Chapter Seventy Three
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney, the Greek myths, or for the sake of this chapter, LotusQuil who was kind enough to let me write a chapter of Truth or Fiction with their fic Adventures in Auradon! If you haven't already, you should go check it out.
*ducks incoming projectiles* I know, I know! Small Twists of Fate is in serious need of an update! Unfortunately when the muse speaks, they speak very loudly and sometimes they're more like demands. I promise though, next update you see from me will be Small Twists of Fate.
JaclynnM: I don't know, but I can promise you I'm not reading your mind! So glad you liked the chapter!
Tracie Adams: We're pretty close! Maybe three more chapters unless my count is off!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Of course he'd want to change the colors, typical Chip! :D Hey, sometimes you can dislike something and still be good at it! Harry couldn't be more obvious if he tried! And you're welcome! You already know my feelings about the original dress but it needed to be changed! :D
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yeah…math was not the subject I majored in back in school lol! I just realized that now. I think Uma would be shocked by other universe's Uma—and other Uma would be able to see the life she might have had.
Marcus Emrys: Oh yay! It really is a good idea for a character and he'd definitely fit in well amongst the Godlings and other magical beings. And yes, I highly recommend checking out LotusQuil's series! :D
smc-smfan1: Glad you liked it! :D
danifan3000: Honestly I think he'd act that way anyway just from the image of Ursula and Facilier. As for Ava, she was a WAL only character (mainly because I didn't know how well she'd go over). But just like with Akiho's siblings, she'll stay in the WAL series.
Katt Kiki: Hope you enjoy! :D
twilightgirl587: That was the WAL series but Mal'll get help soon enough regardless! Yeah Grammy is a righteous maniac, that we can agree on and of course she is! How else can I torment her more? :D
Unknown Person67: Honestly that was my favorite line of the whole chapter, because how did no one stop to ask if Mal was doing okay after she turned her hair blonde? Just…smh!
Chocolate Addict: Oh I'm so glad you're enjoying the fic! Hope you did well on your exam! :D
cass585339: Ask and you'll receive! :D
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Eric gently broke the wax seal on the scroll and unfurled it. He wasn't going to lie, he was looking forward to seeing a different point of view. Maybe it would be one of his daughters?
The morning dew had frosted over from the winter's cold. Auradon Prep's halls were quiet as most of the students had gone home for the brief holiday break.
Fairy Godmother smiled. "I always find that to be one of the more peaceful times of year, and joyful at the thought of the children being with their parents," she said.
Only a lone vehicle, a deep blue SUV, trekked its way up towards the school, the sound of its engine rumbling through the silence.
"That's dad's car!" Herkie said with a grin. "Wonder what he's doing at school?"
"Only one way to find out," Macaria told him. "And you also don't know that's dad. Could be mom."
A few minutes later, all was silent again as the driver parked in the visitor's area and hopped out of his car. A gentle wind blew through auburn locks as the hulking figure hiked the rest of the way towards the school.
"If there was any doubt about who the person was, it was removed after that description," Hera said as she gave a glowing smile to her son.
The man meandered the halls, seemingly knowledgeable of his destination. A flash of white was seen as he briefly smiled wide, taking in the sight of the mostly empty cafeteria.
Akiho shook his head. "Hearing about the cafeteria being almost empty just sounds wrong. The only time it's justified to be like that is for breakfast and that's only because it's too early!"
"Herkie!" He shouted across the hall, raising one hand into the air as he called the attention of the boy and his cousins.
"Pretty sure your nanny goat would have a coronary and give you a lecture about giving up the element of surprise," Meg said and shook her head.
"Dad!" Herkie leapt up, racing towards his father. Hercules welcomed his son with open arms, lifting his youngest into a hug.
"And the identity is one hundred percent confirmed now," Hyllus said, grinning ear to ear.
"Hey, there kiddo," he set Herkie down, ruffling the boy's hair as he did. "Surprise!"
"And it's definitely a pleasant one," Herkie grinned.
"Though I see the 'no touchy' gene didn't go to you," Uma chuckled as she looked over at Hadie.
"What are you doing here?" exclaimed Herkie, staring up at his father incredulously. "I thought you and mom were going to visit γιαγια with Macaria and Hyllus?"
"Translation for those of us who don't speak the Greek?" Ashaki asked, lightly teasing Herkie.
Herkie chuckled. "It means 'grandmother'," he told her.
"They still are, but I realized something," Hercules began, watching as Hadie tensed as the much older cousin glanced in his direction.
"You realized something that had to do with my son?" Hades asked, raising an eyebrow and trying to not glare at his nephew. The temptation was there though.
"Hadie," Hercules continued, nodding a greeting, a gentle smile softening his intimidating stature. "I'm glad to see you're looking well since we last met."
"When did you two meet? In the scroll I mean?" Hades asked, looking over at Hercules.
Hercules shrugged. "I'm not sure. Though it must have been recently in the scroll. Maybe we'll be given answers?"
"Well if you let Eric read, I'm sure you'll get an answer to your question," Meg chuckled.
"Hello, nice to, uh, see you too…I'm sorry," Hadie shifted awkwardly, eyes shifting side to side underneath his blue fringe. "I'm not sure how to address you, sir."
"Well there's 'Herc', 'Wonderboy', and 'cuz' but I think 'Wonderboy' is just one mom uses," Macaria said.
Hercules closed the distance between them slowly, Herkie glued to his side, before kneeling down so he wasn't towering over the godlings.
"I'd think you'd do more towering over Mal than you would those three," Uma said, gently teasing her cousin.
"I wonder how fried squidling smells like," Mal teased Uma right back.
So that explains the small smile, Audie thought as her mind flashed back to the viewings. Specifically the third one—when Uma had seemingly smiled at Mal's pondering of how fried octopus tasted like.
"Hercules is fine," a tan hand rested gently on Hadie's shoulder. "We're family, though it may be odd to address me as cousin considering our age gap for now. Feel free to keep in mind that I rarely acknowledge the Olympian lifestyle, so no need for any titles, okay?"
"Heh, I see the first generation of cousins are not so different when it comes to their title usage," Emir said, glancing over at Mal.
Hadie nodded, enraptured by Hercules' relaxed and naturally jovial voice.
"You mean dad's usual voice?" Herkie asked. "He normally sounds like that unless one of us are in trouble or hurt."
'Though I suppose I should expect that,' Hadie thought as he tilted his head, staring at Hercules inquisitively. 'When Herkie accidentally broke Ky's arm, and both Hercules and Megara showed up, they were nothing but kind, even if Megara was a bit standoffish at first.'
"I…I broke Ky's arm?" Herkie asked, his eyes wide in shock.
Malinda nodded. "It was in gym class according to Hadie when he told me the story and it truly was by accident. A case of capture the flag gone wrong."
"Um…who's Ky?" Hadie asked.
"One of Kuzco's kids," Ashaki said. "He's got a twin sister named Qullana and an older sister named Kelsey."
"Oh right, didn't they say in one of the other scrolls that Kuzco's daughter was the new head cheerleader after Audrey lost her spot?" Neal said.
"That could have been a bit more tactful…but yes dear," Snow White nodded.
"Now, for the reason I'm here," Hercules smiled broadly, the crow's feet of his eyes crinkled as his voice pulled Hadie from his thoughts. "I don't want to interrupt your plans, but it's your first Saturnalia in Auradon, and I figured it's unfair that you'd spend it alone," He shook his head as Hadie opened his mouth to speak. "I know I gave permission for Herkie to stay, and I know Ariel did the same for Melody even though it's not something their side of the family really celebrates what with Eric sticking to Yule. But the school isn't able to isolate resources for a few students, so I got permission to come down, cook, and spend the day with you kids."
"That was very sweet of you, Hercules," Persephone said.
Hercules smiled. "Happy to do it Aunt Steph."
"Yeah, hearing someone other than Uma say that still seems weird," Mal shook her head.
"Really?" asked Herkie, jumping on his dad's back in excitement.
"I don't think dad would lie to you," Macaria said with a small chuckle.
