An: Emotional and heartbreaking.
NymhadoraTonks: No, Jay didn't propose. He was telling her that he planned for that to be the place when he would propose. A revealing of his future plans. With the divorce, Hades would be skeptical of having Maleficent back. She is the mistress of Evil. Nothing to really look into. He just has his doubts.
Well, Ben has plenty of help in the kingdom. It's just showing how much he cares for Mal and wants to be there for her. But In some cases, Mal probably could get anything she wants but in my version, she is using her power for good. Ben wants everyone to have a second chance. Mal is scared of her house because of the memories within it. Her mother grilling her isn't the best memory. She hasn't been there since she left. And when she did she was still evil. It's just a different feeling.
Uh...well one reunion is going to go smooth. And not the one you expect...
Thank you!
Mal felt a chill go up her spine as the doors closed behind her. It had been a full year since she last stepped foot in this house. All of the lights were off, making it darker than it normally was. Even if the power was working, Maleficent always preferred the lights off. After all, she was the mistress of darkness. Mal didn't mind it either, she could almost see better in the dark. Or at least she thought she could.
As she entered the dining room, she ran her fingers along the long dark table. There were multiple marks where her mother missed the plate with her knife or was just angry with the table itself. She always was bumping into the thing. Maleficent had always refused to cower against the wall to avoid it. Mal went to her side of the table, feeling under the wood for her name she had carved in.
"I always knew you carved your name in there," Maleficent's voice called. Mal looked back at the doorway to see her mother in human form. She was dressed in her usual dark purple and black attire. Her horns wrapped in leather. She grinned a little, her lips lined with dark purple gloss. "You always tried to hide it when you did. But fingernails arent' silent."
Mal was stunned. She couldn't believe she was standing in front of a human Maleficent. Completely shocked, Mal managed to start, "How did yo-"
"I don't need my scepter to cast every spell," Maleficent folded her arms. "My dear, I thought you would have more faith in me." She should have, but somehow she had forgotten how powerful her mother was. But, if she truly wanted to take over Auradon, she would've done it already.
"And yet you haven't come to visit me," Mal shot back. "I'll admit I had faith in you for that."
"Did you really think I would come running?" Maleficent raised a brow. "I know your father had. I knew he was too soft from the start of our marriage." Mal cringed at the word marriage. She never wished for herself to have one as her parents had. It was obvious they weren't going to get along, but one thing was for sure, Mal at least truly loved the man she was going to marry. She doesn't have anything to worry about.
"Don't incriminate dad," Mal scolded. "He is at least trying to be there for me now."
Maleficent laughed. "Oh, Mal... you're so naive. He must want something from you. Once he has it he'll pick up and run."
"He must've learned from the best," Mal shot back.
She laughed again. "You're forgetting that I raised you, child."
"I practically raised myself," Mal shook her head. "You only shaped me into what you wanted me to be."
"And looks where that's gotten you, lady Mal," Maleficent curtsied to her. Mal had to admit, she didn't know what would've happened if she didn't give that cookie to Ben. Would she have taken over Auradon and fallen into her mother's trap? It was better not to think of it, it was what her mother wanted her.
"I learned that I can be myself," Mal snapped. "It's gotten me to a place where I am happy and loved. Now, I'm reaching out that same chance for you."
"Me? In Auradon?" Maleficent cackled. She then straightened when she saw Mal's straight face. "You're serious?"
"Yes," Mal nodded. "I don't want this bad blood between us, mom. It's a new era, one that we can all start fresh...even you." When her mother crossed her arms and turned away from her daughter, Mal continued, "Dad would like to see you on the other side of the water, I know I want to see you over there."
Without another word, Mal turned and left the house. Once she had gone through the double doors. A weight pressed against her chest. She had done it, she had faced her mother, but why does she feel so sad? Uma, Harry, Ben, and Celia were playing a card game when she spotted them. Uma was the first to notice her presence. Then Ben swiftly turned his head and rose to his feet.
Mal only stared at him as he walked over. He ran his finger down her cheek. His kind blue eyes searched for emotion within her. Suddenly, Mal felt tears spill from her eyes. She took in a sharp breath as Ben pulled her to him. She cried into his shoulder. Her fingers holding on tightly to his jacket. She felt weak and foolish. Of course, her mother wouldn't come. Why would she ever think differently?
