Chapter Seventy Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Guys can you believe we're both 25 chapters away from 100 and 124 reviews away from 2000? Honestly that's amazing! Thank you all so much for your continued support and I hope you continue to enjoy the chapters! :D
Okay, yes, I have to admit, I couldn't resist throwing in a bit of Monty Python! If Romeo and Juliet can exist in Descendants, so can the Knights who say Ni! :D
slytherin4thewin: So glad you enjoyed the chapter! Yeah I won't lie, that was probably one of my favorite parts to write in that chapter! Not long now before we'll be free of Natalie though!
Lauriverfanboy1: Honestly though with Natalie I can forgive Zeus if only because Natalie didn't show her true colors until after she had the job. That being said, Hades and Persephone might never forgive him for voting yes on that.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Aww! Cats are the best when it comes to cuddles—my kitty will sometimes lay on me when I'm on my side like a big cat lying on a tree branch lol.
Marcus Emrys: Originally the air and heat was going to be deliberate but then it kinda went nowhere and it was never brought up again so that's when I decided to change it to bad wiring for this story. As for Audrey, it's slow going but her de-leah-ing is happening :D
Bluebird: Hmm, I'm sure the Fates would be able to do that…unfortunately I really can't stand writing her. And I created her! So chances are she won't make an appearance.
cass585339: Hope you enjoy!
Katt Kiki: It's so close I can taste it! :D
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yeah, Mal just needs to hold on just a little longer. Help will come! And I figured that'd be a Harry thing to say about Satan having multiple spawns :D And who doesn't love Lonnie?
twilightgirl587: Oh you're right, that really is the last thing that Mal needs! As for Lonnie, well she and her brother might not be dating the King but they're still connected to dragons through Mushu. And hey, wanting to meet all the puppers is a great reason to start a business! :D
JaclynnM: Oh I'm so glad you liked it! It was one of my favorites to write, I won't lie! :D
danifan3000: Oh trust me, Natalie's up to something in the shadows of the Choosing stories. It'll just be a bit before she shows up again.
The Christian Dino: No worries! :D And man, that does sound like it would be a good idea—maybe once I'm done with this story and a few of the other WIPs. :D
smc: Glad you enjoyed it!
jedblack1997: You're welcome! Since my hc is that Zeus helped reinforce the barrier in order to keep Hades in, I doubt it wouldn't be strong enough to imprison the Titans.
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"So do scrolls always just randomly appear?" Sammy asked as she grabbed hers.
"Yep," Harriet nodded. "We've stopped trying to count how many are left."
Ben sighed as he walked over to the gym.
"So he's either looking for Uma or Jay and my money's on Uma," Chip said with a nod.
It was the best place to find Uma and right now, he needed to talk to her.
"Hah! I knew it!"
"No one bet against you Teacup," Lucas said, shaking his head.
He knew everyone changed, that was just a way of life. But Mal's request to not have the dragon nickname be used...well it honestly bothered him.
Malinda sighed. "I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you," she whispered to Benji.
"Yeah well that's what happens with the people I love. I worry about them," Benji whispered back to her.
Uma would know if anyone was giving Mal a hard time about being a VK.
"Sadly the person who was seems to be the person Uma has no idea about," Neal said. "Or at the very least Uma doesn't know about everything that Natalie's doing."
They were practically glued to the hip ever since Uma got from the Isle, or at least that's how it seemed to Ben.
"Of course we are! I can't think of a reason why we wouldn't be together!" Uma said.
Note to self: make sure Uma never finds out that in my timeline, she's pretty much Mal's arch rival, Audie thought for what felt like the thousandth time.
Not that Ben blamed them. If he'd been separated from Chip for even a week, he'd be hard pressed to leave his side.
Chip grinned. "That implies I'd be leaving your side for any reason Benji."
Walking into the gym, he couldn't help but smile as he watched Uma and Harry once again go at it with swords.
"So your typical day with Harry and Uma then?" Sammy asked.
They truly were good at what they did.
"Why thank you Benny," Harry said with a grin.
"We do try," Uma nodded.
Though, as Harry once told him one of the first times Ben had seen them in action, they were pirates. They couldn't not be good at sword fighting otherwise how could they protect themselves and their crew?
CJ scoffed. "The crew can protect ourselves. What's the point of training us to be the best swords people on the Isle if we can never use it?"
The Isle was probably the most dangerous place in Auradon after all, and they had younger crew members to look out for.
Mulan sighed softly. These were teenagers, children in the eyes of the law, needing to prepare themselves to protect those younger than them because they weren't given the protection by adults.
Mal would have killed them if they let anything happen to Hadie while she was across the bridge.
Hadie shook his head. "You know I can handle myself right? You don't have to be so protective."
"Eh, humor me," Mal shrugged.
Plus, Harry was a Hook. They were practically pirate royalty after all. It would have been more alarming if he hadn't been good at swordplay.
"Honestly 'pirate royalty' is more Pirate King Turner and her family," Harriet said, shaking her head.
