sᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ 30ᴛʜ
ᴏғ ʙᴀsᴛᴇᴛ 1219ᴀᴄ
10 ᴀᴍ

THE MORNING OF BEN'S CORONATION FELT LIKE ANY OTHER. The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and all seemed right with the world. He remembered his mother arriving with different servants carrying breakfast, an elegant suit, an ornate sword he would need to wear on his belt, and other important royal items. Today he'd be crowned King of the Twelve Kingdoms of Auradon.

He felt like throwing up. But in a good way. The day was to be a joyous occasion, his father would abdicate his position and give way for his son to take the crown. A king for the next generation and to bring Auradon to a better future. It would be written in the history books for years to come. He wasn't aware of just how important today was because it'd be the day that everything would change. For better or worse.

Ben glanced over at the girl to his left. Dressed in a long lilac gown, he'd never seen her wear a shade this light of purple. It was a stark contrast to her dark purple hair and her usual black outfits. She looked like a princess, he thought. But it was better than that, it was like she was a princess for herself. Her colors and her style, it was still Mal. That's what he enjoyed most about their time together. She was so— her. Whenever he was around Audrey, it felt forced and fake, neither one of them acted like themselves.

"Don't be nervous," he told her, noticing her fidgeting amongst the wave of people and subjects gathered on the roadside to see them on the carriage. She still had that tendency to watch the people around here, like she was expecting an incoming attack any second. "All you have to do is sit there and look beautiful. No problem there." She smiled at the compliment and managed to relax a bit.

"Thank you." She told him. He knew it'd be a tough day for her. Accepting his invitation to be his personal guest for the coronation was more than just asking someone out. It was a message. Both to the Twelve Kingdoms and to the Isle (if they got the news in time). Mal was officially integrating into Auradon society. It would tell the Isle that there was a better way for them to live, and it would tell the rest of Auradon that there was hope for rehabilitation. Mal was here and she was here to stay.

Ben thought he was making history. And for the better. He had believed with all his heart that he did the near impossible and had these kids see the light, see a better way than what they were taught. A friend would one day tell him that it didn't matter if he were to blame himself, what mattered was whether or not he'd do something about it. It still didn't stop him from feeling guilt and shame for the rest of his days.

"Mal, would you wear my ring?" He asked the girl he thought he would love forever. He could imagine marrying her and having her as queen. He'd make sure the entire realm would respect her and he had grand ideas of setting the Isle free. Having all those innocent children brought to Auradon so they could fix the injustices done to them.

"Um— not now," but she refused to, and it hurt but he understood. He wouldn't push her. "I think it would probably just fall right off of me." And that made him feel better, he wanted to give her all the space she needed and she in turn tried to make him at ease. "I have something for you," Mal told him, holding up the tiny blue box in her hand.

Ben glanced down at her hands, "For me?" he asked. What could Mal have for him on a day like this? A gift? He wondered before finally opening the lid to find a chocolate mini-cake. Ah, just like the cookie from before. And with the way she had been acting, Ben could only assume she might've been nervous or even guilty. Guilty for spelling him and this was her way of apologizing.

Mal nodded, "Yeah. It's just for later, you know when you need strength. Some carbs to keep up your energy." She explained awkwardly, trying to be kind.

"Always thinking. But I can't wait." And without a second thought, he took a bite of the small cake.

As expected she tried to stop him before he could eat it, "No!" But she was too late.

Ben chewed it, "Mm," he exclaimed, "This is really good," he told her, mouth slightly full.

"Uh, do you—" she stammered, "Do you feel okay?"

"You bet." He knew he shouldn't, but it was fun finally being able to pull one over on her.

"Would you say that you're still in... t-that you have very strong feelings for me?"

"I'm not sure. I mean, let's give the anti-love potion a few minutes to take effect."

"Yeah, okay," she nodded before realizing, "What? You knew?"

"That you spelled me? Yeah. Yeah, I knew." He nodded his head, still eating the cake.

"I'm- I can explain myself."

"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?" And he hoped he was right because all he wanted to do was thank her. He didn't have the will to let down Audrey, to stop their soon-to-be-engagement, to let go of all the plans his parents made for him. He was finally doing something he wanted— even if it involved a magic spell. Still, it was a miracle in disguise. Kind of like how his father's curse brought him the love of his life, perhaps this would bring him his.

"Yes. You're so right. So, then, how long have you known?"

"Since our first date. Your spell washed away in the Enchanted Lake."

Her eyes widened at the reveal, she took another second before asking, "So, then what? You've just been... faking it since then?" Her voice was saddened until he reached over and grabbed her hand to hold.

She looked down and back at him, her beautiful green eyes staring at him. He couldn't believe that he managed to get through to her. He couldn't believe that he got what he wanted. This small crush had become so much more. "I haven't been faking anything." He told her.

The carriage halted once they arrived at the ceremonial Great Hall. Ben and Mal stepped out and waved at the many people who would soon become Ben's subjects. The air had a light breeze and the sun was warmly shining down on them as they walked to the building.

Once they reached the grand doors, his parents were waiting for them. He knew they were still upset with him about his choices. He'd been brushing them aside for the past week, trying to avoid it as much as possible until the day came when their opinions wouldn't matter because he'd be the one in charge. But the closer he got to them, the more he realized that he wanted their opinion. He wanted their advice, their wisdom, and their support.

Mal attempted to break the ice, trying to apologize to the king and queen, "About the other day, I just wanted to say—"

But the King held up his hand to stop her, "I told Ben this wasn't going to be easy." He knew his father didn't want to abdicate from his crown yet. He could've been the king for another twenty years— or more. But he also understood how important it was to get Ben ready for his kingdom. His generation was growing up, they were taking many of their parents' places, and they were the future of Auradon.

