Chapter Thirty Seven
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.
*blows horn in celebration* Holy cats you guys! We made it past one thousand! You know I've only ever had three stories make it this high in reviews—and one got removed from FFN so officially I've only had the two. Thank you guys so much!
As always, if you think of comments you'd like to see, let me know—or if you'd rather reach out to me off of FFN, I do have a Tumblr by the same name. My ask box is always open! :D
JaclynnM: Oh thank you so much! I love Ben too—he's tied with Mal as my favorite character tbh. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! :D
61394: Yeah and I'm guessing Hades would keep that guarded if there was any more of it since he wouldn't want some finding its way into Mal or Hadie or Steph's food. Also very true about the hobby!
Tracie Adams: Don't want to spoil anything so I'll just say that your question will be answered in Choosing Home :D
darkpegasuzz: Glad you enjoyed it!
HufflepuffInDaHealingCoven: I think Doug might show up later, around where they're reading the Choosing Love parts, just because he plays more of a role there. Ah Rapunzel's kids—I'm going to say yes on the twins question because otherwise the ages don't line up. Rachel's 18, Rowyn and Robin are twins—they're 16, Rose is also 16, Ruby's 15 and Evan's 14.
quil . theimperial: I'm so glad you were able to access the chapter—and that you like my updates! Ah so timeline—so when Audrey makes the rude introduction, the rude introduction's in the future. So if the Fates hadn't brought them all in to read, she would have said it. :D Also can I call you quil? :D
billyandkimfan1994: Yeah I never really liked that either. Ben always stiffened whenever Audrey touched him.
TheGirlofManyFloods: I'm so glad you liked the chapter!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yep, Bal's on the road and nothing the two banshees can do will stop them! :D
BeatingDeadHorse: I loved this! And you're right, honestly the CanonHeroes aren't that—because Belle would never let Beast talk to Ben the way he did in D1 (*mutters about how in the world Family Day could be Ben's fault*). But staying on the happy note, I loved this! :D
AliceCullen3: Oh I'm so glad!
Katt Kiki: Yep, it certainly does!
danifan3000: Oh wow…I mean it's definitely a possibility that Icarus was a relative of Athena. It'd make sense why he and Herc got along so well. Yeah Abu still confuses me.
twilightgirl587: The Fates are a funny thing :D They can tell the past, present and the future and they've already started reading the future. I think it's possible for Benji and Malinda to say something to Evie about her dad yeah.
shortanamx: Glad you liked the chapter!
Marcus Emrys: *jaw drops* Um…take my money or what counts as money in FFN world! Take all of it! Because now I want to read a story where Milah is Silver's sister and Silver doesn't approve of Hook and escapes the round up on the Isle! Gah! I can just picture Jim showing up in that and going 'Silver you old scally-wag! You never told me you had a sister!' Oh! Why can I see Silver comparing Harry to Jim? Harry's around the same age Jim was when Silver took him under his wing plus Harry'd be distrusting of him at first despite being Long John Silver, one of the best pirates to roam the seas/skies. To make a long story short, I want more!
Anonymous Reader: Hey I'm happy with any review! :D Hope your move went well!
EllaBSinging: Oh I'm so glad!
InuKagLove22: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying it!
Dance love 2007: Oh thank you!
smc-smfan1: So glad you liked the chapter!
Urmimala Hazra: So glad you liked the chapter1 :D They are annoying aren't they? :D
AthenaArtemis25: Yeah he's a quiet guy! Of course you can! I'll provide the invite so we can all be there! Thank you so much! :D
Lucky: Of course—I live on the East Coast. I'll sometimes post around 1 in the morning if it's the weekend but most of the time I try to post around the morning/early afternoon.
sao-frozen-smc . animefan: I can certainly make sure that gets added!
Roxas Itsuka: Thank you so much! Yeah there's much more to go—but I'm looking forward to it! They certainly are annoying but that's really to be expected isn't it? Audrey might get a reality check but I don't think Leah ever will tbh. And that's a good point about Maleficent's involvement.
AvatarUzumaki: Honestly…I wrote this story purely out of boredom. I got inspired after seeing Lord of the A.U. FanFiction's story and started thinking about comments. As for other timelines…I got really inspired by a one shot someone put in my review. Glad you liked the chapter!
LOST MUSES: Oh I'm so glad! And yeah Estelle's probably going to go deaf by the end of this!
jessaminego5134: Yeah I'm curious too! I wish that was a thing, like you could open an app and order food you read about/see in movies or TV shows. So glad you liked the chapter.
SeerKing: Thank you for the review! Yeah I was going back and forth on it but in all honesty, after seeing a review where future Ben recommends a de-Audreying to current Ben, I knew I needed to have them.
Anonymous Reader: Thank you so much! :D
Guest: Certainly, though they might make their appearance later in the story!
Guest: Oh I can definitely see that being a possibility! I wouldn't put it past Maleficent!
Hope you all like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"Hopefully the Auradon scrolls won't be as intense," Hyllus muttered to Macaria as Herkie grabbed his scroll.
"Something tells me we wouldn't be here if that was the case," Macaria muttered back to her brother. "We already know about the food situation after all."
Mal stalked down the hall, making her way to Jay's dorm and pounded on the door. Other students seemed to actively avoid her as they made their way down the hall but Mal suspected that was more because of the fact she was a VK rather than because of her bad mood.
"Considering they don't know you well enough to know you're not in a good mood, I'd say it's probably the VK thing," Uma nodded.
"What's the password?" Jay called from the other side of the door.
"Let me in Jay! I'm not in the mood!" Mal growled.
"Nope, but since it's you," Jay chuckled as he opened up the door. "You know it was unlocked right?"
"What was the password?" Emir asked Malinda.
"Same thing it's always been since the Rotten Four were founded," Malinda said with a small smile. "Ruthless yet Loyal."
"…you know we have to change it now right?" Jay asked.
"I'm aware," Malinda nodded.
