Finally finished! The second and final part of the two-part story. Enjoy.
Darkness Within, Part 2
It has been two days since the night of Mal's birthday. The night when Mal publicly confessed her decision to turn back to the dark side. The night when Mal set the ballroom on fire and endangered everyone. The night Sofia discovered the "great evil" that the Enchantress predicted would come to endanger Auradon. Ever since, the ballroom has been under construction, people all over the kingdom can't sleep well at night, and the youngest princess from Enchancia has been preparing herself for a clash with the purple-haired sorceress.
In Castle Beast, the VKs and the Auradon teenagers gathered around in the living room to discuss how they plan to deal with Mal.
"Okay, role call," started Ben. "Audrey?"
"Present," responded Audrey.
"Chad?"
"Here," responded Chad.
"Lonnie?"
"Right here," responded Lonnie.
"Jane?"
"Sitting down," responded Jane.
"Doug?"
"Present," responded Doug, raising his hand.
"Carlos?"
"Present," responded Carlos.
"Jay?"
"Here," responded Jay.
"Evie?"
"Present," responded Evie.
"Sofia?"
No response.
"Not again," complained Lonnie.
"Never mind that," said Ben. "Let's start the discussion. Mal. We need to talk to her. But first, we have to find her. Any idea where she would be?"
"Knowing, Mal, she's not really much into secret hideouts like Carlos," started Evie.
"My best guess is she might still be near here, just somewhere hidden," said Carlos.
"But Auradon is a big kingdom. She can be anywhere," said Jay.
"How 'bout we dispatch the guards all over the kingdom. Might do us some good," suggested Chad.
"Chad, we can't just send all the guards. We need them," protested Ben.
"Look, no offense, but since when are regular guards a match for magical beings? You have read the stories, right?" pointed out Chad.
"Chad, please, be serious," said Lonnie.
"I am," defended Chad.
"How 'bout your secret hideout, Carlos?" asked Jane. She immediately puts her hand over her mouth at the realization of what she revealed.
"You have a secret hideout? Here in Auradon?" asked Jay.
"Sorry." Jane apologized to Carlos.
"No, that's alright. Secrets don't stay locked up forever," said Carlos.
Ben let out a chuckle. "That's exactly what I said to Sofia a few days ago."
"I'm worried about her," said Lonnie.
"Um, guys, don't you think it's strange that she was in the ballroom when it was on fire?" pointed out Carlos.
"Yeah, but I was too worried about her condition to think about that," said Lonnie.
"Well, it's clear that she was at the party," said Jay.
"But no one saw here," reminded Doug. "You don't suppose Mal has something to do with it?"
"Why would she come to the party if she had a problem with Mal?" questioned Jay.
"Because they're friends?" guessed Doug.
"I think we're getting off topic," said Ben.
"Aren't you worried about Sofia, too, Ben?" asked Lonnie. "You've seen how she's been since the fire."
"I know, and I am, but I'm just worried about Mal," said Ben.
"We all are," said Evie. "So, what's it going to be? Dispatch the guards, or we do the search ourselves?"
"Well, we have no school, so, might as well," said Jay.
Meanwhile, Mal was at the park, watching the waterfall. Ever since her stunt on her birthday, she has been feeling both glad and depressed. She was glad because she finally let everyone know about her decision. She was depressed because, for some reason, she feels empty inside. After some thinking, she realized that she misses Ben. But she wanted to forget about him, because she can't truly embrace the dark side if she lets love remain in her heart. After a few more seconds, Mal, in rage, fires a magic blast at a tree, completely disintegrating it. She was furious at herself because she can't forget about Ben.
"Love. One's ultimate weakness," she said to herself. She looks back at the waterfall and says, "Well, might as well see what's behind here."
Mal hops on the stepping stones and jumps through the waterfall. She removes her soaked hair out of her face and discovers a secret cave. The spray painting of crossbones on the wall told her that the cave belonged to one of her friends.
"I have to admit, Carlos, nice place," she said.
She sat down on a bean bag chair and fiddles with Carlos' laptop. It requires a password, though. After thirty-three tries, Mal was starting to get furious. She decided to calm down and think.
"Okay, if I was Carlos, what kind of password would I chose that is so complicated, no one can every find out?" thought Mal out loud.
Mal types in "bluecrowns" and she was in. She knew the password was inspired from the person he secretly loves. Evie. "Blue" is Evie's favorite color and the "Crown" is Evie's personal symbol, just like hers is a fire heart forged by two dragons, Jay's is his father's snake form, and Carlos' is crossbones.
