Mal's POV.
I was beginning to hate all this time off school. It was really starting to annoy me. Thankfully after lunch today I realised I would be able to go back after the weekend and tonight would certainly take my mind off things. Tonight was the Halloween ball at school so I would be with my friends all night. Evie was even coming to the castle to get ready with me. It seemed only right since she made my outfit and all. Evie had yet to tell me what her and Doug were going as. Most people were going as their parents. I had no idea what my brothers/sisters were going as. Evie especially was keeping her outfit a secret. Knowing it would likely be a long night I decided to go upstairs for a nap before Ben and Evie came home.
I woke up a few hours later and found a glass of water next to my phone. I knew just from that Ben was home. Grabbing both my phone and drink I decided to go find my fiancée. I found him in his study with the door slightly ajar. "Hey Ben." I greeted him as I walked over and sat on the chair near his desk..
"Hi Mal. Have a nice sleep?" He asked as he turned around to face me. I just nodded to him as I took another drink from my glass. "Oh hey I hope you don't mind but I told the guys they could get ready here with us."
"Of course I don't mind. I haven't seen them in ages." I responded. I was truly excited to see them all. "By guys do you mean everyone?" I asked, not knowing if he just meant Jay and Carlos.
"Yeah, Doug, Audrey, Jay, Jane, Carlos and Lonnie." Ben explained. Again I just nodded to him. It really didn't bother me and since they know knew about the baby I wasn't sure why he thought I would mind.
I was about ask Ben why he thought he would need to ask me if it was okay when we were interrupted by a knock at the door. He both turned to the door to find Belle and Adam stood there. "Sorry to interrupt but Queen Leah is here and she wants to see us." Adam said looking straight at Ben. I moved to get up at the same time Ben did when Adam spoke again. "You don't have to come if you don't want to Mal."
"No. It's fine. We've been waiting for this visit for a while now." I explained to my soon to be father-in-law. Ben laced his fingers through my own and we walked towards the couple in the doorway. "She's right." Ben states at the sight of his fathers sceptical look. With that said we walked down the corridors with Belle and Adam following us, and into the councils' meeting room where Leah had been told to wait. With the exception of a few royals anyone who wanted to see Ben, Adam or Belle was told to wait either in here or in the throne room.
She rounded on us as soon as the door was closed behind us, a look of pure hatred on her face. It was enough for me to release Ben's hand and step back a little so I was between Ben and Belle. Ben seemed to notice the look at the same time I did as he placed himself slightly in front of me. "What the bloody hell is this!?" Leah demanded, waving a piece of paper around in her hand. Once she finally stopped moving her hand we realised what it was. It was the post of me and Ben announcing our engagement with the picture underneath.
"That is how me and Mal chose to announce our engagement." Ben states as though it's the most obvious thing in the world.
This only seemed to make her more furious. "I can see that. What gives you the right to announce an engagement to that!" She shouted pointing at me for the last word. The way she said it actually made me cringe. I took another step back and without realising it leaned into Belle.
She wrapped her arms around me straight away as Ben answered her back, the anger clear in his voice. "What gives you that right!" Ben started but was quickly cut off by Adam.
"Queen Leah." He started with such controlled anger I looked quickly at Belle who looked as though she knew this wouldn't end well. "Who are you to tell our son who he can and can not propose to!? The only people's approval he needs is ours and we fully support his choice to marry this wonderful girl."
The look of shock clear as day on Leah's face at Adam's statement but it soon disappeared as Belle spoke. "Like it or not Queen Leah, Ben can marry whomever he chooses. And we certainly do not appreciate you coming to our home to insult a member of our family. May I also remind you that you are currently insulting not only our family but the future Queen of Auradon."
