Ben Pov:

"It was a difficult decision to leave Auradon to meet with representatives from the other kingdoms to form alliances after everything we had faced in the past. More importantly, I learned that the Red Queen's daughter would be attending Auradon Prep and was interested in having Wonderland join our kingdom. It was encouraging to hear that Trickster had been involved during the Queen's arrival; seeing him mature like everyone else has been a positive change. Out of all my close friends, he has been somewhat of an experiment since he is unlike anyone else in the kingdom. He might be considered deranged or dangerous, but he truly has a heart of gold when it comes to the people he wants to protect. I can't wait to see him and witness how things have changed back home."

Morning at the Auradon Docks

As ships began to arrive at the well-known docks of Auradon, many people gathered along the shoreline to witness the return of King Ben and the representatives who had come to offer their assistance in forming new alliances across the kingdom. There were reporters and various types of onlookers, all eager to see the arrival of their king and queen. Standing by the side were Jay and Lonnie who managed to make it in time to see their friends come off the ship and make themselves at home.

"It's been a while since I last heard from them. I remember Evie sending me a photo of their visit to a rock troll village, where she introduced her fashion to the locals. She sent me several photos."

Jay informed Lonnie about what had been happening with Evie as he showed her the pictures she sent him. The blue-haired VK had been sharing her fashion sense everywhere she traveled with Ben and the others. Her work could inspire new clothing designers and help those who want to update their looks and styles, Lonnie examined the photos until she heard muttering from the reporters as they spotted Ben's ship preparing to dock. The crew on the boat tossed ropes toward the railings to help keep the ship in place while they lowered a plank near the dock in preparation for departure. Anticipation filled the air as they spotted Ben approaching. He had features resembling his father's, including fangs and small horns growing from the sides of his head.

"Wow, Ben let himself go, didn't he?"

Jay commented as Lonnie playfully hit her boyfriend's shoulder. The spell that Audrey had used on him when she turned evil had left its mark, altering Ben's appearance to resemble that of his father. However, he wasn't transformed into the same beast that Adam was. He stepped aside while his crew began unloading several crates from the boat.

"Finally, we're back home! It felt like it had been forever since we touched solid ground."

Audrey said as she walked over to hold Ben's hand. On her finger was a ring that matched Ben's, signifying that they had married during their time away from Auradon. As the royal couple was the last to disembark, they were greeted by photographers and interviewers eager to ask about their journey.

"King Ben! Is it true that you've found other fairies like Fairy Godmother?"

"Are there other pantheons, like Zeus and the Olympians?"

The crowd was buzzing with questions about what lay beyond Auradon, given that much of the world remained unexplored, and many areas still held unknown leaders and magic. Ben could see the excitement and curiosity in their faces. To calm the crowd, he raised his right hand, signaling for silence, and the reporters paused to await his response.

"While there is much I would like to share about my experiences and the friendships I've formed, all I ask for right now is some time to rest back home, reconnect with old friends, and see my parents. However, that doesn't mean I can't share something I managed to bring back with me."

He went on to explain how he had given gifts to the people he met during his travels. Approaching one of the crates that his men had unloaded from the ship, he opened the container and pulled out an object to show everyone. Ben revealed a small black rock that shifted colors to blue.

"You brought a mood rock?"

One of the reporters exclaimed, recognizing it, as most people in the kingdom owned mood rings to help convey their emotions. Ben smirked at the response and aimed the rock at the reporter, causing it to emit a light that changed the colors of the reporter's clothing into various shades of blue.

"Consider it a gift from the rock troll tribe that provided these stones. They're called shifters; they can change anything's color to help it blend into its surroundings. We also discovered that they work wonders for altering the color of clothes."

He continued to explain the uses of the stones, noting that there were other applications as well. Having called ahead, several carriages arrived to take the crates back to the castle so that the royal couple could count the gifts received from the new alliances they had formed. The reporters and photographers decided to follow them, as the crates might contain new forms of magic that could be used, given that the citizens of Auradon were allowed to use magical items with the right training. As the crowd dispersed, the royal couple decided to greet Jay and Lonnie, as it had been months since they had last seen them.

"Where are Mal and Evie? I thought they would come out once the paparazzi left. They always try to interview them about their relationship and whether Maleficent would revert to human."

Lonnie inquired about the pair, as Jay was interested in what his friends had learned during their journey with Ben and Audrey. They looked upward at the sky where the pair could answer her question about their whereabouts as they saw a faint shadow appearing in the clouds. Taking a moment to get a clear look at the figure, the four realized it was none other than Mal in her dragon form, with Evie riding on her back.

"Hi, guys!"

Evie shouted from above as they watched Mal land gracefully on the ground. They paused for a moment to allow Evie to step off the dragon before observing as the purple-scaled beast dissolved into green smoke. Emerging from the smoke, Mal appeared wearing a new outfit that reflected her parents' influences—Maleficent's elegance in evil and Loki's pride in deception. Despite her new attire, she maintained her wicked demeanor.

