Chapter Forty Eight
A/N: I do not own anything other than my OCs when they come out to play. Everything else belongs to either Disney or the Greek Myths.
smh—guys can you believe we're four chapters away from finishing the group here reading Choosing Family? Honestly, I didn't think it was so close!
To answer some confusion from my previous author's note—I will be doing all the Choosing stories but this will not be like Watch and Learn where they take a break between each one. There will be a sequel after they read all the stories but that's it. Sorry guys but I've got to prioritize my sanity lol!
Urmimala Hazra: I am doing all the stories but it won't be a series like Watch and Learn with break stories in between.
Jarlos4Ever 3: Oh I loved it! Honestly I love all of your one shots, they're so creative! I especially love the idea of the unreformed villains being turned into animals!
danifan3000: Undertow I'm going to assume died since he lost all his teeth chasing Tip and Dash. Not sure about the manta rays though.
61394: Hey even I get disturbed thinking about that pairing and I came up with it!
Marcus Emrys: *cap voice* I understood that reference! Oh yeah I definitely wouldn't want to be Leah in a room full of Olympians for the Family Day scroll. Oh and fun fact, the actor who plays Harry actually is afraid of spiders. I found that out watching an old interview he did with Booboo back when they were doing press for D2.
JudiAndTheFandoms: I'm so glad you like that line!
JaclynnM: I'm so glad you liked it! :D
AmethystDragon14: Yay! lol, you okay there? Though to be fair, I still squeal every time I watch the Bal date in Descendants. Yeah Hades should get used to Ben, and of course Melody is the voice of all Bal shippers—Mal is her cousin after all lol!
Hufflepuff24: I couldn't resist including the little references :D
twilightgirl587: Awww! That's such a cute idea and I could definitely see Ben doing that! Yeah, Ben doesn't really know how to relax and take it easy but he's going to learn as he has Mal and the others in his life! I had to actually zoom in on a picture of Ben's swim trunks to confirm that it was the beast on them and not crowns.
LOST MUSES: So glad you're alive! :D That's a good idea about having a linear timeline, I think that would be good to have just to avoid any major series (just because that would turn into a ten story series otherwise). And that's a really interesting point about Sleeping Beauty! I could see someone make that reference, and hey, if it gets Leah to pass out again it's all good! :D
catetaboada2: Ask and you'll receive! So glad you're enjoying! :D
Hope you all enjoy this chapter! Let me know what you think! :D
"Hope this reading isn't too strenuous for you Benny," Malinda teased as Benji unfurled his scroll.
Benji shook his head. "Your maman is insane," he said to Malinda's stomach.
Ben didn't know what he had expected when he opened up his wardrobe to get ready for class the day after his date with Mal but it certainly hadn't been this.
"Was it the megaphone made using string, a squirrel, and an already constructed megaphone that was mentioned before?" Carlos asked, slightly timid but his voice growing more and more confident with each scroll.
"Surprisingly it was not," Benji said, shaking his head.
"I have questions," Audie said.
"It was Chip," Ben said with a small shrug.
Audie shook her head. "Why did that just answer all my questions?"
Estelle let out a small whine as he looked around for the squirrel. He still didn't know what it was but the humans kept mentioning it! He wanted to know where it was!
Instead of his usual array of suits, there were numerous shirts and jeans that Ben knew were not his.
"How do you know that? You claim to own clothes other than suits after all," Chad told Ben.
Benji chuckled. "They made it pretty obvious that the clothes in question were not mine."
He had never owned anything with a reindeer on it for instance.
"I think I know who's responsible for the missing suits," Anna said, chuckling slightly as she looked at her son.
"Someone could be framing me," Akiho pointed out.
"Were they?" Chip asked Benji.
"Nope," Benji told him.
"Note to self, get different friends," Ben sighed as he grabbed a short sleeved brown shirt with a reindeer on it and a pair of jeans.
"Like we'd let that happen," Akiho chuckled.
"Yeah we're pretty stuck to you Ben," Emir grinned.
Seriously, I need to figure out if Akiho still has that shirt or can find a way to get Ben that shirt, Malinda thought, biting her lip to keep a slight flush from forming on her cheeks.
While his friends had left him with a suit blazer, it was the green and gold plaid one that even Chip had banned him from wearing claiming it was an eyesore.
