Chapter Twenty
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.
Holy cats you guys, I can't believe we're on the twentieth chapter! It doesn't feel like it's been that long—and yet I know we've got a long way's to go! :D
As always, thank you so much for your support with this story! Your reviews are always appreciated!
jedblack1997: Honestly that is a great idea however I've never seen Dead Men Tell No Tales so I don't think I'd be able to keep the character in character. But I have to say I do love the idea! :D
Ghrumfwggrvjdafbhs: Thank you so much! The characters were brought in to read just as Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos arrived at Auradon Prep.
Tracie Adams: So glad you liked the chapter!
Urmimala Hazra: Estelle's the best isn't he? Thank you so much!
Katt Kiki: Thank you!
Guest: I definitely appreciate the concrit, and it makes sense. One of the things I tend to fall back on when I'm stumped for a comment idea or tired is easy to go to lines like quips or chuckling so I'll make sure to work on that. As for Leah…I think you'd like chapter 15 of Choosing Love! :D
Marcus Emrys: In the story proper it was never mentioned but I figured it would make more sense for EQ to try to insult Maleficent than Evie.
danifan3000: yep, Anastasia is Celia's mother—that doesn't necessarily mean that Celia knows that though!
DS Rider: I think everyone wants to cuddle the puppy!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much!
darkpegasuzz: Oh thank you! Glad you enjoyed it!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! That's for sure, definitely nothing to be ashamed of! And yep, I think next chapter Estelle will come in! :D
Anonymous Reader: It is a rather heartbreaking scene isn't it?
Snowwhite45: I have a feeling you're right about that! :D
billyandkimfan1994: Hopefully they don't go too wild with their planning!
lilyflower101: Very true but at the same time, Evie didn't deserve to be pelted with smoke bombs.
quil . theimperial: As much as I'm not looking forward to writing it, I do agree that there'll bee some conflict there!
AthenaArtemis25: Thank you so much! I'm so glad you enjoy it—hmm, Maleficent, Persephone and Leah in a room with weapons…I say Maleficent kills Leah, and then Persephone smites Maleficent.
Hufflepuff24: Okay so that was definitely a mistake and the funny thing is I caught and corrected it just as you left your review! I can definitely go ahead and leave an updated list of everyone in attendance.
twilightgirl587: Thank you! I can't be the only one to think that, that Hades sounded like a platypus! I have to say I like it too!
n: I definitely appreciate the suggestion and I'll take it under consideration!
Hope you all like the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"You know, I have to ask. How are we getting lucky to avoid spoiling the other scrolls?" Kit asked as he took a scroll. "It's not like they're labeled."
"You really think the Fates wouldn't have thought of that dear?" Cinderella asked him, giving her husband a small smile.
"Right…"
The months flew by and before Mal knew it, it was June and the day of her sixth birthday arrived.
Ben couldn't help but grin at the idea that he shared a birth month with Mal.
She didn't really expect much; Maleficent never really acknowledged it.
"Yeah well Maleficent doesn't matter much!" Phillip Jr. stated. "Who cares what she does?"
The only reason Mal knew it was her birthday was because she had asked Maleficent when she was three.
"…how did you survive before I joined your crew?"
"Sheer force of will Jay, sheer force of will."
Uma had asked about her birthday and Mal, being a reasonably innocent three year old,
Leah rolled her eyes at the idea that anyone on the Isle had ever been innocent. They were villains after all.
"Why am I not surprised you were involved somehow?" Jay sighed.
"Because we're inseparable!" Uma said with a grin, wrapping her arm over Mal's shoulders and pulling her close.
thought there had been no harm in asking the dragon the same question. Thankfully Maleficent had been in a reasonably good mood, having gotten the chance to torment the goblins, and so all Mal got was a terse response giving her the date.
"…I guess miracles do happen." Harry said, though he was in a bit of shock at the idea that Maleficent had answered the question.
After Mal found out, though, Uma and Harry had made it their mission to make sure they at least celebrated Mal's birthday the best they could.
Poseidon gave his granddaughter and her friend a kind smile, making a mental note to make sure they always had favorable seas if they ever got off the Isle and went sailing.
With the young Hook being a pirate, there was no doubt they'd be doing that.
Whether it was by trying to grab the freshest thing from the delivery barge they could or by snatching something from another Isle resident, they always made sure Mal had something on her birthday.
"You…you celebrated by stealing?" Jane asked. She decided not to comment on the delivery barge part, knowing it would likely just bring down the mood.
"Hey, it's their own fault for not keeping a closer eye on their stuff!" Uma declared and Harry nodded.
"That's how the Isle works," Jay stated. "If you want it you take it and if you can't take it you break it so no one else can have it."
Today, however, Mal woke up feeling a little excited for once. It was her first birthday where she had a parent who might do more than simply tell her the day she was born.
"Oh I can promise you Hades has something up his toga," Hera nodded.
Hades stared at her for a second. "…was that a compliment or an insult?"
"Yes."
"That in no way answers my question."
I mean, dad won't be able to do much since we're trapped on an Isle and Steph's stuck in Boredon but at least it'll be better than what the dragon provides, Mal thought as she got dressed and quickly scurried out of her 'room' at Maleficent's.
I really should have just stayed at the clubhouse. Gods, why did I risk a lesson on my birthday? Mal thought with a small sigh.
"I'm pretty sure a jab in the eye with a rusty spork would be better than anything Maleficent could provide," Chip muttered.
