Ben stood up at the pedestal. Everyone became silent. He looked over the faces in the small crowd. Evie, Carlos, Jay, Dizzy, Fairy Godmother, and his parents. He was a little nervous to say his plans, but he knew this was a big step in life. He swallowed. You told Rose, and she didn't object. You can do this. He wiped a little sweat off his forehead.
"I've gathered you all her to say..." Ben drifted off nervously. His eyes continued to shift around. "Uh I got you all her to s-say... Alright, this is too formal for me to be saying it this way. Everyone stand up." They all expressed confusion as they stood. Ben stood away from the podium and gestured for them to gather around. They followed his action."I plan to-"
"Ask Mal to marry you next week?" Dizzy said before Ben could. He was shocked.
"Um," the king was confuse for a moment. "That was exactly what I was going to say. How did you know that?"
"I heard you whispering it to yourself in the hall before we came in here," Dizzy smiled. "Sorry I couldn't keep something that juicy a secret." Everyone laughed while Evie put her arm around the young girl.
"Oh my!" Belle exclaimed. "My young boy is getting married!" Everyone around him murmured their approval excitedly.
"You don't think we're too young?" Ben raised an eyebrow.
"No," they all said in unison. Ben was a little taken aback. He expected a lot of disapproval, but all he got was joy.
"Great!" he said, relieved. "I'm glad you all approve. I was thinking of getting all of the school together in the court yard." He continued talking plans with them all. The only thing he wished for for his sister to be here, but he knew she couldn't. He feared with her presence his mother would disapprove, but now he didn't think to care. Rose would at least attend the wedding. Period.
His family would never grow back together like it was before, but Ben was willing to accept that reality.
Jay had been assigned to get the band together. He didn't mind having a lone assignment. With Lonnie being gone for almost a week, he was feeling much better everyday. The pain of missing her would never go away, but he would learn to not dwell on it. He kept his feet at a steady pace as he went to the dorms. Many students were just moving out of their old rooms. He would say the casual 'hi' to his classmates.
He then reached the dorm he was looking for. The door was open. Jay peered inside to see boxes. He leaned again the door frame and knocked on it a little. Doug poked his head out of the open closet doors. "Hey Jay."
"Hey," Jay took a step in. He looked around the empty room. "Where you going to?"
"I'm living at home until the fall," Doug put a couple pairs of shoes in a box and stood up. "Then I'm off to the University for Science Major." Jay had forgotten the last time he had talked to Doug. Maybe close to a year ago. At the Cotillion maybe? He had changed over the course of the year. His hair was now long and in a pony tail. He filled out too.
"Nice," Jay nodded,"I'm sorry you and Evie didn't work out by the way. I don't think I've talked to you since."
"Its alright," Doug shrugged,"Has she said anything about me?"
"Just that you were willing to get back together," Jay didn't like the way this conversation was turning to.
"Huh," Doug nodded,"She probably hasn't made up her mind. I might still have a chance." There was a small silence. Jay didn't want to speak for Evie, but he knew she wouldn't take him back. At least not from what he's witnessed. "What did you come to talk to me about?"
"Oh," Jay remembered why he was there in the first place. "Ben wants you to get the band back together for next week. He's going to surprise Mal. Its supposed to just be a rally for the new kids, but he is also going to purpose."
"Wow," Doug took this in. "I'll be sure to get the band together. Tell Ben he can text me the details if he wants." Jay nodded and left as soon as he could. As he stepped out of the room, there was a tightening in his chest. At first, he thought it was a heart problem, but then the muscles released. His chest was now heavy.
His thoughts immediately went to Lonnie. All this talk about the future seemed to be causing these small reactions. He didn't want everything to change, but everything has, and he would have to except it. Even when coming to Auradon, he was afraid of the change. Another thing that bothered him was he didn't know what was going to lie for his future.
But sooner or later, reality would hit him. He knew that much would never change.
Evie was already sketching Mal's wedding gown. She was taking bits and pieces of past outfits she had made Mal. She thought about the yellow cotillion dress. It was forever changed into that purple and black ballgown. Even would definitely keep that style of dress. But it would be white. Maybe she would even add a few layers of light purple ruffles like in her coronation dress.
She did a rough sketch. It looked good for now, but she knew she would have to consult Mal at least a hundred times before making a final sketch. The blue haired princess wondered about how she would keep this a secret over the next couple days. It was going to be hard to keep it from her best friend. They told each other everything. Well...almost everything.
When Evie heard the click of Mal's boots, Evie filled the pages over to some old sketches of the outfits they would wear to the Isle on VK day. "E!" Mal called. She came into the glass room filled with fabric and sketches. "Do you have my leather jacket around?"
"Which one?" Evie thought to the tens of hundreds of leather jackets Mal has worn.
"The jacket," Mal raised her eyebrows.
"Oh," Evie realized. She grabbed the purple jacket with pink and green sleeves. It was hanging on the rack behind her. "Here. Sorry, I used it for inspiration for VK day."
"It's fine," Mal pulled on the leather jacket. She looked at Evie, with curiosity. "I thought you were done with the VK outfits."
"No," Evie shook her head and lied. "I was looking for the finishing touches. How was Dizzy's send off?"
