Chapter Twenty Nine
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.
Ah! First off, thank you to everyone who pointed out that Hestia was the third member of the female Big Three. Unfortunately for me, when I googled 'Female Big Three' nothing came up for the Greek Goddesses. So I had to guess—and honestly I do like Athena more than Hestia.
Oh and speaking of Gods, Aion according to Google is a God of Time. They also said that Kronos was a God of Time but I figured he'd not exactly be in the mood to help the Fates. Also you know Zeus defeated him.
Second of all, *blows horn in celebration* guys we made it past 700 reviews! Thank you all so much for your support! Speaking of reviews, I'm sure you'll notice part of the chapter looks familiar. That's because QueenofMean's review hit me with a blast of inspiration and I realized…I wanted to write that! :D
So-Audrey = CH Audrey, Audrey = WAL Audrey.
Urmimala Hazra: Oh if only I could…wait I'm writing this…eh not worth the risk, they might eat Estelle too! Glad you liked the chapter! As for the female Big Three, people have pointed out that it should be Hestia but alas Google failed me!
Tracie Adams: I agree, they are cute!
61394: Sadly, Google failed me!
Guest: I'm glad!
Katt Kiki: So glad you liked it!
AmesthystDragon14: Yay! Of course I had to have a Bal moment! :D
quil . theimperial: Oh I'm so glad! Of course we can have more snarky Belle! I mean Belle was plenty snarky in her movie so why wouldn't she be snarky here? :D
CrystalKaouri: Hopefully they can start being friends soon! And yep, their faces are definitely going to be priceless!
ScoutGinevera: I think that might happen…
Marcus Emrys: *defends Ben* Google wouldn't provide the author with the answer of the Big Three for the Goddesses and she had to make a guess! Guessing Athena, or Minerva, saved my bacon back in HS Latin!
EllaBSinging: I'm so glad you're enjoying the 'book'! :D
AthenaArtemis25: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! And I do have to agree, I don't think Mal would appreciate being called cute!
billyandkimfan1994: We've got about two more chapters until Mal gets pushed into the water.
jedblack1997: Ooh that's definitely going to be fun to write! And hopefully to read too!
JaclynnM: I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Also, please sleep! :D
shortanamx: Glad you enjoyed the chapter!
jessaminego5134: Oh thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying it! Honestly I got inspired to do it by reading the fic Reading Choosing Family because I was going back and re-reading Choosing Family to see where the author might put comments and then I realized I could put in the comments and thus this story was born! :D
Roxas Itsuka: Yeah there are going to be some conversations that's for sure! That will be interesting to see what Beastie's reaction is going to be to the adoption!
danifan3000: …and we'll chalk that up to facts I didn't want to know!
Dance love 2007: Thank you so much!
Anonymous Reader: One talk coming up!
Guest: Freddie and Ally are not out of the realm of possibilities though that might be closer to Choosing Love, just because that's where Ally shows up more.
TheGirlofManyFloods: Glad you liked the chapter! I took a look at your story and I honestly don't really have any tips—was there anything specifically you wanted tips on?
QueenOfMean: I hope you know you inspired part of this chapter! :D
Guest: It's not so much I forgot Hestia, it's that I had to make a guess and I guessed Athena because it saved my bacon once in HS Latin.
Hope you all liked this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Persephone gently led Mal and Hadie off to the side while Hades seemed to have a heated yet silent conversation with the floating eyeball that was still hovering off to the side. Mal wasn't going to lie, it was rather creepy.
Before she could say anything, however, the eyeball began to glow once more though it didn't spin. Mal blinked as a side room seemed to appear out of thin air—could this have been done the whole time?
"Called in a favor with the Fates," Hades said as he opened the door for his family to walk in. Well human family as Estelle was still taking his self appointed role as guard for Leah seriously, not letting her out of his sight. "I figured this is a talk that we should have out of the ears of some of those in attendance."
"You just don't want Zeus or Hera butting in don't you?" Persephone asked, lightly teasing her husband.
"Oh and you want your mother interjecting?"
"You raise a good point."
Mal sighed and Hadie shook his head in slight amusement at his parents' antics. It made it feel like everything was the way it had been, but it wasn't. There was a riff that was still there.