The last thing she wanted was for Maleficent to try to teach Mal a 'lesson' on her birthday.
"She better not have…"
"Dad! She didn't," Mal said, shaking her head. "I got out of there before she realized I had even spent the night."
"Good," Hades said though he was still mentally making a list of everything he could do to get back at Maleficent—even if he couldn't enact them until Hadie was off the Isle.
Thank the Gods the dragon still hasn't realized I was the only kid on the Isle not invited to Blueberry's birthday, Mal thought as she made her way to the clubhouse as per tradition.
She did though, Evie thought, softly biting down on her lip. It was around this time that dad went missing after all.
Opening the gate, Mal couldn't help but chuckle at the sight before her.
"Was it a bunch of mini snowmen doing a conga line?"
Mal wasn't exactly sure how to respond to that and so could only stare at Akiho for a minute.
"Dude, even I know it wasn't that," Ben shook his head.
"Ben, you say that as if you're not the smartest person on the Tourney team," Emir stated.
Clearly her cousin and friend had stayed up way too late preparing a makeshift party for her as they were slumped over on the milk crates.
Welp I was wondering when my rep would start taking the hit, Uma thought as the older royals let out a round of soft 'aww's'.
Finally! And I thought you wouldn't be joining me in my rep decimation cuz! Mal thought to her.
At least Harry's with us too, Uma thought.
A spray painted banner hung above them, reading 'Happy Birthday Mal" in dark purple.
"I thought you said you couldn't get full cans of spray paint?" Rowyn asked.
"Exactly," Mal nodded.
"But Mal had made a batch with Uncle Hades and had brought it to the clubhouse to test it out," Uma added.
"Where we just so happened to find it," Harry finished as Mal rolled her eyes. "Don't give me that look Mali! If you didn't want us to use it, you should have hidden it better!"
Shaking her head, Mal quietly walked over to Uma and shook her shoulder. "Uma?"
"Not now Mal," Uma muttered, sleep clearly still occupying her brain. "I need to get the clubhouse ready for Mal's party."
Mal chuckled. "If there's one thing I've learned about you cuz is that when you first wake up, you're not all there."
"Name one time that's happened!"
"You mean besides this scroll?"
"Yes!"
"Okay," Mal said with a smirk. "We were eight and you tried pulling the anchor up in the Lost Revenge by sticking your hand into Pirate's Cove after a nap."
"Oh?" Mal asked, amusement evident in her voice. "Well what's left to do?"
"We need…Mal?!"
"Yes, I think Mal is necessary in order to properly celebrate Mal's birthday," Emir said as Aziz shook his head at his brother's tomfoolery.
"Good morning sleepyhead," Mal chuckled as Uma stared at her in shock, waking up from her slumber. "How late were you two here last night?"
"Didn't your parents wonder where you were?" Elle asked, looking over at the two VKs in question.
Uma, Mal, Jay, and Harry all stared at her for what felt like an hour but in reality was probably just a couple of minutes.
"Have…have you not been paying attention to any of the scrolls we've read?" Harry asked, being the first one to regain their ability to speak.
Elle flushed. "It was just a question," she muttered.
"I don't know," Uma said with a yawn and a stretch as she sat up. "Harry, Jay and I spent hours arguing over what color the banner should be.
"Jay wanted it yellow, Uma wanted it teal, and I wanted it red," Harry said. "And I still say it should have been red!"
"Even though my color of choice is purple?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I didn't say our choices were smart, now did I Mal?"
Then Jay had to go and finish his quota for his dad and Harry and I finished the decorations."
Aladdin shook his head at the idea of a child having to fill a quota in order to be able to please their parent.
Though it makes me wonder…if dad hadn't left or if he had come back, would I need to fill a quota? I probably would have had to if he'd raised me among the Forty Thieves, he thought.
Mal gave her friend a small smile. "It's nice to know that Harry's accepted Jay in the group."
"It only took him what? Two months?"
"Yeah," Mal nodded as Harry rolled his eyes at Jay's smirk. "No one can say Harry's not stubborn."
"I think it's because Jay's taller than us," Uma chuckled. "He had an easier time hanging the banner. We almost used Harry's hook to secure to the wall before Jay swiped some sticky stuff from one of the shops. I didn't ask what it was and I don't want to know what it is."
"I'm not sure I want to know either," Emma stated, wrinkling her nose at the thought.
"Hey Mal," Harry said with a groan as he woke up, not even questioning the other girl's arrival. "Happy birthday."
"Gotta love how he doesn't even react to Mal showing up," Hyllus said, shaking his head.
"Thanks Harry," Mal said with a small smile. "Won't your dad be missing you at the counter though?"
Harry shook his head. "Captain papa won't notice I'm gone. Well he might but he won't do anything. Not if I tell him I'm making sure you have a great birthday. He's terrified of what the dragon might do, especially since I told him you never got an invite to Blueberry's party."
"Wouldn't that increase the likelihood of Maleficent finding out though?" Alexandria asked.
Harry froze and looked over at Mal. He honestly hadn't even considered that.
"Maleficent might murder him if she ever found out Hook was there when her own daughter wasn't," Uma said with a small smirk. She wasn't a fan of how Hook treated her first mate though she knew Harry still had a soft spot in his heart for the man. He was, after all, his only remaining parent.
Dad?
Yes Mali?
