Here is the next chapter!

Somehow I managed to finish this chapter after helping my grandma last night and from getting up early in the morning.

Thanks to a couple reviews, I have decided to make the chapters the usual length—about 2500 words. Of course, there will be a few chapters that exceed that length, for example, Family Day. Luckily, I am now on fall break, which means I have a full week to work on this story.

With this chapter and next, the events were originally on the same day. However, due to an idea that will appear very very soon, the events are now split into two separate days. 'Monday' you will see my idea that I've talked about a couple times before.

Enjoy.

Thursday morning—the first morning of being in Auradon—Mal was up at the crack of dawn thanks to parents always making sure she was up in time for school. Luckily, she wasn't alone in waking early since Evie was up a few minutes later. Having nothing to do, the two dressed for the day before heading of to the boys' rooms to give them a morning wake-up call. Of course, Jay and Carlos didn't like having to leave their comfortable beds, since it was their first time sleeping on a real bed.

Due to them being up so early, the four were obviously early to class, which shocked Fairy Godmother, who had been in the middle of writing phrases like MOUTHS ARE FOR SMILING, NOT FOR BITING and SHARING IS CARING on the blackboard.

"You're fifteen minutes early!" the headmistress exclaimed in surprise. "Admittedly, I thought you'd be a few minutes late."

"Mal woke us up too early," Jay complained as he slumped into his chair, Carlos following his lead in his chair. "She banged on our door when we took too long to get dressed."

"My mother taught me to be either early or on time for class," Mal explained with a slight roll of her eyes. "She says a queen has to be on time for every event and occasion, so no one is disrespected."

Although that slightly confused the headmistress, Fairy Godmother was still impressed by their promptness. "Since you arrived before requested, I'll end class a few minutes early," she offered with a small smile. "This way you can roam around the halls and become more familiar with your new school."

The four new transfer students were excited to hear the news, until the class actually began. While the class was very informative for Jay, Evie, and Carlos, Mal was completely miserable. All the questions had common sense answers! It was practically a class designed to teach preschoolers manners. Her parents taught her better than this and yet she has to suffer through this unbearable class! To make things worse, she is given almost all of the questions!

"C," Mal answered in a monotone for the fiftieth time that hour, "give the child a bottle."

Fairy Godmother smiled like she was rewarding a misbehaving child. "Correct, again."

"You are on fire, girl!" Carlos complimented.

Mal rolled her eyes in frustration. "These questions are a joke," she spat. "And I don't need this class. My parents taught me better than this."

Although Fairy Godmother caught what she said, the headmistress didn't say anything yet since a girl in a pale blue dress wearing a blue bow in her hair entered the classroom. The frightened child spared a glance at the four new students as she scurried toward the front of the room with a squeal.

"Hello, dear one," Fairy Godmother greeted with a kind smile.

"H-hi." The girl held up a clipboard as she kept her eyes on the new students. "You need to sign off on early dismissal for the coronation."

Mal eyed the girl with a certain curiosity. She reminded Mal so much of Carlos before she started to help him. Maybe Mal could help her too . . .

"Everyone this is my daughter," Fairy Godmother introduced as she signed the form, "Jane."

"Mom!" Jane whispered harshly as she whipped her head toward her mother. "Don't!"

Fairy Godmother returned the clipboard. "It's okay," she reassured as she turned her daughter to face her current students. "Jane, this is everyone."

Jane gave a feeble wave. "Hi."

"Hi, Jane," Mal greeted kindly before offering her a small smile. "That's a beautiful headband you're wearing. It makes you look prettier than you already are."

Blushing bright red at the compliment, Jane did the first thing that came to mind—

She ran out of the room with a terrified squeal.

"Forgive Jane," Fairy Godmother pleaded with a small wince. "She is a very shy and timid girl. Thank you for pretending to be nice to her."

"I wasn't pretending," Mal insisted with a slight defensive tone. "I meant every word."

Fairy Godmother cleared her throat to end the awkward conversation. "Let's continue with the lesson."

Mal slumped in her chair with a slight huff, knowing it was going to be a very long day.

Later in the school day—after Jay and Carlos tried out for the Tourney team—Mal and Evie were hanging out at their lockers in between their classes since they had nothing better to do. Mal had decided to paint her logo on her locker, which was a heart with two dragons inside—one green and the other purple. The dragons represented her parents, who had a special place in her heart.

"When are you going to ask him?" Evie whispered in a hurry.

"Soon," Mal promised as she opened her locker, careful not to touch the drying paint. "Like I said yesterday, I have to wait until he's not around his girlfriend, which is almost never because she's so over-possessive. It's a wonder how no one has commented on it yet besides us."

The blue-haired princess sighed softly. "I have to get to Chemistry. Tell me how the conversation goes."

"If it happens," Mal reminded off-handedly, digging through her locker for nothing in particular as her friend walked away to be a model student.