"You're pathetic, Carlos," said Mal, still disappointed in the fact he still hides his true feelings.
Mal was surprised that Carlos, somehow, found a way to get wi-fi in a cave. She opens the internet and started searching. She looks up on "Magical Items" and found a website that holds information on every magical object in existence. Unfortunately, what she was looking for was "not found." She knew that the person who ripped the page from the book she was looking up on days ago was the same person who erased the link to the page she was looking for.
"I don't know how you did it, but you must be one of Carlos' computer pupils," said Mal. She knew some kids asked Carlos for assistance when it comes to computer-related lessons.
Mal turns off the laptop and paces around to think.
"Okay, so I can't find it in books or the internet. Where would I find it?" Mal decided that she would think best if she's relaxed, so she picks up a can of spray paint and started spraying on the wall. When she finished her "Long Live Evil" signature, she realized something.
"What am I thinking? The only place left to the look is the belly of the beast," said Mal. She meant that she will be breaking into the home of the one who has tried to hide the information of what Mal has been looking for.
"Look out. I'm coming for you."
Sofia, meanwhile, was in the gym, practicing on a punching dummy. She was giving it all she's got as she punches the dummy relentlessly. She was beginning to get tired, but she wouldn't stop. She unleashes her strongest punch but didn't react fast enough to avoid the dummy hitting her back, causing her to fall to the ground. Lonnie comes in to see Sofia's current state.
"Sofia!" exclaimed Lonnie.
"I'm okay," said Sofia. "Just exercising."
Lonnie offers her hand and Sofia lets her friend help her get up.
"I'm really worried about you," said Lonnie. "First, you disappear a lot. Next, you isolate yourself from us since the fire. And now, you're doing something that I usually do."
"Mal's gone bad, remember? I have to be ready. We all do," said Sofia.
"It's going to take more than hand-to-hand combat mastery to take on someone like Mal. When it comes to magic and fighting hand-to-hand, she's unstoppable," said Lonnie. "We need to use our heads to fix this."
Sofia was still catching her breath. Lonnie decided to ask her, "What are you hiding?"
"What do you mean?" reacted Sofia.
"We all know you're hiding something. And it's hurting you," said Lonnie. "Can you just tell me what it is? And does this have something to do with Mal?"
"Lonnie, I was planning on telling you, on telling everyone, but I can't," said Sofia. "I just can't."
"Don't be like Mal, Sof. You, of all people, should know how important it is to open yourself to others," said Lonnie.
"I'm sorry, Lonnie, but you have no idea what's about to transpire," said Sofia as she walked out of the gym, leaving her friend still worrying about her.
That night, everyone in Auradon was sleeping in their beds, or, at least, trying to sleep. Everyone has the same reason why they have trouble sleeping. Mal. It scares them that she is out there plotting who knows what scheme for who knows what purpose.
In the dorm belonging to Lonnie and Sofia, Lonnie was fast asleep while Sofia was still awake. The thought of facing Mal has been haunting her every second of every day, and she can't relax. Suddenly, someone poofed into the room. It was Mal. The second Sofia saw her, the purple-haired sorceress cast a spell on Lonnie. Sofia gasped.
"Lonnie, wake up!" yelled Sofia, but Lonnie didn't respond.
"Relax. The sleeping spell will wear off in the morning," said Mal.
"What are you doing here?" asked Sofia.
"After our little discussion on my birthday, I thought maybe we can have a civil conversation to make up for it," said Mal.
"That's not why you're here," said Sofia.
"Perceptive. I like that," said Mal. "First, how are you feeling?"
"Still rattled from our 'discussion,'" answered Sofia.
"Good to know," said Mal. "I know what you've been doing lately. You've been preparing to face me. You want to put all that exercise to use?"
"You're not baiting me," said Sofia.
"I'm not baiting you. I'm just daring you," said Mal. "You're the only one whose taken me down in self-defense class. I want to see how you've developed since."
"Mal, I maybe putting a lot of pressure in myself, but that doesn't I'm putting violence as my first resort," said Sofia. "I know why you're like this."
"What makes you think you know?" asked Mal.
"You told me your secret, remember?" reminded Sofia.
"You're right. I did," remembered Mal.
"Why are letting the darkness control you?" asked Sofia.
"I'm not letting it control me. I'm embracing it," responded Mal. "And I love it."
"I know you still love inflicting pain on others before, but that was just being playfully mean. Now, you have no remorse over hurting someone," said Sofia.
