Hi guys. Here it is chapter 8 the big finale! THANK YOU SO SO SO SO MUCH for ALL your reads, reviews, follows, and fav's! You have NO IDEA how excited xez and I get when we see them! Well I won't hold you up anymore onto the chapter!
*WARING PLEASE READ* As you guys know this is the battle chapter and it DOES get VERY intense if it gets to much for you guys and you want to skip over the battle I will not be offended.
DISCLAMER: I DO NOT OWN DESCENDANTS ALL RIGHTS GO TO DISNEY ANY DIOLOGE YOU RECONISE BELONGS TO DISNEY I OWN NOTHING! I also DO NOT own ANY songs used in these chapters all rights go to the RIGHTFUL OWNERS.
The days following Family day seemed to pass quickly in a blur as the entire kingdom prepared itself for Hailey's coronation. The day had arrived. As Mal and the other villain kids made their way to the cathedral where the ceremony would take place, a whirlwind of emotions coursed through her. There was anticipation, anxiety and fear. This was the day when their parents would discover that they wouldn't be getting the wand. But for Mal it represented something more, it was the day when she would turn away from her mother's evil legacy forever. She stole a side glance at Ben by her side and all her anxieties melted away. The start of my new life, she smiled happily as she looked down at the little box she held in her hand tightly.
"Have I told you just how beautiful you look right now?" Ben whispered in her ear, from his seat next to her, making her look up to him. Hailey had organized a ride on a separate bus for the villain kids to avoid any unnecessary tensions, especially after what had happened during Family Day.
"Yes you did. Twice already actually." Mal laughed softly, before craning her neck to kiss him softly. "But thank you. And you are so handsome today, just like a prince from a fairy tale book." Evie had really outdone herself with their outfits. Mal was wearing a lavender purple dress with a sweetheart neckline while her hair was pinned into a half up half down style and Ben was wearing a very smart blue suit with gold trims.
Ben smiled shyly looking down as they broke apart, trying to hide the blush on his cheeks. He was not used to receiving many compliments. He then cleared his throat, getting Mal's attention, who saw his body suddenly tense up. "Mal…" he said nervously "There is something I need to ask you."
"What is it Ben?"
"Will you wear my ring?" he blurted out as he reached out to remove his family signet ring from his finger and offered it to her. "Mal, when you took me away from the Dark Forest two years ago, you saved me from my father and gave me a new home. But you did more than just heal my wounds. You chose to love me in return. You reminded me what it felt like to once again have hope for a better have something to fight for. Your love gave me the courage to break away from my dark past and take the first steps to become a better person, away from it all. This ring now represents something good…the love in my heart…and my heart is and will always belong to you."
"B-e-n. I-" Mal whispered stuttering as her breath stopped in her chest, blown away by his words. She rested the little box she was holding on her lap and pulled him to her, kissing him deeply. Once they separated, she smiled at him, happy tears glistening in her eyes. "I love you so much Ben. Of course I will wear it!"
Ben grinned as he took her hand in his and slipped the ring into her second finger. He brought her hand up and pressed his lips onto the ring before releasing it.
"I have something for you too." She smiled, giving him a little blue box as he looked up.
He smiled back as he curiously opened the box to reveal a silver necklace with a little bottled jar pendant attached to it, containing some kind of liquid inside. Before he could ask what was inside, Mal started to talk again.
"It is water from the lake we went to on our first date here in Auradon." She smiled shyly. "I want you to have it as a symbol of our love and a reminder of the start of our new life together."
"Mal I love it. I will never take it off. I promise!" He replied putting it around his neck, before warmly reaching out to cup her cheek affectionately. He wrapped his arm around her, holding her gently as she rested her head on his shoulder. They stayed like that, smiling in a comfortable silence, as the bus continued making its way to the Cathedral.
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The bus finally arrived at the Cathedral. Ben kissed Mal one last time before releasing her so she could join Evie in the front. Their parents would be watching them from now on through the live TV coverage and they still needed to protect the secret of their relationship from them. An usher waited for them and led them inside to their seats in the second row. Hailey herself had suggested this seating position so close to her so as to make their parents think that they had somehow enchanted her.
The loud sounds of trumpets vibrated outside the cathedral signalling Hailey's arrival and everyone stood up to pay their respects to her as she walked down the aisle. She threw them a little smile as she passed them and continued walking until she arrived at the main alter and knelt on the steps.
