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𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟑
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐊𝐄𝐍 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐑

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A week had passed since the incident with Audrey and it had been a lot more peaceful around Auradon. The country was finally able to truly celebrate the engagement of Mal and Ben in a way only Auradon could. The people gathered around their side of the bridge that led to the Isle as they waited for the King and his future Queen to grace them with their presence.

Rylee was talking to more people than she could count about different events that would be happening in the upcoming months. It wasn't long before she was saved by someone shouting about the arrival of the guests of honor. Everyone quickly turned toward the entrance before a loud applause cut through the air. Cheers continued to fill everyone's ears as Ben and Mal walked through the crowd with large smiles on their faces. Once they finished greeting everyone, the couple made their way up the stairs. The two of them had a quick conversation with Ben's parents and Fairy Godmother before they made their way over to the balcony to address their supporters.

"Lady Mal and I wanna thank you for celebrating our engagement with us today. I couldn't be prouder or happier to call you my queen," Ben said to the people in the square before looking over at the daughter of Maleficent with a huge smile on his face, "so...raise your glasses. To our future Queen of Auradon."

"To our Queen of Auradon!" everyone repeated while raising their cups into the air before taking a sip of their punch.

"Speach, Your Special-ness," Carlos called up to his purple-haired friend with a playful smirk on his lips.

"Speech, Your Fancy One," Jay teased while raising his cup toward Mal, causing a huge smile to appear on her face and the crowd to laugh at their antics.

Rylee found herself looking back up at Mal as the crowd's laughter began to fade, only to find her smile slowly vanishing from her lips. The daughter of Maleficent's attention soon moved to the Isle in the distance. A hint of sadness crossed over her features as everyone began to exchange worried looks with those around them. It wasn't long before all eyes landed back on their future Queen. Silence continued to surround them as they waited for Mal to speak. But instead she simply stared at them with slightly parted lips. Not even a second after that passed when Ben placed his hand on top of hers, pulling her back to reality.

"I can't. I can't be the Queen of Auradon," Mal finally announced, making gasps erupt throughout the crowd. While the couple on the balcony had an inaudible conversation, Rylee exchanged a look with Jay, Carlos, Evie, and Morgan, only to find them looking just as confused about the situation as she was. It wasn't long before their attention was drawn back up to the balcony when Mal and Ben faced them once again.

"We made a decision...to close the barrier forever. And it was my idea. But it's wrong. I've learned that you can't live in fear because it doesn't actually protect you from anything," Mal explained to the crowd below her. Most of the people watched her as if she was about to disappear at any second while her friends looked up at her with proud smiles on their faces. "You never know where the bad is gonna come from. And you never know where the heroes are gonna come from either. Without Uma, Harry, and Gil, Auradon would be gone. And without Hades...my father...Audrey would be gone. We are all capable of good and bad, no matter which side of the barrier we come from."

The daughter of Maleficent's eyes scanned the crowd until they landed on her friends' proud smiles. It didn't take long for her to return the gesture. After studying them for a moment, Mal got a new look of confidence on her face as she turned to face her future husband. "And that's why I can't be Queen of just Auradon. I have to be Queen of the Isle, too. And it's time that we take the barrier down forever. "

"I choose to be a King who moves forward. It's time for forgiveness. It's time for new beginnings," Ben added as he looked over his shoulder at his parents, who returned his gaze with mixed emotions on their faces. It wasn't long after that when the King of Auradon moved his attention back to the crowd. "The barrier will come down!"

Smiles appeared on everyone's faces before a lone cheer erupted from Carlos, causing laughter to cut through the air and huge grins to appear on the couple's faces. After listening to the crowd cheer for their new proclamation, Mal gestured for her friends to join her on the balcony. Jay and Carlos quickly made their way up the steps while Evie grabbed Rylee and Morgan's wrists and dragged them up the stairs with her. Not even a second after they reached the balcony passed when Fairy Godmother handed her wand to Mal. Smiles appeared on everyone's faces as Evie, Jay, and Carlos joined their purple-haired friend while the princesses took their places next to Ben.

All of them stared at the dark island in the water in front of them before Mal began chanting the spell to take down the barrier. It wasn't long before Evie, Jay, and Carlos joined in to help her finish the spell. Once the last word passed over their lips, the purple-haired girl held the wand out in front of her. A bright gold beam instantly emitted from the tip of the want before it flew across the sky. Everyone watched it hit the barrier, making it turn bright gold before transforming into what looked like Pixie Dust. The smile on Rylee's face did nothing but grow as she watched the dark cloud vanish, leaving nothing but blue skies. The cheers from the crowd returned after they watched the bridge between the two lands appear before their very eyes, permanently connecting Auradon to the Isle of the Lost for the first time.

Rylee's attention soon landed on a group from the Isle approaching Auradon. Happiness filled every inch of her body as she quickly followed her friends down the steps to greet them. It didn't take very long for her eyes to find Harry, who was already staring back at her with the biggest grin on his face. Cheers filled the air once again followed by music as the two of them approached each other. They were only a foot away from each other when the son of Captain Hook pulled the princess into his arms and spun her around in a circle.

"Welcome to Auradon, Hook. Hope you enjoy your stay," Rylee said with a smile plastered on her lips after the pirate placed her back on her feet while keeping his hands on my waist.

The raven-haired boy kept his hands around her waist with a matching grin on his face. It wasn't long after that when he placed a gentle kiss on her lips, taking Rylee by surprise before she returned it. The two of them stayed like that for what felt like an eternity before finally ending their moment. Harry continued to stare down at the princess while opening his mouth to speak. "I hate to say it, Fitzherbert, but I think this place is growing on me."

Before Rylee had a chance to respond, she felt hands grab her wrists before she was pulled back and behind Jay and Carlos. A confused look instantly appeared as she stared at the two boys. But that only lasted a moment before it was quickly replaced with a smile. The Fitzherbert girl simply watched as Jay and Carlos crossed their arms over their chest while continuing to stare at Harry. It wasn't long before the son of Cruella De Vil took a step forward to stand closer to the raven-haired boy. He tried to look intimidating, but the only thing that helped was Jay glaring at the pirate from behind him.

"I'm all for second chances. But if you hurt her again, I won't be afraid to unleash Dude on you," the white-haired boy threatened while poking a finger into Harry's chest.

Rylee's smile did nothing but grow as Jay and Carlos sent her reassuring grins before journeying back into the crowd. When the princess looked back at the son of Captain Hook, she found him staring back at her with utter shock in his eyes. The Fitzherbert girl couldn't help but laugh, earning a playful glare in response from the pirate. It wasn't long after that when Rylee took his hand into her own and dragged him into the dancing crowd. They kept walking until they reached Morgan and Robbie. While Harry began to have a conversation with the son of Robin Hood, the princesses scanned the crowd with huge grins on their faces.

Rylee's eyes instantly landed on Kay dancing with Gil before falling on Pete talking to Uma. Shock coursed through her veins as she elbowed Morgan in the side and gestured toward the duo. The two of them just watched the two before their attention landed on Ruby and Roland dancing with the younger teens from the Isle. It wasn't long after that when the Macintosh girl slung her arm around her best friend's shoulders and pulled her closer to her side.

"I never thought I'd see the day when the barrier was taken down," Morgan said while keeping her eyes glued to the bridge that now permanently connected the two lands.

"I didn't think I would either," Rylee responded before the smile on her face did nothing but grow as she tightened her grip around Morgan, "but I'm glad we had a small part in making it happen."

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