Chapter Thirty
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.
*stares in shock* Okay how is it in one chapter we managed to get to fifty reviews away from 800? Thank you all so much! Your support here means the world! :D
Oh just for awareness: Audrey=WAL series Audrey, non italicized and underlined Audrey=CF series Audrey.
Urmimala Hazra: Of course Ben and Mal will get together! I'm glad you liked that I brought the WAL series Audrey over! Oh yeah people will definitely be planning Freddy's funeral!
Tracie Adams: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter!
JaclynnM: Oh thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying the chapter!
InuKagLove22: Oh I'm so glad that you like that I brought in the WAL series Audrey!
Marcus Emrys: No worries! :D I hope the reading Audrey pays attention and learns/grows from this!
Katt Kiki: Oh yep, there's definitely drama to come!
TheGirlofManyFloods: Oh thank you! Yeah I think you could say it's a crossover between the two series.
Guest: Thank you!
Guest: She came in from between chapter 24 and chapter 30.
Roxas Itsuka: Oh thank you! I'm sure there'll be a conversation between Harry and Milah because you're right, there's no way she'd appreciate or be happy about how he's been treating CJ. Yeah I have to agree, she's not going to like that chapter with Freddy!
danifan3000: Ooh that's a good point, will the viewing timeline's Audrey's friends notice she's gone?
Anonymous Reader: lol I have a feeling that you're happy about the Bal moment! Though who can blame you? Bal is awesome! :D
jedblack1997: Oh that's definitely going to be awkward! Poor WAL! Audrey!
61394: There's no one who knows Audrey better than Audrey—so she knows she's got to be sneaky!
Hufflepuff24: It's not out of the realm of possibilities to have more people from the WAL timeline to come in!
ChristmasRewind: Oh I love the one shot! And when I read the one shot, I immediately thought 'I want to write that!' It was like an itch that I needed to scratch!
AthenaArtemis25: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! The Cove is actually after this chapter and you're right, Demeter's going to be out for Freddy's blood!
twilightgirl587: Oh there are many things that Hades could say to the eyeball but knowing him, he'd want privacy to have the talk with his family. Oh sorry! I didn't mean to! Yep, Last Bridge Audrey! And of course Leah's out! :D
SaikoGoyangi: Oh thank you so much! I'm so happy you're enjoying them!
sao-frozen-smc. animefan: So Audrey=Last Bridge Audrey, regular Audrey=CF Audrey.
Guest: I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
quil . theimperial: Oh thank you so much! I appreciate the offer so much! Yeah I have a feeling Audrey is going to have a lot of talks in the next break! I'm glad you liked the Minty comment! And of course it's okay to DM me! Oh I'd love to see any art you want to make! :D
SnowWhite45: Oh yeah WAL Audrey is going to be upset with CF Audrey! And yeah Milah's got to have a talk with Harry, especially since Milah died with CJ was a baby. She doesn't have the relationship with her as Harry and Harriet have.
Guest: Oh my goodness! I love the image of WAL Evie tackling CF Mal into a hug and everyone freaking out because of the differences in the relationships! And I love the image of Lucas coming in (he's mentioned in CL but he hasn't made an appearance).
Guest: Oh wow, I just realized it but you're right!
Dance love 2007: Oh thank you!
midnight rose112358: I'm full of surprises! :D Yeah I think it'll be soon when Hadie becomes fine with Mal.
AnniexLove: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! And yeah the drowning scene is going to be hard on Mal but she's got Ben and all her friends to help her—if they're not busy plotting someone's murder!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yeah Hadie'll definitely come around! WAL Audrey being there will get interesting and she did get Leah to faint! Good vibes all around!
TR Lara Croft: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! And of course Ben and Mal are sitting together :D
medical ranger: Oh that's the plan! :D
HufflepuffInDaHealingCoven: Oh I can definitely go ahead and put a reminder at the beginning of the chapter! It's no trouble! :D
Guest: Oh that'll be fun to write if it happens!
Guest: I think it'll help too!
billyandkimfan1994: It was a twist even I didn't see coming until the reviews for the previous chapter!
Guest: That's going to be fun to write for sure!
Guest: I'm sure it'll be a lot of hair pulling!
Massive HTTYD Fan: Sorry! *flushes in embarrassment* But I'm glad you liked it!
Guest: So I'm assuming you're both the 'Guest' reviews but I loved the convos and couldn't stop laughing at Leah's internal screaming!
Supercorp Slexie 24: Thank you!
LOST MUSES: Oh I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
lilyflower101: She's definitely going to! :D
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"So how do you guys know if you're grabbing the right scroll?" Harriet asked. Leah remained unconscious but in all honesty no one really cared. Well Audrey did but Audrey rolled her eyes at the dramatics.
"Luck of the draw," Harry told her as Harriet grabbed a scroll and unfurled it.
Mal smiled as she watched Hadie played on the floor of the den, Estelle keeping a watchful eye on the proceedings.
Estelle yipped softly and trotted over to Hadie, resting his heads on the young boy's leg. Estelle knew Mali's pack mate needed him more than the mean human needed to be watched.
She was still passed out anyway. No sense in guarding her when she wasn't doing anything.
A couple of years had gone by since her brother had been born and Mal wouldn't have traded it for the world.
"Really?" Hadie asked.
"Of course pup," Mal nodded. "I wouldn't trade you for all the gold in the Cave of Wonders."
"…pup?"
