AN:
harshtare8688 & DeathCrawler: Thank you!
AmethystDragon14: Aw, you're sweet, thank you! I WILL say it again, Auradon's royals are not normal xD
cass585339: Thank you! There will be sequels!
The screen lit up, revealing a time skip to the next day. Ben took Mal's hand, squeezing it gently to remind her that this was the future. A future Persephone assured wasn't set in stone.
Snow White was leading the coronation coverage.
"You looked beautiful Snow," Florian said as he leaned over to kiss her cheek.
Snow smiled, "Thanks Honey." She was still a bit nervous about the coverage tomorrow. She'd worked hard at her job, trying to prove to everyone that it wasn't just handed to her because she's a queen.
Evil Queen was shown watching a TV, mocking her step-daughter and insisting that Snow had to have had plastic surgery.
Sandra rolled her eyes at her step-grandmother's words. Beside her, her mother sighed deeply.
The feed showed the inside of the chapel, with Audrey spinning in her dress while Jane stood awkwardly to the side.
Aurora frowned, "Audrey, that's not the gown we were going over last month." She said, casting a questioning look to her daughter.
Audrey looked down at her hands, "Grammy didn't like that one, and surprised me with the new dress at my last fitting." She admitted.
"Mother!"
Queen Leah huffed, "The first dress wasn't suitable for the coronation, Aurora. Honestly, it looked more fairy like than anything with that tulle and flowers. This dress is much more sophisticated."
"It's a copy of my dress from when I was Audrey's age!" Aurora argued.
"And what's wrong with that?"
If it wasn't for Audrey reaching out and grabbing her mother's hand, Aurora would have argued more. But instead, she let it drop as Audrey shook her head. "It's fine, Mom, really."
Oh, Fairy Godmother is looking radiant!" Snow White exclaimed. "But what is happening with Jane's hair?"
Snow gasped. "Jane, I am so sorry! I shouldn't have said that."
Jane tried to smile, attempting to smother the hurt as she accepted Snow's apology. Even though her hair wasn't going to change back, in that future it did and everyone's reactions to it made the little bit of self confidence she had managed to build up fall back down.
Fairy Godmother's wand was shown on the TV, and Maleficent leaned forward, yelling about how she wanted the wand.
"Do you?" Cruella asked. "Hadn't heard."
Roger couldn't help the snort that escaped at the woman's words, quickly trying to cover it up with a cough as his wife and daughter gave him the stink eye.
Snow then announced Ben's arrival, showing Ben and Mal in a carriage.
"Look at that dress!" Karine exclaimed.
Mal grinned, "Evie made it."
"It's gorgeous!"
"You really think so?" Evie asked shyly, while mentally critiquing her work. Maybe she could work on the dress some more before tomorrow.
"Yes."
"I'd commission you." Abi said, averting her eyes when Evie looked her way. "You're talented, Evie."
Some more princesses chimed in, and Mal nudged Evie, her grin growing wider.
Ben took Mal's hand and told her not to be nervous. "All you have to do is sit there and look beautiful. No problem there."
Aw's rang around the room, and a blush crept up Mal's cheeks.
Mal thanked him, and Ben then asked her to wear his ring.
Audrey sucked in a breath. The only time Ben ever took that ring off was for sports. For him to ask Mal to wear it, that meant something. It meant that he was serious. At least, more serious than he had ever been with her.
Mal declined, making up an excuse about it falling right off of her. She then told Ben that she had something for him, handing him a box. He opened it to find the antidote-laced brownie, while Mal explained that it was for later, some carbs to boost his energy.
"The love potion was a cookie, and the antidote a brownie?" Aksel questioned. "Mal, I think your mom finds baking evil."
"From a strategic standpoint, it makes sense." Moira told him. "Who's going to think a baked good is potion laced?"
Hands flew up around the room, and Moira sighed. "Let me rephrase that, would any of you have thought that before today?"
The only hands that stayed up were Snow White's, and the VKs. Moira gestured in a 'there you go,' sort of way.
