Chapter Sixteen

A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is owned by either Disney or the Greek Myths.

You know I'm beginning to think my brain is secretly connected to my keyboard? Because I've been cranking out the updates lately! I'm just worried I'm about to hit that wall and that's the last thing I want!

As always, thank you all so much for your reviews! I love seeing your thoughts on the story and your support!

Urmimala Hazra: Ah he would, but unfortunately Ben is a workaholic. Glad you liked the chapter and the addition of Naveen!

Katt Kiki: I'm so glad you liked it!

Wrighting'GIRL3000: I'm so glad you like it!

midnight rose112358: I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yeah the Bal talk was a bit too short but I love them too! Well that's because that's how Naveen is! They should—especially Tiana.

darkpegasuzz: I'm going to let the scrolls go as far as people want to read!

Marcus Emrys: Glad you liked it! Yeah, Minos is all kinds of messed up there—considering the Minotaur is his wife's kid technically?

shortanamx: Glad you liked the chapter!

Guest: Well now I need to go re-listen to God Help the Outcasts…but yeah I'm curious myself for that!

danifan3000: Yeah I don't think Mal would want to be a tree—and I may have mistyped there. The only Gods in attendance are the ones who've spoken. But I can always bring others in later on!

Dance love 2007: Thank you so much! Yeah Uma and Mal are so much fun to write (whether as enemies or as cousins!)

Guest: Thank you so much! I can definitely see about adding some new readers each break chapter!

AmethystDragon14: Yay! And yeah, Mal should give Ben a chance—but you know she will! Otherwise later chapters will get very awkward! :D

billyandkimfan1994: Yeah, it's definitely not going to go well for Leah once Ben gets that security footage!

Anonymous Reader: I'm so glad! :D I don't think anyone would complain about Leah's death, except maybe Leah! Well I mean, in Poseidon's defense, he did send fish to the Isle.

Fangirlnerd001: I'm so glad you liked it!

twilightgirl587: I can definitely see about having them find out it was Leah! It definitely does not make you aa bad person that you love that the girls are going hard on the guys! Now, even though I'm sure you already have…go to bed!

jedblack1997: Yep, I'm going to be including the sequels in this story as well—and al those punishments are really good! Ooh, I like that idea, of replacing the judges!

Guest: I don't know if I'd say I'm afraid so much as excited to write that reaction!

MTT: Oh I love the idea of Tadashi being one of the judges for the souls of the Underworld! Granted, I just love Tadashi really!

Roxas Itsuka: Yep! Leah's done for regardless though, since it'll come out one way or another. Yeah Ben is pretty much the only one to want to give the VKs a chance but at the same time, Mal's not exactly buddy buddy with the son of the people who're the reason why she was on the Isle anyway.

lilyflower101: So do I! :D

Hope you all like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D

Tiana sighed and unfurled a scroll that had been handed to her by one of the kids. She didn't know what was going on but she hoped to get to the bottom of it.

The father and daughter quickly made their way through the streets of the Isle toward the Underworld. Hades tried to make sure he kept his pace to one that Mal could match without seeming like he was slowing down for her.

Esmeralda couldn't help but smile at that, picturing Phoebus doing the same with Zephyr.

"Good, nobody's cooing," she heard Hades mutter.

"Give it time dad, give it time," the girl next to him told him. Esmeralda had to assume she was Mal.

Thankfully, the streets were empty wherever they went. Whether that was because someone had spread the word that Hades was coming or if it was because they were worried about upsetting Maleficent, Hades didn't know. Nor did he particularly care. As long as they didn't impede him from getting Mal to the Underworld, they could go dress in drag and do the hula for all Hades cared.

Almost all the kids stopped and turned to look at Hades.

"Yes?" Hades asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Dad, did you have to put that image in our heads?" Mal asked, shuddering in disgust!

"Yeah Uncle Hades! I never want to imagine Gaston doing that!" Uma nodded.

Harry shook his head. "At least Gaston would be pleasant to look at in a strange way. Imagine Yzma doing it."

"I'm…I'm pretty sure that's not drag then—."

"Hush Benji, just be horrified like the rest of us," Chip told Ben who was looking a little confused.

"…is brain bleach a thing?" Emir asked, his voice soft from horror.

"And if it's not can we make it a thing?" Ashaki asked, her voice just as soft as her brother's.

