Chapter Thirty Four
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
Smh, guys can you believe we're only three reviews away from 900? I honestly can't believe it! Thank you all so much for your support with this story—I have a feeling we may soon beat Watch and Learn in terms of review count!
Marcus Emrys: Oh thank you! Yeah I'm going to stick to Treasure Planet but he's human and not the weird man/bear/pig thing he was in the movie :D and yep, Audie had the best way to wake Leah up!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yep, finally in Auradon—and Ben! :D smh honestly I don't think Audrey can zip her howling screamer. But I think Estelle would like the hug tbh!
Fangirl2118: Yep, it sure was! It's one of my favorite references and since Disney owns Marvel I thought it appropriate!
61394: Oh yes I'm sure Hades would love to try pig—but exactly Pumbaa deserves the Hakuna Matata lifestyle. Besides he helped save Simba so he wouldn't wind up on the Isle anyway. Oh yeah, but Stefan and Leah aren't exactly the brightest. To be fair to Audrey, she hasn't done the thing in this version yet. Oh yeah sleep is a good thing and in a bed is even better! Probably the future father in law part! I heard that in Auradon, since all the villains are on the Isle, no one ages yet everyone ages on the Isle. I find that ridiculous so…I have no idea how the Duke and Chi-fu are still alive. Glad you liked the chapter!
Tracie Adams: So glad you like Audie! :D
Hufflepuff24: Oh yeah there are going to be a lot of conversations happening in the next break!
billyandkimfan1994: Good point!
HufflepuffInDaHealingCoven: No, originally it was just going to be an easter egg (since Beauty and the Beast was originally released in theaters on November 22, 1991) but now I'm thinking that it would work better as Belle's due date for Abby. Ben, I headcanon as being born in June. Neal's Snow's son—Emma's brother.
Urmimala Hazra: Yeah she was better unconscious, that's for sure!
InuKagLove22: Oh thank you so much!
jedblack1997: Oh yeah the readings are definitely going to get awkward when they get to Choosing Home and read that part of it. Brain bleach will have to be invented that's for sure!
danifan3000: well…why am I not surprised that was Audrey's response to Ben talking about the VK Initiative?
AliceCullen3: Oh I'm so glad!
JaclynnM: Well contracts are kinda his thing! :D I'm not at all surprised he did it!
Monkeymama1516: Oh yeah those reactions should definitely be good ones!
Katt Kiki: Something tells me Uma and Harry will be teasing Mal for that!
CrystalKaouri: Oh I'm so glad you liked it! I have to say it was fun writing Hades tearing apart the betrothal contract…well verbally at least. I agree, poor Audie. Well at least Emir and Akiho have something to tease Ben about now!
Dance love 2007: Oh thank you so much!
Just a guess: That's a good guess actually!
medical ranger: I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter!
Anonymous Reader: Oh thank you! Yeah it probably was weird for everyone to read about that—and just that Ben was dreaming about Mal since Mal's dreams weren't mentioned in the scroll. I think Hades would have blown his top if that was the case.
AUs: Every time I think your one shots can't get any more amazing and every time you prove me wrong! :D
TheGirlofManyFloods: I'm so glad you're looking forward to the chapter!
twilightgirl587: Yep, mainly because I didn't want to write a scenario where people were wondering where Audrey was in TLB. Well 11-22-91 was when Beauty and the Beast was released in theaters so I thought it'd be a nice easter egg but now I'm thinking the 11-22 would be a good date for Belle's due date when she was pregnant with Abby. Are doggy earplugs a thing? I do have to say I liked the animated BatB more than the live action—Mrs. Potts scared me ngl.
jessaminego5134: I wouldn't be surprised if Ben from WAL had the same habits, he's a workaholic just like this Ben.
midnight rose112358: Oh that was on purpose, it's one of my favorite lines from the Avengers and therefore I try to reference it whenever I can. I'll try to do more of those sorts of things!
lilyrose101: Sorry!
smc-smfan1: Glad you liked the chapter!
AtehnaArtemis25: Oh thank you so much! I'm so glad you're enjoying the story!
sao-frozen-smc . animefan: Thank you so much, glad you're enjoying it!
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Poseidon took a scroll and unfurled it, noticing how Ben seemed to be avoiding everyone's eye. Then again, the God of the Sea didn't blame the Princeling—he did just have multiple secrets revealed in the previous scroll after all.
A week went by and the invitations were posted, just as promised. Mal stared at the invitation in her hand in shock. Somehow, it had been delivered to Ursula's Chip Shoppe rather than Maleficent's castle or the Underworld.
"They say the word delivered but I think 'swiped' would be a more appropriate word," Jay chuckled, looking over at Harry.
"Hey, the guy just gave them to me after I said I'd take them to where they needed to be," Harry shrugged.
Mal honestly suspected Harry had something to do with that, considering all four of the invitations were there.
"Mal, do you really not trust me?" Harry asked, looking at Mal with a look of exaggerated hurt.
"You were the one to swipe the invites Harry," Mal told him with a small chuckle.
Speaking of those invitations...
"Wait a minute," Mal said slowly as she looked at the other envelopes. "None of these have your name on them Uma. Or your's Harry."
Milah sighed. Knowing what I know now, I so wish you'd been invited off the Isle Harry. Of course, as a mother, I'd always wish that, but…with what your father put you through…
"Yeah we noticed that too," Uma nodded. "But who cares Mali? Boreadon wants you!"
"No, no, no, no!" Mal said, shaking her head. "I'm not going! Not if half my gang's left behind! I'm not going to leave you two here to defend the turf while I go to some boarding school filled to the brim with prissy pink princesses!"
"Hey! Some of us aren't Princesses you know," Lonnie said with a small chuckle.
"Mal, hang on a minute. Just take a moment to think this through," Uma said softly, looking thoughtful while Harry just looked at her like she was crazy.