"Trying out a new nickname since you kiboshed Storm Cloud. I'm guessing that's a no?"
Hadie nodded.
"Back to the drawing board!"
Nothing had really changed in terms of her family dynamics—there was just an extra person now who got her protection.
Her nasty inner voice had been wrong, something Mal had never been happier to think.
"And now you know to talk to someone if you ever start feeling like that again," Uma stated.
Plus, Hadie allowed her to test out her skills drawing people. Whenever Hadie went down for a nap, Mal snuck in and sat by the crib with her sketchbook in hand. So far her sketches looked like a deformed potato but there was one that looked close to human.
"Humans are hard to draw at first," Rowyn nodded. "Mine still look like some deformed aliens. It's why I like more landscapes."
Hadie couldn't help but smile though. Even though Mal's sketches looked odd, the fact that his sister had wanted to be around him helped eliminate some of the negative feelings that had nestled inside him.
"Hey Mali," Persephone said with a smile as she walked in to the den.
"Hey Steph," Mal said, looking up. Ever since she had that talk with her dad, Hades and Persephone always seemed to find ways to prove Mal wasn't being replaced and that she had a spot in the family.
Chip couldn't help but smile as he heard that. Belle had done the same thing after Ben had been born, as if to reassure the former teacup that he would always have a place with them if he needed it.
For Mal's eighth birthday, Persephone gave her a leather jacket she had made using material she had obtained over in Auradon. It was mainly purple and silver but had a smidgeon of green near the elbows. No one would question it though—green was Maleficent's color after all even though Mal pretended the green was for Persephone instead.
"Oh that jacket's the envy of every girl at Auradon Prep," Audrey said with a smile. "I remember there were a few girls who wanted to commission orders for one of their own."
"Why?" Audrey sniffed. "It's just a leather jacket."
Audrey stared in shock at her counterpart. "Okay so again, I clearly need a new personality blown into me."
"I'm sorry but my jacket was the envy of Boreadon girls?" Mal asked.
Audrey nodded. "Oh yeah. I remember there was talk about wanting to get commissions done for their own jacket. You made me one. Well it was more Evie but you gave me the jacket."
"…I'm sorry, what?!" Audrey and Mal exclaimed.
"I made you a jacket?" Evie asked with a smile, excited at the possibility of making clothes for other people. It wasn't something a Princess should do but designing was something she enjoyed.
Audrey nodded. "Uh huh. Helps that your business took off."
"My what?"
"Perhaps we can table this conversation for another time?" Persephone suggested, her tone gentle but the message was clear.
"Of course Lady Persephone. My apologies," Audrey nodded.
What are you planning? Phillip Jr. thought as he looked over at Audrey. There was no way any version of his sister would just treat a VK like she would a good friend or be that respectful to Lady Persephone.
But Mal's favorite part of the jacket was on the back. There, on the center of the jacket, were two dragons: one purple and one dark blue, almost black. No one would question it at a glance and with Mal being known as Maleficent's daughter on the Isle, no one would dare look twice.
"I'm pretty sure if anyone stopped you and questioned you on your dragon themed jacket, it'd spell their end," Uma stated.
Mal never took it off—sure the sleeves were a bit long and Steph had made it slightly bigger than a normal jacket to allow Mal the chance to grow into it but Mal didn't mind.
"Cue the cracks about my height," Mal muttered. After all, her jacket was still rather big on her.
"Actually there are theories that dragons will continue to grow throughout their lives but if you cage or imprison a dragon, they won't grow or be slow to grow," Ben said.
Everyone turned to look at the Crown Prince, some with bemused looks (like Chip, Emir, Akiho, and Audrey) and some just looking confused.
"Why do you know that?" Mal asked.
"Again, I like to read," Ben said with a shrug.
The best part was definitely the dragons, Mal still couldn't believe Steph had included them. She still remembered the talk she had had with Persephone regarding her love of dragons when she was eight.
"Actually it was probably safer for her to include them," Meg spoke up. "Considering who dragons are normally associated with and with who's daughter the people of the Isle believe you to be…"
Mal bit her lip as she sketched out the outline of a dragon, one of the many attempts on the page. She couldn't help but feel a bit guilty but she found that she really liked dragons. Despite the link they had to Maleficent, Mal couldn't help but be drawn to them.
"Huh. Thought that might wake her up," Mulan said as she looked over at Leah who was still passed out.
"Shouldn't we try to wake her up?" Jane asked.
"And lose our hearing?" Akiho scoffed.
"Akiho behave," Anna warned. Even if it is true, the Roses are an older family compared to ours. Older families are more powerful and make for dangerous adversaries.
"Yes mom."
"Mal?" Persephone said, knocking on her door. Mal looked up and quickly closed her sketchbook. The last thing she wanted was for Persephone to realize that Mal liked dragons. That might be the straw that breaks the camel's back so to speak and Persephone would kick her out of the Underworld.
Persephone shook her head and looked over at Mal. "Mal, honey, I want you to know that there is nothing you could do that would make me kick you out of the Underworld."
"I know mom," Mal said with a small smile.
"Yeah Steph?"
"What are you drawing?" Persephone asked, giving Mal a smile.
"Just sketching," Mal shrugged. "What's up?"
"Just sketching she says," Harry shook his head. "Mal, you once did a rough sketch of Henry and Jake sparing and it looked like a freaking Boreadon painting."
