Chapter Twenty One
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.
Woo! Estelle has joined the story! :D Honestly this is one of the best and yet one of the saddest chapters to deal with—and it increases my urge to whack Maleficent with a sword!
Also holy cats you guys, I can't believe we're 35 reviews away from 500! Thank you all so much! :D
jedblack1997: Please do, I love hearing people's ideas! :D Hmm, that's actually not a bad idea re: Evie's father! I'll have to think about that! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
Katt Kiki: Thank you! Yeah that chapter's definitely going to have some insane reactions!
Ghrumfwggrvjdafbhs: You're welcome! Thank you so much!
Urmimala Hazra: I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Also aww, I love the idea of Mal crying a little after she defeats Maleficent! :D
Marcus Ermrys: Ooh yeah hopefully those scrolls are fireproof!
Tracie Adams: You're so welcome, I'm glad you like the chapter!
darkpegasuzz: Thank you!
quil . theimperial : Hey it happens to the best of us! :D
danifan3000: Ah Jay, never change! Also, Anthony, learn to know when your watch is being stolen!
Isabelly Silva Sousa: No, Mama Odie's not on the Isle. :D
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Of course we love our Benny! :D
billyandkimfan1994: Well you don't need to wonder any longer! :D
midnight rose112358: Thank you! Oh yeah I can definitely have Ben give out obscure facts like that! I definitely see him doing something like that too!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much!
twilightgirl587: I like him too and yeah, Ben's probably the smartest on the team. Hey, it's got to stop floating away somehow—besides I borrowed a bit from my dad for that example only he tried to turn off our gas powered fireplace by sticking his hand in the fire. Thankfully he was uninjured.
AthenaArtemis25: I'm so glad you're liking the story! And I did pick up on that Mary Poppins hint and I can see what I can do! :D
Fangirlnerd001: Thank you so much! It'll be interesting to see how they react to Evie and Carlos, that's for sure!
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Hades shook his head as he grabbed his scroll. He didn't know why he had to be here and partake in this mad exercise but it let him spend more time with Mal so it couldn't be all bad!
The months continued to fly by and before Mal knew it, it was September.
"The best month of the year!" Hadie said with a grin.
"Even though that means school starts," Alexandria said, sighing slightly. "I'll be so happy once I can start Auradon Prep with Kitty and Lucy. I'm stuck in Auradon Royal Middle."
"You've got different schools?" Jay asked.
"Yeah," Emir nodded. "There's Auradon Nursery, Auradon Royal Prep, Auradon Royal Middle and of course Auradon Prep."
"We have two. Serpent Academy and Dragon Hall," Mal said.
She couldn't believe how much things had changed throughout the year. She still stayed at Maleficent's once a week if only to keep up appearances.
"I never picked the same day," Mal said, absently picking at her nails. "Maleficent never noticed if I stayed or went somewhere. Besides, the lack of a pattern prevented someone from springing a trap."
"…I think Athena would really like her," Demeter muttered to Poseidon, who nodded. Hey, he might not get along with Athena all that much but even he could see that. Also not for the first time, he had to wonder why Triton's wife had to have the same first name as his niece.
Considering it was the goblins who usually checked on her, though, a pillow stuffed under her threadbare blanket tended to fool them and she could sneak out without getting caught.
"I'd say they're dumber than dirt but I think that's insulting to dirt," Phillip Jr. said.
"Doesn't change the fact it's true though," Phillip Sr. stated.
"…didn't they capture you?" Aladdin asked.
"Moving on!"
Staying at her dad's, though, was so much better. Pain and Panic didn't pinch and scratch her to wake her up in the morning but came with a respectful 'my lady' that never failed to elicit a growl from Mal.
"Easy dragon girl," Uma chuckled.
Though whether that was because Mal wasn't a morning person or because of the title, they would never know.
"And they never will," Mal said with a smirk.
"It's both," Jay mouthed to the group.
Today, though, was a different day. Today was her official first day of school—since she was six, she was old enough to go now.
Belle couldn't help the sad smile that pulled at her lips as she thought about Ben's first day of school. He had grown up too fast for her liking, there were times she wished he could go back to being the little boy who carried his plush dragon everywhere. Before he insisted he was a 'big boy' who didn't need it.
"Ben honey? Where's Flamey?" Belle asked one night when Ben was seven. The blue and gold dragon was always present at bedtime.
"I don't need him maman," Ben said as he scooted down into the bed.
Belle sat down on the edge of the bed and looked over at him. "Oh really? But you love Flamey."
"…big boys don't have stuffed dragons," Ben said and Belle's heart broke as she heard how small his voice was. Beast was on a conference call that ran late otherwise he would have been in there too.
"Now I know that's not true," Belle said. "No matter how old you are, you can never go wrong with a stuffed dragon."
Ben shook his head. "I'm a Prince though, maman. I'm supposed to slay dragons like Prince Phillip did."
"Is that why I haven't heard as many dragon facts from you, mon rayon de soleil?" Belle asked, smiling as she heard Ben's use of French. She always tried to use it when she could so that Ben knew there was nothing to be ashamed of and to be proud of where his family came from.
Ben nodded again and Belle kissed the top of his head.
"How about this? We'll try this no Flamey thing for a night and if you absolutely hate it, we'll convince Flamey to come back okay?"
"…okay maman," Ben said with a grin.
Belle shook her head softly—it wouldn't do to go down that memory lane. But she did have to wonder what happened to that old dragon. Well what happened to him after she had found him under Ben's bed when Ben was twelve she meant.
Mal wasn't exactly thrilled about it but her dad had promised a spray paint lesson after school so the day wasn't so bad.
"Ah bribery," Chip said with a smirk. "I've got five siblings. I know it well."
"Six you mean," Emir pointed out.
"Oh right! Can't believe I almost forgot Benji!"
"Morning Mali," Hades said with a small smile as Mal walked into the kitchen.
"Morning dad," Mal said, returning the smile. It may have been morning and it may have been her first day of school but her dad never failed to eliminate her bad mood.
"Gee, be more of a daddy's girl why don't you?" Audrey scoffed.
"That's rich coming from you Audrey!" Phillip Jr. told her.
Aurora sighed. "That's another weekend Audrey, you want to make it a whole month?"
So what am I going to do with three Sundays worth of free time? Ben thought in amazement.
"Grab some breakfast and then get going," Hades said before chuckling. "The last thing you'd want is to be on time for class on your first day."
"That…that seems rather backwards," Belle said, her brow furrowing in thought.
Mal nodded and dug into the food that was before her. Granted it was just leftovers but her dad's leftovers were better than anything Boreadon had to offer.
"That's only because you haven't had dad's cooking," Hyllus stated.
Scarfing it down, Mal hopped down and grabbed her hat and her bag.
"Now is today your 'appearance' day with the dragon?" Hades asked as he walked her to the door. He wasn't thrilled with the fact that Mal still stayed with Maleficent but one night was better than nothing. But if Maleficent hurt Mal in anyway…let's just say they would find out if fire could burn a dragon.
"You know, if there was a weak spot in the scales…ooh maybe I can talk to Ares or Athena…actually Athena would be better since she's the Goddess of Strategy…"
Persephone sighed. "Dear, ease your blood lust. I want a crack at her and I can't turn Maleficent into a plant if you've killed her."
"Nope," Mal said. "The dragon had her night two nights ago. I don't even think she noticed I was there though. She seems fixated with busting from the Isle, trying to find a weak spot in the barrier."
Carlos had never been more thankful that he was nearly invisible to everyone than he was at that moment. Oh Gods, what's Beast going to do when he finds out I put a hole in the barrier? I mean it was a small hole but a hole nonetheless!