"Gods, five minutes in a room with Blueberry and I'm ready to tear my own hair out," Mal growled as she stormed into the room.
"All she said was maybe you guys could be friends!" Emma exclaimed.
Her bad mood seemed to dissipate as she saw the boys' room. There were more dark tones, with dark wood finishes and paneling on the wall. "Now this is a room I could live in!"
"Me too!" Uma nodded.
"Ditto!" Celia chimed in.
"I agree with them," CJ added. "You know, if the end of the world happens and I have to leave the Isle."
"I will make a note of that," Ben said.
Dizzy bit her lip. "I…I kinda liked the pink room," she said, her voice soft. "Like Evie."
"Glad you like it," Jay chuckled. "My room is your room, Mal. As long as DeVil doesn't mind."
Carlos shook his head. "Why…why would I mind? Mal's the highest ranked VK among us and the one providing me protection along with you Jay. You don't argue against that."
"Not at all," Carlos said quickly, with a look of slight fear in his eyes.
"Glad to hear it," Mal smirked before shaking her head. "I'm not going to hurt you DeVil, don't worry."
"Why would I hurt someone under my protection?" Mal asked with a slight shrug. "You don't hurt or abuse your allies. That's just asking to be betrayed."
"You know I mean it Mal. My room is your room," Jay said as he plopped on his bed.
Benji chuckled softly at the look on his younger self's face. "He's like her brother," he muttered to him. "You're jealous over a sibling relationship."
Mal could tell that the boys had gotten the same welcome basket she and Blueberry had gotten over in their dorm. "So…Prince Beastie."
Mal sighed. "Not what I expected," she said as she crossed her arms.
"That's certainly the truth," Uma nodded.
"Very true. His girlfriend though…"
"Hate. Her," Mal muttered. She was exactly what Mal had expected of a Boreadon royal.
Audrey sniffed. " Feeling's mutual really. Honestly. You act like—."
"You know you're just proving their point," Audie said as she examined her nails.
"How dare you?!"
"…do you know any volume other than ear bleedingly loud? I feel bad for poor Estelle there!"
"Not surprised," Jay chuckled. "I mean I do too. Honestly she may be his girlfriend but he didn't look like he cared that much about her. Truthfully he looked like she was about to lead him to the executioner's block every time she touched him."
"I was almost in a political marriage because of an outdated law when I was not too much younger than Prince Ben is now," Jasmine said with a slight frown. "I think it's a good idea for that contract to be removed."
"Probably a political match," Mal said with a shrug.
Malinda shook her head. "Before I even knew about the contract, I was right about it being a political match."
"Doesn't matter though. Prince Beastie's not our business. Even if he does seem miserable."
"He most certainly is your business," Malinda muttered.
"He might not be your business now," Melody chuckled. "But considering you marry him, I'd say that doesn't last for long."
"I'd argue that if we want him to like us enough to bring certain people over here, he kinda is," Jay muttered. "He's not likely to want to bring more kids over if he's miserable or constantly battling with Audrey."
"That's not true!" Ben exclaimed. "It's my proclamation! I want to make sure it's a success and that includes bringing more kids over!"
Mal rolled her eyes. "Okay so what do you propose we do Jay? Become his best friends or something?"
"Sorry, that role's taken!" Akiho exclaimed as he and Emir grinned.
"We'd be happy to give you the positions of Best Friend number three and future wife along with Best Friend number four," Emir added.
Lonnie raised an eyebrow. "I'm Best Friend number three."
"Oh right. Best Friend number four and future wife along with Best Friend number five."
"Maybe not, but I mean we could integrate with him. Get him away from her and more toward us."
"Good luck with that," Hyllus sighed.
Malinda chuckled. "You're underestimating our power of persuasion cuz."
Mal frowned. "Okay but how do we do that? We're not the most friendly people in the world Jay—there's a reason why our crew only has four people. We're 'ruthless yet loyal', we don't go up to just anyone."
Malinda shook her head. "Maybe our main crew was four people but the Rats were an extra fifteen people in our crew."
"Still, you're right about us not being the friendliest," Jay nodded.
Abby raised an eyebrow. "But you guys brought in Carlos. If you weren't friendly, would you really have offered your protection?"
"How'd you—?"
"I may have been in the Underworld but I was listening to the reading," she said with a smile. "I always try to keep an eye out for news about Ben!"
"So we become 'ruthless yet loyal' to Beastie Jr.," Jay suggested.
And boy did I, Malinda thought as she thought about a certain dragon transformation.
"He's a captain on a couple of the sports teams here. I overheard a couple of kids talking in the hall. We could go to a game? Make it like a parley or an alliance like back home."
"I think you guys would like Tourney!" Emir spoke up. "It's a great sport, and it involves a cannon!"
"Tell me more," Harry said, leaning forward a tad in interest.
Harriet shook her head. "Why am I not surprised? But my brother's right, tell me more."
"If the scrolls are mentioning the school's teams, I'm sure there'll be more information about Tourney," Shang chuckled.
Mal shrugged. "I guess. The last thing I'd want to do is risk Freddy boy winding up off the Isle instead of Uma or Harry."
"That will never happen!"
"Well you should have it easier than me," Jay smirked. "After all, he spent five minutes shaking your hand when we were outside. Don't think I didn't notice that."
"…I didn't think it'd be that obvious," Benji chuckled, a faint flush on his cheeks.
"Oh Benny, you had a crush on me," Malinda teased.
"Mal, we're married and have a kid on the way. Are you really teasing me about that?"
"What does that got to do with anything?!"
"Mal, as your first mate, it astonishes me that you still can't tell when a boy likes you. He seemed to care about his first impression with you, not with us."
"Jay, even if he did like me—which he doesn't—he's taken."
"What does that matter if you don't like him?" Macaria asked, giving her cousin a small smile.
Jay nodded before raising an eyebrow at Mal. "Exhibit A in terms of proof you're wrong there Mal," he said, pointing to Malinda and Benji.
