Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Once upon a time...

Well, not so long ago, only like twenty years ago...

Belle married her Beast in front of a crowd of 6,000 people. And instead of a honeymoon or anything normal like that, Beast decided to unite all the famous kingdoms in the land under his crown, creating the kingdom of Auradon. And, as part of this, he rounded up all the villains and their sidekicks and booted them out of the kingdom, off to this lonely little island called the Isle of the Lost.

And that was the part that always got glossed over. The Isle of the Lost: a prison, a mistake, home now to many, many innocent children. Of course, just as the heroes had had children, so had the villains, and now so many of the villain kids, or VKs as they were called, were trapped in a prison meant for their parents and not them.

And this was what he meant to change. He was Ben, son of Belle and Beast, now the King of Auradon. He stood there in his castle room, looking into the mirror, fixing his royal-blue blazer, and thinking about the past.

This had all started over six months ago. Ben's first official royal proclamation, made even before he was crowned king, was to allow the children of the Isle of the Lost a chance to live in Auradon. The first four to arrive were Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos. These four arrived in Auradon with wicked intentions, to steal the Fairy Godmother's Wand and bring down the barrier that trapped their parents on the Isle. Mal had even cast a love spell on Ben to do it. But then she really fell in love with him, and the four VKs had had a change of heart. They chose to become good, and they even defeated Mal's mother, Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil.

Ben had been crowned king. And somehow, his first proclamation slipped his mind. Nearly six months passed, and no more children came from the Isle of the Lost. Meanwhile, some kind of drastic change was happening in Mal, as she rapidly transformed from a purple-haired punk to wearing lacy dressed and pale blonde hair, the picture of a princess. She had convinced herself that was what was best, if she was to become a Lady of the Court for Ben. When the facade broke, and she couldn't take it, she fled back to the Isle of the Lost. Wracked with guilt and blaming himself, Ben followed, with Evie, Jay, and Carlos by his side. But Ben was kidnapped by Uma, daughter of Ursula, who despised the prison she lived in and reminded Ben of his own proclamation, of what he was failing to do.

Once Ben was rescued by Mal and the others, Uma escaped the Isle as they left, and she cast a spell on him to try and have him bring down the barrier. No such thing happened, after Mal broke the spell with a Kiss of True Love. Then, Uma and Mal battled - Uma as a giant tentacled caecilia, Mal as an enormous dragon like her mother. Ben had tried to stop the fight, to convince Uma to join Auradon and help them, but instead, Uma had swum away, disappearing under the sea, leaving them all behind. And she was still out there, even now - searching for a way to free the Isle kids, or waiting for them to do so, Ben didn't know.

And this time, Ben resolved not to forget about the Isle kids again. Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos came up with a splendid idea: they would pass out applications to the children of the Isle of the Lost, to encourage the kids to want to come to Auradon. They had chosen four more children to come to Auradon. Though Ben was a bit disappointed with the small number - he felt that they should be doing more - Mal had insisted that four was the lucky number to bring.

And today was the day that Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Ben would go back to the Isle of the Lost to pick up the four kids and bring them to Auradon. Practically vibrating with anticipation and excitement, Ben grinned at his reflection in the mirror. After all this time, here they were: prepared to continue his first proclamation, to help the VKs of the Isle, to help unite Auradon and the island prison. And he wasn't alone. Mal, who considered herself Auradon's protector since her transformation into a dragon, was by his side.

That reminded Ben of something else exciting about today, something entirely separate from the Isle children that should be arriving soon. Today really would be a momentous occasion, a step forward for the kingdom of Auradon. 

And with that happy thought, Ben went off to find Mal.

Mal was standing at the balcony on the back of Auradon Prep's roof. Ben couldn't help but stop and smile at the sight of her. Mal's days of blonde hair and lacy dresses were long gone; her hair was back to being luscious purple waves that fell down past her shoulders, and her dress, mottled purple and patterned with pink-and-green dragons, featured spiked leather epaulets that looked like dragon wings. She had her back to him as she stood at the edge of the balcony, staring through a pair of binoculars towards the ocean.

Ever since Uma had disappeared after their fight, Mal had been on guard. She despised Uma, and the hatred was quite mutual. The girls had been rivals on the Isle of the Lost, and now that they were in Auradon, Mal was certain that hadn't changed at all. She felt that Auradon would never be truly safe until Uma was caught. Today was just the sort of day that Uma would like to ruin. Still, as Mal gazed through the binoculars, the Auradon coastline seemed calm and serene.

Ben crept up behind Mal and surprised her by hugging her from behind. He loved surprising her with romantic gestures, like picnics at the Enchanted Lake, or even the stained-glass creation he'd planned to give her as a gift at Cotillion. Mal jumped at the gesture and whirled around, but relaxed when she saw it was Ben. "Not a tentacle in sight," she confirmed to Ben with a smile.

"I'm sure if Uma was up to something, we'd know by now," Ben said. He knew of Mal's dislike of Uma, and he understood, but he also had a much different opinion of Uma. On the Isle, Uma was the captain of a crew of pirates. And during his time captured by her, she had struck him as a leader, someone who cared about the people who trusted her. It was why she was so furious that he had forgotten about the Isle. Ben looked out towards the sea, scanning the waves for any sign of distress or danger.

Mal shook her head. "I know how villains think, and I don't trust her as far as I can throw her," she said. "She's going to wait until our guard is down - and then, strike. I really wish I had time to do a dragon flyover, 'cuz I could go so much higher." Ever since her transformation into a fire-breathing dragon, Mal had soaring above the kingdom on a daily basis, safeguarding Auradon from high above. She felt certain that each day drew them closer to Uma's next grand scheme, to cause trouble for the kingdom.

Ben turned back to Mal. "Well, you can't be everywhere at once," he said. Sometimes he felt that she tried too hard to take on too much responsibility - being Auradon's protector, taking over control of the release of the VKs. He loved that she wanted to keep the kingdom safe, but sometimes it seemed like she took on more than she could handle. Ben glanced down at the green plaza in front of the school and saw the crowd gathered. Remembering suddenly why he had come to get her, hardly able to disguise his excited smile, Ben wrapped his arms around Mal. "Now come on, everyone's waiting for us."

Mal looked out at the ocean again. She wouldn't feel calm or comfortable while Uma was still out there. Even if Ben had a much different opinion of Uma, he understood. He couldn't wait to welcome the next group of VKs into Auradon, to continue his proclamation, to free more children, but even he worried that something could go wrong and he would have no power to stop it. Mal was Auradon's defender. People trusted her and her choices. What she decided was rarely questioned. Compared to her, Ben sometimes felt like he had no power at all.

Ben turned back to Mal and took her hands. "Mal," he said, "Breathe."

Mal smiled at him, leaned her head back, and took a deep breath, trying to push her worries out of her mind. Today had to be a good day. They would welcome more Isle kids into Auradon. And if anything went wrong, she would be able to handle it. She felt certain of it.

Ben smiled at her again. "C'mon," he said, and he wrapped one arm around her as the two of them walked across the balcony to the stairs that would lead them down to the courtyard. Mal leaned against him as they walked, closing her eyes happily.