You're…you're going to keep an eye on Harry right? I know I didn't ask before I left but…
Mal, you didn't need to ask. Of course I'm looking out for him.
Mal sighed. Ever since Harry had turned six back in late April, about a couple of weeks after Blueberry's birthday, he had taken to calling his dad 'Captain Papa'. I mean, it made sense in a way considering Harriet called Hook 'Captain' while CJ still called Hook 'papa'. It just felt odd hearing it come from Harry.
Harry winced slightly at the memory. The first time the Captain had heard him say 'Captain papa' had also been the last time he had called his father by that title.
"Jay should be here soon," Harry said, breaking Mal out of her thoughts. "He's picking up the presents we got for you."
"You guys didn't have to—"
Okay so we're definitely throwing a party for her, Akiho nodded. In fact, we'll throw her so many birthday parties it'll get to the point she'll question it if there's not one!
"Yes we did Mal," Uma said firmly. "It's your birthday. We had to get you something since we all know the dragon won't acknowledge it."
"And at the time we didn't know about your relation to Uncle Hades because someone didn't think it important to tell us!" Uma added.
"Ease up Uma, you know why I didn't," Mal told her.
"Just because I know doesn't mean I have to like it!"
Mal sighed but didn't fight back. Even Jay had grown to see how much Maleficent's show of 'motherly affection' toward Mal was an act now that he was in the crew.
"Honestly I think Mama Odie could tell that it was an act," Jay muttered though he hated the fact that he hadn't been able to tell until he became part of Mal's crew.
That being said, Mal still wanted to be careful about how much Jay knew. It wasn't that she didn't trust him, but it was just that with Jafar in Maleficent's gang, the risk was higher.
Jay held back a sigh, knowing Mal had a point and that she trusted him now. But he wasn't going to lie, the thought that there had been a point where Mal hadn't trusted him…Mal was the closest thing he had to a little sister and while trust may have been rare on the Isle, he still thought he had Mal's.
The sound of the gate opening prevented any further conversation and the three of them rushed downstairs only to see Jay pushing what looked like a…bed?
"How…how in the name of ever loving gurgesmurf did you get a bed over there?!" Kitty exclaimed.
"Are we just making up words now?" Lucy asked, looking at her twin.
"Jay, I know you like stealing but did you steal someone's bed from them?" Uma asked in shock.
"I don't like stealing," Jay muttered.
"Yeah you do," Uma said. "Didn't you once say it's like buying whatever you want except it's free?"
"No," Jay chuckled. "This was by the barge. I checked it out—it's in decent shape. No mold on the mattress or anything. I know we like to sleep in the clubhouse on the odd days our parents lock us out but wouldn't it make more sense for there to be an actual bed for us to use?"
Gods, to be six or seven and to think of checking the mattress to make sure there wasn't any mold, Chip thought with a frown as some of the parents who were present muttered about the fact that the kids would get locked out of their homes.
"Honestly," Mal scoffed. "Did you think our parents would tuck us in and read us a bed time story? You all fought against these people! You know them!"
"I dunno Jay," Mal frowned and glanced up the stairwell, with all its twists and turns. "How are we going to get it up there?"
"We're VKs! We'd figure it out!" Jay declared.
"We were also six and seven respectively," Mal pointed out, effectively poking a hole in his logic.
Harry perked up. "Give me five minutes," he said and rushed off.
"Now who does that remind you of?" Cinderella asked as she turned to her husband, a smile pulling at her lips.
"What in the world got into him?" Mal asked and Uma shrugged before turning to Jay.
"Did you get the stuff we actually sent you for?" She asked and Jay smirked.
"Oh Uma, do you actually doubt me?"
"Yes," Uma said flatly.
"You wound me!" Jay exclaimed, causing Dizzy to giggle.
"Considering we sent you out for one thing and you came back with a bed?"
"That is a fair point," Emma nodded.
"I just want to know how no one stopped him," Ashaki pointed out. "I mean, it's not like it's food that could be hidden in a pocket or something."
"Good point," Jay chuckled and patted a satchel that was hanging off the headboard of the bed. "But I got the stuff. Don't worry."
"Jay always comes through when you need him!" Hadie said with a grin.
Mal chuckled and shook her head in amusement. "Any chance I'll find out what the stuff is?"
I'd wager that it's something for your birthday Mali, Persephone thought as she bit her lip to keep a sigh from escaping. How she wished she could have been there.
"When Harry gets back," Uma told her. "Though depending on where he's gone, that could be hours from now."
"Oh ye of little faith cap'n," Harry shook his head.
To their surprise, the son of Hook only took a little over ten minutes before he arrived again; this time accompanied by his older sister and a petite blonde girl with a blue and white stripped shirt.
"Sammy's almost always with Harriet," Harry said. "She's almost like her shadow."
"Harry said you guys needed some help?" Harriet asked, brushing a bit of her brown hair out of her face.
"I thought your sister had black hair?" Mal asked.
"She does. She just went through a period where she wanted to try out brown hair," Harry shrugged. "I'll never understand girls."
"Jay found a bed and we want to put it in our clubhouse," Mal said. "But there's no way we'd be able to get it up those stairs on our own."
Harriet smirked before turning to her little brother. "So you came to me, your smarter and stronger older sister?"
"Gee, why does that sound familiar?" Rowyn shook her head, glancing over at Rachel.
"No, I came to you because you're bigger," Harry said. "Plus Captain papa won't notice you're gone for at least an hour since he's with Gaston."