His parents wanted him prepared to not just rule and protect those before him but to inspire those who would come after him. And he would. "You also taught me that a king has to believe in himself. Even when it isn't easy." Ben said.

"I'm glad you were listening." His father said, giving him a small knowing nod.

"I always was." He smiled at his father. "And I always will."

It was his mother's turn to beam brightly at him, her hands cupping his cheeks. "Ben, we are so very proud of you. You keep listening to your heart, my dear."

"Thanks, Mom." He gripped her hands just as tightly.

"You're going to make a fine king." His parents told him before leaving him to enter the hall on his own as he should. They entered the Great Hall and Mal followed soon after.

"Wish me luck." He whispered to himself. It finally dawned on him that this was actually going to happen. He would walk down that hall and be crowned King Benjamin of the Twelve Kingdoms of Auradon.

It seemed so surreal that it felt like a dream as he passed down the hall along with the guests of the crown. He saw great royal families from all over the world. Families that he would have to get along with soon enough. Make sure their alliances were kept strong and the respect would go both ways. He suddenly missed just being a young princeling. How did he know whom he could rely on? Who would be an ally and who might take advantage of a young king?

The Torul's gave him great smiles, even Princess Melody looked happy to be there— that didn't happen much.

He was excited to see the Salientia's again, Prince Naveen and Princess Tiana were great friends of his family.

The Charmantes looked elegant as ever, their golden child Chad stood tall with his grand blue cloak.

The Khione's of Blanchard had politely declined their invitation, citing that Snow White would rather not be in the same room— let alone the same continent— as the Evil Queen's daughter. And she refused for her husband or son to go either. Instead, it was a cousin of Prince Florian's that represented the Khiones on this fateful day.

The Lords of Southbreak looked regal and proud. They did their best to appear as important as they could, one of the downsides to being the only kingdom not led by family. They knew any one of them could be replaced by their own subjects— or the very king if need be.

The Locksley family of the Summerlands were simply bowing their heads as he passed, Lord Robin Hood still not accustomed to his title even after all these years.

The Llyr's of Prydain had a distinct look about them, they often looked ready for battle in the strangest way. Ben didn't often think of them much, they were the farthest kingdom in Auradon, all the way out to the north-east.

Only the men from the Andersen family came, as Princess Anna was too ill to travel all the way to Ivory Towers, her daughter staying behind to keep her company. That was the official letter that Prince Kristoff and his son Agnarr delivered. But Ben had heard otherwise, it was that she was too afraid to leave her home now. He knew of other rumors that the princess had grown even more isolated over the years since her sister vanished.

He knew why the Solis family wasn't there.

And he was saddened that the DunBroch clan didn't come in full, only sending the oldest triplet brother, Prince Hamish, to represent them. Though he knew why. What he couldn't believe was that they dared to let the eldest Mathan child attend. He almost staggered when he saw him in the crowd, now thankful that he was taking slow steps to get to the top of the small staircase. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he came here for the same thing they all yearned for the past two decades. Now that there was a new king in the game, they figured they could swoop in out of nowhere. Laenor Mathan should've had the decency to stay in the Borderlands.

And right near the end was Audrey and her grandmother, the last of the Roses, representing Highdawn. He hoped that their broken relationship would be the last of their conflict. But he also knew better than that when it came to Audrey.

And then Ben pushed all those thoughts aside. He couldn't think about all that right now, he had to stay focused, he had a duty to perform. He would handle Auradon and its kingdoms no matter what. It was his purpose as well as his burden.

The Fairy Godmother was waiting for him patiently with a gentle smile. He knelt as she read from the coronation scroll, "Great people of Auradon, here I present unto you: King Benjamin. Wherefore all of you who come this day to do your homage and service in his reign. Are you willing to do the same, Benjamin?"

"I, Benjamin Florian Beaumont Villeneuve, swear to serve this kingdom until my last breath."

The Fairy Godmother then brought forth the royal regalia. "Receive this orb, and remember that as king of this great nation, it is thy sworn duty to nurture and protect thy kingdom." He let the golden orb with the adorning headpiece of the Beaumont crest, the head of his father's beast form, be delicately placed on his left palm. "With this scepter, thy shall use to mark and emblem the sign of kingly power and justice." He received the scepter and held it tightly in his right hand. He very quickly became aware of the sweat forming on his brow and how clammy his hands were. Still, he remained as stiff as a statue. The Fairy Godmother held in front of her the third and final piece, the crown. "Bless we beseech thee this crown on this day for a sign of royal majesty, so that you may be filled with abundant grace and virtues." He leaned down as she placed it atop his head.

Adorned and holding up the royal Auradonian regalia, the Fairy Godmother brought forth her magical wand for the blessing of the king. He remembered the first time he read about High King Phillip's coronation, he was blessed by the Three Good Faeries. One for each of his family, and the only king in the history books to ever receive such favor. A sadness stuck inside him— no, not sadness— guilt. Audrey was Phillip's daughter, and she was blessed to be his next heir two decades ago. Now here he was about to receive it instead. Should he stop it? Get up and abdicate everything that his parents wanted for him? Leave it all to Audrey— despite her recklessness and emotional nature. No, his father's voice popped into his head, you have been studying and training for this your entire life. The people want the strongest and the wisest of leadership, and because of your mother and I, that is exactly what you are. This is your destiny, my son. "Do you solemnly swear to govern the peoples of Auradon with justice and mercy as long as you shall reign?"

Ben didn't have to overthink it anymore. "I do solemnly swear." He said in a heartbeat.

"Then it is my honor and my joy to bless our new king—"

That's when the chaos began.

Jane had enough.

She had put up with too much for too long.

