Time passed with Mal not believing how fast her baby was turning into a little toddler.
As planned previously, Mal missed three hours of classes to look after her baby girl, giving her father time to run an errand if needed. Jay occasionally skipped Dr. Facilier's class, not often enough to cause suspicion. Surprisingly, no one questioned their disappearances, especially Mal's. That may have something to do with her asking for some 'fresh air' when she returned, since she was still feeling sickly due to her 'illness'.
Mal couldn't believe how easy it was to care for her daughter. Mallory always woke at appropriate times in the morning, only cried when she wanted someone to hold her—one to two times a day—and ate her baby food with no fuss. The only trouble had been Mallory's habit of tugging her mother's hair, so Mal cut it to chin level.
It was like the Fates awarded Mal with an angel for keeping her child, and she couldn't be more grateful.
Of course, Mal couldn't have a big celebration for her daughter's first birthday, also her sixteenth birthday. Even if Mal wanted, she couldn't because of Maleficent.
A week prior, Mal bumped into her mother while skipping lunch. The elder fairy 'requested' Mal be seen with her for a couple hours on her birthday so no one would think Mal was staying elsewhere.
A 'couple hours' turned into half the day.
Although extremely irritated for the extended time, Mal felt relieved the 'bonding time' didn't involve her mother asking why her father was so insistent on her staying with him. The day was nearly over when Mal finally returned home, which made her annoyance mold into unchecked rage.
But seeing her daughter light up at her arrival made Mal's anger melt away like snow in the summer.
After all, Mallory was the greatest gift Mal could ever ask for.
Days later, Mal finished getting ready for school and dressed her daughter before they walked into the living room for breakfast. Since they didn't have a highchair for the kitchen table, Mal fed her baby girl on the floor, having no fear of Mallory making a mess. Meanwhile, Hades was cooking his breakfast in the kitchen and something small for Mal, as per the usual routine.
When the mother and daughter had a little food left, Jay arrived unannounced and turned on the television to the Auradon News Network. He still firmly believed there would be a big announcement soon. Mallory just finished swallowing a bite of food when she perked up suddenly. "Dada!"
The three 'adults'—really two teens and a god—whipped their heads to the toddler, surprised her first word was such. When Mal gazed at the screen, her body tensed in recognition. On the news was none other than Prince Ben, who would soon become 'king'—
He was the mystery prince-king from her dream.
"No, Lory," Mal denied softly. "He's not your daddy."
The one-year-old didn't care. Mallory shakily stood on her chubby feet and toddled to the television set, surprising the trio with her first steps too. "Dada!" she repeated while touching the screen, specifically where the prince was shown.
"We better go," Mal abruptly announced. Shouldering her bag, she swiftly turned off the electronic and scooped her daughter in her arms. "Bye, Lory."
Kissing her daughter's cheek until she giggled, Mal gave her over to her father before rushing out of the cave. Jay followed her in confusion.
Before leaving through the above ground entrance, Jay forced Mal to stop, interrogating, "Why did you freak out back there?"
Knowing she couldn't avoid it, Mal grumbled, "A couple months before I gave birth to Mallory, I dreamed about a king Mallory took a fondness to."
"So?"
"The king was Prince Ben," Mal revealed. "In the dream, Lory called him 'daddy' before jumping into his arms."
"That's a good sign!" Jay reassured hopefully. "Maybe it means—"
"It means nothing," Mal denied forcefully. "We aren't going to Auradon, not together. After Lory was born, I had another dream about leaving her behind."
"That won't happen," Jay promised.
"You're right," Mal agreed with a sigh. "Because we are never going to Auradon."
Arriving nearly half an hour later, the duo heard classmates whisper about a new student. Some claimed it to be a castle-schooled princess. Mal had her suspicions about the 'princess', since the only other royal on the island was a queen banished ten years ago for not inviting Mal to her daughter's party.
Honestly, Mal couldn't care about that incident from so long ago. Her priorities have changed completely since that day.
Besides, Mal was more concerned about her first class, which was with the always tardy Mother Gothel. Since the start of the year, the beauty-obsessed teacher shows up when nearly half the class is gone. Mal considered skipping altogether, which meant arriving a couple hours later than anyone else. Maybe if she talked to Dr. Facilier, her father would allow it. . .
