Chapter Sixty Two
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs as they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Okay I'm not going to lie, the fact that we're past 60 chapters is amazing to me. Like seriously, we're at 62 chapters now and we're probably not even a third of the way through them reading Choosing Love.
Just a heads up now, I know I normally have them read in chunks of seven scrolls before taking a break but this chunk will be a chunk of eight instead. Why? Because if I did it in seven scroll chunks, the next scroll after the break would be chapter 15 which might have people calling for another break.
As always, thank you all so much for your support—it's kinda odd to see that we're less than 400 reviews away from two thousand. Can you imagine that? It's almost ridiculous to think about!
lol, sorry, couldn't resist! :D
Katt Kiki: It really will be, won't it.
Marcus Emrys: No worries, I think a lot of people think that Mal'll change her hair too—I wanted the change to be more subtle since her changing her hair should have been a giant red flag for people. Glad you like the progressive Audrey and honestly, were you picturing Audie or Audrey punching Leah? Cause either one made me smile thinking about it!
LotusQuil: You've described Harry to a T! Loyal, ferocious, tad stupid but still lovable. And yay for progress! Yeah, Freddy's essentially dead no matter what even if he escapes the Isle this time around. Glad you liked it and hope you like this chapter! :D
Hufflepuff24: I couldn't help but chuckle as I pictured the look of confused concern on Hercules' face. You're right, it is hilarious.
61394: Thank you for letting Wade off the PG leash! Freddy definitely deserved that and I hope Deadpool had fun tormenting him!
Guest123: Oh thank you! Yeah you spelled it right—I had to look at her wiki to make sure I had it right :D It really is pretty isn't it?
AmethystDragon14: Yay! :D Yeah Harry, I think you've blamed CJ long enough. She was just a baby after all and didn't ask to be born any more than you asked to be born on the Isle. And yeah both Phil and Audie have a point. Here's hoping Audrey can change.
danifan3000: Oh I think everyone will freak during that chapter. I'm going to freak and I wrote the freaking thing. And while the pranks could happen, they've all got bigger things to worry about.
JaclynnM: It might happen, you never know!
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yeah it really isn't the most calming of stories, is it?
Guest: Oh thank you for letting me know! That sounds really interesting! :D
twilightgirl587: I highly recommend finishing Tangled: The Series. It's really good and quite enjoyable! :D Yeah but Harry's not the most logical with his blame is he? As for Claudine, yep, she knew about the comment. Hey if they're selling tickets I'll grab one myself!
SnowWhite45: Freddy truly is evil isn't he? And yeah just took your time with that conversation huh Harry? But at least he had it.
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Cinderella smiled slightly as Kit handed her a scroll. "Thank you."
"Of course," Kit said, returning his wife's smile. "Here's hoping this scroll might curb some murderous feelings."
"I doubt it," Cinderella sighed.
Hadie couldn't help but smile as he sat down at the table next to Alexandria Charming, one of his new friends since arriving in Auradon.
"Ooh, his first date?" Harry asked, leaning forward in interest as he teased the boy who was practically his brother.
He had been working at a different table but had gladly changed tables to be able to work with his friend. Also it worked to make sure he was still following the first rule of the Isle: never be alone.
"Being alone on the Isle makes you a sitting duck for attacks from other gangs," Dizzy said softly.
"Diz? Anyone attack you?" Hadie asked, looking over at his best friend. He didn't even need to look at Celia to know what his other best friend was thinking.
If anyone had attacked Dizzy, they'd regret it.
Dizzy shook her head. "No, not since I'm under Rat protection. But it's obvious isn't it? Besides, you told me about the time Dustin got jumped after all."
"Oh right," Hadie nodded.
"Dustin?" Emma asked.
Henry smiled. "One of our crew. Pain in the…butt and always talks about his relationships but he's a good crew mate."
"I'm sure we've mentioned him before," Mal said, shaking her head.
He may have been fairly sheltered on the Isle, what with being Mal's brother and Uma's cousin, but even he knew the rules of the Isle.
"Of course you do! What kind of a sister do you take me for?" Malinda said, shaking her head.
The crew had trained him, CJ, and the other younger members on the rules whenever they got.
CJ nodded. "Of course! How do you expect us to get into the Top Ten of the crew in terms of our sword work if we aren't trained? You've got to start somewhere after all."
"Oh does this mean you'll stop griping about being left behind?" Harriet asked.
"Not a chance!"
It had been annoying but if it was a choice between annoying and potentially deadly, Hadie would pick annoying every chance he got. Besides, the quizzes got easier after Harriet wrote the rules down and made small booklets for them to study.
"…while I have to commend a fellow bookworm, that's rather dark reading," Ben said.
"Like you wouldn't read it if given the chance Benji," Chip teased.
They were some of the few books they had on the Isle that were relatively new, all in all there were probably about twenty books in total but maybe five were still usable.
"Five?" Belle gasped.
"Belle, I know you're about to faint over the status of the books on the Isle. But maybe we should focus on more important things?" Chip asked.