During her action, Mal just happened hear a loud, obnoxious laughter that she was already too familiar with. Peering behind her locker door, Mal caught a glimpse of Audrey and Chad Charming—son of Prince Charming and Cinderella, Ben's supposed best friend—laughing with one another while Ben slowly and sadly trailed behind them, like he wanted no part of them, but had to keep up an appearance.

When the prince gazed up, he unintentionally locked eyes with Mal, who blushed fire-truck red at being caught in her action. Ben offered a small smile, which caused Mal to abruptly turn her head to face her locker. Ben chuckled while Audrey's and Chad's laughter died down at catching sight of Mal.

Chad tapped Ben's arm a little too hard for the future king's liking before Chad pointed at the purple-haired girl. "Those kids are trouble," he insisted, referring to Mal and her friends in general. "Those VKs have no business being here in our kingdom."

Ben raised an eyebrow curiously. " 'VK'? " He repeated unfamiliarly. "What does that mean?"

"Villain Kid," Chad answered with a roll of his eyes, like the answer should have been obvious. "All of us are calling them that."

"I'm not and I won't," Ben chided sharply. "Give them a chance. They aren't as bad as they seem."

"Ugh!" Audrey snarled her nose for a brief second before she took Ben's hands in hers. "No offense, Ben—but you're too trusting."

Ben tried laughing the comment off, but Audrey held firm. Literally. She gripped his hand so tightly that he couldn't let go.

"Look, I know your mom fell in love with a beast who turned out to be a prince. But with my mom, the evil fairy was just the evil fairy." She paused for a moment to gaze at Mal. "That girl's mother."

"Who took over raising your mother because the three good fairies were doing a terrible job doing so," Ben retorted with a snappy attitude. "Mal is practically your aunt. You need to show her some respect."

Audrey scoffed at the idea. "I'll respect her on the day that I am convicted of attempted murder, which will never happen."

Shaking his head in disdain, Ben attempted to brush past his girlfriend to walk toward Mal, but he was suddenly jerked back when Audrey forcefully grabbed his wrist once again. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To talk to Mal," Ben insisted as he jerked his arm out of her grasp. "It's her first day at a new school. As the future king, I need to see how she and the others are adjusting. This way I know what to change when I bring over more children from the Isle."

"You're actually thinking about bringing over more?!" Audrey sneered incredulously. "Ben, those VKs are a waste of your time! You should use it on something else!"

"Like thinking of ways to break up with you?" Ben suggested with a very strong hint of seriousness.

"You can't break up with me," Audrey reminded vehemently. "We're betrothed, in an arranged marriage because of our royal lineage. Remember?"

"How can I forget when you tell me every time we get into a fight?" Ben countered in annoyance.

Before he could hear another witty retort from his forced significant other, Ben turned his back to her and stormed off. With an aggravated huff, Audrey walked in the opposite direction, leaving behind a dumbstruck Chad, who was really paying attention to the situation. Eventually, he trailed after Audrey like a puppy trying chase after its master.

When Mal closed her locker, she was welcomed by the sight of Ben leaning against one closest to hers. "Hey," he greeted with a shy smile, though Mal noticed he was extremely tense.

"Are you okay?" Mal wondered quietly so no one could eavesdrop on them. "I saw you were talking with Audrey. Did you get into an argument with her?"

Ben sighed as he drooped his shoulders, softly asking, "How much did you hear?"

"Not much," Mal fibbed as she tried to keep to the same low volume. "Just something about you wanting to break up with her, but can't due to an arranged marriage?"

Ben raised an eyebrow in amusement, which completely smashed Mal's resolve. "Okay, so I heard a lot," she admitted bashfully. "I also saw how she kept a tight grip on your hand and wrist. Does she hurt you like that often?"

"Every time I'm in an argument with her," Ben confessed without a second thought. "Which is almost every single day."

"Have you told anyone about her abusing you?" Mal wondered as she leaned her head against her locker.

"My grandfather found out last week," Ben reluctantly answered with a soft sigh. "As for my parents, I tried, but they assumed my injuries were from Tourney. Before I could tell them the truth, they were already off doing something for the kingdom."

Mal sighed, knowing she should tell him now. "Speaking of parents," she began slowly, "I need to tell you . . ."

" . . . about your mother's husband?" Ben assumed when she trailed off.

Mal's eyes widened in surprise. "How did you—?"

"The picture," Ben replied like it was obvious.

When the fairy looked confused, the prince wordlessly revealed a picture he kept hidden in a secret pocket on the inside of his jacket. The photograph was of Mal when she was four years old, and her mother's hand was resting on the side of her head.

"She's wearing a wedding ring," Ben pointed out knowingly. "I only realized it a couple months ago when I stopped focusing on you. My grandfather noticed it around the same time. We're the only ones that know about the ring."

Mal sighed once again. "Well, you are right," she revealed. "My mother has been married seventeen years to my father."

Ben raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Who is . . . ?"

Letting out a slight huff, she mumbled, "Hades."

