𝔇𝔞𝔯𝔨 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 (𝔊𝔬𝔩𝔡𝔢𝔫 ℌ𝔢𝔞𝔯𝔱𝔰 𝔄𝔘) (ℜ𝔢𝔴𝔯𝔦𝔱𝔢)

𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝕾𝖎𝖝

Mal was mixing up the spell and Jazzy read from the book, "Alright, it says that we still need one tear, and l never cry."

"Me neither," Mal added.

"I don't think any one of us do," Ryder said side eyeing Carlos who blushed deep red. His first once upon a time, his biggest what if? 

"Let's Just chop up some onions," Carlos said grabbing one trying to pull away the memory, it was painful and depressing. For no reason at all he might add Ryder was nothing but kind that day. He was so, unlike himself.

Aaron looked up at him, He couldn't see his eyes, his hair was in his face messier than usual giving him more of the rugged pirate look he had back on the isle, even without his hat and coat "No. It's a tear of human sadness and Potions need to be followed exactly. Apparently, it gets the best reviews."

 Ella who was sitting crisscross on the counter Jay was leaning on scrunched up her nose, 'reviews?' she mouthed in confusion, the only person to ever use that book was Maleficent. Unless Maleficent had stolen it, her eyes flashed a dark, angry black at the thought. Magic was not to be trifled with, stealing someone else's spell book was a disrespect to magic itself. 

"A tear's a tear," Jay said.

Evie shook her head taking the onion from him, "that's not true, Jay. They both have antibodies and enzymes, but an emotional tear has more protein-based hormones than a reflex tear."

Mal and Jazzy smiled at Evie finally showing how smart she could be, "listen to you."

Ella added her own two senses on magic, "Messing up a potion could cause irreparable harm." She worked with dark magic and potions all the time, and hers actually worked to an extent. "We could end up with a locking spell as opposed to a loved one. Meaning Bens entire body could permanently lock up and nobody wants that. Not yet at least," She stared off into space for a moment. "No not yet that would cause issues."

In walked Lonnie, daughter of Mulan, The Ak's hadn't had the pleasure of meeting her yet, they weren't in the dorm with Mal and Evie when she walked in. "There you are, Mal! I was looking for you," she said, Jazzy placed the book down quickly and Mal quickly covered it with a hand towel. Ella shook her head. They spazzed too easily, how would the survive without her. She drew a circle in the air and the book was gone from the naked eye, "You know, all the girls want you to do their hair! Midnight snack, huh? What are you guys making?" Ella took in her appearance, her relaxed stance, visible hands, and the lack of attention to her major arteries. It meant she didn't see them as a threat. While Ella liked the fear, she instilled in others, right now they needed to be perceived as non-threatening. 

"Oh, nothing special. Just cookies," Lonnie leaned over to dip her finger In. "Oh, no, no!"

"No! Wait," They all panicked.

Lonnie didn't understand why they had all freaked out, all except Ella who was watching her closely, "I'm not gonna double dip."

"Feel anything?" Evie asked tensing up. 

"Yeah, like maybe it might be missing something?" Jazzy added.

Jay walked up and leaned on a poll, "Hey."

Lonnie looked at him weirdly. "Could use some chips." She said awkwardly seeing as his girlfriend was right behind them. She hadn't met Ella officially yet but anyone with eyes could tell they were together; they were always holding on to one another.

Ella eyed her suggestively, "she is very pretty." Lonnie heard her say, "but not right now. If she's willing, we'll play with her later." She looked back and saw Ella nip at Jay's ear making him jump but smirk as he stood up straight. Aaron looked over at them and rolled his eyes. As she walked back over with the chocolate chips, she noticed Aaron giving her a dashing smile, so clearly checking her out but at the same time making sure he was respectful about it, something you wouldn't expect from someone dressed like a hood rat. 

Mal snapped her out of her stupor by asking, "and those are?" referring to the 'chips'.

"Chocolate chips. Just the most important food group," Lonnie started to sprinkle them in. "Wait, didn't your moms ever make you guys, like, chocolate chip cookies?" The Vk's looked confused. The Ak's glared, "like, when you're feeling sad, and they're fresh from the oven, with a big old glass of milk, and she just makes you laugh and puts everything into perspective and... Why are you all looking at me like that?" They had all looked at her with a sad confused face that looked like they were asking, 'that's what Moms do?' The Ak's shook their fist in anger knowing that they could have had all this if Adam never ripped them away from home. For some reason Aarons look of complete despair killed her the most. He wasn't only mad for himself but his brother and sisters who never got to experience that either, never would. 

"It's just different where we're from," Ella said leaning back on the counter, her silver arrowhead in her hand. It was the only thing she had from Corona. It was the only thing she was able to keep during her time on the isle. 

"Yeah, I know. I just, you know, I thought... Even villains love their kids, adopted or not," They all looked away.

Except Jazzy, "Facilair does what he can but with three of us girls, no mom, and work there's only so much he can do." 

Ella scoffed, "you really though villains would love their adopted children." She bit her lip one her greatest disappointments in life were never getting her parents, a mom she could share all her secrets with while she does her hair, a dad who loved her and took her outside to play. She didn't get that and neither did Ryder, Jazzy or Aaron. "They barely love their real children," she shook her head leaning it on Jay's shoulder. Soon it would all change the voice told her so.

"Oh... How awful," Mal saw tears running down Lonnie's face. She took the opportunity and wiped away the tear and dropped it in the bowl acting like she was just helping whip away Lonnies tears. 

Mal 'pretended' to try and shake off the feeling, "yeah, well, big bummer, but we have to get these into the oven, so thank you so much for coming by. Really, really have a good night. We'll all see you tomorrow. Evil dreams," Mal said as Ryder pushed her out.

Lonnie called out a goodnight over her shoulder. Ella turned back, "Okay boys cookie sheets Evie oven. Jazzy scoop."

"Yes Ma'am" Evie replied. Ella smiled at the name; she knew what she was doing. This was her show whether Mal and the other Vk's noticed or not. This was Ella's puppet show with all of their strings in her hand and they were bound to her. She knew what she was doing and had no regrets. She had no reason to, this was all for them, they would thank her one day.

Published: Jan 29th, 2023
Edited: Sep 24th, 2023