Sorry I haven't updated in a bit-I ended up going to D23 Expo and it was awesome, and I've been The Man from UNCLE trash ever since the movie came out (even if I have no ideas for fics there). I swear that if I just watch more Disney movies I'll have more of a muse. I'm already like halfway done with the story I swear.

Heart of the Dragon

Chapter 6

In the fall, Evie would be studying Fashion Design, Carlos was taking up Physics at the University of Auradon, and Jay would be a Dance major at Auradon State University.

But Mal hadn't applied for college—Ben wasn't going due to his duties as King. And for some reason, that made Mal think she shouldn't go, either. Like she was… expecting something from him.

Crazy to think, but… she had no plan. Her only hope was that something came up over the summer.

That would have to wait until after she destroyed her mother's staff, of course.

Telling the guys had been easy enough. Other than Carlos' bug eyes and Jay's teasing, they'd agreed to help Mal in any way they could. More strength in numbers, they all knew that after the last time they'd faced Maleficent.

Telling Ben brought a sinking feeling to her stomach. Mostly because he could reject her, could tell her he never wanted to see her again…

She had to think optimistically about this, too.

If only the Enchanted Castle didn't look so imposing with its vast stone statues and impressive walls as Mal knocked on the huge door.

A portly British man—Cogsworth, Mal remembered—met her with a stoic face. "Ah, yes. Miss Mal. Here to see His Royal Highness, I assume?"

"It's urgent," Mal stated bluntly, knowing that the old clock cleaner didn't think of her too fondly.

"Yes, well, His Majesty might be busy. Care to wait in the sitting room, Miss?"

"That'd fine." Mal followed him through the grand foyer, with its huge staircases and looming portraits, into the sitting room, which had a lovely fire going before the large chair.

If Mal didn't know any better, she'd think Ben's father was compensating for something with the sheer size of everything in the Enchanted Castle, inside and out.

Then again, Mal was pretty sure nothing about the former Beast could suggest that.

Mrs. Potts, pushing a cart, approached Mal, who settled in the chair, letting it almost swallow her up. The fire, along with the cushiness of the huge chair, already made her feel incredibly comfortable. "How would you like a nice spot of tea, Miss?" the old maid asked cheerfully, already pouring Mal a cup.

"Oh… yes, thank you—"

"Mal?" Well, that was fast. Mal took her cup from Mrs. Potts and took a sip before standing.

"Hey," she greeted casually with a smile, realizing she hadn't actually seen Ben in over a week.

"Cogsworth brought you into the wrong room again," he sighed, dismissing Mrs. Potts with a friendly wave.

"It's really cozy in here. Another minute and I might have fallen asleep," Mal pointed out with a shrug, running her hand over the back of the chair in which she'd just sat.

"And that's my father's favorite chair," Ben replied, pointing to the chair with a chuckle.

"Ah." Quickly Mal withdrew her hand. Cogsworth hadn't wanted to get her in trouble… had he?

"I see you're feeling better," said Ben, wrapping an arm around Mal's shoulders before leading her out of the room.

"Um, yeah… I just want to talk to you in person." Mal pulled the hood of her scarf lower down her forehead with her free hand, just to be sure Ben couldn't see her bangs yet.

"I like your bangs," he pointed out after a moment, pulling her closer as they made their way toward the East wing.

"I did them myself." Mal shrugged, twirling a strand of her violet hair around her finger.

"Just wanted a change in style?" he asked, opening a large door.

"Something like that." Mal nodded, stepping inside.

And it truly took her breath away. Mal wasn't a reader like Ben and his mother, but just the sight of so many books in one place made her eyes widen.

Mal wasn't here to read, though. Gulping down the rest of her tea, she hoped to find more courage to tell Ben what was going on with her. She set the empty cup down on a table adorned with a lamp.

"This is a surprise—usually I'm the one calling on you. But I'm happy you're here. Gets my mind off of the boring duties." Ben sat Mal down on a comfortable sofa, greeting her with a proper kiss now that they were alone.

Nope, kisses never got old. Especially when Ben smelled so clean and his lips were so soft…

When Ben pulled away, he asked, "So… what's up?"

Best to just get it over with, like ripping off a Band-Aid. "I'm gonna show you something. Promise you won't freak?"

"About what?" Ben chuckled, taking Mal's hands in his own.

Slowly Mal took one of her hands from his and pulled the scarf back from her forehead, not looking Ben in the eye just yet. "This is why we haven't been hanging out," she explained. "I haven't been sick. These things started growing on top of my head and I couldn't ask my mother, because… well, she kind of escaped." Mal cringed, waiting for Ben to fume at that.

But he just cringed as well. "You're looking for her, though, right? She can't do any harm in this form, yeah?"

"Yes, of course we're looking!" Mal assured, nodding vigorously. "The scepter is secured in the museum and my mother has no allies here in Auradon. But I talked to the Three Good Fairies, and they said if I don't willingly destroy my mother's scepter at the Forbidden Mountain, I'm doomed to be evil and a dragon—it's forged in my blood."