"Yeah mom…as much as I like the idea of books, it's not the most pressing thing in the world," Abby said softly.
Belle sighed and nodded. "Right, right."
Though the sorry state of the other fifteen could be blamed on morons like the Gaston twins and even a few of their own. Not all of the Warf Rats liked reading as a way to pass the time.
"Cover Ben's ears!" Emir and Akiho exclaimed.
"As long as you cover Belle's as well!" Chip told them.
However, with the never-ending turf war between the Rats and the Angels, Hadie couldn't exactly blame them.
"Yeah…reading is leisure after all," Claudine sighed.
Henry nodded. "Leisure is only possible if we're alive after all."
You wouldn't win in a face off against an Angel by quoting from a book while they were wielding a dagger.
"Maybe if you were throwing the book while quoting it," Sammy said.
"Why…why would you throw a book?" Ben asked.
"Book vs your life Benny. Which one are you choosing?" Mal asked, crossing her arms.
"His life," Akiho and Emir said at the same time.
It pays to be friends with CJ, he thought.
CJ grinned. "Why thank you Hadie!"
"Do we want to know?" Mal and Harriet asked at the same time.
There was no way Mal would have given me any of that information. Her constant quest to keep me innocent I suppose. Never mind the fact that I did have to live on the Isle too.
Claudine sighed. "Believe me Hadie. There might come a day where you will be glad you had a sibling who wanted you to keep your innocence," she said softly.
Esmeralda shook her head softly, a part of her not wanting to know what Claudine meant by that.
"You okay?" Alexandria asked, looking at him and bringing him back to the conversation at hand. "No offense but you're not your usual chatty self. I know it's the library but you can still talk you know."
"Thanks for looking out for him," Malinda said, giving Alexandria a small smile.
Alexandria shrugged. "What kind of a friend would I be if I didn't?"
"I'm fine," Hadie said with a small shrug. "I was…I was just thinking about the Isle."
"And that's okay," Alexandria said. "No one can expect you not to."
"Oh," Alexandria said and they were quiet for a bit as they worked. Before long though Alexandria broke the silence. "What's it like? The Isle I mean? I tried asking Kitty, Lucy and Chad about it before you all arrived but Chad wouldn't answer and I feel like the answer Kitty and Lucy gave were just sanitized versions."
Hadie bit his lip as he noticed that some of the older VKs tensed up and he couldn't help but hope he didn't take something from Alexandria that she could never get back.
"The curse of being the younger sibling huh? They're always trying to keep the world bright and shiny for you?"
All the younger siblings in the room nodded.
"You think having one or three older siblings is bad? Try having five," Evan said, shaking his head.
"Oh Gods, yes! Someone who knows my pain!" Alexandria chuckled as she shook her head. "We should form a club. You, me, Phillip Jr., Ashaki, Melody, and Neal White. I'm sure there are other younger siblings around here we could invited to join too."
"Great idea! Where do I sign up?" Hadie asked with a grin, trying to lighten the mood.
"That'd be fun," Hadie grinned, brushing a bit of his blue hair out of his eyes. "It'd be like our own pirate crew. You'd be captain of course."
"Does this mean I get a hat?" Alexandria asked with a grin.
"I'll see if I can get you one," Malinda said, chuckling slightly.
"Why not you? I thought guys were captain." Alexandria said, tilting her head a little in confusion as she brushed a bit of her long blonde hair out of her face.
"I'm sorry, what now?" Uma asked as Mal shook her head and Harriet stared in shock.
"I apologize for what my future self said?" Alexandria said softly.
"Good," Uma nodded.
Malinda snorted softly. "You know you can't be mad at her for that," she told Uma.
Hadie rolled his eyes. "Mal and Uma were co-captains back on the Isle. In fact, I don't think they ever stopped considering Jay and Harry still call them 'captains'. Harry's older sister Harriet is the captain of her crew, and I think Red Jessica of the Rose would have words with you if she was still alive."
"It's about time we had some examples of girl power," Lonnie said, nodding her head.
"And what am I?" Mulan asked, raising an eyebrow.
"…I meant additional examples of girl power of course."
Unfortunately, not even Mal could keep that sort of information from him. When people had their souls enter the Underworld. Came with the territory, his father being who he was. He was sure Mal was the same way even if she never mentioned it.
Mal bit her lip and her parents sighed. More than anything they wished they could keep that from Hadie.
Of course her parents wished they could keep that information from Mal as well but that was besides the point.
"Okay okay," Alexandria said as she shook her head once more, the hair she'd just brushed out of her face falling back into her eyes. "So, what? You'd be my first mate?"
"Hadie would be a great First Mate," Dizzy said. "He's as loyal as Harry is so he's got that trait down pat."
"Thanks Diz," Hadie grinned at his friend.
"Gladly," Hadie grinned, happy that the slightly morbid subject of death had been changed to one he was more than happy to talk about. Ironic, considering his father was the God of the Dead.