"Absolutely!" the man stood, causing his son to slide off, and puffed his chest in faux pride. "Now, since it looks like your plates have been licked clean, how about you three show me the kitchens so I can get started? I hope you all made healthy choices to start your day." A lopsided grin appeared on his face, looking at the three expectantly, a keen naivety shining in his blue eyes as if he truly did think the kids had made such a decision. "You can tell me about what you normally have, Hadie, just so we have some basis…"
Malinda shook her head in amusement. "Even though I know my brother to be a sugar fiend, he did make some good choices in terms of breakfast while he was getting used to the richness of Auradon's food."
"How do you know?" Jane asked. "You…your scroll self wasn't there."
"I have my ways," Malinda said with a small chuckle.
"AKA Jay and Harry most likely," Hadie snorted.
Both boys glanced slyly at Melody as they enthusiastically nodded along as Hercules spoke, at least for themselves. Herkie, fondly followed his father's nutritional advice whereas Hadie tended to keep to fruit and protein. Melody's habit of syrup-drowned chocolate chip covered waffles however…
"Seriously?! You two are going to just rat me out like that?" Melody asked, looking at her cousins.
"I think technically your dad ratted you out," Herkie chuckled as Eric shook his head fondly.
Don't you two dare rat me out! Melody whined over their mental link, though her outward appearance was all smiles as she nodded along with Hercules' words.
"Too late Mel," Neal teased.
Strong feelings of amusement were all she felt back over the link.
"Of course," Elle chuckled. "I almost hate to say it because it'll make it come true but I think we found the next generation of Emir and Akiho."
Malinda shook her head. "And half of the pair was trained by Jay and Harry. Dear Gods, let Auradon Prep stay standing."
The group of four trailed out of the cafeteria, making it about halfway to their destination before a distraction came along. An echo of a commotion could be heard down one of the halls.
"What on Gaia's green Earth could that be?" Hyllus asked. "After all, they said the school was near empty so it's not like it's a fight or anything."
"Only one way to find out," Meg told her son.
"Okay, color me curious, that came from the entry hall," Melody said, "Adventure detour?"
"Yes!" Both Hadie and Herkie grinned.
"Be careful you three," Ariel said.
"Ariel, they'll be fine," Eric told her. "They're in school first of all and they're with Hercules who won't let anything happen to the kids."
"Come on, dad," Herkie tugged at Hercules' sleeve. "Cooking can wait, you said you didn't want to interrupt our plans? Well, our plan simply consisted of taking us wherever our curiosity desires!"
Eric chuckled and shook his head as he looked over at his wife. "Gee, I have no idea where our daughter could have gotten that from. Do you?"
"Just like old times I suppose," Hercules chuckled quietly, then grinned as he used his 'hero' voice. "Alright young adventurers, lead the way!"
Cinderella shook her head. "And I know that if you weren't likely at the castle for the holidays, you'd be right there with them," she told her youngest daughter.
"You know me so well," Alexandria grinned.
The four of them tried not to rush down the hallway, hopeful to not miss any of what may have been occurring, their shoes already too loud on the marble floors possibly giving them away.
Uma shook her head. "Herkie and Melody are one thing but you Hadie? You grew up on the Isle, sneaking should be second nature by now."
Reaching the end, Melody, then Hadie and Herkie each peeked their heads around the door frame, one at a time to find the source of some rather loud voices.
Mal and Uma both snorted in amusement while Malinda shook her head at her brother's and cousins' antics.
Hercules shook his head at the comical action and simply tilted his head slightly, his height easily lending him an advantage as he peeked around the corner himself. His eyes widened as he recognized just what was going on.
"What is it?" Persephone asked. The only thing that was steadying her nerves was the fact that Hercules wasn't ushering the kids away. If there was danger, she knew that he'd get the kids out of there.
"I don't see why not! If Hercules is able to see him, I certainly should be able, too!"
"Okay, so going off of that and by deduction, it sounds like someone wants to see either Hadie or Herkie," Jane said.
"And since Lord Hercules said that Lady Meg was with the other two Godlings, that rules her out," Harry added.
"He did hear the part about no titles right?" Emir muttered to Aziz.
A large woman with reddish-brown hair stood intimidatingly at the doors of the main hall. She looked out of place, wearing a flowing chiton covered in various flowers and vines, with braided corn husks tied into her hair, a pale green glow emanating from her presence.
"Mother?" Persephone asked, looking over at Demeter. "What in the world are you doing there?"
"Apparently wanting to see someone that Hercules was also seeing," Demeter said. "Meaning it's either Herkie or Hadie."
"My money's on Hadie," Mal said. "After all, he's her grandson."
Across from her, the little group spied the headmistress of the school standing firmly in the strange woman's way.
"Go FG!" Akiho cheered.
Anna shook her head. "Akiho…"
"What? We know that Lady Demeter doesn't mean any harm but it's good to know that FG's able to stand firm," Akiho said.
Elsa nodded. "He's got a point, Anna."
"I'm sorry Lady Demeter, but I have to refuse you entrance. In the case of Lord Hercules, he is a parent of currently attending students."
"Why not just wait until Family Day?" Ruby asked. "Or even attend Cotillion? Both of them happen yearly after all."
"Now, surely this is just a misunderstanding, as his grandmother—"
"Yep, it's Hadie alright," Mal nodded though she narrowed her eyes slightly at the thought of one of the Gods wanting to see Hadie without their parents there. Even if it was Demeter.
Fairy Godmother raised a hand, halting the Goddess' words. "I mean no disrespect, Lady Demeter, but you are only listed as an emergency contact. You do not have leave to visit or remove him from campus without Lady Persephone's permission. Which even if you did, it is up to the student in question if he wishes to see you at all."
"I have to say, good for FG," Rachel said. "No offense meant to Lady Demeter of course but the Gods can…be rather intimidating so for FG to say no and maintain that answer through the conversation is rather impressive."
Hadie bumped into Hercules as he pulled back, trying to press into the wall as if it could devour and hide him.
Demeter frowned slightly as she heard that—the last thing she wanted was to make her own grandson afraid of her.
"I don't want to see her, not without my mom," Hadie whispered, looking down at his feet, trying not to shake with fear.
Demeter's frown grew at the thought of her own grandson being afraid of being with her. Though she didn't exactly blame him. What was she thinking, going to meet him without Persephone there? Had the situation been reversed, she would have smote whoever dared to be near Persephone without her present!
'Mom has shared mix stories about her own mom, and it's the only time dad tries not to say anything inappropriate even though it's written all over his face how much he doesn't like her! What if she tries to keep me from ever seeing dad again!'
"I'd like to see her try!" Mal and Uma said at once, both girls' eyes flashing with anger.
Persephone shook her head. "Now girls, if anything does happen, I will handle my mother."
"But Lady Steph!"
"That goes for you as well Harry, but thank you."
"Hey," Hercules whispered, kneeling down at Herkie and Melody's level where they were still enraptured by the argument, unaware of their cousin's building anxiety.
"Nice," Evan shook his head.
"Like you wouldn't have been enthralled at the sight of FG and a God or Goddess arguing," Neal teased his friend.
"You two take Hadie down to the kitchens, I'll take care of my aunt and have Fairy Godmother direct me afterwards."
"You know, if maps were available, Hercules wouldn't need someone to direct him," Chip said.
Lucas shook his head. "I think we've beaten the idea of maps into the ground. Let it go, Teacup."
"Not happening! Have you met me?"
Taking Hadie, by the arm, Herkie led the three of them away, Hercules waiting a few beats before walking out of their hiding spot.
"Thank you Hercules," Persephone said with a sigh of relief. At least now her son wouldn't have to be afraid or panicked.
"Don't need to thank me, Aunt Steph, I'd have done it no matter what," Hercules told her.
It was a good thirty minutes before the Mini Three saw Hercules again.
Meg shook her head. "Never underestimate the stubbornness of the Gods."
With a deft hand, Hadie hid the candy the anxious trio had begun to munch on into his coat pocket as Fairy Godmother led the demigod into the room, constant apologies and thanks spilling from her lips.
