danifan300 - 1) I know, the poor girl! Hmmm, I should probably figure out who that was... 2) Oh my gosh, that sounds like an adorable concept!
flurry - You're welcome! And let's just say, Ella and Kit wouldn't wait any longer. I also realized I forgot to mention Evie's hair! I think the dying thing was a fan theory due to the third movie's wigs for Mal and Evie, which gave both of them a shadow root. Even when Mal's hair changed colors due to her godly power, the shadow root stayed. So, I've chosen to ignore that XD
So far, for this story, I'm trying to keep the relationships as canon as possible since I'm aiming to do all three movies. As for what happens after the third movie, no idea yet.
harrypotterlover - I know for certain that Zeus, Hades and Poseidon will be making appearances in this series! Although, I'll be trying to base Zeus off his Disney Hercules version (Which is a tad difficult, cause I don't really like him that much and Disney tried to make him a good guy XD). I can also see if I can fit in Chiron. Actually, that may have given me a plot idea...
top hat - Oh my goodness, that is really bad luck! But I'm glad you commented, thank you!
OceanBlueSeaEyes - XD I mean, to be fair, she is the aunt to Hercules and his kids, so you still might see her come up as Aunt Persephone at some point.
Ella and Kit wasted no time in asking Persephone for a room and dragging Chad to it. As soon as they were in there, Ella began to pace while Kit stood by the door. Chad was in front of them both.
"I know I messed up." Chad said quickly, before either of his parents could say a thing. "I won't do it again, and I'll do all of my homework from now on!"
His parents looked at him in disbelief. "You manipulated girls to do your homework for half the year, Chadwick." Kit said. Chad paled at the continued usage of his full name, something his parents rarely did. "'Messed up' is an understatement. Did you really think that it was okay to mess with people's hearts like that? To cheat on them, and to use them? Did you think that you wouldn't get caught?"
Chad looked down. "I didn't cheat on them all." He muttered.
His mom scoffed, a sound that surprised Chad. "Is that supposed to make it better?" She asked while crossing her arms. "How many girls have you done this too?"
"Does it even matter?" Chad asked, "It's done now!"
"Yes it matters!" His father shouted. "Give us a number, Chadwick!"
"I don't know, okay!" Chad yelled back. He sighed and put his head in his hands. "I.. it started out small. I flirted with a girl and took her out on a date, then got her to write my English paper. After that… It was a date for a science project, or stringing a girl along for a few days for other assignments." He paused, waiting to see if either of his parents would respond, before continuing on. "I don't know when it became a constant, and I deleted all the extra contacts on my phone after.. Someone found out."
Ella was breathing through her nose, trying her best to not completely blow up at Chad while he explained his actions. Cutting him off wouldn't do any good. Kit had taken to completely turning away from their son while he cursed under his breath.
"So, how did the girls find out?" Ella asked. "Obviously, something must have happened."
Chad ran a hand through his hair, avoiding his mom's eyes. "I told you. Someone found out when I lost my phone. Whoever they were, they sent texts to every contact on the phone."
"Did the press ever find out?" Kit asked stiffly.
"No." Chad told him.
"Good." His father was quiet for a moment, before swearing once again. "What were you thinking?" He asked Chad, turning to look at him. "How could you do that to all those girls? Did you think it was funny to play with their feelings?"
Chad shook his head. "No! No I, I just.."
"And how about how it would affect you? Your grades, your reputation. How about those girl's reputations? What would have happened if the press got wind of this? They would have torn you all to shreds! You're the heir to a throne, Chad!"
His father's words felt like a slap to the face, and the horrible part was, he hadn't thought of any of that. He hadn't stopped to think about what would happen if a reporter found out he was getting girl's to do his homework. His and their names would be dragged for that.
Kit shook his head. "But of course not! Because all you seemed to think about was yourself!" He paused, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. "All you seemed to care about was getting a good grade with as little effort as possible, not caring about the consequences or people you hurt in the process."
"It wasn't that simple! If I failed a class, I would have been taken out of R.O.A.R! Once that season was over, it was Tourney!"
"That's not an excuse!" Ella shouted, before Kit could, stepping closer to Chad. "That's when you get a tutor! That's when you ask for help! This.. what you did was…" Ella was at a loss for words. All she could do was look at her son as her chest tightened with every breath. She didn't see the boy who would sit with his youngest sister and play with dolls, who would read with her in the library, or go riding with his father and brother. She didn't see the boy who would insist on going along with Karine and Jane when they'd go to the forest, just to make sure that they were okay. In this moment, the only person he reminded her of was the woman she tried to forget, the woman who still haunted her dreams. "That was the behavior of a narcissist." She said, her eyes beginning to burn. "That was the behavior of someone who doesn't care about other people! The behavior of a villain! Not the behavior of the son we raised."
Chad stepped away from her as if he'd been burned. "Mom?" But Ella turned away instead, whispering something to Kit. His father looked at him, and Chad flinched at the anger in his features.
