Chapter 8

"Hi, Mom."

Those voices… The Evil Queen turned around… and standing there, were her twin daughters. Evie and Ellie held each other's hands, just like they always did when they were young… when they were small.

She flashed back to those days…

And all of a sudden, it felt like her girls were all grown up.

The Evil Queen's lips twitched into a small smile. "Ellie, Evie."

The two entered the house which they used to live in, their high heels clacking on the floor…

Ellie had made a pot of tea and sliced the cake she brought with them, giving a slice to her mother- who's eyes widened at the taste. "Oh, I haven't had anything like this in years! This is wonderful!"

Evie and Ellie exchanged a glance as the younger twin placed the freshly steeped tea on the table… The Evil Queen wasn't angry with them… A weight lifted off both twin's shoulders then. Ellie slid into her seat, scooping up a forkful of cake.

Evie laughed, "At least I know where you get it from now, El."

Ellie's nose scrunched up. The Evil Queen chuckled, looking at her two girls… "You both have grown nicely… You're two beautiful women, the fairest of them all." The twin's faces both softened. "So!" The evil queen reached for her tea. "Tell me, how's the search for a prince coming along?"

"Well, actually-" Evie began nervously, Ellie taking her twins hand in her own. The younger girl gave her a reassuring squeeze. Evie sent her a grateful smile, before squaring her shoulders. It was now or never. "I found my true love."

The Evil Queen's eyebrows shot up. She glanced at Ellie briefly, "Really?"

"Mhm, his name is Doug, and he's really great, and-"

"Is he a prince?"

Evie paused, then shook her head.

"In line for a throne?"

She shook her head again.

The Evil Queen hummed, taking a sip of her tea…

"But I have my own castle, one I paid for all by myself. I've even got a clothing business."

The Evil Queen set her tea down… The hopeful look on Evie's face wasn't lost on her… "A castle and your true love… When do I get to meet this boy?"

Evie breathed a sigh of relief, her smile growing, "I'll ask him to come around."

"Good." She turned to Ellie then. "And you Ellie? Any prospects?"

Evie raised both her eyebrows at her twin, a smirk crawling up her face. Ellie huffed… the motion was improper, making the Evil Queen's nose scrunch up, but she didn't make a move to stop her youngest…

She had always been more lenient towards Ellie, anyway…

Ellie took a sip of her tea, looking at an interesting spot on the wall. The Evil Queen's gaze zeroed in on her youngest, before she smirked, "Oh, you have met someone…"

No, not someone…

She had met him…

Finally

Ellie coughed on her tea. She looked at her mother with wide eyes, completely startled. "W-wha- Mom!"

The Evil Queen just shrugged. Evie's jaw dropped and she nudged Ellie, "El! There's someone you like?! And you didn't tell me?!"

Ellie groaned, "I don't know if I like him… We were kind of busy saving Auradon. I haven't really had time to figure it out yet."

"So," the Evil Queen changed the topic, reaching for her fork to take a bite of cake. "What have you been doing while your sister makes clothes, Ellie?"

Ellie brightened at that, "I've been getting really into mechanics! I even hot-rodded a bike, though Gil crashed it the other day. My Alchemy is super helpful in making stuff too. I've been able to complete projects in half the time because of it."

Evie put her hand over her twins, "Ellie even has her oven workstation at our castle… Do you… wanna come see it some time? Her garage and my studio?"

The Evil Queen looked between her two daughters… She had expected only one 17 years ago… But instead, she got two little girls… Two princesses… She smiled, hiding it behind her teacup, "Hmm… Why not?"

Ellie and Evie exchanged matching grins.

"So, how'd it go?"

Ellie and Evie both looked at Mal, then each other, then back at their family. Ellie had left the cake at their mother's, knowing she could easily make another. Evie squeezed Ellie's hand tighter, smiling gently, "Better than I thought it would."

"Yeah, same here." Jay looked at the twins, then glanced at Mal. "Any change?"

"Nope," the future queen shook her head. "Mom's still a lizard. Still in her tank back at the hole." She turned to Carlos. "And you?"

"Eh…" He rubbed the back of his neck. "Mom wasn't too thrilled I wanted to be a vet, but…" Carlos smiled slightly, "I think she actually missed me."

"Course, you dobe," Mal nudged him in the arm with a smirk. "Who wouldn't miss you?"

Carlos laughed, causing the twins to do the same…

Things were changing in Auradon…

Many of the older villains, those who were around during Beast's round up, decided to continue living on the Isle of the Lost. The Evil Queen, Curella De Vil, and Jafar were some such villains. Projects were already in the works for said Isle to get some much-needed attention.

Others though, like Dizzy's grandmother, Dr. Facilier, and Mr. Smee decided to make a living in Auradon to be there for their kids. Minor villains did the same…

But Hades?

Well…

"Come on, Dad!" Mal tugged at her father's hand, pulling him behind her. She led him through the halls of Auradon Castle, where she now lived with Ben and where a large welcome dinner was going to take place for the King and soon to be Queen's family and friends.

Hades groaned, "Do I have to?"

"Yes, now let's go! We're gonna be late!"

Mal pushed the doors of the dining room open, where Ben and his parents, along with the four other original VK's from the Isle and Uma and her pirates, were already waiting. "Mal!" Ben smiled and took a step forward, only to blank when he saw Hades. "Uh…"

Hades grunted. Mal kissed Ben on the cheek, "Relax. You knew he was coming."