"True but let's be honest cap'n, if a pirate hears the last name 'Hook' they're going to stop what they're doing," Sammy said.
"Nice match," he said as Harry's sword hit the ground with a clang.
I still maintain that Harry let Uma win that match, Benji thought with a small smile.
Uma and Harry looked over at him with a little bit of shock as if they weren't expecting him to be there.
"No one expects Ben not to be in his office…just like no one expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Neal said with a grin.
Celia stared blankly at him. "Was that supposed to be a joke or…?"
"Okay when we get out of here, we're having a movie night at my place," Evan said. "That way, Celia, you can know that the chief weapon of the Spanish Inquisition is fear and surp—their two chief weapons are fear, surprise, and the—among their chief weapons are fear, surprise, and a fanatical devotion to the Catholic Church!"
"Huh…sounds like Freddy," Mal said.
"Nah, these guys are actually funny and not scary beyond all reason," Evan said.
Well, granted, it was class time but all the classes got cancelled due to Cotillion prep.
"Wait, what?" Audie asked. "That didn't happen in my timeline."
"Shame," Akiho said. "That makes sense, after all with everything that goes into Cotillion, a few days off from classes here or there help a ton."
Fairy Godmother figured that it would alleviate stress if there were a few days off here and there—Mal had told him she figured it was because Jane was the one planning the thing this time.
Cinderella couldn't help but smile as she heard that. "I mean it makes sense. You don't want to obviously favor your child but at the same time, if they're handling such an important event, you'd want to remove some of the stress from their life."
Ben thought that made sense. Fairy Godmother would want to try to alleviate stress for her daughter where she could and if that meant the whole school got a day off from classes here and there, they weren't going to argue.
"That's certainly true," Kitty nodded.
"Yep, no one's going to look a free day off from school in the mouth," Lucy said.
"Thanks Benny," Uma nodded as she picked up Harry's sword and handed it to him. "Mal's not here."
"Um…I think he'd be able to see that," Ruby spoke up.
"I know," Ben nodded. "I'm looking for you. I'd like a word."
"If it was anyone other than Ben, that would be ominous," Evan chuckled.
"I know nothing about that smoke bomb that went off in Charming Jr.'s face," Uma said instantly.
Persephone sighed and looked over at Malinda. "Do I want to know?"
"Eh, probably not," Malinda shrugged.
"What smoke bomb?" Ben asked with a small chuckle. He knew which smoke bomb she was talking about, how could he not? The thing went off right in front of him, and of course Uma had to know something about it. It was a bright teal smoke bomb after all.
Harry chuckled softly. "Mal is definitely rubbing off on him."
Chad hadn't minded though, to Ben's surprise.
Kitty, Lucy, and Alexandria all looked at Chad in surprise, causing Chad to shrug. "What? It's not like she poisoned me," he said softly. "It's just paint, it'll come out."
Then again, Chad had been more of himself ever since Leah had been sent to the Isle.
"Good," Kit said as he shot a glare at Leah's cell. "That means the hypnosis on scroll-Chad's wearing off. I hope that's the case at the very least."
Every so often, especially if he was around Audrey, he would act 'prattish' as Akiho would often say but more often than not Chad would be the way he used to be back when he and Ben were kids.
Almost everyone there sighed as they now knew the reason why that was the case.
Kitty and Lucy were a bit apprehensive about the change but Alexandria seemed to welcome it.
Alexandria nodded. "I always knew my real brother was under Audrey's 'yes man'."
Then again, she was the youngest Charming. To her, Chad might have just been changing for the better and not going back to the way he used to be.
"Refer to what I just said," Alexandria said, shaking her head.
"Right. So what did you want to talk about Benny?" Uma asked as Harry looked over at her with a raised eyebrow, as if he didn't know what she had been talking about.
"Wait…you mean Harry didn't help Uma throw said smoke bomb? Who kidnapped Harry?" Mal asked.
Ben sighed. "Has...has Mal seemed different to you?"
"I think Mama Odie could tell that," Harriet said, shaking her head.
"Oh thank Gods someone else has noticed it! " Uma sighed in relief.
"I think that's Uma speak for 'Finally, someone with a brain around here'," Celia said with a small chuckle.
Ben blinked in surprise, that definitely hadn't been the reaction he had expected.
"Really? You've known Uma a while and you didn't expect that reaction?" CJ asked.
"I don't know if I should be happy that someone else has noticed it or sad that I'm not the only one," he sighed.
"How about be annoyed that you weren't the only one who noticed and that no one's done anything about it," Jay offered.
Harry sheathed his sword and shook his head. "Benny, I think everyone has noticed that something's going on with Mal. She couldn't make it more obvious that something was wrong than if she shot a cannon at us."
"Huh. So you're not subtle in either timeline," Audie said, shaking her head.
"I still maintain that your timeline is filled with idiots for not noticing something was wrong after your timeline's me went blonde," Malinda told her.
