Chapter Thirty Four
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.
Whew! This chapter turned out to be so much longer than I thought it would be and I apologize for the wait here! Thank you all for your patience :D As well, thank you so much, we're four reviews away from 300! That just seems insane to me so thank you for the reviews, the follows, the favorites, and of course the reads!
Oh and yes Ginny is a toddler here but I've just kiboshed toddler speak-it's too hard to write lol
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yep, help is coming for Mali!
charmed princess imzadi: Aww, I love that idea that baby Ben could sense something wrong with baby Mal! I'll see if that's something I can work in :D
OceanBlueSeaEyes: I think you'll like the next couple of chapters! :D
SaikoGoyangi: Oh yeah, Zeus is more than likely going to get an earful after Hercules finds out about him abandoning Mal! :D
Lauriverfanboy1: I'd be willing to bet you're right about that!
danifan3000: Yeah Emir and Akiho would probably go insane (well more insane than they already are) at finding out that Ben isn't the only royal who'll go to the Isle without a guard.
Guest: I won't lie, Ariel was originally going to go to the Isle alone but I really liked your idea of having Hercules help out! :D
Scooby Doo: I'm glad you liked it!
Flaresouth: Oh I'm so glad you liked it!
Guest: Thank you!
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think!
Ariel sighed softly as Hercules drove the car across the bridge to the Isle of the Lost. She didn't know why but there was something in the back of her mind telling her that something was wrong.
She hoped she wasn't right about that.
"Are you okay?" Hercules asked and Ariel looked over at him. "It's me Ariel, I know royals have to keep decorum but if you can't talk to your cousin when we're the only two in a car who can you talk to?"
"That's an excellent point," Ariel said, giving her cousin a small smile. Okay granted he was really her first cousin once removed since Hercules would have been her father's first cousin, being the sons of Zeus and Poseidon respectively. But after having six sisters with children of their own, Ariel didn't rightly care about what branch on the family tree someone fell on. Family was family.
"So?" Hercules prompted. "Are you okay?"
"I'm just…I'm worried," Ariel told him. "What if something happened to Aunt Persephone? Aunt Demeter doesn't react like this for just any reason after all."
"But that's why we're going to the Isle," Hercules said. "To talk to Hades and see if something did happen. Father always says that Aunt Persephone and Hades are inseparable and if something happened to her, you know Hades would react about it."
Ariel couldn't help but smile as she heard that, though the smile faded as she took in the view in front of her.
"Has…has the cloud cover over the Isle always been that dark?" Ariel asked. "That would get depressing for the kids, wouldn't you think? Never being able to see the sun?"
"Didn't you come up with the barrier?" Hercules asked.
Ariel shook her head. "A committee came up with the Isle, Eric and I only signed off on things as they needed approval or funding. And I knew there'd be a bit of cloud cover but I didn't think it would be this severe…"
"Maybe it's impacted by the weather?" Hercules suggested as they opened the barrier and officially drove onto the Isle of the Lost. Ariel almost fell to her knees as she got out of the car upon seeing the state of the Isle.
Oh dear Gods…what happened? This…no one could live like this! I have to figure out what happened! Surely the Isle that the committee set up hadn't fallen into such disrepair so quickly!
"Right…where's the Underworld? That would be the best place to look for Hades," Hercules said and Ariel couldn't have been more grateful for her cousin in that moment. His question at least had pulled her out of her spiraling thoughts and back onto the task at hand.
"Right, right," Ariel nodded and handed Hercules a spare cloak she'd put in the car. He would be more recognizable than she would, it'd be important for him to avoid being recognized.
"Queen Ariel?" A voice hissed in the shadows and Ariel looked over her shoulder. They hadn't even been there five minutes, who had spotted her?
"…Yes?" Ariel asked softly as she continued to look for the voice.
"What are you doing here, your highness?" Cassandra hissed as she stepped out of the shadows. "At least you had the common sense not to come alone, seeing as you've got Lord Hercules here but still!"
Ariel sighed in relief upon seeing the elder Gothel daughter. "Oh Cassandra! Thank Gods it's you. At least now I can get some answers as to what happened to the Isle."
"What do you mean? The Isle's been like this for years, maybe not this bad but typically in a state of disarray…" Cassandra said as she began to fall in step with Ariel and Hercules. Not an easy feat but Cassandra was determined to at least protect Ariel. Hercules at least had the common sense to wear a hood!
"But…no human could live like this, Cassandra," Ariel said softly as she looked around. "This…this is cruel. Eric and I would have never allowed this to be this way…"
Cassandra sighed. "We get by…now come on, you've been on the Isle long enough that it won't look weird if you go back to your car. You should go before Ursula gets word you're here."
