Three months after cotillion, a strange man covered by shadows appeared on the Isle of the Lost, yet only one knew he was ever there.
Well . . . technically two.
But the child has never gone outside her home. There was no worry of her telling someone about the king's secret travels.
In fact, the child was the reason Ben came back to the Isle on his own.
With some secretive, and careful planning, the king picked the perfect time without getting caught.
It was also quite a coincidence. The day he picked was also the day the Core Four—more specifically Jay—wanted to travel to Agrabah. With school ending for the academic year, students were allowed to travel to other kingdoms. This meant Jay could finally give his fiancé and his family the gift to help with their grieving.
However, that matter will be discussed later.
Originally, the Core Four wanted Ben to join them on their venture to a new kingdom, but the king claimed he had a last-minute meeting regarding a confidential topic. This was true, as he had informed the headmistress of part of his agenda for being on the island. Upon his persistent offer, the Core Four used his private jet to fly the long hours to the Arabian kingdom. After he finishes his 'business', Ben promised to meet them in Agrabah with the help of magic.
Just a few minutes after the Core Four boarded the secluded plane, Ben rode through the grungy streets of the Isle of the Lost on his motorcycle. The king traveled the exact way instructed to him, so he wouldn't be seen. The last thing he needed was someone spoiling hissurprise for his queen.
Within minutes, Ben drove into an underground tunnel, where a skull-shaped gate blocked his path. Knowing prior of this obstacle, the king used the skeleton key he received in a letter to unlock the gate. Driving through the entrance, the king locked the barricade before continuing his path, maneuvering around an old miner's cart.
When he could travel no further on the bike, Ben rested it against the wall before walking the rest of the way. Soon, the king finally arrived, emerging in the living quarters of the cave.
"You're late," scolded a masculine voice, though keeping quiet. "She went down for her nap twenty minutes ago. What took so long?"
"I have a good reason, Hades," Ben claimed, cautiously walking into the living room. "I had to negotiate with a seller for Jay. She found out the 'gift' was for her Sultana, so she doubled the price."
"The people of Agrabah can be selfish," Hades warned, cleaning the kitchen from the lunch mess. "Most aim to be richer than the Sultana, so they turn into shrewd and selfish business-people."
Ben raised a curious eyebrow, standing on one side of the kitchen island, which separated the king and the god. "You know that how?"
"I've judged a few of their souls. They always confess their selfishness in hopes of a lesser punishment," Hades casually remarked, finishing the dishes. "Did you get the seller to lower it?"
"To the original price," Ben slightly boasted. "I threatened to have her business shut down if it didn't follow the new regulations Sultana Jasmine created before Rajah passed."
Hades smirked appreciatively at the king's methods. "I'm impressed. I didn't think you would do such a thing, considering how fair you try to be."
"That is being fair," Ben argued defensively. "That seller and others are taking advantage of the Sultana's grief. None bother adhering to the new rules because they believe she will forget, or that's what Aziz told me from his last visit to the marketplace."
"His parents aren't doing anything?"
"Aladdin doesn't have as much power as his wife so he's waiting until she's better to do anything," Ben informed as he leaned over the table for support. "But they aren't the people I came to talk about. I want to talk about—"
"My baby girl," Hades knowingly finished. "I admit, I'm surprised she told you, but I'm not surprised you figured it out before then. In your letters, you claim to know due to dreams, which intrigued me. The Fates revealed that they made that happen because—"
"I want to marry your daughter," Ben interrupted impatiently.
Instead of gasping at the news, Hades merely shook his head in amusement. "Again, I am not surprised," he claimed calmly. "But don't you think it is too soon to ponder the idea?"
"I've been in love with your daughter since I first dreamed of her when I was fourteen," Ben stated, his stubbornness growing rapidly. "I have loved your granddaughter since the first dream of her at fifteen. I noticed, in the first letter—"
"It was the correct date," Hades interjected with an eyeroll. "I didn't reply then because I hadn't consulted the Fates yet. Your dream seems so unbelievable. I'm not sure if I should believe it will come true."