"It is an eyesore!" Chip exclaimed. "It should have never been made! Why haven't you burnt that yet?! And what do you mean even Chip?"
I honestly thought Audrey had thrown this out, he thought when he found it in the back of his wardrobe but then shook his head. He wouldn't subject anyone to that.
"One job! You had one job as a fashion obsessed pain in Ben's neck and you couldn't even do that?!"
"Teacup, you might want to calm down," Lucas told him. "You're getting so upset over a suit blazer that you're yelling at a teenager."
Chip gave him a look. "I take it from your reaction that the eyesore has never seen the light of day in your timeline?"
"…I mean Ben hasn't worn it around me so I'm going to say no?"
"Count yourself lucky then."
Not today at least.
"Well that sounds ominous," Rose said, shaking her head.
But if Emir or Akiho didn't give him back his clothes, Ben might not have the choice.
"What do you mean you'd have no choice?!"
Benji shook his head. "Two words Chip. Family. Day."
"Wear something other than a suit blazer! It wouldn't kill you!" Chip told him. "Do not subject me to the eyesore again! Not when you used to pair it with an orange and blue striped polo!"
Malinda chuckled. "So, when are you going to put the man out of his misery?"
"Ah give it another minute or so," Benji told her. "This is fun."
Family Day was that weekend after all, and he couldn't be the only one not wearing their formal attire. Not when there was a likelihood he'd be meeting Mal's mom officially for the first time.
"But…didn't you technically meet Lady Persephone when you picked up Mal for your date?" Rowyn asked.
"'Officially' probably means where Ben's acting in conjuncture with his 'Prince' title," Rachel told her sister.
"Hey Ben," Emir smirked as he walked up to Ben as the brunette stopped by his locker. "Nice shirt. It looks familiar."
"Of course it does," Aziz snorted in amusement. "I'm sure Akiho's worn it numerous times."
"Considering we've seen Akiho wear it how many times?" Ben asked, rolling his eyes a little. "Why did you guys steal my suits?"
"I think the better question is why didn't they steal your suits before now?" Melody countered.
"Because that's all you wear," Emir said with a shrug. "Jay and Carlos helped. It was a nice Tourney bonding experience."
Ben shook his head. "Why am I not surprised?"
"Because you know us too well?"
"I mean, he's known these two since they were four," Aziz said, pointing to Akiho and Emir. "What other answer could there be?"
"Plus swiping things is a time honored VK tradition," Harry grinned as Jay nodded.
"I'm just impressed you got DeVil of all people to go along with it," CJ pointed out.
"Sure, let's go with that," Ben chuckled as he grabbed his books from his locker. "You couldn't have at least left me one suit?"
"We did!"
"No, you left him a war crime!"
Phil Jr. blinked in surprise. "Okay, is it really that bad? I don't even remember Ben wearing something like what's been described."
"That's because Audrey banned me from wearing it when I was around her," Ben said, shaking his head. "It wasn't that bad!"
"You made Auntie Merryweather wonder if you were colorblind Ben," Audrey told him.
"The eyesore doesn't count," Ben told him as the two of them made their way to Chemistry. Throughout the day, Ben had to fight the urge to roll his eyes as he felt the eyes of all his classmates on him. He didn't wear suits all the time!
…did he?
"I think I've counted four times this year where Ben hasn't worn a suit," Elle said.
"Tourney doesn't count," Akiho told her. "That's a uniform after all."
"Ah. Then we're going to reduce that down to 'no times' in referring to the number of times Ben has been seen not wearing a suit."
Sadly though, he was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of a very familiar nickname.
"Three guesses who's behind that," Emir sighed.
"And if you need the other two guesses, you're Chad," Kitty shook her head.
Kit raised an eyebrow. "Cool it young lady. There's sibling banter and then there's that."
"Yes dad."
"Bennyboo, can we talk?" Audrey asked. "Also…what in the world are you wearing?"
"You know for someone who loves shopping so much, it's amazing you can't recognize clothes Audrey," Ashaki told her.
Ben closed his locker and turned to face his ex-girlfriend. "Audrey, this is the fourth time you've wanted to talk since I removed my consent for our betrothal contract. What more is there left to say?"
"Got to love how Ben just ignores Audrey's second question," Lucy said, chuckling slightly in amusement.
