Hours later, Mal woke up on her cheek with her right leg splayed out beneath her and her busted arm twisted almost entirely around her back. Every muscle was screaming in pain, even though she hadn't even moved anything yet. She rolled over, got to her knees, and threw up all over the cold sandy floor. Green flames spilled out of her mouth, making her gag. It was likely a magical sign that she'd overdone it, tenfold.
Mal had no idea how she was still alive, or how she was on top of the sands instead of Eris dragging her body out like she'd naturally assumed would happen. She had no idea where her enemy was, or what was about to happen to her. Everything was quiet, and she was alone.
For what felt like several hours, Mal lay on her back and stared up at the sky. She heard the wind on the sand nearby and watched the sky above. The sands around her were colored vibrant green with magical staining. The entrance to Tartarus had sealed completely, which meant that Eris was somewhere around here, and at full strength. She blinked as she watched the sky change colors, seemingly random, and slowly moved her hand over her stomach as she remembered what had happened. How Ben hadn't been able to save her.
What had happened while she was out?
Was she even pregnant anymore after that strain?
Mal was completely alone in the dead silence. She was aching and melancholy. Ben was gone. She was trapped. There was nowhere to run and nowhere to go. She was sitting in the open, waiting for Eris to happen upon her. Every muscle was taut, overworked, and sore. The end was surely near.
Mal forced herself to her knees. She felt sick again. She curled up around her stomach, closed her eyes, and wished to sleep forever. She knew it was inevitable that Eris would find her. Sooner or later, she would die. Eris would scatter her blood across the sands and the world would continue on without her.
She would be forgotten, eventually. After all, there was only so many times Auradon would recall the queen who'd ruled for a little more than a year. And the moors? They'd have Madison, and Madison would be around longer because now the world was out of danger. Belle and Adam would raise her to be good and who knows? Maybe Ben might decide to marry her once she got old enough. Probably not, since Ben had been hung up on her age difference with him after he'd married her, and they were five years apart, not twenty-three years. Maybe he'd marry someone else from the Isle who would take over her place? Or maybe a full-blooded Fae or Fairy from the moors. If he did marry a Fairy, maybe their children would have sand powers and wings.
Mal closed her eyes to shield from the light and tried to remind herself that it was inevitable and that Ben should get remarried after she was gone. That had always been the plan anyway.
Then, she rested her hand on her stomach and for the first time, let a little smile rest on her mouth. Still, they had had something amazing. They had created kingdoms and families and magic and life. She had a life inside of her.
It was a thought she'd considered, but never before had it come with such force to her mind.
Mal sat up a little taller and wrapped her good arm around her belly. Right underneath her ribcage and above her pelvis were the faintest signs of growth. The smallest hints that there was someone else inside her. Someone without a name, or even a gender. At this point, they'd scarcely be more than a plum-sized blob with fingers, toes, and a tiny little body, all their own. And while the chances seemed slim, something told Mal that they were very much still alive.
She was supporting someone inside her. If she died, they'd be gone too. No one would ever know what they'd have accomplished, and their story would be lost. It would be like if Ben had died before he and Mal had ever met, and she with him because her mother's curse would take her out. Nothing would have changed for the Isle, Audrey never would have learned what she could be, and the moors would have suffered and wasted away until the magic had been depleted and lost. Sure, Belle and Adam might have had another kid, like Ben might have another wife one day, but the story would have faded out and the curse left unspoken, never to be written or remembered.
Mal was no fool. She knew Ben would never forget her. How could he? She had barged into his life and been nothing like he'd expected. Everything she'd done had had an effect on him. It had been her he'd made out with on the balcony and her who'd walked down the aisle to him. Her who he'd given a portion of the kingdom and her who'd gained the moors with him by her side. She'd rescued him from Uma, her mom, and Gaston, and then once more from Helena. It had been Mal who'd gone against his parent's wishes and forced every ounce of poisoning out of his system and it had been her who'd helped him accept his magic. She was the first person he'd ever taken to bed and if she had any say in it, she'd also be the last. The poor boy would be lucky if he'd ever be able to go a day without thinking of her.
Mal rubbed her thumb over her belly. "Can you hear me?" She asked softly. Her voice sounded dry but soft. A warm feeling spread through her chest, like sunshine spreading over grass, and she finally felt something take root inside her chest. For the first time, she felt love wash over her in a wave so powerfully intense there was no denying it. Whatever was inside her and whoever they turned out to be, she loved them. Mal smiled and hugged herself tightly. "Don't you worry." She whispered aloud. "I've just decided that I don't want to make my grave here after all."
Mal got to her feet and looked around. Her arms had dried blood caked on them from where she'd incorrectly sheathed her knives and she was sorer than a lone thumb. A long scab had formed on her forehead where Ben's sword had sliced her open, and her busted left arm swung, sending stabs of pain up her arm. As she examined her surroundings, she was surprised to find the hilt of Ben's sword sticking out of the ground, as if it had always been there. It was almost as if someone had left it there for her to find. Mal sighed with relief as she pulled it out and ran her thumb over his name. The same old sword, the same old monster, and the same old battle.
She was here to win.