"Hey, I'm all in favor of my kid not talking about death! For me, yeah comes with the territory but I don't want my kid talking about it," Hades said firmly.
"I can ask Harry how to be a decent one. Besides, you're a Princess. It wouldn't be right for you not to be in charge."
"I'd be happy to show you how to be a good First Mate, little Lord," Harry nodded.
Sammy shook her head. "You know he's got more than one option to choose when it comes to being a good First Mate right?"
"Come on Sammy. He's practically grown up around me!"
"Maybe I'll pick Jay. After all, he's practically Mali's First Mate," Hadie teased.
"Oh now you're just being cruel Hads," Mal chuckled at Harry's stunned face.
"Hadie, you're the son of two Gods. If we're going by rank as to determine who's in charge of our hypothetical club, it should be you then."
Hadie shook his head. "Rank isn't everything," he said.
Hadie shook his head. "I'm not the leading type. That's Mal's role after all. Like I said, she and Uma lead the crew back on the Isle. Harry was first mate and Jay was right under him."
"Why thank you Hads. I do try," Mal said with a soft chuckle.
"He's right you know," Melody spoke up. "You really were born to lead, since your future self is the Queen of Auradon."
Alexandria nodded, chewing a bit on her pen as she thought for a moment. It hadn't escaped her knowledge that Hadie hadn't answered her question about what the Isle was like. It wasn't as if he wouldn't know, as he had lived on the Isle his whole life. It really could only mean one thing; that the Isle was the type of place you had to experience rather than describe.
"Well…that's one way to put it," Harriet said.
"Well, well, well, isn't this cute? Honestly Alexandria, I thought you'd have better standards as to who your boyfriend was. I mean, I know he can only move upwards but you have your rank to think about."
Hadie shook his head. "Okay, I may be too young to date right now but when I am I don't think I could do much better than someone like Princess Alexandria."
"No need for titles…Lord Hadie," Alexandria said with a small smile on her face.
If that's flirting I hear…
Dad, chill. They're too young for even a flirtationship, Malinda thought as she shook her head.
No dating until you're twenty understand?!
And here I thought he'd say two hundred.
Don't give him any ideas Mal!
Alexandria rolled her eyes and turned to face Audrey who was accompanied by a couple of her lackeys. "One, he's not my boyfriend and two, don't you have something better to do? Like break my brother's heart for the fiftieth time?"
"This may sound strange but…" Lucy said as she looked over at Alexandria. "Don't give her any ideas."
"Your brother knows where my feelings lie," Audrey said, waving her hand in front of her face as if shooing a bothersome bug. "Whats more it's not really any of your business what my plans with him are now is it?"
"When it involves my brother, you can bet it becomes my business," Alexandria said firmly.
"You stuck your nose in my business, only fair I get to do the same with yours." Alexandria shrugged, turning back to resume work on the essay in front of her.
"I'm going to guess it was the fact that you were in the library that prevented you from being as firm in your answer as you were here Alex?" Chad asked, a small note of teasing in his voice.
"Oh Alex, sweet little Alex," Audrey said shaking her head as a couple of her cronies tittered in amusement.
"Prepare for Audrey to be verbally eviscerated in three…two…one…" Kitty said. If there was one thing her little sister hated, it was for anyone to shorten her name. The only ones who could were family.
If anyone outside the family tried, they were treated to a polite yet firm tongue lashing.
Hadie was honestly reminded of some of the brainless wonders back on the Isle. What were their names? Mal and Uma loved to rant about them almost as much as they ranted about Evie...oh that's right! Maddy, Quinn and Morgan. Half of Zevon's gang and one of Freddy's Angels.
"Quinn's not that bad," Evie said, shaking her head.
"She has less brains than you do Evie," Uma said with a scoff.
Evie sighed. "On the Isle…the brainless girls aren't seen as the threat. My mother is just as associated with magic as your parents Uma, or your parents Mal. Yet Freddy leaves me alone. Why is that?"
"She speaks the truth," Claudine nodded. "Honestly I've always wondered why Fred never went after Evie. Though I'm glad he didn't of course since I'd never want him to go after a girl but like you said Evie, your mother is associated with magic. Yet he ignores you."
"Well considering what we know about Freddy, maybe Evie's just too old for his liking," Evan muttered.
Claudine shook her head but didn't say anything. As for Morgan…you do what you have to to survive the Haven, she thought.
No wait…if they survived the Isle then they had to have something in their heads. The jury was out on whether the same could be said for Audrey's cronies.
"Arianna does make me wonder sometimes if she's got a brain in her head," Phil Jr. muttered.
"It's clear you still don't understand how hierarchies work," Audrey said, pulling Hadie's attention back onto the conversation rather than spend his brain power trying to determine if the other girls had brains of their own or if they operated on a pure hive mind.
"…she's a Princess," Neal said, shaking his head. "Wouldn't a Princess know how hierarchies work?"
