Chapter Eight:
Time To Choose

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The next day, Monday, the whole of Auradon was buzzing. Everyone was dressed in their fanciest outfits, chattering excitedly among themselves. Why? Because today was the day... Ben's coronation. It was a day that everyone had been waiting for, and now it had finally arrived.

     Laila glanced away from the window of her and Lonnie's dorm room, where she had a clear view of people beginning to gather near the cathedral, and walked over to the mirror. Earlier, Lonnie had insisted she do Laila's makeup, and so, begrudgingly, Laila had given in to her offer. Now, looking into the mirror, Laila found herself admitting that she looked, well, nice. With her hair curled, makeup done, and wearing that pretty silver-blue dress she'd bought yesterday, Laila decided that, despite having been slightly opposed to it previously, she didn't really mind getting all dressed up. It was sort of fun.

     There was only one problem, though: she didn't have any shoes. In the rush to find a dress yesterday, they'd completely overlooked the fact that Laila did not own a single pair of shoes that would look reasonable with the dress she'd bought.

     "Are you sure I can't just wear my combat boots?" Laila sighed, turning to face Lonnie.

     Lonnie almost laughed. "That is completely out of the question." She was in the middle of trying to find Laila some shoes to borrow from her. "Fairy Godmother would not approve."

     Laila nearly said something along the lines of, So what if Fairy Godmother doesn't approve? However, before she had the chance to do so, Lonnie hummed, pulling out a pair of silver heels from the back of her closet. "Aha!"

     "Aha," Laila said, almost miserably. "Heels, oh joy."

     "They're not that bad." Lonnie pouted.

     "I know... They're just hard to walk in. Don't you have anything sturdier?

     Lonnie shook her head. "Nope. Your feet are bigger than mine, and these shoes are the only ones I accidentally bought too big for me... So you're going to deal with it. Sorry."

     Laila shrugged. It didn't matter that much anyway. At least the heels matched with her dress. Plus, she'd only have to walk for a bit, before standing still for ages while Ben was inducted into his role as king. So she put the shoes on, wobbling a little bit before regaining her balance and standing in front of the mirror once more. Lonnie joined her.

     "Gosh, how do you still look so pretty even though your whole outfit and everything was thrown together last minute?"

     "It's a gift," Laila joked, sending a wink to Lonnie through the mirror.

     Lonnie laughed. She was wearing a short pink kimono-like dress with a pink obi sash tied around her waist. Laila thought she looked pretty.

     Grabbing her handbag from where it rested on her bed, Lonnie opened the door to the hallway. Laila exhaled softly. She supposed it was time to go. Knowing full well that she would surely fall over if she rushed, Laila made sure that when she followed Lonnie out of their room, she paced herself nicely so that she didn't collapse and end up with a twisted ankle. That would not be fun considering she still had a whole day of events ahead of her.

     Outside, the sky was a light blue, and Laila found herself frequently glancing up at it as she walked. It reminded her of her Aunt Elsa, and how much Laila missed her. Although she wished that Elsa could've come to family day, Laila was still so excited to see her aunt during the months surrounding Christmas.

     "Gosh, this is so exciting!"

     As Lonnie spoke, Laila glanced at her. She smiled, nodding slightly. "I know, right!"

     Laila would admit, after months upon months of everyone nonstop discussing the coronation, she had started to get sick of it. There was only so much chatter Laila could take from people about who they were going to take and what they were going to wear. Like, we know, you were going to take Chad and now he was going with Audrey, big deal. Laila didn't fully understand what the commotion was with taking someone to the coronation. They were all going to see each other there anyway, so what was the fuss?

     Now, she could honestly say that she was excited for the coronation. Not that she hadn't been before, but she had started to get sick of the constant chatter surrounding it. But now, wearing a pretty dress and walking next to her best friend (wait, one of her best friends... sorry, Isak), she could definitely see the appeal. And she supposed she sort of understood; it must be nice, to like someone so much that you would want to dress up with them and go to a fancy event and say, Hey, this one's mine! How lucky am I?

