I'm so sorry that this took so long. I just didn't know what to do. Even though the next 2 or 3 chapters, I know what needs to happen I'm not sure about the sequel to this. I want that to be a cool finale, but it's hard to decide what to do. Do I free Wes and have him do something sinister (Maybe with his aunt's daughter Eva)? Do I have Wes try to get free and accidentally let Maleficent loose in a botched deal? I originally wanted to have them go back in time and switch the parents of the core 4 VKs into their kids' bodies and I had a bunch of funny lines from Cruella ready because I think she's the evilest of all of them. But then it would only be 3 chapters long because the parents are competent. And then I thought of maybe having a new team of VKs get loose using a version of the device Carlos used in the first novel, then I was thinking of having someone be magically possessed but that was the premise of the 3rd movie (and I definitely can't top the Queen of Mean as a villain, that was the best performance so far to me). Do I just give up? Maybe I should, but no. I'll have to keep thinking.
In New Orleans
"That...was...that was the best meal I've ever had," Mal said after the table was cleared. Tiana's Place was cleared out when they got there. As they were led to the candlelit table set on the balcony before a window that overlooked the French Quarter, Mason explained that he'd had the restaurant kept open through the night. And when the food finally came out, it was magnificent. From the starting soups, to the gumbo and garlic bread, to the desserts. Oh, the desserts. Strawberry beignets, shortcake, cheesecake, charlottes, meringue cookies, brownies (or "pinkies" as Mason called them). And so many more. Mal would've been sick of the taste of strawberries by the third confection, but the flavor profile of each dessert was so unique.
"Well, you don't tell me that," Mason said, his gaze falling behind her as he rose from his chair. "Tell her."
Mal turned around and saw Queen Tiana approaching her from the kitchen. She took a second to marvel at how, even in her uniform, she could look so regal, wearing her toque like a crown, before she rose as well. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Grace."
"The pleasure's mine, too," Queen Tiana said. "Now what was it Mason wanted you to tell me?"
"That that was the best meal I've ever had in my life," Mal said. "I mean, wow. I wish I could get food like this in Auradon."
Tiana beamed and placed a box Mal hadn't noticed she'd been holding on the table. "Thank you so much. This is for you. Box of desserts for the road, as requested by Mason." When she saw the look on Mal's face she chuckled. "I miss this. Spending time in the kitchen, puttin' in the love and seein' it pay off. The way people just fall in love with what you make for 'em."
"You don't cook in the restaurant usually?" Mal asked.
"Not usually. Now, it's running all the restaurants, helping run Maldovia and spending time with Tia and Nadia. But, times like this, I get a chance to get back to it."
"Thank you, Your Grace, for this delicious meal," Mason said. "And for taking the time tonight."
"You're very welcome." She said before inclining her head towards the box she'd put on the table and saying, "Enjoy."
"Thank you," Mal said. And then Tiana was gone, headed back into the kitchen.
"So, you've got another choice to make," Mason said.
"Huh? What choice?" Mal asked.
"I have one last surprise. We could be boring and fly back to school. Orrrrr..."
"Or?"
"We can do something exciting and fly back to school."
"Huh?"
"Well, we could fly back on the jet. Or I can send it away and we could fly back another way."
That was when Mal started to get what he was hinting at. "You told me you couldn't have anyone else ever find out you had magic," she whispered.
"Well I've flown before without being seen. I'll just use a spell to teleport my car back to the school so it looks like we drove back. But we can use a spell to fly back. From here to Auradon we could fly over the hills and meadows in France, the grass fields in Scotland, catch a glimpse of the Great Wall, maybe even see part of the desert between Pride Rock and Agrabah."
"I don't know. I think if I'm late, Evie might strangle me."
"It's alright, I swear we'll be back in time. Trust me."
"Alright, then. Let's fly." Mal agreed, following Mason out of the restaurant door. She was so excited to be able to literally fly across the sky that she didn't even notice that Winter White had been watching them.