Of course I did! How can I protect Mal if she's on the other side of the barrier?!She's practically my sister! Harry thought.
"Uma there's nothing to think through!" Mal exclaimed, whirling around to face her. "You're my cousin! Harry's my crew! I won't leave you two behind! Especially just because Boreadon's asking-if they want me then why didn't they ask before?"
"Because apparently only Ben thinks about the kids of the Isle despite the fact that there's an always growing registry of kids," Chip said, giving Beast a look.
She looked through the invitations once more and scowled as she noticed one of the names on the envelopes.
"Look! This one's addressed to Blueberry! DeVil is tolerable since we put him under our protection but Blueberry? You really think Jay and I would rather leave you two behind and pal around with them?"
You know what, I'll take Mal thinking I'm tolerable. It's better compared to the alternative, Carlos thought, giving Mal a small smile.
"Uma, really, how can you think this is a good idea?" Harry asked. "We'd be splitting the crew and Mal and Jay would be off in Boreadon without our protection."
"Wait you honestly think we wouldn't look out for them?" Emir asked, looking at the pirate.
"In my defense, I didn't even know you existed," Harry shrugged.
"Because if you two would think for a moment, this is a chance to get through the barrier without having to battle all of Boreadon's forces! Hell, by the looks of things, they'll open it for Mal and Jay!"
"And Carlos and Evie!" Dizzy spoke up.
"Oh joy they're letting four kids off the Isle," Mal said, rolling her eyes. "I've got you guys here and Hadie! I'm sure Jay would agree too, we're not going to Boreadon without you!"
"I'd rather Hadie get an invite rather than me anyway," Mal said.
Is that because I'm your brother or because you'd get mom and dad to yourself again? Hadie couldn't help but think but immediately shoved the thought to the back of his mind.
"Mal, at the very least we need to go tell Uncle Hades about this. I think he should know."
"Yes. Yes he should know that his daughter was invited off the Isle!" Hades exclaimed.
"You'll have to drag me to dad then Uma, because I am never and I mean never going to Boreadon."
"I think we really need to keep telling you 'never say never' Mali," Hades said with a sad smile.
"Fine then," Uma said and grabbed Mal's arm and began to pull her out of the Chip Shoppe's back room. "Harry, grab the letters."
"You really thought I wouldn't drag you? I did it when we were seven, I'd happily do it again when you're being stubborn," Uma told Mal.
"What? No! Uma!" Mal exclaimed as her cousin began to actually drag her out of the restaurant, reminiscent of when they were seven. They may have had better access to food than most of the other kids on the Isle but they were still Isle kids-therefore Mal was fairly light for her age and Uma could drag her with ease, being a smidge taller.
"I seriously need to find a way to frame these bits of scroll that admit that I'm taller than Mal!" Uma said with a grin.
Harry could only laugh and do as he was told. Such a scene had become common on Hades' side of the Isle, so much so that no one really questioned it.
"Jake, Dustin, and Nick actually have a bet to see when it would happen next," Harry said with a slight chuckle.
It helped that by now, Mal's crew basically ran Hades' side of the Isle with the help of the Warf Rats. The children on their side of the Isle knew by now that there was one rule you didn't break—don't question Mal's crew.
"We do have the largest VK crew on the Isle," Jay nodded. "Nineteen to the seven Angels and four Casters."
"Uncle Hades! We have some news we think you should hear!" Uma called over Mal's protests as they walked into the Underworld.
"You know that's certainly a way to get a God's attention," Meg said, shaking her head.
"What is it?" Hades asked, coming out of the kitchen as he'd been trying a new recipe for the restaurant.
"Just out of curiosity, what were you working on Lord Hades?" Harry asked as he perked up slightly at the thought of a new restaurant item.
Hades chuckled. "Sorry kid but that would spoil the surprise."
"Dad, ignore her!" Mal shouted, struggling against Uma's grip but she had a grip like an octopus when she was determined. "She's gone insane!"
"Of course I've got a grip like an octopus! You've met my mother haven't you?" Uma said, shaking her head.
"Mal, while I care for you and your loyalty to us, I'm not insane. You're not thinking clearly about this," Uma told her before looking over at Hades. "It seems Boreadon is under new management or something. Mal and Jay have been invited off the Isle."
"I mean…she wasn't wrong about the new management thing," Chip pointed out.
"What?!" Hades exclaimed, looking over at Mal. "Mali, is this true?"
Uma shook her head. "You really doubt me there Uncle Hades?"
Mal shrugged. "Yeah. Now tell Uma it's a crazy idea and that I'm not going! Oh, and tell her to let go of my wrist!"
"Was it really necessary to ask Lord Hades to tell Uma to let go of your wrist?" Elle asked Mal.
"You've read how many scrolls that show you what our cousin's like and you still have to ask that?"
Chad tilted his head. "But if you've already reached the place she's dragging you to, there's not much point in still holding on to your wrist is there?"
"I didn't trust her not to bolt from the start," Uma said with a shrug.
"I don't run from my home," Mal muttered.
"Wait, wait, Uma's right Mal. Let's think about this, oh and Uma let her go before she starts hitting you like when you girls were younger. Now, who exactly invited them off?"
"You'd really hit her?" Ben asked, glancing over at Mal for the first time since the scrolls revealed he had dreamed about her.
"If she didn't let go, of course," Mal nodded. "We were the same rank after all and sometimes that's what it took to get her to let me go."
"Harry, show Uncle Hades the letters," Uma said as she slowly released Mal. Harry walked slowly up to Hades.
"It's true, sir, there's one for each of them. Oh, and DeVil and Blueberry too," he said as he handed Hades the envelopes.
"…can someone remind me if there are pictures attached to the registry?" Mal asked.