Mal shrugged. "They kept moving too fast for it to really be good. Hence why it was just a rough sketch."
"Do you still have it?" Rowyn asked.
"It should be in my old sketchbook but that's over in the clubhouse."
Not for long, Persephone thought with a small smile.
"Nothing much, just wanted to stop by," Persephone said as she sat down on the bed and picked up the sketchbook. "Can I look?"
"It's not all that good—"
"Really Mal?" Uma asked. "Be more obvious when you lie why don't you?"
"I'm sure it looks just fine," Persephone said. "Your drawings always are amazing."
"I think you have to say that. You're my mom," Mal said, shaking her head.
Mal smiled slightly before sighing. "Go ahead," she said softly.
Persephone opened the sketchbook and couldn't help but smile slightly as she looked through the sketches of Hadie, Uma, Estelle…and then she came across the page of dragon attempts.
"I…I know who dragons are connected to," Mal said softly as Persephone remained silent. "But I can't help it. Dragons are still awesome, the way they look with the curves and the rough exterior of the scales. Not to mention the ability to fly and breathe fire—"
"Well Ben, I think we found someone more obsessed with dragons than you," Kitty chuckled.
"She's not wrong," Ben said, shrugging slightly.
"Mal, there's nothing wrong with liking dragons," Persephone told her. "Just because Maleficent is who most people think of when they think of dragons doesn't mean you need to be ashamed of liking them.
Ben nodded. "I like dragons too but no one thinks I'm like Maleficent."
"Ben, you don't just like dragons," Audrey chuckled. "You're flat out obsessed. I think I know more about dragons from you than I'd ever read in a book."
"I mean I don't—."
"If you tell me about how dragons would drop out of trees and on to people's heads before they evolved the ability to fly one more time, I think I might go insane."
Audrey sniffed. "He still goes on about dragons in your timeline too?"
"Sue him for having an interest outside of you I guess," Audrey shot back.
"Seriously. Can we keep her?" Akiho whispered to Emir.
As well, dragons are often connected to the Gods so it would make sense that you're drawn to them."
"But you and dad seem to really hate anything related to Maleficent," Mal said softly.
"Well that's just because we hate Maleficent," Hades stated. "Your relation to her is something you can't help Mali and we'd never penalize you for it."
Persephone sighed. "Your father and I do have our differences with Maleficent, I'm not going to lie. But Mal, just because you like dragons doesn't mean you are like Maleficent and it doesn't mean you are any less our daughter."
Mal bit her lip as she gave Persephone a small smile.
"So no matter what, I'm still going to be your daughter?" Mal asked softly. "Even if you eventually have a girl and I get my sister?"
Is…is it wrong to be relieved she was still worried about that in the event mom had a girl? Hadie thought.
"Mal honey I could have a hundred daughters. Heck I could have a hundred children, boy or girl, and you would still be my daughter. Nothing will change that."
"One hundred kids would be an impressive feat," Eugene nodded.
"Says the man with six children," Aladdin chuckled. "You've only ninety four more to go."
"No," Rapunzel said.
"Gaston has him beat though," Audrey pointed out.
"He's got the twelve kids in your timeline too?" Ben asked. "As well can I just say that the idea of separate timelines is very strange?"
"You're in a room created by the Fates to read scrolls on your lives and it's the separate time lines thing that bothers you? But to answer your question, yes," Audrey nodded.
"You're sure?" Mal asked, looking at Persephone. "I mean, I don't want you to you have a hundred kids. There are days I don't want to share you with Hadie but he's reasonable."
"Yeah I think every kid with siblings thinks like that," Rose nodded.
Persephone chuckled. "It was just an exaggeration sweetheart. I don't want that many kids either but I am positive that no matter how many siblings you get, you will always be my eldest."
"I know you have a mom who's probably one of the most wonderful people around," Belle whispered to Chip, "but I hope you know that the same goes for you."
Chip smiled at Belle. "Hey it's okay Belle. I've got two moms then. Nothing could be better there," he whispered back to her.
"Oh, okay," Mal said softly before pausing and tilting her head in confusion. "But wait. I wasn't born to you, how can I be your oldest? Wouldn't that be Hadie?"
"But you were born first," Hadie spoke up.
"Yeah but not to mom," Mal shook her head. "But it doesn't matter. Mom's my mom."
Persephone gave Mal a soft smile. "Mal, when you think of your mother, who comes to mind?"
"Well…you Steph," Mal said instantly, her voice soft as if worried about how Persephone would react. "You do all the stuff a mom's supposed to do and you don't rant about cursing entire kingdoms."
Demeter couldn't help but smile as she heard that. Even though Mal was still calling Persephone 'Steph' and not 'mom' in that instance, she still thought of Persephone as her mother.
Which counted in Demeter's book!
Persephone smiled, trying not to show how touched she truly was. "And that is how you're my oldest. I've been there since you were a baby sweetheart. I raised you. Blood doesn't always dictate who family is."
That's definitely true, Rapunzel thought with a small nod. Cass is my sister and she's not related to me by blood. I just hope she's doing okay on the Isle, I haven't heard from her in a while.
Mal gave her a small smile before sighing. "Steph? I…I wish I had been born to you instead of the dragon. Dragons are cool and everything, and the benefit of the food when we get it and no one's able to touch me on the Isle is great…"
"But having a normal parent is so much better than one that sings about being evil I'm assuming," Audrey said with a nod.
"I'm…I'm sorry?"
