Once Upon a Dream

It was nice to see you again

Too many things to be said, but honestly neither of us were prepared for this moment. Mal didn't know how to react, in fact she wanted to turn around and pretend this wasn't real. Hades who had thought a thousand times about what this meeting would be like now felt paralyzed in front of the girl who was no longer a baby and had become a beautiful girl.

"Rashid, nice to meet you." After the disturbing silence Rashid decided to introduce himself to the former god of the Underworld. "I think I'll wait outside."

"Rash, please stay."

Mal asked pulling on his hand.

"Or I can stay."

He squeezed Mal's sweaty hand in his own.

"My pleasure." Hades matched Rashid's greeting. "I can't believe how big you are."

"I couldn't be a baby forever."

She replied quickly and without looking directly at him.

"Of course, you look beautiful, very beautiful."

Hades was delighting in Mal and her beauty, although she looked a lot like Maleficent she still had traits he didn't know who she had inherited from. The eyes were what caught his eye the most, they were intense and sparkling. He had always thought his ex-wife's eyes were wonderful, but his daughter's were even more insanely bright.

"You look...I don't remember much about you so I don't know what to say."

Hades was much older than he remembered himself. As a human he had become vulnerable to human conditions, obviously the wrinkles the lines on his face and the scars became more evident with the years, however to his joy his hair was still blue.

"You guys want to sit down, would you take a glass of water?"

He didn't get guests often so he didn't know how to react.

"No..."

"Yes we do, this cavern is a long way from home."

Rashid interrupted the girl and went to sit on the old couch he had spotted.

"Does your mother know you are here?"

He asked grabbing a glass of water for Rashid.

"Maleficent is no longer on the Island."

Mal said still very uncomfortable with that whole situation and watching every step Hades took.

"What?"

He almost fell over at the news.

"You don't get out of here much, do you?"

Rashid said.

"Not really, only when there's a shortage of food."

"Afraid of bumping into someone?"

Mal continued with the few words.

"I'm not a big fan of people, I'm better alone." Mal felt he had the answer to many of his questions in that line. "Sorry, that wasn't it...damn!" When he realized what he said he tried to retract, but in that period he ended up spilling the water from the glass he was carrying in his hands. "But about your mother, did she run away?"

"Much more complicated than that." Rashid said low and earned a smile from Mal. "Let's just say she ran away and took everyone on the Island with her."

"Really?" They nodded. "Wow, and why did you stay here? And the Isle is empty?"

"That's none of your business."

Mal answered.

"Actually, now the residents of Auradon live here."