The sun is beginning to set and the castle of Auradon is ready to welcome its guests. The servants had everything in place. The buffet table's filled and the decorations are beautiful. All that is needed is for the ballroom to be filled.

An hour later, people started filling in. Audrey's family is with her, talking with Cinderella. Melody's with her fellow Auradon Prep alumni and Lonnie is back from her tour. Next people that entered the room are the original VKs. Evie, Carlos and Jay with their respective dates. Doug and Jane.

Some noted former villains are also seen in the far corners of the room, sticking with their kins. Some of them are now in good terma with their respective heroes but some are still hiding in the shadows, unable to face their greatest nemesis. One of them is the Mistress of Evil, herself.

"Maleficent," the said former villain spun around, her horna almost hitting the nearby guest. She raises her chin as she face her in-laws.

"Adam, Belle," she acknowledged, taking a side glance towards the staircase, "How nice for you to invite me this time."

"We won't make the same mistake again," King Adam said, earning a smack and pointed glare from his queen. On the other hand, she bookworm queen offered a polite smile towards the fairy.

"It's swell to find you here. It would really mean a lot for Mal and Hedith-"

"Hedith? Hah! So the little ingrate's here too. Surely, her scum of a father is here as well," Maleficent spats.

"As well as the mother who would love her more than the one who gave birth to her," a voice said from behind her. Maleficent rolled her eyes before turning to the direction of Persephone. In the evil fairy's thoughts, Persephone's sickening flowing pink dress is a sight for sore eyes. Who wears such bright colors?

"Persephone."

"Meleficent."

"Welcome, Persephone," Belle chirped however she could feel the tension between the two women.

"Thank you, Belle," she replied, but with the evil mistress in front of her, she can't manage to give a smile the queen's way.

"Where's your little hubby?"

"I am not entertaining you bad mouthing my husband nor my step daughter," she firmly said, raising her chin to show that she's of equal grounds as Maleficent.

"Yes, your polygamus husband. How many mistresses does he have again? I suppose lesser than his brothers?" Maleficent smirked earning a pointed glare from the goddess. This made her laugh in amusement, "Turns out, it's not just my two ungrateful daughter that you should be keeping an eye for, Persephone. You should keep that husband of yours on leash."

"Please, Maleficent. We are not here to antagonize anyone," Belle pleaded, hoping to cut the feuding party to stop.

"Don't mind me, Belle. I would just walk around, waiting for this party to adjourn," that was the last they heard of Maleficent as she walks away, her dark purple and black robes trailing behind her.

Persphone huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. After sighing, she gave Belle an apologetic smile.

"I'm so sorry about that, Belle...Adam. I just can't stand by when I heard her say that about my family," she said. Belle grabbed her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze.

"I understand. I'd do the same if it were my son."

Both queens shared a smile before the trumpets are played. All eyes look are now glued at the top of the staircase.

"Their Royal Highness, King Ben and Queen Mal of Auradon," with another roll of music, the giant double doors are thrown open and the royal couple revealed themselves to the audience. The crowd cheered and clapped as they make their way down the stairs with smiles and friendly waves.

Ben is ever so presentable in his blue suit with gold accents and a sash running down his left shoulder to his right hip. His crown adorns his head as his gloved hand holds his queen's pale one. Mal, on the other hand, is breathtaking in her gown, designed and made by her best friend and Royal tailor, Evie.

She wears a purple ball gown with with a ribbon that is tied to the back of her neck and lets down to her back. Her chest part was adorned with an intricate patter of her green emblem. Her skirt had some sparkling fabrics that creates the illusion of stars.

Her hair is styled up into a bun with a few strands on the side of her pale face.

She had never been so stunning as she is at this night. And Ben thinks so, as well.

"Long live the King and Queen!" Carlos started screaming and a loud whooping followed in coutesy by Jay. When the cheerings died down, Mal started addressing the guests.

"Thank you all for accepting our invitation for this Ball. This will be the very first gala that is held after the United Kingdoms of Auradon and the Isle of the Lost become one after twenty years. I know the change is...crazy and abrupt, but that's all we need. Change. A change of pace and a time to make amends with each other," Mal started, smiling towards her subjects and her eyes landing towards Belle and Adam who is together with Persephone.

"Tonight we celebrate our differences. There will be no more villains nor heroes. The line between them had officially vanished and we should let it shape the path of the new generation!" Ben continued, raising his free hand to the air, "Cheers to unity!"

"CHEERS!"

"Enjoy the night, everyone," and with that everyone went back to their own businesses as the couple went to entertain guests.