Days before the coronation, her mother removed the hair spell that Mal had placed on her. And when she went to ask Mal for it again, the older fey refused out of a scornful lecture from Fairy Godmother on using magic for self-keep.

"I'm sorry Jane, I can't. I'm finally on good terms with your mom." Mal told her with a sad smile the day before. "It's too bad you can't do it yourself, you'd be able to picture exactly what you wanted. Maybe I can help some other time?"

Even when the spell wasn't done as self-keep, it was done onto Jane. She figured that what her mother didn't like was that it was a spell cast by a dark fey. She thought about how hypocritical it was.

Her mother had used her power on Cinderella. She only helped the girl because of a blood debt she had with her late father, and it resulted in one of the most memorable pairings in the Twelve Kingdoms. But when Jane asked for it? She got nothing. It's not as if she wanted it for the whole day! She didn't need it until midnight, just a few hours, was that too much to ask? Or how about getting to learn the spell in the first place? Maybe learn something other than the same flower-blooming spell her mother had stuck her with for years on end.

"Mal looks amazing doesn't she?"

"I heard that other villain girl styled her, it's no surprise, look at her."

"Jane's hair looks like it was cut with a dull knife."

"At least it distracts from the hand-me-down dress."

"Or the lack of date."

"Who would invite the Fairy Godmother's daughter? Everyone knows that's a road to nowhere."

She could hear everyone's whispers during the coronation, the gossip, and the rumors. So many spoiled princesses and judgmental princes. Agh. She was so angry. Jane could feel her palms sweating and something quelled deep inside her. Every day she spent suppressing her abilities.

She barely remembered it.

She didn't know what got into her.

Everything happened so fast.

She saw her mother summon the wand. The wand.

Memories poured into her mind of all the times she saw her mother use it. She was so powerful. She helped create the Isle of the Lost, built its barrier, and kept some of the strongest villains in the realm imprisoned.

She saw the glimmer, she saw the wand in her mother's hand, and then she ran for it. Without thinking she lunged to grab it and it was in her hands. She felt the way it warmed up to her as if activating to her touch, and then things went very badly very quickly.

The wand was coming to life, shooting up and pointing in different directions. It got hotter the more she held onto it, but it wasn't painful. There was no controlling it. Still, Jane refused to give in to it. She released everything she had inside her. She would show them all that she was not someone to mock or call names.

Gasps spread through the crowd as her mother tried to stop her, "Child, what are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

Jane was sick of being called a child, "Stop calling me that!" she screamed to the sky as the wand tore open the hall's ceiling, pieces of glass and debris came falling and people screamed as they shielded their heads or moved out of the way. The earth shook beneath everyone's feet but she was the only one that was steady. The Godmother's daughter was unleashing a power more absolute that people hadn't seen in decades, and she didn't even know it was her own.

What was the spell? What were the words Mal had used?

"Could you just, tell me the spell at least? Not how it works but just the words?" Jane asked her the day before. She could see Mal reluctant to say anything, "Okay, forget the self-keep spell, just tell me, how do you even use magic the way you want it to? I can barely control it even when Mom lets me test it out."

Mal hesitated before speaking, "Um uh— you know what, screw it, here's what you have to do." Jane nodded immediately for the information. "The spell I used was for other people, not self-keep so you're not looking for that one. If you want to do it yourself or you want to get better at magic all you have to do is close your eyes and open your mind."

Jane paused for a minute, not understanding, "What does that mean?" She asked.

"You'll know what it means when the day comes," Mal told her with a smile.

She saw the way everyone stared at her, waiting for her to fail or to completely fall apart. Her mother with arms outstretched to try and contain the situation. The Old King simply stared waiting for her to do something as the Queen cupped her mouth in shock. Maybe what broke her heart was seeing one of her oldest friends, the new King of Auradon, with his stupid antique sword in hand aimed at her. But this wasn't about them, any of them. For the first time, it was about her.

"If you won't make me beautiful, I'll do it myself!" She screamed again, and this time a shot of lightning came from the wand and went through the hole in the building. The day had come and Jane still didn't know what to do. She tried her best, she really did. Close your eyes and open your mind. Close eyes. Open mind. Close eyes. Open mind. Open. Mind. Despite her yelling and screaming, she spoke her next words in a whisper, "Animus. Apertus." The more she held onto the wand, the more she felt her power surging from her, through it, and into the world. She felt something open, something crack and unlock, she thought it was something good. It was a release she didn't know she needed. And a part of her liked it.

Then something pushed her to the ground and the wand was out of her hands. Little bits of lightning and static were still in her fingers. She felt like she could do it all over again if she wanted. Like she could keep shaking the earth and make mountains move— but she couldn't, she told herself. She needed the wand for that. But now it lay in another fey's hands. When she stood up to face her mother's wrath she was surprised to find the wand's new owner had purple hair.

All eyes were on Mal.

The daughter of Maleficent was holding the Fairy Godmother's magic wand. She could do immense damage with a weapon like that. And they all waited to see what she'd do. Attack the newly crowned king? Enact her mother's revenge on what was left of the Rose family? Perhaps she'd surprise them all and hand it back to its original owner. But no one believed that. Except for one person.

Ben saw how Mal acted, scanning everyone and holding the wand up in defense. Her eyes were wide and she twisted around like a cornered animal. Everyone was on edge and that included her.

Ben extended his free hand slowly, "Mal, give me the wand." He asked gently.

He didn't miss the way her eyes shifted between the sword in his hand and the wand in hers. "Stand back." Her voice was gravelly, a lot of theirs were too because of the recent shouting.

"It's okay." He told her.

"Ben, I said stand back!" Mal yelled and pointed the wand at him this time. He saw the way her eyes glowed a bright green and he could've sworn the temperature in the room rose higher. He would never tell anyone, and he probably wouldn't remember this for a long time, but that was the first time he was afraid of Mal. Though it didn't really matter, everyone caught the way he slowly brought the sword up a bit in defense, it was subtle but it was there. And she caught it too.

