Hey, so as usual here's my second update of the day, hope you all enjoy it, we're getting close to the end now, only three chapters after this and it'll all be over so it won't be long until I'll have to start posting the sequel.

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Danifan3000: Evie's definitely more deserving of being called a Princess than Samantha is. But don't worry she's not getting away with being so nasty, let's face it after what she's very openly been seen doing, given the fact that Audrey and Mal are currently Evie's friends and the fact that Mal will be Queen she's definitely not gonna have many friends anymore.

Scoffe: You'll find out in this chapter because it's the Carriage ride, and I needed something along those lines for it because even Maleficent doesn't know the truth about Ben since she just picked him off the streets a coupe of years after he wound up on the Isle because she wanted a new kid to bully and raise as an heir so to speak.

When Mal reached Ben Belle gently guided Mal's hand to Ben's, and he gave the purple haired teen a soft gentle smile as he lifted her hand delicately and pressed his lips to her skin gently. "You look radiant Princess." he turned his gaze to Belle, "Thank you."

"I've got to go." Belle smiled gently, "We'll meet you both at the Cathedral." she gently touched Mal's cheek, "You're going to be perfect darling."

"I love you mom." Mal smiled as the older woman turned away and moved to one of the limos, and Mal turned her gaze back to Ben. Who was staring at her a soft look on his face.

"You changed your hair."

"I... I wanted to look perfect for you." Ben gave a small shrug, "You're the Queen, I wanted to look respectful."

"You look handsome. It suits you." Mal smiled gently, "Like a Prince."

"Should I take that as a compliment?" Ben gave a crooked grin, "I mean I've met some of the Princes in Auradon."

"Shush." Mal laughed, slapping his arm gently, "You know what I mean."

"I do." Ben nodded, "Shall we your highness?"

"I suppose so." Mal found herself smiling brightly as she made to step into the carriage-but Ben's hands were on her waist and he lifted her in before she could pull up her dress to step in-and she let out a startled gasp, laughing softly as Ben smirked up at her as she turned and sat down carefully, adjusting the skirt of her dress as Ben pulled himself up into the carriage.

"Are you ready?" Lumiere looked back towards them, smiling at the couple.

"Yes thank you Lumiere." Mal gave the man a warm smile, and with a flick of the reigns the horses started moving, and Mal took a deep breath as she looked at the crowds watching, and she gave a dainty wave to the photographers as they headed off school grounds and onto the roads.

There would be more crowds soon, but the first part of the journey at least would be private, a fact that Mal was unendingly grateful for.

She let out a soft breath, lowering her hand, turning her head to look at Ben when she felt his fingers entwining with hers.

"How do you feel." his voice was soft.

"Terrified." Mal admitted quietly, "By the end of today I'll have been crowned Queen." she hesitated, meeting his gaze, "I hope." and Ben winced slightly at that, looking down at their hands.

"Mal-"

"Don't" Mal held up her free hand, "Just... whatever choice you've made... and I really really hope it's the right one... it's your choice."

"I know." Ben gave a sad smile, "I know it is Princess." he lifted their hands, pressing his lips to her knuckles once more. "You do look beautiful you know."

"Thank you." Mal flushed, smiling softly. "You can thank Evie, Audrey and my mom for that."

"I know Evie made the dress." Ben chuckled, "When Audrey burst in yelling about needing the dress she told us everything before rushing off to save the day."

"I nearly had a break down." Mal admitted, "Evie really did save the day."

"You'd have looked stunning in jeans and a shirt, just for the record." Ben squeezed her hand gently. "You'll be fine Princess. Just do what you do best and be yourself."

"I hope you're right." Mal let out a breath before looking down at their hands and smiling, "Oh.. I almost forgot." she pulled her hand free gently so she could pull the red band off her finger, "My mom gave me this... she had it made for my father out of the Enchanted rose... they both wanted me to have it... she said that... that if you really mean that much to me I should let you wear it."

Ben blinked, looking down at the ring she was holding, "You-you want me to wear it?"

"If you want to." Mal hesitated, "You don't have to-"

"No.. no I want to." Ben smiled slightly as Mal let out a relieved noise and grabbed his hand.

"My father wore it on his middle finger-"

"That's fine." Ben stated softly, watching Mal's face as she gently slid the ring onto his finger, a look of concentration on his face.
And Mal's eyes widened in shock, her grip on Ben's hand going slack when the red band seemed to glow a faint gold for a moment before fading.

