AN : I should probably proof read this in the morning but there you go. I might continue with this idea - second, third time Mal morphed- and if you want to see Something, please feel free to ask ! Now I'm going to sleep.
The first time Mal morphed, Ben was breaking her heart.
"What do you mean 'we should stop here'?"
Ben fidgeted, he had expected the anger in Mal's voice but facing it made him uneasy.
"I'm about to take function as a King. It requires me to find a Queen, or at least be available for one and- "
"And I'm not good enough, is that what you're saying?"
"Mal calm down" he begged. "You are good. It's just that… You're not suited for that."
"Why?" she fought to keep her voice steady.
"Despite all your good will, you're still your mother's daughter and you can't unlearn the things you learned on the Isle. You threaten people who don't obey you!"
"How can you rule if people don't fear you?" Mal interjected.
"How can you lead if people don't look up to you?" Ben countered. "Being a King isn't just keeping peace among the people, it's also owning their respect, inspiring them to do good."
"And you think I can't do that?"
"You haven't showed me you can."
He regretted his words as soon as he saw her bravado face crumble. He had to do it though, no matter how hard it hurt the both of them.
"Can't you just wait for a bit? Unless you already have your Queen? Is that it? Have you met somebody else and you're scared to tell me?"
Tears were filling her green glowing eyes now and the to be King had to call up all his will power to shake his head slowly instead of taking her in his arms.
"Ben, do you still love me?" she tried at last.
"Not anymore" he lied.
The young fairy lost it in and in a purple haze, she turned into an eight feet tall dragon. She didn't realize it until she tried to speak again and only smoke came out. It had occurred to her before that this might happen but she never thought about it for real. Panic seized her, she flew away clumsily, only to tumble a couple of miles further in the underwood.
Ben stood frozen, hesitant. He sure hadn't contemplated that. He sprung up running in the vague direction she took off. He finally found her unconscious on the litter of dead leaves. A purple cloud surrounded her as she kept switching back and forth between her human form and her dragon form. He sat against a tree, concern twisting his guts. Something about it was fascinating though: her purple gills reflected the sunlight caught in the magical mist, her leathery wings were splayed out and when she turned back to the sweet face he knew, she looked just like an angel.
When he thought she was human again for good, he lifted her into his arms and headed toward the castle. At least he hoped he was headed in the right direction. Growing up a prince, he hadn't had much time to play in the woods. After an hour of roaming, he lost patience and drew his phone. A sigh of relief escaped him when he saw the signal bars. At least he mustn't have been too far. His first thought was for his parents but he couldn't explain where he was. Besides they were probably busy. His second idea was smarter and involved a little magic. He quickly dialed the number.
"Hey, I'm lost in the woods with Mal and I figured maybe you could- "
"Coming" the voice interrupted him.
Ben felt his chest untighten a bit. He gently laid down the young woman's body and sat on the ground himself. He had a meeting in an hour and being late was so unprofessional. His father had slowly started delegating after the coronation, proud yet reluctant to let his little boy take power. It had been a year since and the new King was now fully in charge. He had also turned eighteen, which meant he was in age to get married. He had refused to see it first but his parents had gotten through to him: Mal wasn't fit to be Queen, no matter how much he loved her.
Footsteps interrupted his train of thoughts.
"Evie!" He shouted, springing up.
The blue princess emerged from behind a tree, her mirror in hand.
"What happened?" she rushed to her friend, kneeled down and checked for pulse then bleeding. "What have you done to her?"
"She… Turned into a dragon. Like her mother. And then she passed out." Ben mumbled.
"We need to get her to Fairy Godmother."
With a fair amount of grunts, she placed Mal on her shoulder.
"I can carry her" Ben objected.
"I'll let you take over when I tire."
She led the way back to the castle, passing down Mal's lump body about halfway through.
"I wouldn't have guessed you were that strong."
Evie glared at the comment.
"On the Isle, you need to be more than a pretty face."