"No one…—."
"Don't," Beast said, looking over at Chip. "That will be in my head all day if you finish that song."
"Oh come on!" Chip exclaimed.
Harriet chuckled. "Good point. Okay, so Jay and Harry, grab the end of the bed there. Mal, you and Uma take each side while Sammy and I take the head. Someone needs to be able to tell the boys when a corner's coming."
"Why didn't she do it?" Phillip Jr. asked. "Since she and Sammy were at the head and Harry and Jay were at the end, she'd be able to see when you all were approaching a corner."
"How does the question seem so logical coming from him and yet if it came from the Brat over there, Harry would take it as an attack on Harriet?" Uma muttered to Mal.
"I'll do it," Mal said, taking the left side.
"No need," Harry scoffed. "I know the stairwell by heart."
"Stubborn idiot," Mal muttered under her breath.
"So do I, Harry. But you've never walked it backwards before," Mal shot back as they picked up the bed.
"You know that actually sounds like fun!" Neal said.
They quickly got started as, even though they had two eight year olds with them, it was still a pretty heavy bed and they didn't want to carry it longer than they had to.
"I think even if we were grown adults, we still wouldn't want to carry that bed any longer than we had to," Uma stated.
"Does anyone need a break?" Harriet called as they stopped on the first landing.
"Bah," Harry scoffed. "Breaks are for wimps and the insipid mermaids of Neverland."
"Hey!" Elle and Melody exclaimed, the raven haired sister glaring slightly at Harry.
"You do know the Captain's not here right? He's not going to know if you don't spew his catchphrases," Harriet told him. "Sammy won't say anything anyway, right Sammy?"
Why am I not surprised Harry was using Hook's catchphrases even then? Mal thought with a small frown.
Sammy nodded and Harriet turned back to her brother. "So as I was saying, anyone need a break?"
"Wouldn't it be better to just do it all in one go?" Naveen asked. "That way, you don't have to think about picking the bed back up."
"Actually, taking breaks would be better," Phoebus stated. "Gives you a chance to reposition your hands and secure your grip."
"We took one while you and Harry were arguing," Uma said, shaking the slight pain out of her arms. She didn't know where Jay had found the bed but it seemed lighter than a bed should be.
"Hmm, that's odd," Macaria said. "You think it was enchanted?"
"But wouldn't the barrier stop that?" Lonnie asked.
Jane shook her head. "The barrier only stops evil magic. Enchanting a bed to be lighter to carry isn't exactly evil," she said though her voice got meeker as everyone turned to look at her.
Mal had the same thought too. Could this be Steph's doing? Mal thought. After all, Steph saw the clubhouse before she left for Boreadon and how it was lacking in furniture. How easy could it have been for her to make it so that there was a bed light enough for us to move? She is a Goddess after all, with access to options we could only dream of.
"Why Mal, I've no idea what you mean," Persephone said with an innocent look on her face that fooled none of the VKs, even the ones who weren't around the Goddess as much like Evie and Carlos.
Reaching the top of the stairwell, the six of them quickly positioned the bed against one of the walls in the clubhouse.
"Teamwork makes the dream work as coach always says!" Emir said with a nod of his head.
"Wow," Uma said softly. "We have a bed."
Ariel wasn't sure how many times her heart could break as they read these scrolls but she was positive she felt it break once more upon hearing that line. No child should sound so amazed at having a bed.
"We do," Mal grinned. "Jay, I know you didn't mean to find the bed, but well done!"
Jay smirked. "My pleasure!"
Harriet and Sammy chuckled. "Well, we'll get out of your hair," Harriet said. "You four need us for anything else, just let me know."
"Of course we would! Harriet's the best!" Uma stated, her tone of voice almost challenging anyone to contradict her.
Harry gave Uma a grin upon hearing that, not noticing Jay and Mal's knowing look.
The two older girls turned to walk out before Harriet paused. "Oh Mal? Happy Birthday."
Mal smiled. Harriet was always a good ally, and a good crew member after they combined their crews.
"That was nice of her," Emma said with a smile.
"Thanks Harriet," Mal said with a small smile and the older girl left the clubhouse. There was a brief bit of silence before Harry turned to Jay.
"You got them?"
"Yes! The mystery's finally going to be over!" Chip exclaimed with a grin!.
"Oh! Right," Jay nodded. "They're in my bag. On the headboard right there."
Mal frowned. "Got what?"
"Your presents silly," Uma said with a smile. "Can't have a birthday without presents!"
"What kind of pirate would I be if I didn't get one of my captains some loot?" Harry asked.
Mal shook her head. "Guys, really. You didn't have to—"
"Did you hear something Jay?" Harry asked as he got Jay's bag off the headboard.
"Nope," Jay shook his head. "Only Mal saying 'thank you for my presents guys'."
"Hey, they're like your shadows Benji," Chip said with a small grin as Ben shook his head.
"Chip, you know Emir and Akiho go overboard—."
"When's the last time we did that?!"
Ben looked over at his best friends. "My birthday party last year. One of the ballrooms is still an ice rink."
"Oh yeah," Akiho chuckled. "That was fun."
"How did…?"
"Aunt Elsa came and helped us," Akiho said, looking at his mom who seemed almost confused by the thought.
Mal chuckled. "Well if you're going to insist…where's my loot?"
"There we go!" Evan said with a grin. "Best thing about birthdays is no one judges you when you ask that!"
