Chapter Three: Is Fire Bad Luck?

The sun was high in Auradon skies, shining through grey storm clouds that threatened rain, as they always did in the dark kingdom. Screeching birds flew toward the dark castle in the center of Auradon, decked out in flame printed banners with snarling beast heads.

It was the day of the royal wedding, and the entire kingdom was eagerly preparing. It would be perfect.


Mal stood in front of a dark mirror in the royal parlor that was now the bridal parties preparation room, a purple robe tied tight around her waist. Winter, the young daughter of Snow White and budding stylist, was brushing her purple hair into classy waves that tickled her shoulders. Uma, her second bridesmaid, was finishing her makeup in another mirror, her purple strapless mermaid dress hugging her curves before erupting in dark purple and green ruffles at the knee. Her aqua braids were in a large bun on top of her head, and, as always, she wore her mother's shell necklace.

The door swung open, and a large bouquet walked in, carried by a teetering Evie…or at least that's what Mal assumed based on her skyscraper stilettos. They couldn't actually see her face.

Winter flicked the last curl as Evie and the bouquet crashed to the ground.

"Don't worry, I got it," she huffed, pushing the flowers off her. She was already in her maid of honor dress, a tight purple bodice and straight skirt that hit her knees with a sheer green flame layer overtop that tickled the floor. Her bramble belt matched Audrey's dress perfectly.

Mal laughed, stepping back from the mirror. She took the flowers off the floor and placed them on a nearby empty table. "I never doubted it. But do you think the bouquet is big enough?"

"Fun fact. That bouquet is made up of every flower that grows in Auradon." Dizzy entered the room, her pink horned glasses sliding down her nose as she clicked things off her checklist on her phone with her stylus. Her green dress was covered in a sheer black overlay, with deep pockets hidden in the skirt, and large puffed sleeves. Her eyes were red from being up since dawn.

"Oh really?" Mal chuckled as the table began to creak.

"Don't need people to see her?" Evie asked. "And the dress?"

"And the hair!" Winter chimed in, packing up her supplies. She still had to make Ben look perfect.

"And some people have other things to worry about." Dizzy plucked Mal's veil off its stand, admiring the emerald dragon wing crown it was attached to, before shoving it into the bride's hands. "Like thousands of guests, food, flowers, seating charts, entertainment…the ravens still aren't here?"

Her stylus scrapped across her phone screen.

"Is it officially too late to elope?" Mal asked, placing the veil in her curls.

"Yes!" Evie, Uma, and Dizzy all exclaimed. Mal just smiled.

"The wedding will be perfect," Uma assured her.

"Beyond perfect," Evie chimed in. She pulled the pale taffeta around Mal's shoulders, framing her in bridal elegance.

"Nearly everyone's arrived, all your friends, and even-"

Dizzy was interrupted by the door swinging open. Mal smiled as her parents, Dowager King Hades and Dowager Queen Maleficent walked in. She embraced her father as her friends sank into regal curtsies.

"Ready for the aisle yet?" Hades asked. His laughter rumbled in Mal's ear as she pressed her face against his chest, his ember warm against her skin. She rolled her eyes as she pulled back.

"I think Audrey would kill me if I didn't wear the dress she slaved over."

"Still time to change your mind," Maleficent called from the doorway. Her black robes matched her shining horns and dark scowl.

"Not likely."

"Hmph. Don't tell me I didn't warn you. Half-pint!"

Dizzy snapped to attention. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Show me where I'm sitting for this abysmal event."

Uma gave her an encouraging pat she headed off with the wicked fairy.

"We'll…be outside…doing something," Evie added, taking Uma out of the parlor with her.

Father and daughter were all alone.

"Suppose this is when I offer some fatherly advice. Tell you the truths of marriage." Hades slumped into a squishy armchair. "I don't have lots to give, though."

Mal sat on the armrest of the chair, leaning into his shoulder. "That's okay. I think this situation is new enough that there's not any advice to give."

"Even so, I do want to tell you one thing." He took his daughter's hand and looked into her eyes. They may have been green like her mother's, but he recognized the hell fire in them. "Love, it's a fickle thing. It comes for a season then leaves. But what you've created with Ben, I wouldn't be surprised if it lasted the eon. I'm so happy that you do not have to choose between your kingdom and your heart. And I will always be proud of you, no matter what happens.

"Because this isn't the end of your story. It's the start of a whole new chapter."

"Thanks Dad." Mal blinked quickly. Evie would hate to have to redo her makeup. "I don't think anything could ruin this day."


At the dark cathedral, gargoyles looked down at the guests arriving for the royal wedding, all dressed in their wickedest ensembles and displaying their power for all to see.

Jay, Carlos, and Jane acted as ushers, directing guests inside the great hall to find their seats. Jay and Carlos wore matching scaly purple vests over black shirts with black pants while Jane's royal purple dress was short with a ruffled skirt and high neck, tied with a royal blue sash at the waist.

"I'm telling you, you haven't lived till you've had Agrabah's curry," Jay insisted. He'd been spending more time at home, learning from his father for the day when he would become an evil Sultan. Carlos just nodded along (he'd heard the speech before) while Jane grimaced.

"But what if I don't do spice?"

