Mal's POV.

As the morning had gone on I had begun to get quite nervous. Today was mine and Ben's engagement ball but after the Halloween dance I was positive something would go wrong. By 11am I was starting to stress myself out, which is why I was currently sat outside with a large canvas working on Belle and Adam's Christmas present. Ben had pretty much given me free rein over the painting as long as it included the four of us. Although using it as a distraction didn't really work. As I sat there my hand just started sketching without me really having to think about it so my mind was free to wander.

My mind immediately wandered back to Friday. Thankfully Jay is doing a lot better. He just had a headache from the impact, nothing serious. Fairy Godmother was worrying. It's not very often people got the drop on her, nor was she usually jumpy after an encounter. I spoke to Evie lyesterday and she told me Fairy Godmother was still a little jumpy. It's weird. I always thought nothing would phase her. Ben told me he always thought the same thing and he has known her since he was born.

Then there was the problem of Maleficent, Evil Queen, Cruella and Jafar to deal with and without the spell book I was out of ideas. Usually I have a plan but this time I have nothing. I don't even know how they got off the isle. Shit! We really had to get something done about that. If anyone else got off the isle it certainly wouldn't end very well for Auradon.

Although one thing Fairy Godmother said has been bugging me since yesterday. 'Maleficent said she couldn't sense you but she could Evie. Then she left.' How could she not sense me? She hasn't had a problem with it before. I mean surely she had to sense me to speak to me the way she has been. Maybe if she had been able to sense me Jay wouldn't have been hurt. If I didn't know what would happen I would be tempted to just give Maleficent the wand so she stopped hurting people. But if she got hold of that wand everyone would get practically tortured. I dread to think what she would do to my family if she had the chance. It was strange though.

After a couple of hours I had finished the basic sketch outline for this portrait and finally brought myself from my own thoughts. I had literally thought over everything that's happened the last few weeks. But the Maleficent thing was still confusing me. Could it have been the babies?. I thought. Ugh. Now I'm being stupid. Surely two unborn babies cant be responsible for Maleficent not sensing me. Right? I took a little step back to actually look at what I had sketched and I had to be honest, for me not thinking about it I thought it was rather good. Sure more detail would be added when I painted it but for a foundation I was happy with it. I wonder how long it took me. I pondered. Since I was a little lost in thought I had no sense of time.

As I looked at my phone I couldn't help but gasp slightly. How on earth was it two in the afternoon already!? In that moment my stomach decided to rumble telling me how hungry I was. I had been too worried about tonight when I had woken up and decided to skip breakfast and since I was out here working on Belle and Adam's Christmas present I had worked through lunch as well. I clicked my fingers sending my drawing equipment and the canvas to my room before heading inside. I headed straight for the kitchen.

As I reached the open door leading into the kitchen I was surprised to only find two people in there, Mrs Potts and Belle. Both of whom turned around as I walked in.

"Mal, dear. Everything okay?" Belle asked me. I nodded to her a little unsure. This is the first time I had seen her since yesterday when Adam had spoken to her about Maleficent and Gaston. I couldn't help but feel like I would get the blame from her. "Are you sure?" She questioned. It was then I realized her voice was more worried and curious rather then accusatory. Maybe she wouldn't blame me for what Maleficent was planning. Maybe I just needed to realize it wasn't my fault and people don't blame me.

"I'm fine." I told Belle so she wouldn't worry. "But I am a little hungry." Okay, that was an understatement. I was very hungry. This brought a smile to Belle face.

"What would you like?" Mrs Potts asked as Belle gestured for me to sit down. I followed her gesture and sat on the nearest stool at the island. Thankfully the staff here knew I was pregnant so I didn't have to be careful what I said while I was at home.

"A salami and salad cream sandwich please." I informed Mrs Potts. I couldn't miss the strange look that passed across Mrs Potts face while Belle just smiled.