They paused at Ben's room for him to hurriedly step inside and get his crown. It was a golden crown, studded with gems, bearing the insignia of the royal family: a smiling beast face, proud and noble. It was a reminder of Ben's royal duty to the kingdom, his power to change peoples' lives. And he intended to use it for good, to help the VKs and right old wrongs. He was determined to do what was right.

Ben turned to the mirror and placed the crown on his head, carefully fixing his golden-brown hair beneath it. He wanted to look as proper as he could, especially for what was coming next. As he turned, he saw Mal. waiting in the hallway. There was a small blue box sitting on the table just next to the door. Ben grabbed it as he passed, slipping it into his pocket before Mal could see.

She turned to him as he stepped out into the hallway. "Ready?" She asked him with a dreamy smile, her green eyes gleaming.

Ben smiled back at her. "Ready," he said. They linked arms and walked down the hall together, ready to go out and see the crowd gathered for this momentous event.

This was going to be a good day. It had to be.

Chapter Text

A crowd was assembled on Auradon Prep's front courtyard, full of brightly-dressed Auradonians, eager to welcome a new batch of VKs from the Isle of the Lost. It was an even bigger crowd than they had expected to show up, and the overflow of people strolled through the well-kept gardens and the manicured hedges. In front of the school stood a statue of the proud former king, Beast, gazing nobly into the distance as if imagining the future. In front of the statue, a small stage had been set up, with cameras, a video monitor mounted on the front of the school, and ribbons on every ledge, all designed to make whatever happened there today a focus of the celebration.

The Auradon Prep marching band all wore matching blue-and-yellow uniforms. They blasted out a cheerful tune that further highlighted the energy and excitement of the scene. People were waving banners and flags in blue and yellow, the colors of Auradon, and waving signs of welcome for the new VKs to see when they arrived.

Ben's parents, Beast and Belle, strolled through the celebration arm-in-arm. They were proud as ever of their son, and his efforts to bring the Isle and Auradon together. It was so wonderful to see his first royal proclamation, practically forgotten for so long, restarted to such joy. Auradon was truly excited to welcome more of the children of the Isle.

Audrey, daughter of Sleeping Beauty, strolled along through the celebration and the sunshine with a smile on her face. She was as beautiful as her legendary mother, with dark brown hair in perfect curls and sparkling chocolate-brown eyes. Wearing a shimmering dress in her mother's favorite shade of pink, with a beaded headband that sparkled just like a tiara, it was unmistakable who she was. Though she smiled at the celebration happening around her, the same couldn't be said for the older, grey-haired woman who walked next to her: her grandmother, Queen Leah.

Following shortly after Audrey was a tall boy with curly blond hair, dress in pastel-blue. This was Chad Charming, son of Cinderella and Prince Charming. He was Audrey's best friend, and she was possibly his only friend, which was why he followed her around like a lost puppy sometimes. She paused, turned back to him with a smile, and offered him her hand. With a grin, he took it, happy to walk by her side. Queen Leah looked annoyed; she thought Audrey ought to be pursuing a different prince, or rather, a king.

On the other side of the celebration stood Jane, daughter of the famous Fairy Godmother. With her dark hair and sparkling blue eyes, Jane was a lovely sight, dressed in pale blue lace with a pink headband. She smiled at the celebrations happening around her, eager to befriend her new classmates.

Next to Jane stood Carlos De Vil, one of the first from the Isle of the Lost. The son of the infamous Cruella De Vil, Carlos shared her color scheme - black, white, and red - but little else. While Cruella had been crazy about fur coats, Carlos favored electronics and his dog, Dude, a scruffy brown-furred mutt. Much like Mal, Carlos was eager to return to the Isle to bring more students over to Auradon.

Nearby stood another of the first four: Evie, daughter of the Evil Queen. With long blue hair and brown eyes, dressed head-to-toe in the same blue, some people said she looked exactly like her mother. But while the Evil Queen spent her time gazing into a no-longer-Magic Mirror, searching for the "fairest of them all," Evie spent her time sitting at a sewing machine, with a needle and thread and tape measures, ribbons and sequins - all the tools of the trade in the successful fashion business she ran, Evie's 4 Hearts.

Next to Evie stood Doug, the son of Dopey the dwarf. He wore a band uniform, complete with a tall golden hat. He blared on a trumpet, dancing slightly as he did so, and Evie laughed at the sight. Evie and Doug were close, almost a couple, even. Doug had helped Evie see that there was more to life than being pretty.

And last but not least, there stood Jay, the son of Jafar. Dressed in maroon and blue, with long brown hair, Jay was handsome and popular with the girls. His strong physique made him a natural fit for the tourney and R.O.A.R. teams, where he had learned the value of teamwork and turned his back on the self-serving teachings of his father on the Isle of the Lost. Jay watching the school's front steps eagerly, waiting for the arrival of Ben and Mal.

Evie spotted them before anyone else did. "Here they come!" She gasped, grabbing Doug's arm. 

Mal and Ben made their grand entrance, striding down the castle steps to join the packed celebration. Ben looked around at the crowd, his eyes wide. He remembered how, months ago, Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had arrived only to a welcoming committee of a few students, the marching band, the Fairy Godmother, and himself. But the new VKs would arrive to a packed plaza full of people thrilled to see them. Things really were changing in Auradon.

Ben stepped up onto the little stage to speak. Mal released his arm and moved to join Evie, Jay, and Carlos, but the school headmistress, the Fairy Godmother, blocked her way. "Ooh, stay," she said, indicating for Mal to stay close to the stage.

"Stay here?" Mal repeated, taking her place by Ben's side on the stage. The crowd cheered and waved, thrilled to see the king and his lady, and they waved for the crowd. The crowd shouted even louder.

The Fairy Godmother tapped a microphone, testing it. "Bibbidi-bobbidi, one two, one two. Can everybody hear me?" The mic seemed to be working, so she passed it to Ben and hurried off the stage.

"Thank you, Fairy Godmother," he said as he took the microphone. For a moment, Ben stood there, holding the golden microphone, savoring the moment. This was the moment, the beginning of a new era for Auradon. Then he shouted out, "What's up, Auradon?" and the crowd cheered some more. "Thank you, thank you so much for coming out to welcome our new arrivals. They'll be here soon. It worked out pretty well with the first four, right?"

"Yeah, especially for you!" Chad shouted back with a laugh. Some others had to laugh with him. No one had ever expected Mal, the daughter of Maleficent, to turn good - much less end up by the king's side, as a devoted, loving girlfriend. "Chad," Audrey giggled, playfully elbowing him. As funny as his commentary was, she didn't want to derail or upset the celebration.

Ben gazed out over the crowd. And then, he turned to Mal, at his side. "Mal, this is the exact spot where we first met, not so long ago," he announced to her. "I feel like I've known you my whole life. Did I mention... that I'm in love with you? I met this girl that rocked my world like it's never been rocked, and now I'm living just for her, and I won't ever stop. I never thought that it could happen to a guy like me, but now look at what you've done, you've got me down on one knee..." And he bent down on one knee.

Mal had watched the entire display with a smile. It was the first love song that Ben ever sang to her. But now, as he knelt on one knee in front of her, Mal's smile faded and she gasped, wondering if this was really happening, if this really was what she thought was happening.