If the words weren't enough, her tone had made it clear that Ben still knew little about what they had been through. The rest of the walk was silent. They called Fairy Godmother as they neared the castle so she greeted them with a wheelchair in the garden surrounding the school.
"When she wakes up, tell her I'm sorry" he asked Evie before he took off to the castle.
Evie followed as the fairy wheeled her best friend through the hallways.
"What happened?"
"I don't know, Ben says she turned into a dragon."
"Dammit!"
Evie was so worried she didn't even pay attention to the unusual cussing. They reached the nursery where Fairy Godmother levitated Mal to a bed. She quickly examined her and placed a wet cloth on her forehead to help with the starting fever. Evie dragged a chair near the bed and settled for what she felt would be a long afternoon.
"Is it always like that?" she asked.
"The first time is the worst."
The school headmistress stayed for a while after briefing the nurse but she was to no use and she still had a lot of work to do.
"Call me if she wakes up or start convulsing" she repeated before leaving.
Dawn came and Mal still hadn't moved the slightest. By then, the boys had been informed and the freshly formed couple sat across from Evie by Mal's side. Ben had passed to check up on her, so had Doug and Lonnie, but at the end of the day, it was just the four of them.
"It's almost curfew" the nurse informed them hesitantly.
"Hell if you think we're leaving her" Jay spoke for them all.
There was something fierce about the group that convinced her not to insist. Fairy Godmother passed by shortly after said curfew and she was more firm.
"I know you are worried but you dearies need to rest. You do have class tomorrow."
"We're not going anywhere until she wakes up."
"From what I've heard, she'll take a least 24 hours to recover."
"Then we'll wait."
"How about you three take turns watching up on her?" she proposed.
Jay was about to keep arguing but Evie accepted. Out of the three, she was probably the more level headed.
"I'll take the first switch." The tanned boy decided.
The blue haired princess finally allowed exhaustion to tackle her and went for the dorm.
She didn't rest much but at least her sleep was peaceful. On her way to the nursery the next morning, she came across Doug. Her friend didn't miss a beat.
"How is Mal?"
"Still sleeping."
The occasion was perfect for a Sleeping Beauty pun but he felt Evie would've knocked him out cold.
"I'll bring you today's classes. And snacks" he offered.
School and eating were the last of her worries but the attention warmed her nonetheless.
"Thanks Doug. See you later."
She found Carlos in the nursery pep talking to a still very unconscious Mal. He hadn't slept much if the bags under his eyes were any indication.
"Go to sleep, Carlos" she said with a motherly voice.
He obeyed hesitantly after pressing Mal's hand one last time.
Evie sat down in the chair the freckle boy had just left and started humming to herself. It helped with the stress and the long wait. She was knitting with the kit she'd brought when Mal started stirring. Another ten minutes and she opened her eyes, grunting.
"Mal are you okay?"
"I'm fine" the young woman answered with a grimace.
Truth was her whole body was sore. Every muscle, every bone was aching.
"I need to pee."
Evie helped her up with a chuckle and stood by one side while the nurse stood on the other.
"How long have I been out?" she asked when they got back to her bed.
"24 hours. Ben said you… went on dragon mode?"
"Dragon mode, I like that" Mal laughed.
"He also apologized a lot. May I know why?"
"He broke up with me" the fairy revealed with a sigh.
"Ben broke up with you?"
The two girls turned toward the door as Carlos and Jay made an entrance.
"Do you want me to go kick his ass?" the latter continued.
"I'm pretty sure he already stained his pants when I went dragon mode on him" she laughed, then winced at the throbbing pain spreading through her chest.
"Lay down, you still need to rest."
"Yes Mom Evie" the teen mocked.
"We brought food" Carlos chimed in, proof in hand.
The little family chatted in the nursery all afternoon. At curfew, after a visit from Fairy Godmother, the nurse discharged her. As Mal combed her hair after a long, warm shower, she noticed something. It was small but she felt it every time she double checked. It was small, barely seeable in her voluminous hair, but it was still there. On top of her head, Mal felt two horns poking out of her skull.
Maybe she was her mother's daughter after all.