Chapter Twenty One
A/N: I do not own anything with the exception of my OCs, who as always are free to own.
*lies on the floor panting* Twenty. Five. Pages. How did this chapter end up being longer than the last one? At least this one didn't cause me to fight the urge to run from the room. *takes deep breath* It's alright, that chapter's over, I can go back to skipping those scenes whenever I watch D2 now.
Everyone still doing alright? Also, how are we almost in August? Time feels like it's slowly trickling by and yet at the same time going by way too fast.
Oh and yes I did borrow a bit from How to Train Your Dragon. It's one of my favorite non-Disney movies, that and the Road to El Dorado which shall be referenced in the next story I write!
Shayging518: Oh, thank you! Glad you're enjoying it! :D
61394: *shrugs* could the fight have been better? Yes. Did they make Uma way too cocky for someone who just saw their rival turn into a dragon? Yes. Is it still my favorite scene in the movie? You Bet!
As for Captain Sparrow being mentioned...ask and you'll receive!
KayeBell: I'm glad you liked it! Hope you like this chapter! :D
Tracie: Hope you enjoy!
SaurusRock625: Also known as the best scene in the movie! Well, tied with the True Love's Kiss.
NightShock99: I have a theory that Belle and Beast didn't know how Ben broke up with Audrey hence why they never said anything to Ben. However they were close enough to hear Ben tell Mal 'You knew we weren't meant to be together. That's why you never told me you loved me.' Yeah I know the boy was spelled but that was still way too harsh.
AmethystDragon14: Oh I'm so glad! :D Thank you for all your help with this chapter, I couldn't have done it without you! And no, you weren't missing anything. As I said, it was twenty two pages long and I was running out of steam. I was tired, not evil.
Grace: Oh thank you! Yeah Fairy Godmother really took a while to realize that Carlos and Jane were on a date. As for Mal, well the heart can blind you into missing the obvious. Glad you liked the chapter!
danifan3000: Uma does know she's Poseidon's granddaughter but she'll learn about her connection to Mal in the Watching D3 story. Hadie is Mal's half brother, they'd be close regardless of Uma's connection to them.
OceanBlueSeaEyes: Yep, Dragon Mal has come to play. The way I saw it when I was writing was that no one was watching Mal but a dragon is pretty hard to miss :D Oh I know exactly what you mean and now that's going to be in my head the rest of the time I write this!
Hufflepuffgirl95: Glad you liked it! Hope you enjoy this one!
aviendha15: That's a good point that Uma couldn't get through the barrier but why not go to Auradon and petition Ben to get her crew out? Instead she wandered the earth for at least a year while Harry and the others stayed on the Isle. If you couldn't tell, I'm not the biggest Uma fan-at least for D2 Uma. But you're right, they did make that hair look natural!
Guest: Well considering Fairy Godmother's the only one who ever calls for the guards, they might have assumed they weren't needed.
manticore-gurl071134: Oh thank you!
lilyflower101: Gladly!
twilightgirl587: Yeah, Ariel's kids are related to Mal and Hadie. So in the family tree of things, Uma and Ariel would be first cousins since Ursula is Ariel's aunt, making Uma first cousin once removed to Elle and Melody. Mal, as Hades' daughter, would be first cousin to Triton, making Elle and Melody first cousins twice removed to Mal. And then there's the fact that they're also related to Hercules and his kids since that lot is related to Zeus. The Greek Gods, ladies and gentlemen. It's safer to assume everyone's related (also known as the motto for OUAT.)
Ayakitten83: Never anger a dragon! :D
CrystalKaouri: Oh yeah that was not my favorite part of the movie. As I've stated before, it actively gets skipped; the last time I saw the Cotillion scene was when it aired on the Disney Channel live. I briefly stopped rooting for Ben until I realized he was spelled. But I'm so glad you liked the chapter and same to you, please stay safe!
Kaybugg1: I'm glad you liked it! Yeah, I have a theory that Chip would have been like an older brother to Ben. A nine years older brother but an older brother nonetheless. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Technobabble1: You gave me a good idea, why wouldn't I listen to it? Besides, Eric is my favorite animated Disney Prince (Kit and Ben are tied for my favorite Live Action Disney Prince). I'm glad you liked the chapter, I was worried I hadn't done it justice. I didn't want to rush through the chapter despite my loathing for the scene. Aw, thank you! Yeah I wish Emir and Akiho were in the movies too though the funny thing is they are in the Tourney scene in D1. They just don't get any speaking lines! I don't know what Hook did to screw up Harry but clearly he did something! I hope you like this chapter!
chychy1996Thomas: Oh I'm so glad you liked it!
Guest: Ask and you'll receive :D
Anonymous: Oh thank you! Hope you like this chapter!
Buzzemz: Oh I'm so glad you liked the chapter! Please don't yeet your iPad-at least not while all the shutdowns are in place. No I can't say I've ever seen Ever After High but then again I think that was made for people a bit younger than myself. And of course I read the reviews-you all take the time to write them. The least I can do is read them :D
Raabe: Oh I'm so glad you like my stories! I won't spoil anything for this chapter but I will say that I think people will like it. Hopefully.
Guest999: You think that's bad? My father says it as often as he can. It's where I got the inspiration. As for Mal? Well she was a bit devastated seeing Ben and Uma on screen, I think we can give her a pass. :D
TR Lara Croft: Yeah, Akiho did a great job at stopping Ben from almost being dragon chow!
SlytherinAvengerPrincess: No, I don't think there are enough 'h's'-I'm sorry, I thought I was being gentle! Trust me I hate upsetting Mal, and I'm the writer! I wanted to write more of a reaction from Belle but then I realized Belle scolding Ben for something he hadn't done yet seemed a bit...shall we say harsh? I needed to take my time with the last chapter-I couldn't even get through the script part without my urge to run away hitting me hard. Hopefully you'll like this chapter!
Hope you all enjoy! Please let me know your thoughts!
The room grew silent as everyone stared at the dragon that was formerly known as Mal. No one knew exactly what to do. Would Mal attack them if they made any movements?
However, it seemed like Mal only had eyes for Uma as she continued to glare at the daughter of Ursula. Uma, it seemed, had frozen in fear at the sight of a dragon though she'd probably never admit that.
"Has she always been able to do that?" Jay muttered to Evie.
"You've known her the longest of all of us!" Evie exclaimed, looking at Jay in shock. "If you don't know, what makes you think Carlos or I would?"
"Yeah but you're the only other 'magic' person in our group, your mother being the Evil Queen and all that. I thought you two talked about stuff like that."
"Says the son of Jafar! Wouldn't you also be someone she could go to regarding her powers? Your dad wishing to be an all powerful genie and all that?"
Carlos rolled his eyes and scooped up Dude. While he knew Mal wouldn't harm the four legged friend, it was better to be safe than sorry. "Okay, okay. Think we could maybe focus on Mal being a dragon rather than which one of us should have known she could transform into a dragon?"
"Fair enough," Jay nodded. "Though I think Mal's more focused on making Uma dragon chow at the moment."
"Don't say I blame her," Evie muttered. "Their feud is one thing I'll never understand but it's just between them and our gangs. Uma brought Ben into it though and it's clear that Mal cares for Ben deeply."