"You see, as someone who is first in line for their throne, I'm well within my right to inquire about your business. A Queen has to know about her subjects after all. But you, little miss…what was it again?"
"But you're not future Queen any more," Mal said, shaking her head.
"Actually…she still is," Phil Jr. sighed. "Future Queen of Auroria but still future Queen."
"Fourth in line," Alexandria muttered, looking like she would rather be dragged over rocks than have this conversation.
"Or we could drag the pink demon over rocks?"
Harriet sighed. "Harry, I know that she hasn't been the nicest but stop it. You know the mantra of the Isle or at least the mantra around the VKs."
"You cry you die?"
"The other one."
"King Beast deserves a swift kick up the arse?"
"Language and no, the other one."
"…evil isn't born, it's made?"
Harriet nodded. "Exactly. Right now, it's not the Audrey in this room saying it but the Audrey in the scrolls."
"But…can't we call the Audrey in the scrolls a pink demon and just not be too cruel to the Audrey in the room?" Harry asked.
"…you just want to keep calling someone a pink demon don't you?" Milah asked, shaking her head at her son.
"Yes mom."
"Use it on young Fred Frollo then," Milah said. While the boy might not wear pink, Milah didn't particularly care since he went after her daughter.
"Yes mom!" Harry grinned.
Audrey smirked as her two yes-women once again giggled in cruel amusement. "That's right, you're fourth in line for your throne. Well then, my business just isn't any concern of yours."
"But Alexandria's business is your concern Audrey?" Ashaki asked. "Double standard much?"
Throughout the entire exchange, Hadie had been telling himself not to get involved. Mal could deal with Audrey if it turned nasty. But seeing Alexandria upset like she was…he couldn't hold his tongue any longer.
"Any good person would have broken into that conversation, Hadie," Robin said with a small nod.
"That doesn't seem fair," Hadie said, raising an eyebrow as both royals looked over at him. "So what, you can just interfere in the business of anyone lower ranked than you?"
"Glad to see someone gets it," Audrey nodded.
"I don't think he's agreeing with you though, Audrey," Phil Jr. said, shaking his head.
Hadie smirked a little. "So why won't you leave Mal alone? Considering she's the daughter of a God, I'd think that would be higher on the ranking scale than a mere princess. Oh, no offense Alex."
"I have taught you well, mini-cuz," Uma said with a small smirk.
"None taken," Alexandria said with a small smile. Normally she hated it when people who weren't related to her shortened her name like that but she was fine with Hadie doing that. Especially since he was in the process of taking down Audrey.
Kitty and Lucy looked at each other with a small smile. That was very interesting, they'd have to file that away for later.
Audrey rolled her eyes but was preventing from speaking as a familiar voice entered the fray.
"Step away from my brother Audrey," Mal snapped as she walked up to the three of them, her eyes narrowed in such a way that would have spelled trouble to anyone with half a brain. "Gods, you know, going up to Ben is one thing. But you can't leave well enough alone now can you?"
"And the cavalry is here!" Akiho said with a grin.
"It's a library and I saw someone I knew Mal. Not my fault she was sitting next to your half brother," Audrey said, faking an innocent tone in her voice.
"Oh God, I'm reminded of Fred with that," Claudine muttered and shook her head.
"What?!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Fred always likes to put emphasis on the fact that I'm only his half sister," Claudine told her and Audrey grew silent. She…she was nothing like Freddy!
Was she?
"And I've told you about ten times to stay away from my sisters while we're on our break Audrey," Chad said as he too entered into the conversation.
Kitty, Lucy, and Alexandria all looked at each other in slight surprise as they heard Chad say that.
Good thing too, as Mal looked ready to either hit Audrey with a fireball or just haul off and slug her. "Unless this is your way of saying you want to get back together?"
Chad's sisters all facepalmed at the same time.
"Chad…why?" Kitty groaned.
Cinderella shook her head. "That's enough girls.
Audrey rolled her eyes. "Chad, I told you about fifty times. I belong with Ben. You were just a way to bounce back while he recovered from whatever spell Mal had him under."
Benji pinched the bridge of his nose. "I. Am. Not. Spelled. And if there's anyone I belong with, it's my wife and mother of my child."
Malinda shook her head. "Hey, hey, calm down okay? I think pup just kicked again if you want to feel?"
"Wait…they did? Firefly kicked again?"
Malinda nodded and grabbed Benji's hand, guiding it over her stomach and smiled as his eyes lit up at feeling the kick.
"Audrey. Ben. Can't. Be. Spelled," Mal said, going slow as if to make sure she heard every word. "You were betrothed to the guy and you don't know that? Hell, even if you personally didn't know that, it has to be a matter of public record! It's only the christening of the Crown Prince we're talking about—plus one of the fairies who your mother considers an aunt was the one to give the gift!"
"Exactly! Like Malinda said, does she have memory problems or something?" Uma asked.
"If anyone could spell Ben, Mal, I bet it'd be you. Daughter of Hades and Maleficent after all," Audrey scoffed, her lackeys murmuring in agreement. "Chad, I'll see you at lunch."
