Hey, y'all! I'm so sorry for not updating sooner, I've been kind of busy along with wishing for reviews. I know I don't have a lot of reviews, but if you could tell me your thoughts, perhaps I would be able to make it more enjoyable. I've also been at Disney World! I thought I updated this beforehand, but it turns out that I didn't, so now I am in major guilt mode. Sorry sorry sorry! I hope that you all will love this!
To Descendants4: I am so glad you love it! I appreciate that you let me know... I wasn't sure if it was a story that people enjoyed or not so I'm pleased to hear that it is! I hope you continue reading and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Also, (back to everyone) I'm #SorryNotSorryButStillSorry for the cliffhanger I left you on. I hope that got your heart rate up ;). Please enjoy this next chapter!
Nobody made a sound. Not for a minute or two but it felt like an eternity to them. The minute that flatline sounded, about 10 different nurses and doctors came in to try to fix her up. But after trying to revive her twice, they turned towards Ben who was standing in the middle of the room, just staring at Mal.
"I'm so sorry, Your Majesty...She's...gone," one of the doctors said sorrowfully. Evie broke into sobs.
"No! NO NO NO NO NO! Mal CAN'T be dead! She's still alive, stop playing this trick on people, it isn't funny! Fix her! Fix her right now or I'll swear it'll be the end of you!" Evie sobbed but said forcefully. The doctors paled but gained back color when Adam told them that they can leave and that Evie was just grieving. They left but not before looking at the group in sorrow and pain.
"She can't be dead. She's not dead. She isn't. She can't be..." Carlos whimpered. He couldn't take it any longer, he didn't care what anybody else thought. He collapsed onto the bay window bench and started sobbing in his knees that were drawn up to his chests. Jay dragged out a breath, trying not to let a tear fall. He had to stay strong for Evie and Carlos. He had to. Nobody would be able to handle it if he couldn't. He picked up Evie bridle style after she had fallen on the floor in sobs. He took her over to where Carlos was and they leaned into each other, drawing their support and sharing their grief. Evie was sobbing, Carlos was sobbing a bit more quietly, and even Jay was crying hard too.
Audrey and her family decided to leave and go to their castle to give everyone some time to grieve. They quickly left, but not without Aurora, Leah, Philip, and even Audrey herself whispering a quiet thank you to Hades. He nodded but didn't pay them much attention. My daughter is dead and it's all my fault. Those words kept spinning around and around and around again in his head.
Uma was crying a little bit too for all that she and Mal had missed because of their fighting. She cried that she will never again be able to tease and support her. She will never see another twilight. Harry was holding onto Uma who was leaning against him and he had a hand on Gil's shoulder, showing that he was there. Harry felt horrible. He never treated Mal like the queen she was, even when they were together. I mean, he knows that was what was expected of him, but still. Gil felt if he was just a little bit faster to catch Mal, maybe she wouldn't be ...dead.
Even Adam and Belle were crying, they didn't know her as well as they could've but they loved her. They knew that Ben and Mal were meant to be together. She was supposed to become their daughter-in-law.
After a couple of minutes of grief, Hades cleared his throat and tried to prepare for the way this speech was going to go.
"Everyone, I have something to tell you..." he declared with tears starting to shine in his eyes. "While I was lifting Mal and Audrey's spirits, Mal sent me a message-"
"A message? What does that mean?" Jay asked. He didn't know what was about to happen but he had a feeling that it wasn't going to be good. Hades gulped. Now or never he thought.
"A message of her pleading that I save Audrey first, not her."
There was dead silence, you could've heard a pin drop from over a mile away. No one had anything to say except as soon as that sank into their minds, Carlos growled.
"You are a SICK and DISGUSTING person! How could you have done this? You're HADES for dragon's sakes! You are the freaking LORD of the DEAD. How could you not have the power to save her!? What the heck is the matter with you, huh? You said that the ember will do ANYTHING you say, well it didn't and for the dead almighty, why on pain's sakes not!?" Carlos screamed at him while he was walking towards his with a walk of determination and urgency. Carlos's face was almost right up on Hades when he finished. His eyes were filled with rage, grief, pain, loss, guilt, and fire. Hades was half-worried for the kid, he didn't want to hurt him if he threw a punch.
"Carlos, it isn't his fault," Adam whispered, but loudly enough for everyone to hear it.
"By Maleficent it isn't," he growled. Everyone flinched when he said the Mistress of Evil's name. No one had ever seen Carlos like this. Full of anger and violence. He never said any of the curses while on or off the isle. This was new and it wasn't a good new. Evie walked over to Carlos cautiously.
"Carlos, you know it isn't. It wasn't anyone's fault. You know that even the ember can't bring back the dead once they're too far gone..." Evie gently said while holding out a hand to him while also having tears streak down her face. Carlos sniffled.
"I never even got to tell her thank you for saving my life...that...day..." Carlos shuddered and clung to Evie to receive and give support.
"She knew Carlos, she knew," Jay finally assured. He joined their embrace and added himself in it. Hades gulped, knowing that Evie was right but still feeling like he lost a part of himself.