"And it starts again." Mrs Potts muttered to herself as she turned to make my sandwich. I threw a questioning look at Belle.

"I had strange cravings when I was pregnant with Ben. Some of which Mrs Potts was sure were revolting for and I quote 'normal' people." Belle told me. We both laughed at this. Mrs Potts even chuckled before she spoke to us.

"Well who asks for salad cream to put on a roast dinner that already has gravy on." She tried to explain her reasoning but the three of us just ended up laughing again. I have to say it was nice to have people I could go and talk to about these things. A few minutes later my sandwich was placed in front of me, a drink of milk placed next to it.

It wasn't long before both the sandwich and drink was gone. "Would you like another sandwich?" Mrs Potts asked.

I shook my head before replying. "No, thank you." I was quite aware in a few hours people would start arriving for the ball and I would probably be picking at the buffet all night. Thankfully me and Ben were sixteen and couldn't legally drink, so I wouldn't have to endure the endless questions about why I wasn't drinking. I looked at the clock and found it was now half past two. Evie would be here soon with my dress. She had insisted on helping me get ready and I had absolutely no objections to that what so ever. Although, before I could say anything else or ask why Belle was in the kitchen, Lumière came in.

"Lady Mal, Miss Evie is in the family room waiting to see you. She said you were expecting her?" He announced. I hated when he called me Lady Mal. It just felt weird but I suppose I better get used to titles, since I would be known as Queen Mal once me and Ben got married. It was then I realized I forgot to tell anyone Evie was coming to help me get ready. We had only really discussed it yesterday while I was decorating the ball room and with me not waking up till ten this morning I had forgotten to tell them.

"Yes, that's fine. I'll be right there." I told Lumière who left after I had finished talking to him, I assume to go and tell Evie. I turned back around to find only Belle there plating something up. "Sorry, I should of said something." I told her. I know how on edge people are lately. I should have at least told Belle, Adam or Ben.

"You have nothing to apologize for, Mal. Me and Adam assumed she would be coming to help you get ready anyway." She informed me with a smile on her face. It was then I smelt what she was dishing up. Strawberry cookies. My eyes darted to the plate Belle was currently holding causing a chuckle from the woman. "Don't worry. These ones are for you and Evie to eat while you get ready." Belle told me walking around the kitchen island and handing me the plate.

I took a bite out of one of the cookies before I smiled at Belle and left. I could hear Belle laughing in the background until I turned the corner to the family room. I put the last bit of cookie in my mouth as I walked into the room, smiling at my sister. Evie had come loaded up with two garment bags and two large bags which I had no idea what they contained. She seemed to be in her own little world but soon came out of it as I cleared my throat.

"Hey M, how are you feeling?" She asked me. I'm sure she would have hugged me if her hands weren't so full.

"I'm okay. What did you do bring the entire dorm room?" I joked. Evie just threw me an amused look before we headed through the castle and up to my room. "How's Jay doing today?" I asked as we walked into my room. Evie placed the garment bags across my bed and the other bags on my dressing table before she answered me.

"He's fine. His headache has gone and he feels a lot better." She told me. It was only then she saw the plate of cookies I was still holding and raised an eyebrow at me.

"Belle made them for us." I informed her as I placed the plate down. Evie immediately took one and I grabbed another one. Belle really was a great baker, and I'm not just saying that because she made strawberry cookies.

4:45 saw me finally ready for the ball. Now my nerves had really kicked in and no matter what Evie said I couldn't ease my worry. I stood in front of my mirror giving myself another once over. Evie had curled my hair and had pinned some of it back with the hair slide Ben had given me before family day. The dress was as beautiful as I remembered it from yesterday and thanks to Evie my make-up was flawless. She had kept my make-up light but still managed to make me look beautiful. I have never been so happy to have my sisters help then I have been today.

