Descendants: The Space Between

CHAPTER TWO

The limo approached a decrepit castle in the center of a ramshackle town. "I never thought I'd be coming back here," Mal said. "Me neither, M," Evie said. "I'm a little worried about running into Mom."

"Evil Queen?" Hiro asked. "Exactly, Hiro," Mal said. "However, Evil Queen will have to respect you now, Evie." "Why?" Evie said. "Under the terms of the armistice that ended the Great Villainous Rebellion twenty-five years ago, any negotiator or royal emissary from either territory that visits the other for an official function is to be accorded all the rights and privileges due him or her that the visited territory can provide," Hiro said.

"As long as one in their party carries a seal or other identifying marker as proof of their status," Hiro added, gesturing to the beast-headed Auradon Prep class ring that Mal wore on her left ring finger. "Since the United States of Auradon were formed following the Rebellion, that beast-head sigil has been the official crest of the U.S.A.," Hiro said. "Whomever is the leader of the Isle will have to receive us as official royal emissaries."

As soon as the limo stopped in front of the castle, Hiro tapped a few buttons on Baymax's traveling container. It rose off of the seat and floated out of the limo. "Doug and Carlos helped me install anti-gravity emitters on Baymax's container," Hiro said to Mal and Evie.

Mal turned to the driver. "Wait here. We'll be back out as soon as we can," she said. "Yes, milady," the driver said before Mal turned back to Evie and Hiro. Mal watched as Hiro put a small device on his head.

"An enhanced version of the neuro-transmitter that Yokai—Professor Callaghan—used to control my microbots in his attempt to get revenge for the loss of his daughter," Hiro said, describing the device's purpose. "It has especially been tuned to my neural signature alone for hands-free maneuvering of Baymax's traveling container."

Mal nodded before pressing the doorbell on the castle gate. A familiar voice came over the intercom speaker. "Who is it?"

"Evil Queen, it's Mal. Let us in," Mal said. Hiro stepped up to the speaker. "Evil Queen, I am Councilor Hiro Hamada of the United States of Auradon. Under the terms of the Great Armistice, you are required to receive us," Hiro said.

A small camera appeared from the pad where the doorbell and speaker were situated. "Present your proof," Evil Queen said. Mal held up the ring on her finger.

On a screen in the castle, Evil Queen looked at the beast-head ring and sighed. "Come in, then," she said before tapping a hidden control.

Outside, the drawbridge lowered, allowing Mal, Evie and Hiro access to the castle. Inside, Evie was the first to meet up with Evil Queen. "Hello, Mother," Evie said. "Hello, my daughter," Evil Queen said. "I saw your handiwork at the Royal Cotillion on TV. Even though it is not the way to do things here on the Isle, I must say...I am proud of you, supporting yourself in Auradon."

"Thank you," Evie said. "Evil Queen?" Hiro said. "You must be Councilor Hamada. Please, have a seat," Evil Queen said. "Much obliged," Hiro said before sitting down. "So, what, may I ask, is the purpose of your visit?" Evil Queen said.

"King Benjamin wants to form a committee to examine the feasibility of bringing children from the Isle to Auradon," Hiro said. "He proposes the following terms: 1.)that the committee shall consist of the King of Auradon, the leader of the Isle of the Lost and an individual from a neutral domain within the boundaries of the United States of Auradon, as well as three individuals each of them may choose; 2.)the twelve committee members shall meet once every six months for the selection of each academic term's beneficiaries; and 3.)each prospective beneficiary will be approved or denied on a majority vote of the Council of the 12."

"If we here on the Isle were to agree to this arrangement, how will we be allowed to contribute?" Evil Queen said. "We will surely not be allowed to travel to Auradon for these meetings." "Remember Family Day when we first arrived in Auradon?" Evie said. "Fairy Godmother set up a teleconference between the four of us at Auradon Prep and you, Maleficent, Cruella and Jafar here on the Isle."

"Ah," Evil Queen said. "I need some time to think about this." Mal smiled. "Well, we'll be at my old hide-out near Ursula's Fish and Chips, so you could send a messenger to tell us when you've reached a decision." "All right," Evil Queen said. "I'll try to have it ready before dark."

A few hours later, in Mal's old hideout, Mal, Evie and Hiro were waiting for Evil Queen's messenger. Finally, a noise from outside could be heard. Mal made her way to the call horn at one corner of the room. "Who is it?" Mal said. A dreadfully familiar voice could be heard.

"Hello, Mal," it said. "Harry?" Mal said. Evie stood and ran over to the call horn. "Harry Hook is Mom's messenger?" Evie whispered. "Apparently so," Mal responded. "What do you want, Harry?" Evie then said into the horn.

"C.J. wanted you to know that Evil Queen has made her decision regarding King Ben's proposal," Harry Hook said. "I'm to escort you back to the Castle.""We're on our way down," Evie said.

A few moments later, Mal, Evie and Ben walked down the stairway leading from the hideout to the streets of the Isle. Harry stood waiting. "Don't worry, Mal," Harry said, noticing Mal's worried face. "I'm only here to escort you to Evil Queen's Castle for her decision." "Then, lead on," Evie said.

Half an hour later, Mal, Evie and Hiro sat in Evil Queen's office once more. "Councilor Hamada, you can tell King Benjamin that I agree to his proposal," Evil Queen said. "You just did," a voice called out.

Evil Queen, Mal, Evie and Hiro looked over to see Baymax, the smiling face of King Benjamin on a screen in his body. "I was recently upgraded to serve as a mobile communications link between the Isle and Auradon—in the event that such communications would be necessary," Baymax said. Evil Queen looked up at the screen and at Ben. "Where do I sign?" she said.

"It was on the 245th day of the reign of King Benjamin that the Auradon-Isle Descendants Project Act was signed," Mal said to William. "A month later, the first group of Descendants arrived at Auradon Prep. And guess whose job it was to welcome them?"

Auradon Prep

Arrival Area

Mal smiled as two limos approached the gates of Auradon Prep. A young girl wearing glasses, her blonde hair tied up into pigtails, walked up to her. "Is that them?" the girl asked.

Mal smiled at the girl. "It is, Dizzy," she said. Dizzy Tremaine, daughter of Drizella Tremaine—one of Cinderella's Evil Stepsisters—smiled. "I can't wait to see who's been chosen," she said. The doors opened, revealing the ten new Descendants.

"Hello," Mal said. "I am Princess Consort Mal, and I will be your escort on an orientation tour of Auradon Prep. If you have any questions, please direct them to me or my associate, Dizzy Tremaine. We'll try to help you as best as we can."

::TBC::