"If you don't mind me asking. Why were you hiding from me at the party?" asked Mal.
Sofia didn't answer.
"I know you were there. I saw you exiting the castle with the others," said Mal.
"You think it's easy for me to recover from our discussion. You made me experience fear like never before," said Sofia.
"And for that, I'm proud of myself," said Mal.
"You can fight this, Mal. Everyone wants you back," pleaded Sofia.
"There's nothing to fight, except all of you," said Mal. "The darkness is a part of me. It always has been."
"Why would you choose your birthday as the time to embrace it?" asked Sofia.
"Fate, I guess," responded Mal.
"Mal, please, we all miss you. Ben misses you," said Sofia. "What is it do you want more? Power? Or to live happily ever after here in Auradon?"
"There's nothing I want, except the suffering of others," said Mal.
"So you're just going to inflict pain like it's a game? How does that make you a villain?" questioned Sofia.
"I am my own villain, Sofia," said Mal. "I have no goals. If I do have one, it would be the first life I take."
Sofia was shocked at the Mal she was speaking too. The girl she knew who was as aggressive as she was kind-hearted was now cold-blooded and merciless. "You're a monster."
"Thank you," responded Mal, taking it as a compliment.
Mal takes out a scroll and gives it to Sofia. She opens it and saw that it was a map leading to somewhere.
"Meet me here tomorrow at sundown," said Mal. "Come alone."
"I intend to," said Sofia.
"Too bad. I was just about to threaten you in case you plan on bringing help," said Mal.
"This is between you and me, Mal. No one else has to get hurt," said Sofia.
"Come alone and I promise no one will be," said Mal before disappearing.
Sofia takes another good look at the map. She was willing to settle this once and for all, whether she can convince Mal to come home or die trying.
The following day, another fruitless search for Mal has left the Descendants and the heroes kids physically and emotionally exhausted. They return to the castle and rest in the living room.
"I don't know if I can do this anymore," complained Chad.
"You're an athlete," pointed out Audrey.
"So is he." Chad pointed Jay. "But look at him."
"Yeah, I know," said Jay, aware of his condition.
Sofia looked out the window and saw that the sun was descending. She knows Mal would be expecting her at the destination on the map.
"Carlos, have you tried your hideout?" asked Evie.
"No," answered Carlos.
"Well, maybe we should search there next," suggested Jay. "After we rest."
"Good idea, but I think I can do it now," said Carlos confidently. He gets up and was about to walk out of the door when Evie grabbed his hand.
"No, you're not going alone," said Evie.
"I'll be fine," assured Carlos. "You guys can catch up."
"Since when are you confident about facing Mal?" wondered Jay. "She scares the life out of you. Hero or villain."
"You guys keep telling me I have to learn how to be a man. What better way than to look at Mal in the eye and be brave?" pointed out Carlos.
"That's not bravery. That's being cocky," said Lonnie.
"Carlos, she'll kill you," said Jane. "You can't just waltz in there and talk to her without expecting a fight."
"My fighting skills may not be as advanced as Mal's, but I think I can handle myself," said Carlos.
"You need us. You never face a villain alone," said Doug. "My father and my uncles all banded together against Evil Queen. The fairies helped Prince Philip defeat Maleficent. Mice helped Cinderella get her prince."
"The mice have names, Doug," defended Chad.
"You're not going out there, and that's final," said Evie.
"You're not my mother," retorted Carlos.
"No, I'm your friend. Friends look out for each other," said Evie.
"You don't think I can do this, don't you?" accused Carlos. "Is this because I'm just a little boy?"
"No, it's not that," said Evie.
"You don't need to give me an excuse if you just want to protect me," said Carlos.
"Okay, now you're being stubborn," remarked Audrey.
"Not helping," said Evie. She turns back to Carlos and said, "How can you be a man if choose to do something foolish?"
"You know what? If that's how you feel, then I'll just go. Hide away like a helpless child," said Carlos. He frees his hand from Evie's and walks out of the castle and back to his dorm. Evie watched him from the window.
"I didn't mean to hurt his feelings," said Evie.
"Well, you just did," said Jay, only to receive a glare from Evie, which he ignored.
"Son, you all need to rest," said Beast to Ben. "We can send the guards..."
"Dad, I can't believe I'm saying, but they're right. This is Mal we're talking about. Our guards don't stand a chance," said Ben.
"It's actually pretty funny when you think about it. The guards we trust to protect the kingdom can only protect us from ordinary criminals," said Belle humorously.
"We always need heroes for situations that involve villains," finished Fairy God Mother.