"There's not. At least, I don't believe there are," Belle said.
"Mal, what are you thinking?" Jay asked.
"That we were idiots for not taking this opportunity to use the invites to get Harry and Uma off the Isle," Mal said. "If there aren't pictures, there's no way anyone in Boreadon would have known Uma and Harry weren't Devil and Blueberry."
"…the Dragon already knew about the invites though and told EQ and Cruella along with dad," Jay reminded her.
"Drat!"
Hades took the envelopes from Harry, setting the ones for DeVil and Evil Queen's daughter aside, before opening up Mal's invitation and reading it. "Seems you've been invited off the Isle by Prince Ben."
Persephone looked over at Hades with an amused look on her face. "I do believe that's the first time you've called Prince Ben anything other than 'Prince Beastie Jr.'," she teased.
"Great, we know who it is," Mal said with an eye roll as Jay slipped into the Underworld and joined the group. She'd wonder where he had been later—there were more pressing issues. "Now, can we stop entertaining this crazy notion that I'm going to Boreadon? My home is here."
Audrey rolled her eyes. "She could at least be grateful for the invitation. It's not like anyone wants the little liar here."
"And you could be grateful for your good life," Kitty shot back.
"Mal, think about this. He has invited you and three other kids off the Isle. That could mean he could be talked into doing it again," Hades told her.
"Quite easily too considering Ben wants this program to be successful," Akiho nodded.
"Dad, wouldn't that still happen if Blueberry and DeVil went by themselves?" Mal asked. "I'm not leaving Uma and Harry. Or you! Dad, if I went to Boreadon, I'd never see you again!"
Ben frowned. That's a good point. I guess I didn't realize that by inviting kids off the Isle, I might be separating them from parents they'd want to see. Like Lonnie always says, even villains love their kids but as we could see from the contents of the scroll before last, that's not always true.
Uma shook her head. "No it wouldn't Mal. You'd really trust the future of the VKs to Blueberry and Devil? Blueberry may have been raised as a Princess and have some small amount of skill in diplomacy but she'd be too busy flirting and Devil's too timid to handle diplomatic relations. Not to mention neither one of them have the rank you have."
"Mal, again, think about it. If you can get into the Princeling's good books, we could start getting actual food around here. I mean, I love Uncle Hades' food but he can only do so much with what Boreadon sends us," Uma said.
"And you know, considering that Ben's dreaming about her, it should be really easy for Mal to get into his good books," Akiho said with a slight smirk.
"…it's Ben though," Neal spoke up. "Does he have any bad books?"
"Boreadon, the land on the other side of the bridge wants Jay and wants you! Go there, show them they were wrong about the VKs! You don't have to leave us for long if Boreadon decides to invite others!"
"Actually it's not so much a question of if we decide to invite more VKs, it's more a question of if the council will allow more VKs to be invited," Anna said with a small sigh.
"Why should I show them anything Uma? They kept us kids on the Isle when we didn't do anything, never sent us any decent food and basically ignored us! What, now that their pampered prince feels guilty or something, I'm supposed to drop everything and go skip on over to Boreadon? This is insane!"
Emma frowned slightly. "You know…she's got a point Ben. We really shouldn't have expected the VKs to be happy about an invite twenty years after the Isle was formed."
"Mal, as much as I don't want you to go, think about it. If you can make the prince your ally, you could pave the way for the others you want to come over there. You could have Uma, Harry, even Hadie," Hades told her.
"Celia, CJ, Ryan, Nick, hell even Dustin just to name a few!" Harriet pointed out.
"I'm not leaving the Isle!" CJ stated.
"Oh Gods, you're as stubborn as Mal," Harriet sighed.
"You know, it's no fun when you two gang up on me," Mal muttered. "Dad, I'm your daughter. Shouldn't you be on my side?"
"The only thing a good parent wants is for their children to have a better future than they had," Aladdin said softly, giving his three children a small smile.
"If it helps Mal, I want you to stay," Harry said. "How can I keep you out of trouble if you're in Boreadon?"
And how can I make sure you remember you matter if I'm in Boreadon? Mal thought, looking over at Harry.
"Aren't you usually the one helping her get into trouble?" Jay asked.
Harry shook his head. "That's Uma."
"Mali, the last thing I want is for you to leave but if there's even a small chance of one of my kids having the life they deserve then I'm not going to sit here have let her throw it away," Hades said, ignoring Harry's comment. "Your loyalty to your crew is admirable honey but as I said, you could have them over there with you with just a little bit of patience."
"…Uncle Hades, you did remember you were talking to Mal right? She's not exactly known for her patience." Uma said, shaking her head.
"Dad, they don't want me," Mal said. "They want Maleficent's daughter. Look, it even says so on the envelope. I'm not Maleficent's daughter. I'm not Maleficent's anything! I'm mom's daughter! Maleficent's daughter has been dead since I was nine years old!"
"Technically you could even say she never existed," Macaria spoke up. "Since Aunt Persephone considered Mal to be hers even before the adoption. The only tie Mal has to Maleficent is genetically."
Hades sighed. "It's clear that Auradon doesn't check the registry anymore or they'd have seen the update. Regardless, they're still asking for you Mal. Don't turn down your chance to leave the Isle because of semantics. This is your chance to get out of here, to have a good life—"
"Oh they do check the registry but they just don't update both versions of it!" Demeter said, glaring at Beast.
"I'm sure the mistake will be rectified soon enough," Zeus said.
"You wouldn't be this calm if Hercules was called the son of someone else, Zeus!" Demeter snapped.
"I have a good life dad! I have access to food, parents who aren't crazy. I rule the Isle—both your half and the Dragon's by virtue of association! Why would I give that up?"
"Hmm, you could have food that's edible all the time," Jay pointed out.
"No Dragon breathing down your neck," Harry added.