Everything went on just as Hailey had explained to them. Fairy Godmother took the crown from King Kit and placed it on Hailey's head and then turned to Cinderella who handed her the magic wand. Fairy Godmother lifted the wand and started to bless Hailey just as she took the vows as Auradon's new Queen. Mal held her breath in anticipation as she thought of how her mother would react in just a few moments when the live feed would be disconnected. But her line of thought was cut-off as Fairy Godmother cried out in shock "Child what are you doing?!"
Mal looked at the scene horrified as Jane grabbed the wand. "If you won't make me beautiful, I'll do it myself." she cried trying to cast a spell with it. But she was unable to control its powerful magic and a bolt of magic shot out towards the ceiling.
"Take cover." King Kit roared as he ducked from the falling stones.
Without thinking, Mal rushed up to Jane and grabbed the wand from her hand, its magic stopping instantly.
"Mal. It's okay. Give me the wand." Hailey said gently, approaching her. The other villain kids rushed up to Mal's side while Ben clasped her free hand.
"Hailey. You need to stay back." Mal cried. Something was terribly wrong. Dark magic was coming their way. She could feel it in the pit of her stomach.
"We told you so!" Audrey and Chad yelled together.
"Quiet you two!" Hailey yelled back but she was cut-off by a thunderous bang.
Everyone screamed in fear as one of the large glass windows suddenly shattered in pieces and a dark green smoke filled the cathedral stopping in the middle of the room between Hailey and Mal. The smoke cleared out to reveal Maleficent
"I'm back." Maleficent cackled sinisterly. Fearful gasps erupted from all around, as Maleficent purposely walked around and gazed at all the present royals until she stopped to look at Fairy Godmother.
"Go away Mother!" Mal cried from behind her.
"Oh...she's funny...come on wand m-" Maleficent turned to face her daughter and stopped mid-sentence as she suddenly noticed the tight grip between her and Ben and the familiar ring which she was now wearing. "What is the meaning of this!" she roared, pointing at Mal's and Ben's clasped hands. She advanced menacingly on the pair and Ben took a step back, instinctively pushing Mal behind him. "No this can't be happening. Not my own daughter. You stupid stupid girl! Have you not learnt anything from me all these years? Love is for fools…it only makes you weak. Only by being ruthless can you truly get you what you want. No sentiment can get in your way and stop you from achieving your goals." She took a long breath to calm herself before speaking again. "I will deal with you two and this nonsense later. Now I will say this only once. Give me the wand." She commanded, angrily.
"No!" Mal said firmly, stepping out from behind Ben. "Love is not weak or ridiculous. It actually makes you strong. Falling in love with Ben has been the best thing that has ever happened to me. And I have finally found people who genuinely care for me here in Auradon. I will not let you destroy any of it."
While Maleficent was distracted with Mal, King Kit took the opportunity and tried to tackle her from behind but Maleficent sensed him and quickly turned around and froze the entire cathedral before he could even touch her. The only people she left unfrozen were the villain kids.
"This is all your fault!" she yelled angrily before sending a blast of lightning in Ben's direction. Ben pulled Mal down to the floor with him avoiding the blast while Evie, Carlos and Jay ran for cover behind a column. Maleficent continued to walk slowly towards the couple, who in the meantime had picked themselves up from the floor and had started backing away from her in fear. "I've spent years and years trying to turn my daughter into my perfect heir and you come along and ruin it all by putting these stupid ideas of love in her head. You will pay for it!" she threatened in a low and dark voice. "You think that love makes you strong." She laughed loudly, her sinister voice echoing throughout the cathedral, as Ben pushed Mal behind him again. "I will show you what real power is all about!" she exclaimed as she raised her sceptre, the green stone shining brightly. Fairy Godmother's wand flew out of Mal's hand into Maleficent's outstretched one while Ben was engulfed in a bright green light.
"Ben." Mal cried as the light faded. "Are you okay?"
"I can't move." Ben answered as he tried in vain to move his body.
Maleficent laughed wickedly as she continued to purposely walk slowly towards them.
"Mal! Listen to me! Run. Save yourself!" Ben pleaded.
She shook her head, grasping his arm tightly. "I will not leave you."