"I don't see what Fairy Godmother has to apologize for," Rose said. "I mean it's not as if she asked Lady Demeter to come to see Hadie only for FG to turn her away and causing a scene."
"I'm the one that should be apologizing, Fairy Godmother," Hercules shook his head as they entered the large kitchen. "I shouldn't have mentioned I would be visiting Hadie as well when I told my mother I was coming. You know how gossipy Olympus is."
"Stubborn and gossipy, that's a dangerous combination," Macaria chuckled.
Fairy Godmother nodded noncommittally, too aware to of insulting the Gods.
"In all honesty, insulting the Fae is just as bad," Aurora spoke up. "I hate to say it…but that might have been the reason Maleficent cursed me in the first place."
"Being told you're not wanted is a rather serious insult," Mal nodded. "Especially for someone as egotistic as Maleficent."
"Apologies for the interruption, students," the fae smiled at the entirely too innocent acting children. "Do try to keep out of too much trouble?"
"We make no promises," Hadie said with a grin.
Turning back to Hercules she waggled a finger at him, "Please make sure to clean up after yourselves, that's all I ask. The kitchen staff would appreciate it."
"I think that's code for 'don't destroy the place', Wonderboy," Meg chuckled.
Hercules shook his head. "I've gotten control of my strength now, thank you."
"Of course, Fairy Godmother," Hercules nodded seriously. "You can count on me."
"I think all of Auradon knows that you're someone people can count on," Jane said, her voice still soft but the smile eliminated any of the timidness that might have been there.
As Fairy Godmother bustled out of the kitchen, Herkie snorted into his cup of hot cider, all too familiar with his dad's hero routine, even if it was entirely genuine.
"Where did you get the cider?" Hyllus asked his younger brother. "The scroll only said that there was candy."
"That's for scroll me to know and for us to possibly find out later," Herkie told his brother.
Hercules clapped his hands and rubbed them together. "Shall we get started?"
"Dad, since when do you want other people cooking around you?" Hyllus asked. "Especially Herkie and his friends?"
"We?" The trio said simultaneously, each tilting their head to the side as they looked at him questioningly.
"He could mean the general 'we'," Tiana said.
"I thought you said you were cooking dad? You didn't ask for help!" Herkie protested as his cousins snickered on either side of him.
"Excellent use of a loophole," Uma said with a small smirk.
"Aw, come on, guys! Not even a little bit of help?" whined the outnumbered adult.
"We'll help clean after…" Melody giggled, "by eating the evidence!"
"Well that sounds familiar," Hades chuckled, shaking his head as Mal and Hadie beamed.
"With a generous amount of snarky commentary!" Hadie added with a smirk.
"As Hades' kid, you're the one to go to for snarky commentary," Uma nodded.
Shaking his head, Hercules looked around to find the supplies he'd had imported by the school at his own expense just a few days earlier. While he began to cook, the children began to wind down, chattering lightly about school before the conversation changed back onto the purpose of the day.
Hades couldn't help but smile as he pictured it. After all, one of the things he loved was listening to the kids chat about their day when they'd stop by the restaurant or even better when it was in the Underworld and they could drop their guards.
"—and last year, Grandfather was so drunk, he and Dionysus knocked over the dessert table and started a food fight!" Herkie roared, Melody and Hadie dissolving into their own fit of laughter. "Auntie Hestia was absolutely furious; she lit their chitons on fire! Grandmother let it go for a bit before she finally had Uncle Po-Po hit them with a tidal wave."
Hades sighed slightly as he heard the story the scroll version of his great nephew was telling. While he didn't regret his coup of Olympus, there was a small part of him that wished he could have been there in person. That his children could have been there in person.
"We've done nothing so rambunctious," smiled Hadie, resting his chin on a hand. "We do the μιασμα cleanse, even though we can't really do magic on the Isle, but dad's pretty adamant about keeping souls healthy…" he trailed off, thinking listlessly, resisting the temptation to check in on his parents to see if they had anything planned without the brunt of the rugrats beneath their feet.
Persephone shook her head. "You know you can always talk to us Hadie. Day or night, rain or shine."
"Unless it's three in the morning and then someone had better be dying or giving birth," Hades added.
Despite speaking with them through telepathy every night, they were all so busy that apart from their Saturday talks, their nightly talks were mainly 'good nights' and 'love yous'.
"Handling the influx of souls plus the fact that the general populace decided Lord Hades is the one to handle everything would be pretty exhausting, I would think," Milah nodded.
With it being winter, his mom was helping with the influx of souls, especially since his dad was still constantly being bothered with the other villains' problems.
Hades shook his head. "What? What changed to make them no longer afraid of me? They spent twenty years fearing me just as much as they did Maleficent? What, is the fact that they now know Mal's my daughter the reason for this lack of fear?"
At least the hours the God set aside were being mostly followed, with Hades being quite firm with the use of a complaint box for him to pace through than dealing with an open idiot forum.
"Well Uncle Hades, at least you can deal with their moronic behavior at your own pace rather than have to actually talk with the idiots of the Isle," Uma said.
"I can sense you're trying to put a positive spin on this Uma, and I appreciate that but there's one thing wrong with your statement."
"You're still going to have to deal with the idiots in some way, shape or form?"
"Bingo."
A poke at his cheek pulled Hadie from his thoughts, he looked up to see Melody grinning at him as she poked him again.
"Do I have to remind you of the no touchy rule?" Hadie asked Melody.
Melody grinned and shook her head. "That rule's for your hair, not your cheek."
"Gone down a rabbit hole, have you?" a puff of flour decorated her hair in sharp black and white contrast from when she helped prep the phyllo pastry.
"Sounds like you'd match with DeVil there," Harriet said with a small chuckle.
After a moment she shrugged, unwilling to pester Hadie for his current thoughts. "My mom did send seawater like she promised, so we can do the ritual if you want. I don't know the words though."
"Couldn't you just ask Uncle Po-Po on the mental link?" Herkie asked. "Or even Grandfather if you really wanted to? Hell, the link clearly doesn't stop the barrier so you could have reached out to Uncle Hades."
"If anyone reaches out on the mental link without warning while my wife is on the Isle and they're not my children or Uma, I can not be held responsible for what response you might get back," Hades said.
"…yes Uncle Hades!"
"Good."
"I know them. And I'll send her a thanks. I still need to write her anyways after she sent that box of spiced chocolate to try last week," Hadie stuck his tongue out as he lightly smacked Melody's hand away as she tried to poke him again. "Your mom is really too kind, Mel."
"You don't need to send me a thank you note Hadie," Ariel said with a smile. "I'm happy to send anything to Melody to share with her friends and especially if that friend is family."
"I think she's still trying to make up for never telling me the truth about the seawall," she awkwardly laughed. "It's a weird conundrum, being spoiled in addition to grounded.
Ariel sighed. "I can never make up for that. I thought I was protecting you though looking back…it was probably the worst thing I could have done, not telling you the truth about the danger Morgana posed. If anything…I was sparing myself from having to relive that day," she said softly.
Never before had she been thankful that Elle's surgeries right after her birth had prevented the kingdom wide blessing that Melody had had. Oh yes Poseidon and Triton had blessed her but it was a private affair.
Who knew what Morgana bouncing Elle up in her tentacles would have done to her?
Anyways, you were telling us what you do before you spaced out. My family really does nothing for it. Grandpa Po-Po wants to host us next year now that I know about them though. Or even go visit for my birthday! You're totally invited either way!"
"Sweet! Thanks Melody!" Hadie grinned.
Melody grinned back at him. "Of course! I'm not going to not invite my friend! Especially when that friend's my cousin! Oh, and of course all of you are invited as well," she added as she looked at the other VKs.
"Are you sure?" Squeaky asked softly.
Ariel nodded, happy for the change in topic. "Our daughters are always allowed to invite who they want to their birthdays as long as they let us know before hand so we can make sure there's enough snacks for everyone."
Hadie shook his head fondly as Melody began to ramble. He quickly cut in to answer her question. "We really don't do much. We can't do much, what with the Isle. Dad cooks what he can, but…" he glanced briefly at Hercules who was still busy over the stove. He shook his head again. Hadie was done keeping secrets, at least when it came to his cousins.