"I am so sorry. I thought that after the ember saved Audrey, she'd still be there..." Hades admitted.
"Oh you did now, did you?" Harry coldly spoke. "And how can you be sorry, huh? You know you're still a villain, heck, you were her FATHER and you LEFT her to her mother's mercy, which, by the way, DIDN'T EXIST. How can you show sorrow now when you didn't even back then? I knew what she was going through. What she had to deal with. I was her...ally for a while. I knew a bit, she knew I knew. She never denied but she never confirmed. But I saw them. I saw those marks that YOU FREAKING ALLOWED on her! Hades, I saw what her mother did, I felt it at times too before Mal and I dumped each other. I may still hold resentment for some of her choices, but I never NEVER wished for her to go through what she did. I mean, you saw her Hades. You saw her at the market at least twice a month, I know you did. So how and I mean HOW can you feel sorrow when you allowed Mal to be tortured?" Harry screamed. Everyone was shocked still. The only person who wasn't was Jay. He knew, but Mal forbade him to tell anyone. Not even Evie or Ben knew.
"She was tortured?" Belle questioned, her voice shaking. Harry froze. He didn't mean for that part to come out. He didn't break his glare from Hades but he lessened his stiffness. Jay sighed, he knew he was going to have to answer since Harry and Hades won't break their stare
"Yeah, yeah she was," he admitted. Belle cried out in shock and horror. So did Adam. None of the isle kids moved an inch, but they knew that if it was as bad as Harry made it sound, it was so much worse than what they could even not believe. It was worse.
Evie whispered, "Why didn't she tell me?" Jay sighed.
"She probably didn't want you to think that she was weak and needed help. She was too stubborn, she wouldn't even allow me to help her at times." Everyone stayed silent.
"Maleficent would've made it worse if I showed up and tried to help our daughter," Hades replied to the question Harry screamed at him earlier. "I knew that it was better to stay away than it was to approach. I couldn't let Mal know that I cared, even just a little bit, or else she wouldn't have lasted on the Isle." Everyone didn't know what to say.
Adam soon saw the funeral service as well as the maids waiting patiently and silently in the hallway, giving the group space. He sighed heavily.
"I think we all need to leave. The maids and the... other men are here."
"No." Everyone heard. It was a sound of pure agony and sorrow as well as defiance. It came from the newly broken-hearted king. Belle tried to gently explain, but Ben still repeated his answer from before.
"Please, Ben. I can't stand in here any longer and neither can you or anyone else," Uma whispered. Ben sighed and ran a hand through his hair and down his face. He knew she was right. He nodded slowly and slightly. Belle slowly approached the bed with Adam with tears in their eyes.
"Thank you for being the daughter we never had," Belle whispered. She and Adam both kissed her forehead and went into the hallway.
"I hope you're happy up there Mal. Please be," Gil pleaded. He leaned his forehead down onto hers and left after looking back at her with tears.
"I'm sorry that I wasn't good enough for you Mal. Heck, I wasn't even bad enough!" Harry tried to joke. He sighed. "I hope you know that I cared for you, even when it didn't seem like it. But I'm glad we decided to break, or else you and I wouldn't be where we are. Happy. But Mal," Harry choked. "Ride with the tide, dragon." He gave a watery smile. He kissed her forehead and left without turning back. He knew he wouldn't stay strong if he did so.
"Mal, I wish that we were friends when we were kids. We would've wrecked the place," Uma smirked, having an image of her mother having a stroke seeing her with Mal. "I hope your safe and at peace. Stay bad." Uma placed her forehead against Mal's like Gil had done to show respect and friendly-love. She sighed and left.
"Mal, the first time we met, I was in an alley, bleeding all over the place. You could've and should've left me there to die. But you didn't, you chose to save my life. I saw the first glint of kindness in you that day. You tried to be evil, but you knew that you were never going to be. You were too compassionate and too loyal. If it wasn't for you, I'd be dead or still be slaving for Cruella. I never got to say thank you. You've saved my life in more ways than one. Please, please know that I love you. I love you like you are my sister," Carlos gulped. "Thank you." Carlos kissed her one the forehead and gave her a hug that lasted a minute before he left but not without looking back with tears spilling down his cheeks like a waterfall.
"Hey, honey," Evie whispered. "How are you up there? There better be a fabric store or else I'm going to give those people something to be afraid of." Evie sighed. She brought her eyes to look at Mal's pale closed ones. "Mal I'm so so sorry. I'm sorry that I got so mad at you and left you by yourself to stop Audrey. I'm so sorry that I made you feel like I had high expectations for you. You're my best friend, my soul sister. I'm so sorry, M. I'm so sorry." Evie cried. "I love you, hun." She kissed Mal's forehead and laid her own on Mal's. She left sobbing and went into Carlos's waiting arms in the hallway.
Jay stood still for a moment after Evie left. He wasn't sure how he was supposed to say good-bye to his best friend who he's known since childhood. He took a ragged breath and slowly walked towards Mal.