"Mal! Look at me! You have to…we have no choice. We can't let her destroy Auradon and you are our last hope of beating her now. You are the only one left with magic and I know you will find a way to defeat her. I will try to keep her busy for as long as I can but you need to get as far away from here as possible. Go and don't turn back for any reason." he said firmly as they locked eyes. A tear slipped down Mal's cheek as she stared into Ben's determined eyes so full of love and faith in her. Mal knew he was right and reluctantly nodded, her heart breaking at the thought of what her mother was about to do to him. He gave her a small smile. "Don't worry about me. I will be fine. I love you. Now go!" She gave him one last look before turning to run out of the Cathedral.
Maleficent laughed loudly as she stopped a few meters away from Ben.
"What's so funny?" Ben snarled as he glared at her with all the hatred he could muster.
"Running away from me is useless. I will find her anywhere she hides and I will punish her for defying me. And once I am done with her I will destroy Auradon. Besides something tells me that she will be returning here very soon."
"I wouldn't count on it. Mal will defeat you. You'll see." Ben retorted with a convinced smirk.
"Ha!" Maleficent gloated as she waved her sceptre at Ben, lifting him from the ground. He floated towards her, stopping when he was merely a few centimeters away, staring right into her eyes. "You are really stupid if you believe that you can have a happy ending with my daughter." She smirked. "I can feel it you know…the power you try so hard to suppress and bury deep inside." She smiled wickedly and brought her sceptre to his chin, his eyes glowing yellow in response. "You are just a beast, like your father. My daughter might think she loves you now but it's only a question of time before she will see the truth and leave you, afraid, just like what happened to your dear old dad before you."
Ben snarled. "You are wrong. Mal loves me and we will be happy together once she defeats you."
"Oh we shall see just how much she loves you! I am actually counting on it." she smiled with malicious glee. "Besides I think you really need to start worrying about yourself." She laughed maniacally as she raised her sceptre up, the dragon eye starting to glow a bright green. "I think you have heard the stories about what I have done to anyone who dared to show any kind of love on the Isle. Well that is nothing compared to what I am about to do to you. You will pay for interfering with my plans and for turning my daughter into a pathetic and soft hero."
Cracking bolts of dark green lightning erupted from the Dragon's Eye and Ben was their only target as Maleficent pressed her sceptre to his chest. The blast tore through his body mercilessly, causing him to cry out in agony as the lightning assaulted every nerve of his body. His painful cries resonated across the entire cathedral until Maleficent stopped, his head rolling forward and hanging limply on his chest. He would have fallen to a heap on the ground if it wasn't for Maleficent's magic still holding him upright. Maleficent grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled his head back, fully expecting to find him unconscious but she snarled when she found a pair of defiant eyes looking back at her instead.
"Is…that…the…best…you've…got." He croaked panting with a little smug grin. "I…ex…pect…ed…much…more…from…the…great…Male…fic…ent!"
"You are tough, Benjamin. I give you that. But we shall see for how long you will be able to keep it up." She threatened as she raised her sceptre again.
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Mal ran as fast as she could towards the exit of the Cathedral, Jay, Carlos and Evie close behind her. They had to get to Fairy Godmother's office and fast. If there was a magical way of stopping Maleficent, Fairy Godmother would know about it and her office was the first place they had to start looking for it. She had just exited the large front door but stopped death in her tracks as soon as she heard Ben's screams.
"Mal! What are you doing? Come on, we need to move…we don't have much time!" Jay exclaimed, grabbing her arm.
"Ben!" she whispered terrified as her body began to shake.
"I know Mal. But you heard what he said. We need to find a way to stop your mother and you are only one who can do it. Ben is strong and he will be fine… Now let's go!" Jay insisted pulling her along.
They had barely made another few meters when they heard Ben's screams again. Mal stopped, covering her ears and closing her eyes, as warm tears fell off her cheek. The screaming stopped and they were surrounded by a still death silence. Unable to take it any longer she turned tormented eyes towards her friends. "I'm sorry but I can't just let my mother kill him." Was all she said before she quickly turned around and rushed back into the cathedral.
"Mal!" Jay, Carlos and Evie shouted together but it was too late. They exchanged a look and nodded. They couldn't let Mal face her mother on her own, especially after all they had gone through together so they ran after her.
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"Had enough?" Maleficent taunted as Ben painfully lifted his head slightly up and glared at Maleficent with half open eyes.
