"Calm down," Ben's voice cut across the raised voices in the room. The council fell into a tense silence, a few shifty glances thrown across the room. Ben was clearly irritated at this point. Fairy Godmother was red in the face, still heated from the argument she'd been until Ben had put an end to it.
"Sire, this folly you've brought us here for is nothing but a political farce." Lord Byron who had the floor, was pacing back and forth in front of Ben's dais. "Release the villains will spell doom for us all. Need I remind you we're still picking up the pieces after more villains attacked us."
Uma leaned closer to Mal, whispering, "I really want to try that optimism thing you've mentioned, but this feels like we're losing."
Mal raised her hand slightly, hesitating to touch Uma before deciding to do it anyway. She touched her elbow, hoping the gesture was calming. "I know it looks bad, but these things always look that way. I'm sure we have the votes."
"The more I see of Auradon, the more I'm convinced this place sucks."
"Do you honestly think the Isle is better?"
"No. But they suck in different ways. But here is much more insidious than the Isle."
"Well, you won't find me arguing with you there."
They were watching the council meeting from a raised platform, technically outside of the room. They hadn't been invited to participate in the meeting, which was fine for Mal. She wasn't eager for a repeat of the last time she'd been in a meeting.
Evie and Fairy Godmother had both given statements already, beseeching the end of the VK program as it existed. They were going to start over from scratch and build something that could really help all VKs. Or that was the plan if they were allowed the remove the barrier.
"The barrier is the thing keeping us safe from the evil on the island."
"No one is saying that the villains on the Isle will just be let free," Fairy Godmother said.
"The Isle was an idea that was intended to keep the populous of Auradon safe, but in doing so it's condemned part of that very populous to a life sentence that isn't theirs to serve. And as it stands, there are people on the isle who did not deserve a lifetime sentence. What rational person would say that Lady Tremaine was on the same level as someone like Shan Yu who killed hundreds."
"Your princess certainly has learnt how to sound like a politician." Uma said.
Mal only smiled in response.
"I think Cinderella would have something to say to that." Someone interjected.
"I think Cinderella herself would admit their crimes don't carry the same weight. Make no mistake. The people sentenced to the Isle are criminals, but their children are not."
"Wasn't a bunch of villain kids who terrorized our kingdom?"
"Not because they were inherently evil. Because the system failed them. And I don't need to remind you, it was a bunch of villain kids who stopped them." Evie looked in Mal's and Uma's direction.
This debate went on for another hour, back and forth, discussing the details, the impacts, the politics of everything, until finally, Ben called for the vote.
Four hands went up. Five. Six… and no more.
From his raised dais, Ben's knuckles clenched and his face paled. Mal knew just how upset he was to look like that. The seconds dragged on, as they waited for more hands to go up.
"What was that you were saying about having the votes?" Uma asked Mal, shaking her head, "Knew I shouldn't have put my faith in ya'll."
"All those against." Ben finally said.
A dozen hands went up instantly. More joined them.
Uma stood up, storming out of the doorway. Mal hesitated to follow, meeting Evie's eyes first. In that moment of silent communication, Mal could feel the devastation in Evie right then. She could only feel a cold numbness herself. She wanted to go to Evie, but right then the unknown of what Uma was going to do was more pressing.
She ran after her.
"Uma!"
"It's fucking bullshit."
"I know," Mal said, as she caught up with her.
"I should tear this castle apart, and then do the same with that stupid barrier."
"That would make you feel better. But who would that actually help? Not the kids? They'd be outcasts at best. At worst, considered criminals and have to be on the run constantly."
Uma shook off Mal's hand, "I know that!" She punched the wall, "Maybe that's the better option than their life right now."
"It's not. You know it's not. The isle, for all its horrors, the VKs have each other. Let's say you do it. You tear down the barrier. You take the kids and go on the run. You can't hide a big group forever."
"I can figure it out."
"Then do it. If you're willing to risk your life on it, do it." Mal said, her voice steady with deathly seriousness, "And if you're willing to risk the kids' lives."
Uma growled, punching the wall again, "Where is your stupid idealistic king. I should be punching him."
"If you're looking for someone to punch I can point you in the direction of the most bigoted council members."
"They deserve worse than a punch."
Mal didn't disagree.
They walked into Ben's office. Uma's eyes flashed, but it wasn't at Ben. It was Evie she matched up on, grabbing her by the collar.
"You made me a promise."
Evie, her voice flat with this morose quality, said, "I know."
"You said we'd get all the kids off the isle."
