Chapter Eighty Five
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else is owned by either Disney or the Greek Myths.
*ducks projectiles* Gah! I'm sorry! I mean, I'm not sorry for the hiatus but I'm sorry for how long I took coming back from hiatus! Unfortunately football playoffs are upon us (American Football I mean) so that'll eat up my weekends until middle of February :D
Oh! Question for you all—I was thinking of switching up my author's note here for 2023 and mainly use it to address common questions rather than individual responses to each review. Would you guys be okay with that or would you rather stick with individual replies?
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
CJ grabbed the scroll nearest her and unfurled it with a flourish.
"No need to be dramatic," Harriet chuckled.
"I'm pretty sure drama's in our genetics," CJ said as she shook her head.
The weather seemed to almost taunt them as the group of five made their way to the Isle of the Lost. Instead of the typical gorgeous weather, the sky was overcast with light grey clouds and a slight chill. Mal was certain that if she didn't have her jacket, she'd have been dealing with another round of chills.
Benji frowned slightly and wrapped his arm around Malinda. "I wish you'd told me," he whispered.
"What could you have done?" Malinda whispered back to him.
That would have been the worst possible thing at that point because there was no way she could justify to herself pushing back this food run. The applications had been completed and approved so all that was left was to get them passed out among the kids of the Isle.
Uma shook her head. "Why is my cousin so stubborn? You know Jay, Harry, and I would have been able to do the food run if you had a chill attack."
My crew can handle that, she thought as they made their way over the bridge. I actually wonder what all they've been up to since Uma and Harry came over. I hope Henry hasn't been working himself too hard. I remember he used to train nonstop—the only ones who trained more than him would probably be Harry or Uma. Maybe me or Jay, or Harriet.
"Henry? Not training hard?" Harriet asked with a small chuckle.
Sammy shook her head. "I honestly think that if he didn't, we'd have to look back into that intervention," she said.
The rest of the crew didn't seem like they had changed according to Uma or Harry. Bonny was still the best at maintaining their weapons, Dustin was still a well meaning prat who had way too many flings if Mal was being honest, and Nick and Jake were inseparable. Same with CJ and Ryan.
"Of course! Why would the crew change?" Harry asked.
You know, I'm a little surprised Jay didn't throw out Jade's name back when we were planning the next group considering she used to pal around with Locklyn and Brooke and they're now in Freddy's little cult, Mal thought as Ben drove across the bridge.
Jay sighed. "That's a good point, I wonder why scroll-me didn't point that out," he said.
Then again, Jade's one of the older girls so she'd probably want a spot to go to a younger VK. Still, we'll get her off the Isle one way or another. She's Jay's family after all. Speaking of family.. hmm...I wonder if I can stop by dad's restaurant while we're here? The Auradon food is great but there's nothing like dad's garlic crispy chicken after all.
"You honestly think we'd stop you from stopping by Lord Hades' restaurant and miss our chance to eat his food?" Jay asked.
"What are you thinking about?" Jay asked with a small chuckle as he looked over at Mal.
"Knowing Mal, I think it's a safe guess," Harry said with a small chuckle.
"What do you think? Uncle Hades' food probably," Uma said with a chuckle of her own before Mal had a chance to answer. "I mean, I don't blame her. Uncle Hades has some awesome food after all."
Hades chuckled as he shook his head. "Why thank you Uma. Though I do have to say you have an advantage over the others considering you can quite literally read Mal's mind."
"Hey, scroll-me's just working with what advantages she has," Uma grinned.
Mal shook her head in amusement. "Lucky guess you two. But yeah, I was just thinking that I was hoping for a few minutes to stop by dad's restaurant and grab a bite before we go to check on that hospital. The last time we were here, I didn't really get a chance."
Persephone sighed and shook her head. "Why don't I believe that?"
"Because you know Mal will move Olympus itself to get her hands on dad's cooking?" Hadie said.
"I regret nothing!" Mal and Malinda said at the same time.
"The last time we were here was a clandestine meeting to give you a chance to talk to your dad in person rather than through the mind link," Harry reminded her.
"Hasn't almost every trip to the Isle in the scrolls been a 'clandestine' trip?" Akiho asked. "Is the qualifier really needed?"
"Exactly. Therefore I didn't have time to grab a bite of his food since no one knew Ben was with us."
"Eh…that wasn't exactly true," Malinda said with a small smile. "I'm pretty sure dad made some of his food when we paid him a visit."
"We should have time this go-around," Ben nodded, looking at the four of them through the rearview mirror. "Akiho and Emir are aware of where I'm going, so's Chip. If there's a problem in Auradon, they should be able to take care of it. Hopefully."
