Chapter Nine
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Guys can you believe we're 27 reviews away from 200? Thank you all so much for your support here! :D
From the general consensus it's looking like you're all wanting the sequels in this story as well. Just want to double check before I commit to that—it's likely going to be over 135 chapters just with the story. Not to mention the break chapters. If you're all fine with that, I'll do it but if you want, I can split them up into their own stories.
OH! Before I forget, there's a part of this chapter that gets a little dark. Just wanted to let you know so you're prepared. If you want to, just go ahead and skip this chapter (or at least the dark part).
Tracie Adams: Yep, Demeter is pissed off at Zeus and Leah—and for good reason!
Guest: Trust me, I feel bad for them every time I re-read that chapter!
Katie2001: Thank you so much! Yep, Zeus is definitely in trouble with everyone!
princesstwyla06: I'm so glad you liked the chapter!
Snowwhite45: I mean, that's probably the best way to get in my good books!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much!
medical ranger: Thank you so much, I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter!
danifan3000: Those…are really valid points that I never really thought about. And now I'm sad again. Poor Mal. As for Leah…well who can say what goes through her brain?
Marcus Emrys: He sure did! Oh, and I'm going to thank you for the inspiration for part of this chapter by the way!
billyandkimfan1994: Considering she brought about a year long winter when Persephone went into the Underworld, I'd definitely stay on her good side!
AmethystDragon14: Oh yay! I hate seeing our Benny heartbroken too, and it'll only get worse the longer he sees what's going on on the Isle.
FFM: I…really love that head canon actually. May I steal that? I know you said I could but I just thought it better to ask!
Isabelly Silva Sousa: I will need to look up who Despina is since I've never heard about her before!
Urmimala Hazra: Ah as tempting as that is, the plot protects this woman until it comes out what she truly did!
twilightgirl587: Agreed! Poor Mal!
lilyflower101: He's certainly fun to write!
Lord of the A.U. FanFiction: Just the Descendants stories. I'm not really big into Star Wars unfortunately!
CrystalKaouri! Agreed! Zeus, shut up! You have a good point there with the fact that Leah and Stefan were going skate under the radar until Merryweather pointed out that Maleficent wasn't wanted. And you know, who's Merryweather to say who isn't and is wanted? Maybe the King and Queen did want Maleficent there but just forgot to invite her? I can see what I can do about having those characters show up, though in all honesty I've only seen the movie once or twice so I might not just in fear of getting the characterization off.
42: You raise an excellent point! I'll see what I can do!
Anonymous Reader: Zeus really does have trust issues though with getting your kid stolen when he was a baby, I don't exactly blame him there. As for why Hades and Persephone didn't do the thing? Because the plot whacked them with the stupid stick! And now you're going to get that song stuck in my head aren't you?
GothicPhoenix: Yes, Freddy Frollo is an OC (I was on a YouTube comment thread for Bobshoux's review of D3 and someone said that Frollo had a son named Freddy. This is what I get for treating the comment section of YouTube as canon fact). And yes, Old man Slade is Amos Slade. Oh good, I'm glad! :D Hmm, good question but really since they're reacting to the Choosing series, it would have to be Leah. But I'm glad you're enjoying the chapter! :D
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Uma shrugged and grabbed a scroll. "Okay, let's see what's going to happen in this one."
Hades had to smirk as he strolled through the streets of the Isle, making his way over to Pirate's Cove. The sight of the underlings diving out of his path never failed to amuse him.
"It is rather amusing," Uma nodded.
"Yeah, especially when they literally dive," Mal chuckled and then paused. "Well, not when it's Smee."
"Smee's like the one underling who's harmless," Harry said. "Not to mention he treats all of us with respect."
"His daughter's your sister's first mate. Of course he treats us with respect," Mal shrugged.
It was, however, some of the only joy he could get.
"Well that and time with Persephone," Hades amended.
It had been five years
"Five years?!"
"Yeah," Mal shrugged as some of the AKs looked at her in shock. "What? Did you honestly expect Maleficent to just hand me back to dad? Dragons aren't really known for sharing."
She wasn't going to lie though, she was rather enjoying the death glare that Demeter was giving Zeus.
since Maleficent had stolen Mal from him and Hades had yet to see a possible way of taking his daughter back. That didn't mean he hadn't come up with plans; it just meant that all the plans he came up with were a guaranteed failure. Hey, there was a reason why Athena was the Goddess of Strategy and not Hades.
"So why didn't you write to her?" Demeter demanded. "My granddaughter—."
"Athena would only go along with it if Zeus was on board," Hades said in a matter of fact tone. "Even if I was just asking for help ironing out some holes in the plan, I knew my letter would likely go unread. If it even got past the post goblins for that matter."
"I think it might be time for the net again," Poseidon muttered.
"Do it and I'll turn you mortal again," Zeus said with a glare, having heard the mutter.
He'd even considered borrowing from the Trojans but there wasn't time to build a giant wooden dragon that would allow him to sneak into Maleficent's castle.
"Can we help with that?!" Akiho and Emir asked, looking more excited at the prospect than they had any right to be.
"Your friends are two halves of a whole idiot Benji," Chip whispered to Ben with a small chuckle in his voice.
"I know," Ben shook his head. "But you gotta love them."
"Oh there's no choice in the matter there."