"I judge you every day," Ruby told him.
"I know. But you don't count."
"And why not?"
"You're my sister."
"That's more like it," Harry smirked as he tossed Jay's bag to him. Jay caught it and took out two oddly wrapped parcels. It was clear that her friends had used whatever paper they could get their hands on to wrap them. Mal didn't care though.
"Who cares about stuff like that? It's just going to be used for fire fuel later anyway," Uma said with a shrug.
"Here Mal," Jay said, handing her one of the parcels. Mal raised an eyebrow as she felt it.
"A book?"
"Ben's favorite present!" Lonnie said.
"I like more than just books, Lon!" Ben shook his head.
"Just open it," Jay chuckled and Mal carefully unwrapped the parcel—the paper might prove necessary later and it was still in reasonably good shape. To Mal's surprise, a hard purple book awaited her.
"Hey! I think that's my old composition notebook!" Rowyn said, her eyes growing wide with excitement. "Were there brown stains on some of the pages and were they slightly crinkly?"
"I think so," Mal nodded.
"Then yep, that's mine! Rose knocked a soda on it when I was working one day."
"I said I was sorry!" Rose exclaimed. "Are you still judging me for that!"
"No because at least you didn't destroy my tablet like another sibling of ours," Rowyn said, looking over at Evan.
"Stop having open drink containers around things you don't want destroy, Ro," was all the younger boy had to say.
"I found it in the delivery barge," Uma said. "Whatever prince or princess in Boreadon who had it clearly didn't believe in waste not want not—there's about half the pages still remaining. You've been planning out our tags but there's only so much you can do with the water rings left from Uncle Hades' restaurant."
"Not to mention it'll be easier to edit your sketches," Rapunzel nodded. "Though I usually prefer blank paper to lined for drawing."
Mal nodded, grinning a little as she opened it. It was a lined notebook and it was clear that whoever threw it out hadn't cared much for keeping the pages intact; bits of the remaining paper still clung to the spine.
"What? It had my school notes in it and we had a test coming up," Rowyn said as some of the kids turned to look at her.
At least it's not pink, Mal thought as she set the book to the side. And I can easily find some charcoal or something at dad's place to use to sketch out the tags. Plus, since it's purple, people will know by sight that it's mine.
"So…you don't like pink?" Ben asked.
"I would think that would be obvious," Mal told him. Ben gave her a slightly nervous smile, trying not to think about the girl's dorm room and the pink walls they had set up.
"Well, it doesn't make any sense to say it since there's only two presents but open this one next Mal," Harry said, handing her the other parcel. Mal chuckled and quickly unwrapped it. To her surprise, a tri-cornered hat like the one Uma had started to wear stared back at her.
"You know, you should wear that hat more," Uma stated.
"If I did, the Dragon would learn that I had said hat and more than likely destroy it," Mal told her.
"We know normally a crew has one captain," Harry said.
"But we figured in this case we'd make an exception," Jay added with a small smirk.
"How sweet!"
"Take a shot!" Harry joked as Jay shook his head. Mal could only smirk though, it was about time her friends got some more hits to their reps.
"We wouldn't be a crew if it wasn't for you Mal," Uma stated. "You're my best friend, if I'm sharing power with anyone, it's you."
And I mean that one hundred percent, Uma thought with a small smile. A smile that Mal readily returned.
Mal stared at her friends in shock. She definitely hadn't been expecting that.
"Guys…"
"Besides, you can't expect Maleficent's daughter to be subservient in her own crew?" Jay joked and Mal rolled her eyes. It was corny but it helped ease the feelings that were choking up in the back of her throat.
Ben frowned slightly as he couldn't help but wonder once more if Mal and Jay were…well why wouldn't she be?
After all, Jay's already proven he can cheer her up while you're just the son of the people who're the reason she's on the Isle in the first place, he thought before shoving that thought out of his head. The contract. You've got the contract.
"How did you get it purple?" Mal asked, holding it up to look at it closer.
"Lady Tremaine's shop," Uma said. "The boys were a bunch of guppies walking in there but Anastasia said if we didn't make a mess, she wouldn't say anything about us being there."
"Wait, don't you guys make your smoke bombs using Granny's shop?" Dizzy asked.
"Sure do," Uma nodded.
"Making smoke bombs are different than going in there when Yzma's getting her hair done," Harry stated.
Mal nodded. The elder Tremaine sister never really kicked up a fuss about the kids coming into Curl Up and Dye the way her mother or younger sister would. "She hasn't been in for a while. Is she feeling okay?"
Cinderella frowned as she heard that. She might not have been the closest with her step sister but that didn't mean she wanted something to be wrong. "Was everything okay?"
"Oh yeah," Uma nodded, giving Celia a small smile.
"Probably just tired from taking care of her brat," Harry stated. "Anthony would lower anyone's energy level."
"Ugh, don't remind me," Uma shook her head. "He's not even here and he's already elevating my blood pressure."
"Don't you mean 'Lord Tremaine'?" Jay scoffed as they all chuckled.
"I swear, that boy's worse than Blueberry sometimes," Mal said, rolling her eyes as she put the hat on.
"You mean you actually hated Anthony more than Blueberry?" Celia asked.
"I wouldn't go that far," Mal told her. "Though if I had to rank the people I hated of the VKs, it'd be Freddy, Zevon, Blueberry and Anthony though the last two could change positions."