I couldn't help but smile at the trio currently defending me. I knew they cared about me and sure I classed them as my family, even though I hadn't told them, but to see/hear this just made it all the more real for me. "This is ridiculous! How can you both stand there and defend his decision to marry that! He broke my granddaughters heart! Audrey should be the one who marries Ben and it will happen." Leah stated. What none of us had noticed was the door behind us had opened and mine and Ben's friends were currently stood there.
"What the hell gives you the right, Grammie!" Someone shouted from behind us. Me, Ben, Belle and Adam turned as fast as we could to see who had shouted. Once we turned (Belle still keeping her arms loosely around me) we saw the furious face of Audrey. "Who do you think you are!? You do not get to tell Ben who he can marry or who I should marry for that matter! As I have told you numerous times, I am happily in love with Jay! The only feelings I have for Ben are as a friend and brother. And for your information I happen to support his relationship with Mal and I most certainly am not broken hearted about not being with Ben. This needs to stop, now!"Audrey ranted as she took a few steps forward stopping next to me, slightly behind Ben.
It took a few minutes for Leah to get over her initial shock but once she had, she spoke. "We will talk about your attitude at home, young lady." She said looking at Audrey before she turned to me. "Mark my words you will not marry Ben and become Queen." Leah stated before she turned and stormed from the room. The tension seemed to leave the room with her but it was clear to see Audrey was still mad about what had just happened. Belle and Adam left a few seconds later. Ben glanced at the rest of our friends before moving towards me and taking my hand once more.
"I'm sorry to both of you. I had no idea she was going to do that." Audrey explained to me and Ben. Why the fuck is she apologising for what Leah did!? Audrey actually looked ashamed about what had happened and looked down at the floor as me and Ben looked towards her.
"Audrey, you don't need to apologise for that. We know you had nothing to do with it." I said as I stepped towards her. "Are you sure?" She asked me, finally looking up at me. I couldn't help but feel bad so I pulled her into a hug. "Of course. Forget about it. Let's just enjoy tonight." I said as I moved out of the embrace and looked around at our friends, all of which were agreeing with me except Audrey.
"Yeah, I should probably get home. I don't want to have a good night then argue with Grammie right after." Audrey told us. I couldn't believe this. She was actually wanting to go home and argue with Leah!? We must have really had a bad influence on her. That thought wouldn't have crossed her mind when we first came here.
"Why don't you just stay here after the ball? All of you. Then you don't have to worry about it." Ben asked everyone. A chorus of "sure" and "okay" rang throughout the room until only Audrey was left to answer.
"Why not. Sounds like fun" She said. I couldn't help the smile on my face. "Come one let's go get ready. We have less then two hours." She said. I followed the princess out of the room but quickly took the lead once we got near the stairs.
I lead them into my room to find five garment bags laid across my bed. All of which had a name on them. "Want me to curl you hair first, M?"Evie asked me as Audrey moved to do Jane's make-up for her and Lonnie began to sort herself out. Since everyone else was busy I sat in front of my mirror and nodded to my sister.
A few minutes later Evie had made a start on my hair. "So how are you feeling, Mal?" Jane asked me. I found her reflection in the mirror and smiled at her before I answered.
"I'm fine. Thankfully the sickness has eased off. The only thing that makes me feel sick now is stress." I explained. I saw Audrey's face drop as she turned back towards Jane to finish applying the other girl's foundation. "Don't Audrey." I stated causing her to look at me confused. "I saw the guilty look just then. It's not your fault. Just forget it okay?" I asked, earning a nod in response. I honestly couldn't believe I now classed Audrey as one of my friends and a member of my family. If someone had told me this a year ago it wouldn't have gone down well.
We were all finally ready at six o'clock. Fairy Godmother would be opening the gym now for the start of the ball and we were downstairs with the boys posing for photo's for Belle. I couldn't help but smile at some of their costumes. Everyone, with the exception of Lonnie, was in a couples costume. Carlos had decided to dress as a dog (similar to Dude) with Jane next to him dressed as a cat, Jay and Audrey had dressed up as Robin Hood and Maid Marion, Doug was dressed similarly to his dad, Dopey, while Evie was surprisingly dressed up as Snow White. Me and Ben had decided to go simple so Ben was in a nice suit with his crown on his head dressed as a prince, while I was in a knee length, strapless, purple dress with a small tiara on my head dressed as a princess. Belle had taken group photo's as well as individual and couples photo's.