Uma nodded. "Keeping secrets among family is just a pain honestly. If you can't be honest with your cousins of all people, then who can you be honest with?"
"I get it Uma, if this happens to me where I get Natalie as a handler again, I'll tell you," Mal sighed and shook her head.
"Good," Uma said.
"And it's not happening," Ben and Benji said at the same time.
They'd proved themselves after his little meltdown a some days ago.
"Meltdown? What meltdown?" Hades asked, his head going up like a meerkat examining the terrain.
"I'm sure everything was fine," Persephone said, trying to sooth her husband but even she was more than a little worried.
Malinda sighed. "It wasn't anything to do with his powers," she said softly. "It…it had to do with finding out about Leah and the Isle. I wasn't there and he kinda got pelted with the news."
"Oh…oh," Hades said, his voice losing the slight panicked note as he nodded. He could understand that. After all, if Harry had been any indication when they had found out the news, it was clear that any Isle kid would have had a meltdown as well.
"We have to keep everything rationed since there isn't exactly a lot of food. It's only a feast with what mom can bring back from Auradon and then we have to try to make it last a year until she comes back again."
Persephone sighed softly. I'm so sorry Hadie, Mal. You're both too young for this.
The three glanced briefly at Hercules as they heard the clattering of metal.
"Everything okay?" Meg asked, a frown pulling at her lips. She knew Herc could handle things but with the kids being there, she was understandably concerned.
"Uh, don't mind me," Hercules said, voice muffled by the thumb in his mouth to stopper a small cut. "I've always been a little clumsy."
"That's putting it mildly," Meg said, shaking her head. "Didn't you once tell me about the time you destroyed a town square because you were catching a discus?"
"It's alright, Uncle Herc," Hadie smirked, much to the once-God's shock.
Hercules and Hadie looked at each other in slight shock before Hercules smiled.
"You're welcome to call me whatever you feel comfortable with, Hadie," he said.
With the age difference and already the kindness shown, Hadie felt more kinship with the son of Zeus than his actual Uncle. He'd stick to calling Herkie cousin to keep the differentiation.
Malinda chuckled. "I mean, pup's going to be calling Uma 'Auntie Uma' so it makes sense that you'd call Herc 'Uncle' as well."
"Yeah that still sounds weird," Uma shook her head. "You with a kid."
"Dad sucks his thumb too, you don't need to make excuses."
Everyone turned to stare at Hades.
"I'm not going to dignify that sentence with a response," the God of the Dead said but with how he was glaring, it was obvious to everyone in the room that Hadie was capital g 'grounded'.
Everyone stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
Everyone in the room looked like they were fighting back their own laughter but Hades' glare kept them in check. However, Mal, Harry, Uma, and Jay got away with a few snickers.
"A-are you serious?" Melody wheezed, clutching at her sides.
"Absolutely!" Hadie grinned madly. 'Sorry dad, but you're really not the big bad villain you used to be. Scary brilliant sure, fire ooga booga, but that world domination is long gone from the list.'
"Yeah dad, you might deny it but you've really softened since your younger 'villain' days," Malinda said. "But that's not a bad thing."
"Granted, he only does it when he's asleep and mom's off the Isle. Clings to her pillow and everything."
Elle tilted her head. "So he only does it because he misses his wife? What's wrong with that?"
Hadie leaned back in his chair, pleased with his deflection as he continued describing their usual activities of clay crafts and story time. They seemed to think his dad's habit a joke, too outlandish of one of the greatest villains to believe.
"Good," Hades muttered. "You keep thinking that."
'Their loss. I remember crawling in with him once after a nightmare when I was little. I don't think he realized I caught him. Or if he's even aware he does it. The one time Mal and I managed to move his hand without him waking up, he either whines or just starts drooling like crazy.'
Persephone smiled and leaned over to kiss Hades on the cheek. "I think it's sweet, dear."
A couple hours later, Hercules tugged a cart laden with food towards a private room put aside for them to eat in, the children following dutifully like ducklings as they continued to chatter along, carefully carrying plates and utensils.
"Hey! That could be your new nickname!" Mal said with a grin.
Hadie shook his head. "No way, Jade would kill us for taking Brooke's nickname."
"Ah good point."
"New nickname?" Malinda asked.
Mal sighed. "Hadie…he found out the origin of 'Storm Cloud'."
"Oh…"
With the room set, it quickly filled with enticing scents of fennel and clove, racks of rosemary rubbed lamb and feta stuffed bell peppers amongst other drool worthy plates.
"Oh Gods, that sounds good," Evan groaned, rubbing his stomach. "Do we have any snacks?"
"Malinda has some strawberries," Ruby said.
"I'm hungry, not suicidal! I'm not taking food from a pregnant Godling!"
Malinda chuckled and then got up to go over to the eyeball. "Ladies? Would you be so kind?"
"Of course," the Fates said from the eyeball before it began to glow and spin in mid air. Once it settle down, an assortment of snacks from all cultures could be seen along the far wall, near one of the side rooms.
"Thank you," Malinda said and then paused. "That bathroom's still here right?"
"It certainly is Queen Malinda."
"Great…and you don't have to use my title," Malinda said. "Keep reading, I'll be right back."
Benji chuckled as Eric made to mark his place on the scroll in order for everyone else to get snacks. It didn't take more than five minutes before Malinda was back.
"I told you guys not to wait," she said.
"We were hungry," Benji told her.
"It all looks so good, dad," Herkie groaned as he began to crowd his plate with various pickings.
Hercules smiled. "I'm glad you like it Herkie. Or at least the scroll version of you does."
"If I ever don't like your cooking, assume I've been cloned," Herkie told his father.
"H-herkie, hey!" Hadie grasped at his own fork as he attempted to stop the other boy from piling food onto Hadie's plate for him as well. "I'm capable of making my own plate, thank you!"
"I'm aware," Herkie said. "But that doesn't mean I can't make sure you get decent things to eat."
"I just want to make sure you get a little bit of everything," Herkie protested back. "You need to eat more!"
Carlos shook his head. "You sound like Clay," he said softly. "Just because we're skinny doesn't mean we don't get enough."
"Thank you Carlos!" Hadie grinned.
"Gah, you're like the lunch lady, always trying to fatten people up!" Hadie tugged his plate away before Herkie could add anymore. "Thank you, but at least let me finish this mountain before you have to roll me out of here!"'
"Good!" Hades and Persephone said at the same time.
"As if we'd ever need to roll you out, Hads," Melody scoffed. "You'd need to eat three servings per meal for a year before you'd have trouble fitting through a door way. Honestly, Uma's right, if you had your way, you'd only eat chicken and French fries."
Hadie shook his head. "Hey, just wait until you try my dad's chicken! You'll see what I mean."
"Make that ten years!" laughed Herkie as they all began to dig in. "I feel like everything you've been eating has just made you taller, but you're almost just as skinny as when we first met!"
"Well…I mean that could just be his body type," Chad said softly, speaking for the first time since the news of the hypnosis.
Hercules chuckled as he watched the exchange. The boys certainly had developed a strong bond no one had expected, and with Melody in tow, it was like he was seeing what the Big Three could've been. Amicable. Happy. Naturally, a.k.a. genetically, chaotic.
Hades, Zeus, and Poseidon looked at each other for a moment before looking away.
"Well…it's known why we're not," Hades muttered.
'I know you were worried when Herkie first started writing home about becoming close with Hades' son, Meg…'
Meg couldn't help but flinch at that. "I'm…I'm sorry," she said softly.
He'd fought, one of the few times actually, with his parents.
"Meaning you fought with Zeus and Hera or Herkie fought with you and nut-Meg?" Hades asked, tilting his head.
"Dad probably fought with Grandfather and Grandmother," Hyllus said. "Herkie doesn't really fight with our parents. Hadn't hit the sullen teenage years."
"Gods help us if they're like yours were," Macaria sighed.
Meg hadn't cared either way about her old boss's punishment as long as he left her and Hercules alone. Everyone else saw Hercules as far too forgiving.