"And you know Audrey may be annoying but she's also tenacious," Lil Shang pointed out.
"Tenacious…slightly stalky…tomato…tamato…" Kitty said, moving her hands up and down like they were two parts of a scale.
"Bennyboo, did you really think this through before pulling out of the contract? You know there's not anyone else who can bring what I would to the marriage."
"Mal makes Ben happy though," Alexandria pointed out. "Isn't that the most important thing?"
"While it is true you would bring a reasonable dowry, there's no point to it if we have no relationship," Ben told her. "Besides, I have a girlfriend Audrey."
Malinda chuckled. "Speaking of dowries, how's the treasury doing from the fifteen chests of gems dad sent over before we were married?"
"Still going strong," Benji nodded.
"Wait…you required a dowry?" Hades asked, his hair turning slightly orange as he turned to glare at Beast.
Malinda shook her head. "Of course not. Belle even explained that since she married Adam with no dowry, it made no sense for her to require any girl Ben married to provide one. You just provided one to prove a point to Adam."
"Who's Adam? You said that name before but…"
"…dad, you do realize Ben's dad wasn't named Beast at birth right?"
"You honestly think Mal is a better match for you than me? Ben our families wouldn't have set up the contract if they didn't think we'd be a good match! Besides, a dowry isn't the only thing I could bring. My family is an amazing political alliance and you know it!"
"Mal's family are literally Gods Audrey!" Lonnie exclaimed, shaking her head in frustration. "How could your political alliances be better than that?"
Ben shook his head. "Audrey, can you even hear yourself? You're talking about us like we're prized horses being matched for breeding. Political influence and dowries aren't everything! What about the fact that we barely talked to each other? Or the fact that you haven't let me even hug you without you clinging to my arm since we were twelve? We barely know anything about each other Audrey! There is no emotional connection between us!"
Jasmine shook her head as she looked over at Leah. "What have you done to your granddaughter that she's so unfeeling? She's only interested in her political worth and not being loved!"
Audrey rolled her eyes. "Oh you want to talk about us not talking? You hide in your office any chance you get! I had to twist your arm just to get a date out of you. You rescheduled on me twice the week of the Imperial Academy game!"
Emir and Akiho stared at Audrey in shock, and even Chad seemed a bit taken aback.
"You…you are aware that he only did that because of practice right?!" Akiho spluttered as he found the ability to get the words out. "Coach increased our practices so we'd be fighting fit for that game! And we still barely won!"
"Don't remind us," Lil Shang and Shang muttered under their breath.
"That was because of practice and I still went on the date with you," Ben pointed out.
"When he was on day two of recovering from a concussion! I'm going to keep reminding people of that!"
"Yes thank you Akiho," Ben sighed and shook his head.
"I still had to pull it out of you like pulling a tooth! You say there's no emotional connection but did you try? Or did you just decide that when it got tough, you'd just quit? Thirteen years of a betrothal, a relationship down the drain!"
"Wha—did—did Ben try? All he did was try, you insane harpy!" Emir exclaimed. "You were the one who dragged him all over the mall on his one day off. You were the one who kept flaunting the fact that you were going to be Queen one day in front of everyone. If I didn't know that Ben was just a workaholic, I'd say he was bunkering down in his office to get away from you, Audrey!"
"Emir, that's enough!" Aladdin barked.
"Dad!"
"No, son. It's good that you want to stand up for your friend but you don't need to bring down others to do so."
"Audrey, before I gave the directions to Mal and the other VKs, did you even know where my office was?"
"Oh I can easily answer that," Lonnie said. "That would be a big fat no."
"Why should that matter? So now I need to hunt down my boyfriend if I want to spend time with him?"
"Yes!" Emma exclaimed. "Forget the fact that Ben was your boyfriend and remember that he's also the Crown Prince. He's going to be busy regardless of his coronation. Plus you know, he's sixteen. Teenagers are busy people."
"She says, speaking as one," Neal chuckled.
Ben sighed. "It matters because you could have tried to ask me or anyone and come knock on the door. I would have been happy for you to come in so we could spend some time together! We could have had a lunch date or just sat on the couch talking! You say I didn't try? Neither did you. I went on every shopping date you wanted Audrey, even when I was on day two of recovering from a concussion, and you didn't even know where I was for most of our relationship. Dating is fifty-fifty Audrey."