"Ben is Mal's," Jay said simply. "Anyone with eyes could see that and now Mal's making it known for the people without eyes."
Meanwhile, Harry had reclaimed his spot by Uma's side and was glaring down Mal, standing a bit in front of Uma to protect her.
"Hook, I wouldn't do that if I were you!" Phillip Jr shouted as Audrey checked on their father who had once again gone still as memories from his face off with Maleficent came to the forefront of his mind. Though, as everyone with the exception of Uma, Gil and Harry had been at coronation and had seen Maleficent in all her dragonish evilness, no one could blame him.
"And why not, Beauty Boy?"
"Out of the two of us, which one has more knowledge on dragons?" Phillip Jr asked. "Me, the guy who's father faced off against one, or you who's father's the pirate captain from Neverland? Have many dragons in Neverland or the Isle?"
Harry's response was cut off by a roar from Mal as she shot a plume of fire toward the ceiling.
"Gil!" Harry shouted as he stood back up once the fire cleared; having ducked upon Mal letting the flame loose in case there wasn't enough distance between his head and the fire. "Get Uma as far from Mal as you can!"
"Harry, what are you—"
"That's an order, Gil!" Harry growled and his hand reached for his belt only to find his sword wasn't there. Granted it had never been there but this was the first time the son of Hook had noticed.
Blast it, I don't have my sword, Harry thought. Okay, so I'll just go up against the daughter of Maleficent armed with nothing but my hook and my good looks. And Mal's a dragon. This should go well.
"Mal!" Harry shouted, causing Mal to remove her gaze from Uma for the first time as she looked over at Harry. Gil took the opportunity to begin leading Uma away.
"Gil, let me go," Uma growled as Mal slowly began making her way toward Harry. There was no way her first mate was going to become Mal's lunch.
"Harry said it was an order—"
"Who's the captain here? Me or Harry?"
"Well I'm sorry Uma but when Mal's a dragon and is glaring daggers at you, I'm following the order that keeps my captain from being dragon chow!" Gil exclaimed, shocking Uma who hadn't expected the blond to stand up to her like that. Sadly, the argument had also caused them to regain Mal's attention as she turned toward them; her tail sending Harry crashing into a wall.
"Mal, don't!" Ben shouted and tried to run to her but found himself restrained in the arms of his best friends.
"I wouldn't get in the middle of that, Ben," Akiho muttered.
"Yeah, Mal doesn't strike me as someone in the mood to talk," Emir nodded. "Besides, what if you got hit by the fire or sent careening into the wall by her tail?"
"I have to agree Ben, as the 'unofficial heir' I've seen what your job entails," Emma stated. "I don't want it. Stop being in a hurry to give it to me!"
"But someone has to—"
"Agreed Ben, but you're the king," Emir stated. "You can't just jump in-between a dragon and its prey. Even if that dragon is Mal, someone we all know and like."
Mal, though, had paid no attention to the conversation between Ben and his friends but had pounced on Uma; trapping the other girl between her legs and knocking Gil off balance. In fact he stumbled straight into Macaria.
"Oh!" Macaria exclaimed and helped Gil up, flushing a little at the contact. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Gil nodded as Mal roared. "Excuse me I have to—"
"I know," Macaria nodded as she looked over at her cousin in her dragon form before looking back at Gil. "Um, don't hurt Mal?"
"I'm more worried about Mal hurting me," Gil joked and Macaria chuckled.
"Oh gods, you can flirt later!" Hyllus exclaimed and pulled his sister back. "Besides, it looks like Neverland's taking over now."
"What do you mean?" Gil asked but looked over at Mal. If one looked closely, they could see a boy in green tights flying underneath Mal's legs and scooping Uma up bridal style before flying off; the dragon being distracted by the fairies of Pixie Hollow and Roman Fairy.
"Pan, put me down!" Uma exclaimed as they flew toward the ceiling. Peter ignored her though.
Mal roared once more and moved to follow, but found she couldn't reach Peter or Uma with her head from her spot on the ground. Unfurling her wings, she gave a tentative flap and smirked, if a dragon could smirk, as her body was lifted off the ground.
"Uh Peter?!" Jane Darling shouted from her spot on the ground. "She can fly!"
"She can fly?" Peter shouted back.
"She can fly!" Uma exclaimed as Mal began to soar after them. "Pan, put me down. It's time to Jack Sparrow this beastie!"
"You do know what happened to Sparrow when he faced off against the kraken, right?" Peter asked, flying as fast as he could to keep out of reach of Mal's jaws. The brief unit on Jack Sparrow in History was the only lesson that Peter really paid attention to even if Sparrow was a stinky pirate. "I doubt you'll get a second life especially since you don't have a sword and I'm not giving you my dagger. Besides, I'm in no mood to be eaten today!"
"Hades, do something!" Persephone exclaimed as Mal continued to chase Peter and Uma around the ceiling like an extreme game of cat and mouse. There were a few instances where Peter was able to get some distance as Mal was still a little unsteady on her wings and nearly crashed upon taking turns too sharply.
"What do you want me to do?" Hades asked, his eyes frantically following the action on the ceiling. "It's not like I can speak dragon! Besides, there's only one thing Mal's after right now and she's in the arms of Peter Pan. If Mal's anything like Maleficent, she'll have a one track mind until she gets the thing she's after."
"If you don't figure something out Hades, Mal'll kill Uma," Poseidon pointed out.
"Yes thank you brother. How could I have figured that out without your insight? And when did you even get here?"
"I've always been here."
"Well you could have spoken up!"
"Hades, don't snap at him," Zeus told him. "Poseidon's worried. Uma's his granddaughter after all."
And Mal's my daughter you lightning obsessed windbag. I'd like to avoid her becoming a murderer, Hades thought but only glared at Zeus considering neither Harry nor Uma nor Gil knew about his relation to Mal. He wasn't going to lie, he was extremely proud of Mal—transformations were no easy bits of magic.
Ben frowned as he watched Mal continue to pursue Uma, who was still yelling at Peter Pan to put her down. He had to do something. He knew Mal wouldn't be happy if she actually hurt or killed Uma, even if the rage she was feeling right now told her otherwise.
Looking at Harry, who seemed to be slightly recovered from his trip careening into the wall, Ben suddenly got an idea. An idea that he knew his friends would probably describe as insane. Ducking under Akiho's arms, Ben rushed over to the son of Hook; ignoring the calls from his friends to come back.
"Take me hostage," he said as he approached Harry and Harry stared at him.
"Beastie, I know I just took a trip into that wall but I think you're the one with brain damage."
Ben rolled his eyes. "Mal's after Uma to protect me. Well, if you're the one holding me hostage then she'll stop pursuing Uma."
Harry continued to stare at Ben but Ben was done waiting. Grabbing Harry's arm that held his hook, Ben held it to his neck.
"Mal!" Ben shouted, hoping he sounded at least terrified enough to convince Mal that this was really happening, and caught Mal's attention. Mal growled and stopped her pursuit upon seeing Harry's hook at Ben's neck. Landing in front of the pirate and his captive, Mal let out a low roar.
Ben pushed Harry away from him none too gently, accidentally scratching himself with the hook. "Mal, it's okay," he said softly as he walked slowly toward Mal; his hand outstretched. "I trust you. You weren't going to hurt him just like you're not going to hurt me."