"Always thinking," Ben laughed, before telling her that he couldn't wait, and despite Mal's protests he took a bite.
"Finally, this nonsense will end." Queen Leah muttered.
Mal began to freak out, asking Ben if he felt okay. He said he was fine, and she stumbled over her next question. "Would you say that you're still.. That.. that you have very strong feelings for me?"
"I'm not sure." Ben responded. "I mean, let's give the anti-love potion a few minutes to take effect."
"WHAT?!" Queen Leah screeched, while others cried out "You knew?!"
"It was the lake, right?" Someone called out.
Ben nodded. "The Enchanted Lake washes away all spells." He explained.
"So you've known since your first date." Evie said, a smile growing on her face. Her eyes then widened and she grabbed Mal's arm. "Wait, you and Ben talked earlier, and you're not freaking out. Did he tell you about this?"
"Yes," Mal admitted. "We already talked it out."
Evie squealed and pulled Mal into a hug. With Mal occupied, Ben turned away from the girls, and looked at his parents. His dad had an unreadable expression, while his mom looked at him and mouthed "We trust you."
Mal agreed for just a moment before she realized what he said.
Jay chuckled, and Mal glared at him.
"You knew?"
"That you spelled me?" Ben asked with a smile. "Yeah, I knew."
Mal quickly told him that she could explain, and he stopped her. "No, look, it's fine. I mean, you had a crush on me, I was with Audrey. You didn't trust that it could happen on its own. Am I right?"
"Not quite." Ebba said with a shake of her head.
Mal said yes. Then she got somber, asking how long he'd known.
He told her that he found out on their first date, as the Enchanted Lake washed the spell away.
"So then what? You've just been… faking it since then?" Mal asked.
Ben took her hand and slid his ring on her finger while saying, "I haven't been faking anything." He then kissed the back of her hand, and Mal smiled.
"Aww," Jamila sighed as she leaned into Dasha. "My ship has officially sailed.
"They've been dating for a few weeks." Dasha laughed. Although she was also grinning at the screen.
"Yeah, but now they're on the same page!"
Meanwhile, the villains were watching the coverage in shock. "My daughter…" Maleficent said. "Looking like some kind of-"
"Princess!" Snow White finished. She opened up a note to see who the designer of Mal's dress was, and read out the name "Evie." in confusion.
"That's my daughter!" Evil Queen shouted several times.
Evie's eyes misted. "She's proud of me?" She asked, unable to look away from her mother's joyful expression.
Jay wrapped an arm around her shoulders, while Mal squeezed her hand.
Maleficent wasn't impressed, and boasted about how Mal duped a prince and was close to stealing the magic wand./b
"Of course they're arguing over who's better." Anna scoffed.
Maleficent started to shout that it was happening, and for the others to gird their loins
"I did not need that mental image." Marette said with a scrunch of her nose.
"I'm concerned that you can make that mental image." Maisie responded.
"Our revenge begins today!"
The villains all laughed, and the scene changed back to the chapel. Mal curtsied to Ben's parents. "About the other day-" She began.
"Mal, you do not need to apologize to them." Rapunzel said firmly, first looking at Belle and Beast before locking eyes with the girl. "Nothing about today was your fault."
Beast cut her off, telling her that he had told Ben this wouldn't be easy.
"You also told me that a king has to believe in himself, even when it isn't easy." Ben responded.
Beast questioned it, not remembering those words, but Belle lightly hit his arm and he said "How wise of me."
"You've said it a lot over the years." Ben said with a fond smile.
Belle took Ben's hands and told him that they were proud of him, and to keep listening to his heart, while Beast told him that he was going to make a fine king.
"A great king," Mal amended quietly. "I know it."
Ben told Mal to wish him luck, as she was led away. On his own, Ben walked into the chapel, and the coronation began. Inside, a children's choir was singing. Evie, Jay, and Carlos were shown to be on the balcony in front of them.
