Here is the next chapter!
Admittedly, I finished this chapter a couple days ago, but thought I could use the extra day or so to work on the chapters for next week. I plan on updating 'Ashes' on either Sunday or Monday at the latest. I am hoping I can update 'A Second Blessing' within the next couple weeks, but it may be unlikely.
Not many events take place this chapter, but it is important, nonetheless. As I said before, something has been added to replace the 'Queen of Mean' scenes. I'm actually bored of her transformation scene and the song, and there wasn't much that would help further this story's plot.
Enjoy!
As soon as the Core Four, King Ben, and the transfer students arrived at Auradon Prep and exited the limousine, Mal was bombarded and surrounded by the paparazzi, who were harassing her with demanding questions.
"Lady Mal!" One shouted in her face. "Why did you lie about your father?"
"No comment!" Mal replied as she tried to break through the obnoxious crew; her fiancé, friends, and transfer students lining up behind her.
"Are your parents divorced?" Another interrogated as they walked backwards in front future queen, a recording device being shoved practically in her mouth. "Is that why you didn't say anything about your father?"
"My parents will be celebrating their wedding anniversary in two months," Mal retorted before shoving pass the reporter. "Excuse me—"
"How long have your parents been married?" Questioned a journalist closer to the back.
"None of your business!" Mal snapped rudely. "You don't need to know about my family's personal life!"
"Is Hades even your father?" A bad-mannered reporter to the left of her wondered. "Or did he marry your mother and adopted you out of pity—"
"ENOUGH!" Ben shouted over all the noise, which essentially forced everyone to stop in their stride. "We will answer your questions regarding Mal's father at a different time. Right now, we need to get the four new transfer students settled in their new, temporary homes."
"King Ben, did you know about Mal's father before this incident?"
Almost immediately, Ben gazed at his beloved, who locked eyes with. After a moment, she gave a light nod of her head. Sighing softly, he admitted reluctantly, "Yes, I knew about her father ever since her second day in Auradon."
Despite hoping that the answer would calm down the crowd, it in fact made them even more wild than they were before. They continued screaming out her name: Mal! Mal! Mal—
"Mal?" Ben cooed softly as he rested a hand on his beloved's shoulder, knocking Mal out of her trance. "The rest of the council is here."
Reluctantly, Mal stood from her seat at a nearby desk, adjusting her violet wrap dress before following Ben to the parlor of Ben's 's picturesque palace was built from gleaming white masonry and sat perched on a noble hilltop overlooking the rocky bay. It featured round turrets, tall regal spires, and a wide rampart that encircled the entire property. The countless palace wings included an armory, a stable, a formal conference room, a ballroom, a carriage house.
Belle's parlor was painted a sunny buttercup yellow with white trim. The cheery room was filled with cushy floral couches, fresh flower arrangements, and a baby grand piano. King Ben and Mal stood in the parlor and huddled urgently with Belle, Beast, and Fairy Godmother. The tension in the air was thick.
"I think we all know why we're here," Beast began, his bushy brows furrowed behind his black-framed glasses. "The people are in a panic about Hades. He almost got out."
"He wouldn't have," Mal reassured quickly so she wouldn't have to hear the retired king insult her father. "He promised my mother twenty-two years ago that he would never leave the Isle of the Lost without her."
Queen Belle tilted her head in curiosity. "Just how long have your parents been together?"
"They have a very long and somewhat complicated history," Mal claimed, though she found herself smiling at remembering her parents' story. "When villains were first sent to the Isle of the Lost, most were worried about my mother because no one had seen her in twenty-three days. They were all afraid of her, so my father volunteered because there was supposedly nothing she could do to him. At first glance, he fell in love with her. Exactly one year later, they celebrated their 'friendaversary'."
Mal paused a moment to bring out a little trinket from her pocket. "My father gifted my mother this little crow, so she wouldn't forget the friend she lost the year prior. In return, my mother gave him a kiss and a confession that she loved him. They dated for nearly a year and a half before my father proposed to her in the middle of town for everyone to see. Six months later my parents married on what would have been their two-year dating anniversary, becoming the first and only married couple on the island. Exactly one year later on their wedding anniversary, they had me."
"So, the entire island knows about him," King Beast deduced as he slowly felt his temper rising more and more by the 'unfortunate' predicament. "Who in Auradon, besides your friends and Ben, knew about him before yesterday?"
"I did," Fairy Godmother chimed in, hoping she could divert his anger from the girl. "While I was setting up the surprise for Family Day a couple years ago, Maleficent told me about her husband so Mal could see him."
"Mom told Aurora too," Mal continued as she carefully placed the precious crow back in her pocket. "Well, she wrote it in a letter that asked about Audrey's behavior."
"And Grandpa Maurice figured it out the day before Family Day," Ben added about as reluctantly as his beloved had. "He saw a drawing Mal did of her mother and father in her locker."
"Mal . . ." Queen Belle began softly to catch the future queen's attention. "Why did you keep your father a secret from Auradon?"
"Because of the look he's giving me!" Mal retorted as she gestured to the retired king, who was practically glaring at her with slight revulsion in his eyes. "My father knew you Auradonians would treat me differently when you discovered I was the child of two villains. They raised me with love and respect and taught me how to be a queen, because I am the Princess of the Underworld whether you like it or not!"
King Beast narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw at the accusation. "Well we can't risk having another villain escape. Every time we open the barrier, we're exposed to danger."
