i had completely forgotten about the barrier until i realized we were about to crash straight into it. i closed my eyes and let out a scream realizing that if i crashed into it, i'd fall into the water and boom. i'm a goner. when i didn't feel myself fall into water i realized we got through the barrier. how? can this really take me anywhere? before we got any further into the isle i decided to hop off, once i did the broom fell down to the ground and became a broom once again.

do you smell that? yeah, i missed that isle smell. this is home, and it's good to be back. i began to walk in the direction of my old home, but stopped as i saw the posters all around. posters for the royal cotillion, posters with mal and princey. you've got to be kidding me. no, no i'm not having this. i ripped each and every single one i saw. they're in auradon, they can't come and take over the isle too.

as i made my way to see mother i made sure there were no more left, these were spread all over the isle weren't they? holy fuck, like why even? why add posters of an event the people of the isle can't attend? is it to rub it in their faces? is that what it is? whatever, i made it to mother's place in no time. hopefully she was alone, i don't want to see he who must not be named. i am not in the mood for his fake attitude towards me when mother's around.

instead of going through the front entrance like any normal person, i went through my little secret entrance. i climbed up the pole and went through the hole that was covered up, from both inside and outside. that way, no one could know it was there except me. and hey look, i still fit through it! well it's nice to see some things never change. i made sure not to make noise, i wanted to surprise mother.

i walked out of the room and looked around our shabby little home. the 'kitchen and living room' seemed to be empty, well she must be in her room. i walked over and saw her in there. she was laying down, though it didn't seem like she was sleeping. i tried not to make noise but the floor creaked. well so much for a surprise.

"who's there! i don't have anything, so be in your way." why did mother sound so weak? was she tired? "mother, it's me." mother raised her head and looked at me before dropping her head. she looked so weak, what happened while i was gone? i quickly rushed over and checked on her.

"val, what are you doing here? i thought i told you to never come back. what did you do to make them send you back?" oh mother please don't worry about me. "nothing, they don't even know i'm gone. enough about me. mother, what's wrong? are you okay?" she didn't answer me though, she just dismissed my question and moved on.

"why are you back? auradon is your home now, you should be there with your princess having the time of your life." i shook my head and took off my bag to grab her the nice soft pillow and big blanket i got for her. "here, i brought you some nice bedding." i lifted her head and put the pillow under her head. no more using ugly nasty cushions for support. i quickly put the cover of her as her body seemed to be shivering.

"and i have sweets, your favorite." i took out a little bag full of treats, of course i had more for her of course. i placed the bag next to her and held my hand in hers. "mother, are you okay?" she still wouldn't answer my question. "tell me, what's auradon like? how was your time there? and why are you back? please tell me, let me live through you." i smiled weakly before i said anything.

"alright, if you insist. auradon is amazing, the air is nice and clean. the streets are also clean. there's so many plants, trees and bushes covered in different types of fruits. apples on trees, berries on bushes. the food is amazing, they feed us three times a day. breakfast, lunch, and dinner. the rooms are big and pretty, they have these big beds with the softest blankets, mattresses and pillows. it feels like you're sleeping on a cloud. the classes are also very interesting, but kinda bias. they like to act as if some of the heroes didn't do bad things themselves." mother stroked my hand as i spoke, it felt nice. i missed this.

"it sounds so lovely, and the people? have you made any friends?" i did, but where are they now? "well yes, i befriended this girl named audrey. she's sleeping beauty's daughter. there's jane and lonnie, jane is fairy godmothers daughter and lonnie is mulans daughter. chad and doug too, chad is cinderella's boy and doug is dopeys kid. i know what you're thinking, dopey as in the dwarf? bizarre i know." mother stopped stroking my hand and looked up at me. "and what about the king, mal mentioned you befriended him. what's he like?" what's princey like?

"well he's..." as much as i hated him right now, i don't know if i could speak ill of him. even if i could, mother would be able to tell i was lying. "he's wonderful. super kind, just an amazing person overall. he was super nice to me as soon as i met him. he even suggested that i room with him because they didn't know where to put me. he tried to get me involved in school activities, he made me feel included. on our first day of school, he noticed how hungry i was and he gave me a bag full of cookies. and they weren't poisoned or anything! that was really nice of him. he does smile a lot though, but it's okay since he has a pretty smile." oops i did not mean to say that, please mother don't mention it.

"seems like you really liked auradon, and the boy. so why did you come back?" because i had too. "things weren't working out, i was having problems with people. i let it all get to me, i freaked out and ran away. i'm sorry i disappointed you." she shook her head and laughed.

"my boy, you could never disappoint me. i know you better than anyone." she lifted her hand and stroked my cheek. "you know what happened, ally as in alice in wonderlands daughter came up to me and began to speak ill of you. i was so mad i almost hit her, but i didn't. she is just as mad as her mother though." mother laughed and nodded her hand. "her mother was indeed mad, i don't see how people like her she-" mother cut herself off as she began to cough. it was a nasty cough.

"mother?" she waved her hand, telling me to not worry. "val, i have to tell you something." she said once she stopped coughing. "what is it?" i asked, she hesitated to speak though. "honey, i'm dying." what? no, you've got to be kidding me. how? she can't be dying! she just can't!

"facilier doesn't know how much time i have left, but it's not long. i'm sorry val. i've just gotten so sick, and we don't have medicine here to help me. there's nothing i could do about it though. please don't worry about me, my time has come. i should accept my fate, i did it once after all. i shouldn't be afraid to do it again." no, no, no! there has to be something i can do.

"before you speak, there's something else." oh no more bad news. "val, this might be a big one but it's time you know. i thought i'd have the heart to keep it with me till the grave, but now that i'm almost there... it's time i tell you. i can't have children, i never was able to. which means i am not your real mother." mother what? of course you are! "what do you mean you're not my real mother?!" this is a lie right? just some cruel prank, it has to be!

"when you were a baby, a newborn actually, i found you on the streets. you were abandoned, left to die. i picked you up and took you in. i couldn't bare leaving you there, you were looking at me with these big baby eyes. there was a note, it said that whoever your parents were couldn't handle two kids. i'm sorry, i should've told you sooner. i'm telling you now though, and if you're mad at me that's fine." this has to be like the worst day of my life. first my mother is dying and now she's telling me i'm not her biological kid? what gives universe?

"what? but why? you didn't have to take me in, you should've just left me there. why stress yourself out by taking me in? who are my parents?" geez i have so many questions, but i shouldn't be bothering her with them though. "well i don't know, the note didn't say but i always had my suspicions. now i think i know who." really? "who?"

"well at least who your dad is. when you were small, you got so mad, i didn't know why really. i just knew that you were mad and crying so loudly. then your hair was set on fire, and i was so confused. i didn't know why, but your hair was up in blue fire. then when you calmed down, your hair went back to normal and that's how your hair became pitch black." wait okay but that didn't explain who my fathers was?

"your dad is..." mother began coughing badly again, she laid back down and covered her face. "it's fine, i can wait. mother please get some rest, okay? sleep. we can talk more about this tomorrow, just sleep. i love you okay?" i kissed her forehead as i tucked her in. "i love you too my val." she began to close her eyes and soon she fell asleep. i grabbed my bag and left another bag of sweets next to her, in case she woke up hungry.

i'm glad i came back, if mother passed away while i was gone... i don't know what i would do. or how i would've found out. i can't lose her.

now, maybe i should go pay a little sea witch a visit. only the gods know how much i've missed her and the others. i could use some laughs right about now.

(y'all don't know how excited i am for chapter 16, it's probably my favorite so far. there's nothing important in particular but !!)