It wasn't a formal affair… It was relaxed, a party, a celebration of what was to come.

Hades' attention was drawn by Ellie almost straight away… after he was done glaring at his soon-to-be son-in-law. She caught his eye and giggled, "What's your problem with Ben, anyway?"

"He's going to marry my daughter." Hades grumbled, glancing down at Ellie as she came to stand at his side, the god's arms crossed over his chest.

"And?"

"She's too young!"

Ellie rolled her eyes, "She's older than I am."

Hades paused… he looked at her oddly. "Seriously?"

"Yeah, Mom had me and Evie after Maleficent had Mal."

So, his soulmate was younger than his daughter… okay then… He'd have to unpack that bag later or just ignore it entirely. Hades turned his attention back towards Mal, the girl happily standing with Ben. The god of the dead scowled, "I still don't like it."

Ellie huffed, her cheeks puffing out, "Stop being a baby, old man."

"I-" he glared down at her. "Why the hell do you keep calling me old?!"

"Cause you are, duh."

"One of these days, little girl, I'll show you just how old I am…" Hades' eyes bore into Ellie's own, and she squeaked, turning away from him, causing the age-old god to chuckle… She was so cute… Sassy as hell, but cute as hell too. He sighed, glancing back at his daughter…

Mal was happy…

Hades supposed that was all that mattered.

The god looked down at his own soulmate. "Speaking of my old age, there's some crap I've gotta take care of… Wanna come with me?"

Ellie frowned, her eyes narrowing slightly… "Like what?"

"Gotta see my sister before she shows up outta the blue…" he shrugged like it didn't really matter, but she could hear the seriousness behind his words. "Mal doesn't really need to get involved with the family drama."

"But you'll involve me?"

"You're mine, why wouldn't I?"

Ellie flushed at his words, causing him to smirk. She played with the edge of her hair, curling the ends around her finger. "I-I guess…" He saw her as his? It was such a possessive term… they hadn't even defined what they were, and yet…

Yet Hades still saw Ellie as his.

Mal took a deep breath as she approached her father… she knew she needed to, but that didn't make this any easier. "Dad."

Hades glanced over at her, "Mally."

"Can… can we talk?"

They sat on a bench in the courtyard of Ben's castle. The sun rained down on them, warming them both… Mal fidgeted with something in her hands, passing it between them. Hades spotted the movement, and she took a deep breath.

Mal opened her hands, her eyes landing on the glowing blue ember between them, "Why… Why give me your Ember?"

"Magic isn't evil or good, Mal. It's merely there. If it's used with malicious intent, the magic darkens, which is what makes it evil. Same thing goes for good." Hades glanced at his daughter from the corner of his eye, then returned his gaze to the horizon. "You said it yourself, you don't know where the heroes or villains are going to come from.

"Figured you might as well have something to keep yourself out of trouble with."

Mal's hands tightened around the glowing blue stone… to keep her out of trouble… He really did care about her, didn't he? "Why did you leave? If…" She looked up at her father… She could still remember the day she found out….

Mal had been in town with her mother, when the crowds suddenly parted, revealing Hades. Maleficent was instantly rigid and the two avoided each other like the plague… Maleficent was in a bad mood for days afterwards…

Which was how Mal found out…

She sunk out, tried to make contact with him…

But Hades only pushed her away…

And eventually, Mal just stopped trying.

"Why did you push me away?"

Hades sighed deeply. He couldn't bring himself to look at his daughter then, and he shut his eyes tightly… She deserved to know, to be told, even if she didn't believe him. "Your mother… You know she hated anything to do with love. She didn't love me, I knew that then, and I never loved her either… but god did I love you."

Blue eyes turned to look at Mal, and she felt herself tear up. "That day you were born, when I held you in my arms, I knew I'd do anything for you… Maleficent knew that. She knew I wouldn't raise you to be the villain she wanted…

"We fought for months, until she kicked me out and banned me from ever seeing you again. She threatened to harm you if I ever came close to you… and I knew she would. So-" Hades sighed, smiling sadly. "I kept my distance."

Mal's heart leapt in her throat… "Y-you left for me?"

"Well, yeah. Hell, I was planning on taking you with me, but your mother thwarted that plan pretty quick." A humorless chuckle left his lips. Mal laughed as well, whipping away the tears that fell… That was her mother all right.

The future queen sniffled, clutching the ember in her hands tightly… She had learned a long time ago to tell when someone was lying… And Hades, he wasn't…

Mal reached out for her father's hand and pressed his ember into them. "Here." Hades' eyes narrowed a fraction, but she only smiled. "I don't think I'll be needing it if I've got you around, Dad."

Hades sighed, shaking his head, even as a smile formed on his face. Mal then stood, kissing her father on the cheek, "And thank you for always looking out for me."

She pulled away, and Hades knew he was just about to cry… He could feel the wetness behind his eyes… Should he have fought harder back then? Should he have fought harder to keep Mal with him? Raised her, loved her, cared for her?

Would Mal still be here though? With Ben? With her true love?

Would… would the Isle still be free?

Would Mal have ever come to Auradon if she was known as his daughter instead of Maleficents?

Hades didn't know…

But he felt like he missed out on so much…

So much of Mal's life, he had missed. Her first steps, her first words…

Hades would make sure he was around for the rest of Mal's life…

He wouldn't miss out on any more time with her.