Beeeeeeep!
Ben's cell phone sounded its high-pitched alert. Although he was relieved that the conversation was momentarily paused, King Ben couldn't help the shock that showed on his face when he read the message. "Maleficent's scepter and the queen's crown have been stolen," he exposed with dread.
While the retired queen and the headmistress gasped, Mal's jaw dropped at the announcement, for she was the only one that knew just how dire the situation was. Whoever touched the scepter who turn as evil and dark as the memories that were used to create it. Mal was the only one who could touch the scepter without succumbing to its malevolent power.
"Uma," King Beast accused with no evidence.
"We don't know that, Dad," Ben argued as ran his hands through his sandy-brown hair to somehow rid himself of the stress.
"Uma is my cousin," Mal revealed before another argument could start. "She knows how dangerous the scepter is. She won't go anywhere near it.
"But when people hear such a dangerous weapon is missing, they'll never come out of their houses!" Queen Belle exclaimed before looking out at the kingdom through the large bay window. "What do we tell them?"
The sun shone through the gauzy curtain, but the mood inside the room was dark and somber. These were troubling times. The room fell silent, and Auradon's leaders contemplated all the horrific events of the past twenty-four hours.
Queen Belle looked to Mal for guidance. With utmost respect and reverence, she asked, "Mal, what do we do? How do we keep evil out of Auradon?"
Mal felt the weight of everyone's eyes on her, but knew the answer wouldn't satisfy the retired king and queen. "You can't," Mal denied with a shake of her head, her eyes changing to a much brighter hue. "For the past twenty some odd years, you've allowed many villains to live in Auradon because you believed they were the victim, or they were the hero. Stefan stole my mother wings because he didn't have the stomach to kill her, yet he murdered the king before him because the ill royal refused to let him take the throne. Hercules lied about my father being the reason his immortality was taken away when, in fact, my father helped him regain his power and offered to be sent to the Isle of the Lost so there would be no war among the gods. Lawrence, King Naveen's servant, helped Dr. Facilier turn the royal into a frog and then impersonated him so he could have the throne, yet you still let him stay in Auradon. There are so many more I could name, yet now is not the right time."
"Oh!" Mal exclaimed in mock realization. "But we can't forget the heroes and the innocent people that were unjustifiably sent to the Isle of the Lost. I already told you about my father, but I haven't told you about my mother, who was the real reason Aurora woke from her slumber. There's also Mr. Smee, who was practically a neutral party in his tale and only followed his captain's orders because he was first mate. He did less evil deeds than Lawrence, yet you don't see him as a victim."
"And how can we forget Lefou?" Mal wondered sarcastically as her anger rose with all the ranting she's done. "I heard from a very reliable source that he switched sides to help with the fight against Gaston's mob and your servants. There are so many people who joined the heroes' sides during their tale. You've allowed all of them to come to Auradon, yet you excluded Lefou from the list!"
"Mal, that's enough." King Beast scolded sternly. "My wife and I did what was best for Auradon and its people. We had to guarantee their safety—"
"You let a murderer live in Auradon!" Mal reminded almost hysterically.
"There is only one way we can do that now," King Beast continued, practically ignoring his future daughter-in-law. "We have to close the barrier. For good."
And just like that, Mal's once confident behavior of standing up to a king diminished. Her face turned a terrible pale color and her hair changed to a light blue hue, displaying her true horror and worry. "What?" she interrogated incredulously.
"Dad, you can't be serious," Ben insisted as he shook his head slowly in denial. "What about the new transfer students? We promised them they could see their parents whenever they wanted. The oldest out of them is only fourteen! They still need their parents."
"The decision is final," King Beast ordered.
"NO!" Mal screamed at the top of her lungs. "The decision is not final! You are not the King of Auradon anymore and it is not your choice to make! There is no way in HELL that I am going let you keep me away from my parents! I rather be choked by iron than let you take me away from them again."
Disheartened and discouraged, Mal walked to the other side of the room. She couldn't believe this was happening to her! After all that hard work she and her friends did for the VK Program . . . she couldn't let it be for nothing!
"Mal . . ." Ben cooed as he followed his beloved.
Once he was only a foot away from her, Mal turned around to bury her head in his chest to hide her flowing tears. Wrapping his arms around her petite waist, Ben kissed the top of her head as he tried to comfort her the best that he could. After a few moments, Mal raised her head to gaze at her beloved, exposing her bloodshot eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
"I can't abandon them," Mal insisted as she stubbornly wiped away a falling drip. "I am the Queen of the Isle of the Lost. I can't forsake or condemn my people."
"You won't have to," Ben promised before kissing her forehead lovingly. "We'll figure out a solution that benefits everyone; both your people and mine."
"My mother . . ." Mal began sadly. "She's worse. That's why my father caused that ruckus. I know it is!"
"Then we will figure out a way to heal her," Ben reassured calmly as he held her face in his hands so she could look at him properly. "After Jane's birthday party, you and I can go to the Isle together to give her more medicine and more of the Enchanted Lake water. It will give us a chance to see how bad she truly is and a chance for you to tell your parents about our engagement, even though they already know about it. Besides, I still need to meet your father properly—face to face, I mean. I doubt he will let me marry you until we do."
Mal allowed a small smile to grace her lips at her fiancé's attempt to cheer her up—
Not knowing she predicted her own tragic fate.