After a while of posing for photo's and a car ride which was a lot longer then it should have been we finally arrived back at Auradon Prep. We all headed straight for the gym and once we were there I couldn't help but gasp. You couldn't even recognize the gym. It was decked out in black and orange decorations with pumpkins and such surrounding the stage, where the live band were currently setting up. Ben took my hand and lead us all towards the table he knew was reserved for him. Apparently Fairy Godmother had a habit of reserving Ben the same table for every ball at the school.
All the guys pulled out the chairs for us to sit down, Ben pulling out mine and Lonnie's and only sat when we were all sat down. Must be an Auradon thing. I thought to myself. Ben and Doug must have told Jay and Carlos about it. As I looked around most people had decided on dressing up as their favorite film/TV show characters but there were a few who hadn't. My eyes fell immediately on Allison and Jordan. Looking at them it wasn't hard to work out who's children they were, especially with how they were currently dressed. Jordan was in a burgundy Genie outfit while Allison was wearing a light blue, two piece outfit common in Agrabah with her hair in a high pony tail.
I waved at them as they looked over to me. They smiled and waved back. I had always felt comfortable around those two. They were also the only two in the room who hadn't blatantly tried to get a good view of my left hand. It was just weird to be getting all this attention. I knew most of it was due to our engagement announcement but I wasn't stupid. I also knew some of the staring was because of what happened with Chad the other day. Screw it! I'm here to have a good time with my friends not have their approval over my life.
Fairy Godmother was on the stage announcing what order the tables would be going to get their food. Our table being first since we were sat with Ben. Ben led me over to the table holding the buffet and after not eating since lunch at 11am it was safe to say I was hungry. It didn't take me long to work my way through the plate of food. Even food I wouldn't normally eat I managed to stomach today. Once everyone had finished eating the dessert was brought out to the tables. The dessert I couldn't eat. It was some kind of chocolate fudge cake but even the sight of it made me feel sick. I pushed it towards Ben knowing he would eat it and began talking to Jane and Lonnie about pretty much anything we could think of.
After he had eaten, Ben held out his hand silently asking me to dance. I couldn't help but smile as I took his hand and he led me to the dance floor near the stage. We danced through various songs and laughed and joked all night. We clapped the live band that was there after each song but the next song felt very familiar. Like I knew it from somewhere. It was only once I heard an all too familiar voice starting to sing I realised what the song was.
Sure enough as I turned my head to look at the stage, there stood Evie singing a ballad version of Rotten To The Core. I shared a smile with Ben who had also turned to look at the stage. Evie noticed us looking at her and winked at us as she carried on singing. The smile I wore wouldn't leave my face. I had always thought Evie voice was beautiful and had written songs she had sung with The Rotten Apples back on the Isle. The rotten apples was the only band on the isle which was lead by Diego De'Vil, Carlos' cousin. The only reason I had started writing songs and Evie had started singing was we owed Diego a favor. To pay him back he decided to have us help with his band.
All to soon Evie had finished singing and was bowing to her audience. Me and Ben clapped along with everyone else in the room. People may not have liked us all that much when we first arrived but they had quickly warmed to us after Ben's coronation. The smile on Evie's face became infectious as she descended the stage steps and came towards me and Ben. "What did you think?" she asked us.
"Are you serious, E? It was amazing! It's a shame Diego wasn't here to see that." I told her before an idea popped into my head. "One minute Ev." I told my sister but she was immediately distracted as she spotted Doug stood watching her. I pulled Ben away from the crowd and outside the gym, into an empty classroom. I glanced at the clock as we entered and realised it was almost 10pm. How had we been here that long. Ben didn't say anything until I turned back around to face him.