Hercules shrugged. "Maybe I am. But if it wasn't for Uncle Hades having his imps kidnap me, I would have never met Meg and I would have never had my kids. I can afford to be forgiving with how my life turned out."
'You've done a fine job raising your kids, Hades.' Hercules mused as made a platter for himself.
"Thank…you…?" Hades said, his voice slow as if he was still processing the compliment.
Though he hadn't yet met Mal, only seeing her briefly at Family Day and the Coronation, Macaria had called home praising the girl often enough.
"And let's face it, Mal standing up to Maleficent and then fighting her in her dragon form would be enough of a reason to think Lord Hades was doing a fine job in raising her," Harriet said.
"I'm sorry, what happened?" Sammy asked.
"Oh right, you weren't there for that scroll. I'll catch you up later."
'Maybe one day father will forgive you too. He did it for Poseidon after all. It just took twenty something years.'
"And that's how long the Isle's been around!" Dizzy said, grinning as she looked at Hadie. "Maybe your dad'll be able to get off the Isle soon too!"
"Thoughts?" asked Herkie around a stuffed mouthful of food. "How's it compare to your dad's cooking?"
"Sorry Herkie but nothing can beat dad's cooking," Hadie said firmly.
"Herkie," sternly said Hercules. His son swallowed sheepishly.
"I mean it's a valid question," CJ shrugged. "Hercules should know that his food comes in second."
"You haven't even had dad's food!" Herkie exclaimed.
"And that's why I gave it second. No offense to your mom's cooking Uma."
"I am willing to say it's just as good as my dad's, but you've yet to convince me your dad's better."
"Just like I said," Hadie nodded.
Mal shook her head. "You're agreeing with yourself, you know that right?"
"I can't help it if I'm right!"
"Maybe dad can ask Grandfather to get your dad off the Isle for even just a little bit," a mad glint appeared in Herkie's eye.
"Oh Gods, I'm not sure I want to know what that look is for," Macaria shook her head.
Hercules glanced at his son, slightly concerned as if the boy was in tune with the very thoughts he'd been thinking moments before. "I'd love to see a cook off between my dad and yours!"
"Dad would kick your dad's butt!" Hadie said with a grin.
"Oh yeah? Wanna put your money where your mouth is cuz?" Herkie asked.
"I would but I have no money to bet!"
An amused yet slightly exasperated look crossed Hercules' face.
"I have a feeling that it kinda looks like what's on his face right now and what's on Uncle Hades' and Aunt Steph's faces," Uma chuckled.
Macaria shook her head. "Just like Philoctetes says Herkie, use your head," she said, lightly teasing her brother.
"Herkie, let's not make light of Hades' situation," Hercules interrupted. "Even Hadie, who's done nothing to be on that Isle, was stuck there until King Ben came into power. Even when several gods had been pestering my father, he didn't bother to set a conversation with the previous King to see if it'd even be a possibility."
"Multiple Gods asked Zeus to see about taking Hadie off the Isle?" Mal asked.
Hercules nodded. "That's right."
"And when Ben said he was going to make a proclamation bringing kids from the Isle over, did Zeus mention this to Ben?"
Benji shook his head. "No, I was not informed of any requests or petitions for particular kids."
"Figures," Mal shook her head as she shot a glare at Zeus. "Just one more thing you can do to make a child of Hades miserable huh?"
"T-there were multiple gods?" asked Hadie, tilting his head. "I just know my mom said, uh, grandmother, was pretty vocal about keeping me with her on her farms instead of going between the Isle and Auradon."
"Hadie, I can count at least four Gods who want you, your sister, and your cousin off the Isle," Poseidon told his nephew.
"Demeter was absolutely vocal, still is, as you saw today," Hercules pondered slowly counting off fingers. "Her sister Hestia of course, Hermes, Aphrodite and Artemis are all good friends of your mother too. Unfortunately, Hestia no longer sits on the council of Olympus, having retired, so that isn't enough clout to force my father's hand."
"Demeter alone should have had enough clout to force Zeus' hand," Mal muttered. Would she have missed her brother? Of course! But he could have grown up in Auradon rather than suffer on the Isle.
Hadie looked down at his plate, slowly chewing as he savored the flavor of the pilaf.
Sad smiles could be seen on many of the faces in the room.
"It's nice to know that there's other Gods I might be able to trust," Hadie eventually said. "Mom doesn't really speak about the other gods because dad tends to monologue and rant for hours. Though trust might be a strong word…I still don't know how I feel about Demeter? Grandmother? I don't even know what to call her!"
Demeter bit her lip. "Hadie…I'd be more than happy for you to call me 'grandma' or anything of the sort but only if you're comfortable with it."
"What do you mean, Hadie?" asked Melody as she fashioned herself a poorly constructed gyro.
"It's kinda obvious, scroll-me," Melody said with a small sigh.
"Even once I meet her officially, I'm worried she won't like me," Hadie mumbled. "She doesn't like dad, and I look well enough like him…"
"Well you don't have to worry about that Little Lord," Harry said. "You've met her now and Lady Demeter likes you. And honestly, who wouldn't like you?"
"Freddy?" Hadie supplied.
"Okay, let me rephrase that. Who in possession of more than one brain cell wouldn't like you?"
"Hey, now, that's nothing you need to worry about until it happens," Melody spoke, as she scooped a less than healthy amount of ice cream into a bowl. "And your mom plans to be right there with you at least!"
Ariel shook her head. "If I wasn't positive that Melody would burn off that sugar in the pool, I'd be worried about her having a sugar crash."
"But it's winter," Aurora said with a small frown.
"Auradon Prep has an indoor pool mom," Phil Jr. said.
"And from what I've heard from my parents, and evident by today, she's desperate to meet you," Hercules smiled gently, placing dessert onto the table.
"Both of you actually," Demeter said as she looked at Mal and Hadie.
Mal looked at her. "Well…it depends on what you're going to say about our dad," she said, her voice low.
"Your mom is pestered for new photos every time she comes back, so I doubt you looking like Hades has had much impact on Demeter's views. I think she's just genuinely excited to have grandchildren, but since you were on the Isle, she hasn't had the chance to be a grandmother as she would like to be."
"She had a month to be a grandmother to Mal," Hadie pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. "Just because Mal wasn't born to mom doesn't make her any less mom's daughter and therefore she's Demeter's granddaughter too."
Hadie looked down at his plate. He had a feeling the first meeting would be…tumultuous.
Oh you've got that right Hads, Malinda thought. After all, I lost fifty bucks because of your first meeting with our grandmother.
'I'll try. If…grandmother…can learn to be tolerable of dad,' he thought as they all dug into their food. 'I'm willing to give her a chance.'
"Hey, she's been pretty good right now," Uma pointed out.
"Yes well I don't think scroll-Demeter will have hundreds of scrolls showing her how awesome dad is," Mal said, shaking her head.
Time moved forward as it's won't to do. Before Hadie knew it, another month and a half had passed since he'd arrived in Auradon.
"Time flies when you don't have to constantly fight to survive, it seems," Celia said with a chuckle.
'Another month and a half closer to seeing mom again,' Hadie hummed happily to himself as he nearly vibrated with anticipation, practically skipping through the halls.
Persephone couldn't help but smile at the image of her son happy at the thought of getting to see her. She only wished she could speed up time for the scroll Hadie so that he didn't have to wait.
There had rarely been a poor day since the revelation that Leah had been sent to the Isle. With her death so soon after, Aaron and his annoying little group had thankfully left Hadie alone. At least for now.
"Well that was fairly ominous," Neal said.
"Who cares? Aaron's leaving us alone, I'd skip too if I heard that!" Phil Jr. said, shaking his head.
Aurora sighed. "Phillip…"
"I know, I know," Phillip said. "I'll call Anne and Macon when we get out of here."
Today would be even better because he'd get to see Mal.
Oh boy…if this day is the one I think it is, you won't be thinking that for long Hads, Malinda thought as she softly bit her lip.
As soon as Mal was done with a Cotillion fitting with Evie—and yes, he called her Evie when Mal or Uma weren't around thank you very much or Dizzy would have his head—she finally had the time to hangout, just the two of them.