"Does your Maleficent not sing about the joys of being evil and try to lure you to her side via song?"
Mal blinked in shock. "I worry about your timeline."
"She also dances. I do have to say, she may be evil but she does have a great singing voice."
"…that might be the only compliment someone from Auradon has ever given her," Hades stated.
"I know sweetie but it doesn't matter. You are my daughter, and if anyone says otherwise to you, tell them to tell me that."
Hercules smiled a bit as he heard that, thinking of conversations he'd had with his adoptive mother and father after they had revealed that they had found him as a baby.
It didn't matter that he called his parents 'mother and father'. He could have two sets of parents.
Mal nodded. "Does that include Maleficent? She hasn't said anything but there are days where she'll go on rants about dad being worthless and weak."
"Yes well she thinks that because she hits a child she's a big bad scary villain," Hades growled.
"As your dad often says, Maleficent will say a lot of things but that doesn't make them true. What matters is your opinion of your father. But I'd be glad to have a word with Maleficent. I have plenty to say to her."
If it's anything like the fight you had with her at Ben's coronation, I'm sure it would be something to behold, Audrey thought with a small smile.
Mal nodded. "I know dad's not weak and considering the number of things Maleficent considers worthless, the insult doesn't mean much coming from her. Steph, if you do have a talk with her…can I sell tickets? Or at least let Uma know so we can watch?"
"Us too!" Harriet, CJ, Harry, Jay, Emir, Chip, Akiho, and surprisingly Audrey exclaimed.
Persephone shook her head. "Ask your mother, ask your mother, ask your mother, no, no, no, and because you're not of our timeline, no."
"Mom?" Harriet and Harry asked.
"No," Milah said with a chuckle though there was a hint of sadness to it as she noticed that CJ hadn't asked. In fact, she had hardly looked in Milah's direction; opting to curl up next to Harriet instead.
Persephone chuckled softly. "If and when I talk with Maleficent, it'll be when you're much older so you won't get hurt if you do decide to watch," Persephone promised.
Mal sighed but nodded.
Persephone smiled slightly. "Don't worry Mali. No one messes with my kid."
"Mothers are rather protective in that regard," Jasmine said as the other mothers in the room nodded. Well, except for Leah, who remained unconscious.
Mal couldn't help but smirk slightly. It felt good, hearing Steph say Mal was her kid and knew she meant it.
"You ever know mom to say something she didn't mean?" Hadie asked Mal, raising an eyebrow.
"Very true minty, very true."
"I said no to that one!"
"Steph…are you planning on having more kids?" Mal asked softly.
Persephone sighed. "I don't know Mal. Truthfully it's hard enough leaving you and Hadie every six months. I…I don't know if I could do that to another kid."
"But…if you wanted to, could you?" Mal asked.
"It is one of the benefits of being an Olympian," Persephone said. "After all, Zeus carried Athena to term so clearly we don't need to worry about that."
Mal nodded.
"But as I said, even if I do have another kid, you will always be mine and you'll always be my eldest," Persephone promised.
Mal gave her step mother a small smile.
As did the real life Mal, looking over at Persephone. A smile which the Goddess eagerly returned.
"Mal, honey, I'd like to talk with you," Persephone said, pulling Mal back to present day. "Do you remember when I told you that just because you like dragons, it doesn't make you any less my daughter and how dragons are a godly symbol?"
"Not just a Godly one. In China, it's believed that the emperors were descended from dragons," Lonnie said.
"I think you've spent too much time around Ben," Lil' Shang told her.
"No such thing!"
"Yeah, Steph," Mal nodded, unsure about what the conversation was about. "You also said that no matter how many siblings I had, I'd be your eldest…you're not pregnant with a dragon are you?"
"That's possible?" Ben asked.
"Oh dear Gods," Emir shook his head as Audrey bit back her chuckles.
"No sweetheart I'm not," Persephone told her, trying not to laugh.
"Oh," Mal said. "I mean, you could be! Shapeshifting is a godly power—Zeus has done it numerous times after all."
"Oh yes, let's see there was the time he shape shifted into a satyr, a shepherd, an ant—."
"I'm sorry, an ant?" Mal asked, looking at Hades as Hadie chuckled.
"You've got a very strange uncle," the God of the Dead told his daughter. "Of course there was the time he shape shifted into a swan and then there was also the time that he shape shifted into a shower of gold coins."
"Do you just have this memorized in case you need to embarrass him?" Poseidon asked.
"Eaten. As. Babies."
"Fair enough."
"Very true, but I'm not pregnant," Persephone told her before taking a small breath. "Mal, honey, what I'm about to say is completely optional and one hundred percent your choice."
"Okay. What's up?"
"I love how nonchalant you are," Elle said with a small smile. "Lady Persephone says something that sounds really serious and you just say 'what's up'?"
Persephone took a moment to consider the two topics she wanted to talk to Mal about. After weighing them over in her head, she opted to go for the slightly easier topic first. "I've two things that I'd like to talk to you about but we'll start with this one. We both know that your full name connects you to someone we're both not particularly fond of."
"That would be the definition of an understatement," Phillip Sr. nodded.
"That's an understatement," Mal snorted.
"Yes well…how would you feel if your dad and I started calling you by a different full name? Only if you want to," Persephone offered.
"Wait, what was your full first name before?" Kitty asked.
"…I'm sure it'll be revealed in one of these," Mal muttered.