"Hey, quick question, why are Audrey and Chad in the front?" Jay asked with a frown. He had spotted them during the shots of the chapel, and it looked like they were still there. But Ben had said that only his parents and girlfriend would be in the front.
"I'm supposed to go with Grammy." Audrey answered, shifting a little in her wasn't sure how she felt about that now. To be honest, she wasn't that thrilled with it when her grandmother suggested it in the first place. She'd be out of place in the front as she wasn't a current or former queen, or even the first in line for a throne. "Chad is a Crown Heir. All of them are in the front." She pointed to the screen. "If you look closely, you should be able to spot Aleksander, Koa, and even Princess Kiara."
"The future Kings and Queens of Auradon are required to be up front at the coronation, and any future coronations." King Beast added. "As a show of support. They are only allowed to have a spouse with them, which most of them don't have yet."
Ben slowly walked down the aisle, smiling at Mal as he passed her.
The scene shifted to Maleficent for a moment, as she whispered "Don't blow it, kiddo."
Ben took Mal's free hand and began to rub circles on the back of it, while Mal looked away from her mother and tried not to think of all the ways Maleficent would punish her if she had the chance.
Fairy Godmother took the King's Crown off of Beast's head, and Ben knelt in front of her so she could place it on his.
"That crown does not look right." Eugene whispered to Rapunzel. "I should know. Crowns are my specialty."
"Eugene!" Rapunzel scolded, though she silently agreed with him.
Beast lifted the lid off the platform holding the wand, and Belle carefully handed Fairy Godmother the object. Fairy Godmother then turned back to Ben, asking "Do you solemnly swear to govern the peoples of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?"
"He's just a kid." Anastasia whispered to Dmitri. "This shouldn't be on his shoulders."
Dmitri rubbed her arm. "It's too late to change things. All we can do now is support him."
Ben swore he would, and Fairy Godmother smiled. She said that it was her honor and joy to bless their new king. But before she could, the wand was snatched out of her hand. The hands of the thief were shown, and it was evident that whoever it was was struggling to control the wand
"You did it." Carlos said, leaning back in his seat.
Mal looked at the screen in shock. "I did it?"
"No, someone took the wand." Aksel corrected. "That doesn't mean it was you, Mal."
A burst of magic hit the barrier, creating a hole.
"Are all of the villains going to escape?" Kari asked, burrowing into her parents arms as the scene showed the Evil Queen stating that they were free.
"The barrier isn't fully down." Kristoff assured her. "I can still see it shimmering. It looks like the blast must have hit a weak spot."
Carlos' eyes widened. "The hole."
"Hole?" Beast echoed.
The VKs all shared nervous looks, and Carlos explained that he had once made a device that shot a tiny hole in the barrier for about a minute. "I was never able to recreate it, and our parents never found out." He said. "We thought that the hole patched itself up, since there didn't seem to be any changes on the Isle."
"It might have." Fairy Godmother confirmed. "But it would be weak. The blast from my wand likely opened it back up, and this time the barrier was unable to mend itself."
Maleficent called her scepter to her and cackled, before disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Kari squeaked, burrowing deeper into her dad's arms. Up front, Mal had leaned forward. Her mother escaped the Isle. The amount of damage she could do…
"It's alright Mal." Ben said soothingly, rubbing her back while watching the screen closely. "This hasn't happened. It won't happen."
"Child, what are you doing?" Fairy Godmother yelled as the screen switched back to the coronation and revealed that it wasn't Mal, but Jane, who had grabbed the wand.
"If you won't make me beautiful, I'll do it myself!"
"Jane!" Rebecca exclaimed in shock. "What are you doing?"
"I don't know!" Jane cried back. She covered her mouth as her future-self fought against the wand. Not only did she steal it for vanity, she couldn't even control the wand. It wasn't accepting her. She wasn't powerful enough to use it, and was putting everyone in danger because of that.
One of her hands was pulled away from her face, and she looked over to Carlos. "That's the future," he told her, "That's not you."
Beast yelled for everyone to take cover as Mal ran toward Jane, wrestling the wand away from her while Belle yelled for her to be careful.