"Not for long, if the way he was looking at you combined with how he acted whenever Audrey touched him was any indication," Jay said with a smirk.
"That doesn't mean anything!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Audrey, dear, I agree with Audie. Please lower the volume," Aurora said gently yet firmly.
"Jay, he was just being friendly. Besides bringing us here was his idea, he couldn't exactly snub us."
"If you say so Mal, but the point still stands."
Mal sighed. Jay was a great first mate but there were some days when she did not understand him. "Honestly I think Ben just likes everyone."
Akiho, Emir, and Chad all nodded.
"It's true," Chad said. "There's a theory that Ben's really a puppy masquerading as a human."
"…would that get him out of the betrothal contract?" Chip asked. "Cause if it would, I'd say go with it."
"How do you know?"
"He seemed really happy to see Doug for starters."
"Who isn't happy to see Doug?" Ashaki asked.
"Mal, Doug served as an excuse to get out of Audrey's grasp," Jay pointed out. "I think anyone would have been thankful to see him in that case. Well, maybe not Harry."
"And what's that supposed to mean Jay?" Harry asked.
"That you're a flirt," Jay said, rolling his eyes.
Harry smirked which quickly faded from his face as Uma glared at him.
"Not that she let it last for long. She's such a snake," Mal muttered.
"You're not wrong," Rose shook her head.
"She really is," Jay nodded. "Though…is it wrong I wanted to laugh when she took down Blueberry?"
"No," Mal chuckled.
Neal shook his head. "I mean I know you don't like Evie, but really? No solidarity for your fellow VK?"
"In my defense, I didn't know who Audrey was and was rather surprised by how un-Auradoney she was," Malinda said.
"Oh Gods, could you imagine Harry meeting Audrey? He'd be trying to flirt with her the minute he saw her," Jay chuckled.
"I think I've been rather well behaved Jay!"
"Which is a first for you Harry!"
"Well that's because she's not my type! I don't do pink and I don't do screamer!"
"Not that she'd notice," Mal snorted. "Plus Uma would kill Harry if she ever found out if she wasn't busy trying to kill Blueberry."
"Excuse me? Just what are you implying there Mal?"
Mal chuckled. "Considering my future self said that you'd be married to Harry, I think you know exactly what I mean Uma."
"So, are we really going to do this?" Jay asked after a few minutes of chuckling. "Try to bring Beastie Jr. into the crew?"
Chip snorted. "You say 'try' like it'll be a hard task to try to befriend Ben. I once heard him described as a puppy masquerading as a human."
Mal bit her lip but before she could respond, her stomach rumbled. "I'll think about it," she said. "But for now, let's find out where they keep the food around here. Come on DeVil, you too."
"Never let your allies go hungry," Uma nodded.
"You could always put him under your guys' protection," Carlos offered nervously as they started to head out. "Sorry, I…I couldn't help but overhear. Ben's the future king and all but I didn't see any guards around him."
"That's a good point," Mal said. "Why is that?"
"That's because Ben doesn't believe in using guards," Emir sighed.
Akiho nodded. "Yeah Lonnie's basically his head of security and that's just because he can't give her the day off the way he can his actual guards."
"Helps that I don't work for him," Lonnie smirked.
Malinda shook her head. "Honestly Ben, why didn't you just pay Emir and Akiho to be your guards? They already do the job better than the ones on your payroll."
"Don't give them an idea!" Ben sighed.
"Too late!" Emir and Akiho grinned.
"That's not a bad idea, DeVil," Mal said, slightly impressed. She'd have to seriously consider it.
"We'd have to talk to him about that," Jay said. "I don't know if he'd accept us just sneaking around him considering we're VKs."
Ben looked over at Jay and raised an eyebrow before pointing at Emir and Akiho. "Those two are called my shadows. I've come to accept that I can't really stop you all from tailing me if you want to."
Jay shrugged. "Well at this point in the scrolls you don't know us."
"Ben seems pretty okay with everything," Carlos said with a small shrug. "Just ask him."
"DeVil's got a point," Mal nodded. Two excellent points made by DeVil in one conversation, who would have thought?
"Hey Carlos is smarter than you think!" Malinda said with a slight frown.
"Thanks Malinda," Carlos said with a shy smile.
"Mal, you ask him," Jay said without hesitation though there was a small smirk on his lips. "You're the only captain here."
Malinda shook her head in amusement. "Gods I forgot how much Jay was trying to push me toward you when we first met," she told Benji.
"Hmm, so I have him to thank for my amazing wife?" Benji chuckled.
Mal shrugged, though she wanted to slap that smirk off of Jay's face. "Alright."
She oddly enough didn't mind the thought of seeing Ben again. Even if it meant playing into Jay's crazy idea that Ben liked her.
"Oh yes, she claims that there's no way Ben can like her but she also doesn't mind seeing him again," Jay said with a slight smirk.
"You know I somehow end up with him. Why are you like this?" Mal sighed.
"Because making fun of your stubbornness is amusing."
Honestly, it had to do with ranking—she was the highest ranked VK in Auradon. God outranked princess after all.
"Unless it's Godling Princess," Herkie said, looking at Macaria. "Didn't someone say you had a royal title through Grandfather?"
"We all do," Hyllus told him. "Princes and Princess of Olympus since Grandfather's the King of Olympus. Just like how Hadie's the Prince of the Underworld."
"So. Food. Where do we find it?" Mal asked, changing the subject.
"Smooth subject change," Evan chuckled.
"Doug mentioned a cafeteria when he showed us our room," Jay said. "You want to go check it out?"
Mal nodded. She'd have to be a fool to not want to at least scope out the food situation. It wouldn't be as good as her dad's but it should be decent.
"Why thank you Mali," Hades grinned. "Though I will admit, I think the Boreadon crew's got me beat. They've got more to work with after all."
"Then let's go," Jay grinned.
"I wonder what kind of food they'll have here," Mal muttered. "Since we usually get their leftovers."
