Ben bit into the cookie, surprised at the explosion of flavour. He hadn't been expecting her to be able cook. He didn't know much about the Isle, but he was pretty sure she wouldn't have been left with much time for perfect her baking skills.
"See that? I totally trust you."
"How are they?"
He felt his whole body warm. A smile spread across his face as he chuckled. All he could think about was how good the cookie was, because she had made it. It was the best the cookie he would ever eat, and Mal had made it.
"Are those walnuts? I love walnuts." Her nose scrunched up prettily as he took another bite. "And the chocolate chips are-"
He lost his train of thought as the world around him became hazy. She was the only thing he could focus on. The way the sun shown on her hair as the breeze played with it was amazing. Then he his eyes moved to her face and it was like he couldn't breath.
"They're-" and he focused on the sight of her pouty lips quirking into a bemused smirked. "They're warm and they're soft. They're sweet."
"Mal," his eyes moved up and it was like her ethereal features were in high definition. "Have you always had those golden flecks in your eyes?"
He woke slowly from the not quite dream. Sniffing, he raised his head from the seat back and took in his surroundings. The view outside the limo was beautiful as the Olympic scenery rolled by. His father was still pouring over notes on his right, fortunately, having been seemingly unconcerned with the Ben's power nap.
"Driver, how long to New Thebes?"
The driver said, "five minutes."
Ben sighed in relief and thanked him. He had been hoping to not have much time on his hands when alone with his father. It wasn't that his father was an overly sensitive man, or that he would be horrifically upset by Ben's current predicament. That being the case, the boy's decision to break up with the girl who tested his mother's patience, simply to pursue the daughter of "the worst villain of the land" wasn't something he was quite ready to share.
"Ben, are you sure you won't be bored on the campus?" His father took a moment to look up from the papers in his lap. "I know milling around a collage wouldn't be your first choice of activity, but unfortunately this meeting isn't one you're able to attend."
Ben took a beat before nodding. "I'm sure. It will be good for me to look at other campus', any way. I only have two years before graduating."
His father hummed in agreement. Ben was fairly certain his focus was solely on work, though. Last time Ben had mentioned attending another school that wasn't based in Auradon Proper, his dad had lectured him for an hour on security protocol alone.
Ben tried to keep himself from sprinting out of the car when they finally pulled up to New Thebes University. Lumiere had slipped the prince a map and note explaining what to expect. The valet had done his part and had clarified that he was, most assuredly, expected.
"Time is important." He bumped into a desk in surprise as the girl at the front of the lecture hall acknowledge him without turning from the board she was marking up. "Maybe Cogsworth should have been made your assistant instead of the flirtatious knob head."
"Lumiere is my valet."
She dropped the dry erase marker with a sigh. "Assistant sounds less lame. Not by much, though."
He tripped on the last step as he made his way to the front. She turned to face him then, and he felt uneasy by what he saw. More so, by how what he saw seemed nothing like what he felt he should.
She was exactly how she looked when last he saw her. She was as thin and statuesque as she had been at the prior year's family day. Yet, somehow, Herc's older sister looked nothing like he had felt she would.
"I feel just as wrong in my own skin as you appear to think I look." She dropped her notes on the podium. "That is probably nothing compared to having dreams of the future."
"The future?"
She absentmindedly ran a hand through her short locks. "I've taken so many different classes on the subject of magic that I want claw my eyes out. Then there's dream study, which I wasn't originally slotted for this term, but managed to get a late admission. Lucky you."
"So, you think you know what's going on?"
She smiled wickedly and winked. "I have an idea. What do you know of the inherent magic of love?"
He found out, within the first five minutes of their conversation, very little. "So, love is the root of all magic?" She shook her head. "Then what is?"
"Well, you have your basic elements, and oddly enough here in "Auradon" love is one of them." She used air quotes and seemed to give a sarcastic once over of their surroundings. "At the core of it all is life, with love sort of stemming off into its own category. It is, how ever the closest to the core source."
"So, to live is to be in touch with magic?"
She nodded and then resumed walking the courtyard. After explaining that she was only in the hall to help her uncle Perseus prep for his "Excepting Your Fate, Let Go and Let the Gods" lecture series, she'd taken him to a coffee cart for latte's and scones. After that, she had started to explain the underlying magical law that existed at the heart of Auradon.
"Now, understand, this is all theoretical. As part of the treaty agreement to house Hades on the Isle, the gods agreed to not use their powers unnecessarily. So, Hecate has to stay out of things." She sat down a bench and sipped her drink before furrowing her brow thoughtfully. "The dreams were the main clue. Lumiere said they felt too real, correct?"
He nodded as sat and rolled his empty paper cup between his hands. "Do you know what happens to a geyser when it doesn't erupt to relieve tension? That pressure builds, and it has no where to go until finally-" she smashed her cup in her fist, what was left of her drink shooting up to drench her hand and arm. "It will eventually explode and destroy everything around it."
He stared wide eyed at what her comparison was suggesting. "So, what I theorise happened is this: somewhere along the timeline of a future Auradon, the magical pressure has built up. It's gotten so severe that when someone used what I imagine to have been a primarily harmless time spell it turned the clock back. Most likely to the point of when the source came to Auradon."
