Hi Guys. Here is the next chapter for you. As always a MASSIVE MASSIVE THANK YOU must go to my AMAZING Beta xez2003 for your INCREDIBLE editing! What would I do without you? A BIG THANK YOU must also go to Harry Potter Fan 1994 for your plot ideas for this chapter. And last but never least a HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to all of you for your reads,reviews, follows and favs. Well that is all so without further ado take it away chapter 5!

DISCLAMER: I DO NOT OWN DECENDANTS ALL RIGHTS GO TO DISNEY ANY DIOLOGE YOU RECONISE BELONGS TO DISNEY I OWN NOTHING!

Thunder and lightning struck through the night skies as rain began to pour and flood the now empty streets. As a little child, Mal would always hide under her bed in fear when a severe storm hit the Isle, as unimaginable scenarios of doom and gloom invaded her young impressionable mind. But not this evening, she thought. Instead the scenario in front of her was somewhat comforting, as she stared out of her bedroom window. She wondered if maybe it was because it was somehow mirroring her internal turmoil.

After Ben's confession, she had run out of the hideout and aimlessly wondered around the streets of the Isle for a few hours until she decided to sneak back into her room, careful not to be seen by her mother. She had long given up to try to get some sleep as her futile attempts had only led her to useless tossing and turning. So that inevitably led her to where she was now, resting on the ledge of her bedroom window looking down at the whole of the Isle, her 'kingdom'.

For as long as she could remember, there was nothing more that Mal had desired than to grow up to be just like her mother. The great Maleficent, the most powerful, evil and feared villain to have ever lived. Growing up, she would watch starstruck in total admiration, as her mother ran the Isle of the Lost as its self-proclaimed ruler with the full force of her wrath, bringing everyone to their knees. To a young Mal that feeling of power was simply exhilarating. And so, she dreamed of someday being able to impress her mother with her propensity for evilness and thereby convince her that she was worthy to rule the Isle by her side. But what Mal never truly admitted to herself back then, was that, deep down the real reason for wanting Maleficent to see her as her equal was because she secretly hoped that her mother's respect would eventually turn into love and that finally they could be like a real family. Because, as Mal discovered at a very young age, all her mother truly cared about was finding a way out of the Isle and getting revenge on the people who had imprisoned her. Nothing and no one else mattered to her, not even her own daughter.

As loud thunder boomed across the darkened skies, Mal thought back to how, as a child, she used to repeat her mother's lessons in her head like a mantra, in an effort to push aside any sign of goodness and weakness in her heart. She simply dedicated herself to become the greediest, most selfish and cunning villain kid on the Isle. All for her mother's approval. But no matter what she did or how hard she tried, it was never enough. Maleficent would pointedly remind her of what a great disappointment she was. Of how, at her age, she had cursed entire kingdoms and had an army of goblins at her feet. That Mal needed to do more. But Mal never gave up. She would find a way in her mother's heart, no matter the cost.

Mal stared at the raging storm outside her window with a sombre expression, as the events of that morning replayed in her head. Of how she had foolishly convinced herself that what she had done at the marketplace had finally been enough to impress her mother. How wrong she had been. And then out of nowhere, Ben told her that he had fallen in love with her.

Ben Mal sighed as her thoughts drifted off to all that had happened these last few months since she had met the brown haired teenager. It was true that they had gotten closer as they spent more and more time together, but all Mal had done for him was for the purpose of gaining his trust, for him to open up about himself and his past. All in the pursuit of achieving her ultimate goal, that of unraveling the mystery surrounding the legend of the dark forest.

"Nothing more!" she said out loud as if trying to convince someone else in the room.

Then why am I feeling this way? she asked herself confused as she brought her knees up close to her chest. Her mind unconsciously wandered back to the time they spent together. Of how her heart would flutter every time their eyes looked with each other during their training sessions or how that jolt of electricity had cursed through her entire body when he had kissed her.

"Ah!" Mal shook her head to clear it. Suddenly, her mother's voice boomed in her subconscious, just like when she was a child, adding to her torment. 'Love is for fools!' her voice thundered. 'It only makes you weak and soft. You need to be ruthless. Only then can you truly be my daughter.'

Mal's head snapped back upwards, her eyes narrowing as she was brought back to reality. This is the Isle and all that mattered here was surviving. And only the strongest do. It doesn't matter if Ben thinks that he loves her. As she told him, she is Maleficent's daughter and all she ever wanted in her life was to be the cruelest of them all. So there was just no space for love in her heart. And to prove her point, she would show him just how evil she was capable of being!

Unbeknownst to Mal, she was not the only one who couldn't sleep that night and was looking at the same thundering skies. But, unlike her, Ben looked at the raging storm with hope in his heart, as he thought about the promise he had just made to himself. No matter what it took, he would find a way to get through to Mal and make her realize that despite what she had always believed, she was nothing like her mother and instead her heart was capable of great acts of love and kindness. He would show her just what it truly meant for two people to love each other and how that feeling of love changes your life forever.

