Chapter Four: To Grandmother's House We Go!

Changed from wedding finery to their motorbiking suits, the four HK's walked through the royal gardens to the bridge that now permanently connected Auradon and the Isle. Dizzy was darting behind them, switching between calls with all the vendors.

"I know," she huffed. "I'm doing my worst to keep him on schedule. Work with me here! Wait, what's wrong with the cake? Ugh, I'm on my way."

With a quick wave to the others, she headed back to the palace.

"Man, Isle of the Forgotten," Chad mused, rolling his shoulders, grinning. "Feels like I haven't been there in-"

"Hold on!" Audrey called to him and Jane.

Ben was frozen.

Not literally, but he did resemble one of Elise's ice statues as he looked up at a stone carving of a roaring dragon surrounded by violet roses. He knew he needed to move, to go. He had a job to do and normally that was enough to keep him moving. But for nine months, Audrey had been talking about how this day was a symbol, a union of good and evil.

It hadn't truly hit him until now.

"You ever think what our lives would be like if we…hadn't chosen to stay here?" Ben whispered. His eyes didn't stray from the dragon.

"Not if I can help it," Chad admitted. His shoulder bumped Ben's as he stood next to him.

"We wouldn't be who we are without coming here," Jane agreed. "Without the choices we made."

"Without the choice Mal made," Ben corrected. The dragon's tooth was cracked.

"You made a choice too," Audrey reminded him. Her hand slipped into his, holding tight. "We all did."

Ben blinked hard. "I never thought a day like today…would ever…was even."

Jane and Chad glanced at each other. The fairy nodded and Chad bumped Ben again.

"We were gonna wait until the reception but now seems like a better time." He pulled a velvety jewelry box from his leather vest pocket. Ben took it with shaking hands, opening it to reveal a golden diamond shaped tie pin. Engravings divided the surface into fourths, each section carved with their crests.

Ben ran his finger over the snarling beast at the top then the broken glass slipper under it. On either side was a spinning wheel with roses coiled around it and Jane's wand. He blinked again.

"The four HK's, linked together forever." Audrey had tears slipping down her cheeks.

"Thank you." Ben pinned the diamond onto his jacket lapel, already imagining it on his wedding tie. "I love it. I love you guys."

And when they squeezed each other tight in a hug, robbing each other of breath, there was no other place they'd rather be.


The bridge was on fire.

Green fire flickered all across the stone bridge, even melting the metal bramble barrier in some spots.

Ben swore under his breath.

"Yeah, it's pretty bad."

The HK's swung around to see Lonnie and Maxwell standing at the edge.

Lonnie nodded toward the Isle that could be seen in the distance. "We followed her, obviously. Circe's limo sped through here, dropped her at the Isle. The minute she got out, she did all this. No clue why."

"Because she liked making things difficult," Ben huffed.

"Good thing weather hexing was a core class for freshmen fairies this year," Jane said, pulling her wand out. She nodded at Maxwell. "Shall we?"

His grin was as sharp as the sword he used to wield. "You guys might want to backup."

Together, the two fairies raised their wands to the heavens. Then, in one motion, they pulled them down, white and blue light cracking across the sky. Rain clouds suddenly formed, drenching the bridge for nearly a minute. When they rolled away, the bridge was damp but flame free.

"Thanks, guys." Ben was already moving. "I owe you one."

"Consider it my wedding gift!" Maxwell called after the HK's running to their old home.


The green dome was inches away from Ben's face. It sparkled in the sun that only ever shone here, looking as though nothing had changed.

But something had.

Ben walked straight through the barrier as if it didn't exist. The magic, born from Maleficent herself, crackled across his skin. But since he had changed the spell, it did not hurt him. Anyone with wickedness in their heart was free to pass as they wished.

Chad whistled as they walked through the main streets of the Isle. "Glad to see they've done some improving around here."

Stall awnings were patched up and they were selling a greater variety of wares that were fresher than they'd ever been, the result of an increase of trade. Kids ran around, a little plumper than they had been last year, chasing each other with phony magic wands and stuffed dragons that looked a lot like the High Queen.