Mal's pleading voice reverberated across the cathedral wall before Ben could retort any answer. "Mother, please don't hurt him anymore. I'm begging you!"
Maleficent smiled at her daughter who appeared down the aisle, before cracking in a sinister laugh. "You see Benjamin. I was right in saying that it wouldn't have been long before Mal returned back. That is the thing about heroes and their ideals of love…so predictable."
"Mal" Ben managed to croak weekly.
A wicked cackle erupted from Maleficent's throat as Mal pleaded with her again. "Let him go!"
"Let him go you say." She taunted as she raised her sceptre, turning Ben around so that he was now facing her daughter. She smirked evilly before pressing her sceptre to his back and lightning once again engulfed him. Ben pushed his head back, his face contorted in pain as he tried to hold in the scream that threatened to escape his throat. Maleficent scowled at the sight and increased the intensity of the bolts. Losing the battle with himself, Ben let out a loud howl of pain causing Mal to fall on her knees, whimpering his name. Maleficent stopped, Ben's head falling limply to his chest, laughing gleefully at the clear torment and pain she was causing the couple.
Mal continued whimpering until Ben let out a little cough and with great effort slowly opened his hazel green eyes. Their eyes locked for a moment and a look of relief crossed Mal's face at seeing him still alive.
"Well considering…I did have my fun with him after all. And now that you have returned, I can finish this once and for all and have my revenge on Auradon." Maleficent chuckled before she sharply waved her sceptre. Before Mal could even blink, Ben was thrown across the cathedral with lightning speed until he hit one of the columns with a loud cracking sound. Ben collapsed in a heap and remained unmoving as he hit the ground at the base of the column.
"BEEEEEEEEENNNNNNNNNN!" Mal screamed in horror as a purple wave of pure magic suddenly erupted from her and engulfed the entire cathedral making everything shake. Maleficent was pushed back by the force of the blast and momentarily lost her footing, making her lose her grip on the magic wand that flew a few meters away from them.
Maleficent stood up quickly in shock, and looked wide eyed at her daughter, as realization hit her that her daughter must have started to tap into her magic during her time in Auradon. I need to finish this and now. Maleficent thought as she summoned her most deep dark magic, her sceptre glowing a bright green in response.
Mal took a deep breath trying to calm herself, her eyes still focused on Ben's unconscious body. What just happened? But she did not have time to dwell upon it as a loud roar got her attention. She turned to look back at her mother just as she was engulfed in a large puff of green smoke. It quickly cleared out and Mal found herself staring into the dragon form of her mother. Maleficent flapped her large wings and soared into the air towards Mal.
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Ever so slowly, Ben's senses resurfaced from his unconscious state. What happened? he asked confused as he slowly blinked his eyes open and shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. A sense of urgency gripped him, something telling him that Mal needed him and he tried to shift slightly, groaning in pain as every stiff muscle in his body protested at the movement.
He managed to roll himself to his side, finding the base of a column and used it for support to painfully pull himself on his feet. He wobbled and was hit by a wave of nausea as his head starting spinning. He closed his eyes and rested his body against the stone column, waiting for the pain to subdue.
The sound of a loud roar brought him back to reality as the memories of Maleficent's attack came rushing in. He opened his eyes and watched in horror as Maleficent took on her dragon form and was now attacking Mal and the others, who had just joined her side.
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"Mal what do we do?" Evie asked frightened as they watched as Maleficent soared through the air before diving down in their direction. The villain kids separated and ran for cover behind the back columns of the cathedral.
"We need to get the wand. That is our only chance!" Mal cried before running back to the front of the cathedral just as Maleficent spotted her and threw a huge fire ball in her direction. Evie distracted Maleficent by using her magic mirror and Mal seized the opportunity to run as fast as she could down the aisle, spotting the wand a few meters away. Just as she was about to grab it, she tripped on her dress and crashed on the floor. She turned around and tried to scramble back to her feet but she stopped in her tracks petrified as she saw her mother quickly descending towards her with her claws outstretched ready to strike her. Mal closed her eyes tightly bracing herself for the worst, knowing that she did not have enough time to run away and save herself. I'm sorry Ben. I wasn't able to defeat my mother. I just wish we had more time together. I love you so much. But her mother's attack never reached her and a second later she snapped her eyes open when Evie's scream split the air.
