Weeks later, Mal became the happiest she's ever been in Auradon due to Jay's thoughtful gift. Whenever she found herself anxious or bored, the fairy would fidget with the locket without realizing it. The action caused unwanted gazes, forcing her to hide it so none would ask about the pictures inside.

About midway through a wonderful senior year, the Core Four decided to focus on the VK Program, where more villain children could attend Auradon Prep. Although applications were passed out at the beginning of the school year, only Dizzy Tremaine applies. The Core Four thought by staying on the Isle for a few days, they could promote the program better.

The evening of their trip, the group gathered outside the front lawn of school, throwing their over-night luggage in the royal limousine. While Jay, Evie, and Carlos climbed into the vehicle, Mal embraced her beloved lovingly. "Thank you for letting us do this," she mumbled, resting her head on his shoulder. "It will be a good for us to talk to the kids."

"There's no need to thank me," Ben insisted. "I hope you have a pleasant visit."

Mal raised her head with a hopeful smile. "Maybe one day, we can bring all the Isle children to Auradon."

"We will," Ben vowed, fondly tucking a strand of the fairy's hair behind her ear. "You know . . . if there is anyone you want to bring to Auradon—anyone at all—she, or he, will be more than welcomed. I would make sure everyone accepted her."

Hesitating, Mal shook her head stubbornly. "There's no one that I know of," she fibbed. Kissing her boyfriend's nose adorably to make him lose focus, Mal promised, "I'll see you Friday, my king."

Placing a soft, comforting kiss on her forehead, Ben cooed, "Until then, my queen."

The Isle of the Lost never changed. Mal wasn't sure if she loved or loathed it.

When the Core Four arrived in the middle of the busy market, everything was exactly as they remembered it. This was where they had come from, the neglected prison where villains were trapped for their crimes.

Before the fairy could observe her surrounding too much, Evie lightly tugged Mal away from the marketplace. "Come on," the princess urged softly. "Let's go to our hideout."

"The hideout?" Carlos repeated incredulously. "Isn't this an official royal visit? Don't we have any other place to stay?"

"There aren't any five-star castles on the Isle," Jay scolded.

"Would you rather stay at your house?" Evie teased to ease the tense atmosphere surrounding them.

"Never," Carlos denied vehemently. "Lead the way."

"Actually. . ." Mal trailed off, backing out of her friend's reach. "Dad said Jay and I could stay with him. It's been forever since I've seen him, and he wants to catch up before we go back."

Evie hesitated, uneased at the thought of them splitting up so soon. "Fine," she relented. "But meet us at the hideout in the morning so w together. We'll finalize plans on the way."

"Thank you!" Mal cheered, bursting with excitement. "We'll see you tomorrow!"

Without another word, the duo burst through the grungy streets of the Isle. After a few twists and turns, Mal darted down a dark alley with Jay following behind her. Since she spent her childhood sneaking to her father's home, the fairy knew every possible path to his cave. In record timing, the two burst into the living quarters of the cave.

"Hello!" Mal shouted, trying to hide her panting. "I'm looking for my beautiful daughter! Is my baby girl home?"

Although the home seemed vacant, the best friends heard a loud gasp from a separate room of the cave. The bedroom door slammed open, revealing a three-year-old girl with nearly translucent blue eyes. The little girl had the widest smile as she squealed loudly. Running as fast as she could, the child was lifted into the mother's arms, latching her chubby arms around her neck. "Mommy!" she cheered happily. "I miss you!"

"Mallory," Mal greeted lovingly. "I missed you too."

Though grateful to finally be reunited with her greatest blessing, the mother's smile changed into a confused frown, noticing a familiar locket around her daughter's neck. "Lory," Mal cooed, keeping her tone sweet in her daughter's presence. "Where did you get that locket?"

"I made it," Jay answered, sparing a glance at the god leaned against the bedroom door frame. "I had left over material from yours and decided to make one for her. I guess I forgot to tell you. Sorry."

Mal tilted her head curious. "Did you make 'Cerbie' for her too?"