"Why isn't Fairy Godmother the one trying to get the wand from Jane?" Jordan asked her father. "Jane is her daughter and Mal isn't trained in magic! Actually, neither of them are! They could both get hurt!"
Genie watched the future Fairy Godmother with a critical eye, while telling Jordan that it would be alright. "She's probably just in shock."
As soon as the wand was in Mal's grasp and away from Jane, the object settled down.
"How is she doing that?" Herkie wondered aloud, looking at Makaria with wide eyes. They had both learned about the different types of fairies, Uncle Phil insisted on it when he heard that they'd be leaving Thebes. He had insisted that Makaria and Herkie were too much like their parents, and would eventually end up in trouble.
From what they knew, dark fae didn't need wands like wish fairies, and they were generally more powerful. Maleficent would be able to overpower Fairy Godmother if she had used her magic for good. Mal was only half-fae and hadn't been using her magic for long. Not to mention that she wouldn't have the instincts when it came to using a wand. It didn't make sense for her to be able to control it when Fairy Godmother's own daughter couldn't!
Makaria frowned, looking at Mal, then at her parents. Her dad seemed confused as well, but her mom didn't.
Her mom who was talking to Persephone earlier. She had seen Mal talking to Persephone earlier.
Makaria's eyes focused back on Mal, her purple hair specifically. Amir had mentioned the god's having children with odd hair colors. She hadn't paid much attention then since it was the truth. Just look at her and Herkie! Her hair was borderline orange, and Herkie's hair had 'unnatural' red undertones. But then Pierre's words ran through her mind, how Maleficent had brown hair.
The Fate brought them here. The Fate's who were close with Hades.
Persephone, the goddess of the underworld, Hades wife, brought them here.
Hades, who was on the Isle. Hades, who's colors were blue and red. Hades, who her mom said was a master of sarcasm and sass.
Makaria's eyes widened, and she covered her mouth. "Oh gods."
"Makaria?" Herkie asked, shaking her arm. She shook her head.
Oh gods.
Jane ran off, and Ben came closer, going between Mal and his parents. He asked Mal to give him the wand, and Mal yelled at him to stay back.
"She's really going through with it." Abi said.
Elle glared at her. "Or she's overwhelmed. Grandpa doesn't let us hold his trident without supervision because we aren't used to that power, and we're half human. It can't be that much different for a half fairy.
"I said stand back!" Mal shouted again, as Ben tried to get closer. Audrey stepped forward and yelled, "I told you so!" but stumbled back into her parents when Mal turned to her.
"Not the best time, Audrey!" Naomi snapped.
"That hasn't happened yet!" Audrey defended.
The other VK's ran to Mal. Carlos told her it was time to go, while Jay reminded her that it was "Revenge time," through clenched teeth.
"I just don't get it." Abi said. "It's obvious that you guys don't want to go on with the plan. Why not just walk away?"
Jay sighed. "Feat." He stated simply, catching the Aurdonians off guard. None of them were prepared for the VK's, specifically Jay, to admit that. "Fear of the repercussions our parents would give us." He grinned wryly. "We're not afraid of anything you guys would do if our plan failed. Only what our parents would do."
"We have no choice, Ben!" Mal cried. "Our parents-"
"Your parents made their choice! Now you make yours."
On and off the screen, everyone was holding their breath as they waited to hear Mal's decision.
"I think I want to be good." Mal whispered.
"You are good!" Ben told her. Mal yelled at him, asking how he knew that, and he told her that he was listening to his heart.
Mal paused, thinking over his words. She then said that she wanted to listen to her heart too, and turned to her friends. "And my heart is telling me that we are not our parents!"
It was only the combined forces of Pierre, Phillip, and Aurora's glares that kept Leah from saying anything.
She gestured to Jay. "I mean, stealing things doesn't make you happy. Tourney, and victory pizza with the team makes you happy."
"That's right!" Brendan yelled out, causing Jay to laugh.