Everyone watched, breathless, as Ben continued to inch toward Mal; the dragon growling slightly but showing no other urge to hurt Ben. Ben tentatively put his hand on her nose and Mal seemed to almost lean into the touch, her eyes softening and giving Ben a small smile. If a dragon could smile, that is.
"Let's go sit down," Ben whispered and went back to his seat, Mal following him and curling up around Ben; growling at anyone who dared look in Ben's direction.
"So is it wrong that my first thought was that this is a good thing?" Adam/Beast whispered to Belle.
"If you mean 'is it wrong that our son just became the most protected person in the kingdom' then no," Belle said, shaking her head.
"The question is now, how do we get her to turn back," Adam/Beast said and Belle sighed.
"My guess is that until the threat to Ben is gone on screen, Mal'll stay like this until she knows Ben's safe."
The Blue Fairy cleared her throat. "Shall we continue?"
"Yes, Blue Fairy," Ben nodded from his spot next to Mal.
Peter Pan floated down to the ground and set Uma down, Harry and Gil waiting to grab her if needed. Uma, though, just held up her hand to stop her first mate and crew mate from leading her to their seats and sat down.
"Ben." Uma gasped, grabbing his hand and looking at him; staring into his eyes.
Mal growled, glaring at Uma as she curled up closer around Ben.
"I think she's saying 'don't even think about it'," Elle said softly.
"I'd say that's a safe bet," Macaria nodded.
"Uma found your spell book," Evie said as Mal nodded,
"And water's wet," Audrey said with a sigh. "We're just noting the obvious aren't we?"
a look of gleeful hatred on her face while Evie still looked on in fear.
Harry held back a sigh at the look on the on-screen Mal's face. There was a time when that look would have been directed at the blue haired girl next to her rather than his captain. Then again, he would have been by Uma and Mal's side as well.
But after Mal made Uma a laughingstock on the Isle with that shrimp bucket, did she really expect Harry to stand by her side? All Mal needed to do was apologize for that and they would have still been a crew!
"Just look at me," Uma whispered to Ben, gesturing between the two of them.
"I think he'd rather be looking at Mal," Robin muttered.
"What's the point of spelling him if you have to constantly remind him to look at you?" Ashaki asked. "Unless the spell was wearing off but that would be a really weak spell then."
Mal looked from the two of them to the stained glass window of her and Ben. She looked back at Ben and walked toward him.
"Mal's getting an idea," Aziz said with a small smile.
"Ben." Mal said, causing Uma to quickly turn her head while Ben slowly looked over at Mal. "Ben."
Mal walked over to the two of them, causing some of the Cotillion goers to gasp softly.
"And we're gasping again," Hyllus groaned. "Mal's not even doing anything all that shocking!"
"I don't know, after Ben announcing Uma'll be his lady I think seeing Mal walking anywhere near him would be shocking," Herkie pointed out and Mal growled softly at the reminder.
"But we all know Ben's spelled," Macaria stated. "Mal could be walking forward to break the spell."
"Look at me," Mal said, firmly as she looked straight at Ben.
Gladly, Ben thought with a small smile and Mal seemed to relax as her on-screen self looked at Ben. At least her tail seemed to not be as close to Ben as it had been.
"No, look at me," Uma commanded, standing next to Mal and Ben looked at her, breaking the eye contact he had had with Mal. "You love me, remember?"
"Her hypnosis is weaker than her mother's," Eric muttered. While his memories were hazy, he didn't recall ever having to constantly be looking into Ursula's eyes while he was under her spell.
"No, you don't." Mal said, sounding almost amused.
"You seem amused by that, Mal," Emma chuckled and Mal snorted, the resulting breeze messing up Ben's hair a little but the king only laughed.
"Yes, you do."
"Ben, look at me," Mal said gently and Ben looked back at Mal.
"How is it fair that he has such gorgeous eyes?" Rose muttered. "Audrey and Mal are the two luckiest girls in the kingdom, getting to look into those eyes whenever they want."
"Well, Mal's the luckiest girl since Audrey let her ability to look into those eyes slip through her fingers," Rowyn muttered to her sister, not realizing that Audrey had heard her.
They have a point, the small bitter voice that sounded like her grandmother rang through Audrey's head. You spent years preparing to be Queen and Mal came along and snatched Ben away. He and the crown slipped through your fingers.
Audrey shook her head softly, taking care to not be noticed by her parents. What was going on with her? She was fine with Mal and Ben now.
I spent too much time around Grammy at the salon, Audrey thought firmly. That's all that is.
"Bring down the barrier now!" Uma commanded, yelling at and storming over to Fairy Godmother as Ben glanced over at her.
"Yeah that's not going to happen," Rachel scoffed. "The only people Fairy Godmother takes orders from are Ben, King Beast and Queen Belle."
"Possibly Mal," Evan added.
"True," Rachel added. "And Mal," she amended.
"I do not take orders from you!" Fairy Godmother stated as the crowd began to mutter amongst themselves in shock.
"You tell her, mom!" Jane smiled at her mom's strength. With how Ben was acting, there could have been the risk of getting thrown in the dungeon for refusing.
"Ben?" Uma asked, her voice tense as she turned back to Ben.
"Ben, I never told you that I loved you because I thought that I wasn't good enough." Mal said, her voice breaking slightly as Ben continued to stare at her.
Persephone sighed and tears welled in the corner of her eyes as she listened to Mal's speech. Damn you Maleficent, she thought. Mal may have been born to you but you were never her mother. A real mother would have made sure Mal knew she was good enough for Ben. If you hadn't made it impossible for Hades to raise Mal the way he should have… Mal is my daughter and if anyone says otherwise, they can fight me on it. The Gods haven't smote anyone in a while, we could use the practice.
"And I thought that it was only a matter of time before you realized that yourself."
"Never," Ben whispered, placing a hand on the side of Mal's head. "It's you and me, Mal. I promise."
"Please," Uma muttered.
"Hey, it's Mal's time to talk," Macaria said with a glare. "Why don't you zip it?"
"But, Ben, that's me!" Mal said, continuing like Uma hadn't said anything, and gesturing to the stained glass window. "I'm part Isle and part Auradon."
Just like me, Hadie thought with pride as he smiled a little; happy to have another thing in common with his sister. Hey, maybe I can transform too! After all Uncle Zeus once transformed into a swan!
"Ben, eyes over here." Uma said firmly, turning Ben toward her.
Mal growled from her spot around Ben and she brought her tail in as if to bring Ben closer to her. Though, if that was possible was hard to tell considering how close her tail already was to Ben.
"It's okay Mal," Ben said softly. "This hasn't happened yet. Please change back. As admittedly awesome it is to be sitting next to a dragon, I'd rather be sitting next to my girlfriend."
The only response he got was a small snort as Mal continued to level a glare toward Uma. Uma, Ben noted, showed no fear other than her face going a bit pale.
"Ben, I think you're the only one to consider sitting next to a dragon as 'awesome'," Jay told him and Ben shrugged.
"He gets that from his mother," Adam/Beast said, shaking his head.
"Really dear?"
"Voluntarily giving up your freedom to spend a lifetime with a Beast ring any bells, Belle?"