"Maleficent doesn't have a daughter though so how could she spell Ben?" Emma asked.
"…I thought Mal was the daughter of the Dragon?" Squeaky said softly.
Mal glanced at her parents who nodded softly before looking back at Squeaky.
"The Dragon lied," she said. "I'm the daughter of Lord Hades and Lady Persephone."
"Oh…" Squeaky said softly.
With that, she turned around and stormed off. Mal rolled her eyes as she saw Chad staring after Audrey rather forlornly. If Mal was being generous, she'd say Chad looked almost like a kicked puppy.
Emir, Akiho, Lonnie, Kitty, Lucy, and Alexandria all sighed and shook their heads.
"Geez, Charming Jr., get better taste in women," Mal scoffed. She'd have felt sorry for him if he hadn't strung Evie along and made her do his homework.
"Could have been phrased a bit nicer but Chad, please take the advice," Kitty said.
Chad winced slightly as his parents shot him a look at the reminder of him getting other girls to do his homework.
Back then, the only one who could mess with Evie was Mal. Now though? Evie was under her protection. No one was messing with the blue haired VK, not even Mal.
"Thank you Mal," Evie said, her voice soft as she shot Malinda a small smile.
"She said to your face that she only saw you as a rebound and you still want her?"
Chad shrugged slightly before turning to his sister. "Alex, you okay?"
Alexandria couldn't help but smile softly. I know my brother Chad was in there somewhere rather than the yes-man he always is around Audrey, she thought.
"I'm fine Chad," Alexandria nodded. "She didn't do anything, just spewed some nonsense about rankings and how she could poke her nose in my business but I couldn't do the same because I'm fourth in line for the Charmington throne."
"That doesn't mean you wouldn't be hurt by it Alex," Lucy said. "You shouldn't downplay it."
"Oh you mean like how you downplay certain comments about how you're adopted because you're the only Charming with dad's dark hair?" Alexandria asked innocently.
"…touché."
"I'm sorry, what?" Kit exclaimed.
"Mom, how much of the scroll is left?" Lucy asked. "I'm sure everyone wants to get it over with."
Cinderella sighed. "Fine, but we're talking about this later Lucy."
"Besides, we were fine even if you two didn't step in," Hadie added.
"What makes you say that little bro?"
"Yeah, what makes you say that Hadie?" Mal asked.
"Because Uma and Harry were about two shelves to the right of us," Hadie said, pointing at them. "It's a shame, they've lived on the Isle yet they can't sneak up on people."
"If you weren't you, I'd be sparring you for that, mini-cuz!" Uma said as she and Harry had matching offended looks on their faces.
"How in the world did you know we were there?" Uma asked as she stepped out from behind the bookshelf.
"You're the only person in Auradon with teal hair and Harry breathes so loudly, I could have hit him with a fireball in the dark," Hadie said, rolling his eyes. "Plus I heard him whisper that all the girls in this school are ravishing."
Uma walked over to where Harry was sitting and slapped him on the back of the head.
"What was that for?!" Harry exclaimed.
"You know what it was for!" Uma said as she sat back down.
"Uma, control your first mate," Mal sighed as she shook her head.
"Gladly," Uma nodded as she whacked Harry over the head.
"What? I can't even notice when a girl is good looking anymore?!"
"Not around Hadie!" Mal and Uma snapped in unison.
"Yeah Harry, you know better than that," Mal nodded, glancing over at Jay with a knowing look. A look he returned.
Uma rolled her eyes. "Again with the 'they're in denial' looks. Stop that!"
"You know future Mal over there even said you're married to him," Audrey scoffed. "And you say I have memory problems."
Hadie rolled his eyes. "You guys do know I'm eleven, not three right? I can handle Harry saying girls are good looking."
"I mean if I can handle the filth Dustin dishes out on a daily basis, I can handle Harry calling girls good looking," Hadie said.
"How many times have we strung him up by his underwear for that?" Henry asked.
"I've lost count," Mal said. "I'm beginning to think he likes it."
Alexandria chuckled softly before looking at Chad. "And I thought you, Kitty and Lucy were overprotective."
"It's the role of an older sibling," Chad said with a nod. "I'm going to go then. Alex, you're sure you're okay?"
Chad nodded. "As strange as it is to agree with these guys, that is one thing I do agree with them on. An older sibling protects their younger ones."
"I'm sure Chad," Alexandria nodded. "Don't worry, I won't write to mom and dad with a different story."
"When's the last time you wrote to mom or dad?"
"Fine, I won't call mom and dad with a different story. Happy?"
Kitty and Lucy looked at each other with surprise in their eyes. That was the most sibling like banter they'd heard from Chad in a while.
"Insanely," Chad nodded before walking off. Alexandria rolled her eyes.
"Why don't I believe that?" Alexandria asked, her voice soft as she bit her lip.
"Brothers," she muttered. "Can't live with 'em, they'll drive you insane if you try."