Ben reached into his pocket and took out the small blue box. He opened it and held it up, showing her the exquisite ring within: a beautiful piece of amethyst flanked by two elegant dragons. "It's you and me, Mal. It's you and me forever," he said, conscious of all the eyes focused on them both in that moment. Next came the most important question of his life. "Will you marry me?" He asked Mal. "Will you wear the crown and be my queen?"

For one long heartbeat, Mal stared, breathless. And then she whispered, "Yes. Yes!" The most happiest smile came over her face as she realized what all of this meant. She would marry Ben. She would be queen of Auradon. The castle bells rang loudly. Ben slipped the ring onto Mal's finger, stood, and kissed her as if they were the only two people in the world. A cannon released a spray of bubbles into the air above them. The crowd celebrated, hugging and cheering and applauding. It was truly a momentous occasion, one to be remembered for all time. 

Even Audrey was clapping. She was happy for Ben and Mal's engagement. But her grandmother stood by with an angry look on her face, disgusted at Ben's proposal to Mal and Audrey's happiness about it. "What are you applauding them for?" She asked her granddaughter. Audrey stopped clapping, frowning at her grandmother. "A lifetime of plans: gone. Our family status: gone," Queen Leah said. "You were supposed to be his queen, and you let him slip through your fingers. Your mother could hold on to a prince in her sleep!"

"Well, that's hardly my fault," Audrey said in a voice hardly above a whisper. "Mommy and Papa were already betrothed." But still, her grandmother's sour words affected her greatly. Now staring down at the ground, Audrey walked away through the crowd, trying not to cry. Chad, frowning, followed her. He could see that something was up.

Ben was in the middle of celebrating his engagement with his parents. Farther away, Mal was enduring some gentle teasing from Evie, Jay, and Carlos. Then, Ben glanced up, and he saw Audrey, walking close to a hedge and looking downcast, and instantly he was concerned. It was rare to see Audrey look so upset. He excused himself from his parents and walked over to her.

"Audrey?" Ben asked as he approached. Audrey turned to him with a small start, and he paused. "Are you alright?" He asked, trying already to figure out what was upsetting her before she said anything. The only thing he could think of was the song, "Did I Mention," which he had sung to Mal at the very same tourney match where he had very abruptly ended his relationship with Audrey. "Was it the song?" Ben said, instantly feeling horrible. He really should've thought that through better. "I should've gone with something else, shouldn't I?"

Audrey smiled at him. Always being thoughtful whenever he could be - that was Ben. But his worries weren't quite right. "No! It was fine," she assured him. The song had only stung a little bit, but it wasn't the reason for the tears in her eyes. "Everything was perfect," she said. "My grandmother's just... still convinced it should have been me, and you know how I hate disappointing people."

Ben's face fell. At least, if it had been his fault, he could offer an apology to try and make things better. And he wanted to make things better, but he had no idea how to do that if it was unkind words from a family member. "I'm so sorry. How can I help?" He asked.

Audrey shook her head. She was touched that he wanted to help, but she didn't see how it was possible for him to help this. "I don't think you can," she told him, as gently as she could. From over by the purple-painted royal limo, Mal called to Ben; it was nearing the time for them to head to the Isle and collect the kids. "Go get the Isle kids, they're waiting," Audrey encouraged Ben. "Fulfill your promise."

For a moment, Ben seemed torn. He took a step towards the limo, but he glanced over to where Queen Leah still stood, with her arms crossed, scowling. "Are you sure there's nothing I can do?"

Audrey wiped away her tears. "I'm certain," she said. "Go on." Then, she turned around and walked away, disappearing down a side-path that led to a secluded garden around the side of the school.

Ben watched her go, and then he turned to Chad. "Stay with her, will you?" Ben requested. "Make sure she's got company?"

Chad nodded and gave a little salute. "Yeah, of course," he said, then he turned and disappeared down the side-path after her.

Ben stood there for a moment longer, watching. Then, Mal called to him again. He took a deep breath, composing himself, as he straightened his crown. Then, he turned around and hurried to the limo, thrilled to return to the Isle and retrieve more children to come reside in Auradon.

Chapter Text

The royal limo that they had designated for this special task, bringing in four more Isle kids, had been painted purple in Mal's honor and bore her name on the license plate. Mal had been so completely charmed the first time she had seen it, though she had had no idea that it was also meant to celebrate her becoming the future Queen of Auradon, if she accepted his proposal. And she had accepted his proposal. Mal sat in her seat, admiring her engagement ring, when Ben arrived.

"There you are," Mal said, looking up as Ben sat down next to her.

Ben nodded, catching his breath for a moment, lifting up his crown briefly to run his fingers through his hair. "Yes. Sorry, I got... a little sidetracked," he said, glancing back outside the windows of the limo.

Mal tilted her head, concerned. "What happened?"

Ben sighed, his shoulders slumping. "Audrey was crying," he said, and he hated that he couldn't help at all. "It seems her grandmother said some really mean things."

Mal looked out the windows. She had no problem with Audrey, even though Mal's mother had been Audrey's family's mortal enemy, but Queen Leah never seemed to have forgiven Mal for being Maleficent's daughter. The old queen had made a scene at Family Day, and even after Mal had turned good for certain, Queen Leah had never spoken more than a few cold-yet-civil words to her. "Yeah, her grandmother's a real piece of work," Mal muttered, feeling bad for Audrey.

Ben looked down and noticed how Mal was running her fingers over her engagement ring, the two golden dragons holding a fragment of resplendent, rich purple amethyst. "Do you like your ring?" He asked her hopefully, his hazel eyes sparkling.

Mal smiled at him. "I love it," she promised him, "As much as I love you." She leaned forward and kissed him.

"PDA, you guys!" Carlos teased them, and everyone laughed. Mal broke from the kiss and looked around at all her friends - Evie, Jay, and Carlos, all coming back to the Isle with her and Ben to bring more of the Isle kids to Auradon. It felt amazing, that they could finally start working on giving a new chance to more kids on the Isle of the Lost.

Compared to the rest of their sparkling, beautiful kingdom, the Isle of the Lost was a sad sight. Under the dome that kept out magic, and only accessible by a magical bridge across the sea, the Isle was by far the most unloved - and unlovable, for the most part - region of Auradon. A dingy film seemed to cover every building, street, and even the people. Everything was secondhand, not a new item in sight. Which was why it was such an event for Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Ben to arrive in a sparkling limo to retrieve the four new VKs.

Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos had handpicked the four newcomers from a sea of applications. They were Dizzy Tremaine, Celia Facilier, and the twins Squeaky and Squirmy Smee. The four new VKs were waiting with their parents and grandparents in the main marketplace square, under the old castle that used to belong to Maleficent. 

The limo parked, and the five of them got out to greet the new VKs. "Alright, boys, let's hit the road!" Jay said brightly to Squeaky and Squirmy, the white-haired tiny grandsons of Mr. Smee. The twin boys were very close to each other, inseparable even, and identical except for which hand they wore their red glove on. The twins turned to their old grandfather, who smiled at them both and kissed them on the forehead, then gently shooed them towards the limo.

"You're gonna see him soon, okay?" Carlos reassured Squirmy, who was almost as white as his hair with fear. "C'mon." Carlos walked the twins towards the limo. Carlos remembered how fearful he had been the very first time he had gone to Auradon, but he had warmed up to the place quick. He was sure that Smee's sweet-natured grandsons would do the same.