Besides, Maleficent was a horrible waste of oxygen but she wasn't an idiot. She'd be able to see a trap coming.
"I thought most of the villains were idiots?" Audrey scoffed.
"You're thinking about the sidekicks like LeFou," Mal told her, rolling her eyes. "Believe it or not, there are a few villains on the Isle with a few brain cells to rub together. Unfortunately, the Dragon is one of them."
So Hades waited and waited, for five years; trying to come up with a plan that would work.
It never came.
Persephone, true to her word, had attempted to reach out to Zeus during one of her six month stays in Auradon but Zeus wouldn't hear it.
"Of course he wouldn't," Mal scoffed, rolling her eyes as Demeter's glare at Zeus grew darker. "I mean, Gods forbid he get off his fat ass and actually do something!"
"Malinda!" Persephone scolded. "Watch your language around your brother."
"Yes mom," Mal nodded. "I stand by the Zeus comment though!"
Hades couldn't blame his brother for that; there was no proof Mal was his other than Hades' word which probably meant close to nothing to Zeus right now.
Zeus sighed. Maybe at the time, Hades' word wouldn't have meant anything. But…knowing what he knew now?
So there was no help coming from Auradon, and no help coming from Olympus. If Hades was desperate enough, he could join one of the cliques that had developed among the residents of the Isle. But he was not desperate. Not in the slightest.
He was also lying to himself, Hades thought with a small sigh. Had it gone on much longer without any sight of Mal, he might have actually joined a clique to get Mal back. Thankfully that hadn't been necessary.
The day I join forces with the likes of Clayton, Frollo or Scar will be the day Beast starts letting people off this Isle, Hades thought with an inward grimace. Jafar would be tolerable, if only because we'd worked together in the past trying to best Hercules and Aladdin. But he's joined forces with Maleficent and it'll be a cold day in my underworld before I sign up to be one of her minions.
"So dad, does this mean you'll be joining forces with Clayton, Frollo, or Scar?" Mal teased.
"Yeah, since Mal and Jay got let off the Isle," Hadie added with a grin.
Hades rolled his eyes. "I said Beast, not his son," he told his kids. "Besides, the day I actually join with Frollo is the day the sky turns to fire and all our noses fall off."
"Good," Mal nodded.
Hades raised an eyebrow as if asking for an explanation.
"If you joined forces with Frollo, then Freddy would be around Hadie more than I feel comfortable with." Mal elaborated.
"You really think I'd let that brat anywhere near your brother?"
"No, of course not."
"Then there's nothing to worry about."
So Hades walked alone, being one of the few Isle residence to forgo a clique. Despite this, however, no one bothered the God. It was one of the few benefits of being the God of the Dead, even if the ingrates on the Isle always called him the God of Death.
"What's the difference?" Audrey scoffed.
"Thanatos is the God of Death, Macaria is the Goddess of Blessed Death, not to be confused with our classmate, while Keres is the Goddess of Violent Death," Ben said instantly, as if the answer was just rattling around in his brain. "Then of course there are the Gods of the seven rivers of the Underworld, Acheron, Alpheus, Cocytus, Eridanos, Lethe, Phlegethon, and Styx."
"Beat me to the punch why don't you?" Hyllus chuckled.
"You just have that information stored in your head, do you?" Mal asked.
Ben shrugged. "I like to read."
"Was I named after her?" Macaria whispered to her father. "The Goddess of Blessed Death I mean?"
"You were," Hercules whispered back. What? He had liked the name.
Hey, if it gets them to leave me alone they can call me whatever they want, Hades thought as he watched some of the younger kids of the Isle run around on the docks. They looked to be around five or six, though Hades knew looks could be misleading.
"Don't I know it," Carlos muttered to himself.
The quality of the food that was being sent to the Isle each month had quickly deteriorated to the point where most of it was inedible.
Leah rubbed her hand over her mouth, looking pensive as she cleverly hid a smirk. It wouldn't do to look too pleased, not with the Gods in the same room as her.
Ben shook his head. "I'm getting to the bottom of this. Food is a human right that they should have! I mean, I can't even start to think about the medical issues the people of the Isle have got to be having."
"So you want to tell him or shall I?" Uma muttered to Mal.
"Why are we telling him anything?" Mal muttered back.
"Because it'll likely get revealed in one of these scrolls and at least then we can avoid Boreadon knowing all our weaknesses."
Mal sighed. "Fine…but I'll tell him. I'm the highest ranked VK here."
Ben whipped his head toward them, having heard that last bit of conversation.
"Tell me what?"
Mal sighed and shook her head. "Normally I probably wouldn't tell you this but since we're apparently spilling secrets, most of the girls…well their cycles are…barley non-existent."
"We've done the math. If the Isle continues to be like it is without change…" Uma added.
"There'll be no one or at least close to no one on it in about three generations," Mal said softly.
"People do die on the Isle after all," Harry muttered.
Emir shook his head, just as angry as his sister was. "So who's ever doing this…"
"They're essentially committed to killing an Island of people, most of whom are completely innocent of their parents' crimes," Ben said, his eyes hardening slightly before taking a slight breath to stabilize his emotions as he looked at the VKs. "Guys, I promise. I'll find out who's behind this."
"I'll have the shipping records pulled as soon as we get back," Belle promised.
