CHAPTER 36

The VK's park their bikes before taking off their helmets.

"Hey. I'm me again," Zoe cheers as she looks at her hands and then her hair.

"Duh. Evil magic doesn't work here. Kind of the point," Celia tells her before walking off.

"Welcome back," Evie says as she and Mal walk on either side of Zoe. Celia leads them to a door with 'PA DERANJE' written on it before she knocks to a beat. Someone on the others side knocks a beat back. Celia responds with another beat before smiling at the VK's as the door is opened. Zoe and Mal share a smile before they follow Celia inside.

"Hey," Dr. Facilier calls as he sees Celia.

"Daddy," Celia calls as she runs over to him.

"Here she is," Dr. Facilier says as he picks her up before setting her down. "Come on. And.. And..." They dance causing Zoe to smile at the two. "Ho!" Dr. Facilier taps his cheek before Celia thumps his hat and tries to run. "Hey, yeah. Come here little rascal." Dr, Facilier pulls Celia into a hug. Celia and Dr. Facilier walk away while the VK's look around the arcade. Carlos notices a tv before dropping a coin into the top of it causing it to play.

"Alerts of the sleeping spell keep coming in as it spreads throughout Auradon," The reporter on the tv says.

"Uh. guys. Come look at this," Carlos says as he sits down.

"There are rumors that Sleeping Beauty's daughter, Audrey, is behind the spell. We're trying to discover who is responsible for these vicious lies, and which villain has perpetrated this evil. We have an update. It's what? It's moving this way? It is moving this way," The reporter says as they watch the tv in shock. Zoe then nods her head for them to leave.

"Wow! Rookie mistake?" Carlos says as they walk outside to see Harry, Gil, and two more pirates on their bikes.

"Long time nay see," Harry says as the other two pirates take off.

"Get off my bike, Hook," Jay orders as he and Carlos rush towards their bikes.

"Catch me if you can, Jay," Harry calls as he takes off.

"Over the roofs. Cut them off," Jay says as he, Evie, and Carlos take off in different directions.

"Hey, hey, hey, hey, not you," Zoe says as she grabs Celia, who had tried to follow them. "They got this. You, Mal, and me gotta go find the ember."

"Good timing. It's right about his nap time," Celia says before she starts leading the way. Jay gets close to catching Harry but Harry turns a corner getting away with a victory cheer as Jay glares at his fading figure.

"Hey. How big is that dog?" Mal asks as she notices a 'Beware of Dog!' sign.

"You'll see," Celia answers as she unlocks the gate. "Okay, stay quiet. It echoes, like, crazy in here." Mal and Zoe share a concerned look before following Celia. They are walking when loud barking and growling comes out of nowhere causing Zoe to look around panicked. "Come on. Come, come." Celia hands Zoe a helmet before turning the light on her own on. Zoe and Mal turn their lights on before getting on the rail bike with Celia. Zoe looks around at the glowing blue light before hearing barking again. They reach the end of the tracks before getting off of the rail bike. The barking is louder as they walk into a room to find Hades asleep in his chair. Zoe and Mal follow Celia down the stairs to where Hades is. The barking starts again causing Zoe to look around before Celia points a record playing with a smile. Zoe and Mal start walking towards the ember before Celia stops them motioning for them to walk behind Hades. Zoe and Mal start walking that direction and Mal stops letting Zoe go. Celia gets tired of the record repeating and moves the player causing it to scratch.

"What are you doing here?" Hades asks causing Zoe to freeze.

"I noticed you were low on canned corn," Celia answers as she tosses Hades a can of corn. Zoe grabs the ember but her hand is quickly grabbed by Hades causing her to gasp. Hades takes the ember as he turns to face Zoe and Mal, who is now beside Zoe.

"Hi, Dad," Zoe and Mal say at the same time.

"Wait, what?" Zoe and Mal ask at the same time as they look at each other. Celia looks at both of them in shock. Hades takes off his sunglasses and waves at Zoe and Mal.

"Quite a show you put on the other day," Hades tells Zoe.

"Right back at you," Zoe responds.

"Hmm. I was just coming to see you both," Hades says with a smile as he stands up.

"Really? Wonder why. Is it because I'm gonna be Queen?" Zoe questions as she walks away from Hades.

"Ah! Now, Zoe, don't be bitter," Hades says with a chuckle.

"You abandoned me when I was a baby," Zoe says as Mal nods and Zoe crosses her arms.

"No. No, I left your mothers. They're not the easiest people to get along with," Hades corrects. 

"You think?" Zoe says with an eye roll.

"Huh. You see? We have something in common already. We both hate your mother," Hades says as he puts on a scarf before walking over to Zoe.

"No. I don't hate my mother. And Maleficent might be an evil lunatic, but at least she stuck around for Mal," Zoe argues as she glares at Hades.

"Oh! Boo-hoo. Wake up and smell the stink. You think you've had it rough?" Hades says as he walks around Zoe. "I used to be a god! I had an entire world which bore my name. And now I have nothing! And you have no idea what that feels like."