Meanwhile, the last arrival of the night came just after Ben and Mal's speech. The carriage stopped right in front of the palace and the coach opened the door for the guest.

Out came Hedith, in the dress that Evie gladly made her.

A strapless light blue night gown with glimmers of glitters. Her top is light blue that is when struck by light turns white. A dark blue belt is strapped on her waist and from themat point starts the umbre of blue to purple.

Around her neck dangles a necklace with black strap and a white jewel as a pendant. Her hair is styled up in a braided bun, a couple of her bangs freely loose on her face.

Her last night in Auradon. Better late than never.

---

"Hedith! Oh my gosh! You look stunning," Evie squealed once she sets eyes on the new arrival. Smirking, Hedith flips her bangs dramtically.

"All thanks to you and my natural charm," she said.

"No kidding, kid. Who are you and what have you done with my lil' sis?" That voice brought a smile unto Hedith's face.

"Uma!" She came in running inti Uma's arm as the latter laughed at her enthusiasm.

"Careful. I'm not paying for any broken bones," Uma said and released Hedith.

"Since when did you come back?" Hedith asked.

"I came here with Ariel and the gang just yesterday," Uma said, pointing to her companions where Melody waves at them with a smile.

"Look at you, best friends with the heroes," Hedith teased.

"Yeah, well...the line's erased now so there's no stopping us," Evie said, gently putting her hands in Hedith's shoulders.

"That's better, I guess?" Hedith said and looked around, seeing a lot of people, "The place's packed. I get that mon's here, too?"

"I saw her," Uma said, her eyes trailing towards the Mistress of Evil, together with Evil Queen by the buffet table, "And your mom, too, Evie."

"Leave them be. They won't cause trouble here," Evie said as her eyes went over to the different parts of the room where the royal guards are staying vigilant.

"Wassup, ladies!" Jay called. Behind him are Gil, Harry and Carlos, "Lookin' good."

"And you are as hideous as ever, boys," Hedith smirked and the boys stopped in their tracks. Yeah, Hedith is a little sister type, but woah. What did Evie did to this fifteen-year-old to to make her look so stunning?

"Ahh, ya don't fool me. Ye aren't Hedith. The lass is all pants and junks," Harry kid, pointing towards the girl. Raising an eyebrow, Hedith made her eyes green with a challenging look.

"Even without the pants and junks, I can make you into a roated pirate."

"Haha. Alright now. Stop it before things get serious," Uma said, "You two! Come with me."

"Aye aye, Captain," and so the pirate gang left, leaving the original VKs with Hedith.

"So that's the thing you've been working on with all those bobby pins?" Carlos teased and Hedith glared, her cheeks visibly tinting pink upon the memory.

"Shut up, Carlos."

He raised his hands with an amused laughed.

"Alright. Well, I came here to say hi so I'm going back to my date! See ya!" With one finger gun, he left.

"Tch, dog boy."

"But you like it," Jay teased. Hedith scoffed at him and rolled her eyes, "Want to get some punch?"

"No thank you," Evie politely declined.

"Nope."

"Then I'll be at the table. Enjoy the night, girls," and with that, Hedith is left with Evie again just like how it started.

"Let's go fund your sister."

"Maybe she's off kissing babies and stuff," Hedith joked which made Evie laugh a little.

"Yeah, probably."

"Hedith, sweetie!" Persephone calls and walks over to the two girls, "You look wonderful and Evie, thank you for this very beautiful dress."

"It brings out your eyes, Kore," Evie said. Hedith's eyes widened in shock.

"Now, you're that close?" She exclaimed, pointing to the two with a confused smile but happy nonetheless.

"She knows a thing or two about good use of fabrics," Evie reasoned.

"And someone as talented as her would had Arachne run for her money," Persephone added.

"And I'm your step daughter yet I never got to call you that," Hedith pointed out, earning a curt laugh from the goddess of Spring.

"It's up to you if you'd call me that."

"Alright, Kore," Hedith said with a grin, "That actually feels pretty nice."

"Doesn't it?" Persephone said, nudging her a little.

"Well, look at my pretty ladies," Hades said, approaching the group with open arms. Smiling, Hedith came in hugging her dad and pulling away quickly, "And my little pomegranate isn't so little anymore."

"Yes, and a few more years ahead of her and suitors will be lining up for her hand," Persephone teased in which the father and daughter duo didn't seem amused with.

"Ew. No."

"How about I introduce them to the Styx?" Hades asked, darkly. Persephone giggled at their disgusted reactions. But the fact that it can't be avoided is uncanny. Persephone decided to keep that for herself, though.