"And, Ben," Mal said as Ben's eyes flicked back to her even as his body was turned toward Uma,
Macaria smirked. "Can't even hold his attention when his body's facing toward her," she muttered. Good, hopefully the spell will be broken soon and Mal and Ben can get their relationship back on track. My cousin deserves to be happy—and yeah I know Uma's technically my cousin too since she's Poseidon's granddaughter and I'm Zeus' granddaughter but after all this, I lay no claim to her. I don't care that she hasn't done it yet!
"you've always known who we were and who we can be."
"Don't listen to her." Uma told him, leaning closer to Ben.
"What's he supposed to do? Put his hands in his ears and go 'lalalala'?" Elle asked.
"It'd be funny if he did that though," Melody pointed out. "Only if he was doing that to Uma, not Mal."
"Ben, I know what love feels like now." Mal told him as Ben continued to stare at Mal.
Mal's eyes softened as her on-screen self continued to talk. It was true, when she was with Ben she knew what love felt like.
Ben is the only one who has loved me and stayed in my life, Mal thought in realization. Steph never had a choice with her six month deal, but dad abandoned me to mother when I was a baby. No matter what he claims otherwise. Plus mother basically shunted me off to Auradon when the opportunity to commit evil reared its head and it's not like anyone could claim she loved me anyway. Cruella put up more of a fight to keep Carlos than mother did with me, and she only wanted to keep Carlos because she didn't want to lose her slave.
A few of the Cotillion goers reacted with soft aww's. "Ben, of course I love you. Ben, I've always loved you."
"Aww!" Lucy, Rowyn and Emma sighed. For once, Kitty didn't complain or roll her eyes; happy for Mal and Ben.
Hadie finally stopped glaring at Ben as he saw the look of pain on the on screen version of his sister's face had vanished. However, he still wasn't happy with Uma for putting Mal and Ben through all of that! Cousins don't do that, he thought with an inward nod of his head.
She leaned in and Mal's lips met Ben's as everyone gasped with aww's while Uma stared in shock. Evie looked on, a hopeful expression on her face. As the two separated, a small smile started to grow on Ben's face as he recognized the person standing in front of him.
"I guess having our girls break our curses runs in the family," Adam/Beast said with a smile, gently squeezing Belle's hand.
"Better get used to him Hades," Persephone whispered. "Something tells me he won't be going away."
"Fine," Hades muttered. "But he's on thin ice. He hurts Mal again…"
"He hasn't hurt Mal this time," Persephone corrected. "Well yes there was that fight but couples fight, Hades. If they didn't, then you'd be worrying about that."
"She's my daughter. I'm going to worry about her regardless."
"You are going to be just as bad when Hadie starts dating, aren't you?" Persephone teased.
"He's not dating."
"Hades—"
"He's. Not. Dating." Hades said. "I already had one kid grow up too fast. I'm not having my son do the same."
"Mal." Ben said softly and Mal grinned at the realization that the kiss had worked, that Ben was back to normal.
Upon seeing the on-screen Ben turn back to his normal self, a cloud of purple smoke surrounded Mal once more. Ben scurried to get out of the way before Mal was fully enveloped. When it cleared, Mal was once again sitting as her human self admittedly slightly shocked.
"Okay, so I did not know that I could do that," Mal said before patting off some of the still smoking areas of her body.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say that makes all of us," Ben said with a chuckle as he returned to his seat next to Mal and kissed the top of her head; their friends quickly grabbing the seats around them. "I guess this is two I owe you now?"
"You don't 'owe' me anything Ben," Mal said softly but smiled at his touch. Her fingers gently brushed over the light scratch on Ben's neck left from Harry's hook. "Gods Ben, do you know how dangerous that was? I had never done that before, I was lucky I stayed in control."
"It was worth it," Ben said softly. "Besides, I had total faith in you."
"Always looking for the best in people," Mal said with a small smile as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"More like having faith in my girlfriend," Ben told her, kissing the top of her head once more and smiling. "Does your shampoo smell like strawberries?"
"Why are you smelling my head?"
Ben chuckled. "It's leftover Beast enchantment," he told her. "Slightly heightened senses and increased strength. It's how I was able to throw my jersey to you when you were on the fourth to top row of the bleachers. Plus my temperature runs a little warmer than normal."
"Really? I hadn't noticed," Mal said softly.
Ben leaned forward and touched his forehead to her's. Jay and Carlos looked on in shock, Jay looking over at Lonnie who smiled.
"True love's kiss," Evie said softly. "Works every time."
"And I'm so thankful it does," Snow smiled at her husband and Aurora did the same to Phillip.
Mal shook her head as she looked over at Uma. "You're so desperate to be me that you picked a spell that's defeated by True Love's kiss? Honestly Shrimpy, get an original idea. Maybe then you'll beat me."
"I beat you once when we were nine," Uma shot back. "Remind me Mal, that day in the harbor, who was it who was struggling to stay afloat?"
Mal growled and nearly lunged but Jay and Ben quickly held her back.
"You know, for someone who narrowly escaped being a dragon's lunch, you really like pushing your luck," Jay told her.
"Ugh, give it to me!" Uma exclaimed, rushing to Fairy Godmother and reaching for the wand.
"Way to ruin the mood!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Lu, bigger problems are at play right now!" Kitty shot back.
"I can focus on more than one thing at once, Kat!"
"No!" Fairy Godmother exclaimed, holding the wand out of Uma's reach as Evie jumped in to stop her. "Guards, seize her!"
"It finally happened!" Akiho sighed in relief, almost sinking in his chair from his joy. "Someone actually called for the guards. They used the brains the Gods gave them!"
"So you want to remind him that there's a password protected barrier around the yacht that Fairy Godmother set up, hence her wand being present, and that there are no actual human guards at Cotillion?" Ben whispered to Emir.
"Nah, let him have this." Emir whispered back. "I think reminding him of that might actually get him to cry and no one wants to see that."
"Good point."
Uma backed up and ran toward the railing, as if seeking a route to escape.
"Ursula's daughter has easy access to water and you all chase her toward it?" Ariel muttered, resisting the urge to rub her temples. "If you want to remove an Atlantican's power, chase her toward the center of the deck."
"Is mom okay?" Elle whispered to Eric.
"Hard to say," Eric whispered back.
"Are you okay?" Elle asked, looking at her father in concern. Eric gave a small smile to his daughter.
"I will be," he said. "This is just bringing back some bad memories, is all."
"No! No stop!" Mal shouted as she and Ben held the crowd back from Uma. "Please! Stop!"
Mal and Uma stared at each other as Mal held a hand out toward Uma, Evie standing behind her best friend while Ben held an arm out to keep Carlos behind him.
"Um, I feel our positions should be reversed there Ben," Carlos said. "After all I know how Uma fights and also you're the king!"
"A good king protects his subjects, not the other way around," Ben said, glancing over at his father. "At least, that's what I was taught all my life. It won't change just because Uma spelled me."
"Uma, I know you," Mal said as Uma glanced around, looking for a hole in the crowd to escape through. "You are so much more than just a villain. And you have to believe me, because I've been there."
Mal and Uma glanced at each other before quickly looking away. It was true that they knew each other but people change.
The Uma I thought I knew wouldn't have acted the way she did that fateful day, Mal thought with a slight frown. Or maybe she would have and I was just blind to it, the weakness of childhood.