"Really? Because for 16 years, I had nothing. And now, I have a whole world. But unless I get that ember, it's game over," Zoe explains as she walks over to Hades before holding her hand out for the ember.

"Hold, please," Hades says as he pushes her hand away causing Zoe to look at him shocked.

"Listen little girl

You're talking to a god

And I don't wanna hear The drama

Kindness ain't my brand," Hades sings as he looks down at Zoe.

"Oh, I guess that's why you ran," Zoe sings as she glares at him.

"Try being married to your mama," Hades sings causing Zoe to roll her eyes.

"You stink at being a dad," Zoe sings as she walks away from him.

"Poor, Zoe, are you sad?" Hades sings as he walks down the stairs.

"Not as sad as you

Without your powers

I didn't come to fight

For once do something right," Zoe sings as she faces Hades, who is taking off his scarf.

"I steal souls were you expecting flowers?" Hades sings as he wraps the scarf around Zoe.

"I only need you cause I came here for something," Zoe sings as she throws the scarf back at him.

"I've given you everything" Hades sings.

"By giving you nothing" Hades sings at the same time Zoe sings "By giving me nothing"

"I did what I had to do" Hades sings as he walks away from Zoe.

"Ooh" Celia and Mal sing.

"No, you only did What's best for you," Zoe sings.

"Well you can learn a thing or two

When push comes to shove

You do

What you've gotta do, yeah," Hades sings as he walks over to Zoe before bumping her to the side. Hades then sits in his chair propping up his feet.

"You were never there

I guess you don't have a phone

You never called to say

"I miss you"" Zoe sings as she leans on the chair.

"Are you kidding? Is this a joke? You need to let it go You're stronger with those daddy issues" Hades sings before standing back up.

"Oh, thank you" Zoe sings as she walks around the chair.

"Show me some respect

It ain't easy to neglect

My attention

Would've made you softer" Hades sings as he uses a lamppost as a microphone.

"Should I be proud?" Zoe sings as she walks over to him and he leans the lamppost to her. "Don't turn this thing around" Zoe pushes the lamppost away causing Hades to duck.

"I guess you are

Your father's daughter," Hades sings with a chuckle.

"Don't think I need you

I just came here for something" Zoe sings before holding her hand out for the ember. Hades grabs her hand spinning her around before catching her.

"I've given you everything" Hades sings as Zoe glares at him.

"By giving you nothing" Hades sings at the same time Zoe sings, "By giving me nothing"

"And I did what I had to do" Zoe sings as she spins away from Hades.

"Ooh," Celia and Mal sing.

"I made it on my own

No thanks to you," Zoe sings as she pokes Hades in the chest.

"Well you could learn a thing or two

When push comes to shove

You do what you gotta do" Hades sings before pushing Zoe into his chair causing her to sit. "How about I go with you And we'll spend some time?"

"How about you stay here

'Cause you're out of your mind," Zoe sings before pushing Hades head away from her.

"Let's make new memories

You can show me the town," Hades says as he puts a hand on her shoulder causing her to look at it in disgust.

"No you can keep your memories now" Zoe sings as she moves Hades hand away.

"Get over it" Hades sings as he gets in her face.

"I am over it" Zoe sings as she stands up.

"I'm over you being over it" Zoe and Hades sing together.

"Let's dance," Hades sings before dancing with a tambourine. Hades then tosses the tambourine to Zoe.

"I did What I had to do" Hades and Zoe sing as she follows Hades.

"Oooh," Celia and Mal sing.

"No you only did

What's best for you" Zoe and Hades sing before Zoe throws the tambourine down. Hades motions for Zoe to come up the stairs before she holds her hand out to him. Hades grabs her hand, pulling her up the stairs. "Well you can learn A thing or two

When push comes to shove

You do" Zoe shoves Hades before looking at her nails. "When push comes to shove

You do," Hades pushes Zoe back. "When push comes to shove

You do

What you gotta do

Yeah" They finish singing, standing back to back.

"Do you wanna make up for being a lousy dad?" Zoe asks as she turns to face him. "Give me the ember." Zoe holds her hand out to him.

"The ember only works for me," Hades tells her.

"No. It'll work for me. We're blood," Zoe argues.

"You're only half Hades. The ember won't do everything for you that it does for me," Hades explains to her.

"I'll take my chances," Zoe tells him with a smirk as he holds it up. Hades gives Zoe the ember before she starts walking up the stairs.

"If it gets wet, it's game over," Hades calls after her and Zoe only waves in response.

"That's my girls," Hades says with a smile once Zoe and Mal are far enough away.

"I guess that's the reason why he's always asking about you both," Celia says as she leads the way out causing Zoe and Mal to stop.

"Evie is the only one who knows that he's my dad," Mal tells her causing Celia to nod in understanding.

"We didn't know we were half sisters until today," Zoe says as she and Mal share a smile. "And so as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't even exist."