Persephone sighed and looked at her children. "Alright. I think it's time we have a little talk. Hadie, how could you talk to Mal like that?"
"Mom, really, it's—."
"Malinda, if you dare say 'it's fine' I will make good on my promise to your father and find a way to ban it from your vocabulary." Persephone stated. "Your brother knows that you had to deal with Maleficent—."
"But I never knew she was stolen," Hadie spoke up. "You guys always made it seem like Mal was always in the Underworld with us and that she just had to go to the Dragon's every so often because despite the adoption, she was still genetically Maleficent's."
"Thanks for that reminder," Mal muttered and then sighed. "Hadie, I know you're upset and it's on me. I made you think that my thoughts were going to be similar to Uma calling Celia a 'whelp' and 'useless'. I should have told you what they were. I…I guess I just thought that if I did say what my thoughts had been, you'd hate me."
"Look how well that turned out," Hadie scoffed.
"Yeah," Mal nodded. "I guess I come by it naturally. I mean, mom and dad were beating themselves up for not talking me out of my belief you'd be a girl. I should have—."
"Mal, don't," Hades spoke up. "I get it, and I get that Hadie's upset. But son, you don't know what living with Maleficent is like because we never told you. Whenever Mal got back from the Dragon's, we made sure you were either at the restaurant or with Uma. And maybe that was a disservice to you but we…we didn't know how Mal was going to come back."
"What do you—?"
"You were there for the one bit of scroll where Maleficent laid her hands on me," Mal said as she knelt down so that she was looking straight into her brother's eyes. Blue met green, and Mal continued. "Hadie, imagine that for six years. Imagine Maleficent going on tangents about dad and you could never tell her she was wrong otherwise you could wind up with a broken ankle at best. Remember this is the Fae who broke my ankle when I was four because I called her by her name in front of the Evil Queen."
"Yeah she still needs to pay for that," Hades grumbled.
"Not the time dear," Persephone told him.
Hadie sighed. "I know Maleficent isn't the nicest person or even the nicest villain. I'm not Gaston's kid after all Mal. But…everyone's getting on my case for being upset and yet you're doing the same thing you're mad at the Auradonians for doing!"
"What do—?"
"I was born Mal! That's all I did and yet that earns me the right to have my sister hate me for six weeks? All because I wasn't born the right gender? And don't even get me started on the fact that you get everything! Private lessons with dad, a Cerberus, leading the crew, ruling the VK population of the Isle—."
"Alright kid, let me stop you right there," Mal said, still down at Hadie's eye sight. "You get private lessons with dad too, both magic and musical. And yeah Estelle's mine but the main reason I got him was because mom and dad knew that if I wasn't seen around the Isle with a pet of some kind, Maleficent would freak. You know Maleficent's story just as well as I do. Do you really think Maleficent would take me not being invited to a party very well? Or that the rest of the Isle would know I wasn't invited because I didn't have a pet?"
"She's right Hadie," Persephone nodded. "And dear, your father was right earlier. There's no room in the Underworld for two Cerberi. That being said…I do agree that you're of the age where you should be able to get your own pet."
"Really?" Hadie asked, perking up a little.
"We can talk more about it after we finish up reading these scrolls," Persephone said. "And if your father agrees. After all, it's his Underworld. We just reside in it."
Hades shook his head and gave his wife a small smile before looking at Hadie. "Look Hadie, I know you're upset. And again, your feelings are your own, and they're valid. But I don't want you snapping at your sister or telling her she went soft for apologizing to you for something she thought when she was seven."
"…yes dad," Hadie said with a small nod. "Sorry dad."
"I'm not the one you need to apologize to young man," Hades said, his voice gentle yet firm at the same time.
"Dad, really, it's fine," Mal said. "I was the one who threw a six week temper tantrum because I thought Hadie was going to be a girl and replace me. You guys keep saying that Hadie's feelings are valid but you're also asking him to get over them super fast too. It's up to Hadie right?"
"…how'd you get so wise?" Hades asked with a small smile.
"Kinda helps when I've got the Goddess of Wisdom as a cousin, even if we probably will never actually talk to her," Mal said with a shrug and then looked at Hadie. "I understand if you don't want to be called 'Storm Cloud' anymore. Here's the thing though…I don't know any other nickname other than 'Beastie' to call you."
