Chapter Sixty Eight
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.
*ducks incoming projectiles* I know, I know, this chapter took a while. Unfortunately Ben and Mal (the little hamsters that run along my brain, inspiring my stories) have been a little occupied with Choosing Life and Half and Half. I think I need about two more muses in order to keep updates flowing nicely.
Though, I don't think there'll be a problem for that for the chapter after this one *smirks evily*
Oh and before anyone asks, in Uma's Wicked Book there's a torn page of a TV guide and on one of the rows, there's shows that are crossed out and replaced with shows like Say Yes to the Hex, Stepsister, Stepsister, and Pretty Little Liars. Hence the reference here :D
Katt Kiki: And the crazy will be starting soon!
JaclynnM: We're definitely getting closer, I don't blame you for being excited or scared.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yeah I really can't stand Leah :D
AmethystDragon14: Yay! To be fair to Malinda though she's the Queen of Auradon, she can't be judging her subjects without proof. And Carlos having a brother is only terrifying because we now have to think of Cruella in that way more than once in her life!
Hufflepuffgirl95: A part of me likes Doug, a part of me enjoys calling him Stalky way too much! :D
Marcus Emrys: I couldn't resist! Though now that I finished this chapter, I think it would have worked better here than in the previous chapter. And yeah, definitely need to shut Leah up! :D
61394: Oh I'm so glad you liked it! :D Well that's the one after this one but you're right, Leah has no right to talk about that with all the stuff she's done. And yeah, I don't either—unfortunately the series made us think about it by giving them kids in the first place!
danifan3000: Honestly because Uma's Wicked Book says Clay was the Rat Catching Club's faculty advisor, I would say that Clay's probably one of the few VKs who survived to adulthood on the Isle. Also the thought of Mal having a twin sister is just…well just odd.
smc-smfan1: So glad you enjoyed the chapter!
twilghtgirl587: Oh trust me I can't wait for Natalie to get fired too! I mean more people is definitely a possibility so there's always a chance they could come in to the readings. Arianna is Audrey's cousin, though she only appears in the books rather than the movies. Yao actually has a canonical daughter—Yi-Min. I head canon Li on the Tourney team to be Li's son and I don't think Chen Po has a kid though I might be wrong.
Unknown Person67: Oh I'm so glad you liked the chapter!
IWantColouredRain: I think constantly having smoke bombs pelted at you while also having your mom tell you what you needed to do to get a partner would drain your confidence. Carlos' dad is Le Pelt from 102 Dalmatians (the Live Action Glen Close movies) :D
Gracfully: So glad you enjoyed it! :D
a-person-on-the-internet-75: I'm so glad you enjoyed the chapter! :D
LotusQuil: Sarcasm is definitely in Hadie's genes :D I love writing Daniel even if he doesn't appear that often in the fics, giving Evie him for a father was the best choice I made imo. Now I do ship Regina and Robin in OUAT but since Robin's got a kid in Descendants, I had to go with my second Regina ship which I think worked out nicely. :D
Hope you guys enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Hercules sighed as he unfurled his scroll.
"You okay Herc?" Meg asked, her voice soft.
"Just…just hate the fact that the kids are dealing with all this in the future," Hercules told her.
Meg smiled slightly and rested a hand on his shoulder. "At least for the parts in the future, we can change them. Make it so the kids don't have to deal with this."
Mal rushed down the hall of Auradon Prep, frantically trying to get to her next class before she had another meeting with Natalie.
Kit shook his head. "Who is this woman? And why is she so devoted to Leah?"
"Actually…Ben and I did a little research a couple of years ago," Malinda said, looking over at Kit and Cinderella. "Natalie's full name is Natalie Doyle, she's the daughter of the Grand Duke you exiled and…and Prudence."
"But Prudence never said anything," Cinderella said, her voice soft as her eyes grew wide. "She knows we would have helped her right?"
"It's hard to say," Benji said. "But Natalie didn't start getting schooling until maybe about seven or eight when she was sponsored by—."
"Don't tell me, let me guess," Kitty said, rolling her eyes. "Leah?"
"So…so Mal going through all of that…it's our fault," Cinderella whispered as Leah scoffed.
Malinda shook her head. "No, please don't think that. We all know you would have helped Prudence and Natalie if you knew about Natalie's existence but with Natalie's connection to the Grand Duke, chances are Prudence didn't want to risk reminding you of him."
"That does kinda explain Natalie's obsession on 'how things are done'," Lucy said, looking at Cinderella. "Didn't you say Prudence was that way when you were learning the ropes, mom?"
Cinderella nodded, her eyes still shining with unshed tears at the thought of being the cause of so much pain even indirectly. "But Prudence has relaxed when it comes to that. At least she has now."
Ever since Leah's exile, her handler had been piling on more and more 'Lady of the Court' lessons.
"Why?" Ben said with a small frown. "And how? I don't think I'd approve of you getting more commitments, not when you're still learning. Wouldn't she need to run it past me?"
It was one thing to be a Lady by right, what with her father being a God, but she still needed to know how to act.
"But you do know how to act Mal," Persephone said. "I went over this with both you and Uma."
Gods forbid she accidentally embarrass Ben right?
"I don't think anything could actually embarrass Ben," Chad said as he looked over at the Crown Prince. "Remember that time we had an oatmeal eating contest?"