Akiho sighed and shook his head. "At least people know this time. That's progress," he could be heard muttering to himself.
"Your shadows should be fine, besides isn't it Emma who's your unofficial heir? Wouldn't she be the one handling any problems that arise should they arise while we're on the Isle?"
"Yes but where Emma is, Emir and Akiho are as well," Benji said with a small smile.
"She is but those two are like her unofficial council or advisers. Granted they're also my unofficial advisers so they're used to doing that."
"As her boyfriend, wouldn't Emir be Emma's official advisor?" Neal asked, tilting his head.
Mal chuckled and shook her head. "Don't those two get tired of being your shadows?"
"Never!" Emir and Akiho exclaimed, both with smiles on their faces as their parents shook their heads.
"Considering they've been doing it since we were four, I doubt it," Ben told her with a chuckle of his own. "I don't ask them to do it, they just took it upon themselves."
"And that'll never change Ben," Emir said. "No matter how old we get, we'll always be by your side."
Mal couldn't help but smile a little at that. There was just something about knowing those two would always look out for Ben that put her a little at ease. Plus, she and her crew would be there too.
"And we always will be," Malinda said as she gently kissed Benji on the cheek, his hand lightly caressing her stomach.
"Alright Ben, let's go over rules one more time," Jay said as they parked the limo.
"Oh thank Gods, this is being done in the limo," Audie said with a sigh of relief. "This time line has people with brains."
"Don't leave your sight, don't talk to anyone unless you four talk to them first, don't leave the territory, don't do anything 'touchy-feely' and don't go by 'Ben'," Ben stated with a nod of his head, pulling his beanie down slightly and pulling on the jacket Evie had made for him.
Benji smiled at the mention of his jacket. "It really was a well made jacket. The only reason I had to stop wearing it was because I outgrew it by the time I turned twenty three."
"Did I…I mean future me make you a new one?" Evie asked.
"Huh…you know I never asked but that's not a bad idea," Benji said with a grin.
"Smart man," Harry nodded. "Though the crew's not stupid, they would have seen you on the television at Ursula's if they went there to watch your coronation. Especially if they see Mal. A new guy with us wearing blue and being close to Mal?"
"So why not tell the crew that the King is on the Isle?" Sammy asked. "It'd be more protection for him, especially since he's dating Mal. An ally of Mal's is an ally of ours after all."
"Oh that's right," Mal nodded. "Ben, no romantic gestures okay? At least not until we get on the ship. If the wrong person sees, they might try to grab you to get to me."
"But…wouldn't romantic gestures fall under 'touchy-feely'?" Celia asked.
Ben nodded slowly. "You know I can defend myself right?"
"Just because you can defend yourself doesn't mean you will," Emir said with a small sigh. "We know you Ben, you're so nice sometimes it's like you came from Andalasia rather than Auradon."
"I know. But this is the Isle Ben," Mal said softly. "They don't exactly play fair and you Auradon folks are all about fair play. I just don't want you getting hurt."
"Ditto that!" Chip called out.
Belle nodded. "I have to agree with that sentiment. I don't want to think about any of you kids getting hurt but Ben most of all."
Beast nodded as well. The thought of his son getting hurt…he didn't even want to think about it.
Ben gave Mal a small smile as he cupped her cheek with his hand, having turned around and reaching through the gap between the driver's and passengers' areas. "I promise Mal, I'll be fine. I wouldn't have tagged along if I thought there'd be danger."
"Yes you would have," Lonnie, Emir, Chip, and Akiho all muttered, shaking their heads.
"Yes you would've Ben, don't lie," Jay chuckled. "But I think it's time we leave the safety of the limo before someone we'd rather not see finds it."
"Jay's practically another Shadow by this point with how well he knows Ben," Chip said with a small chuckle.
"Oh Gods, if Zevon found the limo, that would probably be the worst thing possible. Only thing worse would be if Freddy found it," Mal nodded as they filed out of the limo. Harry and Jay quickly grabbed a tarp and they and Ben made quick work of pulling it over the car in order to hide it.
"Err…wouldn't a limo shaped item under a tarp be more suspicious than just the limo itself?" Evan asked.
"Come on," Uma nodded and gestured to the pipe they were standing by. "Let's take the shortcut to the ship. Unless you want to stop by your dad's restaurant Mal?"
"You know if we stopped by dad's first, we'd never leave," Mal said with a small chuckle as she shook her head.
Mal tilted her head as she considered the options. While she would love to see her dad right away, the food they brought was meant for the crew. Plus the crew was the ones who needed to get the applications.
"Just a thought but wouldn't it entice more VKs to apply if the applications were in a neutral location like Hades' restaurant?" Poseidon asked.