"Hey! Sofia!" yelled Lonnie, noticing Sofia trying to sneak away. "Where are you going?"
"That's my business," said Sofia.
"Is that a scabbard?" asked Ben. "What are you up to?"
"Like I said, it's my business," said Sofia again.
"Oh, no. You're not walking away from this, Sofia," said Lonnie. She takes out a scroll and opens it for the rest to see. "Care to explain what this is?"
"H-how did you find that?" asked Sofia.
"I found your diary once, remember? I think I can find anything you're trying to hide," responded Lonnie. "And judging from the writing, I can tell this is Mal's. She wants you guys to meet, right?"
Sofia realizes that she can't lie her way out of this mess. It was time for the truth to come out. "You guys want to know the truth? Well, here's the truth. I lied."
"Lied? About what?" asked Ben.
"About my reason for coming here," answered Sofia. "It wasn't because I wanted to see the world. The Enchantress came to me."
"The Enchantress?" questioned a surprised Ben.
"Yes. She had a vision. A great evil will come to Auradon and destroy everything," continued Sofia.
"And you think it's Mal?" guessed Evie.
"Yes," confirmed Sofia.
"What makes you think so?" asked Jay.
"The second time the Enchantress showed herself to me, she had another vision. The first thing she told me was how to identify the dark force. That someone speaks of these words. 'The light may shine in the deepest depths of the dark, but the shadow remains untouched,'" said Sofia.
Everyone remembered these words as the words Mal said before she set the ballroom on fire.
"You said 'first thing.' What was the second thing?" asked Audrey.
Sofia takes out her scabbard and pulls out the sword. "This," she said. "It's a magical sword forged a thousand years ago. It's power is to destroy darkness."
"You're going to use it on Mal?" asked Ben.
"If she leaves me no choice," said Sofia.
"Wait, that crystal," started Evie, recognizing the sparkling jewel on the handle of the sword. "This is what you were after when you vanished last month."
"And the reason I've been vanishing was because I needed to be prepared," confessed Sofia.
"Why didn't you tell us?" asked Ben.
"I was gonna tell you, but then the Enchantress came to me again. She had another vision." Sofia paused for a moment. "Even if I win this fight, someone will have to die."
Everyone in the room was speechless.
"So you're planning on confronting Mal by yourself?" guessed Jay.
"Sofia, you always say, 'Everyone needs help,' but why are you doing this alone?" wondered Ben.
"I don't want anyone to die because me. If anyone has to die, it should be me," said Sofia. "This is my mission, and I'm going to finish it."
"We can't let you leave the castle," said Ben.
"But you will," said Sofia as she pulled out Fairy God Mother's wand, shocking everyone.
"H-how?..." wondered Fairy God Mother.
"I wasn't searching for Mal all day," confessed Sofia. "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo!" Sofia uses the wand to teleport herself out of the castle.
Everyone immediately ran for the exit to go after Sofia, but once Jay put his hand on the door handle, a force pushes him back. "Force field," guessed Jay.
Outside, Sofia finishes casting the force field to prevent her friends from following her. "I'm sorry," she said. She started running.
Meanwhile, inside the castle...
"Now, what are we going to do?" complained Audrey.
"We stop her and find Mal," said Evie.
"Don't you mean the other way around?" questioned Chad.
"No," answered Evie.
"Wait, Carlos left," reminded Doug.
"I'll call him," said Jane as she picked up her phone and immediately dialed Carlos' number. "Carlos!"
"Hey, Jane," greeted Carlos. "What's the matter?"
Evie grabs the phone and says, "Sofia's after Mal. You have to stop her and get us out of the castle."
"Uh... why?" asked a confused Carlos
"She used Fairy God Mother's wand to cast a force field around the palace," explained Evie. "You have to get that wand."
"Strange," said Carlos. "But no."
"If you're still upset, can you save it for later? Mal will kill Sofia if we don't help her," said Evie.
"She won't," responded Carlos.
"Why?" asked Evie.
"Because I'm chasing her right now," answered Carlos.
Evie ran to the second floor, looked out the window, and saw that Carlos was running out of the dormitory and heading for the park, where his secret hideout is.
"Carlos! Come back here, right now!" demanded Evie.
"Sorry," said Carlos before hanging up.
"He's going to get himself killed," said Audrey.
"Not helping!" reacted Evie.
"He still wants to prove himself a man, but all he's going to prove is that he's a spoiled brat," said Jay, disappointed at Carlos' action.
"You got that right," agreed Evie.