Soon enough, the rest of her friends entered the Great Hall, running fast and making their way through the broken glass and cement until they stood behind her.

"Let's go!" Carlos yelled at her.

"Revenge time." Jay worked in more quietly.

But Mal seemed to be at a stalemate, frozen between her friends and Ben. He looked into her eyes and he saw that she couldn't make a choice. He could only hope she'd do the right thing. "You really want to do this?"

Mal looked to be on the verge of tears, but Ben knew she'd fight her entire body on it. "We have no choice, Ben!" Her voice cracked unexpectedly and for the first time since he's known her, Ben saw fear in her eyes. Not fear of disappointing anyone or losing something important, genuine bone-chilling fear. And when he looked carefully, they all had it. "Our parents—"

He cut her off fast, "Your parents made their choice. Now you make yours."

To everyone's surprise, Mal said something no one ever expected from her, not even herself. "I think I want to be good." She whispered aloud as though it were the most frightening thing she'd ever said.

"You are good." He promised her.

"I'm not, I'm really not, Ben." She shook her head like the mere thought was impossible, "I've done things I'm not proud of. I've lied, I've hurt people, I don't think I was ever good. I never even had a chance."

"You're wrong. I've been next to you for the past few weeks and you couldn't be more wrong." He remembered all the little things she did, like watching out for her friends when they drank too much. And the time she secretly helped a duckling back into the pond with her magic. And the time she tried to save him because she thought he had drowned, risking her own life because she didn't know how to swim. "There is good in you, Mal."

"How do you know that?!" She exclaimed loudly, the lights in the room bursting with sparks, causing some people to shout or scream.

"Because..." He leaned down slowly and lowered the sword to the floor before gently tossing it to the front of her feet. He stood back up because he found his answer fast and true, "Because I'm listening to my heart." And it was real, despite all he's seen her do, all the actions she's taken, he genuinely believed in his heart and soul that she was good.

"Well, I don't have the luxury of listening to mine, Ben. I can't just do what I want, my Mom is waiting for me to set her free. Jafar is pushing Jay into impossibly being Agrabah's next ruler. Evie's just trying to do what her mother could've wanted, a last-ditch attempt to honor her memory. And Carlos? You don't want to know what'll happen to him if he doesn't do what Cruella asks of him. So, don't stand in front of me and say that we're free when we all know that the minute that we mess up here, we're sent back to that island." She spoke ferociously and Ben could finally see just how angry Mal was. Angry, stuck, disappointed, and tired. Yes, tired of it all. "Look at where they ended up, look at what all that hate and anger, a-and pain left them. They are rotting on an island prison. And I refuse to rot with them."

"Okay, you're right, I don't know what you guys have suffered back there. I won't ever know how you feel or how you managed it. But I can make a decree as your King, as the King of the Twelve Kingdoms of Auradon that you will not be forced to go back to the Isle. You're part of this kingdom. The Isle is part of this kingdom and it is high time we remind ourselves of that. Whatever happens, we'll figure it out together."

No one said anything for a little while, the Lost kids still huddled together and wary of those around them. Even through Jane's accidental damage to the Great Hall, the guests that didn't run were staring at them all. He could only imagine what they were thinking, perhaps under-threat nervousness or an instinct to start running away, he couldn't blame them for it.

"Okay, it's okay, let's just breathe a little bit," Ben tried to soothe her, "I am sorry for what has happened to you all, and I can't go back and fix it. But that doesn't mean that you're not worth helping. You're from the Isle of the Lost, but that doesn't make you lost." He said, "You haven't done anything to us, Mal, you're still good. You're good." He whispered and he hoped to the heavens that she believed him.

"I—" Mal spoke up softly, "I-I want to listen to my heart." Ben nodded in encouragement, "And my heart is telling me," she turned around to face her friends, "that we are not our parents. I mean, stealing things doesn't make you happy." She said to Jay, "Tourney and victory parties with the team make you happy. And Evie... You do not have to play dumb to get a guy. You're the smartest person I know." She finally turned to the de Vil boy, "And you, heaping amounts of sugar and candy make you happy, you even learned to bake. Who would've thought?" They all laughed for a minute and Ben scoffed a laugh too, he couldn't believe what was happening before his very eyes. "And I don't want to take over the world with evil. It doesn't make me happy. I want to finish classes." Mal nodded like she finally had things figured out, "And be with Ben." He snapped his head up at the mention of his name as she turned and held up his ring. He slipped it to her before the ceremony to hold, but she was actually wearing it. "Because Ben makes me really happy." She gave a sad giggle with tears in her eyes before turning back to her friends. "Us being friends makes me really happy. Not destroying things. I choose good, you guys." Mal stuck her fist out waiting for them to join her, to join the choice to be good.

Jay started nodding as he brought forth his fist to join his fearless leader, "I choose good, too." He said softly.

Evie joined next, "I choose good." She said with a big smile.

The remaining three (and all of the Great Hall inhabitants) turned to stare at the last one left to join, "So, just to be clear, we don't have to be worried about how extremely mad our parents will be? 'Cause they're gonna be really, really mad." He said cautiously.

Ben spoke up to appease them, "Your parents can't reach you here."

And with that being said, Carlos de Vil stuck his fist out, "Okay, then. Good." He chose.

The friends laughed as Mal nodded at Ben to join them, "Come on, you started all this." He laughed with them as he joined, Mal giving him a side hug in the process.

When they parted ways, Ben saw all the guests and royal families staring at him and the group of villain kids— ex-villain kids he should say. Before he got the chance to deliver a big speech about being open-hearted and giving second chances, Mal grabbed his arm to stop him. He and she stared at each other for a few seconds before he understood, she wanted to say it instead.