"Trust me Ben, I feel the same way," Uma nodded. "But whoever that is, that's not Mal. Something's wrong. She doesn't spray paint anymore, she won't draw dragons. Actually she hasn't worn anything with a dragon on it or that looks remotely Isle like for a while. Not even her leather jacket which she hasn't taken off since she got it when she was eight. In fact, if anyone even mentions the word 'dragon' around her, she...she almost gets paler than normal and quickly changes the subject."
"That's an understatement from what we've read and it needs fixing now," Esmeralda said softly.
"She asked me not to call her dragon," Ben said softly and Uma and Harry looked at each other sharply before looking back at Ben.
Sighs filled the room while Malinda flinched at the reminder.
"It's been my nickname for her ever since she transformed at my coronation and I don't know why she doesn't want it anymore. She just…it was out of the blue too. I honestly thought she was fine with it."
"I am fine with it…" Malinda whispered as she bit her lip.
After all, he had experience with nicknames he didn't want. If he had to hear the words 'Bennyboo' or 'Bennybear' one more time from Emir, Akiho, or Chip…
The aforementioned boys (well boys and grown man) chuckled weakly.
"We'll stop teasing you about the nicknames Ben," Akiho promised.
"Thank you," Ben said.
He sighed, pushing that thought out of his head, and ran a hand through his hair. "This...this is going to sound weird but...I miss her..." he whispered.
"But…she's there," Squeaky said softly. "Why not go to her if you miss her?"
"It doesn't sound weird Ben," Uma sighed and looked over at Harry. "I miss her too. The real her, not this pod person."
Alexandria, Kitty, and Lucy all looked at each other.
"We know the feeling…" Lucy said softly. "To miss someone when they're right there."
Ben bit his lip. "I just...I wish I knew what was going on but whenever I ask, she just gives me this fake smile and says that she's fine. But I know she's not fine. I used to be the same back when I was betrothed to Audrey, pretending everything was fine even when everything was piling up and...and it hurts that Mal won't tell me what's going on."
Benji sighed and shook his head. "Mal…I've been through that act. I know how much it can hurt…don't put your self through that. Don't be me."
Uma sighed. "Mal's better at dealing with emotions than I am but...she still bottles things up...it drives Uncle Hades and Aunt Steph insane sometimes."
"You got that right!" Hades nodded before sighing. "But it makes sense. Mal had to live with Maleficent in some way, shape, or form most of her life. I doubt the Dragon was the most comforting of parents or people."
"Dad, it's Maleficent," Mal said, shaking her head. "'Comforting' isn't exactly her M.O."
"It's one of the few ways to survive on the Isle, keeping your emotions bottled up," Harry added and Ben couldn't help but notice Uma glance over at the pirate.
Mal and Jay couldn't help but give each other knowing looks at that.
"An emotion is a weakness, it's a way for your opponent or your enemy to get under your skin and potentially get one over on you."
"But…Mal's in Auradon now. That's not the case here," Rowyn said.
Rapunzel sighed. "Mal might be in Auradon but she's lived on the Isle for sixteen years. It's not fair to her to expect her to just flip a switch after mere months."
"But...why not talk to me? She knows she can," Ben said softly. "I haven't been...I haven't been too busy for her with my king duties have I?"
Malinda shook her head. "No! No! Ben, whatever you think, don't think it's you!"
"Of course not Ben," Uma sighed and shook her head. "But, and this might just be me but...Mal seems to be the busy one, not you. Every time I see her lately, it seems like she's either throwing me a quick smile as she goes out the door to another meeting or class or she's on the phone with someone. I didn't think being the girlfriend of the King required so many meetings."
"Something tells me that's only the case when the King's girlfriend has a prejudicial nutbag for a handler," Phil Jr. muttered.
"Don't forget all the time she spends with Natalie. Mal seems to have dozens of meetings with her on top of her Cotillion prep stuff," Harry added. "I've never met her but I'm beginning to hate her more than I hate Gil. Hell, I hate her more than I hate Freddy."
"Before we read this I'd ask if that was possible but now that I've seen some of Natalie's behavior, I'd agree with that sentiment," Henry nodded.
"Who?" Ben asked with a small frown. That name…where did he know that name?
"Natalie's the spawn of Satan you spoke to on the phone," Abby told him.
Benji chuckled. "I was talking about Freddy."
"Oh….Freddy's the spawn of Satan who stabbed Mal with a dagger."
"Fred Frollo," Harry explained. "We all hate him. Mal started calling him 'Freddy' when we were five and it just stuck."
"To be honest I don't even remember how I came up with the nickname," Malinda shrugged. "But I did and it stuck."
Ben nodded—now he remembered where he knew that name from. From his trip to the Isle all those months ago.
"The trip you took without guards. Because you wish to drive me insane for some reason."
"Yes Akiho, my decision not to bring guards was truly based on my wish to drive you around the bend," Benji said, shaking his head.
"At least you admit it," Akiho said with a nod.
"Oh yeah, I forgot about Mal's handler," Uma nodded before rolling her eyes at the mention of Natalie. "Amazing since she's constantly blowing up Mal's phone. And just to give you a sense of how much I hate her, Benny, I hate her more than I hate Blueberry."