"Heya sis," he whispered. Jay held Mal's lifeless hand in his own while speaking. "Why did you leave? You know nothing's ever going to be the same around here. Evie and Carlos are already starting to break a little. So is everyone else." He sighed. He looked into Mal's eyes, pleading that she can hear him. "I'm not going to be the same. You were pretty much the only person that could calm me down after I go crazy. You knew when I was about to go overboard or already was doing so. You knew how to keep me in check. You protected me just like you did for Evie and Carlos. I'm so sorry that I didn't protect you in the end. You're my sister, Mal. Just like your Evie's and Carlos's. This world won't be the same without you. There's going to be a lot of grief. Soon everyone will manage to breathe again, but I'm not so sure about Evie, Carlos, Ben, and I. We'll always be in grief. We'll never forget you. Whenever we see a dragon, we'll smile for you. Every time we'll see green eyes, we'll think about you. Every time we'll see art, we'll remember you. Every time we see a defiant, courageous, kind girl, we'll cheer for you. Wherever you go and wherever we go, there's no place that we'll ever forget you. The girl who sacrificed herself for a pretty pink princess." Jay chuckled remembering that Mal said that to her mother when they were first demanded to go to Auradon. "Stay bad, hun. And don't forget who you are. Rotten to the core." Jay kissed her forehead and her hand. He stayed there silent for a moment before leaving.
At the doorway, he turned his head to face hers. "Say hi to mom for me." He left and stared at Carlos and Evie hugging and waiting for him. Jay finally couldn't keep in his tears. They spilled down his cheeks off his face. His shoulders were shaking trying to restrain himself. Evie and Carlos rushed over to him and held him in their arms and hearts. Jay shuddered. They all clung to each other, not sure if they'll ever let go.
Hades watched them from standing next to his daughter. He sighed and looked back at her. She looked so much like her mother, but the smirk was his. So was the defiance. Along with the heart. He sat down in the chair that was by her head. He sat there with his arms on his knees and his hands intertwined. He gazed at Mal for a minute before he spoke.
"I'm so sorry. This is my fault. It's my fault you were hurt at the isle, it's my fault you were with me at my cave, it's my fault that you're dead! Please, please forgive me. I know you asked me to heal Audrey first, but why did you leave before I could finish? Why Mal? You're my daughter and I never got to treat you as such. I'm so so sorry. I love you," Hades whispered the last of his goodbye. He kissed her forehead and whispered I love you one more time before walking slowly out the door. The guards got ready to put the chain back on him. He couldn't meet anyone's eyes.
Ben stood next to Mal for a while before speaking. It felt like it was just yesterday he asked her to marry him. But it felt like years since he heard the flatline. He walked over to her and sat in the same chair as everyone else has before him. He put his head in his hands and just started to sob. He sobbed like a friend who lost a friend, a husband who lost a wife, a soulmate who lost his true love. He looked at Mal and opened his mouth to say goodbye, but his voice cracked before doing so. He took a deep breath and tried again.
"Mal Bertha, I love you like the plants who love the sun. I love you like the waves love the sea. I love you like you're the only star I see in my life because you are. I love you so much. I am so sorry for everything I did that made you feel inadequate. I am so sorry that I ever made you feel as if you couldn't be my queen because I felt like I couldn't be your king. You are the most beautiful crazy girl I've ever met in my life." Ben shakily sighed. "Before I proclaimed to bring you and the others, I had a dream. I had a dream where you were saved my life. Your eyes were greener than emerald, your heart more purple than a blooming violet, your smirk larger than an average one. I knew at that moment, that I had to find out who you were. No matter what the cost was going to be. I have loved you since I first laid eyes on you. I will never be regretful for all the times we shared, the bad and the good. I will never forget the girl who took my heart away. I will never be the same without you Mal. I love you and I know that no one can make me feel the same way you did when you were around. There's no way I'll ever be as good as a king as I could've been with you by my side. I would trade my kingdom, my heart, my soul for you to be alive. If I could, I would. But I doubt Evie will let me." Ben chuckled, thinking of when Evie reprimanded him on his clothing choice for the proposal. She picked out the entire outfit. He smiled remembering how happy and surprised Mal was when he got down on his knees. "Mal, I love you so much." Ben began to sing quietly but his voice kept cracking with broken sobs.
"I met this girl who rocked my world
Like it's never been rocked
And now I'm living just for her
And I won't ever stop
I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me
But now look at what you've done
You got me, down on my knee."
Ben sighed shakily. "I love you, Maleficent Bertha." He leaned down and kissed her gently on her lips, for the last time. He stood up and slowly walked to the doorway. He turned to see his fiance for the last time before she was going to be buried. Tears were spilling down his cheeks while his heart was breaking. He slowly turned, but before he could even take one step out into the hallway, he heard a voice.
"You're going to leave me so soon?" Ben quickly turned around to see the girl who he thought was never going to breathe again let alone speak, with her eyes open and her face set into a smirk.
"Mal?" his voice broke. She raised an eyebrow.
"Who else would I be?" she replied. He laughed in unbelief and ran to her with the rest of the group practically on his heels.
"MAL!" Ben almost slammed right on top of her kissing her with all the passion and love he thought he'd never get to do. She slowly pulled away for the need to breathe and smiled.
"I'm back."