"I like this Ben. Can we keep this Ben?"
"Phillip," Aurora sighed as she looked over at her son.
Phil Jr. shrugged. "I mean, it's nice to see Ben actually get a word in edge wise against Audrey and doesn't just stand there and take it anymore."
"Hmph, and what do you know about relationships?" Leah scoffed.
"Probably a lot more than you do Grandmother," Phil shot back.
"Well I—."
"Mother, that's enough," Aurora said. "I'd thank you not to scold my son. He could have phrased his point a bit differently but he's not wrong."
"Oh yes, holed up in that office together would have been a great date Ben. No wonder I had to plan all of them! When was the last time you surprised me with a date instead of them being something I had to plan just to spend time with you? Oh and you say a relationship is fifty-fifty? Who lifts the curse? Who slays the dragon? The boyfriend Ben!"
Phillip sighed as he glanced over at Leah. "And I wonder where Audrey got that belief from?"
"Um…didn't Queen Belle save King Beast?" Robin asked.
"Technically they saved each other," Rachel shook her head. "King Beast saved Queen Belle from the wolves and then Queen Belle saved King Beast from dying from the elements by getting him back to his castle and cleaning his wounds."
"Audrey, it's not all about dates! It's about just being with your partner, talking to them and knowing what makes them tick. We never did that—and we used to be the best of friends until something changed. Be it puberty, be it different interests I don't know. And all the stories? Did Lonnie's mom wait for her boyfriend to do everything? Did Akiho's mom get saved by a guy? No, they didn't!"
Lonnie pinched the bridge of her nose. "Thank you Ben! And Audrey, remember my mom saved my dad from an avalanche!"
"That she caused!" Audrey exclaimed.
"Doesn't matter! Mom saved dad and that was after being seriously injured! Not to mention she saves him later on at the Emperor's palace!"
"In all the stories that matter Ben! You know what, clearly you're not in the mood to talk. When you're feeling more level headed, come and find me," Audrey snapped before storming off.
"Yes, it's Ben who needs to be more level headed," Ashaki muttered, shaking her head.
"Well, it's safe to say I'm glad I'm not Chad cause he's probably going to get an earful," Akiho said as he walked up. "Also, Audrey better keep her distance from me for a while. I'd hate for her to get to close to someone who's story didn't matter."
"I would like to apologize for myself," Audie said with a small sigh as she looked over at Anna. "Your story does matter. Probably more than the me in this timeline realizes."
"What do you mean by that?" Audrey scoffed.
Audie sighed before looking at Phil Jr. "The love between two siblings is probably the most true love anyone could want. If you paid attention to stories other than the ones Leah shoved down your throat, you'd realize that," she said as she looked back at Audrey. "Trust me. I learned that the hard way."
"Sorry about that," Ben sighed.
Abby shook her head. "You don't need to apologize for what Audrey says, Ben."
"It's not your fault Ben," Akiho shook his head. "The Banshee does what she does best. Hopefully she didn't give The Gazelle a juicy new story about you though."
"Oh Gods, I forgot about them," Benji sighed.
"They're still a thing? Why haven't you shut them down?" Akiho asked.
Benji raised an eyebrow. "Could you imagine the headlines? 'Tyrannical King Ben Shuts Down Newspaper He Doesn't Like!' Not worth the hassle especially while Mal's pregnant."
"It's a public hallway," Ben shrugged. "I was doing my best not to yell since Audrey doesn't deserve to have a front page story about us fighting but someone would have heard it anyway."
"Especially since it didn't seem like Audrey was giving you the same courtesy of keeping her voice down," Evan added.
"Audrey does have her fair share of people who dislike her," Emir nodded as he walked up. "But she mentioned Mal's name. The fact that you have a new girlfriend is juicy enough for those vultures. The fact that she's from the Isle and is the daughter of two Gods? That might just make their heads explode."
"Oh if only," Malinda sighed and shook her head.
"I know," Ben sighed but smiled as he saw Mal approaching.
"Best part of my day, when I get to see Mal," Benji grinned.
Mal, who seemed to stop upon seeing exactly what Ben was wearing.
"Seriously? I wear non suit related items you know!" Ben said as he shook his head.