A car pulled up just then, thankfully cutting off the discussion. Maxwell climbed out first, his blue suit jacket sparkling in the sun. Then came Doug in a green coat with a purple tie, followed by Lonnie in a coral Asian inspired dress with a blue floral belt.

Jay smiled a bit wider when he saw her.

"Welcome to the Royal Wedding," he drawled, bowing obnoxiously low. "Bride or groom?"

"Groom." Doug craned his neck to look inside the cathedral. "Evie still with Mal?"

"They'll be busy till the reception," Carlos told him, pointing out the side for Ben's guests.

"How did you do on the weather hex final?" Maxwell asked Jane. Both of them had their wands in holsters attached to their belts, a habit they'd picked up after spending the last year studying at the Dark Fairy Academy for Magic. "I think Professor Vidia went a little easy."

Jane laughed. "Did you finally pass one of her exams? Because I did amazing."

Carlos draped his arm over her shoulders. "Top of her year, in fact."

"Just like you, techie." She pressed her lips to his quickly, electricity zipping down her nervous system. They were never far apart, thanks to Carlos choosing to study at Camelot's Institute of Technology, only a few minutes away from her school.

"You two are so gross," Maxwell groaned before heading into the cathedral with his friends.

Another car, a stretch limo in fact, pulled up just then. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a tall figure with blonde curls in a green renaissance inspired velvet dress with bell sleeves emerged. Her hair rippled despite the lack of wind.

Circe, Belle's mother, the witch who cursed Adam, grandmother to the groom.

She was wearing a golden circlet crown that was digging into her forehead.

Jane approached her since the boys had frozen, staring at such a powerful woman.

"Welcome to the Royal Wedding."

Circe looked up at the green flame painted banners. Her lips curled into her trademark mysterious smile.

"Be a dear and give this to my grandson." She pressed an envelope into Jane's hand. Then she glanced at the banners once more.

Under her emerald gaze they suddenly erupted into green flames. The fire zipped down the banner, racing on the fabric that wove its way into the cathedral. The great building began to fill with smoke. Lonnie, Doug, and Maxwell were doing their best to drag guests out, everyone coughing, eyes stinging.

Harry swayed on his feet, patting his red leather jacket. "Is there any fire on me? Huh, is there?"

Circe flicked her hand in his direction and a gush of water fell on his head, drenching him from head to toe. He glared at her while his eyeliner dripped down her face, watching her get back in her limo and drive away.

Jane, Carlos, and Jay stared with their jaws hanging open.

"I, um…" Jane held up the envelope. "I'm going to go tell Ben."

"I'll tell Mal." Carlos was already off running.

"I'll…stay here?" Jay watched the others run off before turning back to help Lonnie put out the fire.


Ben stood in front of his own dark mirror in his room (he had official rooms in the palace now, mostly undecorated until after the honeymoon, but they were his) while Winter rushed through doing his hair. Chad, his second groomsman, lounged on a nearby chaise, sampling the platter of food the castle golems had laid out, carefully not wrinkling his royal blue suit.

"Okay. As your bridegroom and High King of Auradon, I accept this with great honor. I pledge my loyalty and power over…. over…. The people that I'm not marrying?"

Winter's comb was digging into his scalp.

"To the Unforgiving," Audrey prompted, stumbling into the room with a basket filled with fruit.

"Oh right!" Ben turned back to the mirror as Winter gave his hair one last look over. "The Unforgiving States of Auradon and the Isle of the Forgotten."

"You got this!" Winter squealed, stepping off her stool. Her dark hair cascaded down her back and her royal blue gown looked lovely against her pale skin. Yellow peeked out from under the skirt, and it was tied extra tight around her waist with a big red bow.

"Super easy," Ben muttered. At least his hair looked good. Chestnut brown, both wickedly rumpled but still styled, his scruffy beard brushed for once in his life. Winter was a magic worker.

Ben glanced over at the newest basket piled on a table by the fireplace. "Who are those from, anyway?"

"I believe a gift from Queen Gothel." Audrey stood up, picking a speck of dust off her purple Ma'am of Honor dress. "There's a card…somewhere in there."

"Yum." Chad plucked a golden plum off the top. "Remind me to marry a queen when it's my turn."

Audrey took the fruit before he could take a bite, rolling her eyes.

Just then, the doors burst open, and Jane ran in. "Circe just left."

"Left?" Audrey repeated. "What do you mean left?"

"She arrived, set the banners on fire, gave me this letter, then drove off in her fancy limo."

Ben took the envelope from Jane, tearing it open with his sharp nails. Two things were inside.

A dried rose, its petals cracking off the stem. And a small card.

"You forgot something at home."

He crumpled the card, his heart racing. He loved his grandmother, he really did, and he'd been learning so much from her these last few months now that she was free to travel between Auradon and the Isle.

But she was also a tricky puppet master, pulling on people's strings whenever she felt like it. Ben had nearly forgotten that.

"We're going to the Isle."

"The Isle?" Chad exclaimed, standing up. "What…I mean, why would we…It's your wedding!"

"And there's something we need to do on the Isle first," Ben replied. He was already heading to the door, blood boiling.

Audrey suddenly stepped into his path. "Can tell you're definitely upset but still definitely going. But, um, can we not adventure in our wedding outfits?"

Ben glanced down at his very fancy clothes. "Oh. Right. But after we change-"

Audrey waved off his words, nodding. "Yes. We're going to the Isle."