Mal sat up a bit in shock. "You mean I wouldn't be Maleficent anymore? I'd have my own first name?" She asked softly. Not being a copy of the dragon, not needing to earn her full first name…that was a dream come true!
Oh yeah, Mal had mentioned something in the first viewing about needing to earn her full first name, Audrey thought with a small frown. I didn't realize it was Maleficent though. I don't know why but I thought it was something like Malice. Maleficent makes a lot more sense though.
"Exactly sweetie, you are your own person and I think it's high time we stop letting her mold you into a copy of her," Persephone said.
"No parent should try to mold their child," Aurora said with a small nod. "Children should be themselves, not an extension of their parents."
Mal nodded. "What…what would it be? My new full first name I mean?"
"That would be up to you. As I said, this is your choice but if I may make a suggestion, I'd keep the 'Mal' part. That way, the transition won't be as jarring," Persephone said gently.
"Well there's Mala, Malachie, Malanie, Malann, Malantha—."
"I think you made up that last one," Ruby told her sister.
Robin shook her head. "It's old Greek, means 'black flower'."
"But…we know her full first name though," Rowyn pointed out. "It's Malinda."
Mal bit her lip in thought. "What about…Malinda?" Mal asked, her voice soft.
"It's Greek," Macaria said with a small smile. "It means 'gentle'."
"Well that's not Mal at all," Uma chuckled as Mal rolled her eyes.
"I like that," Persephone said with a small smile.
"I do too," Mal nodded. "Malinda Bertha….dragons are still my thing though. The dragon's not taking that away."
Ben smiled slightly at that. I…I wish I'd had your strength Mal, he thought. After all, some of his friends hadn't been as welcoming to his dragon fascination as the others and he had to tone it down by the time he was seven.
After all, Princes should be slaying dragons not spouting dragon facts.
He still liked reading about them, and learning all he could. It just felt more…forbidden now. Like a dirty little secret.
"Of course not," Persephone said. It's high time we started associating dragons with someone different anyway, she thought. "Now for the second topic I wanted to discuss. Mal, you know you're my daughter no matter what. But…how would you like to make it official?"
"Wild seahorses wouldn't stop her from making it official Aunt Steph," Uma nodded.
"Really?" Mal asked. "I'd…I'd be yours and Boreadon wouldn't be looming over our shoulders, in case Maleficent made a report?"
Belle sighed. That shouldn't have ever been something for a child to have to worry about. The fear that a safe place to live might get taken away in the event their biological parent made a report.
"With this type of magical adoption, you'd be legally and magically mine. You'd still be biologically Maleficent's so Hadie would still be your half brother but Maleficent would have no right to you anymore. But, like I said Mal, it's your cho—"
"Wouldn't Maleficent still have to waive her parental rights in someway?" Hyllus asked.
"You're getting dangerously close to 'I don't like you' status, kid," Hades told him.
Persephone didn't get the chance to finish due to the nine year old wrapping her arms around her in a hug.
"I'm not fluent in VK but I'd say that's a 'yes'," Akiho said with a grin.
"Yes! Yes! I want that Steph! More than anything!" Mal exclaimed, startling Estelle who looked over at the two of them in shock.
Gods I wish I'd been there for that, Hades thought with a sad smile. Unfortunately he'd had to work in the early part of the day. The joys of being the God of the Dead.
Persephone grinned, unable to contain her own happiness. "Oh Mal, I'm so happy to hear that!"
"So would this affect the registry over in Boreadon or would they still know me as Maleficent's daughter?" Mal asked.
"If you honestly think we wouldn't get that corrected as soon as humanly and as Godly possible, you don't know us Mal," Hades stated.
"That entry can be removed and you will be put under my entry, just like Hadie."
"Good," Mal smiled. "Oh, I can tell Uma, Jay and Harry right mom?"
Demeter knew she was more than likely grinning from ear to ear but she didn't care. Finally!
…mother?
Oh. Was that over the link?
It was. But I'm glad you're happy. I believe I had the the same thoughts hearing Mal call me mom for the first time.
Persephone paused, having heard the new title. Truthfully, she hadn't expected Mal to use the title of 'mom' so quickly. That didn't mean she didn't like it.
"There's nothing better than hearing your kid call you 'mom' for the first time," Meg said, smiling at her three children.
"Mal sweetheart, you know you don't have to call me that right away if you're not comfortable," she said.
Mal shook her head. "I meant what I said last year. When I think about my mom, you're the one that comes to mind not the dragon. You do all the mom things and you're not a ranting insane dragon obsessed loon. You said it yourself, blood doesn't dictate family. You're my mom."
"I love how you managed to get the insult to the Dragon in there," Uma nodded. "Nice touch."
"Well, I did learn from the best," Mal smirked, looking over at Hades.
Persephone couldn't help but smile at the innocent reasoning. Such was the logic of a nine year old. "Okay sweetheart."
"I dunno, I think that's some pretty sound logic," Eugene nodded. "I know when I was living in the orphanage, I'd have jumped at the chance for someone to do all the mom things. The not being a ranting, insane, dragon obsessed loon would just be icing on the cake."
"Now back to my question. Can I tell them? They might wonder why I've started calling you 'mom' when I was calling you 'Steph' before."
"Or we would have just realized you finally figured out what the three of us have known since we were six," Uma said with a shrug.
"Of course, as long as they know that it can't get spread around the Isle," Persephone said and then paused.
