Disclaimer: I do not own Descendants in any way or the characters... Only additional characters that may be added in and the plot.
Author's Note: Anything written in italics are the characters thoughts, anything in bold is a text message. Also, sorry for the length between this chapter and the first, I couldn't get this chapter how I wanted it. I'm still not 100 percent on it but hopefully you guys will like it.
Ben's POV.
I stared at my phone screen again hoping for something from Mal. She left almost two hours ago and hasn't been seen or heard from since. I've left voice mails and sent text messages. Screw this! I'm going to school to look for her. "Something's not right. She should have been back by now. I'm going to school to find her." I said getting up from the couch. "Mom, Dad, can you handle any emergencies that come through?"
"Of course we can, Ben. Go find Mal." Mom replied, with Dad nodding in the background. After a talk with him while my mom was with Mal he understand it just happened and we didn't plan it. He actually kinda seemed happy and excited towards the end of the talk.
"Thanks." And with that I was out of the door. The ride that took half an hour earlier only took me fifteen minutes in my rush to find Mal. I didn't even park my bike properly in the car park I just ran into school. On my way to Mal's dorm I literally ran into Evie. "Hey Evie, sorry about that."
"That's okay Ben. What's the rush?" Evie asked me.
"Have you seen Mal?" Evie just shook her head in response. "She left my parents castle two hours ago and she hasn't returned my calls or texts since."
"Come on we'll see if she's in dorm room." A few minutes later Evie opened the door to the worst sight I've seen. Everything was thrown all over the floor, the tables turned upside down, chairs toppled over.
"I hope Mal wasn't here when this happened." I said, Evie just looked at me and nodded in agreement before I said "Come on, we're going to go go find the others. I need to find Mal."
"Ben she probably went for some fresh air. What's the rush to find her?" Evie asked me. I completely forgot she didn't know.
"Erm... Mal's pregnant." I told her. It's probably Mal's place to tell her but I don't really have a choice I need her help to find Mal and to convince the others with out telling them the reason why. Mal made it clear no one but my parents, Evie and Fairy Godmother were to know yet.
"Okay, let's go." She responded, grabbing a hold of my wrist and pulled me down the hall towards the boys dorm room.
When we finally got there we realised it wouldn't be that hard to find the other as most of them were already in the boys room. With the door slightly open (Fairy Godmothers rule when there were boys and girls in the same room) we pushed it open further to find Jay, Audrey, Carlos and Jane already there. We just needed to find Lonnie and Doug. I hadn't brought over any new VK's this year after deciding Mal, Evie, Jay and Carlos would need a bit more time to settle in so really these guys were the only ones I could trust to help me find Mal. Sure everyone else at school had grown to accept and care for Mal in their own way but they didn't know her as well as our group did. I decided to shoot the others a text rather than leave the room to find them.
To Lonnie, Doug: Hi guys meet the rest of us in Jay and Carlos' room. It's important
I showed Evie my phone and seeing her nod I looked up from my phone noticing the others looking at us. They all seemed confused but before I could explain why we were their Evie spoke. "Guys, we need to talk. It's about Mal but I'll wait until Lonnie and Doug get here to elaborate." They four just nodded their confusion now turning to worry. It was then I realised Eve didn't know not to say anything so I pulled her to one side and explained what me and Mal had decided as the other two walked in. Now we just had to tell them all what was happening.
Mal's POV.
Urgh! My head is pounding! Where am I? I slowly opened my eyes to see darkness. All I can see is black walls and I realised I was in some kind of cave. I had no idea where since I don't even know of anywhere in Auradon that has caves. I realised after trying to move that I'm on the floor with my hands tied behind my back. I managed to shuffle into sitting position when I noticed how light headed and sick I felt. That was then that I heard someone else. "Well it's about time you came around. Being good really must have turned you soft, Mal."
"Mother?" I asked as a shadow walked closer. No, it can't be. She's supposed to be a lizard, locked up in a room in the museum. It was as the figure walked closer I saw her. There was no mistaking that it was my mother. "What are you doing here, Mother?" I insisted. Looking around the cave to find a way out and just hoping Ben can find me.
"I'm here to give you a choice. You can either join me and help me take over Auradon or I can destroy you. Quite an easy choice really." She tells me as she walked over to where I was sitting on the floor, crouching in front of me. Does she even think that's a choice for me. I wont go back to who I was.
"I will never turn evil again, and you will never take over Auradon." I snapped at my mother, who responded by slapping me across my face causing my eyes to settle on the cave entrance. Maybe I could try teleporting? No I don't have enough energy or balance for that. Before I can think of anything else I feel my mother grab my chin and turn my face back to face her. "So that's your decision it is, Mal? Your choosing once again to stand in my way?" Seriously!? How stupid is my mother! This isn't even a choice. I love Ben too much to betray him by siding with my mother. I couldn't even bring myself to answer, what in my opinion was a pointless question, so I just glared at her and pulled my face from her grip.