"Get to see what the sun feels like," Uma finished.
"I hate all three of you," Mal muttered.
"Mal, if you were off the Isle you'd have access to good food, food that wasn't rotten, doctors if you needed one and you'd be able to spend time in the sun! If your mother was here and not in Auradon, she'd tell you the same thing."
Persephone sighed. "As much as I hate seeing you upset Mal, your father has a point."
"I'm a Godling though. There's not much that can hurt us and leave an impact," Mal muttered.
"Mal, Uncle Hades is right. You're throwing away a golden opportunity because of a name on a letter. Think about what you could do for the Isle by being off it! You're going, end of story!"
"Isn't that more something a parent should say Uma?" Persephone asked, looking over at Uma.
"Well yes but as the older cousin, I felt it was in my right to—."
"We're the same age!" Mal exclaimed.
"Uma, I'm not going! If Boreadon wants me so badly then they can ask for the daughter of Lady Persephone!" Mal shot back. "The Dragon's daughter has been dead—unofficially since age five but officially since age nine!"
"Again, as Macaria said, the argument could be made that she never existed since Maleficent never acted like a mother," Hyllus spoke up.
"Mal, think about it! You'd be another voice for the the Isle! You could get us food, maybe even a medical system! You could get us off the Isle! Do you want Hadie stuck here the rest of his life?"
"Low blow but one that could be effective," Rachel said, nodding her head slightly.
"It's why I dealt it," Uma told her. "There's only one thing stronger than Mal's stubbornness. Her loyalty to her family and crew."
"Uma, if they don't know the registry's updated do you really think they'll listen to me? They'd just see me as the Dragon's spawn." Mal said with a frown. "And no fair using Hadie! Of course I don't want him on this Isle for the rest of his life!"
You're Ben's True Love though Mal, Audie thought. Of course he'd listen to you no matter who he thought your mother was.
"Low blow or not, it may be the only way to get you to think this through! If you won't go for yourself, then go for your little brother! Go for us! You need to go! Captain's orders!"
Rose frowned. "You're not really taking Mal's feelings into account here though."
"It's a small sacrifice," Uma said. "She'll thank me later."
"We'll see Uma. We'll see," Mal said, rolling her eyes.
"That we will Mal," Uma said with a small smirk.
"Uma! You can't play that card! Not with me—I'm co captain remember?" Mal exclaimed before picking up the invitations again. "I'm going to state again, they're inviting Jay, DeVil and Blueberry! DeVil's grown on me since we brought him under our protection but if you think I'm spending the rest of my life with only Blueberry to talk to as a VK girl, you're out of your mind! I'm not leaving you and Harry here by yourselves Uma!"
"What would you guys have done?" Aziz asked. "If it'd only been Jay or Mal invited off the Isle?"
"Depends on who the fourth kid was," Jay said. "If it was a younger kid, like CJ or Sammy Smee's brothers, I'd stay with my crew because I trust DeVil and oddly enough Blueberry to at least look out for them. If it was someone like Freddy…I'd go to Boreadon so I could finally teach him not to mess with Mal."
Mal shook her head. "I wouldn't be there because I wouldn't last one day in Boreadon without someone from my crew. Particularly if I had to put up with her," she said, pointing to Evie.
"Come on Mal, leave Evie alone," Carlos said, surprising everyone. "You pelted her with smoke bombs after you weren't invited to her party over ten years ago. Haven't you held the grudge long enough?"
"I'm a Godling," Mal said, giving Carlos a deadpanned look. "Do you know how long the Gods have been known for holding grudges?"
She pointed to Hades. "Case in point, he's held a grudge against Zeus for who knows how long because Zeus wasn't eaten as a baby."
"Mal, we will be fine. Someone needs to hold the turf, and it's not like you're going to going to disappear off into the sun and forget about us right?"
"Well…no. Because I'm not going anywhere. The Isle is my home Uma!"
"And it will always be your home sweetheart," Persephone said gently. "But that doesn't mean you throw away an opportunity like this."
"And your home needs you to go across that bridge!"
"Jay's going to have to drag me across that bridge Uma because I'm not going!" Mal growled, digging her feet in. Estelle trotted over and sat next to her, looking at the group in slight confusion.
"You know, you should really stop saying people will have to drag you places," Rowyn said. "From what we've seen, that doesn't really deter your friends."
"That can be arranged Mal, do you want to test me?"
"You wouldn't dare Uma!"
"Seriously, you need to stop telling Uma she wouldn't dare do something," Ashaki said.
Emir nodded. "Yeah, it's my experience that when you tell someone 'they wouldn't dare', that just give them more of a reason to do the thing."
"I regret nothing!" Akiho exclaimed.
"Of course you don't," Ben sighed.
"Try me. You can either get into that limo willingly or unwillingly but you are going for our future and the Isle's future! You're going!"
That's a lot of pressure to put on someone, Mulan thought with a small frown.
"You'd have to catch me first Uma! Because there is no way in the Underworld am I willingly going into that limo! End. Of. Story!"
"You know this just proves that Mal would fit in upon arriving in Auradon," Rapunzel said. "If she was truly evil and wanted to take over Auradon like Maleficent no doubt tried to teach her during the days Mal was in her castle, she would have jumped at the chance to go but instead she's fighting to stay on the Isle."
Uma sighed and shook her head. "Alright, you leave me no choice Mal. Jay! Grab her!"
"Jay don't you dare—put me down this instant!"
Ben tried to suppress the little twinge of jealousy he felt as Lord Poseidon read that Jay had picked up Mal. Just another thing to confirm his belief that they were dating after all.
Jay sighed. "Sorry Mali. No can do. Captain's orders."
"I'm your co-captain! This is mutiny! Dad! A little help here!"
