Hiya Readers,

Dark here. Sorry that I haven't been part of the publishing in... forever, but yay, I'm still alive.

Twisted and I both want to apologize for being inconsistent in posting, so to make up for it, we have four chapters for you.

Merry Christmas and Happy all the things!

Lots of Love,

Dark

She stares at the table as Gil sits and settles her in his lap.

"Well, that were bein'-" Harry shakes his head as he closes the door against the rain.

Their first spoken words since leaving the cove.

"Yeah," Gil agrees with a sigh.

"How ya doin', Baby Girl?" Uma's hand crosses her vision before she feels her fingers at her chin, "talk to us, please?"

"I'm so angry I'm scared to talk." She admits softly.

"Want me to let you up?" Gil asks hesitantly.

She turns to him in a panic, already trying to pull away, "are you afraid I'll burn you?"

"What?" Gil pulls back in surprise, "no! I jus' don't always like bein' touched when I'm mad."

"Right." She shakes her head, guilty that she'd jumped to conclusions so soon after he'd put so much faith in her, 'um, no. I think this helps."

"Oh, well if that's the case," he smiles before she finds herself secured to his chest.

She takes a deep breath with her nose pressed to his shirt, wishing she could calm the pounding in her chest.

The boiling in her veins.

"Is this really not a new ability?" She asks before she pushes back just enough to look for Faustina.

Harry and Uma share a glance.

"I don't think so, no." Faustina offers as she meets her eyes, "I just couldn't rule it out."

She stares at her for so long her eyes burn.

This wasn't a new power.

That was all she could hear.

She'd been so scared.

Having that power would have cost her everything until she understood how to control it.

She never would have forgiven herself if she'd used it, even by accident.

And how many times had she wished she could see what her family was thinking?

Understand what they were trying to hide from her.

No.

When it came down to it, she didn't trust that she wouldn't use it.

And that hurt more than she wanted to admit.

"Treasure," Gil kisses her temple, "you ain't breathing."

She takes a deep breath automatically before she hugs Gil, practically burrowing against him to hide her tears.

She did not deserve his faith in her.

Any of their faith.

She was just glad she would never disappoint them in that way.

It was a relief.

She frowns.

But as relieved as she was to not have her own soul gaze-

As angry as she was with her father for doing this-

She was also… sad?

Why?

"Baby Girl?" Uma prompts as she takes her hand, "talk to us."

"I am."

Uma sighs, "you stopped when you stopped breathing."

"Oh." She huffs before she sits up, "I'm just glad it's not a stupid new power. I'm fine with whatever he wants to throw at me, as long as I'm not the one peeping into people's minds."

Uma studies her for a moment before a smile tugs at her lips, "that's my Baby Girl."

She really couldn't imagine a life without her family, and that's exactly what that power would have robbed her of.

She'd take daily attempts to remove the cuffs over losing them.

Never again.

"Just cause ya be fine with it don'nah be meanin' the rest o' us be feelin' the same." Harry grumbles as he tosses a small package on the table and pulls Faustina into the seat across from her and Gil.

Gil nods, "no kidding."

She smiles as he reaches around her, resting his chin on her head as he starts working on her necklace again, "thank you," she whispers as she looks up and over her shoulder.

"For?" Gil drops his eyes to her.

Her breath hitches in her chest as she stares into his warm brown eyes.

She'd been prepared to never see them again, to hold onto her last memory of them.

The rich colors beautifully patterned into two gleaming gemstones.

Topaz?

But now?

Now that these horrible memories weren't some new power?

She drinks the sight in, slowly quenching the pain in her chest.

Her gaze couldn't hurt her family.

"For?" She blinks before she can regain her thoughts, "oh. Thank you for getting back to work on it."

"Oh," Gil smiles, "I'd feel better with it on you."

"We all would." Uma sighs.

"Ya be knowin' what that necklace be lookin' good with, once Sweet Boy there gets it finished?"

"What?" She asks, easily reading that Harry was baiting her.

