I am so excited! Sora cheered energetically, but a little too loudly in Mal's opinion. I can't wait to see my friends again!
But they can't see you, Mal reminded, staring out the window so she could look natural. Please tell me you're not going to make me cry when we see them. That would definitely break our cover.
I'll try my best, Sora teased. I mostly want to see how they all changed, especially Beast. I've never seen him as a human before.
We probably won't see him for quite a while. After all, his son is about to become king. He will be busy planning and setting up the coronation. Besides, he won't want to speak to the child of a villain, especially when my mother was the one that stole his wife's heart so many years ago.
Beast wouldn't hold a grudge over something you weren't responsible. During my first adventure, his determination to save Belle gave me the courage to keep fighting to save . . . her.
Mal softly sighed at the way Sora finished his statement. You have been in my heart for over eleven years, and you still can't say her name. I can feel that you are hurting every time you mention her, and that isn't good for me since I feel everything you feel. Imagine what would happen when we see her. I would have a heart attack from all of your overwhelming emotions overwhelming me.
. . .I won't see her again.
What? Why would you say that? Of course you will!
Like you said, M, it has been eleven years since I joined my heart with yours; not to mention however long I spent searching for you, which had to have been at least six years—
It was more like ten years because the year you found me was the ten-year anniversary of Auradon being created.
Exactly. Over twenty years have passed since I lost my heart. They would have given up looking for me a long time ago, and they would be twice the age from the last time I seen them. I think it would be best if I just . . . gave up.
No, no, no. You can't—!
Mal lost her train of thought when a makeup brush went dangerously close to her eye. "You looked a little washed out," Evie clarified as she continued with her action. "This will help you out."
Mal batted her friend's hand away in annoyance. "Stop that," she demanded with a soft 'huff' in her tone. "I'm trying to think."
"Well, you should stop doing that," Evie advised, pausing for a moment to gnaw on the unusual blue rock candy. "You'll never get a boyfriend that way. It's not very attractive."
"Talking while you're eating isn't very attractive either," Mal retorted half-heartedly. "I have more things in my mind than finding a boyfriend."
That's too literal and practically gives us away since the only thing in your mind is me.
Don't change the subject, Sora. I'm not going to let you give up on reuniting with Kai—
"Look!" Evie shouted, unintentionally interrupting the mental conversation once more as she gestured to the view out of the front of the limo.
The four friends stared ahead at the impenetrable barrier that stopped a nearly a foot before the ruined remains of the bridge. There was only sea ahead, appearing as though they would be driven straight into the depths of the ocean.
"It's a trap!" Carlos exclaimed as he hid behind Jay to protect himself, completely terrified by the chain of events.
Sora! Mal shouted in her mind as Evie clung on to her for dear life. We're going to crash! What do we do!
Calm down! Sora instructed. Beast, Belle, or their son wouldn't send a bunch of innocent kids to their deaths. That would cause a world-wide incident; something they don't need since the prince is about to become king. The driver is probably going to use magic to get you across safely. Stop panicking before you give yourself a heart attack that we don't need!
As if on cue, the driver pushed a particular button on a remote attached to the visor. As the limo hit the ruins of the bridge and barreled through the barricade, a magnificent bridge appeared under the steady wheels of the limo, connecting the Isle to the mainland. The friends quickly composed themselves, embarrassed that they lost their cool.
"What just happened?" Jay wondered, nonchalantly peeling Carlos off of him.
"It must be magic!" Evie declared with a delighted smile.
I told you so, Sora teased.
Rolling her eyes at the comment, Mal tapped the wall behind the driver to get his attention. "Hey!" She shouted so he would at least look at her through the rearview mirror. "How did we get across the barrier? It's supposed to be impenetrable."
The driver motioned to the remote on the visor. "This opened the magic barrier," he explained dully. "And this one . . ." He pushed a different button, causing the screen between him and the children to slide up, ending any further conversation that they could have.
That's not a very warm welcome, Sora complained.
We are children of villains, Mal reminded, slumping in her seat. Did you really expect anything better?
Nearly an hour later, the limo cruised to a stop in front of an impressive building with an intricately designed flower garden. A small group of students awaited the transferring students, kindly waving their welcome flags.
This place . . . Sora trailed off a moment as he took in the scenery. This is Beast's castle, but it looks so different now. It's so . . . bright. I wonder if the inside has changed too.
Show me how much later, Mal requested, watching her friends quickly sprawled out of the vehicle. It's time for our grand entrance.
As the Isle children climbed out of the limo, the school band dribbled to a wheezing stop, parting a path so a woman and a pair of teenagers—who had their arms interlocked with one another's—could walk through. The woman had brown hair pulled back in a loose bun and wore pearl earrings that went well with her lavender dress with a pink bow at the neck.
Fairy Godmother? Sora assumed incredulously. She looks so young! During my first adventure, she had gray hair and dressed more like an older lady!
Again, show me later so we don't get discovered, Mal commented. Actually, don't show me. I don't want to be called out for giving her weird looks and having to explain myself.
"Welcome to Auradon," the woman greeted with sugar sweet smile. "I am Fairy Godmother, Headmistress of Auradon Prep."
Feigning a surprised gasp—as Sora had just told her who she was—Mal clarified, "You're the Fairy Godmother? The one who helped S—"
Don't say my name!
"—some of the Keyblade wielders," Mal quickly corrected herself. "Like Terra and Aqua?"
A saddened smile graced the headmistress's lips at the memory. "That was a long time ago," Fairy Godmother insisted, forcing herself to maintain a happy attitude. "As I like to say, don't focus on the past, or you'll miss the future!"