Mal rolled her shoulders. A cascade of sand fell out in an uncomfortable rain. She raised the sword and examined her eyes in the reflection. She tried to light them up, without looking into the second realm, and watched in horror as the green appeared, but flickered softly like a broken light. She was still drained. The staining of Tartarus had stolen almost everything from her. Her horns had even faded from atop her head as her body tried to reserve strength. She didn't even have enough to fly out, and the barrier might still be sealed.
The sheath for Ben's sword was gone, so Mal braced it in one hand and began a trek up the sand dunes of Tartarus. The sky had taken on intense shades of reds, blues, and purples. Mal brushed the sand out of her hair and marched onwards. She had no idea where she was going, but she couldn't fly quite yet without seriously hurting herself magically.
As she came upon a dune, she looked up and spotted a river of golden glass that was running through the hills. She smirked. Bingo.
When she caught a glance of the sky, she noticed that the entrance had appeared. Interesting. Maybe she hadn't seen it before.
Mal followed the river down through the dunes. She didn't walk on it because she could still feel the heat vibrating from it, and parts of the center of the river didn't look entirely solid, but it acted as an excellent way-finder to the epicenter of the storm.
The glass river turned into a massive lake with gooey sections and rough edges when the sand had been pulled back as the glass hardened. It was smooth on the surface, with not a single blemish. Eris had obviously not been here yet.
Mal continued onward, working against her exhaustion and sore body as she skirted around the edge of the lake and over bits of stray glass that had melted down the hills from the extreme heat. As she came over the next bluff, her mouth dropped open in shock at the ruined landscape before her.
Deep chasms forever held in place by glass had been torn into the landscape. At the bottoms of some, she could see the black stone city, which must have been the beginnings of Tartarus before it had been filled with sand and transformed into an extra-worldly realm. Large sculptures of thin glass stretched around the chasms like the fingers of some demented figure that was trying to rise from the sands below. Long rows were in every direction where Eris had clawed at the ground to get out, and a large handprint about twice Mal's size had broken a portion of the glass into a thousand shards.
Mal hiked to the edge of a chasm and looked up and down the length of it. To her right side, down a deep valley, she saw grey skin sticking out of an array of colorful shattered glass. She began to make her way there.
It was Eris, in a horrible condition. Her dress and a large majority of her skin had been burnt away, letting Mal see a great more of the discord goddess than she'd ever wanted to see. A lot of Eris's hair was charred too. Mal wasn't too worried about the state of the goddess, however. Most of the burns were clearly healing at an extensive rate. It was probably the reason the goddess was asleep in the first place. Now, as Mal stood above her, she had to figure out what to do.
She needed to get out of here. That much she knew. The only way she could get out was if Eris opened the borders or if someone with sand powers transported her out, which would kill her baby. Mal stifled a groan. The chances of Eris agreeing to open the borders were minuscule, considering they'd ruined Tartarus and sealed her inside. And even if Eris was willing, Mal didn't want to know what the payment would be for that. If only she could turn into a dragon and… transport herself out.
Mal looked down at the sleeping woman. If she wanted to do this, it would have to be a split-second decision, before Eris woke up. Mal huffed and readied her sword above Eris's neck. Admittedly, a knife would be better, but she would rather keep the sword on hand, and her knives were gone
Mal tried to move her broken arm and felt stabs of pain shoot up her nerves. She clamped down on her tongue and willed her fingers to twitch. It was hard to do much else. She swallowed and carefully moved her arm to rest on Eris's neck, hoping beyond hope she wouldn't wake. When she'd done this with Ben, she'd used his heart, but considering Eris's current state, she felt like the neck was an equally good place to try from.
Mal lowered her vision into the second realm. She immediately got a headache, and her vision flickered. She knew she couldn't maintain this for long, lest she pass out again. She stared at the Magic inside of Eris. it was thick and gold, like lava twisting under Eris's immortal skin, and of a brighter, more concentrated quality than Mal had ever seen. By all means, Eris should have defeated her, easily. Mal had a feeling that it was only the shock of the dragon and Mal's desperation that had kept her alive.
Mal started to will the magic out from under Eris's skin, the opposite of what she'd done with Ben's. As golden sand magic spilled into her veins, she did her best to keep it contained to her arm, though it wanted desperately to taint the magic already in her body and transform it. Mal's arm trembled with the strain, but the effect was immediate. Mal's arm strengthened and took on strength, and Mal's vision stabilized. Still, Mal resisted stealing too much of Eris's magic. She knew that, just like Ben had become magical from too much borrowed magic from Mal, she could become an immortal with too much magic from Eris.
Eris's eyes opened as she felt something begin to siphon off of her. She was delirious from pain and exhaustion, but quickly coming back to reality. As she opened up her mouth and began to move, Mal brought the sword down on her neck. It pierced about halfway through and stopped as though an iron force was prohibiting it. Mal knew she was running out of time, but there was a steady collection of gold sand magic in her arm now, and she was growing stronger by the second. She just had to time this right, and she might be able to get out before Eris murdered her.
As Eris waved her hands and began to struggle to her feet, Mal willed her wings to her and took off, flying towards the skies. The sword remained firmly in her grip. She had no doubt that Eris was only stunned, and that she would be fine. However, the sands were rising up from the floor again, and this time they didn't have two targets to split attention between. Mal bit her tongue and shot for the opening in the world, which was growing closer and closer together as Mal rushed to the exit.