"No Lady Steph we were just going to go and spread it around the Isle," Jay said as he shook his head.
"You've all spent too much time around my husband and daughter. You're too sarcastic for your own good," Persephone said with a small chuckle. "And Jay, you know you can just call me Steph."
"Mal, honey, you will still need to spend one night with Maleficent until the registry's updated."
"Uma, Jay and Harry can keep a secret, mom," Mal said. "They know about dad after all."
"And about Estelle and you know, practically everything involved in Mal's life," Jay nodded.
"You need someone to keep secrets, we're your VKs," Harry grinned.
Persephone smiled at that.
"The whole Maleficent part stinks but, hey, what can you do?" Mal added, shrugging a little.
"Hey, it's just until the registry's updated and then you're never going near her again," Persephone promised.
"Yeah that was a lie," Mal sighed.
"It was?" Ben asked.
"I ended up making an appearance about once or twice a month," Mal told him. "Just so she didn't question anything."
"How long would that take? Changing the registry?"
"The actual adoption would take about an hour, two at the most. Changing the registry would have to wait until the next time I'm in Auradon."
"Though if the Isle had internet access, we probably could have done it same day," Persephone pointed out.
"Yeah Carlos could have probably done it without breaking a sweat," Audrey nodded, wrapping an arm around Carlos' shoulders and frowned as he stiffened in shock. "Oh…sorry…"
"Just…didn't expect it," Carlos said, his timid voice jarring to Audrey who was used to a more confident DeVil boy.
Mal nodded. "Okay, so I'd just have to keep pretending I'm the dragon's spawn for about six months?"
"Unfortunately."
"Pretending…" Audrey scoffed. "All you're doing is pretending Lady Persephone's your mother."
"Is smiting her an option?" Mal asked, looking at her mom. "I mean, we've already got a decent Audrey."
"Now Mal, I'm sure the timeline Audrey came from is missing her," Persephone said.
"Well I spent nine years doing it. What's six more months?" Mal asked with a sigh.
Persephone couldn't help but give a sad smile upon hearing that. Mal shouldn't have to resign herself with living with Maleficent.
"Oh mom?" Mal asked. "What would this do to my magic? Like would it make me full God or would I still have my Fae side?"
"Oh that's…that's a good question," Jane said with a small nod.
"You may retain a bit of your Fae powers but the majority of your magic would be Godly abilities," Persephone said gently.
"I wonder—?"
"Prince Ben, I'd be happy to loan you all of the books I used to look up the adoption method Mal and I used," Persephone offered.
"Thank you Lady Persephone," Ben said with a grin and ignoring Chip's chuckles.
Beast looked over at Belle. "He gets this from you."
"You say that like it's a bad thing," Belle said, shaking her head. "Besides, I don't think you're one to talk Mr. Had a Giant Library."
Mal couldn't help but smile. The promise of no connection to Maleficent was just too exciting.
"Could…could we do the adoption now? What does it need?" Mal asked as she got off the sofa.
Persephone wasn't going to lie, hearing once more how eager Mal was to make their mother daughter status official both warmed and broke her heart. Because had Maleficent been any sort of a decent mother it wouldn't have been needed in the first place.
"Of course sweetheart. If that's what you want," Persephone said with a smile as she got up too. Normally one would never leave a three year old alone in a room especially with a three headed dog. However, Estelle was pretty much a nanny to Hadie at this point and both of them knew the Cerberus would never allow any harm to come to the young boy.
"So who's a better baby sitter? Estelle or Pain and Panic?" Uma asked with a chuckle.
"Estelle," Hadie, Mal, Hades, and Persephone said in unison.
Said Cerberus yipped softly and wagged his tail, giving the group a doggy grin.
"All it requires is a potion that you'd have to drink," Persephone told her as she got the ingredients out from the pantry. Thankfully she had picked up all the required ingredients the last time she had been in Auradon. She and Hades had talked about her adopting Mal back around her eighth birthday—the only reason it'd taken so long was because Persephone wanted to do the research into the best form of adoption.
"How many different forms did you look up, Aunt Persephone?" Herkie asked.
"Three hundred and fifty eight," Persephone told him.
"Let it not be said that Steph is anything but thorough," Hades nodded.
The last thing she wanted was for this to end up hurting Mal.
"I think that's the last thing any parent wants to do," Ariel said as she held her girls close to her. Not because she was scared but because in the moment, she just wanted to hold her daughters.
"That's it?" Mal asked. "Seems rather simple."
"It's magic, Mal. It doesn't have to be flashy to be powerful," Persephone told her.
Audrey smiled slightly as she remembered an almost similar line in one of the viewings that the Blue Fairy had given them.
It's magic. It doesn't have to look scary.
So that's where you got it from huh Mal? She thought.
"However I will need to cut your hand slightly. Blood magic, as it implies, requires blood."
"It is said that early magic users believed that the blood was the most direct way to access your magical core or your own magic and it would also make the spell stronger," Jane spoke up. "It's why they started adding blood to potions."
Mal nodded. Even if it might hurt, she'd do anything to make it so she was Steph's and not Maleficent's.
"It won't be a big cut sweetie and I'll make sure it heals straight after we have a few drops in the potion. I promise."
"Good move," Hades muttered to Persephone. "Otherwise the cut could have gotten infected—."
"Hades, dear, you really think I'd have let anything happen to Mal? Besides she was still a Godling then even if she was only half. An infection wouldn't have done much to her."