Dizzy, the colorfully-dressed granddaughter of Lady Tremaine, was absolutely thrilled to be heading to Auradon. Dizzy and Evie were old friends, and Dizzy raced into Evie's open arms with a squeal of pure glee. "I'm so thrilled to be going to Auradon with you!" Dizzy exclaimed, practically vibrating with excitement. Her brown hair was pulled up into two topknots and secured with a turquoise flower barrette that she'd made herself. She had a talent for making accessories and awesome-looking jewelry out of scraps - she could only imagine what she could create in Auradon.

Her grandmother, Cinderella's infamous wicked stepmother, stood back with a cold and grim expression on her face, holding Dizzy's suitcase. Lady Tremaine looked as sour as always, with her gray hair pulled up on top of her head and a long maroon dress. She thrust Dizzy's suitcase into Evie's hands with a noise of disgust and turned and stalked away. Dizzy's smile faltered just a little. "Grandma didn't want me to come," she said to Evie. "She even tried to hide my glue gun to keep me from going."

Evie frowned slightly as the old wicked stepmother vanished from sight. Not every villain wanted their children or grandchildren to go to Auradon, sadly.

Ben and Mal approached the last of the chosen four VKs: Celia Facilier, the daughter of the famous Dr. Facilier. She was a young kid with dark red hair and a cocky smile, dressed in wild colors and patterns, befitting her roots in the French Quarter. She gave her father a big hug, and he hugged her back, with a bittersweet smile. They would miss each other, while Celia was in Auradon. Then, flanked by Mal and Ben, Celia walked off towards the limo.

 "Let me get this off you," Mal offered, reaching for Celia's backpack. But without a word, Celia slung off her backpack and flung it into the trunk with a decisive air, before getting into the limo without another word. "Oh, wow," Mal said, laughing. She admired Celia's plucky independence, an Isle trait that could help out a lot in Auradon.

"Okay," said Ben, smiling as he watched Evie escort Dizzy into the limo, Carlos with Squirmy, and then Squeaky climbing into the front passenger seat next to Jay. That was all four of the kids they had set out to retrieve. "Let's go and do this." Ben and Mal walked back to the limo, but just before Ben got into the limo, he paused and looked around. The Isle was a miserable place, and he knew that. He took in the sight of the crowd watching, all the kids who didn't get chosen and would have to wait for another chance. Ben felt awful. He thought they could do more for these kids. "I wish we could take more than four," he said to Mal, even though he knew there was no hope of persuading her.

Mal looked around, and her expression softened. "Four is all we can handle," she said gently. "You brought the four of us. It's best to keep that pattern."

Ben faltered for a moment. He shook his head. Mal didn't understand, even after all the times they had discussed this. He hadn't brought over the four of them to set such a low precedent. He wanted to start out small, but with a big impact. "I brought the four of you because I knew that your parents were the worst and you might need the most help," he said to Mal. "Because I knew we would have to start out small. But we don't have to stay small. We could give a chance to so many more than just four at a time - "

"Ben - " Mal said, trying to interrupt.

"It's too slow," Ben rushed on, "It's not enough. We need to be doing more."

Mal shook her head. She understood his concern, but she worried that the kingdom wasn't ready for more than four new VKs. "What do you want to do, bring down the entire barrier?" She asked him, half-jokingly.

Ben looked very alarmed at that question. "No, nothing like that!" He exclaimed, feeling like she was misunderstanding him. He didn't want to threaten Auradon or let anyone get hurt. He just wanted these kids to have their rightful freedom. He had the power to give them that freedom - but here was Mal, telling him he couldn't do that. She meant well, he was certain, but still, it stung a bit.

Mal smiled at him. She loved his compassionate nature, but sometimes she thought he was a little over-ambitious. She took his hands in hers, trying to comfort Ben. She only wanted what was best for the kingdom, just like him. "Trust me, Ben, I know these kids better than you do," she told him. "Four is our magic number. And when we're ready, we'll bring more."

"When will that be?" Ben asked, looking around at the crowd, at the children all still waiting for their chance. 

"When we're ready," Mal repeated.

That wasn't an answer, Ben thought. They were ready, right now. Even if they weren't, they could be ready as early as tomorrow. But Mal gave him one last smile, kissed him on the cheek, and then got into the limo. Ben hesitated for another moment, but then he followed, getting into the limo after her. 

Evie was telling Dizzy all about Auradon, about every wonderful thing that she would take Dizzy to try. "So, as soon as you get to Auradon, you have to try ice cream!" Evie said. "I already have a list of things for you to try. Volleyball. Ballet. The periodic table!" She laughed, like it was a joke. Evie's first experiences in Auradon had taught her that she had a brilliant brain, as well as a beautiful face.

Jay started the limo and drove them out of the market square, heading back towards the bridge that would appear and take them back to Auradon. While Carlos gave Squirmy some candy to try, Squeaky sat up front, gripping Jay's arm tightly in fear as they drove farther and farther through town. Celia fanned out her fortune-telling cards, trying to read Ben's fortune. She predicted that he would be a wise and great king, to Mal's approval, and when she held out her hand for payment, Ben gave her a few dollars, to Celia's delight.

Back in Auradon, the crowd assembled in front of the school were watching on a massive video monitor. Most of them cheered as the limo neared the dome, and they gasped, amazed as the golden barrier opened to allow the limo through.

On the Isle of the Lost, a crowd of people had gathered at their bridge plaza to see the lucky four off, but also to witness the often-impassible barrier open up. Jay gripped the steering wheel. Most of the people just seemed awed and impressed, but this was the Isle of the Lost. It was all too easy for a scoundrel or a troublemaker to hide right out in the open, and with the way to Auradon almost intact, this was the opportunity that most of them had been waiting for - a chance at freedom, magic, power. He expected trouble.

And he was right to expect it. The limo made it through the barrier. The open doorway began to close. And right then, the assembled crowd scattered as a rugged old villain came barging through, his black coat, emblazoned with blue flames the same color as his spiky hair, flying behind him like a cape. He charged at the closing gap in the barrier, furious, determined not to let this chance slip through his fingers.

Evie heard the shouting of the crowd behind them and she turned to look. Her eyes went wide at the sight. "Stop the car! It's Hades! He's trying to escape!" She shouted, recognizing the villain. The limo screeched to a stop on the broken bridge. 

Hades was one of the worst villains alive (technically immortal.) Former Lord of the Underworld and a wicked collector of souls, he was as much bad news as Mal's mother, Maleficent. If he escaped the Isle, the havoc he could wreak was unimaginable. They could not allow him to reach Auradon. Hades shoved his fist through the hole in the barrier, keeping it from closing, then managed to push it open further. He got his head and shoulders through. "I am a god!" He bellowed, as his hair burst into scorching blue and white flames. "I don't belong here!"

The limo doors flew open and Mal, Evie, Jay, Carlos, and Ben leapt out of the limo. They couldn't let Hades escape to Auradon. Ben, Jay, and Carlos ran towards the barrier, but Hades opened his fist to reveal a blazing, menacing blue Ember, which unleashed a white-hot blast that knocked the three boys to the ground. Hades laughed in triumph. It seemed his escape and his return to power was close at hand. 