Time seemed to stop and Mal's eyes widened in horror as she looked up and locked gazes with Ben just before his head suddenly jerked backwards. His mouth opened to let out a scream of pain but no sound came out. Mal just stared in utter shock, stunned, unable to react or move a muscle. She was brought back to reality only when Maleficent retracted her claws from his body and Ben fell limply in her arms.
"Ben! Ben! Talk to me please!" Mal screamed, tears flowing down her cheeks as she lightly shook him. "Ben! Don't leave me! Open your eyes! Please!" But Ben did not reply to her as blood poured out from his wounds, staining her dress. The world around her stopped and Mal did not take notice of the other VKs as they tried to lure Maleficent away from them. She gently laid Ben on the ground and started to put pressure on the main wound on his stomach. Maleficent's claws had drilled down right through his body. Mal's eyes lit up through her tears as Ben finally let out a little cough, blood spilling from his mouth as he half opened his eyes.
"M...a...l! You...'re sa...fe." he whispered hoarsely as he tried lifting his hand up to her face.
"Ssh! Don't talk. Yes I'm fine…thanks to you. And you are going to be okay. Just hang on." Mal told him softly as she tried to speak through her heavy tears.
"Do...n't cry!" he panted as he weakly cupped her cheek. "Now is no…t the time. You are str…ong eno…ugh to beat your mot…her and sa…ve every…one. Good is more power…ful than evil. I just kn…ow it. I lo…ve you Mal and I bel…eive in you. Promise me you wi…ll defeat her!"
"I promise Ben. But you have to hang on till I can get you some help. Don't you dare leave me, okay? You promised me you would take me on another date to the lake, remember?" She told him nodding as she wiped her eyes.
"Ok…ay." he rasped, giving her a little smile.
She slowly stood up and turned to look determinately at her mother. I will not let Ben down! Something inside her snapped and Mal felt a rush of adrenaline run through her entire body. Her heart started beating wildly as she felt her magical power start to pulse deep within her. Her eyes glowed a deep purple in response. She raised her hands and sent a direct purple lightning at her mother causing her to crash on the ground.
"Evie, Jay, Carlos! Take care of Ben." She ordered as she approached her fallen mother, who let out a load roar before standing back up and taking flight again. "And now I command, wand to my hand." She instructed as the wand flew into her hand, her eyes still blazing. She stopped to face Maleficent who was plunging down towards her. "This is between you and me mother. I will make you pay for all the pain and suffering you have caused. I will not let you hurt the people I love anymore!" She raised the wand high above her as she started chanting. "The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before five hearts as one. The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before five hearts as one." The wand emitted a bright blinding light that quickly formed into a powerful magical sphere. Maleficent threw a fireball in Mal's direction but it vaporized as soon as it made contact with it.
"It's over mother!" Mal stated as she waved the wand and threw the magical sphere on Maleficent. Maleficent was engulfed in the blinding magical light and when it subdued, all that was left was a tiny lizard. Maleficent's freezing spell instantly broke and everyone returned back to normal. A guard quickly placed the glass container previously protecting the wand over Maleficent preventing her escape.
Mal dropped the wand to the ground and rushed back to Ben who was supported in a half sitting position by Carlos and Jay while Evie continued to press on his stomach wound. She dropped to her knees next to him and he slowly turned glazed over hazel green eyes to look at her.
"Ma…l" he smiled softly "You di…d it."
"Yes and it was all thanks to you and your faith in me. I love you so much." She told him as she reached out for his hand and intertwined her fingers with his.
A shudder went through his body and he used the last of his strength to squeeze her hand. "I am so pr…oud of you. I love you too…M…al." His grip on her hand slackened and his head rolled to the side as he lost consciousness.
"Ben! Ben! Ben!" Mal shouted in panic, nudging his shoulder. "Ben! Wake up!" She brought her hand up to his stomach and tried to summon a healing spell but it did not work. "Hailey! Fairy Godmother! Someone! Help me! Please!
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Ben's eyes widened in panic as he looked around him and found himself at the top of a large elaborate double staircase. "Where am I?" he asked himself but jumped even more startled when he looked down at himself to discover that instead of hands and feet he now had paws. He turned to look at the wall mirror next to him and let out a horrified gasp as he saw his beast-self reflected.
"Ben. What's wrong?" a familiar worried voice cried out.