Jay, as if sensing her thoughts, put a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently. Mal nodded at him while Evie and Carlos stared at each other in slight confusion.
Ben looked at Mal out of the corner of his eye, as if unable to believe she was making that speech at that time.
"Not exactly the reaction one might expect from you at that moment," Ben muttered to Mal, wrapping an arm around her waist. He wanted to put it around her shoulders but Jay's hand was still there. "But if that's what you want to say, anything that prevents further fighting is alright by me."
Mal smiled weakly before sighing. She'd have to tell Ben about her past with Uma at some point but maybe not in the room with the squidling.
"Do not let your pride get in the way of something that you really want," Mal continued, unaware of the look coming from Ben.
Uma paused and glanced at Ben as her necklace glowed. The group froze as Mal grew closer to Uma, unsure of what was going to happen. Uma turned and climbed onto the railing. "No, no! Uma!" Mal shouted.
"Uma can swim though," Gil pointed out as if confused as to why everyone was concerned. "She said so earlier."
"Uma!" Ben shouted as Uma jumped into the ocean. Everyone rushed to the railing, looking concerned or shocked in the case of Belle, Beast and Fairy Godmother. Ben and Mal looked at the water, stunned that Uma had made that choice and staring at the glowing speck that was Uma's necklace.
Suddenly, the water began to bubble and whirl around the area that was still glowing; the glow getting bigger and bigger. Belle gasped and Beast grabbed her hand as everyone stared in shock, unsure as to what was going on.
"Okay, so even if we're just going to let the king stand there on the deck, no one is ushering the former king and queen-also known as Ben's parents- to safety?" Kitty asked.
"Yeah, technically you could argue that Ben has to be there since he's king but there's no reason for Queen Belle and King Beast to be there." Lucy nodded.
"Okay, I have to ask," Harry spoke up, "not that I care but why do you keep referring to Beastie Sr and Belle by their titles but Beastie Jr doesn't get his title?"
The laughter from the students of Auradon Prep was the last thing Harry expected.
"Ben made a pseudo proclamation around school about a week into his time as king," Akiho explained as his laughter faded. "We're not to use his title or bow/curtsey to him unless it's an official event."
"I grew up with most of you guys! Do you have any idea how weird it was?" Ben exclaimed.
"You're the king! Did you honestly think we wouldn't treat you with the respect your position required or that you deserved?" Emir asked.
The water began to grow and grow, reaching for the sky almost like an inverse waterspout; slightly resembling a bubble.
The bubble popped, drenching the yacht and the people on board as Uma emerged from the bubble like a butterfly emerging from its cocoon; only instead of her human self she had the tentacles of her mother.
"What was that about the ocean being easier to control and that's why we always have to have Cotillion on a yacht?" Lucy asked Elle.
"Did anyone have 'giant octopus woman attacks Cotillion' on their Strange Things Happening at Cotillion bingo card?" Neal asked.
Ariel quickly grabbed Eric's hand, worried for the kids' safety at Cotillion with Uma the size she was. Especially Elle. Ariel didn't treat her eldest any different than she did Melody but in a situation like this, with Elle's chair and the water already all over the deck…if she went over the side of the yacht...
"She'll be alright," Eric whispered, rubbing Ariel's back as if realizing what his wife was thinking about. "Our daughter's got friends who won't let anything happen to her."
Mal and the others made their way back to the edge where Uma had settled down from laughing and sighed in relief.
"Why would we go back to the edge after getting pelted with a tidal wave?" Mal muttered. "Did we lose all common sense?"
"Well we probably wanted to see what was going on," Lonnie pointed out.
"Uma's a giant octopus woman. I think we'd have seen that from the center of the deck," Mal stated.
"True love's kiss won't defeat this," Uma declared as Mal, Ben and the others stared in shock. "The world will know my name!"
"Shrimpy?" Melody called out with a smirk.
"I don't think they'll be calling her that after seeing her transform into a giant octopus," Elle said with a shrug before turning to Uma. "Speaking of which, is there anything original you can do?"
In a rage, Uma lashed out one of her tentacles toward the railing, almost hitting Carlos and Doug. Another tentacle almost hit Mal and Evie, and knocked down Ben who quickly scrambled back up to his feet.
Mal growled once more and Evie glared as they watched the on-screen versions of their boyfriends almost get hit by the tentacle.
Mal stalked off to the side, angrily pacing back and forth as everyone stared at her in concern. Thunder crashed as Mal's eyes glowed bright green, her breathing growing heavy as she glared toward the water.
"Oh, this can't be good," Alexandria muttered. Mal's eyes had been flashing all viewing, could this be the moment when whatever was happening to cause it finally broke free?
I mean sure we saw her become a dragon but that can't be what's coming up right? I mean she's Lord Hades' daughter. Cue some fireballs or god like powers, she thought.
Uma put her hands on her hips, as if waiting for Mal's next move as she laughed and held her arms out; as if to say 'come and take your best shot'.
"Really? Is taunting her really your best move?" Rowyn asked. "Mal already beat you twice, Uma! Are you really ready to lose a third time?"
Mal's breathing grew quicker as her glare deepened.
"Mal?" Ben asked in concern as everyone continued to stare at her. Suddenly, purple smoke enveloped Mal's body as she closed her eyes. Everyone continued to stare in concern as the smoke grew, and a roar could be heard. Once the smoke faded, a dragon could be seen where Mal had been.
"Huh, I was right. It's not good for Uma," Alexandria said with a smirk though she was a little disappointed that the on-screen Mal had become a dragon like their Mal had. Even if she was trying to keep it a secret from Uma, a fireball here or there wouldn't have been amiss!
Uma laughed as Mal took off, hovering away from the yacht and firing a stream of fire toward Uma. Uma, in return, lashed out with one of her tentacles but Mal was able to avoid it.
"Kick her butt, Mali!" Hadie shouted.
"Still think I'm going soft?" Mal asked, smirking at Uma, who rolled her eyes.
"You know I have to say, Uma is way too cocky considering the fact that Mal just transformed into a dragon in front of her," Kitty muttered to Lucy.
"Yeah well, Uma transformed herself," Lucy said with a shrug. "They're a little on even footing considering who they're descended from."
"Come on, Mal! Let's finish this once and for all!" Uma shouted and Mal dove, nearly hitting Uma with the fire coming out of her mouth.
"Oh you want a fight, Shrimpy?" Mal asked, standing up. "It's on!"
"Bring it, dragon breath!" Uma snarled as she stood up as well.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Ben exclaimed, grabbing Mal's wrist and gently bringing her back to their seats. "Let's not do anything drastic."
"Yeah, one dragon transformation is enough," Carlos joked. "Two if we count the one on-screen."
Uma lashed out again as Mal turned around, nearly hitting Mal with her tentacle and almost causing Mal to crash into the yacht but she corrected. Mal aimed a fireball right at Uma, who had to duck under the water to avoid it.
Ben and the others quickly leaned over the side, to see what was going on only to be drenched by Uma sending a giant wave of water onto the yacht once more.
"Watch out!" Ben exclaimed as the wave hit and nearly capsized the boat, all the Cotillion goers struggling to regain their footing; Carlos and Jay holding up Ben to keep him from falling down.
