Hedith waltzed into the castle, the servants greeting her as she pass by. She waves her hand every now and then as a greeting so that she wouldn't be deemed rude. When she reached Mal's study, she didn't bothered to knock and just walked right in.

"Hedith, you should really learn to knock," Mal said, not minding to look towards her sister's way.

"What is everyone's problem?" She exclaimed and harshly sat down on the couch. Her outburst caught Mal's attention so she looked up from her work and gives Hedith a confused look.

"Excuse me?"

"I was fine having Fairy Godmother totally watching my every move and now Zevon and CJ are also patronizing me? Hmph! They're just jealous because they're not the ones people are acknowledging as heroes. I, at least, did a good deed and the didn't!" She crossed her arms over her chest with a pout. Mal took this a sign to stop her work first and consult her.

"Why? What happened this time?" The Queen of Auradon asked, walking over to her.

"I was put into Remedial Goodness."

"I know that. And?"

"And Zevon and CJ are my...I don't want to say it."

"Say it," Mal challenged.

"No."

"Say it!"

"Alright! They were my classmate and I kept getting the right answer even though I don't really want to answer. Plot twist! They're jealous."

"Zevon should be on another year, though," Mal pointed out.

"There's no year in Remedial Goodness. And that makes it worst than detention," Hedith told her, making Mal roll her eyes.

"I know the feeling."

"It doesn't really help, you know? All you would need in that class is common sense," Hedith sulked, "Character development doesn't happen with a bunch of questions and answers. Can you just tell her off?

"As much as I'd like to help you with that problem, what the headmistress wants for the students isn't for me to decide. And if it is, I would be abusing my power as queen."

"Urgh!" She lays down on the couch, "Why did you call for me here?"

"You done sulking?"

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Alright, sassy pants. Chill," Mal said before going to her desk and rummaging through her stuff and came out with an envelop, "I want you to give this to Persephone."

"An invitation to your ball?"

"Yep. They came here a few days earlier and I figure that I should invite them. The ball is in a week now so she would be needing a dresses fit as quick as possible," Mal said and Hedith took the envelope and looked at the back with Persephone'a name in an elegant cursive.

"I would recommend Evie's shop but we still have fourteen dresses to fill in," she said then sighed.

"Hey, hey, hey," Mal wraps an arm around her sister's small shoulders, "Don't stress yourself out. How about tomorrow, we go on a picnic by the enchanted lake with dad and the gang to light up the mood?"

"Aren't you busy?" Hedith raised an eyebrow at Mal. She stretches her arms with a frustrated sigh.

"I've been stuck in this room for a month now. A queen could use a day off."

Hedith grinned and puts a hand on her hips.

"I'll hold you to that."

---

"Mal, I think you have a problem," Hedith said while looking at her sister with a serious look on her face, "Grapes are far more superioe than strawberries."

Mal just laughed at her and picked out the two said fruits, "Umm...nuh-uh. Strawberries are the best."

"Why? It's really sour and— eek!" Hedith yelped upon the sensation of cold water hitting her bare back. She glared at the culprits and saw Dizzy and Celia with a pair of waterguns. Mal grinned at her before the younger sister rolls her eyes and stood up, "We'll continue this conversation on a latter time."

"Alright. Want me to save you some strawberriea while you're at it?"

"Umm...no."

And with that, she started chasing the two girls on the slippery side of the lake while giggling. Mal smile at the scene and took a handful of her favored red berries and went to the barbecue area where Evie and Carloa are cooking.

"Seems like the little devil is enjoying herself," Carlos said while fanning the grill.

"She does. It's her firat time here, you know," Evie said as she puts more meat on the grill and taking the cooked ones, "By the way, does Hades know where the Enchanted Lake is?"

"Oh don't worry," Mal licked her fingers and took a piece of cooked barbecue, "Jay's leading them."

"Are Uma and her gang coming?" Evie asked but Mal's nose crinkled.

"She said she can't. She's still busy making amends with the Atlanteans," Mal said.

"Well, I pray her good luck."

"How about Gil and Harry?" Carlos asked before he felt sometjing awefully cold and wet hit him in the back of the head. It was then followed with a couple of laughs and giggle. Turning around, he sees Hedith with a big smirk while holding a watergun. Celia is standing just behind her while Dizzy is hiding behind her two friends. Two other guys are at the back, laughing their guts out.