Harry chuckled. "Now, now, Charmette, don't lump all us brothers in with yours."
"Harry, you once tried to run Freddy boy through with your sword because he made a comment about CJ," Uma stated.
"I still fail to see how that's a negative outcome for anyone but Freddy!"
"The runt was thirteen at the time and considering what Freddy boy is like, I was well within my right to try to run him through! If Jay, Derek and Jake hadn't held me back, I would have!"
"Didn't you say earlier that Henry also held you back?" Rowyn asked.
"Oh yeah," Harry nodded.
Malinda shook her head. "If Harry named all the Rats who held him back from turning Freddy into a shish kebab, he'd still be in the library."
No one noticed the slight smile that appeared on CJ's face as she heard that. Even if her brother truly hated her, at least she ranked below Freddy on Harry's 'people he hated' list.
"We don't murder people Harry!"
"Making sure Freddy never saw the light of day again is more like a public service Uma!"
"Since when do we preform 'public services' on the Isle?"
"There's a first time for everything!" Harriet growled, her hands clenching into fists.
"Easy, cap'n," Sammy said softly, resting a hand on her shoulder. "You know the crew won't let anything happen to CJ."
Harriet gave Sammy a small smile, though she had to wonder why she felt a shiver run up her spine at Sammy's touch. Must have been a draft or something.
"Guys, I hate to be that person but this is the library," Mal sighed. "If you're going to stay here, you're going to keep your voice down."
"Thank you Mal!" Hadie nodded. "Come on guys, I don't want to get kicked out of here! Again."
"I'm sorry, again?" Persephone asked.
Hades shook his head. "I almost don't want to ask but I find myself curious as to how my bookworm of a son got kicked out of the library."
"Again? Meaning you've been kicked out of the library already?" Mal asked.
"Harry tried to start a sparring lesson with a ruler last week," Hadie shrugged.
"Why am I not surprised?" Harriet asked with a small sigh.
"Did I win?" Harry asked, grinning from ear to ear.
Malinda chuckled. "What do you think Harry?"
Alexandria blinked in surprise at how he was acting like that sort of behavior was normal.
And yet, from what she'd seen, it probably was.
"Oh yes, completely normal for Harry," Mal nodded.
Uma sighed and shook her head, leaning over to ruffle Hadie's hair. "Fine you little bookworm. I'll behave. But only because you're my cousin."
"Gee, thanks," Hadie muttered as he tried to straighten his hair back out.
"For the millionth time. No. Touchy. The. Hair!"
Harry chuckled. "Now that we know the little Lord is safe, shall we go and get some sparring practice in, cap'n?"
"Don't you two have some homework to do?" Persephone asked, giving Harry and Uma a look.
"But…sparring…"
"Can be done after your homework, Harry," Persephone said, shaking her head.
"Took the words right out of my mouth, my Lady," Milah chuckled.
"Why that sounds lovely Harry. Mali, you in?"
"As much fun as that sounds you guys, I did just spar Uma today and I do have some homework I'd like to get done before lunch."
"I'm guessing this is a weekend?" Demeter asked. "Seeing as the previous scroll had Mal returning to her dorm and the scroll before that had Uma and Mal sparring with no mention of class."
"Nope, you're coming with us. You need a dose of the Isle and stat."
Malinda couldn't help the slightly sad smile that pulled at her lips. If only you'd tried a bit harder, cuz, she thought. If only I wasn't so stubborn…
"Cap'n's right Mal. I mean, you're already missing your jacket. You stay here in Boreadon without us for much longer and you'll be wearing a dress all the time and changing your hair!"
Well…this is awkward, Audie thought as an image of a blonde Mal came into her mind's eye. Will that happen to this Mal as well?
"Please," Mal scoffed. "I'd never change my hair!"
"There's nothing wrong with dresses," Alexandria spoke up as she brushed some lint from the skirt of her baby blue dress. "Though I do admit, they'd look weird on Mal. It'd be if my sister Kitty wore dresses all the time. Now if it were Lucy, that'd be a different story."
"Our sister knows us well," Kitty chuckled as she brushed a bit of dirt off her jeans.
"Alex?"
"Hmm?"
"You're rambling," Hadie told her. "But Harry's right Mal. Where is your jacket? You normally never take it off."
Mal couldn't help but wince slightly at that, the memory of the fact that her future self actually took off her jacket was still too raw. "Don't ask," she whispered.
"As I told Uma earlier when she asked back at our dorm, I got hot. It happens a lot around here," Mal shrugged, trying to ignore the feeling of goosebumps forming on her skin.
"Uh huh. Sure, you just got hot," Hadie said, giving his sister a look.
"Why are you giving me the look? She's the one who said it," Mal said, pointing to Malinda.
"But you're the Mal who's going to be living through this so I'd rather give you the look."
"She won't be living through this," Hades said firmly. "Not if I have anything to say about it."