The rare edible items would quickly be snatched up by Maleficent as she ran the Isle. Everyone in her clique benefited from the arrangement while everyone else on the Isle suffered.
"At the time it was just Jafar and Cruella. Well and Maleficent's goblins," Carlos said softly.
"And trust me, only they benefited," Jay muttered under his breath. He had his father's quota to meet after all. If he didn't meet it…well he'd be lucky if he didn't get locked out of the house for the night.
If Hades was a more naive person (or a more naive God), he might think it was a good thing that Maleficent had Mal because at least then she'd be able to get some decent food.
Mal couldn't help but explode in laughter, her head thrown back and tears starting to form in her eyes.
"Oh…Gods! Maleficent…give me more food…than she deemed necessary? Dad, you must have been around…Pain or Panic too long to assume that!"
"I believe the scroll said if I was a more naive person or God," Hades reminded her, not liking the fact that his suspicions had basically been confirmed.
But Hades knew there was a slim chance his daughter was getting anything more than what she needed to survive.
"That's if I behaved," Mal muttered under her breath. She could still remember the pangs of hunger as Maleficent deprived her of dinner for not being evil enough. She'd normally skip breakfast willingly and run over to Uma's mom's restaurant to get something for lunch before she met her dad.
It was partially because of the deteriorating food supply that Persephone had gotten the idea to open a restaurant on the Isle. Hades was against it at first, due to how risky it would be, but ended up agreeing.
"Risky?" Hera asked, looking over at Hades. "You're both Gods."
"Anything done on the Isle had an element of risk to it," Persephone told her. "But it had only been nine years since the Isle was created. I still had the brush of Auradon over me, and to be frank, Auradon wasn't exactly winning popularity contests over on the Isle."
"But…the Isle is part of Auradon," Ben said softly.
"I'm sorry Prince Ben but the Isle doesn't see it that way," Persephone told him. "And from the food supply they've been given, many of the residents believe that Auradon doesn't see it that way either."
It was good for Steph to have something to keep her mind off Mal—plus with them putting Hades' name on the building, it essentially became his restaurant.
Thus ensuring no one would mess with it.
"I mean they tried, but it was mainly Maleficent and her ilk," Hades shook his head.
"The goblins didn't like the fact that they had competition?" Mal asked.
"Exactly."
Persephone had been key in getting ingredients from Auradon; things that normally would be impossible to find on the Isle though they had to be non perishable since even Persephone couldn't keep meat and dairy fresh for six months without it going bad.
"Didn't I give you a cooler that kept food fresh?" Demeter asked Persephone.
"Not for another year mother," Persephone shook her head. Gods that would have been so handy…how many lives could have been saved if I'd had that.
Leaning over the rail of the pier, Hades watched as the kids continued to run along the docks. Unless they're incredibly short for their age, they'd be around Mal's age, he thought. I wonder if Maleficent has finally allowed her to walk around the Isle unaccompanied now or if she's still trying to pass off the facade of a devoted mother.
"Who are the kids?" Harry asked, trying to think if he remembered any kids running around the dock at that time.
"Idiot, they're us," Uma scoffed. "We always ran around the docks when we were kids."
"Lord Hades didn't give any indication that they could be us!"
"What other kids would be running around the docks closest to your father's shop?"
Mal though snorted at the idea that Maleficent would ever be a devoted mother.
His mind wandered briefly from his daughter to Auradon and the population boom they'd had over the last five years. Persephone was quick to inform him whenever a royal gave birth.
"Honestly we had nothing better to do," Hades shrugged as Poseidon looked at him as if to ask why.
Rapunzel had given birth to another daughter and a son bringing her total to six kids,
"How do you do it?" Cinderella asked, looking at Rapunzel.
Rapunzel chuckled. "Sometimes I ask myself the same question Ella. It helps that they get along most of the time."
Ariel had given birth to another child,
"Another child, what was my gender to be kept a mystery?" Melody snorted in amusement.
Cinderella had birthed two daughters much to Lady Tremaine's annoyance,
"Three daughters you mean," Alexandria chimed in as Cinderella sighed softly at hearing how her step-mother had been annoyed at the birth of her daughters.
"What do you mean Alex?" Kitty asked.
"This was five years from when Mal was kidnapped right?" Alexandria asked. At her sister's nod, she continued, "so mom had three daughters in that time frame. You and Lu were two years after Chad and then I was two years after you. That's still within the five year time frame."
Jasmine had given birth to a daughter
Ashaki chuckled as Jasmine gently kissed the top of her head, holding her daughter close to her.
and Aurora had given birth to a son.
"Not that Grandmother even acknowledges that fact," Phillip Jr. muttered under his breath but smiled as his father wrapped his arms over his shoulder in a small side hug.
That last announcement had particularly ticked off Maleficent from what Hades could see in the ember, though she thankfully did not take her anger out on Mal but rather on her goblin minions.
Phillip Jr. sighed a little in relief. He knew he had no control over Maleficent's actions but he was still glad his birth hadn't caused more pain to Mal.
If she could have found a way to do so, though, Hades was sure that his ex-wife would have.
There hadn't been an inspector out here for years,
Uma paused and looked over at Belle, unsure if she should read aloud the next part. Oh sure, she didn't really care about the feelings of the royals who saw fit to imprison children on their prison island and not even bother to give them decent food but she also knew how emotional those prissy Auradonians could be.