Abruptly, Mal stopped outside the classroom when she noticed something unusual. "There's someone in my seat."
Curious, Jay peaked inside to find an unfamiliar girl with blue hair sitting at a large cauldron at the front of the room. "Must be the new student," he assumed, raising a curious brow at Mal. "Are you going to cause a scene?"
"That's too childish for someone with a child," Mal remarked under her breath. "I'll tell her it's my seat and she can have it tomorrow. I don't need any trouble today."
Inhaling a breath to gain courage, Mal walked in with Jay trailing behind her. The fairy stood in front of the desk when she cleared her throat to get the new-girl's attention.
The princess timidly raised her brown wide-eye gaze. Mal had to admit, the girl was drop-dead gorgeous. She could clearly tell from her tensing up that she was nervous. "Hi," the teenager greeted meekly. "I'm Evie."
"Mal," the purple-haired girl replied curtly. "You're in my seat."
"I'm so sorry!" Evie apologized, smiling brightly through her discomfort. "I had no idea it was your desk."
"Innocent mistake," Mal agreed calmly to ease the princess's trouble. "In fact, I'll let you have it tomorrow. Today isn't going well for me and I would appreciate familiarity to get me through it. Sound good to you?"
Instead of waiting, Mal tossed her backpack into the cauldron. Getting the message, Evie collected her belongings and found an empty cauldron in the back. With a slight huff, Mal rested her head in exasperation, knowing it was going to be a very long day.
Mal didn't bother going to Lady Tremaine's class, since the woman knew where she would be. Spending nearly an hour trying to get her daughter to speak again, Mal rushed back just in time to catch up with Jay—
And catch Ginny Gothel and the Gaston twins harass Carlos—the nerdy son of Cruella de Vil—who stood with new girl Evie. Mal was not expecting the two would become friends so quickly.
Waiting for the misfit trio to leave, Mal approached with loyal Jay at her side. "Carlos," she greeted. "What was that about?"
"Ginny and the twins want me to host a howler tonight," Carlos informed nervously. "I think they're plotting something for Tremaine's project."
Mal rolled her eyes. "Carlos, you shouldn't let them bully you," she scolded motherly. "Stand up for yourself or have Jay or I help you when we're around."
"Will you come to the party then?" Carlos requested hopefully. "I'd feel better if you both were there."
Jay glanced at Mal, who seemed too hesitant "I don't like parties," she reminded evasively, "or crowded gatherings."
"Because of me?" Evie assumed softly. "Because my mother—"
"I don't care about that," Mal insisted with a careless shrug. "It was a kids party; I'm over it. There was . . . another incident, a couple years ago that made me hate parties. I'd like to be your friend and let the squabble between our mothers stay between them."
"Come to the howler then," Evie implored with a smile. "Gives us a chance to hang out as friends."
"I'll think about it," Mal assured before walking off with the thief following behind her—
Not knowing their life was about to be a lot more interesting.
"Go to the howler," Hades instructed as he leaned against the doorway. "There's no harm in attending for a few minutes."
"That's what I thought last time," Mal retorted, changing her daughter into a clean diaper before dressing her in a night-onesie. "It ended with me drunk and raped."
"That won't happen this time," the god insisted. "Jay will be with you the entire time. You may be a mother, but you are still a teenager. I can watch Mallory while you're gone."
"I can't let you do that," Mal claimed, tucking Mallory into one side of the bed—having outgrown her crib months ago. "You watch her too much already. You need a break."
"And you need to be there for Evie," Hades argued softly so his granddaughter could lull to sleep. "This is her first party. She won't know about all the drinking and such that will be happening. You need to be there so what happened to you doesn't happen to her. Alright?"
Mal hesitated, pondering the pros and cons. Sighing, she announced, "One hour. I will stay for one hour to keep an eye on her and make sure Carlos is comfortable with the party. If either one feels unsafe, I'll shut it down."
More than an hour after the party officially started, Mal—with loyal friend Jay—knocked sharply on the door of Hell Hall. The duo could hear the music and chattering stop while someone rushed to the door. In the next moment, Carlos opened it like a soldier called to attention.
"Hey, Carlos," Mal greeted. "Jay and I had a couple errands before we could come. Are we late?"
"Not at all," Carlos denied, moving out of their way. "Come in."