"What's wrong, Mal? Are you and the babies okay? Do you need to go home?" Ben fired off. I'm sure he would have had more questions then that but I cut him off with a quick kiss.
"Ben, I am fine. I just wanted to ask you something." Ben nodded for me to continue. "When are you planning on bringing the next lot of children over from the Isle?"
I couldn't help but notice the confused look on his face. "Erm... I was thinking in the new year. Why?"
"Did you have anyone in mind?" I asked him. Ben shook his head at me but didn't verbally respond. "Can I make a suggestion?" Ben didn't make any kind of acknowledgement to this so I decided to continue anyway. "Would you consider bring Diego over? He's Carlos' cousin and I know it would mean a lot to Carlos. He feels bad for leaving Diego there alone. He isn't any trouble. He's a few years younger then us but is advanced for his age like Carlos and Jane are." I explained to Ben. I really hoped he would consider this. Carlos would be thrilled.
"Done." Ben told me. I couldn't believe it was that easy to convince him. I wouldn't have been able to hide the shock from my face if I tried. "I was going to ask you opinion on who to bring over anyway. Any ideas on the others?"
I would have responded but that was when he heard a crash from inside the gym which was followed by screams. We glanced at each other before we took off running back to the others. That bang couldn't have been good. What I walked into was the last thing I expected to see. There in the middle of the gym was Maleficent with the Evil Queen, Cruella and Jafar. I quickly looked around and found all of our friends except Jay. I locked eyes with Carlos and mouthed "Where's Jay?" I just tilted his head towards the stage and sure enough there was Jay. Someone had obviously thrown him across the room and he had landed against one of the cabinets breaking it, which would explain the crash we heard.
My feet seemed to move of their own accord and before I knew it I was walking towards my unconscious brother. I reached him in no time and crouched next to him to check him over. No serious injuries, thankfully. "Jay." I whispered to try and get a response from my brother. I sighed with relief when I heard a small groan as I touched his shoulder. I looked to Ben behind me who just looked worried and stressed about the whole situation. Ben flashed me his phone and I saw he had rung his mom who was now listening to the conversation and probably had Adam with her.
"Well if it isn't my traitorous daughter." Maleficent sneered from her position in the centre of the room. My head snapped to the middle of the gym as she spoke.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I demanded. I regretted saying that immediately. The look on Maleficent's face was enough for me to know it won't end well. I won't back down though. I will not show her that she scares me.
"Who are you to demand an answer from us about what we are doing!" Evil Queen stuck her nose in. Urgh, why can't she mind her own business.
"I wasn't talking to you so mind your own business." I snapped at her. Before I turned back towards Maleficent. "What are you here?" I asked as I walked towards them.
"We came to give you children one last chance to join us." She stated. I turned my head towards Evie and Carlos who just looked completely terrified. I then looked around at our friends and turned to look at Ben. They all wore similar expressions to Evie and Carlos.
"Oh right, and who's bright idea was it to try and get us to help you by throwing us into the wall?" I queried. The smirk on Jafar's face was all I needed to know he was the one who did it. Time to give this guy a taste of his own medicine. With a wave of my hand I sent him flying into the wall furthest away from everyone. His head collided with the wall with a thud and he laid in a similar heap to the one Jay was currently in.
"There's my nasty little girl." Maleficent grinned at me.
"Oh, now you class me as your 'little girl'? Are you actually being serious, Maleficent!?" I shouted at her. It was only when I heard gasps I realised what I had said. This wasn't going to end well.
"How dare you!" She shouted at me. Does she really think her shouting would bother me. I glanced around to try and find Fairy Godmother. I hadn't seen her since I entered the room with Ben and that worried me. I had become that preoccupied with finding her I hadn't realised Maleficent had lit her hands on fire and had thrown some in my direction. Thankfully the others were paying attention.
