Chapter Seventeen
With the official announcement of the villain kids' continued stay in Auradon, treatment towards Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had improved considerably. However, the students were still wary of them and kept their distance, but it was better than being openly discriminated against.
As Fairy Godmother had mentioned, a countdown to the Midyear Ball had begun. The big event proved to be a good distraction from everything—not only from the recent issue, but also from academics and responsibilities—as the majority of the student body focused their attention on preparing for the party.
Mal navigated through the hallways of the Main Building as she made her way to Fairy Godmother's office for this week's session. Though she had never been one for parties, seeing all these people hurrying about with outfits or decorations in their arms piqued her interest.
Upon reaching her destination, the purple-haired girl knocked softly on the door of the office. She twisted the knob and pushed the door open, only to see the fairy nowhere in sight and Queen Belle sitting on one of the armchairs.
Mal gasped in surprise. "Your Majesty.", she said, immediately sinking down to a curtsy.
The queen smiled at her. "I thought I told you that there's no need to be so formal."
"It wouldn't be right, Your Majesty.", Mal said, her head bowed down. "Not after everything I've done."
"Why don't you take a seat?", Belle offered. "I requested Fairy Godmother to let me take over the counselling for today."
Mal tried to keep the nervousness hidden on her face. She sat down and waited patiently for the queen to continue speaking.
"I heard everything that has happened from Fairy Godmother.", Queen Belle began. "And I forgive you, Mal."
Mal's head snapped up in shock. Did she hear the queen's words correctly?
"But why?", Mal asked in disbelief. "I almost destroyed Auradon. I spelled your son and broke your trust."
"My husband says I've always been too kind.", Belle said, a laugh escaping from her lips. "When I planned to take in children from the Isle, I knew it wouldn't be easy. You've been taught evil your whole life, and it's not as if we can change that in the blink of an eye. As the queen, I was prepared for the consequences."
"You knew Auradon could be at risk, and yet you still wanted us here?"
"Yes. The children of the villains did nothing wrong, and yet they carry the burden of their parents' sins. I found that extremely unfair. Of course, I hoped for you to live among the citizens of Auradon someday, but I wanted to at least give you a choice if you wished to be here in Auradon or back at the Isle."
"When Fairy Godmother talked to the four of you, you all expressed the desire to stay here, to choose good. That was enough reason for me to let you stay.", the queen continued to explain.
The older woman's face suddenly tightened, and her mouth was set into a grim line. "As a mother, however, it's a different matter altogether."
Mal nodded, anticipating just as much.
"Ultimately, Ben was the most hurt out of everyone, but I still stand by what I said to you at the castle. You make him happy. Perhaps you did pretend at first, but the situation has changed now. Fairy Godmother has informed me of your feelings for my son."
The young girl smiled sadly. "My feelings don't matter anymore, Your Majesty. Nothing can ever change the fact that I hurt Ben. I'm sure he doesn't feel anything for me but hate."
Queen Belle clasped her hands together. "My son hasn't been the same since things ended with the two of you. He's too quiet, too reserved. All he ever does is study, accomplish his duties as a prince, or do sports. I've tried to get him to open up, but he never says anything."
"I don't quite understand what you mean, Your Majesty."
"Mal, I'm telling you to go talk to him. It wouldn't hurt to explain your side."
"What if he doesn't want to talk or forgive me?", the girl asked worriedly.
"Then I suppose that's the end. You two will at least both be able to let go and move on.", the queen said sadly. "But don't you think it will be a good place to start over? No regrets and no reminders of the past."
Mal thought about the queen's suggestion. Hoping that Ben would take her back in was too much of a reach, but maybe this could be her first step to a new life, one where him walking right past her wouldn't hurt anymore.
She leaned over and gave Belle a hug, much to the queen's surprise. "Thank you, Queen Belle.", Mal said softly.
Belle returned the girl's hug and squeezed her reassuringly. "You are always welcome, Mal."
"Carlos, will you stand still?", Evie snapped as she held a measuring tape near the boy's legs. With the Midyear Ball commencing in less than two weeks, the bluenette was also in a whirl over the production of the outfits that the villain kids would be wearing.
Evie had complained that, lately, staying in the dorms or in the Fashion Design studio—where she was now able to work comfortably— was too claustrophobic for her creative spirit, so she dragged everyone out to the picnic tables near the locker area.