Hades snorted. "I'd tell her good luck with that if I didn't find her frustration amusing. Zeus reinforced the barrier when it was created so the odds of there being a weak spot are extremely low."
Mal and Jay looked over at Carlos and gave him a small smirk that seemed to cause the already pale boy to lose what little color he had left. They knew!
"Did you really think we didn't pay attention to Isle gossip Carlos?" Jay muttered to him. "Think about it. The week after the rumor spreads about you making a device that punched a hole in the barrier, we put you under Rat protection?"
Oh thank Gods, they wanted me for my brains not because they thought me weak, Carlos thought and let out a small sigh of relief.
Mal couldn't help the small giggle that came out at that. Maleficent's frustration was quite amusing especially when Mal was safe on the other side of the Isle.
"It's amusing to us too!" Emir nodded.
"That's because you never take anything seriously," Aziz sighed and shook his head.
"Go on," Hades said. "I'll see you after school."
Mal nodded and left the Underworld, stopping by the docks on her way to Dragon Hall. Uma and Harry weren't attending her school, having been enrolled in Serpent Academy.
"Thank Gods we both go to Dragon Hall!" Dizzy said, wrapping her arm around Celia's shoulders.
Mal wasn't exactly thrilled with the idea of her crew being split up but at least it was only a few hours a day. They could always meet up in the clubhouse afterwards.
"Plus you have things to talk about that way! If you went to the same school, you'd know everything that went on in their day," Rachel added.
"Why wouldn't you already know what goes on in your best friends' day? How else are you going to know things they don't want to tell you and find out what enemies you need to get rid of for them?" Mal asked.
Uma grinned. "Thanks Mal! And you know I got your back!"
"Always Uma," Mal nodded.
Akiho looked over at Ben. "I like you…but I don't know if I'd kill for you."
"Yes you would. Don't even lie," Emir snorted in amusement.
"Hello co-cap'n!" Harry said with a grin as Mal walked into the chip shoppe. "Aren't you a bit lost? Dragon Hall is in town after all."
"Yeah and the chip shoppe is near the Cove," Uma nodded. "You were really pushing your luck Mal—you might have gotten a rep as a teacher's pet if you showed up super late on your first day!"
Mal wrinkled her nose at the prospect. "No thank you!"
"I wasn't going to go without saying hi to you two," Mal said with a smirk. "Where's our captain?"
Harry tilted his head toward the back. "In the kitchen. Fair warning Mal, she's not in the best of moods. I'd keep it short before she wraps her tentacles around you."
"Uma and bad moods when doing dishes are pretty much like Gaston and idiocy," Mal said, shaking her head.
Mal shook her head and walked into the kitchen. Just as Harry said, Uma was busy glowering at the dishes towering in the sink; clearly her cousin was not in the best of moods, as Harry had said.
"But…if Mal's going to school, why isn't Uma?" Alexandria asked.
"Maybe Uma's school operates on a different time than Mal's," Kitty suggested.
"What did the dishes do to you?" Mal asked and Uma whirled around.
"What are you doing here?" Uma growled.
"Whoa?! What did Mal do? She just showed up!" Ben exclaimed.
"Oh gee Uma, I feel so loved," Mal snarked. "I mean, I just wanted to say hi to my captain and crew before I made my way to Dragon Hall but if this is how I'm going to be greeted…"
"Okay, even listening to you two fight for a second is weird," Jay stated.
Uma sighed. "Don't go Mal. I didn't mean to snap at you."
"What's up?" Mal asked and Uma sighed again.
"I found out why Anastasia Tremaine hasn't been at Curl Up and Dye as often," Uma said. "Apparently she and my dad had a relationship. I'm getting a sibling."
Celia tilted her head. "We've got a sibling somewhere on the Isle? Why didn't you say something before Uma?"
Well this got awkward, Elle thought as she took note of the younger girl's red hair. Being a redhead herself, Elle knew how rare it was for someone to be a redhead if their parents weren't redheads. Add in the fact that Anastasia Tremaine was a redhead…
"You don't sound thrilled about that."
"They'll be worthless! A baby! Mal, you know the only thing a baby is good for around here is getting kidnapped! There's no way I'm risking my neck for the welp!"
"You say that now cuz…" Mal muttered, shaking her head.
"Oh really? You're not exactly going to like it if your little pity fest when Hadie was born is in here," Uma muttered back.
Mal shook her head. "Well it'll be a while before the welp as you called them will arrive. Besides Uma, this just means you'll be an older sister! Basically you'll be the captain in your own family."
"Not necessarily, there's still Freddie," Jay said with a small chuckle. "No way would she take orders from you Uma."
Uma couldn't help but smirk a little at that. "That does sound good…but they'll still be worthless!"
"True. But they won't always be worthless. Besides, you know the smaller kids always go unnoticed. We could train your sibling to grab loot if Jay's busy with his dad's quota."
Teaching young kids to steal…I mean, I know the brat's a villain but they could at least not spread their villain, Leah thought.
Uma's smirk grew. "That sounds good," she said.
"We still on for training later on?" Mal asked as the two of them made their way out of the kitchen. She figured it was better to not push the subject.
"Of course," Uma said. "Oh, you're coming here for lunch right? Dragon Hall is usually stingy for lunches, what with the food we get from Boreadon from what my mom says. Serpent Academy seems like it's the same."
"Wait…do you guys not get food for lunch?" Emir asked.
"Why waste food on kids who might not make it till adulthood?" Jay said with a small shrug, as if he was used to it.
Aurora gasped and tears prickled in the corners of her eyes.
"Besides, I'd rather eat dad's food or…wait a minute, does that mean you guys do get food at school?" Mal asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"I'm just going to read before a fight breaks out," Hades said but everyone could tell that even he was more than a little annoyed by the development.
Mal nodded. While she would normally choose to go to her dad's restaurant, she wouldn't pass up the chance to eat with her crew.
"Great!" Uma grinned. "Now get going!"
"Aye aye cap'n!" Mal nodded and walked out of the restaurant. Making her way into town, Mal met up with Jay. Since Jay was older, he should have been a year ahead of them in school. However, Jafar didn't want to miss out on thieving opportunities so he enrolled Jay a year later.
Jasmine shook her head in astonishment. Jafar cared so little about his own child that he wanted to impede his development and his education for his own gain!
Not that Mal was complaining. She would never say anything but she was happy that she would have someone from her crew with her. Especially since she saw Blueberry walk past her as they walked into the school.
"I should have taken up mother's offer for castle school," Evie muttered with a small sigh.
"Leave her cap'n," Jay muttered, resting a hand on Mal's shoulder. "She's a pest, not worth the energy."
"I mean I know you two aren't friends but what if she heard you?" Robin asked. "You could have hurt her feelings!"
"You lot call us 'villain kids', why do you think we'd care about that?" Jay scoffed.
Mal nodded tersely but was already making plans to restock their smoke bomb stock. Just in case Blueberry thought any emotions from being snubbed of an invite had faded and tried to worm her way into Mal's crew.
"It's been months though by this point. Why not be the bigger person?" Ben asked.
"How about no? I'm 5'2" and a Godling, you be the bigger person," Mal shot back.
"I already am. I've got seven inches on you," Ben told her.
"Ooh, come join the 'I'm taller than Mali' club, Beastie Jr.!" Uma said with a grin.
"One inch! You've got one inch on me!"
"…I'm 5' 4"…" Evie said, her voice trailing off as Mal and Uma glared at her.
