For the most part, Ben ignored the secret library. He didn't want to pull suspicion to himself as he waited for some kind of sign. Days passed and he didn't sense any kind of change, any surges of magic that he was beginning to recognize as Mal, just the usual stuff from her mother. He was beginning to wonder if he would ever sense that same energy again, beginning to wonder if Mal would even bother saving him.

Then, he felt it.

It woke him from a deep dreamless sleep.

At first, the magic was light, waking him with a gentle surge. Something small must have happened, maybe she had arrived and found his signs in the library. Then, it grew stronger, like she was truly there, and there to stay. Silently, he got out of bed, thankfully Maleficent had begun to trust him to live semi normally in his own castle, and moved toward the library as silently as he could.

Luckily, the path was familiar to him. There were many a nights in the summer castle where he was supposed to be in bed but had crept silently thorough the halls toward the massive library. He moved quickly. He hoped he hadn't missed her.

When he got to the library, it was dark. No signs of life, as was usual in Maleficent's regime. Still, he moved as stealthily as he could, he had no idea of who could be watching. Or what could be watching.

When he got down into the secret library and turned the lights on, at first he saw no sign of her. He wondered if it was even her at all, or her mother simply teasing him, testing his boundaries and his limits. Then, he saw it.

One of the books was turned backwards in the bookshelf, the pages facing out instead of the usual title. It was so subtle he nearly missed it, but as he reached up to grab the book from the high shelf, her image came to him and only got stronger as he gripped the book between his fingers.

"Ben," She said, seriously at first, but then broke into a small smile. "My Benny-boo," She said, the usual nickname he hated, but the one he put up with because he knew she loved it. "If you're seeing this, it means that we're getting closer to the end of my mother. It means we're coming to save you. I can't tell you much, but know we are coming for you. Know that in the end it can only be her or me, but whatever happens, I will make it so you will sit on the throne again." How he wished it was truly her there and not some magic she had concocted. "Know that I love you, Ben."

Then, just as soon as it appeared, it was gone.

He had enjoyed seeing her, but something about the whole thing made his heart hurt more. He would have done anything to see her in person, but he knew that wouldn't be possible before they all got there to save him. There wouldn't be much time alone with her, if any at all. Still, he knew what he had to do.

He had to forget he saw anything, just in case Maleficent was watching him, was planning on torturing him for information about what he knew.

He held onto the hope that everything would work out, but a nagging feeling followd him out of the secret library.

In the morning, when the servants woke him up, he was sure it had been some kind of dream. He convinced hismelf it was some kind of dream just in case Maleficent knew something, or asked him anything about it.

"My mistress summons you once more, Boy King," The servant told him as she bathed and dressed him and offered him some food from the kitchens that was fresher than usual. "She has been good to us today," She said, pointing to the fresh food and the beautiful new suit that had been laid out for him.

Ben wondered what that could mean as he was cleaned and dressed and fed. Usually, with his parents, it meant they loved him, but he never could tell with a villain. From what he knew of Mal's mother, there was very little displays of love, and he highly doubted that she would have changed in the last few years.

Then the realization came to him. She must have wanted something from him. She must have known about what had happened in the library. He would have to keep his wits about him.

Still, he kept a brave face throughout the halls and until he reached her in the throne room.

He didn't bother to knock, the doors, for whatever reason always naturally opened for him. Or perhaps it was Maleficent herself. He never knew and he never planned on asking. When he entered, there was something totally new.

Maleficent stood in the middle of the broken tiles of the ballroom, holding a bleeding Mal by her hair. Ben steeled his emotions. Maleficent had found Mal and she would win. Still, he hesitated. The magic was heavy in the air and making his head surge.

"Ah, Benjamin," Maleficent said as soon as she saw him. It was quite strange to hear his full name from her lips, so he knew something had changed. She sounded much too calm for the situation. "I was hoping you would see my little display of magic." In a brief moment, everything disappeared. "Tell me, would you like to be here to watch my daughter die, or shall I keep you locked up?"

Ben took a deep breath. He had to choose his words wisely. "Is there any possibility you don't have to kill her?" He asked next. "Is there a way the two of you could live in peace?"

Maleficent paused and looked at him as if he had grown a second head. Then, she broke out into a laugh that for a brief moment, if he closed his eyes, reminded him of Mal. "No," She said, once she stopped laughing. "Definitely not. We fae don't work as well together as you humans do." She must have watched as his face fell. "But if it makes you feel any better, Benny Boo," She walked forward and stroked his chin. "I can lock you away until it's all over." She slapped his cheek gently. "I'll even let you be a prince again. You so loved being a prince, didn't you, Precious?"

Ben did his best not to recoil and make her furious. "If it's all the same to you," he said, still choosing his words very carefully. "I would like to see Mal one more time, before you kill her and take back the magic."

Maleficent laughed. "Oh ho!" She said, slapping his face gently again. "Someone has been doing their research." She laughed again, her face smug. "Or are you just trying to butter me up so you can fuck my daughter one more time?"

Ben couldn't hide his reaction then.

"Please, Boy King," Maleficent said as she let him go and walked away. "Everyone over ten knows what a beacon that strong in the sky means. We villains aren't opposed to a little poke in the forest every now and then." She laughed. 'The stories I could tell you about the kings of Auradon, or most of them anyway."

She brought forth the same illusion as before, but instead of Mal under her arm it was the previous kings the rumors had matched her with. But Ben noticed as they cycled through, even though he didn't really want to watch, King Arthur was missing from the bunch she maimed and killed.

Mal's father. Could she still love him?

The moment the specter in her arms turned into Mal again, he felt the magic surge over him, but he couldn't stop it.

Her first test appearance in the secret library had gone well. She wasn't sure if anyone even knew it existed, but then she saw the small signs that Ben had been there.

Foolishly she left him a message too.

But she had known better than to check for a response from him. He should have been smart enough not to leave one.

When she arrived the second time, the magic was stronger.

For a brief moment, it strangled her. Then, once she got used to it, it started to become manageable.

From there, she was able to use it as a beacon to find her mother. In the past she would have avoided it, but there would be no avoiding it now. Where her mother was, she could only assume Ben was too.

The worst part was waiting for them all to get there. She couldn't pull them all at once, but slowly, they all appeared with her in the small space of the library.

"Where is she?" Evie asked as soon as she arrived, quickly followed by Doug.

"Where else?" Mal asked with a sarcastic tone. Of course it would be the only room in the castle she hated. "The ballroom."