It was a bright day in Auradon and everyone was going about their business. Shop keepers were running their shops, workers were working hard and students were studying. And finally, last but not least, the King of Auradon and his Lady were hauled up in his office trying to work through some papers.
"These reports just don't add up." Ben muttered to Mal. "How does this even work?"
Mal leaned over and looked at the report. "You have the pages mixed up. And this one doesn't belong to those reports." She said, looking up at him, her eyebrow raised. As realisation struck him, Ben nodded slowly.
"Right. I knew that." He said, reorganising the pages
Mal looked at him a bit sadly, "Ben, you're obviously exhausted. Maybe you should call it a day."
"I can't 'call it a day', Mal. I'm the King and my work is never done. The only reason I can take days off is because..."
"You're the king but are still a teenager so it's understandable." Mal finished. "Ben, this report isn't due till next week. You've finished all of this week's work already. Take the afternoon off and you can get back to work tomorrow."
"We have a council meeting in an hour." Ben argued, looking her in the eye. Mal's shoulders drooped slightly.
"I know, but you've done loads of work today. Including all the homework that was piling up."
Ben shrugged. "Still a student."
"Still a student who works way too hard." Mal countered. "Come on, your stress levels will be through the roof if you don't relax for a few hours."
Ben sighed. "Fine. But if I get called away..."
"You can go back to work. Seriously, Ben. You work too hard. Nothing is going to happen just because you take an hour or so off."
Ben nodded. "Yeah, you're right. Okay, fine. I'll stop for today."
Mal smiled and began clearing up, Ben following suit.
Just as they walked out of the office, Evie came charging in. "Oh, good. You guys are here!" She said, a little out of breath. "It's an emergency."
Ben bent down and quickly whispered in Mal's ear, "This is why I don't take time off." He then looked back up at Evie. "What's the emergency?" he asked her, his voice at his normal volume.
"Maleficent has escaped."
Three words send the world crashing down around their ears.
"How?" Mal asked. "She's a tiny lizard, there is no way she could get out of that cage."
"The cage was broken." Evie said. "It's shattered on the floor and among that I saw this."
It was a picture of the Core Four at Ben's coronation, ripped in two with a message scrawled on the back containing Mal.
I'm baaaaack!
-Time skip-
The council meeting was in uproar. Everyone was in panic and yelling on top of each other.
"Order!" Ben was yelling to know avail.
"Will everybody just shut up and sit down! Panicking is not going to make her go away!" Mal yelled, finally snapping.
Everyone immediately quieted down and returned to their seats.
"Ben, you were saying?" Mal said, gesturing for Ben to go on.
"Thank you Mal." He replied before turning back to the council. "As I was saying, Maleficent has broken free but that is no reason to cause an uproar. We must remain calm so that the people are also calm."
"So they're going to have no idea that Maleficent is among us?" Queen Leah demanded, standing up.
Mal stood up as well, gently leaning on the table. "If we tell the people, it would cause a mass panic. That's exactly what Mother wants. She wants fear. It makes her feel more powerful."
"I see you still call her 'Mother'." Queen Leah sneered.
"That is not what is relevant here!" Ben said, jumping in. "Mal, continue what you were saying."
"Thank you. Now if you would kindly resume your seat, I have a few words to say."
Queen Leah sat down, her nose in the air while Mal straightened her back and looked over at the council. "We don't inform the people. That would cause mass panic. We need as much calm as we can muster to get this situation under control. That's why this information does not leave this room. No friends. No family. No one must know. You've all been informed because of the King's trust in you. You keep the people of Auradon safe and have safety protocols to put into action if the situation calls for it. But it is vital that we remain calm and as soon as there is a sighting, no matter how small, you immediately contact Castle Beast."
Mal sat down again, looking over at Ben. Ben nodded with a smile before addressing the council. "Lady Mal is right. Listen to what she has told you."
"So as soon as we spot Maleficent, you'll just come over and do your 'Power of evil is good as none,' thing?" Li Shang inquired.
Mal shook her head. "I'm afraid it'll be more complicated than that. Maleficent broke the original spell in some way that wasn't learning to love, meaning she would be resistant to it, no matter how powerful me and my siblings love for each other is."