She slipped through just as it closed, meaning that Eris now had enough power to follow her. And follow her she had. Mal glimpsed a stream of dark energy on her tail, which crashed into the closed barrier. Fists covered in black blood began to beat the window as Mal dropped to her knees and poured everything she had just stolen from Eris back into the barrier. Purple appeared where her hand touched, as vibrant and colorful as her hair. The color raced across the barrier to Tartarus, and Mal knew in her gut that there was no way in, and no way out. Eris was sealed inside, where she'd be alone in her kingdom for eternity after she'd healed, and Mal was outside, free, and alive. Her arm grew weak again, and her vision faded back to normal.
She sighed in relief and sat down on the barrier, even as Eris continued to howl and beat and scream at the barrier beneath her. As she caught her breath, she looked out to sea and saw dozens of shadows racing towards her over the sea. An entire fleet of ships of every kind, with people screaming as they approached. Mal returned to her feet, lifted her wings, and took off. The boats slowed as they saw her coming and people began to shout and cheer. Mal spotted a sandy-haired man in a blue suit standing at the head of a ship. She flew towards him and landed on the bow of the ship.
For several seconds, she and Ben said nothing to each other. He was crying openly. She felt tears coming on herself. The others on the ship, which included Bunny, North, Toothiana, Astrid, Hiccup, Sandy, Jack, Ericka, and others said nothing as Mal took a few breathless steps towards him.
"I thought I was saving you?" He croaked.
Mal dropped the sword and ran to put her arm around him. He caught her and pulled her clear off the ground, pressing kisses to her hair and ear since her head was in the wrong direction. She giggled and gave him a sweet peck on his lips even as tears slipped down her cheeks. "You shouldn't have counted on me waiting around." She hiccuped in a hushed tone.
Ben laughed. "I'll never place that bet again." He swore, wiping his eyes and sobbing in relief. She buried her fingers into his hair, and they both slumped to the deck together, sobbing.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," a cool voice came from the doorway. Mal looked up. She wasn't at all surprised to see who it was. Somehow, she'd known she'd be hearing from the family enchantress soon. Despite the fact it was high noon in the Overlands, thousands of miles away from Auradon and with a celebratory end-of-war event happening in a few minutes, Mal wasn't surprised to see her here.
"Not really," she invited her in with a gesture. "I'm just finishing getting ready. Come on in."
Agathe swept into the room and took a seat on a chair as Mal pinned two earrings into her ears and combed her hair into place. "I have a question," she began softly. "You gave me a prophecy that I would die. You said I would know what it is like to die of magical poisoning."
"Don't you?" Agathe asked. "Didn't you and Ben share those memories?"
Mal paused. She shrugged a little, and turned to examine herself briefly in the mirror. She was wearing a dress for once - something long and green that curved around her belly and made her look a little further along than she was. "The way Ben was acting - I think you told him things too. I think that's why he was so afraid."
Agathe only tilted her head to the side, so Mal turned to meet her gaze. "Would you like to know what I think?" She asked. "I think that your prophecies are subjective. I think that while you can see the future, you don't know what will happen. That's the true danger of prophecies. You see something, you think you know what it means, so you tell someone and they live in fear because of it. But then you can be wrong, and could have misinterpreted something entirely."
Agathe nodded. "I was so surprised to hear you were alive," she admitted. "I saw that you had fallen into Tartarus. That you were trapped and the sands were draining you away. You should have died."
"My moorland gift saved me," Mal explained. "I finally figured it out. It's somewhat ironic, in hindsight."
Agathe raised an eyebrow as a little smile spread across her mouth. Mal sat down beside her. "Magical sickness," she explained. "I can't contract it. Somehow, despite the fact I almost drained myself saving Ben, took away a girl's magic and voice, and was trapped in Tartarus, I never got it. It keeps me from dying from loss of magic or bad magic. The moorlands helped me grow the first few months I went, but this is beyond that. My blessing is that my magic doesn't turn against me."
"But you can turn against it," Agathe nodded. "You saw that happen when you attempted death magicks. You almost destroyed your own magic."
"If I'd have gone through with it, it would have been the opposite of magical poisoning. My magic would have fizzled out and died," Mal finished. She looked at Helena expectantly. "You had hints, though. You saw Belle with a baby boy. One of my future sons, I presume?" She put a hand to her frame. "And something tells me you saw something else. Something you haven't shown me. Something important."
Agathe looked touched, impressed, and astounded all at once. She traced Mal's features with a grin that spread across her cheeks. Her eyes were bright. Then she held out a hand, as if for a handshake. "You'll need this," she promised. Mal examined her hand. Something told her this was the last time she'd ever see this woman again. Everything was done. She'd survived her fairy tale.
Mal shook her hand. An explosion of color and sound roared into her brain. And a smile spread across her face. Agathe released her after a moment and stood up. Mal followed.
