Saving Mal

[Carlos and Jay's dorm room. 6:05 pm]

Evie's POV

Lonnie and I explained everything that has happened with encountering Mal to the boys.

"So Mal is under some sort of spell?" Carlos asked.

"Yes. But by who?" asked Jay.

"That's what we're trying to figure out." said Lonnie.

"She had to come in contact with someone. And the best way to find out is by angering her." I said.

"What?" asked Carlos.

"How?" asked Jay.

"I'm going to have to question her. And she's not going to like it. Remember, Mal's mind is set back to when we were still on the Isle. When she hated me." I said.

"For not inviting her to your sixth birthday party." Carlos said.

"Yes." I said.

"I remember. When Mal threw that party at Carlos' house, she did it to get back at you. To make you suffer. She wanted to hurt you really bad." Jay said.

"And since we're not living in a barrier, Mal could discover that she has magic powers. If she hasn't already." Carlos said.

"And use them against you to hurt you. Evie, you could be putting your life in danger." said Lonnie.

"It doesn't matter. Mal may not believe she is good in her mind. But I must believe that she is good in her heart. She's in there somewhere. But we need a plan." I said.

We all thought for a little bit, until Lonnie had an idea.

"I got it! The Enchanted Lake!" she said.

"That's right! The waters are purifying and are capable of washing away spells!" I said.

"So all we gotta do is throw Mal in the lake and she'll be back to herself?" Jay asked.

"As crazy as that sounds, yes." said Carlos.

"So when do we do this?" asked Lonnie.

"In the early morning. We'll wake up at sunrise and find Mal. And we'll convince her to go to the lake."

"Sounds good. I'll meet you at the dorm entrance." said Lonnie.

"Thank you, Lonnie. I really appreciate it. I know this isn't your fight but…" I said.

"Hey, Mal's my best friend. And so are you. I would do anything for you two. For all of you." said Lonnie.

We hugged and Lonnie left. We got ourselves ready for bed and this night, I slept with Carlos. Although, I'm hoping this will be the last time. Not that I don't mind having a sleepover with the boys, but I really miss sleeping with Mal. Sunday morning arrived, and we woke up at five and the boys got themselves ready. I hurried back to our dorm and got myself ready as well. I didn't wear anything special, but I did put on my silver tiara. I know Mal likes to see me wearing that. The real Mal. Afterwards, we met up with Lonnie at the dorm's entrance and the sun coming out.

"Alright, let's split up. We'll cover more ground that way. If you find Mal, do not approach her. Call or text the rest of us your location and we'll meet up. Because Mal is not easy to fight alone. Got it?" I said.

"Got it." Carlos, Jay and Lonnie said together.

"Let's go save our girl." I said.

We left the building and went off in different directions.

Lonnie's POV

As I walked to the opposite side of the school campus, I thought about Mal the last time we were together. I tried to think of how Mal was under a spell. But I couldn't. I could only focus on how she was before she turned into a completely different person. I soon found myself at the gym building. I didn't think Mal would be there, but I felt like I was drawn there to look anyway. And I'm glad I was. Because I found Mal outside of the building. I hid behind a tree while carefully observing her. I couldn't tell what she was doing. She kept walking around. Maybe thinking about something. I texted the others and told them where she was.

Evie's POV

I got Lonnie's text and met up with her along with Jay and Carlos. We hid behind the tree and watched Mal. She wasn't doing much. Mostly just walking around.

"What do you think she's thinking about?" Carlos asked.

"Probably something not good." Jay said.

Lonnie noticed my worried expression.

"Are you okay?" she asked.

I clicked my tongue.

"Yeah. Let's do this." I said.

I have no idea what I meant by that. I was sort of out of it. Completely perplexed on why Mal was under a spell. Lonnie, Carlos and Jay followed me as I ran up to Mal.

"Mal!" I said as we approached her.

Mal turned and smirked at us.

"Well, well. If it isn't Princess Blueberry. Oh look, you have Jay and Carlos with you. I was wondering when you two would show up." Mal said.

She turned and looked at Lonnie.

"But who is this again? I seen her with you yesterday, but she looks too nice to be a VK." Mal said.

"I'm Lonnie. Remember?" Lonnie asked.

Mal shrugged and nodded.

"No. Your name doesn't sound familiar." she said.

Lonnie frowned in disappointment.

"Mal, I know you don't really care to see me right now..." I said.

"Mm, you kinda got that right." Mal said.

"But, as our leader, I feel you should know this." I said.

"Evie, what are you doing?" asked Jay.

"It's alright. I know what I'm doing, because it's for Mal." I said.

"What? What are you talking about?" Mal asked.

"You've been to the lake right?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Well, did you find the treasure?"

Mal tilted her head.

"Treasure?"

"Yeah! There's treasure at the lake that's worth a lot in Auradon." I said.

"How come Jay doesn't claim it for himself?"

"Because I feel it's right if you have it, Mal. No matter what it is, you're our leader. You deserve the best of the best." Jay said, following my lead.

Mal smiled.

"Alright. I like your point of view. I'm listening." Mal said.

Good. She's buying it. But it seems she needs to hear a little more before she's on board.

"That treasure, whatever it is. I've heard talk that who ever finds it, can sell it for an unbelievably, yet believable amount of money. Amount so big it's a, um, oh what's the term? Boat load of cash?" I said.

"Get to the point, Evie. How big of a boat?" Mal asked.

"Does the name Titanic ring any bells?"

Mal smiled and laughed.

"You've changed, Evie. But I like it. I can't believe this, but I'm actually starting to like you. Alright, let's go to the lake." Mal said.

I let Mal lead the way. Lonnie, Jay, Carlos and I all sighed silently as we so grateful that worked.