"Only one way to find out," Jay said.
"Wouldn't it make more sense to show all four of them where the food was at the same time?" Dizzy asked.
"…should we grab Evie?" Carlos asked softly as they stare to make their way down.
"Thank you Carlos," Evie said, giving the younger boy a small smile.
Mal sighed. That was the last thing she wanted to do but she couldn't deny that Blueberry at least deserved food. They all did. "Alright."
I'm very proud of you, Persephone thought to Mal.
I haven't done it yet, Mal shrugged. Besides, am I wrong? The only person I'd let starve is Freddy.
Malinda shook her head. "I may not have liked Evie at that moment but as the highest ranked VK there, she became my responsibility and as said she still deserved to eat."
"I can get her Mal," Jay offered. "We can meet you and DeVil over there."
"Jay, you don't know the way to my room," Mal pointed out. Doug had led them to the boys' room before showing Evie and Mal their's.
Leah nodded. "Boys shouldn't know where the girls' dorm is anyway."
"But girls can know where the boys' dorm is?" Neal asked. "That doesn't seem fair."
"Oh. Right…I'll follow you then?"
"Right," Mal nodded and led the boys toward her and Evie's room. Mal sighed once more before opening the door.
"Blueberry, we're off looking for food. Do…do you want to come?" Mal got the question out though it may have hurt her.
"Did it?" Mal asked, looking at Malinda.
"Seriously? Get over your hatred okay," Malinda said with a small chuckle.
"Sure," Evie said with a smile. She always had a smile unless Uma and Mal just finished pelting her with smoke bombs.
"Well then come on," Mal muttered as the four of them began to search for the cafeteria. Okay, stay calm. No matter how annoying Blueberry is, she deserves to eat. We all do. Now…just where is this cafeteria?
Ben frowned. "Someone should be with you guys to show you where the cafeteria is."
"Say…shouldn't that be your job Ben?" Emir said, nudging Akiho in the side so that he'd catch on.
"Oh yeah! I mean it is your proclamation," Akiho nodded.
Anna shook her head. Honestly those boys couldn't be more obvious if they blasted the idea into Ben's head like Elsa's magic, she thought.
"Jay, did Doug say where this cafeteria was or did he just say they had one?" Mal asked after about ten minutes of searching.
Malinda chuckled. "I think I know why Doug might have let that little detail slip," she said as she glanced over at Evie.
"He said it should be right over….there!" Jay said, pointing to a room where students were milling in and out, delicious smells wafting out into the hall making the four VKs drool slightly.
"That'd be a safe bet," Kitty nodded with a slight smile.
"Is it me or does it look kinda crowded in there?" Carlos asked softly. Crowds were dangerous—crowds could mean you're risking getting trampled if you go in.
Ben frowned slightly as he heard that. "Would…would you four prefer for me to arrange for meals to be sent to your dorms for the first few days? Or maybe someone to come get you when the crowd's thinned out a bit?"
"And would that person be you Benji?" Abby teased.
"Hey if it got him out of his office, we have no problem with that," Emir said and Akiho nodded.
Ben shrugged. "The VK Initiative is my proclamation. I can't ask anyone else to do it."
"Your highness, you really don't have to go through any trouble for us," Evie said, shaking her head.
"Yes Ben, I don't know why you're bending over backwards for them. That is how the school operates and if they don't like it, they can suck it up," Leah stated.
"Dear Gods, you're listening to the same scroll we are," Hera snapped at Leah. "It just said that crowds on the Isle meant the kids risked getting trampled to death."
Zeus' eyes flickered over to Hades for a second as his wife said that. How many times had his older brother had to judge a child's soul who'd been brought to the Underworld solely because they'd been trampled?
There was a reason why most kids in high ranked gangs avoided the barge when the food first arrived on the Isle.
The kids in the lower ranked gangs or even the ones who weren't in gangs were the ones who had to risk the barge after Maleficent's goblins grabbed the items she wanted.
"Gods, thank goodness we set up the soup kitchen," Audie sighed and shook her head as many of the others in attendance looked horrified. "Those poor kids."
"Actually, that's not a bad idea," Tiana said, looking at Beast. "A soup kitchen can at least ensure all the kids get food."
After all, Maleficent ruled the Isle so she had first dibs on whatever was on the barge. Hades normally had second dibs, though Virgil would often slip in and grab some items before word got out that the barge had arrived.
One of the few benefits of the docks being on Hades' side of the Isle.
Lucas tilted his head. "If the docks are on Lord Hades' side of the Isle, why does Maleficent get first dibs?"
"Because most of the idiots are afraid she'll turn into a dragon and eat them," Hades shook his head.
"You'd be right but it looks like the only place to get food," Mal sighed, pulling herself out of her thoughts. "Jay, keep an eye on DeVil."
"I always do!" Jay nodded and gave Carlos an encouraging grin.
Jay gave her a small salute, and Mal chuckled as she led the way into the cafeteria. Sure it was crowded but no one in Auradon was going to attack them. Right?
No on in Auradon, Malinda thought with a small sigh. But on the Isle was a very different story.
Gods I wish I had my sword, Mal thought. If there is an attack, my only choice would be to run or have Jay run interference. I hope it doesn't come to that—I'm not a prissy princess after all.
"No…no one's going to attack you in Auradon," Elle said, her voice soft.
Mal raised an eyebrow and pointed at Leah and Audrey.
Lucas shook his head. "If those two are anything like the ones in my timeline, they won't let that happen," he said as he pointed to Emir and Akiho.
"This…this is a lot of food," Carlos said softly, looking around. There were different stations throughout the room, each one having different options available for consumption. "This is food right?"
Hercules winced. "Gods…I can't imagine how that might look to you guys."
"Well people are eating it," Mal muttered.
"People eat the 'food' back home too," Jay muttered back to her.
"Good point."
"The difference between the food we have and the food you guys were being forced to eat is just that," Macaria said. "We're not forced to eat it."
