. Mal nodded in response, turned around with the book in a tight grasp and she walked out of the throne room without looking back. The next time I'm standing here, I'll have the Fairy Godmother's wand with me, she thought. Mother will be so proud of me. I will not disappoint her.

She decided to go down to the dungeon. Her mother never mentioned her having any support. Her three friends own had their unique abilities that would help her find that wand. Plus, if this quest took longer than expected, she needed a place to stay, and she was certain the Evil Queen would gladly provide shelter for the young Witch.

But first she went to the dungeon, where she might have to break up a fight between Carlos and Jay. They tend to fight when they were together in the dungeon, especially after one of Jay's absences.