This is a bit of a shorter chapter. That's because, while I like Mal/Ben, I've never been particularly good at writing it because neither character spoke to me (I assure you, I am around 70% sane... maybe 50%, but sane is boring, so to heck with it!)

This is a Mal/Ben chapter for Ametuarwriterintraining.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

OOC BEN!


Someone told me stay away from things that aren't yours

But was he yours, if he wanted me so bad?

Pacify her

She's getting on my nerves

You don't love her

Stop lying with those words

Pacify her

She's getting on my nerves

You don't love her

Stop lying with those words

-"Pacify Her" by Melanie Martinez


Ben, the soon to be king of Aurodan, walks towards Mal in his blue and gold glory. His handsome face is turned towards the floor with a fake smile plastered across his face; she can tell its fake because the smile doesn't reach his eyes and barely shows any teeth. His arm is linked with Audrey's, and she grins in an almost obnoxious way.

Then, Ben sees Mal, and his face lights up.

"Mal," he greets, "how are you settling in here at Aurodan Prep?"

Mal shrugs. "Okay, I guess."

"That's-" Ben begins.

"I mean," Audrey interrupts, "we don't allow evil like the Isle of the Lost, but at least we have good food and great teachers."

Mal raises an eyebrow. "You do."

But at least the Isle didn't have you, Mal adds in her mind.

"Anyway," Audrey sing songs, "I have to get going. I'm helping to set up the coronation for soon to be king Ben. See you later, Bennie-Boo."

She pecks Ben on the cheek before sending a discreet glare at Mal and disappearing around the corner.

Mal stares at Ben and recognizes the raised eyebrows in an attempt to stop himself from rolling his eyes.

"Do you like cookies?" Mal asks as she withdraws a baggie from her pocket.

"Oh, sorry; I'll have to pass," he informs her. "I don't eat before a big game."

"You need to keep your energy up," Mal points out.

Ben shrugs. "Yeah, but-"

"No, I understand," Mal rushes to say. "Probably smart not to accept food from a villain."

Ben's eyes widen as he processes Mal's words.

Mal shrugs as she raises the cookie to her lips.

"More for me, I guess."

Ben snatches the cookie from Mal, and he takes a bite.

"See?" He says through a mouthful of food. "I totally trust you."

First phase of the plan: complete


Mal overhears the conversation shortly after their date at the lake.

"Bennie-Boo," Audrey stresses, "Chad is nice and all, but you're my one true love. Please forget about the villain girl."

"I love her," Ben corrects under the spell of the cookie (or is he?).

"Why?" Audrey whines. "She's an evil mean girl from the Isle of the Lost. She's dangerous, sneaky, and she's manipulating you into thinking she's good, but we all know she's not."

Why thank you, Mal thinks in a posh tone of voice

"I am a smart, beautiful, popular princess that deserves you much more than her!"

Geesh, she's whiny, Mal muses. Somebody forget to take their nap?

"No, you don't, Audrey!" Ben snaps. "You're selfish, whiney, and narcissistic! I was willing to overlook all of that, but I am not willing to overlook you bashing a person who is obviously a better person than you!"

The cookie didn't make Ben say that, Mal realizes. The cookie makes him love Mal, but it doesn't change his personality.

Mal doesn't know that Ben is no longer under the spell. The cookie wasn't even a factor in the equation. Ben's love for Mal, along with his words to Audrey, were all him.

Way to pacify the big baby, Ben, Mal thinks before sneaking away.


Mal hears them again after the coronation.

"Ben, she tried to destroy Aurodan!" Audrey is saying.

"She also saved it!" Ben points out.

"So that makes up for nearly destroying our home?"

"In my book, it does," Ben decides. "Besides, Mal was finally starting to become good before you and your grandmother turned sour on her. Carlos, Evie, and Jay told me that she was doubting the plan and was likely going to back out before parents day."

"Can you blame us?" Audrey demands. "Her mother is Maleficent."

"So? Your mother is Aurora, and you are not kind, gentle, wise, or anything like your mother. You're a bitter girl who loves deceiving people. Besides, what do you have against Mal? She's the child of a villian? I'm dating her and not you? I saw you dancing with Jay. I'm not jealous, and if you haven't noticed, he's the child of a villain, too. You're just bitter because I know who you really are now, and Mal has known from the beginning."

Ben strolls around the corner and nearly runs into Mal, who calmly holds out her hand to the shocked king.

"Way to pacify her, Ben," she says.

Ben grins as he takes her hand.

"I'm not typically rude, but she had it coming."

Mal laughs. "That is something we both know."


See you next time.