14
Audrey turned the second Maleficent spotted her. If she was going to help anyone fight against the woman, she needed to not be caught. Especially, she thought, not by Evie. Did Mal even know her mother and her best friend were together? Or that they were discussing her wedding?
It didn't sound like itt. But one way or another, she would need to warn her own mother. If she was going to come to the wedding, that was fine. But she would need to be protected if Maleficent planned to attend. And Audrey herself would do her best to get close to the woman who had caused her family so much trouble until the guards could get there—or at least until Maleficent messed up. And she knew that meant going back and making things right with her. But wait—was that Mal? Yes, it looked like her. But to add to her list of surprises for the day, she was with Cruella.
She slowly approached them, careful not to let Mal see her. They were talking, and to her dismay, it didn't sound like a plot against Auradon. But that meant nothing. Maleficent was the worst villain, but Cruella was, in a way, the most manipulative. And two could play the manipulation game.
Mal was speaking. "Now of course, I know dogs are a stretch. Or… any animals in a way. But there's likely to be one when we make an entrance. So I would ask only that you try to move past it. Please? I'd really like that."
Cruella stared at her, clearly struggling with the idea. "Maybe… for that one day."
Mal shook her head. "No. This isn't a one day occasion. If you want to make things right, you have to work for it. Nobody here is going to hand you anything. Now I'm all for maybe something new on certain days, but… it has to be earned."
Audrey nodded, moving around Mal to face the two. "It's true. No one in Auradon would ever deny anything to anyone who worked for it. She's going to be a queen after all, and look how things started out for her! It's perfect."
Mal turned on her, her eyes narrowed. "Are you stalking me?"
Audrey smiled sweetly at her. "Of course not. I just thought if you would let me it couldn't hurt to have someone on the good side helping you. She needs guidance Mal. Not to be told what to do but to be shown the proper way to do it."
Cruella stared at her, her eyes wide. "I like this one Mal. She's… different."
Mal nodded. "Uhh, yeah. She is. And she hates me. Her mother's Sleeping Beauty, so…"
Audrey frowned. "I don't hate you, I just don't exactly like you. And that's not your fault. Well technically it is, but you don't believe that."
Mal scowled and turned, walking away from her as she refused to start trouble, Cruella watching her go. "What did you do to her?"
Audrey sighed. "More like what she did to me. Princess Audrey, of course. It should be my wedding everyone's planning for. But it's not. She's a boyfriend stealer. And you know, we were going to have such a good relationship. Don't be surprised when she turns against you. Because one wrong move or little exposed flaw, and she will. I promise you that."