Though now the image of Hook and Gaston potentially doing that was seared into Hades' brain…it was a good thing Gaston thought himself too manly to actually do that or Hades would have to kill him. The God would have no choice in the matter.

"We'll help!"

"Oh Gods, why did you have to mention the Captain in the drag too?!" Harry exclaimed as he pressed one of his hands into his eyes as if to block out the image.

Should I be worried that Mal's so quiet? Hades thought about halfway through their trek. Mal had been keeping pace with him quite nicely but she had been quiet. Maybe she's worried about slipping up? Saying something that someone else might hear? I mean, I want her to be proud to be my daughter. I just don't want the potential target on her back. She's already got one simply by being Maleficent's daughter, she doesn't need another one.

Though I'd love it if Maleficent came after me for this. Give me the chance to give her a piece of my mind about how she's been treating my daughter.

"I'd be happy to help Lord Hades. I've even got a sword you can use if you feel that your powers are too dampened by the barrier!"

"You. I like you. I may have already said it but it bares repeating," Hades nodded. "Come talk to me in the next break, we'll figure out a way to use that sword."

Phillip Sr. grinned and Aurora sighed, an amused smile pulling at her lips.

Hades let out a soft sigh. There was no way Maleficent would actually confront Hades about this. She would never actually do her own dirty work. That was left for her goblin minions after all.

"They can deal with my sword too! I still owe them one for tying me up!"

Though, the poor souls who crossed her last just opened up a coffee shop. Cause that's what people want—coffee made out of the junk Auradon sends us. Who in their right mind wants curds in their coffee? Because that's what people would get if they put in the month old milk we're lucky to get.

"I'm sorry? Month old milk?" Tiana asked, looking from the scroll in shock.

"Yeah apparently the Isle's getting our garbage instead of actual food," Eugene told her, barely hidden rage flashing in his eyes.

"But we're going to figure it out," Ben said, speaking up. "We're looking to see if we can get the footage from the docks to figure out exactly what's going on with the deliveries."

"Good," Tiana nodded.

Esmeralda sat in silence, stunned to her very core. Paris had been one thing, she had assumed that was just because of Frollo and even then people had still fought to keep her safe and defeat Frollo. But to hear that all of Auradon had apparently been content to sit by, not bothering to check on the Isle?

It's only because of Phoebus that we have the registry, so that the kids wouldn't be labeled and judged for who their parents are, so we could get them help if they needed it, she thought. But I guess that was just a dream.

That formula Steph had brought over back when they had Mal had been a lifesaver for a lot of the kids Mal's age and younger. Since Steph had brought over a six month supply under the guise of helping the infants of the Isle, it wasn't doing much good just sitting in Hades' kitchen after Maleficent stole Mal from them.

"Those poor kids," Tiana softly, making a mental note to talk to Beast to set something up so that the Isle could have some better food. She'd make it herself if she had to!

Slowly yet surely, Persephone had made it available to the other new parents of the Isle. Some, like the Evil Queen, turned it down; claiming all the formula would do was make her daughter fat.

"Fat?! She's a baby!" Snow White exclaimed. "I can't believe this!"

Evie couldn't help but give her step sister a small smile as she heard her defense.

Others, like Gaston, turned it down as they considered it an insult that Persephone was implying they couldn't produce food for their kid.

"Well considering he only acknowledges three of the twelve, I'm pretty sure mom had the right idea," Mal muttered.

"Twelve kids?" Naveen asked and then turned to Tiana. "And you called me the playboy?"

Thank the Gods for Claudette and Milah, Hades thought as they continued to make their way to the Underworld. They at least accepted some of the formula for when Gaston foisted Gil off onto her so he could get drunk with LeFou and Hook. That way, Harry had something to eat too. I almost wish we had still had some of the formula when CJ was born but with Milah's death, there was no way Hook would have accepted it.

"Lady Steph must have had a stock pile of it though because the runt survived," Harry said softly. He'd never admit it out loud but he was thankful for that—he already lost his mother, he didn't want to lose another family member too.

There were a few parents, mainly the lower ranked villains, who were more willing to accept the formula. Though, since it obviously came from Auradon, they took some convincing that it was actually good to consume.

"I'm not surprised," Emma said, her voice soft.

"Villains aren't going to trust easily normally and then after years of dealing with the food we sent them…" Elle sighed.

Normally they'd be accused of being overly paranoid but one look at what the adults had to eat said otherwise.