"Thank you Hadie," Dizzy said, giving him a grin.
Hadie shrugged. "Hey, Evie's been nothing but pleasant to me in and out of the scrolls. No need to extend the rivalry to her. Though that only goes for Evie."
"Of course! Freddy and Zevon go without saying," Dizzy nodded.
The two siblings had both been so busy with school, particularly Mal, that they only seemed to have alone time with each other once a month.
Malinda sighed softly and shook her head. I am…I'm so sorry Hads. I should have never let things get as bad as they did.
Today they were meeting in the student kitchens, the one's where students were actually allowed, usually used for Everyday Skills Without Servants. Like cooking and sewing.
Kit smiled. "Good, I'm glad that you're learning things like that in school. Makes it easier than learning it on your own."
"Even though I told you you didn't have to do that," Cinderella told him, shaking her head in amusement.
The school had changed the name after complaints from the public. Apparently, it'd originally been Life Skills of Commonfolk.
"I can see the reasoning for the name change," Aladdin said with a small frown.
Hercules had only used the large kitchens because it had the equipment he wanted. Not to mention being an adult meant it was allowed. The student ones just had a few ovens and stoves, not a giant vertical spit to make gyro meat that no child would know how to handle.
"The internet's a thing!" Evan said, a slight gleam to his eye at the thought of sneaking into the main kitchens to try to use that spit. Not that he had any particular need to do so but he could appreciate the challenge.
"Don't even think about it!" His five older sisters said in unison.
"If you get caught, you're grounded," Eugene said with a small chuckle.
Rapunzel shook her head. "Eugene…"
Following the directions Alexandria had given him—something that occurred with increasing frequency—Hadie eventually found the room.
"On the one hand, not sure I like this walking around by yourself there Hadie," Henry frowned.
"But on the other it sounds like everything is friendly territory," Claudine added. "And if Hadie does run into trouble he'll have allies to help."
'Seriously. Maps are important, Ben! Should've included that with your Introduction to Auradon package,' Hadie ranted to himself, slipping into the room and hopping on a stool as he waited for Mal.
"You know, why weren't maps included?" Sammy asked. "After all, it's not as if VKs are familiar with the school and its halls."
'Alex has yet to lead me astray, even if I never quite made it to the library that first day, but it wouldn't have been necessary to ask if I'd just had a map!'
"I will make a note of that! Or at least I would if I could have my notebook!"
Benji shook his head. "You've got your recording app running, that's all you need."
Alexandria smiled, though, at the fact that she'd been able to help Hadie out with directions.
"Hey Storm cloud!"
"I know who that is!" Harry grinned.
"Mali!" Hadie flung himself into Mal, causing her to drop the bags of ingredients occupying her hands.
"How much sugar did you have?" Celia asked, looking at Hadie.
Hadie shrugged. "Like you wouldn't have been excited to see Uma."
"Oof, okay, you're getting way to heavy for that, Hads!" Mal tried not to double over from the impact as she held her brother tightly. "Probably shouldn't risk jumping mom when she gets back too, soon only dad's going to pick you up for much longer."
Hadie shook her head. "You're my sister, I will run and hug you no matter what…though exceptions on the running can be made for when you're pregnant. I won't hurt the pup."
"I'm only a bit taller Mal," Hadie huffed, pouting at the thought of not being able to sit on their mom's lap anymore.
Persephone sighed. While she wasn't looking forward to that day either, at least it would mean that her son was healthy and growing up. She knew his time as her little lightning bolt wouldn't last forever but she didn't want to wish it away either.
"As loathe as I am to admit it, you're going to be taller than me one day, Storm cloud," Mal blew a raspberry at her brother as she laid out what she'd brought on a prep table.
"When does that happen?" Hadie asked.
Malinda chuckled. "By the time I'm marrying Ben, you end up taller than me."
"Yeah, well, that's not exactly a difficult achievement there, Mali," Hadie smirked, placing a bowl on the counter and grabbing the cornstarch from Mal in order to fill the bowl.
"Yeah I mean, even Dizzy's taller than you," Hadie said, teasing his sister good naturally.
Malinda blinked and looked over at Dizzy. "You are?"
"I'm 5'3" last time Aunt Ana measured me," Dizzy said with her usual grin. "I think I only look smaller than you because of your boots."
"I knew I loved these things!" Mal said, pointing to the purple boots on her feet.
Mal rolled her eyes as she cut up the chicken.
"First Uma and now Hadie, when will my family stop teasing me about my height?" Mal muttered.
It was weird, seeing what pre-butchered cuts looked like in Auradon instead of having to break down a chicken themselves. The two of them both learned once their dad thought they were old enough to handle knives.
"Now catching the chickens, that happened when we were much younger," Mal said with a small chuckle as the memory popped back into her head.
Not that that stopped Mal, but wielding a knife in the kitchen was different than wielding a dagger for combat.
"Not that I do that a lot," Mal said. "I prefer swords to daggers but I do know how to use a dagger. It's a great way to wipe the smirk off of Freddy's face when he sees one of his daggers lobbed back at him."
As the pair of them set to work, attempting to make the food they missed most, Hadie and Mal talked about everything and nothing. Their desire to simply try to enjoy each other's presence as the normally attached at the hip siblings found their time together too rare while in Auradon.
"Well we all know who's to blame for that and since she won't be an issue this time around, you'll both get to spend more time together," Chip said with a grin.
"I know mom'll be back in a couple months, but only having telepathy to speak with her and dad sucks!" Hadie lamented as he hopped back onto a stool to help prepare the garlicky coating they loved so much. "I miss them."
Hades and Persephone smiled softly.
"I have no doubt we miss you two as well," Persephone said.
"I do too, Hadie," Mal sighed, picking up the tray filled of finally prepped chicken. "That's why we're here trying to make some semblance of a taste of home."
"You know…we have different cuisine as meals in the cafeteria," Ben said as an idea began to hatch in his mind. "What if we tried to do an Auradon version of food from the Isle? Give the new groups of VKs something familiar while at the same time expanding the horizons of the AKs?"
"You just want to eat something resembling Lord Hades' food don't you?" Chip teased him.
"You're doing so well, here in Auradon, though," Mal added, smiling sadly at her brother as she slid the chicken into the oven. "Fairy Godmother keeps me updated on your grades, and you've made plenty of friends. Even had a bit of a growth spurt like I said. Though proper food would do that."
Mal smiled proudly as Eric read that while Estelle trotted over and rested his heads on Hadie's leg in celebration.
"Being social and smiles doesn't mean everything's fine, it just looks like I've adjusted," Hadie sighed, dropping his chin into his hands as he rested his elbows onto the table, pouting.
"Oh trust me Hadie, I know that," Malinda muttered.
"Keeping myself busy with school is what I did on the Isle. Now I just have more people my own age to distract myself with. Something you of all people may relate to right now."
Mal and Malinda nodded slightly.
He glanced at Mal from the corner of his eyes, he didn't want to do this, but when Mal bottled up, sometimes being blunt and ripping the bandage off was the only way to go.
"Sad…but true," Malinda said with a small nod.
Mal stiffened, Hadie immediately recognizing 'defensive Mal' activating.
"I don't get defensive!" Mal said, shaking her head.
Malinda sighed. "Trust me, you do. Or we do, I should say."
"Mal…?" Hadie carefully began. Even when Mal had first entered the room, he could tell there was something wrong. He wanted to ignore it, tried to, but he couldn't in good conscious allow Mal to continue bottling up whatever she had been hiding for the last few months. "Please…talk to me?"
"Yes! Thank you!" Uma, Jay, and Harry exclaimed. "Someone's talking to Mal!"
At first Mal turned away, occupying herself with the chopping of garlic.
Belle shook her head. "Bottling things up even more won't help," she said softly. If I've learned anything from these readings, it's that.
'Well, that's not the worst she's ever responded with when confronted,' Hadie thought wryly as he waited for his sister to finally say something.
"Okay…well at least she hasn't walked out," Lucy said.