Mal walked forward to the start of the stairs before turning around and facing the people who lead Auradon, the real Auradon. All the royal families and lords that their parents had affected in their prime years of evil and chaos. "I know some of you will probably never trust us and I understand why." She spoke loudly and strongly, Ben could suddenly see their future together, a grand vision in his hopeful eyes of a united Auradon and the Isle of the Lost with Mal at his side. Not just peaceful but— happy. Happy and free with everyone together. "But I ask you to not judge a daughter for the crimes of her mother. Doing that is exactly how we ended up in this situation. Don't judge us for who our parents are, judge us as our own people, people that you can get to know here. We may have chosen good, but now it's your turn to choose us."

Ben wondered if that was how she was going to finish or if someone else would speak against her, it didn't matter because Mal never got the chance to finish.

The earth started shaking again and the clouds in the sky joined together to make the day turn to night. Everyone became weary again and some even shot looks at the only three fey in the room. But it wasn't any of them causing this. No, this was something much worse.

The Great Hall had gone through great damage in the last ten minutes, and now it would receive more. Just as the shaking had settled down, everything went quiet, no one spoke a word waiting for what was to come. Then the doors slammed open, earning quite a lot of screams from the guests who quickly fell silent once they saw who caused it.

She didn't look the way the Rotten were used to on the Isle, her usual sarcasm and tired face were gone. She was... beautifully terrifying to stare at. Her long black dress and cloak followed behind her like they were shadows dancing. Her skin was otherworldly, almost shining against the few remaining lights in the Great Hall, made even paler when the lights reflected back on her eyes like an animal. She looked taller even, her steps cool and casual that reminded Queen Leah of the day she had come to curse her baby daughter. This wasn't the Maleficent that had been imprisoned for two decades on an island, this wasn't Mal's mother whom they all enjoyed poking fun at since she fell from the villain ladder, this was the Maleficent that cursed an infant out of spite for her parents. The one who put an entire kingdom to a cursed sleep. The one responsible for High King Phillip's demise. This was the Maleficent people remembered during the War, full of grace, power, and nightmares.

She walked like she owned the place, her scepter making its intentional echoing sound with each step. The longer it took for her to get to her daughter and the new king, the eerier everyone felt. Fear was in the air and it wasn't leaving them any time soon. It seemed like ages before anyone heard another sound beyond her footsteps.

"Well, well," She said with a smile, her small fangs making it creepier; they all watched her scan the partygoers and the royalty, a little swivel here and there before finally approaching the leading monarchs closely, "This takes me back. Another party with no invitation? I'm starting to think this is a pattern." She tried pouting sadly but couldn't help the grin fighting its way to her mouth. "Oh, it's good to be back!"

"You have no idea what it is like being on that wretched island, no magic or even my dear Diaval." She stared at the Fairy Godmother for a minute before nodding her head, "Stellentia," she greeted with a wave before she lifted her hand and magically sent the Godmother flying to the end of the room, the concrete making a small crack in the process. People screamed and Jane shouted for her mother. Maleficent looked around at the guests, "Finally I can relax now that she's taken care of, I've always detested that one." She sneered at the thought of the fairy that sold-out to the humans. And worse, to royal humans.

She approached the ones responsible for her release, "Considering how long it took for you to get me here I shall reward you by letting you live. Regardless, I should thank you for not being as big of a disappointment as I thought you were."

"Go away, Mother." Mal's voice came out strong despite the fear in the air.

Those words, those orders, made the fey snap her eyes to her only child, her eyes glowed so bright they were hard to look at. Maleficent scoffed out a short laugh, "Excuse me? You're funny, darling." She said flatly before turning her back to her, "Now, where is that wand about?"

"You're not welcomed here, mother." The girl spoke again.

Maleficent halted in her step before turning to face her daughter, this time her attention was fully on her, "I gave you that one. Just one, young lady, and you go on to do it again?" The wind started to pick up, "I know how you've seen me the past few years but I am still your mother." Thunder came from the sky just as lightning sparked from the clouds, gathering shouts from plenty of people, "You do not order me, girl. That's not the way this works." A single bolt of lightning came and struck the space between Maleficent and her daughter. And that was just the warning. "Now, the wand. I won't ask a second time."

Everyone stared to see what the young fey girl would do.

Ben could only stare, he didn't know what to say or what to do, he just froze. But then Mal looked at him and then back to her mother, and for a second he thought she might do it. He thought she would give her the wand and he- he wouldn't blame her for it. What wouldn't he do if his father asked him to do something? Right or wrong, there's nothing as authoritative as a parent. But he was wrong about Mal that day, in more ways than he cared to learn a year later.

Just as she was about to hand the magic wand over, Mal quickly turned it horizontally and gripped it with both hands. She shut her eyes just as her hands began to glow a warm orange-red.

Maleficent shot her hand up to try and stop her, she knew what she was trying to do, "No!"

"Stay back!" Ben could've sworn he heard Mal growl those words. "I mean it! I'll break and burn it, you know that I can. I have your blood running through my veins. It's enough to destroy this."

No one knew what Maleficent was going to do, Ben honestly thought she would do the same as him minutes before and try to calm Mal or de-escalate the situation. Instead, she made it worse, "Is it?" Mal's eyes snapped to her mother, a wave of anger in them that Ben had never seen. "You may have my blood, but let's not forget the other half that's swimming around in there. You're still half-human, darling." Even her terms of endearment sounded like a curse coming from her mouth, "You've barely used magic, growing up in its isolation. Your eyes are so dim they pass as human and the ears. Don't get me started on the ears, you don't even look like us."