I knew people had arrived already as I could hear them from downstairs. That however had only made me panic more. They were all about to see me for the first time as Ben's fiancée. Sure I had gone to events as his girlfriend but never anything that had all the royals there at the same time. Then there was the fact of I was pregnant and I just prayed I didn't throw up tonight. That would be kinda hard to explain.

A knocking at the door broke me from my thoughts. "Come in." I called since I had sent Evie down a little while ago to meet Doug. I looked over to the door and found Ben stood there staring at me.

"You look beautiful." Ben complimented me as he shook himself from his thoughts and staring and walked towards me. I blushed a little at his comment. No matter how many times he had told me that it still made me blush. It was then I noticed the small box in his hands. "Oh I wanted to give you this. I hoped you would wear it tonight?" Ben said as he handed me the box.

As I opened it I couldn't help but gasp. Inside was a beautiful gold necklace with a rose shaped, ruby pendant hanging from it. I recognised it immediately as the necklace Belle usually wore to formal events. I looked to Ben for an explanation. Ben had told me himself giving someone a rose in this family was basically declaring you love to them. This was too much, especially since it was Belle's necklace.

"My mom gave me it to give to you tonight." Ben began to explain. "My dad gave it to her on the day of their engagement ball and now they want you to have it." I couldn't believe it. They were actually giving me a family heirloom. "Can I put it on you?" Ben asked me. I nodded in response to him. I was lost for words. I would have to thank Belle and Adam for the gesture later. Once Ben had fastened the necklace I turned to him, pulling him into a kiss.

"Thank you." I said as I pulled away. A hand making its way to my neck where the necklace currently sat.

"Ready?" Ben asked, holding his arm out for me to hold.

"Sure." I told him, sounding a lot more confident then I felt at that moment.

All too soon we were outside the ball room. I took a deep breath as Lumière stepped inside to let everyone know we were there. "Announcing King Ben and his fiancée Lady Mal." we heard Lumière say before we entered. As we stepped inside it was so weird. Everyone, even Belle and Adam bowed or curtsied to us. I managed to keep my face clear of the shock and keep smiling like Ben was. Thankfully after that they all went back to mingling with each other and we were handed a drink each. "That wasn't so bad now, was it?" Ben whispered to me.

"Ask me later and I'll met you know." I whispered back to him. After a brief scan of the room I was happy Leah wasn't here tonight although I clocked Chad immediately. I was adamant something would happen to destroy this ball, something always happened when I was genuinely happy. But after looking at how relaxed Ben looked and how happy I felt to be engaged to him I realised, I can't stop something going wrong but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy myself. Ben wandered off somewhere I'm not entirely sure where and I found myself wandering around.

"Feeling a little out of your depth?" I heard a soft voice ask me. I turned to find a smiling Queen Else stood there. I nodded to her question. I really didn't know what to say about it to be honest. "I remember feeling like that at my coronation." She told me. We had covered her coronation and the days that followed in History of Auradon royals so I knew everything she was referring to.

"How did you get over it?" I asked her. I couldn't help but be curious. She was one of the few royals who actually might be able to fully relate to how I feel right now.

"I aren't over it. I just learnt to trust my sister and she helps me through it." Queen Elsa informed me. That wasn't the response I was expecting but it was something I could relate to. Ben would always be there for me, no matter what. As my eyes found him in the crowd he was even looking in my direction to see if I was alright. "Ben is a great guy and a great King. Let him help you and you'll find gatherings like this easier." Queen Elsa informed me.

"Thank you." I said as I mulled her words over in my head. With that she nodded and excused herself although after a few seconds I found myself talking to someone else. Based on the dress it wasn't hard for me to deduce this woman was Snow White.

"I'm glad to finally meet you, Mal. I've heard a lot about you from Belle." She told me. I smiled back at her. Her enthusiasm reminded me a lot of Evie.

"Thank you. I have heard a lot about you as well." We made small talk for a while and talked mostly about me and Ben. Before Snow White asked me something.