"What about something flame related?" Hadie suggested. "Or Cerberus? You know, cause of dad? Hell, it could be plant based?"
"What, you want me to call you 'minty'?"
"Gah! No way!"
"Sorry, after that reaction, I kinda like it!" Mal chuckled and ruffled Hadie's hair, smiling as he batted away her hands. There was a part of her that knew Hadie wouldn't be over the hurt, her brother was too much like her and maybe she had done too good a job in protecting him from the evils of the Isle.
But innocence was the one thing she wasn't allowed to have that she would never begrudge her brother. Despite growing up on the Isle, she had been determined to allow Hadie a childhood.
"Mal?" Hadie asked, causing his sister to look at him. "Is…I know I said I could handle you not being happy with me when I was born but…hearing those thoughts wasn't I…"
"Hey, hey," Mal said gently. "I know, those thoughts were a lot harsher than they had any right to be. But you're still my brother. No matter how much time you need, you take it. Just…promise me something?"
"What?"
"I'm not going to come back to the Isle one day and find out that you've joined forces with Freddy and Zevon, am I?"
Hadie shook his head. "No way Mal! Even if I was as mad at you as I could be, I'd never join Freddy or Zevon! That's an act of treason against the Rats, against you and Uma, and against dad and mom!"
Mal smiled and pulled Hadie into a small hug, not noticing their parents' smiles.
"…I'm still a bit mad though," Hadie whispered.
"I told you, that's okay," Mal whispered back.
Hades sighed. "You can be mad without hurting your sister Hadie. As long as you understand that Mal does love you."
And something tells me it's not so much mad as it is jealousy, Hades thought. Trust me son, I know the feeling well. After all you're talking to the guy who's brother didn't get eaten as a baby.
Unfortunately jealousy wasn't something that could be just gotten over but at least Hades knew about it. He could make sure he was spending more time with Hadie while they were both on the Isle.
Because if there was one thing the God of the Dead knew, it was that Mal wouldn't stop until Hadie was with Auradon with her.
"I think we should head out back there before they break down this door," Persephone suggested. "You know how eager everyone is to keep reading."
"Oh yes, I think not reading a scroll is probably the highlight of Audrey's day," Mal scoffed, rolling her eyes. She couldn't help but smile as she heard her brother snort in amusement.
Good, she thought. It'll take some time but as long as he's laughing, Hadie'll be okay.
They walked out of the room just in time to see the eyeball float down to the middle of the room and begin to spin.
"Ooh, who's it going to be this time?" Alexandria asked with a grin.
The spinning stopped and the light faded to show two girls—one with dark hair, one with blonde, both with red coats.
"Harriet!" Harry exclaimed with a grin.
"Harry!" Harriet perked up upon seeing her brother but then paused, pulling the younger girl behind her and glared at Milah. "Who are you? What kind of trick is this?!"
"Harri, it's not a trick," Harry said, walking toward his sister. "It's really her. Lady Steph, she made it happen."
Harriet shook her head. "And what if it's just one of Freddy or Zevon's tricks Harry? You're just going to—?"
"It's alright Harriet," Milah said, walking over and giving her eldest a smile that only held a hint of sadness. "Look at you, you've grown up so much my little captain."
"…what did you call me?" Harriet asked, looking at Milah in shock. "No…no one's called me that. Not since…"
"I found a book on names after you were one," Milah said. "It must have gotten tossed out but we found your name and the definition. Harriet. It means 'estate ruler' but your father insisted you'd be a great captain if you put your mind to it. So I started calling you—."
"My little captain," Harriet said, tears coming to her eyes as she took in the woman she hadn't seen since she was five. "Mom? It…it's really you?"
Milah nodded and had to brace herself for the almost flying hug Harriet gave her, never noticing the slight frown on CJ's face.
"I've missed you so much," Harriet whispered.
"I know," Milah whispered back. "I've missed you too. But Harriet, my darling, I'm so proud of you. The way you've taken charge of your crew, the way you've looked out for your siblings. I've never been more proud than to call you three my children."
Harriet smiled as she broke the hug. "You want to meet CJ?"
"I've waited fourteen years to meet her," Milah said as she looked over at CJ. "Gods…she looks just like me."
"CJ…it's mom," Harriet said, her voice catching with unshed tears.