"I need to talk to Uncle Hades though," Ariel told her. "I…I don't know if you're aware but the weather in Auradon…it's not the usual spring time weather Cassandra. Aunt Persephone and Lady Demeter have refused audiences with anyone but themselves. I know Uncle Hades has a portal that Aunt Persephone can use to contact him and surely Aunt Persephone wouldn't refused to contact her husband. If anyone outside of Olympus would know if anything was wrong, it would be Uncle Hades. I know it's a risk, my coming here, but I need to know what's going on in my kingdom."
Plus I figure Uncle Hades might not want me talking about his daughter in public like this. I remember how protective my father was and we lived in a perfectly safe kingdom not an island of villains, Ariel thought.
"Do you know where the Underworld is?" Hercules asked Cassandra.
"I do…though I won't lie, it's disconcerting hearing you ask that," Cassandra told him.
"We'll explain later Cassandra, can you take us there?" Ariel said. "Please Cassandra?"
Cassandra shook her head. "This so goes against my better judgement your highness but…follow me. And for the love of all that is bad and rotten on the Isle, put this on. You stick out like a sore thumb otherwise."
Ariel nodded and put on the cloak Cassandra had given her, making sure that all of her bright red hair was covered by the hood.
"The thing is, I don't know how you're going to get in," Cassandra muttered as she led them along. "It's always locked from the outside."
"I'm sure Uncle Hades is keeping an eye on the gate, and he'll wonder why I'm here. And if he's not, then I'll try knocking. I'll have Hercules punch in the gate if need be, I need to talk to my uncle."
"Cass?" A little voice called after them, preventing Cassandra from responding.
"Oh! Ginny!" Cassandra called back, hurrying over to the little girl and scooping her up so the dark haired toddler was in her arms.
"Where are you going?" Ginny asked as they made their way back to Ariel and Hercules. "Can I come too?"
"Yes, you can come too. I don't let you out of my sight, remember?" Cassandra said.
"Who's she? And him?" Ginny asked, pointing to Ariel and Hercules.
"She's…she's someone who wants to talk to Lord Hades, and he's her guard," Cassandra told her.
Hercules couldn't help but give Ariel a curious look, and Ariel had to admit she found herself wondering who the little girl was as well.
"She's my little sister," Cassandra said, noticing the looks.
"She looks just like you," Ariel said, her voice a near whisper as she nodded. "But…why isn't she with your mother?"
Cassandra's eyes flashed slightly before she shook her head. "I'm the one raising her."
"Oh…I'm so sorry," Ariel said. "I lost my mother too so if you…if you ever need to talk…"
Cassandra nodded, opting not to mention the fact that Gothel was very much still alive but that Cassandra just didn't speak to her or trust her around Ginny. That was a scab that didn't need to be picked at just yet, especially out in the open as they were. The whole reason why she was on the isle was because she didn't trust Gothel.
"Do you want me to hold her?" Hercules offered and Cassandra found that his eyes had glanced at the sword in her hand. Specifically, the sword in her damaged hand. "I'll be gentle, I promise. I have two children myself."
"Can I Cass?" Ginny asked, her eyes seemingly begging Cassandra.
"…Okay," Cassandra said, if only because she knew it made more sense. It'd be easier to protect Ginny and Ariel if she could use her stronger hand. If she was in Corona, that wouldn't have been an issue since she would have had Rapunzel by her side. Even after everything with the moon stone, their friendship hadn't been damaged. But she wasn't in Corona or Auradon. She was on the Isle. And on the Isle, you needed every alliance you could get.
"Thank you," Hercules said as Cassandra put Ginny in his arms.
"Odd thing to thank me for but you don't need to," Cassandra said as she switched her sword over to her stronger hand. They continued to walk for a while before finally reaching their destination.
"Well…here we are," Cassandra said, keeping her voice low as they reached the gate to the Underworld.
"Thank you Cassandra," Ariel said before reaching out her hand and knocking on the gate. Sure she probably could have had Hercules knock the gate down but she wanted to start things off on a positive note. She could have sworn she heard voices though she couldn't see anyone.
"…Hello?" Ariel called softly, trying to not draw attention to herself. "Lord Hades?"
"…What idiot would…?"
"…Someone…injured? Desperate…female…Cassandra?" Ariel caught bits of the conversation as the voices got closer to the gate.
"Please Lord Hades…I need to speak with you," Ariel tried again. "I know you refuse to talk to any of Zeus' family but perhaps you'd have an audience with one of Grandfather's granddaughters?"
"…What on Lord Poseidon's blue sea … Queen of Boreadon….here?!"
"Mollie…kids…see…get Lord Hades…here…"
Ariel held back a sigh as the footsteps came even closer. Hopefully she'd be able to talk to her uncle and get the whole weather issue straightened out.
"Captain, Captainess," Cassandra said, her voice low as Ariel saw a dark haired man and woman come up to them; the man's silver hook making it clear who he was.