The crowd at Auradon Prep was watching the chaos unfold on the monitor. Hades's interference was causing some fear, but the Fairy Godmother was trying to keep everyone calm. "Do not panic, okay? No one needs to panic!" But then Hades's wicked face and flaming hair appeared on the screen, and even she surrendered to fear. "Okay, we're panicking. Bibbidi-bobbidi run!" She yelped, and everyone screamed and ran for cover. 

Hades lunged toward them, pushing the barrier open farther. Mal's eyes, furious and fearsome, flashed a bright green. "NO!" She screamed, and a blast of purple smoke surrounded her. Two massive purple-and-green wings spread out, and a second later, she rose into the air as a gorgeous, vicious purple dragon with a spiked tail, curved horns, and blazing green eyes. She roared at Hades, a warning. But the warning was thrown aside. Hades grinned evilly, relishing the coming fight. He raised the Ember towards her, and a pulsing blue light like a laserbeam shot out of it and locked on her. Mal expected pain, but it didn't come. What she felt was far worse: her powers, her magic, diminishing. Weakening, Mal's wings flapped uselessly as she dropped lower in the sky. 

Jay, Carlos, and Ben scrambled to their feet, unable to believe their eyes. Evie, poised by the limo to try and protect the kids inside, watched in shock. They'd never seen anyone get the better of Mal before, dragon or not. Mal continued to slip lower, her wings hardly able to carry her. Panic was overtaking her. Jay yelled to her, "Come on, Mal, blast him!" 

Mal took a deep, gathering her strength. With her final burst of energy, she reared back and opened her jaws wide, like she was about to blast a fireball. But inside, she exhaled a powerful gust of wind that battered Hades, blowing out his flaming hair and extinguishing the Ember. Hades was forced back from the barrier and tumbled to the ground, on the Isle, with a thud. The golden barrier sealed shut, trapping him once again.

Battle-worn, Mal landed on top of the purple limo and transformed back. Evie and Ben ran to her and helped her down, trying to help. They had never seen Mal come so close to defeat. "Are you okay?" Evie asked her anxiously as she brushed still-smoldering cinders from Mal's dress.

Mal paused for a moment, leaning against Ben as she struggled to catch her breath. "No," she finally said, "He was draining all my magic with his Ember. And I felt... all of my magic... slipping away." She shuddered as she relived the moment. Without her powers, how could she protect Auradon, if this happened again?

"It's okay," Evie said, looking through the barrier. Hades was back on his feet. He glared at them, furious, then turned and stalked away. "He's back where he belongs," Evie promised Mal.

"Yeah, for now," Mal whispered, still leaning against Ben.

"We should go," whispered Jay.

"Okay," Mal said. One-by-one, Jay, Evie, and Carlos left Mal's side, leaving Mal and Ben standing there on the bridge, looking back at the Isle. The two of them exchanged significant looks. Ben felt a little crushed. He'd wanted so badly for this day to go well, but now this had happened, and what could this mean for the future? Nothing good, he feared. He kissed Mal on the cheek, and to his relief, she smiled a little bit.

Together, the two of them turned and headed back towards the limo.

Chapter Text

On the ride back to Auradon, Mal leaned against Ben, shaking and fearful. She had never come so close to defeat before - not when she was facing her mother for the first time, not in her fight against Uma at Cotillion, never - and now, for the first time ever, she felt really and truly powerless. She prided herself on her magic and her power to protect Auradon. Now, she didn't have that. Now, she was failing as protector of Auradon. If this ever happened again, it could mean doom for the kingdom.

"How do you feel?" Ben asked her, putting his hand on hers.

Mal shook her head. They were all the way across the bridge and driving through the streets of Auradon now, and she still couldn't shake off the jumble of feelings left from her near-defeat. "Awful," she whispered. "I expected something to happen, but I mean, I thought it would be..."

"Uma," Ben guessed. Mal had been on guard, but it had been for a completely different threat.

"Right," Mal nodded, staring distractedly out the window. "I was waiting for someone that I knew I could handle. But not Hades. Hades was so much worse, and now, with my powers - " Her breath caught in her throat. Gone. She couldn't bring herself to say it. Her magic was gone, drained. She had no power left.

"It's okay," Ben promised her, wrapping his arms around her. "It's okay, I've got you. I'm always gonna be here, I promise. I'm right here."

Mal closed her eyes. Ben always tried to make everything better, but sometimes it just wasn't enough. Still, she loved that he tried, that he always wanted to help no matter what. "I know. I love you," she replied, and she turned her head and kissed him on the cheek. "I just don't want anything to happen to you... or the kingdom... without my powers, I can't protect us."

"Everything's going to be alright," Ben said, sounding certain of it.

Mal sighed. "I know you wanted this day to go so well..."

Ben looked down. He had wanted this day to go well, and it had seemed to. He wished the incident with Hades was something minor enough that he could forget, that he could write off and make it seem insignificant, but he couldn't. It was a worrying incident, and the consequences of it would definitely have an effect on the future. "Yeah, well, sometimes things can't be helped," he said quietly. "But it's okay. We'll deal with this, we'll... we'll figure something out," he said to Mal, trying to smile encouragingly.

Mal looked back at him, looking a little lost and upset. "Will we?" She said. "Will we like what we 'figure out'?" Whatever happened next, she felt, wouldn't be good. Something was going to change, and likely not for the better. This would change the future of the Isle kids program.

Ben knew exactly what she was thinking, and his smile faded. "I don't know," he said, looking out the windows again and feeling dread creep into his heart once again at the thought of the future and what might be change.

The limo took them all to Auradon Prep, to let the new VKs get their first glimpse of their new school, and then it took them to their residence for the summer term, until school started in the fall. This residence was a beautiful starter castle, with grey stone walls and splendid massive glass windows. It belonged to Evie, hence the sign bearing the legend of Evie's 4 Hearts - her fashion-design company. She'd come so far in Auradon, and her home was the residence of all the VKs during the summer months, when they couldn't reside in the school dorms. 

 Ben, Mal, Evie, Jay, and Carlos helped the four new VKs move in. They had four rooms prepared - though the Smee twins preferred to stay together - and then gave them the grand tour of the spacious home. But Ben and Mal's time there was cut short, though they would have preferred to stay much longer and help the new kids acclimate to their new environment. In the middle of Dizzy losing her mind at the sight of the closet - with all its fabrics and ribbons and charms and more, all sparkly and brand-new - Ben got a call on his phone. When he checked the caller number, his face fell. Mal saw. "Who is it?" She said.

"My dad," Ben replied. "Standby." He held the phone up to his ear to answer the call. He was on the phone for less than a minute, but the look in his eyes told Mal everything. When the call ended and he lowered the phone, he told Mal, "My parents and the Fairy Godmother want to see us. In the castle. As soon as we can."

Mal nodded. "Then... let's not keep them waiting," she said heavily. She had a feeling that she already knew why they wanted to see her and Ben - and judging from the look that Ben had on his face, he knew too. The two of them excused themselves from the group and walked away, to change clothes and then head to the castle.

A little less than an hour later, Mal was dressed in a much-more comfortable magenta wrap dress with black flats. She twisted her engagement ring around her finger nervously as she walked up the steps with Ben, who was missing his crown and wearing a different suit. They looked up at the castle, tall pale-grey walls and crimson roofs that seemed to loom over them. Ben thought his family castle had never seemed so daunting before.