Mal shot a small glare to Harry and Uma. "This has got to be a violation of the Pirate Code in some way," she muttered.
"Actually it's not," Harry shook his head. "Rule 84, section a, subsection 3 of the Pirate Code states that any order from the Captain overrules any order from the co-captain or anyone else who happens to be below them. I don't know why that had to be written but it is."
"Not exactly what I meant Harry," Mal grumbled.
"I'll go pack your bag Mal. Don't worry, Hadie and Estelle will be well taken care of," Uma said, hurrying off to Mal's room.
"Have to say Mal, I'm on your friends' side here," Hades said. "Though Jay, I'd switch to a mode of carrying that won't lead to a dislocated shoulder."
"You're a bit too calm about that Hades," Poseidon told his older brother.
Hades shrugged. "A dislocated shoulder is tame compared to what else could happen on the Isle and it's easy enough to fix. If Mal did anything, I could fix it in a second."
"Yes sir."
"Dad!"
"Mal, I love you and it's because I love you that this has to happen," Hades told her. "Like I said, if there is a chance for even one of my kids to have the life they deserve then it needs to happen. There is always the hope with you there, Hadie can get off the Isle too."
"Like Aladdin said, the main thing a good parent wants is to make sure their kids have a better life than they had," Eugene said, his voice soft was it was his turn to give his six kids a small smile.
"…dad, you really I'm going to have to kill Jay for holding me in a bridal pose right now? All this just so I go and rub elbows with some prissy princesses and pampered princes? I thought you liked Jay!"
"Yeah I thought so too!" Jay exclaimed with a small chuckle. Ben couldn't help but frown slightly as he heard that.
"I think someone might be jealous," Emir muttered to Akiho, both boys noticing Ben's frown.
Hades chuckled and shook his head. "Jay, do you value your shoulder or your life more? Cause something tells me carrying Mal into the limo's the only way she'll go there so you'll have to pick one. I'd advise the shoulder really. They have doctors across the bridge from what Steph tells me."
"Were you doubting me there dear?" Persephone asked, amusement audible in her voice.
"Never have, never will," Hades told her, kissing the top of her head.
"Yes sir," Jay nodded, shifting Mal over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "Mal, will you calm down? Consider this, you're swiping another girl's spot. Say Freddy boy had gotten a spot, would you want to go just to spite him?"
"We will totally accept spite as a reason for coming to Auradon," Lonnie nodded.
Mal looked over at her and raised an eyebrow. "Why do you want me in Auradon so bad? You don't know me…for all you know I could be…oh I don't know, plotting Ben's or Beastie Sr.'s assassination."
"Yeah but we know you're not," Phillip Jr. said. "It'd be in the scrolls after all and if you were plotting an assassination, you wouldn't be fighting tooth and nail to stay on the Isle. Assassins want to get close to their targets after all and to do that you'd need to leave the Isle."
Hades sighed. "Mal, could you not make yourself out to be all cloak and dagger? I just got you off the Isle."
"Fine dad but they're a little too welcoming. Where's the distrust?" Mal said with a sigh.
"We only distrust people who've earned it. You've done nothing for us not to trust you," Emir said with a shrug.
"…VKs don't really trust easily," Harriet told them. "This is a little…odd for us."
Ben shrugged. "Those that are worth you trusting will be willing to earn it," he told her with a small smile.
"The day Freddy Boy leaves this Isle in nothing less than a body bag is the day I start prancing around Boreadon like a prissy princess," Mal growled.
Audie stiffened as she looked over at Mal. She could still remember the second viewing and how her timeline's Mal had changed herself to become what she called a 'prissy princess'.
There's…there's no chance of Freddy escaping the Isle. Is there? Audie thought, slightly biting her lip.
Jay closed his eyes and mentally facepalmed, being unable to actually do it as he was carrying Mal and didn't want to risk dropping her.
"That would be appreciated Jay," Mal nodded.
"I mean it Jay! He will see his precious hellfire before he gets off this Isle!"
"Yes Mal, I know. I usually help even if you won't let me give the revenge he deserves for pushing you into the cove all those years ago."
"And you know my reasoning for that Jay," Mal said with a small sigh. "You want the Angels to go after Jade?"
"Mal, they'd go after Jade regardless of what I did," Jay said, shaking his head.
"You won't be able to help if you're off in Boreadon Jay! How are we supposed to make sure our turf stays out of Freddy boy's hands if we're off drinking tea and doing Gods know what else over across the bridge?"
"But…don't you guys drink tea there?" Alexandria asked. "What's so wrong with drinking tea in Auradon?"
"Mal, as I said, that is why Harry and I will still be here," Uma said as she came back in, holding Mal's bag.
"Not for long though," Jane said, squeaking slightly as Uma looked over at her. "I just mean…Ben'll more than likely invite you and Harry over in the next round of kids."
Mal glared from her spot over Jay's shoulder. "Uma, what do you think Freddy boy will do when he learns it's just you and Harry defending the turf?"
"Just me and Harry? Henry and the others will be disappointed to hear they don't count Mal," Uma chuckled.
"Yeah, what're me, Sammy, Jade, and CJ?" Harriet asked, shaking her head.
"Ah hem! Are you forgetting that I have friends on the other side? Plus the Warf Rats, they've been itching for a fight actually. Henry's been uping the training with Ryan, Derek and Dustin."
Jay shook his head. "And Nick and Jake too. Henry said that Nick needed to work on his footwork more."
"Yeah but Henry trains for like eighteen hours a day," Harry added. "No one has better footwork than Henry."
"Jay and I are itching for a fight too! You'd honestly get into a fight with Freddy boy and his Angels without us?!"
"Hang on, no one told me I'd miss out on fights against Freddy and his Angels!"
"…that's kinda implied with the whole 'you're going to Boreadon' thing Jay," Mal told him.
