Chapter Fifty Eight
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to Disney or the Greek myths!
Ah we've arrived to the part of the reading where things get awkward for a particular member of the audience (*cough*LEAH*cough*) or at least it would if she felt any awkwardness. It is also one of the few Natalie and Freddy free chapters in here and apparently the only one where Lucas is mentioned.
Blame the fact that at the time, I wasn't sure if I was going to keep same couples across both universes or if I was going to mix it up with Chi's beau. But now that they're married over in the WAL universe, please forgive my temporary lack of commitment with the shipping!
LotusQuil: Ah yes, I think I'll be coming up with some creative insults for her and The Gazelle. They certainly do make things more interesting unfortunately. And yeah, the rotation change just didn't work out. But I understood that reference! :D
Marcus Emrys: Yeah I love the Brandi version of Cinderella (mainly because they gave the Prince a name before Kit in 2017—still love Kit though). Oh thanks, Google said it was Estia but Google was probably wrong. You're welcome! I want to read a fanfic where Leah gets punched now!
AmethystDragon14: Yay! Yeah Nat Bat's day of reckoning can not come fast enough! Ben does need to brace himself though I think Rose and Emir share that title.
miranda88: Things are going to get interesting, that's for sure!
SixUnderOneXSix: Hmm, that's what someone who reads minds would say… lol I kid, I kid. But yeah, things have to get worse before they get better and thanks—good luck with your writer's block! I hope it works itself out!
danifan3000: Well considering they have the God of Law on their side, the royals should be good to go should they decide to sue.
JaclynnM: Oh yeah, there's a reason why I don't have Natalie there. Mainly because I despise her with every fiber of my being. And I created her!
SnowWhite45: Please don't strangle Harry, or you're going to get Uma upset! That is definitely possible, I'm not going to lie!
Gigi18: Oh I'm so glad! As for plans for a sequel…well anything's possible!
Gracfully: Oh thank you!
twilightgirl587: Oh trust me, there'll be more yelling Gods in the future. And I hope I don't disappoint with the reaction toward them finding out about all that Natalie has done!
Guest: Ooh, that's not a half-bad idea. I do love Mirabel from Encanto (mainly I just love Antonio, and is it weird that when I saw the trailer where he's telling the jaguar not to eat the rats, I felt so bad for the jaguar? Like look at those eyes! Let him eat just one!)
IWantColouredRain: Oh thank you! Yeah, Leah was on the list—if I included the words 'waste of oxygen', that's generally Leah. :D
Hope you guys enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"Are you sure you want to read?" Jasmine whispered to Aladdin as he reached over and took a scroll.
"I'm sure," Aladdin whispered back.
Ben leaned back in his chair, staring at the pages in front of him in shock. This…this just couldn't be right.
Benji sighed. "Sadly, it was scroll-me. It was."
"Starting this scroll on a cheery note I see," Robin shook her head.
It'd taken him three whole weeks but he had finally gotten through the records of the past twenty years.
Akiho rubbed his forehead. "Please tell me you at least slept in those three weeks!"
"Of course I did," Benji nodded.
"Forgive me if I don't readily believe you Ben!"
Elsa leaned over to Kristoff. "I feel like I've missed something."
"Oh apparently Prince Ben has taken to sleeping at his desk due to all the paperwork he's been doing," Kristoff told her. "Working through meals and everything—and Akiho has been taking him sandwiches which I still need to talk to him about."
He hadn't wanted to take so long but between classes, homework, and meetings…well he did need to eat and sleep after all.
"He can be taught!" Hyllus exclaimed with a grin.
Macaria chuckled. "I think you've been hanging around Philoctetes a bit too much haven't you?"
There were only so many hours in the day.
He had even brought some of the records to bed with him, just to have a chance to make more progress on getting the records examined.
"So close," Emir sighed, shaking his head.
"Hey, at least it's not at his desk," Akiho said. "Progress right?"
Part of him was thankful at least that he was king…at least that way he wouldn't have to ask for permission to access the full manifests and shipping records. He could just access them, no questions asked.
"Well you probably could have accessed the records rather easily when your dad was King," Emir pointed out.
"Ah but then he would have run into the questions he didn't want asked," Akiho reminded his best friend.
"Oh right!"
Beast shook his head. He wished he had known about all of this sooner but at least he knew now and could do something. Before it had to fall on his son's shoulders.
Ben ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the last page in his hand. With the exception of the first six months of the Isle's creation, every month had seen a delay in the food they'd been sending to the Isle.
"Why is that a surprise?" Squirmy asked softly.
"Yeah, everyone knows about the delays," Squeaky nodded.
Sammy sighed. "I don't think scroll-Prince Ben knows though," she told her brothers. "Or at least he didn't know before now since the Prince Ben in the room knows about it."
"Why? Hasn't scroll-Prince Ben been paying attention?"
"…Celia? CJ? Which one of you taught my brothers sarcasm?"
CJ chuckled. "I think that was Jade actually."
At first the delays had been small…almost imperceptible. They had been as small as a day or at most a week….and then four years into the Isle's creation, they seemed to pick up. The delays he meant, not the deliveries.
Belle's eyes grew wide in realization as she looked at her husband before glaring at Leah's still unconscious form. Yes it was horrid what she had done but somehow it was made truly worse by using Adam's distraction as he focused on her pregnancy!
Leah knew how rough the pregnancy was with Ben, not to mention everything with Abby, Adam…he gave reports every time he had a council meeting, Belle thought. Oh I hope Ben doesn't blame himself because of all of this.
Gods how did Auradon not notice this? Ben thought.