"Source? What source?"
She shrugged. "Who's to say? Could be the source of the user, the spell, the stressor that caused it be cast and the list just goes on and on. Magic rarely uses deductive reasoning when going haywire."
"I suppose that makes sense." He observed her for a moment as she tried wiping off the milk and espresso concoction from her hand. "What do I do, though? If what your suggesting is true, somewhere down the line I have a very intense relationship with Mal. Does she know?"
"I wouldn't imagine so. She's just now getting in touch the virtually untapped magical undercurrent that exists off the Isle. Her senses are most likely going totally over whelmed. If she is having flashes, like you are, I doubt she's fully aware of what they are or what they could mean."
"What do you think I should do in the mean time?"
"Go along with it." She suggested. "When there's any sort interruption in the flow of time, like this, you want to avoid altering your path. It could have very drastic consequences."
"So, I had a dream that she's going to spell me." She signalled for him to continue. "A love potion."
"Phew!" She cut him a sympathetic look. "That's quite a whammy to be facing. I doubt it's a love spell. Most villains don't understand that love isn't something that can be made if real feelings aren't there in first place. Despite the name, it's probably more or less a lust spell with a dulling side affect that makes the victim prone to suggestion. Unless, but never mind that, actually. Would you hate it?"
"What?" He asked.
"Would you hate it?" She repeated. "I say, if you aren't against it, let it happen. The dreams are glances at our alternate timeline. And, no. We can't go back. Things are already different. Pretty sure the other you wouldn't have come here asking about magic and dream analysis."
She scowled at her surroundings for the second time that day. "You don't seem happy."
She raised her head and he saw the shadows in her eyes. "Very insightful, your highness. I ask you, how happy could one be when they can't be themselves?"
"But here you have so much freedom. You guys even get to learn about magic and not just stuff like how three fairies blessed a baby. I mean, we essentially only learn about the consequences of passed magical blunders. How's that helpful?"
She grunted, a thoroughly unladylike sound that he found a little refreshing coming from a royal. "It's a theoretical knowledge. We can't use it. How is that helpful? It's not." She gritted her teeth and wadded up the remnants of her cup to toss away. "It's maddening."
"Well, what would make you happy?"
"Real freedom." She subconsciously licked her fingers which still had obvious latte stains. "Freedom from my family. My life is just so simplistic and formulaic. Is it so wrong that I'd rather fight for my own slice of happiness than live a lie for someone else's?"
That question was still floating around his head when his family's limo was driving back to Auradon Prep. He was fortunate enough to want to be king, and want the same goals as his parents. Others, maybe even four villain kids, might not have been given the good fortune of enjoying the task their parents put before them.
Being the crowned prince, he couldn't enter the school unnoticed. "So, how was Olympus?" Luckily for him, he'd manage to make it to the main building just as his advanced goodness class was letting out. "I feel like we never see each other anymore. You're always distracted."
He let an exhausted smile pull at his lips. "I, ugh, didn't really get to see Olympus. I killed time at NTU. Ran into Helia."
Audrey and Chad both gave similar looks of confusion. "Herc's older sister. You remember the twins, Helia and Milos? They broke the water fountain in the south garden brawling over who could sneak out of Family Day last year."
Audrey's eyes sparkled with recognition. "Yes! I read in an article on Royal Watch that she cut her hair super short. Not a good decision." Her lips pulled into a distracted smile. "Milos, though. He's a bit of a catch."
Ben laughed nervously and said, "right. So, changing subject, what'd I miss in class?"
He hadn't missed anything, apparently. Fairy Godmother had called for a sub and they had watched a video about various ways to spot the difference between good fairies and bad fairies. He tuned them out relatively early after the first jab they'd made at Mal.
Distracted by the information he had received from Helia, he let them lead him through the halls. He wasn't sure when Chad had abandoned them, but he soon blinked in the afternoon light as Audrey and he left the building. He diligently passed Mal's graffiti'd locker and moved on to his own.
He knew when Mal had made her appearance not only because of Audrey's sudden frigid attitude, but also because he was fairly certain his ever growing crush was accompanied by a hypersensitivity to her. "Do you think they actually paid for those?" He nonchalantly turned toward the quad where the lessor princesses all greeted Mal enthusiastically. "I don't think that's the kind of thing they could get at a salon. The change is too drastic."
He shrugged and felt a chuckle tickle his throat at Mal's easy regard of her admirers and Jay's gleeful flirtation with the crowd. "She did it to Jane's hair, too. Fairy Godmother is not happy."
He considered the girls with a shrugged and asked, "what's the harm?"
Her eyes widened as if he'd said kicking puppies was his favourite hobby. "It's gate way magic! Sure, it starts with the hair, and then next thing you know it's the lips." Ben let the image of Mal's pouty lips flash through his mind. "Then it's the legs."
Now he was thinking about her legs. Legs that constantly teased him, encased in leather and distressed denim. He was half tempted to outright ask her if they were made of smooth porcelain like the rest of her.