Mal, who's eyes seemed to go up and down his body as if examining every inch of the crown prince.
"Ooh like what you see there cuz?" Uma teased.
"I'm not hearing this," Hades muttered.
Mal, who unless Ben was imagining things, seemed to flush and turn the other way.
"I think your girlfriend likes your new look," Akiho teased gently as they watched Mal scurry away.
Mal shook her head. "He's out of a suit, of course I'm going to notice."
"You don't usually flush when you notice things Mali," Jay teased.
"Why wouldn't she just say that though?" Ben asked.
"Oh you poor naive princeling," Emir sighed, resting a hand on Ben's shoulders. "You want my sister to explain the facts of life for girls to you?"
"I love how you just volunteer me when Ben knows a bunch of other girls he could ask," Ashaki chuckled.
"No thank you. Chip already gave me the talk," Ben chuckled. Meanwhile, Mal had made it to her locker and was in the process of trying to figure out her reaction to seeing Ben in something other than a suit.
"I know. It's a shock to us too," Rose nodded.
She had seen him in it before—he had worn a dress shirt and slacks to their date.
"That's practically suit adjacent. Doesn't count," Chip shook his head.
Not to mention his swimming attire, which showed the world his abs. Mal definitely wouldn't mind running her hands over those…
"Whoa! I'm not hearing this!" Hades exclaimed as Mal flushed a bright red.
Yep. Definitely giving Mal that talk, Persephone thought with a small nod of her head. She wasn't necessarily looking forward to it but knew it had to be done now that Mal was showing that she was having an attraction toward boys.
Whoa, bad thoughts! They didn't do relationships on the Isle, and Ben wasn't even love spelled so there was no point in continuing the charade…
"Hey…I thought I told you I wasn't faking anything?" Benji whispered as he kissed her cheek.
but Mal wasn't going to lie even to herself. There was something tempting about the idea of a relationship with Ben.
"Because you love him!" Dizzy squealed.
Neal jumped and rubbed his ear. "I don't think you were loud enough there Dizzy."
There was just something about him. There wasn't an act or an angle he was trying to pull, Ben genuinely was a nice guy. Who had already asked her on a date. Un-love spelled. At the very least there was no harm in enjoying it for a while, right?
Benji grinned and looked over at Malinda. "How's seven years for 'a while'?" He teased.
"You know, I don't think it's been long enough," Malinda teased back.
Gods, she didn't know what to think!
Mom? Mal thought as she leaned against her locker. Can…can we talk?
Of course Mali. Is everything okay?
I'm just…I'm so confused.
Persephone nodded. "That's it Mal, talk to me. That's what I'm there for."
What's wrong sweetheart? Did something happen with Jay?
"Why does everyone always jump to me when it involves Mal?" Jay chuckled.
No, no, it's…it's Prince Ben.
Oh? What happened? He hasn't done anything has he? He doesn't seem like the type but you know your father would gladly escape the Isle if he's hurt you.
"Gladly," Hades said, glaring slightly at Ben.
"And of course, if he couldn't, there's a whole mountain of Gods who would be happy to help," Demeter added.
Uma raised an eyebrow as Ben seemed to pale at the thought. "You all read the same scroll we did. Benny actually saved Mal."
"Let your uncle get this out of his system Uma," Persephone said with a small sigh.
Of course he'd have to be content with whatever was leftover after I got through—
"You were saying dear?" Hades asked as he turned to look at Persephone.
No, no! And that's the problem!
"The problem is that Ben didn't hurt you?" Ashaki asked, tilting her head.
He's good, he's too good! No one's as good as him mom, he doesn't seem to have any agenda, it seems genuine.
"As we've said, jury is still out on whether or not he's human," Neal said with a chuckle.
He did always seem to have a good nature about him whenever I spoke to him.
Mom, he wants to visit the Isle and try dad's food because he wants to know how his citizens are living.
Esmeralda sighed. "While it's noble to want to see first hand how the Isle is fairing, I don't think it's a good idea for Prince Ben to go alone."
"I second that!" Akiho, Chip, and Emir said in unison.
Belle nodded. "I agree Esmeralda. Ben, as noble as it is to want to see how the Isle is faring, it's not safe for you to go alone."
"But I wouldn't be alone," Ben said. "I'd likely be with Mal and Jay."