I mean, I think I'd rather join Frollo's crew than spend more time with Blueberry than I had to, Mal thought.
"And I revise my thoughts that I had at the age of six," Mal decreed. "Blueberry's annoying but I'd rather claw off my own arm and eat that than spend any time with Freddy Frollo!"
"Why not use the arm to beat Freddy to death with it?" Uma asked.
Mal grinned. "I knew I was related to you!"
The first half of the day went by faster than Mal had thought possible and before she knew it, it was lunchtime and she and Jay were sitting at the counter of Ursula's Chip Shoppe scarfing down fried clams and burnt breadcrumb fish.
Mal smiled at the memory. The food might have been burnt and they might have been trapped for the rest of their lives on an Island that also had Freddy and Zevon but she wouldn't have traded it for all the gold in the Cave of Wonders.
"…and now we go to the castle, as Prince Ben gets ready to return to class for the afternoon," the reporter on the television stated and Mal rolled her eyes.
"That seems a bit invasive doesn't it?" Persephone asked. "Why not allow him a chance to enjoy his time with his parents?"
Beast sighed. "After Belle's…the people seemed to enjoy stories on Ben, to make sure the royal family was going strong. By the time it got to this, they were almost like mosquitos. Annoying but easy to ignore."
"What do we care about Prince Beastie?" Harry scoffed.
"Apparently King Beastie thinks we do. Otherwise the only other thing we have to watch is an infomercial on dungeon shackles," Uma sighed.
"I'd take the shackles," Jay muttered.
Mal shook her head and looked at the television again. The prince wasn't what you thought of when you pictured a prince; he was clad in dark blue pants, blue and yellow shoes with laces and a light blue shirt.
Belle couldn't help the small, sad smile that formed as she heard that. It wasn't that long after that day that Ben had wanted to start wearing suits like his father.
"There are other colors Benji," Chip chuckled.
"Uh huh. Tell me Chip, when's the last time you wore something that didn't have purple, gold, or white on it?"
"I like him!" Mal said with a smirk.
Honestly, when you think of a prince you think of what his dad's wearing, Mal thought as she glanced at King Beastie. He was looking the way you'd think a king would look; clad in his suit and tie and crown. Gods, can't you go one day without the crown Beastie? What, you thought people might forget you're the king otherwise?
Beast flushed slightly at the scathing thought. He had started wearing the crown when dealing with Leah, if only to try to get her to remember that she couldn't push him around like she wanted.
It didn't work.
Mal wasn't going to lie, she felt an odd lump in the back of her throat as she saw Queen Belle wrap Prince Ben up in a big hug. She would never say it out loud but it would be nice to have something like that. Sure she had her dad but sometimes a girl needed a mom.
Normally Snow White would have cooed or aww'd or something upon hearing that. If it hadn't been for the fact that she could relate to it. More than anything. Even now there were days where she wanted to talk to her mom.
Persephone smiled slightly and went over to sit by Mal, holding her close. "You don't need to worry Mal," she whispered. "You've got me."
"Love you mom," Mal whispered.
"Love you too," Persephone whispered back, kissing the top of her head.
And Maleficent was certainly no mother.
"I see we're stating the obvious today?" Lucy asked.
You've got Steph, a small voice in her head rang out. No matter what, Steph has always been there. Even if Steph's not your mom, she's better.
"But Lady Persephone is your mom!" Emma stated.
"Okay it might just be easier if I make a list of people who I don't like at this point…and how did it come to this?" Hades asked.
Mal sighed as she caught sight of Beastie wrap Prince Ben up in a hug as well. Of course, have to act like a loving person for the cameras, Mal thought with an inward eye roll. No matter what good will Belle might have on the Isle, no one would be caught dead praising Beast.
"I'm 99.9999 percent certain that if anyone did praise Beastie over there, they'd be chucked off the docks into the Cove," Uma stated.
The lump in her throat didn't go away though and Mal knew the only place she wanted to be was with her dad. Steph being there too would have been preferable but Mal knew the motto of the Isle well. Beggers couldn't be choosers.
Persephone couldn't help the sad smile that formed as she heard that and held Mal close to her, as if to let Mal know that she was loved without question.
"Guys, I'm skipping the rest of the day," Mal said and her crew nodded.
"I'm pretty sure mom and dad would have killed us if we skipped," Kitty said.
"Dad would have only killed us if we got caught," Evan said with a shrug.
"Eugene!"
"Blondie, like you wouldn't have said the same thing," Eugene said.
Hopping down, Mal made her way to the Underworld, walking faster than she usually did. Not fast enough to draw attention but still fast enough that she got to the Underworld faster than she usually did.
"How do you run—?"
"Straight leg running!" Ben said, looking over at Mal. "Right? When you don't bend your knees so you look like you're just walking really fast but really you're sprinting to your next location?"
"…should I wonder how you know how to do that?"
"Hello?" Mal called out just as Persephone walked out into the hall from the portal room.
"Yes! Mom's home!" Hadie cheered.
Mal froze, was today the day? The day that Persephone came back? How had she missed it on the calendar?
"Because Pain didn't put it on the calendar," Hades muttered.
"Hello Mal," Persephone said softly, giving Mal a kind smile. That was all Mal needed as she raced toward her step mother and wrapped her arms around her waist, burying her face into her stomach. She couldn't help but smile as she felt Steph's arms wrap around her like a blanket.
Demeter smiled as Hades read that. It wasn't the same as hearing her granddaughter call Persephone 'mom' for the first time but it was something.
The feeling passed as quickly as it came though and Mal broke from the hug, quickly wiping at her cheeks as some liquid had leaked from her eyes. "Let's not talk about this, okay?"
"Too bad you said nothing about reading about it in a room set up by the Fates with people from Auradon," Hadie said.
"Because I didn't know that was a possibility!"
Persephone only chuckled and gave her a small smile. Little did the two of them know that Hades had been watching from the doorway.
I couldn't help but be reminded of Persephone holding Mal in her arms and walking her around, Hades thought.
Normally he'd make some comment about wanting a hug too but he wasn't going to take the moment from Persephone. She had been gone for six months and Hades knew she had missed Mal. He still remembered the conversation he had with Persephone the day she had told Mal she needed to go back to Boreadon.
"Dad, you know mom would have given you a hug if you asked," Mal said, teasing him slightly.
"Not who I meant Mal," Hades shook his head.
"I'll have to tell her at some point Hades," Steph said in a low voice. They could hear Mal and Virgil talking in the den and didn't want to risk disturbing them.
Hades sighed. As much as he hadn't wanted to have that conversation, he knew his wife had been right.
"She's five, Steph. I don't know how she'll take it," Hades told her and Persephone sighed.
"I hate this. I already missed five years with her—she'll be six by the time I'm back on the Isle."
"Does it really matter?" Leah scoffed.
Ignore her, she's not worth it. Ignore her, she's not worth it, Persephone thought to Hades.
"I know Steph," Hades said with a sigh. "I hate it too but what else can we do? It's not like we can renegotiate the agreement."
"I know Hades but Mal is still my child too and I'm missing her life! It doesn't matter that she wasn't born to me, she's still mine!"
"I know Steph. Portal calls can only do so much and Mal's not over here every day."
There's got to be something I can do, Ben thought. After all, Lady Persephone's six months here will be over soon and Mal shouldn't be without a parent.
Persephone sighed and shook her head. "How do you explain to a five year old child that you're going to be in and out of their life?"
Persephone sighed. She hated having to do that with her kids—it had been a little bit easier with Hadie if only because he didn't run out of the room. But that was it.
"Well thanks to Maleficent, we're already pros at that," Hades grumbled.
