"Who was on that Council?"
Mal remained on the Isle of the Lost, she had spent a whole day listening to everything the Evil Queen had to tell her. Agatha's story really affected her, maybe it was because she understood what it was like to love someone who was your opposite, to be judged all the time because of it or simply to feel that there was a fan against your relationship.
"The Council was huge, it had almost twenty people, but over time they must have died out. Fairy Godmother was part of it, Cirse, who was the witch who turned the former Beast King into the Beast, there were several others."
"And he's over?"
She asked, as she sipped her tea.
"Probably. After Auradon was unified and we were all banished to this Island there was no reason for him to exist, correct?"
"Yeah, you're right."
Mal's great intuition told her otherwise, that council still existed, even if she didn't know it she was right.
(...)
Auradon
"'Tis all right?"
The king asked Evie.
"Yes, she said she went on the isle, but she's coming back. "Now you go over there, apologize and we'll start the ceremony."
Evie spoke excitedly.
(...)
Flashback
As the young prince of just eight years old played in his parents' wonderful castle, his lovely mother told him something he would surely treasure forever.
"Never forget this Ben, being king doesn't make you who you are. The crown is just a piece of your life."
Ten years after Belle had given him this advice, there he was making the most important decision of his life, ever since he made his first proclamation as king. After talking to Evie and hearing about all the stress his fiancée had been going through in the last few months, an idea occurred to him. He remembered his big "idealized wedding" that he and Mal had dreamed of.
(...)
Isle of the Lost
"Do you miss it here?"
Queen asked Lady.
Mal stood on the balcony looking at every detail of the Isle. When she lived here her eyes usually went to Auradon, but now that she had left there and lived as a princess, her roots pulled her back.
"I don't miss it, it's more like nostalgic memories."
She replied.
"I shouldn't either, Auradon is much better than here."
"Sometimes I have my doubts."
"Auradon is good for one reason only, because the Isle is where the villains stay and you or any of those children are not responsible for our past choices."
"Maybe you're right."
"I'm right, look at you Mal, you were the little child who sought her mother's approval and now you're about to marry prince and become queen."
"Queen, huh?"
How she still hated that title.
"Mal, you are happy now. The little beast Junior loves you and you know what it is to be loved. I must confess something to you, I never agreed with the way Maleficent raised you, I was never the best mother to Evie, but I always made sure she knew she was special and you always groveled for Maleficent's attention."
"And this sad reminder of my past is why exactly?"
She didn't need to be reminded of her painful memories.
"You don't need anyone's approval, you found someone you love and most importantly, you love yourself."
"For a Evil Queen, you're being really good. Thank you Grimhilde."
(...)
Auradon
"Great, that's wonderful to hear, I'll meet you there." Evie hung up the phone and turned to Ben. "Doug told the reporters you were going to Avalor, that means no reporters, just for today. The boys are going to cover the entrance so no one will come, Jane is fixing up the place. We were going to ask a fairy to do the ceremony, but Doug warned me that they can be quite gossipy and it wouldn't be good to talk to the Fairy Godmother, so we'll just wing it, her dress is ready and there's just one thing missing."
"What?"
He said nervously.
"Just one little detail, did you tell Mal?"
"I'll do that, but what should I say? Explain the whole story? Do I say a poem? I know, sing a song! But I can also...
"You'll manage, now go!"
(...)
Isle of the Lost
"Thank you queen."
"Anytime."
She gave him a long hug and took the limousine Evie had sent for her.
As soon as the huge car arrived in Auradon, Mal who had been distracted was awakened when she saw Ben holding a bouquet of her favorite flowers.
"What did I miss?"
She asked with a wide smile since the day before he had hated her.
"This is for you."
He handed it to her.
"What happened to all the hate and anger from me?"
"First, I am humanly incapable of hating you. Mal forgive me, I was childish. You have every right to have your secrets and you don't have to tell me anything."
"No Ben, you're right. We are getting married and we should be honest with each other."
"About that..."
"What? You don't want to get married anymore?"
"No, of course I do, but first I want a kiss, because I miss you." Ben gave her a kiss, although Mal didn't understand. "Well now, I need your ring."
"See, it's a break up!"
"Maleficent Bertha Faery." She handed him the ring and he knelt down. "Mal, you're the woman of my life and so, would you agree to marry me tonight, at 7:00 p.m., on the west side of the forest, without cameras and reporters, with you dressed in an unruly dress, our friends and me?"
"What?" It might have been silly, but Mal was at that minute watery-eyed and not believing a word Benjamin said. "Are you serious? Did you plan a wedding today?"
"Not by myself, I had helpers, so is that yes? I need a confirmation you know? The press think we're in Avalor."
"Yes, definitely yes."
"That's good to hear, now you need to get the limo and run to Evie's atelier..."
Continue...