"You're grounded until July, at the earliest." Kit said. "You won't be going anywhere over spring break, and kiss Ben's coronation party goodbye. You won't have any dates until we decide you're ready for that, and trust me we will be discussing your actions in more depth once we're back at the castle. We might even look into seeing if you can finish off the year remotely."
"Dad! I can't miss Ben's party!" Chad protested. He and Ben hadn't been as close as they once were, but he was still his friend, and tomorrow was his big day. Being locked up over spring break would suck. Being locked in the castle for most of summer break would suck, and so would finishing off the year from home, but this was Ben's coronation party. His friend was becoming the High King of Auradon! He wanted, needed, to be there to celebrate with him!
"I'll apologize to all the girls! I'll redo all my assignments!"
"You bet you will!" Kit cut in, "But you still have to be punished! Chad…" He sighed, "You can see if you can talk to Ben before his party starts, but do you realize how lucky you are right now? You're lucky that Fairy Godmother isn't going to expel you. You're lucky that the press didn't find out about this, and you're lucky that so far none of the Kingdoms have taken actions against you. You hurt their princesses in a way that's worse than just a breakup, and it could have caused tensions. You can't go unpunished. No, we're going to go back out there, and we're all going to be civil." He told Chad with a leveled look. "You'll sit back in your seat, and heaven help me, you will leave the VK's alone. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Chad said, looking down at the floor.
Kit nodded. "Good." He pointed to the door, and Chad started towards it, but stopped before opening it. He turned around, seeing his mother in his father's arms.
"Mom?"
Ella looked up, her eyes red and full of emotions ranging from anger to sorrow. Chad almost shrank in on himself seeing her.
"I love you, Chad." She told him. "Nothing changes that. But for right now, I need a few moments away from you."
Chad's chest began to feel tight, and he managed to get out an "Alright." He went to open the door, but once again stopped, turning back to his parents. "On the screen… what you're about to see…" He trailed off.
"Yes?" Kit prodded.
Chad sighed, "I… I was a jerk, more of a jerk." He admitted quietly. "I'm sorry."
Kit closed his eyes, "Just go, Chad."
He listened, and as he walked out the door, his mother's words echoed in his mind. The behavior of a villain. Not the behavior of the son we raised.
The group around the Vk's dispersed after Chad's parents dragged him off. Mal didn't know where everyone went, but she knew that Jay and Carlos once again went to walk around, while Reiner accompanied Karine to check on her little sister.
Mal and Ben, however, were at the snack table, where Ben was placing a few strawberry flavored treats on a plate for Mal.
"Mal, Ben?" The couple turned around to see Audrey, her expression neutral. "I came over here to apologize for the things I said in the past. They were wrong, and I shouldn't have insulted either of you."
Mal looked at the girl in shock, she knew that Aurora had scolded her, but she wasn't expecting an apology. "Thank you, Audrey." She said, as did Ben.
"Right," Audrey looked uncomfortable, "Then, I'll see you two later."
The couple watched her walk away, and glanced at each other. "That was.. Odd, right?" Mal asked, causing Ben to sigh.
"No, that was just Audrey. She's struggled with you coming here." He admitted quietly. "Our dating probably isn't helping things right now. I'm kind of surprised she even came over here."
Mal hummed as she watched the Princess walk towards the High King and Queen, and noticed that Audrey's parents were watching as well. The possibility of them making the princess apologize made more sense to her, although she didn't say that to Ben.
She turned back to Ben with a grin, "Anyways, you were helping me find all the strawberry treats!"
Ben chuckled, "You need to eat more than strawberries, Mal."
"That remains to be seen." She joked, before pulling his arm, "But I want to try all the things, so come on."
"Alright, alright, this over here seems to be strawberry cheesecake."
Back at the VK seats, Evie and Elsie were discussing Evie's dress.
"So you made it yesterday? Evie, that's amazing!"
Evie brushed off the comment with a laugh, "Not really. I used some old clothes since I was caught off guard about Family Day."
"Still, Evie, that's impressive! And you weren't even just making your own, you made at least Mal's as well, right? I mean, really that-"
Elsie's words were cut off as a shout of "Evie!" came. Both girls turned to see Klara running towards them, and Evie knelt down so she was eye to eye with the girl.
"Hello, little Princess." Evie greeted with a smile. "That wasn't long, was it."
Klara shook her head and leaned forward. "I heard it was because of Chad." She whispered, though not as quietly as she was likely attempting too as Evie heard Elsie snort back a laugh.
"And how did you hear that?" Evie asked the little girl in amusement.
Klara pointed over towards the kids room, and Evie saw Karine and Reiner talking to a little girl with short blonde hair. "Karine told Clementine that their mommy and daddy were talking to Chad, and no one else is missing." She said, "So it had to be Chad!"
