Madder than a Hatter (Descendants)

Jack of All Trades, Master of None (Edited)

Hades was brought in with a large escort, transported in a single black car and chained at both hands and ankles.

Out of respect for Audrey and her family, I had vacated the room, leaving it to Mal to make things happen the way they should. Of course, I never said I wouldn't eavesdrop, and hung out outside the doorway.

"Thank you for coming," I heard Mal say.

"Didn't have much choice," Hades deadpanned.

"Can you wake her?" Ben asked.

"Since when do heroes care about villains?" Hades asked, which was an excellent point that needed to be made.

"She's-" Ben started.

"One of your own?" Hades interrupted. "Right. When you guys try to destroy the world, it's an error in judgment. But when it's one of us...lock 'em up and throw away the key. Right, Beast?" He must've done something, because everyone tensed all of a sudden. "Yeah, I'm gonna need to use my hands," he reminded them.

After a moment of deliberation, it seemed that he was freed, and Mal handed over the ember.

His hair reignited and he sighed happily. "Haven't lost my touch." Then he went over to Beast and started growling at him, who began to growl right back.

"Dad," Mal said sharply.

He acquiesced, and the room was filled with blue light. There was a sharp inhale, and a gasp from an old lady. "Audrey!" Queen Leah said. "You're okay!"

Just like that, she was okay.

"Tell me it was all a bad dream," Audrey whispered.

"I wish I could," Ben said. "But it's over now."

"I'm sorry," Audrey said. "I wanted to hurt you both. I wanted to hurt all of you."

"I have owed you an apology for a very long time now," Mal said.

"And so have I," Ben added.

"And perhaps," Queen Leah said, "I have owed you one, too."

The guards moved into the room, towards Hades. "Oh, yeah," he grunted. Back to imprisonment with him.

I got my first good look at him as he stepped out into the hallway, and my first and only thought of him was, he's just a guy. Although that may have been because his powers had been stripped of him for so long.

Mal came out of the room after him and stood in the hallway. "Dad!" she called.

He turned and took a few steps towards her, but was held back by the multitude of guards.

"I'm gonna have to miss you all over again," she said.

He shrugged. "Thanks for a glimpse of the sun."

She went to him then, kissing him on the cheek. I was the only one who saw him pass her the ember. She began to cry.

I began to cry, too. I missed my dad. I couldn't believe I was never going to see her again, but I couldn't live without being able to contact him for the rest of my life.

Some things you just have to give up.

We all gathered in the courtyard, and I barely paid attention to what was going on around me.

"Lady Mal and I want to thank you for celebrating our engagement with us today," Ben started. Oh, right, I forgot he proposed to her. "I couldn't be prouder, or happier, to call you my queen. So, raise your glasses." We all raised our glasses. "To our future queen of Auradon."