"Cassandra," Milah nodded. Harry had been left with Mollie as to prevent a possible threat to him. "What's going on? Why is the Queen of…of Auradon here?"
"I think the more important question is what is Zeus' son doing here when Zeus said he wouldn't provide any aid?" Hook asked as he noticed Hercules.
"I'm here to provide aid to my cousin," Hercules said. "Nothing more, nothing less…and what was my father supposed to provide aid for?"
"We can discuss that later," Cassandra said. "Apparently, Queen Ariel is here because she thinks this is the only option and that there may be something wrong with Lady Persephone as spring as been turned into a continuation of winter. We understand Lord Hades is busy but he's the only one outside of Olympus who might know what is bothering Lady Persephone."
Milah and Hook looked at one another. "Lord Hades isn't one for visitors," Hook said as he looked back at them. "But it's less risky to have the Queen of Boreadon in the Underworld than standing outside the gate."
"Thank you," Ariel said as Hook opened the gate. "I promise I won't stay long."
Hook nodded and Milah smiled slightly as Ginny poked her head up from her spot in Hercules' arms. "Hello there."
"Hiya…Cass says I'm not allowed to talk to strangers…" Ginny said softly.
"And that makes sense. Do you want to come and play with my daughters while the adults talk about boring adult stuff? They're about your age," Milah said before looking at Cassandra.
Cassandra bit her lip slightly, not liking the idea of Ginny being out of her sight, before nodding. "You can if you want to Ginny, you don't get to see a lot of kids your own age."
"…Okay…" Ginny said softly.
Milah smiled and watched as Hercules gently set Ginny down before taking the young girl's hand. "This way."
She led Ginny down the hall and Cassandra heard her call. "Mollie? Have you room for one more?"
"Of course Milah!" They heard Mollie call back.
"Smee! Get on the intercom and let Lord Hades know to come up from the Underworld…his niece would like a word," Hook called.
"Right away Cap'n!" Smee called back, the stone wall allowing all of them to hear the more timid man. "Lord Hades? Are you able to come up? We have a visitor requesting an audience with you…a very unusual and important visitor at that."
"How'd you hook up the intercom?" Cassandra asked.
"…They're walkie talkies," Hook told her. "Lady Persephone brought them during one of her returns from Boreadon."
"Ah…that makes sense," Cassandra nodded.
"…I'll be up in a few minutes, Smee," Hades' voice sounded over the walkie talkie. "Judging by the descriptors of unusual and important, though, you can tell Evil Queen her brat is fine and to talk to Panic if she wants to continue to schedule playdates with Virgil. Apparently, the two of them bonded when EQ's sunspot had to stay with Panic during Evil Queen's coup attempt."
"Noted…though it's not the Evil Queen…though you might be close."
"…Smee, if Maleficent is in my home, I'll be up in five seconds to send that…well I can't say what I'll do because it's not safe for the young ears that are probably around."
"No, no I promise you Lord Hades. If it was her, she wouldn't even be allowed over the doorstep…but I think it might be better to see for yourself."
"Alright, okay, I'm at a stoping point here anyways so I'll be up soon, especially since we haven't heard anything regarding that permit to build the restaurant. I have to admit Smee, my curiosity is piqued if only because we don't often have visitors here."
"We'll be waiting for you in the den Lord Hades," Smee nodded and turned off the walkie talkie. Hook nodded and the group made their way to the den. Luckily the awkward silence that had started to grow didn't last long as Hades walked in.
He paused upon seeing the extra people in his den. "Hook? Why is my sunspot of a nephew in my den?"
"Because he's here with me," Ariel said as she dropped her hood.
"I have got to be hallucinating because that is the only way the Queen of Auradon would be in my home," Hades told her. Hey, he might not have liked the land on the other side of the bridge but Ariel was still his niece and the granddaughter of the brother he liked. He wasn't going to disrespect her home.
"I know I shouldn't be here but I had no choice," Ariel told him.
"She's almost as pretty as mama!" A young girl's voice said from the doorway.
"Harri, we're not supposed to be here!"
Milah shook her head. "Harriet, Sammy, go back to Mollie please."
"Yes mama!"
"You had no choice?" Hades asked after he was sure the young girls were out of earshot. "I'm pretty sure it's anyone from Boreadon's last choice to come to the Isle just like I'm sure it was Wonderbreath's last choice to be here."
"I know," Ariel sad. "But you're the last person I can ask this as contact with the Gods is limited—."
"Why not have Hercules there talk to his father?" Hook asked.
"Father's been busy, there's been some disruptions on Olympus though he hasn't said what they are exactly," Hercules said. "And Ariel is my cousin and my Queen. If she wants to come to the Isle then I'm coming with her."
Hook and Hades looked at each other, trying to keep the shock off their faces.
"Has Persephone said anything to you about disruptions on Olympus?" Hook muttered.