"No Ben, we're just going to ignore the giant wave coming toward us," Emir said, rolling his eyes.
"Seriously?"
"Well when you say something as ridiculous as that, I'm going to comment on it!"
"Don't!"
Mal roared at Uma, who held one of her tentacles up threateningly. The two seemed to be in a stand off for who would make the final move.
"In this corner, hovering over the ocean and is clearly pissed off, the daughter of the Mistress of All Evil…Mal!" Akiho called.
"And in this corner, with several more limbs than when we saw her last, the daughter of Ursula…Uma!" Jay continued.
"Let's get ready to rumble!" Emir finished
"You three are clearly insane," Ben said, shaking his head.
"But you love us!"
"Jury's out on that!"
Ben, who had returned to the side of the yacht, roared and took off his crown and jacket.
"Okay what is with you and roaring at or around water?" Mal asked, looking at Ben. "Our first date, here…"
Jay helped Ben with his jacket while Carlos and Evie stared at each other, unsure as to what was going to happen as thunder continued to rumble in the background.
"What are you going to do?" Emir asked, slightly dreading the potential answer.
"When I know Emir, you'll be the second person to find out," Ben promised.
"Who's the first?"
"Me!"
"Wait, Ben! No!" Doug exclaimed as Ben dove off the side of the yacht into the water below.
"So why didn't you all restrain him?" Akiho asked, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"Why didn't you?" Jay shot back.
"Do you see me on the screen?"
"No."
"That's why."
Mal, though, couldn't help but chuckle at the dive. "I give it an 8.9," she told Ben. "Always room for improvement."
"Ignore the comments from the Isle judge," Evie joked. "A flawless ten, Ben."
"Ben!" Carlos shouted as everyone rushed to the side of the yacht once more; Belle and Beast staring in shock.
"Ben!" Lonnie exclaimed.
"Ben!" Jay shouted.
"Ben!" Evie cried as Ben emerged in the water, between the two feuding girls. Mal snarled at Uma.
"Oh gods, give me strength," Emir muttered, pinching the bridge of his nose as if to stave off a headache. "Ben, did you possibly stop to think about the possibility that you could have been held hostage again? Hell, you could have put Mal at risk of being drowned!"
"Um, not that I want that to happen, but how do you figure that?" Ben asked.
"Look at those tentacles, Ben! All Uma'd have to do is wrap two or three around Mal's head and neck and hold her for a few minutes under the water," Akiho pointed out. "If Mal and Uma went at it and Mal dove for you to get you out of harm's way, she'd open herself up for exactly that!"
Persephone frowned at the memory of the last time Mal had been near water with Uma. Why was there always the risk of Mal drowning when she was around her cousin? Persephone thought as Hades wrapped an arm around her, as if guessing her thoughts.
Hadie frowned as he saw his parents interact. Sure he didn't want Mal to drown either, he loved his sister, but his parents weren't the 'lovey dovey' type of Gods as the Auradon Gods were. Sure they'd kiss but to embrace like that? Had something happened to Mal?
"Mal, Uma! Stop! Back down!" Ben pleaded with the two girls and Uma laughed,
Mal growled and her eyes glowed once more. Ben, noticing this, quickly grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently.
"It's alright Mal, nothing's going to happen to me," he whispered, rubbing her back with his free hand. "You won't let anything happen."
Mal hovering closer to Ben as if telling Uma that Ben was hers.
"See?"
"What are you gonna do, Ben? Splash me?" Uma taunted.
"She has a point," Nero muttered. Dragon, giant octopus woman and Ben…not much Ben could do on the damage front.
"That's enough!" Ben shouted as Mal got close to the water, ready to defend Ben if necessary. "It's got to stop! This isn't the answer! The fighting has got to stop!" He turned to Mal who was swaying back and forth, as if looking for an opening to take down Uma. "Nobody wins this way! We have to listen and respect each other."
"Gods, I feel like I've been lectured by a parent," Mal chuckled, the glow leaving her eyes as she teased Ben. Ben just smiled as he saw the glow leave her eyes. He was fine with her teasing him if it meant she was back to her normal self, not the act she had been playing for the past few months.
Uma looked at Mal as if saying 'is he actually serious right now?'.
Oh Gods, Elle thought with a sudden and potentially random realization, this isn't Ben's parents' story with Mal being the Beast and Ben being Beauty. This is my parents' story. Giant octopus woman that puts the love interest under hypnosis? Check. A member of the magical community? Check, even if Mal's a dragon and not a mermaid. Idiotic human getting involved in matters he doesn't know anything about to protect the woman he loves? Check.
"It won't be easy, but let's be brave enough to try," Ben continued, looking over at Mal before looking back at Uma. "Uma, I know you want what is best for the Isle. Help me make a difference." Ben said, holding out his hand. Mal continued to hover behind him, as if daring Uma to make a wrong move.
"I'm just spitballing here but I'd say Mal, Evie, Carlos and Jay also want what's best for the Isle," Rachel pointed out. "They also didn't put you under hypnosis and one of them is your True Love so she won't betray you."
"Ben always wants to see the good in everyone," Audrey said with a small smile.
"Even those who put him under hypnosis and who have held him hostage?" Phillip Jr asked and Audrey shrugged.
Uma backed up a little, as if not expecting that response from Ben. Mal continued to sway, her green eyes glowing bright before snarling at Uma.
"That has got to be the most terrifying sight known to man," Alexi muttered.
You haven't seen my dad angry then, Hadie thought, glancing at his father in trepidation. He wasn't scared of his father but only a fool would want Hades to burst into a fireball in front of them.
The Cotillion goers stared in shock, nervous as to what the next move was going to be. Uma slowly raised one of her tentacles and Mal roared, prepared to fight.
"Ben, I think you might actually be insane," Kitty told him.
"Can we test that?" Akiho muttered to Emir who shrugged.
But Uma lowered the tentacle, dropping Ben's ring into his hand. Ben looked at it in shock before looking back at Uma as Mal softly growled behind him. Uma looked back with a slightly tearful look on her face before swimming off under the water. Ben continued to stare after her, as if surprised she hadn't taken the offer.
Ben looked at Uma in slight surprise; while he liked to find the best in people he didn't think Uma would actually give him back his ring. "Um, thank you. I have to say I'm a little surprised you gave it back. Pirates and treasure and all that," he told her.
"I don't have to explain myself to you, Beastie," Uma snapped. It might have been a trick of the light but Ben could have sworn her eyes flickered to Mal for a second.
Harry, though, stared at the screen in shock. There was no way Uma could get back under the barrier unless Beastie and Mal lowered it to take more kids off. Had...had Uma actually left him on the Isle?
It doesn't matter. It hasn't happened yet and it won't happen. You're her first mate, she wouldn't actually leave you on the Isle, he thought with a nod of his head.
Mal looked at the yacht before looking back in the direction that Uma had fled. Ben swam back toward the boat as Mal rose into the air. Jay tapped Carlos on the arm and the two of them rushed to where Ben would be climbing; sending a ladder down to help him up.
"Much appreciated guys," Ben said with a smile.
"Well we can't have you just scale the side of the yacht," Jay teased. "Though, Mal, why not just pick Ben up in your talons and drop him onto the deck?"