"MAL!" I heard two people shout as Ben raced forward to pull me out of the way. As I looked towards where I was stood I noticed everyone who was behind me had thankfully moved out of the way in time. Within seconds I was face to face with Ben, Evie, Carlos and Belle. Adam was stood behind them glaring at Maleficent. When the hell did they get here? I thought to myself.
"Are you okay?" Belle asked me. I nodded showing them all I was fine. I couldn't respond since Maleficent chose that moment to speak again.
"I am your mother and you will show me the proper respect!" She bellowed causing everyone except me to flinch. How dare she give herself that title!
"You are not my mother!" I told her as I walked past the others so I was face to face with Maleficent again. Although not trusting her I stopped next to Adam. "You are merely the person who gave birth to me! You have done nothing to deserve the title of being my mother!" As I carried on ranting to Maleficent I felt Ben's arms wrap around me from behind and noticed Belle had also come to stand near me. "I have a real family now and that doesn't include you! I had a father now. Adam is the best dad I could hope for. I also have a mother now. Belle has been more of a mom to me in the past few months then you have been my entire life!" I finished my rant but I didn't dare look at the two people either side of me. I hadn't meant to say that especially in front of everyone but my mouth kinda had a mind of it's own.
I felt Ben tighten his arms slightly to reassure me. "You will pay for this!" Maleficent yelled before banging her sceptre causing her, Evil Queen, Cruella and Jafar to disappear in a cloud of green smoke. Thank god she has gone.
I turned back to Jay and noticed he was finally starting to come around. "Ben, we need to find Fairy Godmother." I whispered to him as I moved out of his embrace. I knelt back down near Jay and heard Adam telling everyone to go back to their dorms/homes. "How are you feeling, Jay?" I asked him. A pretty dumb question but it got the reaction I wanted.
Jay started chuckling slightly at me. "Like I was hit by a wall." He stated. Pretty much accurate. "God I hate my father."
"Yeah, I know the feeling." I told him as I helped him up. We both shared a laugh at that. Jay went off to find Audrey and I finally looked at Belle. "Sorry." I apologised for what I had said. Not even registering the confused look on her face I explained myself. "I shouldn't have said that about you and Adam my mouth ran away with me."
"Mal, it's fine." I was expecting Belle to answer but shockingly it was Adam. Where he had popped up from I have no idea. "Ben had already told us you view us as your parents. We have no issues with it. I know you feel uncomfortable with these kinds of emotions but just remember we love that you class us as your parents." Adam explained to me, Belle nodding in the background. "Really?" I asked, my voice coming out more shy then I wanted it to sound.
"Really." Belle assured me. They both hugged me but we quickly broke the embrace when Ben came back into the gym.
"Did you find her?" I asked.
"Yeah. She was locked in her office. They had tried there first for the wand but were interrupted by Fairy Godmother who had gone to get something out of her office. Thankfully she is a fairy and has already started healing." Ben told us. I couldn't believe it. They've taken it too far now. How could they. "Don't worry Mal. Fairy Godmother is tough and no one will let anything happen to you." I could only nod to Ben. Maleficent had really taken things too far this time. She had to be stopped. Soon. Hopefully me, Evie and Jane could work something out to stop her.
"Can we go home?" I asked Ben seeing all our friends in the corner of the room waiting for us to leave.
"Go on Ben, take Mal, your mom and your friends home. I can handle things here. But I will warn you there will be some guards in the castle to keep you all safe." Adam said to us. The three of us nodded, after Belle hugged him and we said our goodbyes we went back home for the night. So much for our nice night with our friends. I thought to myself. Can nothing ever be stress free and simple?
Author's Note: I am sorry if this chapter seems rushed or not as good as others. I thought we needed another appearance from Maleficent as well as Leah's reaction to the engagement. I hope you find the chapter okay. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.