"Do you think you could introduce me to Evie, Mal? I would like to meet my sister." I nodded to her and gestured I would only be a moment before I scanned the room looking for Evie. It wasn't hard to spot the blue-haired princess near Doug and Jay. I walked over as soon as I had spotted her.

"Hey E, can I talk to you for a sec?" I asked, not wanting to be rude to the boys.

"Sure." She said before we started walking away and back towards Snow White. "What's up?"

"Snow White wants to meet you." I told her just to get it over with. The panic was written clear as day across her face. "E, you'll be fine. I promise. I've been talking to her for about ten minutes. She's really nice." I explained to my sister, hoping to calm her a little. Although she nodded it was clear to see she was still scared as we neared Snow White.

I pushed her forward a little but didn't go any further. They needed a little space to bond but I stayed nearby in case Evie needed me. In the time I had been keeping an eye on Evie I had spoken to Rapunzel and Eugene. I had however become lost in thought and stayed that way until I heard a familiar voice. "Eavesdropping again, Mal?" The voice joked. I turned to come face to face with Lonnie who wore an amused grin on her face.

"I'm just being protective." I informed Lonnie as I struggled to keep the humour from my voice and face. Eventually we were both laughing with each other, until I noticed the two adults looking at us a few steps away.

Lonnie followed my gaze and realised what I was looking at. "Oh sorry. Mal these are my parents, Mom, dad this is Mal." She introduced us. Over the time I had been here, even though I wasn't with Ben, I had grown a little more confidence and smiled as I stepped forward to shake their hands.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I told them, as they readily shook my hand.

"The pleasure is all ours." Lonnie's mom informed me. "I'm Mulan and this is my husband, Shang." She told me. "Lonnie tells me your rather good in your self defence classes?" I wasn't sure if this was a statement of a question.

I decided to answer to be on the safe side. "I guess. Kinda." I said. I really hated when people praised me for things. I didn't think I was that good at all yet here was Mulan telling me Lonnie thought I was. It was still a very weird feeling for me and my siblings.

"You will have to come around one day. We can have a good sparing session." Shang said. How the hell do I get out of that. I looked straight to Lonnie hoping she could help. Fortunately she realised the problem straight away.

"Dad, take it easy. Let Mal get the wedding and honeymoon sorted first." She told her dad. Both her parents quickly agreed with her before they informed me they were going to get a drink.

"Thanks, Lonnie." I said once they were out of ear shot.

"No worries." She told me, waving it off like it was nothing. Before she said "I'm going to go find them." I quickly hugged her and she left to find her parents.

I looked over and found Evie and Snow laughing away so I decided it would be okay for me to leave them now. But I didn't get far before I was stopped by another voice. Although this one I didn't recognise at all. "So you the girl who stole my friends heart." I turned to find a tall, slightly tanned boy and couldn't have been alder then Ben looking at me. He looked vaguely familiar but for the life of me I couldn't figure out why. I didn't have to wonder for long though as Ben appeared beside me with Jay and Carlos next to him.

"Az, it's great to see you. I see you've met my fiancee. Mal this is Aziz." Ben introduced us. Now I realised why he looked so familiar. Ben had shown me a couple of photos of the two of them.

"It's great to meet you." I greeted him, as I shook his hand. It was then Allison appeared with who older versions of Aziz and herself. Geez, they all looked alike. "This is Carlos and Jay." I introduced the boys knowing, especially now Jay wouldn't introduce himself. Ben's arm went around my waist as he handed me the drink in his hand. Thank god, I needed a drink. I took a sip as Ben greeted the older pair.

"Aunt Jas, Uncle Al, it's great to see you again." Ben said, they all smiled at each other before Aziz spoke.

"Jay? As in the son of Jafar?" He asked. I saw Jay gulp as he nodded to the family. "Ben tells me your rather good at tourney? Just know we will wipe the floor with Auradon Prep this year." He joked. That was it they were suddenly engaged in a playful argument about tourney which Ben and Carlos quickly joined in.