The balcony above appeared empty to her, but Mal didn't see the figure watching from the shadows of the curtains. Maleficent gazed at her daughter and the King of Auradon. A small pain in her own chest pricked. Was this perhaps guilt? Maleficent had never felt this way before. It was strange and she refused to give into it. Maleficent turned and glanced back only once more at Mal.
Carlos took in one more breath before he squeezed Evie's hand. Together, they opened the doors to Hell Hall. His heart pounded in his ears as they crossed the threshold. Carlos peered around. Everything looked the same. It was strange how some things never changed. Their footsteps echoed in the tall white building. It was truly the best house on the Isle, but it didn't come easy.
Carlos remembered all of his years he had spent scrubbing the floors. They were a bit less shiny, but they were scrubbed a few times. Cruella must've got some other slave to do her bidding. "Mom?" Carlos's voice echoed throughout the house. Evie squeezed his hand as they passed the coat closet. Out of all the nights that could've come to mind, Carlos thought about the party.
Mal had shoved Evie in the traps that lead to the closet. Carlos had tried his best to lead her out. Neither of them had been clipped that time. Carlos never went in thereafter he caught on in the leg when he was with Mal once. Once Evie had been lead out, she was in his room. or his corner in the coat closet. Where the bare mattress lay withering from its oldness. He remembered how Evie had given him an actual pillow, and a blanket. That's when he fell in love with her, he just didn't realize it.
Now, the mattress, blanket, and pillow were all in the treehouse. Evie had used it when she escaped to the Isle, and Carlos had visited his old clubhouse on a few occasions through the past year. Carlos never thought of how it was there before. Cruella must've moved it out once he had left. She probably needed the extra space for her coats.
"Carlos?" Cruella's sharp voice called. "Is that you?"
"Yes." Carlos almost added a "ma'am," but he stopped himself. Cruella came into the room. She looked the same her black and white hair framing her dark face. Her eyes were widened. Her lips a scarlet red.
"Finally come to visit?" Curella raised a brow. How was it supposed to be simple? A wave of cruel memories flooded his brain. He could feel himself receding back into the young boy who feared his mother greatly.
"I-I," Carlos took a deep breath and let go of Evie's hand. He then took a step forward. "I want you to come to Auradon and live alongside us."
"Do you think I can get real fur coats there?" Cruella asked eagerly. Carlos felt a pain in his heart.
"No, but you can have a nice faux one," Carlos tried to keep his voice steady. Cruella looked around the mansion and folded her arms. "Please, mom, you can start new. W-We can start over." There was a long silence.
"I would like that," Cruella said. It surprised Carlos how much she had changed since the last time he talked to her. "I need to pack my coats," Cruella said suddenly. Relief washed over Carlos. She then looked to Carlos. "Help me...please?" He looked to Evie, who grinned and nodded.
After Carlos agreed, he turned to her and took Evie's face in his hands. He planted a single kiss on her lips. "Do you need me with you?" Carlos asked.
"I'll be alright," Evie nodded. With another kiss, Carlos watched her walk out of Hell Hall. As he assisted his mother, he could only hope that everything would turn out alright.
Evie was rather hopeful about her visit. She was just happy Cruella had agreed to come. if she hadn't Carlos would be put under a great state of woe. She was glad he didn't get emotional either. Cruella had always been straight to the point with the conversation. The Evil Queen was a bit different. She would avoid the subject until it was almost inevitable.
As she neared the castle, a part of her wanted to turn away. She suddenly touched her face out of habit. Making sure she looked her absolute best for her mother. What was she doing? It didn't matter anymore whether she was the fairest of them all But once again, her upbringing found its way into her new life. She was disgusted by it.
She pushed open the castle doors. It was dark in there. Only a few torches were lighting the dark halls of the second Queen castle. Evie tried to keep her mind off of the original. She already had enough horrible memories circling through her brain. As she sifted through them, she had almost lost where she was going. Her boots made small clicks against the cold brick.
Evie gasped as she abruptly stopped at the sigh of a figure. She caught her breath once she realized it was her own reflection. Every angle she gazed, there was a framed mirror. She had forgotten about her mother's halls of mirrors. Evie was forbidden to come here. She looked for a way out, but then she noticed tall fame didn't possess glass within it.
"How are you, my fairest daughter?" the Evil Queen's voice practically echoed. Evie felt a chill go up to her spine.
"I was looking for you, mother dearest," Evie resisted the urge to clap a hand over her mouth. All of these old habits were resurfacing again.
"Whatever for? To tell me the good news I hope," the Evil Queen materialized. Her dark brows arched and her brown eyes staring straight into Evie's. She swallowed before answering.