In Carlos' hideout, Mal patiently awaits for the arrival of Sofia. To pass the time, she was watching videos on Carlos' laptop. Suddenly, purple smoke enters the cave. Mal didn't freak out because she already knew who it was. Her mother.
"Hello, Mal," greeted Maleficent.
"Hi, mom," greeted Mal with contempt. "What are you doing here?"
"I came here to help you, of course. Now with you finally embracing the darkness," said Maleficent.
"I'm guessing I've made you proud," said Mal.
"Oh, you have. Once I sensed the darkness completely consuming you, I had to come to Auradon Prep to see how it's working for you," said Maleficent. "And I must say, you're little display at your party was the cherry on top."
"Not even close," said Mal. "But I want to ask you something. Why did the darkness consume me completely on my birthday?"
"As you already know, that darkness is because you're my daughter. It was meant to blossom on your first birthday, but since the darkness is magic, the barrier around the Isle of the Lost kept it from happening. So, instead of letting you become evil naturally, I had to raise you to be evil," explained Maleficent.
"But now that I'm out, the darkness consumed me on my first birthday outside of the Isle," guessed Mal.
"Correct," confirmed Maleficent. "Now, it's my turn to ask you a question. Why are you wasting your time with that Princess Sofia?"
"That's none of you business. I have a score settle with her and she will be the first to feel my true power," said Mal.
"Well, best to let you keep your reasons to yourself," said Maleficent.
"At least someone does," said Mal.
"I must say, Mal, this isn't exactly the prefect picture of an evil lair," said Maleficent, mentioning the cave.
"It's not my evil air. It's Carlos' secret hideout," said Mal.
"Well, that would explain the crossbones on the wall," said Maleficent. She turns her attention to Mal's "Long Live Evil" spray painting. "I see you still have a knack for this."
"I still kept that picture on my locker even after I turned good," said Mal.
"I knew deep inside, you'll always love the bad side," said Maleficent.
"It's who I am. Rotten to the core," said Mal with a smirk.
"That's my nasty little girl," said Maleficent proudly.
Mal rolled her eyes in response.
"So, are you going to convince your 'friends' to join the cause?" asked Maleficent. "You care about them after all."
"Not anymore," said Mal. "They don't have the black blood like I do."
"I guess being the descendant of a being of pure darkness has it's benefits, doesn't it?" commented Maleficent.
"At least one," said Mal with sarcasm.
"So, after you're finished with that brat, is it time for mother and daughter to take over Auradon?" asked Maleficent.
"I have no intention of taking over Auradon, mother," said Mal.
"Then what are your intentions?" asked Maleficent.
"I have no intentions," said Mal.
"How can you be a true villain if you don't have an ambition?" pointed out Maleficent.
"Ambition is a villain's greatest weakness," said Mal.
"Every villain has an ambition," said Maleficent. "What are you going to do? Torture and kill just for the fun of it? As much as that would make me proud, it will still disappoint me. I am not taking over Auradon alone, Mal. Ever since you were born, all I have ever dreamed about was you and me ruling Auradon together."
"You will never rule Auradon," said Mal.
"That sound like a hero," responded Maleficent.
"I'm no hero. I never was. Just a lovesick teenager," said Mal.
"Then why are you still denying me the throne?" asked Maleficent.
Mal didn't answer, but she raises her hand and uses her magic to glue her mother to the wall. "You think that just because I finally embraced darkness means that I will finally be the daughter you wished for?" Mal walks towards her mother for an up-close personal moment. "I said it before, and I'll say it again. You are not my mother. You may have given birth to me, but you still mistreated me as a child. I maybe not be protecting Auradon from you anymore, but the only reason I am still preventing you from claiming Auradon is because of our history."
"You were and still a disgrace as a villain, Mal," said Maleficent.
Mal puts her hand on her mother's throat and says, "Like I care about what you think me anymore." Mal releases her mother, who is know on the ground trying to recover.
"So, another round is what you want, isn't it?" guessed Maleficent.
"Well, I've never been one to walk away from a challenge," responded Mal.
Maleficent gets back on her feet and fires a magic blast from her scepter. Mal fires a magic blast of her own and the two get caught in a lock, until the combined blasts caused an explosion, blowing both of them back. The two get up, but Maleficent didn't react fast enough to Mal lunging towards her and kicking to the wall.
"Face it, mom. You're old," insulted Mal.
Mal was about to punch her mother in the face, but Maleficent avoids the blow by teleporting. She reappears behind Mal and successfully hits her from behind with a magic blast. Mal was about to get up until Maleficent shoots another magic blast. Mal tries to shield herself, but the blast was too powerful.