"Probably because Auradon didn't want to notice it," Uma muttered, glaring slightly at Beast and Belle.
Oh sure they might be regretful now but they were still rulers for twenty years while some of their people died!
Dad…dad was king all that time! Did he honestly not know? But how could he not know? Wasn't he getting reports from the Isle? Weren't we sending people over there?
"Dad?" Ben asked, looking at Beast with a small frown. "I know you didn't know about the delays but…you are at least getting reports right?"
"Benji?"
Ben looked up to see Chip standing in the doorway of his office, holding what looked like two steaming mugs of hot chocolate.
Anna and Akiho grinned and even Elsa had a small smile on her lips.
"Chocolate?" The three Arendelle royals asked.
"What's that for?" Ben asked, clearing a spot on his desk for Chip to put the mugs down. "Not that I'm not appreciative for it Chip, but it's like sixty five degrees outside. Not exactly hot chocolate weather."
"Um excuse me Ben but any time of the year is the perfect time for hot chocolate," Akiho said.
Kristoff shook his head as he looked at his wife and sister-in-law. "Which one of you is the reason for his chocolate obsession?"
"Both," Anna said, grinning. "I kept craving it when I was pregnant with him and Elsa was happy to get me any chocolate I wanted."
"Which is why it's cold chocolate," Chip chuckled, handing Ben his mug.
Chad grinned. "Oh yeah! Ben, remember? We came up with that when we were kids—you, me, and Audrey!"
"That's right!" Ben nodded. "And then we got Chip hooked on it which in turn made it so it made its way to our parents."
"And siblings!" Kitty added. "And honestly Ben, just whipped cream and cinnamon? You're missing the nutmeg!"
"I like freezing mine in a Popsicle!" Alexandria grinned. "Mix in the whipped cream too so it's more portable."
Everyone stopped and turned to look at the youngest Charming.
"That…that's genius," Ben said. "I've got some drip catcher popsicle holders so you can drink the melted stuff from the popsicle—imagine having one of those while reading a book under one of the trees at Auradon Prep!"
"Why am I not surprised that's where your mind went?" Akiho chuckled.
"Teach me your ways," Hadie said, looking over at Ben. "But, if I might interject, have you considered a hammock to lie in while you read your book instead of just sitting on the ground?
Uma chuckled. "Yep, the bookworms have united," she said as Ben grinned.
"Just chocolate milk but with cinnamon and whipped cream. Your shadows called me, said that you were hibernating in your office again and they didn't know why. So I thought I'd stop by for a nice brotherly talk before they involved Mal."
Audie chuckled softly as she thought about what her father would say about cold chocolate. How there were some people who liked to put cinnamon in it—and that those people were wrong.
Judging by the amused smile this version of her mother was giving this version of her father, Audie could only assume the same sentiment held true.
Ben sighed and took a sip of his cold chocolate before he spoke again. Chip didn't need to know that Mal had already dragged him out of his office three times these past three weeks for lunch and dinner.
"Just doing my then girlfriend duty," Malinda said. "Besides, Ben would have done the same if the situation was reversed."
"Chip, can…if I tell you something, brother to brother, do you promise not to freak out?"
"That's not going to happen," Lucas said, shaking his head. "I know my husband well…even if this is a different version of him."
"You know me Benji," Chip said. "I make no promises."
"Aren't you technically making a promise when you say you make no promises?" Neal asked.
"Fair enough," Ben sighed again. "The day before Family Day…Mal took me to the Isle."
Chip paused. "I'm sorry, you must have started speaking German there for a second. I thought you just said that you'd gone to the Isle."
"And he's freaking out," Audie said with a fond smile.
"I did."
"You? Son of Adam, the guy who created the Isle in the first place?"
"I feel like we've already covered this," Harry said, shaking his head.
"I believe we covered that with your first statement."
"And you didn't tell anyone?"
"I told—"
"Okay, let me rephrase. You didn't tell anyone who wasn't already going to the Isle with you?"
"…no?"
"Wait a minute! You told Carlos!" Kitty exclaimed.
"That's right!" Lucy nodded. "And he didn't go with you to the Isle so Ben did tell someone who wasn't already going to the Isle with him!"
Chip sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Ben, why would you do something like that?"
"Because he wanted to see the Isle," Audie said, shaking her head. "At least that trip went better than when my timeline's Ben went to the Isle. Or at least when he went in the viewings that the Blue Fairy gave us."
"Oh?" Mal asked. "What happened."
"…he got kidnapped."
Uma and Mal shot up, their spines ramrod straight. "Freddy better think twice before messing with Mal's boyfriend," Uma growled.
Okay…maybe I'll wait to tell her that she was the one who had Ben kidnapped and that Harry was the one to do so, Audie thought.
"Chip, the Isle's part of Auradon too," Ben said. "How can I be king and rule all the peoples if I don't even know how about half our population lives?
"And that's the mark of a good King. There's no room for discrimination while ruling," Aladdin said with a small nod.
I mean just look at the registry—the written one, not the digital. Gods, it's amazing how out of date that one is. I'm having Carlos and Doug update it."
"Yes!" Carlos exclaimed with joy. "Finally! You all need to stop ignoring your tech!"
"Ben, baby brother, you're rambling."
"He does that a lot," Lonnie nodded.
"Oh sorry," Ben said. "Anyway, I needed to see the Isle. Especially since there were no reports or anything coming to me as part of my preparation to become king. Plus…it was a way to sort of see what made Mal…well Mal."
Mal shook her head. "That's just as corny as it was before," she said but with a small smile.