"Good news?" Evie questioned. "I was going to invite you to Auradon."
"That ring on your finger," the Evil Queen pointed. "You've landed yourself a prince. Well done! Let mother see it." She reached out her hand. Evie hesitated, but then rested her hand delicately on top of her mother's. The Evil Queen looked skeptically at the ruby. "This isn't real. What kind of a prince gives this piece of plastic to the Princess of Beauty?"
"He's not a prince," Evie yanked her hand back. "And it's not an engagement, it's a promise ring."
"From a duke?"
"From Carlos," Evie took a step back from her.
"Cruella's boy?!" her mother shrieked. "OH, NO NO NO! This is unacceptable. Evie, how could you undersell yourself. you come from royalty after all. You don't have to settle for a poor animal like that boy."
"He's not an animal," Evie defended. "I don't want to marry a prince. Carlos is my true love!"
"True love doesn't exist," the Evil Queen snapped. "Surely not without a prince."
"Don't you want me to be happy?" Evie asked in a level voice.
The Evil Queen reached for Evie's hands, "Of course I do, but I know you won't find it with him." Evie couldn't believe her mother. She hadn't changed at all. Her mother tilted her head, "You seem angry, dear. That's not good for the complexion you know."
"Get away from me," Evie pushed away from her mother with all the frustration she had brewing inside of her. Her back smashed into a mirror on the wall. Evie fell with the mirror shards.
"My mirror! Are you insane girl?!"
Evie didn't know at this point. She had been through so much this last year. The fact that she was still breathing was a feat. She looked at the mirror glass laying on the floor at her hands. One had cut her arm. Blood trickled down her skin and fell onto a mirror shard. Evie found herself gazing into her own eyes. It seemed ironic how simple mirror glass has always gotten the better of her. Strange magic possessed it that always made Evie fail to stand on her own.
Not this time.
Evie rose to her feet. She looked her mother straight in the eye. "I thought you would've changed mother, but you're still after the same thing you were all of those years ago. You have shaped me into what you've wanted me to be. Marry a prince, be rich, and be beautiful. I say, no more. I will be only myself. I am done playing your game. I am done being your mirror."
The Evil Queen looked frightened for a moment, then her expression faded into a scowl. "Get out of my sight. You're blocking my reflection." Evie didn't say anything as she turned to all of the mirrors on the walls. A single tear ran down her cheek. When it fell to the ground, Evie's eyes glowed red. Every mirror broke. crumbled to the floor, sounding like rain on a tin roof. "I never want to see you again! I banish you from here forever!"
Evie ran from the room, the castle, and didn't stop until she reached Carlos's treehouse. She climbed up to the platform. It only then did she look at her hands. Did she still possess magic? Her heart pounded loudly against her ribs.
"I thought you needed the help," a voice called from inside. Evie looked to see Rose was leaning against the doorframe of the treehouse. Her face was solemn, hair slightly swaying in the breeze. Evie felt everything melt away. She practically ran to Rose and hugged her. Rose didn't know what to do at first, but she hugged Evie back.
"Thank you," Evie whispered before she cried into her shoulder. Rose didn't say anything as she used her magic to transport them inside of Hell Hall. It only took a matter of seconds before Carlos came into the hall. He dropped the bags he was carrying and rushed to them. Rose passed over Evie. Carlos put his arm around her and widened his eyes.
"Eves, your arm," Carlos lifted it. Dizzy gasped. Rose hadn't even noticed that she was there too.
"I got it," Rose snapped her finger. The wound took back the blood to spilled. Only a small scar remained. Evie wiped the tears off her face.
"What happened?" Carlos asked.
"She's not coming," Evie said simply and pressed her face into Carlos's shoulder. Rose knew there was much more to the story. He glanced at her, but Rose shrugged. Now was definitely not the time to get into what Rose had witnessed. She felt terrible for Evie. She knew exactly what it was like to have a bad relationship with her mother. At least it was starting to be fixed, Rose was afraid Evie's mother never would come around.
And she never would. The Evil Queen would hold a grudge for the rest of her life. She would never set foot outside of the castle on the Isle. She would sit there taping her mirrors back together in hopes that she could scrape some of her dignity together. The vain woman would never know what her once beloved daughter had endured the last, or what was to lie ahead of her. And somewhere deep inside, a small pain of guilt would build until it stifled the Evil Queen's breaths. She would die alone.