"Alright Mal, that's enough," Persephone said, lightly scolding her daughter.
"It suits you cap'n," Harry said with a small smirk.
"That's co-cap'n, Harry," Mal stated, giving Uma a small smile. "Uma was captain first, she's our main captain."
"Embodying the motto before we even thought of it, huh cuz?" Uma asked.
"You know it!" Mal told her.
"The motto?" Ben asked.
"Our crew's motto," Mal told him. "Ruthless yet Loyal. We stick with our allies and we destroy anyone who tries to harm them."
"Sounds like two other people I could mention," Ben said as he glanced over at his friends.
Uma smiled and stood a little straighter. "Well, as your captain, I order you to go and have a good birthday!"
"And those are orders that anyone should be happy to follow!" Kitty said with a grin.
"Aye aye Cap'n!" Mal said, giving her cousin a small salute. Her friends chuckled and before long the crew had to split up; each one of her friends expected back by their parents. Mal didn't mind though. That just meant that she could spend more time at her dad's.
"I'm happy for you Hades," Poseidon whispered to him.
Hades smiled slightly as he heard that. "…Thank you Poseidon. And, for what it's worth, give Uma some time. She'll come around."
"I'm surprised to hear that from you."
"Hey, you helped provide fish for the Isle and more than likely made my job easier as a result even if that wasn't your aim. We might not always be on the same side of the barrier but you will always be my brother."
"Dad?!" Mal called as she walked through to the Underworld.
"Oh Lady Mal!" Pain exclaimed as he walked past and Mal rolled her eyes.
"How many times have I had to tell them not to call me that?"
"8,921," Hades said, absently picking at his nails as Mal looked at him in shock.
"You counted?"
"Honestly I just wanted to see how many times it would take before it'd sink in for them."
Ever since her dad had told her the truth, his minions had been calling her 'Lady' Mal non stop. She wasn't a Lady—she was just Mal!
"Okay Just Mal!" Emir grinned.
"…they're going to be calling me that for the rest of the time here aren't they?" Mal asked, turning to Ben.
"More than likely," Ben nodded.
"Pain," Mal said with a small nod. "Is my dad in the kitchen?"
"Yes my lady."
"I am not a lady," Mal growled.
Well that much is obvious, Leah thought with an almost silent sniff.
"Don't call me that!" Mal exclaimed as Pain scampered away, obviously expecting a fireball that never came.
"Yet," Mal said with a small smirk. "Dad had to teach me how to conjure up one first."
Mal couldn't help but roll her eyes once more.
How did dad survive the six months without Steph with just those two before I came along? Mal thought as she made her way into the kitchen.
"As you said earlier Mali, sheer force of will," Hades sighed as he shook his head.
To her surprise, a similar scene to the one that had been at the clubhouse awaited her. Well, except for the fact that no one was slumped over asleep.
"Oh I'm sure Panic was off dozing somewhere," Hades said, shaking his head.
"Dad?" Mal asked, a little shocked at the fact that her dad had remembered or even known when her birthday was.
Just another reason to want to kill Maleficent for putting that doubt in Mal's head, Mulan thought. It was clear to anyone with eyes that Hades cared for his daughter and would do what he could to make her birthday a good one.
"You thought I wouldn't do anything?" Hades asked, giving his daughter a small smile. "Mali, I've waited six years to celebrate this day with you. Now, it's not much but I was thinking maybe some dinner and then maybe get a portal call from Steph? And then I've got something to show you."
"Why not just show her then?" Rose asked, tilting her head and then flushed as she realized what she asked and more importantly who she had asked the question to. "I'm so sorry—."
"It's a valid question," Hades stated. "And to answer, I wanted Steph to be part of it."
"Okay," Mal said with a small nod as she tilted her head slightly. "What's for dinner?"
"Chicken of course," Hades chuckled. "The way you scarf it down at the restaurant, I assumed it was your favorite. Unless you'd rather have something else?"
"No way!" Mal exclaimed.
"Lord Hades, have you tried making the chicken into a sandwich?" Akiho asked. "Or even a wrap? Which I think could be classified as a type of sandwich—."
"And we are cutting off the start of the hour long sandwich ramble," Emir stated.
Hades shook his head. "I have to admit, I'm intrigued."
"I can get you the necessary ingredients for a wrap," Persephone told him.
"I volunteer as taster!" Hadie declared.
"What?! No way, that's my job!" Mal cried.
"You're in Boreadon, you can't really be a taster!"
"Dad!" Mal said, giving her brother a teasing grin as she turned to look at her dad.
"He's got a point Mali," Hades said. "But Hadie, you won't be the only tester."
Mal shook her head. "Nope! Chicken's fine!"
Hades grinned. "Okay, well you can come over here and help if you want. Or you can stay over there and offer commentary?"
Mal tapped her chin in mock thought. "Snide commentary is what I'm good at though!"
"Well it's more like sarcastic commentary," Mal amended.
"You got to love sarcasm," Uma said. "It's like punching someone in the face, but with words."
"Ooh I like that!" Lonnie told her.
"Well every chef needs a critic," Hades teased and Mal stuck her tongue out at him, causing Hades to chuckle once more.
Audrey rolled her eyes. Honestly, she couldn't believe Ben thought someone like that would be a good fit in Auradon!
Mal watched as her dad quickly got to work on dinner; the sounds of sizzling chicken quickly filling the kitchen.