"I'd say that was corny but Lucas used to use those same lines on me when we were at Auradon Prep," Chip chuckled.
"Hey, I was wondering when I'd get a mention!" Lucas said with a small chuckle.
Ben smiled before he shook his head. "Gods Chip, the state of that Isle…small kids probably Alexandria's age or younger in the streets pickpocketing…I remember Jay had to swipe my wallet back about five times on our way to Lord Hades' restaurant."
"Huh sounds like the Isle's losing its touch," Jay said. "You'd think an Auradon wallet would have been swiped a lot more than five times."
"Well they're not you Jay," Uma chuckled. "You would have made sure it wasn't swiped off of you in the first place."
"…Lord Hades has a restaurant?"
"It's only the best place to eat anywhere in Auradon!" Hadie said with a grin.
Malinda chuckled. "Hads, you've only ever been on the Isle."
"And my statement is still true," Hadie said firmly.
"Yeah," Ben nodded. "It was another reason why I wanted to see the Isle. Mal had described the menu options on our date and I wanted to try the food. We definitely don't have anything like it here in Auradon."
"I'm going to take that as a compliment," Hades said, shaking his head. "Especially considering the difference of the quality of ingredients I know you all have here."
"Huh…think Lord Hades will deliver?" Chip asked. "I now really want to try his food."
Mal and Hadie grinned. "Yeah, can't we make that an option? Because not having Dad's garlic crispy chicken would be horrible!"
"I'll see what I can do," Ben promised.
Hades snorted in amusement. "Oh sure, don't even ask the guy who's restaurant it is you're making the changes to."
"Dad, you already deliver to the Evil Queen, Cruella, and Jafar. Why is Auradon any different?" Mal asked.
"I deliver to Cruella because no sane person wants to be around her more than normal, Jafar because he's got a business to run but he still needs to eat and we did have an alliance once upon a time before he joined forces with the insane lizard known as Maleficent, and you know why I deliver to the Evil Queen, Mali."
"…because of my dad," Evie whispered before Mal had a chance to answer.
"I can certainly look into seeing if that's something that could be done," Ben sighed. "But first I have to figure out why most of the food on the Isle is rotten."
All of the VKs perked up at the thought of being able to get Lord Hades' food off the Isle.
"Though I can understand the delay," Harriet said. "Getting that quality control taken care of comes first."
Chip paused and looked at Ben, a look of unmistakable horror on his surrogate brother's face.
"…rotten?"
"Of course I'm horrified," Chip said. "I spent ten years as a tea cup for something I didn't do. I can relate."
Ben nodded. "That's what Mal said when I tried Lord Hades' food. I had meant to ask about it but then we had a confrontation with a kid on the Isle and then the whole Family Day and coronation debacle happened so it just kinda…got pushed out of my mind."
Phillip Sr. sighed. "It is understandable at least. Ben's a teenager when it comes down to it, and there was a lot thrown at him in a weekend."
"I'm just surprised Mal didn't remind him," Uma shook her head.
"I wanted to make sure he got used to being King before dropping anything on him," Malinda said. "Even if it was something he already knew, I wanted to still ease him into it. You know what he's like."
"Kids were still dying while you were easing your boyfriend into the role he'd been training for his whole life."
"I know Uma," Malinda sighed. "I know."
"So I guess that would explain the snowfall of papers on your desk," Chip noted.
"Yep," Ben nodded again. "Twenty years of records of the deliveries to the Isle. The delays don't really register at first, just a day to a week. But then, like four years into the creation of the Isle, they seem to pick up speed—and it's always the same excuse of an engine issue."
"Gods, the barge team needs to step up their act," Akiho shook his head. "I mean, I'm glad they're all stupid and used the same excuse time after time or else this would have been a lot harder to determine."
He shook his head. "Gods, I…I hope dad didn't know about this but at the same time I can't help but feel a little peeved that he never looked into the delays. He created the Isle for Zeus's sake! Yet it falls on my shoulders?!"
"Wait…" Lonnie said. "Is Ben having a normal reaction to something?"
"Ben…you said that the delays didn't pick up until four year into the Isle?" Chip said slowly.
"That's sneaky…and actually rather smart," Jasmine said, glaring at Leah who was still unconscious. Alive but passed out.
"Yeah," Ben nodded.
"Ben…how old are you?"
"Sixteen. Why?"
"How old's the Isle?"
"Twenty."
"Good to know you know that Ben," Evan chuckled.
"What's twenty minus sixteen?"
Ben tilted his head. "What's with the math lesson Chip? We all know it's…it's four."
"Strange place for a math lesson but clearly he gets the point," Neal said softly.
"Exactly," Chip said gently. "Ben, the delays picked up when Belle was pregnant with you. Whoever did this knew they wouldn't be under scrutiny during that time."
Phoebus narrowed his eyes as he heard that. "That at least narrows down the suspect pool for our scroll selves."
"I agree," Aladdin nodded, his eyes growing hard as he glared at Leah.
"But dad was born royal," Ben said. "It's not traditional for royal men to be involved in a pregnancy."
Malinda looked over at Benji. "Oh really? Since when do you care about what's traditional or not?"
Chip chuckled. "Your mom kept your dad on his toes Benji. Besides, since when do you care about what's traditional? Mr. Date a VK?
"I was told to humor my pregnant wife," Beast said with a slightly sad smile. "If she wanted me, she'd get me…besides my father wasn't the most attentive. I wanted to break that from thee start with my kids."
Anyway…if there was one thing your dad cares about more than Auradon, it's your mom and you. Adam stood by Belle's side all the way through the pregnancy. He even put some of the kingly duties to the side to make sure he was around, especially near the end."