"It will be strange, I'll admit, but it would be in defense of our turf!"
"Now you're just being dramatic," Mal muttered.
"It runs in the family," Persephone sighed and shook her head slightly.
"I'm being dramatic? I'm not the one who needs to be carried into the limo to have a chance at a better life," Uma said, waving Mal's bag.
"Again, being dramatic is something that doesn't just run in the family. It gallops," Macaria pointed out, also shaking her head.
"Oh, Mali, I swiped something for you when I was over at the Dragon's," Jay said. "Her spies already know about the invites—DeVil and Blueberry were there too. She actually seemed annoyed her knuckleheads didn't find you."
"Wait, back up, you swiped something from under Maleficent's nose?" Emir asked. As Jay nodded, the second son of Agrabah smirked. "Man you're good. Think we could swap notes sometime?"
"Sure!" Jay said, nodding his head.
Mal smirked at that fact. "Her knuckleheads aren't allowed on dad's side of the Isle. Quite easy to avoid being detected by the Dragon when her spies are only allowed in her territory."
"…then why wouldn't the Dragon try to get people who could spy in Lord Hades' territory?" Melody asked.
"Would you want to anger Lord Hades?" Harry asked her and Melody quickly shook her head.
"Anyway…" Jay said and pulled a certain book out of his jacket-which was easier said than done considering he was still holding Mal over his shoulder. "Little bit of revenge huh? And you're still a magic user anyway so you'd be able to actually use this in Boreadon."
"…you have Maleficent's spell book?" Beast asked, looking over at Mal.
Mal shrugged. "Better I have it than she does right? Besides, it's not like I'd use it."
"Jay, I'd be more impressed that you swiped something from under the Dragon's nose if you weren't currently holding me like a sack of potatoes!"
"If I put you down, I'll never get ahold of you again."
"You got that right!" Mal muttered, crossing her arms over her chest.
"You got that right! Have you all forgotten what Boreadon did to us?! Trapped us on an Isle without decent food, no medical system and Freddy boy! Why would I willingly go there?"
"In our defense, Freddy was not our doing," Belle sighed. "But Mal does have a point about the other two."
"Mal, no one has forgotten that!"
"And no one is asking you to forget that," Ben said, his voice soft. "But we can't help the Isle if we don't know about the problems…"
"Then why do you all want me to go there?!"
"Because Mal, as has already been pointed out, if a first group of us can get invited over then it's not out of the realm of possibility that others will too. Don't you want to have control over who comes next? Don't you want to see your mom?"
"You know that raises a good point," Emir spoke up. "These are kids who will be without any parental guidance or aid. What if something happens where Fairy Godmother needs to call a parent or guardian? Especially since Mal was invited as Maleficent's daughter so Fairy Godmother wouldn't even think to call Lady Persephone."
"The kids have guardians," Ben spoke up. "I believe Sultana Jasmine is Jay's, Queen Snow is Evie's, Anita is Carlos' and Mulan is Mal's."
"…Mulan?"
"…Anita?"
Ben chuckled slightly at the confusion coming from the two VKs. "Anita insisted on it Carlos. Said that even if Cruella harmed them, it wouldn't be right to have her son be in a strange world without a ally."
"And for Mulan?" Mal asked, raising an eyebrow. "Let me guess, no one else would be guardian for the daughter of Maleficent?"
"You're seriously complaining about having Mulan for your guardian? Probably one of the few or really the only hero respected on the Isle," Uma shook her head in amusement.
Mal glowered. "Of course I want to see mom! But I'll see mom in six months anyway! Still…having control over who comes next is tempting."
"Will you go for the sake of that? To keep the ones we know deserve the Isle on the Isle if nothing else?"
"you have been around my dad way too much. It's clear he's influenced you if you can smooth talk me like that," Mal muttered.
"…I hate all of you so much right now. But fine. If only because Freddy boy is not leaving this Isle. Not if I can help it!"
"Fair enough."
"Okay let me revise my previous statement," Uma said with a slight chuckle. "There're two things stronger than Mal's stubbornness. Her loyalty to her family and crew…and her hatred of Freddy."
"Now will you order Jay to let me down?!"
"That depends. Can you promise you won't bolt on us?" Uma asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I make no promises!" Mal exclaimed.
"Actually that's a smart answer," Meg said. "Prevents you from breaking a deal since your only answer was that you didn't promise you wouldn't do the thing they didn't want you to do."
"Then you're not getting down."
"What?! Uma, you're not actually going to have Jay carry me to the limo are you?!" Mal shouted. The last thing she needed was for the entire Isle to see her get carried off like a child throwing a temper tantrum. She had a rep and she wasn't going to ruin it by having Jay carry her like some simpering…princess!
"Wouldn't it better for your rep though if Jay had to carry you?" Lonnie asked. "Since that way it looks like you're fighting against going to Auradon?"
"Can you behave and walk by yourself?"
"I'm a VK. Since when do we behave?"
Harriet nodded, having asked the same thing to her mother not one scroll ago.
Uma sighed and shook her head in exasperation. "Let me rephrase that then. Will you go quietly?"
"Uma, all of us know Mal'll never go quietly," Jay chuckled.
"True…"
"Okay so it's obvious that Jay and Harry are the Isle version of Emir and Akiho but does that make Uma the Isle version of Lonnie since Mal and Ben are so similar?" Robin asked.
"I thought Mal was the Isle version of Rowyn?" Elle asked.
"She can't be both?"
"So let me go or the next thing I'll do is dislocate Jay's shoulder!" Mal exclaimed. "You have until 'five'!"
"You're bluffing Mal," Uma said, shaking her head. "You'd never hurt Jay."
"I've got two shoulders Mal and they've got doctors in Boreadon," Jay shrugged causing Mal to growl in displeasure. "Growl all you want Mal, I'm not letting you down."