"What's wrong?" Mal muttered, leaning close to her cousin and Uma pointed to the next bit. "Oh. Well…I'm sure everyone already knows about it. I mean if Dad—."
"Uncle Hades is the God of the Dead, Mal. He'd know about a miscarriage." Uma said, keeping her tone as low as possible.
"Will you hurry it up!" Leah snapped, cutting off whatever Mal was going to say. "Honestly if we're here for much longer, we might return to our kingdoms overrun!"
"And here I thought it impossible to hate someone more than I hate the Dragon," Mal muttered as Uma shook her head and resumed reading.
not since the announcement of Queen Belle's second pregnancy three years ago. It lasted six months and the kingdom had been preparing for the birth of their new princess before it was announced that the Queen had miscarried.
Tears prickled in the corner of Belle's eyes at the reminder of her daughter. Of the pregnancy she'd lost. She could still remember that day like it had been yesterday.
"Who does that woman think she is? Wanting to put Ben in a betrothal contract?!" Belle exclaimed as she paced the floor of her bedroom in her castle. Well paced as well as her six month pregnant body allowed her to. "He's three! I will not sell my son like he's some prized horse to be sired! He'll find love in his own time…"
She trailed off as her stomach clenched, pain racking through her body like she had never known before. Not even going into labor with Ben had been this bad. Her hands flew to her stomach as her face lost all color. "Adam!"
Beast came running into their room, rushing to Belle's side. "Lumiere, call a limo now! And have Mrs. Potts watch Ben!"
"Right away sire!" Lumiere called.
"Adam, what's happening?! It's…it's too early!" Belle cried, tears welling in her eyes from both fear and pain.
"It's okay Belle. We'll get you to the hospital, the doctors will try to figure out what's going on," Beast said softly, trying to sooth her.
Belle nodded as Beast picked her up, almost in a bridal pose so they could make it to the limo faster. No, no, no! Abigail! Abby, don't you leave me, she thought as tears streamed down her face.
She was smart enough and had read enough books during her pregnancy with Ben to know that there were only two reasons why she'd be having pain now. She was either in very early labor or she was…
No, I am not going to think like that, she thought as they climbed into the limo and Beast gave the order for the driver to go. We are going to get to the hospital, the doctors will fix what's going on and then I'll have Abby in my arms in a few months. I…I can't lose her! Please, whatever God is listening, please don't let me lose my daughter!
She whimpered as a spasm of pain rocked her body and her hand flew to her stomach once more, the other one held by Beast as the limo sped off to the hospital. "Adam…what if we lose her?"
"We won't Belle. Both her and you are going to be just fine," Beast said gently. "Just focus on relaxing right now. We're almost there."
Belle nodded once more and tried to relax but couldn't as another spasm of pain racked her body. The next few hours were a blur to her as she was rushed into the hospital, people talking over each other so quickly she could only make out a few words. The ones she could make out weren't words that lent themselves well to comfort. Beast tried to stay with her as much as possible, only leaving if he needed to according to the doctors.
Finally Dr. Sweet came into the room. "Your majesties," he said softly, standing at the end of Belle's hospital bed with a sad look in his eyes. "I'm so sorry…we did everything we could but I'm afraid…"
Belle sobbed into Beast's shoulder. He didn't need to say anymore. She knew it.
"I'll give you two time alone," Dr. Sweet said. "Please let me know if you need anything."
"Is…Is Belle alright? Physically at least?" Beast asked, his voice no higher than a whisper as it broke.
Dr. Sweet paused. "Her majesty will be in some pain for a few days while her body recovers. I…I don't want to say anything definitively but unfortunately your majesties…"
"What? You can say it," Belle said, sounding almost broken.
"Your majesties, I'm afraid from what I've seen…Prince Ben may be your only child after this," Dr. Sweet stated. "Her majesty sustained some…damage that…"
"I understand," Belle whispered. "Thank…thank you."
"You're welcome your highness…I just wish I had better news. I'll leave you two alone now. Let me know if you need anything."
At their nods, Dr. Sweet turned and left. As the door shut, Belle sobbed once more. Beast quickly wrapped his arms around her.
"It's not your fault," he said softly.
"I was stressing over that damn contract Leah wanted, how is it not my fault?" Belle whimpered, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so…so sorry Adam. Our daughter…and now I can't even give you more than one child!"
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Beast said, gently rubbing her back. "Belle, this wasn't your fault. Royal life alone is stressful but you were ruling the kingdom and raising Ben. Plus Leah was pressuring us with the contract. It was just…"
"It's all my fault," Belle said, choking out a sob. "Adam, I should have delegated more. You wanted me on bed rest after all! I could have sent someone else to talk with Leah. Gods I hate that woman!"
"You okay?" Beast whispered.
"Just…just remembering that day," Belle whispered back.
Beast nodded, gently rubbing Belle's back as he had all those years ago. And just as before, he was telling himself that he could break when he was alone. That Ben didn't need to see him like that. That he just had a month to go as King and then…and then he could fall apart. Never mind that every time he thought about his daughter, it was like losing his mother all over again. They were to share the same name after all…
Ben frowned slightly as he thought about the sister he never got to know. Akiho and Emir gently resting their hands on his shoulders.