"Do you want Freddy getting his hands on an application?" Uma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I thought young Freddy was banned from Hades' restaurant?" Poseidon asked and Uma paused. Her grandfather had a point.
Besides, they should have enough time to visit the restaurant.
"Did we?" Mal asked, looking over at her older self.
Malinda nodded. "We did," she said with a small smile.
"Crew first and then dad's restaurant before stopping by the hospital to check its progress," Mal stated. Ben'll be safer on the ship than at the restaurant anyway, and the last report we got indicated the hospital was still only halfway built so all we'll really need to do is just peak at it before leaving. The restaurant is in neutral territory but that doesn't mean Freddy or Zevon's gangs couldn't launch an attack before we get there or after we leave.
"I mean, Freddy did it before," Lucas muttered. "Remember? In one of the scrolls we read, when Mal and Ben and Jay were on the Isle?"
"Thank you for reminding me of that," Hades growled.
"Right," Uma nodded, passing out swords that she had swiped from the gym back at Auradon Prep. "Let's go. The longer we stand around here, the more we look like sitting ducks. I know this is our territory but that won't stop a really determined idiot."
CJ snorted. "You've just described like half the Isle there."
"And by idiot you mean Freddy?"
"Of course I mean Freddy," Uma said as she climbed through the pipe. "Who else do you think I meant?"
"Gee Uma, who else could be classified as an idiot?" Celia asked, tilting her head.
"Zevon?"
"...touché."
"You know maybe it should just go without saying that if I'm talking about idiots, Freddy and Zevon both fit the bill," Uma said, shaking her head.
Mal smirked as she followed Uma through the pipe and took a deep breath of the salt water of the cove.
"Isn't your dad going to freak out if he finds out you were here?" Jay asked as the boys climbed through the pipe.
"When doesn't dad freak out?" Mal asked.
Malinda chuckled at the look on Hades' face. "You know it's a valid question dad."
"Probably," Mal nodded. Ever since that incident when she was nine, you know the one where Freddy almost killed her, Hades had banned Mal from Pirate's Cove unless Uma or Harry was with her. And even then he wasn't exactly happy about it.
Harry stared at Hades in shock. "Lord Hades, do you honestly think I'd let anything happen to Mal?! I'd protect her like my life depended on it, and considering who's daughter she is, it likely would!"
"He knows that Harry," Uma said. "Uncle Hades is just being protective."
"But you see Jay, what my dad doesn't know won't hurt him a. And b, there's a reason why we scheduled this trip on a Wednesday."
"I should get less predictable," Hades muttered, shaking his head.
"It was the day when Mitchell here didn't have any meetings so we wouldn't be incredibly rushed going to and fro?"
"That was probably a leading cause of such a decision," Emir nodded.
"Well that but it was also the day when my dad doesn't have a pick up to make at Hook's fish shop," Mal explained, smiling a little at hearing Jay use Ben's fake name. "Now hush. I want to see how long it takes whoever's on look out to realize we're here."
"Shouldn't take the Rats too long, we've trained them after all," Harry said, shaking his head.
Jay smirked and looked toward the Lost Revenge. It was hard to tell from where they were but there was clearly someone in the crow's nest.
"If someone wasn't on lookout, I'd be having words with Henry and Harriet about dropping their guard," Malinda said with a small chuckle.
"No time like the present to climb up the gangplank," Uma said and started making her way toward the ship.
"After all, even if you're in your territory, you don't want to dally," James nodded. "Better to get where you're surrounded by known allies rather than be on your own longer than you have to."
"Um…captains, first mate, and Jay coming up the gangplank cap'n!"
Henry shook his head. "Not mentioning the new member, whoever's on look out is falling down on the job."
"Thank you Derek," Harriet called as she walked over to greet the five of them. "What are you four doing here?"
Henry paused as Claudine chuckled. "I guess you'll be training him on lookout?"
"I guess I shall," Henry said, smiling at her teasing.
"Well now Harriet, is that anyway to greet your brother?" Harry chuckled.
"It's a valid question though," Harriet said with a small shrug.
"Where's Henry?" Mal asked as she made her way up the gangplank as well. "He didn't get injured in a face off again did he?"
Henry shook his head. "You say that like it happens all the time."
"It kinda does," Claudine said softly. "After all, if I didn't aim and hit your shoulder, you'd be hit somewhere else…"
Harriet shook her head as she brought her brother in for a hug. "He's on a scouting run. He's been doing those more and more lately. It's a bit worrying if I'm honest."
"And I think we know why that is now," Lonnie chuckled as she looked between Henry and Claudine.
"At least he's getting off the ship," Harry said as they broke the hug. "Back when Uma and I left, all he was doing was training constantly. I mean, I love a good spar as much as the next pirate but I honestly think he trained eighteen hours a day."
