*Author's Note*
Hey guys, here is the new chapter. I manage to finish this chapter early and here it is. There will not be much progress in this chapter but first half of the story is very crucial for on of the future chapter. I pretty have the full story line all drafted out and as per my estimation there should be around 20 chapters give or take one or two.
And Thank you to my beta (legend fanatic) for helping me with my story.
Disney's Descendants : Good is the New Bad
Disclaimer: I own nothing at all, well, except my OC.
Spoilers: Well, the movie and a little of the prequel novel.
Summer Palace Pool – Saturday Afternoon
For the past few days, the ten of them travelled around the city, explored around the woods, chilled by the beach and even swam in the pool of the Palace which was what they are doing now.
"Oh my god. I cannot believe today is our last day here."
"I know, how wonderful will it be if we could stay here forever."
Everyone chuckled at Evie and Lonnie's conversation.
"I still can't believe Mal can swim. I remember when we were on the island, you were terrified of water. When did you learn to swim?"
"Ben taught me when we were at the Castle." Mal replied with her back facing them. She was sitting by the pool in a dark purple bikini with Ben on her right while she kicked her legs in the water.
Evie, Jay and Carlos all turned to Ben, amazed that he was able to convince one of the most stubborn girl to learn how to swim.
Ben, who was talking to Chad, felt the stare so he turned around and felt a little startled by them.
"What's wrong?"
"How did you convince Mal to learn how to swim?" Jay voiced their doubts.
The thought of teaching Mal how to swim a few weeks ago popped up in his mind. Ben could not help but chuckle at the thought.
"It wasn't easy. It was a few days before we left the Castle and frankly, I can still hear Mal screaming at the back of my ear." Ben expressed as he rubbed his ear.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Mal turned to give the brown-haired boy a deadly stare as she lifted an arm to smack her boyfriend's shoulder, causing a smile to curl on Ben's lips as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Such a pity we were not there." Jay joked.
"But I have to say, Mal is a fast learner. She only took two days and she could swim like a pro." Ben said to defend his girlfriend, hoping that this will not affect his alone time with Mal later.
"I am in the mood for a pool game." Chad announced.
"Well, we still a couple of hours before dinner. Why don't we freshen up and meet in the recreation room in thirty minutes?" Ben offered.
"Sounds good to me."
"Sweet."
Everyone started to dry off and walked towards their rooms to get ready.
Summer Palace Garden – Saturday Evening
"Alright, open your eyes." Ben whispered towards Mal's ear as he removed his eyes around her eyes.
Mal slowly opened her eyes and found herself standing in the garden with bushes of rainbow roses around her. There was a lake with a pavilion in the middle and inside the pavilion, laid a white blanket with some pillows on it.
Five minutes before they were supposed to meet in the recreation room, Ben appeared at the door of Mal and Evie's room before he pulled Mal out of the Palace and towards to the garden with his hands over Mal's eyes.
"Do you like it?"
Mal nodded as she absorbed the view in front of her.
"This is kinda my hiding spot whenever I visit the Summer Palace with my parents." Ben explained as he pulled his girlfriend towards the pavilion.
"How was your first summer in Auradon so far?"
"Hmmm... Better than I expected up until so far. I mean we don't really have any summer vacation on the Island since there is only one season there… I'm fine…" Mal assured when she noticed her boyfriend's facial expression, "…and the villain kids sort of skip classes when we want so there was really no point for any kind of vacation."
"I'm so sorry to hear that."
"Its fine, Ben. We are over it."
Silence filled the air as they enjoy the view. The sky started to turn dark hue and Ben took out a blue box and laid it on Mal's lap.
Mal looked down at the box and instantly her face turned white, like a piece a paper.
"Ben?" Mal whispered after staring at the box for a full minute.
"Remember the time you asked me about the legend behind the signer ring I gave you before my coronation?"
"…that if it fits on the finger when you put it on, that person is your soul mate?" Mal replied as she remembered what Evie told her.
"There is kind of a rule that a King will need to get married when he was eighteen. I don't want to marry anyone but you Mal. Did I mention I love you?"
Mal blushed, causing Ben to beam.
"I love you, Mal. You are the person I want to marry. Would you do the honor in marrying me?"