Benji nodded. "I will be following dad's example with that. My family comes first."
"Really?" Ben asked, leaning forward a bit.
"Absolutely," Chip nodded and ruffled Ben's hair.
"Don't you trust me Benji?" Chip asked as he looked at Ben.
Benji chuckled. "Of course I do Chip."
"Thankfully you gave your mom an easy labor, otherwise I think Adam would still have his hand in a cast. Your mom broke two bones from squeezing it so tightly."
Ben looked over at his parents with a sheepish smile. "Sorry mom, dad."
"I'd rather be in pain for a short while and have you Ben than the alternative," Belle said, her voice soft and laced with a twinge of sadness.
Ben chuckled and batted Chip's hands away before sighing. "So…whoever's causing the delays knew dad was preoccupied with mom's pregnancy? But we have quality checks for the food and everything! I know we do Chip! We check the expiration dates on everything!"
"Yeah but we need to get it to the Isle before it goes past the expiration date," Phil Jr. sighed.
"Ben…" Chip said gently. "You know how your mom miscarried when you were three?"
Ben nodded slowly. He had hazy memories of that time but he could still remember it.
Ben sighed softly. "I may have only been three when it happened but I would never forget that," he whispered.
"Papa?" Ben said softly, toddling over to his father's desk. "Where's maman?"
"This must have been before you got Flamey," Chip said, his voice soft. "Remember? You got him when you were three and you carried him everywhere."
"Of course I remember," Benji said with a small smile. "You gave him to me Chip, when mom was pregnant with Abby, so I wouldn't be upset about getting a new sibling."
Ben couldn't help the sad smile on his lips. "I…I remember where Flamey was. Faintly but I remember. I um…some of the servants were talking about how mom was in her room a couple of days prior to this moment in the scroll so I…I left Flamey in mom and dad's room to try to cheer her up."
"That would explain the dragon on my side of the bed," Beast said with a faint chuckle as Abby got up to give Ben a hug.
Benji though smiled slightly as neither Chad nor Audrey made a remark about his beloved stuffed dragon. Though, at this part of the scroll, they'd have to be heartless to make a comment.
Beast gave his son a sad smile as he picked Ben up and sat him on his lap. "Your maman's feeling sad today Ben. She's resting in her room."
"Oh," Ben said. "When I'm sad, maman's hugs always make me feel better. Do you think maman would like a hug?"
"A hug from my child always makes me feel better," Belle said with a slightly sad smile on her lips.
"I think she'd like that very much," Beast said, brushing a strand of light brown hair of Ben's hair off to the side. His son needed a hair cut, but that would wait.
"I could help with that!" Dizzy said with a smile.
Celia chuckled. "You're not even born yet Diz. I don't think you could help give the Crown Prince a hair cut."
"And biscuits?" Ben said. "'Onnie said that her maman makes biscuits when she feels triste. Do you think maman would like that?"
Lonnie nodded. "It's a tried and true method after all, as has been mentioned."
Beast couldn't help but chuckle slightly at how his son's French slipped out. Belle had begun to teach Ben, stating that the younger a child learned the more of a language they would pick up. After all, they were both French and they shouldn't hide that from their son.
Malinda nodded with a small smile. "Just like how I was taught Greek once I knew who dad was."
"That depends, you're not just trying to get some biscuits are you?" Beast asked, gently teasing his son.
"No papa!"
"A good question to ask at that age," Kit chuckled softly.
"Then let's go ask Mrs. Potts if she'd make some," Beast said, standing up with Ben in his arms. "Then you can take them to your maman and give her a big hug."
Ben, Benji, and Beast all couldn't help but smile sadly at that.
Ben nodded before pausing, tentatively biting his lip. "Papa? Can…can I walk?"
"Oh," Beast said, not having realized that he was still holding Ben. "Of course son."
"Sadly, the moments where I could hold you flew by," Beast whispered, the sad smile still on his lips.
He set Ben down, ignoring the slight pang in his heart as he realized that his son was growing up.
Slow down son, Beast thought. Before I knew it, you were trying to free your fingers from my hand because you could walk…do you think you could let me at least hold your hand just a little longer? It went by too fast.
He also ignored the second pang as he realized that he would never get to see his daughter grow up…his little Abigail.
Abby bit her lip as she looked at her father, Belle squeezing his hand in reassurance.
For weeks following the news of the miscarriage, Beast had stopped himself from wondering what his daughter would have been like as the kingdom, Belle and Ben needed him to stay strong.
"No one would have blamed you for mourning your daughter," Ariel whispered. "Even rulers are just parents underneath."
And that would explain why he stepped down, Aladdin thought, his eyes growing wide in realization. Thirteen years of not being able to mourn your own kid, because of a belief that the kingdom needed a strong King…that would burn anyone out.
But now it was like the thought entered his mind without anyway to stop it. Would his daughter have been like Ben? Athletic, curious, kind? Or would she have been a bookworm like her mother?
"Really? At three, you were describing Ben as 'athletic'?" Chip asked, looking at Beast. "You know full well that Ben was a full fledged bookworm."
"What's this 'was' nonsense?" Akiho asked. "Clearly you've never been around him when he's reorganizing his bookshelves."
He could only hope neither one of his children would be like him, or at least the way he had been before the Enchantress came to visit.
"I think they turned out pretty okay," Henry said, his voice soft.
"Papa?" Ben asked, noticing the tears in Beast's eyes.
"Sorry Ben," Beast said, clearing his throat. "Guess I got lost in thought for a minute."