Ben's jaw dropped at the announcement. "Your father is—"

"God and King of the Underworld," Mal clarified as quietly as she could, but loud enough for the prince to hear. "I am a princess because of him."

"Which is why you were defensive with Audrey yesterday," Ben assumed as he placed his favorite picture back in its secure location.

"I was defensive because I have to hide who I am to stay safe," Mal retorted bitterly. "My father wanted to keep him a secret so I wouldn't be bullied. Yes, every child on the Isle of the Lost has two villain parents, but at least one is so unpopular that no one recognizes them. With me, I am the daughter of the two most powerful and evilest villains in the world, or so your people claim. Your people failed to realize that they condemned two completely innocent victims while there are two villains inconspicuously walking among them!"

Waiting for a group of gossiping teenagers to walk pass them, Ben revealed, "I know what happened to your mother. When I was little, my grandfather overheard Stefan talking to someone about it. My grandfather told me later on that day, and I've resented Audrey and her grandparents ever since."

"Then why not break up with her?"

"I can't," Ben claimed. "I am supposed to marry her due to a royal agreement that I can't break. I just have to wait until the paparazzi catches us in a fight and sees her hurting me." The prince gazed at Mal with a puppy-dog look that had a strong sense of hope. "You'll wait for me, right?"

Blushing at the question, Mal didn't answer immediately. To be fair, her attention was momentarily distracted by Jane, who quickly scurried past the 'VK'.

"Is she always that shy?" Mal wondered as she kept her gaze on the younger girl.

"Usually," Ben admitted with a light shrug. "I don't really talk to her because of my jealous . . . person. I can't even talk to my childhood friend, Lonnie, because of her."

"Well Jane reminds me a lot of Carlos," Mal commented. "Before I started helping him with his confidence. I've slowly made progress with him."

Ben chuckled. "Are you going to get Jane and Carlos together?"

"Hmmm," Mal pondered on the idea for a moment or two. "Not yet. First, I better check on her. Make sure she's alright."

Ben raised an eyebrow. "And my question?" he reminded. "Will you wait for me?"

Adverting her attention back to the prince, Mal teased, "Depends on how you ask me out."

She shot Ben a flirty smile, something she would chide herself for doing later. Spinning around with her spell book under her arm, Mal followed Jane into the restroom for one of her famous confidence sessions.

Timid little Jane stood alone in the restroom as she scrutinized her short, straight brown bob in the mirror. In the midst of her moping, she noticed she wasn't alone anymore.

"Jane?" An unfamiliar voice called out to her.

Eyes going wide, Jane spun around to face Mal, the daughter of the infamous Maleficent.

"Sorry," Mal apologized with her sincerest smile. "I didn't mean to scare you. You just seemed a little upset when you walked by me. I thought I would check in on you, make sure everything was fine. But you probably wanted one of your friends to do so instead of me."

"I don't have many friends," Jane remarked bashfully. "Just Lonnie and Ben."

There's that name again, Mal thought curiously. Who is Lonnie?

"Really?" Mal started walking toward Jane, noticing the way the younger girl backed up and bumping into the restroom sink. "But you are so pretty and have such a wonderful personality. It helps that your mother is Fairy Godmother and headmistress, but I want to be friends with you because of you and your beauty."

"I'm not pretty," Jane insisted as her bashfulness started to fade away. "You've got great hair! How did you get the color like that?"

"To be honest, it's completely natural." Mal stroked her purple locks in thought. "You know what? I have just the thing for your short hair." She dramatically revealed her spell book. Jane gazed at the book in confusion while Mal harmlessly flipped through the pages.

"It's right . . . here!" Mal halted on a certain page and read a line. "Beware, forswear, replace the old with brand-new hair."

With a few waves of Mal's finger, Jane suddenly had long, beautiful wavy brown locks with a new hair accessory that made her look even more glamorous. Jane gasped in delight as she studied her new do in the mirror.

"Wow!" Mal exclaimed. "You look even more beautiful than before. I didn't know that was possible."

Jane turned to face Mal with a huge, giddy smile on her face. She tapped the closed spell book eagerly. "Do my nose!" She requested energetically.

"I can't." Mal denied with a small sympathetic pout. "I really wish I could, but I'm not that experienced with magic." She tilted her head curiously. "Why not have your mother use her wand to change your features if you don't like 'em? She did so with Cinderella."

Jane frowned in disappointment as she complained, "She doesn't use the wand anymore. She believes the real magic is in books." She shook her head in disagreement. "And not the spell books. Regular books with history and stuff."

"It still doesn't hurt to ask," Mal insisted with a kind smile. "Maybe if you're sincere, polite, and respectful enough, your mother will help you."

"I'll ask her now!" Jane cheered happily. "Thank you!"

The younger teenage girl ran out before Mal could say anything. Mal let her smile grow a little longer.

Maybe she will try to get her and Carlos together. . . they are perfect for each other.