Emir shook his head. "That has to be an exaggeration. There's only twenty four hours in a day after all, there'd be no time to sleep or eat or do his 'scouting runs'."
"His scouting runs have gone as long as six hours," Harriet told him. "Derek and Ryan tried to follow him once but got lost."
Henry shook his head. "I still can't believe they got lost!"
"Henry's one of the best swords in the crew," Uma said. "As long as he's armed, he can handle himself."
"Thank you for the vote of confidence captain!"
"He hasn't come back from these scouting runs injured has he?" Mal asked.
Henry shot Mal a small smile. "The concern's appreciated, cap'n," he told her.
"If he has, we haven't seen any and he's always up and training the next day," Harriet told them. "But you guys probably didn't come over to the Isle to hear about Henry."
"Hey, we love hearing about Henry!" Malinda said with a grin.
"A good captain is always concerned about their crew," Uma stated. "You'd know that better than anyone Harriet, being a captain yourself."
"Can't think of a better captain!" CJ said with a grin. "No offense of course Mal, Uma."
"None taken," Mal chuckled. "We kinda figured you'd pick your sister over us anyway."
Harriet smiled as Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Surprised Sammy's not by your side," Mal noted. "Normally she's glued to your shoulder the way Harry's glued to Uma's."
Jay snorted. "Subtle you are most certainly not," he muttered as both girls seemed to flush as the realization of the implication sank in.
"She's watching her brothers," Harriet explained. "Her dad had to work today at your dad's restaurant and the boys are too young to be alone all day."
"Why aren't I—?" James started to ask before cutting himself off. If this version of him was so far gone as to injure his son, Smee likely didn't trust him around his young lads.
Mal nodded. Squeaky and Squirmy Smee had been born around when Sammy was eleven and the poor kids joined the ranks of those Isle kids who had their mothers taken from them through childbirth.
Snow gasped and her hands went to her mouth. "Oh the poor dears," she whispered. "I know what it's like, to grow up without a mother…it's something I'd never wish on anyone. I know it won't bring her back but I am sorry for your loss."
"…Thank you, your highness," Smee said as Squeaky and Squirmy curled up by Sammy.
At least Sammy was close to being a teen when she was forced into the role of motherhood. Unlike Harriet who'd been forced to become Harry and CJ's mother at the tender age of five.
"…I'm sorry, what now?" James asked, his voice low.
"We went over this already," Harry muttered.
Milah sighed. "We can go over it in detail again during the break, James," she said.
"We brought food," Jay stated, holding up the bags of food they'd swiped from the kitchens. It was truly amazing how easy it was to swipe food from the kitchens at the school. "And news."
"Our two favorite things!" CJ grinned.
"We like both of those things," Harriet said with a smile and Mal knew she was thankful for the change in subject. "You want me to summon the crew?"
"Honestly I'm surprised they haven't all started milling about when it was announced we were there," Uma said, shaking her head.
"Oh no, let me," Mal said with a grin. Cupping her hands to her mouth, she hollered, "Okay you Rats! Crew meeting! If you're not here, you don't get food!"
"That's an efficient way of getting everyone there especially since we all know you wouldn't deny us food, Mal," Henry chuckled.
It was like she'd cast a spell as Ben blinked in surprise at how quickly the other pirates had scurried up to them. It was mainly boys but there were a few girls, Ben noted that they mainly congregated around Harriet though a couple seemed to be with the other girls and Uma and Mal.
"That's how you respond when a captain calls you," Harry said with a grin.
"Hey cap'n!"
"Hey Ryan," Mal chuckled at the younger brown haired boy who was busy rolling up the sleeves of his dark red shirt. "You still got your flare gun? Think you could summon Henry from where ever he's hiding?"
CJ grinned. "If there's anyone who can get Henry out of whatever hidey hole he's in, it's Ryan!"
Ryan grinned. "It's locked and loaded cap'n! Permission to climb up to the crow's nest?"
"Permission granted," Mal and Uma nodded. Ryan grinned once more and grabbed, to Ben's shock, a gun before climbing up the netting that seemed to be the way up the mast where the crow's nest was.
Akiho shook his head. "I mean, you heard Mal say flare gun so I don't know why seeing it would be so shocking."
"Carlos created those flare guns," Mal explained. "We needed a way to secure our safety if we were patrolling at night and Shere Khan met one of us in a dark ally. Hadie and I had our safety pretty much guaranteed since we can summon fireballs but the rest of the crew weren't so lucky and we couldn't be with them all the time."
"Oh that's right!" Evan exclaimed. "Shere Khan's afraid of fire and flare guns are probably the closest thing mortals have to portal fireballs!"
"You said Carlos created those?"