The older girls both chuckled, and Elsie reached down to boop Klara's nose. "I thought I heard your brother's say you shouldn't be gossiping." She said.
Klara grinned at them both. "But they don't know right now." She countered.
"Well, we can't argue with that." Evie said with a shake of her head, "But maybe we still shouldn't talk about Chad behind his back, okay?"
"Alright." Klara sighed.
"Good." Evie smiled, "Then it looks like for right now you're hanging out with us."
"Yay!" Klara climbed up onto the chair between the girls, and turned to Evie. "Evie, do you know how to braid?"
"It just so happens that I do. Come here in front of me, and tell me what you want."
Klara began to describe a braid as Ben and Mal came forward, Mal with her plate full of strawberry flavored things, and Ben carrying a plate with some other food he hoped to convince his girlfriend to try.
Mal hadn't even sat down when Persephone walked over. "Mal, may I speak with you?" She asked the girl. Mal froze for a moment, before handing her plate to Ben and following the goddess to a corner.
"No private room?" Mal asked, although technically the corner they were in was pretty secluded.
"I only added one to this place, and it's currently occupied." Persephone explained, brushing some of her pink-streaked hair away from her eyes. "I honestly hadn't thought that we might need more."
Mal hummed and looked down, feeling incredibly awkward around the step-mother she rarely saw. "Is there a reason you wanted to talk to me?" Mal asked.
"I wanted to give you something." Persephone said, causing Mal to look back up. "I know that things are.. Tense with your father."
"That's an understatement." Mal growled. "He abandoned me."
Persephone sighed, "I know, and I never agreed with it. I'm hoping that it won't affect our relationship."
Mal looked at her warily. Yes, she didn't mind talking to her briefly at times on the Isle. Persephone actually helped with some emergency supply deliveries when she was able too. Especially in recent years. But they never exactly had a relationship.
"Here," Persephone held out a purple phone, or it resembled a phone. It seemed a little bit small than the ones the AK's walked with.
"What is it?"
"The godly version of a cell-phone." Her step-mother explained with a chuckle. "With how many demigods there are, and with Zues and Poseidon keeping in touch with theirs, a few years ago Hephaestus created this. It can be used to contact us gods, or even other demigods, on places that mortal cells can't reach, such as the Underworld, and it's waterproof." Persephone pointed to a button on the device, and Mal pushed it, watching it light up to show a purple screen. "Two numbers are already programmed in there. Mine, and Hadie's."
Mal sucked in a breath, bringing the device closer to her chest. "I can call Hadie?"
The goddess nodded. "If he had known I was doing this, he would have been here." She said, "But I know how you feel about keeping this secret."
Her stepmother's disapproval was barely noticed, and Mal's eyes burned. "I wouldn't have cared if it meant I got to see him." She admitted. "It's been over two years." Two and a half years, actually, since Hadie turned twenty-one and Beast told him he'd no longer be visiting the Isle. People weren't supposed to visit, and he had said that Hadie was no longer a child. It was one of the few times Mal stepped foot in her father's cave, so she could say goodbye.
"I know," Persephone said softly. "He misses you too."
Mal blinked back tears, and slid the device into an inner pocket of her blazer. "Thank you." She said, wiping at her eyes.
"You're welcome, sweetheart."
Mal wiped at her face once more time and took a breath to compose herself, before walking away from Persephone and back to the vk seats.
"Everything alright?" Ben asked as she sat down next to him. Evie also sent a questioning look from her spot, where she was finishing up putting dutch braids in Klara's hair.
"Everything's fine." Mal said, "She uh, she just wanted to check on me." The excuse was weak and she was sure Ben knew it, but she didn't want to lie to him, and yet at the same time even if she was going to tell him about Hadie she wasn't going to do it here."
And yet, Ben smiled at her as he handed her her plate, which didn't seem to have much missing from it. "Well, it was nice of her to be concerned." He said.
"Yeah," Mal agreed, the weight in her pocket feeling both heavy and comforting. "Yeah, it was."
Not long after that, Chad emerged. A few minutes later, his parents did as well. Karine was seen shooting her brother a glare as she spotted sight of their mother, but she didn't make her way over.
Everyone began to make their way back to their seats, and this time Carlos brought along Jane. "I didn't want her to sit alone." He said, his face turning a little red at Jay's teasing grin.
Klara left with a kiss to Evie's cheek and a promise to visit again, while Aksel was shaking his head and saying "I don't know how she keeps adopting people." With Reiner responding, "The only people she's adopted are us, Ben and Evie." Us being Elsie and him.
"You say that like it's not a lot for a seven year old who rarely leaves Arendalle." Aksel said with a shake of his head, "And you're wrong, she has half the kingdom wrapped around her finger."
"Wrapped around her finger is different from adopting." Ben said, jumping in. "But, you're not exactly wrong."
Mal chuckled, and the boys quieted down as the lights began to dim. Once again, the screen lit up, and brought the past to life.