Mal turned to Carlos, "And you, scratching Dude's belly makes you happy, who would've thought?" She then turned to Evie, really beginning to tear up. "And Evie... You do not have to play dumb to get a guy! You are so smart."
Evie wiped her eyes and leaned into Mal, who rested her head on top of Evie's and whispered,
"I mean it."
"And I don't want to take over the world with evil." Mal said. "It doesn't make me happy. I want to go to school." She turned to look at Ben as gasps sounded around them. "And be with Ben. Because Ben makes me really happy."
Ben kissed her head, grinning from ear to ear.
Mal turned back to the other three, "Us being friends makes me really happy." She said, "Not destroying things." She held out her fist. "I choose good, you guys."
A beat, then Jay put his fist with hers. "I choose good too." He said.
Jay looked at Mal. "I go where you go." He said, then switched to Greek and with a bittersweet smile added, "From ruthless skies to freezing tides."
Mal laughed, her eyes tearing lightly as she rolled them "That's not how it goes." She scolded with no heat.
"I choose good." Evie said, putting her first in the circle.
"You guys are my family." Evie said, looking at the other three. "It doesn't matter where we are, as long as we're together."
They all waited for Carlos, who asked for confirmation that they didn't need to be worried about their parents. "Because they're going to be really, really mad."
"They'll never reach you." Mirabel said. "I'll hide you all in the Encanto if I have too."
"Elsa would welcome you all in Northuldra!" Anna added. "And trust me, there is no getting in or out of Northuldra is the spirits don't want you too." She looked at the VK's, "Please, believe us when we say that unless you want to see your parents, you will never have to face them again."
Ben told him that their parents couldn't reach them here. "Okay then." Carlos said, reaching out to place his fist with the others. "Good."
"Something bad is going to happen." Marette said, ignoring the celebration around the room. "I can feel it."
"Like, perhaps, Maleficent?" Moira offered. She was trying to enjoy the sight of the VK's choosing good, and she was happy that they did even though she wasn't sure if she trusted them, but everyone seemed to have forgotten that Maleficent escaped.
"Yeah, that."
Mal nodded for Ben to join in, and for just a moment everything was okay.
And then Maleficent arrived.
Despite knowing that it was coming, Marette still jumped and hissed out a "See!"
"I'm back!" Maleficent sang out.
Mal sighed, telling her mother to go away.
"You sound done with everything." Sandra said. Mal hummed in agreement.
Maleficent laughed, telling Mal that she was very funny before demanding the wand.
"No!" Ben shouted when it seemed like Mal was going to hand it over. Instead, the girl tossed the wand to Fairy Godmother. The older fairy began to say her signature enchantment, but Maleficent interrupted her with "Boo!" She raised her scepter, and all around the Aurdonian's froze, leaving only Maleficent and the VK's able to move.
"What just happened?" Lonnie shouted, looking at all of the magic users, hoping someone could give an answer.
"It's a curse Maleficent created, a light statue curse." Persephone responded, her voice low. "She didn't turn them to stone, but she still froze their bodies. In a way, it's like they are sleeping."
"She can do that?" Audrey asked. "But isn't Fairy Godmother more powerful?"
Fairy Godmother sighed. "I am." She confirmed. "But I can admit that if Maleficent hadn't chosen evil, she'd easily overpower me. In the end, she's a dark fae and I'm just a wish fairy. I can't do big spells without my incantations and wand. Maleficent, however, can."
Maleficent moved forward, walking toward Beast. "Ooh, in another time, in another time." She said as she messed with Beast's glasses and looked him over.
Mal and Ben looked equally disturbed, while Marette was muttering about more images she didn't need in her head.
Maleficent began to hum Evil Like Me while going to take Fairy Godmother's wand.
Mal flinched at the reminder that her encounter in the museum hadn't been her own dream, but a mind connection with her mother.
She asked where she should begin, answering herself as she summoned Ben's ring while telling Mal that falling in love was weak and ridiculous. "It's not what you want!"