"I know." She wasn't breaking eye contact. She wasn't turning away from this. Mal had to admire it. She wasn't sure she could do the same in that position. To stare down Uma's fury and frustration after not fulfilling a promise to her. Mal didn't have a will that strong. There was an air around them both that was basically crackling. It made Mal's skin zing and she wondered if this was their magic or just them. Was there a difference in that moment?
"Let's take a breath," Ben said, trying to get in between them, but Evie held up a hand.
"Let her say what she needs to say."
Uma pushed her back, "Auradon is for heroes? Bullshit. The people here aren't the ones who need heroes. The kids on that isle do. And you just failed them."
"I know."
"This isn't the end," Ben said, "We still have options."
Uma turned on him, "Oh, do we? And what are they, your majesty?"
"Well, firstly, the council is likely going to call for the end of the VK program with this. I've talked with my parents and they think that best for now."
Uma snorted, turning on her heels, walking to the door. "That's literally the worst thing you could have said."
Mal caught her arm, "Hear him out."
"It will be temporary. I promise you. We'll work on the elements we failed at and we'll bring it back."
Uma rolled her eyes, "While you're doing the paperwork, I'm going back to the Isle to actually protect the kids. The thing that's meant to be your job, king."
"Uma, please. I promise, just give me the time and I will come up with a solution."
"No."
It wasn't Uma who spoke. It was Evie. Everyone in the room looked at her.
"No," She said again, "If the program ends we might never get back. And even if we do, how many kids are going to age out the age brackets by the time it does come back. And we've barely been able to make any changes over the past few years. How will we… you… How will you get the council to agree to a new program?"
"We just need the time."
"No. No more time. No more tomorrows or maybes. Ben, I can't keep doing this. You can't. The kids can't. Not when the people here keep changing the goal post. You tell me, now, that the barrier is coming down and the kids will all be brought over. All of them. You show me that's what's going to happen today."
"Evie that's…"
"If you can't do that, then I'll do it."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying I'll get the kids out myself if I have to. If I walk out of here today, without the effort on your part to fix this, then the next time we see each other we won't be friends."
Ben's posture straightened with a jagged tensity. "Are you saying you'll be my enemy?"
"If they're so scared of a villain escaping from the Isle, then I'll be that villain. That barrier is coming down. The only thing up in the air is if it will be under your command or by me tearing the magic apart shred by shred."
"You can't do this, Evie."
"Oh, I think she can. Pretty easily too, I bet, since she'll have me on her side." Uma said, stepping up to Evie.
Ben looked at Mal, desperation in his eyes.
"Mal, talk some sense into them."
Mal looked like she'd been slapped by this whole interaction. She took a moment to find her voice.
"I think they're being perfectly rational right now. A dangerous kind of rationale, maybe. But this isn't an issue where we can meet in the middle with the other side."
"You can't make yourself the villain," Ben said.
"We're already there," Uma said, her hands on her hips.
"Evie," He begged.
"I'm tired of compromising. Not anymore."
"Mal, please, say something," the desperation in Ben's voice was getting thicker.
Uma and Evie looked at Mal. Uma's eyes flashed, as though daring her to say something. Evie's was calm and that was the scariest thing to Mal. She knew under that calm surface there were a dozen things happening at once.
It should be an absurd moment. She should want to laugh or cry or anything, but the strange clarity she felt right then.
"Ben, we both know Evie well enough to know what she's like once she's set her mind to something."
"That's why I'm asking you to say something. You're the only one she'll listen to. Evie, if you do this, I will have no choice but to treat you as villains."
"Then I'll be the villain."
"That isn't as much as a threat as you think it is, kingy boy, not when we're the whole reason you survived the last group of villains who attacked you," Uma said.
Evie and Mal were still looking at each other.
"You don't agree," Evie said. It wasn't a question.
"I don't know what the best option here is right now."
"There is no best anymore. We planned for the worse. It went downhill from there. All we can do now is get back up any way we can."
Mal exhaled, "If it came down to it, I can't fight Ben." She finally looked at Ben again, "But I can't fight Evie either. And even if I could fight her, I'd probably lose. With Uma on her side, I'd definitely lose."
"My hands are tied and you know it," Ben said,
Uma slapped one hand on the desk, "Then untie them. Are you or are you not the king?"
Ben fell back into his chair, one hand over his face.
Everything in the room was so still it was as if no one was breathing. Ben finally leaned over his phone, picking it up, "Debora, call an emergency council meeting immediately." He stood again, straightening his jacket, "The conversation we just had in this room reaches no one else's ears." He strode out of the room.