"Cerbie is a gift from your mother," Hades intervened, before the 'uncle' could ruin the preplanned lie. "She sent it from Wonderland."

Mal snarled her nose at the new information. "Wonderland? You mean with—"

"I can't say more," the father interrupted sternly. "Your mother made me swear not to say anything more about her whereabouts, especially with those accusations milling about."

Over the summer, during the in-depth investigation of his past crimes, Stefan demanded past crimes toward him be explored as well. After becoming king, nearly his entire kingdom was engulfed in flames. To save himself, Stefan accused Maleficent of causing the fire before he did anything to her. His plan didn't work, since no one could contact the fairy or the Queen of Wonderland, who vouched for her originally.

"There's something we need to discuss," Hades insisted, though pausing when the mother and daughter yawned at the same time. "But it can wait until morning. Enjoy your night with your little girl while you can."

Sleeping with Mallory in her arms again gave Mal the best sleep she ever had. Auradon Prep's beds were nothing compared to her baby girl nestled in her embrace. It was such a peaceful slumber that Jay had to wake them so they wouldn't be late.

After changing and dressing her bundle of love, Mal carried Mallory on her hip as they walked into the main room. At the kitchen island, the fairy seated her daughter on her lap to enjoy breakfast together. It was so natural of Mal to assume the role of a mother again, making sure Mallory didn't make a mess on her dress.

It was almost as though they were never separated.

"Now, let's talk." Standing across from her, Hades gave his daughter a pointed look. "Have you told your boyfriend about Mallory?"

"Not yet," Mal admitted, knowing the question would be brought up. "He knows about the incident, but I just can't bring myself to tell him."

"Do you love Ben?"

Taken back, the fairy replied, "Of course I do—"

"Then you need to tell him," Hades persisted, glaring softly to show his seriousness. "It's only a matter of time before someone slips up. You need to be the first to tell him about Mallory."

"I-I know," Mal agreed with a shaky sigh. "I need a little more time, but I will tell him, once I get the courage."

"You need to be careful," Hades warned cautiously. "My brother has allowed Uma to stay with him, and she asked him about the 'assault', as you had called it. Poseidon went to me for answers, and, admittedly, I told him the truth. He promised not to say a word, and scolded Uma for trying to pry into your personal life. It's only a matter of time before she tires of the excuses and seeks you out for answers."

"I'll be ready," Mal insisted determinedly. "And I will tell her the truth, after I tell Ben."

Returning to their old stomping grounds was a lot more tense than any of them thought they would be. Just a few minutes before the school day would start, the Core Four gathered in the headmaster's office. Dr. Facilier was seated at his faded velvet chair, but stood when they entered.

"Welcome back," he greeted with a terrifying grin. "Now, what brings you four here? Not looking to come back, I presume."

Mal cleared her throat to begin her little speech. "Auradon Prep is expanding its program to bring more students from the Isle of the Lost over to the mainland," she informed. "We were hoping you could distribute applications and encourage kids to sign up. We will be available after school to talk to students and answer any questions they may have."

Carlos handed a stack of papers to their old headmaster, who flipped through the documents. "Auradon Prep is accepting four students," Jay informed. "Same as before."

"I see . . ." Dr. Facilier leaned back in his chair, putting his feet up on his desk. "If I do this for you, what's my cut? What do I get in return for sending students for your program?"

"That's not how it works," Mal argued sharply. "They don't do kickbacks or bribes in Auradon."

"But you're on the Isle of Lost," Dr. Facilier reminded with a chuckle, sending shivers up their spines. "Surely, I should get some kind of reward for my generosity."

Mal narrowed her eyes, just so Evie and Carlos wouldn't get suspicious. "What do you want?"

"I'm glad we're in agreement," Dr. Facilier mused with a smug smile. "However, I think it's best that you and I talk in private. You wouldn't want your friends to ruin our negotiations."

Sighing softly, the fairy averted her attention to her friends. "Why don't you three put up posters around school?" Mal suggested gently. "I'll make the deal with the Voodoo Man."