"She was cool with it," the purple haired girl shrugged. Scales leapt onto the desk. Mal pet the black furred feline. "She said she had forgotten some things from the Isle. And it would be good for her to see her grandmother. She was a little scared at the boarder, but she was greeted by Celia. Apparently they were friends when we left."
"Well its good for her to have friends her own age," Evie nodded. Dizzy was sent over to the Isle in order for VK day. She would be a chosen applicant for sure. Before VK day was a thought, she came because of her help in battling Uma. Now she had to be given a fair chance like everyone else. Even though it was only for a couple days, she hoped Dizzy was alright.
"Anyway," Mal zipped up her jacket. "Ben's taking me for a bike ride. You'll be alright here alone?"
"Of course," Evie smiled,"I'm glad Ben has time to spend time with you. And actual time, not just business meetings." Mal laughed a little and went on her way. Evie barley flipped the pages back to the wedding gowns before Jay came in from the dorms.
"Hey Evie," Jay called as he came in the front door.
"Hey," she called as she continued to sketch. Scales was now purring at her feet. Jay came in with a perplexed look on his face. "What's wrong? Are you feeling alright?"
"Yeah," Jay took a step,"I've just got this heavy feeling in my chest after I talked to Doug."
"Oh," Evie looked back down. "How did that go?"
"Fine," Jay nodded,"He asked about you. If you made up your mind." This made Evie think about his offer to take him back. She recalled the thoughts she had before the senior send off. Would Carlos want to spend the rest of his life with her? She definitely did, but didn't know his feelings.
"Well if he's asking that question he doesn't know me well enough," Evie muttered. She knew Jay heard it. "He thinks he's changed. And I'm willing to forgive him for what he said, but not in the way he wants me to."
"That's respectable." These words made Evie feel weird. Was jay trying to tell her something? Her opinion is respected, but is it the right one. She hated this feeling of unknowing. She didn't want to get hurt, but she didn't want to make the wrong choice. Her stomach began to feel sick again. "Don't worry, reality will hit him and he'll move on."
Evie wished reality would hit her so she knew what to do about her mixed feelings.
It was the morning of VK day. Everyone was ready in Evie's new outfits she had made. Carlos loved his new jacket. It looked like his old one, but this one had no bad memories attached to it. The four of them reported to Ben's palace for instruction. He was only half listening because he was so excited. He knew many kids needed to get off that Isle.
"Here our your invites," Ben handed a rolled up paper to each of them. "A limo will take you over."
"You're not coming?" Mal asked.
"I think it will be better if you four go it alone. They know you better," Ben nodded. They were dismissed. Once they got to the limo, Jay climbed into the drivers seat, Carlos, Evie, and Mal got in the back.
Carlos looked at all the candy and tired not to take some. He gave up when Evie handed him a small peanut butter cup. His favorite. After eating it, Jay started up the engine, and they were on their way. Although this wasn't the first time they revisited the Isle, they were nervous to got back. Carlos glanced at Evie, who was sitting next to him. She had been awfully quiet lately.
He couldn't help but stare at her and wonder what she was thinking about. Her blue hair blended with her dress. Brown eyes her staring at the passing woods. Carlos could watch her forever, but once they got to the invisible bridge, Carlos looked over to Mal. Her eyes were trained on the water. He looked back at Evie to see her eyes were now on the Isle.
The white haired boy recalled to a few weeks ago when they moved into the house. How Evie didn't need to ask him what was wrong, she knew. She comforted him in no way anyone else could do. It was now his turn to give her that comfort. He grabbed her hand that lay on the seat between them. Her soft, coffee brown eyes looked up at him. She soon match his calm expression. Tears built up in her eyes. This was a big moment for her. It was her dream to have kids coming to Auardon. Carlos gave her a small grin.
Evie stared at him for a few more seconds before leaning her head down on his shoulder. Carlos let got of Evie's hand and put his arm around her, pulling her closer to him. This was what he wanted forever. The son of the Cruella DeVil and the daughter of the Evil Queen, together. The dream he had as a small kid on the Isle became reality to a young adult on Auradon.
Mal kept her eyes on the water. She was out there. Uma was planning something.
Ben had told her to relax, but how could she knowing Uma was still out there. Sure, its been many months since her disappearance, but Mal had a gut feeling. Auradon never seemed to be safe, and Mal wouldn't give up until it was. She would keep the guards watching until she resurfaced.
Her green eyes flickered to Carlos and Evie. Her head on his shoulder, and his arm pulled around her. She could see Jay through the rear view mirror. The three of them were very important in her life, and they knew that. Evie had been through so much in the past year. They all have. A year and a few months ago Mal though she would never get off of that Island, but now here she is. Not only did she get to go, she gets to call it her home, and bring more kids like her over. They had been helped by Auradon's goodness, and now it was their turn to give these kids the same chance.
Mal had accepted her reality. She would protect both of her homes with all of her strength. She would protect her friends for all of her life.
End of Reality
AN: Thanks for reading my story. It was just a little something that I wanted to write to get the next story set up. My next and final installment to the Descendants Universe will be coming soon. It'll be a parody of D3. I can't believe its been two years since I published my first chapter of The Magic in the Mirror. My writing had really grown since then. If there are any readers that were there from the beginning, thank you for sticking with me through all of this time. I hope you continue to read and completely finish this four part series.
Next: The Magic Of Your Choices