Mal rolled her eyes. "I'm not even going to answer that," she said.
"Come on Ben!"
"Good job, buddy!"
"Found Emir and Akiho!" Emma chuckled.
Ben began to climb the rope ladder up the side of the yacht.
"There you go," Beast said, watching his son make the climb. Ben reached the top, grabbing Jay's hand as Beast grabbed Ben's arm to help him over the railing.
"Good job, Ben," Doug said, patting Ben on the back as the crowd began to cheer for Ben;
"Why are we clapping?" Kitty asked. "Shouldn't we be wondering what in the world possessed Ben to do that?"
"By this point, we've stopped wondering why Ben does what he does," Emir said with a sigh. The day Ben had tried to insist on playing the remainder of an away game against the Imperial Academy after getting a concussion was the day Emir realized he would pretty much have to shadow his best friend for the rest of their school days. Akiho shook his head and Emir knew he was thinking about the same game.
The look on their coach's face told Emir that he was thinking of the same thing.
Let's just hope King Beast or Queen Belle don't realize that we never told them about that, Emir thought with slight trepidation. Since Ben had been checked out at Imperial Academy, they weren't required to inform Ben's parents the way their school's medical team would have been.
"Yeah, honestly it could also be a side effect of just learning he's part of a True Love couple," Emma added, breaking Emir out of his thoughts.
"Yeah he could have gone off and fought a dragon," Phillip Jr spoke up.
"Guys, we could just be applauding the fact that we still have a king," Akiho added. "After all, this is the second time Ben's done something risky without stating who's next in line. Yeah, Emma's the 'unofficial heir' but that's just based off of a verbal agreement."
"What was I supposed to do? Shout 'oh and Emma's in charge while I go see if I can broker peace between my girlfriend who's now a dragon and the daughter of Ursula who seems to be following in her mother's tentacles'?" Ben asked.
"Yes!"
Beast patting him on the side of the head before leading him back toward the center of the deck.
"You pull a stunt like that again though and you're grounded," Adam/Beast promised.
"What if I'm eighteen?" Ben asked, tilting his head as he turned to look at his father.
Adam/Beast chuckled. "Then you'll deal with Mal," he said.
"Don't worry, he won't do that again," Mal promised. "Right Ben?"
"Technically we've made it so there'll be no reason for it in the first place."
"Exactly my point," Mal nodded.
As he made his way, the crowd continued to applaud and celebrate Ben. Reaching the center, Ben put his crown back on and looked up upon hearing the screech of Mal's dragon.
Mal slowly landed on the other side of the yacht and everyone watched in shock as purple smoke once again enveloped the dragon. When the smoke faded, Mal emerged back in her human form but resembling the image in the stained glass window rather than the dress she had been wearing previously.
"So turning into a dragon also changes what I was wearing?" Mal asked, tilting her head in slight confusion as she looked down at her unchanged outfit. For the first time in her life, she wished Maleficent was there. She was the only one who could transform into a dragon so she'd know the intricacies of the power.
"Guess so," Evie nodded. I'm liking the purple of that dress especially with her purple hair but maybe instead of the green I could keep the blue? How quickly could I make that with the time I have? Ah who needs sleep? I'll just have Doug ready a lot of coffee. After all I already have Mal's measurements and it's not like Mal's gained a lot of weight between her last fitting and now. Plus we should have some purple and blue fabric left from the other orders.
"Ooh!" Mal exclaimed as there were parts of her dress that were still smoking. Ben couldn't help but chuckle at that.
"Your sense of humor worries me," Lonnie told him. "You're basically laughing at Mal being on fire."
Ben shrugged. "I could just be happy that Mal was back to her regular self," he said.
"Or it could have just been a reflex," Mal pointed out. "After all, Ben's just gotten off being spelled and jumping between Uma as a giant octopus woman and myself as a dragon.
My patting down smoking sections of my outfit seems perfectly normal in comparison."
As she finished patting herself down, Mal stared at Ben who stared back. Mal smiled and gave a little wave before going to the ground in a curtsey.
"Are you supposed to go that low in a curtsey?" Dizzy asked.
"Not normally, no," Cinderella told her step niece.
Ben, in return, gave a sweeping bow from his spot in the center of the deck before looking back up at Mal. Mal chuckled as she stood back up and Evie rushed to the base of the stairs as Mal was led down the stairs by Ben's attendants. The crowd began cheering once more as the trumpeters on the other side of the yacht began to play.
"Now it makes sense for us to cheer," Ruby nodded. "After all, Mal just saved all of our butts."
"The word I believe you're looking for is 'asses'," Rowyn told her little sister.
"Please do not teach your sister to swear," Eugene sighed. "The fact that you taught your brother is bad enough."
"You're the one who took Rowyn to the Snuggly Duckling with Lance, dear," Rapunzel said, shaking her head. "The boys there are not known for watching their language around kids or teens."
As Mal reached the base of the stairs, and Evie, she gave a nod of her head to one of the attendants who took that as the sign to release their hold on Mal's arms.
"Whoo!" She sighed as Evie stood next to her. "So, I did not know that I could do that," Mal said.
"We did!" Dizzy grinned.
"Yeah, that was awesome!" Hadie exclaimed.
"Do it again!" Alexi requested and Mal chuckled.
"Tell me about makes two of us," Evie told her. "Oh!" She exclaimed and blew out a remaining smoking part of Mal's dress.
"Thank you."
"Shall we?" Evie asked, holding out her hand.
"We shall," Mal agreed, taking the offered hand and the two girls made their way toward Ben.
"Hi." Mal whispered. As she walked toward Ben, Mal tilted her head to the side. Ben slowly raised his head, giving her a small smile.
"Okay, if a guy ever looked at me like that, I'd probably melt," Rowyn muttered to Rose, who nodded.
"Mal, does your crown have a dragon on it?" Evie asked and Mal tilted her head, looking at her on screen self.
"It does. More importantly, how did my magic know to transform my outfit to match the stained glass window?"
"You're asking the wrong girl," Evie told her.
As she reached him, Mal gave a small sigh. Before she could say anything, however, Ben pulled her close to him for another kiss as the crowd began to laugh.
"So we 'aww' for the first kiss yet laugh at the second?" Ashaki asked.
"The first kiss was initiated by Mal," Rose pointed out. "Plus it was a touching moment. The second kiss was initiated by Ben after Mal saved the day. When's the last time you heard of Ben initiating a kiss in public with either Audrey or Mal?"
"Good point," Ashaki chuckled as Ben flushed a little.
"Plus we all just found out that Mal and Ben are True Love," Emma added. "We're probably laughing since now it'll be the 'Honeymoon' phase for those two considering they didn't really have one when they first got together."
"All right, all right, all right, all right," Carlos said, resting a hand on Ben's shoulder to break them up;
"Timing. We need to work on your timing," Evie sighed, shaking her head.
Fairy Godmother looking conflicted in the background.
"How about that son of mine?" Beast asked.
"Your son, dear?" Belle asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Clearly I meant our son," Adam/Beast quickly corrected his on screen self.
"Ours." Belle corrected.
"Ours."
"Yes. How about his girlfriend?" Belle asked. "I think we're in very good hands here."
Mal couldn't help but smile a little at that, glad to know Belle and Adam/Beast were okay with her ability to turn into a dragon. Hey, it would be something most parents would have an issue with.