"I always prefer flying to riding a boat. I thought you two could use some quality time together since the journey has been long."

Mal informed them about why she and Evie decided to take the creative route while letting Ben and Audrey be a couple since the four had worked together in meeting various kings and queens across the ocean. Evie and her friend exchanged smiles as Jay and Lonnie hurried over to greet them, excited to reunite after what felt like a long time apart.

"So, where's our husband? He's been texting us nonstop about how once we returned, he would treat us to a night of fine dining and a marathon of those TV shows we promised to watch together."

Evie asked them about where Trick was since he'd been making plans for what they would do together since the last time he called them; he appeared scared and relieved that they were alright. Ben was curious about that too since he'd been informed by Fairy God Mother during the events at the arrival of the Queen of Hearts, he offered his services in providing meals to her and her daughter.

"He promised to come here after we stopped by the cottage to see Trick clean in preparation for your arrival. However, there was a situation that caught his attention."

Jay answered Evie's question about his whereabouts, which made her and Mal wonder what could distract him from them, as he would never break a promise just to spend time with them. With no other option, he took out his phone to show them what had prevented Trick from coming to the docks. The post displayed Trickster in a new costume, being escorted by Harold and his team. It highlighted how the masked VK had stopped Mordred from raising an army of the dead to conquer Camelot.

"Whenever there might be something that could threaten us, he'll have to intervene. That can be annoying when it comes to our date night."

Mal responded to the message, stating that although he had halted Mordred, he had still desecrated a graveyard that honored the greatest warriors who served under King Arthur. The land was in turmoil over his actions and sought to imprison Trickster for what he had done. Continuing to read the post, it was declared by Artie who had no choice in the matter had to banish Trick from visiting Camelot.

"I think I should come with you to help settle the issue. It's been a while since I got to help out my kingdom since we've been seeing others during our journey."

Ben offered to help Trickster get out of the mess he was in after assisting in stopping a threat from emerging from Camelot. Mal and Evie expressed their gratitude for the offer but politely declined. They felt that he should not get involved further, especially since he had been engaging with numerous leaders during their trip. They thought it was important for him to take the time to recuperate and enjoy some relaxation. Regretfully, the women would ask Jay and Lonnie if they could help set up a meeting with Trick due to their knowing where the Oogie was being held. The couple nodded at Mal and Evie as Jay snapped his fingers to summon the magic carpet he had received during his travels with Lonnie.

"What? I don't need to pay for it and it's reliable, also. The car's getting fixed."

Jay explained that although there were functional cars available throughout Auradon, he did not own one. The pair fell silent as they approached the carpet, getting ready for the ride. Flying carpets, while unpredictable, are regarded as the fastest means of travel. Jay taps the carpet, causing the sentiment fabric to take the four to where Trick is being held. Meanwhile, a limo drives by toward Ben and Audrey, driven by the kingdom's best driver, David.

"I might feel too old for this job since I have been doing it for years, but it has its perks. Seeing the kids I know become leaders of a kingdom."

After years of dedicated service to Auradon as both a soldier and a limo driver, he felt he had earned the right to retire. However, he decided to continue driving for anyone in need of his services. Ben and Audrey greeted him before placing their belongings in the trunk of the car and heading inside, ready to return to their castle for some much-needed rest. Meanwhile, Mal and Evie went to handle their responsibilities, which included getting their husband out of trouble.

Later-Department of Auradonian Enforcement

After being escorted away from Camelot and taken to an interrogation room, Trick was left wearing a tank top and sweatpants. This left him exposed to those observing through the mirror, including Harold, Ruby, and the chief, who were discussing what actions needed to be taken next.

"Despite Artie being the new king of Camelot and understanding what Trick had to do to stop Mordred. He destroyed half of the skeletons buried there, and now families want to execute him. However, it wouldn't matter because his records show he is unkillable."

The chief informed the demigod and daughter of Rapunzel about the crime that Trickster committed, despite having prevented an uprising that could harm innocent people. Harold understood that there were other ways to stop Mordred and prevent the desecration. Looking back at the room, Trick was not attempting to talk his way out of killing Mordred. Harold insisted on going in to speak to him since he knew him the longest. The chief and Ruby seemed uncertain about the decision, but they could see the determination on his face to get through to Trick. Harold walked into the room and sat down in front of his friend to see how Trick was managing after being taken in.

"It's been about half a year since you took out your half-brother Prankster. Sure enough, you've managed to not get hired by anyone and decided to run a food stand. So, tell me why you decided to break out that new suit and do this to Mordred?"

Harold questioned Trick as he pulled out a photo of Morganna's son who despite getting a sword impaled through the throat, he managed to survive the injury due to his dark magic. The Oogie noticed the disappointment on Harold's face as he broke from his normal routine to resume his vigilante career. He found it hard to answer the question because he wanted to see if he could handle himself in a fight after his time travel adventure with Red and the others. The last thing he needed was to explain to him why he wanted to go off by himself and get into a dangerous situation.