"Careful," Evie teased, though there was an uneasiness to her tone. "You don't want to deal away your humanity and turn into a frog."

"Her father would have my soul," Dr. Facilier remarked haughtily.

Once the door closed behind the trio, Mal slumped in a chair. "Finally!" she exclaimed dramatically. "I didn't think I could keep being rude to you, especially after everything you've done for me."

"I assume you haven't told Carlos nor Evie about your daughter," Dr. Facilier deduced, slouching in his seat to get more comfortable. "Is there anyone new that knows?"

"Jay's fiancé, Aziz," Mal informed slowly, so she wouldn't stumble over her words. "For my birthday, Jay sent a device to the Isle so I can video-chat with Mallory and Dad whenever I wanted. He wanted to test the connection and used it as an opportunity to introduce his fiancé to Lory. Jay didn't want to start his marriage off with a secret."

"How much longer will you keep Mallory secret?" Dr. Facilier wondered compassionately, so he didn't distraught the mother. "She is old enough attend preschool. I was worried about her education, so I went to your father's cave and tested her level. The results were . . . shocking."

"Really?" Mal leaned forward expectantly. "Was something wrong?"

"No," Dr. Facilier quickly reassured. "I'm not sure how your father did it, but Mallory is at a first grade reading level, which is great for someone her age, especially with her poor eyesight. However, reading appears to be the only subject they've worked on. She can't write and is only somewhat knowledgeable of numbers."

"I didn't even know Dad started teaching her," Mal admitted. "What should I do? I don't want to hinder Mallory's learning."

"I have a solution," Dr. Facilier bolstered, "which is the real reason why I wanted to speak in private."

Pushing away from his desk, the headmaster pulled open a side drawer. Almost like magic, a small stack of learning books and bundles of worn-out flash cards were placed in front of the fairy. "I thought these could help until you enroll her in school," Dr. Facilier claimed. "Your father can start the study books and you use the flashcards during your video-chats. This way you can help while still in Auradon."

"That is a fantastic idea!" Mal complimented, graciously placing the study material in her backpack. "There is no way I can repay you for all of the kindness."

"There is one," Dr. Facilier corrected almost bashfully. "The VK Program. I'm sure you remember my daughter—"

"Done," Mal guaranteed with an assertive nod. "I promise, Celia will be one of the four chosen to live in Auradon."

After finishing her conversation with the headmaster, she paid a visit to another teacher to express her gratitude. Not surprisingly, the conversation was nearly identical to the previous. Lady Tremaine gifted a new dress for Mallory while Mal vowed to have Dizzy chosen for the program as well. With Dizzy and Celia chosen, neither one would be uncomfortable about moving to a new school, since they were best friends.

Speaking of the brilliant hair stylist, Mal had promised to return and was in dire need of an updated hairstyle—especially since her natural color was melding with the dyed lavender.

Which caused this undesired confrontation.

"It's a simple haircut," Mal reassured, after the Core Four's failed recruitment meeting after school. "My hair looks pathetic, and I am tired of it being long. I want my hair short again."

"You can in Auradon," Evie argued stubbornly. "We need to focus on advertising the VK program. We have less than twenty-four hours left and only one applicant."

"Two," Mal corrected to her friend's surprise. "Dr. Facilier took an application for Celia. If we want to drum more interest, we should advertise through-out the island, not just Dragon Hall. Jay and Carlos can post flyers and applications at businesses while you and I get our hair done. Your roots are showing, and Lady Tremaine says Dizzy has been dying to work on your hair again. Besides, you were the one that didn't want me to be alone on the Isle."

"It's not a bad idea," Jay mediated the situation. "You two need a girl's day, especially with being busy this school year."

Evie hesitated before shaking her head in denial. "I still don't think it's a good idea."

"Think of it this way," Carlos began to encourage the idea, "you get to tell Dizzy more about Auradon. She will be so eager that she'll tell everyone that enters the hair salon. She'll be giving free endorsement."

Contemplating for another moment, Evie sighed reluctantly. "Fine," she begrudgingly agreed. "I guess we'll go to Curl Up and Dye."