"Excited to see us?" Mal wondered, allowing a faint smile.
He nodded yes, though the fairy could see his nervousness.
While Jay competed in a dance competition, Mal circled the party. After a few minutes, Mal bumped into Jay in the hallway, who was out of breath from winning the dance-off. "You alright?" He interrogated worriedly. "Need a moment outside?"
"I'm fine," Mal reassured. "Where'd Carlos go?"
With an amused smirk, Jay gestured to a pair of black shoes poking out from a sheet covering the biggest bookcase. "Hiding from his own party. Typical."
Although she would never admit it, Mal knew exactly how Carlos felt. She would rather be watching her daughter sleeping peacefully next to her than be at the stupid party, but she had to keep her word.
"Where's Princess Blueberry?" Mal questioned as she scanned the crowd. "I did a whole loop of this party. I didn't see her anywhere."
"You mean Evie? She's not here yet," Jay informed with a shrug. "Maybe she got nervous and decided not to come."
The teenage fairy groaned in aggravation. "She has to show up! She and Carlos are the only reason I came to this dumb howler in the first place."
"What are you two doing?" asked Anthony Tremaine, Lady Tremaine's sixteen-year-old grandson.
"Talking," Mal retorted before Jay could say anything. "Do you want something?"
"Yes. To dance." Anthony looked at her expectantly.
She looked at him, confused. "Wait—with me?"
"Well, I didn't mean him," Anthony argued, looking awkwardly at Jay. "No offense, man."
"None taken." Jay claimed tensely. "But Mal can't dance with you, and she won't. Since Mal became sick, she doesn't let anyone touch her, except for me. You are wasting your time on something that is never going to happen."
With a clenched jaw, Anthony promptly stormed off to ask Harriet Hook for a dance, who accepted with a delighted shriek. Meanwhile, Mal changed her attention to her friend with a happy smile. "Have I told you how grateful I am that you are my gay best friend?"
"Just once," Jay answered teasingly. "But I wouldn't mind hearing it more often."
Sometime later, a few minutes before the one-hour deadline, Evie finally arrived. Mal cautiously kept an eye on her from a distance, believing the princess deserved a few moments to enjoy the 'experience' of her first party.
However, when Mal took her eyes off Evie for a split second, the princess was caught in a predicament that made the fairy's blood boil.
The Gaston twins—both drunk from the spiked apple cider—approached clueless, innocent Evie. Barely a second passed before the princess felt uncomfortable by the closeness of the two muscular men. One played with a strand of her long blue hair while the other mentally undressed her.
It pissed Mal off.
One twin grabbed for Evie's ass, only to be flipped on his back instead. The brother found himself knocked out of breath and slammed to the ground, possibly breaking a bone or two. Meanwhile, Evie stared in awe at her savior.
Mal stood over the twins, seething with rage. "Don't you ever come near Evie again!" she demanded.
The eldest twin tried sitting up, groaning, "How—"
"I'm not just the daughter of Maleficent," Mal declared, green eyes shining defiantly. "I am the daughter of Hades, King of the Underworld! My uncle is Zeus, King of the Gods! I am a demigod, which means I inherited strength you could never match. I have no problem teaching you a lesson for harassing the princess. You have five seconds to run. ONE!"
While the twins scurried away like cowards, Mal observed the party guests around her who watched in mild amazement. "Howler's over," she announced authoritatively. "Get out!"
The fairy found it quite amusing to see so many teens running away from her after revealing other parentage. If she knew about that extreme reaction, Mal would have told everyone about her father sooner.
Soon, all who remained was an amused Jay, a scared Carlos, and a surprised Evie. "Sorry," Mal apologized insincerely, "for ruining the party. I guess I lost my 'godly' temper."
"No need to apologize," Evie reassured. "I'm grateful you stepped in, like a friend would do."
Gazing around at the mess, Mal awkwardly suggested, "Carlos, how about Jay, Evie, and I help you clean up? It would give us a chance to hang out as . . . friends."
With no arguments, the four cleaned the mansion so Carlos wouldn't feel the wrath of his insane mother. Within minutes, the group was joking around like any friends would. However, it would be a very long time before Mal revealed her biggest secret.
None realized, their life would be turned upside down—
Or that a mother would have to say 'good-bye' to her daughter.