"Just gives you another reason to turn her to ash," Mal pointed out.
"Mal, we will never run out of those reasons," Hades told her.
Mal had walked in before they could continue the conversation and Steph had told Mal the news about needing to return to Auradon.
"Welcome back Steph," Hades said, pulling himself out of his thoughts. Persephone looked over at him and smiled.
"It's good to be back," Persephone said softly. "Mal, why don't you show me your room? Hades, dear, my bags are still in the portal room. Can you get them?"
Hades smiled at the memory—originally they were going to set up and wait for Mal to come home but then they had heard the door to the Underworld open.
He had to say, he rather much enjoyed the on the fly party they had!
Mal tilted her head a little in confusion but then shrugged. It didn't really matter.
Hades chuckled as his girls made their way to Mal's room and he made his way to the portal room.
"Your girls huh?" Persephone chuckled as she leaned over and kissed Hades on the cheek.
"Of course," Hades said, grinning at her.
Normally when one thought of bags, they thought of suitcases piled to the ceiling. Not with Steph, there were maybe two or three bags with a small carrier and yet Hades felt his heart jump into his throat.
Persephone gave him a small smile, resting a hand on his shoulder and giving it a squeeze. She knew exactly what he was feeling as she had felt it when she was getting the items in question.
Back when they had Mal the first time…Steph had come with bags of toys and clothes to spoil Mal with. Now it seemed that Steph had the same idea—only no clothes this time.
Persephone shrugged slightly upon getting some questioning stares. "I didn't know Mal's style. Babies are easy, you buy clothes and you put them on the baby. A six year old is different."
One bag held numerous pencils and filled cans of spray paint while the other one seemed to have all the necessary supplies for a pet.
"And thus our tags were born!" Uma decreed.
"Eh not really," Mal shook her head. "We needed to design the things first."
"Oh right."
A small bag in the middle held a medium sized cupcake with bright purple lettering showing up against the white frosting: Happy Birthday Mali.
"Medium sized my butt, that thing was the size of my head!" Mal exclaimed.
Even if Hades was as dumb as Gaston, he wouldn't need any hints as to what was in the small carrier that was off to the side.
"A pet! It's got to be!" Alexandria said, grinning from ear to ear!
They had talked about getting Mal a pet so she wouldn't be the only kid on the Isle without one. Steph had come through on that.
"Thanks mom," Mal said as Estelle gave a small yip, wagging his tail.
Quickly getting the gifts and the cupcake over to the kitchen and setting it up, Hades rushed back to the portal room to grab the carrier. Rushing back to the den, Hades pulled the now wriggling puppy out of the carrier and held him in his arms.
"It's hard to believe there was a time Estelle was small enough to hold," Hadie said as Estelle trotted over to him and licked his cheek.
Meg smiled at the mental image of the big bad Lord of the Underworld holding a squirmy puppy. Even if the pup was a Cerberus, it just didn't seem like something you'd see.
Okay Steph, we're going to talk about the fact that you got our daughter a Cerberus puppy as a pet, Hades thought as he held his chin up as to avoid the licking that was coming from one of the heads.
"What's wrong with a Cerberus?" Rose asked.
"Yeah, three heads means three times the kisses!" Herkie nodded with a grin.
He didn't have long to wait though for the return of Mal and Steph as he heard their voices from the hall.
"Dad, Steph really liked my room!" Mal said with a smile before pausing. "Did…did you get yourself a Cerberus for the Isle dad?"
Jay snorted. "I love how that's where your mind went."
"If you saw dad holding a Cerberus puppy, what would you think Jay?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow.
"…alright, that's a good point."
Hades shook his head and smiled a little at his daughter. "Well, he's for the Isle but he's not for me Mali."
"I've got Pain and Panic. They're enough of…whatever happened to Cerberus?"
"Dad's taking care of him, Uncle Hades," Macaria said.
Hercules shrugged. "I wasn't going to let the poor thing suffer."
"…it's a three headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld until we moved it to the Isle!" Zeus exclaimed.
"Right. And that still doesn't mean the dog has to suffer or be lonely," Hercules said.
"Oh. Steph never really struck me as a dog person and really I think Virgil's a bit too nervous for a three headed dog but okay, to each their own—"
"Actually dogs have been proven to be quite handy at calming anxiety," Ben said. "Virgil might have done well with a pup."
Is that before or after they eat him? Carlos thought.
"Mal, he's not for Steph or Virgil," Hades said, the smile still on his face as Persephone moved to stand next to him.
"You sure she should have a Cerberus if she can't figure out it's for her, Lord Hades?" Harry asked, teasing Mal.
"If I didn't know you were teasing me Harry, I'd make you walk the plank!"
"Well then who's he for?" Mal asked, crossing her arms. "You're not going to just drop him on the Isle and make him fend for himself are you?"
"Do I seem like the type of God who'd do that?" Hades asked.
You say you're wicked Mal but you're so quick to jump to Estelle's defense, Ben thought with a small smile. There's good in you. In all the VKs. I know it.
"Mal, sweetie, he's for you," Persephone said and Mal stood there, stunned. She must have stood there for a full minute before the largest smile Hades and Persephone ever saw broke onto her face.
"So on a scale from one to ten, one being the equivalent of Ben getting a new book and ten being Ben getting to see a Cerberus, how big was it?" Chip asked.
"I…I don't know how to answer that."
Persephone sighed. "Thankfully I'm still fluent in Auradonian. One would be like Mal getting a new can of spray paint and ten being Mal's smile the day I adopted her."
Hades nodded. "I'd say an eight."
"Dad, are…are you serious?" Mal asked, staring at the puppy in amazement. "He's for me?"
"No he's for Zeus. I'm just holding him for him," Hades scoffed.
"I was six and wasn't expecting a puppy!"
"Have I ever lied to you before Mali?" Hades asked gently. "If you want to rant to Virgil, try to not do it in the den where people can overhear. But anyway, you shouldn't be the only kid on the Isle who doesn't have a pet just because you didn't get an invite to a party. I talked about it to Steph and she agreed to go, shall we say, 'special' puppy hunting while in Boreadon. Hence the fluffy result in my arms."
"Hmm, that's a good point. When ranting, it's good to be aware of your surroundings," Mal mused.
Steph, when I meant special I just meant as a special treat.
You honestly thought I wouldn't get our daughter the best? Persephone thought back, using the mind link all the Gods of Olympus had. Since there was no 'evil' intent, the barrier couldn't block it. Besides, the poor pup was going to die in the pound if someone didn't adopt him.
Alexandria gasped. "Oh no!"
Ben frowned, also upset at the idea that the lovable pup had been in danger of not getting to see Mal just because Mal was on the Isle while Estelle was in Auradon.
Though I'm not going to lie, having a Cerberus would be awesome, he thought.
You're lucky I love you.
And you love Cerberi. After all, you named yours 'Spot'.
"Wait, he did?" Hadie asked.
Persephone nodded with an amused smirk as Hades shook his head.
"Ruin my rep with my own kid, why don't you Steph?"
Hades shook his head as Mal walked over to pet one of the heads. "He's so soft," she said gently.
"Today we learned that Cerberus puppies are soft," Evan said, chuckling slightly.
Hades grinned as he handed the puppy over to her.
"I'm glad you like him Mal," Persephone said, "and for the record I do like dogs."
"You just struck me as more of a bird or horse person," Mal teased, giggling a bit as the three floppy eared heads snuffled at her.
"Horses are your uncle's thing," Persephone said as she shook her head.