While Beastie would never be Hades' favorite person, Belle at least tried to champion change for the Isle when it was first created. At least, that's what Persephone had heard. Now though, Belle seemed more preoccupied with protecting her sole child and heir to the throne rather than continue the changes she sought to make.
Mal bit her lip and sighed as she looked over at Belle and Beast. "I…I know it won't mean much coming from me but….my condolences," she said. Even if those two were the reason she and her brother were trapped on the Isle…no one should go through that pain.
Hadie nodded in agreement, neither Godling noticing the proud yet sad smiles on their parents faces.
"Thank…thank you Mal, Hadie," Belle said, her voice soft and Beast nodded.
Not that Hades could blame her for being distracted. He still found it hard to do his job and Mal was still alive. He couldn't imagine what losing a child would be like, and he ran the Underworld.
Hades shook his head. How in the world did he ever think he could compare the two? At least Mal was still alive…he could at least see her through the ember back then.
It had been tempting, for a minute, to have Steph send a condolence card when the news broke but Hades knew that would only put a potential target on Mal. The people of Auradon would wonder why Hades was sending a condolence card and the residents of the Isle would wonder if Hades had gone soft and try to find out why.
"I thought you'd think that," Persephone sighed. "Which was why I didn't sign your name on the card I sent them. I debated about it but I thought you wouldn't want me to."
"You know me so well," Hades told her.
Zeus was not the only one to look at Hades in shock. Beast also looked at Hades in surprised amazement at hearing that.
"Thank you, Lord Hades," Belle said, her voice soft but Hades could hear the gratitude.
"Steph told me that you were the one who spearheaded any positive changes we had on the Isle," Hades told her. "And even if you weren't, the one thing I hate is seeing the souls of babies and children come to me to be judged. They didn't get a chance to fully live to earn a judgement. If…if it's any comfort, you should know that Abigail is in Elysium."
"I'd…"
"Beastie, are you seriously going to say I'd subject a baby to Tartarus?"
"She was my daughter."
"She did not commit your crimes. She did not deserve to be sent to Tartarus."
It was a potential lose-lose either way.
"The thought is still appreciated though Lord Hades," Ben said.
"Ah Hades," Hook exclaimed as Hades walked into the pirate's shop. "What can I help you with?"
"Well he wants to know the price of tea in China. Why do you think he's there Hook?" Mal growled slightly. She would never forgive the Captain for how he treated Harry and she knew Uma felt the same.
"What do you think?" Hades asked with an eye roll. "It's Tuesday isn't it?"
Normally he'd have Pain or Panic pick up the supplies, or even Panic's son Virgil since the boy was now eight and able to be trusted with simple errands, but Hades wanted to use this rare opportunity to see if Maleficent had allowed Mal the ability to roam the Isle without her.
"Just because the Dragon didn't allow it didn't mean I didn't do it," Mal smirked. "How else would I meet up with Uma and Harry?"
So far, he hadn't seen any sign of his daughter but that didn't mean that wouldn't change.
"And change it did," Hades chuckled.
"Of course," Hook said running his lone hand through his short black hair. "We'd just grown so used to seeing your henchminions that we had not expected the honor of seeing you."
"Henchminions isn't a word…" Ben said, sounding almost as if the word pained him to say.
"I guess 'henchimps' would be better," Mal nodded.
"That's not a word either!"
Mal chuckled. She didn't know why but she enjoyed getting a rise out of the Crown Prince.
"No one likes a kiss up, Hook," Hades told him. "Except for Gaston. That man's ego understands nothing but flattery."
"Just one good knock to the ego, would that be too much to ask for Coach Gaston?" Jay muttered.
"He's a coach?"
"Someone allowed him to be around children?"
"To answer your questions: yes he is a coach and he has kids. Why wouldn't he be around them?" Mal said with a shrug as she looked at Belle and Beast.
Hook snorted in amusement before looking over his shoulder. "Harriet, lass, come here!"
A young girl about maybe eight or nine walked out from the back and came up to the counter. "Yes, Captain?"
"She calls her father 'Captain'?" Aurora asked.
"Typical Isle child, no respect for her—."
"She calls him 'Captain' because that's what we're told to call him once he deems us old enough to talk 'properly'," Harry snapped. Sure he was revealing a bit more than he wanted to but he wasn't going to have Leah or anyone else demean Harriet!
"Go and get the order for Lord Hades. It should be in its usual place. Your brother was supposed to ensure it was there before he ran out to the docks."
"And I did," Harry muttered.
Harriet nodded and left to go to the back room. Hades raised an eyebrow.
"You gave me grief last year for running a restaurant yet you run a fish market? What happened to the pirate way?"
"I'm sure the pirate way's hard to do when he's trapped on an Isle. Not that that's necessarily a bad thing," Melody muttered. She was fine with Harry but…she wasn't crazy about pirates. Not when they killed her grandmother.
"It's hard to ravage the seas and pillage villages when you're trapped under a barrier," Hook shot back but Hades found he didn't mind. Hook was tolerable as far as the Isle Villains went. "Plus fishing keeps the boy out of trouble."
"Even if it's the most boring thing known to man," Harry shook his head. "I'd rather be sparring."
"With Uma?" Mal asked.
"Of course," Harry grinned, not noticing the teasing tone in Mal's voice.
Hades opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by Harriet's reappearance, holding the order of fish. "Captain, CJ threw up," the young girl said. "I don't think she liked her dinner last night."