Beast made a low growl at the sight of Maleficent touching his son. He could only imagine the thoughts running through the woman's head. None of which were good.
A few rows behind, Ruby crossed her arms. "You don't get to decide what Mal wants." She said to the screen with narrowed eyes.
"You don't know what I want!" Mal shouted. "Mom, have you ever once asked me what I want? I'm not you!"
Maleficent sighed, saying that she knows that, but she's had years of practice and someday Mal will get there.
"I don't want to get there!" Mal exclaimed. "I don't want to be evil and rotten and cruel! I don't want to take over the world, or hurt people!"
Mal insisted that she wouldn't. "And I really wish that you had never gotten there yourself." She told her mother. "Love is not weak, or ridiculous. It's actually really amazing!"
"As if you know what love feels like." Queen Leah scoffed.
"That is enough, Mother!" Aurora snapped. "I'm beginning to believe that Mal has a much greater capacity for love then you ever have!"
Leah leaned back, looking as though she'd been slapped, but no one came to her defense.
Maleficent reacted in anger, telling Mal that there was no room for love in her life.
"How could someone reach that point?" Edeline asked her mother.
Rapunzel shook her head. "Sometimes, after being hurt so many times, it can be easy to push people away. To turn your back on love." Flashes of Cassandra entered her mind. She didn't like remembering those days, when Cass was filled with anger and grief. She didn't want to imagine what would have happened if she had abandoned all hope of saving her best friend. It was hard enough to think about the day Cassandra agreed to go to the Isle of the Lost.
She brushed those thoughts away, focusing on Maleficent again. How hearing about love seemed to hit a sore spot for the Fae. "Perhaps, that's what led Maleficent down the path she's on."
Mal held out her hand. "And now I command wand to my hand!" She shouted. Fairy Godmother's wand fought against Maleficent, breaking free and going to Mal.
"Bibbidi-Bobbidi…" Fairy Godmother gasped. "Child, how strong are you?"
Mal looked down at her hands, glancing up at Persephone before looking to Fairy Godmother and quietly admitting, "I don't know."
Maleficent yelled at her daughter to give her the wand, but Carlos stopped Mal from doing anything. "Maybe good really is more powerful than evil."
Maleficent rolled her eyes and tried to scare Carlos by barking. Instead of him running, Dude came and jumped on her.
"Go Dude!" Andrew cheered.
"What did he say?" Mirabel asked Antonio, who shook his head and said, "Things I cannot repeat."
She managed to push him off, right before Jay went to try to grab her scepter.
"No!" Mal gasped. "Don't ever try that again!"
Jay frowned, "Mal, it's just a staff."
"No, it's not! Unless you are of her blood, or using the scepter for evil, it will put a sleeping curse on you." She looked at Jay. "A powerful one. If my mom had let go of it… Jay, it could have killed you."
"Then it's a good thing that's the future." Evie commented, her voice a bit shaky while Jay paled. "And it won't happen. Ever. No touching Maleficent's scepter."
Maleficent leaned forward, touching Jay's arm and saying that Gaston should be jealous.
"That is all kinds of wrong." Shang Jr. said in disgust, his parents muttering agreements.
"ENOUGH!" Maleficent shouted. She started to walk in a circle, and smoke began to surround her as she said "You all will regret this!"
The smoke completely covered her, and out of it came a dragon. It shot fire at Jay, who began to run.
"Jay!" Jordan cried, her nails digging into her palms as the future Jay dodged Maleficent.
Evie ran forward, commanding her mirror to shine a bright light. The mirror complied, and the light disoriented Maleficent, causing her to fall in front of the four. Mal pushed forward, standing in front of her friends and yelling at her mother to leave them alone. "This is between you and me, mother." She said, as her eyes glowed green.
"It shouldn't be." Persephone whispered to herself, watching the future version of her step-daughter stand against Maleficent. "It should have never been on your shoulders."
"The strength of evil is good as none, when stands before four hearts as one." Mal chanted. She said it again and again, until she and her mother were locked in a silent staring contest. It didn't go on for long, as Maleficent once again disappeared in a puff of smoke. Mal blinked in shock and looked down to see that her mother was no longer a dragon, but instead a tiny lizard.