Even the cheerful décor of Belle's parlor, with its sunshine-yellow walls and white-trimmed curtains, couldn't brighten the mood. When Mal and Ben entered the room, they saw Ben's parents - Beast, dressed in navy blue, and Belle, in a distinct yellow dress - with the Fairy Godmother, who wore a sensible grey pantsuit. There was a grim tone to the air. Mal and Ben stopped, standing across from the three adults.

Beast spoke. "I think we all know why we're here," he said in his deep, measured voice. The calm in his voice could be deceptive. He still had as fearsome a temper as ever. "The people are in a panic about Hades. He almost got out." The idea of a villain escaping the Isle of the Lost would definitely frighten Auradon. They had lived twenty years in perfect peace, without even a touch of evil inside their kingdom.

"Who knows what he would have done if he had escaped?" the Fairy Godmother whispered, looking pale at the mere thought. It was truly terrifying to realize that the kingdom had come within moments of disaster that very day, if the powerful old Lord of the Underworld had gotten out of the barrier. Thanks to Mal, he had been thwarted, but still, the incident reminded them all that when it came to the Isle of the Lost, catastrophe could be only a heartbeat away at any moment.

And Beast knew that. "We can't risk having another villain escape," he stated.

There was silence in the room. Everyone agreed, of course, but no one had a solution.

"I really feel like it's my fault," Mal said, crossing her arms tightly and looking down at the floor. She had done her best to protect the kingdom. Her best had never failed her before, staring down her mother at Ben's Coronation or achieving her first transformation at Cotillion. But she had almost failed today. And if she had failed - she didn't want to think about that. This was supposed to be her kingdom, once she married Ben, and she didn't want anything to happen to it. "I'm supposed to protect Auradon."

"You did - you do - protect Auradon," Ben told her. He didn't want her blaming herself. "You stopped Hades. He's still locked up. He didn't escape. Auradon is still safe."

Beast shook his head. He didn't think Mal was to blame. "Auradon is safe," he said. "For now. But every time we open the barrier, we're exposed to danger. Danger like Maleficent, Uma, Hades. It's not your fault, Mal. It's simply the fact that the villains are relentless, and can't resist a chance at freedom."

"A chance that we practically wave right in their faces every time that barrier opens up," the Fairy Godmother said. Her magic had created the barrier, at the order of Beast when he was king. That barrier was impenetrable, so the only way in and out was when it was opened for people to go through. Like when Mal and her friends traveled back and forth to the island, or today, when they had brought new children into Auradon. The barrier had never been opened so much in the past.

"Then next time, we'll get more security, bring some extra royal guards," Mal suggested, though she felt like that wasn't a very good option either. What chance did royal guards stand against villains who, even powerless, had nothing to lose? And even without their powers, the villains who lived on the Isle were wily and desperate and would stop at nothing. Exile had only made them angrier and eviler than ever. "I - I mean..." Her voice trailed off.

"Something has to be done," Belle said, her voice full of fear. "Mal, what do we do? How do we protect Auradon?"

Ben frowned slightly. He was the king, wasn't he? He should be the one they asked for decisions. But then again, Mal knew more about the Isle and the dangers there. He'd only visited it for merely a day, while Mal had lived there her whole life. Still, when his parents and the Fairy Godmother turned to Mal for a decision instead of him, that felt wrong. But pushing away his thoughts, he turned to Mal, to hear her answer.

Mal stood there, silent and still, like a statue, as she looked around the room, at all the eyes on her. She had one idea - one awful, horrible, devastating idea. What she had to say next would alter the course of Auradon forever. She struggled to get the words out. "I think that... there's only one way to guarantee the kingdom's safety," she said slowly. "And I think that there can't be any more going in and out." She paused, and tears came to her eyes, feeling like her next words would rip her heart out. "I think we have to close the barrier forever."

Silence filled the room once again as everyone realized what Mal had said. Ben actually took a sudden step back from her, like he had been shocked. Slowly, Beast, Belle, and the Fairy Godmother all nodded in agreement.

Ben felt his heart drop. "No," he said hollowly, realizing what this all meant. He didn't want to accept the drastic measure.

 "Son - " Beast tried to say.

"No," Ben repeated. He took a few more steps back from them all, slightly staggering, reeling as though from a physical blow as he realized what this all meant. He felt a surge of anger, but he tried to hold it down. He turned his back on the others and walked to the other side of the room, feeling crushed.

"Ben," Mal called, walking after him. She jumped slightly as Ben suddenly spun towards her when she got close.

"No!" Ben protested, his voice rising. He shook his head. "Mal, we can't do this! We promised those children their freedom - "

"Ben - " Mal repeated, feeling heartbroken that this decision had affected him in this way. She didn't want to hurt him. She only wanted to protect Auradon, and this seemed like the only way.

"We promised them," Ben insisted. "All those children - we have to - "

"And there's millions more children here who have to be protected from the evil of the Isle of the Lost," Mal pointed out. She knew that Ben must be truly upset if he was getting angry like this, so she tried to keep her voice calm in the face of his rising anger. "Every time that barrier opens, we chance evil escaping. Every time we open that barrier, we put the fate of our kingdom at risk!"

"No!" Ben said, shaking his head. His words meant nothing to them, and he knew it. They followed Mal, not him, and her decision stood. Again, he felt angry. Why didn't they listen to him? He was the king - not Mal - He shook his head again, trying to shake off these thoughts. "This isn't the right decision!"

"There are no right decisions!" Mal exclaimed, feeling as wounded and angry as he was. "Not for a situation like this. There's only what's best for the more of us. Auradon can't handle a villainous invasion, Ben, and without my powers, I can't defend it!" He paused, looking at her. A part of him knew she was right, but he was still upset. Mal stared at him with tear-filled green eyes. "I know you're angry, and I'm so sorry," she said.

But her words felt empty to him. So he was supposed to give up his dream because she couldn't protect the kingdom? Ben stared at her, and his eyes softened. Mal smiled weakly, taking his hands and trying to win him over again. He was the king - he of all people should understand needing to look after the kingdom. "But, as King and Queen, what's our duty?" She asked him.

"You aren't Queen yet," Ben told her, before he even realized what he was saying. The smile faded from Mal's face and she looked shocked. Ben looked down at the ground, embarrassed and a little ashamed. He hadn't meant that to sound so hurtful. He hadn't meant to say it at all.

"Son," Beast said, trying to help. "Mal's right."

Ben glanced at his father, feeling a little betrayed. Although some part of Ben understood. Beast was the one who had ordered the barrier's creation, to keep the villains locked up in a prison, getting only the prosperous kingdom's scraps. Of course Beast wouldn't want to risk the villains escaping. But the rest of the kids on the Isle shouldn't have to stay locked up just because they were afraid of the villains.

Mal smiled again, taking Ben's silence as acceptance. "I just don't think we'd forgive ourselves if something happened," she said.

Ben looked back to Mal. He was still angry, but he knew she was right, at least partly. He wouldn't forgive himself if something happened. But he wouldn't forgive himself for this, either. He felt more powerless than ever. He could try to refuse Mal's decision, but what would happen then? His parents and the Fairy Godmother scolding him like he was a child for putting Auradon in danger?