Ben nodded. Yeah and everyone was talking about whether or not I was ready to be King because I looked like dad did when he forgot how to use a spoon, he thought but didn't want to say out loud. He didn't want his dad feeling bad.
But it was getting to be a bit too much. She just felt stressed and panicked all the time.
"So talk to someone," Hadie said, shaking his head. "You know, even if you don't want to talk to mom and dad, you have Uma there as a roommate."
And what was worse was she had a feeling those emotions were leaking out through her mental link because she could feel a constant pressure there. As if someone was trying to talk to her.
"If you can feel it, then open the link and talk to someone Mal!" Uma exclaimed.
I know someone's trying to talk to me though, Mal thought, clutching her books to her chest like a shield as she weaved through the crowded hallway; keeping her head down slightly as to avoid detection.
"Then talk to them!" Hades, Persephone, and Uma said at the same time.
It's been about three months since Ben's coronation and I've had the mental link on mute ever since. Mom must be going spare but I just can't talk to her about this. It'd be like admitting defeat—and VKs don't do that.
"Mal, you know that if you need me I'd be at your side in a second. No matter where I am, Isle or not," Persephone said, shaking her head. "I am your parent, it's not your job to protect me. Talk to me sweetheart."
Malinda sighed softly. "Trust me, I wish I did," she whispered as Ben gently rubbed her back.
Not to mention it almost seemed cruel. Her mother was still on the Isle for another three months.
"But at least you'd have someone to talk to," Ashaki said. "Rather than bottling it up and keeping it all to yourself."
Talking to her about everything that was going on would only hurt her since there was nothing Persephone could do.
Persephone sighed. "Please talk to me sweetheart. Or talk to Uma if you're not going to talk to me."
Quickly cutting through the quad as if to take a shortcut, Mal couldn't help but smile as she felt the sun on her skin. She had lived sixteen years without the sun so whenever she could now, she took the opportunity to feel it on her.
Ariel couldn't help the sad smile that formed as she heard that. Her cousin should have known the joy of the sun on her skin before this point.
"Mal!"
"Who's that?" Dizzy asked.
Mal was startled by an unfamiliar voice calling her name. Whirling around, she could see about seven adults, each one armed with microphones and a few cameras, rushing toward her.
"What in the world?!" Fairy Godmother exclaimed. "The media is specifically banned from Auradon Prep's campus unless invited by me or by King Beast! The only exception is Family Day when they're here as parents and not as journalists."
"And that is very much appreciated," Snow White nodded. "I can't speak for the other parents but I want Emma and Neal to be able to enjoy having an education, not having to always look over their shoulder. Bad enough they have to deal with The Gazelle which I will be dealing with."
"You'll have help with that Queen Snow," Phoebus promised. "I might not be royalty but I'll help in whatever way I can."
"Mal! How's it feel to be approaching your three month anniversary with King Ben?"
"Why is it any of their business?" Celia asked, shaking her head.
"Mal! Love your dress! Is that one of Evie's designs or did you switch it up this time?"
"Of course it's Evie's design!" Dizzy insisted.
"Mal!"
"Mal!"
"Gods, let her breathe why don't you?" Jay growled slightly, narrowing his eyes. Where am I? I'm supposed to be protecting Mal and yet she was a sitting duck for these vultures!
Mal frantically looked around, searching for a break in the chain as to allow her to escape but no luck. The reporters had surrounded her like the hyenas would surround their prey on the Isle.
"Not quite sure Shenzi would appreciate that comparison," Uma said as her hands curled into fists at the idea of someone, anyone, going after Mal and she not be there to help her cousin.
Shenzi would probably not be happy to hear that comparison now that I think about it, Mal thought as the reporters continued to lobby questions at her without giving her time to answer.
"Seems like you and Uma share a brain wave there, Mal," Melody said, trying to lighten the mood a bit. It didn't work though Mal shot her younger cousin a small smile for the attempt.
"Mal! Can you address the allegations that Maleficent is truly your mother?"
"How many times do we have to say it? Maleficent only provided the egg," Lonnie said before pointing at Chip. "And we get it. You don't want to think about that."
Mal's eyes flashed. "What proof is there that Maleficent is my mother? A page in a registry that she put there herself? It takes more to be a mother than just a blood connection you know!"
Hercules nodded as he read that. While he loved his biological parents with all his heart, he also had his adoptive family on Earth. His moral mother and father had never once made him feel like he wasn't theirs, even during his 'outcast' period.
She knew she shouldn't have snapped at that, all it would do would add fuel to the fire but she was honestly fed up with people not realizing that Maleficent was not her mother.
"As well you should be," Neal nodded.
Snow sighed. "It's clear I'll be gifting some of my colleagues a dictionary if they don't understand the concept of adoption."
"Well seeing as you have the same shade of green eyes as Maleficent, and both Lord Hades and Lady Persephone have blue eyes—."
"How does this idiot even know what shade of green Maleficent has for her eyes?" Demeter asked, her hands curling into fists at the thought of her granddaughter being badgered like that.
"Clearly you need to learn your biology," Mal scoffed. "Green eyes are considered blue on the genetic scale and two blue eyed parents can produce a green eyed child."
Benji nodded, narrowing his eyes at the scroll. "Exactly! And furthermore I will say again that who Mal considers to be her parents is none of your business whoever you are!"