My mother just laughed at me as she stood up. "Well, we'll see if you attitude changes when I have the Fairy Godmothers wand." She sneered at me. I wanted to respond, to tell her she would never get the wand, that I would stop her again but as I opened my mouth to tell her I had to turn my head as I started baulking (gagging). I'm sure if I had anything in my system I would have been sick but thankfully I hadn't eaten all day and had nothing left. I dread to think what my mother would've done if she saw me throw up.
After what felt like forever I finally stopped to find my mother smirking at me. God I hope she doesn't know. It was then I realised I had to get away from her. It's not only me I have to think about now. I began to pull at the restraints around my wrists. "It's no use struggling, Mal. Those are enchanted so they can't be loosened unless someone undoes them for you. You also can't use your magic while in them since I know you channel your magic through your hands the same way I do." She explained to me rather smugly. She was obviously proud of herself for this but she hadn't mentioned the baby, so hopefully she didn't know.
I looked around hoping to see a way out but all I saw was what was obviously the entrance to whatever cave we were in but it looked really far away. My only chance of getting to it or getting anywhere would be a spell but I couldn't with my mother stood there, as soon as I would begin to saw it she would find a way to stop me. It wasn't until I felt a hand collide with my face again that I came out of my thoughts. I looked back to my mother who was still crouched after slapping me and I realised my mistake. I had seen that face many times before, she was talking to me and I didn't listen to her. This wasn't going to end well.
Her next sentence however terrified me more then I would care it admit. "Well maybe your child will have better listening skills when I raise it to be as evil as you should have been." This can't be happening. How could she even know!
"You will never have my baby" I responded to her. I was supposed to sound threatening or hell even strong willed but as I spoke I heard my voice crack and the worry she had caused me was evident by the way I was speaking.
"Oh Mal. You have no choice." She said as she reached for my stomach with her free hand, her sceptre was still in the other hand. I tried to move as she placed her hand on my flat stomach but I couldn't. I was too terrified of what she would or could do and worst of all I had no way to protect myself and the baby. It was then I heard my mother muttering to herself. She was saying something about my baby being powerful and raising it to be evil. She said something else, but I couldn't hear what before she moved her hand, stood up and disappeared. I'm assuming to go get the wand but I was just glad to be free of her. Like hell will she raise mine and Ben's child to be evil. She's not getting near our child period. I was then I worried where my mother had gone. Had she gone to get the wand or was she torturing Auradon just for fun first. I knew with these enchanted restraints on me the only chance I had of getting out of there was a spell. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes "Let no wrong transpire, transport me to where I desire" I said, my voice still wavering. When I opened my eyes I hoped I would be back at Castle Beast with Ben, Adam and Belle but I hadn't gone anywhere. I was still stick inside the cave. Damn my mother! She must have put some kind of magical block so while I'm here I can't use any of my magic. I knew I had to figure out how to get out of here but without magic and not knowing where I am made that difficult. Not to mention I had no idea when my mother would be back.
Ben's POV.
Mal had now been gone a little over 3 hours and me and Evie have just told the others what's happened. They just sat there staring at us. God damn it! Am I the only one motivated to find her!? Surprisingly it was Audrey who recovered first and asked "What can we do to help?" To my own and Mal's surprise Audrey has become a close friend of Mal's since my coronation. She apologised at the after party and has since shown to be a good friend to us both, more so since she and Jay stopped skirting around their feelings for each other and started dating a few months ago. I was about to answer when my phone rung. "Hi Mom" I said answering the phone. "No I haven't found Mal yet. Why?" I couldn't believe what she told be after that. "What! What do you mean they can't find Maleficent!" That caused all heads to turn to me. I don't even care that I'm shouting at my mother. I have a pregnant girlfriend to find and now I've been told her lunatic mother is loose. "Yes mom, I'll be careful. Bye" I said before hanging up. I could barely control my temper right now and the others seemed to notice that.
"Okay guys we need to split into pairs. Look anywhere Mal usually goes just in case she needed some space but with Maleficent out..." I couldn't even bring myself to finish that sentence. I just hope we find her unharmed. "Evie, go with Doug and check the library, art room, anywhere in school Mal uses when she needs space." Doug just moved next to Evie. The pair just nodded in response. My voice showing my anger and they all knew better then to push me when I'm in these moods. The only person to ever snap me out of them is Mal. "Jay, take Audrey and check the school grounds. Carlos, go with Jane and check the forest near school. Lonnie your with me, we'll the enchanted lake." I took one last look at our friends before saying "We'll meet back here afterwards."