"Ben?" Mal said, her smile faltering.

Ben shook his head again. He wasn't good at thinking things through when he was angry. He didn't trust himself to form a proper response. "I need to be alone for a little while. I'm going on a walk. A long one, probably." He let go of Mal's hands and turned towards the doors without another word.

"Ben," Beast called to his son as Ben walked towards the doors. Ben ignored him, walked through the doors, and vanished from sight.

"Let him go," Mal said, staring at the doors. "I know how he feels. He's upset. He has a right to be." She stared out the windows, through the gauzy curtains. She didn't want to hurt Ben or take away his dream, but this felt like the only way to keep the kingdom safe. Mal felt just as upset. She'd wanted to give a new chance to all the Isle kids as well. But, just like everything else, the villains had ruined that chance.

"I think I need a walk, too," she suddenly decided, turning away from the windows. "Some time to think. I'll walk back to Evie's place and... and tell them what's happening." For a moment - the briefest moment - she thought about lying to them. About not telling them the truth of the barrier's permanent closure. But she banished that thought in an instant. She couldn't lie to her family, and she wouldn't. She would have to tell them sooner or later. It would hurt less to just tell them the truth now, and spare a confrontation over such an awful lie.

"We're sorry you had to make such a difficult choice, Mal," Belle said to her with a gentle smile. "But we're certain it was the right choice."

Mal looked at the three adults and wondered if it really was the right choice. Then, saying nothing, she turned and walked through the same doors as Ben, leaving the parlor behind.

Chapter Text

Ben was walking for a long time. He spent all afternoon wandering around Auradon City, hardly realizing where he was going. His mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Anger, sadness, betrayal. How could they do this to him? Force him to give up his dream, his promise? He understood that he needed to protect Auradon, but still he felt deeply wounded. None of them had considered him or asked how he felt about it. His decision didn't matter. He was the King. His power had never meant very much to him, but still, it was infuriating to be ignored and then told to let go of his first dream, his first proclamation.

As the sun started to sink below the horizon, Ben decided he needed to start heading back. His parents could be worried. So he headed back to the castle, but still, he took his time. He didn't want to go back and look his parents in the eyes, when they had turned to Mal instead of him. Like they trusted Mal more than him. He couldn't shake the feeling of betrayal.

Somehow, he found himself at the museum - the Auradon Museum of Cultural History. Seeing another opportunity to stall his return, to give himself more time to think, he walked inside. Immediately inside the doors, he ran into someone he knew. "Audrey?" He said, surprised at the sight of his childhood friend. She was standing in the front hall, standing back from the exhibit in the middle of the floor - Maleficent's spinning wheel.

Audrey jumped slightly when she heard Ben's voice and turned to him, making her skirt flounce. She smiled at him, happy to see him. "Ben! Hi," She said brightly, but she quickly saw his withdrawn, tense demeanor, and her smile wavered. She guessed at what was bothering him. "H-how did the thing on the Isle...?" She asked, and her voice trailed off. She could already tell this wouldn't end well.

Ben glanced at the spinning wheel. "Everything's ruined," he muttered.

Audrey's face fell. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"Mal decided we have to close the dome forever," Ben said. "We can't even get the rest of the kids out of there."

Audrey blinked. "What?" She said in disbelief.

"They wouldn't listen to me." Ben looked down at the ground now, trying to hide his anger and frustration from her. "They didn't even ask for my decision. I..." He stopped, shaking his head. He didn't know how to continue. He wasn't sure that he even wanted to continue. "I'm so sorry, dumping all this on you when you clearly have concerns of your own," he said, looking up again and trying to smile at Audrey.

Audrey shook her head. "It's no bother," she said, but he could tell, it was bothering her.

"Is it your grandmother?" He asked.

Audrey sighed and nodded. "Yes."

"What did she say?"

"She blames me for not being your bride and losing our family's royal status, I guess."

Ben blinked. Whatever he had expected, that wasn't it. Just because Audrey wasn't marrying him, that didn't mean her family was losing any status that they had in the kingdom "What? That makes no sense, you guys are still royalty in Auroria!" He said.

Audrey smiled sardonically and made a wide, sweeping gesture with her arms, combined with a shrug, like, I know, right? She shook her head, exasperated. "Yeah, but I guess she just wanted to still be royalty... everywhere. She even told me," She mimicked her grandmother's lofty voice: "Your mother could hold on to a prince in her sleep!"

Ben scoffed, half-amused and half-annoyed. "That makes no sense!" He said. "Aurora and Phillip were already betrothed, and she was cursed. Also, correct me if I'm wrong, but she didn't want to marry Phillip, did she? Not until she realized that the prince she was betrothed to and the guy she met in the woods were the same person."

"Right!" Audrey nodded, then shrugged helplessly. "But Grammy... doesn't see things that way." She sounded so defeated, it broke Ben's heart.

"How can I help?" Ben asked her, hoping that there was something, anything, that he could do about this. At least then he could help someone.

Audrey smiled at him sadly. He was always so compassionate, so determined to help everyone. "It's so sweet how you want to help, Ben, but it's the same thing as before," she shook her head. "I don't think you can help, unless you're suddenly willing to break off your engagement with Mal and take me back." It was a joke, and they both laughed. "My grandmother just can't be changed, and she won't."

Ben tried not to feel crushed, but it didn't work. "I want to help," he mumbled, but he knew it was no use.

"I know, and I love that about you, but you can't help," Audrey said, her smile vanishing too. She wished she knew how Ben could help with this, but she couldn't see any possible way. "Not with this. I'm sorry." She glanced out the windows and saw the darkening sky. "I need to go," she said. "Grammy wants me home before dusk gets here, and I'm already late. Thanks for listening to me, Ben." She hugged him gently. "You're a really good friend. And I know things will change and turn out for the better, somehow."

"I hope so," Ben said, hugging her back. Then, he watched as she disappeared out the door, feeling lost.

What kind of king was he? He couldn't keep his promises, or his royal proclamations. The Isle's barrier was being shut forever. The Isle kids would be locked up and never given the freedom that they deserved. He couldn't even help his friends, the simplest thing he should be able to do. Audrey's grandmother was awful. He'd met Queen Leah a few times in the past, and she always seemed cordial, but nothing more. It was like she only saw Ben as a way for her family to stay in power, with Audrey to become Queen of Auradon.

In fact, Ben thought as he turned and wandered deeper into the museum, that seemed to be how a lot of people saw him. A way to control Auradon. A way from them to get what they wanted. A way to the throne. A way to take power over Auradon.

Mal had been like that, the very first week she had come to Auradon. Crush his heart in an iron glove by making him a slave to love... She had cooked up a love spell for him, disguised as a cookie, and manipulated him into taking a bite of it. She wanted to be his date to his Coronation - so that she could take the Fairy Godmother's wand and free the Isle of the Lost. Luckily, Ben had taken her on a date to the Enchanted Lake, and the spell had washed away, but as he overheard Mal's turmoil over changing her mind, he decided to give her a real, proper chance. Perhaps that had been a mistake. He loved her, but sometimes it seemed she didn't feel the same way. 