I wish I had been older when mom miscarried…if she had to miscarry that is, Ben thought as he bit his lip. I could have been able to do more to help dad…help mom.
"Are you triste too?"
"Yeah son, I am," Beast nodded. Ben frowned and quickly gave his father the biggest hug his three year old self could.
"And no one can blame you for that dad," Ben whispered.
"There!" Ben said and Beast had to smile at the authoritative tone in Ben's voice. "Now you're not sad anymore!"
All of the parents in the room chuckled softly but with a ting of sadness at Ben's innocence.
So…was that the start of Ben tying other people's happiness to his own? Emir thought.
Beast chuckled softly and gently kissed the top of Ben's head. "Whenever I'm around you, I can't be sad."
"Glad to help dad," Ben said with a sad smile.
Malinda rested her head on Benji's shoulder. "He does have that affect on people."
"Well, after that," Chip said softly, gently breaking Ben out of his thoughts and pulling him back to the present, "your mom and dad were…well let's just say the Isle took less of a priority for your parents. The inspectors your mom had insisted on were called back and stopped going."
Belle sighed softly. Gods…because we couldn't be the rulers Auradon needed, children suffered, she thought.
"So whoever caused the delays knew this," Ben sighed. "Dad told me we used to have inspectors…I was actually going to look into reinstating them until dad said the reason that they stopped going was because so many of the inspectors came back injured."
"This is all pointing to someone on the council," Tiana said, shaking her head. "Who else would know information like that?"
Chip nodded. "Your dad used to tell me that it was the hardest decision he had ever made, just because the inspectors were something your mother had fought tooth and nail for when the Isle was set up.
"I hated to do it," Beast said. "It was like I was taking away one of Belle's achievements."
He didn't want to remove something she'd been so proud of…but he didn't want her to feel guilty with every one that came back injured."
"I understand why we had to," Belle sighed. "But think about how we could have found out about the Isle that much sooner had the inspectors stayed in place."
Harry could have had some relief from being the Captain's punching bag, Harriet thought.
Harriet wouldn't have had to act like our mom since age five, Harry thought, unaware of his sister's thoughts about him.
Ben sighed. He knew why his dad had told Chip that and not him—Chip, despite his non-royal birth status, was practically a second son to Beast. In fact, Ben wouldn't have been surprised if Chip had been listed as the heir had Ben not been born.
Chip flushed slightly. "I mean, thank you, I love you guys too but I'm happy with non royal life."
"That changes now," Ben said, making a note in a nearby notebook. "Chip, there's no way the kids on the Isle are remotely healthy if they're eating rotten food. Gods…"
"We also don't have a medical system," Harriet added. "Just throwing that out there."
"Have you heard anything from the doctors who did the exams on the new kids?" Chip asked.
"Wouldn't that violate Doctor-patient confidentiality?" Shang asked.
Mulan looked over at him. "I'm pretty sure the camp doctor who told you I was a woman is the walking example of violating that."
"Was that even around when you guys were saving China?" Lil Shang asked with a small chuckle.
"The only one I've heard about is Hadie and that's just because Lady Persephone listed me under those who can receive information since she'd be on the Isle for six months.
"Why is he not a contact for Uma, Harry, and Gil too?" Celia asked. "He's the one who brought them over after all."
"Not to mention he's the King and he knows about the issues with the Isle's food," CJ added.
According to the doctors, Hadie's bordering on underweight but just barely above the line. Probably due to his divine background."
"And the fact that Hadie had better access to food than other kids his age," Malinda said, shaking her head. "Between dad's restaurant and Ursula's Chip Shoppe in our territory, the Rats certainly weren't lacking for food. Plus whatever Virgil could swipe from the barge."
"And the others?"
"Unless their guardians tell me otherwise, I have to assume they're healthy," Ben said.
"I mean…we're in the same boat as Hadie is," Uma said with a shrug. "Easier access to food than the other VKs, and as long as Harry doesn't hurt Gil, we're all in decent physical shape."
"And Fish for Brain's physical well being only has to do with how much he annoys me," Harry nodded.
It'd been interesting assigning guardians for the incoming VKs but somehow Ben had managed it. Lord Poseidon had immediately volunteered upon hearing that his granddaughter would be one of the four, and had also offered to be guardian to Hadie during the six months Lady Persephone was on the Isle.
Persephone couldn't help the grateful smile she gave Poseidon. It was a relief knowing that there'd be someone from Olympus in Hadie's corner—someone Mal could turn to if there was an issue she couldn't solve.
"Thank you brother," Hades said, his voice soft but still audible to those around him.
"I won't let my nephew be without an adult he can turn to while Persephone's on the Isle," Poseidon told him. "I'm just surprised that I didn't make the same offer for Mal, knowing she's your daughter. After all, I became Uma's guardian so it's not as if I'd thought that Mal was too old for a guardian. They're the same age after all."
To everyone's surprise, including his own, it had been his mother to offer guardianship of Gil.
Beast looked at Belle in shock. "The son of Gaston? Really? You know his father stabbed me right?"
"The kids aren't their parents, dad," Abby pointed out. "Besides, if mom just went off first impressions, you'd be kinda screwed wouldn't you?"
Though, maybe it shouldn't have been so surprising. After all, it was Belle who'd seen past the Beast to his father's kind heart.
"I think I should quote my son here and agree with my daughter when I say that the kids should not be judged for the actions of their parents," Belle said softly.
Harry had been the last to get a guardian and if Ben was being honest, he hadn't thought anyone would volunteer for the role of guardian for the son of Captain James Killian Hook.