"Still," Hades sighed.
"Okay," Mal said. "I trust you mom."
Persephone couldn't help but smile as she heard that. No matter how old she got, she never tired hearing those words.
Persephone gave her a smile as she started preparing the potion, pouring liquids from ancient looking bottles into two bowls.
"Got any eye of newt in there?" Mal chuckled as she watched. Maleficent rarely taught her anything about magic so to be able to watch like this was a rare treat.
"…You…you don't actually use eye of newt do you?" Emma asked.
"Those poor newts!" Alexandria gasped.
"My mother told me, eye of newt is just mustard seed," Evie spoke up. "There are some potions that requires animal parts but nine times out of ten, it's just something mundane made to sound magical."
Huh, so Blueberry does have a brain, Uma thought to Mal.
"No, it's pomegranate juice, binding elixir, crushed lily petals in holy water. That sort of thing," Persephone told her with a chuckle.
"Anyone else see the irony in—?"
"Even Mama Odie could see the irony there," Macaria said, shaking her head at her older brother.
"Ah. That sounds much better than eye of newt," Mal said and then bit her lip. "I…I thought anything with blood magic was considered 'dark' though. You're not going to get into trouble for this are you?"
"I'd like to see them try," Demeter stated, glaring at both Beast and Zeus.
"Demeter, it's blood magic—."
"Zeus, all she's doing is adopting her daughter. On what planet is this dark or evil?"
"Not to mention, the barrier is meant to block the use of evil magic," Fairy Godmother spoke up. "By providing young Mal a good home and a family who loves her, there's no way that could be done with evil intent."
Hades pursed his lips. "Normally that would make it so I would like you, the fact that you're sticking up for Steph. But you created the barrier with Zeus' help trapping us all on the Isle."
"If I do, then I do," Persephone said simply. "You are my daughter Mali. We're just making it official in every way."
"Yes but you won't get in trouble Persephone," Poseidon stated. "Will she brother?"
"You do know I could turn you mortal again right?" Zeus asked, glaring at his older brother.
"And you've not answered the question."
Zeus sighed. "No, Persephone. You won't get in trouble. At least from me."
"And what happens between the Gods is no one's business but the Gods," Ben spoke up as he looked at his father. "That's what you always told me dad. Besides since it happened on the Isle, technically it could be argued that it was preformed outside of Auradon's borders despite the fact that the Isle is a part of Auradon—."
"Ben, dear, you're rambling," Belle said gently. "But we get the point."
Ben nodded and leaned back against his seat, missing the small smile Mal shot his way.
Mal nodded, though she still bit her lip in worry.
"Now, can I have your hand please?" Persephone said gently and Mal nodded, handing Persephone her hand.
Uma, Harry, and Jay couldn't help but smile at that. They knew how much trust was involved in such an act. Yes Persephone was Mal's mother but someone asking for your hand while holding a sharp object and claiming the wouldn't hurt you?
Hard to trust that on the Isle.
"Just a small cut sweetheart," Persephone said softly as she carefully made a small cut on Mal's pointer finger with a knife before holding it over one of the bowls and squeezing it gently, causing a few drops to land and turning the mixture inside gold with veins of purple running throughout.
"Oh wow, that sounds beautiful!" Rowyn exclaimed. "Imagine—."
"If you say 'painting', I'm going to officially declare you 'art obsessed'," Rachel said with a chuckle.
Honestly she didn't understand why the mortals always cut their palms when they did this. There were so many more nerve endings there and all you were doing was causing unnecessary pain.
"Huh, did not know that," Emir said with a grin.
"Should we be worried that you're grinning at that?" Ashaki asked her older brother.
Huh, I wonder how I could replicate that, Mal thought as she looked at the mixture. Be fun to spray paint something using that.
"Did you ever manage to replicate it?" Rowyn asked as Rachel shook her head in amusement.
Mal shook her head. "Tried a couple of times but I could never get the veins of purple. The gold paint came in handy though, for when I had to spray paint the Jafar tag on the Dragon's side of the Isle."
Persephone quickly healed Mal's finger before cutting her own hand and adding the blood, turning the other mixture gold and green. "Okay," she said softly after healing her own hand. "Now you drink this one and I'll drink the one in front of you."
"That's it? It's that simple?" Mal asked.
"That's it Mali," Persephone nodded. "I can go first if you'd like."
"Knowing Mal like we do, that won't happen," Jay said, shaking his head.
Mal shook her head. "I'm good doing it at the same time."
"So stubborn," Harry shook his head in amusement.
"Should you really be commenting on the stubbornness of others?" Uma asked, raising an eyebrow.
Audrey chuckled and leaned over to Carlos. "So have they gotten together yet?"
"H..Harry and Uma?" Carlos asked, jumping slightly at the question. "Not really. I mean, everyone…everyone knows but…"
"Ah," Audrey said with a smile. Makes sense. I mean it did take Mal and Jay shoving those two in a room the Blue Fairy created to get them to admit their feelings after watching a future version of themselves almost kiss, she thought.
"Okay," Persephone said with a smile as they both picked up their respective bowls. "On the count of three. One…two…three."
Mal gulped the liquid down. It didn't taste too bad—not like how most potions tasted or so she'd read in the limited books they had on the Isle.
"How'd it taste?" Hadie asked.
Mal gave her little brother a small smile. "Like those drinks Virgil got for us. The ones that taste like sweet water."