"You did it!" Elsie exclaimed. She leaned forward and hugged Mal's shoulders in her excitement. Mal barely registered it, hugging her arms in an automatic response.
She did that? She defeated her mother? It didn't seem possible.
"Did I?" She questioned.
"Sort of." Persephone told her gently. "You were directly involved."
Fairy Godmother unfroze while the VK's tried to figure out what had happened. She raced down to them, explaining that it wasn't Mal's spell, and instead Maleficent herself, that caused the transformation. "She shrank to the size of the love in her heart." Fairy Godmother said softly. "That's why it's so itty-bitty."
Mal asked if she was going to be like that forever, and Fairy Godmother said that forever was a very long time. "You learned to love. So can she."
"I doubt it," Mal said bitterly. Her mother's heart was black, and apparently she held very little love inside of it. For the longest time, Mal held onto the hope that her mother loved her. Now, she wasn't so sure.
Mal gave Fairy Godmother her wand, and Fairy Godmother gave her Ben's ring. She told the kids that they had all earned an 'A' in Goodness Class. Then, she turned around and broke Maleficent's spell.
Beast and Ben both unfroze with roars. While Beast quickly stopped his, Ben continued on as he charged towards Mal, who stopped him and said that they had taken care of things.
"What were you going to do?" Aksel asked in amusement.
Ben shrugged. "How should I know? That hasn't happened."
"And it never will." Mal added.
Ben lifted Mal up and spun her around, both of them laughing.
"She chose good." Belle whispered to Beast, smiling at the couple on the screen.
Beast sighed, and smiled as well. "She did."
"Next time, I rescue you, okay?" Ben said after putting Mal down.
"No next time!" His parents and the Fitzherberts all shouted.
Mal laughed, "Let's not let there be a next time, okay?" She hugged him, then tilted his crown once she pulled noticed something off to the side, and said she'd be right back.
Fairy Godmother was scolding Jane away from the crowd, and Mal stepped in, placing a gentle hand on Fairy Godmother's shoulder. "Don't be too hard on Jane." She said, explaining that she was the one who put all that stuff in her head.
"Some of that stuff was already in my head." Jane said, looking down. "I should be punished."
"No you shouldn't." Karine said, getting up so she could sit next to her friend. "You didn't do that. A version of you did, but not you."
Mal took Jane's hand in hers. "You are beautiful, inside and out."
"I should have never made you doubt it." Mal said.
"Thanks Mal," Jane responded with a shy smile.
"Your mom got that right."
Jane chuckled, saying that she got lucky in the mother department. Mal agreed, and Fairy Godmother led Jane away as Audrey walked over to Mal.
Aurora held her breath, waiting to see what Audrey was going to do.
Mal curtsied to Audrey, who curtsied in response. Both girls let out soft laughs.
"Thank goodness." Phillip whispered to Aurora. Both of them looked at their daughter, who didn't seem to react much to the scene in front of her.
An attendant going to catch Maleficent caught Mal's eye and she raced forward, yelling out "Careful! That's my mom!"
"Yeah, even though she's stuck as a lizard, it's still not the best idea to let Lizardcent on the loose." Amir commented.
"Lizardcent?" Lonnie questioned.
"Don't like it? How about Malefizard?"
"You are ridiculous." Lonnie laughed, Amir just grinned in response.
Everyone laughed, and Mal joined her friends in a small huddle.
"Let's get this party started!" Jay yelled, the others responding with "Ohay-ohay-hey!"
Upbeat music began to play, and the scene changed to night, showing fireworks going off as Jafar, Cruella, and Evil Queen stood on Maleficent's balcony.
"So they didn't try to escape?" Phoebus asked in confusion. He had been mentally preparing to see multiple villains off the Isle.
"You act like the Gods are clueless." Atropos scoffed, while one of her sisters muttered that half the time they were. "Zues knew when the barrier was hit and temporarily reinforced it. He, a group of gods, Fairy Godmother, and Merlin would have gone on to fix it."