Harry hid a wince as he heard that. I mean, it made sense of course. One of the worst pirates known to man—and not in the Captain Jack Sparrow sense.
"Hey, if that happens, I'll just ask Grandfather to be your guardian," Uma told him, the wince not as hidden as Harry had thought. "Or Aunt Steph will be your guardian when she's off the Isle and we'll just make sure you don't get into any trouble half the year."
"That might actually be impossible Uma," Jay chuckled.
It'd been Elizabeth Turner to volunteer and Ben had to smile. The Pirate Queen would have been the one to make sure Harry had a place where he'd be welcomed.
Harry tilted his head in interest. Maybe I could talk Captain Turner to take me sailing, he thought.
"I'm going to have to talk to Mal about what happened on the Isle," Ben sighed. That definitely wasn't a conversation he wanted to have with his girlfriend.
"Maybe it wasn't the best talk but it was necessary," Malinda said.
"First we need to figure out who would delay the food to the Isle," Chip said.
"We?"
"You really thought we wouldn't help you out?" Akiho asked. "Ben, you, me, and Emir are a trio! Meaning we don't let solo work happen if we can help it!"
"The food drives were our responsibility too," Emir added. "Meaning it's up to all of us to figure out what's going on. Well I mean, we know now but I mean our scroll-selves."
"Not to mention I'm not letting you stress yourself out about this alone," Chip nodded. "Anything I can do to help I will."
"You honestly think I'm going to let you do this alone?" Chip asked. "Benji, you're dreaming if you think that's the case. You, me, and your shadows. Hell, one phone call and I can get Bonnie and Gabriel in to look into it."
"Chip, you're busy, I can't—."
"Ah ba ba ba," Chip exclaimed, looking at Ben. "Do I need to repeat what my scroll-self said?"
"No, no," Ben said. "Thank you Chip but don't bother your siblings. I'd say don't bother Akiho and Emir but something tells me you've already told them."
"Why am I not surprised?" Ben asked, shaking his head fondly.
"I told them to meet me by your office after I had a talk with you," Chip smirked. "They should be at your door right about…"
"Ben!"
"…now," Chip finished just as Akiho and Emir fell into the room.
"They are Harry and Jay!" Uma exclaimed as she and Mal burst out in laughter.
"Wait, does that mean we're no longer the Auradon versions of humanoid Pain and Panic?" Emir asked.
"Why…why would you want to be?" Elsa asked, looking at her sister in confusion.
Anna chuckled. "It's a long story Elsa."
Ben sighed and shook his head. "Are you two ever going to be normal?"
"Being normal is vastly overrated," Emir stated. "Besides, I'm the second son. Even if The Gazelle reports on me, my antics are so widely known that no one's interested anymore."
"It's why I act the way I do," Emir grinned. "Defense mechanism, The Gazelle can't 'report' on me if I act the same way regardless."
"Uh huh," Ben said, his voice deadpanned. "And the fact that you've been this way since I've known you and that's before we learned about the existence of The Gazelle is what? Redundant?"
"Lucky," Akiho muttered.
"Ah you know you love me."
"Jury's out on that. Now would you get off me?!"
"Yep, Harry and Jay," Mal nodded with a slight smirk of amusement.
Ben and Chip chuckled as Emir scrambled up off of Akiho and helped his Arendelle buddy up off the floor.
"At least he helped him up," Ashaki chuckled.
"So Benny boy, what's the reason you've been hibernating in your office again?"
"I do not—"
"Oh so Mal somehow transfigured the library or the Tourney field to look like your office?" Akiho asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Ben, you used to sleep in your office in the lead up to coronation. Now granted you've got a nicer office than when you were the Crown Prince but still…"
"Yes, thank you for that reminder," Beast said, his voice low.
Ben sighed. "Look guys, I need you to not freak out about this when I tell you."
"It's us Ben. Freak outs are to be expected by now."
"This is true," Ben nodded.
"And they don't really get better with age," Benji added.
"Right. I honestly don't know why I even thought otherwise."
"So what's up?"
"You don't want to know scroll-me," Emir sighed.
"It could be scroll-me who asked," Akiho said.
"He still doesn't want to know."
Ben shook his head. "You guys know how Mal and the others kinda…eat differently than us?"
"Differently might be an understatement," Jay said, shaking his head.
"Oh you mean how they eat like ravenous wolves set on protecting their kill from anyone else who might take it from them?"
"I think hyenas would be a more accurate comparison," Harriet said.
Akiho shook his had. "Scroll-me should have told you that night. That was the first hint something was wrong after all."
Ben, Emir, and Chip blinked as they stared at Akiho in shock and alarm.
"What?" Akiho asked as everyone in the room turned to look at him.
"I think they're just shocked because of how vivid that image is," Elsa said with a small shake of her head.
"What?" Akiho asked. "I like the guys but tell me I'm not wrong! Every time I eat with them I'm afraid they're going to grab an arm or leg of mine."
Hadie scoffed. "We're not cannibals after all. It'd be the hyenas, the lions, the tigers, or Sabor you'd have to be worried about eating your flesh."
"Oh yeah," Mal nodded. "How do I always forget about that dang gone leopard?"
"Because he mainly bothers Clayton," Celia said.
"Akiho's vivid description aside, he's right," Ben sighed. "Well I've been looking into the food going to the Isle—"
"Why?" Emir asked, looking over at Ben. "The food's fine right?"
"Oh scroll-me, how wrong you are," Emir said, sadly shaking his head.
Ben bit his lip as he looked at the son of Aladdin. "Emir…most if not of their food is rotten. Mal told me and even if she didn't, it doesn't matter because I ate it."