     "Laila, hey!"

     Laila spun around with a smile at the sound of Evie's voice. "Evie, you look amazing!"

     And she did. Evie wore a long blue dress with a tiara, something that Laila was sure she made herself—in the best way. She truly looked stunning, and Laila found it hard to stop a smile from spreading across her face.

     Evie shrugged modestly. "Thanks! You do too!"

     Lonnie didn't say anything, just smiled politely at Evie, and Laila came to the realisation that after what happened yesterday at family day, there were probably some people who felt apprehensive toward the VKs...

     Anyway. Laila put that thought in the back of her mind. It didn't matter, not today, anyway. Today was about Ben, and she was sure that people could put aside their—for lack of a better word—hatred toward the VKs for at least a day.

     Behind Evie, Laila watched as Carlos and Jay approached. When they got closer, she said, "Heya, guys."

     "Hey," they said in unison. Laila noted how Carlos held Dude, the campus dog, with him. Laila would've pet him, but she knew that he would start sniffing her, obviously smelling Isak, so she didn't. Fairy Godmother still didn't know about Isak, and Laila was going to keep it that way.

     Outside, bells were ringing and people were clapping vigorously. Laila supposed that it wasn't everyday you got to see someone crowned a king. In the distance, she spotted Mal and Ben in the chariot which was nearing the cathedral. She turned toward the others. "We probably should go inside before they get here."

     Inside the cathedral, soft classical music was playing. The seamless chatter and the occasional laugh could be heard across the bottom floor. Yellow and blue banners decorated the walls. Among the crowd of mingling people sat a large square platform with two chairs and an object covered by a blue-white sheet—Laila guessed that was the wand.

     Laila felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around.

     "We've been put upstairs, but, um... I'll see you later?" Evie said. Laila thought she seemed a little uncertain, but she didn't think anything of it.

     "Oh, yeah," Laila said, nodding. "Definitely."

     So whilst Laila and Lonnie went in one direction, Evie, Carlos and Jay headed in another. Before long, Laila could no longer see the bright blue of Evie's hair, and she knew that she needed to keep walking before the ceremony started. Running to catch up with Lonnie, who had already started to walk off, Laila was forced to slow her pace to a walk when she realised that she could not, in fact, run in heels.

     Lonnie slowed when she reached Jane, allowing Laila to catch up. Jane's hair was back to normal. Whatever spell Mal had used on it earlier that week had gone, but Laila thought her hair still looked nice. She was wearing a blue glittery dress with a pink ribbon at the collar. Doug stood next to her. Looking around, Laila immediately noticed that they stood quite close to the platform in the middle of the room.

     Behind Jane and Doug was Audrey and Chad. Audrey wore a pink and white glittery dress, and Laila briefly thought how there were a lot of glittery dresses at the coronation. They must be all the rage. Chad, on the other hand, was wearing a light blue formal prince-like suit. Laila thought that it was a shame they didn't match, not in the slightest. Not that it was compulsory to match, but since they were going to the coronation together, she thought it could've been cute.

     Without warning, the choir on the balcony above them started to sing, and the double doors at the end of the cathedral opened. As Ben walked in, Laila and everyone else in the cathedral turned around to face him and bowed slightly. Ben started to walk through the middle of the cathedral on the line of blue carpet that led to the platform. Mal suddenly appeared on Laila's left. She wore a lilac dress, and Laila whispered to her that she looked pretty. With a small, wavering smile, Mal said, "Thanks."

     Laila thought that Mal seemed a little... off. Distant, maybe. Uncertain. Come to think of it, so did Evie, just a few minutes earlier. Frowning slightly to herself, Laila dismissed the thought. She was sure they were just nervous—it was their first big event at Auradon, after all! They had every right to be nervous.

     Whilst Ben was walking toward the platform, his parents and Fairy Godmother stepped onto the platform, and when Ben stopped in front of them, he smiled. Laila watched as Fairy Godmother removed the crown from atop the head of Ben's dad and placed it gently on top of Ben's head. The blue-white sheet had been removed, and now a glass bell jar sat there. Ben's dad slowly lifted the jar that covered Fairy Godmother's wand, and he gave it to her.