Agathe curtseyed to Mal, dipping her head forward in the most solemn show of respect Mal had seen. She curtseyed in return though she felt a little silly with the gesture, and then turned back to the mirror to pretend nothing had happened at all while Agathe swept out of the room and out of her presence for the last time. She remained that way until another figure appeared in the doorway. This one was wearing a suit, a crown, and a smile that made butterflies arise in her stomach.
"Hey," Ben whispered, linking his arm through hers. "Are you ready?"
Mal nodded with a smile and together they went out of the room and down towards the courtyard. A snow portal was open, and people were climbing through, into the portal. Ben and Mal followed.
They appeared in Syracuse, in the place where Mal had battled Eris and Helena. Everything was already starting as Ben and Mal took their places.
"The last villains have surrendered," North announced, smiling sideways at Ben and Mal as they sat together on a bench on the side of the room. The castle was filled with everyone - all of the war leaders, the overland and Auradon and Moorish soldiers, citizens of both countries, and people from Auradon who were important to both Ben and Mal. While broadcasting wasn't quite possible yet, the event was being filmed to be shown to Auradon later on. North stood at the head of the room - he had been a major war leader for forty long years and had a loud voice that required no microphone. On one side stood the other Overland leaders and on the other, Belle, Adam, Ben and Mal. Ben kept a steady arm around Mal's back as she leaned her head on his shoulder.
"We will be sending everyone to the nation of the Isle of the Lost," North continued. "After five years, they will have the opportunity to request residence in the city of Utopia there, but they will never be allowed to leave. Queen Mal will oversee them for the rest of their days."
Mal leaned her head on Ben's shoulder. She would be improving the darker Isle as well - the villains deserved a little punishment, not to live the way she'd been raised. She and Ben both agreed - clean things, good things, and things to work with would be sent. Auradon's trash problem would henceforth be solved by magic and careful planning ahead. Nature magic did wonders for non-biodegradables.
"The war has ended and as it stands, we are in need of renewal ourselves," North announced to the room. "Auradon thankfully set up a wonderful example for us forty years ago. We will divide the land by the stories of the old world. However, the King of Auradon and we have discussed the issues thoroughly, and we will not be running under monarchies or dictatorships. Instead, each region will have a council of members - one for every thousand that live under them while our numbers are still small. And each region will appoint one person to a higher council with one president-king or queen at the head of it. They will need to be someone good, someone kind, someone who already has experience renewing countries and saving people. We need someone with an explicit destiny to rule and to reign."
North turned and looked toward Ben and Mal with a smile. The words 'explicit destiny' rang in her head… wasn't that from her Auradon Coronation blessings? Mal's smile dropped off her mouth and she furrowed her brow in confusion before looking up at Ben. Ben was smiling down at her. Her blood ran cold. "Wait!" She sputtered. "Me? No, I can't do three kingdoms! I only have time for my two!"
Been burst into laughter. "Not you," he assured her with a smile. "Me. They already asked me."
Mal stared, open-mouthed for several seconds before she leaned back with a small nod. "You said yes?" She asked softly.
"I did," Ben nodded. He stood up and then knelt in front of her, taking both of her hands. "Will you support me in this, Queen of Auradon, the Isle, the Moorlands, and Exanton?"
"Exanton?" Mal repeated slowly. Something clicked in the back of her head.
"It's an old word," Ben whispered. "From the Moorlands. It means-"
"All good things here," Mal exhaled. She squeezed Ben's hands. "What about Auradon?"
"You took a lot of work away from me," Ben laughed. "And now that we have councils in lieu with the monarchies, I'll have even more time. So when you're at the palace for the Isle, I'll be there with you. And when you're at the Moorlands, I'll be up here. Auradon will be passed on in twenty-two years, but I'll reign here until you've passed on both of your kingdoms. Then we'll retire together."
"I am not having four children, Ben," Mal declared immediately.
Ben laughed. "This is an elected position," he told her. "My successor will also be elected. Not begotten."
Mal blinked slowly and then glanced past Ben. All of Auradon, Exanton, the Moors, and everyone was waiting for this. Their decision. Her decision. She smiled and let go of Ben's hands to put her hands on Ben's cheeks. "Okay. Go fix them, Ben," she whispered.
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her quickly before he stood up and then turned towards North. Someone started clapping in the front row. Slowly, people joined in until a thundering crescendo was echoing off the walls and people were screaming, shouting, celebrating and crying. Ben shook North's hand, then went down the line, shaking hands with Hiccup and Astrid and Bunny and Sandy and Tooth and everyone. Jack was down in the crowd with Elsa, Ericka, and Jessie.
As Ben circled back to hug his parents, Mal got back to her feet. After he'd released his mom, he pressed his forehead to hers briefly before he returned to the center of the stage and knelt in front of the crowd. The clapping ceased.
North held his right hand above his head. "All in favor of electing King Benjamin of Auradon to the post of President of Exanton, please extend your right hand."
Across the room, thousands of hands went up. A sea of different colors and different types of hands. One soldier held up a stump with tears streaming down his face. North cleared his throat. "Any opposed?" He called.
Mal was sure that somewhere there would be someone against it. But her own tears were so thick that she couldn't tell if anyone voted against him.
"Let it be!" North's voice boomed across the room. "King Benjamin of Auradon, the Moorlands, and the Isle of the Lost. Hero of Tartarus. Defender of worlds. President of Exanton."