Belle winced and sighed as there was no denying the fact that Lord Hades had a point there.

Sighing, Hades shook his head a little to clear it of such thoughts. He was about to re-introduce Mal to her step mother, last thing he needed was memories of Steph crying on the couch in the den because another infant died running through his head.

Tiana gasped softly and Naveen gently wrapped his arm over her shoulders, holding her close to him.

"Steph?" Hades called out as he entered the Underworld, Mal in tow.

"Steph?" Mal repeated softly, looking at Hades in confusion, but Hades didn't hear her.

"In the kitchen! Your dishes are going to take over the sink if they're not done soon!"

"How do you go through so many dishes when it was just you and Uncle Hades?" Uma asked.

"Pain and Panic," Persephone told her.

"That makes so much sense," Uma nodded.

Persephone shouted back but walked out to him. "Hades, I swear. What is the point of having minions if you don't…"

She trailed off upon seeing Mal standing next to him. Hades could see her eyes light up as she took in the sight of their daughter standing in front of her.

"You have no idea how much it took not to run up and scoop you in my arms," Persephone said softly.

"Mal, this is your step mother Persephone," Hades said gently, going to stand next to Persephone.

Mal gave a small smile. "It's nice to meet you Lady Stepho—I mean Perstephone. Er—"

"Aw!"

"'Persephone' is hard to say when you're five!" Mal exclaimed, glaring slightly at the cooing royals. I swear to all the Gods, I'm going to have a permanent blush by the time this is over, she thought as she felt the heat on her cheeks once more.

"Mal, sweetheart, you can just call me 'Steph'," Persephone said, giving Mal a kind smile.

And that's great, but when does she call you 'mom'? Demeter thought.

"Have you had lunch yet? I was just heating up some leftovers from your father's restaurant."

"That's a weird way to say doing dishes," Herkie said.

"If Mal wanted food, I'd get her some food," Persephone told him. "The dishes could wait."

Mal shrugged, hoping she didn't seem too eager for the food. "I can eat. If it's not too much trouble, I mean."

"If it was any trouble, I wouldn't have offered," Persephone said, gently taking her hand and leading her to the kitchen. Hades sighed with a small smile before ducking away; walking down the hall and opening the door to Mal's nursery for the first time since that faithful day.

Hades sighed. To this day, he hated thinking about that. About Mal crying in the clutches of the goblins and not being able to do anything about it.

Estelle walked over and put his heads on Hades' thigh, as if sensing he needed to be cheered up .

"Good boy," Hades whispered, scratching Estelle behind the ears.

It was exactly as he had left it all those years ago. Granted a little dustier than normal but Pain and Panic had kept to the orders not to touch anything. The crib was still on its side, the pillow strewn on the ground as if the goblins had tossed the room only an hour ago rather than five years ago.

This would be a good room for her, he thought as he ran a finger over the chest of drawers, looking disgusted at the dust buildup. I'd have to move the crib into storage for her to use if she has kids in the far, far, far off future.

"And what if she chooses not to have kids?" Mulan asked.

"Then I'll save it for Hadie's kids," Hades shrugged.

"And if he doesn't have them?"

"Donate them. I don't care as long as my kids are happy."

He shook his head and stopped. Wait, what am I thinking? Maleficent still has Mal regardless of her knowing about Steph and me. If I took Mal from her now, all Maleficent would have to do is file a complaint to Auradon. There may not have been any inspectors since Belle's failed pregnancy but knowing Maleficent, she'd find a way to get a report to Beastie.

"Not necessarily," Shang spoke up. "Someone like Maleficent wouldn't want anyone thinking her weak, even King Beast. So in all actually, all that would happen would be Mal would be in a state of tug of war between Lord Hades and Maleficent."

If Belle and Beast thought Mal might be in the crosshairs of a custody battle between the Isle's two biggest bads…no wait, there's no way Maleficent would actually admit to the royals of Auradon that Hades was Mal's father.

"Yeah that doesn't seem like something Maleficent would do, telling anyone she needed someone's help to create a child," Meg said dryly.

"…you make your point quite vividly," Phoebus stated, not wanting to think of Maleficent like that.

"So who wants to tell him Frollo's got two kids?" Uma muttered to Mal.

"Eh, one kid and one spawn of Satan," Mal corrected. "Claudine's decent for an Angel."

They'd probably just send in guards, take Mal, and give her back to Maleficent. And then find a way to punish me for wanting to live with my daughter. Maybe prevent me from seeing Steph, he thought bitterly.

