CHAPTER 7: BEN

The line had gone quiet after Ben had raised his voice. For the first time since he's been with the daughter of Maleficent, he honestly felt frustrated with her. It wasn't only the relationship that was hurting him though. He couldn't blame it all on her.

Post coronation, things were quiet for a time. He was accepted as king by the public and most of the business was still handled by his father and Auradon's council, so no pressure to him. But it's been months now, and the school year would be over soon. The work load was beginning to pile up on the boy and had been keeping him from his personal life and most importantly, Mal. He knew it was hurting his better half, but he couldn't change it. Being king was not just his birthright, it was what he had wanted all his life.

"We'll be arriving shortly sir." The driver said over the car's speaker.

"Excellent, thank you." Ben said before releasing the call button. The young king was arriving at the northern tip of Auradon in the direction of Honeymoon Cottage in the Dominion of Honeymoon, home of Queen Aurora and King Phillip and home kingdom of his ex-girlfriend, Princess Audrey. The venture there was a part of his kingly duty, meeting the other rulers of the United Nations and discussing federal politics and blah blah blah. Ben had already met with Cinderella and Charming at the Castle of Dreams in Charmington last week. The two were kind and welcoming, unlike their pompous son, Chad. Ben was still hesitant in meeting the parents of his ex-girlfriend though, as whether he was king or not, seeing them after he had been with their daughter for over a year would be awkward nonetheless.

Honeymoon Cottage was a pastel pink and golden colored forty-room palace of a mansion at the end of a gorgeous blooming forest of green, blues and vibrant pinks. King Phillip, a tall handsome man, who looked younger than he really was, had straight, brunet hair, and golden brown eyes. Standing at the front of the mansion's entrance with his brightly dressed palace guards, he was waiting to welcome the king into his home.

"It is an honor King Ben. I haven't seen you since your, how can I say, eventful coronation." The older man chuckled.

"The pleasure is mine." Ben said splendidly. "Will Queen Aurora be joining us?"

Phillip drew his lips inward, his expression looking as if he were in pain. "The Queen is a bit under the weather at this time. Unfortunately she will not be joining us today." Phillip looked down when he said this. "Please. Shall we go to my study?"

"Yes please." Ben not wanting to ask anything more of the King of Honeymoon. They entered the mansion into the foyer. Escorted by baby blue coated palace guards, they climbed the white marble gold-trimmed stairs to the second floor and down the hall to Phillip's study. One of the guardsmen opened the door for the two royals. Phillip took a seat behind his hard wood desk. It was placed in front of a grand arch window that a magnificent view of the Dominion's flora and grand meadows.

"Honeymoon is as beautiful as always."

"I know you haven't been around in almost a year Benny but you know beauty is something we value greatly in the Dominion." Phillip proclaimed.

"I know. And It is very apparent. The beauty and fruitfulness of the Dominion's agriculture is of great value to Auradon Kingdom." Ben nod his head.

"Sounding so much like your father. You know King Ben, your parents always talked of getting a cabin up here. They then decided to obtain one in the Dwarf Woodlands instead."

"Not every forest has the entertainment of the dwarfs though, sir. One of their sons also happens to be a good friend of mine."

"Ah, Doug right? He's a charming one."

"He's certainly a character." Ben said.

"Well a boy as handsome and charismatic as yourself must keep quite the company." Phillip complimented the prince.

"You could certainly say that." Ben smiled. Thinking of the new friends he had made this year. "Now, shall we discuss the change in power? How is the Dominion and its people adjusting?"

Phillip was silent before looking at the guards. "Could you leave us?" He said to his equally handsome palace guards who had been watching over the two the whole time. They said nothing as they stepped outside of the office, closing the door.

"King Ben, may I be frank with you?" The handsome king of Honeymoon said now that the two were alone.

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Ben assured the older royal.

"Why did you break up with Princess Audrey?"

Ben instantly grew uncomfortably. "I'm sorry?" He couldn't really be being faced with such a question. Right?

"Why did you break up with my daughter?" Phillip repeated himself.

Trying not to sink into the wooden chair in embarrassment, Ben croaked "Sir, with all due respect. Does it matter?"

"Yes." Phillip said immediately. "In the Dominion, we value nothing more than beauty."

"Yes." Ben nodded like a small child being lectured. "Honeymoon being one of the most gorgeous places I've had the pleasure of laying my eyes on."

Phillip looked at Ben, his face resting atop folded hands. "Is my daughter not…beautiful enough?"

"That isn't the case. I assure you sir." Ben spoke quickly but honestly.

"Then what?" Phillip couldn't seem to grasp the concept of not wanting to be with someone based on anything other than looks.

Ben wouldn't tell this man how manipulative and cold his daughter could be. How her shallowness was a huge turn off. That would be something the older king would have to figure out for himself over time. "I simply love someone else more."

Phillip didn't seem to accept the answer, only looking at the young king with a wry expression .

"You know of my queen, Aurora. Yes?"

"Yes. Aurora, the Sleeping Beauty." Ben said, wondering where she was.

"I will be honest with you King Ben. She is more than ill. She hasn't been well in over six years." The King of Honeymoon said in a pained voice.

Ben's brown eyebrows furrowed. "I'm so sorry to hear that. May I ask what's ailing her?"

Phillip's eyes narrowed. He stood up, stepping behind his chair to face the window. "When Maleficent's curse was lifted, there was a calm in the kingdom for a time. After Audrey, my beautiful princess, was born, things took a turn in our household. Aurora had been struggling with narcolepsy after being awakened from her slumber. It was some sort of adverse effect of the curse as well as the spell of the three fairies."