"Hey…are you guys alright?" A boy about their age asked, his black hair flopping into his face.
Aziz shook his head. "How many times has dad said you need a hair cut?"
"Doesn't matter. It's not long enough to be a danger for Tourney so I'm not going to cut it," Emir shrugged. "Also you don't know that's me."
"I'm going to say it's a safe bet though," Ashaki chuckled.
"Um…yeah," Mal nodded. "Just not used to…all the options."
It was true after all—their main options were either Ursula's shoppe or her dad's restaurant and nine times out of ten they split their food with the warf rats if they came up empty on their food runs.
"You don't need to split food Mal. The Warf Rats shouldn't need to do food runs, they have the restaurant," Hades said with a slight frown.
The dark haired boy nodded but with a small frown on his face, as if he was confused as to why they wouldn't be used to all the options. "Oh….oh you guys are the new students right?"
"Well I mean they're students that you've never seen before," Rowyn shook her head.
"That would be us," Mal nodded.
The boy smiled, which seemed like it belonged on his face more than the frown had. "Ben told Akiho and me to see if you guys needed any help if he got stuck with paperwork or if he got caught in a meeting. I'm Emir by the way."
"Should we be worried that you have a plan in case you're stuck with paperwork or in a meeting?" Elle asked Ben.
Mal nodded back, trying to at least appear friendly. She felt Jay stiffen slightly behind her as if he was preparing for a fight; everyone knew who's son Emir was.
"Jay, remember what I said…don't you dare leave me there," Mal muttered to Jay.
Jay nodded and looked over at Malinda. "So were you friendly because we needed allies at that point or was it because he's Ben's friend?"
"At that moment? We needed allies but honestly Emir and Akiho are people you can't help but like," Malinda told him. "I could tell that they were genuinely friendly, Lonnie too."
"So, you guys going to grab some dinner?" Emir asked, not noticing or pretending not to notice Jay stiffen. "I know the pasta's always good but then if you're more of a meat fan, we've got steak and potatoes, or chicken and assorted veggies. Or salad if you're in the mood for something lighter. Then again, there's always the fish—tonight's catch is salmon but sometimes we have tuna and other times we have halibut."
"Hold on, you guys have all those options yet the Isle still has to eat your garbage?!" CJ exclaimed.
Ben looked over at her. "That's going to change. I promise you, when we get out of here, the food deliveries will be fresh."
Mal looked over at Jay, trying to not let her jaw drop at the offered options. She knew Auradon had more food than the Isle…but she hadn't expected that many options.
"Um…I guess I'll try the steak," Jay said quietly after a minute.
"Same," Mal muttered.
"I'll try the pasta," Carlos said softly.
"Salad for me," Evie said, her smile never leaving her face though she too seemed hesitant.
"You know your choices really suited you guys," Benji said with a fond smile.
"Come on then," Emir said with a smile. "Just go up to the station and grab what'd you like. I'm heading over to the steak station myself."
"Of course you are," Jasmine said, looking over at her son fondly.
Emir shrugged. "I need the protein mom. Championship's coming up, you don't want me getting hurt do you?"
"Okay," Mal said slowly, trailing after him.
Jay followed Mal while Carlos and Evie reluctantly split off to grab their food. It certainly smelled nice, and Mal could still see DeVil out of the corner of her eye. Blueberry too. She may have hated the blue haired girl...but she was still a VK.
Ben gave Mal an encouraging smile as he heard that.
"Oh please, I'm not going to let Blueberry starve," Mal scoffed as she saw the smile.
Boreadon didn't get to destroy her-that was Mal's job.
"Okay I'm not going to lie," Lucy said. "That's a little terrifying."
"Go on, grab a plate," Emir said as he did just that before glancing around the cafeteria as if he was searching for someone. "Ben, where are you?" He muttered to himself, still scanning the cafeteria.
"He might just be caught in a meeting or something," Rose said, trying to sound positive.
"Rose, you know that's not true," Robin shook her head. "We all know where he is."
"In his office," every AK who knew Ben with the exception of Audrey sighed in exasperation.
Lucas looked over at Audie. "Was our Ben this bad?"
"Not that I remember," Audie told him.
"In his office," a blond haired boy said with a sigh as he slid up next to Emir, grabbing a plate. "He's in mid paperwork, didn't even notice me poking him in the head for about five minutes."
"I'm sorry but you poked…or will poke me in the head?" Ben exclaimed.
"Well I haven't done it yet but doesn't that sound like something I'd do?" Akiho asked with a grin.
Benji sighed and shook his head. "I am so sorry," he told his best friends. "If it helps, Dean sets up a system."
"Knew I liked him!" Chip nodded.
"No, it doesn't involve Sven dragging me out of the office."
"My approval has dropped somewhat."
Emir sighed. "Why am I not surprised Akiho?"
"He'll get here. He's gotta get hungry right?" Mal said with a shrug.
"Oh he gets hungry," Abby muttered. "He just ignores his body's hints to stop."
"That's what we keep telling ourselves," Emir sighed and checked his watch again.
Mal frowned slightly. "Not that I care but…is this a common thing for Ben?"
"Yes!" Akiho and Emir nodded.
Beast sighed. "That reminds me, we still need to have that talk Ben."
"But this hasn't happened yet dad," Ben reminded him. "Remember, we all got pulled in here just as Mal, Jay, Carlos, and Evie stepped out of the limo."
She didn't understand, he had all this food and yet he was insisting on working? Meanwhile her crew was stuck on the Isle where they were lucky if the food that arrived was only slightly rotten!
Malinda sighed and shook her head. "Because he's a selfless workaholic who didn't and still doesn't know the meaning the word 'break'."
"You're pregnant! I just do it to take some pressure off you!" Benji exclaimed.
"Unfortunately," Emir sighed. "He'll eat though. We make sure he does."
"Thank you," Belle said with a sigh. "But that shouldn't be your job."