And that appeared to be the last straw. Mal's hands burned brighter and made a move to bend her hands, Maleficent screamed and tried to stop her.

But she was too late.

No one missed the snapping crack of the Godmother's wand. The two broken pieces in the fey girl's hands began to slowly dissipate from her very hands, becoming blue ashes that floated up to the sky, returning to where they came from.

No one looked more surprised than Mal, she couldn't believe it had actually worked. She scoffed out a laugh as she stared at her hands, but her bewilderment was quickly overshadowed by her mother's wrath.

"You—" The ground shook again, this time much harsher than ever, "Insolent," People were falling to the ground, "Stupid," Thunder played in the skies above them, "Useless," the lights were snuffed out, leaving everyone in darkness, "Waste." Lightning soared over them like a flight of birds. "You will pay for this." Maleficent raised her scepter and brought it to the ground in one motion, making a loud boom! that sent anyone who was still on their feet straight to the floor. It was followed by a circle of fire forming around her and the Rotten.

Ben tried to get up but the gravity holding him down was too strong. He did manage to crawl his way forward a bit only for the fire that was seven feet in front of him to grow larger and hotter. It seemed no matter what anyone did, Maleficent wouldn't let anyone approach the gated flames she created. No one could enter, and no one could leave.

One good thing came from the flames, they were no longer surrounded by darkness. He could recall his father ordering some of the guards to try and escort the guests out of the Great Hall. Why didn't he think of that? He coughed and opened his eyes to find that Maleficent had been letting the fire spread, only keeping those inside the circle safe. But he knew they were worse off than any of them.

The smoke was filling his lungs, his vision began to blur and he felt someone pulling him away from the circle. He tried to fight it, he had to help Mal, but he was too weak. He could barely lift his arms. Was there a difference between fey fire and regular fire?

But just as he asked himself that question, the very fire began to die down, the air started to clear and he found himself breathing a little easier.

He coughed out to find sunlight slowly pouring in through the clouds.

What remained of the guests that couldn't escape the chaos began to stand and collect themselves, the gravity that pulled them down was gone, and their fear-rattled hearts were beating normally again.

His eyes found Mal's, she was panting and there were tears in the corner of her eyes. She looked down at the floor and he followed her gaze only to stagger back in shock.

Maleficent was on the ground, his passed-down royal sword sticking out of her torso, red blood painted the cement, and her glassy eyes empty.

She was dead.

Mal had killed her.

☠︎ ☠︎ ☠︎ ☠︎

The next few hours happened fast. It was chaotic and hectic, he didn't know if he was making the right choice. Mal stayed with him as she explained what happened to him and his parents, but part of him just wanted to take her back to her room and let her calm down. Her mother was dead, and at her hands, she needed time to process.

He hardly remembered the statements she made, they were out of order and emotional, and she could barely contain herself.

Her voice was rough and sore, "She was burning everything down," she was sitting on the stairs as Ben held her hand tightly, "Threatening to put everyone to sleep— permanently. And then she said she'd save Ben for last, a way to- to," she gulped momentarily, "To punish me for falling in love. She called it weak and ridiculous. And then she looked at my friends." Her head raised to look at the Old King's eyes, "She started hurting them, said it must've been their fault for making me soft." Mal let go of Ben's hand and stood up to properly meet King Beast's eyes. "I drove a sword through my mother, not to save the kingdom but to save Ben, to save my friends. I understand if you want me to go back to the Isle of the Lost."

"What? No." Ben stood up fast, "No!" he looked at his parents, "She's not going anywhere. She saved us!"

His father held up a hand for him to calm down, "We never said we were going to do that."

Ben looked at Mal and she did too, he gave her a smile and a small nod before taking her hand. "I can't imagine the sacrifice you took," his mother told Mal. "You didn't do it for the kingdom but you did it for your friends, for Ben. You did it out of loyalty."

"And for that we thank you and we offer our sympathies for the actions you were forced to take." His father offered his hand to shake and after a hesitant moment, she took it.

His father turned to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Besides, we couldn't send her back even if we wanted to. You're the king now, son. All the decisions are in your hands now."

The Fairy Godmother had joined the conversation a few minutes later. Her voice wasn't as soothing as Ben expected her to be. "You destroyed it." Were her first words to Mal.

She quickly knew what she meant, "I did, I'm sorry, it was the only thing I could think of that could protect us from her getting her hands on it."

The Old King spoke before the Godmother could, "Don't be sorry, perhaps it was the right thing to do. It was too powerful." No one made a move to say anything, and then he did again, "Now, to destroy the scepter she left behind so we can be rid of its evil."

"With all due respect Your Highness," the Godmother spoke up and no one missed the words she used, 'Your Highness', Beast was no longer 'Your Majesty' after Ben took the throne. That was reserved for the younger Beaumont now. No one expected people to adapt to the change to happen so fast, "Maleficent put too many safeguards in her effects, I don't think anyone will be able to destroy that. Not even Mal. But I would still advise to keep it under lock and key."

But Beast didn't look so sure, "We can discuss this later." He nodded at the older fey. "For now it's time to clean this up, gather our strength and wish luck to the next king later tonight."

"Thank you, Father."

"It's not me you should be thanking." He smiled at his son, nodding his head to the purple-haired girl.

"You saved my life, saved all of us." Mal didn't know how to respond to his words, so all she did was grip the back of his neck and bring his lips to hers.

His first kiss with Mal was everything he expected it to be. He knew right then and there that she was the girl for him. He could see them in the future, happy and ruling the kingdom, that earlier vision coming to him but it was even better now. Because she kissed him, she wanted this just as much as he did.

Ben couldn't believe how lucky he was.

Or how stupid.

TWO

HOURS

EARLIER

"Do you realize what you've done?"