"I had no idea sir. I thought the curse was gone for good after you slew Maleficent years ago."

"There is more your grace." Phillip looked back at Ben and said sternly. He faced the window again. "Around Audrey's 10th birthday, the queen had an episode. She happened to be going down the royal staircase when she passed out." Phillip said, his voice becoming noticeably weaker. "She hit her head and was hurt very badly. She was actually in a coma for a time." Ben could hear him sniffle. "We made sure to keep that from the public and as you can imagine, she hasn't been the same ever since."

Ben not knowing any of this, felt his stomach drop. He wondered if even his parents knew of the Queen of Honeymoon's condition. "Queen Aurora seemed so pleasant at the coronation. I had no idea."

Phillip let out a weak chuckle. "Some days are worlds better than others." He shook his head, then looked at Ben.

"Is there anything the Royal Kingdom can offer, King Phillip?"

Phillip turned back toward the younger noble now. He looked as if he was choking back tears. "We've tried doctors. We've even, despite the royal decree, tried the using Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather's magic to cure my queen, your grace." He confessed then clenching his fists. "All to no avail…"

"I'm so sorry." Ben said, now having to look down.

"That's why when Audrey had begun dating you, I figured things wouldn't stay so bad. She's coming from a home where things are so out of order, but she manages to nab herself a king-to-be…" Honeymoon's king chuckled weakly. "My girl's pretty strong huh?"

"She is." Ben nod, not knowing what the pastel princess had been going through.

"My Aurora may not be the same woman she was, but she would have a daughter who would rule all of Auradon someday." Phillip said with a hopeful smile. "Or so I thought." He suddenly added, and coldly.

"King Phillip, I am truly sorry for your queen's condition. But I'm disappointed to say, I'm not in love with Princess Audrey."

"But you are in love with the daughter of the woman who ruined my Queen's life? One who tried to kill us both?!" Phillip hissed. His eyes filled with anger.

"King Phillip, Maleficent's daughter should not have to take on her mother's burden."

"Ah yes, because she deserves the throne right? My daughter has trained since the day she was born to be betrothed to you." Phillip point a finger. "Only for you to throw her away!"

"You would have me marry someone I don't love?" Ben queried, disgusted at the notion.

"Of course! It would come in time. Only the most beautiful of girls deserves to be queen. Not some former psychopath who the Prince of Auradon decided to get the hots for!"

Ben squeezed the arms of the hardwood chair, seething in anger at how carelessly Phillip would speak of the girl he loved. "You are out of line!" He was unaware of the claw marks he was making as he dug his nails into the chair.

Phillip's eyes narrowed again. "You do not care for the people of Honeymoon. Do you, King Ben?"

"I care for all my subjects."

Phillip scoffed. "We are not your subjects. At least not anymore. Honeymoon will be resigning from its position in the United Nations and will once again be a sovereign nation as it was 20 years ago." He emphasized the word sovereign.

"You will break off from the United Nations just because your daughter will never be the royal queen?"

"No. Because Auradon puts villains and their spawn in higher positions of power than actual nobles and heroes." Phillip retorted surely.

"I'm sorry you feel that way. King Phillip." Ben said, trying to still show respect.

"Yes. It is a shame. Now King Ben, I'll have to ask you to leave and never return to the Dominion of Honeymoon."

Ben looked Phillip in the eyes. "Is this some sort of declaration of war?"

"No. One of independence from a tyrant." Phillip said now heading toward the bar on the side of the office. H poured himself a glass of what looked like rich brandy, a specialty in Honeymoon.

"Guards!" Phillip called and the crisply dressed sentries appeared through the doors again. "The King of Auradon will be leaving now." The handsome king kept his back to the younger noble. Ben stood, straightening his golden tie before he was escorted out of the office and down the halls to the grand staircase again. Now on the first floor in the foyer, he caught a glimpse of a ghostly now present Aurora standing up above behind a banister in a silk lavender robe. She seemed to be watching him.

"Is that the handsome Prince of Auradon?" She glided down the steps with ethereal grace. She stepped toward the prince and lightly pecked his cheek. "Is my daughter with you? Oh how we've missed her in Honeymoon. I worry about her in Auradon you know. But I know you're keeping her well." Her burgundy lips curved into a honey smile.

Knowing now what happened to the Queen, he couldn't break her heart now.

"She's back at the school Queen Aurora. She said she can't wait to see you and King Phillip again."

"You visited us without her?"

"I am the king of Auradon now your grace. Just doing my run."

She looked at the boy, who she's known all his life, doe-eyed. It seemed today she couldn't register just what time she was in.

"Rose!" Phillip cried from atop the stairs. He ran down the marble steps at alarming speed and embraced his wife. "Ben was just leaving my love. We won't be seeing him again for a long, long, long time." He said to her softly before glaring at the young king when her back was turned.

"Oh." Aurora said in her husband's arms. She seemed calm now, almost as if she were falling into a slumber.

"Don't you have somewhere to be? Benny?" Phillip said, hoping now that the King of Auradon would take his leave for good.

Ben nodded. Then bowed achingly but solemnly. He stepped out of the forty room cottage and got back in the royal limousine. In the backseat now, he took out his golden cased phone. Should he immediately tell his father of the mess he's made? Or shall he contemplate it himself on the ride back home?


I'm so sorry for how long this took! It was nearly done but I got caught up with other work and fics. Thankies so much for reading and review if you like. ;)