Welp, I didn't follow that advice, Sora commented sarcastically. And I don't think I ever will.
Before Mal could say anything to him, the couple stepped forward, next to the Fairy Godmother. "It's nice to finally meet you four," the boy greeted, with a kind, sincere smile. "I am Ben—"
"Prince Benjamin," the girl corrected, though it was quite rude of her to interrupt in the first place. "He'll soon be king!"
He's Beast and Belle's son? Sora assumed. I thought he would be to busy with planning the coronation to greet all of you.
Apparently not.
Gasping dramatically, Evie smiled ever so dazzlingly as she strode forward. "You had me at 'prince'," she swooned. "My mom's a queen, which makes me a princess." The blueberry-haired girl curtsied perfectly, displaying her royal traits.
"The Evil Queen has no royal status in Auradon," the nameless teenager argued with much too perfect smile. "And neither do you."
"Why not?" Mal challenged without a second thought. "Are you saying when a monarch is not in their kingdom, they are no longer royalty? If that was true, then the citizens of the other worlds wouldn't have continued calling King Mickey 'king'. That would have been extremely disrespectful, and I doubt His Majesty would have been as willing to help them in their time of need. Maybe you think the Evil Queen had her royal status removed when she was sent to the Isle, but I don't believe that was the case. Or am I wrong, Fairy Godmother?"
Taking a moment to process the child's impressive argument, Fairy Godmother nodded in agreement. "You are absolutely right, dear," she concurred. "The Evil Queen did not have her status removed, so she and her daughter are still indeed royalty. I'm surprised you know so much about the rules of the worlds."
"Why would you be?" Mal wondered with a curious tilt of her head. "My mother is Maleficent, the only villain that traveled to more than one different world. She's told me so many stories about her traveling the worlds when I was a little girl."
"Of course." Fairy Godmother nodded politely. "I have other business to attend to, so Ben and Audrey—"
"Princess Audrey," Audrey corrected with an aggravated huff.
"—will show you all around," Fairy Godmother continued, smiling as though she hadn't been interrupted. "I will see you all tomorrow, and please, keep in mind that you do have a curfew."
Maintaining her perfect smile, the headmistress walked toward the main school building while the marching band and the other students dispersed to do their usual daily activities.
"It is so nice to finally meet all of you," Ben started what would be a long-winded speech. "This is a momentous occasion. It's one I hope will go down in history, as the day our two peoples began to heal."
This is going to take forever! Sora complained. Can't you say something to pick things up?
Mentally rolling her eyes at his child-like behavior, Mal decided to imitate Ben's official tone as she announced, "Or the day you showed four people where the bathrooms are!"
Surprisingly, Ben chuckled at the proclamation, much to the disgust of Audrey, who snarled her nose in disdain. An amused smile emerged on his lips as Ben wondered, "A little bit over the top?"
"A little more than a little bit," Mal teased, unknowingly smiling back at him.
"Well," he began as his smile grew, "so much for my first impression." The two shared a small laugh at the harmless joke while the others watched the unusual interaction.
Ohhh! Sora chuckled in realization. I see how it is! You like him!
What! Mal exclaimed, forcing herself to advert her gaze from Ben so she didn't look suspicious. That's ridiculous! I do—
"You said you were Maleficent's daughter, right?" Audrey interrogated forcefully. "You know, I totally don't blame you for what your mother did to my parents. Oh! I forgot to mention, my mom's Aurora. Sleeping—"
"Beauty," Mal finished with a careless shrug. "I've heard the name before," she commented nonchalantly, "along with so many others from all the worlds Mom visited. If I had to recall correctly, it wasn't your mother that caused her to be a villain—"
Mal, Sora sternly warned. Don't make an enemy on your first day. And don't forget, I'm still going to keep my promise to both of you.
"It was someone else," Mal continued smoothly, not giving a hint about the advice just given to her. "So why don't you and I put our parents' differences behind us and try to be friends?"
Pursing her lips together in thought, Audrey relented, "Alright, I guess I can let it stay in the past." Wrapping her arms possessively around one of Ben's, she insisted, "Me and Bennyboo will take you on a tour of the school."
Jay snarled his nose at the ridiculous name, crossing his arms over his chest in the process. "'Bennyboo'?" he repeated with a disbelieving scoff. "Why do you call Ben that?"
"Well I am his girlfriend," Audrey revealed as she smiled adoringly at Ben, who—for some reason—refused to look at her. "We've been together for a few months now. Isn't that right, Benny?"
"We better get started on that tour," Ben claimed, completely changing the subject, much to one's relief and another's irritation. "I'm sure you are tired from having attended your Isle school, having to pack so quickly, and then the long ride here. After the quick tour, someone will show you to your dorms so you can rest for tomorrow."
Or, Sora began as everyone started walking forward for the tour, you can rest until everyone is asleep and then I can take you on a real tour. It'll be my way of cheering you up.
Why would I need cheering up? Mal wondered as she tried to act oblivious. I'm not upset.
I can feel everything you're feeling, remember? Sora reminded. You are clearly upset about them being a couple. I could give you some advice.
Why would I take advice from you when you couldn't ask out the girl you liked?
First, that's harsh, Sora insisted. Second, during my second adventure across the worlds, with my meddling I helped . . . seven couples get together. I wouldn't mind making that total 'eight' if you were willing to work with me.
You're the one that told me not to make enemies on first day. I'm pretty sure I'll be doing that if I try to steal Audrey's boyfriend from her.
So I'll wait a week, Sora joked. Just watch, you two will end up together in a couple weeks. Until then, let's pay attention to this boring tour so we don't get lost during the fun tour.