"No need to act shocked," Carlos said softly, his hand absentmindedly petting Estelle behind the ears as the Cerberus hadn't left his side.
"Give that boy a piece of tech and he's as happy as a dog with a bone," Harry nodded, having heard the muttered conversation.
"I'll…I'll take that as a compliment," Carlos said.
"As you should," Benji nodded.
Ben nodded and watched as the boy—Ryan, he told himself—fired a bright red flair up into the sky.
"Red for crew meetings, purple for back up needed, blue for medical, and yellow for hyena revolt," Mal said, listing off the meaning of the flairs. "Oddly enough we've never actually used yellow but it's nice to have anyway."
"Unless Henry is passed out, he should see that," Uma nodded.
"If Henry's passed out, we've got bigger problems," Mal reminded her. "The man trains nonstop after all. If someone got the jump on him, that's worrying."
"And if anyone did so when I was around, they'd be a pincushion for my dagger," Claudine said firmly.
"How long do you think it'll take Henry to get back here?" Ryan asked as he rejoined them, having slid down the netting with a grin on his face.
"Depending on where he is, I'd say five minutes. Isle's not the biggest place in the world after all."
"Yeah like Mal said, Isle's not that big and Henry would likely be sticking to Rat territory," Sammy nodded. "Well as far as our scroll selves know at least."
"You know I just thought of something," Jay said. "You don't think Henry's with a girl do you?"
A few of the boys burst out laughing as they heard that.
Jay shook his head. "Yeah, yeah I know. But you know they'd be shocked to know scroll-me's probably right too? What's the likelihood scroll-Henry's with scroll-Claudine?"
"Henry? You really think he would break his 'no fling' policy?" One of the boys asked.
"Nope, I have no doubt he'd never break that," Claudine said, gently giving Henry a kiss on the cheek.
"Just look away James," Milah told James, smiling slightly at the fact that at least one timeline would get the version of her husband she fell in love with. The one who would care about all his children.
"Jake's right, I think you've been in Boreadon too long Jay. Henry's still committed to being forever on his lonesome," another boy nodded.
Henry shook his head. "There's a difference between being committed to one girl and being on my 'lonesome'," he said.
"Unlike you Dustin, with your 'have all the flings as I possibly can' policy?" Mal said with a small smile. "Uma and Harry told us you haven't changed one bit."
"Why am I not surprised it was Dustin who said that?" Sammy asked, shaking her head in clear amusement.
"Would you want him to?" A red haired boy who Ben had to assume was Henry asked as he walked up the gangplank.
"Nope," Mal, Harry, Henry, CJ, Harriet, Malinda, Jay, and Uma all said in unison.
Either his shirt's always that wrinkled or Mal's just electing not to say anything, Ben thought as he took in Henry's disheveled appearance.
Malinda snorted softly. "Oh Gods, how did I not realize Henry was probably with Claudine then?"
It wasn't anything noticeable to anyone who wasn't raised among Leah and Audrey. Plus the year of dating Audrey. Ben quickly learned to hide any perceived flaws in his wardrobe when it came to her.
"And yet it was during our year of dating that you brought out the blazer of which we do not speak," Audie chuckled. "You didn't hide that."
"Why must you remind me of it?!" Chip groaned.
There was no way he could have gotten away with wearing a wrinkled shirt in public or have his hair ruffled like he'd just woken up and rolled out of bed. Not that it was a bad thing. Just interesting.
"Just wait till your little one's born," Chip said with a chuckle. "Your dad had that look more times than he could count."
"…Please tell me there're pictures," Hades perked up.
"Oh Gods," Ben and Benji sighed.
"Look what the croc dragged in," Harriet chuckled. "Where've you been Henry?"
"Scouting the territory," Henry stated as he gave Mal and Uma a one armed hug as a greeting. A hug that both girls readily returned, almost like a younger sister returning a hug from their older brother, despite the difference in hierarchy between the three of them. "Need to make sure no Angels or Casters sneak through our defenses after all."
Sammy snorted. "In the scrolls, there're six Angels and four Casters. There're nineteen of us. Plus the hyena allies. They're not sneaking past us."
"Uh huh, and did you get in a fight or something?"
"Yeah mate, you look a wreck," a dark haired boy nodded, standing next to Ryan.
"Feeling the love there Derek," Henry snorted.
"Thanks Derek, you really know how to make a guy feel good about himself," Henry chuckled as he gave Harry and Jay a one armed hug of their own. "So I take it one of you lot called a crew meeting for me to be summoned like this?"
"Hey, you never know! It could have been Harriet to call the meeting," CJ said, shaking her head.
"You'd be right Henry," Mal chuckled and shook her head in amusement. "We brought food. And news from across the bridge."
