Happy threeish/fourish days before the New Years! This update is occurring because of the poll I posted on my profile on December 26th.
We will be getting back to the usual posting schedule, which will be at least three chapters a week, maybe more. I don't start my new semester until January 13th, so it is highly likely that all the events from "Descendants 2" will be finished.
As I had said many chapters before, I am only doing select events from the second movie. During those select events, I am going to solve a MAJOR plot hole in that movie, which I will explain in a couple chapters.
If anyone can identify that specific plot hole in the next two hours, I will post the next chapter once answered correctly If someone gets close, I will post it tomorrow. If no one gets it or is close, then you will have to wait until Wednesday. You will want to get the answer correct because of the cliffhanger at the end.
Good luck.
Today's the day, Mal thought as she endured the harassment of the rowdy news reporters and camera-people, who once again cornered her at a fountain at the center of the lawn of the Auradon Prep campus for the fifth time in the last three days. Just have to endure this a little longer, and then I'll be able to see him.
You see, six months have passed since Ben's coronation, which meant its been six months since the Auradonians falsely believed that they were saved from a dragon Maleficent by the Core Four. Due to the false story, most citizens of Auradon started to treat Mal, Jay, Evie, and Carlos better than before. There were a select few that pretended to be friends with the 'VKs' while a handful didn't bother hiding their disdain for the four friends.
During those six months, Mal changed her appearance to make herself more like an Auradon princess instead of an Isle princess, which her father absolutely hates.
Her signature leather getup and long vicious purple hair were no more. On this particular day, Mal wore a white lace dress with ice blond hair pinned up in a bun. The tips had a purple ombre to it—the only thing left of her magical hair. Although it was completely her decision to do the makeover, Mal always felt uncomfortable wearing the princessy dresses. She would definitely prefer wearing clothing made from her godmother, but Mal constantly reminds herself that she was doing the appearance change for Ben's sake.
"Mal!" a news reporter called out as they pointed their microphones too close for comfort. "Only three days until the Royal Cotillion!"
"Ever thought a girl like you would be lady of the court?" yelled another.
Mal whipped her head back and forth, unsure which one to address first. At this point, she was used to the constant interrogation, but it was still hard to all the questions at once. Only a few more minutes, Mal reminded herself as she continued to smile at the paparazzi. I'll be saved by Fairy Godmother and I can speak to him again. Only a few more to go . . .
"How do you feel being the most envied girl in Auradon?"
"Do you like being a blonde?"
"Is your mother still a lizard?"
Mal opened her mouth at the abrupt question. Although some time has passed since her mother transformed into a lizard to keep up the façade, it was still a sore subject for Mal, mainly because she still hasn't figured out how to break the spell. She had half-a-mind to tell off everyone around her and confess the truth.
Luckily, she wouldn't have to.
"Alright! That's enough!" Ben exclaimed as he broke through the camera crew to stand at Mal's side, looking handsome as ever in his royal blue suit. "We will let you know if and when that particular situation changes."
Of course, a relentless reporter shouted out a couple unusual questions that caught the couple off guard. "Mal! Is it true your mother is married to another villain on the Isle? How is her husband handling her being a lizard?"
Mal jerked her head toward the particular person with wide eyes. "Excuse me? Why do you think my mother is married?"
"In the footage of King Ben's coronation, she is wearing a wedding ring," the journalist explained with certainty in his voice and posture. "Why have you kept it a secret from everyone in Auradon?"
"Because my mother is not married," Mal denied as convincingly as she could while ignoring the pain of her heart breaking from saying such a false statement. "I made her that ring as a gift for Mother's Day when I was fifteen. It took me nearly six months of digging through the barges to find the perfect stone and band for her."
"But you had called out for your father during the situa—"
"I have never met my father," Mal fibbed as more of her heart turned black from the lies. "He's never been there for me growing up as a child, so as far as I'm concerned, he doesn't exist."
Even after being given an answer that would make for an interesting story, the paparazzi continued with their obnoxious yelling. Mal tried her best to ignore the ruckus as she hid her face into Ben's shoulder to hide her sadness at saying such a false statement.