"Why don'nah ya be openin' this an' seein'?"

She leans forward as Harry pushes the package closer to her.

Curious, she tears the brown waxy paper away, her eyes widening as gray and black spills into her lap.

A gray she easily recognized.

"Did you-"

She holds the fabric up as she slips from Gil's lap.

"Harry! Did you make this?"

It was kind of hard to fully make out all the details, but she could tell it was a new toga.

A toga with belts sewn into it.

"Aye Princess, now be puttin' it on an' give us ah show."

Even the darkness waiting in the back of her mind couldn't tarnish her excitement. Her hands tighten around the dress as she rushes to Harry's side to kiss his cheek before she runs over to her chest.

No way was she putting this on over her soaked underclothes.

She rummages around until she finds new ones, ignoring the small packets that fall out in her rush.

Was this what Faustina felt like when she got to wear her new outfit?

She tugs it on, fumbling a little with the belts that weren't clasped.

"Here, let me help." Uma chuckles as she comes up behind her, "Harry wanted to make sure you could adjust it."

It was hard to stand still long enough for Uma to buckle all the belts, but eventually she pulls her over to the small mirror.

"There. What do you think?"

She bites her lip as she twists and turns to look at herself around the cracks and dark spots.

This.

This was amazing.

The way it fit.

The feel.

The fact that it was a toga, but so much better than any toga she'd ever had before.

Instead of a single twisted strap to hold it up on one shoulder, Harry had given her a sleeve. A sleeve cinched with a thin black belt crisscrossing around her arm.

Same with the belts at her waist.

She stares at herself, twisting and turning to see the way the tattered edges flared as she moved, squeeing when she catches the small skull on her hip.

It was the one Gil had been working on ages ago, but never seemed happy with.

It was only a dress-

Just a bit of fabric from her father's robes and a couple of belts-

But she loved it.

It was such a selfish thing, but she felt so good in it.

Like her old self merged with her current self, as if she somehow reconciled fighting parts.

In the middle of all of this, her family made time to help her.

Faustina stayed with her, and then told her father off when he'd shown up.

Gil was working on a necklace for her, and still found ways to make her smile.

Uma helped her into the dress, and allowed her to go to the cove to take her mind off everything.

And Harry made her a toga.

She turns back to them, running her hands over the belts as she grins, "I love it!" she cries before she hugs Uma tightly.

Uma chuckles as she pulls back, "it does look damn good on you. Our Pretty Boy really out did himself, didn't he?"

"Oh go on you," Harry chuckles as he rolls his wrist, "be comin' on then, I be needin' ta hear this."

Faustina smiles warmly, "you look like you again."

"I feel like me again," she tilts her head to the side, "like a pirate me."

"Well, if yer finally acceptin' yer pirate status," Uma grins before she rushes over to her desk, opens and closes a couple of drawers, before running back, "hands."

She grins as Uma slips a short, fingerless glove on one hand, and an elbow length fingerless glove on the other.

"There."

Her grin widens as she turns back to the mirror.

She'd never felt like her toga was accepted as VK style, but this?

This was perfect.

It felt so nice to just be excited about something again.

No strings, no worries, just giddy and elated in the moment.

"I am a pirate now! I even have the skull and gloves like all of you!"

Laughter fills the room with warmth as Harry and Uma slowly circle her with a critical eye.

"I love when you smile like that," Gil grins boyishly, "it fits you. The pirate toga, it looks great and covers everything."

"Of course that was a worry for you," she snorts.

Laughter peels from Uma, "it was a worry for all of us, Gil was just its champion."

She turns back to the mirror, unable to help herself.

She looked beautiful in this.

"Come on, if I know our Pretty Boy, he's dying to do your hair."

"Ya ain'nah bein' wrong there." Harry grins as Faustina hands him his kit, "come 'er, Baby Girl," he holds his free hand out for her, "I be havin' the perfect idea for ya."

