Hi! So I'm back with a Descendants fanfic. I've already written 2 of these before plus 1 other that's on hold for now but might get picked up again soon.

So this first chapter is mostly a few of the scenes from the movie, but with the character's thoughts to kind of introduce my version of things. It really starts to change when the VKs have their little talk.

Please go check out my other Descendants stories, Uncovered, Discovering, and Let's Pretend. Make sure to Follow, Favorite and Review if you liked it (or if you didn't, that's fine).

CHAPTER 1 - Aftermath

Once everyone was safely in the limo and began making their way back to Auradon, the tension in the air was almost suffocating. Mal tried her hardest not to look over at Ben who was sitting by her side but on the other end of the seat but she couldn't avoid her lingering eyes. She couldn't bring herself to say anything after what had happened at their hangout. She new what she had said wasn't the whole truth, but he didn't know that. Ben also tried to focus his eyes on something else but was struggling. Everything she had said before, it couldn't be the truth. He wanted to slide over to his purple haired pixie and just hold her, but she wasn't his anymore.

"I'm really sorry that things didn't go the way you wanted them to" Ben broke the silence. He wanted Mal to be happy, but the truth is he wasn't sorry. He was happy that Mal was in the limo and headed back to Auradon with the rest of them. He couldn't stand the thought of her staying on the Isle.

"I mean" Mal panted still out of breath from the battle, "As long as you're safe that's..."

"At least I got to see the Isle" Ben continued since Mal really didn't know what to say, "They're my people too. Uma helped me see that"

"Ben! Uma captured you" Mal responded unable to see past her everlasting grudge against Ursula's daughter.

"She's an angry girl with a bad plan…" he tried to reason. He understood why she didn't understand where he was coming from. Uma and Mal have history he would never fully understand, but she deserves a chance like any other kid from the Isle. "That's not so different from you when you came to Auradon, Mal". He regretted the words a little, but it was the truth.

Mal gasped slightly before struggling to find something to say and failing. She went back to looking out the window, her eyes staying away from the King. Mal wasn't ready to hear the truth, and sometimes the truth hurts.

"Awkward..." Dude rolled his eyes casually reminding everyone he could talk.

"Just because you can talk doesn't mean you always should" Carlos insisted and Dude snuggled closer to him to keep his mouth shut.

They all walked through the school trying to seem as cool and casual as possible after all that had just happened. Mal and Ben walked slightly behind the rest of the group. They both wanted to talk, but neither of them knew what to say. Mal kept her head down, still unsure whether she wanted to stay in Auradon.

Jane walked up to Ben urgently with some questions about cotillion. She clearly hadn't noticed Mal standing right there since her hair had been blonde the last time she had been there and it was now back to purple. Ben walked towards Mal and placed his hand on her lower back like he always did.

"Do you want to cancel?" Ben asked. Mal's eyes shot up to meet his, but she didn't have an answer to his question. "Do whatever you need to do?" He assured her. Their eyes remained on each other for a couple more seconds before she dropped her head again utterly confused at what she was supposed to do now.

Evie quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her away, "We need to talk". Mal just nodded in agreement.

"No" Carlos stepped in before the girls could walk away, "you guys are always going off in a huddle… whispering your girl stuff or whatever… and Jay and I are tired of it"

"I'm not" Jay clarified not wanting to get into any unwanted drama.

"We're your family too" Carlos went on after giving Jay some side eye, " We've been through alot, together. We're not stopping that now. Ok?". The other Vks didn't really know how to react. They had been a little distant, but they hadn't realized how much they actually needed each other until this very moment. "Everyone sit!" he commanded sitting down and everyone followed. Once everyone was sitting, he realized he actually had no idea what he was doing. "I don't know how to start girl talk".

"What up?" Jay tried causing Evie to giggle.

"Well.." Mal began with just a whisper. She had been holding in tears since the limo. She wasn't supposed to cry, ever, but she just couldn't help it. "I'm a mess" she admitted as tears started falling softly down her cheeks, "I'm such a mess. Everyone expects me to be this lady of the court and I can't do it" she sniffled and Evie placed a hand on her arm for some comfort. "I really tried my best, but it didn't work out" she had so much to say, but had no clue how to say it. "I just don't know who I am anymore".

"You're Mal" Carlos interrupted. "Yes, you're the same Mal that bullied everyone on the Isle and tried to take over Auradon. You're the Mal that loves purple and black and hates pink"

"You're the Mal that encouraged me to believe in myself and helped me understand that I do not need a prince" Evie added.