Even with the heated buildings, the cold from the outside still seeped into her bones. It didn't help that the library was oddly enough the coldest building in Auradon Prep.
"She's not wrong. That library was always freezing when I went to Auradon Prep," Lil Shang nodded, causing Lonnie to jump.
"Comment more or something! You startled me," she told her older brother.
Mal didn't know why that was, she didn't know how that was but she would go to her grave stating that it was the coldest building on campus. Well…if Gods had graves. Or Fae for that matter.
"Well…we know about the Gods," Hercules said. "But there's not much known about the Fae."
"I"m sure there're some books on them," Jane spoke up. "After all, the Bad Fairies class has a textbook on Fairies. There might be some information on the Fae in there."
"An excellent idea, Janey," Fairy Godmother said with a smile.
No, bad thoughts. Remember you're trying to distance yourself from Maleficent. You won't get people to stop making comparisons between you and Maleficent if you're doing it yourself, Mal thought.
"Trust me, it'll take more than that," Malinda said with a small whisper as she shook her head.
"Well I'll let you guys get back to work," Mal said with a small nod of her head. "Uma, Harry, don't kill each other sparring."
"Mal, you wound us!"
"What we said Mali! When have we ever killed each other?" Uma asked as Harry nodded in agreement.
Mal rolled her eyes and walked off. Uma watched as her cousin turned the corner and then, as soon as she was satisfied that Mal was out of earshot, turned to Harry and Hadie.
"Go after her cap'n," Harry muttered.
"Look, either I'm crazy or Mal's changed," she said.
"Are we sure it's not both?" Jay asked with a small chuckle.
"Well why can't it be both?" Hadie asked and then quickly dodged a whack on the head from his older cousin. "You're right though Uma. Mal loves her jacket, she's always had it on since I can remember."
"Why are we talking? We should be doing an intervention!" Hadie said firmly.
"You don't think something happened to it?"
"Like what? A sleeve ripped or something?"
"Maybe she tore a stitch in it when she threw that dagger at Audrey?"
"If it was just that, Mal could have gotten it fixed," Dizzy said. "She's got Evie for a room mate after all!"
Mal nodded. "Guys, I wouldn't throw it out, you know that right? It's just in my closet."
"Maybe it was getting a bit tight?" Alexandria offered and the other three jumped a smidge, forgetting the youngest Charming was still there. "I mean, Mal's still plenty lean but from what my sisters told me, the original VKs were very lean when they got here. A change in diet…"
"I wish it was just that," Malinda muttered as Benji gently rubbed her back.
"Mal could have just spelled her jacket to be bigger, or asked mom for a new one," Hadie pointed out. "Also weren't you here when Mal, Jay and the others arrived?"
Persephone nodded. "Of course. If Mal or Hadie ever needed something, I'd be there for them in a heartbeat."
"Yeah but Chad and Kitty interacted with them more. That was actually probably the first time I'd interacted with Mal."
"But it wasn't the last time," Malinda said with a small smile.
"Ah. But going back to the topic at hand, what's going on with Mal?"
"You could try talking to her?"
Uma shook her head. "Tried that. Speaking of talking, though, Hadie? Your mind link? Does Mal have you on mute too?"
Uma, Hadie, and the rest of Mal's Godly family looked at her in shock. Actually they alternated between looking at Mal and looking at Malinda in shock.
"As Hadie said, an intervention is needed now!" Uma exclaimed.
"I thought it was just me," Hadie said, sounding a bit relieved.
Hadie shook his head sadly. He wished he could somehow help the scroll-Mal but at least he could make sure his Mal didn't have to worry about that.
"Mind link—?"
"The Olympians have an ability where they can communicate mentally to each other," Hadie explained to a confused looking Alexandria. "Since it's not 'evil' so to speak, the barrier can't stop it. I was able to communicate with Mal using it when I was back on the Isle and she was here."
"Wouldn't you know that though?" Macaria asked, looking at Alexandria. "You're friends with Herkie."
"Believe it or not, I don't remember every detail of everything Herkie tells me," Alexandria said with a small chuckle.
"I knew it! You don't love me!" Herkie said with a fake sob.
"I love your insanity."
"I'll take it!"
"Same," Uma nodded. "But for the past month, Mal's had me on mute. I'm tempted to ask Aunt Steph and Uncle Hades if they've been on mute too but that would just worry them."
"Uma, worry us," Persephone said as Hades nodded.
"Steph's right. We'll want to know about this," he said. "And if you're not going to inform me or Steph because of that Zeus-damned agreement, then reach out to your grandfather or your other cousins."
"Hades?" Poseidon asked.
"You made it so more children didn't die by sending your fish folk to us," Hades said. "You are the only one I trust when it comes to my daughter or my niece Poseidon….and I should have reached out to you when Maleficent captured Mal."
"As the mortals say, if 'ifs and butts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas'," Poseidon told him. "But thank you brother."
"Have you tried talking to the other Olympian children?" Alexandria suggested. "Like Elle or Macaria? Wouldn't they be able to communicate through this mental link too, since Elle's Poseidon's great-granddaughter and Macaria is Zeus' granddaughter?"