North glanced over to Mal. "It would be fitting," he began with his voice strained and his accent thick. "For someone close to him to ordain the post. Would you?"
Mal exhaled and nodded. She stepped forward, behind Ben so he was still facing the crowd, and set her hands on his head. "Is there anything specific you want me to say?" She asked with a little chuckle.
Ben tilted his head up to laugh at her. "Make it count," he advised. Mal chucked, smoothed his hair down, and then took a deep breath. The room fell deathly silent.
"Benjamin Florian Benson," she began, keeping her voice as steady as she could. "As you accept this call to lead the people of the new country of Exanton as the President, I, your wife, sustain you in this endeavor. You will do much good up here, and the experiences you have already gained will guide you to do all that is needed to see this country to success."
Pictures flashed in front of her eyes. She smirked. "Auradon has grown stronger under your care and will continue to do so. Your ideas about councils and committees have set a foundation that will build Auradon into an accepting, peaceable community. Don't be fooled though - there's still lots of work you need to finish.
"Exanton is more like the Isle than you think. Your compassion will be key to leading up here. Remember what the people have lost - you need to create more than a government, more than cities and schools and legislators. You will need to rebuild hope.
"Your parents are getting older, but they'll still be around for many, many years. Madison will grow up to be someone wild and vivacious. And while she won't stay in the palace and will choose a different path than the life of politics we've selected, she'll always look up to her brother-in-law."
Mal paused, sorting through all the pictures she'd seen. She knew now, why the Enchantress had said she'd need this information. She could see Madison smiling, painting, dancing before her eyes. She could see Audrey and Jay and Evie and Carlos. She could see Ben with grey hair and a beard growing across his chin(she could get used to that) and could even see herself getting older.
"Our kids are going to love you," she promised him. "One day, when they're talking about us, they'll say 'I don't know how, but Dad always knew how to be a parent'. Our sons are going to look like you, and our daughter will have your magic. It'll go by fast, so don't blink. One day, you'll be putting our baby on the throne of Auradon. One day, you'll be passing this throne on to someone else's baby who isn't even born yet. One day, when you're not king anymore, you'll be able to understand the gratification of all you've done. King Benjamin, there is no one else better suited for this role you have to play. You are the person you always dreamed you could be."
Ben looked up and smiled at her. Tears were forming in his eyes as he got back to his feet and swept her off of hers.
North offered them a ride back to Auradon in his sleigh, complete with no seatbelts, a snow globe portal, and a large mug of hot chocolate for everyone. Ericka, Jack, North, Sandy, Bunny, and Tooth, who were the original clan of guardians over the land before Astrid and Hiccup had gotten in traveled with them. Apparently, there had also been other members of the war council, but they had died or quit over the years. Eep and Guy, Stoic the Vast, King Gristle JR, and others.
Snow was falling on the coast of Auradon when they appeared over New Orleans and began the flight over Andalusia and the Great Wall of Northern Wei. As they approached the mountains, North took a small detour. They passed over Avalor and within minutes could see Arendelle on the banks of the River Ure.
Erika frowned when she saw her hometown. "Why are we here?" She asked.
North flew the sleigh down. It was twilight and people were outside. As they saw the sleigh pass overhead, children squealed, and adults stood, gaping with wide eyes.
The sleigh flew over the gates to the palace. The entire royal family was outside, running around in the snow as Queen Elsa conjured not-so-secret snowflakes to add to the natural mix. When the sleigh appeared, everyone shouted and squealed. Kristoff rushed in front of Anna, who was holding a sleepy Kaitlynn and braced himself for an attack. Queen Elsa stood with a dangerous glint in her eyes as the sleigh lowered to the ground and settled. "Who goes there?" She commanded sharply.
Shouts came from inside the palace as Guards filled the courtyard from outside the gates and inside the castle. Ericka stood up. "Calm down!" She cried. "It's just us!"
"Ericka?" Elsa asked, alarmed. "Where have you been?"
Ericka didn't say anything. She glanced sideways at Jack for help, but he wouldn't give her any. He was still hiding from the view of Elsa and his family, even as little Jessie stumbled towards the sleigh, leaving icy frost flakes on the ground where she walked.
"Go on, Ericka." Jack hissed after several long, silent seconds. "Go back to your mom."
North climbed out of the sleigh and scooped Jessie up into his arms. "Oh, don't run off too far, now! Best to stay by your mom." He tickled her belly and nudged her back to Elsa. "We apologize for dropping in, but Jack asked us to see Princess Ericka back home safely. We are on our way to return the King and Queen of Auradon to their place in the palace."
"Jack?" Elsa asked vaguely.
Ericka's mouth dropped open. "You did this?" She turned to Jack. "Why?"
"You don't belong in war." Jack jumped up. "And it's over now, so you might as well go back home. This is where you belong!"
"Why are ye so against her being out, ya gombey?" Bunny asked as he surfaced from where he'd been pressed into the sleigh. Abigail gasped as she saw the large pooka stand and jump from the sleigh. "She's talented, and she really helped a lot with gathering up our baddies. Come 'round any time, ya fair dinkum." He said, patting Ericka's hand as he helped her out of the sleigh.