"It's nice to finally meet you, Mal." Jasmine told me, after we'd had enough watching Jay, Aziz, Carlos and Ben argue.

"Yes, you as well. Ben, Adam and Belle speak of you often." It was true. It seemed they and Snow White were the only royal families they actually got along with properly.

"So how are you feeling?" Aladdin asked me, earning him an elbow from Jasmine. Although I had hoped the topic didn't come up I couldn't help but laugh a little at that.

"I'm fine." I told them in a way I hoped would make them see I really didn't want to talk about it. "So I have to ask, what's it like in Agrabah?" I asked them, just purely to change the topic. I carried on talking to them long after the boys had disappeared. We walked about various things like living in Agrabah, school, Ben and plenty more until I really needed a drink. "Please, excuse me?" I asked them. Once they nodded I quickly went to get another drink. I have no idea why I was worried now, I was actually really enjoying myself. As I looked around it seemed everyone was. I had even managed to spend time with each of my friends and siblings tonight but as I toyed with the rose necklace I was wearing in dawned on me I hadn't spoken to Belle and Adam yet. I glanced at the clock on the wall and saw it was almost ten. We had been partying for almost five hours but it didn't feel like it.

Picking up my drink I started to head over to them when I was stopped by a hand gripping my arm a little too tightly for it to by any of my family/friends. I quickly turned and pulled my arm free from the persons grip. As I turned I came face to face with the one person in the room that I wished beyond belief hadn't come. Chad. Why the hell couldn't he just leave us alone. What neither me or Chad had noticed was Ben, Belle, Adam, Evie, Jay and Audrey had seen Chad and were walking up to us. "Don't you think for a second you will ever actually marry Ben. Just because his mother was dumb and married a monster, doesn't mean I'm about to let him make the same mistake." Chad sneered at me.

How could he say that!? At that moment I heard growling behind me. I turned as quickly as I could as managed to stop Ben from moving to punch Chad. Adam looked livid while Belle just looked upset. The others looked as though they couldn't believe he had said it. I turned back to Chad who now he had acknowledged Ben and Adam looked a little scared but I kept my hand on Ben's arm keeping him behind me. I hadn't even noticed Chad's insults had attracted an audience.

"How dare you!" I shouted at Chad. This was the last straw now. Insult me that's fine, but don't you dare insult my family. I wasn't even sure at this point if the anger was my hormones or just me. "I mean what the hell gives you the right to come into my family's home and then stand there and insult them! For a start, who Ben marries is none of your concern. Second don't you dare stand there and insult Belle. Just because she married her true love and your too shallow and self centred to even find yours doesn't mean you can insult her! And Adam isn't a monster, he is a gentleman. Which is more then I can say for you! Them finding each other and getting married wasn't a mistake, it was fate and love! Something you clearly know nothing about! So I will say this again because I think your incredibly small brain needs me to. Leave my fiancée and parents alone!" I finished. It hadn't even occurred to me I had called them my parents again. I was too mad to think about what I had said right now.

Without realising it as I was yelling at Chad I had moved my hand from Ben's arm. He gently stepped past me and punched Chad in the face. "Stay the hell away from my family." He growled out. Usually I would have tried to stop him but my anger was still rising. Jay stepped in front of Ben to stop him hitting Chad a second time.

Thankfully Chad turned and left the castle after I had finished that. I really could have dealt with him much longer without hitting him myself. This was just getting ridiculous. If it wasn't Chad causing problems it was Maleficent or Leah. I would like to know what I have done for them to be so against me being with Ben. I couldn't seem to calm however and even refused a hug from Ben. I felt like I was going to explode.

I felt myself being led from the room but where the person or persons were taking me or who they were I had no idea. It was then I heard Fairy Godmothers voice. I had no idea what she was saying, my mind wouldn't process it but the soothing voice calmed my anger quite quickly.