Mal, Hadie, Harry, Jay, and Uma grinned; they could almost smell the chicken right there.
"Hey dad?" Mal asked after a few minutes of silence. "Do you have any charcoal or something I could use?"
Hades chuckled a little. "Well that's an odd question. Why do you need charcoal?"
"To start a fire of course!"
"Ease up on the sarcasm Mal," Jay chuckled.
"Uma, Harry and Jay got me this for my birthday," Mal said, holding up the notebook. "I want to break it in but I don't have anything to draw with."
"If we didn't have it, one portal call could solve that," Hades said.
"Yeah, mom can get anything," Hadie nodded.
Hades couldn't help but smile at that; he loved seeing Mal doodling with the condensation from the water glass or drawing in the sand by the docks whenever he made his way to Hook's.
"So what's your preference? Sand? Water?" Rowyn asked, looking over at Mal.
"Spray paint," Mal stated.
"Neat! I'm more preferential to oil based paint but I'd like to give spray paint a try."
Eugene shook his head. "Kit, you'd better go ahead and read before we're here for five hours."
"Dad! I'm not that bad!"
"I've timed you Ro," Eugene said, giving his daughter a small smile.
With the popularity of the restaurant picking up, it had gotten to the point where he needed to have two delivery pickups and he wasn't going to have Mal or Virgil be overworked.
Let no one say he didn't care about the kids, Persephone thought with a small smile. Hades can try and say he doesn't care about anyone on the Isle but he's one of the few adults on the Isle who do care about the kids. Daniel was another one but…we haven't seen him for years.
"We should have some around here somewhere," Hades said. "Or I can ask Steph to pick some up for when she comes back from Boreadon."
Persephone raised an eyebrow. "Really dear?"
"This was supposed to be one of those 'what Steph doesn't know won't hurt her' sort of a thing," Hades told her.
Mal nodded slowly, clearly not happy with that answer but not wanting to make a fuss. It didn't matter anyway as dinner was quickly ready soon after that. Hades plated the chicken and presented it to Mal.
"Did you speed up the cooking so Mal didn't have to think about the lack of charcoal?" Poseidon asked, looking over at Hades.
"I can neither confirm nor deny," Hades stated.
"Dig in Mali," Hades said with a small smile. "I'll plate my own but you don't have to wait for me."
And that's how a parent should act. Making sure the kids get their food first before getting their own, David thought.
That was all the invitation Mal needed to start tearing into the chicken. It tasted better than it normally did, which was a high bar to clear as her dad's cooking was always pretty good. It was hard to say what it was; maybe there was some new seasoning?
"You all honestly think I remember how I prepared chicken over ten years ago?" Hades exclaimed as everyone turned to look at him.
Hades couldn't help but smile as he ate his dinner. He hated the fact that he couldn't spoil Mal more than what the Isle would allow but at least he could do this much. Besides, at least she was with him and not with the dragon.
"I think we spoiled her plenty though dear," Persephone said as Estelle wagged his tail, licking Mal's hand and nudging it with his nose as a hint that he wanted pets.
"Lord Hades?" Pain's voice broke through the silence as the two of them finished up their dinner.
"Yes?"
"There's a call on the portal from Lady Persephone," Pain said and Hades' heart swelled as he saw the grin that appeared on Mal's face at the little imp's words.
"Portal calls from mom are the best!" Hadie declared with a grin of his own.
Great timing Steph, Hades thought as he helped Mal down before she raced to the portal room.
"It's a gift," Persephone said even as she smiled hearing about young Mal racing to talk to her.
"Mal!" Persephone exclaimed in delight as Mal burst into the room. "Oh sweetie, happy birthday!"
"Thanks Steph," Mal said with a small smile.
"I wish I could be there to celebrate with you in person," Persephone sighed, the smile still on her lips. "But I'm sure your friends and your father have made it a good one?"
"They made it one of the best birthdays I've ever had," Mal said and her three friends and her dad gave her a grin upon hearing that.
Mal nodded. "They have! Oh Steph, that reminds me. Did you send a bed to the Isle from Boreadon?"
"Why would you think Lady Persephone would send a bed?" Audrey scoffed.
"What do you mean Mal?" Persephone asked, though the small smirk on her face betrayed the innocent look she was going for. Mal could only smirk in response as Hades walked into the room.
"You sent it, Lady Steph?" Harry asked.
"Of course I did," Persephone said. "And for the millionth time Harry, you don't have to call me by my title."
"Hey Steph," Hades said with a small smile. "How was your day?"
Persephone sighed. "Oh you know the usual. I won't bore you with the details—not on Mal's birthday of all days."
"Aww!" Hadie couldn't help but pout a little. He liked the details!
Mal chuckled a little at that. She loved hearing about Steph's day, if only because it normally came with a running commentary from her dad. She never knew how many different ways there were to call someone a moron before until she met her dad.
"Seems Mal had the same thought as you," Dizzy told Hadie with a grin.
"Have you shown her yet?" Persephone asked, looking at Hades.
"Showed me what?" Mal asked but Hades shook his head.
"I wanted to wait until after you called," he told Persephone. "I figured we'd make the offer together."
"What offer?" Chad asked.
"If you let dad read, we'll find out," Lucy said, rolling her eyes.
Mal tilted her head in slight confusion. What offer? What were they talking about?
"Mali," Hades said gently, kneeling down to get to her level. "I know you live at Maleficent's right now but what would you say if I offered you a place to sleep here?"