"Isn't that more of a thing his girlfriend would do?" Jay asked.
Akiho snorted. "Tell that to Audrey," he muttered. "I don't think she even knows where Ben's office is."
"Again, I must point out that Audrey has many responsibilities—."
"And as Ben's girlfriend, knowing where Ben is and caring about it especially when he should be at dinner should be one of her responsibilities!" Aziz snapped.
Mal frowned slightly. "But she seemed really…fond of him when we saw them at our arrival."
"Fond's an understatement. She's possessive," Emir snorted. "Audrey only thinks of things that are in her best interests and when it comes to matches…she can't go any higher than Ben."
"Unless she dates one of us," Hyllus pointed out.
Macaria shook her head. "You'd be the only option Hy. Herkie's too young as is Hadie, and the only other Godlings are our cousin Arabella, Elle, Melody, Mal, Uma, and myself."
"Don't give her any ideas," Audie muttered. "She'll make you wish you weren't immortal."
Mal rolled her eyes. "I thought you Auradon people were supposed to be about 'true love' and all that muck?"
It is so weird hearing Mal be dismissive of True Love, Audie thought. Then again it makes sense, considering everything.
Malinda raised an eyebrow at her younger self. "All that muck? You…or we I should say have the closest example of True Love the Isle can provide and you still call it 'all that muck'?"
"Well first off I'm you," Mal pointed out. "But also I mean…mom and dad's story's different. No prissy princesses or princes kissing them when they're asleep without their permission."
"Yeah," Phil Jr. muttered. "In a way it's so lucky that mom and dad had already met before the kiss. At least because of that we can say with maybe 70-90% certainty she would have consented if she could…"
"In general, yes," Emir said with a shrug. "But…let's just say there are some people here who would like to think they have True Love when in reality—"
Chip shook his head. "You don't have a True Love, Audrey! You have a contract! How can you brag about that?"
"In reality they're delusional ladder climbers who can't tell when someone's trying to escape their grasp like you would a snake?" Mal asked. She wasn't sure why Ben's friends were telling her this but anyone who was willing to trash Sleeping Brat around her was okay in her book.
Audie winced slightly. She's right of course, that's what my Grandmother instilled in me, she thought.
"Exactly!" Emir nodded while trying to hide his snickers.
Mal couldn't help but smirk. "Oh I think you and I are going to get along just well."
"Oh yay!" Emir said with a grin.
Akiho faked a pout and shook his head. "I knew Mal liked you more," he said with a slight teasing tone to his voice.
"Glad to hear," Emir chuckled as they sat down at a table; Evie and Carlos sitting down a few seats down. Close enough that Mal or Jay could step in if needed but far enough away that no one would think they were together.
Though Carlos was a bit closer than Evie was, considering he still had Jay and Mal's protection.
"Gods Tourney practice today was brutal. I know I'll be sleeping well tonight," Akiho sighed as Mal and Jay dug into their steak. Well more like wolfed it down as if it was going to disappear if they ate at a normal pace. Emir and Akiho stared in surprise.
"Guys, you might want to slow down," Emir said with a small chuckle.
"Yeah, it's not going to vanish," Akiho nodded. Mal rolled her eyes but didn't slow her tempo.
Hades shook his head. "Steph should have been there. They could have eaten dinner with her like they're used to. The kids know it won't get taken then."
"No one at Auradon Prep would steal someone's food!" Ruby said, shaking her head.
Carlos shrugged. "Lord Hades is right though and…you get food…you guard it with your life."
"Seriously guys, slow down," Emir said, the smile on his face slowly turning into a frown. The way they were acting, you'd think they hadn't eaten all day.
Hades and Persephone frowned slightly. They knew Jay and Mal had eaten that day—no matter what, they always tried to make sure Mal and her friends had food.
Glancing over to Carlos and Evie, Emir could see that they were eating the same way though Evie might have been a bit slower than the others.
Esmeralda sighed, Phoebus wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "You never really know when your next meal is going to be after all," she said, her voice soft.
"Gods that's disgusting," he heard one of the cheerleaders mutter as she walked past their table.
"Yeah the amount of makeup on your face is disgusting Ariana, glad we agree," a raven haired girl said as she sat down next to Akiho.
Aurora shook her head. "I think that's the last time you're around your cousin for a while Audrey."
"Mother! What did she say that was wrong?" Audrey snapped. "Lonnie's the one throwing insults!"
"Lonnie's the one standing up for people being insulted." Phillip Jr. muttered.
"Nice one Lonnie," Akiho chuckled. "Went for the steak tonight I see?"
"I'm a carnivore. Sue me," Lonnie shrugged and then turned to Mal and Jay with a smile, giving a wave to Evie and Carlos. "Hi! I'm Lonnie. My mom's Mulan?"
"Hero of China and broke the biggest rule there was at the time? Of course we know who your mom is," Mal snorted in amusement.
"We know," Mal said as she swallowed her steak. "Believe it or not, we do pay attention to things that happen off the Isle."
"But only when they interest us," Uma nodded.
"Oh," Lonnie said. "Well anyway, nice to meet you guys."
"…thanks?"
The group grew quiet as they continued to eat their dinner. Mal looked around the room, and she couldn't help the pang of guilt that entered her stomach. Sure her dad's food was delicious but he had to work with what was provided by Boreadon.
Tasting what food apparently was supposed to taste like instead of what they had grown used to with the rotten or slightly rotten food that was sent to the Isle…having options other than fish and chicken…it was enough to turn her head.
"You don't have to feel bad about that Mali," Hades said, his voice soft. "That's the point. That you're having a better life."
"And soon all of the Isle will have those options," Ben said, gently resting a hand on Mal's shoulder. "I promise."
Sure Frollo had a shop but that was in Freddy's territory. Even if Mal was actively starving, she would rather chew off her own arm and eat the flesh off it than willingly go into Freddy's territory and deal with him or his angels.