"I'm not entirely sure what you need me to talk about, Hadie," Mal finally said as she began aggressively mixing a sauce together.
"Sadly, I think you know exactly what he needs to talk about," Aurora said softly. "You're getting defensive after all."
"You might've learned the mind link first, but you've always been shit at it," he groused, miffed at Mal's stubbornness.
"Watch the language Hadie," Persephone warned. She could understand being worried or frustrated but cursing was never the answer. And yes, she was aware of the pirate crew her kids ran around with.
"You don't want to worry our parents, but they've absolutely noticed because you've got emotions of stress and fear feeding over the link every day!"
"Plus even if you didn't have those emotions feeding over the link, they'd still notice after months of you not talking to them," Elle pointed out.
"I don't know what you're talking about. Even if I was, you shouldn't be getting any of my feelings."
"But as has been stated, you're really bad at the mental link," Uma said, shrugging as Mal gave her a look. "What? It's true!"
"Uh, because Uma is picking it up and told me? Dad too, he pesters me every weekend to ask, but you're either busy or avoiding me it seems like!"
Malinda flinched and Benji gently rubbed her back. "I am so sorry you guys," she whispered.
"A-avoiding you? I would never do that on purpose Hadie, you're my little brother!" Mal stared at him in shock.
"So you would avoid him on accident then?" Evan asked, tilting his head.
"I know I'm busy, but as soon as Cotillion is over, I'll try to make more time for you! I know we only see each other a few times a month, but—"
Hera shook her head. "Mal, I don't think that's Hadie's problem. You can't last a month."
Hadie couldn't help it. That was the last straw. The last drop that overfilled his already brimming cup, the lone dam holding back his own frustrations and worries. He slammed his hands angrily into the counter.
"Oh dear!" Fairy Godmother said softly.
"Come on, Mal! What's going on? It's not a few times a month, it's ONE! You're not even talking to mom or dad at all! For your information, Herkie told me that you have Macaria on mute too and by extension all of our Auradon godling cousins.
"I get it Hads, I do," Uma sighed. "But I don't think you're going to get anywhere by yelling at her."
Not to mention the news ambush where they tried to contact you!
"Thank you for the reminder that I need to educate my colleagues on appropriate ways to interview children," Snow White muttered, shaking her head.
But me and Uma as well, barely speaking with us outside of meals? Which, don't think I haven't noticed you've began to skip out on. Or leave early!" He drew a deep breath, his next words weaker and pleading. "Please, Mali. I grew up with you protecting me, helping me. Now let me help you."
Malinda winced as she truly heard Hadie's words this time rather than dismissing them in her attempt to pretend that everything was fine with her. I am so sorry Hadie. I should have been better at listening to you…I should have been less stubborn. I am so thankful that you forgave me after all of that.
"I'm sorry, Hadie, you're too young to deal with my problems. Which there aren't any." She said dismissively. "It's just school and meetings, I swear."
"Meetings with a horrendous she-devil who might be even worse than Leah," Audie muttered.
"Seriously, can we keep her?" Emir whispered to Aziz.
"For the last time, no," Aziz sighed.
"You swear? But you don't promise. Don't think I don't know the difference Mal! Unless you're willing to swear by oath? No one seems to know anything; it'd help to even just tell someone. Myself, Uma or Ben?"
"Nice catch there kid," Eugene nodded.
Hadie shrugged. "I mean…contracts are kinda my dad's thing as Mal's said before. So catching someone's wording would be something I'd learn as well. Or at least my scroll self does."
"I don't have to tell you anything!" Mal shouted, standing up abruptly.
"Whoa, angry Mal," Uma said, her voice soft. It was rare that anyone saw Mal get angry at Hadie. Or really anyone other than the usual suspects.
She tried to ignore that the difference in their height was almost gone, barely able to look down at her little brother.
Whatever scroll-Hadie's taking, I want, Mal thought. That way, Uma can finally stop teasing me about my height.
"It's my responsibility to protect you! Not the other way around! Don't you remember what happened the one time you were allowed out on your own?
"One, this is Auradon not the Isle. And two, it's not only your responsibility sweetheart," Persephone said. "Hadie has a guardian for when I'm not there…in fact why isn't your scroll-self reaching out to your guardian? Even if it reverted to me, you'd still need one six months out of the year."
Malinda and Benji froze and shook their heads, clearly kicking themselves for missing out on seeing Mulan take down Natalie.
I've made sure it would never happen again, even if I had to be around Maleficent just to trick her into dealing with those idiots who tried to kidnap you, permanently. You're my little brother, not my keeper."
"I'm sorry, Maleficent's minions tried to kidnap Hadie?" Poseidon asked, his eyes flashing dangerously.
Malinda nodded. "Maleficent took care of them though. Though now that I think about it, it was more because they gained dad's attention rather than anything else."
"Can her other minions swim?"
"I'm going to go with no…do with that what you will."
"That happened when I was six! I'm almost twice that age now, and older than you were when you started running an entire gang. I just want to help you, is that too much to ask?"
Jasmine sighed. "In order to help someone, they've got to want the help in the first place. And since scroll-Mal is still insisting that she can handle things for a couple more months…"
Mal only shook her head, refusing to say more as she crossed her arms.
So which one of you is the older sibling again cuz? Uma thought to Mal. Cause you're kinda acting like Hadie did when he was younger and wanted us to give him more freedom.
You know I'm stubborn Uma, Mal thought back. And…and my scroll self probably feels cornered too. Stubborn and cornered don't mix that well.
"You go off sparring with Uma all the time, or your new Auradon friends, but what about me, Mali?" Hadie whimpered. "I've hung out with Estelle more than you, with Ben too! Do you not have time even for your own dog?"
"I kinda get it when it comes to Estelle," Rachel said. "After all, it's not as if he'd be welcomed in every class. I know Mr. Delay probably wouldn't want a tripping hazard, even a good one like Estelle, in a class filled with chemicals."
"I can't exactly take Estelle to classes," Mal rolled her eyes and huffed. "And I can't exactly stop sparring, Uma would come after me no matter what. Everyone else comes to me. You're more than welcome to do the same, we can always work on swords together.
"I don't think that's the point," Li'l Shang muttered.
But I just…don't really have a lot of space in my schedule so it's usually just class stuff, it's not like I've had time to hang out with anyone else either. Anyways, my secrets are mine!"
"Your secrets are only yours when they're not hurting you," Persephone said, shaking her head.
"And saying you don't have a lot of space in your schedule is an understatement Mal," Emma spoke up. "I mean, do we need to bring up the fourteen events in two days thing?"
"I'd rather forget about that thank you," Benji muttered, his voice low.
Hadie felt a scream bubble up in the back of his throat. The urge to throw a little tantrum like he used to when Mal first started to keep what she could about the Isle from him.
Hadie bit his lip. "This isn't going to get us anywhere, scroll-me. You're supposed to be finding out what's going on, not throwing your own tantrum."
She was being so flippant about her own problems, ignoring his concerns.
No I wasn't Hadie, Malinda thought as Benji softly rubbed her back. I thought I'd be thought of as weak if I talked about my problems. Not to mention the slight concern that talking about it would get back to Natalie and she'd be ten times worse than she already was.
Instead, he lowered his voice, knowing defeat. He would have to hope someone else would get through to Mal, before it was too late.
"Did they?" Hadie asked, looking over at Malinda.
Malinda sighed softly but nodded, giving both Benji and Uma a small smile. "They did."
He focused a glare on his sister, his lips forming a pout as he shook his head with disappointment.
"Hey! Disappointment's the last thing Mal needs, scroll me!" Hadie cried.
"Secrets? Secrets are no fun. You won't tell me? Then we're done."
Both Mal and Hadie flinched at that.
"I am so sorry Mali," Hadie said softly.
The modified saying fell from his lips automatically, as if he was in a trance. Ignoring the flash of hurt in his already crumbling sister's eyes, Hadie turned away and fled from the kitchen, the temptation of their favorite food abandoned.
The room fell silent as everyone looked at each other, unsure of what to say.
Malinda shook her head. "Hads, it's okay—."