     "Do you solemnly swear to govern the peoples of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?" Fairy Godmother's voice echoed throughout the cathedral.

     "I do solemnly swear."

     Lonnie squeezed Laila's upper arm in excitement, to which Laila did the same. Had they been allowed to make noise, she would've let out a squeal. Though she imagined, by the look on Ben's face, that nothing could surpass his excitement.

     "Then it is my honor—" Fairy Godmother delicately tapped Ben's right shoulder with her wand, "—and my joy—" then she tapped his left shoulder, "—to bless our new king."

     Too busy watching the ceremony, Laila hadn't noticed that Jane was no longer standing with them. Instead, she had slowly started walking toward the platform, and as soon as Fairy Godmother had finished speaking, she snatched the wand out of her mom's grip. Laila's eyes flew wide open, and along with almost everyone else in the cathedral, she let out a gasp of shock.

     It was as though Jane didn't really know what she was doing, which, to be fair, she probably didn't. Laila couldn't imagine that Fairy Godmother let her daughter use the wand often, if at all. Jane clutched the wand with two hands, and a streak of glowing light flew upwards, hitting the roof with a shudder.

     As Fairy Godmother yelled at Jane, hysterically asking her what she was doing, everyone collectively took a few steps back and away from the girl with the wand. Laila was slightly (alright, maybe more than just slightly) concerned. It was like a toddler picking up a chainsaw—you didn't know what could happen next.

     Jane struggled to hold the wand, saying, "If you won't make me beautiful, I'll do it myself!" Shocked, Laila watched on as Ben raced forward in front of Mal. She would admit, she never expected this. What a turn of events. "Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!"

     Oh, shit!

     Sparks flew as Jane dangerously waved the wand around, reminding Laila of those sparklers that would often be put on birthday cakes. Just when Laila thought that something catastrophic was about to happen, Mal leapt forward and seized the wand right out of Jane's grasp. Laila breathed out a sigh of relief as Jane darted away, suddenly aware of what she had been doing. Laila waited for a moment for Mal to give the wand back to the adults, but she didn't move, instead she merely stood there, wand in hand, almost emotionless expression on her face.

     Ben frowned, as did Laila. He said, "Mal, give me the wand."

     The wand still held out in front of her like a sword, Mal warned, "Stand back."

     Laila tilted her head, wondering to herself what the fuck was going on. Why isn't Mal handing over the wand? In that same moment, the double doors at the entrance sprung wide open, and Evie, Carlos, and Jay dashed through.

     Ben made a move toward Mal, who waved the wand threateningly. "Ben, I said stand back!" Everyone in the cathedral seemed to take a step back at Mal's tone of voice.

     "I told you so!" Audrey stepped forward with a scowl appearing on her face.

     Despite not fully understanding what was going on, Laila turned to Audrey and snapped, "Now is not the time, Audrey."

     When Laila turned back to the commotion, she locked eyes with Evie, and everything seemed to stop. Laila frowned slightly, tilting her head, silently asking what the hell was going on. Evie looked away, but not before the corner of her mouth twitched upwards in a smile—an almost regretful smile.

     Ben must have said something whilst Laila was frowning at Evie, because Mal tragically sighed. "We have no choice, Ben! Our parents—"

     "Your parents made their choice," Ben said firmly. It was at this moment when Laila truly realised that Ben would make a great king. "Now you make yours."

     Glancing at Evie again, it was as if a switch had been flicked in her mind, as now Laila understood what was happening... sort of. Yesterday, Evie had told her about how she didn't want to do something, but that she had to do it or else there would be people who would be mad at her... Laila realised that she was talking about this—stealing the wand—and that the people who would be disappointed and mad at her—or the VKs in general, she supposed—were their parents.

     Everything made so much sense!

     Laila looked away from Evie and focused her attention on Ben and Mal. A long moment passed. Then, quietly, so quietly she would have missed it hadn't the entire cathedral been dead silent, Mal whispered, "I think I want to be good."