"Ben, honey, it's okay," Malinda said. "It's…it's in the past."
"A green eyed child who has the exact same shade as Maleficent?"
"Again, how do you know that Malinda's eyes are the same shade as Maleficent's?" Demeter asked, glaring at the scroll.
Does this mean I have to like her now? Mal thought to Uma.
You can appreciate how scary your grandmother is but you don't have to like her, Uma thought back.
Mal's eyes flashed again and she could feel her magic bubble up inside of her, yearning to be let out.
"Someone get her out of there now!" Hadie said, worried for the scroll version of his sister. He knew the last thing Mal would want to do is accidentally hurt someone.
She never noticed, in her internal panic, the darkening of the sky above her or the ominous rumble of thunder in the background.
Hades looked over at Zeus. Are you actually looking out for my daughter there Zeus?
"Alright, break it up!"
The reporters and Mal turned their heads to see Macaria marching toward them, her two brothers flanking her on either side.
Persephone sighed in relief. "Thank you," she said, looking at the three of them.
Macaria shook her head. "It's the right thing to do Aunt Persephone."
"Call me Aunt Steph. Even if you haven't done it yet, the actions of your scroll-selves have more than earned you the right to do so."
Mal hadn't expected a rescue from her Olympian cousins but that didn't mean she wasn't thankful for it.
"Happy to oblige Mal," Hyllus said with a small smile.
"Don't you lot have anything better to do?" Macaria snapped as she pushed through the mob of reporters. "Honestly, cornering a sixteen year old girl who did nothing but try to get to class! Let's go, Mal."
"Thank you Macaria!" Elle said, slumping in her chair in relief.
Macaria shrugged. "Hey I told Uma I'd help in anyway I could and Mal clearly needed a rescue."
She gently looped her arm through Mal's and began walking off, Hyllus and Herkie flanking either side and preventing any of the reporters from being able to ask any additional questions.
"I don't normally walk with my arm looped through another person's arm butt in this case I'mma make an exception," Mal said.
It wasn't until they were safely inside the building that Macaria let go of Mal's arm.
"Thank you," Hades said, looking at his great-niece.
"No thanks necessary Uncle Hades," Macaria told him.
"Thanks," Mal said softly.
"Don't mention it," Macaria said with a small smile. "Hyllus thought maybe those piranhas would get scared off by the darkening sky but when that didn't happen, we thought we'd come give an assist."
Hades looked over at Zeus again, surprise still evident.
"She's my niece and she's a minor. I'm not going to stand for that Hades," Zeus said, noticing the look.
"Four words Zeus. Maleficent. Stole. A. Baby." Hades said. "Forgive my surprise that you now care."
An assist you'd know about if you didn't have us all on mute, Macaria thought with a small frown. She'd had her brothers try the mental link as well and sure enough, they were unable to reach Mal.
Mal and Malinda both winced softly at that.
"Fairy Godmother's not going to be happy to know reporters are on the grounds," Hyllus frowned, bringing Macaria's attention back to the matter at hand.
"No I'm certainly not happy about that," Fairy Godmother said with a small frown. "Mal, dear, you should report it to me."
"With how many of the students are the heirs to their kingdom's throne, they have the right to expect privacy. Plus the parents probably expect their kids won't get hounded whenever they go to class."
"And it seems the press needs to be reminded of that," David said before pursing his lips slightly.
"David?" Snow asked.
"Am I the only one wondering how they knew where Mal was to crowd her like that?"
"Oh Gods! Class!" Mal exclaimed, her fingers tingling due to the build up of magic that was still inside her yearning to be let out. "I'm so late, I got to—."
"Mal, VKs are always late to class," Harriet said. "What you need to do is tell someone about those vultures."
"Mal, calm down," Macaria said. "What class are you going to?"
"Life Skills Without Magic."
Hades shook his head. Honestly it's ridiculous that they put Mal in that class, he thought.
"Wait seriously? They put you in that class when you're a Godling?" Macaria asked before shaking her head slightly, as if to get herself back on track.
"It can never hurt to know how to live without magic," Fairy Godmother said.
"Hate to say it but she does have a point," Uma nodded. "You want to be like the two imbeciles and Merryweather?"
"Those are my aunts you're talking about!" Audrey exclaimed.
"And yet they're still imbecilic," Uma smirked.
"Well anyway, Merryweather will understand you being a bit late."
"In this case, she should understand," Henry said.
And if she doesn't I know two boys who'd gladly talk to her for you, he thought as he glanced at Harry and Jay.
"Especially if she turns on the news," Herkie spoke up, handing his older sister his phone. "Just got an alert. 'Lady Mal freaks out at reporters'."
"Honestly!" Snow shook her head. "What a misleading title! The only reason Mal 'freaked out' as they put it was because some…some…idiot decided to bombard her!"
"I almost feel sorry for mom's colleagues," Neal said. "Almost."
Mal groaned as Macaria watched the clip. She hated hearing her voice, hated hearing how annoyed and slightly panicked she sounded.
Benji shook his head. "I should have been there," he muttered.
On the Isle, she had been the best at keeping her voice cool and calm—the only one who could really tell what she was thinking was Harry, Jay and Uma.
I'm losing it, Mal thought, lightly biting her lip.