"But she's not off about the birds. After all parrots and all talking birds are some of your sacred animals," Poseidon pointed out.
Jay made a face. "Does that mean I can't kill Iago?"
"No Jay," Persephone said, looking almost amused.
Mal couldn't help but smile as the puppy continued to sniff at her. "Hi! Oh, you're so fluffy," she said softly, petting the puppy in her hands. The puppy's left head gave Mal a small lick on the cheek.
"How sweet," Snow White said softly but for once Mal didn't flush. There was nothing to be embarrassed about when it came to anything regarding Estelle!
"Do you have any pictures?" Ben asked, looking over at Mal and missing the fond grin Emir and Akiho gave each other. "I'd love to see them!"
Mal couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise as she heard that. "Um…yeah. I mean I don't have a lot but mom does love her camera."
Persephone couldn't help but give her daughter a fond smile, somehow picking up on the request for her phone before Mal even asked for it. Thank the Gods for cloud storage so her photos could still be accessible.
"Here you go Mal," she said, handing her daughter the phone.
Mal nodded and took the phone with a smile before getting up and sitting down next to Ben, scrolling through them and giving the real life Estelle a fond smile as he came plodding over.
"Okay, so that's us the first night he was in the Underworld…him sopping wet after his first bath at the docks. I think he was rather shocked because he wouldn't let me dry him off…him and me at his 'party' when he turned one which was mom's idea I'll have you know…Estelle's first babysitting job when Hadie arrived…"
Audrey couldn't help but glare as Estelle wagged his tail, happy to see his human so happy.
"Is this it? Have we found the person that Ben might actually be willing to think about himself for?" Emir muttered to Akiho who shrugged in response.
Benji, I think you just found your dream girl. Don't lose her after you just found out she's real, Chip thought.
Leah scowled. "Ahem! As…'sweet' as this is, could you hurry it up? Some of us don't exactly want to be here forever while you look through old pictures of a 'dog'."
"Oh mother, honestly what's the harm? They're enjoying themselves," Aurora said, not noticing her husband roll his eyes at Leah's comment.
"Oh…right…apologies Queen Leah," Ben said quickly.
Mal glared at Leah as she noticed the way the aged Queen almost spat out the word dog, as if she'd rather say something else, before nodding slightly and getting up to go back over to her gang.
Ben noticed and tried to hide the flash of disappointment that he was sure appeared on his face. He wanted to open his mouth and invite Mal to sit with him, in fact he actually got as far as opening his mouth before he closed it. It was too soon after all.
"Hey, you wanna sit with us?" Emir asked, seeing Ben's indecisiveness.
Mal smirked. "I'm good with my crew," she said as she went back over.
"He's amazing," Mal whispered, looking back at her dad and step mom.
"He really is Uncle Hades," Uma nodded as Estelle gave a small doggy grin.
"Steph gets all the credit there," Hades said as Persephone leaned over and kissed his cheek.
"You know he kinda reminds me of your goat," Phoebus said, looking at his wife.
"Djali is rather dog like at times," Esmeralda nodded.
"I also brought everything you'll need for him, and a purple collar of course," Persephone said with a smile. "All you'll need to do is think of a name for him and it'll go on the tag."
"That's handy," Naveen noted.
"Thanks Steph," Mal said with a smile as she looked back at the puppy. Anything Greek was off the table, a Cerberus was already a massive hint that she was connected to Hades but give the dog a Greek name and even Gaston could see that she was related in someway.
"Are we sure about that? I mean, judging by the fact that Gil and his brothers have less brains than a sign post, I doubt Gaston would ever put it together that you're Lord Hades' daughter," Harry said.
But there was a way around that. Since Maleficent had at least communicated with the royals of France before she was banished to the Isle, she thought it would at least benefit her daughter to know a little of the language.
"Really?" Chip asked, raising an eyebrow slightly in disbelief.
At least so if she ever got off the Isle, she wouldn't embarrass the Maleficent name.
"Ah. That makes more sense."
"Estelle. His name's Estelle," Mal said softly, looking at the new star of her life. Plus, that way there could be the hidden Greek twist—after all, the constellations were stars.
"Clever," Jane said with a small smile.
"I'll put it on the tag," Persephone said with a smile.
"Actually, Steph, I think Mal should do that," Hades said.
"Are you sure dad?" Mal asked softly, Estelle still in her hands.
Hades nodded. "The first time putting on a dog's collar is a big thing. It should be between you two; remember you'll have him for life now."
"It's just putting a name on a collar. Does it really need all that pomp and circumstance?" Audrey scoffed.
Mal nodded and set Estelle down so she could grab the collar. There was no way she would be able to put the collar on him with him still in her arms. The three heads watched her curiously, wagging his little nub of a tail.
"Well boy, after I get this on you, you're stuck with me," Mal said softly, giving him a small smile. "Are you up for it?"
"I don't think Estelle would want anything else Mali," Uma said as Estelle gave a small yip as if agreeing with the squidling.
Estelle looked at Mal and gave her a little puppy grin, his tail wagging. Mal couldn't help but grin back and gently slipped the collar around his middle head. "Welcome to the family," she said softly as the tag glowed causing the name to appear and three small blue gemstones appeared, as if making the name appear in parenthesis.
"You know, I'm surprised those gemstones are still there," Jay said.
"Do you honestly think someone would be dumb enough to try to take it from a Cerberus?" Mal asked.
Estelle gave a small woof and licked Mal's hand, his tail still wagging happily.
"That's not the only thing we have for you Mali," Persephone said softly.
"Wait, there's more? You guys already got me Estelle—"
"Well yeah but we're still celebrating your birthday Mal," Persephone stated.
"Let your mother have this," Hades said as Mal opened her mouth.
"We couldn't celebrate on your actual birthday because of the stupid agreement but I'm here now. We can celebrate as an actual family," Persephone said. "I told you we'd do something for your birthday way back in April and I keep my promises Mali."
Rapunzel nodded. "A promise is one of the most important things you can make to someone."
"Mom never breaks her promises either," Rowyn told Mal. "Well, except for when you promised nothing bad would happen when I ate Brussel sprouts and I broke out in a rash!"
"How were we supposed to know you were allergic?" Rapunzel asked, shaking her head. "You'd never had a Brussel sprout before and you were ten years old!"
Mal nodded slowly, as if unable to believe what she was hearing. Silently she followed Hades and Steph to the kitchen, Estelle plodding behind her. The sight of the brightly colored bags and the cupcake sitting on the plate in the middle of the counter gave her pause.
"The Underworld isn't exactly known for brightly colored anything," Mal pointed out as she realized she was getting a few shocked looks.
"Is…is that for me?" Mal asked softly.
"No it's for Panic. Of course it's for you Mal!" Jay said.
"Of course," Persephone said gently as she picked Mal up to put her on one of the stools but he counter so she could blow out the candle. "Let me get a picture."
Persephone smiled as she thought about that picture. While she had a digital copy, she also had a framed version on her bedside table in her apartment in Auradon. She never had anyone over so it was safe to have it and in a small way, it was like Mal was there with her.
Mal nodded and tried her best to fight the tears prickling in the corners of her eyes. She wasn't going to ruin Steph's photo by being weak. It was stupid to cry anyway—who cries over a party? A prissy princess that's who, and Mal was not prissy.
Mulan gave the younger girl a small, sad smile. "I'm pretty sure I cried the night before my father was to go and join the army," she said, her voice soft.
"That's different," Mal told her, shaking her head.
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mal, happy birthday to you," Hades and Persephone sang as Persephone lit the candle and quickly took the photo.
I'm just glad I didn't ruin the photo by crying, Mal thought.