"Which has been stated as being things you all enjoy," Robin chuckled.
"Ooh! Our two favorite things," a blonde girl said with a smirk as she pushed up the sleeves of her bright red coat. Ben noticed Harry give a slight eye roll as the girl spoke and he couldn't help but wonder why. It wasn't like they were the same age so there was no way they could be rivals.
Harriet sighed and James frowned. All the lass did was point something out, he thought.
"You seem a bit too excited about that CJ," Harriet chuckled.
It means she's still innocent, Harriet thought.
"It's food from Boreadon, Harriet. Like directly from Boreadon so it won't be like what we find on the barges. Granted it's been getting better but the news is the thing I'm more interested in," CJ explained.
"Nope, food keeps you alive. That matters more than news," Harriet, Milah, and James said at the same time.
"Yeah, the last time we had news from across the bridge, we found out that our food was purposefully being turned rotten," Ryan nodded as he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why wouldn't you be excited to see how else Boreadon's ruined our lives?"
"Ryan's grumpy," CJ and Celia chuckled.
"You're hungry aren't you?"
"How could you tell?"
"I'm your best mate, Ry. You get testy when you're hungry," CJ stated and Ryan rolled his eyes.
Rachel chuckled. "So do most guys, I've found."
"Yep," Ashaki nodded, gesturing to her two brothers.
"You're not exactly sunshine and rainbows when you're hangry Ash," Emir shook his head.
Mal chuckled slightly. "Well then, I think food first and then the news. Gods forbid Ryan not get a snack."
"I agree with that order," Harriet said and Sammy nodded.
"Hey, he looks to be a growing teenage boy. They've got to eat," Ben couldn't help but chime in.
"Ain't that the truth!" Chip nodded.
Ryan smiled at him. "I don't know who the new guy is but I like him!"
Mal shook her head in amusement. She didn't know if Ryan was playing dumb for Mal's sake or if he truly didn't recognize Ben. "Mitchell, meet Ryan. Ryan, meet Mitchell. He's..."
"Someone who's going to give me blood pressure problems when I'm older," Akiho sighed and shook his head.
"A VK who's parent escaped the roundup twenty years ago," Ben said quickly. He figured it would be a good idea to stick to the cover story they came up with the first time rather than try to pretend that there wasn't a risk of Ben getting hurt if word got around that the King was on the Isle.
That's actually pretty close to the truth, considering Beast's past actions, Hades thought.
"Yeah, turns out I've got a cousin I never knew about," Uma nodded, playing along. "Aunt Morgana had some fun with a random human before Melody turned her into a fishicle."
Eric shook his head. "I know it's a lie and even so, I'd rather not have that image in my head," he said.
"Now you know how I feel every time they bring up Ursula and Facilier!" Naveen exclaimed.
"That explains the tan," Henry chuckled.
"Huh?"
"Your skin, it's got a bit of a tan compared to the rest of us," Henry explained as Ben tilted his head in confusion.
"Oh…I guess I never thought about that before but I guess we would have more of a tan than kids on the Isle," Rowyn said.
"But no matter, what's your news Mal?"
Meg chuckled. "Oh sure, that's just something to brush past," she said, shaking her head.
Mal chuckled as she and Uma began to pass around the food to the others in the crew. "Auradon's going to select five more VKs to come across the bridge. We've got applications for the kids to fill out and we'll come back around to pick them up the next time we stop by."
"You know, it's strange but I really thought she'd have woken up by now," Jasmine said, looking over at Leah's cell.
"Do we…do we want her to?" Lucas asked. "Even if we can't hear what she's saying?"
"We were hoping you lot might be able to spread the applications around the Isle," Harry nodded.
Hades shook his head. "Bad idea, that'll just make the kids targets if other people see them with the applications."
"You think that's a good idea?" Ryan asked. "What if Freddy or another Angel gets an application?"
"And crazy thought but we could make it so that Freddy or Zevon or their lot can't get their hands on an application," CJ pointed out.
"You know he can't hear you right?" Harriet asked.
"That's just a risk we'll have to take," Mal sighed and Ryan nodded, making a mental note to grab one of those applications for his sister.
CJ paused. "Ryan…Ryan has a sister? Why didn't he tell me? I'm his best mate!"
"Don't feel bad CJ, none of us knew," Henry said, his voice soft as he shook his head. "We should bring her into the crew."
"No should about it," Harry said. "We will bring her into the crew."
He'd have to be sneaky about it seeing as none of the crew knew about her and CJ would probably yell at him if she thought he was abandoning ship to go to Auradon.
"Or and this is just a crazy thought but you tell us about her!" Sammy said, shaking her head.
