Chapter One Hundred and Nine
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek myths.
*waves awkwardly* Apologies for the delay! Unfortunately, work was kicking my butt all last month to the point that I couldn't even think of spots for the comments let alone the comments. Special thanks to AmethystDragon14 for helping me out there!
Hope you all enjoy the chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
Ginny slowly reached over to take one of the scrolls. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing there but…it was better than being on the Isle.
The VKs quickly parked the limo and scurried into Evie's castle.
"I'm sorry, my what?!" Evie exclaimed.
Yes, Evie's castle.
"Your castle, apparently," Emma said with a grin.
Apparently the amount she made from making dresses for girls to wear to Cotillion was enough that she could make a down payment for a place for her and her father to live. And Dizzy of course but that went without saying.
Dizzy grinned and flung her arms round the older girl.
"Whoa! What's the fire?" Daniel asked as the group scurried past him, the older man walking out of the gym as he finished up his physical therapy. While she didn't like to sweat, Evie did like staying in shape for cheerleading after all and the gym came in handy for Daniel as well.
"Closer than you think," Malinda muttered, a dark look on her face.
"Hey Daniel," Mal nodded as they stopped to look at him. "Uh, Dizzy's just really excited to see Evie. Have you seen her around?"
"I mean, it's her house. Why wouldn't she be around?" Ruby asked.
"Last I checked, she and Doug were in her studio," Daniel nodded, giving the smaller redhead a small smile. While he had never met Dizzy before, Evie had talked about her enough that he felt like he knew all about her. Plus it was a logical guess—Evie always said that Dizzy was a girl so the two blond boys couldn't be her.
"Excuse me? Why is she alone with him?" Harry exclaimed.
While there were three other girls in the group with Mal, the way Evie talked about Dizzy it always made her sound like she was a younger girl. Thus eliminating the darker haired girl and Uma. After that it was a fifty fifty pick and Daniel was just lucky he picked right.
"Well, like he said, there's not much chance of him being wrong," Jane nodded.
"Who's the dude?" The other young girl muttered to Uma.
"Okay that's a bit harsh scroll me," Celia muttered.
"Blueberry's father," Uma muttered back and Daniel shook his head at the nickname.
"Thanks Daniel," Mal nodded before the older man could say anything and the group scurried into the Evie4Hearts studio, not bothering to knock.
Evie couldn't help but chuckle slightly at that.
"Dizzy!" Evie squealed as she saw the younger girl, having looked toward the doorway upon hearing the other VKs rush toward her studio like a heard of elephants. Estelle lifted up his head and gave Mal a doggy grin as Celia grinned and walked over to him, scratching the Cerberus.
"My good boy," Mal grinned and Estelle gave her a doggy grin as he wagged his tail.
"Evie!" Dizzy grinned and ran into the blue haired girl's waiting arms.
"Oh I'm so happy to see you!"
"Am I really living here with you in your own castle?"
"Of course you are!" Evie nodded.
Evie waved her hand as if to brush off that fact. "It's just a starter castle…but Mal? What's wrong? I thought I was meeting you guys back at Ben's castle?"
"Yeah what's wrong?" Hadie asked, looking excited to see Mal. Though that could have been because it was a break from whatever fashion design Evie was foisting on him.
Malinda couldn't help but chuckle fondly at that image.
Mal sighed. "We had a bit of an incident on the bridge on the way back. And Evie? What have you foisted upon my brother?"
"His suit Mal," Macaria shook her head.
"What kind of an incident? And you really thought I'd be watching him without taking the opportunity to give him a suit fitting for your wedding?"
"The wedding that's years away?"
"Still…the more you get done now, the less stress down the road…" Emma mused.
"You can never be too careful you know."
"As Emma said, I don't think you can get more stressful then mom and dad's wedding," Neal chuckled.
Before Mal could answer, Doug spoke up as he stood from his stool. "Uh, Mal, the incident you had didn't happen to involve Audrey wielding Maleficent's scepter did it?"
"Oh great, Stalky's there?" Uma groaned.
"Daniel said he was there," Malinda said, shaking her head. "How did you not hear that part?"
"You know funnily enough it did…how do you know that?"
"...I don't like the sound of that" Hades said, his voice low.
"Because I think I see her," Doug said. Sure enough, a figured that looked like Audrey came strolling down the path…with another figure walking in step with her.