"Oh no!" Snow White gasped. "The poor dear."
"Was she alright?" Aurora asked, looking at Harry.
Harry shrugged. "I was five at the time. I don't really remember."
"Well it's all the brat will get. It's all we were able to get from the delivery this month," Hook snapped, turning to his eldest child.
Harry frowned slightly. He called the runt a brat? I thought she was his favorite. Maybe it's just a show for Lord Hades. No weakness allowed on the Isle after all.
"He runs a fish shop and yet he's reliant on the delivery barge?" Uma scoffed.
"Hard to make money if you're eating your wares," Mal pointed out.
"She's three!" Harriet exclaimed, as if unable to prevent the outrage from spilling out. "She can't control it!"
"Go wait in the back," Hook said, his eyes darkening ominously. Harriet glared but obeyed her father.
Harry's hands curled into fists, one tightening his grip on his hook. It was one thing to be used as the Captain's personal punching bag but he'd better not have laid hand or hook on his sister!
"Everything okay?" Hades asked, not that he cared.
That'll change in a few years dad, Mal thought with a small smile as she thought back to when they were nine. To when her dad offered Harry a job at his restaurant just because he wanted to keep her safe…how he offered up the spare guest room to Harry so his ribs could heal…
The pirate was notorious for his hatred of children which made it surprising he had sired three of them.
"Nothing I can't handle," Hook told him, holding Hades' order; the handles of the bag dangling in his hook. "The same deal, I take it?"
"Hades and his deals," Zeus muttered.
"You and your allies eat free at the restaurant," Hades nodded. "I don't go back on my deals, Hook."
"And I'd like everyone here to remember that!" Hades stated, giving his nephew a hard look. Hercules, at the very least, had the decency to look sheepish: he was more than likely remembering the deal he had made with his uncle. A deal he'd failed to keep.
You like making deals…keep me in Meg's place…
"I'm sorry, restaurant?" Hyllus asked.
"Dad, you're not allowed to close that restaurant by the way," Mal said, ignoring Hyllus' question. "It's been a lifesaver."
"Well seeing as it was that restaurant that allowed me to have time with you before you came to live in the Underworld again Mali, I'm never closing it unless I have to," Hades nodded.
Hook nodded and Hades grabbed the bag of ingredients—mainly fish since that was the freshest thing they could find on the Isle. Beast can prevent edible food from arriving from Auradon but he can't control the sea, Hades thought as he left. That's Poseidon's territory and Ursula's his little girl. Poseidon would make sure his daughter and granddaughter at least got something to eat and if the rest of us benefit from that, well he doesn't need to know.
"Did you know? About the food?" Hades asked Poseidon.
"I had an idea but I didn't know it was as bad as what we've learned," Poseidon stated. "I got a message once from Uma through the mental link…though I don't think she meant to."
"I definitely did not mean to," Uma nodded.
"Anyway, she had asked for something fresh to eat since her birthday was coming up and I sent over a school of fish."
"Huh," Mal mused. "That does explain why there's a bunch more fish around your birthday cuz."
As he walked back onto the pier, Hades couldn't help but smile softly at the sight of the children still running around on the docks. Busy in their own little world, not worried about where their next meal would come from or if the shipments would be fresh enough to eat.
"Not true," Uma shook her head. "We may have been five but…we were old enough to know the food status at least."
"Innocence is the first thing to die on the Isle after all," Mal shrugged, unknowingly giving all the Auradonians (well all those who cared) a punch to the gut.
Looking closer, Hades could tell that the group consisted of a boy and two girls. It wasn't unusual for the younger kids to intermingle; the boys tended to protect the girls if needed.
"Hey, girls don't always need guys to protect them!" Lonnie stated.
"Yeah, sometimes the guys need the girls," Kitty nodded with a grin.
Though considering the boy of this group just dumped water on one of the girls, Hades would assume that the boy would be the one needing protection.
"Harry Hook, you'll pay for that!" Hades heard the girl exclaim and his heart clenched, having heard that voice on the ember many times throughout the years. That was Mal.
"You poured water on Mal?" Hadie asked Harry.
"Sure did," Harry nodded.
"And you're still alive?"
"What are you going to do about it, dragon girl?" Harry teased as Mal chased him up the dock to where Hades was standing. Before Hades had time to move, he felt a small thud on the back of his legs, almost around his knees.
"Not going to lie, that was probably the funniest thing I'd ever seen," Uma chuckled. "Mal was just running full speed after Harry and then *thud*. Right into Uncle Hades' legs!"
"Hey watch it!" Mal's voice came from behind him and Hades had to school his features as he turned around. His heart sank as he saw a bit of fear cross over his daughter's face before she was able to school her features.
Dad? Mal said through their mental link.
Yeah Mali?
If I knew then what I know now…I probably should have hugged your leg and begged you to take me home with you rather than just say 'watch it'.
Mal, you were five and we were in public. I don't fault you for reacting the way you did. Even if it took all my willpower not to scoop you up and take you home myself.
"Forgive me Lord Hades, I wasn't watching where I was going," Mal said, looking at Hades in a respectful but defiant manner.
"So typical Mal then," Jay chuckled.
"Be more careful next time," Hades said, trying hard to keep his tone neutral even though every fiber in his body was screaming to snatch Mal up and take her home with him.