"This is where you belong, Ericka," Jack said, more forcefully.
"This isn't where I belong!" Erick exploded. "Don't you see? I'm more like you. I use a staff and can fly and I've never had the same type of magic as Mom. You know I don't belong in Arendelle, I'm a snow spirit!"
"Ericka," Elsa said, walking towards her daughter. "Calm down now, please."
"Yes, Ericka, calm down," Jack said, looking at his companions carefully. "You're going to be queen one day. You can't just run from responsibility whenever it comes your way."
"Well, maybe I'm more like you than you think." Ericka spat. "I'm twenty-one, when are you going to stop treating me like a child?"
"When you start acting like an adult!" Jack floated down in front of her with his hands in a vice grip on his staff.
"I am acting like an adult! I'm taking responsibility for my own life! And you would know about being forever young and running from responsibility! How many times were you there when I was growing up?" Ericka poked her finger on Jack's chest as she got closer and closer to Jack, but he refused to withdraw.
"I was there when I could be!" He yelled. "I'm sorry if a war that ended up spanning two continents and four countries wasn't a big enough reason to not live in the palace with you guys!"
"What is going on?" Bunny asked softly, just enough for the sound to reach Mal's ears. Mal sighed and sank into Ben's arms with her hot chocolate warming her fingers.
"Enough!" Elsa snapped. "Ericka, you need to calm down. Think about how you're conducting yourself."
"I'm no queen." Ericka spat. "I'm not like mom, Jack. You can't get the better of me like that. I'm just like you!" She stabbed her lemon staff into the stones of the courtyard. "Mal was right!" She snapped. "And I shouldn't be queen. I'm not meant to be queen! Since the day I was born I was made to be something else – a nieves!" The moment the word slipped out of her mouth, her eyes changed color. They took on an even lighter, icier blue than either Elsa or Jack's. A light appeared at the base of her feet and of her staff. It traveled up her, changing her clothes and leaving an unreal, waxy substance on her skin. Ben and Mal stood up to better witness what was happening.
Ericka was now clothed in fishnet stockings that took the shape of snowflakes, and boots that ended at her knees and were capped with fur. She wore a short skirt with matching fur hems and beautiful glittery embellishments on smooth, soft, white material. A beautiful coat had appeared made of matching fabric with matching fur embellishments on her collar, hems, and cuffs. Icy blue material accented a pocket on her left breast and the elbows on either of her sleeves. More glitter embellishments lined the sides of the fastenings on her coat, and a pair of furry earmuffs covered her ears atop her braid, which had gained five strands and had snowflakes sitting in it.
Ericka shook her head and blinked as if the world had changed before her eyes. Her eyes focused on her parents before her. "I'm leaving. I'm a snow spirit. I'm not a queen, I'm a-"
"Immortal." Mal breathed, completely awestruck.
Elsa seemed to have grown ten years. "Immortal?" She whispered.
"Yes." Ericka nodded. "That's why I always felt so out of place here. Let Jessie have the kingdom when she gets older. She's more like you. She can already control her magic the way you do, rather than me, who spent her whole life trying to learn your way and…" Ericka shrugged. "never got it."
Elsa sank to the ground in shock.
"H-hold on." Bunny sputtered. "What just happened? You can't just say you're immortal, your mom is clearly a mortal queen. You'd have to have at least one parent who's never gonna die and-"
"Me," Jack admitted softly as he gave up his argument and walked past Ericka to Elsa's side. "It's always been me."
Bunny's mouth dropped open in shock. Mal observed the rest of the courtyard. None of the royal family was surprised much by the revelation, obviously, but many of the guards exchanged wild, panicked looks. Sandy had three ebbing dots above his head as he tried to process what was going on. Tooth looked absolutely brokenhearted.
"Jack," North whispered. "This is where you fly to? You fathered kid with a mortal, Auradonian woman?"
"Two." Mal corrected automatically as she waved to Jessie, who had observed her sister's transformation into an immortal snow spirit and simply gone back to playing in the snow.
Jack helped Elsa to her feet without a word. "I love her." He whispered. "I'd make her immortal if I could."
Elsa was slowly regaining her color, taking in everything with wide eyes. "Well." She stammered. "I think it's better this way." She kissed Jack's cheek and the two let their hands swing between them. "Ericka has her place, something we've both wanted for years, and you're both home safe. Jessie and I will die someday, but now you'll never be alone. You'll always have your daughter, Jack, and she's got more of me in her than she likes to admit."
Ericka blushed sheepishly and smiled. Jack nodded, looking melancholy, and Jessie wandered over. Elsa swung the small child into her arms with a bright smile.
Mal slipped out of the sleigh as she downed the rest of her hot chocolate. "You guys all have lots to catch up on." She said, putting her mug down inside the sleigh. "How about Ben and I finish the journey by ourselves? You can stop by afterward if you want."
"Sounds good to me," Ben said, jumping down to be with her.
"You sure you don't want an escort?" Jack asked hesitantly.
"Nah." Mal shook her head. "Have fun with the family. You've got lots of explaining to do to your pals." She kissed Jessie on the head and hugged Queen Elsa. "Take care." She said.