"Just a thought though but wouldn't it be better to not be in pain when you get to Auradon?" Rachel asked.
"Jay, you are so lucky—"
"Lucky how Mal? That I'm your first mate?" Jay smirked. "Why yes I am. Because I know you'd have already dislocated my shoulder and escaped if I wasn't."
He even calls himself her first mate, Ben thought. That's what Harry calls himself in relation to Uma and everyone can tell there's something there with those two.
"Jay!"
"Yes Mal?"
Mal growled once more causing Uma and Harry to roll their eyes.
"Down girl," Jay chuckled. "I'll let you down when we get in the limo."
"It's also how I knew she wasn't truly angry with me," Jay said. "If she was and she wanted to get down, Mal could have easily beaten me in a fight."
Mal sighed. "Dad…"
"Sorry Mali, I'm with Jay on this one," Hades chuckled. His daughter was tenacious, he'd give her that.
"I'm not even allowed to say goodbye?"
"Oh she's good," CJ said, shaking her head. "If it was anyone other than Lord Hades she was talking to, I think Mal would have booked it out of there the second Jay set her down."
Hades gave his daughter a sad smile. "Of course you are Mali. Jay?"
"So Jay, what was that about not letting Mal down?" Carlos said with a slight chuckle.
Good, Audie thought. I know you're not the same Carlos but watching you be timid was just weird.
"You run and I'm chasing you down," Jay said as he set Mal down.
"I had no doubt there Jay," Mal said with a small sigh.
Mal sighed as Hades pulled her into a hug. "Bye dad."
"Love you Mali," Hades whispered before kissing the top of her head.
"Love you too dad," Mal whispered back.
"…anyone else notice that we never hear the kids say 'love'?" Meg asked, her voice soft. "The only two people we've heard Mal say it to are Hades and Lady Persephone. The closest another VK has come is Uma when she told Mal that she cares for her."
"You go out there and you show Boreadon what a child of the Gods can do, okay?"
Mal nodded, smirking a little at the use of the nickname. Her dad didn't use it often around the kids as her mom thought it might be a bad idea to poison the kids against the kingdom. "I'll give mom a hug for you and Hadie okay?"
Persephone shook her head. "I ask you not to use the nickname 'Boreadon' around Mal and Hadie and what do you do?"
"I know you will," Hades said. "Just remember this okay? No matter what happens over there, never apologize for who you are or try to change yourself to make the simpering royals happy."
"You remember that Mal," Audie said, her voice soft as she looked over at Mal.
Mal nodded softly. "Auradon's going to regret inviting me over there," she said with a small smirk.
We already do, Leah thought with a small roll of her eyes.
"But I don't regret it," Ben muttered softly as he glanced over to Mal.
I don't blame him. Mal's only known him for what has to be a few hours and she's already shown him she cares more than Audrey—and Audrey's known him her whole life! Chip thought.
Hades couldn't help but chuckle at that, before cupping his daughter's face in his hands. He knew it likely wouldn't be the last time he saw her but it would still be a while before he saw her face.
Meg glanced over at Hades and gave the God a small smile. I promise, I'll keep an eye out for her. I know Persephone will do the same but an extra set can never hurt, she thought.
"Dad? Is Mal going somewhere?"
"Hey Hadie," Mal said with a sad smile, turning away from their dad to pick her younger brother up into a hug.
"Wow, you can still pick him up?" Evan asked, looking at Mal with a slight amount of awe in his voice.
"…Godling remember?"
"Mali! You're being weird!"
"Yeah, well when I'm not going to see you for a while, I'm allowed to be weird."
"Why won't you be seeing me for a while?" Hadie asked. "Is…is the Dragon making you go somewhere?"
"Hadie, if the Dragon was behind this, I'd be hiding Mal in the Underworld for a year," Hades told his son.
Besides…she's not making Mal go to Boreadon, Evie thought with a small frown.
"Actually it's more a combination of dad and your cousin but essentially yes."
"Uma or Virgil?" Hadie asked.
"I don't know if I should be offended or not that a clarification was even needed," Uma said with a slight chuckle.
"Uma. She pulled the captain card."
"Oh. Why is Uma sending you someplace?"
"Because she wants me to get into Prince Beastie's good books," Mal sighed.
"I reiterate, is it possible for someone to be in Ben's bad books?" Rowyn asked.
Hadie frowned. "Is that possible? I mean he's part of the Auradon royal family and they clearly don't care about the Isle."
Ben frowned and tried to hide the wince he gave as he heard that. There was no denying that Hadie had a point but that didn't mean it didn't still hurt.
"Well all I know is that me and Jay are wanted over there—and I think the limo's almost here, the invite said it'd be arriving soon. So little bro, I'm going to have to say goodbye," Mal said with a frown.
"Note to self, send invites earlier than same day of limo arrival," Ben muttered to himself.
"Be ruthless but loyal. I'll tell mom you said hi," she told him, kissing his head as she set him down.
"We'll keep an eye out for him Mali, like I said," Uma promised. "No one'll mess with him."
"I know," Mal said, her voice soft. "There's no way I'd even let Jay drag me off the Isle if I thought you wouldn't try and keep Hadie safe, cuz."
Mal smiled before pulling Uma into a hug. "You let Freddy boy or his Angels put one toe into our territory, I'll come back and kick both your butt and his," she whispered.
"Aye aye captain," Uma chuckled.
"That's co-captain, Uma," Mal said with a smirk causing Uma to chuckle again.
"Go on. We don't want you being late and missing the limo."
"I think we've established though that VKs are never on time," Lil Shang spoke up. "Besides why do I have the feeling that Ben gave the order for the limo driver to take as long as he needed to?"