"I should have," Hades sighed.
"And Mal probably would have screamed bloody murder," Persephone told him.
Mal shrugged. "Or just kicked him in the shins. Everyone knows you don't make a scene after all and Harry and Uma were there too."
Hard to believe she's gotten so big,
"Have we changed the definition of big?" Uma snorted.
"You're not that much taller!" Mal exclaimed.
"Key word is taller cuz."
Hades thought as Mal got back up and proceeded to chase Harry down the pier once more; all thoughts of Hades completely driven out of her mind. The remaining girl shook her head in amusement as she strolled up to the pier and stopped next to Hades.
"To this day, I don't know why," Uma chuckled slightly at the actions of her younger self.
She seems familiar but I can't put my finger on it, Hades thought, looking at the girl out of the corner of his eye. She was small, though maybe an inch taller than Mal, with her bright blue hair tied up in braids.
"Uma!" Celia grinned.
"Hey Uncle Hades," she said in a low tone, as if to not be overheard. Hades knew who this girl was now. He had seen glimpses of her in passing when Hades would walk along the streets of the Isle, plus the one time he saw her as a baby when Persephone insisted he visit Ursula back when they still had Mal. That was the only visit Hades had paid his niece in the nine years they'd been on the Isle and it would continue to be that way if Hades had any say in the matter.
"And it did, I think that was the only time I saw Ursula was when I went to see you when you were a guppy," Hades told Uma.
"…you wouldn't happen to have any photos?" Poseidon asked. He had so many baby photos of Attina, Andrina, Adella, Alana, Arista, Aquata, and Ariel from Triton and Elle and Melody from Ariel, Arabella from Alana, and Jaime from Andrina but he didn't have any of Uma.
"It's the Isle Poseidon," Hades said, looking almost regretful but it might have been a trick of the light. "The only photos I have are what Steph takes."
"Uma," Hades said, nodding his head at his great niece. Uma didn't stick around long, running after Mal and Harry. Hades couldn't help but smirk as Uma barked out an order that Mal seemed to ignore—the little squidling was going to be an interesting companion for Mal.
"Companion…co-captain," Uma grinned, moving her hands up and down as if they were scales.
"You also forgot cousin!" Mal said with a smile.
I wonder how they got to know each other, Hades thought as he turned to leave. After all, I don't see Ursula becoming friendly with Maleficent. The whole fire and water thing doesn't really work out all that well.
Still it was good to know that Mal would have allies if she needed them. It'd be a good way to keep her away from Maleficent as much as possible.
"How did you guys wind up allies?" Jay asked. "You were such a tight knit group when I joined that I never asked.
Mal chuckled. "Thank the Dragon actually."
"…Explain."
"Gladly," Mal smirked. Being a Godling and still keeping a bit of her Fae magic even after the adoption, she had a better memory than most. "I met Uma when I was three and the Dragon went over to Ursula's Chip Shoppe to try to recruit her as a minion."
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure Ursula turned that down," Jay snorted.
"You'd be correct," Mal nodded. "But I saw Uma then so a couple of days later, I grabbed a bit of food and made my way to the docks. Coincidently that was when I met Harry too."
"We had a parley right then and there," Uma nodded. "I mean, I had access to food through mama's restaurant but what VK turns down more food? Especially the quality of food Maleficent can get?"
"After a couple of years, it basically became an alliance of 'I provide protection, Mal provides food,' before morphing into what it is now," Harry shrugged.
"Boy!" Hook shouted from the doorway of his shop. He must have been watching from a back window. "Come here!"
"Doesn't he know your name?" Emir asked with a slight frown.
Harry shrugged. "It's the Captain, I've stopped trying to figure out his mind."
"Coming papa!" Harry called back and Hades watched with a heavy heart as the young male Hook came running from the end of the pier. Hades knew he would give anything to have Mal call him 'papa' or any other name she wanted.
"I started off calling you 'father'," Mal chuckled. "That lasted for a day I think before I switched to 'dad'."
Hook grabbed Harry's wrist with his hand. "What do you think you're doing, roughhousing with Maleficent's daughter?" Hook hissed.
Harry subtly rubbed his wrist. He could still remember that day, the Captain's grip was so tight Harry was afraid he'd break his wrist.
"We..we were just having a bit of fun, papa!"
Belle frowned slightly. It was hard to tell since it was being read but was there a bit of fear in the younger boy's tone?
"Do you want the dragon to come down on us?" Hook growled. "Besting Maleficent's daughter in a fight is like besting Maleficent. Do you understand?"
Harry nodded, a little frantically in Hades' opinion but he wasn't going to judge a five year old for being afraid of Maleficent.
I wasn't afraid of the Dragon…I was more afraid of the Captain, Harry thought with an inward sigh. He wasn't going to lie though, he was thankful for Lord Hades thinking it was because of Maleficent. Made him look less weak.
Now Hook, Hades was going to judge until the cows came home.
She's completely powerless, with the exception of making her eyes glow green. She can't do anything to you, you worthless codfish, Hades thought with an inward eye roll.
"Don't start singing. You know Harry hates that song," Mal warned, looking at Jay.
"Wasn't going to Mal," Jay promised. But I can think it! Hook is a codfish, a codfish, a codfish!
"Don't make me hit you," Harry muttered, seeing the look on Jay's face. He had a sinking feeling he knew what Jay was thinking about.