"…How?" Persephone asked. "We have an actual agreement between my mother, Zeus, and King Beast. Unless King Beast wants a year long winter, no one's messing with that agreement."

"When's the last time you were in here?" Persephone's voice asked, bringing Hades out of his thoughts.

"Probably the last time we had the door open," Hades admitted, turning toward his wife. "It's hard to believe how big she's gotten."

"Again, just checking to see if we've changed the definition of 'big'?"

"Shut it Uma!"

"Never cuz!"

"Kids grow," Persephone said gently, walking toward him. "She's so small though. You weren't kidding when you told me that."

"Why would he joke about that?" Mal and Hadie asked, looking over at their mom.

Persephone shook her head. "So much like your father," she murmured.

Hades raised an eyebrow. "Why would I joke about that?"

"You know what I mean," Persephone sighed and Hades brought her into his arms, giving a light kiss to the top of her head. "I've got her set up with some of the fish from the restaurant and some milk I managed to bring from Auradon that I put in the fridge."

"That stuff's still good?"

"Do you really think I would have given Mal something that went bad?" Persephone asked as they left the room, closing the door behind them. "Mother gave me a cooler blessed to keep things fresh the last time I was on Olympus. She may not be pleased we're still together but she has been hinting at grandchildren so she's at least accepted the fact I'm not going to up and leave you."

Persephone sighed. That cooler would have been a life saver so many years ago. Thankfully she had it when she did and could transport perishables—like milk. She couldn't have too much but at least she could help the Isle a bit more.

"Could Lady Persephone leave Lord Hades?" Aziz asked. "I mean with their agreement, they'd be living together for six months anyway."

Hades coughed, slightly taken aback. "Did you tell her—?"

"No she did not! Had I known I would have helped!"

"Really?" Hades asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Hades, I might not have cared for you back then but I wouldn't have left my granddaughter in Maleficent's clutches," Demeter told him.

Alright Demeter, you get some points back, Mal thought.

"No Hades. I didn't. Mal may be our daughter but I won't tell people if you don't want me too," Persephone said as they entered the kitchen, Mal eagerly eating the food in front of her. Persephone stared sadly at Mal wolfing down the fish like someone would steal it from her if she ate at a normal pace.

"Mal, slow down," Hades said gently yet with a firm edge to his voice. "No one is going to take that from you. Not here."

"Habit's hard to break," Mal said with a shrug, unknowingly giving a punch to the gut to Belle, Beast, and Ben.

Already getting back into the swing of things, parental wise, Persephone thought with a small smile. She had wondered how Hades was going to handle the fact that he would have to be firm at times. Mal wasn't a baby anymore as much as Persephone wished that was possible. But the last thing Mal would want would be the two of them babying her. No kid on the Isle wanted that.

"You got that right!" Hadie spoke up.

"Still mad about being included in the 'under fifteen' rule?" Mal chuckled. "Sorry storm cloud, you're what? Eleven? Ryan and CJ at least have a reason since they're fourteen."

"Yes father," Mal said softly, pulling Persephone out of her thoughts, and slowed her pace a little. It was odd, hearing Hades referred to as 'father'. That was something normally used to refer to Zeus or sometimes Poseidon, though the two of them had grown used to their new title of 'grandfather'.

Zeus and Poseidon couldn't help but smile at the reminder of their titles, even if it was rather melancholy as it came with a reminder that Mal missed out of five years with her father.

Persephone couldn't help but wonder what Mal would have used if she had grown up with Hades as her parent.

Not daddy, no matter what I don't see Mal as a 'daddy' type of girl, Persephone thought. Maybe pateras? After all, Hades is the Greek God of the Dead. It would make sense for her to use the Greek word for father.

"Mom, I was lucky Maleficent taught me English. You really think she'd teach me Greek?" Mal asked.

"A Goddess can dream," Persephone said with a small sigh.

Honestly, with the French background of Maleficent and Aurora's story, Persephone was a little surprised that Mal hadn't chosen père to use to refer to Hades. Then again, Maleficent didn't strike Persephone as the type to teach much French other than possibly swear words or maybe even some spells. If she bothered to teach Mal anything at all.

"Do you want to learn French?" Ben asked, looking over at Mal. "I can teach you."

"You know French?" Mal asked, tilting her head.

