Weeks later

Dream

"You shouldn't look after her, you know what she'll turn into! She's a monster!"

She shouts at her sister. She only visits her in the most important situations, and the adoption of that little creature with horns seems to be an attractive topic. She can't accept this, she's given up four lessons just to go and see her.

" This is my business, and it's not yours! I don't owe you any satisfaction, Helena."

The kind fairy shouts back. She can't accept someone talking this way about such an innocent child.

"You also saw what I saw!"

"Don't play the future card on me."

"What are you crying about? I didn't know you had a baby."

In the middle of their discussion, a loud cry broke out.

"Baby? What baby? You're crazy."

Her focus moved from her sister to the child's cry. She went over to the cradle where the cry was coming from, but she didn't see a baby; on the contrary, when she got closer, she saw a large object that she hadn't seen for a long time.

"The Book of Fairy Tales?"

She knows the cover of the book, but the pages are still white, as if time hadn't reached them. The book opens by itself, and when she touch it...

Dream off

"The book has been written again."

She jumped out of bed when she realized that this wasn't just a dream. She got up knowing that she had to go to Nanny.

(...)

Enchanted florest

The woman got up from her bed and thanked the heavens that she still lived in the old house.

"Come in."

She said this to her younger sister before she even had a chance to knock.

"Did you dream too?"

The two women are in their loose-fitting dresses with cold clothes on top, and they both look at each other in fright.

(...)

United States of Auradon

In the Beast's castle, the queen once again finds herself waking up in front of the toilet, and this is already taking away her sleep, and Mal hates not sleeping. Since arriving from Paris, when the nausea started, her health seems to have worsened, and she certainly won't be going to the hospital because that's not her custom, especially with everything going on in Auradon. She just wants to sleep before being woken up for her duties.

There is a group of Auradonians who have been angry with Ben and his reign since the apocalypse. He wouldn't mind if this group didn't grow so quickly. There are people who don't agree with Ben and everything he did and was doing. It's not a kind of new council; it doesn't come to that. It's just people angry that their king disappeared during the worst disaster the country has ever experienced.

Last week, Mal and Ben met with them. Ben won't abandon the throne for a few disgruntled people, but he will try dialog, as he always has. What's causing the mess that's making everyone nervous? Magic, everyone's old friend and enemy, the problem and the solution. This group asks Ben to ban magic from Auradon, and he would ignore this request, but not a few people have a hatred for magic.

"Good morning."

Mal said to her husband, trying to stay asleep. Even after years, the girl hasn't gotten used to waking up early.

"Good morning."

Ben says as he fixes his jacket and kisses her forehead.

" Reunion?"

She asks as she walks around the room.

"It's that group again, we have to resolve this soon."

He looks at the ties as if he's going to choose one different from his usual colors.

"I don't think this is going to be easy, Ben."

She said it tiredly.

"Neither do I, but I have to hope."

Mal took her shower, thinking about how the day would go and already feeling her stomach turn again. Mal ran her hands over her body, feeling different... probably a stomach infection.

"You must stay calm."

She spoke to Ben again.

"You too. Let them talk, okay? They can say whatever they want about me."

He asked, pulling her by the waist to stop her from going to the closet to get a dress.

"You too. You know I'm the daughter of you know who, they'll always mention it. Do we have a deal then?"

(...)

"It's absurd to demand this of us! We have nothing to do with your mess! We're human!"

One of the men shouts in the meeting room. It's always like this. Shouting and more shouting. Mal usually avoids shouting, but that doesn't stop the anger. She wishes she had a magic book right now, just to distract her a little. Ben says the same things, and they bring up the same arguments.

"I understand you both, and I don't think any of us should have had to go through what happened two years ago, but we've tried everything we can to repair the damage." Ben took a deep breath before continuing. "You know we don't use magic easily. I'm against the use of magic."

"King Benjamin, you say you're against it, but you always use magic."

One of the men, a nobleman, interrupted the king.

"When have I used magic?"

"Let's see, the last few times your life was in danger, I can't remember a time when you weren't saved by the negligent use of magic."

"Sir..."

Ben tried to get the man's attention but was interrupted again.

"You, King." The man said it in a sarcastic voice. "Once bewitched by his wife," Ben knows where the subject is going, so his fists are already clenched on the table. "What removed the spell? Improving the question, "How many times have you been bewitched, king?" Mal wants to be irresponsible enough right now to leave the room. "King Ben, you live by magic, but you won't admit it."

"Gentlemen, what is your suggestion?"

Ben summoned up all the patience he had to keep from snapping at them.

"We want a law."

"A law?"

Mal asked, feeling that no good would come of the suggestion.

"Yes, a law banning the use of magic."

"A law banning magic? You know that no matter how sophisticated the world is, there is still magic and beings that depend on it, right? Your lovely Auradon Prep fairy teachers, like Fauna, Flora and Merryweather, and your beloved animals, Jiminy Cricket, Dude and others, can't talk without magic! So..."

Mal spoke deeply, trying to remain calm until she interrupted.

"Write down the points of that law and bring it to us, the queen and I will read it."

Ben said this and received an angry look from Mal.

(...)

As soon as the meeting was over, Mal went to Evie's studio. She urgently needed to talk to her and try on the new dresses.

"Tell me who they think they are? And him to interrupt me?" Mal began to vent to Evie, who tried to measure the fabric in her friend's arms, which wouldn't stop moving. "Do away with magic? Does he know that everything in this world only exists because of magic?"

"Again?"

Evie wonders, holding up the tape measure.

"What again? Evie, can you hear me?"

Mal started to leave the platform, but Evie stopped her while looking intently at her notes.

"Oh? Of course. Ben, council and royal things." She said this, causing her friend's eyes to roll. "Mal, I don't understand, how can your measurements change in two weeks? Your hips and bust are increased in size, and I've already changed them last week, I'm sure."

"Evie, are you saying I've put on weight?"

" Mal, actually, I'm thinking about something else."

Evie laughed at her thought, while Mal looked at her friend without understanding the reason for laughter.