As she passed Ericka, Mal paused. "There's not much left to say." She smiled. "I'm glad you found your place, but this isn't the end. Your parents are part of who you are, and I hope that, as the years pass and as time flies, you remember everything. There may come a time you return here and…" Mal spread her arms. "Mom and sister aren't here anymore, but great-great-great nieces and nephews are." A pained look crossed Ericka's face at those words, and she looked over Mal's shoulder at her mom. "You've got to learn not to look back." Mal cautioned. "Live in the moment, treasure all the time you spend here. And I hope you're happy with your new place in the cosmos. You know, everything will turn out fine in the end."
Ericka nodded and sniffled. Mal shared a hug with the forever twenty-one-year-old. Then she stepped back and returned to her own favorite place in the cosmos – right next to her husband, Ben. He took her hand with a smile and let go before he dissolved into a storm of sand. Mal laughed as her trusty wings grew around her, sheltering her from the snow. With one last wave, but not a backward glance, they disappeared towards Auradon.
"I set things up in here," Ben announced, swinging open the door and then stepping back to wring his hands as Mal stepped into the nursery. The walls had been repainted white and curtains in a deep shade of blue strung up in front of the window. She examined the crib and the new dresser and chair. "What do you think?" Ben asked as she ran a hand down the wall.
"It's missing some things," Mal shrugged. "I mean… babies in Auradon have toys and things, right? And there's not much decoration in here yet."
"I was hoping I could convince you to add your touch?" Ben asked, leaning against the doorframe nervously.
Mal spread her arms to the wall which the crib stood against. "I think we should customize this wall," She said to him. "I want to paint something on it… something like the murals in the library, but for children. Maybe I can make a collage of dozens of different tales so that it looks pretty while they're young and then as they get older they can realize what they missed before."
"You can do that," Ben nodded. "I think she'd like that a lot. Will you put us up there?"
"I don't know," Mal replied. "They're going to grow up hearing so much about us… do we want to overshadow them with our mess?" Ben shrugged.
Mal dragged a hand along the top of the dresser. "You keep calling them a girl," she laughed. "What happens if they're not?"
Ben sighed. "Well, see, I actually got a prophecy from our family enchantress. She said Auradon's princess would secede the throne."
Mal raised her eyebrows. "How does that dictate this baby being a girl?" She asked.
"Because she gave me the prophecy that you'd die along with it. So, well, I assumed that it meant that…" Ben fumbled over his words, looking increasingly cross as he tried to form his thoughts.
"Madison is an Auradon Princess," Mal reminded Ben, leaning against the dresser. "And I told you in your blessing that our daughter would have your magic. That means it can't be this one. You couldn't have sired someone with sand magic before you got yours."
Ben huffed and crossed his arms. "I didn't really think of that," He admitted. He glanced around the room. "I guess it's a good thing I decided to just stick with blue, huh?"
"If you'd have done pink, we would have had words," Mal reminded him, narrowing her eyes. "I refuse to allow you to brainwash any child of mine - girl or boy - into… into an 'Old Audrey' lifestyle!"
Ben burst into laugher and gathered her into a hug. She tensed up briefly and then allowed her arms to settle around his neck with a sigh. He looked down at her, then around at the room as he let his hands slide down her sides. "You don't seem angry anymore," He whispered in her ear. "I was worried that you wouldn't like it in here and that you wouldn't want to have anything to do with it."
Mal hummed and turned back around to look at everything. The crib against the wall, the stained dresser, and the comfy chair. It was so strange to think that this was her life now - after everything. "Something happened to me when I was alone in Tartarus," She admitted. "I can't even describe it… I was thinking about everything and how much everything has changed and what we did together, and I felt this connection."
She turned back to him. His eyes were focused, but fogged over with emotion. "I did this with you," Mal continued, twisting her ring on her finger. "And I built my kingdoms with your help and you're building yours with mine. That was our war and the Isle was our mission and my life has been streamlined with yours. I wouldn't have it any other way, now or forever. And so while I'm afraid and uncertain and yeah, I still feel a little cheated, I'm proud of what we've done together." She put her hands to her belly. "I'm proud of our family. And I want everything with you."
"I want everything with you too," Ben said, smiling and gathering her into his arms again. He kissed her hair.
"Oh my goodness! Look at all of this!" Someone exclaimed behind them. Mal turned and began to laugh when she saw the crowded hallway outside. Audrey slipped inside, holding Madison and looking excited to see the tiny room around her. Behind her, Evie, Jay, and Carlos were stepping in, laughing as they hugged Mal.
"It's been forever!" Mal exclaimed, wrapping her arms around Evie.
"You're the one who vanished off the face of the earth!" Carlos laughed. "Where have you been?"
"I've been keeping Ben on his toes," Mal replied, leaning over to shove Ben's arm good-naturedly. She released Evie and turned to hug Jay instead. He still smelled familiar - smoke and sweat and leather and all things Isle. She hoped he'd never change.
"Someone has to," Audrey laughed. "The guy becomes complacent after a while."
Ben rolled his eyes at their teasing but continued looking absolutely overjoyed as he cast his eyes over them, glancing over his family and friends. Audrey passed him Madison and Ben's face split into a look of combined excitement and love as he tossed her into the air above his head with a shout that made the little five-month-old giggle and smile. She babbled incoherently: "Abu-ab-ha!" and then stuffed her tiny fist into her mouth.