"Or and this is just a thought you could use that chewed off arm to beat Freddy with," Celia said.
Mal chuckled. "You've spent too much time around Uma."
"Well she is my sister!"
Seriously, if I had to pick who was more annoying it would have to be a tossup between Blueberry and Freddy. Though Audrey is quickly getting up there and I just met the girl.
"Evie could never be as bad as Freddy, not even when I hated her," Malinda muttered softly to herself.
Besides, Frollo's shop sold stale croissants anyway. If Mal was going to go into Freddy's territory, it would be for something other than stale bread.
Malinda shook her head. "The day I willingly go into Frollo's territory is the day Ben stops liking dragons."
"Lonnie, you're beautiful. Absolutely stunning. A real work of art."
Mal raised an eyebrow as Emir's compliments drew her out of her thoughts.
"Nice try but but I'm not giving you my cookie," Lonnie chuckled, having finished her dinner and had moved on to dessert.
Lonnie chuckled and looked over at Emir. "Should Emma be jealous?"
"Because I'd rather not get stabbed or shot with a bow and arrow, I'm just going to say no comment," Emir said.
"Nice blush Emmy," Ashaki teased.
"Please!" Emir begged as Lonnie took a bite of the aforementioned cookie. "Coach ran us ragged in practice today and Ben sided with him!"
"That's just cruel Lon," Lil Shang chuckled.
Benji shook his head in amusement. "I was the captain! Of course I agreed with Coach. Anyway, you guys will thank me later."
"You lot need it after that performance you gave against the Imperial Academy team."
"Okay, first off we still won that game even with that behemoth knocking out Brenden, Conner and Ben and second off your dad's the coach! Of course you'd side with them!" Akiho stated and then turned to Jay.
Shang shook his head. "As their coach, that still hurts to think about. The fact that we lost despite the performance Auradon Prep gave that game," he muttered.
"You ever play Tourney?"
"No…" Jay said slowly. "Does it involve hitting people?"
Leah sniffed. "You see? He just wants to hurt people!"
"No the only person Jay wants to hurt is Freddy," Uma scoffed.
Mal snorted in amusement, Ben's name not escaping her notice.
"Kinda," Emir nodded. "You should try out! I know it might seem pointless considering we're a couple weeks away from the championship but new blood's always welcomed."
"Does that go for the cheerleading squad as well?" Evie asked.
"Probably," Emir shrugged. "Audrey's the captain so she'd know better than I would."
Audrey sniffed and looked over at Evie. "Like you know how to do what's necessary for cheerleading."
Evie gave Audrey a tight smile before getting up and walking over to a more open area of the room. Everyone watched in shock as Evie quickly did a double back handspring followed by a roundoff.
"I think I can handle myself," she told Audrey once Evie returned to the group.
"You know, I think I could grow to like her if she can upstage the pink shrieker over there," Mal muttered under her breath.
"I don't care what Audrey says," Rose stated with a grin. "I'll talk to our cheer coach myself and get you a spot!"
You know I really should be commended about my lack of laughing right now, Phil Jr. thought as he saw the shock on Audrey's face.
"Ben's captain," Akiho added. "He'd definitely let you try out if interested. Your friend too."
Mal and Jay raised an eyebrow, looking at each other. He..he wasn't honestly saying DeVil should try out for a sport that involved hitting people was he?
"Carlos might surprise you," Benji said with a smile. "Though R.O.A.R. seemed more up his alley."
"I'll think about it," Jay said with a shrug.
"We're on the team too," Emir told him.
"I gathered that," Jay chuckled. "Considering you were asking me to try out after all."
Akiho shook his head. "You don't know that. We could have been cheerleaders. There are about four male cheerleaders on the squad after all."
"Wherever Ben goes, they go," Lonnie shook her head. "An inseparable trio—or Ben just has a set of personal shadows."
"Why not both?" Lucas and Chip chuckled.
Lucas smiled as Chip looked over at him. "You copying me there teacup?"
"Not just shadows," Akiho said. "We also double as security, chefs, and advisors if needed.
"Oh and jesters if absolutely necessary," Emir added, nodding his head.
"So…do you guys sleep?" Ashaki asked, tilting her head.
"Of course we do!" Emir said, Akiho nodding earnestly in the background.
Lonnie rolled her eyes. "No wonder Ben holes up in his office. It's the only alone time he gets."
Lonnie shook her head. "Okay, that was a bad joke on my taste."
"Please, Ben loves our antics," Akiho scoffed and Jay and Mal couldn't help smile softly. The three teens reminded them of their own crew dynamic.
Ben shook his head. "Of course I love your antics," he told Emir and Akiho.
Gods I miss Uma, Mal thought as she finished her dinner.
"I'm sure I miss you too Mali," Uma said, looking over at Mal and giving her a small smile.
I wonder what she and Harry are doing…probably spending time sparing or bossing the warf rats. Maybe even getting into a fight with Freddy.
"Hmm, that was good," Jay muttered as he finally finished his meal, which was surprising considering the rate at which he and Mal had consumed it.
"We probably shouldn't have inhaled our steaks like that. Jay and I had the worst stomach aches about three hours after dinner," Malinda said with a sigh.
Persephone bit her lip. "I know it tastes amazing to you two but don't eat too much too fast. Your bodies aren't used to it and you'll make yourselves sick if you go overboard."
Jay shrugged. "Can't speak for my future self but that's how it is on the Isle. You inhale your food before anyone else has the chance to take your food from you."
"That's disgusting," Audrey muttered.
"No one is going to take it from you," Ben told him and then looked over at Carlos and Evie. "From any of you."
"Glad you thought so. Steak night usually is," Lonnie told him.
"I'm sorry, steak night?" Jay asked. "As in this doesn't happen every night?"
The Auradon kids shook their heads.
"Even I would get sick and tired of steak every night," Lonnie chuckled.
"We've had pizza, Italian, French, tacos, and one time we had breakfast for dinner as the main option," Akiho told him. "Of course we've always had side options as well, in case you're not in the mood for the main course."