"…you did what?!"
"As said, I don't know why it was expected that they wouldn't freak out," Chad shook his head.
"It was the day before Family Day, Mal took me to the Isle so I could see what it was like. If there were any issues, I wanted to fix them on day one."
"And you didn't take us?"
"While that was a good idea, the bigger the group was, the more noticeable you guys would have been and the more likely Ben would have been found out," Malinda said with a small sigh.
"They could easily pretend I was a VK. Three of us? Not so much."
Emir and Akiho gave Ben a look.
"What?"
"Pretty sure it's next to impossible to image you as a VK," Ashaki told Ben. "Especially since we're still trying to figure out if you're human."
"You? A VK? I'm sorry Ben but you apologized to Mal for Audrey using her name in an argument you two had."
"She…she told you about that?"
"No. She told Uma about that who then told us about it. I have to say, I like these new VKs."
"Mal didn't deserve to be dragged into something between me and Audrey," Benji shrugged.
Ben sighed. "Oh Gods…will the school still be standing with you two, Harry and Jay together?"
"Hey! We already said that we like the school!" Emir exclaimed.
"Hey we haven't destroyed it yet!"
"The 'yet' is what bothers me I hope you know!"
"And the 'yet' is because you haven't had me and Jay aiding you!" Harry said with a grin.
Emir shook his head. "Anyway, you were saying about the food being rotten and you tried it?"
Chip nodded. "Not really the time to off topic, guys."
"Yeah," Ben nodded. "Mal took me to her dad's restaurant and I tried the food. It had an…an interesting taste. That's when Mal said I didn't have to be polite, that most of the food the Isle gets is rotten anyway."
"And yet it still tastes good," Hadie said. "The power of the Gods I guess."
"But…we've been running food drives since we were thirteen!"
"Was that supervised?" Sammy asked. "I mean…these are the heirs to their respective kingdoms after all."
"When they get it, it's rotten," Ben sighed and held up some of the records. "From the delays I've found, it looks to be on purpose.
Smee got up, unable to really take much more of the scroll, and went into one of the side rooms. The fact that his Mollie, his wife, might have been able to survive the birth of their boys had they had enough food…and someone had done that purposefully?
"William?" Milah asked as she followed him inside.
"Mollie…she…she could have…who would be so cruel Milah?" Smee asked, looking over at her. Milah's heart broke as she heard the crack in Smee's voice. "To take a mother from her children? To give Sammy responsibilities beyond her years? To make it so my boys would never know their mother?"
Milah couldn't help the sad smile that pulled at her lips as she pulled Smee into a hug. "I know William, I know. Trust me, there's no one in there that knows better than me. I wish so much that I could have been there for Harriet, Harry, and of course my CJ…"
"It…it wasn't my fault?"
Milah broke from the hug to look at the door, having left it open in her rush to comfort her husband's First Mate. There, standing in the open doorway, was her youngest daughter; staring up at her with hope filled eyes that broke Milah's heart.
"What wasn't your fault, sweetheart?" Milah asked.
"That…that you died," CJ elaborated. "I mean…I know some of the older kids have commented that it was done purposefully, making the food rotten, but I…I didn't think it was true. So…so it wasn't my fault?"
Milah shook her head and walked over to her daughter, pulling her into her arms. "There's one thing that you should know CJ. My death could never be your fault. If anyone tells you otherwise, you point them to me. I'll steer them straight."
"Yeah right," CJ scoffed but returned the hug. "Harry never misses an opportunity to remind me that we'd have you if it wasn't for me."
"Excuse me CJ, I need to talk to your brother," Milah said, her blue eyes growing hard.
"No, you don't have to," CJ shrugged. "He won't care anyway…he hasn't even been home since he was ten."
Milah shook her head and bent down so that she was eye level with CJ. "I promise you CJ, I will talk to your brother. He shouldn't be making you feel like my death was your fault because it wasn't understand?"
CJ gave her mother a small, hesitant smile and Milah knew that, just like with Harry, one talk wasn't going to overcome years of torment for CJ. But she'd be there.
"Dad?" Sammy asked, walking into the room. "Are…are you okay?"
Smee nodded. "I'm fine Sammy," he said, his voice soft.
Sammy gave her dad a small, sad smile. "No you're not," she whispered as she pulled her father into her arms. "But I think that's going to be the good thing about being surrounded by these Boreadon folks. They're all about showing emotions aren't they?"
Smee chuckled slightly. "Now, now, don't be biasing your brothers. Besides, wouldn't you rather be holding young mistress Harriet rather than your old father?"
Milah shook her head at Smee's obvious attempt at matchmaking but knew that they couldn't stay in this room forever. The four of them made their way back out, sitting next to their respective families.
"Everything okay?" Harry asked his mom.
"We need to talk, Harrison," Milah said, her tone firm, and Harry nodded with his eyes slightly wide.
Harriet caught Aladdin's eye and nodded slightly, as if indicating it was okay to keep reading.
One month I could see as an accident or as a system issue with the engine. Two or three months in a row, I'd be wondering why we haven't gotten a new ship for the shipments. But nineteen and a half years?"
"Exactly," Esmerelda said, nodding her head. "There's no way our scroll selves would think that this isn't deliberate."
"So what's the plan Ben?" Emir asked, sitting next to Chip.
"That's why I'll need you two," Ben said. "You come up with some insane ideas but they always work."
"Someone's got to talk to the ship's captain," Ben sighed. "And that someone's—"
"Me," Chip said instantly.