Take back this moment that had passed, return it, reverse it... Mal had always thought she had the power and the right to dictate him, his feelings, his own mind. She had attempted to wipe his memories when he caught her in the act of cheating at being a Lady, using her magic to make things easier. He had never asked her to change, but somehow it was his fault that she had, and his fault that she had run off to the Isle of the Lost. Even when he went after her to beg her forgiveness and ask her to come home, she pushed him away. Her friends turned against him. Everything was his fault.

And then there was Uma. Ben had felt a connection with her, but even then, it seemed that she saw him as nothing more than a way to get what she wanted, to take down Auradon. What's my name, what's my name, feel the power... She had used a spell on him, like a siren song, to enchant him. At Cotillion, his gift to her had been an order to bring down the barrier over the Isle of the Lost. The Fairy Godmother had refused. Mal had broken the spell with True Love's Kiss, transformed into a dragon, and battled Uma as a Sea Witch. Mal had prevailed, and Uma swam away. But she was still out there, still planning her next move, and what if it involved him under a spell again?

And then - his parents had given him the throne, but did they trust him? They had practically turned their backs on him, when he was spelled and controlled, at Cotillion. They turned to Mal, to comfort and help her, and thought nothing of him. Even his first proclamation had been doubted. His parents had turned against him at even the first roadblock, the fight at Family Day. It had been a fight caused by Auradonians, and yet somehow, Ben was to blame. And then there was today. The meeting, where they had ignored his protests and shut down his dream, his first proclamation. It would forever be incomplete. Every time we open the barrier, we're exposed to danger. Danger like Maleficent, Uma, Hades. What do we do? How do we protect Auradon? I think we have to close the barrier forever. There are no right decisions. I just don't think we'd forgive ourselves if something happened. Why had he even been in that meeting in the first place? He had been ignored, left out. Mal's choice was law now. It was like he wasn't trusted with his own power.

Ben grimaced and shook his head, trying to get these thoughts out of his mind. He was still walking through the halls of the museum, but he didn't quite know where he was going, or why. But he felt some kind of pull, from somewhere inside the museum. It was almost magnetic, like it was drawing him to somewhere. He'd never felt such a thing before, but he didn't resist it. He couldn't. Something was calling him, and he almost wanted to know what. Maybe, just somehow, it could be the answer to all of this. 

He entered a darkened gallery, and for a moment, he stood in the shadows of the effigies of so many of Auradon's most fearsome villains. He stared up at them for a moment, as if he was transfixed. Then, a pair of red velvet curtains flew open, unveiling the archway into the side-gallery, the Room of the Dark Arts. A pulsing green light, mesmerizing almost, emanated from the room. For a second, Ben had a moment of clarity, and he knew that whatever he was feeling, drawing him into that room, could only be evil. But the next moment, he was caught up by the pull again, and he moved towards that room, in a daze. 

The green light was coming from the gem of the Dragon's Eye, Maleficent's scepter. It rested in the middle of the room, on top of a low pedestal, held upright by a vertical stand. During its days kept in the museum, after being taken from Maleficent after her Coronation defeat, it had remained silent and dormant, but now, it sensed something it couldn't ignore. The green light captured Ben, mesmerizing him, drawing him closer. 

That scepter was powerful, and he could feel it. And if he took that scepter, he could have that power too. The thought alone was beguiling, tempting, and it pulled him so close he could reach out and take the scepter right now - 

Ben stopped himself. He stopped in his tracks, staring at the green light, hypnotized. He knew that scepter meant evil. It meant wickedness and cruelty and darkness, and he wanted none of those things. He wanted to help people. He wanted freedom for those who deserved it. He was kind and compassionate and he wanted everyone to have their chance... and those same qualities were what made people think he was so easy to manipulate.

No one believed in him. They thought he was too naïve and weak to be trusted with the power that he had. And there were those who only wanted his power to control the kingdom, who would manipulate him and control him to get it. People like Mal, and like Uma. Ben faltered, taking another step back from the scepter. What happened if someone tried to put another spell on him? It was practically bound to happen, wasn't it? Uma was still out there. And what if Mal decided she really had enough with Ben's anger and decided to use yet another spell on him? She'd had no problem doing that in the past, erasing his memory who-knew-how-many times to make him forget who-knew-how-much. With the scepter's power, no one would do that again. With the scepter's power, he would finally be in control.

Ben stood there like he was frozen to the spot, staring into the gem at the top of the black, twisted scepter. The green light was glowing fiercely, like a beacon, a promise that no one would defy him again - no one would force him to give up his dream, no one would put another spell on him. They would know who the king was, and they wouldn't doubt him. That scepter could give it to him. All he had to do was take it.

Some still-rational part of him knew this was wrong. He could feel the evil radiating off of that scepter, boring into him, holding him there in this paralyzed trance, as it was feeding these thoughts into his brain. It was like a poison that was eating away at him. More and more of him was being pulled in. The evil was preying on him, twisting him, even now. The promise of power was more tempting than ever. 

Ben tried to shake off the paralysis. The scepter didn't understand him. It wasn't going to help him. He didn't want its power. His anger and betrayal might have awakened it, but he didn't want what it offered him. The immense evil that was contained in that scepter would take him over and destroy him from the inside. He wouldn't be himself anymore. He'd be someone else, someone that wasn't really him.

But if he had that scepter, he could free the children of the Isle, and nobody would be able to stop him. Even Mal, the mighty protector of Auradon, had barely succeeded in stopping her mother with the Dragon's Eye, and that was back when Mal still had her powers. Now, powerless, she stood no chance against it. Whoever had the scepter would be the most powerful person in the kingdom, and they could do whatever they wanted. They could free whoever they wanted to. No one could stop them. Not Beast, not Belle, not the Fairy Godmother. Not Mal.

Ben's resolve against the scepter's power crumbled. Even if the evil consumed him, what did it matter what became of him, so long as the children of the Isle of the Lost were freed? 

That was the final push, the thought that made even the still-sane part of him desire the powers of the scepter. The paralysis was broken as Ben seemed to lurch forward, reaching out. His fingers closed around the twisted black staff, and as he lifted it free from its bonds, the Dragon’s Eye glowed brighter than ever as its power flooded through him. Ben wanted to shout, scream, to cry out, to make any noise at all. It felt like agony, catharsis, transformation, as a power unlike anything he had ever known coursed through his body.

The scepter spewed a powerful blast of magic that rippled through the museum, shutting off the power. The chandelier above shattered. All the lights and cameras went out. The single security guard, startled at the noise, leapt out of their seat and hurried through the darkened museum, towards the source of the disturbance. They didn't get very far. They made it to the top of the stairs, at the end of the hallway that led to the Gallery of Villains, just in time to see a shadowy figure emerge from beneath the archway. It was holding the Dragon's Eye, and without hesitation, the figure unleashed a sleeping curse that caused the security guard to topple over to the side, asleep.

Laughter, the kind that had once sounded warm and friendly, echoed through the hallway, but now it sounded cold and cruel, befitting of the villain that the scepter had transformed him into. He relished the power that the Dragon's Eye gave him. He had been a fool to try and resist this. Now, all of Auradon would remember who their king was, and they would never doubt him again.

But, if he was going after the barrier over the Isle of the Lost, the Dragon's Eye wasn't enough. He turned and swept down the hall, heading for the room that held the Fairy Godmother's wand.