"Give up, Mal. I maybe evil, but even I would hate to destroy my own daughter," said Maleficent, trying to force Mal to surrender.
"You'll never learn, do you?" Mal uses both her hands to strengthen her magic shield and pushes it towards her mother, knocking her down.
Maleficent traps Mal in a force field to suppress Mal's powers, but Mal, being as powerful as Maleficent, manages to break the force field with a simple push. The two engage in another magic blast lock, until Mal adds fire to her power and overpowers Maleficent, once more knocking her down to the ground. Maleficent recovers by using a fire whip to wrap Mal' leg and pulls, causing the sorceress to fall, hitting her head on a rock.
While Mal recovers, Maleficent speaks.
"I guess it's harder for you beat me now that you're no longer using your powers for good," taunted the villain.
"Since when did you agree that good is better than evil?" remarked Mal.
"I don't, but what else could be the reason why you can no longer beat me in a heartbeat," responded Maleficent.
Maleficent uses magical cuffs to keep Mal on the ground. "C'mon, baby girl. Don't you want to make your own mother proud? What is it that I have to do to get you to cooperate?"
"There is nothing you can do that will make up for the years of abuse you have brought upon me," said Mal with anger.
"Well, what if we can erase those years?" started Maleficent.
Mal was struggling to get out of the cuffs until she thought about what her mother said. "If you're planning to wipe my mind, don't even think about it."
"I wasn't thinking of the mind-erasing spell. I was thinking something more... radical, as you kids would say," said Maleficent.
It took Mal a few seconds to know what she was talking about. "No, it can't be done," she said.
"Oh, but it can," said Maleficent. "We can do this together. You just need to cooperate."
"Over my cold dead body!" yelled Mal as she uses her rage to break out of the cuffs. She kicks her mother in the face and uses a magical rope to tie up her mother. "Unless you want me to turn you into ashes, I suggest you leave."
"You don't want to kill me right now?" asked Maleficent with a smirk on her face.
"I don't plan to take your life. Not yet anyway," said Mal.
"But you are?" asked Maleficent.
"After everything you've done to me, absolutely," answered Mal. "There is room for only one Maleficent in this world."
"And that's you?" interrupted Maleficent.
Mal looks at her mother eye-to-eye and said, "Yes." Mal's eyes glow green and weakens her mother. She releases her and the villainess disappears immediately.
"One day, mother. One day," said Mal.
She turns her attention back to the entrance. "Princess Sofia the First, prepare for to meet Auradon's reckoning."
It wasn't long before Sofia made it to the park. Before she jumps into the water, she remembers that she still has Fairy God Mother's Wanda. She hides it behind in a bush and takes a breath of confidence before jumping into the water. She resurfaces and uses the stepping stones. Sofia remembers that the map told her to jump into the waterfall.
"One, two... three!" Sofia jumps and makes it to the cave entrance behind the waterfall. "Wow!"
She walks inside and the first sight she caught was the daughter of Maleficent herself. Mal.
"Hey, Mal," greeted Sofia.
"About time you showed up, your highness," greeted Mal.
"Sorry, I was held up," responded Sofia. "So do you want to tell me why you asked me to come here?"
Mal takes out a folded piece of paper and unfolds it. Sofia was shocked at what it was. It was the page containing information of the Amulet of Avalor. The exact page she took out of the book from the library.
"You found it," said Sofia.
"Indeed, I did," said Mal. "I'm also guessing that Carlos taught you how to hack."
Sofia knew she was mentioning the erased info of the amulet from the internet. "Yes," she replied. "Why do you need it? You said you have no goals?"
"My mother was right about one thing. Every villain has a goal," said Mal. "Once that amulet is mine, I have no more goals."
"It would be of no use to you," said Sofia. "The amulet will only reward those who do good."
"I have no intention of using the amulet," said Mal.
"You intend to harness its power," guessed Sofia.
"Smart girl," complimented Sofia.
"Mal, I'm begging you. Don't do this. It's not too late to abandon your dark desires," pleaded Sofia.
"On the contrary, it is too late," said Mal, emphasizing "is." "There is only one way this ends. One of us permanently erased from existence."
"I didn't want to do this, but if that's how it's going to be..." Sofia draws her sword.
Mal pulls out a scabbard from behind a boulder and pulls out her own sword. "The page wasn't all I found. I thought I'd steal myself a sword to even the odds."