"Make a wish sweetie," Persephone said gently.
But everything I could wish for, I already have, Mal thought. A way to escape the dragon, a parent who actually cares, a crew…
"I'dve settled for a way off the Isle back then," Mal muttered.
Mal blew out the candle and it was as if she'd given permission to her body to let the tears flow as she felt her cheeks get wet. Furious, she began scrubbing at her eyes to try to stem the flow of tears but to no avail.
Tears aren't wrong thought Mal, you don't have to hide them, Belle thought with a sad smile.
"Dad, Steph, I…I—"
"Shh, it's okay Mal. You don't need to explain sweetheart," Persephone said gently. "Just let it out. It's okay to cry."
"It's okay Mali," Hades said gently as he rubbed her back, trying not to rush out of the room to kill his ex-wife. Mal shouldn't be crying at her own party, he thought.
"Can Maleficent swim?"
"I…I don't know," Mal said, looking over at Poseidon in confusion.
"Oh okay, just wondering," he said and Uma couldn't help but smirk at the look on his face.
"No, no what I meant to say is…thank you. I…I definitely didn't expect this," Mal said, trying to calm herself and giving them a small smile. Even if she broke one of the cardinal rules of the Isle by doing so, she knew her dad and Steph weren't going to tell anyone.
"But…you've thanked people while you've been here," Ben said, looking more than a little confused.
"Sarcasm gets a pass," Uma stated.
"You don't need to thank us Mal," Persephone said with a small smile. "It's your birthday, or at least your birthday where we're all together."
"I..I just..I wasn't expecting…"
"We did spring it on you," Hades nodded.
"I know sweetie," Persephone smiled gently. "You can let it out you know. No one's going to be upset with you for crying. You're safe here."
Mal shook her head as the tears began to well back up. "Dragons don't cry," she muttered. "Cerberi don't cry. Villains don't cry."
"You're none of those things though," Carlos pointed out though no one heard him as his voice had grown almost inaudible due to Estelle walking over to him and sniffing his foot. "You're Mal."
"But daughters can and that's all you need to be here," Hades said gently. "It's okay Mali. This is your home. No one is going to make you feel bad about crying here. Of course we won't force you to cry but if you feel like you need to let it out, you can do that. There's no shame in emotions…not here anyway, and this is the guy who used to erupt into a giant fireball when he got mad."
"You also forgot how you used to literally explode," Meg added, keeping her voice low as to avoid ruining the mood.
Mal tried to stop it but the tears began to leak out of her eyes once more, silently streaming down her cheeks.
"That's it," Persephone said gently with a sad smile as she and Hades continued to rub Mal's back gently.
Damn you Maleficent was what ran through the heads of both parents as they continued to let Mal know they were still there. How dare you do this to her! Mal shouldn't be crying at her own party because she hadn't been expecting one!
"Every kid should expect a party for their birthday," Rose said softly.
"That's not the Isle way," Harry shrugged. "Even the runt knows that."
Mal sighed. "Harry, you know that's not fair. And the crew gives her a party anyway."
Estelle gave a low whine as he sat up on his hind legs to put his front paws on Mal's leg, his eyes soft. One of his heads gave a soft lick to Mal's hand, as if to comfort her.
"Good pupper!" Alexandria said, her voice soft as Lucy wrapped an arm around her.
"I'm alright boy," Mal said, giving him a weak smile. "I'm…I'm happy."
Persephone smiled and held Mal close to her, kissing the top of her head. There was a part of her that was rather thankful Mal hadn't decided to sit next to Prince Ben.
Estelle gave a low woof and wagged his tail a little, giving Mal a doggy grin. Mal couldn't help but smile a little and scratched behind the ear of the middle head.
Hades couldn't help but give a soft smile as he watched, happy Estelle was able to cheer Mal up a little.
"There's nothing better for cheering you up than a dog," Melody said with a smile.
"What about a cat?" Kitty asked.
"Or a goat!" Esmeralda said with a fond smile.
"I'm okay," Mal said as she wiped the tear tracks from her cheeks.
"Okay sweetie," Persephone said softly and Mal gave them a small smile.
"Thank you guys for the party. It's…it's more than I've ever gotten before. I mean Harry and Uma did what they could but…"
"And they did an amazing job by the sound of it," Persephone stated.
"You don't have to thank us Mal," Hades said gently. "We're your parents, it's our job to spoil you on your birthday. And, since Steph couldn't be here on the date proper, it's only fitting we have a party now."
"I can agree with that reasoning!" Akiho stated.
"You just agree with anything that allows you to throw a party," Emir said, shaking his head.
"Do you disagree?"
"Of course not but I know my friend!"
"I can live with that," Mal said softly.
"Well good cause you don't have a choice!" Hadie stated.
"Good," Hades said with a smile. "Cause you're stuck with us. So be prepared for as much spoiling on your birthday as the Isle allows."
"I think that's the law when it comes to birthdays," Ashaki added.
Mal couldn't help but giggle at that. "Dad! That's a nice thought but it's barely anything."
"You underestimate our power as your parents Mal!" Hades declared.
"True, but what we can do we will," Hades told her with a smile. "Now then…who's up for their first bit of cake?"
A more naive part of Ben hoped that only meant it was Mal's first slice of cake or something. Sadly, though, he knew that wasn't the case.
"Me!" Mal giggled, causing Hades and Persephone to grin. Persephone cut into the cupcake and set a piece on a plate, setting it in front of Mal.
"I'm reiterating here, it was the size of my head!" Mal stated.
"Here you go Mal," she said and Mal licked her lips slightly. "Dig in."
Mal tentatively picked up the small fork given to her and took a small bit of the cake. Putting the cake into her mouth, Mal couldn't help but grin at the taste.
Wow! This is good! Amazing actually! Definitely not something you'd find on the Isle—there's no dirt on it for one, Mal thought as she chewed.
Okay I hope Michael can find those tapes fast otherwise I'll be finding them for him, Anna thought with a small frown. Cake's not supposed to have dirt on it unless it's 'dirt' aka crushed up oreos.
"What do you think?" Persephone asked with a small smile.
"It's good!" Mal said with a grin.
Persephone returned the smile as Mal went back to her cake, digging in and missing the smile her dad and step mother shared. Before Mal knew it, the cake was gone and her presents were opened.
"That's what always happens. The party doesn't last as long as you think it will," Evan said, shaking his head.
"Dad, can I take Estelle on a walk?" Mal asked.
"He's your dog Mal, you don't need to ask permission," Hades said. "Just be careful—and have him wear the leash Steph got for the first few walks so he doesn't run off."
"Or so someone doesn't steal him," Celia nodded.
Dizzy looked over at her friend in slight concern. "Who's going to risk getting Lord Hades angry at them by stealing a Cerberus?"
"Idiots one and two?"
"This is true."
Mal nodded.
"Oh Mal," Persephone said, reaching into her own bag. "I got this for you after you said that you had a bed in your clubhouse. A bed needs a blanket after all—I had Rapunzel tie dye it for you guys. Don't worry, all she thinks it is is a way for me to remember Auradon when I'm on the Isle."
"My apologies for the deception Queen Rapunzel," Persephone said.
Rapunzel held up her hand to stop her. "No apology is needed Lady Persephone."
Mal nodded, staring at the blanket in slight shock. It was big enough that it could easily cover all four of them and the bed! Plus it was tie dyed their colors—red, purple, blue and yellow.
"I was wondering why you requested those four specific colors," Rapunzel said as she looked over at Persephone. "Well the blue, yellow, and red made sense in a way—blue because of Lord Hades and then red and yellow because of the fire but the purple stumped me."
