The sun shone brightly through the glass windows in Beast Castle. After everything that happened, to say the least, things felt normal again. Especially that of her relationship with her boyfriend.
Accompanying her to the council meeting in which they would decide for the second time whether Evie should be titled as a Princess, Evie couldn't have asked for a better person to be there. Hand in hand, Evie followed Doug though the wide, wooden doors that led them to the office wing of the castle.
They approached the council room, the open doors providing a clear view of the long table. Snow White was already mingling outside the room with once again Dopey and Prince Florian. As he noticed the couple, Dopey chuckled and bowed as Evie walked past. She giggled at his gesture, believing her boyfriend definitely got some of his dad's silliness.
"Princess Evie," Prince Florian greeted her, Evie's cheeks turning a rosy pink. Flustered by his greeting, she quickly shook her head.
"It has yet to be given to me," she said humbly. Snow White gave her a look, as if to question her statement.
"After how you stood up to the Southern Isles and courageously rose against the hostility, rationally bringing the Isles and Arendelle together again, you're more than capable of being a Princess by law. You're already a Princess in your heart," Snow White said, taking her step-sister's hand, smiling.
Evie's blush grew and she kindly thanked her. Suddenly standing in the room amongst the council members, she felt shy and anxious. Granted, this meeting would change her life, so there was good reasoning behind her nerves.
She followed Dopey, Snow and Prince Florian into the room. They took their seats in the area labeled "Charmington." Doug pulled up two spare chairs and to Evie's relief, took her hand, holding it.
As they sat awaiting Ben and Mal to arrive, Doug conversed with his dad and Aunt. Evie's mind floated elsewhere as she observed the people of the council, the same people who deemed her a villian. An evil, cruel and dangerous villain.
Knowing that they had been proved wrong, she only hoped they would change their minds about the title. Her thoughts remained positive as she listened in on the other's conversation.
That is until a short man with a horribly placed toupée, arrived with two men at his side. He smoothed the false hair and looked around expecting to be greeted. In turn, he was snubbed by the people in the room.
Silently taking his seat, his face reddening out of embarrassment and he made eye contact with Evie. Glancing away in disgust, he dangled his legs from the chair as he was too short to touch the ground.
Only a few more minutes passed before the purple-haired fairy walked in the room, arm in arm with her fiancé. As they mingled with those who grabbed their attention first, they eventually were able to make their way to Evie.
Giving her best friend a hug, Mal excitedly asked her about the abdication of the throne. As though she wanted to attend, the soon to be Queen was getting used to her new duty. That duty also prevented her from seeing her friends like she used to.
With new protocol and security measures, Mal no longer could go places without a security sweep.
"Oh, Evie. I'm glad you didn't take the throne," Mal said, hugging her friend again. "I didn't want you to lose everything you've already worked for. Being Queen isn't what it seems," she whispered to her and they let go.
Mal turned to Doug and gave him a friendly wave, receiving one back. Ben greeting the rest of the Charmington district, receiving the statement of the region's development.
Catching up with each other as friends, the Evie and Mal nearly forgot why they were there. Ben cleared his throat and the two young women turned and Mal quickly said goodbye to Evie before walking to the front podium.
"We will begin if everyone is settled," Ben said looking around to his council, the people drawing their attention to the front.
"As always, the reading."
Fairy Godmother pulled out the scroll, the rest of the people standing. This time around Evie, wasn't as surprised as the first time around. Though the look on Doug's face as he watched the council recite the scroll, almost made her crack up. She stifled a laugh and leaned over his way, whispering what Snow White had told her the last time around.
With a nod of his head in understanding, they took their seats like everyone else.
This time, Mal stood up and took to the podium. "Council members, I would like to draw your attention to our order of meeting today. As you know, this is an impromptu meeting, held in honor of the restoration of my good friend, Evie Queen—"
The Duke of Weselton stood from his seat. "I object. There is misuse of the crown. And she's a Westergaard"
"Objection overruled. Duke of Weselton, if you continue to express a clear dislike of another citizen of Auradon as a regional representative, I will have to enlist a council vote to remove you," Ben said as he rose from his chair next to Mal. They glanced at each other for a moment, sharing thoughts before Mal cleared her throat and continued.
"Ms. Queen as she is legally referred to now, would like to ask for your support in adopting a title, presented by her sister, Queen Snow White of Charmington. Ms, White, you please stand?"
Snow stood up and smiled softly at her sister before looking around the room at the other members.
"It is with immense joy that I support the renewal of a title for Ms. Queen. The terrible actions taken place in the Southern Isles made it so that Evie was slandered, shunned and made a fool of. Therefore, I would like to give my younger sister the title that is rightfully owed to her. As my step-sister, she is able to gain the title of Princess of Charmington."
She looked down to where Evie gave her a small smile and directed her attention back to the rest of the council.