Persephone frowned though. Mal was still a kid, why were Belle and Beast acting like she would be in charge of keeping Auradon safe? That would be Ben's job, who Persephone was well aware was also just a kid but he was still the king.
"Very good hands," Beast agreed as he brought one of Belle's hands up to his lips.
Ben smiled; over twenty years of marriage and his parents were still finding ways to show their love for each other.
"I owe you guys so much." Ben said.
"Like a giant vacation to get over the mini heart attacks you've given us throughout this viewing," Elle nodded.
"Yeah." Evie nodded.
"Yep." Mal nodded.
"You got that right." Carlos agreed, patting Ben on the back.
"Just a little bit." Evie told him.
"Seems we agree with you there Elle," Mal chuckled and Elle shot her cousin a smile.
"If there is anything that you need, or anything I can do for you…" Ben said.
"Take a break!"
"Seriously, unless there's some crucial plan you have to shove through the council or something, you need to take a break," Mal told him. "You're going to get burned out going at the pace you're going Ben."
"Mal's right," Lonnie nodded. "You're going to be king for the rest of your life Ben. No one would fault you a vacation."
"Okay, okay," Ben chuckled. Maybe I'll go visit with Granddad, he thought. He could introduce him to Mal, or at least make sure he hadn't killed himself working on his latest invention.
"Um, actually, there is, Ben" Evie said, raising her hand and stepping forward a bit before glancing toward the Isle. "I know a girl who would really love to come to Auradon."
"Really?!" Dizzy squealed.
"I knew I'd get you off that Isle permanently somehow," Evie said, grinning at Dizzy.
Ben looked in the direction of the Isle as well, as if picking up on what Evie was going to ask.
Akiho frowned at the slightly apprehensive look on the on-screen Ben's face as he looked toward the Isle. Gods Uma, have you actually managed to do what no one else had? He thought. Actually get Ben of all people nervous about kids from the Isle coming to Auradon?
"It's Drizella's daughter, Dizzy. She's like a little sister to me."
Dizzy beamed, happy that she was going to get another chance to live in Auradon. Hopefully her aunt Ana would be there this time too!
"Then she should come," Ben said.
"Okay!" Evie said with a chuckle as Lonnie and Jay stood off to the side, smiling, and Mal rested a hand on Evie's shoulder. "Okay, great!"
Ben smiled and looked back at Mal, who smiled back at him, before Evie spoke back up.
"Way to ruin the moment Evie," Rowyn chuckled.
"Yeah, there might have been a third kiss," Alexandria spoke up.
"That might have been my reasoning," Evie chuckled. Hey, Mal was practically her sister but that didn't mean she wanted to see Ben and Mal make out all night long.
"Actually, um…" Evie said raising her hand again, causing Mal to bring her hands up due to Evie's eagerness, and causing the people around her to laugh. "Ben, there's a lot of kids who would really love it here in Auradon. Kids just like us, who also deserve a second chance.
"Seriously, why are we still saying 'second chance' when it comes to the VKs?" Lucy asked.
"Yeah, all they did was be born," Kitty nodded. "I don't think they were ever given a chance."
"So…"
"Your on-screen selves kidnapped Ben, held him hostage, put him under hypnosis and escaped the Isle," Kitty said, staring blankly at Harry.
"But we didn't," Harry argued, gesturing to himself, Uma and Gil. "For all you know, we won't."
Kitty rolled her eyes. "And I'd believe that if we didn't see Uma sing a song about wanting to take over Auradon."
"Okay Kat, bring in the claws," Chad told her with a chuckle. "It'll be Ben's decision anyway."
Can I maybe get you a list?"
"You just made Ben's night," Emir chuckled. "Kissing Mal and getting to do work on the VK initiative? His little workaholic, Mal obsessed heart is beating with joy."
"Dude!"
"Am I wrong?" Emir asked, raising an eyebrow as he looked at Ben.
Mal, meanwhile, couldn't help but flush a little at the idea of Ben being 'Mal-obessed'. Though, knowing they were True Love, it made sense.
"Yes, yes! Absolutely," Ben told her. "Please."
The crowd began to cheer and applaud as Evie stepped back. One of Ben's attendants stepped forward toward Mal.
Did Ben go to AttractiveGuysRUs or something to get his attendants? Rose thought with a slight flush coming to her cheeks.
"M'lady Mal, we found your spell book below deck."
"Yeah, I'm not going to get used to that," Mal said with a chuckle as she shook her head.
"I like the sound of it," Ben whispered, kissing the top of Mal's head. Lady Mal, it had a good ring to it, he thought.
"Uma had it," the attendant said, handing the book to Mal.
"Yeah, we kinda all figured that," Dude spoke up. "You know, with the whole love spell/hypnosis thing?"
"Ooh," Mal said, taking the book as Ben watched her nervously.
"Appreciate the faith you have in me Ben," Mal chuckled as she saw the look on the onscreen Ben's face.
"Um…You know, this seems like the kind of thing that belongs in the hands of Fairy Godmother. Fairy Godmother?"
"That's me, thank you. Mm-hmm," Fairy Godmother said, squeezing up to Mal and Ben.
"Mom," Jane chuckled and shook her head in amusement.
"This belongs in the museum," Mal told her.
"Under lock and key unless we've gotten a security guard who's not Sleepy's nephew," Neal added.
"It does, yes, and I'm gonna take it."
"Go for it." Mal said as Fairy Godmother took the book and the crowd once again began to laugh.
"I'm not gonna be needing it anymore," Mal told Ben who gave her a small, proud smile.
"I'm so proud of you," Ben whispered to Mal.
"Why?" Mal asked. "All I did was relinquish a spell book, something I haven't done yet by the way. So basically you're proud of my future self."
"Doesn't matter," Ben said. "You're accepting yourself, not caring what others have to say. Just…can you promise me that after all this you'll let me know if you need to let off some steam? I can arrange time and permission for you to practice your magic."
Mal gave him a small smile. "Thank you Ben. But something tells me I'm about to be inundated with some Olympian sized offers," she told him, looking over at her Godly family. "It might be safer, even if I'm not fond of most of them anyway. I'd be less likely to kill one of them if something went wrong."
"Hey, I doubt you'd kill anyone here," Ben said softly, brushing his fingers through her hair. "I'd make sure it was a private room. But if you'd feel better working with your family at the start, I understand. Just let me know, okay?"
Mal nodded and Ben smiled.
Suddenly, Mal splashed Ben with some of the standing water causing everyone to gasp and Ben stepped back in surprise as Mal laughed only to squeal as Ben splashed her in return.
"Mr. Golden Boy actually acting like a teen? Say it ain't so!"
"You know you can smack him," Emir whispered to Elle, gesturing to Akiho. "He's a little too giddy over Fairy Godmother calling the guards."
"Is anyone going to tell him that no guards actually showed up?" Elle whispered back.
"We're thinking he would cry at that. His family cries at weird things; his father once almost cried at his aunt's ice palace after all."
The crowd began to cheer and applaud as Ben and Mal embraced, Mal tilting Ben's crown to the side.
"I think this is as good a place as any to take a break," the Blue Fairy spoke up, startling many of the audience as she'd been quiet for a while.