Slowly, Ben stood up and kneel on one knee as he took the box and opened it to reveal to a silver ring with a small purple diamond.
"Ben, I don't know what to say. Can you give me some time to think about this? I mean we have only been dating for a year and we are only seventeen, don't you think marriage is kinda early for us to think about? I want to go to college, travel the world, see the true beauty of Auradon, if I say yes, does that mean that I have to throw all of that away…"
Mal started to ramble about things when Ben interrupted, "You do not need to give me an answer now. I'll give you some time to think about it."
Mal looked at Ben for a few seconds before she nodded her head. They two of them just sat on the blanket quietly until when it almost dinner time, the two of them then started to walk back to the Palace.
One Week Later,
Auradon Prep – Saturday
They returned to Auradon Prep for a week and all of them had been busy with the preparation for their booths at the Summer Carnival.
Carlos had been super busy helping shower and groom all the dogs that were available for adoption with the others volunteers at the shelter that when he woke up in the morning, it's the dog shelter and when he was done, it's bedtime already. He even had Jay help him to look after Dude since he would be busy for the next few days.
Chad and Jay were busy creating all kinds of games. Since Dude was with Jay, they even create a small obstacle course for people who would be bringing their pets or the people who had just adopted a pet to play with their new friend.
Lonnie and Doug set up donation drive at different corners of Auradon to let people drop off their donations, no matter if its money or food. All are welcomed. Even the seven dwarfs helped by donating quite a few gems while Mulan helped gathered food from the villagers with Li Shang delivering them to their daughter. Within a few days, they managed to fill up the whole classroom that Fairy Godmother lent them for the drive that they need to borrow another classroom.
Unlike the others, Evie and Audrey couldn't stop arguing on what matches with what. Audrey was in charge of the accessories while Evie would be sewing the outfits to sell but eventually the two girls were able to put aside their differences and work together.
Mal and Jane were one of the most free among them as they only need to start baking like two days before the carnival. They have managed to get all the ingredients and even more than needed just in case they have time to bake more than they prepare to.
Finally it's Saturday, the day before the Summer Carnival. Everyone went to bed early so that they would have enough energy for tomorrow.
Mal and Evie's Dormitory – Saturday Morning
Mal and Evie got up early in the morning and started to prepare for their Summer Carnival.
"You ready, E? It's almost eight. We need to be at the Carnival to set up everything before the Carnival starts at ten later." Mal said as she put one her left boot.
"In a minute!" Evie shouted from the bathroom.
"Mom, wish me luck." Mal whispered to her lizard-mom.
A small smile curved on its lips, making Mal giggle as she kissed the glass cage. She knew her mom cared for her and the feeling had gotten stronger day by day, she had faith that her mom will eventually learn to love again.
"I'm ready! I'm ready!" Evie announced as she rushed out of the bathroom to put on her shoes.
Evie's voice pulled Mal back from her thoughts. Together they headed for the door to Belle with her hand up in the air as though she was about to knock on the door.
"Good morning, Belle." Mal and Evie greeted.
"Good morning, girls. Wow, you girls are up early and I thought I was early." Belle chuckled. "Mal, can I have a word with you?"
Mal nodded in reply before she turned to her best friend.
"I'll make my way to the Carnival first, see you there, M."
Mal and Belle watched Evie walked down the hall for a few seconds before Mal widen the doorway to let Belle enter her room.
"I know Ben proposed to you during your trip to the summer palace." Belle broke the silence. "I have noticed that Ben had not been himself lately so I asked him about his proposal and he told me you did not say yes. Mal dear, care to share with me what is holding you bad."
Mal bite on her lip as the eyes turned to her lizard-mom.
"Mal, I'm sure your mother loves you and wants what is best for you. Is this the reason why you did not say yes?" Belle noticed the look on her face.
Mal shook her head at the former queen, "Not entirely. I feel like Ben is asking me because it's his duty to get married at eighteen."
Belle chuckled when she heard Mal's words. "Mal, did you know Adam and I got married when he was twenty-eight?" Mal nodded. "There is a rule that a King need to get married at the age of eighteen but knowing Ben, do you really think that was the reason he dropped the big ask?" Mal blushed as she understood what the former queen meant.