She giggles as she allows him to guide her to a seat, "now I'm really excited."

And spoiled, though she didn't feel like pointing that out right now.

"Just don't cut it short," Gil pouts at Harry.

"I don'nah be knowin' mate," Harry winks down at her, "I were plannin' ta be doin' a lot of cuttin'."

"Ha," Gil barks sarcastically before he glares at Harry, "but seriously, don't."

Harry combs hair in her face and dramatically pulls out his hair shears, "how short is too short?"

"I don't know." Gil shrugs, "just don't do it."

She closes her eyes when she hears the softest snicker, and then a slow snip.

"Like do this be bein' too much?"

"Harry!" Gil's eyes widen at the lock of hair that ran longer than her arm. "What the fuck-"

"I be callin' 'em bangs," Harry chuckles as he steps from in front of her so Gil can see, "an I be ah thinkin' she looks down right cute with 'em."

"Hilarious." Gil dead pans with a roll of his eyes.

"Sweet Boy," Uma laughs, as she places a hand on Gil's shoulder. "Pretty Boy would never have our girl lookin' rough. Breathe."

Gil looks between her and Harry with a frown, "I know that- I just like her hair long." He blushes.

"Ain'nah we all?" Harry howls with laughter before he bumps his hip with Gil's, "come on, mate, ya know ya made that too easy fer me ta pass up." He dances back to her and continues to mess around with her hair.

Gil's cheeks puff up before he exhales and shakes his head.

They were teasing each other and doting on her like the world around them wasn't falling apart.

For her.

Because they were worried about her and just wanted her to feel better.

The Witches.

The memories.

Her father showing up.

They were doing their best to crowd those things out with this.

And she loved them all the more for it.

Harry only snips her hair a couple more times, and nothing nearly as extreme as when he'd done her bangs.

A few strokes of a brush and two hair ties later-

"Deez?"

She turns to find Faustina kneeling next to her forgotten trunk.

"Did you never get a chance to open these?" Faustina asks as she holds up two packets.

"Open what?"

The others pause as they turn to her before Uma looks around to find Faustina.

"The goblins were keeping these for you at the commissary." Faustina stands, "T was supposed to give them to you, but they don't look open." She finishes as she hands them to her.

She tilts her head to the side as she stares at the two small envelopes in her hands.

Someone wrote to her?

That was a first.

She flips them over in her hand before she gasps.

One bore the most meticulous script she'd ever seen, but the other-

"Oh my sea gods!" She jumps up from the chair, bouncing in a circle as she holds it up in the air.

"Oi!" Harry cries out in surprise, "be warnin' a pirate!"

"It's Jay!" She squeals in delight as she waves the unexpected treasure in the air, "This is Jay's handwriting!"

"Really?" Gil asks in surprise as she finds herself flanked by her family.

"What it be sayin'?" Harry demands in excitement.

"I don't know. I haven't read it." She chuckles before she stops hopping to slide to the floor so she could open the envelope.

Her heart was racing.

Hands shaking.

But she couldn't stop herself from looking over the letter, drinking in every detail about it.

Jay's handwriting slowly morphed into the more messy scrawl she'd always seen the further down the page she got.

Her vision blurs before she rubs a hand across her face.

She hadn't even read a single word yet.

She glances over her shoulder and smiles at Faustina after a rag dangles in her face and quickly grabs it.

It was overwhelming.

Her first letter from Auradon,

Words from Jay.

Just when things were unbearably dark.

She takes a deep breath, dabbing the rag at her eyes before she picks the letter up from her lap.

Deez,

I really hope you get this letter.

It's been killing me.

Not being able to tell you I found your letter.

That we all found your letters.

You should've seen E when she found out you put them in the 'decorative' pockets. You would've enjoyed her fit. Cutely terrifying as ever.

So much is different over here.

Like so much.

The sun. The ground. The food. Just everything…

It's everything I think you've always hoped for us. So, like thank you.