Maleficent had surrounded the Rotten with a circle of fire. They were suddenly muffled to the screams of the partygoers, she had given them some retreat and seclusion. Meanwhile, Mal ignored her mother, now that they finally had some privacy she could relax a bit. No more playing confused, good-choosing, perfect girlfriend for the public.

"Mal!" Her mother screamed at her, her voice thundering but she refused to shake beneath it.

"Relax, a little, Mother, you didn't want that anyway." She shook her head.

"You broke one of the most powerful wands in the Fey Lands. That wand came from a blue star centuries before any of this was even a thought. And you just— snapped it in half." Maleficent grew angrier and so did the flames, they started growing and spreading to the outside. But they also spread inside. Her mother's eyes kept glowing until eventually a cloud of black smoke appeared around her, enveloping her, and then all that was left was a dragon.

Her wings flapped violently, but the flamed circle didn't let up once. Mal turned to see the rest of her little crusade were on their knees coughing, consumed by the smoke. She was making it lethal for humans. It was easy to tell, Evie's forehead was sweating— probably hot to the touch and Carlos had dark red veins covering his throat. Jay somehow kept standing, his endurance wouldn't last him long though and he was quickly buckled over, a coughing fit as his blood landed on the floor, the rest coating his lips. She made a quick motion to the floor with her eyes, to Ben's sword still on the ground next to her feet. She hoped he had understood her message.

"Seriously?" She turned to her mother, "I broke your toy, now you want to get rid of mine?" She was thankful that they couldn't hear her through the coughing and the pain, any one of them would stab her in the arm for saying it. And then she'd stab them back and they'd be stuck in a loop for who knows how long. Mal shook her head, "We're not doing that today, Mom. You can stop with the tricks, I'm not scared."

Mal walked a few feet to her left and outstretched her arm to touch the wall of fire, "What are you doing, girl?" Her mother snapped at her, and Mal gave a knowing smirk.

"Something I never thought I'd do: lowering the fatalities." Mal took another step closer toward the flames, both hands inside it now. The heat revealed what was underneath the fey girl. Her skin folded into itself as her hardened reptilic scales were displayed across her arms and neck. She could feel her eyes glow and her ears, which usually looked too human for any fey, grew slightly pointed. She remembered the times her mother talked about despising Mal's human ears. She'd throw the little girl into the fireplace for them to emerge but they never stayed, always shrinking back to their original shape once the fire was out. And here she stood with her flectere skin protecting her against the flame. No matter what her mother always said, Mal was fey. She was a dragon-flectere just like her, and no fire would hurt her.

And with that, the fire conformed to her, it wasn't Maleficent's anymore, it was Mal's. She had it change, letting it be normal for humans again, no more poisonous smoke or deadly air.

And the black smoke covered the dragon again, leaving behind her mother as she appeared before them moments ago. Before her mother could begin insulting her again, Mal took the initiative to speak first. "We both know that was just an illusion. You haven't shifted into a dragon-flectere in decades, even before the War."

"Stop talking you little brat,"

"What, you didn't think I wasn't paying attention during your fey lessons? Cut me some slack. When that human prince drove his sword through your dragon form, he killed it. He killed you. Of course, flectere get to live twice, right? If we're killed in one form, we can still live in the other. And he killed your flectere side, but you lived through the fairy one." For the first time in her life, her mother was paralyzed by her words. She enjoyed it. "What's it like, being flectere but unable to shift? Ever again? It must be horrible. No wonder you hate everyone." She delivered quietly before returning to her bragging tone as she explained, "The wand was useless." She said, "The Godmother had removed its magic, her own as well, and she gave it to someone." Despite the anger in her mother's face she knew, she believed her. "Someone you'll never meet because you're not leaving this place alive."

Maleficent stared at her daughter, almost daring her to. "Oh, you little—"

Mal turned just in time, Jay threw her the sword he had been slowly inching toward this entire time, and she didn't miss any chances to grab her mom by the hand and pull her in, effectively driving it through her mother's stomach. They all caught her gasp at the intrusion. Mal held her still, from far away it might've even looked like they were hugging. "It's funny, actually, I've thought about this a lot. Not about killing you, no, I'm not a psychopath," she laughed dryly, "I spent time wondering if I could actually do it. I know it's odd, right? But you are my mother, you taught me about Elfame, Álfheimr, the Fey Lands, whatever you wanna call it. Home has so many names. But it wasn't my path. This is." She pulled away to look into her mother's eyes, not moving another inch to ensure she'd stick around long enough to know Mal's words, "And, I am so thankful that you'll get to help me with it. You see, Mother, the second that I take you down— the second these people see me battle and win against my own mother all in the name of protecting them— that's when I get their love, their support, their trust. And I'll use it to destroy them within. So, you see, you will be getting revenge on the people who put you on that island. You just won't be around to see it. I'm grateful for your sacrifice, Mother." She whispered.

Maleficent's mouth was dripping blood slowly onto the floor and Mal's dress, "You insolent girl! This wasn't how it was supposed to be! We can take them down, right now! You and I, my child, I shall teach you to bend and twist into a dragoness and rain fire on them all. You've spent more than a month here, I know you feel it in your bones." She grunted, "I am your mother you cannot do this!" She yelled in her anger, and a gasp left her soon after in pain. The only thing holding her together was the very sword embedded to kill her. "Your shift will be upon you soon, and you'll need me for it. There aren't any flectere. Not in this realm. You still need me! And don't tell me it's for the greater good of your little plan or my revenge. This is an execution!" She screamed with every strength she could possess at that moment.