"No way!"
"No…"
"It can't be…"
"It is," Malinda said, the look on her face darkening.
Mal rolled her eyes. "Guys, it's pretty obvious that's Freddy from the outfit alone. So now we know who helped him break out of his cell. Gods and I thought today could just get better and better."
"We confronting them or we batting down the hatches?" Harry asked.
"Confront!"
"Batting!" Harry and Harriet cried at the same time.
"I vote confronting!" Hadie said as Estelle yipped in agreement.
"Of course you do Harry," Harriet and Uma said with a fond snort.
"Not all of us are going to confront them," Mal shook her head. "Evie, you and Doug stay here with the new kids and Hadie. One of you, try to call Ben again. I don't care what you need to do—call, text, email, carrier pigeon, but get in contact with him! Jay, Uma, Harry, Harriet, you're with me."
"Someone needs to stay with the kids," David nodded.
Estelle gave a small yip and walked over to Mal, as if asking her what his group would be. Mal gave him a sad smile and bent down.
"I love you boy…but not this time" Mal shook her head.
"I don't know what Maleficent's scepter would do to you boy," she said softly. "I need you to stay here and protect the pups alright?"
Estelle snorted as if in disbelief but nodded his left head slightly.
"Good boy," Malinda said with a small smile.
"Good boy," Mal said as she straightened up, double checking that her sword was secured to her belt. Looking at her group, she nodded. "Let's go."
"...Be careful" Belle said softly.
The five VKs walked out through the door of Evie's studio, the blue haired girl quickly closing it behind them. Mal wasn't even angry at that—the safety of the younger kids was more important.
"She'd let you back in" Dizzy said.
"I wouldn't want her too," Malinda said. "Not if it meant Hadie, you, Celia, and the Smee twins got hurt."
"Where are the twins?" Harriet asked.
"In the arcade that appeared when Ginny arrived," Sammy said. "After the action in the last scroll…I thought it be a good idea."
"You lost Freddy? You're awfully far from the Isle," she stated, trying to keep her mind focused.
"Yeah Freddy, you look about as lost as a fart in a fan factory!" Uma called, glaring at the older boy.
Most of the boys and some of the girls snorted in amusement.
"Ah Mal, you see, a man like myself doesn't belong on the Isle," Freddy smirked before turning to Harriet. "Uma, as eloquent as always. And why am I not surprised to see you in Boreadon Harriet? Though I must say, in the light of the sun, you do look rather ravishing. Maybe you'd like to find out what it's like to be with a real man instead of those filthy Rats."
"Not if you were the last person on Earth, Freddy!*" Harriet cried.
"Not interested Freddy," Harriet scoffed. "But if you want another face full of water like when we were kids, I'm sure that can be arranged."
"Oh that and more!" Uma nodded.
"Oh it most certainly can!" Uma nodded as Jay rested a hand on Harry's shoulder, as if holding back the younger Hook offspring from attacking Freddy right then and there. Which had it just been Freddy, Jay would have had no issue with that.
"Really Jay? We don't kill," Mal said looking over at the older boy.
"Be surprised at what you can live through Mali," Jay shrugged.
But Freddy had allied himself with someone who was wielding Maleficent's scepter. That was the most powerful item known to the Isle and to Auradon—the only thing more powerful was Lord Hades' ember and that was just because it was a possession of a God.
"What about mom's wand?" Jane asked softly. "I mean…Maleficent did want Evie to steal it in the first round of scrolls."
"I'm sorry what?" Ginny asked.
"Audrey, why are you messing with the Dragon's scepter?" Mal asked, not paying attention to Harry or Jay. "It's dangerous."
"Dangerous…not yours…" Chip said, moving his hands up and down as if they were scales.
"Honestly, she's like if the lost and found became a person," Uma muttered to Harry who bit back a snort of amusement.
The Harry in the room had no such restraint and began to laugh, though he did try his best to not disrupt the reading.
"Maybe I want to be dangerous Mal," Audrey snapped, ignoring the commentary in the background. "Maybe I want what you have. A reputation where no one will call you out as you drive Auradon deeper into ruin! You stole everything from me! Auradon turned its back on me."
"No one 'turned their back' on you Audrey!"