"Trust me, Mal, you have no idea what the sword is truly capable of," warned Sofia.
The two began clashing swords back and forth and no one seems to be getting the upper hand. Mal seems impressed that Sofia is adept with a sword. She has been, after all, practicing day and night for this moment. Mal begins striking relentlessly, but Sofia evades every swing before using her sword to shield herself.
"Wow, Sofia, I must admit. You've improved," compliment Mal.
"Glad you're impressed," responded Sofia humorously.
The two continued to clash their blades back and forth. That was until Mal decided to play dirty and unleashes a fire blast, which Sofia blocked with her sword.
"Hey, that's not fair!" yelled Sofia.
"Villainy 101, Sofia: The wicked don't play fair," said Mal.
Sofia decided to show Mal what the sword can do. She places her thumb on the crystal and unleashes a magic blast from the sword. Mal is struck and she ends up in pain, weakened.
"So the sword is designed to destroy beings of darkness," guessed Mal.
"You guessed right," confirmed Sofia.
"Preparing non-stop. A magic sword. It seems like you were preparing in case I go bad," said Mal.
"I was preparing, yes, but not you, specifically," said Sofia.
"Does this have something to do with the fact that you lied about your reason coming here to Auradon?" asked Mal.
Sofia was surprised, but she remembered that she caught her lying about her amulet. She decided to tell Mal the truth since she already had to her friends. "The Enchantress came to me with a vision of a dark force that will destroy Auradon. She told me to come here to find it and destroy it."
"And what gave you the impression that it was me?" asked Mal as she started to get up.
"Remember what you said to Ben?" reminded Sofia.
"Yes, I do," responded Mal. "Too bad the Enchantress had a vision of those words. Otherwise, this would've all been to easy."
The two went back to battle and remain evenly-matched. Sofia strikes low, but Mal dodges the swing. Mal takes her swing, but all she cut was a single strand of hair. The two get caught in a sword lock. Both budged as hard as they can. Mal gets the upper hand by striking the sword out of Sofia's hands. Before Mal can finish Sofia, the princess touches her amulet and vanishes, escaping the blade. Mal was stunned. She looks left and right for Sofia, but she was nowhere. Suddenly, Sofia grabs Mal from behind, making her drop the sword, and places the magic sword against her throat.
"Wow," reacted Mal. "How did you do that? Teleportation?"
"No. I used the amulet to shrink in size," said Sofia.
"Nice," replied Mal.
"Please don't make me do this, Mal," begged Sofia.
"I told you there was only one way this would end," said Mal. "Go ahead. Do it."
"Sofia!" yelled someone. The two turned their heads and saw Carlos.
Noticing Sofia was distracted, Mal elbows her in the face, causing her to drop the sword. Mal kicks Sofia in the stomach, picks up her sword, and swings. Sofia ends up with a cut on her face. Mal hits Sofia in the head with the metal handle of the sword, causing the princess to faint.
"Don't pass out just yet, Sofia," said Mal. "I want you to be conscious when I run this sword through you."
Mal was about to cut down Sofia until her strike was blocked by a sword. It was Carlos.
"So, the little baby finally decided to step up like a man," teased Mal.
"Can someone tell me what's going on?" asked a very confused Carlos.
Mal explains to Carlos what Sofia confessed, but left out the part about the sword.
"Sofia, is this true?" asked Carlos.
"Yes. Yes, it is," confirmed Sofia.
"Well, you're gonna have to go through me to get that amulet," said Carlos bravely.
"So be it," said Mal.
Mal and Carlos now engage in a sword fight, but they were not evenly-matched. Mal was overpowering Carlos with swift strikes and all the son of Cruella de Vil can do is use the sword to block her swings.
"Carlos, tap the crystal," said Sofia.
Carlos did so and unleashes the sword's magic blast, which seriously weakens Mal. Carlos felt bad for what he did and approaches his friend, only to receive a punch to the face. Carlos holds up the sword in defense. Mal lights up her sword with fire and strikes, cutting the magic sword in the process. Carlos drops the broken sword and Mal points her sword at Carlos' throat.
"You actually think you can beat me in a fight?" mocked Mal.
"Well, good triumphs over evil, so..." responded Carlos.
Mal laughed. "Look at you. The son of Cruella de Vil. People expect you to be cold-hearted and obsessed with fashion like her, but you're none of that."
"Well, in my defense, I kinda inherited her love for fashion," defended Carlos.
"Let's review your history," started Mal. "Before you met Evie, you were nothing but a cowardly weakling, afraid of dogs and pretty much everything. When you met Evie, you became a compassionate, callous coward. Rotten to the core, but still the same Carlos."