"It's great having everyone back together," Audrey sighed, finally butting into the circle and picking Mal up with a hug that she wasn't sure would leave bruises around her ribcage or not. "All we need is the new royal baby and we'd be complete."
Mal blinked as she was set back down. A slow smile spread across her mouth as she thought. "Actually," she hummed slowly, taking Audrey's shoulders. "There's a few more people. Let me step outside. I need to call Eliza."
"This is good."
"This is good."
Mal glanced over at Ben about the same moment he ripped his eye off of the view in front of them to smile at her. All around them, people were bustling. Ship hands were rushing to prepare the docks for people to arrive. Three ships were pulling in, so close that they could see the people on them. Ben raised an arm to wave as overjoyed shouts filled the air, both from the visitors on the ships and from the Auradonians waiting to receive them.
Across the ocean, the barrier of the Isle still stood tall and proud, but it was now permeable. It was time to make things right. Time for new beginnings. Time for forgiveness. Mal had changed the borders. For the first time in the last forty years, people were now allowed to go back and forth at will. There were still conditions - you couldn't stay in one land more than two weeks at a time and Mal's Isle barrier recorded everyone who went in or out, so you couldn't abandon one country for the other without the magic putting you back where you belonged once your visiting time was up, but they were going to work out a system of immigration between the two. The Isle, now a beautiful utopia with fresh air and a beautiful beach and protection against all wrongdoing, was suddenly a Real Estate hotspot. Warnings still existed as well - the entrance to the old Isle of the Lost was unregulated, and if you wandered out without a card and without telling anyone, the city council couldn't be responsible.
From the Moorlands came careful trailblazers who came to examine the cities, paw cautiously around the technologies, and then brought their friends and an influx of magic with them. Similar magical restraints still forbade people moving hither or thither, but the laws against magic were permanently done away with. Fairies and Fae and trolls and pixies and all sorts of magical folk were working hand-in-hand with Auradon officials.
Auradon was slowly adapting to the new freedom of power that had come with the updated courts in every kingdom. Already, groups were forming to take new propositions to their kingdom courts. The federal government was almost taking a step back as individual courts took primary power in their areas. Ben still held overall power and had passed several laws to ensure he retained the right to veto any lower laws and re-try any court cases in his palace, but the amount of work required for the High King had dropped to a semi-permanent low.
The ships docked. The sailors tossed ropes down to moor themselves to the docks. Some excited Islanders gathered near the ropes, pointing and probably discussing the possibilities of making it to the ground safely. The gangplank dropped.
Three people led the crusade down. One was a brown-haired teen with neon streaks in her hair. The second was blonde, in pink leather, with Auroria's crown sitting on her head. The last had vibrant blue flames atop his head.
Ben dropped into a bow as the reached the concrete of the docks. Mal laughed and then followed him into a clumsy curtsey. Behind them, everyone else followed. Auradon was welcoming its new partner.
"Welcome to Auradon," Ben announced when he had righted himself. He leaned forward and took Audrey's hand, kissing it quickly. Eliza was given a brief, but firm shake. He held out his hand to Hades, but the god batted it aside and hugged Ben tightly. The Lord of the Undead was misty-eyed when he looked past his son-in-law to his daughter, literally glowing with happiness as she waited for her turn to hug her father.
"This is a momentous occasion," Ben called, raising his voice so the microphones they'd set up to transfer sound to the back of the Auradon crowds could catch every word. "And one that I hope will go down in history as the day our two peoples begin to heal."
Mal elbowed him. "Don't make it too much," she whispered.
Ben elbowed her back. "Says the girl who gave Ericka a sermon."
He tucked his arm through hers and then cleared his throat. "I think I speak for both of us when I say this is a dream come true."
"Something you both clearly specialize in," Eliza quipped.
Mal snorted and laughed. Then they both stepped to the side and made a gesture that they could continue down the gangplank. Audrey went first, leading the way to her parents as dozens of other royals stepped forward to greet the Islanders. People began to stream off of the ships. Some brave souls jumped off and slid down the ropes to make it quicker. Their joy and excitement at finally being allowed to leave was inexpressible
"So, the bad guys have become the good guys?" Uma wondered as she and Harry walked by, arm in arm. Harry could barely be bothered to stop and shake Mal and Ben's hands before pointing out the beaches to Uma.
"They ain't as clean here as they are on the Isle, but look how big…!"
Fairies flit through the air above their heads. Apparently, they'd come to see the historic event. Mal hummed as a couple began flitting about her hair, combing their hands through her long, purple hair.
Ben squeezed Mal's hand. "This is good," he repeated as people streamed past them, some babbling thanks but most too teary-eyed to notice them.
"It is good," Mal agreed, squeezing back. "We've done good."
What more was there really to be done? To be said? At that moment, everything was perfect. She finally had it all. "I couldn't be more proud or happy to call you my king," She whispered, leaning against Ben's shoulder. She could feel his smile lighting up everything around them even though they weren't looking at each other. Somehow, despite everything, they'd made it out alright.
This was her life. And she wouldn't want it any other way.