"Just a few more moments," Ben promised as he cooed reassuringly in her ear. "Fairy Godmother will arrive to tell you it's time. You can explain the situation to him before he sees it on TV."
Just as Mal nodded, Fairy Godmother suddenly appeared in the rose garden and had stepped between the lovely couple and the energetic crowd. As usual, she wore her traditional lavender dress with a big pink bow at her neck and had her hair up in a loose bun.
"Enough!" Fairy Godmother sternly ordered as she addressed the crowd. "You are on campus property! If you are not student or staff, then you are trespassing!"
The people began to spout ridiculous remarks, but the headmistress wasn't having it.
"Quiet!" Fairy Godmother shouted over the noise. "If you don't vacate the premises in the next five minutes, I will call security and have you banned from this campus!"
Surprised by the aggressiveness, the news reporters quickly dispersed in fear that Fairy Godmother's threat was truly a promise. Within a minute, the entire crowd had receded to the edge of the lawn and were continuing on their way off the campus.
With the situation now under control, Fairy Godmother smiled encouragingly at the couple. "Mal," she addressed as her smile grew, "it's time. Whenever you are ready, head to my office like usual. You know what to do from there."
"Thank you, Fairy Godmother." Mal stated as tried to give a smile of her own, which didn't seem as happy or real as the headmistress's. "I really appreciate this."
"It's no problem, dearie," Fairy Godmother reassured as her smile grew slightly. "Remember, if you need or want more time with him, just ask. I'll make up an excuse to tell your next teacher."
"That won't be necessary," Mal commented with a light shrug. "I don't have much to tell him about this week."
Nodding in understanding, Fairy Godmother scampered away since her work was finished. With everything under control, she could now go back to planning the Cotillion, which would take place this Saturday. There was so much to do yet so little time.
Mal gazed up at Ben almost shyly. "Hi," she finally greeted with a flustered laugh.
Ben gave a comforting smile to ease her tension. "I know you want to see him, so I won't keep you," he stated as he checked his gold watch. "I have a few minutes before a council meeting anyways. Maybe you and I should do something else besides our picnic date. We should go someplace special, where the paparazzi won't harass us."
For the first time in a really long time, Mal smiled genuinely at the idea. "Yeah, I would really like that."
"When would you want to go?" Ben wondered with a curious tilt of his head. "Before or after Cotillion? After would be the better option, but we can do before to give you a break. We would have to plan what we wanted to do quickly since we would have to go tomorrow. The decision is completely yours."
Mal perked up at the two options, both sounding so tempting and so wonderful. It has been so long since they've been alone together that didn't involve being followed by the paparazzi. The last time was probably six months ago before Ben's coronation. "Can we—"
Before Mal could finish her statement, somebody had grabbed her arm and twirled her around. That 'someone' was none other than Evie, who remained stylish with her blue dress with a gold collar and belt. Her long blue hair remained down in loose waves, but had a different hue to it than it did six months ago. That's because Evie had dyed her hair some time ago, doing a much better job at covering her natural roots than her mother did.
"If we don't do a fitting for your gown right this minute, you'll be dancing in your bathrobe." Evie momentarily smiled at Ben in greeting. "Hi." She adverted her attention back on her best friend. "Let's go."
As Evie started to drag her away, Mal forcefully jerked her arm back to halt the action. "Give me half-an-hour, E," she requested almost pleadingly. "Today's the day!"
Evie rolled her eyes at the comment. "Mal, you say that every week. You shouldn't get excited about something so small so easily."
"It isn't small to me," Mal retorted before she resorted to her puppy dog eyes, which usually gets her what she wants. "Please, E?"
Evie huffed in defeat and annoyance, knowing just how much today truly meant to her. "Fine, half-an-hour. I'll work on another dress while I'm waiting."
"Thank you!" Mal twirled on her heels to gaze at Ben, who was smiling at her in amusement. "Can I get back to you on my answer?"
"Of course," Ben agreed as he tried to hide his snicker. "You better get going. You don't want to keep him waiting."
Nodding eagerly, Mal bolted through the rose garden to head to the main building of Auradon Prep, excited to speak to the person who truly understood what she was going through.
After all, father knows best.