Mal went off to a quiet corner to disappear for a while. Az's party was not where she wanted her past to be shone to the world. Well to her new world. She needed to talk to someone, anyone who would understand. She called, Evie, no answer. Same for Jay and Carlos. She tried Harriet as well. Finally the only one who answered, Freddie.
"It's Freddie, talk to me."
"Freddie, Mal."
"Hey Mal how are you? Something wrong?"
"Maybe. I know we weren't the greatest of friends back home, but well…I want to change that, you know that right."
"Yeah, me too. What's up? You sound down. Fight with King Benny bear?"
"NO. Look I don't want to talk on the phone, where are you?"
"My room at school why, where are you?"
"Agrabah, but well….I can be there in a minute." Mal hung up, texted Ben she had a headache and was going to lie down, and popped away to the school.
"How did you…? Cool trick." Freddie pointed out.
"Thanks."
"So why the long face?"
So Mal explained everything to Freddie, the trip into the past with Ben, their fight, taking Belle, and now sharing pictures of her room with the royals.
"I can see why you are freaked out. That stinks. I…I want to meet Tiana and Neeven, but I am scared to death."
"I can arrange that, you know?"
"I do. It's just scary."
"Their daughter starts school in the fall. Teegan."
"Yeah, I know that too. I figured if you, Evie, Jay and Carlos could get to know the kids of the people your parent hurt, I could too. But well….I want to meet her parents first. Let them know….I am not my father, you know."
"Are you coming with Harriet to Chad's party?"
"Are you kidding, yes. We get to leave campus, of course."
"Ok. They should be there, I will make it happen."
"Thank you Mal."
"No thank you Freddie. You made me see that I have to leave the past behind. I have made my peace with where I came from, and well if they believe it or not, it was what it was. Time to move forward. And I happen to know Tiana and Neeven would love to meet you."
"That actually makes me feel a little better. I just want them to know Teegan is safe here, you know."
"I know. I had better get back. Oh and this visit, never happened. Not many people know I can pop in and out like this, and that's not something Fairy Godmother wants out."
"I got it. And Mal. Even though you came to me for help, you helped me."
"We helped each other. Kind of how things work around here."
"I like around here."
"Me too. Just the way it is."
"Mal?"
"Yes."
"Thanks for stopping your mom, and adding me to the list. I know it was because Dad was here, but well, thanks."
"I would have put you on the list first Freddie, your father controlling my brain or not." Mal joked and popped away to her room at the Palace in Agrabah.
"I came to check on you." Belle said to Mal as she appeared in front of her. "You ok?"
"I needed to talk to someone who would understand. Funny thing was only Freddie answered her phone. But we had a nice talk. She…She wants to meet Tiana and Neeven."
"We can arrange that." Belle said pulling the young fairy into a hug. "I am so sorry I did that here, today of all days."
"I knew sooner or later that would all come out. Yes, Aziz's party wasn't really the place, but well it's out there. I have accepted that my past was what it was. I am who I am because of it. I don't want to go back there, and I sure as heck never want that to spread. I will fight to keep that from happening."
"Good to hear. Ok, so ready to go back to the party?"
"I need a few minutes to freshen up."
"Sure." Belle kissed Mal's cheek and left her alone. Mal was about to head back to the party when she thought of a memory she wanted to see if it was how she remembered it. She said her spell and headed into her past. She stood in her house on the balcony that looked out towards Auradon, staring at her mother, holding her closely. "The fate of the entire plan rests on your shoulders, don't blow it kiddo." Her mother said. Mal stayed behind and stared at Auradon. "MAL!" Her mother barked at her. She followed her down the stairs, as Maleficent continued to hound her. "You will start as soon as possible practicing your magic. You will feel it as soon as you are away from the barrier. Evie's mirror will be active at the same time. As soon as you can, look for the wand. Get to it as soon as possible! And find a way to contact me, and let me know when I can expect to get off this Hell hole. I need to be free. Being caged up is driving me nuts."
"I understand mother."
"Do not take what they tell you as truth, they are all out for themselves, they are selfish and conceited. Watch your back. Oh and if you see Aurora and her family, let me know, they will be the first to go after KING BEAST." Mal watched her mother's face as she made her promise to actually kill someone. Well she would have killed Aurora if it wasn't for the Good Fairies. There was no doubt in her mind that her mother meant what she said, Adam, Belle, Ben and Audrey's families would be dead if she had given her mother that wand.
Mal returned to the present, washed her face, and went back to the party. She found Belle and the other ladies talking, and she smiled knowing how different life here could be if she had made one choice, one bad choice. She looked over at the kids, her friends. They were playing water games. Mal pulled up a chair, near the pool and watched.