"Your point?" questioned Carlos.
"When I said you should start acting like a man, I mean you should start molding yourself into your own man," said Mal. "The reason you are who you are today is because of Evie. You let her mold you into the best person you can be. Have you ever thought of deciding who you are?"
"I thought this was about me being a coward," said Carlos.
"But that's the point. You'll never be a man if you can't be brave or learn how to manage your own life," mocked Mal. "You're not brave enough to stand up for yourself. You're not brave enough to stand up to me. You're not even brave enough to tell Evie how you really feel about her."
"You said it was up to me to tell her," reminded Carlos.
"And I hoped that was all the motivation you needed, but apparently, it's not enough," responded Mal. "Let's recap on everything that's happened since that night. You dance your feelings around her because she wants Doug and you've been trying to make things work with Jane. You're pathetic."
"I never thought I'd say this, Mal, but you're right. I am scared to tell Evie how I feel," admitted Carlos. "But I'm scared she doesn't feel the same way."
"How will you ever know if you don't man up and just tell her?" pointed out Mal.
"What makes you think she feels the same way about me?" retorted Carlos.
"Because I've seen the way you two kiss," started Mal. "You know what I see? A lot of passion. Full of love."
"How would you know what love is?" remarked Carlos.
"You know why," said Mal.
Carlos knew who she was talking about.
"I'm tired of this conversation," said Mal. "I'll be sure to tell our blue-haired beauty queen that you're last words were, 'I love you, Evie.'"
Mal kicks Carlos to the wall and charges with her sword. Carlos closes his eyes to not witness his own demise. He heard the sword strike, but didn't feel anything. He opens his eyes and saw Sofia in front of him. He saw Mal piercing her sword through Sofia. Mal withdraws her sword. Sofia clutches her chest and collapses.
"Sofia!" cried out Carlos as he attended to his wounded friend. He looks back at Mal, who was showing no guilt for what she did.
"I was gonna do it anyway," said Mal. She holds out her hand and takes the amulet from Sofia like a magnet. "I have what I need."
"Mal," said Sofia suddenly.
"Don't waste your breath, Sofia. You need it to make your last words meaningful," said Mal.
"I just... w-want to... to ask... How have you... been controlling... this darkness... u-u-up... u-until now?" asked Sofia.
Mal refused to answer until her heart told her otherwise. "Ben," she said.
"Then... there's your answer," said Sofia. "Your... love fo-for Ben... is the key to controlling the darkness."
"Love is a weakness," said Mal, refusing to listen to reason.
"Just... think about it," said Sofia.
Mal just glared at the dying princess before teleporting out of the cave. Carlos looks back at Sofia.
"Sofia. Sofia! Stay with me. Stay with me," begged Carlos. "You're gonna be alright. You're gonna be alright."
"No... I'm not," said Sofia faintly.
"Sofia, why?" asked Carlos.
"Do you expect me to just... lie there... and watch you die?" responded Sofia.
"Don't worry," said Carlos. "I'll take you back to Auradon."
"It's too late," said Sofia. "Besides... I deserve this."
"No, you don't," said Carlos.
"I lied to my family. I lied to... to all of you. And now I've paid the price," said Sofia.
"Sofia. Please..." begged Carlos.
With the remaining strength left in her, Sofia puts her hand on Carlos' cheek and tells him, "It's okay, Carlos. There's still hope. The only person who can... can stop Mal... is... is... Ben."
"No, he doesn't have it in him to do what you tried," responded Carlos.
"I'm not saying that. Just tell him... to... talk to Mal," said Sofia. "Everything will be alright."
"Please, Sofia, you can't just go..." pleaded Carlos.
"Can you promise me something, Carlos?" asked Sofia.
"Anything," answered Carlos.
"Tell everyone... I'm... I'm sorry... and tell my family... I... I love them." After speaking these words, Sofia's eyes closed and she stopped breathing.
"Sofia! Sofia! Sofia!" cried out Carlos, but it was no use. Sofia is gone. Carlos began to cry as he hugged his friend's body.
Meanwhile, Mal was at the top of a hill, looking down on the kingdom of Auradon. She holds up the amulet and takes a good look at it, relishing her victory.
"Auradon, prepare yourselves. I'm about to welcome you to my wicked world."
And there you have it. The conclusion of the two-part story. If you want to express your sadness over the tragedy, go ahead. But this is not "The End." There's more to come.
Up next: Another two-part story.
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