"…and you think teaming up with Freddy Frollo is going to change that?" Mal said, more than slightly shocked. She knew the other girl was a lot to handle at times, and had a screaming volume that could burst ear drums according to Emir and Akiho, but she was still good right? Ben wouldn't have stayed friends with her if she wasn't a good person deep down.
Malinda sighed; she'd wished that… for Ben's sake….
"If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times it's Fred," Freddy growled slight and then smirked. "Then again, I guess you would know all about not wanting to be called by a certain name…Maleficent."
"It's not-" Mal cried.
"Don't even dignify it with a response," Malinda told her.
Mal rolled her eyes. "Bit behind the times Freddy, it's Malinda…and how did you even know about that?"
"It's been a rather educational two months," Freddy said with a smirk. "Audrey here graciously informed me of what I missed during Beastie Jr.'s coronation when I was trying to take advantage of the hole in the barrier."
"Traitor," Chip growled and Lucas sighed.
"How were you even able to watch the coronation? The only places with a TV are the Dragon's castle, Lord Hades' restaurant and my mom's shop," Uma growled out. "You're banned from two of those places and I don't think you'd willingly cosy up to the Dragon. Though in all honesty I'm not sure considering there's a tree stump in a swamp with a higher IQ than you."
"Dad's arcade also has a tv," Celia pointed out. "Though I'm pretty sure dad would never allow Freddy in the arcade so maybe that's why scroll-Uma didn't mention it?"
Freddy chuckled. "You forget Uma, Hell Hall also has a television."
"Hmm, how appropriate for you," Mal muttered, thankful Carlos was off with Rodger and Anita so he wouldn't have to hear about Freddy invading his home. Granted the pup hated Hell Hall but it was the principle of the thing really. "You certainly belong in Hell."
"Burn!" Emir and Akiho grinned.
Meanwhile, Jay was still trying to restrain Harry from attacking Freddy and possibly being blasted by the scepter.
"... Belle I think your father needs to invent a machine so we can clone Jay," Chip said.
"Harry, snap out of it," Harriet snapped, noticing the one Mal had called Audrey back on the bridge walk away and turn around. "We've got bigger problems."
"Harry I love you but focus," Harriet said with a nod.
"Bigger problems than teaching this witch boy to stay away from my sisters?" Harry growled. He still remembered the comment Freddy had made about CJ back when she was thirteen after all. "Jay, let me go!"
"Do not let him go, Jay!" Milah and James said in unison.
"Harry, she's right," Jay muttered as he noticed Mal and Audrey facing off as well.
"Auradon's going to pay for what they did," Audrey vowed. "But first…"
"Mal, duck!" Jay shouted but the cry came too late as Mal could only hold up her arms to protect her face as she was hit with a blast of pink light. When it faded, an old begger woman stood in Mal's place.
"Wait what?!" Benji exclaimed.
"You knew we had a confrontation with Audrey," Malinda shrugged. "Now relax would you? Your worrying is upsetting the baby."
"Think Ben will love you now you old hag?" Audrey taunted.
"Yes," Benji nodded. "I will always love Mal."
"Actually yes! Yes he will!" Uma snarled. "Ben's not as shallow as you are Audrey! Just as Ben's looks don't matter to Mal, Mal's looks don't matter to him either!"
"They never have…they're just a bonus," Malinda nodded.
"Your kid's going to be gorgeous," Lucy said with a grin.
"Oh? Well maybe I should take a little visit to Bennyboo so he can see what a true Queen's supposed to look like," Audrey said with a smirk.
"Don't…you touch…Ben!" Mal cried with as much force as her now feeble and cracking voice could muster.
"I will always protect Ben!"
Freddy smirked. "You know I thought this would be too tame at first but I think this is a vast improvement over how she looked previously."
Claudine shook her head. "Never a good idea to poke the bear, Fred," she sighed.
"Okay anyone think Audrey's got Freddy under some kind of spell?" Harry asked. "Normally he'd be crying about 'witchcraft' and how we're all going to hell for being around witches."
"Mutual hate of Mal, I would bet it's better than any spell," Uma shook her head.
"Oh so like 'enemy of my enemy is my friend'?" Neal asked.
Audrey, though, could only smirk at Mal. "Oh? And what are you going to do about it Mal? Drool on me? I'm not going to touch Bennyboo. Once he realizes who he's supposed to be with, he'll come crawling back to me."