Mal snorted but gave Harry a quick hug. "If you continue to listen to your father, I will find a way to smite him from Boreadon," she muttered. "You matter to this crew Harry. Don't forget it."
Thank you Mal. Hopefully he listens to you, Milah thought with a small, sad smile as she glanced at her son.
Harry smiled slightly and squeezed her lightly. "Go on cap'n, give Boreadon hell for us."
"Count on it," Mal muttered.
"See Ben? She's already planning on making trouble!" Leah exclaimed.
Chip shook his head. "You do realize that you are most likely the reason why the VKs don't trust easily right? Or at least one of the reasons?"
Harry smiled as the hug broke and Mal couldn't help but give a sad smile herself.
"Go on Mal," Uma said softly, handing Mal her bag. Estelle whined softly, causing Mal to give another sad smile as she knelt down.
"Poor Estelle," Dizzy said softly. "He'll miss Mal!"
"I can't take you with me boy," she said as she scratched behind his ear. "I wish I could. But you've got to stay here, to keep Hadie and dad out of trouble. Okay? Promise?"
Ben frowned slightly. "You could have brought him. It's not fair to separate you two, we'd have worked something out for him."
"Appreciated…Ben, but I needed to make sure Hadie was safe," Mal said. "As much as I trust Uma and Harry, there's no one better at protecting my brother than Estelle."
Estelle gave a small yip and gave Mal's hand a small lick, as if making the promise.
"Good boy," Mal whispered, the sad smile still on her face as she kissed Estelle's middle head.
Estelle walked over and rested his heads on Mal's leg, wagging his tail slightly and giving her a small doggy smile.
"We'll take care of him Mal," Harry promised.
"I know," Mal sighed as she stood up. Uma handed Mal her bag, which she'd dropped when she bent down to say goodbye to Estelle.
"Better ship off cap'n. Both of you, actually. You'll be late."
"That would be a bad thing?" Audrey muttered under her breath.
Jay and Mal nodded, Mal taking her bag—Jay already had his bag with him.
"Jay, I can't believe I'm saying this, but…don't steal too much," Uma said softly. "Don't give Boreadon a reason to kick you back here-you know Mal might actually go insane if one of us isn't there."
"I make no promises," Jay said with a small chuckle.
"Jay, if you leave me there alone, I'll kill you," Mal said, looking over at Jay.
Mal couldn't help but chuckle herself as she shook her head. "C'mon Jay. Before I change my mind."
I think you'll be surprised at how much you like being in Auradon, Mal, Audie thought, her eyes flickering between Ben and Mal.
"Coming Mal." Jay nodded. Mal could only assume his own bag was back with the Dragon and his father. "Let's go."
"Hold up. How could Mal assume Jay's bag was with the Dragon and Jafar if Jay had his bag with him?" Aziz asked.
Mal nodded slowly and the two of them headed out of the Underworld and to the limo. Little did they know how much their lives were about to change.
"Well that's not ominous at all," Harriet said, trying to chuckle but it sounded forced even to her.
Poseidon nodded but before he could ask who wanted to read next, the eyeball came floating into the center of the room.
"…yeah that's creepy," Milah said.
There was no instructions from the Fates as there had been when Audie arrived. Instead the eyeball pulsed a faint light and began to spin. When the spinning stopped, two people stood in the room.
One, a tan man with brown hair who seemed happy to see Audie.
"Another viewing?"
"Not quite Lucas," Audie chuckled. "But nice to see someone else from my timeline's been brought over."
Ben didn't have a chance to comment though as his eyes were on the girl who'd also been brought over. Had it not been for the transparency of her appearance indicating her deceased nature, Ben knew the long flowing locks of hair would have been brown—just like their mother and father.
"Oh right," Persephone nodded and handed the girl a blue hair bow, and she quickly put it on to gain a corporal form. Before Ben could say anything, the girl quickly ran into his arms, squeezing him into a tight hug.
"…Abby?" Ben gasped.
"That's right Ben," Abby nodded, breaking from the hug. "Sorry, I know it's kinda odd, getting a hug from your dead little sister but I…I've wanted to for so long."
"How…how is this possible?" Belle asked, staring at her daughter with unshed tears shining in her eyes.
"You're in a room provided by the Fates and you're asking how it's possible for me to talk to you mom?" Abby asked before going over and giving her mother a hug. "I love you maman."
"Oh! I love you too my sweet girl," Belle whispered, holding her close. That was all she'd wanted for years to hear, and it was just as sweet as she imagined. "But I think your father would love a hug as well."
Abby nodded and quickly gave Beast a hug. "Dad, it wouldn't kill you to tell Ben you're proud of him more," she whispered, trying to avoid embarrassing her brother. "That's all he wants, to make you proud."
"…he makes me proud every day," Beast whispered back.
"Then tell him that," Abby said before turning back to face Ben. "As for you…you've got to break up with Princess Leech over there. Trust me Benji, there's someone out there who's a whole lot better for you."
Before Ben could say anything, or anyone else for that matter, the eyeball pulsed once more.
"Creepy right?" Lucas asked Audie.
"Very."
"And you're aware there's two of you?"
"Oh this version of me is like the me in the third viewing but somehow worse."
Lucas stared in shock but before he could say anything, two more people appeared. Both of them appeared to be in their twenties, one a petite woman with purple hair and bright green eyes. The other a man of medium height with honey brown hair and hazel green eyes.
"Ben!" Emir exclaimed.
"Why am I not surprised you figured out who I am first, Emir?" The older Ben said with a small chuckle.
"Well he is one of your shadows Benny," the purple haired woman said.
"Yes Mal but I'd have thought someone would have recognized you first. Also, where are we?"
"…well I think this is a good spot for a break," Poseidon said and everyone nodded.
Thank Gods for the new arrivals! Mom and dad will forget they wanted to talk to me, the younger Ben thought with an inward sigh.