"So, with permission granted from King Ben and his fiancée Mal, I would like to extend the right for you all to vote on the matter. I yield my time to Fairy Godmother to carry on with the voting agenda."
Snow White sat down and patted Evie's arm. As Fairy Godmother thanked the Queen of Charmington, she rose from her seat and handed out the ballots.
Silence and uncertainty filled the atmosphere. Evie tried not to look around the room to see how the leaders of the regions were reacting and what they were choosing. She found the eye contact of Aurora, who gave her a warm smile. The former sleeping beauty glanced at the ballot her husband filled out and quickly shook her head at him. Taking the pen in her own hand, she requested a new ballot crumpling the initial one, much to Prince Phillip's dismay.
The clock ticked as the ten minute mark drew closer and closer. Her palms began to sweat, Evie taking hold of Doug's hand who was equally as unsettled as she was.
"And that would be time," Fairy Godmother announced. She collected the slips of paper and placed them in a basket. She went to the podium where she quickly gave both Ben and Mal an head nod. They stepped down and she took the stand.
Counting the votes on her own, Fairy Godmother's face lit up with every vote as she tried to keep the excitement to a minimum. Once she finished counting, unlike the the last meeting, she smiled.
"My dear. I'm so very pleased for Miss Queen," she began. "Your new title will be bestowed upon you in the coming month's time. Congratulations. 3 regions opposed and 16 regions wonderfully sent their support."
Fairy Godmother left the stand as Evie turned to Doug a smile on her face. She quickly wrapped her arms around him, as he did the same. The Duke of Weselton shuffled his papers and grabbed the ends of his coat sash. Standing—more like jumping out of the leather seat, he huffed and left the room before the members were even dismissed. His guards followed him out of the room, one lagging behind.
The guard made his way to the front, placing a letter by Ben and Mal. Each confused, Ben opened it and stifled a laugh. He handed it to Mal who audible rejoiced, but quickly covered her mouth. She set the letter aside and Ben took the stand.
"I assume we are all aware of the member who left without consultation. It seems as though the Duke resigns the council member to represent the sub-region of The Southern Isles within the region of Arendelle. We will resume that matter privately. Hence my dismissal of you all this afternoon. Thank you for your time. Feel free to congratulate with Miss Queen." Ben said stepping off the stand.
Within moments after the dismissal, Evie found herself surrounded by Doug, Mal, Ben, Dopey, Snow and Florian.
The group gravitated outside the room, members who voted in favor, wishing Evie the best with gentle shoulder pats.
As the chatting quieted and both Mal and Ben were called by Fairy Godmother to send a notice to the Southern Isles of the Duke's resignation, Florian, Snow And Dopey followed Evie and Doug out of Beast Castle.
They stood by their cars and coordinated another meeting, since that would likely be the last time for some few months they'd see each other.
"Take care," Dopey said as Florian and Snow waved from ahead of him.
"Thanks, you too," Evie said with a wave. She took Doug's hand, her feet carrying her on clouds.
She was indeed on air.
Though they had driven to Beast Castle, it was mutually decided that they'd roam the gardens, just the two of them.
Since their turbulent visit to the Southern Isles, things had patched up between them smoothly. Walking the path they both knew all too well, they stopped at the fountain that carved as a bouquet of roses. Evie threw a coin, watching it hit the surface with a bounce and sink to the bottom.
"Can you believe it?" she asked him quietly. Doug turned to her and smiled, pulling her close into a hug.
"Yeah, but maybe it's because I refer to you as a Princess even without the legality of it" he said chuckling. Evie's embrace fell limp as she separated from his arms. Doug frowned at her sudden action.
"You saw it all along" Evie said looking away. She resorted to staring at the calm of the water running out of the top of the roses.
Doug cocked his head and shook his head. "No, no. I didn't mean it like that. I just meant that with or without the title, you'll always be my Princess"
"Oh," Evie blushed. She came back into his embrace, giggling to herself. "I guess I am. And you'll always be my prince"
Through Doug's eyes, Evie was everything and even more than he ever imagined. She was a princess, a warrior and a brainiac all in one. She was his everything, as he was hers.
"Well, what do you say, Princess Evie of Charmington? Shall we continue on?" Doug questioned, her head slightly nodding. He gently lifted her off her feet and twirled her around before landing her back on her heels.
Hand in hand, the two strolled along the path of the gardens, the aroma of roses and blossoms filling their nostrils in the company of each other. They knew what mattered and that was all they needed for now. Simply a warm hand and the special someone they love by their side.
Her crown is not visible, despite the many jewels it possesses. Beyond the golden aura, there is something more. Something that speaks louder than any treasured piece that may be forever lost.
Out of maturity and kindness, determination and confidence, Evie maintained her crown. Yes, she was vulnerable like any being may be, yet she still rose with authenticity in herself. Though she may wear golden crowns of rubies and sapphires, the crown that gives her the strength of royalty, is within her heart.