When she woke up, Ben was gone. The warmth on her skin was caused by the sun shining through the large windows. Mal thought back to the events that had just occurred just moments ago. For the first time in nearly five years Mal used her magic for dark purposes. She didn't care what others had to say, or what they thought. She was the queen. It was her duty to protect her people; the ends justified the means. She doubted, that anyone, other than the Charmings, would oppose to what she did. Mal threw the sheets off of herself, her hands seemed to instinctually fall to her protruding stomach, her hands ran up and down, inside she felt her son move around. She smiled. Taking a deep breathe, Mal moved her legs over the side of the bed and wrapped the silk lavender robe around her, then walked towards the door.

She arrived in the small kitchen area, Adam and Belle were sitting around the small white round marble table, enjoying their breakfast of chocolate-chip pancakes. Mal smiled at the two, thinking of how to tell the people who had opened their home and arms to her that she had used her magic for vengeance. Mal opened her mouth, fully intending to spit out what she had done when Ben walked through the same door she had. She turned her head, and saw his face. Stern. Belle and Adam saw his face too, and they stiffen in their chairs.

"Mom, Dad," Ben said not taking his eyes off of his pregnant wife, "do you mind if I borrow Mal for a moment?" Mal looked at her husband. She could count on one hand the times Ben had been upset with her in the five years she had known him, the last being the night she gave up her magic. He knew. Mal turned her head towards her in-laws and gave a weak smile.

"Don't eat all those," she said lightly, "your grandson is hungry." The two smiled and nodded. Mal lowered her head and walked outside the door.

She followed Ben through the corridors, the long dark wood hallways and then to the door to their bedroom. Ben held the door open, not saying a word. Mal strutted into the room, bracing herself, ready to fight. Ben closed the door lightly. Mal started talking before Ben had even fully turned to face her.

"I know you're mad, and you have every reason to be, I used my magic for vengeance because I was so furious over everything. And I know that now the Council will want us to step down, and—,"

"Thank you," Ben said just loud enough for Mal to hear. Mal's shoulders fell, her eyes squinted together.

"What?" she asked. Ben bit his bottom lip and looked down at this feet. He walked over towards Mal, and wrapped his hands around hers'. He looked into her eyes, and she saw that his held sorrow she had never seen.

"Thank you, you kept me from making a horrible choice." Ben's voice began to break. Mal put her hands on either side of his face and looked into his eyes. They were red, he was losing the battle to keep back the tears.

"Baby, what are you talking about?" Mal asked, her voice ringing with concern. Ben opened his mouth to say something, but a sob broke out before he could utter a word. He sat down on their bed and hid his face in his large hands. Mal stood in near shock for only a split second, before rushing over to him. She wrapped her arms around her husband. She began to rock him gently.

"I was going to kill them," Ben finally chocked out. Mal's eyes grew wide. Never, in her wildest dreams, would she have ever imagined Ben uttering those words. She looked at her husband, his face raw and red.

"What," Mal asked quietly, wiping the tears from his face. Ben shook his head.

"I was going to order their execution," he blurted out, "I know the death penalty doesn't exist here, but I was going to do it anyway. I was going to kill them, then send the rest back to the isle." Ben admitted.

Mal sat there, not entirely sure what to say to Ben. She wasn't scared or mad, the thought had crossed her, and even after she had turned them all into weak animals. To her, wishing death, even seriously considering killing people wasn't new to her. God help the bitch who broke her son's heart when he started dating.

But Ben, that was something different. He was true and pure goodness.

"After what they did to you, Ben," Mal started, "it's perfectly natural to want to—,"

"It's not what they did to me," Ben said firmly. "It's what they did to our people. It what they did to Lonnie and her family, to Doug, to Evie," his voice broke again, "what they did to you. I can and have forgiven them for what they did to me, but I will never forgive them for what they put my people through, or what they did to you." His voice was angry.

Mal kissed his cheek and put her head in the crook of his neck and shoulder. They sat there, not talking, just sitting, and holding one another. After a while Ben leaned down and kissed the top of Mal's head.

"I don't think I could do any of this," Ben said softly, "if you were not by my side." Mal looked up at him, and she smiled.

"We have been through a freighting time, but it's over. All of us, everyone in the kingdom is still grieving, and some may grieve longer than others. But, we will all get pass this. The threat is gone, and there is nothing left to fear. And if I have learned anything from you, it's that through hardships we come out stronger than we were before." Ben smiled down at Mal, and kissed her gently.

"I love you, my Queen," Ben whispered.

"And I love you, my King," Mal responded, returning the kiss. She knew that as long as they were together, they would be safe. That their love was stronger than any force on Earth. She was sure that one day all would be well, a true happily ever after.

In a realm, far from Auradon, hidden in dark and bleak forest, each inch covered in thick fog stood a castle made entirely out of black stones and dark wood. The air was silent, and no animal dare make a sound. Inside the castle of black stood a stranger who Mal had never met. They were clad head to toe in an otherworldly black material, diamonds and rubies embedded into a fine chest piece. The high collar made of greenish-black feathers fell into a long cape made of the same feathers. They ran their hands across the large crystal ball, they bent over to get a better look at the scene unfolding a realm away. The being smiled wickedly, before turning away, walking towards a high thrown made of cruel looking vines and decorated with the bones of small magical creatures. The being sat comfortably in their throne, the smile still spread across their face.

"You have much left to fear, little sister," it said softly before cackling madly into the dark empty room.