"Again, something we didn't think possible but now that we've seen some examples of Natalie's behavior, I don't blame you Uma," Harriet nodded.
Ben frowned. Ever since he'd talked to Natalie when he answered Mal's phone a week ago, he'd been trying to get a sense of Mal's schedule. But for the life of him, he couldn't find Mal's planner at all.
"That's because she has it," Ashaki said, shaking her head. "Gods, when do we get to be rid of this woman?"
"How many times does Natalie call her? Mal I mean? I doubt she calls Evie."
"I'm pretty sure Uma knew who you meant Benny," Malinda said with a small chuckle.
Uma shrugged. "I couldn't give you a real number Ben. I'm not always around Mal, even if it seems like I am. But the times that I am around her? I'd say maybe eleven times?"
"What?! Eleven times?!" Most of the adults in the room exclaimed.
Ben stared at her in shock. "That's mad! That would have to be like twice every minute!"
"I don't know if I should be impressed or concerned with how quickly you did that math," Emma said.
"It's Ben, does it really shock you?" Elle asked.
"Mal does seem glued to that phone," Uma sighed. "In between her meetings, school work, trying to make time for Hadie, hanging out with you and Blueberry's fittings for her Cotillion gown, I'm amazed Mal has time to breathe. It's...Mal can't keep this up Ben. At some point she's going to snap."
Malinda nodded. "And the snap was coming," she said softly.
"I know, I know," Ben sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "What about the others? Have they noticed anything?"
"They'd better have!" Harry said, giving Jay a look.
"What's the look for? I can't exactly control my scroll self you know!" Jay exclaimed.
"Jay's noticed something's up with her," Harry nodded. "So's DeVil."
"Good, I'd be disappointed in my scroll self if I didn't notice something was up," Jay said with a nod.
Carlos nodded as well. "Mal…Mal brought me into the Rats' protection and we were the first four VKs in Auradon. It…it wouldn't be right if I didn't look out for Mal like she did me or at least scroll me," he said softly.
"Well said Carlos," Jay nodded.
"What about Gil?"
"Fish for Brains wouldn't notice if his hair was on fire! But he does like Mal so he might have noticed. At the very least, I know that girl he's caught a shining to has noticed…considering she's Mali's cousin.
"Gil's attentive when it comes to his sisters so I don't see why he wouldn't notice something was going on with Mal," Carlos said.
I don't know if Blueberry's noticed anything, and Hadie probably has noticed too, he's Mal's brother after all. If he hasn't noticed…"
Hadie winced slightly at the reminder of the scroll where he had fought with Mal. Yes he was happy that his scroll self had noticed something was off but that didn't mean he liked to be reminded of him and Mal not getting along.
Ben sighed and held up a hand to stop Harry's rambling. He had heard enough.
"It's possible to stop Harry's rambling?" Harriet asked, teasing her brother.
"Uma...reach out to your aunt," he said softly.
"Finally!" Hades exclaimed and pointed to Ben. "You! I like you! I mean, I might not like that you're dating my daughter in the future but you've clearly got a brain in your head!"
"Um…thank you Lord Hades," Ben said with a small smile as Mal and Malinda both shook their heads.
"If we're going to reach out to Mal about this, I want to make sure her parents are informed."
"As we should have been the minute this started! Mal, no closing your mental link! I want that open 24-7, even in your sleep!"
Malinda chuckled. "Okay dad, but just remember that at some point, pup'll have to come into the picture. Do you really…?"
"…You can close the link for that!"
"Ben, Aunt Steph's still on the Isle," Uma stated. "I'm all for letting her know but doesn't that seem almost cruel to make her worry when she can't leave the Isle?"
"If Ben is telling you to reach out to Aunt Steph though I doubt he'd just leave her on the Isle to worry," Macaria said.
Ben looked at her for a minute. "Uma...Mal's going through something. When I needed to get out of my betrothal contract, my mom was the one I needed to reach out to. Mal will have her mom with her because I will make it so Lady Persephone can leave the Isle early if she wants. Deal with Zeus be damned, Mal comes first."
Malinda smiled as she rested her head on Benji's shoulder. "Just to let you know, hearing you say the words 'deal with Zeus be damned' is making me very attracted to you," she whispered in his ear.
"I should hope you're attracted to me, we're married after all," Benji chuckled.
Uma smiled at that. "If I didn't already like you Benny, that would have made it so. Give me a sec, I'll reach out to Aunt Steph."
"You are now solidly on my 'like' list Benny," Uma said with a nod.
She sighed and shook her head before reaching out on her mental link.
"Finally," Demeter sighed in relief. "Though why not reach out to me?"
"Do we have to remind you about the Hadie scroll?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mal, behave and be nice to your grandmother," Persephone said. "She has a point."
"Mom, how would you have reacted if Uma reached out to Demeter and not you?" Malinda asked.
"…You have a point there."