Oh Gods, Ben's going to see that! Mal thought as her heart sank to her stomach. He's going to know how much of an embarrassment I am!
"Mal, the only thing I thought when I saw the twas 'what on Earth were they doing crowding you like that?'" Benji said, shaking his head. "The word 'embarrassment' never applies to you."
Had Mal been in a calmer frame of mind, she might have realized how ridiculous that line of thinking truly was. After all, this was Ben they were talking about.
"Exactly!" Both Ben and Benji said, nodding their heads though they both had slight frowns as they read about how stressed Mal was.
But with the excitement with the reporters and the build up of her magic, one could excuse Mal for not exactly thinking clearly.
"Okay I know it's been said but someone needs to put a stop to this now before it gets any worse," Harry said.
Not to mention there wasn't a single meeting with Natalie where the handler didn't bring up how much of an embarrassment Mal was as a Lady. Honestly at this point it was just better for Mal to keep her head down rather than snap back.
Benji grit his teeth. How dare she! How dare Natalie make Mal doubt herself and back down! Mal never backs down!
I want this woman's soul, Hades thought to Poseidon and Zeus. I don't give a rat's ass if she's done it yet, she made Mal into a shadow of herself. I. Want. Her. Soul.
Consider it done Hades, Poseidon thought before Zeus could answer.
"I have to go," Mal said softly. She couldn't keep watching that but she knew she couldn't go to class at this point either. Her magic was itching to be let out and while it would be ironic if it happened in her Life Skills Without Magic class, Mal didn't want anyone to get hurt because of it.
Macaria frowned slightly. "Take Mal to a place where she can calm down, scroll me. The last thing she needs is to go to class like this."
Ignoring Macaria and Hyllus calling her name, Mal hightailed it back to her dorm. One might say she almost sprinted based on how fast she was going.
Malinda sighed. How many people had reached out to me, wanting to help? How many people did I ignore because I foolishly thought I could handle it?
Tossing her books on her bed, Mal began to pace back and forth, her breathing growing more frantic and ragged as her magic began to bubble and build.
"She can't go on like this," Rapunzel said softly as the adults all frowned. "It's not healthy."
Unable to take it anymore, Mal let loose a fireball—thankfully it only hit a nearby trashcan which would be easy enough to replace.
"Thank Gods it's just a trashcan," Uma said, her voice soft as she glanced over at both versions of her cousin.
Thankfully Estelle hadn't been in the room but had been with a caretaker Ben had set up—James Porter, an older student who was set to graduate the following year. He had been vetted and interviewed by Ben and Mal.
Malinda and Benji smiled softly at the mention of James. He truly was a great addition to the staff and Estelle adored him.
He was basically Estelle's version of Dean for Ben.
"Ah so someone who knows a Rottweiler's limits and sets them," Chip nodded. "Good."
Estelle looked up and gave everyone a doggy smile. He wasn't quite sure who they were talking about but no one seemed angry so that was a good thing.
Normally Mal would have never agreed to someone else who wasn't Hadie or Uma taking care of Estelle but as her schedule got more and more packed, she knew it wasn't fair for her lovable dog to be cooped up in their dorm room.
Mal sighed. "And that still holds true, Estelle doesn't deserve to pay the price for me getting busy."
Thankfully Estelle took a liking to James right away and, if Mal was honest, so did she. He didn't shy away from asking questions that first day and he was quick to let her know if something happened with Estelle.
"Must be a good man then," Harry muttered. "Estelle's a good judge of character."
But as she looked at herself in the mirror of her vanity, all Mal saw was the same bright green eyes that used to terrorize her as a toddler.
Honestly dad, why couldn't I have had your eyes? Mal thought as she shook her head.
The same eyes that allowed people to still make the claim that she was Maleficent's daughter.
"Stupid people, the word you're missing is stupid people," Alexandria said.
Hades tilted his head slightly and then nodded. "Okay, I like her."
"Are we seriously still doing that?" Persephone sighed as her heart broke for Mal. Both the Mal in the scroll and the Mals who were in the room with them.
This wasn't the first time she had hated her eyes. Ever since she was thirteen, Mal had hated the fact that she shared the same shade of green as the Dragon.
"Because they're evil," Mal muttered under her breath.
Mal laid down on her bed, curled into a ball. She had just gotten back from her one night a week stay at Casa de Dragon and she hated it. Hated the fact that she had any connection to Maleficent at all. Hated the fact that she saw the same eyes whenever she looked in a mirror.
"Well if her spell book has hair spells, have you ever checked for eye spells if it bothers you that much?" Kristoff asked, his voice soft.
Malinda shook her head. "Going to Auradon was the first time I'd ever been near her spell book," she whispered.
"Mali?" Persephone said softly as she knocked on the doorframe. "Can I come in?"
"It's your house mom," Mal muttered.
"But it's also your room," Rapunzel pointed out.
Persephone gave a sad smile at that as she walked into Mal's room. "It may be my home but it's also your home too Mal. I just wanted to check on you, Hadie said you seemed a bit down when you came home. Maleficent didn't…she didn't give you a 'lesson' as you kids call them?"
Hades shook his head. "Trust me Steph, if the Dragon had given her a 'lesson', I would have been the one to tell you and I doubt I would have done so calmly."
"No," Mal shook her head. "She's not happy with my level of villainy but for a change she's willing to ignore it this week. I think she's coming up with a new plan for getting off the Isle. Not like it'll work."