"How's it? Refreshing?" Harry mocked. Gil lets out a dumb laug while explaining the little pun much tto Harry's annoyance.

"Come on, guys. I didn't wantt to get this shirt wet," Carlos told them with a disappointed look. Heditg raised an eyebrow before smirking further and aiming the gun at Carlos, "Oh no, you don't!"

"Try me."

"Hold this," he handed the fan to Evie and without another word he grabbed his own gun on the nearby table and discarded his shirt, leaving him with his trunk, "Oh it's on!"

"Run!" Dizzy giggled and the watergun war had commenced.

Harry and Gil hid behind a tree as Celia sided with Carlos, leaving Dizzy to Hedith.

"Traitor!" Hedith yelled, hiding behind a ridge, "Fill me up, Dizzy!"

"Aye aye!"

Hedith laid stomach first on the ground as he shoots water towards Gil and Harry's location. But they came prepared. May be the reason why they came late. They have water balloons.

"Dirty pirates!"

Meanwhile, Evie and Mal watch in the sidelines. They're thankful that they weren't dragged into that warfare. Gil and Harry's balloons looks painful upon impact. Plus, the water in the lake is cold today. Celia was filling up Carlos' canisters as he targets Hedith and Harry's team. He can only hit Harry and Gil with great amount since Hedith and Dizzy are hidden good in the ridge.

"That sounds fun," Mal turned around and smiled at Hades.

"Dad!" She came in to hug him and kissed his cheek, "Fun but dangerous."

"Water war. Hmph, you should imagine our battle back in the old days. Poseidon is a cheat," Hades laughed and Persephone rolls her eyes.

"Hi, Mal," she greets and Mal offers her a kind smile.

"Hello, Persephone. Want some barbecue?" Persephone smiles and declined politely, "How about a salad?"

"That would be wonderful."

"Come to the table," Mal leads the two of them to the buffet table and next thing she saw in the war is that Jay is now siding with Carlos. And imagine the passionate competition as of now.

"Wow! I love your dress," Evie comments on Persephone's outfit that consists a simple sleeveless white dress with pink carnelian designs and also her pink flats.

"Why, thank you, Evie," she said, "I love yours too."

"I know right? I made them myself."

"Oh wow!"

Evie wears a dark blue backless top that also shows a portion of her stomach with her logo on it and a pair of denim short shorts.

"Where's your sister?" Hades asked Mal and she pointed at the ridge. He looked at her direction and saw her standing at the edge, focused on defeating her opponents. The edge would be slippery by now.

"Look at her," Evie smiled at her enthusiasm at the game.

"Becareful, Hedith!" Mal yelled and Hades' eyes widened in horror.

"Wait. That's dangerous she could fall. She can't swim!" The three woman's eyes shot towards him in pure shock.

"You'll get it this time!" Hedith claimed. Dizzy handed her the newly refilled canister. As she bends down, she fixed her footing, only to slip and fall off the ridge.

It took her a few seconds to register what is happening before her body came in contact with the cold water.

"—edith!"

-

--

Opening her eyes, Hedith coughs and springs up into a sitting position. a collective sighs are heard in the background and when she settles her breathing, she noticed that she is dripping wet. The outfit that Evie made for her is fine but she feels a stinging sensation on her knee and on her right forearm. The next thing she realized is that Hades is glaring at her while the rest are looking at her with concern.

Then she remembered that she can't swim and just made a really bad dive into the lake.

"I guess I didn't get a perfect score in diving?" She tried to kid with Hades' glare only grew harder. She looks down in shame, sensing the incoming lecture from her father.

"What were you thinking climbing up that ridge when you could fall anytime?" He questions in a firm tone.

"Hades—"

"You know fully well that you can't swim! What were you thinking? Do you want to get yourself killed, huh?" Hades continued while Persephone tried to subdue him. His hair startes flaring in frustration, making the surrounding people back away.

"Calm down, Hades," Persephone puts a hand over his chest as Hedith averts her gaze.

"I was fine, dad," she tried to say.

"Fine? You almost died there, Hedith!"

"But I'm alright now! You don't have to make a big deal about it!" Hedith snapped at him, her eyes turning green and her hair flaring up that matches him.