"It took a week before she came to the conclusion it was because purple was a royal color and Lord Hades is considered to be King of the Underworld," Eugene nodded.
"Hey does that make Mali a princess?" Hadie asked.
"No way!" Mal declared, shaking her head.
"Thanks Steph," Mal said softly, folding up the blanket to put under her arm. Persephone gave her a small smile as Mal hooked up the leash to Estelle's collar. Walking out of the Underworld, Mal rushed over to her clubhouse. She wanted Estelle to get used to it before the others came.
"Smart," Ariel nodded. "That's what Eric used to do with Max if we were visiting a new location and he happened to be with us."
Unleashing Estelle once they got inside, Mal went over to the bed and unfurled the blanket. Now all they were missing was a couple of pillows and this could be an actual bed, not just a place to sleep.
"Um…isn't a bed usually just a place to sleep?" Chad asked.
"Estelle!" Mal giggled as her puppy jumped onto the bed and rolled on his side, as if asking for Mal to pet him. Shaking her head, Mal did just that and in her distraction missed the gate opening and the arrival of her crew.
"I bet that was a bit of a shock," Chip said.
"You can say that again!" Uma nodded.
"Where did you get a puppy?" Uma asked, staring at Estelle in slight shock. The boys, however, were staring open jawed at the fact that there was a Cerberus in their clubhouse.
"That's a fair question," Eric nodded.
"I mean, one of the Dobermans could have given birth," Jay said. "Or Chief could have gotten—."
"How many girl dogs are on the Isle? And Roscoe and DeSoto are boys Jay," Mal said, shaking her head.
"From Lord Hades," Mal said with a shrug. "Guys, allow me to introduce Estelle!"
"Um Mal? I'm not sure Lord Hades is the type to just give his errand rats puppies," Harry said as Uma bent down to pet Estelle. Mal didn't respond at first.
Hades sighed. He knew why Mal had hesitated in telling her minions but at the same time, he also knew they were probably the three people outside of the family she could trust with this secret.
Dad said not to tell anyone!
It's my crew! If I can't trust them, who can I trust? Besides, Uma's my cousin!
Sometimes you can't trust family, Ariel thought with a small sigh. After all, Ursula was her aunt and yet she still used her to try to take over Atlantica. To try to hurt her father.
Mal sighed. "Guys, if I tell you why Lord Hades got me Estelle, I need you to swear that it won't leave this room."
"Oh yes, and who would we tell Mali?" Harry said, rolling his eyes.
"Yeah, I'm with Harry on this one," Jay nodded. "What, did you think we'd run out and blab it to Freddy or something?"
"Of course," Jay nodded.
"Wild seahorses wouldn't drag it out to me," Uma told her.
"I give you my word as a pirate," Harry promised.
"Not that that is worth much," Audrey muttered under her breath.
Mal nodded and sighed. "Lord Hades gives his errand rats puppies if they're also his daughter," she said, looking at Harry.
"Sweet! Secret's out!" Hadie said with a grin.
The three of them stared at Mal for a second, as if they didn't understand what she had just said.
"You're my cousin?" Uma asked, breaking the silence.
"You believed her awfully fast," Chip pointed out.
Uma shrugged. "Why would Mal lie? It's not like she needs the power grab. Now if Blueberry had made that claim, I'd have needed a DNA test. Or fifty."
Mal gave her a small smile. "Seems there's a reason why we're so close huh?"
"Guess so…cuz," Uma said, returning the smile. The boys, meanwhile, were still looking on in shock.
"I think you broke them," Emma said with a small giggle.
"Guys? Hello? Snap out of it," Mal said as Estelle trotted around, sniffing everybody.
"Sorry Mal," Jay said, shaking his head as if to clear it. "It's kinda shocking though, knowing a child of a God."
"And what am I? Chum?" Uma asked, rolling her eyes.
"You know Uma! It can't be that shocking!"
"Uma, and I mean this with no offense meant to the captain, is a grandchild of a God," Harry spoke up. "Child is higher up than grandchild."
"It's still the descendant of one of the Gods," Akiho said. I mean it's the same reasoning I use whenever Ben and Emir ask why I haven't asked out Elle. Why would she want to be with me when she's the great-granddaughter of Lord Poseidon?
"Any one else find it a little ironic that it's the pirate who says that about the granddaughter of the God of the sea?" Lucy asked with a small giggle.
"So you really are the highest in the hierarchy," Jay said softly.
Mal shrugged. "I'm still me though. To everyone on the Isle but you guys, Dad and Steph, I'm Maleficent's daughter."
"So the Isle's filled with idiots then," Hyllus stated.
"Didn't we already cover this?" Mal asked, shaking her head.
"So how does that little fluffy fur ball tie in?" Harry asked.
"I'm sure Mal will tell you if you let her finish," Emma said, shaking her head.
Mal smiled. "Dad and Steph got him for me. They said that it wasn't right that I was the only kid on the Isle without a pet since I was the only one not at Blueberry's party. So now we have a four legged member of the crew!"
"You know, that was actually pretty smart and probably saved Blueberry as well," Jay pointed out.
"What do you mean?" Meg asked.
"Rumor goes around that Mal's seen with a Cerberus, Evie could make up a lie about not wanting the other guests to be jealous so she gave Mal her baddie bag in private," Jay said. "Maleficent's not going to care as long as she doesn't look weak or like a fool in front of the Isle."
"As long as he doesn't take my hook I'll be fine with him," Harry said with a grin as Estelle sniffed at the aforementioned item.
"Remember that time Estelle tried to bury it near the hyena den?" Mal said.
"Wasn't that the same time Estelle met the hyenas for the first time?" Uma asked.
"Yep."
"Neither the hyenas nor Harry was very happy that day," Jay said as he shook his head.
"I can train him Harry," Mal said. "Estelle, leave it!"
Estelle stopped sniffing Harry's hook and looked over at Mal.
"Leave it!" Mal told him again and Estelle walked over to Mal.
"I thought you said you trained him?" Audrey sniffed.
"He's a puppy. He's going to mess up," Phillip Jr. said, rolling his eyes.
"Good boy," she said, picking him up and cuddling him a little. Estelle gave a small woof, one of the heads licking Mal on the cheek and causing Mal to giggle softly.
"He's a real fluff ball," Harry said with a small smile.
"Yes he is."
"Where did Uncle Hades get him?" Uma asked, petting one of the heads.
"Excuse me? Why does Hades get all the credit?" Persephone asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because he's the one most connected to Cerberi," Uma stated.
"He didn't," Mal said. "Steph did. From where, I'd have to guess wherever Cerberi live I guess."
"Well no one told me mom saved him from the pound!" Mal stated.
"My money would be Greece," Uma said. "After all, that's where all the Gods are from and Aunt Persephone's a Goddess. Plus I bet that's where the real Underworld is and there's probably packs of Cerberi way deep underground or something."
"I mean she's not wrong but she's not right either," Hades shrugged.
"The pound I got him from was in Thebes though," Persephone added.
"Well wherever she got him from, I'm glad she did," Mal said with a grin as she hugged Estelle. He was hers—and he always would be! Plus, how many kids on the Isle could say they had a Cerberus? The same number who could say they were Hades' kid—one!
"Yeah that's a good point! Why did I never get one?!" Hadie exclaimed.
"When you're the only kid not invited to a party where the other guests are getting pets in their party favors, then you can get a Cerberus but the Underworld is not big enough for two dogs," Hades stated.
"You guys hungry?" Mal asked with a small grin. "We could stop by my dad's place if you don't want to train with Estelle possibly getting underfoot."