Ben looked down in the direction of the voice and saw Mal at the bottom on the opposite staircase. "Mal" he whispered relieved that he was not alone and that she was here with him. He made his way down the stairs, resting his paw on the banister for support, until he arrived just across from her. She smiled brightly at him and all his fears and confusion melted away just as a tune started playing. They walked down the rest of the steps until they met. It was only then that he noticed that Mal was wearing a gorgeous dark purple ballroom gown while he was wearing an elaborate blue suit.
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
She held on to his arm as they made their way inside a large room. Ben looked around him in awe at the beauty of the ballroom which was lit by enormous golden chandeliers. His gaze stopped on the alive teapot that was currently singing and it all started making sense to him. He was somehow reliving his father's story.
Just a little change
Small to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast
They made their way to the centre of the room and Mal curtsied to him. He gulped and hesitantly bowed to her, uncertain of himself.
Ever just the same
Ever a surprise
Mal smiled warmly at him, lifting up her hands at him. He smiled in return clasping them tightly with his paws and she slowly starts to lead him.
Ever as before
Ever just as sure
As the sun will rise
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bitter sweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Ben beamed, getting lost in Mal's eyes, as he confidently started whirling her around, lifting her up to rest on his shoulder.
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
He put her down and they happily continued to dance, getting lost in each other's eyes.
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the beast
The song sadly came to an end and Ben offered her his arm, leading her to the outside balcony.
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"Papa!" Mal cried as she looked in the magic mirror Ben had given her "He's dying!"
Ben turned away to sadly stare at the wilting rose in the hourglass, knowing full well what was going to happen next, once he let Mal go. But he made his decision anyway. "Then you have to go but take it with you." He told her gently when she tried to hand the mirror back to him. "So you always have a way to look back and remember me."
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Ben stared sadly out of his castle window and covered his ears with his hands as he heard a voice in his head taunt him. "You are just a beast, like your father. My daughter might think she loves you now but it's only a question of time before she will see the truth and leave you, afraid, just like what happened to your dear old dad before you."
Ben lifted up his head as real shouts and cries where heard coming from another part of the castle. Gaston had arrived, he presumed, but it didn't matter. Nothing mattered to him anymore with Mal gone…
The door creaked open and Ben looked up to come face to face with Gaston who was aiming a bow at him. Ben just looked away and a moment later he felt an intense pain in his shoulder as an arrow pierced him. The force of the blow made him fall out of the window onto the large balcony underneath.
"Get up!" Gaston mocked when Ben did not move. "What's the matter beast? To kind and gentle to fight back?" Gaston advanced on Ben and having had enough, struck Ben with a fatal wound in his stomach.
"NO!" A familiar voice cried out, as Mal ran to his side, falling on her knees beside him.
"Mal" Ben gasped.
"No! Gaston what did you do?!" Mal screamed.
"You…came…back." Ben replied weakly, breathing heavily from the pain of the stab wound.
"Of course I came back. I couldn't let them hurt you. I'm so sorry…this is all my fault." Mal sobbed.
"Don't say that Mal. Its better this way really-"
"Don't talk like that Ben! You're going to be fine! Don't leave me please. I love you!" she cried before she leaned over him and kissed him, engulfing them both in a bright light just as the last petal of the rose fell off.
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Ben groaned and slowly his eyes fluttered open, momentarily stopping to stare at the familiar ceiling of his dorm room. Then having heard Mal's beautiful voice call out his name, he turned his eyes to his side. A bright smile touched her tear stricken face as he turned his head towards her. As his senses slowly returned to him, he felt her hand give his a gentle squeeze.
"Ma…l." he managed in a hoarse whisper.
"Hey." She greeted softly as she picked up a nearby glass of water and let him have a few sips. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I have just been run over by a bus." he replied, sighing. "Did you catch its number plate?"
Mal chuckled slightly, before her bottom lip trembled and tears started falling from her eyes as she started sobbing.
Ben's heart tightened in his chest at the sight of Mal crying. She was his weakness. He just couldn't stand to see her cry. His memories were confused at the moment, his last memory was of himself running towards Maleficent just as she was about to hit Mal with her claws. "Mal don't cry!" he said tenderly as he stretched up his stiff arm to cup her right cheek with his hand.
"I thought I'd lost you." She hiccuped.