Aunt Steph? You there?
…Uma?
"Mom's never late answering the mental link," Mal said with a small frown.
Malinda chuckled. "Let's just say Uma interrupted some alone time that dad was having with mom," she said.
"Oh…oh!"
"One of the reasons why we close the link during alone time," Malinda said, chuckling at the looks on everyone's faces.
"How'd you learn about that?" Hadie asked.
"Mom told me during wedding prep," Malinda chuckled once more. "Basically just giving me a friendly warning about prepping for the wedding night."
"La-la-la! I'm not listening!" Hades exclaimed.
I hope I'm not bothering you but I wanted to reach out.
"Oh scroll-me, you were bothering Aunt Steph. You just don't know it yet," Uma muttered and shook her head.
You are never a bother Uma. But you hardly ever reach out on the mental link, at least not to me. Is...is something wrong? Is it Hadie? Mal?
"It's kinda sweet how, even though I'm sure Lady Persephone's concerned about Mal, her first question was about Uma," Lonnie said with a small smile.
It's...Aunt Steph, something's going on with Mal, Uma told her, feeling as if a weight had been removed as she told her aunt. Finally someone would know who could do something.
"Sorry cuz," Mal muttered, biting her lip slightly.
Everyone's noticed and she won't talk to anyone. Even Ben's concerned.
"Even Ben?" Benji asked, looking at Uma with an amused look on his face. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I can feel her panic and stress through the mental link every day but she's got me on mute, Persephone said with a sigh. She's got her father on mute as well, meaning he's been taking his frustration out on Pain and Panic. Thankfully, ever since Maleficent became a lizard, people have been turning to him to rule the Isle since Mal stated she was his daughter at King Ben's coronation.
Hades shook his head. "Why? Why must that happen? I can't even enjoy the possibility of Maleficent turning into a lizard because of those idiots expecting me of all people to rule the Isle! I hate idiots!"
"It's true," Hadie nodded. "One of dad's mantras is 'identify morons and then yell at them'."
"Aren't morons and idiots different though?" Evan asked.
"No. No they are not," Hadie shook his head.
I bet Uncle Hades loves that.
"No, no I don't and it hasn't even happened yet!" Hades grumbled.
You know what, oddly enough he does not, Persephone said, giving a dry chuckle. But it helps to keep his mind off of Mal and her muted link so that can only be a good thing. Otherwise he'd drive himself mad. You know he actually reached out to your grandfather to see if he'd heard anything?
"Sadly I probably wouldn't be able to help much," Posideon said with a small sigh as Hades began spluttering once more about the ruling.
Really?!
Yes. He wasn't thrilled when Poseidon didn't know anything and he was even less thrilled when your grandfather recommending he reach out to Zeus.
"Why would you recommend that? What would have possessed you to do that?" Hades exclaimed.
"Concern for my niece," Posideon said.
Hades sighed. "Damn I can't argue against that. And you know I would have done the same thing if the situation was reversed, Po-Po."
"I know Hades. I know."
Ooh Uncle Hades would definitely not like the idea of reaching out to Zeus.
You would be right in that regard. But because it had to do with Mal, he did so.
Mal looked over at Hades with a small smile. "You didn't have to do that Dad."
"For you Mali? I'd do anything," Hades said. "When you're a parent, you'll understand."
Granted Zeus also knew nothing but Hades brought me into the conversation otherwise it more than likely would have been derailed with your uncle ranting at Zeus.
"Oh wait! In the scroll where Queen She-Bat got sentenced to the Isle, Lord Zeus tried to talk to Mal on behalf of Lady Persephone," Chip said. "Maybe that was why?"
"Ah I missed your nicknames for Leah," Audie said with a grin. "Though why didn't you go for a classic like geriatric waste of oxygen?"
Uncle Hades can go on pretty impressive rants, Uma said, nodding slightly through the mental link.
"Why thank you Uma, I do try," Hades said with a small smirk.
Persephone chuckled and then sighed. Uma, I want to be there for Mal. I don't know what's going on but if she needs me...Gods, if it wasn't for this agreement I'd be by her side right now!
"Agreement or not, you will be," Benji said firmly.
Well then you're in luck Aunt Steph. Ben said he'd grant you early leave from the Isle. He'd probably have to send a car since there's no way the stubborn old swan known as my uncle would let you leave early through the portal but—.
"Stubborn old swan is an oddly apt description of Zeus," Hades nodded.
A car is fine, Persephone said instantly. It's perfect actually. How soon would that car be here?
"Knowing Ben, he'd bend the power of space and time to get the car there yesterday if he could," Emir said.
I'm sure Ben would send it right now but let me ask him. I'll be right back.
"No, you had it right," Benji nodded. "No need to ask."
"Benny," Uma said, coming out of the mental link and looking over at Ben. "Would you be sending a car to pick up Aunt Steph?"
"Well unless mom knows how to teleport off the Isle…actually could mom teleport off the Isle?" Mal asked. "It's not evil magic."