Instead of looking enraged, Ben looked… disappointed as his brows creased upward. He held Mal's hands tighter. "Why didn't you just tell me, Mal? Did you think I would push you away?"

"Well… yeah." Mal shrugged. "I'm already in pretty terrible graces with your father. I thought this would throw you over the edge."

"No, Mal, not at all—you don't think you're doing this alone, do you?"

"I'm going with Evie and Carlos and Jay. We just need to find safe passage through the roughest waters," Mal explained. No matter what, she had to keep Ben safe, by warning him.

"No, no, no, no, no, you don't think you're going without me, do you?" Ben snickered.

Mal scoffed. "Yeah, there's no way in hell you're getting permission from your parents. And you've got all your duties as King… I can't drag you away from all that, or endanger you."

"And that can all wait," Ben assured, squeezing her hands again. "Besides, I'm always up for a big adventure—you know, like the ones our parents always brag about going on? We are doing this together."

By the look in his eyes, there was no dissuading Ben from changing his mind. So Mal sighed. "Fine, fine." She rolled her eyes. "You're impossible, you know that?"

"You love me, anyway," he stated matter-of-factly, pressing their foreheads together.

"And you love me—horns and all?" Wasn't like Mal was denying it or anything.

"Horns and all." He nodded.

After a moment, Mal looked down at her lap. "If you could find us a way to get out there, that's make everything a lot easier," she murmured.

"I will, I promise. I'm going to help you out in every way I can."

"Thank you." With that, Mal slowly stood. This had to be a quick visit; there was no time to waste with everything that could happen. "I really want to stay, but there's a lot to prepare."

"Oh! Of course." Quickly Ben stood as well, and Mal pulled her scarf back over her head. "I'll just show you out and call you later?"

"Please." Mal took Ben's arm and reached up to ruffle his hair. It always looked so much better with a few strands sticking up. "Tell me the second you find a way to get out there."

"Your wish is my command." He winked. Before Mal knew it, they were back in the huge foyer, at the door.

Ben left her with a parting kiss, right there where anyone could see. Not that Mal cared. She liked it when Ben disobeyed the rules a bit.

"I love you," he murmured as they parted.

"Love you, too," Mal replied with a soft smile, finally letting go of him.

Mal noticed Ben's gaze on her more intense than usual, like he was contemplating another issue?

"What?" she asked, unable to hide her smile.

"Nothing," he replied after a moment, shaking his head. "I'll tell you later."

"O-kay, then." Slowly Mal started to make her way out of the castle. "I'll see you later."

This was the first time, she realized, that she was smiling since graduating.

It wasn't the right time to ask, Ben ultimately decided. Maybe after their quest? But who knew what would happen when they got to the Forbidden Mountain?

During the journey. At sea.

And he knew just who should take them out through those dangerous waters.

"Was that Mal?" Belle asked, peeking out from her office. "She stayed so briefly…"

And Ben knew why now. Mal didn't want his parents to chew her out. She was scared of what this predicament could do to her.

So she needed him now more than ever, even if she couldn't entirely admit it.

"She just wanted to explain her ailment," Ben explained, siding next to Belle. "Will you walk with me, Mother?"

"Of course," Belle agreed, falling in step with her son. "What's on your mind?"

So Ben explained the whole thing—why Mal hadn't been seeing him, her mother's curse, what she needed to reverse it and where.

"Mother, all I want to do is help her. You know how much she means to me. And the fact that she wants to stop her evil upbringing only shows her change," Ben concluded, threading Belle's arm through his own. "Surely we could procure a ship to take us through those waters, right?"

Belle sighed, fixing her curls over her shoulders. Adam would have just dismissed the issue and would never let Ben go, but Belle sympathized more with his plight, even if this was an incredibly ambitious and dangerous mission. This was exactly the type of adventure she used to fantasize about, Ben remembered, before she stumbled across the Enchanted Castle and the Beast that resided in it.

That, and she knew, no matter what, Ben would find a way to join Mal.

"I could call in a favor with Ariel," Belle finally decided. "It's only for a few weeks—your father and I can reign during that time. And gods know that family is always up for something active. Your father will protest this whole thing, of course, but… I know you. It's not going to matter whether he agrees or not, is it?"

"Not a chance," Ben laughed, pulling his mother in for a hug. "Thank you. I'm glad you know how much this means to me. You can even throw a homecoming when we get back, even."

If everyone remained optimistic, maybe—just maybe—it would all work out.

So I just dropped a big hint at which characters are gonna play a pretty big role for the rest of the story. Mostly because... well, there's a canon descendant I actually like there.

Next chapter: It's the morning the gang finally leaves on their quest. Carlos feels like he might have just met his soul mate, and Mal... well, Mal's acting stranger than usual.

Till then,

~Eliza