"Which will just end badly for her," Aziz said.
"Best to let her find that out herself," Persephone said with a small shake of her head.
"In other words, leave the crazy loon to her own devices and keep yourself safe," Akiho said.
"Mom?" Mal said after a few minutes. "Why…when you adopted me, why didn't my eyes change?"
"Because the Fates are fickle," Mal muttered.
"That's a good question Mal," Persephone said. "Remember I only adopted you magically, meaning biologically you're still Maleficent's. You have some of my powers though and I would assume that would also make you a full God like Hadie, granting you the immortality as well but I'd have to research that."
"I thought you already did my Lady?" Eugene asked.
Persephone sighed. "I wanted to confirm my research and not give Mal false hope," she said.
Mal sighed and flopped back on the bed, having sat up when her mom walked in.
"Did you want your eyes to change?" Persephone asked.
"…kinda," Mal said in a small voice, a voice that didn't really suit her.
"Mal, it's nothing to be ashamed of," Persephone said, giving her daughter a small smile. "Your reasons are understandable."
"I'm just…I'm tired of seeing Maleficent's eyes everywhere I go. It's almost like a reminder that no matter what I do, I can't escape her. She'll always have some claim to me."
"Why do you think I want our kid to have Ben's eyes?" Malinda muttered.
Persephone sighed and brushed her fingers through Mal's hair. "Mal honey, you know I love your eyes. I love every bit of you but the last thing I want is for you to be unhappy. If it truly bothers you that much, would you want me to look into some contacts to give you a different eye color the next time I'm in Auradon?"
Persephone nodded. "Your eyes are a part of you Mal and I love every bit of you, remember that."
"You..you can do that? Make your eyes a different color?" Mal asked, her voice soft. "Doesn't that seem more like something you'd do through magic? Which would be blocked by the barrier?"
"No, because manual contacts aren't magical," Jane said.
"There are magical ways to do it sweetie, maybe one day if you get off the Isle you can do it magically, but yes there is a way for you to have different colored eyes without using magic."
"Exactly what Jane said," Elle nodded.
"But Maleficent would notice wouldn't she?" Mal asked softly. "She's vain enough that she'd notice if I started sporting a different eye color."
"Sure she might be vain but she'd also have to look at you in order to spot the difference," Uma said, shaking her head.
"Mal, honey, how many times does she look at you close enough to get a good look at your eyes?"
Mal shrugged. "Probably never if she even looks at me at all. She's too busy planning her way off the Isle."
"Exactly."
"Just what I said!"
"Uma, no one was arguing with you," Jay told her.
"I…I could really have a way to…no wait, the only way Uma, Harry and Jay have any protection is because everyone knows I'm Maleficent's daughter. Someone would notice the change," Mal sighed. She was stuck.
"You didn't have to do that," Harry said, looking at Mal.
"You're my crew, my family, of course I did," Mal said with a small shrug.
"…what if we made it so your eyes were still green but they weren't the same shade?" Persephone suggested. "That way, people would still see the green eyes but you wouldn't have the same as Maleficent?"
"That could work," Uma said with a small nod.
After all, most if not almost all of the Isle residents were dumber than a sack of potatoes. All they'd see is a pair of green eyes.
"Now now Aunt Steph…no need to insult the potatoes like that," Uma said with a small chuckle.
"But…neither you nor dad have green eyes. Couldn't someone say—?"
"Blue eyed parents can still produce a green eyed child Mali. It all has to do with genetics and genetically green eyes are still considered to be blue. So? What do you think? You'd still have green eyes but not 'Maleficent' green."
"Plus it's not like you were going around declaring Lord Hades to be your father back then," Jay said. "So who would say anything?"
Mal had, at the time, elected to keep her eyes just in case Maleficent ever noticed. Not to mention the fact that contacts seemed like too much work for the Isle. The last thing she would want was to be seen as 'prissy' especially as the co-captain of the largest crew or gang on the Isle.
"Mal, I don't think she'd care enough about you to notice the change," Harry said. "No offense."
"None taken," Mal said.
But now? I mean she was in Auradon after all, and no one seemed to bat an eye at prissiness.
"Could have been said in a nicer tone but I get her point," Anna said.
Going over to her laptop, which had been a gift from Ben, Mal pulled up a search browser and began searching for colored contacts.
"Oh so he hasn't gifted you the vespa yet," Audie said with a small smile. "Starting small I see."
"The…the what?" Mal asked.
"In my timeline, Ben gave you a vespa," Audie explained. "He tried to give you gifts on the even numbered days because you were even more perfect than he thought."
"Oh dear Gods gag me," she heard Harry and CJ mutter at the same time.
I mean, sure I could do it magically but the spell might wear off then, Mal thought as she searched. And then you've got the stress of reapplying it plus what if it fades when I'm around Ben? Or worse, mom or Hadie? I don't need something super different, maybe just a shade or two darker than my regular color.
"And if we did notice, then we'd ask and you could talk to us about it," Benji said.
Finally, she found a pair that looked like they would be perfect. Unfortunately, like all good plans, there was a snag.
"Oh…I think I know what it was," Abby said.