"You might feel a bit of a head rush. That's your body adjusting to the added magic," Persephone told her. "In fact, it might be a good idea if you sit down. Come 'ere."
She gently scooped Mal up and carried her over to the sofa in the den, where Hadie and Estelle were still playing dutifully.
Mal shot Uma a look but Uma, for once, did not make a crack about Mal's height. Not when her mom was carrying her.
That was not somethings cousins did after all. Besides, there would be other moments to make short jokes. You make too many of them and they get stale.
"Thanks mom," Mal said softly. She'd spent enough time around Persephone to know there wasn't much point in arguing. "Why aren't you getting the head rush?"
"She's not receiving as much magic," Zeus stated, to everyone's surprise. "What? I do know things regarding potions and the like."
"Yes but the fact that you're volunteering that information Zeusey is why we're surprised," Hades stated.
"I'm an adult and have been a full Goddess for much longer than you have even been alive Mal," Persephone said gently.
"Oh. That makes sense."
"Does that count as a kid admitting their parent's right?" Kit asked.
"Close enough," Kristoff nodded.
"Yeah. Are you feeling okay?"
Mal nodded. "A little bit of a head rush like you said but I'm good."
"Well just stay sitting for a bit okay? At least until it passes."
Mal stiffened slightly as she remembered what happened after and wished she had stayed sitting for a lot longer than she had been.
"Okay mom. Hey, does this mean I'll have control over plants like you do?"
"You're just asking all the magic questions aren't you?" Uma chuckled.
"Hey, you'd want to know too!" Mal said with a small shrug, trying to force herself to relax. It was possible that wouldn't be in these scrolls right?
Ben looked over at her and smiled. "So do you?"
"Do I what?"
"Have control over plants!"
Mal chuckled. Prince Beastie Jr. really was an odd duck at times. "Yeah. Yeah I do. I still have a bit of my Fae magic too but the majority of my magic is Godly based."
"Potentially yes," Persephone nodded. "I can teach you."
Not that it'll do much good here on the Isle, where it's mostly buildings, she thought with an inward frown but she didn't say anything at seeing Mal's grin at the prospect of learning new magic. In fact, her glee was so infectious that Persephone had to smile back.
"But didn't you say that Slade guy had a farm?" Chad asked.
"Just animals though," Uma told him.
"No sunlight, no plants," Mal said with a shrug.
Take that Maleficent! I told you I'd get my daughter back, Persephone thought. Honestly I should have thought of this years ago. When I wanted to take Mal to Auradon after Hades brought her to the Underworld back when she was five, this would have been the perfect way to do it!
"Hindsight is 20/20 after all," Hades sighed. Would he have missed Mal if she went to Auradon when she was five? Of course he would have. But Mal deserved to get off the Isle. Both his kids did for that matter.
And maybe Mal wouldn't have taken Hadie being a boy so hard if she'd already been legally mine as well—she wouldn't have been living with Maleficent and having the dragon pour all that doubt into her head.
It's a nice thought mom but I would have still had years of Maleficent messing with my head, Mal thought with a small sigh. Not to mention I lived with dad and I still had to make an appearance at the Dragon's.
I really should have thought of this years ago!
But it was done now and it couldn't be undone. Mal was her daughter in every sense of the word. Well, every sense that mattered.
Ben nodded, looking over at Chip. "Lady Persephone's right after all. Blood doesn't make family."
"Aye," Harry agreed, looking over at Jay. I finally got my brother because of thinking like that. Doesn't matter that he's not related to me…and he's older…he's still my brother.
"I love you Mal," Persephone said softly, kissing her daughter on the forehead. Mal smiled and rested her head on Persephone's shoulder. They stayed like that for a bit until the sound of the front door opening caught their attention.
"Dunno why, there was only one person who it could have been," Mal shrugged.
"Virgil?"
"…okay two people it could have been," Mal corrected herself upon hearing Jay's suggestion.
"Mal?"
"In the den, Uma!" Mal called back and Uma walked in, smiling at seeing her cousin and aunt.
Audrey couldn't help but smile at the interaction between this timeline's Mal and Uma. It was so strange—her Mal and Uma had been enemies turned friends while these two never seemed to have been enemies at all.
"I wanted to come by and see if you wanted to hang out at the docks?" Uma asked.
"I should have said the clubhouse," Uma muttered. Freddy better get ready for a whole lot of people out for his blood, she thought as her hands curled into fists.
"Sure," Mal nodded.
"Then come on!" Uma grinned. "Thanks for letting me steal her Aunt Steph!"
"Just don't get into too much trouble you two," Persephone chuckled as she picked up Hadie.
"Trouble? Mal and Uma? Perish the thought," Harriet chuckled. She stopped though as she looked over at Harry, who was as silent as could be. This wasn't him pouting because he was near CJ either, something was wrong.
I remember what happens next, Harry thought as he subtly wrapped his hands around his torso; as if trying to protect his ribs from an oncoming attack. Even after all these years, he still didn't like to think about it.
"It's like you don't trust us mom!" Mal chuckled as she dragged Uma out. Persephone just shook her head in amusement as Uma's shocked questioning followed them out of the Underworld.
"Gee, I wonder why," Audrey sniffed and Audrey shook her head.
"Who wants to read next?" Jay asked, trying to keep the peace and prevent an Audrey vs Audrey spat.
"I'll read," Esmeralda offered.