A week later

Mal knew that every minute was one less with Ben. Her heart told her that her time with him was running out. Rashid's injury prevented them from going to their next destination. In theory, it would have been nice to stay and look after Ben and Jay, but the feeling that everything she loved was slipping away from her wouldn't leave her.

She looked at Ben on the bed, his leg was injured, but Fairy Godmother got crutches for him. The two of them, Mal and Ben, had had a fight the night before, because Mal had wanted to go to Wonderland straight away and Ben had been stressed out by the talk of the end of the world, after which there were only words that should never have been said.

Evie woke up exactly as she had every other day. Wishing was in Auradon. She wanted her home, her room, her studio, her dresses, her life. Tommy is sick and that distressed her even more; she knew that if she were home, the boy would be fine. She looked at Doug and let out a long sigh, because the two of them had had a long fight too. Sometimes his calmness stressed her out, she wanted her husband to be angry or at the very least stressed about everything, but Doug didn't do that, he just concentrated on his son, even when Evie said things that were hard to digest.

Jay and Lonnie had just decided for a moving into a new house together, but that didn't change her anger at Jay's willingness to take risks all the time. Jafar's son is like an older brother and always wanted to be there for Mal. He is being on bed rest is stressing him out, which is why they've been shouting at each other all night.

Even the couple, who never seemed to fight, were getting into an argument. Jane and Carlos got into an argument when he found out that Jane was manipulating magic, and after she considered the possibility of them leaving Auradon and having a life in the fairy kingdom, the white-haired boy had a crisis of rage.

"Young people are very explosive."

Rashid commented to Mal, seeing that all the couples who had always been together were now far apart over breakfast.

"Oh? I'm sorry, did you say anything?"

Mal is distracted looking at Ben across the cafeteria.

"Forget it. I came to tell you that Clarion released me, so we can go."

"Really? Great."

"What's wrong with them?"

Adam asked Belle, watching his son alone with his coffee.

"Ben had a fight with Mal, Evie had a fight with Doug, Lonnie had a fight with Jay and Carlos had a fight with Jane."

The woman explained as she sipped her traditional coffee.

"Wow, come to think of it, they're already training for married life." He received a nudge from her. "Just kidding, we were never like that."

"True, not even when Ben was born were we so distant."

"Do you know what that's called? True love."

"I don't think that's it, it's just a lack of maturity. All problems are solved by talking."

"If they could see how quickly time passes, they wouldn't do this. One second we're dancing at balls and the next refugees with fairies."

Adam warned.

"The dances, I miss them. Remember the one after we were married for ten years?"

"I remember them all." He kissed her. "It would be nice to have one of those dances here."

"Would Clarion allow it?"

(...)

Auradon

"Your Majesty."

A guard appeared handing over another bag with Agatha's request.

"Thank you and now leave."

She opened the container that held the hair of the youngest baby born in the kingdom.

She really was looking forward to finding everything she needed. Magic is a science and it takes a lot of work to think about it. The spell that would extinguish the love of happy endings had never been created. She herself had to test potions, methods and ingredients to get the results.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we've found what you asked for."

"Excellent, call the Monster, he'll destroy it all."

(...)

Pixie Hollow

Clarion allowed them to have a ball and the fairies were excited, as balls are not a regular occurrence in their lives. But the same excitement is not found in the couples who are being forced to get ready by the former king and queen.

"What's wrong with you? Don't you like balls? " Belle asked the women who were being forced to dress up. "Cheer up, you'll be dancing a bit."

"Sorry Belle, but it's hard to want to dance with all this going on."

Mal argued with his mother-in-law

"It's not just dancing, it's being with your love." They looked at the former queen with disapproval. "Listen to me, are you stressed? Yes. Do you want your homes and your privacy? Yes. Are you full of worries? Yes. But those men there will probably be the men you've will live their whole lives with and believe me, you're still not stressed, worried, nervous and without enough privacy. Wait for the kids."

"I think I know this."

Evie argued.

"We're in the middle of the apocalypse, go dancing, have fun, because believe me, feelings like that are rare. Don't waste them on silly things. Besides, not for them, but for you, who deserve a rest."

In the next room, Adam gave the same speech to the boys.

"One day you'll reach my age and believe me, you'll want to have that same feeling. This feeling that you've loved every beat and every moment of your lives. So, stop being crybabies, get out there and enjoy the night." While the boys were getting ready, the former beast went to Ben to clarify a few things. "The bad thing about being a beast is that you realize it wasn't just the fur and horns that made you a beast. You've got an amazing woman down there who loves the beast part of you too, but that doesn't mean she has to put up with all the fury and pride. Mal will go with Rashid later, you know what to do."

It sounds a bit old-fashioned and extravagant, but as soon as all the pairs appeared some fairies started playing an old song.

Tale as old as time

True as it can be

With all the magic possible, each couple lined up in turn, except Ben and Mal, since the boy couldn't stand up.

"We did a great job."

Belle said to her husband, as they danced too and watched the other couples.

"I hope so."

He said, making her look towards the far end of the courtyard where their son and daughter-in-law were.

"Are you going later then?"

Ben asked, as he leaned against the wall and took off his crutches.

"Yeah, I'll wait for the dance to finish and then I'll go."

"Good."

He gave a fake smile.

"Ben..."

"I love you." He interrupted her. Mal looked at him and just kissed him, forgetting about the accident and his leg. "Thanks for loving the beast part of me."

"What?"

She asked, laughing without understanding.

"Nothing, a chat with my dad. I just want to enjoy as much time as I can with you."

"You have an opportunity now."

She paid attention to the music that was playing.

Just a little change, small to say the least
Both a little scared, neither one prepared
Beauty and the beast

"With that leg?"

"I don't think anyone will mind." She said as she did a quick spell that kept him on his feet for a few minutes. "Come on."

At least for a few minutes they had some peace as they danced like in a fairy tale."

(...)

Auradon

"Let the war start!"

The witch screamed.