"…since when does Auradon have an optometrist?" Mal muttered to herself as she saw that the contacts were only available through a prescription. "Are there any heroes that even have glasses? Oh wait, Milo Thatch but you'd think Kida would fix his eyes. Glasses don't really seem the most practical."
"You know that is a good point. Why didn't she?" Eugene asked.
"Maybe he didn't want them fixed?" Elsa said.
After all, you never saw any kids with glasses on the Isle.
"Hey!" Dizzy exclaimed and even the Smee twins looked a little upset about that.
Malinda shook her head. 'I can't believe I forgot about Dizzy, Squeaky, and Squirmy," she muttered.
"I think you can be excused this time. You had a lot on your mind," Benji said, gently rubbing her back.
Then again, a crummy medical system and a lack of sun might have prevented those from even being options. Kids might have just grown up thinking they had poor eyesight.
"How do you guys get your glasses?" CJ asked, looking over at Dizzy and the Smee twins.
"Delivery barge," Dizzy said. "Aunt Ana had to try three different pairs before we found one that worked."
"She…she does know those are adult glasses right?" Jasmine muttered to Aladdin. "See how they're poking out her ears? They're too big for her."
"We can address that when she comes to Auradon," Aladdin muttered back to his wife.
"Great, what am I going to do now?" Mal sighed. "There's no way a doctor will give me a prescription for something just because I want it. Not without mom's or my guardian's permission since I'm under eighteen. Never mind the fact that I'm a Godling and needing a prescription for non prescription colored contacts is stupid…"
"Here's an idea, how about you talk to someone about it bothering you?" Henry suggested.
Mal trailed off as she began to form an idea and quickly opened a new tab, pulling up the online shopping website used by many a student and beloved by all of Auradon. If they didn't have what Mal was looking for, she would be officially out of luck.
"Or she could just do that," Evie said softly.
Typing out the search, Mal scanned the pages; looking for the exact item she would need. It didn't take her long before she found them. Enough contacts to last her three months and there was no need for a prescription.
"But it shouldn't go on for another three months," Rowyn said, shaking her head.
Plus, since Evie had used her laptop to buy new supplies, her expedite account was still logged in. Meaning Mal could get the contacts in about two days.
"Note to self, learn to make sure you're always logged out or get your own laptop," Evie muttered to herself as Uma shot her a look.
Moving quickly, as to avoid losing her nerve, Mal added the contacts to her cart.
Persephone, Hades, Uma, Harry, Jay, Ben, Hadie, and Benji all sighed at the same time.
Then, after fishing out her wallet from her pocket (hey, she was desperate not stupid. She knew that Evie would probably get an alert if she used the card attached to the blue haired girl's account) and even if it was only about thirty dollars, Mal did not feel comfortable stealing that from Evie.
Persephone couldn't help the weak smile as she heard that. "I'm proud of you honey."
Besides, the fewer people who knew the better. As the old saying went: the best way to keep a secret? Keep it to yourself. Second best? Tell one person—if you must. There is no third best.
"Wasn't that the theme song to one of the shows on the Villain network that got shut down a few years back?" Uma asked. "Pretty Little Liars?"
"Oh yeah!" Mal nodded. "The Villain Broadcasting System, I don't know how but we managed to use the same airwaves as the Princess Broadcasting System. That show came on right before Stepsister, Stepsister right?"
"I think that was due to DeVil blowing a small hole in the barrier," Harry said. "But you're right, shame it got shut down."
Sammy chuckled. "Uma's not too far off but that wasn't the theme song. The theme was more like 'Got a secret, can you keep it, swear this one you'll save. Better lock it in your pocket taking this one to the grave. If I show you then I know you won't tell what I said cause two can keep a secret if one of them is dead'."
"…how many times did you watch that to recite it from memory?" Harriet asked, looking at Sammy.
"Eh, I'd watch it if I was able to stumble across it," Sammy shrugged. "Though I preferred Frollo's judgement show. Freddy might be a royal pain but Frollo's rants were always entertaining."
"Oh yeah Uma and I would watch those all the time," Harry nodded. "Hate the man but he did provide some good entertainment."
Evie was great but if she somehow told her father, Daniel might tell Ben. Or her mom. Or both.
"And…and how would my father tell your mother?" Evie asked softly, looking at Mal. "He does not have the mental link of the Olympians and he…he clearly does not seem to be in shape to go back to the Isle to tell Lady Persephone in person."
"Not to mention he might not think he could tell Ben anything," Emma said. "After all, Daniel was a stablehand before he was sent to the Isle with Evie's mom and while we know Ben doesn't give a rat's ass about titles or standing, Daniel might."
"Emma, language," Snow sighed. "Wherever did you learn that?"
"Uncle Grumpy."
Quickly entering in her card information, Mal placed the order and then erased her purchase from Evie's account. Mal relaxed for a split second—until she remembered something.
"Great, now what?" Hadie groused.
Crap! Evie's account means Evie would get an email about that delivery! But wait, she's ordered so much stuff for her business, she might just think that it's related to something she ordered. Though note to self, set up an account for yourself so this doesn't happen again.
"Why didn't we have our own account anyway?" Mal asked, looking over at Malinda.
"We didn't buy enough from there to warrant the almost thirteen dollar monthly fee," Malinda told her. "And now we just use Ben's account."
Mal nodded and went back to deleting her search history. Just on the off chance someone went rifling through her computer.