"Directed to the Captain Harry, directed to the Captain."
"Now go!" Hook barked, releasing the boy's wrist. "Make yourself useful and get some more fish."
"How much fish does one man need?" Audrey rolled her eyes.
"…he runs a fish shop," Phillip Jr. said, looking at his sister in concerned amazement.
Harry nodded and ran off, presumably to get the fish but Hades didn't know nor did he particularly care. The boy was friendly with Mal, that's all Hades needed to know. In the distance, Hades could see Mal and Uma run off and he couldn't help but wonder what those two were up to.
Two villains left to their own devices is terrifying on its own. Two villains who happen to be cousins…well we should just hope the Isle remains standing, Hades thought as he turned to leave. He needed to get this fish to the restaurant so he could get started.
"Hey we kept the Isle standing!" Mal exclaimed.
"If only because we were five and our powers were muted because of the barrier," Uma added.
The restaurant wasn't too far from Pirate's Cove; located near Lady Tremaine's hair shop
"I'm sorry, who's hair shop?" Cinderella asked.
"Granny's hair shop," Dizzy said with a grin that faded slightly as she continued. "All she lets me do is sweep though."
"You work there? But you're what? Eight? Nine?" Chad asked.
"Better than the alternative," Dizzy shrugged.
"Who told her about the alternative?" Mal muttered to Uma. Part of having someone under their protection was making sure to keep the innocence alive for the younger kids.
"Dunno but I'll find out Mal," Uma muttered back.
in the neutral ground. It was one of the few places villains from every clique could come and grab a bite of actually edible food. It was all Persephone's idea. Hades just cooked the food.
"You cook?" Zeus asked.
"Don't sound so surprised Zeus," Hades rolled his eyes.
He didn't use to know how to cook. Why would he need to? He was a God after all, there would be others who could do that for him. Even after getting tossed on the Isle, Hades hadn't bothered to learn; instead using his status as a God to get as close to first dibs on the monthly deliveries as he could get.
"And that was pretty darn close I'll have to say. Considering most of the underlings were terrified of me," Hades smirked, making sure he watched his language for the younger ears in the room.
It wasn't until he had Mal and she had been living with him that Hades finally bothered to learn, back when he thought that Mal would be living with him for all time. Mal, only being half god, would need more in the way of food than Hades or Persephone would.
A parent would do anything for their child, even learn a new skill, Kit nodded. It was why he tried to learn at least one 'non royal' skill each year. So that way he could teach his kids and they'd be able to have that knowledge should they need it.
Plus…his wife hadn't been royal and was trying so hard to learn the ins and outs of royal life even now. It was the least he could do to make sure she was comfortable.
It was odd but Hades found he did enjoy it. His main job would forever be running the Underworld but cooking was a nice little side project.
And the restaurant's less depressing, Hades thought to himself.
Heating up the fryer, Hades began working on the bakaliaros—one of the few dishes he could make with what was available on the Isle. Sure it would end up competing with Ursula's fried fish over at her chip shoppe since it was a fried fish dish but Hades didn't care.
"Dad, is there anything you do care about?" Mal chuckled.
"You, your brother, and your mother," Hades said instantly.
He didn't need money. The restaurant was Persephone's way of giving back to the Isle.
"I could be doing so much more," Persephone sighed.
"You've done more than anyone could ask of you," Hades said softly.
"Yeah mom," Mal nodded. "That formula was a lifesaver. Literally. And the food you've brought over, the pain meds, the first aid kits…"
"I…children were suffering. I couldn't just stand by," Persephone sighed. "Not when I had access to Auradon. I'm just sorry for the kids who suffered when I was off the Isle."
The only thing Hades cared about was being able to see his daughter—and if the restaurant gave him the chance to do so, he'd not say a negative thing about it.
"And he's kept that promise by the way," Persephone smiled.
"Spoilers, Steph," Hades teased.
Gods I'd love to find a way to get some chicken over here, Hades thought as he cleaned the fish.
"Well it'll be a while but we'll handle that for you Lord Hades," Jay said with a smirk.
"Yeah yeah," Harry shook his head. "He steals one chicken and he thinks he's the best."
"Seeing as you were eating pavement whenever you tried?"
"Who told you…Mal?!"
Some souvlaki would be great to make but chicken is rarer than gold in these parts. There's no way I'd trust any chicken Auradon sent over anyway. Not if it meant Mal could get sick.
Estelle perked up his head at the mention of chicken.
"Sorry boy, none here," Mal chuckled as Estelle whined slightly.
"Does he like to eat chicken?" Ben asked.
"He likes to help Jay catch chicken," Mal stated with a smirk as the AKs looked slightly shocked.
Quickly battering the fish, Hades went and flipped the sign from closed to open on the front door. Not that it mattered, people came in all the time. Hades could argue that he wasted his money on that closed sign, if he had actually paid for it.
"I don't even want to know why you lot threw out a closed sign," Hades shook his head.
Now all he had to do was wait for people to show up. Hades didn't care. He had seen his daughter in person for the first time in five years. He could wait as long as he needed.
"Well that…was a very packed chapter," Uma stated.
"I'd read but I think it might get caught on my hook," Harry stated.
Elle raised her hand. "Can I read next?"
"Sure. Don't see why not," Mal shrugged.