"I'm supposed to be with Mal, Audrey," Benji said firmly.
"No he won't," Uma scoffed.
"Hey, Uma knows Ben better than Audrey does! That's kinda sad when you think about the fact that Audrey's known Ben practically his whole life!" Emir said.
"We'll just see about that," Audrey smirked. "See you suckers!"
"Really? That's the line you're going to end on?" Phil Jr asked as he shook his head.
On that note, she and Freddy disappeared in a cloud of pink smoke just as the doors to Evie's studio opened and Evie and Doug rushed out.
"Huh. Stalky's actually wanting to help, it seems," Jay muttered.
"I couldn't get Ben but I got Akiho and Emir which is basically the same thing," Doug said and then paused. "Why is there an old lady just standing there?"
Mal bit her lip; an uneasy feeling building in her as she heard that they couldn't reach Ben….
"It's Mal," Harriet told him.
"Explain?"
"Audrey zapped her."
"Stating the obvious?" Kitty asked.
"That wasn't really an explanation and yet I feel all caught up."
Uma rolled her eyes and then turned to Mal. "Mal? Are you alright? Come on, let's get you to the Isle—."
"Why would-"
"Evil magic doesn't work there, kinda the whole point of the barrier," Celia shrugged.
"No! Someone…needs to call…Ben and…let him know that Audrey's coming," Mal said softly.
"I'll do that," Evie said, looking at Uma with a nod of her head.
"Yeah Mal, we need to call in the big guns," Jay nodded as well. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
"Thank you! You're learning!" Persephone said and sighed. They were just kids, they shouldn't be dealing with this.
Uma nodded. "Right. I'm reaching out to Aunt Steph right now. Harriet, I want you here with Celia, Dizzy and the others. Gods, there aren't enough curse words in the world to satisfy me right now and I can't say them because of the kids!"
"Can I say them for you Uma?" Hadie asked.
"No," Hades, Persephone, Mal, and Malinda said in unison.
"What…about…Hadie?"
"Your mom wants him on Olympus," Uma stated and Mal nodded.
"I'm not going!" Hadie cried.
"He won't be happy about that," Doug stated.
"Stalky's right about that!" Hadie exclaimed.
"He can be as unhappy as he wants to be as long as my little cousin's safe," Uma stated, crossing her arms. "Doug, you and Evie keep trying to reach out to Ben. I want you speaking to him. Shadows don't count this time. Harry, Jay, you guys are with me as we get Mal back to normal."
"Of course!" Jay and Harry nodded.
"Aye cap'n," Harry and Jay nodded.
"Good. Go get the bikes," Uma stated and then sighed. How she wished she had her crew of nineteen to work with but at least they were safe behind the barrier. Huh, how ironic. The barrier that they had hated all their lives was now the only saving grace about the Isle.
"...Ironic" Jane says softly
"We'll get you back to your normal self in no time co cap'n," Harry stated and then turned to his sister. "Harriet, you alright?"
"I'm fine Harry," Harriet told him. "I'll stay here with the kids. You help Mal."
"Always will," Harry nodded.
"On it cap'n."
"Since when do you call me 'cap'n'?" Harriet asked, looking over at her brother.
"Come on Mal, let's get you into something fabulous," Evie said and Uma rolled her eyes.
"Really? Is it really the time for fashion?" Kitty asked.
"We don't have time—."
"You see that cape shawl thing she's in now? That catches on the chain of her bike and Mal goes flying," Evie stated, crossing her arms. "I've got Mal's outfit ready, it'll take five minutes Uma."
"...Okay, you have a point."
"But how does Evie already have Mal's outfit ready?" Alexandria asked.
Lucy shrugged. "Evie saw Mal get zapped and raced to get the outfit?"
"…fine, if only because I don't want to risk Mal's safety as future Queen," Uma nodded and went to help Mal back into the house.
"I think you'll find that's the last thing anyone wants," Benji spoke up, holding Malinda close to him.
"I'm not going!"
Uma shook her head. "Why are both my cousins so stubborn?"
"Are you really the one to complain about someone being stubborn?" Malinda asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh Gods, just one cousin being normal today is that too much to ask?" Uma muttered and looked over at Evie. "You got her?"
"Go on," Evie nodded and Uma rushed over to where Hadie was glaring at…
"Who?" Hekie asked.