What can I say? Some people can't be influenced by a song and dance. Plus, since I wasn't hired, the criminal underworld thought they could take the opportunity to cause trouble. Someone needs to step up and look after Auradon."

Trick made up an excuse instead of telling the truth, believing it was wiser not to bring up trouble related to his recent experience from a month ago. This frustrated Harold, who felt that Trick had great potential to be a hero, just like those who came before him. Rather than attempting to collaborate with him and support the next generation of heroes, Trick made it clear that he followed a different path, one based not on Oogie's career but on his other father's life.

"We've got that handled. You should focus on taking it easy and not starting trouble, the last thing I'd expect from you after what happened back on the isle."

Harold reminded Trick why he had taken a break from vigilantism. The ordeal of facing Mad Maddy had taken a significant toll on him, both physically and mentally. Although Trick had already been reminded of the battles with his copycat and how his old home had become Prank's resting place, it still made him angry. This situation frustrated him because it was one of the few times he genuinely wanted to help someone similar to him in almost every way.

As of now, you are not permitted to travel to Camelot. The chief was planning to keep your new equipment because it was unlike anything seen in the kingdom. However, there was something on the tag that read, and I quote. 'If anyone tries to take my boy's new suit, I'll come over there and straight up break every bone in that person's body'."

Harold read a message on Trick's suit from a photo he had taken on his phone, as he couldn't bring it into the interrogation room. The VK sighed in annoyance, realizing that despite the suit he had been given, Wade still found a way to look after him, even though he hadn't been invited to the wedding. This was particularly noteworthy because Trick had a complicated relationship with the mercenary. As the conversation could have continued for several more minutes, they heard muttering from the other side of the room, along with a sense that he was getting into more trouble than he was in already.

"They're here."

Trick spoke in an eerie tone about who had come to see him, while the boys stared at the door behind Harold. He noticed a faint green glow emerging from the other side, as the Oogie VK recognized the one person in Auradon who could create that kind of glow. The door opened to reveal Mal, who looked upset at seeing Trickster in this situation, while Evie, standing by her wife's side, looked sad seeing her husband after traveling with Ben. Trick felt like it had been forever as he stood up from his chair and rushed over to hug the pair, relieved to see them again.

"I'm glad to see you too, Trick, but know that you're not getting out of this when we get home."

Evie instructed him that, although he felt relieved to be with them again, he would have to face the consequences when they returned to the cottage. Trick didn't seem to mind at all, while Mal glanced at Harold to see if there was anything she needed to be informed about after they left. The demigod shook his head, realizing she already knew about the incident from the online post and from walking into the building where they had encountered Ruby and the chief. With the issue resolved, the trio made their way to the lobby. One of the officers handed Trick back his suit and swords. Mal indicated that she would be taking the swords, while Evie would take the suit, as this would be the first part of Trick's punishment.

"This fabric isn't bad. Wade is not a terrible costume designer, but you won't be wearing this while we are here."

Evie complimented her father-in-law on his skillful use of needle and thread, noting that he had hand-stitched the uniform himself. Her husband agreed to the arrangement, knowing that he wouldn't need the uniform since Trick could return to his dull but safe life with his wives for the time being. As Trick walked outside the building, he felt excited at the sight of Jay and Lonnie and was about to run over to hug them. Lonnie grabbed him by the wrist and flipped him to the ground due to her quick reflexes.

"It's great to see both of you again. We should have these meet-ups more often."

He responded to Lonnie even after she had dislocated his shoulder, and Jay helped him up, as it wasn't a sight he wanted to see—his friend lying in the dirt. He looked over to see Mal and Evie approaching, making their way to the flying carpet that was nearby. As the others looked for a place to sit, knowing the ride could be rough, Mal and Evie found their spot.

"When we get home, Trick, we're going to have that dinner and television marathon you talked about. As well as a full night of us getting reacquainted. Understood?"

Evie told her husband that she needed to make up for lost time and relieve her stress by reflecting on the trouble Trick had gotten himself into. Mal agreed with her and smirked at the idea Evie had for Trick, while the Oogie VK was left unsure of how to respond to Evie's request. Jay and Lonnie used the carpet to fly home after dropping off the trio at their cottage. Harold and Ruby walked outside to see the group take off, leaving the yellow-haired princess to sigh at the difficulty of handling a chaotic man like Trickster.

"Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if Trick and the others had been raised by their other parents. Although I never got the chance to meet them properly, I think they wouldn't have been as bad as they were when we were teenagers. Right?"

Ruby asked Harold about the likelihood that they would have ended up as villainous as their other parents since they were different from the villains of Auradon. Harold had often wondered about himself since he saw Mal's father and her friend's parents, who stood out in many ways. He also wondered how different VK's life might have been If they had been raised in a different environment, Harold shrugged his shoulder toward Ruby, questioning whether it mattered at this point. They would eventually end up as they were now since they'd proven they weren't their parents. After resolving the issue with Trick and the department, the two decided to head back home. They knew the Oogie would have a lot to share with Mal and Evie, who were curious to find out what else had happened with Trick while they were away.