Ben chuckled. "Mom and dad's old kingdom's in France. I am French. Why wouldn't I know it?"

"I dunno." Mal shrugged. "But I know a bit. Estelle's name for instance, it's French for 'star'."

"And it's still a million times better than 'Phoebus'," Phoebus spoke up with a chuckle.

"I'm done," Mal said softly.

"Did you get enough?" Persephone asked, going to clear the empty plate and glass. Mal looked a bit perplexed.

"I can do that," she said.

Chip sighed. No child should have to be perplexed at someone clearing their spot for them or offering to do the dishes. Not at five.

Persephone shook her head. "I was already up dear. Besides, I'm still waging war on those dishes in the sink. Pain and Panic really need to learn how to do them."

"I think we'd end up with more broken dishes that way than we'd know what to do with," Hades told her.

"Or I could get Virgil on it," Hades pointed out as he leaned on the doorframe. He would have offered to do it but the sight of Persephone and Mal together was one he didn't want to let go of. "He's eight after all, perfectly old enough to do a chore or two."

"Can…can you give someone else's kid chores?" Hercules asked.

Hades shrugged. "You can if that kid is the son of my minion."

Mal tilted her head. "I could do it," she said softly. Maleficent always stressed the importance of earning one's keep, or at least not being a pest so that the trash underneath didn't grow to resent you and try to overthrow you.

"…should I be more stunned that she told you that or that it's actually pretty good advice for the Isle?" Uma muttered to Mal.

"Why not both?" Mal muttered back.

If Steph and Hades…father were going to willingly give her some of their food, Mal was going to make sure she earned it.

Persephone sighed. We'd never do that to you Mal, she thought. None of you kids…you don't need to earn food!

"Oh Mal," Persephone gave a small, sad smile as she heard that. "You don't have to do that sweetheart. But if you wanted to help, or even stay here while I do it, I'd appreciate the company."

Mal nodded as she sat back a little in her chair. Hades frowned as he realized that, other than being friendly with Hook Jr and Uma, he didn't know much about what his daughter liked to do.

"Sparring!"

"Making smoke bombs!"

"Chasing people out of our territory!"

"Tagging!"

Hades chuckled. "You four know I know what Mal likes to do now right?"

"We just wanted to make sure Lord Hades," Harry grinned.

Then again, Maleficent doesn't seem like the type to encourage extracurriculars. At least not the type like art or anything that didn't seem 'evil', Hades thought as he watched Mal doodle a little with the condensation left on the table from the milk glass. He couldn't tell what it was supposed to be but it was very good for being a doodle in water.

"You're good," he said softly and Mal jumped a little, wiping the doodle away.

"You like art?" Ben asked.

"Maybe…why?" Mal said, narrowing her eyes slightly.

Ben shrugged. "Just making conversation," he said as he made a mental note to enroll Mal in the art class at Auradon Prep.

"It's nothing," she said quickly. Hades frowned but didn't comment; she had just found out that he was her father. The last thing Hades wanted to do was make Mal feel that they were moving too fast. Mal quickly scurried off her stool and went to go help Persephone, probably hoping that it would get Hades to forget about the doodle.

"We should get her to talk to Athena," Poseidon muttered to Demeter. "As the Goddess of Arts and Crafts, I'm sure Athena would love to talk to her. In fact why isn't she here?"

"Who knows how the Fates work?" Demeter told him. "You, me, Zeus, Hera, Hades, and Persephone are probably the only Gods here because of our connection to Mal in the scrolls."

Hades watched with a small smile as his two girls made short work of the dishes; Persephone earning some squeals from Mal as the goddess splashed her a little with the water. This was how their life should have been. Not for the first time since he left Maleficent did Hades curse the existence of that woman.

"Trust me Lord Hades, we've all cursed the existence of Maleficent at one point in our lives," Aladdin nodded.

"But…she's not your villain," Jay said.

"She's the Mistress of All Evil," Aladdin told him.

"Fair enough."

Gods, the only reason you took Mal back was for your own ego. You just couldn't handle the rumors spreading that I had stolen your child, Hades thought with an inward glare. You don't love Mal, Maleficent. To you, she's nothing more than a minion with your bloodline.

"How horrible," Jane said softly. Yes she knew she had big shoes to fill with being Fairy Godmother's daughter and sometimes she felt that pressure but…she knew her mother loved her.

Before Hades knew it, though, Mal was saying she had to leave.