"…Macaria?" Uma exclaimed and the brunette looked over and smiled at Uma.
Macaria smiled, pleased that her scroll self was backing her family.
"Hey Uma! I take it you're the one who asked for me to gather up my little cousin here?" Macaria asked.
"Sure did," Uma nodded. "You Godlings might want to take shelter up on Olympus. It's going to get nasty very soon."
"Not if you need us," Herkie shook his head.
"Um, yes even if Uma and Mal need you," Meg said. "Let the adults handle this, Herkie."
"I'm not going!" Hadie declared. "I only have one Uncle and it's not the one who made it so dad was alone for six months!"
"That's what I said!" Hadie nodded.
Uma sighed and bent down so that she was at Hadie's eye level. "Listen here storm cloud. I know you probably saw what went down between Audrey and Mal outside. The last thing she needs to do is worry about you getting hurt."
Hadie sighed. He had to admit, Uma had a point.
"I don't care Uma! I'm not letting Audrey hurt Alex! Or Celia or Dizzy!" Hadie said, crossing his arms over his chest and Uma had to hide a small smile.
Alexandria couldn't help but smile to herself; happy to be incuded in Hade's friend list.
"Celia's more than capable of looking after herself," she said. "Plus she can protect Dizzy along with Harriet, and the Charmette has three older siblings who'll be looking out for her. She'll be fine."
"You can count on it!" the older Chaming siblings nodded.
"But you don't know that Uma! Audrey always taunted Alex about being fourth in line for her throne and she's dating Chad, you know. What if she—?"
"First off, Sleeping Brat was dating Chad but they broke up," Uma stated. "Second of all, Charming Jr. may not be the sharpest knife in the drawer but if there's one thing I'm sure about, it's that he cares about his little sisters."
"I know my scroll self hasn't really proved that but I do," Chad nodded, his voice still soft.
"How do you know?"
"It's an older sibling thing," Uma told him, ruffling his blue hair and earning a squawk of annoyance from Hadie. "Think about it this way Hads, you'll finally be able to give Zeus grief for Uncle Hades."
"You just said the magic words," Mal said, knowing how her little brother would react to that.
Apparently she had said the right words as Hadie seemed to perk up at the thought.
"Like father, like son," Persephone chuckled and shook her head.
"Fine," he said. "But only to give Zeus hell. But when I get back, you all have to got to—."
"You're under fifteen storm cloud. You're getting treated like a 'baby' as you put it. If CJ or Ryan were here, they'd be treated the same way."
CJ shook her head stubbornly. She wouldn't let herself be babied like that!
Hadie rolled his eyes but walked over to Macaria.
"You be careful," Macaria said to Uma. "You need anything, Olympus will stand with you."
"And I mean that"
"The last time a God of the Isle needed Olympus to stand with him, it didn't go the way he wanted," Uma stated. Her aunt had told her and Mal the story about Zeus refusing to help so many times Uma could recite it in her sleep.
"My word is not my grandfather's…" Macaria said, her voice soft but firm at the same time.
"I'm not my grandfather," Macaria told her. "Besides, you're family. Family sticks together."
"We got your back, guys!" All the Auradon godlings said with a firm nod.
On that note, she and Hadie vanished in a clasp of lightning just as Evie and Mal came back.
Mal sighed with a sad smile. She understood they were crunched for time but…she still would have liked a hug goodbye.
"I…didn't get…to say goodbye?"
"No time," Uma stated and looked over at Mal. "Nice outfit."
"Why thank you" Mal said with a grin.
Mal smiled. It really was a nice outfit; a purple and black leather number with her purple boots and of course shoulder sleeves that looked like wings.
Audie smiled. The more things change…the more they stay the same, she thought as she thought about Mal's outfit in the third viewing.
"We'll be back," Uma told Evie. "I don't get cell service on the Isle so if you need help, call Macaria okay?"
"Go on," Evie said. "The sooner you go, the sooner you'll be back and we can plan out the attack against Audrey and Freddy."
"Lets do this!" Lonnie said, clapping her hands together.
"I have to say I like this 'not dumb' Blueberry. Looks good," Uma smirked and turned to help Mal get to her bike. She had an Uncle to visit after all.
"You're always welcome Uma," Hades told her.
Ginny bit her lip. "That's the end of the scroll," she said.
"I don't mind reading again," Lonnie said with a smile.