"I will turn that dream into a reality," Ben vowed determinedly, "but I can't until I have your permission to marry your daughter."
"I need to ask a few questions first to see if you are worthy enough." Leaning against the kitchen counter and crossing his arms to get more comfortable, Hades wondered, "Has Mali told you what exactly happened?"
"Yes," Ben answered honestly, gripping the kitchen island to keep someone contained. "On our first date, Mal said something happened, so she wanted to take our relationship slow. I respected her wishes. Our last date before cotillion, she told me out of panic, because I discovered she used magic to create the picnic feast and she tried to spell me to make me forget. When I told her I wasn't mad, she confessed about the . . . incident, that you and Jay knew, and the truth about the coronation conversation with her mother. When I went to the Isle after the letter misunderstanding, Mal told me about her . . . run-in with her rapist. I offered to do something to him, but she denied it. She didn't care about revenge, like she told Maleficent after she escaped to get revenge on him and . . . her rapist. After I was captured by the pirates and he provoked me, I went against Mal's wishes."
Hades nodded absentmindedly. "So, the rumor about you nearly killed someone was actually true," he deduced, choosing to focus on that. "Care to tell me why?"
"Because Harry Hook fucking raped my queen," Ben answered hotly, "and forsaken the child created. I nearly killed him because of what he did to them both. Honestly, I don't think I would have had any remorse if I had killed him. It would mean he wouldn't be able to hurt anyone else."
"It's better you attacked than me," Hades insisted stubbornly. "If I had my powers, he would have faced a slow, painful death as he burned to a crisp a long time ago. I've been plotting ways to torture him when he dies and comes to my Underworld. I have one last question."
The immortal paused, preparing himself for the answer and the king for the question. Leaning forward cautiously, Hades asked, "Can you love her, knowing he is her father?"
"Absolutely," Ben agreed with no hesitation, "because I already do. He's not going to step up, but I am more than willing. I want her to be mine, because I love her."
Eyeing the teenager, watching for any signs of his resolve wavering, Hades decided, "Yes, you may marry my daughter. However, I want you to wait until after you've graduated high school to propose. I believe one of the reasons my marriage has become . . . complicated, is because I married Maleficent while we were students at Merlin Academy."
Ben snarled his nose in confusion. "I didn't know you, or any villains, attended the academy."
"Most did before we became villains, fallen victim to the fate of our tales, and most of the kingdoms united," Hades answered, recalling the happiest, yet . . . hardest time of his relationship. "Maleficent had been . . . abused, the summer before she decided to attend Merlin Academy, to get away from him and the kingdom that betrayed her. Admittedly, I fell in love with her at first glance. Although her defenses were up, she fell in love just as quickly, and told me what transpired.
"We had a classmate, who I knew was an expert in all kinds of magical remedies and objects." Hades raised a cautious eyebrow. "Back then, she was known as the kind and caring Bridget. But, after a cruel prank my wife and I tried warning her about, she's now feared as the Queen of Wonderland."
Ben's eyes widened in shock. "You mean the Queen of Hearts?" he clarified. "As in the queen who enlisted her army to guard Wonderland when my parents started the unification of Auradon?"
"The very same woman who suggested I marry Maleficent," Hades confirmed with the slightest of nods. "She claimed our marriage would allow my ember to work for Malef, and heal the damage left behind by the slaughter of her wings. It worked, but it didn't heal her trauma."
The god sighed shakily, clenching the island to contain his festering anger, and his own sorrow. "The difference between my wife's and my daughter's abuses?" Hades questioned rhetorically. "My daughter had Lory, while my wife suffered a miscarriage."
Shaking his head bitterly, Hades recalled, "Malef was hesitant, when she first discovered her pregnancy. I voiced my support for whatever decision she wanted to make. She chose to keep the child, in hopes of them being unlike their birth father, and enjoying the thought of us raising them together. Then came the miscarriage, multiple trips to Bridget to help the depression and sleepless nights created, and a solo night venture to the kingdom after he was declared king."