Many people greeted the HK's, whispering to their friends when they saw Ben.

"Isn't it his wedding day?"

Ben ignored them all and walked down dark alleys, scrambling down rocky cliffs when they reached the southern edge of the Isle. A wooden door with a massive deadbolt and a sign reading 'Get Out' guarded an old mining tunnel, Circe's home for the last twenty years.

And standing in front of the door were two familiar figures.

"Lumiere." Ben nodded at the skinny Frenchman, his brown hair turning white. He glanced at the one next to him, a much shorter and plumper man with a curling mustache and air of self-importance. "Cogsworth."

"What are you guys doing here?" Audrey asked with surprise. The pair had been frequent babysitters for her and Ben, loyal servants to Adam even while imprisoned.

"We are ensuring that the Isle is run smoothly in the absence of true leadership while Ki-ahem, Adam deals with the heavy loss that is-," Cogsworth rambled.

"The Mademoiselle trades sorely missed food for little errands from time to time," Lumiere interrupted. He shrugged at Jane's shocked expression. "I still serve Adam, but I have not had escargot in such a long time."

Ben would have laughed if he wasn't so stressed. But when he stepped forward, the two men put their arms across the door.

"No one is to disturb her," Cogsworth trumpeted, mustache twitching.

"I'm her grandson," Ben shot back. He held out the envelope with the rose Jane had given him. "Besides, she left me a note."

"She was very clear." Lumiere tipped his head in an apology. "No one."

Chad placed his hand on Ben's tense arm. "Remind me why we're here again?"

"My grandmother thinks I have unfinished business here," he huffed. "Say, you still know how to throw a right hook?"

Chad's grin was full of mischief. "Like I'd ever forget."

The two boys turned to the men guarding the door, fists tight. Chad laughed manically while Ben felt himself begin to turn into a beast, horns butting out of his forehead, muscles expanding, fur growing along his arms.

Lumiere and Cogsworth screamed, ducking low. Both the boys' punches hit the wood door, cracking it. The men scrambled along the ground, running off back to the Isle.

"Escargot isn't worth a broken nose!" Lumiere exclaimed.

Chad laughed, watching them run off, while Ben felt his transformation fade. Still riding the adrenaline from that magic, he banged on Circe's door.

It swung open a moment later.

She was still in her green velvet dress, her long blonde hair trapped under her golden circlet. And she was smiling.

She was always smiling.

"Ben, finally," Circe laughed. "Ooh, you brought the whole crew. Excellent. Now, let's get inside. We've been waiting long enough as it is and I'd hate to push her even further, especially on her wedding day."


Circe led the four through her maze of tunnels before arriving in her den. And there, in the center of the chaos, was Mal.

Ben rushed forward, embracing her tightly. But he only got to for a moment before Audrey yanked him back.

"You're not supposed to see each other on the wedding day, its bad luck!" she exclaimed. But Mal was laughing, pushing Audrey aside. Her arms wound their way around Ben's waist again and she pressed a kiss against his scruffy check.

"How?" Ben asked when she pulled back slightly. She'd changed from her wedding dress and, like them, was in her leather motorbike outfit.

"Carlos told me what happened with that one." She glanced over at Circe who was innocently sitting on an old chair. "I knew you'd want her there, so I might've ditched my bridesmaids and flew over."

"Only you." The tension was already melting out of him as he held Mal.

"Not to ruin the happy moment, but we're kind of on a schedule," Audrey reminded them. She'd given up trying to separate the couple.

Ben (regrettably) pulled back from Mal and turned toward his grandmother. "I got your note."

She nodded, lips pressed together.

"They're not going to leave."

"It's your wedding day, Ben. You need to speak to them."

Her smile widened when she saw Ben's expression.

The puppet master was right again.

Audrey, Chad, and Jane all looked at their friend, their brother, with a mix of empathy and acceptance.

"Speak to who?" Mal asked.

Audrey pressed her lips together while Jane paled a shade. Chad was busy staring at his shoes.

Ben swallowed around the lump in his throat. "My parents."