Zeus sighed. "Since the barrier had to be reinforced to keep Hades in, unfortunately that means teleportation is not accessible to either Hades or Persephone while they're on the Isle."
"Of course," Ben nodded. "We don't have time to try to finagle a meeting with Lord Zeus and I can send a car right away. In fact, I'll send that car once I'm back in my office so Lady Persephone can be here today."
"Gee, if only the portal was open year round in the event that my children needed me while I was living with my husband," Persephone said, giving Zeus a look.
Uma nodded and tuned back into the mental link. Ben says he'll send the car right away.
"Go Benny!" Most of the VKs cheered.
I knew he'd be quick about it but I didn't think he'd be that quick, Persephone thought, slightly amazed.
"I don't mess around when it comes to Mal," Benji said, his voice low.
He's worried about Mal. I think he really cares about her Aunt Steph. I know I don't really do the touchy feely stuff but I'd have to be blind not to see it.
"I think even the Gaston twins could see it," Claudine said.
Well then I'm glad he's there for her, Persephone said. And I'll be there too. I'll be on the lookout for the car.
Knowing Ben, he might be driving that car, Uma chuckled as she disconnected the mental link.
"Did you?" Mal asked, looking at Benji. "Drive the car I mean?"
Benji shook his head. "Dean did, I stayed behind to get everything ready."
"Uma, you go and get Mal," Ben said. "See if she's up for talking. I can meet you guys in my office."
Uma nodded. "I'll get her there even if I have to drag her."
"Ben, won't she feel like she's in trouble if I take her to your office to talk to you?" Uma asked.
"Mal's never felt like she's in trouble being in my office," Benji said, shaking his head.
Ben sighed. "It's the only location I can guarantee privacy for her. If we do it outside, there's a risk of someone overhearing and sending it over to The Gazelle. I'd rather not have Mal have to deal with that."
"If they do, I'll shove their cameras down their throats," Jay growled.
"And your dorm's not exactly private cap'n," Harry pointed out. "Since you're rooming with Blueberry."
"I shouldn't walk in on that, it's not fair to Mal," Evie said softly.
"Hang on," Ben said slowly, an idea starting to form. "What if we just meet in my office and then we can go over to my dorm? I don't have a roommate so it's guaranteed privacy."
"You don't have a roommate?" Emma asked.
Ben shook his head. "We didn't want it looking as if one family had access to the Crown Prince or High King while we're still in school. I mean, likely if I did have a roommate, it'd be Chad just because of how long our families have known each other."
Uma and Harry looked at each other and nodded.
"I'll make sure Jay and DeVil are distracted," Harry said. "Otherwise they'll be trying to crash your meeting with Mal. I mean, Jay makes sense. He's practically Mal's first mate the way I'm Uma's but DeVil?"
Carlos shrugged as everyone turned to look at him.
"The pup's changed for the better ever since he got to get in the sun and away from Cruella," Uma nodded. "But also this'll make sure Blueberry can't butt in."
"You know, why not just tell Evie that you need to speak to Mal in private?" Emma asked. "Evie clearly sees that something's going on with Mal too so I'm sure she'd help in whatever way she could."
"Though I think she's over at the hospital right now, cap'n," Harry told her.
"She is," Ben nodded. Evie had been sure to inform Ben whenever she went to the hospital to spend time with her dad, even though that wasn't necessary. It wasn't as if he would ever forbid her from doing that. The only reason he hadn't told her to stop letting him know was because it was a good way of making sure he knew where she was in case something happened. Not because he thought she'd do anything but because he wanted to know for her safety.
"Oh…that's something I didn't think about," Emma said softly before looking over at Evie. "Evie, if you ever need any company…"
"She'll have some already but more can never hurt," Mal said after glancing at Uma. Sure the whole mess with the coronation and the wand would never happen in the first place but just in case it did, the more people with Evie the better.
Auradon had a long memory after all and they only just started to bring kids over from the Isle. Leah had blamed Mal for something Maleficent did and she wasn't even Maleficent's daughter!
"Yeah well Leah's a few apples short of a whole bushel," Eugene said, shaking his head.
"Benny, talk to your shadows," Uma said, pulling Ben back into the conversation and out of his thoughts. "I know your female friends are also worried even if it's hard to tell with Jordan. But Mal'll only clam up if there are too many people in the room or if someone randomly barges in."
"To be fair, I think most people would clam up if someone randomly barged into their room when they were having a conversation with someone," Robin said.
"Right," Ben nodded and sent a quick text to Emir. Of his two shadows, he was usually the calmer of the two when it came to things like this. Maybe it was because he was a middle child and was used to drama whereas Akiho was an only child like Ben?
"No, it's likely because Emir's spent almost his entire life around Akiho," Aziz said with a chuckle.
"So like Ben said, Emir's already used to the drama," Ashaki pointed out.
To Ben's surprise, he got a response back immediately.
"Really? Is it really that surprising?" Emir asked.
Please tell me you're not going to propose to Mal and that's why you need privacy.