Ben reached over and took her hand under the table, squeezing in reassurance.
"Any more questions?" Ben asked, addressing the council. No one said anything, all looking a little lost. "Meeting adjourned."
As everyone left, Mal turned to Ben, looking almost frightened. They left the room and as soon as they were in private, Mal burst into tears. Ben wrapped her in a hug and held her there.
"Hey, hey. It's going to be okay. We'll find a way."
"But Ben, power of four won't work again and I don't know if I can beat her."
Ben nodded. "I know. Which is why you won't face her."
Mal immediately stopped sobbing and pulled back, looking at him while her tears still streamed out of her face. "What?"
"I won't let you face her. I can't risk losing you. You said it yourself, you may not be powerful enough."
"But I know my mother inside and out." Mal argued. "I was raised by her, I know her ways!"
"Then you'll know that you're the first she'll come after! I'm not going to lose you Mal."
"You won't! I've beat her before, I can beat her again!"
"You said it yourself, Mal! You can't! You'd need to find another way."
"So I will!" Mal persisted.
Ben shook his head. "No. I'm not losing you." He then pushed her into the room behind her and shut the door, locking it with his master key.
"Let me out!" Mal said, pounding on the door.
"I'm sorry, Mal." Ben said, resting his head and hands against the door, sounding broken and on the verge of tears. "But I won't lose you."
"Ben please!" Mal cried out, her voice shattered. It broke Ben's heart to do that to her but he had to. It was the only way to keep her safe. The only thing he could do was whisper that he was sorry and walk away, trying to block out the sound of her pleading.
Mal collapsed onto the floor by the door. She wasn't a damsel in distress, in need of protecting and saving. But Ben was right. With her locked up, Maleficent will have a harder time finding her, giving them more time to find a way to beat her.
Evie came by later and knocked on the door. "Hey, M? It's Evie."
"Hey E." Mal's voice came from inside the room. "Have you found anything yet?"
"No. I just came to check on you. You know this is for your own good?"
"Yeah. Locking up your best chance is a great idea by the way."
"Mal, if you're out and about, she will find you easier. And we're a bit afraid that you'll go off to find her yourself."
"I would." Mal agreed. "Because this is my fight."
"No, Mal. It's not. It's all of ours."
"Then, why am I the only one locked up?"
Evie sighed. "Because you'll go after her. And we don't want to risk losing you. And once we figure out a plan..."
"I'm the bait. I know."
"I'm sorry, M."
"Don't be. You're not the one who shoved me in here and locked the door."
"Ben is just-"
"Trying to protect me, I know. Trust me, I know. Ever since Cotillion, he's never done anything but try to protect me. And show me all the love he can."
Evie smiled. "You're lucky, you know? He really does love you."
"I know." That was all Mal said and no more was said after that so Evie took that as her cue to leave.
Mal sat in her room for what felt like hours. A meal was briefly shoved in but it lay untouched. As the night came, Mal sat on the windowsill, staring out into the inky blackness that covered the earth. She slept on and off, unable to rest enough to sleep properly. It seemed ridiculous, locking her up when she was an important part of the plan but when loved ones are in danger, people do crazy things. They'll realise they need her and let her out again. She knows they will. She watched at the sun rose and ignored the breakfast that was pushed in quickly, the door locked immediately behind it.
Ben returned later on that day, the master key in hand. "Mal?"
"I'm still here, if that's what you're wondering."
"I'm so sorry, Mal. But I need you to stay in here. Maleficent has been spotted nearby and we think she's after you. I'm going to unlock the door but promise me, if you leave this room, it's to run. You won't fight."
"Ben, I'm your best bet."
"Well, I'd rather not lay your life on the line. I'm not risking losing you. I've nearly lost you too many times."
Mal sighed. "I know. But-"
"Mal, please. Just promise me this. You will leave here to run only."
"Fine. I promise. Just be careful. Please."
Ben unlocked the door. He opened it and walked in, heading straight to Mal who was sat on the window sill.
"I will be." He whispered before kissing her hard. "I love you."
"I love you too." Mal whispered back.