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4 weeks later

Ben walked down the narrow streets leading to the docks, carefully avoiding the overturned rickshaws and the various misplaced half broken barrels which blocked his path. A child cried over his broken toy while a nearby old couple groaned as they slowly picked themselves up from the ground. Had he known any better, he would have guessed that a tornado had just passed though the Isle. But he stopped and frowned as he spotted the familiar fresh purple spray marks on the wall and grimly realized that this was not the work of a natural disaster but Mal's.

Ever since their kiss, Mal had been purposely avoiding him. Over the last few weeks, he had tried everything to try to speak to her but she had always found an excuse to turn and slip away from him before he could even utter one word. Finally exasperated and slightly worried, he decided to ask Jay about her. Jay simply brushed him off telling him that Mal was doing great. In fact, he dryly commented that to him she never appeared better. As Jay told him all about the recent havoc she had created at Dragon Hall, Ben made up his mind and with a determined look decided that this had to stop. He would find Mal and convince her that this 'evil' acting of hers was not who she truly was. So Ben made his way to the wharf where the consignment from Auradon was due that day, certain that Mal would be there.

Ben arrived at the end of the alleyway and turned the corner, instantly spotting Mal a few meters away. She was sitting on a nearby barrel telling Jay all about the prank she had pulled on the first year students of Dragon Hall that morning. He was about to walk towards her but stopped dead in his tracks, and let out an audible loud growl, as he spotted Harry Hook and his gang coming from the opposite direction.

Mal turned to look in the direction of the familiar noise and caught sight of Ben a few meters away. She was about to stand up and leave but her curiosity got the best of her and instead looked around, trying to find the reason for Ben's sudden reaction. Her eyes twinkled in mischief as realization hit her a few seconds later and she smirked as an idea formed in her head.

"Hey Harry!" she called with a coy smile, loud enough for Ben to hear her. She stood up, leaving Jay behind her and approached Harry, who had started to walk towards her, but still remaining in Ben's hearing range.

Harry grinned when he noticed that it was Mal who had called him. Now this is unexpected. Who would have thought that this day could actually get better. he thought smugly. His smile grew even wider when he noticed that she was alone.

"Hey Mal. Where's your beastly puppy? He's usually right at your heels." He asked.

"You mean Ben?" Mal asked innocently as she threw a side-glance in Ben's direction. "I kicked him out. He was too much of a pathetic scaredy cat to be part of my gang. You heard what happened when his father showed up in the marketplace a few weeks ago, no? He just froze in front of him like a little boy and at the end I had to step it and save him." she scoffed.

"You know me. I only surround myself with strong and fearless boys." She paused before turning her head slightly to make sure she had Ben's full attention. "Just like you!" she concluded playfully as she laid a hand on Harry's arm.

"Oh really?" Harry flirted back, taking a closer step towards her.

Ben's eyes reflected the hurt he felt rise deep inside him as he incredulously watched Mal continue flirting with Harry. He had known it would not have been easy to get through to her but never in his wildest dreams, would he have ever expected her to say those things about him, especially after he had found the courage to confide his sad childhood story to her. He abruptly turned and walked away upset, unable to watch the scene any longer.

As he hurried back up the alleyway, Mal's words kept pounding in his head. Despite her deliberate intention of hurting him, he had to admit that what she had said was true. He had frozen in front of his father and just stood there and let him beat him mercilessly until she had to step in and save him. In her eyes he was just a weak little boy. How could Mal love him if she did not see him as her equal? There is only one thing I can do now, to finally prove to Mal that I am a true VK and worthy of her affection. He thought determinedly having made up his mind.

He stopped at the hideout to gather some supplies and on his way out came face to face with Jay.

"Ben? Man where are you going?" Jay asked.

"To find my father and take care of him." He answered simply.

"What? Ben you can't-" Jay stuttered.

"Yes I can and I will." He replied firmly. "I am tired of having to live my life in fear, with the shadow of my father lurking over my head. By bringing me here, Mal has given me an opportunity of a new life here on the Isle. But now I need to prove to her, but more importantly to myself, that I am still worthy to be part of her gang. Now get out of my way." He stated as he walked out of the door.

"Wai-" Jay called out but it was too late.

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Mal just couldn't understand why, but after her run-in with Harry she had suddenly developed a rotten mood. It just didn't make any sense to her. This time she had really outdone herself as Ben's hurt facial expression as he saw her flirting with Harry was priceless. If only her mother could have seen her. Then why, instead of glee and satisfaction at having caused such suffering, did she have this sinking feeling in pit of her stomach.

"Mal!" Jay cried, running up to her. Luckily she was still at the docks and he had easily found her.