I know we all, well, me and Mal used to tease you about it. Your writing. Your letters. Your ridiculous optimism that one day someone might find them and actually care…

I was an asshole, and I'm so sorry.

Because someone has found them.

Two someones.

Two people you'd be shocked, and excited, maybe even embarrassed to know.

It was so weird meeting them.

Prince Ben and Queen Belle.

They're nothing like what I'd ever imagined them to be like.

Anyways, yeah. As usual, you were right.

I wish I could see the smile I know you have.

Don't tell anyone, but I miss it.

Little know it all.

And since you do, know it all, tell Harry and Gil I said hi.

And I miss them.

T too.

Speaking of T though. I did know there was something up with him, and more than anything I wish I was there to help you, and I'm sure Harry if not his whole gang.

I've known something was different with T for a while now. Back when he tossed your ass down the well I figured out the whole girl thing.

And I've also met her. The girl part of T.

It was confusing at the time. Fuck it's still confusing. All I really know is that she knew who I was.

I have a friend, David, who's helping explain the whole split personality thing to me. It's really complicated, and honestly Deez, even if I was there I think the only thing I could've possibly offered is my support.

I mean, I have a professional and it's still so much to try and understand.

But I know til you guys can join us, you'll be able to help and support her and T. You just have to wait a bit longer.

There are seriously people over here that can help.

People that I trust with everything.

What David does is…

Everything I've ever needed without knowing I needed.

I just know you and the rest of you will like him as much as I do.

Seriously hope you get this

And seriously don't know how

you've done this for so long.

Your big brother,

-Jay

Her laughter comes out in strange hiccups as tears splash on the page.

Jay.

Jay wrote to her because he was worried.

And he cared.

And he could care now.

He missed her.

Her smile. And he'd been right, she'd smiled at that part.

Her chest flutters strangely.

It was too much.

The overwhelming reminder that Prince Ben had her letters.

That Queen Bell read her letters!

The apology.

The renewed hope.

Too much.

It was a painful relief on top of curling tension in her chest.

There were people in Auradon that could help.

David.

He trusted David.

David was helping him.

They just had to wait a little longer.

She grins as she looks at the others, not caring that she was sobbing and laughing at the same time.

"They're okay! And happy." She shakes her head as she looks over the letter again, "and there are people that want to help. And he wrote about us joining them."

She couldn't be sure when it was written, though something told her it was before they had that video call with Harry and T-

But that didn't matter either.

Jay took the time to reassure her in a letter that things would be okay.

"Aye," Harry grins, "feel like passin' that here?"

She nods as she hands the letter off before she opens the next envelope.

This one seemed-

Fancier?

Like the paper was heavier, the inside of the envelope was blue with some kind of golden crest-

Her eyes widen.

Was it-

Could it be something from the royal family?

Dear H,

Or rather Deez, as I've come to find out.

Thank you.

Her breath hitches again.

Thank you?

Someone was thanking her.

It had to be Prince Ben!

Thank you my wonderfully thoughtful Ghost writer.

I owe you so much gratitude for all the effort and dedication you've poured into the letters you so vigilantly, and painstakingly, wrote on behalf of the children of the Isle.

I cannot imagine it has been easy for you.

But, I assure you, it is very much appreciated and valued.

I know it must be strange, receiving a letter from me after all these years, but I had no idea whom to address it to. Nor did I want it to get into the wrong hands and have harm befall you.

Knowing who you are now, that thought is nearly laughable.

In all the years I've been reading your addresses, not once did it cross my mind that you would be the Daughter of Hades.

Then again, you speak so little of yourself it was hard to guess who you were to begin with. For a long while I thought you might be an adult reaching out to the King. So to find out that you are in fact another teen like myself left me nothing short of surprised.

I digress.

What I'm trying to convey is my gratitude.

You've been my muse and inspiration for so many years I've lost count.

Your letters, and those you've written so carefully about have been my only true friends throughout childhood.

More tears trace their way down her face.

She'd been his muse?

The idea makes her chest flutter again.