He asked me out on a date for Gods' sake!
"Why do you seem more stunned by that than the fact that Ben wants to go to the Isle?" Macaria asked.
Oh that reminds me, how was your date? Don't worry, I haven't told your father. Yet.
"Again with the ominous statements!" Lucy chuckled.
It…it was…
Sweetheart, you can say if you enjoyed it, Persephone said gently.
Mom, I'm a VK and he's the crown prince. Even if I did enjoy it, it would have to be a one off thing. It can't work even if I did want it to.
Ben looked over at Mal. "Why? We both enjoyed it, I see nothing wrong with another date happening if we both wanted."
Mal, you don't know it won't work unless you try. But if you want proof, just look at your father and me.
Hades looked over at Persephone. "Something you want to tell me dear?"
"I'm sure I'm referring to the 'opposites attract' aspect of our relationship," Persephone chuckled.
Um, okay? But you and dad are fine—
I meant the whole 'villain and Auradon person coupling not working' thing you seem worried about honey, Persephone told her, a small chuckle to her voice.
"Or you could even look at mom and dad if you want a pure Auradon couple," Abby spoke up. "Dad wasn't exactly the nicest when he and mom first started out and look at them. Married for over twenty years."
Mom, you two are Gods. It's a bit different.
"Yeah and not to mention the fact that Uncle Hades and Aunt Steph got together before there was even an Isle," Uma pointed out.
Mal, sweetie, in every relationship, all that matters is being happy with the other person. If Prince Ben makes you happy, why not give it a shot?
The future version of myself is right Mal, Persephone thought to her daughter. Guys like Prince Ben don't come around every day. And believe me, I've seen many a mortal man.
That sounds really weird mom, Mal told her.
Because he's the Golden Boy and I'm…I'm just poison from the Isle. I'm bad for him, Mal told her, her inner voice soft.
Benji shook his head as he held Malinda close. "You are the furthest thing from poison imaginable," he whispered. "You brought me back to life. You are my sun, my stars, my moon, my dragon. There is no one I'd rather be with than you."
Malinda, you listen to me okay? You are not poison. You care deeply about your brother, about your crew. Would someone who was poison need to be pretty much forced to get out of a horrible situation because it would mean leaving their friends behind? If you were as rotten as you claim you are, you'd have left without a backwards glance.
Persephone nodded firmly as she looked over at Mal. "And I stand by that Mal. Don't you ever think you're 'poison' or anything of the sort!"
But those are my friends, it's different mom! Besides, with Ben, it's like my body's sending me all these different messages. Clearly it wouldn't work if I can't decide what I'm supposed to be feeling!
Malinda chuckled as she looked at her younger self. "Yeah, that's the joy of female hormones. They'll settle eventually but they were very confusing at first."
Hades shook his head. "Nope, not hearing this. Don't want to hear it, can't make me hear it!"
"Oh dad…" Malinda said with a fond smile on her lips.
What are you feeling?
I don't know mom! All I know is that I'll have clear thoughts and then I'll catch a glimpse of Ben's eyes or see him in a short sleeved shirt like I did just five minutes ago and all I can think about is how good it looks on him and I can't think straight after!
"Nope, not hearing this. Definitely not hearing this. Don't care that she's married to the sunspot in the future, no father wants to hear this," Hades muttered.
Mal, honey, that's called attraction.
"Gotta love how blunt Aunt Steph is," Uma chuckled.
What?! No! No, mom that…that can't be it! Mal told her, horrified at the thought. If relationships weren't done on the Isle, attraction certainly wasn't done! Flings were done primarily to advance one's standing on the Isle or to get food for the few girls who weren't in a gang or crew.
"But you're not on the Isle," Hera said. "You're in Auradon where it is done and no one will scream at you for feeling attracted to a boy."
Well, what do you think it is if it's not that?
Mom, I can't be ruthless yet loyal if I'm staring after Ben like some prissy pink Auradon girl! We don't do attraction on the Isle.
"I mean…we kinda do," Harry said. "We don't stare into each other's eyes or recite poetry or anything but we can recognize when someone's looks appeal to us."
"Under fifteens in the room Harry!" Mal and Uma barked out a reminder.