"That rule is more like advice. I know Ben loves you, a lot, and I am really happy to see Ben so happy. Ben has never given anyone his signet ring but he gave it to you after knowing you for a few weeks. I have to say when I saw you wearing the ring at his coronation, I was very shocked but I also believe in second chances. And as expected, you four have proved me right. You are good and I will be honored to have you as my daughter-in-law."
By the time, Belle finished. Mal started to tear up. Belle took out her handkerchief and helped the purple-haired girl cleaned her face.
"Thank you, Belle." Mal said as she wrapped her hands around the former queen's shoulder.
"You are welcome, Mal." Belle gave her a little squeeze before letting the purple-haired girl. "I suppose you are ready to answer Ben?" Mal nodded. "Good, and I'll see you at the Carnival later. I'm really looking forward to try your cookies. Ben has been telling me how great they were but that boy never bothered to bring me back any."
Mal chuckled as they walked out of the room.
"I'll reserve one for you later."
Summer Carnival – Saturday Afternoon
"Here is your cookie." Jane said as she handed a paper bag to Bash, son of Bashful.
Jane turned around towards Mal, who was packing the empty boxes, and announced, "We're all sold out!"
"What?" Mal gasped in shock a she looked up. "We baked a total of ten thousand pieces of cookie and it's only been four hours."
Jane shrugged. "I guess its closing time for us. Maybe we could go check out the other booths to see if they need help?"
Mal nodded as they started to clean their booth.
"Evie, Audrey!" Mal and Jane greeted.
"Hey girls!" Evie and Audrey turned and greeted in unison.
"Sold out too?" Evie asked.
"Yup, you too?" Mal replied.
"Seems like it."
The girls chuckled together. Mal and Jane helped Evie to clean up before they walked towards the dog shelter.
"Feel free to visit the shelter or give us a call when you need any help." Carlos informed the parents as he handed a white German shepherd puppy to a little girl.
"Hey Carlos, how's the adoption shelter?" Evie asked as they walked over to Carlos.
"Hey girls." Carlos turned his head from Mal to Evie to Jane to Audrey and back to Mal, "All sold out?"
"Yup. Do you need any help?"
"Hey Carlos, looks like we have under estimate the crowd. All the puppies have been adopted."
Before Carlos could reply, one of the shelter volunteers interrupted.
"Oh, then looks like we are done for the day." Carlos turned and replied.
"It's fine, why don't you guys walk around the Carnival since you were the first here to set everything up. It's only fair that we clean up everything."
"Really? Thanks, guys." Carlos then turned to the girls behind him. "Let's go. Where shall we go?"
"Maybe we could help up with the donation and food drive?" Evie suggested. "Doug told me that the respond was bigger than expected."
"Great idea. Let's go."
Together the five of them ran towards the donation/food drive to find that the two big tents were filed with canned food, clothes, daily utilities and boxes of money. It really was as per Evie said, Doug and Lonnie along with a few other students have been moving the stuff into the storage and when they have cleared out almost one-third of the tent, instantly, the tent will be over flooded with donated items again.
"Oh my god. I know this is Auradon's first official donation drive but I did not expect the response to be so huge." Doug said after sitting down for the first time in the whole day.
"Woah, it's already six?" Lonnie gasped after checking her watch. "We better clean up the remaining stuff so we could at least play some of the games or eat some of the food here."
"I can hardly move." Mal responded while the rest nodded their heads in unison.
"There you guys are, we have been looking all over you."
Before they appeared, Ben's voice filled the atmosphere. Ben, Jay and Chad appeared not long after.
Mal eyes immediately sparkled as she reached out towards her boyfriend, "Can you help us clean up? We have been working the whole day and we are all worn out."
Jay, Chad and Ben took a look around their tired friends before turning to share a look with each other.
"I don't mind." Jay shrugged as he informed.
Within ten minutes, the three of them finished cleaning up the tents.
"Mal, I was wondering if you would like to join me for a ride on the Ferris wheel?" Ben asked as he handed a bottle of water to her.
Mal swallowed a full mouth of water before looking up, "Sure."
The ten of them then split in pairs and started to wonder around the Carnival.
Next chapter will be more of Bal again and stay tuned to find out what Mal will be telling Ben on the Ferris wheel. :)
Please read and review
~ xoxo, Bella