But hearing that her letters were his only friends throughout childhood-

It broke her heart.

He sounded like Mal and Uma.

Alone because they were leaders, but at least here on the Isle they'd found their gang and family.

As I am sure you've no doubt heard about by now, I am not the king. And the life of a prince can be shockingly lonely when you can see past fake smiles and pretty lies. Which is something I believe we have in common.

Seeing past masks and subterfuge is difficult, and even painful at times.

Her breath hitches.

She had something in common with a prince? The Prince?

It was strange-

But she could feel it in his words.

It was lonely when you could see past the mask.

At least it had been at first.

Lonely and confusing.

Sorry, I digress again.

It's hard not to.

I feel like I've known you for so long.

And to finally have a face and name to my- I can't say invisible, cause you are anything but, silent friend and companion, I'm excited.

If he had a picture of her-

This had to be after the video chat.

Or maybe it meant her notebook made it!

This is my fourth edit and I still can't help but write and rewrite and edit it again.

You are so meticulous in your work, tedious from what Mal and the others have shared about you-

I just want to get this right.

She can't help the small laugh.

How often had she said the same thing?

How often had she thought it?

It sounded like they had a lot in common.

And he called her his friend.

Prince Ben in Auradon-

-the future king-

-and he called her a friend.

Her chest warms so much she looks down, afraid she'd accidentally caught on fire.

But no, she was just…

Happy?

That didn't seem like the right word.

Ecstatic?

No. That wasn't quite it.

Joyous?

That didn't quite encompass it either.

Elated?

Her eyes narrow. Closer. But still not-

Oh!

Euphoric?

That one!

Euphoric.

Euphoric and gleeful.

She grunts in frustration.

Words were hard.

More tears fall as she presses a hand to her chest and the euphoric warmth there.

But it's hard to compare to someone who brings pages to life in such a depictive light.

You've been a fascination of mine for so long.

A puzzle missing so many pieces when you've been able to create such a vivid picture of the person you are trying to get your reader to see.

It's beautiful.

Well, beautiful in a sad way.

To know so many have to hide under such thick masks to survive.

I'm not sure what my first edict would've been without you. Without your letters. Without your words. Your inspiration. Encouragement to let my father know how much none of you belong in such a place of evil.

You've brought to light so many ideas and concepts I never would've been able to cultivate if left to my own devices.

I owe you so much gratitude and appreciation. I don't know how I would've grown if it wasn't for your passion and drive.

It has very much touched me and helped shape the person I am today, and rest assured that when we meet, and we will meet, it will be a day I will cherish and celebrate.

As amazing as it was to meet the one and only Harry Hook, who you described to a T- No pun intended, and my secret hero T, I was saddened to find you were not with them.

I truly can not wait to meet you.

Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos are exactly as you described.

Wonderful.

Thoughtful.

Caring.

And it shows more and more each day they are further from their parents and the darkness that is your home.

Again, I digress.

What I'm trying to say, is despite years of silence.

Years of writing to who could've been no one.

The dedication you have shed into your work has very much in fact been noticed.

Noticed and heard.

I am striving to make all of our nation see that it is as you have always claimed.

None of you belong there, and would all thrive if ever given the chance to be good.

There are so many, many, many things I wish to share with you.

So many conversations I am looking forward to having with you.

But I am waiting for a time where we can speak in person.

Unfortunately however, due to some unforeseen circumstances, it is going to have to wait.

Some unpleasantness has fallen upon Mal, the others, and our new friends that need some seeing too.

Nothing we can't handle, mind you.

They're all okay.

We're all okay.

It's just that there are some here in Auradon that fear you despite not knowing you or the truth to who any of you are. It is something all of us are doing our best to rectify.

We've even gotten the help of Hiro Hamada.

I'm not sure if you remember Carlos speaking about him, but from what I understand he was as obsessed with him there as he is here.

Either way, he is a powerful ally in our fight to right the wrongs done to you and all that you write about.