I took forever to get to the lake. Lonnie insisted we walked there instead of taking my scooter. Although that was probably to give me a chance to calm down. If that was the case then it started to work until we actually reached the lake then my worry and anger came back tenfold. Mal always sat on the ruins whenever she came here. I had taught her to swim after our first date, since she nearly drowned trying to save me but she still refused to go in the water unless someone was with her. I swam over to the waterfall to look behind it, just in case. But as I suspected it was also empty.
By the time me and Lonnie got back to school it was almost curfew. It was growing dark outside and I'd received a few texts from my parents. Asking if we had found Mal, letting me know there was a few people who have reported seeing someone who looks like Maleficent around town and in some of the villages and one saying there had been another attempt to take Fairy Godmothers wand. Of course me, Fairy Godmother, my mother and my father knew the one in the museum was a fake and I had told Mal as well but that attempt could have only been one person. Maleficent.
We reached Jay and Carlos' dorm and as soon as I opened the door and saw all their faces I knew they hadn't found Mal. Evie, Jane and Audrey looked close to tears and the boys were just looking worried. I knew we would need more help and without thinking I turned and ran from the room. I didn't even stop when my friends began calling for me to come back. I sprinted to the headmistress' office and burst through the door. Usually I wait and knock but I just forgot myself and ran straight through.
Fairy Godmother jumped up from her seat as a ran into the office. Seeing me however she took a breath and sat back down. "Ben, what can I do for you?" she asked me.
"Mal is missing. Me and the group have searched everywhere we can think of for her and we can't find her anywhere. With Maleficent free I didn't know who else would be able to help other then you." I rushed out. I'm not even sure if she understood it all. Until she nodded.
"Yes your parents have rung me and informed me Ben. I'll look into what can be dome to help locate Mal. But your parents have asked me to tell you they would like you at home tonight." Fairy Godmother told me. I just nodded thankful to have a little magical help. Hopefully that means we can find her sooner. Today was supposed to be a happy day for us and now it's turned to crap. I thanked her and headed out of the school. I knew I wouldn't sleep until I knew Mal was safe but I didn't see the need to worry my parents by not going home. I text my mom as I got onto my scooter to tell her I was on my way home before she rang me demanding to know where I was.
Again I was that lost in thought about Mal I made it back home in 15 minutes. My mom was stood at the top of the castle steps waiting for me and when I was within reach she pulled me into a hug. Although I'm not sure if it was more for me or her. "Where's dad?" I asked. Usually they were both there waiting when I came home. "He's trying to sort out the mess at the museum. Apparently when Maleficent realised the wand was a fake she started destroying things in rage." Mom replied. I just nodded. I hope if she has Mal she doesn't take it out on her. She doesn't even know where the wand is just that the one in the museum if fake. I didn't even wait for my mom to speak after that I just headed straight up to my room and threw myself on my bed. I knew my mom would make me eat if I stayed with her and I didn't feel like it. Realising I had no hope of getting to Mal until tomorrow now I finally let my tears fall. After a bit I couldn't stop the tears if I tried and with my mother realising I need to be alone and probably staying in the library all night, I ended up crying myself to sleep.
Mal's POV (the next day).
My mother had finally gone back out of the cave. She came back last night furious. She had found out the wand in the museum was now a fake and was adamant I knew where the real one was. It took all of my will power I had left, which after not eating all day wasn't the easiest thing to do, to convince her I had no idea where the wand was. I was sure after last night I had a bruise on my throat from her pinning me to the wall before she finally took my word for it that I had no clue where it is.
I knew if I had any chance of getting out it would have to be now. So still unsteady of my feet I struggled to stand up. I took a few moments for get my footing before slowly making my way towards the entrance I spotted yesterday. I reached it in no time as it wasn't as far away as it seemed to be. Had I have been more steady on my feet I would have probably reached it in have the time. Holding my breath I stepped through it, releasing the breath as I managed to get through with no complications and acme face to face with a forest. Obviously my mother hadn't planned on this. Hoping being clear of whatever magic my mother had put on the cave would be enough I repeated my spell "Let no wrong transpire, transport me to where I desire" closing my eyes and thought of the library at Castle Beast. I thought at least there I could have a few minutes before I had to face anyone.
Opening my eyes I half expected to see the forest but was pleasantly surprised to find I was indeed in the library. However, there were two things I hadn't counted on. The first was the figure sat reading in the chair when I got there. The second was the amount of energy it would take for me to actually use the transportation spell. The last thing I remember before darkness consumed me was a gasp followed by "Ben! Adam!"
Author's Note: Again I apologise for the delay. As I stated earlier this chapter isn't what I wanted it to be but I hope you guys like it. We haven't seen the last of Maleficent by a long shot but I only wanted their first encounter to be brief.