A/N: Hey readers, it's been a super long time since I updated. Anyways I extended this chapter a bit. Hope you like the last part.
oOo
Dear diary…
I wake up at 2am after having that strange dream of the boy in the mask. This time we were dancing. Everyone was watching us waltzing.
I wonder who would be so crazy enough to fall in love with me.
Am I dreaming of a future I could have when I give my heart to someone?
Will this boy love me for me?
I've never had this type of dream before. Mostly I would dream about my past life on the Isle; about how miserable I would be if I wasn't found by Melody.
What mother would say if she found out that her daughter turned her back on evil and is dreaming of a life full of romance and opportunities?
Oh how she would be mocked if the villains found out that I turned my back on evil.
Here I am sitting at the Enchanted Lake with all these thoughts in my head.
Ah… the Enchanted Lake.
It's so peaceful.
It is the only place where I could be myself and be free. Not a lot of people come here. They are all glued to their phones thanks to some mystery blogger named Secret Scoop.
I've read all about the Enchanted Lake. Legend says that it could break any spell, enchantment and glamour and speaking of glamour…
It's safe for me to break the glamour spell.
I'll re-apply it before I leave here.
It'll feel good to have my purple hair. It reminds me of what I am; a fairy.
I know I changed my looks just so that I do not look like my mom, but sometimes I don't feel like I'm me anymore.
But then again, I'm pretending to be someone I'm not; a distant cousin of Prince Eric. I'm known as Lady Malia instead of Princess Malia.
Melody will receive that title when her granddad passes on then their parents will be king and queen.
Thank goodness I don't have a lot of duties like they do. I shudder to think of what will happen if I became a princess. I know that I would break under pressure.
I'm enjoying my time at Auradon Prep, but I sometimes miss the peace and quiet of the castle.
I miss swimming and listening to the seagulls.
Yeah… swimming.
Ariel taught me how to swim after I told her what happened on the Isle with Uma. She said that nothing will happen to me and that she will protect me.
She commented on how much my former best friend so much like her mother, Ursula; vengeful and cold hearted.
oOo
Mal closed her journal and locked it with a spell that is keyed to her magical signature.
She took off her dress revealing a purple bikini.
Mal dived into the water and she smiled seeing her reflection in the lake. Her hair was long and purple and she smiled seeing the dragon birthmark on her shoulder.
She went underwater again loving the feeling of floating.
It's not the same as the sea, but it is close enough.
Mal never misses an opportunity to swim. It's her favorite hobby second to art.
oOo
While Mal was swimming in the Enchanted Lake Ben was on his way to swim there as well, but when he stopped when he saw someone was there.
He recognized who it was because of her platinum blonde hair and faded purple tips.
No girl at Auradon Prep would dare to be bold by coloring their hair.
He froze seeing that her hair was slowly changing colors and something appeared on her shoulder. It looked familiar, and then it hit him.
It's the same dragon birthmark that the little girl in his dream had and her hair color is the exact shade as well.
Ben backed away and hid behind the bushes not wanting to get caught.
Who knows what will happen if he saw her?
She'll probably think he's a pervert like Chad Charming.
He wondered how she survived and how she managed to get out of the Isle.
All these questions were running through his mind.
Ben shivered thinking of what his father would do if he found out that a villain's child is in Auradon and is adopted by those who dislike his father with a passion… cough… Eric… cough.
Whenever those two are in a room together you could literally feel the tension in the air.
Ben couldn't describe what he was feeling.
At the moment he felt protective over her; that he would do anything just to keep her safe from harm.
Ben has never felt this way about someone before. This was all too new for him and it scared him a little.
What has she done to me? He asked himself.
He barely knows her and he's feeling protective over her.
Ben decided that the best person who could explain all of this to him is his mother. Surely she has some explanation to what is happening to him.
Thank goodness Mal was distracted by swimming.
Ben made his escape and drove home to speak to his mom.
oOo
Twenty minutes later Mal was done swimming and she was on her way back to the campus.
She didn't forget to re-apply the glamour charm.
Mal felt like she was on top of the world. She was relaxed and full of energy after that swim. Normally she would want to sleep after that swim.
When she got to her dorm she took a shower and got dressed for dinner then made her way to the common room where she found Arabella and Jane searching for some video on the laptop.
"Bingo," Arabella said then saw her. "Oh, hey Mal. Where were you."
"Here and there," she answered. 'What's this?"
She caught sight of a new post from Secret Scoop.
"Secret Scoop created a channel called School of Secrets," Jane answered. "It's like she's doing an exposé on the students of Auradon."
"Let's see," Mal said.
Arabella clicked on the video.
oOo
"So here we are at Auradon Prep; School of legends. School of secrets is more like it. Sure you've heard of our parents, but you don't know us. Let me introduce to who you might meet here":
The video shows the different cliques at Auradon Prep.
Princess types, sidekick material, sports heroes and school royalty.
There were a few clips showing the ugly side of the students of Auradon Prep.
"Wonder what we'll learn..."
Then the clip changes to showing the girl, but the video doesn't reveal her face.
"And who am I?
I'm the one who's going to show you what they're really like when they don't think anyone's watching.
Be good Auradon, someone's watching."