Once I was calm I noticed I was in the dining room. As I looked around I found fairy Godmother, Ben, Belle, Adam and all my friends and siblings there looking at me. I smiled at them all before Fairy Godmother spoke. "You back with us Mal?" She asked.

"Yeah. What happened?" I asked. I've never got that mad before. Not to the point where I didn't know who was taking me out of the room. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long for an answer.

"I think because you got truly mad your dark magic was fighting with your light magic inside you. It's easy to control. In fact if you would meet me in my office tomorrow I will show you how to control it." Fairy godmother explained. I nodded to her. It kinda made sense. I'd had similar events before but I had never been that bad before. I hadn't told the others about them. But I quickly decided to tell Fairy Godmother tomorrow. It would be useful to know how to stop it happening. It was then I remembered the look on Belle's face after Chad's comment.

I walked over to her and hugged her before asking "Are you okay Belle?" she quickly returned my embrace.

"I'm fine. Are you?" She asked me. I should have known that question was coming.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I told her. "I promise." I added once I saw the disbelieving look on her face. You could tell she wasn't totally convinced but seemed a little bit more at ease after I said this. I moved out of the hug and turned to face Ben right before he spoke.

"Are you up to going back in? We can send everyone home if your not." Ben told me.

I shook my head before replying. "No. I'm fine but are you?" I asked. I can't believe Ben actually hit Chad again. This makes twice in a week. After Ben nodded he was okay I carried on talking "Let's go and enjoy our night then." I said smiling at Ben.

Ben led us all back in the room and people were all acting like nothing had happened which I was extremely grateful for. I couldn't stand the constant questions about it. "Can you get me a drink, Ben?" I asked him, unsure where mine had disappeared to. He nodded and after scanning the room, I assume to make sure Chad had actually left, he went to get me a drink. As I walked further back into the room I bumped in to Jordan. "Hey Jordan." I greeted her.

"Hey Mal, everything okay?" She asked me.

"Yeah fine, I just hope people don't mind." I told her. I felt bad for losing my temper like that, I just couldn't stop myself. Then there was Ben punching him.

"Nah, don't worry about it. Arguments happen more often then you think at things like this." She informed me. That made me feel a little better about it but not a lot. "How's Ben?" She asked me.

"I'm fine thanks Jordan." Ben replied, as he come beside me and handed me a drink. We talked with Jordan for a few more minutes before we parted. "Are you mad at me?" He asked, now we were kinda alone.

"No Ben, not at all." I told him. How could I be mad at him for punching someone who clearly deserved it. Hell, if Ben hadn't of punched him I'm fairly sure I would have. "I love you." I said.

"Love you too." He responded as he pulled me into a kiss. He pulled me onto the dance floor after that but after a couple of songs we were interrupted by Adam. Ben gave my hand to Adam who pulled me into a slow dance.

"Thank you, Mal." He said. I wasn't expecting that. My confusion must have shown on my face since he carried on talking. "For defending me, Belle and Ben the way you did." Adam explained.

"Oh. You don't have to thank me for that. No one gets to insult my family without consequences." I told him. I mean did he really think I would let Chad insult them like that? Come on, not a chance in hell.

"It means a lot to me and Belle, so thank you." He stated. I decided them to give up arguing about it. I clearly wouldn't get through to him that he didn't need to thank me for that.

Not long after the song had ended and Ben was back at my side. I explained what me and Adam had talked about to him and we danced for a while longer before at midnight, after most people had gone home, we called it a night. At least we didn't have to be at school tomorrow. For some reason we had the day off which is why me and Ben decided to have the ball tonight. Once we were changed we were asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows. I just hoped tomorrow would be a nice, normal, stress free day for me and Ben. We didn't have enough of those days lately.

Author's Note: I'm not 100% on this chapter as I feel it's a little rushed but I couldn't write it any other way. I hop you like it. Please let me know what you think with a review :) x