"Harriet, I've already got an application for you," Harry said, pulling Ryan out of his thoughts as the lone male Hook handed his older sister an application.
Milah pursed her lips slightly at the lone mention of Harriet having an application prepared. While she knew there was bad blood between Harry and CJ, Milah would have thought that Harry would have done what was possible to get both his sisters off the Isle.
"Harry," Harriet shook her head. "CJ should have this more than me. She actually fits the qualification of a villain kid after all."
"You're a kid of a villain, ergo you're a Villain Kid," Harry said firmly.
"Doesn't matter. I'll say you're a very tall seventeen year old if anyone has an issue," Harry said firmly. "You've done so much for us Harriet, when you shouldn't have had to. You deserve to see the sun too."
"Everyone deserves to see the sun," Emma said, crossing her arms.
Neal looked over at her. "Everyone?"
"…Okay maybe not Freddy."
Harriet gave her little brother a small smile at that. "Harry, I'm not going to take a spot from a kid who needs it more. You even said that there're only five spots this go around. I'll be fine."
Malinda chuckled softly. "You're actually one of the five," she said as Harriet looked over at her. "Harry insisted on it."
"Why am I not surprised?" Harriet asked, shaking her head.
So…so I'm all alone on the Isle? CJ thought but didn't say out loud. Harry gets his favorite sister and finally is rid of me at the same time? After all if he's picking who comes to Auradon, I'll never see the sun.
"I'm not filling one out," CJ said firmly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why would I want to go rub elbows with prissy pink princesses and pampered princes? I'm a pirate after all."
"And what are Mal, Harry, Jay, and me?" Uma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because you deserve a better life than what the Isle has to offer," Harriet told her, giving her little sister a raised eyebrow. "You're filling out an application CJ."
"Best not to argue with her, lass," James said with a small chuckle. "I don't think you're going to be able to get out of filling out an application."
CJ scoffed. "The Captain won't exactly be happy about this."
"Yeah well he can put his hook where the sun don't shine, that's how much I care about his happiness," Harriet muttered.
"What he doesn't know won't hurt him," Harriet said, shaking her head as she took a bit of the offered food. "Uma, I'll make sure Celia gets an application though."
Celia looked over at Harriet with a small smile. "Thanks Harriet."
"Don't mention it," Harriet told her. "And you know Dizzy's applications went without saying, she's under our protection too."
"And we all can pass them around on our scouting runs," Derek promised.
Hera frowned. "Is that wise? If you're seen with applications to Auradon, I would think that'd make you a target for other gangs like Hades said. Why not put them in neutral locations where everyone goes?"
"Put them in Granny's shop!" Dizzy spoke up. "Everyone has access to that!"
"Exactly Dizzy," Celia said. "Everyone. We're trying to avoid having Freddy get off the Isle."
"That's the whole reason why we came here," Mal said, smiling a little as her crew took the piles of applications. There was no one better equipped to get the word out. Granted, her crew of nineteen was the biggest VK crew on the Isle. They could pair up safely and not have to worry about another gang launching a sneak attack.
"Oh…that is a good point," Hera nodded. "It's less worrisome if they're in pairs after all."
Malinda snorted. "The Isle practically invented the 'buddy system'. We just didn't call it that."
"So Malsie, looking forward to this dance we keep hearing about on the TV?" CJ asked.
"No," Mal said, pointing at Harry, Jay, and Hadie. "Don't even think about it."
Mal raised an eyebrow. "What did you call me?"
"Trying out something new. I take it that's a no on the nickname?"
Malinda chuckled. "It was a nice try but I'm agreeing with my past self there."
"Very much so. I go by two nicknames and neither one of those is 'Malsie'."
"Okay so I know one is 'Mali' obviously but what's the second one?" Uma asked.
Malinda chuckled. "Dragon," she said. "And only Ben calls me that."
"Duly noted. My question still stands though cap'n."
"I was," Malinda nodded with a small smile as her eyes glanced at her engagement ring.
Mal sighed and shook her head. "This is going to sound really weird but I kinda am. I mean, it's a party in Auradon so it probably won't be as exciting as the coronation but that's not necessarily a bad thing."
"I happen to agree with you there!" Lucas nodded.
"I dunno, Maleficent might like another lizard to keep her company," Derek chuckled. "How're DeVil, Hadie, and Blueberry? Oh, and Gil! Where is he?"
"They keep mentioning Gil in these scrolls, he might show up," Carlos said with a small chuckle.
"Don't say that! It'll actually happen knowing my luck!" Harry exclaimed.
"On a date."
"Gil?"
"No reason to be shocked," Ruby said, shaking her head. "He seems sweet."
"Thank you!" Macaria nodded.