And I believe with his help, the help of his family, and the rest of us working together it won't be long before we can share those conversations.

With the highest regards

And with much appreciation

-Ben

It took everything in her to finish the letter.

Her heart nearly broke through her chest when she read that something happened in Auradon, but it was nothing they couldn't handle.

If her laughter before had been through hiccups-

She had no idea what the noise coming out of her right now was.

Thankfully Gil knew her well enough to pull her to him, letting her muffle the weird sound against his chest.

She was laughing and crying at the same time, and she had no idea how to stop.

They were okay.

They were okay!

Ben had somehow managed to get this letter to her, and everyone was okay!

Ben.

He couldn't wait to meet her, and even believed with all the help they were getting they would get to meet soon-

She wraps her arms as far as she can around Gil's chest and clings, burying her face.

Had Carlos really gotten to meet Hiro?

She had so many questions.

But more than that, she had a renewed sense of determination.

If Ben could get a letter to the Isle after the attack on the barrier-

It didn't matter that Auradon had magic.

Not anymore.

The Isle had it too.

And she was determined to find a way to send another notebook.

A letter.

Anything.

Because Ben did care.

And Jay.

Mal.

Carlos.

Evie.

They cared!

She shakes her head against Gil as she gasps for air.

It was all she could do to hold the letter out, letting anyone who wanted to read it have the chance.

Uma quickly jumps on it, thankfully taking the letter before she could ruin it.

She couldn't speak at the moment, could barely make out the conversation happening around her.

Prince Ben called her his friend.

Praised her hard work and determination

Credited her with so much.

It was more than overwhelming.

More than euphoric.

"No fucking way," Uma murmers, "Prince Ben actually wrote you- this? That's insane Deez."

"Right?" She giggles before another sob rips from her lungs.

She'd done it!

She'd actually helped.

Made a difference.

She laughs so long and deep it leaves her stomach hurting.

Take that Father!

She'd done it, she'd made herself a key for someone.

"Congratulations Deez," Faustina smiles over her sketchbook. "I'm so happy he did that for you, you certainly earned it after everything you've done for your, well, the cause."

She doesn't fight when Gil adjusts so they could see each other, his eyes reflecting the flaming tears rolling down her face.

She was a mess, but she couldn't care less.

She'd helped free people she loved.

And she would help the rest of them.

One way or another, she'd be a key for them too.

Okay,

So this one was super bitter-sweet, and pretty damn wholesome for this book- Please don't expect much more of that here. We are awful people to our characters, we don't hide that.

But damn Deez, that's so fucking awesome! A life's time of fucking work. Acknowledged.

A little too late I'm afraid but still-

It's fucking dope she finally got her letters.

It only took about 15 chapters.

Yeah, I know. But we have so much going on in this book-

Was it everything you guys were hoping for?

Was it from who you expected?

Fuck, I can't stop smiling.

And, yeah. I know. Being happy for your fictional character that you write the story for is weird, but we give them so many, many, many hills and mountains it's rare for us to toss them a treat.

And D earned this one.

Years.

Seven-ish years of writing.

Seven-ish years of no indication that it was being received.

Sevin-ish years of waiting for a miracle ← Encanto is life, but I digress.

She just earned the cookie.

Question though, were you wrapped up in her emotion?

Happy with her?

Sad?

Dark is a beast when it comes to the feelz but-

Some affirmation and acknowledgment from Deez, Harry, to Jay and Carlos, and so many shared characters in between. Not to mention carrying the whole plot, and keeping track of my constant shifting shenanigans.

A beast yo. Through and through.

So don't do it for me, do it for Dark. Without her this book would be a fucking hot ass mess of unkempt plot and characters consisting of T, Roy, Hiro, and Beam's. And as funny as they are-

There ain't shit hittin' you in the feelz.

It takes two.

And Dark and I balance each other perfectly, in my not so biased opinion.

Dead.

Any way please send some love and appreciation Dark's way

-Twisted