"Nothing I've heard but then again Steph isn't exactly leaving her room either," Hades told him.
"And that's what I wanted to talk to you about Uncle," Ariel spoke up. "Is there something the matter with Aunt Persephone? It's supposed to be spring over in Auradon and yet we still have wintery weather. Is she sick? I wouldn't think there'd be much that could affect a Goddess?"
Hades shook his head, prepared to say that Persephone was fine and that they could leave but he found that something was stopping him. Maybe it was the fact that Hercules was here, maybe it was the knowledge that Zeus was dealing with disruptions on Olympus, or maybe it was the fact that Ariel came to them, but Hades felt a bit of hope that he could finally have aid in getting his daughter back.
Plus they had Cassandra in the room, one of the few true neutral parties on the Isle with her connection to Auradon. She could help here.
"Actually…there is something bothering Persephone," Hades said softly.
"Oh dear!" Ariel exclaimed and Hercules frowned. "I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything we could send to Olympus that might help?"
"…Not unless you lot have found a cure for a broken heart," Hades told her.
"I…I don't think we have," Ariel said. "What…what happened, if you don't mind my asking?"
Hades sighed. "Normally…normally I wouldn't even dream of saying this to you or Wonderbreath but…we exhausted all our options with Zeus and since you're here…Maleficent kidnapped our daughter…she's probably about a year old at this point…"
Ariel gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Maleficent has Malinoë?! Well no wonder Auradon's been pelted with winter weather! What can we do to help?"
Hades starred at her in shock. "You'd actually—?"
"Of course I would! I'm a mother myself!" Ariel exclaimed. "No parent should have to…if it was Elle…Gods I can't even imagine…not to mention she's family so again, if there's anything Auradon can do, just name it Uncle Hades!"
"…When you said that you exhausted your options with my father, what did you mean by that?" Hercules spoke up.
"Persephone went to your bolt head of a father, begging for the Gods' help to get Malinoë back," Hades told him. "Last we spoke, he had refused to give that help."
"Wait! Cassandra, you were part of Corona's guard before coming here," Ariel said, speaking before Hercules could say anything. "Am I right to assume you'd know how to sneak around…and maybe storm a castle?"
Cassandra nodded. "My father was Captain of Corona's guard, he taught me how to hold a siege…not to mention I led the siege when Queen Arianna got kidnapped before Auradon was founded. Though I'd need some backup if I'm going into Maleficent's castle."
There's no way I'm doing this without a guarantee I can return to Ginny, she thought. Besides, this won't be the first time I had to sneak out of a place with a child since I do it all the time with Ginny. No way I'm letting Gothel be alone with her.
"I'll go," Hercules said, startling everyone.
"You'd—?"
"Malinoë is my cousin as well," Hercules said as Hades stared at him in shock. "Let me provide the help my father should have."
"No offense big guy but I'd like someone to tag along," Cassandra said. "Your help is definitely wanted and appreciated but Ii need someone skilled at sneaking but someone from Corona."
"You're thinking Eugene?" Ariel asked her.
"If Fly Boy will come, but I'm not taking a king away from his kingdom," Cassandra said. "But they might be able to send someone in his stead."
"I'll get in contact with them today, I'm sure they'd send someone," Ariel nodded.
Hades couldn't help but stare in shock "I'm…this is really happening?"
"No parent should have to worry about their child," Ariel said, giving him a sad smile. "Even if we weren't family Uncle Hades, I would still do it. Everyone knows Maleficent's story…I'd imagine that innocent Malinoë doesn't have time for us to dally on this which is why she's not being left there any longer. I was going to ask you some questions as to why the Isle seems to be in disarray but that can wait."
"One thing…I can't leave Ginny on her own," Cassandra spoke up.
"…You're taking a huge risk for my daughter. The least I could do is watch yours while you go and rescue Malinoë," Hades said after a moment.
"She's my little sister actually but it's appreciated Lord Hades," Cassandra nodded, looking like a weight had been lifted from her.
"Why is my phone not working?" Ariel asked after a few minutes of trying to get a call to go through and Hades looked over at her.
"We don't have cell reception here," he told his niece.
Ariel sighed. "Okay then. I'll go onto the bridge and make the call from there. We don't have time for me to go completely back to Auradon just for a phone call and then come back here. Hercules, stay here."
"You'll need a guard," Cassandra said. "I'll go with you."
"Thank you Cassandra," Ariel said before turning to Hades. "With any luck, you'll have your daughter back in your arms by the end of the day Uncle."
"I can only hope," Hades told her, his voice soft.
"James, go with them," Milah said. "Cassandra could use an ally to help protect the Queen."
Hook nodded and kissed his wife on the cheek before joining the group. Ariel gave Hades a small, sad smile before she, Hook and Cassandra left the Underworld. It was time to call in some reinforcements.