"Are you sure?" Persephone asked. "You can always stay here."

"Yeah Maleficent probably wouldn't have been thrilled if she found out," Mal muttered.

Esmeralda heard that and her heart broke before glaring at Beast. "How is this justice? Letting children suffer for the crimes of their parents? That's not just—that's vengeance!"

Mal shook her head. "Mother will be looking for me," she said softly. Hades didn't even need to look at Persephone to know that was a lie. "Besides, I should leave before it gets too dark."

"Oh that's right! Had we made our alliance with the hyenas yet?" Uma asked.

"I think that happened maybe a week later?" Mal told her. "It's a little hazy though."

Hades sighed but nodded. She had a point there; the older gangs liked to roam the streets at night and most of them wouldn't think twice at the chance to get one over on Maleficent. Even if that meant hurting Mal.

"They'd have to go through me to do so!" Uma and Jay said at the same time, Harry nodding in agreement.

"You know you're welcome here anytime," Persephone said as they walked Mal to the door. "Day, night, rain or shine."

"Oh Gods, my Auradon side was showing right then," Persephone sighed. After all, there was no shine on the Isle.

Hades knelt down to Mal's level as Mal opened her mouth. "You're my daughter. I know your…mother may have told you things about me but I'm sure you've learned that she's not the most honest of creatures. You need anything, I'll be there."

"That I believe is an understatement Lord Hades," Rose spoke up.

"I need to make a list of who I've said I like and who I haven't yet," Hades shook his head. "But just to cover my bases, I like you."

"So my kid gets liked but I don't?" Eugene asked.

"Got that right."

"Oh come on!"

"What's the catch?" Mal asked.

"No catch," Hades told her. "I don't make deals with my daughter."

"We have an alliance though—"

"An alliance is more of an all the time thing, a deal is really a one and done," Elle said. "Our kingdom has an alliance with Corona, my mother made a deal with Ursula."

"Huh," Mal said. "Five year old me would have appreciated that."

"An alliance is not a deal," Hades told her. "Well I mean, it kind of is in that we shook on it but at the same time it's not since you're getting the better end of the deal there."

"Rambling dear," Persephone told him. "Besides, you're getting into semantics at this point."

"Semantics that I'm sure the five year old did not care about," Evan pointed out.

Mal tilted her head. "Would I still be your errand rat?"

"Do you want to be?" Hades asked.

Mal shrugged. "It's kinda cool, being Lord Hades' errand rat," she said. "Even if only Harriet knows it."

Hades couldn't help but smile a little at that, knowing that his daughter thought it was cool being connected to him.

"Appreciate that feeling Hades. It won't last," Meg chuckled.

"Well then, you can still be my errand rat. And your gang still gets free food at the restaurant, that part of the alliance is still going."

"Good!"

"I mean I don't charge the kids of the Isle anyway," Hades pointed out.

"Doesn't matter," Mal chuckled. "To those three, all that matters is the fact that they have access to your food dad."

"Good," Mal grinned as she turned to leave. Hades sighed as the door to the Underworld clang shut and Persephone turned toward him.

"I'm taking her with me," she said and Hades stared. He hadn't expected that.

"…what?!"

"Oh there's your mother's outrage. I thought it had been too quiet around here," Phillip Sr. muttered to Aurora.

Persephone raised an eyebrow. "I want to take a child off the Isle. I don't think it's that hard of a concept Queen Leah."

"She's a villain! She deserves the Isle just as much as—."

"What crime?"

Leah paused and looked at Persephone. "I beg your pardon?"

"What crime did Mal commit? You call her a villain, state her crime," Persephone said firmly. After a few minutes with no response from Leah, Persephone shook her head. "You can't, can you? Because to people like you, Mal and the other kids of the Isle only have one crime. Being born."

"What?"

"The next time I go to Auradon. She's coming with me Hades," Persephone elaborated, walking back to the kitchen. "Look at her! She deserves so much more than how Maleficent treats her!"

"All the kids deserved—."

"Uh mom? All the kids?" Mal asked.

Persephone shook her head. "Right, right. I've heard you and Uma rant about Freddy Frollo enough times that I should have realized."

"I'm sorry, Freddy who?" Phoebus asked.

"Frollo," Mal told him. "Chip off the old block too."

"What poor woman—?"

Harry sighed. "One working theory is that Frollo tried to convert the pirates in Pirate Cove because Smee told me once that after Red Jessica ended things with the Captain, she ended up in a fling with Frollo."