"Why would someone do that? Have you committed a crime?" Emir asked.
"Well," she said once she was finished. "I guess I should head to class. After all, Merryweather's going to notice I was gone."
Fairy Godmother frowned slightly. "Mal, dear, in the circumstances I don't think you should go…"
Though what was missing one class really going to hurt? Mal thought.
"Plus if Aunt Merryweather saw the news alert, she probably will understand why you're not in class and will work with you on what you missed," Phil Jr. said.
After all you've got a meeting with Natalie right after that class. What would you rather do? Be stressed all through class because of how much you've missed and therefore have a horrible time with Natalie or miss one class and have a less than pleasant time with Natalie?
Persephone sighed. "I'm not in favor of you missing class but I'd rather you not be stressed out even more," she said.
"So when does smiting Natalie become an option?" Hera muttered to Demeter.
"It became an option the second she started making my granddaughter's life hell," Demeter muttered back.
Mal sighed. If she was honest, she knew she'd pick no time at all with Natalie but she wasn't going to make problems for Ben.
"Mal, make trouble for me, tell me if Natalie's not working for you. I want to know," Ben said.
"I guess…I could go over some of the decisions that need to be made for Cotillion," Mal said slowly as she reached over to grab one of the many books that were cluttering her nightstand.
Malinda shook her head. "Honestly if I could avoid making those decisions I would. Love Jane dearly but if we could do all three items for gifts, why did I need to decide between pen toppers, chains, and key charms?"
"I'm sorry Jane?" Audrey asked. "But I always plan Cotillion."
Malinda shrugged. "Dunno what to tell you Audrey but Jane planned it that time. And she did a wonderful job I should add."
Jane couldn't help the small smile that pulled at her lips at the compliment.
"Jane planned Cotillion in my timeline as well," Audie said, grinning at the younger girl. "Leah had taken me on a 'spa retreat' so Jane stepped up and worked with Mal to plan a wonderful event."
"Well…if Jane's as good as you say she is…I suppose having someone to help plan Cotillion wouldn't be too bad…" Audrey said as if the words were almost being dragged out of her throat. It wasn't that she had an issue with Jane, far from it.
But Cotillion was the one thing she had where she had total say in the matter. The planning committee had pretty much just given her cart blanch to plan it the way she wanted.
Jane looked over and gave Audrey a knowing smile. Of course she knew, they were friends after all. "Audrey, I know how much you enjoy planning Cotillion. You have all your systems in place after all and you know how to get the best deals on venders and suppliers."
"True," Audrey said but glanced at Audie, who seemed to be giving her an encouraging look. "However…working with a friend is a rather enjoyable experience and two heads are better than one as the saying goes."
"We can discuss it further in the next break, I think," Fairy Godmother said with a small smile. Truthfully she never quite liked putting the pressure of Cotillion on the shoulders of her students—even if there was a planning committee Audrey always seemed to take it upon herself to handle everything for Cotillion.
Leah scoffed. "Honestly, what's there to discuss? If Audrey's the one who plans—."
"I do not think you are the one who needs to talk about my daughter, Leah," Phillip said, his eyes narrowing as he glared at her.
"Natalie wants to know what sort of progress is being made and then if there's time I could read some of the books she gave me…"
Benji looked over at Ben. "Burn. Them."
"What?" Ben asked, looking shocked.
"If you ever see Audrey or Mal with those books, burn them," Benji said. "They're completely preposterous and outdated."
"But…burning?"
Chip chuckled and shook his head. "Benji, I think you just broke your younger self at the idea of hurting a book."
The problem with Natalie piling on her schedule was that there was never any time to do the additional work she wanted Mal to do. As Natalie would often lament during their meetings, if Mal didn't have the hours blocked off for her magic practice it would be likely that there would be time to start the readings or work in their meetings.
"Those hours are for Mal's health and safety along with the health and safety of others you idiotic dingbat of a woman," Hades growled.
I mean, it's not like Natalie respects those hours anyway. How many times has she found a way to cut into that time? Mal thought. It's probably why I've had so many flair ups lately.
"Mal, please, tell me the she's not doing the job she was hired for. I need to know, you have a right to complain," Ben said as he shook his head, his eyes growing hard.
Ben had done his part, and lobbied for her three hours a week to be increased to three hours a day after her fireball incident when she learned that the food being sent to the Isle had been purposefully turned rotten.
Ben and Benji both nodded firmly. That was what Mal needed and it was despicable that Natalie was taking that away from her.
Since Ben was the king, and his council were the ones setting up Mal's schedule, there was nothing Natalie could do outright but accept the change.
"But by the sounds of it she's being rather underhanded in expressing her thoughts," Claudine muttered.
That didn't mean Natalie couldn't overload my schedule, Mal sighed. Especially seeing as she has my planner.
"I swear, if we don't hear of me firing this woman the next time she meets with me…" Ben growled.
The older blonde had….'requested' Mal give her the planner after Leah's council trial. Mal couldn't escape the feeling that Leah had somehow ordered Natalie to get revenge for her behalf but…there was no way she could prove it.
"You don't need proof when it comes to us Mali," Uma said. "Tell me or Harry or Jay and we'd handle it for you!"
"And get you guys booted back to the Isle?" Mal asked. "I'm sure my scroll self is just doing—."