[The Enchanted Lake. 7:06 am]

Evie's POV

We arrived at the bridge before the lake.

"So where is this treasure?" Mal asked.

"We have to cross the bridge first, Mal. Once we do, the treasure is buried underneath some large boulders." said Lonnie.

"You're so knowledgeable. Who are you again?" Mal asked.

"Lonnie. I'm an AK." she replied.

"I thought so. You look too nice to be a VK. Nice to see someone who lives here has a brain to see the VK ways." Mal said.

We arrived at the lake and Mal started to look around.

"Okay. Where's the boulders?" Mal asked.

I pointed Mal to look to the left. There were some large rocks across the lake.

"There! Walk forward a little bit more. You can see it." I said.

Mal kept walking forward until she was at the edge of the ground. I looked at Lonnie, Jay and Carlos, who nodded at me to do it. I nodded back and shoved Mal as hard as I could. Mal flew forward a little bit and splashed into the water. I made sure she didn't fall into the deep end as she can't swim. The four of us cheered as we thought we had finally set Mal free. Mal rose up from the water and looked at us angrily.

"Oh, Mal. I'm so sorry. I really am. But I had to do it." I said.

"Did you? Did you really, Evie? You're so going to pay for that!" Mal said.

She got out of the lake and focused her eyes on me.

"It didn't work. She's not herself." Lonnie whispered to me.

I swallowed. Mal is still being spelled.

"No. No, that's impossible. How did the lake not cure you?!" I asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Evie! But you are so going to pay for that!" Mal said.

"Wait, Mal! Don't hurt her!" Carlos said.

"And why not?" Mal asked.

"Because she's a great crew member. You can't dispose of her." he said.

"She pushed me into the water!" Mal exclaimed.

"I didn't mean to! I was just trying to…"

I couldn't think of anything else to say. I was completely shocked that the lake didn't remove the spell. Mal's eyes glowed a bright green. Then, Mal raised her right hand and green fire manifested from her hand. Apparently she discovered her magic powers.

"Guys, get down." I said.

Once Mal was charged up, she sent a green fireball right at us. The four of us ducked as the ball of fire flew right past us into a hill causing a green explosion.

"I made her even more mad." I said.

Mal walked up to me and lifted me up by the collar of my shirt.

"Apparently you haven't changed. You better stay out of my way, or my next attack will hurt you. Badly." Mal said to my face.

She then dropped me to the ground.

"As for the rest of you. Well, you would do best to do the same thing." Mal said.

Mal then started walking back to the bridge.

"No. No. I'm not losing you this easily." I said.

I got up and ran after Mal.

"Evie, don't!" Lonnie exclaimed.

I didn't listen. All I want is to have my girl back. I ran up to Mal and grabbed her right shoulder to make her turn around.

"Mal, please. I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry. Please forgive me. Please. I'll do anything for you. Anything." I pleaded.

"Anything?" Mal asked.

"Anything!" I said.

"Alright. I'll tell you what. I'll make a deal with you." Mal said.

"I'm listening!" I said.

"I will put everything you have done to me behind us. Not inviting me to your birthday party to lying to me about this so called treasure, if you join me."

"Join you?"

"Yes. I'll let you be my second in command and together we will conquer Auradon and enslave anyone will refuses to pledge allegiance to us. And we will destroy what I don't like. Starting with that school. We'll destroy it and use that land to make our own improved castle. Just think, Evie. We'll have lots of workers who will build it for us and do our bidding. We'll both be queens and rule Auradon, together." Mal said.

I hated everything Mal has just said. This is obviously not like her. It never was. And it must never will be. I sighed before responding. And I know she'll hate it.

"I'm sorry, Mal. I would do anything for you. But I can't destroy the school or anything else. And I don't want to enslave people. It's not me. And it's not you either." I said.

Mal scoffed.

"I knew it. You never could destroy things. You always had to save things. You're so soft. So naive. But I thought I would give you the chance to turn yourself around. Evil lives, Evie. But you're too soft to live up to that." Mal said.

Mal resumed walking across the bridge. I followed.

"Mal, please. There's other things we can do together." I said.

"Yeah, but you just denied the fun things." Mal said.

We reached the end of the bridge.

"But, Mal-"

"Enough, Evie!" Mal yelled as she slapped me across the face.

The last person who slapped me was my mother. Which was a long time ago. And it brought back bad feelings.

"You get the hell away from me." Mal said.

I didn't move. I was completely frozen from what Mal had done.

"Now!" Mal yelled.

She shoved me back so hard, I lost my balance and fell over the bridge, but caught the railings. I screamed as I was hanging on for life. I looked down and saw the long way to the ground. I looked back up and saw Mal looking at me.

"Mal, please! Help me!" I said.

Mal scoffed and walked away.

"Mal! Mal!"

I watched as Mal kept walking until she wasn't visible. I then screamed as loud as I could for help. Jay ran up to me and grabbed my arms and pulled me up. However his grip on me slipped and I started to fall, but Jay grabbed me by the waist and we both fell onto the bridge. Jay got up and carried me off the bridge and sat down on the ground. I laid in his arms, shaking and crying from what just happened.

"It's okay. You're alright now." Jay said.

He rubbed my back trying to comfort me.

"Thank you. Thank you so much." I said.

"You're welcome, Evie. I'm glad you're okay." he said.

"Me too." I said.

I got off Jay and sat on the ground next to him. Lonnie and Carlos rushed over to me and both hugged me. Thankful that I was okay.

"Now what?" Carlos asked.

I calmed down and looked in the direction where Mal went.

"We keep going. I'm not giving up on her." I said.

I got up and the others followed me as I ran back towards the school.