"How did Smee know that?" Jay asked.

"His wife was Jessica's first mate," Harry shrugged. "But Jessica wasn't Freddy's mom. I think Jessica was still with the Captain by that point."

"Steph, I want Mal off this Isle as badly as you do but think about it for a minute—"

"What's to think about? The Gods have had numerous children; hell Aphrodite and Athena were born as fully formed adults! I could claim the same. Say Mal was mine and that she was just born as a five year old."

"That…might have actually worked," Beast spoke up.

"I'm sorry, what?" Persephone exclaimed, looking at Beast in shock.

"I don't claim to be an expert on how the Gods give birth," Beast told her.

"And who would you say is the father?" Hades asked. "Me, you'd have to say she's my daughter. Then you've got a problem because in Beastie and Belle's eyes, you haven't taken your child off the Isle. You've taken a prisoner off the Isle."

"He's got a point," Aladdin muttered to Eugene.

"So does she though," Eugene muttered back. "None of the kids deserve the Isle."

"Hades, Mal doesn't deserve it here! You saw the way she scarfed down the fish! That was probably the first bit of food she had gotten all day if Maleficent had anything to say about it."

"Mom, you weren't spying on me through any device from Olympus were you?"

"No dear. I just know how Maleficent works," Persephone sighed.

"Steph, think about this rationally. If you got caught sneaking Mal off the Isle, then you'd get put here permanently. You're our one link to Auradon now that the inspectors have stopped coming. The limited medical supplies we do have, the few books, the food…we owe that all to you," Hades said, resting a hand on Persephone's shoulder. "I love you. You would be miserable seeing the kids suffer and not be able to do anything to help. I couldn't bare to see you like that."

Persephone sighed and Hades held her close to him. "I hate that you were right. I wouldn't have been able to handle the thought of the kids suffering and not being able to do something," she whispered.

"You've got the biggest heart of anyone, mortal or God. Isle or Auradon," Hades whispered to her and kissed her forehead. "The fact that you're trapped there for six months is bad enough but you can see what we need and get it in Auradon. If you were on the Isle full time?"

He didn't need to finish—they both knew she would turn into a shell of herself, not being able to help.

Persephone sighed. "But…if Mal was there, in Auradon, she could plead before Belle," she said, trying to find someway to counter Hades' argument. "Belle would be devastated to learn about the state of the Isle."

Belle nodded, dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. She hated hearing about what the kids of the Isle had to deal with. Yes, she helped create the Isle but she never wanted anyone to suffer! She would have heard Mal's statement.

"We've been like this for nine years Steph," Hades said gently. "Sure it's gotten worse since Belle's miscarriage but we've been dealing with the lack of resources since the Isle was founded. When Mal's asking me questions about how Auradon keeps track of all the people on the Isle who have died, it's safe to assume Belle and Beast just don't care anymore."

"Wha—?"

"He's not wrong," Dizzy spoke up, her words an unknowing dagger to Belle's heart. Beast wrapped an arm around Belle's shoulders but she brushed it off.

"Adam, we did this," she whispered. "I…I don't think we really deserve to be comforted."

Beast sighed. "Belle, I was the one who handled the Isle after Abby remember? This is solely on me."

"No, it's not," Belle shook her head. "Yes I was a mother but I was also Queen. I should have done more."

Persephone sighed and buried her head in Hades' chest. "I hate the fact that you're right," she muttered.

I don't think he is, Ben thought as he looked over at his parents. If they didn't care, they wouldn't be reacting like this.

"Think of the life that would be for Mal if you didn't tell people about her," Hades said softly, running his hand down Persephone's back. "Always hiding, fearful of being discovered. The Isle may be a prison but she can run freely here."

Demeter sighed. As much as she would want Mal to be free in the sun, she knew Hades had a point. There would be even less of a childhood if Mal had to hide out of fear that she'd be put back on the Isle if she was found.

Persephone nodded. "I know. I just…"

"I know," Hades said gently. "I do too. But she knows now. She can start to come home."

Despite the serious subject, Hades couldn't help but smile at that. At the idea that Mal could come home.

The words he thought he would never get the chance to say; the words that made five years of waiting worth it.

Mal could come home.

Tiana couldn't help but smile at that last part. "I have to say that scroll was rather emotional. Who wants to read next?"

"I'll read, Queen Tiana," Hyllus said.