"And here I thought you'd want Ben to propose to Mal," Ashaki teased her brother.
You may be insane you realize that? Ben texted back. If I was going to propose to my girlfriend, would I really do it in my dorm?
Nah, I'd pick a much more romantic place to propose than my dorm room, Benji thought with a small smile.
Okay, you have a point there. But Ben, you do realize we're all concerned about her too.
Malinda couldn't help the small smile that pulled at her lips. "Thanks you guys."
Let me have a conversation with her in private Emir. You all can plan a picnic for her, how about that?
...you may have just said the magic word to get Akiho excited.
Akiho grinned. "Sandwich time! Ooh I wonder how many I could make for this picnic?"
Picnic? Why would he get excited about...he gets to make sandwiches doesn't he?
Got it in one.
I need different friends.
You know you love us.
"I really do," Ben said, giving Emir and Akiho a smile which they readily returned.
Yeah, I do. I'll love you guys even more if you can guarantee me the privacy with Mal.
Done and done, oh kingly one!
Ashaki chuckled. "I'm liking the new nickname, Emir."
"Why thank you," Emir grinned. "I'll try to put it into rotation."
Ben looked at his phone and shook his head in astonishment.
"From the look on Benny's face, the shadows have been contacted," Harry chuckled. "Well cap'n, I'm off to make sure Jay and the pup don't bother you though that may mean I'll be subjected to Tourney talk."
"What's wrong with that?" Ben, Akiho, Emir, and Chad asked at the same time though Chad's voice was still almost inaudible due to how soft it was.
"I'm sure Mal will appreciate your sacrifice," Uma chuckled.
"It probably won't be that bad if it's just Jay and DeVil," Harry said, shaking his head. "If it's Akiho and Emir along with them though...Gods how can four boys talk about one thing for hours on end?"
"Says the boy who can talk about sword work and the Pirate's Code until the sea cows come home," Mal said with a small snort of amusement.
"Harry, you could talk about sword work until the earth fell off its axis," Uma told him.
"Yes and your point is cap'n?"
"Sword work is not a wee boy's game," Harry said, shaking his head. "And any one who says otherwise is welcome to spar with me."
Ben couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips. It was obvious that Harry and Uma had an unspoken thing but for the life of him he couldn't figure out why they hadn't said anything or gotten together.
"Because they're in denial," Jay said, shaking his head. "Even knowing they end up married in the future doesn't eliminate the frustration of the now."
Mal used to rant to him for hours about how their denial would only end if one of them had gotten wounded in battle.
"For the final time, we're not in denial!"
Harriet chuckled. "Harry, you and Uma just said that at the same time. I think you're in denial about being in denial."
He missed those rants. He missed how Mal's eyes would get bright with passion about something, he missed how she'd stick out her tongue ever so slightly as she was trying to get a detail right in a sketch or a tag.
"Oh yeah, why do you do that?" Jay asked.
Mal shrugged. "Best way to ensure you've got the best concentration honestly," she told him.
Hell, he missed the feel of her leather jacket as he gave her a hug. He missed the faint aroma of spray paint fumes that seemed to follow her around everywhere she went.
"Oh yeah, I miss those. It was like your own brand of perfume," Benji said with a small pout.
Malinda chuckled. "Maybe when pup's here, you'll smell those again Benny."
He missed her.
I missed me too, Ben, Malinda thought with a small, sad smile.
"Okay," Uma nodded, bringing Ben's attention back to the conversation at hand. "I'll go and get Mal. Benny, you go and get that car sent for Aunt Steph. I'm sure she's waiting and driving Uncle Hades mad with her pacing since I didn't say what was going on with Mal. Only that something was."
"Yeah that probably would drive Steph up the wall," Hades nodded.
"Uma...we don't know what's going on with Mal."
"Yet. You don't know what's going on with Mal yet," Chip said.
"That doesn't change the fact that the vagueness will probably drive Aunt Steph up the wall until she can actually see Mal," Uma stated as she started to make her way to the door, her back straightening up and a sense of urgency entering her walk. Her cousin needed her...her crew mate needed her.
"And I will get her back no matter how long it takes," Uma said, her voice low.
This was something she could do as a captain and as the Gods as her witness, she would do it.
"Believe me Uma, I'm grateful that you did," Malinda said, giving her cousin a grateful smile.
She would get her Mal back. No matter how long it took, she'd get her back.
"And clearly I did," Uma said, gesturing to Malinda.
"Better go do as she says," Harry told Ben as he started to follow. "Once Uma's got her mind made up about something, chances are it's next to impossible to get her to change it."
"That's definitely the truth," Mal, Hadie, and Celia said; each one nodding their heads.
"You three know you're just as stubborn as I am, right?" Uma asked.
"Well then it's a good thing I wouldn't want her to do that," Ben told him, pulling out his phone and calling his chief attendant.
Ben smiled; Dean was honestly the best person he could ask for in terms of an attendant. Though Ben wasn't going to lie, the fact that Dean didn't take time off was a bit frustrating.