Vague knowledge of the beginning of the king's reign pulsed in the teenager's brain. "There was a massive fire," Ben recalled slowly. "It destroyed nearly the entire kingdom's resources and left behind scars on the castle that could never be repaired or covered, no matter how many times they tried."
"Of course, I was the first suspect," Hades acknowledged. "But Maleficent and Bridget vouched that I was with them, waiting for Bridget to finish another magical, remedy treat for my wife. Bridget . . . she tried so hard to tell those who could make things right about Maleficent's abuse and that peasant king's horrible deeds, but no one believed her. She always remained a loyal and helpful friend to us; even now, since she's hiding Maleficent in Wonderland."
The god narrowed his eyes at the even more surprised king. "You will tell no one about my wife's whereabouts," he warned dangerously. "Not unless it is absolutely necessary. I only tell because you play the same role as I had. And I heard from Mali that you are the reason that bastard was finally caught."
"My father did more than me," Ben argued, not wanting to take all the credit. "After returning from the Isle, I told my parents what he did in private. They refused to investigate, until I proclaimed I would step down as 'king' if nothing was done. My father personally visited, and nearly killed him after learning the truth, especially after he made crude comments about Aziz, my best friend and Jay's fiancé."
The king paused, a dangerous thought forming, and emerging with no care for the repercussions. "From what I know about Wonderland," Ben began slowly, "the people are isolated from news about Auradon. If a message was sent, about him being arrested, I would disregard any knowledge of someone breaking into his castle, to find and reclaim what is rightfully hers."
After a moment, Hades smiled deviously. "I'm starting to like you more and more," he complimented sincerely. "Now I hope Mali does say 'yes' to marrying you. We will have so much fun creating deserved justice with you as my son-in-law."
"Papa Aido?"
The mortal king perked up at hearing the child-like voice. Turning around, Ben lost his breath, gazing at the beauty of the young toddler. Just like her mother, she had flawless pale skin and natural purple curly hair, reaching just above her waist. Her eyes were the lightest shade of blue Ben had ever seen.
Smiling softly, Ben greeted kindly, "Hello, Mallory."
Sweet innocent Mallory squinted her eyes, before her entire face lit up. Gasping dramatically, she dropped the blanket wrapped around her slightly chubby figure, running toward the 'stranger', squealing excitedly, "Daddy!"
Curious by the name called, Ben lifted the little girl into his arms when she was within reach. Once rested onto the king's hip, Mallory wrapped her tiny arms around his neck, smiling giddily at the man she thought she knew. "Hi, Daddy!"
"Lory," Hades chided sternly. "He's not your dad."
"Not yet," Ben corrected, adjusting himself so they could see each other, "but I want to be."
When the toddler tilted her head curiously, the king explained, "I love your mommy very much. I want to marry her so we can be together, so she can be my queen. If we marry, you will be my little girl. You will be our princess. So, may I marry your mommy?"
Nodding happily with a smile that could never become bitter, Mallory cheered, "Yes, Daddy!"
"I have a gift for you," Ben revealed, smiling at the way Mallory's face lit up even more. "But you need to close your eyes first."
As his princess tightly closed her bright blue eyes, Ben pulled out a plushie from his pocket, despite it being the nearly as big as Mallory. On a count of three in his mind, he 'commanded', "Open."
Opening her beautiful eyes, Mallory squealed in delight, greedily taking the toy into her arms. "Cerbie!"
During the exchange of letters between the two kings, Hades had commented about telling Mallory stories of his three-headed dog that guarded the entrance of the Underworld, known as Cerberus. Since she couldn't fully pronounce his name, Mallory would ask to hear more about 'Cerbie'. Ben decided to gift the little girl a toy replica, so she could hold it while hearing more tales of the 'enchanted' pup.
"I knew you would like it." Ben spared a glance at Hades. "If Mal asks—"
"I'll say her mother sent it from Wonderland," Hades reassured. "She will be none the wiser."
Satisfied with the response, Ben placed a loving kiss on the forehead of his princess, who hugged her new toy for dear life. "I love you, Mallory," he cooed ever so lovingly. "I promise, no harm will ever come to you."