"Did ya'll just burn your biggest bridge?" Uma asked after a minute or so had passed and no one had said anything.
"I'm with you, always. But that was a big gamble you just took," Mal said to Evie.
"That wasn't a gamble. I meant every word."
"You would have fought Ben?"
"Only if he didn't give me a choice."
"I take back any comments I made about Auradon making you soft. You're hardcore, Princess."
Evie exhaled heavily, reaching out for Mal's hand, "Was that too far?"
"I don't know. But you weren't in the wrong here."
"Neither was Ben. We want the same thing."
"Yeah, but you're actually willing to do something about it," Uma said.
"VKs in Auradon wouldn't have been possible in the first place without Ben."
"All the more reason he should be sticking his neck out for this."
"Should we go to the meeting?" Mal asked.
"Oh, I'm not missing this. No matter how it goes down, there's sure to be drama."
Ben wasn't in his seat. Instead, he was in the center of the room, hands clasped behind his back as he paced.
"The people in this room are my council." He paused, taking a moment to look around the room, "My council. You represent the proxies of other kingdoms and the people. I am but one person and I can't be all-knowing. Which is why I have a council. You give me council. Advice. To fill in the gaps in my own judgment. When I first decided on the VK program, I didn't bring it before this council because I knew without the evidence it could work I would never get council approval. Yet, even with every mounting bit of evidence that it did work, there are hearts and minds in this room that refused to see that. Some refused to see anything but a past that is no longer the reality of this kingdom."
A mummer of whispers broke out.
Ben looked straight up before facing the room again. "In the instance of opening up the barrier, my judgment isn't the one with gaps in it. I don't need this council to tell me the right choice. Yet I did. Instead of making the choice to help the people who need it the most, I let fear erode my empathy. Which is why I'm overturning the decision of this council."
The room broke into shouts. Ben just raised a hand until silence filled the room again. "This isn't a debate anymore. The Isle will no longer be a prison. The barrier will be brought down and proper communications established. With a council of people I elect, I will decide which villains currently on the Isle will be moved to a secure prison and which will be allowed to remain on the Isle, their time on the Isle, being considered their time served. Any villain not being moved to a prison facility will have to elect to monitoring, and a set of probationary rules, which if they are found in breach of, will result in their imprisonment. As for their children, they are guilty of no crimes and will be allowed full citizenship of the United Auradon States. And no, I will not be taking any questions."
"Oh, yeah, this sweet drama is what I was hoping for," Uma said, looking on gleefully as the full-blown arguments breaking out in the room.
Ben strode up the steps towards them, "It will be a few weeks until we can safely bring down the barrier, but in the meantime, I'm giving you the authorization to bring any and all VKs to Auradon." she said to them.
Uma closed her eyes for a moment, but she couldn't help her smile. "I'll head back to the Isle tonight to get them ready," She said.
"And finally get out of my house? Yes," Mal said.
"Ben, about the villains who will and won't be moved to a prison?" Evie asked.
"There are some I'm sure of, where they'll be one way or the other. But I'll make those decisions with FG, my parents and a few other people I trust. But I can't ask you to be a part of that. Or any VK."
"If you think we'll have any empathy for our parents, that's not the case for most of us," Uma said.
"All the more reason why I can't have you involved. You're too close to be objective, good or bad opinions of your parents. But I'm thinking I'll allow statements from anyone directly impacted by the villains to be a part of the decision process. VKs included."
"You want us to tell you if we think our parents should be in prison or not?" Mal asked, incredulously.
"Only if you want to." Ben saw Fairy Godmother and called out to her, "I'll talk to you tomorrow. There's still a lot to be done."
"He said he'll talk tomorrow, so the bridge can't be completely burned."
"What just happened?" Evie asked.
"I think you just won," Uma said.
"I think we just won," Mal said.
Evie laughed, a sound mixed up with relief, exhaustion and disbelief. "You realize this means we'll have a hundred other things to do, on top of planning a wedding."
Mal snorted, "Weren't you the one who brought the courthouse?"
Evie tilted her head and arched a brow, "No, you said you wanted a ceremony. We're not doing this in half measures. I'm declaring my love for you as loud as possible." And she pulled Mal in for a kiss that left her weak in the knees.
Next to them, Uma gagged, "Gross. I'm going now. See you on the Isle."
Fun fact, the scene with Evie threatening to become a full villain for the sake of the VKs was one of three scenes I had clearly in mind from the very beginning of this. The other two have yet to happen.
Nardragon- until the next page.