"No it's not Malinda! I was supposed to help you!"
'Damn Mal's stubbornness and pride.'
"That's a family trait unfortunately," Poseidon said with a small sigh.
Mal buried her face in her hands as the timer went off for the oven, desperately trying to keep her tears from falling.
Hadie flung himself at Mal, wrapping his arms around her in a hug. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
Mal shook her head. "I'm the one who should be sorry Hads," she said softly. "Scroll me's the one keeping the secret after all."
Neither noticed the wisps of blue fire evaporating from either of their hair.
"How…how do you not notice something like that?" CJ asked. "I mean it's not like you're noticing an untied shoe or something. It's fire on your head."
Waking up the next morning was hard.
"Isn't it always?" Neal groaned.
"No, because not all of us are night owls," Emma teased her little brother.
'Is it…cold?' Hadie sleepily wondered as he climbed down from his bed to prepare for classes, the protections of his must-be-magical blanket left reluctantly behind.
"Well…it is winter," Jay said, shaking his head.
"Be nice Jay. I'm sure you're not as alert as you normally are when you first wake up," Lonnie told him.
Taking his usual doses of medicine, Hadie rummaged through his closet for one of his sweaters.
"Medicine?" Persephone and Hades asked at the same time.
Malinda nodded. "Ben made it so that the new group of VKs got to have medical visits with a Baymax robot and given treatment to counter the malnutrition they had from the Isle."
"And Hadie was given some medicine for that?" Hades asked.
"Yep," Malinda nodded. "It helped Hadie hit his growth spurt."
'I'm usually resistant to the cold though…not like…not like Mal. She's going to hate today.'
"And I did," Malinda whispered. Though she wasn't going to lie, getting to cuddle with Ben had been nice.
It stung, recalling yesterday's fight, but Hadie felt absolutely sure that he was in the right.
Harriet sighed. "You're both right. Mal clearly needs to talk to someone but she had a point as well Hadie, about how you're not responsible for her. It's not fair to you to feel like you have to be, not when you're getting to experience Auradon for the first time."
'I'm not going to be the one to apologize first,' he thought as he turned on the shower water as hot as he could withstand. 'That isn't to say I won't at all, but Mal is the one refusing help. I can't do anything more about that. The only S.O.S she's willing to give right now is 'Stubborn Old Sister'.'
Abby shook her head. "Why does that sound familiar? If it wasn't a rude thing to say, one might be able to say that S.O.B means 'Stubborn Older Brother' in Ben's case."
"What does it mean normally?" Squirmy asked, accidentally cutting off Ben's statement that he was, in fact, not stubborn.
"It's something mean that we don't want to say because we'd be insulting Queen Belle," Sammy said quickly.
"Oh…so it doesn't mean Son of a Beast like I heard Dustin say one time?"
"He's on deck swabbing duty," Uma sighed. "Though that's fairly tame for Dustin, I won't lie…actually for being around under fifteens, that's downright filtered for him."
Content that he was right, Hadie settled on ignoring Mal even if it hurt. He'd only listen if she finally opened up and asked for the help she clearly needed.
Akiho shook his head. "I don't think that's the best idea. After all, according to my grandparents—."
"Who are rocks," Emir added.
"Yes thank you," Akiho said and rolled his eyes. "Anyway, according to them, people make bad choices if they're mad or scared or stressed. But when you throw a little love their way, you bring out their best. Even if Mal wanted to ask you for help Hadie, she might not feel like she could because she'd think you were mad at her."
Getting dressed he threw a jacket on over his sweater as he left for classes, thinking no more of the creeping cold. So assured in his quest to ignore Mal for the time being, he barely gave it a second thought that he never saw her at any point that day.
Uma shook her head. "You're dropping your guard Hadie. If it was the Isle, even if you were fighting with an ally, you'd still keep an eye out for them right?"
"Of course," Hadie nodded.
"Auradon's no different," Uma said.
It was a week later he learned she had fallen ill.
"What?" Persephone gasped. "I hope it wasn't anything serious!"
Malinda shook her head. "It was a Chill attack," she said softly.
"Oh…" Uma said as she, Jay, and Harry also looked concerned.
"Anyone want to fill us in?" Audie asked, her voice soft. After all, she didn't remember Mal having 'chill attacks' in her timeline.
Malinda looked over at Mal, who shrugged.
"Basically whenever I get cold, like really cold, I get debilitating chills," Malinda said. "I probably wouldn't like winter anyway being able to transform into a dragon and whatnot. But the chills…well they came from falling into the cove when I was nine."
"Not 'fell', you were pushed," Benji muttered.
"Semantics," Malinda shook her head. "But yeah, depending on what the next scroll shows, it might end up going into more detail."
He also learned someone had finally done something, succeeding where he had failed.
"You being vague on purpose there flame top?" Celia asked.
And that he had a surprise guest.
"Oooh, who is it?" Dizzy asked.
The day had started out like any other, except not really. Due to Cotillion preparations, occasionally Fairy Godmother would allow a free day from classes. Melody had gone off with Elle after the older girl had gotten back from a date with Akiho with Emir magically appearing shortly after the two Atlanticans had left.
Aziz chuckled. "I'm not at all surprised. Where Emir goes, Akiho goes and vice versa."
"I'm sorry, I'm more amazed by the fact that Akiho remembered he had a girlfriend without skipping practice to do it!" Jay teased.
The King's Shadows stayed for quite a while, keeping an eye on the rather rambunctious mass of various younger siblings as they hung out in the library courtyard.
"So that begs the question of what's Ben doing if his shadows were keeping an eye on the younger siblings?" Abby asked.
At least until Akiho started listing about a hundred possible sandwich combinations and the pair of shadows zoomed off with no other explanation.
"I…I feel like that just left me with more questions than I had before we started this scroll," Kristoff sighed and shook his head.
Hadie watched from his perch, having beat Akiho and Herkie up one of the trees earlier, as Evan and Ashaki clearly cheated at 'Cheat', somehow sneaking cards into Phil and Neal's hands as they raced to rid their own hands first.
"It's only 'cheating' if you get caught," Ashaki said as Phil Jr. and Neal looked over at her and Evan with a mock glare.
He laughed as Herkie hung from a branch, bouncing up and down, shaking the tree they were in.
"Careful Herkie," Hercules said. The last thing he wanted was for his son to accidentally break the branch.
"Hadie?" The librarian, Sylvia, stood at the doors that led to the library, everyone turning to her as she called out. "There's a visitor here looking for you."
"Who'd…who'd be coming to visit me?" Hadie asked.
"Maybe it's mom!" Melody said with a grin. "After all, Uncle Herc came to visit all of us."
Hadie slowly straightened up, like a meerkat peering into the distance towards the door as Sylvia held the door open for Hadie's supposed guest.
"Diga tunna, dig, dig a tunna," Evan and Ashaki began to sing under their breath.
Neal shook his head. "I will kill both of you if you get that stuck in my head again."
"Again?" Emir asked.
"They sang it for a week last year after I sprang out of bed thinking I missed my alarm. On a Saturday." Neal said with a small sigh.
Emir grinned at his sister. "I've trained you well."
After Demeter had showed up, he was apprehensive. A soft green glow surrounded the person, obscuring Hadie's ability to properly make out who they were and furthering his concern due to the similar color to his grandmother.
Hades shook his head. "I think I know who it is," he said, looking over at Persephone and giving her a loving smile. Should have known you'd find a way to help Mal. Either that or you got tired of having the link on mute and figured out a way to talk to her in person.
His jaw dropped as his eyes widened, finally comprehending who approached, not used to seeing them surrounded in a glow. Jumping down from his place in the tree, he hesitantly spoke:
"Mom?"
"No way!" Mal and Hadie said in unison.
Eric nodded. "That's what it says on the scroll. That's the end of it as well."
"Well then we should read the next one," Hadie said and went to go get the next scroll sealed with the blue flame wax stamp only to have it roll out of his reach.
David shook his head. "I'm guessing we're not supposed to read that one just yet. If no one minds, I'll go ahead and read from the regular pile of scrolls…that seems to still be growing."