"She's putting herself through hell unnecessarily," Malinda said. "Besides, you really think Ben would boot someone back to the Isle if they were acting in your defense?"
Mal sighed and cracked open the book that she'd taken off her nightstand to read.
Malinda sighed. "If it's the one I think it is, don't."
Honestly—she would have gotten more useful information talking to anyone from the Isle about being a Lady of the Court than she did reading this dribble.
Malinda shook her head. "Honestly, I tried to push that out of my head but I can still remember some of the 'teachings'."
"Really?" Mal asked.
"What are they?" Jay asked at the same time
Malinda looked over at Mal and nodded before sighing. "A Lady in conversation never raises her voice, never uses bad words, never stands too close to whomever she's talking to, never yawns, never gossips, never corrects a person's grammar, knows that a person's name is music to them, never forgets a name, knows many different topics for polite conversation, knows how to say please and thank you, and knows how to accept a compliment."
There was a pregnant pause as everyone stared at Malinda in shock.
"Well then guess I'm really not a Lady," Uma said, breaking the silence. "How do you avoid not being overheard if you don't stand too close to who you're talking to? Plus bad words just season your conversation."
"Never gossips? Well I'm out," Lucy and Ashaki said at the same time.
"What if the person you're talking to is on fire?" Dizzy asked. "You'd have to raise your voice then."
"What if the person you're talking to is boring as sin and you can't help but yawn?" Hadie asked at the same time.
"I have five sisters and I get them confused sometimes. How do you expect to never forget a name?" Evan shook his head.
Abby chuckled. "I can tell you for sure I'd be correcting people's grammar. You're right Benji, that is definitely outdated."
What in the world does it matter what fork I use? It's all going down the same hole anyway and by reducing the number of utensils used, you're not washing as many and therefore not using as much in the way of resources! Though multiple forks does mean that you could theoretically stab someone with one fork and keep eating with the other.
Meg chuckled. "I mean, she does have a point," she said.
Somehow, she didn't think that was what Natalie had in mind when she said that there were some things Mal could learn from this book.
"Being able to stab someone while still able to eat is valuable information though," Harry said.
The dulcet tones of her cell phone broke through the silence and Mal scrambled to pick it up.
"Who's calling her now?" Celia asked.
"Hello? Oh hi Natalie, I was just—no I didn't know I was running late, I thought—no Natalie, I'm not calling you a liar I was just say—yes Natalie I know we've been through this before, I—No you're not wasting your time, I promise. I'll be better," Mal said, wincing a little at that last line.
"Mal, no! You don't need to take that!" Harriet said, shaking her head. "Hang up on her! Threaten to go to Benny! Actually go to Benny!"
It reminded her too much of her toddler years and how she used to try to please Maleficent, before she learned that there was no truly pleasing that dragon.
Hades and Persephone grit their teeth, their jaws clenching in their anger.
"I think it's safe to say it's a good thing this Natalie isn't here," Aziz said, his voice low.
"She'd better thank the Fates she's not here right now!" Hades exclaimed.
"I'll be right there," Mal said softly. "Yes Natalie, I…I understand that everything's going to overlap now. Trust me, you've made it clear about how you feel about my training hours. Uh huh. We can talk more in person."
"You will not!" Hades said firmly. "You are going straight to the sunspot you're dating and report her Malinda!"
Mal hung up and sighed softly. There was only so much of her handler she could take before she felt like she was going to explode.
"Then come to me Mal," Benji said. "I will deal with her if she's treating you like that. You can complain."
This is for Ben though. Ben's council believe you need Natalie and I'm not going to make life tougher for Ben. Besides, you're from the Isle. The kids there are facing worse than a snobby instructor, Mal thought as she stood up. Hopefully Natalie hasn't seen the news so she won't know about the reporter incident earlier.
"Even kids from the Isle have a breaking point," Henry said softly.
Though, if Mal was being honest to herself, she knew that the likelihood of Natalie actually not knowing about that incident was about as big as Maleficent learning to love and turning back into a human.
"Accurate," Hades muttered as soft snorts could be heard throughout.
"Okay, let's go," Mal sighed to herself before strolling out of her dorm, hoping she at least looked like her regular confident self. Even if that was the last thing she felt like. After all, like the old saying went: fake it till you make it.
"That sounds similar to what you say sometimes mother," Audrey said, looking at Aurora. "If you don't feel great, try to look great. Sometimes just smiling can make you feel better."
"You remember that?" Aurora asked. She hadn't been able to tell Audrey that for years, not since Leah dug her claws into her.
Audrey shrugged. "You tell Phil that all the time, of course I remember."
Okay just relax, Mal thought as she neared her meeting room with Natalie. You go in there tense, Natalie will know. I swear it's like she can smell strife. You only have three more months until Cotillion anyway and then a huge amount of your duties will be done.
"But you shouldn't have to last that long," Sammy said. "It should be dealt with now."
Nodding to herself, Mal sighed softly before pushing open the door to yet another mentally painful few hours.
Lonnie shook her head. "Mal, you can't go on like this. Something is going to give."
"I know Lonnie," Malinda sighed. "Trust me. I was just too stubborn to see it back then."
Hercules sighed. "That's the end of the scroll."
"I'll read," Henry said and took a scroll that was tied together with a red ribbon. However, this ribbon seemed to be a bit brighter than the other ribbons.