"I'm pretty sure if I said anything other than 'yes', you can assume I'm spelled or something," Mal said with a small shrug.
Mal paused. "You mean like I would live with you?"
"If that's what you would want," Hades said. "It's completely up to you though. I know you've spent five years living with your mother so if you'd rather—"
"Honestly I don't know why we tried to delude ourselves by calling Maleficent my mother," Mal shook her head. "Mom's my mom."
"No!" Mal said, cutting Hades off; the excitement of what that meant rushing through her body. "No, I…I want a room here."
I would have given anything for an offer like that when I was around Mal's age, Cinderella thought.
Hades grinned and Persephone smiled from her spot in the portal. They had waited years to hear those words and they sounded just as sweet as they imagined them.
Every parent wants to know their child is somewhere they feel safe, Fairy Godmother thought with a small smile.
"But wait, Steph asked if you had showed me something?" Mal asked, looking at her father in confusion and slightly tilting her head.
Hades chuckled. "Well you're going to need a place to hang your hat after all," he told her, patting the hat that was still on Mal's head. "Virgil and I have been working on getting a room set up for you."
Mal smiled as she thought about her room. It was honestly the best gift she could have gotten—as well it allowed her to keep the items she cared about safe. The items the Dragon would have destroyed upon sight. Like her sketchbook or her hat.
"Really?" Mal asked. "But what if I'd said no, that I didn't want it?"
"It would have still been here for you Mali," Hades said gently. "For whenever you did want it."
"No matter how old you got, the room would always be there for you," Hades told her.
Mal couldn't help but smile at that.
"Go and show her dear," Persephone said. "I'll stay on the line for when you get back."
Hades nodded and held out a hand for Mal to take. Gently taking the offered hand, Mal followed Hades out of the portal room to one of the spare rooms. It was actually the only room she hadn't been in since she had been over in the Underworld. The door was always shut but sometimes she would catch Hades or Steph staring at it fondly.
Persephone couldn't help the slightly sad smile that formed as she heard Kit read that. She was glad that Mal had said yes to the room but she wished she could have been there in person.
At least now you'll get to see her reaction, she thought and some of the sadness faded from her smile.
Now, though, Mal had to chuckle as she came to the door; painted a dark shade of purple. It was so dark it almost looked like black but Mal could tell the difference.
"Of course you could," Uma shook her head. "Honestly if it was possible to hoard sketchbooks, you would Mali. Little miss artist."
"Hey the more sketchbooks I have, the better designs we can have for our tags," Mal smirked.
"Ready?" Hades asked as he put his hand on the doorknob. Mal nodded, a little excited. Hades gave a small smile as he opened the door and Mal couldn't help but grin. It truly wasn't much, but what it was was better than she could ever imagine.
"You gave her a room?" Zeus asked but unlike the last time he had asked, his voice was lacking any surprise. Instead, there was a small note of something that was hard to place if one wasn't listening closely.
For Zeus couldn't help but be jealous in that instant of his older brother. For he had wished that Hercules had chosen to live on Olympus with him and Hera instead of them being forced to say goodbye to their son just five minutes after getting to see him in person rather than through a statue.
"Of course I did," Hades stated. "She's my daughter."
Sure she had a room at Maleficent's but that was just for show than anything else. After all, the dragon couldn't have it get out that her daughter slept in a closet or anything.
"It wasn't actually a closet was it?" Cinderella asked, her voice soft as she thought back to her attic bedroom which had been provided by the 'goodness' of her stepmother.
Mal shrugged. "Doesn't matter, I was barely there as I got older."
Here, she had a bed and a dresser and a bookshelf with more books than she thought were on the Isle. Sure the furniture was clearly used but Mal didn't mind. She wasn't a prissy princess, she was a dragon.
No, Mal thought as she glanced at her dad. I'm a Cerberus.
"And Cerberuses are so much better than dragons!" Hadie said with a grin as Estelle yipped in agreement.
"First of all, it's 'Cerberi' storm cloud. And second of all, dragons are still pretty cool," Mal said.
Ben nodded. "Did you know that supposedly if you bathe in the blood of a dragon, it allows you to see into the future?"
Everyone paused and turned to look at the future King. Some had a look of shock on their faces while others, like Chip, Akiho, and Emir, just looked bemused.
"How…how do you even know that?" Lonnie asked.
"Why do you know that?" Mal added.
Ben shrugged. "There's not a lot of books on dragons in the library at home so I tried to read as much as I could."
"How….?"
"I'm your dad Mal," Hades said. "When it comes to making sure your kid's happy, not even a magical barrier'll stop a parent. I know it's not much but it's got the bones to be a—"
"It was perfect, dad," Mal said, her voice soft but still loud enough so that Hades could hear her.
Whatever Hades was going to say was cut off by the hug Mal gave him. Normally Mal would have kept her cool and freaked out in private. But now, knowing she had another option other than the clubhouse on nights where she didn't want to stay at Maleficent's? A place where she could truly be her and not some carbon copy of the dragon?
That's all you need to be Mal. You never have to be a copy of anyone, Persephone said, sending a message through the mental link.
Best. Birthday. Ever.
Hades grinned as he heard that, happy that he could give Mal a good birthday for once.
"I have to say, that was a more cheerful scroll than the previous ones," Kit noted.
"Hey we can have good days on the Isle," Hades told him. "And before anyone asks, I'll read."