"With the granddaughter of Zeus," Mal added. She normally wouldn't have cared about that part but she knew it was the one thing that would get under his brothers' and his father's skin—the fact that Gil had been able to get a date with an Olympian when they had not. "He's actually taking her to Cotillion."
Henry shook his head. "How do they expect to get a 'date' with an Olympian when the only Olympians on the Isle are Uma and Mal? And they'd never go for the Gaston twins."
"Trust me, it's the strangest thing I've ever had to see," Harry nodded. "But Fish for Brains seems happy and Macaria knows how to defend herself if need be. Oh not that Gil would do anything, he knows Zeus would smite him and then Hercules would pound his ashes into almost microscopic particles which Mali would then set on fire before Lord Hades would judge his soul."
"…Why do I have the feeling scroll-you fantasizes about such a thing?" Macaria asked as she looked over at Harry.
"Can we make it a possibility?" Hyllus muttered to Herkie.
"I heard that!"
"You were ready with that litany of examples. Do you fantasize about Gil being smited?" Harriet asked.
"It wouldn't surprise me if that was the case," Harriet sighed and shook her head.
"Of course not...wait I can do that?"
"No," Harriet and Milah said at the same time.
Mal shook her head. "Harry, Gil's not getting smote understand? He's harmless and he's Carlos' friend. Besides, I think you're just jealous that Gil's got a date and you're going stag."
"Oooh nice one there Mal!" Jay said with a grin. "Knock Harry's ego down a few pegs."
Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm going with Jay and Uma as a group, considering DeVil's got a date with Fairy Godmother's daughter."
Both Carlos and Jane flushed at the thought.
"Oh Jane, I bet your dress will be beautiful," Fairy Godmother said with a smile.
"If…if you say so mom," Jane said softly. Not that it matters, being a plain Jane…especially compared to Lonnie or Mal or Evie…
"I'm sorry, DeVil's got a date?"
"You heard right."
"And I still have to wait until I'm fifteen before I can have a fling? DeVil's my age!" Ryan exclaimed.
No…you could have had a fling earlier, the records were messed up with you, Malinda thought. Though we all know you would have waited. You and CJ were always going to end up together.
"He's fifteen Ryan," Mal told him. "Rules are rules, unless you've had a birthday recently that the crew doesn't know about?"
"Wait…if Carlos is Ryan's age and Carlos is fifteen in the scrolls…doesn't that mean Ryan's fifteen as well?" Emma asked.
"We all had to go through it," Harry said.
"And we all hated it," Mal said.
"Well, except for Jay," Uma added. "Mr. Year Older Than Us, got to rub it in that he hit fifteen before we did."
"I can't help that I was born first," Jay chuckled.
"I'm pretty sure you four set up the crew. No pointless rules for you," CJ muttered.
Harry shook his head. "There was someone around to make sure we followed the rules even though we founded the crew. Two someones actually."
"Who?" CJ asked.
Harriet cleared her throat and waved slightly, as did Sammy.
Mal shook her head. "Well regardless, we're not changing the rules any time soon. Now, I hate to dine and dash but I would like some of my dad's cooking and to potentially point and laugh at Maleficent as a lizard."
"Ooh that would be a good thing but why is it a potential outcome?" Hadie asked. "You know dad would let you point and laugh at her if you asked."
"It was great seeing you cap'ns," Henry told them. "You too Harry, Jay. And it was nice to meet you Mitchell."
Sammy shook her head fondly. "A Prince in VK clothing. I mean, how many of us would have said it's nice to meet someone?"
"Yeah new guy, don't be a stranger," Ryan nodded.
"Oh Gods…" Emir and Akiho both sighed and shook their heads.
Lonnie chuckled. "At least there'll be more people to look out for Ben now," she told them.
Ben nodded, a little too shocked at how readily they accepted him to say anything. He was worried he might blow his cover if he opened his mouth. The five of them made their way down the gangplank and toward Lord Hades' restaurant.
"The rule is, if Mal and Uma trust you, you're generally good people," Henry said. "If Mal or Uma don't trust you however…"
Ben had to admit, as he took a bite of the Lord of the Underworld's cooking, it was certainly hard to beat Greek food made by a Greek God.
"Hmm…I may like him," Hades said slowly. "On the one hand he's dating my daughter but only the other hand, he did like my cooking…"
"Dad…" Malinda chuckled and shook her head.
He almost didn't want to leave to check on the hospital's progress or go back to Auradon, but duty called.
"And as King, you can let duty leave a message and enjoy Lord Hades' food!" Akiho said firmly. "Breaks are important!"
"Speaking of breaks, I think it's time we all took one," Kristoff said.
Beast nodded. "I agree with you there."
"Then let's go ahead and take one," Elsa said.