"Gods guys…knowing what I know now," Akiho said, shaking his head. "The way that would sound to you guys…"
"The only side option that hasn't been the main option is seafood," Emir added. "Melody and Elle pretty much insist on that."
"Kinda ironic how you insist on not having fish for the main course because of who your mother is and yet you didn't bat an eye when you found out Grandfather was sending fish to the Isle," Uma scoffed.
Ariel sighed. "Of course we don't like it and under normal circumstances we'd never condone it. But…the scrolls have made it crystal clear that without those fish you kids would have been dead. Lesser of two evils basically."
"Makes sense considering who their mother is," Lonnie nodded. "There's a calendar that says what's for dinner each day. I'm sure Fairy Godmother will get you all a copy tomorrow when you start going to class."
"Why didn't they get a copy when they first arrived?" Alexandria asked.
Kit nodded. "That's a good point. It really should have been given to them with their schedules. Otherwise it just throws them off and makes them stand out."
Ben quickly pulled out a notebook and jotted it down so he could remember for the upcoming VK groups, along with everything else he'd mentally noted. Something that did not escape Emir, Akiho, Chip, or Abby's notice as they shook their heads fondly.
"…where did he even get that notebook?" Beast muttered to Belle, who shrugged slightly in response.
Yeah, maybe in that Remedial Goodness 101 class they set up just for us, Mal thought with a snort, making sure to keep her mental link blocked in case Steph heard her snark.
"You know Mal has a point," Rachel spoke up. "Setting up a class like that solely when the VKs turn up is just going to make it clear that we think of them as different."
"Does…does anyone else think it's a little hypocritical that Fairy Godmother's the one teaching us about goodness when she's the one who created the barrier that's trapping all the kids on the Isle in the first place?" Evie asked.
"Well speaking of classes, we should think about hitting the hay," Akiho said. "I wasn't kidding when I said coach ran us ragged today. I know it's early but I am beat."
"We might be in some of the same classes," Lonnie told the VKs as they all got up to head up to their dorms. "That'll be fun at least."
"I think we have very different definitions of fun," Harry said with a chuckle.
Mal nodded. She wasn't sure what Lonnie defined as fun exactly but she wasn't going to lie, it was a little comforting knowing that they had a few allies already.
Lonnie grinned. "Happy to be of service."
Making her way back to her dorm, Mal sighed as she grabbed some sleeping clothes and made her way back over to Jay's dorm.
If they thought she was actually going to spend time in a room with Blueberry for more than five minutes, they had another thing coming.
Malinda shook her head in exasperation. "Honestly, you're acting like you're rooming with Freddy. Evie's not that bad, she cheerleads. That takes more than a 'ditzy brain' and her clothes are seriously some of the best work I've ever dealt with in Auradon."
"I can't believe you're defending her," Mal muttered.
Reaching Jay's dorm, Mal knocked on the door, her knock a bit lighter than it had been when she arrived before dinner.
"It's me."
"It's unlocked," Jay called back and Mal headed in. Jay shook his head in amusement at seeing her change of clothes.
Persephone sighed. "You could at least try to get along with her Mal. She's alone in a strange world, just like you. Imagine if Jay hadn't been invited with you. You'd be in the same boat as her. It's not Evie's fault you got placed with her. If you feel that strongly about it, go ask about a room change."
"I'd be happy to help with that and see if we have rooms available," Fairy Godmother spoke up. "It'd be better than constantly breaking the boys and girls in the same dorm rule."
"The offer to stay with me is still open," Lonnie said. "The scrolls seem to think we'd get along at least."
Mal shrugged. "That's not a bad idea," she muttered. Even though Jay's my person…Jay and Harry and Uma. If I killed someone, they're the people I'd call to help me hide the body.
"I'll look into setting it up if neither one objects," Ben spoke up.
Mal shrugged again, making a slightly noncommittal noise.
"I…I don't mind if Mal doesn't," Evie said. "Being alone is better than possibly fearing a fireball every time she walks into the room."
"Evie can room with me!" Emma said. "She shouldn't be alone. After all, she's family!"
"You're welcome here any time Mali but you do know that you're going to have to spend time with Blueberry eventually right?"
"I know," Mal sighed. "Doesn't mean that day has to be today."
"Like I said, it is not this day," Mal said.
Ben looked over at her with a big grin on his face. "You've read Tolkien?"
"I take it you have?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow and not noticing the amused looks on Emir, Akiho, and Chip's faces.
Jay chuckled. "Well get changed and get in."
"So many jokes I could make," Kitty muttered.
"Should I ask?" Carlos asked softly.
"No," Mal said as bluntly as she could as she made her way toward the bathroom to change.
"Mal does what she wants," Uma said with a small chuckle.
"Okay," Carlos said as he climbed into his own bed, smilingly slightly as the mattress seemed to bounce with every movement. It was a lot better than a nest of furs, that was for sure.
"That sounds like it would be Elysium," Carlos whispered. "So comfy."
Akiho frowned slightly though. What did they mean by nest of furs?
Mal quickly changed and came back out, climbing into Jay's bed.
"At least we've got this little bit of home," Jay whispered as he climbed in next to her.
"See mom?" Jane said, her voice soft. "It's okay. They're just homesick is all."
"Yeah," Mal whispered back. "Just like the clubhouse. We're just missing two people."
"It won't be long. Just don't kill Blueberry in the meantime."
"I make no promises."
"Yeah well seems you won't have to worry about that," Jay chuckled.
Jay gave her a small smile. "Evil dreams."
"Same to you," Mal said with a small smile before they both drifted off to sleep.
"Evil dreams?" Benji asked, looking over at Malinda. "I've never heard you say that."
"Now you have Benny," Malinda said. "And you know what, I'll read next."
"You're sure? With the baby—."
"Ben, I'm reading. It's not like I'll be doing any heavy lifting."