"Woah! Woah! Dad? Hedith? You all need to chill out," Mal said, holding Hedith's shoulder.

"You should watch your every movement right now, Hedith. This isn't the Isle anymore. And sooner or later, it's not just Auradon that's going to keep an eye on you but the entire god pantheon, too!"

"Wait! So you're going to bring up that now? How convenient! Thanks, dad! Thanks, everyone!" She screamed right after and stormed off, also bumping into Audrey and Jane who just arrived, holding a tray of food each. She stopped for a while and glared at the two before continuing to walk away.

"Uhh, what just happened?" Audrey asked with a very confused expression.

"Dad? Let me talk to her," Mal said to her dad who is pinching his temples. He just sighed in frustration. Persephone was the one who gave a nod to Mal, "Come on, Evie."

And so, the two girls set out to find Hedith.

"The god pantheon?" Evie asked Mal. She sighed as she climbs up a rock.

"Well, she is dad's heir and an actual princess of the Underworld," Mal said, "When she go to the Underworld, Zeus and the other Greek gods are going to set their eyes on my sister. Some will judge her and some will...seek for her hand."

"In marriage?" Evie doesn't need a reply to know the answer.

"I'm worried about her, but she said that she knows what awaits her when she officially steps into the role," Mal said and heard someone ranting nearby.

"No wonder she's so pressured lately," Evie muttered and they stopped as they watch Hedith pace around and rants to a two-headed dog.

"I mean, it's alright if he just scold me about the ridge accident but he didn't need to bring up that topic! I had enough says from Fairy Godmother and the kids in school and he doesn't need to add to that! For the past two months, all I worry worry about is to not make my sister look bad, regain my dad's good reputation and study as much as I can about the god pantheon so that when I finally become a proper Underworld princess, I wouldn't make a fool of myself! But damn them! Damn Auradon Prep! They think that just because they're keeping us here, doesn't mean we're not trying to adjust back to our old lives. Yeah, that may sound bad to the other villains, going back to their old lives but man! Have they ever thought of dad? He's the freaking god of the Underworld! His job is so important to the balance of life and death and I have to carry on as his heir! You get me, Mavros?"

There was a silence in the surrounding before the left head barked and the right bend down and scratches his ear. Hedith sighed, crossing her arms. Her hair flare stopped and her eyes went back to being black. She rolls her eyes before kneeling down to pat Mavros' heads.

"I know you're watching, Mal," she said. Mal and Evie shrugged as they approach her, "How much do you hear?"

"From the scolding part," Evie answered.

"You heard plenty, then."

"Look, Hedith. We know you're in a lot of pressure. More than what we have experienced during our first time here, but let us help you," Evie said, kneeling down beside Hedith.

"Yeah, you're the type that doesn't tell your problems to others and it takes a toll on you," Mal pointed out. Hedith's lips formed into a deep frown. But she knows her sister's right. Both of her sisters are right. And as far as they can tell, she's thinkung about her next words.

"What do you want me to do then?"

"What do you want to do?" Both asked in unison.

"I want everyone to get off my back! No Fairy Godmother. No CJ and Zevon. No Remedial Goodness. No Auradon Kids. No school, altogether! The more AKs and jealous VKs that's hanging on my back, the more I want to break the rules," Hedith told them, finally standing up. She had so much tine to reflect and think of her resolve and so far, that is her resolve. Just leave Auradon Prep because she doesn't even like what they teach there. What they teach there wouldn't help her in her future plans.

The Underworld isn't exactly Auradon so why bother?

"And I'm trying my best not to break a single one and look where it got me."

"I'm sorry about that, Hedith," Mal said, putting her hands on her shoulders, "But like I said before, what the school wants to do is not within my power and I can't help you with that."

"But my legal guardian can," she quickly pointed out, "Right after the ball, I'm going with dad and Persephone to the Underworld and will begin my training as the heir. That's my final resolve."

---

Fun fact, guys... while writing this chapter, I kinda put a little (itsy bitty) parallels between Damian Wayne and Hedith. When having the talk with Evie and Mal, I think of Damian when writing her lines because well, she needs a resolve and she already found it her on her own.

I think, that's how Damian would think if he's in the same position and he's mostly is. Welp, my addiction towards the Son of Batman is on it again.

Next up, the BALL!

~RSE out