"And your mother doesn't want to hear that either," Milah muttered. Yes Harry was a teenager but she died when he was two. Let her keep the image of her happy, innocent boy a while longer thank you!
Mal, honey, if you think about it, that type of nature could actually be good for a relationship.
"She has a point," Meg said.
How, mom? I mean loyal sure but ruthless?!
Ruthless could mean simply just defending your relationship and partner—and for someone like Prince Ben who's entrenched in politics and council members trying to push and pull him to support what they want, he'd probably be glad to have someone who could detect a threat.
Lonnie nodded. "That is always good for Ben. It's probably why he's kept Akiho and Emir as friends for so long."
"Actually, he's probably grown numb to their insanity," Melody pointed out.
"Ah very true."
He's the crown prince though mom. I'm sure he's got people who can do that for him.
"No one who can do it as well as you can though," Benji said, still holding Malinda close to him and kissing the top of her head.
Maybe so but as I said honey you won't really know if anything will work if you don't give it a chance. Was the date so horrible that he said he hated it?
"Even if it was, Ben would never actually tell someone he hated it to their face," Akiho pointed out.
"That does not help. You know that right?" Emir told him.
No. He…he actually said he wanted to do it again.
Then give it a shot sweetheart.
What if I mess it up mom? Or what if I'm bad for Ben? He's…he's truly not like the people here in Boreadon. Not counting you obviously.
"I feel we should take offense to that but she's right, there truly is no one like Ben," Emma nodded.
Mal, despite whatever Maleficent has told you whenever you made an appearance in her castle, you are a smart, loyal, protective girl who any guy with any amount of sense would be glad to be around.
"Since Lady Steph didn't say it only had to be in a romantic sense, that means Jay and I have some sense!" Harry grinned.
"Oh Gods, help us all," Uma teased.
What's more Prince Ben isn't stupid. He has a good head on his shoulders, if he didn't think being around you was a good idea, he wouldn't do it.
Benji nodded. "Best decision I ever made, deciding to date Mal."
He would if it meant he'd be rid of his ex.
"See how well she knows you?" Abby muttered to Ben with a small chuckle in her voice.
Mal, honey, do I need to come down there so we can talk in person? I'm more than happy to if you need me. Sweetheart, you're one of the most confident people I know. Any boy would be lucky to have a relationship with you. Even if you spelled them first.
"Busted," Hadie said with a small chuckle.
…how'd you find out about that?
"Gee, you don't think Ben running around singing about how he's in love with a girl he's known for probably a week wouldn't garner the attention of the parents?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, I have no doubt the camera phones were pulled out for that," Lonnie nodded. "Especially since Audie was able to show us her timeline's video on AuraTube."
I was talking to your father about Prince Ben's performance and he mentioned that Jay had stolen Maleficent's spell book for you. I can put two and two together after all.
"You know when it's said like that, it's fairly obvious," Chip said.
"Well with the exception that Ben can't be spelled," Akiho pointed out.
I…I didn't spell him to get into a relationship with him. He was being stubborn and wouldn't admit that he needed to get out of his betrothal contract.
"No! Ben? Being stubborn? Perish the thought!"
"Sarcasm is not a good look on you," Ben told Emir.
It wasn't good for him, he was exhausted because Sleeping Brat kept dragging him around every Sunday on his one day off from all his other prince duties. I…I didn't know he's immune to love spells though.
"We should really double check to see if that's a matter of public record," Belle muttered to Beast.
I could have told you that honey. I was at Prince Ben's christening…which is why you're only grounded for a week. Following Prince Ben's coronation.
"A mere week for spelling the Crown Prince and breaking Audrey's heart?!"
"Well I can't speak for my future self but the fact that Mal was trying to get Prince Ben out of a bad situation is probably why she was only grounded for a week," Persephone told Leah. "As well, from what I understand, heartbreak is part of growing up mortal is it not?"
…yes mom.
But anyway honey, see what I meant about protective? If you were bad for Prince Ben, you'd have spelled him for a completely different reason or tried to use the spell to get into a relationship with him.
Like to get access to the front row of Ben's coronation in order to try to steal Fairy Godmother's wand to break down the barrier around the Isle of the Lost, Audie thought.
You have to say that, you're my mother.
Just because I'm your mother doesn't make what I said false in anyway. Mal, if Prince Ben didn't want to be with you, he wouldn't have asked you out on your date.