The girl picks up her bag and waves to the hidden camera before she leaves.
oOo
Queen Belle watched her son pace back and forth. It's the first time that she has ever seen him like this before. Usually it would be her husband acting like this.
She sighed.
"Sweety, would it make you feel better if you sat down?" she asked. "Then you can tell me what's got you all in a tizzy."
Ben took a deep breath and sat down.
They sat in silence for a few moments.
Ben wanted to collect his thoughts before he says anything.
"Mom, have you ever dreamt of someone and all of a sudden you feel drawn to them, yet you don't know anything about that person. All you feel is protectiveness and love the moment you see them or near them."
"I cant say I have been drawn to someone in my dreams," Belle said. "But I feel a pull towards your dad. Whenever we are far, it feels as if my chest hurts."
"That's exactly how I feel about her," Ben said.
"Her?" Belle asked in a soft voice.
Ben blushed when he realized that he said that out loud.
He knew that his mom would give him the look that would make him spill his guts.
"Her name's Malia Emerald," Ben said. "But she likes to be called Mal."
Belle knew who he was talking about; the mysterious relative of Prince Eric.
"I met her yesterday in the library," Ben continued. "When I first saw her, I stuttered like a complete idiot. She didn't swoon over me like the other girls. There was something different about her. It feels as if I just want to be with her…"
Belle smiled.
Belle said. "You have found your true love."
Ben noticed tears in his mom's eyes.
"My baby," Belle got up and hugged her son.
"Mom," Ben was confused.
Wait, true love?
Belle pulled away from her son and saw his look of surprise.
"Ben, what you and Malia have is a soul mate bond," Belle explained. "I'm sure that she feels the same way about you, but won't do anything because you just broke up with Audrey."
"Are you sure?" Ben asked. "She's my true love?"
"Positive," Belle was sure. "What you just told me… What you are experiencing now are signs that you found your soul mate."
"What should I do?" Ben asked, feeling helpless.
"Don't rush head first into a relationship," Belle said. "Get to know her. Show her around the campus or maybe you can show her the sights in Auradon. I'm sure she will love that."
Ben nodded.
Their thoughts were disturbed by Ben's phone beeping.
Ben checked to see that it was his dad texting him.
"Something wrong?" Belle asked.
"It's Dad," Ben said. "I have a council meeting."
"Alright," Belle said and hugged her son.
Belle smiled as he left.
She felt joy that her son found his equal and just after he broke up with Audrey.
Wait until Fairy Godmother hears about this, Belle thought.
oOo
Three hours later...
Mal went to the library to find Ben looking all miserable and tired. Her eyes widened seeing stacks of documents in front of him.
No wonder he looks all worn out, she thought. Maybe I should go help him...
Mal walked walked over to Ben to see if he needed some help.
Ben bumped his head on the table a couple of times.
He didn't bother to look up at who was walking towards him. He could feel the leather seat dip beside him.
Someone was sitting next to him.
He heard papers shuffling and lifted his head to find Mal looking through his documents.
Mal smiled feeling his eyes on her.
"I figured you needed some help," Mal said, her eyes still on the papers. "There is no way that you can go through all of this in one day. I'm assuming these are from the last council meeting?"
"Um..."
Mal turned to face Ben.
"Eric taught me all the ropes," Mal said. "Even though I'm not next in line for the throne, I've been trained in these things."
He then sighed in sadness.
"What's the matter?" Mal asked.
The memory of the disasterous council meeting was still fresh in his mind.
"I'm going to be a terrible King," Ben stated.
"What?" Mal's eyes widened. "No ways. Why would you say that?"
"I screwed up the council meeting this afternoon. I went all "beast" on them because they were all talking at once," Ben said. "I tried my best to stay calm and find a solution, but they just wouldn't listen."
Mal winced.
That would've driven her mad too.
"I bet I disappointed my dad," Ben continued. "I really didn't behave like a king should."
Ben slumped.
Mal sighed.
"Enough of this pitty party," Mal said. "I'm going to be your self-appointed assistant."
"What?" Ben asked.
"Ben, this is too much work for one person," Mal started. "You need some help before you burn yourself out. Now, let's get started."
"Um... alright," Ben said. "First we'll start with the dwarves..."
Ben and Mal spent the rest of the afternoon going through the council's grieviances.
The two didn't notice the sun setting until the librarian announced that it was almost closing time.
"Phew!" Mal said. "That was a lot."
"No kidding," Ben said. "Thanks for helping me out. I owe you big time."
"It's not a problem," Mal said. "You don't owe me anything."
"But I do," Ben argued. "How about I give you a tour of Auradon?"
"Um..." Mal was caught off guard.
"I promise you won't regret it," Ben added.
"Sure, why not," Mal answered.
"Which time should I come pick you up from your dorm?" Ben asked. "Or should we meet right after our last class? What is your last..."
Mal placed her arm in front of Ben's mouth.
She giggled at his rambling.
"Let's meet at the courtyard after classes, sound good?" Mal asked.
Ben nodded; Mal's hand was still in front of his mouth.
"Great," Mal said. "See you tomorrow then."
Mal removed her hand from his mouth and the two left the library.
They was surprised that they spent the whole afternoon in the library. The also missed dinner.
It's ten minutes left until curfew.
Ben and Mal went their separate ways, rushing to their dorms before the hall monitors make their rounds.
oOo