"Dean? It's Ben. Oh right, you already knew that from the caller ID. Anyway, can you please have a car sent over to the Isle of the Lost? That's right. Yes we are picking up someone. Lady Persephone. You can have the car sent in fifteen minutes? Dean, you're awesome and remind me to give you a raise."
"He never accepts my offers to give him a raise," Benji said, shaking his head. "I do it anyway, especially now that he has a daughter."
"Dean has a kid?" Ben asked with a grin.
Benji nodded. "Yep, little Dawn's about one now."
Ben hung up and looked at Harry as he pocketed his phone. "I meant what I said by the way. I'd be lost without Dean really, he's like what Cogsworth was to my dad."
"Cogsworth and Lumiere both are great members of the staff though if you ask me, the one who truly keeps things on track is Mrs. Potts," Belle said.
Chip nodded. "Mom's the best after all."
"Only less uptight about time?" Harry asked with a chuckle, still making his way toward the door.
Beast shook his head. "There's no one who could be more uptight about time than Cogsworth," he said.
"You could say that," Ben nodded with a sheepish smile. Even though he was now king, he still had a bit of a reputation for running late. Actually it'd gotten to the point where Dean was telling him meetings started a half hour earlier than they already did, just as an attempt to get Ben to one meeting on time.
Ben flushed as his friends chuckled and shook their heads.
"Well now that we're going to cut back on your work, that shouldn't be an issue," Beast said.
"I still don't think that's necessary, Dad!"
Though, as Ben would often remind anyone who complained about his tardiness, sometimes class ran late.
Ben nodded. "It'd be rude to just get up and leave when the teacher's talking, even if the bell rang."
"Come on," Harry said, as he stopped and looked over at Ben. "Mal's not going to fix herself you know? Plus I doubt she'd be willing to talk in this smelly gym."
"The smell probably wouldn't be the detractor but more like the lack of privacy," Rowyn said.
"Does she still spar?" Ben asked as he made his way over to the first mate. "Mal I mean?"
"Of course I still sparred!" Malinda said and shook her head. "Best form of stress relief I had!"
"Yeah," Harry nodded. "If Mal ever stopped sparring, I think we'd be having a different conversation because Uma and I would probably be before you accused of kidnapping your girlfriend."
"Normally that statement would make me worried but seeing as it's Harry and he'd likely be taking Mal back to the Isle where I am, I fully support this," Hades nodded.
"Please don't. I'm rather fond of my girlfriend," Ben said, shaking his head slightly.
Malinda smiled and kissed Benji on the cheek. "It's a good thing I'm rather fond of you too," she told him.
He now knew what Mal meant when she said that Emir and Akiho were like Auradon's version of Harry and Jay. How many times did his shadows threaten to kidnap him whenever they felt his schedule got too hectic?
"Do you want the current count? Cause I think we're at about 587 times so far," Emir told him.
"And they're not threats," Akiho added. "They're promises."
Heck, they practically declared they were going to do that when Ben announced he would need to step down because he was taking over as King for his dad.
"Oh yeah we all heard about that," Lonnie nodded. "I think the rest of the Tourney team was going to help them do it too. That's how much they value Ben as a Captain."
They were his best friends, they'd do anything for him. And now, it seemed, they'd do anything for Mal too.
"Of course we would!" Emir said with a nod. "We'd do anything for your future wife!"
"If you actually liked her," Audrey muttered and softly shook her head.
It was certainly a change from how they were around Audrey—but honestly Ben did not miss the four hour long rants about his ex.
Emir and Akiho's parents looked at the boys with a mixture of shock and fond exasperation on their faces.
"To be fair….four hours was tame for us," Emir said.
Aladdin sighed. "Boys, I get that you were concerned for Ben. But you've seen how much stress he's under. Do you think ranting about his girlfriend to him was removing or adding stress?"
Emir and Akiho looked at each other before looking at Ben, guilt evident on their faces. "Sorry Ben."
The two boys made their way out of door and split off, Harry to go keep Jay and Carlos from interfering with the meeting and Ben to make his way to his office to prepare for Lady Persephone before talking with Mal.
Beast nodded. "Smart. Always a good idea to prepare for a meeting as best you can. Even a last minute one like this."
Hey, there was no way he was going to greet a Goddess in his bedroom!
Hadie tilted his head. "Why is that a bad thing? I mean dad welcomes mom home in their bedroom according to the scrolls."
Mal, Hades, and Persephone all face palmed while the rest of the adults bit their lips to avoid laughing. Well all the adults sans Malinda.
"Oh Hadie, you sweet summer child," Malinda said, shaking her head. "Sadly you are not yet old enough for that explanation."
Mal shot a glare at Uma. "Stop laughing or you're going to have Celia asking what's so funny, you know that right?"
"Rodger that," Uma said, sobering up quickly.
Sammy chuckled. "Well that's the end of the scroll. Who would like to read next?"
"I'll read," Ariel said. She couldn't help but hope that the next scroll would give Mal the relief she needed.