CJ shrugged. "I mean…if you say so."
Harry scowled. The runt's the reason why we don't have mom around! The least she could do is be grateful she's here!
Before Harry could speak, however, the eyeball floated down once more.
"Because of what may come to light," the voices of the Fates rang from the eyeball. "We've brought along someone with the help of Aion. Someone from a timeline where different choices were made."
"…that's possible?" Hades asked as the eyeball began to spin once more. It spun around in the air for a few minutes before revealing a new figure. A figure that caused everyone who recognized her to gasp as they knew her by sight.
A well manicured hand with periwinkle blue nails brushed the brown hair out of her face, brown hair that had one strand of bright pink that stood out. Her brown eyes looked around the room in almost bemused shock as she brushed out the skirt of her green summer dress; part of the dress covered with an apron with multiple soup stains while a familiar blue bird necklace graced her neck.
"Mal? Ben?" Audrey asked, looking at the two of them in shock. "Is this another viewing? Did something happen? Wait, Harriet? You're here too? Did something happen at the soup kitchen?"
"What in the world!" Their Audrey exclaimed and the other Audrey spun around and stared at herself in shock.
"This has to be a trick!" Leah exclaimed but grew silent once more as Estelle growled at her. Mal frowned as the color seemed to drain from the other Audrey's face and she backed up a little.
"You're…you're supposed to be on the Isle!"
"According to the Fates, you're from another timeline?" Hades asked before Leah could respond to that.
Audrey nodded, a look of understanding coming to her face. "That does explain why everyone's looking at me like they've seen a ghost."
"No I'm pretty sure it's the apron," Phillip Jr. said and his eyes widened as Audrey brought him into a hug. "Okay, this is clearly not my sister!"
Audrey sniffed. "You're making a fool out of yourself…myself…ourself?"
"Oh wow, so clearly I haven't had a new personality blown into me yet," Audrey noted as she broke from the hug. "But what's going on?"
Ben spoke up. "The Fates have decided to bring us together to learn more about what's going on the Isle of the Lost…and clearly thought that your assistance is needed."
"Oh so you've learned about the food situation?"
"You know about—?"
"Uh huh. The Blue Fairy brought a group of us together and gave us three viewings of events where we learned about that," Audrey nodded, glaring slightly at Leah.
Leah sniffed and opened her mouth to say something but closed it once more at Estelle's growl.
"But clearly I'm holding up the reading so let's get cracking!" Audrey said with a grin.
"We might need to reposition to comfortably fit everyone," Phoebus said.
Audrey shook her head. "I mean, you can if you want to Captain, but I'm fine on the floor."
"Audrey!"
"Grandmother?" Audrey asked.
"You are a Princess! I don't know what—?"
"Oh see I was a Princess but then I decided that Phil would be a better fit for next in line for the throne so I abdicated," Audrey told her. "Did it the same day you got sent to the Isle too."
Leah didn't respond, she had promptly passed out upon hearing the word 'abdicated'.
"Can we keep this Audrey?" Emir muttered to Akiho.
Audrey grinned, Emir's mutter not as quiet as he'd thought. "Hey Ice Man. How's Kari and Agnarr?"
"…who?"
"Ah right! Timeline difference! That must be why Mal is currently glaring at Evie like they're mortal enemies!"
"How else would she look at Blueberry?" Uma asked.
"…like they're best friends…"
"What?!" Mal and Uma exclaimed, and Evie looked shocked as well.
Audrey sighed. "Look I can answer any questions you want later. But I'd rather not hold up the reading so I'll just go and sit next to Carlos."
"You could sit next to Bennyboo!" Audrey pointed out.
"Um…yeah I'll save that for his girlfriend," Audrey said with a chuckle.
"You are his girlfriend!"
Audrey shook her head and went to sit next to Carlos. Of course, with all the time taken up, there was some natural reshuffling and so Mal was left standing by Ben.
"You mind if I sit with you?" Mal asked Ben, as Hadie opted to sit with their parents. She was okay with that, she'd give him his space.
"Not at all," Ben grinned and moved over so she'd have room. "Who's reading?"
"I'll read," Harriet said with a shrug; no one noticing how the two person seat had expanded to be a four person.
"Sounds good," Ben smiled as Mal sat down next to him.