Mal's gaze snapped up to meet Ben's, the shock clear on her face, "It glowed."

"What?" Ben frowned, "What's wrong."

"The ring, it glowed when I put it on you." she remembered her mothers words, "It... it glows when my dad puts it on because of the magic responding to him... why would it glow when you put it on?"

"I don't know." Ben's brows furrowed, "Why would it glow when-"

"Oh my god." Mal's face went pale from shock, "I think I know... I understand."

"Understand what?" Ben frowned, gently touching her cheek, "Mal what's going on?"

"I know where you came from, who your parents were." Mal breathed out.

"What are you talking about Princess?"

"Ben. You told me you called yourself Ben before Maleficent adopted you. You thought it was because your parents tried to pass you off as the prince but it wasn't." Mal shook her head, "The ring glows because it recognizes you as my fathers biological
son."

"What?" Ben leaned back, "Mal-"

"It makes sense." Mal shook her head, "Ben it makes sense you know it..." it was strange really. Almost like they'd switched places, switched lives.

"I.." Ben stared at her before shaking his head, "It... it doesn't change things, not that much." he grabbed her hand again,
"You're their child. The one they raised. They might be my birth parents if you're right but I'm not their son not really. I'm Maleficent's son."

"You're the one who should be getting crowned Ben-"

"I don't want that." Ben shook his head, "No... Mal I don't want to be King. No. No you were raised for this Mal." Ben's thumb brushed over Mal's cheek, "If you want to tell your parents that's fine but I doubt I'll ever fully see them as my parents."

"They think I'm Maleficent's daughter."

"Yeah, I figured that much out when I saw you with purple hair." Ben gave a wry smile "Didn't care then, don't care now. Mal you deserve that crown."

"I..." Mal stared at Ben for a long moment, swallowing hard before she whispered, "I love you." and Ben let out a long shaky breath.

"I... I'm not ready to say-

"It's okay." Mal lifted her hand to press over his, "It's okay if you can't say it back yet. But I love you Ben." god but she'd never felt like this before. And she was eternally glad that Lumiere was sat far enough in front of them that he wouldn't have heard their conversation. It was private.

"Did I ever tell you that you look really beautiful when you smile like that?" Ben whispered the words. And they stayed like that for a long moment before they both shifted, Mal leaning into Ben's side as Ben wrapped an arm around her shoulder, absentmindedly playing with her hair as they settled into a comfortable quiet which lasted for quite some time, until they could hear the crowds once more, at which point Ben moved his arm from Mal's shoulder, his hand grabbing hers.

"So what do I do now?"

"Smile and if you want to you can wave." Mal told him, "And try to ignore the feeling that you're an animal in a zoo." she gave him a slightly playful grin as Ben threaded their fingers again, and then they were emerging into the crowds, and people were waving and cheering happily and waving flags.

Mal smiled widely as she looked around at the people of Auradon. Her people had gathered to see her, and there were little children on parents shoulders pointing and clapping and she felt her heart swelling with pride. Auradon wasn't perfect but it was her home and she loved it with all her heart. She lifted a hand, waving as calmly as she could at her people, looking this way and that as she did.

She could feel Ben's eyes on her, but for now that wasn't the important part. The important thing was that her people were there for her.

And when they approached the Cathedral Mal lowered her hand, smiling as they came to a halt by the steps that led up into the huge building, the pale blue carpet with gold edging laid out ready for her to walk on.

Mal glanced at Ben and he gave her a smile, stepping out of the carriage first, not letting go of her hand as he did, a footman clad in gold stepping forward to take her other hand and help her step down from the carriage, the cloud cheering even louder when her feet hit the ground.

She took a deep breath as the footman released her hand, the trumpeters that were lining the carpet up to half way up, at which point there was a flat section before the last steps were playing and her parents were waiting halfway up, her mother smiling brilliantly, eyes filled with pride and her father beaming next to her.

Mal glanced at Ben, and he squeezed her hand gently before they started up the steps, both of them staring ahead, slow steps, with Mal gripping the skirt of her dress and lifting slightly so that she wouldn't step on it as they climbed the steps. And Mal was so glad Ben was with her. She had to believe in him. He wouldn't betray her not now. And his grip on her hand kept her steady even though she was so nervous that a part of her wanted to turn and flee.