"Mal, save me!", Carlos cried out, spotting the purple-haired girl walking through the grass towards where they were.
Mal shook her head. "You know no one can stop Evie when she's like this, not even me."
"Carlos, if you don't hold still, I'm making you wear pants to the ball.", Evie threatened, making the younger boy freeze and stand stiffly in his position. It had taken him a whole lot of arguing to persuade the girl to let him wear shorts, and he didn't want Evie to change her mind about it.
"How was counselling?", Jay asked.
"Same old, same old.", Maleficent's daughter muttered, not really wanting to repeat the details of her conversation with Belle. Besides, it seemed like their talk was private, meant only for the two of them.
"Mal, it's your turn.", Evie declared as she held up the measuring tape with Carlos scampering away in relief.
"I still don't get the point of us attending the ball. It's not required anyway, and I'm pretty sure everyone would feel uncomfortable with us there.", Mal said, walking over to stand beside her best friend.
"Who cares what others think?", Evie piped up. "Fairy Godmother said it was okay to go, so we'll go! It'll be a good opportunity for us to take our minds off of everything that has happened."
"For once, I agree with Evie on this one.", Jay butted in.
"If attending means getting to eat tasty food, then there are no complaints from me.", Carlos agreed.
"Alright, alright. We're attending.", Mal conceded. After all, this was the first time in a long while that she had seen her friends' spirits up, and they really did deserve this chance to have fun. She realized that she might also get the chance to talk to Ben during the ball.
"If it isn't the evil quartet.", a high-pitched voice suddenly spoke up. The villain kids turned around to see Audrey, Chad, and a few students behind them. "I don't understand how you can all manage to still be here. If I were you, I would have gone back to the Isle myself where you rightfully belong."
"If anyone here belongs to the Isle, it's you!", Evie spat out at Aurora's daughter.
Mal gripped the bluenette's elbow. A small crowd had begun to gather noisily, and she didn't want to attract any more attention. "Leave it, E. She's not worth it.", the purple-haired girl said.
Audrey's nostrils flared, not liking how quick Mal was to ignore her. "I hoped you would get the memo and willingly leave when I posted your plans on the school board. But apparently, you're too thick-headed to understand that you're not wanted here. As much as you act all goody-goody, you will never become like one of us! You will always be nothing more but the evil spawn of evil villains!"
"You're behind the anonymous post?", Mal asked quietly, her eyes flashing bright green.
"Yes!", Audrey announced proudly. "When you were having your little breakdown in the kitchen, I overheard everything. Auradon should thank me for exposing you for who you really are."
"Don't act so innocent in all of this, Audrey.", Mal began. "It was you who planned on introducing me to Queen Leah, who wanted me out of Auradon, who made all of this into a big issue. I can handle anything you throw at me, but I will never forgive you for dragging my friends into this mess!
"I admit that I did scheme to bring about the downfall of Auradon, but there's one thing you didn't tell everyone. It's that I didn't want to continue my plan any longer. It's that I'm done with being evil."
The crowd of people fell silent at Mal's words. A single thought entered their minds. Had they completely misjudged Maleficent's daughter?
"If you value your pretty face, I suggest you leave us alone.", Mal threatened, looking straight into the princess's eyes. Audrey squeaked in fear at the intensity of Mal's piercing gaze.
Without another word, Mal turned to walk away from the scene, and Jay and Carlos followed her. Evie remained, her eyes going from Audrey to Chad standing nearby. Cinderella's son seemed to be rooted to his place in the grass, probably in terror of Mal. After all, the purple-haired girl had given him before an apple poisoned with the Apple Poisoning Spell, making him act wildly and shamefully for a day.
Evie took a deep breath and addressed Chad.
"I don't want to sit by idly either while you treat us as inferior.", the bluenette said quietly. "You're an arrogant jerk, Chad, and you used me. You may call yourself a prince, but you will never come close to being one."
Having said everything on her mind, Evie hurried to follow her friends. The remaining people in the area stood shell-shocked at what had transpired. Later that night, Pixie was overflowing with apologies from the students of Auradon Prep. They had been too quick to judge the villain kids, and they voiced their complete acceptance of Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos.