This chapter will probably give away who's gonna cause trouble at the Coronation, hope people like it and I may update again today depending on my mood, given the good news and all and the fact I'm onto chapter 16 of the sequel. Replies to reviews: Jeremy: You have no idea how much you saying that makes me smile you really don't. It won't be a long wait given the fact that I'm already on chapter sixteen of the sequel.
Villiangirl: Yeah she definitely wasn't going to let them think it was all Evie's fault, and in this given the fact their daughter was technically a VK they're more willing to consider that it's not the Isle Kids fault. And yeah Adam is definitely the stereotypical protective dad ready to go beast on anyone who hurts his little girl.
The six teens settled down slowly after that, Ben was sent down to the kitchens to get them some food and he returned with a picnic basket filled with treats from the school cooks, and they put on a movie, all of them crowding onto Evie's bed in a tangle of limbs, Evie in the middle, Jay on one side, Ben on the other, with Audrey leaning on Jay's legs, her own draped over Carlos' lap as his head rested in Evie's lap and Mal was half tucked under Carlos, with Dude led on top her her, his head resting on Carlos' chest and half sat on Ben's lap she was curled up so close to him, and this was all very nice, it really was, it was warm and safe and comforting. The only problem was that after about an hour or so there was a knock on the door.
After a minute of trying and failing to extract herself from under Carlos Mal called out, "Come in!" and the door opened and Belle peered into the room, her expression going soft when she saw the pile of teenagers on the bed.
"Mal, darling, I wanted to let you know that everything's sorted out with the White's and the Charming's, your father's still talking to them now but the twins and Chad are most certainly going to be in a lot of trouble."
"Thank's mom." Mal smiled, "See guys, I told you."
"Thank you." Evie spoke up, "I was worried they'd blame me for it-
"Not at all Evie, it wasn't your fault from what I can tell." Belle gave the girl a small smile, "How's your face?"
"It hurts but Mal's helped me do what I can."
"Good." Belle sighed, "I am very sorry Evie, and the rest of you too. You deserve better than that."
"Thank you your highness." Jay gave a faint smile, "It's nice to have a vote of confidence."
"Well if Mal has faith in you then so do I. And so does my husband for that matter." Belle paused, "But Mal I was hoping to talk
to you later in the day about something.. with all that's happened... can I just steal you for a minute to talk to you outside a second."
"Uh... okay mom." Mal gently slipped out from under Carlos with Ben's help, and she headed to the door, glancing back at the others, "Don't worry about pausing the film guys I've seen it a bunch of times already." then she stepped outside of the room with her mother, the door closing behind them.
The hall was empty of course, most of the students were outside enjoying Family day still.
"Is everything okay mom?"
"It's... slightly complicated." Belle admitted, watching her daughter carefully, "It's about Queen Leah... I was talking to Aurora earlier as you know and... apparently her mother is insisting that she regrets her past actions... she's even written a letter of apology." Belle pulled a folded up piece of paper out of her bag, holding it out so that Mal could see it, "She wants to attend the Coronation.. obviously it's entirely your choice darling.. believe me Aurora's said she completely understands if you say no."
"I... can I look at the letter?" Mal swallowed hard, hating the fact that her voice shook slightly. It had been oven eleven years since she'd even seen Leah, she was stronger than this she knew she was. She was going to be the Queen she had to be stronger.
"Of course darling." Belle handed the letter over and watched as Mal carefully opened it and pulled the sheet of paper out, her gaze focusing on the writing.
Dear Princess Mallory Beatrice.
I write this letter knowing that you will more than likely never see it. But I hope you will, for I believe I owe you a sincere apology. I allowed my fear to overcome my own better judgement and I acted cruelly towards you because of things that weren't your fault.
In one foolish mistake I hurt you gravely and I regret that. I have lost much because of my foolish mistake, my own daughter and grandaughter refuse to talk to me. And I feel that perhaps I deserve it.
In any case I hope you can accept my sincere apologies, and I would love to be granted permission to attend your Coronation.
Yours with hope,
Queen Leah of Auroria.
Mal bit her lip when she finished reading, lifting her head to look at her mom, who was watching her carefully, "If she's so sorry why did she oppose my proclamation so fiercely? She's done everything she can to make things harder for me with the VK's."
"I don't know." Belle sighed, "Honestly I don't know if I trust her darling, I don't know what I'd do in your position. The choice is yours entirely. I don't think anyone would blame you if you say no and refuse to allow her to attend. She nearly killed you darling.
"But I'm the one who keeps going on about giving people second choices." Mal pointed out quietly, biting her lip hard, "If I don't give her a second chance does that make me a hypocrite?"
"No.. No Mal don't you think like that... you're doing a good thing for the VK's. They've not done anything wrong after all." unfortunately for Mal those words didn't actually help because they weren't entirely true were they? All four of them had been planning on stealing the wand.. they could still be planning on it... though she knew at least and she'd be able to stop them if they tried she was sure... though she truly truly hoped that they wouldn't do it.
And they'd known about the love spell.. and yet she was giving them a second chance even after what they'd done to her.
Sure what Leah had done had probably been even more traumatic and she could have killed her but... it had been over eleven years ago now. That was a long time.
She thought about her tendancy to hold grudges. Did she get that from her birth mother? From what she knew Maleficent could hold a grudge for a long time... and she didn't want to be like her in any way.
Maybe it was time to forgive, though Mal wasn't sure she'd ever be able to forget. "Tell Aunt Aurora that Leah can come to the Coronation." Mal said after a moment, "It'll be a fresh start. If she's telling the truth and she's truly sorry then she deserves that much. Eleven years is a long time, she's been stuck in Auroria for all that time."
"Mal..." Belle smiled softly, kissing the top of her daughters head, "You're such a brilliant young woman. You know how proud your father and I are of you, don't you?"
"I do mom." Mal smiled softly, "You've made sure of that."
"Good." Belle smiled softly, brushing her fingers through Mal's soft curls "Now you go and get back to your friends. Look after Evie okay sweetie? That poor girl... I never knew Snow's children had such a nasty streak to them."
"I will mom." Mal hugged her mom tightly before stepping back, "I guess I'll see you Friday?"
"Of course." Belle nodded, "Your father and I will meet you here with your gown... it's been completed. I think you'll look
wonderful darling. I'll help you get ready, and your friends can help too of course. And at half eight the carriage will be waiting outside for you. I'll be going in a limo with your father while you and Braeden take the carriage."
"Of course mom." Mal nodded, "I can't believe it's actually so soon."
"I know... it seems like just yesterday that you came running into our lives." Belle's smile was soft and distant, "I knew the first time I saw you that you were special."
"I'm the luckiest Isle kid ever." Mal stated softly, grabbing her moms hand, "I have the best parents in all of Auradon."
"Oh hush." Belle laughed softly, gently flicking Mal's nose like she had when Mal was just a little girl, "Now like I said, go take care of Evie and spend time with your friends. Make the most of it while you can."
"I will." Mal nodded, "Bye mom." She kissed her mom's cheeks and waved a goodbye as Belle left before she made her way back into the dorm room and shut the door behind her.
"Everything okay?" Audrey's voice was curious, "What did your mom want?"
"She wanted to talk about the Coronation." Mal made her way over to the bed quickly, slipping back into her spot, "About your Grammy actually. She wrote a letter apologizing and asking if she could come."
"What did you say?" Audrey's brows furrowed.
"Yes. I'm all about second chances lately. I figured even she deserves one."
"Why do you guys not like Audrey's Grammy?" Evie's voice was curious.
"She did something really bad at Mal's fifth birthday party." Audrey stated carefully, "It was bad. She hasn't been allowed out of Auroria since."
"Huh." Ben raised an eyebrow, "You're letting her out for your Coronation."
"A fresh start." Mal shrugged, "What's she gonna do? She'd have to be insane to attack me at the Coronation. The worst she can do is say some nasty stuff and I can handle that."
"What was it she did?" Carlos frowned, "How bad was it."
"She..." Mal hesitated, and Audrey sighed.
"When the other adults were distracted she dragged Mal out to the pool and she tossed her in."
"Oh my god." Jay's eyes widened, "But... she tossed a five year old into a pool? Could you even swim?"
And suddenly Ben's hand was grabbing hers and squeezing and her eyes met his, the silent understanding in them made her feel warm and soft.
"Nope, and I still can't, I panic every time I try and learn." Mal admitted "Can we stop talking about this though... it's not a good memory for me."
"Of course." Evie nodded quickly, "We don't want to push."
"Thank you... oh, Braeden by the way, you'll be riding in the carriage with me to the Coronation.. can you make sure you dress nice?"
"I'll handle his clothes." Evie spoke up eagerly, "My project is actually going really well so I should have time."
"Oh god." Ben gave a terrified look, though his hand didn't leave Mal's, "Do I get any say in this?"
"Nope." Evie grinned, "I'm thinking maybe blue and yellow, because it's Mal's parents colors-"
"Uh huh." Audrey laughed, "We can discuss all this later guys, can we please get back to the movie?"