"Have you seen Mal for the night?" Evie asked the god of the Underworld in the most casual way. One thing she gained since the breaking of the barrier is the casualness with her best friend's father. At least, he's a lot easier to deal with than her mother. Plus, Hades is a pretty cool dude once you get into his good side. So stay in his good side.

"Not yet."

"And it will be interesting since look. She's on her way here," Persephone pointed with a sly smile, "With a little company."

"Oh no," Hades said, face palming.

"Dad!" Mal hugged her dad and after pulling away, Hades stood in his full height.

"What's up, Herc?"

"Hades. It's nice to see you around,"  the Greek Hero, Hercules said who is also in his full height. Already in his 30s and yet, Hercules still regains his youthful look. As much as his godly blood can take him. He's together with his sons and wife, Megara.

"I hope the bad blood between us are done. It's been over twenty years now," Hades started and Hercules lets out a fake laugh, eyes wandering towards his wife.

"Yes, well since your daughter and King Ben had officially ordered truce between all heroes and villains, I think that is the case," Hedith and the others can put two and two together. Things are not okay with these two dudes. And Hedith can't really blame Hercules. His dad did planned the mass destruction of Olympus and indirectly killed the woman of his dreams and even threatened him to get her soul in the River Styx which is so not safe. One has to have a say in this.

"This isn't going as well as I'd expected," Mal whispered and Hedith sent her a glare.

"What did you expect? Hugging and kissing?"

"You're gonna kiss or what, gentlemen?" Megara suddenly said, voice laced with sarcasm. Even she doesn't look amused with the exchange, "Look, Hadie boy--"

"Hadie boy?" all their children reacted.

"It's a nice night and your daughter did hosted a pretty awesome party, but if you boys are not going to get along, don't drag us into your petty patty," she deadpanned before turning to the other adult in the group, "Kore, nice seeing you again."

"Same to you, Meg. How about we leave our feuding husbands for some quiet girl time?" Persephone offered.

"Don't mind if I do," and both wives left but not without an amused laugh from Meg's sons.

"The moms' gotta do what the moms' gotta do," Therimachus, the eldes of the three, stated which earned a laugh from Hedith.

"I like your mom. She's cool," she shrugged and Therimachus smirked.

"Therimachus, but you can call me Teri."

"Hedith. No nickname so you're stuck with that," and the two shake hands.

"Hi! I'm Deicoon!" the second son said.

"And of course, the most handsome one, me! Creontiades," and the youngest son said, jumping up to Hedith's face.

"Creon--what?"

"Just call him Creo," Therimachus said, "How about we ditch our dads and hang out for the night?"

"Sounds good--"

"No, you're not." Hades tried to say but Hedith is already off with Therimachus.

"Sorry, dad. Can't hear you."

Mal and Evie giggled at Hades' enraged reaction as the other two boys run into different direction without a word from their father.

"So I leave you two here to talk and whatever. Enjoy the night, dad. Love you," Mal said while dragging Evie away from the two. It wasn't long before the two men realized that they're stuck with each other for the night.

Meanwhile, Hedith and Therimachus or Teri, are hanging around by the buffet table seemingly enjoying each other's company.

"So you're going to be queen?" Teri asked, picking a dessert on the table and popping it into his mouth.

"Of the Underworld. So I might say, I have  a higher status than you since your dad refused the offer to be a god," Hedith said, picking a handful of grapes.

"Oh I will be a god," Teri claimed, smirking confidently, "After Phil is done training me, I will prove myself and be a great hero like my dad. This time, I won't do the same mistake as dad did. I will join the god pantheon even if it's the last thing I do."

"Not even love can stop you?" Hedith asked, raising an eyebrow. A lace of challenge can be found in her voice.

"I won't be swayed like dad. I will keep my eyes straight to my goal and when I finally achieved it, I will find the best goddess bachelor and woo her," Teri smirked, much to Hedith's amusement.

"Good luck with that."

"You know you're one of the candidates, right?" Hedith stopped in mid-swallow and glared at Teri, "I mean, by the time I become god, you'd have received your title by then. Hedith, Princess of the Underworld. Goddess of whatnot."

"First of all," Hedith pointed at her, "It wouldn't be called whatnot. And second, I don't plan in taking any suitors for as long as I could so sucks to be you."

"Yeah, I can live with that," Teri said and both of them laughed, "Since you already have your eyes one someone."

Hedith almost choked on her grapes when Teri said that and sent him a death glare. The teenager smirked, knowing that his hunch was right. It was just a bait for her. It was alright if she hadn't reacted but she did and it was worth the shot. 