Uma's Perspective
Uma was sitting before her bathtub.
"Think I'll let Mal embarrass me again? Well you've been misinformed
Just wait till I hit her with a wave and a raging storm"
The water in the tub shook as a miniature cloud formed above the tub. Heavy rain began to fall as a miniature wave rose above Uma's head before falling down with so much force that the water shattered the tub, sending water and shards of marble flying all over the room. Before Uma could even begin a spell to protect herself, water surrounded her, protecting her from the shrapnel. After the shield fell, she looked in the mirror with a grin plastered on her face. She spun the purple ring on her finger around appreciatively before using a spell to undo all the damage that she did to the room.
The Next Day (Audrey's Perspective)
Audrey was in the school's garden enjoying the sun with Jazz, daughter of Jasmine, Tia, daughter of Tiana, Mehlani, daughter of Moana, Eliza, daughter of Elsa, Mary, daughter of Merida, and Aria, daughter of Ariel when Winter White came rushing to her.
"Audrey, I have something important to tell you," Winter said, slightly out of breath.
"What's going on, you know this is my destressing time," Audrey said, taking off her sunglasses.
"I was in New Orleans last night and I saw Mal-" she started.
"Oh my godmothers," Audrey exclaimed, "why is everyone always acting like she's some kind of celebrity. So what? You saw her! Yay for you."
"No, it's not that," Winter said quickly, her face turning as red as her lips. "I saw her with some guy. That rich one that's always wearing the gold jewelry. They were having this candlelit dinner-it was super romantic."
"Huh?" Audrey asked, her face perking up. "Why didn't you lead with that?"
"I tried to, but-"
Audrey pretended she didn't hear that and went on, "I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier."
"It's okay," Winter said.
"Audrey," Mary said. "If you told Ben about this, you might be able to get him to feel insecure enough to break up with Mal. Then you can take him back."
"Then you might not be so moody all the time," Jazz said under her breath.
"Heard that. Harsh." Audrey said with a glare aimed at Jazz. "And I, so, am not worried about Ben anymore. Snow White's magazine listed me as the number one princess that every girl wants to be for four years straight-"
"Until Evie came along." Jazz said under her breath again.
"She is, technically, not a princess so I think the title is still mine!" Audrey exclaimed. She took a breath and composed herself before finishing, "And, as I was saying, if Ben doesn't realize he had the best girl in the world, that's his loss, not mine. And I'm happy with Ch-" She trailed off when she saw Ben strolling through the courtyard. "But I do think that Ben deserves to know what happened last night. And, as a friend, I should be the one to break the news. BRB." Audrey said before standing up and crossing the garden.
"Audrey," Ben said when he noticed her. He smiled and said, "Nice to see you."
"You too. I just came to ask if you would answer a question for me and the girls. I might want to go on a trip this weekend with them and we might stop in New Orleans. How was it last night? Was it super hot and humid?"
"Huh?" Ben asked. "I haven't been there in months."
"Stop joking, I need your help," Audrey said with a giggle.
"I'm not joking," Ben said with a confused look. "Why do you think I was in New Orleans?"
"Oh!" Audrey said, pretending to be shocked and embarrassed. "It wasn't you! Sorry, I'll just search for the weather report online." She turned to go and almost smiled when Ben grabbed her arm lightly.
"What wasn't me?" Ben asked.
"It's so not my place to tell you, and I don't want to cause any drama," Audrey said.
"Audrey, please tell me what's going on."
"It's just...one of my friends saw Mal having this special, romantic dinner with a guy at Tiana's so I assumed it was you."
"That has to be a mistake. Maybe it was someone else?"
"With purple hair and green eyes? Wait...you didn't know?"
"Uh. I'm sure it's no big deal. Thank you for telling me."
"No problem. Sorry. I'll go." Audrey said, turning around and returning to her seat with her friends. When she saw Ben was gone she said, "Let's see what little miss VK has to say about this."