Chapter Eighteen: Evil Tree. Bad Apple?

     The genie was released from the lamp surrounded by a cloud of magic smoke. It was Jordan, not her father, though. "Ugh," she says, stretching "Play hide and seek, they said... It'll be fun, they said. Well, at least I won!"
Aria stared in disbelief, "Jordan!? This is your lamp?"
Jordan chuckled, "Yeah. I thought it was the perfect hiding spot, only, I couldn't get out."
"How long have you been in there?" Aria questioned.
"Eh. Only a couple of weeks." Jordan shrugged, then noticed the VKs "Who are they?"
Aria turned around, "Oh, so you weren't around when they announced they were bringing four more VKs to Auradon?"
Jordan shook her head, "Nope. I've been on independent study all quarter-I've been practicing my wish-granting and such-so I haven't really been paying attention to all of the announcements lately. Then some friends visited and we played truth or dare and tag. Then, the dreadful hide-and-seek. That's how I got stuck in here because I forgot to take the lock off."
"The lock off?" Marissa asked, confused.
"Yeah. Ever since my dad got stuck in his lamp for 10,000 years, we decided to spell it so now we don't get stuck, but you have to do it every time before going in the lamp. This time, I forgot."
"Anyways!" Francis exclaimed.
     Aria nodded, "Yeah... so, Jordan, we need three wishes."
Jordan folded her arms across her chest, "Here we go again, supposed friends using me for wishes."

"Or..." says Quinn "You could go back into your lamp, again?"
Jordan's eyebrows furrowed, "Okay, listen here missy! You don't just-"

Aria stopped her, "Jordan! Look, we just need the three wishes, okay?"
Jordan shook her head, "Fine, Aria. What'll it be? What is it your heart most desires?" she asked sarcastically.
"I wish-"
"No! I get the wishes!" yelled Francis.
Quinn rolled her eyes, "We've already been over this!"
Jordan laughed, "Yeah. Nice try, top-hat. Only the person who rubbed my lamp gets the three wishes: Aria."
Francis fumed, "Fine. Whatever!"
"I wish!" Aria says "For the art room to be set up for romance."

     The wish came true. Aria beamed, "Okay... next is... I wish for Ben and Mal to be in that room right now." That wish came true as well. "Alright... final wish... I wish..." she leaned into a whisper "To be the leader of this VK group." Jordan was about to protest, but the wish came true.

•••

    Fairy Godmother!" Mal says "I'd like the microphone." FGM gave a look of concern, "What ever for, dear?" Mal grabbed it and smirked, "For fun!" She was just about to press the button when suddenly, she was transported to the art room. 
What in the world!?
     It was dark. The only light there was came from all of the candles lit throughout the room. There were roses and food and strawberries. "A picnic?" Mal asked out loud. "Weird right?" she whirled around, it was Ben. "Ben?" she asked, stepping forward "W-What are you doing? How'd I get here?" He shrugged, "I don't know." Mal crossed her arms, "Ben. I'm sorry, but this little set up isn't going to work. I already-" "I didn't do this." Ben interrupted. "You didn't?" he shook his head "Well, then who did?"
     Ben shrugged, "I don't know. But let's just enjoy it. Catch up a bit." He sat down and ate a strawberry. She shook her head, "This is a set up. I know what you're trying to do." Ben put his hands up, "I'm just eating all the free gourmet food!" Mal glared at him "Want a strawberry?" She looked at it, then him, then back at the strawberry, groaned, then sat down, "Fine! Maybe just one... or two or three... or a bunch. But no tricks!" Ben handed her the strawberries. "I promise."
     Mal ate a few strawberries before Ben spoke up, "So... how've you been?" Mal finished her bite, "Fine... I guess... How about you?" Ben looked down, "Fine... I guess." Mal giggled a little then sighed, "I'm sorry it couldn't work out Ben." He looked up, "But why couldn't it?" Mal shook her head, "Ben I-" "No, really." he asked "What did I do? Why now, after everything! We've been through so much worse so why now?" Mal looked up at the ceiling, "Because Ben... I'm going through... stuff."

      Ben pursed his lips, "'Stuff,' okay. Is it stuff I can help with?" Mal shook her head, "No... I don't think so." Ben scooted closer, "Try me." Mal clenched her fists, "You can't Ben! You can't! I know you're the king so you think you can fix it all up, but you can't. I can't be fixed. This can't be fixed! And... This is just something that I have to deal with! By myself... I'm sorry."
     Ben said nothing as he only stared ahead of him for a while. "Then do what you have to do, Mal. I won't get in the way. Let's just... be friends?" He put his hand out, but she didn't take it. "I know you'll be disappointed, but I've got to go and do something that should've been done a long time ago. Because not even my 'friends' can help me. Everyone's been holding me back, but I'm breaking out now." She headed towards the door "Bye Ben."

•••

     Uma and Evie finally made it to the Isle of the Lost. "Plant the anchor!" Uma commanded. Evie picked it up and tossed it into the sea, causing the ship to come to a stop. The ship floated peacefully with the waves gently rocking it up and down and back and forth.
     Evie walked to Uma and handed her the wand. Uma stared at it for a while with a slight smirk on her face, "Finally!" she whisper-shouted "By the power of the sea, tear it down and set them free!" After a moment of nothing, the barrier flashed three times before disappearing completely. Uma and Evie cackled.
"It's time!" says Evie.
"I took it!" Uma shouted "And now all of Auradon will get a taste of sweet, sweet revenge!"

A NOTE:

Hey OITs!