"Then the clothes. Then everybody looks good," she paused to gasp as if this were a fate worse than death. "Then where would I be?"
He could think of two girls off the top of his head who wouldn't be falling down the horrific makeover rabbit whole the girl before him envisioned. "Listen, Audrey-."
She shook her head, and placed a finger over his lips. "Don't go there, Ben. I really need you to understand me right now." She paused and moved her hand to his cheek. "I feel like I'm losing you. I don't know what it is, or why it's happening, but this all feels so familiar. Like, I've already had to endure your distance before."
He blinked at her show of vulnerability. "If we continue down this path, honestly, where will I be?" She cut herself short and shook her head. "I have a dress fitting for your Coronation. I'll see you after, at the Tourney game. Bye, Bennyboo."
She gave him an air kiss, and turned abruptly. Her very real show of worry passed as quickly as it had come. He watched her go, uttering a confused farewell of his own.
A locker slammed behind him and he nearly forgot his concerns. "Hey, Bennyboo!"
Sighing, he turned. There she was, Mal, in all her teasing glory. Her jacket was far more suitable for the naturally warm atmosphere of Auradon, being made almost entirely of mesh and shorter so it rested just above her tiny waist. He often felt tempted to see if his hands could wrap all the way around it. To see if he could pick her up as easily as he thought he could was a constant, nagging desire whenever she was in his line of sight.
"Hey, Mal." He saw the scene and what followed play out like a rerun in the back of his mind. "What have you got there?"
Her eyes sparkled like they always did post magic use. He knew that was what caused such life in her, now. Fairies were more in tune with magic than mortals, Helia had told him. It was a part of their being. Using it was what was causing such a vibrant glow in her, as if she was touching a piece of pure unadulterated "her."
"I just made a batch of cookies." She held the plastic baggie up for his benefit. "Double chocolate chip. You want one?"
And he realised he didn't need the cookie to feel what she thought the magic would be the cause of, but he would play her game. If being him being under her spell led to her trust, he would be spelled a million times over in a million different ways. Letting her taunt him into grabbing the treat from her sneaky little hand, he felt more than a little giddy about the rush of love and devotion that would follow his first bite.
"How are you feeling, bro?"
He wanted to chuckle at Jay's obvious payback for being addressed by the term earlier that week, but he was too focused on the girl in front of him. "I feel like singing your name." He tore his eyes away from her face and looked up at a sky that had never seemed so blue. "Mal! Mal."
She put her hand over his mouth and he instinctively kissed her leather covered palm. Her eyes looked over him with a touch of wonderment. He met her gaze and suppressed the urge to playfully nip her hand, settling for a wink. His beast wasn't at all displeased with this development, feeling as if it could finally get a moment to shake out it's main and challenge the feisty dragon before him.
Helia had informed him that a "love" potion was more effective when real emotion was already there. It was like an electrical shock to his system. As if what he already felt was finally free of the boundaries that his relationship with Audrey had put it under. He was totally and unequivocally head over heels for the dark fairy girl, and he was going to let the whole school know it.
"So much for waiting until after the Coronation." He found Doug before heading onto the Tourney field. "Don't be alarmed when I break into a spontaneous song and dance number at some point during the game."
Doug was, as usual, unsurprised. "I don't think anyone is going to be caught off guard. The princesses and sidekick girls are already rooting for Mal. You haven't exactly been subtle. Well, more so than me, but that's only because you have this whole princely confidence that keeps you from following Mal around like the love sick puppy we know you are."
"You have no idea."
"What?" Ben shook his head and nervously fidgeted with his Tourney stick. "Never mind. I don't want to know. I want to be surprised."
Ben laughed, a strained sound as the dwarfish boy left him to join the band. He had a spring in his step, seemingly effected by the magic that was coming to life in Auradon after so many years. The air was alive with it, and thanks to Mal spelling him, he could feel it for the first time.
"I will win this game and break into an impromptu dance number to declare my love for the daughter of the woman who cursed the parents of the girl I have yet to breakup with." He took one last look at the signet ring on his finger before shoving his hand into it's glove. "Not ideal, but go big or go home."
With his mind set, he took a step out of the castle barracks that had been converted into the sports hall and began his walk to the Tourney field. Joining his team mates for the pregame show, he felt at ease and confident. Mal was there, behind him in the stands with Evie and Lonnie. Lonnie, who never failed to follow her heart, had seemingly decided to barrel into the Isle girls lives with the delicacy of a bull in a china shop.
"Go, Jay! Ow-ow, Carlos." He turned to see her whistle jokingly at her friend. "Go, Ben!"
Her cheer for him was just as enthusiastic as it had been for her friends. He locked eyes with her and bowed. She cocked her head curiously and gave a cheeky half curtsy in reply. He felt his chest swell and turned back to the field, ready for what was coming and all to excited to face the fight head on.
A/N: This story is sort of coming along faster than I thought. Hopefully my creativejuices keep flowing and the updates stay steady like this. As always, reviews are much appreciated and give me all kinds warm from this horrificallycheese
ball writer. Enjoy!