"They wouldn't be able to tell much, Mal's probably always had them on mute," Uma said, shaking her head.
Uma sighed. As much as she really did not want to talk to her cousins on this side of the barrier, there might not be much of a choice. If something was going on with Mal's mental link, those brainless Olympians and Atlanticans might know something Uma didn't.
"It's for Mal," Uma muttered as Harry looked at her in shock.
The joys of living in Auradon and having full access to their abilities. Not for the first time in her life did Uma curse the fact she'd been born under the magical barrier.
"Don't we all cuz?" Mal said with a small sigh.
"I don't," Harry shrugged. "At least, not because of any magical abilities."
But Uma would swallow her pride and talk to them if it meant at least one mystery could be solved. If one of the brainless wonders could access Mal's mental link, then that meant that her cousin had her on mute.
"But why would I have Uma on mute and not Macaria or Elle?" Mal asked. "No offense of course but I'd be more likely to have them on mute than Uma—she's my best friend!"
And she's also the one most likely to know when something's wrong with us, Malinda thought.
And if that was the case, then Uma would have no choice but to get Aunt Steph involved. Because that meant that something was going on with Mal, something she didn't want Uma to know about.
"Or you could get Persephone involved now and save yourself the stress," Poseidon suggested.
Mali, you'd better hope Jerkules' or Princess Sushi's kids can't access your mental link. Otherwise, it's a nonstop call to your mom.
"Wouldn't you'd rather hope that they could access Mal's mental link?" Hyllus asked. "Otherwise that means Mal's got all of us on mute for some reason."
"And why put conditions on calling me?" Persephone asked. "You're worried about Mal. Call me."
"But the agreement—."
"Zeus, I'd tell you where you could shove that agreement if it wasn't for the fact that there're young children in the room!"
"So…are you guys going to go spar or just stand over our table in an awkward silence?" Hadie asked, looking at his cousin and her first mate.
"What kind of a question is that?" Harriet asked. "You know Harry and Uma, what do you think they'd pick?"
Uma shook her head slightly, her cousin's words pulling her out of her thoughts and back to the situation at hand.
"Ah! Right you are, my young Lordling," Harry nodded.
Hadie rolled his eyes. "You've been calling me that since I was three Harry! You outrank me!"
"You're a God. I'm a Pirate."
"You're first mate. I'm just crew."
"And I'm just a fourth in line Princess who'd like to get this essay done," Alexandria spoke up.
"Harry stop it," Hadie said, shaking his head. "Rank's not everything."
Uma chuckled. "So sorry to bother you, Princess. Hadie, we'll be in the gym if you need us. Actually, it's been a while since you've sparred. Come round after you're done here, I'll see where you're at."
"Aye aye cap'n," Hadie said, giving Uma a salute.
"Oh joy, getting my ass handed to me by either Harry or Jay will be the highlight of my day," Hadie rolled his eyes.
"Language Hadie!" Persephone scolded.
"…did I just get called out for language I haven't even said yet?" Hadie asked.
"Hey now," Uma chided. "I could always get Gil to spar you."
"Humiliating defeat versus an easy win? I'll take defeat, I almost beat Jay last time."
"Almost is not a win," Jay said with a smirk.
"No one likes a smug winner Jay," Mal told him. "Even if that win hasn't happened yet."
Uma chuckled and leaned over to ruffle Hadie's hair again, Hadie squawking with discontent. "Charmette, Hadie. You two take care now."
"Again. Hands. Off. The. Hair!" Hadie said with a small glare. "No touchy!"
"Bye Uma," Hadie said, running his hand through his hair as if to straighten it back out. Uma and Harry smirked as they walked out of the library.
"Where to Cap'n?" Harry asked as they entered the hallway. "Gym for sparring?"
"No Harry," Uma sighed.
"…are you feeling okay?" Mal asked, looking at her cousin. "You never turn down sparring. Especially with Harry."
"I need to have a talk with some Olympians. I could ignore Mal changing slightly before because it's Boreadon. We're from the Isle, adapting is in our blood. But Mal's going without her jacket. I can't turn a blind eye to that."
"Oh…" Mal said softly.
Malinda gave the younger version of her cousin a small smile. She was truly touched by the fact that Uma was going to go talk to their family that, let's be honest, they weren't the closest too because she was concerned about Mal.
Remind me to do something really nice for her on her birthday, she thought.
"Where you go I go Uma," Harry nodded. "Especially with Princess Brat roaming the halls."
"You just don't want to risk seeing Gil in the gym by yourself do you?" Uma teased as the two of them walked off in search of her elusive extended relations.
"Avoiding Fish for Brains is just as good for him as it is for me," Harry said. "It expands the chances he'll live to see his next birthday."
Cinderella shook her head. "Well that was the end of the scroll."
"Can I read next?" Lucas asked.
"I don't see why not," Cinderella told him.