"Oh, does Ben learn how to delegate finally?" Lonnie asked, grinning ear to ear.
"Ben, you go to the docks and it becomes front page news for a week. Who ever's doing this would wonder why and get spooked. I'm the son of your head housekeeper. Most of Auradon doesn't even know I exist."
"How is that possible?" Neal asked. "Chip's practically a second son to King Beast after all. It even said so in thee scroll!"
"But the joys of not being royal means I don't have to appear at stuffy press conferences," Chip grinned. "Besides, a medium height, dirty blond haired man? Dime a dozen. Even if people knew who I was, they wouldn't immediately think I was me."
"You know that actually made sense?" Beast whispered to Belle.
"While Chip's doing that, I can reach out to our head of security at the docks," Akiho said.
"Or, and this is just a thought, you could contact your mother or I and we could reach out to Michael," Kristoff said. "You should be worrying about your school work or your Tourney season, Akiho."
"I think it's R.O.A.R. season at this point, dad," Akiho chuckled.
"You know what I meant," Kristoff said, shaking his head.
"After all Arendelle runs that. As heir to the throne of Arendelle, I can easily get those tapes and see if anyone's been talking to the crew. Giving bribes, acting suspicious, that sort of thing."
"Thank Gods we're best friends," Benji said. "That probably cut the time in half and those kids don't have time for us to waste."
"All you'd need to do is talk to Mal," Emir told Ben. "She can give a sense of exactly happens on the Isle."
"I will, I'm sure," Ben said, nodding.
"I do," Benji confirmed.
Ben nodded. "I can talk to the others too. Carlos, Jay, Uma, Gil. Harry and Evie."
"Not Hadie?" Chip asked.
"He's too young," Ben said. "It'd be like involving Alexandria. I wouldn't feel right. Plus Mal would probably kill me if I involved her brother."
"Hmm, maybe not kill but certainly maim," Mal said.
"Never anger the girlfriend," Chip nodded with a smile.
"Or boyfriend," Lucas added.
"But especially when the significant other can turn into a dragon," Macaria said.
"Unless that girlfriend is Audrey," Emir chuckled. "Then again, Ben would breathe and that would somehow set her off."
"Excuse me?!"
"Oh whoops, I think someone just breathed!" Rose chuckled.
Eugene shook his head as he looked at Aladdin. "So…any tips on navigating the 'I hate Princess Audrey' phase of my child's life?"
"You think I know?" Aladdin asked. "I'm still in that phase for Emir. And Ashaki now that I think about it. And probably Aziz as well the more we read these scrolls."
"Yes, well the less said about Princess Leech, the better off my blood pressure will be," Chip nodded.
"Honestly," Audrey scoffed. "It wouldn't kill you to not insult me whenever you get the chance."
"Friendly reminder that she is a teenager and you're a grown man," Lucas said as Chip opened his mouth.
"Benji, I leave you in capable hands. I'll go and get some intel."
"Chip!" Ben called. "Not a word to Mal. Not yet. I want to be the one to tell her what's going on before she hears it from anyone."
"I wouldn't do that Benji," Chip said. "Secret's safe with me."
"Yes Ben because Mal and I have a lot of conversations."
"Chip…"
"We should have more conversations actually," Malinda said as she looked at her younger self. "Chip's good for a laugh and he's good at putting things into perspective."
"Plus, if he's going to be your brother-in-law, might help to start cultivating a relationship," Uma teased, looking at her version of her cousin.
"I know Ben," Chip said. "I understand, I won't tell Mal. I promise."
Ben smiled slightly. "Thank you."
"You know I've got your back Ben," Chip said as he stood up and gently squeezed Ben's shoulder. "I'll let you know what I find out."
Benji smiled as he rubbed Malinda's stomach. "One thing you should always know is that despite his insanity, Uncle Chip will always have your back," he said gently.
Malinda grinned as the baby kicked at the sound of Benji's voice.
"Hold on," Emir said. "Doesn't Chip have this thing called a job?"
"Freelance videographer, who right now has just been employed by the king," Chip smirked. "Got to love loopholes."
"How much time had you spent around Chip at that point?" Benji asked Malinda.
"Not that much," Malinda told him. "Probably just Family Day and your coronation."
"…how much time have you spent around Mal?"
"Benji, Benji, Benji…you know I've always been like this," Chip chuckled as he walked out.
"Sadly that's true," Beast nodded.
Chip gasped, resting his hand on his heart. "Adam, you wound me!"
"You're just proving his point, Chip," Ben shook his head.
Ben shook his head as he downed the rest of his cold chocolate.
"I'll get you the tapes Ben," Akiho promised. "If this is being done deliberately, we need to figure out who and we need to figure it out fast."
"I think this would be another instance where it'd be better to leave it up to the adults," Elsa said, looking over at her nephew.
Akiho shook his head. "If the kids on the Isle didn't get a chance to just be kids when they were growing up, then why should we just lay about? Especially those of us who are heirs to our kingdoms and have the resources, Aunt Elsa?"
"Before any more kids die," Emir said softly. Ben looked over at his best friend, knowing him well enough not to ask how he had come to that conclusion. It was the truth—anyone with brains could have told him that.
Emir sighed. "We can't bring those kids back, no matter what we do, but at least we can make sure that they're the last who die on the Isle."
The only thing he was dreading was how many kids had actually died as a result of this. How many kids he couldn't help. How many kids Auradon had let down.
"You don't want to know Ben," Malinda whispered. "It would break your heart."
"…so on that cheery note, who wants to read next?" Aladdin asked.
"I'll read dad," Aziz told his father.