Screams were heard throughout the castle and Ben ran out, running toward the commotion. Mal heard a booming evil laugh that chilled her to the bone. Mal did what Ben said. She ran. But not away. She ran towards the commotion. When she reached it, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Ben and many guards stood against Dragon Maleficent who was batting them with her tail.
"I've said this once and I will say it again! LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!" Mal surged forward and turned into a dragon herself. She roared at her mother and they began a claw fight. Mal was much smaller than Maleficent and was nearly crushed to death. Blood oozed out of her wounds while her friends all cried out to her.
Mal took off to the sky and Maleficent followed, biting and scratching the whole time. They roared and blew fire at each other and bit and scratched till Maleficent let out a triumphant roar and knocked Mal out of the sky. Mal crashed to the ground and purple smoke surrounded her, turning her back to her original human form, still covered in wounds.
"Mal!" Ben cried out, running towards her. He reached her and collapsed on his knees next to her. Evie, Jay and Carlos had fallen way back and had no way of getting to them as Maleficent landed in front of them. "Don't die on me, Mal. Don't die on me."
"See what love gets you?" Maleficent, now in human form, declared as she stood over Ben and Mal.
"Stay away from her." Ben growled, cradling Mal's head gently.
"Nothing." Maleficent continued. "Love is weakness."
"No." said a weak voice. "It's strength." Mal's eyes opened and she shakily sat up. "And just because you know no love, it doesn't make it a bad thing."
Maleficent turned into a dragon again and began staring Mal down, determined to beat her as she knew the effort would kill Mal.
Mal stared her mother right back and began chanting. "The power of evil is good as none when united hearts stand as one." She stood up, holding on to Ben who was just gaping at her. He stood up with her, keeping her steady as she chanted and turned his head to stare Maleficent down as well. Suddenly, in a poof of magic, Evie, Jay, Carlos, Doug, Lonnie, Jane, and even Chad and Audrey were stood next to them. Evie, who had heard the chant immediately started linking hands with Mal and Doug. As everyone grabbed each others hands, Mal felt a surge of strength go through her. The commotion with Maleficent didn't go unnoticed and soon many people were by Mal's side, linking hands with each other. No one was sure how they got there, whether it was magic or they came to help. But everyone stood together as Mal chanted as loud as she could. But she still wasn't winning. Maleficent nearly had her pinned down. And then, out of nowhere, another voice joined Mal. It was Jane. Soon followed by Jordan. And after that, anyone who had magic. Mal's voice got louder as more strength surged through her. People with no magic also began chanting the words in unison and Maleficent began to shrink. The air was filled with the words.
"THE POWER OF EVIL IS GOOD AS NONE, WHEN UNITED HEARTS STAND AS ONE!"
And in a poof of smoke, Maleficent was yet again, a tiny lizard. But this time, she was even smaller and seemingly even more helpless. Mal let out a cry of joy and immediately collapsed, Ben catching her before she hit the floor. As Evie picked up Maleficent and stuck her in the handbag she just happened to be carrying when the attack happened, Ben sighed and kissed Mal.
"I thought I told you to run." He said when he pulled back.
Mal smirked. "When have I ever run from danger? And besides, I told you you needed me. Not as much as I needed you lot, but you needed me."
"I'm sorry I locked you up, Mal. I don't know what came over me." Ben said, hugging her to keep her steady.
"You were afraid. It's okay. Fear leads people to do stupid things."
Ben nodded. "Yeah. But that's no excuse."
"Ben, don't fret now. We've won again. My mum is gone again. And I don't think she'll be getting out of it this time." Mal wrapped her weak arms around Ben. "I need a nap."
Ben laughed. "And a nap you will get. Come on."
Ben took her inside while the captain of the guard assessed the damages, which were fortunately only to the palace courtyards.
Maleficent remained a lizard for the rest of her life, and was guarded far more securely. Auradon was once again safe.
Guest (03/12/2017) I'm really sorry. This probably isn't what you were imagining but this is what happened. I am so sorry. This is full of plot holes and doesn't make complete sense but I did my best. Again, so so sorry. I'm terrible at fight scenes and I'm useless at politics, which is basically what this was.
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