"You know it's funny but now it's not even a factor," Jay said, shaking his head. "Estelle just hops on the bed and watches us."
She figured that's why her dad and Steph had her eat the cake first—she always went to her dad's restaurant with her crew after they trained.
"I could eat," Jay shrugged.
"Only an idiot turns down food and Jay is many things but he is not an idiot!" Harry decreed.
"Would Estelle be okay in the restaurant?" Harry asked.
Mal shrugged. "Anyone tries to touch him and they'll answer to me. Besides, even if they don't know I'm dad's kid, who's going to look at a Cerberus funny in Lord Hades' restaurant?"
"Anyone who does question it at this point will just get deemed an idiot," Jay said. "Estelle's been over there so many times he's practically part of the staff."
She turned toward the stairwell, Estelle in her arms. "Come on."
Uma, Jay and Harry quickly followed her. Mal set Estelle down once they reached the bottom of the steps and clipped on his leash.
"Whoa a leash," Uma chuckled. "Better watch out guys, Mal might ditch us for Blueberry soon!"
"There's nothing wrong with a leash and actually it'll be better for Estelle to walk around Auradon now that I know he's leashed trained," Ben spoke up.
Mal looked over at him. "Explain…"
"He's your dog right? Seems rather cruel to separate Godling from Godling's best friend," Ben told her.
"…you're not just doing this because you want to see a Cerberus again are you?"
"Am I bad if I say it's both the right thing to do and I want to see a Cerberus again?"
Mal chuckled in amusement, grinning slightly at the idea of her boy joining her in Boreadon.
"Don't be dramatic Uma," Mal said, rolling her eyes. "It's just until he learns he has to stay with me or at least the crew. The Isle's too big for something his size. I don't want him running off or into Sykes' dobermans, at least not while he's this size. He'll be trotting after me without it in no time."
Carlos bit his lip as he tried to keep a small whimper in at the idea of being face to face with those dobermans. Only thing more terrifying would be his mother's yelling. Or her bunions.
"I know Mal," Uma chuckled. "But if I can't tease you, who can I tease?" She asked, giving her cousin a small smile and causing Mal to chuckle.
"Freddie," Celia pointed out. "You tease our sister all the time."
"That's sibling teasing, that goes with the territory," Uma stated.
"You can tease our first mates," Mal told her.
"Okay Mal," Uma said with a chuckle.
Mal grinned. "Let's go."
The four of them made their way to Hades' restaurant, Estelle tagging along and Mal smiled fondly.
"The first of many, many, trips to Uncle Hades' restaurant for Estelle!" Uma said with a grin.
"Hey, is Estelle going to be okay? In the restaurant I mean?" Jay asked.
"Didn't I already ask that question?" Harry asked and Jay rolled his eyes.
"No, I mean are they even going to let him in?"
"Who's going to argue with a Cerberus? Even if he is a puppy?" Lonnie asked.
"I like her!" Hades and Mal said at the same time.
Mal shrugged. "If they don't, they can take it up with the man in charge," she said and Jay nodded. "Come on!"
"Yes cap'n!"
"That's co cap'n," Mal said with a grin as she opened the door to the restaurant. "Come on boy, over here."
Estelle followed Mal over to a nearby table.
"But…if Estelle's on a leash, doesn't it go without saying that he'd follow Mal?" Rose asked.
"What did I say about pointing out the obvious?" Robin said with a chuckle.
"You stay right here while we go get some food," Mal said as she tied his leash to the table leg. "Sit."
Estelle sat down and gave a small woof.
"You know he reminds me of Max a little," Rapunzel said with a smile.
"Dad's sheepdog?" Melody asked, tilting her head.
Eugene burst out laughing at that while Rapunzel sighed. "No dear. Our horse. And stop laughing Eugene!"
"Good boy," Mal gave a small smile as she headed back to the crew to place their orders. Her father had hired on Mr. Smee and a few of the pirates from the docks as part of his deal with Hook. Smee was a hard worker though so it didn't matter, plus it helped whenever Mal walked in with Harry.
"Smee's a big old softy," Harry said, shaking his head. "He wouldn't have cared if you walked in by yourself."
"Hello Ms. Mal! Master Harry, Mr. Jay and Ms. Uma! What'll be for you today?" The first mate asked with a smile.
"Why does he call you 'master' while he calls the others 'ms' and 'mr'?" Emma asked Harry.
"That's what he does for all the Captains' kids," Harry said. "Harriet and the runt get called 'mistress' and if Sammy and the twins weren't his kids, he'd call them 'mistress' and 'master' too."
"Usuals?" Jay asked the group.
"Works for me," Mal said with a grin.
"So that's crispy chicken for Ms. Mal, honey glazed chicken for Ms. Uma, Braclaius for Mr. Jay and Master Harry…"
Hades wasn't going to lie. If Beastie Jr. was true to his word and change did come to the food supply for the Isle, he was looking forward to trying new things. Steph had already promised him a cookbook!
"Sounds about right," Harry nodded.
"Coming up."
Mal nodded and the four of them went back to their table; Estelle still waiting for them underneath it. Mal couldn't help but grin: life was pretty good! She had her crew, Estelle, her dad and Steph. What more could a girl ask for?
"Absolutely nothing!" Mal said.
"Hey!" Hadie exclaimed.
Mal chuckled and ruffled her brother's hair. "I didn't know you were a possibility then, storm cloud."
Well…maybe food…but that was coming! Any moment now! Mal couldn't help but lick her lips in anticipation, she could almost taste it!
"I wonder if we could do a delivery system for Lord Hades' restaurant?" Ben said. "I have to admit, I'd like to try some of the food too."
"Me too!" Lonnie nodded.
"Same!" Emir and Akiho grinned.
Hades looked at the young Prince with a look that was one part shock and one part wariness, almost looking to see when the next shoe was going to drop. "I'll…I'll see what we can do."
"Absolutely Lord Hades," Ben nodded. "I know we're busy with coronation prep but after that, I'd be happy to sit down and work to see about a delivery system to Auradon."
"Here we are!" Mr Smee said as he approached the table. "Four orders: one for Ms. Uma, one for Mr. Jay, one for Master Harry and one for Ms. Mal."
"Thanks Smee," Harry said.
"Of course," Mr. Smee nodded. "Let me know if you four need anything more—oh and if the dog under the table needs anything as well."
"Is it safe to say Smee doesn't really deserve the Isle?" Alexandria whispered to Lucy.
"At least the VKs have someone nice on their side," Lucy whispered back to her.
"He's good Smee but thanks," Mal said with a small chuckle.
"Of course Ms. Mal," Mr. Smee said and walked back to the kitchen. The four of them dug into their meals.
Hades read ahead and his eyes grew wide. "You know what, why don't we not read—?"
"Dad, Uma gave me the order not to skip anything embarrassing!" Mal exclaimed.
"Mal, honey, you're going to want me to skip this," Hades stated.
"Honestly Hades, it can't be that bad," Hera shook her head.
Meanwhile, on the other end of the Isle, Hades and Persephone's bedroom door closed shut as Hades gladly welcomed his wife home the best way he knew how.
"…I stand corrected," Hera said as Persephone sighed, a faint flush on her cheeks.
"Why did dad need to welcome mom home in his bedroom?" Hadie asked Mal who just stared ahead in disgust and horror as she realized what they'd ended on.
Mal shook her head. "Sorry storm cloud, you must be fifteen years old for me to answer that question."
"Mal!"
"I'll read next Hades," Persephone said, cutting off Mal's retort.