"No, I don't."

"Was it bad?"

"No--What?"

"Ooh, he's got a girlfriend, already."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"That's not healthy."

"Teri."

"Alright, I'll stop," Teri surrendered. Silence enveloped the two of them for a second before Teri continued, "Who's cuter? Me or him?"

"I'm gonna kill you and I will dance on your grave if you don't stop talking," Hedith threatened which amused Teri even more. 

After that, Teri and Hedith leaved that topic be and just went around the ballroom, just talking and getting to know each other. Both even shared some words about their dad and laughed at them and how petty they are about their little fight that even lasted through the twenty-year confinement in the Isle of the Lost.

It wasn't long before the party ended and Teri and Hedith have to say goodbye to each other. Teri left with his family, Hercules still having a death glare session with Hades and Hedith having her farewell with her friends in the ballroom.

"I'm gonna miss you, Hedith!" Dizzy cried, hugging her with so much tightness. Hedith just smiles and patted her friend's back.

"Don't act as if I won't come back," Hedith said but that only made her wail even more, "Oh brother."

"You be careful out there, kid cause I ain't be there to protect you anymore," Uma said, putting a hand on her shoulder. Dizzy finally decided to let go and wipe her tears away, "Wipe your face, Tremaine girl. You won't be sending off Hedith with that face."

"Okay. Evie? Can I have a tissue?" Hedith chuckled at Dizzy's adorableness and smiled at Uma.

"I'm gonna miss you, lass," Harry said, ruffling her hair. Much to Hedith's annoyance.

"Harry? My hair!"

"See you out there, Hedith. And bring some souvenirs while you're at it," Gil said like an excited puppy. Hedith decided to play along and tease him a little.

"What do you want? Human skull or a full scale skeleton or maybe a couple of snacks?"

"Snacks sounds great!" Gil dumbly said. Hedith, on the other hand, grinned devilishly. Uma facepalmed on Gil's answer but let him be.

"My turn!" Celia jumped, shooing the pirates away and smiling at Hedith, "So I know you're going to be gone for a while so I made these voodoo dolls. Don't worry. Dad's friends are not possessing them."

"And even if they are, they won't bother me in the Underworld," Celia hugged Hedith after that and made way for the Smee twins, "Aww, come here, you two."

"Hedith!" they hugged her tight, so tight that Hedith held her breath, "We're going to miss you."

"Yeah, yeah. Me too," they finally released her and Hedith pulled their bonnets down to their eyes, "Be good kids and don't give your dad some headaches, alright?"

"We promise."

"Alright. Get moving along, little rascals!" and lastly, it's the original VK's turn. Mal and Evie didn't wait a second before engulfing Hedith into a hug.

"Becareful down there."

"Yeah. Always keep your moisturizers with you."

"Alright. And seriously. It's not like I'm going away for like an eternity," Hedith said and the three of them pulled away.

"You may be not," Jay started and Carlos huffed.

"But wherever you're going, it's really far from Auradon," Carlos added, "You sure we can't visit?"

"You have drachmas?" Hedith asked, raising an eyebrows.

"Drachmas?"

"Thought so," after all that, Persephone puts a hand on Hedith's shoulder and smiled at her. She smiled sadly and looked at her friends, "See ya, guys. I'll be going now."

"BYE, HEDITH!"

As they exit the palace, they saw Hades with another company. His face sure do says so much. That deep frown on his face and his arms crossed over his chest. Much more tensed than with Hercules earlier. And Hedith sees why.

"Mom?" the word is so foreign in her mouth. Even with the tantalizing gaze that Maleficent sent her feels so new and intense to her. Now, she knows what Mal always feel like back in her rule in the Isle days. This is their mother and at the same time, she isn't. In some sense.

"Hedith," Maleficent's voice didn't matched her name, "I heard that you're moving away to the Underworld with your father."

"Glad to hear that from you," she shots back.

"I figure that I should at least face you one more time. And I'd like to guarantee than it's the last one, too," she said and Hedith can feel Persephone's grip on her shoulder tightens. She puts a hand over hers to reassure her.

"Same goes here."

"Now we're on the same grounds. I will be taking my leave."

That was the last memory Hedith had of her mother and the latest she had of Auradon.

---

So, this is the longest chapter I have done for the book and I hope you like it. The next chapter will be a time skip to the future so you have been warned.

Also, tell me your thoughts about my design on Hedith's dress. I took inspiration from my prom get-up and also my friends' prom dress. Hope you like it!