"What?" she snapped.

"Ben!" he replied as he tried to catch his breath. "You have to stop him. He went back to the Forest to confront his father!"

For a second, Mal's eyes widened before she quickly composed herself. "So what! Why should I care? Why do you care?" she brushed him off, turning to walk away.

Jay grabbed her by the arm to stop her. "His father is going to kill him, Mal. You saw what happened last time in the marketplace. We have to stop him before it's too late. He is one of the gang, you said so yourself."

"Ben's not my problem anymore." She snapped as she pulled her arm from his hold and stormed off.

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After leaving the docks, Mal fully intended to return to Bargain Castle but instead she found herself wandering the streets of the Isle, lost in thought. She hated to admit it but the news that Ben had gone to confront his father had somehow shook her. She had spent the last few weeks creating havoc in the street just to prove how evil she truly was and how there was no space for either love or Ben in her life. But despite everything she had done, she just couldn't get him out of her head.

Before she knew it, she found herself outside her hideout and instinctively climbed up the steps. As she opened the front door, it dawned on her that she hadn't returned to the hideout in over a month, ever since Ben had kissed her. She touched her lips as she remembered that night; the night Ben had confessed that he had fallen in love with her. A fond smile slowly graced her lips as she looked around the place and thought of everything Ben and her had done together in these past months. Their long days of training or of how they had laughed as he slowly got used to living back into civilization.

She felt her own heart start to race as her thoughts wandered back to the day when he had surprised her with that birthday dinner to cheer her up after her mother's umpteenth rejection. She would never forget how she had felt that day. How for the first time someone had actually cared enough for her to think about her and give her a surprise. Nor could she forget how she felt when he had protected her from Harry or whenever he looked at her with that deep gaze of his.

Her heart beat even louder as she remembered how scared she had felt when she had seen Ben injured after his father's latest attack in the marketplace. There was so much blood. For a moment she had truly feared she would lose him for good. And now, he had gone back to the forest to face his father on his own, all because of what she had purposely told Harry.

"Ben!" she gasped, her eyes widening as realization hit her full force, knocking the wind out of her. What have I done! she thought frantically, as she quickly grabbed her daggers and rushed out of the hideout. Please don't let me be too late!

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The only sound that could be heard in the clearing was Mal's heavy breathing as she stopped to catch her breath. She looked around Ben's old makeshift tent for any sign that he had been there recently but she found none. As she was debating where to go next, the sound of a loud roar split the air and Mal's insides twisted in painful knots as fear for Ben's safety invaded her body. She quickly turned and rushed in the direction of the sound, praying that she was still in time. Ben had become such a great and skilled fighter during their last few months of training but she knew that all that training wouldn't matter if he once again froze in front of his father in fear, like he had done all the previous times he had faced him. She had to find him and stop him. She couldn't lose him…not now when she had finally realized just how important he had become for her.

Mal desperately ran through the forest's thick foliage, following the ever louder roaring sounds, until she finally burst into a large clearing. Quickly taking in her surroundings, she spotted a medium sized wooden cabin to her left side. This must be the cabin where Ben lived as a child, she thought. But she didn't have time to ponder about it as her eyes widened in horror as they fell upon the ongoing scuffle between Ben and his father. Beast was about to pounce on Ben who had just fallen to the ground.

"Hey!" Mal yelled as she rushed towards them. She instinctively pulled out one of her daggers and threw it, aiming it at Beast's right clawed hand, who was now merely a few inches away from Ben's throat.

Beast howled in pain as the dagger found its mark. He clutched his injured hand, stunned, and turned to face the intruder who had stopped him from once again finishing his son. He roared loudly in growing annoyance as he spotted Mal, throwing a feral look in her direction. "You!" he shouted as he left a stunned Ben behind him and turned to engage Mal, fully intending to pay her back for the beating she had given him last time at the marketplace.

Mal gulped and took a step back in fear as Beast came charging towards her at blinding speed. Before she even had time to reach out for her daggers, Beast closed the space between them and got a tight hold of her arm. She screamed in fear as he easily lifted her off the ground and threw her across the clearing, until she crashed, hitting her head against a nearly tree. She impact knocked the wind out of her and she fell in a heap to the ground. Ben. Was her last thought before she lost consciousness.

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Ben's hazel eyes were fixed on his father in fear as he cowered from his position on the ground. Despite his strong desire to prove to Mal that he was worthy of her respect and love, he had quickly discovered that he was still no match against his father. His fear had once again gripped his heart almost instantly. It quickly overwhelmed him, rendering him an easy prey for his father to overpower. His heart hammered wildly in his chest as he saw his father charge towards him, his claws drawn out and aimed directly at his throat.

Mal was his last thought before he closed his eyes and waited for the inevitable blow that would end his life, just like his mother before him. But his eyes snapped open as Mal's voice broke through the silence and called out to them, temporarily stopping his father.