"You're the Mal that doesn't miss any of my tourney games, even when your boyf… Ben isn't playing" Jay reminded her.

"Your Mal" Carlos, "and that's all you have to be. Yourself".

"We're always going to be the kids from the Isle" Evie reminded them, "I tried to forget that, but it's true".

"And everything we go through we go through together" Carlos insisted, "and we've been through alot worse"

"I just don't know what to do" Mal sighed, "I can't keep pretending to me someone I'm not"

"Come to cotillion" Jay suggested.

"I can make some alterations to your dress" Evie encouraged.

"Ok" Mal nodded convincing herself that this was a good idea. She was confused about a lot of things right now, but if their was one thing she knew for sure is that she had the best family in the entire world. A sister and two brothers.

Jane had outdone herself with cotillion. Everything was absolutely beautiful, bur Mal couldn't enjoy it as nerves were eating her insides. Evie had outdone herself. The blue and yellow dress stood untouched in their dorm room, but she had been able to turn another unfinished gown into a fabulous black, purple and green dress for Mal. She had asked for her arrival not be announced, and Ben made sure of that, so she was able to walk in with her friends without making a big deal about it.

Ben was late, he knew it and his parents knew it. It was very unlike him to be late to anything, but he had called an emergency meeting with the royal council about the Isle. He had always wanted to do something about the whole Isle of the Lost situation, but the last couple of months since his coronation had been so busy, he had forgotten. Being on the Isle had reminded him of how important his plan is. This was going to be one of his priorities from now on.

"Presenting King Benjamin Florian of Auradon" Lumiere spoke and everyone turned to the entrance were Ben stood. He slowly made his way down the stairs, greeting his parents on the way down. Usually, Mal would make her way to Ben and take his arm, but she didn't move and people were noticing. Technically they had broken up, so she didn't find it appropriate to do so. Ben, however, had other plans. He made his way to where Mal and her friends stood and offered her his hand.

"Would you like to dance?" she took his hand and they began dancing to the beat of the slow music. Mal wasn't much of a dancer, but she had to talk to him sooner or later. "I'm glad you decided to come".

"Ben…" Mal began, but he had to say something first.

"I just want you to be happy, Mal" he had been rehearsing this moment in his head for the last hour or so, "That's all I want. I'd be lying if I told you I don't want to be by your side, but as long as you're happy I'll be happy". There was a long pause as Mal digested everything he had just said. "It's ok if you don't love me".

"You think I don't love you…" Mal scoffed in disbelief.

"You said…" Ben tried reminding her about their little talk on the Isle, but she remembered very well.

"I know what I said Ben" she nodded, "Everything I said I said because I can't be the girl you need me to be. I can't keep up the perfect princess act. In fact, I am the farthest thing from perfect and princess there is. I am not good for you". She stopped for a moment looking into his musky green eyes. "But I LOVE you Ben" she whimpered softly as tears formed in her eyes, "you taught me what love is, and I will always love you".

Ben leaned down slamming his lips into hers urgently. Mal didn't even hesitate when their lips met. It felt natural. Her hands found their way to the back of his neck, and his hands slowly slid down to her lower back pulling her tightly towards himself. Their lips separated, but their foreheads remained pressed together. She could feel his cool breath on the tip of her nose as they both breathed in and out slowly.

"I love your purple hair" he began now, "I love how you still find buffets confusing…"

"How much food am I supposed to eat!?" She explained and he laughed making her blush.

"I love when your eyes gleam emerald green for less than a second. I love everything about you Mal Betha, and I wouldn't have stayed with you if I didn't believe you handle being by my side. There are dozens of pretty pink princesses in Auradon, but I chose you".

She pressed her head into his chest as they continued to dance, "Don't ever scare me like that again Ben. I actually thought I was going to lose you".

"I won't… but you have to promise me something" he negotiated

"What?"

"If and when you start feeling overwhelmed or exhausted you come to me, talk to me. We'll figure it out together" he assured her, "Promise?"

She pushed back a little to look up into his eyes once again. "I promise" she agreed before giving him a quick kiss and hugging him tightly. Her Ben. His Mal. Everything was just how it was meant to be.

Hope you guys liked this little into to the story. The next chapter should be up in the next few day and you'll get to meet the new kids from the Isle…

I have another Descendants story called Uncovered and a sequel called Discovered. Check them out if you want to.

Also take a look at my other Descendants story called Let's Pretend and let me know if you'd like me to keep writing it.

Follow, Favorite and Review. Leave any suggestions or ideas you might have in a review. I'll gladly consider adding them to the story and give you credit if I do end up using it!