Phoebus nodded. "Just because we're parents doesn't mean we should say anything that's untrue. Especially when talking to our children."
Mal sighed softly, she couldn't deny that her mom had a point. Still, no one in Auradon was going to let the future king date a VK. Especially one most of them 'knew' to be Maleficent's daughter.
"Yeah well who I date is my choice," Benji said, his voice growing firm. "If I want their opinions, I'll ask for it."
"You might want to take some lessons from your future self," Abby muttered to Ben.
Mal?
Sorry mom, got lost in thought.
Thinking about what I said?
"Or just thinking about Benny," Uma chuckled, teasing her cousin.
Yeah. But mom, everyone here 'knows' me as Maleficent's daughter—thanks to Sleeping Brat insisting I'm lying. There'd be riots in the streets if Ben and I became a couple.
Benji shrugged. "You know what my dad always says."
"Yes dear, you're French, you're used to the people rioting against the ruling powers, but I'm not," Malinda told him. "Forgive me for not wanting to be the reason you got hurt."
Even if I wanted to…for Ben's sake, I can't. I'm too big a risk.
"Actually you could argue that you're a better match for Ben from the security of the kingdom's standpoint," Hyllus pointed out. "Like Lonnie said, you're descended from the Gods after all. What could be a better ally for Auradon than Olympus?"
Mal, shouldn't that be Prince Ben's decision to make? Besides, if anyone did try to argue against Ben dating you, I'd be there in a heartbeat if you needed me.
And you were, mom, Malinda thought with a small, sad smile on her lips as she though about how when she needed her mom the most, she was there. Thanks in no small part to Ben and Uma.
Mom, you shouldn't have to be involved in this. It's just mindless drama—
Mal, you're my daughter. When it comes to you and your happiness, I'm happy to be involved.
"That goes for both of us Mal, and both of you," Hades said, looking at both of his kids.
Mal honey, take the chance. If you don't, you'll only have the what-ifs.
…okay.
That's my girl. I love you Mal.
I love you too mom.
"What if's are two of the most painful words," Hercules said, his voice soft. "Don't let them be yours, Mal."
I've got to go. I'll see you on Family Day okay?
Okay. Tell dad and Hadie I said hi and that I miss them.
Hadie smiled slightly. "I'm sure my future self misses you too Mali."
I will honey. You take care of yourself okay?
I will. Thanks for letting me talk to you mom. It helped.
Persephone looked over at Mal and smiled. "As I said Mal, that's what I'm there for. It's my job as your parent to be there when you need to talk about anything that's bothering you."
You're welcome honey. That's what I'm here for.
Mal disconnected the mind link and sighed, before shaking her head and grabbing her books for her next class. Thankfully she just had one more to go before she could go talk to Ben.
"And something tells me she didn't pay attention at all," Macaria chuckled.
She definitely didn't mind—especially if it meant she'd be seeing him in that shirt again.
"Oh now I know what to randomly leave in Ben's wardrobe!" Akiho grinned.
Gods imagine him in one of Jay's beanies…
"Again, if Ben wasn't with you Mal, he'd be beating girls off with a stick once they saw him in one of Jay's beanies," Audie said.
Jay chuckled and pulled the beanie he was wearing off his head. "Okay, I gotta see this," he said as he tossed it to Ben.
Ben shook his head and tugged Jay's beanie onto his head. "Well? Do I need a stick?"
"…I think you broke Mal," Uma chuckled as she looked over at her cousin. Sure enough Mal was trying to not seem as though she was reacting any differently but Uma could see a stunned look on the Godling's face.
"You might want to take that off if you want her to pay attention at all during the rest of the scrolls," Malinda told Ben, who quickly took off the beanie and handed it back to Jay.
Mal shook her head again as she got to her class. She really was going to have to focus on not thinking about that. The last thing she needed was for that thought to make it to the mind link.
"Oh tell me that happens!" Uma said with a slight smirk.
Uma and Hadie would tease her until the cows came home.
"Of course we would! How could we call ourselves family if we didn't tease you about that?" Hadie asked.
Benji shook his head in amusement. "Well that's the end of the scroll. Who wants to read next?"
"I'll read," Rapunzel offered.
"Sounds good," Benji grinned.