Elle leaned closer to Melody. "That is so creepy." She whispered, shrieking when Atropos turned to her and grinned.
A castle was then shown, with Ben being carried on the Tourney Team's shoulders, while Mal and Evie were singing in the background.
"You girls really should join the choir next year." Fairy Godmother said.
Mal shrugged. "Singing is fun, but I'm more invested in art."
"Fashion for me." Evie said. "But maybe we should think about it, Mal."
Ben began to sing "Kings and Queens, it's our time to rise."
"You're the first King out of our generation!" Aziz yelled.
Ben shook his head, "And that hasn't happened!"
"Tomato, tomahto."
He sang to write their own story, and how they were taking back the night. Then he held out his hand to Mal, who danced over and began to sing. "Break the spell, we were born this way. Be yourself, forget the DNA."
"Those are petty good words to live by." Ella commented as the song continued.
Evie and Doug were dancing as she sang. "Like what you see in the mirror, shout! We got the keys, the kingdom's ours."
"If she was anyone else, I'd be worried." Florian laughed. But after observing his sister-in-law, he thought otherwise. Evie really was a sweet girl. In some ways, she reminded him of Snow. He didn't know how Grimhilde managed to raise two kind girls, but it was the only real accomplishment she'd ever done.
All of the teens sang the chorus as they danced together.
"I like the dance." Kari whispered to her mom, "Do you think Asmund and Aksel will teach me?"
"If they know it," Anna told her with a smile. "But remember, that hasn't happened yet so they might not know it."
Kari wrinkled her nose, "Magic is weird."
Jane was shown sitting alone when Carlos and Jay came over as they rapped. "I'm a make my own future, ignore the rumors, show 'em how passion sounds." The boys took Jane's hands, helping her off the bench. Jay let go, while Carlos continued to dance with Jane.
Jane and Carlos both blushed.
Jay sat on the steps as Carlos and Jane went up to join the others, and Audrey was shown singing as she came over. "Like what you see in the mirror, shout!" She pulled Jay up, and he spun around, responding with "We got the keys, the kingdom's ours!" Audrey smiled and danced away with Jay following her, looking at Benin confusion.
Jay and Audrey both watched the screen in shock. As did everyone else. Audrey, the princess that hadn't even wanted the VK's to come to Auradon, was dancing and flirting with a villain kid. And what about Chad?
"Just a dance." Audrey said quickly. "An innocent dance that hasn't even happened."
The chorus started up again, and it seemed as though more kids had joined in the dance.
Rapunzel smiled, seeing her own children dancing around. "They look like they're having so much fun." She said to Eugene, leaning against him. "It makes me think of the days we'd dance in the town square!"
Eugene chuckled. "We still do that, Sweetheart."
Ben and Mal walked down the steps, and just as it seemed like they were going to kiss, Mal playfully turned her head.
"Come on! He just needs to kiss her!" Jamila whined a moment later, as the end of the song began and Ben and Mal once again almost kissed.
Dasha laughed, "You need some romcoms."
Ben rested his forehead against Mal's as their classmates continued to celebrate around them. As they looked down to watch their friends, Mal's voice could be heard.
"Oh! I was having so much fun, I almost forgot." Mal turned her head and smiled, her eyes turning bright green as they filled with magic. "You didn't think this was the end of the story, did you?"
The screen went black.
"What was that?" Mal asked. The Fates chuckled and Persephone shook her head at one of their gestures.
"It means that your story is far from over." Persephone said fondly. She turned to address the entire crowd. "But as you can all see, we're at the end of this chapter. I'll send you back to where you came from, but I'm leaving you with a big question.
What are you going to do now?"
AN: Well ya'll here we are! We've reached the end of the first story in the Fate's Gift series! The next story will take place between this one and D2, and is titled Breaking into Pieces.
Thank you for everyone who has been reading, and I hope you are all excited for the next installment in the series.