"Shhh. I'm fine, sweetheart. I'm right here, by your side. It will be alright." He soothed as he wiped her tears with his fingers. He then blinked abruptly in realization as his memories suddenly flooded back to him and a sense of understanding invaded him. "Mal, look at me." She raised her eyes to look at his warm hazel eyes. "No one is ever going to tear us apart, I promise. Besides, I still have to take you on another date at the lake, remember?"
Mal nodded slowly with a bright smile, wiping the last of her tears.
"There she is, my beautiful Mal." he commented with a grin, before his smile vanished at a thought. "What happened to me exactly? How long have I been asleep?"
She paused, then sighed softly "four days."
"What?!" he exclaimed.
"After you passed out in the Cathedral, Fairy Godmother was able to heal your wounds but Dragon Claws are poisonous for the human body. You have been unconscious with a high fever for the past three days. The fever only broke out this morning." She paused as she steadied her breath. "I was never so scared in my life. I'd thought you'd never wake up."
Ben's eyes softened but then widened when he noticed that Mal was still wearing the purple dress of the coronation now stained with his dry blood. "Mal, why are you still wearing the coronation dress? Please don't tell me that you have stayed near me this whole time."
She smiled softly, giving his hand a squeeze. "There is no other place in this world I would have rather been than by your side!" she paused. "I'm just so happy that you are alive. But don't ever pull a stunt like that ever again, you hear me!" she told him sternly.
"I love you Mal!" he replied softly, lifting her hand to his lips. "I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. I will not let anyone hurt you and I am ready to protect you with my life if necessary." He paused. "But that is all in the past now. It's over, Mal. Your mother is gone for good and nothing is going to break us apart or stop us from being happy together ever again."
There was a knock on the door and Ben and Mal looked up as Fairy Godmother entered the room. Her face lit up and she smiled when she noticed that Ben was awake.
"How are you feeling Ben? You gave us quite a scare." She asked softly, before taking a seat in a chair next to his bed.
"A little sore but okay." He replied.
"That's understandable given what you have been through. But a few days of rest and you will be back to yourself in no time." She smiled, before her expression turned serious. "You kids have all shown great courage in facing and defeating Maleficent. This kingdom owns you all so much, especially you two. I am very happy to say that you have all earned yourselves an A in Goodness Class." She smiled standing up, ready to leave. "Now I will leave you to rest. And I will let the Evie and the others know that you have awoken. I am sure they will want to come see you."
̴- ̴- ̴
Hailey knocked on the door to Ben's dorm room and waiting patiently to be called in but no one answered her. Fairy Godmother had come to tell her just an hour again that Ben had finally regained consciousness and she was eager to see how he and Mal were doing. She waited a moment longer, debating on what to do, and finally worried, she opened the door and poked her head inside, fearing something had happened to Ben.
Her worried expression quickly turned to a soft smile when her eyes fell on the couple. They were both sound asleep, embraced tightly to each other on Ben's bed. Ben's arm lay protectively around Mal who was resting her head against his shoulder. Two small smiles adorned their lips as they rested peacefully, all traces and thoughts of their ordeal with Maleficent long forgotten. Hailey's smile only grew bigger and she quietly closed the door behind her, leaving them to rest.
That's it! What did you guys think? Intense right? This chapter was the one I wanted to change the most when doing the revamp I felt that Maleficent didn't have a big enough reaction to finding out about Bal in the original. I know that Beauty and the Beast isn't really Ben's parents theme song in this AU but I wanted to have Bal dance to the song at least once it still fits their AU sitation really well doesn't it.
For the very last time I must say a HUGE HUGE HUGE MASSIVE THANK YOU to every single one of you for your support throughout the revamp of this story the encouragement you guys gave has meant SO MUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH!
And to my PHENOMENALLY AMAZING Beta xez2003: Once again I am left speechless with gratitude for all you have done for me in editing our chapters. Come rain or shine you got these chapters done and I cannot say how grateful I am this story would not be HALF as good as it is without you and I cannot wait to see how we transform 'I Will Love You' with every part of my heart THANK YOU SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!
On that note guys I will tell you that the original 'I Will Love You' story will be deleted and then re-posted just like NMWWA was I will leave the original up until the first revamped chapter is ready and send out a reminder to you all but look out for first revamped chapter.
I really hope you guys like this chapter and story as a whole. Please give me one last review? Pretty please? See you soon guys.