     "You are good," Ben insisted without missing a beat.

     Distressed, Mal said, "How do you know that?"

     "Because..." Ben said, "because I'm listening to my heart."

     Mal faltered. "I want to listen to my heart, too." She dropped the threatening facade and turned around to face Evie, Carlos, and Jay with a teary smile. "And my heart is telling me that we are not our parents." She glanced at Jay. "I mean, stealing things doesn't make you happy. Tourney and victory pizza with the team makes you happy." Mal turned to Carlos with a teary laugh. "And you, scratching Dude's belly makes you happy. Who would've thought?" Then, Evie. Mal smiled at her. "And Evie... You do not have to play dumb to get a guy. You are so smart. And I don't want to take over the world with evil. It doesn't make me happy. I want to go to school. And be with Ben—" She briefly turned around to glance at Ben, "—because Ben makes me really happy. Us being friends makes me really happy. Not destroying things. I choose good, you guys."

     A long moment passed in which no one said anything. Mal waited for the others to say something. Laila held her hand over her mouth in anticipation and her and everyone else in the cathedral waited with bated breath. Finally, when it seemed as though the other VKs wouldn't reciprocate Mal's desire to become good, Jay said, "I choose good, too." Laila let out a relieved sigh.

     Evie said, "I choose good."

     "So, just to be clear," Carlos said, "we don't have to be worried about how really mad our parents will be? Because they're going to be really, really mad."

     Ben smiled at him reassuringly. "Your parents can't reach you here."

     "Okay, then." Carlos smiled back. "Good."

     It was then that everyone in the vicinity began to clap and breathe out relieved sighs. Laila wanted to walk over to Evie, the words I'm so proud of you resting on her lips, but she couldn't, for when she took one step closer to Evie, a shockingly loud rumble of thunder sounded and a trail of green smoke diffused through the window—it circulated the room before stopping right next to the platform... right where the VKs and Ben were. Laila couldn't see through the green smoke just yet, but a voice echoed throughout the cathedral that made her freeze.

     "I'm baaack!"

     The smoke cleared, and Laila inhaled sharply. Maleficent. Fuck.

     How had she gotten past the barrier and into Auradon? Her mind all over the place, the only possible explanation that Laila could muster was that when Jane had used the wand she must've accidentally used too much force and caused a hole in the barrier.

     Mal, unlike the rest of the crowd, wasn't fazed about the appearance. "Go away, mother."

     Letting out a cackle, Maleficent said, "She's funny! I'm so... you're very funny. Here. Wand me. Chop chop."

     In a panic, Ben said, "No!"

     As he did that, two things happened at the same time: First, since Mal looked as though she might actually hand the wand over to her mom, Laila took a step back, alarmed at both that as well as Ben's shout. Except as she stepped backwards, Laila stumbled and fell to the floor. Curse those damn heels! She knew she should've just worn her combat boots. It would've been so much easier to walk —no, run— in.

     Second thing that happened was that Mal didn't hand the wand over to her mom, opting instead to throw it to Fairy Godmother.

     As Lonnie reached down to help Laila up, she heard Fairy Godmother say, "Bibbidi-bobbidi—"

     Maleficent cut her off. "Boo!"

     But something happened, something weird. For when Laila was back on her feet, Maleficent was... gone? But how? Laila furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. But she was right there! Looking around, everyone else seemed confused, too. But then Ben and Mal hugged, and suddenly everyone was laughing and happy, relieved that the danger had passed.

     Laila was still confused, and Evie, seeing this, walked over to her with a smile.

     "I'll explain later," Evie said, letting out a small laugh.

     Laila shrugged. "Alright..." As long as everyone was OK, then she supposed she could wait a bit longer to get answers.

     OK, sure, this morning, when she was getting ready, Laila didn't think that that would've happened. Sure, it was a bit of a shock, and OK, Laila was still a little rattled... but overall? She was happy. Ben's coronation would truly be a day to remember.

word count: 3214
28.12.2020