Ben watched stunned, unable to move, as his father left him and instead engaged Mal in a fight. No! he screamed inside himself as he saw his father throw Mal against a tree, who lost consciousness. He suddenly felt something stir deep inside him at the sight of Mal sprawled on the ground and his eyes momentarily flashed yellow.

Time seemed to stop for Ben as he watched in horror as Beast continued to advance on the now defenseless Mal. His heart hammered even louder in his chest and he watched with a terrified expression as he was suddenly taken back in time to when he was five years old and watched powerless as his father took his mother's life. Suddenly the memories of that day, the run in the forest, his mother's terrified expression, and her last loving words to him before she tenderly embraced him all echoed in his mind at the same time. Suddenly something inside him snapped and his eyes flashed an intense yellow again.

"NOOOO! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Ben yelled at his father as he propelled himself on one arm.

Beast turned to face his son at the noise and started to laugh loudly. "And who is going to stop me? You?" He smirked and continued to taunt him. "You have seen it yourself already. You are no match for me. You are still the same weak and pathetic boy, just like the day I killed your stupid useless mother." Beast then turned his back to Ben and continued to advance on Mal, menacingly drawing out his claws.

Ben started to breathe heavily and his eyes turned completely yellow as an unexplainable rage took over his entire body. He let out a loud roar that vibrated through the entire forest as he felt himself lose total control. All coherent thoughts left his mind as he felt his body start to change until all that was left was the beastly desire for his father's blood.

"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HERRRRR!" he roared as he dashed to attack his father.

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Mal's eyes flattered open, as consciousness slowly flooded back to her. She groaned as she gingerly touched the bump at the back of her head, where she had hit the tree. The incessant pounding finally subdued, allowing her to clear her memory and remember what had happened. She had come to the forest to stop Ben from fighting his father but had been too late and Beast had ended up attacking her. Her head snapped up at the sound of a loud furious roar and she blinked her eyes in disbelief as they came to rest on the raging fight in front of her. Ben was nowhere in the immediate line of sight but now what looked like some sort of beast with glowing yellow eyes, dark brown fur and horns on his head was slashing furiously at Adam.

A shudder passed through her body and she gasped wide-eyed as she suddenly recognized Ben's clothing and realized in horror that while she was unconscious he had somehow turned into the beast in front of her. Another loud roar drew her attention back to clearing where Ben savagely knocked his father to the ground and pinned him down holding his claws dangerously close to his throat.

"Ben don't!" she screamed.

All Ben felt was a blinding instinctive rage directed solely at his father but before he could deliver the killing blow a familiar voice broke through his clouded mind and he whipped his head around in the direction of the sound.

"Ben please stop." Mal pleaded louder as she stood up and cautiously approached them. "I know that he has hurt you in unimaginable ways but if you kill him now you will end up just like him. And I know that deep down you are nothing like him. You are better than him because I have seen you show kindness to the people around you, to me. And despite what he has told you all your life, there are people around you who actually care about you. I care about you so please don't do this."

As Ben processed the true meaning of Mal's words, he released his father from his deadly grip and slowly stood up, reverting back to his human form.

Beast scrambled a few meters away and slowly stood up, visibly injured. His angry expression suddenly turned into a smirk. "This isn't over, boy. You haven't seen the last of me so you better watch your back. You may have gotten the upper hand today but remember that you have only been able to beat me by turning into a hideous creature driven by rage. It seems that you didn't turn out to be so different from me after all. And deep down you are still that scared traumatized little boy at my mercy." Beast laughed as he turned and limped away.

An involuntary shudder runs through Ben as he watched his father leave. He started to shake violently as the adrenaline wore off, until he felt Mal gently take a hold of his right hand.

"What are you doing here?" he asked. "Why did you follow me into the forest? He could have killed you!"

Without uttering a word, Mal suddenly embraced him. She pulled away a few moments later and looked up to find his eyes gazing intensely at her.

"Because I was so scared of what your father might do to you, Ben. I am sorry for what you heard me tell Harry. I didn't mean any of it. All I could think about after Jay told me you came here to confront him was that I could not bear the thought of losing you. I realized that I… I… I've also fallen in love with you Ben!" she confessed, blushing slightly.

Ben's eyes softened as he looked down at Mal. She had finally opened up her heart to him and admitted her feelings towards him. As his heart threatened to explode in his chest, he pulled her closer to him and gently tipped her face up to his. The rest of the world melted around them as Mal slowly closed her eyes in anticipation and Ben gently cupped her cheek, capturing her lips with his own.

That's it! The Bal ship is sailing! I repeat the Bal ship is sailing! (Throws confetti and does happy dance with fan-girl squealing) And just in case the ending makes you think it no this is NOT the last chapter we still have a few to go! I hope you guys liked this chapter. Review? Pretty please?