Mal thought she was in a wreck, but Evie looked as if she had been hit with a bag of bricks. Carlos kept a protective arm around her as they met in the main circle. Mal was at least happy to see Jafar and Cruella with their bags packed. She grabbed Rose's hand and together they transported everyone to the castle. Mal took Ben's hand as they showed Cruella and Jafar to their new homes.
Evie had disappeared before anyone seemed to notice. Carlos of course would've known, but he stayed with his mom. As he should. They were finally getting a fresh start. Mal knew Evie didn't want to ruin the moment for him, but the look on Carlos's face said otherwise. Rose had the same expression. Mal pulled her aside the first moment she could.
"What happened?" Mal asked.
"That's not for me to tell," Rose's eyes widened as she resited to wince."I saw what happened to her, but I respect what she wants to keep to herself." Mal realized she was pinching her arm. Mal let go and collected herself again.
"She must be at home," Mal folded her arms.
"No, Uma and the others went there," Rose shook her head. "My guess is that she went back to her mother's old castle." Mal sighed. She really didn't need this drama tonight.
"We should just leaver her alone," Mal folded her arms.
"No," Rose shook her head. "I think she needs you."
"Needs me? What about you?" Mal raised an eyebrow.
"I have mother issues too, but it's not the same," Rose nudged her. "You've been her friend the longest, and you're going through the same thing you are. Rejection. You have been neglecting her lately."
"Neglecting?! I-"
"Enchantress," Rose put up her hands. "I'm guiding you in the right direction. Now go."
"Rose?" a deep voice called. Rose turned sharply with a scowl, but then a smile came to her lips.
"Simon?" A dark-haired seventeen-year-old boy with glasses came running in sweatpants and a sweatshirt. "What are you doing here?"
"I volunteered to help kids settle in the dorms," Simon pointed to a small pin on his shirt. "Student council stuff."
"That's nice of you," Rose took a step towards him. Was she blushing? Mal had never seen her this way before. Mal glanced to Ben, who was having a lively conversation with Jafar, Jay, and Lonnie.
"I was hoping we could have that second conversation? Perhaps a walk?" Simon scratched the back of his head nervously. Rose nodded and snapped her fingers. Her Enchantress robes disappeared and she was back in her leather jacket. Her crown of roses disappeared as half of her hair was pulled up into two braids.
"I'm gonna go," Mal said. Rose didn't give her a second glance as she waved her hand. Mal snapped her fingers for the borders of Dandelion. She then realized Rose had taken down the barrier she had put over the land. She suddenly appeared in front of the Evil Queen's castle doors. When she reached for the door's handles, the door swung open first.
She crept through the small halls until she entered the throne room. It was all empty, except for the crown that perched on a small velvet pillow. Mal took the bait and lifted the crown off of its pedestal. The platform she was standing on opened and stairs appeared. Mal went down until she found the brewing room that belonged to the Evil Queen.
There was a red velvet curtain against a wall. Mal moved her fingers along the dark brick and moved the curtain back. There was yet another narrow hall. A the end of this one, the broken magic mirror hung on its wall. Evie was standing there, looking at the broken glass shards. She didn't move as Mal crossed the floor and stood next to her best friend.
"Why are you here?" Mal finally asked.
"I just wanted to be sure that it really was broken. I had Rose transport me here," Evie said simply. She then raised her hand to show the handheld mirror. It hadn't been touched. Its glass was still clean. "This is all that's left of my mother. I kept it here after the possession. Then I thought Rose would've had it, but she kept it in its same place. Above the real magic mirror."
"What are you going to do with it?" Mal asked.
"I should destroy it like how I did the others," Evie lifted it above her head. She looked like she was about to smash it, but then when she dropped her arm down, she fell to her knees. The mirror was still clutched safely in her hands. The blue-haired princess began to sob. Mal dropped to one knee and placed an arm over her. "I-I c-can't do it," Evie sobbed.
"I know," Mal soothed her. "I couldn't do it either. It's okay Evie. You don't have to hide anything anymore. It's all over. Everything is going to be alright because you're not alone. You never will be."
She never would be alone. All of the pain of the past would soon be forgotten and Evie would move on with her life. She would find her own happiness without her mother's blessing. One day, she would destroy the mirror. But only when it had no meaning left to it. Until then, she would never live up to anyone's expectations ever again. Only her own. The pain of the possession, kidnapping, and battles were all over. Evie would become herself again, as long she had the support of those who loved her.