Mal took a second to reach out and caress her mother's cheek in a cold manner, "My sweet mother, you wound me. An execution is just an elaborate way for monarchs to kill their prisoners. It's a show for the masses, a message to their enemies, a way to keep those below them— below them. I don't hold you to such heights but I've never thought that lowly of you. I'm still surprised you don't seem to get that. It's not an execution, it's a sacrifice, Mother. An offering to the people, a reason for them to believe in me, a reason to gain their trust. What I'm doing is not for the greater good. It is a necessary evil." Mal declared.

She leaned back in to wrap the arm that wasn't holding the sword around her mother."You know it's almost disappointing." She whispered slowly in her mother's ear, "Behind all the tricks, the spells, the longevity of the infamous Fair Folk— we can still be killed by a simple blade." She said before gripping the sword's hilt, "All you need is to apply a little pressure." And twisting it around until she was sure to hear her mother's final breath.

THREE

DAYS

EARLIER

ᴡᴇᴅɴᴇsᴅᴀʏ ᴛʜᴇ 27ᴛʜ
ᴏғ ʙᴀsᴛᴇᴛ 1219ᴀᴄ
10 ᴘᴍ

"We have three days before the coronation, people. It's time to stop dicking around and do what we came here for." Mal gathered them all to discuss the final plan she had in mind.

"If Jane really does have that kind of power, how exactly are we going to convince her to use it?" Carlos asked her. He was sitting on the carpet floor, and Evie sat behind him on the ottoman. She was still angry at Mal, he wondered how long it would last this time.

"We're not going to convince her," Mal told him, "We're going to drive her to it. But I'll admit, there's a chance we won't succeed at first. We'll have to keep trying, have to keep at it until she eventually blows. There's always a way. Even if I have to stick to that wet blanket of a prince longer than I want to. Even if we stay here longer than we planned. We're not going back until we win. We struck fear in the Isle of the Lost long before we even had access to magic. We made them quake and hide and look away when we walked past them."  Mal thought back to every time she heard those words, Isle of Leftovers, Isle of Misfits, Isle of the Forgotten. She'd be forgotten no longer. They expected nothing from her, the daughter of a traitorous hybrid fey and a common human. The daughter of a failure. "We made them regret even looking us in the eye. We can do it again."

"Jane will do her part, she won't even know I put the ideas in her head." She said, "And then, my mother will do the predictable thing and go directly for revenge."

"And how exactly are we going to go up against your mother, the Mistress of Evil, when she has access to magic for the first time in twenty years?" Jay questioned, doubtfully, his arms crossed and refusing to sit. Her strategies had better been perfect, he relied on her to one day get back his throne.

"We do what we do best," Mal allowed her head to tilt sideways, "We play games." She gave them a wicked smile.

☠︎ ☠︎ ☠︎ ☠︎

this is 9K.

i never thought i'd get here.

unholy fuck.

ONE MORE CHAPTER BEFORE WE WRAP UP D1 (but not Act 1) that's right, we'll be able to read about the Rotten in Auradon on a day-to-day basis, maybe get some character-driven chapters and just do some world-building before going into D2

so THIS is the chapter where we get to see Maleficent in her actual scariness compared to the more washed-up Maleficent from the movies. i would say this is our Angelina!Maleficent rather than the Kristen!Maleficent we met in the first chapter. what a shame she only got to be in this chapter, eh who knows, i may bring her back for flashbacks during the big War or something.

right so lets talk about the War (capital W). whenever a character mention the War (capital W) they are talking about the war in which all the kingdoms fought against the villains that we know to be imprisoned on the Isle of the Lost. they've only ever had such a huge war that it's simply just referred to as that, especially when they believe themselves to be at peace, they'll never do battle again. right?

We also get some insight into the rest of the royal families of Auradon! the leaders of each kingdom!

did you catch who everyone was?

So, Ben froze when Maleficent showed up. now, when it comes to fight or flight response, there's a third response people often forget and thats freeze which is exactly what Ben did. i changed it from the film where he was about to go roaring in because realistically, i don't think he would've gone that far in this altercation. Now, Ben is a relatively brave person, but he's still young, he's 21 years old, he's never had any kind of altercation of violence or threat to him since he was a baby (the War ended when he was two years old). He's still brave though, it was his idea to bring 4 kids from the Isle, that took guts to put forth the idea to his parents and actually go through with it. and this is just the beginning, Ben will grow to become braver in the future when it comes to bigger altercations and bigger threats. and it's not just him, everyone's still getting started.

now, let's talk about Ben's romance goggles. Ben has got certain aspirations for his and Mal's relationship. for one thing, he has warped versions of what a healthy relationship should be, and love-spelling your crush isn't a good one. then again, he also forgets the reason his father was cursed in the first place, a lot of people do., and over time a lot of fucked up love stories across the world that he has learned from have warped his own view on what healthy love is. but he will learn. just, the hard way.

why don't we talk about Ben's elitism? it's rather interesting that despite Mal telling them all in her little speech about how she's not completely good, she's done things and she's hurt people (burying the lead but it was honest), he says that she hasn't hurt Auradon, she hasn't hurt the people yet and so she still has a chance, she can still be good. that's very classist of him, subconsciously he believes that the people hurt by Mal are in the distance, they aren't important, if she hurt them, she hurt them, what's important is where she is now. it's almost like he believes the actions taken against the Isle inside the Isle are not valid, and he is not aware of this problematic side of him. he will be. somewhere, someone very special to all our hearts is going to be (literally) smacking some sense into him and he can hopefully grow as a better person than he thinks himself to be.

because the thing is, Ben isn't a bad person, he makes mistakes, he was raised a certain way, and even if he thinks that he's the exception to the rule, that he's so much more evolved than other Auradon royalty, he kinda isn't. i would categorize him as a Becky. but he gets better, especially with the upcoming trauma.

ik this is a lot of character study into Ben but to be fair, this was his heaviest POV chapter so i just wanted to get some things out there for everyone to understand.

no mundanes allowed